Rhoda Reviews

Postman Pat Motorbike & Sidecar

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 08:14:00 +0000

Jonny was very excited when Postman Pat turned up complete with motorbike, sidecar and Jess the cat. Here's what Liz had to say about this new toy which forms part of the new Postman Pat SDS Vehicle range.

What a cute toy! There is so much detail on it and Jonny (four) loves it. A removable Pat and Jess fit onto the motorbike and into the sidecar, and they steer easily. You can easily move Pat's arms and legs which is just fab!

The box at the back opens to store letters which is a lovely feature. However the letters are really very small, fine for Jonny but we have to hide them from his little sister.

The toy itself seems pretty sturdy and well-made. Jonny loves how the wheels turn, even the little spare wheel on the back of the sidecar. These little details really add to the fun of the toy.

The are a couple of downsides however. Pat doesn't easily hold onto the motorbike which is quite frustrating for a four-year-old and as I said the letters are so small that they really do have to be kept out of the way of young children.

That said this is a lovely toy for any Postman Pat fan.

The Postman Pat Motorbike & Sidecar retails for £9.99.

We were sent a sample of this toy free of charge. All opinions expressed are entirely our own and, as always, completely honest.

Moving......

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:14:00 +0000

Hi everyone! Sorry we've been so quiet for a while but we have been working on our new home. Yeup Rhoda Reviews is moving to a new site very soon! It's still under wraps at the moment but we hope to have it ready very soon.

Keep your eyes peeled as we will be announcing the new website on here....as well as some launch giveaways! ;-)

FlyInLove - Holiday - Part Two - Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Thu, 16 May 2013 08:47:00 +0000

We arrived in Puerto de Santiago and found our hotel Tamaimo Tropical. Our apartment was on the fourth floor but easily accessible using the lift.

We had a bedroom, bathroom, living area / small kitchen and a balcony that overlooked Los Gigantes hills and one of the pools. The view from the balcony was gorgeous - I could have just sat and looked at those hills/cliffs all day.

We were staying on a self catering basis but in actual fact we didn't really cook there. We had fruit juice and pastries/fruit for breakfast then a main meal out midafternoon. Followed by some snacking of spanish meats and cheeses in the evening. We did however hope to have coffee in the morning but we couldn't find either a kettle or a coffee machine (although there did appear to be part of something coffee related in the cupboard). We did find a toaster in a cupboard...but no kettle.

The hotel was perfectly nice but it was slightly odd. On the first day we wanted to put the F1 on in the background as we unpacked...we did but the tv volume wouldn't go down and there was no sign of a remote. We asked at reception and were told that we had to pay a 10E deposit for one.

I have to say that puzzled me - who would steal a remote control?! Anyway, maybe you have to put a deposit down on a kettle or coffee machine, I don't know we didn't ask.

I had read some questionable reviews of the hotel before we left home so wasn't quite sure what to expect. We didn't eat in the hotel so I can't comment on the food. Yes some bits of the hotel might be a bit tired looking, but generally it was absolutely great for us - our own wee space with a nice view.

I will however say that the bathroom wasn't really Rhoda friendly. There was a shower over the bath but no nonslip pads. I had a bath while I was there but again there were no handles to get in and out and the bath was very slippy. We managed though and thankfully there were no accidents but it's just a simple thing that could be easily addressed.

My Mum has these stick on handles that she can take with her and they would have been really handy here - but do you really want to take a set of handles in your luggage?

Again, not complaining, just an observation that might help others.

So, the hotel was fine. Nice and comfortable (I did a lot of napping so I can declare the couch was conducive to napping) with plastic furniture on the balcony which was perfect for us.

Ok, enough about the Hotel and on to the holiday itself.....Tenerife!

Post three coming soon! :D

Dear Thing by Julie Cohen

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Tue, 14 May 2013 10:30:00 +0000

With subject matter that could be very close to the heart of many, Dear Thing tells the story of Claire and Ben. A couple who's life's plans seem to have been derailed when Claire can't carry their baby.

With numerous failed attempts at IVF Claire wants to give up but her husband doesn't share the same opinion.

On discussing the situation with his best friend Romily, she offers to conceive via artificial insemination and carry the baby for them. She already has a daughter, Posie, who Claire and Ben dote on and so they know she can carry a baby to full term.

On the surface it seems like the perfect solution....... however once Romily is pregnant with Ben's child she finds feelings that she has quashed for years coming rising to the surface - her love for Ben.

Julie Cohen beautifully captures these three main characters. We feel the pain that Claire is going through as she realises that is just isn't going to happen for them. We can relate to the jealousy she feels as Romily carries her husband's baby.

Then there's Romily. She's doing this in good faith, she genuinely thought it would be easy for her... it isn't. We feel for her too...is that allowed? Are we allowed to root for both women?

Ultimately a baby appears, a baby who has two mothers, a baby who is loved by both, but only one can keep.

This book will capture your heart. It is a book that tackles the emotions of surrogacy, from the perspective of all involved. From the father who is so excited that his child is growing inside his best friend, to the wife who is heart broken that she can't make her husband feel that way, to the surrogate mother who is so in love with the father she would do almost anything for him. I found that all I wanted was a "happy ending" for all three main characters, and Posie too.

It's a beautifully written book. Easy to read, captivating and emotional. It's not the kind of thing I would usually read but as soon as I read the blurb I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of, and I'm so glad I read it!

Dear Thing is available now in Hardback, with the paperback due out in September! Enjoy.

An e-copy of Dear Thing was received free of charge via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

FlyInLove Holiday - Part One - Travel

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Wed, 08 May 2013 09:07:00 +0000

I recently found myself sat on a balcony, over looking Los Gigantes, sipping sangria and reading a novel.

Nope this wasn't a dream (although it felt like it). I actually won a competition with Fly Thomas Cook who whisked hubby and I away to the beautiful island of Tenerife for a week!

Some of you may remember my #FlyInLove My Blogger Crush post back in February. Well my poem won the competition! I was shaking for two days afterwards, I couldn't believe we were actually going on holiday!

I kept it on the low down as I wasn't sure if my health would allow us to go....but we made it, and had the most fantastic time!!

I'm actually going to write a few posts about our holiday as I want to write about it from an accessibility point of view. We've not been abroad or flown since I've had my own wheelchair so it was all an experience in itself. I didn't know how we would cope but it all went really well.

Our prize from Thomas Cook was two return flights from Glasgow to Tenerife and accommodation for a week in Tamaimo Tropical on a self catering basis. Amazing right? All this for just writing a wee poem (I am still pinching myself).

Thomas Cook were very helpful during the organising phase and made sure they chose accommodation suitable for me and my wheels :D I contacted flythomascook directly myself regarding the flight and they were helpful in adding my wheelchair to the book and also the assistance I would require. I should point out the guy I spoke to had no idea I was a competition winner or was going to blog about this so I was especially impressed with the service. I had waited quite some time on hold and he was extremely apologetic and even gave me his email address so I could email him details about my wheelchair rather than having to phone up again. I did wonder if he might have regretted that when I emailed him with several questions! He was really helpful though so thanks.

So, 3am on a Sunday morning we got ourself out of bed and along to Glasgow airport. (We parked in the short stay carpark having paid in advance. We were allowed to put a photocopy of my blue badge in the car so that we could take the badge itself away with us.)

Have to say that all went well with checkin; we were ushered to the priority desk when the lady saw me and my wheels which was much appreciated by hubby who was juggling two suitcases and pushing me!

There is one fault at the airport though...and I hope Glasgow Airport reconsider this. I went to use one of their accessible toilets. I got in fine, but when I tried to get out I couldn't! The door opened inwards and was heavy. I honestly couldn't manoeuvre my wheelchair and get out of the loo! Thankfully hubby was waiting on the other side of the door and opened it for me. NOT good if you were travelling alone though or independent enough to go the loo alone. A rethink is required Glasgow Airport!

On to the plane and everyone was very helpful. We had priority boarding and my wheelchair was pushed to the door of the aircraft. Thankfully we were in a row right beside the door (pure luck) so I didn't have far to walk with my stick. The wheelchair was removed and put in the hold.

Everyone was really helpful but I do have one issue. With Thomas Cook you can book your seats online...for a fee. I guess this way you can try to ensure you are all sitting together. The thing is that when I was on the phone regarding the wheelchair I asked if I could book the most accessible seats. I was told that I would require a letter from my GP to do this. Now, I wasn't taking a wheelchair on my holidays for fun! Surely if they are carrying your wheelchair in the hold and helping you access the plane that should be enough to book an accessible seat?! Apparently not. I didn't want to bother my GP with a letter request, they have enough to do. So we just guessed seats and booked ones which we hoped would be near the door and toilet.

This was my main stress before getting on the plane - would our seats be near the door? What if we boarded at the back? It turned out we boarded at row 11, we were row 10, perfect. As I said, that was pure luck. I think perhaps TC should take a look their procedure for disabled passengers. That was the only fault with the TC airline experience. I'm not complaining - it was free! Just an observation that perhaps TC could take on board?

After watching Skyfall and sleeping for a large chunk of the journey we arrived to a beautifully warm Tenerife (30C)!

The airport staff in Spanish airports are brilliant with passengers who need assistance (I had help in Malaga once when my mobility was better than it is now, as well as in Tenerife). They have a whole team of folk in yellow tops who take your wheelchair and whisk you through the airport (both ways, incoming and outgoing). It is an absolutely BRILLIANT service that perhaps the UK should be looking at introducing? I can't big it up enough - just fab! I can imagine it is great for older travellers too, I mean hubby is physically capable of pushing me round an airport in a wheelchair but many companions aren't.

OK, I appear to have blethered on for quite a while....and we have only just reached Tenerife. OOPS! I think the post might have to be Part One - Travel.

We had prebooked with Hertz to rent a car from them for the week. It was all very straight forward and they gave us a slightly bigger car as they felt it would be more suitable for our needs.

MONEYSAVING TIP - if you are renting a car with an excess waiver I highly recommend getting insurance that will cover that waiver but NOT from the rental company. They charge an absolute fortune. We were offered insurance for £90 for the week... we took out our own insurance for about £17! I recommend taking a look at moneymaxim.co.uk for quotes and save yourself some money!

So there we were, in Tenerife, heading for our hotel and I was just waiting to wake up and realise it was all a dream...........

PART TWO coming very soon.....

Win Shloer Raspberry and Rhubarb Punch Prize Packs!

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 11:53:00 +0000

The sun is shining today - it finally feels like spring! We've not gone so far as to dig out the BBQ yet but today gives us hope that maybe we can have a BBQ get-together with friends soon.

To supplement this sunny mood we're sipping on some chilled Limited Edition Raspberry and Rhubarb Punch from Shloer.

I've blogged about Shloer before and the memories that a glass of Shloer holds for me - memories of dinner with my late Grandpa for example. It's been a firm favourite in our family throughout the years, so we were delighted to be asked to try the latest addition to the Shloer family.

Pouring it into a glass and having a sniff it smells like Jolly Ranchers (do you remember them?), it's a sweet, fruity smell. It tastes lovely, sweet but not too sweet although I don't think I could drink a lot of it at one go.

I'd say it's a great compromise for those who don't drink alcohol - drivers, new mums, mums-to-be etc. A special, chilled punch that will make you feel part of the party.

The lovely people at Shloer are offering Rhoda Reviews readers the chance get ready for summer and BBQ season with a great giveaway to win 1 of 4 Shloer Party Packs (12 bottles in each, worth £25)!!

To be in with a chance of winning this fab prize just complete the rafflecopter entry form below....simple! You can do as many of the entries as you want but please make sure you are honest, I do check.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!!

There are two more competitions over on the Shloer website - but be quick, they end at the end of April!

Thank you to Shloer for providing the prizes for this giveaway. A sample was sent for us to try. All opinions are completely our own and entirely honest.

Lunch with Sistema

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:15:00 +0000

Packed lunches - how do you deal with them? A carrier bag? A retro style lunchbox? (I used to have a transformers one....I seem to remember it had snakes and ladders on the back) Or do you just throw it loose into a schoolbag / workbag / handbag?

I don't know about you but when you are looking forward to lunch and then find a squashed, sad looking sandwich at the bottom of your bag it doesn't exactly look particularly appetising!

I don't really spend a lot of time thinking about packed lunches...in fact hubby just normally throws his stuff in his work bag on the way out the door. However, we were recently sent a sample of Sistema's uniquely designed lunchboxes to try out and it got me thinking.

I must admit I was pretty excited when the Slimline Quaddie lunchbox arrived. It's so much cooler than I expected. It's BPA free and feels good quality, nice and sturdy. This box has four compartments and a wee drinks bottle too.

Certain members of our family... not naming names... don't like it when their food touches or gets mixed up. As soon as I saw this I knew it would be perfect for them.

The main, large compartment is large enough to fit sandwiches in, or leftovers from last night's dinner. However when the lid comes down it's not quite as deep as you think it's going to be, due to the compartments in the lid. That said there's plenty room.

Here's my lunch today....

A prawn & avocado salad in the large compartment, medjool dates in one small compartment, some peanuts for snacking in the other and smoothie in the juice bottle.

I have to say that this box is just perfect for me. Due to my illness I can't go making lunch and wandering about the house. My husband makes lunch for me, and leaves me with snacks and juice for the day while he is out at work. This is perfect for housing my days rations! Everything is kept hygienically in one place.

Obviously most people take their lunchboxes out and about with them and I can tell you that all the compartments are secure and stay closed so you don't need to worry about finding a rogue egg sandwich in your bag!

I'd say this is perfect for kids lunches, all in one place with sections for fruits, treats etc. It's dishwasher safe (top rack only) so it's easy to clean.

Have to say I'm really impressed with this box....Liz tried to steal it when she was round recently as it really is a great design!

Sistema products are available from Asda, Cargo and John Lewis.

We received a sample Sistema lunchbox free of charge. All opinions expressed are entirely our own and completely honest.

The Body Finder Series....Dead Silence

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:22:00 +0000

Three of my favourite things are based in and around Seattle - Frasier, Grey's Anatomy and The Body Finder series of books. I guess you could say 4 if you count my coffee obsession (Seattle is famous for its coffee roasting & shops).

I've been waiting all year for book four of the Body Finder series, Dead Silence. I was put on to Kimberly Derting by a friend on Twitter and after reading the first chapter of the first book I have been hooked. So when I was offered the chance to review Dead Silence I jumped at the chance. Yes, I may have stalked the postie for a while until the book arrived through the door, such was my excitement.

I'd love to launch in and discuss Dead Silence but it occurs to me that since this is the fourth book in the series I'd better not spoil anything for those of you who haven't discovered Kimberly Derting yet. So instead let's start with a bit of information about The Body Finder.

Violet is a teenager with a difference. She has an ability, one that she must keep secret - she can sense the echoes of the murdered and imprints upon their murderers. For years Violet has been finding murdered animals and together with her parents burying them in their garden so that they might rest in peace. Over the course of The Body Finder series things step up and she finds herself not only finding human bodies but also tracking down their murderers.

While the "body finding" aspect of Violet's life may separate her from other teenagers, she still leads a teenagers life, school, friends and a special male friend all keep her busy.

I absolutely love this series of books, they never fail to disappoint. Derting has a unique writing style and really captures the readers imagination. I love that while she writes as Violet for the majority of the chapters we also get chapters written from the killer's perspective - these chapters are written in italics. As a result I feel we, as readers, get a full picture. We get two stories, that of the killer and of Violet, and eventually these stories will converge.

It's not very often that I read a book that keeps me thoroughly gripped, however I find myself turning page after page of Derting's books, desperate to know what's going to happen next.

I love the Body Finder concept. I'd love to know what inspired Derting, how she came up with this ability for Violet. Whatever it may be, it's a fascinating idea that will keep you gripped!

Dead Silence absolutely did not disappoint. I love how invested I've become in all the characters, Violet and the two boys in her life Jay and Rafe.

I've been deliberately vague in this post as I really don't want to spoil anything for you. Suffice to say these books are really easy to read, great young adult fiction. It's not all body finding, there's some romance thrown in there too!

There's just one problem with these books - finishing them! After I've read them I am just desperate for the next one.

Dead Silence will be published in paperback in the UK on 25 April 2013. If you are looking for a new series to read I highly recommend The Body Finder!

Now....... will there be a fifth book?!

We received a review copy of Dead Silence free of charge. As always our review is completely honest and all opinions are entirely our own.

Slowing The Blog Down

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:22:00 +0000

Things are particularly tough right now healthwise for me and familywise for Liz. With this in mind we are joining in the Tots100 Slow Blogging Movement.

I won't bore you with all the details of our lives right now but we will blog when we can/feel up to it.

I'm sure you will all understand and appreciate where we are coming from with this. So for April we are Slowing the Blog Down.

......we do have a treat or two lined up for you this month though ;-)

Free Ben & Jerry's???

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:06:00 +0000

Love Ben & Jerry's? Well tomorrow (9th April) Ben & Jerry's are hosting their annual Free Cone Day across the UK! Selected scoop shops will be handing out a free scoop to Ben & Jerry's fans. In fact, you can take a scoop, try it, rejoin the queue and try another!

To find your nearest participating Scoop Shop click here. To help you decide what to try Liz has reviewed one of the latest additions to the Ben & Jerry's family - Blondie Brownie Core....it's fair to say it was a hit!

For research purposes only I am currently finishing off the last scrapings of ice cream so as to be confident of writing a ‘full’ and ‘up-to-date’ review. Plus, the kids are finally asleep and after my one-year-old daughter pulled a tantrum with full kicking the floor and screaming next to the full-size model subway train in the transport museum today (accompanied by the natural looks of passers-by ranging from ‘can’t she control her kid’ to sheer pity) and the fact that my husband is working away from home this week, I think I’m allowed to eat as much ice cream and drink as much wine as I wish.

And so I am incredibly thankful to the wonderful people at Ben & Jerry’s who have created this wonderful antidote for todays mayhem. I chose the ‘Blondie Brownie’ variety which consists of ‘A soft salted caramel core surrounded by chocolate & vanilla ice creams with chocolate and blondie-brownie chunks’. Truly lovely! The chocolate ice cream is lovely in itself and the brownie chunks are gorgeous. The vanilla ice cream gives the whole thing a bit of balance and the blondies are fab!

To be honest, I’d never heard of a blondie so I had to do a little search to find out what it is. A couple of batches later and I can confirm they are a lovely alternative to brownies (although both together would be a perfect combination).

There are so many different combinations to try and when you get a bit which incorporates both ice creams with a big chunk of brownie and blondie, all topped by a big dollop of salted caramel it’s enough to make you relax in a big goo...

Well done Ben & Jerry’s for being generous – the tub is crammed full of brownies/blondies and caramel, and they still manage to fit in the ice cream! Well worth the money...

My only suggestion would be that an addition of a little brandy or whisky and a big sign with ‘Mum’s food ONLY’ would really make this perfect.

Ben & Jerry's sent us a couple of ice cream vouchers so we could test their latest flavours. As always all opinions expressed are entirely our own and completely honest.

Saturday Breakfast with New York Bakery Co.

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 12:15:00 +0000

This weekend we have a great friend staying, Stevo. It's so nice to see him and a good excuse to treat ourselves.

This morning hubby and Stevo have headed off into town to do some beer tasting at a local brewery with Ally and Stu (who have previously appeared on the blog). So as not to send them out on a empty stomach it seemed the perfect chance to get them to test out one of the latest bagel flavours from New York Bakery Co.

So a toasted Fruit & Oat Bagel with melted butter and a cup of coffee was served up....and I awaited a verdict.

Hubby instantly said that it tasted like a hot cross bun.....Stevo however doesn't like hot cross buns but quite liked this. Controversial!

In the end they settled upon like being "like a hot cross bun but without the stickiness and with the added chewiness of a bagel". Hubby loved it, Stevo wasn't quite so sure.

Turns out Stevo doesn't like fruit in his bagels, so a Fruit & Oat Bagel probably wouldn't be high on his list. Hubby however will demolish this pack and look out for more next time he's in a supermarket.

Meanwhile I loved the smell but my SCD diet won't let me try them out. I can tell you though they looked gorgeous!

So now the boys are off on a beer tour and I'm settled in with a coffee and the football (come on Man U). :D

Whatever you're doing this Easter weekend I hope you have fun....and that it is full of tasty treats!

New York Bakery Co. sent us a pack of these new bagels to sample. All opinions expressed are entirely our own and, as always, completely honest.

Free Kicks for Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 08:35:00 +0000

It's no secret that I am a huge football fan. While Man U is my team I just enjoy watching football, if there's football on tv the chances are I will find it!

As a kid I was really lucky in that a local guy used to take football training. He had been a pro and gave up his Saturday mornings to share his passion for football with the local children and teach them a bit about the game.

Those Saturday mornings were brilliant, rain or shine we'd be there. I'd come home caked in mud and happy.

So what's causing today's particular walk down memory lane? Well Samsung have launched a new Free Kicks for Kids campaign. Girls and boys between the ages of 6 and 13 are invited to sign up to an hour-long free coaching session with Chelsea FC coaches!

How cool would this be? As a kid I'd have loved it! The sessions will be taking place at Goals Soccer Centres over the coming weeks and each session will be splint into 4 age groups so that your child gets the most out of this great opportunity.

For local readers, Free Kicks for Kids is coming to Glasgow on 27th April.

You can find out where your nearest session is, and when, by visiting the Facebook page. You'll also find everything you need to know about registering your child at www.facebook.com/samsungfootball.

We just wanted to share this awesome opportunity with you! :D

Galt Toys: Bridging the Age Gap between your Children

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 07:50:00 +0000

Today our friends at Galt Toys are guest blogging with some great tips on how to bridge the age gap between your children.

Bridging the Age Gap between your Children

Back in the day, children were often from large families with small age gaps between each child. However, the introduction of birth control allowed women to plan their family, creating slightly larger age gaps and often smaller families of say two or three children. Now, this is still the case in many families, although the increasing number of marriages ending in divorce has created quite a different situation. All over the world, people are starting again with another partner later in life, a relationship from which a child or two is quite often born.

Sometimes, there can be a substantial age gap between children, with teenagers and young adults welcoming younger siblings into the family after their mother or father finds a new partner. While these children often have nothing in common, they can do things for and with this younger brother or sister that they may not have been able to do if they had a smaller age gap. But how can we as parents encourage our older children to spend time with the little ones? What kind of things can they do together to create that strong bond we yearn for them to have with one another?

Teaching baby new tricks

Small children change all the time. From birth, they grow stronger and stronger, supporting their own head, then sitting alone, then even standing alone, eventually crawling and walking. Clapping, waving, dancing, or talking are also very cute and things that they will learn on their developmental journey, but your older child can help them to learn quicker by spending a little time each day ‘teaching’ baby. Encourage them to work on one particular skill together, using toys or songs (for example, if teaching baby to clap, sing ‘If you’re happy and you know it’ while clapping). Babies love attention and interaction, and will look forward to this time together if it becomes a part of their routine.

Trips out

Once baby is not dependant on mummy during the day, especially if the baby has been breastfed, encourage your teen to take them out. Use your discretion to work out whether you think your child is mature enough to handle baby before suggesting this! A walk to the beach or lunch at a local café is a great place to start.

Playtime

Messy play, painting, jigsaws, or educational toys can be very valuable in getting the kids to play together. Small children like to copy adults or older siblings, and will pick up new activities very quickly, striving to be just like their big brother or sister. Start small and aim to increase the length of time or the difficulty of the activity to challenge them both (challenging baby to learn more, challenging their sibling to show them how to do something effectively).

Involve them in the day-to-day stuff

Encourage your older child to play an active part in bath time, meal times, getting dressed or helping baby to sleep. It gives you a bit of time to relax and get things done, and it gives the kids bonding time while showing the elder of the two just how much work can be involved in having a child. This also prepares them for when they have a child of their own.

Involving older children from day one can help them to get over any jealousy issues that may arise from the birth of your new child. Try a few of these things, and you give your children the chance to be the best of friends despite whatever age gap there may be.

We were not compensated in any way for this post - just thought it was interesting.

Value My Stuff Review

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 09:07:00 +0000

For a while now we've had some things we would like to get valued. Not with any particular expectation of finding them to be worth a fortune, more for a "it would be nice to know" reason.

The problem is that I'm largely housebound and so dragging a box of random bits and bobs to antique shops and fayres isn't really something we can do.

The opportunity arose to test out and review a website called valuemystuff.com. It seemed the perfect solution to quell my curiosity with minimum energy.

I was actually really impressed by how easy it is to use. I thought perhaps I'd have to give great long explanations of the items I wanted valued, but actually you can just upload a picture or as many pictures as you want. Then add whatever information you know about your piece - measurements, country of origin, whatever you know. Then you press submit and wait.

While you are off thinking of something else entirely the people at valuemystuff.com assign your valuation to the relevant expert who compiles a report for you with information about your item and, crucially, a valuation.

Then you get an email to tell you that your valuation report is done. EASY! They say you will get it within 48hours, mine came through much more quickly than that.

one of our reports

The report is easy to understand and tells you everything you need to know. You can also download a valuation certificate to keep with your items or to upload onto your eBay listing along with the Value My Stuff seal so potential buyers can feel assured that your valuation is legit.

All in all it's really easy to use, a great service. I didn't actually find that my items were worth a fortune but now I know....and I didn't even have to leave the house.

A single valuation costs £7.50 or you can buy 3 for £19.99 or 10 for £59.99. I'd recommend that you follow them on Twitter (@ValueMyStuff) or like on Facebook as they sometimes have deals or even free valuations to give away.

All in all I'm really impressed with this service......and I'm not the only one - the Dragons from Dragon's Den saw fit to invest in this service. I've even got Mum raiding her stuff to get valuations now!

We were given three valuation credits in order to test out this service. We have, as always, been completely honest with our findings and all opinions are entirely our own.

My Planet by Mary Roach

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 08:26:00 +0000

I have to admit that when I was asked if I wanted to read Mary Roach's new book, My Planet: Finding Humor In The Oddest Places, I had never heard of her. It turns out that she is really popular in the US.... It turns out that I love her writing style!

Mary Roach has been a columnist for Readers Digest for quite some time and My Planet is the compilation of her articles (referred to as essays but essays sound like hard work, this book isn't) into one volume. If you think Caitlin Moran's Moranthology, then remove the colourful language and ranting, then you are starting to hit upon what this book is like.

Roach draws upon her own experience, her own life, to create articles that will make you nod your head furiously, sympathise and laugh out loud.

I must admit I wasn't really expecting to laugh out loud. It's quite rare that a book can do that to me but this had me with tears in my eyes at points. Roach really hit upon my sense of humour.

Her husband Ed features a lot in this book, and as you delve further in you begin to really appreciate their relationship. From discussing how to deal with ants in the house, to negotiating over a new pasta pot, this book takes everyday occurrences and highlights the humour.

I will however say that it took me a couple of chapters to get into the book. I think this is possibly because I was getting used to the American style. Once I was in though I was hooked.

A great read that is perfect for bedtime readers, each chapter is an article so you have closure after a few pages. It's also great if, like me, your concentration is poor. It's great for dipping in to, or indeed sitting with a cuppa and reading in one go!

Now that I've been introduced to Mary Roach I suspect I will have to go and track down more of her books. I've had a taste of her writing style and I love it!

My Planet: Finding Humor In The Oddest Places will be published on 4th April 2013.

I received a digital copy of this book. All opinions expressed are, as always, completely honest and entirely my own.

#Deskfest Day Three

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 10:37:00 +0000

Today, as it's Saturday, our #deskfest is a little bit less healthy...but no less tasty!

Two toasted teacakes with unsalted butter, a glass of Alpro pouring yoghurt and a freshly ground coffee with Alpro soya milk - sooo tasty! We prefer coffee with soya milk, it's more creamy in our opinion.

You've still got time to join in #deskfest yourself. If you don't have any Alpro products in get yourself down to the supermarket and create your own #deskfest. There are daily prizes to be won as well as that trip to New York!

Thanks to Alpro for asking us to join in with this challenge. It's been great fun and has inspired us to think a bit more creatively about #deskfests.

Thank you also to Alpro for the bundle of goodies you sent our way, very kind of you.

So what are you waiting for? Get creating and you could be off to New York! For more info visit www.alpro.com/deskfest

#deskfest day two

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 08:59:00 +0000

Morning! Another day, another #deskfast.

Today we've gone for strawberries, blueberries, banana and brambles topped with Alpro Mild & Creaming Pouring Yoghurt and honey. Delicious!

I've been nagging hubby to have more fruit in his diet...combining with Alpro yoghurt and honey seems to be the way forward!

Remember you can take part in #deskfest too and there are prizes to be won....including a weekend for two in New York!!! Check out www.alpro.com/deskfest for more information. The competition closes next Thursday so you've still got time to take part.

See you tomorrow for our third #deskfest!

I Love Fridays!!

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:59:00 +0000

Fridays...we all love them don't we? My Friday excitement has escalated in recent weeks though since Maria from www.feistytapas.com introduced me to a gorgeous website - Dots and Spots.

Dots and Spots is the home of the extremely talented Becky who cuts and tears papers to create beautiful collages and in turn cards, wrapping paper, tapes, notebooks, paper bags, mugs...the list goes on.

So why the Friday excitement? Well every Friday Becky runs 50% Friday where she chooses a different selection of products each week to reduce by 50% for 24 hours only!

my first order

I placed my first order a couple of weeks ago and I am hugely impressed and massively in love with the products. What's more if you spend over £20 you get FREE delivery. I ordered on the Friday and the free delivery parcel arrived on the Wednesday, I was really pleased with that!

I've since introduced Mum to Dots and Spots and she's now had her first order too and thrilled with it!

Of course you don't have to wait until 50% Friday to order but it's always exciting to find out what treats Becky has in store for us.

I am reliably informed that tomorrow is for camper van fans!

So there you go, that's why I'm even more in love with Fridays these days! Don't tell hubby though or he might hide my purse!

I just wanted to share this gorgeous company with you. :D

Deskfest Day One

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 09:01:00 +0000

When I went dairy free two years ago we began our acquaintance with Alpro... it's a friendship that has blossomed with every new product they have released.

This week we are taking part in the Alpro Deskfest challenge. More and more people are eating their breakfast at their desks and these breakfasts are becoming increasingly unhealthy. Deskfest is encouraging us all to be creative at breakfast, and, perhaps more importantly, be healthy too.

Today is day one of the challenge and I set hubby the task of creating a healthy, filling deskfest!

He opted for porridge (or brochan as we call it, it's the Gaelic name, I think I was a fair age before I knew it was actually called porridge) with Alpro Almond Milk, chopped banana and honey. Surely a great way to fuel your day?

He washed the porridge down with a glass of Alpro Hazelnut drink.... which he says is amazing!

So there you have it, a filling, healthy start to the day at your desk!

Wonder what day two will be................

You can check out all the deskfest creations by visiting www.alpro.com/deskfest or searching #deskfest on Twitter or Instagram.

Have a great day!

Casabu Celebrates Global Kids' Fashion Week

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:19:00 +0000

The first ever Global Kids' Fashion Week has hit London this week showcasing kids' fashion from both established designers and emerging names.

I have blogged in the past about Casabu, a fantastic daily sales website that offers customers up to 90% off normal retail prices. They are celebrating Global Kid's Fashion Week with some great sales, showcasing the Best of British.

I recently placed an order with Casabu and as it has just arrived I thought I'd share with you the bargains I managed to nab.

You have to be quick with Casabu as their sales are for a limited period only and naturally sell pretty fast! I was lucky enough to get my hands on a gorgeous Converse Striped Polo Shirt for Jonny. I received a phonecall a couple of days after my order to say my original size choice was sadly out of stock, but such was my love of the product I just opted for a bigger size!

Originally £20...Casabu price was £12

It arrived the other day and is lovely quality, I'm really pleased with it. I also managed to get a cute Pila Pala Multi-Stripe Tee. It was pitched as unisex so it means that Sophie will get wear from it when Jonny has outgrown it.

Originally £19.99.....Casabu price £11

I really am thrilled with my purchases - great quality at a great price. Naturally these sales have been and gone, but don't worry there are still fantastic bargains to be had.

I thought I'd share with you my favourite items from their current sales to celebrate Global Kids' Fashion Week. Note that some of these sales end at 8am TOMORROW (21st March).

Millie Manu Needlecord Pinafore Originally £45....Casabu price £24

Bonnie Baby Grey Bird Applique Tee Originally £23....Casabu price £21

Marmalade & Mash Wine Cord Pinafore Originally £47....Casabu Price £17.50

I could go on....but instead I'll leave you to pop over to Casabu yourself and check out what's on offer. If you manage to get an order in by 8am Friday you'll qualify for free delivery!

The link from this blog to Casabu is personalised so as to monitor traffic from this post. I do not benefit in any way from this link, it is not an affiliate link, merely for information. A £20 voucher was received to spend freely on the Casabu website. All opinions are entirely our own and completely honest.

Let's Talk About...Big Beds and Bedtime Review

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 09:12:00 +0000

Bedtime - that word that fills many parents with dread. What about when your little one moves into a big bed? The Let's Talk About series of books has the answer - Let's Talk About..Big Beds and Bedtime. Liz has been reviewing the book....

The ‘Let’s Talk About...’ series of books encourages just what its title suggests; talking about all the ‘problems and issues’ related to children. Anything that aims to get parents chatting about their little ‘angels’ in a less than angelic light has got to be good. The people I know who have children seem to fall into two categories – the ‘we’ve been so lucky with Harry/Annabel/Horatio etc; he sleeps all night, eats everything, still naps in the day, walked at three months, was toilet trained by eleven months and was making us breakfast in bed by eighteen months’ brigade, and the ‘please say you’re having as much trouble with your kids as I am with mine – I’m not sure he’ll be toilet trained ever, but at least one day his wife will have to deal with it rather than me’ camp.

It seems to me the first ‘type’ are either the luckiest parents in the world or are blatant liars (I can’t help but hope it’s the second option as there is such a solace in feeling like you’re not the only one who finds parenting difficult). Since my first child appeared in this world four years ago I have ranted many times on my ever-higher soap-box about wishing that parents were just more open about the challenges we all face. Problems that we usually encounter and try to solve during the most sleep-deprived times when all that keeps you going is the thought of that cork popping out the bottle when the kids finally sleep.

Our two (aged four and 1) have always been, and still are, terrible sleepers. It is no exaggeration to say that we have had a full night’s sleep approximately twenty times in the last four years. They have never slept during the day since turning one (except in car seats which doesn’t exactly give you a break) and we have eventually accepted that this is what they’re like (my mum happily tells us that my three siblings and I were exactly the same). They both now sleep in big beds and this makes a difference but the early wake-up calls and scary monster nightmares are getting worse.

‘Big Beds and Bedtime’ is a book written by children's writer & editor Stella Gurney and photographer Fiona Freund. They don’t attempt to lecture or direct, but just talk about it through bright pictures which appeal to kids and grown-ups. In the most relaxed writing style they tell the story of Layla’s first night in her big bed and the difficulties faced with possible solutions. It includes some ‘nuggets of wisdom’ from people who’ve been there which is really useful. Stella and Fiona seems like practical people and point out that ‘if you’re having a bad time, remember – things will change.’ This is the best advice, and remind you of the challenges you’ve faced which have now passed.

This book isn’t rocket science, but it makes you feel like you’re not alone and that, in parenthood, is priceless.

The practical series of books also includes Let's Talk About..My New Baby, with two new titles on the horizon - Let's Talk About... Pants and Potties and Let's Talk About... The "No" Word.

For more information about this series visit www.lets-talk-about.co.uk

A sample copy of this book was received free of charge. As always all opinions are entirely our own and completely honest.

Win A Hotel Chocolat Easter Gift

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:38:00 +0000

I'm fairly sure you all know by now that we are huge fans of Hotel Chocolat in this house. Not only is the chocolate great quality but I always love the presentation of the chocolate too, it really makes for an extra special gift.

So today we've decided to share the Hotel Chocolat love with our readers. The lovely people at Hotel Chocolat are giving Rhoda Reviews readers the chance to win an Easter gift.

Raspberry Eton Mess Egg Sandwich - £8

One lucky reader will win a Raspberry Eton Mess Egg Sandwich from Hotel Chocolat - two slices of gorgeous chocolate sandwiched between two beautifully decorated egg shells.

To be in with a chance of winning this delicious prize simply complete the rafflecopter entry form below - EASY! The winner will be selected on 25th March 2013 to give the egg every chance to arrive in time for Easter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

NOTE - The winner will have 48 hours to reply to the email, after which time they will forfeit the prize and a new winner will be selected. This is also to give the egg every chance to arrive in time for Easter.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Thank you to Hotel Chocolat for providing the prize for this giveaway.

Great Gizmos - Join in National Science & Engineering Week

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:03:00 +0000

Many of you will know that I love science. I've always loved it. I briefly thought about doing Physics at Uni but I ended up doing a Masters in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. We had a relatively small year group and I was one of four girls doing the course - that was actually about a sixth of the year group so quite a good proportion really!

Why am I telling you this? Well this month there is a ten day celebration of science, engineering and technology - National Science and Engineering Week runs from 15th March - 24th March. It's the perfect opportunity to inspire young minds and get them interested in the world around them.

As a teenager I adored Physics at school. I am quite sure this is in no small part due to the fantastic teacher I had. He really passed on his passion for the subject, kept us all engaged and encouraged us to think in a new way, a scientific way.

I have no doubt that if it wasn't for my teachers nurturing my natural love of science that I wouldn't have gone down the path I did at Uni, I wouldn't absorb every scientific fact I can.........and if we are going down this route I wouldn't have met my husband.

I think it's so important that children and young people get introduced to science. My husband (a civil engineer) has worked on a Bridges for Schools campaign whereby engineers go in to primary schools with all the relevant materials and get kids to build a bridge. This is the kind of thing I think plants a seed or encourages an interest in the engineering world.

However not all schools are lucky enough to have fantastic, inspiring science teachers or indeed the opportunity to invite engineers in to work with their pupils. When that happens where do children find their inspiration? Well surely that has to be found at home? You might be sat there thinking "but I'm not sciencey, how am I meant to help" well it's easy, there are some fantastic products out there that allow you to undertake a project with your young ones and allow them to learn about science whilst doing it.

Great Gizmos have a fantastic range of 4M science kits to inspire, teach and just have fun really. We were lucky enough to be sent their Grow-a-Maze kit from their Green Science to test out.

The great thing about these kits is that they are easy to do at home with things you might have kicking about the house. In this case you need you'll need some compost (or soil), a small container, cotton wool and dried beans.

The instructions are clear and easy to follow and really there isn't much effort required. You will need a bit of patience but kids will love checking up on their maze every day to see how much it has progressed. There's 6 different experiments to try from building the maze to having a bean race!

Younger children will probably just love the novelty of creating a maze, however this kit might just inspire older kids to think about what roots are, how plants grow, how plants survive etc. I love the fact that it's transparent and you can see exactly what's going on and learn from the maze growing experience.

Personally I think this is a great gift for kids of all ages - it's something older kids could do alone or that you could do as a family with young ones.

The Green Science range is full of great environmentally friendly kits, raising awareness of the environment as well as of science and engineering. I particularly like the look of the Salt Water Robot and also the Weather Station.

I love these kits, they would make great gifts. Jonny is certainly enjoying growing his maze, although it's in the very early stages (and as he is four we are doing it together).

So why not join in the celebration that is National Science and Engineering Week? It's accessible to all and who knows you might even learn something yourself?

Great Gizmo 4M Science Kits are available from www.brightsparktoys.co.uk ..... and P&P is currently FREE for a limited time only!!

For more information about National Science and Engineering week visit the British Science Association website. They have some great ideas over there and downloads too.

The Grow-A-Maze kit was received free of charge. All opinions expressed are entirely our own.

MOB Rule Review & Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 09:34:00 +0000

Hannah Evans is Mum to three young boys - she is surrounded by males. "In her world, farting is so much more interesting than phonics, dam-building trumps damsels in distress any day and, astonishingly, she now instinctively knows the difference between a Frontloader and a JCB."

Last month she published her book MOB RULE: Lessons Learned by a Mother of Boys and naturally we couldn't wait to review it. Liz has one son, Jonny. As "Auntie Rhoda" I get to play along with all the farting games - an app with farting fish (which incidentally my Dad finds hilarious too, it's a male thing), books about farting, I love how funny Jonny finds it. However I do get to pass him back....what's it like for a Mum?

Well Liz reviews Hannah's book....it's safe to say she loves it. Keep reading to find out how you could win a copy!

Hilarious. Truly hilarious. Whether you have children, boys, girls, or a mixture, this book is a brilliant read.

I have one boy (Jonny, 4) and one girl (Sophie, 1) and I can relate the book to each of them. My husband is the youngest of three boys and it has not only given me a new-found respect (and pity) for my mother-in-law (always a good thing), but a new understanding (I use the word loosely) of my husband. My daughter can be incredibly naughty and she is so headstrong. I am one of three girls and a boy and so I can see different character traits of grandma and my sisters in Sophie. Therefore, I kind of get her and understand her will power and ability to get out of trouble with granddad and dad by the power of ‘smile’. Jonny, however, is a much simpler species which enjoys all things bodily function and could tell me which trains were steam, electric and diesel when he was two. Girls are such thinkers and boys display their feelings and behaviour so openly. They don’t appreciate being fobbed off, but want to know the answers (especially about death and ‘what would happen if burgulars stole all our stuff?)

I knew I would like this book after reading the ‘warning’ which reads ‘This book contains gratuitous stereotypes and gross generalisations’. I love books such as these where they look at life with humour and make you feel like every parent has been driven totally crazy and gone through the same situations with their little angels (my friend reminded me that Beelzebub was an angel once and so I feel able to use this term). In parenthood you often choose to laugh or cry – this book helps you to do the first.

Introducing the ‘cast’ at the beginning of the book is a novel and inspirational idea and I can’t help but think that Hannah’s boys are probably very well-rounded lads who are not afraid to laugh at themselves. Her description of ‘Manicured MOG’ and ‘Manicured MOB’ is perfect.

Hannah Evans deals with all the topics that make you laugh – standing up weeing in the toilet is a particular favourite. Plus her humorous look at mums is great. The ‘no-point-in-changing jeans and seen-better-days fleece’ hits such a chord with me; my siblings have no children and the look of pity they sometimes have for me is obvious. They can turn up in their nice, clean car dressed with care and hair washed, generally with a costa coffee in their hand. They open my kitchen cupboards to find the supermarket saver range and me with hair scraped back with clothes generally covered in stuff. And the amazing fuss that’s made if your legs are on show is just not worth mentioning!

Not only does Hannah Evans give helpful hints about dealing with boys but she excels in her practical tips, such as the crossword (p.110) and how to make a vinegar volcano (p.244).

LOVE THIS!!

This is the perfect book for dipping in and out of in those quiet moments (‘moments’ being the operative word) as anything where you had to read long passages in one go would, quite honestly, remain on the bookshelf until the next charity shop visit.

10/10

The lovely people at Bloomsbury are offering Rhoda Reviews readers the chance to win 1 of 2 copies of this fantastic book.

To be in with a chance to winning just complete the rafflecopter entry form below - you can do as many of the entries as you want, totally up to you. EASY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

You can find out more about Hannah Evans and her life with boys over on her blog mobruleblog.wordpress.com.

Thank you to Bloomsbury for providing the prizes for this giveaway. A copy of MOB Rule was received F.O.C. All opinions expressed are entirely our own and, as always, completely honest.

Operation Declutter - Win With Wilko

noreply@blogger.com (Rhoda) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 09:50:00 +0000

Operation Declutter continues today - it's going slowly but we are definitely getting somewhere. The problem is when you get rid of a load of clutter, organise what you have left and then realise you have no idea where you are going to put it!

We've been looking for three storage solutions recently, so when the chance came up to work with Wilko again it seemed perfect timing. The lovely people at Wilko are offering YOU the chance to win a voucher for their stores so keep reading to find out more.

I set about looking at the Wilko website for a solution to our storage problems. The first problem is stationary. We got rid of a desk that was just taking up space as well as gathering clutter and dust. Then we realised that we had nowhere to put our stationary! I liked the idea of a box where we could keep all the bits and bobs for wrapping gifts in one box, another for pens and perhaps a third for staplers, hole punch etc. I've currently got my eye on these collapsible boxes from Wilko. I reckon they'd look nice and tidy on the book shelves but also provide easy access to all that stationary.

Plum Medium - £4.40 and Plum Small - £2.20

So that's problem one potentially solved - I just need hubby to agree and give me his credit card!

Problem two is paperwork. How is it possible to have so much paperwork? Insurances for this, certificates for that, important letters - it's unbelievable how much space it takes up! Of course that's just me being selfish - there's the environmental aspect too but I won't embark upon a rant about that right now.

We used to use those expansion files for all the paperwork but we soon ended up with a whole family of them and nowhere to put them. I like the idea of a filing cabinet but I don't want a big ugly metal set of drawers in the house. Then I spotted this oak effect filing cabinet on Wilko - it looks like it could solve this particular problem.... just need to wait for it to come back into stock.

Oak Effect Filing Cabinet - £35

The third storage problem is a bit different from the other two. I have two blankets in the living room that folk could be forgiven for thinking are actually part of my being. I am constantly snuggled up under my blankets! The only problem occurs when they need to be put away....where can I put them that's easy to hand but neat and tidy? At the moment one is in a drawer on the other side of the room (a minor expedition to get there) and the second crumpled up on the sofa.

Storage Stool £34

So I have my eye on one of these storage stools. I'm thinking they could store my blankets when not in use and perhaps provide a foot stool or even a wee seat for my mini visitors?

Now that I've found some solutions I just need to get hubby to agree to them....that could be more of a challenge!

The lovely people at Wilko have, once again, offered Rhoda Reviews readers the chance to win a £20 voucher! You can spend it on anything you like - perhaps even your own Operation Declutter? To be in with a chance of winning just complete the rafflecopter entry below - you can do as many of the entries as you like, totally up to you.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!!

For more information about Wilko visit their website - www.wilko.com.

Thank you to Wilko for providing the prize for this giveaway. No other reward of any kind was received. Opinions expressed in this post are entirely our own.