My Dream Horse with Petplan Equine Horse Insurance
About a month ago, the boys received a huge shock when they found out that their creative dream pet design was made into a real soft toy (read more about the boys’ dream pet, BatCat, here). So, imagine their surprise when they got the chance to hone their design skills further and create their dream horse! I was half expecting them to moan about not being able to design a horse or that it was going to be difficult. I even semi-expected that they would fight over how to draw their dream horse. But, not at all. They sketched and coloured their dream horse in about 10 minutes and unanimously agreed on all the elements and colours. So, the boys present to you their dream horse design, called…
… FLASH!
When asked why their dream horse didn’t have four legs, they replied that Flash was a magic horse and that he could jump faster and higher than any animal in the world. I then asked why Flash had no arms. The boys said that Flash used his long nose to move, eat and smell everything.
Mind blown. Guess what blew my mind even more…
Flash was now a real soft toy!
Honestly, I was so happy to see BatCat being made into a soft toy. But, to see the boys experience holding their dream horse design in their hands too? It just felt amazing to see how proud they were of themselves.
The boys introduced Flash to BatCat and each hashed out a plan to alternate who would sleep with BatCat and Flash, in order to keep them safe every night.
Petplan Equine Horse Insurance
A lot of children grow up dreaming of having a unicorn and some are lucky enough to get to own their very own horse. And since being a responsible horse owner means looking after your horse and protecting them from harm, Petplan has created Horse Insurance from Petplan Equine, which has been successfully keeping horses healthy and owners happy since 1976. Petplan provide themselves on the very best equine insurance policies to help owners nurse their beloved horses back to health after an illness or injury. Every horse, like every other animal in the world, has their own character and personality and so Petplan offers genuine ‘lifetime’ policies, called Covered for Life®. They also offer 12-month policies designed to suit all needs as well.
Petplan work with more than 1,200 charities throughout the UK and, in 1994, formed the Petplan Charitable Trust, which has, so far, raised more than £7 million towards a better, healthier world for animals. Get a quote from Petplan Equine here.
As a side note, if more children could see their designs come to life as a soft toy, especially when starting at such a young age as 4 and 6 years old? I think we would see a lot more designers and inventors prop up in our future. Very, very impressed with this campaign, thank you Petplan!
*This post and of course, Flash, has been possible thanks to Petplan. All opinions and mind blowing have been 100% our own!*
How to create a memorable birthday party for your child
Since my kids started primary school, they have each been inundated with birthday party invites almost every week. Just to give you an idea of numbers, there are 30 children in each class, which means that we generally receive just under 60 birthday party invites per year.
So, it is almost obligatory to host a birthday party for your child these days. The problem is that these birthday parties can become quite expensive when you need to think about hiring the hall and an entertainer/party package, along with, food, party supplies, party bags and, of course, the birthday cake. Some parents set the bar high and spend hundreds if not, thousands of pounds on creating a memorable birthday party for their child. And, some parents make everything themselves, including a 3-tier birthday cake (*cough*).
(I spent six hours making this Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle cake for my eldest’s 6th birthday – it was exhausting!)
So, either way, you should start by having a good think about how you can make your children’s birthday party go from ‘meh’ to ‘wow’! After planning and preparing for quite a few birthday parties myself and attending what feels like hundreds of birthday parties, I now have somewhat of an idea of what I think is fundamentally important to include at a birthday party. Here are Motherhood Diaries’ tips on how to create a memorable birthday party for your child.
Think about your child’s interests and pick a suitable theme
Is your child active? Do they love sports? Do they like creating and decorating things? It’s important that the running theme of the party suits your child’s personality so that they will really enjoy every aspect. Picking a theme also allows you to be more specific in other areas (like the party supplies) and that can help reduce costs in the long run, especially if you buy as part of a package. Aron loves superheroes and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT), so we decided that the running theme was going to be superheroes with a TMNT birthday cake.
Before you go ahead and buy all the party supplies and party bags, take a step back and think about what you need to do after you have picked a theme. How many kids do you want to invite to the party?
Having an accurate guest count is important for several reasons when planning a child’s birthday party. It helps to determine the appropriate venue, as well as the necessary number of chairs, tables, and other furniture. It also ensures that there is enough food and drinks to go around. Most importantly, it allows the host to plan age-appropriate activities and choose appropriate games and prizes. For instance, if you are planning to have an inflatable bouncy house, having a guest count can help determine the size of it. You can try to personalize every detail that you bring in for the special day. You may have the bouncy house printed with the child’s favorite character or choose among so many options of creative customized inflatable characters, that can be personalized to easily fit the occasion or event, and will bring a lot of joy to the special person’s day.
Having an idea of numbers will help you sort out the best location that can accommodate your group size. Then, you can send over ‘save the dates’ ASAP to your intended guests, while you get the invitations and other bits of the party sorted in the interim.
Sort out the guest list
Do you want to invite the whole class at school or a select few of their friends? Are siblings invited? Once you have a rough idea in mind, say, 30 guests, look around venues to see who and what can house those guests. Sports and leisure parties are generally more suited for larger numbers, whereas a private party at home or even at the cinema can suit up to around 8 or 9 guests. Once you have got a rough idea of numbers and you have an idea of the theme, it’s time to start looking for ideal party venues.
Get the venue sorted
So, now you have an idea of the theme and a rough guide of guest numbers, you can find a venue that should accommodate. Remember, you need to think about what your child would prefer. Aron loves anything with high energy, so I decided to go for a sports-related theme for 30 guests (his entire class). Luckily a sports centre in our local area offers sports party packages, so we managed to hire a ‘Trampolining and General Games’ party, which included 2 coaches (the entertainment) and a room to lay out all the party food and decorations. We had to think about the party food ourselves, as it was not included in the package. However, some packages do include food, so it’s worth checking out any venues that offer a party food element. Ideas for parties can include:
Soft play parties (some venues also include party food in their package)
Hiring just the hall and sourcing the entertainer and food yourself
Sports packages, mostly found in local school sports halls or leisure centres
Bouncy castle parties
Home and Garden parties (you save the cost of the venue and host in your own home)
Princess parties (generally includes princess-style entertainers)
Lego Party, which involves hiring a hall and Lego professionals to bring a huge amount of interest/theme-related Lego pieces for the guests to build. A few weeks ago Aron attended a Star Wars-related Lego theme party and the kids had so much fun building Lego according to the entertainer’s instructions. I will be considering going down this route in the future.
Getting the venue sorted means you can plan around the space and the party services you will get and, subsequently, send confirmed ‘save the dates’ for your guests to RSVP to the birthday party as soon as possible. Sometimes you can send save the dates without a location in mind, but you would need to make sure that you can secure a suitable venue on that date to avoid any last-minute changes that may, ultimately, result in guest cancellations on the day.
Send the ‘Save the Date’ now and invitations at least 2 weeks before the event
So, you have your date sorted, you have a rough idea of how many guests you would like to invite, and you have the location secured, so now you need to alert the guests. A simple email or text will suffice, just to make sure the guests pencil in the date of your child’s birthday early and arrange their own plans to attend. This will also buy you some time to sort out the real invitations to formally invite your guests to your child’s party. I like to make an effort on the formal invites because my boys feel a certain sense of pride when they are handing them out to their guests and I get to keep an extra one as a keepsake. I use a small business called Kenzie’s Cards who offer printed personalised birthday invitations (alongside other special events), sometimes with the option of adding personalised photos. I have used them for a few years now and they always deliver good quality on time, every time. Worth taking a look!
Here is an image of Aron’s party invite (created by Kenzie’s Cards) last year. I’ve blocked out the personal details and included the type of information that was displayed on the invite.
Entertainment
As we opted for the sports package, entertainment was in the form of sports coaches and equipment, as well as music during the food portion of the party. However, if you are hiring just the hall, you can make the party more interesting by hiring a theme-specific entertainer or pretty much any entertainment you want, including pirates, clowns, magicians, and Lego experts. Hiring entertainment can become expensive, sometimes costing as much as £250 for an entertainer alone. However, ParentVille is a quick and easy planning tool that can take the stress out of trying to source these entertainers yourself and assist in finding entertainment suppliers within your budget at no extra cost. You can consider other options like purchasing arts and crafts equipment from Poundland or Costco and have an arts and crafts party. Let the kids make something awesome during the party that can also double up as their party bag too. Add some music in the back and some age-old games like pass-the-parcel or musical chairs and the 2-hour party will fly by due to all the fun-filled activities!
N.B – A friend of mine recently told me about her genius idea of buying everyone a set of paint and a plain white T-shirt, so that they could decorate their own T-shirt at the party. Once they had finished, they got to take their personalised T-shirt home as a party bag, so she didn’t have to hire an entertainer or fork out extra for the going home gifts.
Food
(image taken from mommymoment.ca)
I have experimented a lot with party food throughout the years and I have realised that less is definitely more, especially at children’s parties. I now stick to the below staple party food, which seems to be the most successful (based on feeding 30 guests, plus their parents too!):
Cheese & Tomato Pizzas (you can buy them from the store, but I generally order from Dominos at a 2 for 1 discount)
Wholemeal caterpillar sandwiches, which include the following fillings:
Nutella
Tuna, cucumber and Philadelphia cream cheese
Cheese & Tomato
Fruit kebabs or cupcakes (apples, red grapes, strawberries, banana)
(Bad timing to get a nice huge shiner from school, a couple of days before your party, Aron!)
Now, normally I would recommend buying the birthday cake if you can afford it. However, my son’s one birthday wish was for me to make him a TMNT birthday cake, so I had to suck it up and attempt to make my first ever proper cake, which didn’t turn out too bad, but it did take me over 6 hours to make. If you want to make the cake and you have a knack for it, that’s great! There’s no stopping you from giving this a real go. If you think your time is better spent elsewhere, then ParentVille list some great birthday cake specialists who can create a bespoke birthday cake according to your requirements.
Think about your party supplies and extra embellishments – and don’t overspend!
So, all the major party components have been sorted out and now you have to think about the little embellishments that will make the party stand out. Items like tableware, party banners, and balloons etc can all be theme related and you may save money if you buy a tableware set, rather than the individual items. But, theme-related tableware does come at a premium, so if you’re pinching pennies, just head to the major supermarkets and buy bold coloured tableware that matches the base of the theme. For example, my son’s 5th birthday party will have a PJ Masks theme, but as I have not managed to find any PJ Masks-specific tableware, I have just opted to go for royal blue as the main colour of the party supplies and I have saved a huge chunk of money doing this.
ParentVille is a one-stop party shop that connects you to recommended party suppliers in the London area. As we opted for a superheroes theme for my son’s birthday last year, we received the following Superhero party supply package from Crate a Party:
– Superhero themed paper plates
– Superhero themed napkins
– Blue and white striped straws
– Dark blue plastic cutlery (knives, forks and spoons)
– Superhero ‘Happy Birthday’ banner designed and made by Crate a Party
– 5 red, 5 yellow, 5 dark blue and 5 black latex balloons
– Silver balloon ribbon roll
– Multicoloured spotty tablecloth
– Superhero packet of table confetti
The Superhero Party Supplies package costs £7.50 per child – So, for 30 children that would be £225
You can find cheaper supplies at your nearest Pound Store or Supermarket. However, it is important to note that the quality may not be the same as Crate a Party’s party supply package, which all comes bundled together in one box and fits the theme of the party exactly. So, instead of sourcing all the items yourself, you may find it easier to go for the practical version that Crate a Party offers.
Party bags
Most people now do one useful gift, rather than a bag full of useless gifts and I am inclined to agree with this mindset. In the past, I thought that the more a child gets in their party bag, the more excited they are at receiving it. And, this may still be the case for the child, but for the parents, it’s a nightmare! So, I would seriously consider getting one decent gift instead, something that the child may get multiple uses out of, like a jigsaw set, a water bottle or a book. The parents will be grateful! I would suggest browsing through Parentville’s Party Bags & Sweets collection to see if you can find something suitable for your child’s party. Oh, and I always add a cupcake in the party bag, just as an extra sweet treat for the guests to take home. If you’re looking for theme-related cupcakes, Caketoppers specialise in cakes, cupcakes and printed icing edible toppers for delivery across the UK. They can personalise your cupcakes with a photo, logo or message. At my son’s party, I personalised the guest’s cupcakes with the TMNT crew, which went down very well with the guests.
Expect to not be in control of everything
You may have planned your party to a ‘T’, but on the day anything can happen. Not all the guests may turn up, or the venue may create some delays in the schedule. Maybe the food doesn’t turn out as planned or the entertainment bombs. Look in your child’s eyes. Do they care? Are they having the time of their lives? Then, throw all that negativity to the wind. You will get some parents who will complain that something wasn’t up to scratch, that’s normal. You can’t please everyone. As my mum always says:
“Give it your all, planning and preparing before the event because you can’t change what happens when it happens.”
I use this mantra in everything that I do and it has saved me a lot of stress going forward.
Video of Aron’s 6th birthday party
Taking into account everything that I have just said above, here is a video of how my son’s 6th birthday party turned out after careful planning and preparation.
https://youtu.be/DndbZXb1GtM
Good luck!
P.S – It’s nice to send out some Thank You cards to the guests after the party to acknowledge their attendance and thank them for their generous birthday gift. Crate a Party’s Superheros Party Package included some great Thank You cards, which we swiftly sent out a few days later.
Have you got any tips on how to create a memorable birthday party for your child? Please share wish us in the comments below.
*Disclaimer – Motherhood Diaries was gifted a party supplies package from Craft a Party, in collaboration with Parentville
Demystify code at the Institute of Imagination’s first ever ‘Lab Live – Recode’ exhibition
In this technological age of iPads and Smartphones, it is becoming increasingly difficult to engage our modern child with wooden building blocks or even pen and paper. While I still think the classic art of handwriting and physically turning the pages on a real book still has a large place in our current curriculum, I am noticing that to beat the system, you must join it. Schools are turning to handheld technical devices to create art and protractors are becoming a thing of the past. And, yes, I do believe that we parents should roll with the times, however, I do not think that we should say goodbye to the tools of yesteryear. Surely, the most important factor that we should all be concentrating on is engaging the child’s supersonic sponge of a mind through imagination and creativity, no matter whether they use electricity or core motor skills. So, when I heard about The Institute of Imagination, the world’s first hub for imagination, I was both thrilled and curious as to what this kind of event really meant. The Imagination Lab, which opened on 11th February 2017 was a cross between a community centre, a laboratory, a gallery, a science centre and a museum. Recode, its first ever exhibition, which offered an exhilarating day of dance, movement, crafting, engineering, numbers, language and demystifying code by asking children to recode, was truly one of a kind. Although, brand new in its innovative approach, the Institute of Imagination received dedicated support from a range of partners, including the Royal Academy of Dance, Makercart and Maths Explorers. Children from 5 – 12 years old were immersed in numerous opportunities to engage in a vast array of activities and really stretch their imagination to the max. Adults and children tested their words, symbols, sketching skills, movement and sound to rework, mix and share ideas on what code is and how it can be used.
The boys and I truly witnessed an amazing fusion of computer coding and dance, as well as coded languages through Morse code and finding our zen in the calm room. Here are just a few of the activities that we managed to immerse ourselves in at the Imagination Lab’s ‘Lab Live – Recode’ family festival on Saturday 11th February:
Design your own Denster
A Kickstarter project, launching on November 1st, Densters are a set of flexible toy monsters that attach onto furniture and allow children to build their own forts at home, unleashing their creativity through play. Each Denster is a character that also serves as a function in the house, for example, a bookmark, a door stopper, or a phone holder, but once they connect, they assemble to make a magical hideaway.
Each Denster has a unique method of grabbing onto furniture.
Cheekabook clamps on shelves and chairs
Hoopsta hooks around curtains and knobs
Snella sucks onto windows and walls
Wizetta curls around handles and rods
Grumpo tucks underneath doors or wardrobes
Zigzies clips onto bed sheets and blankets
Check out Densters in action and support their project here:
https://youtu.be/1vEa_87ILJY
The boys were introduced to the Densters at the Imagination Lab, by working on a fun activity of combining inanimate objects and animals to bring them to life. The boys were handed two piles of cards, one containing animals (domestic and wild) and the other containing everyday objects.
Aidan chose a tape measure as an object and snake as the animal and his Denster was called ‘SnakeTape”. Aron chose a computer mouse and a crocodile and he created ‘CrocSnakeMouse’.
Product designers are taught to treat objects like they are alive and this activity encouraged the children to stretch their imagination and treat the objects as if they were animals. It was great to see the boys thinking outside of the box and I do believe these kinds of projects should motivate children to treat their belongings with more care and creativity.
To find out more about Densters, visit their website here and follow them on Instagram.
Okido Drawbots
On the left-hand side of the entrance, we could see a bunch of pens bundled together in a tripod-like stance, circling around a long piece of paper and creating pretty circular designs. The boys were quite intrigued and wanted to take a closer look. They couldn’t quite work out how the pens were moving because they knew that pens generally are inanimate and can only be used for colouring. Upon closer inspection, the pens were attached with a rubber band to a little battery-powered hexbug to create the ‘draw-bot’ (by Okido). The vibration of the hexbug moved the drawbot and if you spaced the pens differently, the drawbot could draw straight lines too!
If you want to try making this at home, follow the instructions below to make your own Draw-bot.
What you will need
Three pens
Blu-tack
Elastic band
A big piece of paper
A hexbug
Squeeze the pens onto the blu-tack to make a tripod
Use the elastic band to hold them together
Attach the hexbug with a small piece of blu-tack, and turn it on!
Okido is a bi-monthly Arts & Science Magazine for children aged 3 to 8 years old that includes stories, games, doodles, recipes and poems.
Visit their website here for more information on subscribing to their magazine. Don’t forget to check out their Facebook page for updates on their innovative creations!
Ozobots
Aidan saw a tiny little light moving on a table nearby and was intrigued as to what this light could be. These little glowing and moving lights were, in fact, tiny little robots called Ozobots, which were travelling around on what looked like little road maps with blue, red and green squares. These roadmaps were coded little pathways for the Ozobots to travel around. I had no idea how these little roads worked, but the boys were shown how to calibrate these circuits either via a smartphone or a tablet. So, a representative handed them some pens and off they went drawing circuits for their little Ozobots.
Ozobots are programmed little robots which follow a circuit that you draw with a black marker pen on a piece of paper. The fun part is that you can control the Ozobot by adding additional coding, which would be represented by the different colours, i.e. green, blue or red. You can find out more here http://ozobot.com/ or via their Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or Instagram pages.
Aidan is a huge fan of fixing things. He’s not fussy as to what thing he is fixing, as long as he gets to use a screwdriver. So, when we happened upon the Restart Project’s table, where their ultimate objective is to encourage people to fix electronics rather than throw them away when they break down, Aidan was very interested in learning more. Thankfully, a representative had a broken computer DVD drive that needed fixing and Aidan got to work straight away, spending an age unscrewing all the tiny screws and prying the top open. He was given a brief overview of everything inside the DVD drive, including how each part works and what was wrong with it (although, I wasn’t too sure what that reason was). After the overview, Aidan proceeded to screw everything back on with patience and a certain calmness that I can only be proud of. My dad (a self-employed design engineer and consultant) has always said that Aidan has the patience of an engineer, so I will be watching this space very closely from now on!
The Restart Code’s aim is to encourage people to fix their relationship with electronics and make devices last longer. If you’d like to learn more, they regularly hold meetings, which you can find out more about here or you can visit their website to learn more.
“Don’t’ despair, just repair!” #RestartParty
Maths Dance and the Royal Academy of Dance
We got to witness some interactive dance workshops and movement games with the Royal Academy of Dance and Maths Dance, where children were encouraged to draw what they were feeling when they watched the dance in front of them.
I thought this was a great idea to tap into your inner creativity and draw what comes from the heart when you’re seeing beautiful dance in motion. However, the boys were less interested in watching the dance and more into what they were drawing in front of them. Aron did draw a beautiful tree, but I am not too sure whether this tree was dance-inspired…
The Calm Room
Just before heading off to lunch, Aron and I spotted a little yellow den called The Calm Room and, as we’re both generally quite calm people (ish), we thought we’d find our zen a bit before finding something to eat. I was half expecting Aron to jump up and down, not sit still or tell me that he was bored. But, in fact, he did quite the opposite.
A curly haired woman sat cross-legged and very still, as she placed a finger to her lips to signify that no one speaks in the Calm Room. She motioned for Aron and two other children to sit in the same way, i.e. cross-legged, and close their eyes, which they all faithfully did very well. The lady picked up some chimes and clanged them together to make a resounding sound which lingered in the air. I decided to join in as she passed the chimes around so that each could reproduce that same echo sound. Again, Aron repeated her movements with concentration. She went on to ring the bell behind her and then glide an instrument around a bowl which made the softest sound. She motioned for the children to do the same. She put all the instruments away and sat very still and quiet as we stared at her, listening to the soft meditation sounds coming from the nearby speaker. I was watching Aron closing his eyes and sitting as still as the lady and I was blown away by his inner zen. He, indeed, had bundles of zen and when the lady reopened her eyes, she smiled at Aron and ran a very affectionate hand through his hair. I think she was as impressed as me that he had sat so still, repeating all the calming motions so well. This prompted me to start thinking about a zen corner for Aron at home because I think that this calm would make all the difference to his frequent troubles with getting to sleep at night, due to his over-active imagination. To say I was proud, was an understatement. After about ten minutes, we quietly left the room and we were calm.
Lunchtime
All that fun work of coding, designing, moving and sketching had worked up a huge appetite, so we found a place to sit at the back of the large hall, whilst I grabbed some much-needed coffees for hubby and me, and juice for the boys. We also bagged some pretty delicious looking crepes from a very hard-working and lovely man called Kaz from Heavenly Crepes, who worked tirelessly to provide us (and 600 other visitors!) with delicious crepes (I was very tempted to buy the fruit version or the Nutella crepes, but, as we still had quite a bit of the exhibition to see, I didn’t want the boys to suffer from a sugar crash and then get tired and irritable. The cheese and tomato crepes were just as good, though.
While hubby and I were catching our breaths back after a mentally exhausting and exhilarating morning of learning all about code, the boys were working off their crepes in the corner of the room, with a very engaging SEN activity, which was simply aiming a ball at the interchangeable lights on a custom-made wall. I overheard that this particular activity is used for children with special needs because it supports their learning. This ball to light activity was unanimously the boys’ favourite game at the exhibition.
Maths Explorers
Fuelled up after lunch and eager to learn more, we headed over to a rather large section of the exhibition that was dedicated to maths. Both of my boys like numbers and I’m pretty sure that they would choose numbers over letters if they had the chance. So, I was very interested in learning more about Maths Explorers, where the club encourages children to learn all about maths through inventing dance/movement and number coding. Aron took a particular interest to this, as he caught on quite quickly to the idea of using a square that was numbered with, ‘1’, ‘2’, ‘3’ and ‘4’ in each corner, to work out addition and subtraction problems. A very bright and energetic Maths Explorer representative asked Aron to make ‘6’ using 2 of the numbers on the square and then make the same number using 3 and then 4 of the numbers. After about 5 minutes, Aron had all hands and feet sprawled on the floor in an attempt to use all his limbs to make a total of ’10’.
Hubby was even roped into also creating numbers, this time through dance and movement, and both boys really enjoyed seeing him prancing around and forming numbers with his body.
I think the idea of using movement to understand basic math is a brilliant idea to encourage children who may not be as interested in maths and tap into their creative side to understand the basic rules of addition and subtraction. As the boys already enjoy maths anyway, these extra ideas were just bonus points into working on what they already love doing. However, I can totally understand how Maths Explorers can bring out those maybe less confident to give it a shot and understand maths in a much more creative way. If you’d like to find out more, you can email Maths Explorers at maths.explorers@gmail.com and schools can also register their interest in using Maths Explorers in addition to the current maths curriculum.
Code club
We didn’t manage to attend the several workshop areas that the Code Club were hosting, for example, their Lost in Space project, which offered children the chance to learn how to program their own animation using Scratch software and create a spaceship which they could control, as well as include additional galaxy components, like the earth and stars. However, the boys did get to spend quite a bit of time on the ‘Synchronised Aliens Dancing’ project by the Code Club, where they created aliens out of play-doh and Plasticine and used them as controllers to code the alien to perform a dance routine on the computer.
How it works:
You make 5 mini aliens out of play-doh or Plasticine to use as the controller
Connect the computer using a program called Makey. Connect each alien to Up, Down, Right, Left, and Space.
Write Scratch write code to perform a synchronised dance routine. You can code the alien to draw colourful patterns. For the finishing touch, you can add music too.
Finally, watch the alien clones as they perform their colourful synchronised dancing routine
The Code Club is a nationwide network of volunteer-led after-school coding clubs for children aged 9 to 11 years old. For more information, please visit their website www.codeclub.org.uk, or get in touch with the team at hello@codeclub.org.uk.
Hackadoodle
Apart from the lunchtime ball-to-wall SEN activity, the boys spent most of their time in the Hackadoodle section, created by a brilliantly quirky man, Sam Cox, A.K.A. ‘The Doodle Man’, who encourages you to ‘hack’ doodles with your own ideas. The Hackadoodle workshop area was covered by black and white doodle designs, inviting adults and children to come along and hack his doodles with some colour, by creating characters, giving them eyes and teeth, filling in empty windows and cars, designing smaller doodle worlds, and literally bringing art to life. I noticed a lot of adults were joining in too and there was something very therapeutic about sitting down and creating doodle art. If you want to learn more about The Doodle Man, he has an awesome documentary on his website, which contains a fantastic story about being kicked out of this world due to his doodles and landing in his own world, Doodle Land. His evil brother fought The Doodle Man and kicked him out and so he is now trying to find a way to get back to Doodle Land.
The Doodle Man’s designs are so intricate and wonderful that I will definitely be looking into hiring Sam Cox to create a Doodle Wall in my children’s bedroom very soon!
Shattered Glass to Chandelier – Poetry Bucket
Just before finishing up, we noticed a poetry area, which was all about picking 1 word from the 4 words provided on the table (‘code’, ‘data’, ‘game’ and ‘play’) and finding 3 rhyming words to make a poem. We had learned so much about numbers and maths at this exhibition that I thought it would make a nice change to get creative with words too. The Poetry Bucket, by Shattered Glass to Chandelier, is not just a play on words, but its sole purpose is to eliminate discrimination and challenge negative ‘Attitudes and Values,’ ‘Recycling and Educating’, and ‘Equipping and Empowering’, with what the founder, Meshack Pond, calls Communication ‘Survival-Skills’. Meshack’s communication survival-skills have helped him navigate his own countless challenges and his aim now is to demonstrate how to translate those negatives into positives through Shattered Glass to Chandelier (beautiful name). Watch this space, as I will be looking to work more with him to help spread the support via Motherhood Diaries too.
Vivid Matcha green tea – make your own juice
Our very last activity was spotted by accident when we were sat at the HackaDoodle table. We gazing through a nearby window, where we saw a young woman combining juice from 3 cartons to create one super juice. I was interested in learning more about what was going on at her table, so I took the boys over and she beckoned for them both to sit down. The aim of this activity was to create your own Vivid Drink. This juice project, hosted by VIVID Matcha Green Tea, was all about creating a juice that encourages your mind to be focused and full of energy but, also, to take it one step further and think about its packaging and brand name. So, this activity got the boys thinking about the marketing and design process around the juice brand that they were creating and not just about how it tasted. It was a very basic introduction into the world of manufacturing and marketing and so I was 100% on board, as these areas are most likely going to grow exponentially, as we delve further into the technological and digital side of marketing.
How it works:
Part 1: Flavour design
Start with a base flavour – 125ml
Choose a juice or water that would work with a lot of flavours and acts as a good base
Grape
Coconut
Sparkling Water
Apple
Add your main flavour – 75ml
Choose your main flavour of juice. Think about what will stand out and work well with your base flavour
Blueberry
Pineapple
Cranberry
Put a flavour twist on your drink – 25ml
Give your drink an interesting twist
Pear
Mango
Pink Grapefruit
Pomegranate
Part 2: Branding
Decide on a brand name and design your packaging. Use coloured pens and design a logo for your bottle.
Aron’s juice drink combined mango, grape and apple to make his new brand of juice, ‘Relax Fruit’.
Aidan’s final drink contained mango, grape and apple (which was a little different to the instructions that were set out) and he named his drink ‘AppleFlash’.
After downing their bottles of juice, the boys and I decided that it was time to go home. It was nearing around 4 pm and we were all shattered. We had used our brains so much that we could not fit in anymore. There was so much to see at the Imagination lab that we didn’t even make our way around all the workshops.
All children were invited to vote for their favourite art concept for the new interactive installation that the Institute of Imagination has commissioned in partnership with ICF International Charitable Foundation. The three shortlisted creators were Shawn Brown, the art group from London Brain Project and Jim Bond.
What we had seen at this exhibition was truly mind blowing. I had learned so much myself about coding and just how important it is to get the children to think about their methods and explore other ways of getting to their solutions. My favourite part of the exhibition was the Calm Room because I got to see a totally different side of Aron, one I had never seen before. Since that day, we have been playing yoga and meditation music to help Aron to get to sleep and it has worked simply wonders on him.
The Institute of Imagination constantly update their website with new events, so please make sure you keep an eye out for these. To find out more about the Institute of Imagination and to attend one of their events, make sure to visit their website here and follow them closely via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Events generally take place in a dedicated Imagination Lab space over a morning or an afternoon.
The Institute of Imagination’s next event is on 1 May and the next theme is ‘reality’. The event is promising to be filled with lots of virtual and augmented reality activities, so I thoroughly recommend that you and your family attend.
We are the ones holding the keys to our children’s future, so let our forthcoming generation be filled with imagination, creativity and education, for I believe these three very important factors are what puts us back on track to making the world a better, smarter and more inspirational place for the generation of our future.
#labliverecode
*Disclaimer: Motherhood Diaries and family were gifted tickets to attend probably one of the greatest events we have ever witnessed for the children. All views are 100% my own and if I could write 3,000 more words about the Institute of Imagination, I would! *
Spring in the UK is here. The blossom is settling in its full bloom and the weather is fluctuant. Even though we can feel the warmer climes creeping up amongst us, Spring is notorious for its temperamental weather change. Sometimes we Brits experience all four seasons in one day and it is for that reason we need to be well prepared and on our toes for the ‘forthcoming showers’, the intermittent heatwaves and even occasional outbreaks of hail. It is why a lot of us suffer from what I call the ‘Climate Change Cold’.
The erratic and interchangeable weather, however, has resulted in us becoming experts in wardrobe updates when dressing baby for the seasons and this includes protecting them against this ‘fatal weather’ too. For example, 16 degrees in the sun is seemingly perfect (it is what they call ‘Heaven’s temperature’, I believe?), but in the shade, its contrast is chilly and hazardous, especially when rain or wind ensues. So, I’ve come up with some tips on how to protect our babies in the Spring:
Layer up
Dressing in layers enables you to quickly peel baby clothes off or add on as required by the weather. Start with a simple short-sleeved onesie or romper, especially for a newborn baby (request some colourful onesie gifts if you’re having a baby shower), which protects the chest regardless of the temperature, and then layer up with baby clothing like trousers and a long-sleeved shirt. For days where the sun is hiding, you may need to layer your little one up further with a jumper or a cardigan, which can be taken off easily. When the cold seeps in, it may also be worth packing an extra pair of socks for added feet protection and a light blanket/sheet over the legs when the baby is stationary, i.e. in the pram. You can find lots of beautiful newborn baby boy spring clothes or spring baby girl clothes online so look out for some nice bargains.
Here are some great ideas I found from Amazon for layering up in the spring!
Touched by Nature Unisex Baby Organic Cotton Bodysuits, Guacamole, 12-18 Months: Touched by Nature – Buy from Amazon here
Baby Toddler Mosquito Pant – Unisex Cotton Long Trousers Pure Color Joggers Thin Pants White … – Buy from Amazon here
Kids Little Boys Girls Baby Long Sleeve Button Down Red Plaid Flannel Shirt Plaid – Buy from Amazon here
Jojobaby Toddler Unisex Baby Crewneck Cotton Pineapple Print Knit Pullover Sweater – Buy from Amazon here
Feidoog Infant Baby Boys Cardigan Crochet Sweater V-Neck，Toddler Knit Button up Knitted Pattern Pullover Sweatshirt – Buy from Amazon here
CozyWay Non-Slip Toddler Socks Grips Baby Girls Boys 6&12 Pack Anti Skid Ankle Socks Infant Kids – Buy from Amazon here
Keep a hat with you when you’re out and about
The sun can get quite strong at times and so dressing up your cute baby in a nice organic cotton hat with a rim will protect their face and head from the sun and UV rays, especially if you opt for a sunhat with natural UV resistance.
Here are some lovely spring hats I found on Amazon:
Slowera Cap Baby Girls 100% Cotton Double Brimmed Eyelet Lace Bonnet with Flowers – Buy from Amazon here
Durio Baby Sun Hat Summer Beach UPF 50+ Sun Protection Baby Boy Hats Toddler Sun Hats Cap for Baby Girl Kid Bucket Hat – Buy from Amazon here
Combine outfits
Online clothing stores will be stocking the best baby outerwear and spring choices for kids of all ages, so shop around now and strike while the spring iron is hot. At the same time, shops will want to sell off the last of their winter items, so check out the kids’ clothes online and see if you can grab yourself a bargain now. Google freecycle or head over to the Facebook marketplace and you may even be able to bag yourself some free baby clothes for spring. When dressing a baby in gorgeous baby boy clothes, combine a short-sleeved vest with some light trousers and a long-sleeved top or, if the sun is out, just a thin jacket on top. That way you can peel off the jacket when it gets warm or add it back on when the sun hides away again.
ContiKids Baby Girls Baby Boys Unisex Baby Zip Up Hoodie Jacket Windbreaker Outerwear – Buy from Amazon here
Protect your toddler from the rain
Rain is inevitable in the UK, so covering your infant or toddler’s garments with rainproof clothing will ensure they still enjoy outdoor nature. Invest in some great wellies like these Kids Striped Wellies from Polarn O. Pyret so your child can continue to enjoy jumping up and down in muddy puddles (thanks Peppa!). Team it up with a warm waterproof jacket like this 100% Waterproof Kids Raincoat (see image above) so they can play outside, whatever the weather. And an infant spring jacket need not be bulky. Go for thin and light with lots of layers underneath.
Bring out the dresses
Dresses aren’t just for summer. Bring baby spring dresses out even though the weather is temperamental. A simple cardigan/jacket and leggings combo mean that your baby is layered up and adjusted for the chillier temperature. Woolly leggings are warm enough for the cold and light and breathable enough for the warmth. Plus, they’re easy to take off during those heatwave moments. There are also tonnes of baby girl dresses that have thicker, more durable material that does not let the wind through, so your baby girl would be protected. When dressing a baby boy, mini waistcoats on top of a smart short-sleeved shirt and trousers (or long shorts) look so smart when the sun is out to play. These combinations can be paired beautifully with a little rain/wind jacket when the sun creeps briefly behind the clouds. Plus if your toddler is potty training, team up the dress with some nappy pants or potty training pants so they can take it off easily and apply a fresh pair without getting too cold.
Here are some cute spring dresses I found on Amazon:
Simple Joys by Carter’s Baby and Toddler Girls’ 2-Pack Short-Sleeve and Sleeveless Dress Sets – Buy from Amazon here
Here are some leggings I found on Amazon:
Simple Joys by Carter’s Baby and Toddler Girls’ 3-Pack Leggings – Buy from Amazon here
Prepare your equipment for harsher weather conditions
Brits are obsessed with the weather, but that’s because we have no idea how the weather will play each day. This means we tend to be armed with a barrage of weather equipment, including a staple umbrella, a rain jacket or coat and a sun hat during the spring. But, this is the unpredictable truth that we must deal with. When taking the baby out and about, ensure that the pram and car seat have a workable rain cover to ward off nasty rain/hail surprises and a suitable overlay to protect baby from the sun too, so they can sleep in peace too. You may even have to take both off to let some air in when the weather takes a turn for the better. But, at least you will be well prepared if it doesn’t.
It is important to note that flexibility is the key to withstanding our changeable spring weather and ensuring that the baby is protected from all forces of nature, including rain and snow. Whether you’re dressing a newborn or or you’re looking for baby clothes tips, remember to layer up, so you can take away as soon as the temperature increases and add on when it gets a chillier. Spring baby clothes can also double up as summer baby clothes, so keep them in the cupboard for the next season. Combine your baby’s external protection with some internal protection like healthy food and adequate supplements and you’ll get through the ‘climate change cold’ season in one piece!
Do you have any tips on how to dress a newborn in spring? Or do you have a busy toddler who needs space to run around in? Please share with us in the comments below how you get your baby dressed for spring.
*Collaborative featured post*
*As an Amazon Associate I earn a commission from qualified affiliate links*
Teksta Micro-Pets Adventure Park Playset – Teksta Dinosaur Product Review
The boys have been huge fans of Teksta pets since they first came out and have been continuously on at my hubby and I to buy one of the robotic pets, ever since I can remember! Well, finally we were afforded the chance to review a new Teksta Micro-pets from Character Online, which is a much smaller version than the classic Teksta pets.
Robotic pets really don’t come much cuter than these miniature pets that respond to your touch and voice and can be trained on their playsets! The eyes light up and they run around and make cute noises, so they can act as a test pet before the boys are allowed a real puppy when they’re older.
Price and features
The Teksta Micro-Pets Adventure Park Playset* has a RRP of £19.99 and there are four cool characters plus playsets to collect, including the Kitty, Racoon, Dinosaur and Puppy, which was the set that we reviewed. With the added playsets, you can watch the pets zoom around on their micro adventure park and each individual pet has its own extra feature to complete within its playset. You can design and build your own tracks and the playset also converts into a wheel. The snap pieces can be put together in many different ways, so there is no limit to how you want the track to look!
The boys really enjoyed piecing the tracks together (which includes a bridge) and clapping their hands to activate the puppy to move. There was even a little ball, which the puppy faithfully chased around on the track that we had set out in front of him. The puppy’s eyes light up every time you make a noise, so it does really feel like this puppy has a true personality. You can also transform the tracks into a wheel and watch your puppy go, which was pretty brilliant to look at – the puppy really goes for it!
*We received a Teksta Micro Pet Puppy playset for review, but all views are 100% our own.*
My Dream Pet with Petplan UK
When I was growing up, I didn’t just have an imaginary friend, I had a whole circle of friends who were make-believe. They would each have their own unique look and personality, but we would always be the best of friends, who were there for each other whenever needed. My imaginary friends were soon replaced by my two younger sisters and brother and then later, by my real-life friends at school. However, my over-active imagination continued and so did my desire to create through craft, picture, and stories. I have seen the same kind of passion in my two boys when they use their vivid imagination to create magical worlds with each other, through roleplay and character invention, fused from real life and fantasy (books, TV and the many soft toys that they own). Being 15 months apart, at 4 and 6 years old, they are on the same wavelength as each other and regularly hold shows, concerts, dramas, and heists. But, it’s the boys and their soft toys that win the battle every time. The one thing that has really wowed me about the boys’ imagination is their ability to create totally new and unique characters. Check out this drawing of ‘Colour Bigman’ from Aidan who is only 4 years old.
So, when I heard about Petplan’s campaign for children to put their artistic skills to the test and design their dream pet, I knew this would be the ideal project for the boys. What’s more, their imaginative and creative dream pet design would then be turned into an amazing soft toy for them to keep and treasure! How amazing is that!?
Who is Petplan®?
Petplan was born in 1976 and its aim is to keep our nation’s pets healthy and owners happy. Petplan offers the very best pet insurance policies, as well as great customer service, to help millions of owners get their beloved pets back on their feet following illness or injury. Petplan offers genuine ‘lifetime’ policies, as they understand that pet owners require specific needs when it comes to finding the right insurance policy for them. They offer policies like their market leading ‘Covered for Life®’, which is designed for pet owners who are concerned about their pet developing a long-term, chronic or recurring illness. And, they also offer more specific Petplan Dog Insurance for dog owners and 12-month policies that are designed to suit all needs. Petplan is also committed to supporting and working with over 1,200 rehoming charities throughout the UK, and in 1994, formed the Petplan Charitable Trust, which has so far raised more than £7 million towards a better, healthier world for animals.
Petplan’s Dream Pet Campaign
Petplan UK have organised a truly exciting campaign for children to put their artistic and imagination skills to great use and draw their dream pet. Their imagination is their limit, so children can come up with the weirdest and the most exciting dream pet that they can think of. The most amazing part? Their dream pet drawing will be transformed into an amazing soft toy for them to keep and treasure! It’s like every child’s dream come true to see their creation as a real soft toy!
Petplan provided the boys with an awesome set of drawing supplies to get busy coming up with their dream pet designs. We set up a day of imagination and creativity at the weekend, to get the boys’ creative juices flowing. We listened to music, we roleplayed as superheroes, we played games and read books. And, then, just before dinner, the boys sat down with their Sharpie pens, coloured pencils, and wax crayons, and worked very hard to come up with their dream pet together. I was surprised to see that it had only taken them 15 minutes to design and name their dream pet, without one single argument! So, the boys and I present to you:
BATCAT!
Such a brilliant name for an amazing Dream Pet!
We sent off BatCat’s design to be made into a soft toy. It took a few weeks to create their bespoke soft toy and when we received BatCat the soft toy in the post, we could not believe our eyes. Our mouths had literally fallen to the floor and our eyes had almost popped out of our head. It was BatCat as a soft toy!
BatCat was a soft toy, whaaat!?
The boys instantly fell in love with BatCat and they now alternate who’s going to sleep with BatCat every night. Plus, BatCat has become the third musketeer and travels everywhere with the boys, including at school, where the other children have fallen in love with BatCat too!
Words cannot express how amazing it felt to see my boys’ eyes light up with glee and excitement when they received their imaginative creations in the form of a soft toy. The fact that they created BatCat from their own imagination and saw their results being made into a real soft toy has given them a sense of accomplishment and achievement, which has motivated them to keep using their creativity to invent newer and better designs. Imagine what this kind of project could do for all kids in school! I think that a project/campaign like designing a pet toy and seeing it come to life is how we motivate and spur our children on to keep using their imaginations and perhaps make inventors and designers out of our future generation. What a brilliant campaign, thank you so much, Petplan!
*This post and, of course, BatCat, has been possible thanks to Petplan, but all thoughts and sheer excitement are 100% our own! *
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Ravensburger Jigsaw Puzzle and Puzzle Handy Reviews
We are a family of jigsaw lovers, so when we do get the chance to review some very interesting puzzles from Ravensburger, we don’t tend to turn that opportunity down. This month, we received several jigsaw puzzles for review, including a helpful puzzle handy, which we now can’t do without!
Ravensburger jigsaw puzzles are brilliant, not just because of their great cardboard quality, but because of the way that Ravensburger innovatively fuses our love of jigsaw puzzles with art and education. So, people of all ages will be able to take something away with them every time they complete a puzzle.
Ravensburger products for review
Puzzle Handy
Best of British – The Supermarket, 1000pc Jigsaw Puzzle
The Puzzle Handy is a foldaway puzzle board that is best suitable for assembling 500-piece and 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles. This durable board, which is made from top quality FSC board, is as handy as it says ‘on-the-tin’ because folding and unfolding is a breeze and you can secure the board with brackets included in the box so that everything stays put while you’re completing your jigsaw. The dotted guidelines help to position either a 500-piece or a 1000-piece puzzle, which is great during the jigsaw building process. When you’ve finished the puzzle, you can just fold the Puzzle Handy away by removing the brackets, refolding the board and popping it back in the storage box provided.
Specifications
Size: 30 x 43 x 6cm
Contents: Foldable jigsaw assembly board and 4 sturdy clamps
Buy here:
Best of British – The Supermarket, 1000pc
The boys (4 and 6 years old) and I loved this puzzle because it is so colourful and full of detail. This ‘CheapoSave’ supermarket epitomises the true experience that you receive when visiting a British superstore. There is so much to look at and lots of funny and amusing scenarios, which us Brits have experienced at a British supermarket at some point. The image reminds me of an Asda Walmart, a Costco or a Macro store, where you can find absolutely anything you need within the building and you get to witness people from all walks of life.
“Enter the world of “CheapoSave”, where you get less for a whole lot more. The attentive staff, excellent displays and extensive product range promise so much – but make sure you read the offers and labels very carefully to ensure you know what you’re really buying. Is that really a Jackson Pollock on the fish counter, and Mouskouri Nanas in the fruit & veg section?” Ravensburger
This puzzle was very difficult to build and it took such a long time, but we enjoyed the experience throughout because of the sheer image detail and the constant surprise as the puzzle was coming together. This jigsaw is suitable for people with patience and a sense of humour!
(We lost two pieces in the process )
Specifications
Size: 27 x 37 x 6cm
Buy here:
Vintage Travel, 500pc
The boys and I loved this vintage travel jigsaw. We enjoyed finding all the text first and piecing them together before working out the book edges for each respective country. This is such a beautiful and colourful jigsaw puzzle with very interesting travel guides. Again, the premium grade cardboard is such high quality and contains a linen finish which minimises glare on the puzzle image. Also, when you pick up a bunch of pieces, they don’t just fall apart in your hand. You can transport a group of pieces together and combine with the rest of the puzzle.
(one piece missing )
Specifications
Size: 49 x 36cm
Ages: 10 years and up
Buy here:
Gold Edition Country Cottage 300pc – with large pieces
This gold edition country cottage puzzle is a little bit different to the others as the pieces are larger, which makes them easier for kids to handle. Although, still a challenge, this timber framed English country cottage and garden in spring was a delight to complete and the boys had a great time, especially, piecing all the flowers together. It’s such a lovely colourful jigsaw with, again, premium grade cardboard and linen finish print to minimise glare.
Specifications
Size: 49 x 36cm
Age: Suitable for ages 9 years and up
Buy here:
Ravensburger puzzles are always a delight to complete and especially fun and educational for little hands too. You can find a whole range of Ravensburger’s puzzles on the website here or via various other stockists. They don’t just sell jigsaw puzzles too, you can find educational games like ‘My First Clock’ or slightly more difficult jigsaw puzzles like the Big Ben Silhouette puzzle (you can find the review here).
*Motherhood Diaries was gifted the above Ravensburger products, but all opinions are 100% our own*
7 reasons why you should take the family to Disneyland Paris’ 25th Anniversary celebrations this year – It’s time to sparkle!
If you are looking to take the family on a once-in-a-lifetime trip this year, to somewhere truly amazing and affordable, then Disneyland® Paris is the destination for you. And, it won’t just be any normal trip to Disneyland®, you would be celebrating the Park’s 25th birthday, which means more magic, more entertainment and birthday presents for all! From 26th March 2017, you will be able to get your sparkle on and feast your eyes on a grand celebration by our beloved Disney Characters and a multitude of new shows entertaining you from morning through till night, including favourites like Star Wars, Disney Princesses and Pirates of the Caribbean. Magic will transform the entire Park. Stars will illuminate the sky above a magical kingdom and glisten with the glow of a thousand stories. Classic tales will shine brighter than ever and new adventures will twinkle to life. There will also be a special kind of litter to grace the Park this year. Main Street, U.S.A. Central Plaza and Central Station will all glisten with Disney magic. All the Disney Characters and Princesses will be out to celebrate too. Mickey Mouse has gathered Chip & Dale, Goofy and loads more of his famous friends for the big Silver Anniversary, so make sure you have your camera ready and you’re dressed in your party best because it is truly going to be one big spectacular sparkly surprise! Here are 7 more reasons why you should take the family to Disneyland Paris’ 25th Anniversary celebrations this year.
1 – New! Disney Stars out on Parade
There will be a new parade of favourite stars out to party this year. Mickey will commence the celebrations and present the huge “Happy Anniversary Disneyland® Paris” party with as many of his favourite friends as possible. The festive show will take place daily for all guests to enjoy and fans of Disney Princesses will be able to witness some of their most beloved princesses as they host their own sparkly show, The Starlit Princess Waltz.
2 – New! Disney Illuminations Show
You will gaze in amazement at Sleeping Beauty Castle, as Mickey leads you through a dazzling Disney Illuminations extravaganza. Fireworks, light projections and stunning special effects will bring alive all the classic Disney tales and you will be transported to a location where stories of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Frozen and motion pictures of Disney, Beauty and the Beast, Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean will come to life**
3 – New! Fairytale Waltz with Disney Princesses
Lead your young monarchs to Royal Castle Stage in Disneyland® Park for The Starlit Princess Waltz, where a royalty of Disney Princesses, including Belle, Cinderella, Aurora and Snow White, will throw a majestic ball to celebrate the Park’s 25th birthday.
4 – New! Star Tours II: The Adventures Continue (Star Tours: l’Aventure Continue)
From 26th March 2017, Star Tours I becomes Star Tours II, with a whole new adventure in 4D! There’s more excitement to be had in that galaxy far, far away, with more than 70 different mission combinations to multiple Star Wars’ destinations. This means that you can enjoy an all-new, action-packed intergalactic voyage with so many twists and turns that you may not know where the Force will take you. You will be able to interact with the stars throughout the Saga and there will be unique surprises throughout, where you will get to visit the multiple worlds of Jakku, Hoth, Tatooine, The Death Star and more.
5 – Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain
Join the Rebel Alliance by becoming drivers of Star Wars’ Hyperspace Mountain*** and blast your way through a swarm of Imperial TIE fighters before doing battle with a menacing Star Destroyer as you hurtle through the Star Wars Galaxy.
Set sail under the watchful eye of Jolly Roger on a swashbuckling voyage to a time when pirates terrorised the high seas. Remember to keep your eyes peeled for Cap’n Jack Sparrow, as he tries to get his hands on the town’s treasure. Shiver me Timbers! ****
7 – Up to 2 nights and 2 days free stay plus kids under 7 receive free hotel and park tickets!
If you’re worried about affordability, Disneyland® Paris has you covered with tonnes of offers available for families. Families can stay up to 2 nights and 2 days free where Kids under 7 can stay and play for free too! There are lots of other options for cheaper travel too. Here are some offers available now:
Kids under 7 fly FREE with Flybe
For every paying adult, a child under 7 can travel free with your party from one of 7 UK departure airports – Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Exeter, Doncaster, Manchester and Southampton. Click here to book online
FREE Ferry Crossing with P&O Ferries
Offer applies to a standard car on the return route – Dover – Calais with P&O Ferries. Maximum of 9 people per car. 1 free child meal with 1 paying adult on board. Click here to book online.
FREE upgrade to Standard Premier Class, when you book with Eurostar today!*****
The benefits of Standard Premier include a light meal and drink served at your seat, complimentary magazines, power sockets and extra legroom. T&Cs apply. Call 0844 800 8898 to book with a dedicated Disney agent
Don’t miss out. This will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you just cannot afford to miss. See you there?
Disclaimer: Fireworks parades, certain shows and festivals are on selected dates and are subject to weather conditions and changes. Attractions, entertainment, shows, shops and restaurants may be closed, modified, delayed or cancelled without prior notice. For additional information, contact Disneyland Paris.
***** Transport offer available for bookings until 6th February 2017 and for arrivals from 29th March 2017 until 31st October 2017
*Contains affiliate links*
Cauliflower Pizza Recipe
Like most kids, my boys love pizza and like most mums I’m always on the lookout for healthy alternatives to their sometimes not so healthy favourites. I can’t remember where this recipe came from but I’ve been making it for a while and it always works a treat. You can, of course, change the topping to suit. If you can’t bear the idea of losing the authentic Italian base, then the next time you order a pizza delivery, instead of a meat feast, opt for a healthier alternative by creating your own vegetable topping. This recipe may seem like it contains a lot of ingredients, but, actually, it’s quite simple.
Preparation time:
15 minutes
Cooking time:
45 minutes
Serves:
4
Ingredients
1 large cauliflower
2 eggs
100g almonds
1 tbsp. dried oregano
1 tin of chopped tomatoes
1 aubergine
1 onion
1 garlic clove or more if your kids like it
1 tbsp. tomato puree
2 tbsp. light olive oil
A few basil leaves
125g mozzarella
Parmesan to taste
Method
Preheat your oven to 200 degrees or gas mark 6.
Trim the cauliflower and cut it into chunks and then feed it bit by bit into your food processor. Blitz it until the cauliflower has a cous cous consistency.
N.B – Don’t do what I do and try to cram too much in the food processer at once, because you’ll just end up with a jammed machine.
Now you need to soften the cauliflower up. The easiest way is to pop it in a microwave for five minutes, but I do have friends, who have ideological reasons about owning a microwave, so you can, alternatively, boil the cauliflower in a pan. Don’t boil for too long, otherwise you may be left with a soggy mess.
When you’ve softened up the cauliflower, tip it onto a clean tea towel and squeeze out as much water as you can.
Pop the cauliflower back in the bowl and stir in the beaten egg, the almonds, the oregano and salt and pepper to taste.
Spread the mixture onto a lined baking tray, making it thicker at the edges so you’ll get a nice crusty rim.
Bake for about fifteen minutes or until it’s a nice golden brown.
While the base is in the oven you need to slice up the aubergine and the onion and fry them both until they’re soft and slightly charred.
Blend the tomatoes, the tomato puree and the garlic in your food processor until you get a nice smooth paste.
Then transfer the paste to a saucepan and simmer for about ten minutes, until it’s good and thick, and then add the basil leaves.
When the base is cooked, take it out and let it cool, while you whack the oven up to 240. Spread the tomato paste over the base, add the aubergine, onions and sliced mozzarella and grate the parmesan over the lot.
Place back in the oven for about ten minutes and you’re done!
