Simply woof-tastic: Shelby's Snack Shack Game

When it's dull and raining, you can either sit and complain about the fickle British weather or count it as a blessing and an opportunity to stay indoors and play. We have just received a box of Shelby's Snack Shack Game (Educational Insights) for reviewing, so Eddie and I opened our box with great interest.

While Eddie was taking the things out and asking "Mama' what's that? Mama, look, bones!", I quickly read the short instruction guide.

"Shelby needs help finding her buried bones! This unique counting game encourages players to spin the first spinner to determine play then spin the second spinner to see how many bones they collect using the Shelby Squeezers. The player with the most bones at the end of the game wins. Develops number, counting & fine motor skills and is suitable for children ages 4+!"

What's inside the box? A game board, a Shelby squeezer (dog-shaped squeezer to pick up the bones), 4 bowls, 40 bones, a double game spinner and an instruction guide.

Eddie is almost three, and is learning to count, so I thought this educational game would be a perfect opportunity for him to hone his counting skills (so far he can count up to 12). 

We liked the whimsical image: the pug is absolutely adorable.

The box acts as the game board itself, and has cute illustration of the beach scene inside which reminded us of the lovely days spent by the seaside in Cornwall.

What will your child learn while playing this game?

- recognizing the numerals from 1 to 5

- counting

- taking turns

- hand-eye coordination

- early addition and subtraction

The game is for children aged 4+, but you can play it with a younger child as well. Eddie enjoyed spinning the wheel and was eager to move the bones. He found the squeezer a bit tight for him, so perhaps that's the only disadvantage of being younger. But he understood the concept perfectly well and we both had fun.

I love educational games when children play and learn at the same time. That is surely the best way to learn.

The weather might be miserable but we are glad to stay indoors and have a hoot playing.

Simply woof-tastic!

If you think your little ones would enjoy playing this game, hurry to enter a competition from Learning Resources to win 1 set of 5. Competition closing date: 9 July 2013

Good luck!

Boys and their toys: Nano Speed Super Vert Crash set (review)

Boys and their toys. The faster, the better. Who could resist a super fast miniature toy cars as they zoom throught the corkscrew track?

The Nano Speed range brings the super fast and collectable miniature toy cars to children across the UK.
With crazy power to weight ratio, the Nano cars are capable of defying gravity and pulling off impressive stunts never done before!

The Nano speed range promises impressive speeds, awe-inspiring loops and adrenaline filled stunts!
Imagine yourself a mini-James Bond with this super toy.

"Defy gravity as you launch multiple cars into the triple loop, watch them wind their way through an inverted corkscrew and 5 high intensity crash points. The vehicles are automatically boosted to hit maximum speed on a micro scale!"
Set comes with two exclusive Nano Speed cars.

If you plan to give it as a birthday or Christmas present, do not forget to include two D batteries, as the kit doesn't include them, and they are not necessarily the type that you would find in every household (at least, talking from our own experience).

What does Nano Speed™ promise?

• It’s the fastest – Nano Speed™ can go as fast as 1500mph scaled speed!

• It’s the smallest – with Nano Speed™ it’s maximum speed on a micro scale!

• Pullback mechanism – it’s easy, pull back & go!

• Nano Speed™ do amazing stunts for non-stop race and crash action

• Super collectable – 60+ awesome looking cars to collect in wave 1

• Quick & easy to assemble play sets

• The range includes: Nano Speed™ 2 Pack £4.99, 4 Pack £8.99, Stunt Set £12.99, Multi-Car Launcher £14.99 & Nano Super Vert Crash Set £34.99

Does it deliver what it promises?

The instructions that come with the set are useful and clear. Though the set is not difficult to assemble with the parent's help, it could be quite tricky to do it for someone aged 6 (age specified on the box). The track sections have numbers on the back. The diagrams are clear. Level of difficulty is moderate (if you take into consideration the age of the possible recipient).

The main problem lays with the launch of the cars. When you pull the car to the back to launch it through the spiral, it doesn't always work consistently. I would say the ratio is 1 out of 10 times it will work.

Another thing about this toy: you cannot modify the track. You get what you see in the picture. So, after playing a bit with it, you might get bored. The conclusion is it won't hold any prolonged interest.

The toy costs £34.99. I appreciate its production must be costly, but from a parent's point of view, it is not cheap, especially if your child plays with it just once.

We were sent this toy for purposes of reviewing. All opinions are my own.

Scentastic Smencils

You should have seen the smile on my son's face, when I opened a pack of Smencils and waved them under my nose to smell the pencils. He found it incredibly funny, and was copying my, sniffing at the pencils like a little overexcited puppy and laughing with me. 
Yes, you read it right, we were smelling the pencils. They are a special kind of pencils and they come in a whole orchard of lovely smells.

These aromatic pencils brought back memories of the sweet smelling erasers I had as a child. I think they came in two flavours - banana and tutti frutti, and they were also imported (which for a child growing up in the Soviet Union was bordering on an illegal pleasure). I remember vividly how wonderful they seemed to me, I carried one in my pocket and felt they were way too good to be used for erasing. Now that was a trip down the memory lane. It is amazing how some smells bring long-forgotten memories, but for me smells always work that way. I could be walking in the street and passing by some bloke with a cigarette, and some particular smell would remind me of my late Dad who was a smoker. The perfume of the lime blossom takes me back into my childhood again, in the school courtyard, and me climbing on the lime tree. And don't even start me on the kitchen smells and aromas, I could write a longer novel than Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time.

Back to our Smencils. What are they exactly?

Smencils are gourmet scented pencils. We received a pack of 5 in five Fruit Shoot™ flavours: apple, orange, tropical, summer fruits and blackcurrant & apple.
I don't know how close they are to the original Fruit Shoot flavours, as I don't buy Fruit Shoots (my older son drinks only Volvic touch of lemon, and my little man is happy with milk or blueberry and apple juice).

Eddie and I sat for a drawing and colouring session, I did a couple of quick drawings for Eddie to colour in, as this is one of his favourite activities. The Smencils we received are the graphite variety, but there are also Smencils which come in coloured varieties.

Smencils can rightfully boast that they are the world's only scented pencils made from 100% recycled newspapers and are environmentally friendly.
Each Smencil stores in its own biodegradable tube, guaranteeing freshness for two years.
I would also like to "draw" your attention to a competition run by Learning Resources on Facebook, you could win one of ten sets of Fruit Shoot Smencils for your children. Competition closes on 14 September, and you are invited to come up with a new Smencil flavour.

Learning Resources suggests that Smencils are perfect for birthday presents party bags stocking fillers Reward good behaviour Encourage children to write Fundraising With so many flavours to choose, you will surely find the one that you like.

Sudocrem Sunscreen Mousse (review)

We had a lovely weather when I applied to be a tester for Sudocrem Mousse (factor 50), and in a typical fashion, the British weather has changed once the mousse arrived.
Where are you, Sun? How are we going to test the new sunscreen if you are hiding behind the rainclouds. It's been raining non-stop for days, and we had quick blasts of hail for more than five days. Ironic.

Eddie stands by the window and looks longingly in the garden, he doesn't mind if it rains, he wants to be out. So, whenever the rain takes a break, we run to the garden for some fresh air. But as we know the UV rays that cause the skin damage, travel through the clouds even on the cool or overcast days.

My kids and I are very fair-skinned, and I easily burn in the sun. I am no sun-worshipper, and detest sunbathing as the most boring pastime, but it's not just the sunbathers who get burned. Working in the garden, you can easily get burned.
Every year I spend a little fortune on the sunscreen products.

If you didn’t already know, Sudocrem have officially launched their exciting new, technologically advanced mousse products – a Factor 50 Sunscreen mousse and a Moisturising Mousse. Both products use ProDerm Technology – a clinically proven solution to keeping skin moisturised whilst protecting, strengthening and repairing – ideal for all the family. They are also incredibly easy to apply to those little wrigglers!

What are my first impressions of the Sudocrem Mousse?
First of all, it is very light, foamy or moussey (is that a word?). It is quickly absorbed in the skin, it's easily spread, doesn't have a smell (I cannot stand strong-smelling suncreen, sadly some of the brands you buy, are so smelly, that they make me nauseous).

What else?
This mousse is hypoallergenic.
Free from perfumes, colours, parabens and other preservatives.
It is specially formulated to protect babies' delicate skin.
And it is not tested on animals.
All of the points above are important when choosing a sunscreen.

Another thing worth mentioning: it is not sticky. Again, many sunscreen creams leave your skin feeling clogged and sticky. Sudocrem Mousse leaves your skin smooth and slightly moisturised without you looking like a fried egg in the pan.
That's another pet hate of mine: you apply a sunscreen and look like a frying pan, all greasy.
I know Sudocrem Mousse is designed for babies, but I tried it on my face, applying the make-up on top, and my skin was not greasy. And if we all can use the same sunscreen, that's a bonus in my books.

Now we are waiting for the real sunshine to test the sunscreen properly.
Come out, Sun, we are ready!

I would also like to mention Sudocrem's latest competition - a chance to win a luxury Family Villa Holiday (including flights and transfers) valued at £2,500 (Ts & Cs apply)!

To enter the Family Villa Holiday competition…Step 1– Go to www.facebook.com/SudocremMousse and Like the page
Step 2– Click on the ‘Villa Holiday Competition’ app button, then complete your details and answer 3 moose (as in the animal) related questions correctly
Step 3– Get your bags packed and hope you’ve won!

Competition closes on 4^th June 2012

The Prizes:

1. 1^st Prize: 7 nights’ accommodation in a luxury Spanish villa in Mallorca for 4, including flights and transfers (terms and conditions apply).
2. 50 x runners up prizes: Cuddly ‘Bruce the Moose’ toy.

Grandpa in search of love

Lonely hearts ad: I am a good looking chap. Don't have bad habits. Looking for romance.

In them good old days I was a sailor.

I used to date a giggly Russian girl who loved her food.

The single farmer next door said her hands are full already, what with all her livestock and the farm, and she is not looking for a relationship.

I might have a free bus pass...

... but I am still young at heart, and I am looking for a companion to spend the days lounging together, watching TV and listening to the birds in the garden.

P.S. You might be asking what's all this about and whether I have lost the plot.
Actually, I haven't. John Crane Ltd have been sending a hundred wooden granpas and grandmas to bloggers around the UK. To see our adventurous grannies and grandpas, have a look at John Crane Facebook wall and/or visit the Blog-Match.

Sudocrem Skin Care Promotion

If you ever lusted after an expensive handbag by Diane Von Furstenberg , here is your chance to win one.
Instructions

– Go  Like the page www.facebook.com/SudocremTube and ‘Like’ the page
– Click on the Diane Von Furstenberg & iPhone 4S Competition page
- Follow the competition page instructions: Enter your email and answer the three product related questions correctly
- Keep your fingers crossed that your name is drawn from the hat of correct entries on 25^th February 2012

Competition Finish Date– 25^th February 2012
Competition winners announced– 29^h February 2012

The Sudocrem Skin Care Cream competition prizes:
1^st Prize: Diane Von Furstenberg Handbag, iPhone 4S (16GB) and 12 tubes of Sudocrem Skin Care Cream
2^nd Prize: 50 runners up will receive a tube of Sudocrem Skin Care Cream

I will definitely keep my fingers and toes crossed.