October 07, 2013

The Hot Wheels Triple Track Twister is This Year's Top Car Track Set for Christmas

October 07, 2013/ Claire Spence

The new Hot Wheels Triple Track Twister is a triple loop set which has already picked up awards from panels of product testing parents., including the Dad's Choice Awards. We were sent one to play with, it arrived just after tea time bath, much to my son (& husband's) excitement.

The track is available at good toy shops, costs around £45 & has a unique augmented reality feature. Place an ipad in the designated holder, open the free downloadable app, and watch the track come to life through the screen. The cars battle robots and dinosaurs in the central crash zone.

The ipad isn't necessary to play however, my five year old is just as happy firing his shoebox full of Hot Wheels & Matchbox cars through the loops and double power boosters.

What do you reckon? Worth asking Santa for? We would be adding it to the list for sure. Michael even took it round to let grandad have a play, the whole family is getting a try!

October 07, 2013

Transform Your Family Tablet into a Learning Device packed with Fun- The App Pen

October 07, 2013/ Claire Spence

At this time of year we are bombarded with adverts for kids' versions of tablets and handheld learning devices. I won't name brands, but you know the ones I mean. Basic colour graphics, chunky, and priced around £80. On top of this the cartridges with extra stories & games come in at an extra £34 a pop!

When my son was starting to get interested in my iPhone and colouring games on it, pre-Christmas last year, I briefly considered one of the devices. I ended up picking up an iPod touch 4, which is basically an iPhone 4 without 3G, on eBay for around £75 instead.

Why? Because unlike the kid-specific handheld devices, the iPod touch will grow with him. He not only can ask me to download free games once he's tired of the last lot, but he can use it as a camera, video recorder, play his music, watch live tv. There are no batteries to change and fork out for. It just makes more sense than the child-specific tablets.

Of course you have to be tech savvy enough to set up blocking features for age appropriate material disable in-app purchases etc. but there are a wealth of kids' apps to download which means your child doesn't even have to go on the actual internet browser to have fun.

Number and letter apps can help your child learn through play, and stay one step ahead of their school peers. Of course we don't write with our fingers, and that's where the App Pen comes in. At only £14.99 it turns your existing ipad or tablet into a kid-friendly learning device. Pre-school children can learn while having fun, drawing, tracing mazes and copying letter structure.

There is a specific App Pen store with the free app that compliments the pen. My son loves playing with it.

October 05, 2013

Incredibly Important Announcement: There's a Boots Beauty Advent Calendar

October 05, 2013/ Claire Spence

I still buy myself advent calendars, and now there's an actual one that's supposed to be for me. The Boots Advent Calendar is £30, but has over £65 worth of products, both travel size and full size, inside. Brands include Nails Inc, Soap & Glory and Seventeen.

There is also a deal as part of the package where you earn three times the Advantage Points if you go on to buy the products you've sampled in your calendar. Pretty sweet.

October 04, 2013

You Can Buy a Twister Ice Lolly Cushion. Totally Sweet.

October 04, 2013/ Claire Spence

I don't think I'm being AT ALL hyperbolic by proclaiming this the Best Cushion Range Ever. Available from Tesco Direct's extensive soft furnishings collection at around £8. If I had a caravan these would be splendid for giving it an ice cream van theme.

September 29, 2013

Baking Bad- Bitter Sweet, Goodbye Breaking Bad Cakes

September 29, 2013/ Claire Spence

The very last episode of Breaking Bad airs in the US tonight, and hits UK Netflix tomorrow morning. What better way to cope with the loss than by stuffing yourself with delicious cake. It's a bit healthier than developing a meth habit.

September 27, 2013

Eating Out Review- The Ruddy Duck, Holywood

September 27, 2013/ Claire Spence

I don't do a great deal of restaurant reviews, maybe it's something I should look into. A chronicle of Northern Ireland's quirkiest eateries might be a nice project, not to mention getting a free lunch.

So I will start with The Ruddy Duck, Holywood, this time paid by from my own pocket! School was closed today, so my son & I with nothing to do, took the train to the nearest town to Bangor, for a wander round the charity shops and some grub.

The gourmet fish & chip spot is the little sister of Holywood's famous Dirty Duck Ale House, renowned for its delicious food. This shop has been a chippy since forever. I remember grabbing chips there after school when I went to Sullivan Upper School in the town in the 90s. It wasn't quite a 'greasy spoon' as such, but it definitely has had an upgrade with the new owners taking the reins.

The Ruddy Duck is quaintly decorated with seaside postcards & Cath Kidstonesque table clothes & shabby chic-ed chairs.

There are your straight forward chip shop treasures, all cooked to perfection. My son had the £3.50 kids' meal, sausage & chip option, the latter of which came in a newspaper cone. This tickled him no end, and he even brought the cone home. For that price you also got a drink.

I chose one of the unusual options, the seafood chowder with wheaten bread, £4. It was really filling, and chunky. The was even a crab claw in there!

So if you're looking for somewhere to grab food in Holywood, try Hibernian Street and The Ruddy Duck.

September 25, 2013

Aspirational Vintage Electrolux Advertisments the Mad Men Would be Proud of

September 25, 2013/ Claire Spence

As Electrolux approach their 100 year anniversary, here is a look back at a selection of stylish print ads from the world's second largest household appliance maker.

The Swedish company has led the market in innovating vacuum cleaners, washing machines, washer dryers, dish washers and built-in ovens.

Some of these advertisements look good enough to frame. In fact if you search on eBay you'll find a market for original, vintage advertisements taken from the magazines and papers of the 50s and 60s. It could well be worth rooting around in the attic for those old copies of House & Home to make a few pennies before Christmas time.