They're Coming this Summer! Ravensburger Minion 3D Jigsaw.

I haven't put together a jigsaw puzzle in years, and I've never attempted a 3D one, so this was a fun review to do.  

The Minions from the Despicable Me series have their own movie coming out this summer, so the shops are due to be swamped in yellow Tic Tac shaped fellows in blue overalls. In fact EVEN Tic Tacs are bringing out limited edition banana sweets in celebration of their lookalikes.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ravensburger-Shaped-Minion-Puzzle-54-Piece/dp/B00TN1ENY6

3D jigsaws come with numbered pieces which you put together in turn. It was a little fiddly but only took ten minutes for a puzzle this size. Would be a great present for a birthday boy or girl.

Revisiting My Favourite Local Artist, Neal McCullough

I was putting together my little monthly column for The County Down Spectator today, a piece about summers past here in North Down. I came across this image, a retro ad for Bangor Maid ice cream, harking back to when there was a dairy in Bangor, my home town. It turned out the image was by Neal McCullough of www.handdrawncreative.co.uk the very illustrator who designed my blog's logo from scratch for me. 

The print is available online, and it's going on my birthday list for sure. 

Bangor Maid Print http://www.damnfineprint.com/bigcartel-item/

More of Neal's work available at https://www.etsy.com/shop/handdrawncreative

Vintage, Boxed Kerplunk Game

Today we are all testing our nerve with this vintage KerPlunk game. The attic at my parents' house is filled with toys from the 80s, but this one looks even older. 

The toy I really want my dad to bring down, is my Fashion Wheel. I spent hours making my designs, even in my teenage years! What was your favourite game growing up?

Photo from www.ohmykitsch.com

Every Child's Dream Dessert (& Many Grown Ups Too).

This week we visited Frankie & Benny's for my brother's birthday. They've a lovely Waldorfesque salad on the Specials Menu now, watch out for that, but the thing that really caught our eye was the dessert available as part of the kids' menu. 

For £1.95 you get two scoops of ice cream, bottles of sweets, mallows and a jug of chocolate sauce.  Oh! and popping candy!

It was pretty tricky to get a photo as Smix wanted to jump straight in. 

It reminded me of the dessert I always wanted to get in Nino's in Portstewart as a child. I think it was called the Michaelangelo and it was served on a painter's palette. My parents quite rightly realised I'd never be able to finish something that size, but I think they did give into my pleading on at least one occasion. 

Anyway, the Ice Cream Candy Shop is so extensive that they provide you a pick and mix bag to take your sweeties home. Smix is still working his way through it!  Maybe next time we go I'll work up the courage to ask for one for myself too.

Fat Frogs & Funny Feet- Which of These Retro Lollies Did You Suck?

Claire from  

http://www.teeandtoast.com/ posted an Instagram of a Fat Frog wrapper and now all I can think of is how much I want one. Sadly I don't have a time machine.

The classic ice lolly horror theme again. Which is an odd one. 

The legends! 

The prices! 

Before my time, but I love the packaging on the left. 

Some slightly racist lollies were found during my search. I decided not to include the HB Golly lolly- but you can Google image search it if you want to be shocked. 

KoKo Mo doesn't strike me as being particularly PC either. 

I love Twisters. Best of all the current lollies. Please, brain, don't bring to mind this creepy little guy next time you're eating one. 

Apple Jack looks a bit cidery. Incidentally I can't remember which supermarket it was, but I was browsing their online groceries looking for full size Twister lollies in a box, and found alcoholic lollies in cocktail flavours. How awkward would that be if you accidentally got someone's kid tipsy from them just picking a random lolly from the freezer? 

Again the spooky horror lollies. A skeleton, and a Zoom for just 4p! 

Are there any I've left out? What was your favourite? Do you have a secret recipe for making Fat Frogs at home? Give me a shout over on www.Twitter.com/rudedoodle

Super Cute & Simple Terrarium Ideas You'll Want to Create at Home

I Don't Just Want These Dinosaur Cacti Planters, I NEED Them!

A very cool project which is child's play! Instructions at http://www.funathomewithkids.com/2014/03/diy-dinosaur-planters-for-under-five.html 

Show me your results by tweeting me @rudedoodle I'm going to try my hand at making some later in the week. 

Above are the amazing results of the crafting on Fun At Home With the Kids. Love the neon green! 

Before I go  a little thank you to NI Parcels, who included me in their top NI blogs round up. It's a cool blog post they've put together, and I'm in very good company with many of my own favourite local bloggers making the cut. 

http://www.niparcels.com/blog/11-northern-irish-blogs-you-need-to-follow/

Artist Reaches Into Your Head & Captures Exactly How It Felt To 'Play Star Wars' as a Kid

I saw these paintings on Reddit this week and just had to share them with you guys. The artist is Craig Davison and his Facebook can be found here https://www.facebook.com/pages/Craig-Davison-Art-Official/349689058403958

I am totally in love with the style and time period captured in these pieces. So nostalgic, innocent and fun. 

Also a thumbs up for the girls being included, not just playing the female roles.