IKEA Turn Kids’ Drawings Into Real Life Toys & Your Child Can Enter This Year’s Competition Now!

Now in its third year, IKEA has launched a range of soft toys designed by children for children. 

​The collection, SAGOSKATT, has been designed by children from across the world who were asked to let their imaginations run wild and create their very own fantastic creatures as part of the Soft Toys Drawing Competition. All proceeds from sales go to Save the Children UK.

Locally, IKEA Belfast will also be donating toys to East Belfast Mission’s (EBM) Bright Sparks Project. The local charity provides a safe environment in the city, where children can play, be happy and healthy. Shoppers can donate to the store’s local cause by having the opportunity to “Give Twice” by picking up an extra toy or book at checkouts and place it in the donation bank for EBM, whilst donating again to Save the Children UK.

This year IKEA selected ten lucky winners from over 70,000 entries to be given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of having their drawing recreated as part of a limited-edition range sold in stores worldwide and online, with prices starting at £1. From a monster to a mythical hippo and crocodile hybrid, the drawings are expertly transformed into near-identical versions of the youngsters’ creations to bring the exact imagination of the child to life.

To be part of next year’s range and for the chance to see their designs come to life children can now submit their entries in-store by Monday 11 December.

For more information on the campaign, visit www.IKEAfoundation.org

Feed Your Paddington Mania in M&S Food Hall #LoveTheBear

I think it’s fair to say that Marks & Spencer are the runaway winner of Best Christmas ad of 2017.  ‘Paddington & The Christmas Visitor’ has been viewed over 5.5 MILLION times, and it’s only mid-November.

M&S have been clever and have brought in lots of Paddington themed Food Hall items, so you can relive the magic at home.

Smix has loved Paddington since our first visit to London in 2016, so he’s delighted with all the Paddington goodies on offer. You can stuff Christmas stockings with a pair of chocolate Paddington Boots (£2), or have his own special thick cut marmalade (£1.50)  on toast on Christmas morning.

There are paw print biscuits (£1.50) and a whole selection of mini treats like the Paddington Chocolate Lolly (£1.50) and tiny tin (£1). 

There are even Paddington Marmalade Muffins, which would go down a treat with a cuppa while you read the book based on the Christmas ad. It’s available in stores priced £3, with £2 of every sale going to NSPCC Childline. We actually bought our copy last week, and they are waiting for more to come in stock at our local M&S. So if you can get your hands on a copy I would advise buying it ASAP!

As well as the Food Hall delights, there is a whole range of Paddington themed cosies in the kids’ clothing department.  

Smix desperately wants the gorgeous onesie, but unfortunately it doesn’t go up to age ten. He insists he can squeeze himself into the age 6-7, but I think maybe the Paddington slippers might work out better for him! 

Lastly, if you haven’t seen the advert and don’t know what the fuss is about, here it is. Joint the other 5.5m views and fall in love with a childhood classic all over again.

Northern Irish Advent Calendar From Studio Souk -Free UK Shipping Code

How cool is this? A twelve days of Christmas advent countdown calendar, filled with a selection of artisan, local brands. From Suki Tea to The Bearded Candlemakers, to a little mini H&W crane made by Cowfield Designs.

The advent boxes will be in store at Studio Souk from the morning of Monday 20th November, and are also available for pre-order and postal delivery on the Studio Souk online store.

Priced at £44.95 it’s a cute way to make yourself more familiar with some smaller Northern Irish brands, or to send to an ex-pat to let them enjoy a little taste, smell and feel of home.

Right now you can get FREE UK SHIPPING with the code CHRISTMAS2017 ends 12th Nov, so be quick!

Support Children In Need 2017 At Your Local Asda. Exclusive Light Up Pudsey Ears!

​Asda is supporting Children in Need 2017 with a huge range of fun Pudsey clothing for kids, and even adults. They’ve been partners since 2000, raising over £17m for the charity.

You can shop this year’s Children in Need merch, including light up Pudsey ears which are exclusive to Asda only.​

A Very Grey Gardens Christmas- Ideal Gifts for the Little Edie in Your Life

I adore Grey Gardens, and everyone knows someone who loves the Edies, Big & Small. Now you have the chance to buy official Grey Gardens items, lovingly curated by family members, including Eva Marie Beale. 

There are gift ideas for everyone in the beautiful online store.  Whether you want to wear your Grey Gardens appreciation loud & proud, with one of these Alli Arnold Little Edie Scarves, or more subtly in your home with the Sea Spray or Lily Pond Lane scented candles.

There is a Grey Gardens jewellery collection, featuring Little Edie’s Famous brooch, but also other carefully made reproductions of the pair’s vintage pieces. The range is handcrafted in 14k gold, with diamonds and semi-precious stones. I’ve only shown Little Edie’s brooch above, but if you click through you can browse the whole collection.

The store even has Grey Gardens wine (sadly out of stock right now) and a Sadler Teapot and Grey Gardens tea for your ‘Tea For Two’ moments.

I’ve featured the Grey Gardens Scrapbook, by the Maysles Sisters previously, but the other must-have book for fans of the documentary is this gorgeous, coffee table, photo book by Eva Marie Beale. ‘Edith Bouvier Beale Beale of Grey Gardens- A Life in Pictures’ has a selection of photos of Little Edie growing up, that you just can see anywhere else. It would make a lovely Christmas present.

Lastly, there is a preorder for this fabulous Alli Arnold designed Little Edie stationery.

Visit the Official Grey Gardens store for more, bags, cushions, fragrances, everything your heart could desire! 

Sweet Potato Steaks & Edamame Burgers: Go Veggie This Weekend with 20% Off M&S New Range

I love a good veggie burger, and often pick them over regular burgers when eating out cause they are just so delicious. I make them at home too, but they are always the regular same tasting recipe wherever I buy them. 

Marks & Spencer has just launched a new Veggie Range, with products us meat eaters will be coveting, including three different fresh veggie burger varieties.  Lentil & Beetroot, Edamame Bean, and Sweetcorn & Chickpea.

I had the Lentil & Beetroot for lunch and they are incredible. I would challenge you to make them for someone who is anti-Veggie, and see if they even notice it’s not meat. The texture is spot on for a high quality beef burger. The only clue might be the Beetroot pink tinge!  

They've also launched some tempting falafel products, the beetroot variety looks so cool it’s almost worth buying for the Instagram-Factor.

It’s a great time to try the new products as the whole range has 20% off. Because the items are vegetable based and not meat, it means the packs of burgers are really great value, at £2.20 and up.

Another must-Instagram newbie is the Sweet Potato & Red Pepper Sausage.

Along with the meal ingredients range, they also have relaunched their veggie meal products like lasange, stroganoff, pasta bakes etc. Those can be found in the Ready meal aisle alongside the Asian takeaway dishes, whilst the other Veggie products are alongside the fresh and veg at the entrance of your local store. 

My other super hipster, impress your mates cool Veggie product to buy is the Sweet Potato Steak. I can’t wait to try everything out over the weekend.  

Lastly, don’t forget there are Veggie Percy Pigs, and a whole range of Veggie Colin the Caterpillar sweets.

Halloween Trip to Disneyland Paris

Smix turned ten this week, so we took a surprise trip to Disneyland. He had no idea we were going until the morning of the trip!  

The park was super misty and spooky but it stayed dry, so we had a great day.  

My favourite ride in any Disney Park is the Haunted Mansion, Phantom Manor in Paris. Smix loved it this time too.

I’ll maybe do a guide to the cheapest way to do the trip soon, but for now, some snaps. 

Magda Archer- Modern Life’s Depressing Problems Meet Sickly Sweet Kitsch

I was starting into the BBC documentary where Chris Packam talks about his Aspergers, but had to pause and hit Google when I spotted this glorious Wire Fox terrier print on his wall.

The artist is Magda Archer, and perusing their other prints at Jealous Gallery only confirmed that they are right up my street. 

Enjoy.