Showing posts with label present. Show all posts
Showing posts with label present. Show all posts

Sunday, 25 September 2011

Toy Review: Zoobles - play & collect

When I was asked if I wanted to review Zoobles, a new toy and collectible for girls around the age of 4 years, I did two things: First, I checked Google because, being the mum of a 5 month old girl, I am really no expert for pre-school toys, and when seeing their cute little faces, I jumped up and down in excitement thinking they'd be the perfect toy for my niece Ellie. 


Zoobles are small fantasy animals that come as a little ball (about 3cms in diameter) but magically spring alive when you place them on their 'happitat'. A happitat is the Zoobles' unique living space where they can curl up and sleep if they are tired or transform into cute little animals that blink, wag their tail or wink. All this happens with the help of a little magnet that sits on top of the happitat.
We received Zooble Icetasia and her daughter Iceabella for our review and we both agreed that they are just super cute. Icetasia and Iceabella look like fantasy teddy bears and come in a pale lilac colour and with a cute little snowflake motif that gives them a wintery feel.

I personally think that they are reasonably priced with £5.99 for a single Zooble and £9.99 for a double pack. I can imagine though that it might get pricey, if your little darling decides she wants to have all Zoobles in her not so little collection. What I really liked about them is that they come in such a great variety. There are not only the normal Zoobles but also Hair Zoobles with hair extensions to style, light up Zoobles that glow when you place them on their happitat and special edition packs all costing between £7.99 and £9.99. They would make great birthday presents for friends, stocking fillers or even a reward for when your little one has collected enough stickers on her reward chart. The larger play-sets cost about £20 and are fantastic present ideas for Christmas or a birthday.
Overall, a great toy and collectible that can improve children's role playing skills and helps them use their imagination and creativity.  

Disclosure: I was provided with a Zoobles double pack for the purpose of this review. All my words are my own and have not been influenced by Spin Master.

Monday, 18 July 2011

Mummy Alarm Review: Personalised Clock from Precious Parcels

A couple of weeks ago Amy was sent a gorgeous personalised clock from Natalie, owner of online shop Precious Parcels. Precious Parcels offers a unique selection of handmade gifts and home decorations such as handmade plaques, new baby gifts, room plaques and more...


The clock we were sent for Amy is absolutely gorgeous and fits perfectly with the theme of her nursery. It's in fact so popular that lots of our friends have complimented it and asked where they could get one for their little ones. 
The clock itself measures approximately 23cm's in diameter, is made of really light but sturdy wood and is painted in a lovely pale pink (or pale blue for boys) with cute little white polka dots. To add decoration to your battery run clock, you can choose between little white butterflies or stars when placing your order. There is also a field on the order page that you type your child's name in. It really is easy as pie.
The clock being of a light weight is another great plus point because it saves you from having to drill deep holes into your wall. All in all, the clock is a fabulous product that Amy will be able to enjoy for a long time and with a price of £11.99 it really is good value for money.



To check out all of Precious Parcels' products visit their website. For exclusive offers and to keep up to date with new products follow Natalie on Twitter or Facebook.

Friday, 17 June 2011

Mummy Alarm's Big Father's Day Gift Guide

In the build-up to Father's Day my better half has been spoiled rotten with lots of lovely gifts from various companies and their representatives. There is some seriously great stuff amongst the things we were sent and we simply want to use this post to give you an idea of what to get if you haven't done your Father's Day shopping yet:


The clever people from Toblerone have come up with a treat that both daddy and I absolutely loved: the "Dad of the Year" bar. I know, I know it's Father's Day but which mummy could resist a whopping 400g of delicious chunky chocolate triangles infused with honey and almond nougat? Not me! At £4.69 the bar is really great value for money and if you are clever and don't invite me round, it will last you ages. You might even be lucky and win a holiday to Switzerland with your bar.


When we found out that we were expecting our little girl, Ben instantly decided that he was going to stop smoking. He went to see the NHS Quit Nurse and never looked back (You can't believe how proud I am of him). The only treat he had since than is a cigar for Amy's birth and apparently you don't even smoke but puff them. Well, to make sure that daddy's lungs do really stay healthy, I'll just feed him Chocolate Cigars from Rococo Chocolates now. Ok, with a price of £6.99 they are slightly pricier than a real cigar but at least you'll get a crunchy hazelnut praline covered in dark and milk chocolate for it and not some dry leaves.


“The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” - Ben is no exception to this rule and absolutely mad for a good steak... or two. Knowing men, The East London Steak Co. has put together a special gift box for all the dad’s that love their meat. It contains a variety of quality cuts including a 600g t-bone, a 350g rib eye, sirloin and rump. As well as a 300g bavette and onglet steak and their signature Classic Rub. We haven't tried the meat yet, but be sure to visit Ben's cooking blog 'Just Mad Cooking' for a thorough review and to find out what he cooked. The box costs £35, which we thought is really reasonable for a big box full of quality meat.


"Hmmmmm delicious" was what you could hear from our mouths when we tested Delimann's 'Devonshire Cream Tea' that was delivered to our doorstep and allowed us to indulge in this authentic West Country treat without having to leave our house or stand in the kitchen for hours. The beautifully packed gift box comes with two oversized Devon scones, extra thick clotted cream, Devon strawberry jam, a rich and moist fruit cake and tea so good that daddy says it's the best one he has ever tried. All that you get for just £15 plus delivery. In our eyes this deserves a big thumbs up and a big order from us.


You might have found out that Amy's daddy is a bit of a foodie. So it's not surprise that he looks like a serious hoarder when it comes to kitchen sauces, oils and everything that makes a meal that little bit nicer. The newest addition to his collection is a set of Tabasco® sauces that he can carry around with him wherever he goes. The range starts with 57ml bottles that easily sit on the table and goes up to a gallon-sized jug that will the perfect choice for hot pepper sauce fanatics, real chilli heads and true Tabasco® fans.


Radox have brought out a new range of 2in1 Shower Gel & Shampoo and Body Scrubs just in time for Father's Day and have kindly sent daddy some samples to try. He was delighted as he is a big Radox fan and instantly jumped under the shower. His verdict: as foamy and refreshing as the original and just what a new daddy needs to wake up in the morning. The new range is available in Watermint & Sea Minerals, Lime & Ginger, Mint & Tea Tree and Lemon & Tea Tree and comes with the famous Radox hook, making sure that daddy leaves enough space for mummy's bubble bath, shampoos and conditioners. RPP £1.99


Formulated to leave you feeling like royalty every day, Kings & Queens is a unisex brand harnessing the beauty and wellbeing benefits of herbs and spices. Their products are actually so beautiful that the man of our house thought the bubble bath was for me. I wish - the products don't only look beautiful, they do also smell absolutely divine. I think I might have to have a sneaky bubble bath myself - I'm the one who made him a daddy after all! Kings & Queens soaps retail from £3 onwards.


God, what were we excited when the SodaStream Fizz Drink Maker arrived. Ben and I have both childhood memories of creating our own fizzy drinks but the SodaStream isn't what it was back then. It is better! It comes in a new stylish design and has a digital display for an accurate and timely amount of bubbles. The SodaStream Fizz even allows you do dose how fizzy you want your drink and displays how much CO2 is left in your cylinder. Also the range of flavours has greatly improved with dozens of different tastes to choose from. Our absolute favourite is Cherry but we've got still quite a lot left to try. SodaStreams retail between £40 and £150 - the SodaStream Fizz costs £119.


As it looks like we are having yet another rainy BBQ season, our new George Foreman Easy Clean Grill & Melt Family Grill might become a real life saver this summer. Instead of standing next to the BBQ wearing wellies and holding an umbrella while flipping burgers, we can now grill tasty meats in the comfort of our kitchen - quick & easy. But that's not the only great thing about our Easy Clean & Melt Grill: It combines the unique grill and melt feature with removable plates and comes with a digital timer making sure that I don't ruin yet another meal. The family-sized grill retails at £89.99 but is currently on offer for £70.

 
Hot snacks from fish fingers to pizza slices or even chips - the limited edition Toastadad is a truly versatile kitchen helper. You can even make sandwiches and naan-breads with it and all you have to do is pop them in the bag and toast them until hot. Easy, don't you think? The limited edition pack for Father's Day comes with Dads’ Favourites recipe booklet and two gold, re-usable Toastabags (up to 100 uses). With a price of £1.99 for two bags, the Toastadads are great value for money and a life saver for stressed first time parents. 


Every daddy loves his gadgets and if your better half or daddy is anything like mine you'll know that the amount of cables needed for mobile, iPod, Playstation and all the other devices can be a real source of danger. The Powermat puts an end to tangled cables. Just pop a Powermat receiver on your device, drop it on the Powermat, and watch it start charging. At £69.99 the price might seem a bit steep but the Powermat will last you for ages and its intelligent technology will help you reduce your energy bill in the long run. Thumbs up!

Friday, 1 April 2011

Mummy Alarm's Big Mother's Day Gift Guide: Jewellery


Amber Heart Breastfeeding Necklace available from Mama Jewels Online, £23.95


Purple "Keep Calm and Carry On" Necklace available from Temporary Secretary, £22.95


Butterfly Island Charm Bracelet available from Annie Haak Designs Online, £170


Fiorelli Pointed Teardrop Shaped Earrings available from Fiorelli's Amazon Shop, £19.95


Mum Scrabble Necklace available from Chic Unique Online, £12
 

Sunday, 27 March 2011

Mummy Alarm's Big Mother's Day Gift Guide: Wine & Dine


 24 Tripple Chocolate Brownies in a Gift Box available from Sweet Things online, £14.95


Rick Stein Mother's Day Hamper available from Rick Stein online, £54.99


Fruit Cake and Cheddar Cheese Gift Pack available from Godminster Vintage, £26


Californian Barefoot Merlot available from Tesco, £4.79 per bottle or £27.99 per crate on Mother's Day offer


Strawberry Shortbread Cheesecake from the English Cheesecake Company online, £29 (serves 12)


Mother's Day Warmer of Damson Gin Liqueur and Ginger Wine available from Demijohn Online, £18
 

Chocolate Heart with Truffels available at Thorntons Chocolate nationwide or online, £5.99

Saturday, 26 March 2011

Mummy Alarm's Big Mother's Day Gift Guide: Days Out

 
Mother's Day Course at Covent Garden Academy of Flowers, book online at www.accademyofflowers.com, £190 for two


Cupcake Decorating Course with Beverly Glock, book online at www.splatcooking.net, £65 per person on 1st or 2nd April


Afternoon Tea with the London Eye and the Marriot Hotel, book at London Eye online, from £25


Full Body Massage at Paul Edmonds' Salon in Knightsbridge London, book via email, from £40 for 30mins


Mother's Day Workshop at Worcestershire Castle with Jane Packer Flower School, book online at www.amazingretreats.com, £495 per person


Friday, 25 March 2011

Mummy Alarm's Big Mother's Day Gift Guide: House & Home


Personalised Towels in different sizes - available from The Fine Cotton Company, price depending on size


Union Jack Heart Cushion by Jan Constantine available from Historic Royal Palaces Online, £85


Indulgence Candle with jasmine and geranium - available from Aromatherapy Associates Online Shop, £25.50


Heart shaped tile with individual colour, theme and message - available from Gallery Thea Online Shop, £22


 Dahlia Tapestry Kit Design (From the blooms Collection) available from Elizabeth Bradly Online Shop, from £34 depending on size



Picture tray available from Joanna Wood Online Shop, £33.90


The Linen Basket diffusers available from Ashleigh & Burwood online, 200ml from £15.75

Tea for One Set by Nina Campbell available from www.gift-library.com, £27

Dots Stemware Wine Glasses available from The Pampered Chef online, £32



Soda Stream drinksmaker available from SodaStream Online, from £49.99

Thursday, 10 March 2011

Mummy Alarm's Big Mother's Day Gift Guide: Get Creative


Write a book for your mum - Dear Mum (Journal of a Lifetime) - available from www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk, £8.99


Build a teddy for your mum - Curly Teddy "World's best Mum" - available from Build a Bear Shops nationwide, £27.50


Design individual photo books with pictures of you and your mum- available from www.photocreator.co.uk, from £17.00


Create unforgetable memorabila and cards with the Craft Artist Premium Software - available from Serif Online Shop, £39.99


Design unique cups, canvases or photo books with your favourite pictures - available from Snapfish, from £7.99


Collect your children's artwork in the I Love You Mummy album - available from www.ethicalsuperstore.com, £5.99

Which of them is your favourite? Tell me and you might be lucky enough to find your favourite product in my big Mother's Day giveaway...

Sunday, 6 March 2011

Mummy Alarm's Big Mother's Day Gift Guide: Beauty


Love your Body Oil - Black Chicken Remedies available online or at Selfridges stores, £45.50 


Arnicare Bath and Massage Balm - Nelsons available from Boots, £8.15


Simple Radiance Skin - available exclusively from www.simple.co.uk, £17.35 


Elizabeth Arden Sunflower Gift Set - available from Savers shops nationwide, £11.95


Time Out Collection - Ella Pure available from Ella Pure Online Shop, £25.00 


Grapefruit and Lemongrass Pamper Box - B Organic Skincare available from B Organic Skincare Online Shop, £35.00


 Sshhh... Mum's Sleeping eye mask - available from Poundland shops, £1.99


 Stella Mc Cartney's Stella In Two - available online from www.cheapsmells.com, £44.75


Ultima 5000 Pro - Diva available at Sally Salon Services stores nationwide and online at www.sallyexpress.com, £79.99

Shea Butter Body Balm Fleur D'Abrivot - L’Occitane available from www.feelunique.com, £15.00

Which of them is your favourite? Tell me and you might be lucky enough to find your favourite product in my big Mother's Day giveaway...

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