Photobox

I was lucky enough to be approached by Photobox to become a tester for their products and services.  Photobox is the one-stop-shop for beautiful and innovative ways to make the most of your family pictures.  They have over 3.5 million members in the UK trusting them with their precious photos everyday.

I had my account credited with £30 so I could experience the service like any other member and then report back on the good, the bad and the ugly!

I am guilty of taking hundreds of digital snaps and uploading them onto my laptop and forgetting about them.  I have literally hundreds of photos from this year alone.  Precious pictures of my children that deserve better, are languishing unseen on my hard drive!  So the prospect of making an A4 photobook was a perfect idea for me!

The website was easy to navigate and offers options at every step to ensure that you are creating exactly the product you want to fulfil your needs.  The online software offers you a choice of themes for your photobook, from the best-selling Baby's First Year Book to the contemporary Classic design.

I made a folder on my laptop of the pictures I wanted to include and ended up with some 180 photos taken over the last four months.  I then added these photos onto an album on Photobox ready to create my photobook.  While they were uploading I was able to get on with my creation.

You have the option to make an Instant Photobook where all the hard work is done for you.  It is a super quick way to produce a beautiful book.  You can then edit and add text to personalise it.  However, I opted to go for the DIY manual method which gives you total control over page layouts allowing you to maximize how many pictures you use and in what order they will be printed.  This obviously takes longer, but I really enjoyed dragging and dropping the photos in the order I wanted them to be, editing them in-situ, experimenting with different layouts and adding text boxes. I managed to include all my photos in the standard 26 pages, whereas the instant option would have required an extra 72 pages to feature all my pictures!  These are charged at £1.50 per 2 pages. (It made it very clear that I would be charged extra to have the book that way.) So that is worth considering when you decide how you want to create your book, especially if using  a lot of photographs.

I regularly saved my creation as I went along to be sure I didn't lose my work. There was no glitches in the system and I created my book smoothly and without any technical difficulties.  I ordered my book and was extremely impressed to see it arrive on my doorstep three days later.

The packaging was very good.  A sturdy cardboard outer contained the plastic covered photobook, so even the postal service and the weather couldn't spoil my creation!

The book itself was simply gorgeous!  A cut out on the front cover showed my first page photo through.  I had picked a snap that always makes me smile featuring my eldest son ruining a family photo by pulling a silly face!

I used a variety of layouts that maximized the number of pictures I could use.  The size of the book meant that even with 12 photos displayed on a page, they were still a good size.  The printing is clear and sharp and the end result is really great.

I think that a photobook is a much better way of displaying photographs than using an album.  It takes up less space and is much easier to flick through.  I love the option of being able to add text, making a real story book of your family's fun for years to come.  No memories will be lost.  I love it!

Ian was very impressed when I showed him the book I had made and poured through the pages with great delight, spotting moments from the last four months captured within its thick, glossy pages.

A4 Photobooks start at £24.99 (+ P&P).  Pricing is clear and straightforward with options to add extras such as a personalised cover, extra pages or upgraded paper quality.  There are often discount codes available such as the current offer of 35% off all hardcover photobooks.  Offer code:HCBOOKS valid until 12/05/11.  So now is a perfect time to get your digital photography in order by making your own quality Photobox photobook!

I've Got a Harveys Sofa

I'm Reporting On A Sofa From Harveys The Furniture Store

After my amazing adventure as a Harveys' Corrie Blogger at the Ideal Home Show, I was incredibly honoured to be given the opportunity to do some more work with Harveys as a Furniture Tester!

I was offered use of an ex-display Clarissa Sofa that was used at the show to test Inside the Wendy House.  (We had no say in the design, make, model or colour but luckily Harveys shared my taste and the sofa we received was not a luminous green PVC one as I feared it could be!)

I was very impressed with the customer service leading up to the delivery today.  We were allocated a 3 hour delivery slot which was texted to us.  Prior to the lorry arriving we were given a call from the delivery men so we were ready for them.

I loved the Coronation Street sign on the side reminding us that Harveys are their proud sponsor!!

The two delivery guys were great.  They used matting to protect my laminate flooring and put the sofa exactly where we wanted it.  They unwrapped it and took away the rubbish.  We were given a few care tips too, which was very thoughtful.  As it was an ex-display model it already had the feet on it so needed no construction.

Ian tested out the comfort factor and gave it a huge thumbs up!!  He is 6ft 1" so you can see what a good size the sofa is. It is a modern, casual design with a soft-to-the-touch fabric that invites you to sink in and relax. It is luxurious!

• Sofa bed option available
• British manufacturer
• Removable high quality seat cushions
• Dowelled, screwed, glued and stapled frame for long lasting support
• Foam and rolled card fibre seat filling for durability
• 4 colour options available
• Sprung seat suspension

• Available in 5 weeks (approx)
• Delivered assembled

Our sofa is available in russet, black, slate and coffee.  It is available as a two-seater, three-seater , sofa bed, chair and footstool and would be a perfect addition to any room.

Kizzy was very comfy nestled into the sofa.  She said it was "very soft!"   We are going to enjoy testing it out to see how it fares up to daily use.  I will make sure I relax in it regularly....all in the name of my duty as a Harveys Furniture Tester of course!

Clarissa Two-Seater Sofa

Botox at 7???

I loved The Only Way is Essex the totally "reem" show about the beautifully vacuous birds and blokes whose colourful lives make my existence look depressingly grey by comparison!  Their obsession with their looks is hilarious...down to buying shoes that are 2 sizes too small because they look "tall and reem" when worn that way.  Their waxing, beauty therapies, dress sense, hairstyles and botox parties seem so utterly beyond my own remit for what really matters in life.  To me, things that matter most are the love of my family, my children and my integrity as a human being.  The superficial qualities so expertly exercised by Joey, Lauren, Mark et al are from the realms of the unfathomable.  But my comparison, their exploits are positively wholesome!

Something I read today totally turned my stomach.  A British single mum, now living in San Diego, is so adamant that her daughter will be a star that she is taking matters into her own hands to ensure she will look the part.  From a botoxed, expressionless face, to trout pout lips to tattooed eyebrows, this beautician mum is using all the weapons in her arsenal to halt the ageing process on her only child.  The problem is, her daughter is SEVEN!  Seven years old and subjected to bi-monthly beauty treatments at the hands of her vicariously ambitious mother.

The aim is for her to win pageants as a stepping stone to a career in showbiz as an 'A-Lister'.  Oh how this offends me!!!  Willow Smith is her role model, but when you see the progeny of Will and Jada you see a fresh faced child whipping her hair back and forth, blessed with the looks, talent and privelege that is her birthright.  However, this poor child, born to a woman blinded by her desire to live her life through her daughter, is being promised stardom and seduced by the prospect of being Britney for the new generation.  She endures treatments akin to torture.  Her next enhancement is a tattooed lip line.  At a time in her life where she should be young and free, occasionally raiding mummy's make-up bag to experiment with lipstick...she is being thrown into an adult world where looks are everything and nothing else matters except being famous.

I'm sure the little girl never gets to play...heaven forbid a scraped knee!  I bet her food consumption is monitored to the point where eating disorders will became inevitable.  It beggars belief that a child can be treated as an object in this way.  The whole essence of childhood has been stripped away, replaced by a worry of a wrinkling brow or even a spot.

When the bubble bursts, what will mum do next.  A boob job at 16?  A stepping stone into being a star of the adult genre as another chance of stardom perhaps.  It doesn't bear thinking about.

This is apparently not an isolated case either. It is becoming common to give pageant children botox and fillers.  It is not illegal as the administration is self-regulated. Botox can even be bought online. Are we really becoming so hung up on looks, fame and celebrity that people are prepared to sacrifice their kids' childhoods to claim a piece of that pie.

I will continue to enjoy my children as nature intended!  Dirty mouths, chubby cheeks, tousled hair and the beaming smiles that come with having nothing to worry about and knowing that I think they are beautiful as they are.

Flashback Friday...Freddy the Foetus!!

This week on Flashback Friday I thought I'd post a scan photo taken two years ago when I was pregnant with Freddy.  We made the decision to have a 4D Realtime scan and find out the sex of our baby.  We had never found out before and with this being pregnancy number 5 and our last baby, we thought we'd make our experience different and take advantage of the amazing technology available.

The private clinic was in the heart of the countryside in a converted barn.  We took our three girls with us who felt so honoured to be a part of the experience.  I fully expected my baby to be a girl.  I didn't think Ian did Y-Chromosomes!  When the sonographer announced that she had found a willy, the girls were so surprised and very excited to be having a younger brother.  Big brother Joe who was at this point 20 years old and about to move in with his girlfriend had always wanted a baby bro...and I was finally about to deliver on that request, just as he was leaving home!

Aside from finding out that I was expecting Freddy (and not Tess as I have thought!) we also got to see our little man's face.  He looked uncannily like his dad.  It was such a different experience 'knowing' who it was kicking me and moving around inside me.  I was able to bond with him as an individual, which was very different.  I'm glad I did it...but I'm also glad I didn't know with my others.  The surprise at birth is a miraculous experience too!  I've enjoyed doing it both ways.  But with  a nursery to decorate and clothes to buy, knowing he was a boy made the practicalities so much easier!!

Reasons to be Cheerful

I missed last week because I was too ill to a) use the laptop for any length of time or b) feel cheerful enough to find three things to smile about.

This week I am feeling better and that in itself is a reason to be cheerful!

So this week's reasons are:

1: I bought a pair of Size 12 jeans and they fit me!  I don't think I'm where I need to be in my relationship with food. My weight is still fluctuating and I'd like to be a stone lighter, but having the courage to go from the mindset of being a size 16 to a size12 is a real stepping stone in my struggle with my mental body image.  One day I will get on top of my obsession with my weight. But until then, hey, I've gone from a 16 to a 12!!

2: We had a wonderful walk around Ellesmere Lake with the kids.  It is such a lovely place and Freddy has developed a love of trees, dirt and ducks!  He takes such delight in being out and about and his zest for life just makes me smile!

3: Today I met up with the lovely ladies behind three of my favourite blogs.  My friend long time friend Lou from Bloggomy and I, drove to Cheshire Ice Cream Farm to meet up with our newfound blogging buddies Heather from SAHM Loving It and Alyson from Alyson's Blog.  Along with our littlest children, we spent a few hours enjoying the soft play area, having lunch, looking at animals and of course indulging in the mandatory pleasure of eating ice cream!

New Friends and Cute Animals

Exhausted after his fun day!

Meeting up has made me even more excited about Cybermummy.  I loved that we were all exactly how we expected us to be.  I'm sure some people who blog adopt a persona that they will not be able to live up to in real life.  With us though...what you read is what you get!  It was very reassuring to know that Tweeting translates to real life conversations. So I am looking forward to meeting the flesh and blood behind some of my other favourite blogs next month.  Exciting times!

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo Mexican Cookery with Discovery

Making Fajitas for Cinco de Mayo 

Cinco de Mayo is a celebration held on May 5th, that commemorates the Mexican Army's victory over the French forces at the Battle of Peubla in 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragova Seguin.  The celebration recognises Mexican heritage and pride.

What better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than by having a delicious Mexican meal courtesy of Discovery's range of authentic Mexican ingredients.

I was sent a box full of Discovery goodies including their brand new Preservative Free Tortillas to try out in honour of Cinco de Mayo.  It contained everything needed to make Fajitas:

Tortillas
Salsa (mild, medium and hot)
Guacamole
Sour Cream
Jalapenos
Fajita Table Sauce
Fajita Seasoning (medium)
Fajita Paste (mild and hot)

All I needed to add were the peppers, onions, mushrooms and Quorn pieces to create fabulous veggie fajitas.

I used the Mild Fajita Paste to season the veggie mix that I flash fried.  The Preservative Free Tortilla were the softest most pliable wraps I've ever used.  Discovery definitely has the recipe perfected.  They can be heated in just 8 seconds in a microwave.

The seasoning was deliciously mild but very tasty with a smoky flavour.  The paste bound the veggie mix together.

Ella tucked in, adding the hot Salsa and Table Sauce to add a spicy kick to her Fajitas.  She said they were "super nommy!"  (Teen speak for delicious!!)

Kizzy liked her Fajita smothered in the creamy Sour Cream topping which was lovely.  She loves putting her own wraps together and said "It is fun and easy to do.  They are really yummy!"

We thoroughly enjoyed our Cinco de Mayo feast thanks to Discovery.  Mexican food is one of our favourite choices and we were all very impressed by Discovery's products.  Ian called the range of sauces, toppings and salsas "condiment heaven!"  The Preservative Free Tortilla were the best I've ever used.  They didn't stick together, were very pliable and tasted good...perfect for wrapping up a delicious Fajita.  It is such a fun menu choice.

The Discovery website includes a great Vegetarian recipe section and a fun kids' Make and Play section so you can have your own Mexican Family Fiesta!  You can buy the full range online.  Stockists include most major supermarkets including Asda, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Morisson's.

The preservative free wraps are available in Sainsbury's for £1.59.

The Land of Me and Ladybird!

The Land of Me

Some time ago I reviewed the wonderful educational software from The Land of Me!  Since then it has gone from strength to strength (understandably so I might add!) and has now excitingly partnered with Ladybird!

This means a brand new website, proudly displaying the Ladybird logo!  There will be lots of lovely new products developed including apps, toys, books and games, many in time for Christmas.

If you haven't yet met Buddy Boo, Eric and Willow, take a look and enter their enchanting and magical world!

Children between 2 and 6 years old will love the multi-award winning collection of games designed to nurture their creativity.

You can watch a video of Kizzy and Freddy trying it out on my blog review here!

Love Custard? You'll Love Ambrosia Snacks!

Ambrosia, the makers of the finest custard (in my humble opinion) have launched a new range of children's snacks.  These pocket sized packets of treats are perfect for days out or lunch boxes. Individual bags of custard covered fruit pieces are available in apple and banana varieties. We were sent two boxes to try out.

The coated, chewy fruit pieces come in portion sized bags.  Each box contains 5 packs.  The packaging is really fun and a perfect size for little hands.

My Tiny Testers Kizzy and Freddy tried them out.  Freddy really loved them and when I sampled them I realised why!  The banana flavour transformed me back to my childhood when I used to eat foam banana sweets.  The taste was intensely banana-y!!  They were chewy and so moreish.  They are completely vegetarian and a healthier alternative to sweets.  For a treat, they are a good option.

 Kizzy liked the apple flavour best as she is not a big fan of banana flavoured things.  She enjoyed them very much.  She takes dried fruit to school in her lunch box and these would make a nice change.  The apple and custard flavours transported my taste buds to memories of apple pie and custard at my mum's house.

The Ambrosia Custard Coated Fruit Flakes are very interesting and unlike anything we had tried before. They are intensely flavoured and are more of a fruity chew than a flake (which they are called on the packets). They are definitely a better alternative to sweets which are just empty calories, and will make a nice treat for my children to enjoy!

They are available in Tesco and Morrison's stores nationwide priced at £1.89 for a box of 5 x 20g packs.

The Gallery...April

April has been a hectic month!  With birthdays, Easter, family, a Royal Wedding, sunshine and towards the end illness...it has been eventful!

Tara has challenged us to sum up April in one photograph.  After much deliberation I have chosen this one.

Freddy has loved the warm weather.  As soon as he gets up he goes to the back door saying "Garden!"  We have planted our potted garden and Freddy has taken such delight in digging in the dirt and watching the shoots grow.  He grabs the watering can and waters the seedlings everyday.  He loves watering so much that the can is usually emptied before he gets to the pots! 

This picture of Freddy in his PJ top and wellies with his watering can really sums up our April!

Kelly's of Cornwall Clotted Cream and Chocolate Ice Cream

Kelly's of Cornwall make the most luxurious Clotted Cream Ice Cream.  I was offered the chance to sample their Chocolate Ice Cream...dark chocolate flakes, lashings of clotted cream and Cornish whole milk.  How could I refuse!

I found the ice cream at Tesco and it was on special offer for £2 for a 1 litre tub (RRP £3.79) So I got myself two...I mean we had to test it thoroughly didn't we!

.The ice cream was a good consistency and colour and was full of chocolate chunks.  It was rich and creamy and had a good flavour.  Some chocolate ice creams are disappointing, but the clotted cream and dark chocolate chunks elevated this ice cream to a real luxury indulgence.

My Tiny Testers were queueing up to help with the review.

In this lovely warm weather nothing beats having an ice cream in a cone.  Both children loved the Kelly's Chocolate Ice Cream.  But I couldn't take their words for it...I had to try it myself didn't it! So I had a chocolate sundae with whipped cream and a flake!  Naughty but oh so nice.  Luscious, creamy and chocolatey!  Exactly what you want from a Chocolate Ice Cream.

Find out more about Kelly's on their website.  You can also find them on Facebook for fun, chat and competition news!

The Dog's Doodahs Personalised Gifts and Cards!

In two week's time it's my 14th wedding anniversary.  I love to discover new and fun things online to keep our celebrations interesting.  When I was contacted by The Dog's Doodahs to have a play with their personalised cards and gifts website I was only to pleased!  It meant I'd get to order a unique card for my wonderful husband and have some fun in the process.

The Dog's Doodahs sell hundreds of personalised cards for every occasion and features brands such as On The Ceiling, Virtual Safari and the Odd Squad.  The designs range from the cute to the arty to the downright outrageous with edgy pictures and cheeky slogans.  Text and headlines can be edited to personalise them making thoughtful and often hilarious cards for friends and family.  They can be as funny and as rude as you like!

I went through all the 1877 designs (yes I really did!!) to see what was on offer.  Covering everything from birthdays to anniversaries to new baby to leaving cards, there is really something for everyone.  Male, female, straight, gay, pets and even secret admirers are catered for.

The majority of these cards are definitely for adults only!  There is a massive selection of rude and risqué cards with toilet humour, sex & fantasies and drinking all featured. Rhyming "between us" and "penis" gives you an example of the type of poem you might find!  It's like the old seaside postcard humour brought bang up to date for the 21st century.  Double entendres and the battle of the sexes reign supreme.

The website is very easy to use and navigate.  The search option allows you to find cards based on what and who it's for, as well as what style and theme you'd like.  It is easy to work through the designs.  Nine are displayed per page and hovering over the image opens it up larger to view.  When you find the design you want you can personalise it.  Highlighted text can be edited and the card can be previewed so you can see how the personalisation looks.  I had a lot of fun playing around with the site!

In the end I chose a card for Ian that used a photo upload.  I didn't go for a rude one because I couldn't find one that really suited our relationship.  (A lot of the anniversary cards implied a sexless marriage where the man does nothing bar fart and hog the remote control while the woman irons and fantasises about George Clooney whilst drinking Chablis....that is so not what goes on Inside the Wendy House!!)

Despite going for a safe option I was delighted to receive my card the next day.  The design was lovely and the personalisation made it perfect for Ian.  It was larger than I expected and well printed on a good quality, glossy card.  I was very pleased with it and very impressed with the excellent service.

Standard cards cost £3.50 plus postage.  The cards can be sent direct to the recipient or back to you with a spare envelope to send the card on yourself.  If you order by 2pm the card will be posted first class on the same day...so this is perfect for last minute card buyers.  Other personalised gifts are also available online.

You can follow the Dog's Doodahs on Twitter and on Facebook (over 16's only!)  This company is a lot of fun and definitely up for a laugh!

Although I didn't find the perfect rude anniversary card, I've lined up a few cheeky cards for some upcoming birthdays....I'll definitely be back!!

*I was given my card free of charge for the purpose of this review.  Don't tell Ian that I'm cheap!!*

Listography....Simple Pleasures

Kate has challenged us to come up with five simple pleasures this week.  The little things in life that make us smile and remind us why it's good to be alive!  After my bout of Labyrinthitis last week, the fact that the room is no longer violently spinning is a real plus and an unexpected pleasure...my sense of balance is no longer something taken for granted, that's for sure!  But aside from this what are five simple pleasures that I make my life worth living!

The sunshine on my face, a beautiful setting and my family taking a Sunday afternoon stroll together.  It truly is a simple pleasure, you can just feel the stress floating away.  (Unfortunately teenage Ella who doesn't have an ounce of fat on her body feels the cold and the wind whipping across the lake freezes her to her bones and she ends up wearing everyone's jackets and still shivers. Walks are often cut short...one day we WILL get all around the lake!)

My King Size Leather Sleigh Bed is one of my real pleasures.  I love snuggling up under my duvet and am totally sold on memory foam pillows.  The one thing I really love is to wait until Ian gets up for work, then I sidle up into his side of the bed and lie in his space.  It's all warm and smells like him.  It makes me smile.

My husband's willingness to wear this T-Shirt that says 'Property of Mrs McDonald' on the front is a simple pleasure.

I'm working towards making him get a tattoo that says the same!

Watching my little seedlings coming up in the pot garden we made is a real unexpected pleasure. Every pot we planted up is starting to show signs of life.  Little green shoots are pushing up through the soil.  We have carrots, onions, chives, spinach, salad leaves, strawberries and herbs.  The children are thrilled...I am possibly more so!

My only problem though is that I am now meant to thin out my crops and I can't bring myself to euthanase my plant babies.  How can I choose which ones to destroy?  It's like Sophie's Choice all over again.  I may have to send my dad out to do it for me next time he is here, so I don't have to witness the genocide of my onions and carrots.

No one told me gardening would be this hard!

My fifth simple pleasure cuddling my baby boy post bath.  He is so warm and smells so gorgeous and his surfer boy hair goes all fluffy and soft.

I wrap him in his Cuddledry towel and snuggle him up.  It is beyond wonderful.  A simple pleasure at its best!

Hearts of Palm

I am always prepared to try new foods (as long as they are suitable for vegetarians) so when I was given the chance to test Green Giant's Hearts of Palm I was willing and eager!!

Hearts of Palm is the harvested inner core of a palm tree and is ideal for salads.  It can also be added to stir fries, pizza toppings or pasta dishes.

The tin contained five cylindrical whole hearts of palm.  They are firm and smooth and considered somewhat of a delicacy akin to asparagus or artichoke hearts.

I finely sliced one to try.  It reminded me of something that I remembered from my non-vegetarian days.  Without telling anyone my thoughts I let my husband have a try.  He immediately said "It tastes like tuna!"  My thoughts exactly.  I don't know if it was the brine it was in or the texture...but I could not get past the tuna association.

Ian was not put off and made himself a nostalgic snack...a homage to when tuna was on the menu.  His Hearts of Palm and Mayonnaise sandwich went down well with him!  So much so, he's taking some to work with him tomorrow for his lunch.

Although it wasn't for me it is a low calorie, low fat delicacy that counts towards your five a day.  There are plenty of recipes online such as deep friend Hearts of Palm, Hearts of Palm and Quinoa Salad and Hearts of Palm in Butter Sauce.  People speak very highly of this under used product and seem to love the "unique and natural flavour".  They retail for £1.99 for a 410g can.  If you fancy trying something completely new and different give them a go.  I'd love to hear your thoughts about Green Giant's speciality product 'Hearts of Palm'!!