Posts tagged Christmas gifts
Wow Toys – Casey The Camper Van
16 months ago
Some product reviews are so easy to write and this is one of them. When Wow Toys sent us a toy for MissB to review we were ever so excited when Casey Camper Van turned up in the post! As soon as I saw what was in the box I just knew that MissB was going to love it and it didn’t prove me wrong!
Casey is a fab friction controlled camper van so it doesn’t need batteries, which is always a HUGE plus point in this household. But the fun doesn’t stop at just pushing Casey around, once you open up Casey there is living accomodation inside the campervan and the roof pulls down to reveal a garden with a hop skotch. Casey comes with a boy and a girl figure (renamed by MissB as MasterB and MissB), a picnic table, a dog and a dog basket. There are also a couple of luggage parcels which fit into the shape indentations on the roof. MissB has spent hours playing with Casey already, she loves putting the different figures to bed or in the driving seat, or sitting them down for a picnic.
If I was being picky, the only small problem we have with Casey is that MissB finds it a bit difficult to open the roof out by herself and gets frustrated with it occasionally. She has only been using it 2 days though so I’m sure she will master it. Apart from this it has been love at first sight here. When she gets up in the morning, Casey is the first toy she goes to and if MissB had her way Casey would be going in the bath with her and into bed at night :rolleyes:
When reviewing items, we like to guess the price if we aren’t already aware of it. This way we can work out whether we think it is valued at around the right price. Both my husband and I thought £20 would be a reasonable price and we were spot on. We found it on Amazon here for £19.95
We in the Brown household think Casey would make a fantabulous gift for any toddler 18+ months for Christmas. It’s fun, provides hours of entertainment and best of all it doesn’t need batteries so you won’t be desperately looking for any on Christmas Day 
Contents:
1x Motorised camper van called Casey
1x Boy and girl figure called Pete and Lilly
1x Dog animal figure called Sammy
1x Dog basket and dog bowl
1x Picnic table
2x Luggage items
The Whirlee – A fab lightweight ride on from Mookie Toys
06 months ago
In our house, our kitchen is a bit like a race track. We love ride ons (or rather MissB does) and so when Mookie Toys asked us to review their new Whirlee ride on we were more than happy to let MissB test it out.
The Whirlee is a fab little 4 wheeled ride on which weighs only 865g. In fact I initially felt sorry for our postman when I saw him carrying the box up our drive but when I braced myself to take it off him, I was surprised as it felt like I had been sent an empty box!
As the Whirlee is so lightweight it would be ideal for popping in the car for trips to the park or holidays and if as let’s face it we mums usually do, you end up carrying it home it won’t damage your back 
One slight disadvantage we noticed with it being so light is that MissB can lift it very easily as we found when we turned around to find it on the kitchen table with MissB trying to climb up there as well. Now obviously not all toddlers are as kamikaze as MissB and as with all toys they should be used with supervision and MissB has been told that the Whirlee is for floor use only
Another fun feature is the 360 degree caster wheels allowing kids to speedily spin and whirl across the floor. MissB found this great as it allows her to chase our cats just that little bit faster. I swear when she grows up she will master handbrake turns very quickly
As well as riding the Whirlee, which MissB loves doing (once she figured out that the handle goes at the front) she has also discovered it is apparently fun to push it around the kitchen at top speed. Heaven help us when MasterB is also mobile enough to use it, I can just image the crazy times they are both going to have with it.
The Whirlee comes in red or blue and retails for approximately £19.99 making it an affordable and impressive gift for any pre-schooler. It is suitable for ages 1+ so it won’t be long til MasterB can use it to! You can buy it at various retailers including amazon, mothercare and early learning centre. It’s only £16.99 on Amazon so I’d personally get it there
The iHelicopter – a remote controlled helicopter from your iphone!
36 months ago
In our house we love our gadgets, my husband and I seem to permanently have our Iphones within reach and even MissB has figured out how to unlock them and open apps. You can imagine just how excited we were when Paramount Zone contacted us to ask if we’d like to review their brand new iHelicopter!
The iHelicopter is simple to use: just download the free App from the iTunes App Store or Android Market, plug in the IR transmitter (included) and away you go! The helicopter can be controlled up/down, left/right, forward/back and is easy to use, thanks to the in-built Gyro. The App itself will be frequently updated with new features, meaning users get the ‘new product’ feeling again and again without any additional expenditure – for example, budding pilots will soon be able to enjoy the Flight Recording mode, which allows them to record a flight so that the helicopter can perform the same moves again at the press of a button. The iHelicopter is compatible with iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and supported Android phones including: HTC – Desire S, HTC – Desire HD, HTC – Incredible S, Samsung – 9100, Samsung – i9000, Moto – MB525, LG – P350, HTC – Wild Fire, HTC – Wild Fire S, HTC – Hero, HTC – Sensation.
The iHelicopter can be bought exclusively from ParamountZone.com and until 30th October 2011 it will be available at the introductory price of £29.99 including free delivery, after this date the price will rise to £34.99 which is still pretty good value considering the RRP is £69.99!
So what did we think of the iHelicopter? Well at first when I opened the box, I admit I was rather worried as it does seem to look quite a flimsy piece of equipment, which is never a good idea for something that is going to be flying around and potentially crashing. The iHelicopter does come with a spare set of propellors just in case though. We also decided that flying pieces of metal and toddlers don’t mix so we’ve waited until both the children were in nursery before testing it out (just to be on the safe side )
I have to admit when we first tried the iHelicopter it scared the life out of me and we crashed it a few times whilst trying to get to grips with it, luckily it didn’t seem to suffer from having a few emergency landings! I’d recommend trying it somewhere there is plenty of room though and somewhere you’re not likely to break anything! My husband has decided it’s brilliant and he loves it so I guess that means it’s a thumbs up from us There are no batteries in the helicopter, it is charged through a usb cable and we find the charge lasts for about 20-30 minutes flying time. I’ve done a video below of our (or rather my husbands) second attempt at flying the iHelicopter so you can get an idea of what it’s like
Crayola – Colour Mix-a-Roo Game
06 months ago
We’ve been sent a great game to review from University Games, it’s Crayola Colour Mix-A-Roo and I think it’s fab!
Colour Mix-A-Roo is a game for ages 4+ so it’s a little old for MissB really but I’ve been having a good play around with it and I’m impressed – it’s very clever and I’m a little baffled by how it works so if I am then any child will be too
The game is aimed at pre-schoolers teaching them about mixing primary, secondary and tinted colours – without any mess! Players turn over cards to find out which secondary or tinted colour they need to create. They then dial the correct combination of primary colours into the cleverly constructed Colour Mix-a-Roo wheel and open the revealer door to see what colour they have created. The player with the most matches wins the game. It really is a nicely simple game to play and the colour mixing wheel is great though I’m a little baffled by how it works exactly. You dial the colours you’d like to mix and then resulting colour is revealed behind the little door! I also like the fact that the cards are thick card ones and so unlikely to be bent, ripped or destroyed by pre-school excitement
This really is a fun little game which will keep children entertained for hours (hopefully) and I can’t wait until MissB is a little older so we can all play it together
I’m sure you can buy Crayola Colour Mix-a-Roo in most toy shops or you can get it online at Amazon for £9.99 Crayola Colour Mix-a-roo Game
Playplax and Competition
1686 months ago
PlayPlax, the award-winning, great British toy is back – just in time for Christmas 2011!
I feel like I’ve been transported back in time as I’ve been sent some PlayPlax to review
This Christmas, forget games that involve hours in front of TV or computer screen or pressing electronic buttons – it’s time to get creative instead. Playplax, the iconic British game that ensures children use their own creativity and imagination is back. Designed and manufactured in England as it always was, Portobello Games has resurrected the 1960s iconic children’s toy PlayPlax, priced at £15.99 for a box.
PlayPlax is a box of 48 vibrantly coloured squares that interlock with each other, allowing children to create all manner of objects from planes to castles, towers and ships. It can be played either by yourself or with friends. No batteries, no manual, no electronic beeps or peeps.
Now MissB is a little young to really understand the wonder of PlayPlax yet, it is for aged 3+ but it hasn’t stopped me and Daddy spending hours playing with it and re-living our childhoods I’d forgotten just how much fun you can have with a little bit of imagination and some coloured plastic tiles. We used to have this at playschool when I was a toddler myself so it has really brought the memories flooding back
Why buy PlayPlax?
Research on child development and creativity has found that the best toys for children are “open-ended toys” rather than those that dictate how they are played with. These foster children’s imagination and have the potential to be different every time a child plays with them, requiring more thinking and creativity on the part of your children and allowing them to direct the play themselves.
Where to Buy?
PlayPlax is priced £15.99. It is suitable for boys and girls aged three upwards (and design-mad adults too) and is available from Amazon, independent toy shops or direct from www.portobellogames.co.uk.
Go on re-live your childhood and get some PlayPlax
The lovely people at PlayPlax have kindly offered a box as a competition prize to one of you lovely readers
How to Enter -
You can do all of the actions below or just 1 of them but please make sure you leave a separate comment for each action you take or your entries will not be valid & please make sure you leave a way of contacting you either email or twitter, Thank you x
* Leave a comment telling me you’d like to be entered
* Subscribe to my blog by email/RSS feed
* Like Me on Facebook http://facebook.com/kneesupmotherbrown (there is a link on the right sidebar!)
* Follow me on twitter @dawnie_brown
* Tweet the following “I’d like to win a set of PlayPlax from @dawnie_brown in this FAB giveaway at http://wp.me/pWTCL-KM ”
Good luck! UK entries only please. The winner will be drawn by random.org on Wednesday 9th November 2011 at 8pm x
Bespoke Foods – Delicious Festive Treats
17 months ago
It’s no secret I have a major sweet tooth, so when Bespoke Foods contacted me to ask if I’d like to review some of their festive products for the Christmas Gift Guide, well you can guess what my answer was
We’ve been sent one of their new Gingerbread House Kits and a Gingerbread Man along with a game of Chocolate Twister.
“The new Gingerbread House Kit and Gingerbread Man are the ultimate in edible DIY. Perfect for keeping the children entertained – simply set them to create their own fairytale winter wonderland following the easy step-by-step picture instructions. You’ll have trouble keeping hands off this delicious festive treat; rich, chewy, sweet and spicy, the gingery aroma of this authentically German gingerbread really is Christmas in a box.”
I’m going to make the Gingerbread Man with MissB this weekend although I have a suspicion that most of the icing and the sweets won’t actually make it onto the gingerbread man The Gingerbread House, well I’m going to make that myself as I quite like the idea of making something beautiful and christmassy
If I can turn this kit into something that looks like this, then I will be very impressed with myself
I think these kits are a great gift idea, especially if like me that you are a little bit too busy for baking the gingerbread part yourself but still like the idea of decorating and making the house
As for Chocolate Twister? Well what more can you want than the classic game of twister but with a chocolate twist? Perfection!
Calling all chocoholics, enjoy a classic game with a tasty twist. For family fun that will tie even the most flexible up in knots, Twister’s Chocolate Edition adds a sweeter dimension to Christmas. Perfect for parties of all ages, the rules are easy – pick your move, twist and win chocolate!
With the festive season fast approaching, Bespoke Foods’ traditional gifts are the perfect stocking fillers to add a creative twist to your Christmas shopping list. These gourmet games are a treat for all those with a sweet tooth and will make your family’s Christmas time all that more special.
Chocolate Twister (RRP from £10.00), Gingerbread House Kit (RRP from £12.50) and Gingerbread Man (RRP from £6) are available to purchase from a range of department and independent stores.
Glossy Box
37 months ago
If you’re looking for a fantastic present idea for the woman who has pretty much everything and is a little obsessed with beauty products then look no further than Glossy Box. I’m one of those women who walks hastily past all the cosmetic/beauty counters in department stores as a) the environment terrifies me and b) it’s all just far too confusing and I really wouldn’t know where to start!
So how does Glossy Box work? You simply subscribe to Glossy Box for £12.95 including postage a month and then receive a beautifully packaged Glossy Box sent straight to your door each month. Every Glossy Box contains 5 luxury mini products from high-end brands.
I was lucky enough to be sent the October Glossy Box and I can certainly say I was impressed. The Box arrived beautifully packaged and contained:
and as a special bonus in the October Glossy Box there is a Dermalogica Age Smart Renewal Lip Complex and a beauty bag I don’t think I’d have ever thought about buying any of the full size products from a shop but being able to try the minatures will make me more confident about buying larger products in the future.
Glossy Box will shortly be adding gift subscriptions to their website which will be
3 months for £30 plus p+p
6 months for £60 plus p+p
12 months for £139.50 including p+p
I think this would make a great christmas present idea
The Bluebeards Revenge and Competition
597 months ago
I don’t about you, but when it comes to buying christmas presents for the men in my life it’s always a nightmare! The Bluebeards Revenge have contacted me and sent me some of their shaving cream and a shaving brush for my husband to review. They’ve also been telling me about some of their great gift ideas for the man at Christmas.
The Bluebeards Revenge is a luxurious paraben-free men’s grooming range. As I’m not an expert on shaving products I’ll leave the description to them
“Millions of men all over the world share a common problem – they suffer from tough stubble that defies the attentions of every shaving cream or foam known to man, and blunts the edge of even the keenest razor. These men are known as “Blue-Beards”. These testosterone filled men, with jawlines of sand paper tough stubble, have suffered for eternity down to their masculine beard growth, but they can breathe a (manly) sigh of relief, as there is finally a shaving solution that works!
Designed by a dyed-in-the-wool, real life Blue-Beard, who was bored to death with being a Desperate Dan lookalike, The Bluebeards Revenge™ is perhaps the world’s finest shaving solution.
The Bluebeards Revenge™ is launched this summer after years of testing, where every existing product was tested and dispensed with in turn, before the perfect, final formula was settled upon. Concocted from the finest ingredients and manufactured in the UK – The Bluebeards Revenge™ is available now to make every alpha-male’s life easier, featuring the secret ingredient, Decelerine™.
This miracle ingredient is exclusive to this product, and is scientifically proven to actually reduce the growth of hair over a period of time, so every time a man shaves with The Bluebeards Revenge™, he is actively delaying hair growth. Over a 60-day period, this can reduce the growth of stubble by up to 40%, meaning a man can get on with what he does best – manliness – without sporting a 5 o’clock shadow by lunchtime.”
An excellent idea for a christmas present would be the Bluebeards Revenge Starter Pack which currently sells for £35. The Bluebeards Revenge starter pack consists of a pre shave oil, beard reducing shaving cream, post shave balm, ‘doubloon’ shaving brush and some ‘manly’ smelling anti-perspirant deodorant. Everything you need to introduce your man to a better shave!
Bluebeards Revenge have very kindly offered a tub of their shaving cream and a doubloon brush as a competition prize for one of you lucky readers! The Shaving Cream is worth £9.99 and the brush £6.99 so that’s a fabulous prize worth £17!
How to Enter -
You can do all of the actions below or just 1 of them but please make sure you leave a separate comment for each action you take or your entries will not be valid & please make sure you leave a way of contacting you either email or twitter, Thank you x
* Subscribe to my blog by email/RSS feed
* Like Me on Facebook http://facebook.com/kneesupmotherbrown (there is a link on the right sidebar!)
* Follow me on twitter @dawnie_brown
* Follow Bluebeards Revenge on twitter @thebluebeards
* Like Bluebeards Revenge on Facebook Bluebeards Revenge Facebook Page
* Tweet the following “I’d like to win a shaving set from @thebluebeards & @dawnie_brown in this FAB giveaway at http://wp.me/pWTCL-JE ”
Good luck! UK entries only please. The winner will be drawn by random.org on Wednesday 9th November 2011 at 8pm x
Galt Playnest
17 months ago
We were sent a Galt Playnest a while back to review and it is one of those products that we like so much that I feel it should be included in my Christmas Gift Guide.
“The triangular shaped Playnest has various activities to explore including a furry mane, squeaky elephant ear and crinkly leaves, hiding monkeys and snakes and furry tiger tummy. The triangular shape offers baby additional sideways support when sitting. The fabric cover has a quilted centre for baby’s comfort and is machine washable.”
The playnest is a firm favourite in our house, loved by both MasterB and MissB. Now MasterB is at the stage where he is just mastering sitting up, it is a great place for me to pop him with his toys so he can wobble about to his hearts content.
Of course when MissB is around the playnest becomes a boat, a car and anything else which involves her jumping in it with MasterB and playing with him. Luckily there is enough room for the both of them “just”
I was going to include a video here of MasterB in the playnest but to be honest he was just lying there being a bit boring and I’ve got a much more entertaining one of MissB in it which I’m going to show you instead Just to prove that even 20 month olds still enjoy playing with it!
The playnests sell for £28.99 which I feel is a pretty good price for the amount of use we get out of it. If you’re looking for something to buy for baby at Christmas then I think it would make a fabulous present
julie davies
They all sound gorgeous, but I would choose the grapefruit, lavender and frankinsence cleanser, orange blossom toner, and grapefruit, […]
1 hour ago
Margaret
I'd pick the Orange and Ginger Cleansing Lotion as i love the smell of orange and ginger.
1 hour ago
helen rhoads
I would choose the Grapefruit cleanser
1 hour ago
Claire Toplis
Please enter me . great fans of Horrible histories here !
1 hour ago
laura banks
please enter me @loz09 my son would love this
2 hours ago
