Do you have “Mum” guilt? 19
Do you have mum guilt? No not that constant feeling that you could be a better mum (I think that is something that we all suffer from, nope this is a different type of Mum guilt!
reviews
Join the Home Tester Club and review products free 15
One of the things I love about being a blogger is being able to review and experience new products. I always give an honest review and hope that the reviews I provide are helpful to other people thinking of making a purchase.
3 Brilliant Tablets for Tweens and Teens 13
As much as I advocate for screen free time we are quite a technological family and I do allow my boys time on screens and they both adore technology, but totally agree with Sunshine and Hurricanes that technology is a privilege not a right. Over the last few months the MiniMads’ have been reviewing tablets and we want to share with you our top 3 tablets for tweens and teens. But I also believe that my boys should have access to tablets and technology and we have been putting them to the test over the last couple of months and I want to share with you our top three tablets more »
The parents ultimate guide to scooters 7
Kids scooters come in all shapes and sizes and also all sorts of prices for £10 to a couple of hundred. It can be hard to break through all the jargon and find the right scooter for your child and even harder to understand why one scooter is OK for going to and from school on, but no good for the local skate park. My boys have both pretty much worked their way through what seems like hundred of scooters and I have discovered that there isn’t a one size fits all solution and even now we have six scooters in the garage and I often feel as though I could more »
Traveling with kids – Must have gadgets and technology 25
We do a fair amount of travelling, last year alone I made three transatlantic trips, 2 with kids, 1 european trip and numerous UK trips, some of which took ALL day! So I know a little about what technology and gadgets ease the load and make travelling and being on holiday with kids a lot easier.
What activities have been keeping the boys busy this summer 2
e kit did make for some interesting conversations about crystal structures and we spent one evening researching this on the computer and looking at salt and sugar under the microscope. Now the boys are at school I think this will get a lot more play as it is something they can start after school and continue with the next day.
The Human Body
As a family we LOVED this kit. It costs £27 from Hobby Craft, but is jam packed with things to do, games to play and experiments, such as building your own stethoscope and finding out about finger prints. It really tapped in to the boys imagination at 7 and 8. I think it was perfectly pitched for their age range. The kit is full of primary coloured based kit and is really engaging. It is not something you have to spend hours with all at once, as it is broken down in to different sections and covers the five senses. This has been returned to again and again over the summer and we still have more to do and use, plus it comes with a 48 page book. A super buy.
Puzzler Brain Games for the DS
This came in to its own on one of our many long road trips. It is perfect for all ages and both the boys, their cousin and the Frugals played with it. At under £12 it is a great value game for any DS owner. Rather than use it in main game mode, which is a 90 tournament designed to improve your brain, they played it in practice mode, which is more like accessing mini games. The 20 puzzles are based on training 4 different brain function categories – Visual, Word, Mathematical and Memory. During all thge time it was played over the summer the boys never had the same content twice, which was pretty impressive.
Polarn O. Pyret in action 5
As you can see from above, they have worn them on numerous occasions and they are brilliant. We received some colourful denims in blue, which both the boys have worn. They have an adjustable waist and look great rolled up on Mini or full length on Maxi. Mini is seen wearing a block stripe top , what I like about this is it washes and dries really well without pulling out of shape and it made from the softest cotton. Maxi is seen in the PO.P stripe top, which is currently in the sale at £11. This is made from organic cotton and Maxi loves it. It has become his go to top. He has issues with sensitivity and this top does not itch, scratch or rub in any way. We were so impressed with the clothes that I have even ordered some more in the mid season sale, which just shows that the boys love them.
Monthly Mentions – June 2012 5
I am introducing a new feature on The Mad House. Each month we are lucky enough to get sent things to review or just use things that really float our boat. So I am introducing a monthly round up. Some things will have links to larger posts, somethings might not. I will always disclose if an item has been received as a free sample or we have attended an event. Mr Men Sports Day – We love, love , love this book. Go buy it now, it is only £2.99 – Review based on a free sample Huntfun – Looking to turn a walk in to an adventure, then look no further. Huntfun produce treasure more »
Crayola 3D Pavement Chalk
I love toys that encourage outside play and have let the boys lose on our pavements with both chalk and homemade paint before now, so we were happy to review the Crayola 3D pavement chalk.
We liked:
The chalk is both simple to use and effect and yes it is 3D. It is very reasonably priced currently under £4 on amazon.co.uk. It does come off easily after a rain shower or event a watering can of water.
We wernt keen:
Playmobil Top Agents Review 3
One of my favourite things about Playmobil is the fact that it is not licensed and that way it seems pretty timeless. A car is a car and an agent is an agent, which with my boys minds means that it could be James Bond or any other person, which is great for creativity and longevity. Playmobil also is top quality and seems to last forever and the boys have some vintage people that belonged to MadDad.
We were loaned the Robo Ganster Truck (4878) along with the camera and remote control pack, which can be added.
We liked:
Boutique Hotels are not just for couples, Review of Malmasison Reading 5
o you think that botique hotels are just for coulples and never consider them for a family stay. Well it is time to think again.
My Philips Airfryer and National Chip Week 8
Yes it is national chip week in the UK this week and I love chips. Not very modern I know, but I have to say that there are a real comfort food for me, as my Dad made the best chips in the whole wide world. We don’t have chips very often in The Mad House, partly as we don’t own a fryer and partly as we were spoilt as my mum had a Tefal Actifry so they were always a treat that we saved for visiting her. When I had lunch with the chaps from Philips at Christmas they introduced me to their new Airfryer and then I was lucky more »