WIN a 2-in-1 Globe #ChristmasGiftGiveaway

November seems to have flown by and as we reach the final day of the month our Christmas Gift Giveaway comes to an end. 

Today we have two 2-in-1 Globes (Earth and Constellations) up for grabs - an educational night light!

Awarded a 'Commended' Medal in the 2013 Toy Shop UK Independent Toy Awards, this 2 in 1 globe has a different view for day and night!

- 22.8cm 

- Scale 1:55,900,000

- Includes natural features, capitals and cities in the day

- Includes key stars and constellations when illuminated at night

- Socket for optional power adaptor is included

*** WIN ***

For your chance to win 1 of 2 2-in-1 globes you can enter via the Rafflecopter entry form below.

The giveaway closes on 10th December 2013.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Make sure you enter the previous competitions and return tomorrow for our next #ChristmasGiftGiveaway!

You can find out more information here: 

http://www.theminimesandme.com/2013/10/christmas-gift-giveaway-2013.html

Saturday Caption

Check out Rudolph catching 40 winks before the big C word...

Have you got a caption for this cute little reindeer?

I'd love to hear it!

Have a great weekend

Homemade Button Christmas Tree Art

We were lucky enough to be selected as 1 of 30 bloggers to be provided with a huge hamper of beautiful craft materials from Country Baskets. The idea was to create a decoration, complete with a tutorial on how to make it, for the chance of winning a voucher for myself and a donation to a charity of my choice; Protate Cancer UK for all of the men, including my Mr, that are involved with Movember this month.

Fingers crossed!

We are a family that loves to get crafty, especially at Christmas, so I handed the reins over to the Mini Mes and with a little help with the glue gun they made some pretty festive items. Our initial thought was a wreath but we decided to create something a little more quirky...

Minxy lined up all of the buttons on top of the sheet of bark and then took each one and glued it down.

She added a floral shaped one to represent the star on top and square ones to represent the trees pot.

We then trimmed some coloured wire, made a small hole in either side of the bark and made a loop to hang the button art up on the wall. By folding over the ends of the wire it stayed in place. 

With some of the other materials Minxy and Jamster made a star tree topper using a polystyrene star, pink gems and wire and tree decorations using wooden hearts and pink gems.

What items will you be making this Christmas?

WIN Plod Ons #ChristmasGiftGiveaway

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR YOUR LITTLE CRAWLER

Brand new and in time for Christmas are the new sensation invented by renowned nursery expert Sock Ons – Plod Ons are not only the cutest thing you will see all Christmas, they are something mums and babies will wonder how they lived without!

Designed to protect baby’s knees as they crawl around on hard floors or scratchy surfaces, Plod Ons are made from a lovely soft and stretchy cotton, they fit snugly over tiny knees without restricting movement and are ideal for the Christmas season when the floor is littered with presents, wrapping paper and the dreaded pine needles.

For further information visit www.sockons.co.uk

*** WIN ***

For your chance to win 1 of 2 pairs of Plod Ons you can enter via the Rafflecopter entry form below.

The giveaway closes on 10th December 2013.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Make sure you enter the previous competitions and return tomorrow for our next #ChristmasGiftGiveaway!

You can find out more information here: 

http://www.theminimesandme.com/2013/10/christmas-gift-giveaway-2013.html

Chocolate. It's All Mine.

What's yours is mine and what's mine is... mine. When it comes to chocolate at least. 

I'm so used to sharing with the Mini Mes a little of everything I have whether it's food, drinks, blankets and of course money (or even toilet breaks), having the odd moment of selfishness is OK. I think. 

I've picked up a few pointers over the years when it comes to those tiny, yet significant, moments of indulgence which were really useful when a delivery of scrumptious treats arrived from Tesco. Their Milk Chocolate Gingerbread Stars and Chokablok Christmas Pudding tree are created by the same chocolatiers as those behind Harrods and Hotel Chocolat products and I wanted them in my tummy, just this once, without sharing. 

Top Tips for Scoffing All of the Chocolate 

• Only buy your chocolate when alone unless it arrives at your door, then you need to keep the packaging completely sealed until everyone is asleep. Patience really is a virtue. Even if it means staying up for hours to hide your goodies from your gingerbread and raisin-loving boyfriend. That's normal behaviour. Honest.

• Hide it. Hide it well. They will look for it like sniffer dogs on a drugs raid and they will find it and they will eat it. Be sneaky and use your height to your advantage, children can't reach on top of cupboards or smell it as easily up there! If you are short you can grab a chair and pretend to be dusting or you can learn how to juggle it into a safe position.

• If anyone asks, there is no chocolate and there never was any chocolate. In fact you don't even know what chocolate is! Alternatively if they have found evidence in the form of crumbs or wrappers (your family could actually be members of the CIA at this point with their detective skills) try saying 'It fell into my mouth' as that removes any possible feelings of guilt. That or reminding the kids and your partner what you are like without 'my precious' caffeine supply (think Gollum with that ring) should do the trick. 

• Be wise when making your selection. They don't like dark chocolate? Unlucky! Less to share, more for me! *Evil cackle*

I finally got my hands on it and it felt good. 

The box of stars was beautifully presented with tissue paper inside and the 8 chunky, and nicely decorated chocolates, were lovely in taste. They had swirls of white chocolate on top and the biscuit and ginger crumble added some texture and even more flavour. I really enjoyed these and I would certainly pick up a few as stocking fillers for family at just £4.

The Chokablok tree was next to be devoured. The chocolate was thick and it took some force to snap off a branch (although most was just rammed into my face) and it was packed with plump raisins. The golden wafer on top gave a festive feel and it really did taste of Christmas pudding! Thumbs up.

What will you be scoffing this December?

*We I received chocolate from Tesco for the purpose of this review, the opinions given are honest and my own. Nobody else got to try them so they have no opinions to give!*

Sweet Dreams?

Sleep is something that we all require to function properly and when we don't get enough, for one reason or another, we can end up feeling a little grumpy! Although we may relax before bed in various ways there are other factors that can affect our night and only 10% of us actually manage to get completely undisturbed sleep.

It would appear that I'm not alone when it comes to the issue of snoring; the Mr keeps me awake for hours at times which drives me insane! On the other hand I do hog the covers and fidget terribly, the second and third most annoying sleep habits, which sometimes wakes him so I can't really complain. 

Luckily it has never resulted in arguments and being kicked out onto the sofa though, unlike 27%...

Do you feel as though you get enough sleep?

*PR Collaboration*

WIN a Doodle Doodles Poster and Pens Set #ChristmasGiftGiveaway

If you fancy an afternoon indoors, away from the wintry weather, this pretty Tree House Doodle Doodles set will keep kids and grown ups alike occupied for hours.

The A1 poster comes complete with 8 pens and a florescent pink tube to store it all away inside. This is just 1 of the 4 pretty designs created by Artist Amanda Loverseed that features an intricate scene for you to colour.

http://www.thinkpinkblue2.com

*** WIN ***

For your chance to win 1 of 2 Doodle Doodles Poster sets you can enter via the Rafflecopter entry form below.

The giveaway closes on 10th December 2013.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Make sure you enter the previous competitions and return tomorrow for our next #ChristmasGiftGiveaway!

You can find out more information here: 

http://www.theminimesandme.com/2013/10/christmas-gift-giveaway-2013.html

Are You Sitting On A Festive Fortune?

According to a recent study around 70% of households have loose change laying around the home that could be put to good use and saved away, especially as Christmas approaches. This equals as much as £1.5 billion each year, just within the UK!

The study also uncovered that 66% of mums regularly save coins in a jar and around 50% of children do the same - it's definitely a good habit to have as it results in up to £95 of savings on average, annually. 

The Mini Mes love popping their money into their piggy banks and planning what they can buy.

Coinstar is calling out to families to 'unleash the power of those pennies' by checking in pockets, down the sides of the sofa and even in your drawers to see how much you can save this December. 

Grab yourself a pot, watch the pennies pile up and see what you can treat yourself to this year.

“You’d be surprised how much loose change you have lying around the house on dressing tables and down the back of the sofa! Popping your coins into a money jar is so easy and is a great way to get your kids into the saving habit too. They will LOVE collecting up their spare coppers and finding out how much they have managed to save, especially when they can turn their pocket money into goodies! Coinstar is a great way to find out how much you've managed to save!”

- Sarah Willingham, money saving champion.

Have a quick rummage around and see how much you can find. You will probably be pleasantly surprised!

You don't even need to worry about counting the coins as Coinstar kiosks, there are over 1,900 outlets, will do that for you. You just pop your change in and let them do the work.

For more information, visit www.coinstar.co.uk

Do you save your change?

*Sponsored post*

Hot Wheels Triple Track Twister

Sometimes when parcels arrive the Mini Mes want to jump straight in and that was definitely the case with this set from Mattel. I've never seen them unpack their bags and get out of their school uniform so quickly to play!

Although there are quite a few pieces included with the Hot Wheels Triple Track Twister, assembly takes just a few minutes and the instructions are very informative to make it an easy process. I was surprised by how big and impressive the set actually is and it's also quick to dismantle if you want to pop it back in the box for another day of play.

What's included:

• 1 die-cast vehicle
• 3 tracks with gravity-defying loops
• 2 motorised boosters
• 2 diverters
• iPad stand

The set is suitable for children aged 5+ and is ideal for your little car fanatics, like Jamster.

The cars travel at some seriously fast speeds and all three tracks merge into one for super fun crashing action! If you want to involve extra vehicles it is best to buy some in advance as your existing collection may not be compatible - they need to be a certain size and weight to stay on the track with the amazing twists and turns that go upside-down! Luckily, being big Hot Wheels fans, we have lots of suitable vehicles that work well so the smashing and bashing racing began.

The diverters give you full control and you can flick them to alter the course of each vehicle sending them off around the tracks of different heights and shape - there is even a trap door you can activate!

It was easy to use and I could leave the Mini Mes to play by themselves without any issues.

There is the option to bring the track to life with glyph technology too. You can race through virtual worlds; Farm, Dinosaur, Robot Battle, Shark Park and Team Hot Wheels using the iPad stand supplied, the free downloadable Hot Wheels Power Port app and your own device. I didn't have an iPad at the time but that didn't affect the fun we had as a family.

You can watch the set in action here:

The RRP for this set is £44.99, which is quite expensive, but it has certainly kept the kids occupied and they have really enjoyed using it. It is quite noisy and you need to get your own batteries for it (4 x D) but seeing their faces light up with excitement as the cars collide is proof that is a great set. 

*We received a Hot Wheels Triple Track Twister for the purpose of this review, the opinions given are honest and our own*

WIN a Moshi Monster Cookie Kit #ChristmasGiftGiveaway

Fancy some festive baking? You can get your mitts on a Moshi Monster Cookie Kit to keep you and your little ones busy this winter - you could even make some pretty tasty presents!

*** WIN ***

For your chance to win 1 of 2 Moshi Monster Cookie Kits you can enter via the Rafflecopter entry form below.

The giveaway closes on 10th December 2013.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Make sure you enter the previous competitions and return tomorrow for our next #ChristmasGiftGiveaway!

You can find out more information here: 

http://www.theminimesandme.com/2013/10/christmas-gift-giveaway-2013.html

November

November comes

And November goes,

With the last red berries

And the first white snows.

With night coming early,

And dawn coming late,

And ice in the bucket

And frost by the gate.

The fires burn

And the kettles sing,

And earth sinks to rest

Until next spring.

― Clyde Watson

The theme this week is November

Fairy Frolics

Minxy hadn't lost any teeth in quite a while so the moment she noticed one was a little wobbly at the weekend she decided to tug at it until she pulled it out, despite my best attempts to persuade her not to. Ouch!

I think she was a bit shocked once it was actually in her hand and she felt a little bit guilty for being impatient and not allowing nature to take its course.

Her note to the tooth fairy is proof of that...

She was rather apologetic and even provided a gift for the fairy!

The fairy didn't have any cash to hand, possibly due to the fact a tooth loss was quite unexpected, so she wrote a tiny letter back, left a new book (she raided Santa's stash hidden in my wardrobe, oops) and added some sequins and glitter to the pile. 

Minxy was very pleased that Felicity Fairy prefers the cello....
Funnily enough that is the instrument she plays too.


Does your child write letters to the Tooth Fairy?

I'm linking this with...

 

WIN an Elle Macpherson Rotating Brush from HoMedics #ChristmasGiftGiveaway

The Elle Macpherson Rotating Dry Brush will quickly become an essential part of your daily skincare routine when you discover that it helps to improve circulation and leaves your body with a healthy glow!  

• Promotes healthy glowing skin

 – Exfoliates dead skin 

 –  Aids lymphatic drainage

 – Improves circulation 

 • Aids lymphatic drainage and helps remove toxins 

 • Faster and more effective than manual dry brushing 

 • Palm grip for ultimate control when brushing 

 • 100% natural bristles – Vegetable fibres to prevent skin irritation and to provide good exfoliation

• Rechargeable – 40 mins use from an eight hour charge

You can find out more about this product or others from the range by visiting the Homedics website:

http://homedics.co.uk

*** WIN ***

For your chance to win an Elle Macpherson Rotating Dry Brush you can enter via the Rafflecopter entry form below.

The giveaway closes on 10th December 2013.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Make sure you enter the previous competitions and return tomorrow for our next #ChristmasGiftGiveaway!

You can find out more information here: 

http://www.theminimesandme.com/2013/10/christmas-gift-giveaway-2013.html

Slow cooked Chicken, Bacon and Potato Casserole

If your slow cooker hasn't made an appearance yet this winter, this is a great recipe to dust it off for!

It's a filling family favourite.

Ingredients (serves 4)

1 tbsp olive oil

500g chicken, diced

8 rashers smoked bacon, diced

2 onions, diced

300g baby potatoes sliced in half

1 tbsp thyme

200ml white wine

500ml chicken stock

100ml double cream

1 tsp lemon juice

Method

Brown the chicken in the oil, on a low heat, and then transfer to the slow cooker

Repeat with the bacon and onions

Add the stock, wine, lemon, potatoes and thyme into the slow cooker and cook on high for 5 hours or auto for 8 hours

Add the cream and stir through to heat

Scoff!

Tesco Clubcard Christmas Boost

Christmas is fast approaching and the Tesco Clubcard Boost is here - such great timing!

It's the opportunity to exchange every £5 of your clubcard vouchers for £10 of boost vouchers to spend in store or online.

I've got my eyes on a few goodies for the Mr, the Mini Mes and myself!

1. Jamster is after a Furby Boom for Christmas so boosting my clubcard vouchers to get one will definitely save some pennies. Tesco have a variety of styles available but the Sweet Waves version is his favourite.
2. The Tesco Hudl tablet would make a great gift for the Mr, for both work and play, and it is seriously great value! With 16MB of memory and around 500,000 apps it will certainly keep him occupied.
3. This cute pink Teksta is a lovely alternative to a real pet dog which should keep Minxy happy. It comes complete with ball and bone too.
4. I fell in love with this camera as soon as I saw it - red is a fav colour of mine and with 42x zoom it's bound to take some amazing pictures. I'm in need of a decent one and Nikon is a fantastic brand.
5. I grew up with Playmobil and the Mini Mes are just starting to enjoy it too - this pirate set looks like great fun for them, and I, to share.

You can find out how to boost your Tesco Clubcard vouchers here:

You can find out more information and view which categories are included here:

http://www.tesco.com/clubcard/deals/boost-at-tesco/#which-departments-are-included

What have you bought for Christmas so far?

*Sponsored post*

WIN a Rambling Rose Satchel from Dot Com Gift Shop #ChristmasGiftGiveaway

Satchels are bang on trend at present and this Rambling Rose vintage version is pretty and petite - ideal for the little ladies in your life.

We received one to review and it was very quickly decided that Minxy would have it as her own!
She loves the floral print and it fits all of her school books in nicely with room to spare.

The satchel is really soft to the touch and it has red polka dot lining within the main compartment and side pocket. The strap is adjustable up to 65cm in length which helps to ensure it is comfortable to carry and the magnetic clasps are great for small hands to undo quickly. She can grab her stuff and getaway from school in a flash - just what she is looking for!

When it comes to keeping it clean, as there will no doubt be days when drinks leak in it or she gets lip balm on it, you can wipe it clean with a neutral detergent to get any marks off.

This is a good quality product and at £24.95 I feel this is value for money too. There are plenty of other styles available and I really like the look of the Red Tartan and French Daisy alternatives also!

*** WIN ***

For your chance to win a Rambling Rose Satchel from Dot Com Gift Shop you can enter via the Rafflecopter entry form below.

The giveaway closes on 10th December 2013.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Make sure you enter the previous competitions and return tomorrow for our next #ChristmasGiftGiveaway!

You can find out more information here: 

http://www.theminimesandme.com/2013/10/christmas-gift-giveaway-2013.html

Personalised Advent Calendars from Snapajack

Each year as December approaches I try to seek out the most unique Advent calendars for the Mini Mes. Ones that won't break the bank but are great quality and suit their changing tastes, so it is usually quite a mission! 

Snapajack offers a variety of calendars, some of which are completely customisable, enabling you to create something to meet your exact requirement in no time at all.
Whether that includes photographs, messages or text the option is yours!

They have 15 designs with something to match all age groups and priced at just £12.97 they are great value. You can add your personalised touch to make Christmas even more magical for your loved ones - a great idea. I love the look of the Santa and Reindeer one for Jamster and the Cartoon Santa for Minxy.
Having a pull out tab to hang it with is really convenient and I like the idea of having individual messages with each foil wrapped chocolate if you wish.

It makes a special and sentimental gift.

The website is easy to navigate and you can make your purchase at home on your PC or while on the move with your tablet or mobile. There is no need to download anything so it's a very simple and fast process from start to finish, even for the less tech savvy. You can add your photos directly from your device or straight from Facebook, whichever is easier for you.

There are no hidden costs, even delivery is free and your order should arrive within 5 days.

The UK’s most original and comprehensive personalised gifting website, Snapajack offers 100s of customised gifts including their top-notch advent calendars, but also including wine boxes (choice of red, white or rose), beer holders, playing cards, mobile phone covers, jumbo countdown calendars, jumbo birthday cards, party packs and fingerprint paintings.

Whoever you are buying for this Christmas www.snapajack.com has something personal to offer!

Snapajack are also on Facebook and Twitter, so feel free to take a peek.

Which calendar will you be buying this year? 

*Sponsored Post*