A few weeks back Lil’ H had a movie night.  The excitement was building daily in advance of the actual event, I’d suggested he had some buddies over to play eat pizza, watch a movie.  I kind of forgot he and they were 4-5 years old so had never done anything like this and started to feel a bit under pressure to do something amazing *gulp*.  Everyday, is it today?  No, a few more sleeps.  As the pressure mounted I thought I’d see if this blogging lark could save my ass and I asked one of my fave PR’s if they had anything suitable that Lil H and band of merry men could put through its paces?  He was a PR superhero as he had HEXBUGS.  Lil H had one which hasn’t been seen since the house move.  Perfect!  I was relieved.  I was certain they would like them.

The day arrived, every time the door bell rang and another “mate from school” arrived – the excitement grew and grew eventually reaching fever pitch and staying there. All. Night.   Order of service was a good check out of Lil H’s bedroom, new toys examined and played with, apparently random charging about whilst screaming mostly up and down the stairs and eventually I was able to lure the 4 and 5 year old boys into the kitchen with the promise of pizza and the the Rio [DVD] movie.  Rio is great by the way if you haven’t seen it.

Pizza consumed I cracked open the HEXBUGS as a surprise – the crowd went wild!  I dished them a couple each – their delight was instant because HEXBUGS are so simple, little tiny ready to go and don’t stop robot bugs.  Diva G really likes hers too, at 2 yo she’s totally facinated by their movement.  A bit older and they are racing, chasing, mini robots.  Put them on circular platters and the races never end.  A Christmas essential, great stocking filler and one that Diva G, Lil H and all his little buddies left after “the best party ever”, taking their HEXBUG in for show & tell at school and putting more on their wish lists for 25th December.  But don’t take my word for it, check out some of the boys LOVING an evening with HEXBUGS.

Related links
Website:  http://www.hexbug.com/
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/hexbug
Twitter:  @HEXBUGUK

Holidays are coming, holidays are coming!  No escaping it and the first of what will no doubt be many online orders have been placed here at Villa Lancaster.  An early gift from me and the lovely people at Matalan will be £30 of vouchers for a lucky Cheshire Mum reader!  With such great value prices in store and online they will go a long way this Christmas, some of my favourites picks are these biker boots for me £25 and this wreath £8 for my home.

Entering is easy, first you need to check out Matalan’s latest ad, here it is…

To enter just pick which key pieces you would spend your voucher on, you can see all the items featured in Matalan’s festive ad here, have a browse, your choice doesn’t have to feature in the ad just tell me what you like over at http://www.matalan.co.uk.  Additional entries are available for liking Matalan’s Facebook page, this blog post and tweeting about the competition.  Competition closes at midnight on Tuesday 6th December 2011.

Go!  Be Lucky! 

Related links
http://www.matalan.co.uk
http://www.facebook.com/shopmatalan
@Matalan

ThePrizeFinder – UK Competitions

*** UPDATE:  Trunki are running a Christmas present giveaway on their facebook page from the 1st -12th December 2011 – where they’ll be giving away lots and lots of treats, worth a visit!  ;o) ***

We have known about Trunkis in this house since they first pitched on Dragon’s Den and we have been proud owners for as long as we have had children and we now have more Trunki items that we have children!  Lil H has had one of the original Terrance Trunki suitcases since before he was one, already planning big adventures from such a young age.  Diva G has Trunki Harley the Ladybug Ride-on Suitcase (Limited Edition), they both have Trunki Yondi head huggers, the predessor to Snoozihedz for the car, H also has a saddle bag for an even comfier ride through the airport.  Here is, back then Baby G, delighted dare I say overjoyed by her Trunki gifts last Christmas!

A new addition to the Trunki collection is always welcome and so was the email from the lovely PR people for Trunki asking if I would like to review the new Trunkisaurus range – rar!  Yes, please that would be most brilliant!  Now Lil H is at school we have daily homework and a requirement for a pencil case, the scattered pens are a Diva G artwork waiting to happen, usually on walls!  So the travel chums 3-in-1 is there’s a pencil case, a wash bag and a cute purse, they all have clips to keep them safe too.  Purses and for boys I have found being like searching for hens teeth this one has fierce dino fangs and spikes!  Rar, again!

Trunki also sent us a a Dino 3-in-1 Tote bag which fits in one side of the Trunki, it can also be lifted out and clipped on to the seat in front for easier access to its contents, it comes with a shoulder strap too.  We keep all Lil H’s phonic’s, writing and flash cards in here now so they can go along with him easily to grandma’s for a sleepover or away on hols.  It helps to keep the morning 10 minutes of homework routine going not to mention keeping them out of reach of the whirlwind of a 2 year old.  So advent nears and Christmas shopping gets into full swing don’t forget to check out all the fab ideas and accessories from Trunki – as you can see they get our thumbs up, every home should have at least one Trunki something!   Take a minute to check out their online viral take of “A night at the Museum with Trunkisaurus Rex” Enjoy!

Related links
Web http://www.trunki.co.uk/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/TrunkiTowers
Twitter @Trunki
You Tube http://www.youtube.com/user/trunkijon

Today I settled down to my Christmas gift list, sadly not a list of what I would like* (*If anyone would like me to write a list of what I would like I am more than happy to write one!) but a list of who I am buying for and what I am buying them.  Over the years I have cut the list of who I buy gifts for down and with friends this year I have agreed “no gift exchange” with anyone that will agree it with me!

Armed with my honed list of who, mostly relatives, the gift selection begins. The reality is that the adults have everything they need / want, and then some. This makes finding a gift that delights harder every year. No one wants or needs more stuff do they?  This year my gifting will mostly be consumable gifts – gifts that can be used, eaten, enjoyed etc.

With family all over the place, up in Northumberland, down in Brighton and many places in between, I need gifts that don’t cost as much again in postage and will arrive, last years delivery challenges for online orders have not been forgotten! Interflora is one of my favourite brands to work with and I’m delighted to be writing about their recently unveiled Christmas collection which has helped me out enormously.

Christmas Hampers

It’s not Christmas without a hamper and Interflora have a great selection of Christmas hampers. Lots of treats to eat and the hampers are great looking storage afterwards for teddies, toys, blankets etc.

Poinsettia

My mum always has poinsettia plants, I do too now, it’s an unwritten, unspoken tradition. A gift, even one to self, that lasts the whole festive season. I think Interflora’s outdoor barrel is a festive welcome by any front door, something to brighten the winter darkness, so much better than socks!

Mistletoe

Let’s not forget the smooching flower, mistletoe! Send a party host a unique gift of mistletoe and get puckering up!  There is free delivery on many lovely gifts including traditional wreaths, holly trees, candle displays so not sure what to get someone that has everything this year check out http://www.interflora.co.uk for some inspiration!

Related links
Web: http://www.interflora.co.uk
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/interfloratheflowerexperts
Twitter: @InterfloraUK

At the end of September, I was invited to check out the new John Lewis at Home Store in Chester which was opening 28th September 2011.  I am lucky, I have a three floors of John Lewis loveliness just down the road from me at Cheadle.  But I have never been to a “John Lewis at Home” store and as a girl who likes to shop this I had to see!  Chester is only 40 minutes away so I thought I’d whizz over and check it out, new house and therefore new home furnishings to dream about!

It was just me, the store manager and the PR and 38,000 sq ft of perfectly stocked John Lewis with the very latest and best products across furniture, homewares, furnishing accessories and electrical and home technology.  Not a pair of shoes, a top or latest toy to distract me from its perfection.  Although I did wonder about the shoes, top and toy – never fear – free click and collect is available here for those items.  So anything else I wanted I could order online and pick up at the John Lewis at Home store, perfect.  Being the only one in the store was just like a calm relaxed online shop but I could touch, turn, feel and see everything.

I sort of forgot the manager and PR girl were there as I had my first glimpses of John Lewis Christmas.  It may have only been September but I was truly festive within moments of stepping into their Winter displays.  I loved the Advent Calendar House 

I thought the John Lewis Brights Photo Frames in Red, Pink, Lime, Turquoise and Silver were great value starting at £6 with childrens photos and drawings in they would be great Christmas presents.

I was stopped in my tracks by the Rob Ryan ceramics if a new tumble dryer and a new dishwasher weren’t on the list I’d be asking Santa for some new loveliness for my dresser, except a dresser would have to also be on the list!  Tumbler dryers, dishwashers, furniture, technology and a lovely cafe can all be found upstairs.

I felt like some sort of peculiar honour to witness the John Lewis towel wall which took a team days to create its perfection and when I say perfection I mean perfection!  No sooner than the doors open this towel wall will never again be quite so perfect.  The clock wall was pretty fab too, but the towels had the edge.  I was also able to indulge my love of lighting with its galmourous aray of sparkles and colour too, like the Jolie table lamps in red, pink, blue, green, yellow and white for a very reasonable £35.

Having never been to a John Lewis at Home store before, I really liked my experience in Chester, its was great to have a preview and when I am ready to do some homewear spending I will go back.  The Chester store is on the Greyhound Retail Park where you have a huge choice of all the usual out of town furniture suspects if you want to check out and compare plus you can also park and ride from there into, the notoriously difficult to park, centre of Chester.  So even though I have John Lewis Cheadle on my doorstep this is different and a change is as good as a rest as they say.  Thank you John Lewis at Home in Chester for showing me round.

Related Links
Web:  http://www.johnlewis.com/
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/JohnLewisRetail
Twitter:  @JohnLewisRetail
You Tube:  http://www.youtube.com/johnlewisretail