#EnjoyMoreWater in the summer's garden

The summer may currently feel like a bit of a wash out with all the rainy days but a few weeks ago it was so hot and Little Bird was playing out in the garden pretty much all day long, not wanting to come back inside except for a dollop of sun cream. I'm very guilty of not drinking enough water but I like to make sure LB is well hydrated so when we received the great new Robinsons Squash'd range as part of the Enjoy More Water Challenge, we were keen to see if they would encourage us to drink more.

With spending so much time in the garden where LB helps me plant seeds and water the plants, I thought a good way to encourage him to drink more would be to collect some home grown garden goodies to add to our jug of water along with the Robinsons Squash'd.

So we added some lovely ripe strawberries from the hanging basket on the patio where the slugs can't get at them. LB is really into them at the moment so I don't get a look in.

Further down the garden is the huge red currant bush and LB equally eats these as he's skipping up and down. It's full of them dripping like jewels, so we added some of those too.

Then a squeeze of Summer Fruits Squash'd to turn it even more fruity and add a pink tinge, some sprigs of mint and this was left to infuse for a while. 

A tasty drink for the summer days that encouraged both my son and I to drink up and stay hydrated. We tried the other Squash'd flavours too - Orange & Peach and Lemon & Pink Grapefruit, adding extra fruit and herbs. There are cucumbers growing in the garden too and when they are ready we will also chop them up and create our own summer drink, maybe add some basil and other herbs or edible flowers that LB will enjoy collecting in the garden to make his own potions. 

This post is an entry for BritMums #EnjoyMoreWater Challenge, sponsored by Robinsons.

Win 5 Megableu games

Following on from the fun Megableu games we played at Halloween, we have three new ones to show you and then there is a fantastic competition to win all five!!

The games are all really interactive and great for creating lots of laughs, here's what we thought:

Trickin' Camel

A quirky game where a camel does indeed try to trick you. There are three different game challenges to try and win a drink bottle, a guessing game, memory game and speed game. Beware though as the camel spits if you choose the wrong answer. A correct answer and you may take a bottle. The trick is when the camel will chuck out all the bottles and you have to grab them. 

The winner of the game is who has the most bottles. For me the best bit was seeing Dad squirted with water but it did infuriate me a little watching the lights - everybody else loved it. 

Cobra Attack

This was our favourite game, the cobra lies in wait within the basket whilst the aim is to retrieve the sacred green crystal which he guards so well. You need to be careful as this cobra detects movement, when his eyes glows red be still, when they're green move forwards carefully. You win if you manage to retrieve the crystal without the cobra nipping you - our dog Billy tried and had the fright of his life.

A fun game, the cobra sort of flops out really rather than comedy springs out but laughter inducing anyway. Great fun for younger children and very much a party game.

Alien Mission
Similar to Ghost Hunt Evolution as you wear goggles and shoot the aliens with your laser gun that appear in them as opposed to on the wall. The score appears on the gun and the person to have zapped most aliens win but don't shoot the red ones as they are friendly and you'll lose points for that. 

Very much a solo game but funny to watch other family members play so still brings you together. 

All games require a fair few batteries so stock up. A great selection of fun, exciting games for Christmas and so if you would like to win all 5 of the Megableu Games I have reviewed.....

1. Ghost Hunt Evolution
2. Creepy Hand
3. Alien Mission
4. Trickin' Camel
5. Cobra Attack

Answer the question with a blog comment and complete the Gleam widget. 

Win 5 Megableu games

*Megableu sent games for the purpose of the review, words are my own honest opinion

Something wonderful is about to happen

In our home we love all the build up to Christmas, the anticipation and the growing magic in the air. It's started now, the little traditions we have, places we have to go, ticking the festive boxes and enjoying the season fully.

Joining in with Virgin Experience Days “Something Wonderful is About to Happen” which is highlighting what we love about Christmas so much, here are some of my Yuletide rituals and stories, followed by an exciting competition.

Best present you’ve been gifted and gifted to someone else?  
My best present is still the Disney book I received when I was around 10 years old, a huge encyclopedia of all the characters and full of beautiful illustrations. I still have it now and it's has a special place on my bookshelf and brings back the nostalgia of my childhood Christmases.

The best present I ever gifted would be to my son and it was a Cosy Coupe. He loved it so much that he wouldn't get out and fell asleep in it slumped over the steering wheel. 

Family Christmas traditions
Every years we go to the Winter Watch parade in Chester and then walk around the Cathedral and the market. It's a wonderfully festive evening and seems to start the whole Christmas feeling off. 

The tree is always from Delamere forest where I have to walk up and down picking up countless firs and twirling them from side to side to see which looks the best. The final choice tree gets given a name every year much like storms do, I hope other people do this too and I'm not mad. Then we go to the cafe at Delamere train station for a hot chocolate.

Every year I go to my parents house and they have the same red tablecloth on and the food is just like I had growing up, out come the Snowball drinks and bags of walnuts - 80's Christmas all over again!

Earliest Christmas Memory
One that gets spun out every year is when I was age 4 and went downstairs on Christmas morning, took one look at all the presents in the front room but decided to go back to bed instead much to my parent's bemusement. I think I can actually remember this but my main memory is of receiving the Fisher Price Tree House, remember it? Ah the weebly characters that lived in there and I can remember being so excited as I unwrapped it. 

Favourite Christmas Movie
Either Santa Claus the Movie as I can remember watching this at the cinema when it first came out and I love Elf, always cheers me up. I do love the Nightmare Before Christmas too as it combines my other favourite day of Halloween. 

When does Christmas officially start for you?
As soon as the Advent calender window is opened on the 1st December, Christmas is ready to go and then I listen out for Christmas carols and music on Classic FM. Troika playing using means that I can start decorating the Christmas tree and officially can be as festive as I like.


 

Virgin Experience Days are offering a £150 voucher towards a short break. To enter tell me in the comments what your Christmas family traditions are and then complete the Gleam widgit.


  Virgin Experience Days £150 voucher for a short break

*Collaboration

Cute snow leopard cubs and win a holiday to Great Yarmouth

CUTENESS ALERT!

Rare Snow Leopard Cubs Make Debut at Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens Norfolk

Two rare snow leopard cubs, the first to be born at Thrigby Hall Wildlife Garden near Great Yarmouth, have made their debut.

The cubs born to mother Nima and father Mohan in June have been given a clean bill of health and pronounced to be both male.

Mother Nima was born in Belgium in 2012 and father Mohan was born in Zurich in 2013. The two snow leopards came to Thrigby Hall as part of an international breeding programme, co-ordinated by the studbook keeper, Leif Blomquist of Helsinki Zoo.

Ken Sims and Scott Bird Directors at Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens said: “We are privileged to host these beautiful cats and to make a contribution to the conservation work of progressive zoos.”

The boys have been named Jamal and Jamir by members of the public.

Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens is at Filby near Great Yarmouth, t. 01493 369477.

The Wildlife Gardens open every day at 10am.

If you would like to visit these stunning creatures and many more, why not enter the competition being run by Greater Yarmouth Tourism to win a 7 night holiday for up to 8 people in 2016 with no restrictions on dates, with a number of attraction passes included, it really is an amazing prize.

*collaborative post*