Festive candle making

Recently we were asked by Baker Ross to review a festive art and craft kit and were delighted to receive a Christmas Candle Making Kit as well as Pic Tixx Candle Pens, Glass Votive Candle Holders and Ceramic Tealight Holders.



I loved this candle making kit because it's so simple to use and does not involve heating wax or making a mess. Sunnyboy loved it because it's a lot of fun to work with and he was able to make candles by himself.

First he broke off squares from the coloured wax blocks,



then molded them with his hands to make the shapes he wanted,



and finally decorated them using the Pic Tixx candle pens, added the wicks and left the candles to harden.



He made a Father Christmas candle,



an elf candle,



and a Christmas tree candle.



He also made some reindeer and a set of Scooby Doo character candles. He will be posting pictures of the Scooby Doo candles on his blog, sunny happy boy, very soon. Right now the Father Christmas candle is lit and we are tracking the movements of Big Red One on www.noradsanta.org.

CRAFTS on Sunny Days Pinterest.
WINTER on Sunny Days Pinterest.



Note: We received an art and craft kit of festive candle making products from Baker Ross to review but have not received payment for this post. All opinions are our own.

What Makes a Baby

Recently I came across a review of sex-educator and author Cory Silverberg's new book What Makes a Baby and was intrigued. Having been through several more IVF cycles and an ectopic pregnancy since Sunnyboy was born, this is a topic Sunnyboy and I have discussed often and Sunnyboy knows that making a baby involves an egg, a sperm and a uterus. Until now I had been unable to find a children's book about reproduction that didn't only feature the "mummy and daddy and a bed" method of baby-making, so I was delighted when Cory asked Seven Stories Press to send us a copy of his book to read together and review.



It was very exciting to receive such a beautiful book in the post and it was a joy to read a book that both tells the story of how all babies are made, giving the essential facts in a simple and sweet way, and provides an opportunity to tell the story of how Sunnyboy was made and to talk about the different stories of other babies, as well as to answer his questions about conception, gestation and birth.

The book also asks questions about the readers' stories; who helped bring together the sperm and the egg that made you, who was happy that it was YOU who grew and who was waiting for you to be born?



We love the wonderful, colourful illustrations by award-winning Canadian artist Fiona Smyth, especially the egg and sperm dancing together!



We highly recommend this charming book to anyone with a young child and, as it says on the cover, it truly is "a book for every kind of family and every kind of kid". It's a book that we will treasure and definitely be reading again and again. You can find out more and download the free Reader's Guide at the What Makes a Baby website.



What Makes a Baby written by Cory Silverberg and illustrated by Fiona Smyth (published by Seven Stories Press)

More about What Makes a Baby:
A Truly Inclusive Way to Answer the Question 'Where Do Babies Come From?' - The Atlantic
Q&A With What Makes a Baby Author Cory Silverberg - Seven Stories Press
Interview with Interesting Jews: Author & Sexuality Educator Cory Silverberg - Kveller
What Makes a Baby: A Revolutionary Book - Equally Family
The Duck Who Shared Her Eggs: How Children's Books Approach Modern Reproduction - The Atlantic
The all-new ‘donor baby’ etiquette - Maclean's
Inclusive Book “What Makes A Baby” Teaches Kids Where Babies Really Come From (Hint: Not The Stork) - Queerty
What Makes a Baby - Kirkus Reviews
Behind the Scenes of What Makes A Baby: A Kickstarter Children’s Book - Pen & Oink

Articles by Cory Silverberg in The Huffington Post:
Science and Storytelling in Sex Education
What Gender Doesn't Have to Do With Making Babies



Note: We received a copy of What Makes a Baby to review but have not received payment for this post. All opinions are our own.

Cheekyshoes and happy feet

Recently I was delighted to be sent a pair of Cheekyshoes to review. Cheekyshoes are simple, flat, ladies shoes that come in a fabulous range of vibrant, pick-me-up colours including Electric Blue, Luscious Lemon, Sparkling Orange, Sumptuous Cerise, Tomtastic Red and Zesty Green.

I chose Sparkling Orange.



Cheekyshoes are designed to be easy to order online (with a measurement contour to print out and simple size guide) and come in a letterbox friendly package. Once I'd chosen the colour and size I wanted the shoes arrived quickly and I was impressed that they did indeed fit through our letterbox.

As soon as I tried on my new Cheekyshoes I loved them. They fit perfectly and I love that they are so practical and comfortable as well as being fun. They are made with a blend of Lycra and neoprene, making them really flexible, and allowing them to stretch and expand to fit your feet. They also have a lightweight natural rubber sole. I highly recommend them for anyone who wants a reliable, comfortable pair of shoes that look good too!

I now have happy feet.



If you'd like to try a pair of Cheekyshoes too, and put a spring in your step, you can get 30% off your Cheekyshoes purchase if you use the code Spring30.

You can find out more about the Cheekyshoes story and see the Cheekyshoes range (there will be a new collection coming out in June to replace the existing ones) at the Cheekyshoes website and blog, and also follow Cheekyshoes on Twitter and Facebook.



Note: I received a pair of Cheekyshoes to review but have not received payment for this post. All opinions are my own.

Swimming lessons and a new PaddlePak

Sunnyboy has always enjoyed swimming and even more so since he started swimming lessons last year, so  we were delighted to be asked to review a backpack and accessory from the new PaddlePak range by Trunki. Sunnyboy chose the Shark PaddlePak and Jellyfish grab bag.

When they arrived in the post we packed Sunnyboy's swimming kit in the Shark PaddlePak ready to try it out at his next swimming lesson. There was lots of room for Sunnyboy's swimming trunks, towel, goggles and shampoo and we could easily have fitted my swimming kit in there too! The PaddlePak is much more comfortable for Sunnyboy to carry than the swimming bags he's had previously.



We were really impressed with the PaddlePak's water resistant fabric. We usually go out for the afternoon after Sunnyboy's swimming lesson so it's great to have a bag that stays dry. Here's Sunnyboy modelling his new Shark PaddlePak outside the swimming pool.













We love all the special features of the Shark PaddlePak, especially the pocket in the tail fin where we put Sunnyboy's hairband and money for a locker.

• Water resistant fabric 
• Roll top tight seal 
• Trunki grip™ 
• Reflective fish detail 
• Padded straps and back for comfort 
• Zip fin pocket for small valuables 
• Recommended for ages 6+ 
• Spacious 10 litre capacity

The Jellyfish grab bag is also a really useful accessory, and very cute!

• Water resistant
• Wide-opening for easy packing
• Break-away safety buckle
• Roll-top dry seal 

Now that he is the proud owner of a PaddlePak Sunnyboy was very excited to see the new PaddlePak TV advert, created by Aardman Animations, which is being broadcast across children's TV throughout the Easter holidays.



You can see the whole range of PaddlePaks (which also includes backpacks for ages 3-6 years) at the Trunki website and also follow Trunki on Twitter and Facebook.



Note: We received a Shark PaddlePak and Jellyfish grab bag to review but have not received payment for this post. All opinions are our own.

Skylanders Giants

Sunnyboy has been fascinated by Skylanders for several months since he bought a Skylanders character (Dino-Rang) for 50p at a car boot sale and has spent many hours watching Skylanders games on YouTube and creating Skylanders characters out of Lego.


Dino-Rang

During December Sunnyboy entered a Tots100 competition to design a new Skylanders character and was chosen to join Team Skylanders. He was delighted to receive a Skylanders Giants Starter Pack to review and Dino-Rang finally came to life!


Playing Skylanders Giants for the first time


Dino-Rang on the Portal of Power

The Skylanders Giants Starter Pack includes a Skylanders Giants video game, Portal of Power, 3 Skylanders figures (Tree Rex, Jet-Vac and Cynder), character poster, 3 trading cards and 3 sticker sheets.

This is Sunnyboy's review:

What did you think of the game when it first arrived?
I was very happy.

How easy is it to play?
Quite easy.

Do you like the new giant characters?
Yes. Tree Rex has good powers and does do some good stuff like smashing things, lifting things, running and shooting.

What's your favourite character?
Shroomboom.

What do you like best about the game?
That you get to have different characters and you can stop a giant robot called Kaos.

Is there anything you would like to improve?
I'd like the Skylanders characters to have pets they can collect.

What other Skylanders accessories or figures are you hoping to try out in future?
I'd like to try Thumpback, Hot Dog, Ninjini, Wrecking Ball, Trigger Happy, Eye-Brawl and Shroomboom.


Trigger Happy made with Lego


Eye-Brawl made with Lego





Note: We received a Skylanders Giants Starter Pack (PS3) to review but have not received payment for this post. All opinions are our own.

"Pig The Magnificent" (Pigs By Kids competition)

We were delighted to be sent an amazing art and crafts Piggy Pack by NatWest who are relaunching the iconic NatWest piggies and are running a Pigs By Kids competition for children to design the new NatWest pig. We had great fun designing our pig and using the art and craft materials in the Piggy Pack to decorate a paper-mache piggy bank. Sunnyboy has named him "Pig The Magnificent" and here he is:











If you'd also like to design a pig and enter the Pigs By Kids competition you can find out more by visiting www.natwest.com/pigsbykids. Please note:
- The competition is open to children up to 13 years old
- The winning design will become the new Natwest pig
- Closing date for entries is 12pm on 11th November 2012
- Terms & Conditions apply - see website for details

This is an advertising promotion for NatWest.

Note: We received a Piggy Pack from NatWest to design and create our pig, and to advertise the Pigs By Kids competition, but have not received payment for this post. All opinions are our own.

We are excited that sunnydaytodaymama has been nominated for the Circle of Moms Top 25 European Moms - 2012. We'd love it if you would spare a moment to click on the link and vote for us!

Pumpkin Pal Teddy and homemade pumpkins (little pumpkin, moody pumpkin, pumpkin bath bomb, pumpkin suncatchers, pumpkin books and pumpkin links)

This week we were sent a Pumpkin Pal Teddy from Build-A-Bear Workshop. Sunnyboy was absolutely delighted when he unwrapped the parcel and immediately fell in love with his new teddy, which is very soft and cuddly. We especially like it's pumpkin pattern design and it's pumpkin nose.



Later that day we made a little pumpkin for Sunnyboy's new teddy, using an orange mesh bath sponge, green ribbon and googly eyes.



The next day we decided to have a "pumpkin day" and make more homemade pumpkins. We made a moody pumpkin using this Free Moody Pumpkin Tutorial at Forest Fairy Crafts,



then we made a pumpkin bath bomb,



and finally we made pumpkin suncatchers (to add to our autumn window display), inspired by firstpalette.



We've been admiring pumpkins (we'll be pumpkin shopping at the car boot sale this weekend),



and to celebrate "pumpkin day" Sunnyboy had a Smarties chocolate pumpkin.



We also read pumpkin stories.


'Delicious! (A Pumpkin Soup Story)' by Helen Cooper


'The Old Woman and the Red Pumpkin' translated and adapted by Betsy Bang with illustrations by Rachel Merriman

25 pumpkin links from the Autumn Carnival:



Melted Crayon Pumpkins at Life with Moore Babies
Halloween Pumpkin Bags at PlayDrMom
Playing with Pumpkins! at PlayDrMom
Montessori-Inspired Pumpkin Unit at Living Montessori Now
5-Minute {no sew} Pumpkin at East Coast Mommy



Making an autumn tree with pumpkin seeds at Smiling like Sunshine
Moody Pumpkin Tutorial at Forest Fairy Crafts
Pumpkin Prints at What Do We Do All Day?
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds at Salt of the Earth Urban Farm
Mini Pumpkins at madebyjoey



Glowing Pumpkin Decorations at Mama Of Many Blessings
Pumpkin Fun at Mama Of Many Blessings
Fairy Pumpkin House at Little Homeschool Blessings
Playhouse Pumpkin at The Golden Gleam
Little Pumpkins at Ginx Craft



Pumpkin Pie Play Dough at 2 Big, 2 Little
Egg Carton Pumpkins at Time to Craft
Pumpkin Pancakes at We-Made-That.com
Textured pumpkin patch collage at KC Edventures
Autumn display with knitted pumpkins at Bridgit's Bell



Pumpkin folk art at The Usual Mayhem
Painting on pumpkins at our school at home
Pumpkin Tie Dye Shirt at We-Made-That.com
A Pumpkin Painting Story at A Simple Life
Paper Mache Pumpkin at Buggy & Buddy



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Note: We received a Pumpkin Pal Teddy from Build-A-Bear Workshop to review but have not received payment for this post. All opinions are our own.