Purple Ronnie Mothers' Day gifts review

I love Purple Ronnie. His rhymes always remind me of the hilarious and totally silly rhymes that my dad always writes in Christmas and birthday cards so when I was asked to check out the range of Purple Ronnie gifts that are available for Mothers' Day, I couldn't wait to see what was on offer.

Mums can be embarrassing
And mums can be a bore
But you’re a really fab one
And I couldn’t love you more!

Altogether now, awwww !

I love the rhyme on this mug (RRP £9.99) too :

You're such a special mummy

And I love the things you do

So I want to say you're lovely

And thanks for being YOU!

Guaranteed to raise and smile and make you feel good every time you sit down for a quick cup of tea.

If your mum has more refined tastes and prefers a glass of vino to a humble cuppa, you may prefer the engraved wine glass (RRP £9.99). You can personalise the glass with the name and message of your choice, making it a truly unique gift.

There is also a Purple Ronnie Engraved Super Mum Money Box (RRP £19.99) which is a great gift for those who like to save. The front of the silver-coloured money box features an official Purple Ronnie design and you can personalise the back with any message you choose, spelt out over four lines.

But here is the lovely gift that I picked out for myself - a round trinket box (RRP £14.99) with a "Star Mum" picture and the personalised message "Luv Sophie, Juliette & Pierre". You only get 30 letters so you may have to be a bit inventive with your message but it's a lovely keepsake and one that will make me smile every time I see it.

For more information or to order your Purple Ronnie personalised gift, go to www.gettingpersonal.co.uk.

To find out more about Purple Ronnie, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PurpleRonnieWorld or follow Purple Ronnie on Twitter @Purple_Ronnie.

Disclosure : I received a personalised trinket box in order to write an honest review.

Other reviews you may be interested in :

Mothers Day gift ideas from Lush (hint hint)

DVD review : The Sapphires

Mother's Day recipes from New Zealand chef Annabel Langbein

DVD review : Ape Escape

When the opportunity came up to review Ape Escape on DVD, I had no idea what to expect but thought it sounded right up the Madhouse Mini-testers' street. The official blurb says : "Based on the best-selling video games, join Specter and his minions for wacky monkey mayhem in a series of colourful Ape Escape animated adventures. What is a super intelligent ape to do in a world dominated by people?"

For anyone (including us) who doesn't know the story of the Ape Escape games, Specter was just a regular monkey until he was given an intelligence-boosting Pipo-helmet. He then equips an army of monkeys with Pipo-helmets and sets out to take over the world and even space.

I thought the animation had a very retro feel - it reminded me of the Hannah Barbera cartoons I used to watch as a kid in the seventies and eighties - but it still really appealed to the Madhouse Mini-testers. The animation company behind the DVD is Frederator who also produce The Fairly Odd Parents, and once you know that, you can't help but notice that the illustrations are very similar.

I really couldn't get into it the first few times it was on, finding it totally disjointed and hard to follow. When I actually sat down and watched it with the kids rather than multitasking with it on in the background, I soon realised why - each episode only lasts 2 about 2 or 3 minutes so every time I walked back into the room, it was a different story !

The madcap humour is a bit juvenile but it did have me giggling from time to time. 3-year-old Pierre absolutely loves it and frequently asks to watch "the funny monkey DVD". I'm not sure why it appeals to him so much - it's very visual and doesn't need much effort to understand and the very short duration of each story seems to suit him. That's not to say that his 8 and 11-year-old big sisters don't love watching it too though. It's a cartoon with universal appeal that kids and big kids of all ages can watch together.

The Madhouse Mini-testers loved the DVD so much that I went off to investigate buying the Playstation game for them, but the game version seems to have a much more Japanese manga-feel to it so I'm not sure they'd enjoy it so much.

star rating : 4/5

RRP : £7.99

• Number of discs: 1
• Classification: U
• Studio: Lions Gate Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: 18 Feb 2013

Disclosure : We received a preview disc in order to write an honest review.

Other reviews you may be interested in :

Kids' DVD review : Tree Fu Tom: Tree Fu Magic

DVD review : The Sapphires

DVD review : Nurse Jackie Season 4

Viakal Limescale Remover review

Along with a whole host of other Savvy Circle members, I've been trialling Viakal Limescale Remover over the past few weeks. Ever since we've lived at The Madhouse - we moved in when I was pregnant with Sophie so that's over a decade ago - there has been limescale around the taps in the kitchen and bathroom and there are grimy water marks in the sink that no cleaning product has ever managed to shift. We installed a shower cubicle and it now has the equivalent of frosted glass, due to a scuzzy limescale coating all over the plastic panels. I was hoping that Viakal would give me a nice, sparkling bathroom and kitchen, but didn't really expect it to tackle these problem areas. Here's an idea of what it has to deal with.

Before pulling on my rubber gloves, I headed over to the Viakal project blog to find out more about the product and learnt a lot about limescale at the same time. I knew that limescale was mainly a problem in hard water areas such as ours, but I didn't know that it is created when hard water dries and evaporates, leaving calcium bicarbonate behind. Viakal has developed a limescale remover with a unique polymer pro-shine technology (whatever that means), which works in three ways : an acidic system works to remove unsightly limescale and watermarks, a thick formula allows the product to remain in contact with the surface for longer, and the surfactants remove bathroom soil.

Well, that's all great in theory but would it work? Time to get cleaning in the bathroom ! I sprayed it all over the sink and taps and left it for a few minutes to give it the best chance of working. It comes out as a thin foam - I was expecting something more substantial as they'd mentioned a thick formula. A few minutes later, I used a cloth to wipe off the mousse then rinsed it.

I couldn't believe it - those grimy stains on the sink that I'd given up trying to remove because nothing - including other limescale products - would shift them had just disappeared in a flash !

The taps weren't perfect but they were a lot better. Here are the before and after photos and you can certainly see the difference.

There was still some incrusted limescale under the taps though so I decided to give it another spray and leave it to do its magic for a bit longer.

It's still not totally perfect but it did remove a lot more the second time so I think using this regularly would eventually make it totally sparkle.

I decided to tackle another problem area - the shower stall. I sprayed it over a couple of the panels, left it for a few minutes then rinsed it off, leaving the other side untreated so I could compare the two. Exactly as for the sink, it's certainly not perfect but it has visibly reduced the limescale residue and I think after regular use, it would be even better.

I had a paper cut on my finger which really stang when the Viakal foam got into it, but apart from that, I didn't find it irritated or dried out my hands, as I expected. It smells very pleasant too. I'll definitely be using this regularly and am confident that I'll end up with a shiny, sparkly, deep-cleaned bathroom. Just the kitchen to tackle after that !

star rating : 4.5/5

RRP : £3.20 for 500ml (but currently £2 at Tesco and you can find a 50p off vouchere here too)

for more information : http://www.supersavvyme.co.uk/product/viakal/viakal-spray-and-liquid

Disclosure : I received some Viakal from Savvy Circle in order to put it through its paces and give my honest opinion.

Other reviews you may be interested in :

Putting Vanish to the test

Morphy Richards 2-in-1 Steam Cleaner review

Scotch Brite Cleaning Products Head-to-Head

Mama's taking us to the zoo !

Well, we didn't stay all day because it was far too cold but we did have great fun, even if some of the animals were in hibernation (including the hamsters - I didn't know they hibernated ! - and the tortoises which had buried themselves in the ground).

We always love the seal enclosure because you go downstairs and see them from underwater. One of them was naughty and kept splashing really hard with its tail, much to Pierre's delight !

We had a good laugh at the pelicans doing Gangnam-style dancing !

A rather arty photo of a spoonbill.

I love the way these photos look photoshopped but they're not at all.

If I hadn't taken the photo myself, I would never believe that the colour hasn't been drained from the background to make the blue look more vibrant but it's just the wonder of nature !

Juliette tried (and failed) to leap as far as a hare !

The girls loved hunting out the different shaped holepunchers hidden around the zoo and completing their treasure hunt card so that they got stickers and posters in the shop at the end.

Father Christmas's reindeer were having a well-earned rest. (They really are Santa's reindeer too because he visits the zoo at Christmastime.)

The bears are the biggest animals at the zoo because it only features European animals.

They actually looked quite content - the last time we went, we thought one looked very distraught.

Comparing ourselves to the size of a bear. Pierre's nice and warm tucked up in there, unlike the rest of us !

Juliette discovered that her arms are shorter than a stork's wingspan.

No baby deliveries today !

Eeek definitely the scariest animals in the zoo !

Cheeky monkeys !

We made it into an adventure and walked all the way there (3.4km) to see what we could find on the way - we came across a garden with loads of rabbits, chickens, geese, hens and cockerels.

If you fancy a visit, you can find out more about Le Zoo de Fort Mardyck (just next to Dunkirk) at http://www.parc-zoologique.fr/. It's only a small zoo but it's great for a family afternoon out.

Other blogposts you may be interested in :

An exciting discovery at the park !

Free downloadable Park Adventurer activity sheets

Our day out at Dennlys Parc

What's Cooking at the Madhouse next week? Menu Plan 4

The holidays are over next week (sob) so I'll only be preparing evening meals on all the days I'm at work - it's back to the school canteens for me and the kids at lunchtime. I can't share photos this week as these are all new recipes that I'm going to try out, inspired by the Saving Dinner recipe book by Leanne Ely. It comes with weekly menu plans and accompanying shopping lists but I've just dipped into it to pick out a few recipes that appealed to me to start with.

Saturday :

lunch - not sure if we're going to McDonalds soft play or not this week because Madhouse Daddy Mike is off doing carnival and won't get back home until about 5am ! If we eat at home, I think I'll go for Parmesan chicken drumsticks with homemade coleslaw and chips made in the Actifry.

dinner - homemade soup, sandwiches or toast - or there are some twice-baked potatoes left over in the fridge too.

Sunday :

lunch -  probably the traditional Sunday roast or we may go for raclette for a change

dinner - nobody's ever really hungry after the big Sunday lunch - maybe some porridge and fruit, if I'm peckish

Monday : 

dinner - Apple pork chops, mashed potatoes and broccoli

Tuesday :

dinner - Roast beef picante, potato wedges and salad

Wednesday :

dinner -  Italian turkey meatloaf with pasta

Thursday :

dinner - Asian orange salmon, rice & Chinese stir-fried vegetables

Friday :

dinner - Garlic lime chicken with potatoes and vegetables

So what are you eating next week?

Other blogposts you may be interested in :

What's Cooking at the Madhouse next week? Menu Plan 3

What's Cooking at the Madhouse next week? Menu Plan 2

What's Cooking at the Madhouse next week? Menu Plan 1

Sharpham Park Courgette, Garlic & Thyme Speltotto review

Everyone has heard of, and probably tried, risotto made with rice, but what about Speltotto made with spelt? I'd never tried spelt until Sharpham Park sent me some goodies to try out last year, but it's something we eat quite regularly now because it makes a lovely change from rice or pasta. I have a variety of their spelt-based breakfast cereals that I will be reviewing shortly but on the menu last week was their Courgette, Garlic & Thyme Speltotto.

I've just been to look on their website and they have given their packaging a very funky Union Jack-themed overhaul, that really puts the emphasis on the fact that it is British spelt.

This is what you get inside the pack. I love the fact that you can see all the wholegrains - you can see that it's bursting with fibre. The website explains that it is made using "the finest Organic British Pearled Spelt mixed with dried ingredients" - there are several varieties available, including Wild Mushroom, Pumpkin & Shallot and Tomato & Chilli.

It's very simple to prepare. Just add boiling water and simmer for 20 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed, then stir in a knob of butter.

I served ours as an accompaniment to our Pear and Goat's Cheese Stuffed Homemade Burgers and ratatouille - Sophie excitedly pointed out that she had a heart-shaped meal, which was a total fluke and something that I wouldn't be able to recreate however hard I tried ! - but if you threw some pieces of chorizo or cooked bacon in with it and served it with a salad, you'd have a complete meal.

I love the slightly nutty flavour and the fact that it doesn't stick together or turn to mush if you have to leave it cooking for slightly longer than planned, as rice would. The Madhouse Mini-testers did find it a bit too "hard" for their liking, but the grown-ups loved it.

It's really filling and is packed with fibre so is actually a very healthy option. The Sharpham Park website points out a whole host of reasons to integrate spelt into your diet - it's easily digestible for people with a wheat intolerance, it's high in protein, has a low Glycaemic Index (good for weightloss) and contains high levels of complex B vitamins, iron, niacin (can help reduce cholesterol), riboflavin (good for migraine sufferers) and zinc.

star rating : 4.5/5

RRP : £3.99 for 225g

for more information :  http://www.sharphampark.com

Disclosure : I received a selection of Sharpham Park products in order to write an honest review.

Other reviews you may be interested in :

Sharpham Park Spelt Artisan Pasta review

Sharpham Park Spelt Shortbread review

Sharpham Park Bran Flakes review

WeightWatchers jam review

We recently received some WeightWatchers jam to review - a jar each of Raspberry and Blackcurrant. Having sampled lots of products from the WeightWatchers product line, I had very high expectations. Their biscuits are just as lovely as regular, non-diet conscious biscuits, so I was keen to see what we'd think.

Well, it's not bad at all. Flavourwise, both varieties are very sweet and fruity with a slight tartness and taste just as good as regular jam. The raspberry variety is made with 55g of fruit per 100g of finished product and the blackcurrant one has 40g of fruit per 100g of finished product. They both contain 35% less sugar than regular jam and one 15g teaspoon serving contains a very reasonable 25 calories and 1 ProPoint. I did find it to be quite runny, compared to our usual jam, but the upside is that a little goes a long way.

We used it as a filling for a rather lovely Victoria sponge cake (the slightly tart raspberry jam contrasted beautifully with the sweet, creamy icing) and it's also delicious on toast. The Madhouse Mini-testers have polished off half the pot over the half term holiday by eating a slice of bread with a spoonful of jam as a quick snack after they've been running around outside and need refuelling !

The whole family think it's lovely so it's great for anyone trying to reduce their sugar intake, not just those trying to lose weight. They also do Strawberry Jam, Apricot Jam and Orange Marmalade.

star rating : 4/5

RRP : £1.89 

Disclosure : I received two pots of jam in order to write an honest review.

Other reviews you may be interested in :

Sunday weigh-in : Ringing the changes !

WeightWatchers Jaffa Cake Bars review

WeightWatchers Sicilian Lemon & Elderflower Cordial review

Mothers Day gift ideas from Lush (hint hint !)

Dear Sophie, Juliette and Pierre, Mummy loves you all very much and if you're stuck for an idea of what to get me for Mohers' Day this year, get Daddy to have a look below ! ;-)

Oh OK, it was worth a try !! If you have any hints to drop, you might like to see what Lush have come up with for Mothers' Day this year too !

************************************************************

LUSH HAS ONE MOTHER OF A GIFT SELECTION FOR MOTHER’S DAY 2013!

If you’re stuck for ideas on how to show your love and appreciation to your mum this Mother’s Day then LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics can help out. We have something to suit every mum and every budget, ranging from individual items to hatboxes full of luxurious products to spoil the most important lady in your life! Each are made with the finest ingredients and essential oils (only the best for mums), are not tested on animals and have minimal preservatives and packaging – so kind to Mother Earth as well!

Mumkin bubble bar (£2.75) … an adorable bubble bar designed just for mum on Mother’s Day. Scented with a delicious, fruity, raspberry fragrance, crumble him under running water for soft pink water

and masses of skin softening raspberry scented bubbles. Vegan !

Secret Garden bath bomb (£2.50) … a bath with this lovely floral ballistic will make mum feel like she’s in her own secret garden. Bursting with petals that will float on the bath water and scented with roses, sweet wild orange and rosewood oils. Plus, this one has got a frothy outer layer so you’ll get bubbles and fizz with every one. Vegan!

Mum’s (£5.25 each) … a selection of Lush’s innovative re-usable bubble bar wands especially for mum – all are on sticks, so easy to swish around the bathtub creating masses of skin softening, beautifully scented bubbles. Then place on the side and allow it to dry, ready to use again and again and again (you can get up to six baths out of each one). Tell your mum to put her feet up while you run her a nice warm bath, swish her chosen bubble bar around in the water, then tell her to enjoy a nice long soak while you do the washing up!

There are three to choose from, one for every type of mum … but to be on the safe side you should probably get all three:

Mum … short for chrysantheMUM, this one is a yellow flower with the uplifting scent of orange, lime and juniper berries … the fragrance is reminiscent of a freshly mown lawn.

Mum Tulip … as well as being a beautiful flower, tulips are also an emblem for International Women’s Day in Russia so the perfect choice really. This one is scented with a delicious chocolate orange fragrance, with light grapefruit and bergamot oils to help lift the spirit, while the cocoa and tonka bring warmth and comfort to the heart. (Click through to read the review I wrote last year.)

Madame Butterfly … a pretty pink butterfly fragranced with gorgeous rose absolute and rose oil, which are also both fantastic on the skin. There’s a hint of lemon and Egyptian geranium oil to help balance the skin, whilst the cocoa and shea butters will leave mum feeling smooth and soft. Vegan

The Washing Up Fairy re-usable bubble bar wand (£3.75) … back again this year, this solid fairy wand is unpackaged and unpreserved and will soften hands as well as clean the dishes. Be the washing up fairy for mum this Mother’s Day and simply fill the sink with water, swirl this lemon scented washing up wand around and she’ll create lots of bubbles. Then leave her on the side to dry and re-use again and again (she’ll last for around eight washes). Vegan

WRAPPED WITH LOVE, READY TO GIVE

A Mother’s Day in Paradise (£30.95) … a bright and cheerful hatbox full of springtime treats for mum to luxuriously pamper herself with. There are three of the limited edition Mother’s Day products, along with Lush favourites such as Dream Cream body moisturiser to really spoil her. She really will feel like she’s in paradise with this box of treats! Contains: Secret Garden bath ballistic; Madam Butterfly reusable bubble bar; Mumkin bubble bar; Happy Happy Joy Joy conditioner (100g); Dream Cream body moisturiser (45g); Sultana of Soap (100g).

Happiness (£14.95) … what better gift for mum than a beautiful box of happiness! This particular parcel is packed with four uplifting goodies to put a smile on her face. Contains: Buffy body butter (mini); Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner (45g); Blue FUN; Each Peach massage bar (mini). 

Lovely (£8.50) … a little something for all those lovely mums out there to say thank you for looking after us,

with a duo of indulgent, fragrant bath goodies. Contains: Secret Garden bath ballistic; Honey I Washed the Kids soap (100g)

for more information : www.lush.co.uk.

Other reviews you may be interested in :

Valentine's Day goodies from Lush

Lush Spa Gift Box review

Calorie-free bathroom treats for Easter from Lush 

Pet Factor 2013 competition to find the cutest pet in the UK

Just a quick heads up for all you pet owners that BISSELL, in conjunction with Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, is inviting you to celebrate the love that we have for our cute companions with the launch of Pet Factor 2013 – a competition to find the cutest pet in the UK.

To enter, you need to upload a photo of your pet before midnight on April 5th. The main winner will win a prize pack consisting of a BISSELL Floors & More Pet Upright, Steam Mop, Shedaway Pet Grooming Vacuum Attachment, OxyPro Pet, Pet Stain & Odour Remover and Drool Cleaner with Brush and Squeegee. Six weekly winners will also receive a BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Hand Vac. All winners are picked randomly (yay, no voting !).

For more information, head over to http://www.facebook.com/UK.BISSELL/app_341634299204942 or follow hashtag #PetFactor2013 on twitter

Other blogposts you may be interested in :

Canagan grain-free dog food review

Wilkinson dog treats review

Pooch Pack review