Saturday, 28 April 2012

Children's book review : The Witch of Turlingham Academy - Ellie Boswell



10-year-old Sophie is an absolute bookworm but she also still likes me to read to her at bedtime, so that we can share a moment of "me and you time" at the end of the day. The Witch of Turlingham Academy is the absolutely perfect book for mums and tweens to read together.

Firstly, mums will get all nostalgic at the mention of girls' boarding schools and midnight feasts, harking back to Enid Blyton's Malory Towers books that they read in their own youth. Secondly, the themes that the book investigates - friendship, jealousy, getting into trouble at school, growing up, becoming interested in boys - can lead on to some very illuminating mum and tween daughter chats too.

The central character, Sophie, already feels like the odd one out because, as the headmistress's daughter, she is the only day pupil at her school. When new girl Katy arrives and starts muscling in on her group of friends, she feels even more left out. Throw into the mix some unsettling letters addressed to her that she discovers in her mum's office and her whole sense of identity is fractured - something that most tweens and teens will relate to as they approach adulthood.

The whole witch/witchfinder aspect adds a bit of fun and excitement to the mix and will appeal to the Harry Potter generation of readers. But the real magic doesn't come from witchy powers, it comes from the heart as true friendship can overcome all.

Sophie loved the story - not least because the main character shares her name ! - and said that she'd like to find out more about the girls and their adventures at school. She was therefore over the moon to learn that this is the first in a series and the book ends with a teaser, giving you the opening chapter of the sequel, which Sophie has already asked me to buy for her !

star rating : 4.5/5

RRP : £5.99

Disclosure : I received a review copy from The Book Club. They actually currently have a competition running to win ten copies of the book, closing at midnight on Monday 30th April at http://www.thebookclub.co.uk/blog/witchcomp

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Jenny Craig have a new celeb face - can you guess who it is ?!


The glasses give it away - it has to be Dame Edna Everage !

You may remember I did a month's trial of Jenny Craig a few weeks ago (and lost 3kg in the five weeks I ate the contents of the hamper).

If you've ever wondered what Jenny Craig food is like, I did a week by week diary to show everything you get in a hamper so check out my blogposts here :


I did tell you about this before but I've just learnt that their half price offer is still on too, so get in quick if you want to give it a go. You can buy a 2-week or 4-week programme for only £38.50 per week, which is great value when you see everything you get.

They also have lots of plans in the pipeline, including a new Members' Area (allowing you to chart your weight loss, comment on recipes and get involved in a forum) and a new look for the website, including a blog and ... wait for it ! ... some exciting competitions.

for more information : www.jennycraig.co.uk

Disclosure : I received a free 1-month trial of Jenny Craig in order to review the programme and the contents of the hamper, as outlined here.

Other blogposts you may be interested in :



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Picture book review : Penguin's Hidden Talent - Alex Latimer



There aren't a huge number of words in Penguin's Hidden Talent picture book but the author, Alex Latimer, nevertheless manages to create a lovable anti-hero that we can all relate to, whatever our age!

The story is simple but gives a great life-lesson to young readers. Penguin wants to get involved in a talent show but he's not very good at any of the impressive things that his friends can do, be that swallowing large fish, doing magic tricks or juggling electrical appliances ! He eventually gives up and helps out behind the scenes with the organising but he feels a bit left out so his friends throw him a surprise party to cheer him up. Their heart is in the right place but it's a bit of a flop - until Penguin steps in and realises that his hidden talent is party-planning and organising !

The "everybody is good at something and nobody is good at everything" message is ideal for Sophie, who's a total perfectionist, and the illustrations are full of funny and unexpected details that made us smile as we all read it together. Juliette thought the badly spelt banner was hilarious !

It's a cute, fun book, ideal for readers of any age, that is guaranteed to make you go awwww !

star rating : 4.5/5

RRP : £5.99

  • Paperback: 32 pages
  • Publisher: Picture Corgi (29 Mar 2012)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 055256267X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0552562676
  • Product Dimensions: 25.9 x 23.1 x 0.5 cm



Disclosure : I received a free review copy of the book from the publishers.

 Other reviews you may be interested in : 
  

 

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Can't Cook ? Learn Online ! Sorted !

I have fond memories of cooking at school, both knocking up batches of cherry buns and fruit scones at primary school, then preparing actual dinners like shepherd's pie, soup and lasagne at secondary school and I think it's a real shame that many kids don't learn the rudiments of cooking at school these days. I remember leaving home aged 18 to go to uni and not really having a clue about how to cook more than a handful of meals, so this looks like a fabulous resource. The cooking team look like they make it all great fun too ! It sounds so good, I had to go and check it was all free and the good news it, it is.

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17 MILLION YOUNG PEOPLE NEGLECTED TO BE TAUGHT HOW TO COOK IN SCHOOLS, AND A LARGE PERCENTAGE IS TAKING TO THE WEB TO FIGHT BACK…

SORTED, the UK’s online cookery school, launches a daily food channel to supply the huge demand they are under from young people looking to equip themselves with life skills neglected by the National Curriculum.

With an estimated 17 million of the ‘now’ generation not taught a single cookery lesson in the National Curriculum, a growing number of students, young adults and young professionals are turning to this revolutionary online movement to fill the gap left by a failing education system.

SORTED started as a group of 8 young friends who shared recipes and tips between themselves at University (led by trained Chef, Ben). In just two years this simple concept has gone on to win International acclaim* and now serves a staggering online community with cookery lessons and food videos. The demand is now so high that SORTED receive in excess of 6,000 requests per month, and have been driven to launch a daily cookery channel in response to the demands from their dedicated community. This teaching uprising is an exciting and refreshing portrait of Britain’s youth as a passionate, engaged group looking to expand their skill set. This is young people at their best - entrepreneurial, engaged, dynamic and leading the way for future generations.

The SORTED team attract 1 million views per month on informal and highly interactive platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, making them the obvious choice for the online generation.

Their mission is to address the food problems of the UK and the movement offers a modern-day solution. Their recipes respond to current food crises, covering topics such as, avoiding food wastage, counterbalancing the rise in food prices, cutting down on the environmental impact of consuming excess meat, and short-cuts for those lacking in time. There is no other channel in the world which engages with young people about food on the same scale as SORTED.

SORTED will release a recipe video each day online, using the ingredients recommended at the beginning of the week to ensure wastage, cost and time are kept to an absolute minimum, as well as a weekly show which keeps the SORTED community up-to-date and explains the inspiration behind food stories. SORTED’s subscription numbers are set to increase as their output triples responding to demand. 

The channel launched on the 23rd April.

SORTED’s first professionally published cookbook (they have previously written and self-published two books) is due for August 2012 delivery from Penguin, title tbc.

Other blogposts you may be interested in :
 
Schwartz review #15 : Beef & Beer Stew with Herb Dumplings Recipe Inspirations kit
Our recipe for Macmillan Cancer Support and Silver Spoon's Little Book of Treats
Indulgent recipes to get you feeling fruity !
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Schwartz review #15 : Beef & Beer Stew with Herb Dumplings Recipe Inspirations kit


Well, it may officially be spring but warming winter food is back on the menu here at The Madhouse at the moment ! Time to get the slow cooker out and try out another Schwartz Recipe Inspirations kit, this time for Beef & Beer Stew with Herb Dumplings. I told you all about the concept of the kits here (and if you click on the Schwartz label at the bottom of this post, you'll see my review of some of the other kits too). You basically get six little sealed bubbles of herbs and spices, perfectly measured out for use in the recipe supplied on the back of the pack. This pack contained Garlic Granules, Paprika, Marjoram, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme. As I've mentioned before, I love the freshness of the herbs (they smell much more fragrant and packed with flavour than the half opened pots that have been hanging around on the spice rack for far too long) and the convenience of having them already measured out, but I do still find the little bubbles incredibly fiddly and annoying to open.


So, on to the recipe. First, I threw some chopped carrots and onions in the slow cooker and sprinkled over the garlic granules.


I can't help myself - I immediately modified the recipe and added some mushrooms to the mix.


After browning it on all sides, I put the chunks of beef in the pot and added the quick squirt of tomato puree that the recipe calls for (trying out the Just Add sun-dried tomato puree that I told you about here).


Time to add the beer, beef stock and contents of three bubbles - paprika, marjoram and sage. Pop the lid on and leave the slow cooker to work its magic all afternoon.


Now I almost left out the dumplings part of the recipe. Not only have I never eaten dumplings in my life and have no idea what they're supposed to taste like or how to make them, I also had no suet or anything resembling it in the house. Off to internet for an alternative dumplings recipe and I found one using flour, butter and milk, to which I added the two final bubbles of herbs, rosemary and thyme.

Well, they look the business (I think !).


I pushed all the meat over to one side and plopped the dumplings into the hot liquid. This photo just looks like a soggy mess but I was impressed to see that they puffed up immediately and soaked up all that lovely sauce.


Well, the dumplings were a bit bland but they're definitely something I'd like to experiment with. I wonder if you could put balls of stuffing in a stew to make really herby dumplings ? The flour that comes off the dumplings does give a wonderfully thick sauce and soaks up a lot of the excess liquid, which is sometimes a problem with slow cooked stews.

star rating : 4.5/5

RRP : £1.99


Disclosure : I received a Recipe Inspirations pack containing the herb/spice packs as well as some bits and bobs for the kitchen (that I told you about here).

Other reviews you may be interested in :


 

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Friday, 27 April 2012

PEPPA PIG APP - HAPPY MRS CHICKEN IS NOW AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID DEVICES

I'm forever reviewing iPad apps and hearing you lot say "ooooh if only I had an iPad ..." ! Well, this time the boot's on the other foot. I have news of a lovely new Peppa Pig Android app (which I can't use - but it is already out on iPad, iPod and iPhone too apparently). If you have a little Peppa Pig fan, enjoy !

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Peppa Pig’s top selling Number 1 Kids Game App on iTunes is now available for Android devices.

Peppa Pig Happy Mrs Chicken includes 4 interactive games – plus special bonus reward sticker book for only £1.99. Brand new mini-game – Muddy Puddles has also been included so there’s even more fun. Plus 2 new sticker scenes and lots more stickers to unlock.

Featuring Peppa Pig and her family plus all the familiar music and sound effects this app is sure to delight all Peppa fans.

AVAILABLE FROM THE GOOGLE PLAY ANDROID STORE NOW.
FEATURES

This fun App features the following games:-


Happy Mrs Chicken - The player can make Happy Mrs Chicken lay eggs and these eggs then hatch into chicks and scurry to either side of the screen.

Chicken Coop - In this game the player must send different coloured chicks to their correctly coloured homes, and includes a mode against the clock.

Seed and Maze - This is a maze-style game that involves the player dropping a seed trail to guide the chicks home through a variety of 6 mazes.

Muddy Puddles - Can be played as either Peppa or George against one of their friends. Be the first to jump in as many muddy puddles as possible.

Sticker Book - Collect virtual stickers along the way and decorate a ‘sticker book’ with many different items and characters.


SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Android Devices running OS 2.1 and above.

Screen layouts:
SMALL NORMAL LARGE XLARGE

Required device features:
android.hardware.touchscreen

Current compatibility with over 1250 Android devices.

 



Other blogposts you may be interested in : 

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Just Add ... Inspiration !





I'll be telling you lots more about the Just Add ... range of foodie products over the coming weeks as I try them all out but I couldn't wait to show you the fabulous package of goodies that we received recently. Lots of experimenting in the kitchen coming up !

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The blurb says : "A unique collection of timesaving ingredients that are bursting with flavour, these are the ideal solution for the food rich, time poor culinary. JUST ADD is the ultimate in gourmet convenience and with a taste to compliment any dish, the JUST ADD range has something to accommodate everyone."

Sounds perfect, and I also love the way it cuts down on food waste because you only need to use the precise amount for the recipe, rather than having lots of garlic, chillies, ginger, etc drying out and going mouldy in the cupboard before you can use them all.

We received :



- tubes of Just Add ... fuss-free Coriander, Chilli, Garlic, Basil, Ginger and Sun-dried Tomato ...


 - sachets of Just Add ... Cajun, Tangy Cheese, Garlic & Herb for sprinkling over potato wedges or sweet potato chips ...


- one-shot 15g packs, containing the equivalent of 3 tablespoons of ginger, chilli and garlic ...


- sachets of Classic Mint Drizzle ...

- JUST ADD Salad Dressings, in 40g packets, in a whole range of flavours : Sweet Chilli, Ginger & Lime, Herb Vinaiugrette, Honey & Mustard, Italian Cheese, Roast Red Pepper & Roast Garlic and Sweet Balsamic.

The Just Add ... range also includes :

JUST ADD Salad Shakers - the perfect addition to shake over salad leaves or add to soups, available in 30g individual portions, take your pick from the delicious Dried Cranberry and Apricot, Crispy Bacon and Onion or Sun Dried Tomatoes.


The JUST ADD range is available in selected Tesco, Waitrose, Asda, and Carrefour stores.


For more information : www.justaddofficial.co.uk (and watch this space for reviews as I try them all out !)

Disclosure : I received all the Just Add products that you can see in the photos above, in order to review them.

Other reviews you may be interested in :

Olive Oil Tasting Challenge
Our recipe for Macmillan Cancer Support and Silver Spoon's Little Book of Treats
Rod and Ben's Thai Chicken Soup review

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Hacky Sacks review


Celebrating its 40th anniversary this summer, the world famous Hacky Sack is returning to the UK. When I received an email about them, my reaction was : "Oh yeah, I remember those ! What happened to them ? Haven't seen them for years!". Well, here's a bit of history. 

Hacky Sack was invented by athletes Mike Marshall and John Stalbergers in 1972 as a training tool to exercise John's leg after a knee injury. Not only did John’s leg quickly recover, but kicking the footbag around turned out to be a brilliantly fun game to play too. Mike and John perfected the design and Hacky Sack was born. Hacky Sack joined the Wham-O line-up of iconic brands in 1983. Since then, Hacky Sack and the footbag game has become a world-renowned sport, played by millions across the globe. Unavailable for many years, the only genuine Hacky Sack from Wham-O is now returning to the UK.

 We were sent a couple of Hacky Sack and asked : Who in the family can master the moves and become the Hacky Sack master?! 


Well, Juliette was the first to start playing with them. Ummm not quite sure that's what they're supposed to be used for ! Time to learn the moves !

The Inside Kick:
Drop Hacky Sack in front of you. Use your inside foot to kick the Hacky Sack up straight up again. Now try kicking the Hacky Sack straight up alternating with each foot. How long can you keep going?

The Outside Kick:
Drop Hacky Sack to your side and kick it straight up with the outside of your foot. This move is more difficult and you need to angle your ankle to get it right.

The Stall:
Catch the falling Hacky Sack on the inside of your foot by matching its speed with a downward motion. The trick is to land the Hacky Sack without bouncing it or kicking it off again. Once you have mastered it, try dropping Hacky Sack by your side and catching it with the outward of your foot.

Toe Kick and Stall:
Drop the Hacky Sack further in front of you and try kicking and stalling it on your toes.

Hacky Sack Games:
Get your mates together and stand in a circle. Use your Hacky Sack skills to pass the footbag from player to player. The trick is to keep the bag from the ground as long as possible.

Get Fit:
Playing Hacky Sack for an hour burns around 240 calories, about the same calories as a fast food burger.

Two hundred and forty calories ?! Quick, give them here !!



Ah, that's more like it. Juliette soon got into the swing of things, throwing the Hacky Sack up in the air and trying to catch it again, which was great for developing her coordination and reflexes. For small children trying to learn to catch (like Pierre) who keep missing, it's actually better than a ball because it doesn't bounce or roll away when it lands on the floor. We had a good game of catch and piggy-in-the-middle and even had a go at juggling !


Juliette then progressed on to trying to play keepie-uppies with the Hacky Sack which was great fun but also great exercise, as well as giving her coordination and reflexes some more practice. The undisputed Madhouse Hacky Sack Star though is Madhouse Daddy Mike who couldn't resist having a play during his lunch hour, but sadly I didn't have the camera to hand (as it had just been dropped down the stairs and broken - grrr) so you'll have to take my word for it !

Hacky Sack may be a recognised football-training tool but it's also a good toy for young children to play with, just for general throwing and kicking practice. It's also small enough to put in your pocket for taking to the park and is ideal for packing in a suitcase to play with on holiday.

star rating : 4/5

RRP : £3.99

for more information : http://www.wham-o.com/product/Hacky_Sack.html

Disclosure : I received two Hacky Sacks in order to write the review.

Other reviews you may be interested in :

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Nintendo Teams up with HMV to Offer Kid Icarus: Uprising Multiplayer Action

It's raining, it's pouring, the kids are moaning that it's boring ! Well, fab news if you're close to London tomorrow - I have the perfect way of keeping them entertained whatever the weather. (There are other dates and locations too though so scroll down.) Make sure you take your camera and you could win an HMV voucher on twitter.

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Compete against the highly trained Kid Icarus: Uprising Battle Squad in-store for a chance to take away exclusive prizes
 
24 April 2012 - Nintendo has today announced a series of Kid Icarus: Uprising multiplayer events taking place in HMV stores around the UK, giving fans the chance to battle it out against the expert Kid Icarus: Uprising Battle Squad. The first event takes place from 12.00-16.00 this Saturday 28th April at HMV in Oxford Circus.
 
Fans need to take along their Nintendo 3DS console, competitive spirit and choose their favourite weapon, ready to join the battle.  The Squad is made up of different skill levels to allow for fair competition and includes a pro gamer to challenge even the most experienced Kid Icarus: Uprising players.
Everyone who takes part will earn a limited edition Kid Icarus: Uprising poster.  If a player defeats the Squad and wins a battle, they will be able to take home a set of AR Cards to boost their collection.  The Kid Icarus: Uprising AR Cards are highly sought after  – so make sure you get practising!
Nintendo is also launching a free prize draw via Twitter: all fans need to do is have their photo taken with the Squad in HMV and tweet it on the same day to @KidIcarusUK using the hashtag #KidIcarusBattleSquad to be in with a chance of winning* one of six £50 HMV vouchers.  All Nintendo 3DS owners are encouraged to head down to the events and take their console to StreetPassTM with other fans.
All photos from the events will be uploaded onto the Nintendo 3DS Facebook page and for all the latest news about Kid Icarus: Uprising and the Battle Squad follow @KidIcarusUK.
The Kid Icarus: Uprising Battle Squad dates and locations:
 
hmv Oxford Circus – Saturday 28th April
hmv Reading Oracle – Saturday 5th May
hmv Birmingham Bullring – Saturday 12th May
hmv Brighton Churchill – Saturday 19th May
 

 
*Winners will be drawn at random
 
About Kid Icarus: Uprising:
Kid Icarus: Uprising launched exclusively on Nintendo 3DS on 23rd March. The two multiplayer modes can be played against other Nintendo 3DS owners ‘Nearby’ via a local wireless connection or ‘Far Away’ via an internet connection.  The two modes include Light vs Dark, where up to six players create two teams to fight against each other, and Free-for-All, where it is every player for themselves.


Other blogposts you may be interested :
  
Check out the new Sterimar Baby UK Facebook page and enter the 'Cutest Little Nose' competition ! 
Hot Wheels Wall Tracks Mid Air Madness review
Wii game review : Mario Party 9


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Check out the new Sterimar Baby UK Facebook page and enter the 'Cutest Little Nose' competition !

As I told you last month, I'm honoured to have been chosen to act as one of a small group of Mummy Ambassadors for the brand new Sterimar Baby UK Facebook page. The page has just gone live and they already have a lovely competition on the go (which I'll tell you about in a moment). But I also have insider information and can tell you that they have all sorts of other fun activities planned over the coming months that I can't wait to get involved with. Hope to see you there ! And without further ado, here's all you need to know about their competition to win £500 .

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Stérimar® Baby Nasal Spray is now on Facebook!
Cutest Little Nose wins £500
To celebrate the launch of the new Facebook page for Stérimar® Baby, the natural seawater base nasal spray, we are offering you the chance to win a £500 cash prize if you enter our ‘Cutest Little Nose’ photo competition!
Stérimar® Baby is a 100% natural sea water nasal spray that is specifically designed to gently clear and unblock little noses from birth to 3 years. Since babies also breathe mainly through their nose and cannot blow it, a blocked nose can be disruptive and lead to problems breathing, eating or sleeping. To help relieve discomfort, Stérimar® Baby gently clears and unblocks little noses and rebalances nasal functions. It can be used as often and as long as needed.
At Stérimar® Baby, we just love little noses and can’t wait to see your adorable photos of your little ones, so please enter today! The ‘cutest’ photo will be chosen as the winner and the ‘most creative’ photo will win a runner up prize of Stérimar® Baby products. The competition is running for two months, and will close on 20th June 2012.
The Facebook page is all about keeping little noses clean, clear and healthy. You can connect with Mums and experts to share advice, tips, stories and even photos. Our Mummy Ambassadors will be posting relevant parenting topics for discussion and there will be more competitions throughout the year. These mums and their little ones use and love Stérimar® Baby – we hope you do too!
Stérimar® is recommended by doctors in the UK and has received the Allergy UK Allergy Product Award.
Become a fan and ‘like’ the new official Stérimar® Baby Facebook page to get in on the action! 

Disclosure : While this isn't a sponsored post, I do receive a financial contribution from Sterimar for getting involved in Mummy Ambassador activities on their facebook book and other social media platforms. I was using Sterimar long before they asked me to be an Ambassador though !

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