Interplay's new Fuzzi Street range and Orangutwang game have each won a Made for Mums Toy Award!
Fuzzi Street won the Gold award in the prestigious Best Art/Craft Toy category. The range encourages children to decorate their very own Ice Cream Parlour, Pizzeria and Post Office, and each play set comes with a brand new fuzzikin animal to colour in. Like all Fuzzikins they are washable, so each set offers hours of creative fun!
Meanwhile Orangutwang, recently launched as part of the new Interplay Games range, won Silver in the Best Board Game for 3 Years + Category!
Already a hit in the USA, Orangutwang involves hanging fruit and jungle friends on the orangutan, but watch out! Once he's holding too much he'll spring up and send the fruit and friends flying... you just never know when!
Made for Mums Toy Awards
MadeForMums is the UK’s number 1 site for parenting product reviews, with an outstanding reputation for expert, honest review content, so a MadeForMums Toy Award is recognised by parents and retailers – and the national press – as a sign of a toy’s outstanding quality and play potential.
The winners were announced after 8 weeks of home-testing with more than 500 child and parent judges, several judging days involving influencer family judges with a combined YouTube following of 600,000, plus the wisdom of toy industry experts.
The UK’s biggest Christmas indoor Winter Wonderland, will return to Manchester on 6th December.
Following last year’s hugely successful event which saw over 85,000 people visit the Christmas festivities, Santa’s little helpers have worked with the event organisers to launch this year’s Winter Wonderland, promising it to be the best yet!
Winter Wonderland 2019 will see five amazing festive attractions including: A massive real ice rink, a wondrous Christmas circus, an incredible panto, a vast indoor funfair and of course, Santa Claus, too!
As well as all these attractions there will be plenty of food and drink available, catering for a wide range of requirements including vegan, vegetarian, gluten and lactose free options. Refreshments will also be available to get visitors into the festive spirit.
For parents of young children, there will be plenty of space to park any prams as well as a quiet breastfeeding area and baby changing facilities throughout the venue
Winter Funland event director, Andy Windmill, said: “Last years event was a phenomenal success and this year promises to be bigger, brighter and full of even more festive fun. We have pulled out all of the stops to ease queues for Santa, quicker service for food and of course, brought in even more exciting funfair rides.”
Families who have children who are on the Autism Spectrum will be pleased to learn the organisers have created a special autism-friendly sensory experience as part of the Winter Funland which will be available exclusively for autistic children and their family to enjoy on Monday 9th December.
The Winter Funland will be closed to the general public on that day and transformed, making it a welcoming and exciting space for young people affected by autism. Not only will there will be fewer crowds around, but the volume of the attractions will be lowered, the lighting and flickering lights reduced and a special space to chill out if any aspect gets too overwhelming will also be available.
Last year’s event gave over £100,000 worth of tickets to local charities & underprivileged families and they'll do the same again in 2019!
Winter Funland is taking place at EventCity, opposite intu Trafford Centre and there are over 3,000 free car parking spaces.
The doors will officially open to the public on 6th December and will remain open until 4th January 2020 with tickets available right now,
All-inclusive admission tickets are £23.50 per person and under 3’s go FREE. Fastpass tickets to visit Father Christmas at Santa’s Ghrotto are also available from the website here www.winterfunland.com.
Pick up your Elves Behavin’ Badly this December and have some fun!
The countdown to Christmas is now well underway. It’s time to think about decorating the Christmas tree, hanging the mistletoe and decorating the house.
But! There’s just one (or rather several) small things that you simply must do in order to get in the true Christmas spirit, pick up the striped legs of a pair of elves from the Elves Behavin’ Badly gang and get mischievous!
This December the iconic elves are back and they’re behavin’ even more disgracefully than ever before!. Dismissed from Elftoria and given their P45s, they are looking for revenge.
In light of this the team behind Elves Behavin’ Badly, PMS International, are making a public call to tell people ‘Don’t Bring Your Elves to Work…but they might just invite themselves!’ That’s right, this very naughty pair of elves are hoping consumers will purchase them to help Elfie and Elvie, the troublesome pair at the centre of the chaos, cause mayhem in workplaces and homes all over the UK.
This year the elves aren’t alone in their mischief, Joey Essex is getting a slice of the naughty and ‘salty’ Christmas action. In a mischievous film, Joey is seen falling victim to the elves’ pranks, and now wants consumers all over the UK to pick some up and play some pranks of their own. From leaving an elf poking out of the drawer of your colleague’s desk, to putting the elves in a risqué position as your mates come over for dinner - get creative, get naughty and have some fun, after all, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.
It seems that this Christmas it’s not all about making the nice list, the naughty list is double the trouble and double the fun. These cheeky characters make the perfect secret Santa gift, stocking filler or even for yourself. Look out for the red and white striped legs of Elfie and Elvie in most major retailers and online from November where they’re looking to cause pre-Christmas pandemonium.
There is an exciting range of products with the Elves having an RRP of around £3.99 and accessories starting at RRP of £1.00. The huge range of accessories includes a sleigh, dress-up outfits for the dolls and a fake CCTV camera which appears to spy on the kids and report back to Santa.
Keep an eye on social media too for hilarious footage of Joey and the elves as well as a series of daily December dares prompting pranks and chaos!
Elves Behavin’ Badly is owned by PMS International, the UK's leading manufacturer, importer and distributor of a wide range of consumer products; including Plush Toys, Dolls and Christmas Decorations. Elves Behavin’ Badly has grown considerably over the past few years and what started out as a bit of fun has now become a nationwide Christmas ritual. Since bursting onto the scene, parents all over the country have started experiencing the fun to be had with Elves Behavin’ Badly - the brand has become popular with adults and children alike.
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Here is a pamper product which will make an ideal stocking filler or secret Santa present.
It’s the Thera-Pearl Eye Mask from Feel Good Contacts and it costs £7.
Thera-Pearl Eye Mask offers a therapeutic spa-like treatment for dry, tired, irritated and puffy eyes, from the comfort of your home. Developed by eye care professionals Bausch & Lamb, the eye-ssential mask will to help you feel and look relaxed.
It’s suitable either hot or cold, you can choose the type of treatment that you’re after.
Designed with special and highly effective Pearl Technology, the small pearls can retain heat or remain cool for long periods of time. T
his versatile product is suited to those with even the most sensitive eyes.
For use, simply chill in the freezer for 2 hours to rejuvenate tired eyes or minimise the sting of a brow wax. Alternatively, Thera-Pearl Eye Mask can be used as a hot compress. Pop into the microwave for 15 seconds to relieve dry eyes, or to simply clear your nasal passages and airways. It also helps to relieve headaches and migraines.
Its pliable, face-hugging shape stays put without drips or leaks. The mask is reusable.
The latest order must be placed by midnight Monday 23rd December midnight to receive it the next day and in time for Christmas.
If you are a whiskey (or whisky) drinker and you have yet to try Irish single malts, then this will be an ideal time to participate.
Because just in time for Christmas and in a festive bright red bottle Santa would be most proud of, Halewood Wines & Spirits have released The Pogues Single Malt Irish Whiskey.
It's an ideal gift for adventurous whiskey lovers the whole world over, The Pogues Single Malt is an Irish rebel packing fine flavours whilst being a perfect whiskey for mixing and sharing with friends this Christmas.
It’s triple distilled and matured in bourbon barrels to create a mellow single malt with hints of Parma violets, caramel brittle and chocolate covered peanuts.
On the palate you’ll get a small amount of woody spice and cinnamon followed by chocolate covered peanuts and sesame snaps, nougat and marshmallows.
Andy Wallace, Global Dark Spirits Manager at Halewood Wines & Spirits says: “The new single malt pays tribute to The Pogues, a band best-known for doing things their way and creating a completely new style.
"The single malt is all about this fantastic attitude to life, too. It’s not conformist. It’s an Irish single malt that doesn’t need to be drunk in an armchair or on a hillside with a crumbling castle in the background.”
The Pogues Single Malt’s RSP is £25 for a 700ml bottle, 40% ABV and is as versatile as whiskey comes - great as a base for drinks such as a proper Irish Coffee and classically mixed with Ginger Ale, as well as tasting great on the rocks.
There are no rules with The Pogues Single Malt Whiske,y drink it how you like, straight up, long, or stirred down and brown. We don’t tell you how to drink your whiskey!
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Slightly savoury with a hint of Parma violets and a wonderful nutty aroma of toasted seeds, caramel brittle and chocolate covered peanut.
Taste: A small amount of woody spice and cinnamon followed by chocolate covered peanuts and sesame snaps, along with nougat and marshmallows.
Finish: Whilst there is depth in the liquid, the finish is mellow.
Andy Wallace, adds: “Christmas is about spending time with friends and loved ones, kicking back and unwinding. The Pogues Single Malt Whiskey celebrates Irish hospitality. Pull up a stool, have a drink with us and we’ll see where the night takes us. Sláinte [cheers]!”
The Pogues Single Malt Irish Whiskey is distilled in Cork, Ireland. Made in small batches, using copper stills it is then matured in Bourbon oak barrels.
The Pogues Single Malt Irish Whiskey is the second whiskey paying tribute to the legendary band, following the success of the blended The Pogues Irish Whiskey.
The Pogues blended whiskey was created by Master Distiller Frank Mc Hardie in 2015 and has gone on to be awarded San Francisco World Spirits Competition Gold Winner 2019, 2018 & 2017. Introduced in late 2019 the Pogues single malt is a highly versatile for either sipping or mixing in a cocktail.
Pogues Single Malt can be found all good online retailers including:
Halewood Wines & Spirits is an award-winning UK-based craft distiller and the winner of the IWSC UK Gin Producer 2018 Award. Premium gin brands include Whitley Neill, J. J. Whitley, City of London Distillery, Marylebone Gin and Liverpool Gin.
Halewood has a strong portfolio of other high growth premium sprits, including Dead Man’s Fingers rum, Barbados’s Rum Sixty Six, Gelston’s Irish Whiskey and Crabbie Whisky.
In the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Halewood’s artisanal spirits were awarded five Double Golds, 13 Golds, nine Silvers and eight Bronze Awards. The spirits also won two Silver International Wine & Spirits Competition Awards and in the Global Spirits Masters, nine Silver and five Bronze Awards.
The business operates a number of craft breweries and artisanal distilleries across the UK including: Hawkshead Brewery in Cumbria, Sadler’s Ales in the Black Country, Aber Falls Distillery in North Wales, City of London Distillery and the new Liverpool Gin Distillery. A craft Distillery is also planned to open in Edinburgh in 2019 for Crabbie Whisky.
Outside the UK, the business exports products to over 100 countries around the world and has significant operations in a number of international markets including North America, South Africa and China.
The business was founded by the late John Halewood in 1978 and it remains owned and controlled by the Halewood family.
Irish single malt whiskey is a well kept secret. Smooth and warming, It's to be hoped that Pogues Single Malt can get the message out. That Irish single malt whiskey is the equal or better of any other type of single malt whiskey in the world. Or whisky, for that matter!
And I full intend to drink mine whilst listening to one of the best Christmas songs of all times, The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl performing Fairytale of New York.
This year you can celebrate Christmas with a bang! Or a bang as a half, as I like to say!
Because that’s exactly the fun you’ll have with the new paper Confetti Popping Party Crackers from Crackertoa®.
They’ll add the finishing touch to any Christmas dinner spread and more, besides.
They are decorated with a seasonal Holly and Ivy design, Crackertoa® crackers are perfect for popping at the office Christmas party or over Christmas dinner at home.
Inside every cracker is an eruption of paper confetti, novelty paper finger puppets, a party hat and a hilarious joke and conversation starter. It’s literally fun for all of the family, this upgrade to the traditional Christmas Cracker is guaranteed to turn any occasion into a party! (Though they do recommend not allowing children of under three to use them.)
What’s inside? Every Crackertoa® cracker pops with an eruption of paper confetti, a party hat, a joke, a conversation starter and a novelty paper finger puppet!
How to use?
• Lay the cracker on the table with the disc seal facing upward
• With a partner, each hold an end ensuring the coloured disc remains
facing upward
• Pull both ends at arm’s length, always keeping away from faces
• The cracker will erupt with a bang, scattering colourful confetti all around you
• Enjoy the content and create your own stories with the finger puppet family
You can buy them on Amazon for a box of six at £14.99.
Mother of two, Janine Marshall has created a brand-new product that rolls a punch of protein into a full complete meal in a few easy to use steps.
Breakfast Bombs are about to hit the UK with a bang as Janine Marshall, mum of two and start-up founder has found a quick and simple solution to the nation’s busiest meal-time. They'll be launched on December 1st.
“I’m a super busy mum of two and trying to juggle my business on-top means my life is very hectic!” Janine Marshall the creator and founder of Breakfast Bombs comments, who has branded the business Janine Loves.
“I was looking for a simple solution to creating a harmonious balanced life that looks after my brain and my body and Breakfast Bombs was the answer I came up with."
Created after Janine, who is a private chef, added a homemade energy ball into her blender with a splash of plant-based milk after making the mixture too dry but not wanting to waste the ingredients, Janine realised just how simple it could be to create a nutritious smoothie without the need for multiple bags and bottles of proteins and superfoods. And so, Breakfast Bombs were born.
Each bomb is hassle and waste free and includes a healthy balanced mix of gluten free oats, plant-based protein, almond butter and a carefully curated collection of superfoods specifically designed by their in-house nutritionist Gideon Remfy, who has over 25 years’ of wellness experience.
“Janine wanted a product that packed a punch, and that’s exactly what we have created” explains Gideon. “Each bomb contains over 10g of mixed plant-based proteins and a selection of scientifically researched phytonutrients which are highly nutritious and sustainable plant compounds such as cacao, maca, turmeric, and matcha. Each bomb has been specially designed with a uniquely delicious functional food focus.”
The handmade bombs, which come in an array of flavours including: Beet & Berry, Mango Chai, Blueberry Fool, Chocolate Orange, and Matcha Mojito are designed with specific aspects of wellness and vitality in mind.
The bombs focus on supporting mental and physical performance, a healthy gut, muscle, skeletal and collagen synthesis and overall increasing health-giving plant foods in the diet, dependant on their consumers wants and needs.
Using organic and vegan ingredients that are gluten, dairy, refined sugar and GMO free, Breakfast Bombs are the real meal deal, for a quick, simple and easy breakfast. From bomb to belly in just three simple steps – Breakfast Bombs are set to be the solution to a wide variety of breakfast qualms. Simply throw the bomb in the blender, top with a banana (or fruit of your choice) and your preferred milk, blend for 30 seconds and enjoy. Gone are the days of weighing and scooping out various powders and pastes to gain a nutritionally led breakfast that will keep you going right through till lunch.
And they are already a hit with her private customers, with Lucy Buckingham, the brains behind Lucy Bee singing their praises. “This product is exactly what I’ve been looking for. My mornings are crazy busy and it’s the perfect accompaniment to my [Lucy Bee] coconut milk. Not only do they taste amazing, but they are packed full of nutritious ingredients and are super simple to use.”
