Dear Mr Shopkeeper and Mr Ferrero, yes my son really did want to buy a Disney Fairies Kinder Surprise Egg, no it wasn't a mistake that he picked that over the Avengers Assemble one. Stop it, just stop it!

A few days ago I walked down to the local shop to let Thing 5 buy some sweets. It was a quiet day (for once) and I had promised we would go out for a walk.

It's inevitable nowadays that he will go straight for the Kinder Surprise Eggs. He seems to have become obsessed, like most young children it seems, with the Kinder Surprise Egg unwrapping videos on Youtube and so now he knows that inside that wrapping, underneath that dreamy chocolate is a yellow plastic pod waiting to be opened to reveal something 'amazing'. 

As we went into the shop he knew exactly where to go to get his Kinder Egg. He chose the Disney Fairies one. At the moment there is Disney Fairies and Avengers Assemble to choose from as well as the normal Kinder Surprise eggs. 

Disney Fairies Kinder Eggs

As we got to the till the cashier asked if he wanted to change his Kinder Egg, he seemed to have picked up a pink one. Errrrrrrrrrr, excuse me??!! Did I miss the sign informing me that the pink Disney Fairies eggs were for girls only and the Avengers Assemble ones were for boys. Am I going to get arrested on the way out by the gender stereotype police because I bought my son a pink Kinder Egg.

Last years marketing for the Disney Princess and Marvel Kinder Eggs

Don't get me started on why Ferrero (Kinder) felt the need to even put the pink and blue colouring on the egg in the first place. I mean boys can like pink but still want a car and vice versa for the girls. Who said there were specific toys for boys and girls? Did I miss some vital piece of parenting information that over the span of raising five children I have completely neglected to follow and am living on borrowed time before I get carted off for not following the pink and blue rule??

No, no I didn't miss anything. Toys are toys. Toys aren't for boys or girls, they are for children. Thing 5 is off to push his dolls pram around the garden and we will be buying more Disney Fairy Kinder Eggs, because that's how kids play Ferrero.

The dreaded dream holiday to Disney World Florida. Why I won't be part of the picture perfect family in front of Cinderella's castle. Any advice on how to turn this nightmare into a dream?

Whilst stood in the Post Office the other day the guy behind the counter asked if we were going on holiday this year. I informed him that we were going to Disney World and I was dreading it. He laughed,  why would anyone dread a trip to Disney World Florida?? He questioned my reasons and said the children would look forward to it. My answer;

'I have five children who don't get on, who have only ever traveled 1.5 hours down the road on holiday before and we are going to sit them on a plane for ten hours and drag them across to another country where they will moan incessantly, the same as they do at home. Would you want to sit next to us on the plane'?

He laughed nervously as he broke out in a sweat just thinking about it and we hurriedly changed the subject.

So there, I've said it out loud, I don't want to go. If we could take a Nanny I would go, if everyone was a bit more helpful and better behaved I might not be dreading it so much. If we had done a shorter plane trip previously to prepare us it would show us what the whole journey experience would be like.

Plus, it's our 10th wedding anniversary this year and I'm missing out on something I want to do because of this trip. I didn't get a honeymoon and ten years on I'm selfishly thinking that for once, after all these years, I would like to do something for myself.

The OH is living in cloud cuckoo land thinking this trip will be as magical as the brochures make it out to be. He's not thought of how he's going to negotiate the airports with five children,  seven suitcases, all paperwork to hand and a tired toddler in a meltdown. Drive on the wrong side of the car, on the wrong side of the road whilst the children make a noise from the back of the hire car. He can't drive 2 seconds down our street without going into a frenzy because they are making too much noise,  Oh wait he has thought about it, that's what I'm there for!!

So from a selfish Mum with a realistic view on life, I'm dreading a trip to Disney World. I'm counting down the months and willing it to not go so fast. I'm missing out on a lot for a trip that I don't want to make.

Any advice, travel tips, WDW dos and don'ts, how less stressful we can make our trip (other than not going!) will be gratefully received. 

 Someone take me to New York for a few days instead!

A Mum's wish list. All those crazy, wild things you wish you could do and hope to cross them off your list soon.

1. Wee alone

2. Bath alone

3. Cook one meal for everyone rather than feeling like a chef in a restaurant

4. Find the bottom of the wash basket

5. Sleep through the night

6. Get dressed before 10am (in something other than jeans or joggers)

7. Listen to your own music in the car rather than the Nursery Rhyme CD for the millionth time

8. Have a grown up conversation without starting a debate on whether you think Norman from Fireman Sam has ADHD or not

9. Go shopping and buy yourself something, not go 'Oooh cute shoes, do you have them in toddler sizes'?

10. Make the house a home rather than it looking like the newest Toys R Us store to open in your home town

11. Learn to use the PC and ipod,  just like the 2 year old can

12. Wee alone (yes twice, I want to do this twice. Craziness right there!)

That is one crazy to do list right there, I'm living the dream if I get all those things ticked off any time soon.  What's on your wish list?!

A weekend without children. Shopping, Let It Be theatre show in London & Wok to Walk & a cheeky Dr Martens purchase. Tonight I'm gonna party like it's....... Oooh 8.30 sleep time!!

Yes. A kind of childless weekend. Thing 2 and 3 are sunning themselves in Spain. I've had daily updates and I'm glad they are having a fab time.So I'm left with the smelly boys.

It's been peaceful ish. Asides from Thing 1 and his usual shouting at people whilst he's playing on the Xbox!

On Saturday myself and the OH went shopping together, alone, with no children. It was a strange experience. I didn't have a pushchair to navigate around the shops,  I didn't have to do a head count every few seconds, I didn't lose a toddler under clothes rails (a popular hiding place! ), no one whined in my ear about needing a drink/wee/they were hungry/tired/bored. It was weird. I got to look at things without a toddler grabbing things off the rails behind me.

So the OH and I were alone, child free, at the shops. It should have been bliss but I wasn't feeling well. Determined to get out and try and enjoy it I had made the decision to go. It was nice, it was peaceful, we had lunch out together.  I suddenly realised we didn't know how to talk to each other anymore unless it was talking about the kids.

We wandered around the shops. I treated myself to a new purse then bought things for the children. I must learn to forget about them for a few hours.

My new purse, if a new purse couldn't make me feel better then nothing could! 

Despite feeling rubbish we did have a good day.  Thing 4 and 5 had a fab day with my brother and sister in law.  Swimming, Mcdonalds and probably not thinking about me once!

I did chuckle at the lady walking in front of me at the shops.  Head count of children 1, 2, 3! I felt free for a few hours if not slightly ill too.

On Sunday I hit London with the bestie, something we haven't done in a loooonnggg time so it was way overdue. We flew down the motorway with the top down on her convertible! We hit Wok to Walk to grab the yummiest Chinese food in a box. Then we wandered over to Covent Garden where I stumbled into the Dr Martens shop and bought Thing 3 the most amazing boots that she desperately wanted. Last but not least we bought tickets in Leicester Square to see Let It Be at the Garrick Theatre. It was amazing, we were front row and it was full on music from start to finish. I highly recommend it to everyone.

Let it Be Live, the stage show. Highly recommended.

Wok to Walk, chinese in a box. The place you must go to for some food when in Leicester Square. 

So what do we do on a childless weekend???? Did I get ready to hit the town in a LBD and heels, party until the small hours, order cocktails and champagne whilst dancing like no one's watching??? Nope!

I'm a parent and it feels like Christmas that I had an early night both Saturday and Sunday evening!!.

My Dr Martens purchase for Thing 4. On a day out in London I still couldn't forget about the kiddies for a few hours. These were a must buy though!! 

Our day out in London on the Monster High ghost bus tour & Hamleys tour before watching the new Monster High Haunted movie, released on DVD this week.

The Monster High ghost bus

On Saturday myself and my two daughters headed into London to attend an event to view the newly released Monster High Haunted movie, released on DVD on March 16th 2015. Our day started with a tour on the Monster High ghost bus around London. It was great, the two guides were very informative and we saw lots of different locations and landmarks and received some fabulously spooky facts about different places as we travelled around. The tour guides were dressed up as teachers from the school and at one point we had to get rid of a ghost that had joined us on the bus! The girls thought it was great fun and they learnt a lot along the way. We passed many landmarks in London including the Houses of Parliament, Nelsons Column, The Tower of London, the old site of the London Dungeons, Pudding Lane and lots, lots more besides. It really was a great tour and highly recommended.

One of our spooktacular tour guides!

At the end of the tour we arrived at Hamleys on Regents Street where we were met by Draculaura and Frankie Stein from Monster High. The children were very excited as we split into two groups to head into the toy store. We had a wonderful tour of the store which is spread out over seven floors. There was lots to see and do around the store and our store tour guide was great with the children. The girls had their nails painted, tried out some toys on the shop floor, had their picture taken with Draculaura and Frankie Stein and they were allowed to grab some pic n mix before heading into a party room for the showing of the new Monster High Haunted movie.

Thing 4 meeting Draculaura

Thing 4 relaxed down on a big oversized cushion on the floor and settled in with her sweets ready for the film.

When the ghouls of Monster High follow Spectra Vondergeist one day, they discover a creeperific Ghost World with an all-spirit school. But their scary-cute student bodies are hardly welcome with the very strict Principal Revenant, and she punishes Spectra with frightful detention chains that prevent her from re-joining Monster High. Now, it’s up to the imperfectly perfect friends to take on ghostly forms in order to save one of their own from disappearing forever!

Both of my girls really enjoyed the film. It followed a good storyline that was easy to follow with a good ending too. It was a good length movie for the girls to sit through and as they like Monster High anyway they were hooked from start to finish. Out now to buy on DVD, my girls would recommend this to all Monster High lovers as a most watch film. 

Characters in the film include River Styxx, Kiyomi Haunterly, Vandala Doubloons and Porter Geiss plus many more of your favourite Monster High characters too. 

It was an amazing day out to get a sneak peak at this film before its release this week. There is also new dolls released alongside the film which you can pick up from any good stockists of the Monster High dolls. My eight year old already has her eye on a few of them! 

Their wonderful goody bag from the day. 

Ignoring the no holiday in term time rules and packing off two children for some much needed time away. Do you agree with the rules regarding holidays during term time?

Next week I wave off Thing 2 and 3 as they embark on a 6 day adventure with their Nanny and Pappy. This time away was only planned recently and couldn't have come at a better time for them both.

Both girls are in desperate need of time away from the family home. I don't want to have to admit that my children don't get on, but they really don't.  Factor in Thing 1 and his constant need for our time and attention and at the moment we have a very unhappy household.  Thing 1 doesn't seem to know how to interact with anybody, he is easily wound up and frustrated by Thing 2 and she bears the brunt of his anger and outbursts.

So as well as handing in the holiday forms as required I also added a letter in to each school outlining why this time away would be extremely important and worthwhile for both girls.

I'm still not expecting either school to accept my reasons for letting them take the time off and it's entirely at the schools decision as to whether the holiday is authorised or unauthorised but they are going anyway.

Whilst Thing 2's attendance at school has been 100% since September,  Thing 3's hasn't been so good due to illness. This also brings me on to the 100% attendance debate too. Should they be penalised for illness days? A discussion I was having with a friend recently.

Both girls are busy packing and counting down to their time away. Thing 3 is brushing up on her Spanish and will be making a scrapbook of her time away.  She will also be using the time to work towards her World Traveller badge for Brownies.

My conclusion is this. If children have a great attendance record other than sick days, I don't think a few days off for a holiday is harmful to their education. Holidays during school holidays are obviously preferred by the schools as they do get enough time off school for such occasions but many families are priced out of holidays in these times.

I believe my children at this particular time need this much needed time away and will hopefully be some much needed respite that will benefit them and they will hopefully come back rested and in better spirits.

Do you agree with the decision to fine parents for taking holidays during term time?

Have you taken holiday recently that was authorised? Are you planning a term time holiday soon?

From the makers of The Croods and How to Train Your Dragon. Dreamworks Animations brings you Home, coming to cinemas this weekend released 14/03/2015.

Coming to cinemas this Mothers Day weekend is the new Dreamworks Animation film, Home. Directed by Tim Johnson and includes an all-star cast including Jennifer Lopez, Steve Martin, Rihanna (as the voice of Tip) and Jim Parsons.

Premiering on Saturday 14th March 2015 at cinemas nationwide, Home is about an alien race called the Boov who come to Earth to hide from their enemy and make it their home. The Boov think the humans are in the way and decide to relocate them to a Desert Planet but one girl called Tip avoids capture and finds Oh, a Boov who has been banished.

The Boov

At first Tip and Oh are terrified of each other but soon they see past their differences and strike up a friendship that sees Oh accompany Tip whilst she is on the run and trying to locate her mother (Lucy) but he accidentally notifies the Boov's enemy of their whereabouts.

Oh and Tip

The Earth is turned upside down when the rest of the Boov arrive, and the two must hold on tight so they don’t lose each other altogether. With the world in chaos all around them, they begin the journey of a lifetime, and learn a thing or two along the way.

An original short film called 'Almost Home' featuring the Boov and their leader Captain Smek was attached to theatrical screenings of Dreamworks Mr Peabody and Sherman in early 2014.

This film looks great fun and will be a laugh along film about two new buddies as their friendship grows through their adventure together. I will definitely be taking my kiddies along to see it as soon as I can. It is a definite must see for the whole family so get those tickets pre-booked at a cinema near you now.

BUGABOO AND THE VAN GOGH MUSEUM COLLABORATE TO BRING YOU THE BUGABOO BEE3 IN THE ALMOND BLOSSOM DESIGN, COMING APRIL 2015

The Bugaboo website states; When Bugaboo and the Van Gogh Museum decided to collaborate on a stroller it quickly became apparent that the Almond Blossom, which represents new life and new beginnings, is the perfect fit for the Bugaboo Bee³: the urban stroller for parents who live life on the fly. The bold, dramatic brush strokes and colours that give van Gogh's work a sense of movement are a perfect fit for Bugaboo. Bugaboo has used the Almond Blossom as the muse for the Bugaboo Bee³ + Van Gogh collection: a fully equipped stroller whose components and accessories are the mobile embodiment of the Almond Blossom painting.

Both the stroller’s coated green chassis and matching faux leather handle bar echo the color of the tree’s branches, while the seat fabric and bassinet are Petrol Blue, reflecting Van Gogh’s clear blue sky. The exterior of the stroller’s silk-like sun canopy, the breezy sun canopy and the footmuff are covered in the Almond Blossom print, with a complimentary color on their undersides. The Bugaboo Bee³ + Van Gogh collection adds a touch of nature to an urban setting, breathes a hint of spring no matter what the elements, affords serenity under the starry night of a country sky.

The Bugaboo Bee³ + Van Gogh collection includes the Bugaboo Bee³ Complete Van Gogh, with
chassis, seat and sun canopy for €759/ £659 . Matching accessories include the Bugaboo Bee³
Carrycot Tailored Fabric Set Van Gogh (€120/ £110), the Bugaboo Footmuff Van Gogh (€134.95/£119.95 ) and the Bugaboo Bee³ Breezy Sun Canopy Van Gogh (€94.95/ £74.95). The Bugaboo Bee³ Complete Van Gogh with matching carrycot sells for (€989/ £869). The carrycot tailored fabric set and accessories can also be bought separately. 

Breezy sun canopy

Bringing a new colour to the Bee3 chassis adds a new element to the design and overall look of the Bee3. Adding a different colour element to compliment the eye catching Almond Blossom hood fabric with contrasting teal colour seat and carrycot. There will also be an Almond Blossom footmuff as shown below. All items available from April 2015.