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K’Nex 50 Model Box Review

K’Nex is a brand I’ve always know of, but wasn’t really aware of how many products they actually sold until recently.

The first time we introduced K’Nex to our home was last Christmas. My eldest had played with it at school on multiple occasions and asked Father Christmas to bring him his own set for Christmas.

Unfortunately he didn’t quite get the correct set so it hasn’t been played with too much…

We’ve recently received a couple of K’Nex products to review, and in all honesty I was a little worried the boys wouldn’t be fussed.

Oh, how I was wrong.

The K’Nex 50 Model Box comes with 417 individual pieces to make 50 building ideas. This sort of toy normally gives me anxiety. So many pieces. So many teeny tiny pieces to lose. However this set comes in handy storage tub, meaning all pieces should remain in one place when not being played with.

Such a key selling point for me.

After flicking through the huge instruction manual, my eldest decided a Robot would be his first construction.

Initially, the instructions can look quite daunting. There really are a lot of pieces that go into each design. For a 7 year old, this could be a little overwhelming. We began following the instructions together, picking out the pieces we needed for the robot design (as shown above) and beginning at stage one.

After a short while I had to go and make dinner, so suggested the kids wait for me to carry on. My eldest was too impatient and decided to continue alone.

To my surprise he was actually able to follow the images in the manual and completed the rest of the robot ALONE.

I was so, so proud of him, because he really thought to would be too tricky to complete by himself.

Next my youngest wanted to make the Tyranosaurus design (no surprise there). Although there are 50 designs to choose from, a selection of instructions can only be found online. Again, another great selling point for me. Instruction manuals don’t last too long in our house and are either lost or damaged pretty quickly. Being able to access online is such good idea.

My youngest is only 4, so this set isn’t suitable for his age, however the set we got last Christmas is for ages 3+ years and much easier for him to play with. The pieces are larger and easier to hold and fix together. Take a look at the K’Nex Budding Builders set for the youngsters.

 

As well as the K’Nex 50 Model Box were also sent the K’Nex Architecture London Eye. Now this one is an ongoing project for us, so I’m afraid I won’t be sharing any photos of our masterpiece just yet.

Our house is small and the boys are too young for this piece, so we are saving it for after our house extension next year where will have the space to take our time with the construction (I’ve heard it takes quite a while!)

We originally sent the set to to my in-laws house so my eldest could start work on the review with his Grandad, however lockdown has put a spanner in the works and we’ve had to come up with plan b – wait.

The K’Nex architecture range is a new line of building sets based on some of the worlds greatest architectural designs. Perfect my any budding architect! Each set comes with historical information about the landmark and detailed easy-to-follow, step-by-step building instructions.

This set can be bought from John Lewis and retails at £59.99.

Does your family enjoy building with K’Nex? These would make a perfect Christmas gift for any child who loves construction.
Ax

* We were sent these products free of charge for the purpose of this review. As always all words and opinions are honest and my own.

* I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.co.uk.

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Ricky Zoom House Playset & Family Pack Toy Review

A new favourite in our household is the fun and exciting Ricky Zoom show. Available to watch in the mornings on Channel 5 Milkshake, this has quickly grasped the attention of my 2 boys whilst eating their breakfast.

Particularly for my 4 year old, who loves anything that moves, our latest review has been some what of a hit to say the least. It’s been the go-to toy for after school playing and has resulted in some light hearted bickering over who gets what vehicle.

Firstly we have the Ricky Zoom House Playset, available from The Entertainer and retails at £39.99.

‘Ramp up’ playtime with this multi level fun play house featuring a rotating rescue pod, bike launcher, life and more. Not forgetting the sound effects!

The set also comes with an exclusive Ricky Zoom toy bike.

We were also sent the Ricky Zoom Family Pack retailing at £22.99, which includes the 4 characters from the TV series. Hank, Helen, Toot and Ricky Zoom. (SO glad we received a second Ricky Zoom toy to avoid further arguments!)

Each bike features free rolling wheels for zooming around and can also stand freely without toppling over.

Overall we were really impressed with the quality of these toys. My boys, aged 7 and 4, (somewhat) happily played together, sharing the family of bikes and racing against each other down the ramps.

It was so nice to see the boys playing together. Swapping and changing bikes and creating stories as they played. These really are toys for the whole family.

It’s not often my 7 year old plays with toys, especially with his brother, so having half an hour of peace was delightful!

Charity partnership – Barnardos Kidsmas Toddle with Ricky Zoom

Ricky Zoom is supporting leading children’s charity Barnardos this Christmas with its Barnardo’s Kidsmas Toddle with Ricky Zoom. There is nothing more incredible than children helping to support other children who need their help. Visit https://www.barnardos.org.uk/kidsmas for more details on this Zoomtastic fun event.

Watch Ricky Zoom weekdays at 7.40am on Milkshake!

Ax

* We were sent these products free of charge and paid for our time writing the review. All words and opinions are honest and our own.

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FUNKO Games Review – Something Wild

Something Wild from Funko Games is a family friendly card game that has a similar feel to Go Fish and Uno. It’s full of your favourite Disney characters and vibrant and colourful


I’m going to go straight into this review with honesty. We can’t figure out how to play! The instructions seem so clear, they tell you exactly what to do, but it just doesn’t make sense. We’ve tried a couple of times and can’t get the hang of it.

So we resorted to Youtube to see if there are videos explain the rules. Luckily the official channel has posted a video explaining gameplay. Which definitely made it a little clearer, but it’s still not easy to get your head a round the rules.

I would certainly recommend playing several times to get the hang of the game, before giving up.

The aim of the game is to get the most runs or sets. This being 3 of the same character or a run of 3 numbers. There’s also Power Cards which you need to collect throughout the game (this is where we get confused!)

Although we’ve struggled with rules and how to play, this is actually a really cute game, with several versions available to buy featuring your fave characters. I’m keen to add the Nightmare Before Christmas version to our collection (once we figure out how to play!)

My boys were happy to receive the Mickey and Friends set though, as they both love Mickey Mouse and love the POP figure included in the game!

If you fancy trying the game for yourself (you’ll probably be much better at following the rules than me) then take a look at Amazon for the ranges available.

Ax

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.co.uk.

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What Does Style Mean To You?

Style can seem like one of those concepts we all mutually agree on without actually having strict or similar definitions for it. For instance, you don’t have to wear expensive clothes to have good style. Someone wearing a uniform could have good style provided they place their own, subtle flair on how they wear it. You can have style even in limited clothing, such as swimwear, which can be fashionable without having to actually provide much of substance.

So, what does style mean to you? We’re not here to ask that question as if you must come up with an answer in a graded essay. Instead, simply asking that question can help you begin thinking about your wardrobe, how you consider it, and what fundamental purchasing decisions you make to stock it. It also depends on what standards you hold for yourself and how you might wish to change them, such as going for nicer frames with www.eyeglasses.com. Developing your taste is fun!

Critical thoughts like this can help anyone feel more connected and understanding of how they wish to present themselves to the world, and how they might like to dress for themselves rather than simply dressing for others. So, let’s consider how these questions could be asked – and why they might be in the first place:

Wearing Clothes For You

Style is often defined by someone taking the initiative to find clothes that work for them. But that’s where the purpose lies. For them. Not for others. Not to fit a mould and not to fit a clique. After all, we know how trends start. They begin, originally, by someone taking a risk, or a designer starting to push an item that might not be held elsewhere. Then, it catches on.

This shows that fashion only really progresses when it innovates, and we see those differences take place and become popular all the time. Wearing clothes for you can be a great idea, then, but how can you switch to this mindset? Well, first, don’t feel as though you ‘have’ to follow fashion. But also, don’t feel that you ‘have’ to ignore it in order to be as unique as you can be. Whatever you enjoy wearing, whatever gives you pleasure, whatever style helps you feel confident can be great. It might be that you love how something looks on your friend, and you buy your own, only to have mixed feelings about wearing it. That’s fine too. We all have different styles and tastes, and sometimes, accepting that can help you feel more free and open with your selections.

Trying New Styles

Of course, it’s important to take risks to a certain degree, and open your mind to what you may have turned your nose up at in the past.

This isn’t an easy consideration to make, but it really can help. Many people become very comfortable in wearing a certain amount of clothes, and feel as though they have some grounding to keep wearing those items forever. If you feel that way, you’re not necessarily wrong. However, it’s the same as thinking you’ve seen enough of the world already to stop traveling it – you may be missing out and robbing yourself of a range of amazing experiences you could otherwise be having.

So – trying new styles is an appropriate consideration to make, and can truly help you become a better, more involved person. Trying a  new accessory when it’s popular, for instance, might help you feel current – especially if you haven’t felt that way for a while. Perhaps you’re moving to a new country and wish to wear clothing more inkeeping with the local cultural style. That can be a great way to integrate and to show your respect to that culture. 

No matter who you are, trying new styles is often a worthwhile, reliable means of bettering yourself and how you relate to fashion. You’ll find items you dislike, and have bad fashion days, and that’s fine. It’s all a part of the process. At the very least, you’ll be widening your horizons in the best possible sense.

Quality Over Quantity

Quality over quantity can also make a massive difference going forward to the point where you see fashion as something to invest in rather than something to diminish. For instance, purchasing the best frames of eyeglasses.com can help you not only enjoy this accessory, but also feel fashionable and put-together when you have to wear them all day.

We often enjoy fashion and style when we invest in products that are quality, and that will last a long time. For instance, it’s hard not to feel a bond with a beautiful coat you have invested in after wearing it for a few years. Shoes that can be repaired or that have durability often become part of your character, and you share experiences with them. People often see the changing seasons of fashion and think they are ephemeral, often a waste of money. But that’s not so. There’s craftsmanship in fashion provided you look in the right places, and that can provide you with the means to stock your life with the needs you really do have. That’s a great place to start – and get started.

Knowing Your Head & Body Shape

It’s a good idea to shop for you. Certain items of clothing simply won’t feel good on you, and that’s fine. If your clothes don’t fit well, for instance, you’ll likely feel unkempt or overexposed, and that’s different to feeling sexy or dressed stylishly.

Knowing your head and body shape can be important here. For instance, your face shape may correspond to what kind of glasses frames will work best for you. Rounder glasses might emphasize an already round head, for example, and so figuring out your personal suitabilities for fashion can be a great place to start.

You don’t have to perfect this of course, just knowing how to shop for your needs is important. It might be that you have wider hips than most, and so investing in trousers that have unique dimensions could be important – even if you need to find a specialty store. There’s also no reason as to why having a larger frame or being plus-sized should prevent you from having access to great style. There are stores out there for you, you just need to look for them. This is the fun part. You may decide to stay with brands that you appreciate, or that have good messaging, or that help you feel better in your skin. Perhaps ethical fashion brands help you feel like you’re doing some good in the world while wearing your clothes. Whatever works for you is often more than achievable, and can make quite the difference. So – don’t be afraid to have fun with your style process. It makes a difference.

Emulating Fashion Icons

There’s no shame in emulating your fashion icons, too. Who has style you believe to be fun, interesting, and pretty handsome? There are no rules saying you can’t try that, too. For instance, Billie Eilish and her recent green hair dye has made luminescent green hair dye a real trend among the youth of today. That’s pretty fun. It’s unique, it’s new and it’s bringing something novel and interesting to the world.

So, perhaps a fashion icon could inspire you to? Perhaps that could get you started. And then, perhaps before you even wilfully take a step in that direction, you’ll notice that you have become your own fashion icon, too.

With this advice, we hope you can define and redefine what style means to you, and how you can more easily better yourself in that pursuit. It’s not easy, but it can be possible to achieve.

Ax

* Collaborative post

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Nadiya’s Deluxe Baking Kit Review

Hey guys!

The leaves are changing, the weather has turned, we can bust out the boots and cozy sweaters, retiring away those dreaded flip flops and sunglasses; it’s Autumn!

It’s officially my favourite time of year. Autumn brings about this change in me, where I just want to grab my loved ones and hibernate in my home, does anyone else feel this way? Spending my time finishing puzzles, cooking up stews, lounging under a big fluffy blanket, and of course baking some special treats! Which brings me to our newest review; Nadiya’s Deluxe Baking Set.

I’m guessing all of you can recognise this lovely lady, but for those that may need a refresher on who this person is; Nadiya Hussain is an author, tv presenter and chef who won the heart of the nation following her stint of Bake Off, (do I really have to explain how amazing GBBO is?)

In recent years she has used her voice to write a book for children which blends versions of fairy tales we all know, with a baking twist – Bake Me a Story, Bake Me a Festive Story, and Bake Me a Celebration Story. These updated works may be her inspiration on this new product which we at Lamb and Bear have been eager to receive!

So let’s get to it! This bakeware set features a silicone rolling pin with plastic handle, a silicone whisk with metal handle, a silicone spatula, 2.5l mixing bowl (microwave safe), 12 reusable silicone cupcake cases, a sieve, 3 metal cookie cutters with safe silicone edge, measuring spoons, little apron and six of Nadiya’s favourite recipes for kids! 

Woah that’s a long list – it’s basically everything you need in one handy box! 

I love to bake and would do it a lot more if time wasn’t an issue, but I’m also a very neurotic chef; I like to be the only one in the kitchen and hate mess, so it’s very rare that I allow the kiddos into my den.

In this instance I let the kids take charge, (picture me hands over eyes, trying to peek through). The great thing about this set though, is that it has all you need at a foundation level, from start to finish, so I don’t have them bickering to find the tools they need, smashing through cupboards and chaos erupting! The recipe cards from her story book are super easy to follow and also feature one of my absolute favourite things to make as a kid, so that a sense of nostalgia was overwhelming – Rock Cakes! 

What I love most about this range is the quality. It looks so professional and feels expensive, better than some of my own tools and products which I’ve accumulated from different brands.

The bright colours look classy, they aren’t flimsy, and they enhanced my children’s experience; they felt like proper chefs with their special tools and apron, it wasn’t just pretend for them! (By the way I will be stealing some of these bits kids:) in exchange for your yummy treats you create of course!)

You can get your hands on this fab kit from Smyths for £24.99. If you want something a little smaller, then you could try her Simple Baking Kit for £9.99, or what about her Savoury Cooking Set for £14.99.

Now off to clean up!
Stevie x

* We were sent this product free of charge for the purpose of this review. All words and opinions are honest and our own.

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