LEGO DUPLO - Read and Build

I'm chuffed to be a blogger on the 2012 LEGO DUPLO panel, and as part of that, LEGO DUPLO send their parcels of fun every now and then for the children to enjoy and me to review. It's WIN-WIN, I'm Chuffed I tell you.

On this occasion it was particularly exciting because we were sent a brand spanking new range which doesn't hit the stores until Wednesday (August 1st), so you lovely readers are some of the first people to hear about this. Oh yes it's truuuue.

This new concept, in conjuction with publisher Dorling Kindersley features illustrated story books with brightly coloured bricks. There are three unique sets in the range; 'Grow Caterpillar Grow', 'Busy Farm' and 'Let's Go Vroom', and they are aimed at pre-schoolers between 18 months and four years so perfect for my three bubba's. They absolutely loved the sets and the fact that story books were included along with the LEGO almost tipped them over the edge.

The read and build set combines reading and learning with building the fun characters from the stories in the book. Super educational and quite clever if you ask me. We all had a ball (especially me), reading and then creating the little animals and vehicles featured in the stories. The girls' concentration was heightened as they listened to the stories intently and then followed the building instructions perfectly. Definitely good preparation for school in September.

LEGO DUPLO Read and Build is available from 1st August and retails at £9.99 each.

Look what we've got!

One of the three sets in the range

Had so much fun building these together

Moo, Baa, Oink, Cock-a-doodle-doo

Big sis concentrating

Big sis concentrating some more

Story time

This is a review post. All opinions expressed are my own.

My first LEGO DUPLO farm

So we received another brilliant LEGO DUPLO set to review last week. Oh how I look forward to those lovely boxes of joy.

On this occasion we were sent the 'My first farm' set. I had it all planned out and hid the box away from the children for a few days whilst the excitement of our little boy's first birthday calmed down.

The OH had other plans and let the kids loose on it without my careful guidance, so I was unable to see the look of delights on their faces first hand. 

It was however Father's day and I was laid up with a nasty cold feeling sorry for myself, so it was his way of keeping them entertained and yes of course it worked. In record time a hush enveloped our household. Bliss.

LEGO DUPLO is amazing at keeping young minds occupied. Even my one year old got stuck in despite the 2-5 age recommendation. This set is farm inspired and there are a range of great pieces; from pigs, cows and sheep, to tractors, windows and gates. The children loved discovering and building with them, thus providing hours of fun.

At a price of £19.99 for a box of 62 pieces it's great value for money, plus LEGO and DUPLO is interchangeable so it can be added to existing sets too.

The kids are always in their element when playing with LEGO DUPLO, their imaginations go into overdrive and it really helps to channel their creativity. From a piano, to a magic wand, to a hen house they've been making it all. Three cheers for LEGO DUPLO!

Getting down to business

Little brother doesn't want to miss out 

So much fun

Hen house

Tower house with beautiful flowers

I think I'm going to join in with the next play session and see if we can have a go at building the farm - Exciting! If the kids co-operate, pics to follow...

This is a review post. All opinions expressed are my own.

Lego Duplo creative cakes

My girls were complaining they were bored. Luckily for them I have just been invited by LEGO DUPLO to sit on their 2012 blogger panel. Very exciting! So when the new LEGO DUPLO creative cakes set arrived it was greeted with whoops of delight and great big smiles.

'Yay! Lego for girls.' My youngest exclaimed. 'Exciting!' beamed my eldest.

I opened the box and immediately they got stuck in. A silence descended over the house as they began sorting the pieces into little piles. The colours are gorgeous. The pretty yellows, pinks, greens and browns compliment each other nicely and mimic the lush cakey treats that children (and most adults) love so much.

My daughters immediately began building towers stacking each colourful brick on top of another, finishing off with candles, meringue and cake toppers. I got involved after leaving them to play for a little bit on their own and together we began to make the cute little cake creations as illustrated on the box. Their excitement and amazement at all the bright pieces was infectious.

The following day we revisited the set and the girls got more creative. 'Mummy look at this an aeroplane' my eldest daughter exclaimed. And it certainly looked like one by the way she had arranged the pieces. I was impressed with her creativity and imagination. 'Look Mummy there is fire under the plane' as she pointed at the red blocks she had stacked the 'aeroplane' on.

My youngest built colourful towers. Counting the bricks and naming the colours as she went I've even gained an insight into her exacting ways, as every thing she made was beautifully symmetrical.

This set is providing my girls with hours of fun and it is super durable, as LEGO DUPLO always is. They are loving making and breaking their creations then making them up again. It most definitely brings out their creative side and encouraged their imaginations to run wild. Their concentration as they co-ordinated the different colours and added the pretty, cakey extras was a pleasure to watch.

I've often thought LEGO DUPLO sets to be more aimed towards boys, what with the blues and greens and male orientated figurines, but this cake set, along with all the beautiful colours completely took me by surprise and my girls absolutely loved it. I also found out that LEGO and DUPLO are completely interchangeable and fix together perfectly with eachother.

This set is definitely an all round winner, even my eight year old nephew got involved and enjoyed himself when he came over to play. You can even store the pieces in the box provided (although I do wish it was plastic rather than cardboard, because our box has been sat on a few times and no longer resembles a box lol). My girls and I really enjoyed this set and as a matter of fact we're off right now to build some more wonderful towery, cakey, areoplaney, creations.....

To find out more about this great set and more LEGO DUPLO products just click here

This is a review post. All opinions expressed are my own.

A tasty snack

My little boy is teething and he simply loves crackers at the moment. I think it's because he's able to rub his little gums with them and have a cheeky nibble too if he feels like it.

I've always really liked organix products because of their natural ingredients and yummy goodness, so when the opportunity came to try their new mini cheese crackers I couldn't resist.

The little crackers are so easy to hold my son gobbled up four in about five minutes. Each box contains four packets of mini crackers which was a good thing as my daughters loved them too and worked their way through a whole packet with ease.

I had a sneaky sample and I enjoyed the subtle cheese flavour and the biscuity bite. They are a great savoury snack, made with real organic cheese.

I'm off out with the kids today so will be sure to pop a few packets in my bag for a healthy treat whilst on the go.

For more info visit the organix website just click here.

This is a review post.