Christmas Fun with Casio

December 21, 2021December 22, 2021 JayneLeave a comment

As you’ll know, if you saw any of my posts on here or on social media, we’ve recently partnered with Casio to review their LK-S250 Home Learning Kit, which comes with an electric keyboard and everything else that BB needs to start learning to play. The kit also gives you access to online lessons which are designed to get even the most basic of beginners playing their instrument, which is a fantastic resource to have access to.

Casio LK-S250 Home Learning Kit

LK-250 Home Learning Kit

Touch sensitive, lighted keys
Power adapter
Adjustable height keyboard stand
Headphones for silent practice
FREE online lessons worth £49.99

While I’m not exactly fluent on any instrument myself, I do know quite a few of the basics, having grown up in quite a musical family, so I’ve been assisting BB with her learning as much as I can. She’s an incredibly capable little girl, but she lacks a bit of confidence in her own abilities at times, so sometimes she just wants someone with her while she navigates the lessons, which is totally understandable.

Unfiortunately, about three weeks ago I slammed my finger in the car door (as in, the door FULLY closed and I had to open it again to release my poor mangled finger 😱) and broke it. It was my left hand (I’m right handed) which was slightly better but as it was my index finger, it’s really limited how much I’ve been able to do. Fortunately, the splint is mostly off now and I can get back to helping BB with her lessons a bit more, but it was a painful couple of weeks.

My poor broken finger (ignore the tatty nail polish, please!)

Now that the girls are homeschooled, we try to keep as much creative stuff flowing as we can so that their lessons aren’t all strictly academic, so music and art lessons have become a regular thing. Sausage has her own keyboard already, so between the Gigajam lessons and some YouTube tutorials, the girls have been jamming together.

Last week, we decided that all of their homeschool lessons would be fun stuff, just like they’d be doing if they were in a mainstream school, and one of the things we decided to do was get them to learn some Christmas songs so that they could perform a mini concert for us, to get us all in the festive spirit. They learned to play Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, The Christmas Song and Jingle Bells, all in the space of two days and they’ve been practising them regularly, ever since.

Learning with the LK-S250 Home Learning Kit

We’re planning to have the carol concert on Christmas Eve and I’ve also got a surprise lined up for them – I’ve bought a chocolate fountain and we’re going to have a little buffet of things to dip in the melted chocolate to enjoy together after the concert. I’m really excited as I love nothing more than surprising them. When we collected Maureen from my breeder friend, we told them we were collecting a parcel and they had no idea we were getting a puppy until they were standing in a living room full of 10 week old dogs!

Anyway, I digress…

I’ll be recording the concert, for posterity, and also for the ‘gram so make sure to keep an eye on our social media if you want to see the girls performing their songs. In the meantime, I hope you all have a very merry, stress-free, COVID-free festive period and thanks again to Casio for working with us on this collaboration.

There’s still time to get your hands on a Casio LK-S250 Home Learning Kit, if you order within the next 24 hours! It’s got everything you need to start learning the keyboard and it’s only £249, which is truly an absolute bargain.

Christmas · Gift Ideas

Our Top Five Personalised Photo Gifts

December 8, 2021 JayneLeave a comment

Our Top 5 Photo Gifts — Photo by Yiqun Tang on Unsplash

If you’ve read Mum’s the Word before, you’ll know that one thing my family and I are really keen on is personalised gifts. In the past we’ve reviewed everything from jewellery to chocolate with personalisation in place but something we also love is personalised gifts where we are able to use our own photos to create something. With this in mind I thought I’d take you through our top five favourite ways to use your own personal photos to make a sentimental gift that your family will love.

Photobooks

These days, it seems as though people take more photos than ever, but rarely print them off or put them into photo albums. That’s why we love photobooks. They take the hassle out of sticking your photos into flimsy plastic pockets because it’s all printed straight into the books for you, and you can also choose your own colours and designs to accompany each page. We also love the fact that they can be made into chronological order so you’re literally watching time go by.

T-Shirts

This one probably depends on taste, but something we enjoy giving and receiving is t-shirts made with our favourite photos. After our beloved Chuck passed away, one of Husband’s favourite gifts was a t-shirt that the girls made him for Father’s Day. It’s a lovely reminder of our boy and gives Husband the chance to proudly show off one of his favourite photos. Plus, we get to take our biy with us wherever we go, which is always a bonus.

Cushions

Last year, on my birthday, the girls had a photo cushion made for me with a picture of Burrito Baby’s face on it, and as well as giving me a good laugh when I opened up the wrapping, it’s something that brings me joy every day! I even snuggled up with it on the sofa a few weeks back when I was feeling poorly and it helped me to feel much better. What’s not to love about that?

Calendars

My in-laws live in the US, which means that we don’t get to see them as often as we’d like, and keeping them up to date with photos of the girls is really important. This year, we’re planning to take a photo of Sausage and BB every month and then make a photo calendar with an image of them on each page. It will make a lovely gift and you’ll be able to see how they change from month to month.

Personalised Cards

My Grandad lives in a care home, which means that the last two years have made it really tricky to see him. We try to make personalised cards for him for every occasion and it brightens his day so much to get pictures of Sausage and BB. In fact, because the cards are so lovely, my Mum usually buys a frame for each one when the occasion has passed and leaves them on his bedside table so that he can see their smiling faces every day!

Christmas · Days Out · Family

The Most Interesting Plans for Christmas in London

October 28, 2021 JayneLeave a comment

Ready to spend the best holiday of your life this Christmas in London? Then take a look at the places, plans and venues suggested below! You’ll have a blast regardless who you travel with, be it friends, partner or family.

Winterville at Victoria Park

Winterville at Victoria Park is another London Christmas fair offering fun and activities for the whole family, such as an ice rink, children’s fairground rides, horse or carriage rides, a Ferris wheel, a Christmas market and shows, as well as food stalls.

Kew Gardens Light Show

The Royal Botanic Gardens of London Kew Gardens celebrates Christmas every year with a light show that you cannot miss if you travel to London with children at Christmas. It is a magical tour through the botanical garden illuminated with many spectacular Christmas lights from late November to early January. It is an event that always sells out quickly, so you have to buy tickets in advance on their website.

See Christmas lights in London

To see the most spectacular Christmas lights in London you will have to go to Oxford Street, Regent Street and Covent Garden Square. The Winterfest festival in Wembley Park is another highly recommended destination in London to see Christmas lights with children. Artists from around the world have created pieces of art that combine Christmas lights with sounds and a multi-sensory experience. You will find the tallest LED Christmas tree in London and impressive walkways with interactive sounds.

Another fun way to see the Christmas lights in London is by riding the roofless bus that runs through the most iconic streets and places of London decorated with lights: Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, The London Eye, Big Ben and Regent Street, among others. The bus departs from Golden Tours Visitor Center at Fountain Square and Buckingham Palace Road.

Christmas at London Zoo

ZSL London Zoo also transforms at Christmas to offer Christmas at London Zoo, a magical experience for its visitors. When it gets dark, the park is illuminated with a million Christmas lights that create a magical and very festive atmosphere. The little ones will love it walk inside the illuminated tunnels. There is also Santa Claus and there are activities for children, such as Christmas movies and children’s crafts.

Christmas Crazy Golf at Plonk Golf

An alternative to indoor fun plans to try with your family and children is the crazy golf games at Plonk Golf! Crazy Golf in Camden is a great for family bonding during Christmas thanks to the venues fun and enjoyable crazy golf courses that are there to both entertain and challenge.

Ice skating in London

There are several ice rinks in London decorated with Christmas lights to skate with children in the open air, which are worth a visit at Christmas to experience a magical and very Christmas atmosphere with the family. The Eyeskate ice skating rink on The London Eye is one of the most impressive, since while you skate you have the London London Eye’s giant Ferris wheel as a backdrop.

Other ice rinks to skate in London with children at Christmas are Somerset House Ice Rink, The Tower of London Ice Rink, Canary Wharf Ice Rink, Broadgate Ice Rink, Natural History Museum Ice Rink, Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink and the famous ice rink ice in Winter Wonderland.

Christmas · Football · Gift Ideas · Liverpool

Still Nil Nil – A Football Lover’s Perfect Gift

December 16, 2020 JayneLeave a comment

As you’ll know if you’re a long-time reader of Mum’s the Word, we’re fans of Liverpool Football Club. Husband has been a fan his whole life, and when we met I adopted LFC as my team, too. That means that there are many historical games from LFC’s football past that we revisit from time to time, and we’ve been to Anfield as a family for a special day of Liverpool FC hospitality (we also saw Luis Suarez score his first ever Home hat-trick while we were there, which made it extra special).

Perhaps one of the most relevant games to current Liverpool fans is the night of the 2005 Champions League Final, where Liverpool came back from 3-0 against AC Milan to win on penalties and become European Champions. It was an amazing night, and although it happened before I became a Liverpool fan, it was a night that Husband has rewatched with me MANY times, and one in his life that he’ll never forget. That’s why, when I received an email about Still Nil Nil, I knew it would make an incredible gift for Husband. You see, Still Nil Nil have taken these special nights in sporting history and created beautifully illustrated books, containing original poetry, describing the events in detail. There are currently three titles available, costing £12 each; The Treble, based on Manchester United’s historic 1998/99 season, Invincible, revisiting Arsenal’s unbeaten 2003/04 season; and The Miracle of Istanbul, retelling Liverpool’s epic Champions League final comeback in 2004/05.

Josh Clarke, founder and director of Still Nil Nil, said: “It’s incredibly exciting to finally unveil a true passion project, Still Nil Nil. Millions of parents and children bond over their football club – and our books represent the perfect way for parents to pass on their passion, and memories, to their children with an incredible shared experience.

“With Christmas fast approaching, the response to our initial three books has already been overwhelmingly positive. We are delighted to be delivering gifts that football-mad children (and, probably more so, parents) are going to love.”

I can’t wait to give Husband his copy and I think it will be something he’ll cherish. The books are aimed at kids, but I truly think they’re perfect for football fans of any age, and for Liverpool fans young and old, the night in Istanbul will be something they want to remember forever.

There’s still plenty of time to order your copy of a Still Nil Nil book from the website, so head over there and grab one now.

Christmas · Gift Ideas

Tween and Teen Christmas Gift Ideas

December 15, 2020November 21, 2022 JayneLeave a comment

Buying for a tween at Christmas can be notoriously tricky. Filling a stocking with sweets and LOL dolls is no longer an option and all of a sudden their interests can seem like a bit of a mystery! Thankfully, Sausage is actually SUPER easy to buy for, so with that in mind, I thought I’d share with you some tween and teen Christmas gift ideas. Everything on the list is available online and should be here before Christmas so there’s still plenty of time to grab them yourself.

Driving Lessons

Okay, so Sausage is only 12, but if our experience with Young Driver last year taught us anything, it’s that it’s never too early to learn to drive! Designed for 10-17 year olds to get a feel of what it’s like to be behind the wheel, Young Driver has over 70 venues around the UK and they’ll learn to drive, brake, change gear, steer, reverse and park. All the key things you’ll need out on the road! Sausage tried this out in Summer 2019 and she had an absolute blast, so it’s something we’d love to do again with her and their vouchers make a great stocking present.

Something Snuggly

If there’s two things my tween loves, it’s snuggling under a blanket and watching Anime. That’s why I think The Comfy would be another gift that’s perfect for her! She’s a little bugger for walking around the house in shorts and a vest and complaining she’s cold, so a blanket that she can literally wear like a hoody would not only be a godsend for her, but it would also help me keep our heating bills down!

A Unique Gift Box

Gift boxes and subscriptions are HUGE right now, and just recently we discovered Wild Hearts Gang gift boxes, which encourage period positivity for tweens and teens. The boxes are £29.99 and contain everything a girl needs to tackle her first period, from positivity cards and info leaflets to chocolate and bath bombs – as well as a microwave heat pack and a selection of day and night teen pads. It’s such a great way to help your girls to feel confident about what’s to come and help you to have a conversation which you may have found tricky before.

A Collectible

Like many other people, our family are BIG fans of Funko POP! Vinyls and we have a pretty respectable collection between the four of us! For Sausage’s last birthday, her obsession was all things RuPaul’s Drag Race related, wheras now, anime is her main love. That makes life really easy as Funko make a huge range of characters from Japanese animation. Whatever your tween is into, you can guarantee there’s a Funko POP! for every occasion!

Art Supplies

Sausage is a big fan of anything arts and crafts related, and this year she’s learned all sorts of new skills like cross stitch and embroidery, both of which she taught herself. She’s got huge amounts of supplies, but we love to get her things to help her to be creative, so something unique like POSCA pens are a great option. They can be used to write and draw on enamel, ceramics and virtually any other surface, and they don’t bleed through paper. I can only imagine some of the amazing things she’ll make with these!

I hope you found our teen and tween Christmas gift ideas useful and that you all have a very Merry Christmas!