Board Game Review: Exploding Kittens

When I first heard of Exploding Kittens a few years ago, I was instantly quite horrified. My vivid imagination was already making its mind up about what horrors this popular card game could contain. Thankfully my vivid imagination was wrong and its since gone on to be one of the biggest and most popular card games available today.

Exploding Kittens is a highly-strategic, kitty-powered version of Russian Roulette. The rules are pretty simple and they are pretty simple to pick up. We’ve played a few quick-fire games and they’ve been great fun.

The box comes with 56 cards and a set of instructions. There are several different kinds of cards which you can play; Exploding Kitten cards, Defuse, Nope, Attack, Skip, Favor, Shuffle, See The Future and four different kinds of Cat Cards. They’re fairly explanatory, but if you’re not sure the cards have what you can do with them written on them.

Basically, if you explode you lose. If you don’t explode you win. All of the other cards will help to lessen the chance of you exploding. It’s great fun, really strategic and sneaky.

Exploding Kittens is for players aged 7+ and for up to five players, though expansion packs are available. This game is both perfectly pitched at my 7 year old, but still fun enough for grown ups to play. I confess my husband and I have had a few sneaky games by ourselves and enjoyed it just as much.

Exploding Kittens is an ideal game to travel with or to take out to entertain the family when our for a meal or something. It’s compact and requires some strategic thought (for strategic, read devious and sneaky). Each game is pretty quick and takes 10-15 minutes on average.

Board Game Review: Exploding Kittens

The Original Edition of Exploding Kittens costs around £19.99 and I am a total convert, I can see now why several friends have raved about it. It’s available from a wide range of retailers and online too.

We were sent Exploding Kittens for review for the Asmodee UK Blogger Board Game Club. All images and opinions are our own.

Find other board game and toy reviews here.

My Life Changing Heatwave Life Hack!

Dear Reader, It’s impossibly hot out there and whilst we are trying our very best not to complain about the lovely weather, sometimes, just sometimes it’s just too much to deal with. Short of spending my day lurking in the freezer section of my local supermarket; I have turned to an unconventional way to keep myself cool; a Chilli Paws pet mat.

As someone who has worked from home for many years, I know that even with every window in the house open, the temperature can at times be a bit much. I spotted a Chilli Paws mat in B&M and bought it for my dog, thinking she would appreciate it. Typically the dog was not interested in the Chilli Paws mat. Thinking laterally, I realised the cooling properties of the mat, stuck it under my desk and now I rest my feet on it while I work.

I have turned to an unconventional way to keep myself cool - a Chilli Paws pet mat given to me by my friend Bob.

I was so impressed with my new chilled out feet, I bought a spare. I’ve had the most comfortable feet in South Manchester ever since. It is a godsend. Seriously.

I bet they’re also great for hot dogs and cats too, the trick is getting them to sit on it. My dog will just not listen to reason.

I bought my small Chilli Paws mat from B&M and it cost £4.99. I’ve had a look on their website and it’s not on there, but they have a lot of stock which never makes it to the website, so it might be worth popping in to B&M to see if they have any in your local store. If they do buy one for everyone you know.

I have turned to an unconventional way to keep myself cool - a Chilli Paws pet mat given to me by my friend Bob.

If B&M are out of stock they are available on Amazon for quite a few pounds more than the B&M price. The small one (which I’ve got and which is perfectly adequate for my under desk needs) is about £12.

This isn’t a review. I’m just passing on a genius solution to the hell of hot feet. One small thing, they’re probably not designed to have humans standing on them or walking on them; so do be careful not to do this because you might pop it and then you’ll be miserable with hot feet again.

My Life Changing Heatwave Life Hack

What’s On at the Open Air Theatre at Ordsall Hall this Summer

I love a bit of outdoor theatre. Before we became parents we were regular visitors to theatre productions in our local park. When the sun is shining, there’s nothing quite so special as watching some good theatre in the great outdoors; with a chilled glass of fizz and a nice picnic there’s nothing better. So far, this summer has been a corker and Ordsall Hall in Salford have a full programme of open air theatre productions to enjoy.

Last summers’ outdoor theatre events at Ordsall Hall, Salford’s stunning tudor manor house was a sell out. This summer there are seven more open-air theatre shows booked to perform at Ordsall Hall, including performances for families and theatre fans of all ages.

What’s On at the Open Air Theatre at Ordsall Hall this Summer

Pride and Prejudice – 18 July 2018
Performed by outdoor theatre specialists, Heartbreak Productions, join Heartbreak and a host of charming young bachelors (yes, Mr Darcy will be there!) for an evening of comedy, romance and more than one come-uppance plus pop-up gin bar.

Twelfth Night – Thursday 26 July 2018
The world’s first cycling theatre company, The Handlebards return to Ordsall Hall to perform Twelfth Night. The all-male company pedal from venue to venue with all the set, props and costume necessary to perform environmentally sustainable Shakespeare across the globe. In usual HandleBards style, expect riotous amounts of energy, a fair old whack of chaos, and a great deal of laughter.

What's On at the Open Air Theatre at Ordsall Hall this Summer

Romeo and Juliet – Wednesday 1 August 2018
On 1st August, HandleBards return with their all-female troupe in the beautiful gardens of Ordsall Hall for Romeo and Juliet as you’ve never seen it before! In usual HandleBards style, you can expect riotous amounts of energy, a fair old whack of chaos, and a great deal of laughter.

The Princess and The Giant – Thursday 9 August 2018
For families with children, Folksy Theatre returns to the gardens of Ordsall Hall to perform the children’s favourite The Princess and the Giant at two performances at 10.30am and 2.30pm. This family friendly performance will be filled with music, puppetry and wonderful characters. Bring a picnic and enjoy some wonderful family theatre in the sunshine.

The Railway Children – Thursday 16 August 2018
All aboard! Full steam ahead! Find your travel companions and take your seats for Heartbreak Productions’ outdoor adaptation of The Railway Children, the classic children’s tale by Edith Nesbit.

Living by the railway line, the children spend quite a bit of time watching the trains and making some unexpected friendships. Can Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis solve the mystery of what happened to their father?

Pirate Pearl and the Big Blue Monster! – Thursday 23 August 2018
For families with younger children; the Little Blue Monster Company will present their brand new family friendly production; Pirate Pearl and the Big Blue Monster! Pirate Pearl lives aboard the good ship Mirabel with her crusty old shipmate – Grandpa Bert! She’s not a real pirate – but Pearl loves to imagine she’s sailing the seven seas on a swashbuckling pirate adventure. Under 2s go free!

Love’s Labour’s Lost – Sunday 26 August 2018
Folksy Theatre returns to the gardens of Ordsall Hall to perform one of Shakespeare’s best loved comedies – Love’s Labour’s Lost. The King of Navarre and his lords swear off food, women and sleep in order to study for three years. No sooner have they made their oath when the Princess of France arrives on business, with her ladies-in-waiting. How will the King and his Lord’s resolve hold up? Whatever happens, expect live music, audience interaction and downright silliness.

For more information about what’s on at Ordsall Hall this summer, or to book tickets, visit their website.

Review: Brooke Royal Edition Hotter Shoes

Back in May I attended the Blog On Conference in Manchester. I met up with friends, attended some blogging sessions, ate cake and met Prince Charming and tried some shoes on at the Hotter Shoes stand. I then had the good fortune to have my name pulled out of a hat and I was the lucky winner of a pair of Brooke Royal Edition deck shoes.

The Brooke Royal Edition shoes from Hotter are limited edition and were designed to celebrate this year’s Royal Wedding. They are a bright and snazzy pair of deck shoes, boldly emblazoned with a colourful print dedicated to the star-spangled banner.

Review: Brooke Royal Edition Hotter Shoes

Made from premium soft grain nubuck and velvet nubuck uppers are boldly printed with the star-spangled banner. Inside, the padded collar and tongue along with a breathable cushioned insole are designed for maximum comfort. Once shoe has a Union Jack inner, the other has the Star Spangled Banner, it’s a nice hidden touch. They have a lovely grippy sole so you won’t slip and slide on any deck.

At the Blog On Conference, the Hotter Shoes team were on hand to measure our feet. I’ve not had my feet properly measured since I was about 14, so this was a bit of a revelation. All my adult life I’ve been wearing a size 7. When they measured me it turns out that I’m actually a 6 and a half. But as I like to wear thick sports socks I figured I’d continue with a & with anything which needs socks, but for sandals I would change down to a 6 and a half.

It’s probably worth popping into your local Hotter Shoes store to get your feet measured; especially if you’ve not had it done for 25 years like me!

Review: Brooke Royal Edition Hotter Shoes

These Brooke Royal Edition deck shoes really make a statement. They’re bright and they’re bold, but they’re also a lot of fun! They are also really comfortable and a great style of shoe to wear in the summer. I’ll be packing these in my suitcase for my holidays, that’s for sure!

Disclosure: I was sent a pair of Brooke Royal Edition Deck Shoes by Hotter Shoes in exchange for this review.

Easy Recipe: Parma Violet Shortbread Biscuits

I absolutely adore Parma Violets. They are probably my favourite sweet. I’ve had a big bag of them in my cupboard for a while waiting for me to bake with. I didn’t know what I wanted to make with them, but the other day I was craving a biscuit. One thing led to another and the next thing I know, I’m eating a Parma Violet Shortbread in the garden with a cup of tea.

These Parma Violet Shortbread Biscuits are as light as a feather. I smashed up the Parma Violets and added them into my shortbread mix, so there are tiny crunchy bits of Parma Violets throughout the biscuits. They’re really good, a little bit unusual but quite subtle. If there’s not enough Parma Violet in them, you can always add more to the mixture.

Easy Recipe: Parma Violet Shortbread Biscuits

Parma Violet Shortbread Biscuits

Ingredients:
225g butter
80g caster sugar
50g Parma Violets, bashed up
330g plain flour
Caster sugar for sprinkling

Method:
Pre-heat your oven to 180. You’ll need to have a couple of baking trays covered with greaseproof paper ready.

Put your Parma Violets into a plastic bag and bash with a rolling pin until it’s a mixture of fine powder and small fragments of violet flavoured rubble.

In a mixing bowl, thoroughly beat the butter and sugar together. Once fluffy, add the Parma Violets and little by little add the plain flour. Mix with a wooden spoon as best you can. Try not to overwork it too much or the dough will go gluey.

I find the following method tidier and it stops you manhandling the dough too much. Once the shortbread dough is mixed, tip it out onto a large sheet of greaseproof paper; bring the dough together with your hands and then fold the paper in half with the mixture sandwiched in between.

With a rolling-pin, roll it out so it’s about 5mm thick and cut into rounds. I used a glass for this and carefully lifted each shortbread biscuit onto the baking tray. You should get around 18 good-sized shortbread biscuits out of the dough. Sprinkle a pinch of sugar over each round before baking.

Bake in the pre-heated oven for 12-15 minutes. Keep an eye on the shortbread, they still need to be pale and not brown. Once they’re baked, remove from the oven and leave to cool on a rack.

Easy Recipe: Parma Violet Shortbread Biscuits

They’re as easy as that. Delicious with a cup of tea and as light as a feather too. A real treat for Parma Violet fans!

If you enjoyed this recipe you might also like these Crumbly Cranachan Shortbread with Whisky or these Cinnamon & Raisin Shortbread biscuits.

Easy Recipe: Parma Violet Shortbread Biscuits

Crafts: Make Your Own Hessian Monogram Letter

A few weeks ago I went to my friend Lucy’s house for one of our informal craft nights. We all bring cake and wine and the host sorts out a craft for us all to do; so I can’t claim this idea as mine but the creation is mine. Lucy bought some cardboard letters, some hessian strips and some embellishments and we set to work, each making our own hessian monogram letter.

During the evening we all worked on our own letters. We all had the same materials to work with, but we all produced quite different things.

Hessian is a strong, coarse fabric made from hemp or jute and is used for sacks and upholstery. It’s also commonly known as jute or burlap. It’s also really cheap.

Crafts: Make Your Own Hessian Monogram Letter

Make Your Own Hessian Monogram Letter

You will need:
A cardboard mache letter
Natural jute fabric roll, you will need 2 rolls per letter
A hot glue gun and glue sticks
Embellishments – buttons, sequins, beads, whatever you fancy
Scissors

How to make your hessian monogram letter:
To begin with, it’s best to work on top of a craft mat or a large-ish piece of cardboard. This can get messy and I sometimes find the glue from the glue gun gets everywhere.

You need to wrap your jute fabric strips around your letter, so think about how best to do this and where you think it would be best to start. It’s better to slightly overlap the layers if you can. I was covering the letter “A” so I decided to start with the hardest bit, which for me was working my way around the hole in the middle.

Using the glue gun, glue as you go, carefully pressing the jute into place taking care not to burn your fingers. This will take some time to finish, but it’s nice to zone out and concentrate on the task in hand. I decided once I’d finished to add an extra strip of fabric down one side of the A just to break up the look a little bit.

Crafts: Make Your Own Hessian Monogram Letter

Once you’ve covered your letter, set out the embellishments you want to use. Play about with what you’re going to use and where you are going to stick them. Once you’re happy with what it looks like, start gluing the embellishments to the letter.

I knew my letter would be propped up on the mantelpiece. If you wanted to hang it on a wall you could attach a loop or hook to the back and use that to hang it up.

This Hessian Monogram Letter craft is really quite easy to do. Wrapping the hessian around the letter is the time-consuming bit, but I’m pleased with how it turned out and it looks good on my mantelpiece.

If you enjoyed this, you might also like to make an Autumnal Alphabet Wreath.

Crafts: Make Your Own Hessian Monogram Letter

Book Review: Space Number Crunch!

A little while ago we reviewed Dinosaur Number Crunch! by Kevin Pettman and we were very taken with how the facts were presented in a bite-size style, you could really dip in and out of it and it’s a firm favourite. We knew there were more books planned in the Number Crunch series, so we were pleased to get our hands on Space Number Crunch! which is published on 12th July 2018.

Space Number Crunch! contains 96 pages of facts, figures and out of this world stats to please any space fan. From the biggest planet, fastest asteroid to astronaut facts, every page of the book is packed full of space data.

Book Review & Giveaway: Space Number Crunch!

It’s aimed at children aged 8+, but it’s just right for my space loving seven and a half year old. Space Number Crunch! is full of colourful illustrations and graphics. These’s even a quiz at the end to check your learning.

Space Number Crunch! covers a whole range of space related topics, from the planets and stars, the astronaut training, comets, galaxies and space agencies. It’s a really handy reference book; we’ve been reading in a few pages at a time before bed, and in the car on long journeys too.

It’s very much the kind of book you can dip in and out of and absolutely perfect for fact fans like my son. It’s very well put together. I like the themed pages and it means you can find the facts you want quickly. It’s probably the most informative and interesting book about space we’ve read.

Book Review & Giveaway: Space Number Crunch!

If you’re interested in everything to do with space, this Space Number Crunch! book is essential reading. This flexicover book is available to buy from 12th July 2018. This would make a truly out of this world gift for space enthusiasts!

Space Number Crunch! is published by Carlton Kids and costs £9.99. It’s available in all good bookshops and online now.

If you enjoyed this, you might also like my pick of five books about science.

Disclosure: We were sent a copy of Space Number Crunch! for review purposes. All images and opinions are our own.

Days Out: Lymm Historic Transport Day

Over the weekend we went to the Lymm Historic Transport Day. The Lymm Historic Transport Day has been an annual fixture in the Cheshire town for a number of years and attracts thousands of people.