Category: Reviews

1. Walkers Mighty Lights : Review

   Posted on 10:15am Wednesday 21st Aug 2013

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   The Lilypad may not be the first place you would look for a review of the new Walkers Mighty Lights as we are not a particularly "foodie" blog, however we are very much a family blog and my family love crisps! When the man on the pad opened the package containing crisps today, the look on his face made me think, at that moment, he actually loved me a little bit more!

   Personally I have an odd relationship with crisps, especially when my treat of choice is cake, but there is something about Walkers Cheese and Onion crisps that make me want to devour the whole packet in seconds. More specifically, when I had morning sickness during both my pregnancies, Walkers Salt and Vinegar crisps were the only thing to stop me feeling sick. This is a true fact. (it is not a medically proven fact but it certainly worked for me!)

   

   So what is different about Mighty Lights? Well the sales blurb tells me that "With 30% less fat than standard crisps, Mighty Lights are perfect for kids' lunchboxes. They are tasty, ridged crisps that come in three flavours - roast chicken, cheese and onion and lightly salted. All the flavours are suitable for vegetarians, and are available in shops nationwide. They're made from real potatoes with no artificial colours of preservatives-  and they're a source of fibre". 

   So what did we think?

   Firstly I had to try and get some sense over the sound of the crunching and munching that was happening to ask what everyone thought but there was definately a general thumbs up. The man on the pad said that they had a drier, more baked texture (listen to him and his gourmet description) whereas the littlest member of the family just said "more mommy". 

   

    

   As I said before, Walkers Cheese and Onion, are generally the only crisps I eat so the real test for me was whether or not being 30% less fat, meant 30% less taste. Thankfully not, in fact I would even go as far as saying that there is somehow a stronger flavour .... if that is possible. Now we know my love of all things quirky and I had to giggle when I saw a rather happy looking "crisp man" on the back of the packet saying "I am a crisp who knows how to have fun. Even though I'm light, I can part hard, mixing it up, cheese and onion style" But let's be honest, any Company that can get Gary Lineker to fool around on their adverts, has to have a good sense of humour!

   For us, the good bits are ....

   • 30% less fat
   • Soure of fibre
   • No artifical colours or preservatives
   • Suitable for vegetarians

   And the bad bits .....

   • They are very moreish :-)

   So the Walkers Mighty Lights get a mighty thumbs up from the Lilypad.

    

   Disclaimer: We received crisps to review and compensation for this feature. The thoughts, descriptions and photos are all our own.

2. Back to School Shop #cbias

   Posted on 8:55pm Sunday 18th Aug 2013

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   I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client.

   I think it is fairly common knowledge that I do most of my shopping online for convenience and for finding the very best deals but when Collective Bias set me the challenge of shopping at my local supermarket for back to school products, I thought I would pick up a physical basket (not the virtual one) and go shopping! I made the decision to go to Asda alone, mainly because I knew that if I took along my two adorable little shopping companions, the shopping bill may exceed my budget. They are both little consumers and with lots to tempt children, at their height, I decided to go it alone!

   

   I know  that I can shop online at any time of day or night but it still amazes me that you can shop in store 24 hours a day. I went mid afternoon, rather than the middle of the night and the store was busy but not crazy, so I could meander round at my leisure. The back to school shop was straight in front of me as I walked into the store but as I was taking a picture the store security guard apprehended me and told me that I couldn't take pictures in store. Whilst I was a little shaken at first, I have to salute both Asda and the security guard for protecting both their store and their customers. I could have been anyone, potentially taking pictures of vulnerable people or children, so once we had chatted about the review I was doing, I was okay to proceed. (she says, wiping her brow)

   

   Asda have an AMAZING range of Back to School clothes, stationary, lunch boxes, shoes .... you name it, they have it. I almost feel sorry for the children (you notice I said "almost"), in that as soon as they break up for the summer holidays, the "back to school" stuff is in the stores for September, reminding them that it is only a few weeks till they are returning to class.

   

   My youngest daughter will be starting nursery this September, only for a couple of mornings and that is heart wrenching enough for me but I know what it is like for a mother with a child starting school for the very first time and whilst you need to deal with the practicalities of getting all the right things, you have to deal with the emotional side too. Thankfully Asda are making the practical side the easy part.

   

   Having already sorted the uniform out at the early part of the school holidays, stationary and bags were top of my "Back to School" shopping list and as we are big Hello Kitty fans in our house (who isn't), I was delighted to find a good range of stationary products in the Hello Kitty brand. I knew my eldest daughter would be thrilled with them, unfortunately her little sister got hold of them before she did and she stands testament to them being good quality (there are not many note books that can stand the force of her scribbling)

   

   Fashions come and go with children and getting value for money is important to parents but getting the "right" bag / design / logo is important to the children too. My eldest daughter does enjoy school but no one likes the summer holidays to end do they? I am just thankful that we have the "right" things to go back to school with this September.

    

3. Computer time AND toddler time : Tee & Mo

   Posted on 12:29pm Monday 12th Aug 2013

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   Any parent with a toddler knows the challenge of even opening a laptop anywhere near them. In our house, my toddler runs over saying "mommy, work, me help!!". (for the avoidance of doubt, she is not always particularly helpful). So work has to be put to one side and  the laptop closed but the clever folk at Cbeebies have created a game that can be played by mom and toddler!

   Each game is designed as a two-player interactive experience, encouraging pre-schooler and parent to enjoy together. They revolve around the daily adventures of an adorable and unstoppable baby monkey, Tee, and his mum, Mo. The aim is to explore everyday situations through the point of view of both child and parent, showing that whilst they may want to different things, they can learn together by negotiating the challenges of daily life jointly. Negotiation with a toddler is never the easier of tasks so we love the idea of developing these skills together.

   The game has been created by BAFTA-winning interactive production company, Plug-in Media, Tee and Mo, comprises 10 narrative-led desktop and mobile free games narrated by radio DJ and television presenter Lauren Laverne. We often call my youngest daughter "little monkey", so its not only fun but very apt too!

   As with all Cbeebies programmes, Tee and Mo is not just about looking good but feeling good too.  There are so many app's available now that have children running up credits on parents phones and accounts, so it will leave mom feeling good too as its FREE!

   

   
   

   Tee & Mo by littlelilypadco on Polyvore

   We have only just started playing the game but I am sure it will become a firm favourite in our house!

   The Tee and Mo desktop and mobile games can be played free online at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/tee-and-mo

    

   Disclaimer : We were not compensated for this post in anyway, we just wanted to share a great new free game with our readers.

4. Amoralia Maternity Nightwear : Review

   Posted on 12:12pm Wednesday 7th Aug 2013

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   Maternity nightwear review from our gorgeous pregnant blogger ......

   At 36 weeks pregnant and my maternity leave approaching, I started to think beyond my growing bump and cute nursery decorations and onto the more practical elements of the arrival, such as packing my hospital bag and how I was going to feed my baby.

   With that in mind I was delighted when I was asked to review a maternity cami and brief set by Amoralia, designed for both maternity and nursing mums.

   The package arrived tied with pretty ribbon and I could immediately tell how my night attire was going to be a little more glamorous going forwards compared with the baggy t-shirts that I had been ‘borrowing’ from my husband as the only thing that fitted over the bump!

   The cute briefs are cut to sit under bump and the top flatters by skimming over and completely covering so no chance of flashing any midriff. Like many new mothers I am hoping to breast feed my baby and conveniently there is a hidden support that lifts for easy nursing, although personally I think it may be easier to drop the strap and access that way.

   

   
   

   Amoralia Maternity Nightwear : Review by littlelilypadco featuring amoralia

   The fit was perfect for my size (I ordered a medium and normally wear a size 10, although with the pregnancy/chocolate weight piled on I’m probably more of a 12 right now!) and the material is seriously soft on the skin. Whilst the style is feminine and flirty with a lace trim, it isn’t too ‘sexy’ that it would put you off wearing it unless you wanted your other half to assume you had something on your mind!

   I will definitely be checking out the rest of the Amoralia collection for their nursing tops and bra’s as although they may be a little more expensive than some of the high street brands, you can tell that the quality and design have been thought through. One thing is definitely certain; I won’t be putting this cami set into my hospital bag as it’s far too gorgeous and comfortable to risk it getting ruined through labour!

   Thanks Amoralia for making me feel a little bit more ‘me’ through the last part of my pregnancy.

   If you would like to be in with a chance to win a gorgeous Amoralia camisole worth £39.00, you can enter below:

   a Rafflecopter giveaway