We were recently invited to a press event for the launch of the new Inflata Nation venue in Birmingham and unfortunately we couldn't attend but really wanted to try it out. It has been open now for a month or so now and we figured it was a good time to go and see what it was all about.

Trampoline parks have been super popular in recent years but what about a park filled entirely with inflatables? The team behind Inflata Nation were one of the original trampoline parks with their Jump Nation brand but with the appearance of numerous trampoline parks in every town, the team were keen to innovate and move the leisure market on to the next generation of leisure activities. 

So what does an Inflata Nation park look like and what can you expect?

• Inflata Wreck - Not for the faint hearted, our multi-person giant inflatable wrecking ball game. 
• Inflata Grab - Stretch that bungee cord to see how many balls you can collect. A real life multi-person human version of Hungry Hippos. 
• Inflata Duo - A giant dual lane drop slide, that you can enjoy with friends.
• Inflata Tots - Only for our under 4’s, a dedicated arena with lots of fun features, including slide & ball pool.
• Inflata Drop - Try this jaw dropping inflatable slide and land in a giant ball pool. 
• Inflata Wall - Take on the wall and you'll be scaling our giant inflatable climbing wall, on your own or with friends.
• Inflata Race - Who will be the first to complete the two lane assault course?
• Inflata Bubbles - A large extra bouncy ‘bubble’ area, when all you want to do is bounce.
• Inflata Bash - Air filled inflatable pillars that you can bash around. 
• Inflata Duel -  A wibbly wobbly gladiator duel platform. Will you win the dual or take a tumble onto the the giant airbag below?

There are different levels of activities, some are just hilarious and some are for the daring. The adults in our party got on with the children and personally I was just pleased when I could stay standing up for longer than 2 minutes. It is great fun but you get hot very very quickly, so definitely do not wear a jumper!! 

All entrants to the park should sign a disclaimer and watch a safety briefing prior to bouncing and in the interests of honesty, I would note that we did not have to do this. We were running late and the session had already started. We are pretty sensible but this should be a standard safety requirement.

Also there were a few areas that were off limits due to "maintenance" which was disappointing for a new park but again, safety should be paramount so we were happy to avoid them. 

Despite all the inflatable areas, the HUGE ball pool remained a firm favourite from diving into the balls, to hiding underneath them. All the different activities and areas kept the children busy for the hour, although the adults escaped to the on site coffee shop and watched while we cooled down a bit. It is worth noting that the children have to come out of the Inflatables and walk round to the coffee shop, if they want to come out to talk to you.

They regularly run classes at Inflata Nation Birmingham including fitness classes, Inflata Tots and disability friendly sessions. Given how difficult it seemed for the adults to stay upright, it certainly is a new and unique way of exercising. 

For a standard "bounce" session it is £9.95 per person (over the age of 4), under 4's are £5.95 as they are limited to a restricted area.

Top Tips

• We would highly recommend booking your timeslot in advance, our session was fully booked and there was only one other free spot on the day we went, so it is definitely a popular location for weekend fun.
• Take £1 for a locker (this is refundable)
• Fill out the disclaimer online and in advance
• The added bonus of this particular park is that is is also located on a retail park so you "could" send Dad in with the kids, while "Mum" indulges in a little retail therapy! Everyone happy! 

It is a great way to spend an hour or so with the children, it is great exercise and definitely gets the heart racing and the laugter flowing.

My husband insists he is going to have the words "What's That Smell" engraved on my headstone. I very often walk into a room and say those infamous words, so when we were given an opportunity to review the new game "What's That Smell?" from WowWee, we jumped at the chance.  

If you have teenagers you have probably already been through the food challenges they love to do and sometimes the worse the better, so we thought that this was an ideal game for a teenagers sleepover, because taking a sniff can make you a winner! 

The game includes:

• 48 mystery whiff cards
• 4 STANK cards & scent-barrier bags
• 6 cardholders
• a sheet of whiff strips
• scorepad
• Instructions for 2-6 players ages 14+

The best games are always the most simple ones and thankfully the format of this game is really simple. Every player has a card, the timer starts and you scratch and sniff using your whiff strip then write down the answer on your score pad. You get awarded extra points for guessing which category the scent is from and for sharing your funniest memory with it. 

Some of the smells are sweet but there are also smells that are downright awful. I am not afraid to admit some definitely hit my gag reflex!  The winner of each round is crowned the Nose-It-All and gets to nominate someone to suffer the Whiff of Shame – 3 big sniffs of one the disgusting Stank Cards! ( I wouldn't recommend eating before doing this!!)

This game can be played with or without the app. We didn't use it but think it could add another dimension to the game and you can use the app to track the number of players and sniffing time, earn extra bonus points by comparing guesses with other people who played the game, and record the priceless Whiff Of Shame. 

We played this with the teenagers but can imagine an evening with friends, fuelled by a few cheeky drinks and this could be a hilarious game for adults too! 

What's That Smell? game is not for the feint hearted but it is horrific and hilarious in equal measures and we hope that WowWee will add extension packs with new ranges of smells in the future.

It would be a perfect gift this Christmas and we are delighted to be able to give our readers the chance to win the What's That Smell? Game which retails for £24.99 with Amazon, Smyths and Argos.

What's That Smell?

• This giveaway is open to all UK residents only, and you must be over 18 years of age to enter.
• ONE winner will be chosen via Gleam and announced on this page.
• The winner will be contacted by e-mail within 7 days of competition ends. If they do not respond within 28 days another winner may be chosen.
• Your details will be passed to Wire PR, but will not be passed onto any third parties by Little Lilypad Co.
• The prize will be sent directly to the winner from Wire PR.
• Any damage to the prize is not Little Lilypad Co's responsibility.
• The company reserves the right to substitute the prize for one of a similar type/value if the prize above is not available.
• Entries using any software or automated process to make bulk entries will be disqualified.
• End date 25/11/2018

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Woohoo, Halloween season is upon us and it is one of my most favourite parts of the year. Everyone is starting to feel festive, evenings are drawing in, cloves and cinnamon fill the air, and the kettle is on for cocoa constantly. Blankets are back out, we’re not baking in 30-degree heat, and we’ve finally getting a good run of evening TV. Ah, autumn, come at us.

Nothing gives off Halloweeny October vibes quite like the pumpkin. Once you see them hit the supermarket shelves, you know it’s time to light some candles and get ready for the cosiest season of the year. But while we all know we can carve a pumpkin – good luck to all the mums crafting Fortnite logos this year – what else can we do with this beloved autumnal fruit, if we’re feeling super seasonal. Let’s see how we can make more use (and most value) of our pumpkins.

1.    Make pumpkin muffins

Of course! We may not be able to master a Pumpkin Spice Latte from fresh at home, but we can make one heck of a stash of freshly prepped pumpkin muffins. We were challenged recently by Aldi to show that you can actually get your children eating healthy food with vegetables that you would never expect them to eat. 

I have to be honest, I have never eaten pumpkin myself (hangs my head in shame) but love the idea and the recipe behind the pumpkin muffin so we decided to give them a go. The girls loved making them and they are genuinely my new favourite treat! 

 

I was amazed at how much flesh is in a pumpkin so there is lots to go round and if you’ve any left over, pumpkin fries are a delish alternative to accompany your burgers.

2.    Decorate the home

Pumpkins come in a whole host of shapes and sizes, and you can even get some stunning variations in colour and shade too. Arrange a date when you can go out and hand select your pumpkins on a farm. Just as you would at Christmas time with various decorations, adorn your home with your selection to really create a homely ambience in your house. Don’t forget to add a bunch of October flowers, too. Deep reds, browns and oranges will look divine.

3.    Use as an Insta-worthy photo prop

Seeing as you’ve gone to all that effort to decorate the home, go fully family-blogger and turn it into the ultimate Insta photo opp. Whatever you do over the coming week, make sure you snap your youngsters in an amongst your glorious display of pumpkins. Whether they’re crafting, cooking up the pumpkin soup, watching tele, or frankly just sitting there to get the perfect pic for your blog, snap it. You know the score. Use the Portrait setting on your iPhone to capture a picture worthy of the family album.

4.    Make art with pumpkin seeds

Is half term. Must craft. It’s the law of the parenting blogs. And once you’ve carved out a pumpkin, you may as well make use of all the sticky seeds you’ll have lying around. There’s really no hard and fast rule on how to make art with pumpkin seeds. Let your child paint them, colour them with felt tips, stick them into patterns on A3 paper, craft them into a scary sculpture. Sometimes free creative play is the best kind of play. Leave the rules at school.

5.    Paint your pumpkin pretty

If the thought of scooping out a pumpkin makes your stomach turn, it doesn’t have to mean you and your youngsters miss out on the Halloween fun. Paint pretty patterns or pretty scary pictures onto your pumpkin using poster paints, acrylics, or even chalk-based markers. If you’re feeling super fancy, you could even design one or two to enhance that Instagram area in your home. Children’s name pumpkin? Family pumpkin? Blog name pumpkin? Blog logo pumpkin? Oh, the options are endless and oh-so brilliant. Enjoy! 

How do you plan to celebrate with pumpkins this Halloween? Let me know or do link me to your pumpkin picture blog posts. Mwahahahahaaaa!

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The weather has definitely made a turn for the worse so we are already thinking about our next family holiday and looking for somewhere different to go.

I am told that Aspen is like a vast playground for families. Whether you arrive there during summers or winters, there is a lot to do there for the lovers of the outdoors. One can ski, hike or for a brewery tour, or a Museum tour. Aspen may be known for skiing, but there are indeed many other attractions to explore.  Just pick one of the aspen cabin rentals for your stay and enjoy panoramic views as well as self-catering accommodation units. Your children would love staying in a cabin made of wood complete with a fireplace and mountain views. Enjoy all the world-class amenities like sauna, flat-screen TV, private bathrooms and more. Aspen is the perfect location for summer or winter getaway for the whole family.

Aspen offers many indoor and outdoor activities to create a memorable family time. Here are some of the top attractions to enjoy in Aspen.

• Hop on the Silver Queen Gondola
  Families just cannot get enough of Silver Queen Gondola in Aspen! Once you reach more than 11,000 feet, you feel on top of the world. Those picturesque views are truly unforgettable as you gaze at the city below and the vast Elk Mountain Range. During summer, you can enjoy the recreational trails, nature tours and special events like concerts, and in winters, one can enjoy a skiing, snowboarding and snowshoe trolley.

• Maroon Bells with unforgettable natural wonders
  It is indeed a unique and special experience to explore the breathtaking Maroon Bells. Rising 14,000 feet above sea level, Maroon Bells are one of the most picturesque forestlands of the state. Apart from the scenic beauty of the wildflower-filled meadows, what draws the families and visitors are the picturesque trails. Maroon Creek Trail and Maroon Lake Scenic Trail are the most popular. Families can bring picnic lunch along and can hike or bike amidst the lovely Maroon Bells.

• Cool down at the Mill Street Fountain
  Children love to cool down in the Mill Street Fountain, especially when the Aspen temperatures soar. It is a fantastic and free attraction that is especially loved by families. Located near the Hyman Street Mall and in the heart of downtown, the Mill Street Fountain has always been a major attraction since 1979. Just splash around with your children amidst those the 12 jets of cool, refreshing mountain water! Balls and water toys are welcome, and if you get hungry, there are plenty of stalls nearby.

• Theatre Aspen with special programs and activities
  The professional Theatre is indeed an amazing location and is actually a lofty, riverside tent that is placed in the center of Rio Grande Park. One can get fantastic mountain views all around. Recent productions of Theatre Aspen include Hitchcock’s all-ages show. The theater also organizes a host of summer youth camps for children. Families must include Theatre Aspen in their itinerary.

• The immensely popular Aspen Ice Skating
  If you are lodging at Hyatt Grand Aspen, entry to the Aspen Ice Skating is free. The outdoor ice skating is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and all year-round. It is a great place to visit in the heat of the summer. Often you would find art exhibits in Aspen Ice Skating venue.

• Carriage and Sleigh day tours in Aspen
  Families love exploring the town in this homegrown attraction offers wagon and pony rides, which are just perfect for the children. Sleigh rides very popular in the winter, and you can enjoy hot cocoa as you take the ride and under cozy blankets. It is a wonderful way to relax and enjoy the peaceful tranquility around. It is a joy to explore the Aspen-filled forests and vast meadows that make for a perfect backdrop for a family adventure.

• Endless fun at Aspen Recreation Center
  Head towards Aspen Recreation Center and you are guaranteed hours of endless fun with your family and kids. No matter the weather outside, you will find children of all age groups rock climbing, swimming, sledding and ice skating at the Aspen Rec Center. On can also take kayak lessons in the indoor pool.

• Enjoy the speed with Aspen Snowmobile Tours
  Another excellent way to explore the mountains and enjoy the exhilaration of speed is to perch on a motorized snow vehicle comfortably. The sped and thrill is the best part of the Aspen Snowmobile Tours! You can pick from a vast variety of tours and venture amidst the most picturesque and most photographed mountains. The ride is perfect for the more extended weekends!

• Stress-free trails at Buttermilk
  If you are looking for a perfect spot to teach your kids to ski, then head straight for Buttermilk that is made of 21 miles of open, stress-free trails. The beginner trails are groomed and well suited for the new learners. One can sign for private skiing and snowboarding lessons under friendly and helpful instructors. There is plenty of room and space for skiers to maneuver on the beginner-friendly slopes aside.

• Aspen Center for Environmental Studies
  If you love nature, then this is your chance to teach your kids about natural surroundings and the local flora and fauna. All you need to do is head for Aspen Center for Environmental Studies. Take them for the winter snowshoe walk and attend wildlife workshops. You may even come face-to-face with the bald eagle, America’s favorite bird. You can sing up your kids for nature hikes and arts and crafts classes. This is the way to go if you want to know the wilder side of the town.

With so much to do, I am not sure it would be a relaxing holiday but it sounds like it could be pretty amazing.

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