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Coco – The Media Mummy’s review
My last preview screening was just me and my daughter, this time around I ventured into London’s West End with a new addition – my eight-month-old baby boy.
My first trip up West with the two of them and luckily it was well worth it AND we all survived fairly unscathed!
Coco is a heartfelt take on the Mexican Day of the Dead which sees a young boy – aspiring musician Miguel – reunited with his family on ‘the other side’.
Family, death, living life to the fullest and the importance of being remembered are all themes explored in the film.
So, it obviously helps if you’ve had the whole death and dying chat with your little ones…
As well as lots of laughs, there were some sad moments for my seven-year-old (and me, can’t lie!) which I guess is to be expected from the subject material, but overall she really enjoyed the film.
I would also say it caters for all ages – as the music had my baby boy bouncing up and down in my lap!
Just to add – there will be obvious comparisons to 2014’s animation The Book of Life but rest assured Coco, whilst also taking place of the Day of the Dead, is definitely a completely different story!
In cinemas January 19.
Fruit Bowl’s #5in5Challenge and Sneaky Vegetable Recipes
I KNOW I’m not the first parent and I certainly won’t be the last to struggle with getting their child to consume their recommended five-a-day fruit and veg intake!
I truly believe that half of parenting is trying to think of ingenious ways to sneak vegetables into meals – the craftier, the better.
This January, children’s snack brand Fruit Bowl has stepped in to help with their #5in5Challenge – and it involves stickers!
Any purchase from their site in January would have included a free #5in5Challenge 5 A Day Chart designed to help parents encourage little one to enjoy their five portions, every day for five days.
My three-year-old always equates stickers with fun, so he was more than happy to rise to the challenge. It also helped that he’s a fan of a range of Fruit Bowl snacks – especially the Strawberry Peelers.
To top it off Fruit Bowl also teamed up with BBC’s Masterchef semi-finalist, Theo Michaels, to create a week’s worth of child-friendly recipes using his new meal planning service, FiveDinners.
The recipes are designed to take the hassle out of mealtimes for parents and provide children with at least two of their five a day, every day.
What to Expect When You’re Expecting – review
When I heard about this film I thought it would be the perfect film to review for my blog – with an all-star cast including Jennifer Lopez, Matthew Morrison, Cameron Diaz, Chris Rock, Chace Crawford, Elizabeth Banks (the list goes on) – it covers everything from conception to childbirth, in all its glory!
I really enjoyed the film, directed by Kirk Jones, the ensemble cast and different strands to the storyline gives it a kind of New Year’s Eve/Valentine’s Day feel to it. A comedy with some laugh out loud moments, the not so happy aspects of pregnancy are also covered, so be warned that it’s not all smiles and without giving anything away, there may be some tears…
But the thing people seem to want to know about is Cheryl Cole’s cameo in the film. But to be honest it’s a moment I’ve tried to block from memory, as I always have an irrational desire to scream or lash out whenever I see her or hear her voice. But for those of you interested, she said about two lines, appeared as herself – so no real acting involved – and was on the acreen for less than five minutes.
Also, the film is definitely not just a chick flick, the cinema had its fair share of guys in the audience when I saw it, who were laughing and cringing in equal measure. As Vic, Chris Rock leads the pack of fathers making regular trips to the park with their broods, providing several of the laughs as they try to convince Alex (Rodrigo Santoro) to join their world of parenthood.
I’m not gonna lie, this isn’t the movie to see if you like hardcore action movies, but for a couple of laughs and several soppy moments, it’s definitely worth a try.
Media Mummy rating? 3.5 stars out of 5
LEGO DUPLO is 50!
WHO doesn’t remember playing with LEGO DUPLO as a child?
Well this year the brand is celebrating half a century after being invented to help creative toddlers play safely.
As mum to a toddler I’m constantly shouting phrases like ‘Take that out of your mouth!’, ‘What’s that in your mouth?’, or ‘Why is that in your mouth?’
So it’s no surprise I’m a fan of the chunky bricks which my little boy can play safely with. Because let’s face it, no matter how much we shout, for some reason plastic bricks must be chewed and dribbled on!
They’re twice the size of usual LEGO pieces but they can still be used together, which is useful as kids get older.
I love watching little ones playing with LEGO DUPLO – you can almost see their brains ticking as they attempt to build their little – or big – creations.
It’s useful to know that LEGO DUPLO products are actually designed with this in mind – to inspire and encourage playful learning.
FUN FACT ALERT! DUPLO comes from the Latin word ‘duplex’ meaning double. (You’re welcome.)
Share your pictures on social media celebrating 50 years with the hashtag #LEGODUPLO50th
Note: My boy is playing with the LEGO DUPLO Police Bike set #gifted