Disney have done it again – The Media Mummy’s Moana review

IF YOU have a child who loves to watch other kids on YouTube playing with toys, then you will understand how giddy with excitement my daughter was to attend the Cry Babies Magic Tears launch with her favourite YouTuber Tiana from Toys and Me (if you know, you know!).

She could hardly contain herself as we rocked up to the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green to preview the new range of blind box toys.

You can currently get up to 12 different animal-themed dolls, each with six little accessories, in the pastel coloured house shaped containers. Of course the key aspect being you never know which one you’re going to get. The key is to look out for the miniature dolls with the gold accessory.

While getting the chance to do her very own ‘unboxing’ of the new toys, my daughter joined other excited little ones to watch Tiana do a live unboxing of the range joined by Channel 5 Milkshake presenter Jen Pringle.

Each doll does what it says on the box – cries tears when you squeeze it’s belly after feeding it with water from a bottle – and keeps their attention with the six accessories it comes with.

Retailing at around £10 each, it’s going to be pretty expensive for the parents whose child decides they want to collect all 12 but the price also makes it an affordable gift for birthdays etc.

The toys are also accompanied by an animated series of the characters on YouTube.
Www.magictears.toys

With the start of the summer holidays, I don’t envy the working mum who has to somehow juggle full-time work with young children looking to be kept animated for seven days each week – luckily, with my little one still at the age of three I can find some comfort in the regular opening hours of the nursery!

And so, the launch of Tickety Toc’s very first toy range could not have come at a better time – and to top it off, taking place in the toy heaven that is Hamleys on Regent Street.

Tommy and Tallulah, stars of the show which screens on both Nick Jr and Channel 5’s Milkshake, were there in all their (bigger than) life-sized glory to greet the VIP testers, who included Denise Van Outen joined by husband Lee Mead and their daughter Betsy.

Other VIPs enjoying a day out with the family included Tamzin Outhwaite, John Sergeant, Laila Rouass, Lauren Crace, Charlie Condou, Shaun Dooley and Luisa Zissman.

The children were all smiles as they joined in with the activities and dancing led by Channel 5’s Milkshake! presenters Kemi and Olivia.

While the obvious point of conversation was the fact that Van Outen and Mead were pictured out together for the first time in months, helping to put to bed rumours of marriage problems – I took the opportunity to chat to TV presenter Kate Garraway and see if she had any tips about the joys of juggling.

Mum to Darcey, seven, and William, three, 45 year old Garraway gave a wry smile when I asked for her words of wisdom.

‘Like alot of parents out there these days I do rely on my own parents – their grandparents – who help to look after the children when I’m working, but when it comes to summer, everyone, even my parents want to take their holidays, so I’d definitely advise people to plan, so no-one gets left in the lurch’.

The Tickety Toc toy range is available from a range of retailers including Argos, Smyths and Amazon and include talking Tommy and Tallulahs, a Clockhouse playset, and a musical Pufferty train, with prices ranging from £6.99 to £30.

Celebrities have long been singing the praises of Spanx, not just for the way it sucks in our lumps and bumps in all the right places, but because the right pair can also give you the perfect hour-glass figure which is becoming increasingly popular amongst both stylists and fashionistas.
Just in from the Spanx press day, which I decided to go to at the last minute to see what was on offer, as I was having what could only be described as a ‘fat day, week, month…’ (you get the picture!), I was impressed by the extent of the range available. Admittedly I never had any interest in owning a pair of Spanx before having my daughter, but now I can definitely see the benefits!

From the hardcore bodyshapers to the Haute Contour range featuring delicate lacy bodysuits offering lighter support and retailing at around £200, to the Active wear for the gym (yep, ladies, you can even exercise safe in the knowledge that no-one is judging your pot belly) and the Mama Spanx range for pregnant women looking for extra support for their bumps (apparently the singer Adele is currently using them during her pregnancy).

Spanx have definitely researched their market and seem to offer something for everyone – even the boys are not left out, with t-shirts and boxer shorts which come complete with a ‘3D pouch’…

www.spanx.co.uk

Missed having Shaun the Sheep in your life?

Well, fear not, the lovable woolly character is back with a new friend this October.

Returning to the big screen, this time around havoc is caused when a mystery visitor from another galaxy crash lands near Mossy Bottom Farm. And it’s left to Shaun and his pals to ensure the fun-loving alien Lu-La makes it back home.

Obviously their quest is not without mishaps along the way, especially with an overly keen Men In Black style agent hot on their heels.

It’s actually amazing how much fun you can have watching a feature length film with no actual proper words but I guess that’s part of its appeal to all the family.

We were lucky enough to be treated to a preview screening and my biggest fear was that my two-year-old toddler would not want to stay sitting in one place for the duration of the film.

But in the end – after a slightly rocky start when he got a tad anxious about the rather ominous music in the first five minutes – I was only forced to step out once to go and buy some popcorn!

To round up, I think when it comes to productions by Aardman Animations we as viewers expect a certain quality and type of humour – thankfully their latest offering does not disappoint.

Farmageddon hits cinemas October 18. Watch the trailer here.