Disney on Ice - Worlds of Enchantment Review

A few weeks ago, we were invited to see the new Disney on Ice Worlds of Enchantment show at the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham.

Both of my children have always been massive Disney fans and with the show falling on my son's birthday, the answer was an easy yes, so we headed there after some birthday tea.

I love watching shows at the arena and on an unseasonably warm day it was nice to be inside in the cool.

The show itself is preceded by a Fit to Dance show to get the audience warmed up, for me the All-American preppiness of the dancers was a bit much, but the kids loved it.

The show starts with Toy Story 3 and the awesome green army soldiers, marching in sync. It was a really lively way to start the show and had us all smiling from the start.

Moving onto the main act, we were transported through the Toy Story gang's ill-fated trip to Sunnyside Daycare where we meet Lotso Bear and Stretch the Octopus, the romance blossoms between Barbie and Ken and we were treated to some fun skating between the lovebirds.

Afterwards we were taken Under the Sea with Ariel and her friends, the bright colours of the fish and underwater scenes were really breathtaking and my daughters face lit up when Ariel came on. We follow the story of Ursula stealing Ariel's voice and the journey of love that follows in order for her to speak and sing again.

After the break we were treated to what for my son and daughter, was the highlight of the evening. Having both recently gotten back into the 'Cars' world, my daughter even bought her plush Lightning McQueen with her.

The life size cars drove and skidded around on the ice, and featured all our favourite characters including Mater, Sally, Flo and Ramone. It was a really fun part of the show and to see the cars in all their glory was quite spectacular.

The finale was probably the highlight for most of the crowd in the arena, and told the story of the hit movie, Frozen. With all our favourite songs and lots of snow and special effects, it was a really wonderful performance and we all enjoyed dancing and singing along.

With Mickey and the gang there too, it was a truly full-on Disney experience and well worth the money if you have a Disney fan in your house.

The only downside to these events are the extras which can soon add up, with lots of spinning lightsticks, ice cups and bags of popcorn thrown into the mix, it could get expensive if you aren't careful. But what price a little family fun!

We were given tickets to this performance in return for this review, all words and opinions are my own.

Hot Wheels Split Speeders & Blade Raid Trackset Review

My son has loved playing with cars since he was little and the Hot Wheels cars and collections have always been his favourite. We've had everything, from loop the loops, to the dino spinout track, now however, the Blade Raid Trackset and Split Speeders are fast becoming our new favourite.

The new Split Speeders and Blade Raid set contains a great new track which splits the cars in two and then as the cars come back down, the track merges them together again. Each Split Speeders car has magnets that allow it to be split in two sections, these can either be placed together or mixed ‘n’ matched with other Split Speeders for completely unique cars.  With several cars to choose from there are so many different cars to make.

To setup the track was easy, although I am rubbish at stickers so excuse the lack of them in the pictures, my husband has since put them on as he is the sticker king. The guide is easy to follow and we had it going within about five minutes.

The track can be setup into two different modes, in single car mode it cuts the car in two and then it gets put back together and is sent down the track, in mash up mode you put one car on the track to be split up and the other two halves of a car in the mash up pipes, once the car is split it comes back down and out of the track as two mashed up cars.

Since we opened up the track set my son hasn't been able to stop playing with it, him and my daughter have been playing on it, mashing up the cars and having lots of fun, I think it's a great little set for any fun loving car lover.

It has miss fired a few times, and either one half of the car flies too high or they don't come back into pipes properly and therefore doesn't get fired down the track. Although the kids don't seem at all bothered by this and just carry on playing.

The Blade Raid Trackset includes one car and is priced at around RRP £24.99, each Split Speeders car is RRP £5.99. 

Hot Wheels currently has a great promotion running, buy 5 Hot Wheels cars and claim a limited edition Gold car!  Plus, share your collection for a chance to win a Mega Garage!  Find out more at MyEpicCollection.com/en.

NB: We were sent this set for the purpose of the review, all words and opinions are my own.

What's Your Driving Style?

We all know someone who’s driving we consider to be a little ropey, have seen better days, my husband and I have done many miles in various cars and driving to France and back we’ve had our fair share of falling outs over his driving.

I think it’s because he takes more risks, he’s been caught speeding a few times and his driving makes be jump because I think he’s going to either crash or be crashed in to.

His new car has many sensors and a few, thankfully, that back me up, one of these is a collision warning, which detects objects in front of you and beeps and a red light flashes on the windscreen in front of you, when this goes off, I know it’s not just me being jumpy!

For example my husband, in my eyes doesn’t start to break when I would, thusly making it feel like we are going to crash. So how great would it be to have something in the car that helps ensure you drive safely?  Something that would mean if he drives safe he saves money.

Would he drive better? I have no idea! Would I dare have it in my car to save money, it would certainly be interesting and if it could save me money on my car insurance then all the better. 

Who do you know who drives badly?

NB This is a collaborative post, all words and thoughts are my own.

Cars on a School Run

I already knew that cars on the school run added to the traffic in a morning and definitely notice the speed in which I make it to work in holidays, however it wasn't until I actually started doing the school run I have come to realise how many people drive the short distance to school.

A lady who lives up the hill from me drives, it is about 10-15 minutes for her at the most and all flat, yet she drives. I cannot comprehend the mentality of some people!

I live at the bottom of quite a steep hill but am seeing this as an opportunity to tone my wobbly bits, to get some exercise in. The last few days have been gorgeous so maybe this attitude will change when it rains or is really cold but for now I can't believe how easy it is for people to get in their car and drive a very short distance.

Not to mention the cost, I am not saving a lot but it must add up, twice a day, five days a week!

It really does sadden me to think we are just creating another generation of car dwellers, of people who won't know what it is to walk long distances and who will rely on what cars to get about.

Although shattered I feel a sense of accomplishment walking to school and back,  it also gives me a little more time to chat to my son about his day and for us both to enjoy some fresh air.

Have we become too reliant on driving, it feels weird not getting in the car and I thought to myself what an earth I am thinking but it does feel good.