I love it when a review is a treat for me, and a chance to try out 2 outfits from Simply Be's Holiday Shop is definitely one for me. Simply Be specialise in women's fashion, plus size and curves, with clothes in sizes 12 to 32, including tons of amazing brands such as Fiorelli, Figleaves and Marc Jacobs.

I'm the wrong side of 40 with 5 pregnancies and a serious hernia behind me. My last operation has left me with a swollen, lopsided tummy and a thick scar that feels much more comfortable with something soft over it. I mainly wear long skirts or dresses and loose waistlines and I still want to look nice, the same as anyone else.

Simply Be have a great selection of dresses that I really liked, including lots by Joe Browns (they have some gorgeous sundresses), but my job was to choose from the huge Simply Be 'Holiday Shop'. It was a genuine pleasure searching the site and knowing that everything came in my size.

Here are some of the things you could be getting up to with your family in the North West this Easter....

If you have an April event to add, please email it to me with the subject April 2017 and I'll add anything appropriate - we are particularly fond of those which are low cost or free....

Spring often sees the release of some of the more active toys, ready for outdoor play in the Summer. This Spring Spin Master have launched new additions for their range of Spy Gear: Ninja Gear and we've been sent the Transforming Ninja Sword and the Ninja Wrist Blaster to review.


The Spy Gear Transforming Ninja Sword (age 6+) is pretty awesome. Retracted it is around the size of a sturdy torch and in fact it is a real torch - but it unfolds at the touch of a button into a Ninja Katana 3 times the length...

Last March we reviewed Sshh! Don't Wake Dad! for Drumond Park and it's remained a favourite all year. This is a board game with a twist in the shape of a sleeping animated Dad, who snores his way through the game and makes everyone jump whenever he is accidentally woken by the sneaky cake thief...


You can find my full review of Sshh! Don't Wake Dad! here, but gameplay is very simple. Players use a spinner to move along the track that snakes across the board, heading for the fridge and the delicious treats it holds. Each square you land on is a risk and you can get sent back to the start quite easily.

A while back one of my online friends announced that, along with her husband and a group of others, they were going to organise a comic con. Although it was madness, it made total sense as there simply wasn't anything local to them in Nottingham. 5 years down the line and they are currently organising the 5th Nottingham Comic Convention for October 14th this year....


They aren't only comic fans, Kev is a professional Graphic Designer and spare time comic book creator, so he knows a thing or two from both sides of the table. He has published several books under the guise of Piddley Pix and Kev Brett Cartoons...

Plague Inc has been ridiculously popular as a game app. and the creators, Ndemic Creations, have now released a board game version. No longer do you have to be a mad genocidal sociopath alone, you can infect the entire world with the Plague sitting at a table with your mates or your Nan - and actually it's REALLY good...


Plague Inc board game has a single player option called Plaguebot, or you can play up to 4 players competitively. In the box is everything you'll need and it's presented really nicely. The 'Death Dice' in particular is very special.

The Zombie Strike Outbreaker Bow from Nerf is very different to your usual dart shooter. Suitable for children aged 8+, it has crossbow design with a pull back string and manual action - and a 5 dart rotating drum! I can honestly say I love this - the kids like it too.


We like Nerf and we've reviewed a couple of their products in the past, as well as buying many over the years for our children. Nerf make reliable and effective dart shooters that always have plenty of power to impress and an aim straight enough for truly competitive target battles. The Outbreaker Bow is a fine example.

According to their website, Pia jewellery collections reflect their passion for creativity and originality, and I think they're probably right. They sell original gold and silver jewellery and accessories from all over the world, each piece intended to be a timeless classic. A gift from Pia is intended to be a treasure that will truly last.


I've been sent a Blue Topaz Gemstone Collection to review. I chose this set as it's my birthstone and I really do love delicate silver jewellery. I was sent the Blue Topaz Gemstone Pendant, Three Drop Earrings and Three Rounds Bracelet. There are more than 35 other pieces on offer with blue topaz alone, so the choice across the website is very wide.

Meccano is a time-served classic, and gives your child a host of useful skills that'll last them a lifetime. The 5 in 1 Motorcycle set is exactly as you'd expect, with instructions to build 5 different models using the same 174 parts - or just make up your own...


Inside the box the pieces are split into several small bags, and all fit nicely into the handy 'tray style' box. I love this, and it closes tight enough that it's a good place to store your spares and tools, or your entire set if you dismantle.

It seems like it's weeks until Blog On - that's because it is! However the linky is live already so that the attendees who choose to can get to know each other a bit beforehand. When you get to the conference, especially if you arrive solo, finding that person you chatted to online once about your cat's testicles really can break the ice.

Share a recent picture of you (if you are an anonymous blog, a drawing is fine). A recent picture which is a drawing. This is exactly what I look like, but with more wrinkles and flowery Docs - you can spot me by those.


Describe yourself in three words. Just. Keep. Swimming.