Saturday 30 November 2013

Marks and Spencer Chocolate Advent Calendars Hello Kitty and Father Christmas Santa

It's December tomorrow! That means it's time to officially get Christmassy and start all the wonderful the advent things!
For our house it means we have a little visitor - Buddy, our elf on a shelf! We also start to make cards, gifts and decorations but most importantly - we get to start our advent calendars!

There's nothing more exciting than a count down by opening a little door and delighting in a bit of chocolate :) - especially if you are 2 and 4! Surprise, mystery, chocolate - life is good!

We've received two wonderful M&S advent calendars for this year's fun ...


A Hello Kitty masterpiece ... Each door contains a luxury milk chocolate Christmas shape and a cute little image of Hello Kitty. The back of the box features a Hello Kitty thank you postcard to cut out once you've finished :)


A Father Christmas / santa scene with a delicious M and S milk chocolate behind each door, along with an adorable vintage Christmassy illustration.The back of the box has a jigsaw puzzle to cut out and make which I thought was a lovely little touch and I know my four year old will enjoy this. 

Both calendars contained quality delicious M&S chocolate which was lovely, no cheap chocolates in here!

Get your calendar at the ready!

Happy Advent :)

Emma in Bromley xx


Thursday 28 November 2013

Christmas Gift Guides 2013 - Children




1. Stacking Bus
Classic wooden red bus. Little ones will enjoy the puzzle of putting the pieces on in the correct order. A beautiful keepsake gift. £12
http://www.marksandspencer.com/Marks-and-Spencer-Stacking-Bus/dp/B003W3L0GA


2. Wooster Pull Along Dog
Cute litte Wooster is a great companion! Made from the soft cuddly velour he comes with embroidered eyes and freckles and his very own name tag attached to a smart red lead. When a bath is needed his wheels can be removed by undoing the velcro on the underside of his paws. £25
http://www.blossommotherandchild.com/toys-gifts-sets/baby-s-first-christmas/wooster-pull-along-dog


3. Belle and Boo 

yummy scrummy baking set - a beautifully illustrated storybook with a rolling pin and 3 cookie cutters.
£10.99
http://belleandboo.com/product.php?id_product=706


4. Demon Dentist by David Walliams

for ages 9+ hardback book great illustrated story, newly published.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0007453566/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0007453566&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=as_li_ss_tl&tag=emminbro-21




5. Tutubelle 

beautiful handmade custom order tutus and fancy dress costumes for your princesses and superheroines

6. Stacking Giraffe
Hours of stacking and toppling fun will be had with this wooden toy from Djeco. £15

7. Afternoon tea set
This cute little cake stand, complete with sweet treats, a teapot and 2 cups, is perfect for hosting an afternoon tea party with a friend. £12

8. Janod Penguin Dominos
Fantastic brightly coloured wooden domino set which include special penguin shaped dominos too! £39.50




9. Tonka Town Fire Station
 José receives a call – “there’s is a fire raging in town!” Bruno races to the top of the fire station – sirens start sounding and blue lights flash, also features training tower with glowing fire to put out, rotating satellite on roof and extendable garage with opening doors and manual dial.
Comes complete with Fire vehicle and José and Bruno character figures. rrp£39.99 currently on amazon for £21.33

10. Squeaky Jumpers
Check out this super cute bright red dog print Squeaky Jumper with our little printed ‘Poppy’ dogs on the front.
Poppy loves…..walks in the country, keeping warm by the fire, snuggling up on the sofa and fun days out. Treat her to lots of love and cuddles! £24.95

11. Wow toys Alfie's Animal Adventure
Hi guys, my name’s Alfie and I just love taking care of animals! Big or small, fat or thin, loud or quiet; they’re all my best friends! I’ve been transporting animals here on the safari for quite some time and I’ve loved every minute of it!

12. Alice Apple Dachshund toy
Handmade in vintage fabric, adorable cuddly toy £13





13. Peppa pig hair case
Awesome Peppa Pig shaped case which contains all the accessories you need including a battery operated hair dryer £11.69

14. Cubebots 
- wooden posable puzzle transformer robot to cube £9.99 for small £19.99 for large

15. Boom tshirt 
Fair trade and Eco friendly ink - This T Shirt is now as loud as your little man! £16

16.  The Snowman and The Snowdog DVD/Blu-ray
Relive the enchanting animated story of The Snowman and The Snowdog, available on DVD and Blu-ray™ for the first time from Universal Pictures (UK). The DVD is also available on boxset and includes the wonderful Oscar®-nominated original. What better time of year to share the tender tale that reunites fans to The Snowman and introduces a new best friend, The Snowdog! DVD £10.99 / Blu-ray £15.99
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00AQV7VBY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00AQV7VBY&linkCode=as2&tag=emminbro-21




17. Janod Chic Play kitchen
This stylish toy is perfect for the modern chef, and comes complete with pans, utensils and even some appetising pretend food. Yum!
Normally £110 but on offer at £64.99 until 04.12.13

18. The World of Miss Clara Gift set
The most beautifully illustrated princess books
Ages 4–8. Gift set includes:
• The Twelve Dancing Princesses Hardcover with Story CD • The Snow Queen Hardcover with Story CD • The Princess and the Pea Hardcover with Story CD
£34.99

19. Tickety Toc books
We love the board book Tickety Toc Mystery Time and the Badge Time activity book in our house by Igloo Books.
Christmas episode of Tickety Toc is going to premiere on Sat November 30th at 12:30pm on Nick Junior and there's an after show twitter party on that day 13:00-14:00

20.  Tiger Wheelybug
You see those casters on the bottom? That's why the Wheelybug seems to have a mind of its own, travelling backwards, forwards and sideways as your littl'uns scoots along. The comfortable spongy surface can be easily wiped clean.
Gorgeous tiger design.
Normally £70 but on offer at £39.99 until 04.12.13


21. Bee Smart portable oven
Get cooking with this bright and colourful wooden portable Wooden Kitchen Set and inspire early imaginative play.
The perfect kitchen for your little chef! includes utensils, pans and condiments set. Real clicking sound adds realism. Play clock is great for learning to tell the time and allows food cooked to timed perfection! 
Innovative design allows easy practical storage of pieces in wooden box with a carry handle for portability and all packs away neatly to keep the room tidy when not in use. £31.99
Bee Smart have a newly launched collection of lovely wooden toys.

22. Beano 2014 Annual
Packed full of comic strip mayham to entertain for the year ahead, this marks the 75th anniversary of Beano! Perfect for all Dennis The Menace's and Minnie The Minx's! 

23. Barbar Books
It's 80 years since the stories of Barbar the Elephant were first published in the UK.
The original books by Jean de Brunhoff are published by Egmont, including a stunning heritage collection. From £5.99- £29.99

24.  Tree Fu Tom Shaker Maker
With the Tree Fu Tom Shaker Maker you can make and paint your own Tree Fu Tom creations. Create two characters to make and display proudly!  £9.99




25. Snowman and the Snowdog book with CD
This is an amazing picture story book, beautifully illustrated and having watched the DVD, it's lovely to read the story in words - The CD has two options - either listen to the story read by Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) or the read along version with a sound so children know to turn the page to keep following the story. 
£7.99
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0718196562/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0718196562&linkCode=as2&tag=emminbro-21

26.  BabyLit Books
These are an absolutely amazing way to introduce little ones to the classics! They are board books and are primer books so they are about colours, counting, first words etc with a twist of a classic novel, all have fantastic illustrations. There's a lot to choose from :) we have Dracula which is a counting book and my favourite page is "5 heroes"
We also have Moby Dick, which naturally starts with "call me Ishmael" and now I want the whole collection! £5.99 each

27. Runaway Dress
Gorgeous vintage style dresses in fun fabrics made in Wales - my personal favourite has to be the goldfish bowl print! £29

28. Marvel Super Heroes Storybook Collection.
We've bought this for our 4 year old - it's a lovely hard back book full of Marvel superhero stories and fantastic illustrations.
Join the world's greatest super heroes! 5 exciting origin stories from the world of Marvel including Thor, X-Men, Spider-Man, Wolverine and Captain America.
By Parragon Books £6.99

Merry Christmas :-)

Emma in Bromley xx


Thursday 14 November 2013

Divergent Allegiant Competition

Divergent Allegiant Competition
I've read the first book in the Trilogy - Divergent and it is brilliant! Tris is a great 16 year old who is a powerful female role model, I'm really enjoying how the characters tackle teenage issues like finding their own identity, choosing their career paths and dealing with adult relationships and love in a futuristic landscape without being all out sci fi. 
Veronica Roth had me hooked after just the first few pages, I'm already on with book 2 - Insurgent and I can't wait to see how this pans out as a movie next year! 

What if your whole world was a lie?
Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.
What if a single revelation – like a single choice – changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?
The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered – fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.
But Tris's new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature – and of herself – while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice and love.

The giveaway
To celebrate the release of the thrilling conclusion I have all three books to win. 

HarperCollins children's books have kindly allocated me Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant for one of my lovely readers to win :)

To enter the competition, please tell me ... who's your favourite female role model? 

Answers in the comments section below. Please include a way of contacting you, such as twitter id.
One winner will be selected using random.org to win all 3 Divergent books please reply with your details with 7days of winning or another winner will be selected.

Competition closes 30th November 2013 at 12noon. UK entries only please. Prize sent out directly from the prize provider. 


Optional Bonus entries:

• Follow me on Twitter and Tweet a link to the comp including@beachpebble
• Like "Emma in Bromley" Facebook page
• Follow me on Pinterest(beachpebble) and Pin this comp on Pinterest
• Add me to your Google + and G+ this post
• Follow my blog on Bloglovin
• Leave a comment on another of my blog posts (not other comps)

Please leave a separate comment below for each of your bonus entries so I can count them (max 1 for each method).

Thank you, 
Emma in Bromley xx





Wednesday 13 November 2013

The IN Thing girls night in for cancer research uk

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN, IT’S THE IN THING
A night in with the girls. For Cancer Research UK

Forget fighting your way to the dance floor, queuing for the toilet, or standing in the cold waiting for the bus homeThis November, thousands of women across the country will be saying ‘I’m In’ as they get together for ‘The IN Thing’, Cancer Research UK’s new fundraising initiative that combines a great night in with the girls with a great cause.
Cancer Research UK has teamed up with some of the UK’s best talent including TV and radio broadcaster Edith Bowmanmodel and designer Twiggy and actress and dancer Camilla Dallerup to help you organise your ultimate night in, with inspirational ideas, party planning guides, delicious recipes and playlists. So whether you’re catching up on the couch, hosting a dinner party, or dusting off that old karaoke machine, you’ll have all the support you need to create an unforgettable night for all your friends.  
The IN Thing is the perfect excuse to get together while raising money for Cancer Research UK’s life saving work.  Hosts can set a fundraising target for their group and collect donations upfront or on the night. Invite friends, family, neighbours and colleagues and indulge in a fun event at home to help beat cancer sooner.
Keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter pages for more information, inspiration, top tips, and exclusive offers.
Three reasons why in is the new out this November:

Life is busy, so this is the perfect excuse to make time for you and your besties!

It’s pre-Christmas party season so make the most of staying in while you can

Strictly Come Dancing and X-Factor are both on TV providing the perfect background to any girlie catch up
Cancer Research UK’s The IN Thing runs from 1st – 30thNovember.  Be part of The IN Thing along with thousands of women across the UK, and help beat cancer sooner. Find out more at theinthing.org.uk.

Emma in Bromley x

Bromley Christmas Appeal 2013 buy a present for a Bromley child in need. beckbromfl

There will be some Bromley children missing out on Christmas for various reasons such as spending Christmas in the care of social services or in a hospital bed. 


Would you like to help pop a smile on the face of one of those children?

The #BeckBromFLsanta appeal is hoping to raise as many smiles as possible, after all, a lot of little random acts of kindness will make a big difference.


Can you buy an extra £5 gift for a Bromley child in need of a Christmas smile?
The 2013 Christmas Appeal is working with several Bromley based charities. 

Register your interest at 

Lynda at Bacarat hair, beckenham will email you to let you know what type of gift to buy. 

But be quick! Gifts need to be donated by the 5th December 2013.

Collection points are Bacarat Hair in Beckenham or Bar Sport in Bromley.


Emma in Bromley x

Saturday 9 November 2013

Prizes For Parents Competition Round Up 08.11.13

Originally started by the lovely Emma at Mellow Mummy, I'd like to bring to you Prizes for Parents.
This is a weekly roundup of some of the best competitions available on the web, I'll keep my eyes peeled for the best prizes or freebies on offer for UK families, mums, parents and health and beauty fans.
I'll post a selection here of the ones I spot or if you have a competition you'd like me to include, just tweet me the link @beachpebble, email me or leave a comment below with the details and closing date.
#prizesforparents
Prize must be open to UK winners.
Published every (mostly) Friday.

• Win David Walliams book - Demon Dentist
Entry by blog comment, closes 14.11.13

• Win a pair of Scribbies customisable high tops
Entry by online form, closes 30.11.13

• Win a Merci Maman personalised necklace
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 07.12.13
• Win a Made by Ellis personalised notebook and pen
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 01.12.13

• Win 1 of 10 Pink lining child satchels
Children's art comp, closes 18.11.13

• Win all The Book Depository's Books of the Week from the year
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/blog/comp/Win-all-our-books-of-the-week-2012-2013?a_aid=Beachpebble
Entry by online form, Closes 21.11.13

• Win a gluten free family hamper
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 16.11.13

• Win 3 sets of Wow Toys
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 01.12.13

• Win 1 of 2 Reasons my kid is crying - book.
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 21.11.13

• Win a Personal Planner
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 17.11.13

• Win a £50 Love Christmas voucher
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 16.11.13

• Win a Mad Men lifestyle! Prize bundle inc. trip to NY and an Orla Kiely dress!
Entry by online form, closes 11.01.14

• Win a Glocal Connection necklace 
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 01.12.13

• Win 1 of 6 Fresh Therapies natural nail polish remover
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 03.12.13

• Win a huge Disney prize bundle, plus 10 runners up
Entry by online form-FB closes 02.12.13

• Win 1 of 4 Prehistoric Presents gift bags
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 26.11.13

• Win £1000 online shopping spree
Entry by online form, closes 27.01.14

• Win a family ticket to Charlie and Lola's bestest play ever
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 29.11.13

• Win a Playmat
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 18.11.13

• Win Doh-Nutters game
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 10.11.13

• Win Guylian chocolates
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 22.11.13

• Win 1 of 3 Cloudy with a chance of meatballs goody bags
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 17.11.13

• Win a Santa is coming to (hometown) book
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 24.11.13

• Win a Hotel Chocolat Wreath
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 21.11.13

• Win a signed 1st edition Anagranimals and the wishing tree.
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 13.11.13

• Win Stellar Cast Iron pans
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 03.12.13

• Win a lollipop lane bath bundle
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 11.11.13

• Win £230 worth of Joseph Joseph kitchenware 
Entry by online form, closes 18.11.13

• Win a Kitchen textile collection
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 15.12.13

• Win Ted on DVD
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 01.12.13

• Win a personalised book from penwizard
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 01.12.13

• Win a Paul Klee children's book
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 09.12.13

• Win 1 of 10 tins of biscuits
Entry by online form, closes 17.11.13

• Win 1 of 3 The Little Reindeer DVDs
Entry by blog comment, closes 09.11.13

• Win a snapajack party pack
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 10.11.13

• Win a selection of books from the BookTrust
Entry by blog comment, closes 15.11.13

• Win a Theraline Plushy Moon breastfeeding pillow
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 21.11.13

• Win a selection of books from the book trust.
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 24.11.13

• Win 1 of 3 Jollywobbles DVDs
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 16.11.13

• Win an annual family pass to babbacombe model village
Entry by rafflecopter closes 14.11.13

• Win a Stellar Glass Kettle
Entry by rafflecopter, closes 27.11.13

• Win £200 of Pyrex
Entry by rafflecopter closes 20.11.13

• Mel has a new monthly round up on her blog too!

• There's a lovely linky over on Super Lucky for november comps.

• freebies of the week

Magic Belles Flutterbud Fan Club

Good Luck Everyone :-)

Emma in Bromley xx
(@beachpebble)