Sunday 19 February 2017

Mud, Waterfalls & Term Wellies - A Review

After a week of various viruses, coughs and colds working their way through the family, it was a relief to get out of the house this weekend and head to our local park that is packed full of beautiful woodland, nature, waterfalls and mud!


Like any trip to the park, it is always best to have appropriate clothing suitable for all weather conditions, as well as the ideal footwear for mud stomping and puddle jumping. We therefore felt it was the ideal place for Riley to try out his new Term wellies from Term Footwear.


Term Footwear is a new British brand registered in 2016 by a husband and wife team. who have over six years worth of experience in importing and selling children's footwear brands within the UK. They had a desire to create great shoes and boots that children would actually want to wear and have therefore launched the brand with their own range of wellington boots that are available in a variety of funky colours which are purple, navy, green, pink, red, and blue.


We opted for the navy wellies which had a contrasting green sole and a navy roll top welly sock which looked really smart. The welly sock is built in so that it helps to keep children's feet warm and dry in the Autumn and Winter, however this can also be removed easily for the spring and summer. The boots are also dual sizing, so when the sock is removed it makes the welly one EU size larger making sure that there is plenty of room for growth and also offers great value for money as this means that the footwear will last longer before being outgrown.

When Riley's wellies arrived my first impressions were that they appeared to be a very good quality product. I must admit that I have often only bought low priced supermarket wellies in the past and the difference in quality and durability was very clear to see from the start. I particularly liked the fact that there is a reflective strip on the rear of the boots, which helps to make children more noticeable when walking, especially in the winter months where it is often dark before you have even set off on the afternoon school run.


 


Riley found the wellies to be very comfortable and easy to walk in, and thought that the inner welly sock was soft and warm. He was able to jump up and down easily in them, and said that he felt very smart wearing them. They were very shiny and the colour stood out really well, with the contrasting green coloured sole making them look nice in appearance. The wellies are manufactured in the EU from high quality materials and conform to EU standards so you can be sure that you are purchasing a great value product.



During our walk around the woods we came across various puddles, dirt and lots and lots of mud. The only issue we had was that Riley decided he loved them so much that he didn't want to get them muddy! Hopefully that is just the novelty of being in new shoes and soon he will be quite happy to get them covered in the squelchy stuff!


Riley was able to walk, jump and climb in his Term wellies with ease, and he had no issue running around the play area in them either which is great.


These wellies cost £21.99 which is more than I would normally pay as I usually spend around the £10 mark, however the difference in quality is clear to see and the price represents a good sturdy boot, with a visibly chunky sole that will last for a very long time. The added addition of the welly sock offers increased comfort and warmth, as well as being visually appealing too. My daughter Emma is also now very insistent that she MUST have a pink pair to wear alongside Riley! I therefore believe that the price of £21.99 is actually excellent value for money, and I would definitely recommend to others.  If you would like to purchase your own Term wellies, then they are available to buy here: Term Wellies

Disclaimer - I was provided with these wellies on a complimentary basis, for the purpose of providing an honest and impartial review. All opinions and photos are my own.




Saturday 18 February 2017

Monkeying around at Go Ape Delamere

If you are looking for a fun outdoor activity to enjoy this half term, then why not head to your nearest Go Ape, and enjoy a tree top adventure that will have you climbing, zip wiring, scrambling and swinging through the trees!

We recently had the opportunity to visit Go Ape at Delamere, and my husband and daughter who both have a head for heights and a love of all things adventurous, couldn't wait to get started. Mr F will therefore write the remainder of this review based on his experience.


Our experience began on the Go Ape website a couple of weeks ago where we had a good look through all the information to find out exactly what was involved and make sure it was something my daughter would feel confident doing. I was surprised to read that the course takes about 2-3 hours to complete as for some reason I had it in my mind that this would only be a short activity and so it was pleasant to read just how much adventure time we would actually have in the treetops.

The website also featured a great short video that gave you a really good idea of what to expect with clear images of people taking part in the course. I think that this is a great idea, as it leaves no guesswork as to what you may be expected to do, and also allows you to make an informed decision as to whether this activity is something you would enjoy. The course is very high off the ground and not only involves high walk ways but also tarzan swings, and lengthy zip wires so it is definitely best to take a good look at it before participating especially if you have a fear of heights.

The website also features a "Know before you go" section which features the answers to some of the most popular questions that people ask including what you should wear, whether you can bring a camera, when you need to arrive, and also information on the safety systems and harnesses used which is great for customer reassurance.

I was also relieved to see that participants take part in a safety briefing prior to being allowed on the course. It is always great to see that customer safety is a priority and I liked the fact that you take part in a mini course as part of the safety briefing to ensure that you are able to use the equipment confidently and safely.

The website also clearly stated some restrictions for the Tree Top Adventure which were:
  • Minimum age of 10 years
  • Minimum height of 1.4m (4ft 7inches)
  • Maximum weight of 20.5 stone (130kg)
However, there is also a separate Tree Top Junior course suitable for all ages over 1m if you aren't tall enough to participate in the main Tree Top Adventure course.

There is a very easy to use booking system where you can select your required date and it will show you all the available time slots on that day. The booking system is a great idea as this ensures that there aren't too many customers on the course at one time, and this also means that you don't have to wait around too long at each obstacle whilst waiting for others to take part.

Once our booking had been made, we received a confirmation email with our chosen date and time, along with a reference number. We also received two further emails prior to attending to remind us about our booking and also provide some handy hints such as checking the route we would be taking to get there, making sure we arrived in plenty of time and a contact number in case you needed to amend any of your booking details. I also liked the fact that they inform you that there is no need to print off the booking confirmation to help save the trees!

When the day arrived for us to attend Go Ape, we set off with plenty of time and arrived around 40 minutes before our allocated start time of 2pm. Unfortunately we struggled to find a parking space initially which is due to the fact that Delamere Forest is such a popular place to visit and so I would definitely recommend leaving plenty of time to find a space before your slot like we did. If you are lucky enough to find a space straight away, then there is a cafe nearby where you could grab a drink, or simply take a leisurely stroll to the Go Ape hut to pass the time as this is located a short walk away from the car park. It is also important to note that the car park ticket machine is coins only so make sure you have plenty of change on you.

On arrival to the Go Ape hut we gave our names and were shown to the safety briefing area. We were shown how to put on our harnesses, which were then adjusted by the staff for us to make sure they were safe and fitted correctly. The safety briefing lasted around 20-25 minutes and we found it informative and reassuring. There was also the opportunity to ask any questions, so if there is something you are not sure of, make sure you ask it now as there won't be the opportunity once you are up in the trees. Once we were all set and ready to go we headed over to stage one.


We were really excited by this point as the course looked great and was visible from the beginning where we could see ladders and cargo nets. It was initially quite slow to get going as we were part of a group of 8 so it takes some time to get everyone started on the course but it didn't take long for everyone to be spread out and moving at their own pace. There was no pressure to speed up as there was the opportunity for people to pass if need be, and should you encounter any issues then there is a whistle attached to your harness that can be used for emergency assistance.



You are in control of your own safety device so it is important that you are confident in using this, and being responsible for any children that are with you. The course can look pretty daunting to begin with and there are five stages in total that each increase with difficulty as you progress. My daughter really enjoyed the scramble nets and seemed fearless as she made her way across the various parts of the course.


I thought that my daughter would get quite nervous having to climb the ladders and watching the ground appear further and further away, however she climbed these with ease and even boasted that she would be happy climbing three times that height.


We made our way through the course at a steady pace, and I noticed that part way through the course there was a water holder with paper cones so that you are able to grab a drink on your way round. I thought that this was a great idea as I hadn't realised beforehand how energetic the course would actually be, and so the chance to have a refreshment was very welcome indeed. We also saw staff walking around and monitoring the course, obviously keeping an eye out for any issues and ensuring that everyone was ok. The manager addressed us by our names part way through to ask if we were ok, which I feel is a positive as it means that they have taken notice of you as a customer as opposed to just a number and little things like this can help with the experience and make you feel valued as a guest.


We also saw various advertisements around the course, and one that stood out was the suggestion of corporate and workplace bookings, as I feel that Go Ape would be a great place for team building or simply a day of fun away from work. If you work as part of a team in work it is always great to have a day out together and get to know each other outside of work, as well as help to improve on working together and positive encouragement.

As we got nearer towards the end of the course, I was very proud of how well my daughter had done and how she had given it her all throughout the whole afternoon. The only time she showed a slight moment of fear was the long zip wire on the last stage which took a couple of minutes for her to gain the nerve to launch herself down. She was absolutely overjoyed to complete the course and also claims that the zip wire was her absolutely favourite part even if it was a little scary. I also enjoyed the zip wire, however as I neared towards the bottom I ended up turning round so that I was going backwards which made the landing very difficult and my boots ended up being filled with the forest bark.

On completion we made our way back towards the hut, where a staff member was waiting with our certificates. My daughter was pleased that she would have something to take into school to show her friends and it was also something she could add to her memory box.


We managed to complete the course in just over two hours, and had a fantastic afternoon out together. No sooner had we finished, my daughter was already asking whether we could visit some of the other courses that Go Ape have around the country, and I must admit I think I may have caught the Go Ape Bug too!


Booking online is recommended to ensure that you can choose your selected date and slot, and this is very easy to do using their quick book booking system. There are a total of 31 Go Ape locations across the UK, so if Go Ape Delamere is too far away for you, then please check their website to find your nearest adventure location.

In terms of pricing, the Go Ape Delamere costs are split into two prices depending on the age of the participant:

The Baboon rate is £25 which is for children age 10-15
The Gorilla rate is £33 which is for visitors aged 16+

We had a fantastic time and would definitely recommend it to others. I feel that the prices are reasonable based on the fact that this is a fun adventurous experience that you can enjoy with friends or family for a great half day out.

If you would like further information or would like to book a course, then please visit the Go Ape website here or click on the banner below: Go Ape

   

Disclaimer: We were provided with complimentary admission to attend this attraction for the purpose of providing an honest and impartial review. All opinions and photos are my own. This post also contains affiliate links, which means that I may receive a small commission should you book an adventure with Go Ape. These small commissions help me to maintain this blog and are greatly appreciated.

Friday 17 February 2017

Aquabeads Animal Friends Set - A Review & Competition



This month we have another fantastic Aquabeads product to review for you, in the form of the Aquabeads Animal Friends Set. This is one of the refill sets which you can use alongside your exisiting aquabeads tools and with an RRP of only £4.99 it is well priced within pocket money range too.

The set contains over 600 beads, and allows your child to get creative in making numerous animals of various shapes and sizes. It is important to note that because this is a refill set, it does not include a layout tray or water sprayer, which come in the larger sets or can be bought separately.


The box is of a compact size, with a lovely display on the front of all the animals that you can make. My son Riley who is 4, enjoyed looking at each one and naming them, and asking everybody which animal they would like to make. He was convinced however that the bottom left (as you look at it) was a killer whale. I will admit that I initially thought this too, until realising that there was a big and small animal theme throughout the designs and so I now believe that this is a tadpole, due to it being pictured next to the frog. 


The complete list of animals are:
  • A hen and a chick
  • A large squirrel and small squirrel
  • A large tortoise and a small tortoise
  • A large penguin and a small penguin
  • A large flamingo and a small flamingo
  • A white horse and a slightly smaller brown horse
  • A frog and a tadpole
The rear of the box is less graphic than the front, but shows a small image of the accessories required which are a layout tray and sprayer. These can be bought separately but if you already own one of the larger sets then the chances are you will already have these at home. There is also a list of contents and an image displaying what template sheets are included inside. This is then followed by a safety warning in various different languages.

On opening the box we found 4 template sheets and a large bag which contained nine smaller bags that each had different coloured beads inside along with instructions. The colour choices were plentiful and included red, orange, yellow, light green, light blue, pink, white, black and brown. Three of the template sheets featured 4 animals, and one of them featured only two. I think I would have personally preferred only two animals on each template so that they were slightly larger, as some of the animals such as the chick and tadpole were very small and didn't take very long to make. This is however a personal choice and others may prefer the smaller designs due to them being less time consuming and easier for younger children to complete.


The first design we chose to make were the horses, so we selected the template and slid it into the back of the layout tray. My son began to fill the larger white area first as he prefers to do the main body of the design first and then fill in any gaps. We do have several of the Aquabeads pens that we have acquired from our larger sets, but we all find it easier to use our hands to add the beads for the main parts and then use the pen for the smaller details.

My son kept bumping the layout tray whilst reaching for his beads, which in turn knocked some of the beads out of place. To help prevent this from happening again, we gave the design just one very light spray as he finished each area which helped to hold the beads in place much better whilst he completed the design.


On completion we gave it a good spray and left the designs to dry for a couple of hours whilst we had dinner. I have began to start leaving ours to dry on the kitchen worktop which is near a radiator, and I am not sure if it is a coincidence but I always find the designs much easier to remove from the board when I let them dry here.


The next template we used was the penguin and squirrel designs. We really enjoyed these as they required lots of different colours and so my son needed to concentrate well and focus. This kept him busy for nearly an hour, and he was very proud when he had finished, feeling a sense of accomplishment from completing a harder design. There was only a couple of occasions where he needed my help which were the larger squirrels tail, and applying the noses to each of the squirrels to give the animal a 3D effect. 


My sons favourite was the large squirrel, and mine was the large penguin as I thought the colours looked lovely and stood out well. Riley has decided that we are going to make a family of penguins in all different colours which is a great idea! After we had completed the animal templates we also had some beads left over from the set to add to our collection.


As mentioned previously the RRP of this set is only £4.99 which is a bargain and perfectly priced for a weekend treat. something to do on a rainy day or even a small birthday present for someone.


Overall we have been really pleased with this refill set. Riley found them easy to do without my assistance, where as he often has to ask for help with the larger template design so I think he actually enjoyed this more than some of the other sets as he could be more independent. However on a personal level I prefer it when he needs my help as I actually really enjoy making them too, and in the past I have found it a really nice activity to do together. This is a lovely set to add to any Aquabeads collection and I would definitely recommend it to others.

I also have the fantastic opportunity for one lucky reader to win one of these Aquabeads Animal Friends Sets. Please enter using the gleam form below. Good Luck!

Aquabeads Animal Friends Refill Set

Disclaimer: I provided with this product on a complimentary basis for the purpose of writing an honest and impartial review. All opinions and photos are my own.

Terms & Conditions: Entry is open to UK residents aged 18 or over. Any bulk/third party entries will be disqualified. The winner shall be drawn at random from all eligible entries. The winner shall be notified via email and will have 14 days to confirm that they wish to accept the prize. Should the winner fail to respond, then a new winner shall be selected at random from the remaining entries. The winner's details will be shared with the promoter for the purpose of prize fulfillment, which shall be sent directly from the promoter. Please allow up to 28 days for delivery. There is 1 (one) prize of an Aquabeads Animal Friends Set.

Wednesday 15 February 2017

The Beautiful Town of Silvaplana, Switzerland

My husband Mr F, is taking over the blog today to tell you all about a beautiful location he visited recently in Switzerland called Silvaplana. It is an area that boasts stunning scenery, lovely locals, and a great variety of restaurants to suit all tastes. It is located only a short distance away by bus from the slopes of St. Moritz, and offers plenty for visitors to do in the summer months too, with a wonderful lake that offers a variety of water sports within a picturesque setting.


On arrival in Silvaplana, I took a moment to take in the large mountains, and looked around at all the snow that looked so neatly placed. Having not experienced snow for quite some time, it was lovely to be able to view it in such a beautiful place and the children were jumping and dancing in it very shortly after.


As you can see from the above picture, although it was dark and cloudy at times, the peaks on the mountain were lit up by the occasional sunshine and looked astounding.

Whilst in Silvaplana, we stayed in beautiful accommodation called the Hotel Albana. My family were welcomed with open arms, and the managers could literally have not been more welcoming and friendly, making us feel very comfortable and well cared for. There was a lovely lounge area where you could relax in the evening and chat to other guests, whilst also admiring the snowfall outside.



Our room had a balcony which had the most breathtaking backdrop, and the view certainly rivalled any that I have come across before. I could have quite happily sat on the balcony for several hours a day simply staring into the pristine scenery and mountain tops.


The rooms feature wooden furnishings and are well equipped with a tv, dvd player, and minibar. We were also provided with bathrobes, folded neatly on the beds, as well as a range of toiletries and a hairdryer, which came as a relief as I had forgotten to pack my daughters one from home! Much to my children's delight, there was also free wifi, so they were able to use their laptops in the evening to keep in touch with friends and family and update others on the holiday.

The hotel also boasted two wonderful restaurants, the first being the Spunta Engiadina Restaurant which serves gourmet food with a local touch. We ate here on both nights of our stay, and both the food and service was of a high standard. We ate from a set menu and on the first evening, I chose Potato Leek Soup with Estonian Potatoes, Piccata Milanese with Tomato Spaghetti, and Warm Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream, and all these meals were absolutely divine. My eldest son tried the Barley Risotto with fine root vegetable stripes, and Zucchini Boats filled with Ratatouille and he also really enjoyed his choices. The restaurant also catered well for children and offered a lovely menu offering a variety of dishes.


Breakfast was plentiful, with a lovely selection of both continental and cooked choices. The service was again fantastic, and on both mornings of our stay, we left feeling full and satisfied, ready for a busy days skiing ahead.


The hotel also featured the lovely Thailando restaurant, which offered fine Thai cuisine. We didn't eat here during our stay, but several of the other hotel residents that we spoke to highly recommended it.

Within Silvaplana there is also a ski equipment hire shop, and a small supermarket which is very convenient, and both are also a short distance away from Hotel Albana where we stayed.


Silvaplana is also home to a stunning lake, which in winter hosts a range of winter sports including ice skating and polo. In the summer it becomes a hive of activity again with activities such as kite surfing and wind surfing. The area is also popular with hikers and mountain bike riders too and their are numerous events hosted within Silvaplana throughout the year.

Overall Silvaplana really is a beautiful town, and I hope to have the opportunity to return again with my family, in the not too distant future.

For more information on the Hotel Albana please visit their website here Hotel Albana Silvaplana

Monday 13 February 2017

The Train Journey from Zurich to St. Moritz

As transfers go, the train journey between Zurich and St. Moritz is pretty spectacular, with picturesque views a plenty and stunning scenery at every turn. The large windows allow you to fully take in the beautiful backdrop of your journey and as the train ride takes you higher into the mountains, the landscape and surroundings become quite breathtaking.


The transfer to St. Moritz began in Zurich Flughafen airport, where my husband and children caught a double decker train to the main Zurich Station. Once there, they made a quick change of trains and departed on the 90 minute adventure to Chur. It wasn't long before the children started to spot signs of snow, and as they travelled further, the snow levels began to increase quite rapidly.




The seats were comfortable, and after a short period of travelling, a catering trolley came round where foods and drinks could be purchased. Drinks are very expensive in Switzerland averaging around CHF 6 each which is roughly £4.50.

On arrival in Chur there was a short wait for the next train which would carry my family into St. Moritz station. This was the longest part of the journey, but again the views were amazing and there was always something to see out of the windows which helped time to pass quickly. This train was much busier than the previous train, however with the St. Moritz World Ski Championships 2017 taking place, it was expected for it to be very busy and crowded, and so this was no surprise.

As they continued on their adventure, my husband and children watched as the snow fell outside, and the sky began to darken with snow clouds. The last time my children had experienced snow fall where we live in Wales was back in 2013, and so they were very excited, and eagerly waited with anticipation for the moment where they could depart from the train and jump straight into the waiting piles of snow.



My son Ben has a dislike of heights, and so he was tempted to look away at times as the track ascended, but struggled to draw his eyes away from the beautiful sights of the snow capped mountains.




The total journey time was 3 hours and 40 minutes, although it didn't feel that long as there was always plenty to see and talk about which made the experience seem a lot quicker.

The fare was CHF 162.00 (approximately £129) for an adult return and CHF 81.00 (approximately £64) for a child, though prices may be cheaper dependent on time, day or class of travel. The tickets my family had also allowed them to take any route back to Zurich, and so my husband chose to travel via Landquart on the way back a few days later, which took a slightly shorter time of 3 hours 26 minutes.



Overall it was a fantastic experience travelling from Zurich to St. Moritz. Not only did it help my children to create many picturesque family memories, but it also gave them the opportunity to see some breathtaking scenery.

Sunday 12 February 2017

Muddy Puddles Clothing - A Review

My family recently had the opportunity to travel to Switzerland to enjoy a short skiing holiday and experience the snow, slopes and atmosphere of St Moritz. Of course in minus temperatures, suitable clothing is vital, and I was therefore delighted when we were given the chance to try out some of the Muddy Puddles clothing range to review it and put it to the test.

As I have mentioned previously in other posts, I strongly believe that children (and parents) can enjoy the outdoors whatever the weather as long as they have suitable clothing, and Muddy Puddles seem to share the same opinion. The company has created a fantastic range of waterproofs, wellies and ski-wear that are not only affordable and great quality, but also stylish.

We were provided with a Snowstorm Ski Jacket, a Drift Base Layer Top & Bottoms, and Arctic Ski Gloves to review. My kids were immediately impressed when they arrived, and my son couldn't wait to try on his new jacket on (much to the envy of his sister).


Snowstorm Ski Jacket

This jacket is just fabulous, with a striking star print design which looks great, and certainly stands out from the crowd. I am a huge fan of bold prints and bright colours, especially with my little explorers as it makes them easy to spot from afar whilst having fun on the slopes and when playing with their friends.

The Snowstorm Ski Jacket is insulated and warm, with a bright yellow micro fleece lining, which has a lovely soft comfortable feel to it. This not only makes it lovely and warm for out on the snow, but also great when bracing the UK's wind and rain weather systems too!


The coat has been tested to a 5000mm hydrostatic head.which is a measurement of how water resistant the fabric is. The higher the value is, then the more capable it is of withstanding more water pressure before leaking. As this measurement is over 1000mm then the garment is classed as being fully waterproof, so you can be sure of keeping dry when out in the snow or rain. Not only is the item waterproof but is also fully breathable.



The added benefits of taped seams and a storm flap, help to make it windproof and protect from blustery winds and cold breezes which makes it an excellent all round winter jacket.

One thing my son particularly liked about the jacket, was the hidden pull out ski pass pocket, which meant he didn't have to go routing through his pockets when searching for his pass or tickets. He simply pulled on the little yellow tab at the bottom of the jacket and he could stretch it out. Since returning from skiing, he has since made this is library card pocket when going to school, which is equally as useful and could be used for a variety of other passes.




The zips are of good quality and were capable of withstanding my sons constant tugging on them when trying to get his money out of his pockets, or to put his gloves in when going indoors for a rest. Another element that I liked was the adjustable cuffs on the arm which meant that these could be adjusted to size to accommodate fitting over gloves comfortably and without being too tight.

Inside the jacket is a removable snow gaitor for added protection whilst on the mountains. This can be removed by simply zipping  it out when need be, and can be just as easily re-added when required again. The hood is also removable, which is ideal for those sunnier days on the slopes, and the reflective logos help to assist with visibility.



On arrival in St Moritz, my son felt warm and comfortable, and immediately received several compliments on his jacket. There was no concern of the biting cold winds affecting him in anyway, as when asked if he was warm enough, he said that he was really warm and cosy and couldn't feel the cold at all. He enjoyed sitting out on the balcony and watching the snow fall, and looked forward to wearing his jacket out on the slopes the following day.



One thing that I had been concerned about was the flexibility of movement and whether he would be able to move freely and easily without any stretch in the usual areas such as the shoulders or waist. However, I needn't have worried as my son had no issue carrying his skis, or moving around whilst wearing the jacket and remained comfortable at all times. It even passed the snow angel test for movement!



Whilst out on the slopes, my son really looked the part, and even when the wind picked up and the snow began to fall, he didn't once feel the chill, which left me satisfied that the jacket was exactly as described and definitely fit for purpose.


As with any holiday, the return home often means a huge pile of washing, and much to my relief I found that the jacket is machine washable on a 30 degree wash, making it much easier to be rid of any dirt or marks. After its first wash the jacket came out good as new, and once dry the fleece inner was just as soft and comfy, which definitely gets a big thumbs up from me.

In terms of sizing, my son is aged 9 and 136cm tall and the size age 9 to 10 fitted him perfectly. However, if your child is taller or planning on wearing multiple layers underneath, then you may wish to consider the next size up.

This jacket is available to purchase here and has an RRP of £75, however until Monday 13th February this is actually on offer for an amazing price of only £37.50 which I can only describe as being an absolute bargain.

Drift Base Layer Top & Bottoms

Base layers are really important as these help to regulate the body temperature and make sure you stay well insulated. Muddy Puddles Drift Base Layer Top & Bottoms come in 3 different colours which are pink, midnight navy, and a lovely navy cloud print design. They ensure that your child stays warm and will keep any moisture out, which helps children to remain comfortable and cosy whilst out on the mountains.




I was really impressed with how soft the fabric was, which also had a really lovely feel to it. This combined with the ribbed hems and cuffs ensured that my daughter was really comfortable whilst wearing them. The great addition of thumb holes on the top, made sure that cuff remained pulled down, so that when wearing gloves no cold or moisture could get in, which is a fabulous idea.


The Drift Base Layer Bottoms were also extremely cosy and fully breathable. They had an elasticated waist as well as elasticated ankles to help keep the cold out, and were supported with flat stitching for added comfort.


Since returning from skiing, my daughter has also chosen to wear the bottoms under jeans whilst on a cold day out, which fitted fine. She has also worn them to keep warm under joggers whilst participating on a high ropes adventure course, and these base layers have kept her warm on all occasions. The fabric composition is made up from 65% polyester and 35% viscose on both the top and bottoms, and much to my delight, these are also machine washable at 30 degrees.

In relation to sizing, my daughter is 141cm in height and the size age 9 to 10 fitted her perfectly, and she was able to move freely and easily at all times whilst wearing them. I would recommend these not only for skiing, but for wearing during any cold weather for that added layer protection, to help keep your children warm.

My daughter has really enjoyed testing these base layers out and said that she would definitely recommend to others.

This Drift Base Layer Top is available to purchase here and has an RRP of £16, however until Monday 13th February this is actually on offer for an amazing price of only £8.

The Drift Base Layer Bottoms are available to purchase here and have an RRP of £16 but again are on offer until Monday 13th February for only £8.

Arctic Ski Gloves

In all honesty, I am actually quite jealous of the fact that my children have these gloves, and I am guilty of trying to fit them onto my own hands whilst doing the school run on Friday when it was absolutely freezing! They are so soft and warm inside and the adjustable strap helps to make them fit snugly over the wrist.


They are fully waterproof and feature an extra thick lining to help keep your fingers warm, as well as reflective logos which help to increase visibility. My daughter's fitted well so she was able to grip both large and small items well, however they were slightly too big on my 9 year old son, so he struggled a little to pick up smaller items such as coins etc, but for carrying his gear and keeping warm whilst skiing they were perfect.


The rubber palms make gripping securely really easy (and are also perfect for creating a good snowball!). Not only were they suitable for their intended purpose, but I am sure you will agree they also looked great on too, and complimented Ben's jacket well.


The gloves are made of 100% polyester and like the previous items, they are also machine washable. During the trip, both our children's hands remained warm and dry, despite many a snowball making exercise and numerous falls in the snow, so it was very reassuring to know that both Emma and Ben would not suffer from cold hands during any part of the ski holiday.


The gloves are available in three different sizes which are 2-5 years, 5-8 years and 9-12 years, and cost £18. These can be purchased here: Arctic Ski Gloves


Overall, we have been left extremely impressed with Muddy Puddles, and highly recommend all the products we have reviewed. The jacket is my ultimate favourite and I will definitely be purchasing one of these for my younger son too. Whilst this review focuses on some of their ski wear products, they also have a wide range of clothing including waterproofs, wellies, snow boots, socks and hats, so there is a good choice of great quality clothing for all weather conditions.

To view their latest stock of Ski Wear and Waterproofs, please visit Muddy Puddles


Disclaimer: We were provided with the clothing items mentioned on a complimentary basis for the purpose of providing an honest and impartial review. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are my own.