A review : LEGO Starwars Battle of Hoth game.

Last week, I was sent an email with a verrrry interesting proposition. On the very week of Aesop's LEGO birthday party, I was asked if I would like to review the new LEGO Starwars game. Um, letmethinkaboutit, yes! Please!
I 've thought and thought about quite how I would write the review, this is my first time after all, and I've decided that I'll tell you a wee bit about the game and also share some of Aesop's thoughts on it. That is who it was intended for, after all!

As most of you will know, Lego has been making games, as well as building sets, for a wee while now. This is very cool for a number of reasons : mostly because Lego and games are two of the best things ever. As a mother of two block-obsessed boys, anything that provides another way for us to play Lego is very welcome. This game, especially, combines two of Aesop's absolute favourite things in the world. It really couldn't have been a better choice for him.
(Aesop described the game as ' Excellent. Perfect. Amazing'. )

We planned to play this game at the party, I figured that a group of boys, full of lollies and party fun would be the perfect testers (it can be played with two people, or in two teams). But, alas, we didn't have the fore thought to pre-build the board. I guess I thought it would be quite straight forward, but after half an hour of the boys still trying to get it sorted, we decided to pack it up and move on to something else. This, luckily is the only negative thing we have to say about the game. (And, I should add, after the initial set-up, it is not necessary to dismantle completely to store it. Meaning that the next time you play it's pretty much ready to go!)
(Aesop described the building of the game as ' Very, very, very, very, very hard.')

We grabbed the opportunity the next evening  to finish setting up, and have a few games.
The instructions we very straight forward, and the game has elements of Chess and Chinese checkers. It gets the brain going, but also involves a bit of luck and the added fun of the characters being familiar (to us Starwars nerds..) is a bonus.  Aesop had no trouble getting the hang of it, and we all really liked that there were variations that could be made to further the game if you wanted.  Keeps things interesting!
(Aesop said the least cool thing about the game was ' That some of the pieces couldn't attack as far as I wanted them to.' and that his favourite game piece was ' the AT-AT walker.' He recommends the game to 'anyone who likes LEGO or Starwars.')
(That said, he goes on further to say ' you don't have to know about Starwars to like this game, but it would if you have seen the episode because then you will know who you are moving!')

All in all, I think this game will be a very welcome, and useful, addition to our games cupboard.
I can't honestly say that I could afford to splash out the $69.99 to buy it at full price just to add to the collection, but it would be a wonderful gift from the grandparents, or a special treat for Christmas etc.

(Here's a cool video about the game, too. 'Cause videos are fun.)

A budget-friendly LEGO party.

I still can't quite believe it, but Aesop turned seven last week.
Yes, SEVEN.

As you may or may not know, Aesop that lovely, slightly nerdy, type of boy. He adores all things science, Starwars, superheroes and, mostly importantly, LEGO. It seemed only fitting that he should have a LEGO themed birthday bash this year.

There is something else you should also know : in our house we only have parties every second year. I'm not sure if this makes me a meaner Mum than most, but so far it seems to work for us.
(I should assure you that we do not restrict birthday celebrations as such, simply the actual throwing of a party. On alternate years we have an outing and family dinner etc. I'm not thaaaaat mean!)

Aesop's 5th birthday was a Starwars party, and we had so much fun planning every last little detail. This year, being a month off having a babe, I had a little less energy (and cash!) to spend but still wanted to make it every bit as awesome for him. I wanted to keep it all quite low-key, but not make him feel like he gave anything up, if that makes sense.

Aesop chose 4 friends from his class (this, I think, was the hardest part! Only four!) and delivered hand drawn LEGO head invites to them. Abraham whipped these up, and all the Mums commented on how simple and effective they were. The rsvp's came back very quickly!

I spent a bit of time scouring the net and compiled some ideas on Pinterest. We planned a few simple party games ( a hunt for little LEGO heads around the house, a tower building competition and a Starwars LEGO game..) but on the day the boys were happier to just scramble through the mountain of bricks we laid out in the lounge, and to play with Aesop's other toys. We didn't plan prizes for any of the games, because that always adds to the expense and the kids soon forget about them anyway!

The food was kept very simple, too. We had the usual party faves : cheerio sausages, sausage rolls, mini samosas, mini pita pizzas, burger ring chips, malteasers and a GIANT bowl of lollies. I'm really glad I kept it straight forward, because in the end they would have been happy with just sausage rolls and lollies! They were even so full that they weren't interested in the cake/cupcakes when they came out!

The cake (which is mostly still in the fridge, anyone fancy popping round for a cuppa and cake?) was baked in a square tin, and iced with four upside down cupcakes on top. It was not my finest show of decorating, but I'm glad I didn't spend more time on it - the kids hardly looked at it!
The cupcakes were plain vanilla with coloured icing, topped with some very cool brick lollies I found on Trademe. They didn't get eaten either! Madness!

And, finally, the goodie bags. These contained more of the super cool LEGO lollies (they actually stack! And taste good! Bonus!), a wee colouring book we printed out (from here) and a minifigure. I popped them into a yellow sandwich bag and drew a face on with vivid. Voila! The kids were stoked.

I learned a very valuable lesson at this years party - sometimes less really is more.

Wardrobe Wednesday

After a loooooong night, including a trip to A&E with Otto (along the usual three million bathroom trips), I find myself even more tired than usual today. Otto is still a wee bit out of sorts today, and is battling a high temp, so I kept BOTH kids home today. (I'm not entirely sure how I thought that would make for a more relaxing day, but it is safe to say I was wrong! )
Anywho, here is my 'staying-at-home-with-one-sick kid-and-one-who-should-have-gone-to-school' outfit. It's far from glam, I feel a little silly posting it, but I've got to get back in the 'game' somehow!

Cardigan - Glassons - $30
Stripey top - Glassons - $15
Blue skirt - Salvation Army $4
Blue flats - The Warehouse $10 (I think..)
Brooch - Croutons (Moi!)
Bump - 35 weeks!

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Two weekends.

We've had the pleasure of getting away for both of the last two weekends. Not something that happens often for us!

 



The weekend before last, we went camping. I find it hard not to type that without a huge row of exclamation marks behind it because, you see, I'm not really the camping type.
This was the first time I have camped since my early teens, and I had not even ever considered buying a tent until the week beforehand! Maybe I can blame the hormones, but I had a huge change of heart after visiting my parents over at the Ohiwa camp ground the week before that. The boys LOVE that place, and I knew they would adore it even more in a tent!
We went over with my parents, in their campervan, so we would have everything we needed at hand (turns out camping gear is expensive - definitely something to build up over time!) and also a few extra hands for the boys.







After a bit of a rough first night (children who refuse to sleep, and an airbed that was not quite firm enough..) we were well into the swing of things. We had a wonderful time down at the beach, in the harbour, on the go kart/bike things and just generally hanging out. We dined on bbq food, Summer fruits and delicious Abraham-baked cookies. Pretty neat.

 
As if that weekend wasn't cool enough, I planned a surprise trip away for Abraham and I this past Saturday night.
We have the anniversary of us meeting coming up (11 years! woah!) and Valentines day in the horizon, but I also figured that it would be the last chance for us to get away for a night before becoming parents of three (we have a busy, busy March planned..).
We're a bit low on funds at the moment, so it couldn't be anything toooo fancy-pants, but I found us a decent hotel room and planned a weekend of delicious food and delicious quiet-child-free-ness.

We were stoked to find that our room overlooked some bubbling mud pools, and even more stoked when all of our meals were absolutely devine. There's nothing worse than spending money on food that isn't 100% devine.

We ate lunch at Burger Fuel, dinner at Lone Star and breakfast at the famous Fat Dog. We also watched a lot of crappy T.V (a novelty when you don't have T.V at home!), lay around and chatted, drove around the city during a huge powercut (good-bye plans to go to the movies!) and generally enjoyed the peace.

Hoping next weekend will be a quite weekend at home, organising baby things, before March begins and we're full booked until baby-time!

Make my week, baby: Weeks 5 & 6

 I had a feeling the crafting would have to slow down a bit once our non-holiday routine kicked in. It's much harder to fit it all in between pick-ups and drop-offs, playcentre, Yo Gabba Gabba viewings and snack servings.
I've also been a little distracted lately. Summer seems to have finally arrived, and we have been busy with beach outings, and our very first family camping trip! (I'll try and blog about that tomorrow, seems worthy of its own post..) We've been busy trying to eat as much sweetcorn as humanly possible, and making the most of reasonably priced peaches and nectarines. All in all, Summer has taken over a little, in the best possible way.

But, don't get me wrong, there has been a little crafting. I haven't forgotten the project altogether!

Firstly, I finished up this wee vest, from the delicious wool that Steph sent me. It's Malabrigo 'Pollen', and by golly it is scrumptious (the pictures really don't do it justice!). The pattern is Felipe, and whipped up super quick.

That was all I had made for the bump, until today.
I spent today sewing up a storm of patterned t-shirting, and came up with two onesies and a few t-shirts for Otto, too. I love to make these envelope/90 minute tee style shirts. They very rarely turn out looking anything other than awesome, and they are the perfect staple tee for hanging out around home and going to playcentre : )
(I've just realised that most of these photos are less-than-awesome, I apologise for that. They looked fine on the camera, and I really don't have the energy to re-take them!)




On a crafty, but not baby-related, note: I also finished up some sewing I've had lying around the studio for months now. These cushions are filled with fabric scraps (making them lovely and heavy. Perfect for brothers to toss at each other..) and make good use of the largest of my odd buttons. Love that.
(Yes, the wall could do with repainting. The joys of renting!)

Wardrobe Wednesday (31 weeks)

I love this dress. I think it might officially be my favourite EVER.
It's one of those magical dresses that I never cease to feel confident in, even in times like these when I'm hot and sticky and my 'waddle' is in full force!

Favourite blue dress - $4 Te Puke op shop
Vintage pink rose - gifted by a friend, attached with a safety pin.
Belt- $19.99 from The Warehouse.
Shoes - $10 or $12 from The Warehouse




And here's a bonus picture of my newly decided 'beach outfit'. Because, frankly, being plus-sized and pregnant is not conducive to finding good beach attire. (I did try to find actual swimwear, but it is safe to say that what I ended up wearing is not something the world wide web needs to see!)

Gold hat - Left behind at a shop I worked at once. Score!
Sunnies- Le Spec from Farmers $10
Pink cardi - A gift from Amy.
Floral dress - Belonged to Abraham's great Aunty.
Belt - The usual from The Warehouse $19.99

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It was all yellow.

If yesterday had to have a theme, it would have been yellow.
Sunshine, popcorn, and buttery yellow knitting. Lovely.

I also have a recipe to share with you. I had planned to do so earlier in the week, but it just seems to fit so perfectly with the 'yellow' theme, that it would be a shame not to share it today.
It is a recipe for Zucchini Loaf, given to me by my Mother-In-Law quite a few years ago now. It doesn't sound very appetising, but I swear it is one of the most moist and delicious things I ever bake. The 'healthiness' of the courgette is counter-balanced with a tonne of sugar, and even my kids will eat it. (Though, I confess, I did tell them it was banana until they'd finished the first piece..)

Charlotte's Zucchini Loaf

3 eggs
2 cups sugar
3 tsp vanilla
1/2c oil

2c firmly packed grated zucchini (green or yellow)
1c walnuts or 3/4c choc chips (optional)

2 1/2c flour
4tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon (optional)

Preheat oven to 177C (350F).
Mix eggs, sugar, vanilla and oil.
Stir in zucchini and walnuts/choc chips.
Stir in flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
Place in two loaf tins, and bake for approx 40 minutes.

I usually freeze one loaf and we devour the other, slathered in butter, quite promptly. Nyum.