Hello Dear Reader,
Meet my new friends! I often get offered things to review and when Ikea offered me some toys, I thought one of you might like them. I love this little guy and his friends! They are all Circus characters and here is sea lion, astride his ball and he's obviously been very good as he has a fish in his mouth. I like toys that create a story which can be told in so many ways. As I was going to review them, I thought I would give them a thorough playing with!
He told me all about his day, how he brought the house down with his performance. He likes the circus and he gets his own trailer, masseuse and as many mackerel lattes as he wants. He is a bit of a diva and won't perform without a drum roll and a full band playing 'I did it my way.'
There are members of the further cast and they were in fine voice and we gave a choral rendition Queen's 'Don't stop me now' because as you can see, we were having a good time!
After plenty of singing, we had a good gossip and I've heard that the pay is terrible and they are going to have a lightening strike when they get to Cirencester and won't perform until they get higher wages and a lot more chocolate!
Senor Elephanto told me he loves nothing more than to rest his trunk in his Winnebago and read a good book.
Well that was fun! Anyone else want to send me a pile of toys to play with? Now, over to you! These are not for me but I want to give them away as I imagine some one reading this would love these for your children or grandchildren and this could save you some money at Christmas, not that these were expensive in the first place. They are really cute and as much as I would like to play with these a lot more, I'm sure a small child would get a lot of enjoyment from these toys and would love the book. The winning recipient will get the lot, the sea lion, senor elephanto, the lamb and the book and I'm sure they will be enjoyed for years.
Over to you, here's what you have to do.
1. You have to be a follower - if not, become one! If you are not a follower, then Senor Elephanto will not put you in the draw
2. Leave a comment here about what you'd like for Christmas and no you can't have Piers Brosnan!
I will leave a link to this blog for the rest of the week and I will draw a name out of something hattish on Friday night. These will be sent anywhere in the world.
I'll be back Monday night to give everyone the chance of leaving a comment and look out for me and DB in the Daily Express tomorrow.
Until Monday night,
Love Froogs xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After a difficult time I hope that 2013 will bring me peace of mind and health and happiness for my friends and family! I do voluntary school talks in aid of an animal charity and the toys would come in so useful!
ReplyDeleteHello Froggs. How wonderful that you get to review and keep new items. I would like to enter your contest but not for me but rather for some children at my school. I am a junior administrator at a preschool. We have 290 children enrolled in my building and 94% of these children live at or below poverty levels and of those children 35% are children with special needs. Our school budget is very small and one of my responsibilities is to find ways to get the things we need for little or no money. It puts my frugal mind to work sometimes. Our goal is to encourage a lifelong love of learning and use literacy to help with this. I am often writing grants for low cost books so we can help build home libraries in all our student's homes. We seek volunteers to read regularly to our classes and enourage performing arts to come to our school. I think these toys and book would make a wonderful prize basket for a lucky child. We often have parent and child workshops and to encourage attendance we look for things that we can give away to attendees.Perhaps part of the workshop could be about expressive reading of this book and than give it to one of the attendees. I know I could find a wonderful home with one of our children at our school.
ReplyDeleteI will buy the Express tomorrow especially!
ReplyDeleteOooh my grandbabies would love these :)
ReplyDeleteMy family together, happy and at peace, good health for the coming year, and the blessings of full pantry and freezer, that would be "perfick!"
Enjoyed listening to you on Radio Cornwall this morning, all the way over here in Canada. Hope everyone is managing and safe in the terrible weather!
blessings,
Niki
Hi VC - follow the link on the right and you need to be a follower xxxxxxxxx
DeleteThat's done, I am now a follower! So sympathize with Bizeeme as a lot of the kids I do school talks and cookery demos for live in poverty in inner city areas. It's great when the kids happily eat all the stuff I cook and I invite them to help with cooking. I always take home-made cakes along for the kids when I do talks and for some of them it's such a treat. I also volunteer weekly at a youth club and the kids are so great despite the lack of material stuff in their lives. After working in a highly pressurized job for over twenty years and bringing up my own children a couple of years ago I took the decision to live on virtually nothing in order to spend more time volunteering and am now training to work with children.
DeleteHi Niki - you need to be a follower - click the link and become one xxxxxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteI am sorry, I show up as Mrsmom :) from Rural Writings
DeleteOhhhhh I will have a go :)
ReplyDeleteFor Christmas I would like..... snow. Proper Christmassy snow on Christmas day, I would wrap up the kiddies and we would build a snow Santa, complete with festive hat and baubles for buttons.And even pinch a carrot from the Christmas dinner. It would be frugal and fun, plus the memories would last forever and ever!
x x x
These would make great gifts for my children but what I would like for Christmas is a kindle.
ReplyDeleteI like peace of mind for my husband he is not very well at the moment but as long as we have each other we have everything We have 3 kids so the gifts will be perfect !xxx tnkx!
ReplyDeleteAll I want for xmas is to be debt free and better!!! Yay that is what xmas means to me, also to help another family who needs gifts and help throughout. I would actually donate these toys to our local Asda who gives children who wouldnt have a xmas a present. And I know these would make one child smile! Allir
ReplyDeleteWowsers they look amazing..no gadgets or gizmo's just plain old fashioned imagination..thats what i am trying to teach my 2 littlies..so far we have had so much fun with a box..yes just a box..it was a rocket then a pool and when we squashed it down it became the bottom of the ocean which they coloured in and painted fishes all over...
ReplyDeleteAll i would like for christmas is to be with my family..thats it..i don't need gifts..they are my gifts all 6 of my children and my o so supportive and caring lovely husband...
take care froogs
sara
Hi x
ReplyDeleteIm a regular follower and thought about you a lot when I was on holiday in the summer staying at Mullion Cove. I adore Cornwall with a passion and always feel so much better when I am there. I have very complex health issues which impact dramatically on my family. So for Christmas I would like to move my family and me down to Cornwall and have a chance to recuperate with the sea air and wonderful nature that surrounds you. I read your blog because I want to make that dream a reality and hopefully one day I will. Thanks Claire
I don't want to enter the draw as GD and the new baby are luckier than so many others in this life. I just want to tell you that you are fabulous!! xxx
ReplyDeleteI will second the fabulous bit!!! Any one add a third?
DeleteAbsolutely!! xx
DeleteI could put those toys to very good use. I taught for 20 years in a special school and so many of our disabled children would love them.
ReplyDeleteFor myself.... I would love more hours in a day, but as that wont happen, I wish for some luxurious bubble bath!
We would like good health and to be debt free in the year to come. That is everything I wish for this Christmas.
ReplyDeleteFor the draw, please don't pick us, the comments previous show a wealth of other children and schools that really need such great items. And while my children would enjoy them, they do not need them. Which reminds me I have a lot to be thankful for. :)
I want my family to remain fit and healthy.
ReplyDeleteI used to work as literacy co-ordinator and these toys would be ideal to put into story sacks.
ReplyDeleteParents get together and choose a book and then make the characters from the story.
It brings the story to life and the children can take the sacks home for 2 weeks.
I don't really want anything for Christmas but if I had to choose something it would be a good book about permaculture or something homemade and edible.
All I want for Christmas is world peace.
ReplyDeleteI sound like a Miss America wannabee. But I have a son who is scheduled to go to Kabul next year, a husband who has been to A'stan twice and a dear friend who is scheduled to go back and train their police.
If my name comes up, donate the toys to whichever school/playgroup in your area can use them.
For Christmas I would like assurance and the peace of knowing that my daughter will be ok having being diagnosed with cancer this year and she and her family are all devastated as are her father and myself. She has children ranging in age from 2 - 8 years so anything other than my wish would be greatly welcomed but above all we all need reassurance and the peace of this wonderful season. With many congratulations on your wonderful blog, and especially where it may lead for you,kindest regards!
ReplyDeleteI'd just like my wife to have the day free of pain from her back.
ReplyDeleteAll I want for Christmas is for my autistic grandson to say Mummy, he has a few words but he will not say Mummy though he says Manma to me. It breaks my darling daughters heart that he wont sya it. they are not spending money on Christmas as there are too many other things to think of. I love your blog hunny, it inspires me and keeps me pinching those pennies.Michael would love those toys especially the seal as theres one in his favourite cartoon - Pingu and he loves his books. hugs ginny
ReplyDeleteFor Christmas I woudl really like some time to reflect and recharge, nothing else just a little time to do some thinking and see where to direct my attentions next on my journey in life :))
ReplyDeleteI would love these for my granddaughter.I would love for peace and harmony within my family and for my son and daughter to speak to each other so i can have them all in my house at the same time.That would mean more to me than anything.
ReplyDeletexx
PS froogs, I have been following your blog for nearly 4 years, in fact almost since you started it. I loved and still do your total honesty, so most of us who read this blog dont feel so alone with debt, and can identify with you on so many issues, whether they be monetary,cookery issues or family worries, you write so honestly and I think this is your appeal, for me anyway, so thank you and long may you inspire and encourage and empathise with each one of us!! Much love x
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely to be able to play with toys and have a copper bottomed reason. I would love a long arm quilting machine but for Christmas I just want my family around me, happy, warm and well fed. if I am lucky the toys will go to Scotty's little soldiers, a local charity for the children of fallen service men and women.
ReplyDeleteDear Froogs, what a lovely giveaway! I think my grandsons are possibly a little old but I know where I could donate them. For myself for Christmas, I have all I need, my family will be together for Christmas and to me that's what counts. cheers Judy xx
ReplyDeletethey really are so cute, my grand daughter would probably love them but her mum has said she has boat loads of stuffed animals and I have made her puppets since she was born,7 please don't put my name in, let someone else have my chance to win. You communicate so well with these guys!!lol
ReplyDeleteMy kids would love these, and for xmas i'd love and electric blanket, we got rid of ours when we moved (it didn't really fit our bed, it was too small and we were downgrading so had to bring the bare miniums) but i'm really missing it now :(
ReplyDeleteAs a side note we love ikea toys, when our twins (who turned 6 last week) were about 1 we went to ikea and they picked up a soft lab puppy toy, as soon as they lifted it the thumb went in and the head went down, 6 years on we still have the orginals (we tried replacing them with no luck) and our youngest who is 3 was given one as a gift when he was born, we couldn't beleive it as it was from a relative who knew nothing of the other 2 now all 3 boys has one, they wash really aswell, they go to bed with them every night :)
all I want for christmas is 2013 to be as good to my babies as 2012...happiness,blue skies,white beaches,freedom & fresh air are so much better than anything money can buy :)...people forget how to connect these days...everything is driven by technology...bring back the simplicity of conversation & cuddles I say! xxxxx keep smiling xxxxx
ReplyDeleteIt is so lovely and such a change to see people that want things that can not be bought in a shop - they would much prefer health and family to expensive things that will be forgotten about a few weeks later. I too would love to be debt free but that is a few years away at the moment - guess it cant hurt to dream though. Other than that a quiet family Christmas with the children enjoying the magic. Merry Christmas :)
ReplyDeleteHi Froogs. I would love to win these toys for my two young boys. For Christmas I would like to spend little money, gain no lbs and enjoy the company of my boys/husband/best friend on christmas day.
ReplyDeleteThat'd do me.
Thanks for your blog. I've been reading it for a couple of years and your faggots are a firm favourite at our dinner table. Thanks for that :-)
Tess
Hi, I don't have kids or grandkids, and not involved with a school, etc. so don't put me in for the draw... but I'm commenting because I LOVED the pictures of you singing along and you totally brightened my day! So thank you for that!! C.
ReplyDeletePlease could I have Colin Firth for Christmas? No? Ok then, anything on my Amazon list would be great. The toys would be donated to our local Women's Refuge. Thanks for the great blog.
ReplyDeleteThis is a lovely and thoughtful idea froog, your a very kind person. Personally i dont need the little critters but am just dying to see what this hat there being pulled out of looks like :) hehe
ReplyDeleteJust subscribed. Would love these toys for my grands! Thanks for the giveawy
ReplyDeleteCan't really think of anything I want for Christmas . . . just time with family and good food. Grateful for all God's given!
ReplyDeleteFor Christmas I would just love to have a wonderful day with my family, especially my Nan.
ReplyDeleteIt is really nice of you to offer these toys to some lucky boy or girl. If I was to be lucky enough to win these I would give them to my friends young daughters, as the smiles on their face make my day.
Last Christmas was tough for us financially - we were up to our eyeballs in debt and struggling big time! We didn't tell anyone as we felt embarrassed/ashamed (still do really). I was pregnant and having a hard time at work and my partner was working non stop. I Don't know how we got through it, but somehow we did. My eldest child didn't have many presents but he didn't complain. He was pleased with second hand presents. A lot has changed this year. I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl this summer, got engaged, paid cash for a car and have savings in the bank! We are still in debt but we can now see a light at the end of the tunnel. So, to answer your question.... I'm looking forward to spending Christmas with my little family; we dont have much but that doesn't matter - we will have the best christmas as we have our health and eachother. I read your blog everyday and I honestly don't know how I would have coped without it during my darkest hours... Thank you for sharing everything with us. X
ReplyDeleteHi Penny, like you I read Froogs blog daily. She is a constant inspiration and a helping hand to guide me through my family's journey/battle to become debt free. Ive even got my OH reading and believing we can do it. For so long we have purchased 'things' on our plastic or overdraft because we thought we deserved them or needed them, when in fact we could afford them and could live without. This Christmas will be about giving time/good memories to family and friends rather that 'things'.
DeleteHave a wonderful festive season xxx
Hope you have a lovely Christmas too. Kind regards penny xxxxxxxxxx
DeleteI want this Christmas to be the first year we spend lots of time together and not money. Drastic changes in our house to try and become debt free by September 2015. Wish us luck, you did it and you'll be our inspiration.
ReplyDeleteMy girls are getting three presents this year like Jesus, the toys would be given as gifts to children in then family.
Keep up the great work Froogs xxx
I already have my Christmas wish. No cooking on Christmas day. We are going to my son's for dinner with his family, the going on to my daughters and her family. My mum will be with us. My husband and I will have a fab time with our grandchildren, children and the dogs. Bliss.
ReplyDeleteWhat would I like for christmas - temperature of 25deg instead of 40deg!! That would make for a lovely family daythat we can spend outside with the adults sitting around talking and eating, and the grandchildren all playng games and having fun!! A simple christmas with family!! As you can see I am not a lover of the heat but if i cannot have the requested weather I will be happy with the requested 'family' day!!
ReplyDeleteOn another note, here's a thing I started to do when my now grown-up children were small and have continued to do. Throughout the year I save all my small change and at Christmas I bag it up and donate it to a local charity which buys gifts for children whose families are struggling. It mounts up over the year and I have been doing this for so long it's become part of our family ritual and my own children do the same now so three lots of money have grown from one! Just an idea in case anybody else wants to do similar next year!
ReplyDeleteWow! am I too late?
ReplyDeletewhat do I want for Christmas? I think a sea-lion would be grand ;o)
apart from that I am quite happy with what I've already got, honestly I am.
I know I've already said this Froogs, but you really make me smile :)
I could write a comment filled with saddness and reasons for 'needing' these items, but I wont give the old sad soppy tale an airing..... just give me the dam toys so I can make some little people smile
ReplyDeleteLOL x
oh, and as regards what I would like for christmas....... nothing for myself except to see my 4 sons happy and safe and content....... to much aye? LOL x
ReplyDeleteMy local Salvation Army branch here in Belfast could make good use of those toys. Every year they give presents to kids in families who may not get one otherwise. Most years I buy an extra present and pass it on to them- but there have been some Christmases when we just couldn't stretch the budget far enough.
ReplyDeleteSo If I cant have world peace, or a massive lottery win, please can Santa bring me cold dry weather so I can go birdwatching on Strangford Lough on Christmas Day
All I want for Xmas is my.little William to arrive safely.and be cuddled in my arms.Im in breech position and baby is losing weight due to pre eclampsia so being.closey monitored im.hoping and preying 37 weeks Tuesday x Love the give away.
ReplyDeletewhat do I want for Christmas...........having the kids at home for the day will be great.
ReplyDeleteIf my name happens to be drawn, please donate the items to a family in need in your area.
Gill in Canada
I cant think of anything I need for Christmas. I am happy to just have my family gathered at my home to celebrate this one day of the year...
ReplyDeleteI heard on the radio this morning about floods/bad weather in your area, hope you are all okay.
xx
hmmmm what do I want or need? Want I'd like a stunning homemade handmade holiday season--need I'd take a healthy happy family--either way we're working towards them both!
ReplyDeleteFollowing you
Ikea toys have always served my girls well, very durable.
ReplyDeleteAnd for Christmas I'd like a kindle. Fingers crossed.
Best wishes to you and yours x
Em xx
Hi everyone this is the link to Froogs in the Express yipee!!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/360573/We-paid-off-our-crippling-debt-in-two-years
For Christmas I would like to be mortgage free - oops, that isn't going to happen, so I will settle to be happy and surrounded by friends and loads of nice food.
ReplyDeleteWhat I would like for Christmas - dedication to living more frugally next year and having tons of fun whilst doing it! I'd like to go into your draw please as I can find a worthy home for a toy! You can read your article online on the daily express website. Enjoyed listening to you yesterday on Radio Cornwall too.
ReplyDeleteHope you are all okay with the recent bad weather.
x x
So now we knw what Froogs does when she is mid-quilting jobs! Plays with her toys!
ReplyDeleteYou look like you are having so much fun in these photos! Is ther another calling within you? Then again, your other job, which I know isn't written about here anymore, draws out the inner-entertainer. You must be fun at the chalk-face!?!
I'd like to see my 2 grandchildren at Christmas...
ReplyDeletethat's not going to happen, so I'll just have to keep dreaming till later on next year.
Take care
Jude
Cornwall made the news here in country Western australia. Hope you are all ok.
ReplyDeletexx
As a carer for my daughter, seeing her smiles on Xmas morning is all I need, and as a bonus my son will be home. We cannot afford the luxuries that the commercialism on TV tries to sell us, but we will be happy and count our blessings.
ReplyDeletewishing you all a happy frugal Christmas.
Hello - you need to be a follower to enter xxxx
DeleteAs a carer for my daughter all I need is to see her smiles on Christmas morning. We can`t afford the luxuries that the commercialization of Christmas on TV tries to convince us we MUST have, but we will be happy and it will be the puppy's first Christmas too!
ReplyDeleteWishing you all a happy frugal Christmas.
I would love these toys as we're cutting back on spending with a new bubba on the way in the new year.
ReplyDeleteI would love a chilled christmas with no stress or family arguements!
Hello - you need to be a follower to enter xxxx
DeleteFor Christmas I would like a peaceful family get together wih us all in relative good health. We've all been through the wringer one way or another this year.
ReplyDeleteall i want for christmas is to see my little girls face, as she holds everything up in the air, to show her pappa in heaven what she got,having him back would be the iceing on the cake but we all know lifes not like that.a merry frugal christmas to all xxx
ReplyDeleteAre you sure I can't have Pierce Brosnan? ;-) Ah well failing that I am hoping for a new cuttingboard as your blog now has me addicted to patchwork! So far thanks to you and your supportive posts I have made a lap quilt and 3 cushion covers! Yay! I have a darling little granddaughter who would love one of the toys this year. I am making some presents this year, a couple of rag doll bunnies, patchwork cushions and a granny square throw, hopefully I will get it all finished in time!
ReplyDeleteHello - you need to be a follower to enter xxxx
Deletesorry froogs I was sure I was as I get regular updates? Will investigate..........
DeleteAh I already am Froogs, get all the updates etc just clicked on the follow link again and it said I was already subscribed! Now got a very confused ME/cfs brain so off to crochet some more granny squares, I will get that pressie finished by Christmas!
DeleteI read your interview in the Express, lets hope that a good percentage of the people who read it see it as a wake up call. I have certainly benefited from following you and putting your ideas into practice.
ReplyDeleteHope I am lucky but hope my grandaughter is even luckier in receiving your kind gifts. you have been a real inspiration
ReplyDeleteHello - you need to be a follower to enter xxxx
DeleteI am so excited about Christmas for the opportunity to see family that comes in from out of town. I really hope santa pays off my library fines so I can check out some more books =)
ReplyDeleteHello - you need to be a follower to enter xxx
ReplyDeleteHi Froogs,
ReplyDeleteFor Christmas I would like my DH to be able to spend more time with our children and I- he works such long hours and we miss him :( from a realistic point of view I would like smellies :) I'm a sucker for smellies....
x
Hopefully I have become a follower
ReplyDeleteWell of course Im a follower and truthfully what I would love for Christmas is two extra hours of sleep!!
ReplyDeleteHi Froogs, I read your article today in the Express and found it as inspirational as ever. I hope it's a wake up call for those that need it.
ReplyDeleteLovely picture of you and DB by the way!
Hope you are safe from the dreadful floods
Janet
PS. Not entering your lovely giveaway as would love to see your gifts go to a wider audience than my grandchildren. Though I would like a nice play er.... product test with them!
Hi Froogs, I would love my husband to be able to quit work :0)...that would be our ultimate christmas gift.
ReplyDeleteHi Froogs, for christmas this year I just would like my son to understand the true meaning of xmas. Every year the pile of presents has gotten smaller, and we have had to make him aware that money is very hard to come by, and that we have to think hard about what we want. I think its starting to get through to him as I made him a t-shirt for his birthday last year of his fave characters, and he has added he would like another one made by me for a present. Anyway, hope you have a fantastic xmas. I love reading your blog.
ReplyDeletehello froogs, I have searched on the daily express online and can't find your article...any chance of a link?
ReplyDeletethanks,
Niki
Hi Froogs already a follower but for christmas I would like SNOW!!! and lot's of it xx
ReplyDeleteWe have a lot of children to buy for this year - I'm in my early 30s surrounded by friends who are having babies left right and centre - Xmas is getting more expensive each year as a new baby is born.
ReplyDeleteWe've only just got married but want to start trying for children soon as I can't afford to leave it much longer at my age. Trouble is we're waiting on our leaseholding management company to sort out the damp proofing and the damage to the outside of the building we live in - a very overdue procedure that should have been started 2 years before we even bought it! Subsequently we have terrible mould and damp. My health has been suffering and there is no way we can bring a baby into this home as it is. It's not as if we can sell it as it is!
So for Xmas this year I'd like a letter with the date telling us when they're going to start the works on the house that we so desperately need.
Hope you all having an amazing Xmas and happy new year!
My three lovely grandchildren, who I get to see rarely, distance, money constraints, would love any of these giveaways. We live 3 hours from the nearest IKEA, but there are far more deserving pleas above. so just thanks to you FQ for your inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI want to start patchwork,I do sew ,have a machine and plenty of time ,so where do I start ??
ReplyDeleteI regularly go to jumble sales so can get material etc just need to know how to start !!Angela Pooley angelapooley@btinternet.com
many thanks !!
Just to say, I think your blog is one of the best around. I lose my job soon and have been reading your blog to get the best tips on how to save money. Many thanks.
ReplyDelete