Thread 6 - the one with Terry’s chocolate organs

[Reastie]

Welcome one and all, see post two for links.

icecream I would say sylvanian families are suited to older children tbh. They have lots and lots of teeny bits, don't stand very well and can be frustrating for younger children when they get knocked over. I don't know if the nursery sets are aimed at younger children, but dd3 is 8 and only just getting the full value out of sylvanians if I'm honest. Quality is fab though and will last years, we love our sylvanians but I do think 2.5 is a little young.

Happy land is good, can be quite noisy but the quality is good and can be played with from a young age. I do think this can be outgrown quickly though.

Playmobil will always win for me. Would your dd be old enough for the proper playmobil? They certainly have fewer small bits than sylvanian families, last years and years and have the best play value out of the lot in my opinion ☺️

Icecream can I throw a spanner in the works and suggest Fisher Price Little People?
Ours have loved this up to now (now 5 and 3, got it when DS was 2 1/2). DD prefers the house to her proper dolls house (which is massive and hardly used so I think will be going).
We got ours from Facebay originally, then added in a few bits.

Then of course helpful relatives will buy incompatible stuff (like Happyland).

My kids loved happyland

If anyone has anyone Pokemon fans this trainer belt is half price down to £7.50 on Debenhams plus use SH65 for free delivery

m.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_171070940099_-1

Jangle I hear you!! It's ridiculously overpriced. Do you have any other buildings (lego, doll's house etc) that your DD could use to house just the shopkins figures? Now that I have seen the sets (supermarket/icecream van) in the 'flesh' - there is no way I would buy them full price. However, if you got a Playmobil/Lego set with a 'building', you could just add the shopkins characters. My DDs combine Barbies/shopkins in the doll house/princess carriage etc!

L'occitane advent calendar is out today. I'm sure last year there was a deal where you got extra freebies. Anyone remember? It would help me justify it

Argos honoured yesterdays price for me but not on the 3 for 2 so just got one of them which is for my friends DS so still works out £20 cheaper than todays price. Home bargains have got an adult size cuddly elf for £19.99. I am tempted just to see DS face on Christmas morning but I think DP would kill me

@Reastie - thankyou. I've double checked my order and I made it on the 18th, it says to wait for 28 days for the free gift to be sent out (magazine won't come til the 25th of October)
I'll put a note in to follow up then!

Thanks to all above for advice on the play set conundrum! Have ruled out sylvanians and will have a look again at happyland, otherwise I will get the playmobil. I think she is a little too young for the normal sets at the moment and I've seen their little train is included in the 2 for 3!

icecream definitely happyland - the buildings are still played with daily by my dd's age 5 and 8 (9 in nov) the people have been long discarded but they use shopkins, disney figures, paw patrol, moshi monsters in there. We have cut buildings right back to what they actually use and ones that are still used are alien space station, ufo, mushroom house, rocket, ferris wheel, double decker bus, house.
Also imaginext is pretty good we have the batcave and purple alien playset.
The paw patrol lookout and specific character playsets have been discarded in favour of happyland as they constantly fell over etc.
jangle has your dd asked for the playsets? If not I would just buy the figures and other playsets to use them with. The only one dd actually uses is the ice cream truck. She does like the shoppie dolls - bloody expensive for what they are though!

www.royalmail.com/letters-to-santa

@IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece would your DC mind if it's an older iPod touch? I have an older one sat in a cupboard (just dug it out, it's charging) that u are welcome to buy off me v v cheaply?

Not bargainous but luxurious Rituals Advent calendar £79.50 with goods worth £140.00

[https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spy-Gear-6022382-Dart-Trap/dp/B00MNABIGK/ref=lp_1664575031_1_8?srs=1664575031&ie=UTF8&qid=1506512204&sr=8-8 spy gear dart sensor]

now maybe it's just me, but I think this could be ideal to get for the kids to give to their (useless) father - it reminds me of him!

Sorry posted too soon these look good and good prices but read the reviews first.
Spy gear dart trap
Spy gear door alarm

Thanks to whoever it was that posted the Emma Bridgewater referral. I've just got a bit of a bargain. They have free personalisation at the moment (up to 10 characters I think) so I bought 2 personalised cocoa mugs for DH and I and a personalised baby mug for DS to put into stockings at Christmas.

I got my free half pint polka dot mug using the referral code, free delivery, plus a 15% discount by using new customer code WELCOME15UK.

If anybody else is planning on getting anything and would like to get a free polka dot mug you can use my referral code emmabridgewater.mention-me.com/m/ol/qe3no-ebb4aa48b8

Has the Good Housekeeping offer ended? If not, could someone link please?

Also, I think there were photo blankets mentioned on the threads last year, did anyone get one? Would you recommend?

Just had a camel camel alert for unicorn scented pillow pet £14.99

wonders absently what a unicorn smells like...

free Emma Bridgewater mug when you spend over £30

link for free mug

I also get some money off but won't use it as skint now 😞

The Lego classic 900 bricks for £18 is back in stock on Asda direct

My Argos stuff all stayed at the same price thankfully. Got stupid Roblox figures and stupid Pokemon game and non stupid Lego boat.

Can you tell which ones I think are a waste of money?

My eldest will love them though and he's only asked for 3 things so I almost happily bought them.

Why are 12/13 year olds so hard to buy for?

Busy books are 2 for £9 at tescos free delivery too. Including Beauty and the Beast, Trolls and Avengers

Thanks Squ1ggle!
Here's another link for a free mug

emmabridgewater.mention-me.com/m/ol/hk9da-dec927ee0c