Sunday 27 March 2016

Pizza Express Review - Worcester

Pizza Express

Pizza Express has been a family favourite for many years, and today that remains as true as it ever was. When it comes to eating out it's often hard to please the entire family, Leo will always demand his need for pizza, where as I want the option to be able to eat a healthier meal, and Luke who is pretty easy going will change up what he wants on a day to day basis. I guess the hardest part out of all of that, is for me, trying to find that healthier option on a menu that is going to make everyone else happy too.

Yesterday (Saturday 26th March 2016) my little family visited the Worcester branch as guests of Pizza Express for their #PizzaExpressFamily campaign. This is for us is our local establishment, and having eaten there on a number of occasions before, I knew that we were going to be well looked after. 

We arrived with rumbles in our tummies and were more than ready to feast our eyes upon the menu. We were greeted warmly and shown to our table which was prepared and waiting our arrival. The team gave us all the time we needed to make our drinks order, and as we had got carried away chatting they were very patient with us. I ordered a Cappucino as I felt like I needed a small caffeine fix before anything else, and decided to try their new Watermelon Chill, which was incredibly refreshing.

Pizza Express Kids Menu

As always it was service with a smile, and they all made conversation with Leo which was just lovely. Of course Leo loved this too and before long he had stolen my camera and was snapping away at the service team. They asked Leo what his plans were for after lunch and Leo told them all about how we were going to be taking a trip to the cinema to watch Disney's Zootropolis!

Leo had already found the selection of colouring material that had been prepared for him, and he decided to start writing his name for us all to admire. Our drinks were with us quickly and as we had pretty much instantly decided what we were going to eat, they took our food order right then and there.

Pizza Express Classic Italian Antipasto

Pizza Express Dough Balls

Luke and I decided to share the Classic Italian Antipasto and Leo had the Dough Balls. I haven't had an Antipasto before, but after hearing such amazing things I decided that it was a must, and boy was I not disappointed. I couldn't believe my eyes when a huge plate of Italian meats and accompaniments arrived on our table.  That big plate was shared between myself and Luke, and every bite was just incredible. I don't often eat bread, but whatever this bread on the platter was, it was so moreish that I couldn't stop eating it! If you are heading to Pizza Express soon, Luke and I highly recommend the Antipasto!

Leo demolished his dough balls and actually helped us finish off some of the Antipasto in the end. It was nice to see him actually trying some new things for once, because he can be so fussy at times, and that in it's self is so frustrating. In the past Leo has refused to eat the Dough Balls which has meant that I have eaten them all, but on this occasion my little man did not waste one single bite (Aside from the salad...)

The starters were cleared away and within a few minutes our main courses arrived. Leo had decided on the Piccolo menu, which meant he was in for a 3 course treat! Leo followed his Dough Balls up with an American Pizza (Pepperoni), 

Pizza Express Kids Menu

Pizza Express Leggera Superfood Salad

I had set my heart on the new Leggera Superfood Salad, it ticked absolutely every box for me and I even got to add grilled chicken to the meal which just sealed the deal. The salad along is under 500 calories, and is a mix of green lentils, black rice, edamame beans, red quinoa, chickpeas, cranberries, pumpkin seeds and kale, all mixed up in a tasty vinaigrette on a bed of mixed leaves, rocket, cucumber, roasted red and yellow peppers, red onion and finished with fresh parsely and light house dressing. 

Pizza Express Margherita Bufala
Fancy a takeaway right now? Here are some Pizza Hut Voucher Codes!

Luke ordered the Margherita Bufala which was a pizza with torn Buffalo mozzarella and tomato. All of our food came out together and I was once again blown away by the generous portions that were provided. I could not get over the size of my superfood salad, and after eating such a big starter I knew that I was going to be taking some of it home with me (and I did, I ended up finishing it off for my dinner later that night!).

They very kindly took the remainder of my food away and put it into a takeaway box so that I could take it away with me. While they were doing that for us, they kindly brought us the dessert menu, and I have to admit that I wasn't going to indulge in pudding, but after seeing the Raspberry Sorbet, I couldn't resist. So while Leo enjoyed his Brownie, Luke and I shared the sorbet, which was so tasty.

Pizza Express Raspberry Sorbet

Pizza Express Piccolo Menu

Pizza Express Piccolo Menu

All 3 of us enjoyed a fabulous meal, from the food, right down to the service we received. Everyone was welcoming, accommodating and the food was just fantastic. You cans see the chefs busily preparing orders in the open kitchen, and I took Leo over for a closer look, and he was fascinated by it all. The chef even looked over and waved at Leo as we stood and watched, and that again just highlighted how friendly everyone was, which for a 4 year old just made his entire visit!

Keep an eye on the #PizzaExpressFamily hashtag as everyone who is taking part in the campaign are sharing their personal experiences! Not to mention that on Thursday 31st March from 2:00pm - 3:30pm we are hosting a Twitter Party with some pretty great prizes up for grabs, even the chance to win a family meal for your own family!

Tune in with @lovelyleosmummy!

A massive thank you to Pizza Express for looking after us and sending us away with full bellies! We had a great time and can't wait to visit again soon!

If your suddenly in the mood for pizza here is a Papa Johns Promo Code for you.

Pizza Express Piccolo Menu

Disclaimer: We were guests of Pizza Express as part of the #PizzaExpressFamily campaign. All thoughts and opinions are our own.










Friday 18 March 2016

Netflix #LilStreamTeam

Netflix Stream Team

Today I am handing the reigns over to Leo, my Four year old because this month Netflix wanted to hear directly from my little man to give me a little blogging break! This month was home to two very special days, Mother's Day and of course International Women's Day, so what better way to give Mummy's of the household a break than to hand the blogging reigns over to the kids?

Leo has been ill this week with a nasty viral infection, and was actually off school Monday and Tuesday but when he asked me if he could go to the park I decided it was time to send him right on back to school on the Wednesday... Figures right? He still wasn't 100% but if he was well enough to want to go to the park, he was more than well enough to go to school! 

Flash forward to yesterday where school called me up to go and collect him and insisted that I keep him home until at least Monday, only for him to make a miraculous recovery today, so yesterday while he was still feeling worse for wear, we decided to record a little video for my budding little vlogger to hopefully take his mind off things and make him feel a little better.

It is safe to say that this week has consisted mainly of watching Netflix, so I have taken the opportunity to find out what my #lilstreamteam member has been enjoying recently... Bare in mind that he hasn't been 100% but he still wanted to help record this vlog for you all.

I present my little man Leo...


I am excited to tell you that the lovely Charlotte from Berice Baby and I are hosting a monthly linky for you all to join up with us and tell us what you are LOVING on Netflix. This will be a fun way to discover new shows and films to watch, because lets face it we all have those withdrawals when we reach the end of our favourite shows, and with Easter creeping up on us, we will want to keep ourselves hooked up with the latest and greatest Netflix shows!

I have just watched the new trailer for the Netflix Original Series The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt! That is set to be a must watch on my agenda!

The linky will run on a monthly basis, so make sure to share your favourite watches from the month with us!

You can link up below, and we cannot wait to see what you have been enjoying recently!







This post is in association with the #NetflixStreamTeam, all thoughts and opinions expressed are completely honest and our own.

Thursday 3 March 2016

Netflix: What We Loved in February

Netflix: What We Loved in February...
Netflix

February has been a busy month on the Netflix front, and this is because I had missed the memo that Pretty Little Liars was back on our screens. The show breaks in season 6 after we finally discover who A is. I hadn't had to wait as long as some to find out, as I discovered the series on Netflix last year and binge watched it season after season until I was all caught up. 

Now Pretty Little Liars is back on our screens, it has picked up 5 years after the revelation and exposure of A (I won't expose who A is just in case you are currently watching the show!). The girls have moved on with their lives, but when they are called back to Rosewood to a hearing that will ultimately decide if A can be released into the world, they are asked to provide statements about how they would feel if this was to happen. With A being pretty close to home (just a small hint can't hurt!) their responses risk upsetting a friend.

With the girls all back in Rosewood, of course it isn't going to be plain sailing, and thank God it isn't because if it really was time for a 'Happy Ever After' then that would be the end of the show, and I for one don't want this to end anytime soon.

The low down without giving too much away is that A is released, but only for a short time before she is found dead. A has been murdered, and guess who quickly become suspects in the murder inquiry? You guessed it! The girls are forced to stay put in Rosewood until the case is resolved, and then it really comes to light how much life for them have changed over the last 5 years. They have jobs, fiances and lives that have gone on without each other. 

If you haven't sat and watched Pretty Little Liars before, I highly recommend this series. You will be on the very edge of your seat and wondering what will happen next. You won't want to turn it off.

90210 is a show I fell in love and watched a while ago, but I decided to re-watch the pilot episode again one evening, and somehow I have got sucked right back into the larger than life lives of Annie, Dixon, Naomi, Adriana and Silver. In fact I got so into it again, that I have just started watching season 2.

For those of you who have not watched or heard of this American series, it follows teenagers Annie and Dixon as they move from Kansas with their family to the wealthy zip code of Beverly Hills. They start school at West Beverly High and quickly meet people who help shape their lives over the next 5 seasons.

I first watched this thinking that I wouldn't enjoy it, as I do with most series in honesty. Of course after that first episode I was hook, line and sinker. Now that I am re-watching it, I am re-discovering story lines that I had completely forgotten. It's just like watching it for the very first time.

If there is one thing that YOU do watch in the wake of this post, it has to be Making a Murderer. I had heard so much about this series that is in fact a documentary following Steven Avery. Steven Avery was imprisoned for a crime he in fact did not commit. He was kept in prison for nearly 2 decades, and was finally exonerated. Avery filed suit against Manitowoc County and several individuals who had been involved with his arrest, and fabricating evidence to put him behind bars.

Shortly after his release, Avery was arrested again in connection with the murder of 25 year old photographer Teresa Halbach who unfortunately for Avery, was last seen on his property. The documentary follows Avery and his family on one of the most speculated cases ever un-veiled. It has certainly got people talking, and I can tell you know that when you watch it, you will be there shouting at the television.

I was sat watching this in the lounge back in January after I was held up following a sports injury, feeling pretty sorry for myself, and I was getting so drawn into it, when I saw that my own Mum had sat down, and she was even more into it than I was!

Netflix

What's Leo watching?

Netflix Profiles

Our morning routine is that Leo will wake up, toddle into my room and climb into bed. He picks up his Nintendo Wii U remote and will put Netflix on. He can do it all himself and doesn't need me to physically do anything. I'll wake up with my alarm to find him sat watching Horrid Henry, that is his all time favourite show right now.

Leo has his own kids Netflix profile on my account, and this means that all he needs to do is spot his name and associated image on the app so that he can find all of the kids content. This works perfectly for us and gives Leo a level of independence. I'm not worried that he will click the wrong account, he knows that he has his own, and we have never had a problem with him clicking on one of the other profiles and gaining access to content that isn't suitable. He knows exactly what to do, and enjoys having his own profile.

Children's Netflix

It does seem to mostly be Horrid Henry on his screen at the moment, but he loves The Adventure of Super Mario Bros, much to my horror. I have to say I am not a fan of this series, the music alone drives me to distraction, but Leo adores it. He uses Netflix for films too when he's in the mood and a huge contender for favourite has to be Planes,

In the next post I will talk about upcoming shows and series that I can't wait to watch! That will be live in the next week or so, so check back to hear about shows I am yet to watch, and the latest shows to Netflix!