#NetflixStreamTeam - June

'Me' time becomes pretty scare when you become a parent. It is natures way of telling us that we can forget doing anything for ourselves, well for the first couple of years anyway! Now that Leo is getting older I seem to be getting a better balance, and I have even found myself with some spare time to do things.. for ME! 

I have recently started the gym and once Leo is in bed I have been treating myself to an hour or so out of the house. I guess that's the one benefit to having to move home, I now have built in babysitters, and as I have tucked Leo up in bed, and read him his bedtime story, I don't feel guilty about doing something completely for myself. 

Up until I found this new found freedom my evenings would be spent curled up with a new Netflix Boxset, and to be honest even these days I do love nothing more than a quiet evening with my favourite boxsets.

With June seeing the arrival of Season 2 Orange is the New Black, I very quickly demolished each episode. Now I am more than ready for season 3 to hit the screens! Last month I was invited to Soho to view the screening episode of Season 2... Along with the cast! Yes I was actually in the very same room as Taylor Schilling and Jason Biggs. Jason Biggs for me is someone I have grown up watching on the television, so it was a surreal moment to actually almost meet him!

When Leo isn't around there are a number of boxsets that I have thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish, one of the ones on my 'must watch list' at the moment is Gossip Girl. This is a series I actually started to watch a couple of months ago, and for some reason I just didn't get into it straight away. Fast forward a couple of months and I cannot get enough of it, I am still on Season 1 at present but I am pleased to see I have 5 more seasons to enjoy ahead of me.

24 is another show that I just LOVE, no matter how many times I watch this series I can still enjoy it again and again. I have recently caught back up on all of Jack Bauer's bad days in anticipation of the latest season coming around. 

I will end this post with a selection of my favourite Netflix selections that I enjoy when I do get some coveted time to myself...

Disclaimer: I was sent everything I needed to get started watching Netflix for the next 12 months. I have not been paid to write this post. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.

#NetflixStreamTeam - March

You may have noticed a number of children in fancy dress on Thursday 6th March? They weren't just any fancy dress costumes, they were in celebration of World Book Day. Those costumes represented the children's favourite storybook characters and I was really impressed with the thought and imagination that went into each of the costumers that I saw. 

I used to read many books as a child, and I could often be find with my face stuck into a good story. I wouldn't put it down until I had devoured it cover to cover, as the years have gone on I have found less time to read books of my own, but I understand the importance of books and love to sit down with Leo and read to him. We tend to cuddle up for some quiet time just before he goes to bed, we crack the door open and let the light from the hallway creep in. We snuggle down under the duvet with  a book chosen by Leo and we read it together. Leo is really enjoying his story books these days and loves picking out books that he wants me to read to him. I am looking forward to introducing some older books, books that I adored as a child. The Magic Faraway Tree is on my must read list for him, and I think that in the next few years he will fall in love with the book for the same reasons I did as a child.

In honour of World Book Day Netflix thought that it would be the perfect time to get children excited about reading, they have put together 5 great tips on how to make storytime more enjoyable for little ones:  

1.) Dress up as the characters from your favourite books with your child for story time. You don’t necessarily need expensive outfits, whip out the face paints and get creative!

2.) Discuss the book after reading; did your child enjoy it? What did they learn? Would they like to read it again? Who was their favourite character and why? 

3.) Read out loud and  give spirit to the characters – make it a family affair! Whether that be mum, dad or a grandparent children will relish the opportunity to spend time with the family.

4.) A great incentive to get your child reading is to watch the TV show or film on Netflix after you have finished the book as a reward.

5.) Make story time fun with an easy to follow craft idea on how to bring your favourite book to life, below....

Books play such  an important part in child development and paving the road for just letting their imaginations take flight. I have read books in the past that have been later adapted into films, and I have been blown away with the seeing my favourite books being brought to life. I was there in the cinema for the very first Harry Potter film, and was just completely awe struck, this magical world that I had read so much about was now on the screen before my eyes. Netflix have a fantastic selection of TV Shows and film adaptions to some very much loved storybooks that the whole family can enjoy.

For the younger children you can sit down and snuggle up with some old favourites:

- Huckle Cat

- Sally and Friends in Busytown Mysteries

- Thomas and Friends

Leo has been loving Thomas and Friends, and he has even been borrowing my iPad to sit in the tent in his room, snuggled up with his blanket. 

For the older kids (and myself...) there is R.L Stein's The Haunting Hour. I absolutely loved R.L Stein in my younger years, especially the Goosebumps books! I couldn't resist sitting down and watching this when I saw it was available to stream, although Leo is a little young to appreciate this right now, there will come a day that he will be just as into it as I once was.

Other titles that I have been enjoying with Leo this month are Little Bear and Lady & The Tramp, and for myself I have been catching up on The Vampire Diaries. My love for this show is no secret and It has me watching one episode and then another.. and another.

Disclaimer: I was sent everything I needed to get started watching Netflix for the next 12 months. I have not been paid to write this post. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.

The Vampire Diaries Season 3 Review

Everything and everyone has to come from somewhere, evolve… Well have you ever wondered where Vampires come from? Who the original Vampires were? Well in season 3 of The Vampire Diaries all of these questions will be answered.

Season 3 consists of 22 episodes spread out over 4 disks, and the storyline focuses on Klaus (who we were first introduced to back in season 2) one of the original Vampires and his relationship with the original family.

Which we soon come to realise is a little dysfunctional!

We pick up with Elena at her 18 birthday where we see that Stephan is still fighting his humanity and is not really in the mood to help celebrate. In fact at this moment in time Stephan is still blindly trying to push Elena away, but Stephan’s negative advances actually end up pushing her into Damon’s open arms.

As the season progresses we see Damon and Elena grow ever closer, but it is always apparent that Elena still carries an ever glowing torch for Stephan. When it comes down to it though there is a decision to be made, which brother will she pick when the consequences mean that she will loose the other brother…

Back in Season 2 we were introduced to the Hybrids (Half Werewolf, half Vampire) and Klaus’s mission to turn more werewolves into his own unique species. Klaus continues to spread his darkness all over Mystic Falls in his attempt to raise an army of Hybrids that can preserve his existence for all of eternity, but when his Mother returns from the dead with a mission to lay all of her children (the original family) to rest, things take a turn for Klaus, and not for the better!

You see Klaus’s Mother Esther was a powerful witch back in the day, (dating back 1000 years!) and actually turned her children into Vampires in order to keep them safe. Esther dabbled in the dark magic as they were living in the same town as the original Werewolf family. Esther wanted her children to have the speed and strength to get away from the Werewolves after her son was mauled one full moon.

The thirst for blood…Well that was just an unfortunate side effect.

Season 3 was a very busy season with many bumps in the road, but the season finale was spot on and also offered one last shock before the closing titles swept over the screen.

Elena Gilbert is in transition, and with season 4 she will be a full fledged vampire.

I am now on the edge of my seat and going to have to watch season 4 very soon!

You can purchase The Vampire Diaries Season 3 for £19.49 At Amazon.

Disclaimer: I was sent The Vampire Diaries Season 3 for the purpose of this review however all views and opinions are completely honest and my own.

The Vampire Diaries Review - Season 2

After watching Season 1 of ‘The Vampire Diaries’ I found that I was very into the goings on in Mystic Falls and I couldn't wait to get my teeth stuck into Season 2.

The next installment picks up directly after the conclusion of Season 1 and reunites us with all of the series regulars, and the return of Elena’s doppelganger Katherine. Along with the problem of Katherine, Werewolves have come to Mystic Falls bringing with them a whole new set of problems for Elena and her Vampire duo – Stephan and Damon.

One thing is for sure…A Werewolf bite is fatal to a Vampire, so you can imagine why Damon has his reservations about trusting them.

Everything starts to get a little darker in Mystic Falls this season; Bonnie has reigned in her witchy powers after locating the spot where many powerful witches were killed many years ago. Bonnie has now mastered channeling their powers and become pretty fierce in the process. Caroline is embracing her new life as a vampire after Katherine decided to turn her back in Season 1, and is now trying hard to keep the secret from her Mum and on/off boyfriend Matt. But will she succeed in keeping such a big secret from those she loves?

With the arrival of the Werewolves we also see the down fall of Stephan as he makes a deal with one of the very original Vampires – Klaus. A deal Stephan makes In order to save his brother Damon, after he suffers a Werewolf bite.

In so making this pact, Stephan spirals out of control and begins to revert to the darkness that used to compel him many years ago. Will Stephan’s love for Elena pull him back to her?

Elena is feeling the heat after her Aunt Jenna discovers that Elena has been keeping some rather big secrets, and will she cope when she realises that all is not as it seems?

Will the Salvatore’s be able to keep everyone safe from the original Vampire Klaus who wants to sacrifice Elena as his doppelganger in order to complete his transition from Vampire to Hybrid (A Werewolf crossed with a Vampire!)

For Klaus’s sacrifice to work he needs a precious moon stone that is being kept from him, to sacrifice Elena, a Vampire and a Werewolf.

It sounds like Mystic Falls is the perfect place for him to make this attempt…But will he succeed?

Season 2 promises to keep you on the edge of the seat as you continue to watch this supernatural tale unfolding. I am thoroughly enjoying this series and the twists and turns that unfold over the course of the season.

I wonder what will happen next as I get into Season 3….

You can purchase Season 2 from Amazon for £18.29.

Disclaimer: I was sent The Vampire Diaries Season 2 for the purpose of this review, however all views and opinions are my own.

The Vampire Diaries Season One Review

At the end of a long day at work, and when I have got home and finally completed my Mummy duties, I like nothing more than sitting back and watching a little bit of television (blogging duties aside of course!)

Warner Bros. recently sent me the Vampire Diaries Season 1 to sink my teeth into. I had caught snippets of the show when it had been shown on the television but had always missed the time slot, so I was very happy to finally be able to see what it was all about.

The Vampire Diaries introduces the audience to the small town of Mystic Falls and Elena Gilbert. Elena is grieving the loss of her parents and is finally picking back up the pieces of her life in a bid to find an assemblance of normality.

Elena feels a huge responsibility to her younger brother in the wake of all that has happened since the tragic car crash that claimed both of her parent's lives and does everything possible to prevent him any further heartache.

Elena is soon introduced to the delectable Salvatore brothers Stephan and Damon. Stephan and Damon are not your average brothers, they harbour a life long secret. They are actually vampires who were around when the town was first foundered back in 1859.

Elena and Stephan are soon drawn together, and a passionate relationship starts to un-fold. It is not long before Elena senses that something is not quite right, could it be that distinct look in his eyes? Or the sudden animal attacks that are haunting Mystic Falls?

You will have to tune in to find out...

You see the reason Stephan is so drawn to Elena is because she is the spitting image of his past love Katherine. Katherine was a vampire who both the Salvatore brothers held a flame for many, many years ago.

With the arrival of Damon into Mystic Falls comes all of the sibling rivalry and drama that lead to them eventually going their separate ways for 15 years. Now they are face to face once again everything begins to unravel in a fast moving, action packed, blood sucking season one.

I began to watch the Vampire Diaries last week, and it has resulted in many a late nights as I have become so engrossed into what may happen next, that I decide to watch one more episode...and then one more.

It is a very fast moving drama that really will keep you on the very edge if your seat, in anticipation of what will happen as the series progresses. I am now on the Fourth disk and looking forward to see how they conclude the many exciting twists and turns of the first season, but it is safe to say that I will me be watching the next series.

Season 3 has actually just been released for those of you who are up to date, but for those of you who love a supernatural mystery and have let the Vampire Diaries pass you by, then this really is a must watch.

You can purchase season 1 on Amazon for £12.00 and I am sure you will not be disappointed with the goings on in Mystic Falls.

Disclaimer: I was sent The Vampire Diaries Season One for the purpose of this review, however all views and opinions are completely honest and my own.