Learning made fun

Shloer Summer Fruit Punch

AS SHLOER is a favourite of mine I was pleased when I was asked to review their latest flavour, Summer Fruit Punch.

This limited edition flavour was described as light and fruity, perfectly refreshing on a sunny day. I was sent a bottle so I could conjure up the typical tastes of summer: mint leaves, slices of orange and cucumber and fresh juicy strawberries, all served in a jug over ice.

Shloer uses only the best ingredients to create a delicious non-alcoholic sparkling juice drink. All varieties make a tasty grape-based alternative to alcohol, suitable for all the family. Shloer contains no preservatives, artificial colours, sweeteners or flavourings and is available from all major supermarkets.

Shloer Summer Fruit Punch tasted like a non-alcoholic Pimms. I could taste the cucumber and mint. The drink was refreshing and I can see it being a hit with people who don't want to drink alcohol e.g. pregnant Mums or children, especially during one of the many Spring bank holidays, a barbeque or at a wedding. Personally, I would rather go for an alcoholic Pimms but it does make a great alternative.

If you need inspiration with recipes, then check out The Shloer Sunday Cook Book, App. The App has been designed so fans can upload their recipes, then each month fans vote for a winning recipe, and the winner will receive a half day cooking course. You can also win a prize for voting.

Shloer is available in White Grape, Red Grape, Rose, Apple & White Grape, White Grape, Raspberry & Cranberry, White Grape & Elderflower and new Summer Fruit Punch- RRP £2.29

EWIF Awards Ceremony – Free Tickets

The Encouraging Women into Franchising (EWIF) 2010 Awards Ceremony is being held in Bishopsgate, London on 10th May 2011. The event starts at 11:00 a.m. and will end by 1:30 p.m.

Tickets to the Awards Ceremony are free. If you would like tickets to the Awards Ceremony please email me at enquiries@musicalminis.co.uk stating the number of tickets and the names of the people attending (this is needed for security reasons).

The EWIF Awards, sponsored by NatWest recognises the success of women franchisees, women franchisors and women franchise service providers during 2010. There are 4 categories of Awards:

- The NatWest Award for Woman Franchisee of the Year 2010 Recognising the most successful woman franchisee in 2010.

- The Recognition Express Award for Young Woman Franchisee of the Year 2010 Recognising the most successful woman franchisee in 2010 aged under 30 years

- The Stevens & Bolton Award for - Woman Franchisor of the Year 2010 Recognising the most successful woman franchisor in 2010.

- The Business Options Award for Woman Franchise Service Provider of the Year 2010 Recognising the most successful woman franchise service provider in 2010.

Amanda Perkins, the Musical Minis  Bucks and South Northants franchisee, has entered for the Young Woman Franchisee of the Year. We wish Amanda the best of luck.

Children's Books for Tough Times

I WAS wary when I was asked to review a new independent guide recommending story books which can help children to cope with difficult feelings or situations, such as bereavement, bullying or family break-up.

After taking my degree at Warwick University, where I focused on child psychology, I worked on the cardiac unit at Great Ormond Street Hospital as a play specialist. This was in the mid 1980's and was the time when heart transplants on children was just taking off. I had first hand experience in handling difficult feelings with the children on the ward, their parents and their siblings - unfortunately, we did have to deal with bereavement too. Many of the books and guides I've come across I really don't rate, especially concerning bereavement. However, this guide produced by Partnership for Children, a children’s charity, I do feel is good. In fact it uses some of my favourite books I used with the children in Great Ormond Street Hospital all those years ago.

The guide entitled Good Books for Tough Times, has been sent to 23,000 primary schools and more than 3,500 libraries, and has been made available free of charge online for parents.

Would you like to start a Musical Minis franchise in your area?

ON our main website we include a locations page highlighting where you can find a Musical Minis class.

Across the country, hundreds of children and their parents have loved our classes, from Scotland to the South East.

But there are plenty of places that don't have an active Musical Minis presence, here are just five:

• West Midlands
• West Wales
• North Wales
• Edinburgh and district
• Cornwall

Get the party started with Musical Minis...and now Timto too

 
AT Musical Minis, we love a good party.

And did you know we can also provide a party for your children too?

We list everything you could need to know about our parties in a dedicated page on our website:

Musical Minis parties.

Now we have also teamed up with a new service called timto.co.uk which is free but can also make your children's birthdays go with a swing.

Become a Musical Minis franchisee and set your own rules

AS the mum of three children, I understand the pressures and difficulties in balancing work and home life.

That's why Musical Minis revolves around freedom of choice for my franchisees. The franchisees have a big say in how they run their business -- from how many hours they want to dedicate to the franchise to what targets they want to set themselves.

My role is to help them achieve their objectives.

These same values dictate the way that I offer my help and support.

Join the Have a Lovely Time and NurtureStore sunflower challenge

WE'VE teamed up with the family activities and travel blog, Have a Lovely Time.

This popular family activities and travel blog will now also carry news, announcements and more from Musical Minis.

More of that at a later date...

But for now, I wanted to tell you about the Have a Lovely Time and NurtureStore Sunflower challenge. Here's the information you need in the organisers' own words:

HAVE a Lovely Time and NurtureStore have joined forces to help a hospice bloom in June.

Last year Cathy at NurtureStore had an amazing response to her Sunflower Club so she seemed the perfect lady to ask to come onboard for a fun initiative that's going to help people with life-limiting illnesses in the West Midlands.

We're asking you to dig in and join the fun to be in with a chance of winning some great prizes too.

96.3 Radio Aire’s 30 Brides 1 Royal Wedding

For the past two weeks 96.3 Radio Aire have had potential brides from all over Leeds and West Yorkshire registering for 30 Brides 1 Royal Wedding competition. The competition will see 30 couples battle it out to raise as much money as possible for Radio Aire’s charity Cash for Kids AND win a £30,000 wedding fit for royalty!

Musical Minis are supporting couple number 2, Claire and Eddie, as Claire is our West Yorkshire and Harrogate franchisee. Claire 32, became a  Musical Minis franchisee earlier this year and Edward 42, is a Self Employed Civil Engineer. Claire commented "We have a beautiful 15 month old daughter and would like nothing more than to win this dream wedding to make our family complete. I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in January of this year and I am undergoing Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy, hoping that this journey could turn, what started out as a horrible year into a happy year. Whilst raising as much money as possible for Cash for Kids. Please give as much as you can afford by clicking here."

The winning bride will be announced on the 4th April and the wedding will take place on 29th April – the same day as Wills and Kate’s!

The wedding will take place at the Mansion in Roundhay Park and some of the regions most premier suppliers have donated everything, from the dress, to the rings and even the stag do is sorted.

Carly Scott, Marketing Manager comments: “96.3 Radio Aire are all about giving our listeners unique and or money can’t buy experiences and we wanted to give local brides the chance to win a wedding that could rival the Royal Wedding and couldn’t think of a better way than to challenge them to raise money for Cash for Kids.” We’re looking forward to seeing what fundraising initiatives the brides will come up with; who knows what a girl will do in the name of love – and charity! Radio Aire is celebrating their 30th birthday this year and saw it fitting that 30 brides were challenged to win the £30,000 wedding!"

Cash for Kids supports sick, disabled and deprived children in West Yorkshire together with other local children’s charities, schools and groups.

You can read more about Claire and Eddies fundraising events by clicking here.