In the Night Garden Live, the brilliant theatrical adaptation of the popular CBeebies Show, is back by popular demand in a brand new 2012 tour and we have tickets to give away!

Kids can get up close and giggly with their favourite characters Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy, Makka Pakka and even the teeny tiny Pontipines making a grand appearance on stage.

In the Night Garden live takes place in its own all-weather, purpose-built inflatable show dome with many family-friendly facilities.

This summer, the smash hit show will be travelling to 3 London destinations: the Live Quarter at The O2 (May 24 to Jun 9); Old Deer Park, Richmond (Jun 16-30); and Brent Cross (Jul 7-22).

Babes about Town had the pleasure of watching In the Night Garden Live last year and both little ones and mama had a fabulous time. It really is a magical experience from start to finish. Read our In the Night Garden Live review!

**Win a Family Ticket to In the Night Garden Live in London!**

Babes about Town has been kindly offered a prize of 1 Family Ticket (4 people, minimum 1 adult) for any 1 of the 3 London venues e.g. O2, Richmond or Brent Cross to give away to one lucky competition entrant. Simply answer the following question:

Q: What does Igglepiggle always carry?

a) Blanket
b) Trumpet
c) Scooter

Send the correct answer to editor@babesabouttown.com by May 21, 12pm GMT. Please provide your full name, email address and contact number, as well as stating which venue and performance you would like to see. Winner will be drawn at random and notified via email and on the blog.

The tickets are non-transferable and subject to availability. No cash alternatives, accommodation or travel are provided in this competition. For further show information www.nightgardenlive.com or 0333 300 0023.

NB: This competition is now closed. Congratulations to our lucky winner, Lisa Fitzgerald!

We were invited to a family media night performance of Shrek the Musical at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in Covent Garden last week.

I had seen the show last summer at the Royal Gala premiere, but it was a real thrill to watch it again with all my boys (including Papa).

Dean Chisnall and Richard Blackwood have cracking chemistry as Shrek and Donkey. Kimberley Walsh brings plenty of heart to the role of Fiona (originally played by Amanda Holden) and although I missed Nigel Harman as Lord Farquaad, Neil McDermott’s knee-high mincing had the crowd rolling. Second time around, the songs and jokes building up to the foot-stomping finale felt just as fresh.

I’d prepared my 6 and 3 year old beforehand that a very large dragon would appear – luckily they were mesmerised rather than terrified, especially when the dragon takes flight.

Shrek the Musical is recommended for ages 4 and up but Jed lasted pretty well throughout the 2 and a half hours (15 minute interval) although he spent most of it on my lap.

It was a fab evening out, the babes loved the show and both insisted on wearing their Shrek ears all night and the next day.

**WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO SHREK THE MUSICAL**

Join Shrek (Dean Chisnall), our unlikely hero, and his loyal steed Donkey (Richard Blackwood) as they set off on a quest to rescue the beautiful (if slightly temperamental) Princess Fiona (Kimberley Walsh) from her tower guarded by a fire breathing love-sick dragon. Add the diminutive Lord Farquaad (Neil McDermott), a gang of fairytale misfits, and a biscuit with attitude, and you’ve got the must see musical comedy –
SHREK THE MUSICAL!

Featuring all new songs as well as cult Shrek anthem I’m a Believer, SHREK THE MUSICAL brings the well loved characters to life, in a hilarious and spectacular production based on the story and characters from the Oscar®-winning DreamWorks Animation film. The world of fairytales is turned upside down in an all singing, all dancing, irresistible mix of adventure, laughter and romance.

Simply email editor@babesabouttown.com with the correct answer to the following question:

Competition closes April 5, 12pm GMT. Winner will be chosen at random and notified via email.
SHREK THE MUSICAL is even more fun and family-friendly in 2012, with new family pricing! A family ticket is now available for Wednesday and Thursday evening performances (excluding school holiday periods but including summer); which means that a family of four (including at least two under 16’s) can see Shrek The Musical for the fairytale price of £99 for the Upper Circle or £150 for best available seats, making the adventure much more affordable.

Family tickets can be booked via the website, www.ShrekTheMusical.co.uk, in person from the box office, or by phoning: 0844 871 8810.

Terms and conditions
A family ticket includes two adults and two children (16 years and under). Tickets are valid for Mon-Fri performances until 1 June 2012 excluding 2-15 April and 7 May. Subject to availability. Exclusions apply.

NB: This competition is now closed. Congratulations to our lucky winner Miranda Boon!

It’s the blockbuster show of the Easter Holidays and we’ve got tickets up for grabs.

CBeebies Live! ‘Reach to the Stars’ is the brand new Wembley Arena spectacular featuring an all-star line up of TV favourites.

Mike the Knight, Justin Fletcher MBE, Phil Gallagher, Mister Maker, Postman Pat with Jess the Cat and the ZingZillas will be joined by CBeebies presenters Andy Day, Katy Ashworth and Andrew Agnew in the production that’s set to tour nine cities around the UK in 2012.

Robbie Rotten is up to no good and it’s up to PC Plum and the audience to foil his dastardly plan and set the rest of the Stars of CBeebies free from captivity.

The playful, interactive experience combines big screen video footage and live performance from CBeebies heroes including Mr Tumble, Squiglet and the LazyTown crew.

CBeebies Live! ‘Reach to the Stars’ is an unmissable event for the pre-school crowd.

**Win Tickets to CBeebies Live in April**

We’ve got 1 family ticket for CBeebies Live! at Wembley Arena, London for Sunday April 1 at 11am! NB: A family ticket is for 4 people, minimum 1 adult.

Simply answer the following question:

Who is the baddie in CBeebies Live!:
a) Robbie Rotten
b) Robbie Williams
c) Richie Rich

Answers via email to editor@babesabouttown.com before 12pm on Mar 15.

CBeebies Live! is at Wembley Arena, London on Sat 31 March to Sun 1 April, 5 performances only. For further information please go to www.cbeebieslive.com No cash alternatives, accommodation or travel are provided in this competition. The tickets are non-transferable.

NB: This competition is now closed. Congratulations to our lucky winner Louise S.

Dear Readers,

Here’s a fabulous Christmas offer for a very limited time only!

**Win a Pair of Tickets to the Nutcracker Ballet at London Coliseum**

English National Ballet is offering a lucky reader the chance to win a pair of tickets to see Christmas favourite The Nutcracker at the London Coliseum. The tickets can be used for any performance* between Dec 26 and 30 2011.

Journey back in time with English National Ballet’s The Nutcracker to a frost-covered, gas lit London and join Clara, her Nutcracker doll and the magician Drosselmeyer in this traditional festive tale for all the family. In a world of Edwardian elegance sparkling with Swarovski crystal, The Nutcracker brings to life the eternally popular Tchaikovsky score featuring the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Waltz of the Flowers.

To win the tickets please answer the question:

What is the name of the famous fairy in The Nutcracker?

A) The Tooth Fairy
B) The Sugar Plum Fairy
C) Tinkerbell

Please send your answers to editor@babesabouttown.com. Hurry, competition closing date is Thursday Dec 22 at midnight!

Visit www.ballet.org.uk

*subject to availability

Image by Bill Cooper

And the winners are…

This beautiful designer teddy bear from Native Belle Boutique
goes to… Dejeniera Pygott

The entire collection of Herve Tullet’s Let’s Play Games series of books goes to… Pippa Ainsworth

This adorable Reindeer baby shoes and 100% cotton onesie Inch Blue goes to… Georgina Machray

Blossom and Jasmine’s at-home massage goes to… Sabrina Fancy

Jennie Maizels’ delightful Bird Print cushion and Clothes Plasters set goes to… Rachel Neill

Amoralia’s Nougatine Bra and Briefs and Nursing PJs worth £130 goes to… Zara Mahdi

1 Guy Fox Children’s Map and Create Your Own London Map set goes to… Elizabeth Burton

The 2nd Guy Fox Children’s Map and Create Your Own London Map set goes to… Louise Robinson

1 Bags of Love Photo Canvas of your favourite print goes to… Clare Thomson

The Time for Mums Photography for Parents and Baby course worth £129 goes to… Anna Tuckett

Runner-up prize of 10% discount for Time for Mums course goes to… Leo Hayden

The Thames RIB Speedboat adventure Canary Wharf Experience for a family of 4 worth £102 goes to… Emma Morgan

The Free Family Meal with lunch for 2 adults and 2 kids at Proud Kids Club Camden goes to… Gina Decio

And our star prize, the Caramel Baby & Child Koala coat worth £168 goes to… Ness Gorton

Congratulations to all our lucky winners! I’ll be sending confirmation emails out so please check your inbox and respond. Please note that if I don’t hear back from a winner before the end of the day, I’ll be forced to redraw.

Thanks to all of you who took part in the competition and a massive thank you to all our amazing sponsors who really blew us away with their generosity.

We’ve already got more fabulous prizes lining up for the New Year so be sure to follow Babes about Town via our email feed (see above) or on Twitter @Babesabouttown or Facebook for more updates!

Check this dude out.

I believe the word you’re looking for is dapper.

My 2-year-old is modelling the very coolest in Autumn/Winter kids’ fashion from delicious boutique Caramel Baby & Child.

We were sent sample loans of their unisex Koala coat in grey coating and their Lizard coat in tweed to review.

Cue a photo shoot in the local park that gave our little poseur a chance to show off his skills, while I got to test out the Camera+ app on my new iPhone (loving them both)!

As for the coats, I can’t work out which I prefer: the bear about town or the mini country gent look.

Both are 100% lambswool with quilted lining, elegantly tailored with front pockets and the Koala features a trendy penny collar.

The coats are ultra warm and as Jed tried each one on, it was all I could do to stop squeezing my baby koala long enough to take any photos.

Jed’s wearing size 4 samples but these coats come in ages 3 to 10 and are suitable for a boy or girl.

Caramel Baby & Child new ‘animal’ coats are seasonal staples with timeless appeal.

12 Days of Xmas Giveaways: Win a Caramel Baby & Child Koala Coat worth £168!

Our star prize in our 12 day giveaway is a beautiful designer coat from Caramel Baby & Child, the Koala coat in grey coating (top pic, unisex) available in ages 3 to 10, and free for one happy reader in our Christmas lucky dip.

Simply email us at editor@babesabouttown.com with the subject: 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways, your full name and address and the answer to this question:

What did my true love give to me on the 1st day of Xmas?

For full details of this competition, how you can increase your chances of winning and to see the entire prize list as it unfolds, read 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways

Visit www.caramel-shop.co.uk

Saturdays and Sundays in one of London’s hippest destinations has a family-friendly twist with the arrival of Proud Kids Club in Camden.

Located at Proud Galleries, the weekend dining club for families offers more than just crayons and colouring sheets to keep the kids entertained.

While mamas and papas kick back with a tasty lunch and vino, the bubbas are kept busy with performers, storytelling, cupcake decorating, crafts and more.

Babes about Town visited the club in its launch phase as Delicious Mummies and our boys had a whale of a time learning magic tricks and playing hide and seek in the teepee.

After burgers for lunch (the kids’ portions are generous to say the least), the boys had one last bounce on the beanbags.

Then we headed next door to the Gallery where we saw a live band jamming on stage against the backdrop of an evocative photo exhibition starring Ian Curtis of Joy Division.

Proud Kids Club is a cool hangout for families who want a mix of grown-up fun and kid-friendly action. Wind down post-lunch with a game of Wii or Playstation in the Stables or head out to Camden market to catch up on your Christmas shopping.

Proud Kids Club is on Sat-Sun, 12-4pm in the south gallery at Proud Camden, the Horse Hospital, Stables Market, Chalk Farm Rd, NW1 8AH (Camden Town tube). Tel: 0207 482 3867.

12 Days of Xmas Giveaways: Win a Family Meal at Proud Kids Club Camden worth £61!

On Day 11 of our 12 Day giveaway, you can bag a Family meal for 4 (2 adults and 2 kids) including 2 courses and dessert plus a complimentary bottle of wine worth up to £61 as part of the Christmas lucky dip. NB: The meal must be pre-booked and taken by Jan 31, 2012.

Simply email us at editor@babesabouttown.com with the subject: 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways, your full name and address and the answer to this question:

What did my true love give to me on the 1st day of Xmas?

For full details of this competition, how you can increase your chances of winning and to see the entire prize list as it unfolds, read 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways

Visit www.proudcamden.com

We’ve had oodles of family fun around London this year but one of the most exciting things we did was riding a speedboat along the Thames.

It wasn’t just thrilling, it was thrillaxing.

We were invited on the Thames RIB Experience by travel company iExplore and my 5-year-old described it as the ‘funnest time ever’.

The speedboat takes you on a tour of the River Thames from the Embankment to Canary Wharf and back, giving you a unique vantage point of city attractions like the London Eye, Tower Bridge and the Golden Hinde.

There’s a cheeky tour guide and mood music (Hawaii 5-0!) and while part of the 1-hour tour is quite leisurely, other parts are pure white-knuckle rush.

Thames RIB speedboats are the ultimate adrenaline experience for all ages. Here’s a clip I shot on our ride – excuse the wobbly camera, I was clinging on tightly to my 2-year-old with the other hand!

12 Days of Xmas Giveaways: Win a Family Ticket on the Thames RIB Experience!

It’s Day 10 of our 12 Day giveaways and Thames Rib Experience has generously thrown in a Family Ticket (2 adults, 2 children) on their Canary Wharf Experience worth £102 to our Christmas lucky dip. NB: Passengers must weigh at least 15kg.

Simply email us at editor@babesabouttown.com with the subject: 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways, your full name and address and the answer to this question:

What did my true love give to me on the 1st day of Xmas?

For full details of this competition, how you can increase your chances of winning and to see the entire prize list as it unfolds, read 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways

Visit www.thamesribexperience.com

Time for Mums is a parenting business that’s right up our alley.

Founder Ania Wilk-Lawton set up the company with the express purpose of offering creative courses for new mums that are truly baby-friendly.

She launched the Time for Mums Photography for Parents course with great success in Surrey and Croydon and now she’s bringing this fantastic workshop series to two more London locations.

Starting in January at Special Yoga Centre in Kensal Rise (in association with the lovely West London Tots organisation) and at All Fired Up Cafe in East Dulwich, Photography for Parents offers mums and dads a chance to hone their camera skills under professional guidance.

So whether you’re a snap happy papa or a mamarazzi in progress, you can pick up new tips and tricks in the company of fellow parents and their bubba subjects.

Learn how to capture your baby in the best light and record all those precious moments before they’re lost for good.

This series of 5 x 90 minute workshops are aimed at both casual photographers and people wanting to enhance their knowledge and you should come armed with a DSLR or compact camera with manual settings ( A and S, or A and Tv).

We think Photography for Parents is a winning idea and the images shot by former students speak for themselves.

Time for Mums Photography for Parents courses run for 5 weeks and are currently available in 4 locations: Heaven in Nutfield, Surrey RH1; All Fired Up Cafe in East Dulwich, SE22; Beanies in Croydon, CRO; and Special Yoga Centre in Kensal Rise, NW10

12 Days of Xmas Giveaways: Win a Photography for Parents Course £129!

For Day 9 of our 12 Day Christmas raffle, we’re adding 1 Gift Voucher for a Photography for Parents Course worth £129 at a course location of your choice to our Xmas lucky dip. Ania is offering an additional 10% course discount to a runner-up.

Simply email us at editor@babesabouttown.com with the subject: 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways, your full name and address and the answer to this question:

What did my true love give to me on the 1st day of Xmas?

For full details of this competition, how you can increase your chances of winning and to see the entire prize list as it unfolds, read 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways

Visit www.timeformums.com

Photos by Penny Carolan Photography via Time for Mums web site

I was beyond thrilled when I received this adorable canvas featuring my two boys in the post and for ages I’ve wanted to share the love.

Bags of Love, to be precise.

The company transforms your beloved photographs into custom gifts ranging from wall art to cushions and deck chairs.

Order a photo canvas before 2pm and they’ll have it to you the SAME day.

So if you’re searching for a personalised Christmas gift for a loved one, but worried about timing, look no further.

A beautifully enlarged version of a beloved photograph is a simple idea that packs a seriously emotional punch.

12 Days of Xmas Giveaways: Win a Bags of Love Photo Canvas

On Day 8 of our 12 Day giveaway, we’re adding a 30×40 cm photo canvas
from Bags of Love to our (already bulging with treasures) Christmas raffle.

Simply email us at editor@babesabouttown.com with the subject: 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways, your full name and address and the answer to this question:

What did my true love give to me on the 1st day of Xmas?

For full details of this competition, how you can increase your chances of winning and to see the entire prize list as it unfolds, read 12 Days of Xmas Giveaways

Visit www.bagsoflove.co.uk