If you follow Workingmumdiary and Seytheniftymum you would've heard of Rivetrix toys. 

They are Stem hands-on resources for your kids. I knew I wanted to get some magnet tiles for cuddles and what better time than his birthday. 

I checked on their IG page to make a decision, the link directs to their WhatsApp but I eventually found their website it was an easy process to order and I got my order the same day. I think because of the amount of my order, it was free shipping, and who doesn't like free shipping, not me. 

We got

Rivetrix 100 pcs transparent magnetic construction tiles × 1 ₦25,000.00

Rivetrix Creative Drill Set × 1

₦16,850.00

Rivetrix 100 pcs magnetic tiles: 

What I love about it

1. It is an open-ended toy (Which basically means you can use it in different ways and it grows with your child) 

2. Your child can and will play with it for hours 

3. They can play independently. Once they get a hang of how it works, it's free play from there. 

4. You have quite a number of pieces to play with to make different interesting pieces. 

5. It promotes creativity and imaginative play. 

What I don't like, 

1. You can't create a lot of the sample ideas on the pack with all the tiles in the box. I would've expected that for 100 pcs (which is the highest set they have) you should be able to create a lot, which means you have to buy another set to make up for it. 

2. Whatever your child makes can easily scatter, the magnets are not so strong, so when your child spends hours making something, it can fall apart with one simple tug and that can be frustrating for them. I can't tell you how many meltdowns I've dealt with because of this. Lol. 

3. Some of the pieces that made up the 100, I could really do without. I was given the impression I was buying 100pcs of magnetic tiles and they added some pcs to paste alphabet that alone was 20 whopping pieces that are not magnetic. 

For the price point, I would recommend it. It's still a great resource just don't be surprised or vexed by the shortcomings. 

I would still love to try the magnetile itself if the magnet will hold. 

3.5/5 Cuddly loves

Rivetrix Creative Drill Set

What I liked about it,

1. The drill, it's absolutely cute and works well with the batteries. 

2. It's also open-ended and you can create a lot of things with it using the pieces 

3. The pieces come in a "briefcase" which can help keep them together in one place. 

What I didn't like, 

1. I wish the pieces came in different bags but you have to "cut" it out of the plastic thing and it wasn't so easy removing the pieces 

2. I wish it showed all the ways it could be used in the "manual" until I saw a picture online did I know that it could actually stand.  I was wondering what those pieces were for.

I found this online but it wasn't in the sample manual. 

Rating: 3/5 Cuddly loves 

 We use the magnet tiles more than the drill set at the moment but I am sure once he is older and gets a better hang of it it will be used more. I do recommend it for creative open-ended play and inspite of it's shortcoming it is worth it. 

Do you have the Rivetrix toys? What's your experience with it?

This is the final article in the IITA Series 

Remember our Ibadan trip last year?  We were supposed to visit IITA but that was when we learnt that you can't visit without having reservations, so I shelved it for later. This trip has been 3 months in the making, we FINALLY got ourselves to go and it was worth it! We drove down and it took us about 5 hours from Lekki because we left at almost rush hour so Lagos traffic took a chunk of that time. How was it like traveling by road for a 5 years old and 6 months old? Not bad actually, when my 5 years old wasn't talking our ears off he was sleeping and my 6 months old was cranky in his car seat, so we took him out for like 2 mins when he got cranky to breastfeed. He also slept. All in all, it was pretty smooth. 

What we liked about the place:  It goes without saying. THE ENVIRONMENT. I tell you, it is not hype, it's exactly how you see it in the pictures and some!! 

We love that it's an affordable getaway, you'd see how much we spent in total for our trip for 3 nights, you could never get the same thing in Lagos. Never!! The food was also affordable like we ordered a full table (about 7 items on the menu) and they bill came to 10k - what one person will use to eat in Lagos. Lol.

We loved that there was something for everyone, like adults, children, educational, leisure, you can't even possibly do all the activities available. 

We kinda liked the room and also didn't like it (you'd see why shortly) We liked that the flatlets were big enough

What we didn't like:

Very limited breakfast options. Like they make the same things every day. It's yam, bread, or rice but they have side options of stew, omelet, sausage, oats, and cereals. 

One of the staff was just not competent. Like you'd go to the reception to ask for a pressing iron, kettle and it's like he forgets, you have to ask someone else before it gets done swiftly.

I didn't like the food we bought at the snack bar. It wasn't terrible but it wasn't all that either, most of the meals and meat (protein as we call it) were fried dry - crunchy in some cases. My burger felt like I was eating Akara and bread, the only thing I enjoyed was the salad and club sandwich. The menu was also very limited. 

The doors in the flatlet have these outdated portable locks with opens from inside by simply turning the round knob but can't be open from outside except with a key, we were not comfortable with cuddles staying alone in the room incase he decides to opens the door when we have not woken up which is why we blocked the door with a table (see picture above). We all eventually slept in the same room despite having a 2 bedroom flatlet no thanks to the not functioning AC. 

There is a 20% consumption tax at the restaurant. 20% why? Heaven knows. Food is still affordable though. 

Things to note: 

Can you see the menu?

Things to note:

1. Don't expect too much from the accommodation. It's not a hotel (especially the residential blocks) no room service, you go and eat your food or you take a plate to collect your breakfast or request a takeaway pack for meals from the snack bar. No one is coming to serve you in your room. 
2. I hear there is a more modern single and double room but like I said in the first booking article they are booked and busy so you have to book ahead to get the good stuff. 
3. If you are going to be in the flatlets, take things for breakfast or things you can munch on and if you are staying longer, you can consider cooking. You can request for a pressing iron, pots, and kettle. The fridge and freezers work too. No Microwave. We bought packs of water, cereal, bread etc. Don't forget to take your dishwashing soap and sponge -  we did not have anything to wash the pots so we could not cook. 
4. Take all you need to do each activity. If you plan to swim, golf, fish, play lawn tennis and you have the tools you need at home do not forget to carry them along what you need to do those, don't forget to bring the along i.e. your swimwear, lawn tennis gear, fishing rod, golf gear etc.
5. The Dam is the best location for a picnic. 
6. There is a basketball court by the golf course. I am not sure if they provide basketaballs (we did not ask).
7. When you are making your reservation, request for the official tour too. I hear you have to book way in advance as it is not easy to come by.
8. Remember you can also rent a bicycle. 
9. If you can drive to the place please do. It makes it so much easier to get around if you have a car The place is soooo big, walking around with kids will be very stressful.
10. You also have to book in advance for swimming on the day you want to swim. 
11. Facemask is so important. They don't joke with it there. 
12. There is open wifi but it didn't work in the A301-A303 (that was the first flat we stayed at - which is a 2 bedroom apartment) but it worked in the single room flatlet we changed to the next day. 
13. For a family of 4, the single room flatlet is fine, you can just request an extra bed for your children. 
14. The restaurant closes at 9pm too. 
15. The residential blocks have a steep flight of stairs. If you are parking your car on the ground floor and it's not very easy to climb up and down. 

What did we spend?

Accomodation: 

2 Nights (2 Bedroom Flatlet) - 88,000 

1 Night (1 Bedroom Flatlet) - 33,000 

Food:

 Lunch and Dinner Day 1 - 12,000 

Dinner Day 2 - 10,000 

Fuel - 6,000 

Total: 139,000 (It might be less than this because I didn't get the receipt for the food. I just remembered what we paid not exact figures) Also note we didn't pay for any activities because they were either unavailable or too pricey for us. but on Day 1 and 2 you will see the prices so you can plan accordingly

Ratings: 

I will rate this place a solid 4.5/5 

Honestly, the environment and serenity help you forgive all their shortcomings. It is absolutely worth it. I advocate for going there twice, once to explore and the second time to just lounge. I am looking forward to my lounging trip!

 This was my ambitious Itinerary for Day 2. Read what we did on day 1

1. Go on a Tour of the facility 
2. Visit the Nursery 
3. Play Golf 
4. Swim 

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a non-profit institution
that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africa’s most pressing challenges of hunger,
malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across
sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security,
increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. www.iita.org

basically, they do research on some major staples for African countries. E.g Looking for the right terrin to grow the best type of yams in Nigeria or what specie of Mango is the best? Those type of things.  They grow plants for research purposes, take readings, have scientiest and the whole nine yards. Mr Seriki took us to one of the screen houses where they planted peppers, bell peppers, tomatoes with the aim of knowing at what will bring the most yield, how much fruits can they get out of it, things like that. They grow for research purposes. We saw the rice padding, maize plantation, mango plantation (has different species of mango), cassava, yam etc. It was indeed an educational tour and eye opening.  Really great option for  homeschool tour. 

So many things to see. We didn't have access to go into some of these places because it wasn't an official tour. 

We went swimming.  Just generally dipped in the pool and had some fun till evening. It was friday night and the snack bar was popping. They had pizza, we ate ordered some pizza and called it a night. 

We took some time in the morning before we left to take some bomb images. Once should go here at least twice one to explore and one to just rest! It will definitely be worth it. 

Read my full review and last article in this series next.