• easy Mother's Day crafts for kids
    Crafts for kids - Handmade gifts - Mother's Day crafts

    10 easy Mother’s Day crafts for kids to make

    March 4, 2018 - By 

    Can you believe this time next week we’ll be celebrating Mother’s Day? Now that the snow has melted my thoughts have been turning to Mother’s Day. It’s a fun day to honour the women in our lives. I can’t resist making a handmade card with the kids and I have to admit that we made ours last week when we were stuck indoors due to the snow. The weather gave me plenty of time to look for ideas for handmade cards and gifts to make this Mother’s Day. Mother”s Day falls on Sunday  11th March here in the UK but…

  • Signs of the Sewdiac
    Crafts for adults - Family Life - sewing - subscription box

    Signs of the Sewdiac subscription box (February box)

    March 4, 2018 - By 

    Where did February go. I love February but it just whizzed past, March is here and I’m feeling a little disorganised about it! I received some lovely mail last month, including the February Signs of the Sewdiac box. This is a new subscription box for crafters, based on the Signs of the Zodiac. I really enjoyed the January box so signed up for the February box too. It arrived last week and contained a craft kit which I was excited to receive. Signs of the Sewdiac subscription box The theme for the February box was scissors, so the contents were…

  • Paper plate rainbow craft
    Crafts for kids - St Patrick's Day crafts

    Paper plate rainbow craft for kids

    March 3, 2018 - By 

    Do you ever wonder how you’ve ended up with so many craft supplies? The house is full so we have been trying hard to use some up lately, especially as the snowy weather has kept us inside. Everything has been very pretty but WHITE. To bring some colour into our life we had fun with a large box of ready made pom poms. The children have been using them for all sorts of things – mainly covering their Sylvanian Families play scenes in snow! I thought I could keep them busy by getting them to sort the colours and making…

  • book review - Family Life - What I'm reading

    The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay

    March 3, 2018 - By 

    Last week I told you about the Book of Dust Volume 1: La Belle Sauvage. Today I’m telling you about another book I would recommend The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay. Back in 2015 I read The Bronte Plot, also by Katherine Reay, which I really loved. so I was pretty excited to hear she’s written another book as I really enjoyed her style. The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay I received a copy of The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay via NetGalley. I had trouble downloading it initially but had another go and read it in a few days. Sometimes I forget…

  • Earth pom pom craft for kids
    Crafts for kids - Earth Day crafts

    Earth pom pom for Earth Day

    March 2, 2018 - By 

    One of my challenges for this year was to use up our craft stash before buying any more materials. We have boxes full of everything and it’s lovely to be able to let the children be inspired by some of the materials we have. I’ve been going through everything and donating lots of items I know we won’t use to the charity shop. It’s funny how quickly the children grow up and want to use more grown up crafting materials. With Earth Day coming up next month ((22nd April) we thought it would be fun to take part in the Recycle…

  • Where's Wally World Book Day costume
    Family Life - World Book Day ideas

    Where’s Wally? (World Book Day costume)

    March 1, 2018 - By 

    World Book Day is here again! Us parents either love it or loathe it. I was so jealous of other school as ours had a strict pyjama dress code only. Last year this was relaxed but there has been some hoo haa this year, loads of confusion and the mixed message of costumes or pyjamas. I understand that not everyone wants to buy or make costumes for World Book Day. My son hates dressing up but my daughter loves it. This year she really wanted to go as Harry Potter but eventually she chose Where’s Wally instead. I didn’t mind,…

  • Sylvanian Families Town launches in the UK
    Family Life - Friends of Sylvanian Families

    Sylvanian Families Town launches in the UK today!

    March 1, 2018 - By 

    The 1st March has finally arrived which means Sylvanian Families fans in the UK finally get their hands on the new Sylvanian Families Town range! The much-loved, iconic toy range Sylvanian Families, has expanded with the largest product launch in its history – a new town – which ‘opens’ today. The launch of the new Sylvanian Families Town allows fans to create an alternative to the usual countryside setting of the Village. An exciting urban destination for the characters to visit on a special ‘day out’, the Town is also where the ‘older sister’ characters work – doing their dream…

  • Thomas & Friends Encyclopedia
    book review - Family Life

    Thomas & Friends Character Encyclopedia

    February 28, 2018 - By 

    Thomas & Friends Character Encyclopedia is packed with fun facts, artwork and profiles from your number one blue engine! Including steam engines, diesels, construction vehicles, and of course The Fat Controller, this book is the definitive guide to all of your friends from the island of Sodor. Thomas & Friends Character Encyclopedia With entries on the Steam Team as well as new friends, this book is the ultimate guide to the personalities, jobs and design of more than 100 Thomas & Friends characters. Thomas & Friends Character Encyclopedia also contains fact files and Did You Know? boxes so readers can learn more about…

  • Schleich dinosaurs
    Family Life - toy review

    Imaginative play with the new Schleich Dinosaur figures

    February 28, 2018 - By 

    My 6 year old loves dinosaurs. She is learning more about dinosaurs this term at school which she is really enjoying. She has been re-reading all her dinosaur books and playing with her dinosaur collection. I think all children love dinosaurs. We’ve been to see the Dinosaur gallery at the Natural History Museum a few times and I still love finding out new things about them, just as much as the children do. Schleich Dinosaurs offer new dinosaur figurines for 2018. This year, fans of these prehistoric giants can enjoy even more dinosaurs in new poses and new designs. The…