• Sylvanian Families Town
    Family Life - Friends of Sylvanian Families - toy review

    Sylvanian Families Town range launches in the UK in 2018

    January 2, 2018 - By 

    I love the start of a New Year. After a lovely Christmas and New Year I’m excited about what will happen in 2018. One thing I’ve been looking forward to is the launch of the Sylvanian Families Town range, launching in the UK in 2018. If you’re a fan of Sylvanian Families then you’ve probably heard about the Sylvanian Families Town range. Yep, the Sylvanians are coming to the big city! Expect there to be shops, hotels, houses and trams! I follow a few Japanese sites which had the Sylvanian Families Town range in April last year. I’ve seen quite a few sets…

  • Best of nine on instagram
    Family Life

    Monday mindfulness – 5 happy things

    January 1, 2018 - By 

    Happy New Year! I know it doesn’t seem very long since I wrote my Wednesday Happy Things post. I love this time between Christmas and New Year, although it’s difficult to know what day it is! Monday mindfulness- 5 happy things We went away the day after Christmas Day and visiting family and friends means it has felt like a bit of a holiday. We’ve actually had a few great days out and some lovely meals too. One thing I love at this time of year is seeing my ‘Best of nine’ on Instagram. It’s a bit silly but a…

  • crafts - Crafts for kids - New Year crafts

    Why you should create a New Year’s Time Capsule with your kids

    December 31, 2017 - By 

    This time last year I sat down and thought about how I wanted to celebrate the New Year with my children. They love a reason to celebrate and over the last few years we’ve made lots of New Year crafts from New Year bells to a paper bell garland and little confetti boxes. On New Year’s Eve we usually have a nice family meal and play a board game – pretty low key but a lovely way to mark the end of a year. Just like last year I’ll be printing out the Printable New Year’s Resolution for Kids 2018 from…

  • Star Wars toys for fans of The Last Jedi
    Family Life - Hasbro Toy Tribe - toy review

    Star Wars toys for fans of The Last Jedi

    December 30, 2017 - By 

    It can’t have escaped your notice that the latest Star Wars film was released earlier this month. On 14th December Star Wars: The Last Jedi finally came to our screens and the whole family went to watch – in our favourite Star Wars clothes – on the 16th. As well as the new film, we were also looking forward to seeing which toys would be brought out to tie in with The Last Jedi. As huge Star Wars fans we were excited to be offered a bundle of Star Wars toys from Hasbro to celebrate the new film, and from…

  • Free Highway Rat activity trail {at Haldon Forest}
    days out - Family Life

    Free Highway Rat activity trail {at Haldon Forest}

    December 29, 2017 - By 

    The Highway Rat is the latest Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler book to be brought to life on our screens. Did you watch the animated version which was shown on Christmas Day? We made sure we had opened all our presents and finished our Christmas dinner so we could sit down and watch it together. It’s the latest activity trail which you can follow for free, thanks to the Forestry Commission England. Free Highway Rat activity trails in England We were looking for something to do between Christmas and New Year so headed off to the Highway Rat trail. Our…

  • 24 new Elf on the Shelf ideas
    Christmas - Elf on the Shelf - Family Life

    24 new Elf on the Shelf ideas

    December 28, 2017 - By 

    December is such a busy month for any parent. Sometimes I wonder why I make life extra hard for myself but whilst the children are young we have an Elf on the Shelf. I bought our Elf on the Shelf from Amazon a few years ago. It was really expensive at the time but they are a lot more affordable now. It came in a presentation box with a story book.The idea of the Elf on a Shelf is that he keeps an eye on children during December, reporting good and bad behaviour back to Father Christmas. It’s definitely a…

  • Lego Star Wars Ahch-To Island Training set
    Family Life - Monday Happy List

    Wednesday mindfulness – 5 happy things

    December 27, 2017 - By 

    Slightly later than usual I bring you my weekly Monday Wednesday mindfulness post, about 5 happy things from the previous week. I popped into London for some last minute Christmas shopping. I really wanted to check out the new HEMA store on Tottenham Court Road and the Tatty Devine decorated Christmas trees on the South Bank. The two Smalls finished school which they were both very happy about. My son brought home 3 achievement certificates for gaining a certain level of House Points. I know I shouldn’t have but I bought myself the Lego Star Wars Ahch-To Island Training set. We…

  • L.O.L. Surprise! Pets unboxing
    Family Life

    L.O.L. Surprise! Pets unboxing

    December 24, 2017 - By 

    My 6 year old loves here L.O.L. collection. She’s been so lucky to receive a few to unbox at home and they are an adorable toy. She was the lucky recipient of a new L.O.L. Surprise! Pets toy which she really enjoyed opening. L.O.L. Surprise! Pets L.O.L. Surprise! Pets is the latest toy in the L.O.L. range. L.O.L. Surprise! Pets includes puppies, kitties, bunnies and hamsters. Just as before, discover 7 layers of surprise in each L.O.L. Surprise! Pet! As you unbox each layer a new surprise is unveiled. This is the ultimate unboxing toy so we had to make an unboxing video…

  • Handprint robin for winter
    Crafts for kids - Winter

    Handprint robin for winter

    December 23, 2017 - By 

    It doesn’t feel like we’ve made too many winter crafts this year. With a few days before Christmas though the children just want to make things which suits me. Everything is done and ready so that’s pretty much all I want to do too. We all love to watch the birds in our garden, especially a very friendly little robin, who inspired our handprint robins. Handprint robin for winter My daughter loves using her hands to make art. Handprint art is fun and I love watching her cover herself in paint every time! for this craft activity we used brown…