• crafts

    The Highway Rat story stones

    December 4, 2017 - By 

    This Christmas we are really looking forward to watching The Highway Rat, a 30-minute animation of the popular children’s story by Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler. It’s made by the same people who produced the Stick Man, Magic Light Pictures, so I think we’re in for a real treat. The Highway Rat The Highway Rat is a brilliant story. In case you haven’t read it recently: ‘Give me your buns and your biscuits! Give me your chocolate eclairs! For I am the Rat of the highway, and the Rat Thief never shares!’ Life is not safe for the other animals, as the…

  • Monday mindfulness – 5 happy things
    homestyle - Monday Happy List

    Monday mindfulness – 5 happy things

    December 4, 2017 - By 

    Last week was super busy getting ready for my daughter’s 6th birthday as well as the start of Advent. I love the 1st December, but it requires a lot of effort to make sure the kids have their favourite Advent Calendars and everything is wrapped and ready for them. Monday mindfulness – 5 happy things The highlight of last week definitely has to be my daughter turning 6. Her birthday felt very spread out as she had her birthday party a few weeks before. She received some lovely gifts – lots of PJ Masks and Sylvanian Families toys – and…

  • Win a copy of The Emoji Movie DVD
    competition - film review - parenting

    Win a copy of The Emoji Movie DVD

    December 3, 2017 - By 

    On November 27th Sony Pictures Animation’s The Emoji Movie was released on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Little Sis and I watched The Emoji Movie in the summer and we absolutely loved it (see what we thought of it here), so we couldn’t wait until we could watch it again at home. The animated comedy unlocks the never-before-seen secret world inside your smartphone. Hidden within the messaging app is Textopolis, a bustling city where all your favourite emojis live, hoping to be selected by the phone’s user. In this world, each emoji has only…

  • Crafty Gifts by Jane Bull book review
    book review - Craft book review - crafts - homestyle

    Crafty Gifts by Jane Bull book review

    December 3, 2017 - By 

    It’s been a while since I shared a kids craft book with you but I have a lovely one to share with you today – Crafty Gifts by Jane Bull. Stuck on gift ideas for mum, dad, grandparents, or teacher? Then turn to Jane Bull’s charming new children’s craft book. Packed with over 20 ideas for presents, wrapping, and cards, perfect for kids who love to craft. Crafty Gifts is full of amazing projects for children aged 7+ to make, all with clear step-by-step instructions. Jane takes you from creating lovely presents, all the way to the finishing touches of wrapping…

  • Sylvanian Families Christmas crafts for kids to make
    crafts - Friends of Sylvanian Families

    Sylvanian Families Christmas crafts

    December 2, 2017 - By 

    My daughter was really lucky to receive a few new Sylvanian Families for her birthday this week. She really wanted the Sylvanian Families Kangaroo Family and the Forest Nursery – both of which she was excited to open. She’s asked for Beechwood Hall for Christmas but it just looks so large – I’m sure we haven’t room! I love that it is so easy to add seasonal items to her Sylvanian small world play. At Halloween we added the super cute Baby Trick or Treat set to her play which she really enjoyed. We’ve recently had fun with a few Sylvanian Families…

  • Win a Polar Bear Felting Kit
    competition - crafts

    Win a Polar Bear Felting Kit from Hobbycraft

    December 1, 2017 - By 

    Earlier this summer I went to the Hobbycraft Press Show where I picked up so much inspiration for my Christmas crafting. I was given a wonderful felting kit which I thought I would offer to my readers – I know you all love to craft as much as I do! This Polar Bear Felting Kit is the perfect way to create crafty decorations that will brighten up your festive décor! You’ll be able to make something completely different for your Christmas tree, with bright shades that will add charming embellishment to your seasonal celebrations. The kit includes everything you need to create…

  • Sharing classic children's books - The Little Prince
    parenting

    Sharing classic children’s books – The Little Prince

    December 1, 2017 - By 

    I write a lot about books because I am passionate about reading and encouraging my children to read. I took a little video of my 5 year old yesterday. We were reading her school book and I was blown away with how much progress she has made so far in Year 1. Both my children love to read and I’m excited about all the books I’ve been buying them for Christmas. The Folio Society recently got in touch about some of the latest titles they have published. The Folio Society are a London based publishing company, renowned in the literary…

  • Mongoose Stance Scooter
    parenting

    Mongoose Stance Scooter review

    December 1, 2017 - By 

    My children have had scooters since they could toddle. Although they both have bikes they prefer to scoot everywhere. Just like a bike grows with your child, so does a scooter, and they have both had a few different models over the last few years. They both started with the Mini Micro 3-in-1 Scooter with a seat and Scoot ‘n’ Pull so we could give them a little helping hand. The seat and straps soon went and they enjoyed the Mini Micro Scooter for years, scooting to and from nursery, and then school. These scooters were brilliant and we were…

  • homestyle

    Updating a boy’s bedroom

    November 30, 2017 - By 

    Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash I think know my husband thinks I’m a little crazy but I’ve started planning our next round of DIYs. We’ve been in our current house for nearly 5 years and have decorated the whole house, except for his office, and installed a new kitchen. It’s funny how tired you can get of a colour though and I would love to start re-decorating the bedrooms. When we moved in one room was blue and the other was pink. It seemed natural that my son took the blue room and my daughter the pink one. We actually re-painted the…