• What's inside our Advent crate
    Advent crafts - Christmas - homestyle

    What’s inside our Advent crate

    November 24, 2017 - By 

    Advent can take a lot of planning but it’s sooo worth the effort. I spend November planning our Advent books and calendars so everything is ready for December 1st. Last year I made a little wooden Advent crate to hold everything but I have to admit it barely fitted anything, so I need to re-think how to hold everything this year. I’m so excited for this year so I’m going to share what I’ve got ready for the family: This year I have winter duvets for the kids. I picked these up in Asda in the Summer holidays as I…

  • DCSHG Toddler Dolls from Jakks Pacific
    parenting - toy review

    DC SuperHero Girls Toddler Dolls from Jakks Pacific {review}

    November 23, 2017 - By 

    We were kindly sent three of the new DC SuperHero Girls Toddler Dolls from Jakks Pacific to review at home! My 5 year old loves dolls but we’ve never reviewed a toddler doll before. I didn’t really know what a toddler doll was, but it’s a slightly larger doll than you would give to an older child, chunkier and easier for small hands to hold. DC SuperHero Girls Toddler Dolls from Jakks Pacific The DC SuperHero Girls Toddler Dolls from Jakks Pacific are the perfect way to introduce toddlers to the world of DC. The DC Universe includes the most…

  • Our 2017 Book Advent books (perfect for 5-7 year olds)
    Advent crafts - book review - parenting

    Our 2017 Book Advent books (perfect for 5-7 year olds)

    November 23, 2017 - By 

    I can’t believe it’s time to start getting ready for December 1st and our annual festive Book Advent. Do you organise a Book Advent? It’s a lovely way to bring out some of those classic Christmas books, as well as more modern classics, and cuddle up with a good book. We love to read and this time of year is even more perfect for picking up a longer book and sharing it with your child. My children are 5 and 7 but are happy to share their Book Advent books (thankfully!). The first thing I did was to get last…

  • Gift guide for gamers
    Gift guide - parenting

    Gift guide for 7 year old gamers

    November 23, 2017 - By 

    My 7 year old is really easy to buy for at Christmas. He loves YouTube and playing computer games, especially Minecraft and is a bit of a Star Wars geek too. He’s pretty much written his Christmas list, although when the new Star Wars film comes out I think it might change, and I thought I’d share some ideas in case you have a 7 year old and need some inspiration. Gift guide for 7 year old gamers We’re lucky to have both a PS4 and Nintendo Switch thanks to my husband who loves computer games too. I would totally…

  • Our homemade Sylvanian Families advent calendar
    Advent crafts - crafts - Friends of Sylvanian Families

    Our homemade Sylvanian Families advent calendar

    November 22, 2017 - By 

    Every year (since having children) Advent seems to get bigger and bigger. I buy both the children chocolate Advent calendars to count down the days until Christmas but in the run up to December 1st I can’t help buy more and more advent calendars! I will be writing a little more about them another day, but today I wanted to share the homemade Sylvanian Families advent calendar I’ve made for them to open. Our homemade Sylvanian Families advent calendar Over the past few weeks I’ve been collecting vintage Sylvanian Families items, mainly from eBay. I’ve managed to buy a pretty big collection…

  • Christmas button wreath decoration for kids to make
    Christmas - Crafts for kids

    Christmas button wreath decoration for kids to make

    November 22, 2017 - By 

    I had a tidy up of our craft materials yesterday when the kids were at school. When they got home they saw what I had been doing and wanted to get everything out! I love a bit of after school crafting. It’s the perfect way to wind down after a busy day at school and a great way to talk to my children about what they’ve been up to. They are usually so engrossed with their crafting that they actually talk to me about their lessons or who they played with. Equipment to make a button wreath decoration  Green and…

  • competition - parenting

    A ‘marvellous’ competition for truly marvellous children

    November 21, 2017 - By 

    I know many of my readers love a creative competition so today I’m sharing a lovely one from Chipmunks and Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity. My children both adore the stories of Roald Dahl and we can’t wait to enter this ourselves! The hunt is on for the UK’s next, young literary superstar with the launch of a competition by children’s footwear retailer, Chipmunks and Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity. The two have joined forces to encourage children to get creative and celebrate the art of storytelling by coming up with their own tale about the charity’s mascot, Marvin the Marvellous…

  • Advent candle wreath craft for kids to make
    Advent crafts - Bostik Family Craft Bloggers Network - crafts - Toilet roll crafts

    Advent candle wreath craft for kids

    November 20, 2017 - By 

    We have a strict no-Christmas rule in our house in November. My daughter celebrates her birthday at the end of the month and we try not to do any Christmassy things before the end of the month. This doesn’t stop me planning but it makes sure we all focus on her and her birthday. This year we slipped a quick and easy Advent craft in over the weekend whilst she was out 🙂 Equipment to make an Advent candle wreath craft for kids Cardboard tube Shiny craft paper Bostik White Glu Embroidery hoop Pipe cleaners and ribbons Red craft foam…

  • YouTube cupcakes
    homestyle - mindfulness - Monday Happy List

    Monday mindfulness – 5 happy things

    November 20, 2017 - By 

    I’m so happy to be sitting down and having the chance to write this blog post after an epic weekend. It feels like I had a 3 day weekend as my husband took Friday off, which was rare and lovely. But first let me tell you about the 5 things which made me happy over the last 7 days. Monday mindfulness – 5 happy things On Wednesday I went into London for a BritMums/YouTube event. I’ve really enjoyed growing my YouTube channel this year so was really looking forward to learning some tricks to improve my videos. I have to…