• win a goody bag
    competition - days out - homestyle - London

    The Knitting & Stitching Show London 2017 {goody bag giveaway}

    October 17, 2017 - By 

    On Sunday I enjoyed my annual day out at The Knitting & Stitching Show London. I try and go every year. Not only do I love fabric shopping but I also find Ally Pally a beautiful venue – and just down the road from where I used to live – happy memories. This year I went with a school mum friend and it was a totally different experience but still a lot of fun. If you’ve never been before then The Knitting & Stitching Show London took place between 11th-15th October at Alexandra Palace. If you love crafting then it’s a…

  • Making tracks with a Family and Friends Railcard
    Buckinghamshire - days out - parenting

    Making tracks with a Family and Friends Railcard

    October 16, 2017 - By 

    On Saturday we planned a grand day out. Our diary was free of play dates and parties and we really wanted to go somewhere new. We live on the edge of West London and we’re so lucky to have the countryside on our doorstep.  We decided to head over to High Wycombe for the day. We’ve passed through many times on our way to Hughenden Manor or Odds Park Farm but decided it was time to stop off and see what it had to offer. My husband loves to drive but we were recently offered a Family and Friends Railcard which…

  • Tatty Devine acrylic sewing machine necklace
    homestyle - Monday Happy List

    Monday mindfulness {5 happy things}

    October 16, 2017 - By 

    Week 159 of my weekly Monday happy things post, about the things which have me happy. Last week was really busy, and the week-end was too. I’m hoping for some quieter time to get ready for half term. Only 2 parent evenings, after school clubs and homework to get through first! Monday mindfulness {5 happy things} I think that Facebook has a lot to blame for my purchasing recently. Someone mentioned that Orla Kiely had designed two exclusive bags for The Royal British Legion. I found them on the Poppy Shop and just had to buy them. Jute bags are…

  • Star Wars Coding Projects
    book review - parenting - Star Wars crafts

    Star Wars Coding Projects {book review}

    October 15, 2017 - By 

    My 7 year old is really enjoying his lessons in the computing room at his new school. In Year 3 they start to learn Scratch which he’s really excited about. He loves computer games, especially Minecraft, Cars 3, Mario Kart, Splatoon 2 and anything Lego. We’ve played around a bit with Scratch at home, he can make a sprite walk across the screen and move around. It’s something he loves to do with his Dad and it’s great to see them doing something together. Star Wars Coding Projects Combining the beginner coding language Scratch with the indomitable Star WarsTM empire, Star…

  • POWER UP! MONOPOLY GAMER
    Hasbro Toy Tribe - parenting - toy review

    Power Up! with Monopoly Gamer

    October 15, 2017 - By 

    A few weeks ago we established a new family tradition. Family traditions are really important to me and I think our Friday night game night is pretty cool. The kids look forward to it all week and for me, it’s the start of the weekend, the end of another busy week, and a great way for us to spend time together away from the tv or laptop. My 7 year old is (already!) a huge gamer. He loves the PS4 and Nintendo Switch and if he isn’t playing computer games then he’s probably reading a book of watching YouTube for…

  • D.I.Y. Dollshouse by Alexia Henrion
    book review - Craft book review - homestyle - What I'm reading

    D.I.Y. Dollshouse by Alexia Henrion

    October 14, 2017 - By 

    I love receiving happy mail and was delighted to receive a small parcel containing a copy of D.I.Y. Dollshouse. I wasn’t sure if it was for me or my children but we’ve all been enjoying reading it. D.I.Y. Dollshouse: Build and Decorate a Toy House Using Everyday Materials is a lavishly illustrated guide for budding architects, builders, and designers, showing them how to build and furnish their own eco-friendly dollhouse using only items found around the house or available for free. Author Alexia Henrion has created a fun-filled book that is all about recycling, re-using and re-purposing. She provides simple…

  • Halloween Monster Bagels
    baking - Halloween crafts - homestyle

    Halloween Monster Bagels

    October 14, 2017 - By 

    I love Halloween. Have I said that enough lately? I love coming up with Halloween crafts and I’m not sure what’s more fun – Halloween crafting or seeing my kids faces when they discover what I’ve been up to! Every day at pick up they ask me for a snack. It’s now fully ingrained in my head that I have some yummy healthy snacks for them. Today, however, I didn’t pack treats. Instead I spent the afternoon making them some very spooky Halloween treats – monster bagels for when they got home. As a busy mum I love to share…

  • Snot: the toy that nobody wanted
    Christmas - parenting - toy review

    Snot: the star of Smyths Toys Christmas advert

    October 13, 2017 - By 

    If your kids want to know what the hottest toy is going to be for Christmas 2017 then you’re in luck. Meet Snot. The star of the Smyths Toys Christmas advert, the toy that no one wanted. Snot, a toy who begins as a factory line error but goes on to become this year’s most wanted toy. The story follows the cute and curious Snot as he wanders through the streets looking for a place to call home. Though he encounters a series of misfortunate events on his travels, including being chased by a 50ft monster, Snot ends up saving the…

  • Halloween x-ray hand print craft
    crafts - Halloween crafts - STEM activity

    Halloween x-ray hand print craft

    October 13, 2017 - By 

    Can I admit that we’re coming to the end of the A-Z Play at Home blog series organised by Teach Me Mommy and I’m finding the last few letters quite hard?! This weeks’ letter is the letter X and I’ve been finding it difficult to think of any thing beginning with the letter x around the home. So I’ve cheated a little bit! With Halloween coming up at the end of the month my children have been going crazy for all things Halloween. I tapped into their enthusiasm with our fun craft for Halloween – a ghostly x-ray hand print…