• homestyle - Summer

    Keeping cool in Summer

    July 14, 2017 - By 

    It looks like we’re having another mini heatwave in the UK at the moment. Like most Brits I admit to being obsessed with the weather. I love Spring and Autumn, find Winter a little depressing and really dislike Summer. I just can’t stand the heat and sunshine. My skin just reacts in the worst way and I find it so much easier to stay indoors than have to worry about hats, suncream and keeping cool. I find it harder to make sure my children are being sensible too. The morning school run seems to become a blur of water bottles,…

  • crafts

    How to make a wind chime with keys

    July 14, 2017 - By 

    As you know we’ve been taking part in the A-Z Play at Home blog hop over the last few weeks. The idea is to be inspired by everyday objects in the home with our crafting and learning activities. This weeks letter is the letter K. I recently saw a lovely wind chime made with painted keys on Pinterest. We always have spare keys in the bottom of our kitchen drawers, no-one knows what they’re for and they are so easy to upcycle. Today I’m going to show you our take on how to make a wind chime with keys. Equipment…

  • This is Not a Fairy Tale book review
    book review - homestyle - What I'm reading

    This is Not a Fairy Tale book review

    July 13, 2017 - By 

    As I went up to see my daughter for the umpteenth time last night I realised how quickly she is growing up. Despite school, a playdate, a karate lesson and shower she was NOT tired. We asked her to lie down in bed for 10 minutes before she got up to play. I let her play for a while before going back up to ask her to go to bed. This was at 9.30pm! She’s only 5 years old! It’s fair to say she knows her own mind, which is why I knew she would enjoy This is Not a…

  • PJ Masks Glow In The Dark Jigsaw Puzzle
    parenting - toy review

    PJ Masks Glow In The Dark Jigsaw Puzzle review

    July 13, 2017 - By 

    My children have always enjoyed puzzles showing their favourite characters. PJ Masks has been really popular with my 5 year old (although I don’t think anything will ever beat her love for Paw Patrol!). She was sent the new PJ Masks Glow In The Dark XL 60 Piece Puzzle to try at home. This puzzle is aimed at children aged 4 and up. Who are PJ Masks? Kids love superheroes, so what could be better than becoming a superhero? That’s exactly what happens at night for young friends Connor, Amaya and Greg. When they put on their pyjamas and activate…

  • How to use vintage iron on transfers
    crafts - vintage

    How to use vintage iron on transfers

    July 12, 2017 - By 

    My 5 year old loves Sylvanian Families and when I was looking for vintage SF things on eBay I came across a set of transfers from an old issue of Prima magazine from June 1990. I’d been looking for some Sylvanian Families t-shirts for a while but couldn’t find any so this seemed like the next best thing – the perfect way to make my own! The listing for the vintage transfers had ended but I managed to find another set on eBay. They were part of a bundle of vintage magazines and embroidery patterns. They arrived this week and…

  • Win a Lottie Dolls sticker and fiction book
    book review - competition

    Win a Lottie Dolls sticker and fiction book

    July 11, 2017 - By 

    Have you heard of the award winning Lottie Dolls? Lottie, Finn and Friends are inspired by real kids. Arklu believes that childhood should be an inclusive place where every child belongs regardless of gender, ethnicity or ability, and aim to reflect that in their collection. Lottie Dolls aim to empower young minds through play. The dolls are ethnically diverse, age-appropriate, and are based on the scientific proportions of a nine-year old child. They look and act how a real child would. Lottie Dolls books from Penguin Random House Children’s Lottie Dolls have been around since 2010 and they have recently teamed…

  • felt flower wreath kit
    crafts - Mollie Makes crafts - sewing

    Mollie Makes Felt Florals Wreath Kit

    July 10, 2017 - By 

    Every month I challenge myself to make the Mollie Makes magazine cover gift. I’ve subscribed since it first came out and have had a drawer full of unopened kits – but no more! I’ve been making more time for grown up crafting and I love to make the kits and hopefully try something new. I skipped last month’s cover gift (issue 79) as it was a set of buttons and a booklet of ideas. I didn’t find them particularly inspiring and couldn’t come up with a way of using them so they’ve been added to my button stash. Issue 80 contained a…

  • signing up for the Summer Reading Challenge
    homestyle - Monday Happy List

    Monday Happy Things {Week 145}

    July 10, 2017 - By 

    Last week was busy and just a little exhausting. The weather was super hot and I went into London twice for Press events. I also sang in our choirs Summer concert, so I felt like a sticky mess most of the week. I went into London for the Hobbycraft AW17 press show at Make Drink and Do, as well as the Tesco and dotcomgiftshop Christmas press shows. They were all interesting and I’m so excited about some of the new ranges coming out later this year. Being in London meant I could wander along the South Bank and generally enjoy…

  • Sylvanian Families Starry Point Lighthouse review
    Friends of Sylvanian Families - parenting - playing - toy review

    Sylvanian Families Starry Point Lighthouse review

    July 9, 2017 - By 

    If you have a small child who loves a particular type of toy, then chances are you know the toys and any new products in the pipeline. My 5 year old adores Sylvanian Families so I like to know what new products are coming out. So I was excited to read about the new Starry Point Lighthouse, Ballet Theatre and Sky Ride Adventure Sets. The first two feature exciting interactive elements. The Lighthouse comes with three slides so you can project the night sky, fireworks or even the moon onto your child’s ceiling. The Theatre plays music from Swan Lake…