• How to make a cable reel fairy house
    crafts - Fairy garden crafts - garden crafts - Pinty Plus Ambassador - upcycling

    How to make a cable reel fairy house

    May 23, 2017 - By 

    A while ago now we spotted a couple of wooden cable reels and knew they would be fun to upcycle into a fairy toadstool house for the children to play with. My 5 year old loves her fairy play and I thought this would be a great little upcycling project, as well as making something for her to play with during the summer months. As a Pinty Plus ambassador I used some of the Pinty Plus Basic range which has a range of brilliant bright colours. I also got to try out the the new spray gun which makes spray…

  • New Playmobil Ghostbusters range and Ecto-1 unboxing
    parenting - playing - Playmobil Playologist - toy review

    New Playmobil Ghostbusters range and Ecto-1 unboxing

    May 22, 2017 - By 

    I’m so happy to share with you today our review of one of the toys from the new Playmobil Ghostbusters range! Yes, we’re still Playmobil Playologists too which means we’re working with Playmobil, a top manufacturer within preschool toys, to share their latest products with you. I mentioned last year that this is Playmobil’s first entertainment brand license and they have been working together with Sony to bring these fantastic sets to life. It’s a brand collaboration we couldn’t be happier about as we love the Ghostbusters franchise. I really enjoyed the films when I was growing up. In fact the…

  • exploring Mottisfont
    homestyle - mindfulness - Monday Happy List

    Monday Happy Things {Week 138}

    May 22, 2017 - By 

    Happy Monday everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend. It’s time for my weekly blog post about the five things which made me happy last week – Monday Happy Things {Week 138} I started off with my first week in my temporary job which I really enjoyed. I love being back at work after far too long as a SAHM. My 5 year old finished his SATs. It was a  pretty boring week for them all at school so I’m glad it’s over for him. He was rewarded with a meal at Pizza Express and a new Star Wars…

  • Celebrating the weekend
    homestyle

    Celebrating the weekend {with Prosecco from Spar}

    May 21, 2017 - By 

    We have had such a lovely weekend with friends. Last week was really busy with SATs, my first week in my new job and my husband working in a different office. We planned ahead to make sure we had a lovely weekend to look forward to. I’m not sure what it is about having children but weekends are sooooo busy. There is always something to do – for the kids. As well as weekly swimming lessons there are endless birthday parties. Now the weather is warmer there seem to be more Rainbows and Beavers activities too. For once we had…

  • Education Quizzes for kids at home and school
    parenting - school

    Education Quizzes for kids at home and school

    May 21, 2017 - By 

    I admit to having a mini fist pump when I picked up my son from school on Friday. He had endured a week of end of KS1 assessment, otherwise known as SATs. For some reason his school decided to call they daily tests ‘quiz booklets’ to downplay their significance. Unfortunately, sitting in silence with desks apart did nothing to suggest that these were fun quiz booklets and my son resolutely called them SATs all week. I’m all for doing homework but I think a week of tests are totally un-necessary in Year 2. School should be fun and it really…

  • All the Good Things by Clare Fisher
    book review

    All the Good Things by Clare Fisher

    May 20, 2017 - By 

    Today I’m taking part in the blog tour for All the Good Things by Clare Fisher which is published by Viking on the 1st June. I love being sent books to review as I find it challenges me to read books I wouldn’t necessarily choose. All the Good Things by Clare Fisher Twenty-one year old Beth is in prison. The thing she did is so bad she doesn’t deserve to ever feel good again. But her counsellor, Erika, won’t give up on her. She asks Beth to make a list of all the good things in her life. So Beth…

  • Smyths-Toy-Store-party-event-2017
    days out - Local Review - London

    Join the Smyths Toys Superstores party {May 27th}

    May 19, 2017 - By 

    If you’re looking for a fun event for the kids this half term then I have found the perfect event to kick start it. Smyths Toys Superstores are throwing a party and everyone is invited! All of their stores across the UK and NI will be hosting a party in-store that will be bigger and better than ever and it’s taking place on Saturday May 27th from 9am-2pm. Join in the fun in your local Smyths Toys Superstores and collect your FREE goodie bag* which will contain FREE giveaways from your favourites including Play-Doh, My Little Pony and LEGO! There…

  • Crazy Creations in the kitchen with Num Noms
    baking

    Crazy Creations in the kitchen with Num Noms

    May 19, 2017 - By 

    My children love collectible toys. Anything with a list they can pore over and tick off is so popular in our house right now. My 5 year old loves her Num Noms but did you know you can carry on the play into the kitchen? We’ve seen the Cronut (donut and croissant combination), a genius idea, which brought together two of our favourite pastry items into one amazing desert. Next it was the turn of green tea cake, for the slightly more health conscious, which saw a refreshing cake born from a popular hot beverage. More recently, Marks and Spencer…

  • Small world car play
    crafts

    Small world car play {A-Z Play at Home}

    May 19, 2017 - By 

    Today we’re taking part in the A-Z Play at Home blog hop organised by Teach Me Mommy. This weeks letter is C and I immediately knew that we would be using our toy car collection. My son has always loved his cars and is a huge fan of the Disney Pixar Cars film (did you know a third one is coming out this summer?). My son collected pretty much all his favourite car characters and a few play sets. The play sets are long gone but he has kept the cars. I thought it would be fun to play with…