• David Walliams' new book, The Midnight Gang
    book review

    David Walliams’ new book, The Midnight Gang

    December 13, 2016 - By 

    When the clock strikes midnight most children are fast asleep, but for the Midnight Gang the journey is just beginning. This extraordinary story of five children in a wonderfully inventive and eccentric hospital setting promises to take fans from around the globe on an unmissable midnight adventure. We have never read a book by David Walliams before but I know he is a pretty successful children’s author, as well as all the other things he does. The Midnight Gang is his latest book, published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, and we were delighted to receive a copy to read together. The…

  • {3 ingredient} Christmas Pudding biscuits
    baking - Christmas

    {3 ingredient} Christmas Pudding biscuits

    December 13, 2016 - By 

    I’m slowly beginning to enjoy this time of year. It feels like everything is coming together, the children have their school Nativity plays this week and I’m counting down the days until I have them all to myself for a few weeks. We’ve had a few cosy nights in recently and I wanted to share our Christmas Pudding Biscuits. I can’t claim this idea for myself, but they are so quick and simple, perfect if you fancy whipping up a quick festive treat. I used 3 ingredients which I already had at home: Milk chocolate digestive biscuits White icing Holly…

  • Gift guide for her
    Christmas - film review - Gift guide

    Christmas gift guide for her

    December 12, 2016 - By 

    Grab the mistletoe and get ready to find the perfect gift for that special someone this Christmas. Warner Bros. has the ultimate selection, whether you’re looking for him, for her, or for festive favourites to get the whole family in the Christmas spirit. Get ready to snuggle up with these heartwarming titles for her, including Me Before You, The Intern, In The Heart of the Sea, Wizard of Oz and How to Be Single. Me Before You – Thea Sharrock directs this adaptation of the novel by Jojo Moyes. Emilia Clarke stars as Louisa ‘Lou’ Clark, a quirky, cheerful waitress…

  • minions gift guide
    Gift guide - parenting - playing - toy review

    Minions: a gift guide for kids

    December 12, 2016 - By 

    I know I said that I wasn’t really writing many gift guides this year but I couldn’t resist posting another one. My children are a little Minion crazy. There’s just something about those little yellow dudes and they have inspired playdough and bento in our house. Our favourite films featuring the Minions are the Despicable Me franchise. The films focus on Gru, a super-villain (who later becomes a dad and superhero); his yellow-coloured Minions; and his three orphan girls, Margo, Edith and Agnes. It began with the 2010 film, Despicable Me, and its 2013 sequel, Despicable Me 2. A prequel…

  • Gingerbread and Salted Caramel cupcake
    homestyle - mindfulness - Monday Happy List

    Monday Happy List – week 116

    December 12, 2016 - By 

    Last week the whole family was ill on different days so it was a strange week. I fell behind a little on my Christmas prep so I’m hoping all the illness is behind us now so I can get a move on with everything. There was a lot of sitting around and feeling sorry for myself. This quiet time allowed me space to read and enjoy the latest issue of Project Calm magazine. It included a lovely paper cut which I’ve been working on too. On Saturday I had my Christmas concert. I joined a choir a year ago and…

  • Gift guide for Papercutters
    Christmas - crafts - Gift guide - Paper craft - Paper cut art

    Gift guide for Papercutters

    December 11, 2016 - By 

    I’ve mentioned a few times now that I’m completely fallen under the spell of paper cutting as a brilliant craft. I was first introduced to it a few years ago when I attended a workshop run by Poppy Chancellor. I booked myself on another paper cutting class with Poppy Chancellor at The Handmade Fair in 2015 and was hooked. I snapped up her book Cut It Out! and quickly worked my way through it so have been looking for more templates and inspiration ever since. I thought it would be fun to share some of my favourite paper cutting things…

  • DIY mini crackers
    Christmas - crafts - Mollie Makes crafts - Paper craft

    Jenny Makes Mollie Makes Mini Cracker Kit

    December 10, 2016 - By 

    Every month I challenge myself to make the Mollie Makes magazine cover gift. I’ve subscribed since it first came out and have 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’ve been terrible lately, the last few kits haven’t been very inspiring but I did want to make the latest one. Issue 68 Mollie Makes Mini Cracker Kit The Mini Cracker Kit came with a wooden template, 8 papers, twine and confetti. The template was designed by…

  • Bostik Family Craft Bloggers Network - Christmas - crafts

    Potato print snowmen craft for kids

    December 9, 2016 - By 

    I can’t believe we finished our last craft as part of the Bostik Family Craft Bloggers today. We’ve had so much fun over the last 12 months using their products in our crafty activities. Our final prompt was snow so today we made potato print snowmen a perfect Christmas craft for kids! For our potato print snowmen we used – potatoes, a cookie cutter, white paint and a pack of Bostik Glitter Pens. How to make potato print snowmen I prepared the potatoes by cutting them in half and used the cookie cutter to cut my desired shape. I couldn’t…

  • 9 easy Nativity costumes to make
    Christmas - crafts - handmade

    9 easy Nativity costumes for kids

    December 9, 2016 - By 

    I seem to be giving a lot of money to my children’s school at this time of year. In the last month I’ve paid for school photos x 2, Christmas cards designed by them x 2, money for them to spend at their Christmas Fayre x 2, raffle tickets x 2, tickets to go and watch their Christmas nativity x 2, as well providing clothes for them to wear at the blooming nativity x 2! I’m so fed up of giving money to school! I’ve bought a few costumes for them over the last few years but as they grow,…