• Swallows and Amazons inspired bunting
    crafts - Kids crafts - tutorial

    Swallows and Amazons inspired bunting

    August 14, 2016 - By 

    The children have been spending a lot of time in their garden playhouse this summer. We have been helping them make the space their own and personalising it with their favourite posters and beanbags. Today we made our own Swallows and Amazons inspired bunting to decorate the playhouse. Swallows and Amazons inspired bunting We used: A4 white card, Sizzix machine and bunting die, scalpel, cutting mat, contact paper and cellophane sheets. First I cut bunting flags using my Sizzix machine and the Bunting die to create 6 flags. Then I drew a swallow on half of the flags and a…

  • Simon Air 2016
    Hasbro Toy Tribe - playing - toy review

    Family play time with Simon Air

    August 13, 2016 - By 

    One of my favourite things about being a parent is the chance to play with toys, especially those I enjoyed as a child. As a child of the 80s I remember the classic memory game Simon, first released in 1978. Well guess what? It has been given a modern twist. The classic fast-action game where players need to watch, remember, and repeat patterns is back! Touch-free technology is introduced in this edition with Simon Air recognising when a player follows the colour sequence by sensing their motions! I loved this game when I was younger so I was really excited…

  • Garnier Ambre Solaire Easy Peasy Kids range
    holidays - parenting - Summer

    Keeping safe this summer {Garnier Ambre Solaire Easy Peasy Kids range}

    August 13, 2016 - By 

    So far this summer we’ve been enjoying a Staycation. My husband has been recuperating after an operation so we have been exploring our local area which makes a nice change. The weather has been a bit of a mixed bag but we’ve had some really hot days and we’re looking forward to the mini heatwave which has been predicted this week. Whether holidaying at home or abroad good sun protection is a must. The children have been out in the sun a lot and our sand pit and paddling pool have had a lot of use. We’ve been keeping safe…

  • posca pens
    competition - crafts

    Decorating with Posca pens and a giveaway

    August 13, 2016 - By 

    Yesterday I was playing with Posca marker pens. They are a unique water-based paint marker that write on almost all surfaces including fabrics, glass, metal, paper, card, wood and stone. The markers are also water resistant, fade resistant and odour free. How to make a decorated tealight holder As they seem to work on pretty much any surface I decorated a glass jar to make a tealight holder. The Posca marker pens come in a set of 6 assorted colours – white, black, blue, green, orange and red. They are nice and chunky to hold and easy to apply. I added some simple…

  • Sylvanian Families convertible car
    Friends of Sylvanian Families - playing - toy review

    Sylvanian Families convertible car review

    August 12, 2016 - By 

    Little Sis, my 4 year old daughter, loves nothing more than a parcel from the Postman. She has been lucky to open some wonderful post, the most recent contained the Sylvanian Families convertible car. This is a sweet vehicle which really lets your Sylvanians drive in style. The Sylvanian Families convertible car has two seats in the front and a little parcel shelf at the back. It comes in a bright colour with a retractable roof which can be pulled down when the sun is shining. The car comes in one piece and all we had to do was add…

  • #HartleysYourLunch Challenge
    Bento - Star Wars crafts

    Star Wars bento lunch

    August 12, 2016 - By 

    I never used to think my 6 year old was a fussy eater. He is active and therefore hungry and used to eat anything I put before him. Over the last 12 months I have noticed him becoming fussier, especially with his school lunch. I’ve ended up making a packed lunch for him on Wednesday’s as he refuses to eat the food at school. Star Wars bento lunch I think my son would happily eat the same lunch every Wednesday if it was up to him but I like to try and make it interesting and memorable. I love the…

  • Outdoor Alphabet cards
    Happy By Nature - Kids crafts - Nature crafts

    Little adventures with Bear Nibbles Outdoor Alphabet Cards

    August 11, 2016 - By 

    More of this beautiful weather please. With the children beginning their summer holidays I am on the lookout for how best to keep them both active and creative. I’m delighted to announce I will be working with BEAR Nibbles over the coming months, as BEAR really understands how to make being healthy a little bit easier and a whole lot tastier. BEAR believes in going the extra mile to ensure kids are both healthy and happy and has recently launched its  Little Paws Outdoors Campaign,  in partnership with The Wildlife Trusts, to make it a little bit easier and a…

  • Nine Lives #NineLives
    days out - film review - London

    Learning the art of donut decorating (Nine Lives review)

    August 11, 2016 - By 

    Our Summer holiday fun continued with a donut decorating and activity workshop today. After a pretty dull trip to Ikea (more kitchen research) we hopped on the tube to the West End. Our destination was a donut decorating workshop with Vicky’s Donuts to celebrate the release of Nine Lives which is out on the 18th August. Nine Lives Tom Brand (Kevin Spacey) is a billionaire whose workaholic lifestyle has disconnected him from his family, particularly his beautiful wife Lara (Jennifer Garner) and his adoring daughter Rebecca. Rebecca’s 11th birthday is here and she wants the gift she want every year…

  • The Tiger Who Came to Tea at Cadogan Hall London
    days out - Local Review - London

    The Tiger Who Came to Tea at Cadogan Hall

    August 10, 2016 - By 

    I was so excited to receive an invitation for the family to attend the press performance of The Tiger Who Came to Tea, a musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Judith Kerr. The Tiger Who Came to Tea roars into Chelsea this summer in the truly magical Olivier Award nominated West End production which opened at Cadogan Hall on Saturday 6th August, running through to Sunday 4th September 2016. Adapted and directed by David Wood OBE, Judith Kerr’s ever popular tale The Tiger Who Came to Tea is the ideal introduction to theatre for children aged three plus…