• HayMax Kids allergen barrier balm
    competition - family - parenting

    Win HayMax Kids allergen barrier balm

    May 22, 2016 - By 

    What does this time of year mean to your family? To us it means picnics, day trips and lots of fresh air. Unfortunately for my poor 6 year he also has to deal with hay fever which means itchy eyes and a snuffy nose. I’ve never suffered with hay fever but my husband does and was able to recognise his symptoms. I spent a while looking for something to ease his symptoms and have recently been trying out HayMax Kids allergen barrier balm. HayMax Kids allergen barrier balm is a prevention rather than a cure and acts to trap pollen, dust or…

  • The Course of Love by Alain de Botton
    book review - What I'm reading

    What I’m reading: The Course of Love by Alain de Botton

    May 21, 2016 - By 

    It’s been a while since I posted a book review but I have a brilliant book to share with you today. Over the last few weeks I’ve been enjoying The Course of Love by Alain de Botton, his first novel in over a decade, which was published last month. He has fallen in love with her calm, her faith that it will be OK, her absence of fatalism – these are the virtues of his new Scottish friend. She has fallen in love, equally fast and hard and true, with the reserved sweetness and Levantine exoticism of this sad-eyed boy from Beirut.…

  • Ground control to Major Clanger
    days out - family - London - parenting

    Ground control to Major Clanger

    May 21, 2016 - By 

    My 6 year old loves The Clangers so when I heard that Tiny and Small were making a special appearance at Kings Cross this morning, I knew we would have to go along to meet them. For one morning only we were able to ‘Call the Clangers’ via a pop-up pink knitted London phone box with a phone line straight through to our favourite little blue planet. Infamous UK yarnstormer Deadly Knitshade created a Clangers phone box cosy, and the art installation magically transformed a traditional red London phone box into a fun Clangers experience. Via a special pink phone we were…

  • Jane Austen adult colouring book
    book review - competition

    Win Shakespeare and Austen inspired adult colouring books

    May 20, 2016 - By 

    I love the fact that new adult colouring are constantly being published. Fans of English literature will love the new colouring books based on classic tales, from Little Tiger Press. You can bring to life the greatest love stories of all time and indulge your creativity with these sumptuous colouring books based on William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet On the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, Little Tiger Press celebrates one of his most iconic plays, Romeo and Juliet. Be transported to fair Verona, where we set our scene. Featuring iconic quotations…

  • Father's Day rosette
    crafts - die cutting - Father's Day

    Father’s Day rosette

    May 20, 2016 - By 

    Happy Friday everyone. I’ve shared a really fun tutorial over on the Sizzix blog for a fun Father’s Day rosette. Yep, we’re celebrating Father’s Day next month and it’s never too early to start thinking about a handmade gift! You can find the full tutorial here.   Sizzix Bigz Die – Award (A10106) Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 28PK – Delicate Letters (661040) You may be interested in my other Sizzix makes: Simple dream catcher tote bag Easy felt flamingo badge DIY flamingo drinking straws Kid-friendly floral bracelet Simple dreamcatcher luminary Easy heart shaped wooden pegs DIY sandcastle flags My Little…

  • Mr Kipling Cake Stand
    parenting - playing - toy review

    Tea time with the Mr Kipling Cake Stand

    May 19, 2016 - By 

    I’m lucky that I still have my youngest daughter at home with me in the mornings, for the next couple of months before she heads off to Reception in September. Our mornings are filled with playing, baking, crafting and playdates. Today we baked a batch of daisy cakes, so called because the tops are decorated with cherries and flaked almonds to look like flowers. Whilst they were in the oven my 4 year old got out her Mr Kipling Cake Stand playset. Everyone adores Mr Kipling’s cakes! The Mr Kipling Cake Stand playset from Casdon features replicas of the much-loved cakes…

  • British icons
    family - parenting

    Things which make me proud to be British

    May 18, 2016 - By 

    I love having something to celebrate with the whole family and we’ve been busy celebrating The Queen’s 90th birthday for a few weeks now. Last week both children had tea parties at school and my 6 year old keeps sharing everything he has been learning about The Queen, her homes, her children and everything! At times like this I feel very proud to be British. I think my love of the Royal family has something to do with my Grandparents as I remember my Nan kept a scrapbook of all her favourite newspaper cuttings about the Royal family. I have some…

  • the Queen's 90th birthday activities for children
    crafts - Kids crafts

    The Queen’s 90th birthday (craft activities for kids)

    May 18, 2016 - By 

    I’ve written a few posts about the Queen’s 90th birthday now. I’m a bit of a Royalist and want my children to understand why we have a Royal family and why they’re relevant today. When I started looking for inspiration on Pinterest (my go to place for this kind of thing) I was surprised how few crafts I could find, which is why I wrote a post called 10 crafts to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday which is proving really popular. iChild got in touch to share their range of printables and activities around The Queen’s 90th birthday. iChild.co.uk is a small…

  • DIY Star Wars skittles
    Kids crafts - Star Wars crafts - tutorial

    DIY Star Wars skittles

    May 18, 2016 - By 

    The weather has been beautiful recently, so warm and sunny that the children have been spending lots of time outdoors. They have their favourite games but I’m always happy to introduce new ones. A few months ago the children collected a range of Star Wars-themed water bottles.  They wouldn’t let me throw them away so they’ve been in our junk modelling box ever since. Today I’m joining in with theA-Z of Outdoor Activities with the letter Q. I knew these bottles would be perfect for an outdoor game of Quilles, the old French word for skittles. Equipment to make Star…