• The BFG's Grobswitchy Cake
    baking - crafts - Roald Dahl crafts

    The BFG’s Grobswitchy Cake

    April 10, 2016 - By 

    My 6 year old has been working his way through the Roald Dahl books and the latest is The BFG. As soon as we started reading it he asked what crafts we could make, so we looked through our copy of Roald Dahl’s Completely Revolting Recipes and found a recipe for The BFG’s Grobswitchy Cake. “It is a little bit like mixing a cake’, the BFG said. ‘If you is putting the right amounts of all the different things into it, you is making the cake come out any way you want, sugary, splongy, curranty, Christmassy or grobswitchy. It is…

  • PlaymobilBrigade
    days out - London - parenting - Playmobil Playologist

    A day with London Fire Brigade

    April 9, 2016 - By 

    Last month I mentioned that London Fire Brigade fire stations will be hosting 65 collaborative open days with Playmobil across the capital throughout 2016 to teach children about fire safety in the home. These events are part of their 150th anniversary and today we attended the Playmobil VIP launch party at Soho Fire Station to kick off these open days. It was great to see behind the scenes at the fire station. Soho is London’s busiest station covering famous theatres, hotels and London landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and Horse Guards Parade. The present station dates from the 1980s but there has…

  • Easy heart shaped wooden pegs
    crafts - die cutting - Paper craft

    Easy heart shaped wooden pegs

    April 8, 2016 - By 

    I’ve recently started playing the 30-Day Minimalism Game with my sister. I’ve been hearing a lot about people decluttering recently, think Marie Condo and  the cult of tidying up. Now I haven’t read the book myself, just the thought of buying another book for my overstuffed shelves sends shivers down my spine! However the idea of decluttering and keeping things which are useful or meaningful strikes a chord. I know I need to start tidying and decluttering so loved the idea of the 30-Day Minimalism Game. Basically, first you find someone to buddy up with. Then pick a day to start. On…

  • Michael Rosen exhibition at the Discover Children’s Story Centre
    days out - Local Review - London - parenting

    Michael Rosen exhibition at the Discover Children’s Story Centre

    April 6, 2016 - By 

    Yesterday we were invited to the Discover Children’s Story Centre in London to see Michael Rosen’s new exhibition Bear Hunt, Chocolate Cake & Bad Things. The exhibition closes on 10th April 2016 so I’m really glad we were able to squeeze in a visit before it goes on tour around the country. Bear Hunt, Chocolate Cake & Bad Things Discover Children’s Story Centre is one of those places I’ve always meant to go and visit but never got round to. I’m now kicking myself for not making the effort as it is an amazing place! Discover Children’s Story Centre is…

  • beach hut sun catcher
    Kids crafts - Summer

    Beach hut sun catchers

    April 5, 2016 - By 

    We love making sun catchers. They are simple but fun and we now have sorted out the best way to make them, for us. My children love pre-cut templates and I took a pack with us when we went to the beach last week (see the DIY sandcastle flags we made too!). In a quiet moment I took them out. I had cut some pieces of contact paper and packed them along with the black card cut outs, cellophane pieces and scissors. Beach hut sun catchers My 6 year cut the cellophane sheets into strips. I placed their sun catchers…

  • Food storage containers with datable lid
    homestyle - interiors

    Reorganising my kitchen with Dial

    April 4, 2016 - By 

    So I know I don’t usually write about kitchen storage but today I feel compelled. I have a kitchen cupboard I just dread to open. Every time I do the contents fall out all over the floor. This cupboard contains my plastic containers and leftover takeaway containers. I use this cupboard on a daily basis. I’m a thrifty cook and will always store leftovers if it means I can save time in the kitchen (my least favourite room in the house!). Over the years this collection has grown, especially as I now seem to be cooking more meals than ever before…

  • collecting sea glass in teignmouth
    Cath Kidston - holidays - sewing

    Monday Happy List – week 80

    April 4, 2016 - By 

    We’ve just got back from a wonderful holiday in Devon. It was a typical week by the sea and there was mini golf, ice creams, swimming in grandad’s pool, walks along the beach, a trip on the steam train and spending spare pennies on the pier. I could get used to spending so much time outdoors and I think it’s safe to say we tired the kids out every day. Thanks Matalan for supplying some of the toys and games we took along with us. Whilst we were in Devon we spent a day in Exeter to escape the rain.…

  • March Lucky Dip Club box
    kawaii - snail mail

    (Unboxing) March Lucky Dip Club box

    April 3, 2016 - By 

    Like many people I love the first day of the month as I receive lots of emails about the latest subscription boxes! I like to treat myself to one a month, as they don’t usually arrive until the end of that month it gives me something to look forward to. It seems a while ago since I signed up for the March Lucky Dip Club box and I was so disappointed to see people showing glimpses of the box whilst I was away on holiday! Anyway, we arrived home yesterday and I was so happy to see my March Lucky Dip Club…

  • DIY sandcastle flags
    die cutting - holidays - Paper craft - Sizzix crafts

    DIY sandcastle flags

    April 1, 2016 - By 

    We’re currently away enjoying a week at the seaside and we’ve been having so much fun thinking of ways to explore and craft with our new surroundings. Our little cottage  is on the beach which makes it super quick and easy to get the children dressed and out playing on the beach every morning! We’ve been on a boat out on the water, walked along the tide lines and watched boats come and go. We’ve tried to remember how far the tide comes up and watched it disappear back down the beach again. There’s something very soothing about looking out…