• Bahlsen Book Club - book review - What I'm reading

    What I’m reading: Me Without You by Kelly Rimmer

    These chilly evenings are perfect for curling up with a book. I’m not a huge tv fan so love to have several books and magazines on the go. Bahlsen Biscuits kindly sent me a copy of Me Without You by Kelly Rimmer to read which is the latest Bahlsen Book Club book. They also sent me a couple of packs of biscuits which were perfect to enjoy whilst reading. The premise of Me Without You is as follows: A year ago I met the love of my life. For two people who didn’t believe in love at first sight, we…

  • playing - toy review

    Classic Tiny Tears Interactive review

    You’ve probably guessed I have a huge amount of nostalgia for my own childhood and toys. I would have kept all my old toys if I could for my own children to play with and enjoy. I loved my dolls and my daughter does too. When I was 4 I remember receiving a doll for Christmas. My mum made the dolls’ bed and blankets and I kept it for a long time. If the very mention of Tiny Tears brings back fond memories then you’ll love the new refreshed range. As a first introduction to motherhood, generations of mums and…

  • Cath Kidston - days out - Knitting and Stitching Show

    Monday happy things

    Happy Monday everyone. I’m having trouble adjusting to the weather at the moment. The winter boots and coats are out and the heating is on! I feel the need for a shopping trip to pick up some more winter woolies. Luckily I have lots to make me smile: I had a fantastic day at The Knitting and Stitching Show on Saturday. My husband kindly looked after the children all day and sent me cute pics of them all enjoying themselves. This meant I was able to enjoy myself, attending workshops, learning about progging and buying lots and lots of lovely…

  • baking - gingerbread - Halloween crafts

    16 gingerbread Halloween ideas

    I’ve been Pinning lots of seasonal ideas for our gingerbread baking but totally overlooked making gingerbread for Halloween. Gingerbread has such a lovely smell and taste it’s perfectly suited to these dark evenings and special celebrations. I’ve brought together a list of 16 gingerbread Halloween ideas. Have fun reading through them! You can dress up your gingerbread man as a vampire gingerbread man, gingerdead men, make a spooky mummy for Halloween or even Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc. These trick or treat cookies are fun, just simple gingerbread men decorated with chocolate icing or if you fancy something more elaborate take a look at this wonderful Day of the Dead gingerbread…

  • crafts - days out - handmade

    A day at the Knitting & Stitching Show

    Today I had a lovely day all to myself at the Knitting & Stitching Show at Ally Pally. I’ve been for the last couple of years but this year, for the first time, I booked myself on a couple of the Learning Curves workshops. Boy, did that make the day go super fast! First thing in the morning I found myself making a hand painted tile pot stand. I went for a simple design, it just needs baking in the oven to seal it. After a short break it was off to learn how to recycle materials to make a…

  • Bostik Family Craft Bloggers Network - crafts - Halloween crafts - tutorial

    How to make a styrofoam ball spider

    Every couple of weeks I receive a mystery parcel of craft supplies and the latest Bostik glue product. The idea is to make something fun with the children. Our latest box was full of amazing goodies in autumnal colours and we all enjoyed looking at the felt, wool, coloured paper and styrofoam balls and dreaming of what we could make. We thought we would make a styrofoam ball pet for Halloween and it was fun and easy to do. Equipment needed to make a stryofoam ball spider: styrofoam ball black tissue paper googly eyes pipe cleaners ric rac to hang How…

  • book review - competition

    Win 1 of 3 copies of Do You Speak English, Moon?

    Orion Children’s Books recently sent us a copy of Do You Speak English, Moon? by Francesca Simon and illustrated by Ben Cort. It’s a breathtakingly gorgeous bedtime picture book from the winning team who wrote Horrid Henry and illustrated Aliens Love Underpants. Inquisitive children across the world are fascinated by the moon. Does anyone live on the moon?  How far away is it? And most importantly, can the moon speak? This beautiful new picture book asks just this question as a little boy trying to sleep looks up at the moon and wonders whether it can speak English. The book includes…

  • playing - toy review

    Gup Speeders Octopod Launcher review

    My lucky daughter was the recipient of the new Fisher Price Gup Speeders Octopod Launcher toy. She loves watching the Octonauts on cBeebies so I knew she would enjoy this toy. The Octonauts follows a team of animated adventure heroes who dive into action whenever there is trouble under the sea. In a fleet of aquatic vehicles, they rescue amazing sea creatures, explore incredible new underwater worlds, and often save the day before returning safely to their home base, the Octopod. When missions call for turbo-speed and maximum mobility, just ready the Gup Speeders Octopod Launcher. Just place the Gup Speeders into…

  • parenting

    Inspiring learners to write

    You all know that my 4 year old started Reception this September. He has settled in really well and adjusted to his new routine, he no longer flops on the sofa when he gets home but runs around like a mad thing until bedtime. He is very keen to share all his new knowledge with his sister and the poor thing gets bossed around by her brother, he even tells her off when she does things her own way, rather than his. One of the great benefits is that she wants to copy him. She tries to ‘write’ just like…