• book review - Christmas - crafts

    Dinosaur poo playdough {The Dinosaur That Pooped Christmas}

    November 2, 2016 - By 

    I’ve been sorting out our Christmas books trying to get a head start on our annual Book Advent. The kids love our Book Advent and I have as much fun choosing which books make the list as they do actually reading them. We discovered The Dinosaur That Pooped … series last year and since then the books have been a firm favourite with my two. The Dinosaur That Pooped Christmas made it on to our list last year and will definitely be included this year too. We’ve made a few dinosaur crafts but we wanted to make something special to…

  • The Marvellous Activity Book
    baking - book review - gingerbread

    Moone Boy The Marvellous Activity Book blog hop {Imaginary Friend gingerbread biscuits}

    October 30, 2016 - By 

    Today we’re taking part in the Marvellous Moone Boy Activities blog hop! Have you read any of the Moone Boy books yet? Welcome to the world of Martin Moone, who is totally fed up with being the only boy in a family of girls. He’s desperate for a decent wingman to help him navigate his idiotic life. So when his best pal Padraic suggests Martin get an imaginary friend, or ‘IF’ for short, he goes for it. Start reading Martin Moone’s adventures with Moone Boy: The Blunder Years by Chris O’Dowd and Nick V. Murphy, followed by the second story The…

  • Rag Rugs, Pillows and More book cover
    book review - Craft book review - crafts - What I'm reading

    Rag Rugs, Pillows and More book review

    October 26, 2016 - By 

    It’s not often I get sent a lovely adult craft book to review, but I am so pleased when I do! The latest book on my bedside table is the wonderful Rag Rugs, Pillows and More by Ragged Life founder, Elspeth Jackson. This is a wonderfully modern approach to a traditional, and rather forgotten, craft filled with beautifully contemporary projects all illustrated with gorgeous photography. Elspeth also includes all the techniques and tools you’ll need to get started on an exciting new craft. In this stunning new book, crafter Elspeth Jackson reinvents the old (and somewhat forgotten) technique of rag…

  • The Nightmare before Christmas picture book by Tim Burton front cover
    book review - Halloween crafts

    The Nightmare before Christmas picture book by Tim Burton

    October 23, 2016 - By 

    I count myself as a bit of a Tim Burton fan but I never realised he wrote The Nightmare before Christmas! A new version has just been published, not only written by, but also illustrated, by the talented Tim Burton. We were kindly sent a copy to review. This is the book that came BEFORE the film. This is the book that fans of all ages will be coveting. This is the book that contains exclusive, never seen before original sketches. This is the book filled with skill, craft, cunning and misery. This is the book of the Pumpkin King.…

  • Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam: The Spooky School
    baking - book review - competition

    Win 1 x 3 new Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam chapter books

    October 21, 2016 - By 

    I love this time of year. The weather and early evenings bring us indoors more but it also means more time for reading! Luckily my two are little bookworms and love to receive new titles to review. Have you heard of Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam, everyone’s favourite robber-dogs-turned-bakers? They are the stars in a successful picture book series which my 4 year old always picks up at the library. So I was delighted to hear that a new first chapter book for readers aged around 6-9 years has just been published. Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam: The Spooky School Shifty…

  • Fashion Mash Up Daisy de Villeneuve
    book review - clothing - homestyle

    Fashion Mash Up Daisy de Villeneuve

    October 18, 2016 - By 

    A few days ago I published a piece about the new Miffy X H&M Collection. My daughter is a little fashionista in the making and loves to go shopping with me. She takes a real interest in her clothes and how she looks so was delighted when Penguin Random House sent us a copy of their new title to review. Fashion Mash Up is a beautiful, collaborative craft book of fashion through the ages, which has been designed and curated alongside the Victoria & Albert Museum. Packed with over 75 pieces of clothing, 250 stickers with fabulous glitter and foil…

  • Star Wars Reads Day 2016 logo
    book review - school

    Star Wars Reads Day 2016

    October 15, 2016 - By 

    This year my son started Year 2 and although he is a really good reader he doesn’t show any interest in reading chapter books on his own. We’ve been working our way through the Roald Dahl books together at bedtime but nothing seemed to hook him in enough to stay up late reading on his own. Star Wars Reads Day For the past few weeks I have been searching for any information on Star Wars Reads Day. Star Wars Reads Day is an international campaign to celebrate and encourage children to read. Last year we received a wonderful bundle of…

  • book review - competition

    Win 2 Super Search Adventure books from Miles Kelly

    October 7, 2016 - By 

    Miles Kelly publish beautiful books for children so I was delighted when they got in touch and told me about their new Super Search range of books. Perfect for children aged 5 and over, each book takes children on an adventure packed with intriguing information, memorable characters, rhyming riddles and fun activities. Today I am delighted to have two Super Search books to giveaway to a lucky reader of the gingerbread house. First let me tell you a little more about the titles. Super Search Adventure Where is the Bear? Where is the Bear? (pictured above) is a brilliantly creative…

  • Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights Colouring Classic
    Autumn - book review - Halloween crafts

    Win 1 of 2 Gothic themed adult colouring classics

    October 2, 2016 - By 

    Every year Halloween celebrations seem to get bigger and better. This year our preparations started quite early. We’ve already made a start on our Halloween crafts, we shared our egg carton ghosts yesterday, and have so many more planned. Halloween is fun for my children but it has a much darker side that you are probably more familiar with. If you are a fan of Halloween then you may be interested in two brand new adult colouring books – Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights and Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Embrace the greatest Gothic literature of all time and indulge your creativity with…