We’re all very excited that Advent has started in our house. Advent calendars have been opened, Advent candles lit, and our Elf on the Shelf has taken up his position in our house. We’ll be opening the first book in our book advent today too. This year I also made a little advent garland, each one features a small activity to keep us busy during this festive month. I used brown paper bags (which I bought from Lakeland) and folded each one roughly into four equal parts, then cut them apart, turning over two corners on one side to make…
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Last year we experimented with a Book Advent where you basically read a book every day during Advent. This was additional to our bedtime reading and we concentrated on Christmas books, with a little help from our local Oxfam shop! It was a great way to spend some quiet time together every day as December can be slightly crazy. It was so successful that we’re doing it again this year. We’ll be re-reading many of the books from last year although we’re looking for a couple of new books to add to the ‘tree’. Fortunately we were sent Little Robin’s…
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As I sit and write this there are only 30 29 days until Christmas. I’ve bought presents, eaten mince pies and watched that silly John Lewis Christmas advert ad nauseum. In fact, I’m already tired of all those supermarket Christmas ads. At Christmas I feel a bit caught between trying to buy handmade, support my local high street and not pay over the odds for anything. When my son sat me down and asked me to help him with his Christmas list I began to worry what he was going to ask for. Although he’s only 3 his toy list…
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Are you taking part in Stir Up Sunday today? Stir up Sunday is celebrated the last Sunday before the season of advent when traditionally people made their Christmas puddings. I’ve already blogged about Lyle’s Mary Christmases campaign which sounds fun but I was contacted by Yeo Valley too, who think 2013 is all about the revival of the homemade Christmas Pudding; apparently it’s falling out of favour as the traditional pudding on Christmas Day. I’ll admit to enjoying some Christmas pud despite over indulging with turkey and pigs in blankets. How about you? Yeo Valley offered to send me a…
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I’ve had a small pack of oven baked clay for ages and really wanted to use it to make something for Christmas. As I’d never experimented with it before I just decided to play around with it, so set out some greaseproof paper, a small rolling pin and some cookie cutters and stamps. I divided the clay in two and warmed it up by rolling it in my hands for a couple of minutes. Then I rolled it out between two sheets of greaseproof paper until it was 2-3mm thick and cut out some shapes. I thought a little garland…
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As part of our role as Playmobil Playologists we were sent a Playmobil Pirates Treasure Cove advent calendar. Playmobil produce 5 advent calendars with different themes: Forest Winter Wonderland, Police, Pony Farm, Princess Wedding and Pirates Treasure Cove. We were sent the pirate themed advent calendar and behind each door is a piece of Playmobil which will build up during December to make a pirate scene. It’s a little difficult to review something without opening it so I thought I’d share some pictures from the Playmobil website. My son loves Advent and I think it’s a great way to mark…
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A couple of years ago I discovered the Portable North Pole where you can make your own personalised message from Santa. I just loved the idea and was just a little obsessed with the message we made for our son. At 3 years old he is very interested in Christmas (today he has been writing his Christmas list) so we will definitely be doing it again for both the children this year. The people behind the Portable North Pole have recently launched their first Santa approved game for 2013: PNP Santa Sprint for iPhone and iPad. You can enjoy the…
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I like to think I’m pretty organised but can definitely empathise with a recent survey by Post-it Index which found that 83 per cent of women have to flag up articles on a weekly basis, as they’re just too busy to read them properly at the time. I’m constantly flagging emails, blog posts and tasty looking recipes but find it really hard to ever get back to look at them…. Despite living in this digital world I much prefer reading magazines and books, perhaps because they’re more visible and not hidden away when I close the lid of my laptop…
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I love making my own stationery and with Little Sis celebrating her 2nd birthday soon I wanted to be organised and have some thank you cards ready. Her birthday is only 4 weeks before Christmas and in previous years I’ve sent joint birthday and Christmas thank you cards. Not this year! I was asked to try out Instajunction which is is full of beautiful & unique products and gift ideas, at sensible prices, made using your own Instagram pictures. I just love using Instagram, (are you following me?) and so was really happy to try it out. You can make lots…