I really enjoy Autumn. We’ve been looking for conkers and kicking leaves on the school run and fully embracing the changing weather. Our thoughts have been turning to Halloween and I’m hoping to find some pumpkins this weekend so we can start planning our Autumn decorations. With Halloween on the horizon I’m happy to have a spooky Halloween giveaway to share with you. Created by David Roberts, one of the UK’s foremost children’s illustrators, Bertie is the star of two picture books – Dirty Bertie and Pooh! Is That You, Bertie? – as well as this fabulously funny young fiction…
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As a big fan of cake we just love celebrating National Cupcake Week! Did you know it’s National Cupcake Week? This year it’s celebrated from the 17th to 23rd September and anyone can get involved by sharing their delicious cupcake creations on social using the #NationalCupcakeWeek. Celebrating National Cupcake Week! My kids love to bake. I’ve always wanted them to be confident in the kitchen and I’m pleased to say they are. Baking is great fun but can be educational too, just think of all the maths skills they use with all that measuring! Our baking adventures have included pizza,…
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We are so excited for Roald Dahl Day which is celebrated every year in September. This year Roald Dahl’s very first novel for children, James and the Giant Peach is the focus of the celebrations. It is such a great story. I’ve been re-reading it with my children and really look forward to reading a couple of chapters each night. This is a story which shows young readers that friends can come in the most unexpected forms – including an Old Green Grasshopper, a Spider and a Centipede – and arrive in the most surprising and magical places – inside a Giant Peach.…
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We’ve decorated a lot of painted rocks over the summer holidays. We’re all addicted to making them and we’ve ended up with such a huge stash that we’ve been hiding them wherever we go! I love learning new techniques so was excited to receive a copy of the Rock Art Handbook: Techniques and Projects for Painting, Coloring, and Transforming Stones by Samantha Sarles. Rock art is showing up everywhere – on Etsy, at craft shows, online and on hidden rocks around your neighbourhood. Painting and hiding rocks has become hugely popular in the last 12 months, as adults and kids decorate stones…
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Earlier this year we were really fortunate to be invited to a preview of the Peter Rabbit Movie. It’s a fantastic film and has recently come out on DVD. We re-watched it this week and loved it all over again. Peter Rabbit is a part-live action/part-animation film, based on the much-loved characters created by Beatrix Potter. Peter Rabbit, the mischievous and adventurous hero who has captivated generations of readers, takes on the starring role of his own irreverent, contemporary comedy with attitude. In the film, Peter’s feud with Mr. McGregor’s great-nephew, who is also called Mr McGregor! (Domhnall Gleeson) escalates to…
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If the kids have played every game they own this Summer holidays then you are in luck. The 5 Second Rule Jr. Game is lots of fun and easy to play. I have one copy to giveaway so read on to hear more about it and how you can win. The 5 Second Rule Jr game It should be easy to name 3 breeds of dogs; but can you do it under the pressure of 5 seconds twisting away? Time’s not on your side, so just say whatever comes to mind and risk ridiculous answers slipping out! It’s all in…
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With two inquisitive children I am constantly on my toes keeping them engaged and active, especially during the summer holidays. I’ve shared a few resources to keep the dreaded brain drain away and wanted to tell you about The Holiday Makers, a website with fun, free, family friendly activities to keep the kids aged 7-16 busy and minds sharp over the summer holidays. Engineer a great Summer with the Year of Engineering The Holiday Makers website is part of the Year of Engineering, a year-long initiative celebrating the wonderful world of engineering and encouraging young people to get involved. Every week a…
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Later this month we are driving through the UK, taking the Eurotunnel to France and then driving on through Belgium to the Netherlands. We are so excited about our week away and have been planning and packing for what feels like weeks. Our holiday involves a long car journey so we will be packing items to keep the kids occupied in the car. They are 6 and 8 and we’ve done quite a few long car journeys so I thought I would share my top tips for keeping kids occupied on car journeys. Read on for an i-SPY giveaway too.…
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Are you surviving the school holidays so far? They are flying by for us and we have been having lots of adventures. We recently had a few nights away so I made sure to pack a selection of travel games to keep the children busy. Our little family loves board games so we were delighted to be sent a selection of John Adam travel games to try out. We have a few favourite travel games. We don’t use them just for holidays though, I usually slip one in my handbag when we go out for dinner, to the pub, or…