• The Handmade Fair at Hampton Court 2017
    days out - homestyle - Local Review - London

    The Handmade Fair at Hampton Court 2017

    September 17, 2017 - By 

    Yesterday I went to The Handmade Fair with my sister for the third year in a row. I really love going to The Handmade Fair at Hampton Court, it’s a great way to learn some new skills and of course go shopping for craft supplies! The Handmade Fair takes place on Hampton Court Green, opposite Hampton Court. It’s a nice location although pretty difficult to get to from our corner of London. We arrived with plenty of time to go shopping before our first workshop. Full experience tickets include a Grand Make, Skills Workshop and the Super Theatre. I booked…

  • 5 pumpkin patches near London for families
    days out - Halloween crafts - parenting

    5 pumpkin patches near London for families

    September 9, 2017 - By 

    As I sit and type this the shutters are closed, I’m wearing an extra jumper and I’m thinking about pumpkins. This evening the heating tried to come on so I don’t think I can pretend that summer is well and truly over. I love Autumn and my youngest has given me quite a collection of acorns and conkers since we started walking to school. The leaves were falling as we played in the park today so it seemed only right to start planning a trip to a pumpkin patch. For some reason I really want to visit a pumpkin patch.…

  • Tom Chaplin at Pizza Express Live (Holborn)
    days out - homestyle - Local Review - London

    Tom Chaplin at Pizza Express Live (Holborn)

    September 7, 2017 - By 

    Last Friday the hottest ticket in town was to see Tom Chaplin at Pizza Express Live Holborn. I knew that you could listen to live music at Pizza Express Soho but it’s been a long time since I went out in the evening thanks to my children and no babysitters nearby. When I heard that Tom Chaplin was playing I knew I had to do – tickets first then worry about a babysitter later. Miraculously we got two tickets! I persuaded my mum to come up for the weekend so she could look after the children and we could go…

  • 24 hours in Bristol with kids!
    days out - parenting

    24 hours in Bristol with kids!

    August 26, 2017 - By 

    Do you ever have those crazy ideas where you say, let’s stop off on our long journey over the Bank Holiday weekend? As if the traffic isn’t usually bad enough over a BH weekend we broke our journey to south Devon in Bristol. It’s one of my favourite cities and one we rarely go to since we had our kids. I have such happy memories of exploring Bristol with my husband and longed to re-visit some of our old haunts. So we booked into the Bristol Marriot Royal Hotel for a whistle-stop adventure in Bristol as a family of four.…

  • Rachel Whiteread Place (Village) at the Museum of Childhood
    days out - Local Review - London - parenting

    Rachel Whiteread Place (Village) at the Museum of Childhood

    August 19, 2017 - By 

    I have this thing with houses. I’m not sure what it is but I just love little houses. So when I heard about an installation by the artist Rachel Whiteread consisting of lots of dolls’ houses, I knew I had to visit. The installation was at the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green. Fortunately I had booked myself on a workshop at Tatty Devine in Brick Lane so was able to go a little early to visit it. I adore the Museum of Childhood. It is one of my favourite museums, mainly due to its collection of dolls’ houses. They used…

  • days out - parenting - Siblings

    Siblings {August 2017}

    August 17, 2017 - By 

    As a busy mama of two monkeys the Summer holidays have been a tad exhausting. My children have a lot of energy and a voracious appetite for fun! We have been having some amazing days out which have provided the perfect opportunity to take lots of photographs. The past month has been so much fun, and all the days out actually made for some great photographs. I can’t wait to update our photo wall with some of my favourites. Fortunately my children have been getting on really well. I love watching them play together and seek out each other. I took…

  • The Courts Garden, Holt
    days out - National Trust - parenting

    The Courts Garden, Holt

    August 16, 2017 - By 

    We’ve had some amazing days out recently. Whilst we were away in Wiltshire we visited the beautiful gardens at The Courts in Holt near Bradford upon Avon. This place has been on our list for ages so I was really happy that we finally managed to visit. As I get older(!) I find I appreciate gardens a lot more than I used to. My children seem to enjoy the gardens more than looking round historic houses, and since the National Trust provide so much for children to do, I knew we would all enjoy ourselves. Holt is a small village…

  • Somerset Lavender
    days out - holidays - parenting - Somerset

    Somerset Lavender {kids in lavender fields]

    August 13, 2017 - By 

    So today we finally made it to a lavender field. I’ve really wanted to go to the one at Hitchin but so far we haven’t made it. We’re visiting my mum for a few days so decided to visit Somerset Lavender. Lately my Instagram feed has been full of happy children standing in lavender. I was wondering what my children would think. I love lavender. We grow it and use it at home (lavender play dough anyone?) and a few years ago we visited Isle of Wight Lavender and stocked up on lavender products. I’ve also baked lavender shortbread which you…

  • Lego Scooby Doo Blowout Beach Bash Movie at Legoland Windsor
    days out - Local Review - London - parenting

    Lego Scooby Doo Blowout Beach Bash Movie at Legoland Windsor

    August 9, 2017 - By 

    Last week we were invited to Legoland Windsor which was amazing as the children have been asking to go for ages. My husband took the day off work and off we went. Luckily we only live about half an hour away so we got there just as the park opened. Lego Scooby Doo Blowout Beach Bash Movie Our first stop was the 4D cinema to watch the Lego Scooby Doo Blowout Beach Bash Movie. I didn’t even know you could watch films at Legoland but you can. The cinema was by the Imagination Centre, and was huge but there were…