• Yayoi Kasuma Covered Everything in Dots and Wasn't Sorry {book review}
    Family Life

    Yayoi Kasuma Covered Everything in Dots and Wasn’t Sorry {book review}

    April 25, 2020 - By 

    Back in October half term 2018 we were lucky to get tickets to the London Yayoi Kusama installation, a free event at the Victoria Miro gallery near Old Street. I’ve always admired Yayoi Kusama’s work and was excited to introduce the kids to her work. We loved the Infinity Mirrored Room, the giant pumpkins, paintings and installations. It was a really inspiring event for the whole family. We really loved the pumpkins covered in dots and tried to re-create them at home on painted rocks – it was so much harder than it looked! Yayoi Kasuma Covered Everything in Dots…

  • The best place to see bluebells in West London
    Family Life - Local Review - London - Ruislip

    The best place to see bluebells in West London

    April 24, 2020 - By 

    I’m not sure if Spring came early this year but two weeks ago we came across the best place to see bluebells in West London. We are fortunate that Ruislip Woods is our go to place for our state sanctioned daily exercise. We might be a little biased, but I think it is the best place to see bluebells in West London. The best place to see bluebells in West London Ruislip Woods is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and national nature reserve covering 726 acres in Ruislip, Hillingdon. The woods became the first national nature reserve in an…

  • Shopkins Real Littles Icy Treats Collection review
    Family Life

    Shopkins Real Littles Icy Treats Collection review

    April 21, 2020 - By 

    It seems a while since we’ve reviewed toys but when we were offered some of the brand new Shopkins Real Littles I just had to say yes. My children have always loved their Shopkins toys so I knew they would be really excited to see these. Real Littles sees your fave brands turned into Shopkins! Shopkins Real Littles are the same brands you find in the supermarkets – just made mini! Take home a basket full of brands and make your own real looking store – just smaller! Shopkins Real Littles Icy Treats Collection Series 2 of Shopkins Real Littles…

  • keeping a mindfulness journal
    competition - Family Life

    Mindful journaling for kids with the HappySelf Journal {giveaway}

    April 19, 2020 - By 

    Disclosure – this post includes affiliate content Just before our schools closed and we were placed on lockdown we received a HappySelf Journal to try out at home. We’ve been fans of journal keeping and mindfulness for a few years so were looking forward to trying the HappySelf Journal during what we knew was going to be a difficult time for our family. Mindful journaling for kids with the HappySelf Journal The HappySelf Journal is a daily journal for children aged 6 to 12, used to help promote happiness, develop positive habits and nurture enquiring minds. Beautifully laid out with…

  • Keeping the kids busy with Rockford’s Rock Opera
    Family Life

    Keeping the kids busy with Rockford’s Rock Opera {app review}

    April 16, 2020 - By 

    We’ve downloaded a few new apps for the children recently. We’ve always encouraged screen time, as long as it’s balanced with educational work, physical exercise and creative pursuits during lockdown. Last week we tidied up the children’s playhouse and Little Sis loves nothing more that chilling in her den with her iPad and enjoying some downtime there. Rockford’s Rock Opera {app review} We were recently introduced to Rockford’s Rock Opera, an ecological musical story, which she has been enjoying. Aimed at children between 6-12, the story revolves around a boy Moog and his dog Rockford who live in Battersea, North…

  • A cracking Easter Egg Hunt with Haribo
    Family Life

    AD | A cracking Easter Egg Hunt with Haribo

    April 15, 2020 - By 

    Disclosure – paid post in collaboration with Haribo I don’t know about you but we’re a family who loves to celebrate Easter. It’s always been a big event in our year, with Easter eggs and presents, an Easter Egg Hunt in the garden, and a delicious meal with family. This year was always going to be completely different as we were unable to visit family, but we still wanted it to be eggstra-special. Our Easter traditions We still kept many of the traditions which make Easter a special holiday. We baked delicious Easter biscuits, I managed to buy everyone some…

  • How to keep the kids busy during lockdown - the gingerbread house
    Family Life

    How to keep the kids busy during lockdown

    April 10, 2020 - By 

    So three weeks into lockdown already. On one hand I can’t believe we’ve managed to stay in for over 3 weeks, but on the other hand I am exhausted from looking after the children at home every day. The days seem very long and I’m juggling the children, their school work, keeping them busy with games, gardening and baking, cooking, cleaning and my little blog. I usually work in a secondary school but there is little I can do from home for now. Creative ideas for keeping the kids busy during lockdown As well as all of the above we’re…

  • Traditional Easter biscuits recipe
    baking - Family Life

    Traditional Easter biscuits recipe

    April 4, 2020 - By 

    We’ve been doing a lot of baking recently. I don’t know about you but we’ve always enjoyed baking, and now we have a lot more time on our hands. We are all excited that we have Easter to celebrate, especially as every day pretty much feels the same right now. Easter is the perfect excuse for dusting off my recipe book to re-discover my traditional recipe for Easter biscuits. This is a simple recipe which I first made at school many years ago. It’s a classic Easter biscuit recipe that provides a delicious Easter treat for the whole family. Ingredients…

  • 5 minute April Fool's Day joke for kids
    April Fools' Day - Family Life

    5 minute April Fool’s Day joke for kids

    April 1, 2020 - By 

    Did you do anything to mark April Fool’s Day today? We don’t usually do anything but this year my 10 year old wanted to play a joke on each member of the family. His ideas were fun, ranging from switching the tea and coffee jars around in the cupboard to annoy me, changing the dust covers on the books his sister is reading, and pretending he broke his dad’s RC car. The jokes were well thought out and made us all giggle. I wanted to play a small April Fool’s Day joke on the kids. I know many people are…