• Family Life

    Top tips for clearing up after Christmas

    January 13, 2020 - By 

    Disclosure – this is a sponsored post People usually associate deep cleaning their house with Spring but for me it’s all about January and that post-Christmas haze. Despite going back to work last week my house still has all the echoes of Christmas – a pile of Christmas cards are waiting to be recycled, the odd decoration is still up and there is a stash of Christmas sweets and chocolates I just don’t know what to do with. Top tips for clearing up after Christmas 1. It’s not just the remains of Christmas that I want to deal with however.…

  • Easy Slimming World mince pies
    baking - Family Life

    Easy Slimming World mince pies {recipe}

    January 11, 2020 - By 

    I’ve been following Slimming World for a couple of months now. I’ve followed Slimming World before and it works really well for me, if I stay on plan. When I signed up to a plan I received an eat, plan and be merry book which I found really useful over Christmas. It’s a time of year with lots of lovely food and opportunities to be social which makes it easy to eat more than you need to. I really wanted to try some of the seasonal recipes which had be adapted to be Slimming World friendly, especially the mince pie…

  • {free printable} Elf on the Shelf Twister game
    Christmas - Elf on the Shelf - Family Life - free printables

    {free printable} Elf on the Shelf Twister game

    January 10, 2020 - By 

    I’ve just about survived the first week back to school after the Christmas holidays. It felt like it was quite hard to get back into the swing of things and I’m happy that I have a few days to relax at home. December is always a crazy month for families but I still have a few Christmas activities to post. Last month we had fun creating our free Elf on the Shelf twister printable which we wanted to share with you. {free printable} Elf on the Shelf Twister game We’ve had our Elf on the Shelf for a few years…

  • Paws For Thought - Romsey's {kid friendly} Cat Cafe
    Family Life

    Paws For Thought – Romsey’s {kid friendly} Cat Cafe

    January 2, 2020 - By 

    My son has been asking to get a cat for a few months now. We used to have two cats, who sadly died, and have been thinking of getting another pet. I thought it would be an adventure to visit a Cat Cafe over the holidays. I love the idea of a cafe where you could enjoy tea and cake whilst enjoying the company of a cat. I had previously visited Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium in London (nearly 2 years ago) but unfortunately they didn’t allow children. Paws For Thought – Romsey’s {kid friendly} Cat Cafe It took me a…

  • Walking with The Snowman trail, London Bridge City 2019
    days out - Family Life - Local Review - London - Sculpture trails

    Walking with The Snowman trail, London Bridge City 2019

    December 31, 2019 - By 

    We’ve been wanting to get out to explore the latest art trail in London for a while. Did you know there was a Snowman art trail in town this winter?  This year, London’s most picturesque Christmas market, Christmas by the River, has welcomed a festive sculpture trail celebrating Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman. The Snowman story has been an integral part of our book advent for a few years now. We love the story and have enjoyed the animated version to over the last few weeks. So when I heard there was an art trail dedicated to The Snowman I knew…

  • Family Life - Monday Happy List

    Monday Happy List {Week 272}

    December 30, 2019 - By 

    I love to start the week by writing the Monday Happy List. It’s a chance for me to sit down and reflect on the things that made me happy in the previous week, as well as to record some of our family adventures – it’s a post I always enjoy writing. Monday Happy List {Week 272} The first week of our Christmas holidays has flown by. We all had a lovely time on Christmas Day and the kids were pleased with their presents. This year we had a new Christmas Eve Box which was slightly bigger and able to hold some…

  • 21 new Elf on the Shelf ideas
    Elf on the Shelf - Family Life - Toilet roll crafts

    21 new Elf on the Shelf ideas

    December 29, 2019 - By 

    December whizzes by pretty quickly for any family but especially for parents who are trying to hide an Elf on the Shelf. My children still believe in the magic of Christmas so we were excited to bring out our Elf on the Shelf to bring some extra magic throughout December. This year I bought a few books and extra accessories to help me as there’s nothing worse than remembering you haven’t moved your Elf when you’re off to bed. I bought an Elf on the Shelf Gingerbread Activity Set, and two books – Elf On The Shelf Scout Elves at Play…

  • Blogger Board Game Club: Catan
    Blogger Board Game Club - Family Life

    Blogger Board Game Club: Catan

    December 29, 2019 - By 

    We love being part of Asmodee’s Blogger Board Game club and were delighted to receive Catan, the famous board game by Klaus Teuber to play and review. This is a game my husband has wanted to play for ages so we were excited to have some time over the Christmas holidays to learn how to play it. Catan: Trade, Build, Settle Picture yourself in the era of discoveries: after a long voyage of great deprivation, your ships have finally reached the coast of an uncharted island. Its name shall be Catan! But you are not the only discoverer. Other fearless…

  • Book Advent books for an 8 year old
    Family Life - What I'm reading

    Book Advent books for an 8 year old

    December 27, 2019 - By 

    Last year my daughter ended up with her very own Book Advent (a different festive book to enjoy in the run up to Christmas). My son decided he wanted to read The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher so read the one book during December (this year he read The Creakers by Tom Fletcher and A Notchmas Carol). So my daughter got to enjoy the Book Advent all to herself, alongside the handmade Advent calendar I made her, and her chocolate one! I’ve always loved putting together a selection of festive books for kids, this year my daughter helped me! What is…