• Win a copy of Dirty Bertie: Frights and Bites
    competition - Family Life

    Win a copy of Dirty Bertie: Frights and Bites

    September 21, 2018 - By 

    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…

  • SUPERZINGS SERIES 2
    Family Life - playing - toy review

    Introducing SuperZings Series 2

    September 21, 2018 - By 

    My children are huge fans of SuperZings. You may remember we reviewed Series 1 earlier this year. They are a great pocket money collectable and my children just love collecting and swapping them. Series 2 was released at the end of last month and brought exciting new additions, changes and range expansions. Clad in iconic superhero capes and eye masks, there are 80 new multi-coloured characters to collect, each with a matching ‘rival’ including an ultra rare character, 2 gold, 6 silver and 24 ‘SuperCrystal’ characters (a brand new finish!). We were sent a bundle of SuperZings Series 2 to…

  • he's making a list
    Family Life

    He’s making a list {Smyths toy catalogue}

    September 20, 2018 - By 

    Is it too early to be thinking about Christmas? The Smyths toy catalogue launches in store this Friday (tomorrow!) which always makes my thoughts turn to Christmas. We try to ban much Christmas talk until my daughter’s birthday at the end of November, but I sneakily have to do quite a lot of shopping behind the scenes to keep on top of it all. He’s making a list Smyths toy catalogue is bursting with over 328 pages of inspiration for little ones to enjoy, offering the best possible selection of toys, outdoor, video games and baby products! My children love…

  • What next for Orla Kiely?
    Family Life

    What next for Orla Kiely?

    September 19, 2018 - By 

    I’m sure you’ve all heard the news today that Ola Kiely ceased trading on Monday following the collapse of its parent company  Kiely Rowan. There were a few rumours about this in a Facebook group on Monday, yesterday a notice was put up on the Orla Kiely website and today the story hit the BBC. To say I am gutted is an understatement. I have loved Orla Kiely for about 15 years and use an Orla Kiely handbags every day. I was only in the Orla Kiely Covent Garden store 2 weeks ago. I loved that little shop and went…

  • finding painted rocks
    Family Life - Monday Happy List

    Monday mindfulness – 5 happy things

    September 17, 2018 - By 

    Happy Monday everyone. Hope you had a great weekend. I was pretty happy to see the weekend after going back to work. Each week I start off by writing my Monday mindfulness – 5 happy things blog post. It’s a great chance to 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 mindfulness – 5 happy things Last week was busy with just too much going on. It was a full week at work with lots of meeting after school…

  • Family Life

    Keeping kids safe online

    September 16, 2018 - By 

    Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash When I went to school back in the 1990s I remember my computer lessons being very limited. The computer room was basically a cupboard which wasn’t even big enough to take a whole class. Everything was very basic and didn’t really pique my interest. Fast forward to my Uni years and I was given an email address but I barely used a computer, except for typing up my coursework. My experiences put me off computers and if it wasn’t for my husband, I really doubt I would be a blogger and enjoy social media so much. He…

  • Family Life - homestyle - interiors

    Four of the Best Flooring Ideas for Family Homes

    September 14, 2018 - By 

    Are you looking for ways to make your family home more beautiful and lovable? Is this the case even after you have done a home renovation where you have replaced appliances and furniture? Are you not able to locate the reason why you can’t seem to get the look you want? The reason may actually be under your very feet. In other words, your home’s flooring might be the answer to your having the home you have dreamed about. Four of the Best Flooring Ideas for Family Homes Flooring is too often overlooked as an important design element when remodelling…

  • Family Life

    Back to work and getting stuff done

    September 13, 2018 - By 

    I’ve been a little quite lately, not just because my children are back to school, but because I’ve gone back to work too. I have a lovely job in a secondary school which fits (just about) round my children and their school day. My new job is completely different to my old one. I used to work in a museum and got to use my History degree every day. My new job means I’m on my feet all day, helping children who may need additional help. It doesn’t use any of my old skills, so I’m learning plenty of new…

  • Back to school with Moj Moj
    Family Life - toy review

    Back to school with Moj Moj

    September 11, 2018 - By 

    How are your children settling into the new academic year? Mine are pretty tired and grumpy which isn’t surprising after our long, hot summer adventures. Routine usually works quite well for our family so I’m hoping that we’ll soon get into the swing of things, especially now that all our extra-curricular activities have started too. A few weeks ago we were kindly sent some back to school supplies along with packs of our favourite squishies, Moj Moj. You may remember that we have featured them before. Moj Moj are super squishy characters with fun, collectible themes. My children just adore…