• BOYING UP: How to be Brave, Bold and Brilliant
    competition - Family Life - parenting

    {Giveaway} BOYING UP: How to be Brave, Bold and Brilliant

    June 28, 2018 - By 

    Mayim Bialik, star of The Big Bang Theory and author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Girling Up: How to be Strong, Smart and Spectacular, is turning her attention to teen boys in a new book about the science, pressures, and pitfalls of growing up male in today’s world. In BOYING UP: How to be Brave, Bold and Brilliant, Mayim Bialik uses scientific information from her life as a neuroscientist along with personal anecdotes as a mother of two boys to explain what it means to grow from a boy to a man biologically, psychologically, and sociologically. BOYING UP: How to be Brave, Bold and…

  • Orla Kiely: A Life in Pattern {Fashion and Textile Museum}
    days out - Family Life - London - Orla Kiely

    Orla Kiely: A Life in Pattern {Fashion and Textile Museum}

    June 27, 2018 - By 

    Today I finally got to visit the Orla Kiely: A Life in Pattern exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum in Bermondsey. I’ve been a huge fan of Orla Kiely for about 15 years and have a growing collection of handbags, bedding and homeware. The only thing I’ve not really bought into is her clothing range. Even if you don’t know the name you will know her prints. My favourite is her stem print which can be found on just about everything from cars to books, candles and yoghurt pots. The Fashion and Textile Museum is a short walk from London Bridge underground…

  • Minecraft: The Crash book cover
    book review - Family Life

    The second official Minecraft novel – Minecraft: The Crash

    June 26, 2018 - By 

    It’s been almost a year since my son received a copy of the first official Minecraft novel, The Island by Max Brooks. It was one of the first Minecraft books he read, later going on to read The Elementia Chronicles. The Island tells the story of a new hero stranded in the world of Minecraft, who must survive the harsh, unfamiliar environment and unravel the secrets of the island. My son really enjoyed reading The Island so we were delighted to be sent a copy of the second official Minecraft novel – Minecraft: The Crash by Tracey Baptiste to review.…

  • Instagram worthy walls in greenwich
    Family Life - mindfulness - Monday Happy List

    Monday mindfulness – 5 Happy Things

    June 25, 2018 - By 

    Happy Monday everyone. Hope you had a great weekend. The weather has been lovely all week and we loved getting out for some family time this weekend. 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 To be honest I felt a little blah all week. My exam invigilating has come to an…

  • 8 farms to visit within easy reach of West London
    days out - Family Life - Local Review - London

    8 farms to visit within easy reach of West London

    June 23, 2018 - By 

    Any one starting to worry how to keep the kids busy over the Summer holidays? I have to admit that panic is starting to kick in. I’ve booked quite a few things but that doesn’t stop me trying to come up with ideas for some of the days we’ll be spending at home. I love to have different days out, other than the park or cinema. Living on the edge of London we’re really lucky to be within easy reach of farms and countryside. I thought I would post a round up of some of our favourite farms to visit…

  • Sylvanian Families Town Ride Along Tram
    Family Life - Friends of Sylvanian Families

    Sylvanian Families Town Ride Along Tram

    June 22, 2018 - By 

    Last month we were lucky to review the new Maple Cat Family, a new family who have come to live in the new Sylvanian Families Town range. Do you remember we said that Father Theodore Maple drove the tram? Well today we are excited to tell you about the new Ride Along Tram from the Sylvanian Families Town. This year a Town setting was introduced to the range. This exciting urban destination lets the characters visit on a special ‘day out’. It’s also where the ‘older sister’ characters work – doing their dream jobs. Little Sis is lucky to have…

  • family camping trip with the Vango Anteus 600 6 Person Family Tent
    Family Life - Local Review

    Our first family camping trip with the Vango Anteus 600 6 Person Family Tent

    June 22, 2018 - By 

    It’s been 2 weeks since our first camping trip, definitely time to share our adventure with you. My children have been part of our local District Scouts for the past 3 years. Both of them have camped out at our local Scout Hut and my son has been away camping. When we received an invitation to a Family Camp at Phasels Wood we jumped at the chance to experience camping together. Now I haven’t camped since school but we were excited to try camping as a family. We were camping at Phasels Wood Scout Campsite and Activity Centre about 30…

  • Fantastic Gymnastics Vaulting Challenge from Hasbro Gaming
    Family Life - Hasbro Toy Tribe

    Fantastic Gymnastics Vaulting Challenge from Hasbro Gaming

    June 21, 2018 - By 

    With so many sporting events going on over the next few weeks we were excited to receive the Fantastic Gymnastics Vaulting Challenge from Hasbro Gaming to try out. My children love playing games together and this one looked really fun. Fantastic Gymnastics Vaulting Challenge from Hasbro Gaming The Fantastic Gymnastics Vaulting Challenge Game includes a gymnast figure, vault track, vault base, landing mat, and instructions. It requires a little assembly which was something my 8 year old was able to do. Once the game was assembled they were ready to go. The idea is pretty simple. Players time their speed and rhythm…

  • Family Life - parenting

    Top tips for saving money and protecting your finances when you have kids

    June 20, 2018 - By 

    As I said in a previous post, I’m always looking for ways to save money.  If you google the cost of raising a child in the UK, the figure that you get is an incredibly scary £230,000.  OK, that’s to the age of twenty-one and it does include the cost of sending them to university, but even so, how do any of us ever manage to do it?  No wonder that money is always tight.  It makes you realise just how important it is to protect your family financially, so here are my suggestions for making your money go as…