• Win a copy of Cock-A-Doodle-Poo!
    book review - competition - Family Life

    Win a copy of Cock-A-Doodle-Poo!

    March 6, 2018 - By 

    Down on the farm there’s a terrible pong. (Well the animals are pooing there all day long!) SPLAT! What’s that? It’s a big cow pat. Farmer Jill is well aware of the ecological benefits that animal excrements can have for farmland. But she just can’t keep on top of it all, especially the phantom flying poo. But all suspicions firmly point to the rooster… Cock-a-doodle-poo! is a side-splitting, rhyming, riot packed full of toots, poops, plops and parps from award-winning author Steve Smallman and illustrator Florence Weiser. This poop-packed extravaganza is the perfect read for fans of Poo in the…

  • Sylvanian Families Town range
    Family Life - Friends of Sylvanian Families - toy review

    Sylvanian Families Town Delicious Restaurant review

    March 6, 2018 - By 

    We have been pretty excited about the launch of the new Sylvanian Families Town range for a while now. On Friday we were finally able to see the whole range at our local toy shop. Both my children were so excited to see everything and Little Sis immediately bought the Sylvanian Families Town Chocolate Lounge set with her pocket money. You can see her unboxing over on our YouTube channel. We were so lucky to be sent the Sylvanian Families Town Delicious Restaurant and Stella, the Chocolate Rabbit older sister figure. We made unboxing videos of both of these which you can…

  • Family Life - Monday Happy List

    Monday mindfulness – 5 happy things

    March 5, 2018 - By 

    I’m just a little bit glad that last week is over. It started snowing on Monday, through Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday, then it stopped. Of course school was closed on Friday which made no sense to me as the snow had stopped and we could get to school really easily. We used the unexpected day off to go looking for painted rocks and hiding some of the ones we’ve decorated recently, and had fun playing in the snow. Monday mindfulness – 5 happy things Monday started off well with a visit to my daughter’s school from Tom Fletcher. He’s…

  • Signs of the Sewdiac
    Crafts for adults - Family Life - sewing - subscription box

    Signs of the Sewdiac subscription box (February box)

    March 4, 2018 - By 

    Where did February go. I love February but it just whizzed past, March is here and I’m feeling a little disorganised about it! I received some lovely mail last month, including the February Signs of the Sewdiac box. This is a new subscription box for crafters, based on the Signs of the Zodiac. I really enjoyed the January box so signed up for the February box too. It arrived last week and contained a craft kit which I was excited to receive. Signs of the Sewdiac subscription box The theme for the February box was scissors, so the contents were…

  • book review - Family Life - What I'm reading

    The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay

    March 3, 2018 - By 

    Last week I told you about the Book of Dust Volume 1: La Belle Sauvage. Today I’m telling you about another book I would recommend The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay. Back in 2015 I read The Bronte Plot, also by Katherine Reay, which I really loved. so I was pretty excited to hear she’s written another book as I really enjoyed her style. The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay I received a copy of The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay via NetGalley. I had trouble downloading it initially but had another go and read it in a few days. Sometimes I forget…

  • Where's Wally World Book Day costume
    Family Life - World Book Day ideas

    Where’s Wally? (World Book Day costume)

    March 1, 2018 - By 

    World Book Day is here again! Us parents either love it or loathe it. I was so jealous of other school as ours had a strict pyjama dress code only. Last year this was relaxed but there has been some hoo haa this year, loads of confusion and the mixed message of costumes or pyjamas. I understand that not everyone wants to buy or make costumes for World Book Day. My son hates dressing up but my daughter loves it. This year she really wanted to go as Harry Potter but eventually she chose Where’s Wally instead. I didn’t mind,…

  • Sylvanian Families Town launches in the UK
    Family Life - Friends of Sylvanian Families

    Sylvanian Families Town launches in the UK today!

    March 1, 2018 - By 

    The 1st March has finally arrived which means Sylvanian Families fans in the UK finally get their hands on the new Sylvanian Families Town range! The much-loved, iconic toy range Sylvanian Families, has expanded with the largest product launch in its history – a new town – which ‘opens’ today. The launch of the new Sylvanian Families Town allows fans to create an alternative to the usual countryside setting of the Village. An exciting urban destination for the characters to visit on a special ‘day out’, the Town is also where the ‘older sister’ characters work – doing their dream…

  • Thomas & Friends Encyclopedia
    book review - Family Life

    Thomas & Friends Character Encyclopedia

    February 28, 2018 - By 

    Thomas & Friends Character Encyclopedia is packed with fun facts, artwork and profiles from your number one blue engine! Including steam engines, diesels, construction vehicles, and of course The Fat Controller, this book is the definitive guide to all of your friends from the island of Sodor. Thomas & Friends Character Encyclopedia With entries on the Steam Team as well as new friends, this book is the ultimate guide to the personalities, jobs and design of more than 100 Thomas & Friends characters. Thomas & Friends Character Encyclopedia also contains fact files and Did You Know? boxes so readers can learn more about…

  • Schleich dinosaurs
    Family Life - toy review

    Imaginative play with the new Schleich Dinosaur figures

    February 28, 2018 - By 

    My 6 year old loves dinosaurs. She is learning more about dinosaurs this term at school which she is really enjoying. She has been re-reading all her dinosaur books and playing with her dinosaur collection. I think all children love dinosaurs. We’ve been to see the Dinosaur gallery at the Natural History Museum a few times and I still love finding out new things about them, just as much as the children do. Schleich Dinosaurs offer new dinosaur figurines for 2018. This year, fans of these prehistoric giants can enjoy even more dinosaurs in new poses and new designs. The…