• homestyle - mindfulness - Monday Happy List

    Monday Happy Things {Week 154}

    September 11, 2017 - By 

    It was a huge week for us with both kids going back to school. I think they were both happy to see their friends again. My 7 year old started a new school and so far seems really happy, coming home each day with so much to tell me about all the new routines he’s having to learn. I’ve missed them both but I can’t deny it’s been good to have some time to myself. My children love painting rocks and on Saturday we visited our local park to leave some painted rocks. We joined our local painted rocks group…

  • Tom Chaplin at Pizza Express Live (Holborn)
    days out - homestyle - Local Review - London

    Tom Chaplin at Pizza Express Live (Holborn)

    September 7, 2017 - By 

    Last Friday the hottest ticket in town was to see Tom Chaplin at Pizza Express Live Holborn. I knew that you could listen to live music at Pizza Express Soho but it’s been a long time since I went out in the evening thanks to my children and no babysitters nearby. When I heard that Tom Chaplin was playing I knew I had to do – tickets first then worry about a babysitter later. Miraculously we got two tickets! I persuaded my mum to come up for the weekend so she could look after the children and we could go…

  • Sylvanian Families inspired gingerbread biscuits
    baking - gingerbread - homestyle

    Sylvanian Families inspired gingerbread biscuits

    September 7, 2017 - By 

    Over the summer holidays my daughter wanted to bake some biscuits. She’s going through a massive Sylvanian Families obsession at the moment. Our house looks like a toy shop as her playsets cover the floor. For some reason I used a packet mix I picked up at Waitrose. It was one I hadn’t tried before but only needed an egg white so was easy to make with my daughter – I’ve forgotten the name but I’ll add it if I remember. She made the gingerbread dough, we chilled it briefly, before rolling it out. Ages ago she received a plastic…

  • Win a teapigs last days of summer prize
    competition - homestyle - Summer

    Win a teapigs last days of summer prize

    September 6, 2017 - By 

    My children were both happy to go back to school today. Yesterday there were a few nerves but today they were both happy and relaxed, and there were no tears from me either! Although they are back at school I’m hoping we’ll have a warm September. I’m not quite ready to pack away all our Summer clothes. Over the summer I made quite a few iced teas. I find them lovely and refreshing and my children do too. They make a great alternative to fizzy drinks and you can make a batch and keep it in the fridge to last…

  • Monday happy things {Week 153}
    homestyle - Monday Happy List

    Monday happy things {Week 153}

    September 4, 2017 - By 

    It’s feels like I’ve had a bit of a blogging break. You may not have noticed but I’ve not been posting as much or sharing on my social channels. I’ve enjoyed some quiet time and indulged my hobbies for once. It’s time for my weekly Monday happy things post – my Summer holidays edition (week 6). We started the week away thanks to a long weekend in Devon. We had amazing weather so it was perfect to be at the beach for once and not in London. The kids swam in Grandad’s pool and we went to the beach and…

  • Summer Craftpod Sub Box
    crafts - homestyle - subscription box

    Stitching {Summer Craftpod Sub Box}

    September 3, 2017 - By 

    It’s been a while since I tried a subscription box just for me. I suppose I haven’t really found any that I’ve wanted to try regularly. But when I received an email about the Summer Craftpod box I immediately signed up as it was all about cacti and moths! You can read what I thought about the Spring Craftpod box here. I find it hard to make time for me but a Craftpod box landing on my doormat immediately makes me shut my laptop and get making. Summer Craftpod Sub Box The Craftpod is a lovely subscription box. Inside the…

  • Michael Rosen Chocolate Cake book cover
    homestyle - What I'm reading

    Michael Rosen Chocolate Cake {book review}

    September 3, 2017 - By 

    I’m pretty sure that all parents of small children will have read at least one book my Michael Rosen to their child. Mine adored We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, and still do. Last year we visited the Discover Children’s Story Centre in London to explore Michael Rosen’s exhibition Bear Hunt, Chocolate Cake & Bad Things. It was amazing so i was excited to hear about Michael Rosen’s new book, Chocolate Cake. When I was a boy, I had a favourite treat. It was when my mum made . . .CHOCOLATE CAKE! Fantastically funny and full of silly noises, this is award…

  • easy gingerbread biscuit pop
    baking - gingerbread - homestyle

    Easy gingerbread biscuit pops

    August 30, 2017 - By 

    I love baking and despite following Slimming World I have no intention of giving it up. With two hungry children I love baking them treats for that after school period where they are absolutely ravenous. You all know by now that gingerbread is my absolute favourite thing to bake. Today I’m going to share my gingerbread pops which are cute and fun and easy! Simple gingerbread recipe 350g Plain flour 1tsp Bicarbonate of soda 2 tsp Ground ginger 100g Butter 175g Light muscovado sugar 4 tbsp Golden syrup 1 Large egg Ovenproof lolly sticks Easy gingerbread biscuit pops Make up…

  • SUMMER HOLIDAYS WEEK 5
    homestyle - Monday Happy List - Summer

    Monday happy things {Week 152}

    August 28, 2017 - By 

    I love a sunny Bank Holiday weekend! I hope the sun is shining wherever you are. It’s time for my weekly Monday happy things post, today is {Week 152}. The start of the week was lovely and peaceful at home. We enjoyed being at home, the kids played with their toys whilst I caught up on washing and cleaning. The children have been taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge so we made sure we fitted in a trip to the library, I can’t believe our next visit will be our last. On Thursday we headed off to Bristol. We…