• Alethiometers and daemons
    book review - Family Life - What I'm reading

    Alethiometers and daemons {La Belle Sauvage}

    February 26, 2018 - By 

    The Book of Dust is a story in three parts. The first part, La Belle Sauvage, is set 10 years before the events of His Dark Materials, and the rest of the story takes place 20 years after that. Did you know that the Book of Dust was published 22 years after Northern Lights was published in 1995? I’m not sure where the years have gone but I loved His Dark Materials, so I was excited when Penguin Random House sent me a copy of  La Belle Sauvage to read. I received it over Christmas but it was such a hectic time I didn’t really get into it.…

  • D.I.Y. Dollshouse by Alexia Henrion
    book review - Craft book review - homestyle - What I'm reading

    D.I.Y. Dollshouse by Alexia Henrion

    October 14, 2017 - By 

    I love receiving happy mail and was delighted to receive a small parcel containing a copy of D.I.Y. Dollshouse. I wasn’t sure if it was for me or my children but we’ve all been enjoying reading it. D.I.Y. Dollshouse: Build and Decorate a Toy House Using Everyday Materials is a lavishly illustrated guide for budding architects, builders, and designers, showing them how to build and furnish their own eco-friendly dollhouse using only items found around the house or available for free. Author Alexia Henrion has created a fun-filled book that is all about recycling, re-using and re-purposing. She provides simple…

  • 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…

  • The Summer of Serendipity book review
    book review - competition - homestyle - What I'm reading

    The Summer of Serendipity {review and giveaway}

    July 20, 2017 - By 

    Can you smell the Summer holidays? I can! Today I’m taking part in the book tour for The Summer of Serendipity by Ali McNamara. Read on for my review of this great summer time read, and for your chance to win a copy. The Summer of Serendipity One summer, property seeker, Serendipity Parker finds herself on the beautiful west coast of Ireland, hunting for a home for a wealthy Irish client. But when she finds the perfect house in the small town of Ballykiltara, there’s a problem; nobody seems to know who owns it. ‘The Welcome House’ is a local legend.…

  • Minecraft books to help you through the Summer holidays
    book review - homestyle - What I'm reading

    Minecraft books to help you through the Summer holidays

    July 19, 2017 - By 

    My 7 year old loves Minecraft. It was the first computer game he played and he still plays it today. This is usually a reward for doing his homework and helping around the house. He likes nothing better than playing it with his Dad. I have to be honest and admit to not knowing how to play. My 5 year old plays too but my 7 year old has Minecraft books, toys and even clothes. It’s fair to say he is a huge fan. Minecraft Master Builder Toolkit We have received a few Minecraft books so I thought I would…

  • This is Not a Fairy Tale book review
    book review - homestyle - What I'm reading

    This is Not a Fairy Tale book review

    July 13, 2017 - By 

    As I went up to see my daughter for the umpteenth time last night I realised how quickly she is growing up. Despite school, a playdate, a karate lesson and shower she was NOT tired. We asked her to lie down in bed for 10 minutes before she got up to play. I let her play for a while before going back up to ask her to go to bed. This was at 9.30pm! She’s only 5 years old! It’s fair to say she knows her own mind, which is why I knew she would enjoy This is Not a…

  • book review - homestyle - What I'm reading

    The Creative Family Manifesto by Amanda Blake Soule

    July 4, 2017 - By 

    Amanda Blake Soule was one of the first bloggers I discovered and enjoyed reading back in 2005 (when I first started my own blog too!). She is a mother of five, blog and book writer, magazine editor, and maker of all kinds of things. On her blog, Soulemama, she shares tales of her family homesteading adventures from her old farmhouse in Western Maine. She is the author of three books: The Creative Family, Handmade Home, and The Rhythm of Family. I have the first two and I admit they have influenced how I play with my own children. So I…

  • book review - homestyle - What I'm reading

    Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore

    July 2, 2017 - By 

    I love reading! I love discovering new authors and losing myself in a really good book. Regular readers will know that I’ve been a fan of NetGalley for a while. I’ve read some great books via NetGalley and when I saw the cover for Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore I just knew I wanted to read it. It landed on my Kindle and I read it in just a few days, I absolutely loved it! Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore When a bookshop patron commits suicide, it’s his favourite store clerk who must unravel the puzzle he left behind…

  • Making Concrete Pots, Bowls, and Platters by Hester van Overbeek
    book review - crafts - handmade - What I'm reading

    Making Concrete Pots, Bowls, and Platters by Hester van Overbeek

    February 7, 2017 - By 

    Making Concrete Pots, Bowls, and Platters is the third book by Hester van Overbeek, you can read my review of Furniture Hacks here. In this book, you will find everything you need to make a range of unique concrete projects. The comprehensive techniques section explains what type of concrete to buy, how to use it and how to decorate it. You will also learn how to mix, cast and mould concrete. From there you can put this knowledge into action to make chic home accessories such as upside-down plant pots, a concrete bowl with a wooden base, serving platters, a letter-shaped…