• Ravensburger's Dog's Delight
    Family Life - screen-free activities

    Positively puzzling with Ravensburger’s Dog’s Delight

    March 19, 2020 - By 

    If you’re looking for a screen-free activity to keep the kids busy then look no further than a jigsaw puzzle. We’ve always enjoyed an activity that the whole family can enjoy together and puzzles tick all the boxes for us. The dining room table is the heart of our home and the perfect place to sit and puzzle. The history of the jigsaw puzzle Did you know that John Spilsbury, an engraver and mapmaker, is credited with inventing the first jigsaw puzzle in 1767? He used a map, and since then, pretty much anything has been made into a puzzle,…

  • 18 week old bichon
    Family Life - Monday Happy List

    Monday Happy List {Week 283}

    March 16, 2020 - By 

    I love to start the week by writing the Monday Happy List. It’s a chance for me to sit down and 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 love to write. Monday Happy List {Week 283} The last week has been pretty crazy. It’s been hard to hide from the news as it’s all anyone has been talking about. My husband’s office has been closed for the foreseeable future and we’re waiting to hear when the school I work at will…

  • Family Life

    How to Design a Minimalist Bathroom

    March 15, 2020 - By 

    Your bathroom is one of the most used spaces in your home. In fact, The Huffington Post reveals that British homeowners spend around three hours of their week inside their bathrooms, which is more time than one would typically spend exercising in the gym. This is why it’s important to make sure that your bathroom is a space where you can relax. But how do you go about doing this? How to Design a Minimalist Bathroom While the saying “less is more” is a rather worn-out cliché, there may be some truth to it after all. The BBC discusses how…

  • 10 ways to encourage kids to wash their hands
    Family Life

    10 ways to encourage kids to wash their hands

    March 14, 2020 - By 

    We all know that good hand hygiene is important to encourage in our children. My children needs plenty of gentle encouragement to wash their hands when they come home from school or before meal times. Of course it’s important for everyone to keep their hands clean to prevent spreading germs, especially at times of seasonal outbreaks. How to you encourage your children to stop spreading germs We’ve been following the NHS guidelines for the last few weeks. These include: Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds Always wash your hands when…

  • Easy rainbow sensory bag for kids from the gingerbread house
    Crafts for kids - St Patrick's Day crafts

    Easy rainbow sensory bag

    March 13, 2020 - By 

    My children have always enjoyed sensory activities, the ones which allow them to use touch, taste or smells have always worked well with them. This is a lovely quick activity if you are looking for a quick, indoor boredom buster. It takes minutes to set up and is easily enjoyed by a wide age range. Even better it’s a mess-free activity for toddlers which is great for celebrating St Patrick’s Day too! Easy rainbow sensory bag supplies: Shaving Cream Water Beads Zipper Seal Bag Sharpies in every colour of the rainbow Easy rainbow sensory bag instructions: Draw a rainbow on a zipper…

  • Easy Leprechaun paper plate craft for kids the gingerbread house
    Crafts for kids - Cricut Maker - St Patrick's Day crafts

    Easy Leprechaun paper plate craft for kids

    March 10, 2020 - By 

    I think celebrations on St Patrick’s Day are going to be pretty subdued this year, thanks to the outbreak of Covid-19. St Patrick’s Day parades are being cancelled across Ireland, although it looks like the St Patricks’s Day parade taking place in London this weekend is still going ahead. You can still celebrate St Patricks’ Day at home and kids will love this easy Leprechaun paper plate craft. Leprechaun paper plate craft supplies: Paper plate Quick dry tacky glue or school glue Leprechaun Template Files Scissors Cricut Maker (optional) How to make an easy Leprechaun paper plate I love using…

  • 17 week old Bichon Frise puppy
    Family Life - Monday Happy List

    Monday Happy List {Week 282}

    March 9, 2020 - By 

    I love to start the week by writing the Monday Happy List. It’s a chance for me to sit down and 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 love to write. Monday Happy List {Week 282} As a family of book worms we just love World Book Day. This year the children took their favourite non-fiction book to school and we were all relieved they didn’t have to dress up. The Secondary school where I work held a scavenger hunt for…

  • The Shipping Forecast quilt
    Crafts for adults

    The Shipping Forecast quilt {update 6}

    March 8, 2020 - By 

    Last week my son was sick so spent a day at home with me. He spent most of the day lying on the sofa, watching tv, which meant I needed to find something to do. My Shipping Forecast quilt had been sitting in the corner, looking at me, so it seemed like the perfect time to get it out and work on it. The Shipping Forecast quilt I love listening to The Shipping Forecast on Radio 4. Before my children came along I used to stay up late, listening to it before bed. Now I’m in bed a lot earlier…

  • Chewy Gingerbread molasses cookies recipe from the gingerbread house blog
    baking - Family Life - gingerbread

    {Recipe} Chewy Gingerbread molasses cookies

    March 7, 2020 - By 

    We’ve been baking a lot lately. The whole family love gingerbread and there’s nothing better than some Saturday morning baking, especially if the cookies last all weekend! I really enjoyed making some chewy gingerbread molasses cookies. These make the perfect cookie to go with a hot drink after a long, bracing walk with the family. This recipe makes 24 cookies Chewy Gingerbread molasses cookies ingredients: 3/4 Cup unsalted sweet cream butter, softened 1 Cup light brown sugar 1 large egg 1/4 Cup molasses 2 Cup flour 1/2 tsp salt 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground cloves 1 tsp ground…