• 5 ways to increase the natural light in your home
    Family Life

    5 ways to increase the natural light in your home

    July 28, 2019 - By 

    Can you believe it’s been 6 years since we moved into our home? We all lead busy lives and it’s only when we seem to have a significant break from work that we start to notice things that need doing around the home. We’ve already done quite a lot to make our house feel like home and this summer we will be changing the floor in our open plan lounge/dining room. It’s the room we all spend the most time in and the flooring just isn’t hard wearing enough for our needs. Perhaps that’s not surprising with two children but…

  • rainbow mosaic
    Crafts for adults

    Mosaic workshop with Michelle Greenwood Brown

    July 27, 2019 - By 

    You all know I love a challenge. I’ve been wanting to try mosaic making for a while but just haven’t found any suitable mosaic courses in London. I really admire the work of Teignmouth artist, Michelle Greenwood Brown, so was delighted when I found she was running a course when we would be in Devon. The Mosaic workshop was called Creative with Crockery and promised it was suitable for beginners or those with some experience. In it we would learn to cut and shape recycled ceramic plates and tiles with tile nippers and make your own mosaic owl, chicken or…

  • front cover of Paint Play: 21 Easy Watercolour Techniques to Explore
    Crafts for adults - What I'm reading

    Paint Play: 21 Easy Watercolour Techniques to Explore {book review}

    July 26, 2019 - By 

    A while ago now I bought myself a cheap pad of watercolour paper and paint set from Flying Tiger. I’ve wanted to experiment with watercolour for a while, but there never seems to be enough time to do so. Fortunately for me, Michael O’Mara Books gifted me a copy of a new book they are brining out next month, Paint Play: 21 Easy Watercolour Techniques to Explore. Through a series of 21 simple, achievable activities, artist Katie Rose Johnston demonstrates different ways of mixing colours, experiments with textures using salt and cling film, makes spatter art, animal print patterns and much…

  • Mini Dig Kits from National Geographic
    Bandai STEM Ambassador - Family Life

    Summer boredom busters – Mini Dig Kits from National Geographic

    July 25, 2019 - By 

    We’re a few days into our Summer holidays and the kids are really enjoying the freedom to rest and play. We’re currently enjoying a few days away from home and I packed a few things to keep them busy in case they got bored. Over the last few months we’ve been trying out the new STEM kits from National Geographic. They are a great range for inquisitive kids and I was pleased to see they have a mini version of some of their kits. These are a great size for tucking inside a case for a weekend away. We received…

  • Win a bundle of Mr Kipling reduced sugar slices
    competition - Family Life

    Win a bundle of Mr Kipling reduced sugar slices

    July 24, 2019 - By 

    Now that our summer holidays have started I’m on a mission to keep my children fed and hydrated – especially in this warm weather. I pride myself on keeping a pretty full food cupboard but sometimes it can be hard to provide healthy snacks that my children will eat. Thankfully Mr Kipling have come to the rescue as they have recently launched new slices with Exceedingly Less Sugar. Yes you read that right, our tea-time favourites now have 30% less sugar. What’s more the Angel Slice and Chocolate Slice are only 100 calories per slice. We were delighted to receive…

  • What I'm reading

    Mudlarking: Lost and Found on the River Thames by Lara Maiklem

    July 23, 2019 - By 

    I first came across the concept of mudlarking when I worked at the Museum of London years ago. I was briefly responsible for meeting the mudlarkers and documenting their finds which would then be photographed and discussed at monthly meetings, to see if the museum wanted to acquire them. It was fascinating meeting the mudlarkers and seeing what they had discovered along the banks of the Thames. I’ve always been fascinated by the history of London so was delighted to receive a copy of Mudlarking: Lost and Found on the River Thames by Lara Maiklem to review via Netgalley. Mudlarking:…

  • Pikachu desk tidy craft for kids
    Bostik Family Craft Bloggers Network - Crafts for kids

    Pikachu desk tidy craft for kids

    July 22, 2019 - By 

    Our summer holidays may only just have started but already I feel like we’ve packed in some amazing adventures! We’ve had some great days out but it’s also been lovely to spend time at home. The children have been re-discovering all their toys and keep coming up with things they want to make. To be honest, our craft materials are never really tidied away, but I’m trying to encourage my daughter to tidy up with this very special desk tidy. She currently loves all things Pokemon and we had a lot of fun making a Pikachu desk tidy for her…

  • Family Life - Monday Happy List

    Five Happy Things {Week 250}

    July 22, 2019 - By 

    I love to start the week by writing Five Happy Things. 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 always enjoy writing. We are so happy to have reached the end of term. I don’t know about you, but it just feels like there are so many things to squeeze into the end of term, especially with my daughter finishing at her Infant School. Five Happy Things {Week 250} Obviously all our extra-curricular…

  • Roarsome live action with Dinosaur World Live
    Family Life - London

    Roarsome live action with Dinosaur World Live

    July 21, 2019 - By 

    If you are looking for something to do with the kids over the summer holidays then look no further than Dinosaur World Live, an interactive children’s theatre show that brings dinosaurs to life, on stage! Little Sis and I were fortunate to be invited to the press preview today and had a great day out. Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre Roaring into Wembley Park for a seven-week summer season from 18th July to 1st September, Dinosaur World Live is delighted to open the brand new Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre – a stunning, state of the art venue located in North West London’s…