• 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…

  • My Big Book of Sewing
    Crafts for kids - What I'm reading

    My Big Book of Sewing {book review}

    July 21, 2019 - By 

    I love sewing but didn’t really know where to start with my children when they said they would like to learn. We were #gifted a copy of My Big Book of Sewing published by CICO Kidz to try at home and both my children, aged 7 and 9, enjoyed looking through it. They quickly bookmarked the crafts they wanted to try – a pretty long list I thought! My Big Book of Sewing The projects are split into 4 chapters: Fashion Fun (cozy scarf, hat rosettes, summer skirt, phone case), For Your Home (lavender bags, felt egg cosies, stripy quilt,…

  • girl holding Timeline: Science Museum
    Blogger Board Game Club - Family Life

    Blogger Board Game Club: Timeline: Science Museum

    July 20, 2019 - By 

    Our latest #gifted game from the Blogger Board Game Club was Timeline: Science Museum. This is a portable card game which I thought would be great for my science-mad children. We are always on the lookout for new games and I liked the sound of this because it was small, educational and could be played in 15 minutes. Blogger Board Game Club: Timeline: Science Museum Was the first Electric Iron invented before or after the lightbulb? But what if it was actually dated somewhere between the development of canned food and the flying scotsman’s first journey? And was Uranus discovered…