• Orla Kiely Bunch of Stems bag
    Family Life - Monday Happy List

    Five Happy Things {Week 248}

    July 8, 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. Last week was busy as my husband was away on a business trip to Oslo. He brought back a suitcase full of Norwegian chocolate which we were all really happy about. Five Happy Things {Week 248} I don’t work on Mondays and decided to head into London. I recently renewed my…

  • statue in front of Dutch houses
    Family Life - the Netherlands

    Five day trips from Duinrell

    July 7, 2019 - By 

    Last Summer we spent a week with Eurocamp at Duinrell in the Netherlands. We had such a great time that we are going back again this year. As well as spending a lot of time at Duinrell there are plenty of places within easy reach to explore. Day trips from Duinrell include Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Leiden, The Hague and Delft. I thought I would tell you a little more about these 5 days trips from Duinrell. Five day trips from Duinrell Amsterdam I first visited Amsterdam with my husband (then boyfriend!) over 15 years ago. I fell in love with the…

  • cover of V&A Introduces: Queen Victoria
    competition - What I'm reading

    Giveaway: V&A Introduces: Queen Victoria

    July 5, 2019 - By 

    I’m a huge fan of introducing my children to history. We’re keen members of the National Trust and I can’t resist a trip to a museum! We were recently #gifted a copy of V&A Introduces: Queen Victoria. This vibrant mini-hardback celebrates the reign of one of Britain’s most iconic rulers. V&A Introduces: Queen Victoria It’s filled with beautiful illustrations, early photographs and details from throughout Queen Victoria’s reign. Queen Victoria guided Great Britain through a period of immense change and invention. This book explores the lasting legacy she and her devoted husband, Prince Albert, had on the world. Queen Victoria is…

  • Paper rainbow craft for kids to make from the gingerbread house blog
    Crafts for kids

    Paper rainbow craft for kids to make

    July 3, 2019 - By 

    I don’t know about you but we’ve fully embraced the rainbow trend here at the gingerbread house. We have rainbows all over the house including a felt rainbow needle case, a pom pom rainbow for kids, Cricut-made rainbow wall art, rainbows painted on rocks and made out of hama beads. They never fail to cheer us up! Today we wanted to share a fun paper rainbow craft for kids to make. Rainbow craft supplies: Craft paper Scissors Paper glue Protractor Ruler Pencils Colourful pens Paper rainbow template   Simple paper rainbow craft for kids Use a protractor to cut out…

  • cover of Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay by Ali McNamara
    competition - What I'm reading

    Win a copy of Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay

    July 2, 2019 - By 

    We’re counting down through these last few weeks of term. I can’t wait to finish my school job and spend 6 weeks with my children. We have a family holiday booked at Duinrell in The Netherlands as well as some weeks at home to relax. The kids can’t wait to sign up for the Summer Reading Challenge at our local library, I really wish there was something similar for us adults! Last week I told you about Secrets and Seashells at Rainbow Bay by Ali McNamara. It’s a classic rags to riches tale, all about Amelia, who discovers she is…

  • boy without cast
    Monday Happy List

    Five Happy Things {Week 247}

    July 1, 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. I found last week a little tough. I had an interview for a job I really wanted, but didn’t get. Rejection can be so tough, especially professionally. Onwards and upwards though, today is another week. Five Happy Things {Week 247} Thanks to Sports Day and an Inset Day, I only worked…

  • girl making plaster
    Bandai STEM Ambassador - Crafts for kids - STEM activity - Uncategorized

    Build Your Own Volcano {STEM at home}

    June 30, 2019 - By 

    We’ve been working with Bandai to review some of their fun STEM kits. My children love the STEM subjects and I’m always keen to encourage them at home. We were recently #gifted the Build Your Own Volcano National Geographic STEM kit to try. Build Your Own Volcano {STEM at home} The Build Your Own Volcano kit lets you create an eruption with the National Geographic volcano science kit. Your child will get to cast their own volcano (plaster and mould included), paint it (paint and brush provided), and then make it erupt (includes eruption powder). You can also learn about…

  • cover of Boy oh Boy book
    Family Life - What I'm reading

    Boy oh Boy: 30 coming-of-age stories {book review}

    June 29, 2019 - By 

    I love being sent books to review. We’ve been really fortunate recently and I have a lovely pile of books to tell you about over the coming weeks. Today I wanted to tell you about Boy oh Boy: from boys to men, be inspired by 30 coming-of-age stories of sportsmen, artists, politicians, educators and scientists, written by Dr. Cliff Leek, illustrated by Bene Rohlmann. I bought my daughter a book of stories about inspirational women for Christmas but couldn’t find anything similar for my son, so I was delighted to be gifted a copy for review. Boy oh Boy: 30…

  • girl playing in water
    competition - Family Life

    Zuru Bunch O Balloons review and giveaway

    June 29, 2019 - By 

    Thankfully the weather has been amazing over the last few days. My children love to play outside, especially with water whenever they can. The tuff spot has been used for all kinds of water play, it definitely helps keep the children cool on a hot day. Self-sealing water balloons are a firm favourite, especially the Bunch O Balloons ones where 100 water balloons can be filled in just 60 seconds. Bunch O Balloons review and giveaway We were sent a lovely bundle of Bunch o Balloons items to have fun with at home. These included a Bunch O Balloons Towel,…