• A New Year's Resolution to use and display family photos
    Family Life

    A New Year’s Resolution to use and display family photos

    January 18, 2019 - By 

    Over the holidays we re-arranged our living room. The layout had stayed the same since we moved in 5 years ago, and I didn’t like it. The seats were at the wrong angle to the tv and all the shelves were cluttered with toys and paperwork. So we moved the sofas around, got rid of my beloved, but ill-used vintage bureau, making a cosy family living space. I found time to sort the clutter so we could display lego creations on the shelves. I even managed to carve out a new desk space for me too. It felt so nice…

  • Crafting pretty paper stars
    Crafts for adults - Mollie Makes crafts - Paper craft

    Crafting pretty paper stars

    January 16, 2019 - By 

    There ‘s something about working with paper that I just love. Although I like to sew, I’m also really glad that I discovered paper craft too. This Christmas we added a huge paper star to our bay window so I was pretty excited to see a paper star kit along with my monthly Mollie Makes magazine. Regular readers will know that every month I challenge myself to make the Mollie Makes magazine cover gift. I’ve subscribed since it first came out and have had a drawer full of unopened kits – but no more! I’ve been making more time for grown up crafting…

  • 12 Must Make Dr. Seuss Crafts
    crafts - Crafts for kids - Dr Seuss Day craft

    12 Must Make Dr. Seuss Crafts

    January 15, 2019 - By 

    On March 2rd Dr. Seuss Day is celebrated. You may not have heard of this day before but it’s celebrated every year, on the anniversary of the birth of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known by his pen name – Dr Seuss! Across the world there is a full twenty-four hours to make a mess with the Cat in the Hat, dance around with the Fox in Sox, hear a Who with Horton, count the red and blue fish, help the Grinch see the error of his ways, and listen to Sam I Am’s friend complain about his dish of green…

  • Family Life - Monday Happy List

    Five Happy Things {Week 223}

    January 14, 2019 - By 

    Monday morning again. Hope you had a great weekend. I start the week off by writing my Five Happy Things blog post. 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. Five happy things {Week 223} Last week meant back to work for me after a lovely two weeks with the family. Fortunately we had a staff training day which made things a little easier, but it was still hard going…

  • The Doll Factory book cover
    What I'm reading

    The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal {book review}

    January 13, 2019 - By 

    Image credit I love getting lost in a good book and I am delighted to share with you my first book review of 2019, The Doll Factory, the debut novel by Elizabeth Macneal. It’s an intoxicating story of art, obsession and possession set against a backdrop of The Great Exhibition in London. I thought the cover was very appealing, featuring a bell jar full of objects which appear in the novel – a butterfly, an iris, a girl, mouse, peacock feather – all trapped inside. The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal London. 1850. The Great Exhibition is being erected in…

  • Win a bundle of children's books from Stripes Publishing
    book review - competition - Family Life

    Win a bundle of children’s books from Stripes Publishing

    January 12, 2019 - By 

    I mentioned the other day that my youngest finally discovered the joy of reading over Christmas. It was if a lightbulb had switched on and she realised just how good it was to read independently. We’ve always shared books, both during the day and at bedtime, but now I find she always has her head in a book! If she can snatch an extra 5 minutes in bed with a good book then she will. It’s lovely to see, especially as her brother is like this too. I love sharing new books on my blog so am delighted to have…

  • Miniature Felt Party Bear from Mollie Makes magazine
    Crafts for adults - Mollie Makes crafts - sewing

    Miniature Felt Party Bear

    January 11, 2019 - By 

    I was lucky to find time for some crafting over Christmas and New Year. I took a little pile of projects away with me which meant I had plenty to keep me busy in the evenings once the children had gone to bed. Regular readers will know that each month I challenge myself to make the Mollie Makes magazine cover gift. I’ve subscribed since it first came out and have had a drawer full of unopened kits – but no more! I’ve been making more time for grown up crafting and I love to make the kits and hopefully try something new. Issue 100…

  • watercolour snow paint STEM activity for kids from the gingerbread house blog
    Crafts for kids - STEM activity - Winter crafts

    Winter boredom buster – watercolour snow paint

    January 8, 2019 - By 

    This year we are all about embracing Winter. It’s easy to stay inside during the colder months but it’s important to get outside, whatever the weather. We’ve had a pretty mild winter so far in the UK but I’ve been busy Pinning all kinds of Winter activities to keep my children busy. They love to play with snow so I came up with this fun Winter STEM Activity for them – watercolour snow paint! Our watercolour snow paint is a real Winter boredom buster, read on for our simple winter craft activity to keep kids having fun. STEM play is…

  • Free Chinese New Year printable – Year of the Pig
    Family Life

    Five Happy Things {Week 222}

    January 7, 2019 - By 

    Happy Monday everyone. Hope you had a great weekend and a Happy New Year. Each week I start off by writing my Five Happy Things blog post. It’s a great chance to 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. Five happy things {Week 222} We had a great week relaxing at home after Christmas and New Year. The children have been spending their Christmas money on toys and books and we have spent a lot of time at…