• 17 new Elf on the Shelf antics from the gingerbread house blog
    Christmas - Elf on the Shelf - Family Life

    17 new Elf on the Shelf antics

    January 3, 2019 - By 

    Although I wasn’t entirely sure about bringing back our Book Advent (but I’m glad we did) I knew our two Christmas elves would be making an appearance on December 1st. We have two elves, one for each child, who bring the children’s Advent calendars and stay around to make sure they are having fun during December. This is a family Christmas tradition which we started a few years ago. In preparation for December 1st I found the Elf surveillance camera and sign, the two elves and started to plan some of the daily activities. Now I’m working it was essential…

  • felt Christmas jumper
    Family Life - Monday Happy List

    Five Happy Things {Week 221}

    December 31, 2018 - By 

    Happy Monday everyone. Hope you had a great weekend and a very Merry Christmas. 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 221} Christmas Day passed in a bit of a present opening blur to be honest, as I expect it does for most parents of young children. The children had both asked for Lego sets, fortunately…

  • Printable New Year's Resolutions for Kids
    Crafts for kids - free printables - New Year crafts

    Printable New Year’s Resolutions for Kids

    December 29, 2018 - By 

    I hope you are all enjoying the break between Christmas and New Year. I think it’s my favourite time of the year. We are fortunate that having spent the last week visiting family and friends now we have nothing to do except relax. The children have been playing with their Christmas presents and I have been watching endless films and crafting. Printable New Year’s Resolutions for Kids With the end of the year approaching I wanted to make a simple free New Year printable for kids, to encourage them to reflect on the year. I’m sharing my New Year’s Reflect and Resolve…

  • New Year Party Hat Treats for a New Year treat
    Crafts for adults - New Year crafts

    Simple New Year Party Hat Treats

    December 27, 2018 - By 

    I hope you had a lovely Christmas Day, however you spent it. It turned out to be a bit of a Lego-fest for our family, with everyone receiving major Lego gifts (except for me!). We are looking forward to a few quiet days at home, building Lego and eating chocolates. However, my thoughts are also turning to New Year and I wanted to share a fun New Year recipe to make, whether you are entertaining friends and family or spending the evening at home with a few loved ones. Ingredients to make New Year Party Hat treats: Regular shaped ice…

  • ikea gingerbread house
    Family Life - mindfulness - Monday Happy List

    Monday mindfulness – 5 Happy Things

    December 24, 2018 - By 

    Happy Monday everyone. Hope you had a great weekend. Each week I start off by writing my Monday mindfulness – 5 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. Monday mindfulness – 5 happy things Last week was super busy with some kind of party every day. December is such a busy month for parents and I really felt like it was some kind of test to see if I…

  • Win a copy of The Not-So-New Mum's Notebook
    book review - competition - Family Life - parenting

    Win a copy of The Not-So-New Mum’s Notebook

    December 23, 2018 - By 

    I know that we haven’t even had Christmas yet but my thoughts are already turning to the New Year. I don’t go for New Year’s Resolutions at all but one thing I do want to try next year is a little bit of journalling and making more notes about my children. It’s a well known fact that children grow up far too quickly. Today I wanted to share with you something that could help you note the milestones, The Not-So-New Mum’s Notebook. The Not-So-New Mum’s Notebook The Not-So-New Mum’s Notebook is every mum’s essential companion and journal beyond the first year – whether…

  • 5 top tips for weaning millennial babies
    baby - Family Life

    5 top tips for weaning millennial babies

    December 21, 2018 - By 

    Recent research by WaterWipes has reinforced what I already knew, that millennial babies have excellent taste in food. I loved the weaning phase with my millennial babies as they were so happy to try anything. WaterWipes conducted a new survey for their campaign all about messy menus to celebrate the launch of their new product WaterWipes with SoapBerry (we reviewed the classic WaterWipes here). The research results revealed that over a fifth of millennial babies have a sophisticated palette and enjoy a variety of on-trend ‘staple’ foods including avocados, quinoa and houmous. Traditional dishes such as toad in the hole (41%) and…

  • Paper gingerbread house activity {from Mrs Mactivity}
    Crafts for kids - gingerbread house

    Paper gingerbread house activity {from Mrs Mactivity}

    December 20, 2018 - By 

    With just one day left at school and work we have been keeping our after school activities to a minimum. Our usual clubs have continued until today, which have made for two very tired and grumpy children. Thankfully I find that a craft or two keeps them calm after school so we have been having lots of fun with festive crafts, including a fun paper gingerbread house activity from Mrs Mactivity. Paper gingerbread house activity from Mrs Mactivity You all know how much I love a gingerbread house so I couldn’t resist printing some of the these gingerbread house activity…

  • Family Life

    What is ethical investment?

    December 20, 2018 - By 

    Photo by Sam Truong Dan on Unsplash The 21st century digital age is one of choice. For practically every decision we make, whether it’s as mundane as ordering a takeaway or as life-changing as getting married, there are now far more choices laid out before us than there were 20 or 30 years ago. The principle applies to investments as much as it does to anything else. Today, we can still walk into a bank, building society or stockbroker’s office if we want to, but where these had more or less cornered the market in the 20th century, there are now a range of additional suppliers, particularly online.…