• Christmas - Crafts for kids

    6 Ideas for Festive Children’s Art and Crafts

    November 23, 2018 - By 

    With Christmas only a few short weeks away, there’s no better way to get into the festive spirit than with some seasonal art and craft activities for children to enjoy. All you need are some educational resources and a big imagination to get stuck in with these 6 ideas for festive craft activities. 6 Ideas for Festive Children’s Art and Crafts Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments Salt dough is a versatile modelling material, and this easy to make dough is perfect for a suitably festive activity like making Christmas tree ornaments. All you need is some salt dough, cookie cutters, some paint, and your imagination.…

  • Family Life - homestyle - interiors

    5 essentials for a small home office

    November 23, 2018 - By 

    Sometimes I feel that our house will never be decorated the way we want it. For us, winter is the time we plan and do any DIY projects. The warmer weather is perfect for getting out and about and having family adventures; winter is for being at home, enjoying each others’ company and working on making our house a home. We’re fortunate to have a spare bedroom which we’ve turned into a home office. It’s small but perfectly formed and makes a great home office for my husband when he works from home. It’s been the last room to get…

  • Family Life - Local Review - London

    The Original Sweetshop Afternoon Tea at The Chesterfield Mayfair

    November 22, 2018 - By 

    A few weeks ago my husband treated us to a family Afternoon Tea to celebrate our 10th Wedding Anniversary. Whilst Afternoon Tea in London might not be most people’s way of celebrating, we thought it was the perfect treat for our little family. I had spent the morning at a botanical papercutting workshop, so after it had finished I headed over to Mayfair in London’s West End to meet up with the rest of the family. Afternoon tea in London It’s been a while since we’ve treated ourselves to Afternoon Tea in London. Over the last few years ago we’ve…

  • The Cactus by Sarah Haywood
    book review - Family Life

    The Cactus by Sarah Haywood

    November 21, 2018 - By 

    It’s been a while since I read and shared a good book with you. I love to read and have been reading more since we started Drop Everything and Read at school this year. It encourages me to read just as much as it does the students, and I look forward to swapping book recommendations in the Staff Room at break. I picked up a copy of The Cactus at my local library as I found the cover image so eye catching. I read the blurb on the back and knew I had to read it, so bought a copy.…

  • Peppermint Oreo Bark recipe
    baking - Christmas - Crafts for adults - Handmade gifts

    Peppermint Oreo Bark recipe

    November 21, 2018 - By 

    I always have a few easy handmade gift ideas up my sleeves at this time of year. Our diary is filling up with dates to catch up with friends and family in the run up to Christmas. I have to take something with us (as well as a bottle of mulled wine!) and our Peppermint Oreo Bark recipe always goes down a treat. It only requires 3 ingredients and is quick and simple to make. Ingredients: 24 oz. white chocolate chips 10 oreos, roughly chopped ½ cup peppermints, crushed How to make Peppermint Oreo Bark Line a baking sheet with parchment…

  • Mindful creativity with the Autumn Craftpod sub box
    Crafts for adults - Relationships - subscription box

    Mindful creativity with the Autumn Craftpod sub box

    November 20, 2018 - By 

    I’ve had loads of fun with the latest Craftpod subscription box. I wanted to share the projects as they are so lovely. Craftpod is a quarterly subscription box which usually includes a couple of seasonal craft projects, stationery and always a tea bag of some sorts. It’s my favourite crafty subscription box. Mindful creativity with the Autumn Craftpod sub box The Autumn Craftpod landed on my doorstep a few months ago. It contained a really fun paper project by Kate Kato of Kasasagi Designs, an Autumn treasure embroidery, seasonal postcard, English Breakfast teabag and roll of Japanese MT washi tape.…

  • Family Life - mindfulness - Monday Happy List

    Monday mindfulness – 5 happy things

    November 19, 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 I’d like to think we had a quiet week after our adventure-packed weekend in Oxford last weekend. However, like most weeks, it’s been super busy at work and at home. Did you notice I have…

  • Disney's Ralph Breaks The Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 review
    Family Life - film review

    Disney’s Ralph Breaks The Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 review

    November 18, 2018 - By 

    This afternoon we were invited to go and see a preview of the highly anticipated sequel to Wreck-It Ralph that sees Ralph (John C. Reilly) and his racing driver best friend Vanellope (Sarah Silverman) leave the arcade world behind to explore the uncharted and thrilling world of the internet on a quest to save Vanellope’s racing game! We just loved Wreck-It Ralph. Can you believe it came out on 2012? In the first film arcade-game character Wreck-It Ralph is tired of always being the “bad guy” and losing to his “good guy” opponent, Fix-It Felix. Finally, after decades of seeing…

  • Carnival Games on Nintendo Switch
    Family Life - Tech!

    Carnival Games on Nintendo Switch

    November 17, 2018 - By 

    My 8 year old loves playing computer games. I limit his screen time but it’s his favourite thing, after playing with his Lego. We were kindly sent a copy of Carnival Games for the whole family to try. Carnival Games was released earlier this month priced at £34.99 and available for Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Carnival Games on Nintendo Switch My children love to go to the Fair and play on the games and rides. Carnival Games brings the Carnival home and the whole family is invited. There are 20 total mini-games to play – hit home runs,…