• Easy child-friendly poppy wreath for Remembrance Day
    Crafts for kids - Remembrance Day crafts

    Easy child-friendly poppy wreath for Remembrance Day

    November 8, 2018 - By 

    Both my children have been obsessed with the items they could purchase as part of the Poppy Appeal at their schools this week. Both were allowed to take in money to buy poppy themed rubbers, rulers, pencils and poppies to mark Remembrance Day and the Centenary of the end of the First World War. I am more than happy to donate money to the Poppy Appeal but I have been a little miffed that my children appeared more excited about buying a new rubber than the idea of Remembrance Day. Thankfully they are both part of the Scouting movement so…

  • Family Life

    How to Begin Adopting

    November 7, 2018 - By 

    Photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash At the beginning of the adoption process, you understandably have an overwhelming number of questions. This article aims to address the most common questions individuals have about the adoption process and how to start. You are likely coming to adoption from a range of different backgrounds. You may already have children who have grown-up, or you’re looking to start your family through adoption. You may have suffered a loss or be looking to adopt your step-child. These differences mean there can be some differences in approach. This is a broad overview of the adoption process for children from the care system. The basics…

  • FurReal Star Wars Ultimate Co-Pilot Chewie from Hasbro
    Family Life - Hasbro Toy Tribe - playing

    FurReal Star Wars Ultimate Co-Pilot Chewie from Hasbro

    November 6, 2018 - By 

    The children are pretty big Star Wars fans so I can never resist a Star Wars toy when we are offered them for review. What I’m about to share may just be the cutest toy we’ve ever received –  Star Wars Ultimate Co-Pilot Chewie. Chewie is a favourite Star Wars character with us all. A legendary Wookiee warrior and Han Solo’s co-pilot on the Millennium Falcon, Chewbacca was part of a core group of Rebels who restored freedom to the galaxy. FurReal Star Wars Ultimate Co-Pilot Chewie from Hasbro What’s not to love about Chewie? The tall and loud Wookie has been…

  • Orla Kiely inspired pumpkin
    Family Life - mindfulness - Monday Happy List

    Monday mindfulness – 5 happy things

    November 5, 2018 - By 

    Happy Monday everyone. Hope you had a great weekend and enjoyed the lovely weather we’ve been experiencing. Did you make it out to a Firework display? Unfortunately we didn’t this year but we have enjoyed hearing all the fireworks going off around us 🙂 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…

  • The Very Merry Christmas Game
    Family Life

    The Very Merry Christmas Game {board game review}

    November 4, 2018 - By 

    We’re a family who loves to play board games together regularly. We’ve shared some of our favourites but are always on the look out for another game to try. With Christmas approaching next month we have a lovely seasonal game to tell you about today. It’s a fun family game of Presents, Crackers, Christmas Songs… and Sprouts! The Very Merry Christmas Game {board game review} We’ve played The Very Merry Christmas Game a few times now. It’s a fun board game where you move around the board collecting presents (the present cards) to fill your stocking. Presents have a star…

  • Celebrate Thanksgiving with simple Pilgrims Hat Cookies to celebrate Thanksgiving with the gingerbread house
    baking - Crafts for adults - Thanksgiving crafts

    Celebrate Thanksgiving with simple Pilgrims Hat Cookies

    November 3, 2018 - By 

    Do you know I first celebrated Thanksgiving in 1995? When I was at University at St Andrews I lived in Halls with lots of International students and was invited to celebrate Thanksgiving with them. We had an amazing meal that evening! Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday in the United States, and this year Thanksgiving occurs on Thursday, 22nd November. In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and…

  • competition - Family Life - film review

    Win 1 of 2 copies of The Littlest Reindeer DVD

    November 2, 2018 - By 

    It’s very British to talk about the weather but I just can’t help it! What happened to the weather this week? It’s been so cold and I’ve been de-icing my car every morning before I drive off to work. Anyway, the cold weather has been keeping us indoors after school so I was pleased to be able to bring out a new film for us all to watch. Join the adorably ambitious “littlest reindeer”, Elliot, this Christmas as he sets his sights on becoming the newest – and tiniest – member of Santa’s reindeer team! The Littlest Reindeer With an…

  • 8 must-have stocking fillers for men
    competition - Family Life

    8 must-have stocking fillers for men {which you can win!}

    November 1, 2018 - By 

    With Halloween over for another year my thoughts have turned to Christmas. It may seen a little early but we all know that us mums like to be organised and plan! Christmas is the biggest event of the year for our family and I find that a little planning goes a long way to ensure everything runs smoothly. With two young children I admit that Christmas is a lot about the presents. There are the Advent calendars, the ‘big’ Christmas presents and of course the stockings! I’m excited to team up with Rex London who asked me to work with…

  • Nature Month-by-Month A Children’s Almanac for 2019
    book review - Crafts for kids

    Nature Month-by-Month {A Children’s Almanac for 2019}

    November 1, 2018 - By 

    We love celebrating the seasons here at the gingerbread house. We can’t resist a beautiful new book for children so were delighted to receive a copy of Nature Month-by-Month. This is a lovely book which takes you on an inspirational month-by-month journey through the seasons. Nature Month-by-Month {A Children’s Almanac for 2019} Beautifully illustrated in full colour throughout by Elly Jahnz and written by nature-lover and wild swimmer Anna Wilson, this fantastic guide to the year includes nature spotter and animal behaviour guides, indoor and outdoor craft and activity ideas, seasonal recipes, and celebrations of religious festivals and special days…