• Win a L.O.L. SURPRISE! Series 1
    competition - playing - toy review

    Unwrap Seven Layers of Surprise with L.O.L. SURPRISE! {giveaway!}

    May 24, 2017 - By 

    After taking the US by storm, L.O.L Surprise! is set to be the next collectable craze in the UK, as the ultimate unboxing toy is combined with the anticipation of surprise. My children love unboxing anything so these have been really popular in our house. Much like unwrapping a gift, you can watch the excitement build as each of the 7 layers reveal a different surprise, including emoji sticker, accessory, and finally their hero – a L.O.L Surprise! Doll. There’s never a dull outfit day for these fierce dolls, mix and match accessories with each character to work out who wears it best. Not your…

  • A visit to Great Chalfield Manor and Gardens with kids
    days out - holidays - Local Review - Wiltshire

    A visit to Great Chalfield Manor and Gardens with kids

    May 24, 2017 - By 

    I can’t quite believe it’s half term next week. The last few weeks have flown by and I haven’t written half the posts I wanted to about our Easter holiday adventures! We’re off to Wiltshire for a few days over half term. On our last visit we were lucky to visit Great Chalfield Manor and Gardens, a charming 15th-century manor house with Arts and Crafts garden, near Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire. Entrance to the manor is by guided tour only. Unfortunately we were unable to get tickets for the house so had to be satisfied with the gardens. Fortunately they…

  • Win a copy of The Power of the Pencil
    book review - competition

    Win a copy of The Power of the Pencil

    May 23, 2017 - By 

    I find that being creative is the perfect way for me to relax. I love all sorts of crafts from colouring books to papercutting, hand sewing to baking. Anything goes but it’s always nice to try new things and challenge myself. Creativity means different things to different people but it can be as simple as picking up a pencil. In case you don’t think you are creative or are in need of a little help then I have a lovely giveaway for you today. The Power of the Pencil: Draw, Sketch, Doodle & Play with a Pencil by Guy Field.…

  • How to make a cable reel fairy house
    crafts - Fairy garden crafts - garden crafts - Pinty Plus Ambassador - upcycling

    How to make a cable reel fairy house

    May 23, 2017 - By 

    A while ago now we spotted a couple of wooden cable reels and knew they would be fun to upcycle into a fairy toadstool house for the children to play with. My 5 year old loves her fairy play and I thought this would be a great little upcycling project, as well as making something for her to play with during the summer months. As a Pinty Plus ambassador I used some of the Pinty Plus Basic range which has a range of brilliant bright colours. I also got to try out the the new spray gun which makes spray…

  • New Playmobil Ghostbusters range and Ecto-1 unboxing
    parenting - playing - Playmobil Playologist - toy review

    New Playmobil Ghostbusters range and Ecto-1 unboxing

    May 22, 2017 - By 

    I’m so happy to share with you today our review of one of the toys from the new Playmobil Ghostbusters range! Yes, we’re still Playmobil Playologists too which means we’re working with Playmobil, a top manufacturer within preschool toys, to share their latest products with you. I mentioned last year that this is Playmobil’s first entertainment brand license and they have been working together with Sony to bring these fantastic sets to life. It’s a brand collaboration we couldn’t be happier about as we love the Ghostbusters franchise. I really enjoyed the films when I was growing up. In fact the…

  • exploring Mottisfont
    homestyle - mindfulness - Monday Happy List

    Monday Happy Things {Week 138}

    May 22, 2017 - By 

    Happy Monday everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend. It’s time for my weekly blog post about the five things which made me happy last week – Monday Happy Things {Week 138} I started off with my first week in my temporary job which I really enjoyed. I love being back at work after far too long as a SAHM. My 5 year old finished his SATs. It was a  pretty boring week for them all at school so I’m glad it’s over for him. He was rewarded with a meal at Pizza Express and a new Star Wars…

  • Celebrating the weekend
    homestyle

    Celebrating the weekend {with Prosecco from Spar}

    May 21, 2017 - By 

    We have had such a lovely weekend with friends. Last week was really busy with SATs, my first week in my new job and my husband working in a different office. We planned ahead to make sure we had a lovely weekend to look forward to. I’m not sure what it is about having children but weekends are sooooo busy. There is always something to do – for the kids. As well as weekly swimming lessons there are endless birthday parties. Now the weather is warmer there seem to be more Rainbows and Beavers activities too. For once we had…

  • Education Quizzes for kids at home and school
    parenting - school

    Education Quizzes for kids at home and school

    May 21, 2017 - By 

    I admit to having a mini fist pump when I picked up my son from school on Friday. He had endured a week of end of KS1 assessment, otherwise known as SATs. For some reason his school decided to call they daily tests ‘quiz booklets’ to downplay their significance. Unfortunately, sitting in silence with desks apart did nothing to suggest that these were fun quiz booklets and my son resolutely called them SATs all week. I’m all for doing homework but I think a week of tests are totally un-necessary in Year 2. School should be fun and it really…

  • All the Good Things by Clare Fisher
    book review

    All the Good Things by Clare Fisher

    May 20, 2017 - By 

    Today I’m taking part in the blog tour for All the Good Things by Clare Fisher which is published by Viking on the 1st June. I love being sent books to review as I find it challenges me to read books I wouldn’t necessarily choose. All the Good Things by Clare Fisher Twenty-one year old Beth is in prison. The thing she did is so bad she doesn’t deserve to ever feel good again. But her counsellor, Erika, won’t give up on her. She asks Beth to make a list of all the good things in her life. So Beth…