• an organised mess infographic
    homestyle

    Does your star sign reveal how organised you are?

    May 16, 2017 - By 

    I’ve been self-employed for the last few years, juggling my blog around when my children are at school. I would love to say I’m organised, managing my workload alongside family life with no hiccups, but I can’t. Most of the time my house looks like a bomb has hit it and I often feel like a failure trying to keep on top of writing and promoting blog posts and invoicing, whilst ferrying around my children between school and after school clubs. Does your star sign reveal how organised you are? I’ve read a lot about journalling and how it can…

  • Baking Lavender shortbread
    baking - homestyle - subscription box

    Baking Lavender shortbread {Spring Craftpod sub box}

    May 16, 2017 - By 

    Sometimes I really can’t remember where I found things. I guess that’s the good thing about the internet. You see a pretty picture on Instagram or read something on a blog and before you know it, you’ve found another subscription box to try out. That’s pretty much how I came across Craftpod. It’s a quarterly, creative subscription box, delivered to you at the start of each season containing sewing, baking and other surprises inspired by nature and the seasons. I loved the sound of the subscription so signed up and eagerly awaited a delivery. As this is a quarterly box the one I…

  • PAW Patrol: Game On! DVD
    competition - film review - parenting

    Win 1 of 2 copies of the new PAW Patrol: Game On! DVD

    May 15, 2017 - By 

    My children adore Paw Patrol and were lucky to receive a copy of their latest DVD,  PAW Patrol: Game On! Yes, everyone’s favourite rescue pups are back in action in seven exciting, sports-themed adventures and rescues. This DVD contains many adventures, including Ryder and Marshall forming a basketball team to help Mayor Goodway and Everest snowboarding to make a daring rescue. There’s no denying the Pups know how to be brave and have fun! Produced by Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and distributed by Paramount Home Media Distribution and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, PAW Patrol: Game On! joins the rest of the PAW Patrol releases as…

  • girl with face painting
    mindfulness - Monday Happy List

    Monday Happy Things {Week 137}

    May 15, 2017 - By 

    As you read this I will be heading to my new job! I have a temporary part-time job over the next few weeks which I’m really excited about – and a little nervous too! We had some wonderful toys to review this week. My 7 year old made unboxing videos of the new toys based on the Crossy Road app, as well as the new Despicable Me Mineez. He loves making videos although I’m not sure I’m particularly enjoying editing them – he doesn’t stop talking so it takes me ages! My daughter enjoyed Rainbows. Her leader was away for…

  • book review

    Take Courage: Anne Bronte and the Art of Life

    May 14, 2017 - By 

    As I saw parents waiting for their children to return for a residential trip last night it reminded me of my favourite school residential. I went to school on the Isle of Wight and when I was at Junior school we spent a week in Yorkshire. I can’t imagine taking a coach load of kids on such a journey before the age of iPhones and iPads but somehow we made the long journey. I’ve now spent hours trying to find photographs of this school trip – but failed. My favourite trip during our visit was to Haworth and the Bronte…

  • Dog's Trust Harefield
    days out - Hillingdon - Local Review - London

    A visit to the Dog’s Trust Harefield {exploring the local area}

    May 13, 2017 - By 

    Living on the outskirts of London we’re lucky to have so much on our doorstep. A quick hop on the tube gets us into London, or we can take off in the car to the country. We’ve mused about having a dog for a few years now but it just doesn’t seem practical. So instead we visit the Dog’s Trust Harefield, which is only about 10 minutes away. The Dog’s Trust Harefield is an animal centre belonging to the Dog’s Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity which aims to help abandoned dogs. Their Harefield Centre is one of 20 re-homing…

  • 10 Peppa Pig crafts and activities for kids
    crafts

    10 Peppa Pig crafts and activities for kids

    May 13, 2017 - By 

    With a 5 and 7 year old I keep expecting certain things to drop off their radar. Things like Peppa Pig. By my calculating it’s now been too many years that my children have watched and played Peppa Pig. It’s like some strange comfort blanket though, and if they want to wind down before bed they still watch a few episodes of Peppa, and my 5 year old won’t let me giveaway her Peppa books even though it’s clear she’s moving on to slightly more interesting (for me, anyway!), stories. To celebrate all things Peppa I thought I would bring…

  • What the Ladybird Heard. Rosamund Hine (Farmer) photo credit Robert Workman.def
    book review

    What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday {book review}

    May 12, 2017 - By 

    If you have young children like me then you will probably have heard of What the Ladybird Heard. This is the first of three titles in the What the Ladybird Heard picture book series, followed by What the Ladybird Heard Next and the highly-anticipated What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday which is due to hit UK bookshops on 29th June 2017. The Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks (author and illustrator) partnership began 14 years ago, when they first worked together on Princess Mirror-Belle. What the Ladybird Heard and What the Ladybird Heard Next have sold 1.5 million copies in all formats worldwide, with 20 foreign editions currently in-print. What the Ladybird Heard on…

  • Easy bottle top stamps tutorial
    crafts - Recycled crafts

    Bottle top stamps {A-Z Play at Home series}

    May 12, 2017 - By 

    Today is the next letter in our A-Z Play at Home blog hop. Last week was the letter A and I have to admit I had loads more ideas for that letter after we had published! This week’s letter is B, so we are using bottle tops. I started saving these when my children were chomping their way through those squeezy fruit tubes when they were little. I guess it became a habit to keep bottle tops! Bottle top stamps {A-Z Play at Home series} My son loves all things emoji at the moment so we came up with the…