• simple recipe for mincemeat palmiers
    baking - Christmas - recipe

    Mincemeat palmiers {an alternative to mince pies}

    February 12, 2017 - By 

    I’m back with another recipe which must be blogged about because it is so simple and good – Mincemeat palmiers. The other week I told you that we had lots of mincemeat left over from Christmas. We used up some making a delicious Mincemeat and marzipan loaf but there was still some left over and I couldn’t bear to throw it away. So I used it to make yummy mincemeat palmiers. Ingredients to make mincemeat palmiers: 200g mincemeat Zest and juice of 3 clementines 1 x pack of ready-rolled puff pastry 2 tbsp butter 4 tbsp icing sugar 1 egg How to make…

  • Undressed at the V&A
    days out - London

    Undressed at the V&A

    February 11, 2017 - By 

    This year I really want to visit more exhibitions at museums and galleries. I was a curator pre-children and really miss visiting exhibitions. Now my children are both at school and I’m looking for a job I figure I may as well visit as many as I can, whilst I can. So far this year I have seen Opus Anglicanum at the V&A. On the same day I popped in to see Undressed: a brief history of underwear. When I first came to London I had a friend who only ever bought and wore matching underwear. Being an M&S kind of…

  • BEAR Yoyos Secret Spy Adventure cards
    Happy By Nature - parenting

    For Your Eyes Only {BEAR Yoyos Secret Spy Adventure cards}

    February 10, 2017 - By 

    My children are absolutely crazy about collecting the cards inside packs of BEAR Yoyos. Luckily they get through plenty of the fruity rolls as they are the perfect healthy addition to their packed lunch or snack. They were so excited to hear that BEAR is embarking on a brand new, TOP SECRET spy adventure and that there are 65 new cards to collect! My children love dressing up and were recruited by the Department of Danger to accompany Agent BEAR and Mole on their TOP SECRET spy adventure. They received a lovely spy kit to help them save the world…

  • Apple pancake recipe
    baking - homestyle - Pancake Day crafts - parenting

    Apple pancake recipe {with Pink Lady® apples}

    February 9, 2017 - By 

    As well as being a firm favourite in lunch boxes and after school, did you know that Pink Lady® apples make the perfect filling for pancakes this Pancake Day? We’re all about embracing the seasons here at the gingerbread house blog and were delighted to receive a Pink Lady® Pancake Day kit to get a head start. I just love pancakes all year round although we try to make them extra special for Pancake Day. Today I wanted to share a delicious recipe for apple pancakes. Did you know that Pink Lady® apples are packed with goodness – they are…

  • Getting creative with The Wild Garden
    book review - Craft book review - crafts - Mother's Day crafts

    Getting creative with The Wild Garden {a rub-down transfer book}

    February 9, 2017 - By 

    I love my adult colouring book collection but was recently introduced to something a little different. The Wild Garden from Usborne Publishing is a rub-down transfer book which is the perfect gift for Mother’s Day and a creative and therapeutic experience for children and adults alike.  The Wild Garden rub-down transfer book, is brimming with eleven exquisite gardens. Each ‘garden’ has a delicate line drawing to colour in and a colourful picture to fill with beautiful rub-down transfers of flowers, butterflies, birds, frogs and fish, which are stored in a handy envelope at the front of the book. There is something…

  • Win a copy of the Champions League Fact
    book review - competition

    Win a copy of the Champions League Fact File

    February 8, 2017 - By 

    My 6 year old has really surprised me with his love of football. I have never been sporty but my son attends a weekly football club and recently watched Chelsea play at Stamford Bridge. So I knew he would love the new Champions League Fact File. Just in case you didn’t know, the UEFA Champions League makes headlines from August to May every year. This action-packed book is bursting with eye-popping stats about the greatest teams and players in world football. Read all about the early years of the European Cup, discover what it takes to progress through the rounds to…

  • Little Live Pets Surprise Chick
    playing - toy review - UKMums.TV Preferred Blogger

    Little Live Pets Surprise Chick

    February 8, 2017 - By 

    I really enjoyed putting together a Christmas Eve basket for my children so I thought I would do something similar for Easter. I know it’s still a few weeks away but with half term coming up I need to make a head start on my preparations. Little Live Pets Surprise Chick Recently we’ve been reviewing the Little Live Pets Hatching Chick. My 6 year old son has become quite attached to it as it’s really realistic. Hear the surprise chick tapping and chirping inside the egg and then watch in amazement as it hatches out and hops about! It’s really…

  • Liberty fabric envelope tutorial
    crafts - Valentines Day crafts

    Liberty fabric envelope {a Valentine make}

    February 7, 2017 - By 

    I love making handmade gifts so today I’m sharing a sweet little Liberty fabric envelope I made. I thought this would be a fun sewing project and would be just the right size for a card and some sweets. I really enjoyed choosing the right fabric. Surely this is the best part of the creative process? I admit I got completely sidetracked as my fabric stash is all over the place since we decorated our spare room. I was looking for some Liberty pieces I knew I had and found so many other prints and patterns which reminded me of…

  • Making Concrete Pots, Bowls, and Platters by Hester van Overbeek
    book review - crafts - handmade - What I'm reading

    Making Concrete Pots, Bowls, and Platters by Hester van Overbeek

    February 7, 2017 - By 

    Making Concrete Pots, Bowls, and Platters is the third book by Hester van Overbeek, you can read my review of Furniture Hacks here. In this book, you will find everything you need to make a range of unique concrete projects. The comprehensive techniques section explains what type of concrete to buy, how to use it and how to decorate it. You will also learn how to mix, cast and mould concrete. From there you can put this knowledge into action to make chic home accessories such as upside-down plant pots, a concrete bowl with a wooden base, serving platters, a letter-shaped…