• Apple and Gingerbread crumble
    baking - gingerbread - homestyle

    My Apple and Gingerbread crumble recipe

    January 17, 2017 - By 

    I don’t often share my recipes with you but I recently made something which is definitely worth sharing. Winter is the perfect time for making tasty treats in the kitchen. Last Autumn I came away from my father in law with two huge bags of cooking apples. His garden is full of fruit trees but everything was falling and rotting on the ground. Sadly we could only fit two bags of fruit in our car (thanks to those pesky kids!) but we prepared the fruit and froze it to see us through the winter months. We’ve had quite a few…

  • Holly and berries winter sun catcher
    Christmas - crafts - Winter

    Holly and berries winter sun catcher

    January 17, 2017 - By 

    My 6 year old has been off school for the past few days with chicken pox. He’s been quite poorly and Minecraft has been the only thing to cheer him up. To scrape him away from it we re-used our cellophane sweet wrappers to make this fun holly and berries winter sun catcher. We used: white card, green and red cellophane pieces, contact paper, scissors Holly and berries winter sun catcher First I drew some holly leaves and berries on a sheet of card. Then I cut them out using my Swann-Morton scalpel. If I made this again I would only…

  • 2017 life goals
    Monday Happy List

    Monday Happy List – 2017 life goals

    January 16, 2017 - By 

    Last Monday I missed writing my weekly Monday Happy List post. I’ve written this post for over 2 years so it felt strange not writing it. However, I came down with a strange bug which kept me in bed all day and I couldn’t face opening my laptop. I’ve been meaning to write my goals for 2017 so spent the day thinking what to write from my sick bed. Today instead of my usual Monday Happy List post I’m going to share my goals for 2017. To be honest not much happened last week except for me being ill and…

  • Five classic films I want to watch
    competition - film review

    Five classic films I want to watch in 2017

    January 15, 2017 - By 

    I’m so excited by the start of a New Year. I still have to write my 2017 goals post, the month is already going by far too quickly. I’m keen to try new things this year and have already made a start on this by trying to make the macrame kit which came with the latest issue of Mollie Makes. I figure it is better to try something new than not try at all, although I have to be honest and say I don’t think macrame will be my new hobby…. Anyway, I love to sit and watch a film…

  • Playing Minecraft offline
    parenting - playing - toy review - UKMums.TV Preferred Blogger

    Playing Minecraft offline {Minecraft Figure Collection}

    January 14, 2017 - By 

    My 6 year old has been playing Minecraft for quite a long time now. He is a bit of an expert and his 5 year old sister enjoys playing too, although she’s not allowed in his world unless he’s watching! Last Christmas everything was about Minecraft. He received Minecraft clothing, books and toys which have been played with over and over again. It seems kind of funny that you can buy Minecraft toys when it’s a computer game but my son already has a collection of Minecraft figures and accessories. A new Minecraft Figure Collection from Character Options has recently…

  • Hama bead holly and berries craft for kids
    Christmas - crafts - handmade - Winter

    Hama bead holly and berries

    January 13, 2017 - By 

    Today my 6 year old has been off school sick. He has chicken pox, even though I thought he had it when he was little. Apparently you can get it twice, just like his younger sister. Luckily I didn’t have any plans so today we have played Monopoly Token Madness (great for his maths skills!), I’ve watched him play Minecraft for too long and he has been busy creating with hama beads. He asked to get them out and was happy to sit and create. Hama beads are so tactile and we both enjoyed chatting about what we wanted to…

  • Scottie dog, top hat or race car?
    Hasbro Toy Tribe - playing - toy review

    Scottie dog, top hat or race car? {Monopoly tokens)

    January 13, 2017 - By 

    My favourite board game growing up was Monopoly. I loved it and was always the Scottie Dog token. I’m not sure why my favourite was Monopoly but I’ve always loved building a property empire and making lots of money! Earlier today I played a game of Monopoly with my son and I quickly bought up my favourite properties – the brown ones, the purple ones and the train stations. I have always played like this and it really felt as though it wasn’t 15 years since my last game, but 15 minutes! Thankfully my son enjoyed our game too and…

  • K’NEX Mighty Makers Director’s Cut
    playing - STEM activity - toy review

    K’NEX Mighty Makers Director’s Cut

    January 12, 2017 - By 

    Both my children love construction toys and making their own ‘unboxing videos’ so were excited to receive the K’NEX Mighty Makers Director’s Cut to review. Lights. Camera. Action! Use the 300 K’NEX pieces included, plus interactive, story-based building instructions, to explore the science behind film making. With bonus online instructions you can incorporate a mobile device to make your own movie!   Founded in 1992, K’NEX Brands, the world’s most innovative construction toy company, was established to make and sell what has become one of the world’s leading integrated construction systems for children, and is America’s STEM building solution. Winner of…

  • Hygge in a box
    homestyle - subscription box

    Hygge in a box

    January 11, 2017 - By 

    Last month saw me treat myself with 3 subscription boxes, a little like early Christmas presents to myself. You can see my reviews of the Lucky Dip Club Box and Embellish Box. I came across the Hygge in a Box from the Original Hygge Box Company and decided to try one out too. Have you heard of the Danish concept of hygge, pronounced hoo-ga?  There is no direct translation but it is often taken to mean cosiness through the winter months. Over the past few years it’s been adapted by us Brits, and why not? Our winter months can often…