• Blogfest 2016 with Coca Cola
    blogging - days out

    Blogfest 2016 with Coca-Cola

    November 19, 2016 - By 

    This year I was resigned to the fact that I wouldn’t be able to attend Mumsnet Blogfest. Blogfest is one of my favourite conferences but as a stay-at-home-mum, money is tight for this kind of thing. A few weeks before the event I received a lovely invitation to attend Blogfest as a guest of Coca-Cola and I jumped at the chance to go. There was a stellar line up of speakers and two of my oldest blogging friends, Mum Friendly and New Mum Online (pic below) were going so I knew I was going to have a fab grown up day out.…

  • chalkola chalk pen craft for kids
    After school crafts - Christmas - crafts - handmade

    Time capsule baubles for kids {Chalkola review}

    November 19, 2016 - By 

    We have a really great craft to share with you today. My children are growing up far too quickly so I thought it was about time to capture a moment in their lives. This was one of those fun crafts which we squeezed in after school and also got to use some great chalk pens from Chalkola. Equipment to make time capsule baubles for kids Clear plastic baubles Chalkola Chalk Pens Paper and pen How to make time capsule baubles for kids First of all I asked my children 10 quick questions. The idea was to find out a little…

  • Easy Star Wars snowflakes for kids or adults to make
    Christmas - Crafts for adults - handmade - Paper craft - Star Wars crafts

    Star Wars snowflakes {Christmas decorations}

    November 18, 2016 - By 

    Both my husband  and son love Star Wars. I’ve mentioned before that my 6 year old is obsessed with Star Wars and his Christmas list is pretty much all Star Wars lego sets, and new Rogue One toys. I wanted to introduce some Star Wars Christmas decorations this year and found some really fun Star Wars snowflakes on Pinterest. I followed the link to this site where Star Wars snowflake designs have been produced for the last few years. Paper cutting is my latest obsession and I’ve pretty much finished the Cut It Out book I bought a few weeks…

  • Japan Candy Box
    competition - subscription box

    Win a Japan Candy Box {subscription box}

    November 17, 2016 - By 

    My obsession with subscription boxes continues and I was happy to be sent the October Japan Candy Box to review at home. I’ve reviewed a few of these before, it is a delicious monthly subscription box filled with 8-10 sweet treats from Japan. I’ve always enjoyed finding out more about Japanese culture and was excited to open the Japan Candy Box when it arrived. Unfortunately my children were equally excited so I found myself hurriedly taking photographs whilst they were opening and trying everything! We found we recognised some of the super cute characters on the packaging. Inside the October…

  • An Advent calendar of picture books for little readers
    Advent crafts - book review - Christmas

    An Advent calendar of picture books for little readers

    November 17, 2016 - By 

    Every November I like to plan our annual Book Advent. I started this Christmas tradition a few years ago and the children love it. On the 1st December quite a few things happen so I have to be super organised at this time of year. Advent traditions Most importantly our Elf arrives all the way from the North Pole. This is another tradition we started a few years ago. I know not everyone likes the Elf on a Shelf but my children do so he’ll be coming back again this year and making sure my children behave themselves in the…

  • Mollie Makes Christmas
    book review - Christmas

    Mollie Makes Christmas {festive bedside reading}

    November 16, 2016 - By 

    I have been so slack with my crafting lately. Real life is pretty busy so my blogging and crafting time is squeezed more than ever. This makes me sad as I have some sweet little crafty projects I want to make for Christmas but no time to make them. I haven’t even made the last few Mollie Makes cover gifts. I am a non-crafting crafty blogger. Anyway, on my bedside table is Mollie Makes Christmas. I’ve treated myself to this for the last few years and really enjoy reading it cover to cover. The 2016 edition features 110 gorgeous gift…

  • Stigu Planner 2017 review
    homestyle

    Stigu Planner 2017 review

    November 15, 2016 - By 

    Along with all my Christmas planning I am also getting ready for the New Year. I love buying new stationery and Planners so was delighted to be offered the Stigu Planner 2017 version to review. I reviewed the first edition of the Stigu Planner this time last year and it has been a really good planner for me. I love making lists and seeing everything clearly laid out, the Stigu Planner allows me to do this. As you can see the cover has had a much-needed makeover. There are now more versions to choose from, ranging from the turquoise spiral-bound, multicolour…

  • Advent crafts - Christmas - crafts - upcycling

    Our homemade wooden sleigh {Book Advent planning}

    November 15, 2016 - By 

    Last year I really wanted a way to display our Book Advent. A pile of 24 books takes up quite a lot of room but I wanted them to be accessible and not look out of place amongst the Christmas decorations. In previous years I’ve experimented with wrapping them up. One year they were covered in simple brown paper and string, this year they are wrapped in festive red and white paper. You can add numbers to each packet or let your children have a lucky dip every day. Anyway, we had a wooden crate made with plywood which I…

  • Playmobil Advent Calendar {Pirate Treasure Island}
    Christmas - Playmobil Playologist

    Playmobil Advent Calendar {Pirate Treasure Island}

    November 14, 2016 - By 

    It’s definitely the time of year to be planning Advent treats for my children. Playmobil is a top manufacturer within preschool toys. We’ve been Playmobil Playologists for a while now and were lucky to receive the Playmobil Advent Calendar to review. In 2013 we reviewed the Playmobil Pirates Treasure Cove advent calendar, in 2014 we reviewed the Playmobil Santa’s Workshop Advent Calendar and last year we reviewed the Playmobil Advent Calendar Fire Rescue Operation with Card Game so I was interested to see how the pirate theme had been updated. Playmobil Advent Calendar {Pirate Treasure Island} I have to admit that I haven’t opened the Pirate Treasure…