• How to bake the perfect gingerbread house cookies
    baking - Christmas - gingerbread

    How to bake the perfect gingerbread house cookies

    November 1, 2016 - By 

    Welcome November! I love the colder months, they’re a great excuse to stay in and bake! I’m sure you know that my favourite recipe all year round in gingerbread but they really are the perfect winter treat. Baking wit the family is always fun so I’m going to share our favourite gingerbread recipe and show you our gingerbread house cookies. Ingredients to make gingerbread cookies 140g golden syrup 200g soft light brown sugar 200g unsalted butter 4 tsps ground ginger 2 tsps ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg 1/4 tsp ground cloves 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 500g plain flour…

  • local miniature railway
    days out - holidays - London - Monday Happy List

    Monday Happy List – Week 110

    October 31, 2016 - By 

    Half term has whizzed by. We didn’t seem to sit down at all which was good although I am feeling in need of a little holiday now! I’m so happy to be sitting down writing this, hot cup of tea by my side, listening to the hum of the washing machine. As much as I love my kids, I was happy to see them off to school this morning!  Instead of my usual 5 favourite things from the previous week I thought I would write a recap of our half term adventures. We started our week with a trip to…

  • The Marvellous Activity Book
    baking - book review - gingerbread

    Moone Boy The Marvellous Activity Book blog hop {Imaginary Friend gingerbread biscuits}

    October 30, 2016 - By 

    Today we’re taking part in the Marvellous Moone Boy Activities blog hop! Have you read any of the Moone Boy books yet? Welcome to the world of Martin Moone, who is totally fed up with being the only boy in a family of girls. He’s desperate for a decent wingman to help him navigate his idiotic life. So when his best pal Padraic suggests Martin get an imaginary friend, or ‘IF’ for short, he goes for it. Start reading Martin Moone’s adventures with Moone Boy: The Blunder Years by Chris O’Dowd and Nick V. Murphy, followed by the second story The…

  • Pumpkin carving at Hughenden Manor
    Buckinghamshire - days out - Local Review - National Trust - parenting

    Pumpkin carving at Hughenden Manor

    October 29, 2016 - By 

    I’m so pleased we were able to squeeze in a trip to do some pumpkin carving at Hughenden Manor today. It was a great way to round off a very exciting half term. It’s also one of my favourite National Trust properties. Hughenden Manor was the home of Benjamin Disraeli, once Prime Minister, but also had an important role during the Second World War. Today you can visit part of the house, gardens, and extensive grounds. They also run some really fun events for families. Last year we went along to one of their Apple Days, this time we wanted…

  • Mr and Mrs Icing Num Noms
    competition - toy review

    Win limited edition Series 2 Num Noms {Mr and Mrs Icing}

    October 29, 2016 - By 

    We’re big fans of Num Noms and are so excited as we have a great competition to share with you today. We’ve teamed up with Num Noms, the scented collectables, to giveaway a limited edition pair – Mr and Mrs Icing! A very rare couple, this sparkling duo are the perfect edition to your Num Noms collection. Mrs Icing is pretty in pink and Mr Icing is glamorous in gold, both smelling of deliciously sweet icing. You can try and find these adorable limited editions in select deluxe packs within the Series 2 range. Uniquely scented, each Num and Nom…

  • Star Wars Force Lightning Energy Ball
    parenting - playing - toy review - UKMums.TV Preferred Blogger

    Star Wars Force Lightning Energy Ball {Uncle Milton Star Wars Science}

    October 28, 2016 - By 

    My 6 year old practically eats, sleeps and plays Star War. He is very excited about the release of Rogue One in December and has already started collecting the Rogue One trading cards. He loves anything Star Wars so I knew he would be intrigued by the Star Wars Force Lightning Energy Ball. Star Wars Force Lightning Energy Ball Harness the power of Force Lightning like Yoda and The Empire. Touch the Energy Ball and see pulses of real plasma energy stream directly towards your fingertips. Move light energy with your hands just like a Sith Lord. The energy ball is…

  • Easy bottle top mandalas for kids
    crafts - Recycled crafts

    Easy bottle top mandalas for kids

    October 28, 2016 - By 

    I love to craft and am a complete hoarder. So when I heard this months’ theme for the Project Recycle and Create blog hop was bottle tops I was pretty happy because I have been collecting them since the children started weaning. I tried making my own fruit purees but they preferred the shop bought ones. We went through every variety there was and as a result, have a pretty good collection of bottle tops waiting to be played with! I brought the box of bottle tops out and the children immediately remembered them. My 4 year old still asks…

  • Christmas - crafts - gingerbread

    Hama bead gingerbread man

    October 27, 2016 - By 

    I’m trying really hard not to think about Christmas – but pretty much failing miserably! My children are excited about Halloween on Monday and my daughter has her birthday at the end of November. I try to concentrate on my daughter’s birthday but I know a few lots of Christmas crafts will be slipping in during November. A few weeks ago I spotted a cute nursery rhyme themed hama bead set. It included a gingerbread man so I had to buy it for me my children. As soon as my son saw it he wanted to make the gingerbread man. He…

  • Rag Rugs, Pillows and More book cover
    book review - Craft book review - crafts - What I'm reading

    Rag Rugs, Pillows and More book review

    October 26, 2016 - By 

    It’s not often I get sent a lovely adult craft book to review, but I am so pleased when I do! The latest book on my bedside table is the wonderful Rag Rugs, Pillows and More by Ragged Life founder, Elspeth Jackson. This is a wonderfully modern approach to a traditional, and rather forgotten, craft filled with beautifully contemporary projects all illustrated with gorgeous photography. Elspeth also includes all the techniques and tools you’ll need to get started on an exciting new craft. In this stunning new book, crafter Elspeth Jackson reinvents the old (and somewhat forgotten) technique of rag…