• Print & Make workshop with Nikki McWilliams
    crafts - Local Review - London

    Print & Make workshop with Nikki McWilliams at West Elm

    September 29, 2016 - By 

    Earlier this month I bought myself a ticket to the Print & Make workshop with Nikki McWilliams at West Elm. I’m sure you’ve heard of Nikki McWilliams but just in case you haven’t, she is a cool designer who creates all things biscuit-y. I first heard about her when I saw her Tunnocks’ inspired cushions. The workshop was to learn how to craft your own Biscuit Clutch bag which sounded intriguing. I waited for my husband to come home from work before handing over the kids and taking the  tube into the West End. I love a trip into town…

  • flush-windows
    homestyle

    The benefits of using a local window company

    September 28, 2016 - By 

    Last week our new kitchen was fitted. I’m not sure why it took me so long to realise that it would require time and effort (and money) to make our 1990s house bearable. We both loved our Edwardian terraced house. I loved our neighbours, our street and our proximity to central London. The area was showing signs of gentrification when we lived there but this month they got their first Pret which caused a bit of an outcry and meant Wood Green hit the headlines. It’s fair to say Wood Green has finally arrived – just not in time for…

  • Hand print leaf craft for kids
    Autumn - crafts

    Hand print leaf craft for kids

    September 28, 2016 - By 

    You can’t have missed the fact that Autumn has arrived in the northern hemisphere. Last week we celebrated the Autumn Equinox and went on a walk to see how many different leaves we could find. I love Autumn and nothing beats going for a walk, kicking leaves and spotting signs of nature changing all around us. Over the last few days my daughter has filled the basket on her scooter with leaves and conkers. We have a nature table at home which was over flowing so decided to use some of the leaves we had found. Hand print Autumn leaf…

  • DIY constellation pin badge holder
    crafts - homestyle - upcycling

    DIY constellation pin badge holder

    September 27, 2016 - By 

    It can’t have escaped your notice that pins are really popular at the moment. My collection has been growing steadily for weeks, thanks to my Lucky Box subscription and Instagram. I can’t help but see a pretty pin and have to follow the trail until I have it for my collection! My enamel pin badge collection is getting out of control. Two of my favourites are the Custard Cream enamel pin by Nicki McWilliams which I picked up at one of her workshops, and my seam ripper No Regrets enamel pin badge from Colette. I do have a few more…

  • The Little Elephant Who Wants to Fall Asleep
    book review - competition - parenting

    Win a copy of The Little Elephant Who Wants to Fall Asleep

    September 26, 2016 - By 

    Last year The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep became a ground-breaking best-seller – and a bedtime saviour – as parents across the globe extolled the success of the book in helping their children to fall asleep at night. This new story, The Little Elephant Who Wants to Fall Asleep, will be another welcome solution to help turn the often-trying bedtime routine into a special end-of-day ritual. The Little Elephant, features an all-new cast of lovable characters, but has been created with the same objective of helping children fall asleep. Written by behavioural scientist and parent, Carl-Johan Forssén Ehrlin, the…

  • days out - homestyle - Monday Happy List

    Monday Happy List – Week 105

    September 26, 2016 - By 

    This past week has been a strange one. I’m still adjusting to both my children being at school. There was no time to relax at home though as our new kitchen was installed. We ordered it through Wickes and they had a cancellation which meant we were offered a really early slot or had the option of waiting another 6 weeks. We went for the cancellation slot so spent last weekend packing away our kitchen in the spare room. It was interesting watching our new kitchen being installed and it’s looking quite good with just a few snags. We still…

  • Power Surge Optimus Prime
    Hasbro Toy Tribe - playing - toy review

    Transformers: Power Surge Optimus Prime and Mini-Con Aerobolt

    September 25, 2016 - By 

    My 4 year old daughter is going through a bit of a stage at the moment. One moment she wants to join Rainbows and only wants to hang out with the girls at school, the next she only likes the boys and wants to join her brother at Beavers. She’s been changing her mind so frequently that I’ve got to the stage where I just nod and agree with her. The only thing she has been faithful to is her love of Transformers. She can be a bit of a tomboy and loves the Transformers so I was pretty pleased…

  • Peppa Pig Softee Dough Picnic Playset
    playing - toy review - UKMums.TV Preferred Blogger

    Peppa Pig Softee Picnic Dough Playset

    September 24, 2016 - By 

    My children love  Peppa Pig so were delighted to receive the new Peppa Pig Softee Picnic Dough Playset to review. They love Peppa and her friends and this is a great value playset, perfect for improving fine motor skills too! With the Peppa Pig Softee Picnic Dough Playset your children can have hours of fun making their own Peppa Pig dough picnic! The set has been designed to look a little like a picnic basket. Lift off the lid and you will find a wipeable play mat, 5 tubs of coloured dough, cutters, moulds and tools inside. You can mould,…

  • Lanhydrock House in Cornwall
    Cornwall - days out - parenting

    A week in Cornwall

    September 23, 2016 - By 

    Cornwall is a long way from where we live in West London but we always have a great time when we go. A few years ago the whole extended family rented a lovely old house in the picturesque village of Looe. It was a great base to explore that part of Cornwall and pretty much the perfect family holiday. We’ve always been National Trust members. They look after some of the most beautiful countryside, stately homes, buildings, art collections and more. I love knowing our membership fee helps contribute (in a tiny way) to saving and preserving some of these…