• fingerprint Chinese lanterns
    Chinese New Year crafts - crafts - handmade - Kids crafts - tutorial

    Finger print Chinese lanterns

    January 15, 2014 - By 

    Before I bombard you with Valentine crafts (and there’s a lot!) I wanted to share one last Chinese New Year craft. 2014 is the Chinese New Year of the Horse and although Chinese New Year is celebrated on Friday January 31st, celebrations will take place on Sunday 2nd February across venues including Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Shaftesbury Avenue and of course Chinatown itself. I’m not sure I’m ready to take the children to the celebrations just yet so instead we’ve been having fun at home. We’ve already tried our hand at Chinese New Year lanterns and our latest activity involved paint. Like…

  • film review

    Olly the Little White Van

    January 14, 2014 - By 

    Recently my children have been watching some exciting new episodes of “Olly The Little White Van”, in case you haven’t seen it before, it’s a series currently shown on Channel 5’s Milkshake. The programme is perfect for boys and girls aged 2-6 years and my children are quite happy to watch it (it makes a lovely change from endless episodes of Peppa and Thomas!). Olly the Little White Van (voiced by Justin Fletcher) helps his friends as much as he can.  He isn’t a racing car or fire engine, but he and his driver Stan are very good at helping everyone…

  • Chinese new year tea light
    Chinese New Year crafts - crafts - handmade - Kids crafts - tutorial

    Chinese New Year tea light holder

    January 9, 2014 - By 

    We’ve been thinking about Chinese New Year lately. 2014 is all about the Chinese New Year of the Horse but animal crafts don’t seem to be our speciality, so far. Instead we opted for some simple Chinese New Year tea light holders. We collected some old (clean!) glass jars from the recycling bin, a bottle of PVA glue, paint brush and red tissue paper which I cut into small squares. I had to google why red is associated with Chinese New Year, apparently the colour red, which corresponds with fire, symbolizes good fortune and joy. Then my son got to…

  • toy review

    Pretty in pink

    January 7, 2014 - By 

    My 2 year old daughter absolutely adores pink. Try as I might (and I’ve tried pretty hard) I can’t do anything about it. So I’ve decided to just let her get on with it, fingers crossed she’ll grow out of it one day. Just before Christmas Big Game hunters sent her the Twinkle Tower from Le Toy Van to review, one of many toy castles and houses they sell. It was pink. Building toys is not my strong point so I was pretty pleased that the Twinkle Tower came straight out of the box and could be played with immediately.…

  • Three Kings Epiphany craft for kids
    crafts - handmade

    Three Kings, a craft for Epiphany

    January 6, 2014 - By 

    We took our tree and Christmas decorations down yesterday. It took hours but I’m quite pleased our house has now returned to normal. My son is very sad though as he adored turning off the big light “to see how pretty the tree looks”. He really ‘got’ Christmas this year and enjoyed every minute. Three Kings craft to celebrate Epiphany To cheer him up I thought we would make one last Christmas craft. January 6th is celebrated as the Epiphany, or the day the three Wise Men (or Kings) visited the infant Jesus. Our Three Kings or Epiphany craft, is…

  • crafts - handmade

    A crafty sort of year.

    December 31, 2013 - By 

    2013 was a busy year for our family. We sold our lovely house and bought an even lovelier house in a much nicer part of London. The 3 year started his new nursery and has learned so many new things it’s difficult to keep up with him. He performed in his first Christmas play, sang on his first Christmas album and had a pretty good time. The 2 year old started nursery for the first time and has become a lot more confident around other people, she eats better too 🙂 I attended 3 blogging conferences but didn’t feel like…

  • easy handmade flower pot snowpeople
    Christmas - crafts - garden crafts - handmade - tutorial - upcycling

    Winter activities for small people

    December 27, 2013 - By 

    I hope you’ve all had a lovely Christmas. Not that our winter holiday is over but I have let out a small sigh of relief that presents have been opened and enjoyed and several big meals have been cooked and eaten. My two little people have not let Christmas get in their way and have been wanting to be crafty regardless of their piles of presents. We’ve had playdough, practising our writing, colouring and stamping as well as outdoor family activities including a couple of walks, a trip to the park with their scooters and taking my son’s model boat…

  • Christmas

    Something special for someone special

    December 27, 2013 - By 

    I have to be honest and say that my children were totally spoilt over Christmas. What with extra large stockings, presents from Father Christmas and family our house is now resembling a toy shop. I’m sure I’m not the only parent who was guilty of spending too much but it was totally worth it to see how happy my children were opening their presents and playing with their new toys. Something special for someone special Just before Christmas I was contacted about an initiative which aimed to give people a little bit extra this Christmas. I was given a voucher…

  • Christmas

    Our Christmas Eve rituals

    December 24, 2013 - By 

    I always forget how busy Christmas Eve is. A few last minute presents to wrap, meat to slow cook, and somehow small children to keep calm! This year my two are so very excited. Our Christmas Elf has said goodbye and left a present for them both under the tree –  new pyjamas and a book. The pyjamas are already on and a carrot and mince pie have been left by the fireplace, just in case Santa is early. The only thing left for us to do is track Santa on his journey! A holiday staple for more than 50…