My sister is moving to the country cottage of her dreams this weekend. When we visited a couple of weekends ago we drove out to see it and it is lovely, a typical ancient cottage and it even had a stable door for the front door with roses growing around it! We thought we would make her a card as she is really excited about moving from town to country. I set up everything the toddler needed – a paint tray, big dollops of his favourite colours and some corks. We’ve painted with corks before and they’re the perfect size…
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I can’t tell you the last time I went to the cinema which is why I was very happy that Warner Brothers sent me Argo to review on DVD. Based on real events, the dramatic thriller chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis, focusing on the little-known role that the CIA and Hollywood played— information that was not declassified until many years after the event. I love films based on real life event and it certainly didn’t disappoint! On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its…
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I do so love being sent craft books to review and was lucky to receive a copy of folk art needlecraft – 35 step-by-step projects using traditional motifs from across the globe by Clare Youngs. I have recently been trying to improve my limited knowledge of stitches so this book arrived at a great time for me. It is full of lovely inspiring projects for the home, children and gifts, all of which can be completed in a couple of evenings. Some of the projects really appealed to me and have been added to my Day Zero craft list! I…
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I’ve had an idea about making a bunting blanket for a while, using a vintage blanket and scraps from my stash. Vintage bunting blanket I love experimenting with dye so tried dyeing part of an old baby blue cashmere blanket with Dylon Sunflower Yellow handwash dye. It didn’t look pretty during the process and I wasn’t too sure about colour mixing rules either. Anyway, I rinsed it and left it to dry and in the daylight it looked nice, a kind of faded green/yellow. From my stash I used some previously dyed vintage wool blankets which had been dyed with…
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What does Mother’s Day mean to you? To be honest I don’t need a Hallmark card to make me feel special. I love looking after my children and a card or meal doesn’t make me feel any more or less loved (although I won’t say no if I’m offered a present!). Looking after children of any age can be as hard as it is rewarding. Sometimes the overflowing wash basket and uneaten meals literally make me cry. But most of the time my heart swells when I see the toddler learning a new word or his little sister walking across…
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I admit that we watch cBeebies most days. The toddler has his favourite programmes and if he’s a bit bored with his toys he’ll often ask for “Beebs” as he likes to call it. We’re familiar with The Alphablocks who are 26 living letters who fall out of the sky and discover that if they hold hands and make a word, it magically comes to life. It has a very catchy theme tune! Big Brother was sent a new DVD which aims to help your child enter the magical world of reading with the hit CBeebies show, Alphablocks. Based on…
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Did you know that Thomas the Tank Engine was created by a father for his son 67 years ago and today is enjoyed by families in more than 200 territories and in 31 languages? My toddler is a huge Thomas fan so was ecstatic to be sent the latest Thomas & Friends DVD, ‘Go Go Thomas!’, which is on sale from Monday 11th March (RRP £12.99). The format is similar to the Thomas in Charge DVD we reviewed previously and Go Go Thomas! features 5 episodes interspersed with the adventures of Mr Perkins. My toddler adores Mr Perkins as much…
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Life’s a bit too manic at the moment. Little Sis started walking on Monday (finally!) so any snatched moments of relaxation I once had are now non existent even harder to come by. Whilst I like the fact she can now go and get the toys she wants I have to constantly check she’s not causing mischief. When I returned from the nursery pick up the latest Cath Kidston catalogue was waiting for me. I sneaked 5 minutes to myself to have a look through it whilst enjoying a cup of Galaxy Bubbles hot chocolate – perfect for this bleak…
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I’m constantly washing my hands after changing bottoms, wiping noses, before preparing meals and snacks. My hands really suffer, especially during the winter months, so I always carry hand cream with me. Hotel Chocolat have branched out to beauty products and I was sent a tube of Revive hand cream from their Coca Juvenate range to try. The Coca Juvenate is a new range of exclusive spa treatments perfected on their Saint Lucien cocoa estate. The range includes body oil, hand cream, lip balm, body wash, and candles. As you would expect, cocoa is a key ingredients as it is…