• clothing - teething

    Growing up

    My daughter turned one on Thursday. I can’t believe how quickly the year has gone and a little bit of me wishes she would slow down! We’ve been having lots of ‘firsts’ lately. First shoes (5th November) was followed by first tooth (17th November). She been crawling and standing for a while but it now pretty good at speed crawling as soon as she hears the baby gate open. I’ve also caught her looking longingly up the stairs a couple of times. She can say a couple of words, such as cat and daddy but has a great pointy finger…

  • sewing - toddler

    My rainy day jar

    It has been so cold the last few days. Luckily the toddler spends time playing outside whilst he’s at nursery which means I feel less guilty about not being outside for too long on the days he’s not there! I have a mental list of stuff to do on really cold days which keep us indoors. I’ve seen a great idea for a rainy day jar on Pinterest which I’m going to make in the New Year. Basically you write a different activity on a lollipop stick or piece of paper and pick one every time you need a little…

  • Christmas - handmade

    Wrapping gifts made easy

    Can I admit to really enjoying wrapping presents? It doesn’t matter what shape or size. I just pour a glass of wine, switch the radio on and get my supplies out. Yes, my name is Jenny and I have a box of gift wrapping supplies. It contains: Scotch Precision Scissors Scotch Pop-up Handband and refills Brown paper for wrapping Handmade gift tags Although I enjoy wrapping it can be time consuming which is why the Pop-up Handband from Scotch is great for saving time. Do you remember I mentioned we’re starting a book advent on December 1st? Well this week…

  • competition - film review

    Po’s Winter Wonderland giveaway

    Yesterday we received a copy of a new heart-warming winter adventure from DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. Arriving just in time for Christmas, Po’s Winter Wonderland is the perfect centrepiece for festive family fun! The toddler is a huge fan of Kung Fu Panda and loved his latest adventure! In Po’s Winter Wonderland, Po (voiced by Jack Black) is preparing for a traditional Winter Festival with his dad when Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) reminds him that his duties as Dragon Warrior include hosting the formal Winter Feast for the Kung Fu masters. Po is torn between his responsibilities to his position and…

  • Christmas - competition - crafts - gingerbread - handmade - sewing - swap

    Felt Christmas decorations

    I’ve been enjoying spending time sewing felt Christmas decorations. I’ve signed up for a couple of Christmas craft swaps which has meant some happy hours looking through my favourite craft books. Felt Christmas decorations I decided to try something different so made these three felt decorations and framed them in small embroidery hoops. Each hoop is only 3 inches so they are the perfect size for hanging on a tree. Hopefully you can tell they are a candy cane, gum drop sweeties and a gingerbread couple. The pattern was from one of my favourite craft books Fa la la la…

  • Christmas - reviews

    Afternoon tea?

    Can I be smug and say I’ve done 95% of my Christmas shopping? It stresses me out every year and the only way I can cope is to be organised, make lists, purchase and wrap. We’re having Christmas at home (our last in this house) so I’m happy to be organised and swap gifts with family before the big day. The lovely people at Lakeland who sell wonderful Christmas hampers contacted me and asked if I would like to review one of them. They sent me an adorable  St Kew Teacup Basket: It’s a small (but beautifully formed) hamper which holds a few…

  • baby - pregnancy

    Reflecting on my last pregnancy (my daughter is nearly 1!)

    I’m feeling sad today as we’ve been having a clear out ahead of putting our house on the market. Yes, I’ve banged on before about moving but we’re finally doing it. A couple of weeks ago we were called in to the toddlers’ school as he was ready to move up a stage. For complicated reasons he can’t continue there so we’re moving. Hopefully we will be able to find a bigger house with better schools in a nicer part of London. Anyway, the last two weeks we’ve had the builders in. Remember we had a plan for sub-dividing our…

  • days out - playing - toy review

    Play with Fisher-Price

    Fisher-Price kindly offered me a ticket to the Baby Show last month to check out their latest toys. We love the Baby Show so off we went and were not disappointed! Fisher-Price had a  huge play area filled with toys which the toddler and his sister really enjoyed, as well as a huge display of baby equipment. In the play area there were lots of old favourites like the Laugh & Learn Puppy’s Piano, Brilliant Basis Chatter Telephone, Stand-Up Ballcano, Brilliant Basics Lil’ Snoopy, and Laugh & Learn Cookie Shape Surprise, as well as the recently launched Little People Wheelies Loops…

  • competition - homestyle - housekeeping

    Win with Ariel and get rid of bad dress sense!

    Are you one of the 1 in 10 British women who have admitted to intentionally ruining one of their partner’s items of clothes just because they didn’t like it? It’s not just women, apparently a quarter of British men and women frequently ask their partners to change their outfits because they’re embarrassed to be seen with them! I must be lucky as my husband’s wardrobe doesn’t make me cringe. I love this advert from Ariel about a woman and her golf-mad husband. Can you empathise? Ariel asked me to go under cover and put their theory to the test. I…