• kid made fingerprint Christmas cards
    Christmas - crafts - Crafts for kids - handmade

    Kid-made Christmas cards

    October 8, 2012 - By 

    I mentioned the other day how we were aiming for a handmade Christmas. The first step was to make a start on our kid-made Christmas cards. There’s so much inspiration on Pinterest but I narrowed it down to simple ideas I could do with the toddler. He absolutely loves finger painting at the moment so we got the paints out, covered the table in newspaper and got stuck in! Kid-made fingerprint Christmas cards Christmas finger print lights This was so much fun. I opened four pots of paint and let the toddler loose. He’s pretty good if I give him…

  • being green - days out

    A day with Yeo Valley

    October 7, 2012 - By 

    A couple of weeks ago the husband and I were invited to spend a day at Yeo Valley, the people behind the delicious organic Yeogurts, milk, butter, cream, compotes and rice puddings,  on one of their farm tours. We jumped at the chance as we love Yeo Valley and, more importantly, the children weren’t invited.   Yeo Valley is perhaps best known for making yogurt which started back in 1972. Today there are four production dairies (at Blagdon, Cannington, Crewkerne and Newton Abbot) and the company employs over 1500 people. It is an independent, family-owned farming and dairy business and…

  • baking - recipe

    The Anchor Cooking Challenge

    October 6, 2012 - By 

    I was challenged to bake a family friendly recipe using Anchor Butter. I wanted to get my toddler involved as he loves baking so we made some yummy vanilla cupcakes. Ingredients: 125g Anchor butter 125g caster sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence 2 eggs 125g self-raising flour dash of milk Method: Cream the butter and sugar and add the vanilla essence. Beat the eggs and add to the mixture. Fold in the flour and add milk as necessary. Divide between 12 cases and bake for 15-20 minutes at 180ºC. I used the new silicone cupcake cases sent to us from Anchor.…

  • Christmas - handmade - reviews

    The C word

    October 5, 2012 - By 

    I’m going to be brave and use the C word. There’s something about September that just gets me thinking about Christmas. I’ve written my Christmas wishlist (iPad mini please), been buying stocking fillers and joined in some swaps for Christmas crafting. Christmas doesn’t have to be all about the money. We’ll be keeping it simple. I’ve decided to  buy and wrap 24 books to put under the Christmas tree. I love the idea of reading Christmas stories with the children during Advent so have been buying second hand festive books whenever I see them. We’ll also been starting early on…

  • competition

    Win a cookery lesson with Daniel Galmiche

    October 4, 2012 - By 

    I have details of a lovely competition for any foodies out there! The Ideas Kitchen are offering someone a chance to win a cooking lesson with the famous chef, Daniel Galmiche at his restaurant The Vineyard, in Berkshire. Greeted with champagne and canapés, 4 lucky winners will get a tour of The Vineyard’s impressive wine cellars and kitchen, followed by a personal cooking lesson with the man himself! The day will then be topped off with a delicious five course tasting lunch at The Vineyard. How do you enter the competition, you ask? Simple. Just watch the three videos below…

  • baby products - being green - reviews - teething

    Organic Monkey review

    October 3, 2012 - By 

    I was delighted to be asked to try some products by Organic Monkey who make nappy balm, scalp oil for cradle cap, belly oil and massage oil. We tried their Cheeky Monkey Cheek Rub oil and Rock the Cradle cradle cap oil. My 10 month old has been teething for months but, just like her older brother, her teeth are v e r y  s l o w at making an appearance. In fact they are being so slow that it’s putting my husband off having a third baby, gggrrr. Anyway, I’m happy to try any teething products as I…

  • being green - book review

    Mission:Explore Food

    October 3, 2012 - By 

    Did you know that this week is Children’s Book Week? We never need a reason to read books but it’s a great week to share with you a lovely new book we were sent to review – Mission:Explore Food, the latest in the series of Mission:Explore books. This book is unlike any other book we’ve read before. Unlike most cookbooks for kids (that only cover cooking and eating food), Mission:Explore Food includes chapters on growing, harvesting, waste and soil. Each chapter is full with quirky, creative and critical challenges that help children to learn and think differently about their relationships…

  • baking - gingerbread - holiday - reviews

    Wishlist – one new kettle!

    October 2, 2012 - By 

    We’ve just returned from a couple of days at my mum’s house. We got to do all our favourite activities. I went round the local charity shops (more Bob the Builder toys for the toddler), the husband flew his model aeroplane from the top of the local beauty spot and my mum kindly looked after the kids so me and my husband could spend the day at Yeo Valley, more of which later. My mum has one of those kettles which is always on, boiling water for cups of tea. She is constantly asking if we want a cup of…

  • book review

    Books for autumn days

    October 1, 2012 - By 

    Do you love reading with your children? It’s one of our favourite activities and we love nothing better than snuggling up on the sofa and sharing our favourite books. The children have been sent some wonderful new books which are perfect for reading on these autumnal days. Did you know that everyone’s favourite children’s TV presenter has brought out a new activity book which is set to become a must-have stocking filler for pre-schoolers. The hilarious Justin’s Funny Faces sticker activity book includes 15 pages of full-length faces which you customise using the four pages of full colour, reusable stickers.…