• Christmas - days out - Monday Happy List

    Monday Happy List – Week 115

    December 5, 2016 - By 

    This time of year is so busy. As if school and after school clubs weren’t enough, we are trying to squeeze in extra festive activities whilst keeping winter germs at bay. After a busy weekend visiting my mum in Wiltshire I am so happy to be sitting at home catching up on my blog, the children safely at school. This week I will be finishing off costumes for their nativity plays and buying lots of Christmas presents – am I the only one who hasn’t started yet? Most weeks I find it so easy to write this Monday Happy List…

  • christmas gift guide for kids
    Christmas - Gift guide - playing - toy review

    Christmas gift guide for a 5 and 6 year old

    December 4, 2016 - By 

    Has your Christmas present panic buying set in yet? Despite feeling quite organised last month I have bought very few presents so far this year. Luckily I have made my lists, I just need to spend some time buying and wrapping everything. My daughter had her birthday last week so I always find her a little trickier to buy for as she has received everything she asked for. I thought it was about time I brought together some of my favourite toy reviews from the past year, with some of the toys my children will be receiving this year. Christmas…

  • Super simple gingerbread popcorn recipe
    Christmas - crafts - gingerbread - handmade

    Super simple gingerbread popcorn recipe

    December 3, 2016 - By 

    This week my son went on a playdate after school and my daughter and I wanted to stay in and watch a film. This super simple gingerbread popcorn recipe only requires 3 ingredients and makes a fun festive treat, especially if you’re staying in to watch Elf! Gingerbread popcorn recipe ingredients Popcorn (we love Butterkist Sweet) Gingerbread spices Gingerbread men shaped sprinkles How to make gingerbread popcorn recipe Take a healthy portion of popcorn and sprinkle over a pinch of gingerbread spices. Top with your gingerbread men shaped sprinkles. We prefer ready-made popcorn but you could make your own –…

  • Rudolph Reindeer Decoration Sewing Kits
    Baker Ross Blogger Network - Christmas - crafts

    Simple Christmas crafts for kids

    December 1, 2016 - By 

    A few weeks ago we received a wonderful parcel containing Christmas crafts for kids from Baker Ross. Here’s what we thought of them. Both my children are interested in sewing so loved the Rudolph Reindeer Decoration Sewing Kits. There are 3 assorted colours and each kit includes pre-cut felt shapes, self-adhesive felt pieces, yarn, stuffing, wiggle-eyes, ribbon and plastic needle. My 5 year old made this one and it was her first sewing project! I thought it was perfect for her and she was so happy with the finished reindeer. Our house always receives a visit from the Elf on…

  • Wooden Advent tree {Ikea hack}
    Advent crafts - Christmas - crafts - upcycling

    Wooden Advent tree {Ikea hack}

    November 30, 2016 - By 

    Earlier in the summer I attended a tablescaping event as part of the Ikea Autumn/Winter press show. I saw some great Christmas products and knew I would be going to buy some in store. We went to Ikea in October and I was so happy to see they had set up their Christmas displays. I bought quite a few new decorations, a gingerbread house and a lovely wooden tree. The tree was quite a simple design with 28 branches, each with a small hole at the end to hang a decoration. I thought this would make a great wooden Advent…

  • Win a Wilton 7-Piece Christmas Cookie Cutter Set
    baking - Christmas - competition

    Win a Wilton 7-Piece Assorted Christmas Cookie Cutter Set

    November 29, 2016 - By 

    Back in the Summer I was lucky to visit the Hobbycraft Autumn/Winter press show. Gosh that does feel like a long time ago. I love going to press shows and Hobbycraft is one of my favourites. They had some lovely displays featuring  some wonderful Advent calendar blanks. Look at how this one was decorated! I tried making my own gingerbread house advent calendar last year and it was really fun. They also had cake supplies, craft supplies and a wonderful foiling machine which I totally fell in love with. You can use it to embellish your own cards which sounds…

  • Easy upcycled pallet Christmas tree
    Christmas - crafts - Pinty Plus Ambassador

    Easy upcycled pallet Christmas tree

    November 29, 2016 - By 

    I’m delighted to announce that I’m a Pinty Plus Ambassador. Pinty Plus Chalk Paint is a manufactured in Spain by Novasol Spray and sold in the UK exclusively by novasolspray.co.uk. Although the product is well established in the European market, it has yet to take off in the UK largely because it is still relatively unknown within the market. It’s a versatile product which can be applied to melamine, wood, plastic, glass, canvas, metal, cardboard and polystyrene. For my first project I wanted to try something quite simple. I love upycling pallets, we’ve already made a fun pallet mud kitchen and pallet…

  • A visit to Father Christmas at the Playmobil Christmas Grotto at Intu Watford
    Christmas - days out - Local Review

    A visit to Father Christmas at the Playmobil Christmas Grotto at Intu Watford

    November 27, 2016 - By 

    December is so busy for us and all our weekends are double and triple booked, so today found us visiting Father Christmas in his special magical discovery lodge at Intu Watford. Did you know that Playmobil have teamed up with the shopping centre chain and some of them are hosting special Santa’s Grotto’s in association with Playmobil? I bought our tickets online and we managed to keep our visit a secret until we got to the shopping centre. Then I gave them their golden ticket and we headed to the grotto. The children both love Playmobil so were very excited.…

  • A Christmas Carol adult colouring book
    Christmas - competition

    Win a copy of A Christmas Carol adult colouring book

    November 26, 2016 - By 

    I have a lovely festive giveaway to share with you today. I’ve recently been having a clear out of my adult colouring books. It’s one of my favourite hobbies but I’ve finished a lot of books! If you love adult colouring books then you will want to know all about the latest adult colouring book from Little Tiger Press which is perfect for the festive season –A Christmas Carol. I’m also hosting a giveaway to win a copy of A Christmas Carol adult colouring book so make sure you read to the end of my post. A Christmas Carol: A…