• win a goody bag
    competition - days out - homestyle - London

    The Knitting & Stitching Show London 2017 {goody bag giveaway}

    October 17, 2017 - By 

    On Sunday I enjoyed my annual day out at The Knitting & Stitching Show London. I try and go every year. Not only do I love fabric shopping but I also find Ally Pally a beautiful venue – and just down the road from where I used to live – happy memories. This year I went with a school mum friend and it was a totally different experience but still a lot of fun. If you’ve never been before then The Knitting & Stitching Show London took place between 11th-15th October at Alexandra Palace. If you love crafting then it’s a…

  • Making tracks with a Family and Friends Railcard
    Buckinghamshire - days out - parenting

    Making tracks with a Family and Friends Railcard

    October 16, 2017 - By 

    On Saturday we planned a grand day out. Our diary was free of play dates and parties and we really wanted to go somewhere new. We live on the edge of West London and we’re so lucky to have the countryside on our doorstep.  We decided to head over to High Wycombe for the day. We’ve passed through many times on our way to Hughenden Manor or Odds Park Farm but decided it was time to stop off and see what it had to offer. My husband loves to drive but we were recently offered a Family and Friends Railcard which…

  • Tatty Devine acrylic sewing machine necklace
    homestyle - Monday Happy List

    Monday mindfulness {5 happy things}

    October 16, 2017 - By 

    Week 159 of my weekly Monday happy things post, about the things which have me happy. Last week was really busy, and the week-end was too. I’m hoping for some quieter time to get ready for half term. Only 2 parent evenings, after school clubs and homework to get through first! Monday mindfulness {5 happy things} I think that Facebook has a lot to blame for my purchasing recently. Someone mentioned that Orla Kiely had designed two exclusive bags for The Royal British Legion. I found them on the Poppy Shop and just had to buy them. Jute bags are…

  • Discovery Adventures and the Land Rover Discovery Sport
    Day Zero - Local Review - London - parenting

    Discovery Adventures and the Land Rover Discovery Sport

    October 7, 2017 - By 

    I’m not quite sure where the week has gone but I’m finally sitting down to write and tell you about our adventures last weekend. We were kindly loaned a brand spanking new Land Rover Discovery Sport for the weekend! This may have been our most exciting blogging adventure yet. Ok, so I drive. But you probably don’t know that I’m a really awful, anxious driver. I drive my kids to their after school clubs but I find no pleasure in driving. So I laughed a little when Land Rover contacted me and immediately texted my husband. He loves cars so…

  • A trip to the Sylvanian Families shop London
    days out - Friends of Sylvanian Families - Local Review - London - parenting

    A trip to the Sylvanian Families shop London

    September 28, 2017 - By 

    I’ve been promising the children a trip to the Sylvanian Families shop in London for quite a long time. They both love Sylvanian Families and had been saving up their pocket money in preparation for our visit. The Sylvanian Families shop is on Mountgrove Road in London. This is within easy walking distance from Arsenal Underground Station or Finsbury Park Station. We drove and were able to park opposite the shop. The Sylvanian Families shop opened in 1993. The Sylvanian Families shop offers the widest range of Sylvanian Families in Europe with over 400 items in stock. They have over 50 different families, including the…

  • New Banksy murals spring up in central London near Barbican
    days out - homestyle - London - Monday Happy List

    Monday Happy Things {Week 156}

    September 25, 2017 - By 

    Happy Monday morning everyone! I’d forgotten how quickly the weeks go when the kids are back at school. They’ve both settled into their new years so well and I’ve been really proud of them. I haven’t enjoyed policing the increased amount of homework though and we’ve had to tweak their reward charts to make sure it gets done! This week I reached 900 subs on YouTube which made me so happy. I love making videos with my children. I have hours of unedited footage which I’m not sure will ever see the light of day, but as long as my…

  • The Handmade Fair at Hampton Court 2017
    days out - homestyle - Local Review - London

    The Handmade Fair at Hampton Court 2017

    September 17, 2017 - By 

    Yesterday I went to The Handmade Fair with my sister for the third year in a row. I really love going to The Handmade Fair at Hampton Court, it’s a great way to learn some new skills and of course go shopping for craft supplies! The Handmade Fair takes place on Hampton Court Green, opposite Hampton Court. It’s a nice location although pretty difficult to get to from our corner of London. We arrived with plenty of time to go shopping before our first workshop. Full experience tickets include a Grand Make, Skills Workshop and the Super Theatre. I booked…

  • 5 pumpkin patches near London for families
    days out - Halloween crafts - parenting

    5 pumpkin patches near London for families

    September 9, 2017 - By 

    As I sit and type this the shutters are closed, I’m wearing an extra jumper and I’m thinking about pumpkins. This evening the heating tried to come on so I don’t think I can pretend that summer is well and truly over. I love Autumn and my youngest has given me quite a collection of acorns and conkers since we started walking to school. The leaves were falling as we played in the park today so it seemed only right to start planning a trip to a pumpkin patch. For some reason I really want to visit a pumpkin patch.…

  • 24 hours in Bristol with kids!
    days out - parenting

    24 hours in Bristol with kids!

    August 26, 2017 - By 

    Do you ever have those crazy ideas where you say, let’s stop off on our long journey over the Bank Holiday weekend? As if the traffic isn’t usually bad enough over a BH weekend we broke our journey to south Devon in Bristol. It’s one of my favourite cities and one we rarely go to since we had our kids. I have such happy memories of exploring Bristol with my husband and longed to re-visit some of our old haunts. So we booked into the Bristol Marriot Royal Hotel for a whistle-stop adventure in Bristol as a family of four.…