• english paper pieced diamonds
    days out - family - homestyle - mindfulness - National Trust - sewing

    Monday happy list – week 83

    April 25, 2016 - By 

    I’m not sure why but I haven’t felt in the mood for sewing recently. I have lots of things to make, such as my Shipping Forecast quilt and a fun Nana Company swap deadline looming. The only thing I have been stitching are pretty yellow English Paper Pieced diamonds from the last issue of Mollie Makes. Normally I love to make the cover gifts so something is definitely wrong with me if I’m still making it (the new issue landed on my doorstep today!). The yellow EPP diamonds will eventually make a Starburst Sampler which I’m going to hang on my…

  • Clangers, Bagpuss and Co at the Museum of childhood
    days out - Local Review - London - museum - parenting

    Clangers, Bagpuss and Co at the Museum of Childhood

    April 17, 2016 - By 

    My 6 year old adores The Clangers and I have pretty fond memories of them from my own childhood. So when I heard the Clangers were coming to the Museum of Childhood I knew we would have to go. Yesterday we packed our own little Clangers and headed off to the Underground. The Museum of Childhood is a lovely place to visit. It’s in an historic building and there is lots of room to explore the exhibits and displays. The Clangers, Bagpuss & Co. display is just inside the entrance of the museum and consists of display cases, a place…

  • PlaymobilBrigade
    days out - London - parenting - Playmobil Playologist

    A day with London Fire Brigade

    April 9, 2016 - By 

    Last month I mentioned that London Fire Brigade fire stations will be hosting 65 collaborative open days with Playmobil across the capital throughout 2016 to teach children about fire safety in the home. These events are part of their 150th anniversary and today we attended the Playmobil VIP launch party at Soho Fire Station to kick off these open days. It was great to see behind the scenes at the fire station. Soho is London’s busiest station covering famous theatres, hotels and London landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and Horse Guards Parade. The present station dates from the 1980s but there has…

  • Michael Rosen exhibition at the Discover Children’s Story Centre
    days out - Local Review - London - parenting

    Michael Rosen exhibition at the Discover Children’s Story Centre

    April 6, 2016 - By 

    Yesterday we were invited to the Discover Children’s Story Centre in London to see Michael Rosen’s new exhibition Bear Hunt, Chocolate Cake & Bad Things. The exhibition closes on 10th April 2016 so I’m really glad we were able to squeeze in a visit before it goes on tour around the country. Bear Hunt, Chocolate Cake & Bad Things Discover Children’s Story Centre is one of those places I’ve always meant to go and visit but never got round to. I’m now kicking myself for not making the effort as it is an amazing place! Discover Children’s Story Centre is…

  • competition - days out - London - Playmobil Playologist

    Win a VIP family ticket to PLAYMOBIL and London Fire Brigade’s anniversary launch party

    March 23, 2016 - By 

    London Fire Brigade have recruited a specialist #PLAYMOBILBrigade to celebrate their 150th year which I have mentioned before. Fire stations will be hosting 65 collaborative open days across the capital throughout 2016 to teach children about fire safety in the home. To celebrate, we have 1 VIP family ticket to the launch party in London on Saturday 9th April to give away to one lucky winner, allowing you exclusive entry before it’s open to the public There will be a special birthday cake baked by Great British Bake Off star Firefighter Mat Riley, and an appearance by London Fire Commissioner…

  • baking - days out - Easter - Family Life - Kids crafts

    Getting ready for Easter with Matalan

    March 12, 2016 - By 

    The children enjoy Easter almost as much as Christmas and we love to make Easter cards and decorations, bake Easter treats and go on an Easter egg hunt. This year Matalan kindly sent us a big basket full of their Easter range to show you. Over the last few days we have been busy trying everything out. I usually pop into Matalan to buy clothes for the children. They are always great quality and wear well. I seem to have missed a trick though as I didn’t realise they sell so many other things! The children have already made their…

  • Cath Kidston - days out - mindfulness

    Monday Happy Things – Week 75

    February 29, 2016 - By 

    Happy Monday everyone. We had a lovely quiet weekend at home for once so I am feeling rested to face the week ahead. This post is my chance to reflect on the week gone by as the days race past. I get to work with some amazing brands and was so excited to receive an email from Cath Kidston, asking if I wanted to take part in their Mother’s Day campaign. They sent me a wonderful gift box containing everything I needed to make a Mother’s Day rosette. I enjoyed stitching a Mother’s Day rosette, take a look at my…

  • days out - Kids crafts - mindfulness

    Monday Happy Things – Week 74

    February 22, 2016 - By 

    Happy Monday everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend. I have one more day with my children before they head back to school tomorrow. It has been a busy week with them around, but loads of fun, and we’ve created some great memories. The weather has been a mixed bag but we enjoyed a trip to our local Lido so the children could take their bikes out. You can see how muddy it was but that didn’t stop them. A chance of clothes *might* have been required when we got home. Our little village finally has its own gastro…

  • days out - Fairy garden crafts - Local Review - London

    A visit to the Fairy village

    February 16, 2016 - By 

    We have a slight obsession with fairy houses here at the gingerbread house blog. I’m not quite sure how it started but I’m pleased to say that not only is our own house and garden fairy friendly, but it seems that our little village is too. We’d been living here for a couple of months when a friend pointed out a fairy door on a nearby tree. We stopped to visit on a trip to the sweetie shop. There was no where to leave a note but we saw lots of people stopping to look. Then we heard rumours of…