Creative play

Interplay Instant Flower Press

Wednesday, September 30, 2015


Interplay manufactures a large range of educational and creative kits for children. From living creatures to creating jewellery, there is something to suit any child. Gracie loves learning and she loves getting outdoors and enjoying nature. Every year she helps me with the gardening and loves to watch the beautiful flowers grow. She doesn't quite like how different the garden looks in the winter though. She misses the flowers and the colours. 

 When I had the choice of choosing a kit from Interplay, my first choice was the Flower Press. I figured it would be a great idea to use it as an excuse to go for a nice walk down past the woods looking out for the last of the flowers and press them so we could use them to create nice home made cards. 

birthday

Happy Birthday Zach

Sunday, September 27, 2015


Today my little man turned three! Three is the age that you have to finally give in and accept that they are growing up, Zach sure likes to prove how grown up he is now. With conquering potty training and starting school in the last few weeks, he has really come on so well. Even his speech has massively improved. Wherever we go, everybody loves him and the cheeky smile that is forever plastered on his face. He is the most loving child I have ever known and I just can't believe how quick he is growing up!

animals

Review: Schleich Animals

Friday, September 25, 2015


Schleich is one of those companies that many people don't realise they recognise. I remember owning Schleich animals when I was a child and my younger sister did years later. Now it is time for my children to discover them. They are makers of high quality animal figurines amongst other things and can be found in most toy shops including The Entertainer, Toys r Us etc. 

My Favourite Kind Of Movie Night

Thursday, September 24, 2015


With three children under 5, I can honestly say I don't get out much! That doesn't mean life has to be boring though. There are lots of things I love doing with my little family, one of my favourites is movie night! Quite often on a weekend or school holiday we will have a late night and all pick our favourite films to watch. We usually do it as a family or sometimes me and Gracie will have a girly movie night and some one to one time cuddled up in bed watching a film on my panasonic tv.

We have lot's of favourite films but usually always end up watching a Marvel or Star Wars movie or if it is just me and Gracie I will stick on a musical Disney film. No movie night is complete without some nice comfy blankets to snuggle up in. Of course yummy snacks are also a must have. I have a huge weakness for salted caramel and love Butterkist salted caramel popcorn or Haagen Daaz chocolate salted caramel ice cream! I have to always have a steady supply of jelly babies at home too in case of an impromptu movie afternoon/night with the kids. 

It is also nice sometimes to spend some time alone with Andy watching movies or finding a new TV series boxset to watch on Amazon instant video. Although we are running low on new things to watch now! 

What makes your perfect movie night?

*Collaborative post

Cosy Club

A Look Around The Cosy Club Coventry

Tuesday, September 22, 2015



On Friday,  I got to have a sneak peek at The Cosy Club's latest venue, in my home city! For so long Coventry has been desperate for some new and exciting eateries, so I was so excited to go along and check it out. The Cosy Club describes itself as ' Quirky, eccentric and playful' and it is definitely all three! The interiors are a mix match of era's and tastes which shouldn't work but they really do. You soon feel at home after walking through the doors.

baby books

Parragon Books: 'A Collection Of Nursery Rhymes'

Tuesday, September 15, 2015


Last month, as part of our role as Parragon book buddies, we were sent a lovely collection of nursery rhymes from the Parragon 'Cute as a button' range.  This is a book that can be treasured by all of the family. It contains over 100 nursery rhymes to share with your children. 

 With three children under 5, I can say that all of my children still love nursery rhymes. Gracie and Zach sing along to them at school before home time and love how they know lots of them already and Elsie just loves to join in with the rest of us. There are so many lovely rhymes in the book and well, nursery rhymes are timeless. My children still sing the same ones I did 20 years before them and they love them just as much as I do.

healthy snacks for lunchboxes

Packing A Perfect Free From Lunch Box

Monday, September 14, 2015


So with Zach and Elsie both being dairy intolerant, I know too well how much of a struggle it can be to find them nice snacks. It is so much easier with Gracie but I still struggle for inspiration to keep her lunch from being the same boring foods every day. Mixing it up is so important when it comes to encouraging them to eat all their lunch whilst at school. Holland & Barrett, is now one of the UK's largest free from food retailers even catering for those with multiple allergies.

 Holland & Barrett sent us a great range of their free from products to try out, this is just a small sample of what they sell to show us the kind of products that can be used for lunch boxes.

The First Day At School

Sunday, September 13, 2015


Thursday saw both Gracie and Zach start a new chapter of their lives. It was a big deal for all of us. Gracie had her first day in Reception, her first ever full day of school and Zach started pre-school, his first ever time away from me and being looked after by someone other than family. 

cosatto

Review: Cosatto Waffle Highchair

Saturday, September 12, 2015


A high chair is an important piece of equipment. From first tastes to first birthday cakes. For the first year or so of your child's life, you will find a high chair can be one of your most used items. Now the most important thing, when choosing any baby equipment, is to find the one that suits you. You might want a high chair that can be pulled up to your dining table for family meals, you might one to last right through to the toddler years, you might want one that folds away nicely as a space saver. There is no right or wrong answer. There are however companies that try to cater for all aspects of life to ensure their products are loved by all their customers.

competitions

Win A 7 Night Holiday For 8 People in Great Yarmouth

Friday, September 11, 2015

Credit: Greater Yarmouth Tourism, David Street (Photographer)
We have been to Great Yarmouth a few times since having children and it is a great location for a fun family holiday! Every one will know already I have a soft spot for Haven and visit their sites every year without fail and so I am so pleased that the lovely people at Greater Yarmouth Tourism have teamed together with a number of local partners to offer one lucky reader a 7 night Haven holiday for up to 8 people in Great Yarmouth in 2016.


 The winner will be staying at Haven Seashore, in a beach side caravan, with no restrictions on dates. That's right that even includes the school holidays. As well as the awesome holiday, these amazing attractions in and around Great Yarmouth will be giving the lucky winner passes to visit their establishments during their stay;

Credit: Great Yarmouth Tourism, David Street (Photographer)
  • Hippodrome Circus
  • Great Yarmouth Pleasurebeach
  • Thrigby Hall
  • Great Yarmouth Sealife Centre
  • Deluxe Afternoon Tea at Saras Tearooms
  • Merrivale Model Village
  • Great Yarmouth Stadium – Greyhound Racing plus a meal
  • Retroskate
  • Hirsty’s Family Fun Park
  • A Meal at Lacon Arms Hemsby
  • Time & Tide Museum

If only I could win myself!

 If you would like to enter this fabulous competition, just follow the instructions below.

 Greater Yarmouth Holiday Comp
 
Good Luck!

 Competitions at ThePrizeFinder

baby's first birthday

Elsie's Birthday Celebrations

Thursday, September 10, 2015


It has been two weeks today since Elsie turned ONE! We had a weekend full of celebrations and I have just got round to uploading all the photo's. With her birthday being on a Thursday, there weren't many people around and even Daddy had to go to work. So we had present opening before he went to work in the morning and a day of fun and activities for the kids at home. She did have a few visits from family members on the day and Elsie was so tired from the excitement that she had an epic 3 hour nap and an early night!

Family Days Out

A Girly Day in London

Wednesday, September 09, 2015


Last week I took my biggest girl for a girl's day out in London, along with my friend Leonii  and her daughter Vay. The girl's are really good friends and were so excited to spend time alone with us without their siblings. We had been invited along to a child-friendly press event in London and so we decided to make a day of it and show them a few must see places while we were there. 

children's toys

Disney Store Inside Out Deluxe Talking Figures

Tuesday, September 08, 2015


This summer saw the release of Disney Pixar's Inside Out, The film is about a little girl named Riley who is uprooted by her family, moving to a new city, new house and new school and how her emotions- Joy, Anger, Fear, Disgust and Sadness conflict when deciding how to help her deal with everything. Gracie and Zach have watched it twice now and love the film. They were thrilled to receive a deluxe talking figure each from Disney Store. Especially as they arrived while we were all very poorly with a sickness bug. They really did raise smiles when they arrived. We received a Deluxe Talking Anger and a Deluxe Talking Sadness.

Planning My Dream Kitchen

Friday, September 04, 2015


At the moment I am planning a huge renovation project on my Kitchen. Now that Andy has started a new job we have a small amount of his redundancy money left which will fingers crossed buy us a new kitchen. Our kitchen at the moment is awful, the previous owners didn't look after it and we have had to put up with it while we saved up for a new one. I have always dreamt of having a cute vintage/shabby chic style kitchen and have my heart set on creating my perfect kitchen even if I am on a small budget. 

back to school

Back To School Essentials

Thursday, September 03, 2015

Summer is almost over and it is time to make sure you have everything organised for back to school. We are in our last week of the holiday's and I am on a mission to be prepared this year. I have found it is not just uniform to get ready this year but with Gracie starting Reception, and therefore starting full days for the first time, I seem to have so many extra things to get in preparation. I also have Zach starting pre-school and spending time away from me for the first time and so I have two of most things to buy. I thought I would share a few great back to school products that we have either been sent or have bought ourselves.

 Stationery


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