Almost a year to the day since my WI story stepped up a gear it was time to again get the tent out, but this time I wasn't heading as far as Nottinghamshire (Tea and Tents is taking a year off this year, much like Glastonbury does when the organisers feel the need to put their feet up for a bit). Instead I was heading to a farm in Ware, Hertfordshire, for the Hertfordshire Federation of Women's Institutes (HFWI) take on Tea and Tents - Wine and Wigwams.I should probably come clean here and tell you that technically I was on the organising committee of Wine and Wigwams, but with life and loads ... read more
Archives for July 2017
Willows Activity Farm Summer Spectacular 2017
Living in St Albans we're incredibly luck to have Willows Activity Farm right on our doorstep. It's close enough that plenty of kids from the children's school go regularly. We tend to keep it as somewhere that we go on a special occasion or as a big treat though. Keeping it as a magical place to go for the kids and when they do go they always absolutely love it. It has been a while though since our last visit and since then Willows have become home to CBeebies' Peter Rabbit, so this was the first time that Little Miss C and Master C had been to the Peter Rabbit Adventure Playground or ... read more
The Mid-Summer Spruces Your Gorgeous Garden Needs
https://www.pexels.com/photo/flowers-flower-pink-17666/ When it comes to summer, the last thing we all want to be doing is work. But, a lot of the time, there are chores that still have to be done. When you’ve got through your spring clean, and your house is fit for summer, it’s then onto the garden. After all, we all tend to spend a lot more time outside during the warmer months. So, you definitely want your outdoor space to look and feel good. To do that, you’re going to need to spruce. If you’re feeling a little less than motivated or you need a little guidance, here are a few areas to ... read more
Hetty Feather at the Foundling Museum
It's hard to remember a time when Little Miss C wasn't a bookworm. Even as a baby she loved being read to, and then since she learnt to read independently (sometime in Year One at school) there's been no stopping her. Her bedroom is full of books. As is her bed. I struggle to understand how she manages to get a decent night's sleep as she's usually got her head next to a pile of books with others all around her and under the duvet and her pillow. As someone who loves a good book myself, it's something that I'll happily support and encourage as I clearly remember how much pleasure I used to get ... read more
Review: Craft Time Mosaics
A recent house move combined with some grotty weather means I've been looking out for some small craft projects to keep the kids entertained on wet days at home. It was therefore perfect timing when I was sent a couple of Craft Time Mosaic kits to review. Little Miss C always loves anything crafty, and Master C's fine motor skills have been coming on in leaps and bounds recently, meaning that he too is actually now enjoying sitting down and completing something like this. We were sent two small kits to review - the kitten and the dragon. With the glittery mosaic stickers LMC wanted to ... read more
5 Ways To Help Your Child Get A Good Night’s Sleep
(image: wikimedia) We all need a good night’s sleep, and your kids are no exception. Having to deal with cranky moods and behavior issues when they are tired is no easy task. Of course, getting them to go to bed isn’t easy either. However, we are here to help. In this article, we have put together five ways in which you can help your child get a better night’s sleep. Follow these tips, and you might even get to bed on time too! Keep your kids active After a long day at school, the last thing your kids want to do is exercise. Watching tv and playing video games may be a more attractive ... read more
Children And The Canary Islands: Where Should You Go?
Nothing’s better than giving your children the chance to travel. Summer vacations are sure to broaden their horizons and open their eyes. But, it would be naive to think that travelling with children is all plain sailing. Instead of visiting countries for their cultural highlights, you’ll need to find destinations which can keep your kids amused. Otherwise, the vacation is sure to be a failure. Spain’s Canary Islands are always a safe pick for families. They’re popular tourist destinations, and as such, have plenty for kids to do. But, it can be hard to know which of the seven islands ... read more
Travelling in the Middle East – Traditions You Should Know
The Middle East is a part of the Earth that most of us dream about exploring, but travelling there is nothing like spending a couple of weeks in Europe or the United States. Dubai, in particular, is famous for its strict laws, while other countries and states are steeped in tradition that tourists would do well to respect. Islamic countries have come out of celebrating Ramadan, which is when Muslim followers fast during the daylight hours. This means no food, water, swearing or inappropriate thoughts as the sun shines. While Ramadan is one of the more well-known traditions of ... read more
Using technology to get a good night’s sleep #ElectricSleep
There was a time that we were all told to avoid technology before bedtime if we wanted a good night's sleep. The general idea was that if you were looking at a screen, or interacting with technology in any other way, it would prevent your brain from winding down properly before you drifted off to sleep. Even if you did manage to nod off, the sleep you had would not be as deep or restful. As technology has changed and advanced, opinions towards it and sleep have changed somewhat. It used to be the case that people might curl up with a book in bed, and some old-fashioned types like me still ... read more
Brio Police Transport Set
It goes without saying that Master C loves trains and as I've said before, there's little that he loves more than being sent trains, or train related things, to help me review. Back in January I attended the Toy Fair in London and came home with a load of photos for him of the new Brio Police range that was due out later in the year. Ever since he's been asking about when he will get some "police trains" to review, and so I was delighted to recently be able to give him the new Brio Police Transport Set to test out. The concept of the set is that a baddie is trying to steal the gold on a ... read more