Christmas is going to be different this year. A different home. A different shaped family. But even with all the changes that have gone on over the last year some things will also remain the same - for the children's sake more than anything else. After a difficult year though (that shows no signs of getting calmer any time soon) I feel ready to pause the day-to-day madness and spend time with my family and celebrate the festive season. With December up on us and decorations up wherever you go I'm even starting to look forward to hearing Christmas music in the coffee shops I work in most ... read more
Free Christmas Dice Games
I think this is the year that my family has really got family games. Suddenly all the kids are just of the age where they can sit down at the table together and start to enjoy games and we've already had a couple of lovely evenings sat around playing things together and having a really good laugh in the process. They need to be tailored just right, so that they work for all three children, but they are a great way of bringing a family together and having some fun together. I was blown away recently by just how expensive some board games can be, so being the thrifty type that I am I've been ... read more
Sanitary Owl’s First Period Box from DAME
As women, do we talk enough to our men or daughters about periods? I'm not talking about trying to totally freak them out, but more about explaining the practicalities of them and what is available to use each month. I recently came across an interview with comedian Gary Meikle in which he talked about life as a single dad to his daughter. In it he mentioned how, when she started her periods, he realised that he knew nothing, and as a result he ended up asking the local shopkeeper for advice as to whether he should be buying tampons or towels for her. For girls, getting their period is an ... read more
Ladybird Tuesday: People at Work: The Road Makers
And we're back! There just aren't enough hours in the day right now to do everything I want to do. But, a big charity shop haul of new Ladybird titles as a gift from my OH has given me the kick up the backside that I somewhat need to get some Ladybird Tuesday posts written. After many hours recently on the UK's motorway network it seems somewhat appropriate to be back with The Road Makers from the People at Work series (series 606B). We've visited this series several times now on Ladybird Tuesday (The Fireman, The Builder, The Soldier, The Policeman, The Car Makers, In a Hotel) and it's one ... read more
The 12 Sleighs of Christmas – Sherri Duskey Rinker and Jake Parker
Everyone knows that it's the Elves who keep Santa in check and make sure that everything is in place so that Christmas Eve and present deliveries go without a hitch. The source or build the presents, wrap them all and make sure they're all delivered to the right addresses. Whole films have been set about the lengths that they'll go to make sure that no child goes without on Christmas morning. But, what about Santa's sleigh itself? Who makes sure that it's all ready for the mammoth journey that it has to do that night? Fear not - just like a well tuned Formula One pit crew the elves also ... read more
Nice Ways to Keep the Family Warm in Winter
Image via Pixabay So, we’re well and truly back to the chilly days now, where cars need to be scraped clean of ice before the morning school run, where breath mists in the air, and where the thermostat is likely turned up to near-maximum at all times day and night. Autumn and winter can be magical times — especially if you’re lucky enough to live in an area which gets decent snowfall, with families enjoying days out to toboggan down hills, build snow men, and prepare for the festivities of Christmas and the New Year. But it can also be pretty miserable, as the skies turn gloomy, and ... read more
Where To Start When You Design A New Kitchen
If you love to cook, then the kitchen is probably the most important room in your house. This is the place where you concoct wonderful meals, entertain friends, and enjoy quality time with the kids. So when it’s time to renovate, you probably already have lots of great ideas for your new kitchen. The trouble is, it’s difficult to know where to start when you have to come up with a brand new layout and design: Worktop Space The first thing you might consider is freeing up some of that worktop. If you’re buying beautiful wood or granite, you want it to be seen! Hobs, sinks, drainers, and ... read more
Zoggs DC Super Heroes Collection
As a parent you sometimes think that you know a brand. You've bought their products yourself and also seen them being used by other parents. It's a brand that you're happy to buy and happy to recommend. You know and trust them. Then, as a blogger, you get the opportunity to work with said brand and look forward to doing so as you've been a satisfied customer of theirs for years. You go along to meet the brand, her more about them and see their latest product lines and at that point they absolutely blow you out of the water. Pun very much intended as that's exactly what Zoggs have done this ... read more
Finally Make Travel As Easy As You Dream It
Source If you like to travel as much as you can, you might find that there are often circumstances which get in the way of that dream. The truth is that life has a way of making it hard to do, and that can be incredibly frustrating when it is all you really want to do with your life. The truth is however that you can easily make travel a lot easier by simply paying attention to a few key things. In this post, we are going to discuss what these are, and see if you can’t make your next trips abroad even more amazing than the last, all by having an easier time of it too. The Beauty Of A ... read more
Finding some UncommonGoods to gift this Christmas
The weather has turned. Halloween and Bonfire Night are over. The coffee shops have started selling their seasons drinks and sweet treats. Heck - the one I'm in has even just played Wham's Last Christmas! There's no denying it any more. It's time to turn our thoughts to Christmas and the gifts that we want to buy for our loved ones. Someone once told me that the best gifts are those that perfectly capture the recipient. Their loves and passions. What is special to them. And at the same time being something of a treat. The sort of thing that they wouldn't buy for themselves. Buying gifts for ... read more