Oh Ladybird Tuesday, how I've missed you! When Ladybird Tuesday first started years ago Tuesday was a day when I was childfree and able to ensure a Ladybird post went up every week without fail. Have you realised yet that for the last 18 months I've been running a playgroup every Tuesday and always had at least one child with me and so completely failed to post regularly. Argh! Sorry about that. Something just had to give and Ladybird Tuesday was sadly the victim. Still, only two more weeks left running playgroup - one voluntary role that I'm really looking forward to giving up at Christmas ... read more
Advent House for Master C
It seems hard to believe that it's over a year now since I made an Owl Advent Calendar for Little Miss C (and nearly a year to the day since I blogged about it too). Master C wasn't quite ready for an advent calendar last year, but even then I knew that I would need to do something for him this advent, so it was perfect timing when the team at Ocean Loans got in touch asking if I would like to be sent an Advent house from Hobbycraft and a nice gift voucher so that I could decorate it. This was of course back in early October and I was rather proud of myself for getting on to it straight away, ... read more
Christmas Sticky Toffee Pudding – baking with Whitworths and Edd Kimber
It's not often that I get to spend my Saturday in the kitchen with a winner of the Great British Bake Off, but that's exactly what I got to do this weekend, thanks to Whitworths. Edd Kimber won the first bake off back in 2010 and this year he's teamed up with Whitworths, those people who bring us all the fruit and nut ingredients that you use in your baking, to develop an alternative to the traditional Christmas pudding. Now, I should start by saying that I love Christmas pudding and I was therefore intrigued to see what Edd had come up with, especially as he claimed not to like ... read more
Crafty Catch Up – Spice of Life and Christmas Cards
Do you know how satisfying it is to actually finish a project? I managed to go to my regular knitting group this morning and it was such a lovely feeling to proudly stand up and do my bit of show and tell with my Spice of Life blanket. This is probably one of the biggest projects that I've ever finished (yes the Attic 24 Ripple is still in progress - my latest aim is to get it done by Christmas!) and I'm really pleased with how it has turned out. The finished result is gorgeous and whilst the first set of shells are a bit pulled in at the edges (I'll call that my learning curve - I went ... read more
Autumn Fun with Superworm at Wendover Woods #weloveforests
Autumn has to be one of my favourite times of year. There's just something about the colours of the trees that I love so much and that always make me feel strangely emotional. I didn't therefore need much encouragement to head up to the gorgeous Wendover Woods with the family the other weekend to investigate the Superworm Trail that was there until the end of October. The Superworm book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Sheffer is one that has strangely passed me by until now. I'd heard of it and seen in bookshops, but just not read it until now, although it seems both kids are very familiar ... read more
Norman the Slug Who Saved Christmas – Sue Hendra & Paul Linnet
Halloween is over so I'm now declaring that we're officially allowed to start talking about Christmas - one of my favourite times of the year. Despite the kids singing Jingle Bells since before Little Miss C's birthday in June, I kid you not, I'm actually really excited about this year. At three years old Master C really seems to get it this year, and I'm really looking forward to seeing him getting caught up in all the magic that goes with Christmas. It's a few weeks now since Norman the Slug Who Saved Christmas arrived through my letter box, but I was thrilled to see it as we are huge ... read more
There’s a Monster in my Fridge – Caryl Hart & Deborah Allwright
Halloween is has now been and gone (I know, bonkers isn't it! I'm sure it was only June a minute ago) and that was the perfect excuse, if one were needed, for a slightly scary children's book, and that's exactly what There's a Monster in My Fridge is. This rhyming story is hilarious and not only does it include a monster in the fridge, but also a witch behind a screen, a vampire in the cellar and two skeletons in the bath! I'm not exaggerating when I say that I laughed out loud when I read this to Master C for the first time. And as if the words were not funny enough, they are accompanied ... read more
Introducing Warburtons Giant Crumpets
Blogging and reviews have taken a bit of a back seat here since the summer - mainly in favour of crochet and crafting - but those crafty people at Warburtons seem to have worked out how to get my attention and get me back here. It's amazing what a sucker I am for a new mug and accompanying teapot, especially when they are gorgeous Le Creuset ones! It's not unusual for parcels to be left with one of my neighbours, as the delivery people always seem to have a habit of coming when I'm on a school or pre-school run. What is unusual though is for my elderly neighbour to hand over a parcel ... read more
Winter is almost upon us – so spin yourself a winter cocoon!
With autumn now well and truly upon us, a glance just a little bit further ahead in the wall calendar reveals an impending long, cold, British winter. Fortunately, something equally British can be your salvation, and by that of course, I mean turning to crafts to beat the cold snap. Bedrooms can be easily converted from large, airy, brightly-lit summer spaces, to a warm and cosy den for hibernation throughout the winter – and you'll be amazed at the difference items such as over-sized pillows and scatter-cushions, blankets, quilts and bedspreads can make to both the metaphorical and literal ... read more
Crafty Catch Up – Spice of Life, Halloween and the Start of Christmas
Can you tell that the crochet is completely taking over my life at the moment? If you follow me on Instagram it's probably pretty obvious. It seems that every spare minute is spent with a hook in my hand these days and I'm loving it! I'm onto the final stretch of the main body of the Spice of Life CAL now and I'm already starting to feel a bit sad about the fact that it will be all over soon. The pattern has you repeating the first half of the blanket in different colours for the second half, so there are no more new stitches to learn, but instead it's great practice of what you have ... read more