Dating can be an expensive business. No one wants to use the phrase "cheap date" but if you're testing the dating waters and seeing a few people then it can stack up financially. It needn't do so though. There's plenty you can do without it breaking the bank. Here are my top five ideas for how to have a cheap date without it feeling like a cheap date. Romantic walk It may sound a tad clichéd, but there can be nothing more romantic than a walk somewhere beautiful together. Time to hold hands, put your arms around each other whilst looking at a stunning view, and loads of opportunity to ... read more
The Twelve Dogs of Christmas – Alison Ritchie and Marisa Morea
Christmas picture books are arriving on my doorstep on an almost daily basis right now, with The Twelve Dogs of Christmas one of the most recent, and I'm actually really enjoying starting to get into the Christmas spirit. Master C has already asked how many sleeps there are until Christmas and, for now, seems satisfied with my answer, so I just have to hope that the requests to put up the Christmas tree don't start just yet! The Twelve Dogs of Christmas is a lovely little tale about a puppy's excitement in the lead up to his first Christmas. The lovely rhyming text makes it the perfect sort ... read more
The Power Of Food
Throughout the years, there has been so much research conducted into the power of healthy food, and the dangers of bad food. Yet so many people choose a nice McDonald’s, over a wholesome meal. There’s good reason for this. Bad food seems to just taste so much better. The chemicals and preservatives pumped into the food are designed to taste better on the palate, and are in a way addictive for humans. But if you just give healthy foods a try, the below points will show your the rewards. Pixabay Weight Loss So many people complain about wanting to lose weight, yet the first thing ... read more
How to make an impact with a first date
When you meet someone new there can be quite a bit of pressure to get it right when it comes to that important first date. You don't want to go over the top and set a precedent that you can't maintain, but at the same time you want to make it special. Make it stand out from other first dates that they might have been on. The most important thing is how well the pair of you get on and whether there is a spark between you or not, but what you're doing whilst trying to establish that is important. I'm a big believe in thinking outside the box when it comes to what you should do. Anyone can go ... read more
Evil Pea Rules! Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet
It feels a bit weird to think that when I first discovered Sue Hendra Little Miss C was tiny and only just starting to discover picture books, yet now here I am enjoying her books with Master C as he comes to the end of his first half term at "proper school". Where has time gone? Sue Hendra still delights me as much as it does him though, and I still love sharing picture books like hers with the kids. Supertato has become a bit of a star in our household and when I opened up the package containing Evil Pea Rules! there was a shriek of delight from both kids. In this latest book Evil Pea ... read more
Wooden It Be Great To Boast A Home You Love…
Image credit: A happy home environment is something that we all desire. Even if you aren’t motivated by materialistic things, choosing the right materials for your property can be key to creating a great vibe. In today’s social climate, many people rush straight to acrylics, plastics, and other modern goods. However, there’s no doubt that wood can still bring wonderful outcomes. Here are just some of the reasons that we ‘wood’ suggest making better use of timber during your next home upgrade cycle. #1. Timeless Class When upgrading the home, it’s important to think beyond the ... read more
Ravensburger Despicable Me 3 Sneaker 3D Puzzle
What do you do with a completed jigsaw puzzle? For years I've loved doing jigsaw puzzles but then when you've finished them it's hard to know quite what to do with them. Ages ago I stayed in a little B&B in Brussels where all the walls were decorated with jigsaw puzzles. Massive ones that measured over a meter square. It was quite simply one of the strangest things I've ever seen. I'm pretty sure that normally you finish a puzzle, leave it on the table for up to a week and then pop it back in the box before moving on to another one. Fast forward to now though and jigsaws have moved on a ... read more
Baking Biscuits with Bacofoil and their Non-Stick Baking Paper
If you follow me on Instagram you'll know that I do a fair bit of baking. Especially of biscuits. My late Gran's ginger biscuit recipe is well known locally as they've been enjoyed at numerous WI, school governor and other committee meetings over the years. I was thrilled therefore to see an invitation pop into my inbox from Bacofoil to join a baking masterclass with Great British Bake Off Quarter finalist Benjamina Ebuehi where we would be creating her new white chocolate and coconut cookies using Bacofoil's non-stick baking paper. Over the years I've been lucky enough to meet a few bake ... read more
DJs Play Park – Soft play in Hemel Hempstead
Soft Play is one of those worlds that you don't encounter until you have children. But once you do have children you soon get to know what to look for in a soft play centre. Ever since Little Miss C was tiny we've been going to DJs Jungle in St Albans and both kids absolutely love it there. I was therefore thrilled to hear about the new sister soft play centre that they are about to open in Jarman Square (or Jarman Park as we oldies all know it!) in Hemel Hempstead - DJ's Play Park. The wonderful thing about DJs for me is that it is run buy someone who actually has kids. Helen and her ... read more
A gift that stands the test of time #PopularBirthdayGifts
What birthday gifts do you remember from childhood? Is there one thing that still stands out all these years later? Something that perhaps you still own and that has accompanied you on the journey into adulthood, through various house moves and more? I may not have her any more, but one gift I do remember so fondly is the Jemima doll that I was given by my mum when I was little. Years later I bought the kit again, to make Little Miss C a version of Jemima, and she still has this in one of her bedrooms and for ages slept with it in her bed every night. My mum must have spent hours ... read more