Shopping. It's the downfall of many of us when we're trying to be thrifty, but it need not be. The truth is that it's very hard not to shop at all. Some people do manage to go through the challenge of a year where they don't buy anything new, but it is a real challenge for most people. Generally in life we all need new things. Whether they be necessities, gifts for others or just things that we want to treat ourselves with. It's also the case that there are plenty of other goods and services that we have to shell out for over a year, be it train tickets, utility bills or simply a food ... read more
Keeping the Children Entertained at a wedding
It can be worrying for many parents when their children are invited to a big and formal event. What to wear, will there be suitable food, will the children be bored? One way to ensure your children are kept entertained is via cheap, homemade games. Paddy Power, the master of online bingo sites have created a set of wedding bingo cards. Whether you are a bride or groom or a member of the wedding party or guest, if you have children these cards make a great game. Simply print them off an allow your children to play while the speeches take place or waiting for the cake to be cut. Of course, ... read more
Things to take to Blog On…
Next weekend will see me head to Manchester for my fourth Blog On conference. In all my years of blogging it has to be my favourite of all the blogging conferences. One of the main reasons is that it's held up north, but it's also down to organiser Laura Seaton knowing exactly what makes a good conference. Laura kicks off another Blog On, surrounded by some of the fantastic goodie bags Not only is a it lovely friendly atmosphere in which to connect with loads of other bloggers, there are also fantastic opportunities to meet with brands and a great range of conference sessions that in ... read more
Ladybird Tuesday: Trains
Oh the dalliances I'm having with Ladybird Tuesday! It comes back every now and again, before vanishing without even a goodbye. I'm sincerely hoping that this will be the start of a proper return, but bearing in mind how late in the day I'm finally getting round to writing this post this Tuesday, you never know... But enough of that and on to the book itself. Now Master C is more than a little obsessed with trains right now. In fact, I'm not even sure that "obsessed" is a strong enough word to be using. His whole day seems to revolve around either talking about trains, playing with ... read more
The week I completed a marathon…
The week before last I ran a marathon. 26.2 miles. Ok, maybe I should come clean. I didn’t run that marathon. Not the London one. And actually I didn’t run the whole thing. I walked some of it. And I also didn’t do it all in one go. It was spread out over the whole week. But, despite all that, I still completed a marathon last week. Something which before I would have doubted I could do. And if I’m really, really honest, half way through the week I was still doubting I could do it. But do it I did, and actually I’m pretty damn proud of myself as it happens. I’ve been rather quite about all ... read more
Tea With Mrs C
Tea with Mrs C returns, and this time I'm talking about stationery, blogging and social media and being busy, again... ... read more
My New Room – Lisa Stickley
I was rather excited to see a new book from Lisa Stickley arrive for us to review last week. We met Edith in her last book, Handstand, and she appears again in My New Room. Designer Lisa Stickley has a style that has already become instantly recognisable here and as soon as Little Miss C saw My New Room she went looking for our copy of Handstand to put with it on her bookcase. In My New Room, much as the title suggests, it is time for Edith to move into a new bedroom with a "Big Bed". It's a step that many children go through, and sometimes it can be a bit of a scary one, especially if the ... read more
Brio Special Edition 2017 Train
I swear that Master C's train obsession is growing by the day! Hours and hours are spent with him on the living room floor, pushing trains around the wooden track that regularly snakes around the legs of the kitchen table and trips me up on my way to make a cup of tea. He recently seems to have clocked that mummy is sent toys to review and for about two weeks our walk home from school would involve him asking me if anyone had sent me any "toy trains for work". Imagine his delight one day before the school Easter holidays when I was able to tell him that I had been sent the Brio Special ... read more
The Day the Belles Went to The Fair
I love the WI. Absolutely love it. Ever since I joined about three years ago I feel like I'm with kindred spirits and the friends I've made there are second to none. Through my involvement I've also been able to try my hand at so many new things - everything from burlesque keep fit to decorating biscuits. I've also been involved in some amazing ventures from serving tea to 500 pensioners to helping to renovate a caravan that went to a family in need in the Calais Jungle. As I say, I love the WI. It was therefore with great excitement that I joined 13 other members of the Herts Belles this ... read more
The Pirate Craft Book
Sometimes in life, timing is perfect. And that was exactly the case when an email popped into my inbox asking if I'd like to review The Pirate Craft Book. Little Miss C has just had pirates as a learning topic at school and this culminated in a pirate dressing up day. Strangely we don't have a pirate costume in the dressing up box at home, so I knew I was going to have to pull together a costume from somewhere and this book is the perfect place to start. Written by Laura Minter and Tia Williams (the mums behind Little Button Diaries) the book is packed with "15 things a pirate can't do ... read more