What to do on a sunny day…
We are a bit sick of the cold. It is set to snow again this weekend, and my mind is on holidays. I crave the warmth of sunshine, or at least the cheer of a fresh bright morning. Is it just me who thrills to the sight of a sunny day? Is the school-run suddenly different, more interesting? No, of course not; it is we who change at the first emergence of the sun; our moods that swing to the ascendant as the sun rises feebly over the playground. It puts a smile on our faces; we didn’t know we were …
Costumes and ideas for World Book Day
Our school stages a non-uniform “come as your favourite book character” day every year on World Book Day. In 2013 World Book Day will be on Thursday 7 March, and the Bug has been pondering his costume for a while. Would he wear my cast-off from a previous year? His answer was no, on the basis that not only has he never read the Faraway Tree (I know, right?!!), but that the saucepans have not fared too well for their 2 year secondment to the loft… So we were stuck, wondering what the best character would be. We don’t have …
Valentines Day crafts for kids
Are you the parent who gets up early on the morning of Valentine’s Day to post an ‘anonymous’ card through the door addressed to your child? It’s a harmless activity and makes them feel good about themselves. But this year the Bug and I have made our own Valentines, and so can you. From full-blown candy-crush to simple Valentine’s card, kids can make it themselves, or with minimal adult support. Obviously you can’t spoil the dream by asking them to write a card to themselves (you can’t opt out completely parents!), but you can help out if they want to …
Girls day in: how to create a home spa
As the grey sky glares down on us, and our condensate pipe requires more and more kettles of hot water to thaw out and provide us with heating, we find ourselves wishing we’d booked our Center Parcs trip for January rather than waiting for the summer. Clearly we would be spending most of our time indoors, in the Subtropical Swimming Paradise, deluding ourselves that summer has arrived. But Mummy would almost certainly be sloping off to the Aqua Sana Spa, and after my home spa experience last week, I will be hot on her heels! As a result of …
How to recycle your Christmas Cards
Mummy hates waste. You name it – we recycle it. Last Sunday’s chicken roast? Sandwiches. Then stir-fry. Finally, soup. We have been subjected to the weirdest menus in the name of not wasting leftovers. You know that rule that says you can only cook meat twice before it must be discarded? Well, Mummy doesn’t. We’ve even once been served two-day-old bubble and squeak (with added bacon) sandwiched between a couple of pasta sheets, masquerading as a veggie lasagne. Our house is full of random buttons, screws and blue-tack remnants, and the tiniest snippet of paper has to go into the …
Center Parcs and Tots100 perfect Christmas elf!
Some of you may know that we are Center Parcs bloggers next year. Whilst we are very excited about the prospect of visiting and reviewing Elveden Forest, we are also looking forward to some creative challenges. As it’s Christmas, they have set us the challenge of writing a poem about the Christmas Elf. I like to get handy with a pen so here is my take on the elf: Colouring in was done by The Bug, who wasn’t thrilled to be asked – ahem… There are still some coveted Center Parcs blogger places up for grabs! If you think you could …
How to make a pirate eye patch
Those of you who know me well are aware of the fact that Mummy is rubbish at craft. So it’s lucky for the Bug that we know Stacey, who has written us a guest craft tutorial today on how to make a pirate eye patch. It’s so simple, I’m pretty sure even Mummy could do it! Ahoy shipmates! Pirates are very popular at the moment. This cheap and easy-to-make eye patch will come in very useful for children’s parties or fancy dress. It is simple enough to make with your children although some of the cutting out is a bit tricky. …
Banana fudge muffins recipe: the Bug’s favourite
Following my first attempt at hosting Listography for Kate Takes 5, with my Top 5 Yoghurts, the Bug has been pestering Mummy for a post of his own. I may have mentioned that Daddy likes to bake muffins on a Sunday, and has become something of an improvisation expert with his random flavours. Chilli chocolate muffins was not one of his better attempts 😯 The Bug rates the muffin quality each week and came up with his top 5 muffins: Does that make sense? Can you tell what he’s written? Granted, his handwriting is a little primitive. He then took …
How to enjoy a British beach in rubbish Easter weather!
True to typical British form the Easter Bank Holiday was a washout. Rain, wind, mud, and chill-factor – not of the “chillaxing” kind. Day 1 was ok, a drive to Grandma’s, stopping off for juice at Granny’s, lots of time with the elements of joy, and a fish and chip supper. So far, so good. Day 2 brought more of the same rubbish wet stuff, so the TV went on. Pizza and films, interspersed with a bit of researching the next cool app to beg Daddy to download for our his iPad. For some reason Mummy started to get a …
Olympic Stadium and Westfields: an amazing day out!
Last Sunday we were treated to a day out at the first ever event at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, next to the Westfields shopping centre. The Olympic Gold Challenge event was run for schools who had taken part in the Gold Challenge, sending pupils and teachers to run on the track and join a parade. The Olympics organisers benefitted from a practice run at the opening ceremony parade, and the children got a unique opportunity to say they won a race on the Olympic track! I was watching from only 18 rows back but I have to say that, …
Rock Choir Flash Mob at St Pancras International
Mummy has written previously about performing with Rock Choir, at Wembley Arena. She’s off to support McFly at Wembley stadium next weekend, but first there was the small matter of a Flash Mob to join today at St Pancras International station. Attempting to look nonchalent, then joining in with the show – a flash mob. Today, Rock Choir performed flash mobs across the country to help raise money for Sport Relief. Mummy was privileged to be a part of it all. And I wasn’t as embarrassed as I expected to be 😉
How to tie dye with natural colours
Our school is twinned with a school in the African town of Kano. Often during learning we talk about Kano, and the things that children learn there. Sometimes we look at photos of life there and the things which are typical of people in the town. Our teacher is quite spontaneous and loves to craft (once she filled an entire table with school glue and got us all to throw glitter at it to see if we could make a clear collage!) so when we got talking about photos we had of the people in Kano sitting around pits in …
Apple Gingerbread Muffins Recipe
Daddy is a fan of baking on a Sunday morning, and he has been perfecting his muffins for a few weeks now. For Mother’s Day he proposed a mesh of all his previous efforts, with the addition of some ginger, and came up with this, his best attempt yet at apple and gingerbread muffins. If you are more of a cupcake fan all you need do is whizz up some butter icing, flavour with lemon, and pop some diced crystallised ginger in there – YUM! You will need: 75g butter, melted 100g dark muscovado sugar 25g caster sugar 2 eggs …
Inspired! By Edible Books!
Once again I am taking part in the gorgeous Dear Beautiful Boy’s Inspired linky, but this time I am on a mission to create me a cake that could win me an original drawing by Emma Chichester Clark, the illustrator behind one of our favourite books, Blue Kangaroo. All I need is to get inspired to create an edible book! Hmmmm. “What,” you may ask, “is an edible book?” “Quite literally that!” would be my answer! The Edible Book Festival is being held on the lovely blog Playing By the Book, where we are invited to join in by creating …
Things to do with kids in cold weather – making icicles!
When the snow is fresh on the ground it is the best feeling in the world. Kids whizzing down powdery slopes, squealing in delight, not noticing the cold. Chucking snowballs and building snowmen, until we are breathless and rosy-cheeked with cold and laughter. Then home for hot chocolate and an argument about who got the most marshmallows. But when it gets colder, and snow turns to dirty ice, it is no longer fun. So as the weather looks set to get colder again, here is something you might want to do with the kids this weekend – Icicles! You will …
Yummy Dough
Father Christmas never fails to bring something to displease Mummy. Last year it was Whoopee Cushions and Noisy Putty. This year, with the aid of Tired Mummy of Two‘s Christmas list, he brought Yummy Dough. Mummy muttered a square-word and hid it behind the craft (read Yellow Moon) box. Requests to use it were countered with the observation that we still had lots of Christmas chocolate to get through before baking activity could resume. We finally wore her down this week, and the innocuous-looking powder was duly mixed with water to create biscuit dough of such primary colours that just …
Easy Chocolate Biscuit Cake Recipe Kids Can Make Themselves
To be eaten under controlled circumstances only. The best chocolate biscuit recipe in the world, ever. According to me 😉 ♥ (With Marshmallows, Cherries, Nuts, Broken Meringues, Glitter, Exploding Candy, and anything else you can think of!) ♥ ** Update! This recipe has started something of a craze! Take a look at the Facebook post and comments on it. Feel free to add your own suggestions – we’re always looking for ridiculous delicious additions to try out! We adapted this recipe from one we found in Sainsbury’s magazine. I say, adapted; what I really mean is doctored, embellished, played …
How to Celebrate New Years Eve with Kids
So. Here we are. New Years Eve. You have downgraded year-on-year from wild parties and Capital city fireworks, to champagne and canapes at home. You no longer celebrate with alpine ski breaks, and there was even one, dismal New Year that saw you force down half a bottle of champagne around 10pm and then collapse in bed, awaiting the early cries of of the newborn baby. You can’t get a babysitter or a taxi. I am no longer placated with an early night – I want in on the party! Kids have changed the way you celebrate New Year’s Eve. …