Tots100 Film Club - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Tots100 Film Club – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

This month we were very excited to review a film that we hadn’t seen before, and one that really appealed to us all. I’m sure you all know the story behind Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, which includes golden tickets, unpleasant children, Oompa Loompas, glass elevators and,...
Happy holidays

Happy holidays

This Easter holidays we spent another week down in Mudeford in my Dad’s caravan. I say caravan, it’s more of a mobile home – except it’s not mobile… Anyway, whatever you want to call it, we had a fab time and I didn’t want to come home! It’s such a...
Apple crumble and custard cake

Apple crumble and custard cake

A few weeks back we had the first meeting of the Eastleigh Clandestine Cake Club, which was really great fun. Our theme was fabulous fruit cakes and we had a great mix of flavours to try. After a few last minute cancellations, there were five of us and enough cake...
Successful cyclist

Successful cyclist

It feels like we have been trying to get Grace to ride her bike without stabilisers forever! To be fair, we hadn’t really thought about a good approach and hadn’t put any sustained effort into it, so we decided that the Easter holidays provided the perfect opportunity to try properly....
Easter chocolate nests

Easter chocolate nests

I’m pretty sure that when you have children it is compulsory to make these chocolate krispie cakes – especially at Easter time using mini eggs. I’m not a huge fan of just mixing rice kripies or cornflakes with chocolate as I find they tend to set rock solid, so I...
Giving Up Clothes for Good

Giving Up Clothes for Good

Ok, it’s not as scary as it sounds. You won’t find me out shopping in my birthday suit but, after a good rummage through my wardrobe, there are certain items of clothing that I will shortly be saying a fond goodbye to. I’ve never been known for my fashion sense...
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Win tickets to the Ideal Home Show

Win tickets to the Ideal Home Show

I always have so many ideas for decorating my home – shame I never get round to carrying them all out! Having said that, we are currently redecorating Faith’s room. It hasn’t been done since Grace was a baby and it’s about time it had a revamp. I’ve spent hours searching for inspiration online for...
Banana and white chocolate cookies

Banana and white chocolate cookies

Every week we seem to end up with one or two slightly brown looking bananas left languishing in the fruit bowl. I’ve tried freezing them – but I forget they are in there! I often make banana loaf or banana muffins, but last week I thought I’d try something a bit different. The children fancied...
Al Fresco Holidays - Young Travel Writer Competition

Al Fresco Holidays – Young Travel Writer Competition

Grace loves to write – she has done ever since she was very young and at 3 years old started to write little sentences. Now she’s 7, I find little pieces of writing all over the house! Lists, dear diary entries, school registers and endless imaginative stories. So we were both very interested to hear...
Sweet potato, parsnip and ginger soup

Sweet potato, parsnip and ginger soup

If there’s one thing I love about this colder weather, it’s making big, hearty bowls of warm soup. I am a huge fan all sorts of root vegetables but I think parsnips have to be one of my absolute favourites. I love their sweet flavour and combined with the sweet potato and spicy ginger, it...
Quick and Easy Chilli

Quick and Easy Chilli

This one of my ‘go to’ recipes when we’re in need of some speedy comfort food. It’s a bit cheaty as I use a tin of kidney beans in chilli sauce, but that does make it super easy and yummy too. We’re not hugely fond of spicy food so we don’t add much extra chilli,...
The hat scarf thingy!

The hat scarf thingy!

  Ever since I started knitting this for Faith it has been known as the hat scarf thingy! You see, it is a hat but it is also a scarf. I supposed it could be called a hooded scarf or maybe a harf or a scat… Anyway, whatever you want to call it, it is...
Winter walks

Winter walks

The weather may have turned chilly but we don’t let that stop us getting out and about for walks in the woods! We’ve discovered some really lovely places to take the children, both in our local area, and up where my Mum lives. The girls love getting their wellies on and kicking the leaves around,...
Baked chocolate custard

Baked chocolate custard

What do you do when you are all feeling a little over-tired and down in the dumps? Why, you bake a super rich and indulgent baked chocolate custard of course! I’m not kidding when I say this is rich – I am a serious chocoholic but I couldn’t manage a whole pot of this (although...
Foodies100 Blog Editor

Foodies100 Blog Editor

  I am really excited to announce (ok, maybe that sounds a little grand!) that I am joining the new Foodies100 team today as the blog editor. Many of you may be aware or, or even part of, the highly successful Tots100 index, which is a monthly ranking for parent bloggers. Well now the same...
Makes of 2011

Makes of 2011

At the beginning of 2011 I set myself a goal of knitting from my rather large stash – aiming for 12 projects through the year. After I’d finished Christmas presents, I think I just about managed it (although I haven’t had a final count up). I also started a sewing course and have managed to...
Cakes and Bakes of 2011

Cakes and Bakes of 2011

Wow, I can’t believe it is 2012 already! Happy New Year everyone! Last year I had a busy time baking – I didn’t realise how many cakes I had baked until I started to put together this collage so I have just picked some of my favourite ones. I was delighted to make the cake...
Cologne Christmas Markets - Highlights and Giveaway

Cologne Christmas Markets – Highlights and Giveaway

Following on from my mammoth post about our trip to the Christmas Markets in Cologne courtesy of Germanwings and 9Flats.com, I thought I’d share some of our highlights and I have a great giveaway too. Food It will probably come as no surprise to you that one of the first things I was looking out...