I loved the small stuff meme that went round last year and I have decided that I am going to do a monthly round up of my small stuff. The things that have made me happy, made me smile and made my day over this month. March is a mega month of small stuff for me.
This year is the first year that I feel comfortable celebrating Mothers Day without a mother. It is over three years since Mum died and yes I still miss her, but I no longer pine for her company like I used to. My new normal is actually becoming normal. Now that is a sentence I never thought I would write!
We love board games and have a regular family games night every week in The Mad House. We are rather over-competitive when it comes to games and have a cupboard full of games to choose from. The MiniMads are currently 9 and nearly 8.
Everyone looks forward to a nice warm summer, particularly in the UK where dismal, rainy weather is all too common for the rest of the year. However, if you have a pet dog, the season brings with it a few extra challenges. There are a few risks that summer poses to your pooch’s health that you should bear in mind. First, and most importantly, the importance of not leaving dogs in cars cannot be overstated. Cars can heat up extremely quickly in the sun, and leaving the window open a crack will make little to no difference. Leaving dogs in hot cars is one of the leading causes of heatstroke in more »
I was challenged by Wilson Field to come up with a post all about as much family fun on a fiver as I could. I was really shocked that my toothpaste nearly cost £5 this week when I went shopping, which really got me thinking about how much family fun can you have for a fiver. Outdoor Ideas Go on a family bike ride Visit a local landmark that you have always said you would like the Angel of the North Geocaching Go on a nature hunt Go on a beach walk and collect stones – use your £5 for ice cream at the end Go feed the ducks Take a more »
Pre-divorce is full of the very problems and reasons that the divorce became necessary. This might involve arguing, shouting and other forms of conflict; thus divorce can be traumatic, emotive, complicated and expensive. Divorce can have devastating effects on children if it is not handled sensitively and maturely – we all know these facts. So surely the post-divorce situation is the point in which things can look forward to a workable and sustainable future. For more information, take a look at these 6 Tips For Successful Co-Parenting after a divorce.
The minimads took their first trip to Alton towers this Saturday. My boys are mini thrill seekers and adore rides of any sort and were a little disappointed that most of the big name rides were for children over 1.4 meters. Of the ten thrill rides the boys were not big enough for eight of them, however they still managed to go on at least 15 rides and had a great day. If you have younger children you need to bear in mind that creepiest land doesn’t open till May.
Although similar assurances are available in other countries, there are added benefits to changing your attitude and buying local. Economy We’re all aware of the economic uncertainty that the UK has faced in the past few years or so, but despite a recent improvement in figures – many are unaware of just how badly people in some areas are struggling. That’s where you come in! Simply supporting local products like cheese, wines, beer or cider could give your region the edge it needs to grow. You see, the more we invest in our local economies by buying products, the less subsidies are needed and the more jobs can be created. Who more »
With winter coming to an end, it is time to give your wardrobe a much needed spring clean and refresh your office outfits with SS14’s hottest trends. It can sometimes be difficult to decide on work wear for women as there are so many options available and what you wear has to look professional as well as stylish. Here are three spring trends that can easily be incorporated into your working wardrobe. Pretty prints: Adding prints is a wonderful way of injecting colour and personality in to your outfit whilst still appearing professional. Spring/Summer 2014 is all about florals and this season’s trend has been updated with graphic designs and vibrant more »
It can be hard to find a weekend break that fit’s all family needs, in fact it can be pretty impossible, especially when you have two overactive boys aged seven and eight, a husband that works very hard all week and thinks weekends are for relaxing and me, who just doesn’t want to cook and wants a little me time.
Often you get a science kit and you have to add lots of additional products to make it work. This is certainly not the case with Ravensburger Science X Maxi Prehistoric Expedition. The only extras you need are water and distilled water. In fact you can do most things straight out of the box.
This was tidy 1 hour before I took this picture! Help, MiniMad’s bedroom resembles a bomb site I am in need of some help and advice people of the interweb. Mini Mad’s has an issue with keeping his bedroom tidy and I have to admit I am finding it exceedingly hard to deal with.
London is like another world. Made famous in film, song and literature, it is one of the most highly populated cities in the UK and it isn’t hard to see why many thousands of tourists flock to visit every year. But even if you’re lucky enough to count yourself native to the capital, it’s worth taking time to revisit all the great things the city offers. Perfect for individuals, couples and even those with small children, London features something for everyone. Bursting with art galleries, restaurants, historic sites and theatres, use the must-visit guide below and tick some activities off your bucket list. Visit a museum London is home to some more »
I don’t know about you, but I never realised there was so much you could do with post-it notes. I was challenged by them to create three crafts or activities using their new Full Adhesive Notes, otherwise known as FAN. These notes mean you can adhere the whole note to the surface of your notebook or wall, meaning it will stay put for longer!
The sun has started to shine and it has made me feel as though I need to get on with the spring cleaning. In fact I am steaming in to spring, thanks to Karcher.
Costa Bingo are trying to find out what your boingo personality is. I took the test and I am an old school player, which is pretty spot on. Bingo for me reminds me of my family and good times when everyone got round the table having a laugh and playing together! My mum and aunties and my cousins would often play together and it was real family fun and I have never played online bingo in my life. Both my boys see bingo as family fun too and my brother runs the bingo in the club that he and my sister in law run. So what is your bingo personality? Take more »
I love cooking with my boys and this is a recipe from my childhood and one that Mini loves to make and loves to eat! Yorkshire Parkin was my Aunty Chris signature bake. Hers was always perfectly sticky and delicious and tasting it takes me right back to her home filled with cousins fitting in front of the coal fire under one of her crochet blankets.
Stones and sticks, there us something about my boys and these materials. We seem to collect these “treasures” wherever we go and I have to make sure I empty trouser pockets before washing them or I would be busy washing stones too!
