Monthly Archives: October 2015


Gaming terminology guide for parents 19

What can I say, my boys are nine and ten now and they are both gaming obsessed.  They love their Xbox and also saved up this year for a Wii U.  So I have to make it my business to keep up to date on what is going on in their gaming worlds!  GAME are aware that parents can get confused about all things gaming, so they have asked Gamer Claus to help out parents this Christmas.

Gaming terminology guide for parents

DIY Recycled Plastic Bottle Poppy Craft 11

These poppies are made from plastic bottles – Yes right. A fab way of using plastic bottles. We love making flowers here in The Mad House and at this time of the year, our minds turn to the poppy and remembrance.  I love to use the time that we craft as a family to talk about things and making a poppy craft with the boys always gives me the opportunity to discuss the need for remembrance day and this year Maxi has been studying world war one, so was really interested.  We really enjoyed making these DIY recycled plastic bottle poppy flowers.

DIY Recycled Plastic Bottle Poppy Craft

At what age should you kids be sleeping through the night? 11

From the moment my babies were born the first question I was asked was “Are they sleeping through the night?”.  Well the fact was my boys never slept for more than 4 hours at a time until they were eleven months old and I thought that I was the exception and that babies were supposed to sleep, you must have heard the sleep like a baby quote and thought that is was a good thing!  So at what age should kids be sleeping though the night?


Pumpkin paper plate weaving 14

Are you feeling all autumnal yet?  We certainly are.  We picked the last two butternut squash from our garden this week and are enjoying lots of pumpkin soup.  We are also still in the mood for pumpkin craft and I had some orange yarn left over from our pumpkin paper plate lacing craft, so we came up with a variation on our Sunflower paper plate weaving, Pumpkin paper plate weaving.

Pumpkin paper plate weaving

Star Wars Books for Kids

Fab Star Wars Books for kids 1

I have talked before that it can sometimes be frustrating as a parent when you want to instil a love of books and reading in your kids and they are reluctant readers.    Over my years as a parent I have struggled to reconcile the fact that Maxi is not a book worm like I am and that Mini has become.  However, that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t read,  just that he reads in different ways.  I have also learned that I need to find something that engages him and with the new Star Wars movie coming out later this year these Star Wars books really did.


Christmas Tree Cupcakes 16

I love baking and cooking with the boys.  It is something I did with my Mum and I am sure that she did with hers too.  I have had them in the kitchen with me since they could sit in a high chair and we always have lots of fun baking.  I especially love baking and making with them at Christmas.  Just take a look at these fabulous Christmas tree cupcakes that Mini made and decorated.  Another one of our annual traditions is making our not to gingery gingerbread, which we use to make Gingerbread houses and reindeer cookies.


Firework Art – Cable tie firework sculptures 19

Do you love fireworks?  I have such fond memories of the annual firework displays that used to take place on the stray each November 5th when I was growing up.  Cold toes, hot chocolate from the flask and sparklers in gloved hands.  I remember  looking at the sky in awe at the beautiful bright bursts of colour and them making the fact that I was cold so worthwhile.  We loved making these zip tie (cable tie) firework sculptures, just look how beautiful they are and they were super fun to make too.

Firework Art - Zip tie firework sculptures

Yvolution Y Fliker Lift

Yvolution Y Fliker Lift Review 12

I am really lucky that I have two boys that take no encouragement to be sporty and active.  They love being out playing with their friends and often only return home if they are hungry or it is dark!   For the last three weeks the MiniMads have been testing out the Yvolution Y Fliker Lift.  Want to know what they thought of it?  Read on…


parenting hacks

Parenting Hacks – Share Yours and Win! 38

Parenting is the hardest job I have ever had.  In fact it isn’t really a job as I can not resign, can I?  So anything I can do to make it easier is great by me.  In the past I think parenting hacks were often just called tips, but no matter what they are called I totally dig finding new ones.  I used to think that some of these hacks were just old wives tales (like the vapour rub on feet), but when you have a child coughing at 3am, you will try anything!