Monthly Archives: November 2017

Sony Xperia XZ1 First Impressions 6

 in parenting / Review / Technology and kids / Tweens/Teens by

Sony Xperia XX1 First Impressions is a paid collaboration with Sony and Tots100.  I am going, to be honest, and admit that we do not have any android devises in this house, so I was intrigued to see how we felt about an android phone.  Over the next month or so I am going to be sharing with you our thoughts and opinions here and over on Instagram and Twitter about what we all think.  I am going to start today after we have had the phone for a week with our first impressions of the Sony Xperia XZ1.

Sony Xperia ZX1 First Impressions

Whoville Christmas Tree Inspired by How the Grinch Stole Christmas! 9

 in childrens craft / Christmas / Christmas Crafts / crafts / Seasonal / Teen / Tween by

This fabulous Whoville Christmas Tree is inspired by the classic Dr.Suess How the Grinch Stole Christmas (UK Link/US Link)!  Do you know that it is 60 years since it was first published and HarperCollins sent me a fabulous 60th anniversary edition of the book which totally was the inspiration for this Green Ginch tree!

10 Things I love about Winter

 in Seasonal / Winter by

10 Things I love about Winter is a paid collaborative post in association with TruPrint.co.uk.  One thing I love about living in the UK is the distinct seasons. Although I am going to admit that I am not a fan of the shorter days I do love winter too and I have been asked by Truprint in association with their #picturesintopresents campaign to share my favorite winter moments. The campaign is all about making the most of those special captured moments, rather than them just sitting on our phones. I am a big fan of anything that encourages to use and share those photo.  Each year I make a calendar for my Mother in […]

10 Things I love about Winter
Five ways to encourage your teens to do the ironing

Five ways to encourage your teens to do the ironing 3

 in parenting / Review / Tweens/Teens by

Five ways to encourage your teens to do the ironing is a paid post in collaboration with Euronics.  I think that mum had me ironing tea towels and pillowcases from when I was about ten years old, however, I wouldn’t have trusted my boys with an iron at ten, in fact, it is only recently that I have felt that the boys’ are responsible enough to be trusted with something so hot!

Does a Dishwasher Save you Money? 1

 in Finance / parenting / Review by

Does a Dishwasher Save you Money? is a paid post in collaboration with Sainsbury’s.  Since getting a smart meter a few months ago, the male proportion of the household has become obsessed with comparing the cost of devices in the house and one of the things that have come up is that using a dishwasher is more expensive than washing by hand.  Hmm – as the one who ends up doing any pots that need handwashing this made me decide to look into it.  As I LOVE my dishwasher, it saves me time as we fill it up during the day, set it to wash overnight and then the husbeast empties […]

4 fabulous sets of Acts of Kindness Advent Calendar Printables. Random acts of kindness perfect to print and use for an advent calendar or kindness jar

Acts of Kindness Advent Calendar Printables

 in activities for children / advent / advent calender / Christmas / Christmas Crafts / Christmas traditions / Free Printables by

It is hard to believe that we have been doing an acts of kindness advent calendar for four years.  It all started when I was concerned that the boys were becoming rather immersed in the commercialisation of Christmas and of advent. I wanted them to understand and learn about Christmas and advent being about giving, so came up with the idea of an alternative advent calendar.

My top tips for Saving Money on your Shopping 5

 in budgeting / Money Savvy Kids / parenting by

Shopping, is it a necessary evil or something you enjoy? I have to admit that I LOVE to shop, but more than that, I love to shop well. I like to know that I have got the best deal I could but with two tween boys, most of my shopping is done online these days.  It is quicker, there are no boys moaning and I can compare prices and find the best deal for me.  So I have teamed up with MyVoucherCodes to share with you my top tips for saving money on your shopping as part of their #SavvySquad.

Fab things to do with Kids in Devon 7

 in parenting / travelling with kids / UK Holidays by

When planning a family holiday with young children (or bigger kids for that matter), it pays to have a good idea of some exciting activities and potential places to visit before arriving at your intended holiday destination. Indeed, it is a truth universally known across the UK that rain is seldom dampened in its enthusiasm by holidays, but that holidays can easily be dampened by the rain. Fortunately, while Devon and the English Riviera are famed for their beauty during the sunny summer months, the entire region has plenty to offer regardless of what tricks the weather is up to. Enjoying the Local Environment Let’s be honest with one another, no […]

Simple Healthy Breakfast Recipes and Giveaway 404

 in Breakfasts / receipe by

I am always looking for ways to make mornings easier and for me, that means that simple healthy breakfasts are a must.  I have been working with Prices on their #Mumsontherun campaign and it really has opened my eyes to just how easy and healthy using canned fruit is for breakfasts.  We have already upped our porridge game with a decadent, but healthy peaches and cream porridge.

Fabulously fruity - simple healthy breakfast recipes that are fast, family friendly and oh so tasty.
Oreo Owl Cupcakes - Cooking with kids

Peanut Butter flavour Oreo Owl Cupcakes – Cooking with kids 3

 in activities for children / Autumn/Fall / baking / Cooking / cooking with children / Party Food / receipe / Seasonal / Uncategorized by

How adorable are these owl cupcakes all made by Mini with Peanut Butter flavour Oreos.  We have been challenged by Oreo to produce a recipe using one of their exciting new flavours range that most suited our personality.   The options were Choc’o Brownie flavour Oreo – smooth, Mint flavour Oreo – cool, Peanut Butter flavour Oreo – nutty or Strawberry Cheesecake flavour Oreo – fruity.  Well seen as we are The Mad House there really was no choice – it had to be nutty! 

Simple Breakfasts with Canned Fruit – Mums on the Run 1

 in Breakfasts / receipe by

This post simple breakfasts with canned fruit is a paid collaboration with Princes. My house isn’t called The Mad House for no reason with two boys 14 months apart it has always been chaos here and I am most certainly not a morning person, however, I know the importance of breakfasts for all of the family.  So I am delighted to be working with Princes on their #mumsontherun campaign to share my family friendly simple breakfasts made with their canned fruit.

How to make the perfect Mashed Potatoes – Cooking with Kids

 in activities for children / Cooking / cooking with children / Mains / receipe by

How to make the perfect mashed potatoes is a paid post in collaboration with the Tots100 and The Co-Op.   I am passionate about making sure that my children grow up with cooking skills to last them a lifetime.  I try to ensure that at least once a week I cook with each of them and now they are getting older they do the cooking and I am on hand if they need reassurance or help with anything.

Cleaning your Washing Machine 2

 in cleaning / Review by

I am a firm believer in looking after the things you already have and making sure that they last as long as possible and this week I realised that I hadn’t cleaned our washing machine since we got it in April 2016!  In fact, it was Emily who shamed me into it by doing hers and sharing it on Instagram Stories.  It turns out that Dr Beckman has a new product called Service-it for cleaning your washing machine, so I tried it out and this post is a paid collaboration with them.

The Benefits of Audiobooks 6

 in activities for children / Books / Review by

The benefit of audiobooks is a collaborative post with BookBeat.  We are big fans of audiobooks here in The Mad House. We use them a lot and I want to share with you that they are not cheating nor do they prohibit reading.  In fact, in our case, they have actually helped fuel the love of books. I am an avid reader and always have been. When I was younger I could always be found with my head in a book and this is a love that I have always wanted to pass on to the children.  However, as much as we have already read to the boys and encouraged them both […]