Yearly Archives: 2017

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 […]

Fabulously fruity - simple healthy breakfast recipes that are fast, family friendly and oh so tasty.

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.

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! 

Oreo Owl Cupcakes - Cooking with kids

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 […]

Free Printable Christmas Gift Tags to Colour and Personalise 1

 in activities for children / Adult colouring pages / Age 5-7 / childrens craft / Christmas / Christmas Crafts / crafts / Free Printables / Screen Free / Seasonal / Teen / Tween by

I love Christmas and if I can combine Christmas and being creative then even better.  I totally adore these fabulous free printable Christmas gift tags to colour and personalise.  They are fab to colour in on the dark nights leading up to the festive season and you can add your own stamp to them.  These were coloured in by my best friends nine-year-old.  Hasn’t he done an amazing job?

Free Printable Christmas Gift Tags to Colour and Personalise

Clay Mittens Christmas Decoration 4

 in activities for children / childrens craft / Christmas / Christmas Crafts / crafts / Polymer Clay / Teen / Tween by

We are a big fan of using air drying clay to make Christmas decorations and festive keepsakes and I am delighted at how these kid made clay mittens Christmas decorations turned out.  From experience, I know that as long as we pack them away carefully we can bring them out year after year to decorate our home. perfect Christmas keepsakes to bring out each festive season. ” width=”870″ height=”870″>

I am Thankful Colouring Sheets

I am Thankful Colouring Sheets – Thanksgiving coloring

 in activities for children / Adult colouring pages / Age 5-7 / childrens craft / crafts / Free Printables / Screen Free / Tween by

You do not have to be American to celebrate Thanksgiving and being thankful is something that I feel is important to everyone.  I love these beautiful I am thankful colouring sheets.  They are brilliant to print off and use as table mats, but also have enough white space for you to fill with what you are thankful for. I am Thankful Colouring Sheets Being thankful is a great life lesson for people of all ages and one of the things that I have always done with the boys is ending the day with three things we are grateful for.  It means that we go to sleep with the positives in our mind […]

Tween approved coats

 in Review by

When it comes to kitting out the boys for the winter finding the right coats can be something of a challenge.  Firstly the British weather can be so changeable you never know if it is going to be cold, wet or both and then you have to take into account that I have children that hate the feeling of seams and labels against their skin. I hoped that this would be something that they grew out of, however, it has yet to happen, if anything, they have both got firmer in their stance and refuse to wear anything that they do not like!

Festive and Beautiful Christmas Clay Crafts. Be inspired with this superb selection of festive clay ornaments and decorations. Perfect for DIY clay, salt dough, polymer or air drying clay.

Festive and Beautiful Christmas Clay Crafts 1

 in Uncategorized by

One of the best things about Christmas is getting out our Christmas decorations and the things we have made over the previous years.  This is why I love making things with clay as they last for years and years.  We have selected some festive and beautiful Christmas Clay Crafts for you.  Whether they are made out of polymer clay, salt dough or air drying clay they will stand the test of time and look amazing.