Solving A Childcare Crisis With Childcare.co.uk

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Childcare. It’s something that might not be on the top of your to do list when you find out your expecting. You browse prams, buy a cot and pick a cute coming home outfit for your new bundle of joy, but childcare might be on the back-burner until you think about going back to work or, gasp, have a night out!!

Happy Christmas!

'Twas the night before Christmas all through the house Mum was saying don't eat that it's for Christmas!!!

So, here we are everyone! Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I just wanted to pop on and wish you all a very Happy Christmas.

Super Easy Festive Bakes!

I love to bake and come up with new recipes and treats, especially at Christmas.

Over the festive period though, there isn't always the time to bake is there? But if you still want to bake a festive treat there are some easy options too!

Here's a selection of super easy festive bakes for you to try!

5 Festive Things I Don't Do!!

I love Christmas!! Literally, LOVE IT!!! 

Some might say I'm a bit obsessed!! I starting shopping for Christmas in the Christmas sales, for Christmas the following year!! If a family member or friend mentions something they'd like or maybe a hobby they want to try, I'll make a note of it and keep an eye out for the perfect gift.

As a crafty mum plenty of people say I'm a bit extra and when you combine the crafty mum side of me with the Christmas one, it could easily implode to a tinsel type mess. 

But there are some very festive crafty or creative Mum things that I don't do at Christmas. I've seen so many people getting stressed on the run up to the festive period with many of these things, that I thought I'd share the ones that even a crafty, Christmas Mum like me doesn't do and that often cause gasps of horror when I share that I don't do them.

So, here's 5 festive things I don't do!

A Very Snowy Christmas - 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas Week 25

Welcome back to A Very Snowy Christmas. Actually, the LAST week of A Very Snowy Christmas! 

We've come so far!! We've wrote lists, decluttered and shopped. We've planned, organised and saved a few quid along the way, and now here we are at our last week, 25. 

Sprucing Up Your Home & Redecorating With I Want Wallpaper

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Strange fact about me. I relate the smell of paint and fresh gloss to Christmas!! 

I grew up thinking it was completely normal to see your Mum on her hands and knees glossing skirting board in between wrapping Christmas presents. I thought everyone's Dad's finished off their kitchen extensions on Christmas Eve and it's pretty normal to have an electrician kneeling on your worktop among the Christmas cakes and mince pies your Mum has made and baked for various family and friends, right?

44 Cats

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Kids are often little creatures of habit. The same snack after school, the same cuddly toy at bedtime and the same TV shows on repeat. With multiple TV channels and lots to choose from you'd like to think they'd watch lots of different things but no!

It's exactly the same here, and as we are on festive overload our TV watching is also Christmassy, but even for a Christmas superfan like me it can be a bit much! I probably shouldn't start so early!

As a bit of light relief we've been watching 44 Cats!

A Very Snowy Christmas - 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas Week 24

Welcome back to A Very Snowy Christmas, 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas!!

Week 24 is here!!

A Snowy Christmas Gift Guide ~ For The Card Game Family (Age 6+)

[Gifted]

Welcome back to A Snowy Christmas Gift Guide. 

I've already given a pick for a board game and now it's the turn of a card game for the family! My pick for A Snowy Christmas Gift Guide for the family that loves card games is Tetris Speed!

Teaching Your Kids To Respect Other Cultures

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If you want your child to respect and celebrate diversity it’s important that you help them learn about different cultures. The more they understand about traditions, religious beliefs and other customs, the easier it will be to appreciate that all people are different. Our 5 year old son has asked a lot about who does and doesn't celebrate Christmas recently and I've felt it's important to know that not everyone does. 

Here are some useful tips from a Catholic Girls’ School on how to help your youngsters accept and respect other cultures.

A Snowy Christmas Gift Guide ~ For The Board Game Family (For Ages 4+)

[Gifted for review]

Welcome to A Snowy Christmas Gift Guide!

I've already shared a gift for the super social friends, the interior lovers and the stylish and sustainable family, now it's time for a gift for the family that love to play board games together.

My pick for A Snowy Christmas Gift Guide for the family that loves to play board games is Shark Chase.

A Very Snowy Christmas - 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas Week 23

Welcome back to A Very Snowy Christmas, 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas!!

It's week 23!!! Where have the weeks gone!!! 

A Snowy Christmas Gift Guide ~ For The Stylish & Sustainable Family

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Welcome to A Snowy Christmas Gift Guide!!

Here, I share a range of gifts ideal for a range of family members and friends. We've already had gifts for the super social friends and the interior lovers and the next recommendation on A Snowy Christmas Gift Guide is for the stylish and sustainable family.

If you have a family member or friend that loves fashion and is often sporting a cool t-shirt, Soeurs Mode is the brand to do your Christmas shopping with.

Family Christmas Traditions

I never thought I was one for Christmas traditions but looking back it seems I always have been.

When I was little Christmas Eve's were spent with family at my Nanny's (Grandma's) house. Christmas Day was quiet but with the older relatives visiting us and Boxing Day was different again with all of my siblings, their families, a lot of food and even more noise!

As we've all got older though our traditions have changed and we now get together before Christmas and enjoy Christmas Day and Boxing Day in our little units instead. With this in mind I'm always looking for ways of making our Christmas, with just the three of us, extra special and something that our son, JJ, will hopefully look back on fondly.

Here's a few traditions I've started or will be starting with my family, along with a few suggestions from my blogger friends.

Dear Father Christmas Printables

Following on from the Dear Santa printables I shared earlier, it's now time for the Father Christmas alternative!!

Print off and let your little one write to Father Christmas and give the from Father Christmas letter in return.

Dear Father Christmas..........

Dear Santa Printables

Christmas is nearing and it's time to write those letters to the big man in red!! If you've not got round to it yet these printables are ideal for you.

There's a neat letterhead for you to use to write to Santa and a response letter too! 

If Santa is called Father Christmas at your house, don't worry as they'll be an alternative letter going up for you next!!

Dear Santa...............

A Very Snowy Christmas - 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas Week 22

Welcome back to A Very Snowy Christmas, 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas! 

We are now into week 22!!! Christmas is less than a month away!! If you've been joining in from week 1 you'll now be well on your way to an organised Christmas!

A Snowy Christmas Gift Guide ~ For The Interior Lover

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Welcome to A Snowy Christmas Gift Guide! 

The second item on my Christmas gift guide is for the interior lover. Maybe a family member or friend that's renovating their home or someone that's spent ages looking for the perfect item to finish a room.

One way to make a room bigger, make it lighter and add a focal point is to add a mirror. So, if you have someone who is missing something in their newly decorated room, a mirror could be the perfect gift for them this Christmas.

Top Tips For Leaving Your Kids Home Alone

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Leaving your kids home alone for the first time can be incredibly daunting, both for yourself and for them. Knowing when to leave the young people in your home unsupervised can depend on various circumstances, so it is up to you as the parent to decide if your child is ready and also ensure they are suitably prepared. Read on for some advice from a pre prep school in London.

November Giveaway!!!

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Welcome to the Mummy Snowy Owl monthly giveaway!

Christmas At The Snowdome

[Gifted]

Those of you that have followed me on Instagram or Facebook for a while will know that last November we visited the Snowdome to take a look at their Winter Wonderland and we were super excited when they asked us back again this year!

Situated in Tamworth, the Snowdome offers year round skiing and snowboarding, as well as swimming, clip and climb and more! From mid-November to New Year's Eve part of the Snowdome transforms into a Winter Wonderland.

A Very Snowy Christmas - 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas Week 21

Welcome back to A Very Snowy Christmas, 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas!!

It's week 21 and with every passing day we edge nearer to Christmas. Hopefully, with the help of A Very Snowy Christmas, you're well on the way to being super organised, prepared and on budget!

A Snowy Christmas Gift Guide ~ For The Super Social Friends

[Gifted for review]

The Christmas preparation is well underway and as we get into full swing of wrapping and buying presents, it's time to kick off my Christmas gift guide. So, many of you loved my recommendations last Christmas, that I thought I'd do it again.

Starting this year's Snowy Christmas Gift Guide is a gift that's ideal for your super social friends, That Song. 

Exploring STEM Subjects At Home

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STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) can open up fantastic opportunities for students, both in terms of a future career and simply on a personal level. Lots of subjects fall under the ‘STEM’ umbrella, from physics and engineering to medicine and biochemistry. Each of these subjects help students develop highly transferrable skills that they can carry through all aspects of their lives. These skills include things like the ability to work as part of a team, think critically and solve problems.

Helping Your Child Resist Peer Pressure

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Peer pressure is something that all children, and even many adults, are faced with from time to time. It’s important for parents to teach their children that it’s ok to say no. Here are some tips from a co-educational school in the Cotswolds to help you explore peer pressure with your child and teach them to avoid it.

A Very Snowy Christmas - 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas Week 20

Welcome back to A Very Snowy Christmas, 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas!!

This week is week 20 and as I write this we only have 44 days until Christmas!! 

ColourMazing

[Gifted]

We love creative play and crafting, and our 5 year old son will sit for hours happily colouring, cutting and sticking. So, when he spots something new and creative he's always up for giving it a try and when the ColourMazing boxes were gifted to us to try, he was excited to get crafty!

How To Be More Involved With Your Child’s Education

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Believe it or not, research has found that the more involved a child’s parents are with their education, the more likely they are to succeed in school. With that said, you’re probably wondering what more you can do for your youngster. A private school in London have put together the following advice to help get your started.

A Clean Family Home ~ Top Tips To Keep On Top Of Mess

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Staying on top of the cleaning in your home when you have the responsibilities of looking after your little ones (and yourself) as well as working or providing for your family can seem pretty much impossible. Turn your back for a couple of seconds and your children can successfully flip a room upside down and leave it unrecognisable amongst clutter, mess and grime. Not only is an untidy house stressful, it also poses several potential risks to your family that might otherwise have been avoided, such as bacteria infections or illnesses from particularly dirty areas, or cuts and bruises from trips and falls. So, if you’d like to know more about how you can have a clean and tidy family home, then read on to uncover some of the best top tips to help you get started today!

A Very Snowy Christmas - 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas Week 19

Welcome back to A Very Snowy Christmas, 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas!! It's week 19!!! 

Halloween is done and dusted! Mariah is warming up and Buble is about to come out of his cave!! The shops are ready and thanks to our weekly tasks so are we!! 

This week's task involves getting the kids involved in our Christmas prep!

Being Creative With DesignBundles.net

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Creative handmade and homemade pieces are a great way to bring personalisation and individuality to your home.

Whether you create them yourself or buy from crafty types, they can make your home standout from the rest. I often find that the pieces or ornaments that I like the most or get compliments are those handmade items.

Tips For Bloggers ~ How To Get More Views

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Blogging is a fantastic tool for sharing your expertise and generating more traffic to your website. However, it can feel quite demotivating when you invest your time into a blog post that no one is reading. 

Driving traffic to a website is a big challenge for bloggers, but there are plenty of clever tactics you can use in order to see results. Read on for some helpful advice from an award winning digital agency in North London…

A Very Snowy Christmas - 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas Week 18

Welcome back! It's week 18 of A Very Snowy Christmas, 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas and it's time to talk about Christmas clothes!!

Preparing Your Child For The School Bus

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We're a full term into the school year and now you're back in a routine you might be considering letting your children having a little more independence, especially if they have started secondary school this term or are in their last year of primary school.

One way of doing this is by letting them make the journey to and from school. If the walk is a little long for them or involves walking along busy roads, you may want to consider letting them get the bus. If your school runs a bus service or there's a regular bus that most of the children use it's a good opportunity to let them practice their independence.

My Favourite Bathroom Interior Trends

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Those of you that have been reading my blog or following me on social media for a while, will know that last year we had a lot of work done to our house. New windows, carpets, a bit of decorating and a new bathroom were all on the spruce up plan.

There was a lot of mess but the cleaning wasn’t the hardest part. The simplest jobs and decisions turned into the most difficult ones. I thought picking a bathroom would be the easiest part! I was wrong! Very wrong!!

Eyeball Jelly

Lots of you loved the Eyeball Cakes and Brain Jelly I created last year for Halloween. So, I thought I'd combine the two strange and spooky creations and great this Eyeball Jelly!

A Very Snowy Christmas - 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas Week 17

Welcome back to A Very Snowy Christmas, 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas! It is week 17 and this week we're looking at preparing your home for Christmas again.

Exploring Creative Writing With Your Child

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Creative writing is a fun way for children to practice their creativity and develop other important academic skills. Children have wonderful imaginations, which parents can help to nurture using these great creative writing tips from Orchard House School…

What Do With Pumpkin Leftovers!!

With pumpkins in season over the autumn months they are a key part of Halloween celebrations. The supermarkets and greengrocers are full of them and many of us will buy one to carve with the kids. 

When carving a pumpkin though, the mushy filling can often go to waste but what can you do with it? Well, here's some ideas on what to do with pumpkin leftovers!

Marzipan Pumpkin Bites

I love a good themed treat and Halloween is a great reason to create a new tasty recipe. These cute little bite-sized treats are great for a Halloween party or a simple spooky treat.

They are quite easy to make and don't take too long either!

A Very Snowy Christmas - 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas Week 16

Welcome back to A Very Snowy Christmas, 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas!!!

As we enter week 16 it's time to discuss Christmas shopping!

Slap Ninja!

[Gifted]

We're are incredibly lucky to be sent another great game to review! This time it's Slap Ninja!

When I heard we'd be getting the chance to review Slap Ninja I was really looking forward to it, especially as this is one of the many items that our 5 year old, JJ, has ticked in a certain toy catalogue for Christmas!

Shaun The Sheep Bookstagram Tour

[Gifted]

We're super excited for the latest Shaun the Sheep movie, Farmageddon and it's on our watch list for half term fortnight!

Along with the movie there's a great selection of books being released and over on Instagram I'm hosting a stop on the bookstagram tour! If you're not familiar with online book tours I'll explain! Over a week or two, bloggers and Instagrammers host a spot on the tour with a review and today it has been our turn!

Thunderbirds Are Go!!!

[Gifted]

If you have children that are TV fans you'll probably be well aware of the new Thunderbirds animation series! It's a favourite of our 5 year old son and it's one of his first picks when he has tablet time. 

As he was already playing with Daddy's vintage Thunderbird toys there was lots of excitement when the new series started and again when a brand new range of toys were released!

When Bandai and the Thunderbirds team offered us the chance to try the toys it was an obvious YES!!

A Very Snowy Christmas - 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas Week 15

Another week has passed so it's time for A Very Snowy Christmas, 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas Week 15!!

This week we're looking at two items you need to buy before it's too late!

My Happy Journal

[Gifted]

My Happy Journal  is a beautifully designed children's activity journal, created to promote a positive mindset and gratitude skills. It is full of inspirational ideas to spur on our little ones imagination. 

October Giveaway!!

It's a brand new month, so it's time for a brand new giveaway!!!

Regular readers will know that last month I reviewed the EcoPanda Bamboo Makeup Remover Pads and loved them! Now, it's your chance to try them too by entering this month's giveaway!

A Very Snowy Christmas - 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas Week 14

Welcome back to A Very Snowy Christmas, 25 Weeks For An Organised Christmas Week 14!!

The week's seem to be passing so quickly and there's signs of Christmas popping up in the shops and on the TV. So, what's next for planning? Well, it's time to talk food!!

A Parent's Perspective - Home Education

When I was younger home education was extremely rare. Often seen as something that was more popular abroad than here in the UK, home education was usually for children unable to attend mainstream school due to health or behaviour. These days though it's a little different and home ed is becoming more and more popular, with more children being educate at home.

A Sustainable Change - EcoPanda Bamboo Makeup Remover Pads

Gifted for review

I love trying products and sharing my reviews with you, and as I talk more about sustainability and making simple changes, I'll be looking more at eco-friendly products and alternatives.

I'm starting by making a change from the usual cotton pads to these EcoPanda Bamboo Makeup Remover Pads.