BlogOn Toys Goody Bag Haul

Press Trip Gifted

Have you ever wondered what people get in event goody bags?

Maybe you're a blogger and you've wondered whether the hype of the BlogOn goody bags is all it's lived up to be!

Well, now you can find out and as you can see its quite a haul!

September Giveaway!

Many of you will know that I love a good bit of crafting! I'm always conscious though that crafting can be expensive, so I try my best to keep any crafts that I share on my blog as low budget as possible. Luckily, that's something I have experience of from being a Snowy Owl! 

Crafting with little ones is a great way for them (and you) to practice your creative skills. It can also help fill the time on those long parenting days!

This month's giveaway is to help you all get a bit crafty with the kids, as I'm giving away a Giant Box Of Craft from Hobbycraft! 

Dream Home Wishlist - Orangery

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I need to confess something. I have a habit of searching Rightmove and looking at properties I can’t afford. I consider what furniture I’d have and where I’d put it. I pick which bedroom our son will have and check if there’s space for a hot tub. I even check the school catchment areas.

Yes, I realise I may have a problem!

Since going self-employed my secret habit has worsened and spread over into what I watch on TV. I’ve found myself having the TV on in the background and more often than not a property programme is on the screen! Homes Under The Hammer, My Dream Home, reruns of Location, Location, Location are regulars in my viewing!

Now and again I also buy a home and interiors magazine to have a flip through, and again look at things I can’t afford.

Painting With Leaves!

Inspired by our recent Mud and Bloom box we've recently tried painting with leaves! This is another craft that is ideal for autumn, especially with the leaves falling!

Here's our little creation!

Autumn Tealight Holders

Leaf tealight holders seem to have been on Pinterest since it began!! 

I've tried to make them once before with real leaves and it was a disaster! They wouldn't stick and/or fell apart. It was one big sticky mess!

So, when I spotted a pack of fake leaves at The Works I thought I'd give them another go! Here's the results!

Autumn Wreath

I've already mentioned my love of autumn in my last post but in case you missed it I'll tell you again! I LOVE AUTUMN!

The cooler months, the falling leaves, the downward slide into Christmas, I love it!

So many of you loved my Flower Wreath that I thought I'd create another with a touch of autumn! So, here it is!

My Favourite Spooky Movies For Halloween

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The kids are back at school, the weather is cooling and we start to look towards autumn. For me, autumn is one of my favourite seasons, with the other being winter, because, well Christmas!

I love autumn because not only does it bring my birthday and Halloween, it also means its socially acceptable to be inside, snuggled under a blanket, eating yummy treats and watching the TV!

Whether you're the type of person that streams their viewing on a tablet, sticks to Freeview and a standard TV or pays for a subscription service and watches on something fancy, maybe a 4K HDR TV by Panasonic or the like, there's plenty to watch on the run up to Halloween.

Goodbye Preschooler

A few hours ago I made a complete fool of myself on Instagram stories. I cried. A lot. No doubt some people rolled their eyes and skipped passed but for me it was an intimate and vulnerable moment I chose to share.

I hadn't intended to cry. I expected to perhaps feel a little tearful but once I started there was no going back. 

The reason for my tears, tears that I'm still fighting back as I write this hours later, is that my 4 year old son starts school tomorrow and I'm heartbroken.

This is the boy I waited 6 long years for. 6 very difficult, hard, excruciating years for.

How To Get The Best Character Interactions At Disneyland!

Many of you will know that we love Disney! The movies, TV shows, toys, clothes and the parks! We love it all!!

We're incredibly fortunate to have taken our 4 year old son to Disneyland Paris twice but for now our Disney holidays are on hold and we are on the big save to go to Walt Disney World!

It's going to take a LONG TIME but we hope to take him in 3 years, although it's highly likely to be much later than that! 

5 Tips To Prepare Parents For School Life

For us the fun of the school run starts next week but as I recently went self-employed we've got into a bit of a relaxed routine.

Sleeping in later, getting to nursery when we feel like it and faffing around a lot!

We need to be organised and get into a routine! As a family we get a bit lazy and forgetful if we aren't sticking to a plan and schedule, so I'm getting organised ready for commencing the school run next week!

All my other school posts have been about preparing the kids but this post is for preparing us grown-ups! So, here are 5 things you can do to be prepared for school life!

1. Label clothes

Have you been so busy buying uniform and PE kit that you've forgotten the all important labelling? It's not too late! I used a stamp from Stamptastic, which I love but if you've not got time to order one have a look in your local school uniform shops for iron on labels. Many of them offer a service where they'll print your labels whilst you wait. Failing that a simple Sharpie or pen offer a quick fix!

5 Budget Garden Activities

Entertaining children during the school holidays, or anytime for that matter, can be pricey.

If you're on a budget or simply don't fancy the stress of taking the kids out, I've put together five activities that are cheap and entertaining!

So, standby for some budget fun!!!

1. Bubbles

Return To Wray Castle

Unbelievably it's been over a year since we first visited Wray Castle. On our first visit we were really impressed by how child friendly it was. With it's baby and parent room, Peter Rabbit Adventure and soft play, Wray Castle makes visiting a historic place easy.

But nearly two years on does it still offer a happy kid friendly adventure?