In the summer Florence and I went to Cayla’s Tea Party at London’s most famous toy shop Hamleys to launch the doll ‘My Friend Cayla’. From the off Florence was smitten and I knew then, watching her and all the other girls at the party, that Cayla was going to be a massive hit for this year’s Christmas lists! We made this video at the party. She has, as pre,dicted gone on to make the top Christmas lists everywhere and at […]

We’ve been to SKATE at Somerset House for the last four years and every year we look forward to it signalling the start of our Christmas activities! It is quite simply the most beautiful setting and for the children, with their gorgeous little penguins to hold onto, it is the absolute best skating experience we have ever tried! Yesterday we went to the preview session and loved it so much we had not one but two goes on the ice! […]

I don’t mind the home work that Florence’s school set for her but it is rather extensive and time consuming. For Florence it’s ideal because she loves to be set talks and in fact she often finishes what has been set and asks me for more sums or tasks to do in her book. She is a child that it works for and for us it’s brilliant. I have spoken to other parents however, who have said they simply cannot […]

Before half term Jimmy chose ‘football’ as the theme for the next Friday Night Treat Tea but I forgot to grow cress which is something I really wanted to be a part of it so will have to do it another week. Instead I decided that we would have a ‘Sheep Tea’ with all things sheepish! So that was our Friday Night Treat Tea this week. Next week we are planning a ‘Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs’ theme which […]

It seems very strange to me to be thinking about the summer when Christmas is on its way; even odder in a way than seeing all the Christmas shows in the height of the summer? Still, we had a very interesting visit with Tesco yesterday where they showcased their summer homeware pieces for 2015 and despite the weather having taken a turn for the colder outside, we were almost transported into the garden with a glass of Pimms. The summer at Tesco, and […]

Yesterday I went off to Argos HQ to find out a bit more about their new ‘My Wishlist’ app for children. I have to say that on first use I wasn’t terribly impressed but when I bumped into the guys from Mumii on my way home and they told me their reasons for REALLY liking it, I stared to wonder if I’d been a little hasty in my judgement. So… The app is basically a list of over 4,000 toys […]

There’s nothing cosier than getting into your pyjamas and watching a movie. I love doing this on a wintry evening and if Jonny is out at band practice or gigging then I find it a real treat to get the children in bed and watch something entirely on my own. My choice of DVD without anyone else huffing and puffing that it’s too girlie or children pleading for something more child friendly instead! I love the film ‘About Time’ which […]

I’ve written about Tesco food lots in the past, some I like and some, like any other supermarket, is just not my cup of tea. One thing they rally do know how to do well though is extensive and specialised ranges. And one of those ranges is the Free From one. Free from dairy, gluten or wheat and with over 350 products in the range it has become the go-to solution for food allergies and intolerances. I have two friends and […]

Today Jimmy and I popped up into town for the official announcement of the Dream Toys 2014 list. The top 72 toys were revealed by the Toy Retailers Association and a showcase followed where we got to play and peruse them all. Selected by a panel of leading UK toy retailers it is predicted that these 72 will be the ones to fly off the shelves this Christmas and having seen them all myself many times since the Christmas in […]

We’re rather fond of the Sofia The First micro dolls from Flair and Florence absolutely loves her earrings and ring play sets from the range. This week she has added to her collection of the tiny dolls and has been playing with the Royal Prep Academy Backpack Playset which comes with Sophia, Fauna, Minimus and Prince Zander. From the moment she saw it she was smitten. It’s the whole palace school all inside a hard plastic case made to look like a satchel. […]