4 Of The Best Fondant Icing Christmas Cake Decoration Ideas

Christmas comes but once a year and there is something undeniably magical about it. Hanging the tinsel from the tree, late night shopping, mulled wine and those oh so shiny presents that sit perfectly wrapped in the living room all add up to make Christmas the most wonderful time of the year.

Christmas is also a time of cakes, puddings and pies of various descriptions and a lot of bakers, both serious and occasional, ramp up their output during the winter weeks. What’s great about any kind of Christmas cake, be it traditional fruit cake with marzipan and icing or festive cupcakes and tray bakes, is the opportunity to create beautiful Crimbo-themed decorations. To get you in the Christmas spirit here are four ideas for Christmas cake decorations made from fondant icing taken from renshawbaking.com.

Christmas Tree Tear And Share Cupcakes

Why not bake this wonderful cupcake Christmas tree to share with friends and loved ones. The use of fondant icing here is straightforward, and the combination of green, red and yellow icing makes for a bold festive visual. This is a great choice for novices to the fondant icing scene as there isn’t a lot of fine detail work.

Snowflake Christmas Cake

This snowflake Christmas cake will go down a treat on a cold winter evening with a hot cup of coffee. Applying that blue fondant icing so it’s perfectly smooth is trickier than you think. First, have a look at our guide on how to apply marzipan to a cake to get that part perfect. Then make sure you coat the marzipan with some cooled boiled water before applying the icing, this will help it stick. Use your hands to gently smooth out the icing, working out any bubbles or bumps.

Winter Wonderland

 If you’re making a traditional Christmas cake to enjoy with the family then why not craft a cute little Christmas scene on top of the cake. Using different coloured fondant icing and a bit of care it’s easy to create little people in bobble hats and scarfs, snowmen, Christmas trees and little presents which you can then arrange in a mini diorama right on top of the cake. The white icing of the cake will make the perfect snowy backdrop, and your only limit is your imagination.

Father Christmas Topper

This little project has to be at the top of everyone’s Christmas baking list. By using red, white, black and flesh coloured fondant icing you can make a jolly little Father Christmas to top off your cake. Make sure his belly is like a bowl full of jelly, and be sure to craft a sack with some presents and bows too if you’re up to the challenge. 

Will you be baking a Christmas cake?


*Sponsored Guest Post*

5 Walking Games For Kids

As the weather cools and the evenings darken earlier, the Mini Mes enthusiasm to walk the dog is somewhat dampened! But as I've mentioned before, our beautiful yet daft Border Collie still needs his exercise, so it's something we do come rain or shine. Plus we do actually love being outside as a family, it's just the initial transition from the warm house into the cold the children, and sometimes I, are not so keen on. 

I started to introduce some more games into our journeys to make it easier to part from the blankets and heating at home. It keeps the Mini Mes entertained, helps with their mental development and makes the walk feel a lot quicker for us all. 

The Shopping List game

Starting with "I went to the shop and I bought" you take it in turns to select an item you could purchase, working through each letter of the alphabet as you go. The idea is to recall all of the ones stated previously before adding on your own until someone can no longer recite the list. It's great for memory building and fun to hear which items are added on each round.
Sometimes we add a theme to the game too to make it a even more challenging.

Geocaching

I'd heard about geocaching some time ago but I didn't realise just how exciting it would be or how popular it had become until recently! For those that don't know, it's a bit like a treasure hunt. Using co-ordinates you find caches and sign the log book inside, some even have items you can take home with you to keep.

It's a great way to explore your local area and enjoy some time exploring the outdoors as a family. Plus it's free!

I decided to download the app myself to find out if there were any caches nearby and I discovered that there were plenty hidden away on our regular walks and in local parks. We now make the most of our walk and look for caches too - the Mini Mes LOVE this activity.

Once Upon A Time

This is a very easy game which involves story telling but it often leaves us giggling due to the extreme and completely random tales that we create. Each person takes it in turns to make up a part of a story, usually just a few sentences, and then the next person continues. What happens to the characters, which could be a princess, hamster or even a flying tortoise is completely up to you. 

This is great for developing imaginations.

Word Association

Somebody begins by selecting a word and the next person has just a few seconds to think of a word that relates to it. You are knocked out if your word is a repeat, you take too long to answer or if it isn't related. This game is all about speed!

What/Who Am I?

This is a game that we sometimes play at home too. Somebody thinks of an object or a person and everyone else takes it in turns to ask a question to try to determine what/who it is. The winner is who works it out quickest.

Simple yet a great way for children to learn about problem solving.

What games do you enjoy as a family?

Playtime

The Mini Mes and I always love to review new products but over the past year we have acquired quite a collection of toys and games that are threatening to overload our humble abode. With Christmas just around the corner, and the collection set to expand, I’ve decided to take matters into my own hands – I'm thinking about creating a play room!

We have a large dining room, which is only used for an hour each day, that would be ideal to transform. I hate to see such a valuable space go to waste, so it seems stupid that the kid’s bedrooms are fit to burst when they could just house their toys downstairs. 

Our dining room table is in very good condition but that is to be expected really, considering it has only been used a handful of times. I’m thinking about keeping that in place but listing a few other items we no longer need in the room for sale on eBay – I might as well try to get some cash for it which would help with Christmas purchases.

Plain walls are a no-no when it comes to a play room. The room should be a welcoming space where your child will feel inspired to play and be creative. While I still want to achieve this, I don’t want a room filled with garish colours that will completely ruin my interior design plan. So I will split the room into two sections.

I’ve been looking for ways to subtly make the room more child friendly. Stencils seem to be an effective, easy-to-do option. I have found some great letter stencils at Stencil Warehouse. They will clearly define the space, as well as making the kids feel special without making it unsuitable for meal time.

The Mini Mes love getting creative, but there is only so much space on the fridge to display their masterpieces. That’s why the playroom will be their own mini gallery. I’ll frame a few of their best drawings and painting, but also make Blu-tack readily available so they can hang some of their latest creations too if they wish.

Storage is key in this room. I’ve seen some coloured plastic drawers on casters that will be great for organising all of their toys. I’ll make sure the kids go through and sort out what they want and what they don’t want beforehand to avoid cluttering up the playroom too!

How would you create the perfect play room?

*Featured Post*

Negligence Claims

Amongst the latest celebrity gossip, football results and travel pages you will quite regularly find shocking stories of poor treatment received within hospitals. Stories about those that have been left disabled after doctors errors, severe illnesses going undiagnosed and even deaths due to staff blunders. 

Recent reports show that in London the NHS are spending £470,000 each day on negligence claims - a figure that 65% of people in the UK feel is money wasted. Not only is this amount on the increase due to solicitor bills rising but unfortunately the amount of people making claims is rising too. Is the standard of care lowering per say or are funding cuts and staff shortages effecting the health professionals ability to provide the services that they should?

Nearly 30% of people surveyed recently know of someone personally that has experienced poor treatment from NHS staff. It's therefore hardly surprising that 54% would opt for private health care if they could afford to. Looking at my personal experiences, I opted for a home birth with Jamster as I felt the treatment I received in the maternity ward when I gave birth to Minxy was not acceptable - due to staff incompetence. Thankfully she entered the world safely but with over half of the claims being made relating to obstetrics it is something that needs addressing.

Many of those surveyed felt the treatment received by those making claims was due to staff being overworked. 73% feel the government should not cut funding suggesting this is perhaps partly the cause for the lowered levels of care. Would putting more money into the NHS reduce the need for such large expenditures towards legal fees, court appearances and compensation for negligence? Or does something else need to be done?

How do you feel about the NHS?

*PR Collaboration*

Online habits

The internet has become quite a large part of my life. Not only is it a great way to promote my blog posts and interact with other parents and brands, it is also a quick and easy way to share where I am and what I'm up to with family and friends - whether they want to know or not! I've found myself enjoying a shopping spree from the comfort of my bed on wet and windy days and hunting for work while curled up on my sofa watching a movie with the kids. It saves calls, texts and emails and journeys out in the cold. 

It has fast become habit to turn off my alarm in the morning and check out what's going on in the world online rather than by reading a newspaper. It's just so convenient.

It would appear I'm not alone. A survey by Ladbrokes Bingo based on online habits of both men and women within the UK showed:

85% use the internet to catch up on the news

73% use some form of social media

47% browse the internet on a device while watching TV

Has the world gone crazy or are there real benefits to having the latest technology and using the internet in our every day lives?

I'm guilty of using my iPhone in the bath to battle others at Scramble (and losing miserably), creating Pinterest boards packed with delicious meals and fun crafts and checking out some seriously cringe-worthy videos on You Tube for a giggle. It keeps me busy when no one else is around and its a great way to procrastinate when the housework needs doing. I never really switch off!

For those with hectic lives the internet is ideal for staying connected and it's not surprising that Facebook and Twitter are the most popular social media platforms, with Instagram not far behind. We all love taking photos of our food, right? 

The internet is often cheaper when it comes to sorting your weekly or Christmas shopping with plenty of discount codes and deals to be found and when you have the homework to help with the internet is a sea of knowledge.

It also has its downfalls. The Mr will moan at me that my mobile is attached to my hand 24/7 (oops) and I imagine for some it has caused serious issues within relationships - 38% admit to viewing adult content online, 53% of those that admitted to stalking people have watched the actions of exes and 3% have had career issues due to social media.... think Christmas party photos, uh oh!

I really feel as though the internet has had a huge impact on my life and although it's something I use every day I do try very hard to limit the children's use. I still want them to play outside rather than on Minion Rush and I want them to write and post letters to pen-pals rather than type emails - There is a lot of learning that needs to be done away from a laptop.

How has the internet effected your life?

*PR Collaboration*

Half Term Humour

Half term has begun and with the stormy weather we haven't been inclined to venture out that far... bar to the shops for cake supplies, obviously.

The Mini Mes are little movie buffs like myself and the Mr so they are happy to snuggle up with the Sky remote to see what films are on demand....



Minxy: Can we watch this one?
Me: The Full Monty? Not really, it's filled with nude men!
Minxy: Yea, I know. I thought you would like it mum. *Raises eyebrows and starts laughing*


Oh dear! ...Casper it is then.

Have your children had any random requests?



I'm linking this with...

4 Superhero Foods For You And Your Family To Enjoy This Winter

Winter doesn’t need to be an unhealthy time for you and your family or treated as an excuse to eat fatty, stodgy foods that more often than not make you feel tired and bloated. Take inspiration from these 4 winter foods that will heat everyone up and fill your family with the nutrients they tend to lack in these dark and cold winter days.

Hearty Soup

Soups aren’t just a good way to heat up on a cold winter day (albeit, that’s one good reason for eating it), they are also great for helping to control you and your family’s weight throughout the winters and boost immune systems in these harsh months.

Be careful of which type of soup you go for as canned soups might be cheap and easy but can be high in salt and low in vitamins. Instead, think about introducing your family’s five a day in a hearty, winter soup filled with vegetables like carrots to fight off infections or perhaps a homemade tomato soup, which acts as a great anti-oxidant and is a much loved family favourite throughout the UK.

Hearty winter soups are great to take to work (and they can help you stay healthy during cold and flu season at the office). They’re also very convenient to have simply as a light dinner in the evening.

Oatmeal

Start your family’s day right with a simple and well-balanced breakfast like a warm bowl of oatmeal in the morning...

...Ok so it might look a little uninspiring to begin with but consider blending it together with fresh fruit for a nutritious smoothie or cooked with warm, low-fat milk and a sprinkle of cinnamon to spice it up.

Oatmeal is a cheap and easy way to make sure your family stays healthy, lowering cholesterol and weight and ensuring that everyone gets a source of iron, magnesium and B vitamins in their first meal of the day.

Potatoes

Potatoes often get a bad reputation for falling under that unhealthy white starch category alongside tummy filling foods such as white rice. In fact they are a whole food that contains several beneficial nutrients. 

Something you might not know about potatoes is that they’re great for your immune system – warning off those nasty winter colds and flu. Potatoes contain high levels of vitamin C, giving you 25% of your daily intake.

They also count as a good source of folate – perfect for women who are pregnant as this essential nutrient is said to play an important part in the development of the spinal cord and brain.

Winter squash

Winter squash such as butternut and pumpkin are often foods that you might not consider including in your weekly shopping list but they are fantastic winter foods and can be a tasty ingredient to use for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

You often find that in winter, people are more inclined to eating fatty foods as a source of comfort from the gusty winds outside but have you ever considered making your favourite winter warmers with something like a winter squash? 

The great thing about a winter squash is that it’s low in fat, delivers an ample dose of your dietary fibre and provides significant amounts of potassium, perfect for growing bones and maintaining old bones too!

Why not try a butternut squash stew, replacing fatty red meats such as beef for a delicious and sweet alternative?

These easy-to-make and delicious winter foods are great to keep your family healthy and give them warm, comforting meals to look forward to after a long day facing the infamous British weather.

What is your favourite family food for Winter?

*Sponsored Guest Post*

Our Ideal Garden

Our garden is a bit of a project in progress. When we first moved in it was more or less a jungle, minus the monkeys, but we have gradually tamed the hedges, trimmed back the bushes and laid a lawn so it's now a blank canvas.

When it comes to outdoor play as a family we really like to get stuck in and I would love for our garden to become an enchanted play area for the Mini Mes, inspired somewhat by fairy tales.

A special place to make memories that they will never forget...

No kingdom is complete with pretty floral bunting, fairy doors and toadstools; after all Tinkerbell and the tooth fairy need access somehow! Childhood is so special and it's definitely the finishing touches which make a garden complete.

I also love these Decoration and Safari Chalk kits which I would attach to the trees and fences so the children can be creative while they play too.

Seating is essential and this is a great set - not only is it ideal for eating al fresco like royalty, it also doubles up as a play table with sand and water compartments for my little Ariel! 

It's great for keeping little ones and their guests entertained.

Plum Premium Activity Table and Bench

Our garden isn't huge in size so this Kingswood 2 Tower frame certainly makes the most of the space available. The climbing wall is perfect for my little prince and princess and the option to add on extra features like the Rapide Slide means we can extend it as and when we choose. 

I'd cover it in fairy lights for a magical twinkle.

TP Toys Kingswood 2 Tower

In terms of plants everything is pretty in pink to me but I'm not so sure my own knight in shining armour would approve! I'd have a variety of potted plants scattered around with some dashes of blue and purple thrown in too plus a variety of bird boxes for wildlife. I adore these leaf stepping stones although I'm quite tempted to make our own with hand and footprints for a personal touch.

I'd really like a water feature as I've always thought that they are relaxing to watch and listen to and it would add to the feel of the garden.
I'm sure the Mini Mes toys would enjoy splashing around in it too!

I'd like the garden to be somewhere peaceful (bar the giggles of the children playing), fun yet attractive.
Somewhere the Mini Mes want to play come rain or shine and where the Mr and I can still chill out for a few minutes too.

What would your dream garden be like?

Christmas Gift Giveaway 2013

Wouldn't it be lovely to save a few pounds this December? 

After the success of our Christmas Gift Giveaway last year I thought it would be nice to arrange another for you, so once again I've teamed up with some great brands to offer some amazing prizes!!

Each day throughout November a new giveaway will begin with your chance to win a variety of products that would make perfect presents this year. There is something for mums, dads and the kids so no one is missed out. That's right, there will be 30 giveaways in total making the build up to Christmas even bigger and even better!

To make sure you don't forget to enter you can subscribe to the blog using the options on the right. 

Look out for the tweets and Facebook statuses each day ...and good luck!

What would be the perfect gift for you this Christmas?

View the competitions here when they are live

Eco Stationery from Memo etc

A pencil case made from a tyre, rulers made from corn on the cob and coloured pencils made from recycled CD cases are just a few of the great quality products available from Memo etc. If you want to do your bit for the environment and charities, earn reward points in the process AND save money this is a great online store to visit.

We received a box of stationery goodies from Memo etc and with free next day delivery they arrived very quickly indeed. The Mini Mes and I love to be creative so we dug straight in to see what items were inside!

Remarkable Recycled Tyre Pencil Case 

A super durable item that can certainly handle some bashing about in school bags while keeping your stationery inside safe and secure. Not only does it smell amazing it's very strong and the zip being more centrally located means accessing your pens is a lot easier.

Remarkable Recycled Mini Colouring Pencils

These are made within the UK from recycled CD cases - I would never have guessed! With the entire pencil matching the shade of the graphite it makes searching for the colour you require hassle free.

Remarkable Biodegradable Cob Frosted Pen Assorted

Made from corn starch with a frosted finish and retractable nib, these are an essential for both home and work. They come in packs of 10, all of which contain black ink, and they have a handy clip to attach them to your notebooks or clothing. I've found them really useful already.

Remarkable Recycled Leather Notepad Wirebound

In a pack of 5 these are perfect for the whole family, whether you need them for practising spellings, writing shopping lists or even those letters to Santa with your gift ideas. We have taken them in the car to play games while travelling. You can definitely smell the leather too!

Bic Kids Felt Tip Pens 

These ultra-washable, water-based, medium tip pens are ideal for children. The vivid colours means they are great for all of your artistic needs and as the lids are ventilated you know they have been created with safety in mind.

Silvine Executive Soft Feel Notebook

With an elastic strap and fold out pocket not only is this a good notebook for jotting down everything you need but it's also great for keeping other useful bits inside too like maps and receipts. The paper is lined and being A5 in size I find it is really handy for my degree and blogging work.

What is your favourite stationery product?

*We received a selection of stationery products for the purpose of this review. The opinions given are honest and our own*

Top Tips - Starting Uni

This time next year Minxy and I will be visiting secondary schools and selecting which she will be attending. It's a big step, one that I've been really dreading as a mum, as it's the end of an era with her growing up into a young lady and becoming more independent.
Where did my baby go!?

It got me thinking even further into the future and the idea of her heading off to uni - what advice would I be able to provide when she does eventually leave home to begin a journey, by herself, in further education...

• Learn how to cook and clean before you move out as mum and dad won't be around to clear up after you and make your meals. Living on fast food is expensive and unhealthy so definitely not the way forward. Try to ensure you know how to create a few dishes and take advantage of the freezer so there is always something available if you are short on time.

• Try to live on a budget before you leave home so you are aware of how much you need each week, and keep a note of what you spend. You may be surprised by where your money goes but it's the best way to work out if and where you need to cut back. Your social life will have to come second to the essentials like bills unfortunately so make sure you can afford them!

• When selecting your university be sure to visit a variety and when you have chosen your favourite ones return a few times if possible to get a proper feel for it. You will be there for several years so you need to be certain that it's right for you. The same applies to the accommodation - you need to make sure it is suitable and that you will be happy living there. Take someone close with you for their opinions and try to speak to other students and visit the local area too. 

• Get some info on student bank accounts and see how you you can make the most out of student life with great discounts and even a fee free overdraft. Every little helps. You will need an account before you receive your student loan so make sure you open one as soon as you have your place confirmed at university. It may be worth getting a part time job so investigate what is available in the area before you move as other students will be seeking work also.

• Think about transport. If you are taking a car where will it be kept, will there be parking fees and will you be risk becoming everyone's taxi! Look into buses and train routes and see if you can receive reduced passes. Also try to work out when you will be going home and how you will be getting there and back - you need to make sure you will be able to move everything you need.

• Think about what you will need and stick to it. Some universities supply items that will be required so investigate before purchasing things like bedding, bins and ironing boards. Also check what is and isn't allowed - some items are not permitted!

• It's natural to be apprehensive, and feelings of joy combined with worry are normal. Just remember to reach out to family and friends if you need a helping hand with moving, finances or anything at all as that's what they are there for. Seek support if you need it, never be afraid to ask. Most importantly enjoy yourself!

What tips do you have for someone starting university?

*Sponsored post*

How To Keep Your Family Healthy This Winter

With winter just around the corner, I thought now would be the perfect time to share my top three family health tips. Here’s how you can fend of those winter bugs, blues and sniffles.

Create your own pharmacy!

When one of us gets sick, it’s only a matter of time before the whole house is coughing and sneezing. I’ve learnt from experience that a full medicine cabinet is vital during the winter. I’m not a fan of nipping out to the chemist when I’m ill – especially when there are sub-zero temperatures outside!

I’d recommend that you keep your house well stocked with painkillers, cough syrups, antihistamines and congestion tablets. Nipping those nasty germs in the bud early is a great way to remain healthy this winter.

If I’m honest, it can sometimes be a struggle to prepare balanced, nutritious meals every single night. I like to stay stocked up on these fish oil supplements from Pharma Nord to complement my diet.

Finding a good source of vitamin D in winter is also very difficult. Since I can’t rely on the sun to provide my daily dosage, I sometimes use Vitamin D supplements during the colder months. To maximise your intake, I’d also recommend incorporating oily fish like salmon and mackerel into your meals. The kids may turn their noses up at it, but it’s worth a try. Read my recipe and instructions on how to create your own salmon and gnocchi bake.

Keep the healthy diet rolling

I’ve always considered myself quite good when it comes to healthy eating, but I always slip up at Christmas. When it’s miserable outside and the rain is pelting against the windows, I’m sure we’re all guilty of turning to comfort food a little too often than we should.

Instead of a hot chocolate, why not go for a warm glass of milk? Dairy products are great for keeping bones strong and our immune systems in good condition. 

Your five-a-day is just as important now as it was during the summer. Keep a food diary if you have to, so you can track your improvement day by day. Get creative and incorporate more vegetables into your meals. Carrots, parsnips, turnips and lentils make for a great winter soups. 

The NHS has a great guide on how your family can improve their diet, if you’d like further advice.

Wrap up

Come hell or high water, your kids will still want to play outside – especially once it starts to snow. I don’t let them take one step out the house unless they’re suitably wrapped up. 

Send your children to school with a thick coat, gloves, hat and scarf. They are usually made to take their breaks outside, so you’ll have the peace of mind that they are going to be warm.

This helpful guide I found on Wiki How has some great ideas on how to keep your children warm.

What tips do you have for keeping healthy this winter?

*Featured Post*

Hasselback Potatoes

It's that time of year again. The time when you want to snuggle up with a warm mug of your favourite drink and some delicious comfort food by the fire. Potatoes are a favourite for the colder seasons in particular and Hasselback style is an nice alternative to the normal methods of cooking them.

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees
• Slice across the potatoes at around 3mm intervals but don't go all the way through, so the slices remain connected at the base
• Place 4 tbsp of olive oil into an ovenproof dish and roll the potatoes around in the oil so that they are lightly coated
• Bake for around 45 minutes until the skin is golden brown and slightly crispy and inside is soft
• Sprinkle over some cheese and place back in the oven for a few minutes so it melts on top
• Scoff!

These can be an accompliment for your meal or eaten by themselves - they taste nice with some salad and beans too.

Tip

To prevent slicing all the way through your potatoes sit the potato on a wooden spoon while you cut it. 

It will automatically stop you cutting too deep.

We received a bag of GreenVale Farm Fresh potatoes and these were ideal for this recipe. 

Being in a paper bag they stayed fresh for a good few days longer than standard plastic wrapped or loose potatoes. They were all fairly equal in size and shape which made preparing and cooking them simple.

It was also nice to see on the packaging exactly whereabouts in the country the potatoes were from and the farm they were grown.

What is your favourite way to cook potatoes?

Watch Bake Create - Halloween

This week focuses on Halloween and we have:

Watched Hotel Transylvania
Baked Monster Sandwiches
Created Paper Pumpkins

Monster Sandwich

Ingredients

Bread

Ham

Carrot

Cherry tomatoes

Raisins

Cheestrings Spaghetti

Method

Add your sandwich filling and slice the bread in two at an angle. Use strips of carrots for the eyebrows and teeth, ham for the tongue, cherry tomatoes for the eyes with the raisins as the pupils and Cheestrings Spaghetti as the hair. 

The sandwich itself isn't baked but you can make your own bread with ease or bake/grill the sandwich briefly to create a toastie.

We received some cheestrings goodies recently and the spaghetti style cheese was ideal for creating funny faces and food for Halloween! The new tomato and onion flavour cheestrings are delicious and we used them as witches fingers by adding an almond at the tip as a nail. 

Cheestrings have no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and are ideal for lunchboxes as they all come individually wrapped. They are also packed with calcium and Vitamin D so while having fun with food your children are also getting up to 25% of their recommended daily allowance of certain nutrients.

Basic bread recipe

700g strong white bread flour

1 tbsp salt

1 tsp yeasr

1 tsp caster sugar

400ml warm water

• Combine all of the dry ingredients and then add the water gradually to form a soft dough
• Knead for 5 minutes until elastic in texture, place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover and leave to rise for around 90 minutes until doubled in size
• Knead again for 1 minute and place in a loaf tin
• Bake for around 40 minutes until golden brown
• Scoff!

Paper Pumpkins

Equipment

Orange thin card/paper
Black paper
Scissors
Pencil
Ruler
Glue
String/Ribbon

Method

• Divide your sheet of orange paper into equal strips of 3cm in thickness and cut them out.
• Use the pencil to pierce each end of the strips, fan them out and add ribbon at each end to keep them in place
• Using the black paper, cut out eyes and a mouth for the pumpkin and glue these on.

Display!

We were inspired to make this from the easy to follow tutorials provided by Country Baskets.

You can view their version here: Country Baskets Tutorial

It's a quick and simple activity and when hung from the windows or ceiling looks spoookkkyy- ideal for Halloween with little effort required.

  

Hotel Transylvania

Packed with (not very scary) monsters this movie has fast become a family favourite and makes an appearance any time of the year, not just Halloween!

Dracula has his own luxury hotel where humans are forbidden and one weekend while he celebrates his daughter turning 118 with the company of his closest friends; werewolves, Frankenstein and the Invisible Man he has a visitor he didn't expect... a man.

We all really enjoy the humour in this and the way the humans are feared rather than the monsters!

Next week the theme will be Halloween too!

What have you been making and baking for Halloween?

Feel free to add your own posts in the comments below and I'll pop over to visit!

A New Tattoo

Fresh ink.

Just a few seconds after having it done last week.

I'd wanted a new tattoo for a while but I couldn't decide what to have. 

After scrolling through some designs I finally found one that I liked and I altered it to my own taste.

It's situated on my right wrist and represents loving life and living for the ones I love;

The Mr and the Mini Mes.

Anti Colic Workshop with Infacol

Minxy suffered terribly with colic as a baby resulting in many a sleepless night for me, but luckily Infacol have teamed up with expert midwife Nikki Khan to offer help and advice for those going through similar now. 

The workshops will explain what colic is, how to treat and prevent it, the benefits of baby massage and there is also the chance to ask Nikki any colic related questions on a one-to-one basis. Each mum who attends will receive a goody bag (approx worth is £30), full of products for mum and baby such as baby massage oil and an anti colic bottle.

It will be a great chance to learn more about colic, meet other mothers and share the experience with your readers.

The workshop is:
Free of charge
 On Tuesday 29th October
From 10am - 2pm
Taking place at the Katherine Low Settlement, 108 Battersea High Street, London, SW11 3HP
(Refreshments and a light lunch will be provided)

If you are a blogger that is interested in attending, please email your details to sarah@orbitalmediapr.com. 

Places are limited and are on a first come first served basis, so you have to be quick if you don't want to miss out.

Has your child suffered with Colic?
What questions would you like to ask Nikki Khan?

Baby Changing Room Awards

It might be the ease of access or the fact they have a comfy chair, but whatever the attributes, Sudocrem are on a mission to find Britain’s best baby changing rooms. The UK’s favourite nappy cream brand and the makers of new Sudocrem Care & Protect want your help tracking them down.

Shopping with a baby in tow has never been easy, particularly for first time mums who don’t know the ropes and good facilities make a huge difference. Hundreds of leading high street retailers and small, independent shops have risen to the challenge by transforming their baby changing rooms so that the look and the layout is inviting and easy to use.

“Becoming a mum is such a huge lifestyle change and your confidence can be knocked when the everyday things you enjoy, like shopping and meeting up with friends, become a hurdle. That’s why being able to go somewhere that’s clean and comfortable to change your baby is so important. It’s not only a pleasant experience for your baby but also makes you as a mum feel cared for and protected.” Says midwife Nikki Khan.

Sudocrem’s new Care and Protect is the first product from the famous brand in over 80 years. This unique nappy rash ointment is a changing bag essential because not only does it provide triple protection against the cause of nappy rash but it is also comes with a hinged flip-top lid which gives quick, mess-free access to the ointment using just one hand; a must when nappy changing demands speed and efficiency!

Sudocrem Care & Protect has been developed with the practical considerations of mums in mind together with the needs of delicate infant skin. The ointment acts as a barrier to protect delicate skin against the chemicals found in urine and poo. It also conditions the skin with Vitamin E and pro Vitamin B5 which helps to protect the skin and keep it soft, healthy and moisturised. Finally a protective barrier guards against infection. To celebrate the arrival of Sudocrem’s new baby, the brand are looking to celebrate the best baby changing rooms in Britain. 

“ This is a great opportunity to highlight the wonderful facilities that exist and encourage more shops to follow their example. Mums deserve to be looked after and what better way than to provide them with a lovely room where they can change their baby? It’s such an important facility and one that’s prized by parents.” Says Senior Brand Manager Nick Lang.

My nomination

My children are a little older now and don't require baby changing facilities but I've still noticed a certain place in particular that I've always felt is perfect for parents.

Muffin Break, situated within the Grosvenor Centre in Northampton, has a huge toilet with plenty of space for wheelchairs or prams. It has a a nappy wrapping machine for easy disposal and a pull down changing board for your child to lay on. I've always been really impressed by how clean it is too - spotless.

If you would like to nominate a changing room for the award, then email a photo and the address to babychangingroomawards@orbitalmediapr.com.
Entries will be judged by Nikki Khan and Sudocrem. 

The winning baby changing rooms will receive a special certificate and use of the Sudocrem Baby Changing Room logo. There is also the prize of a short break at Knoll House, Britain’s original family friendly which is available as prize draw for everyone who enters.

The closing date for entries is 31st December and the winner will be announced on the 20th January.

For more information about Sudocrem Care & Protect, visit www.sudocrem.co.uk/care-and-protect/

Where would you nominate?

Win a Selection of Books from Booktrust

Booktrust has announced the definitive list of 100 books to read before you're 14 - and to celebrate we are giving away five books from the list of your choice!

Drawing from over 90 years' experience recommending children’s books; Booktrust experts selected the final 100 from an initial list of 500 books and are now asking everyone to join the debate and vote online for their favourites on the list (www.booktrust.org.uk/cbw). 

The nation’s top books will be announced on November 25th so pick up a book, get reading and tell Booktrust what you think!

Booktrust are giving you the chance to win five books from the list in its entirety from the eclectic mix of traditional classics and modern greats that Booktrust believe are must-reads to fire children’s imaginations and turn them into life-long readers.

*** WIN ***

To be in with a chance of winning five of these fantastic books you can enter via the Rafflecopter entry form below.

The giveaway closes on 24th November 2013

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Christmas 2013: Planning Ahead

Throughout the year, I am usually a calm and organised person, who plans everything well in advance. When it comes to Christmas, however, something mysterious happens. I don’t know whether it’s the mulled wine or maybe the sheer amount of chocolate in my system, but I lose all ability to organise. You can sometimes find me frantically searching my local supermarket for last minute gifts, batteries and wrapping paper with only a few days to go. My mind can be like a sieve!

This year, I have vowed to plan early to avoid the late night dashes and imperfect presents. I have already been looking online for some inspiration when it comes to gifts, so here are a couple of ideas I’ve had for the kids.

Every year, I like to get the kids something special with a personal touch. Your Design are a company that offer great personalised gifts. I really like the western style door plate, and with the Mini Mes enjoying role play games, it’ll really make them feel like cowboys and cowgirls, just like Jessie and Woody. 

If I was going to leave my shopping to the last minute, I’d really struggle when it comes to the kids. With every parent looking to secure their child’s perfect gift, popular toys sell out fast and it can be like entering a battlefield when you step into the toy shop. I mean, can you remember Jingle All the Way? (If you haven’t seen it, you need to)

Argos have released their list of the must-have toys for Christmas 2013, which you can read here. I had a quick look at it the other day, and there are a few things that I know Minxy and Jamster will love. 

Minxy loves animals, so I’m thinking about getting her the pink Teksta Dog. Another real puppy isn't on the agenda in the near future – plus I don’t think Spartan would like sharing the attention or the biscuits! However, this clever robotic dog will keep her happy as it responds to your voice and has over 100 interactive functions. 

I noticed that LEGO made two entries in the list. Jamster loves to build stuff and already has quite a collection of the bricks but I’ve recently found out that LEGO have combined his two loves in life by producing a Superheroes range. I may have to pick some up - I can’t wait to see his face on Christmas morning when he unwraps them!

What will you be buying the kids this year?

*Featured Post*