Top tips for buying cool gifts for kids ( and grown ups )

Do you get fed up of always giving the same type of present for birthday parties? The usual LEGO, games or puzzles? I quite often buy things when I see them in the sales, thinking 'that'll do for a present', but then when it comes to giving the present I always feel bad that I'm giving something so ordinary. Lately I've been trying to be a little more unique.

What do you think of these ideas?

• Make some shaped crayons from old crayons.

• Buy a nice box and add some craft supplies, such as wooden pegs, spoons, stickers, bits of felt and glue to make a lovely crafty gift.

• Look at funky gift shops online for inspiration.

• Put together a pack of retro sweets.

• What about buying a lovely bag and adding some accessories or a funky coaster and adding a mug filled with sweets? These bags and mugs from Gorjuss are perfect.

• You could even make a homemade science kit.

• Give a voucher for a day out, it doesn't have to be expensive. How about a picnic in the park or a baby sitting voucher for a grown up.

Can you think of any more ideas?

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Play Doh Nature Sculptures

We had some old play doh that needed using up, as the sun was shining we went out into the garden, found some sticks and pinecones and set about making some play doh sculptures.

These kept the girls occupied for ages!

Can you tell what it is?

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Having a clear out

Once again, I am on a mission to make some space. I feel like everywhere I turn I'm tripping over toys, books and games. Basically we have too much stuff! Our house has hardly any storage which makes it seem even worse. I open a wardrobe and things fall out, drawers are jammed so full they won't close. The loft is full. Something needs to give.

This weekend we have started on the garden, old baby toys have been sold and a shiny new climbing frame put up in their place. The bonus of the climbing frame being that it has kept the kids vey well entertained leaving me lots of time to clear out the inside of the house. I've sorted booked, games, clothes, toys and house stuff into neat piles, and things are looking better already.

We've found local Facebook groups as well as Music Magpie to sell my games ,all work really well.

I've also been out and bought lots of plastic boxes to organise the kids toys and craft supplies, labelled them up with pretty labels and sent a load of old clothes and household items to the local charity shop.

It's been a bigger job than we thought, and some things are so hard to part with. I've had to make keepsake boxes for the kids, to store their first clothes, toys and presents in, but at least now everything is tidy, although I don't suppose it will last very long. My kids can create mess anywhere! 

It's been a bit sad getting rid of baby things, the end of a very happy era, but I'm looking forward to the next stage on our lives and with S starting school in September things will certainly change. I might even have a little tiny bit of time to myself, so maybe the house will stay tidy after all.

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World Baking Day and Morrisons Cupcakes

Did you know today is 'World Baking Day'?

Morrisons kindy sent me a pack of their Confetti Cupcake Mix to try out.

The cupcakes were very quick and easy to make and the sponge impressively light and fluffy.

Even the icing was easy to make, and absolutely delicious. I didn't have time to pipe the icing on, which would have made the end result look better, but the kids loved them anyway.

I do usually like to make my own cakes, but these kits are great for when time is short.

Available in 7 delicious flavours:

·         Red Velvet Cupcake Kit, £1.59

·         Confetti Cupcake Kit, £1.59

·         Afternoon Treat Kit, £1.59

·         Meringue Cupcake Kit, £1.59

·         Love Heart sprinkles, £0.85

·         Strawberry Frosting, £1.49

·         Cream Cheese Frosting, £1.49

We were sent the kit and a voucher to cover the ingredients for the purpose of this review.


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Walkers Hoops and Crosses

I have to admit, I don't generally buy many crisp type snacks, but Z has recently been complaining that his friends get crisps and chocolate every day in their lunch boxes and he doesn't get either. So I was quite keen to test out new Walkers Hoops and Crosses.

The are 56% wholegrain, which is needed as part of a healthy diet, and did you know 27% of kids in the UK don't get any wholegrain at all.

Z couldn't resist a sneaky game of tic tac toe.

Each bag has only 85 calories and they come in three flavours, Salt and Vinegar, Prawn Cocktail and Roast Beef.

We loved the sampled Roast Beef pack so much that I bought a six pack of the Salt and Vinegar on offer in Morrisons and they were delicious too.

Z has asked to have them in his lunch, which considering they are low fat and contain wholegrain I am happy to do.

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Getting organised in the kitchen

Since Z started school, time seems to just disappear. The days and weeks pass by in a blur, leaving me wondering if I fell asleep and missed them somehow. My house is always in a state of unorganised chaos. Whereas once, I would've had all our meals meticulously planned for the week, now it's more of a scrabble round the back of the fridge to see what we can fudge together.

However, I have decided enough is enough and am determind to pull myself together and get organised,  starting in the kitchen.

My aim is to:

• Plan meals for the week, and order only food needed.

• Cook in large batches on the weekend and freeze, especially chilli, spaghetti bolognese and curry's the children will eat.

• Try to use our food processor more, to save time and help with the batch cooking.

• When cooking from fresh in the week, cook a  little extra so the children can have it for lunch/dinner the next day.

• Save and store leftovers properly, rather than just being a bit greedy and finishing them off.

• Organise the kitchen better so I can find everything easily.

• Label and date frozen food, so I know what it is and when it has to be eaten by, no more pulling out what I think is spaghetti bolognese and finding it's just pasta sauce.

I really want to get the kids more involved as well. Z especially loves food and I'd like him to learn to love the whole process rather than just the eating part.

Little S is always asking to make pizza's, but you've got to start somewhere right?

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Yummy Chocolate Dirt Pot

I cheated a bit with this one and used shop bought chocolate mousse, but you could of course make your own.

The topping is just bashed up chocolate with digestive biscuits mixed in, with a gummy worm stuck in the top.

Ta da, a super easy, impressive looking pudding. Perfect for special play dates.

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