Halloween Party host from home

We love Halloween in our house so i said Bodhi could invite a few friends over for a Halloween party  while they had half term from school, This ended up with x5 5 year old friends and then x6 little brothers and sisters plus the x4 mums! so we had a pretty full house!!

we was SO lucky with the weather on the day of the party , It was dry and sunny so i opened up the doors onto the garden so they kids could run around and play. We also had a few games and crafts planed. few tips if you are thinking of hosting a little party for Halloween or any event.

1- Time the party for after lunch time, This way the children should be in better moods then if they needed feeding. We did a few snacks and this kept everyone happy. Also something to keep in mind if you are inviting younger children who will still need to fit in nap time.

2- Don't stress if no one wants to play games or so the crafts you have planed, Remember they are children and they will be happy just running around ( we had balloons in the garden this was a huge hit )

3- Don't feel the need to have too many sweet treats on offer, Kids who are full of sugar will most likely then turn into little rat bags!

4- State a end time for the party or it could well drag out for hours! Much better to have a few hours of fun then everyone leaves before children ( or parents ) get over tried.

GAMES

eyeball toss - now this pretty much is beer pong ..... but without the beer really! i picked up a bag of eyeballs ( any pingpong type balls will do ) get the children to line up and try to get the ball into the cup, Its harder then it looks trust me! The children enjoyed picking up the eyeballs from the floor when they was waiting in line.

roll the dice game - Lots of different ways to play this game, We kept it simple and they sat around the table with a paper cup each and a spoon, taking it in turns to roll the dice , if someone rolled a 6 they could use the spoon to try and move sweets from the bowl into their cup ! but only using their mouth, the other players keep rolling and once someone else rolls a 6 they then get a turn. All of the children got a turn but some did better then others in moving the sweets ( I had extra sweets to give out at the end so it was fair ) 

We used the sweets from the game to decorate biscuits , This kept them all quiet and it gave me a chance to make the mums a cup of tea, The last craft we did was something i had half done before the party by cutting an apple in half and painting orange and printing onto paper this left the print of a pumpkin, The children drew pumpkin faces on to the prints to take home.

Everyone had a good time and all of the children said how much they enjoyed the games and arts & crafts , i did also make them a little party bag each to go home with, I filled these with items that i picked up after last Halloween so really only cost me penny to fill, only thing i brought new was the sweets! 

So that was our little Halloween party and no doubt i will be hosting one again next year ! I hope you have enjoyed this blog post and please leave a comment if you have been to any Halloween parties or events this year.

1st time Hosting a Babyshower

When i found out that my sister in law was due a baby i knew i had to host a baby shower for her, She is the kindest most giving person i know and i wanted to do something nice for her! only problem was so did so many people !! ( I think in total she had x6 baby showers ) So i wanted to do something for her and baby that was a little different with out the spending going crazy. 

Her shower was very close to her due date ( As it turned out she gave birth two days after the baby shower! ) so i came up with the idea of a spa day / afternoon tea theme hosted from my house. 

I kept things really simple by inviting family and close friends that everyone knew everyone as sometimes i find with baby showers ( and hen parties ) that too many women from different social groups just don't blend well, A lovely lady came and did gel nail for us all and all the guests paid a few pounds each towards mumma bear having her nails and toes done, This was a lovely way for mum to be to feel good about herself before giving birth and lefts face it you get to a point in pregnancy when you can't even see your feet anymore let alone reach down to paint them ! 

food and drink was spilt between the guests i found this really helped to keep the cost down as if i had paid out for all of the food and drinks i would have blown my budget, I brought ready made cakes x12 for £6 from morrisons and other pink basked items ( As we know she was having a little girl ) I also found some lovely baby shower items in pound land and on amazon ( IF ordering the cheaper items from amazon or eBay give your self lots of time some of my items took around six weeks to come ) 

 i was very kindly sent samples to give out to the ladies from Sudocrem, Sudocrem Care and Protect Cream. The cream has been specially designed for baby’s delicate skin, protecting it against the causes of nappy rash. It has gentle yet effective and can even be used on newborn babies. And for mothers, Sudocrem have also launched a Skin Care Cream which has been designed to soothe little rashes and dry patches of skin and it fits in perfectly with a daily skin care routine. It uses the same key ingredients as Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream just in different proportions. It’s also the perfect size for travelling and popping in the change bag, Ive been using mine on my hands are they get super dry this time of year and it is really helping me. Sudocrem can be found in all good retailers and supermarkets , Its a well known brand and one that all new mums should know about , The guests loved having items to take home with them and i added in a face mask and wash cloths to each plate setting for the arrival. ( more information about sudocrem can be found on the website ) 

As for gifting I was very kindly sent items from gift pup they sell a huge range of personalised items ranging from the lovely soft teddy bear seen below to photos gifts or engraved glasses, We was sent a i-love-you-coco-teddy-bear with the words our little girl printed ( as know one never baby girls name ) these are £16.99 and also we had two mugs printed one for mum and one for dad theses are £8.99 and i love the game over mug perfect for dad to be who lets face it don't really get a look in when it comes to baby showers. The site has many gifts that are perfect for a baby shower or newborn gifts and the website is simple and easy to use and the items only took a few days from order to dispatch. 







Everyone had a lovely afternoon and it was a really relaxed baby shower , Mum to be said it was just what she needed and really enjoyed herself and loved all of her gifts and popped her sudocrem in her handbag ready for little ladies arrival. I would like to thank both sudocrem and Giftpups for sending the items for the baby shower in return for inclusion within the blogpost. 

My advice .... Do what you feel the mum to be will enjoy ! try to not stress out and don't go over the top with food or games ( you'll be too busy talking about babies to play them )

Should you take your child to a Funeral ?

Funerals are a hard thing to deal with at any age, But when is the right age to take a child to one? my nan passed away at the end of August and Bodhi ( Who is 5 1/2 years old ) was very close with her.

We visit her most weeks in her care home and to him she was another nanny rather then a grand-nan.
Towards the end of my nan's live she grew more Frail and sleepy i stopped taking Bodhi to visit a few weeks before she passed as i didn't want him to remember her like this. So when i told Bodhi that Granny had died he was sad but he understood that it meant she was no longer in any pain.

In 2016 we lost of a lot of family members so death was something we had already spoken about with Bodhi and we explained it that they had gone to live in the clouds ( as both myself and husband Chris doesn't really believe in God or the after life in terms of heaven and hell )

When i asked Bodhi if he wanted to come and say good bye to Granny he did have a few questions.

" will we see Granny ? "
" Do I have to cry ? "
" will i miss school "
" Can i stand up and say some nice things about Granny "

my answers

" No, ( this idea had come about thanks to American cartoons such as simpsons who have open casket funerals ) Granny will be inside of a casket so we won't see her "

" If you feel like you want to cry then thats fine, It's also fine if you don't cry "

" Yes you will miss the afternoon of school " ( to this he did a little happy dance and i *might* have gotten cross )

" why don't you tell me what you'd like to say and we can write it down and someone else can read your words out? " The thought of 5 year old Bodhi standing up in a funeral talking about his Granny was too much ! I'd have broken.


So when the date of the funeral came around we sent Bodhi off to school as normal and reminded the school office that i'd be picking him up after lunch. Once i picked him up we got him half changed ( School trousers and shoes are perfect funeral wear ) I had ordered him a plain black school jumper for £3 from asda online He looked smart but was comfy.

ON the drive over we spoke about what would happen at the crematorium and told him that it would be like a school assembly, with time for listening and some signing and you had to sit still and not talk. Bodhi asked if we would have to sit on the floor like in school !

The funeral was very short and only lasted around 20 minutes and Bodhi sat really well and held my hand, I was so proud of him and how grown up he was behaving. He didn't cry but he did tell me later that he was sad when listening to all of the stories about Granny.

Afterwards we headed to a local pub and had a little buffet dinner , Now this was when things started to go down hill as i was busy talking to family so didn't take too much notice of what Bodhi was eating , Turns out x3 cookies a cream tea scone , slice of carrot cake and a strawberry tart will send your 5 year old on a sugar rush.

We looked at photos of Granny together and he spoke to family about things he remembers about her and over all i feel that we did the right thing in taking Bodhi to say his goodbyes, Over all though ? Its 100% down to the child.

tips

1) Make sure your child has eaten before the ceremony
2) make sure your child has been to the toilet before the ceremony !!
3) talk to your child , explaining what till happen on the day. I forgot to say about the curtain and Bodhi why they were shutting
4) make sure you have the support of your other half or family on talking your child, IF your husband thinks its a bad idea to take them and they end up having a melt down, they will not help and pull that horrid " I told you so face "
5) do what you think is right for your family and children if you don't think they are ready to be in that kind of environment then don't take them.

I hope this might help others and if you have just lost a loved one then i am sorry.

#ChileanEasyPeelers

One of Bodhi's many nicknames is 'fruit bat' He boy loves his fruit ! I have to keep the fruit bowl stocked at all times but this isn't such a bad thing.

Most mornings after his breakfast Bodhi will help himself to something out of the fruit bowl, Now that he is five nearly six he can peal an easy peeler no problems and loves the fact that he can!

I myself try my hardest to eat fruit but sometimes a busy day gets in the way and before you know it you've gone all day with out eating! I will take fruit with me to my evening job to keep me going.

I try to buy fruit that is in season as not only is it cheaper but i find the fruit tastes so much better when you buy it at the right time of the year, Our Chilean easy peelers are full of flavour, nice and juicy and sweet.

 Bodhi " I love peeling my own fruit , I wish mummy would let me eat all of these in one go. Two thumbs up from me ! "

About Chilean Easy Peeler

The demand for Chilean easy peelers are growing in the UK as the convenient, seedless fruits are sweet in flavor and a hydrating snack, perfect for families.

With year on year growth of 32% in tonnes sold in the UK, the amount of Chilean mandarins sold last season reached over 2,000 tonnes. The predictions for this year’s crop are even greater.

Available in supermarket shelves from September to November, the delicious fruits are the ideal snack for back to school season.

1. Easy peelers are great for children's lunch boxes. Young children love doing things for themselves and easy peelers help them do just this. With easy peelers, children are also less likely to need teachers help to peel these, so they are more likely be eaten rather than left in lunch boxes. Older children love a snack they can grab before studies or while they’re on the go.
2. Easy peelers are a great source of water - they are about 87 per cent water. Children should be encouraged to drink water but eating foods with a high water content such as citrus fruit may help to keep them hydrated too. These are especially great to pack on hot or busy days, or when children are taking part in sports, to help keep hydration levels topped up.
3. Easy peelers are low in calories, fat and a good provider of vitamins and minerals. In particular, they help to provide children with fibre, folate, vitamin C, potassium, calcium and magnesium.
4. Easy peelers save mums time in a morning and as we know time is precious. No more peeling, cutting and slicing when making your child’s lunch boxes - just pop in an easy peel mandarin!
5. To make peeling even more fun, attach a sticker on the peel in a morning when making up your child's lunch box. Easy peelers can also be packed into picnics, passed out and eaten at sporting events or practice, given as a treat and presented to your child when you pick them up for a healthy energy and juicy fluid boost.

This post is an entry for the BritMums #ChileanEasyPeelers Challenge, sponsored by Chilean Citrus Committee.

Tarquin and Troops Etsy shop prints * REVIEW *

I find the best way to make over a room with little cost and effort is art work, These prints from Tarquin and Troops are for our hallway and landing i love the range of animals in different outfits i had so many to pick from it was hard work picking five ! i went for these ones are they are the ones that made me smile the most. 

Alligator B-Ball player 

Bert the Beaver Cowboy

Kari the Koala outback policeman

Reginald the Rhino Solider at Buckingham Palace.

Clancy the Emu Australian Solider 

we love how the animals has a recognisable occupation and its own personality i feel this adds an educational dimension to the images.

they can be found via etsy shop Tarquin and Troops you can download them and print at home A4 in size i find this perfect for framing ( the frame in the photo below was from pound land of all places and yes it was a £1 ) 

Each animal comes with a back story this is Clancy the Emu 

Clancy the Emu Australian Solider poster art for your child's bedroom, playroom or nursery wall. A digital poster printable that will enthrall your child's imagination.  

Clancy never wanted to work in an office, wearing a suit. He wanted to see the world. Be in the great Australian outdoors. So what better way to see the great Oz outback and beyond other than becoming a solider in the Australian army. He is a funny bird. Making everyone laugh with his jokes and is a real team player. That's why he quickly rose up the ranks and now is a Lieutenant colonel. 

They also have a range of animals without clothes on , these would be perfect for a new borns nursery. These prints over all would look amazing in a childrens waiting area or in a class room. 

Art work like this is fun and that little bit different , don't get me wrong i love ikea and b & m but its nice to have something that is uqnice to your on personal tastes. 

Thank you to Tarquin and Troops for sending us these prints to review, We love them and they have brighten up our hallway. 

MOKURU ( the Amazing desk toy ) * REVIEW & GIVEAWAY *

In Japan, “wood” translates to “moku”, and “flipping” translates to “kuru”. That’s how the the name, “MOKURU” came to life, and this " fidget stick' ( As Bodhi calls it ) really does come to life when used.

Now unless you have been living in a cave for the last six months you will have no doubt seen a fidget spinner, I personally dislike the spinners but when our MOKURU arrived i was very pleased at just how different it was to a spinner. Bodhi and his dad have spent hours trying out new trips & flips its pretty amazing what you can do with this little green stick! My dad even asked if it had batteries or magnets, he was also very impressed

MOKURU is suitable for everyone old and young alike, Just playing with MOKURU for a few minutes a day can help you sharpen your focus and hand-eye coordination. No matter what tricks you decide to practise, playing with MOKURU can give you endless hours of fun. Bodhi has gotten so good at flipping this MOKURU over just the last few day and will sit at the kitchen table playing with it giving me peace to crack on with the dinner! 

MOKURU is an amazing desk toy crafted with quality beech wood. It has a simple design with endless possibilities that will test your creativity and dexterity. Play with MOKURU for fun or sharpen your skills and style to become a master. You can even play MOKURU with friends. It’s totally up to you, You can buy MOKURU from amazon I would advice against buying a cheaper own brand version Bodhi's cousin brought these after seeing Bodhis ( He took it to afternoon tea with us ) And the cheaper versions are harder to use and i found less enjoyable to use. 

I have a giveaway for two lucky reader to win a MOKURU ( I have no control over the colour the winners will be sent ) please enter the rafflecopter below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* I WAS SENT OUR MOKURU TO REVIEW IN EXCHANGE FOR THIS REVIEW & GIVEAWAY * 

Fentimans * taste test & review *

I don't drink ... like at all ! my last alcoholic drink was back in 2007 that's 10 years ago 10 years!! I don't drink for reasons that are my own but over the years i have become a lover of none-alcoholic drink options and over the last few years more and more options have come into the market.

I first tried a rose lemonade by Fentimans last year while out for dinner , It was delicious and i was hooked. So when i had the opportunity to try out other flavours from the range i couldn't say no. The delivery man turned up with my crate of glass bottle and i was like a kid at Christmas not knowing what one to try first.



We hosted a late summer BBQ and i shared my drinks with my friends any family, they all commented on the taste and packaging and just how refreshing all of the flavours were.

We even made mock tails with a few flavours with five year old son Bodhi.

pink drink

x1 bottle of rose lemonade

x1 cup of fresh raspberries 

lemonade

ice

mix all of the ingredients together in a jug, mash up the raspberries and place into glasses, finish with ice , straw and if you must an umbrella. and enjoy ! Bodhi loved the mashing up the berries and feeling grown up with his mock tail drink. 

Cherry ice cream float

x1 bottle of cherry cola

x1 tub of vanilla ice cream 

very simple add the ice cream to the glass and then top with the cherry cola ( this would also work with the rest of the range ) we love ice cream floats in our house and bodhi said this was the best one he has had so far! 

You can view the whole range in more detail on the fentimans website, they also sell mixers and pre mixed alcoholic drinks. I love that the drinks come in glass bottles but it felt a shame to stick them in the recycling bin so i cleaned them out and added chalk stickers to them and made myself new herb jars for my kitchen. 

part of the none alcoholic range can now also be brought in can size, these would be perfect for talking out on a picnic or a day at the beach, Over all i love these drinks and they are now my go to end of the week treat. my favourite is still the rose lemonade and i am also now very keen on the cola and cherry cola.

A big thank you to Fentimans for sending me these drinks to try and review.