This is such a fun and simple activity no matter how old you are kid or not!
All you'll need is
Silicone mould in a design of your choice
A selection of different coloured crayons
This is a great way to upcycle old crayons that have been broken and unloved. However, we just got a big batch of fresh crayons as we made these for India's friends as cute Christmas gifts.
Let us start with the packaging. It came in the cutest almost shoebox box that had a beautiful illustration on top, kinda kicking myself for not taking pictures of it - so you'll have to take my word, but it made it look like such a high-end piece that would make a perfect Christmas, birthday , you're the BEST gift. Also completely recyclable * thumbs up emoji x 10 *
DIY difficulty - It comes fully built sat pretty in the box ready to play which makes it the ideal gift because no one likes to spend there life undoing unnecessary ties or unscrewing bolts for batteries.
That moves us on to playtime which is endless cos what kid doesn't like stacking? I haven't met one yet! Let's say you want to take away the poles because it gets jabbed in your eye every now and again , then the shapes are the perfect building blocks, everything about this piece screams imagination. However this doesn't have various size holes so there's no valuable lesson in problem-solving or concept of size, that's not to say there is no learning involved due to its shapes while building and stacking boost both fine and gross motor skills as well as eye-hand coordination which is nothing but amazing. Hopefully they bring a 2.0 out with varied holes or larger / smaller shapes.
I've really been loving H&M for their price point and gorggggg wood pieces and then of course LaRedoute - where i recently got India's bed from. Although i shouldn't promote getting things on finance it was a great way to afford it and they usually do amazing sales and 'VIP' codes if you sign up which gave me 40% off!
One day I realized how much the little one has taken over and even our bedroom space had turned in to her 'dumping' ground. I find it really hard to make balance as I'd rather a livingroom be a cute play space rather than a mix match of adult and toy clutter but that just me.Maybe if we had a larger home with multiple rooms i'd feel different.
The point of this small little ramble is that I've decided to change up our bedroom with the mind of it being an adult space ONLY. I may even treat us to a vase. We're very limited on money for this change so I'm taking to my trusty paint everything white skill and seeing what i can come up with on eBay/ facebook marketplace/charity shops etc. Wish me luck!
Usually we go to these events and tell you about it after... but today i thought i'd put maximum effort in just incase you are interested and want to go- if you're reading this after the fact, don't worry i'll have a review in the next post!
Held in the stunning seaside location of Southsea overlooking the Solent, Victorious Festival is the ultimate family-friendly experience and heres why...
The Kids Arena, described as a ‘mini-festival in itself’, features an abundance of family-friendly activities including face painting, karaoke and even a children’s disco all of which are completely free to mini festival-goers!
Headline performances on the kids stage include CBeebies royalty, Mr Bloom on the Sunday and the bravest Polar bear you’ll ever meet, Captain Barnacles on the Saturday. Across the weekend there will be story time with Peppa Pig and George, everyone’s favourite yellow transformer, Bumblebee. Plus a number of fairytale Princesses will be visiting throughout the day!
There’s plenty of music suitable for youngsters of all ages to enjoy, including Rock School, a mini-disco, drum workshops and kids karaoke. If it’s creativity you’re looking for, head to the Arts & Crafts tent to get stuck into a range of activities including cupcake decorating and colouring or simply pull up a deck chair and relax in the Beach Area, whilst you watch your little one’s build sandcastles!
The stunning festival site is well-equipped for families to explore at ease with pavements and roads throughout the site that are perfect for strollers. There are also fantastic family facilities such as a baby change area and breast feeding station for those who wish to get away from the crowds.
Revellers can expect an eclectic mix of live music and DJ performances, from some of the biggest names in the music industry, as well as a medley of locally sourced food markets and ale stalls, an arts and craft marketplace, a jam-packed kids arena hosting themed games, live performances and much, much more.
With Friday tickets available from £35 *, Saturday and Sunday at £40 * and weekend tickets from £110 *, a day Victorious Festival continues to be one of the best value festivals in the UK!
Worth It?: 10 Okay, let's do this! Finally a plastic toy review. I really deliberated what to toy do after it being paraded and fed right in front of me the whole time. The Miniland baby!
I'm back on youtube after being away for many months. I find it hard sometimes as it's like being on bigbrother constantly, apart from you have to watch yourself 10 million times over until you edit yourself 'cool' enough for someone else to watch - just to go and leave a negative comment or thumbs down. Social medias kinda brutal when you think about it right? Anyway, I'm not my biggest fan however I've decided to put that aside as pictures just aren't doing it for me at the moment. I love them, photography truley is my passion. However, you then miss the quirks, funny, cute or even insane moments. That's what i want to document... along with the crying and sad. I don't want to create clickbait titles or crazy thumbnails. My channel is going to be what it is. Our life. Like it or lump it but I do hope you enjoy it haha.
Here is the first vlog back, i have uploaded more since then so you have a few to catch up on!
In all honesty, you're all probably bored of me blabbering on about how much I love Smallable, but for you all that don't follow me over on Instagram... I LOVE SMALLABLE.
Smallable is somewhere you can find beautiful things that have been perfectly curated for your home, nursery to even skincare or fashion.
I personally have loved the company since finding them when i was pregnant. This however made me spend far too much, that's what your first ones all about though right? I love to shop with a whole range of brands and they seem to always stock the ones i adore which is perfect for Indias modern bohemian style and myself, the shopping addict.
I think that in general, the clothes are a little bit pricier as they're a lot more special/better quality and some brands sustainable. However they have the best outlet which i'm constantly refreshing, defo one to check out if you can't afford the full price items.
''We love brands and designers that tell a story and that are committed to making goods with the utmost respect for human beings and the environment. We like being selective, without being elitist. Well-being, beauty and goodness are the very essence of our DNA.
We support designers who are committed to:
- environmental protection and human respect.
- ethical production by supporting communities of women and men and by adhering to employee protection schemes.
- a local limited production.
This is what Smallable guarantees; products made with care by passionate designers, very often in small quantities and sometimes by hand.''
They currently have a private sale going on so i sifted through the pages and found these... Alas, i have no money this month so please shop so i can live through you all. So many gorgeous pieces ... goes and cries in a locked toilet.
Its also the best place to find your matching outfits with your babe.
My Favourite brand to twin in.
Sidenote* I was talking to my friend the other day and discussing the prices of Mamas and Papas and how when you're in the shop although you wince, you would easily pay £22 - 34 for a dress, so how come we find it harder to support smaller businesses when presented with that price? Is it because it's a in the moment rather than see the numbers on the screen?
Another sidenote* I spent more than i EVER have on a Millk knitted set for India and she wears it 2/3 days of the week for the past 8 months. i, of course, bought it in the bigger size. whereas things i have bought from lets say Asda or Next have been worn once or twice and forgotten about. So i think that if you truly love something and you will enjoy seeing your little one being in it. Go for it. Just make sure you buy some Vanish! Never be afraid of ruining clothes, there's always a solution to fix it plus life is for living!
I came up with this very deconstructed version of a cream soda float, as I was making my coconut milk I suddenly thought how nice 'nice cream' would be with it ... and here we are. My life changing morning, lunch or dinner bowl was made. Okay not so life changing but it is scrummmm.
Everything in this bowl is using my coconut milk I make with my almond cow machine.
( Get $15 off with my discount code: GEORGIE you can take a look at it HERE)
It honestly saves you a bomb with the amount you pay out for nut-based milk and also gives you the base to a lot of insane recipes with the leftovers it creates! Zero waste, Zero plastic.
So here we go let's start with the coconut milk recipe : 1 cup fresh coconut shreds or flakes a pinch of sea salt 3 pitted dates 1 tsp vanilla extract Soak the coconut shreds/flakes in hot water for 1-2 hours.
Rinse the coconut shreds or flakes in water briefly.
Place the coconut shreds in the Almond Cow filter basket with the dates, this adds sweetness to your milk.
Fill the base of the machine with water up to the fill line, add the vanilla extract, and attach the top of the Almond Cow.
Press the blend button on the top of the machine, and allow to blend for about 45 seconds.
Keep the coconut remains as you can make energy balls, biscuits, brownies, granola... whatever your heart desires with it! Or you could just totally eat it then and there. Yumm.Once I made my milk I added some to my chia seeds so that they could sit and drink up the goodness ready to serve at the end. I prefer these white chia seeds .
There's so many different ways to use them, I'm sure you've seen all the recipes on Pinterest. When added to milk the best way i can describe them, is similar to rice pudding texture wise. You can sprinkle on muesli, fruit or even use in baking.
*Chia Seeds are high in Omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids. Antioxidant-rich, they contain complete protein, more calcium than milk and are an excellent source of dietary fiber.
Next up was to make up a batch of nice cream. It is so simple and so much healthier than icecream.
As soon as you see your bananas go brown, slice them up thinly and chuck them in your freezer, once frozen add a splash of milk, vanilla essence and honey to your blender along with your bananas.
Viola, super creamy 'ice cream'. It will keep in your freezer for about 2 months.
That's it! just spoon some of your nice cream, coconut milk and chia seeds in your bowl and for the finishing touch coconut caramel sauce - which is honestly pure heaven.
It's so satisfying to make a meal completely from scratch with something you've made, even my biscuits were made from the coconut meal left by the Almond Cow machine.
Soak those almonds of yours about a cup full overnight so they're all juicy and plump.
So first of all lets get the kettle on and stew some chai tea bags, you could totally make your own flavour and not cheat with a tea bag by stewing honey, cinnamon , ginger, vanilla, cardamom , cloves and cinnamon with a bit of water. Who has time for that though? You'll have to strain it etc etc etc i'm lazy so lets get back to the tea bag deal.
You'll only want a little bit of water in with the chai tea just enough to get the flavour running through your milk.
While thatsaaaa brewing lets make the almond milk, now i have a Almond Cow machine and i know that not everyone has that luxury so i'm going to give you the recipe on how i made it before hand.
Usually people say to peel the skin off the almonds but honestly i don't notice the difference enough to feel the need to do so.. but if you would like? then do so. Stick them in the blender with some water ( the ratio i use is 1 cup almonds 3 cup water ) and blitz until smooth...pour the liquid out in a secure muslin cloth over a bowl ( or you can get a straining bag ) and pour the almond mixture in to it. Then bunch up the cloth or bag and squeeze the milk out SO DAMN SATISFYING. You'll be left with pulp which you can make in to almond flour, just dry it out and store in to a jar until needed.
Last step combine your brewed chai tea and milk together, thats it.
The milk lasts up to 3 - 4 days in the fridge :)
It's so much easier than you think and cheaper than buying it already bottled.
I love experimenting with vanilla and agave nectar.
Use my discount code : GEORGIE for $15 dollars off www.almondcow.com
The only thing I feel like doing when India falls asleep on me is of course online shopping ...FOR HER. I can't help it, I'm obsessed. Anyways I pulled together my favourite finds, just click the image to shop!
Hands up if you buy toys more for you than your kids?
This is no exception, although you may have to play a bit of rough and tumble to get the marbles first.
I've grabbed this information from their website as there's no point me trying to reword something that's already said perfectly.
''This amazing natural resource is OPEN-ENDED so a child can truly use their imagination to explore and play! It’s used differently each time children play with it, allowing for multiple purposes in play. Children use this resource in a variety of ways fostering children’s creativity, allowing them freedom and choice. One day it’s being used for exploring and investigating how things roll and another day it’s being used in pretend play. Limitless play opportunities. The best learning resources have no boundaries!It is so important every child gets the opportunity to play with concrete resources that deepen their understanding for future learning concepts they will need, to succeed. This resource will give your child the opportunity to build a solid understanding of foundational maths and science concepts (STEM).As they construct their own bamboo tracks they learn about how things move, known in scientific terminology as ‘force and motion’. It has a lot more scope than traditional marble runs with more opportunities for children to practise problem solving, experiment with angles and weight as they investigate rolling a variety of objects. If you’re serious about children learning through play then this is one natural learning resource that you must have in your block corner or child’s play room.''
I don't really know what more to say as I have absolutely no bad points about this toy, it feeds every beige bamboo desire I have for my home on top of being a toy India will sit and play with for 40 minutes straight. She will keep going back to it laughing and giggling away.
They've marked this at 3yrs + but at 18 months India loves it, so don't let that put you off. You can get a few extra years of play out of it that's for sure!
The only thing I could possibly say if I'm really trying to nitpick is that I'd love there to be more stands and pegs just because I always have something bigger and larger than life mapped out in my mind. I had the same issue with the Way to Play roads too but that's down to my greediness as you certainly get what you pay for with these!!
The design is quite compact I even took it to the New Forest for our Easter party where the older kids took over and made easter egg ramps. It's just the perfect addition to any toy collection for outside and indoor play.
I can't lie to you guys, I didn't make this recipe up.
However, I think banana bread is a pretty universal thing so there's no shame here. I thought I'd share it as it's damn tasty. -INGREDIENTS- 1/3 cup melted butter 3-4 Ripe bananas, peeled. ( i usually use whatever I have left, the riper the better )1 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 cup sugar 1 large egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour Preheat the oven to 175°C and butter up a 4x8-inch loaf pan. In a mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until completely smooth. Stir the melted butter into the mashed bananas. I like to keep one banana till the end so there are tasty lumps throughout the bread - but each to their own. Mix in the baking soda, sugar, beaten egg, and vanilla extract. Mix in the flour. Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour at 175°C, or until a tester inserted into the centre comes out clean. ( I actually pour my batter into two separate cases just so Tom can take one to work and I have one all to myself )
Worth It?: 9 Something a little smaller today! India loves being creative and it makes me so happy seeing that little spark in her eyes when she's in her own world of imagination, it would be nice if that world didn't spill on to my beautiful wallpaper, however that's just me being a grumbly mum.
So what is the review on? Playon crayons by Studio Skinky, you can get them in pastels and primary colourways ( Pictured: we have both and are from My Shiny Shop )
Question is, is a crayon really worth a review? When is a crayon more than a crayon?! At £11 these are a little more on the pricier side from the cheap little packets you can pick up however they are strong and it would take some real effort to snap or break when they're pressed down, even Indias teeth failed, I know right. No one wants to get in between those jaws! There are no leads to break, or wear down, so no need for sharpeners - those things are like bobby pins?! Where the hell do they go?! Playon Crayons really do make a great first crayon for little babes as they are a perfect size and shape for small chubby hands to easily grip and hold or even wear as a finger puppet if were getting creative. The way that they are shaped encourages a better ‘pencil grip’ getting those fine motor skills going. They have a beautiful pigment and go on the paper smoothly without leaving any residue or a slimy/oily feeling on the hands. They are non-toxic and the packaging is 100% recyclable. Wahoo!
Did I mention they're stackable?! Endless play. The fact that you can actually turn them into a game or part of a sensory activity set up makes that extra money worth it. We currently have them sitting pretty in rainbow order on her shelves. Yup that's right! They made the shelves!
I love these and would highly recommend them to anyone.
So here's the thing, I want to write a crazy good blog post on how you should switch to reusable nappies because they are the bomb and maybe you're a little like me making some ridiculous narrative like you're gonna be covered in poop all the time and your washing triples. Guess what... I'm shit at writing blog posts however I can pop that disgusting bubble you're imagining because it isn't half as bad as you think!
When it comes to babes it's easier to stick with what you know. Everyone has a million opinions, there are also so many options ... why would you go with the rogue one? The one that's saving the planet? Duh just that, let me through this figure at you - 8 million nappies are sent to landfill every day in the UK alone, which are estimated to take 500 years to decompose PER NAPPY.
I want to start this off by saying i'm not perfect and i don't 100% use them all the time. That's okay, we have to remember that you have to be real with your situations and do the best you can do. Making small changes are better than making none!
I think the main thing you think of is having to deal with poop, which yes isn't very glam but you've probably done at least one rodeo with an explosive poop nappy which can only desensitise you to everything else in life, right?! I don't think anything can phase you after that.
We actually use liners inside the reusables, due to her pooing solids now its nice and easy just to plop that in the toilet. I have read reviews about parents having poo knives or spatulas which i find hilarious but honestly scrape or shake that poo down the toilet and give it a rinse off. It's really not a big deal.
Fun fact - technically, you’re supposed to put the poo down the toilet with disposable nappies too, so that faecal matter doesn’t go into landfill, and spread diseases. I found that out over on mamalina's blog so if you're interested in this post you should defo go over and check her out! She's much better at all this than me.
So now we've moved on from poo, what next? *I've only used Bambino Mio ones so my experience has only been with them. Which by the way are absolutely awesome. I make sure the inside lining is pulled out and the velcro tabs are folded together, I then simply put them in a lined laundry bag then when I'm ready just shake them out into the washing machine, It's really no hassle. I don't tumble dry them as this would ruin the velcro tabs, just simply lay them out on a rack overnight ready to be used the next day.
India loves them. The painstaking task of putting of her in a nappy stops! She picks out whatever print she fancies and will stand there, like the queen that she is waiting for me to put in on! So they must be comfy for her versus the 'normal' pull-ups.
What happens if you're out? Just get a watertight small bag! Pop the nappy in that until you get home.
Theres no soacking poo stained clothes in the sink as they're much better at keeping that poop in or even those midnight runs to the shop because you've run out of nappies.
Just buy 3 and use them every couple of days, you will be shocked. The worst thing that happens is that you'll hate them ( totally won't happen ) and you can resell them! Plenty people buy second-hand ones online as they actually get more absorbent the more they're washed!
I would highly suggest the Bambino Mio ones.
''The award-winning miosolo is a simple, stylish and super soft all-in-one reusable nappy which is as easy to use as a disposable! The nappy is onesize* meaning it will grow with your baby from birth to potty training.''
Hope this has helped a little and if you have any questions feel free to ask me :)
If there's anyone's wardrobe I'd wanna raid it would be the Olsen twins. My god.
I've become slightly obsessed over on Pinterest with them, have they ever got an outfit wrong? Usually, you look back at photos and think OH GOD what were they thinking?!
They have such a strong sense of style a perfect beautiful blend between bohemian and
Parisian. Free flowing and rarely figure-hugging. Theres too much hype on having to show your figure off ... why? for whom?
Their look at the moment is very dark but the layers and length are still there. I prefer the archive fashion especially Mary Kate in this kimono est 2006 The layers of embelishment mixed with jewels and belt have me all kinds of dribbling.
So heres my curated edit from the shops, click the images to shop!
Waytoplay stands for 100% unplugged, imaginative fun. The easy to connect & mix track lets kids create any road they like. Use it anywhere from beaches to carpets.
Packing: 1
DIY Difficulty: 0
Love At First Site: 9
Play Time: 6
Home Styling: 8
Breakability: Flexible
Worth It?: 8
I am so conflicted with these because I am obsessed! I couldn't love them anymore, I think they're perfect if you want to move away from the wooden train tracks and although there's something similar like tape tracks there is nothing in the same league as these.
As they are made from rubber this means they can be placed anywhere from carpets to sandy or rocky beaches...well actually pretty much everywhere think sides of baths or inclines. It's anopen-ended toy that can be added to, with birthdays and Christmases, amazing for an invitation to play set up, HOWEVER... I do think they're overpriced. You could argue the cost per wear in which case that would soon diminish as it is a toy that kids don't grow out of... I mean heck I'm enjoying playing with them, both sides are printed so there are endless possibilities. I just really do struggle with the amount you get! Especially when in your mind you have this massive track that goes from your front door, around the table, and into the garden. That's a student loan. I joke.
You can't put a price on something that will boost their imagination. At least that's what I tell myself everytime I pull my card out for India.
One thing to note is that India can't click them together at 17 months, she can play and goes 'brummm' with her cars but does get frustrated if they pull apart. That's why my playtime number was knocked down a few.
packaging is worth a mention as its very minimal and the box it comes in is great for storage as its tightly packed in so you wont get offended with oversized boxes or have to find something to keep them in.
Even though I'm conflicted if you have a kid/kids that love cars, lorries, trains, planes... okay anything with wheels this is a must-have.
If you can't afford it try the tapes I found below. A fun alternative however is a lot less permanent.
