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oranges and cloves
Always love playing around with oranges and cloves, and the smell of the orange/cloves combination that it creates around the house is so wonderfully Christmas'y...there is no right or wrong way to do this and promotes excellent concentration and hand/eye...
mini chocolate and clementine loaf cakes
These are possibly the most delicious and gorgeous looking little yummy treats I've eaten this Christmas season...Plenty of opportunity for measuring, transferring, pouring, juicing, mixing, counting, sharing and of course licking the spoon!!! what you need... 225g...
Cheesy Christmas Stars
These are totally yummy and make for the ideal little snack or treat... what you need... 150g self raising flour half a teaspoon of salt 75g butter 75g cheese 1 egg 1 tbsp milk star cutter baking tray baking paper large bowl wooden spoon small bowl grater pastry brush...
Bread Star Decorations
These make such pretty decorations for the Christmas tree or around the house at Christmas time!!!! what you need... loaf of white bread cookie cutter shape straw glue silver paint glitter ribbon what you do... push down your cookie cutter shape into the slice of...
3d Christmas tree
Love this sweet little Christmas craft idea...So simple and easy to make. what you need... card christmas tree stencil, can be any size pencil scissors green paint paintbrush glitter what to do... depending on the age of your child you may need to help draw around...
gingerbread christmas biscuits
Christmas wouldn't be the same without the gingerbread biscuits making their warming appearance at our tea time table... what you need... 350g plain flour 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 2 tsp ground ginger 125g butter 180g light muscavado sugar 1 egg 4 tbsp golden syrup...
sparkly terracotta pots
Absolutely love this little Christmas craft activity, perfect for a sweet little gift or decor for your Christmas table... what you need... gold paint glue gold/bronze glitter mini terracotta pot small plant - mini poinsettia paint brush what to do... cover your table...
Shortbread Stars
So we are all beginning to get a little bit excited to say the least about Christmas...it is without a doubt the time to be busy making and creating. These are a sweet and wonderful activity for children of all ages. The perfect Christmas treat... what you need......
playdough nursery rhymes
Oh my goodness, where have I been with all my creative enthusiasm you must all be thinking!!! jeeeeeeeeeee whizzzzzzzzzzz lately I feel like I have been running on a tread mill that I can't get off and when I do it feels too totally weird so I have to jump straight...
bonfire night
Remember remember the 5th November, Gunpowder treason and plot. We see no reason why gunpowder treason, should ever be forgot... Whizz poop bang, its that time of year again when bonfires and fire works light up our skies, and roasting marshmallows and sucking on...
Autumn Leaf Wreath
My goodness me how I have loved Autumn this year, the warm mild hazy days of colour and inspiration has just made me want to be outside and wonder through the beautiful parks of London. Who said London was grey? I have seen beauty like no other this Autumn, pavements...
half term Halloween ideas…
The nights are drawing in and before we know it we'll be putting the clocks back and coming face to face with that ever familiar tap tap tap at the front door, to open it to a crowd of sugar crazed, dressed up, spooky little kiddies all ready to dive into a basket...
autumnal leaves
What Autumn means to me: stories, change, leaves, colour, orange, red, dry, bonfires, gathering, rustling, woodlands, outside, misty mornings, cosy evenings, walks, embrace, fresh, togetherness. Autumn is such a beautiful season and one I find truly...
Autumn apple tarts
Take me back to the weekend where we rolled down grassy hills, wondered though leafy woodland, went on bear hunts...breathing in the fresh air, embracing the never ending views, rustling through autumnal woodland, collecting leaves of gorgeous oranges, reds and...
cheesy puff pastry snails
what to do on a rainy Saturday morning with my little ones?! grab some ready made rolled puff pastry, grate some cheese and get down to some serious creative culinary skills!!! These ever so easy little edible eats are fun to make and yummy to eat!!! what you need......
sensorial play with cornflour and water
Take me back to this gorgeous hour spent with my son the day before he started school, before all the little worries on both of our parts crept in, when the next steps of growing up (on both our parts!!!) were highlighted. Goodness me, for something so simple, it had...
nature cutting tray
We seem to be following on a little theme from last weeks creative 'fern printing' post, as it just seems nature walks in the late September sunshine is just how we roll these days...little adventures exploring the fields and parks and gardens, soaking up the last of...
fern leaf printing
woweeeeeeee this week has gone so super fast!!! Too much going back to school business for my liking but as always we are slowly getting back into the swing of things and finding our feet once again... This little post was inspired by our beautiful Sunday we've just...
painting with toy vehicles
eeK!! one day late with the posting of this blog...last week of the school holidays has had me faffing around with much needed unpacking from various summer time adventures, a mini spring (autumn) clean around the house, ordering last minute school uniform, writing...
smoothie ice lolly loveliness…
We literally can't get enough of these totally yummy and easy to make ice lollies in our house, and what's more they are super healthy too!!! The perfect refreshing snack for any little munchkin... Now all we need is for all this lovely sunshine to last forever!!!...
flavoured ice cubes that are oooooo so pretty
A sweet friend of mine, offered me a refreshing glass of water a couple of months back, and in it popped a couple of ice cubes which at second glance had a segment of lemon frozen inside....I thought this was genius!!! not only did it make for a stylish drink but...
a favourite – guacamole
I don't think there is anything I would rather call my most favourite food...I LOVE avocados!!! I eat at least one a day, and throw in the opportunity of making the most delicious dip ever, it makes for a very happy me!!! One of my children shares my love for...
sunny sun-dried tomatoes
This is more like a little science experiment, looking at the effects the sun has on the tomato fruit over several days, and how with the change of appearance come, a deepening of colour and a completely different taste too. We love making sun-dried tomatoes, not only...
Deliciously lemon’y lemon cake
The first of my 'little dreams on holiday' blogs...whether you're following the sun this summer or hoping that Britain can bring the sunshine to us, we all have access to lemons ? But let's be honest, picking lemons from the lemon tree on the mountain side to make...
the yummiest chocolate biscuit cake that ever there was…
I have always adored this recipe...my husband even more!!! and now my children, well they can't get enough of it!!! It's been made for birthday cakes, afternoon treats, picnic essentials, trips to the beach, pregnancy cravings and we even had to take it to hospital...
Balloon Painting
Yipeeeeeeee!!!! the sun is shining, summer has arrived, and I hope it is still here by the time you read this blog!!!! For now though, it's definitely time to celebrate, so get those balloons out of the kitchen drawer and get puffing, we have fun to be had and paint...
Jam Tarts
The Queen of Hearts made some tarts all on a summers day, The Knave of Hearts, he stole the tarts and took them clean away. The King of Hearts called for the tarts and beat the knave full sore, The Knave of Hearts brought back the tarts and vowed he'd steal no more....
3D cardboard tube snake…
We always end up saving the cardboard rolls from the used up cling film or tin foil or kitchen roll or wrapping paper, and without a doubt, they usually end up being used for swords for the endless superhero role play that goes on in our household. However, this...
smoothie
Every day this week, we have got home from picking up my middle son from nursery, settled into the usual lunch time chat through mouthfuls of ham sandwiches or cherry tomatoes or sausage rolls, with crumbs flying everywhere!!! It's so hard the rule of 'not talking...
spray painting
Ok, so summer is here, get outside with your kiddies and cause some painting chaos...This had to be one of the funniest art activities I've done with my boys...It was too much fun!!! They got dressed up as superheros, and pretended their spray bottles where supersonic...
Cling film painting…
So...this really is fun!!! and something I had never explored until the other day. Everyone has cling film in their kitchen drawer, and hopefully by now, if you've been following this blog, you have invested in the most essential and necessary material ever needed...
vegetable faces
Ok so, I like to think we all share the same dilemma as parents, in wanting our children to eat more vegetables and healthy food!!! Or maybe I just stand alone in this!!! However, I do think there are always fun ways of encouraging healthy eating, and the more the...
Bubble painting
For those of you that know me, bubbles are almost certainly one of my most favourite things. Then there's bubbles and paint and fun...I've got myself one of my favourite art activities. Here's what you do!!! what you need... paint paper bowl fairy liquid water straw...
jelly fish
The sweetest little boy in my class was exploring his cutting skills with scissors the other day and suddenly turned to me and said, 'Look Miss Lexi, a jelly fish...' It was the sweetest moment, that a little person, so carefully concentrating on his cutting in little...
banana bread cup cakes
Funny how you get back from work feeling a little deflated, to turn around and thank the moon and stars and all the wishes that have and haven't come true, that children are in your life...I was head in hands, slumped over my table after lunch. Between, wondering if...
egg box caterpillar?
Making 3D art is always fun, and makes a change from the standard 2D art that young children so often get exposed too...it can add a different challenge and experience to creativity, and can be made as simple or as complex as they feel. Without realising, you have all...
Strawberry & Watermelon Jelly from Round the World Supper Club
My sister in law has just set up a wonderful little enterprise after returning from her travels, called Round the World Supper Club. She has always been passionate about cooking, exploring foods and their flavours from various parts of the world. You can see the...
Pork meatballs
After making the porky pie parcels, which can be found at www.placeoflittledreams.com/porky-pie-parcels/, we had quite a large amount of left over pork mixture, so we decided to make meatballs with it, just by adding the beaten egg and a weetabix, this was a very...
porky pie parcels…
These porky pie parcels are just totally delicious and now with the spring sunshine shining down on us a little, they are perfect for after school picnics at the playground, or snacks for little adventures... what you need... ready made puff pastry 500g pork sausage...
st George’s flag
We can all get a little patriotic when it comes to celebrating St George's day, the patron saint of England, on the 23rd April. So why not make a little flag to wave on the school run, at the playground, or just at tea because you can!!! what to do... draw a cross on...
Apple Blossom by Cicely Mary Barker
This week has been rather absorbed in the beautiful blossom lining the streets and parks of London, and the gardens of the countryside. It reminded me of a sweet little book a family friend gave me on my 4th birthday, which I have always referred to when I find a...
more beautiful blossom!
So, it seems I can't get enough of this beautiful spring blossom lining my London street that I live on...here is another idea!!! I love bringing the outside indoors to create art, and this activity does just that...so simple but yet so effective and fun!!! what you...
beautiful blossom
The sun comes out on London town, the mood lifts, the frowns fade and the smiles take over...and then there's the beautiful blossoms that line the streets, the pavements being covered in pink tissue paper petals. Almost nothing can beat that bold bright blue sky...
Delicious Carrot Cake
This is so much fun to make with children as there is so many different things they can do and get involved with, from grating, to measuring, to pouring, to spreading, to stirring...all sorts of useful fine motor skills being developed through one very easy recipe....
Spring Daffodil…
I think one of my favourite times of the year is when the daffodils start flowering...their vibrant yellow colour pushing away the bleakness of the winter and bringing hope and joy to the gardens, parks and the countryside. Scattering their joy into the spring to...
Dust if you Must…
This awesome and incredibly funny poem was sent to me by a sweet friend the other day...she loved it and thought I would too. Its a humorous take on the perils of housework...for those of you who are knee deep in spring cleaning and can't stop until the house is...
yellow chick handprints
This is such a sweet little art activity, and so effective, it can't help but make you smile!!! what you need... yellow paint boggley eyes pritt stick scissors card orange card or orange felt tip black felt tip what to do... paint your child's hand with yellow paint...
Duck lemon biscuits
Continuing our 'spring' theme this week, and these have to be some of the most delicious kiddies biscuits we have ever made...however, take my advice, maybe choose a more suitable time to embark on this fun cooking activity!!! We decided to start making these delights...
‘Marriage’ reading by Kahil Gibran
One of my subscribers mentioned to me in a comment, another of Kahil Gibran's readings on marriage. It then made me remember, that hidden somewhere in the depths of my bedside table I had the little book of the 'The Prophet' by Kahil Gibran, that was given to me by a...
Master Max’s magic melting chocolate idea…
So, if like me, you have way too much chocolate still kicking around from Easter...eggs, bunnys, and more eggs!!!! This might just be the answer to rid yourself of the daily chocolate guilt, of that 'only one more and that's it!!!' feeling...and using up a handful or...