Getting Crafty: Cloth Kitty

One of my resolutions for this year was to learn to knit, somehow I am currently being side tracked into learning to sew! This came about due to a combination of factors:

1. someone posted about PomPom makers and I thought now there is an easy craft to do with my children!
2. I followed the link on their blog and ended up on the Clothkits site and duly added PomPom makers to my basket
3. Being a child of the '70s I grew up with a wardrobe containing a wide variety of Clothkits clothes made by my mum (she didn't have a huge budget but had the time and skills required to sew). So I decided to browse the site to see what 21st century Clothkits looks like.
4. At this point my 8 year old starts peeking over my shoulder and spots the Cloth Kitty doll kit and asks to spend some of her Christmas money so can learn to sew so doll was added to basket

Fast forward a few days and we get a parcel from Clothkits. My daughter is very excited about the doll she is going to sew (with help from mummy) and cancels all plans for Saturday so we can make a start. Once I have looked at the instructions I realise that maybe I am going to struggle as the doll itself is fairly simple to sew her clothes come with instructions for bias binding, gathers and shirring elastic. For a woman who's worst subject at school was needlework this is a daunting prospect!


Nevertheless I cut out the required parts of the doll (having even ironed the fabric first - shock horror!) and set to. I demonstrate the sewing technique to my daughter and then pass the leg over to her for her turn. Her enthusiasm is quickly dampened after a few finger pricks so inevitably I end up doing all the sewing of the doll. It does turn out that my daughter is a dab hand at stuffing the doll though:

Note essential wooden spoon

#SilentSunday 8th January 2012

Sudocrem: Mummy Matters Week

Sponsored Post


Between Monday 9^th and Friday 13^th January 2012, a team of the UK’s leading lifestyle experts will be sharing need to know advice on a range of subjects as well as answering direct questions from the Sudocrem Facebook community.

Each day will host a different expert (as outlined below), who will share around 20 key pieces of advice and answering questions on their subject throughout their allotted day.

Sudocrem would love for all Mums to join the Sudocrem Facebook community (www.facebook.com/Sudocrem) and get involved by asking questions directly to the experts.

• Monday 9^th January 2012 - Jennifer Liston-Smith (Executive & Maternity Coach)
• Tuesday 10^th January 2012 - Claire Wylde (Dietician)
• Wednesday 11^th January 2012 - Jo Barnard (Careers Advisor)
• Thursday 12^th January 2012 - Wendy Powell (Pre & Post Natal Fitness Expert)
• Friday 13^th January 2012 - Beth Goodrham (Personal Stylist)

nappy rash

Change4Life: Supermeals

I have rather neglected my blogging for Change4Life recently so thought I'd better get cracking as they have recently launched their Supermeals campaign. In order to help parent change their families diets they have brought out recipes for meals that are:

• low cost
• quick and easy to make
• tasty

I ordered a paper copy of some of their meal ideas but they also have an online Supermeals recipe finder. With this you can search by ingredients, create a shopping list and make a 7 day meal plan.

If that doesn't appeal then you can have recipe ideas e-mailed to you instead. All you need is to register and then wait to see what pops up in your inbox. All the recipes cost about £5 to make 4 adult servings.

You can get the children to join in by creating their own Cookbook crammed full of their favourite healthy recipes. Think I need to try this with my 2!

The  final part of the Supermeals programme is a free cookbook featuring Ainsley Harriott. All you need to do is buy a copy of the Daily Mirror on Friday January 20th and hand the voucher in at your local Asda store. The book has 30 easy, healthy and tasty recipes which all cost around £5 to make.

So what are you waiting for get over to the Supermeals site now and start changing your families diet!

Reasons to be Cheerful XXXII ( #R2BC )

Well we have made it to 2012 so I guess that is a reason to be cheerful in itself! This is the 1st anniversary of the blog hop so even more reason to smile (and Michelle has a giveaway for all those who take part in January). But here are my more mundane reasons to be cheerful:

1) Pride in my children

It's been a very wet week but it hasn't put my children off going out and doing things. On Friday they did their longest bike ride to date and we all got soaked but they did it!

We also did a 4 mile hike on New Year's Eve and got very wet and very muddy but it hasn't put them off hiking!

2) New Year's Eve

It was a very quiet and soberish New Year's Eve for us but a very enjoyable evening rounded off by watching the amazing London fireworks from the comfort of the sofa whilst drinking Prosecco: