WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR KIDS ARTWORK / PICTURES

Do something amazing with your kids artwork.

Don't throw it away make use of it in some other way....

STORY SACKS

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly...

I Am Momma Hear Me Roar

Isn't this great!!!

PUPPETS FOR THE DOORWAY PUPPET THEATRE

Here are the puppets I made to go with the doorway puppet theatre.....

The Three Little Pigs

OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY 2012

We went to watch the Olympic Torch Relay in our area last week...

 

I always say we are doing these things as they may not come our way again...

it was all over in a couple of minutes...

passing on of the Olympic Flame, Stoke-on-Trent...

Angela Smith...

and it was over...

 there was alot of waiting...

Then these lovely young ladies came by...

They are called Granny Turismo...

and were hilarious, on their souped up shopping trollies...

they danced around to music on them, they were Liam's favourite part.

Just look at peoples faces!

Here's a video link for you to check them out.

(I will get Liam to upload his video of them)

Vonnie

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Product Review - Karsten Inflatable Tents for Single Parent Camping

As many of you know I am a single mum.

What you don't know is once upon a time I was quite adventurous  ...

I have been on three camping treks through the states

As a single parent I find hotels, and holiday homes very isolating for myself and more so for Liam...

but I have always found the majority of people on campsites friendly ,

they are always up for a chat and the children mix well

and they get a little freedom which is not as easy at home.

So yes I am a single parent camper,

some friends say brave others stupid...

What do you think?

Well the first year we went to Dorset, in a cheap tent (I say cheap it still cost £100)...

I struggled to put the tent up with Liam as he was only 6 and couldn't hold the poles in the wind.

(we had a dry run at home in the garden but no wind)

Anyway we were there for less than twenty four hours, as force 10 gale winds cleared the campsite.

We returned to our tent to find it flattened,

the lovely people in the caravan had weighted it down so our wet clothes and camping kit didn't blow away.

As soon as we pulled up they ran out and helped me throw our soggy belongings in the car.

The East Fleet campsite owners  returned our money (god bless them)

How beautiful is this site!

The site owners rang to see if there was a B&B for the night, as they knew we were about 5 hours from home.

Anyway with Liam upset, our clothes soaked I decided to go home,

we were just about to leave and the last tent went down, so stayed to help these guys pack up.

(told you us campers are a friendly bunch!)

Then home we went :(

So Liam's first camping experience out of the back garden was a complete wash out!

but I didn't want it to end on a bad experience...

A good friend had told me about Karsten inflatable tents.

The Camping Travel Store is the only UK retailer

but they don't have a store they tour around the UK to show up to 10 combination of these tents so you can see how they can be adapted to your needs.

Karsten Tent tour dates

as you can see they look the bees knees,

and are not called the Rolls Royce of tents for nothing but they are an investment.

The canvas tents have large inflatable tubes instead of poles,

the inflate tubes as hard as the tyres on your car not lilo quality,

and are force 12 gale tested, SOLD!!!

but alas the money tree at the end of our garden was bare!

so set out to look for a secondhand one, well they were still out of my reach at half price...

Then at Christmas I had a call from a Karsten owner/ enthusiast  to say there was one for sale

and at a BARGAIN price!

It was 4/5 hours away, but so worth the trip to go get it.

Karsten tents are canvas and fantastic quality so even years old still look fab.

This one was four years old, hardly used, with ALL the extras.

and here she is, isn't she a beauty?

(and a real BARGAIN!!!)

The blue part is the inflatable part and we have awnings that zip onto the front.

and we couldn't camp without her!

It is camping at it's easiest...

peg four corners down

Inflate from car

zip on awnings

peg down

30 minutes little help and camp is set up!


see here (once on page scroll down to the bottom)

see here for video of my friend James setting up a smaller carp tent so you get the idea.

( he's just using a foot pump, far quicker using one attached to your car)

I have fellow campers thinking what a shame it's raining (good olde British summers eh), she has got to set up on her own...

I peg down, plug in and have a coffee in the car, how smug am I?

and it's a great ice breaker, people come and watch it going up, and going down

(even quicker take out valve, deflates in seconds, roll up and off I go)

and we even do tours of the inside, do pop in if you see us.
or go to one of Karsten Tour dates

The best part is as it comes in separate parts if we go for a weekend we just take the blue domed part,

and just use the beige awnings for longer trips.

(this is my dream set up, not there yet)

And you can buy extra extensions to add to the tent and the money grows on your money tree.

SEE HERE and HERE
they come in various sizes and colours too,
fortunately I like the dark blue as it stays dark in the mornings,
I have an early bird this and the  fresh air he actually sleeps in.

The only negative thing I can say is..
it is takes up a lot of room and is heavy but canvas tents are and do
and how far are you going to carry it, you park your car next to your pitch anyway.

It is the best thing I have EVER bought, EVER!

and Liam loves camping,

"mum when you are to old to camp can I have the tent"

if that doesn't say it all!!!

Well what do you think, brave or stupid???

Vonnie

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Please note that my opinions are my own and I am not paid for these reviews.

Easter Egg Decorating Ideas

I have been looking around for inspiration for classy / grown up Easter egg decorating ideas...

1. Easter Bunny Silhouette Place Setting Egg

2. Lace Easter Eggs

3. Stencilled Easter Eggs

4. Easter Egg in Glass Dome

I love the lacy ones, made with tights but I have another idea up my sleeve!

Happy Easter guys!

Vonnie

x

BIRTHDAY MEMORIES

I started this last year 

but so wish I had thought of it when Liam was little...

this photo was taken around his 10th birthday...

I uploaded it to picnik and added the things that he loves at the time...

the only thing I would change is I would use a photo with a plain background.

I also made one for "when I grow up I want to be..."

wouldn't they make fab gifts for family and friends?

Have fun with your family!!!

Vonnie

X

ANIMATION WORKSHOP

Liam was kindly taken to a Big Red Studio animation workshop this half term

at The Mitchell Arts Centre, Stoke-on-Trent.

They main plasticine sea creatures,
then moved and reposed their creatures on a backdrop
taking a photo after each move

and this was the result of Liam's, Ben's and Donna's hard work...

I am proud to introduce today feature film...

"A Turtle's Tale 2"

Liam's is the blood thirsty Hammerhead shark,

whilst Ben and Donna chose the more gentle turtle's and sea snake!

(Pst I so wish I had tagged along, it is so my thing!!!)

a 'BIG' Thank You to Ben and Donna for taking Liam with you

(and Tim for finding the activity)

I have (me being me) looked around the web

and there is some free animation software available is you wish to have ago yourself.

I will post link soon

Vonnie

X

EASTER BENTO

Here's some Easter bento packed lunch ideas...

ST PATRICK'S DAY - RAINBOW BENTO

Here's some cute ideas for your St Patricks Day bento packed lunches, for your little ones.

RAINBOW - St Patricks Day Bento inspiration board

STORY SACK - DR SUESS / ONE FISH TWO FISH

If you don't know what a story sack is,
 it is a basically book in a bag with lots of book related fun for children enclosed.

They make them within schools, on parent days in the UK.
Parents go into school and WITH their child they make one for their class.
(but the parents get extremley competitive about them LOL)

but it's also a great way to spend a rainy day, making the fun items to go inside,
then you have it forever to share when reading your child's favourite book.
They make adrable gifts too.

Here goes...



BOOK TITLE - AUTHOR

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish - Dr Seuss

VALENTINE'S DAY - BENTO PACKED LUNCH

Here are some cute ideas for Valentine's Day themed bento packed lunch

Oh my 10yr old son is so going to hate me....

Valentine's Day Bento inspiration board...

HOW MUCH TIME HAVE WE LEFT WITH OUR KIDS?

Now this post breaks my heart...but it will sure put things into perspective!

source

The answer to that question is that we hope we have a lifetime left with our children.

But, if you want to get an idea of the time you have left with your children living at home,

try this:

NERF GUN WAR - FUN WITH YOUR TEENAGER SON (OR HUBBY)

I love this and Liam thought it was hilarious...

BENTO FUN LUNCH BOX IDEAS

I don't know if bento's very popular yet here in the UK.

DIY GINGERBREAD HOUSE COOKIE DECORATING KITS

Oh these gingerbread house cookie kits are so sweet!!!

so much easier than gingerbread house decorating and such a cute gift!

DIY FORT KIT

Now this one is super EASY to make...

we still love to make dens, inside and outside and this would be a fab gift.

photo source

ELF ON THE SHELF IDEAS

If you are here in the UK you may not have heard of

Elf on the Shelf

it is from the good old US and I love it!!!

It is such a cute tradition, so much more fun than an advent calender...

Here's how it rolls...

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CATCH SANTA IN THE ACT!

Oh this is SOOO cute!

Catch Santa in your own home on Christmas Eve!

Gotcha!!

GINGERBREAD MEN COOKIE CUTTER

Whilst out shopping today I came across this book...

gingerbread lions, cows, shark, pirate alsorts...

and I thought what a good idea,

you can use your gingerbread man cookie cutters all year round.

so here are some others I found...