Reader Offer: Money off at Bread and Jam

I should say that this isn't a sponsored post, I just wanted to flag up a lovely shop I have found. As regular readers will know, Fifi loves girly things and there are few places that sell really nice little girls dresses. That's one reason I make so many for her myself. However, I am biding my time because the minute she hits two she will be able to fit into these gorgeous dresses from Bread and Jam. Even better, as they never make more than 25 of the same print in any size, each and every dress is a special limited edition.

The masterminds behind Bread and Jam are two mums who seem to have grasped exactly what we as mums like our little girls to wear; Machine washable, practical clothes which make them look like children as opposed to little teenagers. I love the dress pictured, but don't take my word for it, head on over to the site and have a look for yourself.

The new collection launches today and I have been lucky enough to secure the readers of Being a Mummy a special code to use at the checkout which will give you £5 off if you buy two dresses. Just enter: BAM25

Happy Shopping!

Reader Offer: Money off at Bread and Jam

When you just have one child...

You can:

• Spend quality time playing with them
• Empty the dishwasher without getting smashed plates
• Pack a suitcase without it being unpacked in 2 directions
• Have a cup of tea before it gets cold
• Use a normal trolley at the supermarket
• Do a craft activity without a fight breaking out
• Open a cupboard without being crushed by an avalanche of beakers
• Have a spare room for guests

But when you have two:

• They play together!

When you just have one child...

How to make: A Basic Skirt or a Fairytale Skirt

I have to admit I do have my reservations about this skirt. However, it does seem popular with all the little girls that I have come across. The basic underskirt is a very simple skirt to make, so you could stop at that stage. That said, if you like it, this is suitable for daily wear (if your name happens to be Fifi) or for special occasions and dressing up, this can be adapted lots of different ways. The basic skirt is suitable for beginners to make, the addition of the netting over skirt will require a little bit more skill. Please read the instructions in full to make sure you understand them, if not drop me an email and I'll try and help!

You will need:
For the basic skirt

• An oblong of fabric (depends the size of your baby/ toddler ) but this one was 14.5 inches deep by 32 inches wide. The depth is the length that you want it plus 1 inch for the waistband and 2 cm for the hem. The width is dependent on how gathered you want it, the more fabric, the more gathered!
• Elastic

Fold the fabric in half so it is half the width and pin down the edge (the pins at right angles to the line you want to sew) the right sides should be facing. Sew this edge. Press the seam open.

Fold the top edge of the skirt over about 1 cm so that you can see the right side of the fabric, press.

Then fold about 5 cm or so of the top edge of the fabric over again in the same direction. You will then have created the waistband with a neat edge. Pin this down. Then machine sew the folded edge down to the rest of the skirt, stopping before you get to the seam, so you have a small opening (this is so you can thread the elastic through). You have created the waistband. Press

Fold the bottom edge of the skirt up about 5 cm, then fold it over again, this creates the hem. Press

Measure your child's waist and cut an appropriately sized piece of elastic, I usually cut it about 1 cm smaller than the measurement, this allows the elastic to stretch.

Put a safety pin on the end of the elastic and thread it through the waistband.

Sew the ends of the elastic together.

Machine sew the opening in the waistband. At this point I also usually do a few stitches at right angles across the waistband, just to secure the elastic.

You have finished your basic skirt.
If you are using your skirt as an under skirt for the netting skirt:

For the netting over skirt you will need:

• Netting
• Bias Binding

Cut oblongs of netting, I would measure them the same as the skirt, the width dependent on how gathered or sticky out you want the over skirt.

Machine some bias binding along the bottom edge of the netting. I think this gives a nice finish, although it is not essential to do this. You do this by folding the bias binding so you sandwich the netting between it.

Lay out the netting one on top of each other.

Move the netting so that there is a 1 cm gap between the bottom of each piece of netting.

Place the netting on your skirt and cut the excess off the top. By this, I mean that if you lay the netting skirts (with their appropriate spacings on top of your skirt a few of the layers will be longer ( above) the top than the waistband of your skirt, you need to cut the netting so that it is all in line with the bottom of the waistband.

Use long running stitches to gather at the top edge, each piece of netting.

Pin each piece of netting to the underskirt just below the waistband and machine sew them in place.

Cut a strip of fabric Two inches wide by 2 cm longer than the width of your original skirt. This will cover up the rough edge of the netting and create an over- waistband. Alternatively you could machine sew some ribbon to cover the top edge of the netting.

If you are creating an over waistband:
Pin the right side of the fabric to the machined edge of the netting. Sew it in place. Fold it over the top of the waistband and repeat (making sure to fold it over once on the raw edge to create a nice edge to the inside waistband).

Depending on where you sewed the over skirt you may find that it is too tight for the elastic to stretch enough for your child to put it on. If this is the case, simply machine the waistband at right angles twice so you are machining through the elastic two times and cut in between your to lines. You can then neaten the edges and put a button or hook. This also works well if you want to make the skirt last a little bit longer.

Don't forget, if you make one of these, send me a picture so I can see!

How to make: A Basic Skirt or a Fairytale Skirt

Blooming heck; some thoughts about sewing

I have been sewing on and off for years and years. I think I first started when I was about eight. Back then I wasn't very successful, I was much better at knitting. However, in recent years I have really begun to get bitten by the sewing bug. I like the fact that it can be fairly instant. It doesn't take more than about 30 minutes at most to knock up a simple bag, bib, pyjama bottoms. Instant results and the satisfaction that your child is not wearing something produced by another child. I also love the fact that you can produce something uniquely individual to them, something that mirrors their tastes, styles and lifestyles.

I have found that sewing is something that, if you are self taught, you can really improve through practice: looking at how to do things on blogs, studying how clothes you have bought yourself are constructed and through reading. Although it's creative, it's also accessible. Believe me, if I can do it, I am sure you would be able to.

Where to start? Well, DO NOT under any circumstance attempt to make some baby bloomers. These are incredibly hard to get right. I would suggest a really simple bag, or some Pyjama bottoms (mastering how to make these will save you a fortune over the years), a simple shift dress or pinafore dress is fairly easy. And if all else fails, have a go at making some simple rag dolls. It sounds silly but make sure you use fabric that you like, this will increase your satisfaction by ten times! I'll try and write a few tutorials for these over the next few weeks and maybe a vlog.

Blooming heck; some thoughts about sewing

General Malaise

Yet again I am going through a phase where there is not a great deal of posting going on. I would like to say that it is a result of my enormously successful, busy lifestyle. However, it is not. It is simply that I am going through a phase of malaise that I am finding hard to shift. Hence my morning running sessions which are a real attempt to try to energise myself. I spend my entire time feeling tired, grumpy, tearful and craving a peaceful, quiet life. A sort of old fashioned rose tinted vision where I sit by the sea, sewing, reading and enjoying the solitude. In nearly four years I have only had two days where I have been totally alone and brief trips in the car to places. I crave the peace and quiet to sit in silence alone. I dream of a reality where I don't worry about things and over-analyse things that people say to me. I dream of a reality where I am free to pursue my interests without worrying about money, time, health and the other mundane aspects of life.

It's hard to say when this came on, I think perhaps I have over-stretched myself with the demands of work, running a house and dealing with two very small children who are looked after by a complicated routine of different carers. Each with different demands. I have suffered from depression in the past and mild anxiety. It feels something like that. The tiredness for no reason, the slightly strange thoughts, suspicion about the motives of others and the desire to remove myself from the competitive demands of everyday life.

In part, I am governed by my hormones, I have an absolute, yet uncertain and yet over-ruling desire to have another child. It is literally the first thing I think of in the morning and the last at night. This is madness, I realise that it is totally unpractical for us in every single way. I feel conflicted by the demands of work, I feel as if I am missing out on my childrens lives and I feel guilty that I am not there. No-one mentions how difficult it is simply adjusting from being at work to being at home on a frequent basis. It is two entirely different mindsets and it is hard. I feel as if life is becoming a drudge; work, housework, sleep, feeding children and keeping them happy, shopping, with very little in between. I feel time limited, I have no time to enjoy doing something properly, to read, to blog, to listen to music, to enjoy going out with my husband. By this, I mean mental time, in part. I do things, but I am doing 100 other things in my mind. It is frustrating.

The toddler boy summed me up well the other day. I was standing in the queue at Waitrose, feeling mildly aggravated, by everything generally and he turned around and said: " Mummy! Why you look like this?" At which point he stuck his bottom lip out and frowned. What do you say to that? Well, its because mummy feels well and truly browned off and just wants to go and have one night of uninterrupted, peaceful sleep where she doesn't worry about anything? Or because mummy is fed up of queuing?

I am off on holiday soon, I think this will help.

General Malaise

Inspired Ideas or Children are the Mother of all Invention

One of the benefits with having children is the opportunity for many more inspired ideas. Don't get me wrong, being the genius that I am, I have always been a fountain of invention all of which I can proudly say have come to nothing. However, with kids I have surpassed myself. I have lost count of the number on inventions that have been inspired.

Take for example, the problem of cot bumper suffocation. This worried me with Toddler boy, so, I used cellular cotton blankets tied to the cot to cushion his little head from the hard, hard wooden cot bars. Recently, there was the issue of the patio doors (subject of last weeks blog). Solved with the use of bench clamps. I've had the problem of nappies floating around my bag and getting ruined, yes funnily enough this was solved with a bespoke handmade nappy bag to place inside my nappy bag. There are many more gems.

However, a few issues remain unsolved. How to remove the juice stains from the carpet in an ecologically, child safe way. Efficient storage of toys, the issue of smelly washing machine (yes, this is ever so slightly tongue in cheek as I am aware of the product) and how to be a stay at home mum without compromising lifestyle.

If you have answers to any of the above, or in fact solutions to other parenting woes, then please leave a comment below. Not only will you be helping me, you'll be helping the whole Word Wide Web (if they find my blog that is).

Inspired Ideas or Children are the Mother of all Invention

Review; BornFree Bottles

When I was approached by GreenKiddie which is a really great website about Green Parenting to try some BornFree bottles with Fifi. I was a bit skeptical, she is not a baby anymore and I am trying to wean her off them (in my usual haphazard not very determined manner). I have also grown quite attached to the Tommy Tippee ones we use. However, they are all knackered and I'm too mean to buy new ones. I have an open mind and I was quite interested to see what all the hype was about.

A few weeks later and we now use the bottles in preference to our Tommy Tippee's. I am surprised. But they are actually really great for Fifi. Why? Well, she can hold them easily due to their shape and they seem to provide the sort of flow that she needs at her age. She actually points to them over her old bottles.

What exactly is so good about them? Well, they are made from a Bisphenol- A free plastic, this is important as it has been found to leach into foods and mimic human hormones- yuck! The valve has also apparently been proven to help reduce the potential for colic and ear infection. They say that you don't get any leaks either. So that's all good. For us though, it was simply that they were a great shape and size. The plastic feels nice and they fit well into the pockets in my change bag. I like the idea that they are free of nasty chemicals, this is quite a selling point for me as I have tried hard to give them a fairly environmentally and ecologically sound, chemical free life.

I have to admit, I remain sightly unconvinced about how I would have found them when Fifi was a tiny baby. This is because there are a lot of parts to them compared to some other bottles. The valve is a bit fiddly and needs to be inserted into the bottle after the water/ milk and before the teat. I don't think I could have managed this in the middle of the night with a screaming baby. But that might just be me. I also am a little unsure about how you would put it together after sterilising without man-handling it. This doesn't matter for us, as Fifi doesn't require her bottles to be sterilised anymore.

All in all, if you are unhappy with your current bottles or just starting out, then these ones are definitely worth a try. You can buy them from their website or Boots. I'm going to buy some of their training cups, a review of these will follow!

Review; BornFree Bottles

Irrational Anxiety

Nearly four years of sleep deprivation, if I count Toddler Boy's pregnancy where he kept me awake kicking my bladder most of the night and I think I am succumbing to some of its effects. I already had some of the so called side effects such as slight madness, so I can't count those. However, strange anxieties about my children seem to now plague my night-time hours. Here is a sample of this months silly, but actually fairly reasonable anxieties:

• That Fifi will climb into the washing machine and Toddler Boy will shut her in and turn it on.
• That either child will get their fingers trapped in the patio doors, or that their fingers will get chopped off by the patio doors.
• A child will strangle themselves with hubby's tie
• A child will open the freezer and everything will melt and flood the kitchen and ruin the hall carpet
• That suddenly the weight of water in the bath will be too much for the floor and it will fall through
• Fifi will kick back against the table whilst in her highchair and smash into the fish tank causing it to break and flood, hurt her and kill the fish
• That I am trapped in a cycle of illness; taking child to doctors for illness, catching new bug, taking child to doctors....
• That someone will drive into my car whilst the children have unstrapped themselves (their current challenge)

I could continue, but now I'm a bit worried I have pointed out some things for you to worry about.

Irrational Anxiety

Review; Tamielle Ethical Designer Gifts

I feel slightly guilty about this review, as I was asked to do it ages ago and was very promptly given a beautiful package of children's handkerchiefs which I thought was so lovely that I just popped it on our mantelpiece and looked at it, daily.

Tamielle is a great ethical trade designer company. Founded in 1997, its products are produced by women from disadvantaged backgrounds working from their workshop or from home in Bulgaria. You can find out more if you look at their really interesting diary which shows the people that make the products and tells some of their stories. I was so impressed by the story behind these products that I have added them to my list of places to buy really special meaningful gifts.

The handkerchiefs themselves are absolutely lovely, they somehow remind me of being little. When I was a child I had a lot of handkerchiefs, I wonder if people didn't use tissues as much in the seventies? Anyhow, I'm really pleased that Fifi will have some of her own to keep in her pocket. I have not seen any to purchase anywhere else, they are a welcomed throwback from the past!

If you want to get a really unusual special present for a child, or indeed their mum, have a look at Tamielle. They have a lovely little corner of affordable ethical designer chic in the vast world wide web.

Review; Tamielle Ethical Designer Gifts

The Gallery Meme: Joy

The theme for this week is joy. There have been so many moment of joy in my life, I feel very lucky. However without doubt, for me and my children joy is epitomised by sliding down sand-dunes on a warm sunny day...

The Gallery Meme: Joy

Boiiing! And he's free

Actually he was three, but toddler pronunciation isn't the greatest thing. I have to admit that I find it amazing that my little baby boy is now a big boy, he has his place secured in the local nursery. He can say 'please' and there is nothing that he likes more at the moment than Power Rangers and Spiderman. He is a total little personality, with boy-ness bursting from every pore of his very being.

I have been almost as excited about his birthday as him, and I had been determined to work him into a massive frenzy of excitement. This did back fire a bit when I told him before bed that it was just one more sleep until he opened his presents. He shut his eyes for all of about 5 minutes before bursting out of bed pronouncing ' me free now, me free now!'. Hubby had to go and lie next to him in bed to get him to sleep.

Once he achieved the goal of toddler sleep, we set to constructing the trampoline. This was a bit tricky as it involved literally tensioning each bungee spring individually. The hubby has sprained his wrist, so it was down to myself, garden dad (who had come over not knowing that he would have to do this task) and some wooden spoons. Once constructed, we realised that we would not actually be able to take it straight through into the garden through the patio doors, as it was far too big to fit the gap. However, I will never forget the look on his face when he came into the living room with Fifi and saw his trampoline and a massive pile of presents, all for him.

Toddler boy had the time of his life, playing with his new toys including a Ukulele, a sandpit, some Ben 10 Lego and a Playmobil airplane. The cake which I made at the last minute was surprisingly well received and we had a special dinner of pizza and chips.

Alongside all of this I also found myself at the hospital emergency doctor centre with Fifi. For her, the day started with a shockingly high temperature which I treated with Calpol and Neurofen. She wandered about happily in the morning eating chocolate buttons, so I assumed it was probably teeth. After lunch she had a nap and when she woke up she screamed for over an hour, non stop. Her stamina was impressive. I felt that we needed to get her checked out as she has never done before and I suspected that she might have an ear infection. This diagnosis was proved correct. One prescription which, incidentally, she hates taking. I hope she is on the mend, I am not getting a lot of sleep.

Things in our house are always eventful!

Boiiing! And he's free

Kid friendly cannelloni

If like me you're finding it difficult to get your wilful boy child to eat anything resembling vegetables thanks to his never ending quest for a strange mixture of sweets, bread and pasta, help is at hand! I always find it easier to get toddler boy to eat something that he's had a hand in making and that's where cannelloni comes in.

Ingredients

1 onion

some garlic

one or two tins of chopped tomatoes (depending on quantity)

some grated cheese

some more grated cheese

some finely chopped/mixed frozen veg

some cannelloni

I personally find the bag of mixed frozen veg very useful for this as it reduces the prep time to a much more toddler friendly few minutes.

First things first, before introducing your toddler to the mix, pan fry the veg until a bit soft, add a couple of handfuls of the cheese, heat a bit more until the cheese has melted. Set aside for ten minutes until its cooled down to a handleable "warm".

Pop your toddler on a chair by the work top and let the fun begin!

Stuff the cannelloni with as much cheesy veg mix as you can, making a (manageable) right old mess as you do it. Count them out into a square dish, pack them in nice and tightly.

Then tip a tin of chopped tomatoes over the cannelloni. Politely ask your toddler boy to sprinkle the "more grated cheese" over the top.

This will need 25 minutes at 180 degrees (gas mark something or other), during which time you can either clean the kitchen up or decamp to the sitting room and watch Spiderman and his Amazing Friends until you want to hunt down Stan Lee and ask him "Why for the love of God?"

The great thing is, you don't have to oven it immediately, if you want to go out or do something else for a few hours you can.

And there you have it, some great nosh that will get your toddler involved in the cooking, get him handling the ingredients, and hopefully allow them to scoff some covert veggies.

Kid friendly cannelloni

When you just can't get rid of anything

Collecting things is actually a form of mental illness. Many studies have been conducted about this topic. None of which I can recall at this moment, but I did study this idea as part of my formal museum training. My collections are vast, wide and tend to be quite faddish. I went through a phase of collecting mugs, animal bones (for my reference collection), jewellery and so on and so forth. However, I think they are actually broader than this, I think I sub-consciously collect clothes that I never wear, baby products, books and general stuff. I am a terrible hoarder and gatherer of other peoples rubbish. To the point where the husband has banned Freecycle in case I clutter the garage up further.

Last year, I attempted to tidy and chuck things out. It wasn't all that successful. I did try though. The trouble is, I am also a bit mean. For example, I cannot get rid of the baby stuff. I desperately want another child, I don't want to end up buying it all again. Anyhow, it's a waste. I could find someone that wants it, I could attempt to sell it, I could recycle the material and give the stuff to Fifi to play with with her dolls. There are millions of justifications for keeping it. All of which are perfectly logical. None of which solve the problem of space and having too much stuff.

I could leave it to clutter up my free space, destroying any vestiges of Feng Sui that there might be in my house. I could leave it to drive me to absolute distraction with the fact that surfaces everywhere are covered and gathering dust at speed. I could weep at the mess. I am a confused soul.

Unfortunately, the children have inherited the same instincts. Toddler boy has probably over 100 toy cars, people keep buying them for him, he keep asking for them. He is different in other respects in that he lines them all up precisely, everything must be 'just so'. It must be hard for him to live in this house. Fifi is a gatherer of clothes, she is like a little moving cyclone gathering more and more items from her wardrobe to stumble about the house with. She thrives on mess and muddle. Oh dear.

What is strange is that I cant stand a mess at work, a place full of collections and I need to make sure that they are all ordered and tidy and I set my mind to achieving that order above all else. At home, I sit and fret, I watch the mess rather than the television. It borders on some sort of OCD compulsion. I feel unable to sort it though. This is clearly some sort of mental-ness, I wonder if it happens to all mothers?

When you just can't get rid of anything

The Gallery Meme: Ugly

This week Tara's theme is Ugly. I find this a hard one because there are very few things that are ugly, perhaps with the exception of those 1970's pictures of old people gurning (spelling!). I was wondering what to do, then strolling through Verulamium Park I realised what I find really ugly. The vast quantities of rubbish that seem to just be discarded in natural spaces. I always have my camera with me, so I snapped an example.

Look at this horrible bread bag. Brought to the park by someone out to poison, sorry, I mean feed, the ducks and then discarded. Doesn't it just spoil the calming flow of the water nicely...

The Gallery Meme: Ugly

Review; Walt Disney's Dumbo on Blu-Ray

One of my real pleasures in life is to sit down on the sofa with Toddler Boy snuggle up together and watch a film. I usually end up watching one of four or five favourite films; the Toy Story movies, the Tinkerbell movies and Thunderbirds. Four out of five are decent films, I'll leave you to guess which one makes me cringe! I am on a quest to get him to fall in love with some other films and with Dumbo I think I may have achieved my goal.

We were lucky enough to be given Dumbo on Blu-ray. The quality is superb and you get a selection of extra's which makes your purchase more than worthwhile.

Dumbo is a film of my childhood, coincidentally, it was one of my fathers favourite childhood movies. I love the basic innocence of Dumbo in the face of all sorts of cruelty. It's a movie that can help your children begin to understand their emotions and develop their skills of empathy. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry and for a film first released in 1941 it holds its own. The pink elephants sequence is a movie history classic. Dumbo is not a long film, so is suitable for even the most easily distracted little ones. If you want to build up a library of classic films for your children then this should be in there.

Review; Walt Disney's Dumbo on Blu-Ray

Review: Disney Pixar Toy Story 1 and 2 on Blu-Ray

I can recite the entire words to both the Toy Story films, that is the level of Toddler love that they generate. I have to admit, I had never even seen them before having children, but I wish I had. They are fantastic films which adults and children can relate to and I really can't wait to see Toy Story 3.

Toy Story is the tale of a little boy who gets Buzz Lighter for his birthday. Buzz usurps his previous favourite toy, 'Woody' the cowboy doll. Both toys get lost and have a serious of adventures which reinforce all sorts of ideas of what it means to be friends. It's a lovely heartwarming story. Toy Story 2 continues the theme of friendship when 'Woody' gets stolen and the toys have to rescue him. Its full of Star Wars parodies which will keep any film buff amused.

We were lucky enough to be given both films on Blu-Ray. With the exception of 'UP' they have to be the best films we have seen yet on Blu-Ray. The colours of the film really come alive. What's more, there is a sneak peak of the characters for Toy Story 3 just to get you in the mood. Both movies have loads of extras on the Blu-ray, most of which I have enjoyed watching as much as the Toddler.

One word of warning though, once your child has seen the films your house will suddenly fill with all sorts of merchandising. we have everything from Buzz Lightyear dressing up outfits, pens and pencils and even a lunch box! Vote Buzz on May 6th...

Review: Disney Pixar Toy Story 1 and 2 on Blu-Ray

Kreativ Blogger Award

Ellie, who may or many not be getting some sleep these days was lovely enough to tag me with this award. You have to list seven things about yourself. Since I have done something very similar to this is the last few weeks, I thought I might change it a bit and list 7 creative things that I have done.

1. Staged large exhibitions on Edwardian Art, Ancient Egypt and Objects Now and Then.
2. Made numerous little dresses/ pinafore dresses for Fifi
3. Made several skirts and dresses for myself
4. I've done lots of technical archaeological drawings, some of which I'm quite pleased with
5. Adapted lots of cookery recipes
6.Painted lots of bags and t-shirts with fabric paint designs
7. Created this blog and its content!

You have to pass this onto 5 people, so as I have changed it a little bit, I've tried to tag 5 people who I suspect are a bit more creative than your average blogger:



Anjie
Metropolitan Mum
Oz Mummy
Mark at the Bike Shed
Jen at the Madhouse

Kreativ Blogger Award

Easter Sunday Sewing; A Toddler Dress

Lucky me, the hubby took control of the children and I got to indulge in a little sewing. I have been desperate to do a bit for a while, but it's hard finding the time at the moment. Yesterday we had a fab time in Cambridge, I even got to have a little browse around the shops alone which is unheard of. It's amazing how refreshing it is to have a little look without someone tugging at your skirt or running away.

Cambridge has a newly refurbished John Lewis, which I have never been in before. I was astonished by the choice of fabrics that were available. I couldn't help myself and bought the fabric I used for this dress as I thought it was so unusual. Unfortunately, I only bought 1 metre, so I may have to return.

As you can see I have turned it into a Japanese inspired dress for Fifi. If you zoom in, you can see a pink fabric which I used to line the dress, I was going to trim the cuffs and the bottom with it. However, that would have made it far too big for her and I couldn't bear to waste any of the material, so I may just have to make another variation.

This dress was adapted from a Simplicity pattern in the Project Runway series. These patterns basically encourage you to design your own dress from parts. I have to say, I found it a little bit of a challenge. But then I am entirely self taught and I often just make my own patterns up from scratch. Following instructions doesn't come easily, especially when you don't understand all the terminology. That said, I'm really pleased with the results and in all seriousness, I am very tempted to scale this one up for myself!

Easter Sunday Sewing; A Toddler Dress

Some Easter Holiday outing ideas for those around London

Sometimes I find myself wondering where I can take the children. Then I think that if I as a fully paid up member of the Museums world, find it hard, then surely others must either be at their wits end, or doing things that I don't know about! With this is mind, I present my ideas for a fun day out if you live within the Northern half of London/ Hertfordshire area. I've tried to include some more unusual options. Please check opening times etc before your visit (I've added web links). Feel free to add to it!

I've written a very brief guide to getting the most out of museums for kids and some suggestions of places to visit here

Whipsnade/ London Zoo: You'll Save a fortune if you become a member as you only need to go a couple of times per year for membership to cost the same amount as a standard tickets. Whipsnade is great on a sunny day and has a brilliant sea-lion display. London Zoo is great for a rainy day as the aquarium is fabulously large and there are quite a few indoor animal houses.

Planet Hollywood in Haymarket is holding a special Scooby-Doo Weekend, 2 – 5 April. To celebrate the release of the new feature length animated movie “Scooby-Doo! Abracadabra Doo” on DVD, kids eating can enjoy a magical, mystery Scooby-Doo Easter experience including a delicious choice of Scooby Snacks, fun puzzles, crosswords, film clips and special Mystery Inc. action figures to take away.

The British Museum; Free entry and you can literally spend hours in one gallery with a child looking and drawing at the objects

Tring Zoological Museum; Free entry, the Natural History Museum's country outpost. A fabulous collection of taxidermy and a firm favourite with my children.

Wimpole Hall and Home Farm; National Trust so you'll have to pay, but well worth it to see all the baby animals at this time of year and a fab place for a picnic!

Mill Green Museum; charming local museum and working watermill. They hold some fantastic childrens activities and this Easter there is everything from wreath making to peg dolls and movies!

The Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge; If you ask at their information desk you can get a brilliant kids pack to help guide you around the museum. They have a great cafe and everything form Ancient Egyptian mummies to suits of armour. Its very much like the museum that Maisie visits...

The Museum of London; One of my favourite museums and deep in the heart of the City, so if the weather is nice you can do a little walking tour around and maybe even see the Roman remains preserved in the car park underneath the museum! They are holding lots of crafty activities for children.

Stockwood Country Park and Discovery Centre; A total gem in the heart of Luton, free entry and one of the best local places I have been for kids. They can climb on and off carts and carriages, swing about in the garden and this weekend there is a country fair.

Local Cinema: Vue Cinema runs Kids AM where you an go a see a film for 95p. Other cinemas do similar deals and its a great way to introduce your child to the wonders of the cinema without too much of an outlay.

Sir John Soane Museum; slightly older, arty children will be inspired by a trip here. Set in the heart of Holborn and opposite the equally fabulous but slightly gruesome Hunterian Museum (which is shut over Easter). This is well worth a visit.

Aldenham Country Park; There's a kids farm, some fab climbing frames and a lake to walk around. On a nice day, this will keep you busy for a few hours.

Museum of St Albans; Tucked away just off the high street in St Albans, this is a little gem which is often overshadowed by Verulamium Museum. For Easter there is an Easter egg hunt around the galleries. There's also a really spectacular Stanley Kubrick Exhibition, which provides a chance to see an Oscar in the flesh!

Dinosaur Trail at Knebworth House; Another full day out, this is one we are yet to try, but I'm told its fun and its a chance to avoid the queues at the Natural History Museum.

The National Portrait Gallery; I'm always amazed at how accessible this is with a pushchair. Children love looking at people and faces and this provides the perfect opportunity to indulge this fascination. There is also a very decent cafe. This ca be followed with a trip to the National Gallery which is sure to inspire lots of home creativity. Best of all, both are free.

If you happen to take up any of these suggestions let me know how you get on, I'd love to hear!

Some Easter Holiday outing ideas for those around London

Green People Giveaway Winner

As promised I used the random number generator. I added each persons entries on sequentially and then counted down the list.

And the winner is: Annieqpr Congratulations!

Annie; email me over your address and I can forward that onto the Green People who will send you the prize directly.

Thanks everyone for entering, I've got some more fantastic competitions coming up :)

Green People Giveaway Winner

Sunshine on a rainy day... NOT

I woke up this morning, the sun was shining and the birds singing and I had only been awoken in the night once by Fifi and I was in the most terrible of foul moods, ever. I think maybe it is the start of another cycle of depression, not quite bad enough to go to the doctors for, but bad enough to make me feel ever so slightly bonkers.

Anyhow, face the world. I look in the mirror, the worlds largest spot (tm) appears. My finger feels a bit well odd, I stare, I prod, a wart, A SHINY NEW WART THING. Christ. So far, motherhood has made me go from someone mistaken for Cameron Diaz on a daily basis (lol) to someone resembling, an unkempt Bridget Jones. I put on my skinny Gap jeans. The illicit eating of the children's Cadbury's Easter Eggs has not done good things.

Things progress, breakfast time and Fifi decides that its a good idea to throw her entire bowl of full fat milk Cheerios on the carpet. Toddler boy wont eat anything apart from a grated cheese wrap. The grated cheese is emptied out onto the sofa where his digger can excavate it. So, late for pre-school then.

On the drive to school I spot a delivery van, the service rhymes with shitty mink (excuse the language). I follow it back as I get a feeling it's going to my house. And so it is. The man very kindly drops off a cardboard box full of loose paint and floating tins. Bang goes my red coat, its now like a Jackson Pollock painting, luckily I opened the box in the porch. Very late for school.

I return home, several telephone calls from automated places which cannot be 'cut off'. That's handy if I suddenly needed the phone. Thanks automated telephone person. I finally make my phone call and I'm running late for Music Class. That's when I join the King Harry temporary traffic lights, they have the longest cycle in the world. I was warned, I forgot.

30 minutes late for music, I enjoyed the last 8 minutes or so. Sob.

Lunch was fairly uneventful. We then had to go to the doctors for jabs. The heavens open. I get soaked. I sit in the car. Steaming the windows so I can't drive. The sun comes out immediately. I am cursed.

A snapshot of part of my day. It has been full of joy, this is no April Fools. Although, I did manage to convince the hubby that someone had pinched his car tyres. He was about to call the police when someone told him it may be an April fool. So, it could have been worse, I would have been arrested for Police time wasting.

Sunshine on a rainy day... NOT