We are delighted to announce our new charity partner for 2020 – Mind. Mind is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales, they provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding, and provide support directly to those who need it most. Mind has a network of over 140 local Minds across England and Wales which offer specialised services based on the needs of the communities they support. Every year, one in four people will experience a mental health problem but hundreds of thou ..read more

Whether you decide to wait till the traditional 7th January or want to put them away the first day of the new year, packing away the decs is a bittersweet occasion, but with a few savvy tactics, you can make cleaning up simple and easy. Here’s our five tips to make the Christmas decoration clean up smooth and simple: Make small goals  The best way to tackle anything big is to split it up into small bits. Write a list of each tidying task and see what you can get a little help with. Give yourself and any helpers a mini reward for each task – a festive way to make tidying quicker and easier ..read more

A fridgeful of scraps after Christmas day is an opportunity for a week’s worth of tasty dishes. With ingenious ways to use even your least favourite leftovers, these creative recipes will become a post-Christmas staple. Bubble and squeak This fried vegetable delight is a boxing day staple across the UK and a great way to use your vegetable leftovers. It’s such an old favourite that it goes by many names. In Ireland it’s called colcannon, the welsh stew variant is cawl cennin, and Scotland has the best – rumbledethumps. Genius.  We love the recipe over at BBC Good Food which adds caramelised s ..read more

Start Christmas early with cosy treats in a Christmas eve box. This tradition is fairly new to the UK and it’s catching on fast with custom ideas and pre-made boxes flurrying into stores. It’s a great way to break up the anticipation for excitable kids and helps them sleep easier on the night before Christmas.  It’s an especially good for siblings, giving them each a box with their name on it is a lovely way to start Christmas together.  Here’s some things to include in your Christmas eve box to make for a cosy Christ  Slippers   Pyjamas  Hot chocolate  A Christmas mug  Christmas bisc ..read more

With Christmas right around the corner, what better time to look at some of our favourite festive films? We took to Instagram to find out your favourite Christmas films, here’s what you said: Love Actually (2003) How can anyone hate Love Actually? Answer: They can’t because it’s fantastic. Starring an ensemble cast which hasn’t since been topped, it’s charm is irresistible. Lesser films get lost of carries away with this many plot threads, but Love Actually hangs together perfectly, with a couple for even the most reluctant viewer. Hugh Grant also makes a rather charming Prime Minister, too. H ..read more

Christmas pudding cake pops  Easy to make and no baking required, cake pops are perfect for getting the kids into the kitchen! Give them a festive twist with this Christmas pudding decoration or use white icing to create little snowman heads.  Find the full recipe at BBC Good Food.   Cornflake Christmas wreaths  This genius idea is simple, quick and just messy enough for your 4 year old to have some fun. It does involve food colouring though, you’ve been warned!  Check out the full recipe on Good to Know.    Gingerbread reindeer  What’s Christmas without some gingerbread? These Reindeer are ..read more

We all know what it’s like to be scrambling for the right gift in the last week before Christmas, but no matter what you do, avoid these lead balloons. From cleaning products to aprons, there are some things it’s best not to grace with wrapping paper.   Apron  Ok, thanks!  Even if it’s a joke apron, let’s be honest, most of us don’t wear one when cooking. It gives the impression that the receiver is seen as the house cook, something not everyone would appreciate!   A Joke Book  If you’re a dad, and you get a joke book, you need to up your game. Your kids are crying out for you to get some new ..read more

If the idea of vegetarian or vegan Christmas dishes has you stumped, we’re here to help.   Try out some of these recipes this year to keep everyone happy and well fed. They’re lush, delicious and easy to make. You might be surprised what becomes a new Christmas staple!  Roast potatoes, carrots and parsnips  Going vegan doesn’t mean you have to pass up a good roast. As Jamie helpfully explains, it’s easy enough to cook your veg in olive oil separately from your chicken to make it suitable for all.   Throw some garlic and rosemary in there and you’ve got some moreish roasties that’ll vanish in ..read more

Sock Snowmen These soft little snowmen are super easy to make, and they’re adorable!  All you need are a pair of white socks, some buttons, pins and elastic bands.    Find the full tutorial on darkroom & dearly. Pasta garlands  Pasta is a great material for a spot of family crafting. It’s paintable and biodegradable!  Paint some pasta bows in glue and glitter then string them together for some festive sparkle.    Find more neat ideas like this one over on Pinterest.    Paper Ornaments Use any kind of paper you fancy for this fancy ornament. It’s simple to put together and looks pretty im ..read more

Whether it’s your first time or feels like your umpteenth, Christmas dinner is a race against the clock to cook and host for the whole family. Here’s a few simple hacks to make your Christmas dinner a little easier this year.    Avoid grumbling stomachs with a hearty breakfast  Take the pressure off your preparation by starting the day with a hearty breakfast. If your dinner is planned for 1pm or later, a 10am breakfast is just what everyone needs.  Bacon sandwiches and eggs and soldiers are strong contenders, and maybe a joke brussel sprout in the cereal, just for fun.    Organise your fridge ..read more