Over the Easter holidays we enjoyed a few days away in Ironbridge, a pretty village in Ironbridge Gorge which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We planned some fun days out including, the Cat Cafe in Shrewsbury, a trip to the Emma Bridgwater Decorating Studio and the Boardroom Gaming Cafe in Telford. If there is any kind of board game cafe when we go away, we will always try and visit. The kids are constantly hungry so a Board Game Cafe is usually a good bet to keep them amused whilst we stop for drinks and snacks. Boardroom Gaming Cafe The Boardroom Gaming Cafe was easy to find with a car par ..read more

It’s been a while since I’ve received a subscription box from Cotton Clara. You can opt out of the box if you don’t want it, so it feels like a few months since a box landed on my doormat. I actually didn’t want the Goldwork heart brooch kit but I didn’t cancel in time! Goldwork heart brooch Goldwork is embroidery using metal threads. When I received my box I was surprised as it contained two pieces of felt, an embroidery hoop, some threads and two envelopes. Nothing really screamed goldwork at me! However the envelopes contained red pearl purl and gold pearl purl, the other on contained red r ..read more

Starting the week by writing the Happy List is something I’ve been doing for a while over the last few years. It is my chance to sit down and reflect on the things that made me happy in the previous week, as well as to record some of the adventures we have as a family. Five Happy Things {Week 496} Last week was tough juggling with work with the kids still being off school for the Easter holidays. Thankfully the weather was good so they spent a lot of time out on their bikes with their friends. We took them climbing to the indoor climbing centre and played a new game, Power ..read more

Today we managed to catch the last few days of The Little Egg Trail in London. We love a sculpture trail and this sounded a great way to end the Easter holidays – the kids are not excited about going back to school next week. The trail runs from 18th March to 15th April, and you can follow the simple trail to discover 12 giant eggs around Sloane Square in London. Spanning the neighbourhood, each and every giant egg has been beautifully designed by a high-profile artist to raise awareness for wildlife conservation charity, The Elephant Family. The Little Egg Hunt Trail The trail is free to vie ..read more

All parents face a moment when they have to educate their kids about complicated or challenging subjects. Whether it’s illness, death, social issues, or other problems, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed at the prospect of having a complicated conversation with a child. In this article, you’ll find 5 useful tips to guide you through this stage of life and parenthood. How to Talk To Your Kids With Confidence Nobody can protect their kids from everything; children have to grow and understand the world with the right tools to navigate life’s difficult experiences. 1. Your kids need a safe space Bef ..read more

I love to crochet. It’s simple and repetitive and perfect whilst watching a good series – I’ve just finished watching The New Look on Apple TV+, all about Christian Dior and Coco Chanel during the Second World War. I’ve also been working my way through any Dorothy Whipple novel I can find and thought I would crochet a simple bookmark to use. If you want to make your own you will need the following: List of supplies: Yarn 3.5 mm crochet hook A pair of scissors Tapestry needle How to crochet a bookmark: Step 1: Start by making a slip knot Step 2: Work 36 chain stitches. Step 3: After worki ..read more

Creating a child-friendly home is essential for ensuring the well-being and safety of your little ones as they play in and explore their surroundings. From securing heavy furniture and baby proofing sharp edges to providing ample space for learning and creative play, there are countless ways to make a home an enjoyable and safe environment for children. Whether you want to update your current space or expect a new arrival, these strategies help create an inviting and nurturing home your children will love to spend time in. Room-by-Room Child-Proofing Tips One of the most significant tasks whe ..read more

Starting the week by writing the Happy List is something I’ve been doing for a while over the last few years. It is my chance to sit down and reflect on the things that made me happy in the previous week, as well as to record some of the adventures we have as a family. Five Happy Things {Week 495} Last week was busy. Not only did we enjoy celebrating Easter with my mum but there were a couple of Bank Holidays, which gave us a lovely long weekend. Then we were fortunate to go away for a few days, staying in a beautiful apartment in Ironbridge. We got two new stamps on our N ..read more

Today we treated ourselves to a trip to the Emma Bridgewater Decorating Studio at her factory at Hanley, Stoke on Trent. I have a few pieces of Emma Bridgewater pottery and have always wanted to know more about how the pieces and decorated and made. Unfortunately all the experiences we wanted to go on, such as the factory tour and afternoon tea experiences, were sold out. Thankfully we found we could visit the Decorating Studio and paint our own pottery keep-sakes. The Emma Bridgewater Decorating Studio We booked our tickets to the Emma Bridgewater Decorating Studio online and turned up this ..read more

Today we visited Paws Cafe, a cat cafe in Shrewsbury. You all know how much we love to visit a Cat Cafe, as my son would much rather swap our dog for a cat! We found out about Paws Cafe online and booked a visit. Situated in a pretty building on Mardol, it was easy to find with parking on the street outside. Paws Cafe Shrewsbury We were welcomed inside, put our shoes into a locker, and went inside to choose out seats. Paws Cafe is large and we plumped for a comfy sofa. There are 11 lovely cats who live at the cat cafe, ranging from a gorgeous Maine Coon to domestic short hair and a bengal. Th ..read more