Summer Snack Ideas for Kids

With summer on the horizon we will soon see the return of regular dining al fresco, BBQs and picnics at the park but deciding what is best for little ones to eat can be tricky at times. 

Getting the balance right when the kids may be fussy to feed can be difficult but hopefully these healthy snack suggestions will help...

Get Creative

Letting the kids join in when it's time to prepare and cook meals can often encourage them to try new foods. Pizza is a great way to be creative in the kitchen and if you let them help make the dough and add the toppings they may select some vegetables without persuasion as the bright colours can be so appealing. Pizza is delicious served hot or cold, it's very versatile, so you can eat it immediately or pop it into your wicker baskets to take out with you on your travels. If you're in a hurry you can save time by using muffins, baguettes or tortillas as bases and if you want to sneak some extra goodness in make your own tomato sauce.

15 Spooktacular Halloween Cupcake Ideas

Halloween is fast approaching and preparing a frightening feast for your family will ensure the night is truly spooktacular! These cupcakes will look amazing on your table this October, or given away as treats to anyone that comes knocking, so why not give one of the 15 recipes a go!

Valentine's Day: Love Bug Pom Pom Craft

Minxy received lots of beautifully coloured yarn at Christmas so we decided to use some for a themed craft activity while it was wet at the weekend. Valentine's Day is just around the corner and these cute and lovable pom poms are actually really simple to create - we made some as key rings and bag accessories too.

Materials

6 Decorating Trends You Shouldn't Follow

People who are fond of keeping their homes looking beautiful don't often think before heading to the high street and splashing the cash on the latest décor trends. They like to follow the famous interior designers on Instagram, read relevant home interior blogs and try to keep up with everything fashionable when it comes to their living space.

There are however a collection of trends, from over the years and present times, which are debatably outdated or inappropriate - would you have any of these in your own home?...

1. Panelling

Panelling on walls was once a widely accepted trend but if you have it in your home today then perhaps it’s time for a change. You could replace the panels with some bold colour paint or even some textured-look wallpaper which is currently very popular. Panelling is apparently quite a turn off for prospective buyers so if you're looking to sell it might be best to eliminate it as soon as possible.

Lump the Laundry - Use Laundrapp

No matter how big or small your family, the never ending round of laundry can be one of the most dreaded household chores. Some homes choose to utilise launderettes, but for many mums and dads sparing the time to even get to the laundrette can be a bigger drain - it can be hard to find a spare minute between school runs, clubs and classes!

Laundrapp is here to help. Laundrapp collects, dry cleans and delivers your clothes in pristine, freshly pressed condition. With just a tap of a phone, tablet or laptop, customers can book a free collection and return delivery at a time that suits them. The app is completely on demand, allowing you track your order and see the location of your driver and as it's so quick and easy to use it frees up valuable time so that you to get on with more important or fun tasks.

Shimmer 'n Sparkle Sew Crazy Machine

If your little ones fancy taking up a new hobby to kick start the year, sewing is a great way to get their creative juices flowing. It's ideal for anyone that likes fashion or art in particular too, just like Minxy and I.

We've been putting the Shimmer n Sparkle Sew Crazy Machine to the test recently and we've had plenty of fun with fabric, making a variety of items.

Aimed at children aged 8+ this is an ideal stater machine for tweens and teens that want to give sewing a go, without parents breaking the bank in the process on equipment, and before buying a costly professional/adult alternative. The set comes with 2 small pieces of material, patterns, thread, needles and a useful storage caddy to pop all of the bits and pieces in to. All of the essentials that you require although it would've been nice to have more or larger pieces of cloth for additional projects.

The machine is also pre-threaded for convenience and has two speed settings which can be altered via the pedal or machine itself. It doesn't however come with the 4 AA batteries that are needed to operate it or an mains adapter (we would recommend getting one as it can be frustrating when turning the machine upside-down to remove batteries mid project). 

Christmas Gift Giveaway #11

Toys are often top of the kid's wishlist at Christmas and this collection from Zuru is certain to put smiles on faces.

Christmas Gift Giveaway #6

Whether you would love a stylish treat for yourself or a special gift to pop under the tree for a loved one, this timepiece from Watches 2 U is perfect.

This unique seiko vd53 analogue timepiece is built by Krug Baümen and features a black leather strap and a metal case which compliments the black dial. It also comes with the manufacturers 2 years warranty.

Christmas Gift Giveaway #4

Give the gift of learning this Christmas and start the new year with a qualification, thanks to NCC!

Whether you want a change in career or something to fill your evenings when the children are in bed home learning is incredibly rewarding.

The winner of this great prize can pick from the following courses: 

Christmas Gift Giveaway #3

Every home needs a tree for gifts to go under at Christmas and we have a beautiful North Valley Spruce Artificial version to give away! It is constructed with hinged branches for ease of assembly and is great quality - perfect to hang those baubles and tinsel from this year.

Christmas Gift Giveaway #2

YogaBellies organic stretchy baby wrap slings are manufactured in the UK from 100% cotton. Their wraps are hand-finished in the UK which means they can verify exactly how they were made, what they are made from and most importantly that they meets stringent safety standards for you and your baby. 

They make a wonderful gift for a new parent or a mum-to-be.

Christmas Gift Giveaway #1

'Tis almost the season to be jolly and to lift your spirits well into winter my Christmas Gift Giveaway is back for another year. There will be plenty of prizes up for grabs throughout November which will make wonderful gifts for loved ones, or just be really handy for your own family, so pop back each day and see what new giveaways are up and running!

First up we have the Braun NTF3000 worth £52.99...

Keeping Pets Healthy in Winter

Autumn and winter is the time for pulling on your wellies and heading out to the countryside but did you know that it is also the height of tick season? Ticks can be a danger to both you and your pet so it’s important to be vigilant in preventing and treating; ticks can carry Lyme disease which, if left untreated, can cause serious health issues. Recent research from Bristol University has shown that ticks are on the rise and, out of 15,000 dogs surveyed, 1 in 3 dogs were found to have a tick. Unfortunately, only one in ten people are aware that the best time to check for ticks is after a walk. 54.1% of dogs are brushed inside (with nearly a fifth – 18.5% - in the lounge, in front of the TV!), so any dirt and pests like ticks will drop off inside – putting the family at risk!

Bob Martin is giving one lucky reader the chance to win a walking bundle to help protect and treat their pets and families this autumn. The pack includes a selection of Bob Martin tick products, a pair of wellies, a walking kit and a Fluff & Spruce Slicka Brush for those important tick checks.

Earn Points with Pampers

Let’s be honest, changing nappies isn’t exactly our favourite pastime and as a mum of two, aunt and godmother I've changed more than my share over the last few years! However, Pampers have come up with a great way to turn the moment when you spot that familiar #pooface into a far more enjoyable experience - they’ve launched an exciting new app called Pampers Club which rewards you when you purchase Pampers. So poop now means prizes!

Seafood Week - A Recipe Idea and Giveaway

Fish is not only low in fat and a great source of protein, it contains Omega 3 which benefits the heart, so incorporating fillets or shellfish into your family meals each week is a wise choice. As 7th-14th October sees the return of Seafood Week why not pop a fish dish onto your meal planner? 

Puddles Win Prizes

Budding photographer in the family? This might be the competition for you. With the arrival of autumn and the colder weather on the horizon there will be many opportunities for some puddle jumping fun - just make sure you take your camera to capture the outdoor action when you go!

WELLY foods invites you to grab your boots, head outside and snap pictures of your favourite puddles for the WELLY foods Puddle of the Year photography competition.

Organic Goodies

September is National Organic Month and to celebrate we have teamed up with several brands to offer readers some lovely prizes - take a peek at our Riverford and Discount Supplements giveaways that are already up and running.

As the month draws to a close however, this is the third and final giveaway for you to enter with products from Eco Tools, Beond, Alara and Choc Chick to enjoy.

• Beond bars are made of completely natural, raw, vegan and organic ingredients while being free from nasty preservatives, soya, dairy and gluten. Ideal for anyone with food intolerances. At only 129kcal they make a delicious snack for the health conscious and they come in several flavours including Acai Berry, Apple & Cinnamon, Blueberry Cacao, Pineapple & Baobab and Sour Cherry to try.

Finding Dory at Sea Life Birmingham

Apart from the odd trip to the NEC or Cadbury World, I've never really spent any time in Birmingham so it made a nice change to have a day there as the summer holiday came to an end. 

We had been invited along to Sea Life for the official Finding Dory event as part of our visit and as we have enjoyed time at other centres, including turtle feeding in Great Yarmouth, the adventure park at Weymouth and the one inside Alton Towers, we were eager to be involved and celebrate the latest Disney Pixar release. We're also very fond of fish in general, having a 240l aquarium of our own at home, so after parking and walking for just a few minutes along the river to collect our tickets we were soon exploring the different zones.

Celebrating National Organic Month

September is National Organic Month and to celebrate we will have a number of giveaways where you can win organic goodies right up until the start of October.

The first prize comes from Discount Supplements and we have four fabulous products up for grabs!

Silent Sunday

We made a friend this evening

A photo posted by Emma (@theminimesandme) on Jul 31, 2016 at 6:51pm PDT