Learn to Crochet with Black Sheep Wools

My love affair with crochet began quite by accident. I was in year 7 and had to complete a knitting project as part of our home economics class. Given that I was utterly hopeless with all things 'home' at that phase in my life (I am not claiming to be any better now), it wasn't long before I was battling my knitting needles.

A dear friend took pity and offered to teach me to crochet instead. Crochet, it turns out, was a ‘home economics’ approved, acceptable alternative to the deadly rows of knits and purls.

Old El Paso Stand 'N' Stuff Taco Kits

You know when you are looking to serve home-cooked food for dinner every night but are stuck for ideas? Or are too exhausted to cook from scratch but still want something delicious and nutritious to feed the entire family?

Enter Old El Paso with their new Stand ‘N’ Stuff taco kits. We tried them for dinner tonight and ended up with our very own Mexican feast for Taco Tuesday.

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BISSELL PowerGlide® Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Last week we celebrated Diwali, the Festival of Lights. It meant the house was in need of a good, thorough clean and gave me the perfect opportunity to put the new Bissell PowerGlide Cordless Vacuum Cleaner through its paces.

Cravendale: The Milk Drinker's Milk Story

Once upon a time, not very long ago, there lived a little boy called J. He lived in a house in a small town with his Mummy and Daddy. He was a good little boy, but there was one thing that was a big problem.

Little J was very specific about the milk he liked to drink. He only liked to drink milk that was pure, delicious, great-tasting and fresh-smelling. It had to be a certain temperature, not too hot and not too cold. And it had to be served up in his favourite hand-painted mug. The one he had painted himself when he was a little toddler.

Oddsockosauraus - a book review

"Aai, why are dinosaurs dead?"

"What does extinct mean?"

"Aai, what is an asteroid?"

These and a zillion other dinosaur related questions flow relentlessly from J between mouthfuls of fish fingers. The food varies daily, the questions do not. They are now a staple of our dinner table conversations.

I wonder what it is about dinosaurs that make them so appealing to children. Whatever the reasons, dino mania is here to stay. 

Big Blogger Christmas Giveaway

The countdown to Christmas has started. It is an exciting and expensive time of year, what with parties to plan and presents to buy. Wouldn't it be marvellous to have that extra wad of cash in your pockets to make this Christmas even more magical? Well, this is your chance.

This Christmas I have teamed up with a wonderful collection of bloggers to giveaway an amazing prize just in time for Christmas. One lucky winner will be walking away with a fantastic £150 worth of Amazon vouchers while two runners up get £30 each (if the winner is from a country other than the UK the prize will be delivered via PayPal cash).

Our Stay at Travelodge South Shore, Blackpool

Having spent more than half my adult life in the north-west of England, it is rather unfortunate that I had never visited Blackpool. All that changed this weekend when Travelodge Blackpool very kindly invited us for a stay.

There are two Travelodge hotels in Blackpool. We booked in to stay at the Travelodge South Shore.

Convertible Train Playmat and Book Review

What can you give a little boy who loves trains? And books? A train book, of course. Better yet, a train book that doubles up as a playmat and then folds over into a train engine. 

That is precisely what this book from Miles Kelly does. J was excited to find out that he can not only read, but play with and literally get into his new Convertible Train book.