There are many Myths of Motherhood but the one that got to me was the Instant Feeling of Overwhelming Love. When my girls were born, there was no crying with joy, no husband kissing me on the forehead then kissing the baby whilst I cradled it, victorious, close to my chest. There was merely relief, then panic that my In-Laws would want to see me, and I was all cathetered-up, and I needed to get back to my room. I forgot all about the Love Fest … [Read more...]
2014: a Year in Review printable
Last Year I made a printable version of what had previously been handwritten: I would ask the children their favourite things, and write them down in a book, to go with the random memories I had added throughout the year. You can see the 2013 Year in Review printable here. It's been a busy year here a DG Cottage: we've been learning to adapt to life in the country. I've have done the school run in floods for the first time- terrifying- and … [Read more...]
Visiting Santa in his Harrods workshop
Last year we were invited to visit Harrod's Santa for review purposes, and whilst we enjoyed our experience, we had a few criticisms. This year, assured that these had all been addressed, we once again travelled into London to experience the wonder of a "Big Name" Santa, visiting Santa in his Harrods workshop. And I have to say that Harrod's Santa 2014 was a vast improvement on 2013. It was an actual Winter Wonderland- a forest of white … [Read more...]
Christmas Tree Activity Party
It's always fun to mark then end of term and spend time with your friends in the school holidays, so when The Girls asked for a festive event, who was I to say no? The result was a Festive Christmas Tree Activity Party, where everything was tree-shaped. This printable on my Advent Activity Calendar board on Pinterest, via Vegie Smugglers. It's a great colour-and-cut printable that is a quick and easy activity for any … [Read more...]
Turkey and Stuffing Meatballs with Cranberry Sauce
Turkey and Stuffing Meatballs with Cranberry Sauce and Shredded Brussel Sprouts. DH loves turkey. Could eat it all year round. So I knew that when I saw a recipe in Jack Monroe's book for Turkey Meatballs I would have to make them for him. They were a disaster. A didn't-hold-together-whilst-cooking-and-ended-up-a-bowl-of-mince-type-disaster, albeit tasty. I stared at this pan of mince all afternoon resentfully until I re-imagined it as Turkey … [Read more...]
Festive New Year Cards from Minted.com
It's precisely at this time of year- December- that my thoughts turn to Christmas. My birthday falls at the end of November so it is not until I am out of the month that I can really focus on All Things Festive. I don't know whether it's my love of Christmas Movies- however awful- or my fondness for Pinterest but I have been really captivated by the Holiday Card in the last few years. My captivation has been such that I have whizzed through … [Read more...]
Hama Bead Frozen Fractals suncatchers
We awoke this morning to grass covered in a thick layer of frost, so have been busy in the kitchen planning for Dimples' 5th birthday *sob* which will happen after Christmas. It will have a Frozen theme, so we've been looking for activities to do at the party and I have to say our Frozen Fractals Suncatcher made with Hama Beads have turned out really well. They are so simple. We used white Hama beads, as well as a mixture of blues. We have … [Read more...]
