Growing up I moved around the world with my parents, I went to boarding school, then I got a job that involved travelling. So with our first house, it was so important to me that I declared my ownership. In my case (and the then-boyfriend, of course) it was with a smart new front door, painted black and decorated with frosted numbers on the glass panel above, just like I'd seen in the Grand Designs magazine. Once that was done, it really felt … [Read more...]
Review: Tesco Finest Flowers
It's incredibly hard to review a bouquet of flowers that you neither chose nor received, but I shall do my best. Ahead of Mother's Day Tesco contacted me to ask if there was someone special I would like to send flowers to for Mother's Day. The moment I saw the email I knew exactly who I wanted to receive some surprise flowers: "Liz is the kind of person who always puts herself last. She is loving and supportive and constantly thinking of … [Read more...]
Our Shabby Chic Summerhouse Makeover
When we moved house last summer we left behind in our former garden a beautiful hand-painted playhouse, bought as an over-indulgent gift to our first child on her first birthday. It had daily use from a multitude of children and we all mourned it's loss. I even mourned the handpainted sign saying 25 1/2 that I had made for it. But the children got over their loss with the promise of their first trampoline, and we had plans for … [Read more...]
The new star of the Zizzi’s menu – the Sweet Pizza
I last ate in Zizzi's in Bromley when LBG was small. Lisa and I took our three children for lunch, and my memory of the experience is not a good one. I don't think I've eaten at a Zizzi's since, though that of course may have something to do with half my family not eating cheese. Last week, I went back to see how things have changed and to try the new star of the Zizzi's menu -the Sweet Pizza. The decor had been updated- calm colours and … [Read more...]
GoldieBlox rocks our world
I've been following the story of GoldieBlox for a while. The toys for future innovators is the brain child of Debbie Sterling, who saw a need in the Pink Aisle of the toy store for an alternative, despite being told by leading toymakers that engineering toys for girls don't sell. As a parent of two girls I have been trying to find a balance between Barbie- and you should read Frog Mom's thoughts on the plastic phenomenon- and Meccano, which … [Read more...]
Dutch Store HEMA opens in Bromley
Hema is a huge brand in Holland. So huge that 50% of all babies born in the country will wear a Hema babygrow. There was a point when Woolworths could have claimed similar figures but since the store disappeared from the high street I have been looking for something to replace it. Which is why I was attended Dutch store Hema'sopening in Bromley last month. It was worth it. I can see why some articles have referred to it … [Read more...]
A customised Loom Hook made from Thermomorph
I was sent a jar of Thermomorph recently. It sat on the kitchen table staring at me whilst I looked online to find out what I could do with it. It's very easy to use: you simply tip some of the plastic beads into boiled water and wait for them to melt and coalesce into a gloop that you can mould and manage. If it gets too hard, dunk it back into the water to soften and carry on. I stirred a whole bunch of Hama Beads into one blob and … [Read more...]
