Saturday 29 November 2014

Project 365 Days 327 - 333

Only 26 days til Christmas and project 365 plods on. It is hard to believe that another week has gone by.

Still no house news, we are sitting in limbo waiting for someone else in the chain to sort out their problems, frustrated beyond belief as we were hoping to be moved in by now.

The girls have been busy practising for their Nativity play at school and Freya along with her school team won a sports challenge against other schools!!

And to round off the week, I spent the day Friday at hospital with Daddy Hazelden as he has suspected appendicitis, he is back at the hospital as I type waiting to hear if he needs an operation.

Onto the photos….

Day 327

A spot of homework being done and a bit of rainy day driving.

Friday 28 November 2014

Toddlers Can Be Mischievous

Toddlers are known for being a little mischievous at times, I mean this stage in their lives begins with the terrible twos so trouble is bound to follow right?? Just take a look at some of the entries into Time4Sleep's latest competition as examples.

Since having Layla I've come to realise that I got off extremely lightly with my eldest 3 daughters, they look like angels in comparison.

My youngest child seems to have made it her mission in life to frighten me, annoy me and to just generally send me potty. Just a few things that my little girl has been known to do :

Climbing on or in furniture.

Creating a Christmas Wreath

I love crafting with the kids and Christmas is the perfect excuse to get out to get a little creative. I wanted some new decorations this year but didn't want it to cost a lot so we've been creating some decorations of our own, starting with an simple festive wreath.

creating a festive wreath

You will need :

Thursday 27 November 2014

Mince Pie Cookie Recipe

I love a good mince pie but the kids aren't as bigger fans as me so I came up with a recipe that still has that festive feel but is a bit more appealing to the children.

These cookies are similar to those that you can purchase at Millie's Cookies, sweet, delicious and doughy.

The mince meat just gives them that Christmas touch.

mince pie cookies

Wednesday 26 November 2014

Gaining Independence The Trunki ToddlePak

I am a huge fan of Trunki. I recently reviewed their BoostaPak and was extremely impressed with just how useful it was so when they released their newest product, the ToddlePak, I was eager to put it to the test.

Available in 7 different designs, there is one to suit every child's personality. You can choose from :

Purple Owl
Red Fox
Orange Monkey
Green Dinosaur
Yellow Lion
Pink or Blue 

Each one is bright and fun, making the idea of wearing it appealing to your little ones. I chose the purple owl. 

LeapFrog LeapPad XDi Ultra Review

Being a LeapFrog Ambassador means I get to bring you all the latest news and reviews. This month I was fortunate to be sent the latest LeapPad to test and try, well I say me but it's the kids who have are the real testers.

Win A Christmas Book

We all love a good book and that's made even better when it has a Christmas theme to it. The Reindeer Rebellion by Lisa Trumbauer defnitely fits the bill.

the reindeer rebellion by lisa trumbauer

Tuesday 25 November 2014

Signs of Good Times To Come

So at some point in the future we will finally own our very own house, how close we are to this remains to be seen because the process keeps hitting some rather substantial bumps.

However whilst we wait I have started thinking about what I want our new home to look like.

When we rented we were never allowed to hang things on the walls but this is something I want to change.

I love word art and I want our forever home to be filled with signs of positivity and messages of love.

I've already bought a couple of things ready, these are pictured to the right, I found these in Pound Stretcher and the total cost for the two signs and the coasters was a tiny £5, got to love a bargain. Below I have put together a little mood board showcasing few of the signs/pictures that I'm planning to purchase.

Monday 24 November 2014

Read With Me #47

Hello and welcome to another Read With Me. Can you believe we are in the last week of November??

read with me
Following on from last weeks posts discussing Christmas I was so pleased to see some lovely Christmassy posts linked up.

My favourite had to be the ultimate Christmas book list from Small People Big Ideas, some I had heard of, others I hadn't.

Here are few more Christmas books which I'd like to recommend.

Santa's Beard by Matilda Tristram and TOm Duxbury, illustrated wonderfully by Nick Sharratt.

The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg

The Polar Pack Book Review

Books are brilliant because not only can you read them again and again, getting lost in the story but you can also build on them, expand and extend the tales by creating activities to explore more about what they've read. Madeleine Rogers, founder of the Hove based children's designer Mibo has written a series of books which saves you some time and effort on the creative side. Included in the set is The Polar Pack, The Jungle Crew and The Safari Set.

I was kindly sent The Polar Pack for my girls to read and enjoy.

the polar pack book

Sunday 23 November 2014

Project 365 Days 320 - 326

It has been a typical week in the Hazelden household, the normal routine of school, work and play continued, oh and I got Foo Fighters tickets for next year, *big grins* here. Here is this weeks project 365…

Day 320

Spot of baking, we were making mince pie cookies.

Silent Sunday

christmas advent chalk board

Friday 21 November 2014

Lets Talk About Elves

We're past mid November so it is safe to talk about Christmas now. Festive traditions, we all have them and one of those Christmas traditions that we've adopted from America is Elf on the Shelf, it seems to be becoming more and more popular each year but is it another one of those things that we spend too much money on?

I done it for the first time last year and I had so much fun coming up with ideas for where our elf could be found each day and just what antics he'd be getting up to. This year I've joined a couple of boards on facebook and honestly I'm shocked at how much money everyone seems to be spending and I think this may start to put others off doing it.

It needn't be expensive.

You don't have to spend £30+ on getting the "correct" elf, I got mine for around £5 in ikea last year but it can be even cheaper than that if you know someone that is handy with a needle/hook and a ball of yarn.

Your elf doesn't have to be bring lots of gifts, infact he isn't expected to bring any. When you watch the Elf on the Shelf DVD you remember that the actual purpose of this activity is to keep your children believing in Santa Claus. If you want to add presents into the mix look to pound shops and charity shops for inspiration.

As for the elves mischievous antics, here are 25 simple ideas that won't cost you an arm and a leg.

Thursday 20 November 2014

Rocky Road Mug Cake Recipe

Earlier this year I blogged about one of my favourite recipes, peanut butter mug cake. There are so many variations of the mug cake, it is such a simple pudding to make, perfect for that naughty but nice treat when something sweet is needed in a hurry.

After having a little experiment, I have come up with another tasty alternative version, the rocky road mug cake.

rocky road mug cake

WARNING, one cake might not be enough!!

rocky road mug cake

A scrummy mixture of chocolate, marshmallow and biscuit all found within a delicious, fluffy cake.

Wednesday 19 November 2014

October's Degustabox, What's Inside??

It's time for my monthly Degustabox update, so just what did I get in October's box??

Xmas Came Early With Christmas Boutique

Every couple of years or so I like to change my Christmas decorations, or atleast add something new to the old ones. Well this year I had a helping hand with deciding on a new colour scheme because Christmas Boutique kindly sent me a few items from the range that they stock.

the christmas boutique

Stocking a diverse amount of Christmas decorations from the traditional to the quirky, advent calendars, candles and even photo frames and wall art. There is certainly something to suit everyones tastes.

Here is a break down of what I was sent :

Wallcreate Canvas Review and Giveaway

I love taking pictures, infact I have over 1000 pictures alone just on my mobile phone. The trouble is knowing just what to do with these images once they have been taken. Most of them I get printed out into standard size photos but there are a few which I like to show off so when I was recently contacted by Wallcreate to see if I would like to have one of my photographs printed on to canvas it was a tough decision on which one to choose.

First let me tell you a little bit about Wallcreate, this company have been around since 2001, printing photos and canvas art at affordable prices whilst maintaining superb quality, this is shown in their 100% feedback.

I received a 40cm x 30cm canvas which is priced between £18.97 and £19.97 depending on the size of the frame you choose.

dover docks canvas

Tuesday 18 November 2014

Talking About Road Safety

Did you know that this week, 17-23 November, is Road Safety Week? The idea behind this week is to spread the word and raise awareness about road safety, promoting and sharing tips to help stop needless deaths and injuries throughout the year.

These accidents can injure people both in and out of cars, it is up to everybody to take responsibility for themselves and think about the affects of their actions to others around them.

So what advice can I offer? Well nothing that you haven't already heard really, I think a lot about being safe on the roads is down to common sense but it doesn't hurt to have these ideas repeated :

What's Wrong With Carrying My Child?

When I had my first two children I'll be honest, I'd never heard of babywearing. I researched a little when I had my third daughter and carried her for a while. By the time I had my fourh child I couldn't wait to ditch the pushchair and carry my child.

Apparently my choice seems strange to some.

Now carrying children in slings/carriers isn't a new thing and in recent years it has become more popular amongst parents but there are still people that like to question those that do it, something that really annoys me.

I get the same old questions and statements :

1. Isn't she heavy?
2. Doesn't she hurt your back?
3. That must be really hard to do.

So let me answers those quickly.

Monday 17 November 2014

Read With Me #46

Hello. Welcome to this weeks Read With Me. I haven't mentioned the C word in here yet, Christmas.

read with me
Well until now.

I think books make the best presents, especially for kids.

This is something I always purchase for not only my kids but friends children too.

I don't think it matters the type of book you get them as each child sees a book differently.

Adults can be a little trickier to please.

However with technology taking over you can always buy someone a kindle voucher or if you like a good paper book in your hands then you can always look at buying a gift card for somewhere like Waterstones.

Don't Look Back By Gregg Hurwitz Review

Recenly I was sent another book from Mumsnet. Don't Look Back is the latest novel by Gregg Hurwitz, a nail biting thriller that keeps you in suspense.

ALONE
It should have been the holiday of a lifetime - a chance for Eve Hardaway to rediscover herself following the break up of her marriage. But then she catches a glimpse of someone she should never have seen.

AFRAID
She was not the first, but the woman who first laid her eyes on the mysterious stranger has disappeared without a trace. And soon Eve's travelling companions start to follow.

ON THE RUN
Then a storm cuts off their remote jungle camp from the outside world, and Eve knows that if she is ever going to see her young son again, she will be forced to find reserves of courage and resourcefulness she never dremt she possessed. Or die trying…

Saturday 15 November 2014

Project 365 Days 313 - 319

A busy week but sadly lots of indoors photos for project 365.

This was the week of the school photos and typically it was not only raining but there was a lovely thunderstorm rubbling round as we had to walk to school on Monday.

We also had all the girls parents evenings, lovely to hear that my daughter's are all well behaved, clever and a delight to teach, they keep their wind up antics for at home!! Gracie is just struggling with number recognition, something which we will just have to persevere with.

And I had a proud mummy moment when Freya was chosen to be one of the main parts for the Nativity play, she is playing the part of Whoopsy Daisy Angel, a very apt part seen as she has always been known as first aid Freya.

On a personal note I've almost finished my Christmas shopping, boo hiss I hear a lot of you saying to the computer screen but I do like to be organised!!

Day 313

A smiley Sunday.

Friday 14 November 2014

20 Things To Do This Christmas

As Coco Cola would say, holidays are coming. The month of December to me means one thing, Christmas is coming. I love this time of year, such a magical feel to it and as a big kid myself, I like to do many activities some with the children and some by myself that manage to make it all that more special and exciting. Below I have listed 20 things to do and make during the month of December to get you and your family prepared for all of the festivities to come.

Thursday 13 November 2014

Corned Beef Hash Lasagne

Last year I shared with you my favourite way of making corned beef hash, such a cheap meal to make and it always goes down well with everyone.

Since then I have been experimenting, trying to find new twists on this classic dish so that it doesn't become a boring dinner to have, so today I am sharing with you my recipe for corned beef hash lasagne which is cooked in the slow cooker.

corned beef hash lasagne

Wednesday 12 November 2014

Letters from Lapland

I am definitely a fan of Christmas and I like to make this time of year as magical as I can for my children, especially while they all still belive in Santa Claus, he is real you know!! We make a point of writing our letters to Santa and of course they get sent to Lapland. Now it wouldn't be right if they didn't get a reply would it!!

This is where Lapland Mailroom step in. Here you can purchase personalised letters from santa or father christmas depending on your preference.

lapland mailroom

I Always Wanted A Barbie House

Now I don't know about you but when it comes to getting the kids toys I may be a little cheeky and buy things that I may have wanted when I was younger or things that I'd enjoy playing with them. So when I was asked if I would like to review the new Barbie Malibu House I had to hold back from screaming yes because I always wanted one but Santa never bought me one.

Price at £99.99, this two storey, six room house comes complete with beautifully stylish furniture and accessories, as well as stickers to decorate and make it your own. You are definitely getting a lot of toy for your money!!

barbie malibu house

Tuesday 11 November 2014

What to check for when buying a car

Car safety is important whether you are driving by yourself or if you have your family in the car with you so whether you are buying a new car or a used car there are a number of things that you should check before you complete the deal to make sure it is safe for everyone. 

Buying a new car


* If you are collecting your new car or you are having it delivered it is important to be able to inspect it in daylight if at all possible. If you are unable to do so and it is dark or wet then you should record that on the sales invoice stating that you have not been able to carry out a complete inspection. 


* When you do inspect the car check all the body panels, bumpers and windows and ask if the car has been repaired. You might be surprised to know that many new cars get damaged in transport and have to be repaired. If you don’t ask you will never know. 

Alphabet Project Letters X, Y and Z

Ok, I missed out on letters X and Y for the alphabet project, for two reasons really.

One I couldn't think of anything for X and two, time just got away from me. So this week for the final week, I am making it a bumper edition, including photos for letters X, Y and finally Z

X is for Xylophone. We visited the Powell Cotton museum in Kent and came across this amazing looking xylophone, finally I'd found my X.

Monday 10 November 2014

Read With Me #45

Waves, welcome to this weeks Read With Me. I can't believe we are now in November but what I'm even more impressed about is the fact that you lovely lot have continued to link up every week so I just wanted to start this weeks post by thanking you all, it really is very much appreciated.

read with me
One thing I really love about reading is finding new authors, especially ones that aren't so well established.

I always leave reviews on amazon and good reads as I think it's important to support their efforts.

An author that I'm proud to support is Rachel Medhurst.

I was lucky enough to have the chance to receive advanced copies of both her series of books, The Deadliners and The Avoidables.

Both series are different and yet both extremely captivating. Brilliant to see just how diverse one author can be.

Winter Wonderland Book Review

Another season is looming, Winter.

Some people see cold, dark and grey, whilst others see the possiblities of snuggles under blankets, hot chocolates all round and of course Christmas.

I was recently sent the book Winter Wonderland that contains 10 adorable animal stories.

One frosty Winter, a bear cub gets ready for the long hibernation, a puppy takes his first walk in the snow and a lamb catches a glimpse of Father Christmas… 

Written by some delightful authors including Holly Webb, Linda Chapman, Anna Wilson and Tracey Corderoy, these stories really get the imaginations flowing.

Q Pootle 5 Christmas Special DVD Giveaway

The hit CBeebies series has another DVD launching onto the shop shelves next week, a Christmas special to be precise.

All around Okidoki, festive lights are twinkling and everyone is preparing for the happiest time of the year and that includes Groobie's fantastic pantomime but when a sudden mayday call interrupts rehearsals, another epic adventure starts, can Q Pootle 5 save Christmas??

q pootle 5 christmas special dvd

Saturday 8 November 2014

Project 365 Days 306 - 312

Kids back at school after half term and the weather seems to have done a nose dive. Wind and rain mixed in with colder temperatures had made for many soggy school runs this week. This also means that my project 365 photos for this week are very indoor based.

So what has happened this week?

Well Elise had to go to the dentist this week, her wobbly teeth just aren't budging so she is going to have to have two taken out, something she's not best pleased about despite reassurances that it won't hurt.

Layla had her 2 and a quarter year check on Friday, she passed with flying colours and whilst there got weighed and measured and at almost 28 months she weighs 26lbs and stands at a teeny 84cm tall, but good things come in small packages don't they.

And it has been an adjustment for all this week because Daddy Hazelden started a new job a couple of weeks ago, still working in London but doing a mix of days and nights, this week started the night shifts so he's been away more than usual.

Now onto the photos…

Day 306

Sunday is for relaxing and that's just what the girls did.

Friday 7 November 2014

Sharing #AngelDelightMoments

I always remember in my house that dessert was a treat, something that we didn't have very often, but when I visited my nan and grandpa pudding was a given and one of the things my nan always rustled up was a big bowl of Angel Delight.

This instant treat has been around since 1967!!

If memory serves me right, the butterscotch flavour was my favourite and I never needed to have anything with it. Trouble with this sort of food is that it is very morish, one bowlful is never enough.

I still love Angel Delight now and so do the kids. Not only because it is quick and easy to make, but because it is so versatile. I will always prefer it by itself but the kids love it when I experiment.

Below is my recipe for mini Angel Delight trifles.

mini angel delight trifles

Thursday 6 November 2014

Sharing Flora's Potato and Herb Bake Recipe

There is nothing better than settling down with a big plate of comfort food on a rubbish weather day. I normally opt for a good stew or cheesy beans on toast but I when I spotted Flora's recipe for potato and herb bake, I just had to have a go at making it, so I thought it was only fair that I share the recipe with all of you.


Wednesday 5 November 2014

No Tricks, Just Treats

Ok ok, I know Halloween is over and you're all thinking about Christmas now but I had to share with you the lovely delivery that I received from House of Fraser last week, no tricks in sight just plenty of wonderful treats.

Along with plenty of Halloween goodies including books, sweets and masks, the girls were each sent an item from their children's range of Autumn essentials.

Tess Daly Launches LeapTV

I told you all a while ago about the latest product to be launching from LeapFrog, the amazing LeapTV.


It isn't surprising that over 1.2 billion people worldwide spend their time playing video games but unfortuantely these games aren't always suitable for our little ones.

Food and Drink To Look Out For

Recently there have been quite a few new food and drink items to hit the supermarket shelves. The kids and I have been lucky to try them so I thought it was time that I shared our favourites with you.

Fruit Bowl Frollipops


These new lollies from Fruit Bowl come in packs of five and they are available in two different flavours, apple snakes and strawberry rockets. Containing 1 of your 5 a day and made with natural colours and flavours and with no added sugar, they seem to be the perfect snack for little kids.

Tuesday 4 November 2014

Staying Healthy and Happy

As a child I never had to consider my diet and what I ate. Even as I progressed to adulthood, I always thought I was relatively healthy, even with the odd few chocolate bars and bottles of cherry coke I'd manage to consume.

If I'm honest I probably would have gone through life without worrying, I mean I didn't consider myself to be fat and I've been lucky that I haven't suffered from any serious illnesses.

This way of thinking changed when my dad had a heart attack around three years ago.

Shocked would be an understatement. It was one of those moments that you never thought you'd experience, I mean bad things happen to other people right? The initial phone call had me in tears but nothing could prepare me for seeing him lying there in that hospital bed.

Monday 3 November 2014

Read With Me #44

Welcome to this weeks Read With Me. I thought with the kids on half term that I would have slowed in the reading department.

Turns out I just can't say no to a good book.

The latest series I've been reading is the Addicted series from Krista and Becca Ritchie.

These books really are addictive and need to be read in order :

Addicted To You
Ricochet
Additcted For Now
Kiss The Sky (Calloway Sisters #1)
Hothouse Flower (Calloway Sisters #2)
Thrive
Addicted After All

The main premise is following the relationship of Lily and Lo, one addicted to sex, the other addicted to alcohol.

Reading With Biff, Chip and Kipper

Learning to read is a big part of all our lives. Whether you are the child learning or the parent/adult doing the teaching, it can sometimes prove to be a difficult task. I think what we all need to keep in mind is that reading is just an extension of our inaginations and it should be an activity that remains fun and engaging.

My 4 year old, Gracie, started primary school in September and like her sister's before her, she is learning to read using the Biff, Chip and Kipper books from Oxford Reading Tree. I have been reading these books with the kids for so many years now that many of them I know off by heart.

read with biff, chip & kipper

Saturday 1 November 2014

Project 365 Days 299 - 305

Wow 1st of November how did that happen and that means only 60 days of project 365 left! Well we've made it through the second week of half term and i'm not going to lie, there have been arguments, there have been tears but in between Mummy saying no lots, there has also been lots of fun had.

Weddings, trips to the park, Halloween activities and time staying at Grandad's house, all captured in this weeks round up of photos.

Day 299

The usual Sunday antics from these monkeys.