Mighty Money Savers

I have just been to cineworld with the boys and two of their friends to see Turbo , which we all loved.  So I thought I would share with you these fab free Turbo colouring sheets.

This Halloween, World Vision are asking people to turn the 31st of October in to a Night of Hope.  F or many children around the world there are real things to be afraid of and World Vision is fighting to make the world a safer place for young people vulnerable to child marriage, malnutrition, dirty water and more. They are asking people to take part their charity campaign, “Every Child Free from Fear”, by carving a heart into a pumpkin. Everyone who downloads their pumpkin carving guide can enter a prize draw to win a cookery class with celebrity chef, Lesley Waters. How to get involved 1. Download a pumpkin PDF guide to enter the prize draw 2. Carve a heart in a pumpkin 3. Send them a picture via facebook or twitter   5. See if you win a cookery class with Lesley Waters! We  haven't  yet carved our pumpkins, but I love the one that Molly at Mothers Always Right did in support of the campaign.

Clubcard boost is back and it is better than ever.  For every 5 of clubcard vouchers you get £10 of boost vouchers.  So when Tesco asked me to put together a wishlist I was delighted to. Canon EOS 600D SLR Bundle Kit with 18-55mm lens + Desktop Tripod + SLR Case + Spare Battery   OK know that this is expensive at £529, but  what a bargain if you use clubcard boost as it will be £265!  I would KILL for this kit. Sticking with cameras, how cool is this Fujifilm Instax Mini , Blue & White, 1.5MP, 1.5 inch LCD Screen.  I know that my boys would have so much fun using this.  I still remember using an instant camera and being amazed as a child.  Less than £35 with clubcard boost. With Christmas coming I know that Mini would love this Bontempi GT740 40 Midi Keys Toy Keyboard .  This is less than £25 with clubcard boost making it superb value. This  LEGO City Fire Station 60004 would be a big hit with either boy and would last forever.  LEGO is always such a good p

rainy days can sometimes be the bain of our lives over the summer, especially if you have something planned and can not do it. Don't despair, think of it as time you can spend with your children having fun as a family with things you already have in the house. Build an indoor den.  Get out the blankets, quilts and towels and turn the table into a den, put all the cushions and pillows in the house on the floor and pile in.  I have such fond memories of turning the clothes airer into a den as a child.   Have a board games tournament .  What better than getting out lots of games and having a league table and keeping scores. Get the colouring pens ou t and have family colouring time.  We have some great how to draw books, bit we all have much more fun when we colour and draw together. Gluing and sticking is great fun for children of all ages.  We love making meals on paper plates, but you could make masks, decoupage (using magazines) or do some paper mache.   My children lo

Anyone who grew up with the Home Alone films knows the joys that can come from having an empty house to yourself. We've all done some pretty stupid things when no one's watching, but here are our favourite silly activities for when we're safe behind closed doors. Pig out and watch movies We might not be able to nab a fancy Plaza hotel suite, but scenes of Kevin talking along to an old movie and munching on junk food just have to be recreated! While this can also be a group activity, it's so much better when there’s no one to judge you for grabbing that fifth donut. Dance around Risky Business -style Karaoke might fill us with fear but give us an empty house and we'll happily go to town on the tunes. While the shades and white shirt are optional, we'll definitely be sliding along wooden floors and singing into a hairbrush. Do your chores with nothing on Be honest, we've all tried this at some point. Whether it’s laundry or the vacuuming, chor

The Women in Business Awards have been and gone, highlighting some of the strongest and leading women in business today. As such, looking through the list of winners can highlight many business lessons, which will help you achieve the same success in your own company. A good leader knows when to follow another's example and these winners have experienced much success so far, offering some ideal strategies to take into consideration. The event saw many awards given for both companies and individuals across business . Some of the nominees specifically highlight individuals worth observing. Rising Star Of The Year One of the most prestigious prizes in the event, the title of “Rising Star of the Year” title was picked up by Anne Carter after going from strength to strength, leaving only increased growth and profits in her wake. The lessons learned here are simple but effective. Ms Carter focuses on profitability – encouraging a direct focus on making a profit. Yet

A garden fir for boys by mum-themadhouse on Polyvore If we had a wish for our garden, It would be for it to be suitable come rain or shine, to keep both boys active, without the need for the day to be fine. If we had a wish for our garden, an  InTerra  trampoline would be ace, how much fun could be had, to it we would all race. If we had a wish for our garden, we would love a multi functional swing, Perhaps even an outdoor punchbag, and we would sing as we swing! If we had a wish for our garden, a place for ball play would be on it Football, basketball. All sorts of balls to keep the boys fit If we had a wish for our garden, It would be one that our family could relish, one that truly was an outdoor room, a place we could truly cherish. “This blog post is an entry into the Tots100/Activity Toys Direct garden makeover competition”

Mini is joining in with This Mummy Loves draw with me with his bat cat creation! Sometimes the most simple paintings are the scariest!

It is half term for us next week and we will be off to our local Cineworld to See Turbo thanks to a complimentary family ticket.  We were blown away at how much effort Cineworld had put into making cinema going better value for families the last time we went.   In addition to Turbo and Cloudy with a chance of meatballs 2 ,  Cineworld are also  running their popular Movies For Juniors screenings throughout half term. They are showing ‘The Smurfs 2’ every morning and tickets for kids and their folks will be just £1.50 (or £1 if people book online with mycineworld). To win a family ticket (4 x tickets) to any film at your local Cineworld just complete the rafflecopter below – Good Luck x a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tomorrow at 9am VoucherCodes.co.uk are releasing an amazing ‘super coupon’. They aregiving away 15,000 Funky Pigeon cards – worth £2.99. The only thing that people will have to pay for is the Standard 1 st class delivery, which is 60p. To claim the free card, just head to the voucher on this page: http://www.vouchercodes.co.uk/funkypigeon.com and sign up to get the offer on their site.  You will then be emailed a unique code which you can then use when you click through to funkypigeon.com.  The offer is available from 9am on 22nd October and is available until 27 th October or until all 15,000 codes are redeemed.

My boys loved Julia Donaldson and currently  Oxford Reading Tree Songbirds, a Phonics Games Flashcards  set with illustrations by Julia Donaldson is on offer at Amazon for £3.87, reduced from £7.00.    This Phonics Games Flashcard pack has been carefully written to help children practise their letters and sounds at home. Play with these cards to build an awareness of rhyme and to practise spelling and making sentences, all whilst having fun! Games include two levels to help children build confidence and they also include 'get up and go' versions for children who find it hard to sit still for reading practice!  Both levels are currently on offer at £3.87 instead of £7.00 Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links

Living in the north east of England more often than not the lovely autumn leaves are wet, slimy and not very good for collecting and crafting with. However, not one to let that spoil our fun, I have found you  free leaf printables, so you can use these instead! Leaf coloring sheets and printables from Kinderart Leaf template printables from CraftJnr.com Leaves activities pack from 3 DInosaurs  Free fall leaves printables from Home school giveaways  Autumn colouring leaves from She Knows  Leaf template print out from Enchanted Learning Leaf resources from Twinkl Fall leaves wreath printable from Kiki and Company Leaf patterns from I heart crafty things Autumn Leaves printable memory game from Mr Printables Autumn colour by number printable from Willowday Leaf colouring pages from  Colouring pages for kids

59 B&Q stores are offering hour classes in basic DIY skills to make a small project, such as:  Hanging bird feeder 'Santa stop here' sign Hedgehog house Toy boat Halloween treat tub They aim to  help children aged 7-11 learn basic DIY skills through small projects such as building bird feeders and making picture frames. They usually cost £5 a session, but members of the free   B&Q Club  get them free. Book your class:   To see the available classes, go via this   Kids Can Do It link , enter your postcode and click 'book' on the store and month you'd like. It'll then show you all the slots available and what your little 'uns will be building. It says the classes cost £5, but telephone 0845 600 5428 and quote the store, class and your B&Q membership number and it's free. The classes take place at 59 B&Q stores and there's no limit to the number you can book. Places are currently available until November.

IKEA Gateshead are hosting a free  IKEA family fun pop-up at the Bridges Shopping Centre on Saturday 19 th October. The event is a pop in one and open from  9am - 5.30pm and the first 100 children at the IKEA family fun activity stand will receive a free soft toy voucher to redeem in-store, There will be a host of craft activities  including  tin-can  robot  building and seed planting.  Or perhaps you can try giggle yoga. We would be going, but have two birthday parties to go to on Saturday!

One of the things that is important to me if that we do not overspend at christmas.  I want my children to grow up understanding the significance of christmas and the joy of spending time with family rather than for all the gifts.  I want them to know that I love them all year round and I do not feel the need to show it with a pile of things that we have bought. I have blogged before that we have a rule for Christmas lists and even now in October they are busy thinking about what to put on it.  Rather than write a long list, they are being really mindful as their lists can only have four things on : This year we are making another rule.  We are also going to make at least one christmas present for the people we love.  I have already started on a quilt for my niece and I will be sharing with you some inexpensive and easy to make gift ideas over the coming weeks. One of the main ways that we have a mindful christmas is by celebrating advent and doing something everyday over the

As part of the Tassimo bloggers team they inform me of offers etc before they go to press and this one is far too good not to share.  In fact I have just ordered one fro my MIL and SIL for Christmas.   You can pick up this fab T4 machine for £45 plus postage .  On Amazon you can purchase them new for just over £100 +p&p

I used to smoke.  I stopped the minute I found out I was expecting Maxi nine years ago.  But I do know how hard if can be to stop smoking . I  do not want to judge people who smoke, but Maxi has a chest condition and it is  important  that he is not exposed to  cigarette  smoke and also that he understands the dangers of smoking.  My Mum also smoked in fact she died of smoking related complications and it was horrible.  Both my mother in law and father in law smoke, but have really cut down.   This makes discussing smoking and its dangers a double edged sword as I do not want to make the boys too frightened for the lives of their remaining grandparents. First of I talked about how when Nana, Grandad and Grandma started smoking we didn't know that it was dangerous and that it is very addictive, which is why people find it so hard to stop. We discussed the fact that if they want to keep up with their sports how smoking can  affect   the  lungs and make it hard to breath.

I am always looking at ways to save money and we are on a water meter so we pay for the water we use. So I am all for looking at ways to save water and being water efficient is not only good for the environment, but also for our budget. Install water butts to water plants and  vegetables  in the garden.  You can also use the rain water to wash your car or even clean your windows. Fill a jug with tap water and place this in your fridge. This will mean you do not have to leave the cold tap running for the water to run cold before you fill your glass. Only use the washer when you have a full load Make sure you fill up the dishwasher before using it and use it on an eco cycle.  Many  dishwashers  are more  economical  than washing up by hand. Turn the taps off when brushing your teeth and encourage your children to do the same Share baths or take showers Fix a dripping tap. A dripping tap can waste 15 litres of water a day, or 5,500 litres of water a year Water plants with a

I adore Autumn.  The changing colours, the  crisp weather and the golden sunlight.   Something about this time of year makes me want to get out with my children and make the most before the weather changes to our dire UK winters. So I am sharing with you my favorite free things to do with kids this Autumn. Go jumping in piles of leaves.  Crisp dry leaves are best. Whilst you are there why not collect some of the different coloured leaves that you can see to preserve at home. Go on a woodland walk and treasure hunt   Go on a bike or scooter ride.   Go to the park after school.  Take a small flask of hot chocolate so that you can all warm up. Go collecting conkers and then learn how to play conkers .  You can even create your own trophy. Make a nature display with treasure collected on your walks Fly a kite Make leaf and bark rubbings or print with leaves you have collected Make apple prints Go on a leaf hunt . What are your favorite free activities for this season?

We have blinds in our home.  Black out blinds in the bedroom and slatted blinds in the conservatory and living room.  Up until we recently redecorated we had child safety devices fitted for all our blinds. My boys are now 7 and 8 and I feel that they are old enough to understand the dangers of blinds and also be responsible for closing and opening their own, so we no longer use them. However, a new survey conducted by Apollo Blinds makes for scary reading.  It states that even though most parents are now aware that children can strangle themselves on looped blind cords in the home only a third of us have actually taken the steps to fit safety clips or make sure blinds are safe, even those fitted in children’s rooms. Moreover, only 21 per cent of parents thought homes visited regularly by their children had safe blinds. Apollo Blinds have also come up with 5 steps to safety: 1 Do an audit in your home – are any looped window blind cords dangling untethered? Even if they’re

I love white vinegar, in fact I have written before my 15 top uses for white vinegar .  Now I do not mind the smell, but Mini hates it.  He tells me that the house smells of a fish shop!  So I started to add any citrus peel we had to my vinegar last year and it really works. It doesn't take away the vinegar smell, but it does mask it slightly.  Do you have any great cleaning tips or domestic goddess moments ?  Why not share them with @tots100 and Mr Muscle for the chance to win. 

Are you saving up for the holiday of a lifetime?  We are off with my brother and his family to Florida in November and this is something we have been thinking about and planning for the last two years. My boys will be seven and eight when we travel and this is going to be a once in a  lifetime family trip, but every little penny counts when you are planning a trip like this. If you are looking to book a holiday with Disney next year, then they have a fab dining offer at the moment. This offer is for UK families to dine for free at all Disney parks and hotels if they book their 2014 trip before November 5 th (including the summer holidays).. As part of this deal, Disney conducted some research in to family dining habits 78% of parents say their children are adventurous eaters 14% of children say they eat a variety of foods at home 68% of parents say as a family they are more adventurous at mealtimes when on holiday compared with when they are at home Thi

Household bills can soon add up, particularly if your house is like an icebox when the temperature drops. However, there are a number of ways you could look to cut your energy usage and – at the same time – do your bit to help the environment. These tips could be well worth giving a go: Make sure your boiler runs efficiently Boilers are expensive to replace, but in the long-term can generate some decent annual savings. There are various kinds available, so be sure to speak to an expert to find the best option for you. If you’re not yet at the stage where it’s worth replacing yours, why not make the one you already have run more efficiently? This could be achieved by taking out boiler insurance with an annual service included and should make sure your house is kept warm all winter long. Improve your insulation It’s all very well cranking up the heating in your home, but if insulation isn’t as it should be it won’t keep your property toasty for as long as it should. You

I am a firm believer in saving is a learned skill and that as parents it is our duty to teach our children money management and how to save . Coinstar has launched the Dust off your Pennies campaign, encouraging consumers to stop banishing their loose change to the backs of sofas and bottoms of drawers. This comes in light of a new survey that revealed just under 70% of households have loose change lying around their home that never make it to a savings jar, equating to £60 a year per household on average and a shocking accumulative £1.5 billion in the UK!  This could prove just the incentive to get your children saving.  Why not set them the task to search your house looking for loose change!   My top tips for encouraging children to save Set a good example - talk about saving and how you save up and plan for important purchases. Make it visual.  This is why saving pennies in a jam jar or glass bottle is so effective.  Children can see how much they are saving

My boys wear white shirts and polo shirts for school and if you know anything about my boys then you know that Mini is just noise with muck on. So I work hard at keeping my whites white and avoiding that greyish tinge that they can get.  I used to be pretty picky about what I used when the boys were smaller and you would often find a bucket of clothes soaking prior to washing in a baby friendly solution in my downstairs loo.   I find that the key is to keep to a routine now and to not expect a miracle they are never going to be whiter than white, but they are not grey either!  Make sure you sort effectively One stray coloured item will render a whole wash slightly tinged!  Pretreat Pre Treat oily body marks with a bar of soap or stain remover designed for whites.  If the stain is particularly fixed use an old toothbrush to scrub it. Add a laundry booster I do this for the boys shirts every half term. You increase  the cleaning power of a detergent by adding a boost