Category Archives: Things for kids to try

Gorgeous Gourds

Halloween, Party Themes, Pumpkin decorating, gourds, pumpkin carving, Things for kids to try October 31, 2016 Leave a comment

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Mr Mook and Lulu enjoys the challenge of carving a pumpkin, and has created some spectacular marvels over the years. This does, of course, set the bar rather high for anyone else in the pumpkin carving stakes – and does make the whole business look somewhat simpler than it is! Pumpkin carving is tricky – very tricky, and if you’re a novice, or have little hands and child-safe tools, it can all prove rather frustrating.

So, here’s an idea for little ones who don’t want to miss out on one of the few chances to play with their food – pumpkin decorating!

We picked up a few of these ‘Munchkins‘ from our local Waitrose, dug out some embellishments and Sharpies from the craft box, and set to work creating our own ‘gorgeous gourds’!

Here is Mook hard a work.

Our ‘blinged-up’ pumpkin

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This is Lulu’s pumpkin

And here is Mr Mook and Lulu’s creation from last year.

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Happy Halloween!

 

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Mook & Lulu’s World Book Day 2016 – Roald Dahl Characters

Things for kids to try, World Book Day March 3, 2016 Leave a comment

I must confess *whispers*… I quite enjoyed getting ready for this year’s World Book Day – yes, I too am surprised! But this year, Mook and Lulu were under strict instructions to plan who they wanted to be, and to give me more than the usual 12 hours’ notice.

It is not unheard of for Family Mook & Lulu to dash from supermarket to supermarket at 7am on the morning of World Book Day in search of a costume, when either the children planned their own outfits only to break down hysterically when it didn’t quite work on the day, or I reacted in horror at the crumpled piece of paper pulled from a school bag informing me I had to send my child to school dressed as their favourite literary character that same day!

The school were brilliant this year, giving us plenty of notice to plan – and although I spent the weekend sourcing and painting a ‘tortoise shell’, and have been sewing every evening this week, we are all delighted with the results! Hurrah! So, I present to you… Mook as Fantastic ‘Mrs’ Fox and Lulu as ‘Esio Trot’ – Roald Dahl wins out again!

Father’s Day Breakfast In Bed – with love from Mook & Lulu

Father's Day, Things for kids to try June 16, 2015 Leave a comment
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Father’s Day Breakfast In Bed – with love from Mook & Lulu

In the moments when I trip, again, over the trainers casually strewn about the floor, or plunge my hand down the back of the sofa to discover the uncomfortable lump under the cushion is a man’s sock, or when I seem to be continuously transporting bottle tops from the kitchen worktop to the bin, the thought of Daddy Mook & Lulu being a pretty fab dad is not foremost on mind.

But, he is a great dad, and Mook and Lulu adore him. When I’m rushing about trying to contend with the fallouts and triumphs of our busy lives, it can be easy to over look that Daddy ML gets up at 6am everyday with our early risers. The hours spent huddled over the table creating Lego masterpieces, with Mook and Lulu, easily slip my mind, and the mountainous challenges for a man outnumbered by females at home weave seamlessly, and unnoticed, into our everyday lives.

So it is only right and proper that we take the time, on Father’s Day, to think about all the things great Dads do and to say thanks – perhaps as a nod to the fact that we really do appreciate them.

In a time where we strive for the new ‘this’, or the best ‘that’, sometimes a simple gesture with a bit of extra thought can be a heartfelt gift. So, here is the Father’s Day Breakfast in Bed – with love from Mook & Lulu. Hearts, a cooked breakfast, and a treat the kids can get involved with – perfect!

Hearts and a cooked breakfast!

Hearts and a cooked breakfast!

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Quick & Easy Easter Make for Kids – Carrot Garland

Easter, Party Decorations, Peter Rabbit Party, Things for kids to try April 17, 2014 Leave a comment

IMG_2067Easter is another great opportunity to try something new with the kids, and brighten things up with some Easter decorations – and this Carrot Garland certainly fits the bill.  It’s very quick and easy to make, and should keep the kids busy for an hour or so.

You will need:

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Cabin Fever? Try Valentine’s Day Crafting with the Kids

Things for kids to try, Valentine's Day February 14, 2014 Leave a comment
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Mook’s Valentine Card

So yesterday was the calm before the ‘next’ storm.  This year, that means we had glimpses of sunshine, in between heavy showers of rain and hail, with a little less wind than on previous days.  Needless to say, we’re all going a little stir crazy.

Thankfully, we have not had to contend with the tragic consequences some people are suffering after the recent storms. But, when the level of activity in the rabbit hutch suggests they are planning their next ‘great escape’, and the kids are being ever more inventive in their mischief, it’s time for a distraction…

Sadly, the rabbits will have to make do with extra helpings of carrots and cabbage, but today Mook and Lulu have been happily crafting for Valentine’s Day.

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Lulu’s Love Bug Card

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Pizza Board Flip-Flops!

Party Activities, Party Decorations, Party Themes, Summer Party, Things for kids to try, Uncategorized August 29, 2013 Leave a comment

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Don’t throw your pizza backing boards away

– turn them into decorative flip-flops with the kids!

There are days, particularly when we’ve all been busy at school or work, when I just need something quick and easy for the kids to eat. On days such as these, I have been know to give them *whisper* shop-bought pizza.

Often these pizzas come with a polystyrene backing board, which my local council is unable to recycle. I find these perfect little white circles quite endearing and it seems such a shame to throw them in the bin. So over several years…ahem, months I’ve collected quite a few.

I’ve recently come up with the idea to use these polystyrene discs to create delightful decorative flip-flops, complete with tread on the bottom.  They’re so easy and fun to make and make a great project to do with your children, or (if like me, you have quite a few of them) this would be a lovely activity for a party.

Here’s how we made Pizza Board Flip-Flops

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Glorious Coconut Banana Bread

Cakes, Party Food, Things for kids to try August 28, 2013 Leave a comment

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There’s a definite chill to the mornings over the past few days and although we are still enjoying some fabulous weather, many of us are clinging desperately to the last of the English summer.
My attempt to squeeze the last few drops of sparkling summer effervescence from these late August days has been boosted by this heavenly recipe  for Coconut Banana Bread from Jenn Quillen at the rebelchick.com

It’s quite a simple equation:

Coconut + Banana + cake mix = a great big slab of golden sunshine!

Okay, so it might be more accurate to describe it as Coconut Banana Bread, and you don’t have to have a great big slab of it, but I defy you to not have a very healthy slice, or two!

I’m not a huge fan of bananas in cakes, but the addition of coconut delivers a truly delightful cake that has converted me.

Bake this while the morning is still crisp and fresh and by the time you’re itching to get out in the sun it will be ready.  Slip on your flip flops, cut a slice of Coconut and Banana Bread and enjoy in the sunshine with a nice cup of tea, or something more exotic if you like…

Here’s the recipe.

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Bottle ‘blossom’ Printing

Party Backdrops, Party Themes, Things for kids to try August 2, 2013 1 Comment
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We’ll put the branches in later..

Looking for something fun to do with the kids? – Why not try this?  Bottle ‘blossom’ printing – quick, easy, fun and a great way to use those empty tonic water bottles…

This is a fantastically simple way for even small children to create lovely artworks, a great way to entertain the kids at a party, could be a great idea for children to take home as their party gift, or use this printing technique as a very fast way of creating a backdrop for a Hawaiian Luau, or Princess theme party.

Here’s how we did ours.

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Summer Holiday Fun – thwarted! (Temporarily…)

Things for kids to try July 25, 2013 Comments: 3

ImageToday was the first day of the school summer holidays and I had big plans for my day with Mook and Lulu – sadly, the day didn’t go quite as planned…

An emergency visit to my dentist, on-the-spot extraction of a wisdom tooth (no one was more surprised than me!), and phantom banana-muncher, all put paid to our plans for some hawaiian-style holiday fun, well some of our plans.

I’d decided we would have a go at making watermelon sea turtles and try a great new recipe for banana and coconut bread.

Understandably, after suffering a mummy who was suffering all morning, then losing a couple of hours at the dentist, all Mook and Lulu really wanted to do this afternoon was play hide-and-seek in the park.  After the park, and the inevitable trip to the supermarket (or two) we eventually returned home, just before teatime, to start our holiday fun.

So, Coconut and Banana bread – we had scoured the shelves in search of the most unusual ingredient on the list – coconut oil.  To my amazement, and some cost, we found it at our second supermarket.  Confident we had all the other ingredients, I sent the girls to wash their hands.  Wait a minute! Where were my bananas?

A phone call to hubby at work and the mystery was solved (to add insult to injury he informs me he was eating one of the stolen bananas while talking to me on the phone!).

Okay, watermelon sea turtles it is then…

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