HALLOWEEN CELEBRATIONS
Brown-Butter Maple Popcorn -- perfect for all of Autumn's parties
We have been celebrating Halloween for weeks, because, why not? First we did these super simple and very effective oversized spiderwebs, and since then we have been layering decorations. We added in our pumpkins from last year. Our children love to dress up regardless of the season, so we just decided to make some of ...
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HALLOWEEN CRAFTS
Perforated Pumpkin Luminaries - A Fun Halloween Cardboard Craft
This year I did not have the energy to go collect a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch and carve it with a toddler, so we tried something new! We "carved", painted and decorated cardboard pumpkins and made them into perforated pumpkin luminaries. This method is 'less mess and no stress', using materials you already have on ...
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CELEBRATIONS
How we do Halloween, when we don’t do Halloween.
As a child, growing up in a part of South London which was, at the time (early 90’s) rather under-represented, Halloween was a given. Halloween seemed to be everywhere, and everyone celebrated it. Or at least that’s how it felt when I was 7 years old. I had a couple of very makeshift outfits, remember ...
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HALLOWEEN CELEBRATIONS
Oversized Kirigami Spider Webs -- a quick DIY Halloween decoration (and game too)!
Growing up, I loved Halloween so much! And I hope my children say the same same day. This year I have decided to start Halloween a bit earlier in the month, and to make up for all the things we can't do -- school Halloween discos and trick-or-treating, I have focussed on the things we ...
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CRAFTS AND DIY
The Sweetest Flower Fairy Wings in the World -- make your own!
Oh to be a little fairy or butterfly. And oh to be one years old again! These butterfly or flower fairy wings (you choose!) are the sweetest little gift that my children made for their baby sister's first birthday. Being resourceful is always a good idea, but especially useful during lockdown, and for a first ...
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RECIPES
Libyan Sharba, my favourite dish for a big family iftar
My father is proudly from Ghariyan, a mountain town, 100km south of Tripoli, Libya. 46 years in Britain has never shaken his love for home, and with it comes the most delicious cuisine which he often cooks up for us all. Today I share with you quite possibly my favourite (so hard to choose!): Libyan ...
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CELEBRATIONS
Ramadan: The Islamic Month of Fasting
This week sees the beginning of the annual period of fasting called Ramadan, which lasts for 29 or 30 days, according to the lunar Islamic calendar. Observed by a large proportion of the almost 2bn Muslims all over the world and collectively felt as one of the most special times of the year, it is ...
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EASTER CELEBRATIONS
Beautiful Eggs Illustrated by Alice Lindstrom
Author and illustration, Alice Lindstrom, has produced this exquisite book, Beautiful Eggs and we've loved reading it this weekend. Beautiful Eggs celebrates egg decorating around the world. From beeswax drawing in Ukraine, using colourful straws in the Czech Republic to using washi paper in Japan. There is even an egg stencil at the back of ...
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VALENTINE'S DAY CRAFTS
Love Heart Chain -- you just need paper and a stapler!
This is a Valentine's Day craft at its finest -- simple, sweet, and fun. It requires only strips of paper and a stapler and can quickly be made. You can choose to make a really long paper chain, and hang it across the room. Or hang it so it falls vertically. But you can make ...
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CELEBRATIONS
Galettes de Rois -- a goûter of a French tradition in January
A goûter, or a taste, of kings' cake is a tradition in France during January. Traditionally this cake, known as a Galettes des Rois, marks the celebration of Three Kings Day / Epiphany / Twelth Night. Fortunately it is celebrated for the entire month of January, so the good news is that you can still ...
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OUTDOORS
Winter Scavenger Hunt - a fun outside activity
Here in the Northern Hemisphere, December means shorter, darker and often colder days, which can sometimes make getting outside feel difficult, especially in the late afternoons and early evenings after the sun has already set. If you're looking for an idea to help children run off that pre-dinner energy, let me suggest a winter scavenger ...
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CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS
Christmas Gifts versus Christmas Experiences
Our family live in two different continents, and with three children, it is easy to accumulate and acquire a lot of stuff! I am a fan of curated living and only the very special items make the cut in regards to clothes, toys, books, and games. But as much as I love Christmas, and as ...
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HOME AND DÉCOR
The sweetest personalised Christmas baubles from Ink & Honey
Last year I discovered Ink & Honey on the Babyccino portal and immediately fell in love with the sweet personalised baubles. I ordered them for my kids as well as gifts for friend's kids, and they're now our most treasured ornaments on our Christmas tree. How sweet are they! (Last year, our little live tree ...
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CELEBRATIONS
Diwali – The Festival of Light
Here in the northern hemisphere, the season of dark days has begun and if you live in a multicultural city, or even near one, you may have also seen the celebrations of light. This time of year also sees The Festival of Light, Diwali, the largest in the Hindu tradition, celebrated all over the planet. ...
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CELEBRATIONS
Now live: the 2019 Babyccino Holiday Gift guides!
Attention everyone! Our annual Babyccino holiday gift guides are NOW live! Full of wonderful ideas and inspiration, we are offering 6 great gift guides this year: Gifts for Children Gifts for Mama Gifts for Babies Stocking Fillers Partywear Holiday Decor Ranging from the practical and pretty to the meaningful and memorable, you will find tons ...
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CRAFTS AND DIY
Blown Easter Eggs -- a lovely yearly tradition and beautiful decoration too
Every year, for as long as I can remember since my childhood, we have had a tradition of beautiful spring branches covered in blooms with blown eggs to welcome spring in our home. An Easter Egg tree essentially! A great way to welcome the new season and bring colours indoors. Growing up, we had a ...
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RECIPES
Bunny Cake -- fun for Easter celebrations and birthdays too!
We recently celebrated a friend's birthday, and surprised them with this fun bunny cake. It is perfect for any Spring celebration, especially Easter, and actually very simple to make. You choose your favourite ingredients, and then simply follow our tips for decorating! Even less adventurous bakers or cake-makers can replicate this idea with success. You ...
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CRAFTS AND DIY
Easy Homemade Easter Stamps - Hoppy Bunnies & Eggsellent Egg Cards
This is my favourite new reuse of recycled toilet rolls, loo rolls, kitchen rolls or paper towel rolls...whatever you prefer to call them! It's super simple and great for Easter bunnies and eggs! We used one paper towel roll to make two bunnies and two egg stamps ... which can make millions of cards. But ...
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CRAFTS AND DIY
Quick as a Bunny -- a fast and easy Easter craft for all your bunnies!
Hop into the Easter mood with these very simple and sweet Spring Easter Bunny Headbands. Using only paper and glue, they are 100% handmade, and fun for kids of all ages to make and wear. They take 5 minutes to make, so you can easily make them for a whole group of kids too! Of ...
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BIRTHDAY PARTIES
Little Robot Birthday Party -- a fun theme for a 3-year-old
Joseph is three and to celebrate we had a little party for him and his friends. He has a few simple passions, and loves the idea of robots, painting, the colour orange, eating fruit, and how things work. So that is just what we did -- a little robot party, with orange decor, handprinted invites, ...
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RECIPES
Valentine's Cookies --Jammy Dodgers with Lovehearts!
Do you know what Jammy Dodgers are? Well I didn't until I moved to the UK, and they are too cute not to share. You can buy them in packages, but I loved the ideas of homemade ones. Basically they are a jam cookie sandwich, with a jewel like centre and a vanilla or shortbread ...
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CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS
A happy and merry week to all of you!
Dear friends! We are taking a bit of time off to be with our family and friends. We'll be baking cookies, taking long walks in the woods, and watching our favourite family films and holiday movies. And some of us will be hanging out on the beach, of course ; ). We wish you lovely, ...
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CHRISTMAS CRAFTS
Maple seed dragonfly ornament
The last and the most simple craft tutorial from me for this year is this cute and delicate little maple seed dragonfly ornament. It is (again) made from dry, thin sticks and dry maple seed pods that are just about everywhere. At least here where I live. The four things you will need are: Thin ...
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