Frightful Fun at Ford Green Hall

Ford Green Hall is an impressive timber-framed farmhouse built originally in 1624 for the Ford family. It's now an award winning museum, steeped in 17th century history with an admirable collection of textiles, ceramics and furniture.

Throughout the year, many wonderful events are held at Ford Green Hall, one of which we enjoyed today, courtesy of Visit Stoke and the #MyStokeStory campaign.

Situated in Smallthorne, Stoke-on-Trent, Ford Green Hall and the adjacent nature reserve is easily accessible by car and public transport. The car park is free, and just a short walk via the main road to the path that leads to the museum entrance. My children were instantly invited by the carpet of orange leaves that greeted them outside, and we had to have a play before we went in! 

They just couldn't resist playing in the leaves!

Our Choc-tastic Visit to The Kandy Factory

Our chocolatey dreams came true a few weeks ago! During the summer holidays, we were lucky enough to be invited along to experience a chocolate making workshop at The Kandy Factory in Burton-on-Trent.

Situated upstairs in Burton's Victorian Market Hall, is an open-plan space where the magic is created! We were greeted on arrival by friendly staff and the children were kitted out in hair nets and aprons.

Look how clean they were at the start!

After choosing the creations they wanted to make from the display cases, the kids were given all the moulds they would need. My son chose to copy the beach scene, and my daughter decided upon a teddy bear world! They were each given a chocolate bar mould too.

A few minutes later, the children were brought 2 warm, melted bowls of milk chocolate and a little cupcake case full of decorations. They were allowed to have a little taste of the chocolate before spooning it into the chocolate bar mould, and personalising it with small sweets, chocolate buttons, cereals and sprinkles.

A Raving Good Time! Happyface Family Rave Review

On Sunday 9th June, my family and I went out for an afternoon with a difference! Imagine the scene - club classics from the 90s being played by a nightclub DJ, colourful flashing lights and glowsticks shining brightly, a dancefloor filled with revelers wearing UV facepaints and neon clubwear, everyone with their hands up in the air...

No, we didn't accidentally step back in time to our raving days, although it certainly felt like it! In fact, we introduced our two young children (almost 6 and 3 1/2) to the nostalgia of a family rave - Happyface Family Rave to be exact! This was a rave with a difference - a Sunday afternoon dance party for adults and children to enjoy together!

The event was imagined and brought to life by local man Nick Madeley and his team of dedicated organisers. You can read our preview post to find out about the background to this launch event, but don't forget to pop back here to find out how it went on the day!

In preparation for the family rave, we bought some themed T-Shirts to wear! My hubby is not one for dressing up so we kept them quite tame! The kids chose a skeleton and a unicorn doing the "Dab" - a popoular dance move bought to my son's attention by the game Fortnight! Hubby twinned with our son and I picked a slightly more nostalgic design (think, "big fish, little fish, cardboard box!")... but forgot to get a photo of me in it! (As is often the way for us mums/chief photo-takers, hey?!)

Happyface Family Rave: A Preview

(Ad / Preview)

Get your glowsticks out and your neon facepaint on, because on Sunday 9th June Happyface Family Rave is coming to town... and we can't wait!

I'm always on the look out for fun, family events that we can all enjoy, so when I saw this one I instantly knew it would be right up our street! I spent many a Friday and Saturday night during my teens and twenties, raving the night away, glowsticks in hand, dayglow trousers and fluffy boots on, dancing to club classics! I'll have to dig you out a photo...(or not)!

So what is the Happyface Family Rave all about? Nick, the event organiser explains;

"With a nod to the smiley culture of the 80s and 90s, Happyface Family Rave embodies the spirit of a rave experience but with that ‘fun for all the family’ festival vibe; where adults and kids alike can get down and bust some moves on the dancefloor in a nightclub environment!"

Wonderful Woodland Fun with Well Natured - Explore. Learn. Outdoors

(Review - Gifted)

If you go down to the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise! Hidden away, just off the beaten track in the beautiful grounds of Rudyard Lake (in the Staffordshire Moorlands), you'll find a miniature woodland wonderland waiting to be explored!

Well Natured - Explore. Learn. Outdoors is run by Nicola, who has a background in education and working with children. She has recently taken the brave step to put her lifelong passion and dreams into action and create a magical, outdoor, multisensory learning experience for young adventurers.

I asked Nicola what her motivation was for starting up her woodland stay and play sessions (suitable for early walkers up to 4 years of age) -

"I have always had a love of the great outdoors, having had lots of exposure as a child on long country walks and bird watching with my parents and nana. Something I continued to do once I had a family and in schools setting up nature clubs. It was whilst completing my degree I discovered forest schools and the benefits of outdoor learning. Since then, I have continued to read more research and discover the benefits to children’s well being. More than ever now children spend much more time using technology and children’s access to outdoors is decreasing because of this. I feel that children are so much happier and creative when the walls are removed!"

We had the pleasure of joining Nicola on one of her exciting sessions this week, to try out all of the activities she had on offer - and we were not disappointed! I'll let the photos tell the story of our afternoon...

Our Favourite Places to Visit in North Staffs: Westport Lake

In this series, we will be telling you all about our favourite places to visit in our local area, North Staffordshire. We are lucky enough to live right on the edge of the Staffordshire Moorlands and the beautiful Peak District, so we are spoilt for choice when it comes to the great outdoors! We're also a stone's throw away from the hustle and bustle of busy towns and of course Stoke-on-Trent city centre, not to mention the M6. So with the best of both worlds on our doorstep, we have plenty of places to visit!

The first place featured in our series is Westport Lake. It's the perfect nearby place to go to get outdoors for a few hours.

WESTPORT LAKE

Where is it?

Westport Lake is located in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent, near Middleport and Tunstall. It's Stoke-on-Trent's largest expanse of water and was created along side the Trent and Mersey Canal. Just off the A500, it's easily accessible by car. Once you're there, you can't really tell you're in the middle of a built up area on the border of the city!

Craniosacral Therapy Awareness Week: What is CST and How Can it Help You?

October 15th 2018 marks the beginning of Craniosacral Therapy Awareness Week. I was fortunate enough to be invited along to Torus Wellbeing Clinic in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire to find out more about this complementary therapy, and to experience a Craniosacral Therapy (CST) taster session for myself.

What is Craniosacral Therapy?

The Craniosacral Therapy Association (CSTA) describes Craniosacral Therapy as "a gentle way of working with the body using light touch." It often focuses on the head and spine, however CST aims to work with the whole person in body, mind and spirit. 

In the 1900s, it was found that the fluid that surrounds our brain and central nervous system was essential for our health and full body functioning. Research showed that the cranial bones (in the head) and the sacrum (a big triangular bone in the base of the spine) were linked, and the ebb and flow of this fluid could be encouraged by slight movements of the cranium. 

The Craniosacral Therapist is trained to use their hands to "listen" to your body, and may use gentle adjustments to help to harmonise its natural body rhythms, encouraging the body to self-correct and heal itself. 

As CST is a non-invasive, gentle treatment, it is suitable for babies, children and adults. It can be used as a complementary therapy alongside traditional medicines or as a stand-alone alternative therapy. 

Summer Holiday Diaries: Week 5 - Pocket Money, Playdates and Poppies

I can't believe we've just enjoyed week 5 of the summer holidays! I hear a lot of people saying they can't wait for the kids to go back to school, but it's not the case here (although a little 'me' time wouldn't go a miss!). Our "summer on a shoestring" has been great fun and we've been trying to save money wherever we can. 

So here's what we got up to in week 5 of our summer holiday.  

Monday 20th August

Today was a chilled out day. We met Hubby in Leek (a historical market town in the Staffordshire Moorlands) for lunch as he decided to work half a day. The kids had managed to diddle their dad out of £3 each so they were desperate to spend it! We hit Home Bargains, one of their favourite shops and let them loose! 

#MySundayPhoto: Week 9

Every picture tells a story! So here is my favourite photo from our week.

"Poppies"

#MySundayPhoto: Week 8

Every picture tells a story! So here is my favourite photo from our week.

"Lemurs"

Summer Holiday Diaries: Week 3 - Paint, Plasters and Pirates!

So here we are, at the end of Week 3 of the summer holidays! I know I said it last week but they really are flying by! We are trying our best to have a "summer on a shoestring!" I'm saving money where ever I can by making full use of all the free events in and around Stoke-On-Trent this summer. 

So here's what we got up to in the third week of the summer holidays, and how we tried to keep costs down.

Monday 6th August

R loves her Messy Monday group during term time, and during the holidays they put on a couple of sessions that older siblings can join in with too. So today we went along to their jungle themed session, and as always, it was fabulously resourced with plenty for kids of all ages to do. 

Our Visit to The Little School of Improbable Cooking

The summer holidays can be an expensive time, full of day trips and activities to keep the kids entertained and the adults sane. This summer however, I'm determined to keep costs low but still have an amazing time with my two children. So, I jumped at the chance to join in with The Little School of Improbable Cooking, hosted by B-Arts (a group of artists and producers based in North Staffordshire), and supported by National Lottery Funding.

From 26th July to 18th August, The Little School of Improbable Cooking is offering free cooking and creative activities for children aged 2 - 12 at libraries across Stoke-on-Trent. We arrived with plenty of time, which is recommended as these are mostly drop in sessions with limited places. Some people took the opportunity to sign up for the free Summer Reading Challenge but we've already signed up so the children browsed the books while we waited.

Looking at books together.

Summer Holiday Diaries: Week 1 - Birthdays, Bowling and Building Lego!

I've been really looking forward to the end of term and the summer holidays this year. I think it's because this is the first year I haven't had my son as my sidekick in the week because he started school last September. So July signaled the end of his year in Reception, and a much needed recharge for him (and me!).

As I am a teacher, I too am lucky to be able to spend the whole 6 weeks with my kids. I am hoping to enjoy a summer on a shoestring, spending as little money as possible but still having fun together.

Here's how our first week went!

Saturday 21st July

I took the kids to the library today to enroll my son in the free Summer Reading Challenge. He was excited to get his starter pack and was proud to write his name on the challenge wall himself. I must remember to take a photo next time we go! We chose 6 or 7 books, including one on Lego and Firefighters which he could read by himself.

#MySundayPhoto: Week 7

Every picture tells a story! So here are my favourite photos from our week.

"Friendship"

#MySundayPhoto: Week 3

Every picture tells a story! So here's my favourite photo from our week.

"Bug Hunt in the Rain"

This week, we got totally soaked through on a bug hunt in the rain, at the beautiful Roaches Gate in the Peak District. We are so lucky to have all this on our doorstep.

I'm linking up this post with these fabulous blogs:

Our visit to Oceans Coffee and Waffle House, Cheddleton

It was the last week day of the Easter holidays, it was wet and cold and we didn't have any plans. So after a morning playing at home, I decided to treat the children to a lunch with a difference! Off we went to one of our favourite local places for a sweet treat, Oceans Coffee and Waffle House, situated in picturesque Cheddleton in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Oceans was only opened in February 2017 by businessman and Castros Restaurant owner, Jamie Bateman, after he noticed a gap in the market. It already has a legion of fans! I remember the "wafflemania" that surrounded its opening and its first few weeks, and I loved seeing all their updates and unique creations on social media! 

So as a mum who loves all things cake related, it would only be fair to inflict my sweet-tooth upon the children! We've been a few times and I'm still working my way through their menu, so I thought I'd let you all know a bit about our latest visit.

We arrived to find plenty of parking in the purpose built car park right next to Oceans and Castros. It's always a relief when you find a space, because a full car park usually means a busy waffle house and a wait to find a seat! On a drizzly day like today, we didn't fancy sitting in the outside seating area, although the views of the Caldon canal are fab!

Easter holidays, part 3: Just the three of us!

So with Hubby back at work for the final week of the Easter holidays, it was up to me to entertain the kids...and the dog! Again, we stayed close to home because of the pup, but we had a lot of fun and managed to catch up with friends this week too. Here's what the three of us got up to.

Monday

Stan was beyond excited to have a birthday play date with two of his school friends. He had lots of fun, after an initial wobble, and his mum kept me updated with photos and videos! It was the first time I'd left him with someone who he's never played with outside of school before so was quite new to both of us! 

I took Rosie to get the car cleaned and we snuck off to the pub next door for a girls' lunch while we waited! We had a lovely little walk around Endon village and saw where they dress the well every year too.

Easter holidays, part 1: Keeping it local!

Well, we've had a really busy, fun-filled first week of the Easter holidays! As you may know, we welcomed Dottie the Dachshund puppy into our home a few weeks ago so we decided to stay local for our holidays this time. Hubby had a long awaited week off work so we looked forward to doing lots of things together. Here are some of the things we got up to over the long Easter weekend; maybe it will give you some ideas for what to look out for in your local area.

A (character building!) walk around Rudyard Lake, Staffordshire

A nice family walk! 

So the kids were starting to feel better after their recent illnesses, and after being pretty much snowed in for three days they were climbing the walls and in need of some fresh air! We are lucky enough to live on the doorstep of the Staffordshire Moorlands and the Peak District, so there are plenty of beautiful places to go for a family walk. With there still being quite a lot of snow around, we opted for one of the flatter locations, Rudyard Lake. The lake (which started life as a reservoir in 1797) was the first meeting place of Rudyard Kipling's parents!

All wrapped up!

The kids were excited about going on a snowy welly walk, so we all wrapped up warm with plenty of layers and extra socks! As soon as we parked up in what was now slush, I didn't think our walk was going to end well! But as good parents do, we put on a brave face and our biggest, most convincing, "You'll enjoy this!" smiles and off we went!

A messy kind of Monday!

Sticky fingers, mucky toes 

This week, Rosie and I decided to try out a "messy" playgroup. For some parents, this is a couple of hellish hours of trying to dodge sticky fingers and mucky toes, as half naked toddlers wander round aimlessly with handfuls of whatever this week's gloop is made of! Rosie and I are not bothered about getting our hands dirty, so we set off with plenty of wipes, a change of clothes and high expectations! To be honest, I was just looking forward to not having to clear up after her for a change!

A real treasure! 

The group was a mix of tea and toast, free play, followed by the messy stuff (World Book Day themed this week) then parachute games, singing and bubbles! In my opinion, it was well worth the £5 entrance price as the resources were plentiful and very well planned; you could tell how much preparation had gone into giving our little ones a great multi-sensory experience. I think this photo really captures Rosie's sheer surprise as the magnetic wand picked up all the treasure out of the sand! These moments of real awe and wonder make all the mess worthwhile! We'll certainly be going back!

Edit: Well, since writing this post, Rosie's mugshot above has won us free entry into the messy playgroup for the whole month of March! Keep making people smile with your adorable facial expressions Rosie!

Finding joy in the little things: Just look at that face! Says it all really! It was so nice to spend time with Rosie doing something new while her brother was at school. She's such a happy, sociable, inquisitive little girl, it's a real pleasure to be in her company.