Rainy day activities

We're fortunate enough to live in an area that is densely populated with parks, soft plays, museums and other family friendly attractions, however, on days when the weather is like it has been of late and you really don't want to go out I realise just how quickly cabin fever can set in!

So with the weather forecast not looking too great for a little while here are some of our favourite rainy day activities.

Masking Tape Games

Something as simple as a role of masking tape can provide hours of fun. Mark out a hopscotch on the floor using the tape. Using the masking tape stick a large circle to the floor followed by 2 smaller circles inside the largest one and an 'x' in the centre. Roll a ball and try and get as close to the 'x' as possible.

Play Dough

Despite what many think, making your own play dough couldn't be any simpler. There are loads of recipes out there that require just a few ingredients which you will probably have lying around in the cupboards at home. The beauty of homemade play dough is that its non-toxic, cheap and can be made in minutes.

Puddle jumping

This has to be the ultimate(and my personal favourite) rainy day activity. Get all the kids and adults to pull on a pair of wellies, grab a brolly if it's not too windy and head out in search of some puddles to do some good old fashioned puddle jumping in!

Rain gauge

Let the kids play scientists by measuring how much rain falls. Find any measuring implement(jugs, old baby bottles or pick up a rain gauge) and leave it out in the garden, on the windowsill or on a balcony. After every period of rain get the children to record how much rain fell in a chart of some kind

*this could also be used as part of your child's school homework*

Bake

Get baking! Fairy cakes, biscuits, fudge, desserts, flapjacks. You'll be surprised by how many ingredients you'll already have laying around in your cupboards so there's no excuse!

Indoor picnic 

Ok, so the weather outside may be rubbish but why not have an indoor picnic? Complete with blanket, sandwiches and  finger foods treat yourselves to a bug free picnic!

Decorate a candle

If like me you have hundreds of candles around the house then why not get out some plain candles and your craft box and let everyone decorate a candle. The possibilities are only as limited as your imagination.

Play a board game
Monopoly, Kerplunk, Frustration and Dominoes these were just some of the games I used to play as I child and I find they are still as popular today. Get everyone around the table and enjoy an afternoon and fun (and in our house lots of cheating!)

Do a puzzle
For me, there's always been something quite therapeutic about sitting with the kids so why not get everyone to get out their favourite puzzle and all complete them together.

Weekly Meal Planner

Now we're getting back into the swing of things and with the youngest monster starting school full time on Monday(yay) it's getting easier to plan our weekly meals around all of the extra curricular activities and with the weather turning chilly those hearty meals are making a comeback in our house.

Weekly Meal Planner

Monday

Pork loins with golden vegetable rice

Tuesday 

Chicken and mushroom pie, new potatoes and vegetables

Wednesday 

Meatballs and tagliatelle in arribiata sauce

Thursday

Jerk chicken, rice and peas

Friday

Sausage, mash and onion gravy

Saturday

Chilli con carne, wedges and tortilla chips

Sunday

Roast lamb dinner with all the trimmings

Are there any meals making a comeback in your house owing to a change in the weather?

M xx

Rambling Mummy Loves...

As the weather has taken a turn and not for the better, my thoughts have turned to the cosy winter nights spent snuggled up in the house and the opportunity to dress for the weather in chunky knit jumpers and funky welly boots.
So this weeks Rambling Mummy Loves... is focusing on preparing for whatever this season brings.

One of my all time favourite autumn/winter activities is jumping in puddles and kicking up piles of leaves with this kids. Any self respecting puddle jumper needs some funky, trendy wellies to do the job properly and you need look no further than Funky Wellington Boots
With some amazing designs to choose from your bound to find something to tempt you into those muddy puddles.

These are my absolute favourite. For me you just can't beat a pair of polka dot wellies and let's face it, who wouldn't want to be playful in these.

Who could possibly resist wanting to snuggle up on the sofa with a marshmallow topped hot chocolate wearing this gorgeously soft dressing gown.

Available from Matalan and at just £16.00 this one is definitely something you can treat yourself to!

Set the mood with this gorgeous tealight holder from Not on the High Street. 

Whether romantic and sensual or warm and cosy this wooden log tealight from The Wedding of my Dreams is sure to aid and assist your plans to unwind.

Whatever your plans for this weekend or indeed this season make it fabulous.

M xx

Peg Bag

For me, some of the simplest things in life are the ones that make me smile the most. If the weather man(or woman!) promises a day of no rain then that means only one thing to me.....I can hang my washing out!!

Living in a flat in London often means that space is limited so I love making the most of it and the smell of air dried washing takes some beating. The only draw back to this is the mysterious disappearance of my pegs. So to remedy this, I decided I would make and use a peg bag...for the first time ever.

You will need:

2 contrasting fabrics (I used a lilac print oil cloth for the outside and a purple cotton for the lining and tags.

Cotton

2 buttons (optional)

1) Using your outer fabric cut 2 rectangles both 25cm(w) x 35cm(l)

2) Take one of your rectangles and measure 10cm down and cut across so you now have 2 pieces of fabric. One measuring 25cm x 25cm and one measuring 25cm(w) x 10cm(l)

3) Now, using your lining fabric cut three pieces. Cut one rectangle 25cm(w) x 35cm(l) this will be the same as the outer fabric, another 25cm(w) x 27cm(l) and, a small rectangle 25cm(w) x 12cm(l)

4) Cut two more pieces from your lining fabric, both measuring 18cm(l) x 6cm(w). These will become loops that you hang your peg bag by.

5) Take your loop pieces and length ways fold in each side 1cm then press. Once satisfied with your seams fold your loop fabric in half lengthways(so that the seams you have created are on the inside) and press again. Do this to both pieces of loop fabric

6) Sew along the open edge of your loop fabric(how far in you sew is entirely up to you but make sure it includes the seams you pressed earlier)

7) Put the front of the bag fabrics that measure 25cm x 25cm(outer) and 25cm(w) x 27cm(l) (lining) together, right-sides facing. 

8) Sew these pieces together along the top edge using a 1cm seam. Once sewn, press the seams open.

9) Fold the lining fabric back over the outer fabric and because it was 2cm longer you will be able to press an edging of lining fabric. To neaten this up, top stitch across your newly created edging.

10) Take the loops you made earlier and fold and pin them to the right-side of the back of the bag outer fabric (measuring 25cm x 35cm), at equal distances across the top now sew in place(make sure your loops are pointing down)

11) Take the small rectangle of outer fabric (measuring 25cm(w) x 10cm(l) ) and place, right-sides together, on top of the back outer fabric and loops and pin across the top. Now do the same with the lining fabric but keep the outer and lining fabrics separate.

12) Once all pieces are lined up correctly and pinned into place, sew across the top using a 1cm seam allowance. Once sewn, press the seams open.

13) Put your now sewn outer and lining fabrics(the back and top of the bag) together right-sides facing and pin into place along the top. Once pinned into place, sew, again using a 1cm seam allowance.

14) As in step 9 with the front of the bag piece, fold the lining back over the outer fabric to create an edging of lining fabric over the outer fabric the press and top stitch to neaten.

15) Fold the small rectangle over so right sides are together and pin along the sides. Place the front bag piece, right sides together on the other half of the bag back and pin around the edge.

16) using a 1cm seam allowance, sew around all of your pinned edges. Once done press the entire bag and turn in the right way (I pressed mine whilst it was inside out otherwise the oil cloth would have burned)

If attaching buttons, fold your loops over to work out where you will need to sew them. Otherwise you can either slide your bag onto your washing line if you have a detachable one like my mum or you can do as I do and peg it on the line!

Hey presto, one peg bag!!!

Whatever you do with your laundry, enjoy the weather!

                                                                               M xx