The Weekend Recap #1

The Weekend Recap

It's January. The blogging juices should be flowing. I should be inspired to write all kinds of new year, new me, blah, blah blah. But, I'm not. I'm drawing a blank. I know I'm not alone in this, right?? In a hope to inspire myself and others to get back blogging, I'm starting a link up, The Weekend Recap. 

My blog is a life/family journal as well as a place to share my creative projects and whatever else takes my fancy. So I'm going to share a recap of the fun and boring thing that we get up to. It will be a keepsake for me to look back on. It will give me something to write about at least one day a week and hopefully the juices will start flowing. And the best part is, you can all join in too. 

Saturday

We had an early start on Saturday. We were heading to Newcastle West to take part in the Operation Transformation 5k walk to support Claire. She is one of the leaders this year and is a local lady. The morning was freezing but dry and the excitement was high. Jasmin has been bugging me with ages to do a 5k so off we went. There were huge number there, not sure how many yet, despite the cold weather. There was tv cameras and people from the tele (as Jasmin put it) getting footage for the show. We did the 5k in just over an hour. Slow, I know.But the crowds made the going slow. We met a friend and her kids there and it made the day even better to have someone to share it with. We're already looking forward to the next one. 

Sunday

Sunday was another busy day of activity. We went to follow our friends who were taking part in a local drag hunt. One of the members is collecting for the Hope foundation so we went to support a great cause. The sun shone all day again even if it was freezing. We spent the day with the kids and there cousins. They had a ball running through the fields and eating the picnic I brought. Daddy had to carry Paddy for some of it. Short legs aren't the best in high grass. It was a lovely day spent with family. We came home a little bit of every field we went into but also came home with great memories. 

And that my friends was our very busy weekend. The kids were exhausted after all the fun and fresh air. I'm looking forward to lots more dry days so we can get out and have some more family fun. 

Now, it's your turn. Link up your posts below. Have a look around at the other bloggers and leave a comment if you like anything that you see. You might even find somewhere new to explore.

2015 year in review printable

It's that time of year again where we sit down and think back on our year.

Checking back on what we've achieved or not in some cases.
Everyone does it and this year the kids get a chance to join in too.

I made a cute printable for my kids to fill in. It's nothing too serious. Just a little way for them to remember their favourite things through the year and set some goals for the one on the way. 

2015 was a good year for my kids. Lots of achievement and firsts for them and I can't wait to see what they write in there review. It's going to be fun to look back on these in years to come and see what has changed. 

I've not been the best with the blog this year. I've been a little hit and miss. But I'm so happy to have this little place and the community that I've found through blogging. I'm looking forward to making more memories and magic on here next year. I hope your all have an amazing last day of 2015 and here's to making magic and memories in 2016.

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Snowman Soup Hot Chocolate {Free Printable}

Today, I'm sharing one of the many things that are in my Christmas Eve box for the kids this year. If you're wondering what a Christmas Eve Box is, well let me tell you. I shared a post over on one of my favourite Irish blogs, Where Wishes Come From , as part of her #craftadvent2015 series, about the whole thing but I'll tell you a little bit about it here too. 

It's a box, filled with loads of goodies to keep the kids entertained on Christmas eve. That day is the busiest day for everyone. Last minute wrapping and getting last minute jobs done around the house. Prepping the turkey and veg for Christmas. And then, the dreaded question... How long til Santa's coming??  It's a lovely tradition that not only makes lovely memories but also keeps the kids busy on Christmas Eve.

I'm putting lots of goodies in there but I made these really cute Snowman Soup gifts for the kids. It's just simple hot chocolate but done in a fun way. Christmas is all about magic and fun after all.

You'll need:

Hot chocolate

Chocolate chips

Mini Marshmallows

Candy cane

Icing bag

Ribbon

Free printable

Print off the free printable and cut out the circles.

Layer the Hot chocolate, Chocolate chips and mini marshmallows in the icing bag. 

Tie the bag with a piece of ribbon and tie on the candy cane.

Add the printable and stick it in the Christmas eve box.

It's not too late to get your bits and pieces ready to do a Christmas Eve box this year. The kids will love it and you'll have a little more peace and quite on a very busy day.

 
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Gifts in a Jar

I'm always looking for fun, easy gifts that are a little different to give to family and friends. I love this idea of a gift in a jar. It's unique and you can put whatever you want in the jar so it can be customized for whoever you want. I've pulled some of my favourites from the interweb and shared them below.

Brownie Mix in a Jar from Call Me Cupcake

Christmas Scent in a Jar from Marci Coombs

Cinnamon Vanilla Sugar Scrub in a Jar from Tidy Mom

Detox Bath in a Jar from My Crazy Blessed Life

Dog Bone Biscuits in a Jar from Not on the High Street

Loves to Bake Gift in a Jar from the Gunny Sack

Loves to Craft Gift in a Jar from The Gunny Sack

Manicure in a Jar from Emma Courtney

Homemade Pancake Mix in a Jar From Good Life Eats

Playdough Snowman in a Jar from Repeat Crafter Me

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix in a Jar by Love Grows Wild

Manicure in a jar by Cupkake in pumps

DIY Mint Sugar Scrub in a jar by Love Grows

I hope these gift in a jar ideas have helped you with any last minute gifts.
I'm sure going to be using a few of them.

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Magic Reindeer Food plus a free printable

One of my favorite things to do with my kids on Christmas eve is to go outside in the freezing cold with our magic reindeer food and scatter it around the lawn for the reindeer and Santa to see.

I never had this as a child so whoever dream up this idea, thank you!!

All you need to make your own is: 

porridge oats

sprinkles

glitter

zip-lock bag

ribbon

free printable tag {below}

Print off your label on card.

Cut the top off your zip-lock bag.

Put the contents into the bag, adding as much glitter and sprinkles as your heart desires.

Tie it shut with ribbon and add the label.

These are great to put in the Christmas eve box or as a gift for the smaller members of your family and friends. It an inexpensive gift that they will love and you will help make magic and memories. 

I love sharing our family traditions on my little piece of the internet and would love to hear about some of yours.Don't be shy, share them in the comments. And, if you want to follow along in another tradition that we do in our house, head on over to my Instagram page {here} to see what Jingle our elf on the shelf is getting up to.


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