My preschoolers are very easy to shop for when it comes time for the Holidays. They love all of the usual toys geared towards younger kids. My 13 year old, however, is an entirely different story. Teens are very hard to please at times, since their tastes seem to change with the weather. For example, Kyle went from being very into High School Musical to a Lady Gaga obsession in the blink of an eye. Now he likes something called BOTD and Black Veil Brides. (I am too old and uncool to know what those are, apparently, but I am fairly certain they wouldn't be my cup of tea.) 

So shopping for Kyle is very tricky, since I never seem to know what he will be into when the Holidays arrive. Thankfully, I discovered Patch Products. They have a huge variety of fun and educational toys for kids (and adults!) of any age. They even have sock monkeys, and you all know how much I adore monkeys! 

But Patch Products definitely specializes in fun and innovative games. While browsing their site, I found something I just knew Kyle would love. You see, this kid likes a challenge, and he likes things that keep him in suspense. So I just knew that the Perplexus Epic was right up his alley. 

According to the records, mosaic patterns first appeared over 4000 years ago with the appearance of terracotta pieces painted for decorative purposes. Of course, mosaic patterns are alive and well today, too, perhaps making them one of the most long-lasting trends in home décor to ever exist.  Considering this, you might want to use this ancient art style in your own home.  If you’re not sure how to create a mosaic in the first place, you could follow this basic guide. Now you know how to mosaic, here are our top 3 ways to use them around your home.

A Lush, Leafy Garden Table
If you’re looking to create a centrepiece for your garden, a good way to achieve it is with a beautiful leafy mosaic table which is sure to enhance the natural theme of your garden.

The best way to make your leaf tiles is to use a real leaf as a model – here’s a good tutorial to show you how.  Because of your table’s new damage-proof top, you can decorate it with outdoor jar candles like these ones which will reflect beautifully off your mosaic table top.      

A Naturalistic Shower Setting
A bathroom is an excellent place to make the most of a mosaic pattern.  An important tip to remember is that you need to pick a tile size that matches the size of your bathroom; a smaller tile will make your room look more spacious.  

If you’re going for a jungle-themed, natural showering experience like this one, use a variety of small green, blue and brown mosaic tiles, and emphasise the trend using some rainforest potted plants and natural, exotic soaps.  If you do, you’re bound to feel at one with nature.

A Sophisticated Cosmopolitan Kitchen    
If you want a trendy, cosmopolitan kitchen but you’re really not sure what to do with your walls, you could mosaic them using a stylish dark slate colour. You might want to resort to a professional mosaic tile likes the ones from Tiles 4 All for this one because it could take you a long time to produce your own individual mosaic pieces.  Still, finishing off this look with chic metal appliances and trendy down-lights will give your kitchen a real cosmopolitan feel.

So hopefully, you’ve now got a better understanding of how you can improve your home with mosaics, so get creative with this ancient trend and your house will become more stylish as a result.

We spend a lot of time on improvements in the home, but what turning your attention to your garden?  Here are a few tips ranging from smaller tweaks to larger alterations, which can make your garden a more delightful place to be.

Flower Power
Why do women love receiving flowers so much? I love the scent of lilies and coming home to a beautiful bouquet is the sweetest feeling. Unfortunately I don’t seem to receive them as often as I’d like. So, if your hubby isn’t providing the goods, think about how you can make yourself smile every day by planting your own flowers or creating your own hanging baskets. The lavender plant, vibrant with lilac hues, has a fragrant bud that you can rub on your pillow to aid sleep. The honey bees will be pleased to flock to your garden with this latest addition.

Make Your Garage More Aesthetically Pleasing
A car can be a bit of an eyesore on your drive, so can the sight of a clunky garage taking the attention from your hydrangeas and roses. If you want a place to store your lawnmowers, or a space to tinker with the bikes and car, there are some delightful timber garages built by Redmire Stables. They are easy on the eye, pleasing and secure. Keeping in with natural materials is ideal with the use of timber.

Grow Your Own Vegetables
Autumn is reminiscent of sizzling reds and rusting yellow leaves tumbling, kids kicking their wellington boots through piles of shed leaves. There is a nip in the air, and the chunky sweaters start to make an appearance. I love soups and autumnal root-vegetables are the perfect food leading up to winter. Butternut squash and leek and potato soups are all winter-warmers that you can source from your own little veg-patch. Growing pumpkins will also prove popular with the kids come Halloween. Get the kids involved in the process, simmer your tasty soup on your stove and feed to your family.

Add a Water Feature
The sound of water soothes and is a cleansing natural element. Adding a pond or a water feature can make your garden more appealing. You can even make your own water feature by recycling an old bath tub; by sinking in to the ground you have your own ready-made pond. Or, if you want a quirky feature for your garden then just use the tub as a house for a flowerbed, paint the tub a bright colour, fill with soil and watch the bulbs begin to flourish.


Biog: Lucy Dobson is a lifestyle blogger; she is especially interested in home and garden improvements.

One of the longest winters I have ever endured was when living in a basement flat with nothing but portable heaters to keep the icicles at bay. From that point on I vowed to make my home winter-proof. But it is not just about temperature, creating a cosy home comes down to many other things as well.

Fireside Rules
Nothing says homely like the crackling of a wood-burning stove. Whilst the warmth heats your body and everything else inside those four walls it is also energy efficient.

There is something very comforting about the mesmerising flames of a real fire. I love the smell of the burning wood; the use of natural materials contributes to the toastiness and the ambience of the house.

Another interesting idea about using logs to make the fire is that keeping them in your garden is actually a good way to attract hedgehogs. These spiky little midnight roamers like to make their homes at the bottom of a log pile. So just make sure you keep the pile topped up.

Home Farm
There’s something soothing about farmhouses and their homeliness. Imagine the benefits of owning chickens, the fresh eggs and the feel of your own miniature farm in your backyard. It teaches your children how to take responsibility to care for animals. To start with, think about your chicken coop - Sheds and Things have animal houses that are pre-treated. Make sure you research thoroughly as chickens do take a lot of care, and it can be a big commitment. A lot of people who have their own coop remark on how rewarding the experience is.

Set the Tone
The lighting that you have in your home will make a huge difference to the feel of all the rooms. Top-lights can be very harsh and unforgiving. Invest in some lamps; you can find a different wattage for every mood. Invest in some energy efficient bulbs to keep costs low.

How about investing in some floor-length double lined curtains? These are perfect if you have old-fashioned, drafty windows and find the room never quite reaches a comfortable temperature. Thick curtains will prevent that pesky breeze that seems to rail through the house, whilst your heating is on full blast.

Make sure you have big, chunky throws to fling on the back of the sofa to curl up under when you are watching the television. Wool, fleece and mohair are all warm materials. If your sofa feels a bit tired and drab, this is the perfect way to liven it up and add some character to the room.

Biog: Lucy Dobson is a lifestyle blogger; she is especially interested in home and garden

When you have kids, it’s hard to know how to create a warm, family space in your living room without running rampage over it.  What you need is a comfy seating arrangement which is child-proof enough to withstand their playful attacks, yet still fits in with your living room décor.  

Although this is a challenge, we’ve managed to put together some of the best tips for creating a family-friendly seating arrangement which can help you create that welcoming social space in the centre of your home.


Luxurious Childproof Leather
You don’t need to sacrifice style to find a sofa that your entire family can enjoy.  Smart, brown leather sofas like the ones from Indigo Furniture will add a touch of stately class to your home and benefits from having a tough exterior that your kids can play around all day without the risk of damage.  

You could make the most of this trend by matching it with a soft pattered throw; tartan is a particularly fashionable way to go, and will also help protect your sofa further from your kids.


Scattered Bean Bags and Comfy Cushions
If you have an expensive living room suite that you don’t want your children climbing all over, an effecting tip to keep them away is to scatter bean bags and comfortable cushions around the room so that they turn to them instead of your expensive sofa.  

The best thing about using bean bags and cushions is that they can really make a room feel cosy, so the winters in your living room will be greatly improved using the scattered cushion technique.  If you fancy saving money and making your own, check out this Pinterest board for some unique cushion style ideas.

The Wood Ensemble Look
If you want your living room to have an eclectic feeling, you can create a stylish, child-proof look by using individual, ornate dark wooden chairs around the room which will give your room a glamorous edge.  Even better, your children will find it difficult to put crayon marks on the polished wooden surface, which will also help to waterproof them.  

You can accessorise this trend using unique cushions for extra comfort, and this will also help to stop your children having nasty accidents banging themselves on the wood.

So as you can see, your living room doesn’t have to suffer at the expense of your kids, and if you design your seating arrangement intelligently you’ll be able to satisfy your style urges while keeping your furniture and kids safe.       

If you have children it can be difficult to make the most of your garden. Although it’s great that your kids spend time playing outside, all that running and climbing around can leave your garden in a bit of a state. But what if there were ways to enhance your garden that your kids couldn’t destroy?


Delightful, Durable Decking
If you want to create a stylish social area in your garden but you’ve always been afraid that your children might spill something on it or ruin it, you no longer have to.  

One good way to childproof your social spot is to use a hard wood decking which is combined with a waterproof plastic. Composites like those from Dura Composite Decking are totally waterproof, easy to clean and look great, so it’s certainly worth checking out.  This will help to make your garden a swish space to socialise in which your children can’t damage.  

Stylish Outdoor Lighting
One way you can really add a sparkle to your garden is to use various forms of lighting to help it come alive at night. A good way to do this is to use outdoor jar lights like the ones on this Pinterest board which you can place high up out of your kids’ reach.  

Another way you can light up your garden is by lighting up some of the outside features of your hose like the window frames, using white fairy lights.  If you place them high enough, your children won’t be able to touch them and they’ll really enhance your outdoor space.

Child-resistant Plants
You might think that all plants would be vulnerable to being damaged by your kids’ clumsy steps, but that’s not the case.  

Lavatera is a wonderful plant which has delicate lilac flowers.  The best thing about it is that it’s extremely hardly.  You could kick a ball at it or stand on it by accident and it will stay strong.  Another good choice could be the herb thyme.  Thyme is a lush, deep leafy green plant which releases a delightful smell when its leaves are crushed.  This makes it a perfect plant to have around your kids because their accidents could actually help bring out the most of the plant.

So there you have it, 3 stylish ways to enhance your family garden.

With 2 preschool aged kids, we are always on the go. There's tons of energy to be released on any given day, so weather permitting, we love going to the park so the kiddos can play. (And hopefully wear themselves out in the process so we can all get a good night's sleep!)

Sophie and Xander really enjoy ride-on toys, so when I learned about the brand new Ziggle by Radio Flyer, I was really excited. You see, the Ziggle is not your ordinary tricycle. It may look a bit similar, but it's totally different, in a super fun way. 

What makes the Ziggle unique? Well, for one, it is totally kid-powered. There are no pedals to be found. The Ziggle moves when the rider wiggles and zig-zags their bodies. How cool is that?! And this baby can go very quickly and even spin around 360 degrees, which is sure to get plenty of giggles and squeals from little ones. 

Check out this great video that shows the Ziggle in action:

The birth of a child is truly a joyous occasion and, for this reason, you should celebrate as much as possible. “Welcome Home Baby” parties are now becoming highly fashionable as proud parents, excited family members and slightly broody friends assemble to congratulate all involved and see the newborn child. Welcome home baby parties are also ideal if your child decided it wanted to arrive before the baby shower and, by throwing a party like this, you can ensure that everyone gets chance to see the new addition. Here are some hints and tips on hosting your own welcome home baby party:

Creating the Perfect Invites

Invites to the event can be as simple or as extravagant as you like. If you’re a little short on cash then you can either ring people or create a Facebook event. But, if you really want to make your welcome home party an event then you should consider some more formal invites. Sites such as www.littleoneprints.co.uk offer a wide variety of personalised invitations. This provides you with the ideal opportunity to add a picture of your child, giving your guests a sneak peek of what they will see at the event.

Getting the Décor Right

If you host your party a week or so after your child enters the world then you’ll undoubtedly have taken numerous photos in that time. Make these the centrepiece of your decorations and ensure that the room you host the party in accurately reflects your child’s life so far. This way, instead of your child being crowded, people can spend time looking at the photos. These photos will be the first time that many of your guests see your child and they’ll also serve as a perfect reminder to the parents of just how lucky they are.

Games and Ideas

There are literally hundreds of great games and ideas for your party. Much like you guess the baby’s size during a baby shower, you could play guess the baby’s weight at the welcome home party. Many of your guests will be shocked at how much it has grown in just a week or two. In addition, you could have baby themed food and drink or, you could be much more relaxed and just treat it as a gathering. It is completely up to you and the world is your oyster.

When I first saw a sneak peek of Meryl Streep's role as the witch in Disney's upcoming film, INTO THE WOODS, it was about 3:00AM and I was half asleep. I casually opened my e-mail to see what fun Disney had to share, and I let out an audible gasp. Wow, does she ever look frightening! Strangely enough, that just makes me want to see this movie even more...Meryl Streep is an amazing actress and I know she will be just perfect for this role!

Meryl Streep ventures “Into the Woods” as the Witch who wishes to reverse a curse so that her beauty may be restored. The humorous and heartfelt musical, a modern twist on the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales, explores the consequences of the quests of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk and Rapunzel—all tied together by an original story involving a baker and his wife, and the witch who cast a spell on them. In theaters Dec. 25, 2014. 

Like INTO THE WOODS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyIntoTheWoods

INTO THE WOODS opens in theaters December 25th 2014!

 


 

I don't know about you, but I absolutely love veggies. I eat them every single day, either in salads or as sides, and sometimes just as a nutritious snack. My kids also really love their vegetables, and are quite happy to much on carrots, bell peppers, broccoli and cauliflower. They will eat them any way I prepare them. Baked, steamed, in a sauce, or raw...It makes absolutely no difference to them.