Hamper Gifts Review

I was very pleased to find out that I had won this hamper in a blog competition from The Ginger Bread House . From the moment I gave over my name and address to the wonderful blogger ,my hamper was quickly dispatched and when I received it  I saw how carefully it had been packed. What I like about this hamper apart from how beautifully presented it is it contains 100 % british Products. And the fact that it contains so many Scottish items fills me with Scottish pride and makes me yearn for the Scottish Islands of South Uist where I am from. I now that you are not really wanting to be hearing the Christmas word about now but I am definately putting this website as one of those I would order from( I am already eyeing up the Christmas hampers !)  and I know who ever I send them to is going to be as thrilled as I am.I am going to be saving this hamper for Christmas though my husband is eying up that Cherry and Coconut Flapjack already!. Hamper Gifts are carefully packed. Whoever has the good fortune to receive this patriotic hamper will get the chance to eat their way round the British Isles! Starting in Scotland, they'll enjoy Cairnsmhor oatcakes along with a cup of the Edinburgh Tea & Coffee Company's best brew. Journey further south with a bevvy of carefully-chosen treats including a deliciously moist cherry flapjack, a generous family-size fruitcake and some first-class gooseberry and sloe gin jam. Of course, all these delicacies come attractively presented in a handmade wicker basket, finished in style with red, white & blue ribbon - making this a great present for nearly any occasion.

Beautiful presentation from Hamper Gifts.

Full basket contents: Cairnsmhor Parmesan & Pepper Oatcakes 150g  Cottage Delight Handmade Barley Sugar Sticks 60g  Edinburgh Tea & Coffee Co. Fresh Ground Breakfast Coffee 56g Alice McPhersons Petticoat Tails Luxury Shortbread 150g  Family Size Large Rich Fruit Cake 500g Edinburgh Tea & Coffee Co. Scottish Breakfast Tea Caddy 125g  Cherry & Coconut Flapjack 120g The Wooden Spoon Goosberry & Sloe Gin Jam 42g  PRESENTED IN HAND MADE WICKER BASKET - DIMENSIONS 30 x 23 x 12cm FREE GIFT WRAPPING WITH LUXURY RIBBON FREE BABY TEDDY BEAR PERSONALISED GIFT MESSAGE

Full basket contents:

• Cairnsmhor Parmesan & Pepper Oatcakes 150g 
• Cottage Delight Handmade Barley Sugar Sticks 60g 
• Edinburgh Tea & Coffee Co. Fresh Ground Breakfast Coffee 56g
• Alice McPhersons Petticoat Tails Luxury Shortbread 150g 
• Family Size Large Rich Fruit Cake 500g
• Edinburgh Tea & Coffee Co. Scottish Breakfast Tea Caddy 125g 
• Cherry & Coconut Flapjack 120g
• The Wooden Spoon Goosberry & Sloe Gin Jam 42g 


• PRESENTED IN HAND MADE WICKER BASKET - DIMENSIONS 30 x 23 x 12cm
• FREE GIFT WRAPPING WITH LUXURY RIBBON
• FREE BABY TEDDY BEAR
• PERSONALISED GIFT MESSAGE

Music #snaphappybritmums

Fine Motors Skills activities ( learning through play )

At home, nursery and school children are introduced to writing and craft /art projects that require precision writing and cutting. The key to these  with these activities depends on strong fine motor skills, which are ecuted through practise. Encouraging your child by practice tracing and cutting with engaging tracing worksheets and cutting worksheets will help him develop important muscles in their fingers and hands, as well as improve coordination between his dominant hand (the hand that holds the pencil or scissors) and his non-dominant hand (the hand that steadies the paper being written on or cut)

Another way to encourage their hand to eye co-ordination if by use of tweezers and say dried peas. Or small teddies that you use for counting. Anything that encourages the grip of a pen or pencil.

This can also be used by using fine grip pegs which are available from your local supermarket. I love this idea for using them within painting!

And on a larger scale  why not apply a well loved book into their learning activity , children learn more when they are having fun as they don't see it as a task . Learning through play should be fun and not seen as a chore , spontaneity is the key to life, leaning and imprinting the task to memory.

This can be done by getting a bucket , a large set of tongs and a load of dinosaurs they can then transfer the dinosaurs by use of the tongs to the bucket  They will love that they are being "Harry from Harry and the bucketful of dinosaurs"

" Romp in the Swamp " Harry and his bucketful of Dinosaurs.

Your ipad can be an aid to helping promote the fine motor skills that your child needs to develop at school. You can now buy a retro looking marker pen for the ipad called a scribble pen. These are perfect for drawing on a ipad and a child can have such fun and adventures with one of these.

Or there are many Apps available for the ipad such as this one Dexteria.

Inspiration for the nation

In a heartbeat I wish it was the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympics again, true the word legacy has been given out like somebody handing out Smarties but so what. It has stirred something in me and I know I am blogging about it again but sometimes there comes a moment in your life and you just have to seize with all your might. I think I changed that day seeing peoples capacity for human joy was like an intoxicating drug. Hand on hand I wish that everyday could be like that.

The Olympics and Paralympics were if you were a call to arms a war cry in essence except the bang of drums was every ones hearts beating in unison.

Splodz has her take on Inspiration about the Olympics and Paralympics which you can read about here 

Like Splodz I too was an active child along with Brownies,Guides,piano playing,Chess,Choir,Archaeology club though me and gymnastics never did seem to get on , I was a mystery to my PE teacher on this. With school reports saying phrases as "uncoordinated" which resulted in my mother dragging me off the the doctors.

I tried out for various teams at my Upper school I wasn't good enough for the tennis team, rowing ( not good I couldn't swim ) .  ,Orienteering team yes that's was me ,Chess team yes I was in that I was a Times Challenge player.It broke my heart when I wasn't quite fast enough for the Cross Country team .. darn those fair haired long legged girls ! But just because I had a knock at school it didn't deter me from sport outside of school. And by a knock I mean a knock to my self confidence buts it case of picking yourself up and pushing yourself to your limits.

Its interesting what Splodz says about picking one thing for me it really should have been the running that I concentrated on more though one girl at my running club did that and she was Paula Radcliffe.
Having gone to the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympics which you can read about here. I really do have a happy beat in my heart about what I do. I am hoping my positive attitude rubs off on m son who is also a keen sport mans and I think he suffers from activity overload like I did with his rugby,football,cricket and now he is going to take up Badminton and the reason why ? that's right you guessed it it was the Olympics. And if that doesn't make your sing because the next generation is being inspired then I don't now what will.



Stand up be proud , make yourself heard and be counted.

Opening Ceremony Paralympics.

Everyone  can be just like those wonderful games makers...

Alice in Wonderland Cookie Recipe

If you are planning an Alison in Wonderland party then then this "Eat Me" Cookie Stamp is perfect for you.

Simply roll out the dough and use the stamp to imprint the words “Eat Me” on your delicious baked goods before they go into the oven. This is an essential item for the kitchen if you love baking such as my self.

Features:

• High quality wooden handle, fitted with a silicone stamp
• Includes a scrumptious cookie recipe for you to try
• Wash in warm soapy water

Size:

• Dimensions: 7cm wide x 10cm high (including handle)

Eat Me Cookie Stamp

Be proud of your Homemade baking use this Cookie Stamp to make your mark.

Try this recommended recipe!

Ingredients:

• 250g butter

• 140g caster sugar

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/2 tsp baking powder

• 300g plain flour

• 1 egg yolk

• 2tsp vanilla extract

Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 190ºC (gas mark 5) 2. Sift together plain flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. 3. Mix in butter and blend until mixture is crumbly. Stir in egg yolk and vanilla essence. Blend well. Chill dough for one hour for better cookies.

Chill dough for better cookies.

 4. Regularly sprinkle work surface and stamp with flour. 5. Separate dough into golf ball sized chunks. Slightly flatten the balls and stamp. 6. Place on a greased baking sheet.

 Bake for 6 - 8 minutes, or until lightly brown. 7. Remove from oven and leave for a couple of minutes to harden, then transfer to a wire cooling rack. 8. Enjoy your ‘Home made’ cookies.