My Sunday Photo 31/10/2021

The MAD museum review

Hey readers,

The other day we went to the MAD museum in Stratford-Upon-Avon for a family day out. I thought I would do a review of what the museum is all about. 

 What is the mad museum?

The Mad museum which stands for mechanical art and design is museum is the only mechanical type museum in the UK. The museum showcases 60 interactive pieces of kinetic art and automatic. It is definitely something a bit unusual and worth checking out as it is interactive and you can see the amazing designs that people have come up with work in real life.

  The main goal of the museum is to promote STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) and they have done this by using the different types of contraptions on display from robotic birds, 3d pictures, and extravagant marble run displays. It is all visual which is great to encourage people to get excited about design and having fun. 

In the museum, there are some interactive displays where you can wave your hand to start the display or press the button to get the display to start. 

There is an area where kids can make their own marble wall so lovely to see them work out a formula to get the marbles to roll down smoothly from the top to the bottom. Some of the best learning I think it is from experimenting and giving it a go yourself. 

There are many displays of pictures of the designs before the actual display was made, so good to see how the minds of the creatures work and the process that they have to go through. 

There are some good optical illusions as well on display to mess up your mind haha!

Above is one of the intrinsic displays where you press the button on the side to start it up and you can watch in action the way the ball moves around through the design not reach the bottom. 

Where is the mad museum?

The MAD Museum is located in Stratford upon Avon and the address for the location is:

4-5 Henley Street,

Stratford-Upon-Avon, 

Warwickshire,

CV37 6PT. 

Telephone number is - 01789 269356

When does it open?

opening times are:

Monday to Friday - 10:30 - 4:30 pm. 

Weekends and holidays - 10:00 am - 5:00 pm.

You do have to prebook tickets beforehand and you can do this by going on their website here.

parking 

What are the prices of the tickets?

The cost of tickets is listed below. 

Adult: £7.80.

Concession: £6.30.

Child (6-15yrs): £5.20.

Child 5yrs & under: Free.

Family (2 Adults & 2 Children): £22.00.

Extra Child with Family: £3.50.

What is the recommended age to go to the MAD museum?

Normally about 3 onwards though nothing stopping you at any age as children under 5 years of age are free anyway.

I would say to go around the museum would be about 45mins to an hour, it is quite small but there are a lot of interactive features that kids can enjoy.

They also have a little museum where it shows small videos on ideas such as a marble run which kids can enjoy. That is free and I like the fact that the videos are not too long so kids won't get bored watching them. 

Other things to do in Stratford. 

As well as the MAD museum there are other things you can do in Stratford. There is the Stratford theatre where you can go for free to check out the displays based on theatre themes. 

There is a lovely green park where you can walk around and is nice when the sun is out.  

Of course, there are many different types of water transport you can go to. We took the manual boat to get across the other side of the river. That was a fun experience for the kids and only cost £1 each so didn't break the bank.

Cheers for reading X 

50 best Halloween films ever.

 Hey readers,

October is just around the corner and what better way to celebrate the scariest month of the year is to sit back with a good old Halloween film.

 If you're stuck for a title to watch then do not fear as I have come up with a list of 50 spooktacular movies to help you decide. 

50 Spooksenational films to watch this Halloween

1. Hocus Pocus.
2. The Nightmare Before Christmas.
3. Halloween. 
4. The Adam's Family.
5. Beetlejuice.
6. Casper.
7. Scary movie.
8. E.T The Extra-Terrestrial.
9. Poltergeist.
10. Night of the Living Dead.
11. House on Haunted Hill.
12. Friday the 13th.
13. Dracula.
14. The Sixth Sense.
15. Coraline.
16. Sleepy Hollow.
17. Jeepers Creepers.
18. Frankenstein.
19. Saw.
20. The Exorcist.
21. Shutter Island.
22. Children of the corn.
23. The Blair Witch Project.
24. A Nightmare on Elm Street.
25. It.
26. Coco.
27. The Silence of the Lambs.
28. The Shinning.
29. The Ring.
30. Scream.
31. Carrie.
32. Pet Cemetery.
33. Scream.
34. Carrie.
35. Ghostbusters.
36. Goosebumps.
37. Monsters House
38. The Amityville Horror.
39. Practical Magic.
40. Child's Play. 
41. Halloweentown.
42. Corpse Bride.
43. Donnie Darko.
44. The Cabin in the Woods. 
45. The Crow.
46. Song of the Sea.
47. Frankenweenie. 
48. The Rockie Horror Show.
49. Pumpkinhead.
50. Fright Night.

What films do you enjoy at Halloween time? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday photo 24/10/2021

 

What to put in a spooky basket.

Hey readers,

You may want to stay at home with your kids because it will be dark and not all kids enjoy taking part in trick or treating. 

If you still want to celebrate Halloween at home with your kids then a good idea might be looking at alternative ideas then a spooky basket is perfect way to achieve this. 

 You can choose your budget and get things cheap or if you fancy spending more stuff but it is up to you. Spooky baskets are like Christmas boxes but the theme is based on Halloween. 

So what kind of things can you put in a spooky basket? Below I have given some ideas of the types of things you can put in the boxes that I think would be a hit with kids. 

Things to put in a spooky basket. 

1. Books.

There are so many great Halloween-based books to get feeling Halloweeny. A firm favourite has to be the witches by Roald Dhal - not too scary but fun as well. 

2. Glow sticks.

These are fab for kids to play in a dark room with bright lights to go down a treat. 

3. Face paints.

You don't have to be an expert in face painting as there are simple ones you can do such as a black cat but kids love having face painting done.

 On Snazaroo they have good ideas for Halloween face paint and the instructions are clear plus they have video tutorials so you can do it at your own pace step to step. 

4. Balloons. 

You can get Halloween-themed balloons and some that even glow in the dark which will work well if kids are playing with glow sticks. 

5. Sweets. 

You have to have sweets at Halloween it's the law, isn't it? ;) Anyways there is a lot of choice on the market and some really fun Halloween ones as well.

 I've brought these Halloween boxes of mixed sweets from B&M for £2.00 and they are Halloween-themed so get a variety. 

6. Halloween clothing. 

You don't have to spend a load on Halloween, you can pick up this orange pumpkin t-shirt from Pep & Co for £3 (they are in adult and children sizes). 

7. Halloween torch.

These are a fun little gadget that works well when it is dark. All you have to do is shine the torch onto the wall and it will display Halloween images whether that be a bat, ghost, skull, etc. 

8. Halloween chocolate bomb.  

To make an extra special hot chocolate then you need to get a chocolate bomb is. You can get Halloween designed hot chocolate bombs such as the one in the photo below where they are shaped as skulls.

 What you do is get some hot milk vin a cup and place the hot chocolate bomb into the cup so that the bomb will disperse into the liquid. This is a popular with children as they love to see it melt and break away in the cup. 

What do you think of the kid's Halloween boxes? do you do them and if so what do you put in your boxes? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

October tag.

Hey readers,

I tried doing this for Tweetober however, I forgot and then I kind of gave up. However, I really like the questions so I thought I would do the tag as a blog post.

1) Favorite fall colour? My favorite fall colour would have to be mustard.

2) favorite fall activity? going for walks in nature when there is that crisp feel in the air then going home in the afternoon into the warm, bliss!

3) Favorite fall candle scent? apple cinnamon.

4) Corn maze or hayride? I think a hayride would be much more fun than a corn maze.

5) Sweater or hoodie? I prefer a sweater much more comfortable though I do miss the hood.

6) Favorite fall clothing item? I love fluffy socks and the way they feel on my tootsies especially when it is cold or during a dark evening.

7 Favorite fall date idea? I like to snuggle under a cosy blanket watching a film and drinking hot chocolate when it is all cold and drizzly outside.

8) Favorite fall drink? I would choose a rare treat that I have now and again and that would be a cheeky Costa mint hot chocolate.

9) Favorite thing about fall? Oh gosh, so many good things. Darker nights, cooler weather, the colours of the leaves, fairy lights.

10) What are you grateful for? Though I don't have a lot of money I am glad for having a roof over my head, food in my belly, feeling safe at home and my boys being happy (especially when they are giggling together).

11) Pumpkins or apples? Apples I loves a good juicy apple.

12) Favorite Halloween costume? I really love Beetlejuice so of course, it had to be him.

13) Favorite Disney villain? Not a massive Disney lover but if I had to choose a Disney villain it would have to be Cruella de Vil from the film One Hundred and One Dalmatians. I chose her just because she kicks ass at being evil and she has a brilliant dirty laugh.

14) Do you like haunted houses? Yes, of course, I do they look so much fun.

15) Favorite Disney movie? Without a question of doubt would be Beetlejuice.

16) Favorite fall memory? Feeling cozy in the evenings.

17) Favorite fall decor item? my Halloween fairy lights from Primark.

18) Favorite Halloween joke? I got so fed up with trick or treaters at Halloween that in the end I turned the lights out and pretended I wasn't in. Forget the ships. My lighthouse, my rules...

19) Favorite Halloween song? Bobby Pickett Monster Mash.

20) Firepit or fireplace? I love the fireplace and get cozy. Firepit sounds like hell, lol.

21) Scariest Halloween memory? Seeing humans, lol.

22) Do you believe in ghosts? No.

23) Pretty little liars or scream queens? Neither don't know what Scream Queens but not a fan of America-type programs that are saturated on Netflicks.

24) The favorite villain of all time? Hannibal Lecter.

25) Would you sleep in a graveyard? I already have when I was 12. I love graveyards so calming and no f*cker is around.

26) Favourite classic monster? cookie monster.

27) Biggest fear? Humans.

28) What Halloween monster would you be? Frankenstein.

29) The creepiest story you have heard? Jimmy Saville.

30) Favorite Adam's family member? Cousin It.

31) Halloween plans? eat all the mother f*cking sweets.

The blank questions if you want to join in. 

1) Favorite fall colour?

2) favorite fall activity? 

3) Favorite fall candle scent?

4) Corn maze or hayride? 

5) Sweater or hoodie? 

6) Favorite fall clothing item? 

8) Favorite fall drink? 

9) Favorite thing about fall? 

10) What are you grateful for? 

11) Pumpkins or apples? 

12) Favorite Halloween costume?

13) Favorite Disney villain? 

14) Do you like haunted houses? 

15) Favorite Disney movie? 

16) Favorite fall memory? 

17) Favorite fall decor item? 

18) Favorite Halloween joke?

19) Favorite Halloween song? 

20) Firepit or fireplace? 

21) Scariest Halloween memory? 

22) Do you believe in ghosts?

23) Pretty little liars or scream queens? 

24) The favorite villain of all time? 

25) Would you sleep in a graveyard?

26) Favourite classic monster? 

27) Biggest fear? 

28) What Halloween monster would you be? 

29) The creepiest story you have heard? 

30) Favorite Adam's family member? 

31) Halloween plans? 

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday photo 17/10/2021

My youngest enjoyed baking some cakes.

 

Halloween Monster Toilet Roll Craft

Hey readers,

Looking for an easy craft to do for Halloween then check out below how to make a Halloween monster toilet craft.

What you will need.

* Paint (any colour you fancy or have to hand).

* Toilet roll.

 * Pipe cleaners.

* Foam sticky shapes.

* Googly eyes. 

* Paper clips.

* Hole punch (for holes to thread pipe cleaners through).

* A small stick of some description, I used a bamboo stick but I cut it down to fit. 

How to make the Halloween monster toilet roll craft.

1. First paint the toilet rolls on the outside with the colour you have chosen.

2. Once the toilet rolls are dry,  you need to hole punch each side of the toilet roll at the top. Then thread the pipe cleaner through the hole to the other side and thread it through. Finally, shape the pipe cleaner in an arc angle. 

3. The other toilet roll pushes the bamboo stick through the toilet roll so it reaches the other side and cuts it to fit. 

4. Add accessories of your choice such as foam shapes, paper clips.

5. Add the google eyes to be placed at eye level.

There you have an easy Halloween craft to do with your child. 

Happy Halloween.

Cheers for reading X

35 Spellbinding Halloween Quotes.

 Hey readers, 

Who doesn't love a quote and to get you feeling fantastic for this upcoming spooky season?

I thought I would share some squeamishly good Halloween-themed quotes to get you inspired. 

1. Happy Halloween! Time to carve out the pumpkin, bring out the candies and let’s get sugar high.

2. Life is a witch and then you fly.

3. What do you get when you divide the circumference of your jack-o-lantern by its diameter – Pumpkin PiCopied!

4. Ghosts and goblins and jack-o-lanterns at night; I sure hope your Halloween is the best type of fright!

5. Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

6. Double, double toil, and trouble;

7. Nothing about Halloween scares me more than how psychologically enthusiastic you already are for Halloween.

8. A candy a day keeps the monsters away.

9. I am guilty of eating candy in cold blood.

10. I wave my wand and put on my cape and wish you lots of treats and success coming your way. Happy Halloween!

11. This letter is sealed with a vampire kiss and bite.

12. May the ghost be with you.

13. You are scary beautiful! Enjoy your Halloween!

14. And God said “Let there be candy,” and there was candy. Happy Halloween!

15. Silent night, ghostly night all is calm all white. Round yon candy, goodies, and treats.

16. A candy a day keeps the monsters away.

17. Keep Calm and say BOO!

18. Look, there’s no metaphysics on earth like chocolates.

19. Trick or treat, bags of sweets, ghosts are walking down the street.

20. On Halloween, the parents sent their kids out looking like me.

21. Mummy mummy mummy I got love in my tummy and I feel like haunting you.

22. Keep calm, trick or treat and carry on.

23. Hope all the candies don’t go to WAIST. Happy Halloween!

Today I can be moody and be a little witch!

25. Roses are red, violets are blue, I’m out of candy, look how scary are you.

26. Life with you is just getting boo-tter and better. Happy Halloween!

27. I’m a sleeping beauty and you are my prince charming now let’s get out of here and go trick-or-treating.

28. I’m a sexy ghoul and I know it.

29. Free flying lessons, BYOB. Bring your own broom.

30.  I have a sugar crush on you.

31. Oh, Halloween’s frightful but the candies are delightful, and since there’s no place to go, let it boo let it boo let it book

32. When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam, may luck be yours on Halloween.

 33. I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion. 

34. There is magic in the night when pumpkins glow by moonlight. 

 35. I put a spell on you because you're mine. 

Happy Halloween,

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday photo 10/10/2021

For my eldest homework, he had to make his own pyramid as he is learning about Eygpt. He is so proud of it :) 

 

5 trick or treat safety tips

 Hey readers, 

Trick or treat night is on the 31st of October and your child may want to engage in this fun Halloween activity. So this might be important information on how to keep safe during the fun celebration. What are my safety tips you ask well check them out down below? 

1. Accomy your child. 

Obviously, little ones will be with a guardian but older children may want to go alone but it might better be depending on the area and time to accompany your child under the age of 12.

 Therefore giving you the reassurance of knowing your child is safe especially when it gets dark and late.

 Another great tip is to pin a piece of paper on the back of your child's costume with your name, address, and the number just in case.

2. Set ground rules.

Make sure rules are said at the start of the evening so everyone is clear on the dos and don't of the night. 

 Highlight making sure that the child should stay with the group they are with. Plan a familiar route so your child is familiar and set a time with your child as to when it will end. 

Make sure that the child is aware to stay on the pavement and hold hands. When crossing the road make sure you check before walking into the road is clear to cross.

 It is best to only approach houses that are well lit. It is important the child knows that they should not go into someone's house or car for a treat. 

Make sure you check for cars before walking on the drive of someone's home. Be careful when approaching a drive with a car to make sure that it is not running, make sure to walk slowly. Make sure you have a torse so that if the driver is in the car they can see you in the dark night. 

3. Brightness. 

It is important to wear bright coloured clothing or put reflective tape onto the costume so that people can see you especially when it is dark at night you need to be able to see the child. Or other items such as hi-vi jackets, glow stick necklaces that kind of thing. 

4. Sweets.

Always check the sweets before letting your child eat them. Chuck away sweets that are damaged whether a sweet is opened or has a hole in them.

 Only accept sweets and chocolate if they are fully wrapped. Don't accept any homemade sweets if they are not made by someone you know. If you have young children don't give them gum or hard sweets as there may be the potential of choking. 

5.  Face paint.

Use face paint instead of a mask and make sure you use non-toxic face paint so no risk of causing a reaction.  

Using face paint is safer and less obstructive with their view. Also face paint helps reduce the risk of them having distractions because of the mask falling or any falls because they are preoccupied with adjusting the mask to fit on the face. 

What are your safety tips when going trick or treating? Have I missed anything off the list? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X 

5 ways to use up leftover pumpkin.

Hey readers, 

Many people this month with be carving a pumpkin for Halloween but you may be one of those people wondering what to do with the leftovers. 

Here are five ways you can use up a pumpkin and reduce the waste that happens after Halloween. 

1. Feed the birds. 

A great way to use a pumpkin is to make a bird feeder.

 All you need to do is clean out the pumpkin. 

If the craving is a bit wonky on the pumpkin cut that out and make it into a bowl shape. 

Poke a dowel into the pumpkin a few inches down from the top edge you just cut.

 Push it straight out through the opposite side of the pumpkin. 

Poke the second dowel through the pumpkin so it crosses just under the first dowel. 

Cut the twine into four equal lengths.

 Tie a strand to each dowel. 

Then tie the loose ends together in a large knot at the top.

 Fill the pumpkin with birdseed, and then hang it up for the birds to get out. 

2. Pumpkin Pie. 

A classic recipe is, of course, the humble pumpkin pie that will be a hit for the sweet tooth people out there. 

Here is a brilliant recipe from BBC Good Food that keeps it simple and a classic formula to follow which makes the perfect sweet treat during October and November.

3. Pumpkin compost.

You can use pumpkin on the compost.

 If you don't have a compost pile already then find a dark and shady spot in your garden to place your hollowed-out pumpkin. 

Smash up the pumpkin with a hammer as breaking the pumpkin up into smaller pieces helps speed up the process of compost. 

Loosely place some materials such as leaves, sawdust, or wood chippings over the pumpkin. 

This will help protect the pumpkin from pests and insects whilst airing it out.

Finally, let mother nature take her course and take a few weeks for the pumpkin to turn into nutrient-rich compost for the garden. 

Then you can spread it on the plants for a winter treat. 

4. Plant it. 

An alternative way to use up the leftover pumpkin is to plant with it succulents and a great way to use as autumnal decoration for the home. 

All you need to do is clean out the pumpkin and dry it off. Then fill up the pumpkin with soil and place succulents into the pumpkin, such a fun and clever way to use a pumpkin. Below is a fun example of how to do it from Succulents and Sunshine. 

5. Arty.

If you have children then using the leftover pumpkin as a material to use to make art with them. 

While it’s still firm, you can use the inside flesh to make a stamp for children to take pictures with, using the seeds to add to the patterns.

What kind of things do you like to do with a leftover pumpkin? I love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Cheers for reading X