Easy Peasy Cakepops

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I wish I had these silicone cake pop moulds when I had my cake pop phase a few months ago.

If you are 'baking impaired' like myself, these will save you the struggle of cake falling off sticks, decorations pulling the bun off etc.

Simply full with your cupcake mix, bake, remove, clean. Done. Different shapes available too, if you're feeling very cake cocky.

Prices start at £6.59 search for Premier Housewares on Amazon.

Seven Unusual Retro TV & Movie Tie-in Board Games for Your Girls' Night In

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Staying in is the new going out. Ladbrokes recently conducted a 'Girls' Night Out' survey and found 69% of us would rather have the girls round and stay in for drinks & takeaway, than get dolled up and pay a fortune to go to a noisy club. Maybe we are all just getting old, but the staying in option appeals more to me I must say.

Gone are my nightclub days now I'm a teetotal mum, and like 63% of women asked, a good night in can involve giggles embarrassing yourself playing games. There's the good old faithful charades, or the whole new level of ridiculousness involved in the Kinnect or Wii dance games. Truth or dare is always an option if you're feeling a bit retro. you could also have a cocktail and casino night, if like 12% of those asked in the Ladbrokes' bingo survey you fancy playing some online games.

This being The World of Kitsch, I've found the weirdest, retro tv and movie tie-in board games you could enjoy.

Encouraging Creativity -Build a Beautiful Bird House with Your Little Ones This Spring

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An issue that’s mentioned a lot in the media is that children don’t spend enough time outside, and instead they stay inside watching TV or on computers, which is said to lead to them eliciting an anti-social behaviour.


Most children these days are quite proficient with their DS and even iPad. Compared to how a lot of us grew up, very few kids can actually say that they have climbed a tree or made their own kart like our generation before them. For some children the appeal of going out and making their own fun has in some ways been lost; it’s practically torture for some, because there is an utter reliance on gadgets to entertain them for such large parts of their day.

 

How can we as parents help our children to learn to enjoy being outside, away from anything electronic?

 

Polarn O. Pyret, an international kid’s clothes retailer, has tried to get the ball rolling by sharing a few spring activities so that we as parents can take the next step to engage our children in an activity, and get them to use their imagination outside of how to complete the next level of the adventure game they’re trying to beat.

 

They’re a couple how to’s on there like making stilts and building a bird house, followed with simple visual instructions, so clear that children can make it themselves. 

 

As some of the DIY activities involve nails, you would have to supervise the entire project of course and decide when it’s better for them to sit back and observe, rather than hammer away with dangerous tools. You could for example get them involved with measuring the lines to cut, painting it, and even decide on the placement of the house – at least if it’s their first time.

 

Making a bird house not only teaches valuable DIY skills, but can build confidence, increase your child vocabulary and of course teach them about flora and fauna.

 

What better way to get your children learning about animals than for them to create a bird’s own home and watch how theyuse it? This can be a great stepping stone to your child beginning to build their own things and getting creative outside.

Moe's Donuts *Homer Drool Noise*

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We don't have Krispy Kreme in Northern Ireland. Maybe thats the reason we are always fighting each other. It certainly is the reason I always leave Stansted Airport with a dozen box stuffed into my already full hand luggage.

I love a dirty, great big, American style doughnut, or 'donut' as they spell it. Any flavour, all flavours, and the weirder the better. Apple cinnamon, lemon meringue, strawberry shortcake or caramel.


To fill the American Doughnut shaped hole in Norn Iron, www.MoesDonuts.com have stepped up to the plate, with that authentic sugary sweet baking we are missing from our lives.

Located in Belfast, they currently take commission orders, but will soon be stocking cafes across the city. To keep up to date where you can try Moe's out first, add their Facebook Page www.Facebook.com/MoesDonuts

What surely will become their 'signature donut' is a mash-up of the traditional glazed finger, with crispy bacon topping, straight from a good, old Ulster Fry. Absolutely bloody delicious. Thanks, fellas.

You can also get in touch with Moe's kitchen by following them on www.Twitter.com/MoesDonuts

Dressing Up For World Book Day

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World Book Day is a fantastic worldwide event in which children are given book tokens at their schools and nurseries. With these book tokens they can redeem a special World Book Day book from their local bookstore.

 

With a huge range of different titles on offer every year, with many written by famous and much-loved children’s authors, it’s a great opportunity to encourage your child to read more, and to help them expand their collection from a young age.


2013’s World Book Day sees 8 modern classics on offer, with kids’ favourites Francesca Simon and Tony Ross (authors of the Horrid Henry series), Anthony Horowitz (from Artemis Fowl fame), Lauren Child (known for Charlie and Lola, and Clarice Bean), and Cathy Cassidy (winner of the Queen of Teen award) amongst the fantastic authors who have contributed to this event.

If your child is a little reluctant to get involved with the programme, a great way to get them excited is by getting them to dress up as their favourite book characters.


My son's school are taking part again this year. Last year he was The Tiger Who Came to Tea!



You can get involved too as it’s a really fun way to join in and encourage shy children to be a little more adventurous.

 

Here are some costumes to think about to really get the most out of World Book Day 2013.

Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees is a really fun colouring and puzzle book for ages 3+. The book features all kinds of exotic animals, so how about dressing up your little monkeys as well?


Elephant costumes are also really cute, as are alligators, tigers or even a wolf!

 

Children absolutely adore Horrid Henry, and authors Francesca Simon and Tony Ross have penned a brand newedition just for World Book Day. Fancydressball.co.uk  actually stocks a Horrid Henry costume, which is completely perfect for any child who’d like to pretend to be Henry for the day.


Tony Robinson is known to children not as Baldrick, but as the writer that makes history really fun! While his World Book Day contribution might be Funny Inventions, if your kid loves history, the dressing up possibilities are endless.


These are just a few ideas to help you on your way to making the most out of World Book Day, so let me know how you get on via Twitter @rudedoodle.