Tag: Summer Holidays

Planning a Family Garden Party
This is a collaborative post
Planning a family garden party is a lovely way to get together over the summer holidays. You don’t need a reason to have a family garden party either it can just be a nice way to make the most out of this lovely warm summer we are having. Family garden parties do not have to be an expense either, it’s something everyone can equally contribute to to make sure the whole family have a really lovely time together.

My parents usually have a lovely family garden party on the August bank holiday weekend so that they can enjoy everyone’s company. It usually involves a lovely big BBQ, sitting around in the garden until late into the evening chatting, laughing and listening to music. Having a gazebo or even an outdoor party tent set up gives you a great hub for a family garden party too. Something else to consider could be renting a social photo booth which are a great way to get some fun photos, especially if it’s a special occassion. There is bound to be one available in your area such as Photo Booth Rental Fort Worth

another fun feature if you have a family could be adding a hammock. this could be a great thing for parties and family gatherings to keep kids amused but also used when the sun is shining for reading and relaxing. there are a great range of hammocks available online like hammock giant.

Here are some of my tips to consider making your family garden party a fun occasion that everyone remembers and to really celebrate the summer.
1. Will you have a theme? There doesn’t really need to be a big theme for this type of party or get together as really you can just use the season as the theme. For me summer just means lots of lovely ice cold drinks, BBQ and picnic food, plenty of places to sit outside and lots of smiles and laughter. As it’s a family garden party you could add in a paddling pool or maybe even a hot tub if you’re lucky enough to own one!
2. Consider the food. For me summer food is all about grab and go. Having a good mix of hot and cold food usually caters to everyone. Grilled meats and BBQ food can be paired really nicely with salads, cold meat platters and cheeses. Children seem to love a buffet so things like cocktail sausages, crackers and crudites are great options. Summer, for me, is all about colour so when planning a family garden party you might want to feed the family a rainbow. When it comes to desserts you could do something really fun like a chocolate fountain with fruit kebabs which children just seem to absolutely love.
3. Budgeting the family garden party. It doesn’t have to come with a big price tag and there are plenty of ways of reducing the cost right town to create a lovely family garden party atmosphere. Getting some battery operated tea lights or fairy lights are a lovely way to decorate the garden if you don’t want to use candles. You could also ask family members to bring a favourite dish or bottle of drink to share.
4. Extra celebrations. If you have lots of things to celebrate over the summer break having one big family garden party might be a really nice way to celebrate everyone together, especially if there are lots of birthdays in a short space of time. Or perhaps lots of family members have graduated or finished school and you want to celebrate exam results together. A family garden party is a really lovely way to mark the occasion and spend time celebrating together. If you have anyone that is expecting a baby perhaps throwing a garden baby shower party would be something you could organise?
5. Plan ahead and get your invites out. With social media and technology these days it’s really easy to organise a family event and make it known to all that you want to invite. You could send around a group message or text or even create an event online and invite people to join with all the information. I find setting up an event on social media like this an easy way to include as many people as possible and get all the information across easily.
So there are my tips for planning a summer family garden party. Do you have any you would like to add?
August 3, 2019
Kumi Kreator Cool Maker Review

We have been using the Kumi Kreator Cool Maker from Spinmaster Toys to design our own friendship bracelets. The Kumi Kreator Cool Maker is designed for children aged 8+ and with Evie turning 8 in just a few weeks I thought this would be something she would love. You always need a few rainy day activities and toys during the school holidays too and today being quite grey and stormy gave us the perfect chance to set it up and have a play.

Whats In The Box?

The Kumi Kreator Cool Maker Kit has enough products to make up to ten bracelets. It includes blue, pink, magenta and purple thread spools, the twisty friendship maker, clasps, end stickers and a bracelet measuring guide so that you can make your bracelets. It also comes with a handy design booklet, instructions and a leaflet pointing you to www.coolmaker.com which has a series of helpful videos helping you set you the Kumi Kreator Cool Maker. We found these really helpful alongside the instructions booklet which has a helpful checklist on making sure you are setting up the machine to prevent any jams.

Setting Up The Kumi Kreator Cool Maker

With the video and instruction checklist we found setting up the Kumi Kreator Cool Maker quote simple. Threading through the spools was a little bit fiddly but it didn’t take us very long at all. We followed the video instructing is to make the “Dream Beam” bracelet which features pink, magenta and blue threads. You first need to line up the two blue spools which remain empty and then follow the colours in the design booklet instructions. You bring the thread up and through the clear spool, through the small blue clip at the top and then into the white clip that holds it in place. Turning the spool will tighten the thread that you want just below the white arm.

When everything is threaded through you tighten it all up, check the checklist and that everything is in order to prevent any jams and then you begin turning the Kumi Kreator Cool Maker at a steady pace which starts braiding the bracelet for you. You keep turning until the three red lines are aligned and the white arm has flipped back.

Putting Your Friendship Bracelet Together

Firstly, tightly wrap a sticker around the top of the bracelet and then measure the wrist of the person the bracelet is for. Line this up with the braid and tightly wrap another sticker just underneath the right number. This will show you where to cut the thread and attach the clasps. The next step is removing the braid which is simple to do. You hold the braid in place and gently remove each thread from the remaining spool and pull through. You then cut the loose threads and attach the clasp for your finished bracelet.

What does Evie think?

Evie gives the Kumi Kreator Cool Maker two thumbs up. She really likes it and is looking forward to making her next set of bracelets. Most of the action she could do herself but having an adult nearby to help her was essential and to remind her of the next steps. She enjoyed twisting the bracelet into place but struggled attaching the clasps so I helped her with that.

Anything Else?

The Kumi Kreator Cool Maker retails at £ and is available to buy

You can also buy top up bracelt booster packs which make a further 12 bracelets for £ which gives you so many more designs to try and make with the Kumi Kreator Cool Maker

Disclaimer: We received a Kumi Kreator Cool Maker in exchange for this feature. All opinions remain my own.

August 10, 2018