Category: Grown Ups

Halloween

Posted on October 23, 2020 by - Grown Ups, News

All Hallows Eve may be a little different this year but that’s no reason not to still enjoy this spookiest of evenings! Traditional trick or treating may not be possible but we can still celebrate by partying at home with the witches, ghosts and ghouls in our lives with a little help from Freshney Place.

Happy howl-oween

Celebrate all things scary by putting out the bunting and transforming your home into a Halloween House of Horrors and there is plenty of inspiration to be found at Card Factory.

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Large Halloween Bat Helium Balloon (deflated) £3.99
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Halloween Party Decoration and Tableware & Bunting – 86 pieces £10.99
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Black Star Foil Balloon Centre piece £1.49

Keeping the kids happy!

Keeping the children entertained has never been easier with games, books and puzzles from The Works and Waterstones.

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Introduce your kids to the wonderful witchcraft and wizardry world of Harry Potter and Hogwarts The Works - £40.00
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Or have hours of fun creating your own zombie The Works - £7.99
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Meg and the Dragon The Works - £2

Meg the Witch, her stripy cat Mog and a fiery dragon all together in one book. What’s the betting that this special Halloween tea story will be magical for the little ones.

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Mr Men Halloween Party – Waterstones £3.99
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Sticker book – Waterstones £5.99
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Halloween colouring book Waterstones £4.99

If you’ve got it – haunt it!

However Halloween looks this year, you can still look your spookiest with some of these outfits from Claire’s Accessories

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Day of the Dead Lace Cape £7
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Black Angel Wings - £7
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Soft Pumpkin Headband £3.50

Trick or treat yourself to a spooky night in!

M&S have some spook-tacular treats for celebrating Halloween. From eerie eyeball pizzas, mummy meatloaves and zombie brain jellies to Halloween burgers with lantern motifs for the little ones. Even Colin’s gone creepy!

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Three selected Halloween dishes for £10 from 26-31 October 2020
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Three selected Halloween dishes for £10 from 26-31 October 2020
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Colin's gone creepy - £7
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Spider web chocolate fudge muffins

Recipe

Make your own spooky muffins with this easy to follow recipe

Ingredients
Method

Time to hide behind the sofa!

Frighten yourself silly with the help of HMV! They have plenty to keep you terrified.

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A Nightmare on Elm Street 7 film collection £34.99
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Hotel Transylvania – 3 film collection £7.99
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Halloween £5.99

* All items are subject to availability.

Top 10 UK Adult Books

Posted on May 11, 2020 by - Family, Grown Ups

Already exhausted your bookshelf? Looking for something new to read but don’t know where to start? Since some of us have more time on our hands, here are our top 10 book suggestions.

(Based on sales*)

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Mrs Hinch: The Little Book of Lists

Author: Mrs Hinch
Released: 02/04/2020

Welcome to your Little Book of Lists! A whole book filled with just lists! Notebook goals! My idea of absolute heaven! As you all know, nothing helps me feel more organised than putting pen to paper and getting everything that's buzzing around my head down on to the page.

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Blue Moon (Jack Reacher 24)

Author: Lee Child
Released: 02/04/2020

Jack Reacher is back in a brand new white-knuckle read from Lee Child. It's a random universe, but once in a blue moon things turn out just right. In a nameless city, two rival criminal gangs are competing for control. But they hadn’t counted on Jack Reacher arriving on their patch.

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The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse

Author: Charlie Mackesy
Released: 10/10/2019

Four very different characters take centre stage in this unusual and beautifully illustrated book. There’s a horse, wise and reliable; a boy, Christopher Robin-like in his curiosity and kindness; a mole, driven by an optimism, and love of cake; and a fox, vulnerable and in need of love and understanding. 

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The Mirror and the Light

Author: Hilary Mantel
Released: 05/03/2020

The long-awaited sequel to Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, the stunning conclusion to Hilary Mantel's Man Booker Prize-winning Wolf Hall trilogy. 'If you cannot speak truth at a beheading, when can you speak it?' England, May 1536. Anne Boleyn is dead, decapitated in the space of a heartbeat by a hired French executioner.

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Mrs Hinch: The Activity Journal

Author: Mrs Hinch
Released: 17/10/2019

Hello! Mrs Hinch here! Welcome to your very own Hinch activity journal! This little book is all about giving yourself the gift of time out: time to plan, time to dream, time to relax, time for us to have a bit of a giggle and a de-stress. We all live such busy lives and it can be hard to take a moment just to breathe.

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The Dark Side

Author: Danielle Steel
Released 02/04/2020

The Dark Side is a powerful and unsettling novel of loss, motherhood and the innocence of childhood from the world's favourite storyteller, Danielle Steel. Zoe Morgan was just ten years old when her life changed forever.

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Nothing Ventured

Author: Jeffrey Archer
Released: 19/03/2020

This is not a detective story, this is a story about a detective. William Warwick is eight when he decides to join the police force. Resolute in the face of his prominent QC father's objections, William graduates in Art History from university and immediately enrols as a constable in the Metropolitan Police.

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The Bookshop of the Shore

Author: Jenny Colgan
Released: 31/03/2020

In the Scottish Highlands, a tiny bookshop perches on the edge of a loch... Zoe is a single mother, sinking beneath the waves trying to cope by herself in London. Hari, her gorgeous little boy is perfect in every way - except for the fact that he just doesn't speak, at all.

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The Inn

Author: James Patterson, Candice Fox
Released: 19/03/2020

A former detective is starting over in a small town, but his past won't let him go in this gripping new stand-alone from the world's bestselling thriller writer. The Inn at Gloucester stands alone on the rocky New England shoreline. Its seclusion suits former Boston police detective Bill Robinson, novice owner and innkeeper.

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A Village Scandal

Author: Dilly Court
Released: 05/03/2020

The second book in the dramatic new Village Secrets trilogy from the Sunday Times bestselling author. It was her wedding day... the roses and bluebells were blooming and their sweet-scent was filling the air, so why did Daisy feel the cold fingers of fear run down her spine?

Share your favourite books with us.

*source: lovereading.co.uk

VE Day

Posted on May 1, 2020 by - Grown Ups, News

Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) is a day to celebrate the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany’s armed forces on 8th May 1945 and this year is the 75th anniversary of this momentous occasion. 

And, even though in 2020, we have to stay at home to protect the NHS and to save lives, we can still celebrate and cheer those who fought for our country in the Second World War as well as respecting social distancing by getting out into our gardens or balconies or hanging bunting from our windows. We can recreate the sights and sounds of the VE Day very simply and keep our spirits up in the wartime tradition.

Bunting and Flags

To mark the occasion of the 75th anniversary of VE Day and to share your pride in our country why don’t you make your own “Great British Bunting”?  All you need to get started is any paper, cereal boxes, string, ribbon, sweet wrappers, felt pens, poster paint – whatever you have or can find,

Decorate your bunting with pictures of whatever inspires you, whether it’s those who fought on the frontline or worked hard on the Homefront, or whether it’s a celebration of enduring peace or your very own personal hero.

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Or making bunting can be even easier with a visit online to The Works  which is the place for those essential art & crafting supplies to make your red, white and blue bunting and with crafts for kids, the little ones can get involved too.

Supplies start from £2
Click here
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DIY templates from BBC

Due to the coronavirus restrictions most VE Day 75 events and street parties have had to be cancelled or postponed but we still want you to be able to mark the occasion, share your pride in our country and honour the men and women of WW2.

You can make your own special VE Day 75 ‘Great British Bunting’ to display in your window at home.

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Afternoon Tea

Recipe - Victoria Sponge

And no party is complete without a cake and nothing is more traditional than a Victoria Sponge…so easy to make.

Ingredients
Method
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Let M&S do the work and treat yourself

Or to make things even easier, M&S Food Halls remain open. Treat yourself to a cake, scones, cupcakes or maybe a sandwich or two. Traditional sweets like humbugs or Rhubarb and Custards would be lovely additions to the celebrations too.

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The sounds of the era

Take yourself back to the days of Vera Lynn and Glenn Miller and practice your Jitterbug and Lindy Hop dancing with music and videos from HMV. And don’t forget to send us your videos.

Prices start form £6.99
HMV Music
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And for more inspiration

Pay a visit to Waterstones online to see their range of Second World War books, it’s a lovely way for the children to learn history as part of their home schooling.

Prices start from £9.99.There is even a 500 piece jigsaw for them to enjoy (£10.99)
Waterstones

* All items are subject to availability.

Loungewear Guide

Posted on April 28, 2020 by - Grown Ups, News

Looking for some lockdown style inspiration? Whether you are working from home, chilling with a film or busy teaching the kids. Here’s a little guide to a few relaxed and comfy looks that will still keep you looking on fleek!

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River Island

On-point with their range of fantastic lounge and sportswear. Shop this casual yet stylish look, currently on deal as part of their buy 2 for £40 promotion. If something else takes your fancy they are also offering 3 for £60 on selected items.

Sweatshirt £26, Joggers £26
Click here
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Topshop

Check out this adorable set from Topshop in a pretty pastel shade. Plus students can still enjoy 20% off!

Joggers £26 and T-shirt £22
Click here
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Next

These lovely slippers will keep your feet cool, yet cosy. Perfect for those milder days.

£14
Click here
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Bon Marche

You can’t beat a fresh set of jammies, these cute lightweight PJ's are available from Bon Marche.

For only £12
Click here
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M&S

Marks & Spencer's have these cool joggers for the kids'

From £7
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Boots

Looking to unwind and relax, check out these face masks from Boots and give your skin a boost.

From as little as £1.50
Click here

* All items are subject to availability.

Garden Games

Posted on April 27, 2020 by - Family, Grown Ups, Primary, Secondary

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Are you trying to think of ideas to entertain the kids? We have some suggestions that could keep them entertained with things you having hanging around the house.

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Water Gun Pyramid

(adult supervision needed)

All you need is:

  • Water gun
  • Plastic cups

Method

Set up the plastic cups in a pyramid shape, take a step back and see who can knock them down with the water gun… Make sure your in the garden!

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Bring the bowling alley to your garden

(adult supervision needed)

All you need is:

  • Tins (Empty)
  • Tennis ball
  • Decorations/crafting material

Method

Take 6 tins, why not ask the kids to decorate them? Stack them up, grab a tennis ball, head to the garden and voila!

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Ring Toss

(adult supervision needed)

All you need is:

  • Empty kitchen rolls
  • Empty toilet rolls
  • Paper Plates
  • Celloptape, blue tac/PVA
  • Decorations/crafting material
  • Empty box

Method

Take the empty box and cut one of the sides out. Place the side flat on the table, this will be used as the base, place 4 cuts in the bottom of the rolls so they can flare out enough to be glued to the cardboard base.  

Decorate all elements, once dry stick to the base. Add numbers to each roll so when you throw the plate you can add your points up!

Take the paperplates and cute the middle out, wide enough to fit the rolls through. (Tip if you don’t have paper plates use the remains of the box)

Head to the garden and get throwing!

We would love to see your creations

Why not share them with us on social media? Or why not tell us your suggestions?

10 Disney Films to Re-visit

Posted on April 22, 2020 by - Family, Grown Ups, Primary, Secondary

If you’re one of the 5 million UK residents that has downloaded Disney+ so far*, you might be feeling a little spoilt for choice. Or, if you’re yet to download – you can use a 7-day free trial to try out the new platform.   

To save you pondering for hours on whether it’s Frozen 2 or Star Wars to kick off your Sunday movie day, we thought we’d share our top ten recommendations to please the whole family.

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1

Monster’s Inc

Suitable for ages 0+

Welcome Mike and Sulley into your home with this 2001 family favourite. Just in case you’ve been living under a rock the film follows best monster buds Mike and Sulley in their mission to keep a little girl names Boo out of sight and get her back home.

 

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2

Lady and the Tramp

Suitable for ages 0+

The ‘live action’ re-telling of the 1995 animated classic. Introduce your kids to the heartwarming tale of boy meets girl, or in the case, dog meets dog.

 

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3

Captain America: The First Avenger

Suitable for ages 12+

If your family fancy a challenge and have some time on your hands (47 hours and 48 minutes to be exact!), kick off your Marvel marathon with Captain America. The film is one of 22 films, so it will definitely keep you busy!

 

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4

Avatar

Suitable for ages 12+

Step into the magical world of Pandora from the comfort of your own home. The epic adventure movie is an emotional rolleroaster that won an abundance of awards, including three Oscars. So, if you don’t take our word for it.

 

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5

The Parent Trap

Suitable for ages 0+

Disney’s rendition of the 1961 original is the ultimate feel-good film that will leave you and your family humming the soundtrack for the foreseeable. Starring Lindsay Lohan, the film follows identical twins in their scheme to reunite their family.

 

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6

101 Dalmations

Suitable for ages 6+

For a family of dog lovers! 101 Dalmations is delightfully charming and equally as cheeky. Settle in for a film your whole family will enjoy, even your pup!

 

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7

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Suitable for ages 9+

A failsafe for the kids and a guilty pleasure for the grown-ups! If your child cant get enough of the Jeff Kinney books, the film adaptation will be right up their street!

 

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8

Oliver and Company

Suitable for ages 0+

Some might say its an oldie but goldie! The 1988 animation follows a “feisty young cat” named Oliver as he explored New York. The film also features music from Billy Joel, Bette Midler and more.

 

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9

Mulan

Suitable for ages 6+

To prepare for the eventual arrival of the live action remake, settle in for your action-packed movie night full of female empowerment. The 1998 film follows Mulan as she takes her father’s place in the Imperial Army.

 

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10

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: Episode 1

Suitable for ages 12+

If a Marvel marathon isn’t exactly your cup of tea, there’s always Star Wars? Start working your way through the 12 movies with The Phantom Menace.

 

 

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Tag us in your movie night selfies and let us know what films you choose!

*As of 26/03/20