I know it's easier to buy a chocolate advent calendar from the supermarket, but I also know that my boys will get so much more pleasure from a simple DIY Advent Calendar idea, which apart from a little effort and time, didn't cost a lot at all.

You will need:

• clear plastic bags (I bought a pack of 25 in The Range for just over £1)
• permanent pen or if you want to follow my design use chalkboard labels which you can buy in packets from a pound shop.
• paper bags (optional)
• play ideas and a few little sweets if you want to.
• sticky tape

I had some paper bags left over from Sammy's Circus Party which I used to hide some of the treats, but the reason I love using clear bags is my boys respond to praise and reward. So if they can see there is something lovely on offer, their behaviour improves!

I filled my bags with ideas for play from around the house. 

So each little toys is a prompt to do something together. 

Glasses for a dressing up session, binoculars for a walk on a high hill, a plastic lion as we have tickets to Longleat Safari (which is a surprise), a cowboy postcard for a play in the wigwam tent, left over party bag bubbles, a toy that comes from a favourite film which signals a family movie afternoon and a knitted egg which means a cooked breakfast!

I used an old frame to stick the bags to the wall in the lounge. And as the days go on, I will move the ones that didn't fit into the frame space! Patterned tape is great because it doesn't mark your walls and looks pretty. Although if you put slightly heavier things in like bubbles you may need a couple of layers of tape to keep them on the wall!

Last year I made the boys a Book Advent Calendar from a stack of story books I collected from charity shops. 

Are you making an advent calendar this year? I'd love to see your ideas!

When I saw the weather forecast earlier this week, predicting severe chilly wintry weather and possible blankets of snow, I knew this week's Wonderful Wedding Wednesday post was going to inspired by all things white!

I've said before, that as a little girl, I had always imagined a Summer wedding, but when you take a look at some of this inspiration I am totally sold on the idea of a cosy celebration in the lead up to Christmas.

There is something magical about photos in the snow don't you think? You can find all these beautiful images here.

My Mum got married again on the 1st December and the Christmas tree had just gone up at the venue!

There's something so romantic about filling a room with candles and fairy lights that seems so appropriate in the Winter.

I hope that if there are any brides getting married over the next couple of weeks they get wonderful sunny but chilly days.

I always post about wedding inspiration on a Wednesday to support The Wedding Wishing Well Foundation, an amazing charity raising money and organising weddings for terminally ill brides and grooms. 

Take a minute out of your day to read about what they do and tell someone. 

Awareness is just as important as donations because the more people who know about this great cause the more money they will raise in the future. 

Because not everyone has the luxury of choosing the season they get married in, for some people, the people applying to The Wedding Wishing Well Foundation, they simply want to be husband and wife.

What could be better than knowing your £1 helped make that happen?

Happy Wednesday everyone and don't forget your gloves - it's chilly out there!

Nibbles are being a regular feature on this blog. 

The lead up to Christmas Day is my favourite, when it's totally acceptable to share a snack of nibbles and drinks on a school night. 

These mini Calzone are simple enough that children can make their own batch and you could add some spice to yours.

Ingredients:

• I tin ready to roll pizza dough (Available in the chilled section in most supermarkets.)
• pizza sauce (You can buy this ready made in a jar or mix your own with tomato paste, passata, basil and oregano.)
• grated mozzarella
• filling optional - I used chopped sliced chorizo and prosciutto, but you could add a fresh cranberry for an even more festive taste.

Pre heat your oven to 180 degrees/Gas Mark 4.

Open your pizza dough tin according to the instructions.

Roll out and using a cookie cutter (approximately 3 inch diameter) cut out your circles ready to fill and fold.

Drip one dollop of pizza sauce into the middle, add a pinch of the filling of your choice and another pinch of cheese.

Don't be tempted to add more than a pinch or you won't be able to fold it!

Fold one half of your dough circle over and use your thumb to press gently on the cut edge.

Bake your calzone for approximately 10 minutes. Check occasionally so you don't burn them.

The boys loved making them and as they take such a short time to cook, they hadn't lost interested by the time they were cooked!

What are your favourite nibbles? I have a serious weakness for dips. When the boys were born my Mum bought fresh cheese straws which we dipped in sour cream! Totally sinful but absolutely delicious and we haven't had it since. It's sort of become a tradition now to buy when a baby is born!