5 Festive Family Films To Watch This December & Giveaway

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I love December, there is excitement in the air as everyone looks forward to Christmas and children are super excited to see what Santa will bring. December can be such a busy time of year though, with shopping to do, Christmas parties, Pantomime visits, trips to see Santa and festive days out as well as lots of school activities too. We have been so busy that as soon as the children break up from school I am planning on doing nothing! We will be having a few lazy days at home, watching Christmas films and relaxing. 

As a family we love sitting down with mugs of hot chocolate to watch Christmas films, it gets us all in the Christmas spirit. Fox have some great festive films that the whole family will enjoy including all-time favourite Home Alone! So here is a look at five festive films that are perfect for families to enjoy this December. 

Festive Tales With Father Christmas At Woodhorn Museum

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On Saturday we were invited along to Woodhorn Museum in Ashington, Northumberland to experience the Festive Tales with Father Christmas event and the children had such a lovely time. For those who don't know Woodhorn Museum is a former colliery based just outside of the former mining town of Ashington at the Queen Elizabeth 11 Country park in Northumberland - about half an hour north of Newcastle. Despite only living 20 minutes away I have never visited Woodhorn since I was a child and the children had never visited before so I had no idea what to expect. 

Festive Tales with Father Christmas costs £6.50 per child and includes a gift, which I think is really good value. Adults do not pay but they do need to either buy or use their annual membership which costs £7 per year - under 16s are free. Arriving at Woodhorn in the afternoon everywhere was lit up with hundreds of white twinkling fairy lights which looked magical. 

Santa Experiences You Can Still Book Near Newcastle

Now that we are almost halfway through November it is safe to talk about Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year. My children are super excited and they have already posted their letters to Santa with gifts they really hope they will be lucky enough to receive. Fenwick's window has been revealed, the Christmas lights on Northumberland street have been switched on and the Christmas market is opening in a matter of days. Christmas has well and truly arrived in Newcastle, however, if you're a bit of a last minute planner like myself you might be wondering where you can go to see the Santa, as most of the Santa experiences and Grottos in the city centre sold out weeks ago.

Well, I have found five Santa experiences that still have availability near Newcastle this year. My lovely blogging friend Zena has also written about places you can see Santa in Nottinghamshire if live near there too. 

Prestige Christmas Hamper Review

I love Christmas, its the most magical time of the year and as a family we get so excited for it. I have already started my Christmas shopping, the children have sent their letters to Santa, we have some festive activities planned and we have been thinking of what festive food to buy. Last year we were lucky enough to receive a Christmas hamper from Prestige and this year we were lucky enough to be sent another one to review. 

We were sent the Traditional Gift basket, which is exactly how you would imagine a Christmas hamper to be. A dark wicker basket with leather look handles and fastening makes this hamper look luxurious and oh so traditional, when the basket looks this good you know you're in for a treat before you even open it and discover the contents inside. 

Whitehouse Farm Winter Wonderland Review

With just a week to go until Christmas day, my children are so very excited and my son is even more excited after visiting Whitehouse Farms Winter Wonderland on Friday afternoon. If you are yet to see Santa or you are just looking for a fun festive day out that the whole family will enjoy in the days before Christmas then Whitehouse Farm is the place to visit. 

As a family, we love Whitehouse Farm, I used to take my eldest when she was younger and now I take my younger two children. We visited a few times earlier this year, which you can read about here as it is just a ten-minute drive up the road from where we live and is somewhere that my children adore visiting. We have never visited at Christmas time before but have heard how great the Winter Wonderland is from friends who have visited in previous years.

Trolls Holiday Gift Ideas

Last year my 4-year-old daughter Sophia went to the cinema to watch Trolls and she loved it, as soon as the film came out we bought it and she watched it non-stop. A year later she is still Trolls crazy and so are most of her friends, Trolls mania is still very much here. As Trolls was so popular a new DVD has been realised just in time for Christmas called Trolls Holiday, which is available to buy now for just £4.99. To celebrate we were sent a copy of the DVD and some great Trolls gifts that any fan will be sure to love.

We were sent

Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs Pantomime At The Tyne Theatre & Opera House - Review

Last Friday we headed to the iconic Tyne Theatre and Opera House in the centre of Newcastle to watch this years pantomime production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I love visiting the Tyne Theatre and Opera House as it is such a grand, beautiful, old building steeped in history and it is a joy to watch shows there. I have watched so many shows there over the years from shows when I was a child, to Fifi and the Flowertots when my eldest was little and more recently Ben & Holly Live with my younger children. I have not visited for a pantomime though I and was looking forward to the show after hearing great things about previous pantos. Unfortunately, my little two were unwell as they had a sickness bug so I attended the show with my teen and her friend instead. 

Cinderella Pantomime At Whitley Bay Playhouse Review

You can't beat a family visit to the pantomime at this time of year and on Saturday we headed to Whitley Bay Playhouse to see this years production of Cinderella. As a family we love Whitley Bay Playhouse, it is not far from where we live and even though it is one of the smaller theatres in the region it is modern with comfortable seats and great views wherever you sit in the audience. We really enjoyed last years production of Aladdin and I did not think they would be able to top it, but they most definitely did. 

Gifts For Teen Girls

I love shopping for my teenage daughter, but as she is getting older I am finding it harder to buy for her as she is asking for less. This year she has asked for new clothes and trainers and an HP Sprokitt printer for photos off her phone. In my latest gift guide, I have a list of some gift ideas that teenage girls are sure to like this Christmas.

1.) Chip Mug 

You can never be too old for Disney and Beauty and the Beast is such a classic that teens will adore, especially after the release of the live action version of the film earlier this year. This Chip mug is perfect for any Beauty and the Beast fan as he is adorable. Priced at £12.99 he is available to buy from Find Me A Gift.

Gift Ideas For Him This Christmas

I always find shopping for the men in my family so hard, whenever I ask them what they want they always say they don't know. This year I am prepared and have decided to share with you all a few gifts for him that I think the men in my life will love this Christmas. 

1.) Braun Electric Shaver

My other half has been asking for an electric razor and this Braun Series 3 electric razor will make the perfect gift. Designed to be tough on beards but smooth on skin. It has a five minute quick charge time which is suitable for one shave. It is priced at just £29.99 from Argos.

Gift Ideas For Young Boys This Christmas

Today I am featuring a range of gifts for young boys in my latest Christmas gift guide. My little boy is three-years-old and every gift in this guide is suitable for children of a similar age to him. As he is only three all that he has asked for this year for Christmas is Pop out Pig game, so we have had to buy him gifts that we think he will like. I think that he will like every item in this gift guide and it includes a mix of toys, keepsakes and practical gifts. 

1.) Personalised Bauble 

This snowman Christmas bauble makes a lovely keepsake and the fact they are personalised makes them a lovely gift idea too. It is made from bone china and feels quite heavy and you can tell it is a quality item. They cost just £8.99 making them a really affordable gift too, you can buy this beautiful snowman bauble from www.giftpup.com

Gifts For Her This Christmas

I find buying for the women in the family so easy as I normally just buy things that I like the look of myself. I would personally be happy with any of the products on this list myself (take note family!). Featuring a range of different products their should (hopefully) be a gift suitable for everyone in my Gifts For Her Gift Guide. 

1.) Braun Silk Epil 9 Wet & Dry Epilator

This 4-in-1 epilation, exfoliation and skin care system is sure to leave her feeling pampered this festive season. With a wet and dry epilator to leave skin fuzz-free, a message pad to improve skin tone and exfoliation brush to leave skin silky smooth. It has an RRP of £165 but it is currently on offer at lots of retailers in the run-up to Christmas.

Afternoon Tea With Santa At Wyevale Garden Centre Gosforth

This year I am so excited for Christmas as it is the first year my little two (aged 3 & 4) have properly understood what Christmas is all about. They have already written their Christmas lists for Santa, they keep asking when we can put the Christmas tree up and they are amazed by the twinkling lights from the shopping centre decorations. They are so excited and each day they race downstairs in the morning asking if today is the day we can put our tree up. They truly believe in Father Christmas and the magic of Christmas and it is heartwarming to watch. 

A Prestige Christmas Hamper

I do love Christmas and now that it is November I am starting to think about gifts and getting organised for the big day. Every single year my partner mentions getting a Christmas hamper delivered as he remembers them from his childhood, I never end up getting a one as I always thought they would be expensive and full of items we would never use. So when Prestige Hampers got in touch and offered to send me a hamper I was keen to see if they were worth the money or not.

Christmas Toy Shopping At Smyths

Now that it is October we have started thinking about Christmas in our house, which let's face it is the most magical time of the year. We love Christmas in our house and I normally start planning on what to buy the children months in advance, however this year I did not know what to buy them as they have so many toys already. Then the Smyths toy catalogue came through the letterbox and solved my dilemma, as the children adored looking at it and pointing out the toys that they really wanted. 

Sylvanian Families Gift Guide

Regular readers will know that we are Friends of Sylvanian Families, my two girls love Sylvanians and I do too as they are such a timeless toy that reminds me of my own childhood. Now that Christmas is just a week away I thought that I would share with you a few of my favourite Sylvanian products, just in case you still have some shopping to do.

Sylvanians make such a lovely Christmas gift that will bring hours of fun. My eldest was Sylvanian mad a few years ago and we have so many families and sets all ready for her younger sister to play with, they last so well and still look brand new. No matter what your budget you are sure to find something in the range that would make a fantastic gift as prices start at just £4.99.

 So here is a quick look at my favourite Sylvanian Families items.

Hornby Santa's Express Train Set Review

When I was a small child one of my uncles used to have a train set going around his Christmas tree, I use to think that it was the most magical thing ever. I always wanted a one of my own and when I had my own children I vowed to get a one, although I have never actually got around to getting a one yet. Last week that changed when Hornby kindly sent us their Santa's Express train set to review. 

My brother used to have a Hornby train set when he was younger which he spent hours playing with, so I knew that they were a great brand who make quality train sets to last. When the set arrived everything we needed was included in the box, it contained a three-piece train, lots of track, a control and even a mat that you can use to place your train on if you prefer. 

Last Minute Christmas Celebration Ideas In The North East

Christmas is just under two week's away and everyone is getting into the festive spirit and getting excited for the big man in red arriving on Christmas morning. This time of year is the perfect time to celebrate with family, friends and work colleagues and have some fun in the lead up to the big day itself. However if like me you have left organising a Christmas celebration to the last minute then fear not as I have come up with some ideas suitable for all kinds of people that will certainly get you in the festive mood. 

If you are looking for a work, family, friend or couple night out then Durham County Cricket club have some great party nights on the 18th and 19th December. The 18th of December sees a host of amazing sounding tribute acts take to the stage followed by a two-course meal and a night of dancing the night away. If  Bond is more your thing then 'A Bond night in Monte Carlo' will be just the thing to get you in the mood on the 19th when the black-tie casino night hits the club. This night sounds right up my partners street as it includes casino tables, a formula one simulator and a disco as well as plenty of martinis at the bar. These sound like great night outs that I would enjoy going on with my friends or partner and are priced at only £39.95 per person, which is incredible value.

Buddy The Elf's Adventures Week One

Last week we welcomed Elf on the shelf to are home for the first year, as I mentioned in last weeks post I brought the Elf back in the summer as I thought it would be a nice tradition to have in our household. Last week our Elf arrived with the children's advent calendars and a storybook about who he was. My eldest decided to call him Buddy and my two-year-old toddler adores him and is always blowing him kissing and shouting his name, which is very cute.

The first week with Buddy the Elf has been a success as it is fun setting him up the night before (thank you Pinterest for the inspiration) and I love seeing my toddler Sophia look for Buddy each morning. I have not planned anything elaborate and have kept things fairly simple a toddler-friendly, I thought I would share with you what Buddy has been up to in his first week at our house just in case you are after some ideas for your own Elf.

Welcoming Elf On The Shelf

This time last year I heard lots of people mentioning Elf on the shelf and photos and blog posts popped up all over the Internet with what each families scout elf were up to. I had no idea what Elf on the shelf was so I was intrigued to see what it was all about. 

I soon learnt that the Elf on the shelf is sent from Father Christmas on the 1st December to live with a family in the run-up to Christmas day. Each night the elf will fly back to the north pole and tell Father Christmas what the children in the household have been up to. In the morning when the Elf returns to the family home he will have moved position and the children will have to find him, they can not touch the Elf though or he will lose his magic powers.