Santa Comes to Giltbrook Nottingham

I love Christmas and am always trying to find ways to make it special for the children, including finding new and interesting ways to get the Christmas spirit started.

So as you can imagine, I was rather excited to hear about the Christmas Bus that will be arriving at Giltbrook Retail Park in Nottingham this weekend, yep you heard that right a Christmas Bus.

This free pop-up family event, will give little ones the chance to meet Santa and get crafty with the help of his elves.

Taking place between 11am and 5pm on 19th and 20th November, families can take a selfie with Santa on the top deck of a double-decker bus turned winter wonderland.

Below deck, Santa’s elves will host special festive craft workshops giving kids the chance to make everything from tree decorations to magic reindeer food for Rudolph.

With plenty of shops and restaurants in the retail park, there is even an opportunity to get a bit of Christmas shopping done early and even a spot of lunch.

So if you are looking for something to do in Nottinghamshire this weekend and fancy getting festive then why not head to Giltbrook.

The event will run on a first come, first serve basis so families should arrive early to avoid disappointment

This is a collaborative post.

Fun with Fabric Pens

The weather has been great lately but with a little rain after school yesterday I decided to bring out an activity I had been saving for a while.

I bought these fabric pens from Ikea a few months back and I had put aside a couple of old white vests to use them on.

Really easy to use and bright colours I let them do what they like, my daughter needed a little help to complete hers but the as you can see she loves it.

This is a great way to spend an hour and the kids have something to wear and remember afterwards.

Linking up to Magic Moments on The Oliver's Madhouse

Dear Ikea...

I visited your Nottingham store last week and all I can say is well done. Well done on having the worst and most pointless nursing area I have ever sat in!

Some ladies are shy about feeding or would prefer a quiet area, where their nursing child won't be distracted, this is not one of those.

I was adjusting myself to get up and leave when someone came over and asked if anyone was sitting at the table next to the nursing area, that's how open it was!

Now I used the area back in February before they changed the lay out and it was comfy, enclosed and quiet, they have recently made the children's area better but in doing so have changed this area for the worse!

The chairs are low backed and not particularly comfortable for feeding in and the chair opposite me had no privacy whatsoever!

I am so disappointed by the change, this was always something I admired about Ikea! I don't think I am being overcritical and if you have visited this store recently I would love to hear your thoughts.

Below are some pictures that show exactly how poorly thought out the area is...

View from my chair!

Not particularly comfy chairs, i'm afraid and this one has no privacy whatsoever!

Completely open to people looking in :(

View up from the chair, anyone can just come over and look in!

I emailed Ikea customer services yesterday, if I get a reply I will let you know what their thoughts are.