Recipe: How to Make Quick & Easy Tomato & Lentil Soup

Tomato soup is one of my favourites and I do like to make my own. It's quick, easy and is a perfect meal for the whole family. Team it up with homemade bread and it's a great family lunch - especially in winter. This recipe is suitable for vegan's and of course vegetarians. It's dairy-free and if you omit the flour to thicken gluten-free too, as well as being budget-friendly.

Christmas 2018: 7 Stocking Fillers & Last Minute Gift Ideas AD

Please note all items have been gifted to My Boys Club and this post contains affiliate links.

Some people are well and truly done with their Christmas shopping by now. That's not me, I love shopping right up until Christmas Eve and love wrapping on Christmas Eve, watching The Snowman enjoying a festive tipple. 

So, if like me you still find yourself looking for last minute gifts and stocking filler ideas for family, friends, or colleagues, young and old, boy or girl, or a secret Santa read on and see what delights my family will be finding under the tree this Christmas.

And for a chance to win your own copy of the David Attenborough The Life Collection BBC DVD Box Set head over to the My Boys Club Twitter Page and enter our giveaway competition ...

Recipe: How to Make Christmas Crumble

Crumble is a classic pudding you can enjoy all year and one you can enjoy instead of Christmas Pudding on Christmas Day. It’s not that I don’t like Xmas Pudding. I’m actually a fan, but can seldom manage to eat any after a big Christmas dinner. This was the same for most of the family and we found that much of our Xmas Pudding was going to waste. 

So, a couple of years ago I tried making a Christmas Crumble and we haven’t looked back.

Christmas 2018: A Christmas Carol - Northern Stage (AD)

AD - Complimentary press tickets were received from Northern Stage.

Over the years we’ve seen a few versions of the Charles Dicken’s classic ‘ A Christmas Carol’ on the screen. Got to be said The Muppets Christmas Carol is our firm favourite in the My Boys Club household. However last Saturday afternoon we took a trip to Northern Stage to watch the 2018 Christmas festive production of 'A  Christmas Carol'.

Christmas 2018 - Enchanted Parks - Everything You Need to Know (AD)

We were invited to attend Enchanted Parks and received complimentary tickets, parking and food.

There is something special and empowering about being able to wander through an unlit park in the dark. Enchanted Parks in Saltwell Park in Gateshead, part of the NewcastleGateshead Winter Festival, invites you to do just that and take your family with you.

So last night, following an invitation from NewcastleGateshead Initiative, me and the boys headed to this year’s Enchanted Parks - The House of the Lost & Found - where we had mystical adventure through Gateshead’s famous Victorian park, brought to life with light, sounds, fire, and performance.

Toy Review: Beasts of Balance (AD)

AD - We received a complimentary copy of Beasts for Balance in return for an honest review.

Think Jenga meets Buckaroo but even more. Think balancing towers in a magical world. And you’ll nearly be there. Beasts of Balance is a game that blends physical and digital gameplay and we received one of the games to review this Christmas.

Christmas 2018 – A-Z of Things Parents Love About Xmas

Now that it is approaching December and we are less than one month away from Christmas, then I really do start to feel Christmassy. I’m not yet jaded by the Christmas shopping – although I’m nowhere near finished, and I’m getting as excited as the boys about putting our decorations up next weekend.

So here are my favourite things about Christmas and a very comprehensive A-Z of things to love about Xmas suggested by other families.

Christmas 2018 – Where to watch Xmas Shows & Panto in the North East

Going to a pantomime or a Christmassy show is a lovely tradition for many of us here in the North East. Oh no, it isn't ... oh yes it is!

This year there are 19 shows on offer from traditional pantomimes such as Peter Pan; Christmas stories such as A Christmas Carol; and a modern take on Christmas with Mixtape Xmas Part - comedy sketch show and part music quiz – there really is something for everyone, and in places as far afield as Berwick and Darlington. 

Some we have been offered complimentary tickets* too, others we have bought ourselves. There are far too many for us to visit them all but if you do go to any of the following, I’d love to hear what you thought. Or indeed if you know of any more let me know in the comments.

Recipe: Homemade Pizza

Friday night is, more often than not, pizza night in our house. This usually means us buying frozen or fresh pizzas from the supermarket, sometimes creating our own with a choice of toppings. However, now that my eldest had started Food Tech classes at secondary school it’s all changed.

16 FREE Firework Displays In North East England

Where will you be watching fireworks displays in the North East this year? 

As well as many displays with an admission charge there are plenty of FREE places to watch fireworks this year in North East England. Here are sixteen that we have found for 2018. Although they are all free events, donations are often welcomed. 

So get the family together, wrap up warm, stay safe and take note of The Firework Code and head to an organised Bonfire and Fireworks display.