Positively Inspirational Round-up: Things to do in May

What a funny month May is, it feels like we have only just finished the Easter holidays and here we are with another couple of bank holidays thrown in for good measure. Even better for me is that my kids have an inset and polling day so I get loads of family time this month.

I started to ponder what we all might get up to on our days off and a couple of visits to local National Trust properties is on my hit-list but I know the kids will want more variety. So I had a waltz around the parenting blogsphere and saw what some of you could recommend for us and here is what I found –

Get outdoors

Since moving to the country the simple things in life have really appealed to me and Mary from Keynko shared a lovely post about the benefit of getting out in the great fresh air with your family (or in this case her Dad). There are some fabulous images and you can just feel what a super time they had together.

Dad’s seem to be popular in posts recently and here is a great idea from Charly over at PODcast – to go and have a stroll around an open garden. They are all over the country and the beauty is that every single one is different, some are massive and have rivers running through them and others are just a little glimpse of paradise in the city. You make a small donation and the money goes to charities across the UK, it is a fab scheme. Have a peek at Charly’s dad’s garden, he will be opening his in June this year down in Devon.

Sticking with the getting outdoors theme (I am forecasting good weather for May, you’ll be happy to know) I have to confess that I have never gone pond dipping with my kids and considering we have three lakes on the estate we live in, I think that is pretty poor and something I need to rectify quite soon. (Note to Mich – add nets to the shopping list, although saying that Penny of AResidence shows that you don’t even need nets if you use a little lateral thinking like she does).

Of course Miss Lizzie of Me and my Shadow is suggesting we head down to the forest. This lady is my go-to when I need a nature inspired idea for fun or cooking. The Forestry Commission has introduced Gruffalo trails into many of their forests ready to celebrate the 15^th anniversary of the Gruffalo. Not only does she take the kids on a fun trail they also have a delicious themed pic-nic with toadstool cakes that I’m coveting!

I don’t have very adventurous children and I suppose it is not that surprising as I’m not too adventurous either, no thrill seeking for me but I did fancy a go at Go Ape when I was offered a little while back. Sadly all my kids said no, it was not for them but after looking at Helen’s pictures on Casa Costello I’m going to try and talk them round. I love the idea of siblings helping each other across the course.

Or staying in

Of course despite my forecast for good weather it might not happen and it is important to have some indoor activities up your sleeve.

A little while back the kids and my Mum painted some stones we had found at the beach, we just used our imagination and it was a lot of fun but if you want a more focused activity why don’t you paint stones to fit with a book and create the story using the stones just like Kirsty at Damson Lane did. These look seriously brilliant.

Another craft post that I found and liked the look of was egg shell painting. It’s not something I’ve ever heard of before but the effect is really pretty, thanks to Cerys at Rainy Day Mum for sharing.

Food is always a good choice for fun with the children and even the youngest can get involved. The fab Helen from Jessies Kitchen also has a cooking with your toddler blog and she shares with us her easy peasy cheese smiley pizzas. So simple and the kids will love them. Or if you fancy cooking something sweet that you can enjoy too why not look at that amazing rainbow cake made by Cass and her children over at Frugal Family.

Lastly I’ll leave you with a really pretty post from Denise at Snaffles Mummy, she has revived some old wooden bunting and now has beautiful union jack bunting in her home. It really is amazing and was actually quite simple to do.

I hope there might be an idea in my list that you want to embrace and enjoy over the May bank holidays. I wish you a fabulous time with your family. Mich x

About Michelle Pannell

Mummy from the Heart is the fourth baby of Michelle, a 46 year old (manic) mother living in East Sussex. Having moved to the countryside and ‘retired’, Michelle can now be found eating too much cake and taking long walks. She lives life on the bright side and looks for the joy in every situation, even the excess pounds those cakes keep adding! Michelle’s blog is a very honest place where she shares tales of imperfect parenting, being a Christian digital activist and anything else that takes her fancy.