Written by Stephanie Barratt, Owner & Director 🥛 Milk Bottle Lanterns What you’ll need: Empty, clean plastic milk bottles Paints Paintbrushes or sponges Black marker pen Scissors (adult use) Glue Tissue paper, coloured paper or stickers Battery-operated tea lights / fairy lights or glow sticks How to make them: Clean and dry your milk bottle and remove the label. Paint your bottle in your chosen spooky colour — orange, white, green or whatever you fancy! Once dry, add faces,

Written by Jess Henley Whether its dressing up as mummies, ghouls and witches or free sweeties and pumpkin carving, kids love a little bit of Halloween! There ' s no denying that old Hallow ' s Eve is growing in popularity, but trick-or-treating can be a little worrying for parents so we've put together five ideas for a safe and spooky Halloween. 1. Bright, reflective costumes If you ' re taking them out on the Trick or Treat Trail this year, make sure the costumes are full o

Written by - Ella Fothergill A duck, a cat and a squirrel make pumpkin soup every night in their old, white cabin in the woods. They each have a specific job; the cat cuts the pumpkin, the duck adds the salt and the squirrel stirs the soup - perfect! Or so it seems …. Meet the Culinary Trio Cooking Up Big Lessons in Friendship. A duck, a cat and a squirrel make pumpkin soup every night in their old, white cabin in the woods. They each have a specific job; the cat cuts the pum

Written by Jo Gotheridge Working with children over 29 years as a primary school teaching, predominantly in Derbyshire, has been a gift in so many ways. But sadly the education system (particularly in recent years) does not always allow for much creativity or freedom for children to be children. My fondest memories of the job, looking back will always be the following: End of year visits to the beach for sandcastles, fish and chips and swimming in the sea. Residential stays w

Written by Holly from Derbyshire Diaries One of the best ways to maintain a healthy relationship is through quality time, and this becomes more important than ever after having kids. Make the most of date nights this autumn. These bars and restaurants are the perfect excuse to get dressed up and enjoy what the area has to offer. Olive, Belper Looking to try a new cuisine? This is a Moroccan restaurant in Belper. Step into Olive on Belper high street and be transported to Marr

Written by Jess - First time mum, Co-owner & Director If your usual Halloween routine involves frantically grabbing a sad, bruised supermarket pumpkin three days before October 31st, consider this your sign to upgrade. Tucked away at Lime Farm in Morley, Derbyshire, Mr Pumpkin has evolved from a humble farm patch into an absolute seasonal institution. Having visited last year, it was already high on our family ’ s list of autumn highlights—but judging by their latest updates,

Written by Abi - LetsBeFrank Crew Autumn is one of our favourite times of the year. Crisp walks, cosy cafés, pumpkin patches and making family memories - what’ s not to love? Here ’ s what’ s on our autumn bucket list this year! 1. Pumpkin Picking 🎃 A pumpkin patch is an autumn tradition we never miss. Last year we visited Eastwood Farm, which had a lovely pumpkin patch and a gorgeous little café. This year we ’ re hoping to try somewhere a little more local, like Ashover Fa

Written by Clare - The P Family This tastes so good it's going to make you ditch the supermarket ice cream! Ingredients: 600ml double cream 1 can of condensed milk Whisk the double cream until it's the consistency of clotted cream. Fold in the condensed milk. Then fold in your favourite toppings. I've been making this for years and I've previously made it with peanut butter & maple syrup, lemon curd and my favourite pistachio cream (Sainsburys is my favourite go to for a jar

In partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, a spectacular new drone light show will transform the Derby skyline into a journey inspired by the world of Neverland. Neverland: The Peter Pan Drone Light Show is coming to The Central Co-op County Ground on Saturday 12th September 2026. Presented by Immersive Drone Light Shows, this enchanting outdoor event invites families, friends and dreamers of all ages to step into a world of magic, adventure and imagination. As

Written by Jess - FTM, Picky Eater, Co-owner & Director As a child, having a plate of food put in front of me with things I didn’t like or certain items touching, was a NIGHTMARE! I was the kid that panicked if food I didn’t like touched the the food I did. I viewed unfamiliar foods with deep suspicion, and anything meat was considered a personal affront. When you are trying to feed a child like I was on a tight budget, the anxiety is doubled. You want them to eat nutritiousl

Written by our Boom Buddy Families Let’s face it: if we waited for perfect weather to make plans, we’d never leave the house! 😅🌧️ We all know how unpredictable British weather can be - so we wanted to provide you with things us and our buddies enjoy doing come rain or shine. The golden rule of a British summer is to always have a backup plan, so we’ve rounded up our absolute favourite spots and activities that work beautifully whether you're soaking up the sun or dodging a

Consolidated by Jess from numerous parenting forums - Excessive over packer and Co-owner of Boom Magazine The sun is shining, the school calendars are blissfully blank, and the open road (or runway) is calling. Traveling with kids can create some of the most beautiful core memories of their childhood—but let’s be real for a second. Without a solid game plan, a family holiday can easily feel like just parenting in a different postcode, minus all your useful gear. The trick to

Mum-of-two Jacqui Hawkins shares her real reason for enjoying a good long walk every day Ah walking, it’s so great for kids right? Makes them sleep better at night, loads them full of vitamin D, helps their eyesight, and all that? Well yes, and I wish I could say that’s why I take mine out every single day. The truth is, most days we only go out because I have a border collie, and a collie without exercise is like a toddler who’s had too much birthday cake (specifically, that

By Steph first time mum, co owner & director Warm weather is a great excuse to get outdoors and enjoy family adventures, but it's important to take a few simple precautions to keep children safe and comfortable in the sunshine. 🧴 Protect Their Skin Children's skin is much more sensitive than adults' and can burn quickly in the sun. Apply sunscream before heading outdoors. Reapply every two hours, and after swimming or sweating. Don't forget easy-to-miss areas such as ears, n

Written by Kim - The Shawver Family Having a mixed heritage family is full of learning, travelling and of course, extra holiday celebrations. One of which for us is the all American fourth of July! This year is special as it's the 250th anniversary of independence day. The fourth of July dates back to the beginning of USA independence from the UK in 1776. Originally the act of the celebration itself was based on the annual celebrations they would normally have each summer t

The days are at their absolute longest, the school gates have reopened after a gorgeous May half-term, and the British summer is finally doing what it does best—giving us those beautiful, golden evenings. When the sun is shining, there’s a collective urge to drop everything and get outside. But between school runs, work, and the never-ending laundry pile, it can feel tough to make the most of it. The good news? You don’t need a packed suitcase or a grand plan to catch those s

Can you believe we are already down to the wire? Here at Boom Magazine, our absolute favourite part of the job is shining a spotlight on the incredible people, places, and businesses that make our local community so incredibly special. From the magical children's activity classes that save our rainy Saturdays, to the independent cafes that keep us fuelled with caffeine, the Boom Magazine Awards are all about celebrating you. And right now? We are officially entering the final

Written by Hannah Marriott - Boom Buddy Family The Marriott/Fallon People often say, "Enjoy every moment, it goes so fast." What they don't say is that those moments often involve someone crying, someone climbing the furniture, and someone else shouting "Muuuuum!" from a different room while you're just trying to drink a cup of tea that's been reheated three times. I am a mum of three boys, all aged four and under. Life in our house is less "calm family home" and more "extrem

By Steph, Co-Owner and Director, First Time Mum There’s something magical about a family picnic—fresh air, happy children, and food that somehow tastes better outdoors. Whether you’re heading to the park, beach, or even your own garden, a little planning can turn a simple outing into a stress-free highlight of your week. 🧺 Start with the Essentials Before you even think about food, make sure you’ve got the basics covered. A large picnic blanket is a must (bonus points if it’

By Jess, Co-Owner and Director, First Time Mum Becoming a parent - whether for the first time or again; has a way of quietly rearranging your entire world. Your routines shift, your priorities change, and somewhere in-between the blur of feeds, naps, and logistics, it’s easy to feel like the version of you that existed before, has slipped out of reach. Alongside that, friendships can feel harder to maintain, let alone build. But finding your way back to yourself and connecti