As a parent it is all too easy to put everyone else first and spend no time looking after ourselves. The analogy I was once given on a parenting course was to think of ourselves as a jug of water. You start the morning full to the brim, but as you go through the day you keep pouring out bits of water as you do things for other people. By part way through the day your jug is empty. There's just no more to give, yet children don't know that and they keep asking for more and more. By the end of the day you're completely exhausted and it's no surprise that once they're tucked up in bed asleep you ... read more
Get Into Baking – It’s A Piece Of Cake
Image Source Baking is a hobby that anyone can get into. You don’t need all the time and patience in the world to make it work – it’s one of the few hobbies that you can get kids involved with and the reward is tasty baked food that you can enjoy there and then. Here are a few steps that you can take get into baking. Get kitted out There are a few vital pieces of kit that you may need to stock up on. These include scales, mixers, measuring beakers and baking paper depending on the type of food that you’re making. There are baking kits out there from companies like HobbyCraft with all ... read more
Grinch Christmas Bunting #Grinchmas
I'm going to say it. I LOVE Christmas! I love all the build up and anticipation as it gets closer to the big day. The excitement of the build up and also how excited the kids get too. I love seeing all the decorations and Christmas lights and also hearing Christmas songs on the radio and festive carols playing. It's a lovely opportunity to spend time with family and friends and enjoy being with the ones we love. Even the Christmas edition of the Radio Times is somewhat magical in its own right. It therefore seems somewhat backwards that I also love the Grinch. This particular Mr Grumpy ... read more
Win Pass The Pigs and Pass The Pigs Party
What is it about pigs that makes then so damn cute? I know that they're animals that love mud and generally look rather dirty, but so many people love pigs, especially kids. As a child I remember being incredibly envious of a friend who had the Pass The Pigs game as it was quite simply so much fun. Pass the Pigs for Xmas! You’ll be snorting with laughter if you play with these piggy games for Christmas. The original party animals, Pass the Pigs, use hilarious pigs for dice. Will you roll a sider or start makin' bacon? Having fun with friends, on the road entertainment, or just chilling ... read more
Celebrating Christmas with Jet2.com and Jet2holidays
Christmas is going to be different this year. A different home. A different shaped family. But even with all the changes that have gone on over the last year some things will also remain the same - for the children's sake more than anything else. After a difficult year though (that shows no signs of getting calmer any time soon) I feel ready to pause the day-to-day madness and spend time with my family and celebrate the festive season. With December up on us and decorations up wherever you go I'm even starting to look forward to hearing Christmas music in the coffee shops I work in most ... read more
Free Christmas Dice Games
I think this is the year that my family has really got family games. Suddenly all the kids are just of the age where they can sit down at the table together and start to enjoy games and we've already had a couple of lovely evenings sat around playing things together and having a really good laugh in the process. They need to be tailored just right, so that they work for all three children, but they are a great way of bringing a family together and having some fun together. I was blown away recently by just how expensive some board games can be, so being the thrifty type that I am I've been ... read more
Sanitary Owl’s First Period Box from DAME
As women, do we talk enough to our men or daughters about periods? I'm not talking about trying to totally freak them out, but more about explaining the practicalities of them and what is available to use each month. I recently came across an interview with comedian Gary Meikle in which he talked about life as a single dad to his daughter. In it he mentioned how, when she started her periods, he realised that he knew nothing, and as a result he ended up asking the local shopkeeper for advice as to whether he should be buying tampons or towels for her. For girls, getting their period is an ... read more
Ladybird Tuesday: People at Work: The Road Makers
And we're back! There just aren't enough hours in the day right now to do everything I want to do. But, a big charity shop haul of new Ladybird titles as a gift from my OH has given me the kick up the backside that I somewhat need to get some Ladybird Tuesday posts written. After many hours recently on the UK's motorway network it seems somewhat appropriate to be back with The Road Makers from the People at Work series (series 606B). We've visited this series several times now on Ladybird Tuesday (The Fireman, The Builder, The Soldier, The Policeman, The Car Makers, In a Hotel) and it's one ... read more
The 12 Sleighs of Christmas – Sherri Duskey Rinker and Jake Parker
Everyone knows that it's the Elves who keep Santa in check and make sure that everything is in place so that Christmas Eve and present deliveries go without a hitch. The source or build the presents, wrap them all and make sure they're all delivered to the right addresses. Whole films have been set about the lengths that they'll go to make sure that no child goes without on Christmas morning. But, what about Santa's sleigh itself? Who makes sure that it's all ready for the mammoth journey that it has to do that night? Fear not - just like a well tuned Formula One pit crew the elves also ... read more
Nice Ways to Keep the Family Warm in Winter
Image via Pixabay So, we’re well and truly back to the chilly days now, where cars need to be scraped clean of ice before the morning school run, where breath mists in the air, and where the thermostat is likely turned up to near-maximum at all times day and night. Autumn and winter can be magical times — especially if you’re lucky enough to live in an area which gets decent snowfall, with families enjoying days out to toboggan down hills, build snow men, and prepare for the festivities of Christmas and the New Year. But it can also be pretty miserable, as the skies turn gloomy, and ... read more