Love that new car smell? Who doesn’t? Having and driving a new car can be a wonderful experience, but is it for you? There are many things to consider, and sometimes a used car is the way to go. It often depends upon your income, lifestyle, and a host of other factors. Wondering what to do in your situation? Read on for the pros and cons of buying a new car. Pros of Buying a New Car Warranties This is probably one of the biggest benefits to owning a new car, as the dealer will often even offer an extended warranty beyond the expiration date set by the manufacturer. Although most ... read more
My dress wishlist – my virtual shopping frenzy revealed
The hot weather just keeps on coming wasn't it. There we all were complaining about snow and ice going on for ever, yet now the complete opposite seems to be true. Comparisons are being made with the heatwave of 1976 and you can see why. Yes, we're blessed with things like air conditioned cars and shops, as well as being able to inexpensively buy fans to help keep us cool at home, but trying to dress for the weather can still be a tricky one. It's a few years ago now when I suddenly took the plunge into dress wearing after years of just being a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl. Inspired by a ... read more
My Australian Dream
Australia. The other side of the world. A land of sunshine, kangaroos and Neighbours. A huge country that British Backpackers go in their droves to have an adventure. Yet a place that Australian backpackers leave in their droves to come to London and work in a bar instead. Australia has always fascinated me, but until the wonderful Ruth from DorkyMum came into my life I thought it was a place that I was happy to miss out on. I'd been to New Zealand, which seemed much more my kind of place. How the last few years have changed that. When Ruth and her family moved to Tasmania it opened ... read more
Bedroom makeover ideas you can do in a weekend
Does your bedroom look even more exhausted then you feel? If your bedroom leaves you feeling underwhelmed and you don’t really wish to spend any more time in it then necessary then now might be the time to consider a bedroom makeover. Thankfully, it’s pretty easy to orchestrate a bedroom makeover, depending on how much you want to spend and how much time and skill you have to offer, most of the ideas below can be done within a weekend. Creating you a gorgeous new bedroom space for you to enjoy for the weeks and months ahead. Let’s get started! Your lighting There’s a ... read more
What To Do When You Receive Letters from the IRS
While the chances of getting audited are incredibly slim, it’s not uncommon to receive letters from the IRS. Your initial response might be to freak out, but it’s vital that you keep a level head. If you used a tax professional or you’re confident that you paid your taxes correctly, chances are the issue(s) at hand are trivial. Here some of the letters you might receive and how to handle them. Correspondence Audits When the IRS notices any red flags (like donating half of your income to charity), your chances of being audited increase drastically. However, if the alarm on behalf of the ... read more
Western Australia Hotspots for Picky Wanderers
Western Australia – the land of extreme adventure and fantastic city life. WA occupies a third of the continent’s total area. It’s also the largest of the Australian states that have less than 10 percent of Australia’s total population. Here you’ll find endless stretches of white-sand beaches, rugged gorges, weird rock formations, natural assets and indomitable city life. If it’s your first time here, you’ll want destinations that will fulfil your expectations – and while there are many to speak of, we’ll just highlight a couple for your quick perusal. There’s no city in Australia ... read more
Tips for Planning a Family Vacation
As summer draws near, many families start thinking about how they’d like to spend it. The warm weather gets mom, dad, and the kids itching to go outside and soak up the sun. This summer, consider breaking away from the beach or backyard and take a family vacation! Family trips are essential for strengthening bonds and creating memories, not to mention having a ton of fun. Whether you go for a week or weekend, there are a few tips you’ll want to keep in mind as you plan your vacation. We’ve laid them out below to help you make the most out of your meaningful time with each other. Choose ... read more
Poopyhead – the toilet based game for kids
Master C is a five year old boy. It's therefore to be expected that he has an obsession with poo at the moment. It's one of his favourite things to shout out at inappropriate moments, and for about six months now he seems to have an obsession with calling me "Professor Poo Poo Pants". I'm trying to follow the parenting course advice of not reacting to the name calling in the hope that he will finally get bored and move on to something else. I'm not sure he ever really will though! I'm therefore not at all sure if agreeing to review the game Poopyhead with the kids was such a good idea. ... read more
Geomag Panels and Geomag Mechanics #geomag
When it comes to toys Master C and Little Miss C do love something that challenges the old grey matter. Master C's teacher has described him as a child who likes to understand how things work and he's always asking "why" questions to find out exactly why things do the things they do. LMC is in credibly good at following detailed instructions to build things or make them work, and then retracing her steps sometimes to identify where she might have gone wrong in an original build so that she can rectify a problem herself. Just this holiday she has been teaching herself to code I'm Scratch ... read more
Paddington 2 Marmalade Challenge #Paddington2DVD
One of my best moments of 2017 had to be seeing Paddington 2 at the cinema. I absolutely loved that film and it wasn't only the kids that were desperate to go and see it again. I am therefore absolutely thrilled that Paddington 2 is out on DVD today (12 March 2018) and to celebrate I've been asked to take part in the Paddington 2 Marmalade Challenge. "What is that?" I hear you ask. Well, we all know that Paddington loves marmalade sandwiches - and rightly so as they are absolutely delicious - and I've been challenged to come up with my very own marmalade sandwiches design. Now, the brief ... read more