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Winter in the UK is a genuinely unpredictable season, meaning the cold weather can start as early as October and sometimes not depart until March. Whichever type of winter season we have, it is almost certain that at some point there will be the usual headlines about the wrong type of snow hitting train services […]
I am a firm believer of what comes around goes around and have to say that I am exceptionally thankful for the opportunities this blog has brought me over the years. I started writing way back when my boys were two and three after a double mastectomy. I wanted to have a record of the things we did together as a family, in case anything happened to me. Back then I didn’t know of the community of parent blogs in the UK and had no idea about sites such as the Tots100.
As time went on I started to comment on UK blogs that I came across and people started to comment on my blog. I joined the Tots100 and then after a year I was asked to review my first product and invited to my first event. Over the following years I have been to numerous blogging conferences and made some firm friends through blogging. I discovered that Cass from Frugal Family lived down the road from me and our children were similar ages. I would have scoffed at the thought you could make such close friends through such things as blogging. Now I know different!
Me and Cass at an event together
I still enjoy blogging, maybe even more than I did then and I love the interaction and opportunities it brings me. I love reviewing products and I love sharing that love too. Recently I was asked to review a steam mop and for all sorts of reasons I ended up with more than one and the company said I could keep them as it was their error, so when I read that Vicki had slipped with babe in arms on a just mopped floor I knew exactly what I needed to do. So I arranged for Parcelforce to deliver the spare mop.
Even writing this post has made me smile so much. Just looking back at my achieves for that first post and the picture of me and Cass. It has made me realised that I am doing what I set out to do. I am creating an online diary of life in The Mad House. The good, the bad and the ugly and this makes me very happy indeed.
In many countries, the heat of the midday sun can be uncomfortable, and it’s certainly not good for your skin to be exposed to the sun in that way. If you’re heading out in hot weather, then it’s fine to wear a strappy top, or summer dress, but roll up a simple cotton shirt and cotton trader’s womens linen trousers in your bag so that when you need to, you can pull it out and give your skin some added protection. You’ll still need sunblock, as the sun’s rays will penetrate the cotton covering, but it does reduce the exposure and help you to stay a little cooler.
The other key time when a long-sleeved shirt comes in useful is as the evenings get chillier. In many holiday destinations, very warm days are followed by much colder nights and as the sun fades for the day, you may find that you need an extra layer just to keep the chill at bay. A long-sleeved cotton shirt is perfect for this, as you can layer it over whatever you’re wearing and either button it up or tie it at the front to keep stylish and comfortable at the same time.
This piece of clothing is a great holiday staple, and doesn’t have to be expensive in order to do the job. A pure white, 100% cotton shirt looks stylish at any time, and you can mix and match it with most of your wardrobe to great effect. Or, choose something more colourful or patterned, so that even when you’re covering up, you’re still wearing those key summer colours, bringing warmth and style to the room.
You could be preparing for a holiday or just planning ahead for the summer – now is a great time to buy a long-sleeved cotton shirt for this season. Retailers on the high street and online have a real variety of shirts in their spring/summer collections, so you should be able to find something that suits your style and your budget – helping you to stay cool in the hottest of climates.
With a ‘Team Challenge’ obstacle course, orienteering, raft-building, bushcraft – even circus skills – kids have the opportunity to take Moss’s advice to heart by learning “how to safely take risks for themselves in a safe and secure environment.” The Kingswood website says kids “learn to work as a team, demonstrating support, tolerance and encouragement for others; time away from home encourages confidence and independence; key life skills development includes decision making, leadership, initiative and problem solving.”
Or you could look into Forest Schools, based on a Scandinavian concept that puts an emphasis on “child-led learning, based on small, achievable tasks.” The Green Learning Forest School in Cornwall states that its positive outdoor experiences “raise levels of self-esteem…develop skills in co-operation and listening, empathy and enthusiasm for learning.”
It’s difficult to see your child struggling with low self-esteem. If they’re not ready to clamber up the branches, maybe just finding a nice tree swing is a start.
How to Encourage Kids with Low Self-Esteem: Boosting Confidence and Resilience Read More »
MadDad and I are avid music fans. Both of us love live music and have been to countless concerts and festivals. All of these have been BC (before children) and we have been thinking about when is the best time to take a child to their first live concert. I am not talking about talking a baby or toddler to a festival, but going and sitting though a live music concert.
Both the boys have seen The Wiggles live, but I am not sure that compares to a live concert. For a start the volume is a lot lower, designed to protect children’s vulnerable ears when a show is specifically designed for them and also the concert venue is filled with other children, so you know that attendees will not mind other children possibly screaming or crying.
The boys were 5 and 6 when we took them to their first proper concert we took the boys to was Glee Live at the O2. However, we were lucky enough to be able to watch the show from a private box with food and refreshments, so they boys did not need to stay in their seats. This was a brilliant introduction to live music, as we had the CD’s so they knew all of the songs and happily sung and danced along. Concerts also tend to happen after the boys bedtime and Glee was no exception, but being in a private box they had room to fall asleep and we could carry them.
Considerations to make
How long is the concert? Can your child sit though that length of time
Remember to factoring the travel time either side of the concert. My friend Cass at Frugal Family went to an Olly Murs concert this week and they didn’t get out of the car park till 10ish and Master Frugal actually fell asleep during the concert.
Does the artist have a matinee. One Direction often so, as there target market is tweens and teens.
Is the band Child friendly – remember lyrics are not censored when live! Use your common sense.I know that Rihanna would not be appropriate for the boys, not only language wise, but mannerism and dress wise, Although you can click here for Rihanna tickets, as I know that she is great live!
Talk values. Explain that you love the music, but do wish that the band wouldn’t swear and that often the flamboyance is put on for the stage. Your child needs to be mature enough to understand the difference.
When you do go
Make sure you agree a meet up point in case you lose each other
Protect your child’s ears. You can not reverse hearing damage
Talk about what they can expect to see at a concert and how busy it will be.
Be prepared for obscenities and have a response ready for if your child questions the use of swear words.
Have fun and relax.
What age is the right age to go to your first live concert? Read More »
Believe it or not, spring is on its way – which, for many people, means that spring cleaning isn’t far behind. It’s the established time for a proper tidy of your home, but what about your poor computer? It may look neat and sleek on the outside but – if you’re like every other busy,
The Digital Spring Clean in 5 Easy Steps: Refresh Your Online Life Read More »
Their website now contains honest and hopefully unbiased reviews from actual customers.
In order to encourage people to submit a review they have teamed up with Reevoo to provide independently verified customer reviews. Reviews are never edited and the bad are shown along with the good. If a review is from a dealer or retailer Reevoo make it clear and reviews are transparent and only from verified purchasers. Reviews are not edited or altered. You can even ask existing owners questions about any of Kia’s cars.
Kia are helping to simplify the car buying process, making it easier for car seekers to find the best Kia vehicle for them. So whether you are in search of a new car or already a proud Kia owner, head to Kia’s website and check out the Kia reviews!
This is one of the reasons that Kia were named Car Manufacturer of the Year 2012 by Which?, the UK’s leading consumer association.
I also really like the fact that Kia offer a free 7 year (100000 mile) warranty too.
If your house is anything like mine, your fridge will often be packed to the gills.So much so, that you have to take all sorts out to get to the item you want, leaving the door open for an age which is inefficient and heats the fridge up and more than that it is rather annoying
Even worse, when ever I ask one of the boys or MadDad to get anything they always open the fridge door and stand for an age looking for it , only to respond with “I can not find it”, leaving it to me to find it and my blood boiling.
Not so with this Samsung Fridge, it is so easy to see things and get at them even a monkey can do it!
It features an Easy Slide shelf which effortlessly slides out to enable more efficient organisation and easy storing and removal of groceries, while reducing dead space deep inside. It also features a wider and deeper Big Guard door shelf, which is perfect for storing big and tall bottles or milk, milk and more milk. This fridge really does not have any dead space.
In the bottom mounted freezer you can even control the temperature to keeps foods fresher for longer and even better it has No Frost Technology prevents ice buildup on the inside of the freezer wall, so I would never have to defrost the freezer again.
It is also energy efficient, the digital inverter compressor automatically adjusts in response to cooling demands making it perfect for men that can never find what they are looking for in the fridge!
How Do I Care For My Laminate Flooring?
Any mum will tell you that keeping a tidy home is no easy feat. From tackling the bathroom and kitchen to reminding kids they need to make their beds and pack away their toys, cleaning the home is a full time job.
One area which can sometimes be overlooked in our quest to get everything spick and span is the floor. Laminates are a practical solution for the family home – but how should you care for them?
1. Sweep Daily
Sweeping your laminate floors daily will help to keep them clean and free of grit which could damage the floor. Some people choose to clean their floors by sweeping them, while other people use the hard floor attachment on the vacuum.
Whichever you use, the important thing is that the job is carried out regularly. Regular sweeping or vacuuming will mean that your floors need to be washed less often, saving you lots of time and effort.
2. Use A Damp, Flat Mop
When you do wash your laminate floors, you don’t want to use a dripping wet mop as this will leave stains on your flooring and could potentially seep through to the floorboards underneath, causing damage and possibly rot. Therefore, when you are washing your laminate floors, use a mop that is as dry as you can get it.
3. Pay Attention To Manufacturers Suggestions
Every laminate flooring is different and they all need to be looked after in a different way. Always follow the specific instructions you’re given carefully to ensure you don’t cause any unnecessary damage to the flooring.
4. Trial And Error
Often with laminate floors, people ask what they should clean them with. Very often, this is trial and error and varies depending on what people like and feels cleans their floor best. Some people prefer to make up their own floor cleaning solution, although this can be risky if you don’t know what you are doing. Opting for a dedicated laminate floor cleaner instead is a great option and guarantees your floor will be cared for properly.
Caring for laminate floors doesn’t have to be a hard or lengthy job, providing that proper precautions are taken. Your floors are expensive and you’ve worked hard to be able to afford them, so you might as well look after them to the best of your ability as they will be costly to replace in the future. Not caring for floors properly can lead to permanent damage, spoiling them forever.
