Get Creative This Father's Day | AD

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This Father's Day is certainly going to be different than any we have experienced before. Usually we are very prepared with cards bought and gifts wrapped however due to the current circumstances neither have been done. I am still very nervous and anxious of popping to the shops when they reopen  so I think it will be home made cards from the boys this Father's Day. We have quite a few ideas and whilst little J will probably draw a card for his dad, big J will most probably create something using the laptop. We have been browsing online for free fonts to download and these are a few of our favourites. 

The free fonts available from Font Bundles will give your creations an extra personal touch as there are lots of different fonts to choose from.

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Useful Money Lessons for Kids in Everyday Life

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Many grown adults become poor money managers largely because they mimicked the behaviour of their parents and lacked any sound teachings about money. Even in our school systems, while mathematics has a strong focus, it’s usually not given a practical basis by balancing a cheque book, learning to use a smartphone app on personal finance, or understanding a bank statement.  To set your child or children up for success, here are a few useful money lessons.

Earned Money, Not Pocket Money

Let your kids learn that they do not rely on handouts. Instead, let them perform small chores around the house. That might be tidying up their room for the younger kids and mowing the lawn and cutting the shrubs for the teenagers. Make sure they perform these chores safely, and make the earned money proportional to both their efforts and their age.

Encourage Kids to Save

Having them set aside a percentage of what they earn through their chores teaches them about:

The usefulness of percentages

The value of savings

Delayed gratification

Delayed gratification is particularly important. They may wish to save up for a special toy or a bicycle, in which case they’ll need to save part of their pocket money and put off some other purchases to do so. This will be difficult at first, but it will make them want the item they’re saving for even more.

Teach About Budgets

Budgets are particularly important. They help balance the income with the expenses to avoid overspending.

Budgeting and Saving Allow for Fun Purchases

Having a sensible budget and keeping spending in check allows a person to save money. When wanting large purchases like a trip away, a car, or a home, the ability to manage a budget and save from their income will be useful life lessons.

Give Each Child Responsibility for Some of the Family Budget

Let your children each have responsibility for small segments of the family budget. For younger children, that could be vegetable or fruit shopping. Set them up with a budget and the instruction to purchase as much as possible within that budget. Then walk them through the process.

With older children, expand the responsibility little by little and give them exposure to different types of spending and different decisions that need to be made.

Include the Kid(s) in the Money Decision Process

When they’re old enough to compare one price to another, give them the chance to look at how you decide about insurance.

Explain that you purchase insurance to protect against damage to the house, the car, and other valuable things. For a relatively small amount, the insurance will cover a reasonable amount of the value should something go wrong. Once this is done, let them compare insurance to see what you should decide to do.

Also, help them to understand that a trustworthy brand is good and to not always choose the cheapest price. A strong company matters too, so the insurance company pays out.

Many parents make the mistake of treating money as a taboo subject never to be spoken about. However, this leaves each child with an at arm’s length understanding of financial matters which stands them in poor stead for their future. Instead, build their knowledge over the years, so they’re comfortable and knowledgeable about the subject of money.

Michelle

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How To Choose The Right Swimwear For You

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Life is definitely strange at the moment with us living through a 'lockdown' and being apart from our family and friends. It's tough but we have to try and stay positive and as you may already know I am  a future person, always thinking about the future and what it holds for us. At the moment I don't think any of us know what the future will look like after this pandemic is over but we have to have hope that we will all get through this. A few months ago I was introduced to Protest and their gorgeous collection of swimwear. I wanted to share with you the range and although your holiday plans may not go ahead this year it's nice to dream.

First I wanted to tell you a little about Protest as you may not of heard of it. Protest was founded in 1993 by a small group of snowboarders in Holland. Protest is aimed at people who simply want to have fun on a board and look good doing it. Their goal is to make their clothes accessible to as many boarders as possible. However as you will see Protest has grown to offer not only board wear but also swimwear and clothing for men, women and children.

When it comes to swimwear I usually opt for a one piece swimsuit or tankini. I used to think these were the 'boring' option but the range at Protest are colourful, vibrant and lot to choose from.

Choosing the right tankini can be tough as there are lots of different types of tankinis. The variation is mainly in the straps and in the upper part of the top. Tankini straps are often crossed, keeping the top firmly in place. This is the style I would usually go for however you can also have a halter neck tankini,  triangle shape and others come in the bandeau style.

I would like to think that one day I will be brave and wear a bikini and just like the tankinis there are lots to choose from and also different styles too. Not only can you choose a regular bikini you can also browse push up bikinis.  A push up bikini does exactly what you would expect, it lifts or pushes up your breasts to create fuller-looking cleavage.

Once you have decided on the type you will then need to look at the style. Protest have a huge range of different colours to choose from and also you can opt for a mix and match bikini which has become popular in recent years. A mix and match bikini is buying a different colour top to the bottom. It wouldn't be my choice as I think a set looks better but the option is there.

It's not just the women with a wide range of swimwear available, the men's section is quite extensive too offering different styles, designs and waistbands in their Spring / Summer mens swim shorts collection.

Protest have given me a voucher code so that you can enjoy 10% off between now and 30th June 2020. All you need to do is enter playday10 at checkout.

No one knows when lockdown will be over but it's nice to look forward to the future and dream about our next holiday.

Michelle

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How To Protect Yourself From Illness When You Are Self Employed

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Disclosure - This is a paid collaboration. This post contains affiliate links - purchasing an item through an affiliate link adds no extra cost to you but might earn me a few pennies. 

I have lots of friends who are self employed and this time of year can be tough on them when there are so many winter illnesses going round. When you are self employed it's hard to take time off and also the loss of pay can cause financial worry. Since I started blogging I have found lots of tips along the way on how to protect yourself from illness when you are self employed.

Work From Home As Much As You Can

If your job allows it is so much better to work from home and avoid contact with people who may be suffering from a cold or virus. Viruses are much more likely to be caught whilst travelling on public transport or working at the office so working from home is a much better choice. If you don't have the luxury of working from home then when you see or hear someone coughing or sneezing a lot, just move away.

Open The Windows

Even on cold days I love opening all the windows and letting fresh air blow through the house. Obviously when it's cold it feels much better to have the fire or heating on but hot air in the home can actually make you feel worse. It can aggravate sore throats as the air becomes very dry. If you don't fancy opening your windows and would rather have the heating on, buy a humidifier.

Wash Your Hands

Washing your hands is so important and you shouldn't just wash them after you have used the bathroom you should try and get in to the habit of washing them more often. If you are touching anything that other people have used then you will have germs on your hands. Washing your hands with soap and warm/hot water you can prevent the germs from spreading.

Stay Hydrated

Drinking water throughout the day is a great way to flush out any toxins in your body and is also a good way to keep yourself hydrated. Drinking hot liquids such as tea, warm water and even soup can help loosen any congestion.

Take A Walk

Taking a walk in the fresh air is great for the lungs and also a way to help boost your immune system. You may not fancy heading out in the colder months but wrap up warm and you will feel better out in the fresh air rather than stuck at home.

Boost Your Vitamin D

We spend more time indoors during the colder months plus we have less sunshine so it can be easy to miss it. Eating tuna, mackerel, salmon, beef, cheese and eggs is a great way to top up your Vitamin D which can help keep coughs and colds at bay.

Look Out For The Signs

Sometimes we wake up and the cold or bug has hit us during the night without us knowing but other times we can try and look out for signs. If your throat is starting to feels scratchy or your chest feels a little tight you could be on your way to getting a cold. There are things we can do at this point to help shorten the length of the cold.

Using Coldzyme is a great way to help shorten the length of your cold if you have symptoms but it can also prevent it too especially if you can't get sick because you have an important meeting coming up, a trip or special event.

ColdZyme works by coating the lining of the mucous membrane, creating a protective barrier. the barrier acts osmotically on the cold viruses, trapping them and preventing them from binding with human cells, helping the body to remove them naturally.

Using the mouth spray is really easy all you need to do is aim the nozzle of your spray to towards your throat and press twice for two puffs. You do this every second hour up to six times daily. If you are not showing signs of a cold yet but have been exposed to someone who has one you can use the spray during that time. If you already have a cold you can continue to use until your symptoms are relieved.

Michelle

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The Perfect Club Sandwich

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Disclosure - We were sent the product below for the purpose of this post. This is a paid collaboration however all thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own unless stated. 

Due to bad weather and sickness we haven't left the house much this week. All our plans were cancelled but we have tried to make the most of it by trying something new everyday. The boys love helping out in the kitchen, making their own lunches and snacks. We have made lots of different lunches this week but today has been their favourite. We all decided to make our very own club sandwich. You will usually find a Club Sandwich on lunch menus in pubs and restaurants and I'm not exactly sure what the ingredients should be as they vary from place to place so we decided to create our own perfect club sandwich using Frenchs Mustard.

 Finding ingredients for your club sandwich is easy just head to your local supermarket.

Ingredients

3 pieces of seeded granary bread

Ham

Turkey

Lettuce

Tortilla Chips

Frenchs Mustard

A sprinkle of Organic Ground Linseed/Flaxseed (in the mustard dip)

Skewer (to hold the bread in place)

Instructions

1. Butter the 3 pieces of bread with low fat margarine, butter or light mayo, whatever works best for you.

2. Lay the bread out flat and on one piece of bread layer ham, turkey and lettuce.

3. Place the second piece of bread on top and repeat the layers of ham, turkey and lettuce.

4. Top with Frenchs Mustard.

5. Place the third piece of bread on top.

6. Cut diagonally. Cutting the bread in to triangles isn't necessary but I think it looks nicer.

7. Place a skewer through the sandwich to hold the bread and ingredients in place.

8. Enjoy with tortilla chips, skinny fries or just eat on its own.

Instead of lettuce the boys topped their sandwich with tortilla chips although John and I had the chips on the side and used the mustard as a dip. We haven't used mustard as a dip before but it was actually really tasty and gave the chips a little kick. Next time I think we will sprinkle in some paprika too.

What ingredients would you use in your perfect club sandwich?

Michelle

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Planning A Family Holiday To Puerto Pollensa

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When we were looking for our first ever Summer holiday as a family of three lots of friends and family gave us lots of different ideas for a family holiday destination and the one that was suggested the most was Majorca. There we a few different places on the island but the one that caught our eye was Puerto Pollensa. Situated on the Bay of Pollensa, Puerto Pollensa is a small town in Majorca which is extremely popular with British holidaymakers each year who are looking for a family holiday.

If you are searching for a family friendly holiday destination then I can almost guarantee that someone will mention or recommend Puerto Pollensa. Situated on the Bay of Pollensa, Puerto Pollensa is a small town in Majorca which is extremely popular with holidaymakers each year who are looking for a family holiday.

Once you have decided Puerto Pollensa is the right destination for you then you can browse through the many accommodation choices. Choosing where to stay depends on your personal preference, there are lots of choices including Villas in Puerto Pollensa. TripAdvisor can offer lots of reviews of family friendly accommodation and to find out more about Planning A Villa Stay you can browse sites such as Clickstay. Clickstay have provided holiday accommodation to over 600,000 customers since 2003. There are over 87,000 villas and apartments available to choose from in over 80 countries including Spain.

Where is Puerto Pollensa?

Puerto Pollensa is a holiday resort on the island of Majorca, Spain.

It is situated in the East of the Island and is one of the furthest resorts from Palma Airport.

What Is The Transfer Time From Palma to Puerto Pollensa?

Due to the resort being one of the furthest resorts from Palma it can take over two hours to reach, which means you are away from the hustle and bustle of the larger resorts, but can still get to them should you wish.

What Is The Weather Like?

Summer begins in June in Puerto Pollensa with temperatures varying between 16-25 ºc throughout June and July. August can reach highs of 30 ºc.

Is Puerto Pollensa Family Friendly?

Absolutely. The resort is packed with family friendly accommodation, restaurants, clean natural beaches and the bay offers warm shallow waters for the children to paddle in making Puerto Pollensa a very popular holiday choice for families.

Although the resort does not offer aqua parks, karting tracks or inflatable parks like the other resorts on the island you can arrange to visit them using public transport or guided excursions.

photo credit - Clickstay

What Can I Expect In Puerto Pollensa?

Although the resort boasts lots of family friendly facilities I would say that the main feature of Puerto Pollensa is Sierra de Tramuntana mountain range that surrounds and shelters the town. It provides the most beautiful backdrop and can be seen for miles. I would definitely recommend heading in to the hills on one of the many walks available as the views are breathtaking.

The town was once a fishing village and although there are now purpose built areas surrounding the bay some of the original town still stands.

You can enjoy a fair selection of shops, bars and cafes which are all family friendly allowing children to dine at any time of day and night. You will find most types of food on offer in Puerto Pollensa including Chinese, Italian, American High Class Fish Restaurants and even Burger King which opened on the sea front just a few years ago.

The beaches host a wide range of water sports and activities for both adults and children to enjoy. There are quite a few boat trips available with a trip to Cap de Formentor proving very popular with holiday makers.

What Else Can I Do On The Island?

S’Albufereta Nature Reserve is just a short drive from Puerto Pollensa on the coastal road to Alcudia. The reserve consists of a stretch of beach on the left with the main entrance on the right which leads to a mixed habitat of both fresh and salt water lagoons in addition to scrubland and pines.

During migration the area attracts a wide variety of  birds such as Flycatchers, Redstarts and Blue Headed Wagtails. Additionally you will find numerous warblers and also Nightingales. Honey Buzzards and Montagu’s Falcons together with other migrating birds of prey are regular visitors and on occasion you may see the Red Footed Falcon.

HidroPark Alcudia is less than a hour away from Puerto Pollensa and is the only waterpark in the North of the island. The waterpark boasts over 40,000 metres of surface area with lots of attractions for all the family to enjoy.

It is just minutes from Alcudia town centre and is open from May 1st to October 30th.

Once home you will probably have to trawl through hundreds of photographs that you have taken. I would definitely opt for purchasing photo books. We have done this after holidays and our sons still like looking through them as some of the holidays they were only small so don't really remember so it's nice to have the memories

Choosing a holiday destination that suits the whole family can be tough especially when travelling with children. You need to make sure that not only is your accommodation family friendly but the resort is too. It takes a fair amount of online research and trawling through accommodation reviews before you decide to book a holiday. You save all year for the perfect holiday so you want to make sure that you get it right.

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Michelle

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Is Social Media Dangerous For Our Children?

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The internet is an incredible tool and can provide children with a huge amount of helpful information, however many parents worry about their children using social media channels and the dangers they can bring. There are risks involved and there is always the worry whether our children are safe online as we let them explore the internet and use social media networks, however by talking about these dangers with your child, you can help to keep them safe online.

Explain that talking to strangers online isn't safe and sometimes people aren't who they say they are. It is important to stress to your child that they should always be careful about what they share with strangers on social media and they should never give out any personal information.

It is important to discuss appropriate image sharing and help your child to understand which photographs are inappropriate or could cause offence to others. They should also never share any images showing their school uniform as this can allow predators to identify their location.

Make your child aware of ‘Cyberbullying’ and ‘Trolling’ and what this can involve. Help them to understand that sending upsetting messages on social networks is a form of bullying and they should always talk to you if this is happening to them.

It is also really important that you keep an eye on what social networks, chat rooms or games your child is using and ensure that you have the right parental controls in place. Some online games have the option to switch off the ‘chat’ function so that your children can not make contact with others.

If you want complete safety you can always invest in the best vpn or to set up parental controls, adjust privacy settings you can contact your network provider for support. You can also contact the NSPCC or your child’s school for online safety advice.

Michelle

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The Best Lighting for Your Child’s Bedroom | AD

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Disclosure - This is a paid collaboration with Inspyer Lighting. This post contains affiliate links - purchasing an item through an affiliate link adds no extra cost to you but might earn me a few pennies. 

Your child’s bedroom should be an environment where they feel safe, secure and comfortable; a place where they can play freely, enjoy bedtime stories and sleep soundly. If the room is dark and dingy, it’s wise to find some ways to brighten up the space for them. The décor and lighting plays a huge role in the overall ambiance of the room, so be sure to put some thought into it to make the most of your efforts.

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The Benefits of Extra-Curricular Activities | AD

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With the rise of technology in our homes and in our places of education and work, many parents are concerned about their children’s development. While tech definitely has a place in a child's world and plays an important role in education, it should never be forgotten that children need constant, real-world challenges in order to grow into well-rounded adults. An independent school in New York promotes a broad and balanced curriculum to ensure that children are able to cope with all of the challenges that life brings.

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How To Help Your Child With Their Confidence | AD

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Having a confident child is probably close to the top of most parent’s lists when they’re asked what attributes they’d like their child to have. Confidence comes naturally for some children, they don’t question their place in the world and forge ahead quite happily without ever becoming anxious or worrying how others might see them. For others it’s not so simple and if your child lacks confidence, you’ll know only too well how worrying it can be. You can help your child by introducing new hobbies but one of the key factors in helping children to grow to their full potential is through security and routine. 

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Exploring Different Cultures With Your Child | AD

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Educating your children about different cultures is an ideal way to help them learn to respect and celebrate diversity. It will also give them a deeper understanding of the traditions and customs their classmates may follow. This kind of knowledge about various cultures will benefit your child throughout their lifetime. Here are some great tips from Oaks International School on how you can explore other cultures with your child.

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Helping Your Child Resist Peer Pressure | AD

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Peer pressure is an inevitable part of life, especially during the school years. As a parent, there are things you can do to help your child make sensible choices and resist peer pressure. A prep school in Surrey have put together the following advice to help you.

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Should I Encourage My Child To Go To University? | AD

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For many children, the end of school can be a confusing time. This is because they have to decide on their next steps and what they want for their future. For parents who are trying to help their children decide whether or not to go to university, here is some useful advice from St Catherine’s School.

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Top Tips for Marketing Your Business at Christmas | AD

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When it comes to marketing your business at Christmas time, there are countless things you could do. Of course, the earlier you start the better, but it’s never too late to get into the Christmas spirit. If you have a store, restaurant or other retail location, don’t be afraid to go all out and decorate the place from head to toe. This will attract more attention and boost your profits. You could also hand out little chocolate Santas to passers-by to make a good impression. In fact, promotional Christmas gifts are a great method for attracting new customers and retaining existing ones.

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Make Your Own Christmas Wreath | AD

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Disclosure - This post is a paid collaboration with Rainbow Chalk.

When it comes to Christmas decorations around the house and on our tree our theme each year is always 'anything goes'. I love seeing photos of trees and houses that are decorated in certain colours but since big J was little we have always added homemade decorations each year to our tree and I wouldn't have it any other way. We have already started creating some decorations and this year little J asked if he could make a Christmas Wreath. We browsed the internet for lots of ideas but in the end he just went with what he felt right and he created the most perfect wreath ever, and I love it.

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If Injuries In The Movies Where Real | AD

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Disclosure - This is a paid collaboration with Compare Compensation Claims

It's that time of year when we start writing down all the movies we want to watch before Christmas comes. Every year we try to add at least one new addition however we do have our favourites and Christmas just wouldn't be the same without them. Our favourite family Christmas movie has got to be Home Alone closely followed my Home Alone 2. I don't know why watching Kevin inflict lots of pain on Harry and Marv is Christmassy but it just is and we all belly laugh every time we watch it. 

I actually saw a post just recently on Compare Compensation Claims that talked about movie scenes from some of our favourite movies that involved accidents or injuries. It looked in to how much compensation the character would receive if those accidents were real. 

It actually lists Home Alone as one of the movies and details the injuries that occurred when Harry and Marv break in to Kevin McCallister's home.

The injuries included mild scarring, blowout fracture, severe burns, deep cuts, facial fractures and head injuries. Now when you read the injuries involved those burglars really did have a tough time from Kevin! So based on the injuries that are inflicted throughout the film to the characters they would be expected to receive £114,370 each. 

There are lots of other movie scenarios but the highest paying was from a scene in Mean Girls. i'm sure we have all watched Mean Girls and you will probably guess the scene I am talking about. It's when Regina George gets hit by a bus. Now this injury causes Regina to have a spinal injury that is life changing. If this would happen in real life you could expect to receive £141,150. To be honest this doesn't seem a lot to me but like most I'm still shocked she actually survived such a horrific accident!

There are lots of other movie scenarios which I have attached below for you to browse over. 

Do you know any of the movies or recognise the scenes? Do you think the expected payout for the injuries involved is enough?

Michelle

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Choosing An Eco-Friendly Christmas | AD

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Disclosure | This post is a paid collaboration with Liverpool One. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own.

I was watching a series of instagram stories from a celebrity I follow recently and she was making her own Christmas crackers. I was intrigued so I watched as she made them and filled them with prizes that she knew the recipient would like. It got me thinking about the amount of crackers we have pulled over the years and how all the plastic toys inside have just ended up in the bin. It's such a waste and not very environmentally friendly at all. I am actually thinking of making my own this year too. I have also been looking at more ways that we can enjoy an eco-friendly Christmas.

We did start thinking more about waste and our environment a few years ago and we started to make some steps to becoming eco friendly. We made a decision to stop giving and receiving cards, not just at Christmas but birthdays too. Not only do they cost a small fortune but it's such a waste and they do end up in the recycling bin anyway.

This year I will definitely be making our own Christmas crackers and I am thinking about ditching the wrapping paper for brown paper and string. I actually think it looks so much prettier than the multi-coloured paper.

We love heading to Liverpool One at Christmas time to buy all our Christmas shopping. There are so many ways that you can enjoy an eco-friendly Christmas and you could start by making little tweaks when it comes to buying gifts.

John loves coffee and we have a lovely Nespresso coffee machine at home so for Christmas I am thinking about buying him a nice supply of Nespresso pods and a new reusable take out cup. This way he can make his own coffees in the morning and use his cup. Then once he has finished with his Nespresso pods we will take them back to the shop for them to be recycled. I know there will be some morning when he will feel like a Costa Coffee and that's fine, all he needs to do is take his reusable cup with him and they will fill it with his favourite drink. Not only is he helping to save the planet but the pennies too as Costa will take 25p off the cost of his drink.

John will probably head to Lush for some goodies for me this Christmas and if you didn't know already the black pots that Lush products come in are not recyclable everywhere so to encourage you to help the planet Lush asks that you bring back your pots so they can be reused. As a thank you for every five pots returned they give you a free face mask. The Body Shop also offer you the chance to return bottles to them for recycling and whilst there is no reward it is nice to know that you are helping the planet.

These a just a few ideas that we have in mind for this Christmas and whilst they are only small if everyone made just a little effort we could all be enjoying an Eco-Friendly Christmas.

Michelle

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Ricky Zoom TV Series | AD

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Disclosure - This is a paid post and we were gifted a backpack full of goodies. 

When it comes to having some chill time little J is quite open to watching new things, so over the past week we have been watching a few episodes of Ricky Zoom. Ricky Zoom premiered on Nick JR on October 5th and every Saturday and Sunday you can catch up with the adventures of Ricky and his Bike Buddies.

I can imagine Ricky Zoom will be quite popular, we particularly like the very catchy theme tune and the message that the show conveys to little ones about friendships and teamwork. The adventures Ricky and his buddies get up to are entertaining and the characters are colourful and loveable.

Ricky Zoom lives in a town called Wheelford which is a town designed just for bikes. His parents are both rescue bikes which Ricky aspires to be one day however he still has a lot to learn. for now he enjoys heading to local adventure park, racing and learning new stunts and enjoying time with his bike buddies friends.

Meet Ricky's Friends

Loop is one of our favourite characters. Loop is a dirt bike that enjoys showing off his stunt skills at the local park however he often underestimates his abilities which leaves him getting in to all kinds of trouble. Little J thinks he is hilarious.

Scootio loves her gadgets and is head girl of the gang. She's yellow, cool and has lots of gadgets that can help the Bike Buddies when they get in to trouble. She always has a solution to the problems they may face.

DJ is the heart of the gang, always putting the needs of others before himself. There is nothing that DJ can't build and he loves to put his super toolbox to the test when needed.

So Ricky, Loop, Scootio and DJ are the four bikes that make up the Bike Buddies.

There are lots more characters including

Ricky's Family. Helen and Hank are Ricky's Mum and Dad and Toot Zoom is Ricky's younger sister.

Don and Blip Hoopla are Loop's Dad and older brother.

Mr. Rumbler is a construction and also DJ's Dad.

Not only have we been watching Ricky Zoom but we were sent a backpack filled with goodies to enjoy and we have also been enjoying the free activities on the website too.

Make sure you check out Ricky Zoom every Saturday and Sunday on Nick JR and head to Ricky Zoom for lots of fun.

Michelle

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How To Enjoy Breakfast As A Family | AD

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Disclosure - This post is a paid collaboration with nutella. The idea for this post, thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own.

As a family there is one thing all four of us thrive on and that is routine. When little J was born we decided that having a routine was something we needed if we were going to be able to manage as a new family of four. Some days our routine doesn't always go to plan but one thing we always try to stick to is enjoying breakfast together as a family. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day so I like to make sure that we all come together to enjoy a balanced meal to get us through the day.

Preparation

If you are going to enjoy breakfast together as a family then you have to prepare. I always make sure that I have all the ingredients that I need and I try to vary what we eat each day. I always set my alarm 15 minutes before the boys wake up time so I know that I have plenty of time to not only prepare the breakfast but to have time to enjoy it too.

 A Balanced Breakfast

My Mum has always said to me that you should eat like a king at breakfast, a prince at lunchtime and a pauper for dinner. It's an old saying, which is just a saying, but it has always stuck with me. Breakfast is the first meal of the day so it's important to make sure you eat as your body won't have had any food for hours while you slept.

I like to offer the boys a variety of breakfast options each day. Big and little J like different foods at breakfast time. They both have different favourite cereals, little J likes toast and pancakes whilst big J prefers waffles and croissants.

Whether we spread it on top of our toast or waffles, we enjoy one heaped teaspoon of nutella (15g, 80kcal) which is the perfect portion size per person, to be enjoyed as part of a balanced breakfast.

Big J loves toast and spreading the nutella himself is one of his favourite breakfast. He doesn't like to use a knife he prefers to use the spoon, which takes a little bit longer but as long as he is happy then I am happy.

Eat Together

Every mealtime we eat together at the table. It's something we have always done and will continue to do. I'm not a big fan of take away breakfasts and eating on the go, I like to sit and enjoy my breakfast and watching the boys eat knowing that they have had a balanced breakfast before school.

There are so many distractions nowadays with iPads and phones, social media and video games, mealtimes are now a perfect chance to get away from those distractions and actually talk to each other.

Talk

When I was younger my Nan would say it was rude to talk at the table. It's funny how times change as now I feel talking at the table brings us closer. During breakfast it's our time to chat about our day ahead whether it's what we will be getting up to, what the boys have to look forward to at school, activities they have planned after school or even what we are having for dinner. It's so nice just to take 15 minutes out of the day to sit round as a family and enjoy spending time together.

Spending time together as a family at breakfast time really does make us feel a lot happier as we start our day. It's relaxed and enjoyable and I know that the boys are starting their day with a balanced breakfast. Nutella has teamed up with leading family psychologist Linda Blair, to develop the Happy Portion formula - looking at tips for a great breakfast time. The campaign helps to show that spending time together as a family at breakfast time can have a positive effect on the rest of your day, whilst enjoying one heaped teaspoon of nutella as part of a balanced and varied diet.  If you would like to read more about nutella's Happy Portion Campaign, head over to https://www.nutella.com/uk/en/happy-portion 

I would love to hear how you spend time together as family at breakfast time and if you have any tips  on breakfast time as a family please do share with #nutellaHappyPortion

Michelle

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Preparing Your Garden For Autumn

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Disclosure - This is a paid collaboration.

Last week little J and I went out in to the garden and he said to me that it smelt like Halloween. At first I had no idea what he meant but as I felt the cold wind hit me I knew exactly what he meant, the seasons are changing and there is a definite Autumn feel in the air. I love Autumn but I don't feel like we have had much Summer this year compared to last and we have just started putting all of little J's garden toys into large storage containers as I don't think we will need the swimming pool and water toys again this year.  We've also made a start on a general clean up of the garden too preparing for the colder months. Here are a few tips on how to get your garden ready for Autumn. 

Cleaning Up and Storing

Clean all your garden tools before storing them for the winter. Get the mud off, and wipe moving parts and joints of metal tools with an oily rag for a bit of rust protection. As we have artificial grass we don't use many garden tools so this job was an easy one but its very important. We have had to throw tools away in the past because they rusted over the colder and wetter months. 

We have washed all of little J's outdoor toys making sure that we gave them a good rinse and then let them dry fully before storing. It's important to make sure all toys and water toys have no traces of water before you store otherwise they will go mouldy.

If you have a big garage or other outbuildings, make sure they’re damp-free and secure, then put everything inside. We have a shed and also a little one that I call a bike shed. It is always nice and dry in there no matter what the weather outside so it's the perfect place to store little J's toys. If you don’t have much space to spare, a bit of creative thinking is needed.

Can you put up more shelves in the garage or shed, or hang hooks on the walls to hold tools so you leave the floor free for the car?

A handy option, and one that’s growing in popularity, is renting a self storage unit. You’ll find most are easy to get to in town locations, and you’re allowed to install freestanding shelves to keep stuff organised. When you’re storing things in tubs, label the sides so you can find everything easily.

Make It Cosy

You can still enjoy your garden in the colder months by making the seating area or patio cosy. Put up some twinkling lights, get an outdoor heater and have nice blankets to hand so you can wrap up. I actually love sitting in the garden no matter what the weather. I have actually sat on the patio in the rain before now under the umbrella and it was so peaceful.

Plants and Boarders

If you’ve been to a garden centre this year, you’ll know how expensive plants are. The more you can save or take seeds from, the more lush your garden can be next year, for a whole lot less money. 

You can save the seeds from vegetables and flowering plants and this is something children can help with. Good ones are peas, French beans and tomatoes.

Scoop tomato seeds out and lay them on paper towels to dry

Wait until the bean pods are brown and papery then pick them and let them dry too. When they are dry, get the seeds out of the pods and save them. 

A cool dark place is good, so the fridge is handy. Wrap them in paper packets and they should be good for planting next year.

Other autumn jobs to schedule are lifting up delicate plants like dahlias, and deciding where to plant bulbs for spring flowering. Routinely pick up fallen leaves, especially getting them out of a pond if you have one. Keep the grass short — it gets a lot harder to mow as the weather gets wetter.

Seasonal Sorting

Many people these days find they have more possessions than house space, so use self storage units as a cost-effective, virtual home extension. For example, you could rotate garden equipment into and out of self storage depending on the season. 

During the winter, your storage room can house all your garden equipment and furnishings, barbecues, paddling pools and trampolines. During the summer, it’s a secure place for winter sports gear. Not just expensive, sports equipment is often bulky or awkwardly shaped, making it hard to keep out of the way at home.

You’ll get so much more out of the garden through winter when summer gear isn’t claiming all the space. Not only is there more room for playing in the snow (if we’re lucky enough to have some), but it’s uplifting to have a view of a clear garden through the windows.

Preparing your garden for Autumn may not seem necessary but spending time on these little jobs can really help you make the most out your garden.

Michelle

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