5 Tips to help the school run go smoother! It’s all in the planning!

So, it’s morning, even though it feels like the middle of the night because surely you have only had a nano second of sleep and the bloomin alarm is shrieking at the top of its voice that you should wake up. If you are anything like me then now is the time that the skill of juggling really comes into its own. Breakfast for the family, just a cuppa for me, after all it’s still the middle of the night in my head *note to self to be a good role model and eat well* it’s on my to-do list!

So before I get side tracked then – here are my top 5 things to help the school run go better!!

The key is, to start from the beginning……

1. Change the ring-tone of your alarm! For years I had the cutest sound of my boys saying for me to wake up, I couldn’t bear to take it off for ages but as the years wore on it was so loud and high-pitched that it wasn’t waking me up the right way. So I’ve saved it to be used for other things and now gone onto a lovely gently undulating tone that lets me wake up in a more gentle way as opposed to heart thumping shock to the system! Try it, even if it’s just for a week.

2. Breakfast, aside from the fact that I am a hypocrite and can’t stomach breakfast in the morning, make sure that the kids have it and digest it properly. In our house that would mean, trying to control their urges to practice dance, gym, football, karate moves while spooning in shreddies to their mouths, jumpers, hamsters and the floor.

3. Teeth! You might have got this one sorted. I have 50% success here, one boy is glued to the bathroom doing his hair, pearly white smile and generally grooming to perfection his appearance while the other one is, well lets just say…not quite there yet. You would have seen from one of my previous posts about motherhood that I have a little trick up my sleeve for how we are currently making sure his teeth are getting cleaned.

4. Everything has been lined up the night before, so we have; uniform, school bag, shoes, coat, drink and whichever activity they have (that they’ve told you about!) The 5 P’s are in operation here; Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance. I’ll leave the 6th one out, after all it’s a family blog:0

5. Then it’s in the car with a double and triple check, a final grilling of have they got everything and off to school we go. 9 times out of ten this can work, on the odd occasion for us then this will be the point that one of them tells me that it’s World Book, Children in Need, day of the peach, environment, woman, man or child day! It’s at those times when I have to whistle a happy tune, turn the radio up and think happy thoughts!

How do your days go first thing in the morning? Have you got it sussed? Have you got any tips to share?

Let see if we are alone in the dreaded prep for the school run. Tweet to share.Click To Tweet

Subscribe to Blog via Email

4 Steps to a Camembert Funny Mummy

Party food is not just for the little ones today. I actually did this 4 Steps to a Camembert Funny Mummy when my friends came over for dinner. The big kids in us meant that we dressed to impress in our very own ghoulish outfits and had great fun with the party food.

On the weekend I had a good fun baking with my eldest son and he made the shortcrust pastry himself.

We were also making minion ghosts which is a whole other story and I’ll be showing you them soon I’m sure.

So, back to the Camembert Funny Mummy for my dinner party. It is a lot of fun to make and is a good idea for a dinner or kids party as it can be fully prepared the day before and popped in the oven when your guests arrive.

Here you have my 4 Easy Steps:

1.

Pop one medium sized camembert cheese in the middle of some shortcrust pastry. Homemade or shop bought, whichever you wish to use is just fine.

2.

Cover your cheese with the smooth side uppermost. Don’t have too much pastry bunched up on the underside as this will stop it from baking evenly.

3.

Cut the remaining pastry into strips to make the ‘bandages’ and drape over in random cross hatching as shown above.

4.

Brush over an egg wash which is just one egg beaten with a fork to give a glossy looking baked pastry. Pop two currants or black olives on for the eyes and you are ready to put in the oven.

Bake for 35mins on 170 oc for fan assisted ovens.

Let me know how you get on!

Any questions, just ask away and I’ll get back to you. Use the comments section below.

Top Tip: Keep all your ingredients cold as this will make the best pastry, lovely and light!

Need a ghoulish dip to go with it? Try this scrummy Red Pepper Dip

Subscribe to Blog via Email

4 Ways to Propose in Public

4 Ways To Propose In Public

Public proposals may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but when they’re planned well, they can be simply sensational. It’s like watching a real-time romantic comedy unfold. In fact, get it right and you could pull off the perfect balance between romantic and fun-loving, if that’s what you and your partner like. Add a few elements of your first date and special memories and your public proposal is sure to be a hit.

You can find in Sydney engagement rings that will be perfect for your beloved. Before you go looking for the perfect piece, though, here are our top tips for pulling of the perfect public proposal.

Plan, Keep Planning And Plan Some More

If you’re quite ready to put your heart on the line for everyone to see, make sure you have a solid plan in place. A public proposal, or any proposal, is definitely not the time to wing it. Whether you’re planning a choreographed flash mob to your favourite song in the middle of town or a singing quarter under her bedroom window, you need to pay attention to every detail. If everyone knows their part, and knows it well, they’re sure to be confident enough to help ensure your proposal is flawless and unforgettable.

Think About Her Response

Hopefully if you’ve gotten to this point in your relationship, you’re completely confident that she will say yes. But there’s a little more you need to consider if you’re going to propose in public. You want to be sure that after an incredible public proposal that her reaction will be fitting. For instance, if you think she will be excited but a little shy around strangers staring at her, it’s going to make for an awkward moment for everyone. So, consider her response carefully. You’re not going to want to plan a high energy proposal in public only for her to feel embarrassed.

Image Source: Unsplash

Yet, if she absolutely comes to life in the spotlight and is animated and outgoing, she’s sure to adore a public show of your love.

Don’t Make It Cheesy

There is a very fine line between cheesy and romantic. One of the best ways to counteract cheesiness is to make sure your proposal is highly personal. Play the guitar to your song, include something about how you first met or your first kiss, and take her back to that dazzling first moments. Making your public proposal special makes you super amazing.

In fact, if you need help, hire a proposal planner or designer friend who can help you avoid a cheesy proposal. For instance, proposals with style or themes can be done really wrong or perfectly. Make sure you have the right people helping you.

Choose The Right Spot

Finally, if your idea is a semi-public proposal, decide where you’re going to pop the question and who else you want there, such as friends, family and strangers. In fact, a semi-public proposal is the perfect way to incorporate all those personal details while making her feel like the star that she is.

Image Source: Unsplash

If you’d prefer a great big declaration of your love, though, follow the points we’ve laid out above and you’re sure to pull it off with class!

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Once you’ve got the proposal sorted out you may love this engagement ring post right up your street. To find out more about the differences between a wedding ring and an engagement ring then I also have that for you to read by clicking on the link. Enjoy!

Truffle Trivia Competition Giveaway

Spring has sprung and it’s time for me to launch some more giveaways. How long has it been? It seems like forever that I have not had a giveaway on my site. Well I can start putting that right here and now:)

This Truffle Trivia Quiz Box is so much fun. It looks just like a box of scrummy chocolates, ideal to take to a dinner party. Surprise surprise it is a quiz box set perfect to give the hosts and have some after dinner fun!

Without further ado, you can enter now and be in with a chance to win this fab prize.

Enter the giveaway here…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! Open to worldwide entries.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

We are one

We are one.

I’m so thankful for the life that I have got. I can sit here on my computer enjoying writing on my blog knowing that my boys are tucked up in bed, my OH is downstairs relaxing and watching a movie. I have a lovely life and I’m so pleased. There was a time when it was a little more bumpy, I was on my own and things were tough. This poem shows the journey I took from then until now……

It’s hard to bear these nights alone

I chat and play, tapping my phone

For far too long this inner fight

to stay awake, to shorten the night.

I hope one day the path will clear

I’ll rid myself of the doubt, the fear

The rising sun will warm this heart

Give my ‘self’ the will to start.

It’s all within reach but it won’t be pushed

It surges down that stream, it won’t be shushed

It’s bashed me about, it’s taken its toll

Fate, life, the predefined goal.

And then came the light…..

my two young seeds

My partner in crime

They are all I need.

I nurture them now

Show them ‘what’ and ‘how’

Take them forth in their youth

Let them seek the truth.

With my man by my side

I think it can be done

We are a family

We are one

Subscribe to Blog via Email

10 Ingenious Ways to Entertain Kids on Holiday

I’ve been taking my children away on holiday since they were both tiny. I even remember very clearly taking my 2-year-old abroad while I was pregnant and I did that alone whilst potty training the 2-year-old. Now I know lots of parents, single or not have had to do this but I just wanted to set the groundwork that I have some experience of juggling traveling with kids and having to find ways of keeping them entertained! A happy mummy is a happy child in my book. So, I thought that I would share some of my own tips with you which you can add to your own tried and tested methods.

1. Food! Kids love to eat, so whatever is their favourite snack – pack! Remember to pop a small pack of wet wipes in your bag for those sticky fingers!

2. Soothing toy – when mine were tiny my eldest had a small blue bear that went on each and every travel. Even now at 8 and 11 there is always something special that they like to have close to them. I let them decide and *whispers* it’s usually a soft toy!

3. Magazines – whatever the age and whatever the gender there are so many different types of magazines out there to suit almost everyone. It’s a good way to get some reading going on for the kids besides their electronic devices – we’ll get into those later!

4. Colouring books – again, a bit like the magazines there are so many that really cross the different age ranges and the children can be really creative. Colouring books theses days don’t just satisfy the 2-5 year olds thankfully.

5. Textiles – crochet, knitting, teddy bear making, all of these activities can easily be taken on holiday with very little fuss. I remember learning to knit from both of my mans when I was little and it would keep me amused and occupied for hours. It’s also such a great skill to learn for boys and girls.

6. Writing a diary of the holiday is a great way of getting the kids involved in the whole process of the holiday. As you are planning the holiday they can start jotting down what is happening and sticking in pictures from brochures etc. While away they can collect different flyers and leaflets to do with where you are staying and stick and paste.

7. Kids Club – I always book something that has a kids club of some description. Holidays are for all the family and you need some downtime as well. There are baby crèche, mini club, maxi clubs and all sorts to suit all different ages. All you have to do is look for them. It doesn’t mean that they have to go to the club all the time but it’s there as an option. Leave the guilt at home and pop them in there so you can have a couple of hours by the pool without any worry. You’ll be surprised how good it feels if you haven’t tried it.

8. Take your mum or another family member if you can. I’ve been having a holiday with my mum and my children ever since they were born. It’s amazing and for us it adds a very positive dynamic to our holidays. We noticed this year that there are so many grandparents holidaying with family now. I don’t know if I just didn’t notice it before or that it’s become so much more popular. A few years ago we had fun in Alcudia and it was mainly down to my mum being there with us.

9. Take one of their friends….No I’ve not lost the plot. If they are a certain age, around 9 and above then this is a genius idea. Your child will have their buddy and not need anywhere near as much attention (in a good way) as if they were on their own. They will be happy and feel a bit of independence as they will have their mate to explore the venue or even just the kids club where you are staying. Plus and this is a bonus….your child might even get invited away with them next time. It could be time to get out the Romantic weekend away brochures. I bet you thought that would never happen again!

10. Photography – this year my son started wanting to take photos. Whether this is on your phone if you dare trust them or on a disposable camera it’s a great way for them to feel part of it all and take some photos that they can then show around when they get home. It doesn’t really matter if it’s just the tops of heads or random sky photos, it’s theirs and can form part of lots of craft projects when you get home.

Bonus one – If you really need to and if it makes everyone happy then take the kindle, ipad, or whatever it is away with you too. Remember, everything in moderation and “a happy mummy or daddy is a happy child”.

Tweet to share these 10 ways to entertain the kids on holidayClick To Tweet

Please share with me what other ideas work for you and your family. The more the merrier to help make the holidays go as stress free as possible.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day to you all. What a great start to the day I had today, a cup of tea and breakfast in bed. Here is the card that the boys gave me! Little darlings! 🙂

I regaled them with tales of when they were babies and today was the turn of one of my favourite stories of how during my first pregnancy. I tried to convince everyone who would listen that I was going to use just terry towel natural nappies and not touch the likes of disposables.

I had this image of a large washing line full of glistening white nappies blowing dry on a summers day. I remember the look on my mums face as she said ‘yes dear if that’s what you want’. I now know that she was giggling inside knowing me and knowing what hard work that would be. However she is always so supportive and never put me off, instead guiding me through all eventualities.

Suffice to say that I’m not the earth mother that I thought, or hoped to be and the shock of having a baby and learning to cope with my new little bundle of life was enough to put the thought of going natural on the back burner.

Whatever we do and however we cope, here’s to all mothers on Mother’s Day. Well done for each and every nappy change, sticking plaster application and tummy flip that makes us mums.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

What To Know About Vintage Engagement Rings

Image Source: Unsplash

If you’re looking for a unique and truly gorgeous engagement ring, an antique or vintage engagement ring may be the perfect choice for her. With so many options that range from cathedral settings to intricate floral designs, vintage engagement rings may be designed to fit the style and personality of the one you love.

While we’ve put together the below tips on shopping for a vintage engagement ring, the most important advice we can give you for vintage engagement rings is to always buy one from a reputable vendor to ensure you receive the value and quality your other half deserves.

An Overview Of Vintage Engagement Ring Settings

While out shopping for vintage engagement rings for Valentine’s at Kalmar Antiques, among the first things the shop will want you to consider is the settings. Vintage settings lend themselves to the styles of the art deco, Victorian and Edwardian times. These beautiful styles often feature amazing intricacies. Filigree and milgrain, especially, are two popular techniques that were used to create even more detail within the settings.

Filigree is a type of delicate metal work that usually features twisted metal threads or metal beads found throughout the setting. The most common engagement rings feature yellow gold filigree embellishments both on the shank and around the diamond.

Milgrain engraving is a type of embellishment that gives the ring its vintage look, complete with minute metal balls that decorate the sides of the band as well as the crown of the ring.

Why She Will Love A Vintage Engagement Ring

Image Source: Unsplash

Antique or vintage engagement rings are eye-catching. They boast unique designs with a classic look and beautiful intricate details. A vintage engagement ring truly is a timeless piece of jewellery, something that is sure to be cherished and perhaps even passed down through future generations.

You can also personalise the vintage ring you choose for her to make sure it fits her style. In other words, vintage rings truly do stand out from the crowd.

From a fancy milgrain design to a stunning floral starburst, the options are endless. Vintage engagement rings can be found in an array of metals, too, including, white gold, yellow gold, rose gold and platinum.

What To Know When Buying The Ring

Image Source: Unsplash

Have you been thinking about buying a really old vintage ring? It will certainly make for a unique engagement ring with a very special history, but keep in mind that it can be a risky move if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

Antique rings don’t usually come with a genuine certificate from the AGS or GIA, which means you don’t have real validation of the diamond’s quality. While a seller could promise an exceptional cut, colour and clarity, they might not have any way of proving it.

What’s more, it can be difficult understanding the setting’s condition. You need to be sure the diamond is securely held in place, but you won’t know if the setting will deteriorate over time.

Finally, when it comes to the price of the ring, you may not get the best value. Consider if you’re paying just for the fact that it’s decades old, or for the actual setting and stone.

However, you can avoid all this uncertainty by purchasing vintage rings from a reputable seller like Kalmar Antiques. You’re sure to delight the love of your life.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

If you like this post then check out my post on Women’s Dress Codes to Suit all Occasions or my January Quiz

5 Top Reasons to Service Your Car

And how this will help you keep safe on the roads.

Pin5

Buffer

The weather has certainly taken a colder direction and now when I’m going out in the mornings I’m having to add an extra 10 minutes to defrost the car fully. I find it really scary when I see those cars going past who haven’t taken snow off of their roofs or back window and they can hardly see a thing. As a parent I know that when I am driving there are enough possible distractions with the kids asking for things, playing and fighting – yeah all kids do it, not just yours;) That and the little darlings needing a wee by the time I get to the end of the road mean that I need to have peace of mind that my car is not going to let me down.

It doesn’t have to mean that you have the newest car on the block, it just means that we work with what we have and keep it well looked after. One of the most important ways is having regular services. To highlight this I was contacted by Calmac Tyres in Northampton to raise awareness of how important this is. If you are lucky enough to live near them then contact them for advice and book in for a service to keep your car in tip top condition.

5 Top Reasons to Service Your Car

Prevention is better than a cure. Spotting problems before they become major issues will save you time and money.
Keeping a good value to your car. If you are thinking of selling in the future then prospective owners will be more inclined to buy a car that has evidence of being well maintained.
It’s a time for all core operating pieces to be inspected, giving you peace of mind that a qualified engineer has given it the thumbs up.
Regular servicing helps the cars efficiency. Properly cleaned filters, sufficient and correct engine oil increases the longevity of your car.
Safety for you and your family. A well checked car and tyres is going to ensure that your car doesn’t let you down.

Make sure that your garage has good reviews and is VOSA approved. Looking into the garage to find out if it meets your needs, i.e. does it have disabled access, is it child friendly, have comfort facilities etc will make it a much smoother experience.

Car servicing in Northampton like never before. Book yours from Calmac Tyres Autocentre. If you are looking for a full service or an interim service then it’s best to speak to the garage to look at the full comparison of checks for each service. Generally an interim service is carried out at 6 months or 6,000 miles and a full service at 12 months or 12,000 miles. Your interim service will check all the fluid levels, lights, brakes and bodywork whereby your full service will be a thorough check of all the mechanics of your car, plus the standard fluid levels, brakes, performance and advisory information.

What are your experiences of going to the garage? Do you have regular services for your car?

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Join 7,398 other subscribers

Collaboration post

If you like this post then try my post here; 5 tips on buying a family car.

Childcare provision made easy with Childcare.co.uk

One of the biggest decisions I’ve had to make as a mum of 2 has been finding the right childcare for my boys. There isn’t anything more daunting than putting someone else in charge of caring for your children.

As a working mum I know how much peace of mind it brings to have the right childcare in place that isn’t going to let you down. To have a one stop site to go to is amazing and shows how far childcare provision has come over the years. Over 1,800,000 people have used Childcare.co.uk to find childcare or childcare work since they launched in 2009.

childcare.co.uk make the searching easy for you.

What is Childcare.co.uk?

If you haven’t heard of Childcare.co.uk before, it is the UK’s largest online community of parents, childcare providers, household helpers, schools and private tutors. They make the task of finding the right support for you easy. The list of specialised carers is vast, you can choose from babysitters or childminders through to nursery nurses and private midwives, with a bit of everything in between.

So, what can you expect when you visit the site?

What struck me most was the large range of services you can get. I tried the search function which is where you put in what you are looking for, which for me was ‘babysitters’. Now you state within how many miles of your postcode your search can cover, then you have the filter button which for ‘babysitters’ bought up a huge list of different types of babysitters. I was so surprised that there were so many! On offer were; 24hr babysitters, male, female, hotel babysitters, babysitters with special needs experience as well as babysitters with newborn experience, the list went on and on. What this really helps with is not thinking that you have found the right person only to be told that they don’t have the specialist experience that you are looking for.

This is ideal to use if you have friends visiting too. For our wedding in May we have lots of relatives making the journey from other parts of the UK and from Germany. This service is ideal for our friends and family to enjoy our weekend wedding and make the most of travelling without any stress. Imagine being able to go to a family wedding for the day with the kids and then have a babysitter come to your hotel so that you could also have an evening out with the grown ups, it’s a win win for the whole family. I gave it a thorough testing with different requirements and it kept coming up with a wide selection and availability.

It is free to sign up for an account and to make it even more user friendly you can download the app from either the apple app store or google play. Most of my planning comes when I’m on the move and my phone is where everything gets done so an app is crucial to me.

What do you think of Childcare.co.uk? Have you used them before? What are your experiences of arranging childcare? I’d love to hear your views.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Collaboration post