myrealfairy Archives - Page 2 of 9

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”.

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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.

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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.

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What To Know About Vintage Engagement Rings

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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

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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

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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.

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

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.

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Women’s Dress Codes To Suit All Occasions

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We have allexperienced receiving an invitation that tells us what the dress code is, yetfor some people, that is of little help. If you are always wondering whether ornot you can wear your favourite outfit to an event, here is a detailed look atwomen’s dress codes.

Dressy Casual – This allowsyou to wear basically what you like, as long as it looks like it belongs onyou, and with your choice of jewellery and accessories, you have the freedom toexpress your personality.

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Smart Casual – A step above dressy casual,this dress code would be suitable for the office party or a business lunch,where you can wear a pencil skirt or dress pants, with a smart top and finishthe look with a pair of high heel shoes. The word “smart” means those tornjeans and sneakers will have to wait until another day, yet as it is casual,you should always feel comfortable.

Business Casual – The standard code for offices,business casual refers to any outfit that you would wear to work in an office environment. Trouserswith a blouse and a touch of jewellery is always a safe bet, but avoid anythingtoo flashy.

Country Club Casual – The type of outfit that you wouldnormally wear to a country club would include a simple blouse, smart fittedpants or a tennis shirt, and, of course a knee length (or longer) skirt. Lightcolours and lightweight fabrics are the order of the day, along withcomfortable footwear that is suitable for outdoors. For a more detaileddescription of the dress codes, there are related articles on the subject thatyou can find online.

Dressy Resort – This dress code is all about wearing asuitable outfit for the occasion, and it is normally reserved for summerweddings or outdoor social events. A flowing maxi skirt with a bright andflowery pattern is ideal, or you could opt for a flashy jumpsuit, with minimaljewellery and some flat shoes that are comfortable, or sandals if you are onthe beach.

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Cocktail Attire – For a great example of cocktailattire, check out the 2019 Sherri Hill prom dresses you can get from Peaches Boutique, a leading designer dress online boutique. They only stock the very bestnames and once you have found the ideal cocktail dress, a secure online paymentsees the garment dispatched to your home address.

Black Tie – A floor length ball gown with all the trimmings is the order of theday. You might get away with a dressy cocktail gown, depending upon the venue,and this is a time to wear your most expensive jewellery.

White Tie – For a woman, this means a full-length gown with opera length gloves andvery flashy jewellery, while wearing your hair in an up style. This is the mostformal of all the dress codes, so be prepared to dress up to the nines, andlast year’s prom dress might be fine, but ask a good friend for her opinionfirst, just to be on the safe side.

The above information should help you to select the right outfit. The main thing is you feeling happy in what you wear, confidence comes from within.

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This post is published in partnership with Mediabuzzer.

If you like this post then head over these great posts: How to pick the right Prom Dress, An Introduction to Cherry Crumble Fashion and Is Yoga right for me?

Dating with Style Plus Dinner on us!

Today I have for you the chance to win a 6 month membership to Old Style Dating and a whopping £50 voucher to dine out when you go on your first date! What a way to start on your path to love.

How refreshing it is to find a dating site which focuses on old style respect and manners, you won’t find one night stands here but instead people looking for a meaningful relationship.

So much emphasis seems to be put on people flashing everything they have and leaving nothing to the imagination that you could easily think that the good old days of dating and finding out what really makes someone tick has just gone out of the window.

This is where Old Style Dating has come to save the day. The founder Dennie has created a wonderful place to go to find that special someone. Dennie is passionate about promoting real dating for people looking for respect, manners and commitment, with some old style romance thrown in.

How would you like the chance to win a free 6 months membership which gives you complete access to the whole site? This could be the start of something wonderful and a great way to see in the 2019. Valentine’s day is just around the corner and you could be joining someone special to celebrate this day of love!

Competition Time…

Enter here for your chance to win a 6 Month Full Membership to Old Style Dating. Plus £50.00 Dinner Voucher for your first date!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and let me know how you get on and if I should start looking for a new hat!

Terms and Conditions: £50 Dinner Vouchers for your first date through Old Style Dating. 6 Months Membership issued to the winner of this rafflecopter competition. Prize to be used in line with Old Style Dating website terms and condition. £50 Dinner voucher to be issued for the first date when this occurs. No substitute prize given. Verification of entries by myrealfairy.com Verification for £50 Dinner voucher by oldstyledating.co.uk

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Thank You Christmas

Christmas – come on then we are here!

We’ve been waiting 12 whole months for you to re-appear

To shower us with festive cheer

To bring those from afar to near.

So how about it dear old Christmas

Can you make us all get on

Make the little ones giggle with the fun

I bet you can you bearded one.

Thank you christmas for visiting us

For giving reason for all this fuss

It brings us close for it’s you we discuss

Whether you come by sleigh, star or bus.

Thank you Christmas for making me think

To appreciate my loves with a wink

You really are more than just a day

You’re a hug, a boost and to you I say Hooray!

If you enjoyed this poem for you, tweet to share for a view or two xxxClick To Tweet

If you like christmas, pop along to my christmas message and see what I think too!

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Linking with Christmas Corner

Easy Rocky Road Recipe

I’m going to open with a bold statement today…..this Rocky Road is the best one I’ve tasted! Oh yes our house went into chocolate meltdown when we tried these the morning after I made them.

There are plenty of ways to make this and we gave a couple of them a try before hitting the jackpot with this. So in good myrealfairy tradition, this Easy Rocky Road recipe is the one to share with you.

What you will need is:

300g Milk chocolate

75g Butter

2 tablespoons Golden Syrup

1 cup Marshmallows

1 cup Maltesers

What you need to do is:

Break up the chocolate into pieces so that it melts easier.

Place the butter and chocolate into a saucepan and put on a low heat. This recipe is all about being gentle with the heating, don’t rush it.

Add the 2 tablespoons of golden syrup and stir in while still on the low heat.

As soon as this has all melted together, remove from the heat. Crush the maltesers so that they hold some chunks to them and are not totally bashed to crumbs. Now eat a couple of the maltesers that haven’t been crushed – originally there were many more than shown in this picture, they are too tempting not to eat a few while making this. Go on treat yourself to the cook’s perks:)

Fold in the marshmallows and maltesers to the chocolate mixture. Put into a foil tin or baking tray which has sides to it so that you can get that Rocky Road look to it by having it around 1 inch (2.5cm) high.

Leave in the fridge overnight. In the morning turn out onto a chopping board and cut into cubes. Sprinkle with some icing sugar if you fancy. Product test by having at least a square to yourself with a cuppa before popping into bags if giving as gifts. I suggest leaving in the fridge until needed to keep firm and crunchy.

Let your friends see how easy Rocky Road can be....Click To Tweet

I’d love to hear how you get on with this recipe, let me know in the comments. Have fun with it and you can print below.

5 from 1 vote

Easy Rocky Road

Prep Time

10 mins

Easy Rocky Road recipe for all occasions. You can print here to take into the kitchen and leave the laptop in a safe place!

Course: Sweet Treat

Servings: 8

Author: www.myrealfairy.com

Ingredients

300 g Milk Chocolate or Dark Chocolate if you wish.
75 g Butter
2 tbsp Golden Syrup
1 cup Marshmallows
1 cup Maltesers
A Sprinkle Icing Sugar Optional

Instructions

Break up the chocolate into pieces so that it melts easier.
Place the butter and chocolate into a saucepan and put on a low heat. This recipe is all about being gentle with the heating, don’t rush it.
Add the 2 tablespoons of golden syrup and stir in while still on the low heat.
As soon as this has all melted together, remove from the heat. Crush the maltesers so that they hold some chunks to them and are not totally bashed to crumbs. Now eat a couple of the maltesers that haven’t been crushed – Go on treat yourself to the cook’s perks!
Fold in the marshmallows and maltesers to the chocolate mixture. Put into a foil tin or baking tray which has sides to it so that you can get that Rocky Road look to it by having it around 1 inch (2.5cm) high.
Leave in the fridge overnight. In the morning turn out onto a chopping board and cut into cubes. Sprinkle with some icing sugar if you fancy.

If you like chocolate recipes then you must try my Ultimate Chocolate Brownies too!

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Go Ape for Christmas!

The myrealfairy Christmas countdown continues here with an adventure for all the family.

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Your ticket to adventure – Why gift things when you can gift memories?

With vouchers from just £10 if you’re looking for a unique secret Santa present to impress employees or a thrill-seeker package for all the family, Go Ape has got it covered. Go on. They’ll love you for it.

Go Ape are firm believers that outdoor experiences make people happy. Whether it’s zipping through the tree tops, whizzing along the forest floor, or bouncing on our super springy bounce nets – at Go Ape there’s an adventure for everyone.

With 33 locations to choose from in the UK, your loved ones are in for one memorable experience.

The locations are so impressive, our local Go Ape is deep in the forest. When we have been on walks in the local area we have all looked up in awe at the tree top obstacles swaying above us. Being able to gift this experience at christmas is great and I can’t wait to see the look on my boys faces.

If you are wondering where your nearest Go Ape location is you can quickly find the nearest or furthest (if you are really looking to maximise the adventure!) one for you is right here.

Have fun with your tribe and have one more Christmas pressie wrapped up and ready to knock the socks off your chosen one.

Let me know how it goes and also if you have been to Go Ape before, share your experience in the comments section.

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Christmas Gift Guide Part 2 – Work Wonderland with Giveaway

Continuing on my Christmas countdown where I am looking at new and unusual gifts for you to try I am so pleased to bring you this gift idea.

Running around after my family and juggling the normal demands of being a mum means that sometimes it feels that there are never enough hours in the day. Well here you have an inspiring way in which to buy that ideal present without any worry. I’m sure that you know people or indeed are the person who wants to get out of what they are doing with their day-to-day job but have no idea on how to make the change. We all need guidance on how to focus on what steps we need to take and Alison has found a way to help people make a clear plan with her unique way of supporting people towards their ideal goal.

Work Wonderland

Why not gift someone, or yourself, a new career direction?

Work Wonderland is an online coaching course and web application that helps you identify your ideal career in the context of your ideal life and develop a plan to achieve it.

It’s proven to work for people of any age seeking a career change or
second career, return-to-work mums, graduates who want to identify a
career path, and students choosing course options.

Why not gift someone, or yourself, a new career direction?

The course has 14 simple exercises to complete and at the end, you’ll have a clear picture of the right direction and some concrete steps to make it happen. What better way to help someone on their way to making their dream become real and supporting their aim to have a fulfilling career.

I’m delighted to tell you that we also have a full course for you to win today. This prize is amazing and is a real treat to be able to share with you. You can see how to enter further along in the post.

Work Wonderland comes in a branded presentation gift box that includes:

A welcome card personally signed by Alison explaining what Work Wonderland is and how it works.
A beautiful gift card encased in velvet covered foam.
The gift card holds a unique serial number and information on how to receive Work Wonderland joining instructions

You can keep updated and see more of Alison on Twitter: @LiveTrueCoach and Instagram: livetruecoach

The Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Full t&c’s for my giveaways on my contact page.

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Testimonials for Work Wonderland

Over the past year, Alison has helped me to challenge and overcome the real and perceived barriers to my career development. Her practical and personalised advice has been pivotal in helping me to get on the right track and secure a new opportunity to further my career. I continue to find Alison’s support really valuable and thoroughly recommend her to anyone looking to develop or change their career. Chris White

For anyone who is a little lost in life, get ready because you are about to realise what makes you happy and I say this with zero exaggeration – your life is about to get infinitely better.

I was at a complete loss with my career path, doubted my own abilities and even doubted my capability to make a decision that would be right for me. Alison helped me realise that I had my own unique strengths and values that until now, I hadn’t even really acknowledged on a conscious level. Uncovering these really helped bring them to the forefront of my mind. I found that I could make decisions with more confidence.

Work Wonderland

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