How To Talk To Your Kids About The Risks From Cigarettes, Vaping & Marijuana

You might be a smoker, you may or may not support the legalization of marijuana, but you will never want your kids being involved with any of these things.

With the new trend of e-cigs and related vaping products becoming increasingly popular among teenagers and the ongoing debate on the topic of legalization of weed, a lot of parents find themselves on a shaky ground during an argument about their usage.

To make things worse, you find a lot of celebrities posting their pictures using such products and it leaves you with a question, “Will we be able to raise our kids without them being addicted to any drug or related smoking product?”

The answer is “Yes” but it always pays to have a plan.

You don’t want to sound uncool or strict while dealing with such scenarios.  As parents we know that both of these approaches can be counter-productive.

Below are some of the things that you can do to make your children aware of the pressures placed upon them by the marketing campaigns of regular and electronic cigarette manufacturers, as well as the risks both short, and long-term of marijuana use.

Regular Tobacco Cigarettes

• Tell your kids about the dangers of smoking by showing them the health-related statistics and pictures of the complications that smoking cause. Once they will realize that the consequences aren’t as cool as the act, they will hopefully decide to stay away from smoking by themselves.

 • Explain how addictive nicotine is and how hard it is to get out of its addiction. Your kids should know the physical signs of nicotine addiction and how bad it is for them.

• Make your kids aware of various marketing gimmicks - for example even if a cigarette is menthol or any other flavored, it’s still just as bad for your health as a regular one.

Electronic Cigarettes

• Tell your kids about the latest research on e-cigs and vaporizers that indicate that these vaping products contain carcinogenic chemicals like formaldehyde.  A spokesman at Simply E liquid advised that they are only permitted to sell to the over 18's and that if they are suspicious of any orders then they will contact the buyer to verify their age.

• Tell your kids about the harmful effects of vaping on growing bodies.

• Tell them about the nicotine addiction they can get by using vaporizers and electronic cigarettes.

• Ask your doctor to tell your kids about the various health hazards related to vaping and usage of other related e-cig products.

• Explain to your kids how e-cig sites use celebrities for the sake of their product’s advertisement and make these products look harmless and eco-friendly as compared to regular cigarettes.

Marijuana

• On contrast to the popular belief, teenagers still tend to listen to their parents and look up to them for guidance. You can guide your kids about the importance of a good character, better judgment, and how the promise of a successful future is compromised by an addiction.

• Explain the side-effects of marijuana addiction and how it affects a developing brain.

• In scenarios, where the kids do not respond to a restriction very well, asking them to wait until they’re old enough, and their body and brain has developed, can help you delay this situation as long as possible.

• Look for the factors that influence teenagers to develop a habit like this. Make sure that your kid is not dealing with any social or education-related stress or he/she is not facing any emotional instability.

• No one, especially kids these days, like being tricked or made a fool of. Explain the advertisement strategies of companies and how they tend to use the name of famous celebrities like Bob Marley or Willie Nelson to boost up their marketing campaign for their own benefit.

Smoking is never an easy subject to address but the sooner you do so and the better armed you are with the right information about the dangers to their health, the better chance you stand of stopping these habits in their tracks.

And of course, if you are a smoker yourself and don't want your kids to pick up your bad habits, this may be a very good time to cut back and eventually quit altogether.

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Parenting Solo - What I've Learned When The Husband's Away

Although he has the luxury of 'working from home', the Husband spends most of his weeks travelling which leaves me to hold the fort and parent solo.

There's never a dull moment

Now I am not claiming that my experience is anywhere near that of a single parent but my time alone with the kids has given me an insight into the trials and tribulations we parents face when the role of good cop and bad cop falls to us for days on end.

In the early days, I used to feel very anxious at being left alone and I still hate locking up at night. Houses tend to make all sorts of funny noises when they cool down and I am such a scaredy-cat that I hate passing uncurtained windows just in case someone is lurking.

Of course I can't pass on any of this anxiety to the kids!

Here's what I've discovered.

Kids will gang up on you

My two have worked out how to wind me up with all the subtlety of MI5 in order to avoid i) eating unnecessary vegetables and ii) getting into bed before I have spent 30 minutes pacing the floorboards while they clean one tooth at a time.

The logical extension of this is that the kids will then start to parent you, viz, "Mum, you're really grumpy so we think you should go to bed the same time as us tonight".

No matter how many toilets there are in the house, the kids will fight over one.

They will also synchronise bladders to precisely 5 minutes before bedtime, even though they otherwise have the bladder capacity of camels.

There will never be any toilet roll left.  The cardboard tube will be rolling round the floor and new toilet rolls will have to be unearthed from the cupboard under the stairs using a torch and several choice expletives.

You will not find out that the toilet roll has run out until 11:59 pm.

There will be something very urgent to be communicated as soon as you go downstairs last thing at night.

For example, whether Caitlin can go to the beach to collect sea glass or if Ieuan can buy his 27th light-sabre.

Your attempts to cook will be futile

Firstly you'll be so knackered from the constant negotiation to get them to school and back, plus homework and the usual after school activities that you won't feel like it.

If you do cook anything it won't be as good as dad's and you may just as well resign yourself to pizza, spag bol and something inventive with fish fingers.

My lovely Hedgehog Potato

Any household appliance about to burn out or break down will do so.

Our boiler likes to cut out from time to time ensuring a short, sharp icy shower.  It never does this when I am bathing the kids, but saves it for me.

If the kids are going to be ill,  it'll be now

You know that tremor you feel in your gut when you hear 60% of your kid's classmates have gone down with the latest plague?  That suspicion that you're next on the list?  It usually happens when the husband's away.  Best get the bucket and Dettol out just in case.

And if the kids aren't ill, it'll be you

In which case don't bother because languishing in your bed waving a lace hanky around and demanding smelling salts won't get you anywhere.  The best you can hope for is gnawing a chunk of yesterday's pizza slumped in front of Power Rangers in your dressing gown whilst the kids moan about your cooking.

In any case you will have run out of Calpol

I swear the stuff evaporates.  We do, however, have a cutlery drawer containing 25 Calpol syringes.  I should throw them out but they may come in, you know, useful at some point.  For feeding baby hamsters or something.

You won't get to talk to your other half on the phone

When the Husband phones, I either have to physically remove the phone from the kids whilst they run through their day minute by minute, or the poor sod gets little more than a grunt from them because they are lost in Sims or Lego games.

He does little better with me because I am, by this stage, cross at being left alone whilst he,  in my eyes, is living it up in 5 star luxury in a place which never runs out of toilet roll and has things like a mini bar and staff.

You talk to yourself

I do this anyway but in the absence of any other adult conversation I find I can have very interesting two way conversations about business, politics, literature - all sorts of things.

When it becomes a three way conversation I know I'm getting a bit stressed.

You need your mum and your mates

It's great to have someone to turn to when it all gets too much and, for stay-at-home mums like me, I have made some great friends on Facebook.  There's also the wisdom of other parenting bloggers too. We're all going through the same things and sharing our experiences.

You might indulge in a bit of 'whingeing'

Having given up work and despite being lucky enough to be a stay-at-home mum, there are times when I hanker after the freedom that comes with leaving for a job every morning and having someone left behind to carry the load.

I don't doubt that the Husband works very hard but sometimes I think we mums just wish we could hit the off switch for a bit and give our brains a rest from all that fretting and mothering!

You count your blessings.

You know it's not actually so bad and you do discover you can cope with more than you thought.  You do get an insight into what it might be like to be a full time single parent.  I have written before that single parents have nothing but my absolute admiration.

It makes you appreciate your partner a lot more, although it does shine a light on your individual parenting styles.  The Husband always says I am not consistent in my approach which is often true - but when there's one of you, you don't always want to be the bad cop, do you?

I do think there is what I can the "superstar daddy syndrome" - where the partner comes home and the kids react as if David Beckham has just walked in.  You are suddenly invisible.  That mad woman chewing pizza in her dressing gown moaning about the lack of toilet roll.

This usually lasts about 24 hours - or until the Husband lays down the law about vegetable eating or cleaning teeth in under 15 minutes.

Then,  happily, balance is restored.  Mummy is rightfully restored to her place as all round nurturer and the nice one who soothes brows and knows where the Calpol syringes are.

It's very easy to get quite competitive for the kids attention, isn't it?

There's nothing like one partner working away and the other holding the fort to throw a torch light on a relationship and your parenting styles.

Being older, the Husband and I are quite traditional in our approach and we have a system that works for us but you may find that time spent parenting on your own for a bit throws up all sorts of issues that need an honest discussion and possibly a renegotiation of responsibilities.

Do you have to parent solo from time to time?

Make sure you've got enough toilet roll and pizza.

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Tips For Travelling By Car Safely This Summer

Now that the half term holiday is approaching and many of us are about to hit the UK roads and motorways, it's worth thinking about how we can keep ourselves, and our children, safe whilst we drive.

We all know that our cars must have a current MOT and be adequately insured.  Even though we no longer need to display a tax disc, the Police are able to track untaxed vehicles on the road.

Fuel, oil and water levels need to be topped up before we set off and our tyres checked and inflated to the correct pressure.

It's best to top your fuel up before you hit the motorway to avoid any price hikes on fuel which frequently seem to hit the unorganised driver.

And it is a good idea to carry a well stocked first aid kit in the boot, as well as some bottled water and some (non-meltable) snacks.

Is your breakdown cover up to date and do you have the relevant contact numbers already entered in your phone in case you get stranded on the M25?

Travelling with little ones means we need to make sure we are up to speed with the rules and regulations about child car seats and ensure everyone is wearing their seat-belt.

If your kids suffer from car sickness, it's also worth taking a bowl, cloths and some soapy water, plus a change (or two!) of clothes for them.  You can bet that the day you don't have these things is the day you'll need them.

Before you go, check your SatNav is in good working order and is charged.  We recently found that ours wouldn't charge in-car and the dulcet tones of Stephen Fry cut out at a critical moment going round a roundabout.  Taking a good old-fashioned OS Map is a good back-up.

Make sure that you drive within the National Speed Limit for the road you are on - not only with this keep your licence point free but it will help you keep your petrol consumption down.

And, if you have had a lot to drink the night before, remember that you may still be over the limit the next morning.  Some prescription medications may also leave you drowsy and nowhere near as alert as you need to be.

Tiredness kills so make sure that you have regular, scheduled breaks, particularly when travelling with little ones, for toilet breaks, food and, in my case, coffee!  You might want to pack sandwiches though because the cost of feeding a family at the UK motorway service stations is often high.

It's also useful to carry a picnic rug or blanket to sit on, or for the kids to snooze under.

You'll want to take a selection of CDs for the kids.  Some kids are able to play on iPads and read in the back of the car but we've found this increases the risk of travel sickness.  Luckily we've finally outgrown the CBeebies classics so we don't sail down to Devon to the dulcet tones of Mr Tumble any more.

If you find driving a bit of a nerve-wracking experience, insurer LV recently published an excellent guide entitled "12 Road Safety Tips To Help You Feel more confident On The Road" which will help you to avoid looking like Matt LeBlanc driving round the Cenotaph.

For example, Chris Gilbert, a former Metropolitan Police driving inspector who taught Princes William and Harry to drive advises us to "drive more consciously" so that we anticipate situations rather than react.

I don't know about you but it can be tricky to drive consciously when you have two kids arguing in the back, the SatNav cuts out and the Husband is trying to give you conflicting directions.

But we should be as alert as we can to what is going on around us, rather than faffing about changing radio stations or trying to unearth the last Werther's Original from the glove compartment because Ieuan hates mints.

Another excellent piece of advice is to make sure there is an adequate gap between you and the car in front.

The advice is that you should keep at least a two-second gap between yourself and the car in front. You can count it from a road sign as the car ahead passes it.

Tailgating is probably one of the biggest annoyances experienced by drivers and I have found that women driving their kids seem to attract more than their fair share of tailgaters for some reason.

Other regularly mentioned annoyances from other motorists include:-

- leaving rear fog lights on when there's no fog and it's just raining

- those who drive everywhere with their lights on full beam and dazzle approaching drivers at night

- or drivers who don't put them on when it's dark and tipping down with rain

- drivers who abruptly change lanes at the last possible moment at motorway exits - sometimes leaving it too late and crossing the hatched area

- drivers who drive while using a hand-held mobile phone - incredibly this is still a frequent sight, as is drivers trying to text with one hand on the wheel.

What tips would you add to my list?  And what really irks you when you're on the road?

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Review: It's Time To Make A Stand4socks - Socks That Make A Difference

Father's Day is approaching (Sunday 19 June) and one of the most popular presents to give your dad is some new socks.

Like my socks?

Now socks are a bit of a battleground in this house, not least because the Husband and I have very similar sized feet and this makes his sock drawer fair game.  Men's socks are so much more comfy I find.

All the Husband's socks are black with varying patterns.  (He's a man of habit).  He claims, outrageously, that I deliberately mismatch his socks as an act of marital defiance.

The thing is, matching 20 pairs of black socks in a dimly lit room wearing the wrong glasses is likely to create the odd, um,interesting pairing.

Dressing in the morning in the various London hotels he hides in all week means playing what he terms as "sock roulette".

Anyway,  I recently discovered a brand of socks which should solve my sock myopia nicely - and a brand, moreover, that has charity at its heart.

Stand4socks sells unique socks designed by entrepreneur Josh Turner.  Each pair is ethically made and creates a connection between two people in the world, as each sale has a 'buy one, give one' impact.

This means that when you buy a pair of socks, instead of giving a pair of socks or a percentage of the purchase to charity, the company gives a measurable, tangible aid in the form of education, food or medicine.

Not only this, but the company also raises funds and gives away nearly 20% of its revenue, not profit, to the charities they support.

Stand4socks is committed to tackling social causes and supports the United Nations Millennium Development Goals

Each sock design supports and raises awareness of a different cause such as Gender Equality, Measles Vaccinations, Clearing Landmines or the Syrian Refugee Crisis.

The socks have the cause's logo on the ankles and are ethically made in two sizes UK 4-8 and UK 9-12.  They have a high quality finish with a reinforced heel and toe and are made of 80% cotton, 18% polyamide and 2% elastane.

Here are some examples of what buying a pair of Stand4socks can do.

1 pair of Stand4socks can

- plant 20 trees
- vaccinate 6 kids against measles in Bangladesh
- provide 25 days education in Afghanistan
- provide 2 antenatal check ups in Uganda
- clear 2 metres of landmines in Laos
- provide entrepreneurship education in South America
- pay for a child's healthcare in Uganda
- provide 2 weeks education to a Syrian refugee
- provide 24 hours in a safe house for a woman and her family in Ethiopia

The socks are priced differently according to the cause they are linked to.

I was sent a pair of socks designed to raise awareness of Child Health Issues which are priced at £6.99.

Time To Stand4socks

This design helps support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3, "Good Health" through one pair of socks paying for a child's healthcare in a Ugandan unique children's hospital Stand4socks supports.

More than half of the Ugandan population is under the age of 15, and dying children are turned away for parents without any money. This is why the brand supports (Stand4) Whisper’s Magical Children’s Hospital in Jinja, Uganda.

Isn't that a wonderful idea?

Does it make a tangible difference?  Well, in December 2015 as an example, Stand4socks planted 2500 trees, vaccinated 228 children and provided 252 days of education of Syrian refugees.

This is what Stand4socks helped to do in December 2015

This Fathers' Day, if you're buying dad socks why not buy him some which do good as well as keep his feet warm.

And they're so brightly coloured I don't think there's any danger of the Husband having to play sock roulette.

I may even actually buy a few pairs of my own.

You can find more information and select your socks at www.Stand4socks.com.

*I was sent a pair of Stand4socks to review - and they're staying in my sock drawer.

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New Releases, Free & Bargain Books Link-up 13 May 2016

It's Friday 13th and if, like me, you're a bit superstitious, the safest thing to do is to stay in tonight and curl up with a good book!  You'll find plenty to choose from on this week's linky.

If you're working hard to tone up with your beach holiday, check out my latest review of Lisa Consiglio Ryan's great guide to all year round detoxing - "Go Clean, Sexy You".  You might have to hide the biscuits though.

Here's the fab books on offer this week.

Sharing the Love of Books
Enjoy our selection of New Releases / Free & Bargain Books this week

Click HERE for this week's awesome selection.

Authors please feel free to add your own books
Readers please free to add your own finds
(any genre except erotica welcome)

This weekly link up is hosted by Beck Valley Books & these awesome book loving blogs...
Monday
 Life as Leels | IrishdaisylovesRomance | Book Babble | All Romance Reader
Tuesday
It's My Side of Life | Celticlady's Reviews | First Time Mommy Adventures | Bound 2 Escape
Wednesday
Beck Valley Books | A Library of Reviews | Cinnamon Hollow Reviews
Thursday
Miki's Hope | Taking Time for Mommy | Nicki's Nook
Friday
Ebook Addicts | I Love Romance | A Bit Bookish | Mother Distracted | Colorimetry
Saturday
Totally Addicted to Reading | 3 Partners in Shopping | Angie's Angle | I Creat Purty Thangs | Wishful Endings
Sunday
Lynchburg Mama | LibriAmoriMiei | Ali - The Dragon Slayer | Wondermom Wannabe | My Bizzy World |  Deal Sharing Aunt 

For Pre-orders post - PRE-ORDER / genre / title /author

For New Releases post - NEW / genre / title / author

For Free Books post - FREE / genre / title / author / end date 

For Bargain Books post - SALE / price / genre / title / author / end date
(Strictly no Erotica please.  Steamy romance is fine but watch those covers people, incase any underage child is viewing it!)

Click HERE for this week's awesome selection.

And don't forget you can always add some of your own!

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Plant Based Sensitive Skin Treatments From BodyVerde & Giveaway

Back in 2008, Sue Donnellan's husband, a jet pilot in the military, complained that where water was in short supply, shaving was not easy, quick and painless.

As a result, a product called Speed Shave was formulated and extensively tested to offer a ground-breaking waterless shave and BodyVerde was formed.

Over the last 10 years, BodyVerde, an American natural skincare company has offered a range of products based on naturally derived botanicals and renewable resources.  The products are designed to care for your skin without causing harm to the environment and there are no parabens, propylene glycol, mineral oil, petroleum, artificial colours or any of the other common chemical nasties.

The brand has now launched the range in the UK with 5 of the bestsellers initially.

Speed Shave (£13.30, 236ml) – a revolutionary new series of unisex waterless shaving products that protect and hydrate the skin while you shave without the need to lather or rinse.

Speed Shave To Go (£12) – A portable razor with Speed Shave lotion in the handle so you can shave without water absolutely anywhere.

Spot On (£14.95, 15ml) – Everyone suffers from the occasional breakout. Spot On uses nutrient-rich kaolin clay to blitz those spots while you sleep.

Pore Tight (£16.50, 15ml) – This lightweight serum rich in vitamin E, berry fruit and marine plant extracts, makes a fabulous primer, all the while working to make your pores less visible.

Miracle Skin Renew (£14.95, 15ml) – The ultimate multi-tasker! Made from 16 of nature's most skin-friendly and healing plant oils, Miracle Skin Renew Serum is nature’s ‘Medicine Chest in a Bottle’ designed to repair any damage from cuts and grazes to sunburn and stretch marks.

I was sent a bottle of Miracle Skin Renew to try and it is proving very useful indeed.  I've tried it on flaky patches of skin on my face, dry skin on the backs of my hands and on other assorted nicks and scratches I seem to acquire whenever I am let loose in the kitchen.

It's a light, easily absorbed oil and you only need a few drops.  It does have a light fragrance but it is a natural, pleasant smell.

It's made from a blend of 16 essential plant oils - Sea Buckthorn, Soybean, Sesame, Jojoba, Coconut, Grape Seed, Meadowfoam, Borage, Rosehip, Casot Bean, Andiroba, Shea, Avocado, Squalane, Wheat Germ and Hempseed.

Because there are no additives it is safe to use on the kids.  You can use it on burns, sunburns, wrinkles and even chapped lips. You only need a couple of drops so the bottle will last a long time.

It's easy to carry in your make-up bag and to take on holiday with you.

Giveaway

I have one BodyVerde Miracle Skin Renew (£14.95) and one Speed Shave Lotion (£13.50) to give away to one lucky winner.

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget below.  UK entrants only and the usual terms and conditions apply.  The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 10th June 2016.

For more information on BodyVerde, please visit www.body-verde.com Available from independent health stores, Amazon and www.body-verde.com

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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One Of The Worst Things About Depression For A Parent

Acres of words have been written about depression and what I am about to write will be no earth shattering insight into this dreadful disease for those of you who already suffer its blight.

But I am prompted to write this post following the recent news of the death of writer and columnist Sally Brampton who took her own life this week after many years spent fighting her depression.

I find myself greatly saddened and unsettled by the news.

Sally's book "Shoot The Damn Dog" received much praise for the candour and accuracy of the description of her battle with the disease.

She wrote, with great poignancy, "‘Killing oneself is, anyway, a misnomer. We don’t kill ourselves. We are simply defeated by the long, hard struggle to stay alive.’

I have a mild form of depression which, at its worst, sucks the joy out of existence and turns everything grey.

For those of us suffering this burden, nothing gives any pleasure.  It doesn't matter how much we have or how many gratitude lists we write but at some essential level we just cannot 'connect'.

Trapped in our own heads, we can only watch with a sort of helplessness as life carries on around, and inspite of, us.

Proof, as though we needed it, that in our heads we don't matter.

We feel like puppets whose strings have been cut, only able to twitch but not quite move.

The worst thing, for a parent suffering from depression, is that we cannot receive love.  And we cannot seem to find the impetus to show it either - even when we know that those around us are crying out for acknowledgement, a smile, a glimpse into our soul to say "it will be alright".

Somehow we need to explain to our children that our emotional deadlock does not mean we don't love them.

This is one of our greatest challenges.

Today I imagine that any of us suffering from this curse and having read this news will be feeling a little more down.  If Sally couldn't make it after fighting so hard, can we find the strength to carry on?

We know we must.

But we also know that getting to the point where we want to, the lights go back on and the carousel starts to whirl again to the sound of music, well, that may be a very long journey.

If you are living with a sufferer then please keep an extra special eye on them today.

If help is needed you can call the Samaritans on 116123, visit a local Samaritans branch or go to www.samaritans.org.

You can find a list of alternative helplines here.

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Birthday Gift Ideas Your Son Will Love

Buying for a boy can be harder than girls. There just seems to be more choice out there for girls. From princess themed things to everything pink. While you shouldn’t gender stereotype there doesn’t to be much out there for boys. Especially older boys. So I thought it would be a good idea to share with you some ideas for a birthday gift that your son will love.

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Vouchers 

It may seem like a boring present to some. But vouchers can come from all different companies these days. You could stick with a clothing store or shop voucher. Which would go down well with an older boy, allowing them to pick some new clothes. Or you could go down a different voucher route. Things like experience days or Paintball Vouchers would go down well. Paintballing is something that can be a lot of fun for a group of people to take part, so that it could be part of a birthday party as well. Experience days offer all kinds of options from driving a race car to a hot air balloon ride. There will be something to appeal to your son.

Sports lessons 

Maybe your son has shown an interest in taking up a new hobby. Perhaps something like boxing or football. Maybe even street dancing or hockey. Whatever it may be you could buy a block amount of lessons so that they can try it out. They may fall in love it and it could be a new lease of life for them.

New clothes 

If you know your son’s style then why not pick out some new clothes for them. Again it may be perceived as a boring present, but everyone needs clothes. You might want to indulge them a little and buy something designer. If that is their thing of course.

Games console 

A lot of boys these days like to play online on a games console, so if your son needs a new one, then a birthday is a perfect occasion to get one sorted. Some boys tend to play online with their friends from school.

Games for a games console 

If they already have the latest games console, then some new games will always go down well. There is always some new release available.

DVD’s 

If your son is a bit of a movie buff then why not get them some new DVD’s to enjoy. You may even want to go one step further and get them a DVD player for their bedroom. As much as you will want to spend time with them, it would be nice for them to have somewhere to watch their films and enjoy them in peace.

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The latest gadget 

Finally, you could consider the latest gadget to hit the market. That may be the newest phone, an iPod, some fitness device that tracks their steps. It could be anything. There is always something new and exciting to on the market, and some boys can’t get enough of the new technology.  It depends on your budget, of course.

I hope this guide helps you buy a birthday gift for your son.

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Nail Polish Hacks From Diet Coke + Essie

Until 24 May Diet Coke and essie have teamed up to give Boots shoppers the chance to pick up a 500ml bottle of Diet Coke and an essie nail polish in one of three shades - Cocktail Bling, Fiji or Fishnet Stockings at the special price of £5.99 (standard price £9.39).

If you fancy being a little more experimental with your mani, Diet Coke and essie have come up with some quirky and fun ways to jazz up your nails.

Embrace texture

Some of the textured nail looks need a super steady hand, but you can achieve a sophisticated textured look with one tool you’d never dream of: your Diet Coke bottle lid.

Simply apply a base level of polish and let it touch dry. Then lightly brush another polish into the ridges on the side of the bottle lid. Once you have done this, it’s time to get creative. You can create track marks by pressing down on the nail (try creating a track mark down the middle of your nail) or rolling the lid across the nail.

Go ombre

If you’re a fan of ombre hair, try the trend out on your nails. All you need is two of your fave polish shades and a Diet Coke bottle label. Here they've used essie’s Fiji shade as a base.

Let it touch dry for about 3 minutes, then roll up the bottle label into a tight tube and paint the Cocktail Bling polish onto the top of the tube. Then blot starting at the tip of the nail. Give the tip more heavy coverage and then blot lightly up to the middle of the nail to create the ombre effect.

Freeze-dry your mani

Nail polish dries more quickly in cool temperatures and you can freeze-dry your polish in place in just 5 minutes. Before painting your nails, fill a bowl with ice cold water (ice cubes included). Once you’ve painted your nails, let them air dry for 2 minutes before submerging them in the icy water for 3 minutes. Voila, your nails will be ready for their next outing.

Easy + fun nail art ALERT!

Use a kirby grip to make perfect dots on your nails. Here they’ve used essie nail polish in Fishnet Stockings – the bold shade contrasts nicely against the pale essie nail polish in Fiji to give real impact.

These essie polishes are available on promotion at Boots now (buy a 500ml Diet Coke + essie polish for £5.99 while stocks last).

Smooth finish 

Just as the great taste of Diet Coke is best enjoyed ice cold, nail polish also performs best in the fridge. For your polish to go on smoothly every time, keep it in the fridge or even pop it in for 15 minutes before application.

Diet Coke + essie would love to see photos of you trying out our Diet Coke + essie nail polish hacks using your 500ml Diet Coke bottle and the essie nail polishes.

Share the photos with @DietCokeGB on Twitter & Instagram, use the hashtag #DietCokebeautybreak and they'll send a ‘Like’ your way.

Offer starts 27.04.16 and ends 24.05.16 or while stocks last, participating Boots stores only, age 13+. Terms & conditions apply: http://CokeURL.com/o erterms © 2016 The Coca Cola Company. DIET COKE is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company

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Win A Good Clean Summer With Astonish Cleaners

I have to confess that I am new to the Astonish range of cleaning products but came across a forum thread on Mumsnet the other day where I found that at least one of their products is a best kept secret with a myriad of uses.

Given that you can be guaranteed eye-watering levels of honesty on any Mumsnet discussion board, I read on to discover that mums were using Astonish Oven & Cookware Cleaning Paste on grimy light switches, furniture scrapes, burned pans and patio furniture.

I was intrigued and wanted to try some Astonish Products for myself and I was kindly sent a selection to test.

I have to report that the Mumsnet ladies are correct.  The Oven & Cookware Cleaning Paste cuts quickly through grease whilst the Window & Glass Cleaner brings glass up to a lovely shine. The Daily Shower Cleaner can be just sprayed on and left and has a nice fresh fragrance.  (You rinse it off before getting in the shower).

I will be giving the other products a thorough road test .  I don't like to do too much cleaning in one go because it gives the Husband ideas - although sunlight is a real nuisance for showing up dust, isn't it?

If you would like to win a fabulous selection of Astonish cleaners to try for yourself, just read on.

This year, Astonish are encouraging us to have a "good, clean summer" because, as they point out, whilst we all love the taste, sights and sounds of summer – we don’t love the stains and grime that comes from enjoying the sunshine and making the most of the great outdoors!

They have given me a fabulous Good Clean Summer Pack to give away to one lucky winner which will leave their home and clothes as bright as the sunshine.

You can have good clean fun with Astonish’s Oxy Plus Stain Remover, a stain remover that will tackle soiled laundry and get rid of any nasty reminders from your fun filled days.

To get your garden furniture all white and as good as new with the Astonish Oven & Cookware Paste and also blitz that barbecue with Grease Lifter tablets.

There’s also the Stain Remover Target Spray, Fabric Refresher and Clean and Protect Hand wash included in the pack.

What’s more, Astonish will also restock your everyday cleaning essentials – helping you to give your home a quick, daily clean. The essentials include the Daily Shower Cleaner, 4 in 1 Disinfectant Spray, Window and Glass Cleaner, All in 1 Dishwasher Tablets and Fresh Sea Mist Floor Cleaner.

Your good clean summer pack, which will be packaged in a convenient cleaning caddy, contains products that are Vegetarian Society Approved and registered with Cruelty Free International and the Vegan Society.

For more details about Astonish and its range of British manufactured cleaning products please visit www.astonishcleaners.co.uk or www.facebook.com/astonishcleaners

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget below. UK entrants only. The usual terms and conditions apply and the giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 3rd June.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck.

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Beck Valley Book Tour: Go Clean, Sexy You By Lisa Consiglio Ryan

Amazon best-seller is now in a second print run, Go Clean, Sexy You not only serves up a collection of delicious recipes, but offers a holistic approach on how to live a healthier life—putting whole foods into your body, detoxing every season to regularly cleanse your system, associating with those who fuel you not bring you down, and managing stress with activities that bring you back to balance.


A certified health and nutrition coach, author Lisa Consiglio Ryan provides straightforward guidance on how to overcome the obstacles that keep you from losing those last ten pounds, make you feel exhausted every afternoon, and compel you to indulge in unhealthy habits. Spending years struggling with a growing arsenal of health-destroying conditions that ranged from fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, candida and rosacea to cystitis and tons of allergies, Lisa decided to turn to nutrition and lifestyle to reclaim her health. Then pursuing her education with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, she turned her personal quest into her vocation with the launch of Whole Health Designs.

As a nationally acclaimed wellness expert, Lisa has worked with thousands in her detox programs. Her approach incorporates easy-to-adopt eating habits, free from counting calories and fat grams. As you navigate through the seasons with Lisa’s whole food–based detox plans, you’ll be tapping into your body’s wisdom, forming sustainable habits, and developing loving, respectful relationship with your body. Not only will you feel better, you’ll look better too!

Available to buy from...

Amazon.com   Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble   iBooks   Kobo

"Go Clean, Sexy You is the ultimate guide in how to balance and detox your body with easy-to-follow meal plans that are filled with delicious and nourishing whole food recipes." ―Debbie Adler, award-winning author of Sweet Debbie's Organic Treats: Allergy-free & Vegan Recipes from the Famous Los Angeles Bakery 

 “Lisa’s ‘make-it-work for you’ approach to detoxing empowers readers to love their clean, sexy bodies from the inside out.” ―Cynthia Sassi, Founder of FabulousArizona.com

"Go Clean, Sexy You is a must-read for anyone wanting to live healthy, feel their best, and love what they cook and eat. The recipes in Lisa's cookbook are simple, yet full of tasty ingredients that are both healthy and satisfying." ―Melissa Mayer, Editorial Assistant for Style Within Reach

About the author

Lisa Consiglio Ryan is the author of the cookbook, Go Clean, Sexy You. She is also the founder of Whole Health Designs, juicy clean living advocate and mama of two. She loves her yoga practice, running, and has a mission to spread the word, "Food is love." She provides detox programs and private coaching for women who desire to embrace clean living.


As a nationally acclaimed Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Lisa has worked with thousands in her Renewal 10 Day Detox programs. Her work has been featured in Fitness Magazine, TinyBuddha, Elephant Journal, Kris Carr's Crazy Sexy Life , The Daily Meal, Fox News and Mind Body Green. You can also check out Lisa's membership program, Clean + Sexy (year-long detox + community), Eat Clean 21- 21 days of gluten-free meal plans for plant lovers, and Juice Shop.

Find the author on the following sites...

Website   Facebook   Twitter   Google+   Pinterest   Goodreads   Amazon Author Page

Join Lisa's Newsletter & Grab your FREE 12 Step Reboot Your Body Guide 

complete with menu plan, recipes and shopping list! HERE

I WROTE THIS BOOK FOR YOU BECAUSE… 

 I know first-hand how it feels to be overwhelmed with all the diets, quick fix plans out there in the world. 

 I obsessed about my weight, and wrote endless to-do lists. I counted calories and carbs, took all kinds of vitamins, and worked out until I nearly keeled over. All the while, I dreamed of the day I’d be lean and fit and full of energy and confidence – the day I’d finally feel like I was “good enough”.

 Nothing worked though. I’d start off well, and then a few weeks later, I’d go straight back to my old ways. Each time I dieted, it made me feel more and more exhausted, depressed and out of shape, as I beat myself up for not having the willpower to make it work. 

 And even though I was trying so hard to be healthier, the reality was that I was getting sicker. I had chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, rosacea, chronic cystitis, candida, thyroid issues and IBS… all before I was 30! I didn’t want to take meds, so I tried holistic therapies, got certified in holistic nutrition and my world changed. 

I developed my own detox programs that I based on anti-inflammatory foods (fruits, veggies, and dark leafy greens), and started limiting inflammatory foods (dairy, gluten, caffeine, alcohol and processed sugar). 

 And for the first time in life, I started to see the results I’d dreamed of. I lost weight, felt lean and light, and had pep in my step. But best of all, I started feeling at ease around food. Instead of looking for quick fixes and diet programs, I started listening to my body, and letting it tell me what it needed.

 For years, I used food as an enemy and after stepping back and truly listening to my body, I am now free of letting bad habits and twisted views of food run my life. I want you to experience the same freedom… and I’m here to guide you every step of the way with Go Clean, Sexy You. 

 Plus I want you to feel AMAZING! 

Based on the results of the thousands of women (and super cool dudes) AND my own experience, here’s what you can expect: 

• all-day energy that starts the moment you wake up and doesn’t quit 
•  the best sleep of your life: deep, blissful, uninterrupted rest the whole night long 
•  clothes that look – and feel – better on you than they have done in years 
•  a 4-10 pound weight loss (on average); could be more depending on your specific body and lifestyle 
•  a happier gut: bloating and bowel problems become a thing of the past 
•  no more cravings: the longing for sugar, caffeine and all the other nasties disappears 
•  a clearer mind: that frustrating brain fog melts away, and you can finally focus again 
•  increased sex drive (oh yeah!) 
•  a radiant, natural beauty emerges: you’re suddenly awash in compliments about your clear, dewy skin; bright sparkling eyes; and soft, shiny hair 
•  better immunity: getting rid of the toxins takes a load off your immune system, so you’re less likely to catch any of the bugs going around 
•  renewed confidence in yourself: you can’t even remember when you last felt this sexy, vibrant and alive 

 AND being a part of something bigger than just recipes… a movement where we stand up for our health and truly tap into our bodies wisdom so that our loved ones can join us and be healthy too.

A Recipe to try!

Chilled Tomato Soup 

serves 1 

Ingredients: 

3 tomatoes 

1 cup coconut milk 

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 

¼ cup chopped yellow onion 

¼ cup chopped red bell pepper 

1 tablespoon lime juice 

½ teaspoon cumin 

In a blender or food processor, puree all ingredients until smooth. Chill in fridge for 15 minutes. 

Serve.

MY REVIEW

I don't know what it is but there's something about the word "detox" that I find quite unsettling but in this book, Lisa gently encourages us to focus on the benefits our bodies will experience whilst not being too harsh a task master on ourselves.

It's great to read a detox book which takes into account that fact that we humans do tend to have the odd (well, frequent!) lapse and give up.  Lisa urges us to put it behind us and carry on.

The seasonal selections of detox recipes are easy to make and don't contain ingredients which cost a small fortune to buy.  

Basically Lisa gives you the tools and encouragement but as usual, it's up to you.  I think you really have to be in the right frame of mind to consider a detox, as Lisa clearly was due to her health issues when she began her journey.

Even if you don't do the full detox, the recipes are healthy and tasty and could easily be added to your family repertoire of seasonal dishes.  

If you're looking for a 'no muss, no fuss' detox book then I'd recommend taking a look at this one.

Follow the book tour

I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY !!

SIGNED Book Giveaway to five lucky winners!
Ending on Sunday 15th May at 11.59pm EST

Open US/CA

Enter Below & Good Luck !!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Want Some BBQ Advice From A Michelin Star Chef?

After the glorious weekend weather we've just had, the time is nigh to dust off the barbecue in preparation for (hopefully) lots of alfresco dining in the sunshine.

We all know the risks of undercooked chicken and 'black and white' sausages (burned on the outside and completely raw on the inside!), but it's very easy to throw caution to the wind after a beer or two and forget our food hygiene basics.

There's nothing like a barbecue when the weather's warm

Here are some helpful reminders from Michelin Star Chef Steve Smith who runs the Bohemia Restaurant at The Club Hotel & Spa in Jersey.

Since Bohemia is the only restaurant in the Channel Islands to be listed in The Sunday Times Top 100 Restaurants and is ranked at number 49, I think it's worth paying attention.

Avoid Disasters

It may seem obvious but if you want to avoid any disasters then you need to make sure the BBQ is lit properly and is not in the proximity of anything that is potentially flammable!

Heat the Meat 

Make sure that any poultry or pork items are thoroughly cooked to avoid food poisoning. To know if you have the right temperature to cook with you just need to wait for the flames to die down, and check the colour of the coals. They should glow red underneath and be white on the top or you can buy BBQ thermometers from any good BBQ retailer.

Michelin Star Chef Steve Smith @Bohemia Restaurant, Jersey

Safety First

Generally any type of fish, lamb or beef are the safest items to cook for those concerned about becoming ill at a BBQ, as they are low risk meats. You can cook them rare, medium, well done or as you would normally. Also you should always use separate utensils for cooking and serving.

Don’t Take Risks

Any pork and chicken items are the highest risk food generally cooked on the BBQ and you need to check that they are thoroughly cooked. Also make sure they are consumed immediately. If you leave them outside on a nice day for more than 30 minutes you are running a risk of giving someone food poisoning! Also try not to serve any form of rice salad, as it will likely spend the entire day sat out in warm conditions.

Impress Your Guests

BBQs are not just about meat, any type of vegetable kebabs are great! Be bold and use vegetables such as onions, peppers, aubergines, and kholarbi.

Best to have a fire extinguisher on stand-by

Don’t Leave Leftovers

Many people think that leftovers can be used the following day. This is generally a no no. Cook only what you need for the BBQ or you will just have to eat it all!

How many of these no-no's have you done?  I'm guilty of at least two!

From a general safety point of view, remember that children, pets and barbecues don't mix and make sure you keep your babies, furry or otherwise well away from anything hot.

Let's hope for another sunny weekend and if you do light the barbecue, make sure you stay safe.

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Take Your Toast To The Tropics With My Buko Organic Coconut Jam Giveaway

The humble coconut has been catapaulted into stardom recently thanks to its health-giving properties and lovely taste.

Now there is a new way to enjoy the benefits in coconut jam.

Buko Organic Coconut Jams

Buko have made the UK's first organic coconut jam which is a naturally sweet alternative to other spreads and jams.  Vegan friendly, gluten free and non GMO, the jams contain a blend of vitamins, minerals and amino acids, including Inositol, the 'feel-good' Vitamin B8.

All Buko's coconuts come from organic, GMO free farms in the Philippines. (Buko actually means
a young green coconut in Filipino) and their coconuts are Fair Trade and are grown without pesticides or fertilizers.

Buko is also registered with the Soil Association and the company has teamed up with Cuipo, a lifestyle brand dedicated to preserving prime rainforest around the globe so that for every jar of the jam sold a square meter of rainforest is saved.

You can even enter a code found on the side of each jar on their website to find out where the piece of rainforest you have saved is.

The jam comes in 3 flavours, Original, Sea Salt and Chocolate and, having tested all three, I can tell you they are delicious.

The Original Jam tastes like a velvety caramel.  The Sea Salt Jam has a lovely salty, toffee-like taste and you'd be hard pressed to tell the Chocolate Jam apart from Nutella, save for the coconutty taste of course.

Scrummy Sea Salt Coconut Jam

These jams are an ideal alternative to the usual jams and are great spread on toast to give the kids an after school snack with a difference.  They can also be used in baking or in smoothies or, my personal favourite, dolloped on top of some ice cream.

A full set of Buko Coconut Jams retails at £15.75 and I have 3 sets to give away to 3 lucky winners.

Just enter via the Rafflecopter.  UK entrants only and terms and conditions apply.  The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Tuesday 31st May 2016.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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New Releases, Free & Bargain Books Link-up 6 May 2016

It's Friday already - the weeks are flying by.  Apparently it's going to be hotter than Ibiza in the UK this weekend so if you will be hitting the beach or your local park, you can find plenty to read on this week's link-up.

Here's the fab books on offer this week.

Sharing the Love of Books
Enjoy our selection of New Releases / Free & Bargain Books this week

Click HERE for this week's awesome selection.

Authors please feel free to add your own books
Readers please free to add your own finds
(any genre except erotica welcome)

This weekly link up is hosted by Beck Valley Books & these awesome book loving blogs...
Monday
 Life as Leels | IrishdaisylovesRomance | Book Babble | All Romance Reader
Tuesday
It's My Side of Life | Celticlady's Reviews | First Time Mommy Adventures | Bound 2 Escape
Wednesday
Beck Valley Books | A Library of Reviews | Cinnamon Hollow Reviews
Thursday
Miki's Hope | Taking Time for Mommy | Nicki's Nook
Friday
Ebook Addicts | I Love Romance | A Bit Bookish | Mother Distracted | Colorimetry
Saturday
Totally Addicted to Reading | 3 Partners in Shopping | Angie's Angle | I Creat Purty Thangs | Wishful Endings
Sunday
Lynchburg Mama | LibriAmoriMiei | Ali - The Dragon Slayer | Wondermom Wannabe | My Bizzy World |  Deal Sharing Aunt 

For Pre-orders post - PRE-ORDER / genre / title /author

For New Releases post - NEW / genre / title / author

For Free Books post - FREE / genre / title / author / end date 

For Bargain Books post - SALE / price / genre / title / author / end date
(Strictly no Erotica please.  Steamy romance is fine but watch those covers people, incase any underage child is viewing it!)

Click HERE for this week's awesome selection.

And don't forget you can always add some of your own!

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Top Tips on Choosing a Vintage Engagement Ring

So you’re set on proposing to your special someone. The plan is all in your head, the flowers, the date, the flash dance. Everything! Whatever it is, you’re ready to make your commitment official. Now all that’s left to do is buy that diamond engagement ring. The best part of it all is that you already know your partner adores vintage rings. Half the struggle of the engagement ring selection process is already done when you know what style your partner wants. You only need to choose the best looking one and you’re good to go.

Image by Bill Young via Flickr

Few of us are experts at shopping for vintage engagement rings so here are some tips you may find useful.

You can start by looking at vintage and certified diamond rings in the UK from Serendipity Diamonds. Not only do they have a great selection, but they also have a wonderful customer service that make your shopping experience much easier.

Check the durability 

The ring may be vintage but there’s no excuse for it to break after just a few years of wearing. Check the durability of the engagement ring. It should hold just as well as modern rings. The great news is that most vintage engagement rings are made with sturdy materials. This was back when mass produced rings weren’t popular yet and artisans actually took the time to craft jewellery. Quality materials were used to build handmade rings back then.

The setting should not be loose 

Some vintage rings, because they are old, can have loose stones in them. Check if the ring’s stones are firmly held together by the setting. If not, you can have it re-set at the jeweller so it holds tight as if it’s brand new again.

A return policy is a must

If you’re buying the vintage engagement ring online, checking the return policy is a must. You never know when you need to return the ring. It could be because your special someone may want to get it replaced or it’s not what you thought it would be like in person. Whatever it may be, a good return policy is always needed in case you need to return the ring.

All the 4 Cs are estimated

Because vintage rings are already intact, you most likely won’t be able to get a true valuation for your ring. Most jewellers won’t be willing to disassemble a vintage ring simply because you want to know the clarity. Instead, you will be given an estimate of the cut, clarity, and colour of the ring.

We recommend that you begin narrowing down your choices at reputable jewellery shops known for providing accurate valuation for their rings. This helps take off the worry of whether the price you are being asked to pay is reasonable.

Consider the metal used in the wedding band

Vintage engagement rings often stand on their own which means it may be a challenge to find a band with a metal that will go best with your vintage engagement ring. If you appreciate the beauty of hers and hers wedding rings and plan to get one for your partner, you can wear it on the hand that doesn’t have the vintage engagement ring on it. It keeps the integrity of the vintage engagement ring without neglecting the wedding band which symbolises the union of your love.

Those are just some of the things to keep in mind when shopping for vintage engagement rings. I hope these tips help. And if things come to worst and your partner doesn’t like your choice, remember that return policy!

What other tips do you have for choosing a vintage engagement ring? Let me know in the comments!

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