Mother Distracted

Friday, 22 July 2016

New Releases, Free & Bargain Books Link-up 22 July 2016

How are you all this week? Summer has really arrived and it's been sweltering, hasn't it? Ideal weather for sitting under a shady tree with a book.

The kids are now on holiday. It's day 2 and we're surviving so far. This afternoon we are going over to our local library to sign them both up for the summer reading challenge. I'm determined to instill in them the joy of reading a book. And not a Pokemon in sight.

Here's hoping you have a good week too and find some time for a nice relaxing read.

Here are the fab books on offer this week. You're sure to find something that takes your fancy.

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!

Theatre Review: The Hunting Of The Snark at The Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

Last night Caitlin, Ieuan and I attended the press night for the Sherman Theatre's brilliant new production in association with Alice House and RGM Productions, "The Hunting of the Snark".

Commissioned and directed by Gemma Colclough, The Hunting of the Snark is a new adaptation of the Lewis Carroll poem which is a tale of adventure, bravery and, most importantly, family. 6 actors took to the intimate theatre space that the Sherman Theatre is renowned for and transported the audience to a world of incredibly odd creatures, songs, fun and outright silliness.

The Boy - Kate Spencer

In the tradition of all the best moral tales, the characters are known by their type or role - with the exception of Steve, who produced the sound track to the show with the help of a guitar and drum. There was The Bellman, The Butcher, The Baker, The Banker and his son, The Boy.

The tale links them all together and they travel to Snark Island to hunt the mystical creature which has been recently spotted after a hundred years. Do they capture it and take it back with them to sell? Is the Snark all that it seems?

An enormous discovery is certainly made by one of the characters and it changes lives for ever - but that's all I'm going to tell you.

The staging is simple but brilliantly effective. At one point the moon appeared and Ieuan gasped. The songs are witty and full of enough adult references to get the parents laughing and there is plenty of slapstick silliness for everyone.

The Butcher - Polly Smith

The show runs for approximately 75 minutes and this may be slightly too long for very little ones but it was just right for Caitlin (nearly 9) and Ieuan (7).

They loved it so much Caitlin asked to go and see the show again and Ieuan has not stopped talking about his favourite character, the hilarious Bandersnatch, ever since.

The Bandersnatch - Neal McWilliams

Given that The Hunting of the Snark was written by Carroll in 1874, the cast have done a fabulous job of bringing the poem bang up to date and creating a really memorable show.

Here's what Caitlin and Ieuan had to say.

Caitlin

"The Hunting of the Snark was awesome. I enjoyed it so much. I really enjoyed it because it had an adventure and the characters were amazing. When I danced in the Lord Mayor's Show it was scary and I thought the actors were very brave. I would really love to see the show again."

Ieuan

"My favourite part of the story was when the Butcher tried to catch the Snark. The funniest part was when the Bandersnatch turned up and did funny poses. He sang a song about himself and I also liked it when the Jub Jub bird stole the Banker's trousers".

The Hunting of the Snark runs until Saturday 30th July with tickets at £9. You can book online or telephone the box office on 0292064 6900. The Sherman Theatre is situated at Senghennydd Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4YE.

And, this Christmas The Sherman Theatre is bringing to life another classic in The Borrowers. Directed by Amy Leach (Associate Artist; Dukes Theatre, The Egg and Shakespeare Schools Festival). Their Christmas production for 3 – 6 year olds and their families sees the return of co-production partners, Theatr Iolo, in Hans Christian Anderson’s, The Emperor’s New Clothes / Dillad Newydd yr Ymerawdwr.

We can't wait!

Relationship Dilemmas - What Was I Asked In Week 29?

As you may know, I spend a lot of time responding to the questions I am asked about dating & relationships on Quora.com and I thought I'd share some of my answers with you in case you are going through anything similar.

Obviously I am not an expert but I am a 50-something married mum of two with quite a few years' experience under my belt. I take the view that, sometimes, you need to hear it like you would from your own mother - however tough the truth may be.

Here's just some of the questions I've been asked this week.

Q: Are having a soft form of pimples and being skinny unattractive traits if you’re a guy?

A: These are both things you can do something about. Why not see your doctor who may be able to give you tablets to help your acne? Otherwise, invest in some gentle skin products and be scrupulous about cleansing your skin.

Drink plenty of water and make sure you get some exercise in the fresh air every day. Don’t eat a diet consisting of too much sugar and saturated fat.

Why not try some weight training / resistance exercises at your local gym or you can buy dumbbells and an exercise DVD to train at home.

Whilst pimples and being skinny are not the most attractive traits, there is no reason why you cannot find someone who loves you for you - and that is more likely to happen if you are taking care of yourself and working on your self confidence and self esteem.

Those are the things that make men the most attractive. No point looking like a Greek God is you have the personality of a rattlesnake, is there?

Q: Should I ask her out again, the girl who rejected me six months ago but seems to be very friendly now?

I asked her out 6 months ago, but she refused and ignored me a lot. After a month my study course ended and I moved to another state. It's been 4 months now but I'm still receiving messages from her. Does it mean she has feelings for me? I have feelings for her.

A: It may be that she is just looking for some company from someone she knows finds her attractive, but it does sound as if she is interested.

When she turned you down and ignored you was she polite about it though?

If she was not kind or was rude to you I would think twice. If she just said no thanks and then ignored you for a bit it may be that she is having second thoughts but the only way to find out what is really going on is to see if you can meet up.

You can’t really gauge the state of a relationship just by text messages. Ask her out and you’ll find out quickly enough whether she is really interested or is just after a bit of attention.

Q: If you and a girl had strong feelings for each other before she started dating your best friend, is it okay to start dating her after they break up?

A: It depends on how your best friend feels about it. I should think it would cause quite a bit of awkwardness between you.

And she obviously did not feel as strongly as you did if she went off with your best friend.

If they are still happy together then doing anything to break them up would be very mean.

I presume the girl knows you still have feelings for her in which case it is for her to decide who she wants.

But if you value your friendship with your best friend, I’d suggest you find a girl who is interested in you - and not your best friend.

Q: Are relationships always an uphill struggle?

Both of us have been dealing with stress from finals and such recently but she has had a tendency to take out her frustration on me and has been spending more time with her coworker. This can be pretty hard on me at times, any insight?

A: It’s OK (and understandable) to say you have both been dealing with stress due to your finals but what is not OK is taking those frustrations out on one another.

Have you been worse than your girlfriend in this regard? It sounds so if she has been spending time with her coworker.

Now that your exams are out of the way (and I hope you both did well), why not treat her to a special date to ‘renew’ your relationship - a nice meal, flowers - a bit of romance just to say “sorry I was a pain” (even if she was too) and let’s start afresh.

If you think that the relationship with the coworker is more than just friendship, however, then you need an open discussion about where your relationship is going - and whether this is a temporary blip.
Relationships aren’t always an uphill struggle, but they do require nurturing and honest communication.

Feeling like a victim isn’t going to solve anything. Your girlfriend probably feels the same way.

Q: If I get rejected by a girl and she insists on being friends but doesn't reply to my texts what do I do?

A: I think you have to accept that she doesn’t want to go out with you but is not brave enough to tell you that - hence the age old get out of “let’s be friends”.

Your best bet is to stop texting her and see if she starts to pursue you but it does sound as if she has little intention of dating you.

Why not concentrate on girls who give you positive signs of encouragement, come out from behind your phone screen and go and meet them face to face.

That’s a much healthier way of developing relationships than playing text tag.

Q: If your boyfriend took your car without your consent, and wouldn't return it even when you asked him to, would you call the police?

A: Why did he take your car? Was it for a specific purpose or just to joyride?

How did he get the keys? Has there been some sort of understanding between you that he could borrow the car?

If there has been then I’m not sure the police would take your complaint seriously because there is an implied permission from you for him to use your car.

Now if you are saying he stole the keys and went off joyriding, that is something else entirely.

I would want to know why he did it - it sounds like an act of revenge or at least petulance. Is your car a higher performance / value car than his?

Does he have his own car? I mention this only because if, for example, you are the main breadwinner then there may be a lot of resentment built up on his side.

This sounds like the behaviour of a petulant child, albeit if he was joyriding he could have caused damage / injury.

At the very least you need a conversation with him setting out your expectations about your car and telling him what the consequences of ‘borrowing’ it again are.

To be honest I think if you are considering calling the police, this relationship is basically at an end.

Q: Does it make sense for your partner to get offended just because you don't want to share photos of your ex with them?

He told me he doesn't consider me his other half because I refused to send him photos that my ex sent to me. I did offer to send them if he promised to delete them later.

A: It depends what is in the photos. If they are not ‘inappropriate’ I can’t see why you wouldn’t want to let your current partner see them.

Surely there should be no secrets between you.

I don’t think the photos are even the issue. I think it’s because you are showing more loyalty to your ex than you are to your current partner.

Why do you need the photos to be deleted?

If my ex sent me photos I wouldn’t have any qualms about my husband seeing them - not least because I would want to reassure him that my ex is in my past.

Are you sure your ex is in yours?

Q: What does it mean if my boyfriend of 2 years have not sat down with me to talk about our future plans? Does this mean he is not interested?

A: He obviously does not feel he needs to is the short answer. I am assuming you are asking why he has not proposed?

If you are already living together, sharing a bed, sharing finances, he may not see what extra being married would bring.

If you are not living together and he is showing no signs of wanting to, then I think you need to sit HIM down and ask where you are going.

You don’t need to wait for him to take the initiative you know, especially after 2 years.

Why have you waited so long to address this? Has he made vague promises about a future together?

Have you discussed the big issues - what does he feel about marriage and children?

If you just sit there and wait for him to go down on bended knee, I suspect you are going to have a lengthy wait.

Don’t waste any more time on someone who might not want a future with you. Ask him - and soon.

Q: Why isn't this girl initiating text and why hasn't she replied for a few days?

I started texting this girl at school, quite a friendly girl who smiles at me. The first few days of texting she responded enthusiastically and quickly. However, she never once initiated out of the 2 weeks I have known her. She hasn’t replied for 3 days already. And yes, she has ‘seen’ my text.

A: You’ve only known her for 2 weeks and you are worried because she hasn’t replied to one of your texts after 3 days?

I imagine she feels you have come on much too strong and this has put her off. If she is a friendly girl, I suspect she was only being polite to begin with.

I would back off from the texting or she’s going to start finding you a nuisance.

Texting is not having a relationship. It’s playing with your phone.

Why not find a way of meeting girls face to face where you will find it much easier to gauge whether or not they are interested.

And try to be less pushy.

How would you have responded to these questions? You can find more dating advice on my problem page.

All materials included in this post are intended for informational purposes only. This post/information is not intended to and should not be used to replace medical or psychiatric advice offered by physicians or other health care providers. The author will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages arising therefrom.

Can't Get Dad-to-be To Antenatal Classes? DaddyNatal Online Has The Solution

When I was pregnant with Caitlin and Ieuan, the Husband dutifully accompanied me to antenatal classes at our local hospital.

We were lucky that Llandough Hospital is situated just up the road from us and that the Husband was able to find the time to attend.

I appreciate that lots of prospective parents may not be so lucky and I think it is easy for fathers-to-be to be left out, or rather for them to not feel part of the pregnancy until the actual birth.

I was really interested to discover that Dean Beaumont, an award-winning antenatal pioneer and author of the best-selling book ‘The Expectant Dad’s Handbook’ (published by Vermilion) has launched an online video course of antenatal classes especially for dads-to-be called DaddyNatal Online.

This unique new ten-part video-based pregnancy and parenting course is perfect for busy men who might not have time to attend all the classes or perhaps just need a bit of extra guidance and reassurance.

The ten easy-to-follow video tutorials are presented by expert Dean Beaumont and they give a road map for the journey from conception through to the challenges of looking after a newborn. Dean has a very easy, down-to-earth style of presenting which should make even the most nervous of prospective fathers feel a lot more comfortable.

The prospect of having a new baby on board can be exciting, emotional and, let's face it, pretty terrifying. but daddynatalonline.com provides a raft of useful information from what to expect at each trimester of pregnancy, do’s and don’ts, Dad’s role in labour and even tips on what to pack for the hospital. It also explores strategies for coping with worries and fears about becoming a dad along with key techniques for improving the birth and adjusting to bringing a new baby home.

Included in the course are:-

- A detailed introduction and overview followed by ten online video tutorials
- Downloadable reference sheets and quick quizzes to aid learning
- Advice on what to expect during pregnancy
- What if things don’t go quite to plan
- Packing for the hospital - top tips
- Dad's role as The Protector
- Dad's role as Advocate
- Working out birth preferences
- Insights into dad’s role during labour, and how you can improve the birth
- Bringing baby home!

As Dean Beaumont says "daddynatalonline will help you to have a positive impact on your baby’s birth so that you don’t have to feel like a spare part. You’d train for anything else in your life so why not have proper training for becoming a Dad".

My thoughts exactly.

DaddyNatal Online is available for £49 at www.daddynatalonline.com and I have course membership to give away for one lucky father-to-be (or a mum-to-be who wants to give her partner some extra reassurance).

Perhaps expectant dad Russell Brand would like to enter? And, although I suspect Mick Jagger has had quite a bit of practice, perhaps a refresher course would come in useful.

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget and the usual terms and conditions apply. UK entrants only and the giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Sunday 7th August 2016.

The prize consists of a gift-code giving the winner immediate access to the course worth £49.

Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Afternoon Tea Goes Glam Rock At The K West Hotel & Spa, London

It's National Afternoon Tea Week from Monday 8th August to Sunday 14th August 2016 and, should you be looking to indulge in the drink that refreshes, I've found something really different that might suit if you are in London.

K West Hotel & Spa in Shepherd's Bush is trading its traditional Tea Rex tea for a perfectly prepared Pimm’s jelly cup.

Formerly the BBC Building Kensington House in the 60s, an endless list of Rock ‘n’ Roll royalty has stayed, played and misbehaved at K West – Bob Marley and the Wailers, Bowie, The Kinks and Roxy Music to name a few.

The hotel has given the traditional Afternoon Tea a glam-rock makeover where guests can swap traditional hot drinks for tea-infused cocktails, and even enjoy the treat late at night like a true rock star from 10pm until midnight. Who doesn’t love cocktails and cake at midnight?

The Glam Rock Afternoon Tea is served everyday from 2pm to 6pm, with The Rock ‘n’ Cocktails Midnight Tea being served Sunday to Thursday, 10pm-12pm.

With Wimbledon fever having propelled Pimm’s to peak popularity, K West’s Afternoon Tea will feature an exclusive Pimm’s jelly cup accompanied by a marvelous mint sorbet, available throughout the week.

Priced at £24.50, The Glam Rock Afternoon Tea pays tribute to the hotel’s music heritage in a playful, fun and stylish way. The tea is served on vintage record covers, with electric blue and pink teapots and teacups, adding some glam to the rock.

A Glam Rock Prosecco Afternoon Tea is available for £31.50 and the Rock ‘n’ Cocktails Midnight Tea is priced at £36.50. This cocktail tea includes a selection of five shots of cocktails, or one cocktail each.

All of the Rock Teas will include fresh blueberry ‘rolling scones’ with clotted cream & homemade jams, as well as a selection of summer themed treats such as Summer berries panna cotta, White chocolate truffle lollies, Roasted peppers & sundried tomatoes on focaccia, Savoury sliders and Chocolate cherry apples.

The Glam Rock Afternoon Teas will be served in the contemporary Studio Bar & Kitchen, which has also been designed to reflect the hotel’s rich music heritage.

This throws down the gauntlet nicely to other hotels to come up with a quirky, celebratory and sumptuous afternoon tea. If I hear of any, you'll be the first to know.

K West Hotel & Spa is situated at Richmond Way, London W14 0AX. For reservations, please call: 020 8008 6600 or visit www.k-west.co.uk

The Hobbis Family Summer Holiday Bucket List

Caitlin and Ieuan break up from school on Wednesday and, as usual, I have managed to leave it to the last minute to compile a list of things for us to do - not that there aren't oodles of ideas from my fellow bloggers to keep us busy all year long!

How hard can keeping them occupied be?

I asked Ieuan this morning what he fancied doing (Caitlin just wants to play with Shopkins) and he gave me his best 7 year old shrug and said something which sounded suspiciously like 'iPad'.

Anyway, I have started the list with the proviso that, since the Husband and I have not become millionaires since last summer, the kids will actually have to use some brain power and do that radical 1970's thing of entertaining themselves from time to time.

This means they may even experience that character building thing called boredom but it didn't kill us, did it?And I still maintain that having to make your own fun is the best way to stimulate creativity in any age group.

Superheroes are now so last year

Practically speaking, no parent has the time, energy or money to take the kids out every single day so it's going to be a compromise between the odd day trip here and there, our week sojourn to Devon and passing the time at home without killing one another.

I love the summer holidays, don't you?!

Have kagool, will travel

Here's where I've got to so far on the list and if you can think of anything an eight and a seven year old might enjoy, please tell me in the comments below.

Biking around Cosmeston Nature Reserve and exploring the medieval village
Getting Caitlin to finally get the hang of her Heeleys
Picnic at National Trust Dyffryn Gardens
Go to the funfair at Barry Island (there's a ghost train!)
Put the paddling pool up (and kiss the lawn goodbye for yet another year!)
Eat ice creams on the pier at Penarth
Explore the beautiful Westonbirt Arboretum
Go sand-dune surfing at Merthyr Mawr
Explore our local castles at Cardiff, Caerphilly and Raglan
Walk up The Garth (and then progress to Pen-y-Fan)
Hire tricycles and cycle along the Cardiff Bay Barrage
Search for sea glass at St. Mary's Well Bay, Lavernock
Sign up for our local library reading challenge (this was Ieuan's suggestion - amazing!)
Bake bread with Taid (my dad loves impromptu cookery sessions with the kids)
Visit our local museums at Cardiff and St. Fagins
Stick a two man tent up in the garden and have a camping dummy run
Go to Bath on the train and then take a boat trip on the river
Bake a cake (with me this time). I'm OK with cakes...ish.
Visit Rest Bay at Porthcawl and the fair at Coney Beach
Play football on our local common
Go on an expedition to find Dinas Powys Castle. (Yes we have one).
Go pond dipping at Porthkerry Park (supervised by the wardens of course)
Play crazy golf in Cardiff St. David's Centre
Pick our own strawberries at Hendrewennol Fruit Farm and the Maize Maze
Hold a movie night with popcorn and hotdogs
Host a sleepover (never done this before so will have to check my nerves will hold)
Explore Llandaff Cathedral and have tea and cake at the local teashop
Visit Bristol Zoo - the location for most of my school trips
Go bouncing at Go Air trampoline park
Get the kids rock climbing at Boulders Indoor Climbing Centre
Get the kids to earn some pocket money by setting up their own restaurant and charging the Husband and I to eat
Helping with the housework (nothing wrong with learning a few lifeskills)!
Washing the car
Making jewellery - I've promised Caitlin will get some jewellery making tools and restring some of my old necklaces
Watching Harry Potter, Lord of The Rings, The Hobbit and Star Wars. Probably on repeat.
Have a games night - Junior Monopoly, Cluedo, all the old favourites
Ieuan wants his bedroom repainted so he can help his dad with that
Go skimming stones at The Knap Beach and have fish and chips on the way home
Practising our videoing skills by recording another gripping episode of Caitlin and Ieuan's "The Hulk & Puppy".
Playing hide and seek.
Oh, alright, Pokemon Go IF THE DAMN THING LOADS!!!
Visiting their Aunty Judy's new kitten, Willow.
Making home-made birthday cards with Nanny
Going to Clearwell Caves in the Forest of Dean
Taking a boat on the river at Symonds Yat
Reading some of the children's classics like Black Beauty and The Wind in the Willows
Making home-made ice lollies
Helping with the garden, collecting leaves and weeding
Vacuuming. (What do you mean it's not fun?)
Playing the piano with Taid - and me if I can remember how to sight read

So, there's quite a few things on my list already this year and I'm hoping we tick off quite a few of these. I'll buy the kids a scrapbook each so that they can record their adventures and they can make a memory box to keep any special souveniers they collect along the way.

Do you know, I'm actually quite looking forward to it.

What's on your family summer holiday bucket list?

Party planning - Unusual Entertainment Ideas That Will Get Your Guests Talking

From the venue, to the catering, to the decorations, there’s no escaping the fact that it takes a lot of forward thinking to plan the perfect party.

One of the main elements of any successful soiree is the entertainment. Unless you get it just right, your attendees could be left feeling less than impressed, so it pays to think outside the box.

To ensure that your next party goes down a storm, here are three unusual entertainment ideas that are bound to get your guests talking.

A murder mystery dinner

For entertainment with a difference, a murder mystery dinner could be perfect for your next party. When they’re done properly, murder mystery dinners can keep your guests amused and entertained for hours, acting as the focal point of the whole evening.

Over a meal, your guests will be immersed into a dramatic storyline, with the main aim of trying to work out who’s to blame for the ‘murder’.

Instead of attempting to arrange this type of entertainment yourself, it pays to enlist the help of professionals. For instance, experts the Murder Mystery Collective use West End actors to bring their plots to life

A flashmob dance troupe

To really surprise your guests, why not arrange for a flashmob dance troupe to perform? A flashmob are a group of talented dancers who will seemingly spontaneously carry out a choreographed routine, usually to loud, upbeat music, and then leave just as quickly as they appeared. The whole sequence is unexpected and exhilarating, and it’s sure to create a real buzz among your guests.

For example, if you’re hosting a large dinner or ceremony in a function room, you could arrange to have the dancers disguise themselves as waiting staff to get into position, for them to then suddenly burst into dance.

As long as your venue has a sufficient amount of space, a flashmob troupe could be ideal for your next event.

Source: Wikipedia.org

Aerial silk performers

If you’re keen to thrill your guests, you could book some aerial silk performers.

These highly skilled performers use the support of nothing but long pieces of fabrics and their own strength to carry out breathtaking stunts and routines while being suspended in the air.

Whether you arrange to have one acrobat or a group perform, aerial silk artists will undoubtedly leave your guests awestruck and impressed.

All that is required from you is that your venue has reasonably high ceilings. You can then leave it up to the act to put on a show stopping performance.

Looking beyond the party ‘norm’ is key if you want to organize an event that’s going to get your guests talking.

Body shaming film sets out to shatter stereotypes

Just occasionally, a story hits my inbox that I have to share and this one comes from Australia. The message, however, will be of interest to women everywhere and I'm sure that Taryn Brumfitt's film will be available to view here soon.

See what you think and I would love to hear your thoughts in the comment box below.

"The four-year battle of an Aussie mum to end body shaming is about to take its biggest step forward with the global release of a documentary.

Embrace is the story of South Australian mother Taryn Brumfitt and her fight to empower men and women to feel comfortable with their physical appearance.

An increasing number of people, including children, are exposed to the unrealistic and stereotypical images of the “perfect” body from magazine covers to social media sites every day.

Brumfitt said despite the way media portrayed beauty, she learned that the real problem was not her appearance – it was the psychological battle.

“It’s a financially rewarding place for companies to make people hate their body because it makes us want to run and buy their products,” she said.

“What happened for me was learning to unconditionally love my body. I told myself that my body is not an ornament it’s a vehicle and it will change. That I don’t need to conform to the narrow ideals of society, of how we should conform to this one body type to be happy.”

Brumfitt started making waves when she posted a “before” and “after” photo of herself to Facebook that went viral – catching the interest of high profile celebrities like Ashton Kutcher and Rosie O’Donnell.

The photo has now been seen by more then 100 million people worldwide.

Brumfitt decided she wanted the issue of body shaming to gain more exposure and set up a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for a documentary, which reached about AUD $331,000.

“I hated my body after I had my three children and I wanted to change. I thought that cosmetic surgery was the only option to fix what I thought was broken,” she said.

“But I didn’t want my daughter to think that she had to change her body so I decided to train and enter a body building competition to find out what it was like to have the perfect body. But to have the body that I had took too much time, sacrifice and energy. “There isn’t a potion or a lotion or a new diet to make yourself feel good so I then started speaking in halls, community centres and schools to help other women realise that. “This message is needed and I am more than happy to be that person to drive that global change.”

A Dove international study of more than 10,000 females across 13 countries found that women’s confidence in their bodies was on a steady decline.

About 69 per cent of women and 56 per cent of girls said pressure from media and advertising agencies resulted in them feeling anxious about their appearance.

Body shaming has also been a big issue with celebrities.

Jennifer Aniston this week wrote a scathing blog post about the negative attention the media had placed on her figure over the course of her career. Brumfitt said although she had encountered a lot of backlash from “internet trolls” she used the negativity as motivation to help spread the message of love. “It’s empowering to hear someone else go through something similar and it gives hope to people,” she said.

“The mission behind everything I do with the body image movement from Embrace the film to the online stuff we do, it all leads to one thing – global positive change. It’s time to say no to those who would put us down or want to tell us how to look.”

Embrace was a Sydney Film Festival finalist for best Documentary last month and will have its South Australian premiere in Adelaide this Sunday."

Source: The Lead South Australia

Win A Heavenly Chocolate Hamper From Lily O'Briens

Lily O'Brien's, the luxury Irish chocolatier, has introduced its first ever range of indulgent chocolate bars and I have been testing them on your behalf.

After extensive research among chocolate lovers, the brand found that we are nation who love to treat ourselves and so they have come up with an 80g bar which is just the perfect size to accompany the latest Netflix box set.

The flavours are a lot more adventurous which should also keep the bakers among you happy. As you know I am highly gifted in that department so I will probably just stick to eating the chocolate ....

There are 7 new unique recipes including the classic Sea Salted Caramel and Malted Chocolate Crunch, to the foodie-inspired recipes of Orange & Bergamot and Peppermint Crunch with Basil.

Each bar retails at £2.00 and I can vouch for all of them. My favourite is the Sea Salted Caramel which has just the right amount of a salty tang whilst the Husband has coveted the Dulche de Leche.

Here's how Lily O'Briens describe their new bars and it's enough to make your mouth water.

* Foodies will love the scrumptiously delicious Lily O’Brien’s Irresistibly Milk Salted Caramel. Crack the mouth-watering chocolate shell to unleash a rush of luscious, slow-cooked caramel seasoned with Himalayan salt.

* Sink into deep waves of dark chocolate rippled with silk ribbons of creamy, caramel infused white chocolate with the marbled Dulce de Leche, as beautiful as it is delicious.

* Slip into the luxurious silk of creamy milk chocolate that slowly melts into the sweetness of mellow malt crisp with the all new Malted Chocolate Crunch.

* Dissolve into intensely dark chocolate and unleash a burst of refreshing peppermint crisp with a twist of fragrant basil with the delectable Peppermint Crunch.

* Melt into intensely creamy milk chocolate and surrender to a savoury-sweet burst of golden caramel crunch scattered with Atlantic salt crystals with an outright crowd pleaser, Caramel Crunch.

* Surrender to intensely rich chocolate with a smooth velvet heart of chocolate and orange ganache infused with Italian Bergamot. The firm foodie favourite Orange & Bergamot Ganache is available in Delectably Dark or Irresistibly Milk Chocolate.

Three of the new Lily O'Brien's premium bars recipes (Salted Caramel / Caramel Crunch / Malted Chocolate Crunch) are available exclusively from Asda stores in the UK, while the entire range can be ordered online at www.lilyobriens.com

You can find out more by following them on Facebook or Twitter

I have a fabulous hamper of Lily O'Brien's new chocolate bars to give away to one lucky winner.

The prize includes 4 x 80g bars (Dulce De Leche, Orange & Bergamot Ganache Milk, Peppermint Crunch, Malted Chocolate Crunch), 1 x Peppermint pouch, 1 x Cocoa Cookie Crunch pouch, 1 x Stem Ginger Batons, 1 x Zesty Orange Chocolate, 1 x Crispy Hearts, 1 x Sticky Toffee box – 12 choc and 1 x Ultimate Chocolate Collection – 14 chocolates.

The fabulous prize

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget below and the giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Sunday 7th August. UK entrants only. Terms and conditions apply. Please see my Competitions page.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How are you all this week? We're well and truly into the countdown for the school summer holidays now and, of course, it's still raining. Kagools at the ready then.

I hope to unearth one of my many picnic baskets (yes I know, it's a strange thing to collect) and head off with the kids to one of our local beauty spots like Dyffryn House, near Wenvoe or our nearest nature reserve, Cosmeston in Penarth. But picnics aren't quite the same in the rain are they?

Perhaps we'll do the very British thing of sitting in a car clutching a thermos and a tomato sarnie instead.

Here's hoping you have a good week too and find some time for a nice relaxing read.

Here are the fab books on offer this week. You're sure to find something that takes your fancy.

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!

Relationship Dilemmas - What Was I Asked In Week 28?

She wants to start the relationship in a new way, but I am more focused on my career right now than starting a new relationship. I am afraid to start everything from the beginning again, when I talk about a breakup, she starts crying which makes me feel bad, what should I do?

A: You have to stand firm and be honest. She may well cry but you are being unkind to give her false hope if you feel that your relationship has run its course.

Are you sure though that wanting to focus on your career is the real reason you’d rather break up? Is it possibly the case that now the ‘chase’ is over you have lost interest?

Whatever it is, you are doing this girl no favours by keeping her dangling. Tell her it’s over quickly and kindly so that she can start to heal and move on as soon as possible.

Q: How do I text a guy I like but he doesn't know me?

A: You don’t. You get to know him a little first to see if he is interested in you and would like to be in contact.

Texting guys you don’t know is a little ‘stalker-ish’, don’t you think?

It’s probably an old fashioned sentiment these days but I still believe guys like to do the chasing so if I were you, I’d concentrate on how to get him to ask for YOUR number.

Q: What can I do to a car to get back at my lying boyfriend?

A: Nothing. Because if you do, not only will he have got away with lying but he will have pushed you into embarrassing yourself and committing a criminal act.

Haven’t you heard the expression “revenge is a dish best served cold”?

Glam up, go out and show him you don’t need him - that’s the true revenge.

Q: Do you think my boyfriend will forgive me for barely kissing someone else when black out drunk?

A: If he’s not completely turned off by the fact that you were that drunk, possibly. Whether you were ‘barely’ kissing someone else or not, you are putting yourself at risk from something far worse than the odd kiss by being that drunk.

But, most of us have drunk too much, whether intentionally or not at one point in our lives so, as long as it’s not a regular thing for you, I’d make a joke of it and make sure it doesn’t happen again.

If your boyfriend won’t forgive you you’ll just have to take it on the chin - but remember that I’ll bet he’s no angel either.

Q: Due to our vastly different upbringings and experiences, my significant other is losing faith in our relationship. What can I say to comfort him?

A: Our differences are what makes our relationship a learning experience for me — which I take as an opportunity to grow. My boyfriend, however, feels that I struggle to see the world through his eyes and am insensitive to what’s going on in America recently within the black community (I’m also black).

We all show our emotions in different ways and just because you don’t show yours in the same way as your boyfriend does not mean you are insensitive. Despite the fact that you say you have vastly different upbringings and experiences, I believe that, at heart, most human experience is the same - it’s not so much what we think, but what we feel - that’s what holds us all together - particularly at times of terrible events such as those experienced in the US recently.

It is our human capacity to love and reach out that matters. I would tell your boyfriend that you process emotion in your own way and that part of being in a relationship is giving each other space to experience emotion in your individual ways. You don’t deserve his censure and neither does he deserve yours.

Why not focus on the emotions that brought you together and how you feel together as a couple.

Ultimately, you can think the same things, hold the same opinions but if there’s no feeling, all you have is a friendship. You are not a cookie-cutter version of your boyfriend, you are a unique individual and you should celebrate your individuality and encourage your boyfriend to value that too.

That’s the way to help your relationship grow and endure.

I hope that helps.

Q: How long does it take for a friendship to grow into a relationship between a guy and a girl?

A: It very much depends if there was a spark there to start with and the reason why the couple became friends.

Shared interests and a sense of humour may not be instant relationship starters but they are the bedrock upon which a relationship will endure, but you have to have the sexual attraction there too.

It’s quite easy to tell if a relationship is going to turn into something more because the couple will want to spend every waking moment together. They will not be able to stop touching one another, however, innocently.

They will talk about each other to their friends and family when they are not together.

They will, as the saying goes, only have eyes for each other.

Shared companionship and feeling comfortable with each other is great and for some, it’s enough, but when you’re younger, I think it’s natural to want the full romantic relationship.

I think deep down we all know where our relationships are going - and it’s sometimes hard to admit that they may not be ‘the one’.

And if we’re not sure, our closest friends are usually able to tell us the truth with uncanny accuracy.

3 Cosmetic Dental Treatments You Need To Know About

If you’re not completely satisfied with your smile, you may find that you lack confidence. So instead of being held back by your teeth, why not do something about it?

To get you up to speed on what’s available, here are three cosmetic dental treatments you need to know about.

1. Veneers

Whether your teeth are crooked, discoloured or you have a gap that you’re unhappy with, you could consider getting dental veneers. Veneers are made from layers of porcelain and act as new facings for your teeth.

To ensure the veneers look natural and fit you properly, your teeth are filed back so that the artificial facing can be placed on top. After the treatment, you will be left with a sparkling smile you’ll be proud of.

Since this is quite an in depth procedure to have, it’s important that you choose a trusted dentist that’s located near to you. The good news is, there are a number of private practices you can visit, so whether you’re looking for veneers in Manchester, Birmingham, London or elsewhere, you shouldn’t struggle to find the right one for you.

2. Implants

An alternative option to removable dentures, dental implants are artificial teeth that offer a fixed, permanent way for you to enjoy a full smile.

This treatment is especially useful for those who may have a mouth that can no longer support dentures, and it can be used to replace anything from a single tooth to several teeth.

When dental implants are fitted, metal screws made from titanium are drilled directly into the jaw bone to hold the replacement tooth in place. The implants are tailored to fit your mouth properly, and once it’s done, you should be left with a full set of pearly whites to enjoy.

3. Teeth whitening

It’s no secret that what we put into our mouth can take it’s toll on the colour of our teeth, especially drinks such as tea, coffee and red wine. Smoking can also make your teeth look discoloured and stained.

A stunning, white smile is something a lot of people are desperate to attain. The good news is, teeth whitening can help you achieve just that.

This procedure involves having your teeth bleached to make them appear lighter and it’s a treatment that should always be carried out by a regulated dentist. Teeth whitening is not a one off procedure - your dentist will give you a special bleaching gel and mouthguard to use at home for a specified period of time.

Having your teeth whitened by a dentist may cost more than using an off-the-shelf kit from a pharmacy or supermarket, but it's a much safer approach.

With so many different dental treatments available, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy a full, beautiful smile.

*collaborative post

New Release....
Alex Troutt Thriller, Book #4
AT Dawn

FBI Special Agent Alex Troutt returns in a twisting, heart-pounding thriller.

Three flashes of light illuminate a dark sky. An unspeakable evil devours its prey.

The shimmering view of the sun-drenched ocean can often be nothing more than a mirage. For Alex Troutt, a trip back home for a much-needed summer vacation proves only one thing: greed rules. But how it takes root could destroy her world.

Fueled by the lust of power and money, the shadow of death envelopes her seaside hometown, including those closest to Alex. But as disconnected investigations converge into one focal point, Alex will stop at nothing to blow the entire crime ring straight to hell—even if she has to make the ultimate sacrifice…her life.

Available to buy from.....

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

"Alex Troutt is quickly becoming one of my favorite fictional characters. I love how she's constantly having to balance her family life and her job, even though her job is continually threatening to take over." - Sonya N

"I simply love every single one of John Mefford's novels. They keep you on the edge of your seat reading late into the night." - Michele B

"Intrigue and attempts at revenge for long held grudges – the twists and turns keeps your adrenalin pumping." - Tracy C
above reviews from the Alex Trout Series

Also available in the series...

My Review

Once again, John Mefford has crafted a superbly intense thriller with one of my new favourite characters, ballsy female FBI agent Alex Troutt.

Despite the fact that she is taking a well earned beach vacation with her kids, Alex finds herself, her family and her closest friend embroiled in drive by shootings and the nefarious activities of a drugs cartel.

Then there's the missing son of a rich couple who has vanished after a night of wild partying and hasn't been seen since.

At the centre of the story is Alex's relationship with her father who, although he now seems to be on the up-and-up, appears to have got himself into a situation which is putting lives at risk.

The strands of the story are cleverly interwoven and in this 4th book, you get to know the members of Alex' family even better. Then there are characters from the previous Alex Troutt thrillers, her crack investigative team back in Boston, including the hunky Brad, and the hilarious Archie whose hair is as funny as his priceless one-liners.

Without giving anything away, At Dawn will keep you truly gripped all night and you wonder if Alex and her family will escape their latest escapade unscathed.

Mefford's Alex Troutt is a great, believable female lead who wrestles with the very common dilemma of balancing her working life with the challenges of being a mother. Luckily, in my own experience, there are far less bullets.

Highly recommended.

About the Author

A veteran of the corporate wars, former journalist, and true studier of human and social behavior, best-selling author John W. Mefford has been writing novels since he first entered the work force twenty-five years ago, although he never put words on paper until late 2009.

John writes novels full of intrigue, suspense, and thrills, but they also evoke an emotional connection with the characters.

When he’s not writing, he chases three kids around, slaves away in the yard, reads, takes in as many sports as time allows, watches all sorts of movies, and continues to make mental notes of people and societies across the land.

John lives in Frisco, Texas with his beautiful wife, three opinionated kids, and a feisty fat cat who rules the world.

"Pop on over to my Website, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ Goodreads and Amazon Author Page"

OTHER BOOKS FROM JOHN W MEFFORD

Follow the book tour

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY

Win AT Dawn by John W Mefford ebook
4 Winners!!
Ending on Thursday 11th August at 11.59pm CST

Open Worldwide

Enter HERE

Good Luck !!

Mother Distracted

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