Do You Have What It Takes To Become A Landlord?

So, you’re thinking of becoming a landlord. It isn’t easy. You might think that all you need to do is get a buy to let mortgage and you can start seeing that extra income in your account each month, but that isn’t the case. If you want to become a landlord, a lot more thought needs to go into it. Here are some tips you can use and valuable advice:

Choose a Reliable Company to Help You

A reliable company will always make your experience as a landlord that much easier. It’s up to you whether you want to do this or not; you might not think it’s necessary when you only have one property to handle. While this is true, you need to bear in mind that it’ll be up to you to handle emergency calls in the dead of the night. If you find a reliable company to help you, they’ll sort any issues out as fast as possible and all you need to do is pay. They can help you with lots of different things, so it’s a case of discussing your needs and setting something up that suits your budget.

Don’t Assume Your Property Will Always Be Occupied

So, you think the money is just going to keep rolling in every month? That’s highly unlikely. There will be times your property is not occupied, whether that’s for a few weeks or a few months. You should have money in reserve in preparation for this, so you don’t end up left in the lurch. It all depends on how long it takes to get somebody living there again - a company could help you with that too.

Ensure Your Property Meets the Standards Expected and is Safe

You can’t just rent out any old property. If you’re going to do this legally, you need to make sure your property meets the standards expected and that it’s safe for the occupants. If not, you could get in big trouble. You’ll need to arrange for it to be checked over as often as required and make the repairs necessary. You may need to arrange something small like communal dish installation, or something more complicated like an appliance replacement. Whatever it is, you need to make sure it gets done in a timely fashion.  

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Go Out of Your Way to Be a Good Landlord

Not only do you need to be a good landlord by following the rules and making sure everything is legit; you need to make sure you’re a good landlord to your tenants. Keep them informed on things they need to know about, wish them a merry christmas. Buy them some wine when they move in. When they like you, they’ll be more likely to respect your property and give you lots of notice if they decide to move out. You should get your rent on time too!

So, do you still think you have what it takes to become a landlord? It can be a lucrative opportunity but only if you do it right!

*PR collaboration

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Some Great Gift Ideas For The Men In Your Life

Whether the man in your life's birthday is approaching, or you want to buy Christmas gifts for your male relations early, here are some gift ideas to help you out.

Pro BBQ Tools
Most men love preparing food on a barbecue, so why not buy them the professional tools to make the job easier? There are all kinds of interesting barbecue tools, from skewers to tenderisers. It doesn’t matter that winter is approaching. The tools will be in use as soon as the winter is over, and the first signs of spring are in the air! They’re pretty cheap to buy at this time of the year too, so you can find yourself a bargain that your husband will love. What’s not to like about that?

A Personalised Dock

There are loads of great docks that are used to play music or store your phone. They help to keep your phone or iPod safe, and you don’t have to rush around the house in the morning trying to look for it. But don’t buy a boring, generic dock, you can buy a personalised one instead. There are lots of different types of personalised wooden gifts that you can buy if you don’t want to buy a dock. You could buy them a personalised chopping board if they like to cook a lot. Or you could buy a knife rack.

A Leather Wallet

Every man needs a strong leather wallet to keep their cash and cards in. If they haven’t replaced their old wallet for years, it might be a good idea for you to buy them a new one. It’s something that is useful and stylish - if you pick the right one that is. When looking for a gift for someone who’s hard to buy for, choosing something that will offer them a solution to a problem they have is always a good idea. They’ll definitely get lots of use out of the wallet, so it won’t be one of those gifts that sits forgotten in a drawer.

A Sports Car Experience

Even if the man in your life can’t afford to buy his own sports car, he might still dream of driving around a track in one. If he daydreams about crossing the finish line as the checkered flag waves at the Grand Prix, why not buy him a sports car experience? This is a once in a lifetime chance for him to drive a sports car around one of the country’s leading race tracks. Imagine how much they’d love the chance to drive a Lamborghini! It’s the kind of gift that they’ll never forget, so it’s something to consider.

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A Portable Camera

If he likes to cycle or take part in other extreme sports, you should buy him a portable camera like a GoPro. These are very small cameras that can be attached to what you’re wearing and monitor what you do. They create some pretty interesting video footage when you’re taking part in extreme sports. The latest GoPro cameras are now able to shoot footage in 4K, making them incredibly advanced for their size and their price.

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Over 40s Mums - Too Busy To Work On Your Look?

Every Sunday morning when I was single and before the kids came along, I would spend the time pampering and preening.  Eyebrows were plucked, legs shaved, even a face mask applied.  In those days baths were leisurely and bubbly.  Nails were painted in different shades a couple of times a week and I would think nothing of applying a full face of make-up just to go to the shops.  Good self care was just part of my weekly routine.

Now that I am in my 50s and balancing the challenges of self-employment with caring for two energetic bundles of mischief (the Husband claims to be "self maintaining" out of protest for my lack of cooking skills), having a regular beauty routine should be even more important.

If only I had the time!

Actually, that's not entirely true.  It isn't always the lack of time that stops us over 40 mums from caring for ourselves.  No, I think it's that our priorities have changed.  And many of us are more confident in our own skin and don't feel the need to camouflage what we have thought of as our imperfections.  Now we are more accepting - even if we are aware of the changes in our bodies - the odd grey hair here and there, the odd patch of dry skin, the slight weight gain that comes with the approaching menopause.

We look at some of the fabulous over 40s celebrities with their chutzpah and verve like Dame Helen Mirren, Kim Cattrall, Sharon Stone, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Julianne Moore and, with the wisdom of age, rather than judging them, we learn from them.  We look at how they present themselves, the way they style their hair and their wardrobe choices.

But these ladies work hard on their appearance, self-acceptance notwithstanding! It's less of "take me as I am" and more of "take me at my very best".

There are so many fabulous beauty products on the market that there is, in truth, little excuse for not making the best of yourself.   When I do manage to sneak in a few minutes in the bathroom for some pre-school-run preening, I will apply a tinted BB cream (Garnier make a good one), some black mascara (currently I love Benefit's They're Real) and a tinted lip balm such as Carmex.  Just enough to get rid of the early morning zombie look if one of the kids has been up in the night.

I know more organised ladies keep a make-up bag with essentials to hand - and some even keep a duplicate set in their car - how organised is that?

I also find that reading beauty blogs is a great way to keep up to date with current products and application techniques.  Some of these girls and boys are good and have make-up tutorials which show you how to create the latest looks step-by-step.  Don't be put off by the fact that many of them are much younger - you can honestly learn a lot.  Don't be afraid to tweet or send them a Facebook message either because many beauty bloggers are happy to give their advice on products, colours and application techniques.

Another good place to learn about the latest colours and techniques is the local beauty department in your local department stores.  It is often possible to be shown a "5 minute look" or for the assistant to test make-up colours on your skin.  Yes, you may feel obliged to buy but you don't have to - just say that you will ask a close friend for their opinion and pop back later.

There's a great deal of truth in the old maxim that "if you look good, you feel good" so I think we midlife mamas should make sure we demand our fair share of "bathroom time" and treat ourselves to a new lipstick occasionally.

If you have daughters, I think it's important to be a good role model for them and to teach them that it is enjoyable to be a woman - no matter what your age.  If they always see you make-up free and with your hair scraped back in the infamous "mum bun", they may not be inspired to make the best of themselves!  My daughter is 8 in November but she always notices when I am wearing make-up.

I think the key is balance.  A healthy acceptance of the face and figure you have now, coupled with the confidence to wear the clothes and make-up right for you is key - as is diarising the time (if that's what it takes!) to make sure you look your best.

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How To Give Your Baby The Best Night's Sleep

Getting your baby down to sleep can sometimes be one of the most difficult parts of raising a baby. Making sure your baby gets enough sleep is crucial to you both. Take the stress out of bedtime for you and your baby with these tips on how to get the best night’s sleep.

Establish a good routine

First and foremost, before you try any other tricks, it’s good to establish a nighttime routine for you and your baby. Creating a bedtime pattern will not only help you in the immediate, but also in the long-run. This will help to calm and settle them before bed. And, as your baby gets older, they will become more familiar with this routine and respond well to bedtimes.

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Stop them scratching

Many parents find their babies suffering from a sleepless night because they’ll be scratching itchy rashes or eczema. Try putting your baby in gloves to stop them scratching. Or if you find that they are pulling off their gloves in the night, try ScratchSleeves which are impossible to remove.

Night and day are different 

Showing your baby from a young age that night and day are different is crucial. Not only will it be great for helping newborns sleep, but it will also teach them the importance of bedtime for when they are older. Make your baby’s room as dark as possible with dark curtains. Keep noises to a minimum if you can, or try quiet, soothing sounds. Changing them into their pyjamas will also establish that nighttime is for sleeping.

No midnight snacks

Try not to feed your baby just before they go to bed, or they will link bedtime with dinner time. This will make it much harder for you to get them back to sleep if they wake during the night. They’ll think it’s time for another feed.

Let them sleep

If your baby wakes up during the night, it can be tempting to pick them up and cuddle them. Try to avoid doing this (unless you need to change their nappy). Instead, make soothing noises and stroke their forehead to see if they will fall back to sleep by themselves.

Give them a comforter

Whether it’s a cuddly toy or a baby blanket, there’s no harm in giving your baby a comforter. This will help them feel secure at night time without you there. Just remember to buy two for when one is in the washing machine (or if you lose one!).

Share night times with your partner

It’s important for babies to get used to both parents, and understand they way they comfort them. Not only will this share the work between you both, but it will show your baby that breastfeeding isn’t always an option.

If you are having a really hard time getting your baby to sleep, it may be something medical. If you’ve tried And whatever you do, don’t forget to get some sleep too! Whenever your baby is sleeping, try to catch some sleep yourself when you can.

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Money Saving Tips For Bathroom Renovations

Credit

Are you thinking of doing up your bathroom soon, but worried you can’t quite afford it? If so, read on. I’ve pulled together some tips I have learned through experience and from plenty of advice I’ve been given over the years. Here are several things to think about if you want to save money on your bathroom renovation.

Clean your tiles

Nothing makes a bathroom look dingier and dirtier than stained grout. And, in all honesty, it’s the one thing that just makes you want to rip everything out and start again. However, you don’t have to go down that route if you don’t have to. In fact, if you find a good grout cleaner and are prepared to get your hands dirty, it can come up looking as good as new. You might have to replace a few tiles here and there if you fit a new bath or shower, but again, it’s an easy DIY job.

Reduce your tiles 

If you do decide to rip out the tiles and start again, just install less. The rest of the room can be painted cheaply in a colour of your choice. All you need to do is make sure that the wet areas are covered and sealed, and the rest is up to you. It might even be possible to get some nice stone tiling in there instead, with all the money you have saved.

Change heads and taps

Another way of getting an entirely new look from your bath fittings is to replace the taps and shower heads. It’s much cheaper than changing an entire unit, and it will freshen things up completely.

Replace old with new

Your bathroom as it is now might not look sparkling clean. And, you might need to buy a new bath, shower, toilet and sink. However, if you are strapped for cash, look for replacements that can slip straight in where their predecessors were before. One of the biggest costs of bathroom renovation is the plumbing. So, if you don’t move things around completely, you will save plenty of money.

Go second hand

There are plenty of places you can pick up second-hand bathroom pieces from, including antique stores, boot sales, and even scrap metal merchants. Take a look and see what you can find. You can get some beautiful old units for a fraction of the cost of buying new.

Invest to save

Finally, don’t be afraid to invest if it means you will save money in the future. Two things spring to mind immediately. Firstly, if you want to save money on your utility bills, then trying something like dual fuel heating for your bathroom should pay itself off in five years or so. Secondly, if you are planning on selling up in a couple of years, then see your bathroom as an investment in itself. It’s one of the key areas that prospective buyers will look at, and can add value to your home.

Well, there you have it. As you can see, there are plenty of ways to save - do you have any more?

*PR collaboration

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Add A Sparkle To Your Dinner Party & A Finish Giveaway

Regular readers of this blog know that one of my prevailing urges (of which there are many) is to host a festive dinner party.

I love to peruse the weighty Christmas editions of the women's monthly magazines and fantasize about smoked salmon blinis, a handmade Beef Wellington with seasonal veg, and a cheesecake smothered in a wild berry compote with a sprinkling of the darkest chocolate.

My dining room will be a-glow with candlelight or even fairy lights (primarily just to annoy The Husband) with beams dancing off gleaming champagne flutes and wine goblets.

The wine will be chilled, the canapes prepped and I will have a leisurely hour or so to dress and do my face and hair.

Anyone who has kids, of course, knows that this is about as likely as snow in July.

The reality is that time will drift away so we're late putting things in the oven.

The crockery won't match.

There will be, for some paranormal reason, several dessert spoons missing and the kids will have hidden the teaspoons.

I will probably have bought a cheesecake and forgotten to defrost it and the local supermarket will have absolutely no cream.

By the time we have finally got the kids to bed, I'll have approximately 10 minutes to change into a dress and will be barefoot because I won't be able to find any tights.

Bed socks are not a good look for a dinner party.

Then there's the question of the guest list.

It's usually us four, plus my mum and dad.

The last time we 'entertained', the guests got so tipsy on red wine we found a pair of them lying outside on the pavement counting the stars.

If I hadn't gone to put the rubbish out for the bin men at 11 pm, I suspect they would still have been there in the morning.

No, to play it safe, I think I'd choose from the ranks of the famous, past and present for a memorable dinner party with less chance of any health and safety infringements.

These would be my top 6 guests.

Hercule Poirot 
although he'd probably spend the time in my kitchen rearranging my crockery in order of height

David Suchet as Hercule Poirot

Queen Elizabeth The First
because Caitlin has Elizabeth as a middle name in her honour and good Queen Bess was a great feminist role model.

Stephen Fry
So many fabulous stories to tell and he could take charge of the after dinner quiz.

Albert Einstein
to explain quantum physics and to find out his views on "The Law of Attraction".

Dame Helen Mirren
for her great pro-age stance

Dame Helen Mirren

Greta Garbo
to see if she'd turn up or just wanted to be alone

The Husband would just invite the Welsh Rugby Team or Five Finger Death Punch to provide the music.  I say music.  Everyone has their own interpretation.

Still, at least these days the phrase "do you need a hand with the dishes" is practically redundant now many of us have dishwashers.

And given my special talent of usually breaking at least one glass when hand-washing, I'm rather glad about that.  Thankfully, Finish dishwasher products offer lasting glass protection too!

To help you keep your glasses sparkling,  I have a bundle of Finish dishwasher tablets and dishwasher salt to give away.

The prize consists of:-

1x Quantum Max Shine & Protect apple and lime 40 tabs
1x Quantum Max Shine & Protect lemon 30 tabs
2 x Performance Enhancing Dishwasher Salt 1kg

Just enter via the Rafflecopter widget in the usual way.  UK entrants only.

The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Saturday 31st October 2015.

Good luck!

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Further information about Finish dishwasher products is available on their website, on Facebook or on Twitter.

*PR samples were received for the writing of this post.

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My Sunday Photo - 04/10/2015

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Do You Know How To Save A Baby From Choking (& Win A First Aid Kit)

St John Ambulance are currently running a campaign called #thechokeables which aims to raise awareness for parents and carers for children around the risks of choking and how to help a choking child.

Ieuan in March 2008

They believe that everyone should have the skills and confidence to know what to do in an emergency.

Knowing basic first aid can be the difference between life and death – and every week they hear of new people whose lives have been saved because someone nearby knew what to do.

40% of parents asked by St John Ambulance have witnessed their own baby choke and it was found that almost four-fifths (80%!) don’t know what to do in this situation.

Using the voices of celebrities such as David Walliams, David Mitchell, Johnny Vegas and Sir John Hurt, St. John Ambulance have made a short video called "The Chokeables" to show us how to help a choking baby.

In The Chokeables, the celebrities take on the characters of animated objects that could potentially choke babies: a small princess toy, a pen lid, a jelly baby and a peanut.

They've joined together because they've had enough and want to show how easy it is to save a choking baby's life.

In just 40 seconds you can learn how to give first aid to a choking baby.

You may have already seen the video featured on ITV but, just in case you haven't, here it is.

Please watch it and share this post so that as many people as possible learn what to do.

#TheChokeables

For more information click HERE to help support St John Ambulance with this important campaign.

I also have a fantastic compact first aid kit to give away.  Click HERE to see the prize.

This kit is great for use in the home or travelling and is filled with the essentials you will need for common accidents, ensuring that you are prepared for any minor emergency.

Entry is via the Rafflecopter below.  UK entrants only.

The giveaway will end at 11:59 pm on Friday 16th October 2015.

Entrants MUST answer the first question and leave their answer in the comments below.

Good luck!

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Win A Spooky Prize Package For A Haribo Halloween

Halloween is one of my favourite annual celebrations, not least because it comes with a wealth of traditions such as "trick or treating".  It can't be denied that we Brits are making more of Halloween these days, inspired by our American cousins who really go to town on the 31st.  

I love decorating the house from top to toe with spiders' webs, spooky ornaments and it is a family tradition to try to scare the grandparent by adding floating ghouls and ghost where they will not be expected. We also make sure that a few pumpkins are lit to frighten off any evil spirits.

via GIPHY

We are usually joined by our special guest, Mr Bones.

And Halloween wouldn't be Halloween without having something sweet to offer to the excited young faces who come knocking (and their parents!).  

I have a prize package from HARIBO worth £60 to give away!  This comprises a selection of HARIBO Halloween Products and a £50 voucher for a fancy dress costume from an online party specialist or the supermarket of your choice.

The HARIBO Halloween products included are:-

* HARIBO Trick or Treat multipack - a delicious bundle of Halloween themed gums and jellies in portion controlled mini-bags, which are perfect for any demon or devil on your doorstep.

* HARIBO Horror Mix – a Halloween themed bag where you’ll find the tastiest bats, frogs, spiders and even broomsticks. Perfect to tip into bowls for frightful parties or to share with friends and family whilst enjoying a spooky movie night in!

* HARIBO Share the Fun tub. Filled with a mix of portion controlled mini bags, Share the Fun brings together HARIBO’s popular treats Starmix, Super Mix and Tangfastics – ideal to have by the door for trick or treaters.

Just enter via the rafflecopter in the usual way.  UK entrants only.  Please note that the winner's name and address must be received by Haribo no later than 19th October to guarantee delivery of the prize in time for Halloween.  The competition ends at 11:59 pm on Wednesday 14th October 2015. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Further information is available from Haribo's website, on Facebook or on Twitter.

via GIPHY

*PR samples were received for the writing of this post.

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Make Your Garden Gorgeous For Autumn With Gardens2you.co.uk

It being early autumn, it is time to venture forth into my small and compact garden to tidy up the falling foliage and inspect the slightly overgrown rows of geraniums, recalcitrant roses (they still haven't bloomed) and my palm tree (slightly stunted).

Our Lovely Cast Iron Hanging Heart Bird Feeder From Gardens2you

I must confess I had big plans for the garden this year, none of which have really materialised but since our visit last week to a local garden centre where the kids enjoyed planting poppy seeds and crocuses, I've been bitten by the bug again.

Thankfully, a lot of sweeping and filling of garden refuse bags, plus some general 'prettification' will see us through the coming cold months. There is nothing more fun than adding a lovely ornament or two - particularly when you have children.  Our solar powered fairies have now folded their wings for winter sadly, but I have already mentioned the words "outdoor Christmas lights" to the Husband.

The good thing about the Rugby World Cup is that the Husband will agree to practically anything whilst watching just to keep me quiet.

Whilst the garden is preparing for its winter rest, we are mindful that the birds will need feeding and last week the kids learned how to make fat balls for the birds.

Nothing could be simpler.

Take a paper cup and cut a small hole in the top through which you need to thread sufficient string to suspend from a branch.  Then you need

*suet
*lard
*bird seed
*sultanas

which you mix together and push into a paper cup. The birds will swoop and eat from underneath. Make sure, of course, that you hang well out of the way of any neighbourhood cats!

There are a whole host of bird feeders on the market and we were sent a lovely one from Gardens2you who have a great range of ornaments, accessories and bird care items and pride themselves on offering products that are unique and high quality.

Cast Iron Hanging Heart Bird Feeder With Welcome Sign - £14.95

This is easy to assemble but quite heavy so watch little toes when you go to hang it.  It has a seed cup with "welcome" on which detaches so it is easy to clean out. Fill with bird seed or you could make your own mix, as above.

We were also sent two adorable little characters who the kids have named Bernard and George even though their real names are Max and Mason - yes, they are "gardening garden gnomes".

Max & Mason - The Gardening Garden Gnome Ornaments - £24.95

These two are really sweet and they stand at 22cm tall and are coated with a weather resistant finish.

I have been promising the kids a fairy garden for ages (actually it's really for me) and Gardens2you have a great range of ornamental toad stools, fairy doors and fairies.  Or if Zen is more your thing, there is also a good selection of Buddha figurines and wall art.  All products have free UK delivery and 30 days to return.

Whilst you're waiting for life to return to the garden, it's good to know it can still be a pretty place, at a reasonable cost.

For further information visit the Gardens2you website or you can talk to them on Facebook or Twitter.

*collaborative post

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3 Ways To Keep Your Kids Entertained On The Weekend

For many parents, the weekend is seen as a tricky task. It’s the time of the week where your kids are home from school and will be stuck in the house all day. This means it’s very easy for them to get bored and become grouchy. No parent wants to deal with this! So, I’ve got three tips that will keep your kids entertained on the weekend:

Image via pixabay https://goo.gl/ySGVfk

Invite Their Friends Over 

One way to ensure your kids are entertained is to invite their friends over to play! Weekends can get boring for a child if they don’t get to spend any time with their friends. Invite a couple over to play and have lunch on Saturday. You could arrange some cool games for them to play, or just let them play by themselves. Either way, your child will be having lots of fun! If you’re up for it, you could even arrange a sleepover! Kids absolutely love sleepovers, and it's a sure-fire way to make sure they’re entertained over the weekend.

Go On A Weekend Trip

If you’re looking to have some fun with your kids, then a weekend trip is a brilliant idea. I can guarantee it will keep them entertained throughout the whole two days. There are a couple of trips you can go on. You could go for a nice relaxing trip, or you could go on an adventure! There are plenty of family adventure ideas out there that will be great fun to do on the weekend. You could go to an adventure park and spend two days having fun and getting messy in the mud. Or, you could go camping and try and come up with your own adventure. Of course, as I mentioned, you could just take a relaxing trip if adventure isn’t your thing. There are plenty of nice seaside towns that will make a lovely change of pace at the weekend. Going away anywhere is an excellent way to keep your kids entertained, they love a little trip!

Build A Den With Them 

The weekend presents you with the perfect opportunity to spend a bit more time with your kids. You can do things that you wouldn’t normally be able to do. One of those things is having the time to sit down and play with them. You can take part in all their great imagination games. Or, you can help them create a super awesome den that’s amazing and will make all other kids jealous! Kids love to create dens and forts with pillows and bedsheets. If you want to take up some time on the weekend, and stop them from getting bored, why not help them build one? To be honest, it’s actually quite fun! After you’ve finished, you can crawl inside and play with them in their new den. A word of warning, don’t get too attached to the den you helped create. It will probably be around for the weekend and then get torn down on Monday. Kids tend to move on to bigger and better things very quickly!

Thanks for reading Mother Distracted.  I really appreciate your support and I'd love it if you could share this post across social media. If you’re new to Mother Distracted, why not join me on the Mother Distracted Facebook page, tweet me on @lindahobbis or follow me on Instagram.

For loads more parenting advice, just visit the parenting section of my blog.

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My Guide To Getting In Touch With Your Food

Eating healthily is important to my family and I, so I pay close attention to what we eat. I think a lot of people don't think much about their food and where it comes from, which for me is an important thing to do. Being in touch with your food makes you buy more responsibly and eat more healthily. It's not difficult to learn more about your food so that you can base your diet on what you know. If you think it's important to know all about your food too, I have some tips for becoming more knowledgeable. Try these methods to become one with your food choices.

Mikhail Esteves

Read the Labels

Checking the labels on your food has to be one of the easiest ways to learn more about it. There are several things that manufacturers and shops are required to put on their products. Many items will say where they originated from, which will have a country or perhaps county of origin. You can also look at the list of ingredients. They might reveal some surprising information about what's in your food. Products also need to have nutritional information, so you can see how many calories everything has, as well as sugar, protein, and more.

Shop in the Right Places

Where you shop can make a significant difference to how much you know about your food. In a supermarket, you can check labels and perhaps talk to someone at the meat or fish counter. But ask a random member of staff about a random product and they won't know much. At your local butchers or fishmongers, they should be able to tell you all about where their produce comes from. The same goes for farmers' markets and other independent shops.

Grow Your Own

If you want to know even more about your food, the best thing to do is grow it yourself. If you have space in your garden, you can plant some fruit trees or vegetables to harvest. Even without a lot of space, you can grow herbs on your kitchen windowsill or a tomato plant in a pot. You could be surprised at how easy it is to grow fruit and vegetables at home. Once you have harvested what you've grown, you can preserve some of it so that it lasts you longer. Different methods are appropriate for various things, so check you're using the right one.

Cook It Yourself

If you are not very green-fingered, you can get in touch with your food through cooking. Cooking is an excellent way to learn about what you eat and how to prepare it in a healthy way. You can explore different flavours and work out the best produce to buy for the tastiest food. You could learn more by taking a cooking class. Or get some books with recipes or information about how to get the most from your food.

Learning more about your food can help to improve your diet. I believe that it's one of the best things you can do for a healthy lifestyle.

Thanks for reading Mother Distracted.  I really appreciate your support and I'd love it if you could share this post across social media. If you’re new to Mother Distracted, why not join me on the Mother Distracted Facebook page, tweet me on @lindahobbis or follow me on Instagram.

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My Guide To Thinking About Your Child's Education

My kids are all in school now, and I have been thinking about their education for a long time. It's something you start thinking about almost right away, once you're not quite as much of a zombie after the baby's born. Education begins at home, but eventually (for most children) it will move to a classroom too. Of course, they'll continue to learn at home. But their school will influence them significantly. From picking a preschool to sending them to university, there are some significant decisions to make. The younger they are, the less able they are to have their own input. So how they're educated is entirely up to you, their parents. Here are some of the things I think you should take into account.

School Philosophy 

One of the things you should consider when you're looking at schools is their philosophy. This might be something that you need to think about more with private schools than with state ones. However, even state schools are run by individuals. And they will have different approaches to education. Figure out what the school is all about, what their aims are and how they inspire their pupils to learn. Of course, it shouldn't take a lot of figuring out. Good schools will make these things clear on their website and in their literature.

woodleywonderworks

Study Options 

Many parents accept the standard path set out for pupils in the UK. In primary school, they complete their SATs. Then they do their GCSEs and possibly move on to A Levels or another qualification. Remember that students now have to stay in education or training until they're 18. However, there are other options for their study. For example, some schools offer the International Baccalaureate, while others provide vocational qualifications. If you are temporarily in the UK or intend to move abroad soon, some international schools offer foreign qualifications.

Learning Styles 

It's important to think about your child and how they learn, and not just about the school. There needs to be a good match between you, your child and the school. You should consider how your child learns and how you want them to learn. For example, when choosing a nursery you might think about Montessori or a forest school, where they learn outside. Chilton Cantelo School and other independent establishments tailor learning towards each pupil. They will often provide dedicated support for children with learning difficulties. And they will have support available for those who are considered gifted and talented.

Socialisation

Another thing to consider is your child's social skills and opportunities. Some parents think about homeschooling their children. If you think you might want to do this, do you have ways they can socialise with others their age? Other parents opt for boarding school, which means they would be learning to socialise outside of their family. Are large classroom sizes in state schools right for your child? Or would they make friends better in smaller classes?

There's a lot to think about when you're deciding on your child's education. There are some life-changing decisions to make, so try to start thinking about it as soon as you can.

Thanks for reading Mother Distracted.  I really appreciate your support and I'd love it if you could share this post across social media. If you’re new to Mother Distracted, why not join me on the Mother Distracted Facebook page, tweet me on @lindahobbis or follow me on Instagram.

For loads more parenting advice, just visit the parenting section of my blog.

*collaborative post

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5 Films I Absolutely Adore

Now that the nights are drawing in (which begins, according to my dad, on the day after Midsummer's eve), and since the chances of getting a babysitter on the night they're actually needed is remote, the Husband and I will be snuggled up watching our favourite films on DVD.

It makes a nice change, I have to say, to watch something that does not involve a superhero, a Disney princess or ghoulish school pupils.  This is, of course, the lull before the storm since Frozen 2 is rumored to be in production and Ieuan has been promised "Marvel Avengers: Age of Ultron" for Christmas.

No.  It's TV on, wine decanted and a bowl of crisps. We're saving our pennies for a decent TV, such as the Panasonic Viera  which has the new 4K definition.  These TVs have four times the resolution of a standard HD TV with 8 million pixels on screen as opposed to the usual 2 million.

Most of our 2 million pixels are generally secreted between a variety of sticky hand-prints and dust so I imagine that much could be done to improve our viewing experience!

Don't you find, though, that you end up watching the same films over and over again?  These are my all time top 5 and I heartily recommend you check them out.

Woody Allen: Love & Death (1975)
(Woody Allen, Diane Keaton)

Woody Allen's Love & Death

Boris: "Isn't all mankind ultimately executed for a crime it never committed? The difference is that all men go eventually, but I go six o'clock tomorrow morning. I was supposed to go at five o'clock, but I have a smart lawyer. Got leniency."

In the film, which is set in 19th-century Russia, Boris (Woody Allen) is a simple Russian villager who is in love with his beautiful cousin Sonja (Diane Keaton). Forced against his will into joining the Russian army during the Napoleonic Wars, the cowardly Boris accidentally becomes a military hero. But when his beloved Sonja comes to him with a dangerous patriotic scheme, the resulting action leads Boris to question his desires and beliefs.

This is my all time favourite Allen movie.  It's considered to be a spoof of the Russian Novel, particularly those by Tolstoy and Dostoevsky.  As usual Allen's wit never lets up and you watch with either a wry smile or laughing out loud.

Mel Brooks: Young Frankenstein (1974)
(Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder)

Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder): "You know, I'm a rather brilliant surgeon. Perhaps I can help you with that hump."

Igor (Marty Feldman): "What hump?"

When respected medical lecturer Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) discovers he has inherited his infamous grandfather's estate in Transylvania, he goes to take possession of the castle. There, he begins to recreate his grandfather's experiments with the help of servants Igor (Marty Feldman), Inga (Teri Garr) and the terrifying Frau Blücher (Cloris Leachman). Dr. Frankenstein creates his own monster and things get complicated when the monster falls in love with the doctor's fiancée, Elizabeth (Madeline Kahn).

Much as I love Blazing Saddles, I love Young Frankenstein for its complete lunacy and sense of the ridiculous.  It's a wonderful mickey-take of the old Hammer Horror films with a Dr Frankenstein who loves himself far too much, an Igor who isn't the full shilling and a monster whose dance routines leave a lot to be desired.

Agatha Christie's Death On The Nile (1978)
(Peter Ustinov, David Niven)

Agatha Christie's Death On The Nile

Jacqueline De Bellefort (Mia Farrow): "...sometimes, I just want to put this gun right against her head, and ever so gently, pull the trigger. When I hear that sound more and more... "

Hercule Poirot (Peter Ustinov): "I know how you feel. We all feel like that at times. However, I must warn you, mademoiselle: Do not allow evil into your heart, it will make a home there."

This is the story of a wealthy heiress, Linnet Ridgeway (Lois Chiles) who steals her best friend's fiance (Mia Farrow and Simon MacCorkindale) and marries him after a whirlwind romance.  On a luxurious honeymoon cruise on the Nile River, Linnet is murdered and it is up to Poirot (David Niven) to solve the mystery, along with his trusted companion, Colonel Race (David Niven). But just as Poirot identifies several would-be murderers, the suspects also start to meet their demise.

This is an adaptation of one of the best known Agatha Christie novels and I actually saw this film in the cinema when it first came out. I remember the stellar cast which includes Bette Davis, Maggie Smith, Angela Lansbury and Jane Birkin, among others, and I love the sweeping musical score which adds to the beauty of the Egyptian scenery.

I am a huge fan of David Suchet as Poirot but, for me, this version of "Death On The Nile" is still the best.

Monty Python & The Holy Grail (1975)

Monty Python & The Holy Grail

French Soldier: "I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty-headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!"

This film is a hilarious send-up of the grim Middle Ages told through the story of King Arthur and framed by a modern-day murder investigation. When Arthur goes on a quest to find the Holy Grail, he and his knights face a number of horrors, including the persistent Black Knight, a three-headed giant, some shrubbery-challenged knights, the dangerous Castle Anthrax, a killer rabbit, a house of virgins, and a handful of rude Frenchmen.

This is another film I saw in the cinema on its release - at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff in the days when it was a newly renovated school and not the great art space it is today!  I guess you either 'get' Monty Python or you don't and I laughed like a drain from start to finish.  Anybody who can substitute a horse for somebody banging two coconut shells together to make a clip clop sound and get away with it is pretty smart I think.

Again, although "Life of Brian" is equally loved, "Holy Grail" has the extra touch of madcap Python lunacy and feels more raw and experimental than the team's later films.

Babette's Feast (1987)

Babette's Feast

Adapted from the novel by Karen Blixen (whose memoirs formed the basis of the film "Out of Africa", Babette's Feast is the story of two sisters who live in a remote 19th Danish century village. Their life centres around their father, the local minister, and their church. When their father dies, they take in a French refugee, Babette, who works for them as their servant.  When Babette wins the lottery she decides to pay the sisters back for their kindness and cooks a French meal for them and their friends to mark the 100th anniversary of their father's death.  After Babette's feast, everything and everyone changes in ways they would never have expected.

This film won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 1988 and was another one I saw in the Chapter Arts Centre when it came out.  It is a really touching tale, despite being subtitled and you are left feeling uplifted and reminded how powerful kindness can be.

So those are my favourite 5.  Are any of them on your list?


Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I will only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.

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A True Story Of Discovering And Dealing With Fibromyalgia

Recently, I’ve been speaking to a friend who had been coping with her daughter having peculiar symptoms. When the symptoms started, it seemed like it might have been a serious illness. But, after much deliberation, three months later, she was still none the wiser. If you have been in this situation, it can be incredibly stressful and difficult to understand what is happening. You want to help, but there seems to be nothing you can do. However, my friend took great steps to ensure they got to the bottom of this difficult illness and eventually discovered the truth. Here are steps she took.

1. Watch And Wait 

After the symptoms had started to develop, my friend watched her daughter carefully. She believed it might have been something to do with passing through puberty. She decided to wait and see if the symptoms worsened or the problems increased. The symptoms in question were a severe back pain and difficulty walking. As peculiar as this sounds, this can happen when a teenager passes through puberty. Growing pains can be incredibly nasty.

2. Contact The GP

The symptoms did not fade after two weeks, and my friend was forced to take further action. If anything, the symptoms appeared to be getting worse. The pain was becoming more frequent and was severely limiting how well her daughter was coping. Her mother decided it was time to get in touch with the GP. You may have recently read about whether or not a GP can diagnose you in ten minutes. Well, in this case, the GP was completely stumped and could only offer her daughter painkillers. This was not a long term plan on dealing with the issue, and they were told the situation would be reassessed in a couple of weeks.

3) A&E

The painkillers did not work and one worrying night the girl had to be rushed to A&E. She was unable to walk with agonising pain down her entire back. She also could no longer move any of limbs. If you think this is a nightmare scenario, you would be right. It was terrifying for both her and her daughter. But, after several hours in A&E they were still no closer to finding out what was wrong. They were only offered stronger painkillers.

4) The Specialist 

After the incident with A&E, my friend’s daughters condition was passed onto a specialist. The quickly diagnosed the condition as fibromyalgia.

Image Credit

This is a condition that causes severe chronic pain, often for the rest of a sufferer's life. There is no cure and worse still, no known cause. Although it was a relief to find out what was wrong, they were still stuck with no remedy except putting the girl on painkillers for the rest of her life.

5) Clinical Trials 

Due to the mystery surrounding fibromyalgia there are constant clinical trials to attempt to fix the issue. A clinical trial involves a collection of patients being given drugs that could work to cure their illness. There are different phases of clinical trials that you pass through. It is possible to enquire about this option when you are dealing with a difficult illness. My friend asked for this option for her daughter. Five months later they were granted the request.

6) The Road To Recovery

Since the clinical trials, my friend has seen success in the treatment of her daughter. Although the pain is still there, the situation is improving. She hopes these trials will bring the end to the suffering of those who have been diagnosed with this and other similar conditions.

Thanks for reading Mother Distracted.  I really appreciate your support and I'd love it if you could share this post across social media. If you’re new to Mother Distracted, why not join me on the Mother Distracted Facebook page, tweet me on @lindahobbis or follow me on Instagram.

For loads more health advice, just visit my health page.

*collaborative post

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8 Ways To Look Younger Right Now

Do you gaze into the mirror, longing for your old youthful appearance to return? So many people hate getting older, and wish they could make themselves look younger right now.

Luckily for you, there are ways you can do just that! It might take some commitment and practice, but anybody can turn back the clock with these tips:

1. Get More Sleep 

Perhaps you’re not getting enough sleep, and this is affecting your looks. Make sure you’re getting as much sleep as you need every night, and that it’s quality. You should feel well rested after 8 hours of quality sleep. Any more and you might be doing just as much damage as having too little.

2. Eat Better 

You could probably stand to overhaul your diet and make it a little better for you. See if there are ways you can replace your favourite foods with healthier versions, and try to make your meals vegetable based. The better you eat, the younger you’ll look. We’re made from what we eat!

3. Exercise 

Exercise might make you sweaty and questionable looking for a while, but, in the long run, it has a great effect on the body and skin. This means that we usually look much younger than we are, and feel amazing to boot! Find ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routine and make sure you enjoy it.

Image Credit

4. Invest in Your Skin 

There’s nothing wrong with splashing out a little when it comes to your skin. This might mean treating yourself to a luxury product, or even going for a luxury silhouette face lift. There are lots of treatments you can look into to make your skin look more youthful.

5. De-stress 

Stress can make us gain/lose weight, make our hair fall out, stop our periods, and make us look older. It’s no good for anybody! Many of us lead very stressful lives these days, so we need to make sure we’re de-stressing. Take some time to breathe and a nice bath. Go for a walk. Do things you enjoy and try not to worry about things out of your control!

6. Apply a Mask 

Apply a mask every so often, perhaps once a week to brighten up your skin. There are lots of masks out there for maturing skin, so you’re bound to find something you like.

7. Drink Lots of Water 

Water is beneficial in multiple ways. It flushes toxins, helps to shed fat, and, of course, clears the skin. Try drinking more for a few days and notice how much better you look and feel. Soon enough you’ll be in a routine and won’t even need to think about it!

8. Practice Your Makeup

Clever makeup techniques can help us to look younger too. Using suitable products and tools is a great help, but make sure you watch Youtube for guidance too.

Try these 8 techniques and you should look younger in a flash. Not only that, you’ll feel great about yourself too! Leave your thoughts below. See you again soon!

Thanks for reading Mother Distracted.  I really appreciate your support and I'd love it if you could share this post across social media. If you’re new to Mother Distracted, why not join me on the Mother Distracted Facebook page, tweet me on @lindahobbis or follow me on Instagram.

*collaborative post

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Say Thank You With Debenhams Flowers This Grandparents' Day (4th Oct) & Discount Code

It's Grandparents' Day on Sunday 4th October this year and what better way to say thank you for all they do than by sending a lovely bouquet of flowers?

My Lovely Mum, Kay & Her Moonlight Bouquet from Debenhams Flowers.

For working parents, grandparents are an invaluable source of trusted childcare. Recent research carried out by restaurant chain Table Table found that grandparents save parents an amazing £8,000 per year by babysitting their grandchildren and driving them around.

And research by the specialist over 50s insurer RIAS found that Britain's "Grandparent Army" of childcarers is now 9.1 million strong as the number of grandparent childminders has increased by 49% since 2009.

There's little doubt that parents owe them a huge debt!

I have to admit that Grandparents' Day seems to be a new annual celebration but I can see no reason why we should not take some time out to show our appreciation.  It is only too easy, if grandparents live a long way away, to let contact slip, perhaps only visiting around Christmas and birthdays. Another reason, I think why an extra day to share with them is a good idea.

The relationships our children have with their grandparents are often unique.  Having had to put up with my sister and I, our parents now combine many years of wisdom with a level of patience I can currently only dream of!  Both share their love of painting with the kids and my father, who teaches the piano, has been giving Caitlin lessons.  Ieuan will have lessons a little later on and I am hoping he will not have been too far indoctrinated by the Husband in the ways of "shouty Viking Rock" by then!

So bearing this in mind, I have been mulling over what to get them to say thank you on Grandparents' Day and flowers would seem to be an easy-to-please gift.

I was recently sent a lovely bouquet for my mum by Debenhams Flowers who have a great flower delivery service.  They offer next day flowers 7 days a week across the UK with a beautiful range of seasonal bouquets. For guaranteed next day flowers you need to order before 9pm on weekdays, 4pm on Saturdays and 2pm on Sundays.  Next day flowers are available by courier or you can choose flowers by post which are delivered in secure packaging by Royal Mail to any UK address.

You can send your best wishes with a personalised gift message delivered alongside the bouquet you choose and add a gift, for example chocolates, fine wines or balloons.

Debenhams Flowers suggested range for Grandparents' Day can be viewed here.

The bouquet I selected for my mum was the "Moonlight" - a lovely display of lilies, roses and carnations (£30.99).

As you can see, the picture above really doesn't do the bouquet justice.  It will be even more gorgeous when the lilies open.

DISCOUNT CODE FOR MY READERS

I am delighted to offer my lovely readers a discount code which entitles you to a very generous 25% off a bouquet (*Flowers By Post not included).

The code is: DFBLOG25.

Just go to www.debenhamsflowers.com.  You are sure to find a bouquet that suits.

I hope you and your family get to spend some quality time for the grandparents on Sunday 4th October.

*A "Moonlight" bouquet was received for the purposes of this review.

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Poor Health - It's Often The Letting People Down That's Hardest

It was a gleaming mint hybrid bicycle with a basket.  It sat beckoning, with a promise of endless summers freewheeling through fields filled with wild flowers. There were picnics to be had by bubbling streams, whilst lying on picnic blankets chewing straw and watching the clouds make wispy shapes in the matchless blue sky.

The husband was excited.  The kids were excited.  They all had bikes and were waiting for me to join them on the cycle paths. What could possibly go wrong?

Except.  Except.....

Back in the early 90's I had gynaecological surgery which has left me with what my consultant calls unprovoked vulvodynia.  This is a condition which is rarely written about and, as far as I can tell, its existence is frequently denied by the family of the sufferer, being so nebulous, difficult to treat and well nigh impossible to explain to someone who hasn't experienced it.  It is a persistent pain in your 'bits' which comes on for no particular reason.  Couple that with a bad back and my glasses OCD which means wearing any sort of headgear brings me out in a cold sweat, and you can see that I am hardly primed to join the ranks of the sporting elite any time soon.

After approximately 15 minutes trying out various saddles, it became clear that cycling was going to be a painful experience.

The bike went back.

I felt guilty and vaguely ashamed - as if I had let everybody down.  But you see it has taken me years to recover from the surgery (and since then I have had 2 caesarians) and the thought of undoing all the care I have had to take was too much to bear.

The experience led me to reflect that, for many of us dealing with daily health problems, whether it is a condition which comes with chronic pain or even if we are just dealing with a collection of what others might term 'health niggles', the impact of our suffering on others adds to the stress of the health complaint itself.

We are stuck between a rock and a hard place, desperately wanting our bodies to look, feel and behave like they did when we were young and struggling to understand how we ended up like this. It comes on gradually for some of us, doesn't it?  Lack of exercise, poor diet, poor sleep.  More than that, we want to join in and have a normal family life. We want the memories we create to be happy, fulfilled ones - not that time Mum put her back out and spent the afternoon sat in the car.

As mothers we get used to putting our own needs second to those of our children.  How many of us miss the weekend lie-in and get all misty eyed and nostalgic for the days when Sunday mornings started at noon. Weekends used to be times when we would recharge our batteries, both mentally and physically.  Times when we could, at least to some extent, get rid of any stress and strain which had built up over the preceeding week.

It makes it all the harder, then, when we can't acquiesce to our children's need to be ever active, ever pushing the boundaries of what their young bodies can achieve, but with us at their side.

I'm sure there is a compromise.  I am equally sure that self pity will get us nowhere either.  But occasionally, it is nice to hear that someone understands and gives you permission to acknowledge that, for whatever reason, you just can't join in.

And that's the permission we need to learn to give ourselves - without the bucket load of guilt that usually comes with it.

Further information on Vulvodynia is available on the NHS website.  Ladies, if you have any kind of unexplained pain or discomfort, please see your GP - and remember it is not all in your head. Nobody knows your body like you do!

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