Problem Page Edition 14 2017

This week - when you accidentally manage to insult your boss, how to get your boyfriend to upgrade his restaurant choices and how often you should email in a long distance relationship.

If you would like any advice, feel free to treat me as your agony aunt. Just message me or pop a comment in the comment box at the end of this post. I promise to be gentle.

Here are this week's questions.

Q: Do you think he meant what he said? 

I jokingly told one of my managers that he gives me anxiety and he said "well you give me headaches" and then something else I didn't catch. I don't know if he meant it or not but it made me wonder if he was just joking too.

A: It wasn’t the most tactful thing to say to a manager, was it and I’m not surprised you got a sharp retort and possibly something muttered under his breath. 

I’d just let it go and make an extra effort to be helpful and respectful with him in future - unless he really does give you anxiety in which case you should have a quiet word with HR. 

I wouldn’t escalate this unless you absolutely have to.

Q: How long before someone is late for a date that it becomes rude and not just late?

A: I’d say 20 minutes would be the point at which my patience would be severely tested. It all depends on whether you have had a text or call in the meantime telling you they’re delayed and explaining why. 

Or whether they have a sensible explanation when they reach you - it’s easy to be stuck in traffic, or held up at work for example. 

Some people are, unfortunately, habitually late and if that’s a quality that irks you (it drives me nuts!), then I’d change your date.

Q: What does it mean when your boyfriend says he doesn't care if you leave?

A: It means he doesn’t deserve you and he needs to grow up. 

If he doesn’t want to be in a relationship he has to man up and leave. I’m sorry but it sounds as if he is saying he wants to leave but doesn’t have the bottle to make the break himself so he is pushing you into doing it. 

I really wouldn’t waste any more time on him. In your shoes my response would be “right, I’m off then”. You don’t need to spend time with passive aggressive bullies or men who are chronically immature.

Q: Is it normal and/or is it a must to consistently send emails to someone in long-distance, online dating? 

Email is our only way of communication as of now, although we sometimes chat on social media. Should I always update or check up on her once in a while - especially when I see her online? I'm avoiding too much contact so as not to be too needy or clingy.

A: Well if you don’t have some communication in a long distance relationship what is the point? 

I’m sorry but I really don’t think long distance relationships work very well for long. It’s a lot of work, isn’t it, to keep it going? 

Shouldn’t you be asking her about the best way to run this relationship? It sounds as if you don’t quite know what’s going on. 

In your shoes, frankly I would be looking for a relationship closer to home which relies on that old fashioned method of communication - talking. 

And she should be making as much effort as you are. If you are not hearing anything from her via email or social media then it doesn’t look like she’s all that interested. 

To me the acid test is if either of you actually pick up the phone and talk in person. That’s how you have a real relationship.

Q: How do I suggest better restaurants to go to with my boyfriend without being offensive or ungrateful? He normally pays when we go out. I have also. 

A: When you say better, do you mean more expensive or do you mean restaurants where they serve better food? 

I would focus on the quality of the meal. Otherwise you risk sounding as if you are treating your boyfriend as a meal ticket. Not cool. 

Why don’t you pick a restaurant you fancy and offer to treat him. If he enjoys it he might get the message but if you are picking restaurants you know are out of his budget and expecting him to pay then that’s not fair. Splitting the bill would be the nicest thing to do. 

Surely time with your boyfriend is more important than the food in any case. Why not pack a picnic or go to the movies. It doesn’t always have to be about food, does it?

How would you have responded to these questions? I'd love to know. You can find more advice on my problem page.


Disclaimer: 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. 

Read more

Quick Ways To Upgrade Your Home This Spring (& A Giveaway!)

It's Spring and there's nothing like the reappearance of sunlight to make everything in your home look a little, well, drab.

All those DIY jobs you've been putting off start to gain an urgency - painting the skirting boards, fixing that leaking tap, repainting, mending curtains. Our list is already quite long - and that's without including the garden!

But there are some quick ways you can freshen up your space without spending a fortune and add some of those finishing touches that make a house a home.

Read on because I have a great giveaway at the end of this post!

* Repaint - but if you are renting you might want to follow these tips to avoid upsetting your landlord!

* Display family photos - you could create a photo wall or mix and match frames.

* Change the curtains - perhaps ring the changes by swopping to a roller or venetian blind.

* Create a cozy corner to read in by adding an armchair to your bedroom. 

* You can also add character to your bedroom with bedding in different textures, colours and fabrics.

* Hang String lights -  pretty at any time of year. Stuff strings of battery operated lights into glass vases to add a cozy glow to corners and mantle pieces or drape over the kitchen or your bed to add some atmosphere.

* Match soft furnishings - it’s amazing how soft furnishings such as cushions, throws, rugs, lampshades and curtains can brighten a room and complement the interior design of your property. While vibrant colours such as red, green, pink, purple and light blue work well against plain décor, blacks, greys and creams can also look stunning in a minimalist environment.

Once you’ve got an idea of what colours work well together, you can then start getting creative in each room giving each part of your home a different style and twist. You don't have to spend a fortune. You can make such a difference with soft furnishings such as throws and cushions. 

We recently discovered the Yorkshire Fabric Shop, an online retailer of upholstery fabric, where we selected this lovely plush large cushion in a soft shimmering grey - Geneva Luxury Fabric Crushed Velvet Cushion In Silver Colour. It's a great size and beautifully made.

I suspect Caitlin has laid claim to my new cushion!

Based in West Yorkshire, Yorkshire Fabric Shop has a warehouse full of upholstery fabrics suitable for sofas, chairs, cushions, boats, beds and whatever else you can imagine. They have 1000's of fabrics rolls in stock and also offer free samples to help you decide on what type or shade of fabric you need before you commit to buy anything. You can also visit their warehouse if you are nearby.

As you can see there is a wealth of fabric choices available.

and we liked the helpful cushion finder.  You can choose from pre-made cushions or select your own fabric and have them hand made.

  

I tell the Husband regularly that you can never have too many cushions.  He doesn't believe this but I am working on him.

Cushions come in 4 sizes - small (28cm x 28cm), medium (43cm x 43cm), rectangle (50cm x 30cm) and large (55cm x 55cm). Prices are around £45 for a small and £65 for a large.

Each cushion has a handmade reversible cover with a zip and a cushion insert filling made from hollow fibre.  You can have up to 6 free fabric samples before you order and you can also buy the same fabric by the metre.

If you want to change the look and feel of your home's soft furnishings, you'll definitely find some new ideas here.

The Giveaway

Now to the giveaway.  Yorkshire Fabric Shop are kindly giving away one large (55cm x 55cm) cushion in the fabric of your choice worth over £60 (the same size pictured above).

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget below and the usual terms and conditions apply which can be viewed on my competitions page.  UK entrants only and the giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Sunday 30th April.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Read more

Fallen Out Of Love With Yourself? Here’s How To Change That!

If you are currently going through an appearance rut, don’t worry because you are not alone. At one point or another, most of us end up falling out of love with ourselves. We begin to feel as if we aren’t good enough in terms of how we look, and it starts to impact our self-esteem. Not feeling good enough is a horrible feeling and one that most women have experienced at least once in their lifetimes.



Photo from Pixabay

Feeling down about how you look? Don’t worry because you are not alone. Honestly, it happens to us all. When you are in a rut, it can feel as if you will never get out of it and will never feel better about yourself again. However, that’s not true, sooner or later you will begin to get your confidence back and start loving yourself for who you are again.

Now, the key to doing that is making some changes. Making changes doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with how you look now, it’s just to help give your confidence a boost. By making some small changes to how you look, and also to your lifestyle, you should begin to feel more confident in your appearance and who you are.

With that in mind, below is some inspiration for falling back in love with yourself after being in a rut. For everything that you need to know, read on.

Get a new hairdo

Have you worn your hair in the same style or updo for what seems like years? Well then, now is the time for a change. It might only be a small thing but having your hair cut into a new style, dyed, or finding new ways to wear it, can help to give your self-esteem a boost. Getting a new haircut might only be a small thing, but it can make a big difference to how you feel about yourself, especially if you end up loving your new look. 

If you are unsure about what to do with your hair, your best bet is to have a browse online for ideas or to ask your hairdresser what they would suggest doing with it. Perhaps you’ve always worn your hair long, but your hairdresser reckons that you would suit a pixie crop? Or maybe you’ve always been blonde but you want to try being brunette instead? It doesn’t matter how you change your hair, just as long as you are happy with the changes and love your new look.

Change up your makeup routine

Do you tend to always wear your makeup in the same style? How about swapping your old makeup style for a new one? The chances are that you are comfortable in your makeup routine, but if it’s been the same for a while, it could be worth mixing things up a bit and trying something new. 

If you’re not sure how to go about doing that, your best bet is to take a look online on YouTube and on beauty blogs to get some ideas and inspiration. 

Another option could be to book yourself in for a makeover at a beauty counter so that you can work with a makeup artist to find a new makeup look to try. 

Once you’ve found a new makeup look that you love, the chances are that you will begin to feel more confident again, so it’s worth taking the time to change up your look.

Invest in your wardrobe



Image credit

Believe it or not, what you wear has a big impact on how you feel about yourself. If you want to feel good about your appearance, you need to be happy and confident in how you dress. If most of your clothes are old and outdated, it’s going to impact how you feel about yourself, which is why updating your wardrobe is worth doing. It might only be a small thing - picking out a few items of clothing - but it can make a big difference to how you feel about yourself. 

If you haven’t updated your wardrobe in a while, head to your local shopping centre and do some shopping. Whether you buy a couple of new items or replace your entire wardrobe, it doesn’t matter, all that matters is that you feel happier in what you are wearing. Because if you feel happy in your clothing, then you are more likely to feel confident about your appearance, it's as simple as that.

Have your teeth whitened

If your teeth aren’t in the best shape and have taken on a yellow hue, then you may be thinking about getting them whitened. If there’s one thing that has an impact on our self-confidence, it’s our smiles. This is because they are one of our most visible features and the first thing that we notice about people when meeting them for the first time. If you are going to have your teeth whitened, either professionally or using a DIY kit, it’s a good idea to cut out anything that will stain your teeth, such as red wine or smoking, for instance. Giving up smoking isn’t easy, but with the help of an e-cigarette like the ones that Aspire eCig UK offer, you can make the process easier. You will feel so much better for it, especially when your teeth stay looking dazzling white.

Get in better shape

Have you let yourself go a bit? If you have realised that you have gained a few pounds and aren’t in the same physical shape as you used to be, then perhaps you might want to change that. What you weigh shouldn’t impact your self-esteem, but if it is, then it’s important to make changes so that you feel better about yourself. 

If you don’t already exercise regularly, perhaps is could be time to start? Believe it or not, once you have started exercising you will find that you feel much better about yourself and much more content. When we exercise, we release endorphins, and endorphins make us happy, which in turn helps to boost our self-esteem. 

As well as exercising regularly, another great way to improve how you feel about yourself is to eat well. When you eat healthy, wholesome foods, you tend to feel better about yourself, which is why it’s worth making changes.

Be more positive about your appearance



Picture link

Last but not least, it’s a good idea to try to be more positive about yourself and your appearance.If you want to fall in love with yourself again, you need to learn to be more positive about how you look. The more positive you are about your appearance, the better you will feel about yourself. A positive mindset is the key to success when it comes to improving your self-esteem, so it pays to aim to be more positive about things. 

To do this, the best thing to do is focus on the things that you like about your appearance, rather than the negative things. That way, you can slowly improve how you feel about yourself, and give your confidence a boost. It will take time but if you try to be as positive as possible, you will begin to see results and will start to love yourself again.

There you have it, everything that you need to know about falling back in love with yourself again and improving your confidence. Admittedly, being self-confident is not always easy, but the fact is it is possible to improve how you feel about yourself, it just takes time, that’s all.

Read more

Indulge In Some Retro Sweet Memories This Easter

Say Easter and, for many, chocolate eggs are the first thing to spring to mind.  Not everyone is a chocoholic though and some cannot eat chocolate because of its dairy content.

For lots of us the memories of the sweets we enjoyed as children are capable of transporting us back to the hazy, lazy days of our childhood where happiness was pear drops, cola cubes and four Fruit Salad or Black Jack sweets for a penny. Then there were Sherbert Dabs, Space Dust that crackled on your tongue, Spangles and Blobs.

Image credit

It's a definite sign of getting older when you remember sweets being much bigger. What about Cadbury's Amazin' Raisin Bars? Snickers Bars were Marathons and M&Ms were Peanut Treats and Toffee Treats. Endless jokes abounded about the coffee or orange ones in a bag of Revels - the ones that were always the last to be picked.

Image credit: Darren Richard Haynes

There were also fruity Polos and Trebor Extra Strong Mints were so strong that they could make you sneeze.

In fact the old fashioned sweet shops had row upon row of sweets jars and they were sold by the quarter pound in small white paper bags. In those days you had more sweets than packaging.

My first job was as a Saturday girl in F. W. Woolworths on the makeup counter which was situated just behind the legendary Pick 'n' Mix counter.  Nobody particularly worried about the sticky sets of fingers helping to 'test' the various types of sweet. You could even buy broken biscuits by the pound and a peanut and raisin mix (the 'healthy' option!).

Incidentally, if you would like to wallow in confectionery nostalgia, there is even a Facebook Group - Sweets of Yesteryear where you can revisit the sweets of your youth - or at least pictures of them.

And it's not surprising that Roald Dahl's Charlie & The Chocolate Factory remains an all time classic. I can still remember the thrill of Charlie finding the last golden ticket in his Wonka Bar.  It's certainly a story that keeps Caitlin and Ieuan transfixed.  What about Everlasting Gobstoppers, Luminous Lollies for eating in bed at night, Mint Jujubes and Hair Toffee?

Here's hoping you get some sweet treats this Easter!

Ieuan as Willy Wonka

Read more

Things I Wish I'd Known About My Intimate Health When Young

Dear much, much younger self.

This is your 50-something self talking and I have some things I'd like to tell you about your intimate health, that intricate system of working parts that is capable of creating life and joy and wonder.

When you're young, with your biological clock ticking regularly and loudly, and with your fertility at its peak, it's easy to think that you will stay like this for ever.

Time stretches ahead of you like the horizon over a blue sea on a bright sunny day - never ending, full of hope and possibilities.

I'm here to gently remind you that there is a final destination to your journey.

I am now approaching the menopause - a time of reassessment and great change - the kind of hormonally charge experience you went through at puberty and which your daughter is about to experience.

I have to confess I am a little sad at this juncture because it means no more babies and I can see the creeping changes on my body - a little less collagen, a lot more grey hair.

But, like many strong positive women, I need to allow myself a momentary pause to bid my younger self farewell before I do what we women do - shoulders back, deep breath, head up, smile and FORWARDS!

And, in all honesty, nothing much else has changed.  I still need to keep caring for my body and taking care of my intimate health and hygiene, just as I always have.

Talking of which, here are a few things I've learned over the years that you would do well to remember.

Nobody knows your body like you do.

Not doctors, not gynaecologists, not consultants.  If you feel something is wrong, get it checked out.

The female body is still a mystery to many in the medical profession.

Painful as that is to write in the 21st century, you will find that doctors will generally diagnose any discomfort 'down there' as being Thrush or Bacterial Vaginosis.

Vulvodynia, Vaginitis, Bartholin's Cysts, Pudendal Neuralgia, you may come across all this things whilst consulting Doctor Google and you will find many women on internet forums who experience these things and who remain misdiagnosed for years.

Again, I say you have to take charge of your intimate health.

You need to treat your vagina with respect.

It does not need to be scrubbed and perfumed, just gently cleansed. Use a gentle wash such as Vagisil ProHydrate Intimate Wash (£5 for 250ml) especially designed for the unique needs of intimate skin, gynaecologist tested and gentle enough for daily use. 

The Vagisil ProHydrate range was developed after 5 years of research and clinical testing and has been specifically designed to relieve intimate dryness. 

The range includes Vagisil ProHydrate Internal Hydrating Gel, Vagisil ProHydrate External Hydrating Gel and Vagisil ProHydrate Intimate Wash and is available from leading supermarkets and chemists nationwide.

It's important to feel comfortable, confident and enjoy intimacy when you want to and 9 out of 10 women would recommend Vagisil ProHydrate to others suffering from intimate dryness. 

Cotton underwear is kindest!

Most of the sexy underwear you see is made of man-made fibres which don't allow the area to breathe. This can lead to irritations such as cystitis and thrush - not sexy!  Cotton underwear or at least panties with a cotton gusset are the way to go most of the time. As you get older, you'll definitely come to appreciate comfort more!

As your body changes towards menopause, there are some positives though:-

No more contraception

You can give up using contraception if you have not had a period for around two years if you are under the age of 50 and for around one year if you are over 50. 

But be careful.  Some contraceptive pills stop the mid cycle bleed (it's not a real period you know) making it well nigh impossible to work out what's going on.  See your GP and ask for a blood test but be prepared that you may have to come off the pill to work out if you are menopausal.

Having said that, STIs have risen in the older generation by over a third in the last decade so it makes sense to at least keep using a condom if you are not in a steady relationship.

No more accidental pregnancy

Need I say more?  No more worrying about accidental pregnancy or rushing to the chemist for the morning after pill.  Whilst you're in the tricky "has my menopause started" phase you might still find yourself buying pregnancy tests though!

No more period pain

Feminax tablets and a hot water bottle saw me through most months but oh, that aching, dragging feeling, not to mention the PMS symptoms.

No more stocking up on sanitary protection

It doesn't matter how many you buy, at some point you will find yourself without one just when you need it.  Or, you'll get your purse out at the checkout at the supermarket and a brightly wrapped towel will plop onto the conveyor belt.  

The truth is there are positives and negatives in every stage of your life and it is good to talk to other women and share your experiences and concerns.  There is no need to be shy.

Time passes in the blink of an eye and if there is one message that I would want you to take with you is that it's your life and your body - make sure you enjoy both.

Love,

*This is a collaborative post with Vagisil.

Read more

What Comes After Baby No. 1?

Making the decision to bring another child into the world is one that is easiest thing in the world for some, but slightly harder for others. It’s quite subjective, and there are a lot of factors which can contribute towards a massive choice.


Image source

It’s said that no children are ever the same, but there are more struggles than this than have to be taken into consideration - relying just on the attitude and behaviours of a baby you’ve never met is not one of the top priorities.

Fertility

The older you get, the less fertile you are likely to be. More couples are choosing to have babies later on in life, after they have got career-motivations and other vices out of their systems, and are finding it increasingly harder to conceive. There is the option of going to a fertility clinic, and before getting disheartened about the whole process, it’s best to see how good your chances are if you are growing concerned - especially if you have left a bit of a gap between children.

Money

Children are expensive. Ask any parent. It’s not just the clothes and food that you have got to take into consideration, but more so the cost of living as a whole. This includes their childcare, your time off work, the amount of time that you are able to commit to your career and expenses that crop up on a weekly basis. It all adds up - after all, you are bringing up another human! Think about when would be a right time finance-wise to add to your family.

Your Child/Children

There are wants and needs from your first child or children that you are going to have to listen to. It can be a hard time for the baby that you’ve been putting all of your time and attention into to adapt to having someone around to share their attention with. If they are of the age to understand what’s going on, set some quality time aside for them to keep them in the loop and let them know what’s going on. Assure them that they’ll be no less important than they already are.

You and Your Partner

If you are specifically planning to have a baby, there is a good chance that you and your partner are on the same wavelength and have made the decision together. If this isn’t the case, and they found the first round of parenthood a struggle, it’s time to talk. It needs to be something that you’re in together, else you may be facing problems further down the line.

Being a parent is the most wonderful thing in the world, but it can also be the most demanding and stressful thing that you’ll ever do as well. 

More children mean more responsibility, but also offer the opportunity for friendship, personal growth and a bond like no other. Whatever the decision, make sure that it’s the right one for you and enjoy the journey - they grow up so quick!

Read more

Hop Into Spring With A HARIBO Giveaway

We love HARIBO and it's a popular treat in our house at any time of year.  At Easter it's nice to have an alternative to all that chocolate and HARIBO is a lot easier to share (or is that just me?).

HARIBO have kindly given me a selection of products from their Easter and Spring Time range to give away. Read on to find out how to win.

Ideal for the Easter bunny to hide around the home or garden is the HARIBO Easter Hunt multi-pack. Packed with mini bags of gums and jellies in bunny, chick and lamb shaped pieces, this pack contains either 11 or 22 portion controlled treats.

Tweeting its way back into stores is HARIBO Chick 'n' Mix.  A fun alternative to the traditional chocolate egg, this cute gift box is filled with bunny and lamb shaped jellies, tangy chicks, Starmix's favourite egg and last, but not least, flower shaped squishy marshmallows.

For those who don't want to hunt for a sweet sharing treat, HARIBO's Spring Time Friends, Fizzy Farm Animals and Jelly Bunnies could be just what you are looking for.

With cute sheep, bunny and chick shapes, Spring Time Friends are great for sharing and are the perfect treat to get you in the mood for Spring.

There's also Fizzy Farm Animals that have been created using the popular Tangfastics original sour mix recipe and Jelly Bunnies, bunny shaped pieces with the popular texture found in Jelly Babies.

You'd be hopping mad to miss out on HARIBO's delicious range of tasty treats this Easter and Spring time!

There's also a new ‘smurftastic’ addition stooping into existing HARIBO Smurfs packs, ahead of the fully animated film, ‘Smurfs: The Lost Village’ – a Gargamal shaped piece in sour cherry flavour!

The infamous evil wizard will join Grouchy, Brainy and Jokey in strawberry and raspberry flavours, and Smurfette in lemon and raspberry flavours to create the first sweet and sour HARIBO Smurfs bag.

Also new for 2017 is HARIBO Chamallows Smurfs Family, which features marshmallow in a range of recognisable shapes including the iconic Smurfs mushroom-shaped house in vanilla and raspberry flavours.

 

For more details about the HARIBO Easter and Smurfs Ranges please visit the HARIBO Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/HariboUK or follow the brand on Twitter @OfficialHaribo.

The Giveaway  (note: not including the Smurfs)

Up for grabs are

*HARIBO Chick ‘n’ Mix
*Easter Hunt
*Spring Time Friends
*Fizzy Farm Animals.

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget and the giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Sunday 30th April 2017. UK entrants only. Terms and conditions are on my competitions page.

Please note this prize will arrive after Easter.



a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck!

Read more

How To Be A Healthy Role Model For Your Daughter

We learn a lot about life we learn from our parents as we are growing up. So much so, that I bet you can remember things that your mother said to you when were are a little girl, even now! 

That is why it is essential that we set the best example for your own daughters regarding physical and mental health. But what does that look like? 

Image source

Food and fitness 

First of all, it’s a good idea to get the basics right. Including eating well and exercising. Now everyone has their own view and struggles with these sorts of things, and it's not for me or anyone else, to tell you what to eat or what how to exercise.

Instead, try and instil some more basic habits into your kids through your or own example. So that means having a good diet, not being afraid to try new things, and getting the right balance between treats and healthier food. Hint: it's totally cool to have treats now and again you don't have to cut everything out entirely!

Emotional well-being

Another way in which we can serve our daughters well is to model good emotional well-being for them. Although this isn't always the easiest thing to do when you're a mum, as you have everyone else to look after before you can see to yourself!

But really, what message is this giving our daughters, that she should work herself into the ground just so everyone else is OK? That she can only take time off when no one else needs her?

Surely we want to raise strong, wise daughters that know when to push harder in life, and when to ease off and take a rest to recuperate? If so, then this is definitely something that they will learn from watching you. So ensure that you are compassionate to yourself as well as the other members of your family.

Women’s health

We can also be of great influence to our daughters, especially as they start to grow up is in the area of women's health.


Picture

Explaining the changes that occur in the body can help with this.

As can demonstrating that we are looking after our own female health issues by being open about our own experiences with women's health providers such as the London Womens Centre, or the NHS. As this can help our daughters develop the confidence to seek medical advice when it's needed and have true control over their own health.

Joy

Image

Lastly, one of the most important things to demonstrate to our daughters from our own behaviour is how to find joy in life.

If you are stuck doing things you hate every day, and make no time for fun, laughter or creativity, not only will you be miserable, but you could be setting your daughter up for a fall in later life as well.

That is why is a great idea to take some time every day to do something that you love and that nourishes your soul.

You can even share this time with your daughter if you choose to, which will help her develop this habit as she matures.

Read more

Win Og On The Bog From Drumond Park Games

Let's be honest.  There's nothing like a game involving general bodily rudeness to capture the imagination of youngsters (and many adults) and we've been sent just such a game to review by Drumond Park Games.

The electronic Og on the Bog (rrp £24.99), age 5+ for 2-4 players) is truly hilarious and takes revolting games to completely new heights with its outrageous brand of gross and disgusting toilet humour.

This may well be an acquired taste but my two found it very funny indeed.  Og on the Bog is simple but appeals to a vast range of youngsters up to the age of 11 and beyond.

The aim of the game is to steal Og's loo rolls and leave him stranded on the loo.  Players take turns on the spinner to see if they can sneak a loo roll of its pole.

If your hands are unsteady, however, you'll disturb Og who will fart loudly and scare them away!

As play proceeds anticipation and excitement build because if Og does a truly humungous, explosive fart, he blows his Bog apart!

To play you set up Og and his bog in the centre of the table. Each player is given a loo roll to start them off and the youngest player spins the tree stump spinner.

A red cross means you’ve made a noise and it’s not safe to tip-toe up to Og’s Bog, so your turn is over and the next player spins.

The hand holding a loo roll means you can pinch a loo roll from any other player!

A green tick means you can stealthily try to steal a loo roll from Og’s loo roll pole… and here’s the tricky part. You have to push down the front step of the bog to see if Og has heard you. If he says anything, he has – and you must run away; your turn is over.

If he grunts or farts he has not heard you – and you can try to lift that loo roll off the pole. 

If you twitch it too much, Og will make another noise: if he shouts out something (which could be quite rude!), you must drop the loo roll back on the pole and your turn is over. If he grunts or farts – success! – he did not hear you and you can keep that precious loo roll.

A wobbly hand might just set Og off more than once during your loo-roll-lifting efforts, and the same rules apply; if he shouts, drop it – but if he farts, you’re safe (and I never thought I’d hear myself say that one)!

If Og does a monster fart and his bog explodes during your turn, you have to put two of the loo rolls you've already collected back on to the pole and finish your turn, raising the walls of Og's bog once again so that play can continue.

The winner is the first player to collect three loo rolls if 4 of you are playing, otherwise you have to collect 4 loo rolls each.

You do need to have a steady hand to retrieve the loo rolls and it doesn't take much for Og's bog to explode, leaving him sat looking very disgruntled.

The game is just the right level of complexity for Caitlin and Ieuan and an ideal length - we found it lasted around 10-15 minutes which is ideal for their attention span.

It's also blissfully easy to set up with a well printed set of instructions.  There's nothing worse than a game that takes longer to set up than it does to play (and we've had a few!).

Giveaway

I have one copy of Og on the Bog to give away to one lucky winner to test their own loo roll retrieval skills.

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget and terms and conditions apply (on my competitions page). UK entrants only and the giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Sunday 23rd April.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more information and stockists, visit www.drumondpark.com. You can also find out more on Facebook or Twitter.

Read more

Win How To Grow A Baby & I'm Wrecked This Is My Journal Books

You may remember I recently reviewed Clemmie Hooper's How To Grow A Baby & Push It Out and I'm Wrecked This Is My Journal - The Alternative Baby Book For Frazzled Parents by Shannon
Cullen.

Both are best selling baby books with a unique attitude to the joys of pregnancy and the aftermath!

Clemmie's book covers each trimester of pregnancy through to delivery and beyond. There are recipes for the various trimesters, tips on styling your new shape, a discussion on sex in pregnancy, how to write a birth plan, illustrations of positions for labour, what to pack in your hospital bag, top tips for birth checklists and even advice on booking a babymoon.

There's also advice on what to expect when having a C-section or being induced and the knotty issues of whether you should wax and if pooing is normal when giving birth (it is)!

With "I'm Wrecked This Is My Journal", mother-of-two Shannon who is the publishing director for children's books at Penguin Random House UK, has created an entertaining and honest journal. She has a new baby as well as a toddler and aspires to wake up naturally - without the aid of children - one morning.

It’s a book for parents to record their own experiences – both the highs and the lows – and to chart the extraordinary transition to parenthood.

How To Grow A Baby and I'm Wrecked This Is My Journal are both available from Amazon.

I have one copy of each to win for one lucky winner.  All you need to do is enter via the Rafflecopter widget below.  UK entrants only and the usual terms and conditions apply which you can view on my competitions page.

The giveaway will end at 11:59 pm on Friday 21st April.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

*contains affiliate links

Read more

Please support MEDAPTI - A Safer & Easier Way To Give Babies Medicine

I have just learned about a brilliant new invention by mum of two Dora Dyk. It is called MEDAPTI and it will make giving medicine to babies much easier.

Whilst I was lucky enough to have few problems with Caitlin and Ieuan in getting them to take medicine, for example from the plastic syringes that are supplied with infant medicines such as Calpol and Nurofen, many babies struggle - particularly babies with reflux.

I can recall occasions where I accidentally shot the medicine into their mouths too quickly making them cough. It's so easy to get it wrong when trying to administer medicine to a distressed, poorly little one. Upsetting for baby and mum.



Dora is seeking support and crowdfunding to get her invention to market. This is the last week of her campaign for funding (ending 6th April) and health professionals in hospitals such as Great Ormond Street, Alder Hay and Sheffield have already expressed an interest in MEDAPTI.

MEDAPTI could also be used to give medicine to the disabled and the elderly.

Here is her story. Please support her if you can.

My name is Dora and I am a mum of two boys. When they were little, I struggled to give them medicine safely and effectively, especially my second baby.

My first son was on reflux medication for a long time and I was always worried about hurting his tiny gums with the regular plastic syringe. I had a bigger issue with my second baby who completely refused to take the medication. He either spat it out, was sick on it or the medicine would just end up all over him, me or the floor which meant I never knew what dose he took.

It was heart breaking to see him so distressed. I used to cry with him a lot of the times because I was so overwhelmed with the whole experience. I just couldn’t find a safe enough solution. I used a medicine dummy which helped as at least I wasn’t worried about hurting his gums but as he didn’t like dummies, I had to use the plunger and many times accidentally shot it too fast down his throat and made him choke.

There were countless times when I would walk around the room rocking my baby to calm him down and I couldn’t stop thinking: ‘There has to be a safer way!” This is how the idea of MEDAPTI was born.



Why is MEDAPTI different from anything that’s out on the market?

* It directs medicine to the cheek which is the safest way as it prevents from choking. This way also helps to avoid taste buds and makes it harder for a baby to spit the medicine out which in result minimises the risk of baby taking an incorrect dose.

* It helps to keep the syringe in baby's mouth even if the baby is moving around or refusing to take the medicine, which also minimises the risk of baby taking an incorrect dose.

* It is soft, protecting baby's mouth and gums.

* It is simple and mess free.

* It only requires the use of one hand when dispensing the medicine, leaving you with a free hand to hold your baby.

A lot of people think MEDAPTI is just like a medicine dummy. It’s not. It might look similar to a dummy but it works in a different way and is suitable for babies that do not like dummies or bottles.



It has been just over four years since I first thought of MEDAPTI and what an exciting journey it has been! Challenging for sure BUT amazing! With no previous experience in product development, I had to learn it all step by step…intellectual property, design, manufacturing and so many other things!

I have to admit, juggling between kids, day job and MEDAPTI project isn’t the easiest thing and we have to make sacrifices as a family but I believe it will be worth it.

Fortunately, I have a lot of support and encouragement from my family and friends. My boys, 5 and 7 years old are my biggest supporters and my very valuable advisers J My youngest said to me the other day: “Mum, when I’m big, I’d like to do MEDAPTI with you.” My eldest came from school one day and said: “Mum, I invented something today!” It would be a dream to take them to a supermarket one day and show them MEDAPTI on one of the shelves! They would not believe it!

I am extremely proud of how far I got with the development of my invention. Articles about MEDAPTI were published in The Sun, The Mirror and second best-selling newspaper in Poland last year.

Just within the last two weeks, I was featured by ten different blog and baby sites, including Mummy Pages. I never thought that just the idea I had in my mind would travel across the globe for someone to write about it!

The more feedback I get, the more I realise that MEDAPTI could help so many people. Not just parents and carers of babies but also disabled and elderly. Something I am especially proud of is the fact that I had interest from health professionals in hospitals like Great Ormond Street Hospital, Alder Hay and Sheffield.

It just shows that giving medicine to babies is a real issue. One of my guest blog posts is also a proof of that. A mum blogger whose daughter was born with half a working heart said that MEDAPTI would have really helped with her baby when she was born. It’s incredibly moving to think that my invention could help those babies who need extra medication or anyone else who struggles with giving medicine.

This is why I desperately need your help! I am raising funds on Kickstarter so I can pay for the tooling and produce the first batch of MEDAPTI.

Please support me and PLEDGE. There are many Rewards to choose from. I will be forever grateful! The campaign finishes next Thursday, 6th of April at 8pm so there is not much time left!

Here is the link to my campaign where you can see a short video and find out more about me:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/400491693/1069786552?token=6da0111e

Please support Dora if you can.

Read more

New Releases, Free & Bargain Books Link-up Week 14 2017

How are you all this week?  The Husband is off on his sales week in Canada so I've been manning the fort alone.  I've needed a large glass of wine a couple of times, I can tell you!  I felt much the same last year as you can see from this post.

Did you catch my review of Into The Air by A.K. Downing?  It's a fabulous debut novel for young adults set in a post apocalyptic world with a feisty young female heroine searching for her lost father.

As usual, there are some great books on the linky - and don't forget you can always add your own to spread a bit of the book love.

Don't forget that I still have plenty to be won on my competitions page and don't forget my problem page here.

Happy bargain and freebie book hunting on this link.

Have a great week!

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

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

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

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 weeks awesome selection!

Read more

Problem Page Edition 13 2017

This week - how to stop your boyfriend from smoking, why your ex would block you and whether flirting could be 'creepy'.

If you would like any advice, feel free to treat me as your agony aunt. Just message me or pop a comment in the comment box at the end of this post. I promise to be gentle.

Here are this week's questions.

Q: Why would my ex block me and then unblock me?

A: It depends how long ago it was you split up. 

If it’s recent, it may be that they have had a change of heart or, if the break-up was their fault, they simply feel guilty about blocking you. 

If, on the other hand, you been messaging them with anything angry or vindictive, or openly criticising them on timelines etc, you shouldn’t be surprised at being blocked, particularly if your messages were visible to their friends and family. Social media is not the place to air your dirty laundry. 

If things ended a while ago, perhaps they feel that now your relationship is in the past, it is OK to remain friends. 

The only way you will know is if they make contact with you directly. 

If you did nothing to warrant being blocked, I would feel pretty annoyed and not waste any further time on them. It’s pretty childish behaviour, don’t you think?

Q: My boyfriend smokes a lot. How can I make him understand that he has to end? 

A: Smoking is an addiction so it’s not as easy as telling someone they HAVE to stop. Unless they’ve been living in a cave, they’re well aware of the damage they are doing to their health. 

Perhaps in the first instance it would be better to encourage them to cut down. 

You may find some ideas in my post about this "Will This Help Your Loved One To Reduce Their Smoking Habit?" 

The more you nag him to stop, the more he will continue I suspect. 

If his smoking is a deal-breaker for you and he won’t stop, then I think you need to tell him that the passive smoking he’s putting you through is harming your health as well and you want a boyfriend who respects both his, and your body. 

After all, if he won’t choose you over smoking then that doesn’t bode too well for your future relationship. 

I think someone who wants to be with you will at least be willing to agree to some sort of compromise. 

But he’s not a child and he really needs to decide to stop for himself. 

Q: Will he come back if I take time away? 

My boyfriend ended things because he wasn't happy with himself and was tired of my lack of trust. I know he had been feeling this way for a while; the breakup wasn't abrupt. The breakup had us both in tears however he said he wasn't getting back with me. If I let go, will he come back? Advice?

A: My question to you is, if you don’t trust him, why would you want to take him back? 

It sounds, I’m afraid, as if he has made his mind up and is spinning you the old “It isn’t you, it’s me” line. 

But is there more to it? 

If he has been miserable for a while, has he been suffering from depression for example. Has there been someone else in the background whilst all this has been going on? 

I am sure you feel heartbroken but the best way to inspire him to come back is to build a life without him and don’t let him see you are hurting. 

Desperately trying to hang on to him may make him more determined to go - and I think you should have pride enough not to give him the satisfaction. 

It doesn’t sound as if this was going anywhere and with time apart you may meet someone far more suitable, and someone who you can trust. 

Very often if we don’t trust someone, our gut instinct has come into play and is shouting a message at us. 

I suspect it may be time to listen to yours. 

Q: Does she like me, or think I'm creepy? 

There's this girl in my coworking space. I always catch her taking a quick glance at me, but I pretend not to notice. She does the same thing walking in the building when I'm already inside. I feel like she's keeping tabs on me, than showing actual interest. Why would girls do this? 

A: I’m guessing you don’t have much experience with women. Hasn’t it dawned on you she might be flirting with you? 

Lots of girls still believe the guy should make the first move, old fashioned as that may seem. And if you are reacting as if she thinks you’re a creep, it’s not really surprising she’s not started up a conversation is it? 

If you’re interested then return her smiles. Say hello. If you’re not interested then carry on ignoring her. She’ll get the message soon enough. 

Q: How would you feel if you were sleeping with someone and suddenly they tell you that they're engaged to their ex? And they declare it to everyone.

A: I would ask them to pack their stuff and get their cheating backside out of my home and then never see them again. 

How you feel is immaterial. What you do about it is what matters. 

By the way, how can they be engaged to their ex? Their ex is very much not an ex then surely. 

I do wonder how much you knew about this person but if they had led you to believe that you were in a bona fide relationship I would be absolutely livid. 

Tempting as it is to tell the fiancee I’d do the decent thing and keep schtum. She’ll find out what a rat he is soon enough. 

You just need to move on with your head held high and ask a few more searching questions next time. 

How would you have responded to these questions? I'd love to know. You can find more advice on my problem page.

Disclaimer: 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. 

Read more

3 Things To Consider With Your Child's Education

Many parents develop a love-hate relationship with their children's education. Naturally, it has to be appropriate, and it can be a drama if your child doesn’t perform as well as you had hoped.  As parents we all derive great personal pride when our children do well.

Far more important, however is the question of how well your child's education is preparing them for adult life.

Will they leave school equipped for higher education and with a clear idea of the kind of job that will excite and motivate them? 

In the end, our role as a parent is to make sure that our kids have all they need in life, and this includes an education that allows plenty of room for self-growth. 

Here are three areas in which you can help them best. 

How Are Your Kids Doing In School?

First of all, the unavoidable parents’ evening at your child’s school is the best way for you to take the temperature. Parents’ evening is often a bit of an ordeal for many parents, but this is a necessary step to finding out first hand how your child is doing. 

A lot of parents will use the evening as a way of sharing their parenting opinions with the teachers, but it's important to attend for the following reasons.

The teacher is there to give you an overview of your child’s social interactions, school performance, and overall behaviour. This is the evening in the year during which you can find out from an adult specialised in working with children, whether yours are having difficulties making friends, getting their heads around maths, or sitting quietly in class. 

This is an important step on your parenting journey to help them and a key opportunity to find out where the issues are and discuss possible solutions with the teacher and other parents.

Consider The School Equipment

If you are still in the process of choosing your child’s future school, or if you are visiting the school for an appointment with the teacher, then make sure you take the time to look around. 

Do they have modern playground equipment for schools in the playground? Are they using digital technology in the classroom? Is there a computer room, and if so, what types of computers are there? 

Schools need to provide a healthy mix of modern equipment to help your child get prepared for the modern life. For some children, the school is the only place where they can get to see a digital tablet or read a book. So it’s important that they can use relatively current equipment so that they are best prepared for the active world that awaits them. 

Help Them To Discover Their Passion

Finally, as a parent, it is your role to help your child develop his or her passion. Passions are notoriously difficult to find, so help your children by planning cultural outings such as an afternoon at the museum or theatre, even an art gallery or how about a library?

You could even plan a cultural holiday abroad, but it's probably best not to do that in term time unless you have the permission of the head teacher!

There are plenty of things that you can do to help your child broaden their horizons. But as you do, you are getting them one step closer to defining a future path that they will love. 

Read more