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Monday, 4 April 2016

HayMax Balm - A Natural Way To Help Relieve The Misery of Hayfever & Giveaway

It's that time of year when the hay fever symptoms start to strike.  The Husband suffers quite badly and has to take Beconase nasal spray to relieve his symptoms.  The problem with this is that it tends to give him nosebleeds and, if he doesn't start taking it quickly enough, he gets all the symptoms anyway.

HayMax Organic Drug-Free Allergen Barrier Balms - Hayfever Relief - motherdistracted.co.uk
HayMax Organic Drug-Free Allergen Barrier Balm Varieties
We are of course familiar with all the traditional 'home cures'.  We tried this year to find locally sourced honey as the country wisdom is that taking a spoon of local (i.e. within a few miles) honey every day before the hay fever season starts can prevent its onset.

Unfortunately our local bee keepers in Dinas Powys had a very bad year.  We had high hopes for some honey from the hives at National Trust Dyffryn but nothing has materialised for sale.

Caitlin and Ieuan suffer some mild symptoms of hay fever so we were curious to try HayMax Organic Drug-Free Allergen Barrier Balm which can be used to ease and even prevent the miserable symptoms of hay fever and dust or pet allergies.

HayMax Organic Drug-Free Allergen Barrier Balm Pure - Hayfever Relief - motherdistracted.co.uk
HayMax Pure Balm
HayMax comes in a number of varieties but we tested HayMax Pure which is made from organic sunflower oil and beeswax.  There is no added fragrance or essential oils making this the best variant for those with sensitive skin.

HayMay Pure - the balm itself
The Balm itself
How does it work?

The theory is that when the amount of allergens in the body rises above a certain trigger level, your symptoms kick in.

HayMax Allergen Barrier Balm works by trapping the allergens so that the trigger level is not reached.

The products have been featured by doctors on TV and in the press and in one survey 80% of those who tested it said it worked for them.

It is suitable for adults and kids (although a new version, HayMax Kids is now available) and both pregnant and breast-feeding women can use it too.

How do you use it?

Simply apply around the nostils and /or the bones of the eyes when you start sneezing or your allergy symptoms start.

Caitlin & Ieuan testing HayMay Pure - Hayfever Relief - motherdistracted.co.uk
My crack testing team at work
Use it morning and evening and you will have to reapply when you blow your nose.

Caitlin applying HayMax Pure to Ieuan - Hayfever Relief - motherdistracted.co.uk
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Did it work?

The Husband and kids applied the balm liberally before a trip to Cosmeston Nature Reserve, guaranteed to make them all sneeze even though we love the place.

And whilst it did help the kids a little, it had little effect on the Husband.  This may be because his symptoms were already in full force before he tried it.

Ieuan, in particular, usually sneezes quite a bit but he was fine, even after a good hour and a half.

I think for HayMax to work you really need to be on the ball with your application and make sure you religiously reapply each time you blow your nose.

On the plus side, this is a very gentle way to help relieve some of the symptoms and, because it is non-drowsy and drug free I would certainly consider it as a supplementary aid to ease hayfever.

As I said, I am not sure we were applying enough or frequently enough.

There are other versions you can try - aloe vera, lavender, pure or frankincense, and the new HayMax Kids.

Caitlin applying HayMax Pure - hayfever relief - motherdistracted.co.uk

Haymax retails at £6.99 a pot and can be purchased from Holland & Barrett, selected Boots; independent chemists, pharmacists and health stores.

You can also buy direct from the company at haymax.biz.

If you would like to try HayMax for yourself, I have a pot of the Lavender and a pot of the Aloe Vera varieties to giveaway. (one pot each for two winners).

Simply enter via the Rafflecopter below.

The giveaway ends at 23.59pm on the 18th of April 2016.

UK entrants only and terms and conditions apply (on my Competitions Page).

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*collaborative post
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Work Off That Chocolate Overload With Some Footie Fun

I read, last year, that over Easter each child in the UK will consume around 8 Easter eggs each which is a staggering amount. And I have to confess that our two have had their fair share - which we are rationing and 'helping them out with' to lessen the load a little.

Ieuan Hobbis

So, despite the ravages of Storm Katie and the infrequent bouts of sunshine, we have taken every excuse to get out of doors this Easter school holiday for some exercise and, having watched Wales draw 1-1 with Northern Ireland last weekend, we are all cautiously optimistic for the approaching UEFA Euro 2016 ™ matches.

We are blessed, in Dinas Powys, with a large expanse of open green known locally as "The Common" and it is the site of many a football and rugby match along with the lovely sight of horses cantering around the perimeter.

Ieuan Hobbis playing football on Dinas Powis Common

It is a great place to take the kids so they can run about and let off some steam.

What could be easier than taking a ball and having a kick about for an hour? 

It makes such a welcome change from the usual activities of iPad, TV and DVD and gives everyone the chance to clear their head. 

Football is great exercise because:-

- it increases cardiovascular health and increases aerobic capacity
- lowers body fat and improves muscle tone
- builds strength, flexibility and endurance
- increases muscle and bone strength

and

- improves overall health because of the shifting between walking, running and sprinting.

Five very good reasons why adults should get out of their chairs and join their kids on the pitch!

"As a kid, you obviously dream of being a professional footballer. I would watch players like Ronaldo of Brazil and pretend to be him in the playground. But I don't think about trying to become one of the best in the world or anything like that. I just play football."

Gareth Bale


Ieuan saves the football on Dinas Powis Common

Then there are other benefits such as:-

- you learn teamwork
- you learn to literally "think on the run"
- it teaches you persistence and self-discipline
- it helps to increase your confidence and self esteem

and, as we all know, exercise of any kind is a brilliant way to deal with our anxieties and the stresses of daily life.

I think children also benefit from admiring their football heroes because they can teach children to model positive behaviours like co-operation and looking out for one another.  Everyone needs something positive to aspire to.

So, as the opening game of the UEFA Euro 2016™ championship approaches, we are all honing our football skills.

Wales face England in the second game of the group stage on 16 June in Lens. They play Slovakia in the opening game on 11 June and Russia the final match of Group B on 20 June.

Sporting legend Ian Rush has told BBC Wales Sport that 'I've got a strong feeling that we won't lose to England, even though they've had a good result against Germany,"  Fingers crossed!

And of course there is still the fabulous opportunity for kids to win the opportunity to be a Player Ambassador at one of three UEFA EURO 2016™ matches taking place in June or July 2016 and the chance to win one of a hundred footballs in McDonald's fabulous competition.

How to enter

To take part all you have to do is to upload a photo of your child here by 10th April 2016 showing their passion for football: cheering on their country, celebrating a goal, or supporting their favourite team via the entry form.

Here's that link again. www.mcdonalds.co.uk/ukhome/Sport/Football/LetsPlay/EURO-2016.html

The Prizes 

McDonald's are offering some amazing prizes. Not only does your child get to walk out on the pitch but McDonald's are throwing in (see what I did there?), travel and accommodation for the three day trip to attend each respective match. This is for one parent / guardian (who must be over 18) and the winning child.

These are the matches the Player Ambassadors will be attending.

England vs Wales (England Player Escort) Match 16, Lens, 16th June 2016 (4 prizes)
England vs Wales (Wales Player Escort) Match 16, Lens, 16th June 2016 (3 prizes)
Northern Ireland vs Germany (Northern Ireland Player Escort) Match 30, Paris, 21st June 2016 (1 prize)
The Final, (Player Escort may walk out with either team) Match 51, Saint-Denis, Paris, 11th July 2016 (1 prize)
1 of 100 footballs

Conditions

Your child must be between 6 and 10 years old (inclusive) on 10th June 2016. Entries are limited to one per eligible child. No purchase is necessary to enter.

You'll have to hurry though, the competition closes on 10th April 2016, so there are only a few days left to get photographing.

In the meantime, let's hope the weather holds so we can all get out for a bit of footie fun.

And don't forget to submit your entry to this amazing competition!


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Sunday, 3 April 2016

My Sunday Photo - 08/04/2016

Mat & Ieuan Hobbis as Cosmeston
Mat& Ieuan exploring Cosmeston


OneDad3Girls
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Saturday, 2 April 2016

Stay At Home Mum? Oh no! It's the curse of the 'going out' headache

Why is it that I don't go out for months on end but, having found a babysitter, and finding myself actually free to leave the building, I find I have got myself so worked up I have a headache.

Tables in a restaurant - motherdistracted .co.uk
If you're used to staying at home, going out can become quite a big ordeal
I seem to sink in a Bermuda Triangle of anxiety symptoms - namely worry, excitement and stress.

And the less I go out, the worse it gets.

Social anxiety is a huge problem I think for stay at home parents who, although they once worked, socialised and mingled with the best of them, eventually find that all and any social interaction can be a source of untold stress.

And you can't really talk about it, can you?

You can't say "off out tonight for a lovely dinner with the husband and I'm stressed to bits about it"?

You're supposed to feel appreciated, lucky, excited.

You are not supposed to be frantically tidying the house so the babysitter doesn't have a fit of the vapours at the sight of your undercrackers on the radiator and the dust mite party happening behind the TV.

What's to be done?

No - not pre-loading with a glass or two of wine so that the rest of the evening passes in a haze.

One solution may be to ask the babysitter to arrive a little earlier so that you can take a few extra minutes to compose yourself and actually enjoy the process of getting ready.

Or you could negotiate with your partner so that they are ready before you are and can take care of the kids while you try to recall the make-up routine that was kicked to the kerb as soon as you arrived home from the hospital.

I admire those women who have not let parenthood get in the way of keeping themselves groomed and glossy but I suspect for many of us that's no longer the case.

How many of us find ourselves reaching for a make-up bag at the bottom of a handbag full of Fruit Shoot lids, Werthers Original wrappers and broken crayons, only to find our mascara has dried up, our blusher has caked and cracked and the kids have been drawing with the (one) expensive lipstick that still remains?

And then I can never find a hairbrush (even though we have quite a few) because they have all been left in various locations in the house due to school / ballet/ general going out panics.

Much the same way that you can never find a hairband when you want one either.

Having got myself dressed up I then have to teeter down the drive in the same height of heel I used to regularly run in when I was still working.

This is usually accomplished by holding on to the Husband like an octagenarian whilst he tries not to laugh.

I've never got a matching coat and bag.

I keep meaning to take all the junk out of my usual bag and actually use the beautiful Louis Vuitton bag which was my 50th birthday present from the Husband but I haven't quite managed it yet!

By the time we return I feel a whole lot better - a large glass of wine tends to do that I find - but just the one or I'm useless the next day.

I wish I could say that my accessory of choice for a night out wasn't a box of ibruprofen!
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Friday, 1 April 2016

New Releases Free & Bargain Books Link-up 1 April 2016

New Releases Free & Bargain Books Linky

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

It's linky day here at Mother Distracted so why not take a look at the fabulous selection of books on offer this week?

Click HERE for this week's awesome selection.

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

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


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

Click HERE for this week's awesome selection.
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How To Have A Great Family Holiday On A Budget

Going on vacation can be quite an expensive affair. However, it does not have to be if you follow our handy tips. By stretching your budget as far as you can, you are able to have the holiday of your dreams without going broke.

Getty Images
1. Examine Your Children's School Schedule 

Going on vacation in the "off season" costs less money. However, the off season does usually align with the dates that children have off from school. It is important not to pull them from class too often or their education could suffer. What, then, do you do? Communicate with your children's teachers. Find out if there is a down time during the year where your children would not be missing much of their essential academic work. For example, the last few days of a term are often pretty quite at the school.

If the school seems amenable, consider taking them out for a few days for a vacation. Look for a time when they already have a Friday or a Monday off, so you can take advantage of the long weekend. However, make sure to stay away from bank holidays, as you are likely to pay a premium if you go during these times.

Also, remember that you don't have to go away for five or six days. Even just a few days can help to rejuvenate your family and bring you all closer together.

2. Look For Value 

Certain locations are cheaper to travel to, while others are more expensive. There are a number of reasons, however, that prices for a vacation destination may vary. If you are looking for a good deal, consider heading to Spain. Prices are down about twenty percent, and there are several nice theme parks in the area that your family is sure to enjoy. In addition, Portugal and Morocco are great choices as well. Finally, Bulgaria is another country to consider.

Also, if you really want to save money, think about staying in the UK. It is a lot cheaper to head to a destination closer to home rather than going out of the country. And, there are lots of great things to see and do in the area!

3. Get a Good Deal On A Flight 

Pay attention to the days of the week when booking your flight. If you leave on a Tuesday rather than a Friday, for example, you may save more than 30 percent on the cost of your airfare! Also, try to avoid heading home on Sunday. You could pay almost 50 percent more for your flight if you do! And if you are going on a trip within the UK, check UK free stuff websites, as most have good deals with attraction parks like Alton towers.

Plan your trip well. If you are able to purchase your plane tickets several months in advance, you will get a better deal on them. In general, you want to be at least two months out from the date of your vacation. In addition, remember that there is nothing wrong with using different airlines to fly out and then back in to your home airport. You can save money if you do so.

4. Make Sure Everything Is Included

An all-inclusive vacation often saves you money in the long run, as you won't have any extra expenses to contend with. If you use Expedia or On the Beach to book your trip, you may find that you have more options in this area.

Some package deals are truly a great value. They offer something for everyone, including your children. You will find that your flight, hotel room, meals and even entertainment options are taken care of with most all-inclusive packages. This means that even though the figure may seem expensive at first, it is not that bad when you break it down according to everything you are getting for the money.

5. Do A Home Swap! 

If you really want to visit another country but you don't have the funds, consider swapping homes with another family. There are companies that handle these arrangements; you simply let them know where you live and how big your home is. Figure out where you want to go and your family then stays in another family's home. That family will stay at your place. You don't have to pay anything for your accommodations! In addition, the family whose home you are staying in can guide you to great restaurants and activities in the area.

Getty Images
6. Look Online For Foreign Currency 

Because it is convenient, many people try and change their money at the airport. However, rates are usually terrible there. Instead, purchase currency online and get the best rate possible.

7. Consider A Youth Hostel 

At one time, youth hostels were only for students. That is no longer the case, however. If you choose to stay at a hostel, you can expect to have a nice room in a great location. There are websites that can help you find competitively priced hostels.

8. Look Out For Deals For Children

Some places will let children travel for free, depending on their age. Always ask about any such discounts. In addition, if your children are just outside of the "free" range, talk to the operator and see if you can negotiate a deal. They may be willing to work with you to get your business.

9. Set Up Airport Parking Ahead Of Time 

If you do not set up your airport parking in advance, you could pay a pretty penny for it. Instead, go online and schedule something ahead of time. You could save about 10 percent by doing this.

10. Be Careful When Using Your Cell Phone 

If you go out of the country, turn off data roaming on your phone. Otherwise, you could have large fees waiting for you.

For more ways to save money, check out www.wowfreestuff.co.uk.
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Beck Valley Book Tour - Laguna Sights - Kaira Rouda & Giveaway



New Release....

Once you're a star, can you trust other people’s intentions?

Scott Cassidy has lived a blessed life. Growing up in Laguna Beach with a loving family, he was discovered in high school when he appeared on the popular reality TV show, Laguna Nights. Now cast as a doctor on the number one soap opera, his star keeps rising. Finally free from his long-term girlfriend, Scott isn’t looking for love, but when a popular dating app matches him with Jamie Kane, he can’t deny the sparks. But is she really everything she seems?

Jamie Kane isn’t lucky in love or life. Her childhood was tumultuous with a single mom who moved to Hollywood for fame but ended up waiting tables in Malibu. Certainly not one of the spoiled kids she went to high school and college with, Jamie has worked hard to achieve her dreams of being an actress, even as she begins to realize it’s not her calling. Jamie believes Scott may be the answer to everything unless a past mistake makes him doubt their future together.

Is the price of fame the chance at true love?

***Laguna Sights can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone read. And if you enjoy Laura and Paul's story, please consider reading the rest of the Laguna Beach series.

Book available to buy from....
Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble   iBooks   

My Review


This is my second Rouda novel after Laguna Lights and I enjoyed it as much as that one.  Laguna Sights is a light, frothy, glamorous romance ideal for flicking through with a glass of fizz and some chocolate (or a cuppa and some digestives!).  Scott and Jamie's romance is sweet without being saccharine against a backdrop of blue skies and seas.

I was intrigued to discover (without giving too much away) that the author seemed to be as irked by one of her previous characters as I was and Jamie is a much nicer character than Laura, even if the reader is shouting for her to stand up for herself much sooner than she actually does.

There's blackmail, mean girls and a 'will they, won't they' element in a story which wouldn't seem out of place in the pages of Hello! magazine.  

Highly recommended. 


Also available

Laguna Nights (Laguna Beach Book 1)




Madison Alcott was back in her hometown, caring for her sick mom and working long hours at the best resort in Laguna Beach. She never imagined she'd return to the place where she became famous on the hit reality TV show Laguna Nights, and the place where she was humiliated on national television. Fortunately, the past had stayed tucked away until her old high school boyfriend appeared in the lobby.

Josh Welsh was a superstar by age eighteen, the bad boy break-out star of Laguna Nights. Since then, his star had lost its shine and he barely was holding onto his Hollywood status. When he was asked to host a new reality travel show, he jumped at the chance. The only problem was the first episode was shooting in Laguna Beach. Of all the reasons Josh didn't want to return home, he hadn't even imagined the worst scenario: running into Madison "Holly" Alcott.

Josh's connection to Madison was still as strong as her anger at his betrayal. When the new reality series forces them together, they must face Laguna Nights past and present, and navigate a journey where nothing is as it seems.
Book available to buy from....
Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble   iBooks 


Laguna Heights (Laguna Beach Book 2)



Annie and Hank have created a perfect life in Laguna Beach but when a dark secret is revealed, will their marriage survive?

In high school, Annie Johns was the calm, supportive sidekick to the rest of the tumultuous female stars of the hit reality TV show, Laguna Nights. Today, she's living the happy life as a mom that she predicted on the show long ago. There's only one problem: the secret from her past that haunts her most nights, a secret that if revealed could ruin everything she shares with her husband, Hank, the man who saved her from the heartache.

***Laguna Heights can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone novella. And if you enjoy Annie and Hank's story, please consider reading the rest of the Laguna Beach series.

Book available to buy from....
Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble   iBooks   

Laguna Lights (Laguna Beach Book 3)




Welcome back to Laguna Beach...

Laura Kinkaid’s glamorous Hollywood life is falling apart. After years of reality television stardom beginning in high school on Laguna Nights, her career and relationship with her long-term boyfriend Scott are fizzling out.

Laura decides to go home to Laguna Beach for the weekend to attend a baby shower for her high school friend. That decision – and a car accident – will lead her to a new future, if she’s ready to take a chance at love. 

Paul Dorn’s former life in New York City is far behind him and he’s working in a popular Laguna Beach surf shop when fate brings the most beautiful woman he’s ever met into his life. The attraction is instant and he has an overwhelming desire to protect her. While Paul’s retail sales career is a short-term job for market research purposes, his focus on Laura is long-term.

Will Laura allow a handsome stranger to help her create a future unlike her past, or will the bright lights of Hollywood pull her back to LA?

***Laguna Lights can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone read. And if you enjoy Laura and Paul's story, please consider reading the rest of the Laguna Beach series.

Book available to buy from....
Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble   iBooks   

About the Author



Kaira Rouda is a USA Today bestselling, multiple award-winning author of contemporary women's fiction and sexy modern romance novels that sparkle with humor and heart. Her women's fiction titles include HERE, HOME, HOPE, ALL THE DIFFERENCE and IN THE MIRROR. Her bestselling short story is titled, A MOTHER'S DAY. Kaira's work has won the Indie Excellence Award, USA Book Awards, the Reader's Choice Awards and honorable mention in the Writer's Digest International Book Awards. Her books have been widely reviewed and featured in leading magazines.

Her sexy contemporary romance series set on INDIGO ISLAND includes: WEEKEND WITH THE TYCOON, Book 1; HER FORBIDDEN LOVE, Book 2; THE TROUBLE WITH CHRISTMAS, Book 3; and THE BILLIONAIRE'S BID, Book 4. Each of these novellas can be read as a stand alone, or enjoyed as a series. Her new series is set in LAGUNA BEACH and includes: LAGUNA NIGHTS, Book 1; LAGUNA HEIGHTS, Book 2; and LAGUNA LIGHTS, Book 3 coming winter 2015. She also helped launch Melissa Foster's The Remington's Kindle World with her bestselling novella, SPOTLIGHT ON LOVE, and is part of Carly Phillips Dare to Love Kindle World with THE CELEBRITY DARE.

Her nonfiction titles, REAL YOU INCORPORATED: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs, and REAL YOU FOR AUTHORS: 8 Essentials for Women Writers (available for free download on her website) continue to inspire.

She lives in Southern California with her husband and four almost-grown kids, and is at work on her next novel. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook at Kaira Rouda Books and on her website, KairaRouda.com.
Find the author on the following sites...




Follow the book tour


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

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY
Win a $25 Amazon.com GC / Paypal Cash (winners choice) 
Open Worldwide
Ending on Saturday 23rd April at 11.59pm EST

Enter Below and Good Luck !!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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