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Saturday, 25 June 2016

Win A 3 Month Subscription To Le Petit Ballon - Fine Wines Without The Fuss

Le Petit Ballon is a unique wine subscription service where, every month, you receive two bottles of fine wine selected by renowned Master Sommelier Jean-Michel Deluc.

The June 2016 Apprentice Subscription Box Selection

Monsieur Deluc certainly has some impressive credentials - from being head sommelier at the Ritz in 1984 to being recognised as one of the best tasters in the world after participating in Starwine in the US, a wine competition that brings together the top 60 tasters in the world.

The Petit Ballon team put together wines from the winemakers they meet at fairs and expos and from wineries who have sent them samples and this tasting panel, presided over by Jean-Michel decide on the monthly wines which subscribers receive.

There are two levels of subscription - Apprentice (£24.90 per month for two bottles inc. delivery) and Master (£39.90 per month for two bottles inc. delivery).  The Master subscription contains slightly more prestigious labels whilst the Apprentice subscription aims to introduce wine lovers to great value wines from vineyards you would never otherwise have discovered.

In addition to your monthly two bottles, you receive the Gazette, a mini magazine which includes all sorts of interesting information about your subscription and tasting notes for your two bottles.

The Gazette contains all sorts of interesting information
We were sent the Apprentice subscription box for June to try.  It contained one red (Le Grand Verdus 2012) and one white (Domaine de Pouilly Clos de la Condemine 2014), together with probably the best tasting notes I've ever seen.

Not only do these include Jean-Michel's views on the wine but there are full tasting notes and recommendations for the food and wine pairings that will work best.  You are advised how long you can lay the wines down for, which temperature the wine should best be served at and the wines are categorised further as to whether they are fruit, spicy or woody for example.

There are many ways to categorise your wines!
So far we have tried the red, Le Grand Verdus and found the tasting notes to be spot on, describing the wine as being supple on the palate and having a nose which is grapey, pleasant and fresh.

What makes Le Petit Ballon different is that the service punctures lots of the pomposity surrounding wine tasting whilst introducing you to the facts you really need to know to help you to make better choices with your wine purchases.

We have been members of a rival wine club for years and find that the Le Petit Ballon's subscription prices are very reasonable, as is the price of extra bottles if you want to buy your favourites.  There is a decent discounted price on each bottle (20%) for subscribers but anyone can buy Le Petit Ballon's wines to try.

You can buy a Le Petit Ballon subscription as a gift and it's ideal for those who want to learn about wine or, with the Master subscription, a great way to introduce wine connoisseurs to new wines and help them to build their own wine cellar.

You can also customise your monthly wines by choosing them in advance on the website so, for example, if you prefer red wine, that's no problem.

Boxes are sent out between the 15th and 20th of each month, just in time to perk you up from any mid month slump.

A Le Petit Ballon subscription is ideal for those of us for whom a date night is a rare occurence - particularly when you think that one large glass of wine tends to start around the £6 mark and rises steadily depending on the restaurant you choose and your location.

And I don't need to say that it would be an ideal gift for some of us mums who need a tipple at the end of a fraught day. (And without sounding like your mum, you will mind your units and drink responsibly, won't you?).

Le Petit Ballon are very kindly offering a 3 month Apprentice subscription to one lucky winner.  Entry is via the Rafflecopter.  UK entrants only and you must be over 18.  Terms and conditions apply. The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Saturday 16th July.

Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Enjoy More Water The Flavoursome Way With Robinsons Squash'd

Kids love water.  To be more precise, kids love splashing, swimming and water-bombing.  They love being sprayed with hoses.  Puddles, pools, rivers, streams and of course the sea - all fine.



Watching strange creatures flit across the surface of a pond shimmering with sunlight?  Check.  Spending so long in a paddling pool that the grass on your lawn takes a year to recover?  Check. Feeling the bubbling waters of a fast flowing river rush over your ankles as you jump across on stepping stones?  Brilliant.

Water parks, log flumes, lawn sprinklers - bring them on.  Ice cubes, ice lollies, ice cream - of course.

Have a glass of water?

No.

Now I have explained, as have their teachers, that our bodies are 70% water and that even a slight drop in the levels of hydration has a measurable effect on our cognitive ability.

I obviously translated this for them as in "you won't be able to find your Shopkins or Star Wars Lightsabers".

I have warned them both that if they don't start imbibing water soon they will both look like a pair of sultanas on a day out in Marbella.  I mean the fruit, not the female potentate.




But, after two or three sips, glasses are cast aside.  Caitlin, in particular is dreadful for not drinking water. Weirdly she will drink a glass before she goes to bed from the upstairs sink because the water there is especially cold and she says it tastes nicer.

We have a cupboard full of water bottles in a variety of colours and featuring several of their favourite characters to encourage them to enjoy more water.

They will, however, drink squash and the whole family has drunk Robinsons Squash for years - after all they've been making it since 1935.

Robinsons polled 2000 adults and discovered that two out three (64%) parents say they do not know how much water their children should be drinking each day, and 42% say their children find the taste of water ‘boring’.

As a general guideline, kids aged 5-8 should be drinking 1 litre (approx 5 glasses), kids aged 9-12 need 1.5 litres (approx 7 glasses) and over 13+ the recommended amount is 2 litres (8-10 glasses). These quantities should be increased if you are exercising a lot or on a hot day.

We also try to instill into our kids the fact that when you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated so it's best to top your water levels up regularly throughout the day.

So, in January this year, Robinsons launched the Enjoying Drinking More Water campaign and we have signed up to the #EnjoyMoreWater Challenge run by BritMums and sponsored by Robinsons.

We were sent a selection of  Robinsons Squash’d - little pods of super-concentrated squash which make up to 20 drinks when diluted with water, and a star chart to help track our progress.

Robinsons Squash'd comes in a variety of flavours such as Passion Fruit & Mango, Orange & Peach, Lemon & Pink Grapefruit and, Caitlin and Ieuan's favourite, Apple & Blackcurrant.

Now obviously we are well aware of the importance of protecting our kids' teeth, but I think that as long as they have good dental hygiene and are given a clean bill of health by the dentist, then there is little harm in one or two glasses of squash a day, provided that their teeth are not brushed immediately afterwards and are given at least 20 minutes to avoid damaging the tooth enamel.

And you don't want little ones constantly sucking on a bottle or sippy cup filled with squash for this very reason.

But, as a way of getting them to enjoy more water, adding a dash of one of Robinsons flavoured squashes from one of their cute little portable Squash'd pods is a great way to get them to up their water intake - particularly since Robinsons Squash'd contains no added sugar or artificial colours or preservatives.

I would certainly prefer that they had squash rather than fizzy drinks which can do much greater damage to young tooth enamel.

So how do you get kids to up their water intake?

- Use a reward chart

A reward chart works well and is a great way to measure how much they are drinking - if  you can get them to remember to add stickers. Hands up, we weren't brilliant at this.



- Have a jug of water on the table at meal times

You could have a jug of water with some pretty glasses on the table with each meal, perhaps jazzing the water up with some slices of lemon or orange.  We encourage our two to help set the table and filling the water jug is a great task to delegate to an older child.

- Try a variety of water bottles

There are loads of different types of water bottle such as these which allow you to add a selection of fruit to a central reservoir in the bottle.  We tried strawberries and mint for example.

- Get the kids to take bottled water to their exercise /sports classes

I make sure the kids have bottle of water to take to their ballet and Tae Kwon-Do as I find it's easier to get them to drink plain water if they have been exercising.

- Lead by example

As parents, we have to lead by example so the Husband and I make sure that we drink water with meals too.

- Keep hydrated during shopping

If we are out together shopping, I will often carry a couple of bottles of mineral water for us and mix up some squash to take with us for the kids. Carrying a Robinsons Squash'd with you means you can mix up squash almost anywhere.

- Keep a glass of water by the kids' bedsides at night

We also make sure that the kids have a glass of water by their bedside each night. It's part of our nightly ritual and oddly it is the one time of day they will happily drink it.

- Make your own Squash lollies

In hot weather a simple to use lolly kit is a godsend because you can just freeze your squash to make an additive free lolly.

- Give them a 'grown up' glass or bottle, or a fun straw

Anything which ups the fun factor is more likely to get them to drink.

- Medicate with water first

If the kids complain about having a sore throat or a headache, our first piece of advice is always to have a long glass of water.

- Keep hydrated when travelling

We never travel in the car without having some bottled water to hand which is really important in hot weather and we can carry one of the Robinsons Squash'd pods to make some impromptu squash to jazz things up a bit.

I hope you've found some of our ideas helpful.  Let me know how you encourage your kids to enjoy more water in the comments below.

This post is an entry for BritMums #EnjoyMoreWater Challenge, sponsored by Robinsons.
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Friday, 24 June 2016

New Releases, Free & Bargain Books Link-up 24 June 2016



How are you all this week?  It's quite a day today in the UK following the EU Referendum and, whatever your views, the political climate has probably changed for ever.  Many of us are still trying to get our heads around what it all means and what the future might bring, both for us and our European cousins.

If you want to avoid all the media turmoil, and particularly the brewhaha on Facebook and Twitter, escaping with a good book might help. I'm also making the most of the peace whilst there are still 3 weeks to the end of the school term!

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

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

Click HERE for this week's awesome selection.

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

This weekly link up is hosted by Beck Valley Books & these awesome book loving blogs...
Monday
 Life as Leels | IrishdaisylovesRomance | Book Babble | All Romance Reader
Tuesday
It's My Side of Life | Celticlady's Reviews | First Time Mommy Adventures | Bound 2 Escape
Wednesday
Beck Valley 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.

And don't forget you can always add some of your own!
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Thursday, 23 June 2016

Relationship Dilemmas - What Was I Asked In Week 25?

Here are some of the questions about dating, relationships and health I have been asked this week from my readers on Quora.com.


I share my answers just in case you are going through anything similar - after all, a problem shared is a problem halved as they say.

Whilst I am not a professionally qualified psychologist or mediator, I am a 50-something married mum of two with quite a few years' experience under my belt.

I take the view that, sometimes, you need to hear it like you would from your own mother - however tough the truth may be.

Here are just some of the questions.

Q: Am I crazy for staying with my cheating husband of only 3 months?

A: I’m really sorry to hear this. Is this new cheating or has it been going on before the wedding? 

Did you suspect? Has he admitted it or is this just worry on your part? You do need some proof before you take action. 

If you have no doubt, I’m afraid I would kick his sorry backside out and cut my losses. If he’s cheating he’s making a mockery of your marriage vows. 

You don’t say if you have kids but if you don’t and you are considering them, this is not the right situation to bring them into. I hope things sort themselves out for you.

Q. My boyfriend does amazing things for me but he works so hard to do them. How do I convince him he doesn't need to do this? 

A: Some people express their love through giving. That’s just the way they are and actually, not appreciating these gestures can sometimes feel like a rejection to them. 

Can’t you just enjoy being spoiled? 

Lots of women would give their eye teeth to have your problem. It may be that your boyfriend worries about losing you and is overcompensating so as long as he knows that you love him and you are occasionally spoiling him in return, I’d say that’s fine. 

Rather than worrying about him overexhausting himself, it would be more useful to sometimes turn the tables and run him a hot bath or cook his favourite meal - be creative. 

Don’t turn this into a psychological issue that needs solving - it all sounds fine to me! 

Q: Me and my boyfriend are both introverts and we have nothing to talk about.  How do I fix this?

I have known this guy since 2 years. But we started dating only recently. I’m silent and shy too. We don’t have much to share and speak about. What should I do? I have heard people telling that ‘if you don’t have much to talk about then your relationship will never work’ Is it true?

A: I think you need to find a shared hobby or interest that you can do together - art, museum visits, theatre? 

There’s nothing wrong with being introverted but there is a problem if you have nothing to say to one another. 

Having nothing in common is not the same as you both being shy. It sounds like you don’t really know each other very well and if you want the relationship to last, one, or both of you, needs to start talking.

Q: This guy I like takes forever to text back but yet he's on social media the entire day & doesn't text me back for hours…Why is that?

It really irks me because people make time for other people & I don't think I'm overreacting because he's on the phone so I'm guessing I'm not that important to text back… Right? He took an interest in me & I started showing interest back now he's not texting as much it feels like.

A: How do you know he is always on the phone or social media? Have you got him on 24 hour watch?

Seriously, it sounds like you’re a little obsessed with tracking his every move which he is probably finding a little intense or annoying.

If he’s interested in you he will contact you but monitoring him is a quick way to make him lose interest. 


I suspect he’s well aware that you are desperate for him to contact you but I think you need to concentrate on other people, go out and have fun and step away from social media. 

Have a little pride. Be a little more mysterious and hard to pin down. You may well find there is a message for you when you come back.

Q: How do you heal emotional wounds after breakups?

I really was convinced that he was the one, he kept confirming that to me. But when something went wrong for him, it would always be my fault. He kept guilt-tripping me and was highly suspicious and jealous. He liked to control the friends I went out with and if I didn't obey his 'rules', he would yell at me and belittle me.

I later found out that he was lying about drug abuse and had cheated on me but he still made me think it was all my fault. I broke all contact with him, but I know he is running me down to all of our friends - calling me a psycho and a crazy bitch. He is much more sociable than me and seems to have won them over too.

I am completely devastated and my self esteem is now so low that I feel it was all my fault and he has won. Can anybody help me move past this?

A: This man seems deeply unpleasant, emotionally controlling and abusive. I honestly think, despite your pain, you are much better off without him.

If you are struggling with your feelings I strongly suggest you seek counselling to move past this and to understand why you feel you deserve such treatment and put up with it. 

Hopefully you will then be able to leave him in the past - where he belongs - and move forward to meet someone with whom you can have a healthy loving relationship which makes you happy.

Q: What does a girl mean when she says "I feel I've misled you"?

I was on a date with a girl, she got drunk, and became a little seductive, so on the way back in the car i touched her hair.. later on she told me that she has a feeling she misled me. what does she mean? does she mean she wasn't into me? or only that she didn't mean to seduce me?

A: I think it means she regrets your encounter and is not interested in pursuing a romantic relationship.
I know that’s probably not what you want to hear but without asking her directly it’s hard for anyone to advise.
Next time though, you might want to think twice about seducing a girl who is drunk. Had circumstances been different, you may well have found yourself in quite a bit of trouble.
Have a chat with her to see how things stand between you.

Q: What does a guy mean when he says "I'm just really busy"?

I had a great first date with this guy.  I texted him afterwards and we texted back and forth. I asked him out for a second date and he told me "I'm really busy at the moment but it sounds really fun".  I asked him jokingly if this is a rejection or a postponement? He didn't answer directly, he just said he was really busy.


A: I think you need to stop chasing him and try to be a little more cool and mysterious. From the sound of it he likes you but isn’t interested in a second date  - for the moment at least
If he’s reluctant to commit because he really is too busy, you’ll find out soon enough. 

In the meantime, get busy yourself - go out and have some fun and flirt with a few guys who DO have some spare time.

Q: How does a guy feel if another woman shows an interest in him when he already has a loving girlfriend? 

A: I imagine most men would feel flattered. Their next reaction will depend on how they feel about their current girlfriend.
If they are happy in their relationship, the interest shown will swiftly become a bit irritating if it continues when they have made it clear they are happy and have no interest in pursuing someone else.
Or, if they aren’t happy, then perhaps they will reciprocate.
If you are really asking if it’s OK to flirt with a guy who is happily coupled up, then I’d say it is alright for some light flirtation, but you’d be better off concentrating your attention on a guy who is single and looking for a relationships, than trying to break up a happy couple.

Q: My girlfriend broke up with me because she said she needed space and couldn't be in a relationship right now.  What does it mean? 

I met this girl in university and we dated for a couple of years, one of which was a long distance relationship between the UK and Central Europe. She broke up with me at the beginning of June saying she wanted to focus on herself, wanted to travel and to be there for her family.  She said she doesn't want a relationship at the moment.  

A: Well she can’t really make it any clearer, can she? She doesn’t want a relationship with you and her priorities are travel and enjoying her independence.
I can tell that you don’t want to let her go but it would be better to concentrate on finding someone closer to home to develop a close, meaningful relationship with than pin your hopes on someone who, by the sound of it, has no intention of settling down for a long while.

Q: Why does my boyfriend keep fighting with me for a long time about the same topic and always wants me to do something his way? Does he really love me?

A: Without knowing what the topic you are arguing about is, it’s impossible to say. He may well love you but feel that you are being unreasonable - and that, long term, is likely to kill the relationship.

What is the issue you are fighting about - if it’s an important one you need to find common ground and negotiate a solution.

If neither of you will concede, then perhaps it is time to part.

If he is being controlling and abusive and trying to bully you into something you do not want to do, you would be better off without him in any case.


Q: Is it possible to get my baby's dad back together after 5 years apart and his new child has been born with someone else?

A: I would say it’s highly unlikely unless he is separated from his recent partner and has made some romantic overtures to you again.

Without knowing the exact details of your situation it’s impossible to be more specific.

It sounds like you are hurting terribly because of the new baby and want to hurt the mother of his latest child but this will not bring you any happiness and will just make you look vengeful and desperate.

You need to concentrate on maintaining a good relationship with your baby’s father for the sake of your child but I would say 5 years is too long a time to have passed to return to how things were.

Keeping on good terms with your baby’s dad is your best bet to seeing if there may be some slight hope in the future but trying to break up his existing relationship is likely to ensure he will never want to return to you.



Q. How common is it for the woman to do all the driving in a relationship?



How often do you see a couple where the girl always drives the car? Has the number increased over the years? Do people still find it weird if the girl’s on the driver’s seat while the guy is the passenger?



A: I have never noticed and even if I did, I wouldn’t think anything of it. In the UK it is a common practice for the wives and girlfriends to drive so that their partner can have a drink.
Unless you are suggesting that letting a woman drive is somehow emasculating, I can’t see the problem.
If on the other hand, you aren’t driving because your girlfriend won’t let you then that’s another issue. If you can’t drive, obviously lessons are the answer otherwise I’d be happy you have a chaffeur.


How would you have responded to these questions? You can also send me your own at Quora or drop me a line in the comments below.

More dating advice on my problem page.

All materials included in this post are intended for informational purposes only. This post/information is not intended to and should not be used to replace medical or psychiatric advice offered by physicians or other health care providers. The author will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages arising therefrom.
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Wednesday, 22 June 2016

A Fast & Frantic Card Game The Kids Will Love - Gobbit


Gobbit is a fast and frantic card game for 2-8 players that demands strong powers of observation, steadfast concentration and the reflexes of a ninja.

It's like a rather violent game of Snap where the winner is the last player to still have some cards left.


The cards feature four animals in three colours, all of whom eat one another based on their colour and a rigid food chain: the chameleons eat the flies, the snakes eat the chameleons, and the gorilla eats anything.

You take it in turns to reveal the top card in your pile but you need to have your wits about you – slap your animal to defend it from a predator’s attack, or slap your opponent’s animal to ‘eat’ it and claim their pile!

This gets trickier the more players there are because you have to work out where to slap.

Once a player’s lost all their cards, they stay in the game in their new guise as a ghost. This means they can slap any matching pairs they spot between the remaining players.  This obviously doesn't work when there are only two of you playing!

The winner is the one with the most cards at the end of the game.

We played the basic game but as you master the rules of the game, there are several other versions which are more complicated and more challenging - for example "Poltergeist" where if you run out of cards, you can become a poltergeist and attach any cards that form a pair.

Our game also came with a beginners' wristband in white which allows us to join the Gobbit Federation.

Caitlin and I were the test team as Gobbit is really suitable for kids aged 7 and over.  Ieuan still doesn't have the patience at the moment, although each game of Gobbit can be completed in about 10 minutes.

We did find that it took us quite a while to understand how to play which, for younger kids, might mean they get a little impatient and Gobbit is clearly a game which is more fun with a larger number of players.

It's also a game that you have to play quite a bit to master

Gobbit, for ages 7+, is priced at £14 and available to buy from www.RulesofPlay.co.uk. Each game also comes with a wristband which permits entry into all Gobbit tournaments taking place in stores throughout the UK.

I think Gobbit is an ideal game to throw in a suitcase to take on holiday with you to keep the kids entertained on rainy afternoons. It would also be a great party game for adults.

I think I'll be wearing the white wristband for quite a while though!
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Tuesday, 21 June 2016

Sicily’s Best Seaside Holidays

For a perfect family summer vacation there is nothing better than relaxing in the warm sands of the best beaches in the Mediterranean, surrounded by nature and spectacular habitats where rare species of flora and fauna complement the diversity of the environment.

Beautiful Sicily
Sicily is the best choice for families because it has all of this and more, thanks to the rich geological transformation it has undergone over thousands of years as a result of the ongoing volcanic activity of the island - and also due to its strategic location, where diverse underwater currents and winds cross- making the region a transitory point for the migration of many species of birds and marine life.

In Sicily you can enjoy a picnic and a swim in the best pristine beaches of the island and its Aeolian and Egadi Archipelagos, or retreat inland to the fresh air of the mountains of Madonie, Nebrodi, Vendicari, and Etna to recharge your batteries and visit local agroturismo farms.

Best of all, you can rent the most beautiful Sicilian villas for your beach holidays in Sicily to make your stay more authentic at affordable prices- accessorized with swimming pools, terraces and luscious gardens- some with direct access.

At San Vito lo Capo (on the Trapani coast) you will marvel at its turquoise waters and soft sand, with the towering rocky cliffs of Monte Monaco looming overhead, making it a primary location for rock-climbing enthusiasts.

The pretty fishing village of Cefalù in the North is a piece of millennial history where the Lungomare beach (with the best pristine sands in Sicily) is located only a few steps from the streets of the old town and a short climb away from the scenic La Rocca promontory.

Mondello is a local spot for Palermitans and where you can experience the best of any beach - lush surrounding vegetation, and 1 ½ miles of white sand. After all, locals know best!

Lido de Fiori is designated as a blue-flag kid-friendly zone; a primary choice for families due to its shallow waters. Parents can enjoy a glass of wine from the regional specialties of nearby Selinunte.

Calà Mosche is rated as one of the most beautiful beaches in Italy; little known by most travellers, it is a small quiet haven with no bars, located in the Vendicari nature reserve and embraced by lush flora. It is only accessible by foot.

Which would you like to visit first?
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Monday, 20 June 2016

Tips To Make Your Family Holiday As Stress Free As Possible

Taking your children abroad on holiday is a great way to help with their development. There are many diverse benefits to travelling, especially when young, and it helps to instill these in your kids as early as possible.

Travel broadens the mind, as they say, and the earlier you begin that broadening process, the better it is for your kids in the long run. However, this is not to say that it is all a walk in the park.

As any parent knows, taking your family on holiday can unfortunately be filled with stress. The good news is that most of that stress is avoidable if you approach it in the right way.

Here are a few tips you may find useful.
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Book Ahead

This first tip is one which no family can really ignore. When you are planning for a family holiday, it is a great idea to book ahead and the truth is, the further ahead you book, the better.

Obviously you will book flights and accommodation and you should ensure that you book as early as possible. This has a couple of major benefits. Firstly, it saves you money - money which you can spend when you are actually on holiday and secondly, it gives you plenty of time to prepare for the trip. And that really does make all the difference. If you are looking for a stress-free holiday, then book your holidays early for 2017 now.

Prepare Thoroughly

Part of the preparation is booking everything of course. Once the booking has been taken care of, you need to ensure that you make everything as easy on the family as possible and, rightly or wrongly, this often falls to Mum to sort out! Part of this is ensuring that bags are packed correctly, for example checking luggage weight restrictions on your airline and making sure you are not packing banned items. It can be stressful organising this properly for an entire family, but it is worth it just for the peace of mind. I keep a packing checklist on my PC and print it off as a reminder every time we go away. At the end of the day, the more prepared you are, the better.

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Pic Credit

Choose A Holiday Which Suits You

Many families end up randomly choosing a point on the globe and going there, or going to the same place year after year without trying anywhere new. However, this approach is unlikely to suit everyone and without considering everyone's needs, you might find yourself in a situation where nobody enjoys the holiday. This is bound to be a recipe for disaster. The truth is you actually need to pick a holiday which suits your family. Avoid miserable travel companions by thinking carefully about where you actually want to go and perhaps holding a family meeting to discuss everyone's needs and manage their expectations.

Research

Ultimately, the key to avoiding stress in any kind of family situation is to prepare as well as possible. In order to do that, you need to know everything there is to know about where you are going. That’s why you must get into the habit of carrying out diligent research. That way, you know what you are getting into. And when you know what you are getting into, you can make the experience a much more enjoyable one for everyone - and make sure you are going to be happy too!
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