Win A Scooby-Doo DVD Bundle From Warner Bros UK

If you are now at that stage in the long school summer holiday where boredom is beginning to set in,  I have a fabulous prize from Warner Bros. UK to help you hold a Scooby-Doo movie night.

Simply enter via the Rafflecopter below for the chance to win Scooby-Doo Aloha, Scooby-Doo! Arabian Nights, Scooby-Doo! and the Monster of Mexico, Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy! and Scooby Doo “Where's My Mummy” - including a free pair of Scooby-Doo! Summer Glasses with each DVD!

This Scooby-Doo! DVD bundle (containing over 5 hours of content) is guaranteed to be fun for all the family!

The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on  Sunday 21st August and is open to UK entrants only.

In addition to the terms and conditions on my competitions page, please note the promoter's terms and conditions for this giveaway.

Terms & Conditions

1 (one) winner will receive (one) Scooby-Doo Aloha, (one) Scooby-Doo! Arabian Nights, (one) Scooby-Doo! (one) the Monster of Mexico, (one) Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy! and (one) Scooby Doo “Where's My Mummy”

The prize will be delivered to the winner within 28 days of confirmation of delivery address

There is no cash alternative to Prizes which are subject to availability, non-transferable, non-negotiable and non-refundable.

Prizes may not be sold, offered for sale or used in connection with any other competition or promotion by the Prize winner.

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Good luck!

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Expert advice for supporting people in their senior years

I've written a lot lately about how best to care for our loved ones in their later years. We all know that old age brings with it great wisdom and experience, but it can also encroach on people’s much valued independence.

I've come across these great tips from Betterlife from LloydsPharmacy Independent Living Expert, Michael Sandland, who has some great advice about how best to help your loved ones remain independent in their senior years.

Encourage older people to stay socially connected

As social beings, it’s important to stay socially engaged to help avoid isolation, and this rings especially true for those in their advanced years. Building and maintaining relationships is important for mental wellbeing and has also been shown to aid physical wellbeing.

There’s some easy ways to encourage older people to stay social. For example, introducing a hobby such as yoga is a sociable way to stay fit or keeping in touch via FaceTime is more interesting than a simple phone call. Attending classes means your loved one will quickly make friends and have a routine social engagement. Alternatively, volunteering in local charity shops can be a great way for relatives to socialise with people from all walks of life.

Getting out and about for everyday tasks

Whilst internet shopping can put your mind at ease when considering older relatives during the cold and icy winter months, wherever possible it’s best to encourage your loved ones to get out and about. Popping to the shops for a pint of milk, going on the hunt for a family birthday present or dropping into the bank, going to the shops is an important part of staying active. Completing such tasks can be a challenge for those who struggle with mobility so it can be a good idea to recommend a mobility scooter. These can be a good solution to reduce strain and ensure users get to their destination comfortably. Check out the full range here: http://www.betterlifehealthcare.com/browse/mobility-scooters/

Support your elders in adapting their home 

As people grow older their home needs to adapt to ensure it remains safe and accessible. Indeed, one thing you will often hear older people say is that they don’t want to move into a care home and independence can be prolonged with clever technology and living solutions. For example, specialised adjustable beds, jar openers and big button telephones can do wonders for keeping people independent in their own home. Try visiting the Betterlife website for at home living solutions: http://www.betterlifehealthcare.com/

Staying fit and keeping minds active

Physical and mental agility is crucial to staying independent and there’s lots of ways to keep the mind and body fit as older people age. Whether it’s a daily Sudoku or watching Countdown with your loved ones, all these mind gym activities help to keep the brain sharp. Exercise classes for older people can be found at most town halls or local gyms to stay active.

Be mindful when offering support 

Providing assistance for older people comes naturally to carers but it’s important to frame the offer in the right way. Whether it’s helping older people navigate the internet or offering support with physical tasks, there are lots of ways you can make a difference to someone’s life. However it can be tough for elderly people to accept help after years of independence. When offering assistance avoid dictating and frame the support in a positive way. For example, if you are concerned about an elderly relative driving a car, maybe suggest they invest in a mobility scooter which is road legal. This will ensure they keep their independence and remain safe.

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Parenting 101: Ways to Encourage Your Children To Be More Physically Active

Being a parent is a big responsibility. Our children look to us for everything. There are the physical needs that we can provide them with, like food, clothing, and a warm place to live. We need to remember to take care of their psychological needs too. It can be hard to get the balance right sometimes, as we are all busy people.

One thing that is important for our children is our example. It can be hard to tell them not to smoke or not swear if they are things that we do. I find one of the hardest can be to get our children as physically active as they should be. How often are we telling them to get outside and play, when we ourselves are sat at the computer? Getting the right amount of exercise is important for us all, though. So how can we get our families to be more active?

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Choose Appropriate Activities

If you go in all guns blazing and choose something for your child to do that isn’t suited for their age, it will put them off. If they find it too hard, as they aren’t physically able to do certain aspects, then it will knock their confidence. So don’t just book your family in for a fun run straight away. Build up to something like that, with activities like football or swimming.

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Think About Rewards

A lot of our children are going to respond well to getting a reward for taking part. It can help with positive reinforcement; encouraging them to repeat that same behaviour. So if it is appropriate, then think about a reward that might work for them. It could be just a nice treat afterward. You might even think that they’d respond well to trophies plus medals for doing well. So just think about your kids and what they’d like the most.

Get the Right Equipment

If you want to make the active time more fun, then having the right equipment is key. You could set them up with a little circuit to go around. But if there isn’t a skipping rope or a football to use at different stations, then what is the point? Getting a few basic things in will help lots. How about a football, skipping rope, a few cones and a hula hoop for starters? All of those things can be used in a variety of ways, for various ages of children.

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Get Involved Yourself

We are all busy and time is precious. But if you are able to get involved with them, it will encourage them so much more. Going out for bike rides as a family is a lovely thing to do, as well as walks or hikes. Even just a kick about in the garden is precious time altogether. So as tempting as it can be just to tell them to go and play, it is much better if we can get involved with them.

Are there any particular activities that your family likes to do all together?

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The Versatile Men's Work Shirt - From Hawes & Curtis

How versatile is the work shirt?  The Husband has a wardrobe full of corporate shirts in a variety of colours and stripes but they are worn on Monday - Friday only which, when you think about it, is a bit of a waste in terms of getting value for money from them.

We were recently introduced to Hawes & Curtis, a British clothing company for men and women with 25 stores in the UK and an online store.

Established in 1913, the company specialises in quintessentially British menswear and womenswear ranges, with stylish, good quality, value for money shirts, suits and accessories with over 100 years of heritage behind them.

They challenged us to prove that the humble shirt is a truly versatile garment and the Husband volunteered himself for the task.

The Husband's work takes him all around the world and he's a stickler for quality shirts that are comfortable to wear but look the part in the boardroom.  But it also makes a change when he dons a shirt for one of our infrequent date nights or, more often these days, a family meal with Caitlin and Ieuan.

I think shirts do tend to get overlooked in favour of polo shirts and tees for men at the weekend and in the evenings, but a well cut and laundered shirt can make an outfit look more expensive and also have a slimming effect.

We were offered a shirt to try and the husband chose the Curtis White Slim Fit Shirt With Contrast Detail (£34.50).

Our shirt arrived immaculately packaged in a box bearing the brand's cool blue and grey corporate colours.

I liked that the collar came with a collar protector to keep its shape.

I loved the quirky red detail - little flashes of colour around the neck and the cuffs. Ties aren't worn quite so much these days in meetings so it's a great way of adding some extra interest to a suit and making it look a little younger and fresher.
 

We found the shirt to be true to size with enough room under the arms and with sufficient length in both the arms and the body. Comfort is really important when your working day is as long as Mat's tend to be.

And the shirt works just as well when worn casually.  Caitlin and Ieuan promised faithfully not to approach it with their chocolate ice-cream!

Time to start experimenting with the Husband's other shirts, although there are some pretty funky designs on the Hawes & Curtis website.  I think my chances of getting Mat in anything floral are a bit slim though.  I might have a look for myself.

You can buy Hawes & Curtis shirts separately at a very reasonable price or save even more if you buy 4 for £100 - the retail offer which most of the menswear stores seem to offer. The shirt we chose costs £34.50 when bought singly or £25 as part of the offer.

For more information visit Hawes & Curtis online or you can find a list of their stores here.

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Is It Time To Start Looking After Your Parents?

One of the most distressing problems that come with old age is losing your independence. For those that are in their senior years, it’s difficult when life gets a bit too much to handle. Perhaps you have elderly parents who are now less mobile. It’s hard to acknowledge that those sprightly figures that taught you how to ride without stabilisers may now be a little rocky on their path. How do you know when it’s time to start looking after your parents?

A Change In Mood 

Old-age can be a big downer as aches and pains kick in, and nap times become more frequent. Perhaps their flexibility has now depleted. Their energy levels may be waning and you find they’re sleeping more. These old-age signs are perfectly normal, but if their mood also starts to change, it may be a warning sign. They might become reclusive. Or they may seem more grumpy every day. If their mood is low, they may be feeling isolated, lonely or worthless. Try and boost their mood by inviting them for regular dinners and including them in activities with the children. Suggest new hobbies such as chess or tai chi. Make sure they are eating healthily and taking low impact exercise classes if they can.

Image credit: Pixabay

Losing Their Appetite

If you notice that your elderly relatives have lost their appetite, this can be a warning sign of underlying health problems. Our appetite does reduce as we reach old age, but if there are worrying signs, consider something may be wrong. There could be dental issues or indigestion problems. It may be down to the fact that they have lost motivation to cook. Or perhaps they just don’t have the energy to do so anymore.

Falling Over & Vision Loss

Life expectancy has increased, and we are living longer. But elderly people are still affected by arthritis and osteoporosis. As bones become weaker, falls are more likely. If you have a parent that lives alone, you may be worried about falls. Bones break more easily the older we get, and the knock-on effects of this can be dangerous to those in senior life. Macular degeneration is a common problem for those in later life. It can cause blurry vision and the inability to recognise faces. It can be a terrifying time for your parents. Bone density loss and eyesight should be checked regularly. Earlier this year I wrote a post about my elderly Mum and on waiting for an ambulance. It was a frightening time and one that warrants thinking more about the care of our elderly parents.

Memory Loss

One of the scariest parts of getting older is the worry that you may lose your memory. We all forget things from time-to-time, even names of family members, or where why we walked into a room. But if your parents are forgetting recent events, or are not thinking clearly, it’s another worrying sign. By 2025 it’s stated that there will be 1 million people with dementia in the UK, and it’s a progressive disease. If you are worried about a parent, make an appointment at the doctors straight away.

Decrease In Personal Care 

If you are noticing that your parents aren’t taking care of their personal hygiene or the way they keep their home, it’s a red flag. It could be a sign that they need more help that they want to ask for. Their health may be ailing, and they may not have the energy or confidence to take care of the house anymore. Check the kitchen and bathroom for signs of lack of care. As distressing as it is it may be time to consider moving your parents/parent into your home. And if that is not possible, or if you have a fight on your hands, it could be time to consider a 24 hr Live In Care Agency. Care agencies specialise in helping the elderly to have a rewarding life in their home, safe in the knowledge that care is on hand day and night.

Image credit: Flickr

We are all scared of getting older, losing our mobility and losing our independence. When our lives are so busy, sometimes we forget what is happening to others. But there are ways to keep elderly parents feeling wanted and respected. You just need to make sure you are aware of impending problems and find solutions that work for everyone.

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I'm Studying At Home Online With NCC Resources

As a busy mum there are times when I really miss having something to challenge my brain. Many women like me are at home wondering what they can do to get back into the workplace and how they could combine getting another qualification with childcare.  Even taking a course to further a personal interest can be a challenge.  We all know that childcare is expensive and most of us are not only cash poor but time poor as well.

Established for almost 20 years, NCC Resources offer a wide range of great value online study programmes which allow you to gain a professional qualification and even sit your exam online.

They are the leading provider of training and education for business in the UK, catering to the care, sales, general business, customer service and hospitality sectors.  Their materials have been authored by the leading academics within the subjects and were developed for delivery in conjunction with colleges and recognised awarding bodies

They offer a wide range of study topics such as Teaching Assistant, Childcare & Early Learning, Beauty Courses (e.g. nail art), Business Management and Psychology.

Then there is also a great selection of personal interest type courses such as Neuro Linguistics, Criminology, History and Languages.

I was recently invited to choose a study course to experience just how easy online learning can be and I chose to study their Creative Writing Course as my dream (like many people!) is to write a crime novel to rival my all time literary heroine, Agatha Christie.

Each course is clearly divided into easy to understand modules which are written in plain English.

To give you an idea how comprehensive my course is, the various modules include

Module 1: Creative writing and you
Module 2: Exploring different texts and genres
Module 3: Starting to write
Module 4: The short story
Module 5: Poetry
Module 6: Writing for radio
Module 7: The novel
Module 8: Life writing
Module 9: Writing for children
Module 10: Non-fiction writing
Module 11: Scriptwriting
Module 12: The editing process
Module 13: Getting published
Module 14: Being a writer

This particular course is one that you work through at your own pace and once you have worked your way through the online course materials, you then complete a multiple choice question and answer exam.

You can resit this as many times as you like at no extra cost.

There are no entry requirements or previous knowledge required to start this course. All learners will receive a level 3 NCC Certificate in Creative Writing upon completion.

The cost of this particular course is £220 which works out at just over £15 per module which I think is very reasonable.  There are no extra costs such as transport, course materials or childcare either.

I'll be updating you about my progress and I might even share a couple of excerpts of my masterpieces!

You can find a course that suits you at www.ncchomelearning.co.uk.

Now that the new academic year is about to begin, it's a great opportunity for us parents to focus on whether we would like to go back to school too!

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Win A Good Clean Summer Pack From Astonish Cleaners

Summer is, ideally, a time when we all spend more time out of doors. Even the rain doesn't stop some of us - which is just as well if you're planning a holiday in the UK.

Not what I meant by helping me with the housework

I find that the washing pile tends to grow drastically at this time of year, as do those stains it's hardest to shift like grass, chocolate and blackcurrant.

Caitlin and Ieuan are currently playing 'spies' which means much rolling around undercover cop style and much mud.

To help make the laundry a little easier, as well as add some summer sparkle to the rest of the house, Astonish has put together a "Good Clean Summer" pack for one lucky winner.

There's Astonish’s Oxy Plus Stain Remover for a start. You can tackle your soiled laundry confident that stains and grime will be banished. Then there's Astonish Oven & Cookware Cleaner which not only tackles the darkest recesses of your oven but can also be used to bring your garden furniture back to pristine white. The Pro Grease Lifter Tablets can be used to spruce up the barbecue.  

Astonish's Good Clean Summer Pack also contains the Stain Remover Target Spray, Fabric Refresher and Clean and Protect Hand wash.

To help you with your everyday housecleaning, there's the Daily Shower Cleaner, 4 in 1 Disinfectant Spray, Window and Glass Cleaner, All in 1 Dishwasher Tablets, Fresh Sea Mist Floor Cleaner and the Dustbuster.

That's quite some prize!

I'm already a fan of Astonish's "The Oven and Cookwear Cleaner" and I found that the Fabric Refresher has a light refreshing scent whilst the Daily Shower Cleaner is a great help because you can just spray it and leave it until the next shower.  The Window & Glass Cleaner is fabulous for removing the handwriting practice left across the bathroom mirror and secret messages left in lipstick.

I don't really let them play with household cleaning products - in case you're wondering ........

For more details about Astonish and its range of British manufactured cleaning products please visit www.astonishcleaners.co.uk or visit them on Facebook.

The Astonish Good Clean Summer Pack contains the following:-

• Oxy Plus Stain Remover 

• Stain Remover Target Spray
• Fabric Refresher
• Clean and Protect Hand wash
• Grease Lifter Tablets • Daily Shower Cleaner
• 4 in 1 Disinfectant Spray
• Window and Glass Cleaner
• Fresh Sea Mist Floor Cleaner
• All in 1 Dishwasher Tablets
• DustBuster

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget and the usual terms and conditions apply (available on my competitions page).  UK entrants only.  The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Wednesday 31 August.

Good luck!

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