Win A Personalised LED Candle & A Jar Of Sweets For Halloween [closed]

I am a huge fan of Halloween and over the years I have collected quite a few treasured items that make their appearance each year at the Hobbis Family Halloween Party.

I recently discovered a lovely website, Born Gifted which offers a range of personalised children's gifts, including some really cute things for Halloween (and I have some to giveaway, more later ...).

Personalised Halloween Black Tote Cotton Trick or Treat Bag £9.99 

Personalised Vinyl Halloween Banner £12.99 

Personalised Halloween LED Candle £9.99 

‘On Halloween Night’ Personalised Book £9.99 

Personalised Halloween Sweet Jar & Sweets £7.99

Standard delivery is £2.50 but free over £40 and you'll find a wide range of children's gifts for all occasions, such as christenings, weddings and becoming a godparent. You'll also find toys in a wide range of themes like Star Wars, Dinosaurs, Football and Fairies & Angels.

For more gift ideas, visit www.borngifted.co.uk.  

The Giveaway

Now to the giveaway.  I have a personalised LED Halloween Candle and a personalised Halloween sweet jar and sweets to give away to one lucky winner.

Our Personalised Halloween LED Candle

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 Friday 21 October.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck

*A PR sample was received for the purpose of this post.

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Boost Your Love Life & Go Phoneless This Friday For Save The Children

In my weekly problem page I am always amazed at the number of people who conduct their romantic relationships almost entire by phone.  And there's nothing like relying on text messaging to ensure the path to true love is likely to hit the buffers at some point.

Lock Your Phone Away Any Donate To Save The Children on Fri 7th October

So it's not surprising to read that 4.8 million Brits have been dumped via text despite 97% saying it’s not an acceptable thing to do

New research from Save the Children reveals the UK’s social rule-book is being re-written as the nation thinks texting whilst talking to someone is considered to ruder than being late or not giving up a seat for someone in need.

This Friday 7th October, Save The Children is launching "Phoneless Friday" to encourage the UK to put down their phones and get offline for the day to help transform the lives of children around the world.

All you need to do is sign up at phonelessfriday.org.uk and donate £5 to take part.  Even better, challenge your friends and family too and get them to contribute to a very worthwhile cause.

The aim of the challenge is to try and refresh the nations’ manners by going offline for a day with the potential to rediscover the forgotten phenomena of face to face conversations.

There are over 43 million smartphone users in the UK, and a recent OfCom report revealed that people are spending over 24 hours a week online and sending a whopping 262 million texts a day. It’s easy to see why 2.4 million Brits admitted they ‘would not be able to cope’ if they accidentally left their phones at home.

Save The Children's research reveals that the rising number of smartphone users is changing our view of bad etiquette. Texting whilst talking to someone (64%) is now deemed to be ruder than being late (54%) or not giving up a seat for someone who needs it (63%). Most shockingly, whilst 97% of people said dumping someone via text message was unacceptable; over 4 million people admitted it had happened to them.

When it comes to bad phone etiquette and our biggest bug bears, talking loudly on the phone on public transport (66%), texting at the dinner table (53%) and hearing music from other people’s phones (46%) are considered some of the top phone no-nos.

The nation’s biggest phone fails include 17% of people who admitted walking into something when using their phones, with one in ten missing their stop on public transport because they were distracted by their handsets. Sending an embarrassing text to the wrong person (19%) and getting drunk and regretting a message that has been sent were also highlighted (18%).

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Their programmes help give children around the world a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. Your £5 could go towards simple solutions to big problems – like vaccines, mosquito nets or a baby blanket – things which can help to significantly improve and save a child’s life. And giving up your phone for the day could even help us give phones to desperate families, allowing us to easily and safely transfer money to them, so they can buy food. 

So why not put your phone away and make a difference to someone else's life on Friday?

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Relationship Dilemmas - What Was I Asked In Week 39?

As we head towards the festive season, our thoughts turn to the special person in our life and, if we don't have one, possibly attracting a new love to see in the New Year.  In my Relationship Dilemmas column I am asked about a wide range of topics including relationships, dating, parenting and health.

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

Here's just some of the questions I've been asked this week.

Q: Why does my girlfriend stay with me even after I keep getting caught lying? 

My girlfriend has caught me in a lie I can't even tell you how many times, whether it be lying about doing drugs (number 1 thing I get caught for) or lying about talking to other girls.  Granted I've never cheated and never would but I gave up all my friends to be with her so its nice to just chat with the opposite sex. She texts guys from school ABOUT school only though for the most part and I don't get mad at all...anyways I have a bad habit of lying and she should of definitely left me by now, why hasn't she?

A: I would be more worried about your drug habit which is surely affecting not only your behaviour but the way you relate to others. 

Does your girlfriend join you in your drug taking - in which case there’s a clear reason why she puts up with you. 

It sounds like you are quite young and have not yet learned to take responsibility for your behaviour but you will surely come unstuck at some point and find the consequences far more severe than a girlfriend who you seem to disrespect for being a doormat and putting up with your nonsense. 

If you are still in school is there someone you can talk to about your habit? Or someone at home you can confide in? 

Lying and getting away with it is also an addictive habit. Why are you craving so much attention? 

Your girlfriend may put up with all this because she loves you and people can only take so much and if you’re not careful you’ll find yourself single again. Or, is this what you secretly want?

Q: I am suffering from Tinnitus. Are there people who had it for a couple of months (3 to 6) but where it disappeared after that time?

A: Yes there are but it depends on the cause of the tinnitus. 

Some medications can cause tinnitus (for example Naproxen or other drugs in the NSAID family like ibrupofen) and the tinnitus may stop when these are no longer taken. 

When did your tinnitus start and had you made any particular life changes around this time? 

Other things to consider are your general state of health and whether, for example, you may be gluten intolerant or have thyroid problems. 

Are you suffering hearing loss? Are your ears full of wax in which case asking your doctor to gentle suction the wax out (NOT syringing) may relieve the tinnitus. 

Have you had any dental work? A root canal for example, or wisdom teeth removed. Do you have trouble with your jaw / bite? 

As you can see there are quite a few triggers. The most important thing to do is not to panic but to consider what you may be doing to contribute to the problem and make some gentle lifestyle changes.  
Then talk to a doctor who may refer you to an ENT or hearing specialist. 

You’ll also find some really supporting tinnitus groups on Facebook who offer wise advice and help you cope with your fears. 

Q: How can I make my 5 years old kid (girl) more disciplined? She won't listen to me, repeats the same questions that she already knows the answers to, and sometimes does things that bother me on purpose. How do I teach her to do the right things without pushing or punishment? Also, is punishment an option in this age range?

A: Little children are forces of nature and like to explore, have fun, make a mess. They simply don’t understand or remember rules.

They do, on the other hand, model the behaviour they see adults exhibiting. 

If you want your little girl to be better behaved, showing is better than telling. Reinforcing the positive things she does will be more effective than shouting at her when she does wrong. 

My two will just screen me out if I shout too long about something. Why don’t you sit down as a family and draw up some house rules then stick them on the fridge. Keep them simple, easy to remember and make sure there’s a reward at the end. 

Negative behaviour should be challenged when you catch it (e.g. biting, hitting other children). There’s no point waiting till after the event because the moment will be lost. 

Lastly, having a more disciplined child won’t necessarily make you feel like a better mother. Sometimes we want to instill discipline because we want to feel more in control. 

If your daughter is just being a normal naughty 5 year old, perhaps you just need someone to tell you you’re a great parent and to cut yourself some slack. 

They do get better…. eventually…

Q: Is it OK to say bad words during an argument with your loving partner? 

A: We’ve all done it. We’re human and nobody knows how to push our buttons like our partners do. 

It’s less about the words we accidentally say and more about how we deal with the aftermath. 

If what you said was out of order or unnecessarily cruel then I think you need to examine the deeper issues in your relationship. 

There’s a difference between effing and jeffing at someone in anger and deliberately wanting to hurt them with our words. 

Is this a regular thing? Are you depressed? Do you have some other problem that is making you short and bad tempered with your partner? 

Whilst it’s understandable to lose your temper once in a while, doing this on a regular basis is not and I sense from your question that you know are in danger of overstepping the line. 

There is only so much even a loving partner will take.

Q: Is it normal/ okay to be called names if you don't leave your partner alone during an argument when he asks you to?

A: If he asked you to leave him alone and he was angry, it’s hardly surprising that he called you names. Not excusable but understandable. 

That said, I wonder what you were arguing about? Were you accusing him of something - in which case a great way of not answering the accusation is to resort to name calling and demand to be left alone. It’s the exact way children behave when their parents tell them off. Were you lecturing him like a child? 

Is this the first time he has called you names during an argument? I’m not surprised that you were hurt and shocked if so. 

But it sounds to me that the subject the argument was about needs to be discussed when you are both calm. And perhaps both your behaviours during the argument should be talked about too. 

If you are seeking constant reassurance about his fidelity, or constantly checking up on him and that is what caused the fight then there are wider issues to be talked about here. Either way, there is talking to be done - but as adults. 

And you need to tell him that calling you names is not acceptable. But be prepared for him to list some of your less attractive behaviours too. If his behaviour towards you goes beyond name calling and veers towards verbal or even physical abuse, then please seek some counselling and help. You really shouldn’t put up with that.

Q: My boyfriend told me he cheated on his last girlfriend, and didn’t tell her. They broke up, but his ex still loves him. Should I warn her about him? 

My boyfriend dumped his 3-year-relationship-girlfriend, & three weeks later we started ours This year his ex will study in our faculty and we three will came acros His ex don’t know all details & still love someone that doesn’t exist anymore They met at his parents’ & his ex told him she wants him back

A: Was your boyfriend seeing you behind the ex’s back? Are you the person he cheated with or was there another girl? 

Either way, it is not for you to ‘warn’ this girl - because what you really want to do is to tell her to back off. 

The trouble is, your boyfriend has quite a lot of history with this girl and she probably feels that he is still hers, particularly if your boyfriend didn’t explain the reasons for the breakup. If anyone should be telling her it’s definitely over it’s your boyfriend. 

How did he meet her at his parents? Don’t you think that’s a little odd? 

You say she loves someone who doesn’t exist anymore but she has, to be blunt, known him for longer than you have. And why did your boyfriend feel he had to tell you she wanted him back? 

You cannot control HIS behaviour by trying to get her out of the picture but the fact that he has been upfront about her declaration suggests he is being honest with you. 

If he was that interested in her he would probably have kept that quiet. Or is he secretly enjoying having two women fight over him? 

I think you do need to ask your boyfriend what is going on, why he is still meeting his ex and whether he is committed to a relationship with you. 

But I wouldn’t sink to threatening this woman. If anything she deserves your sympathy. 

How would you have responded to these questions? You can find more 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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Children's Book Review: The Little Boy Who Lost His Name By David Cadji-Newby & Pedro Serapicos

As parents, we all know how important it is to spend quality time reading to our children.  It's a chance within a busy day to create a safe space and a pocket of time just for parent and child to bond over a shared story.

And what better way to make the story even more special than by giving a child a book that is personalised with a message just for them?  It adds an extra bit of mystery and fun.

As we go towards Halloween and start to focus on all things mystical and spooky, younger children may prefer a story that is a little less scary and a little more magical.

The Little Boy Who Lost His Name fits the bill nicely. (Or The Little Girl ...)

This lovely story is about a child (boy or girl) who loses their name and goes on a magical journey to find it. They find their name again by being given each letter by a magical or mythical creature - and when the letters are put together their name is spelt out.

So, for example, on Ieuan's journey he meets an Imp, an Elephant, a Unicorn, an Aadrvark and a Narwhal whale.

I would say that the story is suitable for children up to about Ieuan's age (7) but probably better suited to children a little younger who are just beginning their reading journey.

The book can be further personalised in the front page with a letter from their parents (or a message from the giver of the book which would make a lovely Christmas present, or a non-sugary Halloween gift).

It also comes in a beautiful paper wallet to keep the book in good condition.

The Little Boy Who Lost His Name is independently published and produced in as environmentally friendly a way as possible.

The story has really resonated with parents and children and the book has sold over 1.7 million copies in 176 countries.

The book retails at £19.99 with free shipping worldwide and you order and customize online at the Lostmyname website.  You enter the child's name and gender, pick an avatar which reminds you most of them and enter your dedication.

A preview is then generated for you to check and approve before checking out.

Although the price isn't cheap, the quality is superb and the book is really designed more as a special keepsake with a personal touch. I think it would even make a lovely Christening / naming gift to be kept for the special moment when bedtime stories begin.

Before settling down for the night with Yoda (who needs lots of early nights because he's 900 years old apparently), Ieuan remarked that the dedication in the front was "really cool" and he enjoyed the story.

High praise from a 7 year old.

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New Releases, Free & Bargain Books Link-up Week 39

How are you all this week?  We've been really busy.  Ieuan is preparing for his next Tae Kwondo grading (green stripe) and when he's not practising for that, we've been making sure that we read the school library books from cover to cover.

I've been reading to the kids in different accents and they think it's now hilarious to talk in a variety of new dialects each day.  I'm not quite sure they've mastered the Scottish or Irish accents as they mostly sound American or Australian!

I've just finished the latest crime thriller from one of my new favourite authors, John W. Mefford - At Dusk - which features a female detective for a change - Alex Troutt.  If you've not read any of John's books I highly recommend them. This latest features a really creepy serial killer who is obsessed with eyes. You can find my review here.

Happy bargain and freebie 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 | Mother Distracted | Colorimetry | The Ultimate Fan Blog
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!

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Inspirational Design Ideas That Parents Will Love

If you’re busy juggling the school run with work or other commitments, you may not have time for DIY and interior design. 

Thankfully, you don’t have to devote a lot of time to shopping or hammering with these inspirational design ideas. If you’re a parent looking to give your home a mini makeover, why not give these suggestions a try?

Image Credit

Displaying children’s artwork

Have you got folders of paintings lying around in boxes in the spare room? Have you run out of room on the fridge? Or are you struggling to find enough wall space to hang your children’s masterpieces? If these scenarios sound familiar, it’s time to find some innovative new ways to display your kids’ artwork.

One idea is to create a wall-mounted gallery. Buy a series of frames, and select your favourite works. Put up some tacks in the wall and hang your frames. This idea works really well on staircases or landing walls. You can choose frames that are all the same size and colour, or mix things up with different sizes and styles. You don’t need to spend a fortune on your creation. Take a look online and compare prices. Sites like Best4Frames offer a range of cheap picture frames.

Another idea is to create a washing-line style gallery. Put up a piece of string or tape and then use mini pegs to hang your pictures. Once the line is in place, you could add personalised wall stickers to finish off the look. Go for your child’s name or a quote from a famous artist.

Wallpaper with a difference

Are your kids always drawing on the walls or adding their own touches to your wallpaper? If so, why not create a chalkboard wall? Your new wall will look stylish, and your children can be as creative as they like. You can use chalkboard paint or buy a ready-made sticker. This is an excellent idea for family kitchens, playrooms, and children’s bedrooms.

Sensational storage

Storage issues are commonplace in family homes. Are you constantly tripping over building blocks or trying to cram as many books as possible into your shelving units? The good news is that there are some fantastic child-friendly storage ideas out there. You can buy units, which look like toys and invest in clever solutions. Think giant Lego brick storage boxes. Or wardrobes and beds fitted with pull-out drawers. If you have older kids, bunk beds with desks underneath are an excellent space-saving option.

Family photos

Every parent loves to display photographs of their kids around the house. There are various ways you can do this. You can stand frames on units and chests. You can hang canvases on the wall or buy giant multi-aperture frames. You could create a photo wall in the same style as your artwork gallery. Or you could put up a series of shelves and fill them with your favourite images.

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If you’re a parent looking for simple but effective design ideas, hopefully, you’re feeling inspired. Try these quick and easy tips, and your home will look beautifully unique in no time!

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Greece Is The Word - Why You Should Choose Greece For Your Next Family Holiday

In south eastern Europe, across the water from Turkey, lies Greece and the Greek Islands. Greece continues to be one of the most sought after destination for vacations. Read on to find out why Greece is the last word in family holidays.

Image credit: Nikos Roussos

The Aegean Sea

First of all, one of the biggest pull of all those little islands is that they are situated in the beautiful Aegean sea. The Aegean sea is like the ocean that you see on postcards. It's blue and deep and surrounded by beautiful sandy beaches and quaint little towns. It’s also so clear that you can see the fishes and marine life that surrounds you in the water.

In fact, in most places, the weather is so good and the current so favorable that the sun actually gets the chance to warm up the water. This makes it more like a pleasantly warm bath, instead of the freezing endurance test we are used to in the UK.

Another huge boon for taking the family to Greece is that many Greek beaches slope slowly away into the sea. This creates warm shallows in which the kids can play and swim. They can also learn to snorkel here and check out the underwater activity that is common at that shore line.

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Food

Of course, food is a major part of any family holiday. If you are concerned that there won't be enough choice for your little ones, don't worry. In fact, there are a lot of English style dishes on offer that will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.

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However, it's unlikely that you’ll need to resort to pie and chips as the Greeks are known for their excellent cuisine. Many a holidaymaker has returned from the islands having realized that they do in fact enjoy all sort of culinary delights and the Mediterranean Diet is recognised as being extremely beneficial for the health conscious, with the possible benefit of a longer life too! Fruits and vegetables such as Kalamata olives, tomatoes and pepper are all sweet from being grown in the glorious sun. So your kids may return home with a far more sophisticated palate than when they arrived.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Greece varies in style and type depending on your needs. There is bed and breakfast accommodation in places such as the local taverna or hotel rooms in towns like Lindos and Lardos, suitable for couples or friends sharing. Then there are plenty of self-catering apartments for families in the larger centers of the islands like Rhodes or Mykonos town. Or if you are looking for more privacy then you might choose one of the Santorini villas on offer, most of which include a private pool.

Activities

If your little ones get bored, easily there is plenty to see and do in the Greek Islands. There are plenty of long coastal walks to pretty villages on most islands that you can do. Or what about visiting a live volcano or some ancient ruins?

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There are also plenty of water sports to take part in. Jet skis can be hired from stations on the larger beaches. Or how about taking a day trip on an old-fashioned sail boat. One of the highlights is getting to jump into the ocean from the deck, but be warned the sea isn't always quite as warm that far out!

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