Remedies To Try When Your Children Are Under The Weather

From cuts and scrapes to bruising and bloody knees, roaming toddlers and active children often end up with a few of these! On top of that you may have to deal with insect bites, upset tummies, headaches, and general coughs and colds.

Here are some remedies for minor aches and ailments that might just be useful for your children to ease you little ones' pain.

Image credit:  Pixabay

Scratchy Sore Throats

Even as adults, when we get a sore throat it can feel like someone is scratching away inside our mouth, so imagine how horrible it is for kids. To ease a sore throat the natural way, try using lemon and honey. Honey is great for soothing soreness and lemon acts quickly to dry up congestion. Try a tablespoon of honey on its own or mix together a spoonful of each and heat in the microwave for 20 seconds until lukewarm. Please remember though to not give honey to children under a year old.

Image credit: Pixabay

Insect Bites

For small insect bites, you can try over the counter medicine or opt for a natural remedy. Both coconut oil and baking soda are both known to stop that annoying itchy feeling. And the fewer times kids scratch the bites, the less likely they are to get infected. If you are using coconut oil, simply rub it onto bites. If you are using baking soda, mix a teaspoon with water to make a thick paste and then apply it to the bite. Baking soda is alkaline, and therefore it cancels out the acidic swelling that bites cause.

Image credit: Pixabay

Online Doctor

If your child has a minor illness such as diarrhea, a cold, sore throat or a fever, you may want to invest in the services of an online doctor. This works well if you are busy at work, the surgery is closed, or you cannot secure an appointment that day with your local doctor. Online doctors enable you to consult a GP, ask medical questions and even send photos of the issue your child has. This is a good way to get advice and give you peace of mind. Online Doctor subscriptions also enable you to keep a password protected clinical record of all your child’s current and past medications.

Nosebleeds

If your child has a one off nosebleed, you can try treating the bleed with cayenne pepper spice. It sounds like it might burn, but it doesn’t! Cayenne pepper is a spice that acts to clot blood. If your child has a nosebleed get them to hold their head upright and then carefully pinch the nostrils together for a few minutes. Then, using a cotton ball, dab the inside of the nose with the spice where the bleed has occurred. You can also put a teaspoon of cayenne pepper into a glass of water and get the to drink this too. However, if your child has frequent nosebleeds, pleased do go and get checked by the doctor for any underlying conditions.

Read more

New Releases, Free & Bargain Books Link-up Week 42

How are you all this week?  The kids break up for half term today so we're planning lots of Halloween themed activities.

Talking of  Halloween I hope you've checked out my great Halloween competitions (UK entries only though) on my competitions page and there are some really great prizes to win - including chocolate!.

I hope you caught my review of "The Fabulous @50 Re-experience" by Dianna Lee Bowes.  It's a great primer for those of us in our 50's wondering how to make the most of our later years.  There are 4 signed copies to win in Dianna's giveaway too.

And don't forget my new problem page here.

Happy bargain and freebie book hunting on this link.

Have a great week!

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

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

This weekly link up is hosted by Beck Valley Books & these awesome book loving blogs...
Monday
 Life as Leels | IrishdaisylovesRomance | Book Babble | All Romance Reader
Tuesday
It's My Side of Life | Celticlady's Reviews | First Time Mommy Adventures 
Wednesday
Beck Valley Books | Cinnamon Hollow Reviews
Thursday
Miki's Hope | Nicki's Nook
Friday
Ebook Addicts | I Love Romance | 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!

Read more

Win 5 Classic Film DVDs From the Exclusive HMV Collection [closed]

I have yet another treat for film buffs - 5 fabulous classic film DVDs to give away.

The HMV Premium Blu-ray Collection, exclusive to HMV, contains special editions of sci-fi classics Logan’s Run, Soylent Green, Forbidden Planet, Them!, The Omega Man; horror classic The Shining; horror comedies Gremlins 2 and Little Shop of Horrors; and classic dramas Diner and All The President’s Men.

These come to Blu-ray® in the UK in these special editions for the first time from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

These beautifully packaged combo packs (featuring Blu-ray and DVD discs as well as digital download) include director’s cuts and extended cuts never seen before on Blu-ray. Each title is packed with extras and comes with a set of highly collectable film cards .

The 10 titles (£14.99 RRP each) are available to buy exclusively at HMV, right now and I have 5 of these for one lucky winner who will receive:-

The Omega Man
All the Presidents Men
Diner
Logan's Run
Gremlins2

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget.  UK entrants only and additional terms and conditions apply to this giveaway which are to be found on my competitions page.

The giveaway will end at 11:59 pm on Wednesday 9th November.

Perfect for cold wintery evenings!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Read more

What Will You Do With An Extra Hour When The Clocks Go Back?

This year the clocks go back at 2 am on Sunday 30th October.  This means, for those of us with children, that our kids will get up at exactly the same time and the extra hour will be spent, at least in our house, either watching Power Rangers or playing Minecraft.

Ah, how I remember with fondness my single days when the clocks going back meant a blissful extra hour to snooze and snuggle under the duvet.

So how will you be spending the extra hour?

Elizabeth Shaw, makers of some of my favourite chocolates suggest that one way to use the extra hour profitably is to practise thoughtfulness, to do something nice for someone else and reap double the benefits of that extra time.

Actually, for frazzled working women and mums everywhere, I'd suggest the best way to use the extra hour is to take some time for yourself.  

Many of  us are completely hopeless at treating ourselves with the same care and loving attention we give the rest of the family.

We make tea and full fry-ups for our partners and kids.  We chauffeur our footie-mad offspring to football pitches and then stand freezing on the side-lines whilst bellowing encouragement.

We drive kids to swimming pools where the noise made by the boisterous swimmers is so loud that it makes our teeth rattle.

Some of us do the dimly-lit commute to face the Great British Public in shops, bars, call centres or to tend to the sick at the forefront of our National Health Service.

It's always inspiring to read about "random acts of kindness" and "paying it forward" but, as the saying goes, you need to breath deep from the oxygen mask yourself first in times of crisis if you are to help others.

There's no denying that doing good things for others makes us feel good ourselves though.  Whether it's paying for the coffee of the person behind you, letting someone more laden down, bedraggled and knackered have the first taxi or leaving a book you've loved stashed somewhere with a note saying "please read me and pass me on", there are lots of ways to spread a little happiness.

But you know what?  If you're feeling a bit spent and in need of a little loving R&R, I'd get the family to make your favourite breakfast or just brew some fresh coffee for you.  They can run you a candle lit bath or get you some chocolates to accompany your coffee.

For many of us 2016 has been an unremittingly tough year and I always treat the movement of the clocks, either forward or backwards, as a time to stop, reassess and find something to look forward to.

Writing a list of things to be grateful for, of things you love and appreciate in others and then sharing that list may be one of the best ways to spend that hour.

There's never as much time left as you think so we all need to use it wisely.

And, should the thought of all the darkness make you feel a bit gloomy, there's always scented candles, wine and, of course chocolate to see you through.

I have a fabulous hamper of Elizabeth Shaw chocolate worth £50 to give away to one lucky winner.  Simply enter via the rafflecopter widget and let me know in the comments below this post how you plan to use the extra hour on 30th October - and whether you have ever experienced a "random act of kindness", or whether it's something you practise yourself.

The giveaway is open to UK entrants only and ends on 11:59 pm on Saturday 5th November.

The hamper includes;

• Dark Chocolate Cappuccino flutes
• Dark Chocolate Lemon flutes
• Dark Chocolate Mint Flutes
• Dark Chocolate Orange Flutes
• Milk Chocolate Amaretto Flutes
• Dark Chocolate Mint Crisps
• Milk Chocolate Mint Crisps
• Milk Chocolate Orange Crisps
• Milk Chocolate Salted Caramel Crisps
• Milk Chocolate Almond Bites
• Milk Chocolate Cappuccino Bites
• Dark Chocolate Raspberry Bites
• Dark and Milk Chocolate Mint Collection
• Orange Merry Christmas Mini Gift – includes orange flutes and bites
• Mint Merry Christmas Mini Gift – includes mint flutes and bites

There's plenty there to share!



a Rafflecopter giveaway Good luck!

Read more

Get To Know Your Child Better Through Their Dreams

We all know how important sleep is for our children's health but have you ever thought that getting them to share their dreams will give you an insight into their hopes and fears and the person they are becoming?

These days I don't always remember my dreams but I can still remember the scary dreams I had as a child about monsters under the bed and goblins in the wardrobe!

Adjustamatic, who make adjustable beds have teamed up with sleep expert Ian Wallace to explain how understanding our children's dreams gives us an amazing opportunity to get to know our little people better in the rather touching video below.

 

Apparently, it is quite normal to dream about goblins, elves and fairies around the ages 5-7 because it is at that age that we begin to understand power hierarchies and to learn about rules.  Not surprising when you think that this is the age when kids move towards a more formal education - a little less play and a lot more expectations from them.

It is also in our dreams as well that we process those things that are upsetting and that are big concepts for us to understand, such as death. The 'bad' things that happen to your child may well make an appearance in bad dreams.

Both Caitlin and Ieuan have had periods of bad dreams where they have shouted in the night and needed comfort and when asked in the morning, it is always pretty obvious to us what the cause of the bad dream has been.

Ian Wallace describes dreams as the 'ultimate selfie' because we are able to explore different aspects of our personality, try on new characters and be honest with ourselves about how we really feel.  And it's the same for our children.

So how can we encourage our children to talk about their dreams in a positive way?  And, if they are having difficulty sleeping, how can we help them?

Here are some useful tips.

*Make sure that their bedrooms are conducive to good sleep.  Some children hate a room that is too dark and appreciate a nightlight or a torch by their bedside.  Consider blackout blinds or curtain linings if too much light is keeping them awake - for example from an outside light, or early morning sunlight.

*Is their mattress comfortable?  As a child grows and gets heavier, they will need a mattress with additional support.  All mattresses should be replaced once they are around 8 years old.

*Do they have a good bedtime routine?  Children around 7 still need 9-11 hours so a wake-up time of 7 am for school means a bedtime of around 7:30 - 8 pm.

*Do they have sufficient 'wind-down' time? The advice is to switch off iPads and tablets at least an hour before going to bed. Reading a bedtime story is a much better substitute for extra game time as it is calming and bonding for both of you - and a great opportunity for your child to talk about anything that is bothering them before they drop off to sleep.

*Make time to talk about your child's dreams with them.  You could share something you dreamed about and encourage them to return the favour.  You could get them to draw some of the creatures that have appeared in their dream.

*If they have woken in the night with a nightmare, gently ask them what it was about (be aware that they often don't remember) and see if they can tell you what they think caused it.  You may have your own ideas of course but children often see things very differently than we do.

*Some children need a comforter, special teddy or blanket for security and it is normal to need these for longer than you might think.  We bought Caitlin and Ieuan dream-catchers which hang on their windows.

*It may also help if you share some of your bad dreams (in a light-hearted way, so as not to distress your child further) and to explain that some dreams are universal - for example falling or losing your teeth!

The famous psychologist Sigmund Freud recognised the importance of studying our dreams to understand our subconscious mind and wrote a classic book on the subject: "The Interpretation of Dreams" - and many of his theories are still accepted today.

It is through our, and our children's dreams that we get the chance to acknowledge what is happening in our lives and to truly acknowledge how we feel about it.

Why not ask your kids to share their dreams with you - you might be surprised and enlightened at what you learn.

And with this knowledge, you'll have an extra string to your parenting bow when it comes to building a strong, supportive relationship with your children on their road to adulthood.

Read more

Beck Valley Book Tour: The Fabulous @50 Re-experience

Baby Boomer women have spent decades suppressing their own wants and desires, and losing themselves in the expectations and demands of culture, parents, partners, and children, working hard to please and care for almost everyone but themselves. They've been misunderstood by marketers, politicians, millenials, most men .. and last but not least, themselves.

The time has come for these strong, beautiful, and fabulous women to discover, reveal, and honor their true selves. The time has come for them to re-expereince life as they've known it, and to celebrate life as it can be.


If you're a Boomer woman in personal crisis needing to reinvent your life, facing divorce, life-threatening illness, financial disaster, or the crushing loneliness after the kids have grown and gone, if you are asking yourself, "Now what?" and fearing that it might be too late for you and your dreams ... this book is for you.

The Fabulous@50 Re-Experience

From Dianna Bowes, visionary foundress of Fabulous @ 50, The Fabulous @50 Re-Experience is a living, breathing, sweet and sassy guide to remind you that you're not alone ... and it's not too late for you to thrive.

Available to buy from....

Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk   Barnes and Noble   Amazon Paperback

Read a preview HERE

  
Artwork from the book

My Review

I qualify as a Boomer woman (just) having in 1964 but this book and the experiences of the women within its pages spoke loudly to me.

Dianna suggests that our fifties should be a time of reinvention and rediscovery of who we are, rather than a slow sinking into old age and an acceptance that nothing will ever change.

Through a series of exercise, gentle coaching and personal artwork, she explains that it is never too late to change if we will only do the work that is needed to face our demons.

Dianna's focus is on positive psychology - that is to say moving forward by taking our experiences as a chance to learn and reshape ourselves rather than the more typical talk therapy where bad past experiences are dredged up and in so doing we relive them in all their horror when we might actually have succeeded in putting them firmly to bed.

The book teaches us to re-experience these events in our lives in a way which builds us up rather than reduces us even further.  Many women of my generation were brought up to be dutiful wives and daughters, to be seen rather than heard and to know our 'place'.

Peppered within the book's pages are numerous personal stories from women born in the Boomer years and many of these left me feeling either sad or angry. These are women who put everyone else first and squashed their own hopes and dreams at enormous personal cost.

What stays with you is the acceptance of their lot when, had they only had some noble friends (Dianna's term for a true friend who will not shirk from telling you the truth, both good and bad), things might have been very difficult.

Dianna suggests we should be our own 'noble friend' first and offers the hand of friendship and a place in her growing Fabulous @50 community. 

Make no mistake, however, to secure your own Fabulous @50 Re-experience, you will have to work hard and hold your past life up to the light in order to reshape it, and yourself for your remaining years.

But surely living in the light has to be better than senior years spent in darkness and, if you're brave enough, this book will show you the way.

About the Author

Dianna is a shining example of how to get the most out of life as a “seasoned” woman. At a time when most of us look to relax in front of the TV, she is out in our Alberta communities creating a dynasty! And in her “spare time,” she turns her time and talents to family and friends, graphic design, painting, biking, cross-country skiing and fulfilling a host of volunteer commitments. Though Dianna is now a successful entrepreneur and inspiration to many, she had to overcome many barriers to get there.

Raised by grandparents in a dysfunctional family, Dianna was shy and lacking in self-confidence as a child and young adult. She married at 20, but tragically her new husband was killed in a explosion within a year. She remarried a few years later and was blessed with two children who are the light of her life. But the marriage was rocky and further eroded Dianna’s self-esteem.

A serious health problem (tumour on her vertebrae) in her 40s brought things to a head and the marriage ended. Rather than wallow in despair, Bowes decided to take control of her life. She recreated herself into the woman she always wanted to be by focusing on personal development and coaching.

When her 50th birthday was approaching, she started Fabulous@50 (a community for seasoned woman) and has never looked back. Now confident and poised, Bowes is dedicated to helping other women through their life changes and challenges.

Bowes has won numerous awards for her work: a 2014 Leader of Tomorrow Award from Business in Edmonton, 2011 YWCA Woman of Distinction Award (Turning Point category) The 2014 New York Stevie Awards in two categories: Women Helping Women (Bronze) and Best Event (Gold). 2015 New York Stevie Award - Top Canadian Entrepreneur (Bronze).

Find the author on the following sites...

Fabulous@50 Community   Blog   Facebook   Twitter   Google+   Pinterest   Goodreads   Amazon Author Page

Keep in the loop, become a Fabulous@50 community member and receive our Be Fabulous! E-Magazine Click here {no catch} just a fun e-mag with fun stuff!

Adaption is a part of life, and we can accept it or fight it. It's a choice!

Fabulous@50 Experience 2014 - Edmonton 

Follow the Book Tour

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

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY

Signed Book Giveaway - 4 Winners!!
Open Worldwide

Ending on Sunday 30th October at 11.59pm EST

Enter Below and Good Luck !!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read more

Win A Copy Of Peter Rabbit's New DVD Collection [closed]

Who doesn't love cheeky Peter Rabbit, possibly Beatrix Potter's most famous creation?  Peter's back with more 'tails' of fun, mischief and friendship in a new DVD collection "Peter Rabbit – The Tale Of The Great Rabbit And Squirrel Adventure" which is released by Abbey Media and on sale from Monday 24th October 2016.

Join our hero, Peter Rabbit, in this fifth installment of his animated adventures. Peter tells a curious Cotton-tail how he and Squirrel Nutkin became friends and how Nutkin’s lost his tail. Soon Peter is on an adventure to retrieve Nutkin’s tail, even though it means going to Owl Island! This charming DVD collection features over seventy minutes full of fun, mischief and adventure, in 6 action packed adventures. Let’s hop to it!

With a taste for radishes and a thirst for adventure Peter Rabbit is the lovable and extraordinary friend you longed to hang out with when you were a kid. But when the chips are down and danger lurks, there’s no better friend to have around than Peter and his boundless courage will always see him through.

Peter Rabbit – The Tale of the Great Rabbit and Squirrel Adventure features the following episodes: - The Tale of The Rabbit and Squirrel Great Adventure; The Tale of Old Brown’s Feather; The Tale of The Wiggly Worms; The Tale of Two Enemies; The Tale of Fierce Bad Rabbit; The Tale of Mr Tod’s Trap

I have one copy to give away.  Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget.  UK entries only and terms and conditions apply (please see my Competitions Page).  The giveaway will end at 11:59 pm on Friday 11th November.

You can find this DVD at all major retailers and it would make a great Christmas stocking filler.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Read more