I Got My Bright Little Sparks Crafting For Bonfire Night

On dreary autumn afternoons, a family crafting session is a great way to spend some quality time together. We love the colours of autumn and it's fun to bring back beautifully coloured leaves or shiny brown conkers from our walks.  The reds, browns and oranges make us feel all warm and cosy!

And of course these are the colours both of Halloween Pumpkins and the dancing flames of a bonfire on November 5th - which this year is on a Saturday so we can all go to our local firework display.

Armed with a box of gorgeous crafting supplies and our trusty Bostik White Glue, Glue Dots and Glitter Pens, I challenged Caitlin and Ieuan to create a firework display scene and they've been arguing about who's is the 'sparkliest' ever since!

Caitlin's bonfire features crisp autumn leaves whereas it looks suspiciously like Ieuan's sacrificed a chicken but I've learned not to challenge their artistic integrity for the sake of peace and quiet.

What I love about the Bostik products is there's no mess to clear up afterwards and the glue is strong enough to cope with paper crafting.

Glue Dots are a genius alternative to glue for little ones - simply peel off the backing and leave a blob of glue exactly where you need it.

I love autumn because you are surrounded by fabulous crafting materials - apples, pine cones, nuts and seeds, hedgerow plants like Old Man's Beard, cinnamon sticks - the list is as wide as your imagination.

And for those of you swamped by your children's craft projects and too sentimental to throw any of them away?  Simply photograph them and upload them to iCloud, Dropbox or Onedrive so you've always got a record of your kids' artistic genius, without sinking slowly under paper, card and glitter.

Happy crafting!

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Making Time To Look After Yourself When Life’s Going At A Million Miles An Hour

Now, as any mother knows, when you’ve got kids, regardless of whether they’re toddlers or teenagers, life seems to go at a million miles an hour. You complete one task, such as collecting the kids from school, to immediately throw yourself into another. It’s this hectic way of life that can often lead to us mums neglecting ourselves and our health. When I say health, I’m talking about both our physical and mental health, as each is equally as important as the other.

As parents, a lot of us like to think that we are invincible and that we can rush around and leave little time for ourselves, and not feel the impact. Unfortunately, that’s not the case - if we fail to look after ourselves properly, our minds and bodies will feel the impact. So it’s of the utmost importance that even when life is busy, we make time for ourselves.

Of course, for a lot of us mums, that’s easier said than done. It’s not like we can just snap our fingers and add a couple of extra hours onto the day, is it? We might not be able to extend the day itself. However, there are ways that we can ensure that we are able to look after our mental and physical health, and keep ourselves healthy.

Get up an hour earlier

Photo from Flickr

To give yourself time to relax and unwind before the day starts, aim to get up an hour earlier. Use this hour to prepare yourself for the day. Take a shower, get dressed, and then spend some time practising meditational exercise, like yoga. Yoga offers a fantastic way to calm and relax the mind - making it more likely that you will stay calm throughout the day, and feel better for doing so.

Obviously, if you’re going to get up earlier, it’s probably a good idea to go to bed an hour earlier, so that you’re not missing out on sleep. (With a hectic schedule, you need as much sleep as you can get.) There are various apps that allow you to work out how much sleep your body needs, and also, the time that you should go to bed, to get up at a certain time.

Accept help

A mistake that many mums make is refusing to accept help. Don’t fail to accept help, let the people who care about you help you. Whether your parents want to watch your kids or a friend wants to help you clean your house, don’t be too proud to accept help. By accepting help, you will have more time to focus on yourself.

Focus on the task at hand

Image credit

Be more mindful and focus on the task at hand. For instance, while you’re hanging out the washing, don’t obsess over all of the other things that need doing. Instead, simply focus on the present - the here and now. This doesn’t just apply to housework, but to anything. For example, when you’re playing with your little one, focus purely on them and what you’re doing together.

Let your other stresses and worries slip away - you can focus on them later on. The thing is, when we obsess over stuff, it causes us to become wound up and stressed out. This isn’t good for our mental health. As being stressed can cause insomnia and can also make you more prone to conditions like depression. At times when you feel like everything is getting on top of you, stop and take ten deep breaths - inhale, wait three seconds and then exhale. Remember, aim to focus only on the task at hand and nothing else.

Take advantage of the internet

A major benefit that we have as modern mums is the internet. You see, unlike our own mothers who had to leave the house to get anything done, we have the benefit of the internet. We can order anything that we need via the internet. For instance, as well as being able to order food online for direct delivery to your door, you can order contraceptives like Yasmin online. As well as various other medications. Making it easier than ever before to put yours’ (and your family’s) health first.

Not only can we order whatever we need to online, but you can also use the internet to help to make it easier to fit exercise into your daily schedule. YouTube is an amazing resource and one that is incredibly beneficial for busy mums. As there are various tutorials for all sorts of workouts, among other things. There are even online classes and workshops for reducing stress and being more positive. The internet is the most amazing resource and makes it much easier to look after ourselves.

When you’re a parent, life can get busy. However, that’s not an excuse for failing to look after yourself.

*collaborative post

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Home Maintenance Tips for Everyone

When it comes to home maintenance, a lot of things are taken for granted. We live our day-to-day lives not thinking much about how to better take care of things that value the most. And that is especially true for our homes, since we spend almost two thirds of our lives in them.

Think of it as cutting your costs and making your life more productive, and also more enjoyable. So here are the most important things to do from time to time, so that your home is always in tip-top shape.

First of all, start from the interiors. If you feel a slight breeze inside even though your windows are closed, try fixing the frames, sealing them, and changing the screens if they are broken. This might affect the heating system as well, and help your house be warmer and more pleasant.

Also, air filters in your air-conditioning need to be clean at all times, so wash them at least once a year, preferably at the end of spring, and make sure they are serviced from time to time. This may prevent allergies with your family members, as can keeping the house clean and free of insects. Make sure your extinguishers are working, and change them if you need to.

Inspect your plumbing in the house. If the water runs slowly, that is extremely easy to fix. Keep your sink clean, and use vinegar or chemicals when you need to clean kitchen sink disposal. Your range hood filters also need to be free from grease.

If there is a space in your house that you do not use regularly, make sure to run water there every month or two. This also includes flushing the toilet in the room. For water to be soft and not harmful to your body, use salt and add it at least once a month.

At least twice a year give your home a full treatment – a whole weekend of dusting, mopping and vacuum cleaning. Pay special attention to refrigerator coils, as when they are clean, your fridge runs more smoothly and spends least energy.

At this point you could also remember to pay attention to the exterior. If everything seems to be in order, check exterior drainage and clean the gutters. Clean the garage, it is usually full of things we do not need in the house, so we easily lose track of what is inside it. As soon as it is done, focus on the plants.

Any trees you might have around your house should not interfere with electrical cables, and also, trim your garden fence and you will get rid of unnecessary dead plants. This will not only help house exterior look better, but it will also prevent weed from growing between the bricks or in small cracks around the house.

Roof is another important thing on your check-list, as it needs to be free of damage, cracks, holes and leaks at all times. Chimney is also important to keep clean, as it keeps your house safe from all the harmful effects of gases. Check it at least once a year.

Then comes the patio, which usually does not require more than a solid wash every now and then The pool requires more attention, so check your Onga or Davey pool pumps (check this page if you want to buy some good ones) for damage once in a while. Finish with driveway for cracks, and then your to-do list of things to keep your house in good order is done.

With these tips, you will be ready to tackle most troublesome home issues without even calling a handyman!

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Are You Britain's Most Fruitful Family - Share Your Life Hacks With Nature's Finest To Win £1000

We are all getting busier and busier and I find that there seems to be much fewer hours to get things done once the clocks go back (30th October at 2 am - don't forget!).

As busy parents it's good to have some tricks up your sleeve to get things done in double quick time, especially if you're juggling work commitments with the kids' social life and after school activities.

And getting things done quicker means more time to spend together as a family.

Nature's Finest, who make a variety of tasty potted fruits in juice are searching for Britain's Most Fruitful Family in a fabulous competition they are running on their Facebook page.

They recognise that family time is precious, but with parents often exhausted at the end of a working day and children focused on gadgets we forget to spend just five minutes together. So Nature’s Finest is on a mission to find and champion families who use simple solutions or life hacks to ensure time is spent together.

To enter the competition, families are being asked to send in the life hacks that help them to spend more time together as a family, encouraging others to try the same and embrace a fruit-ful lifestyle.

Inspired by the brand itself, Nature’s Finest offers a variety of tasty Potted fruit only in juice, with no added sugar. Making eating fruit on the go or at home a simple and easy task.

The competition runs from 24th October through to 28th November and the winning family with the best life hack will receive £1,000 worth of Sainsbury’s vouchers – ideal just before Christmas when food shopping bills get bigger.

Just leave your brilliant lifehack in the comments box on the Facebook competition post.

 So how do we save time in the Hobbis household?  Here's my 5 top tips.

* Invest in a slow cooker

Yes there's still a little prep time to make a warming beef stew or a veggie curry but there's nothing better than coming home to a hot meal that's just waiting to be dished up.

*Write out a weekly meal plan

If you can discipline yourself to do this you'll find you won't be hit by the 4 pm angst when you remember you're supposed to throw something together for tea.

Plus having a meal plan streamlines shopping, reduces your bills because you won't impulse buy and allows you to make better use of leftovers.

*Prepare lunchboxes the night before

You can bet the morning you're rushing to prepare a lunchbox is the time you'll discover muddy school uniform and need to get the iron out!

Make things easier by prepping the night before and sticking the whole lot in the fridge to keep cool.  A Nature's Finest Fruit Pot makes a healthier snack / pud to slip in as well.

*Delegate some chores to the kids

There's no reason why kids can't lay a table, put shopping away or (at a sensible age) help with basic chopping and food preparation. I used to peel the potatoes for mum when I got home from school.

*Agree a sensible switch off time for gadgets

We know that we are supposed to turn off our gadgets at least an hour before turning in for the night so having a set switch off time means you have a few more precious moments to read stories, talk about your day and just cuddle.

*Have a homework timetable

If you can it's good to have a designated quiet area for your kids to do their homework.  No TV, no music and no gadgets! It's also worth drawing up a basic homework timetable with the kids so that nothing gets forgotten.

This means checking their school bags when they get home on Friday afternoon because you can bet something will be remembered at 4 pm on Sunday.

You could also incentivise sticking to the timetable by offering a family treat as a reward.  Depending on your budget this could be a meal out, a trip to the cinema, a walk to the park, a movie night at home or even playing a board game altogether. The point is to ensure more quality time together as a family.

I hope I've given you a few ideas and please take a look at the Nature's Finest Competition.  I'm looking forward to learning more tips and tricks to make life just that little bit easier!

The Nature’s Finest product range includes: Peach, Tropical Fruit Salad, Mango, Pineapple and Mandarin in individual posts and sharing pots including Mango, Mandarin, Tropical Fruit Salad, Prunes, Peach, Pear, Pineapple.  There are also larger fridge packs in Peach, Pear, Pear with Peach and Pineapple, Prunes and Tropical Fruit Salad.

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Angry Birds or Pigs? Who'll Win The #FrubesMoves Challenge?

Frubes, the largest portable yogurt brand has joined forces with The Angry Birds to celebrate the must-see family film of the year - The Angry Birds Movie.

Not only is there an on-pack promotion which gives you the chance to win a whole host of Angry Bird merchandise in a weekly draw, there is a grand prize of a fabulous holiday for four to spend six nights in the Bahamas up for grabs too. The competition ends on 31st of October so you'll need to get Frubes-Moving!

And to add to the fun, there is a great on-line game which involves a dance-off between the birds and those naughty pigs.

You simply choose a character and a style of music and you can challenge your friends and family to finally settle the question of who reigns supreme - birds or pigs?

Why not have a go at angrybirds.frubes.co.uk.

Frubes challenged us to show off our best FrubesMoves and get the kids dancing.  Caitin and Ieuan love to dance and I think it's an excellent way of getting kids to exercise in a fun way and to show off their creativity. There's something about dance that unites people and lifts the spirit, even if you've got two left feet.

Caitlin has been studying ballet for the past three years and is taking her Grade 3 Royal Academy of Dance exam in November. Ieuan has his own unique set of moves too (rather reminiscent of a funky chicken in places rather than a bird or a pig).

Frubes are tasty squeezable yoghurt tubes which can also help by providing vitamin D and calcium to build strong bones. They come in strawberry, red berry, peach and banana flavours and are ideal to add to a lunchbox or to give as a snack. You can find Frubes in all leading supermarkets priced around £2.

So who would you support birds or pigs?  Do you have some funky FrubesMoves?

"This post is an entry for BritMums' #FrubesMoves Linky Challenge, sponsored by Frubes."

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My Problem Page - What Was I Asked In Week 42?

This week I'm talking about dating by text, trouble with solar panels and what to do when your glasses don't fit. A pretty mixed bag, as I'm sure you'll agree.  Sometimes though, it's the smallest things that cause us the biggest problems and all we really need is someone to listen to  us.

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: I found out my boyfriend is still friends with the girl he cheated on me with. What should I do? 

He cheated on me with her 3 years ago. I saw on the home screen of his phone that they were messaging via Facebook. I didn't snoop but I've found out that they have recently become Facebook friends again.

A: It sounds like they are both still in touch and given that he has already broken your trust once with this girl, I wonder why you have not confronted him about it. Unfortunately by taking him back, you basically gave him the green light to cheat on you again.

There are those who would say that you did right to give him another chance and that people do change. I’m with the other school of thought that says a leopard never changes his spots.

You need to ask him exactly what’s going on - otherwise he’s just playing you for a fool. When you took him back, did you do so on the condition that he broke all contact with this girl? I certainly would have done. And I’d certainly be asking him quite a few blunt questions now.

Q: Is he just not that into me if he isn't pursuing me strongly after 5 dates or is it normal to wait hours/days for him text and ask me out each time?

A: What do you mean by ‘pursuing you strongly’? If he’s texting you and asking you out for further dates then he is ‘into you’.

If you become obsessed by a timetable - by date 6 he must have declared his love, by date 9 he must have bought me jewellery, by date 12 we should be moving in together……. you sending him running for the hills. Try to relax.

I’m assuming he has a life of his own and needy isn’t attractive you know. 5 dates is very early days and you sound like you have spent most of that time glued to your phone waiting for it to ring or bleep.

Think smart, sassy and independent. Make him chase you. That way you will keep his interest.

Q: Can a high frequency noise from my neighbor's solar panel inverter cause permanent ear damage?

It is about 15-20 feet from my room and I can now hear almost the same high frequency noise at night even though the noise is not there (tinnitus). The solar panel system of the neighbor was activated about 4 days ago.

A: It’s unlikely. I have tinnitus and I know that stress makes it worse so in your shoes if I were worrying 24/7 about the panels, it would make me more sensitive to noise.

All you can do in this situation is talk to your neighbour and see if there is anything that can be done to reduce your exposure to the noise. Loft insulation? Sound proofing panels?

Did your neighbour have to have planning permission to install these solar panels? I’m assuming these are domestic panels?

I’m not sure if you’re in the UK but noise pollution can be reported to your local authority and there may be something they can do to help.

I’d advise trying to get your neighbour on side first rather than starting a dispute. You might be able to come up with a solution between you. A bit of positive action is needed here rather than stewing angrily about the din. 

Q: How do I relieve irritation that my eyeglasses cause to the area behind my ears?

A: It sounds as if you need to return to your optician to have the glasses fitted properly. They may be too tight.

An optician will be able to warm a plastic frame slightly to bend it into a more comfortable shape.

If you have a metal frame, it is possible you are allergic to the material they are made from (e.g. nickel). However, a poor fit is the most likely reason you are uncomfortable.

While you are waiting to see the optician, get some lightly medicated cream such as a hydrocortisone cream and apply lightly to help with the irritation.

Also, are you showering and not drying behind your ears properly? That might also irritate your ears.

Q: My girlfriend is not friends with someone she had an argument with, but I want to be friends with her. Is this ok?

A: The mature answer would be, yes of course it is OK for you to be friends with her. 

The realistic answer is no it’s not OK if you want to keep your girlfriend. It also depends on what the argument was about. 

I think most girlfriends would expect their boyfriend to take their side in an argument rather than their friend. 

If it was a silly argument and likely to blow over, I’d just keep quiet until things calm down. If it’s a serious rift then you have some thinking to do about where your loyalties lie because it sounds as if you will have to choose between the pair of them. 

This isn’t particularly grown up behaviour, as I have said, but I’m also interested that you seem more interested in taking the friend’s side. The argument wasn’t about you was it? 

You need decide whether you want to keep your girlfriend or whether being free to pursue your friendships is more important. And there’s no easy answer to that one.

Q: Is it time to move on if he hasn't contacted me 2 days after our last date? 

We have been dating a month and he never texted much but I guess my feelings are growing. Since he is texting less after spending more time, I am guessing it’s time to move on? If he was into me wouldn’t he text and ask to see me soon? I am big into communication, are we not compatible?

A: The only way you will find out is by asking him. 

You cannot have a relationship ‘by text’ - and if you are, I’d suggest it’s not a real relationship in any case - particularly if you are no longer teenagers. 

A month is nothing in terms of time to be dating. You are still getting to know each other whereas it sounds as if you have a wedding planned already. 

Have you considered he might actually be busy, or have things going on in his life that don’t involve you? If you don’t know what is going on with him then you haven’t learned much about him in the last month. 

Rather than playing ‘text’ tennis, why don’t you talk to him, get to know him and see if you want a longer term relationship. 

People don’t stick to a ‘texting’ schedule. Some people hate mobile phones and would prefer the good old fashioned method of communication - talking. 

You say you are “big into communication” - what you are actually saying is that you expect him to stick to your schedule. Can I gently suggest that’s a little bit controlling? 

Calm down, take a breath and stop obsessing. If he’s interested he will call but it is 2016 - you don’t have to wait for him to make all the moves. 

The only way you will find out if you are compatible is to put the phone down and spend time with him.

How would you have responded to these questions? I'd love to know. You can find more advice on my problem page here.

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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4 Things To Remember When Travelling With Kids

Any parent will tell you that travelling with kids can be a challenge. However, there are a number of ways you can ensure your journey is as smooth and fuss-free as possible.

Here are four things to remember when you’re making a trip with your youngsters in tow.

1. Put their health first

Your child’s well-being is a huge priority, especially when you’re about to embark on a big journey. So aside from making sure their overall health is in check ahead of your trip, it’s vital that you consider the other risks too.

For example, depending on where you’re travelling to, you and your brood may need to get vaccinated. These injections are designed to protect you from contracting a serious or even life-threatening disease while you’re away, so it’s crucial to find out which jabs you might need.

Most injections, such as the typhoid vaccine, are administered as a single jab, however there are others that are made up of several injections over a period of several weeks, so it’s important that you leave enough time for you and your family to get this done ahead of your departure date.

It’s also important that you don’t forget to pack any medicine you might need for your kids, in addition to medical essentials like plasters, antiseptic wipes, insect bite cream and a travel sized thermometer.

2. Pack lots of activities

Keeping your kids occupied is key, so don’t forget to pack lots of fun activities. From colouring books and crayons to portable games consoles, there is an array of travel-friendly activities for your little ones to enjoy during the journey.

If you’re hopping on a plane, you might find that the in-flight entertainment is enough to keep your youngsters amused, while a fully charged tablet packed full of their favourite films, TV shows and apps might be more suitable if you’re travelling by car.

3. Dress them for comfort

Comfort is key while you’re travelling, so it’s important that your children are dressed appropriately. The temperature on planes can vary, so if you’re taking a flight, it’s a good idea to dress them in thin layers that can be added or removed depending how warm or chilly they feel.

If you know the journey is going to be long, avoid putting your kids in restrictive clothing, such as jeans. Also, ditch lace-up shoes in favour of slip-ons or footwear with Velcro fastenings. Aside from being more comfortable for your little ones, this will save you a lot of time and hassle when you arrive at airport security.

4. Relax!

Although you may feel tense at the thought of travelling with your little ones, it’s important that you try to relax. Your kids are more likely to kick up a fuss if you’re acting tense, so to keep any potential meltdowns at bay, the best thing you can do is to remain cool, calm and collected.

What's your best tip for travelling comfortably with the kids?

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