Treat Your Kids to a Weekend Holiday

The weekend is a time for relaxation and unwinding before we prepare for yet another busy work week. However, there are some great and exciting ways to spend the weekend that don’t involve sitting around the television watching a movie or playing video games with your children. In fact, if your kids are still young, it’s beneficial to take them out more often so they can experience more of life and soak in all the sights and sounds of the world.

Going on holiday with your kids is a fantastic opportunity to bond as a family and create some wonderful memories. Thanks to digital cameras, Facebook and online photo storage services, you could create long-lasting memories and come out of a holiday with hundreds of photos, dozens of souvenirs and a refreshed mind before working hard at your job again.



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Ask your kids what they’d like to see

Whether it’s the beach, a museum or somewhere fun like a fairground or theme park, ask your kids where they’d like to go and try to meet their requests. You have to consider how practical it is as well. For instance, if you drive then you’ll probably be able to take them to a nearby city or a distant city, but if you need to fly, then you might have to reconsider the location because the weekend will be over before you know it and the last thing you want is to spend an entire day flying to and from the location.

Set a budget

If you’ve been saving the pennies and you’ve built up some additional income, then you’re probably financially able to afford a weekend holiday with your children. However, it’s important that you set a budget so you don’t go overboard and end up spending more money than you first anticipated. Make sure that you check prices for travel or fuel, the price of admission into whatever events and shows your kids want to see, and also the costs of accommodation.

Pick a place to stay

Try your best to pick a reputable location sleep in. For instance, Dorsett Hotel is a well-known chain of hotels that has several locations in the world, giving it a solid reputation as opposed to random unknown hotels that are converted from houses; they might function as a hotel, but the point of a holiday is to have a fantastic memorable experience and that includes the sleeping arrangements! If possible, try to pick a location that is close to public transportation so that you spend less time moving around and more time enjoying yourself.

Don’t forget technology

Make sure you take your smartphone or a camera so you can snap up pictures wherever you are. A spare battery is also handy, but you could also take a portable battery bank to keep your devices charged up so that you can take pictures, record videos and keep in touch with relatives and friends. Remember that roaming costs for data in other countries can add up very quickly, so take care when using mobile data and always try to use a WiFi connection when possible.

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Tips & Tricks For Kitchen Success

As readers of this blog will know my kitchen prowess is slightly questionable but I AM improving - and I say that as the owner of the world's largest collection of unused cookery books.

Over the years I've learned a trick or two though, largely through watching hundreds of TV cookery shows and being teased (shamed) into having a go by the Husband who assembles a meal with ease.

There's also the fact that mothers are supposed to be excellent cooks with the ability to create dishes combining unique medicinal properties and maternal love.

So with my guilt-ometer reading maximum, I try my best.

Here are some of my best tips for creating a little bit of kitchen magic - or at least a decent sponge which I whipped up with Caitlin's help over the weekend.  Ieuan had 'something urgent to do on Roblox'.

Have Confidence

"And believe me, the best thing you can have in a kitchen is confidence.  I really think that's what separates good cooks from the mediocre ones" - Gordon Ramsey

You have to be willing to give it a go and make a bit of a mess.  I'm always fascinated when a Great British Bake-Off contestant decides that a recipe isn't working, chucks the whole thing out and starts again.

Most families don't have the luxury of a BBC budget but persisting until you get the recipe right seems to be the trick!

Delegate

Baking is a great way to spend time with your kids and it honestly doesn't matter if the results are less than spectacular.  It's the time spent together that matters - plus you get help.

Caitlin and Ieuan (occasionally) love to help when I bake cakes and tray bakes.  At 9 and 7 they are perfectly capable of helping to measure ingredients and mix them.

Keep your recipes simple

"Never eat more than you can lift" - Miss Piggy

Don't overstretch yourself and stick to a recipe you know works.  You can find loads of simple cake recipes online.  Magazines such as Good Housekeeping are also a great source of kitchen inspiration with triple tested recipes and easy to follow instructions.

Buy the best equipment you can afford

"I can't bake anything unless I have the right shaped tin" - Linda Hobbis

I use bakeware by Prestige (current sponsors of ITV's Secret Chef) and for this particular cake I used the 9" round cake tin from their Inspire Range.

Made from heavy gauge carbon steel these are weighty tins made to last.  They also have Cushion Smart which is a non-stick cushioned surface that helps your cakes brown better and makes it a lot easier to get them out of the tin!

There's also a 25 year guarantee - that's an awful lot of cake baking.

You can pop them in the dishwasher but it's better to hand wash to preserve the coating for as long as you can.

Cheat

Again, the Internet is a marvellous source of kitchen cheats.

I'm sure you already know to melt butter in the microwave, as well as popping lemons and limes in there for a few seconds to help release their juice.

We might have cheated ever so slightly with our cake decoration (thank you M&S).

I can report that the cake tasted very nice and if you would like to try the recipe we used it is below.

Ingredients

250g (9oz) soft margarine or butter
250g (9oz) caster sugar
300g (10oz) self-raising flour
4 eggs
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp baking powder

This makes a 23 cm (9 inch) deep round cake.

Method

Cream the margarine and sugar together until light and fluffy
Mix the eggs and milk in a separate bowl.
Add the mix to the cake a little at a time to avoid curdling.
Add the flour and baking powder together and gently fold in.

Line your tin with greaseproof paper covered with butter or use non-stick baking paper.  Spoon in the mixture and level with a palette knife.

Bake in a pre-heated over at 160°C/320°F/gas mark 3 for 45 - 55 minutes.

For the Buttercream

100g unsalted butter
200g icing sugar
1 tsp Vanilla extract

Beat the butter and sugar together until smooth then add the milk and the vanilla extract.

Enjoy!

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Win A Bundle Of Vosene Kids Hair Products - Kind To Skin & Hair

Finding the right shampoo for your kids' hair can be a bit of a challenge.  Lots of adult shampoos contain lots of high strength chemicals or additives which aren't great for young skin and hair.

And there's always the risk of stingy eyes because even now I still spend most of my time when washing Caitlin's and Ieuan's hair shouting 'tip your head back' and grabbing their flannels when they do anything but.

Vosene is a brand I've known for many years and now they have a great range of kids' shampoos.  We have been using the Squeaky Clean range for a while now to repel those nasty nits who made their first appearance in the Hobbis household over Christmas.  Great timing nits!

The products are modestly priced, readily available, smell nice and do the job.  Just about all you can ask for really.

There are two ranges to choose from and read on because I have a selection of Vosene Kids hair products to give away.

Squeaky Clean range:

The Squeaky Clean range includes the 3 in 1 Shampoo and Conditioning Defence Spray to help you to achieve tangle-free, shiny hair, as well as offering advanced protection in the fight against head lice. Dermatologically tested and MIT-free.

3 in 1 Shampoo (RRP £2.54, 250ml) – Gently cleanses and conditions your child’s hair and scalp for naturally shiny, healthy-looking hair. The specially formulated shampoo also contains natural tea tree oil and lemon eucalyptus oil to help keep prevent head lice when used alongside the Conditioning Defence Spray (below).

Conditioning Defence Spray (RRP £2.54, 150ml) – This fantastic leave-in spray detangles and smooths your child’s hair. The clinically proven formula also helps to prevent head lice, using natural ingredients such as citronella oil.
(both suitable for kids age 3+)

Fruity Goodness range:

Strawberry 2 in 1 Shampoo (RRP £1.99, 250ml) – The Strawberry 2 in 1 Shampoo will ensure your children’s locks smell as good as they look. With a fresh, fruity strawberry scent, the whole family will appreciate the burst of natural fruit extract which also helps to leave your children’s hair shiny, soft and tangle-free.

Melon 2 in 1 Shampoo (RRP £1.99, 250ml) – The fresh Melon 2 in 1 Shampoo adds a fruity twist to bath time, resulting in shiny, soft and great-smelling hair which is free from tangles and knots. Kids love the fresh, fruity melon smell of this mild and pH balanced 2 in 1 shampoo.

All available from Asda, Tesco and Boots.

Check out their website which has plenty of advice and some really useful videos to deal with problems like getting chewing gum out of your child's hair.  Their stylist is Charlotte Hayward who styled hair on films like Harry Potter, Captain Phillips and the X Men.

Giveaway

I have 4 products to give away:-

3 in 1 Shampoo 250ml 
Conditioning Defence Spray 150ml 
Strawberry 2 in 1 Shampoo 250ml 
Pink Pomelo 2 in 1 shampoo 250ml

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget and is open to UK residents only.  Terms and conditions apply which can be viewed on my competitions page.  

The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 31st March.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

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Great Ways To Supplement Your Income As A Busy Parent

If you want to earn some extra money, whether it be for home improvements, a trip with the kids or a little treat for yourself, but you’re a busy parent, it can be difficult. You don’t always have the option of taking on an extra part-time job or working more hours because you have the children to think about. That doesn’t mean, however, that you just have to do without. 

There are several ways that you can make more money without letting your parenting duties suffer as a result.


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Check out these simple ideas to effortlessly earn more money when you need it:

Rent Out Your Driveway

As parking prices soar and less and less space is made available to those looking to park in busy areas, more people have started offering their own drives and garages for rental. If you live in a big city and you have a drive that isn’t in use during the day, you could earn a decent sum by renting your drive to a local person who’d be glad of the space.

Sell Your Old Stuff

If you get rid of your old iPhone and tablets, you could make anywhere between £5-200 depending on the model and condition of your phone. You’ll also be doing your part for the environment by recycling your old electronics.

Selling used clothes and shoes that are in good condition on eBay can also net you’re a tidy profit, especially if you take the time to get a decent set of photos and write eye-catching descriptions. This is something you can do whenever you have a few minutes spare, the cash will soon mount up, and you’ll have a wonderfully decluttered home once you’re finished.

Look After Pets

If you’re an animal lover, taking in another family’s animal while they are on holiday will not feel at all like a chore. You’ll have great fun cuddling and playing with your new furry friend, and you’ll earn a bit of money into the bargain.

Sell Your Crafts
If you have a crafty hobby like photography, knitting or painting, you could make some extra money by selling the things you make. I mean, you will be putting the time in anyway, so even if you only make enough back to cover the costs of your materials, that’s something.

Take Surveys

There are lots of online surveys which will pay you a small sum once completed. You won’t get rich quick by doing this, but you can usually fit a few surveys in during those quiet moments, and over the course of a year, the rewards can really add up.

Cook Extra

There are plenty of busy people out there who hanker for home cooked meals but simply don’t have the time to cook for themselves. If you can connect with one of them in your local area, you could make some cash by making slightly bigger portions of your family meals and delivering them for a small fee. You won’t have to do any extra work, but you could earn some extra pocket money by doing so.

What do you do when you need some extra spending money?

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ChewyMoon - A Healthier Snack Option For Your Kids

As parents, I'm sure we're all aware of the snacking danger zone which occurs when the kids come out of school.  They're usually starving and demand sweets, chocolate or crisps.

Offering a nice juicy apple or a banana is usually greeted with a grumpy face and "isn't there anything else?".

It would be good, wouldn't it, to have a fun, healthy alternative to hand to placate the little darlings before the grumping reaches supersonic levels.

ChewyMoon is a new subscription box service which provides the UK's first nutritionally balanced snack box for children between the ages of 4 and 10.

The company is the brainchild of nutritionist Verena Klanner who has created a range of snacks made from natural ingredients with no refined sugar or nasties.

Not only are the snacks age appropriate to meet the differing nutritional needs of kids as they grow but they compare favourably to the traditional healthy option, e.g. that apple!

Each box contains 5 different snacks, as well as comics, fact cards and totem toys to make healthy snacking fun.

And each snack variety has a cute character on the box.  For example, there's Dr Fluffy Moon, the cat who is clever, passionate and bossy (much like Caitlin and Ieuan) and Yuri Moon, the space chimp who is old, grumpy and adventurous (can't think who that reminds me of!).

So how does the subscription scheme work?

You simply select the box you fancy and fill in details about your child.  The first box is free and then each weekly box costs £4.93 per child (including postage).  Billing is 2 days prior to the despatch of your box and you can cancel at any time.

Once you have received your box you can rate each snack online so that future boxes are tailored to the taste of your child.

Note that ChewyMoon boxes are NOT suitable for children with food allergies.

We were sent samples of the weekly snack box which contained five snack varieties, a fact card, totem toy and comic strip and the monthly family pack which contained seven snack varieties, two of which are specially designed for the adults.

Caitlin tried Jack 'n' Fruit, (flapjack, orange drops and blueberries) and Ieuan had Cherry Crumble (cherry cubes, cherry raisins and millet balls).  A number of the snacks have suspiciously vanished up to the Husband's loft - particularly Coco Raz (raw coconut chips, raspberries, palmyra blossom nectar, beetroot, baobab and vanilla).

We liked the quirky packaging and the fun element to snacking.  The snacks are imaginative and tasty, although it would be helpful to have the ingredients of the snack listed on the individual box. These details are available on a separate leaflet containing nutrition facts but first timers won't know what they're getting.  Arguably though, this adds to the fun.

I would also say that while the portion size is adequate, it isn't huge so you may find hungry kids might eat more than one box at a time.  Verena says that the calorie count for snacks for younger kids should be around 100kcal whilst older children and preteens can have up to 200kcal.

The individual snack boxes are ideal to chuck in to gym and ballet bags for a healthier fix after exercise (a lot better than our current habit of Werthers Originals or Mintoes).

I like the concept of ChewyMoon.  If I had one comment it would be that the current box is rather heavy on the packaging but it's bright, attractive and likely to appeal to kids.  The price point is reasonable given the quality of the ingredients, working out at around 98p per snack.

If you would like to try ChewyMoon for your child, I have a 1 month / 4 week subscription to give away worth £20.

Or sign up for your first week free at www.chewymoon.com.

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget and the usual terms and conditions apply which can be viewed on my competitions page.

The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 31st March.


a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck!

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New Releases, Free & Bargain Books Link-Up Week 11 2017

How are you all this week?  Spring is here and we're surrounded by daffodils and purple crocuses. It's great now that the evenings are getting just that little bit lighter.

The kids are counting down the days to Easter (I have explained they've got a while!) and we've promised a trip to London if they behave.

It was great to have some focus on reading, rather than anything i-related this week.

Did you catch my review of  Deborah Brown's Hurricane in Paradise with those two feisty female detectives Fab and Madison?

You can also read my review of Scars (Time of Myths: Shapeshifter Sagas) by Natasha S. Brown which I also enjoyed.  It's a little like reading a Tolkein story, a bit of an adult fairytale.

As usual, there are some great books on the linky - and don't forget you can always add your own to spread a bit of the book love.

Don't forget that I still have plenty to be won on my competitions page and don't forget my 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 | Colorimetry | The Ultimate Fan Blog | Mother Distracted
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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Problem Page Edition 10 2017

This week - dreaming about a partner cheating and an ex who denies they ever dated you.

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

Here are this week's questions.

Q: How do I tell if a guy treats me like a sister or a potential girlfriend? 

This guy I like has confusing behaviour. He often flirts with me but sometimes talks to me as if I am a a small kid, I don’t know how to explain. He ‘stalks’ me on Facebook and likes my pictures too. How can I decipher his actions?

A: It sounds as if he is interested in you but I would be less than impressed with being patronised by his speaking to you as if you are a child. 

It sounds like he is rather full of himself and certain that you will fall at his feet! Either that or he lacks confidence and has little experience with women and is trying to make out he is the ‘big man’.

It’s not a quality I personally would find very attractive, nor the stalking on facebook. 

It’s up to you to decide whether you want a relationship with him or not and, if not, I would be tempted to unfriend him on Facebook - once you have told him clearly that you are not interested. 

I suspect at the moment he is getting rather mixed messages.

Q: Is it normal if my boyfriend have never given a gift for me thought we were in a distant relationship about 3 years?

A: I’m assuming you have actually met this man in which case, yes, it is rather odd. 

Does he send birthday cards? Valentines cards? Do you send him presents? 

Are you the one doing all the running in this relationship? 

If he has stopped reciprocating, or returning your calls, or showing concern for how you are and making plans to get together, then it sounds as if your relationship has run its course. 

I am sure you can find someone closer to home who will care for you a lot better.

Q: How can I stop getting bothered about the way my ex girlfriend rewrote our history? 

She probably has good reason for her behaviour which I can understand.  I’m guessing that I killed her attraction with neediness, jealousy and other insecure behaviours. Still it bothers me how someone can do a 180 from chasing me, to denying that we dated for a whole year.

A: She is being rather immature but, if you were unkind to her then I can see why she would rather pretend the whole experience didn’t exist. 

I would also suggest that it is possible she left for reasons other than your behaviour - people sometimes just get tired of being in a relationship - so I would not heap too much blame on yourself.

The truth is you can analyse this forever and still not come up with the exact reason for her behaviour. 

The point is, how are you going to go forward and what are you going to do to make sure that your issues don’t affect your next relationship? 

This relationship didn’t work. Let it go and focus on being positive, happy and finding someone with whom you feel confident and who you can trust.

Q: What does it mean if I have been dreaming about my partner cheating on me? 

A: Sometimes we dream the most ridiculous things for no reason at all. 

Dreams, the theory goes, are the brain’s way of filing the days events into the computer of our subconscious. 

I have also read that we tend to dream in symbols which can sometimes be far more unpleasant than their actual meaning. 

For example, a common dream is that your teeth are falling out, or that you are falling off a cliff. The teeth one is supposed to mean that you fear ageing or being less productive. So, dreaming that your spouse is cheating on you might not actually mean that. 

It may symbolise that you fear people are not being honest with you in general, or something is making you question your trust for people. 

A more probably explanation is that this dream is just a symptom of insecurity in your relationship and, rather than go off the deep end and assume you have had a psychic warning, I would sit down with a cup of coffee and think about what it is that is making you feel unsettled. 

In your dream is your partner cheating on you with someone you know? Ask yourself if there is any basis to think that this might be true. 

You could jokingly mention your dream to your partner and gauge his reaction. And if you are feeling insecurity talk to him about it and ask for reassurance. 

The dream may also have meant that you need to take better care of your partner to ensure he doesn’t wander off. Have you been neglecting him? 

In all likelihood, this was just a silly dream which meant nothing but a bit of extra quality time together wouldn’t hurt.

Q: My girlfriend won't reply to me ,what should I do to get her attention? 

She has depression and is taking pills these days saying that she's really not good. I always text her to make her feel safe.  Now she's not replying but I can see that she is active on social media.  Her profile picture says that love sucks and a friend is better.

A: I’m not sure there is much you can do. 

It may be that her behaviour is a symptom of her depression for which she deserves sympathy and understanding. 

You don’t say what pill she takes but hopefully these have been prescribed by a doctor to help her with her depression. 

Her comment about ‘love sucks’ makes me wonder if there is anything else going on between you two. 

That comment sounds bitter and as if it relates to something specific. Are you sure you have not done something to upset her? Or given her cause to suspect that you have? 

If she is ignoring you you may be better off stopping the texts for a while to see if she notices and decides to respond. 

It may be that the ignoring is a form of attention seeking behaviour. When we are depressed sometimes we push away the things we really want because we feel we don’t deserve them. 

I would give her some time and concentrate on you. Stop the Facebook stalking and go out and enjoy yourself. 

Whilst it is commendable that you are looking out for her, you are not, as they say, her keeper. 

Time for your own happiness to come first.

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

Disclaimer: 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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