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| Caitlin & Ieuan on the sofa |
Sunday 19 January 2014
Friday 17 January 2014
I've Been A Bit Distracted By ...Oasis - 17/01/2014
This is a cute little blue skater dress with a pretty scalloped lace trim on the hem. It has a v neckline and long sleeves (always a bonus if you're a bit scared that if you lift your arms up, someone will shout "Bingo").
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| Lace Trim Knitted Skater Dress - Oasis - £45 |
Standard delivery is £3.99 and the dress is available from www.oasis-stores.com.
I've been searching for exciting Spring knitwear but everything I've seen so far could have been knitted by my Aunt Maud and seems to be in bland candy colours. If you've seen anything that inspires you, let me know.
He's Not A Salad Dodger; He's A Salad Dodger's Son
Hmm. Well having just had my 4 yr old son hand me back each lettuce leaf off his plate and having been informed that he hates salad, it's still status quo here in the battle to get veg and salad into him.
Short of sitting on him, my armoury of psychological tricks is rapidly running dry, save complete disinterest and feigning death (the latter would probably be frowned upon by Social Services and warrant front page coverage in the Daily Mail - "Mad woman's fake death inspires vegetable binge in toddler" or some such).
The marketing of salad to children has always been tricky. I became vaguely interested at the Tale of Peter Rabbit when his lettuce eating made him sleepy and am convinced that the Magic Roundabout's rabbit, Dylan, has clearly been smoking some sort of vegetable (I hesitate to use the word weed here obviously).
Other than that, I remember the biscuits in Enid Blyton's "The Magic Faraway Tree", the fabulous tea Mr Tumnus the fawn puts together for Lucy in "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" and the picnic in "Wind in The Willows". J. K. Rowling could have done an extra national service to parents across the land if she'd introduced vegetables into the plot of Harry Potter, although you couldn't really see Hagrid as a vegan could you?
Caitlin enjoys school dinners and proudly announces each day that she has eaten some vegetables so I am hoping it's an age and / or control thing with Ieuan. Surprisingly, Ieuan often comes home from school with a "clean plate award" sticker, but he's always suspiciously hazy about what was on the plate he cleaned.
Even more suspiciously, Ieuan recently had tea with one of his best school buddies and reportedly ate peas, carrots and, (cue my incredulous face), broccoli. I'm not sure what's going on but I can't get that quote of Gandhi's out of my head "be the change you hope to see in the world" because, if it's true that kids learn by copying I'm not exactly grade a material as a nutrition coach. Or possibly as tough as Ieuan's friend's mum.
If I stop and think about it, I'M the true salad dodger.
I've got into the awful habit of eating the same thing most days to keep my weight stable. I now know to the gram what I can eat and what I have to avoid. I eat the veg which hubby cooks with our evening meal but he is always wading through the 'veg cupboard' removing blackened carrots and yellowed broccolli. (Have you noticed that men are generally food nazis when they don't have to do the shopping themselves?).
I must confess that my staple diet consists of hot cross buns, marshmallows, jaffa cakes, diet coke, Babybel cheeses, curry and red wine. It's a good job Gillian McKeith has vanished off the radar or she'd be chasing me with a large pointy stick and a poo pot.
My favourite story about Gillian McKeith comes from Nigella Lawson (looking depressingly good in Nigellissima despite chowing down on a vat of lard and cream judging by her recipes). she has named the cupboard in her house where she keeps the cakes, biscuits, crisps and sweets as "The Gillian McKeith".
Anyway, I'm digressing as usual. But I think I'm the one who's going to have to have the diet overhaul before Ieuan can be inspired to try salad. And I'm going to have to eat the stuff. Not smoke it.
Sunday 12 January 2014
Thursday 9 January 2014
Online Cashback Schemes - I'm Confused!
I'm beginning to realise that making the most of cash back schemes and loyalty cards requires quite a bit of planning and strategy when it comes to your weekly shop.
I had a look at Quidco's site today and my head was in a whirl by the end of it - and I consider myself quite a savvy shopper. Each time you shop via Quidco, the retailer you purchase from pays them a referral fee which Quidco then pass back to you in the form of cash back. They say it is possible to amass hundreds, even thousands of pounds of cash back over a year. A good incentive to use them indeed!
Not only do they have the Quidco app which allows you to get great deals on your mobile but they also have Click Snap - which allows you to take up deals on grocery shopping, either direct on line or at the store, where you have to upload your receipt afterwards to take advantage of the saving.
To benefit from Quidco you obviously have to adjust your shopping to buy what's on offer - so is that really an economy? Then there's potential savings at Costco Wholesalers where we took out a membership back in May. I know I should be comparing the cost per item against the supermarket item cost to see if I'm really making a saving. At the moment, I'm assuming I am on the basis that we're buying in bulk.
Factor in voucher sites like Voucher Cloud, other cash back sites like Topcashback and Tesco Clubcard loyalty points and I'm completely muddled.
I'm guessing that, if I want to save on our grocery shopping this year, I am going to have to sit down and create a practical, sustainable budget.
One of my hobbies is entering competitions and I have had quite a bit of luck. I only enter for prizes that we really need as a family. You won't find me entering competitions for prams now the children don't need one and then selling it on Ebay. I am aware some compers do this but it feels dishonest to me and unfair on someone who might really need that particular prize.
The things I win, such as vouchers, food and clothes, are our family treats and I see it as my way of contributing to the family finances whilst I am a stay at home mum. There is, of course, no guarantee of a win but it adds a fun element to our finances.
If you fancy giving comping a go, a good place to start is www.theprizefinder.com which is completely free and provides a comprehensive list of all kinds of competition which you can sort through according to the date they close, the date they were added to the site or the type of prize you are looking for.
But, in terms of maximising our monthly income, there's nothing else for it. I'm going to have to create that budget. Here's one from Mr Money Saving Expert himself - Martin Lewis that I might try.
Has anyone else undertaken a complete overhaul of family finances and how did you do it? I'd love to know.
Not only do they have the Quidco app which allows you to get great deals on your mobile but they also have Click Snap - which allows you to take up deals on grocery shopping, either direct on line or at the store, where you have to upload your receipt afterwards to take advantage of the saving.
To benefit from Quidco you obviously have to adjust your shopping to buy what's on offer - so is that really an economy? Then there's potential savings at Costco Wholesalers where we took out a membership back in May. I know I should be comparing the cost per item against the supermarket item cost to see if I'm really making a saving. At the moment, I'm assuming I am on the basis that we're buying in bulk.
Factor in voucher sites like Voucher Cloud, other cash back sites like Topcashback and Tesco Clubcard loyalty points and I'm completely muddled.
I'm guessing that, if I want to save on our grocery shopping this year, I am going to have to sit down and create a practical, sustainable budget.
One of my hobbies is entering competitions and I have had quite a bit of luck. I only enter for prizes that we really need as a family. You won't find me entering competitions for prams now the children don't need one and then selling it on Ebay. I am aware some compers do this but it feels dishonest to me and unfair on someone who might really need that particular prize.
The things I win, such as vouchers, food and clothes, are our family treats and I see it as my way of contributing to the family finances whilst I am a stay at home mum. There is, of course, no guarantee of a win but it adds a fun element to our finances.
If you fancy giving comping a go, a good place to start is www.theprizefinder.com which is completely free and provides a comprehensive list of all kinds of competition which you can sort through according to the date they close, the date they were added to the site or the type of prize you are looking for.
But, in terms of maximising our monthly income, there's nothing else for it. I'm going to have to create that budget. Here's one from Mr Money Saving Expert himself - Martin Lewis that I might try.
Has anyone else undertaken a complete overhaul of family finances and how did you do it? I'd love to know.
Tuesday 7 January 2014
Renew With A Twist of FTN - World's First Wholefood Nutraceutical Stem Cell Recovery Drink
As our bodies age, they begin to slow down and lose the natural ability to repair and renew cell damage.
FTN is the world's first wholefood nutraceutical stem cell recovery drink which you take everyday.
The makers say it has a potent blend of five key ingredients which have been proven to work with the body's own natural repair and renewal systems - allowing the body to slow down the ageing process, speed up recovery times from training and also protect against degenerative diseases.
It is completely natural and free of any chemical or stimulants and its unique properties have already been documented in five published independent research papers - all of which are downloadable via the FTN website.
It already has a number of celebrity fans such as Sir Elton John and his partner and model/actress Agnes Deyn.
It already has a number of celebrity fans such as Sir Elton John and his partner and model/actress Agnes Deyn.
So what are the five key ingredients?
Green Tea extract which helps to support the health of the digestive and respiratory systems and enhances the proliferation of cells within the skin
Wild blueberry extract which further promotes maintenance of healthy brain, cardiovascular, vision, joint and urinary tract function
Vitamin D which supports adult stem cell renewal and helps these cells become immune cells for naturally fighting infection
Organic blue-green micro-algae which contains protein, essential fatty acids, chlorophyll, beta-carotene and a vast array of micro-nutrients that supercharge the body’s ability to maintain superior overall well-being
Amino Acids which can be thought of as pieces of a complex protein puzzle which build and repair all kinds of tissue in the body.
All delivered in organic fruit juice which gives a refreshingly cleansing taste.
FTN is available in Citrus and Super Berry Flavour and your daily dose is a 60ml shot which comes in a neat little, 'twist and drink' bottle.
My unwilling guinea pig (The Husband) tried the Citrus and I tried the Super Berry and the drink is pleasant tasting with a slightly smoothy-like texture.
It's certainly a very easy way to take a powerhouse of nutrients without spending hours wrestling with a juicer or a blender.
The bottles would be very handy to carry around in your handbag (or gym bag) and for busy mums, are a good energy booster when you start to flag around 4 pm.
It's certainly a very easy way to take a powerhouse of nutrients without spending hours wrestling with a juicer or a blender.
The bottles would be very handy to carry around in your handbag (or gym bag) and for busy mums, are a good energy booster when you start to flag around 4 pm.
FTN is currently being sold online at www.ftnbelieve.com, www.amazon.co.uk and stocked with specialist retailers Win Naturally.
It will be available at Holland & Barrett and Boots in the New Year. You can currently try FTN for two weeks at a cost of £19.99 with free shipping.
You can also find more about FTN on Twitter (@ftnbelieve) and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ftnbelieve).
It will be available at Holland & Barrett and Boots in the New Year. You can currently try FTN for two weeks at a cost of £19.99 with free shipping.
You can also find more about FTN on Twitter (@ftnbelieve) and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ftnbelieve).
*PR samples were sent for the purposes of this review.
Sunday 5 January 2014
Let's Celebrate - All Year Round!
The kind of wild & crazy party we hold at Hobbis Towers
Taking all your Christmas decorations down isn’t exactly fun, is it? We’re not supposed to take them down until Twelfth Night (6th January) but I have seen many Facebook statuses along the “couldn’t stand it any more so I’ve taken them all down” variety. The thought of having nothing to look forward to until the daffodils appear and Wales goes slightly mad over St. David’s Day and the Six Nations Rugby tournament hits its stride really depresses me.
So I thought I’d see if I could compile a list of events to commemorate before then. Obviously there’s Burns Night on 25th January. You don’t have to be Scottish to celebrate that do you? Haggis, Neeps and Tatties, Shortbread and Whisky – easy. Except I don’t know anyone who can play the bagpipes.
Or what about St. Dwynwen’s Day, also the 25th January. Dwynwen is the Welsh version of St. Valentine – patron saint of lovers and also of sick animals. Dwynwen fell in love with someone entirely unsuitable and after drinking a potion given to her by an angel was forced to renounce men and retreated to Llanddwyn Island off the west of coast of Anglesey to die an unmarried hermit in AD 460. These days she might have been helped to get over it by internet dating and ITV's “Take Me Out”. Can’t imagine Paddy shouting “Let the Saints see The Sinners”, can you?
Or on February 3rd, you can celebrate the Feast Day of Blaise – Patron Saint of Throat Ailments, Veterinarians and Wild Animals. Blaise was a bishop who convinced a wolf to return a woman’s stolen pig whilst on the way to his trial for being caught praying. Sentenced to death by starvation, the pig’s owner sneaked in food to his cell and this so incensed the Governor that he had him beheaded in AD 316.
I hope at this point your mind is thronging with canapé suggestions and nattily named cocktails. Because whilst you’re getting all Martha Stewart, there’s also the feast day of Apollonia, Patron Saint of Dentists on 9th February. Apollonia was set upon by a mob who took out all her teeth and offered to spare her life if she would renounce her faith. I think you can guess the end of the story but Apollonia is often depicted wearing a necklace of her own teeth.
You know, I’m beginning to realise why we don’t actually celebrate too many saints’ days……. These are more days for quiet reflection and thought – something that is also missing from many of our lives.
Perhaps we should just invent some of our own celebrations – “First Sighting Of A Snowdrop”? I would suggest first sighting of a Cadbury’s Cream Egg but in Cadbury World Christmas segues neatly into Easter into what can only be described as four straight months of chocolate.
Actually, do we really need an excuse to celebrate? Good friends, good food, good wine – a little candlelight – what could be nicer to get through the dark days before Spring has sprung. Christmas makes us make the effort; many of us are less proactive through the rest of the year. What better New Year’s resolution could there be than to celebrate life and take every opportunity to enjoy yourself?
If you can play the bagpipes though and you live near Cardiff, though, just give me a shout!
I hope at this point your mind is thronging with canapé suggestions and nattily named cocktails. Because whilst you’re getting all Martha Stewart, there’s also the feast day of Apollonia, Patron Saint of Dentists on 9th February. Apollonia was set upon by a mob who took out all her teeth and offered to spare her life if she would renounce her faith. I think you can guess the end of the story but Apollonia is often depicted wearing a necklace of her own teeth.
You know, I’m beginning to realise why we don’t actually celebrate too many saints’ days……. These are more days for quiet reflection and thought – something that is also missing from many of our lives.
Perhaps we should just invent some of our own celebrations – “First Sighting Of A Snowdrop”? I would suggest first sighting of a Cadbury’s Cream Egg but in Cadbury World Christmas segues neatly into Easter into what can only be described as four straight months of chocolate.
Actually, do we really need an excuse to celebrate? Good friends, good food, good wine – a little candlelight – what could be nicer to get through the dark days before Spring has sprung. Christmas makes us make the effort; many of us are less proactive through the rest of the year. What better New Year’s resolution could there be than to celebrate life and take every opportunity to enjoy yourself?
If you can play the bagpipes though and you live near Cardiff, though, just give me a shout!
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