When it comes to car repairs and replacing tyres we instinctively want to use a local garage that we trust and know won’t charge a small fortune. Our cars are our lifeline. So when it comes to keeping our families safe on the roads it is vital to ensure that the car and its tyres are kept in top condition. I met a friend for a play date the other day who was worried about a bulging car tyre. She didn’t know if the tyre was safe to drive on, where to get it changed quickly and for a good price – and worried about the tyre blowing out on…
-
-
Father’s Day Gift Guide
It’s that time of year again when we show our dads and granddads just how much we appreciate them. Having said that, buying gifts for the men in our lives can be pretty difficult so with the help of some brands I have come up with the ultimate father’s day gift guide. So whether they are foodie dads or like to indulge in a bit of grooming, this guide might be that spark of inspiration you’re looking for. Personalised Letterbox Cake Is there anything better than cake being delivered through your letterbox? This is a wonderful gift for dads who have a sweet tooth. There are loads of designs to…
-
10 Nature Activities for Children
We love the great outdoors and there are plenty of hands-on nature activities for children to enjoy. Whether it’s going for a paddle in the sea, walking barefoot through the grass or bug hunting in the garden, there is so much outside to explore and help your children learn about nature and wildlife. Playing outside has been proven to improve a child’s happiness and confidence, which is why I’m always keen to get outdoors every chance we have. The key is to tune in to nature as a sensory experience and use it as a way to learn about our environment and wildlife. The summer holidays are coming up so…
-
Family Mini Break at Thornwick Bay in Flamborough
I’ve lived in Yorkshire for 10 years but I rarely explore its coastline. Aside from a one-off trip to Whitby and Robin Hood Bay, it’s an area that is still new to me. So I was so thrilled when my in-laws decided to treat us to a mini break at Thornwick Bay in Flamborough as a family Christmas present. They discovered Thornwick Bay during a walking trip and thought the park would be ideal for the little ones. Caravan holidays have become our saviour since having children. They have enabled us to enjoy some family time away outside of the school holidays without having to spend a small fortune. As a…
-
How Music Therapy Can Boost Your Health and Wellness
Music therapy has been well documented to have a positive impact on your mental and physical health. It has this magical, mysterious power that transcends all boundaries, language, culture and time. It brings harmony into your life when everything feels a bit out of tune (I couldn’t help it!) I recently wrote about the health benefits of keeping a journal. I strongly believe creativity is a powerful tool when it comes to managing your mental and physical health. Music is something I fall back on time and time again to deliver a heavy dose of ‘the feel goods’. Music therapy has been around for a long time. From the drum…
-
Top 5 Easy Baking Recipes for Kids
Baking with children can be a bit of a tricky thing to master. It’s a great thing to get little ones involved with from a young age, but the mess it creates can be pretty off-putting. I have been baking with Jack since he was around 1.5 years old – which looking back seems insanely young. I remember him being in his high chair, me giving him an egg to break into a cup and him smashing it on his head instead. Ouch! It didn’t put him off though. Now he is nearly four years old and usually follows me into the kitchen to see if there are any eggs…
-
A Morning Out at Grasshoppers, Tong Garden Centre
A few weeks ago we decided to spend the morning at Grasshoppers at Tong Garden Centre near Bradford. Tong Garden Centre has gone through a bit of a renaissance over the past couple of years, with its cafe undergoing massive refurbishment and the addition of a fantastic outdoors children’s play area. Grasshoppers has everything to keep kids of all ages entertained. There’s a giant sandpit with a water table, two bouncing pillows, zip wires and two adventure playgrounds. Younger children can enjoy the playhouse section or perhaps older children can enjoy driving the coin-operated cars. I had taken Jack on a number of occasions while I was pregnant with George.…
-
4 Ways to Keep On Top of Your Home Business Books
As a self-employed freelancer and work from home mum, I’ve had to quickly learn how to keep on top of my home business books. It is one of those important tasks that I used to dread, especially when it came to meeting the tax deadline. Coming off maternity leave and with two kids keeping me busy, I was determined to be more organised and put better systems in place to make the whole process more efficient and less stressful. I quickly came to realise that keeping on top of my accounts isn’t all that scary, that I didn’t need to be a maths wiz and that a little bit of…
-
Motivational Quotes To Inspire Determination
Love them or hate them, motivational quotes can help get you off the ground when you are struggling to make a start. During the evenings, once the kids are in bed, I sometimes find it difficult to rouse enough momentum to crack on with a client assignment or work on my blog. I’d much rather be dressed in my pyjamas, lounging on the sofa and binging on the latest Netflix series. However, if you have serious goals you need to put in some serious work. Then there are the setbacks. It’s easy to think about giving it all up if it feels like your business venture or blog is going…
-
Things No One Tells You About Postpartum Recovery
I was completely unprepared when it came to my postpartum recovery. My husband and I sat in various NHS-run parenting classes where labour was discussed in depth. Natural birth was rammed down your throat, one midwife proudly declared how she had eight children and that not once did she request an epidural. (No pressure then) I remember being taught how to put on a nappy and was reminded to practice getting the baby seat in and out of the car a few times. Then there were the breastfeeding videos, showing babies latching onto the breast with ease. The postpartum recovery period wasn’t really talked about. I was told I might…
