CRACKED NAILS & SPLIT ENDS
The blog
Real life. Real challenges. Real stories.
Welcome to my Lifestyle Parenting Blog, where I explore topics related to chronic illnesses such as ME/CFS, chronic pain, and fibromyalgia while embracing a passion for yoga, books, and blogging.
7 Things Man's Best Friend Needs From Their Owners
There's no doubt about it, our dogs are our best friends. They provide us with companionship, unconditional love, and furry cuddles when we need them most. In return, they ask for very little - a comfy bed, regular meals, and the odd belly rub here and there. However, there are certain things that every dog needs from their owners in order to be happy and healthy.
Coiled Sausage Bake with Toffee Apple Gravy, Mash and Spring Greens
This Autumn, a coiled sausage in puff pastry with smooth toffee apple sauce is sure to warm you up.
Swaledale Butchers sent us a voucher to use on their website, and we opted for the Cumberland Coiled Sausages, so we could share with you one of our mouth-watering family friendly and fun dishes we make; a meaty, rich and creamy meal. What more could you want during these colder months?!
Keeping Our Beagles Cool During Hot Weather
Hottest day ever (in the UK), luckily I live on the coast, so we do get a bit of a sea breeze, which is a godsend!! The kids have gone to school in their P.E Kits, packed with plenty of bottles of water, and suncream. But my poor beagles…they are not enjoying this heat and I am definitely not taking them out on a walk, It’s not fair to do that to them. It’s simple to hot and the risk of heat stroke is real, as well as burnt paws, it’s just not a risk worth doing. Also, they wouldn’t enjoy a walk in this heat.
5 Ways To Treat Your Dog This Summer
The warmer weather that the summer brings means you can spend lots of enjoyable hours outdoors with your dog. The summer sun will make you feel happy, and you'll want to spend much of your time outside soaking up the sun.
4 Ways to Create a Kids' Workspace for Fun and Learning
Creating a kids' workspace can be a daunting task. There are a lot of things to consider when setting up an area for children to play and learn. The first thing to keep in mind is safety. You don't want your child getting hurt while playing in the space you've set up for them. Kids are stuck in schools for hours a day, and they don’t get to decorate their little spaces there.
Improving Your Crafts With Different Techniques
If you are someone who likes to do some arts and crafts, you are not alone - and you are probably always on the lookout for some way in which to make it a little more interesting and engaging. One way to do that, and to widen out your repertoire in general, is to ensure that you are working on your crafts with a variety of different techniques. This will help to ensure that you are going to have a much better chance of creating what you want to create, so it’s something that you should bear in mind.
7 Considerations When Picking out Dog Toys
There are so many different dog toys to choose from that it can feel overwhelming, and it is important to choose the right one for your dog, not only for its safety but also to make sure he gets the maximum enjoyment from it as well.
The right toy can help support your dog emotionally and help with difficult behavioural issues, so getting the perfect choice for his needs can make a big difference to your dog’s happiness, attitude and your enjoyment with him.
Decorating with Teapots and Teacups
There’s something quaint and inimitable about the delicate beauty of a teapot and a teacup. The only downside is that people rarely use teapots and teacups for their standard cuppa these days. Don’t you wish you could get a little more out of these pieces outside of drinking tea? Well, if you’re a lover of all things tea and teaware, here are a few ways you can decorate with teapots and teacups.
Our Dog Kiwi and her Pemphigus Foliaceus Autoimmune Disease Journey
I’d just come home from surgery when my husband commented a few times he was worried about Kiwi “she’s not right”. it was quickly clear she was not herself.
That weekend we’d noticed she’d licked her paw pads raw, she was very down in herself and she wasn’t drinking or eating, we took her to the vets and they admitted her in over night to do tests, including blood tests that eliminated any major organ concerns, and they immediately started treating her for possible allergies; they did mention the signs looked autoimmune, but it was rare and they felt it was probably allergies.
Tricky Conversations You Need to Have When Parenting a Teenager
As a parent, you have to complete lots of tasks that aren’t easy; that’s just part of the job. If you’re going to succeed in being the very best parent you can be, it’s important to know when to step in and when you need to take action. And for your son or daughter, one of the most turbulent times in their life is when they’re going through the changes that come with adolescence.
5 Top Tips For Buying Dog Food Online
If you're looking to buy dog food online but you're unsure where to start then don't worry, you have definitely come to the right place. Whether you're looking to save money or you want to increase the number of options you have, you need to be sure you're finding the perfect place to buy exactly what you need. Luckily, there are lots of ways in which you can do exactly that. Whether that means looking for offers and deals or shopping around to find the best products, the more you're doing the better. With that in mind, here are 5 top tips for buying dog food online:
Top Tips For Looking After Your Pets During Summer
If you're looking for tips and tricks when it comes to looking after your pets during summer but you're unsure where to begin then don't worry, you have definitely come to the right place. Whether you're looking after your dogs or your horses, you need to be sure you're doing all that you can to keep them safe during the summer months. Luckily, there are lots of ways in which you can do exactly that. From ensuring you're keeping them cool to giving them plenty of water, the more you're doing to keep them safe the better. With that in mind, here are some top tips for looking after your pets during the summer:
Daily Life With Beagles: Mischief, Food & Mayhem
Beagles eat anything and I mean anything.. and they eat a lot; they are lead by their nose and they live for food. For a beagle food is everything.
My Dad’s Wise Words
It’s father’s day yesterday, the 2nd year without my dad.
I lost my dad 22 months ago and it has been the most heart-wrenchingly painful, confusing time. Grief never leaves you, it is consuming and suffocating and… numbing - it changes you.
Amongst all the pain and grief, I have many fond memories, many happy ones, ones that make me smile.
My dad was always good at energising me but at the same time keeping me grounded, he did this in many ways, and one-way would be from his wise words.
IBS Truths
IBS Truths
IBS crept up on me so gradually that for the first year or so I didn't realise there was anything wrong. I'd simply ignored and dismissed the symptoms - I'd even resigned myself to accepting that I will probably have digestive problems for the rest my life, they were mild, annoying, and uncomfortable, but I just didn't have the time to go to the doctors for what I thought was something I could live with. I tried to put it to the back of my mind.
How to Choose a Sleeping Bag
How to Choose a Sleeping Bag
We went on our first family camping trip a few weeks ago, it was so much more than we expected. We all caught the camping bug and are already planning for our next trip.
We just about got all the basics for our first camping trip, apart from one sleeping bag as we wanted the right type and it wasn't available. Everyone had a sleeping bag bar one, but it was not a major issue as we took quilts instead and it was a really warm few days, so it worked out well. However, we definitely need to get one more for our future camping trips.
Spotting the Bull's-Eye Rash: How We Discovered My Son Had Lyme Disease
I spotted it as soon as he walked down the steps coming out of his class room.
I was picking him up at the end of school, when he came jumping down the steps like he normally does, with a big smile on his face, not a worry in the world. I instantly spotted the red bullseye rash on the side of his neck. I knew instantly what it was.
Me and Mine: June 2018
I'm super excited to be taking part of the Me & Mine project for the first time. May this be the first of many.
June brought us joy and sorrow, as well as great memories.
How to explain an absent parent and what I learnt
When we think about motherhood, the first words that comes to mind are unconditional love and protection. This rings true for me as a mother, but not just to my boys who I gave birth to, but also to my little girl whom I may not have given birth to, but I am her parent.
It's normal that Summer has questions about why her birth parents do not come visit her anymore,
My First Father's Day Without My Father
Sunday was Father's Day, the first Father's Day in my 39-years without my father.
There was no card to buy him, no gift, no visit to see him, no embrace, no kiss from him... nothing.
I have memories, lots of memories, good memories, but these memories are still coupled with the raw grief of losing him, bringing on immense sadness, aching, pain.