SkateHut Wish List

I'm not sure about you but there's something quite therapeutic about making a list (small or large) and wish lists are so much fun to do! especially ones for my kids.  

I've shopped at Skate Hut for years. My now teen boys when they were younger and into Scooters, they owned many different scooters over the years - and we always bought them from Skate Hut.  Sadly they grew out of their love of scooters, but, Jacob is now starting to discover his love of scooters. He currently uses his older brothers old JD Bugs, but has asked for his own scooter.

It's coming up to summer now and the kids are getting outdoors more and more, and they keep asking to take their scooters (old ones at that) on our walks. Jacob could definitely do with a new one, so we've been having a browse.

I love a good wish list and enjoyed putting this one together with Jacob:

JD Bug Pro Street V3 Complete Scooter - Pepper White £59.95

Heely's Launch - Black/BlackRed £54.95

Harsh Pro EPS Helmet - Red £28.95

SFR Essentials Triple Padset - Black / Red £13.95

Rampage 4 Way Fun Box £79.95

Different Types of Wardrobes

Wardrobes come in all sorts of shapes, colours and sizes. You have walk-in wardrobes, free-standing wardrobes, fitted wardrobes and more. They are one of the most used furniture items in the entire house after a bed. Choosing a wardrobe, you have to make sure you pick on that gives you enough storage space, functionality, and one that matches the décor of the room.

Free Standing

This type of wardrobe is found in almost every home. They are easy to move around and convenient when going to purchase one and placing one in the bedroom.

Fitted

Fitted wardrobes can give you lots of space, from top to bottom of the room - with ample clever storage functions.  We have fitted wardrobes, so really utalise the space well.

Walk-In

Who doesn't dream of having a walk-in wardrobe - when the kids grow up and move out I might treat myself and convert a spare room into my very own walk-in wardrobe.

High Sleeper Cabin

Perfect for small bedrooms you can get a high-sleeper with a wardrobe underneath the bed. My little girl has one in her box bedroom, it allows her to function more in her bedroom.

Hanging rail

The hanging rail is a good option for minimalist, or those with limited space to work with.  A cheaper option too.  We've recently bought one for the play-room to hang up the dress-up outfits. 

2 door, 3 door, sliding door, modular, the list goes on. 

Aquascutum Wish List

I work from home, which means I get the best of both worlds when it comes to what I wear for work. I attend conference calls in my comfy jeans, or even my PJs. But I also travel on business nationally and internationally a few years a time, and so, I also get the opportunity to dress like a successful business woman. 

During my most recent business trip I made a promise to myself to refresh my business attire. It's my favourite shopping experience. Why? because, I get to treat myself to fabulous new pieces that I can wear that gives me an identity other than being just a mum.

I've been window shopping and put together the below wish list from Aquascutum.

I love the understated elegance and quality tailoring of Aquascutum - a true authentic British luxury.

My wish list features one of their gorgeous trench coats in navy - a trench coat is a versatile must have. I love to wear a bag that adds a splash out colour to my outfit, thus, I picked out this gorgeous Origami red bag, and a sheer scarf that matches nicely with it - along with a beautiful skirt and sweater:

• Sara A-Line Skirt  £150 
• Fleur Cashmere Sweater £225 
• Pansy Crinkled Trench Coat £695 
• Origami Bag £550 
• Pandora Bird of Paradise Scarf £190 

Dog-friendly Britain?

As a man’s best friend, your dog is likely to be far more than just the family pet. But just how dog friendly is Britain? Here, grain free dog food specialists and dog food retailer, Feedem, looks at the stats behind dog-friendly Britain:

Outdoors

Most dogs feel at home when exposed to the great outdoors— but which UK city best caters to our canine companions? Research carried out by Esri UK has found that Scottish cities are the go-to destinations for doggy day trips, as they have a greater proportion of green space.

Some cities across the UK have masses of space for your best friends to enjoy. 49.2% of Edinburgh is green space, while Glasgow has 32%. In terms of English cities, Bristol (29%) and Birmingham (24.6%) are leading the way. It’s bad news if you’re planning a visit to Liverpool with your pooch though, as just 16.4% of the city is green space.

With a whole list of cities that offer space for your dog to play, throw in a stellar coastline — including 199 Blue Flag beaches — and plenty of rolling countryside, and it’s clear that Britain’s dogs are well catered for.

Doggy employees

How would you feel about working in the company of your best friend? Some employers even allow their employees to bring their dogs to work. June 24th is national Bring Your Dog to Work Day, with many businesses across the country getting involved. However, Britain’s workplaces aren’t just dog-friendly on this day — 8% of UK employees are allowed to take their dogs to work all year round.

Dog-friendly holiday’s

Taking your dog on holiday with you to UK's best dog friendly holiday parks can be a fun and rewarding experience for both you and your furry babies. There are many dog-friendly holiday options available, from dog-friendly accommodation to destinations that offer plenty of outdoor activities for your dogs to enjoy.

When planning a dog-friendly holiday, it's important to choose accommodation that welcomes dogs. Many hotels, guesthouses, and rental properties now offer dog-friendly options, so you can find a place that suits your needs. It's also a good idea to check if there are any additional fees or restrictions for bringing your dogs along.

Dog-friendly shopping

Dogs are generally largely excluded from the British high street, apart from pet shops and a handful of independent stores. However, what you may find surprising is the number of premium retailers who welcome pooches to their stores.

For example, the Bond Street branch of Fenwick’s department store will welcome any breed of dog no matter their size, as long as they are kept on a leash. Likewise, iconic London store Harrods welcomes dogs but only on the fourth floor (Pet Kingdom), providing you can present up-to-date vaccination cards. However, you won’t be able to browse the rest of the store with your dog, but you can leave them in the pet crèche!

Beers and doggies

British pubs have always been a popular stop off to the public. But you’ll want to enjoy your beverage with your best’s friends company. According to data from Google Trends, search interest in ‘dog friendly pubs’ has grown steadily since 2012. Now, an average of 9,900 people search for ‘dog friendly pubs’ each month — compared to just 1,900 who search for ‘romantic restaurants’.

Believe it or not, there are currently 5,000 dog-friendly pubs listed on Doggie Pubs, although this number is likely to be much higher in reality as the list is curated. An increasing number of businesses are becoming dog friendly to cater to a wider audience.

A 2016 Kennel Club survey found that after introducing a dog-friendly policy, 71% of businesses gained new customers. 50% of guests visited for longer too, as their dog wasn’t at home or tied up outside. Not only does the move help to introduce more customers to your business, it has also been found to increase customer and staff interactions by up to two thirds.

Whether it’s work, rest or play, Britain seems to be a nation loving our four-legged friends.

Gardening Safety at Home

With the warmer weather slowly but surely arriving, it means we will be spending more time in the garden tidying it and trying to make it pretty for the summer months. If like us, you need a whole garden refurbishment, then you have a big job ahead of you. If you are a beginner or expert gardener, health and safety should always be a priority. Here are my tips for gardening safely:

Avoid trip hazards

Avoid trip hazards such as loose paving slabs, garden hoses can camouflage well into the grass, and tools such as spades and rakes can cause a serious injury if left on the ground and stood on. 

Storage

Make sure to store you garden tools safely.  Sharp tools should be locked away, especially from children. Lock away electrical equipment to keep it dry and away from the wet weather, and lock away chemicals such as weed killers and insecticides.

Dress to protect

Make sure you wear the correct protective equipment to avoid a serious injury when working in the garden. Especially when operating machinery such as lawn mowers, strimmers, chainsaws and hedge-trimmers:

• Wear safety goggles, sturdy shoes, chainsaw gloves and trousers to prevent injury when using power tools and equipment.
• Wear gardening gloves to avoid, cuts, and possible irritants.
• Be aware of the sun. Wear long sleeves, hats, sunglasses, and SPF sunscreen.

Barbecues

Barbecues and other fuel-burning appliances can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be fatal when not used safely. Never use these items within a confined space, such as a tent, caravan or conservatory. Remember you can’t smell, taste or see carbon monoxide. Never leave a barbecue unattended and make sure the flames are fully extinguished when finished with.

Laundrapp £15 #discountcode with no minimum spend

No matter how large or small your family, the never-ending round of laundry can be one of the most dreaded household chores. Many homes choose to utilise launderettes, but for many of us with busy lives, sparing the time to get to the laundrette can be an even bigger drain. 

Laundrapp, the on-demand, on-your-doorstep, laundry and dry cleaning service is offering my followers £15 off their first order, using the code LAUNDRAPPTANYA.

Laundrapp collects, dry cleans and delivers your clothes in pristine, freshly pressed condition.  With just a tap of a phone, tablet or laptop, customers can book a free collection and return delivery at a time that suits them. The app is completely on demand, allowing you track your order and see the location of your driver. 

Available in over 100 UK towns and cities, Laundrapp work with local drivers to offer on–demand technology for your laundry.  To book your free collection and delivery download the app or visit www.laundrapp.com.

Getting Your Home In Shape For Summer

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The warm summer months are on their way. Now is the time to prepare your home, so that you can spend your time off in the summer soaking up the sun and not cleaning or carrying out DIY projects. Here are just a few preparations you should be making.

Have a spring clean

Nothing is stopping you from having a spring clean at any time of the year. Households traditionally chose Spring as it was the best time to clean up dust before the invention of the vacuum cleaner. It would also be warm enough to open windows, but cool enough that insects weren’t a problem.

To this day, Spring still remains a sensible time to clean the house. Christmas can create a lot of clutter which may need to be thrown out, sold or donated. You’re also likely to have fewer guests during this period and more rainy days when you’re likely to want to stay indoors.

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Lighten up your furnishings

It’s worth preparing your home for the heat of summer. Those thick winter curtains that kept you cosy over Christmas may need to be taken down to stop you from frying in summer. Shop around for gorgeous ready-made curtains that are thinner and brighter in preparation for the sunny weather.

You may also want to buy a new blanket or a summer duvet for your bed. This could be useful for those hot summer nights when you still want something covering you but can’t handle a regular duvet.

Get your garden groomed 

Spring is the perfect time to start any big garden projects. These include building a pond or laying a patio. Completing them before summer gives you more time to enjoy them when the hot weather arrives. If you’re hiring a handyman to do these projects, you may also have more of a chance of finding someone in the Spring than in the Summer when many gardeners and landscapers get heavily booked. Rates may also be cheaper.

Spring may also be a good time to do any maintenance work. Stormy weather during winter may have destroyed fence panels or damaged plants. If you’ve got a pond, you may also want to clear this out before summer arrives. This is not a fun job and may require putting fish in buckets and draining the whole pond if weeds have got out of control.

You should also start buying all that garden furniture now before the demand increases and prices shoot up. You can usually get good deals on barbecues before summer hits. Also, consider any garden furniture you may want that you needed last year. If sitting outside at night was too cold last summer, a patio heater or chiminea might be worth investing in. If the garden gets too dark in the evening, consider buying garden lights. Solar lights might be a good option as they are cordless and won’t add to your electricity bill.

As for general gardening, this is a good time to sow the seeds for any new plants you hope to grow in time for summer bloom. If you’ve considered growing a vegetable patch, Spring is when soil is generally easiest to mulch up and when most vegetables are perfect for planting.

Give the front of your home a facelift

 The front of your home may also be looking a little shabby after winter. Make Spring the season to give it a facelift. This could be investing in a new driveway or path using Readymix Concrete Not only will it instantly improve the appearance of your home, but it's also a practical solution that will last for years to come. Plus, you won't have to constantly worry about repairs or maintenance.

If you’ve got a front lawn that suffered through last summer’s heat and became patchy, you may want to buy a sprinkler for it. You can find all kinds of sprinkler systems online that can use minimal water, allowing you to save money on your water bill.

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Security

You may also want to up your security for summer. This is when most people are on holiday and out of the house, and so is a popular season for burglars to make their move. Motion-sensitive lighting on the outside of your home can be great for deterring thieves. It also has the dual use of allowing you to see your keys in the dark. You can buy solar-powered motion-sensitive lights so that you’re not using up extra energy. Make sure that all your windows also lock and that door hinges aren’t loose.

Vintage Handbags

A girl's best friend is a handbag!  I love handbags. I have a few I've collected over the years, and never throw them out - I store them away safely. 

The handbag is a statement of personality and attitude. They're a unique statement of a woman's status and quite possibly they're mood.

But, why do we carry handbags? 

For me, it's an extension of "me" that gives me stability, comfort and security, this is all in addition to its main function of carrying and keeping my most important possessions, close to me. As boring as that sentence reads, the handbag doesn't have to be boring.  A handbag can be an extension of who you are. A status symbol, the perfect accessory to dress up your day and your outfit.

Acquiring a handbag is an enjoyable experience, and wearing one is just as positive. Especially when it's a bag that offers history and uniqueness. Like vintage Louis Vuitton from Xupes.

Xupes is an online retailer of pre-owned designer handbags, jewellery and watches. Established in 2009. Xupes base their trading on strict policies of absolute honesty, integrity and professionalism. They have over thousands of luxury items in stock and offer up to 70% off of RRP on pre-owned and brand new high-end watches, jewellery, vintage handbags, fine art and antiques.

Antique or Vintage handbags will often be unique or one-of-a-kind, giving you the timeless and beautiful must-have accessory. It could be the only piece that has survived! If you owned a bag like this, you are carrying on your shoulder, a piece that has a story.

It’s Been a Long Time- Tips on Returning to Work after Kids

If you have taken a few years away from working to focus on raising a family, the thought of re-entering the world of work can feel completely overwhelming. Jobs have moved on, technology is changing and improving every day and though you have racked up a huge set of skills during your years spent with your children, a lot of mothers (and fathers) simply lose confidence after so much time away. Here are some tips on how to get over some of the barriers that may be stopping you from reaching for the career of your dreams.

Research Online

Getting back into the game means knowing where to look, so put down the newspaper because job listings have moved into the virtual realm; finding a job advert has never been easier. Not only do the job listings come with extra details and information, but you can also personalise your search to suit your own availability and distance you are willing to travel. There are also some sites such as blog Jobrapido, which are dedicated to offering advice and tips on finding a job as well as enabling you access to different kinds of listings and vacancies. Online research also allows you to study potential interview questions and learn more on the job you’re looking at. With all the information you need in one place, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been out of the game, getting back into it will be a piece of cake.

Update your CV

After having understood the field and direction you’d like to go in, updating your CV is the next step. Figuring out what your best attributes and skills are is important, and having them on your resume directly will help the employer get a better picture of you too. Thanks to your CV, you will also be able to explain the gap between your last job and the one you’re applying to now- something many parents worry about when going back to work. Explain all the abilities and skills you have had the chance to learn and improve during the gap- parenthood provides us with many (e.g. organisation, time management, organising finances etc…). Show how determined you are to excel in the position you’re applying for; you’ve had your break, show them how much you want to work now!

Network it out

A smart and easy way to ease yourself back into work is also by looking at those around you, and learning from their current situations. Networking is an important part of the job search, and asking people about their jobs, if there are any openings, or if they have any advice is a great way to narrow where and what you’re looking at. Not only will speaking to people help you understand what is out there, but you might even have the possibility of working alongside somebody you already know!

Practice interviews

Once you’re set to go and you receive your first call back interview, practising a few Q&As will definitely get you through the process better. Online there are many resources where you can find many different and interesting sample questions to practice- see if your partner or a friend can help you out with some role-play. The important this is to find somebody you feel comfortable with for the practice interview, and go through them until you feel ready. We all react to interviews differently, but going through mock interviews has never decreased anybody’s chance; so let the questions roll in! You may not be invited for a face to faced interview but rather a Skype meeting which makes the process a lot easier for the company and perhaps for you too. So be sure that you have a Skype account up and running and remember- just because you’re at home during the interview, smart clothes are still essential!

Sex, Money and Death Discussions

When it comes to tricky discussions like sex, money and death, they are not always the most welcome, and/or the easiest of discussions to have. Depending on the situation and who you are talking too, is whether it is a comfortable experience or not. For example, conversations with kids will differ to those with parents; siblings; grandparents or friends. But, these are conversations that at some point are needed and most of the time shouldn't be avoided.  

One subject that most people don't feel comfortable in bringing up, or even thinking about, is wills. When you think, wills, you think morbid and death and you feel insensitive. No matter what you think, wills are important and they don't have to be complicated or expensive.  

When the time does come to begin thinking and talking about the topic of wills with those around us, Which? Wills has simplified the process of learning how to make a will with its easy to use online tool to create a will in 30 minutes.

According to the research, many of us have managed to avoid discussing awkward subject matters with our parents altogether and although it’s clear that wills are generally not seen as taboo subjects, we still don’t really like to talk about them.

The below infographic reveals the trickiest subject matters that we dread discussing are, sex, finances, death and relationships:

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Renovation and Extension Insurance

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Last year we had an extension built. At first, we did consider moving to a larger home, but we didn't really want to move. It was a close decision between, do we move, or do we extend - based on our previous move into this house, which wasn't a very positive experience, we wouldn't want to go through that again (Why it wasn't very positive? even though we exchanged early afternoon, and it should have been in and out, the people weren't even packed and they were not willing to move out until our solicitor threatened them with expensive legal bills - a week later they were still removing their furniture and belongings from our new home).  Plus there is the massive fact that we really like the home we have and the area we live in.

So, we decide to take on the mammoth task to extend and renovate - a year later and we still haven't fully finished yet; we went completely over our budget and time, but then that is normal isn't it?! The extension is done and it's very much apart of our home now, but, the next stage which we hopefully start next month, is to convert the garage into a play room. 

When we had the extension built we had steel work installed, main walls were being knocked down - I remember the first evening the acro-props were holding up the back of our house up, and the wall had been knocked down, I couldn't sleep! my head was spinning and spinning with horror thoughts, would the acro-props somehow collapse, and would the back of the house collapse.  It didn't happen, but I didn't sleep at all that night.

What would happen if something went terribly wrong during building works? are you covered under your home and building insurance? should you contact your home insurance?

If you’re planning on building an extension or carrying out any sort of building work, make sure you keep your insurer updated. Your home insurance could be invalidated if they’re not made aware of changes. 

by adding an extension, you should probably expect to pay higher premium on your insurance – most extensions increase the value of your home, so it would cost more to insure it.

Why Building Insurance should be considered:

With some insurers, a renovation or extension on your home may reduce the protection of your current home insurance policy or invalidate it completely, leaving your home potentially uninsured. You need to consider and make sure you are covered for the below points during the renovation/extension period:

• damage to your property and contents
• theft of possessions and building materials
• personal accidents

Bring More Money Into The Family Home

No matter what your lifestyle is like, there is a good chance that you sometimes find yourself wishing that you had a little more money. This is something that everyone knows the feeling of, and very often it is a simple matter of making some basic changes to your life in order to make it happen. If you are struggling with your finances, or even if you just want to bring in a little more, there are plenty of ways of doing just that. In this article, we are going to go through some of the essential ways that you might want to consider for bringing more money into the home, easily and quickly. As long as you are taking these on board at least to some degree, you will find that they make a noticeable difference in a very short space of time. Let’s have a look at some of the best ways to bring in more money now.

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Passive Income Options

These days, it is much easier than ever to make a passive income, and if you are serious about bringing in more money to the home then it is well worth considering some of these options. A passive income is exactly what it sounds like - an income that you make without doing anything, or hardly anything anyway. There are a lot of ways to do this - some are only for people with certain skills, while other can be done by anyone. Depending on your own personal preferences and abilities, you might prefer one over another. This is just as well, as it will mean that you can focus on the one you do choose much more readily. By way of example, let’s look at the method known as matched betting. This is a kind of betting which is completely risk-free, in which you take advantage of the many opening offers that sportsbooks and bookmakers have on offer to newcomers. This is a legal tax-free way of making a decent amount of money, but you need to be careful and make sure that you know what you are doing. Beyond that, you might want to think about selling goods online, or even offering to teach skills online. These can both be surprisingly lucrative ways to make a decent second income and are worth considering.

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Cutting Back On Bills

One important and often overlooked way to get more money into the home is also one of the simplest: to cut your bills as much as you can. Cutting your bills is powerful, because it allows you to save more money in your bank account on a monthly basis, and this soon becomes more and more as time goes on. If you are keen to pay less on your monthly bills, then it is worth looking at your supplier choices first. It might be that you are not on the cheapest tariff that is available. You might want to compare energy prices online so that you can find out whether you can switch to someone cheaper. Beyond this, there are lots of other things you can do to ensure that you pay less. If you set up direct debits, usually this means that you pay less overall, so that is often a sensible thing to do. Moreover, speaking to your suppliers and seeing whether you are on their cheapest option is also a good idea. You never know what might change if you simply ask the question.
 

Investing

Not everyone feels as though they are in the position to invest, but this is a shame because the truth is that most people are able to invest in something if they want to. It doesn’t actually take that much money to be able to invest in something small, and you can start with small investments and pretty soon work your way up to much bigger ones. With a bit of luck, some cleverness and a dash of patience this might mean that you end up with a considerable amount of money at some point in the future. Investing is often difficult to get right first time, but as long as you are keen on the act of researching, you should find that you are able to make the most of the situation as well as possible. It is often a good idea to seek the opinion of experts before you lay investments. This way, you can be as sure as possible on what you are doing. Hopefully, this will provide you with a great opportunity to bring more money into the home - something that everyone wants.

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Love The Sales Spring Outfit Wish List

I've put together my Spring Outfit Wish List from the Love The Sales website.

As we transition from winter to spring, it means we start to struggle between knowing what the weather for the day will be like - is it hot. is it cold...  

As you expect with the great British weather, it could be sunny in the morning but come afternoon it's cloudy and cold. So for me, making the winter to spring wardrobe transition work, layering ensures I'm ready for unreliable weather and managing that time between paring down my winter clothes to not yet fully wearing warmer weather pieces.

A must-have wardrobe staple is the cardigan. A cardigan I can throw on to take the kids to school, or wear when I take the dogs for a walk (especially along the windy sea wall). I hate being cold, I'm such a wimp with the cold weather and I love to wrap up warm, thus, I love my cardigans.

This time of the year I want to be out of my boots (I've had enough of wearing them by now) and I want to be in comfy, light, easy to wear trainers - but not any old trainer, for me it has to be a pair of Converse.

I love my Converse and unfortunately, they are a tad bit worn and I definitely need to treat myself to a new pair this year. My Converse are my 'go to' shoes to chuck on for ease and comfort and they look fab when worn with: jeans, trousers, shorts, skirts or dresses. Converse trainers are very versatile.

For me it's also the time to get out of jumpers and start to wear tees and shirts.

Ted Baker is one of my favourite clothing brands - my wardrobe is full of Ted Baker dresses and tees. And, I am loving this light spring feel t-shirt with the pretty flowery print. Perfect to pair up with the black skin tight jeans from Barbour.  

Finally, this gorgeous small Ted Baker Leather shoulder bag is perfect- I'm not into large bags at the moment, I like something small and light. Perfect for throwing over the shoulder and it looks very stylish too.

I've kept quite safe with my colour - subtle, but I'm loving grey at the moment, so why not?

• Barbour Overbore Skinny Jeans, in the sale @ £45.00
• Barbour Avalanche Oversized Cardigan, in the sale @ £80.00 
• Ted Baker FREMA Blouse ash, in the sale @ £44.99
• Converse Check Taylor All Star, in the sale @ £41.99
• Ted Baker Leather Shoulder Bag, in the sale @ £94.50

When your car breaks down

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When your car breaks down, it's not fun and it can, of course, be expensive. Over the years we've had a few experiences of breaking down, from running out of fuel, to smoke coming out of the engine.

The first time I broke down, was when Lewis was a baby, I was driving to the shops the other end of town when smoke started coming out of the bonnet. Trying not to panic, I pulled over to the side of the road, and got the kids out of the car and rang hubby.  A lady came out of her house to offer us help and to make sure we were okay, which I thought was really lovely and kind.  Hubby to the rescue. He came out of work, checked the engine - the car had run of out oil! The engine had overheated and well I learnt a lesson that day - to check the oil. That breakdown could have been avoided, and quite a few can, but there are the situations where they can't.

We've broken down a couple of times whilst hubby was the driver - and it always happens when you are far away from home. There was the time we spent the day at Alton Towers, and it was dark when we left for the 4-hour drive home. 10-minutes into our drive home, we broke down. We had to wait for recovery to come and get us back on the road - it was a very long day and worked out quite expensive as there were a few things wrong with the engine.

Many years ago, we went to Butlins, parked the car up, left it for the week. Had a great week, but when we packed up and went to go home, the car wouldn't start. It was completely dead. We called recovery, and it was the battery - a new one was needed. 

Breakdowns

At some point breakdowns are inevitable, whether that be engine failure, flat tyre or you ran out of fuel (done that before too). The best way to avoid car breakdowns is to take care of your car with proper care and checks, i.e. car servicing. Poor car maintenance can cause the worst kind of breakdowns, but with an efficient car servicing from Ossett Tyre House, your breakdowns may be avoidable.  In addition, you can also adopt basic steps to keep your car running like a dream. Make sure you have fully functioning dashboard warning lights (don't ignore them). Water and oil levels are maintained. Check your Battery levels and inspect your tyres.

My oldest is learning to drive this year, and hopefully, he will be on the road soon. I am quite sure he will have a few breakdown stories to tell too.

Holidaying With A Campervan

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With the year we've had so far, which has not been good, we are in need of some time away as a family; even if just a long weekend, a nice break away from everything, somewhere where we can explore and enjoy the outdoors. An adventure. 

This past 2-years we've been discovering our new found love of the outdoors. Each weekend we've enjoyed long walks, discovering new places, like the woods, lakes, coves, etc. beautiful places to take the kids and dogs. And, we want more. 

We've talked quite a bit about visiting the Brecon Beacons this year. I've never been, but hubby has a few times when he was in the army. The Brecon Beacons will give us an abundance of fantastic countryside and beautiful heritage. 

But, what's the best way to get the most of the mountain range?

When I was a kid, we travelled everywhere with the caravan, it was my dad's pride and joy. I have many fond memories from all our journeys and loved the experiences we had. We travelled all over, from visiting Wales, Scotland, to Switzerland and France, and more.  But, why don't we own a caravan? Well, that will be because, hubby has always had a dislike of caravans, not sure why, probably to do with the hauling it around slowly in traffic. So caravaning is a no go, and tents I don't think will work well with the kids. So what other options are there:

Exploring with a Campervan is new and different, and fun - I know the kids would love it.  

But what I like most about this solution is, a campervan gives you the flexibility and freedom to travel, to explore, to be more spontaneous whilst on your travels. You can pull over if you spot a wonderful hiking trail or camping area. It allows you to take advantage of opportunities without having to return to 'camp'.

A Campervan is compact enough that allows you to drive into smaller villages, narrow roads without fearing that you may get stuck! (I remember the challenges of towing a caravan around when we were kids). And, you're not towing a caravan around.

Purchasing a Camper Van Conversion

When you mention Campervans I instantly think of the iconic vintage VW. Which are pretty cool, but there are many other options available. Buying a brand new Campervan looks quite pricey but Campervan conversions seem like a great alternative option. And, you can order the bespoke service to achieve the Campervan that fits your needs, desires, and wishes. You need to think about what you want from your break and what you want from your campervan. Do your research with websites like Base Campers and select accordingly. 

How to Take a Healthier Approach to Home Working

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It may help you to get the better of your challenging commute but home working doesn’t always get a good press when it comes to promoting healthy living. Whether you’re taking your everyday job home with you in order to work flexibly or you’re planning to explore your options as a freelancer, home working has many potential health hold ups. And, if you’re not careful they can build up and detract from benefits such as longer lie ins.

So, before you pack up your laptop and stationary, take a moment to consider how ensuring you take a healthier approach to home working can help you to reap its many rewards more effectively.

Design a great working environment

Are you hoping that home working will free you from hours in transit and exclude you from awkward office politics? Perhaps you’re planning to bypass some serious backache by typing away in the comfort of your own home? Home working or freelance life can help you to design a working environment that’s more finely attuned to your personal needs, but you could find that your freedom leaves you dangerously undisciplined.

When working from home it can be exceedingly tempting to roll out of bed ten minutes before your start time and sit down with your laptop on the sofa. If you do, you’ll likely be doing your productivity (and your back) a disservice. While not all jobs require a physical office and computer set up, failing to establish a dedicated working space will make it harder for you to psychologically clock in and out, which in turn can impede your productiveness and upset your work-life balance.

If you do have a spare room that can be used as study or working area, designating it a home office will likely help you focus. If you don’t have the luxury or a spare room to convert, perhaps you could sculpt a little space off another room? Bi-fold doors make a great partition, allowing light to enter a room and keeping noises and visitors out. Designs like these floor to ceiling doors from Vufold can be used to separate a small office space off a living room or dining room, for example. Once you have a space to call your own you can fit it out with ergonomic furniture that will help you avoid aches and pains. As an extra precaution, carry out regular desk assessments as you would in a work environment. Look at the positioning of screens in relation to your height and ensure you’re not twisted in your chair. It pays to beware of glare too, which can trigger eye problems and headaches. Take a look at this guide from Unison for extra guidance.

Introduce healthy habits

Falling out of bed a little later is a fantastic advantage of home working but it’s important not to unravel its benefits by working late and sacrificing your social life. Far too many home workers and freelancers find their working hours spiralling out of control even though they technically have more flexibility. Learning to say ‘no’ to clients or your boss is a key skill that will keep you healthy and sane when working at home.

Taking proper breaks and eating well is also a necessity. If you find you work better on a project uninterrupted you may find yourself skipping lunch and forsaking coffee breaks to get things finished more quickly but this can lead to burnout and impact on your health. If this sounds like your working style – plan ahead by keeping snacks and drinks on your desk and commit to taking at least one short walk for some fresh air every day.  

Loneliness is another potential consequence of freelance and homeworking that can lead to more serious issues if left unchecked.  Many studies including this one from the University of Amsterdam have identified social isolation as a potential contributor to depression. After a few months you may find you actually miss the office chat about last night’s TV but there are ways to remedy this; some could actually help you develop new skills and enhance your business or CV too! Perhaps the simplest way to maintain some social element to your day is arranging to meet people for lunch, a stroll or perhaps an exercise class during your working day.

Another option is to join an office environment now and again. If you’re working remotely this could mean visiting the office a few times each month. Or, many cities now have shared production space where you can join other workers to use offices and other facilities such as meeting rooms on a regular basis. You could for work from a shared space once each week. Signing up to an evening class or a regular business networking event is another way to ensure you get out and about as well as offering other benefits.

Do you work from home? What are your most and least healthy working habits?

The Jump

The Jump - a TV series in its fourth year now, which has been plagued by serious injuries and is probably one of the most dangerous shows on TV - the best part, we get to watch, on the edge of our seats, celebrities risk some pretty daring winter sports.

Last year there were numerous accidents, with Olympians Beth Tweddle and Rebecca Adlington both suffering from horrific injuries, and to be honest, I didn't expect another series to be made, surely it was too dangerous? But, it seems we all love to watch it and Channel 4's The Jump returned in 2017 with the fourth series.

When I first heard about Jump, I thought, sigh not another silly celebrity competition show. But, we watched it, got hooked and are slightly obsessed with it - what they do is pretty amazing, something I would like to think I would do myself, but know I would be too scared too - so I admire them.

But, I do wonder, why do these celebrities risk it? is it for the thrill... or maybe they enjoy a new challenge no matter the danger.. maybe they thrive on danger..... or is it simply down to money?!. If in doubt, take a look at this infographic by Cash Lady below and then you decide. 

The infographics shares its finding into how much the BBC, ITV and Channel 5 spend on their biggest shows – Strictly Come Dancing, I’m a Celebrity and Celebrity Big Brother.
I’m a Celebrity… Get me out of here.

I Need a Bike

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I haven't owned a bike for years. Which is such a shame and something I would love to change.

Something you probably don't know about me, but growing up I was BMX racer - we were part of the Lowestoft Bandits BMX club/community. My brother started BMXing first, and I shortly followed after and it became a family thing. BMX was our lives. We would travel the UK and Europe competing and when I look back, it was pretty cool - my kids think it is pretty cool too. It's something we did as a family, we were very involved in the BMX community and everything we did was always around our racing.  We were very lucky that my parents gave us the opportunity and support.

I used to bike everywhere, even after the BMXing years. When I was pregnant with both my oldest sons, before I drove, I biked to work, biking was my transport. Then I passed my driving test and I believe since then, I haven't been on a bike! Which is such a shame, considering I loved my bikes. 

With us as a family we've been getting more and more outdoors - as much as I am falling in love with the walking, I itch to get back on a bike. Especailly when we go on our Center Parcs holidays, we take the kids bikes, but hubby and I don't have one. We need one!

I have no clue what bike to buy, or where to start? There are many choices, from road bikes for the more sporty, to electric bikes for commuters, a mountain bike, and much more. But, as I haven't been on a bike for many years, I do like the idea of starting with an electric bike - one reason, they would be much easier to conquer a hill! They are surely faster, and it would be pretty fun.

Hopefully one day soon, I will be back on seat, enjoying the freedom and fun that biking gives you. 

LapLand

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We're considering taking the kids on a trip to Lapland later this year. 10 years ago we took my older two on a winter wonderland day trip and it was amazing, magical. We would love to take our younger two this time, so they can have the experience.

Although, last time we did a day trip (3-hour flight early in the morning and 3-hour flight in the evening), this time we're thinking of doing a mid-week visit, or at least 3/4 days.  The day trip was amazing and I would do it again, but we would love to be able to relax and take our time and enjoy the whole experience.

When we were there we tried reindeer meat (meatballs), we drank in the ice bar, where everything was made out of ice, including the stools we sat on.  We crammed in a lot that day - sledging, snow tubing, kids skidoo through the forest, meeting Santa of course, and some arts and crafts. 

When we arrived the first thing we did was join the queue to see Santa (even though the queue was big). The kids hadn't stopped going on about meeting him, and we were so lucky we did see him first thing, as we watched families leave it to much later in the day to join the queue to see Santa, and some ran out of time and they actually didn't get to see Santa - could you imagine, going all that way and not seeing Santa. 

For us when we visited that day 10 years ago, it was total magic from start to end, and a trip of a lifetime for the kids. And, I want to give my youngest two the same wonderful experience their older siblings had; to visit the wonderful Lapland and to step inside a fairy tale book, to given them the magic into their lives.

Lapland is so picturesque, we drank hot mulled wine in the snow-filled forest, and although the day was compact and slightly hurried, it was amazing. We would, however, love to return, but in a far more relaxed manner, staying in Finland, for 4 days or more. 

So 2017 winter we are considering organising a holiday to Lapland, to experience and to see the beautiful snow-topped fells, snow-covered trees, meeting huskies and reindeer and a relaxed day in Father Christmas’s house; baking festive cookies and enjoying the festive cheer!

Look Fantastic Subscription Box

There something special about receiving subscription boxes through the post each month. It's like giving yourself a gift full of goodies each month.

Subscription boxes are a great idea to discover and try out products you may or probably have never tried before - or even never considered before. I know from my experience with beauty subscription boxes over the years, I've found products that I've fallen in love with and gone on to purchase.

This is why I love Look Fantastic subscription beauty box. I've shopped for my cosmetics etc. via the Look Fantastic website for many years, and as an added feature to their customers, they also offer a great value beauty subscription box service.

The Look Fantastic box gives you at least £50 of value of beauty items, with a mix of make-up, hair and skincare products, for example, the January box includes tweezers, mascara and toning lotion as well as other items. You also receive a travel sized Elle magazine.

January box includes:

• Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes Mascara
• Nuxe Lotion Tonique Douce
• The Vintage Cosmetic Company Rose Gold Tweezers
• Pixi Brow Tamer
• Trifle Cosmetics Liquid Glow
• Briogeo Deep Conditioning Mask

Look Fantastic is £13 per month for 12-month subscription, £13.75 per month for a 6-months subscription or finally £14.50 per month for a 3-month subscription.

You can visit Voucherbox for the latest Look Fantastic exclusive discount codes – although these don’t apply to subscription services.