Happiness is....

Hey readers,

There are moments in life that are so simple but make you so dame happy. In this post, I have made a list of the things that I think mean happiness.  

Happiness is...

* Having an early night and a real good sleep, making you feel or refreshed and ready to go in the morning.

*  Kicking autumn leaves as you walk on by.

*  When you have had a long day out of the home and you return in the evening with a lovely hot, fresh brew. 

*  When you find that quid in your pocket that you so desperately need.

*  Having a hot bath and getting into fresh sheets 🛀

*  When your husband lets you have a lie-in.

* Not having to rush about in the morning, having a slow day.

*  Not behaving mummy guilt and feeling confident about parenting.

*  Having lots of ideas for your blog

*  Getting your nails painted perfect the first time around.

*  Hearing a song on the radio that will take you back. 

*  Racing someone into the ocean. 

*  Is out 3am conversations.

*  Is advice when you most need it. 

* Resting after an epic meal. 

* Is finding that song, that perfect song. 

* Wearing a jumper in autumn. 

*  Washed sheets.

*  Simply staying at home. 

*  Taking control of your own happiness. 

* Not giving a shit what people think of you. 

*  Getting that perfect sleep. 

*  Watching the sunrise whilst sipping on a coffee. 

*  Floating in the sea. 

*  The smell of earth after a rain pour. 

*  The first cup of coffee in the morning.

* Making a list of things and then makes your head feel clearer.

*  A cool breeze on a summer's night.

*  Sitting on the beach watching the waves.

*  Feet on the grass in the summer. 

*  When reality beats your expectations. 

*  When you feel fine. 

* Thinking happy thoughts. 

*  Blowing a dandelion. 

* A morning walk. 

*  First tracks on fresh snow. 

  * Going to sleep straight away. 

*  Is a lazy day. 

*  Getting home just before it rains. 

*  A new stack of library books unread.

*  Is a good mug of tea and a book.

*  Is unconditional love.

*  Is feeling good. 

*  Thinking happy thoughts. 

*   Seeing an elderly couple hold hands.

*  A new laptop.

*  Good music and a workout. 

*  Being snug as a bug in a rug. 

*  No cooking, no cleaning, no laundry.

*  Letting go of your worries. 

*  Being comfortable with a decision. 

*  Realising that you don't need to worry about the thing that was worrying you.

*  Reading a quotation and thinking "Yes exactly."

*   Knowing you made a difference. 

*  Getting a handwritten letter. 

*  Relaxing after a long day.

*  Waking up to a fresh new day.

*  Listening to the rain at night in bed. 

What do you think of my list of happiness? Is there anything that I have missed from the list? love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

What to put in a care package.

Hey readers,

Sometimes it can be hard to meet people that you care about physically due to time, commitments etc.  So a good way to show a friend or relative that you are thinking about them is by sending a care package.

What is a care package?

A care package is basically a package of things that are useful or something that the person enjoys. It is carefully packaged in a box. This box can be decorated with a personal touch and send them a box to their home address in the post. 

You tend to not tell the receiver that you are sending it as it is a nice surprise for them to receive in the post. This can bring joy to them as it shows that you are thinking of them. 

You can buy prepacked care packages on the internet but making your own care package yourself is much better at tailoring to their needs. It also feels a lot more special and gives the idea that you have thought about how to bring it all together for that specific person.

Below I have 55 item ideals that may inspire you, Of course, you don't have to put all these in.  It could simply be five items, whatever you do I am sure the receiver will be grateful for the kind gesture to show them you care. 

55 item ideas to put in a care package. 

1. New flavour coffee/tea. 

2. Fluffy socks. 

3. A book.

4. A facemask. 

5.  A mix cd of your favourite songs. 

6. Cookies.

7. Alcohol.

8. Magazines.

9. Eye facemask.

10. A mug. 

11. Cacti.

12. Popcorn.

13. A card.

14. A postcard. 

15. Colourful straw to put in the box. 

16. A foot mask.

17. Lip palm such as these juice box lip balm set from Claire's.

18. Hand sanitiser.

19. Keyring. 

20. Nuts.

21. Bathbomb.

22. A candle. 

23. Wax melts.

24. Bath salts. 

25. A friendship bracelet.

26. Incense sticks. 

27.  A small water bottle. 

28. Sunflower seeds. 

29. Puzzle books.

 

30. Letters.

31. Photos.

32. Sweets. 

33. Face mask. 

34. Pens.

35. Soap.

36. Pop-it.

37. Facial roller. 

38. Head massager.

39. A stress ball.

40. Makeup.

41. Pin badge.

42. Laptop sticker.

43. Bookmark.

44. Jigsaw puzzle.

45.  A crossword book.

46.  Colouring book.

47. Colouring pencils. 

48. Personalised message in a bottle. 

49. Self-care book.

50. Paint by numbers. 

51. Baking kit.

52. Spiral art like this one for example from Hobby Craft.

53. Photoframe.

54. Sharie pen set like this set below from Tesco.

55.  Wall art. 

What do you think about my list of items to put in a care package? Have I missed anything out? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below.

Cheers for reading X

How to keep cool at home in the summer.

Hey readers, 

It is summertime which means that rooms can become hot in your home so here are some tips on ways to cool down your home.

 1. Close the curtains.

If you have pale-colored curtains then it is better to close them during the day to stop heat from coming in. However if you have dark curtains and metal blinds it is best not to keep them closed as it will make the room hotter.  

It is recommended by nidirect to keep windows closed if it is hotter outside than inside during the day. As temperatures drop during the night, it is advised to open the windows to let air circulate in the room. 

2. Bowl of water in front of the fan.

A really good hack to cool down in the heat is to put a bowl of ice in front of a table fan. When the ice melts, the fan will blow cooler air towards you. It is important to be close to the fan to get the benefit of this method. 

3. Chose cotton.

Cotton is one of the best materials to wear during the summer period. The benefits of wearing cotton are it is cheap. It is available but also the fact that cotton is soft, light, breathable, and helps soak up sweat, allowing heat to leave the body and make you feel cooler. 

4. Hot water bottle.

Put a hot water bottle in the freezer about half an hour before bed and then take it out and place it on the bed. Best to keep a sheet between you and the bottle as you don't want to get frostbite. It is great and giving you some cool relieve when it is hot in the room and can help cool you down ready to go to sleep. 

5. The floor. 

When it is really difficult to sleep it may be worth considering to take your pillow and sleep on the floor or even better to go downstairs if that option is available for you. 

Huffington Post says the reason behind this suggestion to sleep on the floor is simply that heat rises so sleeping on the floor means you get a cooler sleeping experience.

 Also consider having sheets instead of a quilt as it is lighter and won't hold the warmth as much, making it a much more comfortable feeling. 

6. Have the shower warm.

Though you might think it is better to have a cold shower to keep cool it is better in fact to have a warm shower. Though when first having a warm shower will feel warm compared to a cold shower after a few minutes will provide better comfort in the long run 

7. Keep hydrated. 

It is important to make sure that you are getting enough drink inside of you. Getting enough fluid is key in keeping your heart health in good condition so that it can help the heart move easily when pumping blood through the blood vessels and then on to your muscles.

Another key factor why you need to make sure your drinking more during summer is that you are sweating more (as a direct response in keeping us cool) there you need to replace the lost fluid to help keep you cool. 

Have I missed anything that you think is important to keep your home? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X 

Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday

75 acts of kindness

Hey readers, 

sometimes it is good to do something for someone else with not wanted something in return. It can really make the person feel good regardless of how big or small the gesture is. Below I have 75 ways to show someone an act of kindness. 

1. Bake cookies for the elderly.

2. Hold open the door for someone.

3. Do a favour for someone without expecting a favour in return. 

4. Snap a photo of a couple. 

5. Hole the lift for someone. 

6. Send flowers to a friend.

7. Make someone laugh. 

8. Send an interesting article to a friend.

9. Say good morning.

10. Make a drink for your work colleague. 

11. give an unexpected compliment. 

12. Return a lost item to the owner.

13. Give blood. 

14. Donate your old glasses.

15. Sign up for a shift at your local soup kitchen. 

16. Sign up for the bone marrow register.

17. Become an organ donor. 

18. Donate unwanted items to the charity shop. 

19. Read stories to school children.

20. Leave positive notes in random places. 

21. Go litter picking in your local park. 

22. Comment something positive on Instagram. 

23. Donate to someone's go fund page.

24. Offter to babysit for free. 

25. Tell a new mum she is doing a good job. 

26. Let someone go in front of you in traffic. 

27. Let someone go in front of you in the queen. 

28. Volunteer at an animal shelter. 

29. Smile at a stranger.

30. Organise a fundraiser or raffle. 

31. Mow your neighbour's lawn.

32. Read a book for an elderly person.

33. Leave a nice note on someone's car.

34. Give your favorite book to a friend.

35. Send a care package to someone you miss. 

36. Participate in a charity walk or run.

37. Buy the person behind you a coffee.

38. Take a neighbors dog for a walk. 

39. Wash someone's dishes.

40. Give your seat up for someone on the bus.

41. Share your umbrella with someone. 

42. Cheer someone on. 

43. Offer to drive.

44. Donate gifts to children in foster homes.

45. Offer to tutor a struggling student.

46. Donate your hair after you have had a haircut to a charity.

47. Instead of birthday gifts request donations to a charity.

48. Help someone declutter their home. 

49. Practice patience by reframing from road rage when driving. 

50. Help someone find a job.

51. Wash a neibours car.

52. Plant a tree.

53. Collect recyclables.

54. Feed the birds in a local park.

55. Offer someone your last piece of chewing gum. 

56. Actually, put the shopping trolley back to its original place.

57. Make a bird feeder and put it outside for the birds to enjoy.

58. Plant flowers for the bees. 

59. Buy or build a compost bin for use in gardens. 

60. Visit an animal shelter.

61. Reduce the amount of meat you eat. 

62. Help make dinner. 

63. Leave a thank you note above the post box. 

64. Write to your mp about something that could be improved in the area that you live in. 

65. Make everyone's bed for them.

66. Hug someone today. 

67. Get someone to go on an adventure with you. 

68. Give someone a list of things you love about them. 

69. Treat someone to the cinema. 

70. Prepare breakfast in bed for the family. 

71. Teach someone a new skill. 

72. Tip generously. 

73. If you see a parent trying to take a photo of their children offer to take a picture for them for the whole family. 

74. When someone speaks, listen tentatively. 

75. Do your best to make people feel included in the conversation.  

Are there any acts of kindness that I have missed on the list that you think are good ideas? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below.

Cheers for reading X

30 day minimalism challenge

Hey readers, 

 I bet you are wondering what the 30-day minimalism challenge is? well, let me tell you about it.

Basically, the 30-day minimalism challenge can be done any time that suits you. The idea is to challenge you to do some sort of decluttering in your life. The lists I have produced are some easy and a bit harder.

The goal is to do complete each challenge every day. It is good sometimes to have something to aim for and hopefully by the end of the challenge you feel more organised with less clutter in your life. 

There are many benefits to cluttering with reducing stress, boosting your creativity, and making your home be a bit tidier.

Here is the list of the 30-day minimalism challenge. 

1. Purge your wardrobe. There is a good post by Simply Saving that goes into more detail on how to declutter items such as shoes, clothes, and bags. You can find out more detail here.

2. Throw out old socks.

3. Avoid spending for a day. 

4. Cook at home for the day - all three meals breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

5. Clean out your fridge.

6. Clean out your email inbox.

7. Create a morning ritual. 

8. Practice single-tasking.

9. Go through your books.

10. Spend 30 minutes outside. 

11. Evaluate your current spending.

12. Delete the unwanted apps that you don't use.

13. Write tomorrow's to-do list before bed.

14. Say no to something.

15. Turn off notifications.

16. Empty your junk drawer.

17. Clean out your car.

18. Clean your makeup brushes.

19. Recycle old receipts and paperwork.

20. Write out some new minimalist rules to live by.

21. Act of kindness.

22. Get all your errands done.

23. Ditch makeup for a day.

24. Declutter 5 items.

25. Organise your digital files.

26. Make a new dish.

27. Take a long bath.

28. Write down 3 things you are grateful for.

29. Unsubscribe from at least 4 email newsletters. 

30. Don't complain all day.

Have you tried the declutter challenge? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

75 fun things to do over summer.

 Hey readers,

Summer is among us and you may be looking for some ideas of fun things to do. So check out my electric list of ideas to make you want to do something this summertime. 

1. Bike rides.

2. Make ice cream. 

3. Have a picnic at the park. 

4. Do a puzzle.

5. Visit a splash park. 

6. Plant flowers or vegetables.

7. Berry picking. 

8. Take an early/late walk. 

9. Fly a kite. 

10. Go to the cinema. 

11. Try new food. 

12.  Go to an amusement park. 

13. Take a road trip. 

14. Feed the ducks. 

15. Go to the beach.

16. Ride in a hot air balloon. 

17. Make tie-dye T-shirts.

18. Learn to fly fish.

19. Have a water balloon fight.

20. Play disc golf. 

21. Visit a museum. 

22. Collect natural objects for art.

 

23. Host a bake-off.

24. Geocache. 

25. Send a postcard.

26. People watch.

27. Take a scroll through sunflower fields.

28. Make a summer wreath.

29. Eat al fresco. 

30. Try out a new dessert recipe. 

31. Make slush puppies. 

32. Pick wildflowers. 

33. Have a BBQ.

34. Sleep with your windows open. 

35. Make your own salsa. 

36. Go fishing. 

37. Take a hike. 

38. Take a canoe ride. 

39. Stay inside because it is too hot to go outside. 

40. Do a walking tour of your nearest city. 

41. Wash your car properly. 

42. Practice yoga in the park. 

43. Play minigolf.

44. Visit the library.

45. Take a walk and listen to a podcast. 

46. Take photographs of nature. 

47. Go to an outdoor film screening. 

48. Skim stones at a pond. 

49. Walk barefoot. 

50. Go to the zoo or a city farm. 

51. Mow the lawn. 

52. Eat a slice of watermelon. 

53. Find fun shapes in clouds. 

54. Camp in your garden.

55. Collect seashells.

56. Play kickball. 

57. Make s'mores.

58. Lego challenges.

59. Spend the day doing things that don't cost a penny.

60. Make a list of things when you are bored. 

61. Write a novel or short story. 

62. Blog. 

63. Vlog.

64. Buy a digital photo frame and fill it with your favourite photos. 

65. Dance like no one is watching. 

66. Print one of your favourite photos. Then enlarge it and put it in a photo frame. 

67. Watch an entire series on Netflix. 

68. Work on a puzzle.

69. Do something completely out of your comfort zone. 

70. Stargaze at night. 

71. Make a travel inspiration board.

72. Go for a scenic drive.

73. Plant a herb garden. 

74. Make a birdfeeder. 

75. Check out virtual performances. 

Have I missed something on the list that you think would make a good idea to do during summertime? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

Confessions of a Crummy Mummy

I hate baths.

 Hey readers,

I will let you into a confession.... I don't like baths. I have tried several times but I just don't gel with them. I have discussed below my reason why I hate taking baths.

1.  Baths are filthy. 

Let's get down to the nitty-gritty in that baths are filthy. Think about it your filth from your body, sweat, and dead skin is swirling around in the water that you are bathing in. How is that appealing? It just makes me feel a bit sick if I am being honest. I never feel clean after a bath, unlike showers which I do feel so good after. 

2. Baths are boring. 

Let's just be honest baths are boring AF. I am not the type of person who enjoys sitting in water and waiting for ultimate relaxation. I am a person who enjoys doing something physical whether it is reading a book or writing a blog post for example.

 I can get in the zone with that. Yes, I could read a book in the bath though sadly I have tried doing it and it is just an uncomfortable position to lie in the bath. So that is a definitely no for me. 

 I also spend time thinking about when is it time to get out of the bath.  We have a clock on the wall and I just sit there listening to it tick every second. 

3. Lifting your body out of the water.

There is nothing more annoying than trying to get out of the bath. It is just so dame uncomfortable. You have to be careful as I have learned you can potentially slip which is painful, to say the least.

4.  It takes ages to fill up a bathtub.

Filling up a bath is irritating as it takes so long to get the bath filled up. You have to keep an eye on it and that is not good for me as I get distracted by other things that are happening. Therefore I have to sit there and watch the tub fill up for ages and it is dame boring. 

5. The water doesn't stay warm for long.

And another thing about baths is that when you eventually do fill up the bath full of lovely hot water sadly it doesn't last long. It actually is either lukewarm or cold in such a short space which I think is unpleasant to just in the bath with temperatures like that. 

8. Shampoo your hair is a pain.

I hate shampooing my hair in the bath, it is an uncomfortable and unpleasant experience. I always get shampoo in my ears which is gross. 

Let's not forget the painful experience of getting shampoo in your eyes and you cant use dirty water to wash your eyes out. Then you have to move awkwardly to the taps to get fresh water to clean your eyes out. It is just an all-around pain to do. 

So, there you have my reasons and why I opt for a shower. What are your thoughts on baths? Do you like them or hate them? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X 

**AD** 5 game based date ideas for gamers.

 Hey readers,

Are you a fan of gaming and want to meet someone who loves games that you want to date also who is into dating then you're in luck as there is a niche market for gamer daters? 

I think with the internet there are a lot more people who enjoy gaming and it is a fun way to connect with someone via playing games. 

A fun website to check out is gamerdates. It is a site designed for gamers, geeks, and cosplayers who are looking for love.

So when you do arrange a date with someone you probably want to have a game-based date which a great way to connect and get someone better. Doing someone that both people enjoy on a date makes feel relaxed and being able to connect with someone.

As restrictions are easing and more establishments are opening it will give you several options to chose from for a game-based date with someone. 

Below I have 5 game date ideas to get you inspired to go and arrange a date with a fellow gamer. 

1. Visit an arcade.

A retro place to visit on a date is going to an arcade as there are many different types of classic games to play. Whether it be racing games, shooting games, air hockey, coin pusher machines are just a few examples. It is a loud and excitable environment and one worth a go if you are of a competitive nature. 

2. Escape rooms.

 Most people have heard of escape rooms where you are locked in a themed room and you have to work out riddles, puzzles, and clues in order to get out of the room. It is a way to work together and see how well you communicate as a team and is a unique date idea to do. 

3. Board game cafe.

A more relaxed setting for a game date would be to go to a board game cafe. At the cafe, you can get food and drinks whilst having the opportunity to play board games of your choice. A type of place that is popular is The Dice Box in Leamington Spa that offers great food and a variety of games. 

 Sometimes board games are the most fun to do. At the board game cafe, there are a variety of board games to choose from card games, strategic games to silly games. Also, you don't have to worry about getting away from the table as they offer table service. 

4. Gaming convention. 

A great way to explore gaming together and checking out all things gaming-related is to go to a gaming convention.  Not only can you play games you can also go check out gaming panels and hear talks on gaming topics. 

5. Laser tag. 

If you like hands-on gaming and like games such as Call of Duty, Fortnite and Warzone then laser tag is something to consider to go on a gamer's date.  You get to play with laster guns and run around in the dark whilst trying to shoot one another. It is a unique idea and if you have a competitive nature then is the perfect date to go on.

6. VR gaming centres.

If you want to escape then go to VR gaming centres as you can put on a headset and emerge yourself in a game with your date. You can play together and work as a team but if you want some real fun you can work against each other for laughs, perfect for a game date for someone that you have met online sites such as dates for gamers.

Cheers for reading X

This is a sponsored post, all opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own. 

Things that will be missed after lockdown

Hey readers,

Now I know there is the potential risk of the final stage of lockdown restrictions being eased going to be delayed. One day soon hopefully we can look back to the time of lockdown. Below are some of the things I will miss about the lockdown. 

 1. The stillness on the streets and it is eerily quiet. 

2.  Being able to appreciate the small things.

3. Not having to meal pre-packed lunch because let's face you are home all the time.

4. In the earlier days when kids first went back to school and parents actually bothered to queue in an orderly fashion at the school gates.

5. Spending hours scrolling through TikTok without a care in the world, they were the days. Well let's face it you ran out of anything to binge-watch on the telly and who can be arsed to cook for the 89th day. 

6. People keeping their distance and actually made an effort with rules, distant memory now. 

7. The bus was empty that was a strange but also an enjoyable experience. 

8. Not having to worry if someone sits next to you on the bus that absolutely stinks of bo.

 

9.  Not missing on delivery because you are mostly at the home bar the walk you went on.

10. Knowing your neighborhood a lot more due to the number of local walks you took.

11. It was so quiet on the road you could breathe in the clean air.

12. As above during lockdown it is a lot quieter so that you could clearly hear the birds singing. 

13. Slowing down day-to-day and focusing on the small stuff. 

14. Nor experiencing FOMO (feeling of missing out) as we were all at home.

15. Having more time to do personal hobbies.

16. No crowds anywhere.

17.  Less rushing around and just being.

18. Spending more time with family.

19. Saving money whether that be eating out, going to the cinema, visiting the pub. 

20. Cooking more at home and enjoying meals together. 

What things will you miss when lockdown ends completely? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below.

Cheers for reading X 

Confessions of a Crummy Mummy