100 of the best free things in life.

Hey readers, 

Sometimes life can be and we can forget to see the positives in life. So here are my 100 of the best free things in life that will make you smile.  

1. A roof over your head 
2. My health.
3. A movie that makes you laugh. 
4. First coffee of the morning.
5. When my children say, 'I love you'. 
6. A great joke.
7. The smell of fresh grass. 
8. Sunsets.
9. The feeling you get when you fix something. 
10. Colouring in books. 
11. The kindness of strangers who I have never had. 
12. Being outdoors. 
13. The first signs of a new season.
14. Your favourite comfort food. 
15. When a bus driver waits that 10 seconds for you to run and catch up. 
16. The moment when you can't control your laughter.
17. Finding lost change. 
18. When someone sees your hands are full and opens the door for you. 
19. A good nights rest. 
20.  Sunny winter days. 
21.  Winning a game. 
22.  Receiving something in the post. 
23. The moment food comes to you at a restaurant. 
24. When your favourite song comes on the radio at the right moment. 
25. Chocolate. 
26. A lie-in. 
27. Hearing some good news.
28. The freedom to vote. 
29. Cups of tea. 
30. Cameras to capture amazing moments.
31. Waking up to the warm sunshine on you. 
32. Having a nana nap. 
33. Getting lost in a good book. 
34. Cosy blankets.
35. Getting home after a long day and putting your PJs are. 
36. A hot bath. 
37. Being a parent.
38. When you accidentally get something for free. 
39. A new book. 
40. Feeling of acceptance. 
41. A nice hot shower. 
42. Mistakes that helped you be a better person. 
43. A sunrise.
44. Taking a morning walk. 
45. Fuzzy socks. 
46. Having easy access to clean, freshwater. 
47. The smell of fresh clean sheets. 
48. Freedom of speech. 
49. The honesty of a child. 
50. Spellchecker. 
51. Old photographs. 
52. Home-cooked meals. 
53. The first flower of spring. 
54. Happy memories of childhood. 
55. The sound and smell of the sea. 
56. Good hair days. 
57. Having a picnic. 
58. Feeling hope. 
59. The perfect playlist. 
60. Money in the bank.
61. Free wifi. 
62. Quiet time. 
63. The smell of fresh-baked bread. 
64. The billions of stars on a clear night. 
65. Flying a kite. 
66. Hearing good news. 
67. Pets. 
68. Learning from your mistakes.
69. Opportunity to get an education. 
70. Breathing fresh air. 
71. Safety and security.
72. Sunshine.
73. Tears. 
74. The wisdom that comes with age. 
75. Jazz.
76. The moon. 
77. Modern medicine. 
78. Warm clothing. 
79. Living pain-free.
80. Your imagination. 
81. Nature.
82. Unconditional love.
83. Access to medication. 
84. Forgiveness.
85. Senses.
86. Music.
87. Rainy days. 
88. A burning candle smell. 
89. The smell of newborns. 
90. Baby giggles.
91. Watching children play and have fun. 
92. Understanding that you can't control everything.
93. Eating dessert first. 
94. Organised drawers. 
95. Singing. 
96. Being motivated.
97. Keyboard shortcuts.
98. The library.
99. Setting the high score on a game.
100. Being barefoot on the sand. 

What free things are you thankful for? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Cheers for reading X 

My Sunday Photo 29/12/2019

My Sunday Photo 22/12/2019

Paperless Post Review **AD**

Hey readers,

As we fastly approaching Christmas you may be thinking of sending Christmas cards to loved ones. Well, there is a fabulous site called Paperless Post who has an amazing collection of holiday cards. 

With Paperless Post products the focus on using fewer trees to help the environment to make it more green which makes it much more attractive. 

Not only do you send a message to a loved one but you are also doing something positive for the environment you live in. 

If you are struggling with time or what to send someone an e-card doesn't worry as Paperless Post have it covered too as they have a fabulous selection of designs. 

Here are some examples of ecards you can feast your eyes on. 

In recent years personalised cards have come very popularly to send to people. You can upload any picture you want and write any message you desire. You can also change the colour and design to meet your needs for the perfect ecard.

There are traditional designs if you like the classic look. 

Or you might want something funky and bold so the choices are up to you. 

With Paperless Post to purchase e-cards, you will need coins and how to get these coins is to create an account with Paperless Post.

 Another added bonus for new customers gets the first 25 coins free. 

To determine the total cost, take your design’s number of "Coins per recipient" and multiply it by the number of guests you plan to invite. For example, if a design requires 5 Coins per recipient and you are inviting 40 guests, you will need 200 Coins to send your invitation. Our 200 Coin package is $30.

Of course, holiday cards aren't the only item available on Paperless Post. There are many types of cards from birthdays to weddings. Plus there are more then traditional cards because if you're looking for flyers, invitations and even personalised stationary Paperless Post can meet your demands. 

Cheers for reading X

This is an ad for Paperless Post. I was gifted coins to use on the site for Paperless Post in exchange for a blog post. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. 

My Sunday photo 15/12/2019

Unknown to me.

I didn't sign up to this,

There was no contact,

So, how am I supposed to know,

How to perform,

The way you want me to be.

my Sunday photo 08/12/2019

The Snowman Live 2019 at Coventry Cathedral 2019 **AD**

Hey readers,

On Saturday (07/12/2019) I and my family went to see The Snowman with a live orchestra at Coventry Cathedral. 

Which of course is shown in the beautiful new Coventry Cathedral. As a parent is important to point out that there are toilets in the cathedral. 

 Last year was a sell-out for The Snowman film and live orchestra that they have returned this year for more magical performances to get you in a festive mood. 

Carrot Productions who are the creators of The Snowman live have done over 200 live shows across the country in some of the finest cathedrals and venues. The orchestra comprises musicians drawn from the UK’s top orchestras.

The show lasts for an hour and I originally thought that seemed a bit short but actually it was a good length for young children. 

There was plenty of seats for everyone and it is disabled friendly.

Also, the screen is big so everyone in the audience can see the film plus the added extras such as Father Christmas message. 

At the front of the cathedral was the live orchestra so the children get to see the musicians play an array of instruments which is an experience in its self to hear live music. 

I and my son are autistic so were conscious that it might be noisy with a live orchestra so we came prepared with ear defenders.

 However, though the music is loud it is not in the style of music which was soft. I found the music relaxing to listen to. My son who normally struggles with noise sat through the whole of the performance with no problems. 

Santa made an appearance on the big screen. 

 A popular feature was seeing the snowman walk up and down the isles and it was enough to get all the children excited. The atmosphere was relaxed which was a rather lovely and enjoyable experience. 

There was a short piece on the display screen explaining what the different instruments were being played in the orchestra.

 A really good informative piece as they explained the instrument and then played a little of that instrument to make it identifiable. 

Alongside the snowman segments, there was a short story about a donkey and his experience of becoming a dancer with the orchestra playing music. 

Of course, closer to the end was the classic film The Snowman shown on the big screen. Also, was the live orchestra and a singer who sang the classic hit from the film, Walking in the Air gave a lovely festive feel to it.

 It really did get you in the mood for Christmas and overall most children in the cathedral were quietly watching the film so it went down well.

It was fab to do something a bit different for Christmas with my boys that was a calming activity. I definitely recommend it for all that enjoy The Snowman and live orchestra music.

There are still more live performances for The Snowman film with a live orchestra and if you are interested in seeing this performance you can find more information here. The cost of the tickets starts from £11 upwards depending on where you are seated. 

However, children aged 18 months and under will be admitted for free if seated on a parent's knee, with the hope that you will be considerate to other audience members and take your child out of the performance temporarily if they are crying or disturbing others.

Cheers for reading X 

This is an AD for The Snowman live performance. I have been kindly gifted the tickets in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. 

4 reasons why you should get vaccines.

Hey readers,

I know some people object to giving their child vaccinations for several reasons, a couple that spring to mind is not inflicting pain on the child or giving them drugs. 

However, vaccinations are so important in helping to keep children protected and healthy from infectious diseases.

 If I had the powers I would make children's vaccinations mandatory for all children. If you're wondering why then carry on reading below as I give my reasons. 

How do vaccines work? 

Vaccines teach your immune system how to create antibodies that protect you from diseases. It's much safer for your immune system to learn this through vaccination than by catching diseases and treating them.

Once your immune system knows to fight a disease, it can often protect you for many years - (citied NHS, 2019).

1. Saves lives.

Vaccinations help save a child's life from protecting them from diseases such as smallpox, tetanus and polio that once made children very ill or even sadly kill them. Nowadays such diseases are gone or they are very rare for people to get.

Other diseases such as measles and diphtheri have been reduced by 99.9% since the introduction of vaccines. 

The only downfall is that if people stop using vaccines the likelihood of the above diseases will come back and spread quickly again. 

2. Safe.

Vaccines are safe for children as they have to spend a lot of medical research making sure that the vaccines do the job and don't cause harm. The testing for vaccines has taken many years to go through and check the safety of them.

With regards to pain, of course, there is a little bit of discomfort in giving a child when first injecting them but it surely is worth that over the child contracting a serious illness that will be significantly worse for them.

Yes in some cases that some children have allergic reactions but that is very rare. The statistics of children not getting diseases is higher than the side effects of reaching a vaccine.

Some people think that in the vaccine themselves contain mercury but this simply is not true. Yes, there are some ingredients that can cause harm but it so small that it will not affect you by having the vaccines. If you are unsure about anything then the best bet is to speak to your doctor as they are medically trained and can answer any of your uncertainties. 

3. Cost.

Vaccines are cost-effective in the fact that it is cheaper to prevent a person from getting diseases as opposed to treating someone with a disease. Plus the more people who get vaccines could potentially radicate a disease due to not being able to spread amongst people.

4. Community.

The more children getting vaccines not only protect the child themselves but also the community because they are not spreading any diseases which are especially important for people who can not get vaccines themselves.

Vaccines have saved up to 3 billion deaths worldwide every year. 

What do you think about vaccines? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday photo 01/12/19

6 things not to keep in the fridge.

Hey readers,

Did you know some items that you have in your refrigerator are not best to be placed there but other places in your kitchen? Well in this post I am going to tell you 10 items that should not live in your refrigerator.

1. Honey. 

Honey is fairly easy to store in a place that is cool and dark that won't melt the honey easy. It is actually better if you don't refrigerator honey because of the temperatures making the honey mixture more congealed so when you want to use honey it is harder to spread and gets out of the container. 

2. Potatoes. 

If you refrigerate potatoes it could cause the potatoes to turn some of the starch into sugar causing the potatoes to taste sweeter. Also, will lead to higher levels of a chemical called acrylamide when the potatoes are baked, fried or roasted at high temperatures. Acrylamide causes cancer in animals and so might also harm people's health.

3. Butternut squash. 

Avoid storing butternut squash in the fridge because of the humidity. It is better to keep in a cool and dark place for up to 30 days. However, if you have cut up the buttersquash it is advised to cling film the pieces and store them in the fridge for up to 5 days. 

4. Bread. 

The worst thing you can do to help keep bread fresh places it into the fridge. This is because it becomes more stale or quicker when stored in the fridge because the temperature changes the starches that were rearranged when baking will simply go back to its original crystalise state making the process counter-productive. If you want to store bread then do this by keeping it at room temperature in a dark and cool place such as a cupboard, pantry or a bread bin. 

4. Onions. 

The best place to put onions is a dark and cool place like a pantary. If you place onions into the fridge then it will not maintain a dry outer layer of the onion. Also, a fridge is a damper place then a pantry due to the lack of air circulating in the fridge this will which will result in spoiling the onion bdecadse of the mositure and gases let off meaning that the onion will go off quicker in the fridge.

5. Batteries.

Some people beliece that the fridge is a good place to store batteries but this is not the case because of the extreme cold temperatures will reduce the batteries performance. It is suggested to store batteries in a dark and cool place. 

6. Nail polish. 

If you put nail polish into a fridge it could cause the nail polish to thicken inconsistency. Also, once you do take the nail polis out of the fridge and use it on your nails it can take longer to warm up and use. With the modern nail, polish formula preserves the shelf life of nail polish. If the nail polish has tickened then it is recommended to add a few drops of nail polish thinner.

What are your thoughts on the items I suggested that should not live in the refrigerator? I love to hear your comments down below.

Cheers for reading X 

My Sunday photo 24/11/2019

paranoia and autism

Hey readers, 

Paranoia it seems like a close friend all of these years lurking in the background of murky mind that comes out when I feel scared, threatened or vulnerable.

I suppose you could say it is partially due to past trauma from emotional abuse where I was told every day by the perpetrator that they are watching you and they know everything.

 It left me on tenterhooks, always worried whether I am doing the right thing. This was pretty hard to achieve when you have autism and screw up so often that I may as well give up achieving this the expectation of me when it is never going to be in reach.

This abuse happened a long time and it left a lasting effect on my self-esteem and the way I view people. 

I don’t trust maybe people. Again in my adulthood, I was let down by my best friend with untrue claims that nearly broke my family up. Sadly, her claims were flawed and with time I rebuild my family unit. However, it once again left me feeling vulnerable and a struggle to trust people.

I fear that I am often judged because of my autism, I don’t actually, tell most people about my autism, I still struggle with my disability even after all these years.

 I have been judged so much over my life that it is hard to be open plus I hate my autism, it stops me from being something that I will never achieve.

If you are wondering who knows about my autism well it is more the fact that my husband tells people. 

He thinks people should know but I don’t want people to know, I want to put my barrier up and put myself in a vulnerable situation. However, I know he is right but when I am feeling scared I want to hideaway.

My husband is what would call an advocate about being open and honest telling people about autism.

 He talks to other parents about it and it makes me unhappy, it makes me very paranoia that people are talking about me and it stems back to the original trauma. 

My mind can't deal with it as I am not in control and my thoughts go into overdrive. They are intrusive and when I am having a bad day I am so emotional by the end I don’t even know how I have made it that day. 

The thoughts are so rapid and intense that it leaves me washed out, I am emotionally drained and that is when the paranoia creeps up and attacks my vulnerability. 

I will be honest it scary because it feels so real and I don’t have the confidence in myself to stand up to the intrusive thoughts. As the thoughts feel so real, that they cannot possibly be untrue.

I don’t really know the point of this post, I am going through this episode now and just feels therapeutic to get the words down. It gives me some sort of focus to write that it stops the repetitiveness and gives my mind a much-earned rest from the intense ideas that float about endlessly.

Cheers for reading X

51 Signs that you are british

Hey readers, 

Ever wondered what Britsh meant well here are top 51 signs that mean you're British, its law and I said so ;)

1. Queuing.

2. Accidentally dropping your biscuit into your cup of tea.

3. A cooked a roast dinner.

4. Saying sorry when it isn't your fault.

5. Having a stiff upper lip.

6. Having a dry sense of humour.

7. Eating a fry up for breakfast.

8. Having a beer at the airport even though it is before 8am when going on holiday abroad. 

9. Shouting "wahey' when someone accidentally drops or breaks something.

10. Eating cucumber sandwiches.

11. Moaning if it is too hot.

12. Moaning if it is too cold. 

13. Enjoy the sales when it is boxing day.

14. Having meals based on what day it is - like Fishy Friday.

15. Not correcting someone when they pronounce your name wrong.

16. Feeling appreciative that the person in front put the 'next customer' barrier on the conveyor belt.

17. Wearing summer clothes when you see the first sight of the sun. 

18. You go outside to take the sunshine in when there is a tiny bit of sunshine shining.

19. You can recognise the theme tune to Eastenders.

20. You fancy eating fish and chips on a cold evening.

21. If you leave the house and have to return because you have forgotten something if someone is in the home they say that was quick.

 22. Holding the door open for someone when they’re unnecessarily far away so they end up running for the door.

23. Finding the American forwardness way a bit too much. 

24. Being skilled at writing a letter of complaint. 

25. Having good manners.

26.Going to the pub. 

27. Moaning about the daily commute to work. 

28. Saying 'right' before you do something. 

29. Uttering ‘Aaaah’ after taking the first sip of a cold beer.

30. Family holidays always start at 5 am in the morning to miss traffic jams.

31. You know the best item for the beach is a bucket and spade.

32. You have a strong opinion on marmite.

33. Got sunburnt in spring.

34. Avoiding eye contact on the tube. 

35. Finding nothing better than a bacon sarnie. 

36. Had a cheeky Nandos.

37. You are polite to the people you hate and insult the people you like.

38. When someone asks how are things and you instantly reply with ok thanks when deep down you are dying inside.

39. When you go abroad and you complain that you can't get a decent cup of tea.

40. Sarcasm.

41. Making a cup of tea in response to a crisis. 

42. Insisting the person in front goes first through the door. 

43. Owning a picnic basket but only using it once a year. 

44. Doing anything possible for a light tan. 

45. Searching your pockets when asked for spare change.

 46. Grumbling throughout a meal, but not telling the staff so as not to cause a fuss.

47. Mistaking brightness for warmth.

48. Feeling extreme excitement over a Sunday roast dinner.

49. The ultimate crime has to be someone queue jumping. 

50. Apologising automatically. 

51. Giggling at innuendos.

Do you associate with any of these sighs? What is your view od being British? I love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

Cheers for reading X 

My Sunday photo 17/11/2019

7 ways to save on your energy bill this winter.

Hey readers,

Looking for easy ways to reduce your electric bill during this winter period then look no further as I have some top tips on how to do so!

1. Appliances

One of the most useful habits to get into is turning off standby applicants around the home when you are not using them. Ok, it does not save you loads but it can save you between £80 to £100 a year,  every little helps.

2. Temperature. 

In the UK two-thirds of the electricity used is on heating up our home from heating water to keeping our rooms warm. It is recommended to reduce room temperature by 1 degree and it is not a big difference. If you are feeling chilly but on a jumper or drink a hot drink to warm up. Also, another tip is to turn off the heating when you are sleeping as you don't need as you cosy under the quilt and are asleep so are you really going to notice the heating?

3. Light bulbs. 

Now to start with swapping traditional incandescent light bulbs can be pricy however in the long term it is an investment as you reduce your electricity bill. This is because the more modern light bulbs such as halogen incandescents, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), and light-emitting diodes (LEDs)  use less energy,  therefore worth paying for as you save money and the modern light bulbs last longer overall.

4.  Wrap up. 

This next tip is obvious but a lot of people walk around there home in a t-shirt and shorts in December and wonder why they are cold, they don't think about it and turn the heating on. However, you can easily warm yourself up to by adding additional layers and for example, soft fluffy bootie slippers are brilliant at keeping you warm. Finally, don't forget the hot water bottle to keep close by to feel all cosy without having turn the heating on you soon be warmed up lovely.

5. Washing. 

Washing your clothes at a lower temperature will save you some money when you turn your temperature to 30c as you are using less energy to do the washload. 

6. Leaks.

It is a good idea during the colder periods to check your windows and doors for leaks as this can cause your home to get colder and use more energy to hit up which will, in turn, will mean your energy bill will rise. 

Making sure that you put draught-proof tape around windowsills is a good idea along with using door draughts that you put at the bottom of the door to block heat.

7. Curtains.

During the darker evenings is a good idea to get in the habit of closing your curtains as this will help keep the warmth in the room and reduce the need for whacking the heat up. 

What ways help you reduce your energy bill during the winter period? I love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. 

Cheers for reading X 

What's Up.

Don't come around here,

knocking on my door,

 like I'm the same person,

 I have no idea where I'm going.

Autism and personal space.

Hey readers, 

You have probably gathered from reading some of my posts on my blog that I am autistic. 

One of the major things, when I think about something that is important to me and on my autistic life is personal space. 

I put a huge emphasis on this because it has a big influence on my mindset and how I respond to day to day life. 

When I refer to space it could mean when people get to close to me which I am not a fan of espeically with people I do not know.

 I only have a few selective people that make me feel comfortable when they come into my space.

 I get very distressed for example when I accidentally touch a stranger on the bus, or someone who sits very close to me who I  do not know. 

It feels like my whole skin is crawling and my body tenses up. I am not a touchy-feely person.

 I don't trust and sometimes there are days when I limit physical contact as I may be feeling not well with my anxiety or I am over stimulated with everything that is currently happening to me in my environment.

I know there is more prominence to autistic individuals who are space invaders but some of us like me are people who are distant when it comes to getting close to people.

When I think MY space I think of one place in my home which belongs to me. I identify this place as safe and somewhere I go to when I am stressed having a meltdown or need a time out from the business of my environment. 

It is important to me because I rely on that safety feeling associated with my safe space and that calms me down when I am anxious. 

Not much of my home belongs purely to me naturally having children a lot of toys and stuff around. 

That is fine I accept that but if my small area gets obstructed or my husband makes a mess of the room this makes me stressed and very angry. 

I struggle to see beyond that moment so feel like the situation when my space gets messed up feels like it will be forever.

Of course, it is not and when I am calm I can think logically. However, when you are anxious and have to deal with change this is a struggle. Not to mention navigating to a new plan to help when you're already in an emotional state it is difficult to see any other solution then my whole world is falling apart.

 I guess this why people who have a lack of knowledge about autism will just see me as having a 'strope' or being a diva. 

It is isn't the materialistic space it is the knowledge that I have my safe space that I can rely on at times of distress that comfort me knowing that it is quiet and somewhere I can trust. 

Along with the physical space I have my sensory items that bring comfort to me such as a heated blanket and lying under a lot of weight to make me feel secure and safe. 

I also can use my noise canelling headphones and soft lighting all help calm me down when I am distressed or dealing with a meltdown or shutdown. 

All the little things add up and once they get taken down I feel broken because they are my  coping mechanisms. They're the things that help me deal with day to day life.

 Likewise, if I have the safety net of my safe place it can help me calm down. It provides a sense of control and reduces me having emotional outbursts because I know that I have a backup plan when things go wrong. It is the small things that make a huge difference. 

Cheers for reading X 

6 reasons to avoid Black Friday.

Hey readers,

Soon it will be Black Friday (29th November).

If you didn't know Black Friday is a tradition that started in America the day after Thanks Giving (which is the fourth Thursday in November).

On Black Friday stores offer high sales and open their stores early on the day. 

The popularity has reached the UK as well though even though we don't celebrate Thanks Giving. 

 I have an issue with black Friday and here are my reasons below. 

1. Rage. 

I can not stand the greed of some people where they go absolutely berserk in shopping rage in order to get a bloody TV or something similar and even more so when they get violent.

 It saddens me that something material makes people act so negative and nasty way. 

2. Overspending. 

The problem with Black Friday is that most people can often be found to be spontaneous and buy things maybe they don't need or overspend on a budget they don't have. 

The buzz is in the air whereas if you have a plan and work on your budget I think you get a better deal in the long run. 

 The black Friday idea is actually to lure the customer in to spend loads on impulse because the deals are short term, don't last long and make you feel that they are brilliant deals with all the promotion in the media. 

3. Crowded. 

Yuk, too many crowds of sweaty people in a state of urgency in a cramped space really is not my cup of tea! 

Why would you wait for hours to get a deal, the thought makes me feel depressed. Yes, it is lovely to get a deal but is it really worth it when it is just such a miserable experience, it just makes me associate the item with frustration and anger. 

4. Real deal?

Do you really get a good offer on Black Friday as it has been found that dynamic pricing happens? 

Dynamic pricing is when the prices rise during the early weeks of November then on the day are reduced to its original price so where is the saving? For example, the £50 bag you wanted was most likely to be £50 earlier this year. Therefore your not really saving at all because it is just tricks to lure you into the idea that you are getting a bargain when you are not. 

5. Hype.

Is Black Friday really good for people who are into saving or are we just believing the hype that we are getting good deals? 

Black Friday again feeds into this pretend idea of getting a bargain when really your most likely not!

The best thing to do is if you are frugal then to avoid shops on Black Friday, save your money and budget instead. This will save you a few quid when you're not going on an impulse splurge which can easily be done in the moment of mayhem. 

6. Thankful.

I know I am from the UK so don't celebrate Thanksgiving but I am questioning the idea of Black Friday being the day after Thanksgiving. 

This is because Thanksgiving is meant to be a time of being thankful for what you have and then the next day people go on a mad spree to get material objects. It is utter madness and does goes against the whole notion of Thanksgiving surely?!

What is your view on Black Friday? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

Cheers for reading X