Wednesday 2 January 2019

How to motivate yourself in the winter mornings.

Hey readers,

It can be hard to get motivated during the colder months because all you want to do is hibernate especially when it is so dark and cold outside. How do you get motivated during the winter mornings?

Brace yourself.

I know for me I get so overwhelmed with how much I have to do that I then go on to procrastinate because it is easier to hide away than to deal with the endless things I have to do. One way overcoming this is to be ace myself and break down what I have to do.
I focus on what is essential and then do something that I dread. I know that if I can't complete it all I can do it next goal when I have some time. This helps me feel like I am in control and have a plan of action to calm down my thoughts.

Plan.

The night before I go to bed I write down my schedule of things I have to do therefore I am ready and don't have to panic about everything. It is clearly written down and I know what I have to do.

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Set alarm.

I find it better to set my alarm 10 minutes early as I can have quiet time to enjoy my hot drink and it sets me up for the day. Having that extra time means I don't have to rush around and get stressed about time. It makes a huge difference in being calm that it can make your day feel smoother.

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Exercise.

I hate the thought of exercising in the morning but once I get a workout done I feel so much better. It really does me good mentally and physically. I feel much more energised and funny enough it helps get more stuff done because of my energy levels being heightened through exercise.

Early night.

Making sure you get plenty of sleep is important. Being conscious of getting to bed early will really beneficial with how productive you are in the morning.

Routines.

Establishing a routine where you go to bed and get up early will soon become second nature if you are consisting of your routine. The more you keep at keeping up with your routine will, in the end, pay off as your body will turn it into a habit and in turn will make it easy for you to continue doing what you are doing.

Breakfast.

As they say, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it sets you and provides energy after you have had a long sleep at night. Food is great in providing energy to concentrate on the work that needs to be done.
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Goals.

When trying to complete your work that needs to be done in the morning focus first on the task that is most important to you. Getting that job done straightaway means you can relax a bit after and it will a lot easier to do the other tasks once the bigger one has been completed.

What strategies help you kick-start productivity in the morning?

Cheers for reading X

Tuesday 1 January 2019

how to deal with Impostor Syndrome

Hey readers,

Do you feel a fraud by your achievements? that you somehow you are not worthy of the work that you have achieved? Well, this phenomenon is called Impostor syndrome and it is very common indeed. But how do you deal with this? well, let me give you some ways to help deal with imposter syndrome below.

Awareness.

Like everything I guess the starter point would be to acknowledge how you are feeling and that these feelings are a result of Impostor Syndrome. Awareness is a valuable skill in recognising the way you respond to your achievements, so the first step in dealing with Impostor Syndrome.

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Open.

Being open and upfront about how you feel towards your achievements with others can be valuable because you can connect with other people who feel similar. You can also seek out help and knowledge from others who have experienced Impostor syndrome and how they have overcome the feelings that they once felt.

Accepting.

One way of facing Impostor Syndrome is accepting the achievements you have achieved and appreciate the work that you have put in. Challenge the thoughts even writing down the original thought and replacing it with a positive can help change that faulty thinking pattern.

Focus on yourself.

With Impostor Syndrome comes low confidence in yourself and one of the worst things you can do is compare yourself to others. You need to let go of thinking why you couldn't reach the level of success that so and so has achieved. Acknowledging that your success is good enough, no one is perfect and you worked dame hard to get where you have reached. Let's face it we are all on our own journey.

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Feedback.

One of the things that I have noticed through my own experience of Impostor Syndrome is that I downplay any positive praise that I receive. I instantly reply with a negative and the one way to help grow your confidence and kick Impostor Syndrome is to accept praise for what it is. You don't justify it but say thank you. You don't need to deny the feedback, own it, it is yours.

Mindfulness.

Mindfulness is a way to train your brain to appreciate the moment and not focus on what you do not have. It is kind of like focusing on the positives as it can be very easy to notice the negatives that have occurred.

Choice.

Remember you have the power to choose what you want to listen to and take it on board. It is only relevant if you put that importance on to it. You can choose to take it or leave it, you are in control of your thoughts.

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Encouragement.

Get into the habit of praising yourself - be your own personal supporter, write down the positives. Be kind to yourself and allow yourself to feel good about your achievements. It is ok to feel good about the work you have achieved it doesn't make you big headed because at the end of the day you worked hard to achieve your success so why not celebrate it.

Cheers for reading X

Monday 31 December 2018

6 places to find cheap books.

Hey readers,

I love reading and I'm always looking for cheap ways of getting books or buying them. It can be a struggle but there's no need to spend a fortune on buying books if you look in the right places you will find cheap ways of getting your hands on books. Let me tell you some of the places you can try that have been successful for me in finding cheap books below.

1. Local library.

The most obvious place to start for looking for books is the local library, as they have a wide selection of different types of books you can take out on loan and are free. I have taking out loads of books on loan so you have to return them in the past from for my library. It has been so helpful in saving me money going to my library as there is so much choice for instance recipe books, craft books for kids and fiction books to lose myself in.

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2. Second-hand shops.

As good as the library is for a wide selection of books sometimes the library does not have the title in. That is why it's good to check out the local charity shop to see if there are pre-loved books that you want but you can't find anywhere else. The books from charity shops are cheap and cheerful and normally absolutely fine to read at a low cost. Also after I finished a book that I bought from the charity shop I normally give it to my local library so that someone else can enjoy it and share the love through that way.

3. eBay / Amazon.

Online there are plenty of places that sell cheap books compared to say Waterstones and two of the most popular sites are eBay and Amazon. I'm not sure if you are aware but not only does Amazon sell brand spanking new books they also sell used books, so do check that option out as well because you can get somebody else with that way. Likewise, with eBay, they sell cheaper books especially ones that are a bit rarer at a reasonable cost.

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4. E-reader.

Another option is to download an e-reader app so you don't have to spend loads on an e-reader and you can find cheap eBooks through the e-reader app itself.

5. Comparison sites.

To find the best book deal price check out this brilliant website called Best Book Price which compares the cheapest place to get a book. Some of the types compared are eBay, Amazon WHSmith and various other book internet sites that you can buy books from.
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6. The Works.

The Works is another good shop where you can buy books from, whether it be fiction or nonfiction. They also do regular book deals such as 6 fiction books for £10 or 10 children books for £10. Another great feature is that you can order books online or pick them up in a store. Which I prefer to look in the shop as you can physically touch them and see all the books together to choose from.

Cheers for reading X

I am cool with my boys wearing dresses.

Hey readers,

My son last week started year two at school. During year one in the summer term, he decided he wanted to wear a dress. I and my husband said yes we have no problem with him wearing a dress.

 He loves it even though his school friends ask him why. That is fine because kids are curious and I can tell you after the novelty they soon weren't bothered at all. I also want to say at any time he can choose to change as he has a spare shorts and tee-shirt in his bag.

Now that my youngest who also is a boy started school last week has also asked to wear a dress, he asked we said yes. Now both my boys wear dresses at school.

I have no problem with my boys wearing dresses, trousers, shorts whatever. I don't see why people get so cut about it. Surely boys should have the exact same freedom as girls and vice versa. I think it is a shame that society is fixated on having to separate girls and boys because really there is no need, it is just beyond silly.
 I think if we stopped trying to fit out kids into boxes then there would be fewer problems in the world.  Like the old saying goes let kids be kids.

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I believe as a parent my children can make their own choices, the only limit is obviously money otherwise go ahead chose what you want to be. I want them to have opportunities to express themselves and be their own person regardless of their gender.

 To me, if I didn't let him wear the dress I deem that as sexist. Just because he is a boy he can't wear it, why not?... let's face it these gender divisions came from people's attitudes that is all it is.

Do you know who got offended by my son wearing a school dress at school.... I can tell you this it certainly was not the children but the parents making a complaint. That speaks volumes really because children don't care normally unless the family members have drilled it into them that this and that is wrong because you are a boy or a girl.

However, the problem of gender stereotypes doesn't just happen with family and friends it goes deeper into society with the media that perpetuities these gender ideas of what is deemed the norm. Remember there was a time when girls could not wear trousers at school and now it is perfectly fine in most schools.

We Need to stop trying to make gender, it is fluid and kids need to be free to make their own choices and express themselves. It is the sexism in society that holds children back and causes problems with them not feeling good because they are a boy or girl. 

Why are people so focused on what gender you are. Surely we should focus on the individual and want they can offer rather than the fact my son is a boy and therefore can not wear dresses, it is just completely absurd you ask me. We need to change our attitudes by not focusing on if the child is a boy or girl but allowing kids to be free to be whoever they chose to be.

Cheers for reading X

Sunday 30 December 2018

Inflata Nation Theme Park Birmingham Review

Hey readers,

We were lucky enough to test out Inflata Nation in Birmingham, of course, I said yes because I know that my boys would love it.



So, what is Inflata Nation Theme Park?

Inflata nation theme park is a family day out attraction and is indoors. It comprises of inflatable activities in a huge indoor arena - therefore doesn't matter what the whether anyone can bounce and have fun. At the location, there are many activities for any age or size to enjoy.

Attractions.

Inflata Wreck - Not for the faint-hearted, our multi-person giant inflatable wrecking ball game.
Inflata Grab - Stretch that bungee cord to see how many balls you can collect. A real-life multi-person human version of Hungry Hippos.
Inflata Duo - A giant dual lane drop slide, that you can enjoy with friends.
Inflata Tots - Only for our under 4’s, a dedicated arena with lots of fun features, including slide & ball pool.
Inflata Drop - Try this jaw-dropping inflatable slide and land in a giant ball pool.
Inflata Wall - Take on the wall and you'll be scaling our giant inflatable climbing wall, on your own or with friends.
Inflata Race - Who will be the first to complete the two-lane assault course?
Inflata Bubbles - A large extra bouncy ‘bubble’ area, when all you want to do is a bounce.
Inflata Bash - Air filled inflatable pillars that you can bash around.
Inflata Duel -  A wibbly wobbly gladiator duel platform. Will you win the dual or take a tumble onto the giant airbag below?

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However, if you want to sit back and just watch your children play then there is the cafe offering homemade food and drinks. There is also stairs and more seating and it overlooks over the whole arena.  Let's not forgot to mention there is free WIFI, whoop!

The inflata nation theme park is currently open at Birmingham, Manchester, Cheshire, Beverley and Glasgow.

Getting tickets to Inflata nation is easy to navigate on the website and also get confirmation booking - where you can print off your receipts. Also, bear in mind that you have to sign a weaver - now you can print the form off and sign it (we did this to save time) or you can fill in the paperwork at the premises.

Once you have handed over the tickets to the front desk on the right-hand side when you get into the doors. You will have a wristband to say you have paid and each one of you gets one.
Then you have to go down a hall on the right where you watch the video on the things you can and not do such as no flips between the balls.

The very short safety video is permanently running so even if you are, let's say seven minutes late then you only lose seven minutes play, unlike other similar venues that only play their safety videos every half an hour.

Once you have done that there is a shoe rack where you can store your shoes or alternatively there are lockers which require a pound. There is also electronic ones that you can pay by your bank. However, I used the pound coin ones so not entirely sure how the electronic lockers work.

It is important to make sure that children and adults were long sleeved tops, trousers and socks when entering the arena.

The sessions last for an hour however you can add time if you want to.

Cost.

Under 4's - £5.95 (1hr) / +1hr - £3.
Age 4-15 - £9.95 (1hr) - +1hr - £7.
Adult - £9.95 (1hr) - +1hr - £7.

There are also exercise classes, disability sessions and birthday parties - check out the website to find out more information.

Inflata Nation is open 364 days a year (except for Christmas Day).

Address.
The address is;
Unit E,
Stechford Retail Park,
Flaxley Pkwy,
Birmingham,
B33 9AN.

Opening times.
Monday - Thursday: 12 pm – 8 pm
Friday: 12 pm -9 pm
Saturday: 9 am – 9 pm
Sunday: 10 am – 8 pm
During school holiday periods, we are open from 10 am Monday – Sunday!
It can get very busy so probably best to book tickets online beforehand so you won't get disappointed.

Overall.

It was a really enjoyable experience for the whole family to enjoy together on a day out. I thought one hour was adequate time to enjoy as both my boys started to get tired at the end and very sweaty.
The staff were really friendly and helpful. the place felt safe and secure. The tables and toilet area were clean.

The rooms were bright and the decor I thought was fun and playful.
Overall a great experience  - 10/10 :)

Here is a video below so you can get a feel of the place.


Cheers for reading. X
This is an advertorial feature - I was gifted tickets for me and my family to go to Inflata Nation in Birmingham in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. 

Review of Legoland Discovery Centre Birmingham.

Hey readers,

The other day we went on a family day out to Legoland discovery centre in Birmingham.


The attraction is located.
LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Birmingham will be based at Arena Birmingham (opposite The National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham).
King Edwards Rd, Birmingham B1 2AA

Opening times.
Weekends: 10am - 7pm (last admission to the attraction at 5pm).
Weekdays: 10am - 5pm (Last admission to the attraction at 3pm).

Cost of attraction.
£15 pp online or £20 pp pay at the desk.

After you sort out tickets at the reception desk you then go into the area near the lift, you will then get photos which are put onto a Lego background which when you go further into the centre you have the option to buy them if you want to.

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Kingdom Quest.

Next, you go into the lift and down a level where you begin the fun. The first thing to do if you want to the ride where you go on a boat around an area where you have to play guns where you can hit targets to win points. This was really fun and we all really enjoyed taken part in that. The ride last for approximately five minutes.

Miniland.

Once you follow down the aisle and then you enter another room which is amazing lego build display covering all the Iconic Birmingham buildings such as The Bull Ring, Cadbury's world and Aston Villa football stadium to name a few. There are also interactive sections where you can spin the wheel and race the boats down the canal.

We went at Christmas time and we had a sheet where we had to find x amount of elves and all the different reindeers dotted about the room - that was good fun to go hunting for them.

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The Ultimate Lego Playground.

After exploring that room we moved on to the next room which is the main activity hub. There is a section on the left and focuses on the Lego friend characters with the female friends dotted about the section. There were sections where you can build at the table your own creations or add onto other peoples work that has been left behind.

Of course, no great child attraction would be complete with the soft play which is based on Lego city with the theme of the construction, fire and police centre. Lots of soft padded floor to run around, climb and slide down the slide.

There is a bigger section between the soft play and Lego friends with loads of bricks to make your own creations.

There is an area in the room next to the soft play that has lockers where you can store your items (cost £1) to lock it up. Also, a place where you can leave your pushchairs.

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4D cinema.

There is also the 4D cinema with a Lego film based and there are water, air, wind, snow and the feeling of figures coming out of the screen all good fun if you like to feel the experience.
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Duplo farm.

There is a section for toddlers to freely play without the fear of them bumping to older children. There are bigger blocks for smaller hands (Duplo), a slide, and a small section where the child can climb and go down a slide safely. There is a big friendly cow that they can sit on and play with.
At the back of the room is another ride where you peddle to make it go up and down - which is a great thrilling ride.
There is also a section where you can build your own lego cars and test them out on the lego tracks with slops that make them go down fast.
There is a table with bricks where you can build buildings and test them out on the wobble board - where you press the button to make the square of land wobble.

Cafe.

There is a cafe in the activity centre area where you can buy cold drinks and Costa hot drinks such as hot chocolate and coffee. There is also lunch sandwich meals if you wish.

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There are also toilets in the area to access plus disabled toilets and baby changing section.

Overall.

I was surprised at how long we stayed here - there was plenty to see in different formats. My 5 and 7 year old really enjoyed it especially the mini land and the interaction element.

Of course, they loved running around together in the soft play and also experimenting with the bricks to come up with their own creations. In actual fact, my eldest took part in the festive build to come up with your own design which was a Santa sleigh and won which my eldest was so proud about and he won the reindeer set as a price.

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The staff were friendly and helpful. The places were in top form, clean and plenty of bins which I think is a good thing and doesn't make the place look messy.

I definitely recommend it for any child who likes bricks and likes to explore and create.

Cheers of reading X

i have accepted I am on anti-depressants for the rest of my life.

Hey readers,

Let me tell you a little secret about me, I take anti-depressants. I have on and off them for years. I have been on my present pills since 2010.

I have to accept the fact that I am going to be on them for the rest of my life and that is ok, I have no shame. It is ok to be on anti-depressants if you want them, don't feel bad because they are viewed as a quick exit. Of course, they don't cure my mental health problems but they give me a breather to think more clearly and make better decisions which impact my life on a whole for the better.

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I have tried to come off them because I was better but wasn't turned out to be more crippling and forgot what them nasty feelings were like. I don't like them, I don't want to live and I go to a very dark place, which is horrible to experience. I don't want that in my life and if there is something that can help then I will grab it happily now with two hands.

Let's be frank anti-depressants don't remove the mental health. They are a quick solution because they in a short space of time have an impact and you can see improvement. Of course, tablets aren't the be-all and end-all but they help.

Talking also helps and all the other therapies that you can access. That too is ok to do and you have to do what is right for you. People are quick to judge if you dare say you are on anti-depressants, you can often get the mentality of some people who assume you are a drama queen and just taking them because they are trendy. Maybe more people take them and be honest about it means that people actually do suffer from mental health problems and not just physical health. I don't see anyone having a go out a person with cancer taking their medication - if anything more sympathy and understanding.

I think some people assume that if you take antidepressants somehow you are weak because you can't sort out your life and you rely on something other then yourself to get out of the situation. This is not true, having the courage to step up, go to the doctors and seek help is much braver then most people think.

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I felt ashamed for years and forced myself off medication when really I should have been on it. It would have improved my quality of life. I fell down the hole of despair of feeling rubbish to take some pills to help my state of mind

Not any more, I now lucky have to come to the realisation that doesn't matter what people think about pills. My happiness is more important and doing the best to help me should be a priority. Accepting tablets are absolutely fine and if I have to take them the rest of my life so be it, no biggy it is ok to take medication to help improve your health.

Cheers for reading X

Pinterest trends that are going to be popular in 2019.

Hey readers,

Do you wonder what is going to be trendy in 2019? Well, apparently Pinterest can make predictions of trends for 2019. So I have selected some popular trend predictions for 2019 below.

Lilac hair.

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Lilac locks are in with lots of people enjoying creating a pastel colour in the hair. It is steadily becoming really popular.

Women’s grey hair.

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This trend I am rooting for because women should celebrate their hair going grey and embracing it and why not? Men can and the more we celebrate the normal and natural features of women the better.
Apparently, it is becoming increasingly popular to not go on holiday during the summer time but opting to check out places during the Autumn period (let’s face it is a lot cheaper when it is out of season).

Abandoned castles.

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I like this trend very much because one it is cheaper as it tends not to be a tourist attraction, therefore, there is no prices normally and no gift shop = saving you money whilst still having a jolly good day out, whoop!

Bus travel.

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This trend is becoming more popular for people trying to live a more frugal live and that is choosing to travel by bus instead of getting a car. It also has the added benefit of being a more environmentally friendly style to travel.

Bold walls.

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When researching the interior trends of 2019 one thing that stood out was the trend of bold walls in the home. There has been a 45 per cent increase in people searching for the colour mustard on Pinterest. Other types of styles are tropical wallpaper and geometric paint.

Painted floor tiles.

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Until researching Pinterest trends I have never heard of the term painted floor tiles. If you haven’t heard of it either then in a short summary it is paint that you can use on tiles to give your floor a more update. This saves money because you don’t need to spend a fortune on flooring just the paint and a brush to do it yourself.

Making bread.

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It seems making stuff for yourself in the kitchen is a firm favourite to return especially with making things like bread.

Foil pack dinners.

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This is now a thing where it means less prep and less mess. Where you stick your food into a foil and then you can open it up and not bother with plates either, result.

Doughnut display.

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Do not worry doughnuts are not just for eating but also decorative party interior with their fun design what is not to love.

What 2019 trends have you spotted that look interesting? I would love to hear your thoughts.
Cheers for reading X