How to do Easter on a budget

Hey readers,

With social media being a big influence on most it can be hard not to be persuaded do things to extremes. But let's be honest most of us haven't the money to splash about. So, here are some of my tips on how to stick to a budget but still having a lovely time for Eater. 

1. set a budget. 

Sometimes it is good to plan especially when you need to budget. So, be realistic in working out what your disposable income is for Easter then stick to that amount. Sometimes, working out and writing it down is more concrete and can help keep our focus and stick to our budget. 

2. Latest deals. 

One of the best ways to save money on things that you want is to check out the latest deals online before spending the cash impulsively. There are many fab websites that can give you information on the latest deals such as Martin Lewis site or my supermarket.com which compares the prices of products with the leading supermarkets (Asda, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Tesco, Iceland, Morrisons etc). 

3. Cash. 

Another brilliant tip to keep you reined in when out shopping for Easter stuff is to take cash out and leave the bank card at home. Therefore you definitely won't overspend and you can relax knowing that you are in control and staying within your budget. 

4. Plan. 

Planning is key to winning when it comes to your budget. Before dashing about on impulse plan head and what you want to do and how much you need plus the money that you can afford to spend on items such as Easter eggs or craft. 

5. Pressure.

Don't get sucked up in the hype, I know it can be hard with pressure on people outperforming one another on social media. However, in the end, what matters is you are happy and do what is right for you. Everyone is different so don't put the expectations on as long as you have a good time and relax surely that is the most important thing. Remember Easter is only a couple of days and before you know it to be forgotten and moved on to the next thing, such is the society that we live in. 

How do you budget for Easter? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Cheers for reading X 

How a Fitbit helps me and my mental health.

Hey readers,

Only recently have I invested in a Fitbit and it has been a real motivator for me to get up and move.

 As a person who has mental health problems, I find that having something like counting steps every day to reach a goal has helped me feel a bit better about myself. 

Even though it is a small positive change, it has helped me a great day in my mental health journey. 

Waking up every day and knowing I want to achieve something as a realistic goal gets me moving, gets me out of bed and does something for me which has helped.

 Especially when talking about mental health getting out of the house is something good, getting away from the same four walls can be a breath of fresh air.

 Doing something productive is a biggy for me instead of brewing on the negativity and my thoughts that just go round and round. 

Having a Fitbit has provided me with a focus and a distraction from the feelings of giving up and feeling what is the point? 

Having a reason to leave my home is a big help. I have a purpose though it is just numbers it is more than that to me. 

I have a goal that I know I can aim for, it allows me to focus on walking, and getting exercise helps release feel-good hormones.

 Doing something for me gives me a lift in my mood, knowing I am taking action when I force myself out of the home and doing exercise.  

Improving my health and stamina with fitness has made me feel better about myself because I have regained that control because I AM doing it, I am getting out in the world and exciting. 

I know I am not perfect but seeing progress in pushing myself and getting out of the home is a step closer to improving my mental health. 

Getting out in the fresh air allows me to clear my head of the thoughts, it allows me to think of new things because I have a different scenery allowing me to think of new ideas instead of staying at home festering on the negativity. 

Alongside going out for walks to increase my step count there is another element to Fitbit which is a target to walk 250 steps each hour between 9 am and 5 pm and it is a visual cue to get up. 

It gives you the competitive motivator to move every hour so instead of sitting down for hours on end. 

Seeing the many visual aids to help you stay motivated on the fitness app does give a feel-good buzz. 

You want to get up and move because you can see the result. 

You can see the rewards and trophies that you can get via the Fitbit app which again boosts your mood.

 This is because you know you are doing something for yourself and you growing in strength not only physically but mentally. 

Therefore, I am glad that I chose to purchase and Fitbit. 

Yes, there are bad days of course but baby steps are key and a Fitbit helps with that for me and my mental health journey.

Cheers for reading X 

My Sunday photo 07/04/2019

I told the boys to shake their tic tacs. Their face makes me laugh so much. :) 

9 ways to help a child be resilient.

Hey readers,

How can we help make our children resilient when faced with stress and adversity, below are my top tips. 

1. Independent Learning.

It is easy to give in to a child but sometimes allowing the child to be independent. However, allowing a child to do things for themselves, without first jumping in is a great way to build their confidence and learn. 

2. Support. 

Give the child support when they need but let them come to you rather than the other way around. Believe me, they will as long as they know the support is there without judgement. 

3. Self-Discovery. 

Don't constantly answer the questions that the child asks you, get the child to explore for themselves. It is easy to take the quick root and answer but actually the best way sometimes to grow as an individual is to test out and learn through your own self-discovery. 

4. Mistakes. 

Teach your child that mistakes happen and not everyone gets it right. Let's face it no one is perfect and we can't be good at everything as that would be boring. We need diversity and it is important to focus on the strengths that the person can bring to the table. 

5.Risk Taking.

It is important to not get in the mindset of trying to cotton wool our children as sometimes you need to allow risks so that they can learn and understand the boundaries. The more you child to shield a child, the temptation for them to do that thing will be greater. 

6. Delayed Gratification. 

Teach a child delayed gratification - where you have to wait before you can enjoy the rewards you have reaped. This will make them appreciate the reward much more than getting the reward straight away. 

7. Problem-Solving. 

Let your child learn to problem solve, don't just go for the easy answer but allow them to explore the problem and find their own solutions, they will be thankful in the long run. 

8. Catastrophic Thinking. 

Don't go down the catastrophic root with a problem a child is facing. It can be easy to think about all the gloom but it is important to get a well-balanced view of the situation and think positive about something new. Your child wants to explore, instead of being negative with saying that is ok if you can't do that but instead opt for a positive approach with saying how fun it will be and you can make friends say if you go on a camp trip as an example of being positive. 

9. Selective.

Don't give your child everything they ask for (toys, trips etc) even though everyone else has it. They need to learn that they don't need everything and that you can enjoy the things you do have even though you don't have everything because at the end of the day it is just materialistic item. It is much better to be a good person in my eyes anyway. 

What techniques have you used to help a child to be resilient? 

Cheers for reading X 

March favourites

Hey readers,

It is now the fourth month of the year that we are in. So, I am going to reflect over the past month (March) of things that I have been loving. 

1. Fleabag. 

Regarding television programmes that I have been watching in March, I have been really enjoying Fleabag on BBC one. It is the second series and still carrying on brilliantly. It is about the life of a woman called Claire living in London dealing with the tragedy of losing her friend. It is dark, it is funny and really well timed as well with the observations and comments. 

2. Blossom.

Now that the horrific wind from storm Gareth has left, the sunshine has been shining high and allowing growth in nature. There is blossom growing everywhere on trees and it is just a breath of fresh air to see the new season working its magic. 

3. Clocks. 

Of course, only the other day the clocks went forward an hour which though on the day we lost an hours sleep *boo** means that the days are getting brighter and more change of warmer weather and opportunities for going outside and soaking in the sunshine. 

4. Selling on Facebook. 

I have been really enjoying selling odd bits of stuff that we don't really need any more on Facebook. Not only is someone getting a bargain and we are getting some cash back but also means more space, less clutter about. 

5. Hot showers. 

Only recently hubby treated us to out rainfall type shower head and I can confirm it absolutely bliss to have a hot shower with the rainfall head above you. My boys love the new shower and love the idea of the fact it feels like rain. 

What have you been loving over the past month of March? Love to hear your comments down below. 

Cheers for reading X 

How to deal with the feelings of FOMO.

Hey readers,

As a person who has experienced feelings of FOMO due to the increasing social media presence of this idea of a perfect mother, I know how tough it can be. Of course, there is no perfect life but when you are bombarded with constant images of happy families constantly doing something and you’re at home not doing a great deal you can feel like you are missing out.

I know the FOMO (feelings of missing out) is a common problem with the internet generation as there is always something going on and it natural to compare but where do we draw the line.

The dictionary definition of FOMO is:

Anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on social media.

Here are some ways have helped me come to accept my life and know it is ok not to be perfect.

Be kind to yourself.

I think there is this need in society to have the next best thing, to constantly be doing amazing things on social media but sometimes you know what it is good to stay in and do nothing. Don't beat yourself up for this, your allow to not do anything or go anywhere doesn't mean you are not living, embrace and actually let go and enjoy it. I now do this and I cut that pressure off and it feels amazing. I slow down and just unwind and it really does the world of good for your mental health.

You’re not alone.

This may sound obvious but believe me when you are engrossed in the feelings of FOMO you lose your ability to rationalise, you assume everyone is doing something other than you. You get intrusive thoughts that you should be doing what everyone is doing and that social pressure feels very strong and the urge to comply is there. I found that actually not looking at some of the individuals who for whatever reason have much cooler life than I helps. 

I remind myself I am not alone and I also look around on the old social media to see that others doing similar stuff to me and that it is ok to be that. It is all about putting things into perspective realising that most people that you check out on Instagram are just one-sided and you don't see all their lives. Try to unfollow people that make you feel inferior - ignorance is bliss. Find other accounts that are similar to you and you can relate to. It will make you feel so much better and also contribute in helping come to accept your life in a more positive way.

Distractions.

Sometimes, I feel overwhelmed with all the online information that is out there. The constant notifications that sometimes the best thing to do is mute the distractions, turn your phone on aeroplane mode or even better still turning your phone completely off. Even if it is just for an hour you will be amazed at how much better you will feel.

What things have helped you deal with FOMO?

Cheers for reading X

5 Ways to stop over apologising.

Hey readers, 

I think it is a British problem where I myself often apologise even though I have done nothing wrong. It is like I am in autopilot and I want to keep the peace even though the other person doesn't care, it's hard-wired in my head. So, trying to learn how to get out of this habit which I have been doing for a number of years I have got some ideas on trying to overcome this problem. I thought I would share them as someone else may find this useful if they are in the same boat as me with over apologising. 

1. Pause.

When you feel the need to apologise for a good habit to get into is passing before you apologise. Allowing yourself time to think before acting can maybe kick in other ideas and make you think whether apologising is worthwhile. 

2. Triggers. 

Sometimes, it is good to reflect and think why you feel the need to apologise, is it because you have anxiety and you are worried about what people think? or you don't like confrontation. A task you can do is write out some situations where you feel you apologise and instead write out a different outcome such as, instead of saying, sorry you could swap it with can you please help me understand better? This allows you to communicate and be direct but being assertive with your words.

3. Silence. 

I think one of the reasons that I feel the need to apologise is because of that awkward silence when you really not sure what to do after an incident. I have learned to embrace the silence and yes at times it is uncomfortable but pushing myself in the comfort zone teaches me to accept and stand tall. 

4. Swap. 

Often we say sorry when someone gives us a compliment but instead of brushing that compliment under the carpet accepting it and saying thank you is a much better way of dealing with the situation, You are expressing gratitude and it is ok to be happy when something good is talked about you, your not big headed but allowing the compliment to happen and taking it on board.

5. Empathy. 

Instead of opting to say sorry for a response to show empathy why not swap with an empathetic response because it is giving the person the feeling that you want to understand. You could say something like, 'that sounds really difficult for you'. Not only does it give the individual sense that you are listening but it allows the conversation to be opened up and explored more instead of sorry which is a closed off reply to a conversation. 

5. Feedback. 

It can be convenient to just apologise in a situation but this can give you low self-esteem or make you feel anxious. It is far better if you ask for feedback from the person such as, 'can you tell me a way I can make this situation better?' this then can make you feel more positive and take control over the situation as you are coming with ideas to improve and wanting to change. 

Have you overcome over apologising? What ways help you to stop saying sorry? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Cheers for reading X 

My Sunday photo 31/03/3019

  

      

     

10 thoughts whilst standing in the queue.

Hey readers,

I am terribly British as I love a good moan and I have a hatred for queues.

So here are some of my thoughts that have entered my mind whilst moving my feet about and admiring the sweet section near the tills in a massive queue.

1) How dare anyone other than I be here. They have a f*cking check.

2) Seriously, I have just lost half an hour of my life when I could be spending that time at home stalking on Facebook.

3) Why did I just not simply use Amazon, FFS!

4) Should I or should I not buy some chocolate when I reach the till.

5) Life sucks.

6) At least while I am here I don't need to bother with housework or anyone nagging at me. I can just get sore feet from standing around doing sweet F.A.

7) Do I really need this stuff, yes, of course, my life depends on having some cheap emoji socks to brighten my mood?

8) I curse my husband, how dare he request me to buy stuff from the shop. He will pay, mwahahahahaha.

9) Why the f*ck is there no signal, I am so not shopping in Sainsbury's anymore, take that!

10) OMG, I can not believe this shop does not have WiFi. Don't you know it is a human right and now I am cut from human existence even though I am surrounded by people? It is SO totally different? I need to know what is going on in the social world, what coffee people are photographing or the brilliant cat gifs that are emerging on the web.

 I think I may need to go to the hospital as my arm feels cut off from not accessing the internet for 20 minutes, I am getting serious bad withdrawals.

Cheers for reading X

Poundland are selling a £5 portable fold up BBQ.

Hey readers,

We have had lovely sunshine this week and it is getting me thinking about barbecues.

Is there anything better than eating out alfresco then having a barbecue where you can cook last outside and enjoy the sunshine.

Who doesn't love a bargain and where better to find a hot deal then at your local Poundland shop. The portable barbecue will be available on the 22nd of April so keep your eyes peeled as it will be located in the outdoor section on Poundland.

With the design of the portable barbeque being lightweight and folding down will make it much easier to transport a barbecue anywhere that is allowed. 

The barbecue is easy to fold-up and carries with you out and about on days out or even if you are going away on holiday. 

The even better news is that this portable barbecue only cost £5 which is a steal of a deal. This portable barbecue is the cheapest amongst the major retailers in the UK. It will be available to buy during spring and summer perfect if you want to take with you and head to the beach. 

 The barbecue comes in the size of 30cm x26.5cm x 30cm and you can see what the portable barbecue looks like below to give you an idea. 

What is your opinion on Poundland's new portable BBQ? Is it something you are going to buy and use this spring/summer? Love to hear your thoughts below. 

Cheers for reading X

Kindle vs Books

Hey readers, 

Today I shall be looking at the benefits of the Kindle and books as both I believe have benefits. Although each one has it's own benefits however this is dependant on what you are looking for. So, if you're still looking for which one you should go for then check out my points on each below. 

Kindle. 

There are many different types of e-readers you can choose from in the shops. Nowadays a lot of e-readers are lightweight so you can pop them in your bag when you're traveling out and about making it much better than lugging a heavy book around. 

Download. 

When looking for a book on the e-reader it's so easy to find a book that you want and download it really quickly. There is so much choice out there and it doesn't take much time at all to find a book that you looking for. Not to mention that you can download a book in the comfort of your own home 24 hours 7 days a week whenever you feel like it as the internet is not closed, unlike the shops which are closed at certain times. 

Queues. 

When you're out and say in a queue or waiting for something and you have a spare minute you can just easily pull out the e-reader and have a read whilst waiting. 

Dictionary. 

When you're reading an e-book and you come across a new word that you want to find out what that means it's so easy to just highlight the word and it automatically comes up with a definition. This is because there is a dictionary embedded into the reader and furthermore options to click on the link to find out more detail about the word is available. 

Trees. 

With the Kindle being a digital format that means fewer trees are being cut down to use paper to use for books. So it is much more environmentally friendly when using readers. 

Books

Tangible. 

With a book, you get that tangible feeling of holding a book feeling it and smelling it whilst knowing it has history behind it. 

Distraction.

Having books in a physical format means that you are less likely to get distracted because it's not attached to the internet and also reading a book stops you from staring at a screen especially late at night can interpret your sleep. 

Stolen. 

You know your book is safe because fewer people are likely to want to pinch a book as opposed to if you left your e-reader on your car seat they're more likely to want to go grab it as it is seen to be more valuable.  

Health.

Physical books are better for your health because there are less destructive when it comes to saying going to bed at night you're more likely to read and go to sleep well but then gets distracted again.

Marginalia. 

With a book, there is a place where you can write your notes and ideas down which you can't do with an e-reader. 

Do you usually use an e-reader or book? What's your favorite? I love to hear your comments below.

Cheers for reading x

Baileys eggsquisite Easter eggs

Hey readers,

Easter is soon upon us next month and I am getting eggcited to feast my eyes on the chocolate eggs. 

This year is a big time for Easter as there is so much choice to have when it comes to eggs from cheese ones to the beauty filled eggs that you definitely won't be disappointed with the change of getting a bad egg this Easter. 

Hands up who loves Baileys ***hiya*** well nothing has excited me more than to know that Baileys have brought out their chocolate flavoured Easter eggs that were introduced last year as they were clearly a success hence why they are returning this Eater (2019). 

If you are Baileys fan then you're going love the new flavour of salted caramel that sums up chocolate perfect and ticks all the boxes for any chocolate lover out there. 

The Baileys egg is a milk chocolate hollow egg laced with crunchy caramel salted pieces. If that is not enough to fill you with joy then there is also six separate chocolates includes. he Original Irish Cream Liqueur milk chocolate truffles with a hint of crème caramel.

Bear in mind that the little chocolates are dark chocolate and also to give some luxury are covered in glitter. The chocolate egg weighs 275g which is a whopping size egg. 

Alternatively, Baileys has also brought out a coffee flavoured Bailey's Easter egg which is contained with glittery gold coffee beans, and six coffee chocolate truffles for the coffee lovers out there.

You can pick up the Baileys Easter eggs in most supermarkets for £10 now so go check it out! 

Bring on the Easter count down!

Have you tried Bailey's easter egg? What are your thoughts of the are Bailey's easter egg? love to hear your tohughts in the comments below. 

Cheers for reading X 

50 blog ideas.

Hey readers 

Sometimes it can be hard to come up with content for your blog so this post will come in handy if you're looking for ideas. I have come up with 50 brilliant blog ideas for you to get your creative juices flowing.

1. What is in your bag. 

2. Day in the life. 

3. Guest post. 

4. Goal setting. 

5. Things to do on a rainy day. 

6. Decorating ideas for Easter. 

7. DIY bargains. 

8. Crafts for Easter. 

9. Fashion trends. 

10. Fitness challenges. 

11. Easter recipes. 

12. Spring clean ideas. 

13. Cleaning hacks. 

14. Easy meal preps. 

15. Free activities in the area that you live. 

16. Morning routine. 

17. Evening routine. 

18. No spend challenge and results. 

19. Why spring is a good season. 

20.Why social is bad/good. 

21. The best websites on the Internet. 

22. Blog post ideas. 

23. Beginners guide to...

24. Vlog. 

25 Things that scare you. 

26. Gardening plans / tips /ideas. 

27. Last minute spring break deals. 

28. Go for a walk and take pictures. 

29. Spring bucket list. 

30. Your favourite spring activities. 

31. Tips for staying positive. 

32. Money saving tips. 

33. Write a short story. 

34. What are your goals. 

35. What are your favourite blogs. 

36. Things to do when bored. 

37. What went well for you last month. 

38. Ways to come adversity. 

39. Things to be grateful for. 

 40. Things to be happy about. 

41. Things to be passionate about. 

42. Rant. 

43. Communication tips. 

44. Thoughts on Brexit. 

45. How to get rid of a cold. 

46. Remedies for anxiety. 

47. 10 facts about me. 

48. How to start a blog. 

49. How to use Pinterest. 

50.  A letter to someone or a company. 

Is there anything of the list that at I have missed but think would make a great blog post? Love to hear your comments below. 

Cheers for reading X

Birds Eye mini rainbow waffles.

Hey readers,

What parent doesn't like an easy life especially when it is manic and time is precious. Well, something that you could try to bring fun to a child's meal is bird's Eye mini rainbow waffles. 

The mini waffles come in orange, red, green and they are packed for of veggies so you can ease off the old parent guilt. 

They also come in different flavours so keeps it more exciting with not just having to stick with the old potato flavour. 

The new flavours are Classic potato

Superb sweet potato, Great garden pea, Beautiful beetroot. 

Good news is for us parents because they are described as potatoes kids are unaware that there are veggies inside which in a typical fashion more likely to eat them, meaning everyone is a winner in getting what they want. 

Also, a fun fact for you people out there did you know that Birds Eye has not changed their recipe of the potato waffle with the crispy outside for 38 years,  times are definitely changing around here and in this case for the better. 

The positives about Birds Eye rainbow waffles is that they are low in saturated fat. Reducing the consumption of saturated fat contributes to the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels.

The waffles are made with real mash and vegetables, No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, Gluten free, Suitable for vegans Enjoy Rainbow Mini Waffles as part of a varied and balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. Children's nutritional needs differ to those of adults consequently smaller portion sizes may be appropriate. 

You can pick up Birds eye mini rainbow waffles from the 8th April in Iceland for £2 or if you shop at Ocado they will be selling them for £2.50. 

Have you tried these Bird's Eye mini rainbow waffles? What is your verdict? love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Cheers for reading X 

My Sunday Photo 24/03/2019

How to live slowly

Hey readers, 

In this digital world that we live in it can feel like everyone is always on the go all the time. It can be overwhelming and at times draining to try and keep on going. Sometimes, when you are feeling like this one solution is to master the art of living more slowly. 

What is living slowly? Well, it is a lifestyle choice where you adopt the approach to do things more slowly in your everyday life. Here are some top ways you can incorporate slow living in your life. 

1. Do less. 

I think one of the fundamental themes that run throughout the slow life approach is to do less. The less you do equates to feeling happier because you're not constantly bombarded with being on the go and have a million and one things to juggle.

 You feel more relax and less intimated with the constant awareness of trying to find something to do. Once you take on less you will feel that your quality of life is better because it has more meaning and you can give more concentration on the important things in your life. 

2. Breathe. 

I have found when I am getting worked up with trying to do too many things in one go that sometimes the best thing that you have to do is stop what you are doing and focus on your breathing. It helps calms you down and gives the brain a chance to catch up and get to a level where you can think more clearly in what you want to do. 

3. Eat slowly. 

Instead of rushing around and stuffing food in your mouth be mindful of how you eat. Firstly, sit down and focus on the food that you are eating, take more time to chew on your food, feel the food and just generally focus on eating your thought. Don't give time to things you need to do as in this moment when you are eating is the most important thing to put your attention on. 

4. Offline. 

One way of cutting down the noise that is around you is to simply take time aware of the online world. The internet is a dark hole where you can get lost for hours if not careful because there is so much information that is screaming out of you. You will be amazed at how much better you feel even if it is just an hour away from it all it can be done. Just remember that if you get that need to go online remind yourself that it can wait and if can't it doesn't matter. Nothing bad will happen and it will always be there at a later date.

5. Single-task.

Nothing is worse when you are in a mad panic to do five or six things on the go. Not only does it cause you to get flustered and not do a job properly but always it can cause great stress. It is better to do one thing at one time, you can concentrate on the task and get it done to a standard that makes you happy. 

Do you do slow living in your life? Have you seen any benefits of slow living? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Cheers for reading X 

Asos home ware wish list

Hey readers,

It's all about the spring clean and whilst looking on sites I stubbled across Asos new home range which I am so in love with. So here is a wishlist of items I would buy if I won the lottery.

1. rainbow lights.

I love fairy lights and when I was scrolling on Asos and came across these lights I thought I really like the idea of all colours in one light, something a little bit different but has many colours shining on the string, which appeals to me greatly. I think these fairy lights would look great behind a bed and would set off the ambience perfectly on a cold, wet evening. They are Typo rainbow curtain lights (£25.00). 

2. Good vibes plaque. 

When I spotted this Sasse and Belle Good vibes only plaque it made me feel happy inside. A great little decorative piece to brighten any room and make you feel good. (£5.00).

3. Rag rug. 

Ian Snow recycled rag rug is beautiful and it is environmentally friendly with recycling old materials which I think is a brilliant idea. Having a colourful rug is a great way of splashing colour into the room. (£10.00). 

4. Bathroom storage. 

Next on the hit list is this Asos supply orange bathroom set. This set includes a toothbrush holder and a trinket tray. I like the two-tone colour choice and slightly unusual colour theme going on. It is also made of ceramic and easy to give it a quick wipe over. (£10.00). 

5. Elephant hook. 

So, the final piece I have chosen is this elephant hook by Asos supply. I like the quirky and fun piece to have in your home I think anyway. It is in gold colour and made of metal. The hook is easy to fit securely on the wall however it is advised to use lighter garments. (£10.00).

What is your favourite piece? love to hear your thoughts in the comment section. 

Cheers for reading X