My Sunday photo 06/10/2019

My youngest loves building towers ☺ 

Nothing to you

I see you,

Looking at me,

Not knowing how

To work me out.

Again I end up

Nothing,

insignificant. 

I go back to hating

myself. 

I go lower,

Hating me,

Dreading, 

Feeling sick. 

I am nothing, 

Less value, 

No one wants.

8 Ways to save money this autumn.

Hey readers,

As we are now in autumn and it won't be long before Christmas you may be thinking of ways to save money. 

 Well, I have complied with 8 ways to save money during autumn. Let's go...

1. Pumpkin items. 

In the UK over recent years the sense and flavour of pumpkin spice has gotten very popular. You can be sure to find pumpkin flavoured pastries, coffees, hand wash, and candles to name a few. 

Everywhere you turn it feels like something has pumpkin in it. The thing with pumpkin spice being a hype is that it has risen the cost of products to premium prices. Therefore meaning you will have to pay more because it is in-demand what with the influence social media has. 

You don't need everything in pumpkin spice, your world won't stop just be sensible with your consumption and remember don't be fooled by social media who want you to buy pumpkin spice.  

2. Seasonal foods. 

Buying seasonal food can save you money because food that is produced closer to home is cheaper because it cost less to produce and transport to the supermarket. 

Keep on track of what fruit and vegetables are in season as it is normally cheaper compared to out of season foods. 

3. Do I need that?

When shopping it can be easy to impulsively and buy stuff that you may deep down not need. 

A tip I love and use often is asking yourself do I really need that? Once you use this it does get easy and it is amazing how much you don't actually buy because you really think about whether you need something or not. 

4. Christmas shopping.

I know it is not Christmas yet but it is a good time to start Christmas shopping. There are a lot of deals slowly coming out such as Tesco toys half-price sale and B & M sale where you can buy x2 toys for £16. So now is the grab a good deal. 

5. Review your energy bill. 

Now is the time to check if you are paying the right amount on your energy bill. Have a check around to see what company has the best deal. During the colder period, energy companies known for at times to raise their prices due to the high demand. 

6. Cancel gym membership. 

You don't have to be at the gym to get fit, you can go autumn walks or do exercise at home. You will save so much when your not tied down to a gym.

7. Autumn sales. 

Autumn sales are the best time to get stuff for a good price. Remember though don't buy if you don't need it. 

8. Draught proofing.

Autumn is the time to make sure that your home is draught-proof as this can keep your home warm and also save money on your energy bill.

 All you need to for a simple effective way is to get draught strip and place it in the gap between the window/door and opening so it is sealed to stop any draught coming through. 

 It has been said that if you draught-proof your doors and windows you can save £20 a year. 

Another tip is to have thick curtains to keep the warmth in as well. 

There is also the option of buying draught excluders where you simply put at the bottom of the door to stop the draught coming into the room. 

What way do you like to save money during the autumn season? I love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Cheers for reading X 

Wordless Wednesday 02/10/2019

How to cope with insomnia.

Hey readers,

I have suffered from insomnia on and off my life to have had some ways that have really helped me and I thought I would share with you. You may find them helpful, obviously, everyone is different.

Caffeine.

One of the most obvious things to do is cut back on caffeine as that is a stimulant and that will keep you more alert. I recommend not having things like tea or coffee an hour before you go to bed as this can help slow down the mind and help you get you in a relaxed mood.

Cold bedroom.

A cold bedroom is recommended as your body needs to drop below your core temperature to help initiate sleep. It is much easier to get to sleep when it is cooler because your body eventually will warm up. I have always found this really helpful to do. I sometimes open the window half an hour before to get that breeze going through.

Write down how you are feeling.

With insomnia, there could be a psychological reason why you are struggling to sleep. I find writing down your thoughts in a constructive way to help as writing it down is concrete rather than festering and going round and round in your brain. When you wrote down I feel a release and it really does help reduce anxiety, I might not have a cure but seeing it on paper makes me feel less stressed.

Watch something relaxing.

I find if I watch something serious or scary then that can trigger thoughts and cause me to have a restless sleep. I now much prefer to watch something light-hearted and preferably something to do with comedy as laughing is good for the soul and it helps you relax too.

Electronics.

Leave your electronics in another room because they are a devil a keeping you wide awake and alert. Plus it is difficult especially late at night on eBay *ahem*. It is better to read a book in bed if you feel the need to do something (not an e-reader).

Bath.

Having a soak in the bath is a good way to relax and get you in a sleepy frame of mind. It allows you to soak your muscles.

Exercise

Doing exercise is a great way of getting rid of any frustration and can help make you feel sleepy by all the physical working out you do.

Avoid naps.

Now having naps during the day is glorious. However, if it becomes a habit then it can really affect your sleeping pattern and could stop you from drifting off easy when it comes to bedtime. It is best if you can avoid naps as it really makes you want to sleep when it comes round to going to bed.

Get up.

if you can't sleep get up because there is no point just lying around waiting to go back to sleep when we all know it is not going to happen. It is more practical to come back to bed when you are feeling more sleepy. They do stay clear of the electronic devices.

Doctors.

Now if you feel that you do have a long-term problem and it is affecting your life then your best option is to go to speak to the doctors as they are the professionals and they can help you on a medical term.

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday photo 29/09/2019

My eldest boy was super happy that he is gone from a  beaver into a cub the other day at Scouts :)

Merlin attractions to visit in Blackpool.

Hey readers,

If you have a Merlin pass you might what to think about visiting Blackpool as they have several attractions in the same area, so you can visit a  load and save money. 

If you want to know more about Merlin Pass then you can check my post out here where I explain it all in more detail.

So, I visited Blackpool a couple of weeks and go and checked out some of the Merlin attractions. 

Here is what they are and well worth a visit if you are looking for something fun to do with you and your family.

The Blackpool Tower Circus. 

Within the Blackpool Tower is a circus where you can experience a circus performance. 

There is a variety of different performances from Bollywood dancing, to the jaw-dropping stunts and intermittent interaction from the hilarious Mr Moo and his slapstick humour. 

I really enjoyed this performance. I was a bit apprehensive beforehand but I am glad I went as I really enjoyed it as did my 5 and 7-year-old. 

Blackpool Tower. 

Of course one of the most popular tourist attractions in Blackpool is the Blackpool Tower. You clime right up to 380ft to the top of Blackpool Tower. 

In between levels, there is, of course, thrilling glass floor where you can walk on and look down below at the floor ground watching everyone go by. 

Not to mention the stunning views of Blackpool beach with the pier and see the Irish sea in all it's the glory. 

You can walk all the way around on each level and see all the skyline and the urban feel of Blackpool. 

Beforehand going up to the tower you can watch the 4D film at the cinema in the Blackpool Tower. 

The film follows a family and their experience of having a family day out in Blackpool and the history of Blackpool.  

Be warned there is water and bubbles but definitely lots of fun. 

Madame Tussauds. 

Madame Tussauds in Blackpool is a wax museum that showcases popular households names. There are different sections that showcase the skill and craft of making figures out of wax. 

You can get close up to the likes of Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole if that is your bag. 

Of course, being in Blackpool couldn't have a special section for Strictly Come Dancing where there are the hosts Claudia Winkman and Tesa Daly and the judges. Plus a room with disco balls and stairs to walk around like you are the show. 

There is a music section with Freddie Mercury, Shirly Bass, and Lada Gaga to name a few.

There is the sports section with wax figures to get close up to like Mo Farah and Mohammad Ali. 

Thereof course film and television with the likes of James Bond and Coronation Street with the set of Rovers Return to get you in the mood of a bit of Corrie.

So, definitely something a bit different to experience and enjoy with the family. 

Blackpool Sea Life Centre.

Naturally, with Merlin, there is a sea life centre. I really enjoyed this sea life centre it is really calming because there is a lot of water features. 

Also, we came to the sea life centre an hour and a half before closing time so less busy. 

You can see all the sea life, you can touch the fish in the pool section. There is the gorgeous jellyfish which are stunning to observe in their natural habitat. 

There is a walkthrough so you can look up and see the sharks swimming around you. 

Also, you can take part in an activity sheet for the children so they go and the hunt and answers questions and in return. You get a free pop badge of your choice. 

Blackpool Dungeons.

I took my 5 and 7-year old on the tour of the Blackpool Dungeons and they were fine and not scared of the content that was talked about.

 Most of the time they found it funny as others were there and it was the light-hearted ambience. 

The tour takes you down to the dark dungeons where each room a different performance guides through what it was like in the olden times, with fun effects and different scenes to keep you entertained through the experience. 

Cheers for reading X