Thursday 20 June 2019

Challenging

Hey readers,

My word of the week is:



because this week has been challenging with my eldest as he has been really aggressive. Found out he has been bullied because he has long hair (his choice). But we all know how cruel kids can be about the slightest difference. So, that is one trigger and having change effects my eldest now a lot. We had visits round which takes it out on him especially with the change of routine. 

In other news, we have an appointment for the 3rd to see the psychologist who has been doing some observations so find out if my son can get an assessment for autism. I hope so because we have spent the last 3 years trying to fight for one. He is slowly starting to display characteristics, so only time will tell what will happen with that. 

We went to Legoland on Wednesday as it was a teachers training day so grabbed the opportunity to go when it is quiet, which it was and so much better for both me and my son. 

My youngest has made great improvements to his swimming and he should be moving up a level. On Friday it will be his first sports day. He will be so happy to participate as the last two years he has watched his brother from afar. 

So, yeah overall mixed bag of affairs as life normally is. 

Hope you have a good week. 

Cheers for reading X


Tuesday 18 June 2019

Ways to enjoy the sun safely

Hey readers, 

It is really important to be mindful when being out in the sunshine during the hot seasons. Here are some handy tips to help keep you enjoying the sun but being safe at the same time. 



1.  Shade. 

It is important to make sure that you don't stay long periods in the sunshine as you can feel ill after awhile with headaches and the potential risk to heat stroke. One way to help combat the reduction in exposure to the sunshine is to find places that have shade, therefore, you can still enjoy the sun and even nip and out but you are being safe at the same. 

2. Drink plenty. 

Being in the sunshine can cause dehydration so itis important to drink often to keep you well and reduce the risk of not feeling good with headaches and feeling dizzy for example. 

3. Sun protection. 

By wearing hats particularly wide rimmed ones and sunglasses can protect you from the sun's harmful rays.  Also with an extra inch of rim added to your hat can reduce skin cancer by 10%. Wearing sunglasses will stop you from squinting in the sun.


4. Sunscreen Lotion.

Sunscreen lotion is so important when you are out in the sun because it acts as a barrier from harmful sun rays which can cause sunburn and skin cancer You should be getting SPF 30 at least and also select broad-spectrum or full-spectrum to protect you from both UNA and UVB rays.

5. Clothing. 

You should consider wearing light coloured fabrics as light clothing reflects light and dark coloured clothing absorbs it, therefore, more absorbed clothing will make you feel hot and that in yourself will make you feel uncomfortable. Light clothing is much softer and cooler to wear making being out in the sun a much more enjoyable affair. 

6. Peak hours. 

The best advice is to avoid being in the sun peak hours as this will be the hottest and most uncomfortable. Look at the weather forecast to see the temperatures and maybe go out in the morning or the evening when it is much cooler and comfortable to be in the sunshine. 

7. Location. 

If you know where you are going beforehand check out if there are any shady areas on google maps or the website to plan out the way to go to incorporate shady areas. 

Have you any tips to stay safe in the sunshine? I love to hear your thoughts in the comment section. 

Cheers for reading X 

Sunday 16 June 2019

9 free things you can do with the family in the summer

Hey readers,

Summer holidays are almost approaching and for some, it can be a daunting time as it can be quiet expensive. Do not fear as I bring you my top 9 things to do with the family during the summer that are free.




1. Local parks. 

Have a look around the area you live in and there will most likely be a park. I don't know about your children but my boys love the park. It is a great way to get some fresh air which in turn means they also get a better night sleep. What else you can do when visiting the park is to pack a little picnic making the day out longer.

2. Museums. 

Where I live we have a couple of free museums which means a great day out. One is cars and the other is art based both fab and a great way to learn about your local history.

 Be mindful though that there are events within the museum that are not free and do come with a price tag so also check beforehand if they are free or not.

3. Geocaching.

Geocaching is a free app and it basically is kind of like hide and seek where you look on the app at the map to locate a cache and go hunt for it. It is normally something small like a pencil and you can replace it and log it on the app. It is a fun activity that all the family can do plus a great way to get exercising in.

4. Library. 

Libraries are amazing places for children not only are they free to join and take out books and audiobooks but there are things on for children to join in. With rthme time for younger children to be introduced to the idea of books through songs and stories. There is story time. Coding activities for the older child. Not to mention the summer reading challenge that is nationwide. It involved a  six-week reading challenge where you sign up at your local library to join. The aim of the challenge is to read 6 books during the summer holiday. If you achieve the reading challenge you will be rewarded with a certificate and medal for your achievement.

5. Swimming. 

Check out your local swim baths as during the summer some swimming centres offer free swim lessons. This is because it is a great opportunity for swim teachers to learn and children get free opportunity to enhance their swimming skills. 


7. Go to a pet store. 

A fun thing to do for free is going to your local pet store and see the rabbits and fish. Check out Pets at Home as they offer petting sessions and educational events that are free and run throughout the summer. 

8. Woods.

If you go to woods they are free and they have fun nature trails plus if you download a nature checklist of Pinterest is an additional element of fun for the kids to enjoy. 

9. Local festivals.

A good website to check out is the website of the place where you live in as it will give you important information about what is on and local free festivals you can attend. 

What places do you like to go that are free with the family? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday photo 16/06/2019


Saturday 15 June 2019

How to be safe when dating in the BDSM community. **AD**

Hey readers, 

People have different tastes some enjoy traditional dating whilst others prefer more niche desires such as have certain fetishes like entering dominant and submissive relationships. 

This absolutely fine if both people agree and respect each other's wishes. On this post today I shall be discussing ways to be safe whilst dating a niche market on fetish dating.



1. Communication. 

 First port of call is to have communication between one another, knowing what each other wants and also where there is a line that draws where no means no. It is important to listen to one and other by showing respect to the decisions that a person has made. 

2.  Safe words. 

A suggestion that might be helpful is to use safe words that you both agree on should you need to use them and the person it is nothing and that they want to stop. Having that trust between one enough is important because it allows the individual to relax and enjoy themselves without the fear that something bad is going to happen. 

3. Take your time. 

Take it slow when you start dating someone new when it comes to dominant and submissive relationships. You need to get to know one another and also relax in each others company. That is key to making it a successful relationship so bother are happy and can both get pleasure without fear that something bad is going to happen. 

4. Limits. 

Limits are crucial because we all have them. Being clear to the person you are dating that this is soft limits where it is not concrete
that there is flexibility and may change over time. 
Hard limits are simply a no go area where you do not want to explore or be forced to do that makes you uncomfortable or not enjoy. Again it is going back to the communication and setting them clear batteries so each person knows exactly what they want.

5. Check-ins. 

I think check-ins are something that should be kept constant making sure that the individual giving something out is making sure that the other person is happy with the situation. Again it reinforced the idea of communication and making sure that the individual that is giving out knows where the person is happy, in pain or numb that they want to stop or change it some way.  

6. Physical.

It is also important to be aware of physical signs if the person doesn't look good in the sense that they are going to be sick or feel dizzy or into much pain. Then this is the time to stop and check everything is alright. 

7.  Gag. 

Gag safety can be hard to communicate verbally with safe words. So, something different would have to take its place when the individual is being gagged needs to let the other person know when it is too much for them. Some people wear something on the wrist that can make a sound when they jiggle it so that allows the individual given out the punishment to be alerted that the individual has had too much and they want it to stop. Alternatively using the three methods where three grunts or holding three fingers is a signal for the other person to stop now. 

There are plenty of good and trusted dating sites to check out such as subs-and-doms.com to meet similar like minded people.  

Cheers for reading X 

This is a sponsored post for subs-and-doms. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Friday 14 June 2019

Paddling

Hey readers,

My word of the week is:




because I feel like some weeks where not much has happened but the sense of paddling on. 

I know for a fact that this will change as it won't be long before the final count down to end of the term. 

Therefore meaning that things go manic and my brain gets overloaded with trying to remember all the information with going sports day, ceremonies, etc.

In other news related to paddling is Ryton Pools which my eldest has been waiting all year to go as he knew from last year 2's went and paddled which he absolutely can't wait to try. 

You see last summer we went on a family peddle boat me, husband and the two kids and since then he has been desperate to do it himself. Well that day has finally arrived and he was so happy, bless him. 

My youngest has been coming home and repeatedly telling me how to say 1,2,3 in Spanish. I am pretty sure I didn't do that when I was at school when I was his age, oh how times have changed. 

So, overall my week has been relaxed which  I would moan about as I like the calmness that it brings. 

Hope you have had a good week. 

Cheers for reading X 

Thursday 13 June 2019

Older dating why not?! **AD**

Hey readers,

Just because you are in your 50's doesn't mean you have passed your sell-by date. In actual fact, many over the 50's are living their best lives. Some are single and ready to mingle for whatever reason one thing is for sure that there are many 50-year-old people wanted to hook up with like-minded people.



In this modern world that we live in, there are many different types of dating that people choose and not always going onto long term relationships.

It is fair to say that some people simply just want a bit of fun with a like-minded person and why not because life is worth having a bit of fun.

 A great site is singleandmature.com and it does what it says on the tin. If you're looking for like-minded over 50's or even '60s and '70s then you need to check out this site.

 You can find people close by to where you live and can check out the map to hook up with someone. You never know where it might lead. Another good point to add is this website is a great stepping stone if you haven't been in the dating game for many years it is great opportunity to meet like-minded people who are looking for similar desires to yourself. 

Alternatively, you may look for one-off connections where you can meet people who are also simply just looking for one night stands. This website one night stands is a fab niche place to dip your toes into and explore like-minded people. 

At the end of the day, you don't have to commit to anything. You can simply just check out what is available and if you like someone then it is a winner. 

We live in a modern world now and life isn't always about long term relationships sometimes people just want some sexual pleasure with another person who has the kind of needs. 

There are some women who deem themselves as cougars where they like to meet younger men because that is what suits your lifestyle.

 Cougars don't need to rely on the money they simply just want to have a good time and there is a place for them. Cougar dating is a fine example of a safe place for certain women of age to meet men who desire a strong and liberal type women to have a good time together.

 They both get their needs met and you know what that is ok as long no one is getting hurt. 

However, when it comes to cougar sites it is not just younger men no older men to desire cougars so there are so much variety and choice at the fingers of the buttons. 

There are no rules when it comes to who and who you shelf date. People have different needs hence why there is many a type of dating preferences.

As I have outlined some above to show that variety really is the spice of life and though you may be older in age there is still an opportunity to have fun in life. 

Cheers for reading X 

This is a sponsored post for singleandmature.com. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Wednesday 12 June 2019

15 struggles of an introvert

Hey readers, 

I am an introvert and there are many times I have struggled with being an introvert so here are 15 reasons that introvert is a real struggle at times.





1) This may sound strange but when it comes to loneliness people often assume people need to reach out to others to find comfort. However, for me as an introvert, I find that I feel more lonely when in social situations than when you are by yourself.


2) I know that when I spend time with other people it takes a lot of mental energy from me and I feel afterward completely mentally exhausting at times. Whereas my husbands thrive of people that engagement where I just feel the total opposite. 


3) As an introvert one of my biggest phobias is having to answer the house phone or take calls. I am the type of person to let the phone ring to answer the phone so I know who it is and then I will answer if I am feeling comfortable doing so. 


4) My home is a flat which I need to use a lift and the worst part of this situation is having to be stuck in a lift with a really chatty person and it can take a couple of minutes to get to the ground floor and it feels like an eternity for me. 


5) People think your mysterious or got some special personality because you don't talk to people. However, I don't, I am just not a very people person. 


6) My worst fear is having to take part in icebreaker activities, I hate them and for me, it feels like torture. I would much prefer to be kicked continuously in the stomach, I can deal with physical pain no problem but communication is not something I am good at especially when it is forced. 


7) Thank goodness for self serve as I am really awkward when having to face a supermarket till assistant and they start getting into a chit chat. 


8) I don't do small talk, it is not my specialist subject. 


9) Having a mad panic before a social event before and after. Rehearsing what I am going to say or did I say something or not something when I should of.  


10) I get angry when people interfere with my me time as this is the time I need to build back up my energy to deal with people.

11) People often assume that I am rude when I don't talk but probably more likely that I am absolutely petrified of knowing what to say or if I am doing it right and over analysing every little bit of detail.


12) The relief you get when you shut the front door at the end of the day and you don't have to worry about what you have to say as your in your safe place and you can just be you. 


13) Communication does not come naturally to me and often I get confused by the social rules in what I should or should not be doing. 


14) I seem to have this habit, not unintentionally but attracting awkward situations even though I  hate because I don't know what I am meant to do it still frequently happens


15) After social interactions, you need time by yourself to build up back your energy from the work of interacting with others 


Are you an introvert? Do you recognize this introvert struggles? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section. 

Cheers for reading X 

Sunday 9 June 2019

top 10 tips for Legoland.

Hey readers,


The other day we visited Legoland which is a fun packed family day out for all. I am sharing some tips that I have experienced that may be of some use to someone visiting Legoland. 



1. Drinks. 


Make sure you bring plenty of drinks with you and food as it is pricey plus the queues can be quite long.


2. Refill. 


If you ok with queuing then I recommend purchasing an unlimited refill cup for £1.99 and each refills then after is 60p. You can buy these from most shops throughout Legoland. You can then go to any drink type stall and ask for a refill. 




3. Wet. 


Bring towels and swimsuits with you as there is a water park there and it is fun to do whilst waiting for your next ride. 



4. Merlin Pass. 


A great investment if you like going to popular attractions is to purchase a Merlin pass. You then can get entry to Legoland plus many other popular attractions. In the premier membership, there are discounts and free parking all included in the premium pass for 34.99 per person and 11.99 each month. 



5. Q-Bot.


Q-bot is a great investment as it allows you on to rides without queueing. This is great if you have little children especially as some rides have a queue time of 1 hour. There are different payment options but you can check out details here.



6. Sensory room. 


There is a sensory room for children with additional needs such as autism. It is very good for time out especially as it is a calming environment and a quiet place to go to get away from the business of the park.

 It is near the harbor live, though it is not very well advertised and lucky I stumbled upon it or else I would not of know about it. 


7. Rides. 

The best plan I think is to choose your favorites rides you want to go on and focus on getting on them. Legoland is massive and with queuing times you can not go on everything in on one day. Always best to be prepared especially during peak time. 



8.  No queuing attractions. 


Check out the times of the shows as they are a really good fill in whilst waiting for your turn to go on a ride. 



There is a play park which is always a hit with kids plus another great filler whilst waiting for your ride. 


There are several no queue rides and they are  - mini land, Loki Labyrinth, Castaway Camp, Enchanted Forest, Harbor Live shows, Drench Towers, Splash Safari, Duplo valley theatre, and Imagination Factory. 



9. Buggies. 


If you require a buggy then do not fear as there are plenty of buggies to hire for small children as there is a lot of walking involved when visiting Legoland. 





10. Height.


A good tip would be to measure your child before going to Legoland as this then allows you to plan which suitable rides to visit before arriving at Legoland. 



I also did a vlog below to get a feel of what Legoland is like.





  Have you been to Legoland? and if so what is your best tip to have a fab day out there?


Cheers for reading X 




My Sunday Photo 09/06/2019

Friday 7 June 2019

Busy

Hey readers,

This week for my word of the week I choose the word:



because even though the kids have returned back to school it has been busy. 

Both boys now have joined a couple of after-school clubs. This is my youngest first time and he absolutely loved it because he loves being just like his older brother.  Plus going swimming and scouts it has felt very busy. 

At the weekend Saturday was gorgeous. We visited one of our favourite park locally to us and had a picnic.

On Sunday we went to an open day at a local fire station and the boys had a lovely time checking out the fire engines and even got to sit in the front of one which pleased them greatly.

In other news, my youngest received a gold sparkly pencil which children can get for doing really well in making improvements to their handwriting. 

Hope you have had a good week. 

Cheers for reading. 

Tuesday 4 June 2019

top 11 tips for visiting Thorpe Park.

Hey readers, 

Thrope park is a great place to take the family and have a good day out. In this post, I am going to going to give you my top 11 tips that I have found really beneficial when visiting Thorpe park. 




1. Tickets. 

It is much cheaper to book online for tickets then paying at the door. Alternatively, what I did was I purchased a Merlin pass which cost £11.99 plus £34.99 per person a month. This allows me to get into other popular attractions (38 in total around England). I also don't have to queue as I have the added benefit of fast track and I don't have to pay for parking as that is all included in the membership fee. 


2. Fast track. 

It can be a pain waiting for the fast track which in some cases be over an hour for a ride so might be worth thinking of paying for a fast track. There are different packages, to find out more click here.

3. Supermarkets 

Check out the local supermarket nearby for food. If you are eating at the park then check out places further afield from the main entrance. They also have a children's meal offer which makes it a lot cheaper and there is also eateries like KFC. 







4. Take a picnic.

A cheaper way to reduce food costs is to bring your own picnic as there are plenty of places to sit and enjoy your food. 

5. Refill. 



A good investment is to get the drinks vessel from the park which cost £10. I shared that with my husband and two children. You can refill as much as you want and there are over 100 different flavours so the is a variety of drink flavour to chose from. 

6. Clothing.

Bring spare clothing as there are wet rides and might be a good idea to bring raincoats/poncho. However, you can buy from the store but come with a cost. 




6. Heights.

Check children's hight beforehand and to make it easier to plan the day with what rides you want to visit. 

7. Storage. 

There are lockers throughout the park at a cost of £2 for a one time go. This is a good idea if you want to store and collect at the end of the day so you have to hurdle loads of bags with you all day. 

8. Lost.

A good tip if you are a parent is to write down your contact details on a piece of paper and put them in your child's pocket. Therefore if your child does get lost then it is easier for someone to help your child get in touch.

9. Planning. 

When choosing where to start it might be a good idea to start at the back of the park where there are fewer cues because people normally just head straight to the first ride that they see. 

10. Strollers.

 There are plenty of strollers if you need them as it is a lot of walking for a little child. 

11. Early bird.

Go early as the car park charges £10 a flat rate all day. Plus if you get earlier more change of getting more rides. 




Cheers for reading X 




Sunday 2 June 2019

How to make gratitude paper chains


Hey readers,

A fab little mindful activity to do with children is called gratitude paperchains. Where you make paper chains and write about something you are grateful for. You could ask your child what they think something that you are good at or what they do well in. These are great types of questions to ask. If they are struggling with ideas then you can give examples such as having a warm bed, being kind, playing and swimming. 



What you will need. 

- Coloured paper
- Scissors 
- Glue 
- Pens. 


Method.

1. Cut some colour strips of coloured paper. 


2. Write something that you are grateful for. 


3. Make a ring (make sure you glue one end and turn over the other end to glue and join both ends together to form a ring shape. 




4. Loop the ring into each ring to make a paper chain.


Cheers for reading X 




My Sunday Photo 02/06/2019

Friday 31 May 2019

Holidays.

Hey readers,

My word of the week is




As you probably guessed why to bring half term holidays hence the name of my word of the week.

We had a mini break down south. We went to visit Thorpe Park which was great fun but also challenging for me and my son due to autism. However, we still had good times and went on lots of rides. I am just glad we had a fast track pass thingie.

The next day not far we went to Legoland which the boys loved and were more suitable for younger children as my sons are 5 and 7.

The second was better as it was really warm compared to the day before which was pouring it down. Legoland was packed but we are planning going back when we have our next teacher's training day.

Hope you have had a good week.

Cheers for reading X 

Tuesday 28 May 2019

10 reasons to do a staycation.

Hey readers, 

Have you heard of this buzzword that is flying around called staycation if not it then the term means to choose to stay where you live or travel in your own country as appose to going on holiday abroad. Down below I have given 10 reasons why you should consider a staycation. 



1  Greener. 

Opting to chose to have a staycation is greenery because you are not traveling by airplane can contribute to the air emissions and using more than 4 months of driving just in one flight. 

2. Stress.

Of course, opting to stay in your own country means less stress with not having travel, going somewhere that is foreign speaking and trying to communicate and generally navigating around a country that you are not familiar with. It is so much easy staying local because you know where you are and less stress travellin. 

3. Local attractions. 

Staying locally is a fantastic opportunity to check out somewhere new that you haven't been locally and it also helps local businesses as your putting the money into the local economy which will benefit businesses and services greatly. 

4. No plan. 

If you stay locally where you are familiar then you don't have to plan ahead. You can be spontaneous and it won't take a long time to get there as you are more likely to know where you are going.

5. Save money.

Because you can save money on staying locally you don't have to pay for accommodation, travel flights and the like means it is a great chance to save some money which is always a winner.

6. Tourist. 

You don't have to go anywhere special to be a tourist as you can be your own tourist in your own city and check out what the local attractions are. You may even surprise yourself by finding something new that you haven't heard or tried out yet. 

7. Relaxing. 

When you stay local it means your relaxed as you have less stress from traveling to another country, For instance, you don't have to wait in massive ques, or finding your way to your hotel in a new country. It all adds to additional stress whereas staying in your home or traveling not far means you can relax and have not much to worry about compared to somewhere new or in a different country where it is different to what you are used to. 

8. Time.

 You don't have to go long holidays it can be a day out because even though holidays are meant to be relaxing going away say for two weeks is a long time it can be exhausting doing things constantly where if your at home you can relax more and not feel as much pressure to constantly go, go, go. 

9. Packing.

Of course one the best elements of a staycation is not having to pack and make sure that your suitcase is the right weight with all the things you need.

10. Family/friends. 

Having a staycation means it allows you to incorporate if you wish to see friends and family.


What do you think about a staycation? Love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. 

Cheers for reading X 

dream home improvements wish list. **AD**


Hey readers,

Thinking about ideas that I would love to incorporate into home improvements would be first to choose aluminium windows. 

This is because of the quality that is given with A-rated efficiency, making it value for money in the long term. With the windows comes a 10-year guarantee so you have that security knowing they will be of good quality.

 Also, with the windows, there are high-security locks given you that peace of mind especially if I am away on holiday, for instance, I can relax that bit more.

Why choose Three Counties for your alternative aluminium windows

If I had the money I would invest in underfloor heading all around my flat because it is comforting and luxurious. It helps the floors keep warm and just generally feel more homey with it incorporated into my dream home improvements. 

Within my kitchen, I would upgrade my home appliances to be more energy efficiency with star rated meaning it is more environmentally friendly.

 Not to mention that it cuts costs down your energy bill by using less energy meaning I would save money. 

If money was no object then I would choose to update my outdated kitchen with a new one. The kitchen is the centre of our home and gets used every day so deserves a little update.

 I would look into good storage as we don't have a lot of space.  I would choose good solid oak worktops, I would rip out the old cupboard and go for a light colour kitchen unit that draws the light in but is easy to clean with. 

Regarding the cupboard hands, I would probably add some quirky handles to stamp my own design on it to add character to the room.

I would paint the kitchen as well something light and airy and not to mention more lighting strips so there is more light which is practical as well when it comes to cooking in the kitchen. 

I would consider incorporating into the kitchen area a breakfast bar. The kitchen is a place to come together for my children and husband and vice versa to sit and be sociable in the kitchen whilst someone is working away in there. 

My kitchen floor is not perfect nor is it straight so it would be lovely to add fresh new tiles like these ones and get them professionally fitted. I like the pattern and I think again they are easy to clean as I think being practical when it comes to working space is also key. 

Vibe Grey Patterned Wall and Floor Tiles - 223 x 223mm

With regards to my bedroom, I would like to take off all the wallpaper, make the walls all smooth and then decorate all the walls including the ceiling with a new lick of paint. I would like the ceiling wall to be painted in a colour that is white as it would give a fresh feel. Then the other walls I would paint them a light blue colour.  I find the colour very calming which would be perfect for helping me get to sleep or be a place where I can go to chill out. 

Dulux First dawn Matt Emulsion paint 2.5L

Finally, I would invest in getting a new mattress to help with my quality of sleep. I think making sure the small things are taken care of are important. 

Cheers for reading X

This is an AD for Three Countries LTD. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.