Friday 14 February 2020

What is Triyit?

Hey readers, 

Who doesn't like free stuff? Well, one way of getting free food and drink is signing up to Triyit Discovery Club





Once you have signed up to the site and created a profile you have to wait to see if you get chosen to receive a free discovery box of new food and drink items. 

Over the past 9 months, I have been selected twice however, I am not sure if there is a formula or just random selection but selection varies from one individual to the next.  

However, to get chosen after you have received your goodie box is to complete the tasks. They are really simple as you are given a booklet which explains what the company want you to.

 The more you participate in tasks the more points you get. It is really straight forward with posting pictures on social media (Twitter, Instagram and Facebook) and using the designed hashtags which can be found in the leaflet with the box. 

This is a great way of promoting products. There are additional things you can do such as record yourself opening up the box and looking through the items. Then post it on to Youtube, Instagram and Facebook.

Now the items are entirely free and you get 5 products.

The most recent Triyit box I received this month (February). I received 5 items which are Whitworth's snack shots, can of Starbucks double espresso shots, hummus crisps and a graze protein bar. So, as you can see a variety of items to try and see what they are like. 

Also, to point out once you have received the box in the post a few days later you will get an email where you have you fill in the feedback of the discovery box. It is important you fill in the feedback form or else you will not be eligible for future campaigns.

This is what the Triyit box looks like, it is really secure and doesn't take long to arrive. It is disputed by My Hermes and I have never had a problem getting the package delivered to my door. 





Starbucks Doubleshot Espresso.

I am not a fan really of coffee in cans for the simple reason I like a sweetener in it. However, I like strong coffee. 

My husband enjoyed it greatly especially when he needed energy for my son's chess tournament. 



Overall as coffee, its self goes with the flavour I would give it 4/5.

Graze Protein Oat Bites. 

I really enjoyed the texture and flavour of these Graze Protein Oat Bites. What is even better is that afterwards, I found them really filling with the protein. 



5/5.

Peperami Beef Bar

The peperami stick is quite strong in flavour which I enjoyed. It is a good snack to have that fills you up and the fact that Peperami is only 69 calories per stick is a winner for me. 


5/5. 

Eat Real Hummous Chips. 

These crisps or chips are interesting in flavour with tomato and basil, quite subtle in taste. They're also vegan and less fat in them compared to other crisps which make an alternative snack. 




5/5.

Whitworth's shots.  

I love these shots because of they so good with the cranberries and raisins with a sprinkle of Belgian white chocolate. They are also 98 calories and just an allrounder fab snack to have at home or on the go.


5/5. 

Below is a video I did on my Youtube channel unboxing the Triyit Box. 





Finally, Just a reminder to make sure you share as much as possible because that means more points which results in a higher chance of getting boxes in the future. 

Cheers for reading X  

* I have been gifted the Triyit Discovery Box in exchange for views. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. *



Wednesday 12 February 2020

How to make a recycled bird feeder.

Hey readers,

Did you know this month is bird feeding month? What better way to celebrate than making a recycled bird feeder. Not only is it helping the environment but green too. 

What you will need. 

 Plastic bottle with lid. 
Twine or string. 
Birdseed (which you can get from your local animal store) 
Scissors. 

How to make the bird feeder. 

1. Make sure that the bottle is washed and cleaned before using and also make sure you have the lid for the bottle. 

2. Cut a hole in the side of the bottle big enough so that the seeds can flow freely but also making sure it is not too big that the seeds will fall out. 

3. Then near the bottom of the bottle make a hole that goes through the other side. Put one pencil in and then do the same again but above the first pencil so then will make a perch for the birds to sit on whilst getting the food. 

4. Measure the twine or string, you need enough to hold the feeder. 

5. Put a two holes at the top and thread through twine or string through them. 

6. Then fill your feeder with bird seeds. I would recommend using a funnel if you have one, makes it less messy to pour into the food into the bottle.  

7. Finally, find somewhere suitable for you in your garden to tie the feeder and there you have your very own bird feeder. 

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Be careful to not do this activity if you are allergic to nuts. Be careful with the scissors and ask an adult to help. 


Cheers for reading X 





Sunday 9 February 2020

The importance of the library

Hey readers,


Ever since I was a young girl I adored the public library. I used to go there every week.

 Even though I lived in the care system and other kids would tease me because apparently, it is not the done deal to read books, you should be smoking a spliff instead.

 I still loved going to the public library and it was my favourite thing to do. I used to get excited for when the day came.

 I felt so free to be surrounded by books of all sorts and knowing I could make the decision to which ones I wanted to read.

Now that I am an adult, one of my favourite places to go is the library. I love reading and the feeling of escaping in a book. It stops me obsessing about my thoughts for awhile allowing me to have a breather.




Libraries are a beautiful place for all to access. It doesn't matter about your background, age, sex, disability etc the doors are open for you to come and explore if you wish.

I love the fact now that I am a parent I can share my love for libraries on to my children. They too can have that experience in choosing books and learning. escaping and the enjoyment of reading.

 Not to mention that the library has a role to play in education as it provides the tools to further reading and help the child understand the topics that are taught when they are learning.

I find so much joy going to the library and just taking time to look around, knowing I can borrow anything feels like I am in Willy Wonka Chocolate factory for bookworms. 

I love that there are new and old titles you can take out. I like to time to read sometimes books, there is a sense of community when others are doing similar things to you. 

Even though you might not speak to anyone, there is that sense of community spirit.

Also, I go to the library now as an adult to do my blogging work. I use it as a place where I can get a lot of work done in a short space of time.

 Having that opportunity gives me a sense of achievement and I feel good after as I have not wasted time being distracted at home.

I come to the library as they offer invaluable service for my children to take part in the community by having library activities such as in the past rythme time with then they were younger.

 It introduced them to books, songs and words. I now can go there with them for storytime to help get them excited to read and be around other similar aged children.

 In the summer my library offers reading challenges and at the end the child to read x amount of books gets a certificate.

 My eldest loves this because feels proud that he has achieved something. Also during the summer holiday, they offer activities and storytime each week to go alongside the summer challenge. 

It is a great way to do something structured once a week that doesn't cost me a lot but helps my son's development and rewards him in other ways.

So, as you can see there are so many benefits for libraries, I am lucky that my library hasn't been closed down as it would be a real shame for a lot of people. 

Especially vulnerable and elderly as it does provide a positive service to the community.

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday photo 09/02/2020

Wednesday 5 February 2020

Hair bobble hacks

Hey readers, 

I have a ton of hair bobbles and thought what can I do with all these hair bobbles other than putting my hair up in a ponytail. Here are top hair bobble hacks you can use. 

1. Trousers.

If your trousers are too tight then a way to create an instant extension is to thread a hair bobble through the buttonhole and wrap it around the button, while you can still enjoy your trousers but also have room to breathe.

2. Cords. 

Got a load of leads that makes an area look messy, no problem use a hair bobble to wrap around the leads to keep your cords neat and tidy. 

3. Pencil grip. 

Wrap a hair bobble around a pencil or pen then you have an easy grip to help with easing the writing strains when using a pen/pencil. 

4. Wine bottle. 

place a hair bobble on the neck of the bottle this will then mean the hair bobble with catch any wine drips after pouring a glass of wine. 

5. Curtains.

If it is windy and you have the windows open and the curtains flying everywhere which drives you mad then simply wrap a hair bobble around the curtain. This will give you an instant solution in stopping the curtains from blowing everywhere and tie them in one place.

6. Food bags. 

Need food bags to keep food fresh and what to reuse at a later date? No worries wrap that bobble around the bag and there you have instant food bag clips and don't have to spend a fortune on bag pegs. 


7. Pump soap dispenser.

Wrap a hair bobble on the tube of the soap dispenser, just above the neck of the bottle. Now you have the soap dispensing not as much soap and a slower pace means you save money and don't waste money. 

Do you use hair bobbles other than ponytails? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Cheers for reading X



Overwhelm

Hey readers,

My word of the week is:

Overwhelmed


You know that feeling when you have too much to do and not enough time. God I am definately feel like an old person saying that, but it is so true. I'm so tired again as we are in the middle of decorating and it feels like everything is on top at the moment. A few times I have had to have time out as needed some head space. I think the cluster and distribution brings me a bit down. This is because  nothing is in order and chaos is added to the feelings. Why does everything take twice as long when you have toddlers, I'm just so frustrated. I wish I was laid back and just went with the flow. Today, I'm just going drink tea and read and sod everything as that is the kind of mood I'm in.
Sorry for being another depressing one but I am too honest for my own good at times. This is me and my life.
Cheers for reading X


Sunday 2 February 2020

Things you need to about visiting warwick castle.

Hey readers, 


If you are looking for a brilliant day out in Warwickshire than one fab place to visit is Warwick Castle.




History.

Warwick castle has so much history dating back well over 1,100 years.

There are many stories about the different architecture changes over the years, where battles have occurred and then the castle, in the end, being used as a royal stately home. 

Rooms.

There are many rooms you can view and see how the royals used to live with the decor and the mannequins help give you a feel of what it used to be like. 









You can walk around the entire castle and up all the different towers. Once you reach the top you can see the breathtaking views of Warwick and beyond. 

Grounds.

Overall Warwick castle showcases over 64 acres of stunning grounds where you can wander and take in the atmosphere. 

During the warmer weather, you can picnic as there are plenty of benches to have to make a day out for the whole family. 

Within the Warwick Castle grounds are the beautiful peacock gardens with water fountains and you can see many peacocks roaming freely, which my 6 and 8-year-old loved observing how they behaved. 






Horrible History Maze. 

At the beginning entrance on the left of the grounds, you can get a passport card and find stamps in the Horrible Histories mazes.

The maze has different features of history such as the Slimy Tudors and Frightful First World War. 

The maze will get children who love the show or books of Horrible Histories and it is open all year round and included in the ticket.

 The maze is a fun place to get lost and find many dead ends and tricks to stop you in your path. 

Once you get all 6 stamps you can claim a free pop badge at the shop in the grounds. 







Birds of Prey. 

During the winter season, there is the Bird of Prey where you can see the birds of prey show what powerful and beautiful creatures they are. 

These include vultures and owls that fly from the castle ramparts. 

Castle Dungeons.

There are the castle dungeons, though with the age of my boys they didn't recommend it (6 & 8) so we opted out on that to visit. 

Nonetheless, this is another attraction offered at Warwick Castle where you go down and experience the dungeons and see live actors demonstrate the darkest and bloodiest times at the castle. 

The Time Tower.

The Time Tower goes through a visual journey of how Warwick Castle began and how it became the place that it is now.

 You can listen to the stories of the powerful figures that shaped the history of Warwick castle. 



Wintertime.

During the winter season, Warick Castle opens from 10am till 4pm.

 There are plenty of toilets including disabled and baby changing facilities. 

Merlin Pass. 

Warwick Castle is also part of Merlin Attractions (I have a done a post here explaining all about Merlin).

So you can visit as many times as you want with the pass, which is handy for me living not far from Warwick. 

However, getting to Warwick Castle is straightforward enough the Castle is well signposted, and less than two miles from junction 15 of the M40. 

Address. 

Warwick Castle,
Warwick, 
Warwickshire, 
CV34 6AH (for standard parking).

Train.

Warwick Station is approximately one mile from the Castle. A direct service into London Marylebone (1 hour 45 minutes) or Birmingham Snow Hill is available.

Standard car parking cost £6 (but free with a premium merlin pass). 

Sunflower Lanyard Scheme.

Also to mention that Warwick Castle does support the Sunflower Lanyard scheme for those with hidden disabilities. 

The lanyards are a discreet way of bringing hidden disabilities to the attention of our staff.





Cheers for reading x



my Sunday photo 02/02/2020

Wednesday 29 January 2020

Help your child feel confident.

Hey readers,

Sometimes children are complex or they have for whatever reason may not feel confident in doing something. 

  My eldest is quite anxious and nervous regarding certain things and I have worked with him to help reduce that anxiety.

 Here are some things you might want to try with a child who does not feel confident to help boost their self-esteem.



 Positive praise.

The most important tip to help boost a child’s confidence is to make them feel good about themselves. 

You can do this by giving your child positive praise because it is focusing on the good things that the child has done. 

The child themselves might not see the good so it is important to praise them for when they have done something noteworthy and speak to them about it. Y

ou need to keep praising your child as this will help them gain that confidence to know that what they are doing is good and it is getting the praise it deserves.




Allow your child to try it out and learn for themselves.

Sometimes the best way to help a child learn is to allow the child to learn by themselves in a safe environment.

 Let them do something without your help to see what works and what doesn’t. 

This is a great learning tool and I think one the best ways to get a child to learn.

 I know it is easy to instantly go in and help your child. However, allowing them to test it out themselves gives them that first-hand experience.

 They are more likely to remember what happens and no what to do instead to get a better result. Also, they can build their understanding of a subject by trial and error.

Encouragement.

Encourage your child to do something even when the child protests. 

Sometimes they are scared to try something, which is why it is good to encourage them to do it and give it ago.

 You never know they may find out they like the thing they have tried. Sometimes going out of your comfort zone can be scary at first however, it can once be done do wonders for your self-esteem.

Ask for their opinion.

One of the greatest ways to get an understanding of your child is asking for their opinion and listening to what they have to say. 

This helps build a strong relationship on respect and understanding on both sides.

 It allows your child to feel appreciated and ultimately it will give them trust to know that there is a safe place to come to and be heard.

Make a special time together.

A great way to give your child something special is having 1-2-1 time with them doing something that they enjoy.

 You don't have to be flash, it could simply be having a child read a story or letting them tell you something about what they have done that day.

 I think it is important for the child to have dedicated time as it gives them attention and to feel loved.

 It is not always easy for the parent when so much is going on but even ten minutes of interrupted time together makes a massive difference for the child.


Cheers for reading X

Sunday 26 January 2020

Ways to improve your mental health

Hey readers,

I have spent a large proportion of my life living and battling mental health problems.

 I have experienced anxiety, depression, and OCD. 

So, I for one know how hard it is to manage and get on with living your life when you have hurdles to overcome.

 Here are some of the ways in which I try to help improve my mental health and as I am writing this may be helpful to you the reader.





Learn to be kinder to yourself.

This one is an ongoing problem that I struggle with putting into place, as over the years I have learnt to put myself down therefore it is much harder job to be nice to myself. I understand that this takes time so stick with it! 

 It is easy to batter yourself with the negativity especially when you're dealing with trauma. 

That said one of the ways you can do something positive in your life is to learn to be kinder to yourself. 

I bet if the situation was turned to a loved one I bet you wouldn't speak to them the way you speak to yourself. 

You can change behaviour though it takes time but needs to be practising to do so.

Take time out.

One of the best things for me when I am struggling is having time out to myself. 

 For me, I like to go for a walk with my headphones on. It makes me switch off from what is happening and just go somewhere else other than the situation I am in.

Set realistic goals. 

Goals are brilliant - they help give focus and something to aim for. 

However, the one thing that can occur for people is making goals that are too unrealistic and less likely over time to struggle to stay focused and reach their goal.

 So, when you do consider making goals have a big goal but then make micro-goals to help along the way to achieve that big goal.

 Another thing to take on board to reward yourself with something when you have reached a small goal.

 This will make you feel good and make you want to continue to the next level of achieving that goal.

See the positives. 

As a person who sees the world with an empty cup of water, it can be so hard to see the positives, sometimes you got to wing it until you make it.

 What I mean by that statement is that you have to force yourself to see the positives, write them down and find something even if it is getting out of the bed in the morning, that is progress.

 Habits are hard to break so get into forcing yourself to write down three positives a day, over time this will become easier to do.

Break up the monotony. 

Life can be boring at times so that is why it is important to do something now again that breaks that samey samey up. 

You don't have to spend a fortune you could go to the local park and have a picnic. 

It is refreshing to do something different now and again as it allows you to have something to look forward to.

What things have helped improve your mental health?

Cheers for reading X

my Sunday photo 26/01/2020

Wednesday 22 January 2020

Stuck in a thought.

Don't go hating me,

It is just in my mind, 

My thoughts

Want to lie to me,

Destroy me,

One thought at a time.

Sunday 19 January 2020

2 Easy ways to clean a microwave.

Hey readers,

I know in my home the microwave gets used a lot and mainly for warming up coffee, the joys of parenthood. 

Anyways it can be quite hard if you don't know how to clean a microwave. So here are some easy ways to clean up your microwave whilst not making too much of an effort but still getting a good result at the end of the day.

 Plus these cleaning hacks are really quick as I myself haven't got all the time to clean and nor do I want to, so this is a great time-saving idea.



1. White distilled vinegar and boiled water. 

 This first method does not only get tough food to soften and wipe down easily but also helps to sterilise your microwave and get rid of bad smells. 

* You will need microwave bowl, 1/2 distilled white vinegar and 1 cup of water.

* Add the vinegar and water into the bowl and place it into the microwave. 

* Heat on a high temperature for 2.5 minutes - or until you see the bowl boiling and the mixture giving off steam. 

* Best to live the mixture in the microwave for 15-20 minutes giving the bowl of the mixture to cool down. 

* Carefully take out the mixture and glass plate (you can clean this separately in the kitchen sink and return it to the microwave once dried). 

* Then get a clean, damp cloth to wipe over the microwave and with using the cleaning mixture means that you won't have to scrub to get the leftover remnants in the microwave making the job of cleaning the microwave a lot easier for you. 


2. Lemon.

Another cheap way to clean the microwave is to simply use a lemon (you don't have to spend an arm and a leg on expensive cleaning products as they tell you on Instagram).

* You will need a microwave bowl and put in 1/2 a cup of measuring water into the bowl. 

* Next slice the lemon, squeeze the juice into the water and place the two halves of lemon into the bowl. 

* Place the bowl in the centre of the microwave and put it on for 3 minutes. 

* Let that stand for a good five minutes to allow the solution to cool down. Plus this will give the food in the microwave time to soften down with the steam from the solution. 

* Take the microwave plate in the sink to clean.

* Then get a cloth and wipe down the insides of the microwave and also the door and outside area of the microwave.

* If there are some stubborn spots then what you can do is take the cloth dip it into the solution to help scrub and break down the stubborn food. 

* Replace the glass plate back into the microwave. 

This trick with cleaning with lemon does not only clean and smell amazing after but it is environmentally friendly too but so win-win all round. 

What do you think about these microwave cleaning hacks? Do you use them or do you have a good hack that I haven't shared? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Cheers for reading X 




my Sunday photo 19/01/2020


My eldest was super happy to take his friend to the cinema to watch Star Wars. 




Wednesday 15 January 2020

Age is a wonderful thing

Hey readers,

People knock being old, for fear mainly. However, age happens to everyone. So, let's celebrate it because it can be wonderful for many reasons and here is why.

With age, you become more confident because you have lived on this planet longer and you know what the crack is. 

You know most people put up a front and you learn to not give a s**t in some respects. 




You change and you learn to grow into a different person, with different needs. With age you slowly don't give a monkey's about peer pressure, you can wear what you want, listen to what you want and it doesn't matter who you know because you can do your own thing.

Now that I have become older I care less about materialistic things that were much more important when I was younger. Not because of money more the fact I put more meaning on to them.

You are wiser with age and have learnt more so you have that experience. Which comes in handy sometimes as we all know knowledge is power.

I think we age certainly with myself I am less likely to judge. I am much more understanding and flexible with my thinking, understanding that people are different.

Let's celebrate wrinkles as positive because they indicate that we have lived, experienced and still here to tell the tale.

 If we stopped worrying so much about looking younger then the messages would slowly stop with trying to get us to buy wrinkle cream and botox which incidentally doesn't work but make most people look awful and permanently in shock.

The fewer people buy into this stuff that is trying to sell some crap message about looking youthful the better. The less demand for a product the less likely a need to sell it. 

I like the fact I can get to see my children grow as I get older. I don't fear it or get sad but happy and feel blessed that they are alive. As so many parents don't get this opportunity.

What reasons do you have to why ageing is good?

Cheers for reading X

Monday 13 January 2020

Tiredness and autism

Hey readers,

Did I ever tell you that I like order? if you have previously read my blog then you will know I am a lover of control.

I am not the spontaneous type. I like planning and knowing what to expect. Which is ironic as my husband is the complete opposite and yes there are heated arguments at times.

 No one wins, I just go to bed and say f*ck it! I have little energy. Unless my autistic brain goes into overdrive when my husband will be treated to a full-on meltdown. joy!



I sometimes see parents and I know we shouldn't compare but I do believe that it is innate from our ancestors as a technique to help stay on top of survival. 

However, in this day and age, it is now used overboard, yes that does includes me too.
I see people have days packed with things to do with the family. 

Someone I know even when to a country park for 5 hours, me I couldn't do it. My autistic brain gets tired with so many stimuli I am exhausted and mentally and physically after an hour or two.

 Hats of to parents who can keep kids entertained but most mornings I can't get my body to move as I am so tired. It doesn't help that I am on medication that makes me very groggy.

I yet again feel rubbish about myself, yep it is a common theme where I batter myself with nasties because in my head I am not enough to be a parent.

I know this is ridiculousness but when you are in the moment and your anxiety is sky high your brain will trick you into believing it. 

It feels real and that takes up a hell of a lot of energy. I spend most of the time cursing and wishing I didn't have autism.

I try to do crafts with the boy, I can barely reach the first instruction without me failing. I am rubbish at instructions and if they are not basic and when I say basic I mean it. It is something about reading and processing the information that gets muddles up in my messy mind. 

Guess what here we go again I beat myself up because I can't do the simplest of things at times. My intentions are good but sometimes I just get fed up with myself that I wonder why do I bother because I love my son and what to do things for him.

So yeah it is another whingeing post but this is my life as an autistic parent (a parent with autism) and the struggles are very real. It may only be small but they soon stack up and it takes its toll on you. 

It can grind you down day in day out faced with challenges and how to overcome the challenges. So, you can understand why I get so worn out, it is hard work trying to navigate through a neurotypical world with autism. 

This is especially true for an adult with autism as people assume you have grown out of autism when you reach adulthood. By the way yes that is a true story and that comment has been said to me before

Cheers for reading X