Top tips on how to potty train

Hey readers

I am always thankful to find peoples blog-type experience posts really helpful when I am at a lost.

 Therefore I thought I would provide some tips to help with potty training that has helped me.

I knew pre-training the thought of potty training scared me to death; all the scare stories seemed to really make me anxious at the prospect.

I had heard of experiences that had been bad with training their young ones but I think that was down more to the pressure to use the potty. 

Personally, that was not my style but below I have listed what I did to train my child to use the potty. I know this is boasting but it only took me a week when the time was right to do it. 

However, with my second child, it took a couple of months. But you have to play it by ear as each child is different and some take longer than others but that is ok.

 I have listed my top tips below.

Firstly listen to your child and watch out for the signs that they are ready, for example, if your child is holding their genitals or asking about the toilet etc. These are good indicates that your child wants to explore using the toilet.

Let them see you use the toilet; this helps them be aware of what the toilet is and what happens when you use the toilet.

I got a child friendly 'potty book' personally I love pirate Pete one but that is my personal opinion and it is not an ad either.

 With the book, I liked it because the child can interact with the sounds, colourful and simple to understand for my boy to see the process of using the potty.  

Also, it is best to get a gendered one because girls and boys have different anatomy and use the toilet differently.

Be relaxed don't put pressure on yourself or your child, they pick up on the tension and it could potentially cause a delay or regression in the training process.

I started with simply having a potty in the room so that my son could explore it and get to practice sitting on it.

Then after a while when my son got confident with sitting on the potty I give him periods where he would have nappy free time to try out using the potty. 

Now bear in my mind that accidents do happen with wees and poo on the floor but over time with encouragement, they will get used to finding and using the potty. Though, as a parent, you can watch out for signs for your child needing the toilet when they appear to be squatting or holding themselves crossed-legged calmly place them on to the potty.

Praise them for sitting on the potty and don't criticise them when they do little accidents on the floor. Just keep praising the positive behaviour and slowly they will move forward.

Have a reward chart with star stickers- kids’ love getting involved and this really helped reinforce positive behaviour.

Using pull up nappies is essential to help introduce them to the idea of pulling up their nappies/underwear.

Remember every child is different so take your time and though my son took a week to potty train we had months where we would constantly go back and forth due to illness.

Hope this helps and the prospect is not too daunting for you.

What tips have helped you when potty training your child? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below.

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday Photo 16/08/2020

15 fun things you can do with chalk.

Hey readers,

It is the summer and weather is drier during this period so a cheap and fun way to entertain children is giving them some chalk to use on pavements. 

I have come up with 15 ways you can get creative with chalk down below. 

1. Draw around your body with chalk.

2. Play naughts and crosses. 

3. Draw hopscotch and then jump along with it.

4. Draw a wibbly-wobbly line and walk along with it the best you can. 

5. Using chalks and making mosaics is a fun way to be creative.

6. Can always sort out a maths problem out.

7. A great way to teach children the alphabet is by writing it out on the pavement.

8. Draw a picture of yourself.

9. Something a bit different is use chalk and make firewalks art with it. 

10. Have a game of hangman.

11. Draw around objects such as bowls and plates to make art with it. 

12. Do a piece of art using chalks and one shape, e.g circles and everything that is drawn have to be a circle. 

13. Create a scene such as on the beach, the weather or spider anything that inspires you can create with some chalk. 

14. Make a map of a city - different type of size buildings and roads. What really can be effective is to use toy cars or figurines to make the picture come alive through play.

15. If you are near pavement slabs you can brighten them up with different colours to create fun designs on the pavcing stone. 

Do you like chalks? Have you any ideas on how to incorporate chalks for fun with kids that I have not mentioned above? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below.

Cheers for reading X 

Observations of what happens in a heatwave

Hey readers,

 Have you noticed that it is a tat on the hot side, yep, me too and I am terribly British in which I love a good moan about the weather. 

So let's look at my accurate portray of what it is like to experience going through a heatwave.

You know you are going through a heatwave when every sentence, every hour of the day is announcing to anyone who is listening, 'It's hot'.  Because no one obviously has noticed that big yellow ball in the sky.

You go bat shit crazy in the supermarket for multi-packs of ice lollies like your life depends on it.

You love your fan like a family member.

Never has a cold shower felt so good until your child decides to walk in on you and declare you have a hole.

You get beyond frustrated at stupid questions asked by children about who is the smelliest when really all that matters right now is trying to concentrate on cramming as may ice cubes as possible into your cup.

You worry your bladder may explode because you have drank your weight in cold drinks in just one day.

Your pillow has never felt so pumped then during this heatwave with constantly turning over the pillow at night.

You suddenly become a raging manic woman over the tiniest of things because you fuse has finally blown and throwing wet pants on mummy's head tips her right over that edge.

The dreaded bedtime you have to do. The ultimate question, should or should you not open the windows? Where the bedroom is like a fucking sauna and outside is just noise from people constantly revving and horn beeping timed just around the bedtime hour. 
Don't they know these people outside having fun at bedtime hour makes this mama very, very angry?

You pine for autumn so hard, please bring it back, because I don't know if I can cope with any more under boob sweat.

 Do you like the heatwave? Or like me too much sun makes me go a bit crazy? Love to hear your thoughts in the comments section down below.

Cheers for reading X

Gummy bear show, but why oh why?!

Hey readers,

if you have small children then you have been sure to be have had the privilege of having to hear the gummy bear song.

 If you haven't heard of it then I beg you do not Google it or else you will never erase that memory from your mind.

Well, my youngest absolutely loves the gummy bear song, it is dame awful. It involves the popular American sweet a gummy bear, bright green bear singing a dreadful song called I'm a gummy bear, yes I am a gummy bear.

Now if that is not bad enough, the producers go further and milk it for all its worth and have only gone and done a blinking show, called the Gummibar and friends. It is wrong and traumatic to have to sit and listen to it.

It is full of nasally singing, bright colours in the show and al the way through it is none stop singing. I need to wear glasses to watch it. 

The story is so silly and I quite like to punch the gummy bear in the face truth be told.

I just hate it, it is a crap storyline and clearly milking it for all it's worth.

 Ok, fair enough you have to earn the doh but you killing me slowly with getting my son hooked on it and that is all he ever wants to watch now. FML!

I just want to point out that Gummy bear really needs to invest in some bigger pants as every shot when he is wiggling his butt I see his crack, it is not attractive and he is constantly dancing or singing, which is so painful to my poor little ears and eyes.

One final thought, the song is attractive and a total earworm, whether I want it going round and round it appears I am these days permanently singing it.

Rant OVER!!!

Cheers for reading X

Chocolate chip cookie recipe

Hey readers,

Looking for a fun recipe for a six-year then you need to try this chocolate chip cookie.

Ingredients.

* 15g of Chocolate chip cookies or chocolate.

*100g Brown Sugar.

* 1 egg.

* 125 unsalted butter.

* 225g self-raising flour.

* 1/2 tsp of salt.

* 1 1/2 tsp of Vanilla extract/essence.

Method.

1. Preheat oven 200c.

2. Put the butter and sugar into a bowl and mix well.

3. Add the egg and vanilla extract/essence.

3. Sieve the flour and salt and mix into the mixture.

4. Add the chocolate chips and mix in. Then roll the mixtures into a ball and place on to a tray with parchment paper.

 Make sure there is plenty of space between the cookies as they expand when baking.

5. Place the cookies in the oven and cook for about 7-10 minutes.

6. When you take the cookies out leave them on a cooling rack for about five minutes before eating them.

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday Photo 09/08/2020

Fat girl's problems in the heat

Hey readers,

Cor it's hot, isn't it! I am sweating all over with my fat. I don't know anyone else but I am a fat girl and hot weather is not cool with me.

Let me enlighten you in this post with all my problem problems with being fat in the heat.

1) Shopping.

Going around shopping in Primark in the ridiculously overheated building with people trying to grab a bargain and your crack is sweating, sad times 😂 😅

2) Wash.

  Every time I come home from going out in the sunshine I need a shower as I am drenched from head to toe in sweat, forget a cold drink I need the cool water drip all over my body.

3) Clothing.

 Because it is hot you don't wear a lot of clothes and you have to deal with the dilemma of being roasting with layers or haul saying F**k it and get your Wobbly arms out on full display.

4) Chub rub.

Every fat girl's nightmare that is chub rub. If you have never heard of this term it is basically where your thighs rub together due to sweating and cause a fiction which later turns into a burn, joy!

5) Staying indoors. 

Toying constantly with the idea of just being a vampire and stating hidden indoors with the blinds down all day long because going out in the boiling sunshine is a challenge in its self which makes you totally miserable. So, what is the point of being miserable and hot when you can stay at home and get through a ton of ice lollies in the shade?

6) Shower.

 Feeling you may as well live in the shower to cool down with the constant amount of sweating that I do during the summertime. 

Do you suffer in the heat? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

Impossible

It's impossible,

Impossible to live,

Impassive to hide

Impossible to do anything right.

Lost

I've lost my way,

I'm alone,

Sitting in the dark,

With no words to be found.

How to survive holidays

Hey readers, 

it is six whole weeks of summer holidays and ok this year it is less daunting but still now that things are opening up and there is no school work to keep the little darlings entertained it can be a bit stressful at times shall we say.

So here are some ways that I have found helpful getting through the summer holidays without having a nervous breakdown at the end of it all. 

1. TV. 

I know TV argh but it is ok to have the telly on at the end of the day it is a holiday so it is ok to chill out and veg out in front of the TV.

 I remember watching TV as a kid chilling out with my siblings and watching the dust come through the window during the summer holidays, happy memories.

Also, nothing bad happened and I still got a degree and I am sure may other parents recall similar and most people turn out ok. 

2. Walk.

If in doubt for something to do go for a walk even when it is raining just whack out the old wellies and waterproof coats. 

You can still have a good time and play a game of spot the colour car - 1 point for the first person who sees a red car, 2 points if you see a black etc. 

3. The park. 

Hurrah the parks are open now so make use of the free time when it is warmer and check out your local parks in the area. You can't go wrong with a park, kids love it. 

4. Boredom. 

Learn to stop feeling guilty for the pressure of entertaining your children. One of the best life lessons for a child is learning to deal with boredom and not relying on others to keep them occupied. 

Through boredom comes independence and imagination - allowing them to be bored and finding their own solution you will be amazed at what they can come up with. 

5. Have an ok summer. 

Don't set yourself up to have the most amazing summer ever, have an ok summer. Embrace the normal and appreciate the little things in life such as having an indoor picnic for a change. You will be amazed at how younger children get excited about this small change. 

As long as they are fed, clothed and happy that should be the number one focus. It can be really hard to feel guilty for not doing enough when your scrolling through social media but remember it is only a picture of a snippet of a person's life. 

Remember a lot of people are in a similar boat and not swanning off every day of the holidays doing something that cost an arm and leg. 

So there you have my top tips on how to manage the summer holiday. What are your tips for parents to keep sane during the summer holiday? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

Thoughts on In The Night Garden.

Hey readers,

When you’re a parent you will end up watching kid’s programmes. You also get to think probably a bit too much about the programme itself. I know I have when I have watched In the Night Garden for the umpteenth time. 

I find ITNG such an interesting show as there say many ‘interesting’ observations I have made that I need to share them with you. So, where better than on my blog.

Why is Iggle Piggle always desperate to get it off with Upsy Daisy, trying to get her to kiss her all the time? He seems to spend most of his time chasing Upsy Daisy and he has even been caught in her bed.

Upsy Daisy is a dick tease, with flashing her knickers to everyone, any chance she can get she will be there pulling on that string.

The Tombliboos are such flashers aren’t they with, always having their pants fallen down or they really need a belt because they appear to be so loose.

I swear The Tombliboos house is made of pretzels.

One thing I am defiantly sure about is The Tompliboos are from Liverpool, I mean come on who else where’s hair rollers when they are out and about all day long.

All the people who enter the Ninky Nonk they can be guaranteed to be getting pissed drinking cocktail fishbowls, no wonder they are falling all over the place.

The pontipines are TOTAL bitches, seriously all they ever do is gossip all day long when they are not trying to lose their children.

Have you noticed that the Wottingers have the same amount of children as pontipines? Is it strange or just a coincidence.

The social services definitely need to pop in and have a chat with the mum and dad Pontipines because they don’t care about the safety of their kids. I have witnessed some of the children outside on top of the Ninky Nonk.

 Whilst the other children inside the Ninky Nonk don’t bother with a seat belt. Clearly, the parents don’t give a rat’s arse about their safety.

The Pontipines parents are not very nice to their children, when they eat dinner they always eat dessert whilst their poor children eat gobbles, unfair much?! Also, the parents go home without their children, taking no responsibility for them at all.

Where the creators of INTG on drugs coming up with the idea of haahoos, they are so fucking scary. Super large, bright coloured inflatable, weird sounding and moving closer and closer to come and get you.

Macca Pacca clearly is suffering from OCD, not only is he cleaning all the time but he is obsessed with stones, stacking them and actually sleeping with one stone each night in his bed.

Macca Pacca looks lost and lonely wandering around ITNG, where are his parents? Is that why he is suffering from mental illness?

The most hilarious thing about ITNG is the perspective, for example, Macca Pacca is super small in the Ninky Nonk compared to Upsy Daisy. Then when Macca Pacca and Upsy Daisy are chatting outside in the greeny they are so much closer in height.

Why does that ball never stop bouncing, I mean come on.

SO, as you can see INTG has a lot of talking topics and make question what the fuck is going on.

What is your opinion of In The Night Garden? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

How to be content.

Hey readers,

In this day and age, it is hard not to compare yourself.  I for one am guilty of this, it is so easy to assume that one has it all whilst you feel like you are floating above the water.

We can forget that what you see with your eyes on the surface may not be the actual truth. How can possibly know everything about someone when we only see a glimpse.

That is why it is important to look for content within and not on unrealistic ideas that assume make others happy.

Sometimes you can fall under the trap of negativity, where all you see is the bad stuff. That is why it is important to take stock of what is good in life. No one has it all but I am a true believer in that there is one good thing in life even if it is small.

Today I felt sad as if my life is going anyway. I could continue down the negative spiral but won't get me anywhere, it will just make me feel ten times worse.

The things I have succeeded in is getting up and making sure my children are well and happy. I have read a book and even writing this post is productive.

I think it is important to accept the things you do have and not dwell. Being content with yourself so a hard thing to achieve when there are so many messages everywhere telling us to be like this or that. You feel like you are questioning everything.

I think the main that I have learnt in my adult life is meaning and the value you put on something. I think that is a powerful thing. If you let go of connecting to something you would be amazed at how little impact it has on you.

I think the thing that is key in being content is questioning everything and working out what it means to you. Deep down is it really important to you?

What do you think about being content? Love to hear your views down below. 

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday Photo 26/06/2020

Being a woman.

Hey readers,

Sometimes being a female can be lovely but other times it can totally suck. Let me tell you the things that I hate as a woman.

I suppose the most obvious one is periods, which occur typically once a month where your emotions are all over the place and if that is not bad enough, you have blood for five to seven days leaking out of your vagina.

Pain is having to wear bras and dealing with twisted straps, it is so frustrating.

The size of female clothing is ridiculous and varies from one shop to the next. Men have it is so much easier because they have a certain measurement that fits whereas different sizes occur in women's fashion, grrrrrr.

Feeling that if you have too many emotions going on then your not taking seriously to the point where people deem you as being a drama queen.

Pressures of being thin and trying to be this perfect ideal are horrible and you feel crap most of the time because I am so fucking fat.

You can't pee anywhere, you have to find a suitable place to sit. I am so jealous of men that can piss anywhere including a bottle.

This expectation that us females are good at cooking, talking and all the other crappy stereotypes, not round here mate.

The pain of having to frequently shave your legs in the summer if you want to wear a skirt.

If you chose to wear mascara are or eye makeup and restraining yourself from rubbing your eyes or else you end up looking like Alice Cooper's sister.

This idea that females are meant to be good at communicating and that we all love small talk. Well, I don't and I am suitable shit at, not to mention saying things at the wrong time.

What are your thoughts on womanhood? does it suck? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below.

Cheers for reading X

who am I

Who am I,

I have lost my identity,

I feel I am replaced,

by a robot,

everything seems to function,

but emotionless.

My top seven frugal tips

Hey readers,

I love a good bargain and trying to save money when I can. 

So, I thought I would share some of the things that have helped me in the past to reduce the cost of my spending and maybe they might help you too :) 

1.  Plan. 

The best money advice I could give you is a plan, set a Budget for an X amount and stick to it. 

Then if you do give yourself an allowance to spend a set amount you don't have the guilt and feel more encouraged to save money as well, win-win.

2.  Supermarket.

To get the best deals at the supermarket timing is key. That is why it is best to aim to visit your supermarket near closing time to get reduced items and in some cases, this can be quite significant with 70% off items because they are close to their sell-by date.

Though don't let this put you off as you can freeze a lot of items.

3.  Receipts. 

You can put your receipts to good use by download Shopprize from an app store and scan your receipts.

 You then can over time exchange the coins into amazon vouchers. It doesn't take that long either. Sadly the app only works on Android at the moment.

4. Post-event.

The best savvy shoppers actually wait until after an occasion such as Halloween or Christmas to get knocked down prices on items and to grab some good bargains.

5. Meal planning. 

To save money on your shopping a good tip would be to plan your meals with what food you have. It is important that to save money you need to stick to your shopping list as this can help with reducing the impulsive buying as you know what food you need. 

This can be of help to reduce food wastage as well and keep on top of what you have got in the cupboards. 

6. Advantage cards.

 Take advantage of the advantage card. If you don't know what an advantage card is it is a store assigned card where you can get discount off products or earn so much money of items you have brought in the store. 

At a later date can exchange the points for money of shopping in the store or online. A couple of my personal favourite advantage cards are Tesco's club card scheme and Boots advantage card and they are nice little earners.

7. Savings.

A healthy habit that you can get into is to save 10p every day in a jar, it soon adds up after a while This helps get you in a habit of saving and before long you can increase the amount if you want.  

Do you have any saving tips that you have found helpful that I haven't mentioned? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Thanks for reading X

In the evening light

Hey readers,

I am sat here all alone with no noise bar me typing away on the laptop. I like this time as it is my time, quite with no need to think or understand silly little rules.

 It is time to wind down and relax before I panic again how am I going to get through the next day.

One thing for sure is that I have made it through the day and nothing particularly bad has happened.

Both my boys are happily snoring their little heads off without any worry so I take that as a good day.

My body feels relaxed as I am watching the sunset and the colour of the sky brightens my eyes. I feel safe without any threat, which I am forever grateful.

There have been times when I have been really scared of the unknown, decisions that were out of control. Lies and deceit form people who were meant to be honest.

But all that does not matter now as we have moved on, like the earth continuing to spin on regardless of what life throws at us.

I suppose my favourite thing about the evening is getting the opportunity to slip into bed where it is warm and safe. Knowing that I may not have everything but what I do have is love from my husband and children. 

You can get so bogged down and confused with all the messages everywhere that you can forget what is in front of you. I am no means perfect for starters

 I am autistic but am grateful right now and feel blessed for what I do have. I have been knowing to moan and even cry myself to sleep with feelings of self dealt, confusion and hurt with life.

 Some days I feel absolutely terrified to get up in the morning, I put so much thought into the detail that you forget the basics of putting one foot in front of the next.

 Today is a different story, I take how to feel and to own it. I am learning more about myself through motherhood and just plodding along like the rest of us.

Cheers for reading X

50 random thoughts whilst trying to drift off to sleep.

Hey readers,

Ever wondered what people think about or have similar thoughts to you when going to sleep? Then check out my 50 random thoughts that I have had whilst trying to drift off to sleep at night.

1. Did I turn the oven off? 

2. What happens if I don't wake up in time?

3. How am I going to get through the day?

4. Do I need a wee? 

5. I need to get some milk.

6. Why did I say that to someone in 1999? 

7. Will I ever go to sleep. 

8. I am so tired but why can't I sleep. 

9. Must remember that I need to get some conditioner. 

10. Oh no I forgot to sort out my son's homework. 

11. Why are my feet so hot?

12. What would happen if someone tried to break in? What the hell would I do?

13. Imagine if I fell out of bed in the night what damage would I cause?

14. Should have brought that bloody dress earlier.

15. Oh, f*$% it's midnight? 

16. How much sleep will I get now if I go to sleep straight away...

17. Close my eyes and imagine being somewhere warm and on a cloud. 

18. Why are my pillows rubbish? 

19. Seriously, I need more pillows.

20. OMG, why can't I fall asleep? 

21. I swear to God I am never going to stay up late ever again!

22. Do I need a pee? 

23. Have I locked my front door? 

24. I need to empty the bin. 

25. Ugh, why is it so hot? 

26. I need to get a lighter tog quilt. 

27. Did I set the alarm? 

28. What am I going to eat for breakfast?

29. What am I going to do for dinner? 

30. OMG.... what is that noise? 

31. I wonder what I am going to dream about tonight. 

32.  Tomorrow I am going to bed earlier.

33. If I died how long would it be before someone found me?

34. How does the internet work?

35. What am I going to wear tomorrow?

36. Why do I never have anything to wear?

37. I wish I could have something to eat right now. 

38. I'm too hot so take my foot out of the quilt. 

39. Nope too cold now so going to put my foot back under the quilt.

40. Oh God, it is 5am...and I only have two hours more to get sleep in. 

41. I will just watch one more Youtube video and go to sleep. 

42. Oh no an hour has gone and I am still watching Youtube.

43. Should I wear the blue or green top tomorrow? 

44. Why did I have that drink before bed now I need to get up for that wee?

45. What is existence? 

46. Am I really here? 

47. What is better Coke or Pepsi? 

48. Did I get the chicken out of the freezer for tomorrows dinner? 

49. Yeah, I'm sh*t. 

50. Also, I've heard 'classy as f*ck.' How classy as f*ck? 

Do you identify with any of these thoughts? What random thoughts do you have before going to sleep? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday Photo 19/07/2020

Help you child stay in bed at night.

Hey readers,

Sometimes we go through difficult times with our children where they struggle with different things happening in their life.

 I have myself experienced with both my boys times when they struggled to settle and go to sleep.

They constantly would keep coming into the living room and saying they could not sleep. It was a blip and we worked through the difficulties.

I tried several different things and thought I would share some techniques that maybe someone else may find useful.

Routine.

Stick to a routine that suits you and your family needs. Kids love the consistency and if they know what is happening they can relax.

It does take time but they will get used to it and it will make it easier for the child to settle down long-term.

Stay calm.

It can be easy to lose your s**t as a parent, it is hard work and very tiring at times, especially when your little darlings try to test you.

 But stay calm, it can help make the situation run smoother without the added tension.

Returning child to bed.

Keep putting them back to bed without any comments just a kiss and cuddle.

 I have been through this settling period a handful of times and they will eventually settle down once they know that they are not getting any benefit from doing it.

Worries.

Sometimes your child may have anxieties or something that they are worried about that is stopping them from sleeping.

Ask them if there is anything that is on their mind and discusses options to help ease the anxiety.

Toilet.

Always make sure they go to the toilet before bed because of any opportunity they can get up for they will believe me, and you.

Blackout blinds.

This is more relevant for the summertime but having blackout blinds are a lifesaver during the lighter months to help keep the room dark for your little ones.

Music.

I have only recently tested out playing relaxing music but both boys respond really well to it.

We put a Bluetooth speaker in the room and have the music in the other room because I wanted an easy life. My children are the sort of kids to mess about at any given opportunity.

Reward charts.

Reward charts should be used short term for best effect to help motivate a child to change their behaviour.

Basically, if you stay in your bed you get a star and put it on a chart. When you collect x amount of stars you will be rewarded positively whether it be going to the park, getting ice cream or magazine.

It can be anything like that to help keep the child motivated. It is a great visual if it is on the wall so they can see where they need to work to.

Cheers for reading X