My eldest was happy this week as he got a cast and he got to choose the colour he wanted :) Luckily he should only *fingers crossed* only have to wear it for four weeks.
Sunday 15 May 2022
Friday 13 May 2022
100 fun things to on Father's Day.
Hey readers,
Father's day is just around the corner and you may be thinking of doing something special with him. So do check out my extensive list of 100 things you can do with your dad to spend some extra quality time with him this coming fathers day (or any other day to be fair) check it out below.
1. Go for a bike ride.
2. Go for a hike.
3. Work on a puzzle together.
4. Have games night.
5. Go fishing.
6. Go bowling.
7. Visit a museum.
8. Play golf.
9. Play mini-golf.
10. Change a tire.
11. Go for ice cream.
12. Learn the family history.
13. Make dad a playlist of his favorite songs.
14. Go bird watching.
15. Make breakfast together.
16. Take an online cooking class together.
17. Build a campfire.
18. Watch all the Marvel films in order.
19. Get your karaoke on.
20. Craft together.
21. Go for a picnic.
22. Pamper him with a spa day.
23. Head to a theme park for the day.
24. Fire up the grill.
25. Go camping.
26. visit a historical site.
27. Scrapbooking.
28. take a music class together.
29. Have a photoshoot.
30. Read a book together.
31. Attend a community event
32. Create a first aid kit.
33. Play miniature golf.
34. Play laser tag.
35. Visit a splash park.
36. Visit the library.
37. Play hide and seek.
38. Perform magic tricks.
39. Have a zoom call with extended family.
40. Play Uno.
41. Fly kites.
42. Test drive a car.
43. Visit a national trust property.
44. Complete a lego challenge.
45. Build a rope swing.
46. Complete a science experiment like the coke cola and mentos challenge.
47. Go on a miniature railway.
48. Go on a steam train.
49. Create a rocket.
50. Do a park run.
51. Make a birdhouse.
52. Look for shooting stars.
53. Do a performance.
54. Visit the beach.
55. Go wild swimming.
56. Roll down a hill.
57. Jump in puddles.
58. Play pooh sticks.
59. Do some colour in.
60. Make a daisy chain.
61. Find frog spawn.
62. Climb a tree.
63. Feed wild birds.
64. Go on a night walk.
65. Draw self-portraits.
66. Look for crabs at the beach.
67. Plant some seeds.
68. Bird watching.
69. Skim stones.
70. Ride a donkey.
71. Make art with wild items such as leaves.
72. Visit a farm.
73. Volunteer at an allotment.
74. Make printable coupons.
75. Make up a board game.
76. Read a story together.
77. Send a care package.
78. Look at dads old photo albums.
79. Fill out fun facts printable all about dad.
80. Tackle a DIY project.
81. Make a terrarium.
82. Make a memory box.
83. Play catch.
84. Build a bookshelf.
85. Do a BBQ.
86. Tell jokes.
87. Ask him about his childhood.
88. Plant a tree.
89. Go to see live music.
90. Go to a lido.
91. Go to a car show.
92. Take a segway tour.
93. Go to a buffet.
94. Visit a national park.
95. Solve a problem together.
96. Watch a play.
97. Watch a parade.
98. Make a video.
99. Have a campfire.
100. Make a photo collage.
What do you think of my list of ideas of things to do with your dad? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below.
Cheers for reading X
Monday 9 May 2022
7 benefits of breakfast.
Hey readers,
We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day but do you know the benefits of eating breakfast.... well I will tell you down below.
1. Fight daytime cravings.
When you skip breakfast, you may feel ravenous later and be tempted to reach for a quick fix such as vending machine candy or doughnuts. In addition, eating breakfast may reduce cravings, especially for sweets and fats.
2. Keeps are brain sharp.
Studies have shown that when people eat breakfast, things like concentration, memory, and energy all improve, making them more alert as well. Eating first thing in the morning raises blood sugar levels and keeps them steady, which can improve mood and help people have more energy.
3. Improves concentration.
Cognitive function and memory improve as a result of people having breakfast. Studies have shown that when people eat breakfast, things like concentration, memory, and energy all improve, making them more alert as well.
4. Breakfast kickstarts your metabolism.
Breakfast jump-starts your metabolism in the morning. Getting your metabolism working early helps burn calories throughout the day. Skipping breakfast your body to converse, rather than burn extra calories.
5. Better Mood.
When you’re hungry, you tend to be grumpy and irritable. Your body is running on empty because it needs fuel. This affects your entire system. Who wants to be around you when you’re like that? DO yourself and everyone around you favour each day…eat breakfast.
6. Family time.
Having breakfast together as a family is an opportunity to spend time with one another. It allows you to enjoy your thought and the opportunity to talk.
7. You can prevent type 2 diabetes.
You read that right. There is significant research showing that you may be able to prevent diabetes by regularly eating a healthy breakfast. In a study conducted over a 10-year program, researchers found that people who regularly ate breakfast decreased their Irish of diabetes by almost 30%. A possible explanation for this is that skipping breakfast can cause insulin resistance, which is a feature of Type 2 Diabetes.
Cheers for reading X
Sunday 8 May 2022
Friday 6 May 2022
Autistic adulting sucks!
Hey readers,
I hate people, seriously all they ever seem to do is fake it. Why can't people be honest and just tell the truth because you think it hurts people's feelings. But here is the thing I already know so don't pussy around the subject.
It sucks being autistic, the constant rejection of people, pretending to be nice when really they don't give two monkeys.
I am sick of it and sick of this world that I live in. It doesn't help I am stuck in places where people don't really know where to put me. Let's face facts first impressions count and no one likes the awkwardness of autistic people, it is much easier to just deny us the opportunity.
Even though we autistic people would so bloody hard, more so than the average person because we have to-it's a fight to fit in when your just totally failing on the outside. I feel lost and I don't belong, this place feels lonely. Sometimes, I just can't face it anymore but once again you have to find the strength to get back up again even though you are plummeting into a dark, dark place.
It sucks to have to undergo interviews when clearly they are not autistic friendly and again I feel like my needs are met. Don't you understand we autistic people can't cope with question after question without getting burnt out, not to mention the social interaction, it takes all our resources to get through it to then be told that actually, we are not looking for people at the moment?
Why put me through this hell, what you really mean is you are not a suitable candidate, just be honest, at least I know where I stand. Right now I feel insulted and taken for a full. It took all my energy to get out of my comfort zone and I am devastated. It really does suck because of the effort I put into these things but never get the opportunities, I don't know why I bother.
Even as an adult I am always dealt with the hand of rejection and you know what people it sucks, big time for us autistic people to be treated like this. I am just thankful for my blog as it is an outlet when other times I can not muster the words to anyone about the pain I am battling every day. Rant over!
Cheers for reading x
Monday 2 May 2022
Benefits of learning through play.
Hey readers,
We all know that play is really good for a child but do we know the benefits? That is why I want to explore why playing is so good for the learning of children.
play is a natural way to learn for a child. Children learn through practicing skills, trying out new possibilities. Not to mention play helps revise hypothesized and discover new challenges which then leads to deeper learning. Play allows children to communicate ideas, to understand others through social interaction, paving the way to build deeper understanding and more powerful relationships.
2. Choice.
play gives children the choice such as if they are given different toys to choose from that they want to play with. This is a form of self-expression because they are picking toys that they like.
3. Play helps develop communication.
Play allows children the child an opportunity to communicate through using speech and language skills as a way to express their desires and wants. If the child is playing with others there is a conversation occurring through role-play or making decisions together on what to do.
Even if the child is playing by themselves you most likely find the child will still use self-talk as a form of expressing themselves such as playing with cars they may say such words as wee or beep beep. If the child is playing with others and the other speaks they can learn to interact and maybe learn new words if they haven't heard from them so therefore developing their vocabulary.
4. Helps creativity.
with play, children use their imaginations they do this by doing make-believe games or getting lost in present worlds. Children act out different situations whilst boosting their confidence. The child makes their own rules and learns how to follow them or adapt if needed. These skills are helpful in life as they teach children how to navigate life and develop relationships with others.
5. Gives children space.
When children have time and space to play without restriction, their imitations can roam and they can explore ideas you don't need a large play space. Just try adding simple materials like cardboard boxes to your existing space. This can inspire lots of pretend play, even in small spaces.
6. Physical.
Physical play is important for children to keep fit and healthy. Physical play is the type of play that gets your child moving from big movements like running and jumping to small movements like picking up a pencil or tying a knot.
7. Helps increase self-esteem.
Play is a safe place to practice decision-making and build confidence. Letting children participate in risky play allows them to test what they are capable of. It helps them safely experience their limits and achieve their own goals, ultimately boosting their confidence
8. Gains independence.
While interaction with adults and other children during play builds important cognitive, language, and self-regulation skills, independent play also has benefits. When a child plays alone, it can foster imagination and creative play, build persistence and problem-solving skills, and teach patience and resilience.
What are your thoughts on play? Love to hear them in the comment section down below.
Cheers for reading X
Sunday 1 May 2022
My Sunday Photo 01/05/2022
My eldest son getting his X-ray and finding out he broke his wrist at school this week.
Friday 29 April 2022
70 ways to distract yourself from anxiety.
Hey readers,
Now sometimes using distractions as a tool to help reduce anxiety can be of benefit because you are not focusing on anxiety. The fewer thoughts you give to anxiety the less change of the anxiety manifesting and getting which could lead to a bad place.
Of course, it must be noted that distractions are only a temporary solution nevertheless can be of benefit because it gives you a break from being in that constant anxiety state. It allows you to pause and it can make the anxiety when it returns a lot less intense so much more manageable.
Below I have a list of 70 distraction techniques that you can take away and practice when needed.
1. Watch a tv show.
2. Watch a movie.
3. Sing your heart out.
4. Watch a Youtube video.
5. watch TikTok videos.
6. Grab a snack.
7. Mindful doodling.
8. Play a game.
9. Clean.
10. Listen to music.
11. Wash your face or hands.
12. Gratitude list.
13. Exercise.
14. go out for a walk
15. Listen to a podcast.
16. Listen to an audiobook.
17. Untangle the necklaces or leads you to have to lie in the drawn.
18. Sell stuff on eBay.
19. Take photographs.
20. Do some cooking.
21. Play with a fidget tool.
22. Name all the colours in the room.
23. Create a mantra if you don't have one and repeat it to yourself, e.g. "I can do this", "This too shall pass". Literally, spell it out if repeating is not enough.
24. Think of a common task and go through it step-by-step. Imagine you're explaining the process to someone else.
25. Mow the lawn.
26. Make a budget.
27. Meal plan.
28. Create an emergency fund.
29. Unsubscribe to any unwanted emails.
30. Clean out your emails.
31. Watch a Ted Talk.
32. Observe something and describe it in extreme detail. Notice how it looks, its pattern, texture, and how it feels. For example, you could say it is a green apple with two small bruises.
33. Practice mindfulness.
34. Journal.
35. Colour in.
36. Make a video.
37. Make lists (to read, to watch, to do, to listen, to play...).
38. Do the laundry.
39. Rank things (top 1o movies, best cuisines, top 5 musical artists...).
40. Make music playlists for different occasions (songs to dance to, relaxing music, music to listen to whilst reading...).
41. Discuss what you watched, read, or played with someone.
42. Browse social media.
43. Look at memes.
44. Dance.
45. Start a collection (stickers, memes, leaves...).
46. Make memes.
47. Write a positive review for something you enjoyed.
48. Learn about a culture.
49. Explore Wikipedia.
50. Warch a foreign film or drama.
51. Read a graphic novel or comics.
52. Make a bucket list.
53. Create a game.
54. Make a bucket list.
55. Observe wildlife.
56. Take a virtual tour.
57. Attend a virtual concert.
58. Travel the world using Goggle Earth.
59. Read some jokes.
60. Read articles on things you're interested in.
61. Take silly quizzes online.
62. Do a jigsaw puzzle.
63. Play scrabble.
64. Volunteer.
65. Make a gift or care package for someone.
66. Do nail art.
67. Redecocrate something.
68. Plant something.
69. Try a new recipe.
70. Make a stop motion animation.
What do you think of my list of distractions to help when feeling anxious? Have I missed any good ones that work for you? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below.
Cheers for reading X
Monday 25 April 2022
On the side
Hey readers,
When I was a child I learned the art of a thing called masking, aka faking it and what this means is that I learned the behaviour of others. The problem being is that if something changes that I can mess up badly because I can't be flexible with my thinking.
That is one of the characteristics of autism is we manage change to some degree but we only see it in a structured way that is black or white (through past learned experiences or what we have read up on the problem where we fail is that if something slightly different happens in the format then we screw up basically. It can lead to getting things wrong, saying something wrong, coming across as rude, not coping, having meltdowns or shutdowns, etc.
I think it's really hard being an autistic girl growing up because there is so much more pressure to be sociable than a boy. When I was growing up I felt that boys got away with not getting noticed therefore resulting in having less social pressure.
I used to absolutely hate being a girl because of this reason and I thought boys had it a lot easier or more relaxed attitude with regard to social and communication which suited me perfectly.
Now that I'm an adult I find it a bit easier because I have more experience and knowledge but I still frequently mess up. If I am feeling anxious or if there is too much going on in my head can't seem to focus on the rules.
There are times when stressful factors cause me more brainpower than normal and it is like I regress in my behaviour. That is why it's so hard to measure autism, as it is not something that you can say x y and z it's constantly shifting depending on the environment and mindset of that individual.
Since being a parent I have learned that there are so many other social rules involved when bringing up a child.
I first it was lovely when my children were newborns as there is less pressure on me to be sociable but since my children are at school I have noticed that there's a hell of a lot more interaction going on.
Me being an autistic parent does affect my self-esteem. A lot of the time I feel inadequate, especially as my husband is very good at communicating and engaging with others. It leaves me feeling really angry and frustrated. I know comparing is the worst thing to do but it coincides with me learning about other people.
I think one of the hardest and most upsetting things is when people don't see you as an individual but as some sort of invalid because you're autistic. They don't look past the label or they do but then they just talk down to you in a condescending way. The thing is I am aware of exactly what is happening, I just don't have the skills to communicate and express myself as clearly as other people do.
It has really made me feel quite low at times because I feel like I can't give my child everything that a typical parent has to offer. I suppose that is why I enjoy the school holidays more because I don't have to worry about social things.
The only downside is that when I return I have to deal with the social side of education and whatnot. I feel rubbish and I have felt very very low causing me to struggle to get up in the mornings.
I have also learned to avoid situations and tend to get my husband to do the tasks because it's too upsetting at times to have to face discrimination against me. I think that's one of the saddest things about being an autistic parent is the fact that you deal with a lot of rejection or misunderstanding. I like my voice isn't heard and again that familiar outcast feeling appears.
Cheers for reading X
Sunday 24 April 2022
Friday 22 April 2022
CheckoutSmart app review
Hey readers,
Not long ago I reviewed the Shopmium app here and there is a similar cashback app also available to download called CheckoutSmart which I am going to explore today.
It is very similar to Shopmium in the sense that you can get free or reduced food from shops in-store and online (CheckoutSmart has more stores). I think personally though CheckoutSmart is a better app because there are more offers the only downfall is the cashout element which I go into detail about later.
What is it?
CheckoutSmart is an app you can download on your phone for free on android and apple stores that offers cashback on products either for the full amount or a reduced amount. It is a great way to reduce the cost of your supermarket shopping and also sometimes you can try new food that you may not originally buy.
You just need to sign up to the app with your email or you can use your Facebook login details.
Make sure you check the app regularly as they frequently update their offers on the app.
The types of products range from Proper popcorn, Marrs chocolate bars, and Cadbury chocolate cookie mix. Richmond toad in the whole kid, flavored water, coffee syrups, Kellogs cereal, fiber bars to name a few that spring to mind.
How to use it.
Search for products you want (make sure you check the location is correct as well). Go to the store buy the item and get the receipt. Open up the app click on the red icon with your hand at the bottom of the screen (see picture below) then select the store you went to, then the day (you have 6 days to claim back) then either add from the list click on the item or you can scan the barcode of the product and click next.
Finally, scan in the receipt, and if it is a long receipt you can take multiple photos, and then at the bottom click claim cashback. Make sure you have good lighting and the receipt is as straight as possible so that it can be read clearly to get your money back.
It shouldn't take no more than 24-48 hours to receive notification of it is being processed or not. Obviously, if it comes back as they can't read the receipt you have an opportunity to reupload again.
Filter option.
What I like about the app is the feature where you can click to choose all stores or chose a particular store of your choice which will come up with only offers for that store. Also, you can sort out offers by cashback in pounds, cashback in %, or when the offer start date is, which makes it so much easier to navigate around the app.
Shops you can use it in.
Of course, offers are available from the big supermarkets - Asda. Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, and Lidl but they also offer in other stalls such as Whsmith, Holland and Barratt & Wilkos for example. Also if you buy the offers from CheckoutSmart then you could get branded items cheaper than the supermarket's own items.
Deliveries.
Not only can you get cashback from supermarket items but you can also claim back 1% in cashback from your delivered takeaways from places like Just Eat and Deliveroo.
Claim money back.
Once you’ve scanned a receipt, it takes up to 7 days for your reward to be tracked. The money will show in your account after this. You can request the money directly to your bank account, or you can choose to cash out with PayPal instead – it’s your choice.
For your first payment, you can claim anything over £1. After that, you can withdraw the cashback when your account reaches £5 and over. Please note, that there is a 5% processing fee charged if you transfer less than £20, so make sure you’ve earned cash back over £19.99 before you request a payment.
Conclusion.
CheckoutSmart app is a fantastic app to help reduce the cost of shopping, you often get free food and there are frequent new offers. It doesn't take long to add up to the £20.00 mark so you won't have to worry about waiting months to cash out. Overall it is my favorite food cashback type app and if you haven't downloaded it what are you waiting for?!
Cheers for reading X
Monday 18 April 2022
why I blog.
Hey readers,
I love blogging and there are so many reasons why you should try it. Check out my reasons why I blog down below.
I started my blog as a way to share my thoughts, they were personal to me, and sometimes they were light and fluffy. Depending on my mood and what I wanted to write the posts would reflect that.
I write about life, which isn't perfect, sometimes I write a matter of fairness, and other times I write like my heart is on my sleeve. My blog is a place that is mine, and I write whatever tickles my tastes buds.
2. Improve my writing ability.
I am not the best with grammar but being a blogger for a number of years has definitely helped me improve my writing abilities. I am nowhere near perfect but I have learned a lot over the years.
I find writing has helped me channel my thoughts and write them down on my blog. As a regular blogger who writes twice a week the consistency and keeping in a routine has helped. Like anything the more you practice the better you get.
3. Learn a skill.
Blogging is learning a new skill from coming up with ideas on how to design your blog to work out how to share blog posts, how to write blog posts, and how to join in with blog links. All these things I never knew about before joining the blogging world. Obviously, I still have a lot to learn but looking back it is amazing how much I have developed over the years during my blogging journey.
4. Overcome trauma.
Originally when I first started blogging the aim was for me to use blogging as a tool to distract me because I was going through some personal trauma. I needed something to take my mind off some heartache and blogging was just what I needed.
It really gave me something to focus on, learn and write. It was definitely a cathartic process for me when I first started blogging. Even now when I am going through difficult times I turn to my blog as a way of escapism to distract me from what is going on in life for a bit, really does help a lot.
5. Inspire others.
When writing personal stuff using my first-hand account of what it is like to have autism has helped people to understand or relate. It has made awareness to help understand which is positive all around because often voices aren't always heard because barriers get in the way such as not being from a middle-class background or male or whatever barrier.
With the internet, this erases such blockages as blogging is accessible to anyone regardless of background etc. It is free to do so anyone can set up a blog and write authentically and without being influenced.
6. Increases your confidence.
With time doing blogging helps increase your confidence because you get into a routine with writing and this forms your personal voice. With writing, you can share your thoughts with what you believe in and the thoughts you want to share.
Blogging can give you a voice when as mentioned in the previous point at times barriers get in the way blogging is a place where you can write out your stresses and feel a lot lighter. As a blog is a documentation of your thoughts you can look back over past posts and can see the changes that you have made and the growth that you have done.
Have you tried blogging? Are you a blogger? What do you think about blogging? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below.
Cheers for reading X
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Hello!
Thank you for coming by! This is my blog where I write about a range of topics such as motherhood, autism and lifestyle. Come along for the ride.
