Reasons to love summer

Hey readers,

We have had a couple of days so naturally can’t help but get excited for the arrival of summer, I am British it is a thing and the fact that it properly me majority wet. That won’t stop me from celebrating all things summer.

1. sunshine. 

2. going to the beach. 

3. Ice cream. 

4. BBQs.

5. The light nights. 

6. Sandals. 

7. Ice cold drinks.

8. Tan lines. 

9. Warm sand. 

10. Looking at the stars. 

11. The sea. 

12. Swimming in the sea. 

13. Road trips.

14. Writing in the sand. 

15. Summer thunderstorms. 

16. Outdoor fun time. 

17. Long walks. 

18. Daisies everywhere. 

19. Sunsets. 

20. Fly a kite.

21. Hang out the washing. 

22. No homework.

23. Picnics. 

24. Eating alfresco. 

25. Blue skies.

26. Open windows. 

27. The summer breeze. 

28. Water fights. 

29. Hot tub. 

30. Go pick your own strawberries. 

31. Wild swimming. 

32. Having a coffee outside. 

33. People watching. 

34. Boost your mood. 

35. Slush puppies. 

36. Flowers in full bloom. 

37. Trees full of greenness. 

38. Don't have to wear a coat. 

39. Lighter meals. 

40. Salads.

 

41. Picky teas.

 

42. Not having to wear socks. 

43. The fact that everything feels more hopeful and better. 

44. Not having to wear loads of layers. 

45. Having more energy.

 

46. More time outdoors in the evening. 

What do you love about the summer? love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X 

5 Ways to get rid of hiccups.

 Hey readers, 

Now and again we have all experienced the annoyance of hiccups. They can be really hard to get rid of so I have found some simple solutions that are effective ways to get rid f hiccups successfully so the next time you have a bout of hiccups you can quickly eliminate them. 

How to get rid of hiccups. 

1. Breathing.

Breathe in and hold your breath 3-to 4 times in a row. Slowly inhale to fill your lungs with air. Hold your breath for 10 seconds, then exhale slowly to release the breath. Repeat 3-4 times, holding your breath for 10 seconds each time.

2. Bite on a lemon or taste some vinegar.

Biting on something bitter like lemon targets the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain to the stomach. This sends signals to the brain, telling it to switch its focus from hiccups to the sharp taste instead. This tip also works if you use vinegar or anything as strong-tasting.

3. Place sugar on the tongue.

Take about half a teaspoon of sugar and keep it at the far end of the back of the tongue, Hold this for two minutes and then swallow the sugar. Applying pressure along with the tongue aids in eliminating the tightness in diaphragm muscles. 

4. Drinking cold water. 

Drink the cold water through a straw. No one knows exactly why it works, but it could be down to controlling your breathing. 

5.  Pressure Points.

Some of the stranger home remedies that say they stop hiccups relate to pressure. In fact, some people have success with acupressure.

Try pulling the tip of your tongue, or gently pressing on your eyeballs, in an effort to stimulate and distract the vagus nerve. Some doctors suggest putting your fingers (carefully and not too far, obviously) in your ears to stop the hiccups. The branches of ... wait for it ... the vagus nerve, reach into the auditory system, too. You could also try gentle apply pressure on both sides of your nose while swallowing.

How to reduce the risks of getting hiccups. 

When eating try to slow down if you eat fast and make sure that you are chewing your food thoroughly as fast eating can cause air to get trapped in the food which may set off the vagus nerve. Making sure small bites and taking frequent sips of water can help reduce the risk of getting hiccups. 

Some scientists believe that hiccups are a way of telling your body to stop if your eating too much, it is important not to pig out because your body needs time to process and break down the food. The extra stomach acid can bring on hiccups. 

Some spices can irritate the lining of the oesophagus and stomach. At the same time, they can also cause acid from the stomach to leak into the oesophagus. The extra acid can bring on hiccups.

Like spices, alcoholic beverages can cause a simultaneous irritation of the oesophagus and the stomach. And over time, excessive drinking can damage the lining of the food pipe. Parties, like the kind some college students attend, where people consume a lot of alcohol as quickly as possible, can lead to acute ingestion.

 The digestive system not only becomes irritated by the alcohol, but big gulps of it cause the oesophagus to expand rapidly, resulting in hiccups. 

Needless to say, the vagus nerve is not a fan of over-imbibing in food or drink.

But most of the time with hiccups they will disappear with time however if they do last longer than 48hours probably best to speak to your GP as this could interfere with eating, breathing, and sleeping.

Are there any methods that I have missed that have helped you with getting rid of hiccups? love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday Photo 19/06/2022

I and the boys checked at spitfire play that was on display yesterday ✈ 

Why daddy you rock!

Hey readers,

On Sunday it will be Father's day so I want to celebrate the daddy to my sons in this post. I have jotted down some reasons why daddy rocks and why we are so glad you are in our lives.

1. You break down things simple and easy to understand. Partly because of your nature and the mere fact you live with an autistic person. This has helped my boys learn and communicate well with you. It has also taught me how to talk better with the boys as I make things far too complicated.

2.  You are always there 100% for the boys and take an active role in fathering them. I think you are a really good role model and teach our boys that both mummy and daddy have skills that they can both teach you.

3.  You listen to the boys and are honest with the answers. This has provided trust and security for the boys. They know that they can come to you with any worries and no fear of any judgement.

4. You just want your sons to do their best. It is hard especially once you get into the environment of the school where there is pressure coming from different angles. You have also let the boys decide what they like as long as it is suitable for example not allowing my eldest to watch Deadpool even when he is so desperate to watch him as he thinks he is funny in the mobile adverts!

5. You don't put expectations on the boys as long as they are happy you will support them. If they don't like football that is fine, if they like pink that is fine for example.

6.  I am so glad you are not macho and have a passion for equality and fairness for everyone.

7.  You are the glue that keeps us all sane in our home. You are a great delegate and can come up with solutions to problems whilst mummy has a wobble.

8.  You are the one to teach them all the intelligence stuff while mummy dances around being a silly billy.

9. You work around the family and put us first.

10.  When daddy does something he puts his whole heart in and never cuts corners. He is very talented with design and ideas. 

Cheers for reading X

Costa Too Good To Go Magic Bag Review.

Hey readers, 

I have purchased Too Good To Go bags before and have blogged about them before here and here. 

If you didn't know how Too Good To Go is an app where you can purchase magic bags from stores such as Morrisons and Greggs for a reduced price and you get food that would typically be thrown away.

This is my first Costa Too Good To Go magic bag. I got it on Saturday and the collection time was 3-5 pm. 

It cost me £3.00 and I paid on the app using the bank card details I had saved on my card. 

Contents of my magic bag.

x2 Bakewell tarts - £2.50 each.

x2 Ham and cheese toastie - £3.50 each.

Feta cheese slow-roasted tomato pasta salad - £3.50.

The total for all the food would have cost me £15.05.

What is also great is you can freeze sandwiches and pasta meals so save money as they won't get through away if they have a short sell-by date.

Have you tried the Too Good To Go App? What are your thoughts? Love to hear in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading x

My Sunday Photo 12/06/2022

 

My youngest went away this weekend on first water weekend with cubs (scouts) he is super excited. 

         

40 conversation starters for kids

 Hey readers, 

It can be hard to get your child to open up to you therefore a prompt can sometimes really help give them the encouragement to talk to you. It doesn't have to be anything serious the idea is to help with your child communicate and engage in conversation with you. 

Below I have got 40 different types of conversation starters for kids as it can be hard to sometimes think of what to talk so we all need some inspiration from time to time. 

40 conversation starters for kids. 

1. Tell me about the best and worst parts of your day.

2. What’s your favourite game to play?

3. If you could be any animal what would you be and why?

4. What’s your favourite thing to do in the car?

5. If you could be anywhere right now where would you be? What would you be doing?

6. What’s your favourite cereal? Why?

7. What’s the silliest face that you can make?

8. What’s your favourite song? Why do you like it?

9. What was the best holiday you ever had?

10. Where do you like to go in the car?

11. Who is your best friend and what do you like about that person?

12. Did you learn anything new in school today?

13. If you could wish for three things, what would they be?

14. What’s your favourite holiday?

15. If you were an animal, which one do you think you’d be?

16. What three words do you think to describe your personality best?

17. What’s your favourite subject?

18. If you could have any job, what would it be?

19. What’s something that cheers you up when you’re sad?

20. How does it make you feel when you see someone getting picked on?

21. If you could travel back in time, what decade would you choose to live in?

22. What’s the best thing you’ve ever bought off Amazon?

23. What was the last concert you went to?

24. What is one thing you can’t live without?

25. What’s the strangest dream you’ve had recently?

26. What is your favourite book of all time?

27. How many countries have you been to?

28. What’s your favourite city you’ve visited?

29. Would you rather travel via plane or boat?

30. would you be really really hot or really really cold? 

31. Can you remember a time when you made someone smile? 

32. Hold were you when you learned to tie your shoes?

33. Do you think you could go an entire day without talking?

34. If you could turn one room of your house into a giant trampoline which one would it be?

35.  Have you ever told a small fib so as not to hurt someone’s feelings?

36. Are you good at tongue twisters?

37. Do you have the same first name as anyone else at your school? Do you like that?

38. Do you like to look at a clock or do you prefer not to know the time?

39. What’s your favourite joke?

40. Who do you talk to the most on the phone?

What do you think about my conversation starters for kids? Have I missed any off that you think are good ones? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X 

5 ways to save money on travelling.

 Hey readers, 

You might be thinking of going on holiday in the next couple of months and looking for ways to save money. You can even save even landed in a foreign country just look at my five tips to save a small fortune and all it takes is a little bit of planning. 

5 ways to save money on travelling. 

1. Use flight comparison sights. 

An excellent way to save some money on your aeroplane ticket is to search on flight comparison sites, which will save you time and money. You can get to compare the different times and cheapest prices so you can work out the best deal for you.

 There are many great websites, for example, Skyscanner and Kayak to name just two of the popular ones but there are many more on the market so it is worth putting in the time to do the research as it will save you money in the long run. 

2. Keep within the luggage allowance. 

Make sure that you are aware of how much luggage you can take with you on a plane. Luggage allowance is divided up into hand luggage which you take with you onto the plane which is usually two small bags.

 The other type of luggage is called hold luggage which goes in the plane's hold. Normally you tend to get about 23kg free and then you would have to pay additional costs for extra luggage weight.

 This is where people get caught out and this can be a hefty fine. It depends on the travel company as to how much so it is vital to check these details beforehand and double-check that you are within the limits of luggage weight. 

3. Avoid extra flight costs. 

When I am talking about extra flight costs this could include things like having to pay for a seat that you can definitely get next to the person you want to sit with. It could be for things like earplugs, drinks and food. It might be best before jetting off that you eat and drink beforehand to save some money on eating up in the sky. 

4. Travel by train or coach instead. 

If you travelling to a European country you may want to consider catching the train or a coach. Although it does take extra time instead of flying it can save you some cash. Companies such as Mega Bus and National Express offer good value coach tickets to different countries from the UK so worth checking them out. The Trainline also offer some good ticket prices if you book in advance. 

5. Book low-cost accommodation.

Instead of staying in fancy hotels to cut costs but still be comfortable check out low cost alternatives such as Airbnb, as in “Air Bed and Breakfast,” which is a service that lets property owners rent out their spaces to travellers looking for a place to stay. Travellers can rent a space for multiple people to share, a shared space with private rooms, or the entire property for themselves. 

Alternatively, there is the option of hostels which are clean and safe places and you get to meet other like-minded people. If you don't like the idea of that in a room with a stranger then there is always to option of getting a private bedroom. There are two good hostel websites that can tell you more information and they are Hostel World and Youth Hostel Association. 

Cheers for reading X 

My Sunday Photo 05/06/2022

Half term holiday all hail the tree to give us much needed fun :)

         

Supermarkets and autism.

Hey readers,
 
When going to the supermarket I can only handle short periods of time being in the store due to getting sensory overload.

I am autistic and normal things like shopping overwhelm me for a number of reasons.
 
There was a time as an autistic adult when I would shop at 6-7am in the morning because I just couldn't handle it. 

 Often when my husband takes me to the supermarket can be busy and it can get overwhelming trying to navigate around people.
 
Obviously now I am married with kids and things are different for me.
 
However, that doesn't stop it from still being a struggle.
 
Over the years I have had professional help to help me get a bit better at the whole process of shopping.
 
At one point I never used to touch the shopkeeper's hands when exchanging money and simply place it on the counter.  Apparently, this is not the thing so I had to learn that you meant to place money into the assistant's hands. 

I have been able to do that, I still hate touching people I don't know but it is something I can do. Of course with modern technology you can use contactless however going to the corner shop is different.

 Plus I am not paying extra for the privilege of using my money card. I've learned to talk myself into placing money into my hands and focus on detail in the shop so I am not getting too anxious.
 
That is one difficulty I have had but still struggle with, it never probably will get easier but I can manage it.
 
Now my husband likes me to accompany him going to the supermarket. Of course, I do it because I want him to feel needed. I worry I get selfish and at times I have been. So this is a gesture to show I care that being said it is really difficult for me too.
 
I think because we go down each aisle and the more time I spend in the shop I get overloaded because I need to look at the detail of stuff regardless of whether I am buying it or not.
 
The noise of the shop is hard, especially near the buzzing of the refrigerators. Or when the fire alarm is set off as a part of the store testing out the fire alarm. Then there are the random loud announcements on the speakers that can be triggering because they are loud and stop your brain from thinking sending it into a panic.
 
Then there is me not very good at forwarding planning with moving about. At times I respond the way I should such as waiting for a person to come through in the isle and I go through. 

This tends to happen near the end as I am exhausted and just don't have the mental capacity to think about how to act. Bear in mind when I am being outside a lot of my behaviour is not natural, it is learned from experience and what has told me over the years on how to act.
 
My husband also likes to go out to a big store which I struggle with. The size of the store and high ceilings with lots of noise can trigger me.
 
I really hate touching people I don't know and accidentally touching people if they brush past me ups my anxiety.
 
I think another part of my problem with shopping with others is the fact o am not in control. When I shop alone I have a list and just go on, get what I need and get out. My husband likes to look around and just feels endless. 

We spend well over an hour in the store and the content concentration of trying to remember to do all the things correctly takes a lot of brainpower.
 
I am exhausted at the end. Sometimes I have a break as I just need quiet time o go to the toilet, close my ears, and just breathe. I feel really dizzy and disorientated by the end. Get home and I just need time to myself to rebalance my head and bring it back down to a calm.
 
Cheers for reading X
 

Why I love a no spend day.

Hey readers, 

I love a no-spend day and I try to fit one or two in twice a week to help save me some money. But if you may not have heard of this concept so let me explain what a no-spend day means down below. 

What is a no-spend day?

In simple terms, it is a day (24 hours) where literally spend no money whether it be physical in a shop or online to help stop you from buying unnecessary items. It gives you a pause button to stop and reflect on your spending and notice if there are some areas where you think you need to improve on and you can work out ways to make changes.

Having a no-spend day is an excellent way of breaking a cycle of spending if it becomes addictive and it is a way to move forward with positive spending habits. 

I have found them really beneficial to do and try to do one or two a week and really helps puts things into perspective. Definitely makes me think twice about what I am spending my money on. 

Although it is probably best not to do a no-spend day when bills go out so make sure you time it around a day when no money is going out of the bank so you have a 0 money bank transaction. 

Like all good no-spend days the key is planning and making sure that you have food that you need to eat, drinks, and anything that you need shower gel, etc. so you don't get tempted to go to the shop and may give you the urge to break the commitment of a no-spend day. 

Why I love a no-spend day. 

1. It is simple. 

It is a simple rule you don't have to spend any money on that one day, there are other rules and complications that you have to stick to. At first, it is a bit weird to get into it but once you do it just gets easier to do. There is also no tracking involved so I don't have to constantly think about what money I have spent. 

2. Get creative. 

With a no-spend day, that means you have to use whatever resources you have at home such as rustling a lunch up with the food you have in the fridge or snacks in the cupboard. Or finding entertainment that is free locally to you so you don't have to spend any money. It helps get you more organised and plan your days out with how they are going to be structured, which isn't always a bad thing and can be more productive than days that just go with the flow. 

3. Control. 

Doing the no spend challenge leaves you feeling more in control of your finances because you are taking positive action with the no spend days. You are watching your habits and working out if there are any flaws in your spending and how can you adapt to make improvements this all gives you the power of control.

4. The buzz. 

The buzz of completing a no-spend day is good as it makes you feel like you can work on improving your finances and that you are in control of money. It allows you to reflect on your habits and gives you the time to see what your relationship is like with money. 

Have you tried no spend days? Do they work for you? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X 

My Sunday Photo 29/05/2022

My boys sang in the school choir with loads of other school choirs for especially singing event at the Royal Alber Hall this week, they absolutely loved it. It was easy to spot one of my sons as he had a red cast on lol. 

         

How to have a smooth school morning run.

Hey readers,

Now we are back at school some of us *ahem* struggle with the morning run. It seems chaotic and rushed so here are some ways that have helped me to have a smooth school morning run without the stress.

Preparation do in the evening. 

So. where shall we start? well, I think the first important thing to incorporate into your school routine is preparing the night before to reduce the stress. 

This will help give you the confidence that everything is under control. Making sure that the schoolbags have been emptied of the millions of letters, getting the bag ready, and having all the school uniforms gathered and placed neatly for the morning. 

Therefore once it is morning all you have to worry about is getting your darlings motivated to get dressed.

Lunch.

If you have a child who takes lunch to school preparing it the night before can help save some time in the morning. As parents, we need to do the minimum as it is important to make sure we have a HOT tea, crucial!

Reward Chart. 

If you are struggling to get your child motivated one way to help in the short term is a reward chart. Plan out each section - get up, eat breakfast, get dressed, brush teeth etc and give a star when that routine is done, once the child collects x amount of stickers.

They will be rewarded for their good behaviour. This can help ease your child into a productive routine and hopefully with time they know what to expect and it is a much calmer affair.

10 minutes early.

If you have children like that are what you would call speedy when they walk to school (ironic as any other time you would think they were Bolt).

Then leaving 10 minutes early to get trot school can be a solution to getting in on time. It also means you don't have to stress and can take your time without rushing and shouting, "hurry up"!

Being aware of what is happening. 

A thing that I have in the past struggled with is forgetting to check if there is something important happening at the school. Make sure you have a diary to put important information such as needing to bring in money or food for a special occasion.

 Therefore you can feel in control and know what is happening beforehand. Make sure that you read the newsletters or any letter from the school bag the night before.

Breakfast.

I make sure that the cereal boxes are out, bowls and spoons the night before can really save some time in the morning. 

Doing the baths again the night before is another you can do to reduce the amount you have to prepare in the morning.

Anxiety. 

My eldest suffers quite a from anxiety because of having autism. What can help settle him and reduce any conflict is talking to him the night before about anything that is bothering him and if you can try to come up with a solution.

Hope this helps and is there anything that helps you reduce the stress of the morning routine? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

5 ways to make money.

Hey readers,

Needing some extra money well there are so many good ways to do this online and offline. I am going to discuss five ways to make some money, levels vary in difficulty but it is always good to gain more knowledge in this area. 

5 ways to make money. 

1. Rent your space.

If you have a free parking space that you aren't using you could rent it out., this is a particular handy id if you live in a busy area. Websites like Parklet or Just Park are brilliant for advertising your parking space. It is a great passive income and you could earn up to £200 literally doing nothing.  

2. Sell sperm or eggs. 

For this next one, I would suggest really thinking about what you are doing as you are giving your egg or sperm to create another human being. Of course, this is fantastic for people who have genuine issues surrounding naturally conceiving. 

However, one issue that you need to bear in mind is anonymity now from 2005 the law changed regarding this issue and when the child reaches 16 they can access information about you. Yes, it is easy money on the one hand but it is a big thing to do and the costs very. So before jumping headfirst speak to someone to make sure you know exactly what you are getting yourself into. 

3. Tutoring.

Online tutoring has become really popular over the last few years as you can do it anywhere online. There are many sites to help set you up as a tutor such as my tutor, fleet tutors, and super prof for example. there are many topics you could tutor such as maths and science and even learning a musical instrument. 

4. Participate in medical research. 

This is an interesting one and it really does vary from the research as to how much you get paid. For instance, some might shop gift cards for £50 while other studies offer £100 all the way up to  £1000s. The thing that you need to ask though is why is the money so high what does the research involved and how will it impact my own body.

 Remember some of this research is new and testing drugs on you and they don't know the impact hence the money thing. It is tempting but if that scares you go for the low-end research things like looking at sleep research that isn't so scary but is interesting and you earn some pounds, win-win. 

5. House sitting. 

Moving on to a move safer option is house sitting, this is a great way to earn money. Some people are away for a period of time and want someone to keep an eye on their home, pick up their posts water their plants, and make sure the place is tidy and clean for them. 

Depending on what they want from you and your location you may pop around each day or you may just stay at length in their home while they away. The lengths can really vary from a week to a few months but you could save money as they pay for the bills such as heating etc so great little earner. 

What do you think of my ideas for making money? have you tried them? have you any other good ideas to make money? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading x 

My Sunday Photo 21/05/2022

 

My yougest is so proud of his drawing of a dalek he did, he absolutely loves Dr Who!

         

10 fun things kids can do with a broken arm.

Hey readers, 

A week ago my son decided to brake his arm, how inconvenient ;). So, it can be quite challenging to lose control of your arm and it does make you think of how much you do take for granted in terms of what you do with your arms.

 So, it got me thinking of some fun but safe things kids can do with a broken arm, as believe it or not there still are some stuff that is achievable and you can see that by my list down below.  

Fun things kids can do with a broken arm. 

1. Books.

You can't go wrong with trusted books and is a great opportunity to catch up on books that you want to read. Of course, it can be tricky at first but with fingers, you can slowly turn pages and if you have a reader then that may be of use also. 

2. Films. 

A safe activity to do with a broken arm is films because you can relax with your arm on the sofa with a fun film or if you feel flush with cash you could go to the cinema and check out the latest blockbuster. 

3. Games console. 

You can play games on game consoles with a broken arm but you are limited to less vigorous type games that require less action in both hands such as Minecraft or The Sims. Slower placed games don't require lots of forceful movement in the hand.

4. Board games.

Board games are a lifesaver such as Monopoly, double, Uno, charades... you get the gist are a god-sent because kids board and frustrated so board games can really help keep kids entertained and have fun with the family. 

5. Listen to music.

If your kids love music then this may be the one and even better than that turn on youtube and get the lyrics to the song so your kid can sing their heart out to their favourite tunes. 

6. Do a jigsaw puzzle. 

A jigsaw puzzle is another option as it is a relaxing activity that can take you time and doesn't take a lot of physical strain. 

7. Go for a walk. 

It can be very frustrating having a broken arm as it can limit you and stop you from doing the normal fun things you want to do. So sometimes a walk to get some fresh air can really help clear the head. 

8. Colour or draw. 

 A relaxing activity to do is drawing or colour. If you are not that confident sometimes just copying a tutorial on Youtube can be a fun way to learn especially drawing something like your favourite character in Minecraft say. There are plenty of colouring-in books on the market and it is something that you can do on your own or do with an adult which is a calming affair. 

9. Make a list of things you want to do when your cast comes off. 

Now for something a little bit different to the usual suspects and that would be to use up that free space on your cast and write all the things that you want to do once you are free from the cast. 

10. Visit a museum.  

If you are feeling frustrated at home due to restricted movements then why not check out your local museum as they often have free openings where you see collections and it is another great way to get out of the four walls. 

Have I missed out on any activity that you think is worth mentioning that is suitable for a child to do when they have a broken arm? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X