Sunday 30 July 2023
Friday 28 July 2023
How to stop self gaslighting.
Monday 24 July 2023
How to save money on school uniform.
Hey readers,
Even though it is the start of the summer holiday, you might already think about buying the next academic year's uniform.
As let's face it, school uniform is not a cheap purchase, and if you cater for the fact that you have more than one child, it might be best to plan earlier rather than later to save money and less stress.
1. Buy second-hand.
Check if your school or PTA (Parent Teacher Association) has a second-hand selling group where you can pick up some pre-loved items.
If this doesn't exist at your child's school, see if you can set one up on social media and invite other parents to join.
Alternatively, you could check out these social media sites and apps to buy uniforms and sell any old items:
Facebook Marketplace: You can search for items and pick them up for free if the seller's local.
Facebook groups: Local community groups can help you connect with families in your neighbourhood and search for second-hand uniforms.
Freecycle: This app allows people to gift or lend unwanted items to people living nearby.
Olio: Like Freecycle, this app allows people to give away items they don't want to those in the local neighbourhood.
Vinted: There are over 500 results for school uniforms on the app, and you can filter it only to show the sizes you need.
eBay: You can search for specific items and bid for them, which means you could get a great deal.
2. Audit the Old.
If you just shoved last year's uniform into a cupboard at the end of term, get it out and look at what you already have that might last a few more weeks.
If your child wears summer dresses or shorts, it's worth holding out on buying warmer clothes until the weather turns, as they may already be too small for them by the time they need them.
Wash and then lay everything out and persuade the kids to have a quick trying-on session before you make a list of the essentials you do need to buy.
3. Beware of multipacks.
But beware: multipacks are not always the most economical option. While a pack of four or five polo shirts might be good value, you may not need multiple skirts or trousers (knee slide dependent).
Working out the price per item and how much wear it will get could help cut unnecessary costs.
That said, finding fellow parents in the market for new school wear and splitting the price of a multipack could also be a canny way of saving money.
4. Check for grants.
Some parents will be eligible for a school uniform grant worth £200, depending on their income and where they live.
The grants are typically available for people receiving benefits such as Universal Credit and child tax credit.
You may also be eligible if your child receives free school meals.
Not every council in England offers this, but you can check what’s on offer via the government website. Grant schemes also differ across the UK.
5. Buddy up.
Alternatively, if you spot an excellent multipack offer and you don't need all of the items, parents could buddy up with a fellow parent and split the costs.
Buddying up with families with children of different ages is also a great way to pass around clothes when they're outgrown.
6. Only buy what you need.
Before buying a variety of new items for your kids, consider whether they are necessary because, trust me, you bet every school year there is a new trend meaning new backpacks, new pencil cases etc.
But don’t fall into the trap of buying things just because your kids want them. It’s also important not to fall for the expensive fad school accessories, which are trendy at the time but won’t be in a few months.
Stick to buying things that last and won’t go out of ‘fashion’.”
To give you a helping hand, KiddyCharts has this printable back-to-school checklist for parents to use. Check it out here.
7. Size up.
As most children experience growth spurts during puberty, you may feel you have wasted your money on a uniform that will soon be too small.
I recommend sizing up one or two sizes on blazers and trousers.
Children get away with a little oversized blazer, especially when a shirt and jumper are layered underneath.
Long trousers can also be taken up to fit your child, and the hem can later be let down as they grow.
Some supermarkets have designed ranges with this in mind.
Marks & Spencer sells trousers with a “grow-proof hem”, which are made with extra length. The hem can quickly be taken down by unpicking it and pressing it with an iron.
8. Shop around.
Shop around; the government have introduced legally binding guidance which requires schools to make uniforms affordable for all.
This means you shouldn’t have to stump up extra cash or be limited to certain stores for items, and schools must remove unnecessary branded items.
Most supermarkets stock polo shirts, trousers, skirts and sweatshirts, often sold in multipacks – and snapshot Which? Analysis this month found them to be modestly priced.
For a primary school pupil aged eight to nine, I found a pack of polo shirts from George by Asda for £3.50, while a group of two black trousers from the Morrisons Nutmeg range cost £9.
Cheers for reading X
Sunday 23 July 2023
Friday 21 July 2023
A to Z of self care.
Monday 17 July 2023
The benefits of unplugging from technology
Sunday 16 July 2023
My Sunday photo 16/07/2023
Friday 14 July 2023
Rosemary and garlic foccacila recipe.
Monday 10 July 2023
How to Overcome Writer's Block
Sunday 9 July 2023
Friday 7 July 2023
5 tips to teach your kids to clean their room.
Instilling in your youngster the habit of cleaning up after themselves will solve all of these issues.
1. Don’t Clean Your Your Child’s Room for Them.
The next thing I want to say regarding rooms is this: if your child is old enough to tidy their room independently, don't do it for them. Not to be a martyr. Your child should tidy up their room.
Cleaning your child's room for them rather than letting them do it works against you. It demonstrates to your child that you don't have confidence in their independence.
Doing it for them also conveys that they are not obligated to follow your instructions and that your words do not reflect your intentions. And make no mistake; your authority is at risk if youngsters believe you don't mean what you say.
Although doing it yourself might initially seem more convenient, in the long term, this will discourage your child from wanting to complete the task.
2. Talk through the clean-up process.
Telling the procedure to your child when they are initially learning the art of organising their rooms (also known as the skill of not stuffing everything under their bed).
Monday 3 July 2023
How to deal with restlessness
Sunday 2 July 2023
Friday 30 June 2023
Dippy the dinosaur at The Herbert Art Gallery Coventry.
Hey readers,
If you're looking for something to do with the kids in the West Midlands area, then why not visit the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry?
It hosts an impressive life-size replica of a Diplodocus carnegii skeleton – a 26-metre-long dinosaur that lived 155-145 million years ago.
For over 100 years, Dippy has been delighting visitors of all ages at the Natural History Museum in London. Now, Coventry families can discover the Jurassic giant on their doorstep.
Dippy will be at the Herbert until 2025, so there is plenty of time to visit if you want to.
Ensure you bring a digital or physical copy of your ticket when you visit to enter the gallery and collect any purchases from the shop.
Slots are bookable in 15-minute intervals, but you can stay as long as you wish.
If you wish to book for more than 10 people, please email our visitor experience team at ctm.info@cvlife.co.uk.
You can purchase enhanced tickets which will cost you £8 per person.
Online exclusive deal: This ticket includes entry to see Dippy and a goody bag, which contains Dippy: The Nation’s Favourite Dinosaur book from Natural History Museum and a plastic assorted dinosaur toy. Goody bags must be collected in person on the day of your visit.
If you feel even fancier, you can buy an Online exclusive deal: This ticket includes entry to see Dippy and a goody bag, which contains Dippy: The Nation’s Favourite Dinosaur book from Natural History Museum, a 15cm dinosaur teddy and a children's lunch voucher for Alfred's cafe.
Goody bags must be collected in person on the day of your visit.
My personal experience is my kids love seeing Dippy in actual real-life size.
They love exploring and seeing Dippy smiling. It is great to see the physical form of the dinosaur.
There is also a paper trail where you can fill in answers to questions relating to Dippy, adding more fun to your learning.
Plus, you can take the sheet away with you as on the other side of the sheet is a picture of Dippy you can colour in.
There is plenty of other artefacts relating to the era of Dippy. See the photos below.
Getting to Herbert Art Gallery is easy as it is in the city centre and a 5-minute walk from the train station.
Cheers for reading X
Monday 26 June 2023
How to make homemade coconut hair mask
A coconut oil hair mask is quick, low-cost, and efficient to calm frizzy, dry hair.
Because it includes lauric acid, a type of fatty acid that aids in moisturising your hair, it is a particularly effective hair treatment.
Follow these instructions to make an easy coconut oil hair mask at home.
Ingredients.
- * 2 tablespoons of coconut oil.
- * 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
- * 120 ml of honey (optional).
Method.
1. In a small dish, mix the coconut oil and the olive oil. Both coconut oil and olive oil are thin, natural treatments that can add shine and hydration to dry hair.
To get the most out of these hydrating substances, combine both in a dish.[1] For longer hair, increase the amount of each ingredient while maintaining the balance.
Because it nourishes and softens your hair, coconut oil is an ideal ingredient for hair masks.
2. Honey can be added to moisturise and brighten skin tone. Another all-natural product that locks in moisture is honey, which is also excellent if you want to lighten the colour of your hair subtly. To loosen it up, add 20 ml and thoroughly stir.
Don't add honey if you don't want to change the colour of your hair.
3. Gently comb the mixture through your hair. Apply the mixture to your hair with your hands and comb a wide-toothed comb through the strands to distribute it evenly. Make careful to cover all of your hair, from the tips to the roots, with the mask.
Pay special attention to coating your ends. They are usually the most damaged and dry parts of your hair.
4. Gently comb the mixture through your hair. Apply the mixture to your hair with your hands and comb a wide-toothed comb through the strands to distribute it evenly.
Make careful to cover all of your hair, from the tips to the roots, with the mask.
Pay special attention to coating your ends. They are usually the most damaged and dry parts of your hair.
5. To assist the mask in penetrating your hair, use heat. You can also use a hair dryer to heat your hair if you'd like.
For a few minutes, direct the drier at your hair to open the cuticle and aid the mask's efficacy.
6. In the shower, thoroughly rinse the mask, then condition it. After rinsing off the mask in the shower, condition your hair, as usual, to help eliminate any remaining products.
Although shampooing may suck out even more moisture from dehydrated hair, it is still an option.
To maintain healthy, smooth hair, use this mask once a week.
Cheers for reading X
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