Ad/Gifted – The Selfie Bag featured in this post was gifted to me in exchange for a review. However all opinions are my own.
Taking the perfect selfie can be a struggle, especially when getting the right angle and lighting. I must admit as much as I enjoy taking photos, selfies are something I'm just not comfortable with. Cotton Bag Co recently sent me their Selfie Bag which is a custom designed bag that is the ultimate accessory to make it easier for you to get the perfect photo on the go.
Raising children is a full-time job.
And if you’re a stay-at-home parent watching your little ones head off to school for the first time, you might be considering returning to your career.
This can be an intimidating prospect and you might find barriers that you hadn’t expected; industries are moving faster than ever before, and you probably feel as though you’ve been left behind.
If you’re ready to return to the work force, then check out this handy guide that will make that transition a little easier.
This month has been about getting us all into the new school routine and Blake has settled in so well. I've not picked up a book as often as I would usually as we've been spending the evenings out the front with one of our neighbours quite a bit while the weather has still been ok. Like last month I've read 3 books, 4 uf you count my current read.
You and me on vacation by Emily Henry
I had to fit one more summery read in before it started to get into the throws of autumn. Back in July I read Beach Read by the same author, as I really enjoyed it I had to pick up her new book. I did actually prefer this one over Beach Read.
TWO FRIENDS
TEN SUMMER TRIPS
THEIR LAST CHANCE TO FALL IN LOVE
The beginning of the week has been hard on Blake as he was sent home from school unwell Monday afternoon. He felt warm and was floppy so we picked him up early. When we got him home we tested his temperature which luckily was normal. A short while later he was sick and requested to be in his pjs and just laid on the sofa until he put himself to bed at 7pm. He was not sick again and so was able to go back to school on Thursday and was definitely back to his normal energetic self by then.
Today we went to a party as we were invited to celebrate a friends twin girls second birthday. Blake had a lovely time and was thrilled sitting with his friends eating pizza, chicken nuggets and grapes. There was a little soft play but Blake was happy just wondering round and exploring the outdoor area of the pub that the party was held at.
I don't know about you but I've already started getting organised for Christmas and have been buying presents in advance. There is nothing worse than being in a rush especially if you have someone tricky to buy for!
For today's competition, we have two prizes to offer you. The first prize is a £100 BuyAGift Voucher and the second prize is a £25 BuyAGift voucher. Both of these awesome prizes will come in handy for Christmas this year. What will you buy with your voucher?
This past week has really flown by. On Monday it was back to school for Blake and into year one. He was slightly unsure about going into a different part of the building but he managed to settle quickly. We met his new teacher briefly who seems really lovely.
By Friday he was absolutely exhausted and was definitely ready for a relaxed weekend. We decided we will wait until next week before we go on any weekend adventures so that he is more settled with the new school routine.
*This is a collaborative post*
So, you have decided to invest in new carpet for your living room, but have no idea what you need to look out for? Don't worry as I'm here to help you with a handy guide. Choosing new carpet is an investment for your home so it's definitely important to know what to look out for, then order numerous samples so you can see your potential new floor covering in the fleshbefore buying
*This is a collaborative post*
Over the years I've been pretty honest about my struggles with my mental health. It's something I've actually written quite a few posts on from moments in my anxious mind to my Generalised Anxiety Disorder Diagnosis last year.
There are things though when it comes to your mental health that can help you at times when you are struggling with depression, anxiety etc. Not everything I mention will work for everyone but these are some of the things that have helped me at times.
*This is a collaborative post*
After we first moved into our house and I wrote about our plans for our first home, I mentioned briefly about our attic room but today I thought I'd share with you more about our eventual plans for the room as it needs quite a bit doing to it. We are very lucky to have a good size attic space that we can eventually turn into a spare room.
At the moment the room is being used for storage but we have some ideas of what we would like to do. The attic space was starting to be converted when we bought the house but still needs a lot of work. When we start looking into doing the conversion we will definitely have to do a lot of research into planning permission, building regulations and also costs. We will also make sure we look into getting a professional tradesperson to do the job.
*This is a collaborative post*
With most lockdown restrictions lifted we have been eating out again. While the weather is lovely I've been making the most of finding local restaurants with outdoor spaces to enjoy the sunshine. We have a great variety of restaurants and places to eat local to us that are both well known companies as well as small businesses.
Now that most events are back on too its worthwhile finding out if any of your local event venues are available again. SquareMeal is a great place to find restaurant, bars and venue recommendations. I like to look up reviews on places before I go ahead and book anywhere and SquareMeal gives me the option to do that and I can book a table at my favourite restaurant through them. I also like that when it comes to a special occasion I can find the perfect event venues especially as there are places I wouldn't have thought of. I also like that if you are planning to visit somewhere new and not sure where to eat all you have to do is type the postcode/area into SquareMeal.
*This is a collaborative post*
At the beginning of the year I usually set goals/resolutions/ whatever you call them. This year I personally chose not to after everything with 2020 I thought it was best not to. Unfortunately this has meant alot of bad habits have crept in especially over the summer holidays. So now Blake is back in school, I've decided to set myself a few goals for the rest of 2021. I came across this post on 6 ways to stay motivated and achieve your goals which has some really handy advice.
Ad – Review. I was gifted the book and compensated in return for review purposes, however all thoughts are my own.
Today I get to share with you a wonderful personalised book from In The Book. In The Book have hundreds of personalised children’s books to choose from. From baby books to books for teens, classics and activity books this mean you are spoilt for choice. There are ranges from some of your favourites such as Disney, Beatrix Potter and Thomas along with fairytales and books for special occasions.
At In The Book they believe in the power of reading. Adding your child's name in the story and on the cover along with beautiful illustrations helps children to relate to the book and enjoy a magical reading journey.
*This is a collaborative post*
A lifestyle choice is often referred to as a conscious decision that a person makes to either better themselves or can be detrimental to their health. For the parents among us, there are a lot of different lifestyle choices that affect a child’s learning ability, their ability to communicate with others and how they handle daily activities. Here are some key lifestyle choices that can affect your child’s education, courtesy of a nursery in Abingdon.
*This is a collaborative post*
Why is Internet safety important for children?
With many people seeing the internet as a great place to find information for a lot of resources, games and community engagement, the internet also has its negative parts. These are areas that everyone should be aware of, but children especially need to be prepared for these things when they go to use the internet for the first time.
Here’s a quick rundown, from one of the best girls schools in Surrey, of some ways you can teach your child to be safe when online.
*This is a collaborative post*
Inquisitiveness is something that comes very naturally to most children, and it can be nurtured throughout their lives. It’s a concept that allows children to know when to be themselves, how to be creative and to build closer relationships with people.
To raise an inquisitive child, here are some ways that you can help them along their path, from the advice of a top girls prep school.
*This is a collaborative post*
Let your child be inquisitive, curious and creative with some ways you can boost their skills. Allowing your child to be open and keen to try new things or to build something with what’s presented in front of them can strengthen a lot of their skills and help their academic success.
This prep school in Hertfordshire has some key ways you can bring creativity into your child’s life.
Some of the items featured in this post include affiliate links. I’ve added a * next to those items for reference. Purchasing via these links do not cost you extra.
What a busy but fun month August has been. We have made the most of the summer holidays together with days out etc. Blake goes back to school on the 6th so we still have a few more days to enjoy together. Here are the things that we have been loving this month.
Netflix:
Aftermath
Desperate to save their marriage, a young couple takes a deal and moves into their dream home, but disturbing events reveal the house's troubled history.
Tattoo redo
Top artists transform tattoo disasters into stunning cover-ups, with designs chosen by the clients' loved ones.
Gone for good
Ten years after losing the two people he loved most, a man finds himself plunged into another dizzying mystery when his girlfriend suddenly vanishes.
Sweet girl
He lost the love of his life to a pharmaceutical company's greed. Now his daughter is without a mother, and he's without justice. For now.
Disney +
This month I signed up to Disney + and so far have watched a couple of shorts float and loop.
DVD
Peter Rabbit 2
I preordered *Peter Rabbit 2 on DVD as I knew that Blake would really want to see it.
