LIKES & LOVES| JANUARY 2022

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 does not cost you extra.

January has felt slow as it usually does although it definitely wasn't as bad as last year. We've been to a friends daughters 6th birthday party, booked a Butlins holiday for April and mainly had time spent at home. February is going to be busy so I'm glad that January has been a fairly quiet month. Now onto the things I've loved this month.

Netflix

Stay Close 

Based on the book by Harlan Coben with the same name Stay Close shares the lives of a photojournalist, a soccer mom and a homicide detective, that are disturbed by a terrible event from the past.

Emily in Paris season 2

Chicago marketing executive Emily Cooper is hired to provide an American perspective at a marketing firm in Paris. I had to watch the second season as I loved season one. 

The Witcher

I recently came across The Witcher and binged watched both seasons this month. The witcher Geralt, a mutated monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world in which people often prove more wicked than beasts.

Don't look up

Two low-level astronomers must go on a giant media tour to warn mankind of an approaching comet that will destroy planet Earth. There are mixed views on this film but I got into it and found it interesting.

Disney Plus

Encanto 

You have most likely have heard of Encanto since it's popularity.  The Madrigals are an extraordinary family who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia in a charmed place called the Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift -- every child except Mirabel. However, she soon may be the Madrigals last hope when she discovers that the magic surrounding the Encanto is now in danger.

*Dew Sterling Silver and Rose Gold Cubic Zirconia earrings 

These were a Christmas gift from my husband they are really comfortable to wear and pretty with a touch of sparkle.

2022 READING CHALLENGE | WHAT I'VE READ IN JANUARY

Reading wise I've made a great start into my goal of reading 70 books this year. I've read five books this month two of which are fairly short reads and are non fiction where the remaining three are fiction.  

The Little Book of Sleep by Dr Nerina Ramlakhan

I was disappointed with this read tbh. Some of the information was useful but alot of the information and tips mentioned in this book are things that are well known. 

BEAUTY AND SKINCARE PRODUCTS YOU NEED TO BUY

When it comes to beauty and skincare I love to try out new products. I have a skincare routine for both morning and night which works well for me. I believe that it's important get skincare right. There are so many different products though that you may feel overwhelmed so I've complied a list of products that you need to buy. I've not included make up and may end up doing a separate post on that. I however have included a few haircare related items.

POLAR CREDIT : HOW THEY CAN HELP YOU

 *This is a collaboration with Polar Credit

Life can throw a curveball at you. During the past few years many of us have come into financial difficulties. Covid sure has a lot to answer for thanks to many people being furloughed, hours being cut, having to juggle working from home whilst homeschooling. The stress about money to pay the bills on top is definitely something that isn't needed. Plus it's January which tends to be a bit tougher financially because Christmas has been and gone and December payday was most likely earlier than other months.

If you are in a position where you need to borrow money NEVER opt for payday loans as they cause much more stress and have high interest fees which you really don't need. Instead find a company like Polar Credit who offer alternative financial services.

Teaching Your Child to Resist Peer Pressure

 *This is a collaborative post

The influence that peers have on our lives starts at early childhood and becomes greater as we grow into teenagers. There are 6 main forms that this can take. Peer pressure can be direct, indirect, positive, negative, unspoken and spoken. All these types can in some way contribute to your child’s mental health and even make them feel pressured to act in a way that they otherwise wouldn’t. This can be a hard social force to ignore which is why we have teamed up with an independent school in Bristol to share ways that you can teach your child to resist peer pressure.

Helping Your Child Develop their Fine Motor Skills

 *This is a collaborative post

Tying shoelaces, using a spoon, and pressing buttons all require a group of skills known as fine motor skills. These can be built through practice and play can make that possible. We have teamed up with a senior school in Lincolnshire to share how you can help your child to develop fine motor skills through play. 

Top Tips for Helping Your Child with Maths

*This is a collaborative post

While maths might not be the most exciting subject for some, it plays a huge role in child development. Aside from gaining numerical smarts, your child can enhance their analytical, problem solving, critical thinking, and time management skills. We have teamed up with a boys’ school in St Albans to share a few of our top tips for helping children with their maths.

Supporting Your Child's Mental Health

*This is a collaborative post

In 2020 it was estimated that a probable 1 in 6 children (aged 5 to 16) were likely to have some form of mental health issue. This is an increase of 50% that needs to be tackled but how do we help? We have teamed up with a sixth form in Hampshire to share a few tips on supporting children with their mental health.

Benefits Of Practising Maths Before Exam

 Mathematics is a subject that you cannot ignore if you have plans to have a career in the technology sector.

In this context, it is also best to acknowledge the fact that mathematics is a tough subject for one and all. If someone states otherwise they are lying.

With that stated, it is no news that practising mathematics lessons throughout the year has many upsides but at the same time, did you know that practising mathematics the week before your exam can help you get good grades?

HOW TO PLAN YOUR DREAM WINTER WEDDING

*This is a collaborative post

Are you considering a winter wedding? It comes at no surprise that summer time is the most popular time to get married. People tend to be put off  having a wedding during the winter months due to the weather and how cold it can be. However a winter wedding can be just as romantic, especially with the cosy atmosphere and gorgeous wintery colours. You may even be lucky and get snow like Stuart and I did on our special day. 

Most Significant Benefits Of Hiring Professional SEO Services

If you wish for your business to promote through digital means, it is surely very important for you to implement effective search engine optimization onto your digital content in order to get yourself noticed out of the huge crowd. However, it surely requires a whole lot of research work as well as time in order to make your website SEO compliant in order to achieve more traffic. Therefore, it is always highly advisable to get in touch with professionals who can help you spread your business in a more effective way, without wasting much of your precious time.

MAKING S.M.A.R.T GOALS FOR 2022

Happy New Year! I always start a new year off with setting goals. When setting my goals for the New Year I make sure my goals are S.M.A.R.T. 

S.M.A.R.T stands for Specific, Measurable, Achieveable, Relivant and Timebased. 

Specific - Being specific will mean breaking down what you want to achieve. Ask yourself questions such as what, where, why, when and who. 

Measurable - How will you know you have completed your goal? How do you plan to track how you are doing?

Achieveable - Is your goal actually attainable? Do you have the time ? 

Relivant - Is your goal worthwhile? Does it fit in with what is happening in your life currently?

Timebased - When will this goal begin and end? Set milestones along the way, what do you want to have achieved quater of away and half  the way through?