LIKES & LOVES| MARCH 2022

March hasn't been a great month for us if I'm honest. I caught a vomiting bug and covid at the same time so one week of the month was a write off where I hardly left the sofa as I was so exhausted. So I must admit there isn't much to share compared to previous months. Even so here are the things I've loved this month.

Netflix

Pieces of her

A woman pieces together her mother's dark past after a violent attack in their small town brings hidden threats and deadly secrets to light. Based on the book by Karin Slaughter.

Little Women (2019)

While the March sisters enter the threshold of womanhood, they go through many ups and downs in life and endeavour to make important decisions that can affect their future. I've been meaning to watch this film for ages and finally got round to it.

The Adam Project

After accidentally crash-landing in 2022, time-traveling fighter pilot Adam Reed teams up with his 12-year-old self for a mission to save the future. 

Disney Plus

Turning Red

Mei Lee is a 13-year-old girl who is torn between being her mother's obedient daughter and the chaos of her youth. As if that were not enough, when she gets too excited, she turns into a big red panda.

2022 READING CHALLENGE | WHAT I'VE READ IN MARCH

I've read quite a few books this month but there are only two out of five I've given 4/5  stars and the rest are 3. There is also a book that I started but didn't finish that book is Traces by Patricia Wiltshire. It is a memoir of her time as a forensic scientist and criminal investigator. It had really great potential and what I did read had some interesting insight into forensic ecology however the parts about her life were boring and I just couldn't continue to read on. However lets move onto what I have read this month.

Good Vibes, Good Life by Vex King 

Vex King shares inspirational messages and universal wisdom to help you manifest positive vibes. I had high hopes for this book having read some positive reviews, however it just wasn't for me. I found it to be quite repetitive and I personally feel there are better self help books out there. 

GIVE ME COSMETICS | THE SKINCARE SET

 Ad/Gifted – The Skincare Set from Give Me Cosmetics featured in this post was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

If you or someone you know is into looking after their skin and/or love trying new products than the skincare range set from Give Me Cosmetics is for you. The set makes an ideal gift for a loved one or as a treat for yourself.  

The skincare set contains 5 full size products to glow up your skincare routine in a fun and easy way. The set contains products that are worth £60 and you only pay £25 for the lot.

The 5 products included are:

- Cleansing Balm

- Facial Toner

- Facial Serum 

- Eye Cream

- Day Cream

OUR EASTER BUCKET LIST

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Easter is fast approaching so it's time we start getting prepared for the Easter Holidays. Blake will be off school for 19 days (including the weekends) so we need to keep busy so he doesn't get bored. We are away for part of the holidays however we still have things we want to do outside of that. So I've complied a list incase anyone finds it useful. Some will be location specific days out however there are lots of ideas to suit everyone. 

MOTHERS DAY WITH GIVE ME COSMETICS

Ad/Gifted – The Mothers Day Gift Set from Give Me Cosmetics featured in this post was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

If you are still looking for a gift idea for Mothers Day than Give Me Cosmetics has got you covered. If your Mum or other mother figure is into Cosmetics and trying out new products than you need to get your hands on the Mothers Day Gift Set!

The Mother's Day Gift Set contains 11 products for making Mum feel loved and pampered this Mothers Day. The products in the set are worth a total of £97, however you pay £32. The 11 products included are as follows:

-  A Shampoo and Conditioner

- 1 sachet of Argan Oil & Coconut Oil Hair Mask

- 1 Vitamin C Eye Patches rapeseed Oil & Olive

- 1 Oil Makeup Remover 

- 1 Anti-Ageing Day Cream

- 1 Eco Pad - Pink or Black 

- A Deep Cleansing Bubble Mask 

- Lemonade Lip Repair

- 1 Silicone Face Mask brush

- 1 Collagen Sheet Mask 

Is My Child Ready for Nursery?

*This is a collaborative post

When it comes to nursery and showing your child the many educational activities they can get up to, it’s important to keep in mind that your child needs to be at the right level to start nursery and have fun with it. This is why it’s important to ask yourself when your child is ready for nursery - these factors from this childcare centre in Richmond will help you figure out when is the best time.

How to Raise a Respectful Child

*This is a collaborative post

Respect is a key moral value that gives your child the opportunity to converse with others, show their kindness, and be helpful members of society. When they’re babies, children tend to be crying and demanding attention, but when they’re older they will become more aware of their surroundings, and understanding that crying will not get them far. Here are some tips to raising a respectful child from this grammar school in Surrey.

Exploring Moral Values with Your Child

 *This is a collaborative post

Moral values are important to a child, and they will be explored throughout their childhood. As parents, we should be exploring moral values all the time with our children; here are some tips you can use that this private nursery in Shoreditch recommends.

GIVEAWAY: THE HUMAN BODY UNDER X-RAY JIGSAW

Ad/Gifted – The Human Body Under X-Ray Jigsaw featured in this post was gifted to me in exchange for this post. All thoughts are my own.

There are lots of ways to make learning fun and we have a range of toys and games for just that and now we have  The Human Body Under X-Ray Jigsaw. The Human Body Under X-Ray Jigsaw (suitable for ages 6-10 years) is an exciting way to learn about parts of the Human Body and what is inside. The left side of the Jigsaw features the organs whilst the right side features the skeleton and bones. The Jigsaw isn't just an educational Jigsaw but also using a UV light on it the names of all the body parts appear and the organs and bones become visible on the people.

The Benefits of Sports in Schools

*This is a collaborative post

Sports in schools bring a range of benefits to students, and is a big part of all school curriculums to give children the best chances to explore new experiences. There are also benefits to your child’s studies and their mindset when they come to school that makes for better learning all round. Here are some benefits that this prep school in London shares with us.

 

MAKING MONEY BY SELLING ON VINTED

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I've sold items online before and didn't get on that well with Ebay and Facebook marketplace. So last September I decided to try out selling on Vinted after hearing about it for a while. I still donate to charity shops from time to time but I had lots of clothing Blake had grown out of piled up at the bottom of his wardrobe. It was doing my head in as every time I opened his wardrobe they would fall out,  plus I had some clothing items of mine I wanted to get rid of. So trying out Vinted has definitely helped me to make a bit of money. Here are 5 reasons to shop and sell on Vinted as it's not just about making extra cash.

SPRING CLEAN YOUR FINANCES

When it comes to spring cleaning it not just your home you need to think about.  Taking time to look at your finances and see if there are things you can change is a must. It's important that we get into good money habits. So that is why I'm sharing with you some of the things that you can do to make better financial choices and habits so that you get your family finances in order. There are also a great selection of financial freedom books out there that are really helpful. 

Mothers Day Gift Guide 2022

Ad -  I was sent the items featured for the purpose of this gift guide. 

Spring is almost here and that means that Mothers Day is also round the corner. Some countries have Mothers Day in May, however here in the UK it's in March. This year Mothers Day falls on Sunday 27th March which also happens to be when the clocks go forward. I have put a Gift Guide together, like I do every year for those of you who need a bit of inspiration. I'm sure that you will find something suitable to treat those lovely Mums out there. You may also want to check out How to plan the best Mothers Day.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY WITH GIRLS OUT LOUD/BUYAGIFT

Tomorrow (8th March)  is International Women's Day. A day to celebrate and  recognise women's achievements and take action towards gender equality.  This year the UK’s leading gift experience provider, Buyagift, is working at supporting the charity Girls Out Loud.  

TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ISN'T ALWAYS EASY

 *Trigger Warning : Features attempted suicide 

*This is a collaborative post

We are often told to talk about our mental health however it isn't always that simple. Back in 2009 at the age of 19, after my fathers death I was diagnosed with depression. However I'm pretty sure that I had undiagnosed depression from my early teen years. I may be open about my mental health these days but I never used to be comfortable. There are still times though that I feel I don't want to open up on how I am feeling. Having a mental health day now and again is important for my wellbeing. 

I do share quotes and numbers of services to reach out to if you are struggling. However I've not touched on how talking about mental health isn't always easy. Sometimes as much as you want to you talking about mental health can be difficult. Whether it's the first time talking about your feelings or like me been open and talked about your struggles sometimes there are just no words. Below are some of the reasons why somone may not talk about their mental health.

WIN A £200 AMAZON EGIFTCARD

March is here and it's time for an exciting giveaway! What would you do with £200 to spend on Amazon? You might want to get your thinking caps on as I'm collaborating with some amazing bloggers, to give someone the chance to Win a £200 Amazon eGiftcard. Amazon is one of my favourite places to shop as you can buy near enough everything there. If I had £200 to spend right now on Amazon I'd definitely use it to buy things for our home. But you could spend it however you want if you win. Maybe you have some birthdays coming up you need to buy for or to spruce up the garden or just want to treat yourself. 

The prize on offer

Times are hard in 2022 in a huge variety of ways. It seems like the price of everything is going up and up. What could be better than winning a whopping £200 e-giftcard for Amazon UK to help ease the financial pressure? Amazon used to be known as just a seller of books back in the day but these days there is hardly anything that they don't sell. From groceries to tennis balls, mascara to jigsaws, dog treats to TVs... talk about a one stop shop. Which is why I have joined forces with a fabulous group of UK bloggers to offer up this fantastic prize for one lucky winner... that's right, you could be in with a chance of winning a £200 eGiftcard for Amazon UK.

4 online side-hustles you need to try

 *This post contains a few referral links. However nothing will cost you extra.

The cost of living is increasing ridiculously with fuel skyrocketing, food prices are creeping up and even energy prices are getting to the point that alot of us can't afford them and are most likely to go even higher. It's definitely a worry for alot of people, however there are ways you can make a bit of extra cash here and there. I've featured some of the things that I personally do or have done to make a bit of extra cash.