Make Your Life Easier as a Mumpreneur

by on May 2, 2019, 0 comments

With childcare costs at an all-time high and earnings not really falling into line, it’s little wonder that so many women are turning to the idea of running their own businesses from home. The advantages of working in your own home are numerous, allowing you to set your own hours, work around school times and school holidays, and ultimately save a lot of money on childcare. It’s not for everyone, and some people struggle with the challenges of running a business in their home, but if you’ve got the drive and the patience, it can be a great alternative to a traditional 9-5 career.

If you’re thinking about becoming a work-at-home-mum, or even if you already are and are looking to make your life a bit easier, we’ve got some tips on how you can delegate certain tasks.

Get an Assistant

If you’re not keen on the idea of having someone coming to work alongside you in your home office every day, virtual receptionist services could be a great solution. For as little as 30p per day, you could have an automated service to handle all of the calls you don’t have time to deal with. It also means that you’re not tied to a desk and have the freedom to work from absolutely anywhere without the risk of missing important calls or losing business – far cheaper than a human assistant!

Outsource the Cleaning

Having a cleaner may seem like a luxury you can’t afford, but when you think about how much time you spend cleaning in a week, and then consider the fact that you could spend that time working on your business instead, can you afford NOT to have a cleaner?! Taking the domestic chores off of your plate can free you up for more important things and increase your earning potential.

Co-Parenting

As we mentioned above, childcare is a massive expense for many families, which is why homeworking is good for parents of younger kids. However, when you’ve got a deadline or an important meeting to deal with, having kids around isn’t always doable. Teaming up with another Mumpreneur could be the answer – arrange to cover each other’s childcare during important times and the reciprocal arrangement means your childcare won’t cost anything and you both have the opportunity to develop your businesses when you need to. This can also work when you have to start doing school runs – take it in turns each day to take the kids to school while the other works.

Do Everything Online

The world is set up so that most things can now be one online, so set aside a couple of hours each week to get as much done online as you can. From your weekly shop to paying bills and even booking appointments, doing things in a set time slot each week can save you lots of time and give you a clearer head for dealing with work-related tasks. You can even use services which will not only remind you that someone’s birthday is coming up but will also send a card out to them without you even needing to go near a post box!

Get Your Beauty On!

If you’re the kind of person who likes to look ‘put together’ but struggle for time, there are a few things you can do to help you feel good without spending hours in the bathroom each morning. A Brazillian blow dry will cut down on hair styling time and keep your mane sleek without too much heat. Having your eyelashes permed and tinted could help give you the confidence to go out without mascara and having your eyebrows micro-bladed could save you loads of time each day, too. Think about your beauty priorities and see if there’s a permanent or semi-permanent solution.

The Importance of Family Dental Hygiene

by on April 8, 2019, 0 comments
Image Source: https://bit.ly/2vqqjHP

Just recently, all four of us had our yearly check up at the dentist. Husband and I were given the thumbs up by our dentist, who said we’re obviously taking good care of our teeth and practising proper dental hygiene, but he had a few notes for the girls.

Sausage needed to include her gums when she’s brushing, because her gums bled slightly when the dentist prodded at them (something they don’t want to see) and BB was told she’s doing a good job but she needed to make sure she’s including her whole mouth when she brushes, not just at the front. He also said it would be a good idea to visit an orthodontic clinic in the net few months as Sausage is getting to the age where a decision about braces can be made.

A lot of people don’t realise, but poor dental hygiene can actually lead to a whole load of other health problems, not all of which will be in your mouth – it can even put you at risk of a heart attack. Here are some serious health problems, from the NHS website, which can start with poor dental hygiene:

  • Gum disease dangers

    Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that support the teeth. It’s mainly caused by bacteria from plaque build-up. In some people who are susceptible to gum disease, the body over-reacts to the bacteria around the gums and causes too much inflammation. In others, the inflammation doesn’t clear up properly. The result of the intense gum inflammation is that it also affects the bloodstream, and is believed to slowly damage blood vessels in the heart and brain over a long period of time.

    What’s the damage?

    Gum disease has been linked to a variety of other health problems, including:

    • heart disease and heart attacks
    • diabetes and its control
    • stroke
    • rheumatoid arthritis

    Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter, explains: “The link between oral health and overall body health is well documented and backed by robust scientific evidence. Despite this, only 1 in 6 people realises that people with gum disease may have an increased risk of stroke or diabetes. And only 1 in 3 is aware of the heart disease link.”

So how do we get kids to take their dental health seriously? Obviously we don’t want to scare them with tales of heart disease and diabetes, but impressing upon them how important it is to keep their mouths in good shape can be the difference between a life of good health and serious ongoing issues. 

Start As You Mean to Go On

Establishing a good routine from an early age is essential to getting kids to see tooth brushing as part of their daily activities. You can start brushing teeth as soon as they erupt, using a special baby toothbrush with no paste. Help them to make a game of brushing by doing it to music and letting baby have a go of doing it themselves. If they see tooth brushing as fun, they’re far more likely to want to do it.

Get An App

There are loads of apps out there which have built-in timers to ensure kids brush for the correct amount of time and also often have fun songs or animations which your kids can brush along with. Have a look in your device’s app store to find one suitable for you.

Offer a Reward

Giving your child a reward for brushing should be a regular item in a parent’s arsenal, but the reward that works best will depend on your child’s age and interests. Someone under the age of eight, for example, may be receptive to a funny bedtime story before lights out – but only after he brushes. For an older child, a good reward might be letting him watch an episode of a favourite TV show between brushing and bed.

Remember, good dental hygiene doesn’t just happen in the bathroom – what they eat and drink can also be a contributing factor. People are mostly aware that fizzy drinks and sugary sweets are an issue, but a lot of people fail to remember that fruit and milk also have high sugar and acid contents, which can also attack the enamel of teeth.

If your kids eat fruit or drink milk, make sure they clean their teeth afterwards and try to give only water before bed as the lack of saliva  in the mouth during sleep means that it’s even easier for the tooth decay to occur.

Win a Sudocrem ‘Get Out and Grow’ Bag Worth £40

by on March 29, 2019, 3 comments

Husband and I have always been passionate about getting the kids outdoor and spend a lot of time educating them about nature. It’s something we both find really interesting and that love of all things nature-related really seems to have permeated down to the kids, too. We’ve lived out in the countryside for almost 4 years now and we absolutely love it – we all agree that our very favourite thing about living out here is the huge variety of wildlife that we get to see every day.

That’s why, when I read the results of a survey conducted by Sudocrem, I couldn’t help but feel a little sad. Here’s what they found:

“Whilst 87% of British households do have a garden, it’s clear growing isn’t something that families do together. Over half of British children between 4 and 8 are unable to name 5 vegetables or fruits grown in this country, with 95% unable to name 3 herbs. Many of those couldn’t identify basic gardening tools, with only 8% able to identify a trowel, 80% never having seen a rake before and, worrying, 79% believing worms are bad for plants. 

73% of those asked said they had never grown a sunflower, while only 8% had ever picked an apple, which perhaps explains why they’re unable to name even one. Less than 10% had dug up a vegetable and only 6% had ever eaten a fresh pea from the pod. Based on this evidence, it is perhaps unsurprising that only 20% have ever eaten a vegetable they’ve grown themselves.”

That’s why we’ve teamed up with Sudocrem to give away TWO Get Out and Grow goody bags, containing a whole load of stuff that will help kids to get outside and learn all about planting their own produce.

Goody bags contents for 2-5 yr olds include:
– Get Out and Grow branded drawstring bag
– Get Out and Grow branded t-shirt for 3-4 yr olds
– My Little Sudocrem
– Child’s gardening gloves
– Small watering can
– Mini gorilla gardening tub
– Flower seed packet
– Lavender seed packet
– A few coloured sticks to use as plant markers

The packs contain over £40 worth of goodies and winning one couldn’t be simpler. Just leave me a comment below telling me what your favourite variety of apple is! The giveaway will stay open until 26th April 2019, so you’ve got plenty of time to enter. 

Recipe – Herby Lamb Steaks #MeatMatters

by on March 25, 2019, 1 comment

Herby Lamb Steaks*This post is an entry for the #MeatMatters Challenge, sponsored by Simply Beef and Lamb. Learn more about the benefits of cooking and eating beef and lamb along with recipe ideas and inspiration here: https://www.simplybeefandlamb.co.uk/*

It’s no secret that I’m a bit of a meat-lover. Steak is one of my favourite meals and my mother-in-law’s lamb stew is basically my all-time best comfort food. Lamb is something I love to cook and eat but I do tend to favour the ‘low and slow’ method of cooking, which means that dinners around lamb usually have to be carefully planned and executed.

So when BritMums and Simply Beef and Lamb challenged me to come up with a recipe for beef or lamb which could be cooked in under 30 minutes, I thought this would be a great opportunity to make something quick and easy with lamb. Lamb is such a great meat for the family to enjoy; it’s packed with protein and provides four essential vitamins and minerals which help reduce tiredness and fatigue.

I wanted to pair our lamb with ingredients which were both seasonal and packed a nutrition-punch, so here’s what I made:

Herby Lamb Steaks with Spring Greens and New Potatoes

Recipe - Herby Lamb Steaks #MeatMatters
 
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A tasty way to enjoy lamb in under thirty minutes.
Author:
Recipe type: Lamb
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • Lamb steaks (we allowed two per adult and one per child)
  • Garlic - five cloves
  • Rosemary - half a cup, finely chopped
  • Sea Salt - one tablespoon
  • Spring greens - Two heads, shredded
  • Olive Oil - one tablespoon
  • Shallots - two, finely chopped
  • Mustard seeds - one tablespoon
  • Apple cider vinegar - two tablespoons
  • New potatoes - 500g
  • Knob of butter to serve
Instructions
  1. Boil a kettle and cover the new potatoes with boiling water on the hob, allowing them to simmer for around 20 minutes.
  2. Crush the garlic cloves and combine with the chopped rosemary and sea salt on a plate
  3. Lay each lamb steak on the herby mix on each side to coat
  4. Place herby lamb steaks under a pre-heated grill on high and cook for around 5 minutes on each side for medium rare (7 minutes on each side for well-done if you don't like any pink inside your lamb)
  5. While the lamb and potatoes are cooking, add the olive oil to a pan and gently start to heat the shallots until they're translucent.
  6. Add the mustard seeds and stir
  7. Add the shredded spring greens to the pan and allow to wilt for five minutes, turning frequently so that the shallots mix in and don't start to catch
  8. Once the greens have wilted down, add the apple cider vinegar, stirring through quickly before taking off of the heat.
  9. Drain the potatoes and stir the butter through until melted
  10. Serve

I could tell this recipe was going to be a hit as Husband shouted down “dinner smells AMAZING!” while I was cooking, and the girls kept asking for minute-by-minute updates on when it would be ready!

Having a dinner which centred around lamb ready from fridge to plate in under 30 minutes was fantastic and the whole family agreed that it was one of the tastiest meals we’d had in a long time. It was absolutely jam-packed with essential vitamins and minerals, so I felt extra happy about feeding it to my family and the fact that it was all made using products which were in season was an even bigger bonus as it meant that the meal was super fresh.

The meat was grilled and only the tiniest amount of oil and butter were used to create the side dishes, making this a really healthy, well-balanced dinner. The girls love lamb steaks because there are no bones to deal with and they were so tender and juicy after being grilled – I think this may even be my new favourite lamb dish.

If you’d like to see the other beef and lamb dishes that people have created for the #MeatMatters challenge, head over to Twitter or Instagram and search for the hashtag.

Five Ways to Get Your Kids Interested in Reading

by on March 6, 2019, 2 comments
Southend on Sea’s award-winning Children’s Library © Andy Spain www.asvisual.com

With World Book Day on the horizon and parents around the country scrambling to put together costumes for the kids, we’re all thinking about the books that we love. It’s a great way to get kids to be creative and learn about new books from their friends, but what do we do for the rest of the year when books just aren’t as engaging to kids as gadgets or screens? Although the girls both love a bit of screen time, they’re also complete bookworms and love reading, so I thought I’d share with you five tips on how to get kids interested in reading:

Give Them Freedom

There’s a tendency with a lot of parents to try to get their kids to focus on “real” books, steering them towards novels which they feel their kids should be reading. However, we’ve found that giving kids freedom over what they read is a much better way to get them to read. Whether it’s a comic, magazine, joke book, even a recipe book – if they find it engaging, it’s ALL reading! Their tastes will likely change over time, but removing the pressure can have a profound effect. Happy Beds have released a new World Book Day campaign, which looks at the UK’s best bedtime books. This is a great list and hopefully your children will love the thought of reading some of these!

Read With Them

While some kids find snuggling down in a corner with a book a pleasant experience, some kids find it isolating, which in turn discourages them. Ask if you can read to them, or let them read to you, and make it something fun that you can do together. You can even sit together and read your own books to yourselves, but a sense of closeness and companionship can really help.

Make it Fun

There’s are SO many ways to make reading fun. Pick a corner of the room and make it your reading nook, get some blankets and torches and make yourselves a reading den, pick a character each and do your own voices for them! Kids will engage with a book in a much bigger way if they feel that what they’re reading is fun and exciting.

Visit a Library

Library use is way down in recent years and far fewer parents take their kids to the library than ever before, which is such a shame. Check your library for fun events, as they often have things running in the holidays. Also, when you go to the library, don’t just check your books out and leave – many libraries have comfy little spots where you can sit and read while you’re there, which will maximise the value of your visit and give your kids a sense that going to the library is an event in itself.

Be Topical

Kids often like books when they have context to their lives. If they’ve watched a film about space, find a book on the same subject so they can learn more. If they’re currently mad about dinosaurs or cooking or a sport, encourage them to read about the subject as this will help improve their knowledge and vocabulary.

Do you have any tips for getting kids to become book-lovers or fun ideas for how to celebrate World Book Day? I’d love to hear them, so please do leave me a comment below.

Maureen – One Year On #PethoodStories

by on February 27, 2019, 0 comments

We’ve been asked by Petplan Pet Insurance to tell you one of our Pethood Stories.

When we lost Chuck back in December 2017, we said it would take us a long time before we ever considered getting another dog. When he passed, we told the girls our belief that energy can never be destroyed which means that his energy would pass into something else and maybe that energy would find its way back to us one day, but we expected to be a petless family for quite some time.

Then, a month or so later, my friends dog had a litter of puppies and one of them was born with a broken tail which looked EXACTLY like Chuck’s. I showed Husband the picture and it took us about 30 seconds to decide it was too much of a coincidence and we needed to have her. I messaged my friend and thankfully the puppy hadn’t been reserved by anyone else, so she was ours. We had to wait until she was ready to leave her mum at 8 weeks and we decided that we’d keep it all a secret from the girls and surprise them.

 

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We spent weeks making surreptitious arrangements, buying a crate, a puppy pen, a bed, researching Petplan Pet Insurance and all sorts of other stuff that we had to try to hide from Sausage and BB, but amazingly enough we did it. On the day we were due to collect our puppy, we didn’t even tell the girls where we were going, we just said that we had to go somewhere to collect a package. In fact, our sweet, trusting babies didn’t even realise what we were there for, even when we were standing in my friends’ living room, surrounded by puppies!

It’s been a maaaaaad year. Having a puppy is a shock after having an elderly dog who was already trained to do everything when he got him, aged two, but actually the toilet training and other stuff all went amazingly well. She’s a really intelligent, enthusiastic dog who fitted in with our family from really early on.

via GIPHY

We’ve had ups and downs – one low point being when Maureen managed to steal a chicken skewer from a plate and swallow it, stick and all. Leaving her at the vets to have emergency surgery when she was just a few months old was really hard, but she made it through and we learned a LOT from that day…mainly not to ever leave plates unattended.

Next Tuesday marks a whole year since Maureen came to live with us and it’s gone so fast! She’s grown into such a fabulous dog, and although she’s still a boisterous little monkey at times, she’s loving and loyal and an absolute pleasure to be with. She’ll never replace Chuck, but she’s taught us how to love again after losing such an important part of our lives and for that, I’ll always be grateful.

So, here’s to Maureen. A year as a Crammond and carrying on your brother’s legacy of being stubborn, greedy and the best kisser in the whole house. We love you, Beansy.

For more Pethood Stories and the results of the Petplan Pet Census 2018, head over to their site. This post is in conjunction with Petplan but all thoughts are my own

 

The Best Keto Friendly Curry

by on February 27, 2019, 0 comments

Curry, it’s one of the most delicious dishes on the planet, but don’t think just because you are rocking a low carb diet that you can’t eat it. In fact with its combination of meat, vegetables, and a creamy sauce you can make a delicious low carb curry for you and the family with minimal effort. Just read the post below to find out how.

Equipment needed

First off, before we get into what ingredients you will need to create this curry you need to check you have all the right equipment.

Don’t worry though, as you don’t need masses of specialized stuff. In fact chopping boards, a sharp knife, and something like one of these cast iron casserole dishes will do. The latter being the best way to slow cook the curry and get a delicious rich flavour.

Ingredients

Next, you need to think about the ingredient you will include in your curry. Obviously, meat is a good starting point as this is low in carbs and full of tasty and filling protein. Most folks go for chicken, but beef and lamb also work well, and if you are looking to push the boat out using some king prawns works well too.


Image source

Curry powder is an essential ingredient for this dish.

For the sauce, you can use plenty of veg including onions, garlic, and tomatoes. Of course, most ketoers limit the amount of onion and tomatoes they use but remember as long as you don’t go overboard, the net carbs in both is fairly minimal and well worth spending on a delicious evening meal.

Red and green paper also make an excellent choice to include in your curry and are similarly low in net carbs. You’ll also need cream or cream substitute, and some good old fashioned curry powder and ghee to get things going.

Recipe

Start with heating the spices, herbs, and curry powder in the ghee, so they brown. Then add the meat once it’s been cut into chunks.

Once that has browned add the veg and a little water and leave to simmer on the stove top for around 10 minutes. After that, it’s time to add the cream stir and then place the dish with the lid on in a low oven. Leave to slow cook for an hour or more, and at the end, you will have created a delicious family dish.

Serve with

The best thing about serving up this delicious version of curry is that you get to eat wit with some pretty impressive side dishes as well. Of course, you’ll have to eschew the samosas and poppadoms, but in their place why not treat yourself to some seriously low carb cauliflower rice? You can even by this read made and frozen from the supermarket now, so all you need to do is bung it in the microwave for a few moments.

Alternatively making yummy spinach paneer is also totally keto friendly and delicious too, so go ahead and treat yourself and your family to a delicious low carb curry night!

 

What To Think About When Buying a New Bed

by on February 26, 2019, 0 comments
Photo by feliperizo.co | heart made on Unsplash

If you’re in the market for a new bed and have already done some browsing, you’re probably well aware of the huge range of options available out there. In fact, a lot of people feel totally overwhelmed when it comes to buying a bed and the wealth of options sometimes leads people to make the wrong decisions, so today we’re taking a look at five things that you should think about when buying new beds.

Mattress

The mattress is probably the most important part of a bed and the bit which will ensure you get a good night’s sleep for years to come. When choosing a mattress, think about whether you’re a side, back or front sleeper, whether you like a firm, medium or soft base to lay on and also whether the mattress has a ‘try at home’ offer to allow you to see if you like it. It’s a big investment and you want to get it right.

Size

Having the biggest bed possible might seem like a good idea, but having a bed which totally swamps your room could actually make you feel more closed in. Pick a bed which leaves ample room for a bedside table on each side (or on one side if it’s a single or going against a wall) so that you can safely get in and out of bed when you need to.

Headboard

Are you planning to have headboards on your beds? Many people don’t, opting for a divan base with no headboard, but heads boards can be valuable in many ways. They insulate you from the wall behind, stopping the cold from getting to you, and they also make beds more flexible in terms of where you position them – a bed with it’s own headboard doesn’t need to be pushed against the wall to stop your pillow from falling off the back all night!

Base

The base of your bed will make a difference to your room in many ways. An ornate base will add to the aesthetic of the room, but a divan or storage base could give you a whole load of added storage space that you might not have been able to otherwise you. You can also get beds which have another trundle bed underneath them, giving you double the sleeping space if you regularly have guest or want to co-sleep with your child.

Your Weight

This one might seem odd, but bear with us. If you’re a very small, light person there’s a good chance that you’ll barely compress your mattress when you sleep on it, however, larger, heavier people will create more pressure on a mattress top, That’s why the latter group should probably think about getting either a memory foam or pillow-top mattress so that you aren’t pressed against the tops of springs all night.

5 Unique Ways to Give your Room the WOW Factor!

by on February 26, 2019, 0 comments

MirrorWhen it comes to interior design, unless you’re an expert it can sometimes seem daunting trying to envisage what a room will look like when you’re finished decorating. You can have big ideas for the finished project, but when it all comes together it feels like it’s lacking something. Today, I’m sharing five ideas of how to add a WOW factor to your room to give you some inspiration for your decorating project.

Graphic Wall Paper

Long gone are the days when wallpaper had to be a flowery pattern; now, your wallpaper can carry you off to an enchanted land, make you feel like you’re sleeping in the stands of your beloved football stadium or even give the impression that you’re sleeping next to a priceless work of art. Azutura offers a whole range of wallpapers which will really take your decor to the next level.

Wall Stickers

If you aren’t brave enough for a full wall mural of wallpaper, you could always opt for a wall sticker. Wall stickers come in a whole range of designs from shooting stars to trees to your favourite quotes and are super easy to apply and remove.

Accessories

If you don’t want to make changes to the decoration of the room, you could always change up the accessories and ornaments you have on display. A statement clock in sterling silver will create a focal point in the room which will draw the eye and create a little wow factor all on its own.

Mirrors

A big bold mirror in an unexpected place will visually double your room size, increasing it’s depth and immediately make it brighter. I love them in areas where you wouldn’t naturally expect them and I like them BIG. The only thing you have to remember is that whatever you put directly in front of the mirror will be reflected so make sure it counts (and looks pretty even from the back)!

A Pop of Colour

Everyone has a different colour tolerance level for the amount of bright colour they have in their rooms. Some people want their spaces filled with bold, beautiful colour. Others prefer a quieter, more muted palette. No matter where you fall, consider adding a new pop of colour to your space. I guarantee it will turn heads.

What do you do when you want to add a bit of WOW factor to your rooms? Do leave me a comment below, I’d love to hear from you.

Helping an Elderly Relative to Stay Independent

by on February 11, 2019, 1 comment

There comes a time in a lot of people’s lives where they need to start making arrangements to help their elderly relatives. A lot of people get older but want to remain in the home they’ve known for decades, and that means making their environment safe and suitable for their additional needs, if they have limited mobility, sight or memory problems. There are lots of ways that you can make a home suitable again, and today we’re looking at five of them.

Stairlift

If your elderly relative lives in a house with more than one storey, getting up and down the stairs can be really daunting. As well as the physical effort needed to climb the stairs, the risk of a fall gets worse as they get older. This is where a stairlift could really help. It allows people to travel safely between floors without the risk of falling, or needing to expend a lot of energy to make the climb.

Alarm System

A lot of elderly people worry about having a fall in their home and not being able to call for help, so personal alarm systems can give a lot of peace of mind. They allow people to call for help in an emergency and an ambulance to be sent remotely so that they aren’t left by themselves in an emergency.

Walk-in Bath

Although showers can be built on floor level so that you don’t need to step up to get into them, many elderly people prefer the security of sitting down in a bath, although getting into one can be very tricky. A walk-in bath has a sealed door which opens and closes and allows people to sit comfortably to wash, reducing the risk of slipping and falling when you’re at your most vulnerable.

Video Doorbells

Many elderly people fear opening the door to an unknown person, especially once the sun has gone down, and this can leave them very isolated, especially in the winter. There are lots of video doorbells on the market now which allow people to see who’s at the door without needing to answer it, and this could give your elderly relative the freedom to know when it’s safe to answer the door.

Remove Obstacles

This is the simplest, and cheapest way, to make surroundings safer for your elderly relative. Thousands of accidents happen every year when elderly people, especially those with limited eyesight, trip and fall because of things like rug edges, electrical cords and low items of furniture. It could be a good idea to get an expert to come in to assess the house as they’ll spot hazards that you might miss.