Babysitting Advice for Peace of Mind

Archive for Mum Stuff

Babysitting Advice for Peace of Mind

Editor | May 2, 2013 | No comments

Leaving your baby with a new babysitter or nanny can be really stressful!

Being mum to a 19-month old I fully understand other parents’ anxiety leaving their child – I have had to go through it myself quite a few times – and so I thought I’d share some babysitting advice and babysitting tips with you.

Through running Granny and I, and my personal experience, I’ve learnt there are a few things you can do to make the experience a happy one for your child, and a stress-free one for you!

Book your sitter 30 minutes to an hour before you are due to leave. That way you’ll have enough time to show her around your home, explain your child’s habits or routine, and watch how she interacts with your child.
Spend a little time with the babysitter and child before leaving; your words, actions and body language will show your child that you know and trust the babysitter, and they are more likely to be happy to stay with her.
If you’re really nervous and have never left baby with anyone unfamiliar, book one or two short ‘trials’, of 3 hours or so, during the day; that way, you can get to know the babysitter, see how she gets on with your child, and you’ll feel more confident leaving next time
Make sure you leave detailed instructions about your baby or child’s routine and exactly what you would like the sitter to do; you’ll avoid misunderstandings and feel more at ease leaving your child. Make sure you tell the sitter if your child has a comfort toy, blanket or dummy that usually helps to calm them if distressed.
Exchange phone numbers with the sitter so she can call you if needed, and you can let her know if you’re running late. You could also ask her to text you with updates.
Stay close to home the first time you book a sitter, so you can pop back and check on your child half way through if you feel the need.
Use an agency that carries out strict background checks, or carry out the checks yourself. It’s really important you feel you can trust the carer – so ask to see her CRB check, call up 3 of her referees, and interview her thoroughly in person.
Be patient. For some babies it will take a while to get used to a child-carer that is not you! This is totally understandable, and you just need to give your child some time. Eventually they will see they are in safe hand
Bear in mind that often, once mum has left, the child is totally fine and happy! We only get to experience the distressed child as we leave, but very often this is not representative of the child’s experience with the carer.

We hope this helps!

Francesca Liberatore – Francesca founded babysitting agency Granny and I with her mother in September 2012, after realising how important extended family is for parents with young children. Granny and I run a Granny babysitting service in London, and also an online meeting place of Grandmas and families around the UK. All their carers are experienced Grandmothers!

Have you got any Babysitting Tips you could share with us?

Category: Mum Stuff, The Kids | Tags: babysitting advice, carer, granny and I, sitter

Easy Ways to Earn Extra Money for your Baby

Editor | January 14, 2013 | One comment

Teething Baby There is no question about it, being a stay-at-home mum is a full-time job. From cleaning and cooking to childcare and shopping, stay-at-home mums rarely have a moment to themselves. Many mums do find the time, however, to earn extra money in a variety of easy ways.

Working from home

For those who enjoy research and can write well, money can be made doing freelance and contract writing projects. A variety of online content providers and freelance writing sites offer assignments and opportunities for mums to make some extra money working at their computer just a few hours a day.

For those who are better at working with their hands, an online shop can be set up to sell handmade arts and crafts. Many existing online venues have a market for homemade goods and are a great place to sell crocheted, knitted, quilted, and woven creations.

Selling old items for extra cash online

mum and baby One of the best and easiest ways to earn extra money is by selling old items. In addition to the cash that is generated when you sell your stuff, getting rid of unused and unwanted items also helps to reduce the clutter in the house and makes maintaining a storage unit unnecessary.

Reaching the widest audience possible is usually the best way to get items sold quickly, and the internet is the best place to do this. Adverts for items can be placed on centralised sites, or an individual site can be set up. Most newspapers offer online classifieds and many local websites also offer classified advertising. Some local websites and newspapers will place adverts for free. Anybody can quickly start selling items online to earn extra money; taking a picture and providing an accurate description of the item and its condition are the only real requirements. Single items can be sold individually, and similar or connected items can be sold as a lot.

For the most part, selling online offers a high return on a minimal investment. Items can be offered for bidding at an auction site, or a set price can be asked. Buyers can either bid until the sale closes or can purchase an item or items outright. Advertisement is cheap and far-reaching, and the money from the sale can be accessed quickly via sites like PayPal.

Other options

It may be best to sell large amounts of old and used items through an organised sale, such as a car boot sale. Car boot sales are very popular and offer buyers an opportunity to see and touch items before purchasing. Often organised by local charities or churches, car boot sales allow a large number people to offer a varied selection of items at once.

Other handy options include church fetes and other events designed to bring people together to invest a little bit of time and money in their local area. Stalls can be set up to carry stock and display items as prominently as possible and a well-placed raffle or tombola table can really make a difference to the number of people that come and check out your items.

So as you can see there are lots of quite easy ways to earn extra money!

Category: Mum Stuff | Tags: car boot sales, earn extra money, SAHM, selling online, stay at home mums

Taking Care of New Mums after Giving Birth

Editor | November 23, 2012 | Comments Off

Having a baby is the most wonderful time in a young woman’s life, a time of joy, and love and new beginnings. That’s what every young girl is told anyway; the constant tiredness, the aches and pains and the endless poo are not mentioned at all!

Anyone dealing with a new mums can do a lot to help them at this stressful and, yes, magical time.

First of all it must be accepted that there is a major change in the home dynamic; a couple has become a family and this can cause ripples throughout the infrastructure of the home. Even the most timid and reticent of us may well become vociferous defending our child’s well-being. Couples-time falls away in favour of the many activities that go into keeping a baby happy, healthy and well-fed, and this can cause a strain on even the strongest partnership if it is allowed to. For at least the first six weeks, and possibly longer, a partner should not even hint at the resumption of a sex life – apart from the extreme tiredness and stress of being responsible for a brand new life, physically intercourse will be too uncomfortable to contemplate for a while for most new mums, but many supportive hugs will be gratefully received. Partners should also be prepared for changes when play does resume – babies do leave their mark on the –ahem – exit! To help with this the new mum should be encouraged to resume gentle exercise as soon as she feels able. Pelvic floor exercises can help everything ease back into place smoothly, and taking up a gentle routine will encourage the flow of endorphins which will counteract mood swings, as well as providing the obvious health benefits of an exercise regime.

New mums should always be treated with respect. Even if there are mood swings, tears and slammed doors never blame it on her hormones, or treat her as though she is dim-witted. Mothers-in-law and older sisters or even friends who already have babies just love to give advice. While absolutely fine in its place (it can occasionally be very useful, indeed) sometimes the flow of information washing over a young mother can overload her; especially if it conflicts with thoughts and customs that she holds dear. Circumcision, baptism, even something as trivial as the correct way to wrap baby for a feed, all of these can become points of contention if so permitted. All third parties must realise that decisions to be made about the babies health, future and upbringing will be made by the baby’s parents and no-one else. In-laws especially must take a step back, and allow their children to make the best decisions for the grandchildren without interference.

All mums will become acquainted with ‘baby brain’ – the slowness of thought, almost dull-wittedness common to all new mums. While completely normal this can knock a woman’s confidence quite badly and she may need plenty of reassurance that she is still beautiful and attractive, even though her libido has gone on holiday for the duration.

Worrying about her appearance is not something a new mum should be doing. Very few women can look after a brand new baby and maintain perfectly made-up faces and well-styled outfits. Mums should be encouraged to not worry about looking perfect, or even about regaining their pre-baby figure too quickly. Assuming that life will snap back into its pre-baby order too quickly is a perfect recipe for depression. Maternity leave, at least six months, should be spent getting to know the baby, not catching up on chores and renovations. Mums should sleep when baby sleeps – she may not get 8 hours in a convenient block, but as long as she naps when the little one does she is likely to clock up a decent number of sleep hours over 24 hours, which will come in handy for getting up for those 3:00am feeds.

New mums need to remember that the bad times (sleepless nights, alarming , smelly nappies, and endless tiredness etc) all pass and that Mum and child will come through it all, knowing each other and ready to enjoy the rest of their lives together. The most important way to support and help a new mum, bearing, as she does, the brunt of this new relationship, is to give her plenty of praise for what she does for the new baby and to stand-by ready to help when she needs it.

About this article: This article has been written by Mary Murphy, the communications manager for Irish based website eumom.ie – Ireland’s largest online community website for mothers with over 100,000 members. The website publishes regular pregnancy advice and guides for mums. Feel free to visit the website and join our happy community!

Category: Baby Things, Mum Stuff

Christmas Presents For Her

Sianny M | October 30, 2012 | Comments Off

There are so many new and lovely Christmas products on the market for us women, the list is endless. Buying ‘Christmas presents for her’ has never been easier! Here I start with my personal favourite (I hope Hubby reads this….)

A beautiful keepsake for a special occasion

Gorgeous Fine Silver Stacking Rings made by Ghazal’s (GGS Design) range of personalised jewellery for Soremi.
These delicate fine silver stacking rings allow you to choose as many rings or as few rings as you like depending on the text you would like adding and final look you want to achieve.
Ring options are – Plain silver band, embellished with heart band and finally 18ct plated gold band. Lettering can be oxidised (blackened) or left clear (gold plated rings cannot be oxidised).

Relax And Hydrate Those Aching Limbs

Every lady needs time out to relax and recover but usually hasn’t the time or money. Why not stay at home and pamper yourself with SPAtopia 100% Dead Sea Salts. Transform your bath into a relaxing hydrotherapy experience with these pure mineral-rich salts which help cleanse and hydrate and soothe aching joints and muscles.

Stylish & 100% Silk

If it’s a great look you’re after this Christmas, then the Lisa Bliss Terrier Scarf is great for any dog & terrier lover. Lisa Bliss’s stunning terrier design digitally printed onto 100% silk. From her ‘Man’s Best Friend’ collection. 90cms x 90cms. It’s Dry Clean Only and designed and made in the UK.

Handbag Size Designer Hand Creams

Moving back to the theme of treating ourselves again, the next one’s a must. Our hands always suffer with the weather at this time of the year and this lovely Set Of Hand Creams by Cath Kidston will make all the difference. There are 3 x 30ml Mini Tubes in Wild Rose, Bluebell & Honeysuckle flavoured hand creams.

Create Your Own Mood Setting

The Jellephish Mood Lamp doesn’t need an occasion to make the most of its visual delight. Use it to relax after a long day or set the mood for any setting, the versatile lamp produces the perfect atmosphere every time. The Jellephish takes it name from its resemblance to the umbrella-shaped marine animal, it even comes with a variety of colours. The light can be operated using a remote control to choose the colours and visual effects that you want to beam. The design will offer a contemporary touch to your home, whether you keep it freestanding or mount it on the wall. Check out what our reviewers think of the Jellephish Mood Lamp.

Eat My Words And Enjoy Every Mouthful

Last but not least my final suggestion is for all those ladies with a sweet tooth (me included). The Personalised Alphabet Truffles by Thorntons. Write a personal message on these and enjoy every bite, naughty but very nice. Free from artificial colour & flavouring.

Category: Christmas Blogs, Gifts, Mum Stuff, Sian's Blogs | Tags: Cath KIdston, Christmas Present, Hand Cream Set, jewellery, Mood Lamp, Personalised gifts, Rings

Stylish Themes for a Memorable Baby Shower

Editor | October 24, 2012 | Comments Off

Baby showers are a really lovely tradition that has hopped over the pond from America in recent years.

These great parties are traditionally held by friends or relatives of a mum-to-be so that they can ‘shower’ her with gifts and love before her big date rolls round.

Adding a theme to a baby shower is an Americanism that a lot of UK mothers in fact aren’t keen on. In a poll of 2000 women conducted by Ragdoll, it was found that only 3% of guests thought a fun theme was important for their shower.

To shower mummy in style without going overboard, try some of these subtle but chic theme ideas for your party:

‘Spa’ Baby Shower

After baby is born, Mum won’t have much time to pamper herself so why don’t you indulge her with healthy spa food and treatments?
Homemade facemasks and relaxing therapies will leave her feeling happy and healthy in preparation for her big day.

‘White’ Baby Shower

White is a symbol of innocence and purity, ideal for a baby shower. It’s stylish, simple and can be really easily implemented. Think white balloons, white dinner plates and porcelain, white flowers, ribbons and invitations. You can even ask your guests to wrap their gifts in white paper. It’s an elegant theme with loads of potential.

‘English Tea Party’ Baby Shower

Adorn vintage cake stands with scones, mini sandwiches and cakes and get your hands on a really beautiful tea service to celebrate in traditional English style.
Decorate with bunting and delicate country garden flowers for a relaxed and stylish party.

Don’t forget:
Mum hasn’t touched certain foods or drinks for the past nine months. Remember to remind your guests to leave their vino at home and opt to bring non-alcoholic pressés and soft drinks to your soiree instead.

This post was provided by Shower My Baby, the UKs number 1 baby themed party site. Visit the website for even more great party ideas and beautiful baby shower gifts.

Category: Baby Things, Mum Stuff | Tags: baby shower, baby shower gifts, themes

Preparing for our Family Holiday in France

Sianny M | September 18, 2012 | One comment

We have three young children and were all heading off on our first family holiday abroad.

We thought that choosing a holiday that didn’t entail too much time in the car would be a good idea so France was a logical destination. We thought that a drive, a ferry crossing followed by another drive didn’t seem too bad and would keep the cost down and give us our own transport when we’re there.

I made a list of all main things I would need from passports, tickets, foreign currency and insurance policies. What more would I need besides beach wear, sunscreen & first aid box!

As this is all new to us I decided to look on the internet and was surprised to read the ‘other essential things’ I needed.

So I thought I’d share them with you too:

Valid Driving License (both the photo card and paper counterpart)

A GB sticker clearly displayed on the back of your car (unless your car has ‘Euro-plates’ – number-plates that show a circle of 12 stars on a blue background)

Headlamp converters (stickers you put on your headlights when you’re driving on the right, so your lights don’t dazzle motorists coming the other way)

Single Use Breathalysers are obligatory in all motorised vehicles as of 1 July 2012 (Road users are advised to carry at least two breathalysers at all times & kits should complying with French regulations and carrying the “NF” label. Available from Halfords from £3)

Carry a Warning Triangle (Compulsory)

Reflective Jackets (jacket must be stored in the vehicle not kept in the boot) Non-compliance is a fine able offence

While driving in France, did you also know:

Children under 10 can’t travel in the front seat

The drink-driving limit is 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood – lower than the UK limit of 80mg per 100ml

The speed limit is 50kph in towns, 80-100kph on open roads and 110-130kph on motorways

It is illegal to cross, even partially, on to the hard shoulder of a motorway without due cause.

In built-up areas, if there’s no yellow diamond sign, you must give way to any cars coming out of a side turning on the right

In-car radar detectors and satellite navigation systems which warn of the presence of speed cameras or radars are illegal whether in use or not. Their use or possession can attract fines and/or, confiscation of the device and the vehicle.

Bon Voyage x

Category: Mum Stuff, Mummy Blogs, Sian's Blogs, Travel, Holidays and Hotels

Yoga and Pregnancy

Editor | July 3, 2012 | Comments Off

Breathe for a Better Pregnancy and Birth

Breathing well is really important during pregnancy when you breathe for your unborn baby as well as yourself. Each breath you take nourishes your baby with new oxygenated blood and takes waste products away.

Breathe low to relax

When our breathing is slow, full, smooth and low we feel relaxed and free. During activity and stress our breathing moves away from our belly and higher up in the chest. In daily life this will increase feelings of anxiety. The converse is also true. With conscious breathing, you can allow it to settle lower into your belly. You will notice how you begin to feel more relaxed. As your baby grows inside you, you may experience as sense of having ‘less space to breath’. You may feel your breathing becomes higher and faster. Feeling your breath higher, faster and lighter can be misunderstood as anxiety, however in pregnancy this is perfectly healthy.

Breathe easy and enjoy your pregnancy

Many mothers-to-be experience some anxiety as they prepare for motherhood and cope with the discomforts of pregnancy. This doesn’t harm your baby – but knowing how to breathe well will help you enjoy your pregnancy more. You can use your breathing to help you during giving blood, internal examinations or when you feel unsettled. Focusing on a steady relaxed out breath will help you bloom.

Watch & listen

Watching and listening to your breath can help increase your sense of positivity. At challenging times it can bring you back to yourself. This process of noticing the breath and focusing on it is called breath awareness. You can listen to the sound of your breath and see your body gently expand with each in breath. You can also feel the sens of your body becoming bigger and stronger as you breath in, and more relaxed and receptive as you breath out. Breath awareness will help you settle your mind and emotions during your pregnancy.

Traditional yogic breathing

Traditional yogic breath practices cleanse, balance, heat and cool the body. Ujjayi (victorious breathing) is good for settling the mind. Its is good for pregnancy when done very gently as it relaxes and centers. There are specially devised breathing practices for pregnancy as many traditional yogic breaths are too strong for pregnancy.

Focus on your breathing during birth

During labour you will be able to work with your body and become more intuitive by using breath awareness. Consciously listening to your out breath will focus your mind, and allows your body’s natural intelligence to take over. Your body will be able to get on with the job it needs to do, unhampered by your thoughts. During labour taking deep, rhythmical breaths will, bringing increased clarity and confidence. Conscious breathing will steady your emotions, and allow you to trust your body. It will help you to ‘go with’ the experience. To stay in the moment imagine you are blowing away any pain away from you.

Birth-Day Breathing

Specialised breathing techniques act as a natural form of ‘pain relief’. Using a soft mouth and long exhalation are common themes to these practices. Birth-Day breathing and Dandelion breathing adapt with moment during your contraction.
As your contraction peaks, so does your breathing, and as the contraction decreases – so does your breathing. Your breathing and contractions work together to bring your baby closer to birth. These techniques work very well, and many women come back, amazed, about their affect.
‘It made a HUGE HUGE difference – the breathing works wonders!’
Leeza Minns

Breathe for yourself, your birth and your baby

Your breathing connects you with your baby during pregnancy, labour and birth. Bringing your baby into the world is one of the most important things you will ever do, and breathing your baby into the world is a beautiful, satisfying way to do it.

Susannah Dean Ramponi has written and illustrated ‘Yoga & breathing for pregnancy & birth’ which covers yoga, the specialised breathing techniques mentioned, and active birth positions. (£9.99 from www.theyoga.co.uk/yoga-shop/ and amazon.co.uk)

This is a visual guide to yoga for pregnancy and birth, using the book should feel like doing yoga: relaxed, enjoyable and enlivening.Integrating yoga, breathing techniques and active birth positions can prepare the body and mind for birth. With practise you will be able to calm and energise your being so you are well-prepared to birth your baby. Bring your baby into the world consciously. This book is written with YogaBirth. This is the association of professionally trained teachers of pregnancy yoga and childbirth education. Their unique formula has been developed over 30 years. YogaBirth brings commitment, community and experience to the world of yoga and pregnancy. Practise, breathe, relax & enjoy. So you are well-prepared for the birthing of your baby.

‘Lovingly crafted. This will serve as the perfect introduction to YogaBirth’
Judy Cameron: Midwife – Antenatal Education Co-ordinator & YogaBirth Course Director

‘A beautiful book: the yoga and breathing are made accessible with simple directions and illustrations. This is a wonderful way to create health and peace of mind throughout pregnancy, and to prepare for labour and birthing’
Jill Benjoya Miller: Active Birth & YogaBirth Teacher

Category: Books, Mum Stuff, Personal Care

Kim Woodburn’s Cleaning Tips & How an Ecoegg Can Save You Money

Editor | February 1, 2012 | Comments Off

Kim Woodburn, celebrity Queen of Clean, best known for ‘How Clean is Your House?’ and ‘I’m a Celebrity’, is here to share a few eco and baby friendly cleaning tips to make parenthood that little bit easier. Kim will be visiting the Baby Show at Excel in London on the 25^th of February to show everyone the Ecoegg, a product that no parent should be without. We are sure many of you will see her there!

Hello my loves, I’m Kim Woodburn. I’m so excited to be coming to the Baby Show in February to see all of you lovely mums and dads. I’m here today to share some of my eco and baby friendly cleaning tips with you all. They are really simple to follow, cheap to prepare and of course I never use nasty chemicals that could potentially harm little ones.

So firstly, I’m sure many of you use disposable nappies. Now these are convenient to use but disposing of them can become a problem and
nappy bins can start to smell very unpleasant! A top tip for keeping your nappy bin smelling fresher for longer is to sprinkle a little baking soda inside the bin liner and give it a quick shake. The baking soda should absorb most of the nasty smells but always empty your bin regularly to keep the smell at bay. Alternatively, if you use nappy sacks and dispose of nappies in your general waste just sprinkle a little baking soda into each of the individual nappy sacks to keep the bin smelling fresh.

I’m sure that many of you with children toddling about will be forever noticing sticky fingerprints on doors and windows. One easy tip for getting these sticky paws prints off is to sprinkle a little baking soda onto a damp cloth using a flour shaker, wipe away the marks and buff dry with a fresh cloth. It’s just so simple!

Now, we all know how much our little ones love their cuddly toys, but they do have a tendency to get very grubby rather quickly. To give cuddly toys a quick and easy freshen up between washes, just pop them in a cotton pillowcase outside, sprinkle in a little baking soda and give them a good shake. Shake of the excess baking soda and they should appear as good as new!

Making homemade baby food is a great way to save money and ensure that your children are getting the right balance of nutrients but by heck, it’s doesn’t half make a mess. An easy way to get splashbacks back to their former sparkling selves is to once again use good old baking soda, again sprinkle a little baking soda onto a damp cloth using a flour shaker and apply to the splash backs. Then just buff dry with a fresh dry cloth so the shines is restored. A really easy and quick solution.

I think you will agree that parents with young children are the group of people that do more laundry than anyone else. For such small things, babies can get through an awful lot of clothes can’t they? Babies also have a nasty habit of accumulating tricky stains like baby food and never ending milk vomit. The challenge is finding a product that cleans really well but also doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals that can hurt babies skin. The Ecoegg is just such a product. I’m so proud to endorse the Ecoegg that I put my name and photo on every box. I simply wouldn’t be without mine now. The Ecoegg is the revolutionary new way to wash your clothes; all you have to do is pop it into your machine and wash as normal, no need for nasty and expensive chemicals. Its kind to your skin (in fact it’s so kind it’s been approved by Allergy UK) and to the environment and lasts up to 720 washes, that’s three years’ worth of washing for the average family, just imagine the money you will save. It’s just
brilliant.

I hope you found my cleaning tips useful and maybe you will try some of them out for yourselves. I would love to hear how you get on with them. Hopefully I will see many of you at the Baby Show on the 25^th February in London; it should be a brilliant day! I hope you all come and visit me at the Ecoegg stand. I’m more than happy to offer my cleaning advice, and I’ve always got time for a quick photo and a chat.

Win A Brilliant Ecoegg Here

Kim x

Kim Woodburn for EcoEggOnline.com

WIN BABY SHOW TICKETS HERE

Category: Mum Stuff, Rants and Raves | Tags: chemicals, cleaning tips, Ecoegg, Kim Woodburn, washing

Trick or Treating: The Etiquette of…

Mummy Lorrie | October 31, 2011 | Comments Off

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sure, a bunch of us grown-ups think trick or treating is a cheap and tacky American construct that fosters the inner hooligan in children. i’m here to tell you that you’re soooo wrong. where good manners exist, there is fun to be had in DROVES!!!

i’ll tell you how i do it, shall i?

my little boy and i will be Trick or Treating after school and will only walk down our road (granted, it is a long road lol), but he will have had his tea, will be adorably attired as Buzz Lightyear – i will be the accompanying WitchiePoo [no jokes] and after half hour, we’ll go home and entertain other Trick-or-Treaters at our residence until 8pm. hubby will be at home to put out the decorations before we get back and will be dressed as a ghoul or zombie [again, no jokes lol]. when we get home and check out his sweetie hoard, he’ll only be allowed to keep wrapped sweets (health and safety, and all that)…

first off, if a house has NO Halloweeny accoutrements or decorations visible from the front gate, then the residents are NOT INTERESTED in sharing their sweeties. DO NOT KNOCK at that house! if you are lucky enough to find some participating homes, you wait patiently for the door to be answered and say ‘TRICK OR TREAT!’ and then WAIT to be offered sweeties! DO NOT GRAB at the bowl as if you’ve not had dinner! (note: feed your kids and make sure they do toilet before leaving home!)

at the age of 4, our little boy’s a seasoned trick-or-treater and is fully aware of the required etiquette.

so you bitter grumps out there [yes, you!] who prefer to label this day as a day of trouble, think about what you can do to change that. want some suggestions?
try this:

don’t open your door to strangers after 8pm – all respectable trick-or-treaters will have finished by then;
if you do want to participate but don’t want to spend any money on the day, have a bowl of your old, left-over sweets hanging around the door (just in case)
if you DO want trick-or-treaters to knock, give some indication to the non-mindreading public that you HAVE TREATS TO GIVE by putting a sign or a decoration on your door or gate
NEVER GIVE MONEY! that’s not fun and it’s not what trick or treating is about!

now, i know you’re wondering about the flip side of the coin. yep, i know you thought you’d got away. no you haven’t. if you come to my door trick or treating and you’re NOT in costume? you’ve wasted your time walking up my garden path. if you appear to be over 16 and have no younger children in costume about you? again, you’ve wasted your time ringing my bell. looking for money? seriously? i think you’ve figured out what my response to that would be!

Happy Halloween and have fun trick-or-treating! muhahahahahahahahaha

Category: Children's Toys & Games, Mum Stuff, Rants and Raves, The Kids, Travel, Holidays and Hotels

The Clocks Go Back This Weekend

Kathryn | October 24, 2011 | Comments Off

As from this weekend Winter is officially on the way! The clocks will go back on Saturday night (Well Sunday morning really) and our evenings will get progressively darker. This weekend too, The Fire Kills Campaign are asking us all to take a few moments when we change our clocks to keep ourselves and our families safe by testing our smoke alarms at the same time.

Did you know that if your smoke alarm is not working, statistically you are more than four times more likely to die in a fire. Yet only 50% of people who own a smoke alarm say that they test it to see if it is working on a regular basis. Testing the smoke alarm is kind of thought about as something to do ‘later’! So, as we are already all going to be changing our clocks this weekend, it’s a perfect opportunity for us to turn ‘later’ into ‘now’.

On a lighter note, for those who can never remember if the clocks go back or forward, simply say to yourself ‘Fall Back, Spring Forward‘ and you’ll remember it easily then.

Category: Mum Stuff, Rants and Raves | Tags: back, clocks, smoke alarm

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