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Category: Family and Lifestyle

  12. Staying in the UK for a family holiday: 5 potential destinations

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    This year we’ve decided to go on a few holidays.  By ‘we’ I actually mean ‘I’.  Me and Ben have only ever been on an abroad holiday once together for a babymoon.  To be fair, I was pretty hormonal and miserable most of the time!  We have been abroad with the kids several times to visit family, but never for an actual holiday. 

  26. How to keep a relationship strong after having kids

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    A relationship can be a beautiful thing. But, over time, it can become a little less beautiful. One of the main reasons for this is kids.  There’s no doubt about it - having kids is going to change the dynamics of a relationship.  No longer can you devote all your time and attention to your other half.  Late nights and broken sleep can affect mood and stress levels, as well as decrease any expected precious evening time together you may have had planned.  Babies and children are unpredictable. 

    Even with a five year old and two year old, we never know what the day or night will bring.  Illnesses suddenly spring out of nowhere and though they may mostly sleep through the night, we’ll suddenly go through a patch of them refusing to go to bed or waking up with growing pains for nights on end.  Often we plan to spend an evening together with no work or social distractions, once the children are in bed, but by the time they are asleep we’re both practically asleep too or too shattered to interact!

    That being said, I feel like our relationship is still strong and perhaps even stronger since having children.  One friend with older children once told me if we can get through the early years of having kids, we can get through anything!  

    So, how do you make sure your relationship stays strong after having kids?  Here are three things I think help to keep a relationship strong after having a baby.

  35. Garden improvements the whole family can enjoy

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    Home improvements are usually to boost the value of your house, adding a patio or improving your garden space, or painting your home a more aesthetically pleasing colour. But, what home improvements can your whole family enjoy? The kids aren’t going to care about many of the improvements you make for your home, however, there are some ideas and projects that the whole family can enjoy in the garden.

  41. Outdoor activities I enjoyed as a child, that my kids will too

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    Technology always moves so fast and it’s crazy to think when I was a child there were no iPads, no iPhones, not even a computer!  Yep, you might be thinking I’m ancient by now, but I’m only 32.  I didn’t have a laptop or the internet until I was in my twenties!  We never had one at home when I was growing up and it was all kind of a new thing.  Even my senior school had only just started putting in computer rooms and most of us were like ‘why would we need to use a computer?’ Ha!

    My children are already whizzes on the iPads at ages five and two.  It’s quite crazy, but also a sign of the times as no doubt it’s going to be imperative for most to know how to work them.  I’m sure they’re going to take over our lives even more in the future, which we’re already beginning to see with the likes of voice-activated home hubs like Alexa.

    There’s also a lot of negativity around children using technology so much.  We sometimes depend on it a little too much to entertain our children.  After all it’s an amazing way to keep them entertained and calm them if they’re being crazy!  We still encourage our children to get outdoors as much as possible.  It’s important to keep in touch with nature and for the children to invent their own games as well as keep active in the fresh air.

    Outdoor activities don’t seem to have changed too much since I was a youngster.  There are those crazy hover board things, which don’t actually hover, but that’s all I’ve really noticed that’s any different.  It’s still kind of a skateboard, just with a few additions!  I wonder if technology will ever catch up and take over outdoor play with some crazy inventions, or perhaps the good old fashioned ways to play outdoors will always remain.

    Here are outdoor activities I enjoyed as a child and my children will too:

  49. 5 options to keep fit as a parent (whatever your circumstances)

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    It’s no surprise that becoming a parent takes up a lot of time and doesn’t provide the flexibility you once had to partake in exercise.  However, it’s a common misconception that parents are too busy to exercise or don’t have the time.  It’s entirely possible for anyone, whatever their circumstances, to squeeze 10-15 minutes of exercise into each day as a bare minimum.  Plus this can easily be done with the children if need be and there are plenty of affordable options, some are even free.

    Here are 5 ways you can keep fit (and squeeze it in around the children):

  52. 7 ways I’ve got healthier in 7 years

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    Being healthy is one of the most important things to me.  Becoming pregnant with my daughter six and a half years ago really inspired my healthy journey once and for all.  Before this I was always sort of healthy, or so I thought.  I’d get my five a day, so that was healthy right?  I’d regularly eat vegetables and salad, so that was healthy too right?  I’d go for runs, they were healthy, yes?  Only thing was I’d usually head to the pub after the run and have a couple of pints of cider and black, a few cigarettes and a 99p chicken burger on the way home.  Nice.  Nowadays I can’t believe I used to do that!  I probably undid all the goodness I was giving myself as I was equally as bad with naughty snacks, way too much sugar, smoking and regular drinking, including binge drinking at the weekends.

    Over the past few years I’ve become more and more healthy and I feel impossibly better for it.  I never get sick and if I do it’s perhaps once every couple of years for a day or two.  I no longer get a winter cough or cold which I was guaranteed before.  My skin is clearer and softer than it’s ever been.  I feel lighter and cleaner.  I rarely have any medical complaints.  I truly believe what we do to our bodies both inside and out really effects our health and mental wellbeing, much more than most of us realise.

    Here are 7 ways I ramped up my healthy lifestyle:

  58. 5 fun ways to keep fit with a little one

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    There seems to be a common complaint amongst parents that they don’t have enough time for exercise once they have children.  While that may be true to a certain extent and we parents can no longer partake in the long after work gym sessions we enjoyed before children, we just need to be inventive and realise ways we can exercise with our children instead.  Here are some fun ways you can keep fit with your young kids.

  66. [Blog Giveaway] Summer Birthday Party Ideas for Kids

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    Planning a summer birthday party for your kids can be a fun and exciting experience. With the right ideas and activities, you can create an event that your kids will never forget. From outdoor games to creative decorations, there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to planning the perfect summer birthday party for your little ones. With these ideas, you’ll be able to make sure that your kids have a blast on their special day!

  72. A midwife’s guide to understanding newborn cries

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    Newborns communicate through cries, and understanding them is an important part of parenting. Cries can tell us if a baby is hungry, tired, or in pain. They can also tell us if a baby needs to be cuddled or just wants some attention. Knowing how to interpret these cries can help parents respond quickly and accurately to their newborn’s needs. With the right knowledge and understanding of newborn cries, parents can create a more peaceful home for their little one.  Here is our experience with our baby's crying and an explanation from a midwife to understand different baby crys.

  84. 5 tips to get a better night’s sleep naturally *

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    Did you know you spend up to 25 years of your life sleeping?  That’s like a whole quarter of your life if you live to 100 or even more if not.  Crazy right?  I had no idea we spent so much time sleeping.  In fact, I had no idea about half the things in this video which highlights how important it is to get a good night’s sleep in the right position.

    Read on to discover my top tips for getting a great night’s sleep.

  96. Cooking with a four year old: veggie spaghetti chilli

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    Four year olds absolutely love helping around the house and as parents we should take advantage of this before they are teenagers who don't want to help with a thing!  Encouraging your child to help with food preparation can instill a love of cooking and healthy eating from a young age.  There are lots of simple recipes a four year old can help with.  For chopping and slicing, buy a Kiddy Kutter child safe knife - these saw the food, but are unable to cut a child.

    We recently cooked a vegetarian chilli together and I'll share the recipe with you here.