Tips To Help Your Children Deal With Stress

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While we might think of stress as something that only adults deal with, stress is also very real for children. There are a host of things that kids can feel stressed about and when it happens you want to make sure you're there for them and can help them through the tough period in their life.

Whether they’re going through exam stress, or you’re splitting from your partner and going through divorce lawyers, any big change is going to impact them and you want to be ready. You want to ensure you’re on hand to have them feel cheerful and back to themselves in no time at all. Here are some of our top tips to help your children deal with stress. 

Ensure they know you're there for them

One of the most important things you can do during a stressful time in your child’s life is to let them know you’re there for them. Make sure they know that no matter how big or insignificant their stress might feel, it’s never too small to talk about and that you’re there for them. By having them open up and confide in you, you can rest assured they will continue to do so in the future and you can help them in the best way possible. After all, you know your child and will know how to help them get through this time.

Encourage them to have fun

Children are meant to have fun and it’s a great way to help them to deal with stressful periods in their life. Make sure they put aside time to go and play with friends and do things they really enjoy. No matter what the stress is, having time set aside to go and play or do something they love can help distract their mind and make them feel much better about the time ahead. This is equally as important for teenagers too, as they can become overwhelmed with stress, especially around exam time.

Choosing Between Moving Home or Extending

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Are you wondering if it’s better to extend your home or move to a new house? Choosing between moving home and extending your house can be quite difficult. Both processes can be very costly and disruptive. However, each of them also has various benefits.

As your family grows, your current home may start to feel cramped or not sufficient to suit your needs. So how do you know if an extension or a new home is the best option for you? This article will go over three of the most important questions that you should ask yourself if you are struggling to choose between moving home or extending.

 

Will An Extension Add Value to Your Home?

When making a decision to extend your home, you will have to consider if the extension is the right option for your specific home. If you get an inappropriate or poorly executed extension, this can actually reduce the value of your home if you end up wanting to move home in the future.

It's important to remember that any exterior extension work on your home will impact and reduce the land available on your property space. With this in mind, it’s important to consider what you will be gaining as well as what you’ll be losing.

Luckily, there are many different types of extensions, so you'll likely find one that benefits you and helps increase the value of your home. Adding an extra bedroom to your home can increase the value by around 15% onto the value of your home. Whilst, the addition of extra space in the kitchen or an added bathroom can add around 5% to the value of your home.

 

Do You Have The Budget For An Extension?

This is something that only you can answer, and it will depend on how long you are planning to live in your current property.

If you don’t see yourself staying in your current property on a long-term basis, then it may be worth considering whether an extension would be worthwhile for you. The average cost to build a one-storey extension on your home is around £1200 - £2000+ per square metre, depending on the location of your property.

In addition to the cost of the extension itself, you will also need to factor in the cost of planning permission, which is often over £200, and any additional costs such as the addition of fixtures, fittings and redecoration.

However, in most cases, it works out much cheaper to extend your property rather than move house – especially if the reason for the extension is for additional space. Buying a larger property than the one you're in now will usually work out more expensive due to all the lost costs like removals, solicitors fees and stamp duty. It’s important to think carefully about your budget and how much additional space you’re looking for.

Life's Changed: Reasons to be Cheerful

Hey friends, I hope you're well? It's been a long time since we caught up as life is changing for me and I just don't find the time or the enthusiasm to sit down and blog in the way I used to. I supposed it is to be expected. I wrote my first blog post in May 2008 and it is now April 2022, fourteen years later. That's a long time to keep a hobby going.

In truth, my hobby turned into a job. One that was convenient and allowed me to be available for my family and to do lots of volunteering, whilst earning some money. But I never loved it. Being self-employed and blogging has never given me the satisfaction of previous jobs, where I felt needed and fully immersed. 

I'm so glad to say that I'm back in a job like that, well more correctly, God has revealed to me it is a ministry rather than a job, as it is His work I am doing and His will I'm following. Back in January, I was appointed as the Project Manager for the Bexhill and Battle foodbanks and as the first paid member of staff for Churches Together in Bexhill I knew it would hold some challenges but since I started on March 1st I have fallen in love with my role, with my team, with my clients, with all the possibilities for a better future service, for serving Jesus in a way that is really needed.

I'm away at Spring Harvest at the moment, the Christian conference that I have gone to most every since (excepting Covid) since around 2005. This has been the best time for me, as God has revealed so much about the future and how I should manage and take forward the foodbanks. I now have a guiding bible verse and ideas for the future. Where I saw blockers before, I now see opportunities in His perfect timing. 

Choosing a Roofing Contractor

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When choosing to install a new roof or simply repairing the one you have, your choice of contractor is fundamental. It will determine the success of your installation as a credible contractor can use the proper and robust materials which will help to protect your house from weather and climate changes.

Chances are, you'll have heard from friends or in your local Facebook group about a certain local contractor as the credibility of their work means that people want to share their great finds and give a good reference for the work that has been done. A good and reliable contractor will have numerous referrals, and often be the first choice that you hear about in your area. Their credibility will not just be based on hearsay, but also on photographic evidence, and a good contractor will be able to show you their roofing portfolio that gives pictorial evidence of previous and ongoing projects.

Be wary of any roofing contractor that turns up at your door when they have spotted some damage as they might be storm chasers who approach clients at the first sign of a natural disaster, such as a storm - hence the name! These contractors move hastily from town to town and are often difficult to track down after a job is completed, therefore offering no reliability and credibility. You can check whether a contractor is a storm chaser or not by searching for 'roofing contractors near me', and looking for a physical address for the company. If you can't find a physical address that should be a red flag, and even if there is, you might be worth checking on Google earth to see if the address actually looks like it could be a roofing firm.

Specialisation

Roofing contractors have different areas of work specialisation. If you have a more complex job or require specialised services, it will be important to choose a contractor who understands your needs and can meet the job requirements. For example, some contractors focus on installing skylights while others specialise in creating customised roof features or loft conversions. Trying to find roofing installers near your area that offer speciality services may not be as hard as you think.

Can Learning a New Language Help Improve Memory?

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{This post is written in collaboration with Emily Jones}

It's called digital amnesia: Nowadays, we are entrusting our phones with all the things we used to remember on our own, effectively diminishing our memory. One in two people can't remember their children's phone number, and one in three can't even remember their partner's phone number. me included and he has had the same number for around a decade, it's crazy!

How can we train our ability to remember? Learning languages can help the brain improve concentration and aid memory, as explained in the infographic below - "SOS memory: does learning languages help the brain?" by Babbel, the world's first language learning app.

From Plato's aversion to writing, the culprit of taking away some of our memory, to fun facts about polyglots and the language of space, this infographic will take you on a journey into our ability to remember, and the difference that learning one or more languages can provide.

Short lessons, a new routine and spaced repetition are all useful tips and practices to help one's memory not only with a new language but also in all everyday situations, as proven by a Swedish study: Those who take language courses are better at remembering names of the people they just met.  

The Ultimate Guide for Families Travelling on a Budget: Top 8 Tips

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If you're like most families, you're always looking for ways to save money. And when it comes to traveling, that can sometimes be a challenge. But don't worry – we've got you covered!

In this blog post, debt help experts Creditfix go over their top money-saving tips for families looking to travel on a budget. From everyday budgeting and savings tips to free advice on the latest solutions, Creditfix are financial experts and help thousands of people beat debt each year.

Check out their top tips below:

1. Plan ahead:

Your vacation is a time to relax and enjoy yourself, but it can also be a major strain on your budget. If you're not careful, the costs of travel, lodging, and activities can add up quickly. The key to any successful vacation, especially one on a budget, is planning ahead. By giving yourself time to research different travel options and compare prices, you'll be more likely to find the best deal for your family. You should also look for ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality. For example, you might want to consider renting a vacation home rather than staying in a hotel. 

2. Set a budget:

One of the most important aspects of planning a vacation is setting a budget. You need to know how much you're willing to spend on travel and accommodations before you start searching for deals. Keep in mind that vacation prices can vary depending on the time of year and the destination. If you're flexible with your travel dates, you may be able to find a better deal. It's also a good idea to consider the cost of activities when you're budgeting for your vacation. If you're traveling with family, look for vacation packages that include family-friendly activities.

5 Cost-Effective Tips for Creating a Beautiful Space

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The aesthetics of your everyday environment can make a world of difference in our lives. Your house can be a reflection of who you are - your personality, interests, style preferences, etc. It may be a cosy comfort haven full of hygge vibes or maybe a geometric dream with sharp angels and a vibrant colour palette, whatever works for you, just make sure it encourages positive emotions.

Who doesn’t want to have a beautiful space, right? While at times, creating that beautiful space in a home can be costly, the fact is, it actually doesn’t need to be pricey at all. So these are some fabulous tips for creating a luxurious and beautiful space in your home, all on a budget!

Ensure that each space has a specific purpose

When it comes to decorating a space, you're going to want to think about practicalities and identify what purpose the room has. So wander from room to room and determine the purpose of each room, or maybe some need to be multi-purpose. Having a solid understanding of what the space will be used for and what atmosphere you want to evoke will make it easier to decide how to decorate and what key furniture pieces you need to invest in. You can make your playroom beautiful while still maintaining a pristine adult-focused living room.

Add some memories

Memories are what make a house into a home. Don’t be afraid to add something inspiring and original to your walls, shelf, or other pieces of furniture in your home. Something such as large photo prints is one of the best ways to get your space looking grand and to make it really unique and personal to your family. You can add family photos to these huge prints or something such as landscapes as well but memories don’t need to be limited to photos. Souvenirs such as postcards or knick-knacks are also a couple of great ways to decorate a space on a limited budget.

Declutter

A clean and tidy home is a happy home. One of the most affordable ways you can make a major transformation in your home, completely free, is by cleaning and decluttering. A little effort can make a real difference but a lot can go even further, so put some time aside and get ruthless with your sort out. Cleaning the house top to bottom, sprucing it up, and ditching most of the clutter will make your home feel breathable. This also allows other elements in your home to have a chance to shine as well. Decluttering and housekeeping are essentially free and this is going to be a sure-fire way to create the affordable aesthetics your space needs.

How To Help Your Parents Transition Into Retirement

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Your parents have spent a lifetime guiding you through life, and their pending retirement is the perfect chance to pay them back. Going from a full-time job to no work can be a little problematic but your support can help guide them to a place of contentment. 

Here are five fantastic ways to support your parents as they make their biggest lifestyle change in decades.

Plan a retirement bash

If your mum or dad is lucky, their boss will arrange a retirement party just before they leave. This will give them a great opportunity to say goodbye to their colleagues. However, throwing a family bash is equally worthwhile. Hiring a hall or decorating the garden for an afternoon spent with friends, family, and their closest work buddies will work wonders. You can always check out the best retirement gifts for women to mark the special occasion. Your family celebration is sure to serve as the perfect way to begin the new chapter in style.

Spend more time together 

Once they no longer have the routine of a job, your parents will have a lot of time to fill. They might not tell you, but spending more time with the family would be their preferred option. Including them on family days out or short breaks to family holiday parks can be a great option. Meanwhile, arranging to visit them or have them come to you more regularly can have a positive influence. It is something that all parents will appreciate but can be even more rewarding when you only have one parent still in your life.

How to Teach Children About Social Media

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Online safety for children is a high priority for parents, but at the same time, you don’t want to control them or make them feel as though you’re snooping, especially if they're a teenager. Instead, educate them in the right way and give them the tools they need, show them respect but make sure they are responsible.

Make Them Aware

When your child grows up and goes to school, they are likely to encounter mean behavior. They might encounter bullying themselves or see the results of bullying on one of their classmates. It’s important to have conversations with them about this so they understand what bullying is and why it is wrong. 

Bullying has changed since the advent of social media, as the Family Orbit blog points out; young people need to be savvy about the online behavior that qualifies as bullying. Posting hurtful things about people or embarrassing photos is online bullying and needs to be reported and dealt with. It really is important to understand that bullying is about how the action is felt by the person it is targeted at and not about the person causing the pain. Their intentions may be good but if their language or behaviour is taken as hurtful, they need to know this and be able to make changes.

Consider the Consequences

Social media opens up some excellent possibilities, but at the same time, it has consequences that can affect a person’s reputation and quality of life. Depending on what you post, it can also lead to criminal activity such as burglary, so young people must learn to post carefully online. 

Since social media posts have the power to influence your reputation and life quality, you need to spend some time reflecting on a post before you hit the share button. Ask yourself whether the post is responsible and consider how it will be received by the community - never post spontaneously. 

Exercise Whilst You Work - Review of the V9 Pro Desk Bike from FlexiSpot

{I was gifted this Desk Bike for the purpose of this review. I have not been instructed what to write and I remain honest.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, any affiliate links will be marked with #ad}

V9 Pro Desk Bike

We all know it is important not to be sedentary for too many hours in the day but when you work online it can be hard to fit everything in. I have to admit that exercise is often the activity that falls to the wayside as working to pay the bills or looking after the kids tends to take priority. A couple of weeks ago I was presented with a fantastic solution, by way of the V9 Pro Desk Bike. 

If I'm honest it's a funny looking squarish bike that you can use with your desk (or a modern sit/ stand desk) and you cycle as you work. As I tend to work with my computer on my lap, whilst sitting on the sofa I don't actually have a desk any longer so I wondered if this bike would suit me, but they have a solution for my problem. You can purchase the V9 Pro Desk Bike with a desktop attached and it is a really large and sturdy desktop.

I hadn't held out much hope that this bike would be any good for me as I'm a very large lady and that obviously means I'm heavy. In the past, home exercise bikes have always felt too flimsy and they've made me feel uncomfortable to ride them. However, this bike is truly sturdy with a nice big seat and I'm totally happy using it. 

One of my daughters has already commandeered the bike into her bedroom and that's OK as she has a good amount of space and when I want to use it is when she is at school anyway. My son has also been using it a bit as well, so it is great that it is encouraging many of us in the family to be more active. 

I've made a video of me setting the bike up and starting to use it, so take a look at that but basically, it's a great bike and it was super easy to get working. The V9 Pro retails for £399.99 as just the bike to use with your own desk. Or the version with the removable desktop is £439.99 but at the moment there is an extra £40 off with a voucher code that is publicised on the website until 10th Feb. After that, they are having a 'Say goodbye to sedentary lifestyle' sale from 11th to 28th February 2022, so it will be interesting to see what discount that provides!

Obviously, it is not cheap but I think it is good value at that price as it should last for years and make a difference to your lifestyle. 

How To Perform The Perfect Nappy Change

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Until you become a parent, changing nappies is usually only something that you see other people doing. However, once the baby is born, it dawns on you that you’re also going to have to take up this responsibility, and often!

In this post, we take a look at how to perform the perfect nappy change. Check out our tips and tricks below: 

Choose The Right Nappy For You

The type of nappy you choose will have a big impact on your nappy changing experience. Until recently, most modern parents used disposable nappies as these are thought to be easy to change and dispose of.  However, environmental concerns now mean that many parents are moving over to cloth nappies as they are better for our earth, as they are reusable, reducing families’ impact on the environment. 

Some parents choose to adopt a hybrid approach to nappies: disposable for the first couple of months as their baby is settling in, and then cloth after that. Or maybe disposables when travelling or on holiday/ in daycare and cloth when at home. The choice is, of course, yours.

Stock Up

Before the baby arrives, it’s a good idea to stock up on all the nappies that you need. Many infants need to go to the toilet frequently, maybe once every three hours or so, meaning that you could need as many as eight nappies per day. There is nothing worse than leaving your baby in a wet nappy as they can suffer from nappy rash in even the most modern and absorbent of nappies.

Buying nappies in bulk can save you money, whether you have opted for disposable or cloth nappies. If you’re using cloth, you’ll want at least 30 on standby so that you can keep a regular rotation going and never run out. An efficient rinse and washing system for all the dirty cloth nappies is also essential.

6 Ways You Can Lead a Healthier Life

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It is no secret that a healthy lifestyle can lead to a longer and happier life. However, it can be challenging for many people to make the necessary changes to achieve this goal. If you are looking for ways to improve your health, this blog post is for you! In today's post, we will discuss six ways that you can lead a healthier life. Follow these tips, and you will be on your way to better health in no time!

1. Commit to leading a healthy lifestyle.

The first step in leading a healthier life is committing to do so. This means setting goals and sticking to them, no matter what obstacles you face. It also means being honest with yourself about your current health and fitness level and accepting that there is always room for improvement.

If you are not sure where to start, try creating a list of reasons why you want to lead a healthier life. Some common causes include wanting to feel better mentally and physically, having more energy, or setting an excellent example for your children. Once you have identified your motivation, focus on keeping it in mind as you make changes in your lifestyle. It won't always be easy but it will be worth it.

2. Eat healthy foods.

One of the most critical aspects of leading a healthier life is eating healthy foods. This means filling your diet with nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats. It also means limiting processed foods, sugary drinks, and unhealthy snacks.

If you are not used to eating healthy foods, adjusting your diet may take some time. Start by slowly incorporating more nutritious items into your diet and cutting back on unhealthy choices. For example, if you typically eat fast food for lunch every day, try packing a healthier lunch from home one or two days per week. Over time, you can continue to increase the number of meals you eat at home and reduce the number of unhealthy choices you make. Even small changes will start to add up and you'll see the difference.

5 Ways To Make Holidaying Abroad More Ethical

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It’s become increasingly common to set aside international travel in recent years, as the cost of living, the risks of Covid and the environmental toll have all become starkly obvious. Make no mistake, these are all perfectly good reasons to focus more on a staycation or a local holiday and a lesson we can all learn is that there is beauty and interest on our doorstep. From now on, hopefully, the dial will be turned in favour of more domestic travel, but it would, however, be a shame to become totally insular and miss out on the delights that can be experienced in other countries. A good way forward could be to focus on more ethical ways to see the world and contribute to tourist economies.

Can you travel internationally without compromising on your principles? Yes, but it will take a little more effort. Is it worth it? Yes, it certainly is. Below, we’ll go into some of the ways you can satisfy the more ambitious parts of your wanderlust without having to silence the ethical voice that keeps you on the straight and narrow, as well as recommending some places you can see while doing so. Safe travels (for you and the planet)!

Focus on the local

Just as you can favour local economies at home and keep your carbon footprint to a minimum, overseas travel can offer you opportunities to do likewise. The best way of doing this is to visit destinations outside of the tourist season and keep your focus on the local area. If you go to France, it doesn’t have to be all about heading to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower. There are innumerable delightful French villages that you can reach without even stepping on a plane - and while there you can eat at independent local restaurants, travel by public transport and stay in family-owned accommodation such as B&Bs.

This way, you contribute to the local economy of these areas, conserve the natural character of the communities and experience the genuine uniqueness of your destination - and all without having to queue for hours to see something you’ve seen thousands of times on TV!