Monthly Archives: January 2018

Jan 26 2018

What you need in your wardrobe whilst dieting

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Dieting? Here are my top picks from ESPRIT that’ll help show off your progress, even if you’re in-between sizes.

A casual look at my Facebook feed tells me I’m not the only one on a weight loss mission this January. Last year I got totally fed up of bumping into school friends and having them not recognise me, zips breaking, and having to suck in my tummy when I pull up my jeans. So as of Jan 1st I popped myself on a diet, cobbled together from things I’ve seen on the telly, Buzzfeed and protein powder adverts. Somehow it’s seen me drop some 14lbs already and I feel pretty good; My thighs are no longer rubbing together, and my third chin has disappeared. My tummy is no longer bloated, and supported by some shapewear, actually looks flat to the casual observer.

Despite this weight loss, I’m still suffering from phantom weight. That’s to say, I look in the mirror and still see the lumps and bumps that were there before I started. Although my clothes are falling down and I’ve clearly dropped a dress size, given I’ve another to go, I’m a bit to loathe to hit the shops and buy a new wardrobe that will most likely be too big in six months time.

So I’ve popped together a few looks that will support me throughout my dress size transition. From dresses that will cling flatteringly to a size 14, then skim reassuringly over a 12, to oversized jumpers, and belted trench coats that’ll see you through the fat days and skinnier ones.

Navy

Featured (all from ESPRIT): Lace & chiffon day dress (navy) £69 / (Body con block dress) Sundresses £55 (mixed blue) / Chiffon mini dress with trumpet sleeves (navy. dotty) £55 / Fitted sweatshirt dress, Bouclé £39 (in grey blue) / Stretchy denim dress with a flared skirt £59

When I was carrying the extra poundage, I lived in black. Now, having dropped a dress size, I’m feeling a little braver. I’m not quite ready for white jeans, body suits and boob tubes (more’s the pity), but I am loving navy at the moment. It can be dressed up and down, and accessorised with brights when I’m feeling particularly confident.

When it comes to dresses when dieting, it’s a great time to experiment with different hem length. Top pick for me is therefore this super cute poka dot chiffon dress from ESPRIT. The floaty material skims over lumpy hips and thighs, with full length trumpet sleeves to both cover your upper arms, and help create the illusion they are perfectly proportioned. Throw in the little belt to adjust the waist as the weight comes off, and you have a perfect little number that looks equally great on the school run as it does on date night.

If your arms are toned but you’re currently battling with excess stomach fat, the lacey number above is also incredibly flattering. The full length flared skirt will do all the right things to your legs and thighs, with an oversized belt to hide away your wobbly tum. Throw on a shawl at night, with coordinating heels, and you’re good for any after work occasion - or team with a cardi and knee high boots to add a touch of glamour when ferrying the kids to and from after-school clubs - who said cocktail dresses were just for weddings!. Check it out here.

Pink

Featured (all from ESPRIT): Ruffle top (mixed) £29 / Long sleeve top (bardot peplum) £25 / Fine-knit jumper with frilled sleeves (baby pink) £39 / Trenchcoat (light blue) £99 / Mac (baby pink) £99 / Lace overlay top (black) £29 / Oversized jumper (white/black) £29 / Blazer (black) £ 55.00

It’s all very well buying the perfect dress, but the wind has literally just torn down a fence panel in my back garden. The fact is, just when you’re slimming down and need encouragement from mums at the school gate, you’re layered up with hats, scarves and heavy winter jackets that do nothing to show off your flatter stomach. In short, you need a tailored raincoat that nips in at the waist.

I’m loving this baby pink mac with drawstring waist and oversized hood for everyday. Perfect with jeans, it’ll offer you enough protection from the rain whilst showing off all your hard work. If you’re still a bit unsure your bum and thighs, the pale blue trench coat above is available in a variety of sizes and colours to lift your outfit into spring when winter eventually clears off and leaves us all alone!

Light cotton mix sweaters, with sleeve details and ruffles also help draw attention away from areas that still need work. By adding a little fluff and frill to your boobs and shoulders, it forces the eye out then back in, showcasing any lost inches. Even better, as you drop a dress size, these same tops will get slightly more free-fitting, making them bang on trend for summer evenings.

In conclusion. there’s no reason to put yourself on a shopping ban if you’re dieting. A pretty new dress, statement sweater, or to-die-for coat will give you the motivation to push on through to your goal weight, so try not to deny yourself the odd treat.
Jan 24 2018

5 of the best cars for road trips

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This year, we’ve promised the kids more day trips. As sports fans, it’s just too easy for Craig and I to camp in front of Sky Sports on a Saturday afternoon, and we’re determined to put this right. The kids are old enough now to appreciate festivals, the zoo and theme parks, so it’s time to make memories, hit the road, and discover just what makes the UK so great for families.

Having been bribed via the lure of a new car, Craig has also convinced me to go camping in the summer. It’s something the kids have begged me to do since watching Disney’s The Parent Trap (that film has a lot to answer for!) & it gives us the opportunity to explore further afield. As I write this post, with the rain lashing at my windows, I can’t say I’m too excited about this, but I can totally get behind the idea of new wheels.

So armed with a list of the best cars for camping (as compiled by Lookers) we’re narrowing down the field. I’m after something reliable, roomy and packed with performance enhancing features to make long journeys exciting and stress-free… not to mention somewhere to rest my head should a tent prove too traumatic! Here’s my top 5:

Nissan X-Trail

Looking to brush up on your wilderness survival skills? If you fancy a bit of bushcraft à la Ray Mears, then the Nissan X-Trail makes an ideal travelling companion. Load up the bikes, kayak and even the family dog. The five rearmost of the Nissan X-Trail’s seven seats can fold flat into the floor when not in use, making it perfect for throwing an air mattress in the back for a night’s sleep. Once day breaks and you want to get on the road again, you can do so in a smooth-riding, well-built, economical SUV. A win-win for everyone.​

Ford Galaxy

If your family extends beyond the average 2.4 children, or if you just prefer more space, the new Ford Galaxy might just fit the bill. Bigger and more practical than before, it promises enough room to seat everyone, as well as copious space for the tent, bags and all the camping paraphernalia you could ever need. As if you needed more convincing, this exceptional seven-seater has flexible seating with the Easyfold system, meaning that you can effortlessly fold each second row seat flat at the touch of a button. Powerfold also makes loading heavy items a little less time consuming with its automatic third row lowering and raising setting.​

Volvo V90

No camping vehicle roundup would be complete without a Volvo. Over the years the Swedish giants have produced many models that are ideally suited to exploring the outdoors. The new Volvo V90 continues this long-standing tradition in some style. Featuring cutting edge tech such as Large Animal Detection and Run-off Road Mitigation, the V90 is beautifully built for these environments. The handy collapsible back row with two stage child safety seats, offer peace of mind when travelling long distances with younger children. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Volvo without a cavernous boot to hold all those trip essentials.

Range Rover

Going off-road? Then consider journeying in the Range Rover which is more than capable of taking you off the beaten track. Adjustable air suspension allows you to glide above rocks which might otherwise damage the underside of the car, while a wading depth of 90cm should make the occasional river crossing stress-free. Go for the 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 engine which boasts the torque to scale for the most intimidating of inclines.

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Volkswagen Touareg

Camping isn’t just about the destination, it’s also about how you get there, and the Volkswagen Touareg is one of the best 4X4s for journeying. With those Volkswagen credentials it’s super reliable, giving you added peace of mind on those coast to coast overnight journeys. It has an impressive engine and permanent four wheel drive so it won’t let you down when you’re parking on ground that’s less than terra firma. Finally, generously proportioned and luxurious interiors also ensure everyone has enough room to sprawl out and enjoy the ride. Sounds good to me!

I can’t wait to get test driving these beauts. If you can think of any other cars we should be considering, drop me a comment & I’ll be sure to check them out.
Jan 22 2018

How to make gardening fun for children

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Gardening can be a fun activity for all of the family to enjoy. As well as being something different for the children to experience, it can also be beneficial for their wellbeing and education. Together with Suttons, an online retailer and gardening expert, I’ve popped together a quick guide to the benefits of gardening for children and ways to encourage their participation.

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Benefits of children gardening

There are many benefits of children spending time in the garden — both from an educational and health perspective.

There is a worrying statistic that three-quarters of UK children spend less time outdoors than prison inmates. Children are becoming more interested in tablets and smartphones and tend to spend more time in the house. Gardening is a great way to get them outside.

For younger children, messy play helps to enhance their sensory development. This could involve letting them play with the mud, splash in some puddles and just getting their hands dirty! It helps your child build their vocabulary too by becoming exposed to plants and creatures that they wouldn’t otherwise see if they were indoors. Their interest can be captivated with brightly coloured flowers and scented plants.

There have been numerous studies undertaken to assess the impact of gardening on children’s behaviour and social development, revealing a vast number of positive outcomes. These include:

  • After participating in a one-year gardening programme as part of their school curriculum, children aged 8-11 showed a significant increase in the ability to work in groups compared to those children who didn’t participate at all.
  • Children who grow their own food are more likely to eat fresh fruits and vegetables or at least express a preference for these foods.
  • Youth interns in community gardens reported increases in maturity and interpersonal skills.
  • Students expressed an increased understanding of ecology and responsibility to care for the environment.

Activities to try

There are many different activities to try in the garden. As well as having structured games, it can be good to let your child take the lead. They might use their own imagination to come up with an activity that you can both get involved in.

For older children, you could create a bird feeder out of a plastic bottle to encourage wildlife into the garden. This is easy enough to do:

  1. Create 2 holes opposite each other at the bottom of the bottle, insert a stick through this and this will become a perch
  2. Make feeding holes close to the perch (not too big or else the feed will fall out)
  3. Create holes in the neck of the bottle, you can pass string through here and hang the bottle from a branch
  4. Unscrew the lid and fill with seeds for the birds!

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For smaller children, you could take them around the garden and search for clues as to which animals have visited. This could be in the form of feathers, tiny tracks or snail trails.

Grow their own

As well as playing games and getting crafty, you can also grow plants and vegetables with children. This is a good way for them to get regularly involved in the garden and monitor their own progress.

Trees

Growing a tree is understandably a long-term gardening project, but it can be fun for a child to see how their tree is growing over time.

Easy seeds to grow in the garden are:

  • Conkers. These can be collected from a horse chestnut tree
  • Acorns from an oak tree
  • Helicopters from a sycamore tree

These can all be planted in a pot with soil and compost. It is likely that it will be around spring when the seed sprouts — you may have to transfer it to a bigger pot eventually.

Seeds

Planting seeds with your children that are easy to sow and quick growing are good for keeping their attention and interest levels in the garden. Vegetables such as potatoes, carrots and spring onions are all easy to grow and maintain.

To encourage healthy eating, plant those that they like to eat so they can follow the journey of the seed from planting to their plate!

There are other plants that are fun to grow. Suttons sell vegetable seeds and a range of fun seeds that have been designed for children. These include:

  • Cress — a fast-growing plant that can be grown indoors and outdoors and added to a salad afterwards.
  • Sunflowers — tall growing so children can practise their measuring skills as it grows.
  • A Mimosa Pudica (a dancing plant) that when it is touched, its leaves ‘dance’ and curl up tightly.

The list of activities is endless that you can do to make gardening fun for children. Get outdoors and get involved with your child and you’ll soon see the benefits!

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