Category Archives: Events

Dec 5 2017

Perfect Christmas partywear for little ladies

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What is going on this year..?! My Facebook is full of Elf on the Shelf & Christmas tree pics and we’re only in the first week of December. We’ve also had no fewer than 5 festive party invites from family friends - and oddly, none of them clash. Fortunately, I finished the Christmas shopping early this year, giving me plenty of time to focus on getting ready for the party season ahead.

Of all of us, Heidi is the most in need of a few sparkly outfits for the dance floor. Thankfully, I’ve been seriously impressed with the high-street this season, so I’m whisking Heidi away for a girly shopping day. It’s the perfect excuse to check out what’s new in my favourite shops and pick up a mini outfit for my little lady at the same time (sshh, don’t tell Craig).

Belles and whistles

White

Left to right: Girls cream lace flower corsage dress (limited edition) £50 / Mini girls cream floral sleeveless dress (online exclusive) £50 / Mini girls cream pleated lace trapeze dress (online exclusive) £55

Let’s face it, no one else does partywear for girls quite like River Island. I’m loving their limited edition white collection this year - there are styles for every taste with plenty of pleats, chiffon and french lace to transform your little madam into a perfect snow princess. With age appropriate skirt lengths and plenty of puff, they’ll look stunning mid-twirl on the dance floor.

Whistles

Accessories!: ROW 1: Mini girls pink brooch slip on plimsolls was £14, now £10 / Girls pink metallic knit bobble beanie hat £10 / Girls light pink studded peep toe wedge shoes (online exclusive) £25 ROW 2: Girls rose gold sequin round cross body bag (online exclusive) £12 / Girls gold glitter bow front foldout purse was £10, now £8 / Mini girls pink glitter ankle boots (online exclusive) £22 / ROW 3: Girls pink metallic sequin block heel boots (online exclusive) £28 / Mini girls silver loafer detail ankle boots (online exclusive) £22 / Girls pink metallic sequin trifold purse was £12, now £8

No self- respecting princess would leave the house without a bit of sparkle. Team dresses with glittered shoes and a sequin bag to complete any Christmas party look. River Island also has some beautiful metallic knit bobble hats too - perfect for keeping your little one warm and cosy on the way to all those festive engagements. Rose gold, pink blush and dirty gold are this season’s must-haves, and can be worn throughout the year to glam up the almost any outfit.

Pretty in pink

PIP3

Left to right: Girls pink pleated lace trapeze dress (limited edition) £60 / Mini girls pink pleated lace trapeze dress (online exclusive) £55 / Girls pink lace flower corsage dress (limited edition) £50

It’s not for everyone, but Heidi looks beautiful in pink. Whether you’re shopping for a 2 year old, or a fussy teen, River Island have tons of cotton candy options, and all the accessories to complete the look. If you can’t bear too much pink, try twinning a pink tutu skirt with a black leotard, or going for a long sleeved pink dress with black tights and boots.

PIP

I want it, I want it!: Mini girls pink layered tutu skirt (limited edition) £16 / Girls pink glitter brooch embellished purse was £14, now £10 / Girls pink satin faux pearl ballerina shoes (online exclusive) £22 / Girls pink satin bow one shoulder prom dress £30 / Girls pink pleated sleeve high neck dress (online exclusive) £16 / Girls pink floral brocade prom dress (limited edition) £30 / Girls pink floral bell sleeve bardot dress £25

Like mother, like daughter

Teens

Midnight edit: Girls black floral embroidered prom dress was £35, now £20 / Girls black mesh bead embellished prom dress (limited edition) £38 / Girls navy metallic lace prom dress £30 / Black lace high neck puff sleeve top £22 / Girls cream lace high neck puff sleeve top £22

For more grown-up girls, River Island’s prom dresses have great splashes of gold beading and embroidery for an altogether more subtle sparkle. Flattering lines, fuller skirts and high collars mean you won’t feel the need to tug at their hems all night too!

There you have it - my top picks of River Island’s Christmas partywear for little ladies. Let me know if anything caught your eye.

Merry Christmas everyone!

 

 

Feb 26 2017

There’s no better time to join - Happy Birthday Swagbucks!

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Swagbucks is celebrating their birthday all day on Monday February 27th, but the neat little twist is that they’re showering YOU with presents. This is my first time celebrating their birthday and I’m pretty excited to get stuck in and start racking up those points. Previous years have shown this is the best time to join the site with a bevvy of games, challenges and offers to seriously bump up those all important totals.

Birthday

First up… The SWAGO Birthday Edition

Yep SWAGO is back, and this one is worth a whopping 300 SB. SWAGO is Swagbucks twist on bingo, with members checking off squares by completing free tasks; anything from getting a search win, completing a survey, or simply watching a video.

If you want to play (it’s totally free), you need to hit “Join” to pre-register NOW. If you don’t hit “Join” you won’t get credit for completing the action items when the board goes live on Monday February 27th at 8am.

Playing couldn’t be simpler. Once you complete the action in a particular square the square will change colour to let you know it’s done. Be mindful of the patterns and their corresponding bonuses located on the right of your Swago Board. The patterns will vary in difficulty and bonus value. Once you’ve achieved a pattern, the corresponding “Submit” button will light up. You can have multiple patterns available for submission, however, you can only submit ONE pattern so choose wisely.

The game ends Tuesday, February 28th at 8pm so you have just one day to score that full-house and scoop that 300 SB maximum.

As if that wasn’t enough…every square you complete grants you an entry to Spin and win

This is brand new to Swagbucks, and, with everything else going on, what a time to launch it! I’m so excited for this.

Spin

Basically, each activity you successfully complete on your Swago Board will give you anywhere from 1-20 spins for the Spin & Win Wheel where you can earn up to 2500 points with each spin! Every spin on the wheel results in either a spot prize SB, an exclusive Swag Up* or entries into the Swagbucks Birthday Swagstakes… yep you heard right, every spin is a guaranteed prize!

You will have until 7:59 AM on March 1st to use your spins on the Spin & Win wheel, so if you can resist the temptation to blow them all at once you could stretch out those celebrations until Wednesday.

*The Swag Ups will be live for a couple of weeks and will expire on the following dates:50SB/900 SB Swag Up Rebate will be live from March 1st, 2017 at 8AM GMT until March 11th at 8AM GMT.The Double SB for Surveys and Search will be live from March 1st, 2017 at 8AM GMT until March 18th at 8AM GMT.**All Swag Up and Double Search and Survey SB will credit back as Bonus SB which means they will not go towards your Daily Goal Meter.

Swag Code Extravaganza

Finally, if you’re stuck for time tomorrow (or just plain lazy) there’s an even easier way to get involved and get your mitts on an extra 50 SB. Starting from 8am, Swagbucks will kick off another popular Swag Code Extravaganza.

There will be a total of 9 Swag Codes on offer - dotted all around the site and Swagbucks’ social media pages. Simply find em before they expire and pop em into the swag code box for SB aplenty.

Happy Birthday Swagbucks!

BirthdaySB

 

Click here to sign up through me and get started - Simply joining using this link will bag you an end-of month bonus

GEMMASB

Feb 7 2017

Why care homes shouldn’t be regarded as a last resort

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There aren’t many positive news stories about care homes. I’m not suggesting it’s not newsworthy to report when their standards fall short, or we shouldn’t name and shame workers who provide unacceptable care, but are all care homes really as dreary and depressing as the media would have us believe?

I’ve had occasion to visit a dozen care homes recently. Having sat down with my Nan and asked her how she would like to spend her later years, she was surprisingly upbeat about the prospect of selling her townhouse and moving to a residential care home. Having lost Granddad, she’s lonely in her home, and although my brother and I have looked into modifying our homes to accommodate her, she’s very insistent she wants to retain her independence. Personally I think my children are a little too young to respect her personal space and frailty, and my home is just too loud and chaotic to offer her the peaceful and restful environment she craves.

activities

Her criteria is modest. She only wants a large sunny room, with a peaceful view. She’s still very glamorous and takes her inspiration and energy from the world around her, so anywhere too clinical definitely wouldn’t suit. She’s also incredibly sociable and wants plenty of company, so a buzzy activity-packed environment is preferable to one more tranquil.

Although the limited experience I’ve had of these places had been all mismatched G Plan furniture, scruffy staff and battle-worn patients, I tried to stay optimistic when I first hit Yellow Pages. We have an ageing population in this country, and care homes are now big business. People like my Nan are prepared to pay sizeable sums to get the supported living they require, in attractive environments tailored to their tastes and needs. So contrary to popular opinion, care homes are not simply God’s waiting rooms - there’s real choice out there when it comes to assisted living - for all sorts of different budgets.

So what can you expect if your loved one decides to make the move?

Well for one, you get peace of mind that their needs are being met - whether that’s help with preparing food, feeding, using the bathroom or taking medication. My Nan is frail, and at 82 is showing signs of senility and dementia. Right now, the family are taking it in turns to visit and assist her in her own home - which means helping her with all of the above, and staying on top of her housework. We’re not resentful, the kids love being there, I love being there - she’s not a burden to us at all, but sadly I think she’s becoming a burden to herself. It scares me that she might forget to take her pills, or indeed take too many, or even that she might be sat uncomfortably in her chair having not made the toilet.

carehome_2

Secondly, they’ll get lasting companionship. A good care worker isn’t simply there to pour drinks and help your loved one to stay clean. They’re a friendly face in the morning, afternoon and evening, and someone your mother / father / grandparent can trust with their secrets, ailments, fears and memories. Then there are other residents, all with their own personalities, and their own tragedies and stories. Knowing my Nan is lonely, this gives me real peace of mind.

So I’m determined to make this next chapter in my Nan’s life one filled with positivity and adventure. Hopefully she’ll go on to create lots of new friendships and memories, and we can relax a little more in her company and make every moment more worthwhile and special. She’s a very special lady my Nan, and I’ve never been more convinced that this is the right move for her, and us.

 

 

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