Top Tips on How You Can Combat the Winter Blues

Although they undoubtedly have their positives, the Autumn and Winter months can act as a catalyst for sadness for a lot of people – and it’s scientifically proven that this is an actual health condition. It’s no wonder really. We go from warm weather, long days and an abundance in vitamin D, to dark mornings, darker nights, cold air and the sun hiding for months at a time. This time of year can begin to feel like a slog for a lot of people, because they can see the dark nights, feel the chill of the air, and know it’s only going to creep up infinitely quicker day by day for the next six months or so. If this sounds like you, then here are some top tips on how you can combat the infamous “Winter blues” and stay positive this season.

Review: Snow Park at Chill Factore

In May of this year the popular Snow Park at Chill Factore where children and adults alike can dive down on a toboggan or slide in rings down an icy slope, had a re-launch and we were invited along to give it a try. We visited over the summer holidays, which was definitely a novelty going from heat into the snow, but it was actually a great activity for an August rainy day.

Review: Comfortable Footwear for Travelling With Hotter Shoes

We've all done it before - bought beautiful new shoes for our holiday only to wear them once and our feet be ripped to pieces. Hard plastic, rough leather, painful heels - you name it, I've been there. However thanks to Hotter Shoes' Tourist sandals, this Summer my feet were given a reprieve from the pain. Read on to find out why!

The Advantages of Driving With Correct Tyres

If you are a car owner, you will be familiar with the importance of having correct tyres. It is very dangerous to continue to drive with tyres that are either in poor condition or do not match your vehicle’s needs. Bad tyres are a driving hazard and they can cause your vehicle to lose its grip on the road. Your car can lose its control on the road and you can be exposed to the risk of an accident. If you want to be confident while driving, you have to make sure that your tyres are in optimum position and can give you the desired level of performance.

Effective consumption of fuel 

Cars always tend to consume more fuel when tyres are worn out. Bad tyres make it difficult for the car mechanisms to work properly and the result is more usage of fuel. This will make you spend more money on fuel. Best approach will be to invest in good tyres so you save money in the long run.

Better traction 

The problem with old tyres is, they lose their tread and road grip. When tyres are new, they have better surface area and create a better traction pattern.

Comfortable drive with right tyres 

The whole driving experience transforms when your tyres are correct. Brakes work better and there is less noise while driving. If your old tyres need replacement, you can check with tyre experts. Taking long road trips is fun but bad tyres can have bad implications even when you are driving inter-city, for example in the Scotland area or in sub areas like Dundee, Aberdeenshire or Edinburgh. For selecting brand new tyres in Dundee look no further and get them today from Fife Autocentre's site. 

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Teach Children Great Money Habits With Pigzbe

Teaching children about the value of money is something I've always been conscious of and Mr H and and I have discussed the importance of them learning from a young age that money has to be earned. Not only does this teach them good spending habits but also the value of hard work.

8 Family Activities In Porthmadog Wales

We have been holidaying in the Gwynedd area of north Wales for many years now, as my in-laws have a van at the Greenacres Haven site in Porthmadog. It is a great part of Wales for families and because of our regular trips, we have visited many places in the area, so I thought I would share our favourite things to do as a family in the town of Porthmadog.

Planning A Tween Bedroom

Around six months ago Mr H decided, on the spur of the moment, to move Holly from one of the smaller bedrooms in our house to what was the main bedroom until we completed our loft conversion. In one fell swoop he created several weeks of chaos, which resulted in a massive coup for Holly as she has a huge room complete with en-suite. Of course this now means that both rooms need redecorating, a task that is often put off in our house as Mr H absolutely hates any form of DIY.

However it's been quite a while since the big move and every time I go in Holly's room all I can see is holes in the walls, mismatched colour schemes and remnants of when it was our bedroom and then the spare bedroom, all mixed in with an eight year old's bits and pieces. It's definitely time to get it sorted.

With that in mind I have put together, along with Holly's input, some ideas for decor and furniture that she would need for her new bedroom.

Review: Inflata Nation Manchester's Inflatable Theme Park

A few weeks ago we were invited to visit Inflata Nation, the inflatable theme park based in Manchester. We have meant to visit the site a few times as it sounds brilliant and something my two would really love, but have never got around to it. The school holidays was the perfect time to give it a try so myself, the kids and some friends went along to see if it was as good as I'd heard.

How To Deal With A Chronic Illness Diagnosis

I often compare dealing with a chronic illness is like dealing with a death. Because, in a way, that's exactly what it is. Your life, once diagnosed, is forever changed, and that is a huge loss you can never get back. It is the death of a life you once knew.

Tips For Extending Your Car Battery Life

For anyone who relies on their car to get around, making sure it is running in top condition is crucial - nobody wants to break down in the middle of nowhere and have to wait hours for someone to come get you home. One of the biggest problems is your car battery life as, unlike a puncture, it can't be fixed if you're on your own on the side of the road. I've put together a few tips to extend the battery life of your car to ensure you're not left stranded.

Review: Finding A Local Babysitter with Childcare.co.uk

"It takes a village to raise a child", or so the saying goes, but in today's society those villages are smaller and smaller and often parents have very little support or backup and are raising their children with little to no help from outside. I am fortunate that I have a great family and although they're not on my doorstep, they help out as much as they can and when they can with the children. That being said, though, when John and I just need an hour to ourselves or if we want any adult-only time, we don't really have anyone we can call on to lend a hand. That's where childcare.co.uk comes in.

Review: L.O.L. Surprise #HairGoals

Holly isn't a girl that particularly sits down with dolls or Barbies and will play endlessly, she tends to flit from one activity to another and can end up with every toy she owns out in a short period of time. However one toy she does go back to time and time again are her L.O.L. dolls. She was a fan from the day they came out and loves the collectible concept where she can unpackage each layer, enjoying revealing the surprises as she goes along. On top of several dolls we now have the pop up store where she can play with her dolls but also store everything that comes with them.

Travel: Ideas for your next UK City Break

If you’re planning a weekend break with your partner, friends or family, then the UK has plenty of city destinations which can cater to a wide range of preferences. Whether you are looking for great nightlife, a city with a rich history or just fancy a bit of sightseeing, we’ve put together a few ideas to help you plan the best weekend break you can imagine.

Review & Giveaway: Sealife Manchester with Play-Doh

We have visited our local aquarium, Sealife Manchester based in the Trafford Centre, many times in the years since it has opened. It is a regular on our list of activities to keep the children entertained at some point during the holiday period. For February half term we were invited along to try out the new Jawsome Sharks experience with Play-Doh so along with some friends we spent a couple of hours enjoying the underwater life and taking part in the activities on offer.

Managing with Chronic Fatigue & Flu

For the last three weeks I have been battling with my health trying to get on top of what seems to be a bout of flu. It began with a sore throat and quickly turned into a terrible cough that kept me up all nights, aches all over and fatigue that kept me in bed for a week. As most of you know I am already battling chronic fatigue, which is hard enough in itself, so throw another illness on top of that and it's rock bottom. But, hopefully I am now coming out of the other side of it and so I thought I'd share my advice on how to survive when you get one illness on top of a chronic one.

Review: Treetop Trek & Nets In Manchester

Getting out and about with the kids at this time of year is not the easiest thing - the weather is unreliable, it's muddy and cold and finding things outdoors to do that won't result in complaining after a few minutes can be a challenge. When we were invited to try Treetop Trek & Nets in Manchester, I thought it would definitely be something different to do and I was intrigued to see what the kids would make of it.

You Are Not Alone: Chronic Fatigue And Guilt

As a chronic fatigue sufferer, one of my hardest emotional struggles is the feeling of guilt. I am not the person I once was and my mind really struggles with that thought and so there are many times when I let people down.

Tips For Cleaning Your Floors From Mrs Hinch

Many of us will be aware of the Instagram sensation that is Mrs Hinch - having grown from just a few thousand to over a million in a few short months, her cleaning advice has helped people all over the country, if not the world, manage their household chores in small manageable bites and even motivated those who have been struggling to keep on top of things. Today I thought I'd pull together some of her cleaning advice for the floors in your home. There may be some affiliate links in this post for your convenience.

Review: David Charles Partywear For Girls

There are some beautiful clothes out there for girls and finding the right party dress can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. I tend to turn to the usual supermarket find or maybe a trip to Next or Monsoon. However from time to time I do like to splash out on something extra special and when I was looking for a dress for Holly that would be suitable for her birthday and into the Christmas party season I was really thrilled when David Charles Childrenswear got in touch.

An Eighth Birthday Party

The week before Christmas was Holly’s eighth birthday. This year she opted for a karaoke party and a minibus parked itself on our drive for two hours whilst the children sang their hearts out to the likes of Little Mix and Greatest Showman, much to the delight of our neighbours I’m sure!

The Top 7 of 2018 Tag

As New Year hits I love looking reflecting on the past twelve months and all the things we have got up to - it's easy to forget everything that has happened over the space of several months and for posterity's sake I like having a place I can come to and reflect easily. So when I was tagged in One Frazzled Mum's Top 7 Tag by Hodge Podge Days, it was the perfect opportunity to sum up our year.