100 Word Challenge For Grown Ups Week 13

I missed the deadline for 100WCGU last week - try as I may, I was completely unable to come up with anything! I did marginally better this week, but thought I may as well submit it anyway. It does prove my really rubbish taste in TV. To be fair, I don't indulge in TV very often so I'm not greatly fussy!

5 Things That Made Me Smile This Week

Photo by photostock

1. I logged into Facebook the other day to find a friend request from my grandmother. She lives quite a while away (not insanely far but far enough for me as I don't drive) and we don't speak much, so I was glad to see her on there - if a little shocked because she's not great with computers!

Blogger Comment Problems... AGAIN!

Known Issues for Blogger: We're investigating reports of users not being abl...

We're investigating reports of users not being able to comment on IE8/9 from the embedded form. We hope to have a fix out shortly, but in the meantime we encourage admins to switch to either the full-page or pop-up forms which should be working without issue.


Thanks for your patience, and we'll make sure to update this post as soon as we have more info.

latest update on Thursday, October 06, 2011

I'm also having this problem with Google Chrome, is this the same for everyone?


Not only that, but I seem to be unable to find a way to switch the comments to a pop-up box.


AND the text from this post was creeping into the right sidebar. Hoping that's fixed now...


AND the layout of the post keeps appearing in some weird, broken sort of way.

Seriously starting to consider a switch to Wordpress, any thoughts (you're probably better off tweeting, @GoldAndThree)?

What REALLY Grips My ****

*Inspired by Britmums Blog Prompt, my biggest pet peeve is_______ :)*

It's something that has come up quite regularly over the past few weeks and to be honest, I've been dying for an excuse to rant over it!

5 Things That Made Me Smile This Week

Photo by David Castillo Dominici

1. Awards. Goldilocks was very pleased to come home with a Merit Award on Monday, given to her for "fantastic participation in Welsh activities".  I have blogged before about how much she loves to speak Welsh and I'm hopeful that her enthusiasm may help her focus in the classroom.

I'm Trying To Be Cross With You!



Photo by Ambro



Last night I read a post over at TheBoyandMe called Tension-Breaker and I swear it cursed me!

Big Bear was in my "bad" books yesterday. While picking up an order from Asda for me he decided to phone and see if I wanted anything while he was there:

Him: "...or she'll only whinge later..."

Me: "Hello?"

Him: "Oh hiya babe, was wondering if you wanted anything from Asda while I'm here?"

It turns out he immediately knew I'd heard him. Mistake number one.

The Birds, The Bees and The Chickens

Photo by Clare Bloomfield

It's a question most of us remember asking and all of us dread being asked:

"How did that get in there?"

When I got pregnant with Little Bear, I told Goldilocks that there was a tiny baby in my belly and that it was going to grow into a real baby. She didn't quite believe me at first, but then was thrilled. I worried about the awkward questions, but told myself that I would make sure I told her the truth in an age-appropriate way no matter what questions she asked. So I waited. And waited. Then I waited some more. Eventually...

The Welsh Carrier Bag Charge - Useful Information

Picture by digitalart

As many of you will already know, the Welsh Government is introducing a carrier-bag charge in Wales this Saturday, 1st October 2011. Many people are still confused about this - I've been on their website today to find out more. Here are the facts:

100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups - Week 11

I really struggled with this week's prompt! Had writer's block for most of the week, was pre-occupied for most of the weekend and when I did start writing it on one subject, I suddenly had a massive wave of recollections and ideas! I decided not to write several, but I may just be greedy if I have time today and change my mind!

Anyway, the prompt for this week was Out of the mouths of babes.

10 Great Christmas Lies

Photo by Stuart Miles

I admit it - I'm a terrible mother. I tell constant lies to Goldilocks - from Father Christmas to dreamcatchers and everything in-between. For the most part these have has harmless effects but I do remember feeling terrible when she sulked Christmas Day because Rudolph didn't wait for her to get up: she had been looking forward to meeting him. We all lie and at some point we all get caught out, covering it up with another lie just to keep the magic going for a little bit longer. Here are a few I've used, had used on me or known other people to use.

5 Things That Made Me Smile This Week

Taking Stock...

Photo by Federico Stevanin

1. Little Bear's First Steps. They were to Big Bear, of course! He's always been the favourite which is actually really nice to see.

I Don't Want Him To Be Born



Photo by Louisa Stokes


For the past few months my attention span has been, in some cases, limited. This is very much the case when it comes to my hospital bag - 38 weeks and 4 days gone and my hospital bag is still not packed!

Whenever somebody has asked me "Why on earth isn't it done yet???" I tend to fall back on my go-to excuse for all things I've previously procrastinated on: I didn't have the time.

Well, considering pelvic girdle pain (PGP, formerly known as SPD) has made me housebound, we all know that is not the case. Thankfully nobody has pointed that out to me yet - I have been saved the embarrassment of having to shuffle my feet and "Oh, erm... well..."

The truth is, I'm not sure I want this baby to be born.

Would You Back Corporal Punishment?

I was disappointed to read an article on the BBC News website this morning that said almost half of the parents of the UK supported corporal punishment in schools:

10 Ways I Save Money On The Weekly Shop

Photo By Grant Cochrane

With the "big move" looming, a new baby on the way and Christmas around the corner, I've been thinking alot about money. I've cut down on groceries and other bills, improved on the payment plan I had on the single debt I have and had started putting money away for emergencies (a process that will have to start again as I've had to buy a new laptop!). Whereas I'm not overly worried about the subject, keeping on top of my money by budgeting and seeking out the best offers for things etc has become something of a new hobby! This will no doubt be a useful hobby to have in years to come, as I will have to tighten my purse strings even further when Big Bear and I move in together!

Here are my own 10 tips to saving money on the weekly shop!

100 Word Challenge For Grown Ups - Week 10

This week's prompt was a photo of a sculpture in Luxembourg Gardens. Initially I struggled to come up with anything but I hope this will do - definitely a lot more tame than last week!

Dear Secret Diary...

5 Things That Made Me Smile This Week

Taking Stock...

Photo by winnond (NOT of my bathroom)

1. New Bathroom - On Wednesday I had yet another scan and actually got out first thing in the morning to do the school run and get on my way. In between the school run and going to the hospital, Big Bear and I popped for a brief visit to the New House and he showed me the progress he'd made. The best sight was definitely the upstairs bathroom - everything tiled and plumbed in just the way a bathroom should be! It was lovely to see and I can't wait to start using it!

"If I die, you were the one" Tragic Teen's Final Message

I found this story earlier in the Daily Mail (It's not all about benefit-bashing, after all!) and it broke my heart to read. This beautiful 17-year-old knew that she might die and used her last moments to tell her boyfriend how much she loved him...

100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups - Week 9

“Mary thought the sun shone out of his arse – she didn’t half have a shock!”

5 Things That Made Me Smile This Week

Photo by Tina Phillips

Taking Stock...

1. Goldilock's Waiter Shock - My Dad took me out for a lovely meal in an Indian restaurant on Saturday, to round up on my week-long 21st birthday! When the waiter came round to take our order for drinks, Goldilocks decided she wanted to be different. Instead of ordering Pepsi or lemonade like the rest of us, she put on her poshest tone and said "Sparkling water, please."

How Much Sex Is "Not Enough"?

Photo by photostock

According to today's news, France is now leading the world in the money-for-sex market. Not only can you seek out a prostitute and pay for sex, but you can also get married and after a messy divorce pay for not having sex.

5 Things That Made Me Smile This Week

Taking Stock...

1. Goldilocks's Mock Caesarean - One week ago today, Goldilocks had a funny if rather frightening revelation. Picking up a pretend knife from her toy kitchen, she turned to me and said "If I cut your belly open, I will be able to see the baby. I hope this doesn't hurt!" 0_0

I'm 35 Weeks And Not Ready For This Baby!

It was blatantly obvious to me and Big Bear last night how much things have got out of hand. I started having mild pains at about 10.30. Originally thinking it may be IBS I took some paracetamol and tried to get some sleep. Palpitations started just moments after getting back into bed and the pains were already stronger and more frequent. I’d already given birth twice before – so why was I so nervous?

10 Songs I Listen To Twice

Some songs are so moving that they will never be long enough, these are the songs we never want to stop listening to. All of my 10 touch me in a different way: they could make me relate to a particular time in my life, make me be happy, sad or just want to rock! Here are my current 10, feel free to do your own and link back!

Making Star Charts Work

So many people recommend star charts and similar reward systems as a way for you to get your child to do just about anything – a chart for potty training, a chart for kindness, a chart for tidying etc. I have seen and experienced high-minded HVs and other child professionals look down on parents for not trying these methods, or for giving up on them. A lot of parents say the same thing – they don’t work. Yet time after time we get told they will work, we’re doing it wrong! Are we?

Why Men Shouldn't Bake Cookies

Well doesn't that put a whole new meaning to cookies and cream? This was not a planned creation: being a typical man, Big Bear was very generous in the cookie size and they spread a lot more than expected. The top of one cookie basically fell off our silicone cookie sheet, creating the colour difference in the tip. From the end of one testicle to the other the cookie (or cookies, seeing as it was three cookies that merged during baking) was more than 12 inches!

 

They tasted divine, however and were the soft, chewy cookies of my dreams. This is the recipe we used:

How It Feels Being A Victim Of Domestic Violence

When I was 16, I got with a man who turned out to be very violent and abusive. Whilst still in the relationship (which lasted 2.5 years) I heard this song for the very first time and it completely epitomised how it felt to be me at that time. To this day I still have the utmost respect for what I overcame whenever I hear this song, and for every person who may be feeling the same.

Bathing Alone: When Is It Safe?

Everywhere you look, you are faced with a different opinion on when it’s safe to leave a child unattended in the bath. I attended a parenting course called Family Links a few years ago and while we were covering “Appropriate Expectations” we discussed this very subject. Under no uncertain terms I was told I shouldn’t let Goldilocks bathe alone until she was 9. I was, surprisingly, the only person in the room that was gobsmacked by this.

Why The Quit Smoking "Rules" Are Irrelevant

Too many rules create a big problem: failure. Quitting smoking is one of those situations where it's very easy to find yourself creating too many rules. You -must- set a date, get rid of everything to do with smoking the day before you quit, cram your calendar with activities that aren't smoking related and avoid caffeine, alcohol and any other situation that would make you crave a cigarette. Sound familiar?

Treating Vaginal Thrush With Yogurt

Super-cheap miracle treatment or old wives' tale?

Pregnancy and thrush, for me, go hand in hand. I got lucky with Goldilocks (either that or she just loved me a lot!) and didn't get it at all, but being pregnant with Little Bear more than made up for that - I had thrush almost constantly from the middle of the second trimester. The NHS must have kept Canesten afloat just from my own treatments!

This time when thrush began to plague me guilt led me down a different path. After all, if I can afford to treat an ailment myself (within reason) then isn't it only fair to give the NHS a break? After nearly fainting at the price of Canesten in my local Asda (£7+ for a pessary and cream I knew I'd end up buying several times by the end of this pregnancy 0_0) I decided to look up the less traditional method of using plain live yogurt as a treatment.

I was mortified when my mother informed me that I would most likely be putting the yogurt on my vulva and vagina - and found that the Internet did not give me the answer I was looking for.

70,000 People Who Need To Grow Up

Pictures of the UK 2011 riots are everywhere and they have shocked the world. Like a virus it has spread across the country and so far not enough has been done to stop it. Us British do not generally like the idea of military in the streets and pictures of water cannons and baton rounds being used do shock us, but to many who are faced with the devastation of this week's riots are looking less harsh the more time goes on.

A lot of you will already have heard of the e-petition to axe the benefits of anybody involved in the riots, some of you may have signed it. How many of you have questioned its ignorance I wonder?

Avoiding Back To School Madness!

Well it's August and that means only one thing: the kids go back to school soon. OMG. There's so much to buy - uniform, stationery, new coat, new bag - then there's the queues...

Erm, hang on - haven't they only just got out of school?

I just don't understand why everybody goes mental this time of year - it could be so much cheaper if we all learned to relax!

Here are some handy tips to bear in mind when you're close to pulling your hair out.

Confessions: My 5 Most Shameful Guilty Pleasures

Men, habits, old ones, new ones: guilty pleasures take so many shapes and forms. And I am oh-so-guilty.

Blogger Comment Problems

Has anybody else been experiencing problems posting comments on Blogger? I have, since this blog's birth. I knew that Google were aware of the problem and tried to ride it out, but to be honest got fed up of waiting.

Here is a list of work-arounds found in Blogger's help forum, copied & pasted for your convenience.

It'll Probably Be Fine... NOT!

Don't you just hate it when you can tell there's something wrong and you get told time after time that everything is probably fine? Sometimes they think you're just being a hypochondriac, and other times you can just tell they are lying to stop you from worrying yourself to death.

Turning Disaster Into Dessert

After a lot of nagging courtesy of Goldilocks (Little Bear was fast asleep and let's face it - he can't nag me yet) I checked again to see if the triple chocolate cookies we were baking were done. It had taken a little longer than expected - They looked as though they'd turn out tiny so I'd made them bigger.

How Narrow Minded!

I find it amazing how people can be so crude and heartless over Amy Winehouse's death. I also find it worrying that so many people are only paying respects to her whilst ignoring almost 100 Norwegians, mainly teenagers at a summer youth camp, who also lost their lives.

Children Learn What They Live

Really lovely poem, I got given it on a laminated piece of card whilst doing a Family Links course. I have no idea who the author is. Found that card whilst clearing out some old junk earlier, thought I'd share it:

Really Annoying Things Non-Pregnant People Do

Having a huge baby bump gives people a special pass to insult you, or so it seems. Not a day goes by where somebody rudely interrupts my day: stopping me to chat when they normally wouldn't look at me, insulting me in any which way they can, touching me without asking (cringe!) are just a few of the things people continue to do even when you've told them not to!

1. "You're not pregnant AGAIN!" No, I'm naturally this fat and hid it well up until 6 months ago.
2. "What have you been eating then?" Babies, apparently.
3. "You're putting on weight all over, aren't you?" Thanks, because I wanted to feel fatter than I already do.
4. "You can't have long left now/You look ready to pop!" Unfortunately not, but how kind of you to notice how huge I am!
5. "Pregnancy is not an illness/an excuse to slow down etc..." So I should over-exert myself and end up doing myself and my baby harm?
6. Touching the bump - especially sneaking up from behind or from the first trimester! Seriously: get a grip! You aren't touching the baby, you're touching my skin and I do not like it.
7. "Another one already? Are you MAD?" Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realise you doubted my ability to cope with more than one child.
8. (After the birth) "So did you poo?" ...Why are you that interested?
9. (After the birth) "An 8lb baby? OMG that's huge... there's no coming back from that, you're gonna be saggy down there for life!" Cheers, I worked that hard for that long and that's what I get for it!
10. "You can't do that, you're pregnant!" I feel able to do it and so I shall.
11. "Awwww, bless you!" Thanks for letting me know how awful I look!
12. (When expecting a baby of the opposite sex to LO)"One of each, that's nice - you can stop now." I didn't realise it was considered good form to stop having children once you've had at least one of each gender!

People are unwittingly so rude to pregnant women - there's no need for it! Just because I'm cooking a baby doesn't mean I don't have feelings, in fact, thanks to hormones they are a little bit more sensitive than normal, so would it kill you to be a little bit more considerate?

Not Just For Sex: 21 Reasons Why Petroleum Jelly Is The Household Superhero

An unfortunate experience with sunburn after baking on the school fields all morning yesterday (Goldilocks almost won the running race, but flopped to the floor in a temper because her hat fell off - then won her egg and spoon race because she held the spoon and the wrong end and ran for her life) left me thinking about how often I use petroleum jelly (also known as soft white paraffin). It really is a household staple - expanding far from the medicine box or discreet hiding place. Here is a list of many things you can use it for.

1. Skin conditions/ailments including but not limited to: eczema, dry/chapped skin, nappy rash, sunburn, cuts and sores. Always apply to the skin (obviously) and if using on cuts, remember to clean them thoroughly first.
2. Adding food colouring can be useful if you'd like a quick fix for lip balm or emergency makeup.
3. Use it on your pulse points to help your perfume last longer than your man.
4. Spreading it around your nails will prevent nail varnish from sticking to your skin and rubbing it into your cuticles will soften them up.
5. Use it sparsely to tidy up those stray brow hairs.
6. Rub it on your forehead etc. to prevent hair dye staining.
7. It makes a cheap but effective moisturiser, particularly useful for those with very sensitive skin.
8. Slop some on your feet before putting on a pair of moisturising socks, then go to sleep. When you wake up your feet should be wonderfully soft!
9. Shine your shoes with it.
10. Remove chewing gum with it.
11. Rub it into your candelabra to stop molten wax from sticking.
12. Rub it into the bottom of your pet's food bowl to stop ants from getting at it (or destroy the nest).
13. Rubbing it into threads can: stop light bulbs from sticking, stop super glue tubes from becoming one-time-use and make it easier to open bottles: a good tip for those with bad hands.
14. It can help stop your hands from being covered with paint. It will do likewise for doorknobs etc and other messy substances.
15. It can help to remove the engagement/wedding ring when you're so pregnant your fingers are as fat as your bum!
16. Slapping a lot of it above in/above LO's eyebrows can help protect them from shampoo suds.
17. As it is flammable, putting a candle into a jar of it makes a long-lasting emergency light.
18. It apparently acts as an insulator in cold weather: apply some before going out.
19. Use it to get rid of those pesky watermarks left in your wooden furniture.
20. It makes a good substitute for oil when it comes to getting rid of those pesky squeaks.
21. Putting some on drawer runners will help them open and close smoothly - the same can't be said for legs, sorry to disappoint!

Have fun trying those out for size, and remember it doesn't have to be Vaseline to be petroleum jelly, so if like me you like to save a few pennies if you can, look for generic alternatives as these are really cheap :)

The Dos and Don'ts of The Beach

I went with Goldilocks on her summer trip today, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was an almost-new experience, I've never been to Jump in Cardiff before and haven't been near a beach for 4 years. On the way to the beach I thought about all those carefree things you do there, like jumping about in the waves, building sandcastles and burying each other in the sand. Of course, I made sure we did it all. It's not often Goldilocks and I get to spend quality time together anymore (Big Bear kindly took Little Bear for the day as he was off work) so I wanted to cram in as much as possible. What struck me was how unprepared I was!

We built the castle but had nothing to fill the moat with. We had fun splashing in the waves but I couldn't pull my trousers up far enough and got soaked. I wore trainers to the beach and they got filled with sand, as did my socks.

The only thing I did prepare, essentially, was a spare pair of clothes for Goldilocks. Which got used, but not a toilet accident as I'd expected: she tripped over a ball that was floating on the waves as she tried to kick it back to the boy who kicked it. How she manages it, I do not know!

Anyway: my days lessons are learned, now to share:

• Do prepare for all weathers - more necessary if you're on a planned trip rather than a spontaneous one.
• Do make sure there are enough adults to the amount of children.
• Do wear suitable clothing - if they can't pull up (like my trousers) then consider wearing swimwear so you can remove your clothing to go and have a splash.
• Do take extra clothing for everyone!
• Don't forget to bring several towels.
• Don't forget your camera and batteries.
• Do make sure your children are educated on how to stay safe at the beach.
• Do make sure you are recognisable.
• Don't forget your bucket and spade.
• Don't make sand castles in dry sand.
• Do wear flip flops or sandals if you can: any footwear that sand would shake out of easily.
• Don't forget to keep applying that suncream!

And finally...

• Don't forget to have a great time :)

10 Reasons Mummy is a Hypocrite - Things You Tell Them Off For That You Probably Do Yourself!

I was reading my daughter (who shall forever be known as Mochyn Gini) a lovely bedtime story this evening called "Eat Your Peas" by Kes Gray. It's about a little girl called Daisy who doesn't want to eat her peas and her mum who promises the earth in her desperation to get Daisy to eat the peas. I won't spoil the story in case somebody might be about to read it, but it made me realise how we expect our children to do things that we normally don't do then complain when they refuse to do it.

10 Reasons Mummy is a Hypocrite - Things You Tell Them Off For That You Probably Do Yourself!

1. Not eating all their veg or anything else they don't like. Let's face it - some children do not like sprouts. Some adults don't either!
2. Not taking their plates out when your desk is probably full of coffee mugs etc.
3. Not keeping their rooms tidy when your room is the home's "dumping ground" (I know mine is).
4. Not taking their dirty clothes from the bathroom - they probably lost them underneath yours :)
5. Using foul language - Even if it's just what you say accidentally when you stub your toe.
6. Interrupting - It is so annoying when you're talking to somebody to hear "MUUUUUUUUUM! Mum. Mum. Mum. Mum. Mummyyyyyy! Mummyyyyyy..." and while you might not do it quite like that, think of the times you've interrupted them talking amongst themselves or before they've finished their sentence.
7. Putting extra bits in the shopping trolley I mean come on! When you're slugging around the supermarket and you see something you like, you pop it in without thought.
8. Not finishing a task because they're distracted My OH (Forever known as Big Bear) is up and has put a film on. I have stopped writing this to watch the film at least 4/5 times. The film has been on 30 mins.
9. Picking noses/biting nails We all have some sort of habit we indulge in, we were always told by our parents not to yet we still do :)
10. Borrowing without asking "It's only for a short while, he won't mind" You may not do it with your kids stuff, but you've probably done it in front of them.

If you haven't/don't do any of the above, then well done you, you are the perfect parent!

If you're unfortunately normal like everyone else, then remember - some things are OK to do, some really aren't. Are you telling them off for an annoying behaviour that you can ignore or is what they are doing genuinely wrong?

I would say that habits such as nose-picking, nail-biting or thumb-sucking are things you can ignore, if you try hard enough. It's not easy to do that straight away (Goldilocks came home sucking her thumb one day when she was 3 and hasn't stopped doing so since!) but it gets easier with time.

With the things that aren't OK, try to remember that a child will be reluctant to follow your instruction if he sees you doing the opposite. I regularly leave cups and plates on my little table, a habit I'm trying to break. Goldilocks takes her plates out eventually, after I nag her several times to do it!

If you want your children to do it, lead by example... or die trying :D

Too Fat For A Massage? Me Too!

Well I'm (insert obscene amount of weeks here) weeks pregnant with baby number 3 and the lower back pain is getting worse by the day! As the post title suggests, I'm currently too fat to lie face down, and waiting until I'm no longer too fat to lie face down defeats the object of beating back/hip pain in late pregnancy.

A short list of things that will not save me:

• The school run. Bumping a ten-tonne pram up and down four flights of stairs twice each day whilst juggling a difficult 5yo? Could do with having less of that: LONG LIVE THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS!
• The school being a pain. You are already aware of my living situation. If you call me because Goldilocks has had an accident and needs to be changed then fair enough, get her support teacher back in or an alternative one so she can have the one to one support you tell me she needs, or stop complaining that I'm taking her home for the day.
• Painkillers. Unless I'm mistaken (and according to my partner I'm never mistaken... or was that never admits to it?) you can't take ibuprofen in the last 3 months of pregnancy. Technically, people suffering with IBS shouldn't take ibuprofen anyway, because although it's an anti-inflammatory, it inflames the lining of your gut. Paracetamol = thin air in tablet form and co-codamol = evil medicine that makes you itch worse than having thrush - you know, when you get thrush so bad you look like a cat that has worms. Is that TMI? I believe it might be...
• Little Bear wriggling so much during nappy changes. Seriously, we've been doing this same thing several times a day for over 8 months now. Surely you must get the picture, Mummy will not let you roll, it is not ok to roll, Mummy does not like poo on her wrist because you rolled, and please stop peeing whilst crawling away from me. You make my carpet smell.
• Goldilocks refusing to tidy her room. I can think of no way to beat this rather than taking all of her toys away. Which really isn't fair to a 5yo with possible mental health problems, so, bending down and tidying it myself or tripping and clenching my back it is!
• Even if pregnant women could use Deep Heat, I'm allergic and upon use look like somebody has poured acid over the affected area. Lush.

However, on a positive note, I can still do the washing up fine, I can do the clothes washing if I sit on the floor in Ultimate Frogger Mode whilst I load the machine, and the look on Goldilocks's face when I pull out the innards of her stuffed Christmas penguin and throw them in the microwave is rather priceless! The heat is lovely on my back :)

10 Things To Do When It Rains

The summer holidays are almost here and I've dutifully added a few events to my calendar. It took me a while to realise I hadn't planned anything specific for rainy days.

Rainy day activities (or any activity for that matter) just don't come naturally to me. If I'm stuck in for the day, then I will play with the children, but the majority of the day will be spent tidying up after them, cooking and making snacks/drinks for them, changing nappies, wiping faces, watching TV and flitting back and forth Facebook to share my bored-at-home misery with other people, or to try and convince somebody to come and visit us.

Six weeks is a long time to be doing that most of the time - I will not have it this year! So after some careful thought, here is a list of things to do when the skies open, or I'm otherwise prevented from leaving my humble abode.

1. Print off some colouring sheets - The CBeebies Website may be useful for this, or Google if you want a specific character.
2. Make a playpen - You don't need anything fancy for this - just some sheets and cleverly positioned furniture will do.
3. Make some facepaint - Here is a recipe!
4. Let the kids "clean" your bathroom - What harm can they possibly do with a limited supply of water and a few cloths?
5. Let them cook with you - Homemade pizza is a nice, easy one if you buy a base. Check out CBeebies, Netmums or Google some recipes with kids (that's to cook with, NOT containing!) or if all else fails - pop along to your local supermarket and get some box sets for muffins or cookies etc!
6. Read to them - Or have them read to you, age depending. Don't be afraid to get stuck in, giving each character it's own special voice or showing off a few of your moves while you read. Your kids will enjoy it more!
7. Put the music on - Remembering to be respectful to neighbours, of course! My daughter loves to listen to music of all different genres. Have a dancing competition (remembering the kids always win), pretend to be a rock star, play air guitar - or just have a cuddle and listen to some soothing music, ideally just before bedtime.
8. Make something arty - Were you just about to throw that newspaper and those cardboard boxes in the recycling bin? Stop, before it's too late! Why not let the kids loose on them instead?
9. Cwtch up in front of the TV - Stick a film or their favourite TV channel on and actually watch it with them instead of using the box as a babysitter. Believe it or not, TV is not the devil incarnate, you can enjoy it guilt-free!
10. Just go out, regardless of the weather! - Seriously, stop reading this - go get your wellies and mac, put them on and jump in some puddles - we live in Britain after all, where a puddle is (usually) only a stones throw away!

Homemade Face Paint.

Something to try on a rainy day!

• 2 parts cornflour
• 1 part cold cream (I used E45?)
• 1 part water
• Food colouring

1. Mix the cornflour and cream together
2. Add the water and stir well
3. Add food colouring one drop at a time, until desired colour is achieved.

I find making several colours at once works best as the measuring isn't quite as fiddly, just divide before you add the colouring :)

Absolutely Arbit...: 10 things you should stop doing on Facebook

Absolutely Arbit...: 10 things you should stop doing on Facebook: "Now that everyone and their grandfather is on Facebook, you should stop doing the following things on this social network. Only because they..."

I had a right laugh reading this, know too many people that have those behaviours... aside from #2!

Enjoy!

Making a Budget Planner with Excel

Sometimes it's easier to stick to something if you have a visual to go by. This is definitely true with budgeting. Different people find different methods work best for them, personally I found the best way for me was to use Microsoft Excel (I have Excel 2007). I would check out my statements and update my budget accordingly, Excel worked out all the totals by calculating formulas.

Some people find Excel difficult to work with, I did at first! That's why I'm putting up my method to using Excel for a budget into cyberspace. You can download budgets directly from Microsoft Office also, but I found most of these, whilst easy to work with and convenient because it was all done for me already, were made for other people who had different needs to what I did - this meant a lot of deleting things and adding them in. So I thought - screw it. Let's make my own :)

Step 1 - Setting up the "Income" section.

-Clicking a cell will enable you to type in that cell. Use the first column (A) to type in your different "categories" of income - "Wages" for example. Do the same for every source of income (I leave several spaces marked as other, because you never know). Add the word "Total" for the final cell in that column.

-Click the next available cell over (bearing in mind the longest text for previous column) add the "projected" income from each source. This means an informed guess (estimate) of how much will come in from each source. It doesn't have to be exact, but it's better to round down than up. You will use this to create your budget for expenditure that month. In the last cell in the column (next to "Total") type =SUM(x:y). Replace letter x with the top cell number (D4, for example) in that column. Replace letter y with the cell at the bottom (the one above the "Total" row).

-Click the next available cell in the "Total" row. Add the same formula: =SUM(x:y). Replace x with the top cell in the column, and y with the one above the "Total" row. This is where you will add your actual income.

-You don't need to do this part in the income section, but I do.
Click the next available cell in each row individually, and add the following formula: =IMSUB(w,v). There is a reason they are the wrong way round. Replace w with the cell number of the Actual value for that income. Replace v with the cell number of the Projected value for that income. Repeat in every row.

Now you have a neat looking table showing your projected income, your actual income and the difference between both :)

Step 2: Setting up the "Expenditure" section.

-You'll want this part a few cells over from your Income section, for neatness.
Type in your first Expenditure column your different categories. Think "Rent/Mortgage", "Water Rates", "Energy" etc. Be honest and remember to include a "Misc" section and a "Total" section.

-In the next available column, add your Projected Expenditure for the month for every category. Try and be as honest as you can stand. In the "Total" section add the formula: =SUM(x:y), filling in the top cell number and the bottom cell number respectively.

-In the next "Total" cell over, add the same formula, adding the top and bottom cell numbers for that column.

-In the next column over, add to each individual row the formula: =IMSUB(w,v) filling in the cell numbers the same way as step 1.

You should now have your completed Expenditure section.

Step 3: The Summary Section.

-You should be able to know how well you're doing at a quick glance, which is the purpose of this section.

-In the first row, put Profit/Loss. In the cells underneath, add categories for each thing you'd like to save for right away, keeping things realistic. I have four rows: Emergency Fund and Holiday Fund, leaving the other two rows for the only two debts that I have (which decide how much extra they get on top of my payment plan for that month). Usually, it is best to avoid saving until your debts are cleared. My debts are interest free (for now) which is why I'm saving.

-In the cell next to Profit/Loss, type the formula: =IMSUB(v,w). Replace v with the Total Actual Income cell number. Replace w with the Total Actual Expenditure cell number. This will show the difference between what you brought in for the month and what you spent that month.

-For the categories, insert the formula: =x/10. Replace x with the Profit/Loss cell number. this will calculate 10% of the Profit/Loss section for each category. You can adjust the percentage accordingly by changing the number - 4 for 25% or one quarter, for example. I recommend you leave at least half of your profit each month in your bank account rather than transferring it into other accounts. This means you may have to keep the percentages down.



You now have a working budget planner! Remember, budgets only help if you are honest about what you spend. If you're the only person viewing it, then you're the only person judging it - so there's no need to lie. Staying honest will help you see where you are overspending, so you will know where you need to make adjustments.

If anybody has a faster way of doing it with Excel, please share it. The good thing is, you only have to do it completely once - just delete the values of what you put in, excluding cells with formulas in.

If anybody would like to share their budgeting method, feel free to do so :)

Getting the Summer Holidays Organised.

Your summer holiday activities don't have to be run like clockwork. In fact, no matter how hard you try, you'll never get it that way. Some activities do need to be planned in advance though, particularly the ones involving less fun.

If you're too organised, your children will more than likely end up stressed out and bored. If you aren't organised enough, you'll lose out on great opportunities and miss previous appointments because you forgot - you're too busy doing something else (or recovering from doing something else).

Step 1 - Clear the Calendar.

Unless you'll be attending an event specifically, clear all those birthdays off the calendar and get as close to a blank canvas as possible. It will be easier to work with.

Step 2 - Add Important Appointments.

I like to use the summer holidays as a great excuse to get my daughter's eye test and dental check-up done. It gives me a lot more flexibility and as both the optician and dentist are in a central location I can plan extra activities in the area around what I'm already doing there. Which helps to sweeten the deal - you go to the dentist and we'll (insert activity here) afterwards.

Step 3 - Fixed Events.

Some things are in town for a few days only - e.g. shows, parades, summer festivals etc. Look up local events on the Internet, your local authority website is a good place to start. If you are able to travel, consider where you are able to travel to, then look up activities in those areas. One fixed event per week is plenty for me, two at the very most. If you decide to go to two or more, why not consider making plans with a friend to go and explore, or take the kids to the park together?

Step 4 - Rainy Day Activities.

If our ever-predictable weather fails you, don't despair! There are plenty of things you can do at home. Why not have an indoor picnic, or a "cinema" evening? The indoor picnic is a personal favourite for my daughter, and so simple too. If you're feeling extra adventurous, then don those wellies and get out there - there isn't an activity much more fun than puddle jumping!

If you're still feeling stuck, then always ask a friend or family member for ideas. If you stay at home with the kids for six weeks doing the same thing day in, day out, you'll be pulling your hair out by the end of it. Try and do a little bit of forward planning, it really does help.

Summer's Here!

With summer comes that wonderful period of time when you get to enjoy your child's company constantly for six whole weeks, without having to share him/her with anybody else. Such a blissful time of year, it's only fair to fill it with as many activities and adventures as you can...

Who am I kidding? Let's face it, those six weeks may start out blissful, but unless you have an actual holiday to break up the monotony, then your "time together" may turn out pretty hectic. And you may end up bald from pulling your hair out.

Still disagreeing? After the first week, you've exhausted all your summer savings on trips to your local soft-play, arcade, cinema etc. The rest of the 5 weeks are spent listening to "MUM CAN I HAVE..."

Over. And over. And over. Remember the advert - "MUM CAN WE HAVE A RABBIT MUM CAN WE HAVE A RABBIT MUM CAN WE HAVE A RABBIT..."

Yes, you get the point - I'll stop now. We could all do with a few days out to posh but child-friendly places, but the money just isn't always there! Unless you're rich, in which case - lucky you! Not only that, but here in Blighty, the weather isn't often here either!

So, to make sure I don't spend the last few weeks before summer a nervous wreck, I've decided to research as many "cheap options" as I can. I was surprised at how much of it was just down to common sense. Now I'm chilled, I'll just watch the rest of you suffer for six weeks... :)

Just kidding. Look forward to some posts on cheap activities and if you have any ideas, by all means - share them.

Sorry ASDA Man (and bank account)!

So there I was, same as every Saturday afternoon, doing my food shop online because I'm a lazy cow and won't slug round a supermarket three times a week because I'm unable to carry an entire week's worth of shopping up the four flights of stairs to my flat at the same time. Longest sentence ever? Quite possibly.

So, baby's in bed, my daughter is quite happily playing in her room and I'm doing the shopping. Almost ready to finish, then I realise that I need a few more other things. This happens several times. I book my slot, and happily check out without seeing how much my bill has come to.

I swear my heart stopped. £105! For me, a 5 year old and an 8 month old! How the hell did I manage that? Usually I spend about £50, can go up to £80 at a huge stretch! I can't even remember what was on my list, I bet I forgot things too!

So, yeah... sorry to the ASDA man, who has to carry it all up the stairs tomorrow, and sorry bank account... I really did a number on you today!

Welcome to the Third Trimester!

Photo by Stuart Miles

Over the past few days, there have been:

• A sudden decrease in energy
• Piles
• Swelling of the fingers
• Overly tired feet
• Extreme backache
• Lack of sanity

Am I getting old? No. OK, maybe I am slowly but not yet! I've just entered the third trimester of pregnancy.

"Big Brother" Nursery?

'Big Brother' creeps into nursery as school installs cameras so parents can watch children on their mobile phones
Critics warn constant surveillance is a 'step too far'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2006054/Big-Brother-creeps-nursery-School-installs-cameras-parents-watch-children-class.html#ixzz1PwKxhn1t

Listen To Her!

I do often wonder what goes into the teacher's mind when my 5-year-old actually says something that makes sense. It's not very often this happens. She usually lives in a "fantasy world" where she'll imitate games and things she's seen on TV over and over. So as far as I'm concerned, it's all the more important to take her seriously when she says something that relates to the real world. But when it comes to her teacher, this just doesn't seem to be the case.