5 Safe Valentine's Day Activities for Expectant Mothers

For couples in the first throes of romance, Valentine's day often means romantic treats, dinner dates and the giving of very personal gifts. However, for couples expecting a baby, St Valentine's day is perhaps written off as something that is for the young and free. However, these five Valentine's Day activity ideas prove that romance can blossom during a pregnancy when the day arrives. 

1. A Maternity Photo-Shoot

Most young couples will wait until their little bundle of joy arrives before thinking about taking some quality photographs, but a pregnancy is part of the journey towards parenthood, and it should be savoured. A romantic way to share a pregnancy with your partner this Valentine's Day is with a maternity photo-shoot. Professional photographers often offer special packages for expectant couples, which sometimes include themed clothing and various backdrops - for a selection of photos that will capture this magical time in your life forever. 

National Pudding Day - Gluten Free Goodies

18th November is National Pudding Day and what better way to celebrate than indulging with a few treats! Those with a gluten intolerance can also satisfy their sweet tooth today with the recently launched Matthew Walker sponge puddings - there are Syrup, Chocolate and Christmas varieties available to try. 

As busy parents we don't always have the time, or the energy, to create something from scratch so buying good quality ready made products from time to time is a great alternative. We all know what it's like to dash about for work and play taxi for the kids so it's nice to get home and put your feet up and let dinner, and dessert, pretty much sort themselves.

BIG Brand Deliveries at TK Maxx (PLUS your chance to WIN)

With spring on the way there is no better time to top up your wardrobe so TK Maxx's biggest-ever brand delivery to stores nationwide will certainly help! They offer amazing designer brands across women’s, men’s and kids’ apparel, accessories, toys and leading homeware names, so the Mr and I went to our local branch in Northampton for a little spree...

I really love TK Maxx for the variety of items available for the entire family, all under one roof, making shopping so convenient. The Mini Mes have had a bit of a growth spurt since last year and with so many designer gems at affordable prices it was no surprise I popped lots of goodies into my trolley for them.

Jamster loves polo style tops so this was ideal for him, especially at just £16.99 - less than half of the RRP! The quality is superb and he could easily team this with jeans and trainers for a casual look or dress it up for a more formal occasion.

I also picked up some trousers for him, with an adjustable waist for the perfect fit. These were less than a quarter of the RRP, such a bargain and far cheaper than alternative children's clothing stores sell similar for.

Minxy is really into fashion as a tween girl. She tends to opt for comfortable yet stylish pieces so a long sleeved slogan top and a hooded sweater were the items I purchased for her (along with a few bits to put away for her birthday).

This pretty grey piece with pink stitching was a third of the price whereas the top was just £3.99. Seriously super for savvy shoppers.

Pumpkin Carving Ideas (PLUS Your Chance To Win A £250 Voucher)

Halloween is our second favourite time of year (after Christmas) so with the date fast approaching we have been getting more than a little excited! We've been baking some spooky treats, preparing for our party, trying on costumes and enjoying some creative fun by carving designs into pumpkins.

 Gravelmaster understand the importance of having fun as a family outdoors and they have therefore created a competition. If you have organised something for 31st October don't forget to share your pumpkin pics too as you could win a £250 voucher!

Source

There are many places where you can pick your own, with Hatton Country World being our local farm of choice, although you can easily pick up your giant orange veg from the supermarket for convenience. 

WIN an Outdoor Adventure with Steve Backshall and The Brave Bones Club

At the weekends you can often find us climbing trees like Tarzan, rummaging through fallen leaves looking for bugs and searching for fairies among the bluebells. We love the great outdoors as a family and if we aren't exploring forests and woods in the UK we are playing in sand and splash pools abroad, just like we were last week in Zante!

If you too enjoy the fun and fresh air of being outside this competition is probably ideal for you. Steve Backshall has teamed up with The Brave Bones Club, (an initiative set up by Cheestrings and Yollies) which encourages people to have safe but brave adventures and this is the perfect way to build confidence while making magical memories outside. 

Check out the video below for more details...

Our Top 6 Family Movies To See This Summer

I've always had a love for the movies. I really enjoy the whole experience of going to the cinema, picking up a hot dog (with lots of mustard) and a tub of Ben & Jerry's before settling down on the back seats to see something new and exciting. The big screen, comfy seats and atmosphere in the darkness are really mesmerising for me. 

The Mini Mes have a similar passion for films and there are quite a few releases this summer that they are looking forward to seeing. These are the top 6 on our family watch list!

Cinderella - Out Now at Cineworld

This classic tale has just hit the box office as a live-action version and I really can't wait to see it. I'm not sure who is more eager to get tickets; the Mini Mes or me! I'm such a big Disney fan and this really leaves me feeling a little nostalgic at the thought. The idea of an ordinary girl finding a prince is magical and the fact that his royal highness is played by Richard Madden makes it that little bit more appealing. A great family must-see with a wonderful cast and amazing costumes.

Top Tips For Heating Your Home

With snow storms, high winds and plunging temperatures likely to hit the UK over the next few weeks, keeping our heating systems in tip top condition is more important than ever. New research by EDF Energy reveals that over 1 in 4 boilers have broken down without being insured, with the average cost of repair racking up an eye watering £314 bill. As a result, as many as two fifths of Brits would have to borrow money to cover the cost or have no choice but to go without heating if their boiler broke down. For the elderly, those with small children or the severely unwell in particular, this could even prove fatal so it's definitely best to be prepared.

To help avoid unnecessary costs and discomfort this winter, EDF Energy have pulled together some top tips to prevent boiler breakdown.

3 Ways to Refresh your Home in 2015

Heralded by spring showers, the season of new life is upon us. As we dust away the cobwebs and cold shivers of winter, you may be left looking for ways to refresh your home for in 2015. 

From big to small, there are several options to give your home that little lift or a complete overhaul and they can be done within a budget that suits you. 

No-one wants to start the year by breaking the bank but you’ll be able to put some savings to good use rejuvenating your home even on a shoestring.

Keeping Connected: A Must for a Blogger

Mums and dads of the world – listen up! Blogs are a great way to share parenting experiences, offer advice and make new connections with like-minded people. Building your own little corner of the internet can boost self esteem, and help develop lasting friendships. Plus, having a hobby that takes you away from the everyday duties of parenthood can be a great way of bringing balance to a busy schedule.

With so many free blogging platforms out there, starting an online diary has never been easier and there are precious few overheads to think about. One essential cost that the aspiring blogger must think about is broadband. Staying connected is vital. Here are some ways to lower your monthly broadband bills.

Five tips for returning to work after maternity leave

Handing over a child and returning to work is one of the most difficult moments a mother will experience, even if it is only for a few hours. Spending time without your little one is one thing, returning to work is another – and it can be just as traumatic. Here are five tips to smooth the process.

Money

This guide from Money Advice Service tells you your rights with regards to maternity pay and leave.

If you’re returning to the same role you have the right to the same terms and conditions as when you left, and if your role has disappeared you should be offered a suitable alternative or redundancy pay.

7 Valentines Gifts with a Difference

Whether you’re a fan or not, it’s unlikely that if you are in a relationship you let Valentine’s Day pass without marking the occasion in some way. However, you may not want to go down the slightly tired route of flowers or chocolate. You will want your partner to know how special they are to you, therefore here are some fantastic gifts which will go some way to proving that point. These off-beat gifts offer something a bit different to the usual. Hopefully there will be something here to suit your loved one.

Making Predictions For The Year Ahead

On New Years Eve 2013 we began a new tradition. It is just a bit of fun and a great way to bring the extended family together, to not only celebrate the end of a fantastic year but to make our predictions for the year ahead too. 

It all simply began over a few glasses of wine cups of tea and a buffet dinner by discussing what exciting things we had planned for 2014, with holidays and weddings being mentioned by all. We then decided to make it competitive, as families often do, so the pads of paper came out, the glasses went on and there was hush in the room as we sat on the edges of our seats.

Night without the kids? Then it’s glamour time!

They run around at your feet like excitable hounds, jump around while you do the dishes, and wake you up in the middle of the night to get rid of monsters under the bed. You love your kids – but when will you have time for yourself?

Sometimes you simply have to drop the kids off at their gran’s, get dolled up and hit the town. But that eye for fashion that used to be so sharp has grown a bit rusty since you’ve started raising kids.

Fear not! We’ve put together a few top fashion tips to inject a dose of modern glam back in your life. Have a gander and you’ll be looking more stylish than a Cara Delevigne and Kate Moss double act.

Maximise your makeup

You’ve probably got a few friends who are complete fashion disasters; the type of people who own more mascara than sense.

My Bathroom Makeover

The fact that I've wanted a new bathroom for what feels like forever is certainly no secret. I even wrote a poem about how desperate I was to get rid of the horrendous wallpaper and tatty old suite last year! It was so uninviting and I really wanted somewhere I could escape and relax in comfort and style. Thankfully, 2014 was the year and not only did I get a new bathroom, I had the house fully insulated, rewired, and a new kitchen installed. I was a little bit spoilt when it came to renovating our home.

I opted for a minimalistic look with white paint on the freshly plastered walls and ceiling, a white suite and white tiles. It makes the room look bright and fresh but enables me to add my own accessories to personalise it. Being a blank canvas it means if I fancy a change I can just alter the

Blue jobs v pink jobs – the big cleaning divide

With so much to squeeze into an average day, it’s no wonder many people rely on cleaning companies such as Molly Maid to keep their homes in order. Professionals have the know-how to leave everything sparkling, but what happens when men and women are forced to do the housework for themselves? Well, it seems there is such a thing as blue and pink jobs with many chores being done primarily by one sex or the other.

That’s right, according to a recent survey by Mumsnet, women do the lion’s share of work around the home with 66 per cent admitting they wouldn’t want help from their partner for fear they might do the tasks badly. Results showed that 71 per cent of working mothers are responsible for the weekly clean, 77 per cent are responsible for washing, 63 per cent do more tidying up, and 57 per cent do all or most of the ironing. 

A Family Guide To Surviving The Holidays

It’s that time of the year when you go home to your family and spend the holidays with them. Although family bonding during the holidays can be great, tempers can be tested at times, especially if you have extended family coming over to ask you personal questions in front of everyone!

Don’t put a damper on your holidays. Here are a few tips on how you can survive the holidays.

• Pace yourself – If you are going back to your family home for the holidays, pace yourself. You don’t need to spend every minute with your family. This is also your vacation and you need time to spend by yourself, especially if you’re an introvert. 

Schedule your visit and take time to do things by yourself as well as spending quality time with your family.

• Make lists – With the holiday rush, there are some people you tend to forget. Make it a point to list down the people you’d like to visit, the parties you will be attending, and the people who you need to buy gifts for.