Going Ape for these plant-based snacks

This post is part of the Ape snacks x Mumsnet partnership As a family we are always trying to make small, healthy changes to our daily lives, one's the kids will approve of that are easy to implement and sustain. While I am vegetarian, not vegan, I do try and bring as many plant-based meals and treats into our daily lives as I can and with such tasty snacks such as the new Ape Puffs which come in three different flavours, including Really Cheesy which has recently been awarded the Mumsnet Rated badge. We spend a lot of time outdoors so taking food with us is key for helping keep those hangry moments to a minimum, as well as being the more budget-friendly option for a family day out. I always put together a well-balanced pack with some water, fresh fruit, maybe a sandwich or two and some treats such as a pack of crisps or cereal bar - this will usually keep us going for a few hours and the same can be said when it's raining outside and we decided to have a bit of an......

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13 ways to enrich your time at home

*This post contains affiliate links  For many over the coming weeks, life is going to look a little different, with many now working from home and along with lots of families having children at home full time. Whether you are a family, a couple of single living in your own space, I wanted to share a few things you can do to enrich your time at home and help break the monotony. I work from home as it is so that part for me is not such a big adjustment but regardless it takes time to get into a routine but it's really important to break that up and make time for the things you enjoy, Perhaps in your day job you commute for an hour each day and that gives you time to catch up on news or read a book, so make sure you still have moments like that, that allows for some downtime. When you’re at work, whether your self-employed or work for an employer, you should be taking care of your mental health, and employment law for employers shows them the ropes for this. At home, ......

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How to Wear Cufflinks

*AD  This post contains affiliate links  Firstly what are Cufflinks? Cufflinks put simply are an alternative for buttons on the cuffs of shirts. Some shirts, especially formal dress shirts, are made without any buttons at all. They often have simple holes, perfect for cufflinks to come in to tie the cuffs together! Cufflinks offer the wearer to showcase a bit more of their own personal style, and add a bit of flash to a formal outfit. History of the Cufflinks Wearing cufflinks became common place until around the end of the 18th Century. It was in the 19th Century, with the emergence of a bigger middle class, that more and more men came to wear suits and tails for the day and evening respectively. It was at the end of the 19th Century when cufflinks really became popular. It seemed like every man (and some women) in the upper and middle classes wore cufflinks. The industrial revolution helped keep up with the demand for cufflinks, as they could be easily mass-pro......

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The rise of the School Prom's in the UK

*This post contains affiliate links  School Proms used to be something you would see in American teen films but now they have become a regular occurrence here in the UK and it's got me thinking whether that's a good or a bad thing especially in terms of young peoples wellbeing and mental health . On one side it's a great way to celebrate your time at school and have a fun night out with your friends but on the flip side, there is also a lot of pressure for young people to look a certain way, spend a lot on outfits and keep up with everyone else. When I was growing up, during my teen years, we had much more relaxed school discos or small dance parties at friends houses or local halls. There was a lot less pressure in terms of what you wore and I never even put any makeup on as it was a more casual affair all round. Of course, there was the typical peer pressure that comes with being a teen but in general, was a lot more low key than Prom's are today. Th......

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Win a beautiful Lioness necklace & Wall Flag

So wow what a week, it's been a bit of a rollercoaster for everyone with regards to the havoc that Covid-19 is causing. So I really wanted to do something a bit more positive and fun and also with it being Mothers Day this month I thought it was about time to run a giveaway. The wonderful people at Jana Reinhardt have sent this absolutely gorgeous sterling silver Lioness and Cub necklace, which is apart of their Out of Africa collection. It's such a lovely depiction of maternal love and this necklace is handmade in the UK by expert goldsmith Jana Reinhardt in her Sussex seaside studio. My first impression of the necklace was just how beautifully it's made, such quality workmanship and this would a perfect gift for that special person in your life. Depending on what materials are used these necklaces start at £95 and you can also have 3 characters engraved to make it even more unique. Alongside this beautiful necklace, I am also giving away a "List......

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Stay safe online when making friends, dating or business networking

*Contains Affiliate links  So much of our lives have become intertwined with the online world that I think it's easy to forget there are some real dangers out there as well as having a false sense of safety, especially when platforms like Instagram and Facebook can make you feel like you know someone personally when in fact you have never met and possibly know very little about what they are really like and this can leave you open to a variety of dangers from personal safety to fraud, spam and blackmail to name a few. This post is in no way trying to put you off making meaningful connections online, so of my closest friends in real life are the ones I met online first and I think there are some great platforms for meeting like-minded people and broadening your social group and helping with things like loneliness and parenting. Many of us use social media and the online world in a variety of ways, I myself have met up with potential work clients for coffee from connecti......

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A visit to the South Wales Aviation Museum

*Please Be Aware that Due to the Coronavirus that museums may not be open or advised to visit at the time. Please keep this museum in mind for when things change. Please note I have no affiliation with this museum  We love exploring what is on our doorstep especially if it's not only fun but educational too so when I stumbled across the South Wales Aviation Museum in Rhoose, which opened last year, I knew we have to stop by and see first hand what it's all about. Firstly the South Wales Aviation Museum is a self-funded, volunteer-run, non-for-profit charity of which 100% of its admission donations go to the upkeep and running of the museum. Under 17's are free and adults is a £5 donation and I can honestly say it's worth every penny. Unlike other Aviation museum's we have been too, they actively encourage visitors to touch and interact with the aircraft and exhibits which makes this a fantastic place for all ages and a great way to immerse yourself f......

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5 simple ways to make your home more eco friendly

*This post contains affiliate links  As we move into 2020 there are more and more people who are keen to make positive eco-friendly changes not only to their lifestyle but also to their home to ensure they lower their carbon footprint. With so much advice out there is can often feel a bit overwhelming so I am keeping it very simple and straight forward with 5 ways to make your home more eco-friendly this year. 1. Change to an ethical energy provider I put off doing this for years until my bill with one of the big six became unmanageable & their billing system was way too complicated to understand. I wasn't actually looking for an ethical provider at the time, just a provider that offered a more competitive rate. I came across Bulb energy which not only was a lot more reasonable (I've saved a considerable amount switching to them) but also they provide 100% renewable electricity from solar, wind and hydro and their gas is 100% carbon neutral. Such an easy money-sa......

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4 simple gift ideas for couples

*Contains Affiliate links  Gift buying can be stressful. Knowing that your gift matches the taste of the recipient is something that will be on your mind as no one wants to waste money & getting something practical and needed is a more sustainable choice that just getting a gift for the sake of it. You want to know that the gift that you are buying will be received well and will be appreciated. Gift buying can get even more challenging when it comes to choosing suitable presents for couples and recently I've found this out with my friends who are either getting married, moving in with each other or expecting a child. While you could buy separate gifts a combined gift is less waste and often less time consuming although you will have two different people’s tastes to meet, not just one so it can feel like buying for a couple is double the stress. Here are some tips for getting the right gift for a couple. An Experience Experiences are something that can create lo......

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Why a good sleep routine is so important - Parenting

AD - Emma's Diary got in touch to ask me to share my personal experience of sleep routine with my children.  Please note - Until your baby is six months old, the safest place for your baby to sleep is in their own cot, in the same room as you, whether it’s during the night or at nap time in the day. Becoming a parent is an incredible experience and while you are in the bubble of newborn baby love you slowly start to realise that life will never be the same again. Immediately you are thrust into sleepless nights, feeding routines, navigating so many new situations and often this ends in exhaustion.  While pregnant we prepare ourselves for the lack of sleep, everyone we bump into will tell you that and offload some advice whether you asked for it or not. We know going into family life that sleep will be sparse in the first few weeks and months but unless you develop some kind of sleep routine that can be extended into years and I know, I've been there myself. Now......

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