It has been a while since I last wrote a post about gardening. But, the other day I passed a stand of poplar trees and thought how wonderful they looked. Even denuded of their leaves, they looked fantastic. These trees have a wonderful branch structure and very tall. You could almost say they are the supermodels of the tree world. Their startling green foliage and almost conical shape mean that they would look quite striking when you plant one or two in your garden. So, when I got home I spent a little time finding out a bit more about these lovely trees. Here is a brief summary of what you ...
The Seasonal Playground – Garden Activities for Kids and Parents in Spring
The following is a guest post written by Josephine Barlow. Josephine is a mother of three. When the kids have gone to bed, she likes to unwind with a glass of wine and a good novel. Here she shares some great ideas of how to keep the kids amused and make the most of the upcoming spring sunshine... I spend most of my time at my desk in the office, so when I'm home with the family at the weekend, I like to get outside as much as possible. If I can't go far, or if budgets don't quite stretch to a trip to the zoo or the cinema, I'm desperate to get the kids out in the fresh air ...
Everything You Need to Know About Bingo (And More!)
In this guest post we take a look at the origins and history of bingo, and examine just why it’s so popular with millions of people around the UK. Although it has taken off as a wildly popular internet game, bingo actually dates back hundreds of years, with historical records mentioning examples of bingo-like games in Italy and France as far back as the 1500s. It existed in many variations, including tombola style number dip games which were used to teach children to count, and eventually became a popular pastime for the French aristocracy. As the game gradually spread throughout ...
Five Activities to De-Stress and Unwind
Stress is unavoidable in our day-to-day lives, with even the most relaxed of us being affected by it at work or at home. If it has started taking over your life then it’s time to fight back – read on to help you combat stress with some simple activities that anyone can do. Don’t let it get the better of you and take some time out to complete these tasks. Yoga A popular choice and for good reason: it works. Using a combination of breathing, stretching and meditation, yoga does wonders for stress, bringing balance back to your hormones. There’s a wide range of poses for people of all ...
Guest Post: Why Spring Is A Time For Family
With the weather improving and green shoots of life are starting to spring up all over our gardens and landscapes, the signs that spring is here are definitely visible. Spring is a great time of the year for families and here we look at some of the reasons why. Green shoots and working for tomorrow. It was William Blake who once called England a ‘green and pleasant land’ and this is no more clearly illustrated than in spring. Blossoms burst forth bringing the bees, lambs frolic in verdant fields and our humble gardens are ready to grow produce to take us well into the long, balmy days of ...
Guest Post: How To Choose The Right Laminate Wood Flooring
There are many reasons that more and more people are choosing laminate flooring for their homes. Apart from aesthetic appeal, laminate flooring is hygienic, easy to clean, tough and durable against most dents and scratches. When choosing laminate flooring what exactly should you be looking out for? Design One great benefit of laminate flooring is that the number of different designs is almost infinite. Oak and walnut are the most commonly chosen and can look every bit as good as genuine wood flooring at only a fraction of the price. There are many shades of many ...
Guest Post: Top Tips for Creating a Perfect Easter Basket For Little Boys
With the Easter holidays on the horizon, your mind will undoubtedly be thinking about what you can do to keep the youngsters entertained. After all, a fortnight away from school when they’re used to classes five days a week can be a pretty hard slog if you don’t have anything planned in advance. While some of you will be working and the kids will be enjoying themselves in a local play scheme, others will have the good fortune of spending the time at home with the children and the more activities you have planned, the more fun the time will be! Luckily, it’s Easter, which means you have the ...
Growing Up Fast: A Guide to Buying Secondhand for Your Baby
There’s no denying it – raising a child is expensive. One estimate in The Guardian says that it’ll cost parents around £222,500 to rear a child until university age, so you’re going to want to save as much money as you can until they are able to leave the nest. It’s very easy to overspend on babies, who quickly grow out of clothes and toys, so this article is here to help new parents buy secondhand for their children. This is an ideal age to be saving money as babies aren’t going to worry about the latest fashions and trends, so take a look at our advice and test it out by having ...
Tips for Mums Returning to Work
Going back to work after several years of raising a family can be a stressful experience. It doesn’t take long to lose touch with corporate culture, and trying to get back into the swing of things is not only exhausting but disorientating. During this transition, you will still need to care for your family and that can leave you with a difficult juggling act to manage. The following tips could make it easier. Training If you are a mother looking to return to work then the chances are that you have given considerable thought as to how you will fit into the corporate world. ...