tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76868111113590472812024-03-14T01:57:06.608+00:00Kids, Cuddles and Muddy PuddlesFind joy in the little things, every day...Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-89174068162852857122023-04-01T17:00:00.000+01:002023-04-01T17:00:46.232+01:007 Tips to Help Feed Your Distracted Baby<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpC1qgybbAgxEA47P273Qoe5vr7Mbjj0q-yjNKNkpAJC4ypZciMOX2h8tqmIMWXKpmOVqfT5xXocZcvRmmTenC5dOdgznqxJDQwZtCAnDMDpaef7g0hDkZj0fyC_hgr5szpmG76NdfYo3HxfDCjg7PhtR9BbOp7I_7Wky-5SuGkRQGt0Wl-BeOkHbjw/s320/Distracted%20Baby%20Squares%20Insta%20Post%20(1).png" style="display: none;" /><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">*** SPONSORED POST ***</span></b></div><div><br /></div>Latch on, latch off, latch on again... Sound familiar?! We hit the 4 month mark and it was like the whole world was suddenly there to see, and it was best explored at feeding time! I've lost count since of the number of times baby has been distracted by something and given me 'niplash' or squirted herself and anyone in the nearby vicinity with milk! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJ_sw_k0r3tgDkQsE12gP0VPYMN8-9YZGAdBodM6uY1ArsXu9-l076m6cMp2qwReuRjV4gJSd8QLmQOv7lYpc3CiH9NAAtCwv6HTjBKBD2MSGpcUdf6NiQYK-DTnf8xmexReOcyOoaHLUVueplAszyvsO2bNxme04Mb46PHdHWVIXDEwj_4YChA2DbA/s758/Distracted%20Baby%20banner.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="758" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJ_sw_k0r3tgDkQsE12gP0VPYMN8-9YZGAdBodM6uY1ArsXu9-l076m6cMp2qwReuRjV4gJSd8QLmQOv7lYpc3CiH9NAAtCwv6HTjBKBD2MSGpcUdf6NiQYK-DTnf8xmexReOcyOoaHLUVueplAszyvsO2bNxme04Mb46PHdHWVIXDEwj_4YChA2DbA/w640-h296/Distracted%20Baby%20banner.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Although often frustrating for you, it's completely normal for babies to become distracted, fidgety feeders, especially around times of developmental leaps. Distracted nursing can happen any time after 2 months, often peaking between 3-5 months but can happen at any time after that!</div><div><br />Baby's little brain is so busy learning how to smile, roll, crawl, babble, eat food and many other skills, and getting distracted by what's going on around them is a sign that they are developing. There are so many sights and sounds to experience and to learn to make sense of, that instead of feeding, all they want to do is engage with this new world around them!<br /><br />So what can you do to help your distracted baby regain focus, stop fidgeting and help save your sanity (and your nipples)? Here are some things I tried that worked for me as a breastfeeding mum, but these tips would likely work for bottle fed babies too.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Feed in a quiet place</h3><div><br />Sometimes, just as we do, babies need quiet to focus. Try retreating to a calm, quiet space to feed your baby. If you can't do that, try to reduce the noise in the room you are in by turning off the T.V, closing the door to the noisy washing machine next door or asking other children to do something quietly whilst you feed. Dim or red lighting helps to create a calm atmosphere in our house, which compliments the peace and quiet.<span><a name='more'></a></span><br /> <br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Let them take a break</h3><br /></div><div>If baby is really interested in what's going on around them, you could try letting them have little breaks to look around. I have had feeds out in public, or when the older children are in the room, where baby has had total FOMO! So by letting her feed for a little while, then allowing her a minute or two to have a nosey before offering a feed again, she soon settles into longer stints at the breast once she's happy she knows what's going on!<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Keep little hands busy</h3><br />There will come a time when those cute little hands become distracted and start to wander and explore! As a breastfeeding mum, I've had my fair share of scratches, slaps, squeezes, nipple pulls and hair twiddling at the hands of my feeding baby!<br /><br />So I was absolutely delighted when <a href="https://www.yummikeys.com/">Yummikeys</a> founder Elspeth Fawcett got in touch to offer us a gifted <a href="https://www.yummikeys.com/collections/engraved/products/engraved-stainless-steel-feeding-necklace">Yumminecklace</a> to try from her stunning range of ethical, safe and sustainable toys and jewellery.<br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCem-acTEtck-eOcWqLfCVFnaCwv9xcV-9OeVHRQhlHmuxwLF_TYCl6Aud6SweCf-1tbs9U6PA1xMkFfssTnh3sn4sHHJ6Jht9ymQTq59M1RkJrRr4jX47i6-y0envskFw8C0vfsvWi8ITgxiC3hloHV0ufoPKTgt8l8g7-N1RVEpzj4yGcky-1kmW_Q/s1080/Distracted%20Baby%20Post%20Pics%20(2).png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCem-acTEtck-eOcWqLfCVFnaCwv9xcV-9OeVHRQhlHmuxwLF_TYCl6Aud6SweCf-1tbs9U6PA1xMkFfssTnh3sn4sHHJ6Jht9ymQTq59M1RkJrRr4jX47i6-y0envskFw8C0vfsvWi8ITgxiC3hloHV0ufoPKTgt8l8g7-N1RVEpzj4yGcky-1kmW_Q/w400-h400/Distracted%20Baby%20Post%20Pics%20(2).png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A feeding necklace like this one may help.</td></tr></tbody></table><div>The beautiful stainless steel necklace is the perfect solution to keep little hands busy, with 2 smooth, shiny steel loops and 3 little beads to fiddle with. Ours is also engraved with baby's name making it a perfect keepsake too. For me, the necklace is the distraction that baby needs. It keeps her focused on feeding while her hands are kept busy, and she's now much less likely to be interested in other things going on around her.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Change your feeding position</h3><br />Switch things up! You could try swapping sides, a different hold, or even feed lying down. Baby may have become distracted because they are uncomfortable and changing position may be all they need to help them settle. Feeding on the move may also help as the motion is comforting and creates a distraction itself. I've fed walking around the house before, and recently tried creating a "distraction free zone" by feeding in the sling whilst at the big kids' swimming lessons!<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Plan ahead</h3><br /></div><div>If you know your baby gets easily distracted when feeding out and about, plan ahead and try to time feeds for just before you leave. You could schedule stops in places with less distractions such as a quiet corner in a café, a bench in the park or even the car. Not so easy with a cluster feeding baby or a baby going through a growth spurt I know, but a possible option nonetheless!</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuH7pC-BuA1epOPx7RF1ZdaL4nZBtRE4RUzkr7RGCTWndeTod1mRhyvnn173cB7O_SV4w8c4COa1bjRHNb-EDClJ6S0UQuHVxc4XM4VMc0Damm5RN_KKZq3x_8K25JYoZAMzS1B75UaNXLkxcy2pyTAAWiMSlkDnCewo8whNvwXat17RGA5ov1f6BDuw/s1080/Distracted%20Baby%20Post%20Pics%20(1).png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuH7pC-BuA1epOPx7RF1ZdaL4nZBtRE4RUzkr7RGCTWndeTod1mRhyvnn173cB7O_SV4w8c4COa1bjRHNb-EDClJ6S0UQuHVxc4XM4VMc0Damm5RN_KKZq3x_8K25JYoZAMzS1B75UaNXLkxcy2pyTAAWiMSlkDnCewo8whNvwXat17RGA5ov1f6BDuw/s320/Distracted%20Baby%20Post%20Pics%20(1).png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avoid 'niplash' by limiting distractions!</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Introduce a familiar toy</h3></div><div><br />Another tip we have tried is to give baby a particular comforter alongside feeds. Originally we did this so the toy would take on my smell and provide comfort when someone else tried to settle or bottle feed her if I was unavailable. What we found was that it focused her during her feeds by giving her something to cuddle and stroke, and comforted her at the same time. I also found this helped because it meant baby then used this toy as her "attachment object" instead of me, unlike my eldest who used to twiddle my hair during feeds! I had to lie with him every night until he was old enough not to need my hair for comfort... which wasn't actually that long ago! <br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Repeat the phrase, "This too shall pass"</h3><br />This has become the mantra of motherhood for me! As with all phases, telling yourself that this is temporary and won't last forever really does help! The distracted stage will soon be over, so be patient and try not to rush through feeds. Baby is just becoming more aware of the world around them, so take a deep breath and repeat after me - "This too shall pass!"<br /><br /><br /></div><div>Do you have any tried and tested feeding tips for distracted babies? Help us parents out and let us know in the comments below!<br /><br /><b><i>Finding joy in the little things:</i></b> Even when I've had my nipple clamped in a vice-like grip and stretched across the entire length of my body, when those two big blue sparkly eyes catch my gaze and she smiles from ear-to-ear... all is forgiven! I can't help but look at that cheeky face and smile back, knowing that I am her whole world, her comfort, her safe space, her first love. These distracted phases will pass, but that bond we've built whilst feeding will last forever. </div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/350647521002663781" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpC1qgybbAgxEA47P273Qoe5vr7Mbjj0q-yjNKNkpAJC4ypZciMOX2h8tqmIMWXKpmOVqfT5xXocZcvRmmTenC5dOdgznqxJDQwZtCAnDMDpaef7g0hDkZj0fyC_hgr5szpmG76NdfYo3HxfDCjg7PhtR9BbOp7I_7Wky-5SuGkRQGt0Wl-BeOkHbjw/s320/Distracted%20Baby%20Squares%20Insta%20Post%20(1).png" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/350647521002663781" target="_blank">Click me to pin!</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-61909398884672457142023-03-22T14:39:00.001+00:002023-03-22T14:39:33.461+00:00We're Back! It's Been a While...<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20teacxfgWIcZCV8LnJ79860Y_vlMzLSVCKkshmR8HNj0l6vyH7xoLZOOpeAsX3moomUrDPO6uAw0M0WT0IX0eTunAD7NR9yooXPyIct5l7UjU8-5eIXEfDPuoHgkNUo6wVUAj7jomL4s4kcxd0v4n0YmlihrNziiCHkdftp6iHSRqdRnTU6ScXOC0Q/s320/We're%20Back%20square.png" style="display: none;" /><div style="text-align: left;">Hi! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I can't believe how long it's been since I showed the Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddles blog over here a bit of love! If you are new here.... welcome! If you have been following us over on our socials, mostly on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, then you may have been keeping up to date with what we've been up to over the past few years. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKbbNpw1XDYgN3B-j14bN4JZJ4pmgIldCDtnQuWUsQefZIhp-7WVxFlMJGawFeTFYU-Uer5KD7jLQiTme3OlgcU6XwWEiUP1vJJibvCgrhSimBfQbmKgLpXjvBjsVFk29LasFM9iIWuj8wo4GAU4xgAO_1duItTiumLl1feE11MxivVJpCOnolfEHjg/s758/We're%20Back%20Banner.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="758" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKbbNpw1XDYgN3B-j14bN4JZJ4pmgIldCDtnQuWUsQefZIhp-7WVxFlMJGawFeTFYU-Uer5KD7jLQiTme3OlgcU6XwWEiUP1vJJibvCgrhSimBfQbmKgLpXjvBjsVFk29LasFM9iIWuj8wo4GAU4xgAO_1duItTiumLl1feE11MxivVJpCOnolfEHjg/w640-h296/We're%20Back%20Banner.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">So, where have we been?</h3><div><br /></div>A lot has happened over the last few years! I'll catch you up quickly, then you'll understand why we've a bit absent over here...<div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Covid Chaos</h3><div><br /></div>Our last post here was written on March 2nd 2020, and on March 11th the World Health Organisation declared Covid-19 a pandemic. Schools were shut indefinitely on March 18th and the UK went into its first lockdown on March 23rd... almost 3 years to the day!! And there began the chaos of home schooling my 2 children, whilst also still going into work as a primary school teacher to look after the children of key workers. What an incredibly strange and frightening time that was, wasn't it? </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirf_3ZDfr71Oat0qQfSK3RFn72oYmcU9sWtcAsDZhPqTdz7ydfqEjWdYS0hZ-3uR-V8vqOQao8LKWAxBYtVf1qbgQ4qByokWFvsvE-aihk4NTrURGAOEOdHB43uMktKJBMGXrzhtyd1y-jR1cqRXF9nEoyqZafEKgg-5bCf9nEvD8_1xZh0wymAU2g-A/s1080/1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirf_3ZDfr71Oat0qQfSK3RFn72oYmcU9sWtcAsDZhPqTdz7ydfqEjWdYS0hZ-3uR-V8vqOQao8LKWAxBYtVf1qbgQ4qByokWFvsvE-aihk4NTrURGAOEOdHB43uMktKJBMGXrzhtyd1y-jR1cqRXF9nEoyqZafEKgg-5bCf9nEvD8_1xZh0wymAU2g-A/s320/1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I had also become a single mum just the June before, so navigating this new way of living was an interesting challenge in many ways! During the second lockdown, schools shut again in January 2021 forcing learning online yet staying open again for key workers. My time and energy was split between teaching in school, preparing, editing and uploading online lessons for those at home, and home-schooling my own children, while trying to keep everyone healthy, sane and alive! It was an uncertain time for us all and no-one could have predicted what the next year or so had in store for us!</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Forest School</h3><div><br /></div>Way back in June 2019, I started a Forest School Level 3 Leader course which meant a whole week of intense training in the woods, followed by a 2 day Outdoor First Aid course, a written and practical portfolio consisting of 61 (yes... 61!) assignments, then a week of assessments back in the forest in November 2020! </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbo6HgQupR2qcvC4EsNeo_4qnrLXuIWSQeE7_QEgV8D1bFV30oE5atcEh8iJ36phGGl_XOOPHWeI_TtqjsTW05TjU1i9LAkk-1MNTdjGTsyDvhsVxCysQsZJoBvS_F2xS0npggKrjCsnZ015QIdJfmtlZ0hKh9WaZpu_WdoioU955aONSdBSwBJVQdkA/s1080/2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbo6HgQupR2qcvC4EsNeo_4qnrLXuIWSQeE7_QEgV8D1bFV30oE5atcEh8iJ36phGGl_XOOPHWeI_TtqjsTW05TjU1i9LAkk-1MNTdjGTsyDvhsVxCysQsZJoBvS_F2xS0npggKrjCsnZ015QIdJfmtlZ0hKh9WaZpu_WdoioU955aONSdBSwBJVQdkA/s320/2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Covid of course stopped play at certain points along the way, but I eventually managed to complete my portfolio in February 2021! Receiving my certificate that July was one of my proudest moments! Blood (quite literally!), sweat and tears went into completing that qualification during a time of great stress and uncertainty, following the immediate break down of my marriage, starting a new life in a new home with my kids and then the onset of Covid and all that brought with it. Many, many times I almost gave up but I'm so glad that I didn't. Writing my "reflective journal" (one of our final assignments) was such a cathartic process, I spilled my heart into it and laid the emotions of the whole process bare. My trainer told me it was one of the best he had ever read and a real emotional rollercoaster! It certainly was!</div><div><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Run Mama Run!</h3><br />In April 2020, I decided I needed to find a way to quieten the mental load of motherhood and all the stresses of life at that time. Something told me to run. Fight or flight maybe? So I put on my trainers and did something I'd never done before... I went for a run! Well, when I say run, I mean a 40 minute pant around my local woods that nearly killed me! I ached, I felt sick, my lungs were on fire, but something strange happened... I felt euphoric! My head felt instantly lighter, and then I realised - when I was out there in the woods focusing on my footing and trying to breathe, I thought of nothing else! I noticed the birds, the warmth of the sun on my skin, the sound of the leaves and twigs under my feet, the fresh air in my lungs. I felt at peace. I felt alive. I wanted more!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Xd1GgD8x1ApOyXWePbTzKnyNT54DMSdbvu-HRUn51zhqYks4fdGkapHsLrwqpkpRoOstfODz_-pXe3Ulq4npSaxOw5E4_fjdl3MfaG3oT2q6mBHVzKk7lMz4bR_DNLUyKTQQtfKEgdrcuIm3_pfUMmujsEojhInlwJbCGbiZgcicxtpfJNE3jfM3yw/s1080/3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Xd1GgD8x1ApOyXWePbTzKnyNT54DMSdbvu-HRUn51zhqYks4fdGkapHsLrwqpkpRoOstfODz_-pXe3Ulq4npSaxOw5E4_fjdl3MfaG3oT2q6mBHVzKk7lMz4bR_DNLUyKTQQtfKEgdrcuIm3_pfUMmujsEojhInlwJbCGbiZgcicxtpfJNE3jfM3yw/s320/3.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>By July, I'd completed my first 10 mile run and I couldn't believe how much I loved it! I signed up for my first ever event (a half marathon!) and threw myself into training for the Potter's 'Arf in September 2021. Every moment the children were at their Dad's, I'd spend running in my happy place by the canal. I just loved the release, shaking off the craziness of the day, being by myself, letting my mind go blank, listening to tunes and watching the world go by. Running certainly saved me from myself at a time when I needed it the most. If you haven't tried it, I recommend it to anyone! After an extended break from running (I'll come on to that next!), I cannot wait to dig out my running shoes and get back to it! You can follow my journey over on my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rach_el_runs/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> if it interests you - I'll be sharing my running comeback and our running buggy adventures too! <br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">New Beginnings</h3></div><div><br /></div><div>Back in June 2019, I was in such turmoil that I couldn't even contemplate what the future for me and my 2 children might hold. I couldn't see the wood for the trees, at times I wondered if I'd ever be 'fixed.' Would I ever find <a href="https://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/2019/09/a-rainbow-after-the-storm.html" target="_blank">my rainbow</a>? But what follows is probably the happiest part of my story, and a part that I never expected would be mine to tell...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9umjk7FA55WbCd6dlkAUdte4Yo5xSqM5T5wPJo1SOjJF3kob3KA19SCAQcfd7gji03EfUig2g2jMyP0qHdgdY5tHQ3mon-aHlzmcmPMoM_g64LNzh8gDukHJo-lz1SvTyaqyoy9wRQsuofgT9HskyVmRSarMoD6sHxqg3rLJZoLE73EZg3XmkM829A/s1080/4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9umjk7FA55WbCd6dlkAUdte4Yo5xSqM5T5wPJo1SOjJF3kob3KA19SCAQcfd7gji03EfUig2g2jMyP0qHdgdY5tHQ3mon-aHlzmcmPMoM_g64LNzh8gDukHJo-lz1SvTyaqyoy9wRQsuofgT9HskyVmRSarMoD6sHxqg3rLJZoLE73EZg3XmkM829A/s320/4.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>During Lockdown, I struck up a friendship with a 'friend of a friend.' We'd talk to each other through times of loneliness during what was an isolating and uncertain period for everyone. We had our first 'date' in my garden when the 'Rule of 6' (Remember that?!) was in force and from that moment onwards, as they say, the rest is history! I never thought I'd find someone to share my life with again, (who would want a mid-30s single mother of 2?!) but I'm living proof that good things do happen to good people! We bought a house together in September 2021, and welcomed our baby girl into the world last October! My puzzle is now complete and life of course is busy, crazy but very happy! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The last 3 years or so have been a rollercoaster, a whirlwind and everything in between! It's not until you see it all written down that you understand how much you have achieved and how much you've grown as a person. I feel very much like I've emerged from my chrysalis a stronger, happier, more self-assured person with a brighter, more positive outlook on life! </div><div><br /></div><div>I am excited to start writing here again, to share experiences with you and maybe help one or two of you along the way. I hope you enjoy being a part of the Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddles family... you're all welcome along for the ride!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Finding joy in the little things: </b>I like to end my posts (where relevant) with a little positivity because as we all know, not everything always goes the way you had hoped. I'm a true believer that even in the darkest, most difficult situations, if you search hard enough you will find there is some happiness to be found. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I guess my take away here is that, "You are capable of doing hard things." Times got tough over the last 3 or 4 years. Really tough. But the little things often pulled me through - hearing the excitement when the children were told they were allowed back to the park again, getting through one home-schooling session without an argument, hearing the birds singing after the rain on a run, pressing 'send' when finally submitting my completed Forest School portfolio, drinking tea in my garden with friends during lockdown, hearing my baby's heartbeat for the first time... Look deep enough and you will see there is some joy to be found in almost every situation! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/350647521002581285/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20teacxfgWIcZCV8LnJ79860Y_vlMzLSVCKkshmR8HNj0l6vyH7xoLZOOpeAsX3moomUrDPO6uAw0M0WT0IX0eTunAD7NR9yooXPyIct5l7UjU8-5eIXEfDPuoHgkNUo6wVUAj7jomL4s4kcxd0v4n0YmlihrNziiCHkdftp6iHSRqdRnTU6ScXOC0Q/s320/We're%20Back%20square.png" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/350647521002581285/" target="_blank">Click me to pin!</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-30660964644686195542021-11-16T14:12:00.042+00:002023-03-22T12:51:38.234+00:00How to Master Working from Home with Young Children<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiECXIAQcezYYMfIZ-18Sh7uKBhzC7jOyUsCAhpsROu5bfLH4g_pGcLSI3f1dAoJWUFhqWdKxjbERfZIZg4-ACd2yLiYXLjAId7zKDVQtr4HCzY0-isVMKXObBZqf6C0ApyMeLRnHuF2E66KK1dLvrKlO1vhP98NlO55JDDVXu6op_cQbvf79ym1jjQvg=s320" style="display: none;" /><p>Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddles <span lang="EN-US">understands
that when you have young children, working from home can be a real challenge.
It can take all of your energy just to ignore distractions and stay focused on
a single task, let alone juggle your workload and endless parenting
obligations. If you’re not careful, you can work yourself into a state of
burnout. Thankfully, it’s possible to enjoy remote work while taking care of
young kids. With smart scheduling, outsourcing, and plenty of self-care, you
will thrive in this role!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEij4Gj5KaOuCDeyjPED25zCbtbp39dT-XXdro0Ey82ALVlq6O0FcpwD2OgSkwCHDUwsqym6E2ot9Gc-btsGkzWk7qANaD1Cih4LlZ6jTZvfZJtd4um4Jdve7x9DdoT3roMWzkjwVtUJ04VxnN0kLI1ruCTJmnaQ5NoxvZfPVIYkU_sXFVUsnI13GoZPHw=s758" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="758" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEij4Gj5KaOuCDeyjPED25zCbtbp39dT-XXdro0Ey82ALVlq6O0FcpwD2OgSkwCHDUwsqym6E2ot9Gc-btsGkzWk7qANaD1Cih4LlZ6jTZvfZJtd4um4Jdve7x9DdoT3roMWzkjwVtUJ04VxnN0kLI1ruCTJmnaQ5NoxvZfPVIYkU_sXFVUsnI13GoZPHw=w640-h296" width="640" /></a></div><b><span lang="EN-US"><p><b><span lang="EN-US">Lighten
Your Workload</span></b></p></span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Reducing the amount of work on your plate
will help you stay sane as a work-from-home parent. One way to do this is to
enrol your child in child care or bring in a nanny a couple of times per week. Another way to lighten your workload is to
outsource some of your administrative work to freelancers. Hire a virtual
assistant to handle all of those time-consuming tasks. For example, your
assistant can help you with appointment scheduling, customer support, and email
management. Look for virtual assistant services on
freelance job boards like Upwork and compare costs and client reviews to find a
professional who will meet your needs.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span></span></span></b></p><a name='more'></a><b><span lang="EN-US">Prioritise
Self-Care</span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When you’re a busy parent, self-care is
non-negotiable. Practicing self-care isn’t just for you, so you don’t have to
feel guilty about carving out time for yourself. Self-care can actually make you a
better parent! According to Redfin, keeping your workspace clean and clutter-free is a great step
towards improving the energy in your home and caring for your mental wellbeing.
Gratitude is also an important element of self-care. Get in the habit of
practicing gratitude to improve your outlook and focus on the positive things
that are happening in the present moment.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US">Keep
Yourself Comfortable</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eliminating as many distractions as
possible will make it easier to stay on task while working from home. When it
comes to productivity, comfort is often overlooked. Make sure you’re
comfortable working in your home office space. Temperature, lighting, and
clothing all play into this.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Create a work-from-home wardrobe that makes
you feel put-together, but avoid restrictive clothing and materials that don’t
feel great against your skin. Soft, stretchy, and breathable clothing is best!
You can’t beat a comfortable pair of leggings, especially if you need
postpartum tummy support. On top, a simple button-up or cardigan can help you
feel polished if you need to hop on a video call in the middle of the day.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgw_18lvr67uj-EnViJnVPhlpivX9E4rUV4mns5W0JTDjUqV9whw3kdwxHBNiobICZ494kwK-bPyVPKQkI8P3GfNVrXeQE-_EuvsSD9vdbGx2goHT-sWvYSb4ceW6vOh3biNyEvbqFe3Kp4mmmvSvDGj0Edb1gQA1BseBcx_-c9qV8mHYpueLy2HMxLzw=s1920" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgw_18lvr67uj-EnViJnVPhlpivX9E4rUV4mns5W0JTDjUqV9whw3kdwxHBNiobICZ494kwK-bPyVPKQkI8P3GfNVrXeQE-_EuvsSD9vdbGx2goHT-sWvYSb4ceW6vOh3biNyEvbqFe3Kp4mmmvSvDGj0Edb1gQA1BseBcx_-c9qV8mHYpueLy2HMxLzw=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo via <a href="http://www.pexels.com" target="_blank">Pexels</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US">Maximise
Your Available Work Hours</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Few things are more frustrating than facing
constant distractions when you’re trying to concentrate on a mentally demanding
task. Scheduling blocks of time for deep work can help you maximise
your productivity. While some parents might try to squeeze focus time in before
bed or early in the morning, your sleep is important too!
Instead, take advantage of shorter blocks of time while your kids are occupied
with something. You can get a lot done in 25 minutes of distraction-free work!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US">Get
Out of the House</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Being cooped up indoors all day isn’t great
for your mental or physical well-being. To support your whole-body health and
keep your energy charged for work, try to get outside as often as possible.
Start your day with a quiet cup of coffee on the porch. Load your baby into the pushchair for a lunchtime walk. Take your laptop into the garden and work
outside while your kids crawl around on the grass. You’ll feel refreshed,
rejuvenated, and ready to take on the day!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nothing is easy about being a
work-from-home parent. If you have very young kids to care for, it can seem
impossible to get anything done. Do what you can to reduce your workload,
eliminate distractions, maximise your productivity, and keep your mental health
in good shape.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Thank you Janice Russell of <a href="http://parentingdisasters.com">parentingdisasters.com</a> for contributing this guest article to Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddles. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/350647520998424902" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiECXIAQcezYYMfIZ-18Sh7uKBhzC7jOyUsCAhpsROu5bfLH4g_pGcLSI3f1dAoJWUFhqWdKxjbERfZIZg4-ACd2yLiYXLjAId7zKDVQtr4HCzY0-isVMKXObBZqf6C0ApyMeLRnHuF2E66KK1dLvrKlO1vhP98NlO55JDDVXu6op_cQbvf79ym1jjQvg=s320" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/350647520998424902" target="_blank">Click me to pin!</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-39398394600077261202020-03-02T22:55:00.001+00:002020-03-02T23:11:14.040+00:00Get Kids Reading: A Literacy Campaign by Sooper Books<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnlpmDFnw7artgesOQk6MjMue6GIlfcSrffWAlBIMwvJ9sO8nP57QiXs47dJeVDKG1_4JzrQvzaFPLUpGdfH8-22vYJig247sRiirQ1-QweKFvEYROF-rIG3mvKCYA-fLe2bbADxEYzO3/s320/Sooper+Books+square.png" style="display: none;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddles are proud to support a new Literacy campaign called <a href="https://sooperbooks.com/get-kids-reading/?fbclid=IwAR2z5cC9oP22HorJctX4bNl0WKfYaph7nNAu0SqwfKuguepfppNDacNeS4I" target="_blank">Get Kids Reading</a>, by <a href="https://sooperbooks.com/sooper-books/" target="_blank">Sooper Books</a>. The driving force behind the campaign is husband and wife team Simon and Charlene, who are passionate about raising standards of reading in children.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEjbKl7UI50sFuDQR_fk8eoq5JndWzJyWMev28lV9__y5xkv2Izg7Jo7bjDC9lN_kZaIL915kaqwcoJqmixq0pBvw3UEGv4N82EX80y0kKtj4OSoSCL5O_dZFDqqnNVauYSXE-NKQvuUM/s1600/Sooper+Books+Banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="758" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEjbKl7UI50sFuDQR_fk8eoq5JndWzJyWMev28lV9__y5xkv2Izg7Jo7bjDC9lN_kZaIL915kaqwcoJqmixq0pBvw3UEGv4N82EX80y0kKtj4OSoSCL5O_dZFDqqnNVauYSXE-NKQvuUM/s640/Sooper+Books+Banner.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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The <b>Get Kids Reading</b> initiative was launched in January this year, due to <a href="https://sooperbooks.com/get-kids-reading/?fbclid=IwAR2z5cC9oP22HorJctX4bNl0WKfYaph7nNAu0SqwfKuguepfppNDacNeS4I" target="_blank">research</a> that showed young people's growing use of social media is negatively impacting levels of literacy, and increasing levels of depression, sleep-related problems and cyber-bullying. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjChOQbYh2ZfBa5AzWUYyeNEtJHOVrgjpm0ByIYMtZ39cmLcCN2ndC7Zbyrg6zUNBICGAFuaPjQ5GL4s_7s1PGz8SFc2NrhHhmUnjBkOiEA08cahqrSM2GX5cAS9gCtvwqrqdylvtNsPz/s1600/campaign-support-logo-1200X450px-1.jpg"><br /></a>The campaign aims to help parents bridge the gap between modern technology and the need to get kids reading. The Sooper Books mission is to provide free bookshop quality children's stories to families all over the world using an online platform.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjChOQbYh2ZfBa5AzWUYyeNEtJHOVrgjpm0ByIYMtZ39cmLcCN2ndC7Zbyrg6zUNBICGAFuaPjQ5GL4s_7s1PGz8SFc2NrhHhmUnjBkOiEA08cahqrSM2GX5cAS9gCtvwqrqdylvtNsPz/s1600/campaign-support-logo-1200X450px-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjChOQbYh2ZfBa5AzWUYyeNEtJHOVrgjpm0ByIYMtZ39cmLcCN2ndC7Zbyrg6zUNBICGAFuaPjQ5GL4s_7s1PGz8SFc2NrhHhmUnjBkOiEA08cahqrSM2GX5cAS9gCtvwqrqdylvtNsPz/s640/campaign-support-logo-1200X450px-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image Credit: Sooper Books</td></tr>
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Traditional tales and well-loved children's stories are creatively retold by Simon (there's some Sooper Books originals in there too!), and beautifully illustrated by the talented Charlene. Together they have already produced an extensive<a href="https://sooperbooks.com/bedtime-stories/"> online library of bedtime stories</a> for 5-12 year olds! Perfect for busy, modern families who want access to quality reading resources anytime, anywhere!<br />
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Alongside stories, the website is full of links to quality resources with tips and advice for parents and educators, with the aim to help Get Kids Reading! Pop over and have a look for yourselves, and don't forget to keep checking back as new stories and resources are added regularly.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLH5k5kRovuitjCd8mAllbEt1_NnlYpZ8pMt-RCVzFHqxnE7uL4lT8mYwa4Z1Qppg-P0B4wzo5lxJ34odWF7Qxt0sFXx2xmSq6898T-qln89nJy-KJeobWLTMXnD181v_aYtC0w2UksC9z/s1600/Books+2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="1002" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLH5k5kRovuitjCd8mAllbEt1_NnlYpZ8pMt-RCVzFHqxnE7uL4lT8mYwa4Z1Qppg-P0B4wzo5lxJ34odWF7Qxt0sFXx2xmSq6898T-qln89nJy-KJeobWLTMXnD181v_aYtC0w2UksC9z/s400/Books+2.PNG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A selection of the stories already available.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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You can find Sooper Books on their <a href="https://sooperbooks.com/sooper-books/">website</a> or over on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mysooperbooks/">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sooperbooks/">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/sooperbooks">Twitter</a>. Why not show them some support and help spread the Get Kids Reading message! </div>
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<b><i>Finding joy in the little things:</i></b> I am lucky that my two children have always loved stories, books and reading. We always read a bedtime story...or 4... together at night time - it's one of our favourite times of the day! So when I told them about Sooper Books, they were both excited to add a new dimension to stories at bedtime (or anytime!) - the look on my tablet-crazy 4 year old's face when I showed her we could read a story online, in bed, using the tablet as a 'book' was priceless!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/350647520991824468/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnlpmDFnw7artgesOQk6MjMue6GIlfcSrffWAlBIMwvJ9sO8nP57QiXs47dJeVDKG1_4JzrQvzaFPLUpGdfH8-22vYJig247sRiirQ1-QweKFvEYROF-rIG3mvKCYA-fLe2bbADxEYzO3/s320/Sooper+Books+square.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/350647520991824468/" target="_blank">Click me to pin!</a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"></span>Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-47198279394886626302019-12-21T11:37:00.003+00:002019-12-21T11:37:42.268+00:00Healthy Hair for Kids: Locks in Goodness Review and Giveaway<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxEO4Tchr6ujMXNSiOBzWFLk1ZAfzC7AjcP7qD0eRFtxyndn0WjTqVhB7LGeJ5mZCBA0RMxj7Uju5WM5zOb_BI_vx8LBs67zYQ_PpqoQdmKKqOCqxNNJ3NEcCD-_kjxU8w-Z4_Gerk-kK/s320/Locks+square.png" style="display: none;" /><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Gifted)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<b>Locks in Goodness</b> is a brand new natural hair care range aimed at children. All the products are free from impurities, natural in origin and completely safe to use on delicate, young hair. The ingredients used are minimally processed, meaning that they stay as close as possible to the natural plant.<br />
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<i><b>"Every dollop is bursting with goodness."</b></i><i> </i><i></i><b></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-HFNsaIOkfaZjQR18gy7-TMROyYSoaJiM1BluzIEpT40C5AU2D28fJBX1kbkLSjQD8U0wqYgeGKqzDbUjCcCN9Bnf-0sx90K1KyoPefg2QOoupjo3U8walqayPg-nZAwH9svC9sh8Qu-/s1600/Locks+in+Goodness+banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="758" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-HFNsaIOkfaZjQR18gy7-TMROyYSoaJiM1BluzIEpT40C5AU2D28fJBX1kbkLSjQD8U0wqYgeGKqzDbUjCcCN9Bnf-0sx90K1KyoPefg2QOoupjo3U8walqayPg-nZAwH9svC9sh8Qu-/s640/Locks+in+Goodness+banner.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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What I admire about this company is their dedication to the environment. The packaging is 100% recyclable and biodegradable, with the plastic-free tubes made from natural sugar cane, helping to protect the planet.<br />
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A big selling point for me is the "No Nasties" tagline. My son has very sensitive skin so we have to be careful what products we use. Harmful impurities and harsh chemicals which are found in most processed products can irritate his skin, so we were really excited to give these products a go!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQwUJOVmgiKMgZ6PZqW-UFClxUl1t-54X8qPh3GEtrWnaylIKFan5vxbDGU3nbrdP-X60uha83FrCU1OHTcErvbs54S4sVHtIa0CbEeZ6GEE8fyvQryaram4JlPdtaITC9zrswK0mCJtp/s1600/Locks+Gel+and+Smoothie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQwUJOVmgiKMgZ6PZqW-UFClxUl1t-54X8qPh3GEtrWnaylIKFan5vxbDGU3nbrdP-X60uha83FrCU1OHTcErvbs54S4sVHtIa0CbEeZ6GEE8fyvQryaram4JlPdtaITC9zrswK0mCJtp/s640/Locks+Gel+and+Smoothie.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Locks in Goodness Hair Gel and Hair Smoothie</td></tr>
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Hair Gel</h2>
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My son was keen to try the <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Locks-Goodness-Natural-Hair-Gel/dp/B07XRT35W5" target="_blank">Hair Gel</a> out! We applied a generous amount to damp, towel dried hair (even though it was almost bedtime... might as well go to sleep in style!) and spiked it up. The product doesn't feel sticky or synthetic, and is ultra light and easy to apply.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>My son instantly commented on the gorgeous scent, saying it reminded him of gingerbread men! Must be the clove and cinnamon bark oils - just two of the specially selected hair loving oils included in the hair gel. It still smelt just as delicious in the morning! These products are only preserved by natural essential oils, which help keep nits and lice away - a great selling point for children's hair care products.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFHuQPh7MdUQyHP3k2PgoeIl7Z378nfmFDWU5-5mTj8SIt_KbB-zPPbBUwYJ3VJ8c3158xvojfT6w-ZwFQCGmoZrmPq6Hn2a9W2ppd0OyrmK1_JwKdhIMjv4hKbit5P93GTW04yh6pYnV/s1600/Locks+Gel.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFHuQPh7MdUQyHP3k2PgoeIl7Z378nfmFDWU5-5mTj8SIt_KbB-zPPbBUwYJ3VJ8c3158xvojfT6w-ZwFQCGmoZrmPq6Hn2a9W2ppd0OyrmK1_JwKdhIMjv4hKbit5P93GTW04yh6pYnV/s400/Locks+Gel.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hair gel smells delicious!</td></tr>
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The gel held his spiky style in place really well, and what surprised us was how soft his hair still felt. It wasn't crunchy at all, and when we ruffled his hair it just bounced right back into shape! This flexibility meant that his style only needed a little retouching in the morning.<br />
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We are hoping that with regular use, the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and soothing anti-itch properties of the organic aloe vera will help settle my son's troublesome cradle cap which reappears with every cold winter!<br />
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Hair Smoothie</h2>
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My daughter was really excited to try out the <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Locks-Goodness-Natural-Hair-Smoothie/dp/B07XZFWQGQ/" target="_blank">Hair Smoothie</a>. Every time we wash her hair, we either use a leave-in conditioner or a detangling spray afterwards to help tease out the tangles. However, many products we have tried leave her hair a little greasy. The hair smoothie did not, providing you use just the right amount and work it in from the ends, concentrating on and knotty areas.<br />
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Any product with smoothie in the title is bound to smell like it's good enough to eat! It smells so good, there's even a reminder on the bottle not to ingest it! You could really pick out the tea tree and shea butter scents, and it had a lovely thick, creamy consistency. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqlpUFwCvCsOxnhyzUsNujpEpvbRb2RJBZhv6mUV04EyQj6C0F23xv2iipTxrtKo051vdVyhIDWzjOlQyX-juo4PyhQpXQIK_mU5gH6kn7HFKDp-wGjjXDLV4JdPdiG6mOzctgOF1pWLc/s1600/Locks+Smoothie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqlpUFwCvCsOxnhyzUsNujpEpvbRb2RJBZhv6mUV04EyQj6C0F23xv2iipTxrtKo051vdVyhIDWzjOlQyX-juo4PyhQpXQIK_mU5gH6kn7HFKDp-wGjjXDLV4JdPdiG6mOzctgOF1pWLc/s400/Locks+Smoothie.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The smoothie really did help with tangles and knots.</td></tr>
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The brush glided through so easily that my daughter didn't make any fuss at all and she even said she enjoyed having her hair brushed because it "felt gentle and smelled so good!" That's high praise coming from a just-turned four year old. I loved that you really didn't feel like you needed to wash your hands afterwards; instead I rubbed it all in and used the excess as a moisturiser! Not a dollop wasted in this house!<br />
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I can't wait to steal some to use in my hair tomorrow after I've washed it - its ultra thick and curly, and difficult to tame the frizz. I'll let you all know how it goes, but I'm pretty confident it's gonna be a winner! Watch this space....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6YerYG2DcApB-sLervJoDYrYTsHXEx5TPHV4kULB4W5TWM-2WUHa8Y350Sz3rrjKU_iVcvwzsPwPNy6lHsqL27h02anYtb6Qi_HlOHCtfFf5p7-cCJoBrZTSK8UOYyx3Nf216ZTMKwoW/s1600/Locks+Pair+.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6YerYG2DcApB-sLervJoDYrYTsHXEx5TPHV4kULB4W5TWM-2WUHa8Y350Sz3rrjKU_iVcvwzsPwPNy6lHsqL27h02anYtb6Qi_HlOHCtfFf5p7-cCJoBrZTSK8UOYyx3Nf216ZTMKwoW/s400/Locks+Pair+.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No nasties, 100% natural origin.</td></tr>
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<b>Locks in Goodness Hair Gel and Hair Smoothie</b> retails at around £10 a tube, and you can buy it directly from the <a href="https://locksingoodness.co.uk/" target="_blank">website</a> or Amazon. As a special offer to you lovely readers, you can get a 10% discount AND free delivery by entering the code <b><u>LIG10</u></b> at the Locks in Goodness website checkout.
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And if that wasn't enough, you can enter this <u><b>amazing giveaway</b></u> below, giving one lucky reader a chance to win a Locks in Goodness bundle - one of each of these great products! The competition will run from the <i>21st December to 12th January</i> (UK only I'm afraid), the winner will be contacted by <b>Locks in Goodness</b> who will send your prize to you directly. Good Luck! Click the link below to enter...<br />
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<a class="e-widget no-button" href="https://gleam.io/luJDI/the-locks-in-goodness-giveaway-10" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Locks in Goodness Giveaway #10</span></a></div>
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You can find<b> Locks in Goodness</b> on <a href="http://instagram.com/locksingoodness" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/locksingoodness" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/locksingoodness" target="_blank">Twitter</a> too. Pop over and show them some love!<b> </b><br />
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<b><i>Finding joy in the little things:</i></b> Easy. No detangling tears and a gorgeous, so-good-you-could-eat-it scent that lasted ages! And my daughter LOVES the splat design on the tubes - she said it makes her feel like she has to "squidge and squash the tube!" Let's just hope the lid is closed when she does...!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/350647520990958957/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxEO4Tchr6ujMXNSiOBzWFLk1ZAfzC7AjcP7qD0eRFtxyndn0WjTqVhB7LGeJ5mZCBA0RMxj7Uju5WM5zOb_BI_vx8LBs67zYQ_PpqoQdmKKqOCqxNNJ3NEcCD-_kjxU8w-Z4_Gerk-kK/s320/Locks+square.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/350647520990958957/" target="_blank">Click me to pin!</a></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*** We were gifted these fantastic products in return for an honest review. All opinions stated are my own... or my children's! ***</span></i></div>
Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-46359327702200019712019-10-31T01:07:00.000+00:002020-03-03T18:12:47.904+00:00Frightful Fun at Ford Green Hall<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xxZZCq1nQ1_JRbGVBWOdGw_o9NK29W0Y-1bpJEoupy0SZeMNLNbyWF4K_EisRIHYIhWP7VnvbjBlW4oSeljsl1nyKpEEL9VnVHFwVdzQd8b60gyrhncHPNTZtR4lboBHgbACMicEZ_xh/s1600/Ford+Green+square.png" style="display: none;" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.fordgreenhall.org.uk/index.html" target="_blank">Ford Green Hall</a> is an impressive timber-framed farmhouse built originally in 1624 for the Ford family. It's now an award winning museum, steeped in 17th century history with an admirable collection of textiles, ceramics and furniture.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjMb14EVHglCA1Fjdw5eQrTqOuOhfxqUCKJfLEd_lvTRFgTPIiy3rrwuenuA_LRc4PIQ86pKUnSglb6DrDjg5_pSIhlKNrbyGrL6W3KI_OR84bEZM6byLkZ_YlDsrl8-h2CbJpG2pLzyz/s1600/Ford+Green+banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="758" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjMb14EVHglCA1Fjdw5eQrTqOuOhfxqUCKJfLEd_lvTRFgTPIiy3rrwuenuA_LRc4PIQ86pKUnSglb6DrDjg5_pSIhlKNrbyGrL6W3KI_OR84bEZM6byLkZ_YlDsrl8-h2CbJpG2pLzyz/s640/Ford+Green+banner.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Throughout the year, many wonderful events are held at Ford Green Hall, one of which we enjoyed today, courtesy of <a href="https://www.visitstoke.co.uk/" target="_blank">Visit Stoke</a> and the <a href="https://www.visitstoke.co.uk/mystokestory" target="_blank">#MyStokeStory </a>campaign.</div>
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Situated in Smallthorne, Stoke-on-Trent, Ford Green Hall and the adjacent nature reserve is easily accessible by car and public transport. The car park is free, and just a short walk via the main road to the path that leads to the museum entrance. My children were instantly invited by the carpet of orange leaves that greeted them outside, and we had to have a play before we went in! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0Xchy-asSiDYw2prZKIgHBeeTOn1XQw9e9S7Y6_FN7lZIJpvNpcaMqLyPRAvXLMy-8_Cgbw67mLrfAjamK__WYzdDO1fthEjTqxxII29LYbs73XLMP_IK_ZmKsrEzmvAxfArJJlp-l-o/s1600/Ford+Green+Leaves.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0Xchy-asSiDYw2prZKIgHBeeTOn1XQw9e9S7Y6_FN7lZIJpvNpcaMqLyPRAvXLMy-8_Cgbw67mLrfAjamK__WYzdDO1fthEjTqxxII29LYbs73XLMP_IK_ZmKsrEzmvAxfArJJlp-l-o/s640/Ford+Green+Leaves.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They just couldn't resist playing in the leaves!</td></tr>
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<h3>
Remember, Remember, the 5th of November</h3>
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We entered via the quaint tea room and were met by friendly staff who guided us to the first exciting event. In the Parlour, we found Guy Fawkes! He captured the children's attention with stories about the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, showing them how gunpowder was used in bombs and weapons. </div>
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Apparently the phrase, "biting the bullet" was said to originate from this period, as soldiers used to hold the bullets in their mouths for quick insertion into their guns! They would also chew them so they would fit... yuck! After our little history lesson, Guy Fawkes waved us on our way and we moved on to the Hall.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guy Fawkes showed us how to load bullets into the barrel of a gun.</td></tr>
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<h3>
The Gunpowder Trail</h3>
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When we arrived, we had been given a Gunpowder Trail to complete. Having found the first barrel in the Parlour, we set off to solve the rest of the clues so we could find the rest! Our hunt took us to the main hall, a place where the family would have gathered to cook and eat together. Today, the Hall had been decorated for Halloween, with lights, pumpkins and even a squawking black raven! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yd8WK48Izt6ab05eIVwJUaZHXBik096B8CrYuG4G3O5y8eQT1QAQECwaIGwHzmBivcTFI5NVDkLdwu7Djfaf4-oPvaX56KTvAtf6dQIYrH5t6cRGIGcOBzUlHJZPjrFFYEVJUXjMP12q/s1600/Ford+Green+Hall+Table+.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yd8WK48Izt6ab05eIVwJUaZHXBik096B8CrYuG4G3O5y8eQT1QAQECwaIGwHzmBivcTFI5NVDkLdwu7Djfaf4-oPvaX56KTvAtf6dQIYrH5t6cRGIGcOBzUlHJZPjrFFYEVJUXjMP12q/s640/Ford+Green+Hall+Table+.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hall was dressed up for Halloween.</td></tr>
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The children liked investigating the table of herbs and spices, each of which you could have a smell of. Some were more potent than others!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0ao_TaxMaPBbmzP1LgesCMQPX8NSq51LQWKdwaogSvpJJ8SXIL2aW3pJnMHBheD7HL_RnswWfFFSEmKuKfzwbgRoqXC18vICJ1rMl4S9xZu2-7BRoTjDJa7ddedIWg9c9JanSErqbgD6/s1600/Ford+Green+Herbs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="1400" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0ao_TaxMaPBbmzP1LgesCMQPX8NSq51LQWKdwaogSvpJJ8SXIL2aW3pJnMHBheD7HL_RnswWfFFSEmKuKfzwbgRoqXC18vICJ1rMl4S9xZu2-7BRoTjDJa7ddedIWg9c9JanSErqbgD6/s640/Ford+Green+Herbs.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We enjoyed the smell of some herbs more than others!</td></tr>
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We followed the clues all around the house. The trail took us to every room, each one so thoughtfully decorated for Halloween. My son found it quite funny to find skeletons in the bed! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKPnmBXAOUwXVZ7yKo_jLhyAgNKulp45m3kT0bv7arlgw3Xrbu8A_xhW85NuG4BFWE32Pq47KxlXdGo9pKx4idK5FMig_Pp4eXyvR7wIauz5vgGcpOhlFxduOLSoZ-Kj8GyTr1DB7BuwC/s1600/Ford+Green+Skeleton.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="1400" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKPnmBXAOUwXVZ7yKo_jLhyAgNKulp45m3kT0bv7arlgw3Xrbu8A_xhW85NuG4BFWE32Pq47KxlXdGo9pKx4idK5FMig_Pp4eXyvR7wIauz5vgGcpOhlFxduOLSoZ-Kj8GyTr1DB7BuwC/s640/Ford+Green+Skeleton.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had fun taking selfies as Henry VIII's wives! </td></tr>
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My daughter loved setting off all the singing and cackling witches, especially the one up in Parlour Chamber upstairs, where we found all the traditional games! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0r9plxFa9g4G2qPggzRnPydEcnd8mzJdSmI5ECJAMtuvc_RjVyHoGylxNUXLGLqz1metDdQRX2Eae9rmeoNr4-E_2___8qcxLqISY999ZBUADRRGuJptUW98PoI_kgEeimxrW7ydW-Uro/s1600/Ford+Green+Games+.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0r9plxFa9g4G2qPggzRnPydEcnd8mzJdSmI5ECJAMtuvc_RjVyHoGylxNUXLGLqz1metDdQRX2Eae9rmeoNr4-E_2___8qcxLqISY999ZBUADRRGuJptUW98PoI_kgEeimxrW7ydW-Uro/s640/Ford+Green+Games+.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had a go at some traditional games.</td></tr>
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The Gunpowder Trail is a really great way to get young children involved and to give them a focus as you walk around. It also means the adults get a chance to look at the exhibits whilst the kids are busy searching!</div>
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Creepy Crafts</h3>
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Our last activity was a Halloween craft activity. The children could make spiders or haunted houses. We spent almost an hour colouring and sticking, creating creepy haunted houses to take home! You really didn't need that long but what can I say? When my kids are busy and happy... they won't be rushed!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60Vw6_muaGLot0S9Q3ZE46EeD-f05SxPjR_-GeZBIljijP_Lmq3IbIlbBu9l_4zNyJI8c0EoETTGUuaPEgLKRCtQTk7VmEbdFojTmO3722rtiBxTAINfV20oKoxfhjAQthLxlrBd8isA9/s1600/Ford+Green+Crafts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60Vw6_muaGLot0S9Q3ZE46EeD-f05SxPjR_-GeZBIljijP_Lmq3IbIlbBu9l_4zNyJI8c0EoETTGUuaPEgLKRCtQTk7VmEbdFojTmO3722rtiBxTAINfV20oKoxfhjAQthLxlrBd8isA9/s640/Ford+Green+Crafts.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These creepy creations kept my two entertained for quite a while! </td></tr>
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<h3>
Goodbye Guy!</h3>
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After we had <strike>finally</strike> finished the crafts, it was my turn to test the children's patience! We stopped for a quick photo with Guy Fawkes before popping into the tea room for a (much needed post-crafting with two small kids) cuppa and a cake. There is a pretty good selection of snacks to accompany your drinks, and they're very good value too. I spent under a fiver re-fuelling us all before we went home.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A photo with Guy Fawkes to finish!</td></tr>
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The October half term event we attended is running until Thursday 31st, so get down there quick if you fancy experiencing this one! However, don't worry if you can't make it - there are so many family-friendly events on throughout the year. It's definitely worth following the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fordgreenhall/" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> or checking on the <a href="http://www.fordgreenhall.org.uk/events.html" target="_blank">website</a>, so you don't miss out on fabulous future events.</div>
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<h3>
Can you spare some change? </h3>
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Now a charitable organisation, the museum relies on donations from organisations and the public to help with running costs and repairs. Currently, they are raising money via a <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/fordgreenhallmuseum" target="_blank">Just Giving page</a> to pay for the necessary refurbishment of one of the old oak beams. It's estimated cost will be £20,000! All donations are gratefully received, either online or via the collection points at the museum. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ford Green Hall from the outside.</td></tr>
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We really enjoyed our visit today. Have you ever been to an event at Ford Green Hall? I'd love to hear about it!</div>
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If you enjoyed our post today and would like to read about other places to visit in Staffordshire, why not follow us across our social pages -<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/KidsCuddlesandMuddyPuddles/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles/" target="_blank">Instagram</a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">, </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/KidsCuddlesMP/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> and <a href="http://www.twitter.com/KidsCuddlesMP" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. You can even sign up to receive our latest posts straight to your <a can="" even="" href="https://twitter.com/KidsCuddlesMP" latest="" our="" posts="" receive="" sign="" span="" straight="" to="" up="" you="" your=""></a><a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=KidsCuddlesAndMuddyPuddles" target="_blank">email</a> inbox so you never miss a thing!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/350647520990379367/" target="_blank">Click me to pin!</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*** We were gifted our entrance tickets to Ford Green Hall for the purpose of this review. We paid for all other activities. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own, unless otherwise stated. ***</span><br />
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Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-16322399993832891082019-09-16T22:07:00.000+01:002020-03-03T17:57:20.430+00:00Our Choc-tastic Visit to The Kandy Factory<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFpzSDNABijDo1TuwZc56u66ETz1y2b2Ac5TI-T5dK2mcU1AQ3W03sxF5z5GA3jcmWBWshhWsXKRraWtP42nXU4zzBPD97V9iYDmPhuYstxpjdTsvYw5tUAdnia5Xq4oZnDKC0PhR50xR/s1600/Kandy+Square.png" style="display: none;" />Our <b>chocolatey dreams </b>came true a few weeks ago! During the summer holidays, we were lucky enough to be invited along to experience a <b>chocolate making workshop</b> at <b><a href="https://www.kandyfactory.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Kandy Factory</a> </b>in <i>Burton-on-Trent.</i><br />
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Situated upstairs in Burton's Victorian Market Hall, is an open-plan space where the magic is created! We were greeted on arrival by friendly staff and the children were kitted out in hair nets and aprons.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDNTk4hXxhsF79VkM7Kb-I5M1EJnlCO7LzSTsCPuj3lVnX-cwIPpJayxoQoyyBgnv3QMMEKESobltKUgbBOtjtlsWi_ZZ66uij5aFXJIoUkLIXMZ_vSddY0QJcn7-q8CjcvQopr7HiAZG/s1600/Kandy+Hair+Nets.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDNTk4hXxhsF79VkM7Kb-I5M1EJnlCO7LzSTsCPuj3lVnX-cwIPpJayxoQoyyBgnv3QMMEKESobltKUgbBOtjtlsWi_ZZ66uij5aFXJIoUkLIXMZ_vSddY0QJcn7-q8CjcvQopr7HiAZG/s400/Kandy+Hair+Nets.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look how clean they were at the start!</td></tr>
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After choosing the creations they wanted to make from the display cases, the kids were given all the moulds they would need. My son chose to copy the beach scene, and my daughter decided upon a teddy bear world! They were each given a chocolate bar mould too.<br />
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A few minutes later, the children were brought 2 warm, melted bowls of milk chocolate and a little cupcake case full of decorations. They were allowed to have a little taste of the chocolate before spooning it into the chocolate bar mould, and personalising it with small sweets, chocolate buttons, cereals and sprinkles.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrsvcHGnZ2rGcybPGufi5pXsWWkGmha4KZ201-iVYc4mcAqB9oNGmUh4vpzec3HhO8JiobaxnbOH3186Ks7X5mQv76Ct383raYa2DdCAeHj5Gj1PMG103rUQnCiJZI_yqR-mTIN4XLO1M/s1600/Kandy+Melted+Chocolate.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="1400" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrsvcHGnZ2rGcybPGufi5pXsWWkGmha4KZ201-iVYc4mcAqB9oNGmUh4vpzec3HhO8JiobaxnbOH3186Ks7X5mQv76Ct383raYa2DdCAeHj5Gj1PMG103rUQnCiJZI_yqR-mTIN4XLO1M/s640/Kandy+Melted+Chocolate.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There may have been a bit of "double dipping" going on here!!</td></tr>
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The next job was to fill their silicone moulds, which would make the solid chocolate pieces for their chocolate scenes. Little sachets of white chocolate were melted, and using them like miniature piping bags, the kids were able to add some details to their designs!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2MleE-Q5vBB-4UrMrNMx9j4scwTnE0CKQV38o8A6E6eTo33uIHG3uYpvNnpug2-TeEr2sRPvaBVWRHcUonNorkt97Vzz8a3KM8mX0GDdH7fV5GQ8aTiPDV7HFS4S8wTMlE6EEtEqqh20/s1600/Kandy+Fill+Moulds.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2MleE-Q5vBB-4UrMrNMx9j4scwTnE0CKQV38o8A6E6eTo33uIHG3uYpvNnpug2-TeEr2sRPvaBVWRHcUonNorkt97Vzz8a3KM8mX0GDdH7fV5GQ8aTiPDV7HFS4S8wTMlE6EEtEqqh20/s400/Kandy+Fill+Moulds.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filling the moulds was lots of messy fun!</td></tr>
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Next, we had to make the rice-crispy base for the beach and teddy bear world! This was lots of fun - especially trying to add all the cereal to the chocolate! I'm glad I didn't have to clear up the rice puff chaos that followed!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6TSGLUjJiqAwRlwybU1WVf5pg5AJW-yTsS2LQuHJBjjMbTaKuR9-BE0ButXNEbWJdaUJI_OTi8kfLien7bspdX1wUVCxaz1UToHMlYNydbYo0kBS61uFGvzDXm9n6k8bcRZGAcyNfxtj/s1600/Kandy+Rice+Crispy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="1400" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6TSGLUjJiqAwRlwybU1WVf5pg5AJW-yTsS2LQuHJBjjMbTaKuR9-BE0ButXNEbWJdaUJI_OTi8kfLien7bspdX1wUVCxaz1UToHMlYNydbYo0kBS61uFGvzDXm9n6k8bcRZGAcyNfxtj/s640/Kandy+Rice+Crispy.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We found rice puffs everywhere!</td></tr>
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My son used some blue icing for the sea, and crushed rice-crispies for the sand. My daughter put some marshmallow "clouds" on hers, ready for her chocolate teddy bears to sit on. The children were shown to the magical cooling house, where their creations would go to set. They loved the enchanted little house decorated with lights and ribbons!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBkhT4PXleVDgJ-vVMuWo57HCRCJgDSTkf6cVy6lcuIEgCKN0G8WzEfQx_juOUfQMZ61MQjl3foS2ZmKZUvQvpLNRs9154AMM3di56X4dnpJe5jb0wKZ7LIPBt-bhHpBokpBC2JxbvQSl/s1600/Kandy+Decorate+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBkhT4PXleVDgJ-vVMuWo57HCRCJgDSTkf6cVy6lcuIEgCKN0G8WzEfQx_juOUfQMZ61MQjl3foS2ZmKZUvQvpLNRs9154AMM3di56X4dnpJe5jb0wKZ7LIPBt-bhHpBokpBC2JxbvQSl/s640/Kandy+Decorate+1.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The children were excited to take their creations to the magic cooling house!</td></tr>
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Now it was time to for the chocolate-covered duo to have a quick hose down, then choose a wrapper to colour in for the chocolate bars they had made, and a paper bag to put it in. I also got a lovely pot of tea and the children were given some squash too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSIB8hn-scBgVyPzXPPYRERMUuMIr4Bpv8zDpXXgAN9Hp0T6RFbDCN6-wkGVU1uVK2kirof8ARsOz-ZjetYZQZKXPNCvG2tFBw2H16Uu016FKXBOtwSQ_X5p7-axIEvQbwCfFaX4dUYo7/s1600/Kandy+Hose+Down.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSIB8hn-scBgVyPzXPPYRERMUuMIr4Bpv8zDpXXgAN9Hp0T6RFbDCN6-wkGVU1uVK2kirof8ARsOz-ZjetYZQZKXPNCvG2tFBw2H16Uu016FKXBOtwSQ_X5p7-axIEvQbwCfFaX4dUYo7/s640/Kandy+Hose+Down.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate everywhere!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzggHCJ14kr6wl1-zzmPaW_PyWMtmYuF8eu5DG6Hp5WeKi7utojR9ofzeXPwWUIs6XhvIc5LihqfEqKm0XxuG2zKxXoGsom-vMs2UBVuEIx_xSLxIARumvSwM_QkGgiDoagrMKULjkcbVP/s1600/Kandy+Colouring.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzggHCJ14kr6wl1-zzmPaW_PyWMtmYuF8eu5DG6Hp5WeKi7utojR9ofzeXPwWUIs6XhvIc5LihqfEqKm0XxuG2zKxXoGsom-vMs2UBVuEIx_xSLxIARumvSwM_QkGgiDoagrMKULjkcbVP/s400/Kandy+Colouring.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were lots of designs to choose from.</td></tr>
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To keep your little ones occupied while you wait, you can take part in a little trail that is set up around the mezzanine floor. The cardboard cupcakes are a little tired and could do with a bit of a revamp (including making sure the answers on the cupcakes matched up with the number on the sheet!) and the photocopy of the questions was faded so very hard to read - but the children enjoyed it all the same and loved receiving a lollypop as a prize at the end!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEKyj9lYeDe2s319bRXsRoG942dP5Eh8eHUYDHhmNf9k10EX5asNBFN5Ir975-qiDjCTHVBYXnqScKwVyIGh5sGOr-wOeU8AmLYCPKV3tenyBarBJYnvHFEF9e9nbfIkltS_5x_ey9tWE/s1600/Kandy+Trail+.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEKyj9lYeDe2s319bRXsRoG942dP5Eh8eHUYDHhmNf9k10EX5asNBFN5Ir975-qiDjCTHVBYXnqScKwVyIGh5sGOr-wOeU8AmLYCPKV3tenyBarBJYnvHFEF9e9nbfIkltS_5x_ey9tWE/s640/Kandy+Trail+.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The children worked together to find answers around The Kandy Factory.</td></tr>
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Finally, it was time to go and get our sweet treats from the little magic house and assemble all the bits together! The chocolate came out of the moulds without any issues, and we "glued" them into place with a bit more melted chocolate! A few sweets and a fondant shark fin later and their chocolate masterpieces were complete!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEwLpRDuzND60oiGKfcWAmWbYKGnkw09ujgQZEw6_QrfWs8TDF6ohOFQsbtSNWUCGY7haFPZsvJwPuO0ijOBR9IazaE1VDhRMbp3SJI55h8amseEQsEUaHQlexBuwKZ4AbUQONtwnnlRX/s1600/Kandy+Beach.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEwLpRDuzND60oiGKfcWAmWbYKGnkw09ujgQZEw6_QrfWs8TDF6ohOFQsbtSNWUCGY7haFPZsvJwPuO0ijOBR9IazaE1VDhRMbp3SJI55h8amseEQsEUaHQlexBuwKZ4AbUQONtwnnlRX/s400/Kandy+Beach.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate beach heaven!</td></tr>
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We went to the wrapping station where the chocolate bars were wrapped in the wrappers they had coloured in earlier, and the other creations were tied up in cellophane. The children loved how their finished products looked! They also couldn't wait to get them home for the official taste testing!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8xlvYNTHUwjmau90TDrAEGLxoJPAz4aOZrD6LFDdQVT4cbW6EmoW_tIsDEs6H3oYyrVZJyJKEuCXsiVjDsq5b5w826iIiKG36v3Uu_7MxTH4Gtg8uaWqJ0iGbFH8LGDOoEiAvE96VrjR/s1600/Kandy+Wrapping.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8xlvYNTHUwjmau90TDrAEGLxoJPAz4aOZrD6LFDdQVT4cbW6EmoW_tIsDEs6H3oYyrVZJyJKEuCXsiVjDsq5b5w826iIiKG36v3Uu_7MxTH4Gtg8uaWqJ0iGbFH8LGDOoEiAvE96VrjR/s640/Kandy+Wrapping.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All wrapped up and ready to go!</td></tr>
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Our session lasted about 2 hours, and we were not rushed through any part of the process which was great. The kids really got to take their time and enjoy every minute of their choc-tastic chocolate making experience! Just bear in mind that the car park right outside the Market Hall is only short stay so you may wish to park in one of the other nearby long stay carparks. We were very lucky to avoid getting a ticket!! Ooops!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPqOXiN2CoZIE7wYxSo87XF0jEx3_7CWqRfEyyyhKSGQzWryQfsdUiR3a0CIydfeCRVZLeMUuqnBiIZsxOTRfwEqeWhD4S4FmpE1kv8T5Imi5mzrO0pxqxkzPhYZ-MGa9rYBggVumwBLD/s1600/Kandy+Finish+2+.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPqOXiN2CoZIE7wYxSo87XF0jEx3_7CWqRfEyyyhKSGQzWryQfsdUiR3a0CIydfeCRVZLeMUuqnBiIZsxOTRfwEqeWhD4S4FmpE1kv8T5Imi5mzrO0pxqxkzPhYZ-MGa9rYBggVumwBLD/s640/Kandy+Finish+2+.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Showing off their goodies!</td></tr>
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During our visit, we saw a unicorn party in full swing! It looked like a lot of unicorn-themed fun. The Kandy Factory offer a range of themed parties and workshops, including their general chocolate making experiences. There are also seasonal events and some pop-up shop style events that take place outside of the shop. I would advise that you always book online to secure your slot to avoid any disappointment, as sometimes the main shop may be closed due to staff running off-site events. For full up-to-date details, prices and to book your experience, please visit the <a href="https://www.kandyfactory.co.uk/" target="_blank">website</a>.<br />
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We really did have a choco-riffic time (sorry - had to be done!) at The Kandy Factory! The staff were friendly and helpful and the children enjoyed having full creative control! Almost 2 and a half weeks later, we still have a fridge full of chocolate to indulge in too! So if you fancy a few hours out with a bit of a difference, check out what The Kandy Factory has to offer. Why not show them some love and follow them over on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheFamousKandyFactory/?eid=ARClz0gONvngdnFiSKwFoMZq41WY0ty-kpwrEjek68CEG6jHKgNglkBncCOr9K0VbawrQUug517KnSxf" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thekandyfactory/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0PDibJ9AkPJkaOtD43WYkykpHxHXTD4w6HKH-JbTjKqXNt_hkNlZ9YExD-fpiUa6b71nfuQb2B-vVBWWO_uPc34bSIt5zGPGdSlHXlrXDhHsEgf4roipjlx4Y5NLdh0QnWnDrOhwl6xQ/s1600/Kandy+Finish+.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0PDibJ9AkPJkaOtD43WYkykpHxHXTD4w6HKH-JbTjKqXNt_hkNlZ9YExD-fpiUa6b71nfuQb2B-vVBWWO_uPc34bSIt5zGPGdSlHXlrXDhHsEgf4roipjlx4Y5NLdh0QnWnDrOhwl6xQ/s400/Kandy+Finish+.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Have you ever been on a similar chocolatey day out? Or visited an actual working chocolate factory? We're always on the look out for great places to visit, so why not let us know in the comments below!<br />
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If you enjoyed our post, please follow us over on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KidsCuddlesandMuddyPuddles/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/KidsCuddlesMP/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/KidsCuddlesMP" target="_blank">Twitter</a>! You can even sign up to receive our latest posts straight to your <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=KidsCuddlesAndMuddyPuddles" target="_blank">email</a> inbox so you never miss a thing!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/350647520989858320/" target="_blank">Click me to pin!</a></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">*** We were gifted our chocolate making experiences in return for this post. All opinions are my own, unless otherwise stated. ***</span></i></div>
Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-72781228609624795602019-09-01T00:30:00.001+01:002023-03-22T13:05:23.167+00:00A Rainbow After the Storm<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPMaA3uNYAgk2GPZlnFwlYMAXyzn9umURlUTX2mFI2fJ53P9_d5DwNJxI-bOGY3X7GUNSgh9hDyJdVxR9i7BSwOlFK0Vw1nPOPJXY5lIvFKn8lDHCisAORMvq2WiRLZYYWfK69nhk6z_E/s1600/Rainbow+Insta.png" style="display: none;" />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Dear friends,</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><i></i><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A lot has changed here since I last wrote. Little did I know that, one sunny day at the beginning of June, my whole life would take on a new direction.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTN9MtBcP_YssW-qSA2NsgR-aO1U0BHE8eAwbAPBLJ1PxwQi83gaIbFIz-6cD1vIiDBBJIuj16XNkG3W_7tTOvkUFraBry1nIzXzrwSRYHb2mVBTV2SiYOy4LdB46gu3w6wvVZ8SOZYWg/s1600/Rainbow+banner.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="758" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTN9MtBcP_YssW-qSA2NsgR-aO1U0BHE8eAwbAPBLJ1PxwQi83gaIbFIz-6cD1vIiDBBJIuj16XNkG3W_7tTOvkUFraBry1nIzXzrwSRYHb2mVBTV2SiYOy4LdB46gu3w6wvVZ8SOZYWg/s640/Rainbow+banner.png" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After almost 15 years of being with my husband (7 of them married), he took the decision to end our relationship. The reasons are personal, but what followed would be the hardest, most devastating and emotional time of my life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In that moment, I felt my entire world collapse around me. What would the future hold for me and my 2 young children? All my dreams and hopes for my family going forwards were shattered. Gone. My heart was broken, so much so that I felt I couldn't breathe. The pain in my chest so immense, I couldn't even stand up straight. I cried so many tears I could taste the salt in the air.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the weeks that followed, I fell apart inside... but kept it together on the outside. Many people never suspected a thing. For the first time though, I suffered from the effects of anxiety and ended up having to take time off work. There was no way I could concentrate on the education and welfare of others when I could barely look after myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The grief took over me; it would creep up on me when I was least expecting it, and engulf me in waves. One day I just drove round and round in my car on my own. I'm still not sure where I went, or how long I was driving for. At times, I couldn't see a way out, a way through to the other side. <span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Sadness pulled at me like quicksand. </span>I couldn't see the wood for the trees. The fog just wouldn't clear. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But I did manage. I somehow found the strength to get up each day, to take care of my children and shield them from their uncertain future. Through the devastation, pain, sickness and palpitations, I found an inner strength I never knew I was capable of. Behind me now is 8 weeks of emotional hell and 4 weeks of a new beginning. A rainbow after the storm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, the children and I have a new home, a fresh start and a bright future ahead. Now is our time to have new adventures and make new memories. I have to be honest, I wasn't certain I'd ever get to this point. Our blog tagline is "Find joy in the little things, every day," and there has never been a truer sentiment to live by.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Making new memories on a bug hunt!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Something a simple as trying to find the positives in each and every day has really helped me to survive. Sometimes the positive was just getting dressed, getting the children to school, a day without tears - other times it was things like finding an immaculate second-hand 3 piece suite for a bargain price to help furnish our new home, or quietly watching the kids play happily in their new bedroom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We've spent our 6 week summer holiday settling in to our new lives, our lovely little new house and new routines. I haven't been able to do as much with the children as I usually would during our time off, but we have started to make memories as a family of three. We've even started a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1TF5RIlF3z/">picture wall</a>, with photos that make us smile and remind us of happy times together since we started afresh. The children have been amazing actually. I am so incredibly proud of them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have also found a lot of comfort and encouragement in certain quotes and positive affirmations. I'll put a post together soon of my favourites! I never really thought words could be so comforting, or ring so true but some people really do say exactly what I am thinking and feeling. When you're experiencing some of the worst times of your life, it's easy to forget that you're not the only one who has ever felt like you do. In a time of such dark loneliness and isolation, I didn't feel quite so alone when reading them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Today, I can look back at the shell of the person I became and feel proud that I have come through to the other side. There are tough times ahead, a lot of "firsts" to encounter, and flashes of memories from a life that is no more that knock me off balance. I will try to ride the waves of emotions that wash over me with grace, and strength and continue to see the light in the darkness.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">As I sit here, with warm tears running down my cheeks, and an ache in my heart that is yet to subside, I just wanted to let you all know that it's ok not to be ok. Try to be kind to yourself. Take one day, one step at a time. There is light at the end of the tunnel; it may be in the distance and far out of reach, but you will get there. I'm not quite there yet, but I can see it now, and I believe I will reach it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The storm is passing...I will soon see my rainbow.</span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All my love,<br />Rachel<br />xxx</span></span></i></div>
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<i>I'm linking up this post with these fabulous blogs:</i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://twinstantrumsandcoldcoffee.com/2019/09/24/itsok-linky-week-35/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">It's OK</span></a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.amomentwithfranca.com/" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: &quot; font-size: 13.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" title="Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday"><img alt="Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday" height="100" src="https://www.amomentwithfranca.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/kcacols200x200.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(0, 102, 204);" width="100" /></a> <a href="http://www.confessionsofanewmummy.co.uk/" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank"><img alt="Confessions of a New Mummy" height="100" src="https://i.imgur.com/l2Rc6ep.png" style="cursor: move;" width="100" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-75031617441008359732019-06-20T22:16:00.002+01:002019-06-20T22:21:51.993+01:00A Raving Good Time! Happyface Family Rave Review<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBjheVfNURKis22li9hAB7LVvIzw-WMvrihrHzIKaI2f5WU0AbVwou3vxOWMOBieL9Cr7Xwr485qwWEhJ6lGWXYUMdQfeNEFDRJ7sxLjPtS3Q29pkWgIIH2Z9tpP7bT4pvnmQNG_xq-eE/s400/Rave+Square+%25281%2529.png" style="display: none;" />On Sunday 9th June, my family and I went out for <b>an afternoon with a difference!</b> Imagine the scene - <b>club classics</b> from the 90s being played by a <b>nightclub DJ</b>, colourful <b>flashing lights</b> and <b>glowsticks</b> shining brightly, a <b>dancefloor </b>filled with revelers wearing <b>UV facepaints</b> and <b>neon clubwear</b>, everyone with their hands up in the air...<br />
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No, we didn't accidentally step back in time to our raving days, although it certainly felt like it! In fact, we introduced our two young children (almost 6 and 3 1/2) to the<b> nostalgia</b> of a <b>family rave</b> - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HappyfaceFamilyRave/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Happyface Family Rave</span></a> to be exact! This was <b>a rave with a difference</b> - a Sunday afternoon dance party for adults and children to enjoy together!<br />
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The event was imagined and brought to life by local man Nick Madeley and his team of dedicated organisers. You can read our <a href="http://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/2019/05/happyface-family-rave-preview.html" target="_blank">preview post</a> to find out about the background to this launch event, but don't forget to pop back here to find out how it went on the day!<br />
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In preparation for the family rave, we bought some themed T-Shirts to wear! My hubby is not one for dressing up so we kept them quite tame! The kids chose a skeleton and a unicorn doing the "Dab" - a popoular dance move bought to my son's attention by the game Fortnight! Hubby twinned with our son and I picked a slightly more nostalgic design (think, "big fish, little fish, cardboard box!")... but forgot to get a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ByHuHU9FcKS/" target="_blank">photo</a> of me in it! (As is often the way for us mums/chief photo-takers, hey?!)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to rave in the queue!</td></tr>
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The children were beyond excited on the morning of the rave, although they weren't really sure what to expect! So when we rocked up to be greeted in the queue by the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/northstaffsstormtroopers/" target="_blank">North Staffs Stormtroopers</a>, the kids were totally won over and raring to go!<br />
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Before we knew it, we were transported into the retro world of old skool music, lights, bubbles and smoke machines! Face painting was first on the agenda, and both children picked designs with UV paint which glowed brilliantly on the dance floor!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtb3oBv98D6iDEi41XoPaX_4XeuHFloIq6miHQp2WAKYZkPrDehCmqfjYc5iG9Fpm4o3sTmzfnRCboq7KgGtGIM3XgjL_goAfL1j4R9dLfn7uyf7sSakSZb9S1i9Glt05cyD1MRZ9HNVr/s1600/Rave+Facepaint.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtb3oBv98D6iDEi41XoPaX_4XeuHFloIq6miHQp2WAKYZkPrDehCmqfjYc5iG9Fpm4o3sTmzfnRCboq7KgGtGIM3XgjL_goAfL1j4R9dLfn7uyf7sSakSZb9S1i9Glt05cyD1MRZ9HNVr/s640/Rave+Facepaint.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We loved how the designs glowed under the UV lights!</td></tr>
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It took a while for the kids to work out what a rave actually was when we took them to make some shapes on the dance floor! And if I'm totally honest, they were a little overwhelmed with the whole nightclub kind of scene! Balloons and bubbles helped them to relax, and seeing all the other little children with their glowsticks and face paints made them feel like they belonged! It was lovely to be able to have a dance together!<br />
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When the kids needed a dance break, we took them to the well-stocked craft tables to the side of the dance floor. There were colouring sheets, hats to decorate and crafts to make which entertained them for quite a while, while we danced behind them!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83Xx79le6d2-ufCvjBHWzPfo9RoRGaShbBbBBxk7fT2Z0d80MEepqNuME7XyDpqUCWxCgr5VRaRve-cTawvzBUzDuxDTfM1_tCXDHMX0LPaggNGRpIrZhLp7Skmq2FwZVf4oj_XraQ7tq/s1600/Rave+Craft+Tables.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83Xx79le6d2-ufCvjBHWzPfo9RoRGaShbBbBBxk7fT2Z0d80MEepqNuME7XyDpqUCWxCgr5VRaRve-cTawvzBUzDuxDTfM1_tCXDHMX0LPaggNGRpIrZhLp7Skmq2FwZVf4oj_XraQ7tq/s640/Rave+Craft+Tables.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fully stocked craft tables were a fab idea!</td></tr>
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Hubby was happy to find the bar and just as happy to find the sweets and candyfloss stall! There was such a variety to choose from! We chose candyfloss for the littlies, but almost lost my daughter behind it! It was huge! Nothing like a full on sugar rush to propel them through to the end!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9am533L5JawrB9p1BtnbWJATpbn6fklXx60W2DrusA3XvpvtaQZR4wZE2T4LJqSfi8NuKZ7JSAxwIdrOkYmTiHcVj8FQSdy4vNOu1g7Zi3gnt8WgoPr68m39f_l15hFyxnFHIVaAEMRkS/s1600/Rave+Candyfloss.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9am533L5JawrB9p1BtnbWJATpbn6fklXx60W2DrusA3XvpvtaQZR4wZE2T4LJqSfi8NuKZ7JSAxwIdrOkYmTiHcVj8FQSdy4vNOu1g7Zi3gnt8WgoPr68m39f_l15hFyxnFHIVaAEMRkS/s640/Rave+Candyfloss.png" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The candyfloss was huge!</td></tr>
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We bumped into the Stormtroopers inside the venue too, where they were happy to pose for photos as they collected money for the Happyface Rave's chosen local charity, <a href="http://thepeterpancentre.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Peter Pan Centre</a>. A proportion of the ticket sales and other money made at the event will be donated to this wonderful charity, which provides high quality care, support and education to children with special needs, aged from birth to 5 years old.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSuhAX8VF7ZKV_HloKBFmRHiht3VM9eCOQUjWclPbc-o9cduwa0knQBhu55yStstM8aL_69RsiHANBYg2MqnPEq81c-7JQoqwZZ-XRIuUsZkVAQ548IlkGusSXnTd1huZJDzBSzXSGOtu/s1600/Rave+Stormtroopers.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSuhAX8VF7ZKV_HloKBFmRHiht3VM9eCOQUjWclPbc-o9cduwa0knQBhu55yStstM8aL_69RsiHANBYg2MqnPEq81c-7JQoqwZZ-XRIuUsZkVAQ548IlkGusSXnTd1huZJDzBSzXSGOtu/s640/Rave+Stormtroopers.png" width="456" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Stormtroopers helped raise money for charity.</td></tr>
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The Happyface Family Rave ran for 2 hours during the early afternoon. This was the perfect amount of time for our tiny ravers' initiation! Unfortunately, the only dampener on the day was a slightly whingey 5 year old who had a little meltdown over not being allowed to buy glowstick bunny ears! But such is life as a parent, and the great thing about the family rave is just that - it was full of families and their children, many of whom were facing their own sugar induced, overwhelmed mini tantrums! All part and parcel of the afternoon and certainly not a reason not to take them to a family rave again!<br />
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We really did have great fun, "getting down with the kids" and educating them in 90's rave culture! I would recommend taking your children to one, and reliving your youth. It was a bright, smiley, nostalgic trip down memory lane, with something for every member of the family to enjoy. And yes, maybe the parents <i>did </i>enjoy it more than the kids - but hey, there's time to change this! When's the next one?!<br />
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I asked Nick how he thought the event went, and whether there were any plans in the pipeline for more Happyface Family Raves -<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>"The event was everything we wanted and more. It was a true festival atmosphere with so much going on! It was so great to see everyone having such a good time; with parents being able to relive those dance floor memories and make some new ones with their children at the same time.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br />Although, I’m not sure who had more fun, the adults or the kids?! There are so many highlights to take away from the event but watching the children react to the confetti, balloons and bubbles really stands out!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>The positive reaction we’ve had from everyone has been overwhelming and in true rave style, it’s been so good to see on social media how friends, bloggers and people who hadn’t met before got a chance to catch up and meet at the event itself. Much like how raves used to bring people together back in the day.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br />With immense pride we can also reveal that with donations from the event, all of the stall holders and of course money given from the attendees, the total amount raised for our charity the Peter Pan Centre is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/peterpancentre/photos/a.199283503481464/2318098878266572/?type=3&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARD5Jzzt7l2oB6ZFsx44A4m04p32uh78GywYmOdcqZ_jCvnqn51EZEEprgjUsK9lwBW3TyZp5xjVEzfKY0oIeNSHvqLpOT-QhJvpm1jLOlVZf8W3_m2veVaUwe0kslcTelgdiQvRo8bi_HL1Xe7thjhsjgrcN4mVQ96wyfVKGunaXii7tfXWm8XDLoIq-g3kUxqQkiAlGfoNRptuck5iBU86D3qj9w3pxcdp2sdrhIasC_rOZZsOnKPPVS2yxi41u5Dmf3T4wg6uZAddDCAsLiSb66z9cpH4YoRW_Ha7Bvbx4xy4CMMP0hjTWS1-oe8LfE0X0QGYuK6hSYpI2ShQBNnsEg&__tn__=-R" target="_blank">£380.51!</a> So thank you to every single one of you!!</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>All that leaves us to say is thank you once again for your support and yes, we are currently discussing options for another event toward the end of the year. So please keep following us on Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HappyfaceFamilyRave" target="_blank">@HappyfaceFamilyRave</a> for more info and updates on future events. Thanks. Stay happy!</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br />Nick Madeley<br />Happyface Family Rave"</i></span></div>
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Have you ever been to an event like this? Did your children enjoy it as much as you did? Why not leave me a comment below, I'd love to hear your experiences! If you enjoyed our post, why not follow us on:<br />
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<a href="https://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/p/about-us.html">Finding joy in the little things:</a> Regular visitors to our blog will know that I like to end my posts with something that made me smile, a little thing that brought me joy or happiness. Life is made up of lots of magical moments and sometimes in the chaos of the day, we need a reminder to be grateful for them.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm grateful for these two every day...even with the strops! </td></tr>
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For my eldest, it really was the little things he appreciated the most. Finding and "saving" a red balloon from a little lad who managed to single-handedly pop almost every balloon on the dance floor before it was full of ravers was one! He wouldn't let this balloon go and it's still at home, wilting away slowly... but "safe"in his possession! He also really loved having his face painted and seeing it glow in the videos I took on my phone for him!<br />
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My youngest was just happy to have a candyfloss as big as her head! She loved the colouring and making table and enjoyed popping the bubbles on the dance floor. The little things in life really are the best when you're 5 and 3! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/350647520988821576/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBjheVfNURKis22li9hAB7LVvIzw-WMvrihrHzIKaI2f5WU0AbVwou3vxOWMOBieL9Cr7Xwr485qwWEhJ6lGWXYUMdQfeNEFDRJ7sxLjPtS3Q29pkWgIIH2Z9tpP7bT4pvnmQNG_xq-eE/s400/Rave+Square+%25281%2529.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/350647520988821576/" target="_blank">Click me to pin!</a></td></tr>
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<i>*** We were gifted two children's tickets to this event, and we purchased our own adult tickets. All thoughts and opinions are my own, unless otherwise stated. ***</i></div>
Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-43422336743886202019-05-27T22:22:00.001+01:002019-06-18T09:46:24.769+01:00Phonics Fun with Mrs Mactivity: Phase Five Activity Pack <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfgefStrtp1i1AfNg9vHKeOQlekoLp6vhGBlW2tgkEcyrewCzbkOkwE-AJaCEKouzz8bsPHkb6T0wmvpNoH1duqjk96WPvyMbfU5EQ-Hax8PYvIb2RiCjDAt-1hc6Xge7F7aVFUygTBYm/s400/Phonics+Fun+Square.png" style="display: none;" /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(Review / Gifted)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span>
I can't believe the school year is almost over! My son is quickly coming to the end of <b>Year One</b> and will soon be taking his <b>Phonics Screening Check</b>. As I also teach Year One, <b>revising</b> all we have learnt in phonics is high on the agenda both at home and at school!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxrn2Ui4DUCrK7eFOuxUhByJ_yCZdsV0LQIzsl-WUJ7rLzSh-dDzsxQ-xGTvst0G4_g0aETXMsDm3qGDqa9UyaO3HIDYmEaiNWo5H-fgmdBjVirp8Qmz-j3F8PVC7ifg21uc-weaJeG8T/s1600/Phonics+Fun+banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="758" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxrn2Ui4DUCrK7eFOuxUhByJ_yCZdsV0LQIzsl-WUJ7rLzSh-dDzsxQ-xGTvst0G4_g0aETXMsDm3qGDqa9UyaO3HIDYmEaiNWo5H-fgmdBjVirp8Qmz-j3F8PVC7ifg21uc-weaJeG8T/s640/Phonics+Fun+banner.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Phonics is the systematic approach to learning to read and spell, with the 44 phonemes (sounds) being taught in different phases throughout Reception and Year 1.<br />
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By the end of Year 1, children are given a <b>Phonics Screening Check</b> to assess whether they have mastered the basic phonics system, and identifies any areas they need help with as they go into Year 2. It checks that your child can:<br />
<ul>
<li>Sound out and blend graphemes (the letter/letters that represent a sound) in order to read simple words. </li>
<li>Read phonically decodable one-syllable and two-syllable words, e.g. cat, sand, windmill. </li>
<li>Read a selection of nonsense words which are referred to as pseudo (or alien) words.</li>
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When your child learns phonics, they will also be taught "tricky words." I wrote a post explaining why these words are classed as tricky, and how you can <a href="https://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/2018/09/phonics-how-to-teach-tricky-words.html" target="_blank">help your child learn tricky words</a> in a fun, multisensory way, which is full of easy ideas.</div>
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<a name='more'></a>When the lovely<span style="background-color: white;"> <a href="https://www.mrsmactivity.co.uk/" target="_blank">Mrs Mactivity</a> </span>asked if I'd like to review the new<span style="background-color: white;"> <a href="https://www.mrsmactivity.co.uk/downloads/phase-5-phonics-activity-pack/" target="_blank">Phase Five Phonics Activity Pack</a>, of course I said, " Yes, please!" The new bundle contains a wide range of different activities, which focuses on the revision of phonemes (the way it sounds), graphemes (the way it is written) and tricky words in the last phase. Here's just some of what you can expect to find when you download the 12 page pack: </span><br />
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<ul>
<li>phonics rainbow balloon tracing </li>
<li>name your own sea monster </li>
<li>phonics charades </li>
<li>phonics word jungle </li>
<li>playdough mats for tricky words </li>
<li>phonics word builder </li>
<li>tricky words goals activity </li>
<li>tricky words rainbow activity</li>
</ul>
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Mrs Mactivity loves to encourage you to take the<b> multisensory approach to learning</b>, which is one reason I love her products so much. Despite being a paper-based pack, the activities include writing, colouring, acting out, using playdough and being imaginitive! It's not very often you come across resources as diverse as this! </div>
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Here's what we've used in class for revision this week! </h3>
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I let the children loose on the <b>tricky words rainbow activity </b>one morning for their "morning activity" - the independent activity set up at their tables ready for them as they arrive in the morning. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwJAMDPl82Ba5WkHCHxn23AjgegakVeR1wZ-ttu5LPbJ7D8gsDlRF-rIS3KtDhBuTCPCc6d6JQSTd_l6bw_7G4KmEvnoT4SPgE-aMpyP_xQLiTRIR7qf9Uqi_f8BSnnLHL_SA33-8MgWA/s1600/Phonics+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwJAMDPl82Ba5WkHCHxn23AjgegakVeR1wZ-ttu5LPbJ7D8gsDlRF-rIS3KtDhBuTCPCc6d6JQSTd_l6bw_7G4KmEvnoT4SPgE-aMpyP_xQLiTRIR7qf9Uqi_f8BSnnLHL_SA33-8MgWA/s640/Phonics+1.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tricky word rainbows ready for a morning activity.</td></tr>
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The sheet needed little explanation, and they really enjoyed getting down to business! We chose not to draw a picture in each shape to represent the word, but to practice writing neatly and compactly in the spaces. I think they look really effective, especially those that were coloured in! And it kept them quiet for a good while too!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8mMYdTUD617G_4er1izP_Z5BkcUhw_3rSBedPIEqtoNyflJ8i0_Kfvnxqx-1NDyVivz9O2kqRsRXXx7yoc_xuAWqm_YKrUnamSLUdFaOd7_m4qv1tsILi5E5XMCclN2hDh2n92JTV11J/s1600/Phonics+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8mMYdTUD617G_4er1izP_Z5BkcUhw_3rSBedPIEqtoNyflJ8i0_Kfvnxqx-1NDyVivz9O2kqRsRXXx7yoc_xuAWqm_YKrUnamSLUdFaOd7_m4qv1tsILi5E5XMCclN2hDh2n92JTV11J/s640/Phonics+2.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The children worked hard to complete their tricky word rainbows</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AF1rJBu9FNWNMr8rg3beEgk07N3DHJ1T8AGsm9_0T1Q4MWPNH5eMQCGEi8LRm6p_FbFiVDv9s8QV3FCxCTnnh6-QEiIN8HH62OawuA06p549GOmiGN0EmK-xD4TeDRh4XOi5DMSmEjeV/s1600/Phonics+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AF1rJBu9FNWNMr8rg3beEgk07N3DHJ1T8AGsm9_0T1Q4MWPNH5eMQCGEi8LRm6p_FbFiVDv9s8QV3FCxCTnnh6-QEiIN8HH62OawuA06p549GOmiGN0EmK-xD4TeDRh4XOi5DMSmEjeV/s640/Phonics+3.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't they look good coloured in?</td></tr>
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We also used the <b>sound sorting activity</b> to help revise the /ph/ (as in <i>phone</i>) and /ou/ (as in <i>found</i>) phonemes. These are alternative spellings for sounds taught in previous phases, /f/ (as in <i>fish</i>) and /ow/ (as in <i>cow</i>).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJQWwhd7g_4H8Xj0weP7FGZvck9UnFyfilkpEPr_MfS3Fv1UEUy6oFv4Q3Z_TcRNgH47yQg9fomGL1ndKlKv_S6oVo90ea3elTyaTnzwOuGXVhpRk_iv9QRHSlXXCN_kBb4bevEGnLtUU/s1600/Phonics+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJQWwhd7g_4H8Xj0weP7FGZvck9UnFyfilkpEPr_MfS3Fv1UEUy6oFv4Q3Z_TcRNgH47yQg9fomGL1ndKlKv_S6oVo90ea3elTyaTnzwOuGXVhpRk_iv9QRHSlXXCN_kBb4bevEGnLtUU/s640/Phonics+4.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children choose words from the list and write them in the correct cloud.</td></tr>
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It's really important for the children to begin to consider different ways to spell sounds that they already know, and to learn when to use each different spelling. I'm a great advocate of reading regularly so that the children can <i>see</i> how the word is written and can then visualise if their own spellings <i>look</i> right, based on experience! This will take time but obviously, the more a child reads, the better they become at just <i>knowing</i> which spelling to use!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIBDviEgobvIz9wtDG1gt5Z4lP9o5dceRd-55sSf5XDnBvOvyBT4hpNaZHEoyj5p2T4C2i-He9YMnO3KslFMk-elpo7iuPvjRVJaaOT80gjQ8FhA_1ZWJ21h_kjyKeAbh11b63F4pYmmS/s1600/Phonics+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIBDviEgobvIz9wtDG1gt5Z4lP9o5dceRd-55sSf5XDnBvOvyBT4hpNaZHEoyj5p2T4C2i-He9YMnO3KslFMk-elpo7iuPvjRVJaaOT80gjQ8FhA_1ZWJ21h_kjyKeAbh11b63F4pYmmS/s640/Phonics+5.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They then colour coded the words!</td></tr>
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Another activity used in class this week was the <b>balloon tracing activity</b>. I have a small group of children who are quite new to Phase 5, so I gave them this activity in place of the more difficult one above. </div>
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The idea is for them to say the sound, e.g. /ea/ as in <i>bead</i>, then trace inside the bubble letters with a coloured pencil. They should repeat this with different colours, saying the phoneme each time, to create a rainbow inside each letter! Hopefully, by linking the aural with the physical motion of writing, they are more likely to commit these to memory. It's important that the children say the sounds correctly however, so I asked our lovely Teaching Assistant to keep a check on them.</div>
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Although not in the Phase 5 Activity Pack, I also used the <a href="https://www.mrsmactivity.co.uk/downloads/phase-3-sentence-handwriting-sheets-ink-friendly/" target="_blank">Phase 3 Sentence Handwriting Sheets</a> with a group of children this week, to aid handwriting and fine motor skills, and to help revise phonemes and graphemes from earlier phases. I just thought they deserved a little mention here too!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDccDYm-RomRLGQCq_05sJSJv7l0seY7TToHG7xbBSNhFWa6z4QDD20a4FTHjjz8zy8GjH_FXiUTRRuwr9p3a8diKve_-uPCL020PgaaasFB0lpf18Ohzt57Hqd4ODBPIWA2LzDPbzP1ig/s1600/Phonics+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDccDYm-RomRLGQCq_05sJSJv7l0seY7TToHG7xbBSNhFWa6z4QDD20a4FTHjjz8zy8GjH_FXiUTRRuwr9p3a8diKve_-uPCL020PgaaasFB0lpf18Ohzt57Hqd4ODBPIWA2LzDPbzP1ig/s640/Phonics+6.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great activity for revising earlier phases, and helping with letter size.</td></tr>
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There are so many great resources to help with learning or revising <a href="https://www.mrsmactivity.co.uk/downloads/category/phonics/"></a><a href="https://www.mrsmactivity.co.uk/downloads/category/phonics/">phonics on the website</a><a href="https://www.mrsmactivity.co.uk/downloads/category/phonics/"></a>, whether you are a teacher, home educator, childminder or parent! I will be printing off the whole Phase 5 Activity Pack to use with my son at home over half term! There's even some cute <a href="https://www.mrsmactivity.co.uk/downloads/alien-word-cards-x4-per-page-mrs-mactivity-font/"></a><a href="https://www.mrsmactivity.co.uk/downloads/alien-word-cards-x4-per-page-mrs-mactivity-font/">Alien Word Cards </a><a href="https://www.mrsmactivity.co.uk/downloads/alien-word-cards-x4-per-page-mrs-mactivity-font/"></a>to use to practise reading nonsense words in the lead up to the Phonics Screening. <br />
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So, for only <b><u>£9.97 for a whole year's premium membership</u></b>, what are you waiting for? Pop over to Mrs Mactivity's wonderful website today - you won't be disappointed! And while you're at it, why not follow her on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mrsmactivity/">Instagram</a> too, for new resource updates and ideas on how to use them!<br />
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Do you have a child learning phonics? What are your favourite kinds of activities to use? I'd love to know! Why not share your ideas and leave us a comment below. If you enjoyed our post, why not follow us below on:</div>
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<i>I'm linking up this post with these fabulous blogs:</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.confessionsofanewmummy.co.uk/" target="_blank"><img alt="Confessions of a New Mummy" height="100" src="https://i.imgur.com/l2Rc6ep.png" width="100" /></a></div>
Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-15559477019582631772019-05-20T23:42:00.001+01:002019-05-23T22:20:42.836+01:00Happyface Family Rave: A Preview<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPNTEZ7Rf3EMpPRkwT_vNrNBRhj5oSZdlKeCE04QRog7vA4KQmNw9oFjET6MqAFBMv85L77-nltqG_K7eXfd5mh6tsZvBqgHPcX6ALLCwZ_i2W_4bAOhs105ZXwOfAbs9TmQ_5ttlZlPU/s1600/HF+Square1.png" style="display: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13.33px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">(Ad / Pre</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 13.33px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">view)</span><br />
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Get your glowsticks out and your neon facepaint on, because on <i><b>Sunday 9th June</b></i> <b><span style="color: blue;">Happyface Family Rave</span></b> is coming to town... and we can't wait! <br />
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I'm always on the look out for <b>fun, family events that we can all enjoy</b>, so when I saw this one I instantly knew it would be right up our street! I spent many a Friday and Saturday night during my teens and twenties, raving the night away, glowsticks in hand, dayglow trousers and fluffy boots on, dancing to club classics! I'll have to dig you out a photo...(or not)!<br />
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So what is the <b>Happyface Family Rave </b>all about? Nick, the event organiser explains;<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">"With a nod to the smiley culture of the 80s and 90s, Happyface Family Rave embodies the spirit of a rave experience but with that ‘fun for all the family’ festival vibe; where adults and kids alike can get down and bust some moves on the dancefloor in a nightclub environment!"</span></i></b></div>
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<a name='more'></a>Sounds like a bit of nostalgic family fun right? Nick explains how the idea for the rave was born;<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">"The idea for the event first came about a couple of years ago when I was looking for somewhere to celebrate my pending 40th birthday. I wanted to be able to celebrate with all of the family; where the adults could have a drink and a dance but the kids could be involved also. </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Having looked around I found that there was nothing like this in the area so at the beginning of this year, I approached Keele Student Union to hire a venue and it’s all developed from there. So with a LOT of help from friends and family, here we are and the response has been overwhelming!"</span></i></b></div>
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But this isn't just a rave for the family to enjoy. Nick had visions of his event helping the wider community too. By attending the rave, you will also be helping out a worthwhile local cause;<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">"When launching this event, it was always our intention to help raise money for a local children’s charity. <a href="http://thepeterpancentre.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Peter Pan Centre</a> in Newcastle-under-Lyme provides high quality care, support and education to children with special needs aged from birth to 5 years old. We at Happyface Family Rave are proud to help raise money for the centre, with donations from the event and collections. </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">We have also just confirmed that North Staffs Stormtroopers have kindly offered their time and will be in attendance at the event for photo opportunities and collecting money for the charity."</span></i></b></div>
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An even better reason to buy tickets and show your support! <br />
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There will be loads of fun activities including face painting and tattoos, photo shoots, a smoke machine, bubbles, balloons, glowsticks, craft stations, refreshments including a fully licenced bar, UV lights and lasers; all to a soundtrack of old skool house, rave and ‘90s club classics, with Golden resident James Camm DJing! There's a large dance floor with perimeter seating where the whole family can throw some shapes, and there's even a chill out room for those who need some time out!<br />
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Sound and lighting levels will be monitored throughout the event to ensure the comfort and safety of its youngest ravers! Event stewards will also be on hand to supervise the event and provide first aid assistance if necessary.<br />
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The event takes place on the first floor of the venue, which has full accessibility via lift from the main entrance or a same level walkway from the side, making this a pushchair and wheelchair friendly event! There's also free weekend parking just outside the venue (with disabled parking too) and free overflow parking just a short walk away.<br />
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So, if you fancy a great afternoon out with the family, visit the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HappyfaceFamilyRave/" target="_blank">Happyface Family Rave Facebook page</a> or <a href="http://www.familyrave.co.uk/" target="_blank">website </a>to buy your tickets. But don't hang about, they're selling fast! Adult tickets are only £8, and children up to age 11 are £4 each (plus booking fee). Children 12 months and under are free and their tickets are available upon request following the purchase of an adult ticket.<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">"Happyface Family Rave is all about reliving those dance floor memories and making some new ones. It’s time to get down. With the kids!"</span></i></b></div>
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If you fancy joining us, all the details you need are below:<br />
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<u><b>Event Details </b></u><br />
<b>Venue:</b> Keele SU Building (Keele University Students' Union) in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire<br />
<b>Date:</b> Sunday 9th June 2019<br />
<b>Time:</b> 1:00pm til 3:00pm<br />
<b>Ticket Prices (+BF):</b> Adults £8, Children (1-11) £4, Under 1s free with an adult ticket (Paper tickets without booking fee are available but limited.)<br />
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Have you ever been to a family rave like this? Or would you like to? I'd love to know! Why not leave me a comment below! And don't forget to pop back to read our review of the Happyface Family Rave after June 9th! <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you enjoyed our post, why not follow us on:</span><br />
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<i>Photo credits: Happyface Family Rave</i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/350647520988450560/" target="_blank">Click me to pin!</a></td></tr>
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<i>I'm linking up this post with these fabulous blogs:</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.amomentwithfranca.com/" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: &quot; font-size: 13.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" title="Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday"><img alt="Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday" height="100" src="https://www.amomentwithfranca.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/kcacols200x200.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: move;" width="100" /></a></div>
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Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-41895791862357529262019-05-12T22:05:00.001+01:002019-05-21T00:05:04.376+01:00Bloggers Behind the Screens: "Our Blogs" Featuring Dirt, Diggers and Dinosaurs<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsgkhXXSgoyCtaiCES1rJLE_-ewcsWafbBcTLwF0EAm9Ai_5XUsPDOQdBFa_ctDZaPrhYS_NY8MblfcgF2j1jm7csWg64AXRf87V-gu3qTumi-SAe22Whzp6WhGwZ5-Gc74rI8R3FIK6I/s400/BBTS+Square.png" style="display: none;" />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Bloggers Behind the Screens</b> is a monthly interview series, where fellow bloggers come together to answer a series of questions on a specific theme. This is a chance to get acquainted with a whole range of bloggers, some of whom you may not have encountered before, and learn a little more about them!</span></div>
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This month, we’re talking to bloggers about the very thing that makes them bloggers. <b>Their blogs</b>. I’m hosting <i>Emma</i> from <a href="https://dirtdiggersanddinosaurs.com/">Dirt, Diggers and Dinosaurs</a>. <br />
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<b>1. When did you start blogging and why?</b><br />
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I started blogging on a hormone induced whim in Aug 2018 when I was 7 months pregnant. I needed a creative output as I'd recently gone on maternity leave from my little craft business. I have always enjoyed writing and thought I would give it a go in the hope it would stop the baby brain…it didn't! <br />
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<b>2. How did you come up with the name for your blog?</b><br />
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As I was writing from a parenting perspective I wanted something that summarised what being a mum of young boys was really like...so I glanced down at my living room carpet and low and behold Dirt, Diggers and a lot of Dinosaurs were looking back up at me.<br />
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<b>3. What do you blog about? Has that changed from when you first started?</b><br />
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I blog about everything that being a mum encompasses so that really hasn't changed. I've gone from a mum of two to a mum of three boys though so that's put us firmly into the large family box. I've recently started adding in reviews of our days out and family trips as I have had requests for details via social media. It's still a bit of a mixed bag on the blog though, some serious posts, a lot of humour, and (informal style) reviews. <br />
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<b>4. Is your blog your job, your hobby or your side hustle?</b> <br />
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Ooh now I'd love it to become my job, or even be a bit of a side earner but I'm currently writing as a hobby. I've got the bit between my teeth now and would love for it to succeed. I'm going to see where it takes me which is pretty exciting! <br />
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<b>5. What is the best thing or experience that blogging has given you?</b><br />
<br />
I suppose the best thing it's given me is a voice! I sometimes feel like I've disappeared and just exist as someone's mummy and blogging has allowed me a creative output where I've been able to connect to other parents and a wider audience. Also, it's opened up opportunities for family time via gifted experiences and there is also a great community within the blogging world. <br />
<br />
<b>6. What is your favourite thing in the whole world to write about?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Something that will help somebody else! Even though I was nervous to actually press publish, my post sharing my miscarriage stories had such positive feedback it was worth all the self doubt and nerves. <br />
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<b>7. What skills (the more unusual the better!) has blogging taught you?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Not to take things personally. In life there are always going to be people who disagree with your point of view but the Internet has given people an opportunity to purposely offend/bully and troll from behind a screen. <br />
<br />
<b>8. What is your favourite post from your blog? Give us the link and tell us why it’s your favourite. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
This is my favourite post so far, mainly because it took off and got picked up by the press…only a month into blogging too (gulp). Cue the thick skin and not taking things personally skills I mentioned above! I never expected to see my face all over the Internet and it came as quite a shock that the Summer born campaign was such a hot topic! But again, I received lots of messages of support and had parents contacting me for help and advice regarding the process. It's especially close to my heart again right now, as we find out whether Stanley has got his first choice of school and our reception start next week! <br />
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<a href="http://dirtdiggersanddinosaurs.com/2018/08/18/ready-for-reception/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://dirtdiggersanddinosaurs.com/2018/08/18/ready-for-reception/</span></a></div>
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<b>9. Have you ever been on TV or radio in your capacity as a blogger? If so, what for? If not, do you think it’s something you’d like to have a go at?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Maybe one day, I'm not ready for that kind of step yet! Plus, I hate hearing my own voice or watching myself so it would be a complete cringe-fest! <br />
<br />
<b>10. What is your least favourite thing about blogging? There must be something you don’t like about it…</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The fact that people think it's an easy number…it's really not! Besides the writing, there's photo editing, endless self promotion, SEO and social media management. <br />
<br />
<b>11. Do you have any advice to give to anybody out there thinking of starting a blog right now?</b><br />
<br />
Write what you know, and speak in your own voice. <br />
<br />
<b>12. Where do you do most of your blogging? Do you have a home office, are you on the sofa or do you prefer to be out and about when writing posts?</b><br />
<br />
I do a lot on my phone using the WordPress app because well, kids! Then I tend to have the laptop out after bedtime, sat on the sofa. With three boys in a small terraced house, there isn't room to swing a cat let alone have my own office. But, saying that I wouldn't get the same enjoyment from blogging if it separated me from family life. <br />
<br />
<b>13. Be honest. How many unwritten posts are in your drafts right now? How many are likely to see daylight?</b><br />
<br />
Six and all of them will get published but the question is when!! I try to get collaborative posts done in a timely manner but my general ramblings can sit in drafts for months! Teething, tantrums and cuddles all take higher priority I'm afraid! <br />
<br />
<b>14. What are you most excited about for your blog in the next six months or so of 2019? Anything awesome in the pipeline for the summer or are we forever winging it?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I'm excited to have press accreditation for a big family festival in the summer! I've just started my Five Go! series and I'm hoping to get a few more large family friendly collaborations to add to it. <br />
<br />
<b>15. Finally, what is your absolute favourite thing about being a blogger?</b><br />
<br />
I'm incredibly proud of my little family and I really do give being a mum 100% with varying results! We're not perfect, there's no such thing as the perfect parent or the perfect child but it's great being able to share our journey with others. If that can help somebody, or resonate and take the edge off a little, or simply just start a conversation then that's bloody fantastic! If not, and nobody reads it then I'll be Billy no mates but will have a great online scrapbook of memories that I can look back on! <br />
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<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blog URL: </span><a href="https://dirtdiggersanddinosaurs.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://dirtdiggersanddinosaurs.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/dirtdiggersanddinosaurs" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.facebook.com/dirtdiggersanddinosaurs</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter: </span><a href="https://www.twitter.com/diggersanddinos" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.twitter.com/diggersanddinos</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instagram: </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/dirt_diggers_and_dinosaurs" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "raleway" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.instagram.com/dirt_diggers_and_dinosaurs</span></a></div>
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Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-50514212954949615552019-05-02T23:54:00.001+01:002019-05-29T22:01:03.835+01:00Wonderful Woodland Fun with Well Natured - Explore. Learn. Outdoors<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9Vh-xyczQrl3fOXOy2jk87frxbleWszJHAQQiJjdPnR7_ChoNUnVxQO8QGPbXyLz0AiE5bz7CX_iezST0xpFLZgULuqlEuLU-nSApWKFGrs6ZLf3b7u4bapmNsIvyRbHdtQ6zgZYj4mk/s400/Well+Natured+Square.png" style="display: none;" /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Review - Gifted)</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i></i><br /></span>
<i>If you go down to the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise!</i> Hidden away, just off the beaten track in the beautiful grounds of <b>Rudyard Lake</b> (in the Staffordshire Moorlands), you'll find a miniature <b>woodland wonderland</b> waiting to be explored!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIBKoSy5NrqhnCH047vVUtf7Hp4BIhZA4_Hdcii4At0st6pNyBwOtseTsAn9PYxEqYXdATOjoR5zPGA0lbfIEr-AKVx0UMgMiAp4YUu5EQVuq7KqjTmgxXREq37S-awKBKKUYDDfr1Orz/s1600/Well+Natured+banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="758" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIBKoSy5NrqhnCH047vVUtf7Hp4BIhZA4_Hdcii4At0st6pNyBwOtseTsAn9PYxEqYXdATOjoR5zPGA0lbfIEr-AKVx0UMgMiAp4YUu5EQVuq7KqjTmgxXREq37S-awKBKKUYDDfr1Orz/s640/Well+Natured+banner.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Well-Natured-Explore-Learn-Outdoors-2296396504020638/" target="_blank">Well Natured - Explore. Learn. Outdoors</a></b> is run by Nicola, who has a background in education and working with children. She has recently taken the brave step to put her lifelong passion and dreams into action and create a <b>magical</b>,<b> outdoor</b>, <b>multisensory learning experience</b> for young adventurers.<br />
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I asked Nicola what her motivation was for starting up her <b>woodland stay and play sessions</b> (suitable for early walkers up to 4 years of age) -<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>"I have always had a love of the great outdoors, having had lots of exposure as a child on long country walks and bird watching with my parents and nana. Something I continued to do once I had a family and in schools setting up nature clubs. It was whilst completing my degree I discovered forest schools and the benefits of outdoor learning. Since then, I have continued to read more research and discover the benefits to children’s well being. More than ever now children spend much more time using technology and children’s access to outdoors is decreasing because of this.<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I feel that children are so much happier and creative when the walls are removed!</span>"</span></i></span></blockquote>
<i></i><i></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
We had the pleasure of joining Nicola on one of her exciting sessions this week, to try out all of the activities she had on offer - and we were not disappointed! I'll let the photos tell the story of our afternoon...<br />
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After meeting at a little chalkboard by Rudyard Lake café, we were taken to a clearing in the woods where we found the enchanting, outdoor learning space. There was a mud kitchen to "bake" in, complete with utensils and cake cases and the cutest recipe book about mud pies!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzKaqdTcI-SjLdK2KsfR2m6Lr87NMDIunDt1h27A0fag0Ss8te5XlLypxQoO-6kSqcDI5Y5nWeah8Z_LxwceJnhu5k8X_A7L5oRC1Jl7i8w-9YEjv-HX_ulZ0URc7Gfgkva-kVNg6kCp3/s1600/Mud+kitchen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzKaqdTcI-SjLdK2KsfR2m6Lr87NMDIunDt1h27A0fag0Ss8te5XlLypxQoO-6kSqcDI5Y5nWeah8Z_LxwceJnhu5k8X_A7L5oRC1Jl7i8w-9YEjv-HX_ulZ0URc7Gfgkva-kVNg6kCp3/s640/Mud+kitchen.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mud kitchen complete with recipe book, utensils, cupcake cases and bunting!</td></tr>
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We spent time in the tepee playing little wooden games, role playing with woodland puppets, and looking at insect books.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JVyOMEdDw92fhSJ5WQKbvb2eClA_QcnT-bsEONx6_50e4JPx0ed9H_oaSgCIGStuJZnkKiZ3Vv3xP6OzFGdkBEB01iCzv0m7t9CFlZhaUuMoiPJbZUnNvVhwQvg3thodt3sn1KTnIffC/s1600/TeePee.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JVyOMEdDw92fhSJ5WQKbvb2eClA_QcnT-bsEONx6_50e4JPx0ed9H_oaSgCIGStuJZnkKiZ3Vv3xP6OzFGdkBEB01iCzv0m7t9CFlZhaUuMoiPJbZUnNvVhwQvg3thodt3sn1KTnIffC/s640/TeePee.png" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved the small details like this insect themed game.</td></tr>
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There was a cosy reading nook for little bookworms and a gardening area for green-fingered children.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAzRP3DhpzzEYUBPi4TC64JpJJM6Mo-4MM2ifPXmXPNechzJ5uBF3LqbDp9jyMAm8WnSrqY8Pjca-6-yPtD4zGTofgN09s8vaIi9h66ahZQ3Jklj1ud3z6eeL8JC4MViDDKChcVCSYzHM/s1600/Reading+nook.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAzRP3DhpzzEYUBPi4TC64JpJJM6Mo-4MM2ifPXmXPNechzJ5uBF3LqbDp9jyMAm8WnSrqY8Pjca-6-yPtD4zGTofgN09s8vaIi9h66ahZQ3Jklj1ud3z6eeL8JC4MViDDKChcVCSYzHM/s640/Reading+nook.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading nook and gardening corner.</td></tr>
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We loved the bug hunt and bird watching station complete with binoculars, tick sheets and puzzles.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhR0FXICZTtlSe2sCkqRm7V_oCAupcVDEl9kMnn0lhH_6PiFsWk-zmS3i4HFNJRlj6ToC1uV-kieUsUPxFLj4IMb3-ZEMDdbhBE02Pnvat3T7UgakRH5LB3JfxG4QfrkLJ6xJ2oWXMdgEy/s1600/BIrd+hut.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="1400" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhR0FXICZTtlSe2sCkqRm7V_oCAupcVDEl9kMnn0lhH_6PiFsWk-zmS3i4HFNJRlj6ToC1uV-kieUsUPxFLj4IMb3-ZEMDdbhBE02Pnvat3T7UgakRH5LB3JfxG4QfrkLJ6xJ2oWXMdgEy/s640/BIrd+hut.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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For my daughter, the highlight was walking down to the little stream to collect water for some potion making! She really enjoyed rubbing and crunching the rosemary and mint to release the scents, and mixing all the herbs up with pine cones and leaves to make her potion! She was totally in her element!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zOm74-nJf2O40C7hDg9NPGtabGjD_wSf-LsJP6TfG3uw_fl-ulLbGyUYilRi0MSHroprr9nSyfTf8NzcXVkCZjwAuomJ0gL_-uI2-8yrdp8TnbFSo0Hg9ejJJyDso_t6wugMHMRRnhYJ/s1600/Potion+station+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zOm74-nJf2O40C7hDg9NPGtabGjD_wSf-LsJP6TfG3uw_fl-ulLbGyUYilRi0MSHroprr9nSyfTf8NzcXVkCZjwAuomJ0gL_-uI2-8yrdp8TnbFSo0Hg9ejJJyDso_t6wugMHMRRnhYJ/s400/Potion+station+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Come and make a potion...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSvk6u4Om9wCdGzYdplZCbqIVkZc_uAdc-hHF2aCxPp_24uZXhppxhRxuelgr1JJgla1oc5mL6KLXAqEJI6BabtUCK3W6KwJn_Is-Grt7qsNenN22-dC_j0cm_jZ9yrTZ5GuSFfcTQaVX/s1600/Potion+station.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaSvk6u4Om9wCdGzYdplZCbqIVkZc_uAdc-hHF2aCxPp_24uZXhppxhRxuelgr1JJgla1oc5mL6KLXAqEJI6BabtUCK3W6KwJn_Is-Grt7qsNenN22-dC_j0cm_jZ9yrTZ5GuSFfcTQaVX/s640/Potion+station.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of textures and smells to explore!</td></tr>
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We also visited the small world area full of wooden figures and painted stones, which is great for encouraging imaginative play and for building vocabulary.<br />
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The playdough section was also a hit, with lavender scented homemade dough to get creative with. It left our hands smelling delicious!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaLU5oJWNp_c1usSWf4Zd2POUhGjBa_TvhWCwe_EjkV84mInp1mO7aFsJ-eYmkd4xGXTduJulQmpr_I6Z-rceb_4sy4A17P4IOMmoc9lFpRlQVI6xtS3MlB06AAc4vSU6PlPc9WPQae5m/s1600/Playdough.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaLU5oJWNp_c1usSWf4Zd2POUhGjBa_TvhWCwe_EjkV84mInp1mO7aFsJ-eYmkd4xGXTduJulQmpr_I6Z-rceb_4sy4A17P4IOMmoc9lFpRlQVI6xtS3MlB06AAc4vSU6PlPc9WPQae5m/s640/Playdough.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lavender playdough smelled so good!</td></tr>
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The children were shown how to make their own environmentally friendly bird feeders using an apple and some twigs, which was a lovely little memento for them to take home.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBGQ-gHDYF2nZ0xV_D5qnocesr_BoXelYzF2782gJB7N5zLSiQxa-st3kz_5qEW61ReHRTlenkbM8YXdWURKRQ9mbsv6GNVmn-b9m-q7NBjTDDY6hdULj6Dt6fCgtsNF1PKEx2EVdNBmrf/s1600/Apples.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBGQ-gHDYF2nZ0xV_D5qnocesr_BoXelYzF2782gJB7N5zLSiQxa-st3kz_5qEW61ReHRTlenkbM8YXdWURKRQ9mbsv6GNVmn-b9m-q7NBjTDDY6hdULj6Dt6fCgtsNF1PKEx2EVdNBmrf/s640/Apples.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making bird feeders with Nicola.</td></tr>
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Nicola provided us all with refreshments, gratefully received by the parents and kids alike after all that exploring! Us mums even got 5 minutes peace to appreciate the beautiful setting whilst Nicola took the children on a hunt for woodland creatures. They were so pleased to come and show us what they had found in the woods!<br />
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I asked Nicola why she considered outdoor play to be so important -<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"There are so many benefits of children accessing outdoor play.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- Children will value nature and be more inclined to want to protect it, use and love it. </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- It increases confidence and creativity as they explore freely and have to use their imagination and thinking skills.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- It offers a sensory experience unlike no other, as they feel and listen to branches crunch under their feet, see and hear the birds, smell and touch flowers and plants.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- It increases spatial awareness as they navigate the uneven woodland area and negotiate branches and obstacles thus improving gross motor skills.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- It helps to reduce stress levels, as research proves children are happier outdoors. </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- Exposure to germs in the environment helps builds immunity.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- Being outdoors benefits general well-being.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Nature is an open ever changing book that creates a sense of wonder and is constantly telling a story." </span></i></div>
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Everyone I spoke to during the hour and a half hour long session said similar things - how lovely it was to see the children so engaged and happy being outside, exploring new sights, sounds and textures, involving themselves fully in all that was on offer. We will definitely be returning every week - both my daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! As our blog name suggests, my kids like nothing more than to be outdoors, exploring in their wellies! This stay and play is just perfect for us!<br />
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<b>Well Natured</b> currently runs on <i>Mondays and Tuesdays at 10-11:30am and 1-2:30pm</i> at an introductory price of<i> £5 per child </i>for the month of May. Make sure you pop over to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Well-Natured-Explore-Learn-Outdoors-2296396504020638/" target="_blank">the Facebook page </a>to keep up to date with all class times and dates, as there may be some Saturday sessions in the pipeline too! <span style="background-color: white; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">(You can also find Well Natured on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wellnatured.outdoors/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.) </span>Booking is essential - you can find contact details on the Facebook page as well. Don't forget to dress appropriately as the sessions will run in all weather conditions, and bring your own cups so you can have a drink too!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwucwnBtD5BHxemcqSkJkutCzHcSOKIlwEqt_ybQs9khe_zH1HcuR7u-GXL1oRJZ1w6KExSmC069mjllAavfPJBgpwORPjsFGoSUtPwBrHsV_NectrYXRcukjuQ1oJ8X4geL18l9TbKmL/s1600/Apples+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwucwnBtD5BHxemcqSkJkutCzHcSOKIlwEqt_ybQs9khe_zH1HcuR7u-GXL1oRJZ1w6KExSmC069mjllAavfPJBgpwORPjsFGoSUtPwBrHsV_NectrYXRcukjuQ1oJ8X4geL18l9TbKmL/s640/Apples+2.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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So go on, why not get outdoors with your little explorers and get back to nature! If you don't live close enough to get to Rudyard Lake, look out for other woodland based sessions happening near you! And if you don't have any groups nearby, be inspired by some of the amazing activities we discovered in the woods today!<br />
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Have you ever been to a stay and play like this? Or maybe you have your own mud kitchen at home? I'd love to hear how you explore the great outdoors with your little ones! Pop me a comment below, it would be great to hear all about it! <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you enjoyed our post, why not follow us on:</span><br />
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<i><a href="https://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/p/about-us.html" target="_blank">Finding joy in the little things:</a></i> Regular visitors to our blog will know that I like to end my posts with something that made me smile, a little thing that brought me joy or happiness. Life is made up of lots of magical moments and sometimes in the chaos of the day, we need a reminder to be grateful for them.<br />
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Today, my daughter was in her element. I don't think she stopped exploring for one second! She wanted to try everything and didn't really want to leave! I've never seen her so excited to collect water for her potions and make mud pies in the kitchen! Now she wants her own in the back garden so that looks like a project for the summer! When I asked what was her favourite activity, she replied, "All of it! I just can't choose!" So, thank you Nicola for such a lovely afternoon - you have found your true calling and we can't wait to come back!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/350647520988232754" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/350647520988232754" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9Vh-xyczQrl3fOXOy2jk87frxbleWszJHAQQiJjdPnR7_ChoNUnVxQO8QGPbXyLz0AiE5bz7CX_iezST0xpFLZgULuqlEuLU-nSApWKFGrs6ZLf3b7u4bapmNsIvyRbHdtQ6zgZYj4mk/s400/Well+Natured+Square.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/350647520988232754" target="_blank">Click me to pin!</a></td></tr>
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<i>*** I was gifted a trial session in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, unless otherwise stated. ***</i><br />
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<i>I'm linking up this post with these fabulous blogs:</i><br />
<i></i><i></i><br />
<a href="https://www.amomentwithfranca.com/" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: &quot; font-size: 13.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" title="Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday"><img alt="Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday" height="100" src="https://www.amomentwithfranca.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/kcacols200x200.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: move;" width="100" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-18823580669113584562019-04-29T21:40:00.000+01:002019-05-23T22:15:35.195+01:00Fun Ways with Food for Fussy Eaters<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXO_O70wVOj78WSB8HQPtx94dKyEZKK0AhF0F2HO40AMiEYCw9Azl2613LRV0Zr4Alcky2SJ9TvM2i3IskYw8r07CCU8ByIsO-GE0N_im6l24Q5gtE8T2sEDbAb7st88qMayeRvAP-dvjL/s320/Snails+Square.png" style="display: none;" />You may already know that my children are <b>picky eaters</b>. It never used to be this way! They were both weaned on <b>homecooked meals</b>, but at the age of about 3 (for both of them) things changed! Cooking family meals became a fruitless, <b>frustrating</b> task and so much food was wasted! <a href="https://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/2019/04/parenting-alphabet-challenge.html" target="_blank">Fishfingers became my best friend</a>, and the saviour of my sanity! Would my <b>fussy eaters </b>ever<b> try new foods </b>again?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJO-B28iIF5IcOZa2pOmH_ylH_U52eQSmnjD6kdcIn5Z79k_9e5s3yWfH2U_BEdq1mMtGPpu1kqSGVWRNhACKcgFCEkZgwGhM1TbZ8bnwdvbucsiZUhMsCllNUV33CdO4nptkG4z5zE5NO/s1600/Fussy+Eaters+Snails+banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="758" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJO-B28iIF5IcOZa2pOmH_ylH_U52eQSmnjD6kdcIn5Z79k_9e5s3yWfH2U_BEdq1mMtGPpu1kqSGVWRNhACKcgFCEkZgwGhM1TbZ8bnwdvbucsiZUhMsCllNUV33CdO4nptkG4z5zE5NO/s640/Fussy+Eaters+Snails+banner.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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My son, now almost 6, has been a bit better since having hot meals at school but if he gets a choice he'll pick the sandwich option or jacket, beans and cheese! My daughter has just started being picky, which came as a surprise because she's always been a good eater. She would eat sausage and mash every night if she could!<br />
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So mealtimes have become a new kind of adventure in my house! I'm not really sure why... maybe I've let them get their own way too often, or been too quick to just cook what I <i>know </i>they would eat. Sometimes this can end up being two different meals, or dinners with different accompaniments!<br />
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Anyway, I reached breaking point this week - almost 2 weeks into the school holidays, trying to placate two kids with different tastes, three meals a day, without losing the will to live (or cook...)! So, I had a rethink and pulled out a Gruffalo themed cook book I bought on a whim last year! The children were instantly excited as they love the Gruffalo stories so they picked a couple of recipes they liked the look of. Good start!<br />
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<a name='more'></a>We planned to make the <b>Swirly Snails</b> together, a kind of bready pinwheel with different fillings - We used green pesto/tomato puree with cheese.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZfHLaYDbJePCmFbgKBRxtsSFYkagzvr4vVFg2wVPcpKB2SgGg-d-4c50us_yTyYA2f2JtNMrwr7mpqC6uTbIRpQ4oeI3w_29ZFMovjiTOjOwOtqRrHdZhWrd0mG9pLUuViOcAjkDxPqa/s1600/Snails+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZfHLaYDbJePCmFbgKBRxtsSFYkagzvr4vVFg2wVPcpKB2SgGg-d-4c50us_yTyYA2f2JtNMrwr7mpqC6uTbIRpQ4oeI3w_29ZFMovjiTOjOwOtqRrHdZhWrd0mG9pLUuViOcAjkDxPqa/s640/Snails+1.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids liked rubbing the butter into the flour.</td></tr>
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The children loved pouring in and mixing the ingredients, helping to make and roll out the dough then add their fillings. Their favourite bit was rolling up the snails and adding their eyes!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwLrysdeA4tbrcByOyX5jrB44MP-qVmqHN7H0eVY-7ZqPFukLLoDe-yCFilIqXgOiFhyTtpD_PdMmnEnU0_co687-j0V_WckPxHEPc90vpxzN7UsDlbaJBBfeG1UNSXaIkiyD9FCtgY4u/s1600/Snails+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwLrysdeA4tbrcByOyX5jrB44MP-qVmqHN7H0eVY-7ZqPFukLLoDe-yCFilIqXgOiFhyTtpD_PdMmnEnU0_co687-j0V_WckPxHEPc90vpxzN7UsDlbaJBBfeG1UNSXaIkiyD9FCtgY4u/s640/Snails+2.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spreading and sprinkling was fun!</td></tr>
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We popped them in the oven and they hovered around in anticipation and excitement! Finally, the snails were ready to eat!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pQZ8JEutYGmtL_nkeT5x9JNsBPfzKVcmosQhzFj1yZcdR8KJX3cSTjlLFkUtml1aB70RLCd1UwCrbRZvbfAKmojUbOoHgcQwz7ph6NLaTmEH0r9i65-WK3H0JSfwMhgX3ukCHfVjMQkk/s1600/Snails+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pQZ8JEutYGmtL_nkeT5x9JNsBPfzKVcmosQhzFj1yZcdR8KJX3cSTjlLFkUtml1aB70RLCd1UwCrbRZvbfAKmojUbOoHgcQwz7ph6NLaTmEH0r9i65-WK3H0JSfwMhgX3ukCHfVjMQkk/s640/Snails+3.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We rolled up the dough and sliced it into snails.</td></tr>
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I tried my luck with a spinach and cucumber salad as the grass, and a sweetcorn (baked beans for my 3 year old!) sunshine. They certainly appreciated the fun presentation!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilTArulDGrUXI-6d78cY36_LWpu12nmWhhjlsg7ZR-X_WkejEn-oP_jwACzjmbGCOh0VvJ_0YzSbvqYMKkdmULi605A4Ok-369pTll7cQWhzLRTllv_Rej4FqEYFIzA9CCBtatwy88jP6/s1600/Snails+long.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="1400" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilTArulDGrUXI-6d78cY36_LWpu12nmWhhjlsg7ZR-X_WkejEn-oP_jwACzjmbGCOh0VvJ_0YzSbvqYMKkdmULi605A4Ok-369pTll7cQWhzLRTllv_Rej4FqEYFIzA9CCBtatwy88jP6/s640/Snails+long.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swirly snails ready to eat!</td></tr>
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<b><u>The verdict:</u></b> My daughter waded straight in, ate one of each flavoured snail, dipping them in her beans and having fun pulling their eyes off and eating them up! She point blank refused to try the cucumber but did dip spinach leaves in ketchup - yuck - and ate a couple!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBio0Vph5e0nPpxvij19_boTCW8s7JPUmEnmxB40DXnlNcbovLuKOwo_Cb2P_RQlT8etkmiY6rfFfSTNYA8efVfSCsHrFdVqUhVGEPSrrZ_6PqNki0X-zsho5JQY6vg9YSHGWNvw7JBKl/s1600/Snails+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBio0Vph5e0nPpxvij19_boTCW8s7JPUmEnmxB40DXnlNcbovLuKOwo_Cb2P_RQlT8etkmiY6rfFfSTNYA8efVfSCsHrFdVqUhVGEPSrrZ_6PqNki0X-zsho5JQY6vg9YSHGWNvw7JBKl/s640/Snails+6.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have a ketchup fan... not sure about this combo though!</td></tr>
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My son was really proud of his efforts but he eats like a mouse so he'd barely eaten anything by the time my daughter had finished! This is one of the things that grates on my nerves - everything is stone cold by the time he gets through his food! Anyway, he liked the pesto ones but wouldn't even try the tomato ones - because he didn't make them!! Argh! He loves cheese and tomato pizza which I explained was practically the same but to no avail this time! He had a good go at the spinach (he didn't like it), but he did eat all the sweetcorn and cucumber. Yay for little victories!<br />
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So, a pretty <b>good result</b> in my opinion! They were both <b>excited</b> and <b>proud</b> to be eating <b>something they cooked themselves</b>, and they ate enough to <b>fill them up</b>! To me this is a <b>successful mealtime</b> and now we're planning what they can make next!<br />
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What tips and tricks do you have up your (apron) sleeves to get your fussy eaters to try new foods?<i> </i>I'd love to know in the comments below! It might give me some ideas! <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you enjoyed our post, why not follow us on:</span><br />
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<i><a href="https://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/p/about-us.html" target="_blank"><b>Finding joy in the little things:</b></a></i> I like to end my posts (where it fits) with something that made me smile. I think it's so important to find happiness in the small moments, to appreciate the little things in life. It reminds us to be grateful, even if things didn't go our way or achieve the desired outcome.<br />
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Quite simply, I was really happy that both my children threw themselves into cooking their own tea. They listened really well, tried very hard and enjoyed making their snails. My son even said he was proud of himself and he couldn't believe how good they looked! Okay, so they didn't eat everything but they tried most of it and ate enough to fill them up. To me, that is a step in the right direction!<br />
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/KidsCuddlesMP/scheduled-pin/5030167065240062892" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXO_O70wVOj78WSB8HQPtx94dKyEZKK0AhF0F2HO40AMiEYCw9Azl2613LRV0Zr4Alcky2SJ9TvM2i3IskYw8r07CCU8ByIsO-GE0N_im6l24Q5gtE8T2sEDbAb7st88qMayeRvAP-dvjL/s400/Snails+Square.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-44989767449282232272019-04-26T22:30:00.000+01:002019-05-01T23:34:52.882+01:00Parenting Alphabet Challenge: An A - Z of My Parenting Experiences<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaPeb1p_zTaCS4h-eaJJwO5wJBOEcGfDKA1MTJthWSFcaVva5Somq7hSWPIrSsH5N9RJCLfxvYNBblbIpAVP8juHTRr5mw-YsZPdsGXBCJIo6ylOUh3d3Mr_UinEEL-8K63cAihKIvo9B/s400/Alphabet+Square.png" style="display: none;" /> You may have seen a few of these <b>A - Z of parenting</b> posts doing the rounds lately, so when Emma from <a href="https://dirtdiggersanddinosaurs.com/2019/03/19/parenting-alphabet-challenge/" target="_blank">Dirt, Diggers and Dinosaurs</a> tagged me in hers, I was up for the challenge! The idea is to use each letter of the alphabet to describe your parenting experiences, and I took that to mean the good, the bad and the ugly! So here's my take on the <b>"Parenting Alphabet Challenge," </b>created originally by <a href="http://yuletimes.com/blogger-awards/parenting-alphabet-challenge/" target="_blank">Yule Times</a>. I tried to be a little original in my answers. How many can you relate to?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuEZbxRfCYnzy6MTXFqwmdHKf3ZA9rAhWULHgasLJ2uxiR1ZKZdU3Mzb5HrrS38O0bwduLzpBcwE3695O35UpliQWZRRi_KOpDdJBY5LEq4anuLsQVm2wwcl1hXD8IuQk6rW56Scfop1B/s1600/Alphabet+Challenge+Banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="758" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuEZbxRfCYnzy6MTXFqwmdHKf3ZA9rAhWULHgasLJ2uxiR1ZKZdU3Mzb5HrrS38O0bwduLzpBcwE3695O35UpliQWZRRi_KOpDdJBY5LEq4anuLsQVm2wwcl1hXD8IuQk6rW56Scfop1B/s640/Alphabet+Challenge+Banner.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<h4>
A is for ANTI-WRINKLE CREAM</h4>
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Let's just cut to the chase... children age you! If I had know 10 years ago just how bad my frown (and smile) lines would become, I'd have started slapping the stuff on in my mid-twenties! Every wrinkle has been worth it though!<br />
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<h4>
B is for BED HOPPING</h4>
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Whether that be the children in yours, or you in theirs, there's guaranteed to be plenty of bed hopping, swapping and sharing going on! There certainly (still...) is in my house!<br />
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C is for CARDBOARD BOXES</h4>
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I've lost count of how many times we've had to source these things for school projects; harvest baskets, gifts for the homeless, packages for third world countries, and the latest 2 - to make a hospital from the olden days, and an Easter house! You may as well start stockpiling now! Oh, and all those fancy expensive gifts you buy for your children - you can bet your breakfast (if you're lucky enough to grab any) that they'll be more interested in the cardboard boxes!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DofRdeY3L4a66kWcwYXWfgRlAGpAkFhirbyWVrU8d1ejOLJAL3EbNqJhnSfeso-nKp7jVSsiPGKBPIU7IWryRLcui_Je6Vzu38VNRwP92kdIq5vZk6FnxvUF1rKh65vS5kpDd7RpVJKw/s1600/Easter+house.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DofRdeY3L4a66kWcwYXWfgRlAGpAkFhirbyWVrU8d1ejOLJAL3EbNqJhnSfeso-nKp7jVSsiPGKBPIU7IWryRLcui_Je6Vzu38VNRwP92kdIq5vZk6FnxvUF1rKh65vS5kpDd7RpVJKw/s400/Easter+house.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My son's Easter house in a box!</td></tr>
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<h4>
D is for DIRT</h4>
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It goes without saying really, but children are grubby, sticky, dirt-smearing monsters so you may as well get acquainted with muck early on... cos you'll encounter a lot of it!<br />
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E is for EARLY STARTS</h4>
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Kiss goodbye to the lie-ins and lazy mornings! As soon as you become parents, you'll see times on the clock that you forgot existed! And however late you put your little ones to bed, they always seem to wake at their usual time... or earlier! Luckily for me, when mine wake early they like to get into my bed for a snuggle and a bit of Netflix, which buys me a bit more time to snooze! It wasn't always like that though, so thank goodness for the little things now that they're older!<br />
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F is for FISHFINGERS</h4>
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Let's face it, there will <i>always</i> be fishfingers in your freezer! You won't be afraid to use them to placate picky children, or to pull them out because all the millions of after school clubs leave you with 0.5 seconds to prepare tea before all hell breaks loose! Fishfinger sarnies are a go to favourite here and I'm not afraid to admit it!<br />
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G is for GIGGLES</h4>
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No need to explain the infectiousness of your own children's giggles! Such a joyful sound... until you realise they're plotting something and <i>you're</i> their intended target! Joking aside, I remember with fondness how I felt when both mine giggled for the first time, and I love to hear my kids giggling about something together!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the sound of these two giggling!</td></tr>
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<h4>
H is for HONESTY</h4>
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In today's world of social media, it can sometimes be hard to distinguish what really is the honest truth. Parenting seems to have become so competitive; gone are the times when the one-up-manship was confined to playgroups or on the school run - now we have Insta-perfect, Facebook-fuelled parents to contend with! It can be so easy to fall into that trap, trying to portray the perfect side of parenting when all we <i>really </i>want to see sometimes are the messes, the disastrous shopping trips and the real-life honest moments. It's good to know that we too are not perfect and that's okay!<br />
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<h4>
I is for INVEST</h4>
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This is one that I feel very strongly about, not just as a mother but also as a teacher. Invest <i>time</i> in your children; teach them to be kind, loving and grateful. Teach them good manners. Teach them honesty, integrity and pride. Teach them to be passionate and understanding. Teach them to accept a challenge and take risks. Read them bedtime stories. Take them to the park. Make mud pies. Laugh together, learn together and be together as much as you can. And if time is limited for whatever reason, make every minute together count.<br />
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J is for JOB</h4>
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Despite what others may say and believe, parenting IS a 24 hour job. One phrase that really gets my back up is, "What exactly have you done all day?" or words to that effect! So much of parenting is "invisible" to others (see letter I above) and yes, sometimes the cleaning isn't done or the washing isn't folded because I have been investing time in my children and creating memories!<br />
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I also hate it when I'm told I <i>only</i> work part-time! Yes, I work 2 days a week as a teacher, but my working hours are not confined to my paid job - what about waking, dressing, washing and feeding my own kids and getting them to school and nursery before my "real" job even starts! (Note: "real" makes me cringe too...!) Then after work, there's pick-ups to co-ordinate, homework to do, dinner to make, chores to complete and bedtime routines to implement! And I don't resent any of it because parenting is a 24 hour job - sometimes I just wish others would appreciate that! Oooh, rant over! Haha.<br />
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K is for KEGELS</h4>
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Ladies, you know these! Pelvic floor exercises are seemingly advised the very minute after you have kids! And for good reasons too! Bouncy castles, sneezing and running after toddlers may never be quite the same again unless you get a few of these pesky exercises in every day! I'll just leave that one there! (If you know, you know!)<br />
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L is for LICE</h4>
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I know what you're thinking - I could have picked, Love, Laughter, or even Loneliness as I could relate all of them to parenting! But I'm sure you know the obvious... and I like to keep it real (see also letter H!) so lice it is! These creepy crawlies really make me cringe but they are indeed an integral part of growing up! Thankfully though, these days there are so many products about that actually work so treating them isn't as much of a chore as it used to be! Are you itching yet?! I am!<br />
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M is for MUM BUN</h4>
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A Mum Bun is for getting stuff done! A two second hairstyle that is cleverly disguised as a messy bun - yes, it <i>is</i> supposed to look like that! But it goes deeper than that! Mum Buns show that you are always putting someone else's needs before your own, they show your desire to get on and do what needs doing and that you're not afraid to live in the moment! So go on Mums, rock that Mum Bun with pride!<br />
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N is for NEUROTIC</h4>
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Even the most laid-back parents amongst us have been guilty of being a bit too neurotic at times! Helicopter parenting as it has become known can be an easy trap to fall into, trying to micro-manage every aspect of our children's lives for what we believe to be is in their best interests! Having children has taught me that it is okay to let go of the reins a little, to allow our little ones to explore and discover the world for themselves... and yes, even allow them to fall off the monkey bars or spin around so fast they get dizzy and fall over!<br />
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<h4>
O is for OVERSHARE</h4>
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As soon as you become a parent, you'll be subjected to overshare! I remember the first time I ever went to a mother and baby group on my own, when my eldest was about 3 months old. Before I'd even been asked my name, other mums were involving me in conversations about poo and breastmilk! Before you know it, you're joining in because you have something instantly in common! And it doesn't stop there! There are the parents that overshare birth stories, gore, stitches and all! The ones who overshare all the "firsts" - first word, first tooth, first scars. The advice oversharers, the gossip oversharers, the achievement oversharers! I'm sure I've been guilty of all of these at some point!<br />
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<h4>
P is for PHOTOS</h4>
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Your baby is minutes old and you're already snapping away!! Cue taking thousands of photos by their first birthday and not quite knowing what to do with them all! What <i>DO</i> you do with them all? As I write this, my phone says I have 5,570 photos and 126 videos and that's just since the birth of my second child! I managed to print about 50 or so photos a month from my eldest's birth to about his 3rd birthday but after that, they're either stuck on my old laptop that I can't turn on, or floating around in the iCloud! Life was much simpler when you had to point, shoot and hope for the best. You <i>had</i> to get them all printed and dutifully put them in albums. I'm still not quite sure what to do with all my digital photos... it's a bit overwhelming!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have so many photos I don't know what to do with them!</td></tr>
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Q is for QUICKLY</h4>
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The word you'll repeat approximately 126 times a day, especially when you've asked your children to actually do something! Usually followed by, "Come on, hurry up! / Put your shoes on! / Finish your tea! / Tidy your room! / It's bedtime!" They usually respond with the speed of a snail, unless you mention chocolate or some other bribe! Trust me, these kids can move quickly if they want to!<br />
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R is for REFEREE</h4>
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Invest in a whistle. You'll need it! Either that or be prepared to physically separate squabbling siblings or playmates and send them to opposite corners to calm down! As my children get older, the gap between them is getting smaller, meaning they're into the same things and like to play the same games! So opportunities for snatching, not playing fair and getting on each other's nerves are a plenty! There seems to be lots of refereeing going on in my house lately!<br />
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S is for SOCKS</h4>
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I think socks are like teaspoons and Tupperware lids in my house! There must be a secret hiding place for them all, especially socks because I can never seem to find all the pairs! They're worn in pairs, then put in the washing basket in pairs...then after that, it's anyone's guess where they end up!<br />
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<h4>
T is for TEETH</h4>
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Oooh, teething has got to make the list hasn't it? What a horrible thing for our littlies to have to deal with - all the chewing, dribbling and bum rashes! I did find those teething powders helped a bit though. A few years after going through all that pain to get all their teeth, they start losing them! My little boy is almost 6 and still hasn't got a wobbly one, much to his disappointment! I'm sure I haven't got long before I need to brush up on the most recent Tooth Fairy etiquette though! What's the going rate these days?!<br />
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U is for UNCONDITIONAL LOVE</h4>
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Being a parent has taught me all about unconditional love, a love without limits that knows no bounds. That's not to say that I have warm, fuzzy feelings of affection for my children 24 hours a day, every day! They can wind me up, make me cross and test my limits! But loving then unconditionally is a long-term thing. I will love my children for who they are, always... but I won't let that be a reason for them "getting away" with unwanted behaviour.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7uS6XGgAfelVspILJqHls3q9AuUEO3LZzOQF05WubDo4mSynm5nAoRGq2tW2URrRIVtHmL5UmnUx6KfwvUnzcFQHaNMoyU2JJEu2bytgy9ymWg26e0F4x7Yy3cnd4sWmWRrO-7r1EiGZi/s1600/IMG_1573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7uS6XGgAfelVspILJqHls3q9AuUEO3LZzOQF05WubDo4mSynm5nAoRGq2tW2URrRIVtHmL5UmnUx6KfwvUnzcFQHaNMoyU2JJEu2bytgy9ymWg26e0F4x7Yy3cnd4sWmWRrO-7r1EiGZi/s400/IMG_1573.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this pair unconditionally.</td></tr>
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Feelings of anger or frustration are a normal part of parenting, and we shouldn't feel guilty for that. Boundaries and discipline may not be appreciated by our kids, but teaching them that we are protecting them and have their best interests at heart will help them to become their best selves. I love my children unconditionally - that love to me is pure, rewarding and never-ending.<br />
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<h4>
V is for VIGILANT</h4>
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When you have children, you will need eyes everywhere! Being extra vigilant, constantly on the look out for possible dangers, checking where your little ones are and what they're up to at all times will become one of your new superpowers when you become a parent!<br />
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<h4>
W is for WHY?</h4>
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For us adults, the constant stream of "why" questions may get on our nerves! Sometimes they say it just to keep your attention, to keep you chatting. But most of the time it's just our children's way of trying to make sense of the world around them! I stopped answering with, "It just is!" and try to take the time to explain whatever it is the why is questioning. It often falls on deaf ears or leads to more questions however!!<br />
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<h4>
X is for X-PLORING</h4>
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We love nothing more than to explore our local area, in and around the Peak District. We're so lucky to live near such beauty and most of it is free to visit! We love rambling across the Roaches or around the lakes and reservoirs, looking for minibeasts or painted stones! Such a lovely way to spend our time together!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRJ7tBCkiwpBu1K48fgPiENQDrCCv1qsw5ITrdZbvZeOewmX-wxSVz1SB9dmEyRCGlPzpteDY0TUgLd0Ps7KOAHJ6o4ifx28P3ANiT34_H-o12tOyEIL4TR-llc2wsPF4TPUkTkt5UO7b/s1600/canal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRJ7tBCkiwpBu1K48fgPiENQDrCCv1qsw5ITrdZbvZeOewmX-wxSVz1SB9dmEyRCGlPzpteDY0TUgLd0Ps7KOAHJ6o4ifx28P3ANiT34_H-o12tOyEIL4TR-llc2wsPF4TPUkTkt5UO7b/s400/canal.png" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We love exploring our local area.</td></tr>
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<h4>
Y is for YEARS FLYING BY</h4>
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It's so true when they say time flies by so quickly. I look back and can't quite believe how big my babies have grown, in the blink of an eye. Each chapter brings new challenges, new memories to be made. But it does make me sad sometimes, to think that I'll never get to go back to those times. So it's important to make the most of every minute, every day with your family, and that's what I try to do.<br />
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Z is for ZILCH</h4>
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Zilch. Nada, Null, Zero. The amount of Zzzz's you'll get as a new parent! To be honest, I'm 2 kids and nearly 6 years in now and the number isn't much higher! Haha! It will all be worth it in the end... And I get so much more done in a day when it starts at the crack of dawn! Every cloud has a silver lining and all that!<br />
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So there it is, my <b>A to Z of parenting</b>! Why not have a go yourself!<br />
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Now the rules of the <b>Parenting Alphabet Challenge</b> state that I should tag some other bloggers and pass them the baton. So I'm passing it on to these fab people and look forward to reading their A to Z if they fancy joining in!<br />
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Jenni from <a href="https://chillingwithlucas.com/" target="_blank">Chilling with Lucas</a></div>
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Mandi from <a href="https://www.bigfamilyorganisedchaos.com/" target="_blank">Big Family Organised Chaos</a></div>
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Becca from <a href="http://www.beccablogsitout.com/" target="_blank">Becca Blogs it Out</a></div>
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Tina from <a href="https://www.mothergeek.co.uk/" target="_blank">Mother Geek</a></div>
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Emma from <a href="http://www.methemanandthebaby.co.uk/" target="_blank">Me, The Man and The Kids</a></div>
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Hayley from <a href="http://www.craigfamilyblog.com/" target="_blank">Craig Family Blog</a><br />
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Fi from <a href="http://www.lifeofanambitiousturtle.co.uk/" target="_blank">Life of an Ambitious Turtle</a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/350647520988153036" target="_blank">Click me to pin!</a></td></tr>
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<i>I'm linking up this post with these fabulous blogs:</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.amomentwithfranca.com/" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: &quot; font-size: 13.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" title="Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday"><img alt="Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday" height="100" src="https://www.amomentwithfranca.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/kcacols200x200.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: move;" width="100" /></a> <a href="http://www.confessionsofanewmummy.co.uk/" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank"><img alt="Confessions of a New Mummy" height="100" src="https://i.imgur.com/mnkhPRJ.png" style="cursor: move;" width="100" /></a></div>
<i></i><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-73472715052166717182019-04-15T00:20:00.000+01:002019-04-23T11:15:23.383+01:00How to Encourage Positive Thoughts at Bedtime with The Dream Pillow™<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MuQrfcQXFiKAVs1l-o4mRVf7XbRX8rCfrr8lz6JeVa8TGGei7Tqvhfafg934a_EiabRhlLo9xOhtpJODvRR2K10ckhpatd_824XJ_nwx-9Dzt75pg6TxFRLzXr0FJAH9ssWeKKo7iFBO/s400/Pillow+Square1.png" style="display: none;" />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>(Review - Gifted)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From the first day you bring your bundles of joy home from the hospital, <b>sleep patterns </b>and <b>bedtime routines </b>seem to be a hot topic of conversation amongst parents...and even strangers! People love nothing more than to ask,<i> "How does the baby sleep?"</i> or <i>"Do they sleep through the night yet?"</i> Everyone seems to have an opinion too, don't they?<i> "Ooh, don't let the baby sleep with you - you'll make a rod for your own back!"</i> (That's my favourite... 😖)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And there seems to be no escaping it! As the children get older, parents can often find common ground by chatting about bedtime routines.<i> "What time do yours go to bed? Do you read a story every night after a bath? Do you let your children have T.V or tablet time?"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As the children get older, they are more aware of their routines and become more independent in their choices - choosing a bath or a shower, picking out their own pyjamas and bedtime stories, choosing a cuddly toy or comforter for example.</span></div>
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Bedtime Worries</h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But what happens when they hit the <b>nightmare stage</b>? All your hard work can be undone in an instant. The fear, the tears, the long cuddles back in your bed. How do you <b>reassure</b> your little ones that they are safe, and it's okay to go back to sleep? How do you alleviate these <b>big worries</b> that fill their little sleepy heads? How do you <b>encourage positive thoughts</b> at bedtime?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Both my children are going through a "fear of sleep" stage, in slightly different ways. My 3 year old won't go to sleep without me by her side; she falls asleep in my bed and then I put her in her own. Most nights she ends up back in with me - she just doesn't want to be alone! Cue a lot of me yo-yo-ing back and forth between beds to try and get her sleeping in her room! Ahh, such is life!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My 5 year old has never been a good sleeper. We co-slept for a long time (yes - rod...back...all that! That phrase haunts me!) but at that time it was right for us and I stand by that. He rarely sleeps the whole night through without waking and I'll often find him creeping into our room at night for a cuddle! It took us a long time, a lot of stickers and a pretty big bribe to get him sleeping through in his own bed and late last year we thought we had cracked it! Until just recently.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There were four in the bed...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He began to use that quiet time, lying in bed in the dark next to me to tell me about all his worries; the things that had upset him that day at school, the thoughts on his mind as he analysed the crazy world around him, the bad dreams he had that he didn't want to experience again. The 5 year old mind is a creative, awe-inspiring place to be but sometimes it's just a bit too much for one little boy to process!</span></div>
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Encouraging Positive Thoughts</h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So I was really excited when the only <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Sarz92?ref=search_shop_redirect" target="_blank">European distributors of the Dream Pillow™</a> got in touch and asked us if we'd like to review one of their new products, aimed at <b>children aged 2-12</b>. It seemed to come just at the right time, and we were only happy to support Tina and Sarah, a growing mother and daughter business local to us, in Middlewich.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://thedreampillow.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Dream Pillow</a> was thought up by a 7 year old girl in the USA, who wanted to help her brother dream "happy" and get a good night's sleep. It's such a lovely concept - you imagine what you want to dream about, write or draw about it on one of the special dream notes then pop it inside the pillow! There are a choice of pillows available; the original Dream Pillow which also comes with a story book, or one of two Dreamimal™ characters, "Lamby" and "Sharkie."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With 'Shark in the Park' by Nick Sharratt being a <a href="http://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/2018/04/top-5-story-books-for-children-under-5.html" target="_blank">bedtime favourite</a> here, and with the popularity of <i>that</i> song (doo doo do do do do...), my son chose Sharkie to become his new bedtime companion and he couldn't wait for his arrival! The product arrived in a wonderfully packaged postage box - there was no hiding what the postman had delivered that day! For the first time in a while, my son was excited to go to bed!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He enjoyed opening up his package and looking at all the leaflets inside! One even made a little game that generates funny things for you to write on your dream idea cards, in case you need a little help. You can also find an interactive version of this on the Dream Pillow website. That night, he needed no encouragement and after a quick cuddle with the super soft, fluffy pillow with its cute sleepy eyes and adorable squidgy fin (100% cotton too), he got down to business - writing out what he wanted to dream about!</span></div>
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Dream Big</h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What I love about the Dream Pillow is how its use promotes <b>creativity</b>, <b>visualisation</b> and <b>positive thinking</b>. My son and I began talking about fun, happy, positive things he'd like to dream about. We had a giggle at some of the funny ideas and settled on 2 dreams for his first night. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Writing dreams for night one!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once he'd decided, I told him to close his eyes and visualise those things and make a picture of them in his mind. He is at a perfect age to be able to do this now, and it really helps to stretch his imagination. We talked about using all his senses to imagine his dream - what would it feel like, smell like, look like, sound like and taste like! This one made us laugh! "I don't want to taste my dog Mum!"</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pop your dreams inside the pillow before you go to sleep.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With his dreams written down, my son was ready to "feed" his dream to his new pal! He wanted to know how the magic happened, so I explained that Sharkie could read his dreams and would use them to help push away any scary nightmares. I told him that Sharkie would protect his thoughts during his sleep and he wouldn't let any bad dreams in. He seemed really happy with that...and for the first time in a few weeks, he seemed happier to close his eyes, with one arm tucked inside his Dream Pillow and the other one cuddling him tight.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet dreams little one.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know what you all want to know... did he sleep all night, in his own bed?! Well - No, he didn't! But he slept longer in his own room, and not only did my boy join us in bed but Sharkie had to come too! Baby (shark) steps I suppose...</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And back in my bed!! (The pillow clearly states health and safety messages on the label inside.)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the morning, I asked him if he had dreamed about any of the things he wrote down. "I think so Mummy, I could see Dottie (one of our Dachshunds) in my head before I fell asleep then I was too tired to remember!" I asked if he'd had any bad dreams and he said, "No, because Sharkie ate them up!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since our first night with Sharkie, he has taken him to bed every night. Some nights he writes out happy dreams and other nights he says he'll let Sharkie choose what he wants him to dream about. We're still working on the staying in his own bed thing, but for now I am just happy that he is content at night. Sharkie has a lot to do with that I believe. My son has never had a particular bedtime comforter, but now he chooses to sleep with his Dream Pillow every night!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bedtimes are great for bonding and encouraging positive thinking.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bedtime is a great time for bonding, and for children to open up about their worries. What we love about the Dream Pillow is how it helps promote positive thinking, confidence, a sense of security and allows children to believe in its ability to banish nightmares. There's a lovely quote on the Dream Pillow website that sums up how thinking good thoughts and visualising them can help in the long term:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>"If children can change their dreams with the power of positive thinking, what else can they do if they simply dream big?"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you want to encourage your little dreamers to dream big too, we are offering you a <b>20% discount </b>on ANY of the products, including the Dream Pillow range that can be found in <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Sarz92?ref=search_shop_redirect" target="_blank">Tina and Sarah's Etsy shop</a>. Ordering the Dream Pillow from here will save you on trans-Atlantic postage costs and shipping delays too! And their customer service and communication has been second to none. Just go to the shop via the link and pop in the code <b><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">CUDDLES20</span> </b>to redeem your fantastic discount!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Sarz92?ref=search_shop_redirect" target="_blank"><i>Find the Dream Pillow and other fab products here!</i></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can also keep up to date with all Dream Pillow UK's news and products across their social media pages. I know your support will be appreciated! (<a href="https://twitter.com/DreamPillowUK" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dreampillowuk/?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100034280971283" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/DreamPillowUK/boards/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Please do let us know how you get on if you invest in a Dream Pillow. Did it help your child (and you!) get a good night's sleep? Has it helped your child to be more positive at bedtime? I'd love to know! Why not drop us a comment below? If you enjoyed our post, why not follow us on:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><a href="http://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/p/about-us.html" target="_blank">Finding joy in the little things:</a></i></b> This one is easy! All I had to do was to look at my little boy's face to see the joy that Sharkie had brought him. He really seemed to believe that his new friend would protect him in his sleep, and to know that he felt safe as he closed his eyes was a massive relief. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.33px;"><i>***I was gifted a Dream Pillow Dreamimal<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">™</span> Sharkie in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, unless otherwise stated.***</i></span></span>
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Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-28680025354573338142019-03-31T23:15:00.001+01:002019-04-28T22:36:15.710+01:00Super Sibling Co-ordinates by Teether<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALIqx2M045hGQ76vVloWG-D9xrQY-kR_8hBO9G6r0ej4cyE_k53Gk5tzJ9f8V1XFCt71vmwstQTNn0Ax9tWtQ9QgaQth6jPibm_4GCQVyrXP6aGOQsd_sEWrNN8DhtSEbE6195UHX3MWI/s1600/Teether+Square+2.png" style="display: none;" />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(Review - Gifted)</i></span><br />
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Do you ever <b>co-ordinate</b> your children and dress them in the <b>same outfits</b>? I have to say, having a 5 year old boy and a 3 year old girl, it's not something I've ever considered! I haven't even <b>twinned </b>them in matching Christmas jumpers as each year they prefer to choose their own!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3Nbv9a7zhoai7IYBUXI1CPdJ6GWMpMAILAUZDKEeuKEGmkr9tLCXf9u5cRU-XDUp4BAUPfKJC2vPzCCTVB9FBzL192ffavxobqsXpq-UnWqdilyX3P1TFCdysBMpv7zV7S3IjqisWzV4/s1600/Teether+Banner+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="758" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3Nbv9a7zhoai7IYBUXI1CPdJ6GWMpMAILAUZDKEeuKEGmkr9tLCXf9u5cRU-XDUp4BAUPfKJC2vPzCCTVB9FBzL192ffavxobqsXpq-UnWqdilyX3P1TFCdysBMpv7zV7S3IjqisWzV4/s640/Teether+Banner+2.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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I've always thought it was cute to see twins dressed in <b>matching clothes</b>, and even same-sex siblings of different ages, but dressing my son and daughter in co-ordinating outfits has never really crossed my mind...<i>until now!</i><br />
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<a href="https://www.teether.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Teether</a>, an <b>online baby boutique</b> based in the UK have recently introduced a new design in their siblings range which we were lucky enough to review! We were sent two t-shirts with a shiny foil print - copper for the boys and rose gold for the girls.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu99JWt72epGzYlFWn7HoqHUrP-ysevKtZIiY5ZYAYEGcXkdl2_Ajlfc2MFUp6rMWdhp1wvkzMwGq5UXWhQ6qWbrAV-RlysW-V4SFUBfDh8XqM4pnpJpzXx1nVQncHXHd-CMdu-vG-XcuL/s1600/Teether+Pic+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu99JWt72epGzYlFWn7HoqHUrP-ysevKtZIiY5ZYAYEGcXkdl2_Ajlfc2MFUp6rMWdhp1wvkzMwGq5UXWhQ6qWbrAV-RlysW-V4SFUBfDh8XqM4pnpJpzXx1nVQncHXHd-CMdu-vG-XcuL/s640/Teether+Pic+4.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sibling t-shirts with copper and rose gold foil print.</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a>You can choose the variation of size and design easily on the website. We went for <i>Big Bro</i> in age 5-6 and <i>Little Sister</i> in age 3-4. The sizes fit my children really well, but we wore them tucked in as the length is generous but my children are quite petite! Plenty of growing room!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUOYF4unywM1n05CZIizqVsxKeQ6b_gmhumRkVs_G1tjGnt-lPESB9F2x9X2vuM7d8jQ7denoTwAlQKFROgcvhkZCSK-GQzBrhfxSp_BGE6B6wdviQmG53vvLfWMvUIOHyWbQJ6KJqu14/s1600/Teether+Pic+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUOYF4unywM1n05CZIizqVsxKeQ6b_gmhumRkVs_G1tjGnt-lPESB9F2x9X2vuM7d8jQ7denoTwAlQKFROgcvhkZCSK-GQzBrhfxSp_BGE6B6wdviQmG53vvLfWMvUIOHyWbQJ6KJqu14/s640/Teether+Pic+3.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking smart in their co-ordinating shirts!</td></tr>
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I was really impressed with the overall quality of the t-shirts. They are 100% cotton and really thick. They iron really well (don't forget to turn them inside out first!) and the actual print seems to be adhered perfectly.<br />
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The children tested their matching outfits out in the garden this weekend. The lawn had been freshly mowed so I was a little apprehensive as the t-shirts are white, but the grass just brushed straight off! We had the bouncy castle up for the first time this year so there were somersaults and handstands a plenty and the general sibling rough and tumble!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheGw2-ebr0vcvQfmxgysb2qssOqHOAWtFUmYRqPo-ujqq__iSGSq39DrkjWdKeOZjH24n7wifYqYZDvB6hypNZHkXwFk1PwISMSQNHbn335qZU2GvQ3iq9WnRC8zpDzqVQE_wQ4VvYrDy/s1600/Teether+Bouncy+Castle+Square.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheGw2-ebr0vcvQfmxgysb2qssOqHOAWtFUmYRqPo-ujqq__iSGSq39DrkjWdKeOZjH24n7wifYqYZDvB6hypNZHkXwFk1PwISMSQNHbn335qZU2GvQ3iq9WnRC8zpDzqVQE_wQ4VvYrDy/s640/Teether+Bouncy+Castle+Square.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time for a bounce...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEICQaIE0AufSSZgypcD3jlIOZg7JnwX7q0fALGiACmBFwyxSN6Dk5_N8T6WNQEJfkHb5_pQC8v_7dTgZcOM0_G_K2oaQUSt_eoYciGqRPvcjKXBqPpSFwgr2RYrKz0ecQ5kX0mbiPFf4/s1600/Teether+Pic+2a.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEICQaIE0AufSSZgypcD3jlIOZg7JnwX7q0fALGiACmBFwyxSN6Dk5_N8T6WNQEJfkHb5_pQC8v_7dTgZcOM0_G_K2oaQUSt_eoYciGqRPvcjKXBqPpSFwgr2RYrKz0ecQ5kX0mbiPFf4/s640/Teether+Pic+2a.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and a bike ride!</td></tr>
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After a bit of biking and football it was time to come in for tea. This photo shows how well the t-shirts stood up to an afternoon in the garden!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KHXSM892vQu3V09oBbPq0KxNEqZKbn7lYr8sXwZpFdgb8kh6SHy88ojl7qyqAokfYJFfCtcIcQyQNYoEndNdYgfpqSM2RTcGp_KpbNv1kZgPJPJpHiGzGCB91-0_gDWw4s4WuyDp8NGY/s1600/Teether+Pic+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KHXSM892vQu3V09oBbPq0KxNEqZKbn7lYr8sXwZpFdgb8kh6SHy88ojl7qyqAokfYJFfCtcIcQyQNYoEndNdYgfpqSM2RTcGp_KpbNv1kZgPJPJpHiGzGCB91-0_gDWw4s4WuyDp8NGY/s640/Teether+Pic+5.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foil prints a little creased after wearing, but as good as new after washing and ironing!</td></tr>
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I asked the kids what they liked about them. My son said he liked how soft they were, "not scratchy at all Mum, I don't need a vest underneath!" and my daughter said, "I like to be matching my brother!"<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_2DWIEBBYlJsIvQEJ5QXuQ0_vQnp7mcemel54XSv7urJAUud-nSiJJLcyqD5cUuDbuZlCigE8NOboU18zjPU1UYwUJ7ccA8yGS_j0aUtHOmt_4hGHPlOB6asndD_tq-1h6JYOkqg33mJ/s1600/Teether+Pic+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_2DWIEBBYlJsIvQEJ5QXuQ0_vQnp7mcemel54XSv7urJAUud-nSiJJLcyqD5cUuDbuZlCigE8NOboU18zjPU1UYwUJ7ccA8yGS_j0aUtHOmt_4hGHPlOB6asndD_tq-1h6JYOkqg33mJ/s640/Teether+Pic+1.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sibling rivalry at its best!</td></tr>
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The website suggests washing at 30 degrees, and I turned them inside out for good measure! They came out as good as new with no bobbling and the foil design didn't fade, crinkle or come away at all.<br />
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<i>*** EDIT: I have since washed the t-shirts a second time and unfortunately the metallic pink disappeared leaving the design silver! I would suggest hand washing or cold washing your t-shirts to preserve the life of the designs. I have been in contact with Teether, who are now running some more tests on the metallic vinyl. ***</i><br />
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For £7.99 each, these t-shirts are great value and a welcome addition to the children's wardrobes! If you fancy co-ordinating sibling t-shirts for your little ones, be sure to check out Teether online, on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/teetheruk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/teether.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. They also have parent and baby sets in different designs so you could all get in on the twinning action!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have you ever dressed your opposite gender, different aged children in the same outfits? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below! Or why not tag us in your photos on Instagram? It might give me some ideas for the future, seeing as though my kids enjoyed co-ordinating their look!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><a href="http://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/p/about-us.html" target="_blank">Finding joy in the little things:</a></i></b> Sibling rivalry is quite a new thing in our house at the moment, and we're muddling through this tiresome phase the best we can! So it was really lovely for my headstrong children to have something the same as each other - they both felt equally special and important! And it gave me a break from the "I've got... , you haven't!" and "Mine is better than yours!" arguments! So thank you Teether for giving my ears and my vocal chords a rest whilst the kids hung up their boxing gloves for the afternoon! Haha! </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/350647520987802572" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALIqx2M045hGQ76vVloWG-D9xrQY-kR_8hBO9G6r0ej4cyE_k53Gk5tzJ9f8V1XFCt71vmwstQTNn0Ax9tWtQ9QgaQth6jPibm_4GCQVyrXP6aGOQsd_sEWrNN8DhtSEbE6195UHX3MWI/s320/Teether+Square+2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "quot"; font-size: 13.33px;"><i>***I was gifted two foil print sibling t-shirts in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, unless otherwise stated.***</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 13.33px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>I'm linking up this post with these fabulous blogs:</i></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.confessionsofanewmummy.co.uk/" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: &quot; font-size: 13.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank"><img alt="Confessions of a New Mummy" height="100" src="https://i.imgur.com/N1uEzuI.png" style="cursor: move;" width="100" /></a></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-64287955572034439682019-02-17T22:43:00.001+00:002019-03-31T16:25:38.012+01:00Guest Post: How to Find the Best Educational Activities on Holiday in Italy<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBij7xeSbQG_ivRmKsEjw0an1EccB6cT31Uz4wQlyo9jZVgQ4dqRw5JOF5gvvJu4A6u2Z4UBufFRZ06MRdi9M1q6xwq9Sz74dDuomIEGwa3TWnSumm8nWQDXt6fiqdPFuJ9-ftH98s_OTl/s400/Italy+Square.png" style="display: none;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As regular readers to our blog will know, we are <b>passionate</b> about <b>teaching</b> and<b> learning languages </b>and<b> inspiring</b> youngsters to become more <b>culturally aware</b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This week, I am delighted to bring you a fantastic <i><u>guest post</u></i> from <b>Mammaprada's Kristie</b>, who will introduce you to the amazing opportunities on offer from <b>Arte al Sole</b>. So if you're considering a<b> holiday in Italy </b>this year, read on to discover how to find the <b>best educational activities</b> on offer for the <b>family</b>...and maybe even some <b>child-free time </b>for yourselves! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Buongiorno</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">! </span></span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Firstly, thank you Rachel for allowing me to write on your lovely blog this week! We share a lot of the same values and interests, so it’s wonderful to talk to your readers and share my experiences. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m Kristie and I write at </span><a href="https://www.mammaprada.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Mammaprada</b></span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I’m English, married to an Italian. We live in London and are raising two bilingual bambini! Raising children with two languages and cultures is quite full on sometimes. We’re very passionate about learning, not just in terms of words and phrases, but also sharing our cultures with our children. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We’re big believers in education coming in many forms and not being confined to a classroom. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m always on the lookout for interesting products or programmes. Or meeting (even virtually!) other determined parents or those with a desire to make a positive impact on their little ones. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last year, I received an email from a wonderful lady, </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tucci/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Lisa Tucci</b>.</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> She had found my blog on Twitter and as an Italian/American living in Rome, she was intrigued at how my family have been coming along with their studies. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lisa runs </span><a href="https://www.artealsole.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Arte al Sole,</b></span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> which are amazing <b>arts, history and cultural programmes</b> for <b>English-speaking children on holiday in Italy</b>.
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<a href="https://www.artealsole.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PAP6QJoqRsVHHu7VGE13b1s_mDJfDGRHgXAHXnJ_xYMpzEA-JbdIJwwWZeOL5XoxEP9W8FB464tTIwbTqgZx-XG9h2RrKvZIFFbEq0ZcIpUAIM-gmfTsSl8_Zbf38zOmPeOWd4pd0n6I/s1600/ARTE+AL+SOLE+LOGO.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.08px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While many parents use them to help with childcare while on vacation, Lisa’s experiences are much more than this. There’s no soft play or iPads. Her <b>‘Art Adventures’</b> are not a way to pass the time until kids are collected. Lisa’s team are intent on having kids of all ages experiencing something which naturally brings about learning, whilst they’re having fun. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Children get to <b>explore outdoors</b> and learn all about the city or province they are visiting. It could be learning about the symbols of ancient Romans, or diving into Da Vinci’s Florence or pasta making with a local. However, on a much deeper level, families <b>delve into history</b> and learn how to put it into the context of their everyday lives. </span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlgM6fEA0G90Gn2c83WcSkfVefC5t3uG75_HkkyHUfSeObUC_UsTM6xxeViLAABBcJMsQMHbDpMwyF8NaClUc1vp4eB55CUy4iSio7UT5dMQQw0tZiQufK5EzTYzPQwFfwiVykBAw-SpU/s1600/1044630_521567511229840_1575864866_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlgM6fEA0G90Gn2c83WcSkfVefC5t3uG75_HkkyHUfSeObUC_UsTM6xxeViLAABBcJMsQMHbDpMwyF8NaClUc1vp4eB55CUy4iSio7UT5dMQQw0tZiQufK5EzTYzPQwFfwiVykBAw-SpU/s640/1044630_521567511229840_1575864866_n.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Image courtesy of Arte al Sole</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During <b>Carnival</b> – which is this month! – kids can learn about how Venetians used to wear masks all the time until they were banned in 1797. They found that the ‘masking’ of faces created a host of problems policing society! Arte al Sole kids get to make their own masks while learning about the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Commedia dell’Arte </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and its different masked characters and their personalities. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In <b>Sicily</b>, children enjoy being on a farm in the countryside, just outside of Syracuse. There they get to hear the myths and legends of the island and discover the differences between a labyrinth and a maze. They find out who Daedulus was, the creator of the Minotaur labyrinth, and how the Fibonacci sequence appears in nature and art. In Syracuse, they make puppets and papyrus.</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfgLCEsY0BkGzH7UGqsK3SzKTpoM8QF8sRly6Pd-2t-Y-2Ixxgy7A1BeCfMTLItbttluY9FO7Q_A0HKkVNIPtJbJ3e13H7lkrW8zuI5qy_Yahqx2B28TCsPtf2q44YHVIfhKZTvuXOKpY/s1600/1082239_531613216891936_518395307_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1544" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfgLCEsY0BkGzH7UGqsK3SzKTpoM8QF8sRly6Pd-2t-Y-2Ixxgy7A1BeCfMTLItbttluY9FO7Q_A0HKkVNIPtJbJ3e13H7lkrW8zuI5qy_Yahqx2B28TCsPtf2q44YHVIfhKZTvuXOKpY/s640/1082239_531613216891936_518395307_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Image courtesy of Arte al Sole</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the beautiful walled<b> City of Lucca</b>, kids uncover clues to lead them to a real event which happened in historic times. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you’re visiting popular <b>Florence</b>, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">kids get to explore the city, or some of its famed museums and create their own family coat-of-arms. They create a design based on what is important to them and how these shields would have distinguished the different families who once ruled the Republic.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Parents can either join in (which sounds quite tempting!), or leave their children to work in a real artisan studio for half a day, or just a few hours.</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFanTd-XbO8gX2hKI5ISVBdvMzs6UqQEYB_MiJBmsZWnDm8D0cKK2pdEZGb7EhAJALE6AqGloRqC7i88V-1-eKb62oDnDZfHlBjoHX5m7En2VcaKloLKt0-ZDFbJXY_QAQF0eNpl_qxZG/s1600/giant+robot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1105" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrFanTd-XbO8gX2hKI5ISVBdvMzs6UqQEYB_MiJBmsZWnDm8D0cKK2pdEZGb7EhAJALE6AqGloRqC7i88V-1-eKb62oDnDZfHlBjoHX5m7En2VcaKloLKt0-ZDFbJXY_QAQF0eNpl_qxZG/s640/giant+robot.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Image courtesy of Arte al Sole</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are activities on offer in <b>Florence, Rome, Lucca, Venice, Umbria </b>and <b>Sicily</b>! And they take place all year round. Lots of day camps run during summer, but Arte al Sole also creates experiences for the different festivals and holidays. Christmas, Carnival (February), Easter and all school holidays are taken into account. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you’d love to take a private tour as a family and feel more comfortable with some guidance they can also create a day for you that fits with your interests, and the ages of your family members. </span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZz98SsHIVnTIushFcfzajgPCHsQi2FJz1aYieCWTGbNIpQ9FKmgYxvZly_gOSTC-cThnreoAQKsNYpDC1Y4auTwYzapMvg5ImalwUrJ-07aOkPQOa6i1XWscEyLJuy4jTzhrq3lXLOIrF/s1600/sand+games.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="453" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZz98SsHIVnTIushFcfzajgPCHsQi2FJz1aYieCWTGbNIpQ9FKmgYxvZly_gOSTC-cThnreoAQKsNYpDC1Y4auTwYzapMvg5ImalwUrJ-07aOkPQOa6i1XWscEyLJuy4jTzhrq3lXLOIrF/s640/sand+games.jpg" width="476" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Image courtesy of Arte al Sole</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As parents, we know how valuable that bit of ‘me time’ or ‘couples time’ is to refresh and then be a better parent afterwards! Italy doesn’t tend to have a lot of kids club type opportunities and certainly none as engaging as these. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, my tip for taking a holiday in Italy this year is to gift yourselves a little break and gift your children a wonderful opportunity that they won’t forget. Who knows? You may inspire the next Leonardo along the way!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you’d like to know more about what’s on offer with <b>Arte al Sole</b>, email Lisa at: </span><a href="mailto:info@artealsole.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>info@artealsole.com</b></span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or visit her on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/artealsole1/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Facebook</b>.</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you for having me Rachel,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kristie </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kristie can also be found at:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instagram: </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/mammaprada/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>@Mammaprada</b></span></a></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/350647520987231679/" target="_blank">Click me to pin!</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>I'm linking up this post with these fabulous blogs:</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amomentwithfranca.com/" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: &quot; font-size: 13.33px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" title="Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday"><img alt="Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday" height="100" src="https://www.amomentwithfranca.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/kcacols200x200.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: move;" width="100" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span></td></tr>
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Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-15440546349965604042019-02-12T20:44:00.002+00:002019-02-12T20:47:31.788+00:00Our Favourite Places to Visit in North Staffs: Westport Lake<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzHc3_jBv5lcObvXSwAffl_vTx6GC-8gguhh7K7nRHePToHnbESo4nM8GCfP2z-1wfxIeyVPWujIwBPmJ1iDhqHBFNvaiwzTsvQewBWVmRvjJT7jEW-OOd32PvxIGTOqlKGINJADUFr6i/s1600/Westport+Square.png" style="display: none;" />In this series, we will be telling you all about our <b>favourite places </b>to visit in our <b>local area,</b> <b>North Staffordshire</b>. We are lucky enough to live right on the edge of the <b>Staffordshire Moorlands</b> and the beautiful <b>Peak District,</b> so we are spoilt for choice when it comes to the great outdoors! We're also a stone's throw away from the hustle and bustle of busy towns and of course <b>Stoke-on-Trent </b>city centre, not to mention the <b>M6</b>. So with the best of both worlds on our doorstep, we have plenty of places to visit!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DECsKSAdWNwpXdSWvYBsN0vvItXHGb6-Ecd4CVEnPV9quE-7PNAKSygDRWKuGXcdk6Gd1_ecapaMFjESvQMu9o9skdsCuE8OHyX3MCEwUkb_yGna6xGtmwRioKcOiZYDA8xqccoCJu-0/s1600/Westport+Banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="758" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DECsKSAdWNwpXdSWvYBsN0vvItXHGb6-Ecd4CVEnPV9quE-7PNAKSygDRWKuGXcdk6Gd1_ecapaMFjESvQMu9o9skdsCuE8OHyX3MCEwUkb_yGna6xGtmwRioKcOiZYDA8xqccoCJu-0/s640/Westport+Banner.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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The first place featured in our series is <b><u>Westport Lake</u></b>. It's the perfect nearby place to go to get outdoors for a few hours.<br />
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WESTPORT LAKE</h4>
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Where is it?</h3>
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Westport Lake is located in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent, near Middleport and Tunstall. It's Stoke-on-Trent's largest expanse of water and was created along side the Trent and Mersey Canal. Just off the A500, it's easily accessible by car. Once you're there, you can't really tell you're in the middle of a built up area on the border of the city!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Westport Lake in the sunshine.</td></tr>
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What is there to see and do?</h3>
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<li>Westport Lake is a beautiful <b>nature reserve</b>, with a conservation area at the northern end and plenty of wildlife to see all year round. Its a great place for spotting birds and feeding the ducks , but be sure to feed the birds correctly; you can pick up some seed in the visitor centre for less than £1 so don't forget to buy some before you go walking. </li>
<li>There are<b> two circular walks</b> with flat, even paths suitable for pushchairs, wheelchairs, bikes and scooters, with plenty of seating all the way round. The large lake is about 3/4 of a mile and the smaller lake is perfect for toddlers to get round in one go. About half way round the large lake, you'll find the <b>nature maze</b> which is great fun for young children. We often spot lots of squirrels here too, so keep your eyes peeled!</li>
<li>There is a <b>large playground</b> just off the large carpark, which my children love! There is something in the park for all ages, and the toddler section is kept away from the bigger kids area. In the warmer weather, the <b>ice cream van</b> can often be found there too!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTlnk_AsTxnQP6r_Z7r-NN5lkzokflJ79ppJsEGD-E6__c6YkVYs_2LW0OmpZsTiGfTtQy4xIkUD-njSrrDB1z2mg6Ha8bXfZMIP3NtFY4aOGbXackVwh6C_fQoe9hskL2zlU3i-2W8up/s1600/Westport+Park+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTlnk_AsTxnQP6r_Z7r-NN5lkzokflJ79ppJsEGD-E6__c6YkVYs_2LW0OmpZsTiGfTtQy4xIkUD-njSrrDB1z2mg6Ha8bXfZMIP3NtFY4aOGbXackVwh6C_fQoe9hskL2zlU3i-2W8up/s640/Westport+Park+%25281%2529.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My two love playing in the park.</td></tr>
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</li>
<li>If you fancy enjoying some lunch or a hot drink after your walk or play in the park, then the <b>eco-friendly café </b>in the visitor centre is very reasonable. They serve child-friendly lunchboxes, along with hot and cold food and of course, cake! </li>
<li>The <b>Staffordshire Wildlife Trust</b> also run some fantastic groups from Westport Lake, including some during the school holidays. Nature Tots, Wildlings and Wildfamilies are some of the events run for certain age groups or the whole family.</li>
</ul>
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<h3>
Why do we like it?</h3>
<br />
We like visiting Westport Lake because it's easily accessible and suitable for a walk or bike ride in all seasons. It's a popular place for migrating birds to visit in the winter so there always some to see and feed! Just watch out for the over "friendly" Canadian Geese! The park is full of equipment that both my children can use, and I can easily watch both of them as they explore their age-related areas. We love to finish our visit with a treat in the café, where you can carry on taking in the beautiful view whilst you warm up over coffee and cake! Or gingerbread men if you're my kids! Sometimes you'll even find <b>"The Oatcake Boat"</b> on the canal, serving filled oatcakes (A Staffordshire speciality!) out of their window!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzd41MP4j1D9C4fAGDAU1HiH4FfY5ZD6jU3SoKEBJwUpwZ-oyzen1YBd5UYWXDdryJJnZtNEuam1NmbxtwgZ6U90dnfMxjlKCIbHOsSxnW6SxZh-f42eRI0QfiUtuqccZoZYQHJb5rbhvv/s1600/Westport+Lake+SmileStones.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzd41MP4j1D9C4fAGDAU1HiH4FfY5ZD6jU3SoKEBJwUpwZ-oyzen1YBd5UYWXDdryJJnZtNEuam1NmbxtwgZ6U90dnfMxjlKCIbHOsSxnW6SxZh-f42eRI0QfiUtuqccZoZYQHJb5rbhvv/s640/Westport+Lake+SmileStones.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adding our painted stones to the Spooky Stone Line!</td></tr>
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Other than all the reasons above, Westport Lake is also a popular place for <b>Staffs SmileStones</b> to be found! These are stones that people paint and seal, before hiding for others to find! The whole idea is to bring a smile to the finder's face, which is exactly what happens when my kids find them! If you find one, pop a photo of it on their Facebook page of the same name so show the hider that they have indeed spread a little joy! We have started painting our own to hide all over Staffordshire when we're out and about, and even added our Halloween stones to the Spooky Stone Line at Westport last year!<br />
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<b>Cost:</b> Free entry and free parking. Some Staffordshire Wildlife Trust activities are payable.<br />
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<h3>
Facilities:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Free parking</li>
<li>Toilets including accessible facilities</li>
<li>Baby changing</li>
<li>Café</li>
<li>Park for children of all ages</li>
<li>Wild bird food available to purchase for a small cost</li>
<li>Ice cream van (seasonal)</li>
<li>Visitor centre</li>
<li>Conference room for hire</li>
<li>Birthday parties</li>
<li>Educational visits</li>
<li>Trent and Mersey Canal walks</li>
<li>Sometimes "The Oatcake Boat" is moored here</li>
</ul>
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Have you ever visited <b>Westport Lake</b>? Or would you like to? I'd love to hear what you think in the comments below!<br />
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</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-76297087027878977362019-01-30T22:11:00.001+00:002019-02-03T23:24:09.554+00:00A - Z of Multisensory Language Learning for Kids: Letter E<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORWi2DOuDCOOL4J7DC-r0n4dS2wNcOPOcD0Fm0LiLbsN9yCpju4x-SlMS9ySfaYnCMRPo-kUdhmBIkLDW8WhitZI2-HRnGbN3dh8i8dHBKHAUbSbUdHbdCwMyUzTeVui8y-gpG-BA5hMG/s320/Letter+E+square.png" style="display: none;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">As you may know, i<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">n this series, I'll be sharing some <b>multisensory language learning ideas</b>, which will help you to <b>teach languages to your young children</b> in a <b>fun, engaging way</b>. If you're not teaching languages however, most of these <b>activities can be adapted </b>to fit many themes in your own language too! I'm sorry there's been such a big delay in getting the <b>letter E</b> to you - life just seems so busy at the moment!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmoueQXxPtqPlx0IF7GTVpgICRHet4Con2fxyhJe66Y0LyD5iBl4kGgjxArSHukvHGpaS9QiLPQnu37r8chKiFjqXI1clEp2HVe-cTz4WL6sFgRC-j6FGp2LEYYjvOxqFuh6-w3-olva9_/s1600/Letter+E+banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="758" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmoueQXxPtqPlx0IF7GTVpgICRHet4Con2fxyhJe66Y0LyD5iBl4kGgjxArSHukvHGpaS9QiLPQnu37r8chKiFjqXI1clEp2HVe-cTz4WL6sFgRC-j6FGp2LEYYjvOxqFuh6-w3-olva9_/s640/Letter+E+banner.png" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can find quick links to our previous posts in this series, including other language learning blog posts on our <a href="https://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/p/our-language-learning-adventure.html" target="_blank">Language Learning Adventure</a> page. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">E is for...</span><a name='more'></a></i></span></span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><u>Egg Boxes</u></span></span></span></h2>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">Would you believe just how much learning you can get out of a humble egg box?! This cheap and cheerful resource will provide you with hours of fun! Little plastic tweezers are good for these activities, helping with fine motor skills and hand-eye co-ordination.</span></span></span><br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ideas for using in language learning:</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
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<li><span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i>Learn colours</i> -</b></span><span style="background-color: white;"> Use small items such as buttons or beads to represent the vocabulary you have been learning. Mix them all up on a tray and let the children sort them into matching colours, filling each little egg box section with a different colour. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKbp2XzCQAcsZK8HycLxw6eunYxslFxX9sp56HN41L_cKS0P91koSQhMlk4qB2EE8yULoMDrNxoFRqp8agyWprFdds7TUS1tGXrqdXMRdNMb25R5Qjr_uyOz1ozmjnP5FyEpTMExifSzV/s1600/buttons.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKbp2XzCQAcsZK8HycLxw6eunYxslFxX9sp56HN41L_cKS0P91koSQhMlk4qB2EE8yULoMDrNxoFRqp8agyWprFdds7TUS1tGXrqdXMRdNMb25R5Qjr_uyOz1ozmjnP5FyEpTMExifSzV/s400/buttons.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Say the colour names as you sort the buttons.</td></tr>
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Children can practise saying the colour each time they place an object in the box to help them learn the vocabulary. They'll be colour experts by the time the egg box is filled!</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i>Learn numbers</i> -</b> Have a selection of little objects that children can pick up and count into the egg box. You could label the bottom of each section with a number to aid number recognition too. As they become more confident with the vocabulary and with counting, call out a number in the foreign language you are learning, to see if the children can put the item in the correct place.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<li><span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i><b style="font-style: normal;"><i>Theme it </i>-</b><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"> If you are learning about a particular topic, find small objects that represent it. For example, if you're learning about animals, use little plastic animals to represent the vocabulary. Ask the children to pick an animal and say its name in the foreign language, If they get it right, let them put it in the box. Can they get them all right in order to fill the box? </span></i></b></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are so many ways you could use these wonderful little things in a multisensory way! What are your favourite ways to use them?</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"></span><br /></span>
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<span arial="" helvetica="" quot="" sans-serif="" style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 32px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Eat!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you ask my daughter, this would be one of her favourite ways to learn...especially if there's cake involved! There are lots of ways to involve food in language learning - here's just a few yummy ideas to try!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Ideas for using in language learning:</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<li><span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i>Eat culturally</i> -</b> <span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">We are lucky these days that you can find food from just about every culture and ethnic origin in the local supermarkets and speciality delis. Why not have a day where you taste foods that come from the country of the language you are learning?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToK4qAm4Bq0A2YBG7rGZDw-iN644-wMNT6tWGk0GR0152UTxtdhZAnsV4h6lhsZQTNzFRg_P7j80ZF-UT8oVIXHNzKoD5ojZL1u56C_LLm9r9X8Sb2wDm1QvRdFN1QHg66IoUnfttDlAh/s1600/pretzles.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToK4qAm4Bq0A2YBG7rGZDw-iN644-wMNT6tWGk0GR0152UTxtdhZAnsV4h6lhsZQTNzFRg_P7j80ZF-UT8oVIXHNzKoD5ojZL1u56C_LLm9r9X8Sb2wDm1QvRdFN1QHg66IoUnfttDlAh/s400/pretzles.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Try foods from different countries. </td></tr>
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You could even look up some traditional recipes to cook and try together. Intercultural understanding and an appreciation of our differences at a young age will always benefit children in today's multicultural society. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i>Learn fruit and veg vocabulary</i> -</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 18.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b> </b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">This one is pretty self explanatory really! If you're learning about healthy eating or just learning the names of fruit and vegetables, there's no </span></span>better way than a hands on approach! How about placing them all on a tray and covering <span style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">with a tea towel. Take an item away and ask the child to say the name of the missing food in the foreign language. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Learn through stories</span></i></b><span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i> -</i><i><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;"><span style="display: inline; float: none; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Stories such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Supertato and Kitchen Disco are great for introducing food. Even if you don't have copies of these stories in the foreign language you are learning, you can still use them as a stimulus for learning languages. And if you struggle getting your children to try new foods like me, then this is a fab way to try to introduce it! </span> </span></i></b></span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b><i>Messy play -</i></b> A quick Pinterest search will bring up so many ideas for messy play where food is used. The messy play trays can be themed to suit whatever subject you are learning about. For example, learn winter vocabulary using marshmallows, chocolate drops/raisins, pretzel sticks and icing to make little edible snowmen. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQYjPVUS9XnPGTVOvEa9OFnyOGEq3vF9ZQ2pwXMuqUX8et87_uHMgbCky8Mon3Z0xnYTH4ehUY7AFsFgMPasfh8rdCPjlM7LsQXc3xP93kdoast_pet65Qx8reKhFI-lVcl7_D5rQYPaV/s1600/snowman.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQYjPVUS9XnPGTVOvEa9OFnyOGEq3vF9ZQ2pwXMuqUX8et87_uHMgbCky8Mon3Z0xnYTH4ehUY7AFsFgMPasfh8rdCPjlM7LsQXc3xP93kdoast_pet65Qx8reKhFI-lVcl7_D5rQYPaV/s400/snowman.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My youngest making marshmallow snowmen at messy play.</td></tr>
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</span></span></span><span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">Hide animals (plastic of course!) that live in cold places inside ice-cream, or pop them inside merengue nest boats and let them set sail on jelly ponds! Have fun playing with food, exploring all the different senses and learning a foreign language at the same time!</span></span></span></li>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are so many ways that food can be incorporated into your language learning adventure. What are your favourite ways to use food in learning?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have you got any activities beginning with <span style="color: blue;"><b>E</b></span> which could be used to help learn languages? I'd love to know! Why not leave me a comment below? If you missed <a href="http://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/2018/07/a-z-of-multisensory-language-learning.html" target="_blank"><b>A</b></a><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><b>, <span style="color: #000120;"><a href="http://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/2018/07/a-z-of-multisensory-language-learningB.html" target="_blank">B</a></span></b><span style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;"><b>,<span style="color: #000050;"> <a href="http://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/2018/08/a-z-of-multisensory-language-learning-C.html" target="_blank">C</a></span></b><span style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;"><b> </b>or</span></span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #000032; font-weight: bold;"><b> <a href="https://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/2018/09/a-z-of-multisensory-language-learning-D.html" target="_blank">D</a></b></span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;"><b> </b></span></span></span>you can find them <a href="http://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/p/our-language-learning-adventure.html" target="_blank">here</a>! And don't forget to check back soon for the next letter in the series - <span style="color: blue;"><b>F</b></span>!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Don't forget to follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KidsCuddlesandMuddyPuddles" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/KidsCuddlesMP" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/KidsCuddlesMP/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> so you don't miss out on the rest of the letters in the <a href="http://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/p/our-language-learning-adventure.html" target="_blank">A - Z of Multisensory Language Learning for Kids!</a> You can also follow our blog by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=KidsCuddlesAndMuddyPuddles" target="_blank">email</a> - never miss a post! </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/p/about-us.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial","helvetica",sans-serif;" target="_blank"><b><i>Finding joy in the little things:</i></b></a> My youngest absolutely loves messy play activities, particularly ones involving food! She's a girl after my own heart obviously! I love watching her explore the new textures and tastes, and have fun whilst she's learning. Just a shame she's not so receptive when it comes to trying new foods for tea! Haha! </span></span><br />
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</span></span></span>Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-85475597685862877402019-01-23T23:27:00.001+00:002021-11-17T11:42:37.194+00:00Time for Positivi-Tea! Can a Good Cuppa Really Solve Anything?<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicevXc-948_AKpwRoPh4teMLtLoG_plEmhfwR8kmykykanHkAKF6r3H-gJWWV11W2bvVWPRY4VR0K3GInGWX8M4ez8YCKKAPPLNxKL0ZmRCBhIs_2p8lqGeDdzq1SzNAiRU_6zcrJkX9n9/s320/Positivi-tea+square+1.png" style="display: none;" />
<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(Review - Gifted)</i></span><br />
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There's nothing quite like <b>a good cup of tea</b>! It's our nation's favourite drink, with the average Brit drinking 3 to 4 cups a day! But <b>can a good brew really solve anything?</b> Well, of course boiling the kettle isn't going to end world hunger or find a cure for disease, but on a day-to-day basis, so many of us seek solace in a cuppa.<br />
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There are so many varieties of tea available now, there seems to be a tea to compliment every mood and ailment! Do you seek comfort in a cup of traditional English breakfast, or relaxation with a cup of chamomile and lavender? Perhaps you prefer the soothing benefits of a cup of peppermint or ginger tea, or the rejuvenating qualities of a cup of green?<br />
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There's even a tea to help you get ready for labour - although I'm not sure it did much for me other than send me on more toilet trips than I care to remember! As if my bladder didn't already have enough to cope with!<br />
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<h4>
Shibui Tea</h4>
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Edinburgh born tea company <a href="https://www.shibui-tea.co.uk/" target="_blank">Shibui Tea</a>'s philosophy is all about sourcing and sharing great quality tea. The company was even set up over a few pots of the good stuff! They specialise in seeking out great ingredients from all over the world, and combining them to create many distinct flavours of loose tea and pyramid tea bags.<br />
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Environmental Benefits</h3>
I was fortunate enough to receive a sample of their pyramid bags to taste test recently. What I love about them particularly is how environmentally friendly they are. So many tea bags still contain plastics and therefore cannot be fully composted. However, Shibui Tea prides themselves on the fact that their pyramid tea bags are completely recyclable and can be put in with your food waste.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDtBYjM4kpCzBVa4dCT1vNqKKjt0YmiibZDoy_5QJ9Zkeq8toHaka-EO2RVOPhZV0zbadqmwlWoa_JFZGTpSgLnh2B9qbAbn889PAJZMMUGFHZQU80OrjelIuL-LekKmln6fKKUGUA8VW/s1600/Shibui+Package.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDtBYjM4kpCzBVa4dCT1vNqKKjt0YmiibZDoy_5QJ9Zkeq8toHaka-EO2RVOPhZV0zbadqmwlWoa_JFZGTpSgLnh2B9qbAbn889PAJZMMUGFHZQU80OrjelIuL-LekKmln6fKKUGUA8VW/s400/Shibui+Package.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The samples I received from Shibui Tea</td></tr>
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The ingredients are all natural, and the bag itself is made from a corn-derived product. The tag and string will also biodegrade so there's no faffing about removing them before discarding the bag. Even the small details, such as the "plastic" bags the tea comes wrapped in, is made from something called Natureflex and can also be chucked on to the compost heap! Great hey?<br />
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<h3>
Taste Test!</h3>
So what about the taste? Well, I have tried a lot of tea in my time and on my travels - some great and some not so good! Black tea (a splash of milk and no sugar please!) is my all time favourite and the <b>English Breakfast</b> pyramid bag certainly lived up to my taste expectations! Even after the recommended brewing time of 3-4 minutes, there was no bitter after taste and the tea didn't end up being too strong. It was flavoursome, refreshing and comforting, so a winner for me!<br />
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I made a promise to myself that I would cut down on my caffeine intake this year, so the <b>Chocolate and Ginger</b> flavour was next on my list. Now, I'm not the biggest fan of ginger in drinks but it's great for your digestive system and even has anti-inflammatory properties. This herbal infusion of ginger, cocoa husk and liquorice root was not overpowering in any one flavour. The taste was subtle, and ended with that familiar warmth that ginger gives. The aroma that filled my living room added to the enjoyment!<br />
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Much has been written about the benefits of green teas, they are full of antioxidants and studies have shown they can be helpful in the fight against heart disease. Shibui Tea's <b>Matcha and Sencha Organic</b> tea bags combine Japanese green tea leaves with specially ground green tea powder, winning them a Great Taste Award in 2018. This green tea infusion was subtle, fragrant and earthy. It had a delicate, sweet taste to it which I enjoyed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOEOcH2pE_tT67kLgEcartS3JIbhNVq6IwMHOAaoKlI8WdQvGBWf6t0x9_w4ENB9E5gb0Gu9qXRDMQQl8mbmdU6s9BpLoyI6O_X0UTQ831kKMJp7ITxXBqznRPoWhTIjgshMF-DnUhI3o/s1600/Shibui+Collage.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOEOcH2pE_tT67kLgEcartS3JIbhNVq6IwMHOAaoKlI8WdQvGBWf6t0x9_w4ENB9E5gb0Gu9qXRDMQQl8mbmdU6s9BpLoyI6O_X0UTQ831kKMJp7ITxXBqznRPoWhTIjgshMF-DnUhI3o/s640/Shibui+Collage.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the blends I have sampled</td></tr>
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I am yet to work my way through the other samples that Shibui Tea sent, but keep an eye on our Instagram account where I will let you know what I thought about each one! I'm intrigued about the <b>Rooibos and Orange Organic</b> flavour, which is also caffeine free so I might try that one tonight! You can find the complete list of flavours and prices over on their <a href="https://www.shibui-tea.co.uk/" target="_blank">website</a>, along with gift ideas, teaware and accessories. <br />
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<h4>
Can A Good Cuppa Really Solve Anything?</h4>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
Many of my best or most heartfelt conversations have been over a cuppa. I meet up with friends for a brew (and of course, cake often factors in there too!) and we can put the world to rights whilst sipping the hours away! I've made some great memories over tea - I even broke the news of my first pregnancy to my best friends over a pot or 3 (caffeine free of course...)!<br />
<br />
Tea for me is a comfort, a social pleasure and a way to calm down and unwind after a busy day. It's like a warm hug that soothes the soul, especially <a href="http://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/2018/12/how-to-stay-positive-during-winter.html" target="_blank">on a cold winter's day</a>. And sometimes it's just breakfast on the run! But what is tea to you? Why do we go mad for a cuppa? I asked some fellow bloggers for their thoughts. So, pop the kettle on, sit back with your favourite brew and read on: Can a good cup of tea really solve anything?<br />
<br />
<h3>
The Meaning of Tea</h3>
Drinking tea means so many things for so many people. <a href="http://www.theoplusgrace.com/" target="_blank">Cat</a>, whose husband helped her perfect her tea making after a few disastrous brews, says, <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I love the comfort and welcome of tea. Pop in my house, the first question is often, 'Do you want a cuppa?'"</blockquote>
For <a href="http://www.anklebitersadventures.co.uk/" target="_blank">Lianne</a>, tea means relaxation. She explains,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"For me, tea makes everything good and helps me to relax! At the end of a long day, I love a cup of tea to chill me out and wash away any negativity." </blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKP4O6ggIlkdeTTKnbMHKLv1sN7GeZYxKrDId9xlwqJmQEbKSuN0FTdCdDw-IOFX1te4L8edCZKtH99mvB_0fgD4xzhq6gMNdrgGtJ95BGzmm1jvu5rBMynZ7Assyrb10e8CFUSt2p7_jm/s1600/Drinking+tea.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKP4O6ggIlkdeTTKnbMHKLv1sN7GeZYxKrDId9xlwqJmQEbKSuN0FTdCdDw-IOFX1te4L8edCZKtH99mvB_0fgD4xzhq6gMNdrgGtJ95BGzmm1jvu5rBMynZ7Assyrb10e8CFUSt2p7_jm/s400/Drinking+tea.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drinking tea is a great way to unwind</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.upliftingandinspiringcontent.com/">Yvette</a> looks forward to a cup of tea in the evenings. She says, </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"My hubby makes the best cup of tea because it comes with so much comfort, love and warmth. I always look forward to one after the kids are in bed. Call it the unwinding time."</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.happyfamilyhub.co.uk/" target="_blank">Emma</a> explains how she feels about tea. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Tea is one thing that's certain in life! It's one of those calming drinks that gives you a big hug or pat on the back. Always good to hear the words, 'I'll stick the kettle on.' Tea drinking is such a worldwide bonding tradition. Whatever the weather, situation, and whoever's there... Tea will always be there for you!"</blockquote>
Do you agree? What does tea mean to you?<br />
<br />
<h3>
The Benefits of Tea</h3>
So much has been written over the years about the health and social benefits of drinking tea. With many herbal and fruit teas being caffeine free and more readily available, lots of people are making the switch. These bloggers explain why they enjoy a cup of herbal over the traditional black teas. <a href="http://www.arosetintedworld.co.uk/" target="_blank">Jo</a> says, <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I’m a coffee drinker usually. But when I am trying to be good, a large mug of red bush tea with just a tiny splash of milk is the perfect way to massively increase my water intake." </blockquote>
It's the specific benefits associated with certain herbs that is a positive for <a href="http://www.everafterwithkids.com/" target="_blank">Kate</a>. <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I am reliant on chamomile tea now to get to sleep, as soon as I have a cup of it I am drifting off...after being up all night with babies for years my body had ironically forgotten how to get to sleep! Chamomile works like a magic potion now for me!"</blockquote>
Have you made the switch to herbal or fruit infusions? What do you drink and why? I'd love to know!<br />
<br />
<h3>
The Generation Game</h3>
One thing I love about tea, is how it brings generations together and reminds you of such happy family times. Both the following bloggers describe the comfort their first 'post-baby birth' tea brought them. <a href="http://www.yorkshiretots.com/" target="_blank">Erin</a> remembers, <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"how lovely and comforting that first cup of tea was that the nurse brought me after a long labour that resulted in a C-section and birth of Lily." </blockquote>
<a href="http://www.dirtdiggersanddinosaurs.com/" target="_blank">Emma</a> recalls how even though pregnancy turned her off tea, as soon as her boys were delivered, <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"that would disappear and honestly that first cup of tea in the delivery suite with my baby in my arms was THE best!" </blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCT_F5sYpXJLYFcxvnFqKchPNYF0Hgjvv2fKgnLDLtN4gzUAfeX_SBwiABA1RSeCZcKYDifD9xK7yCa-h7vDgOcY8TKrr3fW3Bf2gigvqauQpO3ObulXZOLd3Ci6iyVxmUuL5_u-sjyK7n/s1600/Son+tea.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCT_F5sYpXJLYFcxvnFqKchPNYF0Hgjvv2fKgnLDLtN4gzUAfeX_SBwiABA1RSeCZcKYDifD9xK7yCa-h7vDgOcY8TKrr3fW3Bf2gigvqauQpO3ObulXZOLd3Ci6iyVxmUuL5_u-sjyK7n/s640/Son+tea.png" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My son asked for a cuppa after school! (Don't worry, it was decaf!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Who else can't wait for their children to be able to put the kettle on and brew up? <a href="http://www.dadsdeliciousdinners.co.uk/" target="_blank">Ian's</a> top tip for teaching his children how to make the perfect cuppa is to tell them to, <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"pour the water and go and do something else. When you remember, go back and take the teabag out and it will be ready. The result, a perfect cuppa every time!"</blockquote>
I have such fond memories of drinking tea with my late Nan. Drinking tea with her was so comforting, it seemed to make everything okay again! <a href="http://www.mimiroseandme.com/" target="_blank">Kelly-Anne</a> agrees. She explains, <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"For me tea is life. There isn’t a day where I don’t have a nice cup of strong tea... Tea literally helps solves all problems. My love of tea comes from sitting down with my Nan with a cuppa in her special daffodil cup, to talk about her growing up. It was her favourite pastime. I’d give anything to have one of the cuppas and chats now."</blockquote>
Is there someone special in your family that you love to drink tea with? Or are you also helping to build the next tea drinking generation?<br />
<br />
<h3>
Memories are Made of Tea</h3>
For many people, tea evokes so many lovely, positive memories. <a href="http://www.mamamei.co.uk/" target="_blank">Sophie</a> shared hers -<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I had a Chinese tea ceremony the night before my wedding. It was a lovely nod to the culture I feel part of but so far away from. It was a great way to spend time with the family too before the whirl of the wedding day."</blockquote>
For <a href="http://www.pinkpearbear.com/" target="_blank">Louise</a>, its memories of friendship that a good cup of tea reminds her of.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Tea reminds me totally of my best friend's house. I was at boarding school and she lived nearby so I would go to her house a lot and we would sit drinking tea together. I would feel so at home when I often felt quite displaced and lonely. She is still my best friend now and tea is still a huge part of our getting together ritual." </blockquote>
<a href="http://www.beccablogsitout.com/" target="_blank">Rebecca</a> isn't really a tea fan, unless she needs a pick me up, as she explains, <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I don't like tea. I would never choose to make myself a cup of tea. Unless I'm ill. And then I need a cup of milky sugary tea, preferably made by my mum, like she used to when I was younger. A cup of milky sugary tea works when I'm feeling ill or sad, but only if someone else makes it for me." </blockquote>
<br />
And what about those of you who don't drink any tea at all? <a href="http://www.thatlittleoutfit.net/" target="_blank">Lauren</a> has a final thought on that! <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"If I meet someone who doesn’t drink tea, I always feel a bit uneasy about them! What do you do when you get home?! Where do you dunk your biscuits?! Are you even human...??" </blockquote>
On that note...I'm off to boil the kettle once more! Enjoy solving problems and making memories with a good old cup of tea. It really does seem to make everything just that little bit better!<br />
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Leave me your tea stories in the comments below, I'd love to hear about them! If you enjoyed our post, why not follow us on:<br />
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<b><i><a href="http://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/p/about-us.html" target="_blank">Finding joy in the little things:</a></i></b> As a mother and a teacher, I rarely get to sit and savour a cup of tea - particularly a hot one! So sitting still with an uninterrupted hot cuppa is truly appreciated by me as it doesn't happen very often! It really is one of the little things in life that brings me joy!<br />
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Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-11262627663874952122018-12-05T23:43:00.001+00:002019-02-03T22:36:42.017+00:00How to Stay Positive During the Winter Months<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTuGtcS9RSaxoo7Q6wuwzEdIfRieXzaCoyRpHqqdwa33iNBX2arPYo69mq3Dq5QvuOBwMMDmRU2eVy-5zt9rqF9BFxPjnBlpq3Anf-AwL8YdcnKnPeyxrmvXwf0u4IYGMG768TkmBAHyW/s320/Positive+winter+square.png" style="display: none;" />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <b>winter months</b> are finally upon us! Yay, it's nearly Christmas! One of my favourite times of year! But sometimes the <b>darkness </b>seems to wrap around us like a cloak, from the minute we open our eyes to the crisp, cold mornings to the second we climb back into bed. Its easy for the <b>positivity </b>and joyful bounce to subside and for the <b>pessimism </b>and misery to set in during the winter months! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For some, leaving the house for work or school and arriving back home in the pitch black can sometimes make you feel like you've missed a whole day! For others, the gloominess is <b>overwhelming </b>and <b>claustrophobic </b>and can make you feel like hibernating along with the animals! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's at this time of year that many people suffer with general <b>"winter blues."</b> Others may develop <b>Seasonal Affective Disorder</b> (or aptly named SAD for short), a "winter depression" that is usually more severe in the winter months. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So how can we pull ourselves out of the winter blues and <b>stay positive</b> during the darker months? We can learn a lot about surviving and <b>embracing the winter</b> from the Scandinavians, many of whom spend up to 6 months of the year in twilight and never-ending darkness! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Norwegians have this lovely word, <b>"koselig."</b> It's quite hard to define as it's more of feeling that is created! That <b>cosy, warm feeling</b> you might get when enjoying a traditional roast dinner by a country pub fire, or how you feel when wrapped up in blankets watching Christmas films with the kids on the sofa, complete with hot chocolate and marshmallows! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Koselig embodies <b>warmth, cosiness, happiness and content</b>. So how can we make our lives more koselig and fight off those winter blues? Here are some simple ideas!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Light up your life</u></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Light, or the lack of it, can really dampen our moods. In fact, SAD sufferers and those who need a bit more of a boost, can opt for light therapy using specially made lights. For those just seeking a bit more sparkle to "lighten" the mood, why not fill your room with fairy lights and candles, or treat yourself to a nice new table lamp! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdS0465jxjT6D_aU0ScwLYDM29b7Vk1Zj4n1qSjdDLJY_GfF7yi0M8w8SghFFNSrWWGneKPcj1217g212Y8BmSEOM_D7FDkC1ZjYHobZpeDm1QoSZxE9Zc8VMJYdniBCcqHkxx-HTFUDqW/s1600/Candles+and+lights.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdS0465jxjT6D_aU0ScwLYDM29b7Vk1Zj4n1qSjdDLJY_GfF7yi0M8w8SghFFNSrWWGneKPcj1217g212Y8BmSEOM_D7FDkC1ZjYHobZpeDm1QoSZxE9Zc8VMJYdniBCcqHkxx-HTFUDqW/s400/Candles+and+lights.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Low lighting and scented candles can help you de-stress.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Scented candles with seasonal smells such as spiced pumpkin or cinnamon and berries will awaken your senses and remind you of happy times, whilst the soft, low light helps to reduce stress and calm us down. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Snuggle up</u></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of my favourite winter pastimes is wrapping up on the sofa with soft fleecy blankets, cosy warm socks, a hot drink and a good film or series to get stuck into. Whack the heating on or light the fire to make it really toasty! The whole family can be involved in a snuggle-up sesh, and its a lovely way to while away a few happy hours in the evening!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Wrap up for a walk</u></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grab your thickest coat, layer up with scarves, gloves and warm shoes and get out for some fresh air! You don't have to go far; even just a brisk walk around the block will get your blood flowing and make you feel re-energised. Make sure you stick to well-lit areas or wear something bright and reflective so you are visible to traffic in the dark. So put your (thermal) positive pants on and get outdoors!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wrapped up for a walk in the snow!</span></td></tr>
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<u style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hot drink treat</u></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another of my favourite things is treating myself to a nice coffee when I'm out and about. But this doesn't have to stop when you're at home! Buy a selection of seasonal <a href="https://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/2019/01/time-for-positivi-tea.html" target="_blank">flavoured teas</a> or nice coffees - The instant flavoured sachets are great for this. Add marshmallows, whipped cream and wafer rolls to hot chocolates. Make your own mulled wine or warm fruit punch. Get that posh coffee shop feeling with half the calories and cost, and indulge in the decadence and enjoyment of a homemade hot drink treat! <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Treat yourself to a luxury hot chocolate!</td></tr>
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<u style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a "Mum's Night In!"</u></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Being a mum of two small children, I know just how hard it is to take some time out for yourself. If childcare in the evenings is hard to come by, or you want to take advantage of your partner being out for the evening then why not organise a "Mum's Night In!" Wait til the kids are in bed, get everyone to bring some nibbles or something to drink, find a girly film or some face packs and let your hair down in the comfort of your (or your friend's) home! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Have a "Mum's Night Out!"</u></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you'd rather not risk waking the kids, then pin yourself down a babysitter and get out with some friends! It doesn't have to be a military operation as most child-free nights tend to be - just a trip to catch a film at the cinema or a drink or two in a local bar will do! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Enjoy some time out with your friends.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you're feeling flush, why not check out the twilight spa deals you can get as a special pick-me-up treat? Get your giggle on with the girls and it will make the dark nights much more bearable! (A hot tub would definitely help too!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Bake with the kids</u></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One benefit to the nights drawing in is that we can often trick our little cherubs into thinking it's bedtime sooner than it really is! But if that ain't happening in your house, why not do some baking with the kids after school? Trust me, it doesn't have to be anything to taxing or too time-consuming (I can't cope with much more than crispy cakes!) as I guarantee you, your kids will just relish the time spent with you doing something a bit different on a school night! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKN08skd2Q0KeSy3juPB8atpvpV-CUsu7udhLmZqiAJzwGfkWTIyHrUmXVsbUz1XQfiIsBEy5smgHNcyjHfvtq3YQFYwnez8J2FamnK58nF9kwWTsgHlsN2sKnohd_neiRxLaG1mj2RCs/s1600/IMG_1618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKN08skd2Q0KeSy3juPB8atpvpV-CUsu7udhLmZqiAJzwGfkWTIyHrUmXVsbUz1XQfiIsBEy5smgHNcyjHfvtq3YQFYwnez8J2FamnK58nF9kwWTsgHlsN2sKnohd_neiRxLaG1mj2RCs/s400/IMG_1618.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pastry pirate treasure bags.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mince pies and jam tarts are super simple if you buy in the ready-to-roll pastry; cereal cakes with melted chocolate and marshmallows take next to no time and good old fairy cakes are fun to decorate! If savoury is your thing, why not have them make their own tea? Cheese straws to dunk in soup or mini quiches filled with their favourites are all quick and easy ideas. What are your favourite things to bake with your children?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Take up an exercise class</u></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many people (including myself) think winter is an excuse to over-indulge! Christmas day ends up turning into Christmas month, beginning early November with Christmas markets and before you know it, you've piled on the pounds! Feeling sluggish at this time of year doesn't help with the nights drawing in as we have a tendency to "hide-er-nate" - hide away, hibernate, veg on the sofa and generally avoid social interaction! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So stop wishing you were healthier and making a New Year's resolution to change - there's no time like the present! Research local exercise classes, join a local running group, go swimming or get down the gym! Exercise releases endorphins, our body's own feel good chemicals. The hardest part is hauling yourself off the sofa in the dark to get there, but once you're there, no doubt you'll enjoy yourself and will end up feeling better for it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Talk, talk, talk</u></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hands up who has unlimited free minutes on their mobile phones? Keep your hand up if you rarely use any? That's me. Life is so extraordinarily busy and often mundane, just going through the daily motions, and we just don't find the time to stop and chat to friends and family. So why not <i>make </i>time to keep these important connections going? This is something I need to work on. Pin down a time and a day to have a chat with your best mate or your Mum, and get dialing! A good chat is good for the soul! Just remember to surround yourself with positive people to help keep the winter blues at bay!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Embrace the season!</u></span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Look out for events going on in your local community and beyond, you'll be surprised at just how many great things you could get involved with! At this time of year, there are Christmas markets, local Christmas fairs (most schools and churches have them), and carol services. There are even winter wonderland style events with funfairs and ice-skating rinks! Garden centers are great for a little festive trip out, and many of them have smaller Santa's Grottos with shorter queues! You can't help but get into the seasonal spirit with all that cheer around!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wander around your local Christmas market and soak up the atmosphere.</span></td></tr>
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<u style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Give something back</u></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the most humbling ways to pull yourself out of a seasonal funk is to go and help out someone in need. Seek out your local homeless charities and see what they need help with at this time of year - it could be donations of your old clothes, food for food banks or a few hours of your time volunteering at the soup kitchens or homeless shelters. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Could you give up some time to help others this year?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why not get in touch with an animal shelter and see if they need any help walking the dogs or cleaning out cages? Call your local hospital or nursing home and ask if you can spend time with patients chatting, playing board games or making simple Christmas crafts. With just a few hours of your time, you could really make a difference to someone else's life, whilst enriching yours and gaining a deeper appreciation of what really matters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are <b>so many ways to stay positive during the winter months</b>, and you don't have to spend a fortune either. Keep your spirits up and remember to <b>cherish every moment</b> you have on this planet - Life is <i>too</i> short. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Look after yourselves and each other</b> - Remember, if you are really suffering and think you may have depression or SAD, please do make an appointment to <b>chat to your GP</b>. For a list of symptoms, visit the NHS website and seek professional advice if you need it. Don't suffer in silence - there is so much help out there, don't be afraid to take it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What are your <b>favourite </b>ways to spend these dark wintry days and nights? I'd <i>love </i>to hear them in the comments below!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/p/about-us.html" target="_blank"><b><i>Finding joy in the little things</i></b>:</a> Well, many of the things I've written about above are little things that I enjoy. If you look hard enough, you will find joy in every day, even the darkest, coldest ones! I love the way my kids throw themselves head first into the winter season - they love to wrap up in hats, scarves and wellies and go on a muddy walk. Their eyes light up when we stop at a park because, "it's never too cold to have fun Mummy!" We can learn a lot from our children, can't we? </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.confessionsofanewmummy.co.uk/" target="_blank"><img alt="Confessions of a New Mummy" height="100" src="https://i.imgur.com/N1uEzuI.png" width="100" /></a> <a href="https://jakijellz.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="JakiJellz"><img alt="JakiJellz" height="100" src="https://jakijellz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Triumphant-tales-linky-new-final-e1502402689465.png" style="border: none;" width="100" /></a> <a href="https://themumconundrum.com/" rel="_nofollow"><img height="180" src="https://themumconundrum.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Its-OK-logo-newest.png" style="border: 1px solid gray; height: 100px; width: 100px;" width="180" /></a> <a a="" href="http://www.loopyloulaura.com/" mummy="" of="" rel="nofollow" tired="" title="“Musings"><img alt="Musings Of A Tired Mummy" src="http://www.loopyloulaura.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Global-Blogging.jpeg" height="100" style="border: none; height: auto; width: 100px;" width="100" /></a> <a href="https://www.myrandommusings.co.uk/blog-page_9/" title="My Random Musings"><img alt="My Random Musings" height="100" src="https://www.myrandommusings.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/New-AnythingGoes-badge.jpg" style="border: none;" width="100" /></a> <a href="https://www.amomentwithfranca.com/" title="Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday"><img alt="Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday" height="100" src="https://www.amomentwithfranca.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/kcacols200x200.jpg" style="border: none;" width="100" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">11/12/18 : Our post was chosen as the <a href="http://www.confessionsofanewmummy.co.uk/2018/12/twinkly-tuesday-featuring-kids-cuddles.html" target="_blank">"Featured Post"</a> over on Confessions of a New Mummy! Thank you Kate! :) </span></div>
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</span>Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-34168676300064380142018-11-13T15:21:00.001+00:002018-12-16T22:02:06.321+00:00A letter to my daughter as she turns 3: The little things I love about you...<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmxdAbDsGIOfJR9YpDmRowo7OOJ4FKgN9nDMyUqWkXYnLX4rgUA1aI7sutEQcs3RZzr-j6cNg_j5Kf9ZQR9jDFAJ893ZYapacKamHFHTvnnODYaJ3GgUGWEU8SRGg7t8-OBJkoeTOgYGZ/s320/Letter+square.png" style="display: none;" />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i style="font-weight: normal;">To my beautiful little girl,</i></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know it's a cliche, but the last three years with you really have gone past in the blink of an eye! The transition from 1 to 2 years old didn't seem as emotional, but going from 2 to 3 feels much more poignant.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pWUAJ4mdlvt-lfU_5-5dkbGSH6AjoJNhcjWpzvo7INku0BXZ0iWXNY9FVdv83rLC4LwcIj126Rb-WH-gFl6od8tnAe6BQjCSiF8m5-6QTs1LErpkPdJN5a8OrSew0ZVh-iJoBdsyJhvw/s1600/Letter+to+daughter+banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="758" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pWUAJ4mdlvt-lfU_5-5dkbGSH6AjoJNhcjWpzvo7INku0BXZ0iWXNY9FVdv83rLC4LwcIj126Rb-WH-gFl6od8tnAe6BQjCSiF8m5-6QTs1LErpkPdJN5a8OrSew0ZVh-iJoBdsyJhvw/s640/Letter+to+daughter+banner.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Perhaps it's because my little girl no longer has her baby features; your face has changed shape from squidgy and round to slim an oval, you've gotten so tall and your hair is beautifully long.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Maybe it's because I can have a conversation with you as if you were an adult! You are wise beyond your years and you know so much - thanks in part to having an older brother to lead the way!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It could be that you will be starting nursery in January, and you're sooo excited about this! "I won't cry when I start nursery Mummy, I'm a big, brave girl now!" You certainly are my darling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whatever it is that makes me sad to see my baby growing up (and even more so as you will probably - or if you ask your Daddy - definitely - be my last), there are so many little things about you that I love right now, the things that bring me joy every day, even if I'm feeling a little blue. Every day you always make me smile!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So on the eve of your 3rd birthday, here is a snapshot of a moment in your life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u><i>These are the little things I love about you...</i></u></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I love the way you pucker up those big, soft lips to give us the best kisses!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I love how much you still love your "Stinky Bunny" but you'll offer her to people if you think they need comfort.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I love how you giggle when I pin you down and smother you in kisses!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I love how you wiggle your hips and shoulders when you're dancing.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I love how excited you are to see me after I've been at work all day or even just away from you for 10 minutes!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I love the way you creep from your room into my bed to snuggle with me during the night! Even if you do take up most of my side, and snore as loud as your Daddy!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I love the way you do a little penguin walk and bite your bottom lip when you're a bit embarrassed or shy! </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I love how vampires are called 'dampires.' "But Mummy, I'm not afraid of bats!" </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I love the way you always wake up with crazy, wild hair! There's no taming that beast! </i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUWFNp7cImeMNWmeBVoeTfYvte8JWFXtUdWZFzw1NlpGluQakV1mmuhBVQd8KgI_2TDxSBEyOGfdcxElEL8kaVB911scLjOp-D2HZiQ3PYdy4kAGy7P5TUpNxNszsWedIH4FtW-YRa5A6/s1600/Rosie+at+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="945" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMUWFNp7cImeMNWmeBVoeTfYvte8JWFXtUdWZFzw1NlpGluQakV1mmuhBVQd8KgI_2TDxSBEyOGfdcxElEL8kaVB911scLjOp-D2HZiQ3PYdy4kAGy7P5TUpNxNszsWedIH4FtW-YRa5A6/s640/Rosie+at+3.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I love the sass - the eye rolls and the hair swishes and that little frowny face when you don't get your way! </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I love how your detangling hair spray is know as 'tangly tanglier' and you spray it everywhere except your hair when you won't let me help! </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I love how you play 'pretend' with your brother so nicely, and that you're starting to come up with the 'pretends' now! "Pretend you're the dog and I'm the mummy! Let's go for a walk doggy, you can have a treat!"</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I love it when you tell me that I am "boo-tear-ful" even when I am looking my worst.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I love how much it excites you to wear your wellies and jump in puddles! You really could give Peppa Pig a run for her money!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I love the way your smile lights up your wide, green eyes. It's infectious - you have to smile back!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I love how you try to sing along to everything! The Greatest Showman and Frozen being your favourites.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I love watching you and your brother act out the Strictly dances together each week! The lifts need a little work though! Haha.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I love how excited you were to watch Dr. Ranj dancing every Saturday, and how you comforted your brother when he was devastated he got voted off the show. "It's OK, he has to go back to the hospital to make the poorly children better."</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I love your smiley, happy, bubbly personality. You are a joy to be with every day.</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbsYHL4V_dhODKFC4IQeyPVI_8dPu3HnBOSgErkva_poVfu1b_Fy51-qXdM_KdifxCnXreKLylI_ZsEBSWr7anijXag0TW-ZMMw7aiZq0P_lgelKLNk52xKJSDHIGjUcf-J988sEHFlDt/s1600/mum+and+rosie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbsYHL4V_dhODKFC4IQeyPVI_8dPu3HnBOSgErkva_poVfu1b_Fy51-qXdM_KdifxCnXreKLylI_ZsEBSWr7anijXag0TW-ZMMw7aiZq0P_lgelKLNk52xKJSDHIGjUcf-J988sEHFlDt/s400/mum+and+rosie.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My darling girl, I could go on forever. There are so many little things about you that I love, and they change every day! You are growing up to be such a beautiful, kindhearted, sweet and funny little girl. So even though it brings a tear to my eye to let my 'baby' go, it makes me smile to see the wonderful girl you are becoming. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love you lots like jelly tots - from the top of the sky to the bottom of the sea and more! Happy 3rd birthday my little Squidge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Love always,</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Mummy</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>x</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I'm linking up this post with these fabulous blogs:</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.confessionsofanewmummy.co.uk/" target="_blank"><img alt="Confessions of a New Mummy" height="150" src="https://i.imgur.com/N1uEzuI.png" width="150" /></a> <a href="https://jakijellz.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="JakiJellz"><img alt="JakiJellz" height="150" src="https://jakijellz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Triumphant-tales-linky-new-final-e1502402689465.png" style="border: none;" width="150" /></a> <a href="https://www.myrandommusings.co.uk/blog-page_9/" title="My Random Musings"><img alt="My Random Musings" height="150" src="https://www.myrandommusings.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/New-AnythingGoes-badge.jpg" style="border: none;" width="150" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #536b66; font-size: 16px; line-height: 27.2px;">I’m taking part in the Mummy Monday linky with Becca from </span><a href="https://www.beccablogsitout.com/" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #ff94a3; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 27.2px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.25s linear; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="Becca Blogs It Out">Becca Blogs It Out</a>.</span></div>
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Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-32972605891799694112018-10-09T16:09:00.001+01:002018-10-10T10:09:26.494+01:00Craniosacral Therapy Awareness Week: What is CST and How Can it Help You?<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUkBJ4_l6B0FgNyB2fG2WO4ogIkVXeXrkrMRy0HH1QkeZ9xJG1eVcL7Wgc9Ii6nmOh6yeNjZWHEi18gFjah8LJUeg_Pr5TN5N29_7FsoF3kcmom0UPtYI2gsQ2tm_hoZj_F0k_1usyyTH/s1600/Cranio+square+1.png" style="display: none;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>October 15th 2018</b> marks the beginning of <b>Craniosacral Therapy Awareness Week</b>. I was fortunate enough to be invited along to <b>Torus Wellbeing Clinic</b> in <b>Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire</b> to find out more about this <b>complementary therapy,</b> and to experience a <b>Craniosacral Therapy (CST)</b> taster session for myself.</span><br />
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<u style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;">What is Craniosacral Therapy?</u></h2>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The<b> <a href="https://www.craniosacral.co.uk/" target="_blank">Craniosacral Therapy Association</a></b> (CSTA) describes </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Craniosacral Therapy as <i>"a </i></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>gentle way of working with the body using light touch."</i> It often focuses on the head and spine, however CST aims to work with the whole person in </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>body, mind and spirit.</i></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the 1900s, it was found that the fluid that surrounds our brain and central nervous system was essential for our health and full body functioning. Research showed that the cranial bones (in the head) and the sacrum (a big triangular bone in the base of the spine) were linked, and the ebb and flow of this fluid could be encouraged by slight movements of the cranium. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Craniosacral Therapist is trained to use their hands to "listen" to your body, and may use gentle adjustments to help to </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">harmonise its natural body rhythms, encouraging the body to self-correct and heal itself. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As CST is a non-invasive, gentle treatment, it is suitable for babies, children and adults. It can be used as a complementary therapy alongside traditional medicines or as a stand-alone alternative therapy. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/350647520985499946/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="758" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJ4kGmsZLEpDbs_DiuHSjua7p5YE8wnOaUh67CPSstZRB3R76DBiSNEgdJR-btOOyEklOAUDkrzkmXeF7iyvbvmjL1NYFINHWAFI5qYdMl1j7NcQtS1flrY3_o4L3WQCvwOik3KAoftAe/s640/Cranio+Banner+3a.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<u style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;">My Visit to Torus Wellbeing Clinic</u></h2>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After researching Craniosacral Therapy myself, I was looking forward to visiting Torus Wellbeing Clinic in Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent. The clinic was easy to find and had onsite parking. Upon arrival, I was greeted by friendly staff who instantly put me at ease. I met clinic director <a href="http://www.nicolabrough.com/" target="_blank">Dr Nicola Brough (PhD)</a>, a qualified CST practitioner since 2006, who gave me a guided tour of her clinic and facilities. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI62KTpfTQxDJbbLg_0HtdtmFduP6SgNNgRDVXM0pCveqNO_YbXUUPG88SeA3E82fUCB5ZEyGAJYMmdFf_Q19V1SkP-ddkOJ9l7f_YY-Jmyfel5qqUvtN74LY6lMs0dz-PcqP44-z4vu_o/s1600/Torus+Clinic+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI62KTpfTQxDJbbLg_0HtdtmFduP6SgNNgRDVXM0pCveqNO_YbXUUPG88SeA3E82fUCB5ZEyGAJYMmdFf_Q19V1SkP-ddkOJ9l7f_YY-Jmyfel5qqUvtN74LY6lMs0dz-PcqP44-z4vu_o/s400/Torus+Clinic+%25281%2529.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Torus Wellbeing Clinic from outside.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The clinic has an </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"indoor footwear only"</span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">policy, so I chose a comfy, sparkly pair of slippers from a huge selection to wear for my visit! Nicola explained that the main reason is for visitors to </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"feel grounded,"</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> removing your shoes allows you to become more aware of your feet touching the floor. CST is all about </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">connecting your body to your mind,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> so this seemed to be a fitting way to start a visit! I was kindly offered a hot drink before being shown around too!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Torus Wellbeing Clinic had a calm, welcoming feel throughout. Each therapist's room had a "homely" feel to it, with sofas, armchairs or beanbags as well as functional therapist's table. This would certainly help to relax anyone who was feeling a bit nervous about having a session.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKz7se_OZeVce5CF_AON_c_mLXaFJ1nL53-eAfEJ7COM9xqB4b_YEomLPnLkcI30khEOnyKpfu-OQfHXefEHdpk-53QB_XMFtwDHcxS71M5PbfjrczskSYdwrP2bpDaczk1igT6MviIjUA/s1600/waiting+room.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKz7se_OZeVce5CF_AON_c_mLXaFJ1nL53-eAfEJ7COM9xqB4b_YEomLPnLkcI30khEOnyKpfu-OQfHXefEHdpk-53QB_XMFtwDHcxS71M5PbfjrczskSYdwrP2bpDaczk1igT6MviIjUA/s400/waiting+room.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The clinic waiting room.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we walked around, Nicola explained that the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wellbeing Clinic offers many services, including psychotheraputic and bodywork services, and services specialising in fertility, pregnancy and woman's health. The clinic also has rooms to hire, whether you're a health professional looking to join the team or a group who needs a training or workshop space. Some of the classes that already take place here are Hypnobirthing, Yoga (including post-natal Yoga), Health Qi Gong and Bump into Fitness (for pregnancy and beyond). </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After the tour, we headed upstairs to Nicola's treatment room to begin my taster session.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before the Treatment</span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As this was my first session, I was asked for a brief medical history<b> </b>and </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">what my expectations<b> </b>were for this CST treatment</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">. I explained that I wou</span>ld like to gain a sense of balance and calm because combining life as a mother of two (5 and 2), and a job as a primary school teacher can get quite stressful and manic at times! I also explained </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/2018/05/how-i-came-to-terms-with-cystic-acne.html" target="_blank">my struggle with cystic acne</a></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and mentioned that my posture suffers terribly with my job too. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was really looking forward to some time to myself, to focus on me. As most parents know all too well, these moments are often few and far between! I</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> approached the session with an open mind.<b> </b>Although Nicola told me most of her clients have a few sessions to really benefit from the treatment, I </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">hoped that maybe I really <i>would </i>notice a difference in my mind, body or spirit after just one session! </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During the Treatment</span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The room was comfortable and relaxing. The blinds remained open and there was no background music - a totally different feel to what you might expect from a massage at a spa, as some people imagine. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">CST is carried out whilst you are fully clothed, either lying down or sitting up<b> </b>comfortably. Some treatment with children<b> </b>may take place on the floor with blankets and beanbags. I lay down on the bed, where a pillow was put under my knees and a blanket was offered.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">All treatments are tailored to the individual. My treatment started with a little meditation; simple breathing exercises and vocal instructions to bring me to an awareness of how my<b> </b>body felt and how it was positioned upon the bed. This really helped to relax my body and mind, and stopped my mind from wandering.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The therapist then started to tune in at my ankles, and used a light touch and gentle pressure to bring my body into balance. I was aware of how her fingers felt on my ankles and calves, and felt my body completely relax into her hands. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG93F1SPNR6GamcqydS_rnx5Mpc6IvGB7OAGek76jCZRiP4niYJT62BEwO41DK_bypmocGIF9zJofhYShuTcmuchxG-VJmaZSQta6c3DE44i7S7H3oJMj_wRsX2iaxjQseYT1WlO8UnZj-/s1600/Treatment+room.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG93F1SPNR6GamcqydS_rnx5Mpc6IvGB7OAGek76jCZRiP4niYJT62BEwO41DK_bypmocGIF9zJofhYShuTcmuchxG-VJmaZSQta6c3DE44i7S7H3oJMj_wRsX2iaxjQseYT1WlO8UnZj-/s400/Treatment+room.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Treatment room.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Nicola then moved up to my head, using various holds, gentle movements and pressure to come into relationship with the bones in my cranium. I can honestly tell you, that I felt my body give itself over to the therapy. I felt so calm and relaxed that my head felt heavy, like it was sinking slowly into quicksand! </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">As she worked, finally moving to my shoulders, I felt all the tension I was holding in my body release and my whole body felt warm and tingly! A bit like that delicious sensation you get when you slide into a highly-anticipated warm bubble bath surrounded by low lighting and candles! No, really... I mean it! </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">As I lay there for the final moments of my taster treatment (approximately 20 minutes hands-on time), I felt an overall sense of calm and peacefulness. It's hard to describe it, but imagine pebbles being rolled around in the waves, tumbling gently, being taken with the motion of the </span><span style="background-color: white;">water? <i>THAT</i> is how I felt! I didn't want to move! </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">t's during this relaxed state that the body listens to itself and begins to make the necessary changes it needs to achieve balance and to help restore its potential for good health. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After the Treatment</span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After the treatment, Nicola advised me to take my time to get up slowly. She asked how I felt and checked that I didn't feel dizzy. Because the treatment focuses on the fluids in your central nervous system, sometimes you can feel light-headed, unsteady or feel "liquid" type sensations, as your body seeks to realign itself. I also noticed that the headache that had been brewing all morning had disappeared! I was advised to drink plenty of water, and try to be "aware" of my body and how it felt throughout the remainder of the day. I was also told to call if I developed a persistent headache or anything unusual. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqJH58l3pwbf-x-iRkVsl7m425alkTi0iWac8JDSKJZamVqfmgXcot3nAV96zn_dF8-cT6iI4_0-XcyqMrtXWQZQPZ8O5n2OGpOYkz8KUKDYnA3txvfRQUx56kN9o1KaP4PNVWw85a3L1/s1600/Copy+of+Torus+Clinic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYqJH58l3pwbf-x-iRkVsl7m425alkTi0iWac8JDSKJZamVqfmgXcot3nAV96zn_dF8-cT6iI4_0-XcyqMrtXWQZQPZ8O5n2OGpOYkz8KUKDYnA3txvfRQUx56kN9o1KaP4PNVWw85a3L1/s400/Copy+of+Torus+Clinic.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Treatment room.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That night, I felt quite tired so had an early night. As I lay in my bed, I tried to use the techniques Nicola had talked me through to feel calm and peaceful, and bring that awareness of my own body to myself. I was really relaxed and ended up sleeping really well! </span></span><br />
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<u style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;">CST at Torus Wellbeing Clinic</u></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I talked to Nicola about the work she does, and how it can help her clients. She briefly explained how her CST therapy services might help adults with mental health related issues, stress or chronic pain for example, and explained how just being overwhelmed with a busy life could lead to us "living inside our head," not giving full attention to our body as a whole. Her therapy would help the client reconnect their body with their mind, by gently tuning in to the flow of fluid from the nervous system, which facilitates neurological functions and encourage the body to self-repair.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nicola also provides CST for whole families, mothers, babies, and children of all ages. The clinic offers expectant mothers CST to relax and rejuvenate and help to stay calm during the birth. The therapy is extended to post-birth to help recuperation and exhaustion. If you and your baby have suffered a traumatic birth, Nicola offers therapy to help realign and reconnect with yourselves, so you can build a closer bond with your baby. CST can also help babies who are restless and irritable, those with feeding or digestive disorders, and physical issues such as asymmetry of the head and torticolis. These may be as a result of craniosacral imbalances caused during the birth process, which Nicola seeks to correct by working manually with the body's natural healing mechanisms.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCM30cwn4uH2Ps8xCSoA06OL61LrK1WmoO-E8LcFpXSHMyvFbjoUpfBrbkz0KSyCe1bVTYRF50Yjvqs_xEO5EcuiG25zV-PUfcj_DeuKv1f_efpGr7E-y0AlUeTVBG6XytC63zhhLRbiMe/s1600/feet+in+hands+baby.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCM30cwn4uH2Ps8xCSoA06OL61LrK1WmoO-E8LcFpXSHMyvFbjoUpfBrbkz0KSyCe1bVTYRF50Yjvqs_xEO5EcuiG25zV-PUfcj_DeuKv1f_efpGr7E-y0AlUeTVBG6XytC63zhhLRbiMe/s400/feet+in+hands+baby.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nicola told me about her work with children with </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ASD </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(Autistic Spectum Disorders) and </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ADHD </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Children with these conditions can benefit greatly from CST; they may find that they have greater levels of </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">tolerance</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> understanding</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> within themselves, and </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">decrease in the tension</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and chaos they experience, allowing them to </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">find balance</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> in the world around them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nicola was awarded a PhD from Warwick Medical School, Division of Health Sciences for her research into Craniosacral Therapy outcomes in 2017. She was also awarded a Masters in Philosophy for her outstanding work on her <a href="https://www.craniosacral.co.uk/csta-sponsored-research" target="_blank">Masters by Research</a>. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I could have listened to Nicola all day! Craniosacral Therapy really is fascinating - it's no wonder she wants more people to know about all the benefits it can provide!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you'd like anymore information on how Tourus Wellbeing Clinic may be able to help you, contact them via their <a href="https://toruswellbeingclinic.co.uk/" target="_blank">website</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/toruswellbeingclinic/" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> or via phone/email. You'll find all the contact details on the website.</span></span><br />
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<u style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;">How Can CST Help You?</u></h2>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">CST can be used to treat a variety of different conditions such as migraines, chronic neck and back pain, stress and tension, problems with motor-control and coordination, a range of infant and childhood disorders, brain and spinal chord injuries, PTSD, orthopaedic issues, chronic fatigue, mental health related issues and much more!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whether you suffer from the daily stresses of a busy life, or you have an acute or chronic physical or mental health issue, Craniosacral Therapy could help you. Our emotional and physical wellbeing can become compromised in so many ways. As The Craniosacral Therapy Association (CSTA) explains,</span></span><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"We may be triggered into a fight or flight stress response more often than we think. Parts of our bodies contract as we adopt defensive postures, our breathing gets quicker, and our digestive systems shut down. Our immune systems also become compromised and we struggle to think clearly when in 'survival mode'. CST can help us shift into a more relaxed state of being where we can start to function more optimally on every level."</span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Real - Life Experiences</span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wanted to find out a bit more about how CST had helped others, so I asked the blogging community about their positive experiences.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hollie from <a href="http://www.cloverandtonic.com/" target="_blank">Clover and Tonic</a> describes how CST helped with breastfeeding her newborn:</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">"Before having my youngest I won in a raffle a private session with a breastfeeding and craniosacral therapist. When Ted arrived I was in agony trying to get him to feed and he just kept unlatching. I contacted the therapist and she came straight round (it was 10pm on a Friday night!). She took one look at him and asked if his shoulder had got a bit stuck during birth - it had! She held him and twisted his head to a side and suddenly his neck was much looser and he finally latched and stayed on! She was a life saver that night as I was past it with pain and exhaustion. It wasn’t a therapy I was aware of before winning the prize in a raffle but I’d highly recommend it."</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jenni from <a href="http://www.thebearandthefox.com/" target="_blank">The Bear and The Fox</a> explains how CST helped her tense baby begin to relax:</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">"My eldest son was a really tense baby, who suffered from colic, slept little, and was always clenching his little fists. Eventually, on recommendation from my midwife, who thought it may be related to the stress that had been put on his head and neck during the birth (his head had gotten stuck and they had to do an episiotomy to get him out), I took him to see a craniosacral therapist when he was a couple months old. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical at first, but at that point I was willing to try anything. The difference after a few sessions was amazing! I wouldn't say he was like a completely different baby - he's almost 8 now and still a terrible sleeper - but he was definitely a lot more relaxed and stopped tensing up and clenching his fists all the time. I only wished I had taken him sooner."</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Emma from <a href="https://www.themoneywhisperer.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Money Whisperer</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">"My eldest had torticolis as a baby - she held herself a bit like a banana. CST was brilliant for straightening her out and she would sleep for hours afterwards. When she would have a growth spurt for the next 5 years, I would notice her head tilting again - nerves don’t grow as quick as the rest of the body. I would take her to the CST with every growth spurt and she helped hugely."</i></span></blockquote>
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<i style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"My daughter had had her neck extended and I ended up with an emergency C section after failed Ventouse. I </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">would totally recommend anyone who didn’t have a straightforward birth to visit a CST with their baby. It’s so gentle it’s almost like they aren’t doing anything, but it can make a huge difference to the development of a baby who has experienced a traumatic delivery."</span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have you ever had CST? Why did you have it and what were the benefits? I'd love to know! Why not leave me a comment below and help to spread the word about how Craniosacral Therapy can help others.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ee; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Finding joy in the little things:</span> I like to end all my posts with a bit of consideration to the little things in life that bring me joy. This one is easy! Quite simply, I got to spend some quality time to myself...on my own...focused on me! How often does this happen as a mum of two? Well, not very often to be honest! Visiting the clinic today really brought home to me just how important self-care is to our overall health and wellbeing. Make sure you spend a little time on yourself, as often as you can. Your body (and family) will thank you for it!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>***I was offered a guided tour and a complimentary taster treatment courtesy of Torus Wellbeing Clinic, in exchange for a post to help promote Craniosacral Therapy Awareness Week and the work undertaken at the clinic. All opinions are my own, unless otherwise stated.***</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm linking up this post with these fabulous blogs:</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.confessionsofanewmummy.co.uk/" target="_blank"><img alt="Confessions of a New Mummy" height="150" src="https://i.imgur.com/N1uEzuI.png" width="150" /></a> <a href="https://jakijellz.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="JakiJellz"><img alt="JakiJellz" height="150" src="https://jakijellz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Triumphant-tales-linky-new-final-e1502402689465.png" style="border: none;" width="150" /></a> </span><a href="https://www.cuddlefairy.com/" target="_blank" title="Cuddle Fairy"><img alt="Cuddle Fairy" height="150" src="https://www.cuddlefairy.com/my-style/uploads/2016/06/BloggerClubUK-badge-2.jpg" style="border: none;" width="150" /></a> <a href="https://www.amomentwithfranca.com/" title="Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday"><img alt="Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday" height="150" src="https://www.amomentwithfranca.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/kcacols200x200.jpg" style="border: none;" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid lightgrey; display: inline-block; margin: 5px; padding: 5px;"><a href="https://talesfrommamaville.com/" rel="_nofollow">Tales From Mamaville</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: "lato" , sans-serif; line-height: 26px; text-align: left;">I’m also taking part in the <b>Mummy Monday</b> linky with Becca from</span><span style="color: #575757; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif; line-height: 26px; text-align: left;"> </span><a href="https://www.beccablogsitout.com/" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #fc7f8e; font-family: lato, sans-serif; line-height: 26px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Becca Blogs It Out">Becca Blogs It Out</a></i></span></div>
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Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686811111359047281.post-35195799982790872242018-10-02T18:10:00.001+01:002018-10-09T18:12:03.233+01:005 Fun, Easy Ways to Introduce Languages at Home<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwWt0XnlTt3CcQ5h-xgivL4tmQ4v-Nrq9CGWYVYa54olGOzVuxxxEVSnMAVp7U2UBdWwdPnWqylDfrCIopnWV26zacf43YzLacK3Uh841LjyNUCWG3Ihp0iifu6iuJCTQFFgGGVrnRJDG/s400/5+ways+square.png" style="display: none;" />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You don't have to come from a multilingual family to <b>introduce foreign languages</b> to your <b>children</b> at <b>home</b>! But <b>why should you bother?</b> And <b>how can you introduce languages</b> at home in <b>fun, easy</b> ways? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <b>best time</b> to <b>learn a second language</b> is during <b>early childhood</b>, when the brain is like a "sponge," and is more <b>open to learning new words</b>. Children are already used to imitating sounds with great pronunciation, so learning accents comes naturally at this stage. They have no inhibitions and are willing to try out new things too. Language is therefore acquired faster and remembered better at an early age. </span><br />
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<u style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;">The Benefits</u></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Young learners can benefit from learning languages is so many ways. Here are <i>just a few</i> - </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Children become <b>culturally aware</b> at an earlier age, helping to banish stereotypes, encourage tolerance and increase empathy.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In this digital age, distance is no longer a barrier. Children who learn a language are able to <b>speak to others from all over the world</b>, from the comfort of their own home.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's really rewarding to be able to use a language on <b>holidays</b> with the family. Watch that sense of pride as they order their own ice-cream or greet a local!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdZ35MExcYCNsB3IIwIjS-dRpU_g60D-W743g0eOYm3sLcYHKkPhHwqLpW58nOUsHmzKZJEFYd-zDxoV_4JuBYp6rnRVR2UorMXS3EzSIsdgBmaAhNyRqgZ1ZfCQLmnzD7pw-5P67BCf2/s1600/ice+cream.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdZ35MExcYCNsB3IIwIjS-dRpU_g60D-W743g0eOYm3sLcYHKkPhHwqLpW58nOUsHmzKZJEFYd-zDxoV_4JuBYp6rnRVR2UorMXS3EzSIsdgBmaAhNyRqgZ1ZfCQLmnzD7pw-5P67BCf2/s320/ice+cream.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Learning another language makes you <b>more aware of your own language</b>. Things like grammar and sentence structure are easier to relate to and understand.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It <b>keeps your brain active</b>, improves cognitive skills and even build up resistance to the onset of dementia.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It can <b>boost career opportunities</b> in later life.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With so many benefits (and those are just a few!), why put off starting something that becomes harder to learn later on in life? Why not <b>start to introduce a foreign language at home</b> with these <b>easy to follow tips...</b></span><br />
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<u style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;">5 Easy Ways to Introduce Languages at Home</u></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1) <b>Learn some simple greetings</b> for different times of the day. For example, guten Morgen (good morning), guten Tag (good day/afternoon), guten Abend (good evening) and gute Nacht (good night). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Use these greetings as a family every day, making sure you each repeat them to each other. Soon it will just be the norm to greet each other this way! Your children could even make a poster with a picture for each greeting, to remind them which one is used at what time of day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2) <b>Pick a room a week/month</b> and <b>learn the words for objects</b> in that room. For example, die K</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ü</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">che - The kitchen: die Tasse (cup), der Teller (plate), der K</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ü</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">hlschrank (fridge), </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">die Geschirrspülmaschine (dishwasher), der Toaster (you might be able to guess this one!).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9aXbric0fAQZHlaqEhX_VD-Y-8lOADu1ImRe7_4ywJWChnK4_iLv19WVZOz581MwiQU_hR2e9fdMJ4A-sxlKT4vPjsC-Inz7GTjA4KacfDxF8dbBJmrmGMPjq8IK_BgCp_hjG_85oDvP/s1600/sticky+note.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9aXbric0fAQZHlaqEhX_VD-Y-8lOADu1ImRe7_4ywJWChnK4_iLv19WVZOz581MwiQU_hR2e9fdMJ4A-sxlKT4vPjsC-Inz7GTjA4KacfDxF8dbBJmrmGMPjq8IK_BgCp_hjG_85oDvP/s320/sticky+note.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have older children make little flashcards with a picture/word for the item on, and stick it on the item. Post-its also work well for this. For non-readers, point to the object and say the word every time you pass it or use it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is nothing wrong with just acquiring vocabulary at this stage. Building sentences can come later if you are both beginners. However, if you are able to, popping these words into context will help learners with their fluency, e.g This is the freezer; put your plate in the dishwasher, etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3) <b>Listen to some songs together</b> and try to learn some of the words so you can sing along. Familiar songs are great for this, and YouTube is a fantastic place to start! Many bilingual videos have subtitles so you can begin to learn the vocabulary together. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiDns_Sv-D0Dder6hcPqUc8zxYk3434TtbHuCEKwi9GscC4sQrBhNIPdrhXA81DPRp6f1QA09Q9cigq9uH3jwlwZ6qvwztT4Fj8vuVC7M0bB5v2pLo5GZhZSi6mQcR_M_cawvSKl9LFQS/s1600/IMG_1148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiDns_Sv-D0Dder6hcPqUc8zxYk3434TtbHuCEKwi9GscC4sQrBhNIPdrhXA81DPRp6f1QA09Q9cigq9uH3jwlwZ6qvwztT4Fj8vuVC7M0bB5v2pLo5GZhZSi6mQcR_M_cawvSKl9LFQS/s400/IMG_1148.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My children learning <a href="https://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/2018/03/funf-kleine-entchen-five-little-ducks.html" target="_blank">"5 Little Ducks"</a> in German.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Read our post, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/2018/09/a-z-of-multisensory-language-learning-D.html" target="_blank">A - Z of Multisensory Language Learning for Kids: Letter D</a>, for ideas on how to incorporate music, action songs and dancing into your language learning!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>Read a well known story together</b> in the foreign language. There are so many bilingual or foreign language books available to buy from places like Amazon or Ebay. Start off with a familiar, favourite story that your child already knows, like The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Your little learner will be instantly engaged!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrEbyGHNbK9AoxQkrMPLqLkjy4AkqbpDu2uA8GPLXNCihctemT3XFbi18SlgGlcCX2tLL0Ksd1J4SW_qDcJ5zGc5-Uj6yqtvUiZqQNv1bxPrrO56tJ0ds8UMR7W3XPhWInW9RfZMeSmeG/s1600/IMG_1586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrEbyGHNbK9AoxQkrMPLqLkjy4AkqbpDu2uA8GPLXNCihctemT3XFbi18SlgGlcCX2tLL0Ksd1J4SW_qDcJ5zGc5-Uj6yqtvUiZqQNv1bxPrrO56tJ0ds8UMR7W3XPhWInW9RfZMeSmeG/s320/IMG_1586.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Some of our favourite stories in German.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Read our post, </span><a href="http://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/2018/07/a-z-of-multisensory-language-learningB.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">A - Z of Multisensory Language Learning for Kids: Letter B</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, for more ideas on how to incorporate books easily into your early language learning journey!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5) <b>Watch some well known children shows together!</b> Children's favourites such as Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol can be found on YouTube and are a great way to interest your child. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo credit: Jelleke-Vanooteghem on Unsplash</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They will already be captivated by the familiar theme tunes and characters, and most of the time they won't even realise the show is playing in another language! This is a great way to immerse your learner in the new language in a fun and gentle way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So there you have it - <b>5 easy ways to introduce languages at home in a fun and engaging way</b>. They won't cost you much in time, money or resources so you can start learning straight away! There's nothing to stop you from encouraging the next generation of little linguists now, is there?! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Good luck! I'd love to know if you have used any of these ideas in your own home, or if you plan to in the future. Visit our <a href="http://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/p/our-language-learning-adventure.html" target="_blank">Language Learning Adventure</a> page for lots more multisensory ideas on how to teach languages to children! And</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> remember, children are NEVER too young to start learning a new language!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.kidscuddlesandmuddypuddles.co.uk/p/about-us.html" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Finding joy in the little things:</a></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> My youngest loves nothing more than watching episodes of Peppa Pig in German and French on the iPad. She has started to pick up some of the words, and even sings along with </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Frère Jacques during the English episode when Peppa makes a French friend! It makes me smile every time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>I'm linking up this post with these fabulous blogs:</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.confessionsofanewmummy.co.uk/" target="_blank"><img alt="Confessions of a New Mummy" height="150" src="https://i.imgur.com/N1uEzuI.png" width="150" /></a> <a href="https://jakijellz.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="JakiJellz"><img alt="JakiJellz" height="150" src="https://jakijellz.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Triumphant-tales-linky-new-final-e1502402689465.png" style="border: none;" width="150" /></a></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: "lato" , sans-serif; line-height: 26px; text-align: left;">I’m also taking part in the <b>Mummy Monday</b> linky with Becca from</span><span style="color: #575757; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif; line-height: 26px; text-align: left;"> </span><a href="https://www.beccablogsitout.com/" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #fc7f8e; font-family: lato, sans-serif; line-height: 26px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Becca Blogs It Out">Becca Blogs It Out</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17552842164082450315noreply@blogger.com13