The super lovely Becky from Baby Budgeting posted a Christmas Tag, sharing her most favourite things about the Christmas season and she has tagged me in. We put our Christmas tree up at the end of November this year, so we are in full Christmas spirit and I was delighted to be included.

Here are my favourite things about the festive season

What’s Your Favourite Christmas Movie?

We have been watching Christmas movies since the 1st December and there are so many that we love watching as a family and whilst my daughter and husband love Home Alone, I think that my favourite has to be ELF.

Have You Ever Had A White Christmas?

I honestly don't remember ever having a white Christmas. It is snowing this weekend but I can't imagine it will still be here on the 25th December ..... we can always hope though.

Where Do You Usually Spend Your Holiday?

Before I had my children, I was happy to go out visiting all day but since having my girls, we have always been at home for dinner. We see friends and family on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day but Christmas Day is reserved for opening presents, eating food and just being together as a family. 

What Is Your Favourite Christmas Song?

There are so many Christmas songs that spark memories or excitement but I think my favourite is actually Leona Lewis, One More Sleep.

Can You Name All Of Santa’s Reindeer?

Rudolph (of course), Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Comet, Blitzen, Cupid and I couldn't forget Donner!! 

What Holiday Traditions Are You Looking Forward To This Year?

Christmas Eve is possibly more exciting in our house than the day itself. The build up, the magic and the anticipation, we do everything from baking, final wrapping, to putting the treats out for Santa. It is like a ritual that we go through and it has become part of our family traditions. 

What Is The Best Christmas Present You Ever Received?

Gifts are a funny thing, I love giving them probably more than actually receiving them and it feels a little ungrateful to say that I can't remember one specific thing. My husband asked me what I wanted for Christmas this year and I can honestly say that there is nothing I want. As you get older (eek), I think you place less importance on material things and want to enjoy experiences rather than "things".

Most Memorable Christmas Memory?

One of my favourite memories is when I still lived at home with my parents and a friend of mine had no where to go for Christmas dinner. My mom thought nothing of inviting her to our house and including her in all our festivities. I remember us all cramped round the dining table with mismatched chairs but no one cared, it was just about making sure that no one was on their own at Christmas. And that is what it is all about isn't it? (Still think mom was a legend for doing this)

What Made You Realise The Truth About Santa?

The truth? You mean that he is magical don't you? There is nothing else to know!!

What Makes The Holidays Special For You?

Having time to spend with friends and family. I feel really lucky that we are surrounded by a fantastic circle of friends and family and the holidays give us a chance to spend time with them and I love it.

 

If you’d like to share what makes Christmas special for you, please do leave me a comment below.

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You don't want to be late for a very important date, do you? That was the question on the White Rabbits lips in this modern adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale at the Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham.

The story follows Alice on her journey through the enchanted and extraordinary Wonderland, meeting many peculiar characters along the way. From intriguing white rabbits, bizarre riddles, mad tea parties and dangerous encounters with the Queen of Hearts, will Alice ever find her way home? 

This much loved tale has been transferred to the stage by Director Scott Le Crass and ensures that the frankly quite bonkers story is told well, without some of the more extreme craziness that could be a little frightening for small children.

The intimate setting of The Old Rep theatre is the perfect introduction to theatre for school children and we understand that it is regularly attended for school trips. Ticket prices are £13.80 for children, £16.50 for adults but there are discounted rates for families and groups. The performance lasts for approx. 115mins including a 20 minute interval. For this particular show, there are two performances from Monday to Friday with one show on Saturday.. We were also impressed to note that they also have British Sign Language days and relaxed performance days (suitable for autistic spectrum) on selected dates.

Grace Dean takes the lead role of Alice with Alec Fellows-Bennett playing the Mad Hatter. Katie Paine plays the Queen of Hearts, Ewan Goddard is the White Rabbit, with Mark Collier and Laura Curnick playing the dual roles of the Caterpillar and Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee and Dormouse. Those characters playing multiple roles demonstrated their versaility and we were able to easily distinguish between each character and get swept along with the story. 

Despite Alice being the much loved central character, with Grace Dean creating the right balance of cute and childlike behaviour, the Mad Hatter was crowned our favourite character of the show, with his tea party songs being stuck in our heads for the remainder of the day. 

We're all mad here ......

So if you enjoy a little dose of madness and would like to see the show for yourself, it is running at The Old Rep Theatre until Saturday 30th December, making it the perfect family Christmas outing. 

Disclosure: We were invited to attend the show for the purpose of the review.

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Sleep is a big thing in our house, we love it but just don't get enough of it. To be honest, we grab those elusive 40 winks at any opportunity but which side of the body is best for sleeping? My friend is a nurse and she has to deal with lots of different patient complaints but some are in relation to how they sleep? (Who knew!) They complain about pain in the back left hip, left foot or the occasional abdominal pains for the sideway sleeper on bed. Of course, sleeping on the left side of the bed is medically approved, and it’s completely different from the right side. 

The Lymph Drains Towards The Left Side

Interestingly, a significant amount of the body’s lymphatic fluid drains to the thoracic duct, found on the left side. Along the way, it carries proteins, metabolites, and glucose. So, by sleeping on the right side, you hinder this process leading to chronic lymphatic complications.

Hinders Elimination of Waste

Here, the small intestines dump waste through the ICV or ileocecal valve, located on the right side of your body. This is just near the start of the large intestines. So, food travels up and across the right side of your tummy where it dumps the waste products into the left side of your colon. With the help of gravity, the left side of your body can move food wastes from the small to the large intestines quickly.

It is amazing to see that by sleeping on the right side, you put your body through an unbearable digestion process. Eventually, this leads to indigestion and other stomach complications. Therefore, if you find yourself with un-ending tummy problems, it might not be something you ate but shockingly, how you sleep! wow!

Reduces The Efficiency of a Functioning Heart

We all know that the heart is located on the left side. By sleeping on this side of the body, you further aid the body in lymphatic drainage to your heart through gravity. Remember that it’s always good to take some of the tedious work off your heart as you enjoy your night’s rest.

If you prefer sleeping on the right side, you’re not doing your heart any favors. Here, you’re just giving it extra work throughout the night, and chances are that you might not even enjoy your sleep. Many of my patients complain about heart problems, but after running some tests, the results show no problem. If you’re going through a similar situation, consider changing your sleeping posture!

It Gives Your Spleen Too Much Work!

We sometimes all need a little reminder that the spleen plays an essential role in your lymphatic system. It’s like a gigantic lymph node. However, other than just filtering lymph, it also removes ‘dirt’ from the blood. By sleeping on the left side and through the help of gravity, you assist the spleen in handling these processes quickly. However, if you love sleeping on the right side, you give the spleen extra work which is not healthy at all!

Do You Feel Sleepy After Taking a Heavy Meal?

Sleeping on the right side after a heavy dinner is quite unhealthy. It further causes indigestion and discomfort throughout the night. Keep in mind that the gallbladder and liver hang on the right side. By resting them on the left side, you allow them to secrete precious bile and to swing freely. And with the help of gravity, they can quickly emulsify fats and neutralize the stomach acids, giving you peaceful rest during the night.

Over the years we have talked a lot about sleeping but who knew how important it was to sleep on the left side, especially if you’re suffering from ‘weird’ health complications. Besides, if you’re having trouble sleeping, sleeping on the right side could be the problem. Either way, you should change your sleeping posture sooner rather than later!

Happy snoozing! 

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Once you have children, it is your responsibility as their parent to make sure that your children are always well cared for and are safe. That means, making sure their needs are met, they are sent to a good school, and of course, their safety on the road. This is why a lot of families have opted to purchase a family car. But what exactly defines a family vehicle?

A family car the role it plays

Family vehicles are often larger vehicles like an SUV or a minivan that can comfortably fit at least one to three children comfortably. Because of the role it plays, you also need to be able to take care of it as it will be the mode of transport for you and your kids for the first 18 years of their life. And here are a few easy ways for you to do just that

Keep it Clean. Everyone likes a clean house as it offers a more comfortable stay. The same can be said about your family car. When you have kids, messy car trips are almost unavoidable. Make sure to clean up and spills as soon as you can, and remember to wash and wax the vehicle regularly to ensure that it is always looking good. Not only will keeping your family car clean prolong its life, but it will also show everyone a reflection of how you take care of your family.

Regularly Change its fluids. An essential skill all car owners must possess is the ability to change the oil and coolant in their vehicle. Change the car’s oil and refill the coolant as needed to make sure that the engine is running well and won’t break down when you’re in the middle of a road trip with your kids in the car.

Pressure Check. Each tire has a specific pressure that it must maintain at all costs. A lot of people overlook the tire pressure, but doing so can make driving the car a lot harder. Check your tire pressure regularly, ideally with each petrol refill. This way, it will be easier to fill it up with air, and there will be someone there to assist you if needed.

Watch where you park. Before you put on the parking brakes, check the area where you are parking. Is it safe? Is it under a tree? Are there any hazards that can pose a threat to your vehicle’s well-being? If the answer is yes, then you might want to rethink your parking location. It is highly recommended that owners park their family cars in secure areas as you will be loading and unloading children. And when you’re at home, avoid parking on the street where it is exposed to the elements. Park it in your garage, or if putting it out on the street is unavoidable, provide a cover for it, so It’s protected against bird droppings, tree branches, and dings from passing vehicles.

Drive Smart. Learn how to drive your car safely. Don’t go fast right off the bat. Remember to start slow. After all, you have kids on board. Also, don’t hit the brakes abruptly. This can wear down your brakes faster and can put unnecessary stress on your car’s engine at the same time. Learn to pace yourself and always drive defensively to avoid any collisions. You and your family’s safety depend on it.

When you take care of your family vehicle, you lessen the chance of needing to buy a new one in less than ten years. And if you’re in the market to own a car for your family but don’t have the means, consider a rent to own car. It offers a lower payment at a price that you is tailor-made for your needs.

Oh and in this cold weather, don't forget the de-icer too!!

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