Category: Views & Ramblings

1. Getting the financial support you deserve to help raise your children

   Posted on 12:00pm Sunday 3rd Mar 2019

   For all the parents out there, there’s plenty of financial support to help you give you and your children a fulfilling and healthy lifestyle.

   Child Tax Credits are a benefit that is awarded to families raising children age 16 and under. It was designed to help support young families and provide help with modern family life. It’s been designed to help with the costs of raising children. It gives parents the opportunity to be able to afford school uniforms, clothes and nutritious foods to name but a few.

   Dependent on your household income, you will receive a fixed amount. It also depends on the number of children you have and their date of births. You can visit the Government website to find out more about your eligibility and your claim.

   

    

   Who can actually claim?

   Any parent can make a claim, but the amount you receive is dependent on a number of different factors. If you have a child under the age of 16 then you may well be eligible to make your claim! You are also eligible to claim for a child or children under the age of 20 who are in approved education, or a training/registered with a careers service. If you are struggling to understand any of this, you can get in touch with the Child Tax Credits customer service team, and they will happily help you.

   How can they help you and your family?

   Having a family doesn’t come cheap, and we all know how important it is to ensure our kids live their best lives. Applying for Child Tax Credits just gives you that little bit of extra security if you are in a position where you think you might struggle. You can put it towards the food shop, or use it to buy your kids new clothes for the summer and winter.

   Ultimately, it’s been introduced to help you. There’s no shame in applying for it, every parent does. If it helps you get by, and stops you struggling, there’s no reason to not at least apply!

    

   So, what are you waiting for? Get in touch with them now and see how they can help you and your family remove one of the biggest stresses in life. It might only be a small amount, but when you are raising your kids every little helps!

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2. Creating space in your bedroom

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 25th Feb 2019

   

   It is no secret that I love sleep and love my bed but not every bedroom is as big as we would like, so it’s important that you maximise every square inch that you have available. There are a number of ways you can make the most of the space in your bedroom, in this blog we are going to give you some of our top tips.

   The Storage Bed

   Despite what Marie Kondo saya, storage boxes aren’t always aesthetically pleasing, they can look cluttered and are sometimes the issue that stops you from achieving that flawless finish. So what options are there out there that will allow you to achieve a stunning look in your room, but yet keep your things stored? A storage bed may well be the answer you are looking for.

   

   There’s a huge number of options for you on the market, in a variety of styles that will fit any interior design specification. A Divan Frame will be ideal if you have a narrow bedroom, as they are side opening so don’t need any extra room for you to access your stored items. It won’t compromise any of your space. You can have one side of your bed against the wall, and simply lift the other side up to access the storage area.  

   Do you really need a double bed?

   Often people get double beds for the sake of it. Simply because they are bigger, and we all like that extra space to stretch out into on a night. However, are they really a necessity? They can compromise the sometimes-limited space you have available, and there are other options available that won’t take up anywhere near as much space.

   Providing you get the right smaller sized bed; your night time comfort will not be affected. There are small double beds and wide single beds available, and they could be what you are looking for. They are compact and don’t take up as much space as a double bed, but they do give you more room to breathe than a single bed.

   Providing you get the right smaller sized bed then you can have an equally as comfortable night’s sleep. There’s a great selection of styles available, with chic and classic looks very popular, alongside modern and contemporary styles, suiting all bedroom characteristics.

   Don’t forget your guests

   Pretty much everyone has guests staying over at some point, so obviously it’s key that you cater for their needs without using up too much space. The guest rooms are often the smallest in the house, so we would recommend you take a look at pullout beds. They make the most of the space, but also allow you to have more than one guest staying over at a time.

   If you ensure your bed is kept right up against the wall, then there will still be plenty of space for your guests to move around. It’s a far more convenient option than having a space hugging double bed in the room on a permanent basis.

   

   These are just some of the tricks that you can apply in your home to maximise the space in your bedroom. With these solutions, you could allow your space to flourish, and it can be used in a far wiser fashion.

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3. 5 Fantastic tips for decluttering kids’ stuff

   Posted on 12:00pm Sunday 10th Feb 2019

   Kids have a strong connection with their stuff, especially toys. Therefore sometimes it gets challenging to declutter kids’ stuff. Also, as kids love to buy new stuff frequently, it can increase the amount of clutter in your house. 

   You can't have escaped the whole Marie Kondo phenomenon that is sweeping the nation, so here are 5 top tips for decluttering kids’ stuff and that too without any fuss, fights, scolding involved.

   Declutter kids’ stuff using big baskets/bins:

   Big baskets and containers are quite useful in the whole decluttering process. Buy 4-5 big baskets and assign each basket for one commodity (For example - One basket for kid's books, another one for his toys, maybe a small one for his stationery etc.).

   In this way, it would be easier for you to declutter the various stuff. Also, teach the kid to store all the items in their respective baskets only. This would help you with cleaning and decluttering.

   Assign one day in 2-3 months to declutter kid’s toys: 

   Kids toys are probably the most difficult to declutter. This is because kids are very attached to their toys. They don't like parting away from their toys.

   Therefore decluttering kid’s toys can be a bit difficult. To begin with, try to involve your kid in the decluttering process. Initially, it can be a tough process to teach them to let go of their favorite toys, but gradually they will learn the process.

   

   Now ask them to categorize the toys into three categories -

   • Toys that have no life left & should be thrown away.
   • Toys that can be donated.
   • Toys they still want to keep.

   Divide all the toys into these three categories. Guide your kids and explain to them the purpose of each group. 

   This process would not only save your time but would also teach your kid a little bit about decluttering.

   Buy less:

   How can you make your decluttering process easier?

   The simple answer is by buying less stuff.

   Buy only that's needed. Once in a while buying the not so needed stuff (especially in case of toys) is fine but don't do it regularly.

   Less stuff means less declutter! Remember this.

   Involve your kids in the decluttering process:

   This would have two benefits - One that the kid would learn to declutter from a young age. And second that this would save your time. As the kid would grow older, he/she can be asked to declutter all by himself/herself with no or very less guidance.

   Teach them how to clean up their cupboards, study table, toy baskets etc.

   Try to make decluttering a fun task for your kids.

   

   Have a daily cleaning time for your kids:

   Have a regular cleaning time for your kids. Dedicate a particular time of the day (In the morning, or before going to bed, or in the afternoon) as cleaning time. Kids should clean whatever mess they have created. If your kids are too small, then you can clean up their room, organize the toys, clean up the floor etc. during this dedicated time.

   When you will do little cleanup work daily, you won't end up in a huge mess by the end of a week. 

   These tips can be applied to kids of any age. Try to make the whole clean up activity a fun one for the kids, and they would enjoy cleaning their stuff.

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4. What Essential Oils Can Teenage Girls Use?

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 6th Feb 2019

   Somehow I have a teenager! I seem to have blinked and suddenly she has grown up. It honestly feels like only a few years since I was that age and teenage girls encounter so many problems during the journey from child to young woman; and some of these problems affect physical health.

   In addition, the mental health of a teenage girl can be an emotional roller coaster, causing confusion, depression and anger (even without social media pressures)

   

   Essential oils in aromatherapy use can often help to control or eliminate some of the difficulties a teenage girl endures during this period of her life.

   Essential Oils for Hormonal Problems in Teenage Girls

   Teenage girls have to deal with the onset of menstruation, acne and changing body shape; consequently, the hormones of a teenage girl are often up and down. Hormonal problems in teenage girls can be alleviated by the use of the following essential oils:

   • Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) and cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica), particularly for menstruation difficulties
   • Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), which can have calming effects
   • Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), which can have calming effects

   Essential Oils for Teenage Hair Care

   Teenage girls may experience greasy hair, which leads to frequent shampooing. Essential oils can be added to both a shampoo and hair conditioner base to help alleviate some of the problems of teenage hair care for girls; suitable essential oils include:

   • Clary sage (Salvia sclarea), which has regenerative properties
   • Juniper (Juniperus communis), which is good for greasy hair
   • Lemon (Citrus limon), an astringent and anti-bacterial essential oil
   • Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata), a hair tonic.

   Essential Oils for Skin Care in Teenage Girls

   Teenage girls suffer from many skin problems, which in turn leads to stress and anxiety; hormonal problems cause some skin problems in teenage girls, but diet can also play a part too. Teenage acne, cysts and blackheads are common problems of teenage skin; suitable essential oils for treating teenage skin include:

   • Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), which is a healing essential oil
   • Lemon (citrus limon), which is both an astringent and anti-bacterial essential oil
   • Petitgrain (Citrus aurantium var amara), which hasanti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties
   • Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica), which is an antiseptic and stimulating essential oil
   • Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile), which is good for acne.
   • Teenage Girls and the Use of Essential Oils for Stress and Depression

   Stress and depression can affect teenage girls for a number of reasons; exam worries, hormonal imbalances, a developing body and family difficulties affect many teenage girls. Essential oils which are useful in treating stress and depression in teenage girls include:

   • Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) for hormonal imbalances and depression
   • Lemon (Citrus limon), which can have calming effects
   • Petitgrain (Citrus aurantium var amara), which can have balancing effects
   • Clary sage (Salvia sclarea), which can have calming effects
   • Basil (Ocimum basilicum), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) combined, which may help with exam stress.

   

   Aromatherapy for Teenage Girls

   There are many essential oils which can be used to treat the problems of teenage girls; essential oils which possess similar properties as those above can also be used. However, if unfamiliar in the use of essential oils in aromatherapy, consult a qualified and experienced aromatherapist for advice relating to individual circumstances. Essential oils used correctly are a good aid for the problems teenage girls face.

   I just need someone else to tell my daughter, as she obviously doesn't think I am cool enough to make recommendations any more!

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