A friend and I were talking today about how we love our teenagers going out and creating memories but we don't love how much it costs us. We are sure that the girls think there is a money tree growing in our garden so there is a growing need for part-time jobs or side hustles, especially for mothers who are unable to work full-time because they have childcare duties to handle. This is one of the reasons that has been raised in the current discussions surrounding the gender pay gap and why women generally earn less pay when compared to men. But that is a whole other discussion and not one for today.

Part-time work also comes with it’s set of challenges if you are going to include other expenses such as nursery and travel fees. Some mums are lucky to be able to tweak their working hours such that they are able to work from home, but many employers aren’t so accommodating to the idea of working remotely. If you are one of those hard working mums trying to earn more money, this might just be for you! We are going to discuss doing voice-overs, a part-time job that pays really well.

For mums who are learning about who a voice-over artist is for the first time, here is a brief explanation of what it is about. A voice-over artist is someone who records their voice while reading a script of a show or movie provided by the client.

You may have come across this many times but you may not know it as a voice-over. The voice is usually not necessarily a part of the television or radio production. It is a job that remains in high demand considering there is a high number of productions in theatre, television, radio, and other forms of presentation.

There is usually a little bit of acting involved, you need to be able to convey the script as though you were acting in front of a camera. It has to come off natural and believable. In many cases, you are basically voicing a presentation to English or to another language. If you have watched an episode or two of Mexican telenovelas with English audio, then you know what a voice-over artist does.

If this sounds like something that you can do while juggling other mummy duties at home, then you are making the right move. Doing voice-over part-time can actually become your major source of income. Not only do you have enough time to be a mummy, but you also get to spend a lot of time on yourself doing the things that you love. If you are looking for more info about doing voice-over part-time, you can find all the information that you need at voquent.com .... although I am still not sure that my distinctive Brummie accent is what they might be looking for, maybe I need to use my posh telephone voice!

If you have a child of school age, you have undoubtedly heard about Fingerlings. No? Well if not, let us tell you ALL about them.

Fingerlings were created by WowWee and they are essentially an adorable creature that is designed to be wrapped around your finger. The toy can be a monkey, unicorn, panda, dragon, or sloth that clings to your fingers and react to touch and sound by blinking and blowing kisses. 

My daughter has had a Fingerlings monkey for some time but was delighted to have the opportunity to try out the new Narwharl that WowWee have launched. There are 4 Narwharls to collect and we were lucky enough to get Nikki the Narwharl, who according to their website, loves to “splish and splash”.

The key features of the Narhwarl are: 

• The horn lights up to show how they feel.
• They have cute sounds that react to motion
• Put them to your cheek to get an adorable “mwah” kiss (I can’t tell you how many kisses I have had from the Narwharl … it is a little addictive)

The more you love the Narwharl, the more it interacts and loves you back, so when you lovingly pet them they’ll actually flap their tail and then blink their eyes so you know exactly how they’re feeling.

The Narwharls retail for £14.99 and are available at most leading toy stores such as Smyths, Argos, The Entertainer and Argos. However we are delighted to give the Lilypad readers the chance to win one of your very own. All you need to do is enter below.

Good luck

 Fingerlings Narwharl

We have been talking about new houses recently but moving to a new home isn't necessarily the most fun activity for many. There are several stages involved in the process and it is quite understandable why many would rather just skip to the final stage, which would be walking into a home that has already been set up. But unfortunately, we all have to do the job from start to finish. It can be extremely rewarding and fulfilling from the moment you install the last piece. For many mums, decorating their new home is an ongoing process, but it is advised that you get most of it done, if not all, as soon as you get all your stuff to the new house.

The part that many dread is the process of packing up stuff in the old house, arguing over what to take or leave behind, or sell. And then unpacking all that stuff and trying to fit them into the new space. For sellers, setting up the old house to look presentable and attractive to potential buyers can be challenging. It takes a lot of work, but it is worth it in the end.

Decorating the new home in itself is a task that can both be fun and stressful, especially for mums, but it all boils down to how you approach the task ahead and how much information you have. There are so many factors to consider from colours to furniture and fittings. Mums resort to “home designer mode” to think of creative ways to decorate their daughters room. 

You might need to think like a designer in order to decorate like one. You need to find a balance between what the house needs and what you want. Here are the top 3 expert tips that you might need to decorate your new home.

1. Take Proper Measurements

You need to apply some math when decorating your new home. Take Proper measurement of the new space, you take it to the next level by sketching on a notebook (to scale). This might seem a little too technical for some, but it does help give you an idea of how space you have to work with and dimensions of new furniture if you are shopping for new stuff.

2. Choosing The Right Colours

For most mums, decorating the new home starts from picking out colours. This can set the tone for everything else that will go into decorating the space. The colour of the walls will determine what kind of furniture will fit perfectly. When choosing colours, make sure that you also consider the natural lighting of the space. Your favourite colour may not be best for that room, so you need to have several options that you can try if one will not work.

3. Pick The Right Furniture

When it comes to furniture, maximizing space is very important. You need to take into account the amount of space you have the size of the furniture you are shopping. There are several options that you can find at furniture123.co.uk that will meet all your requirements.

Space management in your child’s room is important, you do not want the space to be cluttered with unnecessary things. Opting for cabin beds and mid sleeper can help you make the most of your child’s room. Furniture123.co.uk offers furniture that is designed with space management in mind. This is how we maximised the space in our youngest daughters room and it works really well. She sleeps up high and plays underneath. So contrary to what some people suggest ..... size isn't always everything! 

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We have been talking about moving house for as long as I can remember but our home is where our youngest daughter was born, we have amazing neighbours and above all it is safe. So what makes the perfect house?

The perfect house for you and your children isn’t something that functions like a dream and satisfies your every possible need. The perfect house is actually made up of common things but gives you comfort and joy no matter where you live or how big or small the house actually is. 

If you’re missing on a few things in your home that you wish you had, don’t worry -  only a very few houses are perfect. However, if you ever get the opportunity to buy a new home, or remodel an existing home, expert real estate businesses like Gloria Nilson & Co Real Estate have listed these 4 essential elements of a house that makes them perfect for living.

Single level living 

Single level homes have many advantages over double-story homes. To begin with, temperatures inside a single level house are very easy to regulate because you do not have to worry about two levels.

This actually saves you money when it comes to your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning costs. Another great benefit of a single story home is that you do not have to worry about stairs, especially if you are living with senior citizens.

Southern Exposure

A house that has southern exposure has numerous benefits. Gloria Nilson open houses often recommend southern exposure homes because of their direct exposure to sunlight. Since sunlight is a mood-enhancer, it takes away the low-mood of winters.

A southern exposure home is also warmer in winters compared to other houses that face the north. In summers, you can keep pot plants near your windows where the sunlight hits to keep things cooler. 

Outdoor Space

Having children usually means that you need to have a house that has open spaces outside. With open space, you and your children can enjoy a good time playing various sports and other games in the summer. 

As a family, a spacious open space also allows you to have a family BBQ with friends. Plus many real estate agents swear that if you add a patio or deck to your home, the value of your house skyrockets because open spaces with these things are very much in demand, even in 2019.

So if you ever want to sell your house in the future, apparently you should try and find a house with open living spaces.

Dedicated Master Bedroom

You should ideally find a house that has a dedicated master bed, a room that is separate from your children’s room. This room should also be spacious so that you can have plenty of space available in the bedroom.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, the perfect house is something that resonates with your personality. If you love blue kitchen walls, by all means, go for it. If you love modern interior features, try and find a house that has those. If you are able to find a home that truly expresses your character, that is what makes it the perfect house.

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