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I remember a time when I would arrive promptly for a dinner date, an appointment .... work and look haughtily at those that arrived looking hassled or, in some cases, disheveled. Today, I have to admit that there are days when I am that person.

I asked our Facebook fans what were their top time saving tips for mums and here's what they came up with.

• Prepare. Always prepare the night before if you can. Those extra few minutes in the morning may prove valuable when one of the children spills something down their front first thing in the morning. (Insert juice / breakfast / toothpaste - as appropriate).
• Have a routine. Children thrive on routine and hopefully, if you do the same things often enough, they should become a habit for them. (Disclaimer ... this doesn't seem to apply to making their own beds)
• Dont iron unless you absolutely have to! (This one made me giggle).
• As long as the children are perfectly groomed, have some great hats and you can forgoe doing your own hair!
• Have an "emergency" bag by the front door, with nappies, wipes, change of clothes and snacks .... just in case you have to dash out anywhere.

Now finally, my personal tip is to find long lasting make-up. I have used the same liquid eyeliner for years (yes, I accept that I am a creature of habit), so I was devastated to find that it had been discontinued. However it has been replaced by "tattoo eyeliner" which  lasts for 48 hours, unconvinced I thought I would try it and guess what .... it works!

So my time saving tip is to buy make up that you only have to apply every 2 days :-) 

Do you have a tip to share?

 

As mums, we are lucky to find a few moments to ourselves, let alone find time to exercise too! Wouldn’t it be great if we could all have the post-baby bodies of Victoria Beckham, Reese Witherspoon, or Beyonce? The trouble for most mums is finding the time to take regular exercise. While celeb mums have personal trainers who can whip them back into shape and nannies who can take care of their kids while they do it, the average mum has her hands full taking care of the kids and keeping the house in order. Cosmetic surgeries like tummy tucks and breast lifts may seem like an easy way out, but the risk of complications and medical negligence for these procedures is higher than what you may think. Instead, find time to squeeze fitness into your hectic schedule by following these tips: 

1)    Multi-task. 

As a busy mum, you simply may not have the time in your schedule to do a thirty-minute workout at the gym. But you can get some basic workouts in while you’re taking care of the kids, doing household chores, or running errands. Squeeze your glutes while you’re standing over the stove cooking dinner, do a few vertical push-ups each time you go to the toilet, and do some light weightlifting when you’re watching a television programme with the kids. Have time to spare when you’re waiting to pick up the kids from school or football practice? Keep a resistance band in the car to help keep you fit.

 2)    Take advantage of early mornings or nap time. 

If you have younger children, you can use nap time to fit in a quick at-home workout. Stream a fitness programme from the web or pop in a fitness DVD and get moving! Even a fifteen minute cardio workout will help you burn some calories. Mums who can’t seem to get a minute to themselves during the day may be better off trying to fit in a workout before the kids wake up; resist the urge to hit the snooze button and commit to waking up a few minutes early each morning.

 3)    Get the kids involved.

 While your kids will likely be bored by your pilates or yoga practise, they’ll be thrilled about high energy activities like dancing or swimming. Turn on some music and have a dance party in the living room, play a game of tag at the park, or take the kids to the pool to splash around with them one afternoon. If you have an infant in tow, push them in a stroller while you power walk or jog behind them.

 4)    Find a gym with childcare 

Can’t find the motivation to work out on your own? It may be time to head to the gym. Since it’s probably unrealistic to find a babysitter each time you want to work out, joining a gym that offers childcare services will allow you to enjoy a worry-free workout. 

We thought that these tips were pretty useful ..... hope you did too?

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I remember when I was little that my parents had a really big circle of friends who they saw regularly but the men would often go to the pub and the women would meet at each others houses for a cheeky bottle of wine and a catch up. I never really remember them getting all dolled up and going into town to go clubbing but that is what we did this weekend.

I love getting dressed up and going out dancing but this weekend we had two different occasions to go and celebrate, one on Friday and the other on Saturday night, it was like I was 19 again. Having children absolutely changes your social life, despite what many people say, it doesn't stop you socialising if you choose to but it does alter how you feel about it the following morning! 

I have a very vague memory of once upon a time dancing all night and not getting very much sleep but when you have two small children demanding your attention, the thought of having no sleep doesn't appeal so much.  I have to admit that I have felt a little jaded today, not hungover, just very very tired. When your baby is waking you up in the middle of the night, you kind of accept that you will feel tired the following day but when your feeling of exhaustion is self inflicted, it somehow makes you feel worse.

The friends we were out with this weekend all have children and to be honest, we spent a lot of the time talking about them but sometimes it is good to get out and be guaranteed of actually finishing a conversation without a little person interrupting it at some point.

So, should parents still go out when they have had children? Absolutely.

Could I do it every weekend .... absolutely not!

My two daughters are bubbling with energy and excitement and if I am too tired, I can't enjoy it. So I will always continue to enjoy time with friends but I think I have to admit that my days of all nighters may finally be over.

Let's be honest, unless you have been living under an enormous rock for the last twelve months, then the chances are you have heard (and probably seen) Korean pop star Psy’s mega hit Gangnam Style. We have seen children and adults of all ages doing the "Gangnam Style" and it is a phenomenon you can't escape. Named after a trendy area of the South Korean capital, the song apparently pokes gentle fun at the trendy hipsters that live in the district. Whatever the message, a billion views on YouTube means that it is one of the most watched things in the history of mankind. It’s also become an international dance craze. Not bad for a day’s work all in all.

It’s not just Psy that is putting Korea on the map. He may be leading the charge but Korea is big in other areas too. Seoul is widely considered to be one of the coolest cities in the world right now and is really having an influence on global trends. Young people in the country are very fashion and style conscious and Korean design is currently riding the crest of a wave. So, all this means it is the perfect time to add a touch of Korean flair to your living room. What better way to do that than with a new sofa .... especially if your little ones like to use it as a climbing frame like ours, it maybe time to look for a new model? 

Korean style sofas come in a few different shapes and sizes but the most common design is the large, flat corner sofa with extended area for a bit of ultra cool slouching (we know your mum told you not to slouch but trust us, it’s the only way to relax on a Korean sofa). The main distinguishing feature of Korean style sofas is the colour. It has to be bright and bold.

Korea is a bright and vibrant place and this is really reflected in the bold colours and patterns they use. The fabrics they use hold their colour really well and don’t be afraid to mix it up with some really contrasting cushions, in terms of colours and patterns. (Again, we know that mum always told us that we should colour co-ordinate but sometimes it's good to be different).

This kind of colour confidence is indicative of a country on the up and that definitely sums up Korea right now. It’s certainly a good time to try and get a bit of that confidence to rub off on us. With the doom and gloom around in the news at the moment, we could definitely use a little bit of positivity to give us a lift. Why not start with your sofa and work up from there.

This is a guest post from Sainsbury’s. If you’re looking for new sofas for your home then take a look at their impressive selection online today. Taking inspiration from around the world, they’re sure to have just what you’re looking for.

 

Disclaimer :  This is a sponsored post but having used the Sainsbury's website personally, it is also a natural recommendation too, I just haven't blogged about it before! :-)