Crafting

If you’re like me the mere thought of glue, glitter and paint sends you into meltdown then crafting probably isn’t on your list of things to do. But making things for Easter doesn’t have to be a chore and you definitely don’t have to be a creative person. There’s plenty of help and advice online to make even the simplest decorative egg a success. There are so many things you can create, from Easter egg candles to Easter egg balloons, from Easter bonnets to Easter baskets, all of which really don’t have to cost a fortune. The Red Ted Art website has lots of fantastic ideas many of which use items from around your home that you would probably have thrown away or recycled. Visit their website for more details – https://www.redtedart.com/easter-crafts-ideas-to-inspire-you/

Easter Egg hunt

All children love an Easter egg hunt no matter how old they are! In today’s world of children being glued to their technology this is a great way to get them outside and active. There are various ways of planning your hunt from the haphazard method of hiding eggs anywhere and everywhere, to a planned trail with clues to help along the way. No matter how you like to do yours make sure you hide extra eggs for any adults who are likely to join in. The BBC Good Food website has a great guide for setting an Easter egg hunt it you’re unsure where to start –https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-throw-easter-egg-hunt

Family Game afternoon

If you’re planning a family gathering why not plan an afternoon of team games. This is a great way to get everyone involved and outside in the fresh air, especially as the weather forecast is looking so good. There’s a huge range of games you can choose from, such as, a sack race, egg and spoon, three legged race, apple bobbing and even a mini assault course. Of course, the winning teams and all participants I’m sure will enjoy Easter chocolate prizes.

Days Out

The National Trust has many places around the country, many of which have special Easter activities planned. From Easter trails to Easter egg hunts, from pumpkin seed planting to bluebell walks there’s plenty on offer which won’t cost a fortune. Visit the National Trust website – https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/easter-events-for-families – and find your nearest National Trust property to see what activities they have planned this Easter. If your child goes to a local nursery like Tigers Day Nurseries then they may have details of any local events planned in your area which they would recommend. They may even share their own top tips for making Easter crafts.

Happy Easter!

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If you’re fed up with always looking at the latest trends and putting your hand in your pocket to shell out for the latest fashion items, here’s 5 of the best wardrobe essentials you should keep to hand that won’t let you down, no matter what the season or occasion.

Denim Jeans

Men’s jeans are an easy fashion piece that are absolutely timeless. They can be dressed up or down and mixed and matched with plain t-shirts and smart shirts. Paired with a denim jacket of a different colour, or a suit jacket, they are a versatile item that you won’t regret buying. Stick to a style that suits your frame in a darker blue without any embellishments.

Plain t-shirts

Suits are becoming less and less the dress code within offices, which means an easy alternative is a round neck crew t-shirt either worn on its own or as an underneath layer. Make sure you go for quality rather than quantity as t-shirts made from less than high quality cotton have a tendency to lose their shape once they’ve been through the washing machine a couple of times.

Casual Jumpers

Knitwear is a great alternative to a sweatshirt. Sweatshirts over time can become faded and washed out which can then look a little too casual. Guaranteed, you won’t regret investing in a couple of well-made jumpers. The texture of the wool can add depth to an outfit, lifting the overall look from a casual affair to a smarter impression. Don’t choose colours that are to outlandish quite simply because you may not have a wardrobe that matches.

Button down Oxford shirt

Regardless of whether you choose white or blue, a button-down cotton shirt is an absolute staple in any mans wardrobe. The Oxford shirt is such a versatile piece of clothing that you’ll struggle to find anything that you can’t wear with it! From shorts and flip flops to suits and ties, the Oxford shirt is an absolute must. To find out why the Oxford Shirt is so named follow the link: https://therake.com/stories/style/history-of-the-button-down-shirt/

Single-breasted, notch-lapel suit

If you’re not that aux fait with styles of suits, a single-breasted notch-lapel suit will stand you in good stead for any situation where a suit is the order of the day. A notch-lapel suit simply means that the lapel (the piece of cloth found on the front of the suit) is sewn onto the collar of the jacket at an angle which then creates a triangular shape between the collar and the lapel. This type of lapel is pretty standard for a single-breasted suit – a style of suit that has just one row of buttons down the front with a small piece of overlapping jacket. This style of suit is suitable for all occasions, from weddings and christenings to funerals and business meetings. If you’d like to find out more about suit etiquette visit: https://www.harveynichols.com/news/features/everyday-mans-guide-suit-etiquette/

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The race is steeped in history with the first meet being held back in 1860. Back then it was known as the National Hunt Chase and was held in Market Harborough, Leicestershire. Throughout the early years, the meet was held at different venues but in 1911 the four-day festival returned to Prestbury Park, Cheltenham due to the significant improvements that had been made, not only to the racetrack but as well to the enclosures, stabling blocks, and spectator stands.

The Cheltenham Festival (https://www.cheltenhamfestival.net/) is the showpiece of the National Hunt Season and features many of the finest jump horses throughout Britain and Ireland. The meet is held in mid-March and normally coincides with Saint Patrick’s Day. The festival is well-attended by a strong Irish contingent as they make the trip across the Irish Sea to enjoy the four days of high-level drama.

65,000 people on average attend the festival across the four days, all of which will no doubt join in the legendary ‘Cheltenham Roar’, one of the greatest phenomena in sport. As the starter raises the white tape for the first race on the first day, the crowd erupt into something that can only be described as a deafening roar, making the hairs stand up on the back of your neck, and must be experienced in the flesh to be believed.

The meet consists of 28 races which will be run over the four-day period. There are four feature races, which are; The Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. This year’s prize money on offer totals a staggering £4.59 million pounds over the duration of the meet.

Tickets for Gold Cup Day, this year to be held on Friday 15^th March, have already been sold out but tickets remain on sale for the other days and can be bought from as little as £45 from the Jockey Club website: https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham/events-tickets/the-festival/tickets/

There’s not just racing to be enjoyed at the festival, spectators can also enjoy a spot of shopping at The Shopping Village where they will find a diverse range of products including home accessories, hats, artwork, bags, belts and fashionable clothing. Live bands will also play throughout the duration of the festival, with a couple of bars having entertainment until 6.30pm, perfect for those who don’t want to get caught in the mass exodus once racing finishes.

Travelling to and from the racecourse couldn’t be easier. You can either buy a parking ticket and park on the racecourse or alternatively use the dedicated races bus service which operates between Cheltenham Spa Railway Station, Cheltenham Town Centre and the Racecourse itself. For those staying locally you may find booking a local taxi the quickest and easiest option.

There are plenty of accommodation options if you are planning on staying for one night or the duration of the festival. If you’re looking for a luxury hotel in Cheltenham, Ellenborough Park hotel is a five-star hotel that offers extensive facilities which include a spa and fine dining restaurant. For those who prefer to be in the town there are several hotels on offer including the Jury Inn and Holiday Inn Express.

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Fish & Chips

It may be under debate about where and when the first fish and chip shop originated in the UK, but a sure front runner is that of Joseph Malin who opened his first shop in Cleveland Street in 1860 not far from the Bow Bells. Fish and chips is a renowned traditional dish of the UK and has been reported as being the nations favourite takeaway. If you fancy tasting the local catch head to Poppies in Spitalfields, where you can also try another traditional dish of the East End, jellied eels.

Sunday Lunch/Roast

The Sunday roast originated in England as a meal that was eaten after attending the mornings church service. Meat was placed into the oven to roast before the family left for church and then potatoes and vegetables were added in with the meat. There are various other dishes that can be served with the traditional fayre which include stuffing, cauliflower cheese and Yorkshire pudding. To experience a Sunday lunch with a fantastic atmosphere, head to a restaurant with live music in London, such as Boisdale in Canary Wharf.

Cockles

Cockles have been eaten in and around the East End of London for years. If you like visiting markets we would thoroughly recommend a trip to the infamous Borough Market (http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk) which has been in existence for over 1,000 years, making it one of London’s oldest markets. Positioned at the southern end of London Bridge, the market is open 6 days a week and trades in all kinds of wonderful food including cockles. If you’d like to give them a try, head to the Wright Brothers restaurant where you will be able to watch the chef’s hard at work in the open kitchen.

Full English Breakfast

An internationally recognised dish, the full English breakfast is also referred to as a ‘fry up’ as most things served on the plate are traditionally fried. The meal consists of bacon, egg (either fried, scrambled or poached), with grilled or fried tomatoes, and fried mushrooms. Fried bread or toast and sausages are other main staples. Black pudding, baked beans and bubble and squeak are not uncommon additions. If you’re looking for sustenance to last you throughout the day, visit Balthazar in Covent Garden (https://www.coventgarden.london/) – a must if you’re planning a day hitting the shops.

Afternoon Tea

Introduced to England in the 1840s as a small meal to sustain people before evening dinner at 8pm. Afternoon tea normally consists of finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, sweet pastries and cakes. Nowadays afternoon tea is often served with a glass of champagne to celebrate a special occasion. If you fancy treating yourself why not make a booking at The Savoy. The Thames Foyer restaurant has a beautiful glass domed atrium, with a stunning gazebo centre piece that houses a pianist, who entertains guests as they enjoy The Savoy’s famous Afternoon Tea. For availability visit: https://www.thesavoylondon.com/

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Trees add height, depth, colour and contrast to any garden as well as providing a natural habitat for wildlife to flourish. They can also help protect areas of your garden by acting as wind barriers, as well as providing shade and naturally helping to drain soils.

However, trees don’t just grow to a set size and over the course of several years, a tree that had grown into the perfect shape and size could now be too big and taking up too much space. But before you grab your loppers, it may be a good idea to get some advice from a professional tree surgeon to see what your options are.

Tree Preservation Order

If you have moved into your home recently, your home search should have shown any trees in your garden that are protected by a tree protection order (TPO). If you are unsure if any of your trees are protected a tree surgeon will be able to find out for you. If your tree is protected any work carried out to the tree has to be approved by your local authority. If you carry out any work on the tree without prior approval you could fined anything from £2,500 to £20,000 if you cut it down. Visit the government website for more information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tree-preservation-orders-and-trees-in-conservation-areas

Tree assessment

A tree surgeon can ensure that your trees are maintained properly to avoid them becoming danger hazards through branches snapping or falling. They will identify any dead branches and those which are likely to become unsafe in the near future. Tree surgeons are also trained landscape gardeners so if you have a vision of what you would like your garden to look like in the future, they will be able to let you know if your current trees will grow as you visualise.

Tree reducing

Many tree surgeons are consulted to reduce a tree to let more light into a garden. Reducing a tree means that the entire crown of a tree is taken off. The crown is the top part of the tree where the leaves are. However, this may not always be the best thing to do. Removing the lower branches of a tree can also allow light to come in under the canopy which can give the same solution without affecting the tree too much and not changing the look of the garden too much as well.

Moving and removal

Sometimes chopping a tree down may seem like your only solution but a trained tree surgeon like About Trees who will be able to advise if it is viable to move the tree to another part of your garden. Of course, moving a tree is very much a last resort quite simply because even though the tree surgeon will take great during the process, the tree will inevitably suffer some damage and stress during the move. If you do go down this route, the tree surgeon will be able to advise you of the best relocation place, the best time of year to move the tree as well as surveying the tree’s roots prior to the move.

If you’re looking to plant more trees in your garden visit the Carbon Footprint website to learn which trees maybe the most beneficial for the environment: https://www.carbonfootprint.com/plantingtrees.html

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Knowing these statistics, it is therefore not surprising that many of us look for ways to improve our mental health wellbeing. For some people, joining a weekly yoga class or using aromatherapy products such as scented candles, is enough to keep things in check, but for others they may need a little more support.

If you’re looking for something new to help reduce your stress levels, here’s a few of the latest trends you can try.

Crystals

Using crystals for healing and wellbeing is nothing new, after all the concept has been around for centuries. It is presently seeing a resurgence mainly thanks to various A-list celebrities like Victoria Beckham and Adele who have talked openly about how they use crystals to overcome nerves, anxiousness and help self-healing. Crystals are said to have unique energy and healing properties and when used can promote feelings of tranquillity and positivity, as well as relieving stress and helping to cleanse and purify the body.

Shaking Meditation

Also known as Bio Energy Meditation or Shaking Yoga, Shaking Meditation has been around for many years and was introduced to the world by renowned energy master Ratu Bagus from Bali. The practice works on the movement of the body, shaking yourself for a prolonged period, either to music or in silence and at the same time emptying the mind of all negative thoughts. The aim is to shake out any physical and mental blocks that stop us living happy and healthy lives and to also free and strengthen our natural life energy.

Intuitive Eating

Being constantly on a diet and more often than not failing can make many of us anxious and stressed as we worry about our weight and health. But this new form of eating dispels all diets that you may have tried, or you think you should try. Intuitive eating is all about learning to trust your body again. There are 10 principles of Intuitive Eating which include ditching the diet mentality, making peace with food, challenging the food police in your mind, exercising and becoming more in tune with your body.

Sophrology

Sophrology is a meeting of Western science and Eastern wisdom. It involves carrying out easy to do physical and mental exercises called dynamic relaxation. The aim is to relax your body, but to maintain a calm alert mind that is not full of the incessant chatter many of us live with every day. Sessions can be on a 1:1 basis and also as a group. Sophrology claims to improve sleep, concentration, inner happiness as well as release stress and anxiousness.

Social Usage Tracking

Social media means that we are all connected as never before, but this constant demand on our time can have a detrimental effect on our mental health, making many of us feel in the long run, isolated and increasingly unhappy. There are now several apps on the market that allow you to monitor the time you spend on social media as well as how many times you pick up your phone in a day. The results can be quite revealing! Once you’re monitoring your usage you can then set limits for your daily screen time. If you go over your set limits the app sends you annoying alerts. Take a look at the Moments https://inthemoment.io/ or Forest https://www.forestapp.cc/ apps for more information.

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If you are taking advantage of the Government funded hours for your child, make sure you use one of the approved childcare providers. To find out more visit their website: https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-and-education-for-2-to-4-year-olds

Here’s some helpful hints to get your toddler ready for preschool!

Social Confidence

Preparing your toddler for interaction with other children will help build their confidence. Encourage playdates with children the same age or slightly older and instigate games that enforce taking turns and sharing toys. Remember at this age children normally play alongside each other rather than together so don’t worry if they are happily playing alongside each other instead of playing a game together. If you haven’t got a network of friends with children of their age, try and join a local mothers and toddlers club to extend their playdate circle. Visit the netmums website for more details on clubs and groups in your local area: https://www.netmums.com/

Visit the preschool

A visit to your child’s new preschool where they can meet their new teacher and look around the school will help them feel comfortable and familiar on their first day. Preschool’s like Tigers Day Nurseries will encourage your child to visit them before their first day and may even allow them to stay and play for a short while to help them familiarise with their surroundings. Afterwards talk through their experiences positively but also chat through any worries they may have.

Independence

Building independence is a key skill to learn at this stage of their development. Small things like zipping and unzipping their coat, hanging it on their peg will start to teach them independence. Learning how to take their shoes off and put them on again, as well as using the toilet and washing their hands will also help. If your child is having a packed lunch, have a couple of picnics before the first day and pack their lunchbox as if they were at preschool. They will then learn what to expect at lunchtimes and how to unpack their lunch and unwrap food.

Practice separation

You can ease your child into spending more time away from you by gradually getting them used to spending time with other carers like grandparents, family members and friends. Start with little trips away like going shopping for an hour or going to a Dr’s appointment without them. Build the time up so that they are comfortable with being away from you for a whole morning or afternoon.

Pretend play

Pretend play is a great way of familiarising your little one with the routine of preschool so that they can get used to the daily tasks. Act out arriving at preschool, taking your coats off, hanging it and their school bag on their peg and anything else that you know is part of a normal day at their preschool. You can even use puppets to help with role play so that they can get used to calling the teacher by their name.

If you’d like further information about how to help prepare your child for preschool visit the baby centre website: https://www.babycentre.co.uk/a554854/preparing-your-child-for-preschool

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Here’s our pick of the bunch.

Waze

Waze (https://www.waze.com/en-GB/) is more than just a journey planner, it offers so much more that you’ll wonder why you haven’t used this amazing little app before. It’s a community-based app where users share real-time traffic and road information helping people to save time and money on their journeys. Map editors work constantly to keep the app current and up to date, so you’ll always be using the most current information. And what’s more if your planning an outing with friends and meeting at an agreed destination, you can view where they are so you can co-ordinate journeys and meeting times.

Car Camera

Instead of installing a dashcam this fantastic app will do just what you need it to do at the fraction of the cost of installing a dash cam. The interface is clear and simple to use, giving you an array of different features, such as allowing you to set the length of time you’d like to video, whether you’d like continuous videoing or frames per second, as well as capturing both video and gps location data of your journey. Additionally, it will record in the background whilst you use your phone as normal.

Fuelly

With petrol prices on the increase and not everyone being able to afford to switch to electric cars, knowing how to keep fuel consumption low is something I’m sure we’d all love to do for the benefit of our wallets. Fuelly (http://www.fuelly.com/) does just that. It tracks your usage over time which can help you monitor changes to your driving behaviour and flags any issues with the health of your vehicle. It also helps the community to understand the real costs of every vehicle helping them to make more informed choices with buying decisions.

Smart Driver Club

Smart Driver Club is a great all-round car app that offers a range of helpful features. It does require a Smart Plug to set up and there is also a monthly subscription. From 24/7 driver monitoring to trip cost calculations, from car location – great if you’ve lost your car in the supermarket carpark! – to crash assistance, this app really does cover everything a driver could need help with. One of the best features that Smart Driver Club has to offer is that it can track any problems that develop with your car. And what’s more if you breakdown Smart Driver Club can co-ordinate your recovery.

Technology is constantly changing in today’s world, who knows what fantastic new apps will be brought to the market in 2019.

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But sometimes moving to a new house is inevitable and although it can be stressful it can also be exciting. Here are some of the top reasons of why people move home.

New job

If you’ve recently been promoted, then you may find that your job is no longer as local as before. If your company is relocating you, you may be entitled to request a relocation package. This could mean that they will help with the selling of your current home as well as helping with the purchase of your next property. If you have not been relocated before, Monster has some great top tips to help you negotiate the best deal with your employers: https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/relocation-negotiation-what-to-ask

You need more space

If you’ve lived in your home for a long time, you may have naturally outgrown the space. If you bought the house as a couple and now have children, you may need additional rooms, or you may simply be fed up of queuing for the bathroom every morning! You may also have initially bought your property as it was low maintenance and maybe didn’t have a garden, but as your circumstances change you may need a garden for the children to play in or for you to grow fruit and vegetables.

Family

As mentioned above this could be for children but it could also be to accommodate ageing parents. If your current property does not lend itself to expansion you may be looking for a bigger property with an annexe which will still provide independent living but with the benefit of being on hand should it be needed. You may also be moving to be near your family. As kids grow up and fly the nest, there’s no guarantee that they will settle down in the same town as you. Moving to be near family, be that children, siblings or parents is a very common reason for moving home.

Downsizing

Many of us have invested in our property with the idea that when we get older, we can move to a smaller property to provide a nest egg for our retirement. As well as this, we may find that as we get older our current home is just too big for us to manage. If your property has four large double bedrooms, two or three receptions rooms, a large kitchen diner and a big garden, but now there’s just you, keeping up with the housework and gardening can be overwhelming. Finding a smaller property that’s more manageable will relieve the pressure of keeping on top of everything.

Neighbourhood & Schools

If you’re looking to move to a better neighbourhood or would like to move to a certain catchment area for schools, your local estate agent will have the knowledge and expertise to help you ensure your next move meets your needs. They will know any up and coming areas and will also know all the local catchment areas for schools – vital information if this is the sole reason for your move. For more information on school admissions visit the government website – https://www.gov.uk/schools-admissions

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Hats

Hats are in again this year but using lighter materials in an array of colours, prints, patterns and statements. Be big, be bold seems to be the call of the catwalk! From veiled hats and bucket designs to bee keepers and wide brim hats, there’s certainly a plethora of styles to choose from, so you’re bound to find something that suits your face shape. No matter what shape, design or colour you go for, make sure you wear your hat with pride!

Tie Dye

A resurgence of the 60’s print seems very much back in fashion this year. From subtle accessories to bold matching two-piece sets, tie dye is back on the catwalk! The new style and approach, however, is a lot smarter and tasteful then perhaps the first time it came into fashion. You can even create your own style and outfit by tie dying yourself! To find out how, follow this link: https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-tie-dye-an-old-white-shirt-or-a-new-shirt-/

Sequins

Sequins are pretty much always in and around the fashionistas, some years are subtler than others but for 2019 it seems to be hitting the boutiques loudly and proudly. From embellished floor length dresses to the subtle approach of a beaded jumpsuit, there’s plenty of options no matter what your taste. The glitz is back, so why not add some glamour!

Denim Trends

Denim, no matter if its spring, summer, autumn or winter is always in fashion. However, this year finally, it seems the denim design houses are at long last moving away from the stale skinny jean look and introducing a whole new range for us to enjoy. Buttons are very much in this year and you’ll find designers won’t hold back. If you fancy showing a little leg, then opt for a cut out flare or high split jeans. The mismatched look is also back where two types of denim are added to create one piece, certainly not for the faint hearted. For men’s jeans, the dad jeans look is very much here to stay!

Shoulder Puffs

Many of us grimace as we remember the padded and puffed shoulders of the 1980’s but slowly the look is being reworked. Last season saw the revival of the padded shoulders giving an outfit a bold look. This season puffed shoulders are the name of the game. Material is gathered using elastic and used on dresses that have square necklines for maximum affect. Of course, you’ll need to plan your outfit appropriately as jackets and coats could be quite difficult to wear over the top.

Pockets

For men, in particular, clothes with storage space seem to be the design of the day. Those much-needed essentials such as your iPhone, wallet, sunglasses, passport, I.D. and AirPods all need a home, and clothes that offer storage seem to be this seasons answer to the man bag. Visit the Vogue website for details on what’s trending for men in 2019: https://www.vogue.com/article/spring-2019-mens-trend-report

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