My Little Lady, my smallest baby is three.

Three whole years old. The time has flow so fast!

To me, she is perfect.

Her gorgeous blue eyes and her angelic blonde curls belie the head strong, bossy boots in the making! She has a mind of her own, can be challenging and head strong at times, but I hope she will grown into a woman who is confident enough to know her own mind.

This 3 year old Little Lady is mine, and I love her with all my heart.

If you’ve yet to make the switch to renewable energy, you’re probably just waiting for a more convincing argument to spur you into action. Or maybe the work of running a household, having a job, and/or raising a family is simply enough for you without complicating matters. (It certainly feels like enough for this mummy.) However, the case to be made for green energy only grows more convincing each day. I won’t bore you with my own personal anecdotes. I’ll just give you the facts.

Pros

Green energy is becoming more and more popular because it presents so many advantages, and this especially applies to anyone running a household that uses lots of power. Benefits include:

Renewable power protects you from rising fuel prices. Most consumers know that the price of electricity and natural gas is directly tied to the costs of fuel. However, with the influences of the economy and conflicts in other geographical areas, for example, these prices can fluctuate wildly, which is bad news for a household on a budget. With green electricity, you won’t have to worry about how these factors will affect your energy bill; they won’t.

Green energy is better for the planet. When considering the potentially harmful effects that any kind of energy production has on the environment, green methods of producing electricity, such as wind farming and solar energy collection, have the least impact, if any at all. This is a key concern for all Britons as we race toward a 2020 deadline to reduce carbon emissions. If you’ve ever wanted to be part of the green revolution, now is the time to get involved.

Green electricity will never run out. Unlike oil and coal, the energy harvested from the sun and from the wind will never be depleted. This means that as we develop more and more efficient ways to use these natural resources to produce electricity, we have an infinite supply of it, which is big news if you listen to energy experts who say that oil production has now peaked.

The cost of green electricity is likely to fall in the near future. As with any new technology, the green energy industry is working out the kinks in production methods to deliver consumers power more efficiently than ever before. As this happens, the prices for green electricity will drop, which means that you’ll have the opportunity to reduce your household budget.

Cons

Pointing out the advantages of green energy provides a lopsided view of the issue. There are some cons to renewable power, such as:

Some forms of renewable energy cost more. Though not subject to the drastic changes in price that old energy has, renewable energy schemes like solar panel installation have high start-up costs for the homeowner. If you choose to install solar panels on the roof of your house, for example, they may not produce enough energy to pay for themselves until two decades from now. However, there are easier ways to begin using renewable energy, such as contacting any one of the budding renewable energy companies starting to make an impact in the UK.

Renewable energy may not be steady and reliable. If you harness energy from the sun or the wind, you could find yourself without power if you experience one too many overcast days or the wind dies down. For this reason, having your own renewable energy system at home is a tricky task. However, renewable energy companies have methods of energy storage that can ensure that you’ll always be able to cook dinner and watch television, for instance.

As the decision maker in your household, this debate is definitely worth some thought. Now that you know the entire story, will green energy work for you?

Content provided by Good Energy

This whole grown-up thing can sometimes be a real drag.

I mean, take holidays for example; when you have children in tow and bills to pay how on earth are you supposed to afford some of that ‘quality time’ everyone talks about? I spent what seemed like an age earlier this year, trawling the internet for ideas for an affordable family break, and was pleasantly surprised to see that The Youth Hostel Association are now offering family breaks at very reasonable prices.

I was even more surprised when we are asked to review one of their breaks at Hartington Hall, near Buxton in Derbyshire. A wonderful 17th century manor house, steeped in history, which has belonged to the Youth Hostel Association since 1948. I was obviously keen to see what they could offer families like us, on a tight budget.

{Scroll to the bottom for a special offer and family break discount code!}

First impressions:
Hartington Hall is in a beautiful rural location, 200 metres up hill from the small village of Hartington. We easily found a parking space in the small car park, and were more than impressed with the building itself. It looked more like a country hotel than a hostel! Check-in was smooth, and the reception staff were extremely helpful. We definitely felt properly welcomed!

Our accommodation:
This is ‘no-frills’ hostel accommodation, basic but comfortable, and perfectly adequate for a family stay. Our room was a ‘private four bed family en-suite’ in The Barn. In hostel terms, this means two sets of (very sturdy) bunk beds, a shower room, and a toilet. There were also 3 large wooden lockers to store luggage, and two chairs.

There are no TVs or tea/coffee-making facilities in the room, but there is a self catering kitchen on-site if you want to make a drink, or cater for yourself throughout your stay. Bed linen is provided (you will make your own beds on arrival), but you will need to take your own towels.

We found the beds to be very comfortable, in fact I had 10 hours sleep the second night, which is practically unheard of for me! The children loved sleeping in the bunks, and we kept them entertained before bed with a DVD on the laptop which we took for entertainment.

Facilities and things to do:
The hostel itself is not short on facilities! It boasts its own on site restaurant, Eliza’s, which by day is a cafe/bar. There is a games room, a sitting room with internet access (fee chargeable), books and a toy box, and another large ‘library’ room with lots of comfy sofas. Then there’s the self catering kitchen and laundry room.

For the children there is a pets area with guinea pigs and rabbits, which staff will come and help your children handle. Plus there’s a small adventure playground on site.

Hartington Hall is in the heart of the countryside so on your doorstep there are plenty of local walks and cycle routes. The hostel staff are always happy to advise on these, and guided walks/rides are advertised (at a small) fee in reception. If you want to venture a little further afield in the car, Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall are a short drive away, as are the famous towns of Buxton and Bakewell. You’ll not be short of things to do!

Food and drink:
I can honestly say the food during our stay was nothing short of excellent. Again, you’re not looking at luxury here, but good honest home-cooked food.

As part of our deal we had a 3 course evening meal included each night. These can be pre-paid online at time of booking, or at the hostel upon arrival. The menu is basic, but can be supplemented, the great thing is that under 10s eat dinner free. They can either choose from the children’s menu, or have a smaller portion from the regular menu. The dining room does get very busy, and you will be given a booking to ensure there is room.

The restaurant itself is self-service (you’ll be expected to clear your own table), but we found the staff especially helpful as we had the children with us, and they bent over backwards to make sure everything was just right. The restaurant also has a licensed bar, so you can enjoy a pint with your meal.

Breakfast was delicious. All the usual you’d expect from a full english, plus cereal, toast and drinks. Again, these are payable daily, either in advance online, or at reception, £4.95 per adult and £2.95 per child (under 10). I’d definitely recommend you try it.

For lunch we chose to have packed lunches made for us. This service is particularly useful if you’re setting off out for the day walking or cycling. We simply ordered our sandwich preference the previous evening and told them what time we needed them the next day. The packed lunches are adult (£5.75) or child (£4.75) size and contain sandwiches, fruit, crisps, biscuits and water. There was more than enough to feed us all twice!

Overall:
We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Hartingtion Hall and were sad to leave. Although at times the staff seemed a little overstretched they were always polite, enthusiastic and helpful. The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming, and there is definitely a ‘family’ feel about the place.  The accommodation although basic, is clean and comfortable, and the food options mean you can make your break that little bit less stressful, at a little extra cost. Or you can self cater using the on-site kitchen, it really is up to you!

The one thing that would make Hartington Hall even more family friendly would be to have WiFi, which is currently only available in the sitting room, throughout the hostel. My phone signal was very weak and I rely on the WiFi and 3G to search for things and plan my day, frequently. Something to work on.

So the bottom line, would I recommend a family break at Hartington Hall? Yes absolutely. It’s affordable for families like us and it gets you, and more importantly your children, into the heart of the countryside. We’ll definitely using the YHA for breaks again!

Now, how about a special offer so you can afford a YHA family break this summer? Stay in a family room for only £99 for 3 nights! Simply go to www.YHA.org.uk/Insomniac-Mummy to book your break,  by 12th June (for stays between 6th July and 17th September) and enter your offer code FAMSTAY-026. 

Disclosure – We were sent on a 2 night break  for 2 adults and 2 children, with all meals included.

One of the great bonuses of my boy growing older is he’s becoming increasingly adventurous in his food choices.

At the grand old age of 5½ he’s becoming quite the little foodie, always asking what ingredients are in foods, wanting to help in the kitchen and keen to try out new things. Which is a relief, as he was such a fussy eater not 12 months ago!

Recently he had prawns for the first time and enjoyed them, so I wanted to show him how they could be changed into something a little bit special, easily. So for our Sunday lunch this week I made him his first Paella. I’m pleased to report that he loved it, and wolfed down two helpings, as did I…

For this recipe you will need a large wide based frying pan (about 30cm across) or a paella pan (if you’re lucky enough to have one). If you don’t have either a wok will work fine. You’ll also need to make sure you use a short grain paella rice like bomba, of if you can’t source that, arborio risotto rice will work just as well.

Sunday Paella {Spanish Rice}
Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 10 thin slices chorizo – chopped
• 6 rashers bacon – chopped
• 1 large white onion – finely diced
• 2 red peppers – diced
• 4 cloves garlic – crushed
• ½ teaspoon saffron strands (a small pinch)
• 250g short grain paella rice (I used bomba)
• 850ml (1½ pints) vegetable stock or water
• Pinch of salt & pepper (optional)
• 225g cooked king prawns (defrosted if frozen)
• Juice of 1 lemon
• A handful of flat leaf parsley – chopped
• Extra lemon wedges to serve

Method:

1. Heat the olive oil In a large wide based frying pan (or paella pan). Add the chorizo and bacon and fry for 3 – 5 minutes over a medium heat.
2. Add the onions, red peppers, garlic and saffron strands to the pan and fry for a further 5 minutes, until the onions are nicely softened.
3. Add the paella rice to the pan, stir well and fry for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, so the rice takes on the colour and flavours on the pan.
4. Add the stock, season with salt and pepper, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring frequently until the rice is beginning to become tender and most of the liquid absorbed.
5. Add the king prawns and lemon juice to the pan and cook for a further 5 minutes until the prawns are piping hot and cooked through.
6. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley and serve immediately with lemon wedges and a glass of something Spanish!

It’s a while since it did a meme, but this one struck a chord with me – Liz at The Mum Blog‘s Our Song Meme.

The husband and I got together way back in March 1998. He was just 20, and I about to turn 23. We were young, and despite not realising it then, really didn’t have a care in the world. So life wasn’t perfect, but it was perfect for us. Looking back, everything was so much simpler then.

The years since have brought us our fair share of happiness and heartache. From the births of our children, to losing loved ones, dealing with miscarriages and facing postnatal depression head on, we’ve been through the wringer, but we’re still here, sometimes just holding on with the very tips of our fingers!

This song reminds me of when we were in the first throes of our relationship and there was nothing to stop us being whatever we wanted to be. It was released the year we met, and we had it played during the signing of the register at our wedding in the year 2001. Such happy memories…

Being a meme it’s time to tag some more folk to share the fun. So what is your song? Spin me a tale Kylie, Wendy, Aly, Laura and Mostly.

I’m rather partial to a chocolate chip cookie dipped in a glass of cold milk.

Pure heaven!

Just like my chocolate vanilla muffins, these don’t last long in our house once they’re out of the oven, so make sure you grab yourself a couple before they’re devoured!

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes 24

Ingredients:

• 300g dark muscovado sugar (or any soft brown sugar)
• 225g butter – at room temperature
• 2 eggs
• 325g plain flour
• Half a teaspoon of salt
• 2 level teaspoons bicarbonate of soda
• 200g good quality chocolate (milk or dark to your preference) – chopped roughly

Method:

1. Cream together the sugar and butter in a large bowl, until light and fluffy.
2. Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix well.
3. Add the flour, salt and bicarbonate of soda. Beat until all the ingredients are incorporated into the dough.
4. Add the chopped chocolate, and stir through the dough, until distributed evenly.
5. Line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper and dollop 6 dessert spoons of the cookie dough onto the greaseproof paper. Make sure you space them out , as they will spread!
6. Bake at 170 for 12 – 15 mins until the cookies are nicely spread and flattened, and the edges are just beginning to become golden.
7. Cool briefly on the tray, then transfer to a wire cooling rack.
8. Attempt not to eat in one sitting!

Now that the weather is warming up, your children are probably anxious to get outside and enjoy the crisp air. For first-time parents and big families alike, keeping weekend day activities fresh and exciting for the little ones can be a challenge. If you’re stuck in a family time rut, here are some ideas to get you moving.

If the weather permits, some time at the beach is always a great family getaway idea. And a day on the coast doesn’t have to be expensive. You can pack a homemade lunch for the kids and get everyone into the car for a short drive early in the morning. If you arrive by lunch time, you’ll have plenty of time to soak in the sun while the older kids splash around in the water. If you have tots, bring along a bucket and toy spade so that they can build sand castles. Just make sure to lather everyone up with sunscreen and use water wings for the kids in the water so that you can rest assured that the family is as safe as they are entertained.

Every parent loves to believe that his or her little ones are harbouring a little Picasso inside, so why not unlock that artistic talent with some arts and crafts? This is especially beneficial for overcast days when playing in the garden may not be so much fun. One idea for an arts project is to make Father’s Day cards in anticipation of the holiday.

The more creative you can get with your cards, the more fun this activity will be for your children. Spread an old sheet over the floor so that they don’t get paint everywhere and then give them some card stock and water colours to play with. Or, if you don’t have any of the supplies for arts and crafts, help your kids make digital personalised Father’s Day cards online with a site like Hallmark.

When it comes to finding activities that are useful as well as fun, making cards isn’t the only way to multi-task. Many homeowners love to plant flowers, fruits, or vegetables when the weather begins to turn from winter to spring, so gather the kids up for a day in the garden. Nothing appeals more to little ones more than squishing clumps of earth between their fingers, so grant their wishes while you till, plant, and water. Putting safety first is always important, so keep potentially dangerous gardening tools away from them, but there’s no reason why they can’t have a mini bucket to help transport soil and seeds.

And for a cute and cuddly time that will teach your kids about giving back to the community, you can take the kids to an animal shelter or rescue house to help out for an afternoon. This is another completely free idea that is sure to make your hearts melt. Many shelters need help feeding their cats, dogs, and other animals, which is the perfect job for tots. And your older kids can help the animals get some much needed exercises with walks around the property. And if your kids are the sentimental type, you may just end up coming home with a new pet.

These ideas are just the beginning. The key to keeping your children entertained on the weekends is to avoid falling into a routine. As long as you keep your family outings new and fresh, you’re sure to have a good time no matter what you’re doing.

Content provided by Hallmark.

Be honest. How much time do you spend thinking about your weight?

You see, I’d hate to put a figure on it, because I’d probably be shocked. Needless to say, in my case  it’s a lot. This is something that has to change.

For most of my life I’ve been what my Grandma would’ve called ‘pleasantly plump’. I’ve never been thin, the smallest I ever dropped to was a size 10, way back in the nineties. More usually you’ll find me yo-yoing between a size 12 and a size 16. But, I’m never happy with what I see in the mirror, no matter what the digits in my jeans say.

For me food and emotions go hand in hand. I’m happy, I eat. I’m sad, I eat. I’m stressed, I eat. But whatever the reason there always follows the guilt, the regret, the self loathing and the remorse. How very dare I enjoy that delicious dinner?

Oh, hang on…

It’s not escaped my attention that I seriously need to re-program my brain to change they way I think about food. When it comes to my appearance, my internal thought processes are so negative that I have a constant internal monologue reprimanding myself for daring to enjoy eating. I look in the mirror and I berate myself, hate myself. I’m making myself neurotic and paranoid, and it has to stop!

After much to-ing and fro-ing I’ve made the decision to cancel my membership to WeightWatchers. It wasn’t a decision I made lightly. Over the past 10 years I’ve paid out hundreds of pounds for this little safety net, always worrying that if I give it up, I’ll free fall into obesity. But I’m trying to make myself realise that I can do this on my own. I do know how to eat a balanced diet and that it’s absolutely fine to enjoy food.  I just need take the control back.

I have to do this by myself, and what’s more, I  know I can. Because I need to be able to teach my children how to eat healthily without religiously requiring the help of one diet plan or another. I don’t want them to end up like me. I want them to enjoy food, understand it,  respect it and themselves, and above all have a healthy relationship with it.

But most of all? Most of all, I just want to be happy in my own skin, without that happiness depending the digits on a set of scales, and I don’t think that’s too much to ask…

Like most mums, I often worry about how my family will fare in these financial times. We’ve managed to do pretty well, but that’s not to say that the bills don’t seem beyond our reach at times. However, I also think a common habit for mums is to take their worries and turn them into solutions. Instead of always worrying about money or how we will stay on top of our expenses, I’ve taken to finding new ways to bring in a little extra income for the family.

One of the most constructive ways that I have found to make extra money is through sifting through all of our junk and selling it online. Like most mums, I don’t exactly have the time to devote an entire day of selling on the front garden, so a garage sale would be out of the question. However, I like that I have found all of these sites, like Gumtree and musicMagpie, where I can sell my old belongings at my leisure. If you’ve never tried to sell anything online, I’ve put together this simple guide to walk you through the process.

Selling your old belongings online

When you sell your unwanted items online, the placement is key. There are many sites that allow you to post your items, but you should make sure that you target the right audience, which mainly comes down to which sites you post on.

MusicMagpie is an excellent site for selling your old discs. I sell my old DVDs, CDs from the 80s and 90s, and the video games that the kids have grown out of already. The biggest advantage of this site is that you don’t have to fuss over the shipment once you’ve sent them the information for all of the discs that you want to sell. MusicMagpie sends you a pre-posted package that you can then use to send the discs to them.

Gumtree is an online classifieds site with nearly 100,000 listings offering everything from jobs to used autos. You can use it to sell a variety of items, which makes it easier to get rid of your old things. For example, whenever we upgrade some electronic appliance in our home, such as getting a new DVR, we sell the old one on Gumtree to make back some of the cash from our purchase. You could also sell anything from old televisions to recently used smart phones.

If you’re looking to make a large sum of money in just a few days, you could also consider selling some of your old furniture online. Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are great for selling office equipment, kitchen tables, and living room furniture because it seems that someone is always moving. The pickup for the furniture may be a little tricky to arrange however, so you can likely sell more quickly if you arrange for a mover (or a friend with a large enough truck) to take the furniture to its new owner and then add the moving costs to the price of the sale.

Selling our old belongings to help meet our monthly expenses has been a great way for us to gain some more control over our finances. It has also incidentally been a way to help tidy up the house. And for a mum of two little ones, nothing is better than multi-tasking and getting excellent results.

Content provided by musicMagpie

I hate to break this to the superstitious among you, but today is..

{insert thunderbolts and lightening here}

…Friday the 13th!

There will be those to whom this means nothing, and those who will spend the day half expecting the sky to fall at any given moment. But whichever camp you fall into, here’s a bit of light relief to get you through this supposed unluckiest of days.

Are you feeling a bit Stevie Wonder?

This difficult economic climate has had me looking at my bills more carefully. I was surprised and worried about the dramatic increase in our energy use, which seemed to match the growth of our children!

First I tried to compare electricity prices for different companies to see if I could get a cheaper tariff.  But I also wanted to take steps to reduce my bills, leaving me with more to spend on my family.  An energy audit helped me pinpoint how I could save energy and money. Result! I have been able to reduce our energy bills by 25%!

Did you know that washing machines are a huge source of wasted water and energy?

Previously, I would set my machine to wash on standard but now I wash my clothes in full loads using short, cold wash cycles with an effective stain remover. What’s more is that while before I told my children to put all of their clothes in the laundry basket after wearing, now they need to determine if the clothes could be worn again, cutting down the laundry load dramatically. And I spend less time in the laundry room!

Always remember, when you are ready to buy a new machine, choose a front-loading one that cuts energy by 60-70% that runs on gas, saving more energy.

Appliances with motors gobble the majority of a household’s electricity. Clothes dryers can account for 6% of your electricity bill. I hang my clothes outside on a line just like my Mum used to, or I use an indoor drying rack to line dry clothes on rainy days. Use your radiators to dry clothes instead of your clothes dryer whenever you can.

Laptops save energy! They use almost three quarters less electricity than a desktop. Turning off your computer before bed each night and setting your computer’s ‘idle’ mode uses 85% less energy each day.

I was also told I should unplug all of my appliances at the end of the day, but this is so much work. Instead I use strip plug adaptors. I can switch off the socket on the wall, therefore de-plugging up to five appliances at once.

The kitchen is a great place to start saving energy. Use pans the same size as the stove burners and pan lids to avoid heat escaping. You can save up to 7,800L of water a year by using your dishwasher with full loads instead of hand washing your plates. Who knew? Less time at the sink will actually save you money!

I replaced all of my light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones. Yes, they do take a few seconds to ‘warm up’, but because they save so much money I am happy to have them installed in every room of my house.

And my heating bill! My heating bill is my most expensive.  Double glazing, loft insulation or cavity wall insulation seem expensive at first, but the money they will save you in the future eventually makes them a bargain. Draught proofing is a cheaper way to save energy, while replacing your old boiler will also pay off over time. If you invest in insulation for your house, you can afford to have a smaller, less expensive boiler.

Last, but by no means least, have you consider that you could switch to a different provider? They might be a better option for you and be able to offer you a better deal, so you can ensure you have the cheapest energy tariff.

Reducing your bills needn’t mean putting up with cold showers in the morning; it just requires a little investigation into where you waste the most energy. Now we can all have more money to put towards a family holiday!

Content provided by uSwitch

I don’t need an excuse to bake, but Easter is a pretty good one!

The 5 year old loves hot cross buns. So much so, that for weeks now he’s been taking them in his packed lunch to school. Every. Single. Day. Now I’m not going to pretend I bake them all the time – being a working mum there just aren’t the hours in the day. So for a treat for Easter I baked a whole batch, especially for him. Well almost…

Yes, they were as delicious as they look. I don’t think I’ll be getting away with shop bought in his lunch box next week…

Hot Cross Buns
Makes 15

Ingredients:

• 200ml milk
• 50g butter (I prefer salted)
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 7g sachet fast action yeast
• Pinch of salt
• 75g caster sugar
• 500g strong white bread flour
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 125g sultanas
• 50g mixed peel
• grated zest of 1 orange
• 1 egg (free range!) – beaten
• 3 tbsp apricot jam

For the cross paste:

• 3 tbsp flour
• 3 tbsp caster sugar
• 4 – 5 tbsp cold water

Method:

1. Bring the milk & vanilla essence almost to the boil in a saucepan, then remove from the heat and stir in the butter and orange zest. Cool for approx 10 minutes.
2. In a large bowl mix the flour, yeast, sugar, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Make a well in the centre and pour in the milk mixture and the beaten egg.
3. Mix with a wooden spoon, making sure everything is brought together well, then with your finish off with your hands. The dough will be quite sticky.
4. On a well floured work surface, kneed the dough for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
5. Put the dough in an oiled bowl, cover with oiled cling film (to prevent a crust from forming), and leave to prove in a warm place for 1 hour, until doubled in size.
6. Pour the sultanas and mixed peel into the bowl, and kneed into the dough, making sure the fruit is evenly distributed. Re-cover with the oiled clingfilm, and leave to prove for another hour, until doubled.
7. Line a baking tray with baking parchment. Remove the dough from the bowl and on a floured surface, divide into 15 smooth balls. Place them, evenly spaced, on the lined baking tray. Re-cover with the oiled clingfilm, and leave to prove for a final hour.
8. Heat the oven to 22o°C.
9. Make the paste for the cross by mixing the caster sugar, flour and adding the water slowly. You need a fairly thick paste that can be piped. Put the paste in a piping bag with a small nozzle, and pipe horizontally and vertically across the proved buns.
10. Bake for 20 mins until golden.
11. Heat the apricot jam in a pan, and sieve to remove any lumps of fruit. Remove the buns from the oven and glaze with the jam immediately.
12. Leave to cool for at least 30 mins before tucking in.
13. Enjoy spread thickly with butter and slices of mature cheddar cheese!

For more from The Gallery visit Tara’s blog – Sticky Fingers.

To say I’m lucky to be a LEGO DUPLO Blogger is an understatement.

Just imagine how popular I am with the kids every time another parcel arrives? I mean seriously, whose children aren’t happy for hours, and hours playing with this wonderful stuff?

Late last year we were invited down to London to the LEGO Store, where we were lucky enough to get our hands on some prototypes of the new ranges. That day my Little Lady was inseparable from one toy in particular. So much so that the top-secret item had to be prised from her hands before we left! The item in question was LEGO DUPLO Creative Cakes.

You can only imagine how excited she was when the postman delivered her very own box!

LEGO DUPLO Creative Cakes are quite simply lovely. Suitable for ages 2 – 5 (and beyond), they’re made in ‘cakey’ bright pastel colours and browns, and look fabulous. The set contains bricks to make cupcakes and birthday cakes, has candles and the box lid cleverly doubles as a tray to serve them all on. They’re perfect for tiny hands, robust enough to be played with for years, and my 2 ¾ year old Little Lady loves role-playing in her kitchen with them.

We have endless birthday parties with her teddies and dolls (she bakes the cakes in her oven), and as with all LEGO DUPLO sets, the bricks are fully interchangeable with the entire range.

This is her own special little set, which she tries to keep hidden from her brother, as he loves it too! It comes highly recommended, and will be loved in this house for many years to come.

Disclosure - As LEGO DUPLO Bloggers we are sent toys on a quarterly basis to review.

In an uncertain financial climate, many parents want to do something to help their children in the future. University fees, house prices and other unexpected costs are only set to rise and having some money set aside may really help towards easing the burden.

Up until recently, the Child Trust Fund provided a way to invest money for your child within a tax-exempt wrapper – investments would grow free from income and capital gains tax (other than tax on dividends from UK shares). Like any tax break, tax treatment on the Child Trust Fund depended on individual circumstances and future changes to tax law. Eligible children (those born after 2nd September, 2002, up to 2nd January, 2011) received a voucher from the government which grew with contributions and provided a lump sum when the child turned 18.

In 2011, the Child Trust Fund was discontinued and the Junior ISA was launched. The Junior ISA provides a means of making tax exempt savings and investments for babies born on 3rd January 2011 or later, or before 1 September 2002, that did not qualify for a CTF account. But what exactly is the ‘JISA’ and how can you make sure your child is getting the most out of their account?

The Junior ISA: what you need to know

Like a full, adult ISA, the Junior ISA comes in two categories: ‘Cash’ and ‘Stocks and Shares’. The Cash ISA is simply a cash savings account that is protected from tax. The Stocks and Shares account invests your money in the stockmarket. As with all stockmarket investments, you should bear in mind that investments can go down as well as up and your original investment is not guaranteed. In both cases the money in the JISA is exempt from income and capital gains tax (tax is paid on dividends from UK shares). Like any tax break, tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and tax law may change in future.

In another similarity to the ISA, the JISA involves a subscription limit. At present that stands at £3,600 each tax year. Your child may hold both types of JISA, and money contributed may be split across both but not exceeded.

The money within a JISA cannot be accessed until your child turns 18. So, you should consider this a long-term investment. At that point your child may take the money as a cash lump sum, or let the account ‘roll over’ into a full adult ISA.

Get the most out of your account:

Think about what your goals for your children are before deciding which type of JISA account will suit you best. Once you’re familiar with the details of an investment or savings plan, you’ll be able to consider how that measures up to your own targets.

The JISA gives anyone the opportunity to contribute, meaning family and friends can be a part of building your child’s financial future. Encouraging your child to put money into their JISA when they’re old enough could be a good way of encouraging them to follow your example and develop a regular savings and investment habit!

Author: Jill Mackay, Scottish Friendly

No advice has been provided by Scottish Friendly in relation to these plans. If you are in any doubt as to whether a plan is suitable for you, you should contact a financial adviser for advice. If you do not have a financial adviser, you can get details of local financial advisers by visiting www.unbiased.co.uk. Advisers may charge for providing such advice and should confirm any cost beforehand.

Content provided by Scottish Friendly.

I’m drawn to the sea.

There’s nothing relaxes me more than listening to the constant ripple of waves rolling  in and crashing onto the shore. It relaxes me from the outside in. It washes away the constant buzz inside my brain, and gives me an inner calm.

In fading light, as I looked out of my hotel room window on Monday evening, I watched surfers waiting to catch their next wave in The South Bay at Scarborough. Just them and the ocean. Watching, waiting, listening, shifting with the tides. So serene. So beautiful.

At peace.

For more posts from The Gallery pop over to Tara’s place.

In the almost 5½ years since we became parents, the husband and I have been out on ‘dates’ together only a handful of times.

There’s been the odd trip to the cinema, a couple of anniversary meals and birthday celebrations. But it’s definitely a once, maybe twice a year occurrence, that we actually get to go on a proper grown-up night out.

For my birthday this year the husband decided we should treat ourselves to a really nice dinner out. Not a pub meal, or a pizza before a film. It had to be something extra special, but we didn’t know where! I asked the marvellous people of West Yorkshire on Twitter, where they’d recommend. The answer that stood out was the Design House Restaurant at Dean Clough Mills, Halifax.

Dressed up, and looking a little more presentable than usual *cough*, we arrived at 8:30pm and were seated at the bar. Faced with a shelf full of tempting drinks, and not a clue what the cool kids quaff these days, I opted for an Amaretto and Diet Coke, the husband had an Emstell (non alcoholic beer) and we perused the menu. We pre-ordered our starters and mains as we enjoyed another drink at the bar, and were eventually seated at about 9:20pm, at a little table for two, in the bright, modern dining room.

The evening that ensued was filled great conversation, excellent food and lots of laughter. In spite of the restaurant being busy, and the timing a little slow, we were treated really well. The staff couldn’t do enough for us and the food was quite simply divine.

All in, for 4 courses and drinks we paid less than £70, which seemed very reasonable, given the quality of the food and that we were fit to burst! If you live nearby, or are visiting the area, I thoroughly recommend you give it a whirl! We had a fan-blooming-tastic time!

Happy faces, good times!

This is my boy.

My beautiful boy, with the big brown eyes and the cheeky smile.

I love him, to the moon and back a million times. And I tell him this. Every. Single. Day.

Some days, my heart is so full of love, I could burst.

For more variations of this week’s theme – Extreme Close Up – visit The Gallery.

I’ve been feeling numb.

Mindlessly running round in this hamster wheel of life, I’ve somehow managed to stop noticing what’s around me, and appreciating the time I have.

I’ve shifted into cruise control, and for a while felt as if I was coasting through someone else’s life, just watching as the road un-folded before me. The relentless routine, stuck on repeat. Every second orchestrated. There seems to be no time for fun, to laugh, to be spontaneous.

I used revel in the moment. I’d take photographs all the time, constantly capturing those glimpses of wonderful, before they disappeared into the ether. But right now? Right now I can’t see the wonderful. I’m just seeing shades of grey.

Something has to change. I want to learn to live in colour again.

I had a health scare recently, nothing major, but enough to make me sit bolt upright and realise I need to find more time to not just exist, but to live. There has to be more than this. I have to be more than this.

I know the routine has to stay. Work, school, family – that’s just life. But I really need to find a way to enjoy the ‘real’ time we have, more. The staccato hour I have with the children before bed time, the rushing around day in, day out. I need to find a way to balance it all. To out weigh the monotony, and make some happy memories.

I threw caution to the wind this morning, and booked us all a last-minute, super cheap, weekend away. I can’t really afford it financially. I could make you an infinity list of where the money should be spent. But what I can afford is the time. Everything else can wait. Everything else will still be there when we get home.

So, I’m going to pack our bags, dust off my camera, put on a happy face, get out there and enjoy my life. Our lives. Even if it’s just for a little while…

With spring rolling in, and the milder weather around the corner, I like to have a bit of an overhaul of our weekly menu plans.

Out goes the winter comfort food, and in come the fresh flavours and vibrancy of spring! There’s something uplifting about eating food with a flavourful punch. Just what spring ordered!

This week is Bacon Connoisseur’s Week, an annual event to celebrate all things bacon, and support Assured Food Standards and higher welfare meat, which you might recognise as the ‘Red Tractor’ mark. The fabulous people at Morrisons very kindly sent me some packets of their The Best Lightly Oak Smoked Sweetcure Rindless Back Bacon and The Best Applewood Smoked Dry Cured Back Bacon, sourced from British farmers, so what better way to kick-start my spring overhaul than with a mighty fine, bacon inspired salad?

This salad is delicious – no doubt about it. The mixture of salty bacon & feta against the firm juicy nectarines and crunchy croutons, covered in the honey and balsamic dressing is simply divine. I’d glady eat this every single day!

Bacon, Nectarine and Feta Salad, with a Honey and Balsamic Dressing
Serves 2 as a main course, or 4 as a starter.

Ingredients:

• 6 rashers of bacon
• 2 slices of white bread, crusts removed
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 ripe nectarine, halved and de-stoned.
• A bag of peppery salad leaves (watercress,spinach & rocket, or a variation)
• 100g Feta cheese – diced
• 10 kalamata olives (optional)
• Salt and pepper

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 2 tbsp runny honey

1. Heat the oven to 175°C.
2. Cut the bread into 1.5cm dice, place in a bowl, drizzle with a little olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
3. Spread out over a baking tray and place in the bottom of the oven for 20 minutes, or until crisp and golden.
4. At the same time, put the bacon rashers on a separate baking tray, and place in the top of the pre-heated oven for approx 20 minutes, until cooked to your liking.
5. In the meantime take your halved nectarine, and cut each half into 5 or 6 wedges.
6. Heat a griddle pan to a high heat, and spray with a little olive oil. Griddle the nectarines for approx 3 minutes per side, and set aside.
7. Make your dressing by whisking together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and honey with a fork. Adding the balsamic slowly, so the flavour is balanced to your taste. (I like mine with a sweet and sour tang!).
8. Once the bacon and croutons are cooked, remove from the oven, and slice the bacon into thin strips.
9. Assemble in large bowls, adding the salad leaves,  nectarines, croutons, feta, olives, and sliced bacon. Then drizzle generously with the dressing.
10. Enjoy with a glass of something fizzy!

Bacon Connoisseur’s Week runs from the 19th – 25th March 2012. You can find out more about it all on Twitter @OnlineSizzle and @LovePork.

I’ve been feeling melancholy of late. Not depressed, just lamenting times gone by, and loved ones no longer with us.

The run up to Mother’s Day naturally has me thinking a lot about my own Mum. The 31 years since she passed seem to have diluted my memory of her. Each year eats slowly away at the ever fleeting recollections.  So much so, that I no longer remember the sound of my own mother’s voice.

Time can be so cruel.

This mother’s day, for the first time, I have no-one left to buy a card for. That’s it now. They’re all gone. Mum, Grandma, Nana, even my mother-in-law. I’m the oldest living female in my family. An odd, and somewhat daunting position to be in.

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders, knowing that  my children’s point of reference to learn and understand about life as a woman/mother/daughter is me. There are no words of wisdom to be learned from grandmothers. And one day, they will realise that they are different from the other children, because they never got to meet theirs.

I wonder if I’ll always have bouts of melancholy like this where the grief, I thought had passed, punches me squarely in the chest, and takes my breath away.

I can’t help but doubt my own abilities as a mother, because I feel so lost at sea without mine.

Pinch me. No, harder than that, ’cause I want to be sure that this wasn’t a dream….

On Sunday, I, along with some of the other Tesco Mum of the Year Bloggers, had the amazing honour of attending the Tesco Mum of the Year Awards, at the Waldorf Hilton, in London. An event created to celebrate inspirational mums, at a star-studded ceremony.

Oh. My. God.

From start to finish the event was one surreal moment after another. Dressed up, and well-heeled, the second we walked into the champagne reception, it was like stepping into another universe. Everywhere we looked there were celebrities!

The strikingly beautiful Amy Childs turned everyone’s heads in her canary yellow and black dress. The utterly lovely, and completely down to earth Michelle Heaton looked stunning, and spoke to us openly and frankly about becoming a mum, just 8 weeks previously. Pixie Lott made walking in skyscraper heels look like a doddle, and Heidi Range looked svelte and toned, and radiated charm in her sheer black dress.

Outside the paparazzi were in over drive, capturing Sinitta, Jamelia, Estelle, Dionne Bromfield, Liz McClarnon, Tupele Dorgu, Sara Cox, John Partridge, Lee Ryan and a whole host of other celebrities! Myself and the other Tesco Mum of the Year Bloggers were even allowed our own (incredibly awkward) moment on the red carpet, oddly, we weren’t blinded by flash bulbs….

We were treated to music from a trio of outrageously talented women. Mary Byrne, Estelle, and Dionne Bromfield, were all nothing short of incredible.

The awards themselves were extremely emotional. On the big screen above the stage, VT after VT told the story of each of the category winners. Tears flowed around the hall, Eastenders star John Partridge was particularly moved as he presented his award to Sharon Mills – Tesco Campaigning Mum of the Year. I think I audibly sobbed at Julie Jones – Tesco Compassionate Mum of the Year’s story. Everyone was reminded to hold their loved ones just that little bit closer.

I wasn’t the celebrities that stole the show, it was each and every one of the winners. So brave, so inspiring. It was quite simply an honour to share an afternoon with them.

Once the ceremony was over, and everyone had re-applied their tear-streaked mascara, we quaffed a little more champagne, counted our blessings, and indulged ourselves in a teeny tiny bit of celebrity stalking.

There might have been a moment where one of us called Lee Ryan of Blue fame, Duncan, and groped his self-professed crusty elbows. And we may, or may not have accidentally seen a certain celebrity’s Dad in his underpants.

Shhhhh! My lips are sealed….

After all that emotion, there was definitely a whole lot of cackling too!

So, a huge thank you to Liz and Tesco Magazine (and everyone running around behind the scenes) for allowing myself, Laura, Becky, Tara and Jacqui, to have the absolute time of our lives.

All I can say is, it was AMAZING!

For some fabulous video highlights of the awards, visit the Tesco Magazine website.

When it comes to cakes and all things dessert, I’m a bit of an old-fashioned girl.

Having descended from a long line of fruit cakes lovers, it’d be a disgraceful of me not to have my own tried and tested recipe. And, being a Yorkshire lass, what better way to enjoy it than my own Yorkshire Tea Fruit Loaf?

This tea loaf is really easy to make. It’s basically a boiled fruitcake recipe, so no overnight soaking, or tiresome mixing required. You’ll end up with a deliciously moist, fruit packed, tea loaf that would work as an iced fruit cake too. Just swap the loaf tin, for a cake tin!

Yorkshire Tea Fruit Loaf

Ingredients:

• 250g dried mixed fruit – choose whatever you like, I use a luxury mix with cranberries, sultanas, pineapple and apricots.
• 100g glacé cherries – halved
• 100g soft dark brown sugar
• 100g butter
• Zest of one orange
• 250ml strong black tea – I use Yorkshire Tea, naturally!
• 1 medium egg – beaten
• 220g self raising flour