So it’s only one week to go before Cybher and I figured I should probably get around to doing my ‘meet and greet’ post! Better late than never, right?!

This is me:

Twitter ID : @bubbleboo & @bubblebooPhoto
Height : 5’5.5″ – I’m very proud of that half an inch!
Hair : Long, blonde – and straight or curly, depending on whether it’s having a good day.

Five things you should know about me…

1. I am brilliant at procrastination.
2. I’m a very proud autism mum to Chipmunk, 9.
3. I hate telephones. Well, not the actual objects…some telephones are pretty cool…but I don’t like talking on them!
4. I trained as a nurse – my sense of humour is dry and sarcasm is my defence!
5. I’m painfully shy. If you see someone standing in the corner trying to hide, it’s probably me.

So that’s it. I’m already having panic attacks and Cybher is still a week away! I am determined to be there though – so if you see me please come and say hi. Just bear with me if it takes me a while to form a coherent sentence.

Today I found out through an e-mail about a campaign being run by Save the Children. I read about it, and then I thought of a thousand excuses why I shouldn’t share it here. Why I shouldn’t write about it. I haven’t blogged in a long time and I saw no reason to change that. I could facebook, or tweet, or G+ it…right? Right?

So I put it off. I went to the site and I read some of the background to the campaign. I looked at all the blog entries that other people had written. That they had, for whatever reason, taken the time to write.

And then I realised that I had to write this post.

The campaign is to get bloggers to spread the word about their Build it for Babies appeal. The aim is to build clinics in Bangladesh so that young children have access to healthcare. To stop the 1 in 19 children dying before their fifth birthday.

It is suggested that we use this space to share our own birth stories and try to imagine how things would have been had the same event happened not in Britain, but in Bangladesh. This is a lovely idea, but one I am not going to completely take up.

There are a very few of you who know the story of Chipmunk’s birth. It is not something that I feel ready to revisit yet – much less publicly and in print – despite the passage of time.

Suffice it to say, that Chipmunk and I are blessed to still be walking this earth at all. We both came closer than I want to think about to not surviving that day. Despite all the medical equipment, skill and resources that we have at our fingertips, the birth of my child came so close to ending tragically. Mistakes were made. Things went wrong. The ultimate price could have been paid.

When I stop now and think of the women giving birth in Bangladesh, day in and day out, I want to cry.

If I had been there when I gave birth to Chipmunk, we would both be dead now. No ifs. No buts. No maybes. We would be dead. Yes, I could have died here – but the resources I had access to meant that things were turned around. I could have died, but I didn’t. He could have died, but he didn’t.

In Bangladesh, we would have.

So please. Click on the badge above.

Or the other one, over in the sidebar.

Click. Read. Donate.

It’s that simple.

Save a child’s life today. 

Oh, my poor blog. How I have neglected you!

I guess I was a little bit too optimistic when I made my resolutions last year. I should just have followed my instinct and not made any at all!

So this year, instead, I shall simply wish you a very Happy New Year. I hope 2012 is everything you want it to be, and so much more. Thank you for being with me over the last year – I look forward to moving forward with you on this crazy journey they call life!

So, yesterday I posted my first entry for this linky, hosted over at the fabulous Scrapbookerry. (It was late because I only just got the software, so I was just getting caught up!)

This week, however, I am right on time and raring to go!

Here’s my effort:

As always, there is a free kit available over at Scrapbookerry for you to use. It’s a MyMemories Suite kit, but works with whatever you use to do your digital scrapping. Why not give it a shot and see what you come up with? And then be sure to link up to Kerry’s blog so that we can see your work of art, too.

I was the lucky winner in the lovely Kerry from Scrapbookerry‘s competition for a copy of the MyMemories Suite scrapbooking software. I have to confess that I haven’t scrapped in a while – so this is the perfect prompt for me to get going with it once more! I’ve never been a ‘traditional’ scrapper – I don’t have the space to store the finished product, let alone any of the many necessary materials! Digital scrapping allows me to indulge my creative streak without the mess – as well as being able to combine in with my love of photography.

Kerry is running a weekly link up where she provides the link to a free scrapbooking kit and lets you do what you want with it – then post the results on her blog the following week. I was so excited when I won the software and now I get to take part in a crafty link up, too – awesome!

Here is my effort for the first week:

Thanks Kerry – looking forward to many more weeks of crafty goodness!

Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot…

I remember the fifth of November. But not for Guy Fawkes, or Bonfire Night, or firework displays.

For you.

I remember exploring walks and mystery tours.

I remember television and cigarette smoke.

I remember hot meals at lunchtime and too much salt.

I remember playing chess and cheating at UNO.

I remember magic tricks and Sunday night babysitting.

I remember hair-raising car rides and the silver St. Christopher stuck fast to the metal door of the small red car.

I remember endless stories about Ferdy and Freddy Fox.

I remember art.

I remember sparklers and wrapping up warm and, yes, fireworks.

I remember love.

I remember you.

Image Credit: Associated Press

Commemorating 9/11

…I love you

At the end of the last half term, Chipmunk’s school held their annual May Day celebration – complete with parade, flowers, May Pole…tired and whingeing children and their sunburned and increasingly frazzled parents/grandparents/siblings, all willing the day to be over. Fast.

After the event, Chipmunk and I had trekked up the hill to collect our car, when I received an SOS call from Miss Fifi’s mum. Please could I collect her as well? I agreed – obviously – and duly trekked back down the hill, only to discover she wasn’t at the site of the celebrations. Cue a call to the school, who said she came back with a teacher but now they couldn’t find her. Fabulous. (Bear in mind that I had been desperate for a wee since the middle of the afternoon. Not important, you might think, but it certainly made all the to-ing and fro-ing interesting. Still, I guess it was a great impromptu workout for my pelvic floor..!). Back up the hill, and a few minutes later, she was found and safely ensconced in the car.

So what do you do with two exhausted, stressed and cranky eight-year-olds? Why, you take them out to dinner, of course!

Yes, I am insane. How kind of you to notice.

Miss Fifi was definitely in one of her “I’m going to wind you up just to see how far I can push you” moods. She wasn’t naughty, per se – just acting out. A lot. Dinner was stressful, to say the least. I’ll give you an example. One conversation went like this:

MISS FIFI: I can’t have (the free) ice cream for pudding.

ME: Why not?

MF: I have a toothache. The cold will hurt it.

ME: Oh. Ok. <sigh> Well, what would you like then?

MF: Chocolate cake.

WAITRESS: Would you like the cake hot or as it comes?

MF: Hot please!

ME: Um, no, you have a bad tooth, remember? That’s why you can’t have the free ice cream…!

MF: But I want it hot.

ME (through gritted teeth to the waitress, who was wearing a sympathetic expression by this point): Cold. Please.

MF: <sulk>

Argh!

Still, I suppose it could have been worse. I’m not sure how exactly, but I’m sure it could have been! All it takes is one look at their faces and all is forgiven – after all, how could you stay mad at these two?

I rest my case.

But I may not take them both out to dinner for a while…

This is a Sponsored Post

Did you know I had a Fairy Hobmother? Yes, you read that right. A Fairy Hobmother.

Who goes by the name of Ian.

Really.

I think he looks like this:

So I’m a little late to the party with this one I guess, but a while ago said Fairy… aka Ian from Appliances Online… contacted me to offer me a surprise gift. He has been flapping his little fairy wings all over the blogging community of late, and he stopped by to sprinkle a little fairy dust on me (don’t tell Ian, but I think I’m allergic, it made me sneeze) – wasn’t that sweet of him?

My lovely Hobmother kindly sent me some vouchers for Amazon. Now, I was going to spend them towards some new camera equipment – but then I had a thought. And I decided instead that I am going to revive the fitness kick that I started a while – *cough* years *cough* – ago. So I bought an awesome yoga mat – those things are not cheap! – with extra padding so it can double as a general workout mat, yay!

And a carry-bag for it. And then I gave in to my geekery and bought a few vital iPad accessories. Like a stylus. You know – important stuff. *blush*

And in the time-honoured tradition of blogging, I am going to share my fitness adventures with you guys. Maybe I’ll give it a title. Like, ‘Awesome Life Experiences of a Yoga Mat’. Or something. Or maybe not.

So, thank you again Ian – my lovely Fairy Hobmother. Sorry for being so tardy in my write-up! Have fun on your blogland travels – and don’t flap your wings too hard, I’d hate for you to do yourself an injury!

Disclosure:  I was provided with vouchers for Amazon.co.uk by Appliances Online. I received no other compensation. The above post is my own. My love admiration for Ian is in no way influenced by aforementioned vouchers. To see my full Disclosure Policy, please go here.

Ahh, The Lion King. It has to be my favourite Disney film, like, ever – and those of you who know me know that I’m a huge Disney fan, so that’s not a statement I make lightly!

I don’t know what it is about this particular movie. I mean, it follows the same formula as all the others:

Introduction, Funny Bit, Sad Bit, Emotional Journey, Redemption, Happy Ending.

It has to be said that the music on this film is especially well done. I can’t help it. As soon as I hear the first notes of that hauntingly beautiful African vocal, the hairs on the back of my neck are on end and I am hooked. Whatever it is about it though – the music, the fact that it’s about cats (albeit big ones!), the gentle humour – The Lion King has always held a very special place in my heart. A place that not many other films – even Disney ones – can come close to.

I was 13 when The Lion King was originally released. It’s funny how the memory plays tricks – I was sure I was younger than that. I remember seeing it at the local cinema and falling in love with it. I seem to think that the video was released around December time – it was my birthday as well as Christmas and I remember trekking around the media section of Woolworths with my mum, desperately looking for a copy for my birthday gift that year! (It was a limited release initially, I think. And yes, I did get my copy ).

And now, all of this fabulousness is being released in 3D! With all the new movies coming out which are taking advantage of the revived 3D phenomenon, I am so chuffed that Disney have chosen The Lion King to re-release in this way. You can catch it at the cinema from this Friday (7th October) – and if you have the 3D goggles at home you can get hold of the DVD on November 7th. I can’t wait!

Disclosure:  I was not provided with any compensation for running this article. None. Not a bean. Not even a cinema ticket! The opinions stated in the above post are my own. They are my true opinions, and are in no way influenced by the aforementioned compensation that I didn’t receive for this post. To see my full Disclosure Policy, please go here.

I don’t usually run advertorials but, you know, it’s The Lion King. And I love it!

You may have seen my post on Monday about the review we did of BigJigs‘ Natural Wooden Quoits. Well, I have to say we were thoroughly spoiled and also received two other items for review – one of which was an adorable little magnetic theatre.

The set comes with all the pieces you need to build the stage, scenery and characters to tell four well-known fairy tales: Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Little Pigs and Pinocchio.

The whole thing is extremely well made – and very compact, which is ideal if you are short on space. The theatre can be set up in about five minutes or so, and the magnetic sticks and the characters are all ready to go. You are also provided with a story sheet from which to narrate, or to use as a guide when performing the plays.

I have to say, actually telling the stories using the magnets takes some getting used to. I was worried that Chipmunk would get frustrated, but I have to say I have never seen him have so much fun with a toy!

He was in fits of giggles as the magnets attracted more than one character at a time. He couldn’t stop laughing as the Big Bad Wolf dragged the poor helpless pigs around the stage. The whole ‘show’ was punctuated with cries of “Oh, hang on a minute!” (as he picked up the characters for the umpteenth time), “No, I’m not ready yet!” (as I was narrating the story) and “Wait! The wolf has fallen off the stage again!” I’ll almost be sorry when he does get the hang of it and the characters do as he wants them to!

Chipmunk was somewhat bemused by the expression on Prince Charming's face!

This is such an awesome way to spend a rainy afternoon stuck inside with the kids. You don’t have to stick to the stories provided either – there are so many characters that I’m sure with a little imagination you could be creating fairy tales of your own in no time! For £13.95 this is fantastic value for money and, in my opinion, suitable for children whatever their age. A cheap, fun and beautifully-presented way to fire up your child’s imagination. Win!

Disclosure:  I was provided with Magnetic Theatre from BigJigs by WoodenToyShop. I received no other compensation. The opinions stated in the above post are my own. They are my true opinions, and are in no way influenced by the aforementioned compensation I received for this post. To see my full Disclosure Policy, please go here.

Chipmunk and I were lucky enough to be picked recently to review some BigJigs toys. We ended up with several toys to review, so I have decided to split them up into separate posts. I know that attention spans or time in front of the computer can be limited!

The first of the toys we tried out was Natural Wooden Quoits. I’ve played games similar to this before, but Chipmunk does not really enjoy them. His hand-eye co-ordination is not good and his vision difficulties make judging distance a near-impossible task. Still, he decided that he would have a go.

Setting the game up was really easy. You can assemble it (and take it apart again) in under 2 minutes – great if you have excitable children around! The scoring system is printed on the back of the box for easy reference, too. And that’s pretty much it! There are no rules, no complicated instructions to read – just set it up and away you go.

To start with, we were both a bit rubbish! Then, after a few tries, we started scoring points. Chipmunk was so excited when he got his first hoop over the post. After that, he was sold.

It didn’t matter that there were rope hoops flying all over the garden. Or that his throwing technique needs a lot of work! He just loved playing the game – he would probably have stayed out there all afternoon and all night if I’d let him!

For such a simple toy, BigJigs Quoits gives an awful lot of pleasure for the price (£13.45). I would also thoroughly recommend it as a therapeutic tool for children who have issues with distance, spatial awareness and co-ordination. The quoits are really easy to hold on to and throw and the entire thing is great quality. It also looks great with the bright colours – and is small enough to be used in any garden, even a postage-stamp sized one like ours.

All in all, this toy was a resounding success!

Disclosure:  I was provided with Natural Wooden Quoits from BigJigs by WoodenToyShop. I received no other compensation. The opinions stated in the above post are my own. They are my true opinions, and are in no way influenced by the aforementioned compensation I received for this post. To see my full Disclosure Policy, please go here.

 No, you haven’t missed anything. I didn’t post an update for week two. I locked myself out of my blog (stop sniggering in the back!) and so couldn’t post last Monday. Normal service has now been resumed – a relief, I’m sure.

So, how am I doing with this weight loss trial? I’m going to be honest here and say that I haven’t weighed myself yet. I don’t dare – I’m terrified of crushing disappointment! Still, I do have some updates to share with you.

I feel so much better in myself. More energy, less tiredness – I just feel…better.

I managed to spend three days walking (and pushing Chipmunk) around Disneyland without stopping to pause for breath every two seconds. My diet has also improved dramatically. During my Disneyland trip I ate pasta, salad, low-fat yoghurts…and enjoyed them! I had fries once – but couldn’t manage the whole portion. And I only had one small ice-cream.

It’s not all going in the right direction though. I’m still struggling with my coca-cola addiction. I have been interspersing coke with apple juice, but am nowhere near weaning myself off it completely! Hopefully I’ll get there with that in the long term.

On the whole, things are going well. I’m pleased with the progress I’m making and how much better I’m feeling in myself. I might even have a weigh-in next week!

Disclosure:  I was provided with the full MuTu System course and the 21-Day Thinking Slimmer course plus two Slimpods. I received no other compensation. The opinions stated in the above post are my own. They are my true opinions, and are in no way influenced by the aforementioned compensation I received for this post. To see my full Disclosure Policy, please go here.

 It is no secret among those of you that know me that I am overweight. Very overweight. I haven’t weighed myself for years, but I know that at a dress size 20, I have a BIG problem. Today, I finally bit the bullet and decided that if I’m going to do this properly, I need to be able to accurately track my progress. Enter the Wii Fit.

Crap.

I’m starting to wish I hadn’t done this.

Ok. So. This is what I look like today:

WEIGHT: 16st 8lb

BMI: 37.34

IDEAL WEIGHT: 9st 11lb

IDEAL BMI: 22

Ouch. It sucks. I know. It’s actually worse than I thought.

I have always been big, ever since I hit puberty. I struggle with the motivation to get going with exercise even though, perversely, I really enjoy it once I actually do get going. To be honest, I was starting to get a little desperate and was losing all hope of ever being a ‘normal’ size again. I think part of my lethargy is down to my concoction of meds, but I can by no means blame them for all of it. This one is down to me.

I have heard some amazing things about both the MuTu System and Thinking Slimmer over the last few weeks. So when I was offered the opportunity to take part in a brand new tandem trial involving both of these weight loss programmes, I jumped at it. In fact, I grabbed it with both hands as enthusiastically as if it were an enormous piece of delicious chocolate cake!

The tandem trial is basically hoping to tackle weight loss from both sides – the physical (exercise, healthy eating) and the psychological (changing the way we think about food). I am hopeful that this will be the best approach for me – I certainly have never managed to stick to anything else! I received the first weekly MuTu downloads a couple of weeks ago. However there was a bit of a hitch with Thinking Slimmer – thankfully now sorted – which meant that my start was delayed. My OCD refused to let me start MuTu properly until everything was in place – this is, after all, a tandem trial!

My aim is to get to a size 12. I am well aware that this will probably not happen during the trial. However, I think that if I can at least get well on my way to this goal, I will have the enthusiasm to be able to continue once the trial has finished.

So, what will be my biggest issue? Probably, coca-cola. I love it. I’m sure it’s an addiction. The problem is that it’s one thing that makes you pile on the pounds! I am hopeful that with MuTu and Thinking Slimmer I can overcome this particular stumbling block, along with many others.

One thing I love about both of the programmes is that once you sign up, you are given access to loads – and I mean loads – of resources to help you. As well as recipes, videos and numerous articles there is also the chance for one-to-one advice and support from the experts – as well as a personalised booklet to help you through the 21 days of the Thinking Slimmer course. MuTu and Thinking Slimmer really do give you every chance to succeed.

So, this will be my weight-loss diary for the next few weeks. Every Monday I will chart my successes – and my failures – for the world to see. I figure it’s another thing that might keep me going when things get tough. Public humiliation is never something to look forward to, after all!

Right then. Enough procrastination. My MuTu resources are waiting for me to dive in, my Thinking Slimmer handbook is freshly printed and my first Slimpod is downloaded and ready to be listened to tonight. At least I don’t have a husband to annoy by listening to the dulcet tones of another man while in bed!

Let the trial begin…

Disclosure:  I was provided with the full MuTu System course and the 21-Day Thinking Slimmer course plus two Slimpods. I received no other compensation. The opinions stated in the above post are my own. They are my true opinions, and are in no way influenced by the aforementioned compensation I received for this post. To see my full Disclosure Policy, please go here.

This is a Sponsored Post

Did you know I had a Fairy Hobmother? Yes, you read that right. A Fairy Hobmother.

Who goes by the name of Ian.

Really.

I think he looks like this:

So I’m a little late to the party with this one I guess, but a while ago said Fairy… aka Ian from Appliances Online… contacted me to offer me a surprise gift. He has been flapping his little fairy wings all over the blogging community of late, and he stopped by to sprinkle a little fairy dust on me (don’t tell Ian, but I think I’m allergic, it made me sneeze) – wasn’t that sweet of him?

My lovely Hobmother kindly sent me some vouchers for Amazon. Now, I was going to spend them towards some new camera equipment – but then I had a thought. And I decided instead that I am going to revive the fitness kick that I started a while – *cough* years *cough* – ago. So I bought an awesome yoga mat – those things are not cheap! – with extra padding so it can double as a general workout mat, yay!

And a carry-bag for it. And then I gave in to my geekery and bought a few vital iPad accessories. Like a stylus. You know – important stuff. *blush*

And in the time-honoured tradition of blogging, I am going to share my fitness adventures with you guys. Maybe I’ll give it a title. Like, ‘Awesome Life Experiences of a Yoga Mat’. Or something. Or maybe not.

So, thank you again Ian – my lovely Fairy Hobmother. Sorry for being so tardy in my write-up! Have fun on your blogland travels – and don’t flap your wings too hard, I’d hate for you to do yourself an injury!

Disclosure:  I was provided with vouchers for Amazon.co.uk by Appliances Online. I received no other compensation. The above post is my own. My love admiration for Ian is in no way influenced by aforementioned vouchers. To see my full Disclosure Policy, please go here.

This competition is now **CLOSED**

I decided that the best way to celebrate the launch of bubbleboo.com would be to do something nice for my readers – you. So I was in luck to be contacted by the lovely people at Find Me a Gift asking me if I would like to run a giveaway for them.

Yes, please!

With Father’s Day coming up, there are lots of wonderful gifts to choose from at Find Me A Gift. However, I believe I have picked the best of the bunch for one of you lovely people to receive!

Behold, the Become a Whisky Ambassador Gift Box.

This prize allows you to learn all about how whisky is made, as well as offering the opportunity of a whisky tasting and distillery tour – how cool is that?!

{more product info here}

This set would make a fantastic Father’s Day gift for the Mister in your life. Or maybe a birthday present for the discerning whisky drinker you know and love. Or even as a special treat for yourself – why not?! This is the perfect opportunity to get behind the scenes and become an ambassador for your favourite tipple.

Let’s get to the details – what do you have to do to get your hands on this gift?

TO ENTER: Just leave a comment on this post – it’s that simple! It doesn’t have to be a long comment, or include anything in particular – but a little more than one or two words would be nice! Make sure to include your contact information (e-mail or Twitter) so that I can let you know if you are the lucky winner! {UK Residents only}

In addition to that I am allowing some ways to get bonus entries for this competition.

Bonus 1: Simply Tweet this:  ” I am entering @bubbleboo ‘s competition to #win a Whisky Ambassador Gift Box from @findmeagift http://bit.ly/m9dXAm ” and leave a separate comment telling me that you have done so = 1 extra entry

Bonus 2: Follow me via Google Friend Connect {in the sidebar ➝ } and leave a separate comment telling me that you have done so = 1 extra entry

The competition will close next Wednesday – good luck!

TERMS and CONDITIONS:

• You must be a UK resident.

• You must leave a comment for your initial entry. Bonus entries which are made without first completing the compulsory entry will be disregarded.

• You must leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry (compulsory first, then any bonus entries you wish to complete)

• The giveaway will run until next Wednesday (15th June) at 4pm, at which time I will number all entries consecutively, in the order they were received. I will then use a Popular Random Number Generator to decide the winner.

• The winner will be notified by myself immediately to arrange delivery of the prize. The winner must respond within 24 hours of notification in order to receive the prize.

• My decision on entry validity and winner notification is final.

This is a Sponsored Post

I was asked recently if I would review a new personal security product for women, from ila Security. At first, I wasn’t sure, as it is outside of my usual remit of parenting/writing/photography – but then I took a closer look at the accompanying brochure, and the ila Security website.

And then I accepted the review.

ila Security make a variety of products aimed at offering women some extra protection as they go about their daily lives. I know that none of us wants to think about the possibility of something untoward happening, but it’s a sad fact of life that, very occasionally, bad things happen. If something can be done to give us a better chance of coming out of it, then that has to be a positive thing. I was offered a choice of these products to review, and I decided to go for the ila Dusk.

The Dusk is a personal alarm which clips onto the outside of a bag – or coat, or trousers…anywhere you can clip a keyring and have it easily accessible, basically! On the other end of the alarm from the clip is a chain. Pull it, and the alarm goes.

But that’s where any similarity to other personal alarm products ends. For the Dusk doesn’t just make that high-pitched squeal that most people assume is just an excitable car alarm. Oh no. The Dusk screams.

And boy, does it scream.

130db of female scream, to be exact – which not only serves to alert others to your plight, but may also disorientate an attacker long enough for you to make like Linford Christie and get out of there.

The Dusk also comes in several beautiful designs. I had a hard time deciding which I liked best, but eventually I chose this gorgeous blue butterfly design:

Pretty, ain’t it?

ila Security seem to have hit the nail on the head with these chic and distinctly feminine products. Gone are the days of the clunky, black, boxy alarms – these pretty and versatile products are infinitely sexier!

One thing I will say, is that I expected the alarm to be heavier than it actually is. When I opened it, I thought it felt a little bit plasticky, instead of the cool metal feel I was expecting. I was also a bit worried that I’d break it if I pulled the chain too hard, and be stuck with a woman shrieking loudly at me for the next few months! But actually, there was no problem using the product – and I guess lightweight is probably good if you have a handbag full of other crap to drag around the dancefloor with you!

On these long, dark Winter nights, personal safety is more of an issue than, say, at the height of Summer. The ila Dusk might just serve to make you feel that little bit safer as you live your life to the full.

To find out more, you can visit the ila Security website, or browse their product brochure online.

Overall Verdict: I like this product. It’s a new approach to an ever-present problem, and it’s certainly the best – and prettiest – product of its type on the market today.

Disclosure:  I was provided with an ila Dusk personal alarm from ila Security. I received no other compensation. The opinions stated in the above post are my own. They are my true opinions, and are in no way influenced by the aforementioned compensation I received for this post. To see my full Disclosure Policy, please go here.

This is a Sponsored Post

Recently, I was asked to do a write-up of a new website. Not just a new website, but a whole new concept of a site.

You see, 15 Gifts is not your average gifting website. Oh no, 15 Gifts is a gifting website with bells on!

The premise is so simple, yet I have not come across it in this format before. Basically, you answer a few questions about the person you are buying for, 15 Gifts searches through many online boutiques, and hey presto! You get some awesome gift suggestions that are tailor-made for the person you are buying a gift for.

How cool is that?

Not only that, but the website allows you to create an account, and set up profiles for various friends and family members – making the whole process even quicker the next time you are buying for them.

But wait… there’s more!

If a gift suggestion pops up that is not appropriate, you tell the site that you don’t like it – and it remembers! Not only that, but it recognises other things that you may not like based on your selection.

Now, I know that you will be sitting there thinking that it’s all done on some fancy algorithm that would go straight over the top of my head. Personally, I think there are dozens of little elves working their butts off to find compatible presents for all my nearest and dearest.

Picture Credit: Wallcoo.net

Or maybe that’s just the Christmas mania getting to me!

Whatever the reality (it’s the elves, trust me!), 15 Gifts is the perfect site to use for all the Christmas shopping you haven’t done yet – which, let’s face it, is most of it. Or is that just me, too?!

I will certainly be using it from now on, and I think you should give it a try, too. It might just make your life a little – or a whole lot – easier!

Rating:  ★★★★★  5/5 stars

Overall Verdict: Great website, based on a unique and extremely useful concept! Website is easy to use – and the choice of goods, from some excellent stores, is fantastic. I will use them in future.

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It is usually around about this time of year – in the depths of Winter, with freezing temperatures and monochrome skies – that I find my thoughts turning to sunnier climes. What I wouldn’t give to be lying on a beach somewhere, the white sand warm to the touch, and the gentle sound of the ocean lulling me to sleep.

Sadly, I am usually jerked out of this daydream by the demands of a bored seven-year-old!

Every year, I promise myself that I will try to afford a break away. Nothing fancy, you know, just one of those cheap package holidays to somewhere hot. And fun. And hot.

We’ve managed it once. Well, twice, if you count the Isle of Man 4 years ago…but I don’t because it’s not particularly…well…hot! The only other holiday we’ve had since Chipmunk was born was ten days in Malta and Gozo.

It was my first time abroad – properly abroad, I don’t count France or Belgium because we went there by train! It was only my second flight – and although I am a very poor flier, even I had to concede that the view from the window over the Swiss Alps, and then along Italy’s beautiful coastline was pretty incredible.

As for the holiday itself? I can honestly say, no word of a lie, it was my best holiday ever. Ever. Ten days of Chipmunk, me, the Mediterranean – and two beautiful, beautiful islands. The people were wonderful – so friendly and welcoming. Those were the best ten days I’d had in a very long time.

Since then, we haven’t been able to go away like that. Not properly. It stings when Chipmunk goes back to school after the holidays and all his friends are showing off their pictures from Orlando, or Spain, or the Caribbean.

I know Chipmunk doesn’t mind. And he really doesn’t mind. But I do. I would so love to be able to have that time away once a year, just the two of us. I’d love to go back to Malta – but there are so many other places that I’d love to visit, too! It’s not about the holiday, particularly – the hotel, the food, even the destination.

It’s about the experience. The relaxation that getting completely away from your life can bring. It’s about the healing. That holiday did so much for Chipmunk – and me – that years at home could never do.

Maybe next year, if the financial situation allows, we will find a way to travel again.

Maybe not.

It would be nice, though – wouldn’t it?