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The Importance of Life Insurance – A True Story

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MyBump2Baby are proud to be working with financial advisors throughout the UK to raise awareness on the importance of protecting your loved ones. Protecting our families is often something that is put on the “back burner” and sometimes forgotten about until the worst happens and sadly by then it is too late. Here is an article from Lauren who runs MyBump2Baby Newcastle Upon Tyne . Lauren sadly lost her much loved mother in 2019 and shares her experience on the importance of life insurance and how it can help families at such a traumatic time.

Life insurance seems to be one of those things that you don’t really think about until it’s too late, but that shouldn’t be the case.  Everyone seems to know why it is so important to us all, BUT a lot of us choose to ignore what would happen if we were to die suddenly without having any life insurance in place.  If this was to happen without us having life insurance in place, it could potentially have devastating effects for your family which could result in being left with a large bill to pay for your final expenses, or even worse, losing their family home because they can’t afford to repay the mortgage.

Unfortunately, I lost my mum last year on 9th December and honestly life insurance was not something I had ever thought about until this day.  You don’t realise how important life insurance really is until you’re on the other side of it.  On top of dealing with the sudden loss of my mum, we had to plan the funeral and all of the expenses that came with it.  I never realised how expensive it was to organise and pay for a funeral!  My mum and dad have always been good with money and savings, so whilst we didn’t rely on the money to pay for the funeral, it was still a worry to think about how expensive a funeral could be.

I have two children myself who are nearly 3, and one and a half, and at the time of my mum passing I still lived in the family home with them, my partner, my mum, my dad and my sister, and whilst the house is like Mary Poppins’ handbag, it was definitely a squeeze for us all to be living there.  I’ve always wanted a house of my own to raise the girls and make our own memories but with the cost of houses these days it never seemed to be a possibility.  Whilst losing my mum was the worst thing I have ever gone through in my life, I will always be thankful that something good came out of it – in a weird kind of way.  So, my dad decided that once we had everything sorted he was happy to split the money between myself and my sister because he wanted us to get on the property ladder.  Thanks to my mum we now have our first family home, mortgage free, so there is no stress and worrying about paying the mortgage, which with two kids can be so stressful to worry about! It makes me sad that mum isn’t here to pop round for a coffee and see the house and make more memories with us but I will be forever grateful that because my mum had her life insurance we were able to use it to get our first family home.

That’s just my own personal story, and I know that everyone’s stories differ but the importance of life insurance really is paramount to your family.  Life insurance can help your family to pay off your debts, provide for your children, give peace of mind to your family financially, even if your life insurance is for a small amount it will mean more to your family than you could ever possibly imagine.

To get in touch with your local MyBump2Baby financial advisor please fill in our contact form with your name, telelphone number and town name and we will pass your details on to your nearest advisor.

Beckie’s Story – Why I Love Working for Mini First Aid

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Beckie’s Story – why I love working for Mini First Aid

At Mini First Aid, we have a team of 60 fantastic franchisees across the UK who train around 1000 parents every week in life-saving first aid skills.

We spoke to Beckie who runs Mini First Aid Wrexham, Flintshire and Chester about why she joined and what she loves about her job.

How did you first hear about Mini First Aid?

I was feeding my baby in the early hours of the morning, when I saw a Mini First Aid post pop up on Mummy Social!  I am a trained nurse but was on maternity leave at the time, so it sounded like a fantastic opportunity to try something different whilst still using my nursing skills.

Why did you decide to buy a Mini First Aid franchise?

I’ve been a qualified nurse since I was 21 and have always worked in healthcare.  I loved my job but I wanted something that was more flexible to fit around family life – my boys are still young and there’s only 17 months between them, so I wanted to spend more time with them but still earn a living. Mini First Aid enables me to do this.

What do you enjoy most about working for Mini First Aid?

The flexibility it gives you is amazing – I feel very lucky to have found a job that I can fit around my family, but that is also very rewarding and fulfilling; seeing parents, grandparents and guardians going away from a class with confidence they didn’t have at the beginning is really great to see.

The support from head office and the other franchisees is incredible – it feels like a big family. We all have different backgrounds, but we use these different skills and experiences to help each other out

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Have you faced any challenges with your new career?

There will always be challenges when you have young children!

I’m often answering calls and emails whilst entertaining my boys. However, you wouldn’t be able to do that with another job, so that’s what makes Mini First Aid such a family friendly job!

How many days do you work?

I currently run on average 1-2 classes per week although this does vary greatly. I still work on a more flexible basis as a nurse to keep my skills up to date. As Mini First Aid is so flexible – you can choose how many hours you want to work and when – I can fit this around my nursing shifts and childcare really easily.

Finally, what would you say to someone who was thinking about joining Mini First Aid?

Just do it, you won’t regret it!

If you’re looking for a flexible job that you can fit around your family, with great support, then I really don’t think you can beat Mini First Aid.

 

Click here to find out more about becoming a Mini First Aid franchisee or trainer

Click here to find your local Mini First Aid class

 

Why Setting up A Pension in your 20/30’s could be the best decision you make.

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What do you picture you retirement to look like? Is it filled with endless holidays? Wining and dining in fancy resturants? Taking your grandchildren out on fun days out? or just enjoying your partners company and doing whatever you both want to do.

One thing that makes retirement enjoyable is having the time and funds to do whatever you want… but how do you get there? Currently, in 2019 a state pension £168.60. Could you jet set and travel the world on £168.60 a week whilst paying your bills? Sadly not!!!

You still have time!!

You still have time to change this and we would love to help you. MyBump2Baby Protection Services as a number of dedicated advisors throuhout the UK ready to help you get started with your pension based on what you can afford, to find you nearest advisor fill in this form.

 

Today we have special guest Andrew Sutcliffe, our advisor from Preston, Lancashire who shares answers to some commonly asked questions and why setting up a pension in your 20’s and 30’s could be the best decision you make.

why setting up a pension plan in your 20s30s could be the best decision you ever make

What age can I access my pension?

Under current regulation you can access a private pension at the age of 55, however there are talks that this could change.  Some workplace pensions can differ and have different ages when funds can be accessed depending on the individual scheme rules.

 

What are the benefits of setting up a pension plan?

There are many benefits to setting up a pension…..

  • The funds in a pension grow free of Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax
  • The benefit of tax relief on contributions to a pension plan, essentially free money from the government.  For example, if you paid £240 into a pension, there would actually be £300 going in to it.  That £60 is in the form of tax relief at 20%.  You can pay up to £40,000 in to a pension each year and benefit from tax relief.  This is called the annual allowance.
  • The flexibility when it comes to accessing your pension
  • It provides you with an income in retirement.
  • The potential for better growth than you would see if you held your funds in a typical savings account for example
  • Beneficial for business owners to reduce the amount of corporation tax they pay

There are many more!

What age can I set up a pension from?

You can set up a pension for yourself at the age of 18.  However, you can set up a pension for your children to support them in future life.  Essentially, you can set up a pension for a child on the day that they are born but there is a maximum you can pay into it each year.

Can I have 2 pension plans?

You can have as many pension as you like, and many people do as a result of changing jobs over the course of their working life.  It would be very beneficial to have these reviewed as many providers do not provide advice and it is very prudent to make sure that your funds are in the right place.  Having multiple plans can also be challenging from an administrative point of view.

How does a pension plan work?

A pension is an investment with different tax treatment.  In simple terms, you ( and potentially your employer) make contributions in to a plan and the funds within it grow over a period of time.  When the time comes to access your funds, there are different ways you can do so to provide you with an income in retirement.

 

Can I move pension from another provider?

Yes you can move providers and can often be beneficial to do so for several reasons, one of which is performance.  Many people have past pensions that they are not receiving regular advice on which can be detrimental to the individual.  You should also seek professional financial advice before undertaking a pension transfer.

What happens if I die before I can access my pension?

Pensions can be passed to a beneficiary in the event of death.

 

My partner and I are self-employed and don’t have a pension, do we need one?

Absolutely! With the State Pension Age continuing to increase the need for private provisions as never been higher.  If you are self-employed, you don’t have contributions from an employer so therefore you are responsible for funding your own pot. Without a private pension arrangement you would be reliant on state pension income which is currently a little over £160 per week and the age at which you become entitled to this is under review.  For me it is 68!

 

Is a pension plan flexible?

Previously, pensions used to be very inflexible and for this reason they were viewed quite negatively.  This is no longer the case and pensions are now very flexible and in my view, are fantastic.  You have a variety of options once you are able to access the funds there are different methods to produce an income but getting the right advice at this stage of your life is very important.

You still have time to change this and we would love to help you. MyBump2Baby Protection Services as a number of dedicated advisors throuhout the UK ready to help you get started with your pension based on what you can afford, to find you nearest advisor fill in this form.

Safe Exercise During Pregnancy

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Today we have a guest post from our expert Sarah Hunter BSc. Sarah shares her expertise on Safe Exercise During Pregnancy. Sarah owns Chorley Pilates in Lancashire.

 

First of all, let’s just take a look at what’s happening to your body.

Some really incredible things happen to your body during pregnancy. It has to adapt, not only to accommodate the baby growing inside you, but also has to prepare for the birth. So, we’re going to have a little look here at what your body has to cope with, and why, so that you can really understand the importance of exercising safely and adapting what you do as your pregnancy progresses.

During the first trimester, us mums experience a whole variety of different symptoms. Maybe you have/had morning sickness and exhaustion? One of the first hormones to start flooding your system causes the blood vessel walls to relax and become more elastic. This is to prepare the body for the extra blood volume it will need later on. But in the early days, you don’t have that increased blood volume, it hasn’t caught up yet, so you might feel faint, exhausted or dizzy and your blood pressure usually drops. You also start to develop a resistance to insulin. This makes your body store more fat, so that bit of weight gain, (7-11lbs) is perfectly normal in the first few months.

Safe Exercise During Pregnancy

What does this mean for exercising in the early days? If exhaustion is really causing you problems, (and I hold my hand up, I absolutely needed that nap when I got in from work!) then maybe look to exercising at a time of the day when you have more energy. Listen to your body and rest when you need to. Aerobic activity is fine, if you feel up to it, so aim for around 15-30 minutes of activity up to three times a week. Muscular conditioning will help to keep your posture in check and prevent back pain. Just be mindful of changing position quickly and making yourself feel dizzy.

Some people (that can be friends, relatives and partners) may worry that exercise may be too demanding for you or could even harm the baby and cause a miscarriage. The best thing to do is to talk to your doctor or midwife. If you have had previous miscarriages, or a family history of them, then it shouldn’t stop you from exercising full stop, but you should definitely get advice and reassurance from a health care professional before continuing or taking up something new. Many studies have proved the benefits of safe exercise during pregnancy for both mum and baby, and none so far have found any detrimental effects on a healthy person.

As your pregnancy progresses past 12 weeks, you start to enter the second trimester and a host of new things are happening. It’s very exciting and you might begin to feel that pregnancy glow. Your blood volume has finally caught up and your energy levels rise again.

To adapt to the increasing weight of the growing baby, your lower back starts to arch and the pelvis tips forwards. Back ache is common but corrective postural exercises can help to counteract any discomfort. It does, however, mean that your centre of gravity has changed. The hormone, relaxin, is also surging around your body making all your joints more flexible and less stable. Now is the time to think about reducing the risk of falling. Contact sports, high intensity exercises or high impact exercises are not advisable now. The placenta is placing a high demand for oxygenated blood and nutrients on your body. Over training could, potentially, reduce the necessary amounts being carried to your baby.

Switching to lower impact activities such as cycling, walking, cross-training, Pilates, Yoga and swimming will give you all the aerobic exercise you need without putting undue stress on your joints. Now is also the time to work with lighter weights and to stop exercising on your back. When we lie down, all that weight from the bump presses down on important blood vessels which could reduce the flow of oxygen to your baby.

Taking a bit longer to warm up and cool down from your session will be very beneficial and prevent any unwanted hikes in blood pressure.

At 27 weeks you’re on the home straight! The third trimester is here, and your bump is coming along nicely. So much is happening now. As baby grows, you have to make room. Your ribcage is pushing outwards, your internal organs have miraculously rearranged themselves, your tummy muscles have stretched so far that they have stopped being able to contract and you have the best cleavage ever!

This does mean that now you might start struggling for breath again. Breathing exercises are so important. I strongly encourage all my clients to practice their breathing exercises at home. Not only will it help to keep your energy levels higher, but it’s also great practice for the delivery room and calming down those nerves.

You were probably wondering when I was going to get around to mentioning the pelvic floor. Well that is going to be a whole topic in itself. The sooner you start learning how to do them the better. There is so much weight and strain on them during pregnancy. Keeping them toned could help to an easier birth and a quicker recovery with less risk of damage.

Postural strengthening exercises are really important now too. Only use light weights and avoid working from overhead or lying down. Stretching the hip flexors can assist in reducing tension in the lower back but as your ligaments are very elastic, only gentle, maintenance stretches are advised.

What happens if my pregnancy isn’t all plain sailing?

I have yet to meet anyone who didn’t have some kind of issue develop during their pregnancy. For myself, I discovered that I have a gene which gives me thick blood and had to wear delightful thigh high, white support stockings through the entire third trimester. Not much fun in a June heatwave or when you can’t even reach your feet!

A qualified antenatal exercise instructor will be able to make any necessary adaptations to minor ailments (although they might not seem minor to you at the time) like carpel tunnel syndrome, pelvic girdle pain etc.

There are some conditions which would rule out exercising altogether, ruptured membranes, persistent bleeding, incompetent cervix to name but a few. But if you are unsure about anything, speak to your midwife. They are there to support and assist you through this whole process and they are absolutely amazing.

Any instructor taking you on as a client should have you complete a health screening form specifically designed for antenatal clients. And they should keep checking in with you as the pregnancy progresses. Communication between you, your instructor and midwife is key to a happy, healthy pregnancy.

Pregnancy is not a barrier to exercise, so enjoy it.

Sarah x

To read more about Sarah and her fantastic business head over to her;

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10 Things to Consider When Choosing your Next Professional Photographer

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In this day and age, the photography industry is over saturated with photographers from all levels and specialities, from doing it as a hobby to offering a luxury, high end photography experience. This can make it quite daunting finding your next photographer. I just Googled ‘Northampton photographers’ and there are 170 results that came up!! That’s just insane as I’m sure some aren’t even on Google!

So while sifting through all these photographers, what should you be looking for? What should you consider when choosing your next professional photographer?

 

10 things to consider when choosing your next professional photographer

*Credit to Missy Mwac for the image.

Human nature automatically makes us compare price first, especially in such a competitive market. However, when searching for your next photographer, you shouldn’t be choosing based on price alone. There’s a lot of photographers out there but not everyone is a ‘professional photographer’ and we’re not all the same! Comparing based on price alone is like comparing apples to oranges. Your price point/budget is definitely important, but here are 10 things to look out for to make sure you choose the right professional photographer for your family:

 

1 – You’re not buying the same fridge from Tesco’s or Curry’s. Photography is an art form and every photographer has their own style and level of artwork and expertise. Make sure you love their style and editing as it’s not something they’ll change!

2- Compare the quality of the images with other photographers. Make sure you choose someone who will create artwork you’ll be proud to hang on your walls. Too often I have clients who tell me they have wall art still sat in their garage from another photographer from years ago because they just don’t love the images! If you’re investing in family portraits you want to make sure you’ll love them forever.

3 – Are you looking for an indoor session in front of a white screen or an outdoor session with beautiful backdrops? You should also consider if you’re looking for more of a posed photographer or someone who captures candid, natural and relaxed portraits. Same thing goes for newborn photography, are you looking for a posed session (baby wrapped, in a bucket/bowl, props, etc) or more of a lifestyle, relaxed in home session?

4 – Make sure to look at the experience a professional photographer holds. You want to feel confident and at ease with your photographer and this comes with experience. Also have a read through their reviews. Reputation is everything and great reviews can put you at ease, especially when looking for a newborn session!

5– How far are you happy to travel for your session? I’ve been humbled with clients driving 2+ hours to come see me for their newborn sessions! Another question to ask yourself is if you’re happy travelling to a studio or if you want the photographer to come to your home (whether that’s for a family sessions, maternity and/or newborn session).

6- Ask if they’re insured… especially if it’s a newborn session you’re looking for!

7- Ask if they have newborn safety training. This is an important one, please don’t hesitate to ask this question!! You don’t want to do a newborn session with a photographer who does it ‘for fun’ or ‘on the side’ and who’s not properly trained. Your baby’s wellbeing is in a strangers hands for a few hours… make sure they know what they’re doing and that your baby is safe at all times! I’ve heard far too many horror stories that have made my heart stop.

Take a straw for example. If you bend the straw completely downwards it’s very hard to drink, bend it completely upwards and again, it’s difficult to drink. This is the same with babies airways. If they’re positioned in a basket and their chin is touching their chest, they will have a hard time breathing. If placed in a bucket and their head is tilted completely upwards, they can’t breathe! Another example is how a 4 week old baby won’t bend and curl the same way as a 6 day old because his/her bones have started fusing together.

Newborn photography is a specialist skill requiring patience, creativity, sensitivity, the right safety measures and the technical know-how. This is why it’s so important to use a reliable and experienced photographer who specialises in newborn portraiture.

10 things to consider when choosing your next professional photographer

 

8- What kind of session are you’re after? Just some quick snaps on a CD and pictures for Facebook? Or a luxury, full service photography experience where you’ll be taken care of, create timeless artwork of your family and showcase them on heirloom products like stunning wall art, custom-made albums and fine art prints. With my premium photography experience, I even include a professional company who will hang your new artwork for you, completely free of charge!

There is a photographer for everyone and for every need, but if you want to be pampered and not lift a finger, I’m the photographer for you!

9- Are you happy printing your own images at Tesco’s or online somewhere and them yellowing and fading in a few years? Or are you looking to invest in high quality, luxury and exclusive heirloom products that will last 100+ years and be passed on for generations to come? Many professional labs will only cater to professional photographers so if you’re looking for the highest quality prints and products, it’s best to commission a professional photographer that specialises in heirloom products and purchase it directly from them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 – Of course as discussed, price point is important as well! How much are you looking to invest in your family portraits? There are photographers at every price point but what’s important to remember is that with everything in life, you get what you pay for! If you’re looking to invest in high quality heirloom products that will last a lifetime [like stunning wall art, custom-made albums and fine art archival prints] it will be higher priced, but you can always ask if they do payment plans as most of us who are product based will offer this service.

This industry is absolutely saturated so you’re spoiled for choice! There are photographers for every need, but these are some things to think about when looking for your next professional photographer as we’re not all the same and we don’t all offer the same thing. I saw this quote and loved it because it’s true, the photographer you use depends very much on how important the photographs are to you!

*Credit to Missy Mwac for the image.

If you’re still looking for your next professional photographer and you’d like to discuss what your luxury photography experience with Fritz Photography would entail, please don’t hesitate to contact us on info@fritzphotography.co.uk or +44 (0) 7393997427.

 

How do I Keep My Child Cool in Hot Weather?

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So it is that time of year and we are finally enjoying some well-deserved sunshine. Queue the usual summer comments “Not prepared for this weather are we?” “It’s too hot” and I can understand it. We aren’t used to the sun so when summer comes by we are often unprepared and promise ourselves that next year will be different but we still struggle.

I think one of the biggest worries in the hotter months is ‘how do I keep my child cool in hot weather?’ Many parents ask for different ways to keep their child cool especially when travelling in the car or going on holiday. In the hot weather we tend to experience daily ‘head sweats’ – I like to call them, when my lovely boy has been in the car seat and it’s a lovely day, we will travel somewhere (sometimes only a short journey) and I get him out with the back of his head and neck dripping and a lovely sweat stain on the car seat. It really can’t be comfy and he can’t just tell me ‘mother I’m sweating cobs back here….. cool me off woman!’ and instead he has the toddler hot head tantrums which tend to happen a lot in the hot weather.

how to keep a baby and toddler cool in hot weather 3

Keeping your child cool on Holiday

I remember taking him on holiday and we had bought a cheap second hand buggy (thank god we did) a lovely blue one. It was just covered in sweat stains from him at the end, and we had only put him in it to walk around the local shops or out and about for half an hour or so. He just must have gotten so hot with no air circulating behind his head and neck that he just broke out in the sweats. Safe to say we had to throw the buggy away before travelling home as it was completely ruined. It sounds ridiculous throwing something away because of sweat stains but we had no choice. It is a real worry for parents in this summer heat because they have to go in car seats and prams and sometimes the journey is a little longer than we would hope.

The solution to keeping your little ones cool in hot weather

MyBump2Baby has found an amazing solution to this problem. Introducing Nowa Baby an innovative company that strives to create products to make everyday life easier for parents. Their product is ‘Cool Breeze Seat Liner’, this Seat liner is both a car seat or pram liner that is universally compatible with most prams & car seats. It is a seat liner that you can attach to your pram, buggy and car seat. It’s special innovative design uses 3d breathable mesh that allows hot air to escape and cool air to reach your child and Tencel fibers that help to keep your little one cool.

‘What on earth?’ I hear you ask, not to worry here’s the sciency bit – Tencel fibers are produced from sustainably sourced wood. Unique properties of Tencel fibers, lead to efficient moisture absorption and gentleness on skin. Tencel is softer and more breathable than cotton & polyester, making it ideal to keep your little one cool and comfortable.

All sounds very fab but a bit over my head, what I want to know is does it work does it keep my hot head son cooler and how does it look?

Is the Product as Good as it sounds?

The answer is yes!

The lovely people at Nowa Baby sent me a Cool Breeze Liner to try and it is amazing. I would definitely purchase one.

I really liked the colour they sent (but of course, this awesome brand has you covered with four different colour choices, blue, pink, mint or beige).

It is lightweight and looks lovely and comfy. It is easy to use the liner is compatible with all 5-point harness’ and it fits perfectly in my car seat and buggy and there was absolutely no need for me to spend an hour stressing trying to get it in and secure it, it really does just slot right in. And, most importantly it kept my son cooler.

I have now used this several times splitting its use between the car seat and the buggy and I really have to say I can’t believe how well it works and how easy it is to use. I purposely picked he hottest days with temperatures of 22 degrees and more and his head sweats were massively reduced. I’m not going to say that there was no sweating there still was a little of course but what it didn’t do was soak onto the liner like it does the car seat or the buggy and his hot head stresses were actually (pleasantly) much, much less.  There was also less hot headed tantrums which of course was an added bonus.

What I love about Nowa Baby

What I really like about Nowa Baby is that the team largely comprises of young families who are going through the same issues that you are facing. So their products are designed with parent’s convenience and children’s comfort and safety in mind. For me having a company that designs their products with their own children in mind means that they truly believe in what they are selling.

They have free shipping worldwide and so we really do think for those parents who know a thing or two about toddler hot head tantrums or worry about how they can keep their baby cool in the car seat or prams for long periods of time that this product and this company is for you. Go and visit their website now you will not regret it – I can promise you that.

how to keep a baby and toddler cool in hot weather

 

Based on our own experience, we awarded Nowa Baby with our recommended on badge

 

Please note that although we have tried and tested the product ourselves, we are not responsible for safety checks. For any questions regarding this please contact the company directly.

Deciding on the Perfect Rug

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We have recently just moved house, well back in December to be a little more precise and the thought of decorating somewhere new filled me with such excitement, not so much the stripping of wallpaper, sanding walls and painting but more so the thought of accessorising the rooms with furniture and fabrics, pictures, pots and not forgetting one of my favourite things; rugs.

 Rugs Transform Rooms – FACT!

I take after my Mum when it comes to rugs.  She loves them.  Always has done for as long as I can remember.  She is forever swapping old rugs for new rugs, rotating them from room to room, reviving them and so on.  Whenever we go out shopping she always ends up coming back with a new rug to add to her already large collection and now she is even ordering them online too.  I guess I’ve learnt from my Mum how a rug has such an impact on a room. It can bring to life an area or space quite considerably and add a very homely and welcoming feel.  You can bring to life carpets with a rug, warm up laminate floors, adorn a hallway, and they are also incredibly practical for porches and doorsteps in catching the dirt before it gets walked around the house.

 

Six months on….  

So, we are now six months down the line from moving and the house is taking shape.  We have redecorated and put our own stamp on it.  I am now in the process of accessorising my little girl’s room.  We have added a feature wall with some wall paper that she chose and painted the other walls.  We have upcycled some furniture to go with the colour scheme of the room and we have created a comfortable, fun space where she can play with her toys but also relax.  The flooring is laminate and we have gone back and forth as to whether we should carpet it or not.  We have actually decided against it at the moment and have opted for a rug instead.  We came across the Rugs and Rooms website and couldn’t believe the vast choice of rugs in all colours, styles, textures etc.  We finally came to a decision (we could have picked about 5 but narrowed it down to 1) and we chose the “Smoky” rug.   We love it, so does my little girl.  It adds something to the room which was definitely lacking. It radiates warmth and comfort.  The rug itself has a short pile, just what we were after as it complements the laminate flooring and wallpaper very nicely. The greys in the rug work well with the dusky pink shades that are also present in the paper and cushions.

rugs and rooms

I was incredibly happy with my purchase and everyone who comes over always comments on how lovely the room looks, always picking out the rug.  My daughter loves the texture and feel of it – soft against her feet without being too high or over textured.  She calls it he grey sea rug as she thinks the pattern on it is like waves in the sea.

Rugs and Rooms

I cannot wait to start browsing through the Rugs and Rooms website again to find a few more rugs – in particular – one for the lounge – as my Mum proudly states; “You can never have too many rugs”….my sentiments entirely.

 

 

10 Fun Things to do with Kids in and around Aldershot

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Today we have a guest post from one of our favourite bloggers Sarah from Mummy Kind,

We have some amazing pregnancy – preschool groups and businesses in and around Aldershot but if you are looking for something a little different, Mummy Kind has written a fabulous blog “10 Things to do with Kids in and Around Aldershot”

 

10 things to do with the kids in and around… Aldershot (North Hampshire/Surrey)

1. Gruffalo Trail at Alice Holt Forest
2. Ceramics Cafe Farnham
3. Gravity Force Trampolining
4. 360 Play Farnborough
5. Coral Reef Bracknell
6. Aldershot Lido
7. Birdworld
8. Hampton Court Palace
9. Chessington World of Adventures
10. Farnborough Vue

1. Gruffalo Trail at Alice Holt Forest

Alice Holt Forestis situated in the South Downs National Park which spans a vast area covering Hampshire and Surrey. Alice Holt itself is local to Farnham, a mere 15 minute drive from the centre of Aldershot, and is FREE OF CHARGE! That’s right! You can spend the entire day there and the only money you will spend is for parking and petrol.
Alice Holt boasts a fantastic wooden play area, bike hire and trails, walking trails (including the infamous Gruffalo Trail), and GoApe! for the older kids. We have been many times to Alice Holt and never grow tired of it!

2. Ceramics Cafe in Farnham

Whether you have little babies doing handprints on plates or older children, a quiet afternoon of pottery painting is a great way to spend time with the family.
Ceramics Cafe in Farnham is situated less than a 5 minute walk from a large car park (next to Sainsbury’s) and is in the centre of Farnham, which is a beautiful place to visit in itself. There is a £2 session fee on top of anything you paint, and the pottery prices are very reasonable. The staff are always on hand to help, and they will happily cater for parties too!

10 things to do with kids in and round aldershot

3. Gravity Force Trampolining

This fantastic trampoline park in Camberley is where we have spent many a weekend morning!
Gravity Force have a brilliant timetable which caters for all ages, with dedicated sessions for younger jumpers and a family jump session which makes it much easier to have fun with all of the family. We love it there so much that we’ve been annual pass holders since last summer, for the very good price of £8 per month. This park also hosts Gravity Fit sessions and they have a holiday club for older children!

GravityForce

4. 360 Play in Farnborough

This is more than just a soft play… This is an M&S soft play… KIDDING OF COURSE!
But this soft play is really something else. It is absolutely huge for a start, and there are loads of different areas and activities for the children to do. The staff are very safety and security conscious and you have a photo ID card so that they know exactly who is in the building in case of any emergencies or lost kiddies! (Not that we have ever had to seek assistance for this, thank lord!)
360 Play is a hidden gem in Farnborough, just past the Sainsbury’s in the town centre. They have a carousel, a dressing up area, a huge soft play structure for the big kids, and smaller soft plays for toddlers and babies. They have also begun Gymfinity clubs there which are gymnastics and ninja classes for children of all ages – we are trialling those very soon and can’t wait to bring you a review!

5. Coral Reef Waterworld in Bracknell

This one is a bit further afield, but definitely worth the travel! Coral Reef is an amazing indoor water world famous for it’s slides. Again there are lots of different areas in the pool for children of different ages. They often have a professional photographer there too to capture pictures of your babies’ first swims!
Just up the M3 and probably a half an hour / 45 minute drive from Aldershot, this is a brilliant day out for the family. Booking in advance is usually recommended as it can get quite busy, but equally if you arrive for when it opens you won’t end up queuing for too long either.

6. Aldershot Lido

Following on from the swimming theme – Aldershot Lido is a great local day out and a fantastic way to cool off in the summer sun! It’s also relatively close to Aldershot Park so you can combine the fun!
Tickets are half price after 3pm if you don’t get there until later in the day.

7. Birdworld in Farnham

You will drive past Birdworld on the way to Alice Holt Forest – it takes about 10 minutes in the car to get there from Aldershot town centre.
Birdworld often have special exhibits and events on during school holidays, and military families may be able to secure a discount on entry! Speak to your local welfare service if this is you. You also have the opportunity to feed the penguins which is just amazing!

8. Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace is a bit further afield, based in Moseley, but a truly wonderful day out with the family. The Palace itself is magnificent, and the gardens are an extra something special!
Hampton Court Palace’s Magic Garden is a wonderful area for the children, and the Palace itself hosts lots of extra events such as music festivals and outdoor cinemas throughout the summer months!
If you are a member of the Historic Royal Palaces Society you can visit Hampton Court Palace (and the other 5 palaces that are included in that membership) for free, but otherwise tickets are free for under 5s and roughly £10 for children up to 15 and £20 for adults. There is also car parking nearby (just across the road from the main entrance), and the whole palace is quite accessible if you’re having to lug a buggy around with you!

9. Chessington World of Adventures

Again a bit further afield, but where we are we are lucky to be living on the doorstep of this and other incredible theme parks! I would say that without any horrendous traffic we live roughly half an hour away from Chessington, which of course boasts a children’s theme park, a SeaLife centre AND a zoo!
It’s no wonder that many of the families living in Aldershot invest in Merlin passes while we live so close to Chessington and other Merlin attractions. Chessington however is the best one for young families as the rides accommodate a range of age groups. Our tall 9 year old and our only just 3 year old love going to Chessington, and the SeaLife centre and zoo are frequented during the day! The penguins are a particularly great attraction. You can also feed the giraffes and the elephants if you get there at the right time!

Chessington world of adventures review

10. Farnborough Vue

If the weather isn’t good enough for a full on outdoor day trip, the Vue cinema in Farnborough is a really good way to spend a few hours with the kids without feeling like you’re stuck at home. Farnborough Vue offers any film at any time for £4.99 per person, so even if you’re a big family, you can have a cinema experience without breaking the bank!
This year is set to be a brilliant one for Disney films with Dumbo and Aladdin having already been released, and Lion King, Toy Story 4 and Frozen 2 due to come out later in the year as well!

Are you local to Aldershot? Would you add any other attractions to the list? Let us know if you have been to any of these listed here!

If you would like to follow Mummykind’s blog and adventures you can find her under the favourite blogger section of our app and visit her blog on following links;

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So What is this Hypnobirthing All About Then??

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We are really excited to share an expert article with you from the amazing Alexandra Gould a Hypnobirthing Practitioner for the amazing Mindful Mamma in Lincoln. She has an incredible 14 –  5 star reviews on her listing with us. Click here to read some amazing testimonials. Today Alex shares an article on a question many expectant parents have “What is This Hypnobirthing All About Then?”

So What is this Hypnobirthing All About Then??

 

A bit about me…

My name is Alexandra Gould and I am a Mindful Hypnobirthing Practitioner with award winning Mindful Mamma.

I’m also a qualified Midwife, Rebozo Practitioner and currently studying a Clinical Hypnotherapy Diploma.

Enough about me!

Now, let’s get down to busting a few myths about hypnobirthing shall we, and explain what its really all about?

Firstly, you don’t have to be a hippy, worship the moon, wear sandals, baggy clothes and listen to monks chanting (although what’s wrong with that? Personally I love a good Tibetan singing bowl).  Hypnobirthing, especially combined with Mindfulness can work wonders for preparing women and very importantly partners for childbirth. I want birth partners to also feel confident and view themselves as a well-equipped birthing coach.

And I mean ANY birth, not just home birthing. Even if you are having a planned caesarean section the techniques learnt in a workshop will help enormously. Before, during and after childbirth, especially breastfeeding.

So What is this Hypnobirthing All About Then??

In fact, the skills you will learn are transferable and can be adapted to just about any and all areas of daily life.

I have often heard women report that they felt as if they’d failed and that has to stop. For me that’s heartbreaking. I want couples to elevate their birth experience. To have as gentle a birth as possible with positive memories. After all its the most important event in a couples lives.

I want couples to feel awesome about their birth, because women are awesome and their physiology is awesome. I want a newborn to have as gentle as birth as possible. Calm Mamma equals calm baby and Hypnobirthing mums very often report back that little one is “so chilled out”.

Practitioners don’t swing a watch in front of you or ask you to “look into my eyes, not around my eyes, but deep into my eyes”, least I hope not!

It’s NOT stage Hypnosis, it’s a therapy that uses simple gentle elements of SELF hypnosis, along with other therapy techniques and effective breathing techniques, so no-one is controlling anyone. Techniques used depend on the practitioner, but will usually also involve aspects of Cognitive Behavioural Techniques (CBT), Neuro Linguistic Programming Techniques as well as visualisations. I want couples to have a variety of tools and skills to enable them to find out what works best for them, so it’s not at all prescriptive. Ultimately women deserve to feel safe and respected.

Empowering women to make the best informed choices for themselves, their baby and partner, so they no longer feel as if they are a passive by stander. This is what motivates and is it at the heart of my work, life and passion.

It’s not just deep relaxation although that’s obviously beneficial for a birthing mamma. There is so much more to it.

There is no universally agreed upon definition of Hypnosis and practitioners are likely to explain it in slightly different ways.

Some will explain it as reprogramming unwanted automatic, unconscious, autonomic responses. And I’m mainly talking about the fear and anxiety response here.

Fear is not a good bedfellow with childbirth. If fear and adrenalin kick in then we can get stuck in a fear-tension-pain cycle.

We’ve been programmed and conditioned to be fearful around birth.

As a midwife I have seen, all too often, women who are scared and tense.

It puts a brake on the production of Oxytocin which is the primary hormone to start and progress birth.

Oxytocin is referred to as the ‘Love‘ hormone as its produced by the body when we hug, when we feel safe, secure and private. And yes it’s produced when we make love.

So we absolutely want a woman to feel a `whole lota lota love’ I’m sounding like Cilla Black now!

The other aspect of Mindful Hypnobirthing is to remember it is a skill set. When these simple yet very effective techniques are used, it develops a really strong `Mindset’ in terms of positive attitude, self-efficacy, expectancy, excitement and focus so that a woman is able to be CALM, CONFIDENT AND RELAXED. When this achieved your body takes over and muscles work harmoniously and comfortably.

So if you’re an expectant Mamma, seriously consider committing to a One Day Workshop with me, it may well be the best thing you ever do in preparing for the journey towards childbirth and parenthood.

Remember….You are enough! You have the innate strength and resources to birth your baby.

Mindful Hypnobirthing helps you to access these abilities.

And I thinks that’s a good place to end this blog!

Nameste as they say ; ) Alex xxx

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Let That Shit Go – 10 Tips to Help You Have a Positive Birth Experience

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Today we have a fantastic expert article written by the amazing Anna from Anna Robertson Hypnobirthing. Today Anna shares her top 10 tips on 10 Tips to Help You Have a Positive Birth Experience. You can find Anna’s Robertson Hypnobirthing in our pregnancy – pre-school directory.

Let That Shit Go - 10 Tips to Help You Have a Positive Birth Experience

 

I’m a hypnobirthing teacher and postnatal coach and my passion is empowering women to feel good in their choices, their bodies and their capacity to trust themselves and their intuition.

The first time I talk to a new client, I ask her to describe her ideal birth. And I want her to be as detailed as possible. That’s what we are aiming for, during the pregnancy with all the relaxation, visualisation and meditation. We are working towards an ideal birth. Our subconscious mind doesn’t know the difference between real and imagined. Therefore it makes sense that that’s what we focus on.

Certainly a significant proportion of my teaching is concerned with understanding this principle; if we want a positive birth we need to release negative beliefs and limitations and replace them with and focus on positive ones. Simple. Or is it?

Well actually, no. The thing about birth is that we are never completely in control and things can most definitely take an unexpected turn either in pregnancy, labour or both. So how do we then focus all our attention on our ideal birth but also remain aware and informed about potential other eventualities; so that if we are thrown a curve ball we can handle it by staying calm, grounded and relaxed?

Let That Shit Go - 10 Tips to Help You Have a Positive Birth Experience

Here are my top ten tips on childbirth;

 

Positive not perfect

Let’s strive for a positive birth experience not a perfect one. Let that shit go!

Release

On the subject of releasing, I believe it’s really important to work on releasing painful traumatic feelings and fears you may be holding onto. It could be about a previous birth, a fear of hospitals, or feeling disconnected from your body. The list is endless and unique to everyone. The point is these are the things that may affect your ability to feel safe enough to give birth. We have to release those thoughts, feelings and beliefs before we can fill ourselves up with the positive ones. There are lots of different ways you can do this. I find talking therapies and energy work very effective.

Intuition

Being connected to our intuition during pregnancy is so important. Including daily practices of mediation, yoga and journaling for example are all great ways to ensure this is happening. Why? Because if we are connected to our intuition and are thrown a curve ball during pregnancy or birth, we have a much better chance of being able to make a decision that really serves us and is for the higher good of us, our baby and our family. And the added bonus is that if you’ve never been in touch with your intuition before you may well discover what an amazing intuitive creature you are with a super power to tap into whenever the need arises.

Create alternative birth plans

Once I’ve talked to women about their ideal birth we discuss different eventualities. Curve balls. And by the end of our sessions together they have a clear idea of what a plan B and C might look like. One couple I worked with printed out their plan B and C birth plans and put them in an envelope in a drawer. That was their way of knowing they’d researched and planned for other eventualities so if things did take a different direction they would handle it. And once it was in that drawer they could put it to the back of their minds and focus all of their attention and positive thoughts on their ideal birth.

Be informed

Read the evidence based research. Be confident in the knowledge that you can make informed choices.

Speak up

Trust your instincts at all times. If the way you are being treated or spoken to doesn’t feel right then it’s not!

Make relaxation your top priority

Hypnobirthing provides you with a toolbox of techniques to keep as relaxed and calm as you can whatever the situation. The breathing techniques you learn for example can be used whenever you feel anxious. Just by breathing in through our nose we are activating the parasympathetic nervous system and producing oxytocin, our best friend. Yes breathing is very simple but it is very effective! Find ways to add in relaxation sessions in your week. Massage, reflexology and being in nature are all brilliant options. Believe me when I say you can’t relax enough right now.

Team work

I want you to see yourself as part of a team during your pregnancy and labour. Your team is made up of you, your birth partner (if you have one) and your caregivers. Like all teams everyone has a job to do that’s unique to them. What makes for good team work is lots of encouragement positivity and support from everyone, including you! We know that what we focus on grows so by being as positive and encouraging as possible and thinking good thoughts about your birth partner and caregivers can only be a good thing and contribute to a positive experience.

Positive environment for birth

We are mammals and we like to give birth the same way they do: in a quiet dark setting where we aren’t being observed. We need to feel safe. So take some time to think about how you can create this for yourself or if you have a birth partner this is a great job for them. I encourage the birth partners I work with to create a lovely, cosy, snug for the woman at home a few times a week. The birth partner can practice reading relaxations and hone their massage techniques. So these become like mini practise sessions for labour. And think about your senses, what can you have with you in labour that are like touchstones for you? To bring you back to yourself so you feel calm and grounded.

Mother’s wellbeing

The old saying that still gets banded about ‘as long as the baby is healthy’ is not helpful. It negates the importance of the mother’s care and wellbeing.

I believe that fostering a great relationship with ourselves from the moment we are pregnant, through birth and into motherhood is what’s really fundamental. If we’re ok, chances are everyone else is.

Visit Anna’s website to find out more about what she does

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