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Mamma Fairy

Fairy Travels

My Favourite Travel Apps

My favourite Travel Apps

For anyone from frequent fliers to travel amateurs, there are plenty of travel apps out there available for easy download to make planning your next trip easier than ever. Whether it is an app for finding the nearest bathroom on the road or alerting you when flight prices drop, there is no doubt that traveling is becoming easier and easier.

Hopper

Hopper is an app used for analyzing different prices of flights and hotels daily, alerting you when prices are starting to drop. You type in your dream destination, and it will let you know if prices are low and you should book it, or if you should hold off until prices start to drop a little more. This app saves users so much money on trips that could have cost them thousands of dollars more.

Kayak

aeroplane wing

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Kayak allows users to filter flight airlines, departure times, hotels, and car rentals, while also allowing you to change locations and dates. After booking your vacation, the app alerts and updates you on your flight’s status, security wait times, and where your airport terminal is. For these perks, Kayak wins the best app for filtering hotels and airlines.

Airbnb

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Home & Interiors

How to Create the Ultimate Den in Your Home

Your kitchen is where you cook up lots of lovely meals to keep your family full and healthy, but it doesn’t need to be the heart of the home. Your living room can easily become the ultimate nest for the whole family, the place where you spend long winter nights together snuggled up and in absolute comfort. 

Many northern Europeans take the notion of cosiness seriously. You have to, when daylight hours are minimal and dark clouds often make the days feel dreary. 

If you aren’t yet completely satisfied with how cosy your home is, follow this guide to create the ultimate den and finish it just in time for the upcoming winter. 

Use Natural Materials 

two chairs

Pic Credit: Pixabay

We are connected to the natural world. Simply spending time out in a field or in the woods on a walk can do wonders for our health and mental wellbeing. In winter, of course, you won’t have the ability to just head out for a comfortable walk. In winter, you need to bring all those comforts into your home.

This can be done in two ways. The first is to use natural materials. Woods, natural textiles and earthy tones can all do wonders to make the place visually comfortable. 

The second way is to use houseplants to add that element of the outdoors throughout the year. House plants can really improve the comfort of a space, making them the perfect way to increase the cosiness of your den during winter (and summer alike). 

Upgrade the Fireplace 

Every great den needs a fireplace, but that fireplace also needs to work well with how you and your family live. You don’t need to have a woodburning fireplace when you can have a flueless fireplace, an electric fireplace or a gas fireplace from stonewoods.co.uk, one that has zero clean-up but all the creature comforts. 

Not only will the fire instantly improve the look of your den, but you can also go further and invest in antique features, like fireplace tiles or mantels, to truly make your living room otherworldly with comfort. No matter what kind of fireplace you want, ensure that the design is superb, and you will have invested in a timeless comfort that you will enjoy for the rest of your life in your home.  

Add Multiple Lounging Corners 

child sitting on a rug

Pic Credit: Pixabay

A big comfortable couch is a great feature piece in a living room. If you can, however, try to add multiple lounging corners in your den. This way, you can change the perspective of your living room and keep it interesting and engaging throughout the winter. A window seat, for example, a reading nook in the corner, and a living room set can give your family three ways to enjoy your den. 

Add Comfort 

Pillows, comfortable couches, blankets, rugs – they all do wonders for your comfort levels. Invest in high-quality versions to really improve the comfort of your living room throughout the winter and beyond. You could even add floor comfort, so that your kids can enjoy playing on the floor while you are on the couch. With comfortable décor, the options are limitless and changeable. 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Mamma Reviews

3 Tips to Boost Your Family’s Wellbeing

Everyone wants a close family unit that is healthy and happy. Luckily, there are dozens of ways in which to build strong family bonds and help your family maintain good physical and mental health. With this in mind, here are three tips to boost your family’s wellbeing.

1. Maintain healthy habits 

Your daily habits will play an essential role in your family’s overall health and wellness. Here are some key healthy habits that you should maintain within your family: 

  • Follow a nutritious diet – what you eat has a significant impact on your health and fitness levels. You should encourage your family to follow a nutritious diet that includes plenty of fruit and vegetables. Try to keep unhealthy foods and snacks to a minimum and avoid keeping junk food in the house. Instead, introduce your family to organic herbals, such as herbal teas, as a natural and soothing alternative to sugary drinks. Not only do they support wellness, but they also encourage mindful hydration habits. Cooking with your children can also be a great way to develop good eating habits and get kids interested in healthy foods.

    eggs and tomatoes

    Pic Credit: Pixabay

  • Exercise regularly – according to the NHS guidelines, children should exercise for at least 60 minutes every day. Following an active lifestyle will keep your family fit and minimise their risk of developing medical conditions such as obesity and high cholesterol. Try to be active as a family and teach your children the importance of regular exercise. 
  • Avoid unhealthy habits – as a parent, you should be a positive role model for your children and encourage them to develop healthy habits early in life. For that reason, you should try to avoid any potentially harmful habits such as smoking or drinking excessively, particularly around young children. 

2. Create a welcoming living environment 

Your family is likely to spend considerable amounts of their time at home, so your living environment must provide a safe and inviting space. Home improvements can be a great way to enhance your living environment and boost the functionality and comfort of your home. For instance, replacing your flooring can instantly transform your home’s atmosphere and upgrade your style. According to experts at aflooringboutique.co.uk: “Carpet can create a comfortable and warm welcome with a cosy and stylish finish.” Carpet also requires minimal maintenance, which makes it a popular flooring option with families. Other simple ways to create a welcoming living environment include adding soft textures and furnishings, choosing a soothing colour scheme and adding personal touches such as family photographs and mementos. 

3. Spend quality time together as a family 

walking in woods

Pic Credit: Pixabay

All families should make an effort to spend regular quality time together. Doing fun activities such as cooking, playing games or going on family outings will allow you to develop strong bonds and grow closer as a family. Work and other daily commitments can make it difficult to spend lots of time together, but you should try to dedicate at least one night a week to enjoy time together as a family. 

Summary 

Your family is extremely important and everyone should focus on creating a positive family lifestyle that will support long-term health. Fortunately, there are many simple ways to improve your family’s overall health and wellness. Use the above suggestions to keep your family close, healthy and happy. 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Features

Fun Ways to Celebrate Father’s Day This Year

Your dad is one of your best friends. He taught you how to stand up to bullies at school and stood by you when you went on your first date, making you feel as embarrassed as possible. As silly as dads can be, with their terrible jokes and ridiculous dance moves, they play a crucial part in all of our lives. 

That’s why it’s so frustrating when father’s day rolls around, and you discover that you haven’t planned anything exciting to do to celebrate your dad. If you’re still struggling to pinpoint the best idea this year, the following suggestions could lead you in the right direction. 

Get Him a Special Something

mens watch

Pic Credit: Pixabay

More often than not, dads don’t get the best deal when it comes to father’s day presents. Since most of us forget about this day until the last minute, we’re usually left handing over a pair of socks or a new tie. Although there’s nothing wrong with that kind of gift, you can do better. Rather than relying on the old staples this year, think about what you could get that would really make your dad laugh or smile. This is your chance to really think out of the box with gift-giving.

If you want to buy something extra special, but you don’t have enough cash right now, consider going in on a group gift with your siblings. This should give all of you some extra room to think about expanding your budget. At the same time, it means that your dad isn’t going to end up with the same half-hearted gift from each child. 

Take a Day Trip

When’s the last time that you and your dad spent some time together, just the two of you? If you can’t quite remember the last occasion, now’s the time to plan something. Go online and find some local brewery tours in your area and take your dad for a tasting session where he can check out some of his favourite craft beers and see how they’re made. You could even find a place that allows you to try making some beer of your own. 

Alternatively, if your dad isn’t much of a beer lover, you could look for something in the great outdoors. Taking a trip where you can go hiking together or play a round of golf could be a great way to make some memories. You could even get out on the water and do some fishing if that’s something that your pop enjoys. 

Try Something New

blue bmw car

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Your dad probably spends most of his time living according to a certain routine. He goes to work, does his chores, goes for the occasional drink with his friends. However, he probably doesn’t have a lot of opportunities to try building some new skills anymore. With that in mind, why not sign your dad up to a lesson that he’s going to enjoy. 

For instance, you could take him to a racetrack and see how he fares behind the wheel of a sportscar. Alternatively, you might want to help both your mum and your dad out a bit by paying for some cooking lessons so that your pop can treat you all to a more delicious home made meal. Think about the kind of skills that your dad would love to develop, but never has the time to focus on. Then work from there. You can even take part in the lessons too if you like! 

Keep It Simple

Finally, if you don’t have a lot of money to spend, or you know your dad will berate you from going over the top with a big party, why not choose something simple? One of the best ways to celebrate father’s day is to allow him to stand in his element. Fire up the grill, hire hog roast catering and have a BBQ with the entire family, and a couple of ice-cold beers. 

This is the perfect opportunity for you and other members of your family to spend some quality time together. You can still exchange gifts and make sure that the focus remains on your dad. After all, it is his special day. However, rather than actively celebrating, you can spend more of your time relaxing and unwinding instead. If you dad rarely has the chance to put his feet up these days, this might be the perfect opportunity for him to put his tasks on hold for a while and remember what matters most. 

 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Fairy Travels

3 Scottish Destinations For Your Post-Lockdown Break

If you and your family are emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic in good health, you might be (very tentatively) wondering if it’s possible to safely take a much-needed family break in the foreseeable future – perhaps later in the summer or as we move into autumn.

Edinburgh Castle

The impressive Edinburgh Castle

You’ll know that here in  Republic of Ireland and together with the United Kingdom we  all have slightly different approaches to the timetable for easing lockdown, but there’s a decent chance that since we’re part of the common travel area, travel between these territories might be more manageable sooner than vacations further afield.  And if this is the case, where better to spend some time bonding and recharging your batteries than Scotland? 

As well as stunning scenery, the towns and cities are jam-packed with culture, history and friendly locals. 

If this sounds promising, here are three fab destinations for a cathartic Caledonian break.

Edinburgh

 

Which other capital city has a main thoroughfare framed by an ancient castle perched on top of a volcanic plug? 

With its elegant neoclassical New Town, an Old Town full of historical nooks and crannies and a world-class arts and culture sector, this beautiful city combines many eclectic elements in a heady blend. For more great ideas on what to do check out this post from Mum on a budget.

Tip: Don’t miss cocktails at The Dome when you’re in town – it’s breath-taking inside and out. 

Dundee

 

It wouldn’t be overly unkind to say that 10-15 years ago, Dundee wouldn’t have been on many people’s list of top cities to visit in Scotland.

But with a globally renowned V&A Design Museum that juts out from the riverside like an alien craft and a magnificent mix of independent shops, bars, restaurants and nightclubs, it has undergone a transformation that’s made it one of the world’s coolest cities to visit.

Tip: try urban wakeboarding at the Foxlake water-skiing facility at City Quay. 

Glasgow

 

Glasgow Cathedral

Glasgow Skyline

How can you describe Glasgow in a couple of sentences? Scotland’s biggest city is probably most distinctive because of its amazing people – it’s a modern multicultural metropolis which is inclusive, warm and fantastically funny. 

You can shop ‘til you drop here on Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street, enjoy live music and dancing on the spring floors of the legendary Barrowland Ballroom, slake your cultural thirst at Oran Mor and Glasgow School of Art and watch thrilling live football courtesy of Celtic and Rangers.

Tip: arrange car hire from Enjoy Travel in Glasgow and explore the whole of Scotland’s Central Belt.

So there you have a hattrick of reasons why Scotland could be your ideal family getaway location post-lockdown – and we’ve not even touched on the mind-boggling beauty of the Scottish Highlands, which are accessible from any of the above bases. 

Keep an ‘aye’ on all the official travel information before you head off, but we hope you can experience these superb Scottish locations for real soon! 

What’s your favourite Scottish location? Let us know in the comments section! 

 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Home & Interiors

How to Furnish Your Home with Upcycled Furniture

When it comes to furnishing our homes, many of us flock to the nearest furniture showroom and spend a small fortune on new pieces. Now, not only does this cost us far too much money – often more than we can afford – it means that second hand furniture becomes less popular and can end up being dumped into rubbish. 

However, Kwiksweep, want to share their  secrets on how you can furnish your home with upcycled furniture, all for a fraction of the price it would cost you to buy new furniture. 

Should You Upcycle Yourself or Buy Readymade? 

arm chair

Pic Credit: Pixabay

These days, a lot of people are upcycling furniture in their spare time. Which means, if you’re not keen on doing the work yourself, you can easily find pieces for sale online. Just look for pieces on the likes of Gumtree and other local selling sites. Just be prepared to pay more for ready upcycled pieces than you would for second hand furniture in need of some TLC. 

If you choose to upcycle yourself, you can furnish your home very cheaply. Plus, because you are painting or altering the furniture yourself, you can really upcycle it to match your décor and tastes, choosing exactly the colours and accessories that you like. 

Where Can You Find Furniture to Upcycle? 

Of course, in order to furnish your home, you’ll need some second hand furniture to upcycle – so where can you find good pieces? Well, there’s a number of options: 

  • Look on local selling sites for people selling furniture cheaply 
  • Try your local charity shops 
  • Auction houses often have sets of furniture for sale 
  • Look for local second hand furniture shops 
  • Ask friends and family if they have any old furniture they don’t want anymore 

How Do You Get Started with Upcycling? 

Often people feel intimidated by the idea of upcycling, however, in most cases you just need some sanding paper, a primer and your paint of choice. Add to this a little patience and in no time at all you’ll have brand-new looking furniture. 

arm chair

Pic Credit: Pixabay

If you’re feeling braver, look for upcycling groups on Facebook or YouTube, where you’ll find lots of inspiration as well as guides to new techniques – such as decoupage – to really give your furniture a professional finish. 

It’s also possible to turn old furniture into entirely new items for your home. For instance, many people are using old bedframes to make benches or converting cribs into a tepee. There are also hundreds of hacks for altering Ikea furniture into new things. 

When it comes to upcycled furniture, it might seem like more work than simply buying new. However, not only will it save you a lot of money, your home will also look far more unique compared to others who all buy the same types of furniture from similar shops. Indeed, your friends and family will be desperate to copy your style. 

Plus, instead of encouraging more new furniture to be created, you will be helping items destined to end up on landfills to be reused for many years to come.  

 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Mamma Musings

How to Work Effectively from Home

working from home

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Working from home seems like the dream. You can get up when you want, work in your pyjamas, take as many breaks as you like and do your work in your own time. In theory, it sounds fantastic, but in practice, it is rarely as idyllic as it seems.

Although some thrive in a home-working environment, many people struggle to muster up the necessary motivation required to be sufficiently productive. When you’re not subject to the rules and deadlines of the office and the watchful eye of management, what’s there to keep you working as hard as you should be?

Whether you’re a permanent home worker, or temporarily telecommuting in light of the coronavirus pandemic, you may find it a struggle to be productive when working from home. If this sounds like you, the following tips are designed to help you work as effectively as possible, while still enjoying the freedom and flexibility that home working can offer.

Establish some rules

One of the main reasons it is so hard to work well from home is that the boundary between your home life and your work life is blurred. When you have to commute to an office, you instantly snap into work mode the minute you sit down at your desk. But when you are compiling spreadsheets from underneath your duvet, it’s a little more challenging to get into the right mindset. Make an effort to establish a workday routine. Set a scheduled time that you must wake up and start work each day, and an absolute cut off point to stop working in the afternoon. Although it may seem like an effort to put clothes on, changing out of your pyjamas will put you in the right frame of mind to get the job done.

Create the right environment

If you’re lying in bed with your laptop on your knees, it’s no wonder you can’t be productive. The quality of your work environment is crucial to your productivity, so make sure you set the scene before you start work. Sit at a desk or the kitchen table, and make sure your surface is neat and tidy. An organised workspace creates an organised mind and will enable you to think more clearly as well as find everything you need for work. Remove all distractions like phones or the TV on in the background, and if you live with other people, make sure they respect the fact that you have to work.

Talk to your employer

One of the reasons you might find it hard to work effectively from home is that your employer has not set you up to do so. Regular communication with your manager and other members of your team is likely essential, so make sure you have the tools to do so effectively. Are your communications systems up to the task? Do you need more guidance in completing your work or organising your schedule? Talk to your employer and make sure you have everything you need. If you don’t have an effective communications tool to interact with other members of the team, then you will fall at the first hurdle. You may need to suggest to your boss that they invest in a better system. Many companies, such as Unified Communications Provider Gamma, offer solutions to improve the communications processes within various businesses. This may be just what your company needs.

 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Home & Interiors

Home Improvements That The Entire Family Will Enjoy

When thinking about home improvements, the majority of people typically start to think about big projects indoors that need to be done and all the work that will have to happen. But what about a different thought process when it comes to improving residential homes? Home improvement projects in the outdoor space can be a great way to add awesome curb appeal as well as value for the future. One of the easiest ways to transform the outdoor space and tackle a major home improvement project is to put in artificial grass!

What are the benefits of adding artificial grass to your home? 

artificial grass

Pic Credit: Pixabay

There are actually so many benefits that can come from using artificial grass in your yard! Not only is it a great way to ensure that your yard is always going to look amazing and alive but it’s also a great way to ensure that your children will have green grass to run and play on as well. Using artificial grass in your yard means that your yard will look uniform, healthy, and inviting for the pitter-patter of little feet!

While laying it in your front yard can look great for the curb appeal, having it in your back yard and garden space can create quite the tranquil place as well.

Home Improvements That The Entire Family Will Enjoy

When it comes to improving the area and space of your home, don’t forget to turn your attention to the outdoor space. Spending money now on laying artificial grass is a dividend that will continue to pay for itself for many years down the road, take a look at sites selling clearance artificial grass for example.

Home improvements don’t have to be something that requires a ton of work and effort which is why you might find that laying new grass outside is going to be your best bet. And being able to wake up every morning and seeing that beautifully maintained yard is a great reminder of your choice to improve your yard and backyard space.

While the inside of your home is important to update, it’s also just as important to update the outside area of your home as well!

 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Mamma Musings

Neon Funding – holiday money saving tips

aeroplane wing

Pic Credit: Pixabay

We have always loved travelling and had so many plans for 2020 however earlier this year the world has been turned on its head.  No one of us could have foreseen a global pandemic of this magnitude.  I am consoled by the fact we are all facing this together and doing our best to get through it.   I am however living for the day when we get to travel again. I really cannot wait.  That feeling of going through the airport is something kind of magical – the excitement amongst our kids is so evident.  What I thought I would do is set out some of the ways in which we save for our holidays. We travel a lot and the only way we can do that is careful saving, budgeting and deal shopping.

Deals, Deals, Deals

The Queen of the deal…that is me! I do really love a good bargain. I sign up for all the airline newsletters so I can be the first to hear about deals, sales etc. I also make use of Sky Scanner alerts to keep track of flight prices. I make use of sites like Groupon to search for deals on meals and attractions in the country or city im going to.  I have had lots of success with this all over the world.

Neon Funding – financial tips

money jar

Pic Credit: Pixabay

One of the things I always do is keep a loose change jar and cash it in just before we head away. I have been pleasantly surprised many times on how much I have had heading away for example a recent trip to Toronto the money jar had the equivalent of almost CAD$300. I really didn’t expect it to be that much, I was thrilled.

I know this sounds simple and but it is a lot easier said than done. Budget your total requirements for the trip including spending money and start putting a small bit away each month or week whichever suits. It can be so easy to get tempted by high interest credit cards but try to avoid them they are so costly in the long run. If you do find yourself in a position with some high interest debt do look at companies like Neon Funding  can help with this.  One thing I vow to myself is to try not to get into debt for a holiday as it can be so hard paying it back when the holiday is long over.

Practical tips

Some practical tips to conclude:

  • Consider travel insurance and look at the small print
  • Be aware of the cancellation policies on the booking you just never know
  • Look at what your mobile phone providers date usage policy is – I have heard of people coming back from holidays to massive bills as they hadn’t checked their providers policy on roaming.
  • It heading to far flung remote destinations factor in the cost of any jabs you might need. These can actually be quite expensive so do some research on it.
Note: This is a collaborative post
Mamma Musings

Fixing Up the Family Home or Make the Move

How far should you go when fixing up your home? Should you just get the basics done and leave it at that? Or should you take a more long-term approach and try to add as much value to your home as possible? These are questions most homeowners ask themselves, and there are arguments to be made for each of the options open to you. Or you could you turn it on its head and move home!

There is Always Room for Improvement

The fact of the matter is, there’s always room for improvement. No matter how great your home is, there will always be things that you can or even will want to improve. This can be a good thing and a bad thing, though. On the one hand, it means that there will always be new ways in which you can add value to your home and make it more appealing to future buyers. On the other hand, it might mean that you keep doing more and more, and the task eventually overwhelms you. You don’t want to spend all your time and money on home upgrades.

Your Home Should be Unique to You

On a basic level, you want your home to be unique to you. No one wants to live in a dull drab home that they don’t feel suits them and their personal preferences. And that’s the main reason why people spend money on improving their home. If this is the mentality that you’re bringing to the table, you will probably not be thinking about the value that can be added to the home or what future buyers might want. This applies to the vast majority of people who fix up their homes and make changes.

However, a Unique Style Might Put Off Future Buyers

On the other hand, making your home unique to you can be risky. When you create a home design that is specific to your own preferences, you could put off other people. You might be wondering why this matters. You don’t want to sell your home, so why does it matter what other people think of it? Well, you might not want to sell your home now, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t want to at some point in the future. When that time comes, you don’t want people to be put off by design choices that are a little out of the box.

It’s Going to Cost You Money

If you want to make changes to your home, you’re going to have to spend money on it. This is just the way it is, and you should try to make sure that you improve your home in an affordable way. Remember, if you can make positive changes, the value of the home will rise. But it may be worth considering if moving house would give you the requirements at a lower cost.  People are often surprised that the cost of moving can often be cheaper than undertaking major renovation work. One thing you could do is take a real estate education course. Doing a course like this from for example AstroFlipping can pay off hugely in the long run. By educating yourself in the area of real estate you can really make a very good long term investment. 

But Your Investment Might Pay Off

The investment you make in your home might pay off if you make the right decisions and do the right things. This will help you to get the most from your home when it comes to selling because you will have made the most of your asset. You should definitely try to make sure that the upgrades you make to the home are all things that add overall value to your property. Not all changes you can make allow that, but many do. Think about what matters to real estate agents and buyers.

 

Note: This is a collaborative post