Mamma Fairy

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People often think that internal controls are only for large multi national or multi million corporations….that is really not the case. Arguably the complexity will increase the bigger your organisation but it is never too small an entity to have in place adequate controls.  But what is mean by  Internal controls, taking the definition as set out in Investopedia it states that Internal Controls are  “are the mechanisms, rules, and procedures implemented by a company to ensure the integrity of financial and accounting information, promote accountability, and prevent fraud. Besides complying with laws and regulations and preventing employees from stealing assets or committing fraud, internal controls can help improve operational efficiency by improving the accuracy and timeliness of financial reporting“.

So whose responsibility is it to ensure the internal controls are working and in place, quite simply its managements responsibility.  Taking it one step further it is important to be cognisant of the fact that internal controls are inextricably linked with financial reporting and if you are a US business and fall into the category where the 2002 Sarbanes Oxley Act applies to you, it is impetrative you understand how the provisions relate to your internal control environment. If you are unsure this great guide will prove invaluable assistance.

Internal controls are usually classified into three main categories:

• Preventative – meaning those which aim to prevent the loss of companies assets, be it monetary or otherwise. They are often perceived to be the most cost effective to implement. In its simplest form an example of a preventative control is a password on a employees computer or cctv camera in a warehouse.
• Detective – those time of controls seek out he breach, so detecting when a control breach has occurred. They can be very useful to show where a preventative control has broken day and may need to be tightened of done away with altogether. Some practical examples of detective controls would be for example week bank reconciliation or a weekly warehouse stock count.
• Corrective – this is the next logical step. When a detective control picks up a breach, the corrective control decides what happens next, ie how do we fix this going forward to prevent it happening again.  An example of a corrective control would be a variance report or even simpler having adequate insurance in place in the event that stock did go missing from a warehouse.

It is of paramount importance not just to have the controls in place but to track and monitor them regularly and take corrective action as necessary. It can be a very daunting prospect but there are a huge volume of resources and organisations operating in this space who you could call on for assistance. As expensive as it might be it is still likely to less costly that a significant control breach occurring in your organisation.  Many larger entities would have a full time staff member dedicated to this area conducting regular internal control audits. It is certainly something to keep in your mind.

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Times have been tough, and many of us have found ourselves in need of a little extra income to make ends meet lately. 

Of course, parenting is a full-time job in its own right, but unfortunately, it doesn’t pay all that well! 

Make use of your free time – if you’re lucky enough to have it – and try your hand at these five side hustles to boost your income.

• Blogging

Blogging is a great way to share your passions with the world.

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Perhaps you already have a blog, but just treat it as a casual hobby. If you dedicate a bit more energy to it, and team up with an excellent agency such as Maratopia Digital Marketing to make sure it looks top notch, you’ll be able to turn it into a lucrative career!

Successful blogging is a competitive business, so to gain that much needed edge your site will really need to sparkle.

• Child Care

What’s a few more kids to look after, right? And you get to send these ones home at the end of the day – we won’t tell anyone if you want to accidentally-on-purpose send your own little ones packing too!

If you can handle having a couple of extra little terrors tearing around then try your hand at child minding. 

• Selling Crafts

If you’re a nifty knitter or a passionate painter, you can sell your creations on sites such as Etsy. 

Be sure not to under-price yourself – many make the mistake of just coving the cost of supplies. This is fine for a hobby, but it won’t be worth your while in the long term. 

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Don’t forget to factor in all the effort you put into an item – your time is money after all! 

• Proofreader 

If you have a keen eye for detail, you might be cut out for proofreading.

You’ll have an excellent opportunity to read over everything from documents, to books, to websites, on the hunt for any errors. 

Working as a freelancer gives you far more flexibility, so as long as you meet your deadlines, you can work whenever best suits your lifestyle and family commitments. 

• Uber Driver

This is another great one for setting your own schedule.

Choose your own hours and work as an Uber driver. Of course, there are times of the day that are more lucrative than others, and if you go for these then you’ll probably have to deal with more than anyone’s fair share of drunk university students, especially during Fresher’s week!

But driving jobs are fantastic if you love to be behind the wheel, plus you’ll be able to get away from the kids for a few hours. Though is there really that much of a difference between hyper toddlers and drunk students? 

Have you taken up a side hustle to bring in a little extra? Tell us all about it in the comments below! 

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Most of us have some sort of skincare routine. We’ll use all sorts of products and treatments in our routine to help keep our skin healthy and in as good a condition as possible. But as with many things, when we age, things need to change to better accommodate changes occurring in our bodies. Over the years, you will find that your skin changes. Many of us find that our skin becomes thinner, loses fat and may no longer look as plump and smooth as it did during earlier years. You may find that your veins show through and that any scratches, cuts, bruises or bumps may take longer to heal. If you’ve experienced a lot of sun exposure, you may notice age spots. Then there are inevitable wrinkles. One thing I personally have noticed and is that I get spots around my chin area, funny thing is I thought as I got older the opposite would happen. However there is a solution, Yonka SOS spot roll on is a great option for this you can pop it in your bag and take it with you so handy. 

 So, what can you do to care for your skin as best possible in spite of any changes you may have experienced? Here are some suggestions to help you along the way!

Acknowledge Changes to Your Skin Type

There are four common categories that people class their skin to be: normal, dry, oily or combination. When we are younger, we find out our skin type and create a routine that fits around this. However, as you age, your skin type may change, so it’s important to acknowledge and observe these changes and come up with a routine that fits your skin now. Many people also like to work anti aging skin care into their routine as they get older. If you’re unsure what will work best for you, consult a dermatologist who will be able to help you further.

Use Sunskin and Cut Out Tanning

It’s a good idea to limit your time spent outside in the sun. Sure, you can go out during the day. You don’t have to retire inside forever. But you should consider avoiding the outdoors during sunny seasons at peak hours, such as between 10am and 2pm. You should also reconsider tanning out in your garden, at the beach or elsewhere. You should also use sunscreen on a daily basis. Sure, many of us are only used to wearing this on holiday. But it should form part of your daily skincare routine. Look for sunscreen with an SPF (short for “sun protection factor”) number of 15 or higher. Sunscreens with “broad spectrum” on the label also tend to be preferable.

Consider Treatments

Of course, ageing is a natural process, so it isn’t something negative. However, if you wish to slow or minimise the appearance of ageing, there are a number of treatments out there that can help with this. You may want to consult a skin treatment specialist for recommendations. Just make sure to use good quality clinics with proper certifications and plenty of positive reviews.

These are just a few steps you can take to make a better skin care routine for yourself as you grow older. Hopefully, some of the tips and tricks can help!

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A word very familiar to parents of small kids is wipes, from the moment the baby is born and has that anticipated and messy first poo (this also spells the end of what is considered acceptable dinner conversation) to teaching a heavily independent toddler to wipe when toilet training. You cannot leave the house without them, you add them in to weekly shop, you have them in the nappy bag, Nanny’s house, creche, the car, literally everywhere.

Wipes everywhere.

Think before you flush!! Pic Credit: Pixabay

Wipes for cleaning dirty bums, grubby faces, sticky hands, messy tables, not all the same wipe of course. This convenience item can be a God send for exhausted parents, but convenience as we know comes with a cost. There are of course many alternatives to wipes such as simply soap, water and a cloth but as Mum of 3 I certainly reach for the wipes more often than I should.

You might think what is the issue with one little wipe? Well wipes contain a small proportion of plastic which is one issue, but the other is the way people sometimes dispose of them.  Wipes seem like a wet toilet tissue, but they do not break down, even if the label states they are flushable. They are fit for purpose which is to be a strong, wet substance for cleaning, people or surfaces. In Clean Coasts we often find wipes as marine litter washed up on our beautiful beaches and it looks like they are fresh out of a packet. A wipe found on the beach may have made a journey from a toilet flush, through the sewage network,  and end up in your local lake, river, the ocean before finally being washed up by the tide. This can happen due to blockages along the wastewater network resulting in overflows to your local environment. I am not saying to ditch the wipes, ideally reduce their use but simply when you are finished using them throw them in the bin and never flush them down the toilet. 

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The concept of improving your homes kerb appeal is probably not something that you would give a huge deal of thought to unless you are selling your home. What exactly is kerb appeal….in its simplest form your homes kerb appeal is that first glance. You want the house to be attractive to potential buyers from that very first glance.  You want your home to naturally draw them in and capture the potential buyers interest.

One of the most significant benefits of improving your homes kerb appeal can be a fast sale of your home. That in itself is a very attractive prospect. Many of us have been there when a sale can drag on for months, not a nice position to be in and the risk also that you loose your own upcoming purchase due to the delay.

Some tips

I am not an expert in the field of property but we have between us sold 3 properties so thought it would be helpful to give some practical tips on what worked for us:

• the old adage rings true still….first impressions last so nicely painted door and clean windows is a must. Get out that power washer and give them a good clean!
  

  Pic Credit: Pixabay

• Cut the grass and tidy the garden, move bins out of view if possible even if you can utilise window boxes or hanging baskets. Even borrow them if you have to! If the outside looks untidy people will assume the inside is too even if it is not the case
• Don’t leave lots of clutter in the window that would be visible from outside keep them free and even perhaps a nice vase with flowers in the window. Keep it simple.
• If the window frames or door itself need a tidy up of paint, its totally worth it
• Likewise clean guttering and repair if necessary.

While we may have be taught over the years not to judge a book by its cover this doesn’t really apply in the case of selling houses, you want your potential purchaser to be captivated from the minute they set eyes on the house.  And that first view will be the exterior therefore taking the time and even some small investment can reap dividends in terms of 1) how quickly your property could sell and 2) how much you could achieve particularly if a number of buyers become interested in your property.

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HOW TO IDENTIFY YOUR CHILDS LEARNING STYLE

Knowing how your child learns best will enable you to support their learning in a way which plays to their strengths, ultimately boosting their performance. You’ll understand what ways of studying might work best for them, and you can also communicate this information to teachers so they’re fully supported at school. Here a private college in Berkshire outlines how you can identify your child’s learning style so you can help them get the most out of their education. 

 Kinaesthetic learners

 You’ll know your child is a kinaesthetic learner if they’re very physical and love using their body, for example, playing sports or dancing. These types of learners usually have good balance and learn best by touching things and doing activities themselves. They tend to use lots of gestures when communicating, and may enjoy things like clapping and counting on their fingers. Your child might also be a kinaesthetic learner if they find it difficult to sit still! You can support their learning by encouraging physical activities like writing, drawing and painting, and helping them explore topics through touch or movement, like role play or dancing. 

 Visual learners

 Visual learners like to observe the world around them and respond more to visual cues such as images. You might notice a visual learner lingering over the illustrations in books or showing a lot of interest in photos or charts which demonstrate concepts. Other indications that your child learns best visually include easily recognizing people and places, and having a vivid imagination. You can help this type of learner by using visuals to support their learning whenever possible and encouraging them to engage in activities like art and painting. They might also be drawn to screens so you can take advantage of this by letting them watch educational TV programmes and play games on their tablet which relay information visually. 

 Auditory learners

 This type of learner is drawn more to sound than touch or visuals, and is usually a good listener. They might show an aptitude for playing a musical instrument and absorb information better by listening to it. They probably love songs and singing, and might prefer reading aloud rather than to themselves. You can support an auditory learner by making use of repetition and providing verbal directions.

Your child might also love talking and having in-depth conversations about things, so facilitate discussions around topics to help them understand concepts. Meanwhile, parents and educators can achieve great success in helping children learn by customising teaching methods and resources based on their unique learning styles. If your child has autism, models such as the triad of impairments can help you better understand their needs so you can adopt the best teaching methods for them. A child with ADHD might be a highly proficient auditory learner, thriving in lecture and discussion environments, so they may have different learning strategies that could help them. Truly understanding and identifying a child’s particular learning challenges and preferences is key to creating an individual, effective learning environment that enables them to reach their full potential.

 Your child probably has elements of each learning style, but one might be more dominant than the other. Taking some time to identify which one that is will help you support their learning at home. 

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It’s important for children to learn that everyone fails sometimes, and that making mistakes is normal. It can be tempting as a parent to swoop in and try to prevent our children from doing something wrong, but they need to experience this in order to learn how to fix their errors and make better decisions in future. It’s also vital we don’t rush to solve our children’s problems for them, otherwise they’ll never learn to find solutions independently and in the process realize they’re capable of more than they perhaps thought they were. 

 Help them manage emotions

 The ability to manage uncomfortable or difficult emotions is part of being resilient, and children will only learn how to do this by experiencing the emotions and working through them. You can help by teaching them strategies for calming themselves down when they feel angry or upset, and exploring the emotions with them; for example, you could encourage them to practise deep breathing to deflect anger or write in a journal when they’re feeling sad. Learning to handle their emotions will help your child work through any difficulties they face in life and not let them derail them. 

 Encourage small risks

 Prompt your child to step out of their comfort zone whenever possible and try new things, even if they’re scared. Of course don’t encourage your child to do anything unsafe, but pushing them gently to explore different things will boost their confidence and self-esteem as they learn they’re capable of doing many different things.

 Your child’s resilience will develop over time and as a parent the best thing you can do is support them as they work things out for themselves. Resilience refers to the ability to overcome obstacles and recover from setbacks, and it’s a learned skill rather than something we’re born with. Children develop resilience by trying things out, failing, and trying again, and in the process learning they’re capable of bouncing back. Resilient children are able to approach life optimistically and take on new challenges, rather than shying away from them. Here’s some advice from a junior school in Kent on how you can raise a resilient child. 

 Model resilient behaviour

 Children learn a lot from watching how their parents approach life, so make sure your child sees you tackling challenges calmly and persistently to achieve a goal. You can get them involved in any problems you’re experiencing by asking them to help brainstorm possible solutions. This will show them that hurdles can be overcome by thinking things through and not giving up when things get tough. 

 Let them make mistakes

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It’s an exciting time when your child leaves school and starts college, but it can also feel like there’s a lot of pressure for them to pick the right courses. It’s hard not to think too much about the potential impact of their choices on their future, but it’s important they enjoy the subjects they choose. Here’s some guidance from a Sixth Form College in Hampshire on how you can support your child to choose the right college courses for them. 

 Pick subjects that interest them

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 Your child will probably be studying their subjects for a couple of years and in a lot more depth than at school, so they should be interested enough in the topics to want to focus on them for that long. Encourage them to spend some time thinking about what GCSEs they enjoyed the most at school. The more they are excited about studying a particular subject in depth, the more effort they’ll probably put into it. 

 Consider the next step

 While it’s not a good idea to look too far into the future, your child will probably have some idea of what they’d like to do after college so their choice of college courses should align with that. If they’re dead set on a particular path, they can specialize with their subjects and focus just on that. If, however, your child isn’t sure what they’d like to do after college, it’s best to keep the options open by studying a broader range of subjects. 

 Think about what they’re good at

 Playing to their strengths will give your child the best chance of performing well in their chosen subjects. If they had a natural aptitude for a certain subject at school, they might want to explore this further at college and specialize. If they were good at lots of subjects it can be harder to narrow things down, in which case they can think more about what they enjoy and what fits with their ideal career path. 

 Research thoroughly

 When deciding on college courses, it’s worth finding out exactly what each subject covers and what the curriculum is. Try to find out as much information as possible before making a decision. Also bear in mind compatibility between subjects and what learning pattern is required for each; for example, some subject combinations might cause timetable conflicts or require a form of learning or assessment  which your child doesn’t like, such as giving presentations. 

 When deciding on college courses, the sweet spot is finding subjects which your child enjoys, is good at, and which align with their future plans. 

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Getting involved in their local community gives children a sense of belonging and broadens their perspective on the world around them. It also helps forge their sense of identity and their place in society. You can get your child involved in the community in a variety of different ways, and doing so will only enrich their lives. Here a prep school in Hertfordshire outlines some of the other important benefits children get from community involvement. 

 Gratitude

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 Going out into the community and seeing how different people’s lives are will give your child a new perspective on their own life. They may realize how much they have to be thankful for in comparison to others, and by helping people in the community they’ll feel others’ gratitude toward them. This will boost their confidence and self-esteem.

 Altruism

 By volunteering on a community project which helps people in need, your child will learn how good it feels to spend time relieving others’ suffering in some small way or solving a problem for them. They’ll develop empathy and learn about the importance of always being kind to others and treating them how you would wish to be treated.

 Social skills

 Interacting with different members of the community will help develop your child’s social skills. They’ll engage in conversations with people they might not normally talk to and learn how to speak to people of different ages and from different backgrounds and cultures. 

 Open-mindedness 

 Seeing that people live their lives differently to them opens children’s eyes to the fact that life is not black and white, and the world is not the same everywhere. Through this they’ll develop the ability to be tolerant of others, as well as patient and understanding when people express different views or opinions to theirs. 

 Safety

 Getting to know lots of different people gives your child a network of friendly people looking out for them. This creates a feeling of belonging and safety, as everyone looks out for each other. They’ll learn who they can approach if they have a problem while they’re out and about, for example, people in positions of authority like policemen.

 Learning opportunities

 Participating in community activities will provide many different learning opportunities for your child; for example, volunteering in a care home will give them the chance to interact with elderly people and learn how different generations lived when they were younger, and volunteering in a shop will equip them with interpersonal and customer service skills.   

 The sky’s the limit when it comes to the benefits of community involvement for children!

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Choosing a nursing home represents an extremely important life event. As each facility is associated with its own unique attributes, it can be difficult to find one which matches the discrete needs of your loved one. Let’s look at seven suggestions in order to take the guesswork out of the equation.

What is the Purpose of the Home?

Firstly, determine what is important in terms of long-term care. Examples include hospice, physical rehabilitation, social interactions, and care for dementia. These criteria are crucial if you hope to make an informed decision. 

Speak with Friends and Family Members

Always obtain the opinions of others; particularly those who are familiar with your loved one. The chances are high that they will be able to provide an objective opinion; helping you to narrow down the number of options at your disposal while still addressing primary care needs. 

Talk to Patients

Every nursing home claims to offer the best services to its patients. However, we need to remember that some are better than others. This is why it is a good idea to speak with the patients themselves. Ask them about their experiences and the quality of care that they are receiving. Not only will this provide you with valuable insight, but it might even be possible to develop a few friendly connections before your loved one is admitted. 

Visit the Facility

Take some time to visit multiple nursing homes with your friend or family member. Ask them how they feel about the facilities. If possible, take a guided tour so that you can get a better idea about what to expect. Here are some questions to ask along the way:

• What types of monitoring services are present?
• What is the overall physical state of the property?
• Can those with mobility issues access all portions of the complex?
• Are residents provided with regular access to outdoor areas (such as parks and gardens)?

Talk with Staff Members

In the event that your love done has specific physical or emotional requirements, encourage them to speak with on-site staff. They can clarify their concerns and determine if the facility in question is the best option. 

Examine the Nearby Surroundings

What attractions are found close to the facility? Assuming that your loved one can participate in day trips, this is crucial. Such a strategy is also a great approach if your family member is afraid of becoming disconnected with the outside world. 

Ask Plenty of Questions

Finally, never be afraid to ask additional questions. It may be wise to make an itemised list so that you can cover all bases when speaking with a staff member. 

Thankfully, reputable care homes such as Eastleigh nursing home in Somerset has developed a highly personalised approach with their residents. Their ultimate goal is to provide a seamless transition while still ensuring that your loved one receives the care that he or she deserves.  

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