Features

Our recent Iceland road trip Pic Credit: The Mamma Fairy Blog

We love to travel and that’s both locally and overseas and often favouring ferry travel so w can take our own car when we can. On a recent road trip we were trying to guestimate our yearly road miles! Anecdotally it is believed this figure to be around 10,000 a year for us id say multiply that by at least 5 or 6. One thing I will say and I’m very proud to say is how safety conscious my husband is. It is a lot of responsibility for him opting to be the driver the vast majority of the time. I’m not ashamed to say he is the better driver.

Recently I happened upon a game by Kwik-fit which I thought was really interesting. Entitled #driventodistraction it gives you the chance to test your reaction times by answering the questions on the phone whilst concentrating on the road and looking out for the STOP sign and it records how long it takes for you to stop! Sounds easy?? I urge anybody who is on the road to give this a go, you will honestly be so surprised.

As part of their research Kwik fit found that 19% of the surveyed drivers admitted that they sometimes take calls while driving, 17% admit that they read texts off of their phone, and 12% send texts. Aside from the obvious breaking the rules of the road, clearly any of the below can serious diminish your reaction times and even worse still be the time needed to react in an emergency situation.

GPS/ Sat Nav on phones

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Many of us are guilty of using the sat navs/ GPS on our phones to help us find the location we need however using your phone to type into the map function is no different to txting etc – you still are utilising the phone and the possibility of being #driventodistraction is still there irrespective of how you are using your phone. If you need to use your sat nav feature/ gps on your phone – delegate!

Life is precious and we all owe a duty of care to our own passengers and other road users. There is no txt no call worth it. Pull over when safe or wait until you get there.

As an aside do have a nosey on the Kwik fit webpage for some further information on other safety matter like tyre wear and tear and brakes.

Note: This is a collaborative post

Having a family travel blog we get lots of queries via email, DM and across social media on our adventures and days out. I am very much a bargain shopper when it comes to travel and days out making use of sites like Groupon to get the best value

Image Credit: PayPlan

One cohort of emails that I often received when I do post a deal or good offer or blog about the activity always  strikes a chord with me.  That is the disparity of prices in the deals that I share for “family” 2 +2 offers and families which comprise of a single parent. PayPlan who are a free debt advice provider have produced a very useful infographic which looks at the true cost of activities for single parent families. Ill be very honest its not something that I had ever considered before but know it really is something I will be very aware of when sharing deals.

Infographic

Image Credit: PayPlan

PayPlan have produced an infographic which shows the results of their own research into the cost of family activities comparing 2 parent plus 2 children deal when compared with the cost of two parents plus two children. The infographic is reproduced below with kind permission and the results will shock you. The family train ticket cost difference I found staggering.

Other statistics they found include; which I really I really didn’t know was that 1 in 4 families class themselves as “single parent” and a statistic which I find really upsetting is that – a third of children with a single working parent family live in poverty. I find that so sad.

The research found that most single parent families were headed by a single mother and that one in ten have used payday loans or foodbanks to get by.

There is a useful hashtag #CostOfSingleParentLiving where you share your experiences and read about other peoples.

The results of their research found that being a single parent will cost you more in every instance. I had to read that a second time to really process it. So shocking.

Unfortunately I don’t have the magic solution to how this could be rectified and while I doesn’t impact me directly I feel its important to raise awareness of this issue.

Note: This is a collaborative post

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Getting older doesn’t have to mean losing control of how you wish to live your life. The prospect of nearing an age where you need assistance in your daily living routine is a scary concept, but it doesn’t have to be. Your body is your temple, and you are still in control of it, able to make your own decisions and still maintain the freedom you want (and deserve).

Choosing to move into a residential care home or get some additional help through an outside caregiver or family member can sometimes be an emotional time and a huge transition, but it could be for the best. Here are a few starting points to consider when making this decision.

Make a Checklist of The Things you Require 

Understanding where and in what capacity you need help is a vitally important step when considering your situation. You might need assistance in doing your weekly shop, or preparing meals; it could even be just to keep up with the general cleaning around the house. There are solutions to all these problems from asking friends and family to help you out, or hiring professional services if you don’t want to feel like a burden.

If you conclude that you will require a lot more help than initially thought, then it’s time to consider having long term support.

Prepare Your Home for Change

If you choose to stay in your home and accept outside care, it might be a difficult adjustment in the beginning. Your home is a safe haven, a place where all the things you love are collected, and a place where you have spent many good years and happy times. Accepting that you need help might involve someone coming into your home, and this won’t always be friends and family. It is really important to do your own research and enquiries regarding this. After all, you want to be able to trust the people coming into your home to make this change easier. Should you need more information on this, you might want to get it from here.  Having someone new come into that area in a capacity where they may need to move and clean your belongings, or spend a great deal of time in your personal space, is a huge transition that you may need to prepare yourself for.

If there are certain boundaries you wish to set – requesting the caregiver not to go into a particular room, for example, if they don’t need to – then, by all means, set them. As long as it does not interfere with the level of care you deserve, there is no reason you cannot still maintain some privacy in your home.

Do Your Research and Choose A Company You Can Trust 

Choosing between moving into a residential and staying in your home can be a much easier decision when you have the option of in-home care. The idea of being in your home, and having an outside caregiver come into your space can be a very comforting thought. Especially when compared to having to be moved to a residential care home and away from the household and life you have known.

It’s your right to feel safe, cared for and loved by the people you nominate to be your in-home care assistants; and companies like www.inhomecare.com know that which is why they make it their priority to offer dependable and quality caregiving.

Take the time to look into different companies, and focus on ones who have glowing reviews from everyday people who have used their services. Make contact and inquiries and ensure that the company offers everything you need before you commit to anything.

Note: This is a collaborative post

The definition of romance is different for everyone. Some people like to express their love out loud with grand public proposals, planning surprises, or showering their lover with gifts now and then. While others like to keep their romance to themselves with eye contact, holding hands, or acts of service. In fact, as long as both partners make equal efforts to understand each other, every act they do for each other is “Romance.”

But if you are looking for some specific lovey-dovey gestures or things to make your relationship passionate, you have come to the right place. Read on to know tips to infuse romance in your daily life. 

• Remember It’s About Minimalism 

Many people confuse romance with big gestures and grandness. However, it is more about the little things you do daily for your partner that’ll help grow your bond. It may include cooking together, saying good morning or good night every day, or remembering small details about their life such as important office meetings or family members’ birthdays. In addition to this, being with them during their celebrations as well as on bad days is another simple way to show your affection. 

• Hug And Kiss Them Often

Unexpected hugs and sweet kisses are common ways of showing affection and appreciation. It is especially important if your partner’s love language is physical touch. It will make them feel loved and supported without needing to speak. And the best part is you can do this anywhere. For instance, kissing your partner when going to the office, giving a back hug when working in the kitchen, or simply cuddling while watching your favorite show. 

• Try New Things Together 

As stated above, every couple has their own way of loving. If you and your partner like public display of affection (PDA), trying out new things would be a great idea. Some things you can try are- Playing footsie under the table, wearing a butt plug in public, or making out in ricks and cabs. If you like some subtle PDA ideas, you can feed each other, lock your arms, or whisper sweet things to each other. Likewise, you can spice up your cozy moments with foreplay, blindfolding, and toys. 

• Call Them By Their Pet Name

Giving your partner a pet name and more is surely an affordable idea. It helps create a different bond, offer reassurance, and build understanding simultaneously. And, if you believe it cringes, you should try it yourself. It might turn out to be one of your things. Some of the cute names you can try are babe, honey bunny, nugget, boo, bubs and sugar. Or, you can come up with a unique pet name of your own. 

• Share Details Of Your Day Every Night 

Finally, communicate with each other as much as you can. Share the details of your day during dinner, be it good or bad. It will help you both learn more about each other and how you react to different scenarios. Plus, it will lower the chances of feeling bored of each other. 

Wrapping It All Up

If you think about it, adding romance to your daily life is actually quite simple. It’s about small gestures, understanding each other, and showing affection to them. So, try out the tips mentioned above to ignite love in your everyday life. 

Note: This is a collaborative post

Buying property in Dubai is everybody’s dream, whether it be an investor who wants good returns on his/her investments or a purchaser who wants a high life in Dubai. At the outset it is really important to do your own research, as noted by experts in this field “Financing a property overseas can be complex, especially when it comes to obtaining the international mortgage you need to make your dreams a reality”  source: Simon Conn.

Like any other part of the world, to buy a property in Dubai, you need to address certain issues and fulfill some requirement. Following is the step by step guidance on those requirements:   

Eligibility Criteria

Any person can purchase a property in Dubai’s freehold areas. These include residents of Dubai and overseas nationality holders.

Documentation

Individual:

• Passports 
• Form B is required. Form B is a signed agreement from the buyer.

 A company incorporated in UAE:

• Incorporation certificate (COA)
• Articles of Association (AOA)
• Memorandum of Association (MOA)
• Resolution of Board of Directors
• Power of Attorney
• Form B is required. Form B is a signed agreement from the buyer 

A company incorporated Overseas:

• Documentation is same as in case of a company incorporated in UAE, but the company incorporate overseas is required to get all these documents attested by the Embassy of UAE  
• Form B is required. Form B is a signed agreement from the buyer  

Residency:

If the property purchased exceed 1M AED by any buyer, residency visa is issued to such person by the Dubai government. All such residents are bound by immigration rules and regulations are needed to renew their visa every 6 months.

Mortgages:

The mortgage market is booming in Dubai, as many Financial Institutions offer mortgage plans to non-resident owners. There are many types of mortgages that are available with these financial institutions, and each type has their own limits.

Taxation and Fees:

No taxes either income or otherwise are levied by the Dubai government. Only 1.5% in terms of registration fees is to be paid by the buyer. Transfer fees are required to be paid to the Developer (property Under Construction) and to Dubai Land Department (Fully Completed projects). If you are buying the property with Mortgage money, an additional 0.25% is levied on the value of loan or mortgage. If the property is fully complete, maintenance fee for services is to be paid to the seller

Need for a bank account:

To make things simple, no requirement to open a bank account by the overseas buyer has been laid by the Government. You can hire a lawyer that can make all the arrangements for money to be transferred to an account dedicated for this purpose and sail you through, smoothly. Even your presence is not required at the time the property is transferred in your name if you empower your lawyer through a power of attorney. 

Note: This is a collaborative post

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Anybody who knows me in the “real world” or has been following the blog knows im the “Queen of the Deal” when it comes to finding cheap flights, hotels or anything holiday related in fact. Travel is one of our big passions so squeezing in as many trips as we can requires hard work and research however…….one of the things which I hadn’t been good on was what I term “household admin”. That is comparing providers, seeking out value on utilities and considering other providers. Observing the status quo was the default position.  Not this year! Ever on my quest to squeeze a little more out for the holiday fund I have turned my attention to saving money on household bills.

“The Month” 

July is “the month”. Every house I think has one – you know that month where all the utility contracts expire, the one off bills fall due, motor tax, insurance etc. We moved into our house in the month of June so consequently every July falls “the month”!!! In preparation I have been doing my homework and I was really excited too find that there already exists a  a very user friendly site that compares deals on TV, broadband, mobile contracts and sim only deals.

Delighted to see that all the main providers available there including; Sky, BT, SSE, Vodafone and many more. There really is so much choice out there and it can be so difficult to choose when you have to be flicking back and forth on different pages having them in coherent, easy to read and follow list is incredibly handy.  Having a really quick look and taking account of our usage and preferences Virgin are offering one of the best deals out there for us at the moment. A combined TV and broadband package coming in at £29 a month. Really great value. Also what is really great about the site is that it links you straight through to the deal no messing around trying to recreate it, takes you straight there.

Survey

The numbers nerd in mine was drawn to an interesting survey which compared the average price of 1GB of data in 230 countries. Could be very handy to know for those who travel for either work or pleasure. So where do you think has the cheapest data???

• Cheapest appears to be around the Eastern European countries
• More expensive being North America, Africa and Western Europe.

Hovering over an individual country in the link will bring up its associated data. This includes country name, its ranking out of the 230 countries measured, its cheapest available 1GB of data, its most expensive 1GB of data, how many plans were measured to create the average, and on what day the snapshot was taken. Really interesting stuff but then again I am unashamedly a numbers geek!

Comparison website such as Cable can really help save some extra on the household bills, as the saying goes every little really does help and it makes no sense why you would pay extra for essentially the same service, particularly if like me you are the average user and don’t require all the bells and whistles some plans come with.

Using the tool it looks like I will save almost £200 by changing my provider. Its  a no brainer really. Now the next important plan ….where too next as £200 will go a long way for our next family trip.

Your old smartphone still works, but you’ve just upgraded to a new and faster model.  Now, you’re wondering what you can do with your old phone.

Instead of throwing it away, why not try these 5 things?

Help Mother Earth By Recycling

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Whatever you do with your old cellphone, don’t throw it in the dumpster. You won’t be contributing to a greener environment and a safer one for the future generation.  It doesn’t take much to properly recycle your old gadget. For instance, you can hand it over to the nearest recycling center so they can take it apart, reuse it or harvest for individual components. Or, you can take it to a recycling programme that gives you in-store credit, gift cards or cash by turning old branded tech.  It’s certainly better than having your old gadget end up in the landfill and pollute the earth by leaching toxins into the ground.

Help Organisations by Donating

A functioning phone that can make calls, send SMS or browse the web may still be useful to other people. Think about who or how you’d want to donate your gadget for a good cause.  It could be your local church, a goodwill centre, an animal shelter, library or hospital. The staff welcomes any serviceable tech they can use to do their jobs. The same goes for old laptops, tablets, computers, fax and printers.  You can also give it to your co-worker, neighbour or favourite relative the next time you meet. Make sure to gather the cable, charger and any accessory so they can fully enjoy the gift.

Re-Use Your Phone As A Backup

Find your old phone’s charging cable and power it up. Activate the cellular network so you can start making calls or sending messages with it. When it’s full, put it in a sturdy case and somewhere easily accessible, e.g., in your locker, car or bag. You’ll be safer knowing that you’ll have a backup phone in case something happens to your main unit.

Turn Old Into New

Did you know that you can create an mp3 player, an eBook reader or maybe a portable TV with your old phone? Here are some fun projects you can try:

• Portable TV. Install YouTube, a streaming app such as Netflix, Amazon Prime or Twitch and you have a dedicated video app for entertainment. If you have kids, load it up with their favorite cartoons and a video app so you’ll have something to distract them with.  We travel a lot and often rely on devices to keep the kids entertained on long flights or long airport waits so worth doing some research into a vpn that works with netflix.
• Remote Control. Never lose a remote (and precious time) again when you turn your old tech into a remote. Search through the App Store or Play Store and download the corresponding remote for your Smart TV, Apple TV or Roku device.
• Music Player. Get Google Music or iTunes and some of your favorite songs into a workout playlist. Attach a Bluetooth speaker or some wireless headphones and you’ll have a dedicated music player when you’re exercising at home or outside. You can also turn it into a static sound system by placing it on a charging dock and plugging in wired speakers.
• eBook Reader. Do you love to read books? How about your partner or kids? You can turn your old tech into a storybook, a virtual magazine shelf or a library, depending on what you prefer. All you need is to download the Kindle app (or similar programs), magazines or eBooks and voila! A personal eBook reader. On the same note, if you prefer audiobooks, get the corresponding app and listen to podcasts or software that can read classic books aloud, for example.

Sell Your Gadget For Cash

Last but certainly not the least, you can turn your old mobile into quick cash by listing it up online. Popular sites such as Amazon, eBay and Facebook do have sections where users can advertise their secondhand items and sell them for money.  Simply upload a nice photo, details about the phone and its condition, then set a price. Wait for offers to come in, and when the price is right set up a meeting and you’ll have money to spend.

For easy and direct transactions, you can turn to online tech recyclers to sell your tech for money. Fill up an online form, send the item in and wait for them to receive it. You get fast cash and a straight appraisal right away.

Note: This is collaborative post

Vaginal health is exceedingly important for women’s health. So, what constitutes a healthy vagina? While most people don’t think much about it, a healthy vagina should contain low levels of acidic pH, small amounts of discharge, and rich bacterias that help fight off infections.

Though many women might not care about it, others “can notice anywhere up to a teaspoon or tablespoon of discharge a day,” says Leah Millheiser, MD, director of the female sexual medicine program at Stanford University Medical Center in California, as per an article published on Everyday Health. “Discharge is a normal physiologic reaction — it’s essentially shedding of cervical and vaginal cells.”

However, “if women experience changes in vaginal odor, a change in color of their discharge that may be associated with discomfort — whether it’s pelvic discomfort or vulvar discomfort, itching, or burning — any change needs to be evaluated,” further says Dr. Millheiser. 

What’s the Difference Between Vagina and Vulva? 

Many people mistake vulva for vagina. There’s a major difference between the two. Vulva is the outer part of your genital area that includes your labia, clitoris, vaginal opening, and the opening to the urethra. A vagina is a canal-like structure inside the labia, which isn’t visible and includes the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus and cervix. Your vulva and vagina should have low pH levels which makes it less prone to infections.

Tips to Keep Your Vagina and Vulva Healthy 

Below are the simple yet important tips you should follow to keep your vaginal health in check. 

• Regular Cleaning Is Important: It is advised to clean your vagina with unscented soap and water. Skip douching as it can misbalance the healthy bacterias in the vagina. While washing, do not put soap directly into your vagina and avoid scrubbing it too hard as it can disturb the vaginal environment. Please note that irregular cleaning can lead to several vaginal issues, such as fibroids and PCOS. You may also have to go through enlarged uterus treatment as it is a common symptom of fibroids. Therefore, regular cleaning and washing is the key to keeping your vagina healthy. 

• Be Careful While Trying New Products: Whenever you try any new product, be it any toy or condoms, make sure to read their label as some ingredients might irritate the vaginal area, causing infection and other severe issues. So, make sure you are being careful in such cases.

• Take Healthy Diet: This point goes without saying. What you eat has a huge impact on your vaginal health. Foods rich in antioxidants (fruits and vegetables) and probiotics can help balance vaginal pH, reduce the chances of infections and ease the symptoms of PMS. You can find probiotics in fermented foods like yogurt, sauerkraut and tempeh.

• Move Your Body: Another way to maintain your vaginal health is to exercise regularly. There are various exercises that keep your pelvic floor healthy and flexible. The pelvic floor includes muscles, tissue and ligaments that connect to the organs in your pelvis, including your cervix, bladder, uterus and vagina.

Not looking after your vaginal health can result in severe complications. Therefore, make sure you keep the above tips in mind and follow them to enjoy a healthier life. 

Note: This is a collaborative post

The market is buzzing with scores of realtors, each striving to reach out to prospective investors. You must have recently received many emails regarding the same. Hence, it is imperative to reach the prospective buyers before others can. 

Sending out your neighborhood realtor postcards is a great way to meet clients and grow your business like never before. There are several channels to get in touch with the customers, but surprisingly postcards as a means to reach the masses are trending again. 

If you want to design a postal-card, you can take the help of online expert services and get one created for you any day. But before you reach out, you must understand how to select a realtor postcard maker.

How To Select A Realtor Postcard Maker?

In the real estate business, you need to change your game plan to have the upper hand. A postcard is an effective way to reach potential buyers. But you need to be careful while selecting one.

Here are some tips.

• Understands your requirements

It is always wonderful to work with like-minded people and those who understand your needs. Accordingly, work with designers who know what you want and your needs and are ready to customize. 

• Offers multiple template options

No two clients have the exact requirements, and there is no one-size-fits-all format for cards. But to cut down on efforts, some designers would like to impose the already created layouts on you. 

So it is imperative to understand that what worked for one business might not be as good for your business. Select a designer who has multiple ready-made templates and offers sufficient customization options as well. 

• Is it price efficient?

If you are on a budget, you can choose affordable services. But ensure that you get value for money. Some designers might lure you with great designs before closing the deal but fail to deliver the same agreed price later. 

• Generates high-quality output

There are many ways to accomplish a task, but some designers might take a cheaper route to finishing their job to save time and effort. However, the final result must match your expectations. Hence look for a designer who is proficient in their work.

• Can they customize?

A designer must not impose his designs on you but convert your ideas into reality. The agency must not hesitate to explore the options and is ready to customize your neighborhood realtor postcards on any level.

• Offers tracking system

Some designers use high-end technology and help you track the delivery of the postal-cards. This facility enables you to ensure that your efforts are not in vain and reach the right buyers at the right time. 

• Provides buyer list facility

Some designers go a step ahead to please their clients and offer a list of prospective buyers to the clients. This helps the clients improve the business and reach out to more buyers than ever expected. If your designer offers you a list of buyers, it will boost your business.

• Has no minimum order quantity criteria

You must have often met designers who don’t work below the minimum ordering quantity. They don’t work on low scales and expect to receive high order quantities to make profits. But this can be a significant loss for you as you might pay a substantial amount for cards you throw away after the end of the season. 

Hence it will be great to work with a designer who has no restrictions on minimum order quantities.

Conclusion

Competing with others in the market is a big deal, but with some planning and heed, you can make every effort count. Sending well-designed postal-cards to prospective buyers can help you close a big deal. So select a postcard maker who is reliable and proficient in the task. You can find a number of options when you do a simple google search. Be sure to go through customer reviews, their product catalog, etc., before making your decision. 

Note: This is a collaborative post 

Some say you can reshape your nose by applying toothpaste, while others say you can achieve a straight-edged nose by massaging your nose with lavender oil.

There are numerous nose reshaping myths out there. And as a woman who is keen on finding an effective way to reshape your nose to enhance its appearance or treat a defect, it’s important you differentiate myth from the actual truth. You have probably heard that surgery is potentially the only thing that can help. Whether you speak with a rhinoplasty Miami surgeon, or decide to consult with one closer to you, there is still a lot you should think about.

To separate myth from fact, you need to be aware of the myths. Below, we have highlighted some of the most common nose reshaping myths every woman should note.

 Myth 1: Exercise and Yoga

Exercise is effective in reshaping a few parts of our body. However, does this apply to your nose as well? Can a few exercises straighten a crooked nose or make it more pointed?

Some people believe it can. However, that is another myth that should be ignored. If indeed exercises can reshape your nose, we would have tons of scientific evidence to back the claim. However, at the time of writing, there is no scientific evidence proving that nose exercises or even “nose yoga” can work magic on your nose.

Also, you should note that nose exercises work the small muscles surrounding your nose that you use to make facial expressions. These particular muscles don’t play an important role in your nose shape.

 Myth 2: Toothpaste and Nose Reshaping

Many women turn to the internet when searching for a “quick” way to reduce the size of their noses naturally. While some websites offer practical and truthful tips on achieving a small nose, others recommend false tips like using toothpaste to reshape the nose.

As mentioned earlier, the shape of your nose is mainly determined by the shape of your bone and cartilages. Applying toothpaste to your nose wouldn’t somehow modify the size of your bone or cartilage.

Furthermore, there is zero proof that other home remedies that consist of ingredients such as apple cider vinegar, ginger, or garlic can reshape your nose. Be wise and stick to only what works.

 What Procedure Actually works?

If you want to reduce the shape of your nose, improve your breathing, or correct nasal bump, here are some cosmetic procedures to try out.

Surgical Rhinoplasty

Pic Credit: Pixabay

As the name implies, surgical rhinoplasty is an invasive procedure that helps reshape the nose. It remains one of the most delicate and nuanced plastic surgical procedures.

Surgical rhinoplasty involves reducing the nose by removing some cartilages or bone or reshaping the nose by rearranging or adding to the cartilage or bone.  The method depends on what you want to achieve.

Of course, due to the nature of the surgery, we recommend undergoing a surgical rhinoplasty in a reliable clinic supervised by an experienced plastic surgeon. For instance, rhinoplasty surgery by Dr. Frankel is recommended by clients as one of the best cosmetic surgeries for individuals who want to improve the appearance of their noses. When your cosmetic surgery is done by a professional you become more confident and at ease.

Non-surgical or Liquid rhinoplasty

Unlike its counterpart, non-surgical or liquid rhinoplasty isn’t an invasive procedure. It involves injecting fillers into a patient’s nose to enhance the contours and reshape it. This is often carried out with hyaluronic acid (HA), the filler used in cheek and lip fillers.

 Conclusion

There are lots of rumors regarding nose reshaping. Some of these rumors are so enticing that they appear as the truth. 

Spotting these myths or differentiating the truth from fables will save you lots of time and probably money that would have been spent chasing procedures that can deliver good results. If there is a procedure you aren’t certain of, contact a specialist for insights. 

Note: This is a collaborative post