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Birthday Pizza Party: Celebrating Lauren’s 4th Birthday
I’m not really sure how Lauren came up with the idea for having a birthday pizza party when her 4th birthday rolled around, but if I had to guess, Peppa Pig, Blaze & The Monster Machines or Paw Patrol must have had something to do with it. We knew it was going to be hard to top Lauren’s 3rd birthday party so we decided to do something totally different this year. We were keen to host it again at home (as we have worked very hard to create a lovely garden to entertain in) but instead of inviting her whole nursery class we asked Lauren to select a few close…
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The End of Summer // Living Arrows (34/52 – 2019)
“You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth” – Kahlil Gibran I’m excited to be joining in with #LivingArrows for the second time. On Monday we took the bus into Edinburgh for an afternoon of fun. It felt slightly bittersweet as it was a lovely sunny day but there was also a slight undercurrent of a chill that suggested that Autumn is not far round the corner. We enjoyed finding more statues on the Oor Wullie Bucket Trail including this one – what a spectacular backdrop.
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Why I’m Saying Yes to Second Hand September
I have been very vocal here about my love of charity shops (see here and here for some hauls that I have done in the past). I was delighted to join more than 40k people – and counting – and take the pledge to say no to new clothes for the month of September by participating in Oxfam’s Second Hand September drive. Here are a few reasons why I am so keen to participate: Combating the environmental cost of creating new clothes Like many people, my eyes were opened to the hugely negative environmental impact of the manufacturing process of clothes thanks to the Stacey Dooley documentary ‘Fashion’s Dirty Secrets’.…
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73 Things About Me
Something a bit different on the blog today – Cass at Diary of a Frugal Family has tagged me in this so here goes. 1. What is your usual Starbucks order? Very boring but an americano with cold milk. 2. What does your workstation look like right now? Tidy and brand spanking new! Have been to Ikea and now have a lovely new, uncluttered desk. Long may it stay uncluttered! 3. All-time favourite food? Indian. 4. Favourite author? This is really sad but I can’t remember the last time I read a book… keep meaning to get back into reading but never do it. We have a holiday coming up…
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Meeting a Meerkat // Living Arrows (33/52 – 2019)
I have been following along with other people’s #LivingArrows posts for a long time and have been keen to join in – this week I am finally biting the bullet so here goes! We attended a fabulous birthday party this week that had a mini petting zoo in attendance. What a wonderful experience – we got to see (and hold) a meerkat, a skunk, a 12 foot Burmese python(!) and a lizard. I love seeing my daughter’s confidence grow each time we get the chance to pet an animal – from not wanting to touch them at all to being happy to hold a snake. Meanwhile, my son has been…
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How To Protect The Financial Future Of Your Children
All parents want to make sure that their children have everything that they need when they grow up. Nobody wants their child to struggle financially when they’re older, which is why it’s important that you find ways to help them out. It’s important that you don’t just hand everything to them on a plate and you teach them the value of hard work, but it’s tough out there and you should also be looking for ways to protect them. These are some of the best ways to protect the financial future of your children. Invest Some Money You can help your children financially if you’re not in a good position…
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Gift Ideas for a Four Year Old
My daughter is turning four in a couple of weeks – I can’t believe how quickly time has flown. How has it been a year since her last birthday? I am beginning to get organised when it comes to buying her a few bits and pieces and I thought I would share with you some gift ideas for a four year old just in case they help you out too. I have kept everything well under £25 as I don’t believe that spending big bucks is guaranteed to get a gift they will enjoy and actually play with (quite the opposite as I have found to my dismay!). 24 Piece…
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Saving Money On Your Wedding Day – Why Is It Considered Taboo?
Weddings are beautiful. They are often a spectacle. They are an event, a community happening, a bonding experience for your family. They are also indulgent, and sometimes, quite expensive. Discussing and dividing the responsibility for such expenses can be a worrying and sometimes quite difficult task, as many of us know. In fact, achieving this can often take much debate, especially when it comes to two different families with different financial means and philosophies of how a wedding should be run. But one thing is often pressing under the surface of all this – why should you feel opposed to saving money on your wedding day? Is this such a…
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Did you know about George at Asda’s loyalty scheme?
… I certainly didn’t until I happened to spot a small banner about it whilst I was browsing some clothes. It seems like it’s a trial for now but no doubt if it proves successful it will become permanent. I make no secret of the fact that I prefer to buy clothes second hand but sometimes you just can’t find exactly what you are looking for in charity shops or on eBay. In this case, my first point of call is almost always George at Asda as I can always rely on their low prices and good quality. Read on to find out more about George at Asda’s loyalty scheme…
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Summer Giveaway: Win One of Six M&S Hampers
I am so excited to be co-hosting my first ever giveaway on my blog. Thanks so much to Emma Drew for organising – she is a superstar! Good luck to all who enter. This summer, some of the UK Money Bloggers have come together to offer you the chance to win one of six M&S hampers. We have five hampers worth £50 each plus one £20 hamper to give away. Keep reading to find out how you can enter. Who are the bloggers behind this giveaway? The UK Money Bloggers are a group of bloggers, podcasters, and influencers in the UK who are passionate about helping you to improve your…