tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52185230514235357232024-03-16T18:52:12.101+00:00Seaside BelleExplore the best of South Devon and beyond with SeasideBelle - a lifestyle blog about life by the sea. Discover the best things to do, places to see and where to eat, drink and shop. Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.comBlogger192125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-12477782635554472402023-11-16T11:36:00.003+00:002023-11-16T11:36:39.482+00:0020 Christmas activities for teens<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwz6vYzTRIOGr0gEvhbzQYrZaaAK4pWADUbeNQ5mdMYDwI_8v4vpmWMdtnPosLKtIKU8GMrZDzJ6boq9uy5OS-j9Pt-7kb2h77iNw2rqasrEbUM-f6nP6hCjro1B7AC9sxEW559D-xShYBm5fWkh00Ns0K-T8RF1479LKRzJsn7s9izHbU_SFLcwu4cWA/s1280/pexels-marko-klaric-6408287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1009" data-original-width="1280" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwz6vYzTRIOGr0gEvhbzQYrZaaAK4pWADUbeNQ5mdMYDwI_8v4vpmWMdtnPosLKtIKU8GMrZDzJ6boq9uy5OS-j9Pt-7kb2h77iNw2rqasrEbUM-f6nP6hCjro1B7AC9sxEW559D-xShYBm5fWkh00Ns0K-T8RF1479LKRzJsn7s9izHbU_SFLcwu4cWA/s320/pexels-marko-klaric-6408287.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Pexels Marko Klaric</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Teenagers might be too old for visits to Father Christmas.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> They might be past the stage of getting up at the crack of dawn to eagerly run down to rip open gifts under the tree and see what toys the big man in red might have brought them. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But that doesn't mean that the excitement of Christmas has lost its lustre. Underneath the rolling eyes, grunts and text speak, they're still big kids at heart. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are some ideas to keep the festive magic alive when your children are too big to fit on Santa's knee.</span></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Keep buying Advent calendars </b>- even when they're grown up and have left home (big hint to my mum if she's reading this). After all, the anticipation and count down to the big day is part of the magic of Christmas for all ages. If you've got cash to splash, teen girls would go mad for a beauty Advent calendar. And if chocolate is seen as too childlike, there are plenty of non-chocolate options, such as cheese calendars, noodles and even Pringles calendars. But even a cheap chocolate calendar from the pound shop will be appreciated. After all, it's the thought that counts most.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Visit a Christmas market.</b> Wrap up in a big scarf and coat (if they're not too cool for coats!), breathe in the Christmas smells and enjoy a Christmas shopping trip that doesn't involve being dragged around JD Sports.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Go to a carol concert.</b> There's nothing like listening to beautifully performed carols and songs to spread the joy and magic of Christmas. You don't have to join in (because that might be a bit too embarrassing bro).</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Make a wreath.</b> If you're not confident in doing it solo, head to a local workshop.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Head to a Christmas tree farm</b> to pick the perfect tree for your home. Let your teens pick out the tree and then encourage them to do the heavy work of getting it in and out of your car and into the house. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>See the Christmas lights</b>. You could head to the town centre's Christmas Light Switch-on event or simply go for a drive around the neighbourhood to wonder at the illuminations.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Ask them to create a Christmas playlist</b> that you can listen to as you make Christmas dinner. Encourage them to take suggestions from all the family and collate the music. They'll love playing DJ and having input into creating a festive atmosphere in your home.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Go ice skating.</b> </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Get them involved in Christmas cooking</b>. Ask them to prepare part of Christmas dinner. Give them free reign to source their own recipes. Give them a budget and get them to buy the ingredients and then make a starter or pudding for Christmas Day. Not only does this take some of the pressure off you, but it will teach them vital life skills and give them a real sense of pride and ownership.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Create a Christmas photo booth</b>. Send them to some local charity shops to source props or ask them to make their own. Then spend time on Christmas Day being silly.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Have a Christmas movie night</b>. Get them to pick a classic Christmas film or introduce them to one of your favourites. Snuggle up on the sofa in PJs with blankets, popcorn and hot chocolate.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Attend midnight Mass</b>. When your kids are small, Midnight Mass is probably a bit too late and tiring, but for teens, it's the perfect opportunity to contemplate the real meaning of Christmas.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Do some Christmas TikTok challenges</b>. Ask your teen to come up with some festive challenges and dances - or find some to copy. Then practice together and post them online (make sure they give you permission before posting)</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Hold a family Christmas Bake-off competition</b>. Ask your teen to write the rules and judging criteria of the bake-off and enjoy time in the kitchen before indulging in the festive treats you all create. Make sure you provide a trophy or prize for the winner. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Make ornaments for the tree</b>. Get crafty and spend an afternoon creating ornaments for your tree. As well as enjoying some bonding time, you'll be able to enjoy these keepsakes for years to come.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Ask them to organise a Christmas quiz </b>for after dinner. Get them to come up with a list of questions (and answers) and ask them to host the quiz. Perhaps you could make this a family affair with each person coming up with a different round.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Take time out to enjoy a pre-Christmas pamper</b>. Book an appointment at the hairdresser or barber shop. Visit a nail salon and get some festive nails. Or spend an evening with face-masks and home spa treatments.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Make a year in review slide show</b>. Ask your teen to go through all the photos you've taken this year and create a year in review slide show that you can watch over the festive period.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Create a hot chocolate station</b>. Provide jars, toppings, labels, mugs and a tray and get your teens to make a hot chocolate station so you can enjoy delicious hot drinks over the Christmas period.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Put them in charge of the Elf.</b> If you have younger children, your teens will love being given the responsibility of sharing the magic of Christmas by coming up with novel ideas for your elf.</span></li></ol><div><span style="font-size: medium;">While Christmas traditions might evolve as your children get older, there are still plenty of opportunities to keep the festive spirit alive.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">What Christmas activities have you planned for your teens?</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><p></p>Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-11571331753241261552023-01-06T20:26:00.002+00:002023-01-06T20:26:46.783+00:00Gift Inspiration - this year's hits<h3 style="text-align: left;">Finding the perfect present - this year's most loved gifts we use again and again</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8X6Tdqdt8UnwkC4DEXphzHFK78HtjvyVXUHHdNJlHPrEKS8Ld1wI6v7knAFhvSMrR3DUHmBNoM6PNNUP3YDbooDPecUm4Fw8_WK-WZG4tA3HGDY1wnfGx3tm7z4ROtVBCxemcMCiecJKj1jj5gYIGeqbmnp1zZI0sl2nwFRBf7YUUVsKV9Yo11bSKA/s1500/Gift%20Ideas.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8X6Tdqdt8UnwkC4DEXphzHFK78HtjvyVXUHHdNJlHPrEKS8Ld1wI6v7knAFhvSMrR3DUHmBNoM6PNNUP3YDbooDPecUm4Fw8_WK-WZG4tA3HGDY1wnfGx3tm7z4ROtVBCxemcMCiecJKj1jj5gYIGeqbmnp1zZI0sl2nwFRBf7YUUVsKV9Yo11bSKA/s320/Gift%20Ideas.png" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div>Sometimes the perfect presents are not the ones that were asked for or the ones you think they'll love. Sometimes the more obscure or not-so-expensive or expected gifts are the ones that are used or played with again and again.</div><p>If you're looking for inspiration for gifts this coming year, it's always useful to know which presents have been successful with others. So here are our tried and tested successful Christmas presents from 2022.</p><p><i>Please note that this post includes affiliate links, which means I may receive a small amount of commission if you purchase something after clicking on the links below.</i></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Scribbal Mini Football</b></h3><p>My seven year old son received this ball from his siblings and he has not stopped playing with it. He spent some time colouring it in with the pens included in the box. And he's been pretty much attached to it ever since. It's a small ball, so perfect for him to take with him wherever he goes. And, as he's always up for a kick around, it's had plenty of use.</p><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=seasidebelle-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B07Y5HXBH3&asins=B07Y5HXBH3&linkId=04fca8e9ee26293af9b4c456a5a43bef&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Canterbury Vaposhield Long Subs Jacket</h3><div>I adore this coat. It's like wearing a sleeping bag. I spend most weekends either on the sidelines watching my four playing football or rugby. Why do most youth pitches seem to be in the wettest and windiest areas of the UK with little or no shelter. And the weather is never kind. If I'm not watching the youngsters tearing around muddy pitches chasing balls of various shapes, then I'm forcing them to watch me play rugby. This coat is perfect for warming me back up after a night rugby training in the cold and wet. And if I'm ever on the subs bench (sadly a very rare occurrence) then this keeps me toasty warm. </div><div><br /></div><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=seasidebelle-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B09J1DQRLQ&asins=B09J1DQRLQ&linkId=8da984f951cddf85291f7ab5dc63a541&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Cornwall Seafari Voucher</h3><div>I got my sister, brother-in-law and secondary school aged nephew and niece vouchers to take a two hour <a href="https://cornwallseafari.co.uk" target="_blank">Seafari</a> near where they live in Cornwall. They can book for a time convenient to them and enjoy a tour spotting marine wildlife along the coast near Fowey. My brother-in-law is notoriously difficult to buy for and teens can be quite picky. But I know the entire family will really enjoy spending time together on this trip. I did a Sea Safari near where I live with my mum and kids a couple of years ago and it was amazing. We learnt so much about the cliffs, history and wildlife near where we live. And the boat ride was fast, furious and a lot of fun. I can't wait to hear about their Seafari later this year.</div><div><br /></div><div>What gifts have been firm favourites with you and your friends and relatives?</div>Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-8119934442501254302019-10-01T22:16:00.003+01:002019-10-01T22:16:44.508+01:00Getting back into blogging - what I've been up to over the past couple of years.It's been a while since I've updated this blog.<br />
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Sorry.<br />
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It's been a manic couple of years and blogging has had to take a back seat while I've focused on myself, my family and my new future as a single mum of four.<br />
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So I've laid low, licked my wounds, knuckled down and got on with building a new life.<br />
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A few things have happened:<br />
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- I took the kids for five days in Barcelona on my own!<br />
- I went to my first music festival with the kids!<br />
- We moved - I bought a bed and breakfast, which I'm running and in the process of doing up!<br />
- We went to Namibia for two weeks to stay with one of my best friends and I managed all four on the epic journey, which involved two flights!<br />
- I finally got the tattoo I've been promising myself!<br />
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It's not all been plain sailing, but just to write those few achievements makes me realise that I've got this.<br />
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The past couple of years have been hard and I've been too raw to blog. But I'm feeling really positive about the future. So I'm getting back in the blogging saddle.<br />
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I am so very grateful for my friends and family for seeing me through the last few years and I'm also very thankful for your patience if you've come across what looks like the Marie Celeste of blogs.<br />
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Here's to plenty more content coming soon...<br />
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For now, here are a couple of pictures of the highlights of the last couple of years.<br />
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<br />Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-48971000028131457392018-07-16T11:11:00.003+01:002018-07-16T11:11:25.590+01:00Football and a walk in Mules Park, Teignmouth.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yesterday, for the first time in a long time, Elliot wanted to go out.<br />
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For the past year or so, unless football has been involved, he's been reluctant to leave the house at all, preferring to play on the PlayStation or watch YouTube videos of other people playing on the PlayStation.<br />
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So I seized the opportunity and let him guide our excursion.<br />
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To be fair, football was still involved. He wanted to go out for a kick around. He said he'd rather play football than watch the World Cup Final on TV. So we headed out. Our usual kick around spot was busy - there was a big motorcycle meet there - so we headed up to Mules Park up on East Cliff.<br />
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We spent a while exploring the lower end of Mules Park, where the ponds have been restored, before emerging up the hill a bit, where we found a flat-ish area of grass to play football.<br />
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We set up a goal, using the buggy and a bag and enjoyed a kick around. Wilf, went in goal and Elliot and I went head to head. The game ended in a draw, so we went into extra time and eventually he beat me on penalties.<br />
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Normally, I would choose to sit out and watch. But because it has been so long since he has been enthused about getting out and about, I opted to get involved in the game and we both had great fun.<br />
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As we wandered back down towards the beach, we stopped at a bench to admire the view and I managed to get a half decent photo of all four of them, which will help me remember the afternoon.<br />
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It just goes to prove that you don't have to spend a lot of money to go out and have fun.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a gorgeous view</td></tr>
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Although, we did end the day with an ice cream stop at the East Cliff cafe. They do Mr Whippy with flakes and flavoured sauce and they also serve up some delicious scoop ice cream - Wilf, Ossie and Bea had the chocolate, which was delicious.Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-29706619221469282172018-05-20T07:35:00.001+01:002018-05-20T07:35:06.993+01:00#MySundayPhoto - trying the dress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Beatrix is preparing to receive her First Holy Communion next month. And this week she tried on her outfit ahead of the big day. I love the massive grin she has in this photo - you can tell how excited she is about this milestone in her life as a Catholic.<br />
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She’s been preparing to receive the Sacrament of her First Holy Communion for several months: learning all about what it means to receive Jesus into her heart; understanding the importance of forgiveness; and finding out about special meals like the Last Supper.<br />
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And recently we’ve been preparing what she’ll wear on the big day. Much like baptisms and weddings, white is a key colour as it symbolises purity.<br />
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Often people comment that First Communicants (that’s what the group receiving their first Holy Communion is called) look like brides and bridegrooms. This is because these children are giving themselves to Christ through the Sacrament of Holy Communion, much like a bride or groom gives themselves to their partner in the Sacrament of Marriage.<br />
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The white dress reminds us of the first Sacrament, Baptism, and the veil is an added symbol of respect and humility.<br />
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Beatrix will be wearing the dress I wore for my First Holy Communion (a long time ago!), which was also worn by my sisters and cousin. My mother made it from her wedding dress, so it has a real family heritage and is turning into a bit of an heirloom.<br />
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She was also keen to have a veil and tiara, so we spent an evening perusing the internet to find something we both agreed on. I was keen to have a veil with a cross in, but she was more interested in the bling so we compromised on a veil and tiara with tiny crystal droplets from <a href="https://www.firstholycommunionday.co.uk/" target="_blank">Communion Angels</a>. After all, the dress has a simple ribbon cross sewn into the belt and she will be wearing a simple necklace with a crucifix.<br />
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Now I need to work out what the boys and I will be wearing!<br />
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<a href="http://photalife.com/my-sunday-photo/" target="_blank" title="Photalife"><img alt="Photalife" src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/54d395d0e4b0aec4d9394b39/5523e854e4b038bf5fa4c6fc/5523e864e4b038bf5fa4d796/1428422767784/Sundaylge-e1396359989177.png?format=300w" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
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<i>I have received no compensation from any companies named in this post and all opinions and thoughts expressed are my own.</i>Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-57625335373746913292018-05-14T12:37:00.002+01:002018-05-14T12:37:30.270+01:00What is Netta's 'Toy' teaching my sons about feminism?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-NdLXo4HpNK1QgNW431wEaKYp62Tcro1uthuJe530FwFwOQJVjQmWmOWwQ22gXNM-7cNBXY6g8zYQ89ZjOpiLQu-wA6TvUMrOn0DLdw90jbZJspo79LqDbXiADqVbIjhRarG6dK6iFiN/s1600/chicken-306110_640.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="521" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-NdLXo4HpNK1QgNW431wEaKYp62Tcro1uthuJe530FwFwOQJVjQmWmOWwQ22gXNM-7cNBXY6g8zYQ89ZjOpiLQu-wA6TvUMrOn0DLdw90jbZJspo79LqDbXiADqVbIjhRarG6dK6iFiN/s320/chicken-306110_640.png" width="260" /></a></div>
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"Boys aren't stupid."<br />
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That was the reaction of my ten year old son on hearing the winning song of the <a href="https://eurovision.tv/event/lisbon-2018" target="_blank">Eurovision Song Contest 2018</a>.<br />
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He was less than impressed with Israel's entry <a href="https://youtu.be/CziHrYYSyPc" target="_blank">"Toy" by Netta</a>. And his comments got me thinking.<br />
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On winning Eurovision, Netta, who performed 'Toy' thanked voters for "choosing difference and celebrating diversity".<br />
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But really? Is a song that derides males actually celebrating diversity? My ten year old son doesn't think so and I think I agree with him.<br />
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I consider myself a feminist. I believe in gender equality. And I think there's still a lot of work to be done to achieve this: there's still a massive pay gap; there are still a lot of stereotypes in the media; there's still a glass ceiling.<br />
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As the mother of three boys and a girl, I'm trying to bring my children up to respect others, no matter what their gender/race/religion/orientation/size...<br />
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I want my children to treat others with kindness, compassion and fairness.<br />
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And I get that Netta does not necessarily fit the mould of your typical female pop star. I also understand that "Toy" is about calling out blokes who treat women badly. But to tar all males with the same brush "you stupid boy" isn't helping teach my son and other young men out there that we should not call insult each other or call each other names. It's not teaching respect. It's not teaching kindness. It's not teaching compassion. And it's not doing much to improve his self-esteem.<br />
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While some may believe that "Toy" is all about empowerment, I'm not sure empowerment should be at the expense of disempowering others. Because that's not equality.<br />
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What do you think?<br />
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Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-26168980514267724492018-04-24T17:23:00.001+01:002018-04-24T17:23:42.933+01:00A weekend of rejuvenation at the Flea RetreatDo you ever wish that time would stand still just so you can catch up?<br />
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For me, the last few years have been a complete blur of just trying to keep on top of everything. Trying to do enough laundry to prevent the dirty clothes spilling out of the washing basket and not panic about whether the kids had clean school uniform on a Monday morning. Struggling to get a handle on everything on my to-do list. Dealing with the never-ending stream of washing-up.<br />
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A few months ago I decided I'd had enough. I kept wishing that life had a pause button so I could get everything done and get back on top of things instead of just fire-fighting all the time.<br />
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I needed a break. So I started looking for a weekend retreat. Somewhere quiet and away from it all. Somewhere I could push the reset button and start afresh.<br />
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I wasn't looking for a hippy, vegan, tantric yoga type thing that cost the earth. I just wanted a basic weekend to myself so I could refill my cup. And then I spotted the <a href="https://flearetreat.co.uk/" target="_blank">Flea Retreat</a> for bloggers, which was organised by Sally Whittle of <a href="https://www.whosthemummy.co.uk/" target="_blank">Who's The Mummy</a> and <a href="https://www.tots100.co.uk/" target="_blank">Tots 100</a>. Not just a weekend of navel-gazing out in the sticks, but somewhere I could take part in workshops, learn something new and just have a bit of time to myself.<br />
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A couple of weeks before the event I had a nose at who else might be going. I wondered if I might know anyone. And I panicked. I recognised a lot of the big names in blogging. Award-winning bloggers. Professional bloggers. I'm just a hobbyist (for the moment - who knows what the future might hold). I started to worry that I'd be seen as a fraud. I was gripped by imposter syndrome. Why would any of these people want to talk to me? Would they wonder what the hell I was doing at their blogging retreat?<br />
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So it was with some trepidation that I drove up to Croydon Hall in Somerset for the weekend. Put at ease only because I knew one other person - fellow Devon Blogger <a href="http://www.flipflopsorwellies.co.uk/" target="_blank">Claire</a>.<br />
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I needn't have worried at all. The weekend was all that I wanted and more. I tried yoga for the first time. Thanks <a href="https://www.rachelsmithboneyoga.co.uk/" target="_blank">Rachel</a> for popping my yoga cherry!<br />
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I took part in creative writing workshops run by <a href="https://www.familyadventureproject.org/" target="_blank">Kirstie Pelling from The Family Adventure Project</a> where we were encouraged to stop and notice the minutiae of life, simply letting the words flow onto paper. I remembered the wise words my mother-in-law imparted on the morning of my wedding: "make sure you stop for a few moments to drink in the sights, sounds, smells and atmosphere of the day and commit them to memory because it will pass by in a blur". And that's what the creative writing sessions did; we stopped and noticed what was around us - the sights, sounds and smells of our surroundings. It really was a great way of stopping and allowing our creativity to flow.<br />
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I got to grips with my camera as I wandered around the stunning grounds of Croydon Hall during the Golden Hour photography session with <a href="http://tomarber.co.uk/" target="_blank">Tom Arber</a>. Stopping to notice flowers and really taking the time to experiment with the different settings on my camera - something I've never really had the opportunity to do before.<br />
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Here are a couple of the pictures I took. For some reason I was very drawn to the spring flowers!<br />
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I learnt about gaining the confidence to really shine on film with Darren and Shaun from <a href="http://www.aspirepresenting.com/" target="_blank">Aspire</a> in probably the funniest session of the weekend. Although it was nerve-wracking to stand up and say a piece to the camera in front of everyone else in the workshop. But I've definitely grown in confidence I'm now tempted to revisit my YouTube Channel.<br />
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I tried paddle-boarding for the first time and had a really enjoyable kayak session in Porlock Weir with <a href="http://www.exmooradventures.co.uk/" target="_blank">Exmoor Adventures</a> as I got to grips with using a GoPro while trying to keep my balance on the water. Somehow I managed to escape falling in although there were a couple of close calls where I clung precariously to the paddle board. It did turn out to be a lot sunnier than this picture suggests!<br />
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But best of all, I met some really inspiring people, who have had the courage and tenacity to grab hold of their dreams and make them a reality. They showed me that it's possible to overcome your fears and take life by the horns to be whoever you want to be. Stories were shared about overcoming crippling shyness, of being unafraid to ask for what you want - because if you don't ask, you don't get. There was a real sense of friendliness. It was a weekend of sharing knowledge. A time to simply enjoy each others' company and the stunning surroundings. We all gained an appetite to learn more - about yourself and others and to develop new skills. There was also a lot of laughter (especially after a few glasses of wine in the evening) and a huge feeling of mutual support.<br />
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The final session underlined this spirit of the weekend and we wrote positive words about our fellow blogging retreat friends. Here's what was said about me: cheerful; funny; hysterical.<br />
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I was looking for a weekend of rejuvenation and that's what I got as well as the opportunity to learn and make new friends.<br />
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I've returned inspired, happier and more self-assured. And even though my week didn't start very well - the car broke down just as I was trying to get the kids to school - it hasn't affected my outlook or mood. I mean, at least it didn't break down on the way to the retreat or on my way to Elliot's cup final football match on Sunday afternoon. The spirit of the Flea Retreat just keeps on giving.<br />
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After spending many months struggling to see past the mountain of tasks in front of me and struggling with the massive curveball that ended my marriage, I'm feeling lighter, happier and more confident that I can make the most of whatever life throws at me. Instead of focusing on endings and on what might have been, I'm now focused on the future and fulfilling my potential, seeking new opportunities and embracing them so I really can be the best version of myself.<br />
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A massive thanks to Sally and the team for putting together the Flea Retreat and for all who attended for making me feel so welcome and inspired.<br />
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I really am very optimistic about the future now.Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-91615354477288053532018-04-10T18:29:00.000+01:002018-04-10T18:29:08.529+01:00A birthday trip to Pennywell Farm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When my 7 year old daughter suggested we take Ossie to <a href="https://www.pennywellfarm.co.uk/" target="_blank">Pennywell Farm</a> for his third birthday I knew it would make the perfect day out.<br />
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There are animals to cuddle, shows to see and lots of play areas. However, I was a little worried that there might not be much to entertain older children.<br />
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Would my 10 year old son and 11 year old nephew seriously be interested in spending a day on the farm?<br />
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Well, actually, yes - there was plenty to keep them occupied too and they loved it!<br />
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We awoke on the big day to find that, yet again, it was raining. But never one to be defeated at the first hurdle, I bundled everyone into waterproofs and wellies and reassured myself that the weather forecast app on my phone really had forecast that the rain would stop by 10am (it didn't stop until nearer 1pm, but it was drizzle rather than proper rain so our spirits weren't too dampened).<br />
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Upon arrival at Pennywell Farm, the children were given name stickers with their ages on as we queued to pay. And because it was Ossie's birthday, he was given a special rosette, which meant that he got to go first on some of the activities. I was slightly saddened that with my baby turning three, I now had to pay for all four children (no more free entry for the youngest). However, for once I had planned ahead and I had cut out tokens from the local newspaper to bag myself one free child entry.<br />
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One of my favourite things about a day at Pennywell Farm is that there are plenty of hands-on activities throughout the day. Even if you don't check the activity timetable in the main farmyard, there are announcements to let you know what's happening next. We didn't arrive in time to catch the egg collecting from the hens or the goat milking, but we were able to join in with the bottle-feeding the goat kids and lambs, which the children absolutely loved.<br />
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We didn't do the pond dipping; partly because I was convinced one of my four would fall in and partly because the older children wanted to play on the assault course and the younger two were desperate for a snack stop.<br />
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Once appetites had been sated, we had a ride on the little Rainbow Railway and managed to get round the Willow Maze without getting lost. Before getting through a bit more of our picnic and heading to the Pennywell Theatre to sing animal songs with Poco Drom - even the adults were encouraged to join in the actions and the older boys definitely got into the spirit of singing and dancing.<br />
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At each activity - the children can collect a stamp and if they fill their card, they qualify for a free child return visit (with a paying adult).<br />
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In between the planned activities there is plenty of time to cuddle the animals - grandma got particularly attached to a goat kid, ride the Red Rocket, have a go on the ride-on toys, jump on the trampolines, play mini-golf and enjoy the bouncy castle in the indoor play barn.<br />
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Despite spending nearly all day at Pennywell Farm, we still didn't manage to fit everything in. So we'll have to revisit to try out the Run Rabbit Ride and the Tractor and Trailer Rides.<br />
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Pennywell Farm is big enough for a full day out but small enough to allow older children to play independently on things like the assault course or the trampolines while you stay with smaller children on things like the ride-on tractors. This meant that nobody was bored as there was always something to see and do.<br />
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<br />Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-80303136381954571772018-04-06T11:48:00.004+01:002018-04-06T12:15:16.805+01:00Four birthday present ideas for a three year old<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>This post contains affiliate links.</i><br />
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Ossie turns three tomorrow!<br />
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I used to find three year olds really easy to buy for. It's that magic age where all the toys that are not suitable for children under 36 months suddenly become accessible. But, as the youngest of four with two older brothers, coming up with ideas for birthday presents for this young man is far from easy. His toy box is overflowing, we could probably open a library with the number of children's books we have and his wardrobe is bursting at the seams with perfectly good hand-me-downs.<br />
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But I've had my thinking cap on since pretty much Christmas and here are some of the ideas I've come up with.<br />
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We're not getting him everything listed below. But I thought I'd include the entire list as you might just be inspired for the nearly-three year old in your life.<br />
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1. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B06XJ6G82D/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B06XJ6G82D&linkCode=as2&tag=seasid0d-21&linkId=2807ee6edbfd46deb6ecba259f151aef%22%3EPaw%20Patrol%206037846%20%22Sea%20Patroller%22%20Playset%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=seasid0d-21&l=am2&o=2&a=B06XJ6G82D%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paw Patrol Sea Patroller</a></h3>
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B06XJ6G82D/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B06XJ6G82D&linkCode=as2&tag=seasid0d-21&linkId=7dc2d59e974c722b1eab45f9ba65eb41" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=GB&ASIN=B06XJ6G82D&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=seasid0d-21" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=seasid0d-21&l=am2&o=2&a=B06XJ6G82D" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
Ossie loves Paw Patrol and he already has the Lookout Set and the Deluxe Lorry, which he plays with a lot. So when I saw this Sea Patroller, I knew it would be something he is likely to play with. Unlike Fireman Sam and Thomas, Paw Patrol hasn't been around for so long, so these are character toys we didn't already have. The Sea Patroller is probably a bit pricey, but as I'm confident he'll play with it a lot, I'm happy to invest as I know he'll get a lot of pleasure from it.<br />
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<b>2. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01BP3FU6O/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B01BP3FU6O&linkCode=as2&tag=seasid0d-21&linkId=bee223ea07ff231781476bde4385f46c%22%3EPaw%20Patrol%20The%20Canine%20Patrol&nbsp;%E2%80%93&nbsp;Bottle%20Water%20Bottle%20Aluminium%20400&nbsp;ml%20(Stor%2080735)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=seasid0d-21&l=am2&o=2&a=B01BP3FU6O%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paw Patrol Aluminium Water Bottle</a></b></h3>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01BP3FU6O/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B01BP3FU6O&linkCode=as2&tag=seasid0d-21&linkId=a8d5260bdc5cbf64c48e131f8aec5631" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=GB&ASIN=B01BP3FU6O&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=seasid0d-21" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=seasid0d-21&l=am2&o=2&a=B01BP3FU6O" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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With four children, buying drinks when we're out and about can be a pretty expensive business. So I always try and take bottles out with us. Plus, it's better for the environment. Ossie has now outgrown his toddler beakers, so this aluminium water bottle is perfect for trips out and about.<br />
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<b>3. <a href="https://org.usbornebooksathome.co.uk/thebookbasket/catalogue/catalogue.aspx?cat=1&area=EY&subcat=BBN&id=6721" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Noisy Bottoms Book</a></b></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSNq57H9ERpI7n84eHFnlnTAI_2iQKc5R2VgLpcqepQtE1lMEmgn5dVO0dNkFoMwPrzHbWTsl5ZHKrLmQnzL9UyX0EaT7Tc9vmiYDmegk9udZ9l-JX2M8Ny0ycoINnWbei9fFdafCtqSu/s1600/9781409551430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSNq57H9ERpI7n84eHFnlnTAI_2iQKc5R2VgLpcqepQtE1lMEmgn5dVO0dNkFoMwPrzHbWTsl5ZHKrLmQnzL9UyX0EaT7Tc9vmiYDmegk9udZ9l-JX2M8Ny0ycoINnWbei9fFdafCtqSu/s1600/9781409551430.jpg" /></a></div>
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Yes, I know I said we already had lots of books, but Ossie loves books and story time and he thinks that bottom burps are hilarious, so I know he'll love this book. Plus, I bought it from a local mum who is an independent Usborne Organiser and runs <a href="https://org.usbornebooksathome.co.uk/thebookbasket/" target="_blank">The Book Basket</a>, which means I'm putting something back into the local economy. Check out her website or look her up on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/bookbasketdevon" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.<br />
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4. <b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/489583842/supersoft-personalised-fleece-throw?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=personalised%20blanket&ref=sr_gallery-1-16" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Personalised Blanket</a></b></h3>
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Elliot, my eldest, was given a beautiful personalised blanket for his baptism and, ten years later, he still loves to snuggle up with it. So when I saw this personalised blanket by <a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=6091&awinaffid=281511&clickref=&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Fuk%2Flisting%2F489583842%2Fsupersoft-personalised-fleece-throw%3Fga_order%3Dmost_relevant%26ga_search_type%3Dall%26ga_view_type%3Dgallery%26ga_search_query%3Dpersonalised%2520blanket%26ref%3Dsr_gallery-1-16" target="_new">Oh Sew Happy on Etsy UK</a>, I knew it would be the perfect birthday gift for Ossie. He loves snuggling up with a blanket; whether on the sofa, in the car on a long journey, or making a fort or den under the kitchen table. This is a gift that will just keep giving. The blanket is super soft and fleecy and the name stitched on makes it extra special for Ossie.<br />
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Do you have any go-to gift ideas for the children in your life?Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-48485687956747499122018-03-23T12:22:00.001+00:002018-03-23T12:22:43.067+00:00Quick And Easy Supper: Beef and Harissa Flatbreads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love trying new recipes, so when I saw this beef and harissa flatbread in the Waitrose Weekend magazine I was keen to give it a go.<br />
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With only four ingredients, it makes for a quick and easy supper dish. And while I thoroughly enjoyed it, unfortunately, it didn't go down quite so well with the four small ones.<br />
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Ingredients:</h4>
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<ul>
<li>200 grams of self-raising flour</li>
<li>350 grams natural yoghurt</li>
<li>20 beef meatballs</li>
<li>4 tablespoons harissa paste</li>
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Method:</h4>
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<li>Mix 200 grams of self-raising flour and 200g of natural yoghurt into a bowl and knead to form a dough.</li>
<li>Set the dough to one side and marinade the beef meatballs in 2 tablespoons of harissa paste.</li>
<li>Thread the meatballs onto metal skewers (I used pre-soaked wooden skewers as I didn't have any metal skewers).</li>
<li>Grill the meatball skewers for 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally until they are cooked through.</li>
<li>Meanwhile, divide the dough into four balls and flatten into discs on a well-floured surface.</li>
<li>Fry the dough discs for one minute each side until they are browned and puffed up.</li>
<li>Spread the flat breads with a couple of tablespoons of natural yoghurt, dot each with a teaspoon of harissa paste and then place the meatball skewers on top.</li>
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<h4>
Verdict:</h4>
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This was a delicious light supper, which I wolfed down very quickly. The hot spice of the harissa paste is beautifully offset by the natural yoghurt and the freshness of the flatbread makes a really good base.</div>
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Elliot, my ten year old, who is normally very cautious of new foods, thoroughly enjoyed the slightly exotic taste. However, the younger three were not so keen. As far as they are concerned, yoghurt should be strawberry flavoured and be served at breakfast. So they just ate the bits of flat bread that hadn't been touched by the yoghurt. Wilf, who is five, eventually relented and, once he got stuck in, enjoyed the meatballs.</div>
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I'd love to make this a regular supper for the family. But it looks like it will be something I serve as a quick and easy adult meal.</div>
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Why don't you try the recipe and let me know what you think?</div>
Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-60498821531049136222018-03-05T13:45:00.001+00:002018-03-05T13:45:03.942+00:00Becoming a single mum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been a bit quiet on the blogging over the past few weeks as I've been coming to terms with a major life change.<br />
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My marriage of 13 years is over.<br />
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Separation and divorce are things I never dreamt would happen to us. I honestly believed when I made my marriage vows that we were committed to a lifetime together. But you can never predict the future and I am 100% sure that splitting up is the right decision for us.<br />
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So I am now getting used to being a single mum of four and the children are adjusting to a life where mum and dad live separately.<br />
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I won't lie - it's been hard and I have no doubt that the coming months are going to be tough for everyone involved.<br />
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There's a lot I could write about what happened, how it happened and how we're all managing. But I am being very careful to consider the feelings of everyone involved and I don't think it would be appropriate to share that information on a public platform. So I'm just going to leave it at that for now.<br />
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Apologies for the radio silence and please bear with me while I get my life back on track.Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-43082485899538123092018-01-23T07:30:00.000+00:002018-04-24T18:48:48.187+01:00How to celebrate Chinese New Year 2018 in Devon<a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/18347185/?claim=77dek4tct5z">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>
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This year, the Chinese New Year falls in half-term, which means there are plenty of opportunities to celebrate with the kids.<br />
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Chinese New Year officially starts on Friday February 16th 2018 when the Year of the Dog commences. The dog is the 11th Chinese Zodiac sign. There are actually five types of dog: wood, fire, earth, gold and water. 2018 is the year of the Earth Dog. People born under the earth dog sign are believed to be communicative, serious and responsible in work.<br />
<h3>
Where to celebrate Chinese New Year 2018 in Devon</h3>
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Chinese New Year Craft at Dartmouth Library</h4>
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Thursday 15th February 2018</div>
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10:00am-11:30am</div>
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Make lanterns, dancing dragons and dog puppets at this drop-in craft session. There's also a treasure hunt at the library throughout the half-term week where you can find out more about what each animal in the Chinese Zodiac means. For more information, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dartmouthlibrary/?hc_ref=ARRd7hFj2yJMeIwV0OqgNRnwfTylooMGKIqei3MwHTZwiGu06v6R-XE2VA0N1O-WUv4&fref=nf" target="_blank">click here</a>.</div>
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Chinese New Year Trail around the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter</h4>
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Saturday 17th February - Friday 16th March 2018</div>
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10:00am-5:00pm</div>
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FREE</div>
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Collect a trail sheet from the reception desk and explore the museum to find Chinese and Chinese-inspired objects including a dazzling hairpin made of kingfisher feathers and an Irish silver tea set. For more information, <a href="http://www.devonmuseums.net/Chinese-New-Year-Trail-around-RAMM/Events/" target="_blank">click here</a>.</div>
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University of Exeter </h4>
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Sunday 4th March 2018</div>
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1:30pm-6:30pm</div>
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FREE</div>
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The University of Exeter Chinese New Year celebrations are hugely popular events, organised by Chinese Student Scholars Association. The event kicks off in the city centre at 1:00pm with traditional lion and dragon dancing starting at Buffet City and continuing through Cathedral Green, Bedford Square, the High Street and Gandy Street. Celebrations then continue on the University campus from 3:00pm with more traditional lion and dragon dancing on the Great Hall Piazza. Indoors, there are lots of activities including a Chinese market, food, martial arts demonstrations and performances in the University Forum before a fireworks display, which can be viewed from the XFI building at 6:30pm. For more information, <a href="http://www.exeter.ac.uk/internationalstudents/eventsoncampus/chinesenewyear/" target="_blank">click here</a>.</div>
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How will you be celebrating the Chinese New Year?</div>
Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-2758509611777563912018-01-22T11:34:00.000+00:002018-01-22T11:36:34.173+00:00Living Arrows - Playing With CarsI'm taking part in the Living Arrows linky, hosted by What The Redhead Said for the first time this week.<br>
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Living Arrows is about celebrating childhood. The project originally took it’s name from a poem by Kahlil Gibran, “You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth” and every Monday bloggers share a moment from their week and invite others to do the same.<br>
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This is a picture of Ossie, my youngest, taken yesterday.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TuT02lDkBQ3f_ukocPX80FSSYp6QuYvxTTKnQwmvedKdNnqHT_6-2vjD7XxGyeXztOkcdp5qM0TdMuOPjzRG1ZTIlnvYSu5NWFPlPgj_3EkZie6tf47PPkZ0NU8gbuX-B4I9L_uTTa_W/s640/blogger-image-355835118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TuT02lDkBQ3f_ukocPX80FSSYp6QuYvxTTKnQwmvedKdNnqHT_6-2vjD7XxGyeXztOkcdp5qM0TdMuOPjzRG1ZTIlnvYSu5NWFPlPgj_3EkZie6tf47PPkZ0NU8gbuX-B4I9L_uTTa_W/s640/blogger-image-355835118.jpg"></a></div><br>
Ossie absolutely loves playing with his toy cars. If we've been out, the first thing he'll do when he gets home is ask to play with his cars. He spends hours driving them around, with plenty of sound effects, and arranging them. It's lovely to see his imagination blossoming as he chatters away as he plays.<br>
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Over the years we seem to have amassed boxes full of toy cars, many belonged to my husband, so they're certainly getting good use.<br>
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As you can see in the photos, his hair is getting quite long now and he's well overdue a haircut. But he looks so cute with it longer and it really shows off his big eyes, so I'm tempted to just give it a little trim and keep as much of the length as I can. What do you think?<br>
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</div>Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-61162581265224961002018-01-12T13:12:00.004+00:002018-01-19T12:11:15.070+00:00Our 2018 Bucket ListJanuary can be a pretty bleak month, but as the year opens up before us, it's the perfect time to plan lots of exciting things to see and do over the coming months.<br />
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While New Year's Resolutions are all about changing habits and making lifestyle improvements, a bucket list is all about coming up with plans to make the most of what 2018 has to offer.<br />
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Here's what we hope to get up to over the coming 12 months.</div>
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1. Go to Cadbury World</h4>
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Beatrix is learning all about chocolate for her topic this term, so it's a perfect excuse for a half-term trip to Birmingham to <a href="https://www.cadburyworld.co.uk/en" target="_blank">Cadbury World</a> where we can learn all about how chocolate is made. Educational, yummy and, hopefully, the perfect excuse to catch up with friends in the area.</div>
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2. Visit The Making of Harry Potter</h4>
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Elliot is a big fan of Harry Potter and I'd love to take him to <a href="https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Making of Harry Potter WB Studio Tour</a>. It's a bit of a trek for us, but it's not too far from friends or my Grandad, so we could make a mini holiday of it. Tickets sell well in advance, so it's likely to be something we do towards the end of the year in October half-term.</div>
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3. Go on an aeroplane</h4>
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My younger two have never been on an aeroplane and it's been a few years since the older two have flown. However, we have booked flights in the summer holidays to visit my cousin and her family in the south of France. I just need to remember to ensure everyone still has a valid passport!</div>
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4. Go to a festival</h4>
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This has been on my bucket list since my teens and I have never managed to do it. So this is the year! As it will be our first festival experience, I'm hoping to find something fairly local and small with lots of things for the children to do. </div>
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5. Get a dog</h4>
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We've been talking about getting a dog for a few years now, but the time has never been right. Once little Ossie starts to sleep through, I will hopefully have a bit more energy so will be able to commit to caring for a dog. Plus, Elliot is nearly old enough to be able to take a dog on short walks now. We're keen to get a collie-type breed, which will need lots of exercise and stimulation. Hopefully, this will be the year where we can free up enough time to care for a furry companion.</div>
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6. Go on a retreat</h4>
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Over the past year I've recognised that with the build up of sleep deprivation and trying to do too much, my cup really is very empty and I've been looking at getting away from it all for a bit of self-care. A retreat away for a weekend really seemed to fit the bill, but I wanted something that would not only give me an opportunity to get away from everything for a couple of days but that would energise me too. Oh, and price was also a big consideration. Just before Christmas I found something that looks to fit the bill. The <a href="https://flearetreat.co.uk/" target="_blank">Flea Retreat</a> is a blogging retreat organised by Flea Enterprises. It's just over the border in Somerset and will enable me to connect with like-minded people, help me think about where I want to go with this blog and I'll learn new skills in the many workshops available. I can't wait.<br />
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7. Go wild camping with Elliot</h4>
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I used to love going walking and camping up on Dartmoor and I really want to share that passion with Elliot. With three younger siblings, I often feel guilty that Elliot misses out on older child type activities because the little ones aren't quite big enough to join in. So I'd really like to do something for him. We'll sit together to plan our route and chat about safety. Then I'll show him how to use a compass and map read as we navigate across the moors looking for letterboxes before setting up camp in the middle of the moor. Hopefully, it will be the perfect opportunity to reconnect as we stargaze before settling down for the night.</div>
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8. Potty train Ossie</h4>
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My youngest baby turns three this year, so potty training is almost definitely going to happen in the next few months. My older boys were a couple of months shy of their third birthday when it happened and Ossie is definitely showing an interest so it won't be long. I'll be sad to say farewell to my beloved cloth nappies and the last vestiges of babyhood, but also excited to see my youngest develop into a little boy.<br />
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9. Get a tattoo</h4>
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I've wanted a tattoo since I was about 20, but I've never been brave enough. I'm not good with needles and I've always been nervous about getting something so permanent, so I've wanted to be sure I've chosen a design that will always be meaningful. For a long time I wanted a bar code on my bum with my date of birth and 'Made in England'. But I've never gone for it because I've always wanted to make sure that the lines actually match up with the numbers or text. More recently, I've been considering a tattoo that represents my breastfeeding journey along with the names and dates of birth of my four babies. I've seen a couple of designs that I really like and could easily adapt. Now I just need to decide where to have it done!</div>
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What's on your bucket list for 2018?</div>
Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-27723601490053612622018-01-09T10:47:00.000+00:002018-01-19T12:55:55.792+00:00A trip to the Minor Injuries UnitBeatrix has lost a lot of her milk teeth in the past few weeks. She already has two adult teeth on the bottom and has recently lost another bottom tooth and three along the top. All except a stubborn milk tooth that remains in the middle at the top.<br />
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All that changed last on Friday afternoon.<br />
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We were just preparing for our first weekend of 2018, enjoying a cosy afternoon after school away from the wet and dark outside when I heard the scream.<br />
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Beatrix came running through to the kitchen with her hands covering her mouth. When I eventually persuaded her to move them so I could see what had happened I saw the blood dripping down her arms.<br />
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Now I didn't think I'd be any good in an emergency, but I surprised myself with how calm I was. I grabbed some kitchen roll to mop up and managed to get a look to see where the injury was. Inside Bea's mouth her one remaining top front milk tooth was hanging by a thread.<br />
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She'd clashed heads with her brother and her mouth had taken the brunt of the impact.<br />
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I considered calling the dentist, but at twenty to five on a Friday afternoon, I figured I'd have more luck at the minor injuries unit, so I bundled her into the car and off we went.<br />
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I love our local minor injuries unit! At a time of year when doctors surgeries are overrun with seasonal ailments and A&E departments are heaving, the MIU is an oasis of calm. I'm not sure why more people don't use this amazing resource.<br />
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We got there and it was empty so we were seen straight away. From reception through to seeing the doctor, the staff immediately reassured Beatrix and put her at ease. The doctor dosed Bea up with Calpol and, as he stemmed the flow of blood, he presented her with her tooth. We had a quick chat about head injuries and he suggested her mouth might be sore and bruised for a couple of weeks. But we were back home within an hour.<br />
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By Saturday morning, thanks to a particularly generous tooth fairy, Bea was back in fine spirits and we headed off for a girly shopping day so she could spend her small fortune.</div>
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Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-61757690294610982532018-01-08T13:34:00.002+00:002018-01-08T14:00:45.934+00:00New Year's Resolutions 2018Now that I have finally got my head around the fact that we are now in 2018 it's time to plan for the next twelve months and sort my goals out.<br />
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I always write my New Year's Resolutions in the first week of January. Christmas is always too hectic to focus and I hate the pressure of trying to make major life changes in the post festive hangover period. So I like to wait until after I've <a href="http://www.seasidebelle.com/2018/01/christmas-isnt-over-until6th-january.html" target="_blank">taken my Christmas decorations down</a> before committing to my plans for the new year.</div>
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Like many people, I usually fail to stick to my New Year's resolutions because I don't plan them out properly or they're unachievable. This year is going to be different. Instead of just writing a wish list and then hoping they happen, I've actually taken a bit more time to work out how I'm going to achieve my plans and how I'm going to track my progress.</div>
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I had a bit of a wobbly year in 2017, so my focus in 2018 is on creating manageable habits that will help me be more organised and live a more physically and mentally healthy lifestyle.</div>
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As well as a resolution list, I'm also creating a 2018 bucket list with things I'd like to do with the family. </div>
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So here are my 2018 New Year's Resolutions</h3>
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1. Get on top of personal finance and budgeting. </h4>
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I've always been a bit lazy about financial management, but last year I learnt that if I want to make savings so we get more from our money, then I need to know what we've got and where savings can be made. I'm starting off by tracking everything that comes in and out. Once I've got a clearer picture, I intend to work out where we can make savings to make our money go further. I've looked into lots of apps and online budgeting systems, but for the moment, I'm going for a simple Excel spreadsheet. </div>
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2. Get fitter.</h4>
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Last year, my fitness plans got scuppered by injury, which resulted in an operation in September. So I'm pretty much starting from scratch again. I reckon exercising at least three times a week is a pretty achievable goal, mixing gym sessions and classes with running, swimming and getting back to rugby again.</div>
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3. Eat at least five portions of fruit and veg each day. </h4>
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I was going to just put eat more healthily, but realised it's not so easy to track progress for that. So I've gone for the recommended minimum daily fruit and veg intake as I can more easily measure that. It also means that when that becomes an ingrained habit, I can up my game a bit and aim for more.</div>
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4. Drink at least eight glasses of water per day.</h4>
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This is another habit I always mean to do but never seem to manage, but this year I'm going to try and nail this drinking water habit. I've got a handy little tracker on my FitBit app, which will make is easy to measure.</div>
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5. Create and stick to a weekly meal plan.</h4>
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I must waste hours every week wondering what to cook for dinner each day. So this year I'm going to plan our meals so I can use that time more productively. I've started to create a master list of meal ideas on Pinterest and I'm using Trello to plan out a weekly meal planner. So all I need to do each week is transfer the week's meals into my diary and plan my food shop around the meals, which will hopefully save time and money.</div>
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6. Get some more sleep.</h4>
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Sleep deprivation has really impacted my life over the last few years. But I don't help matters because when I get the chance to have an early night and catch up on some much needed zs, I instead decide to use that time to catch up on housework or mess around on social media. While I can't control when my youngest might wake up through the night, I can control making sure I catch up on my sleep, which will hopefully make me a bit more cheerful and productive. So I'm aiming to get to bed by 10:30pm every night and I'm going to try and get up at 7am. And if I have a really bad night, I'm going to try and have a late morning nap so I don't impact on the next night of sleep. My FitBit can track sleep, so I'll be able to see if this new regime makes any difference as to the amount of sleep I actually get.</div>
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7. Write a daily gratitude journal.</h4>
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This one is aimed at keeping a positive mindset and I'll be posting my weekly gratitude list on this blog every Friday. I used to be a huge optimist, but in recent years I've noticed myself focusing more on the negative side of life - I blame the sleep deprivation. So I'm going to spend 2018 focusing on the positives of life again. Even if that is just being thankful for the fact that I managed to get the children to school on time!</div>
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8. Spend 20 minutes on a decluttering task every day.</h4>
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I've been attempting to declutter our house for the last couple of years but have always been overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff we've managed to accumulate. This year, I'm going to keep things simple and set aside 20 minutes each day to clear a small area like one drawer or cupboard. Hopefully the little and often approach will slowly start to pay dividends. When I have more energy, I might look at doing a more drastic purge along Konmari lines.</div>
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9. Create and stick to a cleaning and organisation schedule.</h4>
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One of the things that stresses me out is having to think all the time about what needs doing. So this year I'm going to focus on having set times to do stuff like changing the beds, cleaning out the guinea pigs, invoicing clients and doing the food shopping. That way, my mind will be freed up to focus on having fun. </div>
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10. Stick to the same organisation tools!</h4>
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Over the past year, I have tried and failed to keep up with two separate online calendar systems, two paper diaries, a bullet journal, an online project management system and countless notebooks. The result is that instead of being streamlined and organised, I've been even more disorganised. This year, I'm going to stick to using the online calendar for all family stuff (because it's shared with my husband). I also have two paper diaries - one is for me to transfer my to do list onto specific days and one is for my work to dos. I'm going to still use Trello for random lists. Then every Sunday I am going to sit down and review all of these to ensure they are synced and I've not missed anything. Basically, everything will now go into the diary on a specific day so I don't miss anything.</div>
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11. Publish at least two blog posts per week and schedule daily social media updates.</h4>
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This year I am focused on moving from being a hobby blogger to a career blogger. Now that's a pretty big aim, so for this resolution I'm just going to focus on publishing regular posts. I've written a content and social media plan for the year and I've carved out time in the diary to write it. Now I just have to action it!</div>
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What are your goals for 2018?</div>
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Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-72411532099168616802018-01-03T00:06:00.001+00:002018-01-03T10:31:31.566+00:00Christmas isn't over until...6th January!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Stop with all the new year austerity!<br />
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It's January 2nd and my Christmas decorations are still up.<br />
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Yes - that's right. In the SeasideBelle household, Christmas keeps on going until 6th January aka the Feast of the Epiphany.<br />
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Why pack everything up as the new year dawns (or even as early as Boxing Day) when the season of Christmas lasts so much longer?<br />
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There's so much hype in the run up to the big day, it seems a real shame to suddenly bring it to a premature end.<br />
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So I'm standing up for making the season of goodwill last the full 12 days of Christmas.<br />
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Imagine what those three kings/wise men/magi would have thought if they'd travelled all that way from the East following the star to find the stable empty because Mary and Joseph had packed up and left for their return journey to Nazareth straight after the birth. Would you want to sit on a donkey for several hours straight after having a baby?<br />
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My three kings are still making their way around the living room, drawing ever closer to the nativity scene my nan knitted many years ago. Yes, I'm rather attached to the idea of keeping my nativity scene real.<br />
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And how do you think Santa would feel if he'd just spent 24 hours delivering presents to all the children around the world and returned home looking forward to enjoying his Christmas dinner to find Mrs Claus packing the tree away?<br />
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On a more practical note, I like to have a bit of extra time to come up with my New Year's resolutions. Trying to come up with achievable goals over the Christmas period adds another layer of stress to what is usually an incredibly busy time of year. Plus, it means I don't start mine until 7th January - which gives me a week to watch everyone peak too soon at their attempts to better themselves.<br />
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It's also useful to have an extra week to finish off the chocolates, wine and other goodies before knuckling down to the obligatory January healthy eating.<br />
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Having spent four weeks through advent preparing for the anniversary of the birth of Jesus, it seems a shame to cut the festivities down to just a couple of days when you can stretch out the celebrations for nearly a fortnight.<br />
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So who's with me? Let's sing along to "We Three Kings" and celebrate Christmas for the full 12 days.<br />
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When do you take down your Christmas decorations?
<div align="center"><a href="https://www.cuddlefairy.com" title="Cuddle Fairy" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.cuddlefairy.com/my-style/uploads/2016/06/BloggerClubUK-badge-2.jpg" alt="Cuddle Fairy" style="border: none;" /></a></div>Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-49806918386279800222017-11-21T11:29:00.000+00:002018-01-22T14:35:43.954+00:00A day at Newquay Zoo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The The Beast of Bodmin might be Cornwall's most famous big cat, but if you want a guaranteed sighting of an exotic feline in Britain's south west peninsula, <a href="https://www.newquayzoo.org.uk/" target="_blank">Newquay Zoo</a> is a much better bet.<br />
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So when we visited Cornwall last weekend, my mum, Wilf, Ossie and I headed to the UK's surfing capital to catch some wildlife, rather than waves. After all, November can be a bit chilly for the beach!</div>
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Newquay Zoo is home to over 1,000 rare and endangered animals ranging from penguins, monkeys and zebras to frogs and birds along with several big cats; as well as lynx and fishing cats the zoo is home to three lions, so we were spoilt for choice on the big cat front.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lynx effect.</td></tr>
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Feeding time at the zoo</h3>
There are plenty of opportunities to find out more about the animals living at Newquay Zoo with regular talks and feeding times throughout the day. And because Newquay is a relatively small zoo compared with Bristol and Paignton, you don't have to plan your visit with military precision to catch them all. As well as being informative, the talks are also entertaining and interactive with questions encouraged.<br />
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We arrived just before the meerkat talk and learnt why meerkats do not make great pets and about the mob that live at Newquay Zoo as they tucked into their lunch of fruit, veg and live crickets. </div>
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However, the highlight of the day was the lion feeding. Newquay is home to one male and two females who originally came from Longleat. Because the enclosure is relatively small, you are guaranteed a good view as the lions raced in to tuck into a hearty bit of Dartmoor and Exmoor pony. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilf is pleased he's not on the lions' menu.</td></tr>
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We also learnt about their strength as we were shown the mangled state of one of the balls they play with for enrichment (as if the crack of bone as the male tucked into his horse leg wasn't enough to remind us of the power of their jaws!). </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newquay's male lion enjoying a spot of lunch.</td></tr>
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Even at enclosures where there were no talks, keepers were happy to talk about the animals in their care and answer questions.</div>
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If you want to get into the enclosures, you can sign up to be a keeper for the day. Or you can walk among the birds in the Gems of the Jungle exhibit, which opened last year.</div>
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Seeing all the animals get their lunch made us a bit hungry too. There's a cafe on site as well as several kiosks selling food and drink (although these were closed as it was November), but we had brought a packed lunch and there were plenty of picnic benches where we could sit down and tuck into our grub. Watch out for the local wildlife though! I nearly lost my sandwich to a seagull.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding time for mum and Ossie.</td></tr>
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<h3>
Playtime</h3>
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Having seen lots of animals clambering and climbing on the equipment in the zoo, my little monkeys were keen to stretch their limbs and the play area near the lion enclosure served us well with slides, a see saw and a variety of things to climb on that were suitable for all ages.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ossie enjoying the slide in the play area.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilf climbing in the play area (it might be November, but he's still wearing shorts!)</td></tr>
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<h3>
Hot Chocolate</h3>
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Cornwall in mid-November is a bit chilly, so after a few hours in the cold air, we decided it was time for a hot drink. So we headed for the cafe near the exit where we indulged in a hot chocolate with liberal sprinklings of chocolate, whipped cream and marshmallows. The perfect way to end our visit to Newquay Zoo.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilf enjoying his hot chocolate.</td></tr>
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Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-44212836303241477432017-09-25T15:22:00.001+01:002017-09-25T15:32:17.327+01:00Ten things I've learnt after a decade of being a mumTen years ago I became a mother.<br>
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Elliot was born at 9:42pm weighing 7lb6oz on 24th September 2007. Today, he is a strapping ten year old who loves football and is a kind and caring boy who astounds me daily with his thirst for knowledge, his passion for fair play and justice and his empathy for others.<div><br>
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I can vividly remember that first night I spent with him lying next to me in the hospital. He slept peacefully and I lay awake staring at this wondrous being. I was completely overawed at the fact that I was now a mum who was responsible for bringing up this tiny person. I lay there drinking in his tiny features and wondering how he might turn out and what he might become.<br>
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Today, I am proud of who he is. We're still learning daily, but we're loving the journey so far, although I'm sure the turbulent teenage years will bring many new challenges for us to navigate on the road to adulthood.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5byE2QirAKaWGFK53ibtAIv3XPP3yGamnwURrBOFP2gkqXog3U79MOMdDTvhCrdL7nYRgkHDLIb5w-5yhMC4tbm3AJFF87aIHhqAMU4yaUqMPLjGglxNGnLCBQSx3cI51wX9tHYOAuAu/s640/blogger-image--829637531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5byE2QirAKaWGFK53ibtAIv3XPP3yGamnwURrBOFP2gkqXog3U79MOMdDTvhCrdL7nYRgkHDLIb5w-5yhMC4tbm3AJFF87aIHhqAMU4yaUqMPLjGglxNGnLCBQSx3cI51wX9tHYOAuAu/s640/blogger-image--829637531.jpg"></a></div></div><br>
So what have I learnt in my first ten years of being a mum?<br>
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<li><b>There is no 'right' way of doing things.</b> When Elliot was tiny I devoured parenting books. I was petrified of breaking him or of scarring him for life and leaving him with long-term psychological issues by doing something 'wrong'. The problem was that all the parenting books contradicted each other and I quickly came to the conclusion that there is no 'one size fits all' approach to bringing up a baby. Every child is unique. Every mum is different. You do what fits best for your child and your family circumstance based on the information you have at the time and that's not necessarily the same for everyone. Once I got my head round the fact that doing my best was the best for my child, I started to relax and settle into motherhood rather than constantly worrying that if he didn't learn to self-soothe he'd be a lifelong insomniac (for the record, he slept through a lot earlier than the other three, but I'm pretty sure that's more the luck of the draw than anything I did or didn't do when he was a baby).</li>
<li><b>Don't compare and never judge</b>. Social media was still in its infancy when Elliot was born. We still took photos on an actual camera and then had to upload them onto the computer when we got home before we could post them on Facebook. I'm pretty glad I was able to navigate my early motherhood journey before life got so competitive on Facebook. The thing is, you never know what's going on behind closed doors. Those picture perfect moments posted to your friend's instagram wall might just be an illusion - a big, brave front to hide from a crippling anxiety or an abusive relationship. You just don't know. So before you panic about the mess in the corner of the photo you posted to Facebook that morning after you see the immaculate image of a healthy tea time on a blogger's timeline, think about how many hours sleep she might have missed out on by polishing that gleaming floor - maybe she has OCD, maybe she is frightened her husband will hit her if the place is a mess. And before you judge that random mum because her kid is bouncing off the walls at soft play - remember that you don't know what else is going on in her life - she may be struggling with PND, her child might be autistic. And as for the ongoing spats between breastfeeding mums and bottle feeding mums - you have no idea what struggles that poor woman may have been through. So before you bitch and moan, pause for a moment and think about how you might be able to help another mum rather than criticise and spread negativity.</li>
<li><b>You can't just talk the talk, you have to walk the walk.</b> I've been caught out a few too many times on this one. Things like telling them they can't eat a biscuit because it's nearly dinner time. And then, two minutes later they walk into the kitchen and catch me stuffing a chocolate digestive into my mouth. Whoops! But it's frightening how much of your behaviour your kids copy. It's all very well telling them to say please and thank-you, but for it to really hit home, they need to hear you saying please and thank-you. I sometimes get frustrated that the children seem to constantly shout from room to room if they want something. And then I realised, that's because I shout from one room to the next - especially in the mornings when I'm yelling "Get your shoes on." If I want to see a certain behaviour from my kids, I have to model it too. </li>
<li><b>Always make time.</b> I find this one really difficult. Time is in massive short supply, what with juggling four children, trying to keep the house looking vaguely tidy, keeping on top of the never-ending laundry, trying to make a living etc. But I think it's vital to make time to connect properly with each child. It might be five minutes as you tuck them into bed where you talk about their day, their hopes, their dreams and their fears but it matters so, so much. I try and arrange individual activities with each child once every month or so. It doesn't always happen, but those trips to the cinema or going to watch a football match without any of the other siblings are such special moments. </li>
<li><b>You're always learning something new. </b>Just when you think you're nailing this parenting lark on the head something always happens to make you doubt yourself. I love the fact that parenting is an ongoing learning journey. And while I've learnt a lot about dinosaurs, football, Star Wars and Minecraft, I've also learnt about managing expectations, being consistent and listening properly. Having children has taught me so much more than how to change a nappy and survive on less than 2 hours of sleep. It's taught me about myself and made me examine how I react to different situations and helped me improve who I am.</li>
<li><b>Respect your child. </b>If you want to be respected as a parent, you've got to respect your child. They might be little and their brains still developing, but their ideas and opinions are valid and really do matter. The more you respect your child, the more they'll respect those around them. You don't have to agree on everything (or very much at all on some days); I think that would actually be pretty unhealthy. But if you listen and give them the space to make their feelings known, you are showing them that they really do matter and you'll be arming them with the strength to stand up for themselves while understanding that other people may hold different views and that none of us are necessarily wrong or right. Maybe if there was more respect for others in the world, we'd all get along a bit better (and yes, I know I'm sounding like a Miss World contestant wishing for World Peace!)</li>
<li><b>Inspire and be inspired</b>. Young children are incredibly curious, they want to explore and find out why and how things happen. But somewhere along the line that can sometimes get sucked out of them. But I want my kids to retain that spark that can lead to so many creative ideas. It's not always easy, when I'm trying to make the tea and fielding questions about why rice is brown or white. And I have to kick myself when I nearly say "because it is". Instead, I try and look stuff up with them. We now have Alexa in the house, which is a big help! Anyway, whatever we're doing and wherever we're going, I try to make a point to learn something new with them. In the past ten years I have discovered all sorts of interesting stuff. I now know why a helicopter is called a helicopter and why tomatoes are red. Together we're inspiring each other and that's not just helping them develop, it's helping me become a better person too.</li>
<li><b>It's not always a walk in the park. </b>Being a mum is without doubt one of the most challenging things I've done. There have been times when I'm up for the 5th time that night and it's not even 1am where I have seriously considered throwing in the towel. But it's also one of the most rewarding. When I hear an unprompted "I love you", when I see the joy in my son's eyes when he comes home from school and tells me he has been elected to the school council, when I see my daughter giggling hysterically with her friends, when they excitedly tell me about a school trip they are going on. Those moments are pure magic.</li>
<li><b>Delight in the small things</b>. When I got married, the best piece of advice I received was that I was to take a pause during the day just to observe and soak in the atmosphere and really take in who was there and what was happening because the day would fly by and I'd remember that moment of pause forever. The same thing applies to parenting. The last ten years have whizzed by in something of a blur. So I try and take a pause every now and then and take in the normal stuff. Pushing them on the swings. Picking them up for school and hearing them ask "what's for tea?" A cuddle on the sofa. Doing a jigsaw together. Those are small, normal memories that will stay with me forever as well as the big milestone memories like first steps, first day at school, first sleepover.</li>
<li><b>Trust yourself</b>. There's a lot of room for doubt in parenting. You're worried you're doing it all wrong and you're going to mess up your kids. But trust yourself to know your child better than anyone else. Trust yourself to know what's best for your family. Trust yourself that you'll inevitably make mistakes along the way - we're all making it up as we go along - but as long as we pick ourselves back up, acknowledge that it's a learning process and then learn from our mistakes, then we're actually nailing this parenting business after all.</li>
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And one extra little thing. Take a moment to be proud of what you've achieved. Even if it's just the fact that you managed to get the kids to school on time today. Acknowledge that you are rocking this mum business and that little (or not so little anymore) person is what they are today because of YOU!</div>
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What has motherhood taught you?</div>
</div></div>Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-68168114735421031062017-08-20T10:47:00.001+01:002017-08-20T10:47:41.496+01:00My Sunday Photo - 20th August 2017<br />
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I haven't done a Sunday Photo post in quite a while. This is Poppy. She is my mum's dog and we are looking after her for the weekend.</div>
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This photo was taken on a walk up on the common between Haldon and Luton. The heather and gorse were in bloom and the views over towards Dartmoor were amazing.</div>
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Getting out in the fresh air for an hour was a lovely way to spend the afternoon. It was peaceful and we didn't meet another soul.</div>
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We've always said that when the children are a little older, we'll get a dog. So this weekend has been the perfect opportunity for us to test out whether we are ready to commit to getting our own four legged friend yet.</div>
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After all, getting a dog is a big commitment. We work from home, so being around isn't an issue. But dogs need walking - lots. Especially the breed of dog we'd like to get. Impulsive days out and weekends away would also need rethinking. But, to be honest, we don't tend to do a lot of those nowadays anyway. And we'd perhaps just need to adapt these to ensure they are dog friendly.</div>
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We'd always said we'd get a dog when Ossie starts school - but after this weekend, I think it might be sooner than that!</div>
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<div align="center"><a href="http://photalife.com/my-sunday-photo/" title="Photalife" target="_blank"><img src="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/54d395d0e4b0aec4d9394b39/5523e854e4b038bf5fa4c6fc/5523e864e4b038bf5fa4d796/1428422767784/Sundaylge-e1396359989177.png?format=300w" alt="Photalife" style="border:none;" /></a></div>Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-72144391327674283752017-08-16T22:21:00.003+01:002017-08-16T22:22:41.154+01:00Four uses for egg whites<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyitua-qutWpOk_4F0HPozDHzZluCmcToIfCt10J-4DKznbzKHo_cDQPVDzroaOa5-gPssAwnMFokDCZK0PzWbgsCcIy5v4r9knpbLyxc3gKMUbsnrhSoypVdfJCWrz5nva7R8_6l1c2v/s640/blogger-image-994621849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyitua-qutWpOk_4F0HPozDHzZluCmcToIfCt10J-4DKznbzKHo_cDQPVDzroaOa5-gPssAwnMFokDCZK0PzWbgsCcIy5v4r9knpbLyxc3gKMUbsnrhSoypVdfJCWrz5nva7R8_6l1c2v/s640/blogger-image-994621849.jpg"></a></div>One of my go-to recipes for a quick and easy dinner is spaghetti or tagliatelle carbonara.<br>
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If I'm feeling lazy I'll mix whole eggs with the cream and parmesan cheese to make the sauce. However, the children aren't overly keen on the grainy consistency and I always worry a little bit about salmonella (yes, I grew up in the Edwina Currie years!).<br>
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So if I've got time, I'll separate the eggs and just use the yolks.<br>
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This leaves me with several egg whites and rather than let them go to waste, I like to try and use them in something else.<br>
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Here are some of my favourite recipes to use up egg whites.<br>
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1. Meringue</h3>
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This is such an easy recipe - well it would be if you had an electric whisk that worked - but even whisking by hand and getting a lovely arm work out wasn't too bad.</div>
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I used <a href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2445/ultimate-meringue" target="_blank">this recipe from BBC Good Food</a> but as my eggs weren't large, I used five alongside the 115g of caster sugar and icing sugar.</div>
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My kids aren't big fans of cream so we served them up as pudding with ice cream and strawberries and then crushed them up to make our own version of Eton Mess.</div>
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2. Egg White Omelette</h3>
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This is a really quick and easy tea that helps you use up lots of other ingredients. It's also good if you're on a fitness regime because egg whites contain very little, if any, fat and lots of protein. But probably the best thing about this recipe is that you can adjust the contents of each omelette to suit each fussy member of the family.</div>
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Just whisk up the egg whites with a splash of milk and pour into a hot pan. Then add whatever ingredients you have to hand, My kids love ham or chorizo and cheese and maybe even a bit of tomato, while I like to add a bit of chopped pepper, mushrooms and spinach. </div>
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3. Sesame Prawn Toast</h3>
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I love prawn toast. Again this is handy as a snack or tea - although my lot are far too suspicious of the sesame seeds to give it a try. They also make a good party food.</div>
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This <a href="https://goodfood.uktv.co.uk/recipe/sesame-prawn-toast/" target="_blank">Sesame Prawn Toast recipe from Good Food</a> is pretty easy to follow. Although it does ask you to deep fry the toast. I don't own a deep fat fryer and so I just toast one side of the bread before spreading the prawn mixture on the uncooked side and then fry up the prawn side in a regular frying pan.</div>
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4. Tempura</h3>
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Jazz up vegetables by coating them in a light tempura batter or make tempura prawns. You could even pass off tempura chicken as an alternative to chicken nuggets! I use <a href="http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/41152/tempura-batter.aspx" target="_blank">this recipe from allrecipes.co.uk</a>. I have read that using sparkling water instead of the still water suggested can make this batter even lighter. Sadly, I'm not posh enough to have sparkling water in the house and I've not yet been organised to buy any in anticipation of making this dish.</div>
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What are your go-to recipes for using up egg whites?</div>
Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-19447401817601751872017-08-14T14:22:00.000+01:002017-08-14T14:33:48.807+01:00Five ways football can boost learning<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9AnAnU3UoEiFARR02xzqffRSv-VRQBLqouNsjpv2Buerz7m1xH8WTa9aOmLidzO3bXam3eJy6HQeBSrS1fNDUrObNt0LI4xiyLLJxxDn28KVEGyglvgpUPgqulLwQhPczHJkosLKBkQg/s640/blogger-image--157877379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9AnAnU3UoEiFARR02xzqffRSv-VRQBLqouNsjpv2Buerz7m1xH8WTa9aOmLidzO3bXam3eJy6HQeBSrS1fNDUrObNt0LI4xiyLLJxxDn28KVEGyglvgpUPgqulLwQhPczHJkosLKBkQg/s640/blogger-image--157877379.jpg"></a></div><br>
The footy season has kicked off, which, in my house, means endless discussion about transfers, goal stats, referee decisions and absolutely no chance of watching anything else on TV until next May.<br>
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I usually dread the start of the football season as I'm expected to know who plays for which team and my rather flimsy grasp of the offside rule means I struggle with a lot of dinner table discussion.<br>
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However, this year I've decided that if you can't beat them, it's probably best to join them and capitalise on their interest.<br>
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So here are five ways I can exploit my kids' obsession with the beautiful game to enhance their learning (maybe I should have trained as a teacher after all!).<br>
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<ol>
<li><b>Geography</b>: Grab a map and help your child find where all the teams in the Premier League are based. Even better, if you are travelling around the country on holiday, see if you can take a quick detour to drive past a ground. Lots of the grounds are pretty near major routes, which is helpful. We frequently drive past the Brighton ground on our way to the in-laws and the highlight of our recent trip to Derbyshire for my five year old was the fact that we saw the Stoke ground. If you want to further the geography lesson, grab an atlas and point out the countries their favourite players are from. Or show them where are opponents are on the globe when we're playing international fixtures. For older children, you might want to investigate a bit more about the countries involved and find out about the country's cuisine, main exports or industries and what a typical home might look like. You can head to the library and look in the children's reference section or even search on Google to find out the answers.</li>
<li><b>Foreign languages</b>: Follow up on the geography by talking about the different languages spoken by their favourite footballers and managers. See if you can learn how to say "I love football." or "What a goal!" in all the different languages spoken by the players on their favourite team.</li>
<li><b>Maths:</b> I love using football to help with maths. There's the obvious adding up of points to see where their team is in the table. But my favourite game involves football trading cards. My sons love collecting Match Attax and sometimes I'll give them an imaginary figure and ask them to create their ideal team within budget. For my five year old, I ask lots of questions about the score: asking how many goals were scored all together requires him to add together the goals scored by each team. As they get more confident with numbers you can ask how many goals were scored in the whole league over a weekend.</li>
<li><b>History:</b> Why not capitalise on their appreciation for a team by finding out more about its history. I particularly love the German teams for this as many were founded as works teams and you can still tell this by their names (Bayer Leverkusen was set up by workers at the Bayer pharmaceutical company). Find out when their favourite team was founded (this information is often on the club badge). What are the most significant events in the club's history. Lots of football clubs have museums so you can take your child to visit and find out more about how the team has changed through the years.</li>
<li><b>Science: </b>What happens when you drop a football and why? How do you get the ball to curve into the top of the net? Experiment with your child about what might happen if you use a different force or angle. For younger children you might want to talk about different ball shapes and why you might need to use a different type of ball for a different sport, such as golf or cricket.</li>
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These are just some of the ideas I've had - I'd love to read your suggestions for other ways I can harness my children's love of football to encourage more curiosity about the world around us.<b> </b>Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-34256485201766952962017-08-09T12:06:00.000+01:002017-08-09T12:13:40.138+01:00Kicking a wet wipe addiction<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VDeCsBrNkl6ZQ0Ru0kFVcK5oUAu26HtsVe_yA49C6B7363vTG34nIU4tQeWBxe8iL0iZat209STE33QZWtcophS-ppAm1EXkd9RxHzOaFsAwlzehTeSh-fXm1Ls9HsDsz0sK0BX9xyyI/s640/blogger-image--2015169762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_VDeCsBrNkl6ZQ0Ru0kFVcK5oUAu26HtsVe_yA49C6B7363vTG34nIU4tQeWBxe8iL0iZat209STE33QZWtcophS-ppAm1EXkd9RxHzOaFsAwlzehTeSh-fXm1Ls9HsDsz0sK0BX9xyyI/s640/blogger-image--2015169762.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>How heavy is your wet wipe use? How many packs do you get through in a week?<br>
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Those soft, damp, throwaway cloths are just so useful. Whether you're changing a nappy, wiping a mucky hand or mouth or need to swipe round the kitchen for a quick tidy up, they have a multitude of uses.<br>
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But they also harbour a dark secret. In today's throwaway world, it's easy to forget where those used wipes end up when they've been disposed of. But during the Marine Conservation Society's Great British Beach Clean weekend over 4000 wet wipes were found littering our beaches. That's equivalent to 50 for every kilometre of coastline. Worse still, all sorts of marine wildlife can mistake wet wipes for food, which isn't a particularly tasty thought as you tuck into your fish and chip supper.<br>
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Next week, Teignmouth will <a href="http://teignternet.com/wet-wipe-monster-teaches-importance-beach-hygiene/" target="_blank">welcome a Wet Wipe Monster</a> as part of the Love Your Beach campaign to educate people about the importance of keeping beaches clean. As part of the initiative, the Marine Conservation Society is bringing Wallace the Wet Wipe Monster to Teignmouth beach to help people understand why flushing wet wipes down the toilet can have dire consequences both financially and environmentally.<br>
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You can see Wallace the Wet Wipe Monster in action here:<br>
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UK water companies spend over £81m every year dealing with over 400,000 blockages. And around 80% of these are caused by wet wipes, cotton buds and nappies.<br>
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The Marine Conservation Society is currently campaigning to get wet wipe retailers to include a 'Don't Flush' message on packaging. You can <a href="https://www.mcsuk.org/forms/wetwipes.php" target="_blank">sign the petition here</a>.<br>
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These startling facts got me thinking about my own wet wipe habit and have given me a kick up the backside to try and reduce my waste.<br>
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I know not to flush them down the toilet, but surely the amount that must go to landfill must be pretty damaging to the environment too!<br>
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I've used reusable wipes before, but laziness meant that I'm probably not using them as often as I should. As the mum of four young children, I'm not going to try and cut my wet wipe use completely. I mean, I live in the real world. But I'm going to try and use a greener option wherever possible. Although if I'm going on holiday I'll probably stick to the throwaway variety. But at home there's definitely room for improvement.<br>
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You don't have to buy special reusable wipes or solutions. I actually bought some pre-loved ones a few years ago that are still going strong and I'm making more by just cutting up some old rags. You can either just dampen them with water or you could <a href="http://www.seasidebelle.com/2016/04/how-to-make-reusable-nappy-wipe-solution.html" target="_blank">make your own solution</a>. Alternatively, there are some pre-made solutions for reusable wet wipes available.<br>
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And, as with throwaway wipes, I don't just use them for nappy changes. I've got a couple of boxes of reusable wipes dotted around the house for the odd wipe around, for dusting, for wiping sticky hands and, of course, for nappy changing.<br>
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I haven't bought any new packs of disposable wet wipes for a couple of weeks and we currently have less than a third of a packet left. I'm not planning on buying anymore until we go away at the end of the month.<br>
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Do you think you could give up your wet wipe habit?Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-37498306527814235892017-06-26T14:31:00.002+01:002017-06-26T14:31:09.369+01:00How to do a car boot sale like a boss<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Over recent months I've been feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of 'stuff' we have accumulated.<br />
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So I have started making in-roads into decluttering the house.<br />
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The resulting piles of things to sell were threatening to take over our basement. And, to be honest, listing individual items on eBay, Gumtree and Facebook selling groups was taking too much time and bringing few rewards. So I decided to take the bull by the horns and brave a car boot sale.<br />
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The idea of setting the alarm for 5am on a Sunday morning was horrific. But, quite frankly, the idea of having piles of 'stuff' sitting downstairs any longer, was enough motivation to bypass my lie-in.<br />
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Here are my tips to do a car boot sale like a boss.<br />
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<b>Tip one: Enlist some help.</b><br />
My eldest, who is nine years old, was keen to spend a morning helping me sell our unwanted clutter. However, he did name a price - I was to buy him a McDonalds breakfast on the way! You can imagine how disappointed he was when we arrived at the 24 hour drive thru and discovered it was closed for refurbishment. We then discovered that 24 hour Tesco is not open 24/7 and is, in fact, closed at 6:30am on a Sunday morning. Likewise, the Tesco Express is also closed until 7am. Luckily, I found a garage and gave him a sausage roll and a Galaxy milkshake and he seemed happy enough. Anyway, having help was essential as it meant I had a runner to go and buy me more coffee and I had someone to man the stall when I needed to go to the toilet. It also meant I had an extra pair of eyes and hands on the stall for busy periods.<br />
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<b>Tip two: Pack the car the night before.</b><br />
Given the early morning start, we opted to put load the car the night before. This was a good plan as it meant I had time to pack snacks and a drink and to make myself a large coffee to help me through the long day ahead.<br />
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<b>Tip three: Organise your boxes.</b><br />
We had a couple of boxes of stuff that were in the same category: clothes; kitchen stuff; and toys. But the rest was a bit of a mishmash. This made it more difficult for potential buyers to find what they might be looking for. Next time we go, I'll definitely work on packing more sensibly so it's easier to just whack out the boxes on and around the table rather than just chucking everything out and hoping for the best.<br />
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<b>Tip four: Make the most of your pitch space</b><br />
We took our camping table to display our wares, and then placed a couple of boxes and some larger items around this. But I noticed that other sellers were able to really maximise the space on their pitch with a hanging rail for clothes, a sheet laid out next to the table for things like DVDs and books, as well as boxes for things like soft toys. If you make it easier for buyers to browse, they're more likely to spend some time at your stall and thus, more likely to buy what you are offering.<br />
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<b>Tip five: Take plenty of small change.</b><br />
Not only do you need to take money to pay for your pitch. You also need to be able to give customers the right change when they only have a five or ten pound note. This resulted in a late night raiding of all our piggy banks and a quick sweep behind the sofa cushions, but we managed to cobble together enough small change to ensure we didn't lose a sale due to not being able to provide change.<br />
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<b>Tip six: Make a note of your float.</b><br />
We had to remember how small change was in our float so we could reimburse the piggy banks, but it's also very helpful in working out how much money we actually made from the car boot sale. We paid £8 entry and we had £8 in our float and we came home with around £37, which meant our morning generated £20 - give or take the two coffees I <i>needed</i> to buy while I was there.<br />
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<b>Tip seven: Remember, you are in control.</b><br />
When you arrive and start setting up your stall, don't be afraid to tell the early bird buyers to wait until you are ready to sell. It can be a little disconcerting to have people asking about items you haven't yet unloaded from the car. But you don't have to sell anything until you are ready and it won't hurt them to wait until you have set up properly before they buy from you.<br />
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<b>Tip eight: Have a price in mind.</b><br />
You're likely to have an idea of what prices you are going to ask for your items. Be open to haggling, but don't be afraid to stick to your price if you feel your item is worth more that what someone is asking.<br />
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<b>Tip nine: Keep your eye on the prize.</b><br />
When you're looking at other people's stalls it can be tempting to eat into your profits by buying. But remember why you're there - for us, it was to declutter. Before you part with cash and diminish your profits, think about whether you need that item or whether it's just going to add to the clutter problem when you get home.<br />
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One of the benefits of taking an assistant with me, apart from having someone to talk to, was that it meant we were able to have a quick look round at the other stalls. He went with some pocket money, although I am very pleased and relieved that he didn't buy anything to replace what we were selling. I looked round because I was interested in what other people were selling. I also had a good nose at what people had already bought when they passed our stall.<br />
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Here's what seemed to sell well at the car boot sale I went to:<br />
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<ul>
<li>DVDs</li>
<li>CDs</li>
<li>Books</li>
<li>Toys</li>
<li>Clothes</li>
<li>Crockery, especially bowls</li>
<li>Baby equipment </li>
<li>Larger items (for example, fish tank, small tables, chairs etc)</li>
<li>Curtains</li>
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We enjoyed our car boot sale so much that we plan to go again in a couple of weeks. My son loved helping out and looking around the stalls and I've been really invigorated to get home and do some more decluttering.</div>
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What are your top tips for a successful car boot sale?</div>
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Seaside Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11120183016723945858noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5218523051423535723.post-54520205563268150012017-06-23T14:29:00.000+01:002017-06-24T12:26:02.215+01:00Five things I want my boys to learn from the Isca lads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This week, more than 50 teenage boys at Isca Academy in Exeter <a href="http://www.devonlive.com/teenage-boys-turn-up-at-devon-school-dressed-in-skirts/story-30404238-detail/story.html" target="_blank">went to school wearing skirts</a>. They were protesting at the sexist uniform policy that forced them to wear long trousers through a heatwave where temperatures topped 30 degrees C.<br />
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Here is a film from local news website DevonLive featuring the boys:
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" src="http://players.brightcove.net/1275380505001/rJjlPOKH_default/index.html?videoId=5479714425001?wmode=transparent"></iframe>
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And it got me thinking about how sexism isn't just a female issue.<br />
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The actions of these boys made me consider what I might want for my own three sons as they grow up. So here are some lessons I'd love my boys to learn from the lads at Isca Academy.<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Take action.</b> If you see inequality, don't be afraid to stand up and do something about it. These teenagers saw that something wasn't fair: girls at their school can choose to wear a skirt or long trousers, but the boys don't have the same choice. Instead of sweating in their slacks and moaning about it, they decided to take action.</li>
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<li><b>Be fearless</b>. I have always imagined teenage boys to have a massive pack mentality (can you tell I haven't got to the parenting a teenager stage yet?). So to do something that could potentially have you ribbed and made fun of must have been quite a brave thing to do. So don't be afraid about what other people think. If you believe in what you are doing and others feel the same, they will join you. By showing bravery, you can often encourage shyer members of the pack to join you. And that is exactly what happened at Isca. Three boys started the movement off and a day later there were more than 50 joining them to take a stand. </li>
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<li><b>Just because something is not be the cultural norm, doesn't mean it shouldn't be done.</b> In this country, boys don't generally wear skirts or dresses. But just because you don't see something on a daily basis doesn't mean it is wrong. I'd love to think that by wearing a skirt to school, these boys have broadened their minds and gained more of an appreciation that sometimes people might dress or do things differently, but that being different isn't wrong, it's just part of our wonderful, diverse world.</li>
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<li><b>Sometimes rules are made to be broken.</b> I've always been someone that respects authority and tries to toe the line. But as I've grown older, I've realised that while rules are often made to protect us, sometimes we need to break the rules to get ahead. I want my kids to appreciate why rules might be in place and to respect the rules that keep us safe, while having the wisdom to challenge the status quo when the rules don't benefit the people around them. </li>
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<ol>
<li><b>Sometimes bending the rules is more effective than breaking them.</b> I love the fact that technically, these boys aren't actually contravening the school uniform rules. They are wearing regulation school attire - skirts. And that has had much more impact and strengthened their case a lot more effectively than if they were to wear non-regulation shorts.</li>
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I'm really proud of what the boys at Isca Academy have done. Ironically, the Isca Academy website sums it up rather well. It says:<br />
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"We know that our students face a rapidly changing and competitive adult world. They will have to be confident and skilled learners, flexible, capable of taking risks, creative, and compassionate."<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">I think the school should be rather proud that its students have done just that!</span>
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