*contributed collaborative post
Parents want the best for their kids, so it’s only natural to want children to be financially healthy. Since eight of every 10 Americans are in debt, the fear that kids will struggle with future bills grips many parents. But most are in the dark as to how — and when — they should start talking to their kids about money. more “How to instill healthy financial habits in kids early”
Regular readers of my blog will know that back in the summer I embarked on a bit of a surprise journey; a twist in the road that nobody (not least me) saw coming. I made a decision to try life without alcohol for a while, to see what it would be like, to give my body a break and to ultimately, start taking better care of my 37 year old self. more “Having myself a merry, sober little Christmas”
There are plenty of things which are synonymous with Christmas, and as we countdown to the big day, there’s something pretty damn lovely about taking the family to see a Pantomime. It’s something I don’t really remember doing as a child, but since our own kids have arrived it’s something I’ve really fallen in love with as an old school family festive tradition. more “He’s behind you! Marti Pellow stars in Aladdin at @OrchardTheatre Dartford (Review)”
I’m sure that each year as the piles of stuff in our house seem to grow higher and higher, Christmas just feels more and more excessive to some of us fortunate to be living in the right place at the right time. Growing up, my parents were far from rolling in it, yet they always went all out (and in fact, they still do) to make sure every Christmas morning had the wow factor for all of the children at this magical time of year. more “Small steps towards a more sustainable Christmas”
*collaborative post
Bluewater has always been a second home to the Muddling through’s, like many other families in Kent and neighbouring counties, and never more so than at this time of year. With a wealth of shops and restaurants it’s the ideal place to tackle all your Christmas to do list under one roof. But, this year we added Bluewater to our Christmas traditions list with just one thing on our agenda; to spend quality time as a family enjoying the build up to the festive season. Something that perhaps can get a little lost amidst ALL of the stuff that needs to be done. more “Family Festive Fun at Bluewater Ice Skating this Christmas”
There’s no doubt about it that this Autumn has seen a real shift in the dynamic of our household. With the Mouse having started a new five mornings pre school in September, and most of her friends starting school, our cold and often wet weather afternoons have all too often resulted in ‘chilling out’ indoors. Which I can’t lie, is often two hours spent cuddled up with the Mouse happily watching kids TV or playing with her toys and telling me to go away. more “The Adventures of Dangermouse; Bonding over baking”
Just a few weeks back sidelining at gym club I overheard a couple of Mums discussing primary school open days. Frantically discussing pros and cons, like and dislikes, Ofstead reports and catchment areas. It immediately transported me back to the autumn of 2015, when I was in a muddled mess trying to work out what the hell to pick as our three primary school choices for our eldest daughter. more “A different story – Primary school applications for siblings”
Avid readers of my blog (ha ha who am I kidding) may remember back in the spring we were sent a couple of Baby Born toys for the girls to review. Now, I can’t lie and tell you honestly that all the freebie toys become much loved parts of the muddling through family, BUT I have to report that Trixie and Noah (as they are now known) were THE TOYS of 2018 in our household. more “New Threads for Trixie and Noah @zapfcreationuk Baby Born dolls clothes review and Baby Born Soft touch doll #Giveaway”
