Travel with kids

Essex is not all about TOWIE - it's a great place for a family summer day out

Let’s just park the myth that Essex is all like TOWIE. Recently the county has unfortunately been pigeonholed as offering little more than tanning salons, nail bars and nightclubs – but there is so much more to it than that, and the summer holidays is an ideal time to come and explore. Audley End House and Gardens Visit Essex has helpfully put together a list of the hottest days…
Read more
Recipes

Recipe: Adam Byatt ’s Butternut squash, pear and gorgonzola flatbread tart

From the Great British Chefs recipe archive here is Adam Byatt’s Butternut squash, pear and gorgonzola flatbread tart. Enjoy!  Cooking Time: 4 hours plus proving time Serves: 6 Ingredients: Bread base 250g of strong white flour 13g of dried yeast 1 tsp of sea salt 1 tsp of caster sugar 150ml of water, cold 1 dash of olive oil Topping 1 butternut squash, peeled and finely sliced 3…
Read more
Recipes

Recipe: Andrew MacKenzie’s tomato and vegetable risotto faces

Amazing recipe from Great British Chefs: Andrew MacKenzie’s tomato and vegetable risotto faces. Enjoy!  Cooking Time: 1 hour plus overnight soaking Serves: 4 Ingredients: Pearl barley risotto faces 200g of pearl barley 2 shallots, finely diced 3 garlic cloves 25g of Parmesan, grated 4 baby corns 1 carrot, cut into thin discs 2 beetroots, cooked, cut into discs 8 green beans 1 tbsp…
Read more
Parenting Skills

Has the taboo of online dating finally worn off?

It used to be thought that online dating was for people who couldn’t find a date in the real world. That is definitely not the case any more. There’s been a huge surge in people using dating sites to find that special someone. From sites where your friends describe you and all your best bits (hopefully!) – like www.mysinglefriend.com – to sites specific to your job. While…
Read more
Recipes

Recipe: Marcus Wareing’s Cheesy carrot bake

Another Great British Chefs recipe: Marcus Wareing’s Cheesy carrot bake. Yum yum!  Serves 4 Cooking Time: 45 minutes INGREDIENTS 225g carrots, grated 1/2 tsp salt 50ml vegetable stock 1/2 onion, finely chopped 20g cheddar, grated 10g coriander, chopped 1 egg 1 tsp olive oil 1 pinch pepper METHOD 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4 2. Place the grated carrot sand salt into a pan over a…
Read more
Parenting Skills

Staying cool as a parent

In an increasingly pressured, modern world parenting can one of the most rewarding, transformative journeys we can ever embark on. It can at times be one of the most stressful and challenging. Whether you have a baby, toddler or teenager staying cool, calm and collected is the best way to ensure that your responsibility as a parent, and your opportunity to enjoy the experience of raising your…
Read more
Mumpreneurs & Mums at work

Want a better work-life balance? Try going slow...

The thorny issue of work-life balance never seems to go away, particularly for working parents who are often so under pressure to stretch their time available to fit everything in that they can feel like an elastic band about to snap! Interestingly I was listening to a radio programme recently where 3 people were seeking help to slow their lives down. The volunteers had noticed how they never…
Read more
Recipes

Recipe: Strawberry-Yogurt lollies

This Summer is hot and we are not complaining at all! In fact the heath is a perfect excuse to make ice lollies. Check out this recipe for Strawberry-Yogurt lollies created by recipe developer and writer Andrea Lynn for Netflix to enjoy while relaxing after a long day in the sun. The kids can make them as the recipe is fairly simple. Ingredients Two cups of any type of berries can be used…
Read more
Schooling

Summer homework ideas ... in case you fear education regression

I spoke with a couple of primary teachers over the years and they all confirmed that during the Summer holidays children fall behind in their spellings, writing, reading and maths by the time they return for the new school year in September. Not surprisingly this is confirmed by a research that reveals that almost half of parents (47%) are “worried” about education regression during the long…
Read more
Get Creative

Get creative: Make story starters with the kids

Films can be great story starters to introduce kids to storytelling and the Summer can be a great time as children need to be entertained. Outdoor activities are essential but during the downtime and relaxation time, a combination of movies, games and books is brilliant to get them busy for a long time. Check this art & craft idea created by blogger Kelly Ladd Sanchez who teamed up with…
Read more