Lately I've been...

Reading

I've been doing so, so much reading! I've been making a huge effort to get through my stash of Kindle books. Our Prime membership is brilliant for filling up my Kindle - I get at least one free book each month as part of the First Reads promotion and the Prime Reading library lets you borrow ten books at a time from a really good selection of recent and older titles. Along with the many free Kindle books already available on Amazon I had amassed quite a collection, and because I couldn't physically see them I never found myself inspired to read them.

So I wrote myself a list which really helped me to visualise the scale of the problem, then I started reading and ticked them off with a flourish each time I finished one. I started with the low hanging fruit, mainly children's books and modern chick lit type books which I can read very quickly. I'm pleased to say that I'm now down to only four unread Kindle books! I've just started The Three Musketeers though which I can see is going to hold me up a bit, it's not difficult to read it's just very long!

Some of my recent favourites - The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams, Karitas Untitled by Kristín Marja Baldursdóttir, The Shuttle by Frances Hodgson Burnett (free classic) and Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northrup (free classic). 

Photo credit felipepelaquim via Unsplash

Watching

When we have had time around the football we are working through The Rings of Power which we are watching as a family. It's not bad, it's not as good as the Lord of the Rings films but it's quite watchable. There's also a new series of Monkey Life which Mia loves as she's a big fan of Monkey World where she has an adopted gibbon. My husband and I also watched The Crown which we enjoyed although I'm finding it less interesting as it approaches more recent history. I preferred the earlier seasons where a lot of the history was new to me, and it didn't matter so much if the actors didn't look like the real life people.

Crafting

I've had the paints out and I've been decorating some blank wooden Christmas decorations to add to our seasonal stash. I'm also planning to get the Hama beads out tonight - I have a few new crafts in mind!

Planning

I recently started a Bullet Journal along with Mia and we've been having a lovely time making all sorts of plans for the rest of the year and the next. I've been using the system for a few weeks now and I'm finding that it works really well for me. I've been listing out all the things that I want to achieve next year - craft projects, home projects, housework routines, books to read, exercise tracking and so on. It's definitely helping me to feel more organised.

Eating

I'm trying to cut down and to make some healthier choices at the moment - it's not easy at this time of year! On Black Friday I treated myself to a new soup maker after my old one sadly died. I do love a soup maker - I don't follow a recipe I just throw stuff in and see what happens and luckily it has always worked out well. My husband is cutting back too which has made things a lot easier, we've not been filling the house up with the usual pre-Christmas chocolate tubs, biscuit boxes and mince pies. I won't be holding back over the actual Christmas period though!

Feeling proud of

Harry for passing his Grade 3 Music Theory exam and Mia for passing her Grade 2 Flute practical exam. They both worked really hard and I'm so impressed with their progress. 

Looking forward to

The end of term, not long to go now! And then two lovely weeks at home with no school run, packed lunches or uniform to wash before what will hopefully be a fun Christmas period. 

Common childhood illnesses

This is a collaborative post

It might seem like your child is constantly picking up infections and viruses. From starting nursery, to playing outdoors, children are exposed to new germs all the time. Their immune systems are also still developing, which makes them more prone to ailments. It’s therefore very likely that your child will at some point catch some of the most common childhood illnesses. But what are these common ailments and how can you relieve them? 

Common cold

The common cold is caused by a virus in the upper respiratory tract and, although rarely serious, it can leave your child feeling miserable. Colds are extremely common and your little one is bound to catch one sooner or later. Symptoms of the cold include a blocked and runny nose, cough, sore throat, sneezing, fever, and sore ears. Colds don’t respond to antibiotics, but you can ease your child’s discomfort by giving them warm baths and hot drinks, and making sure they drink plenty of fluids. Paracetamol can also help if your little one is running a slight fever or has a headache. 

Chickenpox

If your child develops a rash that turns into red, itchy spots on the face and body, then they might have chickenpox. Chickenpox is very contagious, so make keep your child home until the spots have crusted over into scabs. Give your child cool baths to relieve the itching and try to discourage them from scratching as this can cause scarring. Thankfully, chickenpox is usually mild and most children will get it at some point. Furthermore, studies show that exposure to the chickenpox virus in childhood reduces the chances of getting shingles as adults. The chickenpox vaccine is an effective protection against the virus and is recommended for babies aged 12 months and over. You can arrange vaccination through Childhealthy, which specialises in high-quality personalised paediatric care services. 

Stomach flu

Also known as gastroenteritis, stomach flu is caused by a virus. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle aches, and a slight fever.  Whilst stomach flu should pass within a few days, it’s important to make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids as vomiting and diarrhoea can put them at risk of dehydration. Replace lost water and salts by giving your child frequent small sips of water or juice. 

Bronchitis 

Bronchitis is caused by a swelling of the airways and lungs, usually because of a virus. Symptoms of bronchitis include soreness in the chest, coughing, tiredness, muscle aches, sore throat, and headache. You might also notice that your child is breathing rapidly, having trouble breathing, or that they are wheezing. Antibiotics won’t help, but you can relieve your child’s symptoms by ensuring that they stay hydrated and keeping them away from tobacco smoke. 

Photo credit Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash

Sinusitis

Sinusitis is the medical term for a sinus infection and is usually caused by a virus. Symptoms that suggest your child has a sinus infection include a runny or stuffy nose, pressure or pain in the face, headache, sore throat, coughing, and bad breath. Usually, you can ease your child’s symptoms with over-the-counter medicines and by ensuring they stay hydrated. However, if the sinusitis is caused by bacteria trapped in the sinuses, then antibiotics can help. 

Conclusion

Common childhood illnesses are difficult to avoid and in most cases, you just have to let them run their course. While it’s not pleasant to see your little one suffering, thankfully, there are plenty of ways you can relieve their symptoms. 

Upcycling a Christmas ornament from the sales

Last January I found myself in a local garden centre where they were selling off the last dregs of the Christmas stock. My eye was caught by this simple wooden tree ornament filled with jangly bells. It was reduced from £12 to £3 which I thought was a good price, but it was just too plain for me. I could see the potential though so I picked it up and had a think about what I could do to make it a bit more colourful.

A few coats of paint later and I think it looks great! I've kept the bells white and just added the gold star, green tree, brown trunk and red base. Then I took some glitter glue and added a coat to the star and base for some extra sparkle. 

If I had paid full price for the ornament I wouldn't have dared touch it, but because it was cheap I was happy to have a play with it and I'm really pleased with the result. It will look lovely next to our fireplace!

So you want to go back to work? Here is where to start

This is a guest post

There are plenty of reasons people choose an absence from work. Perhaps you are taking a break to look after an elderly relative or need a few months to become a full-time parent to your kids. Regardless of your reasons, returning to work after an absence can be a demanding experience. Luckily, with a solid plan and a few guidelines, your return to the workforce will be smoother.

Here are a few tips for re-entering the job market after being absent for a few years.

Set your goals and figure out your path

When going back to work after taking a break, it is essential to set your goals and define the path to follow to achieve them. For instance, you should consider getting a part-time or contract job to make your transition back to work smoother. Setting goals is essential as it gives a better sense of direction and motivation as you try to return to work stronger than ever.

Update your skillset

After a long time away from work, your skills might become outdated and unreliable. As such, it is essential to sign up for a refresher course to update your skillset and ensure you are more confident as you start attending interviews. Luckily, there are plenty of online platforms where you can get top quality courses that are flexible and affordable, like EPICODE for example that has a great price point.

Be honest

When going back to work after taking a break, your employers will likely ask questions about your absence. It is essential to be honest about your reasons and explain the projects you took on during your career break. That boosts the employer’s confidence in you as a perfect match for the position you are interviewing for.

Refresh your CV

Your CV is your greatest weapon in an interview. So, if you plan to go back to work after a break, it is essential to update your resume. The updated CV should include additional information, such as the skills you gained during your absence from work - your cover letter can go into the details to explain how these skills are relevant to the post you are applying for.

Get on platforms like LinkedIn

As you try to return to work after taking a long break, it is essential to grow a professional network. Platforms such as LinkedIn can help you build professional associations and networks with individuals with similar interests. It also exposes you to new job opportunities.

Look for advice from people that have done it before

If you are having trouble transitioning back to work after taking a break, it might be wise to seek help from others who have been in your position. Seeking their advice can give you insights and strategies you can apply to ease your way back into the workplace.

Re-entering the workforce after taking an extended break can be a daunting experience. However, these tips can help you ease your transition phase. Above all, it is imperative to be confident and keep a positive attitude.

Photo credit Rachel Moenning via Unsplash

Hama bead Christmas crafts for adults

This is an older post, you can find an updated list of Hama bead Christmas crafts here!

Hama beads might be marketed as a children's craft but I love crafting with them too! I've made lots of Hama bead projects over the years and so today I thought I'd bring together some of my favourite Hama bead crafts with a festive theme that make great crafts for adults as well as children. Click on the link in the title for a full tutorial along with tips and tricks for working with Hama beads.

Mini Hama bead snowflakes

I used mini Hama beads to make these tiny snowflake decorations, they measure less than 2cm in diameter and make lovely embellishments for cards or other craft projects. I used my own Hama bead snowflake designs which also work well for the larger beads. 

Mini Hama bead Christmas embellishments

I used the mini Hama beads again to make these tiny Christmas embellishments, again each one measures less than 2cm across. They are easy to make using just a square pegboard. For the designs I used my free mini Christmas themed pixel art designs.

Scandi inspired Hama bead baubles

I love red and white Scandi style themed decor at Christmas and these baubles look beautiful hung on the tree with some ribbon around the top. I have designed several different Scandi themed Hama bead craft projects.

Hama bead Christmas wreath ornaments

These simple Christmas wreath ornaments are made using a circular pegboard. You can use coloured thread to make hanging decorations or you can also attach a magnet to the back. For these ornaments I used a small picture from an old Christmas card but you can also personalise them with a photograph of a child or pet.

Hama bead and ribbon bauble ornaments

These Hama bead Christmas baubles are similar to the Scandi themed baubles above but using a wider range of colours. The Christmas ribbon really makes them stand out.

Scandi style Hama bead Christmas mat

This Christmas Hama bead mat is made on the square pegboard using simple stripes then the holes are used for cross stitch designs on top. I love combining two of my favourite crafts!

If you are new to crafting with Hama beads then you might find this post useful - Ironing tips for Hama beads.

If you enjoyed these Hama bead projects then you might also like this post - Ten Hama bead projects for adults - which contains lots of Hama bead crafts that adults will enjoy working on as well as children.

Happy festive crafting!

Felt star Christmas hanging ornaments with buttons and beads

Lately I've been attempting to work my way through some of the crafty bits and pieces that I have in my stash. I've been challenging myself to craft with what I have rather than buying new, and I've also found that sorting through my various stashes has been a great way to kickstart my creativity. 

One of my recent makes has been these felt hanging ornaments. Measuring about 6cm in diameter, these circular decorations are made using contrasting felt star shapes and buttons and filled with a small amount of stuffing. I worked using felt from a limited palette of green, red, purple, pink and mustard (the colour scheme being determined by what I had available!). They are finished with a coloured central button and some small seed beads. I bought the beads when I made some mini felt Christmas stockings for our first Christmas tree together - nearly twenty years ago!

When the felt ornaments were complete I thought of a few ways to display them. I was originally thinking about placing them loose in a basket or bowl by the fireplace, or hanging them from some ribbon to display as bunting. But in the end I decided to turn them into hanging ornaments.

Luckily I had some lovely thick gold thread in my stash, so I used it to make the hanging loops. They can be hung from the tree, or else I might look for some mini suction hooks to hang them across the window. I really love the (perhaps unusual) colour combination and I really enjoyed sewing these ornaments together. Working with felt is so satisfying!

Counting down to Christmas

I can't believe it's the 1st of December already. Since the children went back to school after half term the time has just flown, and they finish for Christmas at the end of next week. We aren't going away this Christmas apart from a short visit to family before New Year, so we will have two weeks at home before the big day. It will be nice to have some time to relax, and we also have some tasks to take care of like visits to the dentist and the optician. We'll also be making our yearly gingerbread houses and definitely doing some Christmas crafting!

The children were very excited to open their Advent calendars this morning. We don't go overboard at all, they have a simple chocolate one each (and I have a Maltesers one). Last year we bought a train Advent calendar in the sales after Christmas which they are sharing, and it looks as though it's going to be very sweet, we got a little wooden engine today. I'm hoping that it can come out year after year.

The Elves on the Shelf are back of course and their arrival was very highly anticipated. The magic of Christmas is definitely still alive in our house! 

One year when the children were smaller I had a very stressful last couple of weeks of term. My husband was away at all his Christmas parties and we had multiple things on every day - swimming galas, school fair, pantomime, carol service and so on, as well as the regular music lessons, meeting up with friends and other appointments. I really struggled with it, and ever since I've been very mindful about the things that I commit us to at this time of year. Luckily now that the children are older and at the same school there are fewer things to worry about, and we are only doing the things that we want to and will enjoy.

So I'm looking forward to a fairly relaxed festive season with lots of family time!