Category: Lifestyle

1. Home is where your Wi-Fi connects automatically - Desenio prints review

   Posted on 4:31pm Tuesday 25th Oct 2016

    

   Home is where your Wi-Fi connects automatically. This is the saying of the teen generation. 

   If you see our Facebook page, you will know that we are big fans of a "funny saying" or inspirational quote and this is one of the reasons that we have found a love for Desenio, who are a Scandinavian company that has recently launched in the UK. Desenio is a Swedish-based business that was founded in 2010, and who now sell online throughout the Europe, Norway, Australia, Canada and the US but they want the UK audience to know a little more about their products and we are happy to shout about them. 

    

   At first glance, you might be fooled into thinking that they are cheap posters, with prices starting from £2.99 but all the posters are printed on 200g uncoated, FSC-certified and age resistant paper with a med matt finish, so you know that you are getting a quality product. We purposefully don't do many reviews on the Lilypad these days but we genuinely want to share the great designs and quality from this brand. 

   The site is really easy to navigate too and you can browse around the website either by categories including Geometric, Quotes, Animals etc or by Best Sellers.

   

   My eldest daughter sat adding poster after poster into the online basket and I am quite sure I could have covered two walls with her choices! As a teenager I remember covering my walls with the on trend "Athena" posters of the time (who remembers the man holding the baby?) but these prints are more classic and timeless and hopefully my daughter won't cringe when she remembers her selections in 20 years time.

   Desenio have an eclectic range of posters and once you have decided on the image, you are then able to select a reasonably priced picture frame to compliment your design if you wish. Again the frames start from a reasonably priced £2.99 and are packaged so securely that they arrive in perfect condition. You can take a look at the quality of the packing in an unboxing video from Emma Bradley here.

   

   This poster was my own personal selection (and nothing to do with the 11 year old), because this "&" sign is an image that we used throughout our wedding theme and as it is our anniversary today, it seems that it is only right to end with this poster. 

   So whether you want a token gift or really want to blow the budget with a theme of images, Desenio have something for every taste and purse, so like me today, you can be guaranteed of a shopping experience with a happy ever after.

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2. No School Run: Enjoy the Benefits of the Summer Holidays

   Posted on 9:08pm Thursday 4th Aug 2016

   We’ve all been there, that feeling of impending doom when we realise that the children’s summer holidays have again crept up on us unannounced, followed by a sense of panic as you wonder just what you’re going to do with your children over the six weeks’ holiday.

   When we have children, it’s easy to build up a routine, so when the summer holidays do raise their head, it can seem like there’s so much to consider. I have a theory about this and make a consicous decision that the summer holidays don’t have to be associated with stress and panic.

   

   Children Don’t Worry About Money, So Neither Should You

   During the holidays, it’s not unusual to have a series of requests fired off at you, all more expensive than the last. Instead of buckling under the pressure and turning the summer holidays are a financial commitment, think of some free alternatives that can be allow children to spread their wings.

   Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a day out at the zoo or amusement park, but children only need two things to prosper outside, and that’s space and freedom. So if you have a local park, make full use of its facilities. A big park nearby, then why not schedule a picnic?

   The summer holidays are not about how much money you’re able to spend on your children, but how much quality time you can instil into the school holidays. As such, children are very rarely going to hold you to account as to how much their day out cost.

   Just Go with The Flow

   When the children are off school, it’s very easy to try and come up with some sort of schedule to ensure the children are fully entertained at all times. However, while having a number of activities prepared can only be a good thing, try not to instil a heavy schedule onto the children themselves.

   Of course, ensure you still employ your own rules around the home as you normally would, but remember children are having a break, so the last thing they need is more schedules to contend with.

   Instead, why not have a few days where you watch some family films, or have them lounge in a paddling pool in the garden?

   Remember, just because you may not be doing what other parents are doing from a financial point of view, it doesn’t mean that your children are enjoying themselves any less. Children are programmed to have fun, it’s a default setting and a child can make fun of almost any situation as long as they are given the tools.

   Enjoy!

   The summer holidays are not only for your children to enjoy some relaxing time, but also for parents to spend some real quality time with their children, that’s just not possible when they’re attending school. As such, you should ensure that you enjoy the time as much as your children do. This state of mind not only allows for greater clarity, but it also ensures that you are not left exhausted and stressed by the thought of it all. 

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3. Keeping our children safe online

   Posted on 9:34pm Tuesday 19th Jul 2016

   I have a preschooler and a preteen and they are both technology mad. They are admitedly more tech savvy than my parents and can often be found showing their grandparents how to work an app on the phone or streaming something on Youtube but being comfortable online can mean that defences are down. As a parent (and an extremely tech savvy one at that) I am acutely aware that children think that "everyone is their friend" but we hear all the time that those online are not always what they seem.

   

   I have seen my daughters friends become obsessed with taking photos of themselves (and their food), not to mention the number of followers they have on Instagram, whereas my daughter thinks I am the popularity police by wanting to verify everyone that she connects with online. Instagram is seemingly the social media of choice for many teenagers now but it is worth noting some important points:

   • Profile photos, usernames and the bio screen will always be public.
   • Users are able to block and remove followers on Instagram. The person who is blocked won’t be informed about this.
   • Shared private Instagram posts sent to social networks (e.g. Twitter) can be seen by the public unless you have set up your privacy settings on those social networks too.
   • Be aware that anybody is able to send photos and videos directly to an account without being a follower.
   • Remember to look out for location-sharing which users can enable with the ‘Add to your Photo Map’ feature. It is set ‘off’ by default, and it is strongly recommend that young users do not change the setting to ‘on’. This is because when it is on, this feature publishes the location in which a photo or video was taken, which is risky information for a young person to share publically.

   My children having online presence, even in such a strongly monitored way seems a million miles from my own childhood but while the world changes, children don't and protecting their innocence has always been my priority. We are all grown up for a really long time!! It is worthwhile taking look at this short film to see how young people are not necessarily changing but the world around them is changing.

     

   So what can we do? There are parental controls that we can use which are are designed to help parents and carers manage their child’s online activities.  There are various types, some of which are free but others which can be bought.  However, nothing is totally fool proof so as parents we need to be conscious that they don’t replace the need for adults to support and advise children using the internet.

   With new applications and games launching all the time (I suppose I can't not write this post without mentioning the current obsession with Pokemon Go) it is our responsibility to make sure that we keep up to date with what our children are using and who they are talking to online. Utilising online resources like Think U Know provides parents with sensible and up to date information about staying one step ahead. 

   So right now, I am off to check how many PokeBalls I have and see if I can catch a Pokemon or two! 

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4. WIN a Trespass Holibag 85 Litre Printed Suitcase RRP £84.99

   Posted on 10:04am Monday 18th Jul 2016

   Holiday season is almost upon us and packing to go on holiday is one of my least favourite tasks, especially when you are trying to squeeze every outfit possibility into a case with no flexibility. So I have been on the hunt for new packing solutions this year and I am therefore delighted to share the Tresspass Holibag 85 litre printed suitcase and give our readers the chance to win one!

   

   Let's be honest, if you are travelling with the kids this summer, you need a suitcase that can meet your every need and the Holibag 85 litre printed suitcase is excellent for long trips to exotic locales or simply a relaxed city break. With an 85 litre capacity, you won’t need to cram everything in.

   The suitcase is designed to open into two halves; one has a single large compartment while the other has two zipped compartments for separating up.

   Other features include a name tag, a carry handle with comfortable padding, a pull out handle for the wheels and clip straps to keep the case securely shut. This lightweight suitcase is ideal for organised travelers (are mums anything but organsed??) and it avoids the hassle of overstuffed, luggage that you have to root through to find anything.

    

    Main Features:

   • 85 litre printed trolley suitcase
   • 1 x main zip compartment
   • Zipped side access
   • Zipped top pocket
   • Adjustable pull handle
   • Padded carry handle
   • Name tag
   • Internal organiser
   • 66 x 40 x 40

   So if you want to be in with a chance to win one, just enter below! Good luck!! 

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

   Terms & Conditions:

   The Prize: 1 x Trespass Holibag Printed Suitcase
   The winners will be chosen at random by the random winner generator on Rafflecopter and notified within 7 working days by email
   Trespass will make every effort to provide the product detailed here but this cannot be guaranteed

   By entering this competition, you understand that your details may be retained for future mailings. You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time.

   There is no monetary equivalent.
   Little Lilypad Co take no /responsibility for loss or damage in the despatch of prizes
   If the prize is unclaimed within 7 days we reserve the right to redraw the winner.
   End Date 01/08/2016 at 12am

   Open to UK residents aged 18 and over only. No cash alternative is available to the prize.

   The final prize is dependent on the stock, sizing and colours available once the winner has been drawn (an equivalent prize may be offered in the unlikely scenario that the size is not in stock"

   

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