Category: Lifestyle

1. 5 ways to show Dad some love this Father’s Day (and win one too)

   Posted on 10:00am Tuesday 6th Jun 2017

   

   Father’s Day will soon be upon us and of course, one of the best feelings in the world is showering loved ones with gifts of appreciation, but there are other ways to show we care.

   This Father’s Day, for my children, myself, and all the other mums out there, I propose that we all go back to basics and find inventive ways to show Dads some love. 

   Show some interest in his hobbies

   OK, they may be boring, but have you ever actually shown given any attention to Dad’s interests? From stereotypical football fanatics, to golf, motors, fishing and everything in between, Father’s Day is an opportunity to set some time aside and get involved. Dads are sure to love spending time with the children, painting model aeroplanes, uprooting home grown veg from the allotment, or cosying up on the sofa to watch some old-time TV classics.

   Cook him up a tasty treat

   Whether Dad loves steak and chips, Indian cuisine, or fish and chips, ditch the takeaway and spend an afternoon preparing a culinary delight for Sunday night. Is there really anything better than a home cooked meal, made from the heart?

   Sort out a radio shout out

   If your Dad still sticks on breakfast shows as he showers in the morning, why not call in to his favourite station and arrange a shout out? Get the kids together and come up with something short, but personal, and ask for it to be read out to the nation over the radio waves.

   Get him something that he really wants

   My husband is always telling me that I need to buy things that the recipiant will like, not just what I like and he is right. Making time time to find out about something your Dad really wants means that he doesn't have an unecessary amount of aftershave or socks.

   

   The folk at Mainline Menswear very kindly sent us this Ted Baker Jonnys Core Mini Card Leather Wallet In Black, which is brilliantly priced at just £37.00 and is definitely something that my husband wants! He has been talking about getting a new wallet for ages, so I know that this gorgeous soft leather wallet will be perfect for Fathers Day from the girls.

   Go on a family adventure

   Forget costly tickets and absurd admission prices. That’s not what this is about. Days out with Dad can simply be family dog walks across the countryside, day trips to the beach, or a picnic at the park – with football nets nearby, of course.

   Togetherness is key when you have the best Dad ever. (he is mine by the way but I will agree to disagree with you on this one)

   

    

   So if you were as taken by the Ted Baker wallet as we were, we are thrilled to be able to give you the chance to win one. All you need to do is enter below. Be quick though .... it's not long until Fathers Day!!

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Good luck!

   Terms & Conditions

   The Prize: Ted Baker Jonnys Mini Wallet - RRP £37
   The winners will be chosen at random by the random winner generator on Rafflecopter and notified within 7 working days by email
   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 14/06/2017 at 12am

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2. Staying Classy And Stylish

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 5th Jun 2017

   It is no secret that I love fashion and my husband may say that I am slightly obsessed with shopping but being fashionable isn't always about style. My husband also "may" have commented recently that I was too classy to wear a certain style of jeans (I won't comment which ones) but it really got me thinking about style and class.

   

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   Outside the business world, we are constantly worrying about whether we are dressed in style. Or, have we fallen out of style completely and is it time to refresh our wardrobes? The same fear is not often apparent when you get dressed to head into the office Monday through Friday. Many people simply pick an outfit that looks somewhat conservative and formal from the wardrobe and then heads off on their merry way. 

   But this is a mistake because style does matter, even in business. From the very beginning, business owners and employers are looking for candidates who are well dressed and well presented. Don’t forget, that an employee always represents the firm and business owners constantly have this in mind when conducting interviews.

   Of course, style is important later on too. At a certain stage in business, you won’t just be providing a service to clients. It will be your job to win new customers and ensure that they want to sign on that dotted line. Believe it or not, people will be more likely to do this if you dress and look the part.

   Without further ado then, let’s explore some of the possibilities that you should consider when choosing your office style.

   The Right Accessories

    

   

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   Well, first, you can think about buying the right accessory for the job. Women can look into getting a handbag or brief case while men, should probably just stick with the briefcase. A lot of office workers these days carry a rucksack, and this looks a tad ridiculous with a suit and tie. You should always aim to be a little more formal. As far as other accessories go, you may want to keep them to a minimum. You certainly shouldn’t walk into the office looking like you just robbed a jewelry store.

   Suits, Skirts, And Shirts

   

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   Men really don’t have that many options when choosing how to dress for the office. It’s a suit or nothing. In some companies, you can get away with an open-collared look without the blazer. As for women, we have a range of choices. We can opt for the skirt, pants, a fitted shirt or blouse matched with a blazer. In some businesses, you can even wear a stunning dress to work. Don’t forget to finish off your office outfit with the right shoes. The right shoes will complete any formal outfit and ensure that you look stunning in business or on the street.

   Styled To Stun

   

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   Finally, you should think about your hairstyle. You should certainly consider using a professional stylist for your hair, and you might even want to flick through Vogue to find the right choice for you. Weirdly enough, the style of your hair does say a lot about you. Or rather, people think it does. So, if you have a pixie cut, people might assume you are bold and edgy. And if you opt for long flowing locks, they might assume you are quite an elegant person. It really just depends on what type of impression you want to convey.

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3. Five Frugal Things I've Done This Week

   Posted on 11:00am Friday 2nd Jun 2017

   I love linking up with Emma's Savvy Savings weekly frugal round up as it really focuses my mind on being savvy every single week but last week we were lucky enough to go on holiday and that has changed our spending a little. So here are the top 5 savvy savings I have made this week.

   

   1. While we were on holiday, I had one friend who had a birthday and another who was leaving work to have a baby, so I needed to send flowers to them both to arrive while I was away. I have tried lots of different online florists over the years but Interflora have always seemed the most consistent and value for money and they now have an annual delivery pass for £10, so it doesn't matter how many flowers you send, you only pay the inital £10 delivery pass charge. This is a result as I often send flowers to friends who live far away.

   2. I also used my usual trick of googling discount codes before checking out and as I did them in seperate transactions, I saved £15 in delivering both bunches of flowers this way! That was a blooming good deal I thought (sorry I coudn't resist the pun)

   3. A few days before we went away, I was checking out the best deals on travel insurance (nothing like leaving it to the last minute) when I had a moment of inspriation and remembered that my bank account had insurance features, so I rang them up, checked all our details and had confirmation straight away. I know I am paying for it as part of my bank account but it meant that I saved £100 that I thought I was going to have to spend, so that was a win for me!

   4. We needed new luggage for our holiday and I have been coveting some new suitcases for some time, so I visited our local outlet store and managed to pick up 4 lightweight Antler suitcases from the outlet store for £120 and they come with a 10 year guarantee!

   5. Finally (and a bit tongue in cheek) my best saving of the week was enjoying all the food and drink that I wanted ...... from the all inclusive menu, without having to pay a single bill!

   So as I said at the beginning, I’m linking up with Cass, Emma and Becky in this week’s ‘Five Fabulously Frugal things I’ve done this week linky and I am now off to have a read (and get inspiration) from the others that have linked up too.

    

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4. How To Cope When You're Not Working

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 1st Jun 2017

   Many of us define ourselves by our job. You might say you’re a teacher or a nurse before you say you’re a parent. This is why not working can be really hard. There are many reasons why you might stop working for a while. Those reasons can be hard enough without the added pressure of unemployment. 

   No work usually means no income. If your time out of work was planned, like having a baby you might have a few months of savings in the bank. You may still need to tighten your belt a little, though. A detailed budget to figure out exactly how much you need to live on can be helpful at times like these. Of course, any emergency situations, like a burst pipe or broken window, can seriously impact your finances.

   If you’re not able to work because you are unwell or injured, you may be struggling with the emotional impact of this as well. Injuries are often painful and can prevent you from sleeping well at night. This means they take even longer to heal so you may need to undertake some special exercises and treatment. Of course, this costs money, so you might ask a lawyer “have I got a no win no fee claim?” If you have, you can choose to proceed with this and seek to pursue a payout for the extra help you need.

   

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   While you’re off work and trying not to spend too much money, try to keep your mind stimulated. You might welcome the extra time at home with your children. Become a supermum and enjoy all those moments you usually miss because you’re at work. You can experiment with new foods, learn to do new things like riding a scooter, or baking cookies. Both of you can spend those valuable hours reading books together and making the most of the quality time you have.

   Of course, many of us are just stuck at home alone when we’re off work. It’s boring and can become quite isolating. Why not pick up old hobbies or start new ones? It’s important to keep yourself stimulated mentally. Challenge yourself to learn something new. You could take an online course, or learn to play a musical instrument. Make the most of each hour you have to yourself and indulge in a little pampering.

    

   

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   If you have the time, why not spend it at the gym or sports centre? This can be a good way to build your confidence as well, especially when you’re job hunting all day every day. It’s also a good place to meet other people, so you don’t feel quite so isolated. Pick fun activities and classes that you know will do you good both mentally and physically. And a physical workout can feel just like work sometimes!

   While many of us would love a few days off, not working at all can be boring and quite unpleasant. It can knock your confidence and leave you socially isolated. It’s still important to enjoy this time but put it to good use too. Give yourself a boost until you’re back on your feet.

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