Category: Views & Ramblings

1. Top Tips for Getting Outside & Active This Spring

   Posted on 12:00pm Wednesday 21st Mar 2018

   The majority of us could benefit from spending more time outdoors. However, knowing this and doing something about it are two totally different things. If you’re determined to make a change but you’re unsure where to start, here you’ll discover some great ways to get active outdoors.

   

   Take up a new hobby

   What better way to renew your love of the outdoors than by getting involved in a new hobby? There are plenty of outdoor hobbies you can partake in which will help to get you fitter. Tennis, football, archery and even golf are all great examples of outdoor active hobbies. Golf may not seem like the best type of physical activity, but the amount of walking you’ll do as you work your way around the course is surprising.

   The point is to find an outdoor activity you actually enjoy. That way, you’re more likely to stick at it and you won’t need as much motivation to get outdoors.

   Join a club

   If you don’t trust yourself to stick to a new hobby and you need a little motivation (this might be me), why not join a club? This won’t just get you more active outdoors, it will also potentially boost your social life. There’s all kinds of clubs you can join too from running clubs to tennis clubs – whatever activity you’re into, you can bet there’s at least one club you can join.

   You could even get the family involved and take up classes such as skating. Skateboarding is a popular activity for kids, but it can be surprisingly fun for adults too. You’ll just need a few bits of equipment to get started such as a high-quality skateboard, but if you shop at stores such as SkateHut, it won’t break the bank. 

   

   Get walking

   Of course, one of the best ways to get active outdoors is to go walking. This again has multiple benefits. You won’t just get more active, but you’ll experience all of the benefits of being out in nature. Did you know you can experience life-changing benefits simply from walking just 30 minutes a day?

   As you can see, there’s a lot of ways you can get more active outdoors. Whatever your interests and fitness level, there’s always something enjoyable you can do to improve your health and fitness. Getting outdoors more will also boost your Vitamin D levels, which in turn will benefit your overall health.

   

   You never know, you might see me walking the school run in the mornings yet .......

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2. Birthday Presents for Dads – For the Man Who Has Everything

   Posted on 5:15pm Monday 26th Feb 2018

   Although Christmas is now a distant memory, there are other occasions that pop up throughout the year where we find ourselves buying gifts for our nearest and dearest. One such occasion is birthdays that come up all year around, but when it is your boyfriend/husband or father, you have to step up and go that one step further. It is my husbands birthday next month so am already on the present trail quest!

   If it feels as though the man you are buying for has everything that you can think of, then you really do need to knuckle down and put some real thought into what you can gift. From stunning jewellery to fun gadgets, here are some suggestions for birthday gifts for the man who has everything.

   

   Drones – Keep Away from Children

   If the man in your life has a love for all things electrical, then the chances are that they will absolutely love a drone that they can fly around. These are not children’s toys and can hurt if they fly into you, potentially causing serious injuries.

   Make sure that any drone is used safely and responsibly, ensuring that children are kept at a safe distance. Even small drones that can fit in the palm of your hand can leave a nasty cut. When flown by a responsible adult, drones can provide lots of fun for recreational pilots.

   Fashion Accessories

   Does the man that you are buying for keep up with the latest fashion trends? Would he classify himself as a modern gentleman, taking pride in his appearance? If so, then you won’t go far wrong by gifting accessories such as jewellery that can be brought out for special occasions.

   Perhaps your boyfriend/husband has a wide range of shirts and ties that he likes to wear for nights out? If so, how about complimenting his look with a set of gold cufflinks or a simple yet effective tie pin that he can wear to finish off his outfit?

   Getaway for Two

   When was the last time that you got away, just the two of you? If you struggle to answer that question, or even if you don’t, surprising your man with a getaway for two is a fantastic gift. Just make sure that you have childcare sorted before you book – you wouldn’t want to spend money on a trip for two only to find out that you have to cancel as your babysitter has cancelled.

   The beauty of going away as a couple is that you don’t necessarily have to go very far at all. In fact, an overnight stay in a neighbouring city can be all that you need for a romantic break. After all, when the two of you are together, does it really matter where you are?

   Experience Day

   If none of the above catches your fancy, how about organising an experience day for your other half? Imagine the look on your partner’s face when they open up a gift of a driving day at a race circuit such as Silverstone or Donnington, or a tour around their favourite sports stadium?

   Materialistic gifts can often be left on the shelf gathering dust for years, while an experience day creates memories that will last a lifetime. If you have a common interest, why not organise an experience day that you can do together?

   

   Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box when it comes to buying a gift for the father of your children. If you are crazy enough about each other to start a family together, then he will probably love anything that you give him as he will appreciate the thought put into the gift.

   Fingers crossed anyway!

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3. Top Tips for Blog Success

   Posted on 7:00pm Thursday 22nd Feb 2018

   My tag line is "creating content online since 2009" and for years I used to call myself a pretend blogger. I kind of fell into it for SEO purposes on my ecommerce site but as the years went by, the blog I wrote began to take a life of its own. I don't claim to be a coding expert and whether you are a new, aspiring blogger or one who has already begun to grow, there is always room for more improvement and development.

   

    

   Blogging is great because it’s so versatile – some people view it as a hobby whereas others take it much more seriously and earn a living from their online presence. But whatever blogging means to you, there’s no reason not to try and be as successful as possible thanks to your efforts.

   So, how can you become more successful in your own blogging? Here are some top tips, tricks and ideas to help you out.

   Practice

   While it may sound straightforward, the more that you practice, the more you are likely to improve. However, this doesn’t just mean churning out endless posts about topics no-one is really interested in. Instead, you should do plenty of research, check out other blogs and get creative with your idea generation. Once you begin to let small parts of everyday life influence you, you are bound to be well on the way towards curating a better, more interesting blog.

   Specifics

   If you are just starting out in the world of blogging, one of the most common pitfalls is to begin writing about anything and everything. However, what you should do is try to pick a specific niche and stick to it. It’s impossible to be an expert on everything, and many general blogs fail to take full note of the specifics of a particular topic. This can lead to dull, flimsy content that may end up losing your readers – the exact opposite of what you want to achieve!

   Marketing

   Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you don’t need to do marketing just because you don’t own a business. In fact, for many bloggers, their blog is effectively their business anyway, so if you don’t actively promote your work and try to expand your reach, you will only be making yourself suffer in the long run. Even if you aren’t looking to expand fully into SEO, there are still plenty of techniques used by digital marketing professionals that you can expand into your blogging. Go to this website for more information because sending out one tweet per post is never going to promote your blog effectively.

   

   Network

   Similarly, another important part of blogging is the sense of community that can develop. Spending time actively getting to know other bloggers and investing in their blog and their content is a really valuable way to build strong connections and develop relationships within your industry. Of course, it may be more valuable to get to know bloggers within the same niche as you, but even chatting to a blogger who posts different content may be a great way to get handy tips and ideas for your own blog. Some of my best online blogging friends have become "real life" friends so it is not only good for your professional persona but your personal one too!.

   Persistence

   On the surface, this may not initially seem like a particularly important part of life. However, this isn’t to say that it is unimportant – quite the opposite, in fact! Sometimes, blogging can seem like a difficult, thankless task. Day after day you are beavering away at your blog, writing posts, sharing content and interacting with others. When you are caught up in the blogging whirlwind, it can be all too easy to feel trapped or stuck in a rut, as though you aren’t making any progress. This is the point when many bloggers can end up giving up, but you should try your best to stay persistent and maintain your approach. There’s no point trying to sugarcoat it – blogging is time-consuming, lonely and often thankless, but when you finally reach that milestone, there’s no better feeling than watching all that hard work eventually pay off.

   Of course, every blogger chooses to approach blogging differently. However you choose to make the most of your blogging, the fact remains the same – if you want to become more successful, you will have to put the extra effort in. But regardless, the rewards are sure to be more than worth the while. 

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4. L.O.L. SURPRISE! SERIES 3 Review

   Posted on 8:00am Wednesday 14th Feb 2018

   What better way to celebrate Valentines than with your BFF and a L.O.L Surprise!  (Or Galentines on the 13th February, which is the new way to celebrate those girl friends you love). Even more exciting is to share the love with the NEW L.O.L Surprise Series 3 and the introduction of the Confetti Pop!

          

   This Spring, L.O.L. Surprise! Confetti Pop launches in the UK on the 14th February with nine brand new surprises including new dolls, new accessories and a new surprise water feature. The L.O.L Surprise! Confetti Pop looks similar to the first two series in shape and style and although you have your zips to "unlock" the treasures inside you suddenly get to the balls which has a "spin me" instruction to reveal sets of doors. (excitement levels definitely increased at this bit)

   

   Not only does the L.O.L Surprise! Confetti Pop have outfits, accessories, shoes and dolls - hidden amongst the layers is a ribbon, inviting you to pull and reveal a confetti pop! surprise which can be enjoyed over and over again. (we struggled with the over and over again bit but to be honest, once the doll is out that is all they care about!) The "pop" feature is exciting but definitely needs a little adult or older children's help to actually make it pop but the little LOL Surprise! jumping out is great fun.

   

   So once you have "popped" the LOL Surprise! Doll out of her ball (be prepared for the confetti) you can create your cute little character. At £10.99 the Confetti Pop is slightly more expensive than the previous series but I think that they have definitely injected a new excitement for little ones to enjoy.

   

   To compliment the Confetti Pop, they are also launching the series 3 L.O.L Surprise! Lil Sisters. They have five surprises and the clue hints at which doll is hidden inside. Reveal stickers, accessories and a doll. The surprises don’t stop there – bathe your doll to reveal her colour change water surprise. Her ball can become either a keyring or bath set. Mix and match the adorable accessories with both the L.O.L Surprise! Confetti Pop and L.O.L Surprise! Pets. There are 35+ L.O.L Surprise! Lil Sisters dolls to collect in series 3. 

   

   We have previously had LOL Suprise! Dolls as gifts and used for rewards and every time there is something new to find and discover. They are great collectables and my daughter and her friends will play with them for hours, so at the same price you can pay for a couple of magazines, there are so many more hours of fun to be had!

   The new Series 3 get a huge thumbs up from us and are no doubt going to be popping up on most little ones wishlists this year!

   L.O.L. Surprise!TM Series 3 is for children aged 6+ and is available from all good toy retailers including Smyths and The Entertainer. For more information, visit https://lolsurprise.mgae.com/

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