We are in week one of our homeschooling due to the Corona virus and my new "co-workers" are yet to figure out how to make a decent cup of tea.

We are all adjusting to our new normal and we have already had multiple websites crashing, due to so many people logging on at the same time. It is interesting to learn how impatient we all are when we simply expect something to work.

We are all so used to access to the world at the touch of a button. What with anytime-anywhere convenience, people crave immediacy and instant gratification while the always-connected nature of today’s world means that consumers – and businesses – expect to get things faster than ever before.

A new study by promotional products retailer 4imprint, reveals the true extent to which Britain has become an impatient nation.

Some of the stats are surprising .....

• 84 percent of UK adults class themselves as impatient
• Nearly three quarters (73 per cent) admit they have become less patient in recent years
• 41 percent said nothing is more frustrating than wasted time
• 21 percent put their impatience down to getting bored quickly
• 18 percent said they are so used to getting things instantly from the internet they often expect it in every aspect of life
• 13 percent said they hate waiting for anything
• Three in ten admit they binge watch boxsets because they don’t want to wait to find out what happens next
• 34 per cent cross the road before the green man appears
• A quarter say they will hang up the phone if they are on hold for more than five minutes
• 24 per cent will walk out of a shop or restaurant if there aren’t enough staff/ all the staff are busy, or menu hasn’t come quick enough
• 21 per get frustrated if someone doesn’t text you back immediately        
• 18 per cent never read to end of articles
• Work is major cause of impatience
• A third claim the pressures of modern life have made them constantly pushed for time.

Can you relate to any of these? The research was commissioned following a surge in demand from businesses that need promotional products delivering within 24 hours.

So with home schooling the children and working from home, I have a sneaky feeling that work "may" rise a little higher on my own impatience list in the coming weeks.

We may have become an impatient nation but staying connected to our friends and family is important right now. Curbing our impatience and remembering to be kind in unprecendted times is what we all need to do. 

This is a collaborative post.

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I always say that I can't be old enough to have a teenage daughter but apparently I am.

It is also said that having a teenager can be worse than a toddler and although whilst they can be just as messy (!!), having a teenager in the house has brought as much fun and laughter as it has challenges. Although if you ask my quietly confident teen, she will tell you that she is a dream to live with!

Let's be honest, we all know that being a teenager has its own unique challenges, but it’s also the perfect time to shape mental wellbeing and happiness. We were therefore thrilled to receive a copy of Be Happy, Be You from Becky Goddard Hill and Penny Alexander. The book is a positive and insightful guide for teenagers giving them the tools they need to build confidence, eliminate negative feelings and boost happiness in all areas of life. (and who wouldn't want that?)

Be Happy Be You has been created to guide teenagers through this time - packed with tons of ideas to try from creating an anxiety toolkit, planning a digital detox to meditating and fashion with the planet in mind. Becky and Penny also help to explain the science behind why these activities are important and why they work. Combining mindfulness activities with practical advice, this book makes the perfect thoughtful gift for teenagers.

That said, it is a useful reminder for parents too. I admit to having a look through the book first and the recurring theme is (unsurprisingly) happiness and there is a lot to be said for that, whatever your age. The book is split into three sections and it has lots of activities not just "advice" making it something that you can pick up and return to, rather than having to "wade" through intensely.

We were kindly gifted our copy but you can buy Be Happy, Be You on Amazon for £9.99 (although currently on offer at the time of publishing)

There is also a group of amazing bloggers helping to promote and share their thoughts on the book following its launch, why not take a browse through and see what they each thought?

Boo Roo and Tigger Too 

A Mummy Too

Who’s the Mummy   

Emma and 3 

The Diary of a Frugal Family 

Little LilyPad (me today)

Growing Family  

Steph’s two girls 

Actually Mummy   

Mummy from the heart

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I get the mickey taken out of me regularly for the amount of photos I take and it is not just the Christmas ones or the special occasions, they are the ones that capture the memories as your children get older. So we have collaborated with Photobookdeals to put together a guide to perfectly keeping those memories.

From the moment they are born, babies develop rapidly. Everything grows and changes and with every day you can see more of your little one’s personality and uniqueness unfold. Of course, in the first year, you’ll have plenty of photographic proof of all this happening. At some point you’ll look at your little angel and marvel at the changes they went through and how big they’ve gotten. Photos and videos will help you look back and remember each and every important or adorable moment.

Baby photos are practically predestined to be used for something special. The wonder of life and the growth of your family is something magical. As such, they don’t belong on your smartphone or in a drawer to be looked at only when you’re doing a little spring cleaning. For many families, a photo book of a baby’s first year is the perfect way to document those developments and be able to look back on them whenever they like. Of course, framed photos, wall decorations, and announcement cards are all part of the deal. But the photo book offers the unique chance to really tell a story. That’s why we’ll go into the key points to consider for the perfect baby photo book.

1. Size & Format

There is, of course, no right and wrong when it comes to the size and the format of a baby photo book. A small square coffee table book can make an adorable impression and is a great option for a gift to friends and family. But if you’re looking for a story book option that will really show off those pictures, best practice is to go with A4 or even A3. As most photos are taken in portrait format, that’s also the likely best fit. That doesn’t mean that landscape photos have no place. The size of an A4 or A3 photo book alone makes it possible to design pages with collages and if you want to go all in, you can even place a photo over two pages with most photo book services. You can edit photos using photo editing free resource.

2. Binding & Cover

Remember how we said we can place a photo over two pages? There’s a way to perfect this: Lay-flat binding is very popular at the moment, because the pages of the book connect practically seamlessly. That means that when you place a photo over two pages, there’s no fold or line or anything that disrupts the photo. For baby photo books, that is the holy grail of bindings. For a good look and feel, a hard cover is recommended. Of course, almost all photo book services let you print the most precious photo you have on the cover. That will make a wonderful impression on the final photo book.

3. Paper

Here it really depends on the company you go with. Sometimes, you can pick different paper weights (measured in gsm). The higher value you pick, the better the feel (but of course also the higher the price). Thick pages also make up for a better photo quality most of the time. A good weight for the paper for a baby photo book would be from 100gsm upward.

There’s also the matt and glossy options: Glossy pages reflect light and show off the colours richly while matt pages give the picture a rich look, meaning the texture comes across better.

4. Price

Of course, the price tag matters at the end of the day. Each and every decision you make (matt or glossy, paper weight, binding, and size) is relevant to the final price of your photo book. While a beautiful photo book is worth every penny, that doesn’t mean you can’t be smart about it. Especially around holidays like Christmas and Easter, photo book services offer many deals and promotions. If you’re undecided about which service to choose, there are also deal websites that offer you pretty much all information at a glance, plus a look into all the promotions available. Don’t let all those wonderful and unique photos of your baby just wither away on some smartphone or camera. Give them a chance to shine and share those memories with the people you love. The added bonus of creating a photo book is that one day, when the baby becomes a grown person, you can show them how they started and relive those special moments

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As the clocks strike midnight on the of 30 November, all at once, all across the land, (and on Instagram), they appear. Dressed in red and green, looking as innocent as can be, Elf on the Shelf begin to steal your social media feeds once again.

Oh, sweet Father Christmas, not again.

Just how will we survive this annual month of elf antics? How is there possibly anything original to post? What is with parents’ incessant need to track this toy’s every little move, gawdammit!?

How to embrace the Elf of the Shelf

Get ready to unfreeze your Grinched-up soul and feel a tingle of festive spirit. Here’s a lowdown of what to love about an Elf for Christmas. At the very least, it’s the survival guide you asked for.

“To see something, you have to believe in it. Really believe it. That's the first elf rule. You can't see something you don't believe in. Now try your hardest…”

- Matt Haig, A Boy Called Christmas

Remember what it was like to be young

Not everyone loves Christmas. Don’t tell the elves. It upsets them quite a lot. And it’s way too close to Christmas Eve to risk impacting toy production rates. Let’s avoid upsetting elves.

But, just cast your mind back to when Christmas was last truly magical? Remember what it was like to believe. That excitement. Those tingling toes.

As soon as you do, you’ll grow an ounce or two of understanding for parents who want to make those years as enchanting as possible.

But, what if?

We’ve all seen Toy Story, we all know the drill. So, now you’ve slipped into the right frame of mind, ask yourself… what if?

The thing with Elf for Christmas is, that is seems to ignite the imagination of children of all ages. Even those in the know about Big FC, himself. After all, nothing captures hearts quite like creativity. Who doesn’t love waking up to a surprise every morning!

From toddlers to teens, and all ages in between, there’s something wonderful about allowing yourself the gift of believing. And what better, more magical, month for it than December?

Capturing pictures of the Elf antics can also highlight other things you might want to focus on. Before sharing anything online, we can all be over critical of our own homes but when I decide that I want some new torus skirting my husband is grateful for a different project to the one that makes him create Elf magic every day!

But who knows, maybe even a grown up grump like you could learn to love an elf too? If you can't beat them, join them! Welcome one into your home and see how he, or she, can enrich advent. We’re talking serious enhanced excitement levels. Be warned.

It seems that to enjoy Elf on the Shelf, you simply need to be rid of the adult inside you and allow magic in once again. Go on .... it is the most magical time of the year after all!

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