Author: Scottish Mum

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How are you all in the loo roll crisis?

I just wanted to put up a post due to all the messages, e-mails and news around the dreaded Coronavirus, or COVID-19.  I know with my teens that information can be too much, and at other times, just not enough to keep them sensible.  I’m not going to go into any depth on the things we’ve all seen a million times already, round hand washing, coughs and isolation.  We all know what’s being advised, but the messages can be conflicting too.  My special needs lad can’t process what’s going on at all, and my youngest plans on going on a session after it’s all over.  I’ve seen my shopping bills decimated as I don’t have huge groups of teen pals descending on me for food and juices, and I’m worried about finding loo roll when the time comes, like everyone else.

I’ve worked more or less alone for years now, and although I’ve closed my physical business for a few weeks, I still have so much I could be doing, that being at home more often as my husband is a serious asthmatic, doesn’t feel like a break from the daily grind.  Instead, I’ve decided to do some online courses I’ve been planning to do for ages, and never got around to.  I think being told I ‘can’t’ leave the house, would be far worse that choosing to stay at home.  It’d be a bit like me telling the teens to be home by midnight and them ignoring phone calls till 1am, by which time, I’m in a panic cloud.

What is the Scottish Mum house doing?

1 – Not Panicking Yet

At the potential scarcity of loo rolls, although I do have a sharp intake of breath as I see my regular loo roll pile diminishing.  Special needs boy seems to use a whole roll every time he goes to the loo, so might have to ration him as there’s no more to be had easily, and I can’t be bothered trailing to a dozen shops and mixing with more and more people to find them when we’re out….  They’re more precious than porcelain ornaments at the moment.

2 – Looking Out Microfibre Cloths and Face Cloths

Yup, has to be done.  I’ve got plenty old buckets in the garage that hub uses for washing or fixing the car, so if we have to go to using those as loo roll alternatives, I can stick them in bleach, like babies nappies, until they’re ready to be washed.  Don’t people ever wonder what our previous generations did in the war?  I remember the stories from my mum, so although it’d be a huge hassle, I’m happy to do what I have to, so those with hundreds of rolls, and a bedroom stacked from floor to roof, can happily wipe their behinds and spend so much money, they’ll never have to buy loo roll, ever again.

3 – Watching The News Less Often

Seriously, it’s damaging to public health.  A few days ago, I caught myself madly refreshing my sky news app, in case I missed some nugget of information that might be relevant.  Boris Johnson and his updates are enough for me now.  I know it’s serious, and I’m trying to educate my boys without terrifying them.  The young are often disinterested in anything that might not affect them much.   Kids on the whole, are insular and self serving.  We shouldn’t be shocked that older teens and young adults are still out whooping, because they either don’t care about what they see as a virus that is more dangerous to the elderly or those with underlying health problems, or can’t understand it.  Even most of their parents have never lived through a crisis.   I’ve never lived through a major crisis event.

4 – Shopping As Little As I Can

For people who are meant to be doing social distancing, the queues for shops are mental.  Seriously nuts.  There are no online shopping slots available at my usual store, for the whole time slots are open for.  No slot available for home shopping or click and collect.  How are people self isolating or with the virus meant to get their shopping when they can’t get any slots?  Today, stores seem to have added milk to their difficult to get items.  My kids may not get the food they’d prefer, but they won’t go hungry.   There is food.  Just not anything fresh at my regular store, though that might change as limits to amounts of purchases are started.   I have an online shop due, that I booked weeks ago, but doubting that much of what I ordered will actually appear.   I couldn’t get any fresh meat this week, so we have none at the moment, and there were no potatoes either.  I still have a few potatoes, but not worrying about that either.  We’ll manage with what we’ve got.  If we get ill, we’ll manage that too, somehow.  The major stockpilers must be about due to stop emptying the shelves soon.  I hope people don’t buy the mega expensively marked up necessities appearing online, as that would just enforce more panic buying, but panic does strange things to people.  I can’t blame them either.   The news isn’t helping.

 

 

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What is the difference between Swede, Neeps and Turnip

In Scotland, anyone over a certain age, will know them as fairly interchangeable, with simply a different colour to set them apart.  A comment on an earlier recipe post about cooking this versatile and really tasty vegetable, made me decide to do a post about the fundamental differences and why we Scots tend to refer to turnip as swede, or neep, or is it turnip?

It still begs to argue the reason for the different names.  Seriously, it could make a grown woman cry.  It’s not terribly straight forward, and an English/Irish/French/Scottish debate could grow in parliament to get a very uneasy stalemate as each side battled the other to come out on top.  This pair of root veg could cause utter chaos on a dinner menu.

Everyone knows who Rabbie Burns is, and that we die hards North of the border tuck into haggis, neeps and tatties.  So, are those neeps turnip or swede, or a mix of both?    The basics really came from days gone by, when vegetables were more locally sourced.  Scottish grannies knew about turnips versus swedes, but turnips were usually reserved for the more well heeled families that could afford to import them when weather was poor.  Prices were higher.  As a child growing up, the greengrocers always had bins and bins of huge swedes on sale, but never a turnip in sight.  Turnip, when cooked, has a more white fleshy appearance, where swede, when cooked, is a more yellow/orange colour.   Cooking with turnip used to be seen as a sign of wealth, due to the small size and difficulty sourcing in winter months.  Knowing all this though, really doesn’t help much to determine what neeps are either.

In Aberdeen, we often still use the name neep to describe swede.  We also call swede turnip.  Who knows what most people call the white turnip?  I grew up thinking it was a posh veg with no taste.  Maybe they grew more white turnip down south, where the weather is warmer, and crop growing needed to be faster for higher population densities, but I’m seriously guessing.

Growing up, my grannie cooked ‘turnip,’ or ‘neep,’ every week, but it was always actually, very orange, 2 hour steamed swede.  I was clueless.  Neeps, turnip and swede were all the same thing to me then.  Not until our first major supermarket opened it’s doors a few decades ago, did I ever see one of those strange white things in person.

In Aberdeen, and most of Scotland, a burns night supper is really haggis, swede and mashed tatties.  What other nationalities or generations do, I have no idea.  Some may be more politically correct in the terms they use, but I know what I mean…not that my knowing counts for anything much.   In some countries, swedes are pig swill, but they don’t know what they’re missing out on.  Honestly, swedes/neeps/turnips of the orange variety are ultra tasty indeed.  A bit like a cross between a potato and sweet potato to my taste buds.

Just to make this difficult, my grandfather, who was raised on a farm, called both white and orange varieties neeps, which he was adamant was simply a shorter nickname for turnips of any colour, ie both white and orange, and also called them greentops or greenies.  Young ladies now tend to use the name greenies as a term for nail fungus…..  Confused much?  I’m not.

In America, they tend to call swedes – rutabaga.  I spent ages one day trying to figure out what on earth a rutabaga was.  So disappointing to find out it was just a plain old orange neep.

In short, I dislike the little white round things, and love the bigger yellow/orange things.

The major differences:

White Turnips

  • Smaller and more round than swedes,
  • White flesh when cutting into the turnip.
  • Fast growing, but are very small.   Can be grown in around 6-8 weeks.
  • Need more fertiliser, and are higher maintenance to grow than swedes.
  • Do not do well with frosty weather and must be harvested before the first heavy frost, which can be fairly early, and unpredictable in Scotland.

Swedes/Neeps/Rutabaga/Orange Turnips

  • Often very much bigger than turnips, with a longer shape.
  • Yellow or orange flesh, depending on cooking time.  The longer swedes are cooked, the darker colour the flesh achieves.
  • Are very hands off, and low maintenance to grow.
  • Do very well in frosty weather.  The swede is said to be best after the first winter frost.
  • Came from Sweden originally, where to grow, vegetables need to survive heavy winters.
  • High yield per swede, made them a favourite for Scottish grannies.
  • Sweeter in flavour than a turnip, to which they are indeed, related.
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Instant Pot Baked Potatoes – Pressure Cooker Baked Potatoes

I used to use my slow cooker for baked potatoes, and a few times, I also used an air fryer, but that wasn’t as successful.  I suspect that would have worked better with tin foil.  My new favourite go to for baked potatoes, to save me waiting three hours for the oven, or four in the slow cooker, is now my Instant Pot.  I bought it on a whim a while back, and have used it a fair bit to be honest.

I used four huge potatoes in this version, as opposed to smaller ones, and it needed a fair increase in time cooked.  I first cooked on high pressure for 20 minutes, but then had to cook again for another 15 minutes.  In total, I know if I am using such big potatoes, I need to set my cooker to around 35 minutes on high pressure.

There’s no need to use foil for the pressure cooker and skins aren’t baked hard, they’re just perfect and the insides are baked and fluffy, and not waxy in the way they come out of a microwave.

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Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Recipe - Pressure Cooker Baked Potatoes

Lesley Smith
Fabulously fluffy and mashable baked potatoes from a pressure cooker.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Mains, Snacks
Servings 4
Calories 93 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • Four large baking potatoes.
  • 2 cups water or to the minimum amount in your pressure cooker instructions.

Instructions
 

  • For this you will need the trivet from your Instant Pot, or a metal grille to sit your potatoes out of the water needed for the pressure cooking.

  • Make sure you wash the potatoes thoroughly. I remove eyes to please fussy teenagers, which is why I have some white spots where I've removed them on my potatoes.

  • Put the trivet or metal rack on the bottom of the pan, and sit the potatoes on top.

  • Put on the lid and slide the valve to the sealed position on the lid.

  • With an Instant Pot, select manual, and adust the time to suit your needs. My cook time for the future for these, will be set at 35 minutes on high.

  • If you can, wait for the natural release to happen for the pressure from the cooker, but if you are in a hurry, protect your hands and slide the valve on the lid to the release setting.

  • Remove the potatoes and serve with your choice of toppping. Here, we simply use butter and coleslaw.

 

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10 Quick and Easy Dishes for the Busy Festive Season

This time of year is always difficult to manage juggling kids, work, elders, shopping, leisure time, chores and so much more.  I find myself running around like a headless chicken trying to sort everything out.  I get home after 5, then the thought of food isn’t always the first thing on my mind, but there are hungry teens to feed, and they like plenty food.   Making burgers and soups is something I do often, as they are just so filling as the teens all like to fill up on meat, preferably in a bun, and I like something more light in the evening.  These are my top picks of quick snacks from my recipes for this xmas.  Enjoy.

1 Home Made Burgers with Red and Orange Peppers

A fabulous meal and make quickly and easily from simple mince, fill up bellies with the wholesome goodness of red and green peppers, and make a healthy fast food option.

2 Cheesy Meatball Muffins

Made from mince, onions and cheese, with some seasoning, this is one of the simplest recipes around.  Fast and a change to regular mince options.

3 Egg Pizza with Ham and Tomato

Been shopping and looking for a recipe to quickly fill an empty belly?  Egg pizza is easy and any fridge ingredients do the trick.  Don’t stick to just ham or tomato.  Get creative and add anything you have.  Chicken, beef, peppers, onions, meatballs, mushroom and much more.

4 Garlic and Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

One of my favourites, this takes little to no time to make at all.  Don’t miss out on great food when you’re busy.

5 Vegetarian Haggis Soup

I made this in a soupmaker, but it works just as easily in a pot.  Just cook the vegetables in the stock first, then add in the haggis until piping hot by following the instructions on your haggis pack.  This is lush and filling, making a whole meal in a pot.

6 Coconut and Lime Soup

This was incredibly popular when I first posted it.  A really unusual flavour to a simple soup, making the day aromatic and fragrant.

7 Fresh Limeade

Lovely and refreshing after a long tiring day.  Light and zesty.

8 Raw Strawberry and Banana Ice Cream

Have chopped bananas and strawberries in the fridge, and follow this recipe for some lush deliciousness.  Best eaten freshly made, with the bananas adding a luxurious creaminess.

9 Strawberry Cheesecake

A good favourite of the kids.  The colours look lovely and it’s speedy to make.  Good enough for a dinner party.

10 Sugar Free Chocolate Mint Avocado Mousse

I can’t finish without something chocolately.  A little more work involved here, but it’s soo worth it.  A recipe by kitchen sanctuary, this is well worth a try.

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Cameras in CARE are BADLY needed.

Hi all.  Both my mum and dad passed away recently.  I’m not looking for sympathy with this post, but I do want to highlight an awareness of issues that most people simply don’t know about.

Campaign for CCTV in Care

One man, who has a relative who suffered abuse in care, has taken it further, especially for nursing/care homes, has begun a campaign to call for CCTV in care, to ensure levels of care become consistent and monitored for progress and safety.   I’ve followed his progress over the last year or two, and it deserves some awareness.

Tony Stowell and his campaign started small and has grown in popularity with celebrity backing, to try and stop abuse in care.  He campaigns for care in care/nursing homes, but it’s all the same thing, as carers recycle, going from job to job, care home to care home, house to house.  The pool just rotates, it’s easy to get a job and standards of training/personnel are often poor.

 

https://youtu.be/x0vhgJcCwzs

 

Tony was nominated for a Pride of Britain Award for his work over the last few years, and has already won a Heroes award.

Keep up with his campaign on:

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TonyStowell3

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/supportstowell/

Why Am I Sharing This?

Mum lived with me until she passed away, and my father was in a nursing home nearly 100 miles away.  It’s been interesting navigating social work, care agencies, the NHS and their care needs.  I wouldn’t say interesting in a good way, as there have been many battles during my mothers care, for us to protect her dignity and give her person centred care.  There are some amazing carers, there really are, but there are also, what seems to be, so many very much abusive and bad/lazy ones.  Tony’s campaign, and the sheer amount of stories and experiences shared with his campaign, show that abusive care takes many forms, both physical and mental.

My mum has had carers in my house as she’s lived with me for a fairly long time now.. Our experience of those has been mixed.  There are good and bad carers, but most are just desperate to get onto the next client.

Sadly, at the beginning of problems, I only had a baby monitor type camera, that allowed viewing only, which served no use for the first complaints I made, before we ditched one agency.  After a  catastrophic stroke, she had a package of new carers coming in to help.  The training of ‘professional carers in the community,’ is inadequate.  I know because I put two people on a carer course to find out for myself.   After a fraught couple of weeks, a new carer came, who was amazing.  Absolutely fabulous, and kept the other carers in check, so life tootled along until she moved on a year later, when the quality of care dropped.

I’m not going to go into everything, but I started watching the carers, and changed the camera to one that records due to not being believed previously.  What I watched on that camera will haunt me, to see what was happening to my mum, in my own home.  Social work backed up the carers and the agency, who told us we had to back off and let the carers get on with it, and eventually the agency pulled all care.  No help at all for months, and social work believed the agency and carers.

Finally, I let a visiting OT see them.  She immediately went back and said the care was unacceptable, and as a senior OT, they believed her.  The agency did come to view the videos and took action.

Several carers told me how much they loved looking after mum, said she was a delight, and strangely one even rubbed noses with mum, saying what great friends they were.  That’s the one a coffee shop complained about, saying she ignored mum for the whole time they were there.  In essence, carers can look/sound ok to us and their employers, but behind closed doors, alone with our loved ones, the treatment can be different, and I suspect many poor carers don’t even know they are poor carers.

And yet, sadly, I have to say, that what happened to my mum, is mild in comparison to what’s happening to very many people, especially those with dementia, up and down the length and breadth of our country.  Why?  Pretty much because few people really want to know in our society.  Busy people prefer to think care is good and all abuse is visible.  They accept bruises and cuts as ‘normal,’ in an ageing population, because the alternative will affect their lives, so think care is a lovely little perfect bubble, and that care is good because the carers say it is

Remember, that many carers and care homes will argue with cameras being in place, telling us it is illegal, and it really is not.  I never had a good carer complain about the cameras, and thought it would deter poor carers. If they argue with you, they will also say that cameras take away the dignity of the person being cared for, when the truth is that a camera helps protect the dignity.  If someone is advanced enough to need extensive care, and requires total strangers stripping and washing them daily, which feels like a violation to them, their personal dignity is already gone, and the camera is only there to ensure care is done with dignity.   I would now never put a relative into a home that doesn’t allow a camera.  Of course there will be families that use cameras to make silly accusations, but that same footage will also protect those carers.

Back cameras.  We are on CCTV everywhere we go, in shops, hospitals, schools, even just walking down the street, so why not in the care workplace too?

 

 

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Are you a carer? It’s Carers Week 10th – 16th June 2019

The one thing that’s hit home very much for me recently, is just how many unofficial carers there are out in the community, doing their bit, day by day, not really realising they are actually carers.  You know the ones, the people who pop in past an elderly or disabled neighbour and bring home some shopping, put out their bins, pick up medicines from the chemist, keep an eye on who rings the doorbell, makes tea and coffee, along with sharing snippets of their own news of the day.  It’s just something some people do..

They say that if we need anything done, we should always ask the busiest person we know.  Busy people tend to prioritise,  know what’s not important, and is the one who is most likely to make the time to help out in an emergency.

I have mum at end stage dementia at home full time, paralysed and doubly incontinent, and a special needs adopted teenager that needs 24/7 support too, as well as his struggling siblings.  I also work when I can, and run the blog/s when I have time.  When dad died a few weeks ago, it was me who had to run around, organise the funeral, celebrant, flowers, driving 5 hour round trips to and from where he lived to sort out the death certificate, pay the funeral director, pick up the ashes, and then home and work almost all night seeing to mum as she’s awake till 3-4am just now, the boys, and catching up with my own sadly reduced paying work too.  It was exhausting.

My running has had to stop as I’m often up so late with mum, and I have few carers as I just don’t trust them enough.  ‘Professional care,’ for dementia, is lacking in care in the industry for end of life.  Seriously, the things I’ve seen so called professionals do……is for sharing when mum has moved on.  I’ve put on weight because I’m not running and my hobbies have had to be sacrificed to find the time for everything else.  It’s a vicious cycle that carers fall into and I’ll have to build up my running again, from the beginning, when mum is gone.  I loved it, so it’s been a huge loss of something that was so hard for me to build up.  I’m not a natural runner, so it took months of effort to be able to run.   The added weight makes me feel rubbish, so on and on it goes, in a never ending cycle of needy people needing my time.

My health has suffered too.  Less exercise means my diabetes is harder to control, and the depressing issue of added weight doesn’t help.  I never have time to see a doctor for myself, as that’s another sacrifice I’ve made over the last few years.

Do you recognise yourself with anything at all that I’ve said here?

If so, you are a carer.

This week is:

CARERS WEEK

There is a lot of information on carersweek.org

61% of carers surveyed said they had suffered ill health as a result of caring.  The sad truth is that carers often neglect themselves, because there is no other choice.

The focus this year is getting carers connected.

They recognise that caring can be hard, and affects every aspect of someones life.  Family, relationships, finances, work and health often all become difficult to negotiate.  It’s even harder that people who have never had significant caring duties, really do not understand, at all.  Even paid carers don’t understand.  They go home at nights, have days off, go on holidays, and don’t have the 24/7/365 commitment.

There are huge rewards to caring, like seeing a family member contented and emotionally supported during their difficulties, protecting them from harm, but finding the right information and help is really very difficult, and harder to access than it should be.

With up to 6.5 million estimated carers in the UK, they are not all with caring duties as extensive as mine, but they are carers none the less, and need someone to talk to.

Non carers tend not to understand, so the focus is often on connecting carers, by listening to the experiences of people who live the life.  There is also a huge difference between the carers in the community and the ones who visit care/nursing homes.  It’s not a one size fits all problem.

Being connected can mean:

  • Directly with other carers as a support.
  • Online forums and support groups.
  • Help with benefits and covering the extra costs of looking after someone who needs care.
  • Getting help with being recognised as a carer, especially for dementia, as the families looking out for elderly and infirm relatives or those with dementia, seem to be in a black hole compared to those with the more traditional medical disabilities.
  • Breaks from caring.
  • Technology to help, such as Telecare alarm systems for windows, doors, pendant alerts, fall alerts and much much more.

If you think you are a carer, even a young carer, look for any events in your area that help you become connected.  If, like me, you prefer online, find a reliable group that is responsibly run and we soon find ourselves within a larger network of people in the same situation as ourselves, to share experiences with, and often ask invaluable advice.

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Chicken, Bacon and Beetroot Stir Fry

Chicken, Bacon and Beetroot Stirfry

Lesley S Smith
4 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Lunch
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 10 Rashers Bacon
  • 2 Chicken Breasts Cut into strips.
  • 4 Eggs
  • 600 g Mixed Stir Fry Veg Beansprouts, pumpkin strips, shredded carrot, green leaf salad, mange tout.
  • 1 Onion Chopped.
  • 1 Jar Baxters Crinkle Cut Beetroot Chopped into smaller pieces. Wash, drain and dry the beetroot before adding to a stir fry.

Instructions
 

  • Use your pieces of meat, chicken or bacon and lightly fry in a wok or thick bottomed pan until fully cooked.

  • Add eggs to the pan and let them cook similar to scrambled eggs, stirring in with the meat as it cooks.




  • Add an onion to the pan and let the mixture slowly cook for a few minutes on low.

  • Stir in your stir fry vegetables and either spray cooking oil, or add a couple of tablespoons of oil to make the stir fry.

  • Add the beetroot towards the end of cooking if you are happy with the pinky shade that your meal till take on from cooking for a few minutes.

  • I had split my stir fry into two lots. For the kids, I gently folded the beetroot in with their finished stir fry to keep it sharp, bright and pleasant to the eye.

  • For my own, I stirred in the beetroot and let it cook with the stir fry for a few more minutes to take on the beetroot taste. I am happy to say this is one recipe that I am going to make several variations of.

 

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Cherry and Strawberry Sauce – Great with Cake

Cherry and Strawberry Sauce – Great with Cake

Lesley Smith
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Sauces – Sweet

Ingredients
  

  • 250 g Pitted Cherries
  • 250 g Strawberries
  • 100 g Caster Sugar
  • 100 g Water
  • 1 teaspoon Cornflour
  • 1 teaspoon Lemon or Lime Juice

Instructions
 

  • Put the strawberries, cherries, sugar and water on to boil on a moderate heat and keep stirring. You don’t want this to stick to the bottom of the pan.

  • Take your choice of lemon or lime juice and mix it with the cornflour until it is smooth. Take the cherry mix off the boil and stir it in quickly until it smoothes out.

  • Put the mix back on the heat, stirring all the time while it bubbles to stop it burning. The idea is to bubble off the liquid until it reaches a thick consistency.

  • Leave the sauce to cool, then simply serve.
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6 Easy to Implement Fashion Tips for Busy Moms

Collaborative Post

As a mom, you have a lot of responsibility. Your little ones are your life and they rely on you 24/7. Most of the time, you’re so focused on doing what’s best for them that you forget about looking after yourself. In this day and age, most moms go above and beyond trying to maintain some sort of career (either at home or in the office) as well as bringing up a family, looking after the home, etc. For a lot of ladies, to feel good you need to look good, but a busy, non-stop schedule can leave you a bit worn out. So, here are six easy to implement fashion tips for a busy mom to make you feel human once again.

Most of the time, you’re so focused on doing what’s best for them that you forget about looking after yourself. In this day and age, most moms go above and beyond trying to maintain some sort of career (either at home or in the office) as well as bringing up a family, looking after the home, etc. For a lot of ladies, to feel good you need to look good, but a busy, non-stop schedule can leave you a bit worn out. So, here are six easy to implement fashion tips for a busy mom to make you feel human once again.

As a mom, you have a lot of responsibility. Your little ones are your life and they rely on you 24/7. Most of the time, you’re so focused on doing what’s best for them that you forget about looking after yourself. In this day and age, most moms go above and beyond trying to maintain some sort of career (either at home or in the office) as well as bringing up a family, looking after the home, etc. For a lot of ladies, to feel good you need to look good, but a busy, non-stop schedule can leave you a bit worn out. So, here are six easy to implement fashion tips for a busy mom to make you feel human once again.

Tasteful Tunics

Casual wear sometimes gives the wrong impression as some people just assume it will be a shabby look and give off a sluggish appearance. But it does not have to be this way. If baggy T-shirts are your go-to piece on a casual day, change your look up by going for a tasteful tunic. Tunics can come in short or long varieties. Their lengthy shape is designed to glide over your body which is very flattering towards your figure. They can come in a wide range of lovely colors with beautifications like lace trim, ribbons and scalloping. If it’s for everyday wear, a tunic can be worn over a pair of shorts or jeans. If you want a more dressed up look, you can add a stylish pencil skirt or a pair of slacks.

Shapelier Shirtdresses

A shirtdress can get away with being both casual and smart. Whatever you use one for, they are definitely a comfortable choice. They have a simple style to them and are both easy to wear and flattering for your figure. To make them easier to clean and care for, it would be best to choose a shirtdress in a machine washable fabric such as cotton. Wearing a bright and colorful shirtdress accompanied by a pair of ballet flats can give a suitable look to go anywhere from the grocery store to a PTA meeting.

Terrific Tanks

When it begins to get warmer, many moms tend to go for the basic tank with shorts look. The novelty of tank tops can begin to wear off after a while and the same, plain look can easily become boring. To change it up, try selecting different styles such as a ruffled top or a top that has an embellished neckline for a little more panache.

Simple Shoes

Getting the right pair of shoes can be tricky as there is a fine line between comfort and scruffy. Old tennis shoes or a pair of flip flops can be an easy thing to put on when you’re in a rush and on your feet for a long time, but this doesn’t have to be the case. So, get rid of the tatty footwear and get a cute (but comfy) pair instead. You can get a wide range of high end, fashionable Balenciaga sneakers from SSENSE who have fantastic looking shoes which are suitable for anything from casual to formal wear. They have a selection of comfortable Balenciaga sneakers for morning exercise or the school run as well as a beautiful variety of heals perfect for the office or a classy night out with the girls.

Hot Hair

It is important to take care of your hair. It is something that people see every day, so it is advised to keep it fresh and fabulous. If you have any grays, go ahead and dye them away. To keep your hair looking as best as it can, it’s advised that you should dye your roots every 6-8 weeks. If you’re in a hurry in the mornings, don’t ever miss out on conditioning your hair. Either invest in a 2 in 1 product to keep your hair in good health and hydrated or wash your hair the night before. When you wake up in the morning, make sure you don’t miss out on brushing your hair. Put it up in a ponytail or twist to keep it looking neat if you don’t have time to style it. Using gel or pomade to slick it back, then adding a headband can quickly avoid a messy look. Having an easy to maintain haircut can also save a lot of time.

No Fuss Natural Makeup

It is easier than you think to be a stylish mum. Self-care is just as important as caring for your family. Don’t forget to treat yourself and don’t be afraid to try a new style because at the end of the day, you are worth it.

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7 Day Healthy Food Challenge

We’re heading to the end of January, and most of us will have let our New Year resolutions fall by the wayside already. Instead of feeling downcast and disappointed by letting good work go to waste, it can sometimes be easier to set ourselves small goals and tasks to perform, so that they are easier to stick to.

So, instead of setting a whole life goal, how about a week or a month of eating less processed food, less sugar, and more fruit and veg…. For me, I’m planning a 7 day healthy food challenge. And it is being a challenge. Over the last few months, I’ve been neck deep in caring duties and trying to earn money to pay my bills, so food and care for myself has fallen by the wayside.

This is what I plan to do:

Healthy whole foods are things like vegetables, fruits and whole grains, with proteins and fats allowed. What should be cut, is refined sugars, grains, any added sugar, preservatives and unhealthy fats. I try to cut salt out, but food just tastes so bland, so I’ll leave that challenge for another day. For now, it’s eat better, not add sugar, and be sensible.

Vegetables

We eat a lot of vegetables here anyway, but more couldn’t hurt. I wish I could like cauliflower and broccoli more, but I can’t seem to do it. I will cut the amount of white potatoes I use, and add in more sweet potatoes, and top that up with plenty soups filled with onion, carrot, tomatoes, sweetcorn, courgette, green beans and more. Vegetables are low in calories and nutritious, so we can eat more bulk, but I have to admit, I’d rather eat fruit, so eating vegetables as vegetables, rather than as soup, is a challenge for me, as vegies help reduce risk of heart disease and diabetes. f them can reduce your risk of diseases like heart disease and diabetes.

Fruit

I am usually fairly good with fruit. It is generally higher in sugar than vegetables, but compared to processed food, there is no comparison. I tend to buy fruit, wash and freeze it, so I have fruit for fruit smoothies. I’ve got out of the habit of this recently, so it will be nice to get back into it. Fruit does contain fibre, which is good for our digestion, so as I won’t be eating any refined sugar, this is one way to get a sweet treat for the 7 days.

Grains

I’m not one for Quinoa or brown rice, and I can’t tolerate oats, barley or lentils well, so my options here are quite limited. I’ll simply aim to eat less of grains like rice and pasta, although thankfully, I do like whole grain bread, which I can eat in small quantities.

Fats

Not eating processed is likely to cut out a large percentage of bad fats. I’m one of those people who would rather have a little of real butter than a bigger portion of margarine or other spreads. Fat isn’t bad for us, but too much of it can be. Fat helps keep us full and adds flavour to full. We can also get fat from foods like Avocado, Olives, Peanut Butter and much more. For cooking, I tend to go to coconut and rapeseed, avoiding the more general vegetable oils.

Protein

Like fats, protein helps keep us full, and is needed for keeping our hair and skin healthy, as well as for muscle growth and preservation. Meat and fish count, as do high protein foods like Skyr, Quark and Cheese. For the lower fat versions, Skyr and Quark are great for cooking and snacking. Vegetarians can choose options such as Tofu, beans, nuts and eggs to supplement their protein intake.

Alcohol

I don’t drink much, so this isn’t an issue for me, but moving to an alcoholic and calorie free version might help some people who like a glass of vino or a tipple.

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Easy Peasy Jelly Squeezies

Looking for a way to get more water into kids or adults with dementia who have an aversion to drinking from a cup?

Sneaking fluid in through food is a great way to do things.  These are so easy, and can be calorific or zero calorie, depending on the type of jelly you use.

These are not like adding glycerine to make the firm jellies which are like the harder Haribo type sweets, and they’re simply a way to change up the diet and make jelly more appetising.

Using the usual concentration, jelly is too wobbly to set in moulds.

These are made in ice cube trays and are made in minutes.  They are about to become a staple part of mums diet in the sugar free form.  I may even splash out on a few nice moulds too.

For these, I have used two different strengths.

Green
Simply a regular lime jelly at half the consistency, ie 1/4 pint of hot water to dissolve the jelly, then top up with 1/4 pint of cold water before pouring into the moulds.  These are still squeezable although slightly tacky to the touch.

Red
Made using the sugar free jelly option in powder form at half the above consistency.  I used 2 sachets here with 1/4 pint hot water, dissolved and added 1/4 pint cold before pouring into the moulds.

The red ones are far more firm than the green, and although both are squeezy, the red have a far firmer effect.

Water Content

250ml / Half Pint water per 18 jellies

Use

Leave these colourful ‘treats,’ out for someone who struggles to drink fluid, to sneak just that little extra in a day.   It’s far more attractive to eat something that looks like a sweetie than it is to eat a bowl of jelly.

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3 Essentials for Your Newborn’s First Trip to the Beach

Travelling with a newborn baby can be challenging. Aside from the hassle of carrying all their equipment, you need to plan their feeds and nap times around your schedule. And if you have older kids to deal with too, you may find leaving the house to be stressful at times.

(Collaborative Post)

The good news is that you don’t have to sacrifice your annual family holiday. If you and the rest of the family fancy a day or week at the beach, baby can come too.

The important thing is to be well prepared. Whereas you can ‘wing it’ with a toddler or an older child, babies have quite specific needs. They may require a certain brand of baby milk or a particular size of nappy. You can accommodate these things if you head somewhere with shops, but a day on the beach is trickier, as shops won’t be so readily available.

Make a list before you leave the house. Note down everything you would typically use in a normal day and make sure you pack it in the car or your bag. Include an extra change of clothes and some spare nappies. It is better to be well prepared than not have everything you need.

UV Protective Clothing

The main risk to a newborn baby is the sun. A baby’s skin has no natural protection, so they are vulnerable to sun damage. It is sensible to apply lots of sunblock to your baby’s face and body, but UV protective clothing provides an extra layer or protection. There are fabrics that have been developed to filter out harmful UVA and UVB light, so your baby is protected at all times, on the way to the beach and while you take them for a paddle.

A trendy rash guard vest will ensure your baby looks stylish while staying safe in the sun. A boys rash guard from Folpetto comes in several colours and sizes and is perfect for young children.

A Sun Shelter

Babies shouldn’t be out in the sun for long. Therefore, a sun shelter is an excellent accessory for a long day on the beach. It will provide some much-needed shade and give you a safe place to change nappies, feed, and put your newborn down for a nap. Sun shelters are like pop-up tents. They are easy to erect and provide a visible base for the rest of the family to head back to after a dip in the sea. Look for one that is large enough to accommodate your baby’s equipment and beach accessories.

Portable Crib

If you drive to the beach, you can transport your baby in his car seat. If you walk to the beach, he can lie in his pram, but it may be tricky to shift the pram over the sand, so a baby sling could be easier. However, if your baby goes to the beach in a sling, he has nowhere to take a nap when you arrive. Since you may not want to place him on a sandy towel, consider taking a portable crib or bassinet. This provides a safe place for your newborn baby to sleep between feeds and nappy changes. Look for a lightweight Moses’s basket or similar.

These are the main items, but there are zillions of other useful items worth packing in your baby backpack. Hand sanitiser is very useful, as it protects you from nasty bacteria and helps to ensure your hands stay hygienic after changing a smelly nappy. Don’t forget to pack nappy sacks too, as carrying around a dirty nappy when there are no bins is likely to be unpleasant on a hot day.

Dornoch Beach