Lifestyle | Scottish Mum

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Mum Scottish — Leave a comment

Our Christmas Package from Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. came up with a couple of grown up DVD’s that 2 of my boys will watch.

In the little pack, I have:

The Dark Knight Rises
New Year’s Eve
Christmas Stocking
Three Candy Canes
Three Chocolate Figures.

It’s always nice that Warner Bros. remembers I have three boys.

The Dark Knight Rises also comes with Ultraviolet that allows me to take the film with me, and not leave me tied to a DVD player.

As always, the DVD’s are available reasonably from Amazon.

A little bit about them.

The Dark Knight Rises

It has been eight years since Batman vanished into the night, turning, in that instant, from hero to fugitive. Assuming the blame for the death of D.A. Harvey Dent, the Dark Knight sacrificed everything for what he and Commissioner Gordon both hoped was the greater good. For a time the lie worked, as criminal activity in Gotham City was crushed under the weight of the anti-crime Dent Act.

But everything will change with the arrival of a cunning cat burglar with a mysterious agenda. Far more dangerous, however, is the emergence of Bane, a masked terrorist whose ruthless plans for Gotham drive Bruce out of his self-imposed exile. But even if he dons the cape and cowl again, Batman may be no match for Bane.

New Years Eve

“New Year’s Eve” celebrates love, hope, forgiveness, second chances and fresh starts, with intertwining stories told amidst the pulse and promise of New York City on the most dazzling night of the year. With Ashton Kutcher, Zac Efron, Robert De Niro, Jon Bon Jovi, Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Katherine Heigl, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hillari Swank – and even more, it certainly is full of big names.

Posted on December 12, 2012September 4, 2024 by Mum Scottish — Leave a comment

Guest Post from Cancer Research Uk: Tips for Surviving the Flu Season

Autumn is officially upon us now – we’ve dug our winter coats out, turned up the heating and said goodbye to our sunnies for a while. And with the new season, it is inevitable that soon enough we shall all be under threat from colds and flu. But how can we prepare for this and start battling off the symptoms of runny noses, sneezing and sore throats? Take a look at our top tips for surviving the flu season and then sit smugly as you watch everyone else succumb to illness.

Image CC via Flickr

1. Stay Indoors

Okay, so obviously we don’t mean that you have lock yourself away from the outside world, but why not consider switching your mad Friday night drinking session for a cosy night in front of the TV? We all know that alcohol isn’t great for us, but cutting down around this time of year can significantly improve our chances of avoiding the flu as it weakens your immune system, giving nasty viruses the opportunity to take advantage. Plus, clubs and bars are an absolute haven for viruses. Anyway, with weather like this, a nice hot chocolate and a bad film sounds somewhat more appealing that a chilled glass of Pinot!

2. Stay Hygienic

Again, let’s not get over the top with this one. There is no need to freak out everytime somebody with a slightly red looking nose comes near you, but at the same time, it doesn’t hurt to take a few extra precautions around this time of year. Try keeping a small travel sized bottle of antibacterial gel in your bag, and make sure you’re using it at times when you come potentially pick up a bug, for example after you’ve been on a train with lots of people, or if you have been eating in a communal area. Just try to find the right balance between squalor and germophobia!

3. Know Your Vitamins

Understanding the correct vitamins to take can significantly boost your immune system and improve your chances of resisting illness as long as you remember to keep taking them. To avoid colds and flu, try vitamin C or the lesser known Echinacea, which helps strengthen your immune system. You can get it in both drops and tablets, depending on your preference, from all good health stores.

CC via Flickr

4. Sleep, sleep, sleep

This may sound like simple advice, but it is amazing how many people fail to get enough sleep on a regular basis. Of course a lack of sleep can make you feel run down as it is, but recent studies have also shown a link between sleep and the production of disease-fighting white blood cells. So, next time you feel bad about having too much of a lie in, just remember that it’s for the sake of your health!

5. Avoid the Gym

Okay, so most of us don’t need an excuse to skip a visit to the gym, but the fact is that, if you’re not feeling great, it’s a place to avoid. To start with, it’s a pretty close environment and there’s a real risk of either picking up a bug from someone else. If you’re already feeling rough, there might be a temptation to exercise through it, in the hope that it’ll speed up the healing process. Truth is, you’ll just risk infecting other people and making yourself feel worse. Listen to what your body is telling you: if you’re ill, rest is the fastest way to recovery.

6. Wrap up Warm

There’s a persistent myth that colds and flu can actually be caused by being too cold. In reality, both are caused by a virus that you can only pick up from someone who already has it, or from coming into contact with something they’ve been using. If you’re already ill, though, nothing will make you feel worse like being cold, and you’ll soon see your symptoms exacerbated.

This was a post from the health bloggers at Cancer Research UK, providing information and support to those suffering with breast cancer and those who know someone who is.

Posted on November 21, 2012November 21, 2012 by Mum Scottish — 2 Comments

Dons Day Out from AFC – Aberdeen – Not Impressed

I remember a few years ago when my eldest went to the Aberdeen Football Club Dons Day out back then. They got special treatment, a few players came out and the kids got a group photograph, with a few players in the front. Maybe that was the players in a slightly better place and the T-Shirts seemed not to shoddy either, although they came in one size – HUGE. It was a positive memory, and one that stayed with eldest for the last few years as something special..

Fast forward a few years later, and the opportunity to go to a Dons Day out came again.

Buoyed by his last experience, eldest was all for it, and so I paid for 2 adult tickets and 1 child. Having to pay an adult price for a child of 12 is bad enough, but the lack of anything special means that I’ll never let my kids go to one again. Yes, 50% of the proceeds go back to a non-profit, group, school or charity, but come on, people still want value for money for something “different.”

Where’s the customer service, or are football fans so die-hard that they’re willing to forgo customer experience for the sake of just getting in the door and parking their bums on a seat?

The whole group has to arrive before they can all go in, so heaven help any group in the dilemma of someone who can’t make it in time, I have no idea what happens to them. I suspect the Dons Day Out was just a way to fill the stadium for the Celtic V Aberdeen match last week, and the boys reported back on many groups arriving with their paper-thin T-Shirts proudly on display.

Rather than a blow up hand, I suspect the kids would prefer a new scarf, pen, or slightly longer lasting momento, but c’est la vie, I can live with that.

Once their whole group were there, the promised group photo with the cheque being presented for the school funds for half the proceeds was shortened to a quick usher in the doors, and the first few through hurriedly being in a photo before the rest of the group got to their seats.

Far from being the posed photo that eldest remembered and still treasures, the closest to Angus the Bull they got was their dad taking his own photographs on his mobile camera.

The promised photo of a group shot with Angus the Bull at their stand didn’t seem to happen. If it did, they didn’t even know about it, and part of me hopes that it did happen and will materialise somewhere down the line.

The Dons Day Out might be a good day out at a smaller match, but on the big matches, I’d give it a miss and just go as a regular supporter. Littlest had nothing to gauge it against, so he thought it was great, though he was disappointed as he was expecting to see a player or two.

So, really, how much would it have cost to have a couple of players out on parade and get some photos with the kids?

Posted on November 18, 2012January 17, 2014 by Mum Scottish — 16 Comments

Silent Sunday – 18th November 2012

Posted on November 4, 2012January 16, 2014 by Mum Scottish — Leave a comment

Warner Bros. Halloween Box for 2012, including Ultraviolet

Alas, our Halloween box for 2012 was a little late, so I couldn’t do a lovely thank you on the 31st October to Warner Bros. It didn’t matter for the kids as they were still highly delighted with the box of goodies. I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it that kids never get too old for things like Scooby Doo and Ben 10, even if they pretend they are.

We have a birthday boy on Guy Fawkes night, so the boys are saving their bottles of bubbles for then. Thank you Warner Bros. for remembering I have three boys and for sending three bottles of bubble maker.

The movies that my boys are going to enjoy for middlers birthday are:

Lego Hero Factory – Savage Planet
Tom and Jerry – Trick & Treats
Ben 10 – Destroy All Aliens
Big Top Scooby Doo – Original Movie

The boys have decided the cat mask was a little too girly, so it is being donated to our local special needs school, along with the Lego Hero Factory movie after my boys have watched it.

That means something for the girls, and something for the boys. I’m sure they will absolutely love a wee gift.

Our box was missing the stickers so we couldn’t make any Halloween cards, but the boys didn’t know the stickers were meant to be there, so they’re still chuffed to bits with movies, sweets and bubbles.

A couple of the movies have Ultraviolet, which is new to me. Ultraviolet says that the movie can be instantly streamed and downloaded with instant access to the movies on computers, tablets and smartphones. It can also be shared with up to 5 friends or family members. I signed up by using Facebook to join Flixter and then was able to download the movie.

Adding a movie to a new account was pretty simple, and it means that I can play it on my iPhone, iPad, Android devices, and store it in the cloud. There are apps on iTunes and Android markets to get to our movies, so it seems a much easier way that actually taking up loads of space on our devices to keep them there.

Playback looks easy enough, so it seems a great way to keep movies to hand to watch over 3G or wifi. I had no idea this even existed, and I can imagine I will look out for it in future.

Thank you again to Warner Bros. Your packages always make for a lovely surprise arriving at our door. If anyone is interested in buying any of the movies, they are all available on Amazon, at really good prices.

Posted on November 2, 2012March 2, 2014 by Mum Scottish — 2 Comments

The Gallery – Frightfully Over

(Sadly I had to remove the image from this blog post as it was being hotlinked to from a Chinese website where the man said they were his kids).

I’m actually quite sad that my kids are not really wanting to do much of the Halloween type things this year. I can probably safely say that they won’t go Trick or Treating – or Guising as we call it up here for too much longer.

Yes, eldest and littler might go their own ways, and yes, middler is probably going to want to do it until he’s 25, but other people wouldn’t understand a big kid knocking on their door and enthusiastically reciting a joke like:

Q. Why did the chicken cross the road?
A. Because it’s Christmas next week.

Eldests costume had middler in tears for about half an hour before we ventured out, and there were very few people going from door to door. A few doors asked us to take as many sweets as they could carry as they’d not seen any guisers.

It was absolutely freezing, so I can totally understand why.

Needless to say, we didn’t stay out long, and only managed two streets before littlest and I put our feet down and made the other two join us in heading home. Entrepreneurial eldest and middler were all for cashing in on the lack of door knockers and would have stayed out much much longer…..

Here they are, my Frightful Kids.

Posted on October 28, 2012January 17, 2014 by Mum Scottish — 11 Comments

Silent Sunday – 28th October 2012

Posted on October 24, 2012January 17, 2014 by Mum Scottish — 3 Comments

The Gallery – Books

I thought I’d join in the Gallery Blog Link Up this week. It’s been a long week and a half off school with the kids, and they’re going a bit stir crazy as they’re grounded. One thing that can always help to diffuse things with the special needs middler is to sit and read a book to him, but not the bread makers bible, obviously. That’s me putting a book out of sight in a hurry I’d guess. I can’ really remember.

It’s all his own choice. Sometimes he’ll let you, and other times he won’t. Our books are more than dog-eared, they’re often trashed and ripped. I grew up to respect and revere books as something special, so accepting damage to books is something I have had to learn to live with.

My kids books don’t get packed away, or sent onto anyone else after my kids are finished with them. They are so well used here, that they end up in the bin if they last. This book has an awful lot to answer for with pre-teen behaviour, I can tell ya.

I think the one advantage of an 11-year-old who can’t read is that the books are read again and again and again and again, and then some more.

I always have a stack of books, even when my Kindle is still full. My mum has a pile of mine that I am waiting to get back, and this is the stack that I am planning on reading next. I’ve managed to have the house bookcase full of work things so now books have nowhere to go. They are in cupboards, drawers and in the bottoms of wardrobes. I am much better at giving my books away and my neighbour always has a stack of ones I’ve not read.

I love my kindle apps, but there are times I just want a good old-fashioned paper book to read.

Posted on October 17, 2012August 31, 2024 by Mum Scottish — 5 Comments

Guest Tutorial: Make a Colourful Autumn Tree Decoration

How to make an Autumn / Winter tree decoration

Unfortunately summer has gone, now it is time to celebrate Autumn and the coming of winter.

Bring some colour to those grey days with this beautiful fun tree decoration craft activity tutorial by Stacey for Cutfoam, which the kids will love making. The tree shape can be a bit tricky to cut out so children may need some help but they can join in sticking on the leaves.

You will need:

Foam sheets of different colours

Scissors
Glue
Pencil and paper

Step 1

Draw a tree shape on to a piece of paper approximately 20cm x 20cm. Then cut out.

Step 2

Draw around the paper template on dark brown foam.

Step 3

Cut out the tree shape and cut a 3cm slit in the bottom.

Step 4

Using the base of your tree as a guide cut out the shape shown. Make a cut in the top so that it will slot in to the bottom of your tree.

Step 5

Cut leaf shapes from green, red, orange, yellow and light brown foam.

Step 6

Glue the leaves to the tree branches.

Step 7

Slot your tree in to the base piece so it stands up.

If your tree does not stand on its own then glue another strip of foam to the back of the trunk and double the thickness of the base piece. This tree would make a lovely centrepiece for any dining table or mantle piece which the kids can show off to the rest of the family.

This tutorial was brought to you by Cutfoam, the cushion foam specialists.

If you would like a fun tutorial for your blog please contact Stacey.lowe13 (at) yahoo dot co dot uk

Posted on October 10, 2012September 4, 2024 by Mum Scottish — 7 Comments

Country Kids & The New Allotment

For Country Kids this week, I thought a picture of the fledgling family allotment would be a good idea. The man’s friend has had an allotment for a while, and the one next to his became available. It’s not much money a year, so he decided to take the plunge and take on the overgrown eyesore next to his pal.

As the man helped his pal clear his allotment, he now has to return the favour on ours.

Some tree roots needed dug out, and old carpets seem to have been sewn into the land, and need digging up. So, the pair of them along with 5 kids descended on the patch of over – run ground and got stuck in.

The two smallest kids were more interested in work watching, so I don’t think they did very much, but the bigger kids all had to take their turn at the spade. I am hoping that they will be lovely and tired tonight.

There’s a musty old shed that needs taking down, so I’m sure that will be replaced by a new shed he builds himself after a while. In the meantime, he is using his friend’s one which is much better.

Posted on October 6, 2012May 21, 2014 by Mum Scottish — 15 Comments

Chocolate is GOOD FOR YOU

Unwrapping a lovely gift for my birthday, I eagerly opened the layers while anticipating a nice box of perfume or a little trinket. Three faces beaming with delight stood in front of me, and I kept the smile frozen on my face as the last layer came adrift, to the sight of my favourite bar of chocolate – a HUGE one. My heart sank to my boots and I instantly fought to find words to thank them, and give them all a huge kiss for. Inside, I felt like weeping at the thought of another two inches on my hips.

Opening it up right away, I snapped sections off and handed the kids all one each. They ran for little plastic bags from the kitchen and dropped their slabs into protective wrapping before slinking off into the sunset. I was relieved that I had managed to hand out so much of the bar.

Is chocolate really that bad for us, or is it just that people don’t want us to actually enjoy something that does something with the endorphins in our brains that makes us think we’ve done a 12 mile run. How have I managed to give myself such a guilt trip over eating one thing that I really do enjoy?

The guilt comes on with one square or ten squares. If I eat it, I feel annoyed with myself, and I don’t think I am alone in that.

Why is chocolate good for us?

The Guardian reported that “A study by the German Institute of Human nutrition found that flavanols from cocoa boost the body’s supply of nitric oxide, which helps to lower blood pressure.” I take that to mean eating chocolate is not all bad, even if it’s not dark chocolate. One point to me. By eating one square of regular chocolate a day, could I really be reducing my risk of stroke or heart attack? That sounds like a nice prescription.

They reported the study from the European Heart Journal that flavanols in cocoa are the reason for the reduced blood pressure, and strokes could be reduced by the increase of blood around the brain.

1,568 people were studied, of which, 57% ate milk chocolate, 24% ate dark and 2% ate white chocolate.

Chocolate to excess!

Sadly, the study showed that the benefits were from eating a smallish amount of chocolate as part of the daily diet. I am more convinced that it would be healthier to have just a few squares a day, but that isn’t easy to do when it’s just sitting there, looking at you and begging to be eaten.

Yes, chocolate is very high in calories, with upwards of 500 calories per hundred grams, so it’s not something that can be eaten without any thought at all. We all know the damage that eating too many treats can do to our bodies, but some of us just can’t stop.

Why do we crave sweet things ?

Imagine a world where someone with foresight and creative ability found a safe way to avoid sugar cravings. I, along with my craving affected sisters, would instantly transform them into a being of ever lasting hero worship, making them an overnight billionaire, and more famous than Mrs and Mrs Beckham.

In the real world, we have to do what we can.

Giving in to a sugar craving can send us into a downward spiral where the need to have something sweet takes over our lives. We satisfy that need with some sugar and our bodies tell us to eat some more. I have no idea why some of our bodies seem to work so sadly against us, but it is a constant fight to retain some semblance of normality and reducing the sugar need.

How to avoid sugar cravings.

A chocolate bar can be anything up to about 50% (and more) just of sugar.

It’s all about understanding the carbs !!!! I know this, yet I still struggle, but it’s good to remind myself. The good carbs will help us keep sugar cravings to a minimum. Starches like vegetables and cereals do this by breaking down the carbs slowly, and not allowing the blood sugar to get to abnormal levels.

Some tricks to try and help reduce cravings are:

Look at the food we eat. Processed food tends to be quite high in refined sugars, and might be hidden under names like, lactose, dextrose, fructose etc.
If you drink tea and coffee and use sugar, gradually cut down the amount of sugar you use, until you can stop altogether. It really doesn’t take long before the taste of a hot drink with sugar will turn your stomach.
In general, white flour and rice has been processed. Try to replace them with whole grain versions. Do this by mixing the white with whole grain until you get the taste for it.
Try to eat regularly. Skipping meals can make us more hungry when we do start to eat, and drop our blood sugar levels to increase cravings. I struggle with this one as I am fine until I start eating in a day. If I could just stop eating, like an alcoholic can just stop drinking, then I’d have no problem with controlling my weight.
Eat fruit and vegetables to replace sugary snacks. Common sense, but I find there are days when I just can’t get the fruit I would like.
I’ve seen the recommendations to use a sugar substitute. All I can say about that is “bleurgh.” I’d rather do without than add a substitute. I’ve used Agave Syrup and Stevia for the kids and cooking quite a bit. They don’t seem to notice, so I’ll carry on with that.

Chocolate is GOOD FOR YOU?

Perhaps if I can change my mindset into thinking and believing that chocolate really is good for me, it will lose the love / hate relationship I now have with it. I want to enjoy eating it, and be able to control how much of a bar I eat.

My new mantra…

Chocolate is good for you, chocolate is good for you, chocolate is good for you, chocolate is good for you, chocolate IS good for you.

Posted on October 2, 2012March 5, 2015 by Mum Scottish — 1 Comment

Category: Lifestyle