mummiez & daddiez magazine May - June Issue 2013

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The mummiez & daddiez team:
Claire Philcox
Director
Aaron Ali
Graphic Designer
A
Our writers this issue:
Claire Philcox
Leroy Robinson
Krebekah Knight
Sahron Mercieca
Romina Zaib
Joanna Swan
Meg Sullivan
Hannah Aldwinckle
Sharon Mercieca
Helena Eynon
Joanna Swan
Melanie Molloy
Ceejay Dart
Photographers:
Maliz Ong
Ange Harper
Dana Flannery
Simmbarb
African fi
Vera Kratochvil
George Hodan
Petr Kratochvil
Bjearwicke
Cieleke
With thanks to flickr, Stock.XCHNG,
publicdomainpictures.net

In this issue of
6 The 5 C’s for discipline in
children
8 Competition
10 Praise chart
12 Eco Education
14&16 Mummiez in Business
19 Child entrepreneur - Myles
20 Diary of a pregnancy
22 Health & well being
26 Celebrity Gossip
28 Fashion
30 Beauty
32 Magical baby smile
34 Top 10 potty training tips
36 Just For Daddiez
Welcome
The summer is here, finally
yaaaaaaay.....well sort of
any way.
I’ve got to mention with
excitement that The
Apprentice is back on our
T.V screens (YESSSSS) I
love the reality show,
although I do spend a lot of
the time cringing at some of
the silly decisions made by
the contestants but it makes
great entertainment.
Look out for the ‘Kidz
Zone’ that will be featured
in the July issue of
mummiez & daddiez
magazine, it’s sure to bring
a smile and some
entertainment to your little
ones.
Claire
Visit our facebook
page and please
“like” us

Zesty Lemon Cake
Basic cake mix is great; it dispenses with the need
to buy flour, sugar and butter for the sponge.
However, I usually use milk instead of water and
I’ll always flavour the sponge. This one has lemon,
but you can use vanilla essence, chocolate chips,
orange, or whatever takes your fancy. This is so
cheap the lemon costs more than the sponge mix!
Serves 4
Ingredients:
Value sponge mix
50ml milk
1 lemon, grated and juiced
A few heaped tablespoons of icing sugar
Preheat oven to 200degrees/gas mark 6.
Grease an ovenproof dish with butter or buttery
spread.
Following the instructions on the packet, substitute
milk for water. Add the grated rind of the lemon
and half the lemon juice to sponge mix and whisk
for around a minute, making sure the mix gets
plenty of air. You can use an electric whisk if you
have one. Turn out the mix a greased ceramic bowl
and bake for around 20-25 minutes, until a skewer
placed in the sponge comes out clean.
Add a few drops of hot water to the icing sugar so
that it dissolves into a thick paste. Add the rest of
the lemon juice and stir until combined into a
gooey paste. Pour over the cake and allow it to set
for an hour or two. Enjoy with vanilla ice cream or
a cup of tea.
If you do not want to use lemon then use the
bottled juice. Use around 4-6 tablespoons in the
sponge mix and a couple of tablespoons in the
icing. You own get as zesty a flavour though.
Leroy Robinson

As its Autism awareness month we decided to do an activity
adapted for children who have autism. We hope you find
this useful and enjoyable.
Children with autism like to filter the light. They sometimes do this by “wagging” their
fingers in front of their face. You may see them pulling out handfuls of grass and
dropping it into the wind in front of their face.
Find a space you can make in your room that will give them some things you can let them
filter with. For example:
Several under the bed plastic storage boxes
and beach toys like shovels, buckets, plastic
shapes etc.
Here are some things to put in the boxes:
1. Rice
You can colour the rice by using food
colouring and letting it dry over night
spread out on wax paper before you put it in
the box.
2. Dry Beans
3. Sand
4. Easter grass (this is colourful and straw
like)
5. Shredded paper
6. Christmas tinsel
You can hide small toys in the boxes for the
children to find. You could use large plastic
gold coins and hide them in the boxes under
all these items. The children love to pull
them out and then hide them again.

The
People don’t just stumble upon
good parenting. Parenting well, like any
other skill in life, is something we learn
not just through what we were taught
when we were growing up, but by
expanding our strengths and skills
when we become parents ourselves.
Instilling a sense of discipline in
children is something few parents feel
5 C’s
For Discipli
very comfortable doing. “I just want
them to have fun and be kids!” the
guilty parent says. But discipline,
whether you like it or not, is the
cornerstone for understanding values
and responsibility — things all kids will
need to learn sooner or later.
Effective discipline comes from the
following five C’s. Get these right, and

ne in Children
you’ll have far less problems with
your kids as they age, as they’ve
learned the rules and what breaking
them means.
1. CLARITY: Be clear when you
set rights, rules and limits.
Don’t assume your children know
family rules until you’ve talked about
them.
Be sure your children understand
why these rules are being made and
the consequences for breaking the
rules.
Involve your children as much as
possible in making the rules.
Try writing out your family rules and
posting them on the refrigerator.
2. CONSISTENCY: Be consistent
in enforcing rules.
Stick to the consequence that has
been established for a broken rule.
Discipline will be more effective if
your children have been involved in
establishing the rules.
If a change needs to be made in a
family rule, talk about it before the
rule is broken.
Be flexible — as your children grow,
they’re ready for expanded rights
and changes in rules and limits.
3. COMMUNICATION: Talk about
rights, rules and limits often.
Be willing to discuss the fairness
of a rule and the reasons for it.
Help your children learn to talk
with you about feelings.
Encourage your children to come
to you when they need help.
Express respect and faith in your
child through your words, gestures
and tone of voice.
4. CARING: Use encouragement
and support, not just discipline
for broken rules.
Praise your children when they
follow your family rules, especially
when they do what’s expected of
them without reminders from you.
When a rule is broken, criticize
the action and not your children.
Follow up swiftly when a rule is
broken; stay calm and carry out the
consequences your children expect.
Make sure the consequences are
appropriate for the broken rule.
Respect your children’s rights, such
as the right to privacy.
5. CREATE: Instil a sense of
social responsibility in your
children.
Let your children know you expect
moral behaviour, like honesty and
fairness.
Set an example of honesty,
fairness and social responsibility for
your children to follow.
Promote your child’s sense of self
-respect.
Ceejay Dart

For a chance of winning an amazing ‘LOVE THE REAL YOU’ gift set all you need to do is
answer the following question:
What page is ‘Top 10 potty training tips’ on?
A. 12
B. 26
C. 34
Email your answer to Claire@mummiezanddaddiezmag.co.uk where all names will be mixed together and 1 will be
selected at random.
Send your answers by email to
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not alone Life @ School is written by students for students. We have added 3D
animations, which can be seen with most smartphones. All it takes is one flick of a
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www.brightersteppings.co.uk info@brightersteppings.co.uk

We always talk about aiming to
maintain, preserve and protect our
environment for our children and
future generations. Families can
encourage sustainable living and
change how they eat, live, use
resources and impact on their
environment. Children learn by
example both from their parents but
also from their schools, peers and
teachers. Educational environmental
ethos is so very important in early
education. Young children learn by
example and can develop habits that
will last a lifetime at that age. They
are eager and enthusiastic young
minds who are innately interested in
their world and willing without
Eco Edu
prejudice to accept new concepts and
ideals.
Children can do their bit to help the
environment and make their
community more sustainable. They
can help recycle their rubbish and
sort it into the appropriate bin or
caddy, they can learn to look at the
recycle symbols on the back of
containers.
Teaching kids not to waste water, to
turn off lights and tv or computers
when finished an activity will save
energy. Closing doors of rooms and
closing curtains in the evening will all
help heat conservation. Children are

cation
willing learners and learn by example
from their parents and caregivers.
Growing their own food is also
something that children love, if you
have a garden or access to a council/
private allotment encourage them to
work with you and choose and plant
their own vegetables and flowers. If
you don’t have a garden, many
vegetables can be grown in plant
pots, wooden boxes, buckets or
window boxes. A very good site for
simple instructions on growing
vegetables on your windownsill is
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/digin/
your_space/windowsill.shtml
Visiting local parks, forests, beaches
can also help children appreciate
their local environment. Taking a
book on native wildlife and plants (the
local library may have some) will help
them identify the animals and plants
that live and grow in their local area.
It can be a fun game.
The children of today can help
preserve and protect their
environment for them, their families
and for generations to come.
Meg Sullivan

Off With
Her Head
Off With Her Head Millinery, began back in 2008 and is a business born
out of a genuine love for hats. I have over 50 hats in my personal
collection ranging from vintage to homemade and in so many different
styles. I can still remember the first hat I bought for myself as a teenager
in the 1990’s. It was a floppy black velvet hat with two fabric roses
pinned on the front, one white, one pale blue, and it was very fashionable
at the time! I wore that hat everywhere, even to school! I’ve always had a
love for vintage fashion and have inherited a talent for home crafts from
my Mum and my Gran. So it came as no surprise to those who knew me
when I created my own Victorian Style Riding Hat to wear at the Whitby
Gothic Weekend. The finished hat was much admired and led to a flurry
of enquires from friends and people I had met at Whitby. This was to be
the start of Off With Her Head Millinery. In May of 2008 I teamed up
with a fantastic photographer for a trip to Brighton with some models and
Photos by Ange Harper

a box of hats. Both of us have grown a lot in our
creative fields since then and I’m very lucky to
count Ange Harper (Ange Harper Photography)
as a friend, she was a huge support in the early
days of building my business and we continue to
work together to this day!
From that point on I have studied and honed my
skills as a milliner never shying away from new
challenges. I specialise in vintage style pieces
taking my influences from film and TV as well
as vintage images, photos and magazines. I have
a particular love for the 1940’s/1950’s and the
pin-up style of Vargas. I have been lucky
enough to make hats for Royal Ascot and for
many Burlesque performers as well as creating
bespoke Bridal pieces for some beautiful
weddings. In 2012 I was asked to create a Union
Jack inspired crown for singer Misha B as part
of her on stage wardrobe for The X Factor Live
Tour.
I juggle working as a Milliner with working part
time as a Nurse and being Mummy to a
tenacious 2 year old daughter. The challenges of
running a business, working part time and
family are many and I really have to be quite
organised in my work. I do a lot of my work in
the evenings when my little girl is asleep, or
when she’s at Playgroup in the mornings, 3
times a week. I’m lucky to have a fantastic
support system in my Husband and our families,
without them I don’t
know where I’d be!
Sometimes it can be
extremely hard,
especially if I have to go
away for a few days to
attend events such as the
Bridport Hat Festival.
It’s difficult to leave my
little girl behind, even
though I know she’s
being well looked after
by her Daddy, but that’s
the nature of running
your own business.
To any Mums out there
looking to start your own business I have a few
pieces of advice. Firstly do something you love!
I love hats and I love creating. If you’re doing
something you love to do it doesn’t feel much
like work! Secondly, if you can, find yourself a
business mentor or coach, someone who can
help guide you through some of the pitfalls of
starting your own business. It’s not easy, but
with a little help and guidance it is possible to
achieve your dreams! Finally I cannot stress
how important marketing really is! I used to
spend the majority of my time creating pieces
and wondered why my sales were so low. The
rule of thumb I now follow is ‘50% making,
50% marketing’, and I split my time
accordingly. Social networking sites such as
Facebook and Twitter are great for engaging
with people and attracting potential customers.
Over the next few months I have articles being
published in Vintage Life Magazine and will be
debuting my Spring/Summer 2013 Collection
‘Turning Japanese’ at Nightwalk in Glasgow.
Lisa Jones
You can find Off With Her Head Millinery at
www.offwithherheadmillinery.co.uk
On Facebook at www.facebook.com/
OffWithHerHeadMillinery
On Twitter at www.twitter.com/CroquetandRoses Or
follow my Blogs at www.croquetandroses.blogspot.co.uk
(Business) or
www.millineryandmotherhood.blogspot.co.uk (Business,
Personal and Parenting!)

Biz Mums
Finding out I was pregnant with my 2nd Child in September 2012 was a very
exciting and also uncertain time for me. I had very much wanted to become a mum
again but was also enjoying the little bit of freedom I had started to experience as my
oldest child Harrison was nearly 4 and in part time School.
It was my ambition to start my own business in coaching & training and since
Harrison had started
Pre-School I had been busily studying and attending Networking events to grow my
knowledge and also my contacts in the business world. I thoroughly enjoyed the

networking events I attended, so much so that I had
become an Associate of a local Networking organisation
called Free2Network and regularly hosted events on their
behalf.
The reality was that once my new baby came along I
would no longer be able to attend these events which I had
hoped would be the key to me growing my business while
on maternity leave.
Undeterred I envisaged that there must be options
available to me which meant that I was able to meet other
mums in business while I had my baby with me,
unfortunately this wasn't the case but what I found were
lots of other local mums looking for a similar thing. In
Nov 2012 I hosted the first Bizmums event which was in
Shrewsbury. 10 mums attended and we all thoroughly
enjoyed it. A lot of the mums hadn't been to a networking
event before & were unaware of how fun they could be
and of what benefit they could bring to their business
through the people that they met and the things which
they learnt.
I decided to expand the reach of the groups and now also
host events in Telford & Wrexham. At each location I
host daytime events in playbarns where mums are able to
bring little ones along to play while they network with the
other mums. I also host an evening event which enable the
mums to escape and be a bit more 'professional' for a
couple of hours too. After the great success of the groups
it was decided to launch www.Bizmums.biz the 1st phase
went live on Feb 1st. The website will eventually be a hub
for the mums to get information on business matters and
also have the facility to network online and I have plans to
launch an interactive networking feature later on in the
year.
I have a Bizmums conference & awards planned for 14 th
September 2013 which will be an opportunity for the
mums to get together for the day to showcase what they
do by having a stand. There will be guest speakers
throughout the day to educate the
mums in their area of expertise.
I am now excitedly awaiting the
birth of my baby girl in June and
will be taking some time out over
the summer but then have plans to
expand the groups in the Autumn
into Cheshire, Staffordshire & North
Wales.
I am fortunate to have met some
extremely supportive people in the
past few month who are mentoring
me and helping me to put my ideas
in order. My advice to anyone
setting up in business would be to
surround yourself with positive
people who support your ideas but
will challengeyou to keep you on
track.
There is a lot of support available &
I have found social media especially
Twitter a great place for seeking this
out by posting tweets about what I am doing & the
support I am looking for. I've found people are very
friendly & very open to help & support you if you have
passion & enthusiasm for your business especially if you
are open to supporting others too.
Contact Details :
Michelle@Bizmums.biz
www.Bizmums.biz
07794 33017201691
622100@Bizmumshttp://www.facebook.com/pages/
BizMums/108930789265710http://www.facebook.com/
groups/370684066346369/
Shrewsbury Grouphttp://www.facebook.com/
groups/372071169545632/ Telford
Grouphttp://www.facebook.com/
groups/116179205208950/ Wrexham Group

Top 10 baby names in the UK
.
Postnatal depression
A checklist for becoming a daddy
How to juggle business and family life
Stay at home daddies
Because manners matter
Let’s make mummy’s day all year round
Introducing our new pages for the kidz - you cannot miss this!

Slow down mummy, there is no need to rush,
slow down mummy, what is all the fuss?
Slow down mummy, make yourself a cup tea.
Slow down mummy, come and spend some time with me.
Slow down mummy, let's put our boots on and go out for a
walk,
let's kick at piles of leaves, and smile and laugh and talk.
Slow down mummy, you look ever so tired,
come sit and snuggle under the duvet and rest with me a
while.
Slow down mummy, those dirty dishes can wait,
slow down mummy, let's have some fun, let's bake a cake!
Slow down mummy I know you work a lot,
but sometimes mummy, its nice when you just stop.
Sit with us a minute,
& listen to our day,
spend a cherished moment,
because our childhood is not here to stay! x
(c) Rebekah Knight

is a 10 year old boy who enjoys
Music, swimming, Dancing, being
creative using computers and creating his
own music.
Myles has always been that child who
likes to be noticed and stand out from the
rest of the other children.
When Myles was 8 years old he had a
passion for having his own TV show to
show others about his life and skills.
Myles is very passionate and a determined
child who wants to achieve and succeed
and be famous.
From there Myles went on to having his
own channel on Youtube with 286 views
from December 2011-17 March 2013.
Myles then started to take an interest in Dancing and singing
when he was 9 years old whilst watching music channels on
Sky such as AKA, and MTV BASE. He would sing along to
the JLS, Tinie Tempah, Labrinth and Rita Ora
When visiting my friend Myles would dance with my friend’s
daughter who is in a dance group and they would battle it out
in a dance contest.
In 2012 Myles started to play on his sisters guitar playing a
few notes and saying a few words that went with the music I
then said to him that sounds good lets write a few more words
down and make it into a song, your own song.
Myles was a bit unsure at first but with a little encouragement
from myself and helping him come up with a few more words
Myles then started to sing the words that where noted down on
the paper he was very happy and said to me mum this could be
my own song, this could work with a big smile on his face.
He then said to me I am now going to express myself by
making music.
Having my 13 year old daughter that has a talent in making
beats-music, backing tracks she will be making a beat for
Myles to record his own song on which I would like this to be
published to his own website and other musical sites such as
iTunes to promote his music.
In 2013 Myles was taken ill causing him to be admitted to
hospital.
Shortly after this I knew it would be hard for Myles to be able
to return back to school with these underlying health issues.
Shortly after that Myles had said to me in a brief conversion
Mum I want to have my own radio show, I turn to Myles and
said Myles what would you do on the radio show. Myles said
Mum I can play music you no I am good at it and I know my
music and we both can do the radio show together alongside
me creating my own T-SHIRT DESIGN and I can have my
own Clothing Line.
I said to Myles that is really a good idea I will support you in
whatever you want to do and what makes you feel happy and
this will be a great way to push you into something that you
are able to call your own which you have achieved.
Myles has gone on to set up his own internet radio show on
Spreaker playing all different types of music for all types of
audiences.
Myles has his own Facebook and Twitter Page to promote his
Radio show, he
Has also created his own Business cards to promote himself
and would like to get more supporters to listen to his shows

and follow him on
TWITTER AND
FACEBOOK and for
the future would like to
have adverts on his
radio show for children
of his age who have
there own small
business that would
like to promote their
business and maybe
play music at children
events.
Myles is also in the
process of setting up
his own clothing label
for kid’s possibility
under the name of MR
Designs which will be
showcased on his
website and will be
able to purchase from
his website and at
various events.
Myles has a love and passion for music, dance and
creative things.
Myles has grown up in a family background of music.
Myself, Myles mum Dior Simms loves music, creative
things and am very unique.
I come from a business background running 2 business of
my own which are
Designer Outlet Tours a shopping tour service to various
Designer outlet Villages in and around London
www.designeroutlettours.com
alongside running Designer Dior Graphics a graphic
design service for small to medium business providing
promotional material such as Business cards, Logos,
Flyers, Leaflets, outdoor banners, web banners,
Designing, printing and creating twitter and facebook
accounts.
www.designerdiorgraphics.co.uk
I also run monthly business networking meetings for
Ladies who Latte situated in Dulwich, south east London
for inspiring ladies who are either in business or who
would like to set up there own business.
http://dulwichladies.eventbrite.co.uk/
Myles has grown up to see and learn about business from
myself and from attending networking meetings. He has
seen me has his mother work very hard to strive to the
best and push on to achieve.
I am also glad that Myles has the opportunity to come up
with a business idea and for me to help and support him as
not many children of his age have the opportunity to do
this.
Myles has taught me that there are possibly a lot of
children of his age out there that would like to set up a
small business but might not have the support or help to
achieve this.
From this I have also decided and am in the process of
setting up a juniors business club helping children to set
up a small business.
For further information regarding The Junior Business
Club and to listen to Myles radio shows and to get more
information on Myles and to connect with him follow the
links below:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeshawnReddish
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deshawn.reddish
Website: www.mylesreddish.com
Spreaker: www.spreaker.com/user/5446948

Before having a child, I’m sure all of us wonder
what it is like having a human growing inside of you.
I wanted to find out how pregnancy really is in real
life, rather than from television and films. Nicola
aged 22 from Hertfordshire kindly agreed to have a
chat about her experience.
When did you realise you were pregnant?
I was at my local super market and had a feeling
that I was pregnant. I had recently stopped
taking the pill so at first I thought that I
missed a period due to my hormones being
confused. I went to the doctors due to
tummy ache and they diagnosed me with
Polycystic ovaries and irritable bowel
syndrome. Morning sickness was a real
problem so I took 3 pregnancy tests, all of
which came back negative. It was only until
my fourth test that it came back that I was
pregnant. Shocked is an understatement!
Did you feel too young to become a parent?
No not at all. I am in a stable and loving
relationship and I think that is all that
matters.
An Insight Into
What Pregnancy
Is Really Like
Was it hard to wait three months before letting
any one know?
No not really. I seem to be good at keeping
secrets! Is that a bad thing? I didn’t want to
jinx the pregnancy. It’s quite funny really,
when I went for my 3 month scan, it revealed
I was 16 weeks gone! I’d been keeping a
secret for a month longer then I needed to.
Seeing the scan made it all the more real. It
was absolutely overwhelming but lovely at
the same time.
How did friends and family react when they
heard the news?
They were shocked, don’t get me wrong but they
were all really excited and even bought me a
few presents at Christmas for the little one.
Have you been preparing much for the baby’s
arrival?
I’ve bought all the necessities but no more than
that. I don’t know what sex it is yet so it
would be pointless buying lots of clothes and
toys!

Talking about clothes, buying them for yourself
must be a pain?
YES! My socks are so tight around my fat
swollen ankles. I was lucky enough to be
given quite a few maternity clothes but if I’m
honest, they weren’t too pricey to buy new.
Judging a size of a t-shirt proved extremely
difficult the other day though when I bought
a top that would normally be 4 sizes too big
and it didn’t even fit over my tummy.
And what about your beauty regime?
It’s not too bad. You can kind of get away with
going out looking like you’ve rolled out of
bed. People don’t seem to mind so much.
Shaving my legs though is an absolute
mission. It is almost impossible to be able to
reach your legs so don’t even think about
painting your toenails!
Maybe you should have an extendable razor?
How has sleeping been?
Ha-ha maybe! It was fine until my tummy got so
big. The last few months have been awful.
I’ve bought a feeding pillow to help me sleep
now and if I’m honest it is really working.
So are you planning on having pain killers during
the birth?
I’m going to try and be brave and go for just gas
and air, but who knows. If I need and
epidural I’ll ask for an epidural!
Talking about the birth, how do you feel about
your boyfriend seeing you in labour?
- He is not looking. I don’t want him to be scarred for
life! I don’t mean to be disgusting but I don’t want
him seeing any bowel movements. I know most
women say you really won’t care, but I think I will.
However he is the only person I would really want to
be there with me and I’m glad that he can be.
I’d be the same! Have you had any cravings at
all?
CHOCOLATE. Anything sweet, or covered in
chocolate.
It will be weird when it’s just the two of you… Are
you worried?
Yes, I suppose I am. I’m worried about little
things like when we are just messing about
we will have to be quiet because of the
baby. Everything is going to change but that
is a sacrifice I’m willing to take.
Do you have any money worries now there will
be three of you?
Not really. I think you live within your means and
we will make cuts where we can.
What are you most excited about?
Being a mum. I honestly cannot wait.
And your biggest worries?
Silly things like when I go to get petrol, do I have
to pay at the pump? Or do I leave the baby
in the car while I go and pay? And what
about cash machines? Do I leave the baby
in the car? I’m worried about ridiculous
things!
If you could sum up the experience in three
words, what would they be?
Amazing. Comforting as I haven’t been alone
once. I’m sorry to be negative but my last
word would be tiring!
And finally if you were to give someone advice in
the early stages of pregnancy, what would it be?
To write a diary, I wish I did that because you
forget the thoughts and feelings that you go
through. I would also tell them to photograph
every stage of the pregnancy that they can.
Even if you feel fat (like I did!) still take the
photos. A diary and photos last forever.
Interviewed by Hannah Aldwinckle

Simple Steps
to keep you
Motivated
“Motivation” is a word that is used so much, but how
often do we sit down and really think about what motivates
us, or why we are lacking motivation?
When we are not doing what we set out to do, we beat ourselves
up and tell ourselves that we are lazy in an attempt to punish

ourselves into action. But is this state
‘laziness’ or whatever else you want to label
yourself with?
Perhaps, you have not asked yourself the right
questions and therefore will not have the
powerful answers to kick you into action.
Try the following approach to increase your
chances of keeping you motivated and
reaching your goals.
Start small and let it flow
If your goal, for example is to lose 3 stone,
take your focus off the big goal and start
focusing on the mini goal, which is to lose 1-2
pounds per week. You can do this by
changing one unhealthy eating habit per week
rather than extreme dieting, which may only
last a few weeks. When you reach your goal
in this ‘flow state’ if literally feels effortless
and is more easily maintained.
Do what you enjoy
If you have established that diet alone is not
shifting your weight and you need to exercise,
then you need to do the type of exercise that
you will enjoy. If you have joined gyms in the
past and then never go, repeating this pattern
is not going to motivate you. Start by
revisiting your past, to establish what exercise
you may have enjoyed as a child or teenager.
If you enjoyed boxing then join a local boxing
class, if you loved dancing then go to aerobics.
If you are bored with what you are doing right
now then find something new to kick start
your motivation.
If you do not enjoy exercise, listen to music or
read a kindle while you do your cardio, this
will increase your chances of sticking to the
workout for longer.
Reward yourself with a cup of tea once you
have finished your workout.
It is all about timing
If you have a million things going on in your
life at once and something else is a very high
priority, then starting a new goal at this time
would not be ideal. Ensure that the timing is
right and that you can fully commit to your
goal to keep you motivated.
The time of day that you are working on your
goal is also important. If you have started
exercising and you resent working out in the
evening after a long day at work, then try
exercising first thing in the morning or during
your lunch break.
Find your why?
Keeping in tune with your ‘why’ is essential
for you to stick to your goal. Ask yourself
‘why do I want to achieve my goal to lose 3
stone?’ It is important that your ‘why’ is self
initiated, in other words it should not be
because someone else has told you that you
need to lose weight. If your answer is for
example ‘I want to be healthy and have energy
to play with my children’ when you are
lacking motivation, reminding yourself of
your ‘why’ is more likely to push you back
into action rather than telling yourself you are
lazy.
Three motivations for any action
Desperation – because I have to
Next time if you are ‘procrastinating’ and
lacking motivation in any area of your life, ask
yourself ‘am I pushing myself to do this
because I have to?’, if so you are acting out of
desperation.
It may be that you acting under pressure
because you left things too late, or maybe you
are putting unnecessary pressure on yourself
to do something that is not actually as
important as you are making it.
Rationalization – because I should
If your answer is ‘because I should’, then you
will be less likely to stick to your goal,
because your inner rebel will respond with
why you should not.
Inspiration – because I want to
The most effective state to be in to stay
motivated is to act out of inspiration, this is
when we want to do something because we
know our ‘why’ and our goal is self initiated.
Sharon Mercieca

Kate Middleton’s first baby is not due until
July, but is already the most talked-about
arrival of the decade. In a break from royal
tradition, Kate may be set to make history by
hosting a baby shower. Superstar party planner
and auntie-to-be Pippa Middleton is said to
have taken charge of the event, with rumours
that the Queen will be invited, as the first
serving monarch to meet her great-grandchild
in succession to the throne for over a century.
Royal births have always been steeped in
tradition, but thankfully some are long
forgotten. Until 1936 the Home Secretary had
to stand outside the delivery room, in case of
baby swapping plots. Another tradition that
has probably had its day is the royal homebirth,
after Prince William was the first future king to
be delivered in hospital.
Customs that are expected to continue include a
birth announcement posted onto the railings of
Buckingham Palace, and a royal salute of 41
guns. Traditionally regal baby names include
George, Albert, Elizabeth and Victoria,
although younger royals have made more
modern choices such as Isla and Savannah.
However, what we all really want to know is if
Kate is expecting a girl who might be called …
Diana.
Two of the nation’s favourite former Spice Girls have been
handed Celebrity Mum of the Year awards.
Melanie Chisholm was “really chuffed” to pick up the 2013
Tesco award in March. The 39-year-old talked about trying to
create the right balance between her career and being a mum to
daughter Scarlett. “It brings a whole new set of problems with
the jigsaw puzzle of childcare and the guilt you feel from being
away,” She said. "So that's interesting and it's something
you're constantly working on, getting the balance right."
In a spicy twist, her former bandmate Emma Bunton was
awarded the same title just a few days later when she won the
Foxy Bingo Celebrity Mum of the Year trophy. Emma has two
young sons, Beau and Tate, and juggles motherhood with her
fabulous new job co-hosting the Heart London breakfast show
every weekday. Emma uploaded a picture of her trophy on
Twitter with the message: "Yahoo (sic) I won Foxy Bingo's
Celeb Mum of the Year 2013! Thank you so much everyone

who voted!"
Gwyneth Paltrow has paid a warm tribute to her husband, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, by praising him as a dad. ‘Regardless of what
happens in our marriage, I chose the best father,’ she says. ‘[Chris] is so good to the children and to know that you had kids with such a good
man is a real weight off you. We are committed co-parents, we make all the decisions together and lean on each other for support.’
The 40-year old Oscar-winning actress also revealed that although her third pregnancy ended in a tragic miscarriage, she feels that she misses
her baby and has not ruled out trying again. The couple wed in 2003 and now live in London with their two children, nine-year-old Apple and
seven-year-old Moses.
Helena
Source links: http://www.express.co.uk/news/showbiz/382555/Emma-Bunton-named-celebrity-mum-of-the-year
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/03/03/mel-c-mum-year_n_2801810.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2294483/Gwyneth-Paltrow-speaks-devastating-miscarriage-longs-child.html
http://www.christianpost.com/news/kate-middleton-baby-shower-duchess-to-break-royal-tradition-92763/
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/2012/12/03/royal-babies-the-traditions-which-surround-a-royal-birth-gallery-100252-32356122/
http://www.ivillage.co.uk/royal-baby-traditions-will-william-kate-follow-them/166288
Bio
Helena Eynon is a mum and freelance writer specialising in all aspects of parenting and family life. She is a regular contributor to magazines
and websites and also writes at http://prettybusymummy.wordpress.com/

Are you tired of the
getting dressed chore? Do
you want to finally finish
your dinner in peace? You
do not need a miracle, just
take a few minutes to check
out Little Punk London's
latest children's collection.
Little Punk London is a
British brand created by
Helen Keenan who also is a
mum to a 3 year old toddler.
Along with her designers led
by Helen Carter, Helen has created these unique
designs which are fun and educational.
The velco designs allow children to mix and
match their favourite characters on their t-shirts.
There is a range of velcro themes for you to
chose from; space,
faries and even
punks (hence the
name) which are all
very child friendly.
There are also
letters and numbers
which will make
your children
geniuses.
These designs are
very cute especially
the girly pink
colour. The girl
punk t-shirt is
rocky but also
features smiles
even from a skull
Little Punk
London's New
Collection
that keeps is child friendly.
The range of boys clothing is very funky. The
stripes on the space t-shirt make it very different
to a plain
coloured t-shirt.
The range
features dark
shades of blue
and themes such
as space and
dinosaurs which
every boy loves.
Of course the
children can mix
and match as
they wish as
some girls may
love space and
dinosaurs, but
these four are

perfect for either your son or
your daughter. The letters and
numbers designs are popular,
not surprising as it can teach
children their sums and also
their names. The plain t-shirt
with logo is good for the older
children who are now old
enough to dress themselves. The
animals are cute and on the
white background each one
comes to life and the designs
look fantastic.
These prints, as seen previously,
are for older children; long
sleeved t-shirt for the colder
days and the t-shirt for the
summer. Both are great for any
season or day.
Royal Punk London is the new
baby range for the brand also
featuring hats, baby suits and
also the plain t-shirt with the logo.
Joanne Swan

Having dark circles can be very irritating;
unfortunately they don’t disappear overnight. The skin
around the eyes is very delicate and thinner than most
other areas of the face. It has no oil glands and has a fine
texture. This area requires special care and reflects

neglect, abuse, aging, stress,
internal health and lifestyle very
easily. In fact, dark circles
around the eyes can also
develop due to hereditary
factors, lack of sleep, illness,
stress and nutritional
deficiencies. Therefore, along
with external treatment, it is
advisable to take these aspects
into consideration in order to
establish the cause and bring
about the necessary changes.
Dark circles can develop at an
early age, although it is more
common in older people. This is
due to the causes discussed
above. The way to prevent dark circles is to
have a nutritious and balanced diet,
including fresh fruits, salads, yogurt and
sprouts in your daily diet, along with
unprocessed cereals, skimmed milk, cottage
cheese lentils and beans.
Daily exercise, along with deep breathing,
helps blood circulation, oxygenation and
control of stress. Adequate sleep and
relaxation are very important. It is better
not to massage the area, so that the skin
does not get pulled or stretched in any way.
Any massage of the area should be done
during a professional facial, so that correct
techniques are employed. A cleansing gel or
cream should be used to remove make-up,
using moist cotton wool. Gels and creams
help to dissolve make up and grime and
thus facilitate their removal.
A cream which has been specially
formulated for the area around the eyes
should be applied. Heavy creams are not
suitable. It should be a cream with a light
texture and consistency. The cream should
be removed with a moist cotton wool after
10 minutes. Cream should never be left on
the area around the eyes during the night.
Normal facial masks should not be applied
around the eyes. An under-eye cream,
containing almond, is good, as it not only
nourishes the skin, but has a lightening
effect on the colour tone, if used over a
period of time. Facial masks are usually not
applied around the eyes.
Eye fatigue can also be relived with
washing. Wash your eyes with warm water
and follow this with cold water. This
improves blood circulation to the eyes and
soothes them. It also cleanses the eyes and
relieves congestion.
By Romina Zaib

Baby
Magical
Smile
Today my friend visited with her gorgeous 14 month old baby girl. I smiled and greeted her and
there it was the most wonderful natural baby smile responding to me. What wonderful magic it is
and moments that are so precious. For all and wonderful that this was, it actually made feel sad.
Why? Well because neither of my children at that age ever displayed that type of magical
response smile.
My first son did indeed have a social smile as a baby but somewhere in his development it
disappeared and by 14 months the same age as this baby his response to a stranger's smile was a
deep and worrying frown. This lack of smile did not mean he wasn't loving, I think he just didn't
understand what the stranger's smile was. It is said that children with autism often see faces in a
different way to neurotypical children. When I used to ask my son to describe his friends he
would say 'oh he is a triangle' or 'the lady is a square'. I always wondered if he was looking at

the shape of their head or face rather than their
smile. Children with autism are loving and
affectionate, it is just sometimes it is expressed
slightly differently. My son now 6 has a social
smile and is a happy loving boy, this due I think
to dietary intervention and a lot of therapy over
the past number of years. He has Aspergers
syndrome.
My second son is 2.5 yrs and was excited to play
with the gorgeous 14 month old baby girl that
was visiting him. He smiled back at her and was
intrigued when she threw a ball to him. My son
had speech delay and has been having early
intervention speech therapy. He has signs of
some ASD traits but yet seems so social to me.
He is also on a special diet etc and is doing
really well. He is talking at home, interacting,
smiling at familiar people and generally doing
great. When I saw him interact and play 'catch'
with the gorgeous 14 month old visitor I was so
proud. I felt like calling all my friends to come
see 'look, look'! My second son is being assessed
for PDD.
When neurotypical children play their parents
smile, record it and are so proud. For a family
affected by autism, every smile, every
appropriate social response learned or natural
is gold. The smile or response gives a sense of
achievement or security and helps push aside
the fear of autism at least for that moment.
Today both of my boys smiled and laughed,
played together and with their peers and my 2
year old was very sad that the magical smile 14
month old had to go home for her dinner
(refused point blank to let her borrow his jigsaw
mind!).
Meg Sullivan

Top 10 Tips
for potty training
Reaching the decision to begin potty training is the
easy part. The tougher one is tackling it
successfully so the end result pleases both parent
and child:
1. Be Prepared To Begin
Be prepared to begin the process. Potty training
takes time and energy. The spring/summer season
is often prepared as the warmer weather means
less clothes, more holidays and longer days making
more time for tots to master potty training. Any
season can work though.
2. Tailor Your Approach To Find What Works
Tailor your approach for potty training success.
Different products offer ways to help make the
transition easier. You can look at different websites
that suggest pull ups that
match your child’s learning
style. Look for products that
have wetness liners. You
may find your child will be
more willing to wear the pull
ups if they are colourful with
pictures on.
3. Introduce the Potty Early
If you have already
introduced the potty at a
young age for your child to
play with and get used to
having it around that’s
fantastic if not it’s still fine
but may take time for your
child to get used to the potty,
it will be like a new toy to
them and are likely to be
putting it on their head to
wear as a new hat. By now
your child is showing signs of
readiness—stays dry for two hours, interested in
the bathroom, etc. Demonstrate how the potty
works and instil a sense of potty ownership in your
child by wrapping it as a present or decorating it
with stickers. I would suggest keeping the potty in
the bathroom as this will get your child used to
going to the bathroom when they are using the
Toilet.
4. Get Your Child Comfortable With the Idea of
Potty Training
Get your child comfortable with the idea of potty
training, and introduce the potty training supplies
you'll be using before getting started. Practice
putting on training pants, washing his or her hands
at the bathroom sink and sitting on the potty
before he or she starts using it.
5. Remain Positive and Patient
Always remain positive and patient – potty training
takes time and setbacks will occur. But remember
that children thrive on positive reinforcement.
Praise and rewards can help tots feel more
comfortable with new skills and keep them
motivated during each potty training stage.
6. Be Consistent
Be consistent – once tots are out of nappies – they
stay out of them. It’s proven that toddlers train
faster if they don’t switch back and forth between
nappies and training pants.
7. Use Interactive Approaches
To sustain a child’s interest, use interactive
approaches, such as games, songs, books,
progress charts and being role
model.
8. Use Teamwork
Use teamwork – make sure
everyone in the child's life,
from grandparents to childcare
providers to siblings, is on
board with a consistent potty
training philosophy,
encouraging your little one
throughout the process. I’m
sure the siblings will find this
process hilarious if it’s made
fun for all the family and not
stressful.
9. Pack Familiar Potty
Training Supplies When On
the Go
When out and about, pack
familiar potty training supplies
like a child-size adapter seat
and even a favourite book so he or she is as
comfortable as possible using the potty in an
unfamiliar setting. You will need to take the potty
out with you where ever you go. Even if it’s to the
shops, this keeps the consistency. When I started
potty training my son I put him on there every 15
minutes then time lengthened gradually as he
realised what he was meant to do.
10. Use Motivational Rewards
Use motivational rewards for your child, such as
listening to fun potty training songs. See if you
can get some stickers, children love these and are
great rewards. For example the sticker could say
“I am so proud of you!” Other ideas include
stamps, a token present such as bubbles, or a
surprise from a "grab bag" pre-filled with
inexpensive kiddie items.

The Game of Repetition
When we were infants
We didn't know our name
But after lots of practice
We learn to play the game
The game of repetition
That makes us say the words out loud
Knowing we have learnt it
Makes us feel so proud
And as our confidence grows
Our beliefs get strong
As we realize we can do and be
We learn to get along
Sometimes we make mistakes
It's OK, it's a learning curve
For success comes easily
If we believe we deserve
When we are infants
We don't know how to read
But with lots of practice
We learn to take the lead
Until we reach the day
When the student becomes the teacher
And we watch our students thirst for knowledge
Turn them into seekers
And sometimes they may stumble
But were there to catch them if they fall
And give them lots of praise
To keep them standing tall
Encourage them to take the first step
To turn over a new leaf
Remember praise and repetition
And hold firm in their belief.
Melanie Molloy

Dads Check Your Testicles!
Dads check your testicles!
For men over the age of 14, a monthly selfexam
of the testicles is an effective way of
becoming familiar with this area of the body and
thus enabling the detection of testicular cancer
at an early -- and very curable -- stage. Why do
you need to do it monthly? Because the point of
the self exam is not to find something wrong
today. The point is to learn what everything
feels like when things are normal, and to check
back every month to make sure that nothing has
changed. If something HAS changed, you will
know it and you can do something about it.
The testicular self exam is best performed after
a warm bath or shower.
(Heat relaxes the scrotum, making it easier to
spot anything abnormal)
Here is how to do the self exam:
If possible, stand in front of a mirror. Check
for any swelling on the scrotal skin.
Examine each testicle with both hands.
Place the index and middle fingers under the
testicle with the thumbs placed on top. Roll the
testicle gently between the thumbs and fingers -
- you shouldn't feel any pain when doing the
exam. Don't be alarmed if one testicle
seems slightly larger than the other, that's
normal.
Find the epididymis, the soft, tubelike
structure behind the testicle that collects and
carries sperm. If you are familiar with this
structure, you won't mistake it for a suspicious
lump. Cancerous lumps usually are found on
the sides of the testicle but can also show up on
the front. Lumps on or attached to the
epididymis are not cancerous.
If you find a lump on your testicle or any of the
other signs of testicular cancer listed below, see
a doctor, preferably a urologist, right away.
The abnormality may not be cancer, but if it is
testicular cancer, it will spread if it is not
stopped by treatment. Even if it is something
else like an infection, you are still going to need
to see a doctor. Waiting and hoping will not fix
anything. Please note that free floating lumps in
the scrotum that are not attached in any way to
a testicle are not testicular cancer. When in
doubt, get it checked out - if only for peace of
mind!
Other signs of testicular cancer to keep in mind
are:
Any enlargement of a testicle
A significant loss of size in one of the
testicles
A feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
A dull ache in the lower abdomen or in the
groin
A sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum
Pain or discomfort in a testicle or in the
scrotum
Enlargement or tenderness of the breasts
*** Remember, only a physician can make a
positive diagnosis ***
For that matter, only a physician can make a
negative diagnosis too. If you think something
feels strange, go see the doctor!
Finally, embarrassment is a poor excuse for not
having any problem examined by a doctor. If
you think there is something wrong or
something has changed, please see your
doctor!
Article courtesy of: http://tcrc.acor.org/tcexam.html

Are you are a traditional dad in a traditional family, a
non custodial dad, a stay home dad or a stepdad?
Whatever your role within the family I think you will
agree when I say the most precious thing a dad can
give his kids is his quality time. Truly a personal
investment in your children is much more important
to them than any toy, computer game or electronic
gadget. Here are some great, and sometimes
creative, ways to get together with your children in a
positive way.
1. Tell your children a story
Young children love stories. It is a fun way for you to
invest time in their lives. Find out how to become a
great storyteller and enjoy making believe with your
kids. This will make you feel like a child again.
2. Plan a picnic
Spring and summer time is here and this is the
perfect time to be out for a picnic with your children.
Children love to be outdoors with their dad.
3. Take a day trip
Find out how you can plan an effective, positive and
rewarding summer day out and really spent some
time together. Maybe a trip to the zoo, this trip is
always a winner and there are plenty of discussions
to be had at the zoo. Day trips do not always have
to involve spending money a lovely trip to the park
feeding the ducks can be just as effective.
4. Turn off the television
It is frightening how important the television has
become in some families. Sitting together and
watching TV is entertaining, and sometimes
educational, but it does not allow quality ‘together
time’ and interaction.
5. Spend the evening together
Set aside one night, each week for the family and
only the family. You will enjoy this so much you will
wonder what you ever did without it!
6. Grow a garden
Get your hands dirty! What can be better than that
for a great dad-child activity? Explore the world of
gardening and find ways to involve your children in
this interesting and positive activity. You do not
need a garden to do this. You can plant some seeds
such as Sunflowers in old polystyrene egg cartons.
You can plant, water and watch them grow together.
You will be amazed with the amount of joy and
sense of achievement this activity will bring your
child as the seed flower s.
7. Eating Together
So many families struggle to find time to interact.
Many families have found one key to more time
together is planning mealtimes for family
involvement and commitment.
8. Help with homework
For some homework will bring back memories, it
seemed like most of your childhood was consumed
with homework – right? Find some great resources
and tips for being a top flight homework helper, your
children will really appreciate this.
9. Enjoy the cold weather
Even during the winter months, there are things dads
and children can do together. At the park there may
still be lots of crunchy leaves for you to have fun
crunching and lots of twigs on the ground for you to
collect and build something with.
10. The car or public transport
Consider loading your family up for a car trip. While
time travelling in a vehicle is not considered quality
time by some, it can create great memories and a
chance to talk and interact in a different and
enjoyable activity.