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Todays guest post is all about building your own treehouse! A subject very close to my heart, I have a small obsession with treehouses and would love to have one, um I mean build one for Littlelish ;) First I need a house with a suitable more »
Image source: www.howstuffworks.com
Todays guest post is all about building your own treehouse! A subject very close to my heart, I have a small obsession with treehouses and would love to have one, um I mean build one for Littlelish ;) First I need a house with a suitable tree in the garden!
A treehouse, as many parents know from firsthand experience when they were children, is a brilliant place for young ones to play and explore – and is an excellent project for the entire family to experience together!
If you’re keen to get going with a treehouse project of your own, here’s a handy guide to getting started with your project.
Choose the perfect tree
The quest to construct the perfect treehouse begins with choosing the right tree. You will need to make sure that the tree you select is strong and healthy – this will help you build a safe and solid foundation for your structure.
Look for trees where the lower branches (the thickest and sturdiest ones) fork out into a defined Y or U shape, as these are likely to provide the most support. It’s worth knowing that beech and oak are among the strongest trees and could provide plenty of structural support.
Image source: www.popularmechanics.com
Designing your treehouse
Just as a real-life builder would never jump into construction on a house without a blueprint, you shouldn’t start building your treehouse until you know exactly what the plan is. You don’t have to be a great designer to get going with this part of the process. Remember that treehouses are built from the ground up, so you’ll begin with the deck (which requires the most support) and then up from there.
Whether you choose to add a simple railing or make elaborate changes like adding walls, windows or a tower, the base is largely the same – so you can always build on your plans later.
Image source: www.dezeen.com
Height and other considerations
One important thing you’ll want to think about during the design stage is how high up from the ground you will want your treehouse to be.
If you’re building your treehouse with young kids in mind, it’s essential to think about their safety – and remember that what (or who) climbs up can just as easily fall down. This is why it’s a smart idea to keep your treehouse at a relatively low height – under a metre from the ground is usually a sensible idea for very young children.
It is also worth bearing in mind that very tall or very elaborate treehouses may require planning permission from your local authority – if you are in doubt, contact your council to find out more information.
Image source: www.greglunger.com
Be smart about building materials
Now that you have a plan in place, it’s time to assemble your building materials – these will vary depending on the scope of your project. The most basic tree houses might be made out of scrap lumber, while more elaborate structures might require a specific type of wood. If your treehouse will include a roof, opt for pressure treated material.
You will also want to make sure you have the right tools for the job. Many DIY-ers recommend utilising some sort of pulley system to get the materials up in the tree, and of course you will need a sturdy ladder too.
Click here to find out more about hiring compressors and other useful pieces of equipment from Speedy Services to help get the job done – and remember, don’t be shy about asking a handy friend for help with this type of project.
We have some issues, already for quite some time with Littlelish and preschool. I’ve tried to ignore them in the hope that it is just a phase and they will pass but Littlelish says she hates preschool.
When I asked her today why she hates preschool she told me it was because she “already knows everything that is important in the world”.
“Mummy I know about listening, about holding hands when you are told to, about being kind, about playing with others.”
What’s more she said she hates the activities at school, she hates writing, she hates reading… Quite frankly it’s leaving me a bit worried. Especially with her starting school this September.
There is no doubt that Littlelish is an exceptionally bright little thing. We’ve known it since she was small. I know all parents think their child is bright but Littlelish really is. She can sound out 3 and 4 letters words which means she is already reading basic books. She can spell and write short words too. Her vocabulary is outstanding for a child of 3. She uses words like captured, injured and gulp on a daily basis and if you ask her the meaning of some really grown up, complex words she will be able to tell you without hesitation. She also speaks Dutch and can translate between the two languages. She is really into science in a big way and will be able to tell you all about gravity and earthquakes if you ask her.
I’m sure it’s all linked with her being highly sensitive and we are really just trying to understand it all and figure out the best way, as parents, to deal with it. I’m very much led by her and what she wants to do. I never force work or activities upon her (nor could I, she is so strong willed). Mostly she likes to be social, play with her friends or make up imaginative games. Sometimes I feel guilty, that I should be pushing her more, to develop her obviously very capable brain but then I think she is so little, knows so much already I’d rather just let her have fun and relax. After all she will be at school soon enough.
Yesterday we found out which school Littlelish will be joining in September. It’s a wonderful, small school with a very warm, friendly atmosphere. I’m hoping it will suit her sensitivities well. But I’m also so nervous about how she will take to a full day spent on learning activities. Especially as many of the initial activities, phonics, numbers etc are things she has known for more than a year now. I’m hoping to goodness they are prepared to work with us on providing activities that will stimulate her and not leave her feeling bored and uninspired.
Which is exactly how she seems to be at preschool at the moment, not being challenged by her peers or teachers is really getting to her. She has even started to occasionally speak like a baby again which as I just read in this excellent article (about young gifted children at school) is often the case when trying to fit in with their peers. Littlelish is a child with a true love of learning, I really hope we can give her the education she deserves when school time comes around!
Well I wish I had more joyous news. It’s been rather a sickly couple of weeks in our house. I’ve been struggling with an unknown stomach ailment which has really been bothering me. I’m almost unable to eat, to which I know most of you would say – lucky! But unfortunately it is ridiculously painful and rather worrying. Needlesstosay motivation has been pretty low (which is rather frustrating as I have so many things I want to and need to do!) so we’ve been trying to relax and take it a bit easy.
Littlelish has also had chickenpox. She came down with them quite badly and it made her feel very ill and feverish, I hated seeing my little sunshine all lifeless and spotty! I was super proud of how she coped without complaining and how brave she was. In fact she was trying to convince us the whole time she didn’t have chickenpox “Mum these are not chickenpox, they are in fact birthmarks, that’s all”
I thought I’d share our top tips to get you through chickenpox relatively stress free. We bought nearly the entire chemist after a certain fussy little lady refused some of her treatments. We also found some things worked better than others!
- Paracetemol – for the fever. Remember you are NOT allowed to give ibuprofen to kids who have chicken pox.
- Piriton – Yes this is allergy medicine but it also works on chickenpox and stops the itching from the inside. We had to smuggle it in milk but it worked wonders and the difference in scratching was remarkable when she took it.
- Aqueous Calamine lotion – doesn’t dry the spots out (which can make them itch more!) like normal Calamine lotion does.
- A soft fleecy cuddle blanket – which she used to itch her spots rather than her nails…
- Baths – lots of warm baths, we tried both porridge oats and bicarbonate of soda both are meant to sooth…
- Distraction techniques – Tv usually works wonders here :/
- Love – Lots of cuddles!
I’d love you to comment and add your own if I’ve missed any that worked for you!
Image: www.soulcolour.com
Littlelish: Mummy, what colour is your soul?
Mummylish: Oh good question, I don’t really know!
Littlelish: (Thinks a while and then says) It’s white. Souls are white and they get greyer and greyer the older you get.
x
A fab guest post about getting girls into science!
Image: www.ehow.com
Some subjects are easier to engage kids with than others. Science can be one of the trickier ones, as it’s often perceived as ‘geeky’ and difficult to get to grips with. But, I think there are plenty of ways to get your children excited about science and shake off its ‘uncool’ image.
Girls and science
Before I look at how you can change your child’s perception of science, I’d like to talk briefly about girls’ relationship with the subject – because in the UK, the US and Canada, there is a clear achievement gap between the sexes. In fact, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development recently revealed that in these three countries, 15-year-old girls were outperformed by boys in science – but the reverse was true across the rest of the world.
There are a lot of theories about why this is. One common suggestion is that gender inequality in society causes these gaps by stripping females of the confidence in their own ability to achieve in science.
Image: www.123rf.com
Other commentators, like development consultant at the UK Resource Centre for women and science, engineering and technology Rachel Tibbell, believe that trends like this can be traced all the way back to childhood. Speaking to the BBC, Mrs Tibbell noted toys kids are given during this time are more than just something to play with – they also help children build perceptions of their roles in society.
So, while parents should be sure to encourage their children in science no matter what their gender, if you have a daughter, try to take particular care to both buoy her confidence and ensure her toys and books don’t reinforce poor gender images/roles.
Image: www.flickr.com
Top tips for engaging your child with science
Let’s now have a quick look about what you can do to get your child excited about science!
• I must confess, science didn’t much interest me when I was at school – something I kick myself for these days, because now it fascinates me. To help your child really engage with the subject, try to show them how it is directly relevant to the world around them. For instance, talk to them about the chemistry behind baking, or how science helps keep rollercoasters on their tracks.
• It’s also worth buying kids’ science kits. These are not only fun, but also help children learn about key scientific processes and give them the freedom to experiment. A candy-making chemistry kit, for example, lets them learn about how sugar crystallises, as well as find out about temperatures, weights and measures, while making delicious sweets.
• When playing with toys like this, or when baking (after all, baking is basically chemistry!), ask your child to read the instructions or recipes aloud. Doing so helps them interact with and understand the steps and processes involved, and also means they are more engaged with the whole activity, so they’re likely to get much more out of it.
Image: www.chefdruck.com
• Remember to give your children verbal encouragement. This could be particularly important for girls, as the research I mentioned above shows that a lack of self-confidence in science leads to poorer performance.
• If you’re helping your child with a science experiment from a kids’ kit, or you’re doing a spot of baking with them, don’t give them the answer if they get stuck. Instead, ask them leading questions to help them come to the right conclusions themselves – this should not only help them learn, but also boost their confidence by giving them the sense of achievement of working it out successfully.
Image: www.ronaldslabbers.com
She’s 3 and a half but we’ve already got to that stage…
(It’s dinner time)
Littlelish: Looking forlornly at her dinner… Muuuuum, did this turkey have to die so I could eat it?
Mummylish: (No way to tell an untruth here) Um. Yes darling it did.
Littlelish: Oh well then I don’t want to eat it.
Mummylish: Ok, if you really don’t want to that’s fine…
Littlelish: (Thinks to herself for a while) Pasta doesn’t have to die does it mum? It wouldn’t run away while a hunter was trying to catch it, would it? Giggle giggle…
Mummylish: No darling it wouldn’t.
Littlelish: Yeah I’ll just eat pasta.
Groan…. pass me the veggie cook book!
We were thrilled to be invited down to London Zoo on a blogger sponsored day out by the lovely people at Virgin Money. It was just what we needed after all the events of late, a little mummy and daughter adventure!
I challenged myself to drive down to London, excited to be heading to the city and my old neighbourhood after many years. The sun well and truly had it’s hat on and we knew it was the start of a great day out :) Driving past my old haunts, the school I used to go to, the cinema at Swiss cottage, we animatedly chatted about the day ahead until we reached Regents Park and our destination London Zoo! We parked up and quickly made our way to the main entrance where our hosts for the day, Julie and Max waited patiently.
After a quick brief and hello to the other mummy bloggers we were let loose into the zoo! What to do first? Littlelish grabbed a map and beamed with pride at being allowed to choose where we went. Our mission of the day according to Littlelish was to find the sweetest, cutest animal in the zoo… what would it be? She decided our first destination was the aquarium, it’s the first thing you see as you come into the zoo and we do enjoy a good aquarium. Littlelish navigated us round, still clutching the map. She definitely liked leading the way. We saw big fish, little fish, our favourite was the show off sting ray who entertained us with his funny ray smile. Littlelish was curious to know why his stinging tail didn’t sting all the other fish in the tank! To which I did not have an answer ;)
After a good look in the dark aquarium we ventured blinking, into the bright sunshine, next destination – the giraffes. Littlelish was convinced there was a baby giraffe who she needed to see! We went via the hunting dogs, warthogs and okapi who Littlelish thought were so cool with their stripey tights on!
Once we arrived at the giraffes we climbed up the frame to get a look at the them up close while they munched away on their branches. Littelish was desperate to get even closer and attempted to scale the barrier. She said they looked very soft and would like to stroke them and I have to say I agree! Lovely, graceful animals :) We didn’t find a baby one, only one which was a little shorter than the others – was it a baby? I’m still not sure…
We then headed over to the sticky rainforest to spot some monkeys but had to leave rather quickly as Littlelish couldn’t stand the stench, puffing her cheeks up and not daring to inhale the smelly air! It did make me chuckle. Our next stop was the nightlife area, funnily the dark didn’t phase her at all! She loved watching the bats and we especially loved the loris because it looked so cool! Definitely a contender for the zoo’s cutest animal don’t you think?
We scooted past the meerkats, lemurs, otters and reindeer and decided we would make our way to see some monkeys! The Gorillas had a fantastic enclosure and the coolest of play areas, Littlelish and I decided we would like one of these rooms in our house!!!
It was now time for a spot of lunch we wrestled our way to a free table where we could snack on our packed lunch. We’d been warned that the restaurant was pretty pricey but I have to say the food did look excellent and I felt a little hard done by tucking into my sandwich while everyone was having a nice hot meal. We treated ourselves after lunch with a nice refreshing ice lolly :)
After refueling we headed off to meet the other mummy bloggers and the virgin media team for the penguin show over at Penguin Beach! We managed to get a spot and heard all about the new penguin pool, how the Zoo are trying to keep the environment as natural as possible, they even feed the penguins through a ingenious drain pipe construction which means the penguins are not being fed by human hands but rather the fish is falling directly in the water for them to catch it more naturally. They also explained to us just why a penguin is black and white and no it wasn’t a cheesy joke! The birds are black on their backs so as not to be spotted by predators from above against a dark blue sea and light on their fronts so as not be be spotted from below against the white light as it shines into the water – camouflage, how clever!
It was now group photo time by the lions who were lazily lounging in the sun. There was no time for lordly lounging for us as we still had plenty to see! We headed back to the butterfly pavillion to admire the beautiful butterflies. Littlelish was particularily pleased they weren’t in cages and were free to flutter around. After the butterflies it was on to the other creepy crawlies which I was rather glad were in cages! Spiders, cockroaches and scorpions… no cuties in here!
We had made our way all the way to the back corner of the zoo but here tucked away is in my opinion one of the best areas of the zoo – Meet the Monkeys! An area of the zoo where you can enter the squirrel monkeys home where they run and jump free. On our way in Littlelish noticed the picture of a little boy with only nine fingers! Needlesstosay touching the monkeys was not allowed. She listened well to these instructions but I wasn’t sure she would! Especially when the little boy next to her stroked one and said, mummy it’s soooo soft! Ooops!
One part of the squirrel monkey home is a hide where you could look through binoculars to see the monkeys in the bushes. The cheeky monkeys only came to say hello at the side window, jumped onto the binoculars and off out the other side window!! These were definitely the zoo sweeties we were looking for, absolutely my favourite!!
Next along our path was the area of the zoo designed especially by children for children – Animal Adventure. Always a recipe for success this was definitely Littlelishs favourite part of the zoo. A giant tipi where they do storytelling, chickens roaming around, a special childrens cafe, even a water play area for on a hot day. The specially designed playground was awesome, creative and original and I literally had to bribe her away from the teletubbies style climbing hill! Luckily there was something even more exciting round the corner, the petting zoo! Littlelish has always loved the farm and has absolutely no fear of petting animals. And finally she had found her cutest, cuddliest animal at the zoo… a goat!! She named it whitey black black and spent a good 20 minutes hugging it much to the amusement of some Japanese tourists who started taking photos of her! It was rather cute.
The sun was starting to set so we popped past the llamas and alpacas and tried to spot the difference between the two, watched the camel spit, took a quick peak inside the old elephant house which I remember from being a small child. We said hello and goodbye to the hippo as we made our way to the exit.
I was proud of Littlelish, she managed to walk the entire way round the zoo, never complaining, taking it all in and loving every minute. We had a fantastic day together, it was good to be doing something fun together and making some memories. I have such fond ones of London Zoo as a child so it was lovely that it was something we could now share.
And Littlelish found her cutest zoo animal… Whitey Black Black!
A huge thank you to Virgin Money and Carat Media for organising a wonderful day out.
Our top 10 things to see and do at London Zoo
1. Meet some cheeky squirrel monkeys and see if you can climb like a squirrel monkey
2. Have a play in the childrens area, see how fast you can climb the hill!
3. Hug a goat in the petting zoo!
4. See if you can spot the Loris in the dark
5. Listen to a story in the childrens tipi
6. Admire some beautiful butterflies in the butterfly pavillion, see if you can spot the camoflaged ones!
7. Say hello to ray the show off sting ray
8. Watch the giraffes munching on their lunch with their long tongues!
9. Learn more about the penguins and meet ricky the rockhopper at the penguin show at Penguin Beach
10. Go and meet an okapi! What’s an okapi? Go and find out :)
Top 10 reasons for using Virgin Money Travel
1. Virgin Money Travel Insurance was voted “Best Online Travel Insurance Provider 2012” at the Your Money Direct Awards.
2. You can be sure when you purchase travel insurance from Virgin Money, you’re covered by the people who know all there is to know about travel.
3. Annual cover from just £35.20 (based on European policy for under 50s)
4. Kids covered free – up to 3 under 18s per insured adult
5. Winter sports covered – from off-piste skiing to snowboarding
6. Protection if your holiday is delayed, cancelled or cut short
7. Over 65s cover also available, and we even cover some pre-existing medical conditions
8. As a Virgin Money Travel Insurance customer you have access to a travel advice line for support before you leave and also while you’re away on your trip.
9. As a Virgin Travel Insurance customer, you’ll be provided with access to Virgin group discounts which can help cut the cost of your
travel expenses.10. Virgin Moneys goal is to make “everyone better off” – this philosophy underpins their approach to business by offering good value to customers, treating employees well, making a positive contribution to society and delivering a positive contribution to shareholders.
I’m here, I’ve survived and you know what I think I’ve made it to the other side.
And I’m proud of myself. I’m proud I have made it this far after taking one of the hardest, bravest decisions of my life. I’ve organised a house for Littlelish and I, moved our things in, made it a home for us, been able to make the transition smooth for her, maintained good (if not always) relations with her Dad. I’ve done the practical things, I’ve called the lettings/energy/broadband/water company, found out what support I am entitled to. Best of all I’ve made this happen on my own*, took hold of my life and decided to steer it where I want it to go. And it feels good.
Sure I am not quite there yet, I’m still in process of building my empire ;) but the spark is back. The drive, the determination and the sparkle is back. Best of all I’ve discovered that it all comes from within me. After a few unsuccessful dating attempts (who knows I may share more about these one time!) I’ve realised I don’t need to rely on someone else to fulfill me, I am fulfilled. I am strong, brave and competent. I have the capability to be happy on my own. Although really I am never alone because I share my world with the most beautiful little girl guaranteed to make me smile every day, my Littlelish.
* I say alone but really I mean with the support both financial and emotional from my amazing family and friends. Thank you, I love you so much.
I’ve big things planned for the blog so watch this space :)
These days, the message associated with sending a bunch of red roses on Valentine’s Day is pretty clear – it signals some sort of romantic/passionate intent on the part of the giver. But the practice of bestowing flowers on someone else was a bit more complicated than that back in the Victorian period, when particular blooms had specific meanings.
Read on to find out how to convey your own message just by choosing the right flowers for Valentine’s Day…
The art of floriography
Floriography – or the language of flowers – became popular in 19th century thanks to the ease with which people could send secret messages to each other, just by selecting a particular flower in a particular colour.
When you consider how big a role moral values and behaving ‘correctly’ played in Victorian society, this could be seen to be a pretty radical thing to do at the time! Flowers were also used in this way simply by pinning them to a lapel or hat, just like the brooches and badges we wear today.
As well as selecting single varieties to convey a particular message, it was common to use combinations of different flowers to get across something more complex. The positioning of flowers also had significance; a flower pointing downwards suggested a negative attitude to something, while one directed the other way would indicate a more positive outlook.
Flower meanings
So, just what are the romantic meanings associated with specific varieties of flower? Here’s a list of some of them, but there are many more out there!
• Red rose - The daddy of them all. And yes, this definitely means ‘I love you’! A single one that’s fully bloomed is a simple way of declaring true love, while a bouquet of them refers specifically to feelings of gratitude, oddly enough.
• White rose - This can mean humility or innocence/purity. Another meaning is silence or secrecy – mysterious!
• Yellow rose - This can refer to friendship, happiness and/or joy. Ideal if you’re planning on giving Valentine’s Day flowers without a romantic intention behind them.
• Pink rose - This can imply secret love or sheer happiness. The meanings change depending on how light or dark the pink is; very pale means joy or grace, while dark signifies gratitude.
• Red tulip - Giving this flower is the same as a declaration of love, which is perfect for Valentine’s Day! Choosing any tulip also signifies ‘perfect lover’ – the Victorians probably didn’t mean this in a saucy context, but you could give it with that intention if you like!
• Calla lily - This means ‘magnificent beauty’ – now there’s a compliment!
• Carnation - A great option for anyone looking for low cost Valentine’s Day bouquets. Carnations can refer to deep devotion, but different colours mean different things (of course). There are so many we won’t go into all of them, but red signifies an admiration or an aching heart, while pink means the sender will always remember the recipient. Fascinatingly, a striped carnation means ‘no’ and a yellow one expresses disappointment or feelings of rejection – you can just imagine an entire relationship being played out just through carnations!
• Yellow daffodil - This means the sender is feeling chivalrous – one for knights, perhaps?
• Gladioli - This is one to choose if you want to show that you’re sincere or feeling generous.
Christmas and new year have been and gone, which means that Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. Personally, I think it’s good to do something a little out of the ordinary on this day; since everyone finds different things romantic, it makes sense to break the mould and do whatever you want to do. That more »
Christmas and new year have been and gone, which means that Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. Personally, I think it’s good to do something a little out of the ordinary on this day; since everyone finds different things romantic, it makes sense to break the mould and do whatever you want to do. That said, I think it’s also nice to combine this with a cosy night at home – but this doesn’t have to follow the same old pattern either.
Every year, my partner and I pick something we want to do together – say go for a fancy meal, visit a new place or spend a day at a theme park – and we do this either before or after the big day itself. This way, you get to avoid the usual Valentine’s crowds. On February 14th, we have a lazy night in.
If you do decide to have an evening at home but want to do something a bit different, I suggest making use of your summer house. It might sound a bit odd at first, but summer houses can be fantastic for romantic evenings - let me explain how.
Decoration
Before we begin, let me stress that making your summer house perfect for Valentine’s Day is all in the decoration. Otherwise, you’re just sitting in the garden when it’s chilly, really, aren’t you? So, if you’re going to use the summer house, go all out when it comes to transforming it. Candles are a must (though obviously you do need to be extremely careful with these), but you can also use pretty fairy lights to create the right atmosphere.
Of course, February isn’t exactly the warmest month of the year, so make sure you have a portable heater on hand, as well as lots of cushions and blankets – if these can be Valentine’s-themed, so much the better! You could also have some roses strewn about, but maybe pick your partner’s favourite flowers to make it a bit more personal.
I also think you should pay attention to the garden. Hang fairy lights in the trees, and mark out the path to the summer house with lanterns or rose petals (I might be being a bit optimistic, there – the wind may blow any blooms away, but you can see what the weather’s like on the day!).
Scenario 1: the romantic meal
Now let’s think about what you can do. First of all, an (appropriately decorated) summer house can be great for a romantic meal – whatever that might mean to you. You could surprise your partner with their favourite dish, cook something new together or even be ultra-lazy and get a decadent takeaway – the choice is yours! Whatever you decide, don’t forget the champagne.
Scenario 2: the hidden presents
Another fun idea is to use the summer house as a place to surprise your partner with their presents. Again, it’ll only work well if you decorate, so keep that in mind when you’re planning! As well as having the main presents here, it’s nice to add a few about the room – perhaps some heart-shaped chocolates that can double-up as decoration, for instance.
Scenario 3: the staging area
Finally, you could also use the summer house as a staging area before you go out for the evening. Champagne in candlelight with cosy cushions and pretty decorations all around is bound to start your evening off on the right foot. You can also plan to have some treats here before you go out, such as chocolates or canapes – just try to resist overindulging if you’re going out for dinner afterwards.
I’m a freelancer in creative marketing with a background in design and styling but when I'm not working I'm doing the most important job in the world, being mummy to my beautiful little girl! I love to create and craft and have a passion for colour and beautiful detail. This blog is all about my life, my amazing daughter, my inspirations and creations!
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Get rid of baths
Do not take baths, take showers. You will save about half the amount of water that you would if you were taking a bath.
