After recently levelling up my business, I am on a mission to help busy mums manage their lives, start a business, or improve engagement and sales in their current companies.
Any support for this blog is greatly appreciated, and it means the world to me!
Ways to support my blog
Check out my Linktree for all the ways you can support my blog
Quick note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links; if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.
Yoga has been around for centuries, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a simple way to build strength, increase flexibility, and find some calm in a busy world. Yoga isn’t about fancy moves or being super bendy, it’s about feeling good in your body and mind.
If you’re looking to lower your stress, improve focus, or just move a little more gently, yoga is the perfect go-to. If you’re new or getting back to the basics, knowing the right poses makes all the difference. And if you find yourself loving it, OriGym’s accredited yoga teacher training course is a great way to turn that passion into a career.
Here are ten simple yoga poses to help you build confidence, connect with your breathing, and get comfortable on the mat.
1) Mountain Pose (Tadasana)
It might look simple, but the Mountain Pose is the foundation of all standing poses. It teaches posture, balance and groundedness.
➡️ How to do it: Stand tall with your feet together, shoulders relaxed, and arms by your sides. Engage your thighs and lift your chest. Breathe deeply and feel rooted through your feet.
➡️ Benefits of Mountain Pose: Mountain Pose helps with alignment and improves your posture both on and off the mat.
2) Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)
This classic pose appears in nearly every yoga class. It’s a great full-body stretch and resting position.
➡️How to do it: From hands and knees, lift your hips towards the ceiling, straighten your legs and form an inverted V-shape. Press your palms into the mat and let your head relax.
➡️Benefits of Downward-Facing Dog: It strengthens your arms and shoulders while stretching your back, hamstrings and calves.
3) Cat-Cow Pose (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana)
The cat-cow pose is often used as a warm-up as the gentle flow between two poses wakes up the spine and introduces breath-to-movement coordination.
➡️ How to do it: On your hands and knees, inhale to arch your back (Cow), lifting your tailbone and head. Exhale to round your spine (Cat), tucking your chin and tailbone.
➡️ Benefits of Cat-Cow Pose: It increases your spinal flexibility and relieves any tension that you may have in your back and neck.
4) Child’s Pose (Balasana)
The child’s pose is a restful pose that’s perfect for beginners as it allows you to relax and reset between more challenging postures.
➡️ How to do it: Kneel on the mat, sit back on your heels and stretch your arms forward as you lower your forehead to the ground.
➡️Benefits of Child’s Pose: It calms your mind, relieves fatigue, and gently stretches your hips and thighs.
5) Warrior I (Virabhadrasana I)
Warrior poses help build strength and stamina. Warrior I also challenges your balance and focus.
➡️ How to do it: Step one foot back and bend the front knee, keeping your back foot turned slightly outwards. Raise your arms overhead and gaze forward.
➡️ Benefits of Warrior I: Warrior I strengthens your legs, opens your hips and chest, and builds confidence.
6) Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II)
Warrior II is a powerful pose that encourages inner strength and determination.
➡️ How to do it: From Warrior I, open your hips and arms to face sideways, keeping the front knee bent and back leg straight. Gaze over your front hand.
➡️ Benefits of Warrior II: Warrior II strengthens your legs, tones your core, and improves focus.
7) Tree Pose (Vrksasana)
Balancing poses like the tree pose encourage concentration and a calm, steady mind.
➡️ How to do it: Stand on one leg and place the sole of the other foot against the inner thigh or calf (avoid the knee). Bring your hands together at your heart or raise them overhead.
➡️ Benefits of Tree Pose: It improves balance and stability while strengthening your legs and ankles.
The seated forward bend pose allows for a gentle stretch of the back and hamstrings while encouraging introspection.
➡️ How to do it: Sit with your legs extended and reach forward, hinging from the hips. Keep your spine long and avoid rounding the back.
➡️ Benefits of Seated Forward Bend: It soothes your nervous system and helps relieve stress.
9) Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana)
The bridge pose is a beginner-friendly backbend that opens the chest and strengthens the back and body.
➡️ How to do it: Lie on your back, bend your knees and place your feet hip-width apart. Press into your feet and lift your hips while keeping your arms by your sides.
➡️ Benefits of Bridge Pose: Bridge Pose energises your body, improves posture and strengthens the glutes and lower back.
10) Corpse Pose (Savasana)
It may be the easiest pose physically, but the corpse pose is one of the most important for your mind.
➡️ How to do it: Lie flat on your back, arms and legs relaxed. Close your eyes and focus on your breath.
➡️ Benefits of Corpse Pose: Savasana allows your body to rest and the mind to absorb the benefits of your practice.
Enjoy The Benefits Of Yoga
Yoga poses might seem tricky at first, but once you get the hang of them, they become second nature. These foundational moves help build strength, improve flexibility, and deepen your connection with your body and breath. The more you practise, the more confident and comfortable you’ll feel (both on and off the mat).
Remember, every expert was once a beginner. So take your time, enjoy the process, and soon these poses will feel easy and natural. Roll out your mat, breathe deeply, and have fun with your yoga journey.
Not only do I frequently buy from Etsy, but I am in the process of setting up my own Etsy shop – watch this space! The marketplace is packed full with unique gifting choices that are really one of a kind, which means you don’t have to worry whether someone else will buy the special father-figure in your life the same gift.
Some of the keepsakes we have bought each other over the years, from Etsy, still feature on display in our house years later. And that’s the difference. The quality and uniqueness of the gifts mean the memory is long-lasting.
Please note – some of the links contained in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, there is no additional cost to you, but I may make a small commission.
Welcome to my post, all about Southview Holiday Retreat, Middlesborough.
Who else loves the quiet life? The strong need to get away from the hustle and bustle. Switch off your phone and just relax.
As a family, we have busy lives, between working full time, school admin, childcare and fitting in precious time to make family memories and have fun. Sometimes it’s just necessary to switch off completely.
Quick note: Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.
PLEASE NOTE – all images are courtesy of Sam – founder of Mummy Conquering Anxiety blog and are copyright
Making a holiday booking with a lack of reviews
I’ve talked in my previous review blog posts about reading reviews before booking a holiday, a meal or visiting somewhere. You can usually tell the fair reviews from the people who just want to have a rant. Check out my Places to Eat reviews below:
However, sometimes you need to take a chance on a holiday venue when they have just set up and are brand new. When we booked this holiday through Hoseasons, there were only a few reviews added. As such, we had to take that chance.
We are here now
I want to visit places myself before bringing you reviews. We are currently on site now and these are my comments about the place:
Accommodation & value for money – We are staying in The Wainstones pod, which is slightly more roomy than the standard one.
Service – friendly, checking in with us but not disturbing our peace.
Nearby places to visit – Stokesley. Great Ayton, Whitby, Middlesborough.
Relaxation factor – 100% relaxation, even with a fiver-year-old.
A base for visiting other places – the perfect base for venturing out and about each day.
I am going into a lot more detail below, so keep reading about the 6 Amazing Reasons to Book a Holiday at Southview Holiday Retreat, Middlesborough
Accommodation & value for money
The accommodation is what sold the holiday to us, in the first place. We paid £399.00 when booking direct through Hoseasons. And only paid a £10.00 deposit. Booking in advance allowed us to pay the holiday off in chunks. I didn’t think this price was bad, considering we have a Monday-Friday stay, the first week of the UK school summer holidays AND the addition of the hot tub and amazing view.
We had everything we needed in the pod. A small kitchen area, without an oven, but other amenities such as a microwave, hob, kettle and toaster.
We managed to make some lovely homemade meals, like spaghetti bolognese. And even managed a full fry-up, to make fry-up wraps!
Surroundings
The pod overlooks the Cleveland Hills and as you can see from the pictures below, the view is stunning, breathtaking, and relaxing and it’s amazing to overlook this every morning. We decided to spend our last day mostly hanging around the accommodation, so we can live in the moment and enjoy this beautiful view.
Service
The site is run by a father and son team and from the first text message, to get instructions for how to enter the accommodation, they were lovely and friendly.
The instructions for staying were comprehensive and provided all the information we needed. And the friendly visits, stopping by our pod to check if we had everything we needed, were one of the highlights of our holiday. The little one loved saying hello!
Nearby places to visit
As a family, we purposefully book places to stay, where we can use them as a base to explore the area. And this time we took the opportunity to reinstate our English Heritage Membership and visit some amazing places on the way here and during our stay.
A few of the nearby places you can visit during your stay:
Stokesley – this is a market town, with a coop, bakers, lots of pubs, bistros and other amenities. We visited to grab some lunch at the local bakers and food supplies from the coop.
I would say that from what we experienced, the town isn’t geared towards families and children. Eating-wise we would have been looking at overpriced bistros (I say this because our five-year-old simply wouldn’t eat the food there) or pubs with strange service times or that don’t allow children. As a couple, we would have loved a village like this. But luckily we were able to grab some food and return to our accommodation to chill out in the hot tub.
I will say there are lots of amazing shops for little ones. Boutique-style clothing and toys for young ones. We loved exploring the array of charity shops – we even picked up some bargains, including a branded walking coat for my little one and a nice dress for me.
Great Ayton – This is a picturesque small village, which we passed through on our way to Whitby. All the details you need about the amenities available can be found here.
It’s a lovely Yorkshire town, with shops, a beautiful square and lots of cafes and pubs along the river. We had a great time walking around the town, after our trip around the castle.
Relaxation factor
This trip was 100% relaxation from the first moment we arrived. Absolutely beautiful views. An enclosed garden was a must for the little one. It also came in handy when one of us wanted a rest in the afternoon, the other people could use the patio to chill outside and provide some much-needed space, away from one another. The small balcony out to the front of the pod also provided another space for someone to relax in.
A base for visiting other places
In terms of distance, staying here is a great base for visiting other places. You have the choice of nearby market towns, which are up to about a 30-minute drive. Some are just 5 minutes down the road, in a car.
Whitby
The longest drive we did was Whitby for the day. The picturesque seaside town was busy and we were tired after the trip but we got to see our favourite seaside town, without the price tag of staying in a £300.00 a night hotel in the centre of Whitby.
It was about a 49-minute drive to Whitby from the accommodation.
One of the main reasons we visited Whitby was to take our little one to Whitby Abbey. As a couple we have visited a few times, but it was time to introduce her to the amazing views and history. She loved running around and taking pictures.
I will be writing a post about Middlesborough and the wider area, and some other guides for this local area – so look out for this by subscribing to my blog, to be alerted when a blog post is released.
Let’s face it, as a parent of a toddler, you have to watch kids’ TV programmes. But honestly, Bluey is my fave and, we as adults, often keep watching it when our little one has run off to the next activity.
I feel seen and heard when watching the Heeler family navigate the trials and tribulations of parenting.
What I love the most, is how they get those magical parenting moments right. So heartwarming. But it’s also full of real-life examples of how frustrating toddlers can be. I feel seen and heard when watching the Heeler family navigate the trials and tribulations of parenting.
I was inspired to write this post by Claire Mac. It was time to share my favourite Bluey episodes. I’ve watched a lot recently!
Quick note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links; if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and thinkwould be useful for you.
Charades
Season 2, Episode 11
Episode description
Bluey and Bingo want everyone to play Charades, but Muffin and Socks are too young to understand the rules, which threatens to derail the game. But Nana has her own special rule so everyone is happy!
My thoughts
We are always moaning about how our little one gets away with everything at the grandparents’ house. It’s true. My mum has to remove all chocolate from the fridge before she goes there. She will just help herself and eat it all!
This episode makes me love Muffin, but also realise I also have a child who likes to tantrum a lot. What warms my heart is how they all go along with Muffin and her dance. It’s one of those lovely proud parenting moments, even if she did get her own way.
Grandad
Season 2, Episode 50
Episode description
Grandad is supposed to be resting, but when Bluey and Bingo go to visit him, he makes a run for it with the kids and takes them on a madcap adventure into the bush.
My thoughts
It’s so heartwarming that Chilli wants to look after her dad and there’s a cute moment at the end of the episode. Which actually inspired my toddler to tell me she loved me. I will let you watch and experience it for yourself.
Flatpack
Season 2, Episode 24
Episode description
With Mum and Dad assembling the flatpack furniture, the kids improvise games with the discarded wrapping materials. As the flatpack swing seat takes shape, so does Bluey and Bingo’s mini-world.
My thoughts
We all know about the dramas of flatpacks. Especially with kids. The worst one we’ve done is our little ones’ “big girl” bed.
But this episode makes me all warm and fuzzy inside, about family time. And it’s lovely to see Bluey and Bingo playing together and their sweet moments.
Makes parenting worth it.
Want to learn more about the Bluey characters? How about purchasing this amazing set of weebles? Look at the fun we had with them…
Bluey and Bingo love to video chat with Muffin and Socks so they can all draw pictures together. When Muffin won’t give Socks a turn, the kids discover what happens when you hog.
My thoughts
I belly-laughed throughout the whole episode. And it made us realise we have Muffin living in our house. Not bingo, or Bluey.
This is the episode we watch when my parents come around. it’s also the one my toddler requests the most.
Grannies
Season 1, Episode 28
Episode description
A game of Grannies is fun until Bingo and Bluey can’t agree on one simple question: Can grannies dance? Now they need to video call Nanna to get the answer.
How cool are these Bluey items? A dancing teddy. And I am currently ordering the hoodie for my little one!
My thoughts
“I slipped on my beans” – this is currently my hubby’s ringtone. And he is part of a Bluey Facebook group!
Pretending to be grannies – so comical. I also love that mum joins in for a while, till there is too much mess, then says “go ask dad”.
Writing this post has inspired me to get on the hunt for some creative Bluey activities to do with my little one. Here are a few I found:
It’s Dad’s turn to get the kids ready for school and kindy, but Bluey and Bingo aren’t making things easy! Dad tries to keep everything on track, but can’t help playing along with their games.
My thoughts
I have so much to relate to in this episode. Being late, even when you get up really early. We “talk on the telephone” daily with our little one and I can just imagine her doing something like this in the car.
But then it melts my heart that dad still plays wind up, even though they are late. Toddlers don’t care if we’re late. They have no concept of time. It’s a boring concept for adults. And something we beat ourselves up about. And shouldn’t!
Bluey, Bingo and Dad always take out the bins. Over a few weeks, Bingo tells Dad about a new kid at Kindy who is mean to her and Mum offers some good advice.
My thoughts
The lovely family ritual of putting out bins and talking about emotions. It makes me smile.
In the end, Bingo ends up helping the person who was nasty to her. And what an amazing lesson this is, to teach your little ones and explain why it is important.
Ice Cream
Season 2, Episode 46
Episode description
Bluey and Bingo want a lick of each other’s ice cream. But they are so focused on making sure each lick is fair, they don’t notice their ice creams are melting.
My thoughts
A perfect lesson in learning to share things. Heartwarming. And as always with parenting, dad is required to give up his treat.
Fairies
Season 1, Episode 30
Episode description
Bluey’s house has fairies! Tails are being braided, stickers are everywhere, and Mum’s got a peg beard. Now the family must band together to hunt for these invisible mischief-makers.
My thoughts
I just love dad making a fool of himself in Infront of the neighbours and the family having so much fun.
It’s a dad requirement to make a fool of yourself daily, in order to make your kids laugh.
Check out my Guest Post from Jasmine Fitze. I am accepting guest posts on all of my blogs – you can find more details here.
Introduction
Hi, I’m Jas! I feel so grateful to be writing a guest post for Mummy Conquering Anxiety. Especially around this time of year. Autumn is my favourite season of all. And I enjoy writing plenty of blog posts around this season too. And candles are a great topic!
I am a digital creator who loves creating content around architecture, travel, food and drink, coffee, and lifestyle. In addition, I love to see the little things every day. Learning to love my own company by venturing out of my comforts. And providing the life that I deserve. I hope you can feel inspired by the life I live. Realising life’s happiness starts off with small and simple joys.
Quick note: Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people
Candle Talk
I love it when autumn arrives, purely because of the overload of candles. Candles are up there as one of my favourite things to buy in shops. Especially when the seasons are changing and you get into the cold, crisp, autumnal weather. When it gets to that point, there’s nothing better than cosying up at home. Surrounding yourself with warm aromatic fragrances, and sipping on some luxurious hot chocolates.
I would say that my candle preferences are more towards scents that are rich, sweet, vibrant, and spiced. This is why I get excited when autumn comes around because I feel in my element. I could get lost for hours in the home fragrances selection trying to find the ones that I vibe with.
A collection showing some of my favourite scents:
Pumpkin Spice: Takes me into a world of pumpkin patches, spiced lattes, pumpkin everything basically!
Cinnamon: Forever love the warm spices of cinnamon that remind me of autumnal bakes and hot chocolates.
Coffee: With me being that much into coffee I just can’t get enough of the coffee scents, especially as each one has its own richness and character to the flavours with the creaminess bringing it all together.
Spiced apple: Sweet but juicy scents that I get from this fragrance. Definitely makes me think of toffee apples or apple pie/ apple crumble, and even apple cider of many kinds.
Coconut: I’ve always been into coconut-scented things. I love the creaminess and subtlety of the scent, I think it’s an ideal all-round candle, but especially ideal for having next to a box of chocolates, particularly bounty’s to compliment the atmosphere.
Honey & chocolate: This scent I’m particularly talking about is the Glade candle. When I came across it I knew I had to pick it up. Smells Devine and I thought of it like a crunchie chocolate bar and this candle delivered those sensational aromas.
Are any of these scents your favourite too? Comment below
There’s something quite magical about walking around the city in your warm and thick coat, with a coffee in one hand, and seasonal shopping bags in the other. What I love about this home decor piece is that they make for an ideal gift for someone or for even yourself. On any special or random occasion, there’s a candle for everyone at any time!
Shopping for Candles
A few shops that I recommend browsing for autumn candles & diffusers are TK MAXX, B&M, and Wilko.
I am forever heading to TK MAXX for their library load of candles and diffusers of all different aesthetics, scents, and personalities. I highly recommend making a visit to have a smell through them. You’ll likely end up walking out with a great collection.
In Wilko, you will find plenty of autumn-scented fragrances such as pumpkin spice, apple cosy cider, and marshmallow Irish cream. Great prices if you are looking for a unique scent at a low price. And with the sizes, they have a good burning time. B&M have a selection of basic and characteristic candles. Ones that are ideal for repurposing other household decor pieces.
Sign up for my monthly newsletter, to gain access to exclusive offers & updates
Sign up for my freebie library. Each week there will be a new freebie added to help organise your life and take away some stress!
One shop that I haven’t mentioned yet but have to put out there is M&S with their distinctive candles. They are pricey but the jar has battery-operated lights, within the jar of the candle, so it serves multiple purposes. It would for sure make an excellent centrepiece to a dining table or coffee table. Bringing a glowing atmosphere to the room.
Alternatively, there are plenty of wonderful small businesses on Etsy, such as @dolewickscandleco (check her out on Instagram). DW Home is also a great place for endless seasonal scents with distinctive jars. Perfect for repurposing, check out their Instagram and website for more. On Instagram, there is @illumine_candle_co which is a small business in Exeter, with beautiful hand-poured vegan-friendly soy candles.
Candles are up there as one of my favourite pieces of decor to buy purely because they light up the room so well and the stunning aromas each one has. I also love repurposing them, giving them an extra life through using them as drinking glasses or desk organisers, they come in handy for many things.
And That’s a Wrap…
We have now come to the end of this blog post. I hope you have enjoyed reading through my candle preferences and suggestions. Here’s to many more cosy days at home as well as shopping adventures.
If you would like to learn more about me and my content, see the details below.
I’ll leave some links below, I hope to connect with some of you!
I want to say thank you to Chloe from Nyxie’s Nook for this amazing guest post. I personally found social media to be the most amazing, supportive community following my mental breakdown and I definitely needed it. This post outlines the reasons it can be helpful for mental wellbeing.
Let’s dive in
Social media has long since been branded as hazardous to our mental and physical health. For those within a certain age bracket, it’s seen as something akin to the fall of socialisation. We constantly hear about children as young as six becoming addicted to social media, or adults missing the world around them because their nose is stuck in their phones.
But what about the positive side of social media? If we look beyond the addiction and online trolls, social media has helped shape the 21st century into a more inclusive place to be.
For a long time, we’ve been under the assumption that asking for help is a weak or attention-seeking behaviour. But with the help of social media, we’re now much further forward in realising that speaking up about our issues is an act of strength.
—
5 Positive aspects of social media
Social media can be a great way to raise awareness, bring communities together andhelp those less fortunate.
Before the use of the internet and social media, we all seemed so far away. America, Japan, England, Finland; We were all divided by oceans, land and borders. With the use of the internet and, in turn, social media we’re able to raise awareness for issues that would otherwise be limited by location. By using social media we can reach other, like-minded people who can help spread awareness among their own communities and so on.
We’re better able to keep in touch with our loved ones, arrange online catch-ups and even play virtual games.
With so much of the world in lockdown at different times and for various levels of COVID-19, many of us have become separated from our families and peers. And with the current state of things here in the UK, our isolation isn’t set to end any time soon. The internet and social media have become a way for us to socialize, catch up and even watch movies together while staying safely apart.
Netflix has created their Netflix party to help socially distanced subscribers to watch television shows and movies together. Zoom has become the number one go-to video chatting application for social catch-ups to business meetings. Instagram, Facebook and Twitter also deserve honourable mention for helping us keep in touch and meet like-minded people who are better able to help and support us. Some of the most trusting and inspirational people I know were found via social media!
Finally, although not specifically on social media, as an avid gamer I find the use of online resources helpful in finding gaming partners. There are various places online to connect and even chat with gamers worldwide. I’ve met so many people through my love for Animal Crossing and The Sims. I’m in various community groups online where I can chat about the games, get information, tips and advice, and even swap friend codes.
Of course, this is all done from a safe distance and, as an adult, I’m aware of the danger of meeting others online. If you have a teenager or even a child who frequently games with others online, it’s suggested that you keep an eye on their activity. Have a chat with them about online safety and take an interest in what they’re doing without being overly critical.
Social media can be a welcome distraction from the outside world or a devastating realisation of the world around us
Social media has acted as a means for me to distract myself from the goings-on around me, but it’s also been there to remind me of the harsh realities of the world around us. Without it, I doubt I would be kept as informed as I am. I avoid the news at all costs and have long since stopped trusting state-funded news reports. So various online sources, social media included, have been my direct link to COVID-19 news, election updates and even any new information being spread in regards to mental health services in my local area.
In regards to acting as a distraction, by frequently visiting social media and getting to know others online, I’ve been able to build a small support network. This support network is usually biased and helps distract me just by chatting about things other than what’s on my mind.
Sign up for my monthly newsletter, to gain access to exclusive offers & updates
Sign up for my freebie library. Each week there will be a new freebie added to help organise your life and take away some stress!
Social media has helped to normalise help-seeking behaviour
For a long time, we’ve been under the assumption that asking for help is a weak or attention-seeking behaviour. But with the help of social media, we’re now much further forward in realising that speaking up about our issues is an act of strength. Many adults and young people are coming forward to encourage others to ask for help for things such as mental illness, grief, sexual assault etc. No longer are these things taboo, rather, we’re unified in our need to speak up!
Social media can offer a creative outlet
Much like writing a blog or sketching in a notebook, creating social media posts can act as a creative outlet but on a much smaller scale. The likes of Instagram are especially good for displaying things such as photography and artwork, while Tik Tok is for the videographer in all of us.Others can view your work, like, share and even become inspired. But, of course, it’s not always about the number of likes and engagement you get. So long as you’re careful about how you manage your life on social media, it can be a wonderful place to find and hone your creative voice.
What are your thoughts on social media and its impacts? Do you feel that it’s a positive, negative or a bit of both? How do you use social media and how do you protect your mental health when using it?
Final thoughts from me
I agree with all these benefits and I hope you enjoyed reading the post. All the details you need to connect with Chloe are below. Please go check out her blog, show some love, comment on posts and do what we do best in the blogging community, interact and show support.
I’ve written on the blog before, about my love of baking and how I once wanted to turn this passion into a career. But making extravagant cake-creations takes time. And as a busy Mum, I usually don’t have much of that. Here is the previous post about baking:
When my little one was about one year old, the thought of baking with her used to give me great anxiety. Back in those days, I wasn’t in a great headspace mentally. Due to pregnancy, birth trauma and general exhaustion.
Despite the anxiety and fear of mess, I still pushed through – to create some wonderful baking memories with my little girl. And once we started the task, we enjoyed making a complete kitchen mess.
Some of our baking memories to share with you
I love looking back on these cherished memories. We have a highly creative child and she loves putting all the elements together and being proud of the finished product.
These buns were lovely. The little one enjoyed making them and offering them to friends and family.
Not following the recipe
I am a bit of a rebel when it comes to following recipes. I became so well-practised in baking that I knew roughly how much each ingredient looked correct. However, these days I am totally out of practice. On top of that, I also live with two very organized people. Both my hubby and little one have a very analytical mind. And they need precise measurements. So we’ve bought some scales and sometimes use the cup method if needed.
Some recipes we follow require us to use a conversation calculator, like the one available at culinaryschools.org. Depending on what recipe book you choose, and what country the recipe creator is from, different measurements are used. With the introduction of the internet and platforms like TikTok, it’s also possible you could be looking at a recipe with measurements you wouldn’t traditionally use in your country.
In this post, I want to discuss five of our favourite UK recipes for baking with a toddler:
Butter two 18cm cake tins and line the bases with baking paper.
Beat the butter and sugar – add the eggs, one at a time. Mix in, the milk and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth.
Divide between two bowls. Add cocoa powder to one bowl.
Add the vanilla batter into one tin and the chocolate batter into another – levelling the tops.
ALWAYS A TOP TIP TO CHECK YOUR BAKING – Bake for 20-25 mins or until a skewer comes out clean.
Cool for five minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
To make the icing, add the butter and icing sugar a little at a time- until you have a smooth, creamy icing.
Add pink food colouring.
Sandwich the two cakes together with icing and spread the rest on top using a knife.
Easy Butterfly Cakes
Ingredients
For the cupcakes
160g soft unsalted butter
160g golden caster sugar
Beat 3 medium free-range eggs
160g self-raising flour
2 tsp vanilla extract
For the buttercream
160g softened unsalted butter
270g icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
gooey chocolate chip cookies
Ingredients
165g plain flour
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
Small chocolate chunks
100g softened unsalted butter
100g soft light brown sugar
100g granulated sugar
1 medium free-range egg
1 tsp vanilla paste
Heat the oven to 170°C/150°C fan/gas. Use an electric mixer to cream together the butter with both the sugars. Slowly beat in the egg and vanilla bean paste, then beat in the flour, salt and bicarbonate of soda until combined and smooth.
Divide the mixture evenly into 16 balls, then put them on a couple of large baking sheets at 5-6cm intervals so they have room to spread. Flatten the balls slightly, then push in small chocolate chunks (as many as you fancy).
Bake in the oven for 13-15 minutes until the cookies are golden around the edge and the chocolate chunks have melted. Serve just cooled with a glass of ice-cold milk.
Mary Berry Cupcakes
I saved the best recipe until the last. These are my absolute favourites and as you can see, I even have this recipe written down in my lovely recipe book. It was the trusted recipe I used whenever I took on a project for someone else’s special occasion. Because you can’t go wrong with this recipe.
Ingredients
For the cupcakes
175g butter (at room temperature), cut into large pieces
175g self-raising flour
175g caster sugar
1/2tsp. baking powder
1/2tsp. vanilla extract
3 large eggs
For the icing
175g butter, room temperature
1/2tsp. vanilla extract
3tbsp. milk
350g icing sugar, sifted
3 drops of pink edible colouring
edible pink hearts or other sprinkles, to decorate
Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with muffin cases.
Put all the cake ingredients into a large bowl and beat – until smooth. Divide the mixture evenly between the cases.
For the icing. Put the butter, vanilla extract, two tablespoons of the milk, and half the icing sugar in a large bowl and beat until smooth. Beat in the remaining icing sugar, and pour in the rest of the milk to make the icing the right consistency.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cakes are well-risen and firm on top. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Put half of the icing into another bowl and add pink food colouring (two tablespoons may be enough so add slowly).
Carefully spoon this down one side of a piping bag fitted with a number eight star nozzle, then spoon the non-coloured icing down the other side of the bag. Twist the end of the bag to seal the icing in.
Pipe swirls of the icing on top of each cupcake. Scatter with the edible pink hearts or other sprinkles, to decorate.
Summary
I hope you enjoyed reading my post, all about my favourite recipes and my love of baking.
What is your favourite recipe? And do you bake with the kids?
Halloween is one of the most magical times for many of us. Whether you have fond memories of trick-or-treating as a child. Enjoy donning your fancy dress outfits for a night out on the town or prefer to stay inside sipping a PSL, it’s always guaranteed to be lots of fun.
However, the holidays seem to become more heavily commercialised with every year that passes. New trends are always popping up around this season. Which tend to be bigger, better and usually, more expensive.
Enjoy a low buy Halloween and autumnal season without the pressure to spend excessively by using these three tips…
Here comes your Low Spend Guide to Halloween
Opt for activities instead of items
The supermarket aisles are filled to the brim with seasonal items during October. If you’re trying to reduce the overwhelm, steer clear of the temptation to buy, and focus on planning activities instead.
Some low-spend ideas to get you in the mood for the change of seasons could include:
Rotating your wardrobe, bringing out your comfiest jumpers and cosy socks, and storing your summer items away until next year
Taking a long woodland walk through the crunchy leaves
Binge-watching an autumnal TV series (If you haven’t seen Only Murders in the Building, this could be the perfect choice to watch it, whilst snuggled on the sofa!)
Get recipe testing
One of the best ways to embrace the colder evenings is to spend time perfecting a few tasty meals. Look out for new recipes to try which use seasonal ingredients. Such as butternut squash, mushrooms, pumpkin, apples or figs.
If you want some money-saving offers, check out this page
Warming vegetable soups with crusty bread are always a huge hit at this time of year, or try something a little different, like a butternut squash risotto.
If you’ve got experience in the kitchen, you could even try a Halloween-themed dish, such as pumpkin gnocchi or ravioli. Another option is to create mini pizzas or pies in spooky shapes.
For the cosiest family dessert, try making mini smores using tea lights, or perhaps a chocolate fondue!
Another tip, coming up in the Low Spend Guide to Halloween
DIY your decor
Instead of purchasing lots of Halloween-themed decor that is likely to be stored away for the majority of the year, only to see the light of day for one month of the year. How about making your own decorations instead?
Paper decorations are super cheap to make. And can either be folded flat and stored for next year, or recycled.
If you have small children, try heading outside with a bag and collecting dried leaves to make your own leaf crafts and projects. This could include garlands, collages or even puppets!
Another thrifty option is to collect any old glass jars and decorate them to make colourful tea light holders. This is a simple upcycle that the whole family can enjoy, and it’s free too.
Avoid adding to the clutter, and get your craft on this season!
Author bio
Taryn runs a money and lifestyle blog called ‘Saving in London City’ and is on a mission to share the best money-saving tips, tricks and hacks. Taryn discusses the best ways to have fun on a budget today, whilst also saving towards long-term money goals for your future, such as a house deposit or dream holiday.
With Father’s Day right around the corner, I wanted to share some of my favourite Father’s Day Gift ideas.
If you follow this blog, you will be aware that I regularly find it difficult to buy for the men in my family. It becomes even more difficult when they already have everything they want! I am constantly finding new and quirky gift ideas, that nobody else would think to buy. And I have some great Father’s Day Gift ideas to share with you today.
Let’s dive into the Father’s Day Gift ideas
Quick note: Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.
Some items were also sent to me for review – all thoughts are my own
1. Cheerful Buddha
I was recently contacted by Cheerful Buddha who kindly sent a gift pack to try. Having tried their products before, I can confirm their coffee is amazing. And I am now a huge fan of their chocolate as well. Perfect as a Father’s Day Gift.
MUMMYCONQUERINGANXIETY_15 AT THE CHECKOUT FOR 15% OFF
2. Subbytech
Subbytech sent me their CliX Light Up Charging Cable to try out and I was not disappointed. I love the fact that it comes with several adapters, which magnetically click into place.
We also love an extra-long cable – and you can purchase it in various sizes.
Check out these other gift guides, which might be helpful if you’re purchasing for the man in your life:
I think you all know what’s coming up – who doesn’t love a box of flapjacks?
Flapjackery offers award-winning, gluten-free flapjacks in a variety of flavours. Choose between boxes of 3, 6 or 12 giant flapjack slices. Each box contains a combination of chocolatey, scrumptious flapjack flavours. And with message plaque boxes, you can now tell your Dad or father figure, how much he means to you.
Sign up for my freebie library to help organise your life and take away some stress
4. Buy Sheds Direct
Maybe you want to treat a deserving Father to the ultimate gift – a garden shed. I know my hubby wants a shed or garage, to restore furniture. Whatever the reason, I am sure this would make the recipient really happy.
They also have a great range of summer houses.
5. Weird Fish
Weird Fish currently has a sale and a great Men’s Section for you to browse and select a great Father’s Day gift.
6. Dare Motivation
Why not give a healthy gift this Father’s Day?
Dare Motivation is a Nutritionally Complete plant-based shake. An all-in-one blend of seeds, superfoods, herbs, phytonutrients, and pre-and probiotics. As well as 26 essential vitamins and minerals.
Free Delivery on all Orders Over £20 to Mainland UK
20% off with Code AWESOME20 or by signing up for the newsletter
Refer a friend & get £10
Final thoughts
I hope you found this guide useful and found some great gifts for your loved one
For this gift guide, I wanted to do something a little different and walk you through some of the great gift ideas I’ve received over the years.
A funny story first
Firstly, a little bit of humour about the past frogs I’ve dated (they all got me to where I am today, so in hindsight, I’m thankful for the experiences).
My first ever love, when I was just 18 years old, was at my house when I got a lovely, big bunch of roses delivered. The box was literally as big as my toddler is now. In the midst of all the excitement, my mum and I were way too hyped, saying thank you to him, to read the card which came along with the flowers.
Turns out they were a prize from a magazine competition. A total mixture of emotions. Happy, as I had never won anything before. But slightly disappointed that the love of my life (or so I believed at the time) hadn’t bought them for me. I would say the embarrassment he probably felt was off the charts!
If you have any embarrassing Valentine’s stories, let me know in the comments below. I would love to hear from you.
Quick note: Some of the links on this page are sponsored & affiliate links; if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and thinkwould be useful for you.
It’s amazing how my thoughts and feelings on Valentine’s gifts have changed over the years. These days my hubby and I buy each other small gifts. But also make a point of doing romantic things for each other all year round. It reminds me of the Bluey episode where dad shows romance by eating the horrible food the kids made. That is literally how our romance works these days. And honestly, as a tired mum, those “gifts” are worth so much.
However, let’s not deny that we all love to be treated every now and then, with great gift ideas. And also how important self-care is. You might have seen my latest TikTok beauty review, where I talk about the importance of a skincare routine.
Let’s dive into the great gift ideas I’ve researched for this guide. I hope you find something for a loved one or even a gift to treat yourself…
Flowers
It would be rude not to kick off the list with flowers.
This company offer a great range of flower arrangements, all delivered flat-packed in a box. I ordered them for my Mum’s Birthday – they lasted ages and were amazing. So happy with the service and cannot wait to order again!
When I have bad mental health days, a bunch of flowers in the living room will brighten my day. Not to mention the scientific benefits of having plants and flowers in your home.
DISCOUNT CODE – Get 25% off app orders with code 25APPY
Refer a friend – follow this link and add my code in the image below at the checkout. We will both receive a treat. You can then sign up for your code to share with your friends.
Bunches is a great, well-established family business with plenty of different categories, for your gifting needs. Great gift ideas! And you can also add extras at the checkout.
DISCOUNT: Use CODE VC10 for a 15% discount – I’ve tested it!
I always look forward to birthdays, Christmas and Valentine’s Day. A great occasion to stock up on my perfume collection. On the rare occasions, I have a night out or get dressed up, perfume is a must. It makes me feel more alive.
Why not have a browse of your loved ones’ fave perfume or aftershave…
Boots.com has a varied selection of offers on fragrances at the moment. if you join the advantage card programme, you get sent great points offers. When you have enough points, you can convert these to pounds and use your card on your next purchase.
Joining the parenting club also offers extra points for the baby essentials you buy. I use it for toddler vitamins and dental care. Below is a selection of just a few offers I have on my app at the moment. I love the look of the children’s first aid kit. With a toddler who now wants to try skateboarding, it’s a must!
CURRENT OFFERS AVAILABLE:
Save 10% when you spend £30 on selected baby products with code SAVE10BABY – Online only – ends – 06/02/23
£10 worth of points for every £60 spent selected Electrical Beauty ends – 14/02/23
Save £5 when you spend £35, save £10 when you spend £50 and save £20 when you spend £70 on selected No7 – Online only – ends 07/02/23
Save up to 15% on selected fragrances – ends – 14/02/23
Free No7 face and eye palette when you spend £35 on selected No7 – Online only – ends – 14/02/23
Back in the day, I recall spending a small fortune on photos of every memory whilst at Disney World in Florida. However, those memories are worth the money several times over. In terms of how valuable they are.
I just love that a photo gift is a keepsake that will last forever. It’s magical looking at the photo walls in our house. And the ones we bought my parents when we visit their house. Great gift ideas for those closest to you.
Inkifi is a unique photo printing website. I particularly love their square and retro photo prints. Great gift ideas for your loved ones. And if you want to have smaller, compact photos dotted around the house.
DISCOUNT CODE: Enjoy 25% Off Sitewide! | Ends Midnight Monday 6th February 2023
With the January blues out in full force, and the weather still a little bit miserable. Socialising can help your mental health massively. Why not try out the fun idea of pre-buying this stack, to enjoy discounts at a range of pubs in London?
Get a stack of beer mats for just £20 and offer a gift of £100 worth of food & drinks at ten amazing independent pubs across London
CityStack has been created to support independent pubs that are struggling with the current economic situation. Additionally, answer the issue of budget for going out.
DISCOUNT: Use code MUMMY23 for free shipping on the first order, up to 15/02/23
GlossyBox is a great way to look after your skin, and prioritise self-care with a monthly subscription. As I am a busy mum, this is perfect, as I then don’t have to worry about self-care. It just comes directly to my door, at a time when I really need it.
DISCOUNT CODE – 15% off all GLOSSYBOX subscriptions – Code: CHIC15 – 01.02.23 – 28.02.23
If you follow the blog, you may have seen how much I love The Body Shop. They offer a range of great gift ideas. You cannot fault the quality of the products. They are the perfect website to get some self-care products for the ones you love.
I’ve even bought my hubby the hemp hand cream and lip balm recently. As he does outdoor work, it’s a must. And how romantic that I am looking after him. He’s also just purchased the Cedar & Sage Conditioning Beard Oil for himself. And our honest thoughts on this product will be posted on the blog soon.
You can check out all my blog posts for The Body Shop here
DISCOUNT CODE: Sign up to the mailing list FOR 15% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER
Evolve Beauty products are lovingly handmade in small batches at their studio in Hertfordshire, England to ensure the freshness of the precious antioxidants in the natural oils, butter and extracts. Our products are vegan, cruelty-free and eco-friendly.
OFFER: Sign up for the mailing list for 15% off your first purchase.
LSW London was founded by Lili Sinclair-Williams in 2018. Using her expertise as a therapist, she wanted to create well-being tools that were easy to use and accessible for everyone.
Focusing on positive habits we repeat daily, Lili curated her favourite techniques into our first product – LSW Mind Cards. Today, we have a full range of well-being and mindfulness products selling around the world.
I love nothing more than buying gifts, but also giving something back to charity. Often people will donate brand-new, unopened gifts. So next time you’re out and in need of a gift, pop into your local charity shop and have a look.
I’m so pleased to share this lovely artwork with you.
All proceeds from these sales will go directly to Evesham Greyhound and Lurcher Rescue, A non-profit organisation who have a volunteer network across the UK. EGLR don’t receive any government help or grants and so totally relies on donations and fundraising to pay the ever-rising vet and food bills.
Royal British Legion
You can check out The Poppy Shop for some great gifts, which also benefit an amazing charity.
Why not make a donation, as the perfect Valentine’s gift to help other people?
Whether it’s a one-off donation or a regular gift, no donation is too small to make a difference.
£5 a month could help with vital household items for a veteran and their family.
Every candle sold means more money to charity and good causes. As featured in Stylist, Evening Standard and Courier magazine. They are a happy brand with an all-female illustration team who design the products. The workforce is climate positive. In addition, the product is Vegan.
Candles Direct is a great way to buy from the top brands, and stock up on accessories. I am in love with these great gift ideas and want to purchase them now!
DISCOUNT – there is currently a 50% sale AND you can get 10% off if you sign up to the mailing list with your email
Bamboo’s natural thermoregulation means it helps to keep feet warm on chilly days but can react to changes in temperature, releasing heat when it warms up.
When I was contacted by Trendhim, I loved looking through the amazing items on offer. It was the perfect gift solution for my hubby for Valentine’s Day. So what did I order?
Not found anything you like in this guide? Why not check out the retailers below for some inspiration?
Dont forget the wrapping & Valentine’s Cards
Waterstones Gift WrapWaterstones Valentine’s Day CardsThortful makes a great range of greeting cards, all uniquely designed. They arrived packaged in a letterbox-style box and I was very impressed the last time I ordered. It’s now my go-to place for greeting cards.
REWARD: If you mention my name (Mummy Conquering Anxiety) at the Thortful checkout you’ll get 30% off your first order!
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed reading the gift guide and that you found something for your loved ones.
Let me know your fave gifts in the comments below…
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Manage consent
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
