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.
It is clear our little one is musical. She loves singing and dancing and often falls asleep when we have loud music playing. Therefore, we need to eventually take her to a music festival. She would absolutely love it. Are you also looking for Friendly Festivals?
It got me thinking about what is on offer. Here is my rundown of family-friendly and affordable festivals for you to attend as a family.
Either look to attend this year or keep them in mind for next year!
PLEASE NOTE – I have no affiliation with any of these organisers. The list is from my own research about places we would visit as a family
This is based in York on 12th & 13th August and looks to have everything you could want as a family. There is even camping available to get the full festival experience. Check out ticket prices here
This looks like a great range of activities, including comedy and literary activities. However, you can only book weekend tickets and it is quite pricey. Check out ticket options here.
I love that Etsy has a gift mode section, where you can look at specific gifts based on the interests of the person you are buying for.
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.
Occasions coming up
With World Book Day, Mother’s Day, Ramadan & Easter on the horizon – it’s the perfect time to run through the wonderful gifts available on Etsy.
A collection of calm items for your tranquil peacekeeper – I think I might look in this section for myself
The reviews also look great. I always check out reviews before I purchase a product and on the Etsy platform, they are easy to access and look through. You can also find details about how many other people have purchased this product.
I still love our wooden play toys. Even though my little one is almost 5 years old – she still loves playing in her wooden kitchen, with her food items. The wood ones last the longest and they just look so beautiful.
Maybe you want an Easter gift with a difference. And to avoid giving the little one too much choccy?
Such a cute T-shirt for the little person in your life.
Someone who loves science – making and creating things. We have a creative child who loves to make things.
Funny Story about gifting
Do you have a funny story about gifting? Let me know yours in the comments.
MY STORY – I was 18 years old and my first boyfriend – first love – was staying over at our house. It was around my birthday and Valentine’s Day. The doorbell rang and a massive bunch of red roses was delivered. You can imagine the excitement.
Both my mum and I neglected to look at the card which came with the package. And assumed my boyfriend at the time had ordered these flowers (looking back, he wouldn’t have even known how to and it didn’t seem like something he would do).
We proceeded to thank my then-boyfriend, who was proclaiming he hadn’t ordered any flowers and it wasn’t him. As you can imagine, this awkwardly went on for a while and he was becoming more and more embarrassed.
I was feeling a range of emotions, mostly anger as to why he hadn’t thought to send me flowers. Haha – poor guy.
Anyway, we opened the card and they were from a magazine competition I had entered (I NEVER win competitions).
Whilst I was thankful for the amazing red roses, the embarrassment of the situation took a while to get over!
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed reading my hilarious gifting story – we all have one.
And I hope you’ve found some inspiration for your gifting needs.
Need more gifting inspiration – check out all my gift guides here
Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? The occasion is right next to a birthday in our household, so we usually don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day as a stand-alone occasion. But we do buy small gifts. And I’m on the lookout for some gifts at the moment.
If you are too, I have some offers for you…
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.
There’s no sweeter gift than our Strawberry Heart Gift Box. Inside they’ll find a Strawberry Lip Butter, Strawberry Body Butter and Strawberry Hand Cream, for all-over hydration.
Protect & Soften Hand Balm Trio – £16
Give their body care routine a helping hand with our Protect & Soften Hand Balm Trio, featuring our favourite picks from the Avocado, Almond Milk and Shea collections.
Nourish & Flourish Shea Duo – £8
Show them you’re thinking of them, with our Nourish & Flourish Shea Duo. This thoughtful mini shea butter gift set is ideal if you know they’re already a fan, or you want to introduce them to the range. It’s the perfect size for travel, too.
Nourish & Flourish Shea Gift Bag – £14
Surprise your favourite shea lover with this trio of mini treats, enriched with handcrafted Community Fair Trade shea butter from Ghana.
Nourish & Flourish Almond Milk Duo – £8
Soothe and surprise dry, sensitive skin with our moisturising Nourish & Flourish Almond Milk Duo gift set – infused with Community Fair Trade organic almond milk from Spain.
Nourish & Flourish Strawberry Duo – £8
Be sweet to someone with our Nourish & Flourish Strawberry Duo gift set. It features two body care minis, so it’s just as perfect for strawberry lovers as it is for someone new to the collection.
To remember when gift buying
Cashback apps
Using Quidco for my online purchases has allowed me to earn of total of £86.29 in cashback so far. Sign up here using my referral link and earn a £15 bonus, once you’ve earned your first £5.00 cashback on the app.
Read about ALL the money offers I use on this page
When it comes to financial worries, I’d never had to worry until recently. I’d always considered myself financially savvy. I spent my career in the Finance industry and was always up to date with my knowledge of the financial world. Therefore managing our household finances was always something that came top of my priority list.
I’m also quite an organised person. I enjoyed taking control of our finances and seeing the results when we paid into our savings account and made overpayments on loans and credit cards. Doing this gives you a good feeling.
It’s easy managing money when you’re single, have a fantastic career, or are a couple living it up and enjoying life. We went on holidays to Mexico, and regular weekends away, for cocktails and shopping and never really worried about money.
On a serious note, the fact we were over-committed for at least a year, made me feel personally like a failure. I would dread letters coming through the post, saying bills hadn’t been paid. I would long for the day when we had a little more money each month and I could finally pay people back and take some control of the finances again.
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Things changed when we had a child. There was less money to go around and this created problems. It isn’t having a child that costs more money, it’s the upheaval and adjustment period that bit us in the backside.
On a serious note, the fact we were over-committed for at least a year, made me feel personally like a failure. I would dread letters coming through the post, saying bills hadn’t been paid. I would long for the day when we had a little more money each month and I could finally pay people back and take some control of the finances again.
Why financial worries impact mental health
Mind.org have a great diagram which explains the vicious cycle. You worry about money, which results in poor mental health and vice versa. This article also provides useful information on the topic. Having lived through it, I can say it’s completely correct.
I never imagined, following a breakdown from workplace stress, that I would struggle to manage money. But I struggled to do anything when I was first off work. I will talk more about the impact of anxiety in this post. One of my last anxiety-filled days was caused as a result of money worries.
It’s a lot more admin when automatic payments are not made due to lack of money and you have to start contacting individual companies to agree when payment will be made. This extra admin didn’t help my mental health at all. I can see why people refer to companies like StepChange to act on their behalf. Speaking to 10 individual companies becomes too much.
These are the things I wish I’d done in hindsight
I saved money during my pregnancy and six months full pay period
Planning for maternity leave would have alleviated some financial worries. We didn’t save in advance and as you can imagine, we struggled from months 6 to 9 of maternity leave, on less than a third of my total wage. We still had the same bills to pay though. Luckily, our family helped us out with these payments. However, it made the whole experience of still being off work a bit grim and less enjoyable than it should have been.
Saved towards nursery costs
The nursery wanted a deposit payment upfront and we secured the place before our little one was born (we all know about competition for nursery places!).
The monthly costs involved with childcare are high in the UK and we were only sending her two days a week initially. To ensure we didn’t have financial worries about this monthly cost, I wish we had saved some money to add to the childcare account to make advance payments or act as a buffer for months when we struggled to meet the full payment.
You don’t need financial worries about the nursery when you already have the stress of arranging childcare, worrying about sick days and who can cover them, or whether they have the right coat to play out in. There is enough to think about!
Refrained from using credit cards
The credit card balances were relatively under control before my maternity leave.
During this period, we kept living as we had before, but in fact, we now have other costs to consider (baby milk, baby clothes, the latest gadgets etc). This additional pressure caused us financial worries over some time, as the credit card balances increased, along with the interest and we still had the same level of money coming in.
Given my post-pregnancy mental health struggles, it felt good to get out of the house, have a nice lunch, a few drinks at the weekend and spend money. This wasn’t a great path to go down and in hindsight. If we have another child, I will find cost-effective ways of connecting with other people during maternity leave.
At the time, I wasn’t in a great headspace to connect and share my experiences with others. I am now.
Live and learn!
Accepted the situation sooner
Due to my poor mental health post-pregnancy, I used a lot of avoidance techniques. Alcohol mainly! And kind of ignoring some of my responsibilities. One of the factors was money management. I was living in the moment and trying to heal myself.
What I’ve learned is, that planning for the future is great in some areas, like finances. Had we planned, some of the anxiety caused by financial worries could have been avoided.
Planned for a rainy day
I bet we’ve all used this phrase many times but never thought it would signify a pandemic was looming. Several UK lockdowns worry about job security and a toilet roll shortage.
I am aware some people experienced all manner of hardships during the lockdown and I feel grateful we kept our jobs throughout. On top of this, there were those unexpected family losses and people having to find money to pay for things they never dreamed they would need to, such as funeral costs and Bronze Grave Markers, which impacted so many people when the country was already struggling.
Uncertain times
We did have our ups and downs though. Nursery closing, isolation periods, working from home and getting pinged on the app, all of which impacted our finances in some way and generally made us feel completely out of control. We didn’t know what was coming next. Honestly, you never know what will happen. One day, things are going well, and the next day, you’re unexpectedly having to make funeral plans and pay for the death of a loved one. You never know what might happen.
Suddenly, we had to plan for the next time my hubby would be off work for a week isolating, or the nursery would get a COVID case and close. All of these factors impacted our income and caused financial worries.
Final thoughts
Ultimately, overcommitting has led to huge anxiety issues over finances. I am the organised one and therefore I take control of the family finances. During this period of difficulty, I would find myself constantly doing all of the below:
Checking my banking app daily, or even hourly
Worrying about asking to borrow money from family and felt like I was a failure for doing so
Felt inadequate, like I was incapable of managing our family’s money
Lack of security – how would we pay bills, manage to buy food
Interestingly, the Money & Pensions Service released this article about people being ashamed to talk about money. I do think there needs to be financial education introduced in schools because it isn’t always something you learn growing up. This might just be because your family members are private people, but how do you then know as an adult how to manage money.
If you are struggling financially
Please talk to someone if you’re able to. I have done this recently and it has eased some financial pressure. I now feel more in control of our finances.
Here are some charities that can help if you’re struggling:
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.
Let’s explore why you should choose Oldham for your UK Family Getaway
Source: Pixabay CC0 License
When you have a young family, domestic vacations are often far more attractive than going abroad. However, choosing the right destination is an essential part of the process. After all, it will provide the platform to build the perfect getaway. When looking for somewhere that isn’t the obvious choice like London, Brighton, or a holiday park. Oldham could be the hidden gem you’re looking for, when selecting your UK Family Getaway.
Here are just five reasons why it can make an excellent choice.
#1. Family Friendly Activities
When taking a trip with young children, your main goal is to ensure that they have a great team. Oldham has several brilliant places to take kids. So, you will not struggle to keep them entertained regardless of their ages or personalities. Crucially, there is a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, meaning even bad weather won’t dampen your spirits.
Many family-friendly places like Bounce and Daisy Nook Country Park offer plenty of fun for adults too. It instantly gives Oldham an advantage over many other places.
#2. Cheap Accommodation
Good accommodation makes a world of difference to any vacation, especially when you travel with kids. A quick look at hotels in the town of Oldham shows that you can find a well-located, affordable, and comfortable solution with ease. The majority include free WiFi, which is virtually an essential feature when you have young children too.
Alternatively, several Airbnb properties can be rented for a short period. Either way, you won’t struggle to find privacy and comfort at a fair price.
Shall we get into more reasons why you should choose Oldham for your UK Family Getaway?
#3. It’s educational
Enjoying a short break with the family will always be the top item on your agenda. Nonetheless, any opportunity to educate your children and enrich their minds should be grabbed with both hands. Oldham was once the cotton-spinning capital of the world. Learning about the Royd Mill and other key buildings is highly insightful. For kids and adults.
The gallery runs exhibitions. Meanwhile, the Coliseum Theatre is a stunning building that can open conversations about the history of the arts in this country. Perfect.
#4. Great Location
Oldham itself has plenty to offer. When spending a week or longer in the town, though, you may want to explore surrounding places. Thankfully, Manchester is very close. Your family could easily venture into Huddersfield or Leeds in Yorkshire too. Worth Valley Railway is only around 25 miles away too. This would make a fantastic excursion for train lovers.
Moreover, Oldham’s location offers good access to most parts of the UK too. This is true regardless of whether you travel by car or rail.
#5. It’s Unique
Nothing is wrong with visiting the UK’s various holiday parks, but trips can blend into one. Likewise, major city trips tend to follow a similar itinerary even if the attractions are slightly different. Visiting Oldham allows you to embrace the town while also enjoying treks and nature. Furthermore, it is easy to tailor the adventures to your desires.
Perhaps best of all, you will actively enjoy the adventures together rather than separating to do your things. As such, magical memories are guaranteed.
Final thoughts
Did you enjoy reading about all the wonderful things going on in Oldham and why it’s great for a UK Family Getaway?
Welcome to my children’s books & toys gift guide. If you’re still struggling with gift ideas for Christmas, check them out. Maybe you want to donate some gifts to charity. Or you need a present for a nursery school birthday party.
Whatever the occasion, I have you covered with some fantastic ideas.
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.
Children’s books
Full Media
I have worked with Full Media previously and I am supportive of independent book publishers. Several of their books were included in the blog post discussing Children’s emotions. Today, I have some new titles to share and some fantastic plush toys to accompany the books.
First, the reindeer got sick. Then Santa got sick. Now it’s up to Clara Claus and her slightly annoying brother Nick to save Christmas. But with toys to make, elves to manage, lists to sort and flying reindeer to train, can they summon enough Christmas spirit to deliver the perfect Christmas?
Clara Claus Saves Christmas is an exciting festive adventure filled with fun and Christmas spirit from the author/illustrator team that created the hugely popular Catch that Cough. Filled with friendship, family, heart and trust, as well as beautiful illustrations, Clara Claus is the perfect book to bring home this Christmas.
If you haven’t already read the blog posts written by this amazing science whizz, then head over there now. I genuinely look forward to reading her blog posts, especially the attractive and fun layout. And how she makes science fun.
I’ve recently found out she also wrote a book for kids. And I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Chemical Reactions brings chemistry to life with hands-on, science-minded activities and plenty of text-to-world connections that invite kids ages 7 to 12 to discover the wonderful world of chemical reactions!
This book is perfect for a Christmas Eve Box. I have let my little one start reading the book now, in the build-up to Christmas. And she absolutely loves it.
Discover The Lost Wish by Clare Anderson and Emily Jacobs, illustrated by Emma Kurran, where imagination is limitless, and pure adventure awaits. It’s a tale guaranteed to excite and inspire young readers everywhere.
Set off on a remarkable journey through a mystical land! Join Siena, a bright and brave little girl, who one stormy night, steps through a magical archway and into Elfland; a thrilling world of friendly elves, dangerous dragons, flying pixies and talking rats! Discover what adventure awaits her.
Buddy Soft Toy from The Lost Wish
I will be purchasing this plush toy, as an addition to my little one’s Christmas Eve Box. And to tie in with the theme of the book.
Buddy Soft Toy
Other great book titles we currently read at home
We actually bought Dave the Lonely Monster from a literature festival. Because it reminds my little one of a family member. This is one of the books tucked away on her high shelf, for safekeeping. And every now and then, Dave makes his appearance.
I love sitting down to read this book with her and we have hours of fun falling in love with lonely Dave.
We are huge fans of The Gruffalo books in our house. But recently our little one loves the puppet book and really interacts with the character. It is lovely to see.
Meg & Mog is such an old classic. We actually found our copy in a charity shop. My little one specifically asks for the ‘Meg & Mog book’. I just love the graphics and the feeling of nostalgia when reading it.
WoWow is a huge toy marketplace, with a great range to choose from! There are helpful sections, which are age-related and you can also search by toy type.
Help spark creative expression in your budding artist with this generously sized, deluxe wooden easel featuring both a magnetic chalkboard and a dry-erase board. The removable plastic trays mean that kids have loads of easy-reach art supplies (not included) at their fingertips. Plus 39 letter and number magnets that are great for extended play!
What will children pretend to bake up with this 20-piece set? Anything they can think of! Promote creative play and imaginative thinking with these food-grade baking tools made of premium materials like stainless steel and solid wood, sized just right for little hands and play kitchens.
The 32 pieces in this wooden building set include nails to pound with the hammer, screws to turn with the screwdriver, and panels to connect and saw apart.
We do love a good puzzle in our house. We are all problem solvers and it’s great to see my little one making the connections in her brain. And using vital skills, whilst also playing.
This challenging 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle comes together to reveal a collection of your favourite LEGO mini figures! Whether you are a Master Builder or have just started clicking bricks together, this puzzle creates LEGO fun the whole family can enjoy together.
We are huge fans of Bluey in our house. It’s the one kid’s programme we can all sit down and watch together. I won’t lie, the hubby and I get quite emotional at the lovely family moments.
My little one is a creative little soul. She loves sitting down with her paint pots and is so proud when she makes something of her own.
Every birthday and Christmas, she receives something creative from us. And we have hours of fun making something together. Then proudly displaying it on a shelf.
Final Thoughts
I hope you loved checking out these great items. I certainly had fun sharing the Children’s Books & Toys, we buy for our little one. And the amazing memories these create.
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.
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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…
SPOILER ALERT – at the end of this post there will be a 15% discount code for any purchases of this unique and quirky product
Professional personalised poems in a heartfelt and witty style that make for great one-of-a-kind gifts for the special people in your life.
Why I love unique and quirky gifts
If you follow my blog, you will know I love purchasing unique gifts nobody else would think of buying. When I saw this brand and the product they were offering, I was instantly attracted to it as something I would purchase for a loved one.
Father’s day
With Father’s Day right around the corner. Also, for a dad who is fussy and a hubby to buy for now, this is the perfect solution and I am thrilled to share this great gift AND a whopping 15% off.
Read on for another huge surprise at the end of this post
A bit about Do Us A Ditty
Our mission: A poem dedicated to you is a rare yet wonderful experience. It might make you laugh, cry or roll your eyes but, most importantly, it makes you feel like you matter.
Do Us A Ditty exists to create those magic little moments.
Professional personalised poems in a heartfelt and witty style that make for great one-of-a-kind gifts for the special people in your life. Suitable for all occasions, from birthdays and anniversaries to weddings and events, the company produces customised rhymes that can be printed and framed, written on cards or used as invitations and wedding favours.
Customers simply provide 10 quick bullet points about their subject and Do Us A Ditty transforms this information into a unique poem in their chosen style. Be it funny, sentimental, cheeky or a mixture of them all. Available in a range of formats, these personalised poems are the perfect gift to show how much you care.
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This gift guide featuring Sustainable Brands has been in the pipeline for a while now. As a family, we do our bit when it comes to recycling and saving electricity. We eat less meat and have downsized to one car. The next step for our family is to move to sustainable household products. And to cut down on buying single-use plastic.
Quick Note:This post features gifted items and affiliate links – if you click on a link to make a purchase, I will receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you
All the garments produced are certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) to ensure they meet strict environmental standards for the production of textiles. In addition, all clothes are made in a safe and clean environment by well-trained employees who have the right to trade union meetings, safety gear and social benefits.
My thoughts on the product
I was thrilled to be contacted by the brand and gifted this wonderful organic cotton dress for my little one to try. The material is such high quality and feels great against the skin. Not to mention the beautiful pattern. I chose this one because she is constantly talking about wanting to be a rainbow unicorn. So cute.
As you can see from the images, she loves wearing this item. I would purchase from this brand again, simply because the quality is great and the items of clothing will last a long time. I purposely ordered a thing which was a little bit too big on her, so hopefully, it will last her a few years.
WUKA
What makes the brand sustainable?
WUKA stands for Wake Up Kick Ass because we believe that nothing should hold you back on your period.
We believe that periods should not cost the earth. Equality and social and environmental responsibility are at the heart of everything we do.
We replace plastic-riddled disposable pads & tampons with the world’s most comfortable and sustainable period underwear.
Periods are not shameful, but something to be proud of. We’re determined to break down body and period taboos.
Eco-friendly products & business practices.
Less waste. From our packaging to our products.
Leak-free periods.
Super comfortable.
My thoughts on the product
I have wanted to work with WUKA for a while now. As a female, in my late 30’s, sustainable period products are a must. It’s the one pretty significant contribution I can make monthly. As far as Sustainable Brands go, this was one of the main retailers I have heard great things about.
The company sent me a sample to try and I must say, the quality of the product feels fantastic. I was apprehensive at first. As a working mum, who is mostly out of the house, there was a worry about freshness. With reusable products, you can dispose of any used items. And it makes you feel refreshed and less anxious when you are out in public. However, I would use this product on the days I am at home. And when it comes to sustainability, every little change we can make helps.
The mission at Earth & Wheat is to fight food waste, rescuing high-quality bakery, veg, and other ingredients which sing in your pan, whilst reducing food waste.
My thoughts on the product
This box has honestly been a real treat for our family and served us well over the last month. It’s taken lunchbox sandwiches from standard to a deli treat.
I froze the majority of the box because there was a lot to go around. And I was impressed when I didn’t get soggy bread following defrosting process. As you do with normal, shop-bought bread.
We plan to purchase this box on a subscription monthly. Then defrost the items as we need to use them.
Here is what we did with our items:
Wraps – for work lunches and yummy breakfast wraps on a weekend
Flatbread – we used this to accompany our chilli, on a rare child-free weekend night. And it took the meal from everyday standard – to something which felt a bit more special. For a small additional cost each month.
Soft panini – these are pre-sliced and so soft, I ate a few plain
Pitta bread – Great for dips, and eating as a snack
Crumpets – we love crumpets in our house and these did not disappoint
REFERRAL OFFER – sign up & get £3.00 off (I get £2.00 per referral)
FFS, yep you read that right! For F*ck sake! The 3 words that express our frustrations! It started with female razors being inferior to male razors, seriously WTF is that all about? We fixed that!
Now our mission is much more!
We want to banish single-use plastics from homes and we believe that planet-friendly purchasing should not cost the earth!
FFS now stands for much more.
My thoughts on the product
I’ve now tried the razor and the whole kit is fantastic.
Let’s start with the shower clip. It’s stayed in place, despite some hot baths & showers over the last few days. Sometimes the sticky pads on bathroom holders slip off. But this one doesn’t.
The razor itself is amazing, such a clean shave but no risk of cutting yourself, because of the protective strips. It’s by far the best razor I’ve had and I am about to subscribe to the blades. Not to mention, the amazing razor handle, which is engraved and personalised for you. All around, a fantastic kit and I cannot recommend this brand highly enough.
What do you get in your kit?
Reusable weighted handle (+ free engraving)
2x super sharp blades
Shower holder – to keep razor dry and protected
Handy Green Travel Pouch
Tweezers
Clamshell Blade Protector
DISCOUNT CODE
Discount Code:
Discount Code: MUMMYCA
15% off the first eco-friendly subscription box
Expiry: 30.04.2023
Terms: Offer expires 31.04.2023. (15% off applies to razor kits only. New customers only.)
Millions of bathroom products are thrown away every year and the sustainable and natural alternatives out there don’t cut it — until now. At Wild, we want to shake up the throwaway culture of bathroom products with high-performing products made from natural ingredients that never compromise on convenience or efficacy.
My thoughts on the product
I haven’t yet tried the deodorant, but there are mixed reviews online about how well this product works. As with all skincare & beauty brands, it depends completely upon the person using it. How your body reacts and what your skin is comfortable with.
The smell is amazing and I love the look of the dispenser. I would encourage anyone to give this a try and do their bit to help with sustainability.
Smol
What makes the brand sustainable?
We believe that each of us, every person, every customer, and every action, no matter how small, can contribute towards a better world. Our commitment to powerful performance with eco-friendly design, convenience and a great price makes more sustainable cleaning the effortless choice. Since its launch in 2018, customers switching to Smol have saved over 300 tonnes of plastic and more than 1000 tonnes of chemicals.
My thoughts on the product
I ordered the Smol samples, where you pay the delivery fee only. Simply because I have wanted to try the brand for a while. The dishwasher tablets and the kitchen spray were great. And I would reorder the kitchen spray tablets.
However, the non-bio laundry tablets have brought my little one out in a rash. I also read some online posts confirming this happened to other people. That said, I am aware that certain laundry liquids can react badly with sensitive skin. But for this reason, we wouldn’t be in a position to reorder the laundry liquids and I have passed them onto a family member for use.
I did just want to say, that when you are ordering the samples, for which you only pay the delivery, you need to be aware that you will automatically be put onto a subscription. And you need to go into your account and cancel if you don’t want the next batch. Which are charged at a higher cost. I thought the reorder would be sent too soon and it didn’t allow me any time to try the products first.
Unfortunately, Smol were not that sympathetic to the situation with my little girl. And despite complaining, a refund wasn’t forthcoming. Upon notification of the rash, I would have expected the refund to be made ASAP, regardless of a product being sent or returned.
Final thoughts
I am on the lookout for more sustainable brands. Whether that be buying second-hand or trying brands with a total focus on helping the environment. If you would like your brand reviewed, or you want to work with me on a collaboration, visit this page.
Let me know in the comments whether you’ve tried these brands before and what your thoughts are
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