Vanity and the Spectacled Woman

Every time my optician's check up comes round, I am reminded how vain I am. I have needed glasses since I was 16, but I have only ever worn them on an 'as required' basis. I needed them when I was at college, that was a long time ago. I need them to drive, but I don't drive. Not just because of the glasses, you understand, I am just spectacularly rubbish at it. If I was meant to go backwards and turn at the same time, I would have been born with wing mirrors. So, that's me, vain and quite lazy.

Encouraging Children to Read

Some children love to read, but some need a bit more encouragement. It is definitely worth persevering with, as they will certainly thank you when they are older and will hopefully develop a love of reading in their own time. It can be concerning when your child shows little or no interest in reading, particularly as they approach school age and years of formal education, including test scores and peer pressure, stretch before them. It is worth remembering though, that children develop at their own rate and there is absolutely no need to panic if they just don't care about reading. 

An Easy Salmon Recipe for the Barbecue

My family love barbecues. Perhaps a little too much. I think they would have barbecues for breakfast if I let them! I don't mind them and enjoy being outdoors and the social aspect, but I find burgers and sausages get a bit samey after a while. So, when I found a half side of salmon reduced to £1.50 in the bargain bin at the supermarket yesterday, I decided that had to be the answer to my barbecue boredom. But what to do with it... Inspiration came in the form of another bargain buy, a bag of limes for 9p! Here's how to make a delicious salmon dish to add some interest to your usual barbecue meals. 

Positivity, Polishness, and a Competition to Win an Ipad!

There has been an awful lot in the press for quite a while now, about immigration, and more often than not, there are negative connotations attached. Now, I don't want to get all political, because I actually think there are several different issues at stake, two of which are; those that are already here, and those that have yet to arrive. Should the government make changes to the immigration rules? Probably, but for those that are already here, this is home.

My Sunday Photo; Smiles and Slides

Strawberry Ice Cream Milkshake

We love strawberries and are always trying to think up new and different strawberry recipes. This super simple strawberry milkshake recipe is so easy, it's a lovely one to get children involved with. It's brilliant fun and perfect for cooling down during the summer months. The taste and texture is very reminiscent of the milkshakes you get in a certain fast food restaurant, but contains real fresh fruit, for extra health benefits. If you don't have strawberries, you could try substituting another fruit, such as raspberries or bananas. As with a lot of my recipes, the amounts aren't set in stone and can be adjusted to taste without completely ruining it. All you need is....

Blog Camp, for Bloggers and Wombles with Tots 100

Today I did something I've never done before. No, not naked Morris Dancing. I went to Blog Camp. There are a lot of different blog conferences that go on in different parts of the country and I never go, because it always costs a bit, or is too far away. So, when I heard there was one in Bristol, I felt it would be rude not to pop along and see everyone. It's always interesting to hear from other bloggers about what works for them and how they got better at their particular area of blogging. The event was hosted by Tots100 and the most interesting talk was on Freelance Writing, I had no idea how many different ways there were to earn money from words!