Book Ideas to Read with Dads and Dad Figures

May 16, 2022 by Leave a Comment

This Father’s Day, why not give something to read with the dads (or dad-like figures) in their lives? This is a gift that will endure long after Sunday is over, since time and bonding would be included in the act. These are some fun new books that your dad(s) might enjoy. Check them out-

Papa Pizza Mouse by Michael Garland (Holiday House, for ages 0–3, available 05/31/2022)

Now a bite-sized board book, Papa Pizza Mouse offers new families their first chance to bond over a love of New York, pizza, and a NYC slice that is worth fighting for. When the whiskered hero of this story uncovers one of the greatest treats New York City has to offer a forager—a discarded slice of pepperoni pizza—the danger to bring it home to his family is all worth it! It’s up to the tiny Pizza Mouse to get the slice safely home to his family . . . via the A train, of course!

Ready! Said Rabbit by Marjoke Henrichs (Peachtree, for ages 2–6, available 05/24/2022)

An excellent read aloud pick for dads and their little loved ones to celebrate each other, charming flaws and all. It’s a lovely day to visit the park, but will Rabbit and Dad ever be ready to leave the house? Rabbit could take his ball to the park. But his favorite elephant would be just perfect, too, if he could find it. Uh-oh! Now Dad needs his jacket…and his glasses. And wherever did his keys go? A tale of patience to share between a dad and child; readers will laugh along with playful jibes at relatable, dawdling behaviors.

Uncle John’s City Garden by Bernette G. Ford, illustrated by Frank Morrison (Holiday House, for ages 4–8, available now)

How does this city garden grow? With help from L’il Sissy and her siblings—and love, love, love! A celebration of nature, family, and food. Bernette Ford’s autobiographical story is a loving glimpse at a girl, her siblings, and her uncle, and their shared passion for farming. L’il Sissy’s fascination with measurement, comparison, and estimation introduces children to STEM concepts. And the progress of Uncle John’s garden introduces readers to the life cycle of plants. And the progress of Uncle John’s garden introduces readers to the life cycle of plants.

Song for Jimi: The Story of Guitar Legend Jimi Hendrix by Charles R. Smith, Jr., illustrated by Edel Rodriguez (Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, ages 7 and up, available now)

Jimi Hendrix’s talent was epic, and so is this lyrical account of his life, with spectacular artwork by Edel Rodriguez— including a poster underneath the jacket. From his turbulent childhood through his epical appearance at the Monterey and Woodstock festivals, Charles R. Smith Jr. covers it all in this rich and rhythmic account of a singular life, accompanied by the psychedelic splendor of Edel Rodriguez’s acid-tinged illustrations. This unique mix of rhythm and rhyme captures the essence a rock icon.

When Grandfather Flew by Patricia MacLachlan, illustrated by Chris Sheban (Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, for ages 4–8, available now)

A grieving boy remembers his grandfather and the hobby they shared, in this moving evocation of love and loss by a Newbery Medalist. Milo’s grandfather is fascinated with birds. He admires their freedom and never loses an opportunity to point out the things that make them special. He can’t see like he used to, so Milo helps him. One day when Milo comes home, Grandpa isn’t there, but when he sees a Bald Eagle swoop through the sky above, he knows Grandpa got his wish of being reborn in the skies.

Tuesday Is Daddy’s Day by Elliot Kreloff (Holiday House, for ages 3–7, available now)

A sweet autobiographical story celebrating LGBTQ+ parents, coparents who live apart, and the shared love that keeps families together no matter where they live. Becky has two rooms: one at Mommy’s house and one at Daddy’s apartment, which he shares with his partner Harry. Daddy usually picks her up after school on Tuesdays, but one Tuesday mommy is there instead! What’s going on? Becky likes everything to be the same, but soon learns change can lead to a happy surprise!

Adventures with My Daddies by Gareth Peter, illustrated Garry Parsons (Peachtree Publishing, for ages 4–8, available now)

This authentic bedtime read aloud is perfect for LGBTQ+ and adoptive families. Set off on a series of incredible adventures with an endearing, diverse family as the bedtime stories they read burst into colorful life. Together, the daddies and their little one battle dragons, dodge deadly dinosaurs, zoom to the moon, and explore the world in a hot air balloon, before winding down to sleep in a wonderfully cozy ending.

I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith (Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, for ages 4–8, available now)

What if words got stuck whenever you tried to speak? What if they never came out the way you wanted them to? When a boy who stutters feels isolated, alone, and incapable of communicating in the way he’d like, it takes a kindly father and a walk by the river to help him find his voice. Poet Jordan Scott writes movingly in this powerful and ultimately uplifting book, based on his own experience.

Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Daniel Minter (Peachtree, for ages 4-8, available now)

Down home is Granny’s house. Down home is where Lil Alan and his parents and sister will gather with great-grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Down home is where Lil Alan will hear stories of the ancestors and visit the land that has meant so much to all of them. And down home is where all of the children will find their special way to pay tribute to their family history. All the kids have to decide what they’ll share, but what will Lil Alan do?

Filed Under: gifts, holidays Tagged With: , ,

‘Manly Men’ Meat Lovers Flowers for Valentine’s @manlymanco1

February 13, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Before you click off in haste- wait a second! These are fun, and I think you will find them unique and fun and silly- your meat loving significant other will really enjoy them.

valentines gift for men

If you are anything like me, (and since you are here, I guess you are) you probably try to be as open minded as possible. So then, you might not love the term “manly man”. Perhaps for the stereotypes it conjures, or the way that it forces societal gender types onto people. It can be unhealthy and quite bad for people’s self esteem and self worth- more and more educators, scientists, and psychologists are finding these types of terms destructive. However, if we are tongue in cheek, and I assume that they are, the The Manly Man Co. specializes in gifts for men- and those who like to eat meat or receive unusual gifts, LOL. We all know people who are really hard to get gifts for, and not everyone of either genders likes to get flowers. If you look at their twitter feed, the company doesn’t seem to be pushing toxic masculinity or anything like that, just some fun and humor.

gift box

Also? My son really, really loves these. He loves the flavor, and he really thinks the bouquet is cool. And if you know teenagers, it’s hard to get them to admit they love anything except video games, their phones, and figuring our how to save enough money to get a car, LOL.

Plenty of people don’t really want flowers for Valentine’s Day, or even a traditional card. Instead of a polite ‘thank you’ this year for less than original gifts, The Manly Man Co. is offering an array of meat-based gifts to celebrate the meat lover in your life.

valentines day
Meathearts™
That’s not a typo, The Manly Man Co. has reimagined a classic Valentine’s Day candy into a very manly handmade version crafted in beef jerky. Meathearts are laser-etched with messages like “BEEF MINE,” “MEAT ME, AND XOXO.
$22.50 for 1 oz (approximately 21 pieces)

meat flowers bouquet

The famous Beef Jerky Flower Bouquet
What could say that someone loves a ‘manly man’ more than a dozen beef jerky ‘flowers’ in a handsome bouquet delivered in a pint glass vase?
Ditch the pretty flowers for the perfect meat-based manly version.
$99.00 for a full dozen, available in 3 flavors.

Meet THE MEAT CARD™
Why would any man want a boring cardboard card when they could get a custom (and potentially titillating) custom card laser-etched on beef jerky? Customers are encouraged to print whatever message they want to deliver directly to their manly man (we don’t judge.) Messages vary widely in naughtiness levels; here are two (relatively) clean examples: “Can we exchange meats?!”, “Your meat is officially off the market.”
$22.50 for 100 custom characters laser engraved on a card-sized (4″x9″) sheet of delicious beef jerky.

Bacon Scented Wrapping Paper (scratch and sniff)
Everything is better with bacon, so why not up your wrapping game with the glorious smell of bacon? Even if a manly man gets soap on a rope, it will be a big hit if wrapped in something that smells like bacon when you scratch and sniff.
$19.95 for a 30″ wide roll (8′ long.)

And speaking of bacon …

The Meat Bouquet
Here’s another radically superior beefy bouquet choice for men. It’s a tasty and tasteful arrangement of ready-to-eat thick-cut slices of gourmet bacon and beef sticks in multiple flavors.
$59.00 includes 9x beef sticks and 8x gourmet bacon in various flavors. Also available as a bacon bouquet and beef bouquet.

If your Valentine is a meat lover, this is a site you will want to use- for now, and to bookmark for further use. Enjoy the shopping experience!

Filed Under: gifts, holidays, review Tagged With: , , ,

Valentine Gift Ideas for the Fitness Fanatic

February 8, 2022 by Leave a Comment

If you are like us, you may have put on a few pounds during the past year and a half. Covid did a lot of damage to many people’s health, waistlines included. Now that we are starting to move toward normalcy, it might be a good time to start to get your body back. After all, the better you look, the better you feel- and the better you feel, the better you will look. It’s a win-win. You know how active we are here, and we are looking forward to getting back to ourselves as much as anyone.

Here are some items that can help you get back on track!

fitness

Whirly Board – Balance Board
Whirly Board is the most versatile gift to give your favorite fitness lover (or get one for yourself). Use it at home or while working out, it’s perfect for board sports training or yoga. Keep moving for better overall health! It has 500+ positive reviews on Amazon, so a lot of people are having fun with this one. My husband in particular likes it.  Add a little fitness, agility, and fun to your routine with Whirly Board. The Whirly Board allows you to spin 360˚ and engage all your body’s core muscles, so it is an excellent training tool for any skill level (even kids). It’s a fun addition for your home or gym. Whirly Board is a great option for core training and home fitness without the need for bulky gym equipment that takes up tons of space. An indoor training tool, it improves strength, balance, and agility. Practice spin and tricks and take your twirl to a whole new level.
hot cold bottle
Price: $29.95
This is one heavy bottle, let me tell you! Use it as a weapon if you’re ever backed into a corner, haha. Keep your fitness enthusiast hydrated through whatever they do with The BOULDER. The BOULDER vacuum insulated water bottle is the flagship bottle of EcoVessel that will keep your drinks hot or cold all day long. Made from premium 18/8 stainless steel, it features the signature TriMax® triple insulation and keeps drinks cold up to 60 hours and hot up to 12 hours. The BOULDER stainless steel water bottle also includes a removable strainer for tea, fruit, and ice cubes, which is pretty handy for tea drinkers (or those of us with sensitive teeth- no more ice cube smacking you in the mouth). Available on Amazon
phone charger
Also sold on BestBuy
My husband has loves this, and it was great to have around during the recent storm. We lost power for 20 hours, and it held a charge super well. We’ve also taken it out hiking, and John goes long distance running on weekends- it’s never had an issue with the rain or snow or any other weather, and he’s definitely dropped it more than once. No problems as of writing this.
For the past five years, Poseidon has built a reputation for being the best portable charger on the market. Introducing the new Poseidon Pro by Dark Energy, an upgraded portable charging system that is fully waterproof (IP68), drop-proof, and crushproof, and is certified to military standard MIL-STD 810G. Recently upgraded to add more advanced tech enhancements, you can’t go wrong with this handy device by your side and never be stranded without power again (even in the extreme cold).
ice pack
Price: $34.95
I’ve got to say, this was hard to wear on your wrist. It was bulky and made it hard to move your hands, as well as didn’t keep the ice/gel pack on the wrist well. Not on my hand, nor on my husband’s. However, when you take the gel pack and put it in your bra- it’s the perfect size, and was instantly cooling. I’m not joking, it was great, and it fit great on the pressure point between your breasts. Guys….well, can’t help you on that one, not sure how you’d keep it there. It also worked if you put the gel pack on your wraparound headband if you have one, right at the back at the point where your neck meets your head. Temples, too. The ice gel packs were the perfect size for so many spots that cooled your down- However, this is off topic.
As for the cuff, here is the info via the company- it is available on Amazon, and a Veteran-Owned Business, made in the USA.
The Cooling Cuff is solely focused on helping your body cool down properly. Wear it on your wrist for the optimal place to cool down during or after a workout. Cooling the body at the wrist can alter thermoregulation, rapidly lower core body temperature and quickly restore temperature homeostasis. That means athletes can train longer, run faster and recover quicker without their bodies using all their energy to cool down.
U-Konserve
Price: $21.95
Sold on Target ($19.99)
These are super useful. Easy to clean, store, and durable, you will find a million reasons to use them. As with a traditional bento box, these divided to-go containers from U-Konserve are easy to separate food and great for portion control. Perfect waste-free solution for daily lunches, takeout, picnics, travel, outdoor adventures, bulk shopping and salad bars. Pack snacks, lunches and main meals while reducing single-use packaging. These square containers are also ideal for kitchen organization, pantry makeovers, meal prep and family leftovers. I also use them for my friend’s daughter when she comes over to eat, who doesn’t like her food to touch. The barrier in the middle keeps them separate, and that keeps us all sane, LOL.
packable luggage
Super useful, and the price is right at $23. Ever been on a trip, and you accidentally buy too many souvenirs? or when you try to repack your bag with the dirty laundry, it just doesn’t fit properly? This will be a lifesaver, I literally do not travel without one anymore- you just never know when you will need it! This bag (an in my past, bags like it) take up no room really in your luggage, but are big on value when you find yourself up a creek, LOL.
Of course, you can just use it as a normal duffle bag in the meantime.
Whether it be a trip to the gym or an outdoor adventure, the 22 L Nomad Packable Duffel allows you to take what you need and more- it’s very roomy. Constructed from durable reinforced nylon, it stuffs into its own pocket so you can travel with it easily. When it’s time to stash it, turn the interior pocket inside out. Then stuff the entire duffel into the pocket, and zip it closed. (It’s as shockingly easy as it sounds, really.)
Filed Under: environment, fitness, holidays, review Tagged With: , , , ,

Fun Products to Celebrate Valentine’s Day from Home! (WITH the kiddos!)

February 8, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Another Covid Holiday approaches, and with things not back to normal yet (Hoping soon!!!) it looks like it will be another quiet day. If nothing else, this pandemic has made us have more quality time with our family and children, yes? I know I have certainly spent more time at home then I ever have, and quality time is more than ever- sometimes, too much, amIright? Haha. It’s also an never ending battle to get kids away from screens, and while screen time certainly has it’s place, so does being away from it and stretching other muscles.

Since so many holidays have cancelled or forced to celebrate differently the past few years, here are a few ideas to help you make the most out of your Valentine’s Day this year with the kiddos. 

Creating new traditions will be a great way to make memories and will give the kids something to look forward to even while being stuck at home. A few ideas include building sets like those from Magformers and Thames & Kosmos or delicious vegan baking mixes from Lehi Mills. All of which stimulate creative problem solving, encourage hands-on learning and last but not least will get kids away from the screen.

make your own night light

Creatto

Creatto is a simple yet versatile building system that consists of just two primary components that can be woven together into countless 3D creations. The flexible yet durable plastic tiles interlock quickly and easily for all skill levels; no additional materials or hardware required! Each Creatto kit includes assembly instructions for four different configurations, but the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Add strings of colored LED lights to illuminate your works of art from the inside out. Creatto is available in a variety of designs for $9.95-$29.95 and is for Ages 6+.

magnet blocks

Magbuddies Sets

Step into the world of Max’s Playground Set, Maggy’s House Set, Milo’s Mansion Set, Minibot Kitchen Set and build your own amazing Mag City. Collect all 4 and see what you can create. Ages 3+ MSRP: $49.99 each. 

bubble gum kit

Super Duper Bubble Gum Lab

It’s time to have some gummy fun with this awesome bubble gum making kit! Mix up your gum base and then sweeten it with sugar. Next, use the three included flavors to make your gum more delicious than ever. Choose from watermelon, orange, and classic bubble gum  or try them all! Finally, cut it up, package it, and label it with stickers to give away as gifts. While you make these yummy treats, you’ll also learn about the scientific properties of elastic materials. Ages 6+ MSRP: $19.95.

best baby toy

Stick-O Cooking 16Pc Set

The Stick-O Cooking 16 Piece Set brings out your child’s inner chef. This themed magnetic kit inspires kids to assemble and cook delicious foods including an egg, lollipop, candy, carrot, and more. The 16 Piece Cooking Set includes 2 Spheres, 2 Sticks, 1 Curve Stick, 1 Oval Stick and 1 Half Sphere. Ages 18m+ MSRP $24.99.

vegan baked goods

Lehi Mills Certified Vegan Line
Lehi Mills is a premium baking mix company that recently launched their Certified Vegan Line. With over 100 years of milling experience, quality has always been their first ingredient.  Included in the Lehi Mills Certified Vegan Line is the delicious Vegan Pancake and Waffle Mix, Vegan Raspberry Muffin Mix and Vegan Double Fudge Brownie. All of which are plant-based and perfect for when you want a wholesome, vegan treat. 

exit game

EXIT

EXIT: The Game is a series of party games for up to four players that offers a unique, unforgettable gaming experience, perfect for Valentine’s Day fun! These games allow you to bring the excitement, intensity, and team spirit of an escape room to your living room. In each EXIT game, your team starts out locked in an imaginary room, or trapped somewhere. You must solve a series of riddles and puzzles in order to unlock doors and reveal new riddles. Each correct solution brings you to another riddle and eventually to freedom. EXIT is constantly expanding with new stories. Ages 10+ MSRP: $14.95.

Filed Under: holidays, review, toys Tagged With: , ,

Healthy Habits to Keep Up in the Holiday Season

December 14, 2021 by Leave a Comment

holidays

The holidays are the perfect time to indulge and maybe not stick to your usual healthy habits. But, even though you might be eating more desserts and skipping a couple of days at the gym, it’s still important to try to make some healthy choices during the holidays. If you suddenly throw all of your healthy lifestyle habits out the window, it can be hard to get back into them once the holidays are over. Plus, you can find that you run out of steam halfway through the holidays and you suddenly feel very sluggish and rundown. If you want to stay somewhat healthy during the holidays, here are some habits to keep up.

Keep Your Diet Balanced  

There are lots of tasty treats floating around in the holidays, and it’s expected that you’re going to indulge a bit more than normal. There’s no need to deny yourself all of your favorite things, but it is a good idea to try and keep your diet balanced. So, even as you reach for the cookies, make sure you’re also balancing it out with plenty of vegetables. Be sure to get all of your essential nutrients, have plenty of fiber in your diet, and try to control your portions too.

Get Outdoors

Even if you’re active normally, the holidays can feel like a free pass to be a bit more sedentary. You might not keep up your usual workout schedule, but it’s still a good idea to try and be somewhat active even during the holidays. Suddenly not doing anything active could affect not just your physical health but your mental health too. It might be cold outdoors, but getting outside for a walk or bike ride can be the ideal way to work off all the food you’ve been eating. If you’re feeling full after Christmas lunch, a brisk walk could perk you up again.

Control Your Alcohol Consumption

The alcohol is usually flowing during the holidays, and it can be tempting to accept any drink that’s put into your hand. But you’re not obligated to drink through the holidays, and it could make your experience much less pleasant. If you struggle to turn down a drink, you can find resources like https://www.sunshinebehavioralhealth.com/colorado/colorado-springs/ that can help you. If the holidays stress you out, there are better ways to unwind than to keep drinking.

Take Some Time to Yourself

Being around a lot of people during the holidays can be exhausting, especially for introverts. If you’re getting tired of socializing, make sure you take time for yourself. Everyone deserves some time to relax and have some time alone, even if it’s just half an hour or so. It can be your time to take a nap, read a book, listen to some music or do some yoga. Try to carve out some time just for you at some point during the holidays.

Keep up these healthy habits during the holidays and you’ll feel healthy and happier in the festive period.

Filed Under: health, holidays Tagged With:

Hallmark Channel Original Premiere of “A Royal Queens Christmas” #CountdownToChristmas

December 9, 2021 by Leave a Comment

If you are anything like me, you are always up for a Christmas movie. From November to January, that’s pretty much all I’m watching. There is a new Hallmark Christmas movie coming out this Saturday, called  “A Royal Queens Christmas“ and I hope you decide to watch it. This time, not only is there a movie, but also a twitter party where you can win awesome prizes.

Of course- this being Hallmark, there are 41 new and original movies premiering this year on Hallmark and the Hallmark Mysteries channels.

Premiere Date: Dec. 11, 2021, 8/7c
Original Network: Hallmark Channel
Programming Event: Countdown to Christmas
Lead Actors: Megan Park, Julian Morris
ARoyalQueensChristmas

About “A Royal Queens Christmas”

“Dee Dee works at a well-established bakery in Queens, New York after returning home from a tour of duty in the army. The bakery is commissioned to supply desserts for an international Christmas gala and fundraiser in Manhattan. When she goes to meet with the chef, Dee Dee has a run in with Colin in the lobby, and he knocks over her plate of precious pastries. When she learns Colin plays piano and could play in the local Christmas show, she asks him to help as payback. Dee Dee assumes he works for the hotel but really…he’s a prince!

Colin conceals his identity as he feels at home in the Bayside community among Dee Dee’s family and friends, participating in the neighborhood’s holiday activities. All is going well until his parents, the King and Queen of Exeter, show up in New York with a princess they hope Colin will marry, ruining Colin’s cover story.”

You can learn more about the movie on the Hallmark Channel website.

hallmark movies

You can find and follow Hallmark on these links-

-HMNow- (Hallmark Movies Now service)- https://www.hmnow.com

-Hallmark Movie Checklist App- https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/hallmark-movie-checklist-app

–Hallmark Channel Wines– https://hallmarkchannelwines.com

–Holiday Cookbook– https://hersheycookbook.hallmarkchannel.com

–The Holiday Home Decoration- https://holidayhomedecorationsweepstakes.hallmarkchannel.com/

–Very Merry Giveaway- https://verymerrygiveaway.hallmarkchannel.com

win prizes

Make sure you join us on Saturday, Dec. 11th at 8pm/7c for the Twitter party– you can win some great prizes. See you there!

PRIZING: 

(1) “Holiday Happiness” Package includes:

(1) One Hallmark Channel Gift Wrap Package

(1) Hallmark Channel Wines digital gift card (https://hallmarkchannelwines.com/)

(1) Holiday tea tin from Republic of Teas (https://www.republicoftea.com)

Filed Under: entertainment, Holiday Gift Guide, holidays Tagged With: , ,

Christmas plants that are toxic to pets

December 8, 2021 by Leave a Comment

poisonous plants to pets

It’s important to remember if your pets consume any of these toxic plants, contact your vet straight away.

10 most toxic winter plants for dogs and cats:

  1. Holly – If the berries or spiked-edge leaves from a holly plant are ingested, this can result in irritation of the mouth, drooling, gastrointestinal upset (such as vomiting), and diarrhoea. It may also cause excessive head-shaking if consumed in large quantities.
  2. Mistletoe – Though varied in types, the berries from mistletoe contain chemicals including polysaccharides, alkaloids, and lectins which are harmful to both dogs and cats. When ingested in small quantities, it can cause gastrointestinal irritation such as vomiting and abdominal pain. Consumed in large quantities, it may cause abnormal heart rate, low blood pressure and incoordination.
  3. Poinsettia plants – Widely known for their bright red and green festive foliage, the milky white sap from the coloured leaves contains a chemical which could cause not only nausea, vomiting, drooling and diarrhoea, but also irritation in the skin, mouth and oesophagus.
  4. Christmas trees – If the pine needles from Christmas trees are chewed, the oils released may cause irritations in the mouth as well as stomach upset. Due to the prickly nature of the needle, these could also be hazardous to the mouth, throat and stomach if ingested.
  5. Ivy (Hedera species) – Ivy can cause severe skin irritation if pets come into direct contact with this plant. If ingested, ivy can also cause stomach upsets.
  6. Amaryllis – The whole amaryllis plant contains toxic substances, but higher quantities are contained in the bulb, so be careful of pets who like to dig. If consumed, they may experience severe gastrointestinal upsets (such as vomiting and abdominal pain), loss of appetite, lethargy and tremors.
  7. Lilies – Dangerous for both cats and dogs, if any part of a lily is ingested (even in small quantities) this could cause severe gastrointestinal damage, which may lead to kidney failure for cats.
  8. Laurel – Laurel plants including bay laurels (which are often used in cooking) and cherry laurel, contain toxins located in all parts of the shrub which cause vomiting, abdominal pain, hypotension and in extreme cases, muscle weakness and even seizures.
  9. Snowdrops – These small white flowers contain toxins in their stems and leaves, with the highest concentration in the bulb. When ingested, they can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, incoordination as well as a drop in heart rate and blood pressure.
  10. Yew – All parts of this plant, (including the leaves and berries) are highly poisonous as they contain taxines. When ingested they can cause vomiting, weakness, breathing difficulties and in critical cases, life threatening change in heart rate and blood pressure.

Salman Haqqi, pet insurance expert from money.co.uk comments:

“Pets are often curious creatures and can be found chewing anything around the house, especially at a young age. While decorative plants can add a bit of a life to your interior during winter, it’s important to remember that these could present problems if consumed by your furry family members.

“Taking the necessary steps, such as placing plants out of reach or adding barriers will help to ensure that pets do not ingest or come into contact with them. If your four-legged friend does consume a toxic house plant, it’s important to seek expert help and advice from your vet as soon as possible.”

Please see the following sources for more info on the guidance above: PDSA, The Kennel Club, PETMD and Pet Poison Helpline.

Filed Under: holidays, lifestyle Tagged With:

Christmas 2021 Planning (& No, It’s Not Too Early After Last Year’s Disappointment)

August 29, 2021 by Leave a Comment

Let’s face it; Christmas 2020 wasn’t our greatest. While normality hasn’t truly returned, there is no doubt that this festive period is set to be far better. 

If you truly want to make up for last year’s subdued celebrations, now is the time to get planning. Here are some items that should be on your checklist to ensure that this festive period is just like the ones you used to know.

Dress To Impress

Looking festive will put you in a festive mood. So, checking out Christmas t shirts for women, men, and children is highly advised. You can also wear festive hats and jewelry to heighten the experience. In truth, a lot of families couldn’t see the point in wearing festive items last year, especially if they couldn’t see friends. However, it’s one of the best ways to spread some cheer in the weeks leading up to December 25th. 

It is very likely that there will be a rush. So, it’s probably wise to buy the items in advance.

Decorate The Home

You probably added some home decorations last year, but it’s likely that you were a little more subtle than usual. After all, you wasn’t going to host anyone else. The situation has changed for 2021, which makes it a great time to think about getting a new tree and decorations. Festive garden lights and wreaths are great too. Last year, seeing those items actually felt disappointing. This year, it will fill you with joy.

Family meals and watching festive films will feel better than ever.

Make The Most Of Markets

Many attractions were closed last Christmas for obvious reasons. They will return in 2021, however, and their previous absence has made the heart grow fonder. Visiting Christmas markets can provide some truly magical moments. Cocoa, handmade gifts, and carol singing recitals will all bring the magic back to our lives. And it will go a long way to making life feel normal once again after what has been a very testing 18 months.

Local events that promote a united community should be a key feature of Christmas 2021.

Plan The Ultimate Meal

Whether it’s Christmas Day or another date in December, the big group meal is vital. You may find that you want to do something completely different with a winter BBQ. Even so, being surrounded with people that you saw very little of in 2020 will feel extra special. And knowing that members of your household are back to enjoying life to the max is rewarding too. It’s something we took for granted before, but will adore this festive season. 

You may also want to think about purchasing some games for the festivities.

Giving Back 

While last year’s festivities were subdued, they taught us to gain some perspective. The heightened sense of gratitude and appreciation for what we have should encourage you to give back. Families have lost loved ones while refugees have had to flee warzones too. There are many ways that you can show altruism this festive season. And when you do, the benefits for your personal mindset are clear.

And when you end 2021 in such a positive way, it’ll help you start 2022 in style too.

Filed Under: holidays Tagged With: ,