Candyfloss & Dreams

Tag: collaborative post

  • Planning a Family Garden Party

    Planning a Family Garden Party

    This is a collaborative post
    Planning a family garden party is a lovely way to get together over the summer holidays. You don’t need a reason to have a family garden party either it can just be a nice way to make the most out of this lovely warm summer we are having. Family garden parties do not have to be an expense either, it’s something everyone can equally contribute to to make sure the whole family have a really lovely time together.

    My parents usually have a lovely family garden party on the August bank holiday weekend so that they can enjoy everyone’s company. It usually involves a lovely big BBQ, sitting around in the garden until late into the evening chatting, laughing and listening to music. Having a gazebo or even an outdoor party tent set up gives you a great hub for a family garden party too. Something else to consider could be renting a social photo booth which are a great way to get some fun photos, especially if it’s a special occassion. There is bound to be one available in your area such as Photo Booth Rental Fort Worth

    another fun feature if you have a family could be adding a hammock. this could be a great thing for parties and family gatherings to keep kids amused but also used when the sun is shining for reading and relaxing. there are a great range of hammocks available online like hammock giant.

    Here are some of my tips to consider making your family garden party a fun occasion that everyone remembers and to really celebrate the summer.

    1. Will you have a theme? There doesn’t really need to be a big theme for this type of party or get together as really you can just use the season as the theme. For me summer just means lots of lovely ice cold drinks, BBQ and picnic food, plenty of places to sit outside and lots of smiles and laughter. As it’s a family garden party you could add in a paddling pool or maybe even a hot tub if you’re lucky enough to own one!
    2. Consider the food. For me summer food is all about grab and go. Having a good mix of hot and cold food usually caters to everyone. Grilled meats and BBQ food can be paired really nicely with salads, cold meat platters and cheeses. Children seem to love a buffet so things like cocktail sausages, crackers and crudites are great options. Summer, for me, is all about colour so when planning a family garden party you might want to feed the family a rainbow. When it comes to desserts you could do something really fun like a chocolate fountain with fruit kebabs which children just seem to absolutely love.
    3. Budgeting the family garden party. It doesn’t have to come with a big price tag and there are plenty of ways of reducing the cost right town to create a lovely family garden party atmosphere. Getting some battery operated tea lights or fairy lights are a lovely way to decorate the garden if you don’t want to use candles. You could also ask family members to bring a favourite dish or bottle of drink to share.
    4. Extra celebrations. If you have lots of things to celebrate over the summer break having one big family garden party might be a really nice way to celebrate everyone together, especially if there are lots of birthdays in a short space of time. Or perhaps lots of family members have graduated or finished school and you want to celebrate exam results together. A family garden party is a really lovely way to mark the occasion and spend time celebrating together. If you have anyone that is expecting a baby perhaps throwing a garden baby shower party would be something you could organise?
    5. Plan ahead and get your invites out. With social media and technology these days it’s really easy to organise a family event and make it known to all that you want to invite. You could send around a group message or text or even create an event online and invite people to join with all the information. I find setting up an event on social media like this an easy way to include as many people as possible and get all the information across easily.

    So there are my tips for planning a summer family garden party. Do you have any you would like to add?

    summer family garden party

  • Making Plans for 2019

    With a new year we often want to start making new plans. This could be anything from moving home, a new hobby or a holiday. I like creating my goals lists so I have some focus on what I’m doing with my blog and home too. I find this really helpful.

    Some people, however, might want to look at starting a business or turning their hobby into a business but might be lacking the funds to do so. This year I am planning on making more money as well as paying off more debt so that I can be more financially free and I am glad my business did not require much investment to start as I already had an established blog and following. However, for others that are more creative and make products a small business loan might be a better option if funds are low.

    I have recently seen so many small businesses creep up for homemade clothing, resuable wipes, eco friendly kits and journals which is amazing however they all had to start somewhere and that start often requires money. When it comes to loans you always need to make sure you can afford the monthly repayments and don’t borrow what you can’t afford to pay back. The first year of business is usually quite tough if you’re starting completely from scratch.

    When it comes to changing a hobby to a business and you already have a bit of a following getting your audience on board is usually a great idea and can really help give you some feedback. You will usually have your first customers or consumers from your following too and the best part is you probably already have your ideal customer which, hopefully, means that you wont make a loss in your first year of business.

    I think changing things up each year is healthy as long as you do it with care, consideration and responsibly.

    *Collaborative Post

  • Would You Discovery Your Ancestry?

    Have you considered DNA testing? It’s something I’ve seen a lot recently with people searching into the depths of their history and finding out more about who they are. There are plenty of companies around that offer this service these days such as CRI Genetics and I have to admit it’s something I’m really interested in. I’ve seen copies of my family tree from one side of my family but I’d really like to find out more if I could.

    I’ve had members of the family look back on our history and the conversations it sparks are really interesting. I’ve seen how are family tree has developed through the years too and it’s so cool to see all these different branches from all over the country and more often than not, around the world. DNA Weekly is another resource that can help you when looking for DNA testing comparisons. The website provides In-depth and impartial reviews of leading DNA test kits, user-generated reviews of every DNA test kit we tested and detailed kit comparisons.

    I think we all wonder if there has been any connections with important people in history as well as if we’re biologically related to them. It’s also a great way to see where your family has originated from. If you’re considering DNA testing then I would recommended looking for a reliable company that specialises in this. It seems to be very popular and affordable these days and something I think a lot of ancestry based sites are looking into offering and making more accessible to all of those interested in finding out more about their history. I think it could open up some interesting biological discoveries.

    I think another interesting thing about finding out about your DNA history and ancestry is it sort of leaves a bit of a legacy for your own children so they know where they’ve come from and can have a great understanding about their own unique history. It seems you usually wait around 8 weeks to get the results back and an interesting report explaining the DNA analysis.

    *Collaborative Post

  • Heating The Home This Autumn

    Heating The Home This Autumn

    Heating the home during autumn usually means increasing your monthly budget to cope with rising energy costs. As a low income family and one that relies heavily on student finance to get us through each semester whilst Adam is studying, we really need to do everything we can to stick to our budget. I am already feeling the cold in the mornings when I wake up and now we’ve brought home a newborn baby so maintaining a warm temperature through autumn and into the winter months is high on our list of priorities. Finding the most cost-effective way to do so though, is a challenge.

    Some families choose to do this by installing central heating pumps, which is an effective and efficient way of heating the home. A pump helps circulate hot water around the home rapidly, from the boiler to the radiators. This helps keep the home warm without breaking the bank.

    Heating The Home Effectively

    Using a central heating pump is an effective method of heating the home but it isn’t always an option for all households. We have night storage heaters and we only have one energy bill to worry about however we do notice a significant weekly increase when it gets colder. As we use electric when it comes to heating our home, like other families do, there is an option to get a smart meter installed, which helps record the exact amount of energy we use. There are also plenty of apps available that help you keep track of how much you’re spending and even how to cut down on this amount.

    When it comes to heating the home we try to limit which heaters we turn on. I usually start with turning on the one in the hallway as that is the one that makes the biggest difference in the morning. It’s much nicer walking out of the bedroom into an already warm hallway. Often, the heat has had time to warm the other rooms too. Luckily, living in a flat, it doesn’t take long to warm up and this helps us keep the costs down. We also make use of a halogen heater for the living room. Keeping the living room door closed, and turning this on for just a small amount of time, heats up our living room very quickly. Ideally, I try to find ways of heating the home that are also energy-efficient.

    I find using a slow cooker rather than our oven a great way to save a money and energy whilst heating our home. Plus, there is nothing better than smelling a delicious stew or soup cooking throughout the day, especially if I can dip into it a few times during the day! Hot food really makes a difference in keeping me warm. I am also a fan of all things soft and fluffy so we have plenty of throws and blankets to use. I use these in the living room to cosy up on the sofa with the kids or to put a few extra layers on the bed at night. I am a big fan of layers of clothing too. Big, warm fluffy socks and a soft dressing gown after a hot bath can make a huge difference in keeping us all warm at the end of a cold day.

    So there you have it, a few money-saving methods of heating the home that I like to use. How do heat your home while keeping costs down?

    Heating the home this autumn, candle

  • It Isn’t Always Easy – Preparing Your Child for an Upcoming Move

    It Isn’t Always Easy – Preparing Your Child for an Upcoming Move

    It Isn’t Always Easy: Preparing Your Child for an Upcoming Move

    Most families will, at some point, move into a new home or to a new city. A move is not something that is light and fun for all and it can be quite disruptive, especially for children. Kids who do not know what to expect and those who face anxiety over the move are the most affected and may not completely understand what is going on.

    Preparing your child for an upcoming move is the best decision you can make and will help your child feel at ease too. Below, we will talk about what you can do, as a parent, to help introduce the idea of moving to your child.

    Talking About Moving with Toddlers and Preschool-Aged Children

    Toddlers and infants are often the easiest to move with because there is not too much explaining that needs to go into it as they may not be able to grasp the idea of the move yet. Preschoolers often understand and need some reassurance about the move.

    Some tips to help you talk about moving with toddlers and preschool-aged children:

    • Visit the new home a few times before the move, if it is nearby
    • Use a story to explain the move and what your child can expect to happen or find a book about moving and read it to them
    • Always use clear explanations about the move
    • Try to avoid making big changes at the same time as the move as this can cause a lot of anxiety
    • Involve your child as much as possible when packing

    Talking about Moving with Children Who Are School Aged

    Children who are 5 and older, or in kindergarten or older, will need to be walked through the moving process. Children of this age will understand that there is something going on around them and keeping them in the dark will fuel anxiety.

    Tips to help you talk about moving with a school-aged child:

    • Explain to them where you are moving and visit the new house and area
    • Let them have a party with their friends before the move
    • Explain the process of everything being packed up and placed on the moving truck
    • Use simple and clear sentences to explain the situation
    • Allow them to help with the move and talk about the positives of a new home and city

    Other Things to Consider When Moving with Children

    Before you set your move date in stone, think about your children first. It is often recommended that you move in the summer, this way, children are not faced with starting a new school and leaving their friends midyear.

    Teens are often more understanding about a move and do not need as much preparation or talks beforehand, however, you should still let them know the plan and talk about your expectations and what they can expect on the day of the move.

    Once the move is completed, take your child out to explore the new area and create a positive experience.