Giving The Gift of Sleep with TEMPUR®

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2020 - What a year. A year full of ups, downs, rounds, and rounds, it's really been a time. Lockdown has impacted everyone's life in one way or another - whether you've experienced the illness first hand or not.

For our family, the changes have been notable and our lives have been turned upside down. Noah was off school for months, now we're having to home-school again due to a positive case in his class. Ava was supposed to start nursery back in April but it was pushed back to September - it seemed a good idea at the time but I feel now that she missed out. My partner, Nick, he's been working from home since March - which of course has it's own trials and tribulations too. Lockdown aside, as a mother I already had a limited amount of sleep. Children do that to you. It's like they are programmed to sleep as little as possible and their mission is to wake everybody up at the crack of dawn - You've got to love those little, walking, talking, alarm clocks.

On the whole, we've adjusted well and have appreciated the extra time we've had together without school, nursery, and work getting in the way. That said, there are other areas which have suffered - the main one being sleep and we all know that isn't a good thing. Sleep is important in so many ways - for your health, mentally and physically, for concentration, productivity, it's vital for your immune system and so much more. 

With the importance of sleep at the forefront of my mind and with December just two weeks away, I thought what better than giving someone I love the gift of sleep. I have my partner Nick in mind for this, however, I think we all need it.

The foundation for a good night's sleep starts where you rest your head - it all begins with a high-quality pillow and mattress and that's where TEMPUR® comes in. TEMPUR® is the best of the best when it comes to mattresses and pillows and have been for generations. Their products provide proven pressure relief and are designed to distribute weight and pressure evenly. Their mattresses and pillows support your body, absorb motion, all while ensuring the utmost comfort - making sure you have a restful and deep sleep. They say how TEMPUR® Material works is complex, but what it does is simple: it helps you sleep better, longer, deeper.

The TEMPUR® pillow has given me the gift of sleep this Christmas and in return, I want to give the gift of sleep to my readers by providing the voucher code: TEMPUR1993 for an extra £25 off any single sized mattress, an extra £50 off any double+ sized mattress, or an extra £5 off any full-sized pillow.

Will you be giving the gift of sleep this Christmas?

Virginia Hayward For the Love of Chocolate Hamper - Review & Giveaway

 
AD - We were sent this product for the purpose of this review.

2020, what a year - am I right? It's been such a strange time and I don't know about you but I'm looking forward to Christmas more than ever because of it. Can you believe the big day is only 7 weeks away? I love to give and receive hampers at Christmas time so I was more than happy to collaborate with Virginia Hayward on a review and giveaway of their mouthwatering For the Love of Chocolate Hamper.

The For the Love of Chocolate Hamper is the perfect Christmas gift for anybody with a sweet tooth and a weakness for all things chocolate, and will be sure to send them into the ultimate chocolatey heaven! Virginia Hayward has rounded up their favourite cocoa-based treats - I didn't know where to begin.

Included in the hamper are; Radfords Handmade West Country Chocolate & Caramel Fudge, Stas Hot Cocoa Bombs, The Dormen Salted Caramel & Chocolate Raisin Mix, Joe & Seph's Double Chocolate Gourmet Popcorn, Cartwright & Butler Chocolate Wafer Rounds, Gold Crown Decorative Square Chocolate Cake, Guppy's Chocolates Fudge Biscuit Shards, and Mighty Fine Dark Chocolate Honeycomb Bar. They are all packaged up in a lovely woven basket which of course is reusable - we are going to use it as a decorative piece for Christmas and maybe in the summer, we will use it for harvesting strawberries.

For the Love of Chocolate Hamper is my idea of heaven in a basket. I cannot pick out a favourite product because it was all utterly delicious - I can see why Virginia Hayward picked out these products. I can imagine it being enjoyed with many people across the country this Christmas. You can order yours today over on the website for £29.99. How would you like to win a For the Love of Chocolate Hamper? To enter simply use the Gleam form below - good luck!

Virginia Hayward For the Love of Chocolate Hamper

Terms & Conditions.         
1. There will be 1 winner who win the prize mentioned above (or alternative if out of stock)
2. Winners details sent to the PR to arrange the prize. 
3. Competition ends 06/12/20.
4. Incomplete entries with be disqualified.
5. UK entries only

Planning A Post-Pandemic Family Holiday Abroad

 
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In need of a holiday abroad when this pandemic is over? Below are a few tips for planning a post-pandemic family getaway.

When should you book your trip for?

Flights out of the country are currently banned and there is no news yet as to when this will change. Lockdown will likely last until March at the very least - but even after this flights may be restricted. Many airlines have suspended booking of all flights until March at the earliest. If the vaccines keep rolling out at the current rate and the virus is controlled, a summer holiday may be possible. However, there are likely to still be many restrictions in place in terms of activities and attractions - so you may want to look beyond September or even consider a 2022 holiday just to be safe.

Where should you go?

If you’re planning to book a holiday in the sun this autumn or winter, you may want to stick to southern Europe. You could travel to Greece - even in October, temperatures are still an average of 19 degrees celsius. The Balearic islands of Spain and southern Italy reach similar temperatures. Meanwhile, The Canary Islands experience temperatures above 20 degrees celsius even in December and January. 

You could also consider sunny destinations beyond Europe if you’re able to afford the flights. The Caribbean and South East Asia are warm all year round - however, you should be careful of storms and monsoons towards the end of the year. If you’re not worried about the sun, then there are plenty of other options to consider. You could consider a family ski holiday for next winter, a winter family cruise, or even a trip to Disneyland Paris.

Take advantage of discounts

Because of lockdown and the decreased demand, many travel companies are now offering discounts on holidays to attract more customers. By booking now, you may find that you’re able to bag a better deal than booking at a later date. 

Pay in installments

Booking far in advance could allow you the option to pay in installments. This could be more affordable than having to pay the full amount upfront. When booking a holiday for 2022, there could be the option to pay in smaller installments. Another alternative would be to set money aside each month in a separate account - then bank of Scotland can offer advice on this.

Beat the last-minute rush

Once lockdown is lifted and attractions have started opening up again, there is likely to be a rush of people booking up holidays. This could result in hotels and flights booking up quickly. By booking early you can secure a room at the hotel you want and flights at the time you desire. 

Something to look forward to Booking a holiday now could give you something to look forward to. Next time you’re feeling down because of lockdown, consider the fact that you could be jetting off at the end of the year - or at the very latest in 2022.

What are the risks of booking now? Some people are rightly apprehensive about booking holiday now. Because there’s no certainty as to when the pandemic will be over, people are worried that they may lose their money if the holiday doesn’t go ahead. A few risks include:

• The possibility of flights being cancelled/hotels being closed/attractions being closed due to continued new restrictions.

• The possibility of an airline/hotel/travel company going bust due to lost revenue from the pandemic. 

• The possibility of getting the virus just before planning to fly out.

• The possibility of not receiving a vaccine in time (it is unknown yet as to whether certain airlines or countries will allow tourists to go unless they’ve had a vaccine). 

• The possibility of getting the virus abroad and not being able to fly back or pay for treatment.

By booking a holiday for 2022, you may be able to reduce the risk of this happening. If you’re booking a holiday for this year (particularly this summer) then you need to be prepared to face the risks. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the risk of losing all your money - even if the holiday has to be cancelled. Some of the questions to ask as you book include:

What’s the cancellation/refund policy?

Some hotels and airlines may not be able to offer a refund and may even charge a cancellation fee. This is something to be wary of when booking a holiday. Check if a hotel or airline has a cancellation or refund policy before you book - if it’s not clearly displayed on the website, you should contact the company for this information.

Holiday packages are often a safe bet. All holiday packages are ATOL protected (if the airline or travel company goes bust, you will get your money back). Many are also offering flexible booking options right now, which is the next best thing to free cancellation or a refund - this allows you to reschedule your holiday for a later date within a certain time frame. 

Be wary that you may lose any deposit that you put down. If you’re planning to go away this summer, it may be better to try and pay the whole amount upfront. 

Should I insure my holiday?

Taking out travel insurance is recommended if you plan to book a holiday this year. You’ll be covered against any flight cancellations - which could be important if the airline does not offer free cancellation or a refund. Some travel insurance plans will also cover you if you need medical care for Covid-19 or if you need to rearrange your flight due to contracting the virus.

On top of travel insurance, you could also consider paying for some holiday by credit card. Most credit card providers are able to offer compensation for purchases that are cancelled - including holidays. In many cases, they can even pay you back money for a deposit that may have been lost. Check with your credit card provider beforehand to see what they cover. 

DC Batman Mission 3-in-1 Batcave Playset & Launch And Defend Batmobile - Review

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Noah has been a superhero fan since he was a tot - it's certainly not been a phase for him. He has so many different kinds of DC and Marvel toys, oodles of the stuff - he can never get enough. We were recently sent the DC Batman Mission 3-in-1 Batcave Playset and the Batman Launch and Defend Batmobile to review. Noah declared that it was "sick" when he opened up the box - I take that as his seal of approval.

The DC Batman Mission 3-in-1 Batcave Playset is quite an impressive looking playset - one that takes a good half hour to assemble with all the stickers and different bits and pieces. It has 3 action-packed levels and 2 sides to explore - Gotham City and the Batcave.

Each level and side is playable and features many different elements to interact with. It features a breakable wall, petrol pump, jail, dumpster, changing chamber, golden armor, zipline, light-up computer, and much more. The playset includes a Batman figure, to scale to the set, and requires AA batteries.

Noah has really enjoyed playing with the DC Batman Batcave over the past week or two - he appreciates all the different areas to explore and he said it feels like more of a grown-up toy compared to some other playsets that he has. I thought that was quite interesting coming from a six-year-old and shows that it's not a toy that they'll grow out of quickly. His favourite feature is the jail cell and the zip wire. He also thinks the figure is quite cool and real looking - his words, not mine.

As a parent I have noticed a few niggles here and there - one being all the bits of cardboard you are supposed to add to it - it cheapens the toy, they fall out of place and I can guarantee they'll either get lost or ruined. Thankfully, those parts aren't needed and don't affect play at all. It's also quite top heavy so falls over a lot when he's playing quite boisterously - like kids do when playing superheroes. Those are just me nitpicking though. The DC Batman Mission 3-in-1 Batcave Playset is available from Amazon and retails at £44.99.

The Launch and Defend Batmobile really packs a punch even before it's out the packaging - Noah couldn't wait to get into it. It comes with a Batman figure, Batmobile, and remote control. I was delighted to realise that its rechargeable too - why don't more toys offer this function? Aesthetically it looks amazing - very much like it does in the films. It opens up to reveal a seat, which has a hidden surprise - one that really impressed Noah. It has a launch feature - simply place Batman on the seat, click him into place and he's ready to drive - or launch.

The remote control is quite lightweight and is Batman shaped - great attention to detail. It has 2 levers, one to move the mobile backward and forwards, the other to turn left and right. The red button in the middle launches Batman through the air! It has to be seen to believed.

Although the Batmobile isn't to scale to the playset it still works really well - they go brilliantly together or can be bought and played with separately. The Batman Launch and Defend Batmobile is also available from Amazon for £29.99. I think both toys would make great gifts for all superhero fans out there.

Care Bear Plush Toys from Basic Fun - Review

 
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Care Bears are my all-time favourite bears! I've adored them ever since I was a little girl - so it's wonderful to see the brand ever so popular, and still a household name. I also think it's great that Ava seems to love them just as much as I did - I'm totally reliving the magic.

Basic Fun have just released a range of Care Bear soft toys and they are adorable! Just like the original Care Bears, they are loving, cuddly, and each has their own personality, colour, and belly motif - with a more modern look to their faces. This range of toys features Care Bears in three different sizes; 9" beanie style teddies, and 14" plushes, and a 16" plush. I can't wait to show you them in all their glory.

Bedtime Bear is the only plush available in the 16" size - perfect for snuggling at bedtime. The signature aqua colour with moon and star motif is very soothing, the perfect buddy to drift off asleep with. The deep plush fabric which gives such a sensory of snuggly feel. Check out that expression too - it really made me laugh. I got Joey from Friends vibes - How you doin'? Bedtime Bear is exclusive to John Lewis and retails at £19.99. 

The medium 14" plushes are boxed (with hardly any plastic - yay) and all come with a collectible coin. Choose from Cheer Bear - the pink happy one, with his colourful rainbow tummy design. Tenderheart is the loving orange bear with his bright red heart design and the shamrock on his tummy. Good Luck Bear is the brightest green - as if he has come directly from the Emerald Isle. To our delight, we received Share Bear. Looking lovely in lilac is Share Bear has a lollipop motif on the belly and super soft plush fur. Also a great size for snuggling - Ava decided to call her Mummy bear! There are six Care Bears to collect in this size, they each retail at £14.99 - they are available to buy now at Smyths.

Great news - all 6 Care Bears are also available as 9” beanie plush. Just like the bigger versions, they each carry a different facial expression and belly badge. They are a great size for young ones to toddle about with, or toy collectors to well, collect! We received Cheer Bear in this size and I think it might be Ava's favourite - she does love a rainbow! The small beanie plushes cost just £8.00 each and are available from Smyths.

The new Care Bear plush toys are brilliant, a nice nod to nostalgia, with a little twist of modernisation. Their brightness and cheer have made us smile ever since they arrived - a bit of positivity after the trials and tribulations of this year. Each bear, in any size, would make the most beautiful gift for any occasion.

Do you like Care Bears?

The Benefits Of Outdoor Learning For Children

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Outdoor learning provides children with a range of benefits, in terms of both their academic journey and also their personal development. It gives children a greater understanding of the world around them and allows them to comprehend that learning can happen anywhere, not just in the classroom. An independent school in London explores the advantages of outdoor learning for children in more detail below.

Arguably the most obvious benefit of outdoor education is that it supports a child’s physical and mental health. Exercise and nature both trigger the production of various feel-good chemicals in the brain, meaning outdoor learning could potentially boost a child’s mood, as well as their general fitness. Lots of kids unfortunately don’t have access to safe outdoor space where they can blow off some steam and play with their friends or siblings, which is why it’s great that schools provide this opportunity.

Mixing up the routine is a great way to help children retain the information they have learned because that information is attached to a fond memory. That’s why outdoor learning and school trips are ideal ways for children to continue learning in a new environment. Younger children and kinaesthetic learners also prefer to learn through sensual experiences, which are abundant in the great outdoors.

If you’re looking for some outdoor learning activities to explore at home, consider preparing a scavenger hunt for your child and their friends where they can search for outdoorsy items. The first one to tick off all of the items on the list could potentially win a prize. Other activities include things like building a bird feeder, walking through the park or bird watching with some binoculars. Depending on the time of year, you could even grow your own vegetable patch. These activities will all help your child find a love of nature and a newfound respect for their environment.