Joanne

Posts by this author:

GCSE’s and why I am excited to retake them.

Did you know that adults (19+) who do not have GCSE’s grade 4/C or above in either English or Maths are entitled to retake them for free? No? I didn’t know either until last year.…

View Post

Laser Hair Removal- Important Fact You Need To Know

This is a collaborative post

Laser treatment for hair removal may seem like a wonderful idea. However, many people are usually newbies to this zone. Even though the treatment has become a widely familiar as well as well-accepted phenomenon, the lack of information makes it alien to many. Since many people are known to swear by the lasting results of laser treatment.

This article will be highlighting some important facts you must know about the treatment, procedure, and effects. Keep reading below:

Less Pain and More Convenience 

Many people have formed a prejudice against laser treatments, considering it as painful. However, the fact states that laser hair removal in London isn’t as painful as applying hit sticky wax and ripping the hair off in a snap. The laser works by applying an intense and focused beam of light on an area and the resultant heat destroys the hair follicles. The heat causes sharp but quick pain. However, it is bearable and some clinics even use advanced tools that promise no pain at all.

Offers Lasting But Not Permanent Results

No doubt, laser treatment promises long-lasting results. However, calling them permanent would be a lie. Laser treatment damages the hair follicles causing them unable to grow hair for a long time in comparison to other hair removal methods. But at the same time, once the period is covered, you will notice the re-growth of thin and light hair. Also, if you maintain the laser follow-ups every once in a while, you can elongate the results that might feel almost permanent.

You Must Invest Some Time In It

Laser hair removal London is available for both males and females and it covers different parts of one’s body. Areas like chest hair, back, face, armpits, legs, etc. can be successfully treated. While hair on small areas like the chin and neck will require only a couple of hours to get treated, a similar procedure for larger and thicker areas may extend beyond 6 to 8 sessions for best results.

Say No To Ingrown Hair

Ingrown hair is very irritating and can cause infection. They occur when hair stops growing forward but instead grows within the skin. These are some of the most common problems for males while they shave their beards. Those who have curly or dense hair also bear the same problem. Effective laser treatment is a wonderful solution to say bye to ingrown hair.

Every Session Involves Some Do’s And Don’ts 

Before you take up a laser treatment appointment, you must consider the following:

  • Staying away from sunlight for a minimum of six weeks before and after the treatment.
  • Trimming the hair on the area that needs to be treated.
  • Cleaning the area completely. Any traces of makeup or lotion can affect the results.
  • Avoid going to the gym or taking hot showers after taking a session for at least 24 hours to avoid any bumps or spots.

Conclusion 

Even though a laser treatment might seem like a struggle for some, it’s after results make the procedure a must to have. One must ensure to get the treatment done from a certified and trained practitioner.

Laser treatment for hair removal may seem like a wonderful idea. However, many people are usually newbies to this zone. Even though the treatment has become a widely familiar as well as well-accepted phenomenon, the lack of information makes it alien to many. Since many people are known to swear by the lasting results of laser treatment.

This article will be highlighting some important facts you must know about the treatment, procedure, and effects. Keep reading below:-

Less Pain More Convenience 

Many people have formed a prejudice against laser treatments, considering it as painful. However, the fact states that laser hair removal London isn’t as painful as applying hit sticky wax and ripping the hair off in a snap. The laser works by applying an intense and focused beam of light on an area and the resultant heat destroys the hair follicles. The heat causes sharp but quick pain. However, it is bearable and some clinics even use advanced tools that promise no pain at all.

Offers Lasting But Not Permanent Results

No doubt, laser treatment promises long-lasting results. However, calling them permanent would be a lie. Laser treatment damages the hair follicles causing them unable to grow hair for a long time in comparison to other hair removal methods. But at the same time, once the period is covered, you will notice the re-growth of thin and light hair. Also, if you maintain the laser follow-ups every once in a while, you can elongate the results that might feel almost permanent.

You Must Invest Some Time In It

Laser hair removal London is available for both males and females and it covers different parts of one’s body. Areas like chest hair, back, face, armpits, legs, etc. can be successfully treated. While hair on small areas like the chin and neck will require only a couple of hours to get treated, a similar procedure for larger and thicker areas may extend beyond 6 to 8 sessions for best results.

Say No To Ingrown Hair

Ingrown hair is very irritating and can cause infection. They occur when hair stops growing forward but instead grows within the skin. These are some of the most common problems for males while they shave their beards. Those who have curly or dense hair also bear the same problem. Effective laser treatment is a wonderful solution to say bye to ingrown hair.

Every Session Involves Some Do’s And Don’ts 

Before you take up a laser treatment appointment, you must consider the following:

  • Staying away from sunlight for a minimum of six weeks before and after the treatment.
  • Trimming the hair on the area that needs to be treated.
  • Cleaning the area completely. Any traces of makeup or lotion can affect the results.
  • Avoid going to the gym or taking hot showers after taking a session for at least 24 hours to avoid any bumps or spots.

Conclusion 

Even though a laser treatment might seem like a struggle for some, it’s after results make the procedure a must to have. One must ensure to get the treatment done from a certified and trained practitioner.

Laser hair removal treatment

Wicked Uncle – Choosing the perfect gifts for children

Disclosure- AD In collaboration with Wicked Uncle

When Lydia was born, I joined a support group through Facebook through which the majority of us still post within. Every year, the same questions come up, “What are you getting for birthdays?”, “I am looking for inspiration, any ideas?”, “Need Christmas ideas! What are you getting your little ones?!”. Even with a group of 80+ ladies with different budgets, it can still be a difficult question to answer and even I still find myself thinking the same things. Which is why when Wicked uncle got in to touch to work with me I became excited because finally, here was a website that will help me, you and all the other mums and dads, nans, grandads, aunties and uncles out there find gift ideas for birthdays and Christmas that tick all the boxes.

Wicked Uncle has made it easier for you to filter your search through their categorised sections from adventurer, brainiac, and chocolate lover to fashion and style, sensory, dinosaurs, and much more, to suit the individual you are buying for.

As Christmas draws closer, Wicked Uncle is also great for anyone who is participating in a Secret Santa present swap. Every year, my schoolmum friends and I run as ecret Santa. We usually set a budget of either £5 or £10 pounds so everyone gets a little something. There is so much to choose from within this budget and with the gift wrap service available it means that it just got a whole lot easier.

What I love about Wicked Uncle is the variety of the gifts they showcase on their website. They have an assortment of gift ideas that I wouldn’t have even thought of looking for myself, encouraging creativity, mindfulness and fun, and like most parents these days, I love this website as most of the gift ideas do not involve any screentime.

Wicked Uncle also understands that we all have our own budgets which is why they have such a big selection of different gifts ideas to suit all, with prices of the gifts ranging from as little as £2.95 up to £99.

Here are some of my favourite picks from the Wicked Uncle website and why:

We brought this for Leo a few years ago and he still uses it to this day. It comes with three ultraviolet pens which are wiped clean so that you change what you want to write on there.

I love this idea for older kids. Leo is always trying to trick us out of our money and at least this way it would probably work!

For all the budding little magicians out there, My First Magic Showcase looks like an excellent choice for beginners.

The girls are forever losing socks, we have a carrier bag full of odds so these novelty odd socks are a brilliant unique idea.

No matter the time of the year or occasion, Wicked Uncle has such a variety of gifts that there is something for everyone, with a gift wrapping service you can send gifts direct – perfect for those who do not live near their loved ones as well. They also have a wide range of hand made cards, the perfect accompaniment to any gift.

Halloween Farm at Cattows Farm, Leicestershire review

We received complimentary tickets to this event however all thoughts and opinions are our own.

We started off the month of Halloween with a spooktacular visit to Halloween Farm within Cattows Farm in Leicestershire. Our journey from Peterborough in the car took us around 1.5hrs each way and was well worth the journey. Here’s why

Parking

There is plenty of free parking on the farm with car park attendants directing you where to go. Disabled parking is at the front, just ask an attendant and they will direct you.

Tickets

Halloween farm is open from 9 am till 6 pm and tickets need to be pre-booked via their website. They offer morning and afternoon slots however once you are there, you are welcome to stay as long as you’d like.

Farm entry is £3 per person

Fantasy land is £7 per person

You can also pay online to reserve your pumpkins in the form of £10

Your E-tickets will be emailed to you and you can choose if you want to print or they can scan the codes directly from your phone.

You will then be given your Fantasy land tickets and your pumpkin tickets (If you pre-purchased pumpkins)

Setup

When you arrive you go through the ticket area into the grounds. The first section is a funfair with a selection of attraction rides, like the waltzers, ghost train, teacups, etc. The rides were £3 each and you could pay by card which was handy. Behind the fairground was the food area, plus the entrance to the pumpkin patch and fantasy land. Around the back of the fantasy land is also a maize maze.

The Day

We arrived just before lunch and after a quick scout around we decided to get some food. There were three food stalls in the eating area, one sold bacon baguettes, pork rolls and sausage and chips. Another sold a range of burgers as well as sausage and chips, chicken nuggets and chips, and other similar meals. The third was a doughnut stand. We went to the burger bar as the kids wanted chips and we wanted burgers.

The owner, Jason, was very friendly and we got talking about the day. He was very helpful and the food was lovely, costing around £4 for the kid’s meals and £5 for the burgers.

You can either sit for food in a bell tent undercover or sit at a picnic bench with an umbrella/parasol. The undercover seating area was full so we sat on a picnic bench and the size of the umbrella pretty much sheltered us from the rain.

We then decided to go through to the pumpkin patch to choose the pumpkins. There is a range of wheelbarrows of different colours available for you to use. We grabbed one and went off towards the pumpkin patch. As it was a Halloween farm, there were a number of setups with skeletons, scary entrances and other amazing photos opportunities.

The pumpkin patch was a decent area filled with pumpkins. You could walk around and find the ones you want. The kids got somewhat carried away but being their first experience we did not discourage them. Once we found all the pumpkins we needed… and more… we carried on through to a shelter.

Under the shelter were a range of different pumpkins and other marrows where you could swap out some of the pumpkins you chose for white ones, green ones, and also some very small ones. Lydia insisted on choosing two very small (and somewhat adorable – for a pumpkin anyway) ones. In the shelter, again keeping in Halloween theme was an occupied toilet that had been occupied for some time given the state of the skeleton, and some ice cream… or I Scream as it was lovingly put.

You move through to Halloween street with lots of photos ops in cardboard cutouts that the kids had lots of fun playing around in. As you move through you get to the weighing station where you weigh your pumpkins. In all, we collected around 9 pumpkins, but only took away 4 (one VERY large one and three more reasonably-sized ones), as well as the two little ones for just over £20 which wasn’t bad at all.

We dropped the pumpkins off at the car. Remember to take your receipt as the person by the gate will insist you produce it to prove you purchased the goods. We recommend doing this as it saves you from having to push your pumpkins around the farm for the whole day.

Fantasy Land

The next stop was to visit fantasy land. Situated in a large circus tent, this area houses the trick or treat street, plants vs zombies arena and also a maze. The maze was not up at the time of our visit but we did see the deflated ruins as we left. The trick or treat street was so much fun. Kids got to knock on the doors with a range of characters that come out and give sweets, gifts and other goodies for them to collect. The girls had so much fun knocking on different doors. We tried our hardest to find Harold but couldn’t – a mission given by one of the ghoulish characters.

The plants vs zombies arena was really fun. Kids were given a bucket of foam balls that we got to throw at the zombies. We initially thought they would just be cutouts but no, these were actual zombies that we got to pelt with balls. This was SO much fun, and quite mean as David and Leo pelted one of the zombies that had been floored.

Straight out of the arena and you come across Dorothy on her yellow brick road as she asks you to go through the maize maze and find her lost friends, the scarecrow, tinman and cowardly lion. I was a bit hesitant as too many horror movies have shown these mazes to be a death trap (see The Tall Grass). We made our way through the maze and did find the characters. The Lion was really fun, but he led us deeper into the maze from where we got a little lost.

This part got a bit scary as we came upon dead end after dead end but eventually, after some backwards peddling and retracing of steps, we were able to find our way back to the yellow brick road. If you get really stuck you can call for help but we do recommend using bread crumbs!

After an amazing day at the Halloween farm, the last thing was to enjoy some of the rides before we made our way home. The kids had an amazing time and didn’t want to leave. The rides were a nice icing on the cake for an amazing day. The only downside was the weather, as it rained the entire day… constantly! But other than that we would thoroughly recommend this as a day out for all.

Toilets

The one thing I dread when going to outside events is using the toilets. I can report that there is plenty of portable toilets which are all kept very clean and are also easily located around the farm.

Disabled guests

As most of my regular readers know, Leo is disabled. Cattows Farm’s Halloween farm is mostly on grass and with today’s weather in mind, it would have made it very difficult for wheelchair users to access. Leo got very tired and sore walking around the Halloween farm today and there isn’t a lot of seated area’s to take regular breaks. However, I did ask someone for a chair when we spent time inside the pumpkin shelter and they were only too happy to help.

Overall

We have had a really fun day. The kids dressed up in their Halloween outfits and despite being champs today and not complaining at all about the weather, none of them moaned about it being cold or wet because of all the fun they were having. The girls have never picked their own pumpkin from a pumpkin patch before so they were amazed by the thousands of different sized pumpkins laying there ready to be picked.

Leo said the best part for him was the Maize maze which really surprised me because he was aching so much by this point and David literally had to hold him up whilst his feet were slipping in the sludgy mood and we had got lost.

Lydia said the best part of the day for her is picking the pumpkins and going around the pumpkin displays.

Emily said her favourite part of the day was Trick or treat street. She loved knocking on the doors getting sweets and looking for Harold.

We left the farm at around 3.30 pm and got home for 5 pm and had one of the best family days in a long time and would thoroughly recommend you give it a visit.

To book your tickets – visit their website here

If you are looking for options for teens and adults, check out these Horrifying Halloween events.

6 Common Health Problems in Older Dogs How to Treat Them

While nobody likes to think about their dog getting older and succumbing to ailments associated with old age, it is better to be prepared for the future rather than to bury your head in the sand. 

When it comes to senior dogs, there are a number of health concerns that you should be aware of and be able to recognise. 

From hearing loss to vision impairment, joint pain to dementia, keep reading to discover the six most common health problems in older dogs and how they can be treated. 

1. Vision Loss

Deterioration of eyesight is incredibly common as dog’s age, with senior dogs being much more prone to cataracts than their younger counterparts. 

If you think your dog may have cataracts, you can ask your vet to have these surgically removed. However, as dogs rely heavily on their sense of smell when it comes to navigating their environment, you should find that they can still get around even with impaired vision. 

2. Joint problems 

Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of joint pain and stiffness in senior dogs. A progressive degenerative disease of which there is no cure, this joint support treatment for dogs with bad mobility from Buddy & Lola can significantly improve your dog’s quality of life. 

Nutrition is also crucial in dogs with joint problems, so you must make sure that your senior dog is eating a healthy and nutrient-rich diet. 

3. Dementia 

In the same way that people can lose their cognitive function as they age, so can dogs. If your dog is acting confused or disorientated or barking for no apparent reason and appears to get lost in familiar surroundings, these are all signs of dementia in dogs

If you notice these behaviours, you should take your senior dog to the vet as soon as possible so that they can diagnose your dog and recommend medications. 

4. Cancer

As your dog gets older, their chance of developing cancer increases. Although lumps and bumps on the body are common for older dogs, you should always get them checked out quickly if you notice any new lumps. 

Your vet can also advise you on regular screenings that can detect cancers that are not easily seen or felt. 

5. Hearing Loss

Hearing loss in older dogs is nearly always permanent, so, unfortunately, they will not get it back once your dog starts to lose their hearing. Make sure that you regularly clean your dog’s ears as this can help slow down hearing loss progression. 

If your dog still has good eyesight, you may want to think about training them to understand hand signals so that you can keep them safe when you are out and about. 

6. Heart problems

Heart disease is common in older dogs and can be recognised by coughing, difficulty breathing, an intolerance to exercise, and unexplained vomiting. The most widespread heart condition in senior dogs is congestive heart failure which occurs when the heart is not able to pump blood efficiently, and fluid becomes backed up in the heart and lungs. 

If you suspect your dog has a heart problem, make an appointment with your vet to talk through your options.