Five things you can do with Post-it Notes…tried and tested!
Posted inProduct reviews

Five things you can do with Post-it Notes…tried and tested!

Never one to be intimidated by challenges, I could think of nothing more exciting two weeks ago when 3M, the makers of the famous Post-it Note asked if I would like to take part in a blogger challenge.

Within two days, I was in the receipt of two big blocks of 3M Post-it Notes , and a cute handbag dispenser (yes, that really does exist) and off I went to show the world five different ways to use Post-It notes. Here goes:

Decluttering guide for busy (and tired!) working mums
Posted inFamily life

Decluttering guide for busy (and tired!) working mums

How many times have you heard it before – you procrastinate, you’re untidy, you’re lazy. Well, guess what, they may not be the nicest things to be called but you’re now old enough to accept what you are and have realised that chances are that you are not going to change.

Also, although you may not necessarily be proud of these character traits, they haven’t stopped you from getting on with your life and you have not done too badly for yourself, thank you very much.

Posted inCompetitions - grab yourself a freebie

Is your baby the next Picasso or Matisse? They could win a prize worth £1,000, thanks to Vtech

VTech is calling on all budding artists from 12 months plus to create a masterpiece for a chance to win a fantastic prize of £1,000 worth of VTech toys and an InnoTab 2 Baby, a tablet for babies.

Aaargh! Top 10 chores that cause the most arguments at home
Posted inFamily life

Aaargh! Top 10 chores that cause the most arguments at home

It’s only Wednesday and you’re seething already because you’ve tripped over a shoe that has been left in a blind spot in the corridor, had to put dirty dishes in the dishwasher (that’s right underneath where the said dishes were left), and feel icky because of a hair ingested wet towel that’s been left on the bathroom floor.

If you’ve said it once…well, you’re not alone. According to a recent survey there are 10 chores that couples argue about most around the home – can you spot yours:

Five things your plumber doesn’t want you to know
Posted inFamily life Money - how to keep it and how to make it

Five things your plumber doesn’t want you to know

Slow dripping taps may seem like nothing, but left ignored could eventually lead to bigger problems that cost more money to fix.

Here are five things your plumber doesn’t want you to know because it will cut down on how often you call him out:

Can’t read, won’t read? Three ways to get your child into books
Posted inChildren & Relationships Things to do with the kids

Can’t read, won’t read? Three ways to get your child into books

Having good reading ability helps children in all their subjects, according to teaching professionals. And it makes sense – if your literacy is poor, how will you learn other subjects?

If your child is showing little interest in reading, there is – here are three ‘tricks’ you can use to spark their enthusiasm and love of reading without them even knowing it:

Online bingo: Fun for the whole family
Posted inFamily life

Online bingo: Fun for the whole family

The traditional image of a bingo hall is a cracked, smoky concrete block that has somehow stayed rooted in the 70s, oblivious to the world around it. But the world of online Bingo has, in fact, revolutionised the game’s image, and thanks to the likes of Tasty Bingo you can even play along with the whole family.

Stop feeling stressed at work with these tips
Posted inCareers Coach Blog

Stressed? How to cope when you’ve bitten off more than you can chew!

Going back to work or starting a business isn’t a prison sentence where you are bound to serve your time as someone else dictates. You do have a choice to change the way you work, so if you start to feel overwhelmed, it’s time to re-evaluate and make the changes that will make it all the more stress free.

Ask yourself the following three questions and you’ll start to see areas for improvement or change:

Put the duster down! It’s time.to get yourself a cleaner!
Posted inFamily life Staying sane

Put the duster down! It’s time.to get yourself a cleaner!

A few months ago the Coalition government promised to help working mums by subsidising the cost of getting a cleaner. It sounds propesterous when so many families are struggling to keep a roof over their heads – and worse, feed themselves.

But keeping a clean home does have its benefits. It can have such a huge impact on wellbeing, bring a sense of calm and order into the home.

How to write an invoice
Posted inWhat's in the news?

How to write an invoice

Writing an invoice for the first time can be a daunting prospect. How do you claim the money for work, services or products supplied in a professional looking manner, and make it so that the receiver pays on time – or at all?

There really is nothing to fear, though. Once you’ve bashed out your first invoice, you’ll see how easy it is. You just need to make sure key information is present on your invoice – the product and/or services for which you are charging and the cost, your company name, address, bank account number for bank transfers, VAT number (if you have one).

The following video tutorial will give you some more detail into invoices and how to prepare one:

Four reasons why working mums should be proud
Posted inCareers Coach Blog Children & Relationships

Four reasons why working mums should be proud

Being a working mum can be a mixed bag sometimes – you want (or need) to work on the one hand, but that can mean you can’t always be there for your child the way you want to be.

But its really not all doom and gloom – it’s rewarding, you feel alive and you wouldn’t change it for the world…right? Here are more reasons why you should be proud to be a working mum:

How to plan an effective marketing strategy
Posted inHow to promote your business

How to plan an effective marketing strategy

With the cost of getting business equipment, insurance and paying for professional help, marketing is often seen as a nice to have rather an a must. But it shouldn’t be given lip service – businesses that succeed know it’s value and aim to give it as much of a priority as it deserves.

In this video you’ll learn the benefits of creating an effective marketing strategy, looking at mailshots, networking, leaflets and flyers, trade shows and exhibitions and more.

Four tips for cold calling success
Posted inBusiness tutorials

Four tips for cold calling success

Running you own business no matter what it is will require sales of some level. You ha e to ‘sell your products and/or services to people and this could require you make cold calls (calls to people you don’t know or have never spoken to).

But cold calling is an art-form. It can be daunting but nervous or not, you always need to make a good impression, so you need to do it right. Here are some tips to help you do just that:

Three simple rules for choosing a market for your business – plus a list of 20 markets to think about starting a business in
Posted inChildren & Relationships What's in the news?

Three simple rules for choosing a market for your business – plus a list of 20 markets to think about starting a business in

We often get asked by women who want to start making money online how to start, and one of the areas they often don’t consider is how they should go about choosing a market, sector or niche for business.

We’ll be providing you a list of markets to consider a little later in this article, but before that, a good starting point for choosing a market are these three simple criteria:

4 tips for valuing yourself so you can get what you deserve at work
Posted inCareers Coach Blog

4 tips for valuing yourself so you can get what you deserve at work

Your ability to value yourself, coupled with strong negotiation skills, are crucial when it comes to negotiating in the workplace. Whether it’s for a pay rise or the opportunity to work on new or bigger projects.

If you’re forever downgrading your skills, ability and experience, it is costing you more than you know. Here are four tips to help you value yourself:

20,000 mums have taken up a direct selling business in the past year alone
Posted inNews for mums

20,000 mums have taken up a direct selling business in the past year alone

Are in need of extra cash and are thinking of a way to do this flexibly? Do you wish you could earn money in a way that doesn’t have to require a huge sacrifice on the time you spend with your family?

You’re not alone – around 20,000 mothers with young children started to ‘direct selling’ jobs in the past year fitting it around their commitments.

How to stop young children making costly in-app purchases on your mobile phone or tablet
Posted inFamily life Parenting tips

How to stop young children making costly in-app purchases on your mobile phone or tablet

This year, mobile app revenues are set to make in excess of £20bn, according to research firm Garner. Is that money being contributed to by in-app purchases your child is making without your awareness?

Why is it happening?
It may seem strange that a four or five year old child can amass a small fortune worth of purchases when they don’t have the email password  or understanding about buying on your tablet. And this is precisely why the Office of Fair Trading investigated the issue for five months, investigating 38 games.

How to make your childcare and activities for the kids cost less
Posted inChildren & Relationships Family life Money - how to keep it and how to make it Parenting tips

How to make your childcare and activities for the kids cost less

Raising a family today costs parents thousands of pounds every year, but there are ways to reduce that cost if you know how.

If you could save money on childcare and the club’s and activities you enrol your children into, that money could go a long way and be used on other essentials.

Here are just three things you can do to reign back some of your hard earned money:

Three simple steps to improve your concentration
Posted inCareers Coach Blog

Three simple steps to improve your concentration

Do you defined yourself being distracted all the time at work for no good reason. As soon as there is anew noise, or conversation, do you find yourself gazing and stopping what you’re doing to take in what’s going on?

Do you often daydream about everything and nothing then kick yourself because you’ve whiled away the time when you have deadlines looming? Here are three basic steps to get your concentration back.

What to wear in transitional weather: three tips
Posted inChildren & Relationships Get the Look

What to wear in transitional weather: three tips

With the weather not quite sure what season we’re in, many of us are plagued with doubt, unsure if we should dress for the current season without being left cold by midday or sweating it out by the end of the school run. 

Transitional seasons can be confusing – do you dress for the current weather or the season that you’re in? Here are some tips: