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Lamenting the Lockdown

What a time to be alive! I wonder if I was the reading type and this story line popped up on the pages of my book would I think it far fetched? The lead character being a slightly disheveled mother of three arriving to collect her children only to be told that the schools where closing. (more…)

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A Troll Fat Shamed Me

A faceless troll trying to fat shame me made me realise I am not ashamed.

Lessons in life can often come from bizarre places. In my case my life lesson came from a faceless crusader on  t’internet. I’ll give you a little back story.

I am fat.

Now you are up to speed. This week someone decided to point that fact out to me on my Instagram. (more…)

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The Nonsense of No-shows!

The Nonsense of No-shows!

I am not a business owner. I had to stop myself from adding thank god to the end of the sentence because I think it is so hard to be in business in this day and age. Since qualifying as a Beauty Therapist I have had my eyes opened to many of the trials and tribulations that face the people who are brave enough to try and work for themselves. (more…)

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What I have Learned from Mrs Hinch

What I have Learned from Mrs Hinch

If you don’t know who Mrs Hinch is I would imagine you are in the minority. Sophie Hinchliffe is the definition of an overnight success. The instagram sensation has an impressive 2.1 million followers and her housecleaning account has even led to her (more…)

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The Last Hug

Every night when my kids lie down in their beds I give them a hug goodnight. I could have

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hugged and kissed them 26 times in the process of getting them into bed but that last hug is our thing!

As with most households bedtime is rarely a smooth affair. There’s pleas and cries and claims of immeasurable hunger on many a night. I try to stay calm. I try to have empathy for these emotions…

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I am not Less because I am Fat

I am not Less because I am Fat

There are many words to describe many forms of discrimination. Ageism, racism and sexism are commonly used words and I would imagine need little explanation in today’s society.

What if I told you that I felt that I was a victim of ‘lookism’ on a number of occasions?

You’d probably scoff and tell me that I was just making words up and I can’t deny that my own reaction would be the same.  Lookism i…

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I Stand With Nurses and Midwives

I Stand With Nurses and Midwives

I tried to become a nurse…. Twice!!!

I was 18 years old when I made my first attempt and the advertisement in the paper said ‘Mentally Handicapped Nurses’. It was perfectly acceptable terminology in those days. I applied and I was accepted and it meant moving to Dublin. How exciting! I was (more…)

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We Have No Fireplace, How Will Santa Deliver Our Toys? Well it's that time of year again!

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There's A New Classic Santa Movie: The Christmas Chronicles

There’s A New Classic Santa Movie: The Christmas Chronicles

I don’t really know what possesses people to remake movies that have been made a thousand times? I love innovation and new ideas. I’m not a big fan of revisiting already jaded concepts. This is why The Christmas Chronicles on Netflix came as a delightful surprise!

It’s not Christmas in my house yet but despite my better judgement I stuck it on last night in an attempt at getting all my children…

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I Have A Favourite Child

I Have A Favourite Child

I feel like I didn’t really know the true capacity of my heart until I had children. Of course I loved my parents and my sister (most of the time). I’d even been in love once or twice before the kids came along.  Oh the memories! The love for a child is like no other love. It’s the feeling that someone else is more important than you. This tiny being consumes you and life as you knew it is gone.

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Drinking at Concerts

I remember my first concert. 17 years of age and travelling to Dublin to see my favourite boy band was as exciting as it got. The atmosphere in the venue was unlike anything I had experienced before. As we walked up the aisle to our assigned seating I didn’t know what to expect.

Then the music started and I could feel it in my bones. As if that wasn’t enough, from out of the floor like some sort…

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I'd Hate to be a Celebrity Mother.

I’d Hate to be a Celebrity Mother.

Our modern lives have a definite fascination with the rich and famous. That’s not a new phenomenon. Those who entertain the masses have always had a certain allure. What is new though is how accessible stars are to us. (more…)

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Bord Gais Energy Theatre : Cirque Berserk

Bord Gais Energy Theatre : Cirque Berserk

* OUR TICKETS FOR CIRQUE BERSERK WERE COMPLIMENTARY. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE HONEST AND COME FROM MY OWN BRAIN AND NOT CAUSE SOMEONE TOLD ME TO SAY IT!

There’s no better feeling than heading to Dublin for an adventure. Having previously braved it up to a concert in Croke Park, now was the turn of the Bord Gais Energy Theatre. It was my first visit and I’m sure it won’t be my last. (more…)

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Lessons From La La Land

Lessons From La La Land

I’m a hopeless romantic. I believe in soul mates and love at first sight. I love being in love and long for that feeling again.

With the children at their Dad’s this left me with time to indulge in a romantic movie. (more…)

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How to Feel Good in your Clothes

How to Feel Good in your Clothes

When you are not where you want to be with your body, clothes can be a source of anxiety. If you are carrying a little extra weight it can be hard to source stylish clothes that are affordable.

Equally, if you are very slim, finding clothes that sit right and give you shape can be just as difficult. I’ve compiled a few tips to help your daily dress work with you, not against you.

  Underwear

It…

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Cinema Kids Club; A Survival Guide

Cinema Kids Club; A Survival Guide

We love a trip to the cinema but it’s an expensive ordeal. The kids club allows us to enjoy our movies at a fraction of the cost. It’s a fantastic service in terms of your purse strings. Enjoying the movie, well that’s a whole other kettle of fish altogether. Based on this morning’s experience I have come up with a few pointers to survive a trip to the Cinema’s Kids Club.

Take motion sickness…

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I just about managed to get myself and my budget in order to bring the kids away for a couple of nights. One problem, the logistics of three children to one adult is a nightmare. Enter sister extraordinaire to the rescue and we were all giddy for our little holiday. We decided to go to Kerry and stay in the institution that is the Glen Eagle. It would be a bit of a drive but Kerry is so worth it.

I drive a Nissan Micra and it has it’s advantages and disadvantages. It’s extremely economical and parking it is a dream. I can slot it into the smallest of spaces. There is no denying  however that it’s not exactly a cool car. I bought it new and so did every nun that lives in the greater Kilkenny area. The impact on my reputation was devastating. The major disadvantage is that I can’t fit my three in the back. Day to day, Kyle sits in the front with a booster. The air bag turned off and I don’t give it a second thought.

Heading to Kerry with my sister meant that we had a problem. Would we have to bring two cars just for that one extra person? Then I remembered I had been sent a BubbleBum and hoped that it would do what it said on the tin and allow all three to travel in the back together.

What is a BubbleBum I hear you cry?

It’s very important that you visualise me saying the next few bits like I’m the glamorous assistant on an american gameshow. 

BubbleBum is a portable, inflatable car booster seat. The worlds first inflatable backless booster, it’s designed for children from 4 to 11 years of age. Made from material that’s similar to that in life vests this narrow car seat is extremely durable. Ideal for smaller cars because it can allow you to have three children safely strapped in for every journey.

 The BubbleBum delivered on it’s promise.

I put my daughter in the middle on her highback booster and the boys on either side of her. This kept the boys apart and avoided violence mid motorway. It also gave them a place to rest their heads if they wanted to nap. I’m not going to lie, strapping them in and out is a nightmare because it’s a tight fit but so worth the extra couple of seconds for the long journey. The boys were fighting over who was going to get the sit on the BubbleBum so they had to take turns. They were so comfy in the back for the 3 hour drive.

I have to say I was impressed with the BubbleBum. You have to blow it up yourself and there’s a bit of a knack to it. There’s no valve to stop the air escaping so once you have it inflated (3/4 strong breathes)  you twist the seat quickly with the nozzle still in your mouth and that stops the air escaping. There’s a shoulder belt positioning clip that I think should be on every booster seat as well as side positioning clips. The seat belt sat so well against Finn on the journey down and the same with Kyle despite their different heights. They talk about sitting on the BubbleBum more than our visit to Muckross House and I wish I was joking.

The holly bops went without a hitch and I am already looking forward to next year. Kerry is such a beautiful part of the country and the hotel was amazing. I adored Muckross House and I hope to go back when they are older and less whingy. Maybe that never happens?! They even managed to get me into a swimsuit two days in a row. That might be my quota reached for the decade.

My cousin is after taking our BubbleBum with her to Holland because it was going to cost her €80 to hire a seat for her youngest. I was delighted to be able to give her a load of ours. She’s already text me saying she’s going to invest in one when she gets back. Well she better because she’s not keeping mine!!!

    Our Mini Staycation with BubbleBum I just about managed to get myself and my budget in order to bring the kids away for a couple of nights.