Only a Breath

A blog about parenting

5 Legal Highs, That Don’t Involve Drinking

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If you consider yourself a bit of a thrill seeker then you might find that you are constantly on a search for your next high – the legal kind of course. Many turn to alcohol to meet this need, but there are plenty of other ways of getting these thrills. Here, we are going to discuss 5 legal highs that don’t involve drinking. Keep reading to find out more.

Skydiving

Another way to achieve a legal high without drinking is to try out skydiving – it’s not for the faint hearted! You can’t be any higher than the sky (except for if you can afford to go to space?!) so why not don a parachute and jump out of a plane today? This might be a little frightening for some people, but it truly is one of the best ways to experience something amazing and see some incredible views on your way down – just remember to pull that cord at the right time!

Slot Games

Spinning the reels can give you an adrenaline rush. This is because, as the reels spin, a big win could be revealed in a matter of seconds. If you have never tried a slot game before, make sure to give one a spin to give yourself to experience the rush, a whole variety of slot and casino games can be found here. [Read more…] about 5 Legal Highs, That Don’t Involve Drinking

5 easy ways to make exercise a habit

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Starting a fitness routine doesn’t have to be hard, it can be as easy as you choose to make it. Whether you are looking to improve your mental well being or shed some extra pounds in time for summer, there is habits and hacks that can help you achieve your goals. Which is why we have put together 5 easy ways you can turn exercise from a chore into a habit.

Stick to activities you enjoy

This may sound simple and pretty obvious, but most people choose to do activities they hate because they’ve been told it’s the best workout for them. Realistically you will grow to hate this exercise and associate it with discomfort or pain. Why not pick something you enjoy? [Read more…] about 5 easy ways to make exercise a habit

Gifts You should Never, Ever buy for Kids

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I’ve seen lots of gift ideas/guides this year. As I was looking through some of these gift guides trying to figure out what to get my kids for Christmas I started to think about gifts I did not want my kids to get.

You know, those gifts that when the kids open them you shudder inside while forcing yourself to plaster a fake smile on your face. Yes, those gifts.

So, this year to save all of my fellow parents I put together a DO NOT BUY FOR KIDS Christmas list with some help from my fans on Facebook.

You’re welcome.

Anything with glitter

Glitter, along with angel food cake, was invented by the devil. It is truly evil and any arts/crafts project that comes with glitter should be outlawed immediately. I don’t really think I need to say more.

The only exception to the glitter rule is glitter nail polish. And only if the child is old enough to use it without making a mess and needing parent supervision. [Read more…] about Gifts You should Never, Ever buy for Kids

Things to do for Stay at Home Mums

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Being a stay at home mum comes with a whole range of challenges and rewards. One thing that we find ourselves seeking out in the home are things to do for ourselves, rather than just chores. In this article, we have some suggestions that you can use to make things more interesting.

Taking up a hobby can be great fun, especially if you find one that you can fit around looking after the kids. There are many artistic projects that you can check out on Pinterest that will suit a beginner. These DIY projects can help you to upcycle your rubbish into things that you can actually use in the home.

Home baking is a great way to whip up some treats while you’re at home. You don’t need to go with old fashioned recipes either, there are so many Facebook pages dedicated to step by step video recipes with a twist. These include some real show stoppers, which you can use to impress your family and friends. If you’re a novice baker, don’t worry, videos will show you exactly what to do and the techniques you need.

Sometimes, as stay at home mums, we can feel a bit isolated from the outside world. A social activity can be a great way to reconnect with others and speak to grownups for a change. A book club is a brilliant activity that you can look forward to weekly or monthly. In between meetings you can read chapters whenever you get a chance and make notes on the topics you’d like to discuss next time.

Bingo might strike you as something that your gran would do, but there’s a bustling online community for it. If you can’t find the time to commit to something like a book club then this can be an alternative social activity. There are hosted rooms on bingo sites like Rocket Bingo or Mecca Bingo, in which you can chat with others and also win yourself a jackpot or two. [Read more…] about Things to do for Stay at Home Mums

Five Ways to Make Peace with Your Past

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Our past takes root in the present, interfering with our functioning. However we can resolve our past issues, leading us to greater happiness. Dr. Harold Bloomfield, author of Making Peace with your Past: The Six Essential Steps to Enjoying a Great Future, states that, “Part of making peace with the past is learning new habits of self-care.” (2000, p.41). Here are five actions developed by Dr. Harold Bloomfield to help you make friends with your past.

Make Peace with Your Past

1. Reframing Your Past

Bloomfield states that, “An essential part of the peacemaking process is learning to see your life story in a new light, to expand your vision of who you are so you can think truly original thoughts and reshape your destiny” (2000, p.10). It takes courage to find the wisdom gained from painful experiences in your life. Seeing your past through the eyes of “glass half full” helps one to put challenging experiences in perspective.

When I was a child, I had a parent with a chronic illness. As challenging as this experience was, it helped me to develop qualities such as patience, sensitivity and determination.

Reflection: In what ways have your painful experiences been catalyst for growth?

2. Accepting What Is and What Isn’t

Bloomfield reflects that, “There is great peace in accepting what is for what it is and what was for what it was. In and of itself, acceptance defuses the past and loosens its grip on your life. What was done can’t be undone or wished away” (2000, p. 43). Our past is something we can’t change. The act of acceptance lifts the burden of the past. Knowing that you can’t change it frees up mental energy that was wasted on regret and self-pity. [Read more…] about Five Ways to Make Peace with Your Past

Five Grounding Techniques

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Our lives are often hectic. We go from one project to the next, feeling scattered and overwhelmed. Grounding brings us present to our bodies and emotions. Grounding “…provides us something very real to stand on when dealing with the outer world – the solid ground of our true feelings” (McKay et al., 2001, p. 126). The following are my top five favorite grounding techniques: creative journaling, flow meditation, breath work, progressive muscle relaxation and aromatherapy.

grounding techniques

Creative Journaling

Creative journeling is a form of journaling where you use diverse medium. You might draw, paint or use a collage to express your emotions. Creative Journaling is “…a chance to experience a deeper sense of self. It quiets, momentarily, the headlong rush through life so that you can be the observer as well as the actor in the play” (McKay et al., 2001, p. 120).

Useful tools are a journal with blank pages, colourful pens, collage materials and paints. Create a space to be artistic with a table and all the supplies you need. You will also need uninterrupted time. [Read more…] about Five Grounding Techniques

Everything You need to know about Prepaid Cards – The Best alternative Payment Option

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The use of prepaid cards has become recognised as a secure and convenient alternative payment option to supplement your traditional payment methods. In addition to granting its user a supplementary option to using cash, prepaid cards also perform comparably to conventional debit or credit cards. This means that prepaid cardholders can make in-store purchases, withdraw cash from ATM machines and execute online purchases as traditional credit cardholders can perform. Presented below are five fundamental reasons why you should consider applying for a prepaid card today:

1. Credit Checks are not required

Have you ever wondered: Will a prepaid card application appear on my credit report? The answer is no. In case you may be in the situation of having bad credit or otherwise no credit history to present, securing approval for a credit card is troublesome or otherwise unattainable. This is where prepaid cards are an asset to use over other options, as they do not require a credit check or any additional financial history. The lowered requirements to obtaining prepaid cards makes them an appealing and convenient option as almost any interested applicant can acquire one to perform the same tasks and be used in the same locations that a regular Visa or MasterCard can be used.

2. Prepaid Cards Encourage Budgeting

The use of prepaid cards as a budgeting method makes it simple for cardholders to follow both their intended weekly and or monthly budgets. This is due to the advantage of being able to set a shopping budget where you can easily load the necessary amount of money into the card to fulfill the required expenditures. Additionally, if a prepaid card user desires to financially provide support to a friend or acquaintance, they’re able to safely and securely allow them access to money while guaranteeing that they do not overspend beyond the formerly established budget. [Read more…] about Everything You need to know about Prepaid Cards – The Best alternative Payment Option

What to Include in a Baby Layette Gift

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Expectant parents often start making lists of everything baby will need. And the list grows and grows almost as quickly as the baby! The necessities are known collectively as the layette. It can be very basic and inexpensive, or it can be more extravagant, depending on what the parents need and want, and, of course, the gift-givers budget! Here are some items that you might consider including in your baby layette gift.

Baby Layette Gift

The Basics

Clothing:

These are items that every baby will use:

  • Onesies.
  • Pajamas or sleeping sacks.
  • Socks.
  • Booties.
  • Hats.
  • Sweaters, sweatshirt, and/or heavier shirt.
  • Outerwear.
  • Bibs.

You can get one of each, five of one, three of two whatever you choose. Make sure the clothing you choose is appropriate for the weather when the baby is born. A size 0-3 month snowsuit for a child born in April is not going to be a great choice, for instance. Also, it is a great idea to include different sizes. For example, you could include a pack of 0-3 month onesies and a pack of 3-6 month sizes. [Read more…] about What to Include in a Baby Layette Gift