munchiesandmunchkins, Author at Munchies and Munchkins

11 Years Of Blogging

March 24, 2023 · by munchiesandmunchkins · 2 Comments

Today marks 11 years since I first wrote a post on Munchies and Munchkins. 11 years. When I first wrote a post I imagined I’d write for maybe 6 months then get bored and that would be that. My blog started following a period of time in my maternity leave with Izzy when I would share food photos and recipes on Twitter, this was before I had Instagram and well I guess you could say I was ahead of my time ( for possibly the first time in my life). I built up a small but engaged audience on Twitter, most of whom still follow and engage with the blog. I’d often get people asking why I didn’t write a food blog so I decided to give it a whirl, one of my followers even helped come up with the blog name – thanks Sian.

My first posts were random and well blurry but I can’t delete them as it’s all part of the journey. I didn’t imagine when I started that it would become such a big part of my life or that it would lead me onto collaborations and press trips and create friendships that I still have to this day. In times of sadness and darkness my blog has been my respite and therapy, there have also been times I haven’t looked at it for months at a time apart from when I want to make one of my own recipes..yes I use my own blog as a recipe folder for myself.

I remember so clearly the first fun opportunity I had from blogging. I had replied to a tweet from Camp Bestival on Twitter saying wow this looks amazing ( because it did) and that I may try to attend the following year when I was back in work because maternity pay doesn’t really allow for luxuries. They replied saying yes you should blah blah blah. Later that night I had a direct message from a man called Bruce saying how would you and your family like to attend and you can write about it on your blog in exchange for tickets. I didn’t want to give any false expectations, I had been blogging only about 6 weeks and I had less than 500 views so I told him this and he was like it’s okay let’s do this. That was the start of 4 years of being a Camp Bestival ambassador. In the following 12 months of that first opportunity it seemed I was getting contacted every other day offering me free food or toys for Izzy, I excitedly would say yes and write a long thorough article for maybe £5 worth of free food…I wasn’t stupid by the way I just didn’t realise that my site was of value to these businesses and really I should have been charging or building a relationship with them not just saying yay free pasta. We live, we learn.

I don’t accept 90% of what I get offered these days, sometimes because there is no fit for it on my site, sometimes because there is no value to me doing it and more and more these last three years I’ve realised my time and energy are valuable. But I do actually do more in terms of sharing things I’ve not been asked to share, promoting businesses I love while still occasionally doing reviews and product round ups. Don’t get me wrong if I get offered a product I love or normally the girls even if it’s a few pounds worth of value sometimes it’s worth it because it’s natural to promote. My blog doesn’t fit in any particular category, I may post a recipe today, a rant about the news tomorrow and a long ramble about life the next day. I write about food, family, travel, lifestyle, physical health, mental health and the world we live in. This doesn’t always fit with the PR scope for a brand and it has probably hindered my blog from being more successful- I mean I know that if I’d focused solely on food and recipes my blog would be a lot busier and I’d get more paid work. But you know what, it’s just not me. This is who I am, I’m not a neat tidy thing you can pigeon hole, my life is messy and I ramble in real life not just on here. I can’t pretend to be something I’m not and yet I am proud of this blog, this thing I’ve created that supported me and others like me. I mean how many bloggers write about air fryer recipes but also tackle birth trauma, depression, strep B, long covid with a chocolate salted caramel cake to finish it off?

The last 2.5 years I’ve struggled with writing, I still do. This post would have taken me 15 minutes to breezily write before I got ill. Now I will write it over the space of weeks with many re reads and edits and still it may not make perfect sense. My brain is not what it was but the only way to get it back to that is by exercising it so these posts are the equivalent of me doing yoga for my brain.

I want to thank each and every one of you that has read the blog and even more so those that have reached out and interacted with me on social media as a result of my blog, I’ve made some incredible friendships and you really have supported me through some of the roughest periods of my life.

I asked a few of the bloggers and PRs that I’ve worked with to say a few words about the blog and ah they made me shed a few tears I tell you. Take a look:

Jonathan from The Plate Licked Clean, Ask Barney and Find My Dine:

“ I have always enjoyed Becky’s writing : hers was one of the blogs I’d always read before starting mine, soaking up reviews, recipes and more for years. Lately though, I’ve admired the way her focus has shifted onto sharing her struggles with her changing health. Never in a self- pitying way, but in a way I know others wrestling in similar conditions will find useful and relatable. Practical and engaging, and even managing to find humour in her situation, she writes with empathy and clarity. Here’s to the next 11 years.”

Kacie from The Rare Welshbit:

“Back in 2018, Becky and I were paired up and sent to Belfast together on a press trip, as complete strangers. Luckily, we really hit it off and spent several memorable days exploring Belfast’s food and drink scene together. “We’ve been lucky to enjoy lots of exciting experiences together since, from wining and dining across south-west Wales with Food and Drink Wales; to drinking in Becky’s local pub until the early hours, and waking up to one of her banging bacon butties in the morning. “Thank you for all the happy memories together, Becky! I’m looking forward to seeing what the next 11 years holds for you and your blog.”

Sophie from SophieLeBrozec.com:

“I first ‘met’ Becky of Munchies and Munchkins on Twitter back in the early days of our blogs, and I instantly felt a connection. I loved the love and passion that oozed out of every beautiful word she wrote – whether in a tweet or a blog post – and she quickly became an online friend.

We got to meet in person for the first time at Britmums Live in June 2013 and it was as if we’d known each other forever. Becky was as incredible and amazing in real life as she was online, and it was fab to hang out together at this wonderful blogging event.

The blogging world is no longer what it was in 2012 when we first dipped our toes in the water, but Munchies and Munchkins is one of the only blogs that still holds my interest.

Lucie Herring from Gilded Herring PR:

Have worked with Bec on numerous campaigns for our clients and she is always an absolute pleasure. Her posts are as fun and engaging as she is, and ruthlessly honest. Look forward to watching the blog continue in all its glory!

Turning 40

March 24, 2023 · by munchiesandmunchkins · 1 Comment

I turn 40 in less than two months. 40. That age that when I was a child seemed like old age yet now feels like I blinked after turning 25 and here I am. I’m not worried about turning 40, it doesn’t feel like a huge change yet it is. 40 is very different to being IN your 30’s. It feels like a different statement is made when you say I’m 40 as to when you say you are late 30’s especially as a woman.

Women of my generation are lucky in that in most cases women are now getting celebrated at all ages. We see stories every day of women who started careers at 40 or 50, female actors winning awards and sometimes even not choosing to start families until they are my age. 40 is not over the hill by any means but it just feels different.

I think for me the biggest issue I have with it is that I don’t feel healthy or well and the older I get the more that seems like it may be something I can’t change. I am doing everything I can to better myself and get well but a lot of it is out of my control. I imagined having big parties and weeks of celebrations for my 40th but I can’t think of many things right now which wouldn’t cost me too much physically to do. I know my family, my friends and my partner will want to make it a big deal for me and I appreciate that in so many ways yet the thought of it alone is tiring.

In lockdown I had a few things I knew I wanted to achieve before my 40th, then I caught covid in October 2020 and quite honestly nothing has been the same since. I wasn’t hospitalised, thankfully I didn’t die ( obviously) but my life has been significantly impacted by a virus which honestly when I caught it I thought oh great I can get this out of the way now and thank goodness I am at the best fitness I’ve been in for a long time so I can beat it. Um no covid doesn’t work like that and long covid sufferers are more than likely to be women of my age who were previously fit. I’ve had to adapt my life and there are some goals which I’ve had to put on the back burner maybe forever.

I am determined that this next year will see an improvement in some way in my health. I am determined to make my life better for my girls and my partner and my family. It will not be easy but I will do it. Not sure how exactly but I will. For now I am going to look to my 40th and find a way to share that time and celebrate it with the ones I love.

I bet you missed my rambles? More to come I’m sure…

How To Tackle Your Kids Wardrobe

March 24, 2023 · by munchiesandmunchkins · Leave a Comment

Having the time to clean the house might be difficult in general, but keeping up with the closet organization of growing children is a special challenge.

The main element to easy kids closet organising is to make the most of the space you’ve got. As children’s clothing tends to be on the little side, it’s crucial to make use of every inch of available space by utilizing separators, hanging racks, and boxes.

Photo by Ben Wicks on Unsplash

If your children’s clothing is neatly stored, getting them dressed in the morning won’t be a hassle. If your children get dressed themselves then having lower bars and storage could be helpful.

Before taking on the challenge of organizing your children’s closets, you should perform some decluttering and get rid of any old, unused items. Whilst the act of decluttering in and of itself may seem daunting, it actually only entails the following straightforward steps:

Empty The Wardrobe Completely

As it’s simpler to begin with a blank slate, you should first empty the closet. This will facilitate the subsequent process of sorting. The contents of the laundry basket should not be forgotten either. Having nothing in your closet might help you visualise the available storage space, allowing you to better organise your belongings.

Create Categories

The following piles should be created:

Can Wear Now

Clothes that are suitable for the current season and your size can be found in this pile. Transforming your kid’s closet seasonally is a terrific method to maintain order and purge outgrown garments. When spring arrives, it’s time to ditch the bulky sweaters and coats in favor of lighter fabrics suitable for the warmer weather. Have a look for some sneakers for boys for the summer months and bring out the boots in the winter. If you plan in advance you can prebuy and store for the new seasons and shop in the sales.

Store

Things that are too big or can be passed down, and seasonal pieces, can be packed away in vacuum pack bags or boxes – with comparable items placed together and all well labelled.

Donation Pieces

Clothes that your child no longer wears or has outgrown, or that you simply don’t care for, but are still in good condition, can be donated to this pile. You can either give them away, donate them to a baby bank, or even sell them. A seller might choose from a wide variety of selling choices.

Toss

Things you no longer want that are too old or beyond repair can be recycled.

Empty All The Drawers

The first step in any sort of organisation project is to empty the area and assess the available storage space and the items that need to be stored. You can do this along with your cupboard organisation, sorting into piles as before.

Add Liners

Such measures prevent dust buildup and the shifting of items within the drawers. Clean-smelling drawers and garments are a bonus of using scented drawer liners. Perfect for updating your older pieces.

Insert Some Draw Dividers

With drawer dividers, their miniature wardrobe may be kept neat and tidy. You can put items together by type and or color – based on how many items you have. You can use empty shoe boxes or invest in some specialized drawer dividers for this purpose.

Maintain order by placing clothing items in their boxes within drawers. Group similar objects together, such as tops, and store them independently from bottoms. This makes it simple to find what you need and to tidy up afterward.

Storing The Footwear

Not only do kids need somewhere to store their wardrobes, but they also likely have a plethora of shoes if they’re anything like us. Kids’ shoes, from the wellies to the trainers, should be neatly stored, not left strewn about the hallway or buried at the back of a closet. This makes our lives easier as well because they are better able to discover and put on their shoes independently.

This situation calls for a minimum of complexity. Encourage your kids to help out around the house by making it simple for them to put their shoes away after use. Each child should have their own basket or crate to store their shoes in so that they can easily find their own pair in the morning and return them to their proper location at the end of the day.

These tips should help you to get on top of your kids wardrobes in no time. Do you have any other tips that may help? Please share some in the comments.

Ways Landlords Can Help Rental Tenants During The Testing Cost Of Living Crisis

March 23, 2023 · by munchiesandmunchkins · Leave a Comment

You’d have to be living under a rock to not know we are in difficult times financially in the UK right now. Everything has increased from general grocery shopping to mortgages and when mortgage rates go up inevitably rental rates do too. I know a growing number of people who are struggling to meet mortgage payments and an even bigger number of people who are just not able to find affordable rentals.

A friend of mine has recently found out her landlord is selling up, it is not really surprising as many landlords just cannot afford the mortgage rates that are ever increasing and are being forced to sell. Then obviously you have the fact that as the cost of quite literally everything goes up they are aware that every little thing that goes wrong with the property is going to cost the landlord that little ( or lot) more. CIA Landlord Insurance can help with that. They are a broker set up to find you the best insurance as a Landlord and that in turn can help your tenants.

Landlord insurance can protect against common risks such as flood, fire, storms and burst pipes.

It can even cover injuries to individuals in the rented property. It can also cover you if you are in the unfortunate position of your property being maliciously damaged by tenants. It can also help the tenant with costs of temporary accommodation if the property is damaged such as by fire or storm and if a large appliance such as white goods were to need replacing this is also covered meaning less time for your tenants to be without essential appliances.

This is what CIA have to say:

Why do I need landlord insurance?

If you own a property that you rent out to tenants, you should consider getting landlord insurance. It can help protect your investment and provide financial security in case of unexpected events, such as property damage, liability claims, or loss of rental income.

While it’s not legally required to have landlord insurance, many mortgage lenders may require it as a condition of the loan. Additionally, standard homeowners insurance policies typically don’t cover rental properties, so having landlord insurance is often necessary to ensure adequate protection.

Ultimately, whether or not you need landlord insurance depends on your specific circumstances. Here at CIA, we believe that landlord insurance is the best way to safeguard your financial future and protect your property investment.

Ways Landlords Can Help Rental Tenants During The Testing Cost Of Living Crisis

March 23, 2023 · by munchiesandmunchkins · Leave a Comment

Landlord insurance can protect against common risks such as flood, fire, storms and burst pipes.

This is what CIA have to say:

Why do I need landlord insurance?

*Collaborative post with CIA landlord insurance

Ways To Manage Chronic Pain

March 21, 2023 · by munchiesandmunchkins · 1 Comment

Not a post I ever thought I’d have to write but having suffered with chronic pain for the last two years I thought some of the little tips I have picked up may be of use to someone.

Long COVID (link will lead you to my latest update ) is very real and for many sufferers chronic pain has become the norm. For me my pain is mostly in my legs, it does spread to other parts such as my back and arms some days but every day I have significant pain in my legs and feet. I am on a very long waiting list to be seen by the pain management clinic and also the neurology department as most of my symptoms point towards nerve damage. I am unfortunately unable to take anti inflammatory medication and a lot of the common pain relieving tablets and nerve pain tablets. This is in itself incredibly frustrating as the only actual medication I currently take is paracetamol which as you can imagine barely touches the pain I am in. Because of this I have had to find other ways to help manage my pain, none of the things I do take the pain away but it helps to stop it becoming unbearable some days.

Here is a little list of my pain tools:

1. Heat. Heat helps my pain levels and is probably my most used form of pain relief. I have a heated electric underblanket on my bed. Heated throws on my sofa, a heat and massage pad, long water bottles and when out and about I sometimes use the sticky heat pads ( these aren’t always useful as my pain is over such a large area). Obviously these aren’t cheap and also the majority of them use an electric power source which as we know is expensive these days.

2. Water. The only time I get real relief for a period of time is when I am fully submerged in the bath. Being able to soak in the hot tub is also beneficial but a rarity these days as they cost so much to power and heat.

3. Magnesium sprays. The best way to absorb magnesium is through your skin so I buy a spray from Amazon and spray on my legs when the pain is severe. It does give an uncomfortable tingling sensation and unfortunately this can interrupt my sleep at times and definitely do not recommend using straight after shaving your legs!

4. Capsaicin cream. I get this on prescription from my GP. Recently it has been hard to source in the strength I need it due to national shortages. The cream is made from chillier and is quite burny to say the least. Also don’t forget to wash it off before a soak in the bath as it can be incredibly painful when added to hot water.

5. Clothing. Weirdly clothing has a big impact on my pain, I get extreme skin sensitivity and often tight gym style leggings are the best option as anything loose rubbing on my skin feels like it’s touching sunburn. Other days then I cannot tolerate the tightness on my legs so I wear bamboo pyjamas as it is the best fabric against my skin. Jeans are mostly a no go.

6. Massage or vibration. I have a heat and massage pad and also a vibro plate. Some days this helps enormously other days the pain is too much to tolerate the vibration.

7. A decent mattress. I have had to invest in a bamboo mattress topper, a new mattress was a bit outside my stretch financially but this mattress topper means I feel less pressure on my joints and is helping with my sleep too as lots of pain means you get very very tired.

8. Rest. Long COVID is one of the only illnesses where you are not advised to push yourself a little more each today to get fitter and healthier. In fact it will 9 times out of 10 make you feel worse. You have to rest but when in pain rest is difficult so this one is a bit of a battle.

9. Support. You need support from family and friends when you are in constant high levels of pain. My family are amazing and help with school runs and food shopping and I wouldn’t cope without them.

10. Taking care of mental health. Chronic pain can cause huge issues with mental health, feeling like you have no way out or no signs of improvement can make you feel incredibly low so you need to find your coping mechanisms and speak to your doctor to manage this.

11. With a growing number of individuals seeking alternative pain management options, medical cannabis has emerged as a popular alternative. According to research medical cannabis could potentially help manage chronic pain. If you’re looking to explore the possible advantages of medical cannabis and discover more about its applications you might find the Alternaleaf website to be a useful resource.

Do you have any tips for dealing with chronic pain? I’d love to hear any that you have and if any one needs advice or a chat about long COVID feel free to comment or drop me an email.

How To Help Boost Your Child’s Confidence At School

March 21, 2023 · by munchiesandmunchkins · Leave a Comment

Boosting your child’s confidence in the school environment is helpful as it will encourage them to learn and enable them to believe in themselves.

If your child lacks confidence and you want to help them improve it in school, here are some tips to help with that.

Help to change their bad behavior

No child is perfect. Every child will have their naughty days, some more than others.

It can be difficult to admit that your child can be naughty. Yet, accepting the truth will allow you to deal with it and do what is best to improve your child’s behavior. Your child might act naughty in school to cover up their lack of confidence. Sooner or later, this act will disappear and their vulnerability will show.

Therefore, it is a smart idea to help them improve their behavior now so they can be nicer at school and slowly build their confidence by being their true self.

Continue education at home

Some children might lack confidence at school due to having slow learning abilities or not understanding certain subjects.

Your child might struggle with science and, therefore, lack confidence in these lessons. To improve this, it is a great idea to show and teach them science resources at home.

For example, a phases of the moon science lesson is a great way to teach your child how the moon orbits the earth. Although they might be educated on such phenomena at school, you can further their education at home and ensure they understand it completely. The more you teach them at home, the more educated they can be going into the classroom. Greater knowledge and understanding will enhance their learning and help them feel more confident at school.

Use positive language

Using positive language will make your child feel more confident as it enables them to accept what you tell them.

For example, telling them they are capable of passing an exam will help them feel more confident going into the exam. You believing in them will encourage them to believe in themself.

Mindful activities

Practicing mindful activities is a great way to reduce anxiety and improve confidence.

Walking, exercising, reading, and meditation are all things a child can do to practice breathing techniques and feel more centered, which will aid in improving confidence. They can take this attitude with them into everyday life as well as school.

Encourage them to ask for help

Raising a more confident child can come from encouraging them to ask for help. As a child, they might fear asking for help because they do not see their friends do it. However, the more help your child asks for, the more they can feel supported and understand subjects at school.

It is not a bad thing to raise a hand and ask a teacher to explain the subject further. In fact, it shows dedication and eagerness to learn. Hence, encourage your child to ask for help in school so they can improve their learning and confidence.

Mothering Sunday Gift Guide 2023

March 10, 2023 · by munchiesandmunchkins · Leave a Comment

Let’s be honest if anyone needs to be spoiled it’s your mam. Mothers generally take on the majority of life stresses and worries and they deserve to be well looked after on Mothering Sunday ( and every other day of the year). I’ve put today a little collection of Mothering Sunday gifts which I think you’ll like. Let me know if you have any great ideas as I’m always on the lookout for more.

First up bath, body and home care brand ARRAN Sense of Scotland. I’ve tried a few of these products and love their After The Rain bath salts. I am a sucker for a bath product and these are excellent.

Next we have Gin In A Tin who have a great selection of gift ideas for Mother’s Day including these cute gift boxes with a selection of unusual flavoured gins.

Books. In my opinion books are always a great idea. Some options below:

Once A Mother Always A Mother which looks into the relationships as your child becomes an adult.

Rock n Roll Nanny is another great read exploring the fascinating life of Sally Arnold.

Or maybe a crime thriller is their cup of tea. The Binding Room is a crime thriller which will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Pretty You London are a brand I’ve tried recently and I recommended their PJs in my Valentines Guide but I love them so much I thought I’d share again. Made of bamboo fabric they feel so good against the skin.

Nomo chocolates have you sorted if you need vegan or gluten free chocolate treats. Why not try their discovery box?

Buy a gift have a wide selection of last minute gift ideas, from hotel vouchers to subscription. I love the idea of getting someone the Glossy Box subscription for a gift that lasts all year.

Slated Homewares are a brand I’ve followed for quite some time and they have just released their Brass Candle trio. It is truly beautiful and would fit in any home, I can just imagine it on my dinner table.

Amonax have these exercise resistance bands set for workout– natural latex elastic bands for whole body exercises. An easy portable way to exercise as they literally fit in your pocket.

Jewellery is a great option to consider. If you’re looking to expand your jewellery collection, make sure to take a look at Love Isabelle Jewellery’s offerings. Their selection of jewellery is not only stylish but also crafted with the highest quality materials.

To be honest I’d be quite satisfied with a nice breakfast in bed and a lazier day than normal surrounded by my loved ones. What do you like to have for Mother’s Day?

*Some items in this guide were gifted.

Time Changes Everything – Long Covid Update

February 28, 2023 · by munchiesandmunchkins · 1 Comment

When I look at how much my life has changed these past few years it can be easy to get a little bit low, frustrated and even angry but my life has changed also in some positive ways also so I am trying hard to focus on those aspects and most days it does work.

I have like many others suffered with mental health issues over my adult life, I have struggled with anxiety and depression on many occasions and although these things never really go away I have learned that I know far better these days how to cope.

In the last 2.5 years I have had serious physical health issues from Long COVID after getting my first Covid infection prior to vaccination in October 2020. I was the first person I knew to get Covid in my area and it was frightening, I was very unwell and as a single parent I was for the vast majority of it alone. It damaged my physical and mental health in many ways. Since that time I have been slowly and steadily getting more and more symptomatic of long Covid and previously when I’ve hit these kind of bumps in the road my mental health has been massively impacted, right now it’s not always easy but these days I do have a handle on it.

I credit that to being in a healthy, loving relationship as well as having the most incredible children who give me a reason to smile each and every day. I am stronger because of them. I am stronger for them. I have a great supportive network of the very best family and friends and I don’t know where I would be without all of that.

Long COVID is a debilitating illness. I went from being probably the healthiest I had been in my adult life, going to the gym several times a week and walking between 15-25000 steps every single day to now some days struggling with getting about the house. I can’t do any type of serious fitness activity right now and for a long time keeping fit and walking was my coping mechanism for when I was anxious. I don’t have that any more and I miss it. I miss my body feeling strong and healthy, I miss being able to do a long walk or chasing my kids around the garden. I am in pain more or less all day, every day. Pain levels vary but are steadily getting worse, my mobility can be compromised. My legs are weak, my skin feels so sensitive that even loose clothes can hurt. I can only compare this feeling to as if I have sunburn all over and the pain in my legs feels like toothache in the bones. Some days, more frequently now my legs give way or go numb and this is beyond frightening. I am not yet 40 but my body feels it has aged so much. I worry my partner will get frustrated with this and that it has affected his life too much, yet deep down I know he loves me and supports me in this. Love is constant and not in good times only. I hide the majority of my pain from my children, yet they still see a grimace here and there or notice when I stumble on days when my legs are weak. They worry me about me I know this, I hate this. I reassure them often but my youngest will often say when will your Long COVID be over mam? And the answer unfortunately is I don’t know. But soon I say, hopefully soon.

Doctors are frustrated too, they can’t help the way they want to. I am intolerant to every pain med which would help, nerve pain tablets, strong pain relievers and even most of the SSRI tablets which can also help in these cases. I can’t even take anti inflammatory meds. I manage my pain (poorly) with capsaicin cream ( a type of chilli based nerve pain reliever) paracetamol, long , hot baths and more or less constant heat or massage pads on when I am rest. I am on several waiting lists, neurology and pain clinics amongst them. I was too unwell to complete long COVID rehab clinic and was advised to stop by the medical team. The pain management clinic, the thing I need most right now I was informed last week that I have 1 year remaining on the waiting list. A year, a whole twelve months with no resolution to this pain, it almost seems too much to handle. I knew this news would possibly make me spiral a little into a low place so I decided to write about it, I know that writing is also for me a form of therapy and I know it may help others too. Yet even what used to flow easily for me, the content, the words they are hard to find as a lovely little side effect of long COVID is brain fog, poor concentration and severe fatigue. For someone who has been a bookworm all her life and therefore always had a multitude of words sometimes they literally just disappear or they make no sense. It is scary. Yet I am still determined not to let this illness become who I am. It is a part of me, that I cannot change, it is now classed as a disability as I have had this for over 2 years yet I cannot give into it entirely. I still have to fight even if the only way to do that right now is mentally.

Long Covid Long Haulers are people who had ongoing symptoms for 12 weeks or more but it was expected to last only for up to six months. Many long haulers are now in their third year of symptoms with no end in sight.

If you know someone who has been affected by long COVID, please take the time to research it, it is in many ways an invisible illness yet it is destroying lives and people like me, very normal previously healthy people ( more often than not women between 30-50) are having such massive changes to their lives because of it. Be there for them. Show support. Try to understand it. I have a support network, many do not and the stories I see on the LC support groups are horrifying. COVID killed many and LC is continuing to change lives. If you know someone who has it and could benefit from reading this, please share. But above all please try to help understand this illness because many do not even some people who I know and love have belittled it unintentionally and that is very hard to take. It is very real.

Valentine’s Gift Guide 2023

February 6, 2023 · by munchiesandmunchkins · 1 Comment

The time of love is almost upon us and the scrabble to find the perfect gift is here. Worry not I have some great gift ideas from traditional gifts to something a little different.

For the traditional at heart Eflorist have incredibly beautiful bouquets. I love this 12 rose bouquet which comes with free chocs too!

For the person in your life who is still a big kid at heart why not opt for one of these amazing scooters from Micro-Scooters. They have an amazing selection and you can even buy a scooter to match with your kids. MicroScooters also have an incredible scheme called Scooter Aid, this is what they say about it:

The premise is simple. Every Micro Scooter is built to last. So when your child has outgrown theirs, send it back to us and we’ll do the rest.We revamp and rehome your used Micro Scooter with children in need across the UK. Every pre-loved scooter you donate to us is another child we can help.

Maybe your other half is a bookworm and there are some great picks here if so:

Rock n Roll Nanny:

A story of how Sally Arnold entered the world of rock n roll stars:

Once a mother, always a mother: Being a mother doesn’t stop when your kids grow up it just changes. This book explores this:

The Binding Room is the follow up book to The Jigsaw Man from bestselling author Nadine Matheson, perfect for people who enjoy thrillers:

Red Letter Days have a wide variety of gift experiences and letter box gifts, you could opt for a luxury hotel stay or something as simple yet thoughtful as a letterbox cheese subscription.

I’m a candle lover, well candle obsessed some may say and I adore these strongly scented candles from The Copenhagen Company:

I will always be happy with good pyjamas for any occasion and Pretty You London sell a range that normally only look super cute but feel great on your skin, made from Bamboo they can help regulate temperature and the fabric is soft and great for anyone with skin issues or nerve pain for this very reason.

* Items in this guide have been gifted for the purpose of this post.

11 Years Of Blogging

Like this:

Turning 40

Like this:

How To Tackle Your Kids Wardrobe

Empty The Wardrobe Completely