Save on your Family’s Day Out

There are so many places available now where you can find money off vouchers; you can get them through the post, you may also find them in newspapers and magazines, but the most fruitful and convenient way of obtaining your money off vouchers is via the internet. The best places to find money off vouchers on the internet is via sites like moneysupermarket.com, where you will find a vast selection of printable vouchers, voucher codes and exclusive deals.

If you’re more of a fan of shopping online than on the high street then there are numerous voucher codes that you can type in at the online checkouts, however, if you still prefer the thrill of popping down to your local high street and stocking up on the items you want then you can still have the benefit of the voucher savings with the use of the manyprintable vouchers available on the site.

Many people are now getting into the habit of checking the vouchers available to them before they go out to the shops, knowing that that every year shoppers are saving more and more money each year by using vouchers. This trend is showing no signs of slowing down at all, and why should it? Shops are benefiting from the increased amount of sales they are seeing as a result of offering money-off vouchers and shoppers are spending like never before due to the amount of money they can now save.

At this time of year, many families are gearing up to the Easter holidays and are starting to plan their fun days out with the kids. These days out can end up being very expensive so it really is in your interest to check what vouchers are available on moneysupermarket’s vouchers page before venturing out with the whole family. On the site you can “search thousands of UK offers for the latest voucher codes and discount vouchers to make sure you get the best deal”.

There are several major UK attractions that are featured on moneysupermarket at the moment, including the 20% off deal you’ll get of you visit the Wookey Hole Caves with up to six members of your family. Here you’ll enjoy viewing Britain’s most spectacular caves and the legendary home of the infamous Witch of Wookey. Whilst at the caves you will be able to visit the prehistoric valley of the Dinosaurs, view the King Kong feature and relax in the magical fairy garden. If this isn’t enough to keep your family entertained then make sure you don’t forget about the 19th Century Paper Mill, as this houses a variety of fascinating attractions including the Victorian Penny Arcade, Magical Mirror Maze, Pirate Zap Zone, World of Miniature and the very interesting new cave museum.

This is just one of the many fantastic vouchers that you can get to make your fun family days out this Easter as cheap as possible but without losing any of the enjoyment along the way.

Creme Egg Britain’s Got Talent Parody

Check out the performing Creme Eggs in this take-off of Britain’s Got Talent.  It’s called Goo Got Talent (Episode 1).

Write thank you cards with Digital Scrapbook Artist Compact

Remember the days when your parents used to sit you down after Christmas to write your thank-you cards? Well just because you’re older, doesn’t mean you have to stop! And now, with Digital Scrapbook Artist Compact, you won’t even have to leave home to sort your thank-you cards (well, maybe just to get to the postbox!)

Digital Scrapbook Artist Compact from Serif – is a free version of its fantastic scrapbooking software. Perfect for children and adults of all ages, Digital Scrapbook Artist allows you to create photo-realistic scrapbook pages and other craft projects like cards, and is packed with all of the digital embellishments and materials needed to get started, like fabrics and scraps.

So this year, why not get creative and make your cards. Simply visit http://www.daisytrail.com/dsacompact to download the software, and then you’re good to go! It’s a fun and cost effective way to create beautiful, personalised cards and if you’re feeling extra creative, you can decorate your cards with real life embellishments like glitter, flowers or ribbons. It’s easy to just print your design out at home and stick those items to it.

Tsunami orphans in Southern India rehoused in time for Christmas thanks to India Direct charity

Ninety-five children, victims of the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami which decimated their lives five years ago, will this year celebrate Christmas in a new purpose built children’s home in the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, provided and maintained by Cheshire based charity India Direct (www.indiadirect.org.uk).

‘Joy’ Home, as it is called, replaces temporary accommodation rented in the immediate aftermath of the Tsunami by the charity, which has cared for destitute children at Bethel Home in Chennai since 1995, and now cares for Joy Home too. Chairman of India Direct, Architect David Armstrong, was in Chennai when the Tsunami struck. “At the time all we could do was provide material help to some of the more remote and harder hit villages, but we also knew we had to do something meaningful for their future.”

That future began with designing and building the charity’s second home whilst establishing a temporary shelter catering both for orphans and children whose parents could no longer look after them. Macclesfield based Armstrong Architects’ design is based on the traditional Indian ‘Keralan Christian’ style, featuring an open central courtyard which ensures good all round natural light and ventilation for the dormitories. Now the new home is a hub of learning that extends beyond the lives of the children who live there. During the day it becomes a tailoring school for children of fishing families in an innovative scheme where graduates are given a sewing machine and tailor’s kit to take back to their communities and set up in business.

This year, Bethel and Joy Homes also played host to students from Poynton High School who have been closely involved with the project for the past 5 years. A play park financed by the school was opened at Joy when they visited. Several classes at PHS now sponsor Indian children, which costs just £25 per child per month, providing that child with accommodation, food, clothes, schooling and basic medical care.

“Our experience in Chennai proved invaluable when it came to helping the Tsunami victims and shows just how much can be achieved working with a few good people. This year we can see a Christmas with a future that was unthinkable for these children a few years ago,” adds Armstrong.

The major challenge for 2010 will be the addition of a separate accommodation block to comply with recent changes in the laws covering orphanages by the local authorities. “We’ve been so lucky and privileged in what we’ve achieved so far and the people’s whose lives we’ve reached, yet there’s so much more we want to do,” concludes Armstrong.

India Direct was formed in 1995 following a meeting with Pastor Martin from Madras who was caring at that time for 7 orphans in a rented mud hut which had been flooded in the Monsoons. With no support available locally, India Direct was formed to provide a permanent home for these children. Bethel home opened in 1996 and is now a permanent, happy home for about 50 destitute or orphaned children.

Today, a total of 150 children are given a home for as long as they need it. They live in a relaxed family style environment and are given complete care: clean water, food, clothes, full-time education, training for jobs, medical care, pets and friends.

All Trustees and support staff of India Direct are volunteers, allowing the charity to send 100% of all donations to work in India and cover its administration from a portion of reclaimed tax.

Dark Chocolate Cake with Dark Chocolate Ganache Recipe

Here is an easy recipe that children can make as a Christmas treat.

Dark Chocolate Cake with Dark Chocolate Ganache

Dark chocolate cake is the perfect recipe for any chocoholic to get stuck into. With layers of dark chocolate ganache, this is sure to get your mouth watering, just try and save the chocolate for the cake.

Serves: 8

Ease of preparation: Very Easy

Preparation Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

Sponge Mixture
90g Butter
165g Caster Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
2 Eggs
40g Self-Raising Flour
115g Plain Flour
½ tsp Bicarbonate Soda
40g Cocoa Powder HC
140ml Buttermilk

Dark Chocolate Ganache
250g Dark 72% Rabot Estate HC
250g Whipping Cream
150g Whipping Cream, Beaten

Equipment
2x Baking Trays
Wooden Spoon
Large Bowl
Whisk
Cooling Rack

Method

1. Start by beating together the butter, sugar and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
2. Beat the eggs in a cup or basin and add the mixture a little at a time along with the plain flour, self raising flour, icarbonate of soda and cocoa powder, keeping the same smooth consistency.
3. Finish the mixture by adding the buttermilk, making sure the mixture does not get too wet or dry as you go when all the flour and eggs have been used.
4. Divide into two lined, or non-stick sponge tins. Place in the oven at 180°C/Gas Mark 4 for 20 - 25 minutes; ensure the oven is well heated.
5. While the sponge is cooking, the chocolate ganache can be made. This is made using dark chocolate and 250g of cream.
6. Melt the chocolate and add to the whipped cream. When the mix is luke warm, it is then time to add the beaten whipping cream, put to one side.
7. Once the sponge is cooked, remove from the tins and place on cooling racks.
8. When the sponge has cooled put one upside down on a plate and spread with half the chocolate ganache, place the other piece on top.
9. Finally, finish by spreading the remaining chocolate ganache covering all the cake and it is complete.

Merry Mache - Christmas toy kits using recycled newspapers

An alternative to standard, plastic Christmas fillers and Christmas toys, petit artisan is launching 2 new Merry-Mache kits this year including a unique Nativity set specially designed by petit artisan. The Merry-Mache range is a selection of lovely Christmas toys and decorations made with recycled newspapers that can be kept for years.

Sold in kits packed in boxes that can be decorate, with quality brush and paint (made in France) or individually, these angels, reindeers, Father Christmas and other Christmas are produced in accordance with community trade principles in the Philippines. A quality paint brush and water based paint pots provide the creative tools – children need only add imagination.  The toys are all natural, durable papier mache animals and decorative items that children from the age of 3 can personalise.

Each toy is handcrafted in local villages in the Philippines, employing over 800 people who earn a yearly living from making these products. The kits are then assembled in France, utilising craft accessories and packaging materials made in France.

Located in West London (Chiswick), co founders Anne France Kennedy & Karine Etienne have helped 3,000 consumers find a happy ending to their search for natural Christmas decorations. After an hour of educational, creative play children have their own distinct toy decorations to decorate the family or school Christmas tree.

More info at  www.petitartisan.co.uk

Myleene Klass - ‘My Favourite Things’

Myleene Klass and Cartoonito mums re-record ‘My Favourite Things’

Cartoonito, the preschool kids cartoons channel, is launching the brand new Go And… series. In order to celebrate the launch they have teamed up with Myleene Klass and a bunch of other mums and their pre-schoolers to record ‘My Favourite Things’ from the Sound of Music.

You can watch Go And ….Sing every weekday at 9am on Cartoonito Sky Channel 619.

Very sweet indeed.

Mumpreneurs - Mums Positive About Starting their Own Businesses

An annual survey carried out to mark Working Mums’ Day (28th September) has shown that the Recession has been a positive experience for many mums who have started their own businesses. As the trend for more mums to become mumpreneurs grows, a the survey, carried out by Mums in Control, demonstrates that more than half of those questioned said they feel more secure since running their own business; while two in five said their profits have increased since the onset of the Economic downturn.

Rachael Taplin, managing director of Mums in Control, said, ‘’Our Working Mums’ Day survey shows that mumpreneurs are more in control of their businesses and their lives. Those who have seen an increase in profits over the last 12 months said that this was as a result of a greater focus on what they need to achieve to succeed.’’

Taplin continued, ‘’The desire for more control extends to family life. Of those questioned, we found that 65 per cent of mums who run their own businesses are driven by the objective of having more flexibility to spend time with their children, and four in five said that since working for themselves their life work balance has actually improved!’’

As the General Election looms closer, political parties would do well to take note that three quarters of working mums are either the main breadwinner or share the financial outgoing with their partner. Yet we have seen an increase of more than 10% on last year to 86% of working mums who feel that British Business is not committed to flexible working.

As more of these mums take the decision not to accept second best for their families or their careers, and to set up business themselves, more business support seems to be needed for this growing group of mumpreneurs.

Taplin continued, ‘’Today Mums in Control celebrate the second Working Mums Day and our survey this year appears to show that this group of mums are very much taking matters under their own control in order to allow them to do their best for their families, while continuing to forge their own careers.’’

Reflecting the growing significance of the role of the working mum, Mums in Control today launches their MiC Club, a subscription service that provides support, advice and inspiration for mums who want access to the latest information for working mums and mumpreneurs.

http://www.mumsincontrol.co.uk

Tots play The Beatles at Bestival

Here is a really cute video of a group of tots playing at the recent Bestival on the Isle of Wight.

These four tots took to the stage in the Xbox tent and got the crowd going with the Beatles classic rock and roll song, Twist & Shout. Check out the tiny one with the Kanye West shades!

Big Toddle - Coronation Street’s Tina O’Brien Urges Parents to Get Involved

Former Corrie star and mum Tina O’Brien is teaming up with children’s charity Barnardo’s and Fairy Non-Bio Gel, in encouraging parents to get involved in the Big Toddle.

The Big Toddle is the UK’s biggest charity event for children under the age of five, and a fun opportunity for parents to celebrate a special and worthwhile experience together with their little ones. Each year, up to half a million children take part in the short sponsored walks across the country, with the money raised going towards charitable projects that help less fortunate children learn and play.

To get involved in celebrating your little ones, you can organise your own Toddle, or join one near you! Throughout the summer anyone can Toddle – nurseries, crèches and playgroups; to parents, friends and family. And this year, parents are encouraged to bring along any unwanted clothes to their local toddle to pop into ‘Fairy’s Basket of Softness’, which will be donated to Barnardo’s at the end of the event.

Terence Lovell from Barnardo’s, alongside Fairy Godmother and mum Daniela Pinto, give some handy hints and tips in this video to help you get the most out the Big Toddle.

For more information about the Barnardo’s Big Toddle and how to donate to ‘Fairy’s Basket of Softness’ at selected July Toddles visit www.softeningyourworld.com

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