Finding The Time

Like a lot of mums and dads out there I struggle to keep the balance of working and being a parent. As a mum who has recently returned to work I find that my days just seem to pass by like a speeding bullet. Now granted I have only returned to work on a part time basis and have a huge respect to those that work full time and still find time to get everything else done, but it still feels like mission impossible to cram everything that needs doing into a normal working day.

Normally I work all day on a Sunday and Aalliyah usually goes round to my mums or sometimes my sisters for the day. On the weekdays that I work its only usually a 4/5 hour shift so she will go to school then go to after school club until 6 oclock. I always finish at 6 so she would normally get picked up and stay round my mums for half an hour or so until I come home. Although these are the days I work the shortest hours and I have school and school club, these are the days I hate the most. 

The mornings starts like any other. I get up, sort out breakfast, make Aalliyahs school lunch and then make sure she gets off to school OK and on time. We live on the same street as the school so most mornings she likes to assert her independence by walking alone. By the time I have had a quick tidy round the flat and got ready for work, I barely have time for a coffee before having to run for the bus. Then its straight to pick Aalliyah up after work and by the time I get home Its literally only enough time for dinner before its her bed time. I absolutely love my days off as I am not so rushed and get time to spend with Aalliyah even if its just a few hours play time before bed.

Have you ever seen that movie "Click"? The one with the universal remote control? How great would that be? Not so much to fast forward anything. I think life goes by far too quick without the need to help it along its way but it would certainly be great to stop the clock sometimes and have as much extra time as we needed to get things done or to simply savor our most precious memories. Well sadly no such thing has been invented yet, but hey you never know what the future holds right?

However the super smart people at Hive have come up with a fantastic new device that lets you monitor, control and alter your heating from your smart phone or computer. Meaning you can control your heating at the touch of the button where ever you are. Now this may not give you endless more hours to enjoy in the day but it certainly saves time and hassle by allowing you to preset your temperature schedules,adjust levels or set up helpful alerts when your temperature drops below a certain amount. Is there any better feeling after a long day than coming home to a nicely warmed house? I normally have to switch my heating on when I get home and it takes ages to warm up.

The only other thing I like to come home to more is a cooked meal ready and waiting. Thankfully something has already been invented to help with that.... A slow cooker! My godsend when working late!

If you fancy learning more about Hive Active Heating and how it can make a difference in your home then click here to head on over to their site. 

*This post was written in collaboration with Hive Active Heating 

Top Tips For Choosing A Personal Injury Solicitor

Making a personal injury claim can be a stressful, time consuming and sometimes very expensive process. The number of people making personal injury claims is constantly growing and with so many different companies offering all sorts of promises and guarantees how can you be sure who to turn to? If you are in the unfortunate position that you feel it is necessary to file a claim then you need to make sure you choose a personal injury solicitor that will be best able to represent you. Following these simple tips will ensure you are able to make an informed decision on who's best to take on your case.


Firstly you need to assess your situation/injury. What happened? Did you have an accident at work? Slip or fall in the street? Or was it a motoring accident? By assessing what type of accident you have had this will steer you in the right direction when it comes to choosing a specific company/solicitor over another. 

Don't just go with the first solicitor and or company you come across. Take the time to research them. Most of them can provide testimonies from previous clients. Any solicitor that is qualified in England or Wales can represent you, but that doesn't mean that anyone should. You need to take the time to get to know your prospective solicitor and find someone you are comfortable with.

Finally, find out the fees upfront! With so many companies offering different deals and no win no fees, often you can get caught up in all the confusing jargon and not really understand what you will end up paying at the end of it and no one needs a nasty shock of a huge bill when it is all over. Ask for an estimate on the fees. Most will give you a rough guide and a breakdown of all the costs you can expect to incur including the smaller things which you may over look like telephone calls, photocopy and letter charges. 

Whatever your situation, choosing a solicitor can be daunting task so follow these 3 simple tips and you can be sure to find one that is perfect for you and your personal circumstances. 

*This post was written in collaboration with LeoClaims.com

Why is Invasive Ultrasound Important? *Guest Post*

Traditional ultrasound scans are non-invasive. The doctor or ultrasound operator uses an instrument called a transducer on the mother’s abdomen. The transducer emits soundwaves and collects them as they reflect back at different speeds and frequencies. The ultrasound software then translates this data into an image of the inside of the patient’s abdomen. This creates a picture of the fetus growing inside the uterus, and details like the sex, the position, and the heartbeat can be clearly ascertained.

There is an additional form of ultrasound that is more invasive, call Transvaginal Scan, or TVS. During TVS, the transducer is inserted into the patient’s vagina, rather than pressed against the abdomen. You may have heard about this form of ultrasound being required in some states before the pregnancy can be terminated. Its association with the politics surrounding abortion have made the procedure seem distasteful at best, or scary and violating at worst. Leaving the politics aside, TVS can be an important and useful tool as you progress through your pregnancy.

While TVS is more invasive than traditional ultrasound, sometimes it is necessary to be able to determine important information about the pregnancy; especially in the early stages. Traditional ultrasound will only provide readable, useful images after about 10 weeks’ gestational age. Prior to that, the only way to see what is going on with the embryo is with a transvaginal scan.

A scan in the early stages of pregnancy can be very helpful. It can determine the viability of the fetus and how well the embryo has implanted in the uterus. The scan can be used to date the pregnancy, such as if the patient is unsure of the date of conception or their last period, or if the patient has a history of irregular periods. Another reason for an early ultrasound scan would be to check for multiples (twins, triplets, etc.). These pregnancies can be risky all on their own, so it’s good to know if you have multiples as soon as possible.

The truth of the matter is that a transvaginal scan is a medical procedure, just like the traditional ultrasound is a medical procedure. They both allow your doctor to observe the fetus growing inside of you and provide you the best and most up-to-date information, so that you can plan accordingly.

If your doctor recommends an invasive ultrasound and you have concerns, be sure to voice them and have the doctor talk you through exactly why he or she is recommending that particular procedure. If you are still uncomfortable, remember that you are the patient and you get to decide what happens to you, your body, and your baby. If you feel uncomfortable, it is your right to seek a second opinion.

That said, again, the transvaginal scan is an important tool in the prenatal toolbox. Doctors can use it to see things that a traditional ultrasound can’t. If it is very early in the pregnancy and you think there might be as issue, a TVS could be the way to go.

This post was written for My Sidekick and Me by Glenn Josephik. Glenn is an account representative and the marketing coordinator at MedCorp LLC , the industry leader and premier business source for used ultrasound systems. You can follow Glenn Josephik on Google+  .

A Permanent Fixture

You may remember a while back I posted about a job interview I had been offered with Toys R Us. It was only a temporary contract but after years of being a SAHM I was eager to get back into employment. The contract was only from October until December and Christmas eve was my last contracted shift. It felt amazing to be back at work and the difference in my income was great. It was still only a minimum paying position but the stable income meant I was able to afford things I couldn't when relying on unemployment benefits. As my last shift approached it all felt bittersweet. I was really getting into the swing of things and felt far too comfortable with my new wage, I really didn't want it to end. Over the course of a few days I saw fellow employees getting called into the office one by one. We were all aware that we would be getting "the talk" and either given our goodbye letters or being asked to stay. It felt like everyone had been called in apart from me which made me all the more nervous. Finally I was called in by the manager and asked how I had felt the past few months had been and if I had enjoyed my time. Obviously I had and I expressed how much I enjoyed the job and how good I felt I was at it. Clearly I had done a good job as I was invited to stay on as a permanent member of staff. It felt amazing to know that someone had acknowledged my hard work and as you can imagine I was thrilled. 

It has been a challenge adjusting to a working routine with early starts, school clubs, dinner plans etc but I wouldn't change it. Although I am only working part time sometimes I come home and can barely make it through the door without crashing into a heap on the sofa! Because of working, one thing I haven't done for so long is blog. I keep meaning to and then just never get round to it. I have let it slip so much but I am hoping now I have some set hours in place I can make more scheduled time for my blog. 

Until my next post.......