Rosie Corriette

Notes from a retired blogger

Author: Rosie

  • How To The Most Of The UK This Summer

    The longawaited summertime has finally made its debut and spirits are high. People are eager to make the most of summer which means taking advantage of the good weather and making the most of their time off. You may be thinking about some of the best things that you can get up to this summer if you don’t already have a summertime ritual you’re going to follow with family or friends. There are endless things you can get up to which cater to your unique needs and are capable of keeping you engaged throughout the holiday season. On that note, you’re going to find out how to make the most of the UK this summer in the below article.

    Go on Holiday

    One of the best ways to make the most of the UK this summer is by going on holiday. Travelling for summer doesn’t have to mean venturing to a location thousands of miles away as there are so many places you can visit in the UK alone. There are so numerous types of holidays you can plan within the UK such as camping, hiking, glamping for those who enjoy luxury or a beach holiday. In terms of the latter, don’t underestimate the many stunning beaches you can visit in the UK, and you can also find ones near you on coastradar.com. Holidays are a great way to take time out to relax and pamper yourself as well as have the time of your life.

    Visit Museums

    Another way to make the most of the UK this summer is by visiting some of the many museums available around the country. It’s your chance to create a museum bucket list and travel around the UK to see your different destinations. Depending on what you want to see, there are museums thattouch on various themes. Some of the best museums in the UK include the Victoria & Albert Museum in South Kensington, the National Gallery in Charing Cross, the British Museum in Holborn, as well as the Natural History Museum in South Kensington. These are just a few of the many museums that you could visit if you haven’t done so already.

    Wildwood fairgoers suspended in the air on an operating swing ride as others watch onWildwood fairgoers suspended in the air on an operating swing ride as others watch on

    Amusement Parks

    If you want adventure this summer, then you should consider visiting one or more of the many theme parks that there are in the UK. This is a great way to ignite your inner child, enjoy adrenaline rushes and do something a little more high-energy. Some of the best theme parks you’ll find in the UK include Thorpe Park, Drayton Manor, Warwick Castle, Paultons Park, and the popular Alton Towers.

    Summertime only comes around once a year, so making it one that goes down in the history books is imperative. The good thing is you can do this easily by choosing to spend it with people that mean the most to you and doing things that make you feel happy, satisfied and fulfilled. By doing so, you should find that this summer in the UK is one of the best that you’ve had so far.

     

    Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.

  • How to Book a Last Minute Holiday

    How to Book a Last Minute Holiday

    If you have an open mind and want to make great savings on travel, a last minute holiday might be perfect for your next adventure. A little spontaneity will not only add some excitement into your break, but it could help you to secure a bargain to reduce your outgoings.

    If you want to secure the best travel deals, here’s everything you need to know on how to book a last minute holiday.

    Photo by Lance Asper on Unsplash

    The Best Time to Book a Holiday

    While some people believe the best time to book a holiday is on the day of travel, others believeit’s best to book four weeks before. It does, however, come down to your travel needs. For instance, if you’re traveling alone or as a couple and are a little flexible, you could snap up some cheap plane seats and a remaining hotel room on the day of your trip.

    However, if you’re traveling with either children or a large group, it might be a smart move to book four weeks before your vacation, soyou will have many affordable options for your holiday. Also, if you’re booking a summer vacation, the best time to book might be in April to secure a seat on a plane.

    The Perfect Time to Book a Flight

    Flight prices will often fluctuate the week leading up to a departure date, and they’ll also drop at different points in the day. For example, if you want to snap up the best holiday deals online, you’d be wise to book in the early hours of the morning, as fewer people will be online. Also, the more flexibility you have, the more affordable options you can take your pick from. For instance, you could make great savings by simply changing your return date. The cheapest days are also on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

    The Perfect Accommodation

    Many people might feel a little disheartened when they could secure a great flight deal, but all hotel rooms are bookedfor their desired dates. However, there’s no reason to despair, as you can find some fantastic home rentals from Vacation Renter by Wilbur Labs. You can stay in a comfortable home away from home, so you’ll be happy you booked a last minute holiday.

    The Best Way to Book a Last Minute Holiday

    Unless you want to experience the thrill of picking a destination in an airport, you could save yourself a substantial amount of money by booking online. Compare different deals online to secure the best flights, accommodation, and destination for your budget. You’re bound to feel a burst of adrenaline as you choose between the best deals for the likes of Paris, New York, Venice, Cancun, or Phuket.

    Look for Free Child Places

    If you want to reduce your travel expenses, look for an airline that offers free child places. While they may offerlimited availability, they could save your family a considerable amount of money. So, browse the different airlines before you buy plane seats.

    Visit Less Popular Destinations

    If you want to save even more money on a lastminute holiday, consider a less popular destination. If demand is low, airlines will drop their prices to secure custom. So, you could enjoy a holiday of a lifetime for a fraction of the price.

     

    Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.

  • Creating The Perfect Home Office with LionsHome

    Creating The Perfect Home Office with LionsHome

    The quest for the perfect work life balance is no mean feat; add into the mix working from home and you’ve got yourself the king of challenges. Far too often I find myself sat on the sofa (indeed that’s where I am as I write this) juggling the serious business of ploughing through the seasons of Gilmore Girls all while trying to create content that I’m proud to put my name to as the mac strikes midnight. The result? unnecessary redrafts and the frustration having to rewatch the same episode over and over.

    Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

    After years of cracking open the laptop in every nook and cranny throughout the house – this spring saw me determined to finally carve out a dedicated space for me to be creative and work; after all how can I expect to continue and improve the blog and my freelance work if nothing changes. Working from home is hailed as the ultimate in flexible working – I’ve finally accepted that it is metaphorical and in now way a literal description!

    Once I’d decided that a spot behind my bedroom door was where the creative magic was going to happen, I next set about working out what I could fit in the 95cm space allocated to work. Determined to capitalise on my new project I bought a stop gap desk that blends into the white wall and for now does the job. Once summer is over and we’re back into the swing of school time routine I’m planning on really making the best of the space so as it not just looks great but works hard for me.

    There are a few must haves when it comes to my bedroom office furniture: it must be predominantly white (yes I’m that woman who decided to embrace a white house with a child – it’s actually working out fine, with zero felt tips to white wall incidents), it needs to be functional yet not look as if it began life in an office. I’m not asking for too much am I? Just the typical conundrum of wanting it all…

    When it comes to buying pieces for the house I’ll freely admit for being way over involved in the buying process – it can take me months to research, refine and decide on a piece of furniture to cross over the threshold of Casa Corriette. For me there is no such thing as too much choice, the more the better – this is where I struck interiors gold when I discovered LionsHome. LionsHome is an online shopping portal bringing together all things home and living under one website roof. I found the pages and pages of desks at LionsHome perfect for comparing and it really helped me narrow down my choices, separating the wants from needs.

    Those who follow my indecisiveness will be proud of me when I say I’ve confidently narrowed down my search with four desks making the coveted shortlist and am certain that a new desk will be chosen and in place by Christmas – a speedy turnaround for someone like me…

    Rosie the indecisive desk buyer!

    Disclosure: This is a collaborative post with LionsHome UK.

  • The Drawbacks of Too Much Screen time

    In the past decades, the unhealthy, screen-related habit of most kids was television. But in recent years, with the advent of tablets, iPods, laptops, and smartphones, researchers have shifted their focus onto seeing what too much screen time can do to your body and brain.

     

    Most of this research focuses on children, but it seems that adults can also be affected. As it turns out, too much screen time can affect your physical and mental health in a lot of different ways.

     

    Here are a few of the drawbacks of too much screen time.

    Eye strain

    Staring at a screen for too long can strain your eyes or worsen the symptoms of any existing eye problems you may have. Sitting in front of a screen for too long can also cause you to have problems focusing, headaches, eye soreness, blurred vision, as well as dry or itchy eyes.

     

    Most screens emit blue light, which can keep us awake, but can also damage your eyesight over time. Because of this, it’s important to take regular breaks when using a computer, watching television or using a smartphone or tablet.

    Sleep problems

    It’s common for adults to wind down by watching TV before bed. However, television screens emit blue light, which can disrupt your brain’s sleep cycle. In severe cases, this can cause insomnia and lead to problems sleeping. Which is the exact opposite of what most adults want to achieve.

     

    Television screens aren’t the only ones that emit blue light, however. Computer monitors and the screens of most mobile devices do too. Again, this is why it’s important to take regular breaks when using a computer, watching TV or using a smartphone/tablet. It also may be a good idea to avoid lots of screen time before bed.

    Behavioral problems

    Spending too much time in front of a screen tends to mean you’re not spending as much time with friends. This may not be as much of a problem for adults, but for kids, it can have a serious impact.

     

    Antisocial kids are more prone to emotional problems and can have trouble socializing and paying attention.

     

    Antisocial kids are also more at risk of bullying. This can further contribute to your child becoming desocialized, which can have severe consequences in the long term.

    Less creativity

    Mobile devices are great at distracting you. With social media and a host of entertainment options to choose from, it’s probably rare that you have nothing to do.

     

    But having nothing to do is often what drives people to be creative. The more time you spend on distractions and lazy entertainment, the less room you have to be creative in your day-to-day life.

    Laziness

    Just as your creativity can suffer from spending too much time looking at a screen, so can your productivity. Mobile devices can distract you from doing work that needs doing, or trying to use your time constructively.

     

    Mobile devices are also very convenient. And while convenience is normally a good thing, too much of it can make you lazy.

    Photo by Maarten van den Heuvel on Unsplash

     

    A good way of using your screentime productively is by finding the most popular casino in your area and playing a few games.

    Obesity and other health problems

    If you spend a lot of time in front of a screen, you’re more likely to develop weight issues. This is because you’re not spending as much time being physically active as you might otherwise.

     

    Unless you exercise vigorously between screen sessions, you most likely won’t get enough physical activity for the day. That’s why it’s better to spend less time on your computer or smartphone and more time outside.

     

    If you sit at a desk while using your computer, you can also develop back problems, among other health issues. You’re more at risk of developing high blood pressure and diabetes as well.

    Educational problems

    Kids who spend a lot of time watching television or playing video games tend to perform poorly in school. Video games, entertainment websites like YouTube and Netflix and social media can distract kids from doing homework and studying.

     

    Kids can also become desocialized over time, which can lead to bullying and other problems at school.

    Violence

    Young children who watch violent movies, television series or play violent video games can become desensitized to violence over time. These kids may then start to see violence as acceptable or be more willing to use it in the future.

     

    Remember that personal computers, consoles, television and mobile phones are just another form of entertainment. Whether your child owns a mobile phone or likes to play video games isn’t as important as you being an attentive parent.

     

    Forbidding your child from owning a mobile phone isn’t recommended, as mobile phones are essential for many things nowadays, including schoolwork. Instead, try to teach your kids how to moderate in everything they do, whether using a smartphone, playing video games or watching TV.

     

    Spending a lot of time in front of your screen may not be good for you, so make sure you use that time constructively. One of the best ways of doing that is by playing at Norske spilleautomater, hands down the best live casino in Norway.

     

    Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.

  • Dating Isn’t A Dirty Word | Match

    Dating Isn’t A Dirty Word | Match

    We all know that dating when you’re a single parent isn’t easy. I was absolutely blown away by all your kind words when I wrote about it earlier this month after partnering with Match to showcase their new offering for single parents.

    Mother and daughter stood looking into each other's eyes

    All the talk of dating got me thinking about the last time that I went on a real life date. The answer is shocking… it’s been 11 years (yes 11 – I didn’t accidentally hit too many 1s!). I was in a relationship my whole adult life until I had Boo, then became a single parent when she was one. The years ran away with me and research released by Match shows that I’m not the only one – 45% of single parents never go on dates and 35% admitted they’ve not been on a date in the past year. I wonder how many of those people haven’t been on a date in 10 years!

     

    This weekend, Match teamed up with PizzaExpress and the childcare expert, Yoopies, in central London to put on a speed dating mixer with a difference: single parents were invited to come along with their children.

     

    I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have my doubts as to how the afternoon would go – would it be Awkward with a capital A? Would it feel strange for people to have their children there? Then it hit me: dating doesn’t have to be solely romantic – it’s as much about what you get out of it socially as it is romantically.

     

    The afternoon went as follows: the children got to play with each other and got busy making pizzas while the adults chatted – that was literally it. It was lovely to see parents from so many different walks of life come out of their shell and socialise, meeting new people and making friends.

     

    I think we sometimes see dating as something to endure, as a means to an end, and whilst it can be – our attitudes need to change. Dating is not a dirty word. I’ve said previously that I won’t be sad if in ten years’ time if Boo and I resemble Lorelai and Rory from Gilmore Girls. Being single isn’t a runner up position in life – it’s a choice for many. However, no one wants to feel as if they’re missing out, and Match is there for those who do.


    Mother and daughter stood looking each other's eyes

    For more information visit http://bit.ly/HappyDating

     

    Match is currently offering three, free babysitting hours in partnership with childcare expert Yoopies. Any new or existing Match member will be able to get a date night free with three free hours of babysitting, plus the usual membership fee to Yoopies waived. The Yoopies premium membership is valid for two months after being credited on the account.

     

    Disclosure: This is a collaboration with Match, a fee was received for my time.