Anais Print Party Dress by Rise Fashion

by editor | Dec 22, 2011 | Lifestyle

Anais Print Party Dress

by Rise Boutique

Look a million dollars without breaking the bank!
Have all eyes on you when you walk into the room,
with one of the latest stunning fashion / party dresses from Rise Boutique.
Choose from a wide range of flattering styles,
from that little black dress to an enchanting cream lace 50?s design.
Great style with prices to suit your pocket.

When you look good you feel good!

Look drop dead gorgeous and have your man eating out of your hands
with one of these stunning dresses from the Rise Fashion Collection.

Chiffon smock dress with pretty floral print. Cut in a 70s style with billowing sleeves and empire line skirt, this dress looks fantastic with bare legs or tights. For the evening, complete the look with a long vintage style necklace and heels.

Go To Rise Boutique
for Affordable Style

Alexia Print Party Dress from Rise fashion

by editor | Dec 22, 2011 | Lifestyle

Alexia Print Party Dress

by Rise Boutique

Look a million dollars without breaking the bank!
Have all eyes on you when you walk into the room,
with one of the latest stunning fashion / party dresses from Rise Boutique.
Choose from a wide range of flattering styles,
from that little black dress to an enchanting cream lace 50?s design.
Great style with prices to suit your pocket.

When you look good you feel good!

Look drop dead gorgeous and have your man eating out of your hands
with one of these stunning dresses from the Rise Fashion Collection.

Black floral pattern lace dress with cream poly satin lining. 50’s prom shape with waist hugging silhoette. Tie front soft grosgrain belt and back zip fastening. Length: 92cm from shoulder to hem. 70% cotton, 30% polyester Care: Hand wash and cool iron on reverse. Do not tumble dry. UK sizes 8-16

Go To Rise Boutique
for Affordable Style

Quarter Of Pupils Avoid School Loos, Survey Finds: Time For A ‘Bog Standard’, Urges Leading Charity

by editor | Dec 20, 2011 | Lifestyle

Quarter Of Pupils Avoid
School Loos, Survey Finds:
Time For A ‘Bog Standard’,
Urges Leading Charity

     19 Dec 11

ERIC is working with the Paediatric Continence Forum, British Toilet Association, School Councils UK and the Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association to implement the campaign.

A quarter of pupils in England’s schools avoid using toilets, according to a new survey by a charity which today launches a campaign to get the Government to introduce new  regulations to make school toilets healthier and easier to use.

ERIC, the UK charity helping children with continence problems, points out that the limited regulations that do exist don’t include vital things like supply of toilet paper or soap. Netmums is backing ERIC’s campaign and people can support by signing an online petition for a new ‘Bog Standard’. Lobbying letters will be sent to Government Ministers, and the charity is seeking a meeting with the Schools Minister to press its case.

Regulations to ensure toilet and water facilities used by school staff meet proper standards do not extend to toilets used by pupils. School toilets have a big impact on health and wellbeing but many schools are failing their pupils with poorly maintained, dirty and smelly toilets.

The newly published survey was carried out by ERIC and Netmums in November, revealing

• a quarter of pupils said they avoid going to the toilet because they are dirty
• 31% pupils said they had toilets with broken locks
• 19% pupils avoid drinking so they don’t have to go to the toilet
• 53% parents felt their child does not drink enough at school
• 91% parents thoughts pupil toilets should be cleaned twice a day or more
• 91% parents thought that cleanliness/condition of pupil toilets should be a priority for schools

ERIC’s petition can be signed here: http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/bogstandard

Jenny Perez, ERIC Director said; “Schools should meet the needs of their pupils in this area. Smelly, dirty toilets and a lack of privacy are unacceptable. Adults don’t have to put up with these problems – so why should children?

“There is a strong link between poor toilet facilities and continence problems like wetting and soiling. These affect 1 in 12 children and young people, causing loss of self-esteem and bullying. For most, a cure can be found, but all treatments require access to proper water and toilet facilities.

“Poor toilets attract poor behavior and unpleasant school toilets, a lack of soap and toilet paper and other basics are a recipe for these young people’s continuing suffering. ERIC will be lobbying for these changes through our Bog Standard campaign. Please sign the online petition and help us ensure school toilets improve for good.”

Magic Memories Of Christmas

by editor | Dec 20, 2011 | Lifestyle

Magic Memories

Of Christmas

     09 Dec 11

Sue Atkins gives half a dozen tips to make this year’s family Christmas something to remember for all the right reasons.

 A friend of mine is having trouble sorting out the arrangements over Christmas Dinner with her ex. I thought that maybe I should encourage her to refocus her priorities, by reminding her of something important. Right now she is creating a blueprint of how she handles this magical time for her kids – and she is in the process of making and creating memories for them that will last for their lifetimes.

 So often people focus on the stress of Christmas but I like to focus on the positive things in life. You can leave creating a great time and wonderful memories to chance, or you can weave the magic tapestry of a wonderful experience of Christmas with your family through great design and planning.

 Here are six ideas to conjure up that extra bit of magic in your Christmas, or holiday time:

 IDEA 1: Imagine it

 Just take a little time now to close your eyes, take in a couple of deep relaxing breaths and visualise in a perfect world how you’d like your Christmas to look… and sound.. and feel… make the picture really colourful, brighter and really up close to you… and perhaps you could imagine just stepping into the picture or film that you have running in your head and really imagine being in there. Imagine I have waved a magic wand and have made things just as you would really want… and do this over and over again until it feels real. You’ll start to notice the difference in how much more relaxed you immediately feel and you’ll start to notice what seems to unfold as if by magic from now on!

 IDEA 2: Capture the Memories

 Take lots of digital photos during family get-togethers. Upload the photos to a family photo-sharing site (I recommend: www.DropShots.com; it’s safe and secure, and photos are not shared publicly or indexed by search engines) and send the link to everyone.

 During your get-togethers have family pictures and albums available from previous holidays. They can stimulate conversations and warm memories of Christmases past and – of important people who might no longer be around anymore.

 IDEA 3: The Sound of Music

Get the music cranked up and blaring in your house! From Christmas Carols to Slade or Leona Lewis! And ask everyone in your family what their favourite songs are and go online to i-tunes, find the songs, download them, make a copy for everyone to keep as a great memory and a personal little pressie to give to them. Everyone’s favourite Christmas holiday music all captured on one CD – what a special gift and memory!

IDEA 4: Box O’ Wishes

This idea comes from Oprah Winfrey… place a small box at everyone’s place setting containing an index card for each person. Ask everyone to answer one or more of these questions about each person there and put the answers into their box.

Example questions are:

• What I love about you is…

• Thank you for…

• My Christmas wish for you is…

Everyone will leave with perhaps the most meaningful gift they have ever received—a box of love and good wishes from everyone at the party. This is really a lovely moment as it also sets the tone and frame of mind for your entire time together!

IDEA 5: Box O’ Questions

Everyone thinks up and writes down 2 to 3 questions on topics they would like to know about each other or, as host, you can create a list of questions. The questions need to be general enough so they can be answered by anyone.

Put all the questions in a box and pass it around to each person to select and answer.

Example questions are:

• What is your favourite childhood memory?

• What is the most important life lesson you learned from your parents?

• Who was your childhood best friend and what made them so special?

• What was school like for you as a child? What were your best and worst subjects?

• Who were your childhood heroes and why?

• What accomplishments are you the most proud of?

• What is your most important goal for the next 3 to 5 years?

IDEA 6: Time Versus Trinkets

For your close family and friends, instead of marching through the shopping centres to find the “perfect gift,” the most meaningful gift you can give is your time. Along with a card filled with thoughtful sentiments, enclose half-a-dozen experiences you are giving for them for the coming year.

Examples are:

• A picnic at a special place.

• A trip to the beach or the snowy mountains or a lovely river.

• A football game, a local fair, a film, a special lunch outing at their favourite restaurant, etc.

• An entire day when you will do anything they want you to do or accompany them anywhere—without complaint!

Explore, get creative and relax and I really wish you and your family a warm, wonderful and especially meaningful Christmas holiday!

Have a magical time!

Sue Atkins is a Parenting Expert, Broadcaster, Speaker and Author of the Amazon best selling book  “Raising Happy Children for Dummies” one of the famous black and yellow series and the highly acclaimed Parenting Made Easy CDs. She has also just launched her 1st Parenting Made Easy app for iPhones and iPads.

She is currently writing a new book for Random House called “Parenting Made Easy” which will be available in April 2012.

Sue offers practical guidance for bringing up happy, confident, well behaved children from toddler to teen.

She regularly appears on BBC Breakfast and The Jeremy Vine Show on BBC Radio 2 and is the parenting expert for many BBC Radio Stations around the UK. She has a regular monthly parenting phone-in on BBC Radio Surrey & Sussex and her parenting articles are published all over the world.

To receive Sue’s free ebook bursting with practical tips and helpful advice from toddler to teen log on to www.theSueAtkins.com and download it instantly today.

BPA Warns Against Baby ‘Bling’

by editor | Dec 20, 2011 | Lifestyle

BPA Warns Against

Baby ‘Bling’

     12 Dec 11

Recent news reports highlight the sales of potentially dangerous ‘bling’ baby soothers and other baby products such as feeding bottlesand the Baby Products Association (BPA) warns parents not to put their children at risk by purchasing such items, which are often sold on websites,  independent shops and market stalls.

Robert Anslow, managing director of the BPA comments: “These baby soothers and sometimes baby feeding bottles are manufactured by legitimate companies in accordance with the highest safety standards, but are then being adorned with glued on gems and beads by third party companies. The addition of ‘bling’ makes these products unsafe as the decorative pieces can easily fall off and cause choking if lodged in a child’s throat.

“While it may be tempting to purchase these products, particularly as they appeal to babies and toddlers as they sparkle and look fun, there are strict safety standards which prevent labels and decorations being stuck onto dummies for very good reason.  The addition of such decorations causes grave concern for the safety of the babies and young children for whom they are intended.”

Anyone caught selling ‘bling’ dummies or bottles could face fines of up to £20,000 and parents who come across such items are urged to call Consumer Direct on 0845 040506.