January 2019 - Plutonium Sox

Natalie Ray January 18, 2019 Competitions

Valentines gift ideas to add a little luxury

It’s always difficult to think of Valentines gift ideas with Christmas only just behind you. So, I always think of Valentines day as an excuse for a little treat. Something luxurious that you wouldn’t buy for yourself. Things with an indulgent feel about them, whether you’re buying them for a partner or just treating yourself. Coolstuff have some fabulous Valentines gift ideas, plus you can win a massage cushion for the ultimate indulgence. Ice bottle cooler Ideal for Valentine’s evening at home, this ice bottle cooler will keep your drinks at just the right temperature. It also makes a beautiful feature. Simply…

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Natalie Ray January 17, 2019 Our Thursday Photos

Thursday photo #245

The Christmas holidays really seemed to drag here. The girls didn’t go back until last Wednesday and it seemed like such a long time between Christmas being over and school starting again. They’ve been back over a week now though, and it seems as if the holidays never happened. We are all firmly back into our routine and I’m finally finding the time to work. A weekend outdoors At this time of year, I always struggle with being indoors too much. The children go a bit stir crazy and we all end up stressed. With the Winter being so mild…

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Natalie Ray January 16, 2019 What's on West Midlands

Things to do West Midlands February half term 2019

If you’re looking for things to do in the West Midlands during February half term, this list should give you plenty of inspiration. Not all local attractions are open in the Winter months, but these fantastic destinations have prepared lots of exciting events to keep families entertained during the school holidays. All Things Wild – Worcestershire It’s holiday club time at All Things Wild this half term from 18th to 22nd February. Aimed at 4 to 12 year olds, the Wild Explorers club runs from 9am to 3pm and includes lunch, drinks and snacks. Children will enjoy animal and reptile encounters…

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Natalie Ray January 11, 2019 Health and Fitness

My dog doesn’t want to join your running club

Who doesn’t want to join their friendly local running club? Getting together for a social once a week, chatting to likeminded folk, burning a few calories and sinking a pint in the pub afterwards. What could be better? Well, here are a few things for starters. Don’t be rude Occasionally, I run past a running club group who move to one side of the pavement. If that’s you, thank you. I really appreciate it. Because the norm is to carry on running two abreast, forcing me off the pavement and onto the road. When there’s one or two of you,…

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Natalie Ray January 11, 2019 Lifestyle

Is debt consolidation the best solution?

This is a collaborative post. As a family, we have turned to debt consolidation on numerous occasions to sort out our finances. I don’t mind admitting that neither myself or my husband are great with money. That’s not to say that we’re materialistic, because we’re not really. Neither of us are accumulators of ‘stuff’. But travel and experiences are our weakness and often, debt consolidation ends up being our solution. So, I’ve been doing some research to see whether it really is the best idea. What is debt consolidation? Debt consolidation means taking out one loan to cover all your…

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Natalie Ray January 10, 2019 Our Thursday Photos

Thursday photo #244

I’ve never been one for routine, spontaneity makes me extremely happy. But there’s something about the school holidays that can get a little stressful, especially when you’re itching to put New Year’s plans into place. This year, the girls had quite a long Christmas break, only going back to school yesterday. It has been lovely spending that time with them but I was definitely craving routine by the time the holidays ended. And just like that it was over The girls slipped seamlessly back into their school routine yesterday, despite a rather hectic week. We spent the weekend camping in…

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Natalie Ray January 4, 2019 Food and Drink

8 tips for Veganuary success

When I posted about taking part in Veganuary, lots of people commented on social media to see if I had any tips. Unfortunately, I am totally winging it so I had nothing. Instead, I turned to fellow bloggers and experienced vegans to share their wisdom. Here are 8 top tips for Veganuary from those in the know. 1. Find a Veganuary milk alternative that you enjoy I haven’t been using ordinary milk since I completely went off it during my second pregnancy. Finding an alternative that you like can be a bit of a nightmare. I love hemp milk including…

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