Cherubs Magazine - Summer Edition 2022

EDUCATION • HEALTH • WELLBEING • LIVING • BEAUTY • STYLE • TRAVEL

MAGAZINE

What’s on

This summer

Simple

Let’s get messy

With VANDALKIDS

Eco Swaps

cherubsmagazine.com

Inspiring Everyday Family Life

Summer 2022 • Issue 16

‘A TRULY THEATRICAL FEAST’

HHHHH The List

‘A HIGH-ENERGY TREAT’

THU 21 JUL - SUN 4 SEP BOOK TODAY 0330 333 4812 ROOMONTHEBROOMLIVE.COM

HHHH Sunday Times

SCAN ME

LYRIC THEATRE SHAFTESBURY AVENUE

Contents Summer 2022 • Issue 16

For the first time in my children’s lives, they have now, officially, completed their first full school year and for this I am grateful.

As parents, we do the best we can with all that is thrown our way.

However, I am thankful that home schooling was taken out of my hands this year and placed safely back into those of professionals who know what they’re doing. So, I welcome summer with open arms and look forward to having my babies at home with me so we can continue creating wonderful memories together.

In this edition, we look at the many things to do in and around London, we nourish our bellies with all the goodness our recipes have to offer, tips on how to vamp up a teen bedroom and many relatable, heartfelt articles that will touch your heart and my review of the Conrad London St James hotel, which was unreal! Plus much more.

We’ve lived through tough times my friends and in years to come this will be in a history book for many future youngsters to learn as part of their school lessons. Take time to process this and to heal. You deserve a rest and the summer is calling you to do just that.

Wishing you all a wonderful vitamin D fix season, don’t moan about the showers here and there, it’s nature’s way of feeding the Earth what it needs – and God only knows we all need that drink!

Peace, love and sunkissed vibes.

Sevim x

Features

8 Let’s get messy 20 Teen bedroom ideas 22 Chatting all things motherhood 30 Was / NOW

In this edition

4 What’s on this summer 18 The benefits of bringing your baby outside 24 Ask the nutritionist 44 I love times tables

A taste of ...

28 Style 36 Education 48 Health & wellbeing 52 Living

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Follow us on social media for regular updates @CherubsMagazine Style Editor: Antonia Sanchez–Toomey Healthy Food Editor: Christianna Karaolis Designer: Chris Webb Printers: The Roma Group

To advertise in our next issue email info@cherubsmagazine.com or call 020 8154 3664

Catch up on past issues of Cherubs Magazine online at

While we take every care to ensure details are correct the publisher will take no responsibility for errors or omissions. Readers are advised to check information published with individual advertisers and take legal advice where appropriate before entering into any transactions.

Where prices or dates are quoted they are correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change. Unless specifically stated the publisher does not endorse any product or service appearing in the magazine. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the prior permission of the publisher.

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WHAT’S ON

This summer

What’s On Summer holiday fun with @younglondonist

Summer Lights, Mini Golf and Festival 14 Canary Wharf certainly knows how to keep families happy during the summer months. As well as hosting a free, bold and colourful mini-golf course (designed by artists Craig & Karl) you can expect the ‘Summer Lights’ installations to return for another year from 21st June until 20 August. The artwork trail celebrates the summer light and longer days and is a great day out with the family. And Festival 14 will bring over 50 free performances to the Canary Wharf estate from Thursday 21st until 24th of July with dance, music, comedy and theatre as well as plenty of family friendly fun. There are also Pride celebrations and film clubs to be enjoyed during weekends in the summer holidays. Best of all – everything is free.

When: Throughout summer Where: Canary Wharf How much: Free

In the Neighbourhood All Points East Festival is bringing the community element of the festival to Victoria Park in East London.

You can expect a week filled with family friendly fun including yoga sessions, sporting activities, outdoor cinema, face painting, music and storytelling, and lots more (full programme is announced mid-June).

When: 22-25 August Where: Victoria Park How much: Free allpointseastfestival.com/nbhd

Kids Week Want to take the kids to the theatre without the price tag? Kids Week is your opportunity! Despite the name, the promotion runs throughout August and children under 17 can join a full-paying adult at any of the participating shows (there are over 40 to choose from for 2022). Additionally, adults can buy another two children’s tickets at half price (so you can do your parent mates a favour and take their kids too.)

When: Throughout August Where: Various theatres throughout London How much: Dependent on the show. officiallondontheatre.com/kids-week 4 | Cherubs Magazine

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WHAT’S ON Food Forever Kew always puts on incredible events and the Food Forever Exhibition is no different. Step into the future of food at Kew’s event of the summer and discover how we can transform our planet for good with the food that we consume. Take a walk through the gardens, stop by the gallery to take in a pastel wonderland in When Flowers Dream exhibition from Pip & Pop, discover the installations and check out the Children’s Garden.

When: Until 18 September Where: Kew Gardens How much: £19.50 for a standard adult ticket, with concessions available for kids, students and local residents as well as those on lower incomes kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/food-forever

Kusama Obliteration Room Tate Modern invites visitors of all ages to help transform a blank white apartment into a sea of colourful dots. Yayoi Kusama’s The Obliteration room opens on 23 July as part of UNIQLO Tate Play, Tate Modern’s free programme of playful art-inspired activities for families. As well as having a chance to cover every available surface of the installation with bright circular stickers, families will also be able to create their own work of art to add to an evergrowing garden in the Turbine Hall.

When: 23 July - 29 August Where: Tate Modern How much: Free tate.org.uk

Photo credit: Tate Photography (Lucy Dawkins)

Room on the Broom Tall Stories Olivier Award-nominated adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s classic picture book, directed by Olivia Jacobs, will fly into the West End this summer to enchant everyone aged three and upwards. Jump on board the broom with the witch and her cat in this fun-filled magical musical adaptation. Acclaimed theatre company Tall Stories is renowned for its joyful, fun-filled productions for family audiences that have toured all over the world.

Camp Bestival Shropshire Camp Bestival Shropshire will be bringing all the unique and essential elements of the original Camp Bestival to the heart of England. As this is curated by married duo, Rob Da Bank and Josie, behind big brother Camp Bestival in Dorset, you can expect the same joy, colour and brilliant music as the awardwinning counterpart. This year the line-up features, Rag & Bone Man, Rudimental, Fatboy Slim and Example, and many more. Let’s make it a good one – who’s coming?

When: 18 – 21 August 2022 Where: Weston Park, Shropshire How much: Adults £180 for the weekend and kids start at £72.50

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When: 21 Jul - 4 Sep Where: Lyric Theatre, London How much: From £10

Don’t miss...

• • • • • • •

Pirates Immersive Experience.

Dr Dolittle at Chelsea Physic Garden.

101 Dalmatians at Regents Park Open Air Theatre.

Adventure Farms – our favourites include: Marsh Farm, Chobham.

Kensington and Chelsea Art Week.

Watford Colourscape Festival.

Bold Tendencies events.

Cherubs Magazine | 5

WHAT’S ON

Splish, splash SPLOSH!

By @mummy_from_enfield – Follow for Days Out in London & Beyond Keep the kiddies entertained this summer with a trip to a splash park. There’s so many to visit, so pack yourselves a picnic, a couple of towels and go have a splashing time!

Kensington Memorial Park If you’re out and about in London Town this summer don’t forget to take advantage of this gorgeous water play area. It also has a playground and other sports club facilities too.

W10 6BZ

Waltham Forest Fellowship Square Fountains A FREE way of keeping cool this summer can be by visiting this stunning square in Walthamstow where they have fountains that dance to music and light up too!

E17 4JF

Paradise Wildlife Park Lagoon Hidden in a lovely setting in Broxbourne is this Paradise Lagoon, giving you the chance to have a splashing time but also enjoy a day out visiting the animals and the world of dinosaurs.

EN10 7QA

St Albans Verulamium Park Located in a fantastic park with activities like crazy golf too, which makes this splash park a great day out for the whole family!

AL1 2DL

Stanborough Park Welwyn Every childs dream splashland can be found in Hertfordshire’s pirate playground! This place can get booked up pretty quick, book in advance to guarantee you make those memories AL8 6DF

6 | Cherubs Magazine

020 8154 3664

Our Fam Sum ily m Pan er to

Cinderella Coming this summer to Chickenshed!

Chickensh hed!

3 - 13 Aug | Ages ges 3+ Tickets £8 020 8292 9222 2 www.chickenshed.org.uk k

Bookin g Now!

WHAT’S ON

Let’s Get Messy!

Kat Vandal is the founder of new kids streetwear brand VANDALKIDS. Kat was inspired to start her brand as she loves encouraging her son to get creative, but doesn’t like the washing and repairing of clothes that come with it. So she designed a range of clothes that is parent and planet friendly with innovation such as wipeable fabrics and reinforced materials and that doesn’t compromise on style. Here she gives us her favourite ideas to encourage messy play.

A lot of parents are put off by messy play.

It feels like a lot of work to set up – and of course clear up afterwards. But messy play has a lot of benefits for children; it’s about learning through experience, exploring, pushing the boundaries of creativity, thinking outside the box and amplifying their experience and memory by using all of their senses.

Getting messy and doing something unconventional can also be a great bonding activity for parents and their children too.

The key to messy play is to make the activity more about the process than the finished product. Involve your children in the whole 8 | Cherubs Magazine

thing, in the preparation – and the cleaning up too!

Washable window painting

Moving from paper to windows is great for triggering interest, improving fine motor skills by changing body position and holding the brush to paint horizontally. Plus your kids will love that you’re letting them get creative on the windows!

What you need: • shaving cream • tempera paint (meaning water-based paint that can be washed with water and soap, very inexpensive and available in any art shop or online) • a hose if you do it outside • a cover for the floor if you do it indoor (cardboard, paper, old blanket will do) • a squeegee, a cloth, soap and a bucket of water • brushes.

The activity: To prep, mix shaving cream with paint; this is a fun part of the activity as kids love to mix and see their ‘potion’ transform, in this case become fluffy.

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WHAT’S ON want if they feel like it, encourage them to use their fingers and hands for an extra sensory experience. Don’t forget to get them involved in the cleaning up.

Flower painting using what you have in the kitchen Allowing your children to create shapes that are otherwise too difficult to draw gives them instant satisfaction. It’s a great alternative to traditional art when kids have less time or a shorter attention span.

What you need • pepper core – for clover • lettuce core – for roses • fork – for tulips • kitchen rolls – for leaves • washable paints • paper plates.

For painting, use brushes or if you are braver and push the senses, you can encourage your kids to use hands to paint on the window. You could give a challenge to draw something or practice letter formation in a way to combine play with learning but let them mess it up at the end to scribble what they want.

Use a hose or a squeegee to erase and start again or clean up in the end: the cleaning up part is very important and should be part of the fun as it teaches kids the notion of cause and effect and responsibility (when we make a mess, it needs to be cleaned) – it’s a great idea to do this when your window need a clean anyway!

The activity: To prep, get kids to find the ingredients that could make the colours you want to create.

Give them a bit of guidance on how to make the paint (if powdered spice, add water and soap; if fruits, mash, sieve and add some flour with soap – you can also boil leaves or peel to create a coloured juice.)

A simple idea is to paint rainbows but again, it’s good to let them paint what they

The activity: You could ask them to find objects to create shapes or suggest them, as above, depending on the time you have and their age.

To prepare the paint put tempera washable paint on plates, mixed with a bit of flour to thicken it.

Show them how to dip in the paint and stamp and let them create their own artwork. You could help by drawing a pot with some leaves to give them a base or leave them free to stamp however they want.

Make your own paint

Use nature to make paint; this is a great way to develop creative thinking and problem solving by encouraging kids to think about what they could mix to create a certain colour. It’s great for younger kids too, as they are taste-safe (although you might want to leave out the mustard!)

What you need: • blueberries to create blue • strawberries to create red • mustard to create yellow • Starch or flour to thicken when needed (or it can be used as watercolour) • a tiny bit of soap to make the paint glide.

There are no rules on quantities, let the kids experiment and make different consistencies and try it out on paper.

You can start with the three primary colours and mix them to create more colours as a learning exercise or continue the fun by creating other colours. For example: • spinach to create green • cinnamon to create brown • beetroot for pink.

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Cherubs readers can use the exclusive discount code

CHERUBS20 for 20% off vandalkidswear.com

Cherubs Magazine | 9

SUMMER

Beat the holidays boredom by building a family time capsule with the kids If you’re looking for ways to keep your little ones entertained during the holidays, putting together a family time capsule could be just the thing.

While building your time capsule, you’ll be encouraging your little ones to collect objects that are important to them right now, which can help you and your family to focus on the moment and remember all the times that made you happy over the last year.

To help you through the process, Cherubs has teamed with Write From The Heart to bring you their top tips for creating and burying your time capsule.

The benefits of making a time capsule Putting together a time capsule isn’t just a fun activity to fill in the time, because it can be a great opportunity to boost your mood and teach your children all about history.

10 | Cherubs Magazine

Teach children about history

Boost your wellbeing It’s important to focus on the little things that keep us going, such as the happy memories you’ve made with your family so far.

When putting together your time capsule, you’ll want to encourage your children to collect a whole range of objects that are special to them. By doing this, you can teach your kids about how we use a range of sources, such as photographs, diary entries, letters, and objects, to create a bigger picture of what a certain time period was like.

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SUMMER You could also ask your little ones what sorts of things they would put in their capsule if they lived in another time. For example, you could discuss what you would have added when you were their age or talk about the objects you might add if you lived in the future.

How to make your time capsule The first step to making your time capsule is choosing your container. You’ll want to pick a box with a strong lid to keep all your memories safe and sound over the years. Try to select a container that’s around the size of a shoe box. This will give you plenty of room to add all your mementos, but the box will be small enough to bury or store somewhere in your home.

The material your box is made from is also important. For a time capsule that will be stored somewhere in your home, any container would be ideal. Shoe boxes are a popular choice, but you could also use plastic, wooden, or metal versions. You can even get some lovely personalised boxes that can be printed with photographs and names of your family.

If you’ll be burying your time capsule in the ground, you’ll want something strong and sturdy that won’t biodegrade over the years, such as an air- and water-tight box made from aluminium or stainless steel. Try to avoid plastic, wood, or cardboard, as these could be destroyed by the weather or any wildlife living in the ground.

Some items you could consider adding to your time capsule include:

• • • • • • • • • • •

clothing photographs (especially of things you think are likely to change) drawings letters or diary entries a coin from the current year mementos from memorable days out small toys Hand- and footprints packaging from your kids’ favourite snacks a TV guide wishes and predictions for the future so you can see if they came true.

If you’ll be adding paper items to your box and storing them outside, it might be a good idea to place them inside a plastic bag or wallet to keep them dry in case any water manages to leak into the container.

Who will open your time capsule?

If you’re planning on opening your capsule yourselves at some point in the future, make sure you set a reminder. This might mean leaving a note at the end of your calendar each year so you don’t forget to carry the reminder over into the next year.

If you want to leave your time capsule for future generations to open, you could leave a note somewhere in your home, giving them clues as to where they can find it.

Where to bury your time capsule

Once you’ve chosen your box, you can gather your little ones around to decorate it.

Once you’ve created your time capsule, you’ll then need to decide where you’re going to bury it.

What to put in your time capsule

If you’d like to keep it indoors, you could place it at the back of a cupboard or in the attic so you’re not tempted to open it too early.

What you put in your time capsule will be personal to you and your family, so make sure you ask your little ones what’s important to them and what their favourite memories are.

If you’re thinking of burying it in the garden, you might want to place it in an area that’s unlikely to be dug up before it is time. Far away from flower beds is a good option, and your children will love digging around in the mud to find a place for it.

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You can make burying your time capsule a ceremony for the whole family to look back on and enjoy by playing music and asking your little ones to make a speech. Don’t forget to place a marker to remind yourself where you planted your time capsule!

Cherubs Magazine | 11

SUMMER

Summer Garden Vibes

Festoon Lights

£19

ikea.com

The wait is over! Summer is here and we can throw ourselves fully into outdoor living. Long sunlit afternoons relaxing in the garden and cosy dinners al fresco. The season gives us the opportunity to escape the mundane and enjoy moments of pure escapism and joy. Style your outdoor space thoughtfully and think of it as an extension of your home for maximum enjoyment.

Les Fruits Outdoor Cushions

£18

dunelm.com

Fringed Deck Chair

£250

coxandcox.co.uk

Set of 3 BBQ Tools

£40

gardentrading.co.uk

Foscot Fire Pit

£128

gardentrading.co.uk

Website: tailormadeliving.co.uk Instagram: @tailormadelivingstore 12 | Cherubs Magazine

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SUMMER

White Bamboo Lantern

£75

thewhitecompany.com

Outdoor Blanket Blue

£48

thewhitecompany.com

Chip & Dip Bowl

£39.50

oliverbonas.com

Elements Dipped Ochre 12 Piece Dinner Set

£55

dunelm.com

Rattan Coffee Table

£179

tikamoon.co.uk

Rattan Two-Seater Sofa

£110

jysk.co.uk

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Cherubs Magazine | 13

SUMMER

Lollylife with Neha @squashedpickle

Hydrating Summer Fruit Pops The weather today was just so perfect! It’s officially ice lolly season so here’s one of Zac’s fave homemade lollies. Super easy to make and a fun and yummy way to stay hydrated in the sun.

Ingredients

• • • • • •

Pomegranate juice (any juice) Coconut water Strawberry Blueberry Kiwi Pomegranate

Method

Frozen Yoghurt Dipped Kiwi Pops

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Fill half the lolly with the chosen juice and freeze for 2 hours.

Chop up fruit and spoon into lolly mould.

Fill with coconut water and slide stick in.

Freeze for 2+ hours till frozen.

Enjoy!

These yoghurt dipped kiwi pops are really good and healthy.

Kiwis offer a host of benefits for babies (they can be introduced from eight to 10 months), children and adults. These pops are great for baby led weaning or teething, the frozen fruit can numb that sore teething pain! The rich source of antioxidants will help build immunity. Being high in fibre, it is also helpful in relieving constipation.

I love that these pops are frozen, they are totally the perfect summer snack and make a great party nibble. You can splash them with chocolate, sprinkles or cereal and freeze. You can also do this with strawberries, bananas and apples.

I have whipped up Greek yoghurt and vanilla with a teaspoon of honey. Dipped my sliced kiwi pops and sprinkled with sprinkles.

Freeze for a couple of hours. The letters are made of chocolate and are so delicious.

Ingredients

• • • • • •

1 Cup of yogurt Kiwis ( sliced ) Lolly sticks Tray Honey (honey should not be given to babies under one year old) Vanilla extract Sprinkles / toppings

14 | Cherubs Magazine

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SUMMER

Fab Ice Lolly’s These homemade Fab (yoghurt) lolly’s are so yummy and look great. They can make any day feel like summer. A great activity with kids and a delicious healthy treat to enjoy in the sunshine. I never measure these, so have given a rough guide.

Ingredients

• • • • • • •

Cup of Greek yoghurt Honey (for kids over one year old only) 4 tsp milk 1 tsp Vanilla extract 4 tsp pomegranate/strawberry juice Chocolate (melted) Sprinkles

Method

Breakfast Pops These pops are delicious anytime of day, but their wholesome ingredients make them a totally acceptable breakfast option. They are great in summer but sometimes you need a summer treat in winter.

I like to keep my petit filous pots and use these but you can use any lolly mould.

Ingredients

• • • • •

1. Whisk the Greek yoghurt with milk and vanilla (add honey if you like it sweetened). Divide into two and add pomegranate/ strawberry juice to one half. (To make the strawberry juice mash and strain a few strawberries and mix with pomegranate juice).

2. Pour the white yoghurt into the ice lolly mould (filling about 2/3 of the way). Add sticks and freeze for two hours.

3. When frozen, pour over the pink yoghurt and freeze for two more hours.

4. Place chocolate into a bowl over a pan of water and let it melt (constantly stirring).

5. Dip ice lollies in the chocolate, allowing any excess to drip off and sprinkle with a few sprinkles. Place on baking paper and let set.

Put it back in the freezer to store.

Greek yogurt sweetened with honey (honey is optional and for after 1 years old) Milk Granola Berries and bananas (sliced) Lolly moulds and sticks

Method

1. Mix the Greek yoghurt, milk and honey. Kids can get involved and layer the fruit (use any fruit you like) and yoghurt.

2. Tap the pot on the table to remove any air pockets.

3. Top with granola (press down a bit).

4. Add lolly stick and freeze for a few hours.

5. When you’re ready to enjoy this treat, simply run the outside of the moulds under some warm water and gently pull the lolly out.

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Cherubs Magazine | 15

SUMMER

The best books to pack in your beach bag this summer. Writer Sara Bragg picks her favourite new reads If you’re looking for books to escape with this summer, then look no further. Here are 6 great page-turners.

This Time Tomorrow

Deep Water

What She Left Behind

A moving and endlessly charming story of connection and father-daughter relationships. Deftly deploying time travel tropes, Alice finds her way back to her sixteen-year-old self in 1996. Faced with different versions of her life, and the consequences of her decisions, she can’t lose sight of what she wants most: some time back with her father, who is lying in a hospital bed. A tender, nostalgic reminder that we must cherish what we have while there is still time.

Suspenseful and gripping, this debut is the perfect beach read. Amarante is paradise, an uninhabited, unspoilt island in the Indian Ocean. But paradise comes with a price. Virginie and Jake sail to Amarante for their honeymoon, but they are not alone.

They have to adjust to life on the island with five strangers. And not everyone will live to tell the tale. Dark secrets surface and their dream abruptly turns into a nightmare.

Dark and menacing, this is the perfect domestic thriller. Lauren knows how lucky she is: a dream home, a new start with her partner, Paul, and his two young children.

But as Lauren fears she’ll never live up to the ghost of Paul’s perfect wife, or help him forget his grief over her tragic death, village rumours begin to swirl and Lauren feels isolated – despite Paul’s reassurances.

She wants to trust Paul – she owes him everything – but how can she, when she can barely trust herself?

Wrong Place, Wrong Time

The Love of My Life

Book Lovers

An unputdownable tale of a mother trying to prevent the murder her son has committed as she wakes up each morning to find herself further back in the past.

Wrong Place Wrong Time is a riveting, tense, genre-bending novel that will stay with the reader long after the closing pages.

The New York Times top ten bestseller, this is a story about what happens when you discover the person you trust most in the world isn’t who they say they are. When Leo discovers everything Emma’s told him about herself is a lie, he starts to unravel her past and discovers the very darkest moments of her other life.

A chemistry-filled enemies-to-lovers romcom that you’ll want to binge read. Nora is a cut-throat literary agent at the top of her game. Her whole life is books. Charlie is an editor with a gift for creating bestsellers.

And he’s Nora’s work nemesis. One summer. Two rivals. A plot twist they didn’t see coming.

By Emma Straub Michael Joseph, £14.99

By Gillian McAllister Penguin £14.99

By Emma Bamford Simon & Schuster £7.99

By Rosie Walsh Pan Macmillan £11.99

By Emily Freud Quercus £7.99

By Emily Henry Penguin, £7.99

Instagram: @sarabraggwriter Website: sarabragg.com 16 | Cherubs Magazine

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SUSTAINABLE SUMMER

Simple Summer Eco Swaps

By Alex alex@achievinggreenness.com

Just thinking about our long overdue and well-deserved family break in the sun this summer brings a smile to our faces and something to look forward to.

And then we start thinking about the inevitable nightmare of logistics and the stress of getting everyone to the airport, on a boat, in a car, on time, remembering to buy and then pack all the ‘essentials’,

remembering the passports… the list goes on and on, and the stress levels go up and up. Now if I throw the ‘green bomb’ into the mix and say ‘what about the environmental impact of your holiday?’ I’d probably need to take cover!

But bear with me here, you don’t need to calculate the carbon footprint of your holiday down to the last ice cream cone

Water Bottle By packing a reusable insulated water bottle in your hand luggage you won’t have to keep buying plastic bottles of water while you are away and it will stay cold for hours. Just remember to make sure you empty the bottle when going through airport security and then fill it up again when airside (all the coffee shops and restaurants will do this for you). There are so many different insulated metal water bottles to choose from these days that you are spoilt for choice. Chilly’s offer lots of bottle designs and now offer a return service to recycle your old bottles when they need replacing, which gives them an even bigger green tick. chillys.com

Beach Bag If you need a new beach bag this year then consider buying a ‘paper’ bag by Zuperzozial, (yes I did say paper bag), these washable paper bags are stylish, hard wearing, plastic free, can double up as your airport handbag, and are a much greener option. formahouse.co.uk Built-In Water Filter Bottle If you are worried about the quality of the water when abroad and drinking any nasties then you can now buy reusable water bottles with built in water filters which remove these nasties from tap water, and can also add some essential minerals like zinc and magnesium. Take a look at the ones on offer from Invigorated Water. invigoratedwater.com cherubsmagazine.com

to be greener, instead there are some very simple summer eco swaps we can make when we plan for our holiday that are stress free and easy.

So when starting to list all the things you’ll need to buy for your holiday, try thinking about a few of these swaps.

Shampoo & Soap Remembering to buy multiple travel size toiletries and cramming them into a bulging toiletry bag used to be a stress pinch point for me, but now I’ve swapped to natural bars of soap with metal travel tins which have removed three different plastic bottles of body wash for the family. We’ve also swapped to natural shampoo bars which again has removed three different plastic bottles of shampoo from the toiletry bag. Natural soap and shampoo bars are quickly becoming more widely available and there are some lovely UK producers to try. Take a look at the offerings of The Soap People who produce beautiful smelling soaps and shampoos. thesoappeople.co.uk

Flip Flops Instead of ordering another new pair of snazzy plastic flip flops which will probably break and be thrown away at the end of the summer, consider buying a pair of natural rubber flip flops from Waves which are durable as well as stylish, are completely plastic free, will last you more than one summer so saving you money, and by buying natural rubber you are preventing another pair of plastic flips flops entering landfill. wavesflipflops.co.uk Cherubs Magazine | 17

BABY SECTION

The benefits of bringing your baby outside

By Lovevery – Lovevery.co.uk Stage-based play essentials for your child’s developing brain 18 | Cherubs Magazine

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BABY SECTION Have you ever noticed your baby’s mood lift when you take them outside? Sunshine and fresh air have well-documented benefits, but being outside is good for your baby for other reasons, too. Their senses are stimulated by vibrant colours, new scents, and exciting sounds like birds and aeroplanes. Spending time outside can also improve language skills – and maybe even their sleep.

If you don’t happen to have immediate access to nature, don’t worry about your baby missing out. Simply being outside in the midst of a busy city can give your baby as many benefits as a walk in the forest, even if it feels a little different.

Here are some of the many reasons to take your baby outside: New sensations lead to brain development

your baby can have a major impact on their language and cognitive development.

One study found that infants and babies are more likely to try to verbalise experiences they’ve had outdoors, stating: “When an infant feels the leaves or the toddler notices the aeroplane in the sky, they are more inclined to verbalise this experience because it will elicit a favourable response from their caregivers.”

If your baby looks at a tree, for example, get close and invite them to reach out a hand to touch it, describing what they’re seeing and feeling: “you’re touching the bark of the tree. It feels rough, doesn’t it? The bark helps protect the tree.” If your baby reacts to a sound, try to find the source and name and describe it; if something captures their gaze, try to investigate.

Better sleep

New sights, sounds, smells, and textures are enjoyable and exciting for your baby.

Even if they’re strapped to your chest or reclining in a stroller, they receive all kinds of stimulation outside that they don’t get when they’re indoors. This stimulation also helps build the synapses – connections between cells in your baby’s brain – that are crucial to cognitive development. Even just a walk around a city block can offer as many distinct, new and unpredictable sensations as a walk in the woods.

Exposure to sunlight plays an important role in how our bodies secrete melatonin, often referred to as the ‘sleep hormone’. A study in the Journal of Sleep Research found that “babies who slept well at night were exposed to significantly more light in the early afternoon period.” Particularly if you have a fussy baby, time outdoors in the afternoon – leading up to the ‘witching hour’ (late afternoon into evening) – can help regulate their sleep-wake cycle. Exposure to direct sunlight can help establish your baby’s circadian rhythms more quickly than if they’re indoors all day.

New language

How to dress them

Spending time with your baby outside also provides new opportunities for language development. As you walk around, narrate what you see and try to react to your baby’s sounds and gestures. Known as ‘serve and return’, this kind of early ‘conversation’ with

A few considerations and rules of thumb can tell you when it’s safe to bring your baby outside, and how to dress them for hot or cold weather. Here are some to keep in mind: Babies can’t cool off the way we do; their sweat glands take time to develop. When it’s hot out (above 23C), the key is to avoid as much direct sun exposure as possible, with a hat on your baby’s head and a sun shield on the carrier or stroller. The FDA doesn’t suggest sunscreen for babies of six months and under. Instead, limit outdoor time when it’s hot (particularly between 10am and 4pm), avoid direct sunlight, and dress your baby in a single layer. Babies should not be outside for prolonged periods of time when the temperature is over 32C. Babies also lose heat faster than adults, so they get cold more easily. Dressing your baby in layers is best: you can add or remove each layer as needed, and heat gets trapped between them, keeping your baby warm. Don’t forget their feet, hands, and face when you’re dressing your baby for cold weather, and use a blanket if the temperature is particularly low. Babies can overheat easily, even in cold temperatures, so always keep an eye on them when you’re out – and be sure to remove the layers when you get back indoors.

cherubsmagazine.com

Cherubs Magazine | 19

Photo Credit: Orac Decor

HOME LIFE

Teen Bedroom Ideas

By Gemma @alpinerose.interiors

Wallpapered Panel (Pictured above)

A panel of a statement wallpaper can add a great feature to a room, meaning you can choose a wallpaper that would break your budget if you were to wallpaper the whole room, or one that you feel is too bold for all four walls. You can insert the wallpaper into panelled mouldings on the wall itself, which works well behind the bed as a headboard or, alternatively, simply frame a large piece of wallpaper.

Plants

Bamboo Display Ladder

£14.99

£45

Happy Houseplants

Tailor Made Living

Washable Rug

£279

Ruggable

Dark Blue Vintage Desk

£226.50

Maison Du Monde

Desk Chair

£179 Ikea

20 | Cherubs Magazine

Birdie Lamp

£47

Urban Outfitters

020 8154 3664

HOME LIFE Colour Block

This is a great image to illustrate colour blocking walls and love the idea of displaying the guitar.

Design by Priscilla Frost Styled by Emily Henderson Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

Panelled Effect Wallpaper This trompe l’oeil panelling effect wallpaper is a great way to add interest and texture to a room, without going to the expense and permanence of installing panelling. Contemporary Wood Panel wallpaper in deep teal.

£22

I Love Wallpaper

Wireless Magnetic Charger for iPhones and Air Pods Handmade in Brighton from recycled plastic packaging waste

£34.95

The Ideal Sunday

Neon Linen Daily Planner A bright and colourful planner to keep them organised and cheer up their day!

Hanging Chair This macrame chair from Boho Flo creates a perfect spot to relax in and also supports small business.

£16.95

£40

Ohh Deer

Boho Flo

Website: alpineroseinteriors.co.uk cherubsmagazine.com

Cherubs Magazine | 21

FEATURE

Chatting all things motherhood with the Marketing & Sales Director at Merci Maman

Please can you introduce yourself?

My name is Alix Stanworth and my husband’s name is Stan. I have two girls aged seven & five and we live in Surrey. I am the International Sales & Marketing Director for Merci Maman and have worked there for four years.

Such beautiful girls! How was your journey through motherhood?

I have always wanted to be a mum and didn’t really think anything more than getting married and having children straight away.

Unfortunately, it didn’t work out like that.

We were unable to conceive for three years.

22 | Cherubs Magazine

We went through all the standard tests the GP does to check hormone levels, etc. and we weren’t really getting any answers as to why there might be a problem; everything seemed ‘normal’. I underwent a test with the NHS to check to make sure my fallopian tubes were clear, and we met an amazing doctor called Mr Griffiths. However, we found out that the waiting list was nearly a year and fertility procedures were always the first things to be cancelled. Thankfully, Mr Griffiths agreed to see me privately and I scheduled a follow-up appointment with him for three weeks later.

He informed me that to get a definitive answer as to why I was unable to conceive

would mean having an operation called a See & Treat Laparoscopy. There was no doubt in my mind, and we booked the operation for December that year. In usual cases, this operation should take around 90 minutes but mine ended up taking 5 hours.

I was then told I had extreme Endometriosis and Polycystic Ovaries.

The good news was that during the operation, he had been able to remove most of the Endometriosis and had cleaned my fallopian tubes as much as he could. I was advised that this was going to be the time when I am likely to be the most fertile.

In April the following year, I was pregnant and in December I had my daughter Lottie.

020 8154 3664

FEATURE Fourteen short months after, I fell pregnant with my second daughter, Maggie.

Did you have any idea that it would be Endometriosis? Were you familiar with this condition?

I always knew something wasn’t right. I had incredibly heavy and painful periods ever since I was young and was having a really hard time trying to control my weight. I didn’t ever think that I would have problems with my fertility, it’s not something you really give much thought to until you want to have a baby. It was something I was really struggling mentally to come to terms with. It scared me that I may never have children and the implications it could have on my marriage.

I had never heard of Endometriosis or the possibility it could affect fertility so that in itself was an uneasy thought.

How was your support after giving birth?

After both of my births I had complications.

With Lottie, I had a perennial haematoma which was incredibly painful and took months to heal. When it came to Maggie, I had maternal sepsis and ended up having to stay in hospital a while after giving birth.

My husband and my family were incredible but my knight in shining armour was my district midwife called Maddie. Maddie, who has now retired came in and took control of the situation. She understood exactly how I was feeling without me even having to explain anything to her. She told my husband to cancel all visitors and showed me techniques to remain in bed and breastfeed; she instantly put me at ease. She will eternally be someone whom I am forever grateful for, and she probably doesn’t know how much she means to me.

And we know that Merci Maman’s yearlong campaign is called #MyJourney.

Why is this so important to you?

This year’s #MyJourney campaign is so important to me as motherhood at times, can feel so lonely. The main goal of this campaign is to make sure every woman has a safe, reassuring and understanding platform to share their own motherhood journey. There are so many women experiencing difficulties at different stages of motherhood and reading and hearing about other people’s journeys can hopefully give some form of comfort and confidence to know that they are not alone.

What do you love the most about working for Merci Maman?

The thing I love most about Merci Maman is the people I work with. We are predominantly women who support each other within our work and personal lives.

We all have complete flexibility when it comes to our children. You never need to worry about not being able to go to work because your child is unwell or they have sports day, and so on. That flexibility makes a huge difference in my mental well-being and makes sure I have a good work-life balance.

What is your favourite piece of jewellery and what have you chosen to be engraved?

My favourite piece of jewellery is the new Love Links necklace and bracelet. I love how it’s more of a stylish piece in my collection and really does go with everything. I have ‘Lottie & Maggie’ engraved on the front and an ‘S’ on the back for my husband – subtle yet sentimental I say!

Dainty Love Links Bracelet and Necklace

Website: mercimamanboutique.com cherubsmagazine.com

Cherubs Magazine | 23

SELF CARE

Ask The Nutritionist With Christianna Karaolis from Eat Happy Feel Good

Q A

Can nutrition help my skin get a healthy glow?

Nutrition can make a big difference to healthy skin and can definitely be part of what gives you that healthy glow. Our skin is actually our biggest organ and it needs certain nutrients to stay healthy. These include: Vitamin C – from citrus fruit, kiwi, peppers, berries, spinach, broccoli.

Vitamin A – from liver, eggs, sweet potato, butternut squash, carrots.

Vitamin E – from almonds and sunflower seeds.

Omega 3 and 6 – from oily fish such as salmon and mackerel, walnuts, olive oil, and sunflower seeds.

Having a diet rich in antioxidants is also important to protect our skin from oxidative damage and contribute to healthy ageing.

Eat more berries, cacao powder, green leafy greens, tomatoes, darkly coloured vegetables, green tea. Some of the vitamin E and C-rich foods are also antioxidants, so doubly good for our skin. With all these foods, we need to eat them regularly for them to work their magic.

Other important factors include staying hydrated, using SPF and quality skincare as well as minimising the things that damage our skin such as smoking, sun exposure, irritants, dehydration and a low-nutrient diet.

With skin conditions such as acne or eczema there are likely to be underlying issues such as gut health that require a more specific intervention.

Q A

Are supplements a good thing?

Should we all be taking them?

Supplements are a great thing and I use them in my clinic all the time but that doesn’t mean we should all be taking them. Everyone has individual nutrient needs and those needs change over time – so you may only need a supplement for a certain amount of time to address a specific insufficiency or to support a health goal. There are also other factors to consider; what your overall diet is like, age, lifestyle, and even the season makes a difference.

In some cases, for example if a person is unable to absorb a specific nutrient effectively, long term supplementation may be needed.

Ideally, nutrition should primarily come from food, supplements are just that – supplemental, they won’t replace a healthy nutrient-rich diet. However, some nutrients like Vitamin D or magnesium can be difficult to get from food alone, so supplementation is often necessary.

Also, with supplements quality matters!

There are some high street brands that contain such small amounts of the active ingredient, I consider them a total waste of money.

If you are going to take supplements, know why you are taking them, how long for, make sure they are fit for purpose and contain enough of the nutrient you need.

And finally, make sure you take them as directed and that they wont interact with any other supplements or meds you may be

taking. Just because you can buy them over the counter or they are ‘natural’ doesn’t mean they aren’t potentially harmful.

Q A

I feel tired all the time! How can I improve my energy levels?

I hear this all the time and unfortunately the answer isn’t simple.

Firstly I’d suggest testing your iron levels, thyroid function and blood glucose levels.

If there is a deficiency or a health issue with any of those, addressing it will help.

After that, it’s worth considering if you have any individual micronutrient deficiencies – Vitamin D and magnesium are both common factors when it comes to energy levels and the right supplementation can make a difference.

Nutrition can also play a big role. If you aren’t giving your body the nutrients it needs to produce energy then you will feel it. Or are you eating in a way that causes blood sugar spikes and dips? If so, this would likely contribute to low energy levels.

Then I would explore lifestyle factors. Are you sleeping well? Are you particularly stressed? Is your schedule overly demanding? If the answer is yes to any of these, it’s time to make some changes. If you are feeling tired all the time it’s your body’s way of telling you something isn’t right. Take the time to explore it and make the necessary changes.

#lookafteryou

If you’d like to have a consultation with Christianna, contact her on 07851 680211 or christianna@eathappyfeelgood.co.uk 24 | Cherubs Magazine

020 8154 3664

diamondsbyfabio.com

My

goal is to provide a bespoke service, allowing clients as much input as possible into the creation of their jewellery.

It is a truly unique experience, embedded with thought and sentiment from the client, coupled with the highest level of craftsmanship.

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DIAMONDS by FÁBIO

SELF CARE

Energy Do’s and Don’ts

By Registered Nutritional Therapist Sophie Trotman DipION mBANT CNHC

Low energy is extremely common. So much so that doctors have a name for it - TAT (tired all the time). In this article, we discuss some do’s and don’ts related to optimal energy levels with Registered Nutritionist Sophie Trotman DipION mBANT CNHC.

Do’s Eat a varied wholefood diet to ensure you are getting enough micronutrients In food diaries, I often observe a tendency to eat the same meals again and again. This is problematic, because if you consistently eat the same foods, you will likely be missing out on essential nutrients that are only acquired through a varied diet. Many of these nutrients contribute to processes involved in energy.

When it comes to increasing the diversity of your diet, start with one meal. Let’s say, for example, you eat yoghurt, banana and granola for breakfast every day. Can you start swapping the banana for blueberries three days a week? Can you swap the granola for an alternative brand three days a week? Can you find a recipe for a different nutritionally balanced breakfast and eat that twice a week?

Look after your gut health to ensure that you can absorb food properly Gut health impacts many aspects of our health. One important element of gut health is how it impacts our ability to absorb and use nutrients from the food we eat. When our gut health is suboptimal, we may notice signs of nutrient deficiency such as low energy.

Ensuring that you eat a diverse range of plant foods and including probiotic fermented foods and drinks in your diet like

kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir and kombucha is a great place to start.

Include sources of iron in your diet There are two types of iron. Heme iron is found in animal products like beef, poultry and seafood. Non-heme iron is found in plant foods like spinach, lentils and tofu.

Non-heme iron is less easily absorbed than heme iron, so you may need to eat more of it. Pairing iron with foods rich in vitamin C improves the absorption of iron, so pair your sources of iron with broccoli, red pepper or even just a squeeze of lemon.

Get your iron and B12 levels tested In nutrition, we have a saying: “Test, don’t guess.” If you constantly feel low in energy, get your iron and B12 levels tested with a doctor, as these nutrients are vital for energy.

It is also important to go to the doctor if you feel unexplained fatigue, as there may be some conditions that are necessary to rule out to be safe.

Don’ts Supplement iron without testing In clinic, I often see clients who have put themselves on iron supplementation due to fatigue without getting tested at the doctor. This is unsafe, as too much iron is

toxic for the body. Always get tested before supplementing.

Rely on caffeine or sugar Among my clients, I often see a reliance on caffeine and/or sugar to get through the day. While coffee and sugar can indeed give us a short term energy boost, what goes up must come down and we are then left with an energy dip. Those familiar with the 3pm slump will know this feeling well. Continuously using caffeine and sugar throughout the day leads to energy fluctuations and high quantities of both carry their own individual problems.

Get enough sleep It may sound obvious, but if we don’t get enough quality sleep, there is very little we can do to feel energised.

Most of us need between seven and nine hours of sleep a night. Set yourself up for sleep success by ditching the screens at least an hour before bedtime, dimming the lights and avoiding eating at least two hours before bed.

Sophie sees clients for virtual one-to-one consults and does workplace wellness talks.

Website: sophietrotmannutrition.com Instagram: @sophietrotmannutrition 26 | Cherubs Magazine

020 8154 3664

SELFCARE

Recognising our authentic self. Foregoing the filters

By Julie Hamshere from Feel Think Do

It might be obvious to many of us that this is not real, but even we can’t help the lure of it. Any of us can achieve this, by using filters to project the image we want people to see, but this is far from authentic.

A recent survey conducted by ParentsTogether found that most teens (61%) say using beauty filters makes them feel worse about how they look in real life .

They say that beauty filter use correlates with low-self esteem and poor body image. Isn’t

that worrying? That the use of such filters is actually making these teens feel worse.

When everyone else looks like the current image of perfect, it is important to educate that this is not the case. It is also imperative that we spend less time scrolling through social media feeds. By exposing our brains to a fake reality the more it becomes our actual reality and is normalised. But, once you realise, there are lots of ways to help embrace and celebrate your natural self.

The obvious things such as cutting back on social media time is a given – less exposure will help. Look at what and who makes you happy and surround yourself with positivity.

And recognising and managing self-esteem and stressors is key. Stress can be triggered by continuous exposure to visuals or situations that make us feel anxious and this can often show on our faces. Our face is a great palate for managing our stress and anxiety issues. Each one of us is capable of using simple facial reflexology techniques to manage stress. This also has a lifting and glowing effect!

Regular practice can help muscle structure and generally make us feel good. Yet, anyone using filters and showcasing a different persona on social media, should look at the root cause – what is driving this behaviour? Often it is a mindset that requires change. It requires a realisation that inside and out you are beautiful and your authentic self is a cause for celebration. Once you can accept that then these techniques can be a valuable way to continue to feel great!

Try these techniques yourself to help release stress and calm you. First, with a clean face and hands start by standing in front of a mirror and smiling. Take three deep breaths into your belly and as you do so just raise and drop your shoulders.

Next, press your thumbs into the centre of your cheekbones (in line with the pupil) and press upwards. While doing this breathe in for three, hold for four and breathe out for five, release and repeat three times. Next, using your thumbs again gently press in and upwards under the cheekbones and slowly move outwards towards the ear and repeat three times.

To book a facial reflexology session, face to face or even via Zoom contact me directly at julie@feelthinkdo.co.uk or visit feelthinkdo.co.uk. My practice is based at The Good Rooms in Muswell Hill, North London. cherubsmagazine.com

Source: SURVEY METHODOLOGY

Authenticity shouldn’t be something we shun. But it seems that for some this is exactly what is happening. Our authentic self means showing up, inside and out without hiding behind filters. I see how much the use of filters in social media is increasing. I look at the perfect faces staring back at me and boom my insecurities hit me. And I, someone who should know better, am drawn in. I notice, wow, their skin, their eyebrows, their teeth and then I shake my head and remind myself that this is not real. But what about teens who can struggle to identify beauty filters when on social media?

Cherubs Magazine | 27

STYLE

Style Edit Utility Jacket

With overseas holidays firmly back on the agenda, it’s time to stop daydreaming and pack your suitcase! Classic summer wardrobe items such as lines and espadrilles will keep you looking chic. Play with 70s inspired details and you’re good to go!

£42

Next

Espadrille Trainers

£24.99 H&M

Star T-Shirt

£35

Hush

Chloe Sunglasses

£335

John Lewis

Cat Eye Sunglasses

Bamboo Handle Grab Bag

Celine

Russell & Bromley

£310 Bikini

£445

Hoops

£19.99

£170

Mango

Dinny Hall

Espadrilles

£120

Castaner at Nobody’s Child

28 | Cherubs Magazine

020 8154 3664

STYLE Straw Sun Hat

£35 Cos

Beaded Bracelet

£60

Anni Lu at Libery

Beach Playsuit

£34

Asos

Plunge Printed Swimsuit

£95

Reiss

Linen Dress

£145

Jigsaw

Midi Dress

£88

Linen Joggers

Free People

£24.99 H&M

Beach Co-ord Set

Shirt £30 Shorts £24

4th + Reckless at Asos

Miller Soft Sandal

£215

Tory Burch

Mini Straw Tote

£29.50 M&S

Styled by Antonia Sanchez-Toomey Website: tailormadeliving.co.uk Instagram: @tailormadelivingstore cherubsmagazine.com

Cherubs Magazine | 29

Photo credit: @leowedphoto

SUSTAINABLE STYLE - ADVERTISING FEATURE

30 | Cherubs Magazine

020 8154 3664

SUSTAINABLE STYLE - ADVERTISING FEATURE and a big dreamer I’d find the discipline of running my own business too challenging but I’ve learned that magic ingredients like: passion, determination and having fun made it possible. Plus being able to do something like this in my late 30s I feel very proud of myself to have built this platform.

My eldest daughter has kindly said she wants to take it over when she is older. The next generation is all about sustainability and we have to encourage this for the better.

Q.

Owning your own business, while being a mother to two children with a third on the way sounds very tiring. How do you manage it?

Think I’m still figuring that out. Why does that always seem to happen? You miss one bus, then they all come at once! I don’t ever sit still. Always doing something, planning, organising, ready to go on a day trip or weekend away. I’m not a good relaxer so keeping busy is the only way I know. I’ll probably be sourcing online while on gas and air! I will obviously slow down when the new baby comes as too precious to waste.

Q.

First and foremost, let’s ask a bit about you… who is Manta?

My besties say I’m like Patsy from Ab-Fab mixed with Amanda from Motherhood!

Fashion obsessed, enjoys a long lunch and loves a plan.

Oh, and I’m the Founder of was / NOW and a mum of two girls with another on her way.

Q.

How did was / NOW come about?

I got married at the beginning of lockdown.

I needed an outfit with a week’s notice. I sourced my perfect Vivienne Westwood dress and shoes all for £260 on eBay. I realised then that I enjoy searching online for preloved and vintage key pieces, and usually see the beauty in the uglier items.

When charity shops opened up again it was a dream. I couldn’t believe how much I had missed feeling the clothes on the rails: touching, rifling and trying bits on and styling up pieces once again and dancing in front of the mirrors... just because!

cherubsmagazine.com

I’ve built up good contacts and relationships with the shop owners and now I know all the secret places so why not source, style, share and sell my finds I thought?!

Q.

Have you always shopped this way?

My 21st birthday theme was ‘charity shop chic’ and I’ve always shopped secondhand even when it wasn’t cool back with my mum in the 90s. Her wardrobe was very eclectic.

She was a model in the 60s, so very cool, edgy and totally bold with her style.

I used to follow her around the charity shops and touch and feel what she did.

Mum always picked out the more obscure items off the rail, and effortlessly pulled an outfit together.

Q.

I’ve got sourcing trips booked in Paris, I have to dip into other cultures to be inspired. I’d love to have a pop-up shop in Paris, Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Berlin in the next two years.

I have a fantastic space at Brothership studio in Hertford and I love being part of the creative community there. We bounce off each other and I feel so inspired by the other artists and the work going on around me there – there are always workshops and pop-ups and the people who come in bring such an energy – it’s my dream job come true.

Was / NOW can also now be found at ZOOT, 201 Portobello Road, W11 LONDON. Every thrifters dream to be part of the Portobello scene.

I was always excited to see what she picked up next.

Then years down the line I’m doing the same with my nine-year-old. I’ll always thank her for giving me the inspiration to be individual and seek the things that perhaps look better on than on the hanger.

Q.

Did you always envision having your own business?

I always assumed that because I’m creative

Photo credits: @innakostukovskyo

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting the fabulous Manta, owner and founder of was / NOW. Here we talk about all things fashion mixed with business and motherhood.

What’s the future for was / NOW?

Cherubs Magazine | 31

BEAUTY

Embrace the summer skin you’re in With Amy Conway – Makeup Artist @bbpro_amyconway We are already starting to feel the warmth on our skin and the glare in our eyes, and this is the exact moment that I love to switch up my makeup bag ready for summer. Summer skin is by far the most loved skin trend, and the best thing about it is that it’s all about embracing your natural skin! Here are my top tips and must-haves for this season.

Is tinted moisturiser better for your skin?

In short, yes. With its skin-first approach, tinted moisturisers usually come oozing with skincare’s most-loved ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, niacinamide and

more. I love how even though they give a great coverage, they still allow the skin to breath, which helps prevents clogged pores and breakouts.

How do I choose the right tinted moisturiser for my skin?

The great thing about tinted moisturisers is they are very forgiving in shades because they are so sheer, you may even find that one or two shades could blend into your skin beautifully! My top tip would be swatch across your cheek to colour match to your skin as that’s where we get the most high colour.

Can you still get a good coverage with tinted moisturiser?

Yes absolutely! My favourite way to get that sheer summer look but with coverage is start by applying a tinted moisturiser all over and then go in with your concealer and just pinpoint where you need the coverage only.

Below you can see two of my friends, both with completely different skin-related concerns that you might typically use a foundation for, but see how amazing they both look in a tinted moisturiser!

Rose @rosegallagher Main concern: Rosacea Products used: IT Cosmetics CC Cream

Ashley @ashleys_edit Main concern: Pigmentation around eyes and lips.

Products used: Kate Somerville SPF 50 & Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser.

32 | Cherubs Magazine

020 8154 3664

BEAUTY

Summer Skin Wins BEST FOR OILY SKIN: NARS Cosmetics Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser SPF30/PA+++

BEST FOR GLOW: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Natural Skin Perfector 50ml

£34

lookfantastic.com

£36

lookfantastic.com

BEST FOR COVERAGE: IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF50 32ml

£33

lookfantastic.com

SPF is your BFF

BEST FOR MATURE SKIN: Estée Lauder DayWear MultiProtection AntiOxidant Sheer Tint Release Moisturiser SPF15

£45

esteelauder.co.uk

It goes without saying that SPF is a must-have in everyday life, it’s so important to protect the one skin we have. So here are my favourites to slot seamlessly into your everyday routine.

BEST FOR EVERYDAY: Essential-C Day Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF30 PA+++

£65

murad.co.uk

BEST FOR ON THE GO: Uncomplikated SPF50 Soft Focus Makeup Setting Spray

BEST FOR LIGHTWEIGHT GLOW: Clinique Mineral Sunscreen Fluid for Face SPF30 30ml

katesomerville.co.uk

lookfantastic.com

£36

cherubsmagazine.com

£23

BEST FOR WATERPROOF: Shiseido Expert Sun Protector Face Cream SPF50+

£32

lookfantastic.com

Cherubs Magazine | 33

READING

Summer Reading

Recommended by Pickled Pepper Books

Look, it’s Roar Roar Lion

Tickle!

By Amelia Hepworth – 0-3 years A hilarious lift-the-flap book guaranteed to make you giggle! The animals are all taking turns to make the grumpy Moose laugh in all sorts of silly ways. Get ready for a fun surprise on the last page!

Babies & Toddlers

By Camilla Reid – 0-3 years A beautiful multi-sensory hide-andseek adventure your little ones will love to explore! Each page features a fun illustration of different animals and their sounds, but can you find the hidden creatures behind the felt flaps?

Granny Came Here On The Empire Windrush

Bye Bye, Binary

By Eric Geron – 0-3 years This book is a fantastic introduction to gender for the littlest little ones. When baby arrives, people ask “is it a boy or a girl?”, but this happy little baby refuses to conform to either! A perfect book to encourage little ones to love what they love and be who they are!

34 | Cherubs Magazine

By Patrice Lawrence – 2-7 years A heart-warming picturebook from awardwinning author Patrice Lawrence, perfect for introducing little ones to the history of the Empire Windrush. When Ava needs to find someone she admires to dress up as for a school assembly, Granny tries to help by suggesting some amazing historical figures – but Ava’s classmates have got there first!

Then, Ava discovers a mysterious suitcase in Granny’s attic, and Granny teaches Ava all about her long journey from Jamaica to England, and how she made this country her home. Ava has found the ideal inspirational figure to celebrate at her school assembly.

Celebrate Empire Windrush Day on 22 June!

020 8154 3664

READING

Bugs

By Patricia Hegartya and Britta Teckentrup – 2-7 years Summertime is the perfect time to explore the outdoors, and this stunning book is a fantastic way to learn all about the smallest creatures in the garden… BUGS! With wonderful rhymes and beautiful illustrations, this book is a lovely way to learn about the outside world!

Early years

The Lost Whale

By Hannah Gold – 7 years+ An enchanting story about a young boy who, finding himself alone and adrift in a new place, forges a life-changing connection with a wild whale. Beautifully illustrated throughout, this is a stunning follow up to Hannah’s first novel, The Last Bear.

Books to get them reading for pleasure

Hedgewitch

By Skye McKenna – 9 years+ The world is full of magic and, having just escaped from her boarding school Cassie is about to find out for herself. Will she find out what happened to her mother after seven years apart? And just who is this wicked Erl King that she keeps hearing talk of? With a talking cat, mystical woods and plenty of magic, this is a must read for young witches and wizards!

Legendarium

Genie and Teeny: The Wishing Well

By Steven Lenton 5 years+ The latest instalment in this adorably funny series from the brilliant Steven Lenton.

Grant the Genie and his best friend, the puppy Teeny are back for a whirlwind adventure. Teeny wants to take Grant on a flying visit back to Genie land but of course, wishes are never quite as simple as you want them to be! cherubsmagazine.com

By Jennifer Bell – 9 years+ Arthur, Ren and Cecily are stuck in Legendarium in the year 2493, where the secretive villain Deadlock has discovered dangerous time-travel technology. To save the universe, the friends must enter the deadly Irontide Tournament, where legends are real and one wrong move could cost them their lives. This thrilling story is jam-packed with friendship, danger, and excitement.

10 Middle Ln, Crouch End, London N8 8PL 020 3632 0823 • pickledpepperbooks.co.uk Instagram: @PickledPepperEnfield @pickledpepperbooks Twitter: @PickledEnfield Cherubs Magazine | 35

EDUCATION - ADVERTISING FEATURE

Learning beyond the classroom

At PGHS, we offer pupils an excellent academic education in a nurturing and caring environment. This starts in our Nursery when they are aged 3-4 years old and continues as they move through to the Main School when they are ready to start in Reception.

At the Nursery, we equip the children with everything they need to be ready to step into the big wide world. We offer a warm and inspiring space in which the young girls explore and learn, enabling them to fulfil their potential. The Nursery has excellent classroom facilities and the garden provides opportunities for being active and observing the natural world.

When the girls are ready for “big school”, they move on to our Prep Department (ages 4-7). In Reception, they have access to our excellent classroom teachers as well as specialist teaching in Drama, Music and PE. From Year 1, this is complemented

by Design and Technology in the D&T workshop, Art, and Modern Foreign Languages (French and Spanish). As the girls progress through the School, they receive additional specialist teaching in ICT, Drama, and Science in the Science Labs.

We believe it is important to bring learning to life, and as such we do a whole host of different activities on and off-site to broaden the girls’ experiences.

We have done so much this year!

Out and about locally

The pupils love to explore our local area, learning about the world around us. Earlier this year, the Nursery girls visited Forty Hall Farm. During their visit, they enjoyed

looking at the flowers in the walled garden and then they were given a tour of the farm by one of the volunteers. They were delighted to see all the baby farm animals up close.

We’ve also had some excellent external companies and authors come in to work with the children at School, including:

As part of our new Outdoor Learning programme, all classes in the Prep Department have been to the nearby Woodcroft Wildspace, in N21. During their recent visits they participated in mini beast hunting, pond dipping and den-building.

They have also learnt about the trees, plants, flowers and beehives!

•

And this is what our Year 1 girls said…

My favourite thing in Woodcroft was the pond dipping. Using the nets was great fun. All you had to do is dip the net into the pond and scoop it all up and then put it in a tub full of water.

•

• •

WonderDome the mobile planetarium show, inspiring space explorers Author visits including the renowned author Caroline Green, and several local authors including Anjli Shah, and Michelle Eshkeri & Jodie Webber Drama productions by Quantum Theatre ZooLab workshop

What makes us special?

PGHS is a truly fantastic school. Our most recent ISI Inspection rated us as “excellent”, the highest possible grade, in every area.

They recognised the incredible work that the dedicated teaching and support staff do to enable all of our pupils to reach their full academic potential in a safe and caring environment in line with our School motto

By Love Serve One Another.

We believe PGHS can offer your daughter an excellent all-round education, giving her the very best start to school life. For more information, to join one of our Open Days, or to book a personal tour, please visit www.pghs.co.uk or call us on 020 8886 1135.

My favourite part is the pond dipping. I found so many Ramshorn snails.

Website: pghs.co.uk Phone: 020 8886 1135 36 | Cherubs Magazine

020 8154 3664

For the achievers of tomorrow.

Palmers Green High School (PGHS) specialises in educating girls aged 3-16 years old. We help pupils develop a lifelong love of learning from their early years at our Nursery, through to our Lower and Senior School.

We are excellent! How do we know?

PGHS is ranked Number One in The Sunday Times National League Table for Small Independent Schools.

See us in action; book your personal tour today.

Call 020 8886 1135 Email office@pghs.co.uk

The quality of the pupils’ academic and other achievements and personal development was judged as EXCELLENT by the Independent Schools Inspectorate 2022.

Outstanding GCSE results in 2021 72% A*/9/8 grades and 93% A*/9 to A/7 grades.

104 Hoppers Road London N21 3LJ www.pghs.co.uk

EDUCATION

+ 11 Exam Prep

By Anna Coulson – Champion Tutor

Inspired by a background in education and a track record of supporting the mental wellbeing of students, co-founder Anna Coulson created Champion Tutor, to offer private one-to-one and group online tuition with a difference. Here, Anna provides Cherubs readers with some top tips to pass the 11+ exam.

1. Make the right school choice Think carefully which school your child wants to try for, consider how the school would fit into family life and commitments.

Children should have a good balance between school and outside activities to enable them to perform to the best of their ability. Visit the schools on your shortlist and get a real idea of what life would be like for your child. Knowing where you’re heading is a great motivator, so a goal is essential.

2. Choose the right preparation plan There are several ways to prepare you for the exam. Recent research from the Education Endowment Foundation shows that children who are in receipt of one to one tuition make five months, additional progress against their peers. Consider a tutor for your child and find a perfect match, your child needs to be confident, happy and comfortable to learn.

3. Concentrate on maths and English As a starting point for 11+ exams, concentrate on brushing up on maths and English, encourage them to read every day and practise their times tables. Schedule in some spelling work and mental maths each week to improve on their skills.

4. Develop a wide vocabulary A wide vocabulary is best developed

over time, reading a wide range of texts, newspapers, talking to adults and debating all help to develop a love of language and the accurate use.

5. Practise times tables To pass the 11+ your child must have a rock-solid knowledge of their times tables.

This skill will help them work quickly and accurately in the maths portion and get a better result.

At school, maths lessons tend to move on before a child has acquired an understanding of the times table fully. This is due to the pressure of the curriculum, so make sure you keep practising them together or with your tutor.

6. Make a plan and stick to it When you have made your plan and can see it is working for your child, ignore what other parents are doing. You will hear parents talking about how many hours of study their child is doing, or the complex questions they are tackling. If your system is working for you and your child, its fine.

7. Remember to expose your child to some practise papers Practice of papers for the school of choice is so important, great revision and preparation. The more variety of questions helps broaden their understanding.

8. Stamina is important Both you and your child need stamina to get through this. You need stamina to dedicate the time needed to help with their learning, and they will need the stamina to get through the exam itself. The exam day is very demanding, and some children may have never had to work so hard for so

long before. Try some mock days yourself or with a tutor to help your child get a feel for what the day will be like and practice for having to concentrate for such an extended period.

9. Remember to stay calm It is important to keep a sense of normality at exam time, encourage your child to include extra-curricular activities, family commitments and other important tasks in their revision timetables. Having breaks in long revision periods with other events will also help make the exam period seem less daunting overall.

Help your child to detox from screen time, having phones put away when studying is good practice and also improves concentration. Encourage time in the day for a walk and away from social media to help clear the mind and avoid distraction.

Short, sharp bursts are more effective than prolonged time studying. Allocating 15 minutes to a subject will help your child to be better engaged and motivated.

Reflecting on how successful a study session was helps your child appreciate how much they are learning. Encouraging them to make a list of things they learnt, the parts they are confident with and bits of study that need more work will help them remain focused.

Remind your child that, although exams and qualifications are important for their future, they are not the be-all and end-all.

There will always be options and other avenues to explore in the future.

Website: champion-tutor.co.uk 38 | Cherubs Magazine

020 8154 3664

North Bridge House

New tion p e c e R + 4 rep, P o t y r t n e Regent’s Park

North Bridge House is on a constant journey of getting to know and understand every child as an individual, realising their true academic and personal potential through specialist provision at every school stage.

NURSERY & PRE-PREP WEST HAMPSTEAD 2 - 7 YEARS FRIDAY 10 JUNE SATURDAY 17 SEPT

NURSERY & PRE-PREP HAMPSTEAD 2 - 7 YEARS TUESDAY 7 JUNE (NURSERY 2+) THURSDAY 9 JUNE (PRE-PREP 4+)

PREP SCHOOL REGENT’S PARK 4 - 13 YEARS SATURDAY 24 SEPT

SENIOR HAMPSTEAD 11 - 16 YEARS SATURDAY 17 SEPT

SENIOR CANONBURY 11 - 18 YEARS SATURDAY 24 SEPT

Book an open day or private tour at northbridgehouse.com/open

EDUCATION

Ready, Steady, School!

By Aimee Hart @hart_at_home By this point in the year you will have found out which school your child will be attending. It’s a pretty stressful process isn’t it? Choosing a school, picking options, and waiting with baited breath to find out if you have been allocated your top choice or maybe having to go through appeals or sit on a waiting list. I’ve been there, I understand! Hopefully you’ve all received the desired outcome or at least come to terms with where your child will spend the next seven years of their life. It’s huge for parents – especially first time mums or mum of children with specific needs. But fear not, schools are designed and created with pastoral care at the heart and will welcome you with open arms, supporting you and your child’s needs as you both navigate this new chapter of your lives.

Although September is still a little while off it’s a good idea to start talking to your child about school life and giving them some practise in things that they will be undertaking as part of their new routine. I

don’t mean for you to get out the national curriculum and begin teaching fractions to four year olds, I mean to begin to develop attributes that will make their settling in time more manageable.

Friendships School is a place we have to go for a big chunk of our lives, so having people around us we like, care about and trust is huge.

Friendships groups evolve and change as children grow and they will gravitate to different friends as the years move on.

Skills for being a good friend include:

• • • •

being able to share and take turns recognsing feelings being displayed by others wanting to play alongside other children or join a game complimenting others and finding nice things to say.

Independence School is a wonderful opportunity for children to develop independent skills. The school day can be busy and often teachers and staff have a level of expectation that children can carry out certain tasks without a high level of support. Obviously this doesn’t mean children are left to complete things they are unable to do, struggle with or find stressful but it builds their confidence in themselves. Skills for being independent in school include the ability to:

• • • •

dress and undress for PE know what items to gather before home time eat lunch and use cutlery on a basic level play alone and be confident about what they enjoy doing.

Website: myevelynandme.com 40 | Cherubs Magazine

020 8154 3664

EDUCATION Self-esteem All children are different and have different personality traits. Even siblings display a variety of different interests and individualities. This is a good thing… how boring life would be if all children were the same! Children need to develop a sense of pride for who they are and what they want to give to the world. Schools work to further develop this and give children opportunities to grow further in their interests. Some children do struggle with vocalising what they are good at and sometime even talk negatively about themselves.

cherubsmagazine.com

Here are some techniques that are useful for raising children’s self-esteem:

• • • •

Tell children what they are good at, make sure they know you have noticed their efforts.

Allow children to also say what they aren’t good at and give them opportunities to practice.

Practice affirmations with the children; I am kind, I am strong, I am helpful, I am creative et cetera.

Project your self-esteem to them, try talking positively about yourself around them.

All of these different elements can be modelled at home or with their siblings.

When modelling these skills give praise and allow children to feel accomplished in their role play.

Knowledge comes when children are open and willing to learn and take on new information. This can be even more successful when children feel happy and safe in their environment. Improving these three skill elements will help children on their way to becoming a successful learner, friend and individual. School curriculums are designed to support the whole child and will always seek to improve their mental and educational needs.

Cherubs Magazine | 41

EDUCATION - ADVERTISING FEATURE AS GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

Aiming High Successful schools are about the personal development of each child as an individual, and the development of each child’s skills and knowledge to enable them to make a positive contribution at school and in their adultAS lives.

LEVEL THINKING SKILLS At Mount House, students combine intellectual endeavour with an enthusiastic engagement which extends well beyond the classroom.

We are a small school with a significant sense of community and we encourage students to aim high, to work hard to be the best they can be – whether it’s in the examination hall, on the sports field, on stage or in the creative or performing arts.

Our small size is critical to creating those opportunities, and allowing us to guide LEVEL each AS student soCITIZENSHIP that they in turn can contribute to the creation of a stimulating and supportive community. I consider it a great privilege to be able to lead a unique school which is able to offer such a wonderful educational experience.

Academic achievement is of course integral to our students’ time here, but we would be disappointed if young people left Mount House with excellent exam results alone. Our goal is that students become confident and independent learners, prepared to tackle new and AS LEVEL LAW challenging ideas, undaunted by risks, and able to learn from failure. Our school motto “Inspiring Every Individual” exemplifies this idea – at Mount House each person learns to be intellectually curious, optimistic and determined in all that they do – but to do so while making a contribution to the whole community and developing a sense of fun which will serve them well in life.

GCSE LATIN

Sixth Form

For information Findmore out more about about Sixth Form andat Mount House School www.mounthouse.org.uk Open Days, please call or by calling 020 8449 6889 020 8449 6889 or emailing admissions@ or visit the website mounthouse.org.uk www.mounthouse.org.uk

invite students to participate in School assemblies and promote opportunities for students to contribute to the school and wider communities through fundraising activities, as well as expecting Sixth Form students to play a leading role in the organisation of inter-house events and to encourage and support the participation of younger pupils.

As role models within our community Sixth Formers are Guardians, and throughout their Lower Sixth Year mentor one or two pupils in Year 7. Many Lower Sixth students help support Lower School students with their studies, particularly at GCSE where Lower Sixth students achieved highly. Sixth Formers supervise our Wellbeing Cafe where students who need a friendly face or support and guidance can drop in each lunchtime.

Students contribute to, or indeed, run a variety of clubs and societies. The House of Equality is entirely Sixth Form run and Sixth Formers have contributed to Varsity Club, Chess Club and with the coaching of our lower school sports teams.

Our Student Leadership team embodies the community aspect of our Sixth Form.

Mount House students will invariably enter positions of leadership in their later lives. The training and experience to prepare them for those positions starts with us.

If you think your son or daughter would enjoy being part of our community, please visit us on our Open Days on June 25th and September 24th. Only by seeing the school in action will you get a true flavour of all that Mount House can offer.

I look forward to meeting you in person.

Mrs Sarah Richardson Head Mount House School

Our Sixth Form are encouraged to engage in leadership opportunities in many aspects of Mount House life. We

THE ACCREDITATION FOR LANGUAGES IN BUSINESS [FRENCH]

“An Excellen t Indepen dent School” The Tele g

raph

AIMING HIGH Explore Mount House in Hadley Wood

OPEN

DAYS

SCAN TO BOOK YOUR PLACE

Saturday 25th June Saturday 24th September – – – – – –

Small school with small class sizes Highly effective pastoral care system Excellent academic results at both GCSE and A level A wide range of co-curricular activities and clubs School transport routes to Enfield and Canons Park For entry at 11+, 13+ and Sixth Form (in-year admissions may be available)

Hadley Wood / Independent / Co-educational / Ages 11–18 www.mounthouse.org.uk / 020 8449 6889 / admissions@mounthouse.org.uk Mount House School, Camlet Way, Hadley Wood, Hertfordshire, EN4 0NJ

I

times tables

by Hari Neocleous

Learning times tables can be fun! Gone are the days where we learnt through fear in front of the dreaded times table wheel. I’m going to show you how you can help your child learn their times tables using pictures and objects you have at home.

hooks and we have the number sentences.

Count in ones first, emphasising the sixth number. Then say, ‘let’s try counting in sixes... 6,12,18,24,30’. Write the answers (multiples) on cards, muddle them up and order. Put them on your staircase as you go up and down, counting in sixes before bedtime.

In year two children learn their 2, 5 and 10 times tables. In year three they learn their 3, 4 and 8 times tables. By the end of year four, children need to know all of their times tables up to 12!

Conceptual understanding is important.

This means having a deeper understanding of multiplication. Write down ‘4x6=’. What does this mean? It means ‘4 groups of 6’, ‘4 lots of 6’, ‘4 times 6’ or ‘4 multiplied by 6’. We can think of multiplication as grouping. 4x6 means four groups of six or six groups of four. It’s also repeated addition, we add the same number of objects again and again 6+6+6+6=24.

At home you can use arrays. Arrays are rectangular images, groups of objects arranged in equal rows. Imagine a Lego brick with 8 spots, that’s an array showing 2 groups of 4 or turn it the other way and it’s 4 groups of 2. Paint palettes, chocolate bars and chess boards are arrays. Go on an array treasure hunt and explore!

44 | Cherubs Magazine

Let’s learn the six times tables. Make twelve cards with 6 spots. Focus on 1x6 up to 5x6 first. Show the first card with 6 spots, count the 6 spots and write the number sentence above, ‘1x6=6’.

Then do ‘2x6=12’, ‘3x6=18’...each time adding another card.

Continue this process up to 10x6..then finish with 11x6 and 12x6. Find ‘12x6’ by partitioning (splitting the number into tens and ones). Work out 10x6 then 2x6 and add the totals together, 60+12=72 To finish, practise counting in sixes on fingers and each elbow can be 11x6 and 12x6.

Be creative. Make it fun! Do something different each day. Draw egg boxes and

Add some memory hooks too. So ‘1x6’ is a 6 on a dice. ‘2x6’ is doubling. For ‘3x6’ I might draw a tiny key and mention a gold key necklace from my 18th birthday. ‘4x6’ is 24 so I knock on the door, (a rhyme and action to make learning ‘stick’). ‘5x6’ is the same as ‘6 lots of 5’, so we find a clock and count in fives, our hand points down as we stamp our feet and shout 30 minutes! It’s practical, there’s repeated addition, we have memory 020 8154 3664

EDUCATION

ask, ‘how many eggs?’ Find yoghurt packs at the supermarket and ask, ‘how many?’

Use times tables songs. My favourite songs are from Mr Demaio’s YouTube channel.

His 6 times table song is to the tune of Cheerleader (Uptown Funk is also great!)

Play bowling with bottles. Each time you knock a bottle it’s 6 points so count in sixes and see who wins each round.

Encourage your child to make connections too. If I know that 4x6=24 then I also know that 8x6=48, I used my doubles to help me here. If I know that 10x6=60 then I know that 5x6=30, here I’m halving the number of groups and halving the total. If I know 5x6 equals 30 then 6x6 means adding another

group of 6 to get 36. We’re using one fact to get to a new fact. Children also learn division facts: 24÷6=4 and 24÷4=6 I’m a huge fan of game-based learning.

Multiplication battle is an easy game to learn. Take a pack of cards, Joker=zero, Jack =10, Queen=11 and King = 12. Place a 6 in the middle. Take turns to turn over a card and multiply your number by 6. Whoever has the greatest total (product) swipes the 2 cards. Children can step count on their fingers. So, for 6x6 put 6 fingers up and count in sixes... 6,12,18,24,30,36.’ Practice leads to quick recall for most.

There are great apps and games online.

I love Coconut Multiples on ‘Topmark

games,’ children knock down coconuts which are multiples of 6. Check out the ‘1 Minute Maths’ app by White Rose Maths and the Curious Maths Subscription service for parents (find me in the games section of course!)

I hope you can see that times tables can be fun. Keep it short. Practise regularly. Don’t forget to throw in a few ‘I love the 6 times tables’ or ’this one’s my favourite times table’. Be excited. Avoid comments such as ‘I’m bad at maths’ or ‘I hate maths’. And if your child’s homework is to learn their times tables don’t be afraid to ask teachers how. We are here to help.

Did you know?

Children in year four do a multiplication test in the summer. They have 6 seconds to type the answer. Times tables appear in many topics. If a child doesn’t know them, it slows them down in class. I agree that times tables are important, but I disagree with the six-second timings.

This creates maths anxiety in some learners. We need to be mindful of the maths experiences we give our children and for some children, it’s ok to step count on their fingers to find the answer. For ‘4x5’ they hold four fingers up and count in fives, ‘5,10,15,20’. Remember, we can’t all memorise them! Children learn in different ways and that’s ok.

EDUCATION

The impact of bullying on young people. What can be done about it?

By Marilena Andreou - Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist Do you know someone that has been affected by bullying? This could be your child, a friend or a relative. Have you noticed that it has had adverse effects on their mental health? How could this affect their future academics?

Bullying is a behaviour by an individual or a group, which can be repeated over time, that intentionally hurts another person or group of people.

There are two types of bullying: physical and emotional.

Sadly, there has been an increase in bullying in young people since the rapid increase of new technologies, which has provided a new medium for bullying known as ‘cyber bullying’.

Some recent statistics indicate how common it is. For instance, a fifth of young people have been victims of bullying in the past year.

The prevalence in schools

• •

29% of English secondary schools received reports of both physical and non-physical violence.

13.9% reported that a student, parent or guardian had actually reported hurtful electronic postings on the internet (social media) about students.

Unfortunately for those young victims, there is a huge impact on their mental health and education.

Strong research has shown that children that are bullied at the age of seven years old were less likely to be engaged in school three years later.

Furthermore, those pupils that are bullied at the age of 14 years old were firstly more likely to experience bullying at the age of 16, and secondly had significantly lower GCSE grades.

It is apparent that, for many of the young people that have experienced bullying at some point in their lives, this can trigger mental health difficulties.

Impact of bullying on young people Bullying can make an individual:

• • • • • •

less confident lonely desire to avoid school or college more at risk of depression and anxiety experience the effects in later adolescence and adulthood suffer diminished self-esteem.

What can be done about bullying?

•

•

• • •

Encourage the child or young person to report the incident(s) to a teacher. By opening up and informing the school, they should be able to put some serious actions into place to prevent future bullying.

Encourage the child or young person to confide in a family member, if there is anything that someone has done to upset them at school or college or even outside of school. This is important as they may not even view this behaviour as bullying.

Look out for some warning signs such as the child not wanting to go to school, or refusing to.

Parent and guardians can limit their social media usage or ensure they are safely speaking to others online.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can be effective for treating individuals who have been bullied and consequently have developed mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.

In conclusion, although bullying is a significant problem for some young people, it is crucial to note that there are things that can be done to reduce further incidents from happening. Furthermore, if parents, guardians and teachers can work collaboratively together, this can help to reduce the impact of bullying.

Website: inspiring-minds-therapy.co.uk 46 | Cherubs Magazine

020 8154 3664

BROOMFIELD SCHOOL

A LOCAL SCHOOL FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY

THINKING OF JOINING US IN SEPTEMBER 2023?

Visit www.broomfield.enfield.sch.uk for all the information you need to help you make your decision Follow us on our social media channels for regular updates on school life

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broomfield Sch Enfield

New Headteacher for September 2022!

HEALTH & WELLBEING

What I Learnt Through My NearFatal Ectopic Pregnancy

By Lauren Vaknine

We’re renovating our new home at the moment, and as a result we’ve been living at my husband’s parents. And the last place you want to have a miscarriage, it turns out, is in the pristine white china bowl of your mother in law’s toilet.

So a week ago I decided to stay at my mums for a night, so I could grieve openly and be afforded the luxury of not having my children barge into the bathroom as a deluge of gunmetal-brown lumps resembling uncooked chicken livers escaped my insides. Because that happened before I left. And I sat on the toilet screaming for my husband to come and take our three-year-old daughter out for five whole minutes before he heard me.

Why didn’t he hear me?

Lying in my old bed in my childhood bedroom last week, I realised that I’d bitten off all my nail varnish and bitten my nails right down, placing the displaced pieces of white crescent moons and tiny peelings of dried nail polish – like fragments of dried blood – in a tissue on my bedside.

Do I usually bite my nails? No. Did it make me feel better? No. Will it bring back the baby? No. What made me do it? I don’t know. It was unconscious.

There is no logic to be found in the actions of grief.

And there is no making sense of the unwinding of our lives, like a piece of yarn all tight and perfectly bound, that just 48 | Cherubs Magazine

comes undone, as if out of nowhere. What we do intuitively make sense of as soon as it starts to sag and droop in what look like single dregs where it was once a whole, is that it will never look that perfect again.

The day after the nail massacre, when I assumed I simply had the task of processing a miscarriage, the scan I was booked in for because my hCG levels were still higher

than was normal for a miscarriage, showed that I hadn’t, in fact, lost my baby.

My baby was growing on my left ovary.

A rare sort of ectopic pregnancy.

The most common kind of ectopic pregnancy is when the baby never makes it through the fallopian tube to the womb, 020 8154 3664

HEALTH & WELLBEING

and instead gets stuck in the tube, but, true to my unconventional nature, I was the anomaly; the one to whom the doctor said: “I’ve heard of ovarian ectopics of course, but I’ve never seen one myself.”

A series of inconceivable events were about to take place, but of all the many life-defining moments that make up this trauma, seeing the heartbeat of the baby that was growing inside me, knowing that she was trying to live, through all adversity – a bit like my own life story – and that I couldn’t save her, that will be the scene I can never delete.

“I know you’re in shock,” Dr Karoshi said to me, “but we really do have to get you into surgery to remove the pregnancy before it ruptures. If it ruptures, it could be fatal.”

So everyone starts bumbling around, calling down to operating theatres, writing reports, bringing me mesh knickers and DVT stockings, my husband zooming home to grab some bits for me. All the while I’m sitting in the waiting room of the early pregnancy unit, staring at the cover of a gossip magazine on the table in front of me – the kind hospitals always have – trying to process the shock. Knowing that every time I see an image of Cheryl Cole from now on, I’ll be taken back to that waiting room, wondering why on earth anyone would be forced to remove a baby that had a beating heart, a baby they wanted, from within them.

And the unlikely part of this unquenchable grief is that despite how much we wanted this baby, we didn’t even plan this pregnancy. Two IVF babies later, we’d closed the door on that idea, the one that for others is a choice.

As a life coach, and someone who used to be severely disabled and is now fully able-bodied, I’m acutely aware that behind every trauma is an opportunity for growth, a lesson that will enhance our life in some way.

And as, out of nowhere in this waiting room, I doubled over in pain because the pregnancy had gone and done the thing they were saying they hoped it wouldn’t do and it ruptured. I knew the life-threatening nature of what was happening to me now, was there to distract my mind from the thoughts of the baby with the heartbeat, the one I could no longer save.

We all know that adage “it could always be worse”. My experience has led me to believe that sometimes the ‘worst’ is there

to make us wish for what we thought was the worst before the current worst started.

It’s there to help us see that we never think we’re lucky until something happens that makes us realise we weren’t actually that unlucky.

Monks, hippies and influencers alike speak about the merits of a life spent in gratitude.

But is there a way to live in that perpetual state of gratitude, regardless of how dire the situation?

It turns out over a litre of blood had collected inside my pelvis, and the doctors must have been so worried, that they let my husband into the operating theatre with me so we could say our goodbyes while they put a second cannula in to get me hooked up to the anaesthetic, because the first one wasn’t working. (I would go so far as to say that the pain of the insertion of a cannula in a rush pretty much matches up to that of internal bleeding.)

Through all the health issues I’ve faced in my life, none were ever life-threatening. I’ve grown up with spiritual parents and among spiritual teachers, so I never feared death, not even as a young child; I always had an unconventional acceptance and embracing of it.

But then you have children. And death holds new meaning. It means the ruining of the lives you brought into the world – because the lives of a six and three-year-old who lose their mother will be ruined – and it no longer becomes an option.

their unconscious behaviours are telling you that they are being bullied or whether the way they look or seem is telling you they are unwell, don’t ever stop listening. That’s all that matters. I’ve learnt many things through my work but the one thing that I’ve noticed links all people, the one thing we all have in common when it comes to working through our pasts, our issues, our challenges, is the moments we weren’t seen, heard or validated. The moments when we were overlooked. When our needs – for one reason or another and often despite the best intentions of our parents – were not met.

I knew it wasn’t an option, and I knew, deep down, that I’d be ok, but through the intensity of it all, I still found myself embroiled in the dramatic conversation with my husband of how to raise the kids.

Perhaps my ‘worst’ was to remind me – through an experience I’ll never forget and a lesson I’ll always keep close, that my sole purpose as a mother is not to feed and clothe and house my children (that should go without saying) but to truly hear them.

And of all the things I could have told him, what I knew was important was this and this alone:

And what of the baby with the heartbeat that I wanted so much?

Listen to them. Hear them. Validate them.

Whatever they are saying to you, don’t dismiss it like it doesn’t matter. Whether they’re telling you they don’t want to wear those trousers today or whether

Perhaps she’s talking to me too, in an otherworldly way, offering me this lesson.

Perhaps that was the purpose.

You can check out all Lauren’s work, including her Recondition Your Life Academy and retreats, at www.laurenvakninecoaching.com, her blog www.laurenvaknine.co.uk and you can follow her on Instagram @laurenvaknine cherubsmagazine.com

Cherubs Magazine | 49

BEAT THE BURN

INTENSE ZONES THERE’S INTENSE, THEN THERE’S BLAZE. It’s new, it’s unique, like nothing you’ve experienced. A test of your strength, stamina and willpower, you’ll run, lift and fight. Blaze will push you to your limit and beyond.

An overload of light, sound and energy will power you through your workout.

Our instructors will challenge, push and support you, to achieve results you never thought possible.

A Myzone heart-rate belt will track your performance every step of the way.

With your heart rate streamed on digital screens, you’ll work your body at just the right intensity to get the most from your workout.

Get ready to feel the burn and join the tribe #Blazetribe

LIVING

EatHappyFeelGood

Sweet & Spicy Chicken An easy and delicious family meal.

Ingredients

• • • • • •

8 chicken thighs 2 peppers, sliced 2 red onions, peeled and sliced 1 courgette (optional) Parsley to garnish Rice to serve

Sauce

•

4 tbsp rose harissa (add only 3 if you want it milder)

52 | Cherubs Magazine

• • • • • •

2 tbsp honey 1 tbsp olive oil 2 cloves garlic, grated Zest and juice of 1 lemon 1 tsp salt Freshly ground pepper

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180C. 2. Trim the excess fat off the chicken thighs (from around the sides). Cut slits into the flesh of the chicken.

3. Put all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Mix well.

4. Put the vegetables in a large ovenproof dish. Add half the sauce and mix well.

5. Add the chicken. Add the rest of the sauce on top of the chicken.

6. Cover and cook for 40 minutes.

7. Uncover and cook for another 15 minutes.

8. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with rice.

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Eton Mess A summer classic we all enjoy. But it can feel a little heavy (and calorie dense) so in this version a couple of little changes make it lighter but just as delicious.

Ingredients

• • • • • •

4 ready meringue nests 3 cups fat free Greek yoghurt Seeds from one vanilla pod 3 cups berries 2 tbsp honey ¼ cup pistachios

Method

1. Whisk the yoghurt till really smooth. Add the vanilla, 1 tbsp honey and mix well.

2. Break up the meringues into big chunks. Add to the yoghurt.

3. Add most of the berries and gently fold together.

4. Top with the remaining berries and pistachios.

5. Drizzle over a little more honey and enjoy.

Greek Pasta Salad A delicious and a perfect summer meal, picnic food or meal prep dish.

Ingredients

Mango Sorbet Mango sorbet with added goodness – my kids LOVE mango sorbet and we make it on repeat throughout summer. It’s so yummy but it’s also a chance to add extra goodness into their tummies. And my two favourite add-ins are courgette (fresh or frozen) and hemp seeds. Add one or both, it’s all extra nutrition!

Ingredients

• • • • • • •

2 cups frozen mango ½ cup coconut water 1 tbsp maple syrup Squeeze of lime 1 small courgette (you can peel it to avoid colour change) 1 tbsp hemp seeds Coconut shavings and extra fresh mango to serve

Method

1. Add the mango, coconut water, maple syrup, lime and courgette into a small food processor. Blend till smooth. Taste and add a little more maple if you want it sweeter.

2. Serve in a bowl or cone.

• • • • • • • • • •

400g pasta of your choice, cooked 1 large cucumber, de-seeded and sliced 2 cups cherry tomatoes, whole 1 cup black olives without stones 2 red peppers, chopped 3 tbsp olive oil White wine vinegar Salt and pepper Dried oregano Feta

Method

1. Cook the pasta, drain well. Add a tsp of olive oil and mix through to stop it cooking any further. Put in a large bowl and set aside to cool a little.

2. Add the chopped cucumber, chopped peppers, whole cherry tomatoes and olives.

3. Make the dressing by whisking together olive oil, vinegar, oregano and S&P. Add this to the bowl. Mix everything together.

4. Crumple the feta on top.

5. Garnish with a little extra oregano.

Tips

• • •

Cook your pasta al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and help cool down quicker.

Prep the veggies while the pasta is cooling.

De-seed the cucumbers and leave the cherry tomatoes whole so your salad doesn’t turn watery. It’s tastier and any leftovers will be just as good.

Website: eathappyfeelgood.co.uk Instagram: @eathappyfeelgood Cherubs Magazine | 53

PARENT LIFE

The trials and styles of parenting

By Henry King

Ever since our service for dads and dadsto-be ‘Hank’, was launched last year, we have spoken to many fathers about their experience of parenting, including the highs and lows. These chats usually take place at our ‘Hosted by Hank’ events where you can take a moment away from work and home life, have a beer and learn a thing or two from our trusted network of specialists.

54 | Cherubs Magazine

We have found it can be surprisingly cathartic and often reassuring to speak with others who are at a similar stage of life. This is genuinely surprising, not least because myself and Hank’s other co-founder are not particularly outgoing types who, ordinarily, would think twice about speaking to others about our family lives, and yet we have seen the benefits it can have for ourselves and others.

Needless to say, everyone agrees that children are a wonderfully life-affirming addition to one’s life, however they can bring about a multitude of challenging and, frankly, stressful situations. Writing as a father of two boys aged three and six, I can only speak to my experience of having young children, with some of the most testing moments linked to behaviour at certain stages of their development. I have 020 8154 3664

PARENT LIFE spoken to other fathers of similar-aged children who share many of these same experiences.

Tricky and seemingly inexplicable events can appear out of nowhere, often leaving us scratching our heads in utter confusion, and sometimes incredibly disappointed with how badly we dealt with the situation.

There is nothing quite like a total meltdown from your toddler in a busy restaurant, or in a plane packed with travel weary passengers, to really test your mettle.

temperament and your child’s. A significant part of this so-called ‘style’ will be your approach to discipline. I am not sure what this says about me, but the word ‘discipline’ immediately conjures up Dickensian images of an ancient school master and his cane.

The four different parenting styles that we often hear about are: authoritarian; authoritative; uninvolved; and permissive.

Each style has a distinct approach and may

appeal for reasons that are personal to you and your partner. There may also be cultural, religious and other reasons why you settle on a particular style.

Like the experts say, the key is to maintain consistency, which might mean a combination of parenting styles from each parent. As with so much in family life, it is all about compromise.

Often the times when I have my parenting credentials tested are the classics, like bath time, homework, sibling rivalry, and that constant source of parental guilt, screentime. Covid lockdowns really helped that last one take a hold.

The extent that I feel challenged and therefore prone to becoming stressed/ frustrated/exasperated, or all of the above, seems to be largely dependent on: my level of knowledge and/or experience about cause and effect, relative to child development; and my temperament. It might sound like a huge generalisation, but a relatively low patience threshold is fairly typical among men, and I am no exception to this.

Throughout our ‘Hosted by Hank’ events, we have listened and learnt from an array of fascinating speakers who have covered topics including how to plan your child’s education, planning your family finances, to child development and more. The subject of child development is one of the more frequently requested sessions because parents are often trying to make sense of different child behaviours so they can try and be supportive, instead of getting angry or frustrated.

We recently learnt that the amount of emotional words a girl has heard by the time they go to school is six times higher than the amount of emotional words that boys tend to hear. So, we should not be surprised when boys find it more difficult to talk about their feelings and act out by using ‘big behaviours’ instead of their words, if we are not talking about feelings with them as regularly.

We also learnt that lack of choice often leads to tantrums. By giving a child ‘agency’ you give them options which enable them to influence the outcome of an event and allows them to direct their own learning.

This has the magical effect of deescalating and helping to avoid tantrums in the first place.

As cringey as it might sound, finding a ‘parenting style’ that works for you can help to maintain a consistent parenting approach, one that is suited to your

Website: hellohank.co.uk cherubsmagazine.com

Cherubs Magazine | 55

PARENT LIFE

Keeping It Real With Cat Sims

Cat Sims aka @notsosmugnow is a content creator, podcaster and author who has made a living out of documenting her failures and successes as a 40-year-old woman, a mother and a wife across various social media platforms. We caught up with her as her new baby record journal launches to discuss parenting, mental health, sobriety and asking for help.

Q A

Why do you think it’s important to share with others?

You’ve been really open about your sobriety and mental health journey – how are you doing?

I resisted getting help for the longest time because I did not, in any way, want to be associated with the word ‘alcoholic’. There is so much shame attached to that word, especially for parents because we are supposed to be faultless, and I hope that in sharing my story and owning the word ‘alcoholic’ I can help to smash through some of that stigma.

I’m doing really well, thank you. It’s be a wild ride but I’ve learned so much about myself in the seven months that I’ve been clean and sober. Giving up alcohol and drugs has meant that I’m a better parent, a calmer human and a more patient person. Of course, I still lose my sh*t and bad things still happen but I’ve been able to deal with them in a much healthier way.

I also want to shift people’s perception of what an alcoholic is. I thought alcoholics were old men on park benches but they’re just not. They are men and women, old and young. I’ve met mothers, fathers, teenagers, doctors. People from every race, religion, sexuality and social group. There are binge drinkers, morning drinkers, every evening drinkers. You can say a lot about alcoholism but you can’t blame it for not being inclusive.

Q A

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Q A

How do you find sharing your journey? Does it put extra pressure on you?

No – in fact it’s the opposite.

Sharing helps keep me accountable, but it also helps keep me sober. I’ve found recovery through Alcoholics Anonymous and I decided to break my own anonymity and talk about it after lots of thought. I have been able to work with other parents who are struggling with alcohol and/or drugs because I’ve been open about it and that helps keep me sober.

Q A

What has the response been from your audience?

Hugely positive. I think lots of people have tiptoed around the idea of being a parent and having dependency issues, so I

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PARENT LIFE

A

Yes! You know those baby record books where you can write down when they first walked or grew a tooth? The First Time You Smiled is a version of that but without bouncy bunnies and pastel bows.

It’s as much to support the parents as it is to help them remember the stuff that matters. And yes, you can write down when they got their first tooth, but you can also record when they drew on the walls or told you they hated you for the first time. At the end of the day that’s what we’ll laugh about together in twenty years’ time.

But most importantly, and the thing that I’m

really proud of, is that it doesn’t assume that the only way to have a baby is to be a man married to a woman who have sex and nine months later – boom – a perfect little baby pops out. I’ve tried to make it as inclusive as possible, and I really hope that every parent can enjoy it and get something out of it.

It’s not about perfection and it’s got no advice about how to get kids to sleep, but it will help parents feel seen and understood.

It’ll make them feel less alone – you know, when every other parent seems to be doing just fine and you’re over here drowning?

Yeah... it’ll help them feel much better about that.

think seeing a parent of young kids identify as an alcoholic – and one that defies our usual expectations – has made it possible to have much more open conversations.

I’ve had no negative feedback from my audience at all – everyone has been incredibly supportive and I’m so grateful for that. I know that people worry about what it will do to their reputation when they admit to having a drink or drug problem, but I know that the way I drank and the things I did when I was drunk damaged my reputation far more than being open about being in recovery.

Please don’t feel ashamed if you feel like you have a problem or, if you do feel shame, please don’t let that stop you reaching out for help. There’s no check list that you have to tick off to identify as an alcoholic.

You don’t have to be morning drinking or hiding booze or anything like that. If it’s doing you and your mental health harm and you want to stop but can’t, then ask for help. Reach out to me! I’ve taken loads of followers to meetings already. Some of them have stuck with it, some haven’t but all of them were really grateful to not feel alone. I think people resist Alcoholics Anonymous because of the word ‘alcoholic’ and I get it, but I’ve never found a kinder, more accepting, less judgemental group of people. It’s not for everyone and there are loads of other alternatives, but find what works for you.

Q

And you’ve got a new book out, congratulations! Can you tell us about it?

Photo credit: Charlotte Gray

Q A

What advice do you have for other people who are concerned about their own drinking or mental health?

The First Time You Smiled (£9.99) by Cat Sims is available at Amazon, Waterstones and Independent Book Retailers cherubsmagazine.com

Cherubs Magazine | 57

PARENT TRAVEL LIFE

Why I quit my business to become a writer

By Sara Bragg

“Don’t quit your day job.” If you’re a writer, or you’ve ever dreamt of becoming a writer, you’ve probably heard this before. And there’s some truth to it.

It’s not a decision to take lightly. At the age of 35, I quit my business to pursue a career as an author. I’ve dreamed of being a writer since I was a teenager, but I got sidetracked by a decade in publishing and motherhood.

The ultimate distraction was starting and growing an online gift business. I ran the business from my house and it exploded during Covid. Overnight, daily orders jumped from 10 to 30, sometimes up to 50 a day during busy periods. This, of course, was the ‘new normal’ for lots of people – juggling the demands of work with children on top of the emotional strain of being separated from friends and family. I forgot all about writing. I was happy, fulfilled, motivated, growing a successful business.

But I was wrong. They say hindsight is a wonderful thing. Looking back, I can see I was stressed, overwhelmed, suffering with insomnia, detached, unable to focus on my children without checking orders or social media. Basically, I was burnt out.

When shops re-opened on 12 April 2021, after months of lockdown, my business took a hit. I decided to use the quiet time productively and started writing.

I’ve always been an avid reader and my favourite books are suspenseful romance with multi-layered family mysteries. It is with this in mind that I sat down and wrote the first draft of my first book. It took eight weeks to finish the manuscript. I snatched time to write whenever I could – weekends, evenings, early starts – while keeping the business afloat.

When I started writing the book, I didn’t set out to be a writer. I simply set out to write. Fifty thousand words later, I decided I would finish the manuscript and attempt to get a literary agent. Having worked a decade in publishing, I knew the odds of getting published were slim. I told myself that I probably wouldn’t get anywhere, but it was worth a try. A ‘now or never’ moment.

Thankfully, I was blessed with a serendipitous sale of the business following a chance conversation and it couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.

The manuscript was in its third draft and I was researching agents. It was a career crossroads. And I took the leap.

I had two choices: fail spectacularly or land on my feet and find an agent. I sent my manuscript to fifteen carefully selected agents. The submission process is tough.

Agents are selective and specific with their taste. I had faith in my book, but still, there was a lot of second-guessing myself.

Nothing prepares you for the moment when an agent offers to represent you. I remember the day the official offer came through from my agent; I was in complete shock. It was surreal, the early signs of a lifelong dream being fulfilled – I might actually become an author.

I’m still working on making my dream happen. The manuscript has gone through several edits and will be on submission to publishers soon. In the meantime, I’m writing book two. I have big plans. My dream to be an author has been sidelined for too long.

Of course, it’s not easy. Nothing is guaranteed. But whenever I feel any selfdoubt, I look back at how I worked myself into the ground running a business that, deep down, wasn’t what I really wanted to do. I work hard now, but I love what I do, so it doesn’t feel like work in the same way.

When I talk about quitting my business and following my dream, it implies it wasn’t a big decision. But it was. Making a career change with a young family in tow is a major adjustment. It might feel impossible for some, but there’s always a possibility for change.

Now, I can safely say it was the best decision I’ve ever made. I only wish I’d taken the leap sooner.

Instagram: @sarabraggwriter Website: sarabragg.com 58 | Cherubs Magazine

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REDISCOVER THE JOY OF RUNNING A BUSINESS

BEC AUSE WO RKING FO R Y O URSEL F C A N BE TOUG H. BUT Y OU DO N' T NEED TO DO IT A LO NE.

JOIN O U R CO MMU N I TY A ND CO N N EC T W I TH FE M A L E B U S I NE S S OW N ERS O N L I NE A ND IN P ER S O N A CR OS S HER T S , E S S E X A ND N OR TH L O N DO N . @THEMAMAHIVE WWW.THEMAMAHIVE.COM

TRAVEL

Oh Conrad, you were swell It was with great excitement and pleasure that my family accepted an invitation try out the Family Adventure Package at the luxurious Conrad London St James hotel in the heart of the capital. Having enjoyed a fantastic stay, I’ve written an honest review of our experience in the hope of encouraging other families to have a marvellous time there, just as we did.

Sevim

The Conrad London St James hotel is an amazing place to stay if you’re looking for a family hotel in London with easy access to all the wonderful sightseeing opportunities the city has to offer.

We stayed there at the end of May to try out the Family Adventure Package, which is available for families with children under the age of 12 on weekends and school holidays.

We arrived early on a Sunday morning with our twins, who were having the time of their lives FYI as they were given a VIP sticker on arrival and told they were more important than Mummy and Daddy. I tried everything

60 | Cherubs Magazine

to get my own sticker, which didn’t work.

The VIP treatment continues when you’ve walked into your room with the arrival of a custom-made Build-A-Bear. Parents answer a few questions to tell the Conrad team about their children’s favourite characters or activities, and when they check in, a personalised cuddly bear is waiting for them on their crisp White Company bed sheets.

From start to end our stay was incredible and I thought the best way to share the experience was to highlight the things we most liked about it.

The hotel and room With or without children this hotel is lovely.

There is a business vibe to it, but it didn’t make us feel nervous about bringing our kids in, even though they found the revolving door rather entertaining! The porter was super friendly though and enticed them away with some sweets while we were welcomed with a gorgeous glass of bubbly to help us relax.

Our family room consisted of two interconnecting rooms, which worked out perfectly. The children were near enough for us to keep an eye and ear out, but far

020 8154 3664

TRAVEL enough away for us to have some time to ourselves too. Their room was decorated with London-themed toys, The White Company’s adorable London-themed bedding, two beanbags, little robes and slippers, and a whole ice bucket full of drinks and goodies. We didn’t raid this when the kids were asleep – promise!

Both rooms had huge TVs, spacious and luxurious bathrooms, and curtains that closed with the click of a button – now that’s what I call luxury.

VIP treatment The VIP children’s treats ranged from Build-A-Bears to ice cream at the push of a telephone button. The children were beside themselves, especially having their own room. In fact, we kept having to check if they were ok as they were so quiet – in fact they were engrossed watching their own TV in bed while sipping on every fruit juice on offer.

The Build-A-Bear was the cherry on the cake, seeing their little faces light up when a Pokémon and Unicorn casually waited for them on their bed was a wonderful scene.

It’s safe to say the bears came on our adventures all weekend and I can confirm they also had a very good time.

ready to whisk you away to some of London’s most popular tourist destinations in a matter of minutes. Historic Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey are just a short walk away!

When it comes to activities, the Family Adventure Package includes a complimentary Kids’ Pass that provides you with discounts at family sites throughout the UK. You’ll need a code to activate the pass, which includes cinema tickets and theme park admittance, as well as many London-based activities.

The Conrad London St James has thought of everything to make your stay easy and enjoyable. The Family Adventure Package is offered for weekends, half terms, and school vacations.

Overnight stays in a family room start at £605 and include breakfast, a Build-A-Bear gift, and a £100 dining credit at the Blue Boar Pub. The pricing of the package is based on two parents and one child, although upgrades for extra children are available.

Blue Boar Pub One word – yum! The hotel has a pub attached to it, which means you do not have to leave the building (every parent’s dream) and you receive £100 off your bill if you eat there. What’s not to like? The pub has a calm, family-friendly atmosphere, and the staff are very attentive and helpful.

The children’s menu is fairly limited, with only four choices all priced at £12.50: ham and cheese toastie with fries, fish goujons with chips, cottage pie with broccoli, and tiny roast beef. My daughter had the toastie and chips, while our son had the main menu burger, and we both had the most delicious Sunday Roast with a Yorkshire pudding bigger than our head, for £27.50 each.

We were blown away with the service, the quality and taste of the food. Breakfast the next morning was no exception – a massive, fresh and varied buffet spread with cooked and continental options that set us up for a day of sightseeing.

Unbeatable location The location of the Conrad London St James is unbeatable. The Circle and District underground lines, which stop at St James’s Park station right outside the hotel, are

Visit www.conradhotels.com/london or phone 020 3301 8080 to make a reservation. cherubsmagazine.com

Cherubs Magazine | 61

TRAVEL

5 alternative holiday destinations to tick off your bucket list

Looking for somewhere a little different to escape to this year? Ditch the sunbeds by the beach, put those air miles to good use, and instead, explore five alternative holiday destinations… and know that you’re doing good at the same time. Get up close and personal with nature’s most beautiful wildlife, while supporting the top conservation projects around the globe.

These locations are sure to inspire you to join our mission to help save animals and our beautiful planet. For you, Ecoflix, the first not-for-profit content streaming platform, dedicated to saving animals and stabilising the planet, has chosen the best projects around the world to visit, some of which receive donations from its members.

1.

The Elephant Nature Park in Thailand

Head to Northern Thailand, just 60km from the hustle and bustle of the city, to explore the unique Elephant Nature Park in Chiang 62 | Cherubs Magazine

Mai. Set across vast acres of land, Elephant Nature Park provides sanctuary and a safe environment for dozens of injured and abused elephants. The world renown founder, Lek Chailert, has worked tirelessly to rescue these and many other animals, all while supporting the cultural integrity of the community, employing villagers and supporting local agriculture. It is a total winwin situation!

Here, you will have get the opportunity to observe the elephants and learn from the highly knowledgeable staff, who dedicate their time to helping these magnificent animals. Visit this ethical nature park (no riding or circus tricks) during November to early April to experience the sanctuary while remaining cool and dry. You can choose from single day passes, to overnight stays if you’d like to spend more time and become part of the herd.

2.

The Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Romania

Bear with us on this one! The Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Romania remains the largest animal welfare project in Europe. Having rescued over 130 bears from a life of tiny cages. The Libearty Bear Sanctuary boasts 69 hectares of oak forest, with trees where the bears can climb, swimming pools where they can splash freely, indulge in food according to their specific dietary needs, with ready care from skilled veterinarians.

TRAVEL

Open from Tuesday to Sunday, visit the bears on guided tours, conducted in both Romanian and English, where you’ll get the opportunity to learn about the bears and ask questions to satisfy any and all of your curiosities. Alternatively, hop on a train tour during the winter months, for a thorough tour of the sanctuary, while still experiencing all of the glory this amazing sanctuary has to offer.

3.

The Wolf Connection in LA

Youth empowerment in a rehabilitation sanctuary for wolves and wolfdogs? Sign me up. The unique Wolf Connection sanctuary in Los Angeles, combines rescue and support for both wolves and humans.

The Wolf Connection seeks to improve the quality of life of wolves and wolfdogs by providing rescue, sanctuary, and behavioural enrichment, while also working to heighten the bond and collaboration between humans and animals. It has proven a potent way to empower individuals to get in touch with their inner strength. In the mountains of the Angeles National Forest, just a short drive North of Los Angeles, the 165-acre ranch offers a multitude of excitement and events giving everyone, big and small, the opportunity to join the wolf gang! You can opt for one of their community hikes, which includes a tour of the ranch, meeting the pack, a hike through the Angeles National Forest, followed by refreshments with the Wolf Connection gang. Or alternatively, head on a “Walk With the Wolves” semi-private experience, which provides a more intimate experience with the pack. Plus, keep an eye out for their seasonal events including their annual Howl’oween Hike, complete with a hike, dinner, and other spooky offerings.

cherubsmagazine.com

As the only organisation of its kind in Malawi authorized by the Government, Lilongwe Wildlife Centre responds to veterinary emergencies and supports wildlife management across the country.

They insure that as many animals as possible are given the correct support and rehabilitation they need. You can enjoy breath-taking wilderness trails along the river as you embark on your own walking safari, where you’ll find monkeys, hyenas, bushpigs and sometimes much more!

4.

5.

Lilongwe Wildlife Centre in Malawi

Open 365 days a year and renowned as one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in Africa, the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre in Malawi is an amazing place to see. Home to 200 rescued residents at any one given time, this conservation project should not be missed. By uniting with other organizations and individuals, Lilongwe Wildlife Centre has focused upon making lasting change, permitting hundreds of animals to be released, back in the wild where they belong.

Return To Freedom Wild Horse Conservation in California

Return To Freedom is a little different, but definitely worth a visit. It is their mission to rescue wild horses and provide them with sanctuary. It is another of their core missions to practice conservation. With those goals in mind, at Return To Freedom horses live in family bands and herd groups, enabling them to live and communicate among themselves like they would naturally in the wild, helping to preserve the freedom and diversity of America’s wild horses.

Head to Return To Freedom during the summer months to experience a staff-led, walking tour of the sanctuary, complete with refreshments and hearing wild horse expertise from the volunteers. Or schedule your own private tour and spend over two hours delving into the origins of the horse in America and discover how they came to be a vital link in American culture, while observing the herds in a more intimate manner.

Ahead of planning your trip, visit Ecoflix, and stream our documentaries and films.

We have films from some of these amazing projects, together with other pictures and details about their work. Ecoflix gives one hundred percent of your subscription donation directly to the NGO partner you select.

Visit ecoflix.com for more information.

Cherubs Magazine | 63

HOME

Pros and Cons for HMO Investment HMO investments have continued to increase in popularity, but before you invest in an HMO, we have collated the pros and cons of HMO investments to help you decide.

The Pros 1. One of the significant advantages of HMO’s is that they will generate a rental income increase of three to five times versus a standard single-let property.

2. The property will provide more people 64 | Cherubs Magazine

with affordable accommodation, which means you are directly helping ease the housing crisis by providing affordable rent.

5. The demand for this type of housing is strong and growing in high demand areas, such as those close to transport, restaurants, shops, pubs.

3. Cash flow is better as you won’t have as much impact during rental void periods.

When one tenant moves out, you will have other rooms tenanted.

6. There may be tax advantages when setting up and operating an HMO.

4. You have less exposure to rental arrears, even if one tenant falls behind on rent – if the other tenants are still paying on time.

7. Tenants (depending on the type of tenant) may be easier to find, especially if you offer to make bills inclusive of the rental rates.

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HOME

convert it into an HMO property, you need to be aware of the requirements to comply as an HMO property, plus have the budget to do the work.

3. Some lenders will not provide mortgages on HMO properties. Those that do may charge higher interest rates or demand a higher deposit.

4. Turnover in tenants is generally higher because HMOs are often rented to students or young mobile professionals who typically want a short-term rental.

5. Not all houses can be converted costeffectively, and not all locations are in a high demand area.

6. There is a higher level of paperwork involved in managing the individual tenants.

7. Fewer letting agents are willing to manage HMOs. This means you need to find the right agent with experience.

Otherwise, you may need to selfmanage the property, which can be very time-consuming.

8. You must provide the minimum room size. If you let a room smaller than the minimum room size, you will be in breach of your HMO licence. This can lead to a fine or a civil penalty of up to £30,000.

9. You must provide adequate receptacles for the storage and disposal of the household waste created by the property. These must be stored in a suitable, accessible place within the footprint of the property. As the landlord, you need to determine how much rubbish disposal is required and where to store the bins. Otherwise, you may risk your licence.

The solutions

The Cons 1. You need to have an appropriate HMO licence and ensure the property complies with the licensing conditions.

2. If you buy a family house and intend to

Research the market and budget for renovations and upgrades. The more knowledge you have, the better the chance that your investment will be more profitable.

For example, if you own a three-bedroom house, this can typically be converted into six units with the following suggested conversions: • Adding a loft unit on the second (or third) floor.

• Extending the rear of the property to add a unit (if the backyard is large enough).

• Converting existing living areas into separate units.

• Installing ensuites and kitchenettes in all units.

• Converting the current kitchen to a communal kitchen and laundry.

• Choose the right area. When choosing areas for an HMO, consider the type of people who may want to let your property.

Do they need to be close to transport?

Close to schools or universities? Do they need to be close to shops, bars, etc?

• Hire a specialist HMO agent. Agents will charge a management fee; however, they deal with any maintenance problems, have a good network of plumbers, electricians, and builders and, best of all, they supply quality tenants for your property.

• Choose the right tenants. This is the most critical part of owning an HMO. Choose the type of tenant you want – students, young professionals, foreign workers, short-term rentals, etc. And interview and screen the tenants by doing referee calls and background checks.

Next Steps?

Before you consider converting your property, you should consider speaking to experienced professionals to advise you on what is possible for your property, what are the expected costs, how long will it take and what your council requires to ensure you get your HMO licence.

For our clients, we provide experienced professionals who give innovative solutions using leading-edge technology, best industry practice combined with their own personal property experience.

After all, you want to create a quality home – one that your tenants will be proud to call home.

As specialists in HMO conversions, licensing and management since 2006, we can provide you with advice on your HMO property. Call us on +44 (0) 203 286 6468 or email us at HMO@RekaProperty.co.uk.

W W W. R E K A P R O P E R T Y. C O . U K cherubsmagazine.com

Cherubs Magazine | 65

5

LASTLY

minutes with Meliz Every time one of Meliz’s posts pop up on our insta feed, you can guarantee that your mouths will be watering and your shoulders shimmying with her Turkish Cypriot delights.

Bringing you delicious recipes from her roots, this wonderful woman keeps her culture alive and our souls (and bellies) fed!

Instagram @melizcooks

Your bedside reading at the moment is…

The Beekeeper of Aleppo – I started it a couple of years ago but didn’t get to finish it (I was too busy writing and reading my cookbook transcripts). I don’t like leaving books halfway through, even if I’m not enjoying them as much as I’d have hoped, ’so I’m pleased to have picked it up again.

Favourite podcast when you have five minutes’ peace?

Favourite holiday memory?

The smell of my Ahmet Dede’s (grandfather’s) sundried octopus as soon as I would walk into my grandparents’ garden in Mağusa, Kibris (Famagusta, Cyprus)

I’ve never really got into podcasts – I think I must be the only one – so I always choose to listen to music when I have five minutes‘ peace instead.

When you’re not cooking up a storm in the kitchen, you are…

Three things you always have in your glove compartment?

A wow moment in your life so far?

Chewing gum, sellotape and lipstick!

Singing or cooking?

That’s not fair! Both at the same time?

Surely that counts.

Ultimate food weakness?

Potatoes. In any way, shape or form.

Coffee or tea?

Tea. With milk, black, spiced, herbal, all of the above.

Which album will you have on loop and never be bored with?

Sezen Aksu: Deliveren.

66 | Cherubs Magazine

Always running late for something.

I’m grateful to have had a few wow moments; graduating with an MA, singing on TV, and my babies, but most recently writing my cookbook is something I’ve always wanted to do, to preserve my family’s recipes and legacy, and now I’ve done it.

What gives you instant calmness?

Playing the piano and singing along.

If you needed to hear a voice of comfort, who would you call?

It would depend on why I’d need comforting – my husband, my mum and my sister are my voices of comfort.

The next destination on your list is…

Cyprus, because it’s been three years and I’m pining, but if it wasn’t Cyprus then it would be Sicily via Istanbul (I’m rubbish at giving a single answer – so indecisive!)

If you could choose one superpower…

I’d create a peaceful world. It’s 2022 and as a race it’s like we have learnt nothing.

What language would you love to learn?

Arabic. It’s beautiful. Anything with a nonwestern script or writing system fascinates me and I love being able to pick up the words that have been transferred to the modern Turkish language.

How would you describe yourself?

An over-thinker, creative, passionate.

The mantra you live by?

What will be, will be.

You can order Meliz’s Kitchen cookbook over on Amazon, Waterstones or Foyles.

020 8154 3664

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