EDUCATION • HEALTH • WELLBEING • LIVING • BEAUTY • STYLE • TRAVEL
MAGAZINE
Keep Calm
Schools are back
Looking After Baby Advice and things to buy
Time
My Motherhood
Home is where mum is
to Spring Clean and blow the cobwebs away
cherubsmagazine.com
Inspiring Everyday Family Life
Spring 2021 • Issue 11
L ONDON
PAR I S
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Contents Spring 2021 • Issue 11
Are we really only three months into 2021? Feels like a lifetime already and it certainly has been eventful. I’m happy to be writing this after hearing about the ‘road map’ that will hopefully steer us all out of this dark hole we have been living in. Mental health has never been more important to talk about, for our children’s sake and ourselves. What we have lived through as a nation has been indescribable and, in one way or another, has hugely impacted all of our lives. Nonetheless, there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel and I am hopeful that people’s spirits will be slowly lifting at the knowledge that one day the sound of families laughing and chatting in gardens and the delicious smell of BBQ’s with friends will resume, and living in the pandemic will be a distant memory and a story we will tell our great-grandchildren in years to come. Take a moment to pat yourself on the back for getting through home schooling, trying to hold down a job while completing everyday chores and not losing your shizzle on Google Classroom in front of the whole class! To all who are celebrating, wishing you a happy Mother’s Day. If I’ve learnt anything about motherhood, it’s that my mum was always right. Her words, that I once ignored as a child, are now part of my everyday vocabulary to my own kids. Yes mum, I know, you told me so! Spring is the season of new beginnings, fresh buds bloom, animals awaken and the earth seems to come to life again. Embrace the change, enjoy the sights of blossoms gracefully flying in the air and remember to appreciate the smaller things in life… hot coffee and a silent house! I dedicate this edition to the two most important ladies in my life, my mum and baby sister, who has just entered motherhood herself. Peace, love and tulips!
Sevim x
Features 6 8 34 41
Loads of fun having a spring clean Baby feature: Why did no one tell me? How to make your bathroom plastic-free The impact of social anxiety on children
In this edition 4 5 32 44
Spring news Let’s party (at home) Pet life At Dad’s table
A taste of ... 16 38 40 42 48
Education Beauty Health & Wellbeing Living Travel
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Style Editor: Antonia Sanchez–Toomey
Follow us on social media for regular updates @CherubsMagazine
Healthy Food Editor: Christianna Karaolis Travel Editor: Eda Ayyildiz Health & Fitness Editor: Mary Huckle Beauty Editor: Elena Lazarou Designer: Chris Webb Printers: The Roma Group
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Cherubs Magazine
SPRING
Spring
News
Schools are back!
A moment we’ve all been waiting for – the start of the road map begins with the schools being back to normal as of March. It’s been the hardest lockdown yet, however, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and as you’re reading this here’s hoping that you have a hot cuppa, a silent house and anything related to home schooling is safely locked away in a storage box in the loft!
A home for butterflies and bees
Spring is upon us and the flowers are starting to grow, the days are a little longer and the sun is staying with us a bit more each day. Some of nature’s most beautiful creatures show us their beautiful patterns and glide through the sky, dancing effortlessly as they go about their day. Butterflies and Bees show us that nature is close, and without them 90% of wild plants wouldn’t be here. We all love to watch them hop from plant to plant as they work hard. While some people have gardens and others have limited space these ingenious homes can be attached to any shed, post or even an outside wall.
YummiCommunity to support parents through lockdown and beyond
www.yummikeys.com Scottish eco-friendly toy company, Yummikeys, has launched an online Facebook community to help parents across the UK virtually unite during the pandemic and beyond. YummiCommunity, an all-inclusive hub which will allow users to share stories, tips, tricks and woes, aims to make times a little less lonely during the third country-wide lockdown. Hot-button topics related to parenthood, tips for getting through lockdown and activities to keep children occupied at home, will be mixed with light-hearted parenting humour on the hub, where you can share your views, questions and worries, and receive the most up to date Yummikeys news and launches. 4 | Cherubs Magazine
Cruella release date
A live-action prequel feature film following a young Cruella de Vil. Cruella was originally scheduled to be theatrically released on 23 December, 2020 but is now delayed to 28 May, 2021. Something fun to look forward to watching when the cinemas reopen.
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SPRING
Let’s Party (at home!) Remember the time when the weekends were filled with kids’ parties? While the world tries to find normality again, let’s make sure our little ones have a day to remember... even if we can’t leave the house. Here’s our party faves round up!
Perfectly styled teepee sleepovers @faraway_nights_sleepovers
Earth-conscious, plastic-free party box theconsciouspartybox.com cherubsmagazine.com
Balloon displays to brighten up your party balloonbarparties.com
Chocolate smash boxes filled with delicious treats @smashinitchocolates Cherubs Magazine | 5
SPRING CLEAN
Loads Of Fun
having a Spring Clean!
There is nothing more satisfying than coming home to a house that sparkles and gleams. Cleaning your house from top to bottom can be extremely overwhelming, not to mention tiring if you’re homeschooling — take it room by room or appliance by appliance with these spring cleaning tips from Loads of Fun. Pop open those windows, put on the marigolds and tell Alexa to get your favourite playlist ready. You are going to have ‘loads of fun’ with our spring cleaning tips!
Who loves bicarbonate of soda? We do Did you know it is far more than a baking ingredient? It can be used in a manner of different household tasks. SSSS = Sparkling Stainless Steel Sink! Sprinkle the sink with some bicarbonate of soda and rub it all around. Rinse with water and clean it off with white vinegar and some lemon oil to make it smell nice. Dry and buff with some baby oil (yes, baby oil) to make the shine last. You can thank me later!
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SPRING CLEAN Top Tip Adding half a cup of bicarbonate of soda to a load of laundry will improve the performance of your regular detergent, helping with the removal of stains and grease.
We all get bombarded with unwanted newspapers through our letterbox, but did you know newspapers are one of the best materials to use for streak-free sparkling glass and mirrors? It’s easy to just simply spray your chosen cleaner onto the glass or mirrored surface scrunch a piece of newspaper and clean as normal the ink in the newspaper helps to draw up any residual moisture leaving a perfectly streak-free shine. Give it a go.
an hour, so that the vinegar can do its job to get rid of the bacteria hiding in all those nooks and crannies and the hoses of your machine.
• Then,
press the rinse cycle and watch all the gunk disappear! Repeat if the machine is extremely dirty.
Washing machines live longer with vinegar! Cleaning your washing machine has never been more simple, all you need is white vinegar!
Get that microwave sparking before you know it! Fill a large microwave-safe bowl with one cup of water and a chopped-up lemon or several tablespoons of vinegar, and place it inside. Turn the appliance on high for several minutes or until the solution boils and the window is steamy, let it cool for five minutes before opening the door. Remove and wipe the inside and outside with a sponge and... voila!
• Start
by setting your machine to its hottest temperature, highest capacity and longest cycle.
• Add
four cups of white vinegar in the drum and run the machine on empty.
• Pause the cycle (so the machine stops)
when you can see a lot of water in the drum and the cycle is hot (you can feel it by touching the glass) allow it to sit for
info@loadsoffun.co.uk @_loadsoffun_ 07958 392543
Sparking shopping bags Without even knowing our reusable shopping bags are full of germs, especially with the nasty C lurking around, we need to be safer than ever. Germs live on surfaces like shopping trolleys, checkouts and the supermarket floor; it’s no wonder our bags are grubby by the time we get them home. Look at the care label on your reusable bags to determine the best way to clean them. If they’re not machine-wash safe, clean them thoroughly with a Dettol wipe or cloth dipped in sudsy water. Rinse with a clean cloth and let air dry and you’re all ready for that next Aldi trip!
I love cleaning windows! cherubsmagazine.com
www.fortnumandmason.com
Cherubs Magazine | 7
BABY FEATURE
“Why Did No One Tell Me?” Emma Brockwell is one of the UK’s leading women’s health physios, treating women of all ages with women’s healthrelated conditions. Her own pregnancy and postnatal journey taught her the importance of empowering women to take control of and protect their changing bodies through pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood. She is passionate about pre and postnatal rehabilitation, having returned to high impact exercise too soon after her own pregnancy to her body’s detriment. Emma’s new book Why Did No
8 | Cherubs Magazine
One Tell me? How to Protect, Heal and Nurture your body Through Motherhood is a warm, honest and informative handbook to help pregnant women and new mums take control and care for their changing bodies. Here Emma gives us her top five things to know to protect, heal and nurture your body during pregnancy, childbirth and your postnatal recovery. 1. Keep active during your pregnancy. One of the best things that you can do
during your pregnancy is to remain as active as possible. The Chief medical officer recommends that all pregnant women aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity every week, and every minute that you are active counts. Activity comes in many guises, gardening, walking up and down the stairs, going for a walk. There are so many benefits to remaining active during pregnancy including helping to reduce high blood pressure problems, helping to prevent diabetes during
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BABY FEATURE pregnancy, improving sleep, fitness, weight gain and very importantly it can help improve mood. Always discuss any concerns with a midwife and always listen to your body and adapt so that you are comfortable and enjoying whatever form of activity you choose to carry out.
poo, wind, pelvic organ prolapse, low back or pelvic pain, all conditions that are common but not normal during and after pregnancy.
2. Perineal massage. Around 85% of women experience tearing during childbirth, 9/10 first time mums sustain some perineal trauma. While it is unlikely that we can prevent an element of tearing and grazing it is important that the level of tearing is reduced. So how can you do this? One way is by stretching the opening of the vagina and perineal tissues by carrying out perineal massage when you are around 35 weeks pregnant two to three times a week for a couple of minutes each time. There is strong robust evidence that perineal massage reduces risk of episiotomy and tears, reduces the risk of third or fourth degree tears, improves wound healing, length of pushing in labour and lowers the risk of bowl incontinence. To learn how to do this visit the RCOG website. 3. Pelvic floor exercises. These simple little exercises are a must during and after pregnancy whether however you deliver baby. These exercises can help prevent (or manage) pelvic floor dysfunction like leaking wee,
It is recommended that you carry out eight to 12 repetitions of 10-second holds and 10 fast squeezes two or three times a day.
4. Visit a Pelvic Health physiotherapist. During pregnancy and childbirth your body will change a lot and quickly. These changes are needed for your baby to grow big and strong and to arrive safely. These changes that occur to your body can often cause physical conditions like urinary leakage, faecal incontinence, painful sex, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain and tummy separation (diastasis recti). None of these conditions are life threatening but they can dramatically affect you physical and mental health. If you are experiencing any of these issues then a pelvic health physiotherapist can help treat and improve them. They are not conditions that you should learn to live with. Even if you do not have these symptoms I would recommend seeing a pelvic health physiotherapist postnatally, to rehabilitate and prevent these conditions occurring later in life. 5. Give your body time to heal and recover from childbirth. Bounce back is a myth. Pregnancy and childbirth are major life-changing events and as a society we need to respect this more. Your body will take longer than six weeks to recover from having a baby, it takes months and months. Rest, sleep (as much as you can), eat and drink well and be kind to yourself. Don’t rush back to high impact exercise too soon, listen to your body and don’t expect too much too soon.
Why Did No One Tell Me? How to Protect, Heal and Nurture Your Body Through Motherhood, by Emma Brockwell. Out now, £14.99, Vermilion @physiomumuk
Emma’s Top Tips! • Avoid constipation, do not strain on the
• Remember it is important to learn to
• Support your posture when you feed
• After you have fed baby stretch your
• Don’t overheat when exercising during
• Do not be afraid to ask for help – you are
• Remember your mental health and, if you
• Keep well hydrated during and after
• If you leak urine, faeces, feel heaviness
toilet.
neck and upper back.
are struggling, please do reach out and seek help. Remember, you are not alone.
• If you experience low back or pelvic
pain during or after pregnancy ask your GP to refer you to a physiotherapist or osteopath.
cherubsmagazine.com
contract but also relax your pelvic floor. pregnancy. pregnancy.
• Post delivery scar massage can be very
beneficial if you have had a vaginal tear or c-section.
• Do not hold your breath when doing your pelvic floor exercises.
baby.
not meant to know all the answers.
or bulging in your vagina, pain in your lower back or pelvis when carrying out high impact exercise, stop and ask to see a pelvic health physiotherapist.
• Get to know your body, including your vulva!
Cherubs Magazine | 9
BABY FEATURE
Cherubs Baby What’s in your baby bag
Wipes, wipes and more wipes Aqua Wipes: The Vegan-Friendly, Plastic-Free, Biodegradable Wet Wipes They are free from any chemicals and preservatives. They contain 99.6% purified water and include organic aloe vera and a mild coconut derived cleansing agent. aquawipes.co.uk
The cream Bepanthen Nappy Care This is one of the most popular nappy rash creams on the market and mums swear by it. You can use it as a barrier cream to prevent the rash occurring, or, if the rash appears, apply it to soothe and heal that red bottom. amazon.co.uk
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The toy Alilo Intelligent Baby Rattle It is a multipurpose rattle that plays lots of different noises, nursery rhymes and reads stories, and has a functionality that teaches your baby about different colours. In addition it has ears that are chewable for a teething baby. amazon.co.uk
Never too many muslins
CHERU BS LOVES
Etta Loves The scales, patterns and colours will support your baby’s cognitive and visual development. Complement your baby’s development with the Etta Loves sensory product range. ettaloves.com 020 8154 3664
BABY FEATURE
Spare clothes
The doll
Next have some gorgeous three pack sleepsuits which are made with pure cotton. They are super comfortable and very soft. next.co.uk
Thimble and Doll, hand-stitched bespoke diverse dolls Ten beautiful multicultural skin tones, to look like your child and personalised with either their name or initials. Lovingly made by Alisha. thimbleanddoll.co.uk
Dummylicious Bamboo Silicone Soother and Clip This natural plant-based soother is completely nasty-free. With an orthodontically-shaped silicone teat, they also each have a matching handcrocheted dummy strap - so you can keep them stylishly and hygienically at hand. kidly.co.uk
Mama’s Must have Mama’s Moments Maternity Kit
£39.00
EVERY MAMA NEEDS
This beautiful gift set contains all of the essentials you will need for pregnancy, birth, and life as a new mum. naturalbirthingcompany.com
Nappies (lots of nappies!) Aldi’s Mamia brand has a range of great value nappies designed especially for newborns. They are of great value! aldi.co.uk cherubsmagazine.com
Cherubs Magazine | 11
BABY FEATURE
Nursery Edit Fancy walls
Wallpaper A beautifully sophisticated design featuring handdrawn metallic stars and clouds, this wallpaper will look adorable in any baby’s nursery or little one’s room. hibouhome.com
Eye spy with my little eye Owlet Duo Monitor Smart sock and cam. Heart rate, oxygen, video and audio – the complete baby monitor solution. owletbabycare.co.uk
The must have playmat! Sit up baby Nuby Cloud & Star inflatable seat Helps to teach babies to sit upright, keeping them safely cushioned with padded arms and head rest. n-uk.com
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Memory Foam Playmats Totter + Tumble’s highly practical one-piece memory foam playmats are engineered to meet the needs of all the family while also designed with quiet patterns to subtly fit in with your interior for many years to come. totterandtumble.co.uk
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BABY FEATURE
Let there be light
Bath time fun
Daisy & Bump Safari Lampshade Handmade from 100% cotton fabric in their studio, Daisy and Bump have an adorable light shade featuring safari animals on a clean white background. daisyandbump.co.uk
The book The Woodland Hush Rag Book Rag books are so nostalgic! It’s got gorgeous designs that are screen printed on cotton, the edges are finished with pinking shears and it even comes in a cute presentation box, so it’s a great baby gift. theoriginalfamilycollective.com
Rock-abye baby Rattan Cradle I love this cradle! This would be perfect for any Boho styled nursery. theoriginalfamilycollective.com
Safety first Digital Rubber Duck Everyone loves a rubber duck and this classic looking digi duckling will not disappoint! amazon.co.uk
The cuddle towel Cuddledry The Cuddledry is a baby towel that attaches to the parent like an apron, keeping you dry and allowing you to lift and wrap your baby quickly and easily. cuddledry.com
Easy bath Angelcare Soft Touch Bath Support This ergonomically-designed Angelcare Soft Touch is a bath support rather than a tub so it sits directly in your full-sized bath with the water at the desired level. amazon.co.uk
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Cherubs Magazine | 13
BABY FEATURE
5
ways to reduce anxiety while pregnant during Covid-19
Congratulations on your pregnancy and for coping so well during this time. The Covid-19 pandemic has inevitably had an effect on everyone’s mental wellbeing and anxiety, and this is likely to be the case for many pregnant women and expectant parents too. It is important to remember that this is a normal response to a difficult situation, however, there are some things you can do to help you feel more in control, particularly if you are pregnant at this time.
3. STAY IN TOUCH
1. EXERCISE AND GET OUTSIDE
4. CONSIDER HYPNOBIRTHING
Exercising regularly reduces your stress and anxiety levels, helps you sleep better and improves your mood, all of which can have further positive outcomes for both during your pregnancy and after birth. Getting outdoors and into nature for some fresh air lowers your blood pressure and stress hormones and reduces the chance of preterm birth and of having a baby with a low birth weight.
Hypnobirthing is designed to help you manage your stress hormone adrenaline and reduce anxiety in preparation for labour and birth. Hypnobirthing consists of several different elements including guided relaxations, breathing techniques, positive affirmations, and self-hypnosis skills that together aim to create positive and excited feelings towards pregnancy and birth.
2. SELF-CARE Try and focus on your own wellbeing and be kind to yourself. Whether this be taking up a new hobby or activity you enjoy, undertaking some physical exercise, trying to eat well or stopping smoking; taking care of your physical health will positively affect your mental wellbeing too. 14 | Cherubs Magazine
Pregnancy is a really exciting time for you and your family and even if you are not able to share your journey face-to-face or in person, try and find new ways of staying in touch with your loved ones. Getting any worries or concerns off your chest can make a big difference and remind you that you are not alone and helps them feel included also.
4. DON’T GOOGLE Unfortunately, there can be lots of misinformation, particularly online, not only about Covid-19 but regarding pregnancy also and this can lead to confusion and increased anxiety. Try to seek out reliable information from healthcare professionals or used recognised resources as these are
less likely to be biased and will contain upto-date and evidence-based information. If you do feel you have, or are becoming, more anxious during your pregnancy then it is especially important you talk to your midwife or doctor. They will routinely discuss your mental wellbeing at every appointment and can assess if this is normal or whether this is the sign of something more serious that may need additional support. Stay safe and stay well. Dr Ellie Rayner Obstetrician & Gynaecologist Dr Ellie Rayner is a practicing Obstetrician and gynaecologist, antenatal and hypnobirthing teacher and founder of The Maternity Collective. The Maternity Collective provides comprehensive online antenatal and birth preparation courses led by a team of expert healthcare professionals. More information is available at www. thematernitycollective.co.uk Follow Dr Ellie Rayner @maternitymedic for the latest evidence-based information on pregnancy, birth and women’s health issues.
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BABY FEATURE
Etta Loves
Cherubs caught up with Jen Fuller, creator of Etta Loves, for a lovely insight on how a mama started her business journey and created a sensory sensation for our little bundles.
Tell us a little more about yourself? I’m a mum of two lively girls Etta and Uma and the owner and creator of Etta Loves, a truly sensory baby brand. I live by the seaside in Essex and have just brought my third baby into the family – a little puppy who is keeng me on my toes!
The next day I started the search for an orthoptist to input the precise science of babies’ vision – which underpins our unique brand – and Etta Loves was born. The result of all this precision is that every product in our range ensures that babies are mesmerised and supported in their visual and cognitive development, while parents benefit from a priceless moment of calm.
We have been huge fans of the brand and were super excited to hear about your new collection – please tell us more? This month we will be launching our Etta Loves, Keith Haring collection. Keith Haring was a hugely popular artist and activist in the 80s and a legend of the New York art scene. Our brand-new collection of magical baby essentials combines Haring’s striking art and the expertise of our Etta Loves resident NHS orthoptist, an expert in children’s vision, to ensure that every scale, pattern and colour will support babies visual and cognitive development.
Why Etta Loves? I started Etta Loves when my first daughter, Etta, was born in 2016. I was sitting on my sofa with a plain muslin over my shoulder when I realised that four-week-old Etta was staring at my top. It was the first thing I’d noticed her actively trying to focus on and, unsurprisingly, it was a simple black and white pattern. She was calmer than normal and fed with a bit less fuss. It triggered a lightbulb thought to replicate the visual magic that she was enjoying on the most used and seen items for babies, starting with the humble muslin – essentially turning everyday essentials into sensory sensations.
Keith Haring famously said that “art is for everyone”, so to be able to introduce the radiant joy of his work to a new generation is an honour. Our unique range truly does collide art with science in the most magical of ways, supporting babies with their development while giving parents some well needed and very stylish calm in the everyday.
Tell us about the designs? The range comprises two designs; ‘Baby’ designed for babies from birth to around four months old and ‘Brazil’ for five months to around one year. Baby features one of Keith Haring’s most recognisable icons – crawling babies in high contrast black and white, expertly rescaled to support the visual and cognitive development of babies up to four months old.
Brazil is a brightly coloured version of Keith Haring’s 1989 artwork of the same name, recoloured and scaled to support babies from five months to around a year old.
Do you have any good tips for mums on how to get a moment of calm to put their feet up and have a cup of tea? We exist to help parents have some moments of calm! For at-home calm our playmat is an excellent place for your baby to both relax and develop. It makes tummy time infinitely happier all round, and if they’re done with being on their front you can prop one of the sides of the playmat up against the sofa or chair for them to turn their head to when they’re on their back. The other super simple thing to do is to hang or tie one of our sensory muslins over the arch of a baby gym. This will not only give them an eye workout but if they’re over a few months old it will also encourage them to reach out and try and grab it, benefiting their gross motor development too.
The Etta Loves, Keith Haring collection will be available from 15 March through selected retailers nationwide and at ettaloves.com. Prices range between £18.50 and £75.00. cherubsmagazine.com
@Keith Haring Foundation. Licensed by Artestar, New York
Cherubs Magazine | 15
BABY FEATURE
The Hidden Germs in Your Child’s Belongings Jade Pallett, a top microbiologist at ZOONO, the scientifically proven longer lasting sanitiser, offers her advice on how to keep children protected against germs for longer. A study conducted by the University of Warwick found children to be most at risk for both catching and transmitting infections due to the number and nature of their interactions with people and surfaces.
such as Zoono Surface Sanitiser that is scientifically proven can help keep you protected for longer.
Here, we list three ‘hot spots’ for germs and share our advice on how to keep them clean for longer.
From food and dirty socks to drink spillages, car seats are a haven for bacteria. Shockingly, a study carried out at the University of Birmingham found car seats can contain nearly twice the number bacteria as a toilet seat.
Electronic Devices Tablets and phones touch our hands and faces and are often shared with children, turning them into a major source of germs. Clean devices weekly with a product that does not contain harsh chemicals (for example, bleach) as this can cause damage. Using a longer lasting protection
Car Seats
To clean it properly, remove the seat to allow access to all the nooks and crannies. Vacuum all visible debris then wash the cover on a cool hand-wash setting and air dry. Use gentle soap to clean plastic components. Pay special attention to the harness as this is
integral in keeping your child safe. Carefully follow manufacturer’s instructions. Finally, spray with a microbe shield to protect the seat from germs for longer.
Nappy Bags and School Bags Bags touch several surfaces and could therefore be a haven for germs responsible for colds, the flu or food poisoning. Bags left in warm areas (for example, hanging by a radiator or inside the car) are at particular risk. Use warm soapy water to wash plastic and insulated bags every day, then leave to dry thoroughly. For cloth bags, wash weekly in a washing machine as per manufacturer instructions. To help protect for longer, once dry, spray with Zoono Surface Spray.
For further information, visit www.zoono.com 16 | Cherubs Magazine
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BROOMFIELD SCHOOL A SCHOOL FOR OUR COMMUNITY
VIRTUAL ROADSHOW
FOR OUR PROSPECTIVE FAMILIES
BOOK NOW
An opportunity to find out more about Broomfield including a Q&A session with some of our staff
www broomfield enfield sch uk roadshow .
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TUESDAY 16TH MARCH THURSDAY 29TH APRIL THURSDAY 20TH MAY
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6PM
via ZOOM
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EDUCATION - ADVERTISING FEATURE
Choosing a Primary School Which type of school offers the best start for my child? Parents looking for a Reception place for their child ask themselves a number of important questions: 1. What type of school will suit my child best – small, nurturing, academic, sporty, musical, single-sex? What is the ethos of the school? 2. How will I get them to school – by car, walking or public transport? Is there good wraparound care provision? 3. Does the school offer a nurturing environment and good pastoral care so that my child can settle in quickly and make new friendships? 4. Does the school have excellent teachers who aim to instil confidence and nurture talents and treat my child as an individual? 5. Does the school offer a good range of extra-curricular activities, school trips, and sporting fixtures? As Headmistress of Palmers Green High School, I am very much aware of how important this decision is, and am confident that in choosing PGHS, you are giving your daughter the very best start you can. In 1905 our founder, Alice Hum, chose The 18 | Cherubs Magazine
motto, By Love Serve One Another to reflect the very special ethos of our small and nurturing School. Located in the heart of Winchmore Hill, parents choose our School for a number of reasons:
• At
inspection, every aspect of Palmers Green High School has received the highest grades of outstanding/excellent – from the Early Years Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception) all the way to Year 11.
• The
School has a reputation for excellence and is ranked Number One in The Sunday Times Parent Power national league table for small independent schools.
• PGHS
offers small class sizes and each girl is treated as an individual where all talents are nurtured. Girls are selected for entry based on their potential to learn and join like-minded individuals who are encouraged to achieve their full potential.
• Girls
are taught by specialist teachers with Reception having specialist PE, music and drama lessons each week. From Year 1, additional specialist teaching includes Art, Design & Technology, ICT and Languages.
• PGHS
is the only all-girls independent school for ages 3-16 in the area. As a through-school, pupils don’t suffer from the anxiety of transition at the end of Year 6, but move with confidence to the Senior School.
• A
wide variety of extra-curricular clubs are offered to girls in the Lower School, including Sewing Club, Marble Club, Cookery Club, Prep Choir, Speech and Drama, Gymnastics and Prep Violin Club.
• There
are a wide range of trips and visits on offer, which have included the Tower of London, Gunpowder Mills and Shepreth Wildlife Park, and visits from authors, poets and illustrators as well as a Shakespeare Workshop.
• Exclusive wraparound care is provided by
M&M childcare who collect the children from both the Nursery and School and take them to nearby facilities. Our working parents can be reassured that their daughters are well cared for.
If you are interested in becoming a part of the PGHS family, please call Admissions on 020 8886 1135, email office@pghs.co.uk or visit us virtually at www.pghs.co.uk. We are still receiving applications for Reception entry for this September. 020 8154 3664
WINCHMORE HILL
A Leading Independent School and Nursery for Girls aged 3-16 years
Virtual Open Mornings
Friday 19ᵗ� March 2021 at 9.30am for entry from 11+ (Senior School) Wednesday 5ᵗ� May 2021 at 9.30am for entry from 3+ (Lower School)
Number 1 in The Sunday Times national league table for small independent schools Please book a place at our Virtual Open Mornings on our website at www.pghs.co.uk or Tel: 020 8886 1135 or Email:office@pghs.co.uk
EDUCATION
Real World Maths! By Aimee Hart @hart_at_home
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EDUCATION Do you remember being at school at the methods used back then being totally different to those being taught now? Have you sat down with your child over the past year and thought… hang on – what?! Well you are not alone. The English National Curriculum has undergone many changes in its history and has ‘evolved’ with the times. This might leave you scratching your head wondering why the old methods have been flung out the window as we all know we learnt maths and get along just fine now (minus that nonsense we learnt about algebra and Pythagoras that we’ve yet to use in life). There are valid reasons for the changes, reasons that ensure children understand the inner workings of maths more clearly. For example when we learnt the column method for addition we just added the numbers and came to our answer. The column method is still used but the foundations of this method need to be clear before skipping straight to simple adding. 23 + 45 – for example; children will add the 3 + 5 easily as these are simple ones. However children need to understand there are 2 lots of 10 to be added to 4 lots of 10. Rather than just 2 + 4. Without this basic understanding the concept of numbers can be lost or irrelevant. Which is why many teachers who teach in early years or Key Stage 1 tend to keep column method at arms length until these foundations are secure. The most important component of maths in Primary school is basic understanding and manipulation of numbers. Without this children will find it hard to use money, measure, tell the time, divide and multiply. Imagine a line of dominoes, if children miss those vital number concepts then that removes multiple dominoes from the run, leading to breaks or pauses in later education which will then need to be revisited. Keeping those methods simple and real ensures a smooth flow of dominoes along their life of learning. During this time of home learning you may be faced with a method, a diagram or a concept that YOU remember being taught – but in a totally different way. Try and follow the line of thought from the school as there are valid reasons for the change. However, if you find yourself stuck and at a total loss as to how to support your offspring with this foreign language then try these simple at home maths ideas that will keep their little maths brains ticking!
town using things from your recycling. Get the children to make a list (verbal or on paper) of all the shapes they have used. Twinkl have great shape mats to help them identify the shapes and remind them of their names. Continue by doing a shape hunt around the house.
2. Let’s Play Shop You will need: a range of coins, play food or packets from the cupboard, a calculator or simply a pen and paper.
4. What’s The weather?
You will need: a thermometer, clock, pen and paper. Linking further to scales with the added element of telling the time. Get children to create a weather journal. Large thermometers can be picked up from Amazon quite cheaply, stick one outside and get children to record the temperatures of different times. This will help them to tell the time, read a scale and track data! Triple whammy!
This is a simple way to manipulate numbers and can be differentiated to meet the level of your child. Label all the objects at round numbers for ease of adding or branch out into more complex numbers for them to add together. If your child is experienced with this give them the challenge of working out change! Don’t get too bogged down with the decimal point if your child is younger – keep it all in pence £1 = 100p.
3. Let’s Bake
5. How Many Ways?
You will need: a recipe to follow, kitchen scales and measuring jug.
You will need: a range of objects to create a certain number.
Another thing you will all be doing during this time! It might be messy, it might end in something that Mary Berry would shudder at, but the idea of measuring is so important. Pull out all the different measuring tools you have with scales on and get them to experiment. Flip it on its head and get them to tell you how much you have – reading and creating amounts on a scale.
This is something we do at school to develop that all round number knowledge. The number 5 isn’t just 5 sweets. It’s a tally, 5p, written in words, dots in a 10s frame, identified on a number line. Having a number of the day/ week will give more depth to their understanding of numbers.
1. Junk Model Mayhem You will need: Anything in your recycle bin, sticky tape. This is a great simple maths activity for little hands that will help develop vocabulary for 2D and 3D shapes. Build a model, alien or
www.myevelynandme.com cherubsmagazine.com
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EDUCATION - ADVERTISING FEATURE
Virtual Learning We know that face-to-face teaching in classrooms delivers the best outcomes but there are also very successful ways in which learning online can be delivered. When facing the current challenges at Mount House we have sought to deliver a ‘best in class’ Virtual Learning Programme, and we are incredibly proud of what the School online community is achieving. Maintaining routine during lockdown is very important and therefore the timetabled School day is kept to as much as possible starting with registration at 8.25am followed by form time where teachers engage with small groups of students supporting their overall online learning and sharing school news. There are weekly PSHE and form actvities working through topics such as career pathways and physical health. We also hold weekly whole school assemblies which help support our sense
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of community and we introduce important topics such as mental health and Holocaust Memorial Day. At 8.55am students begin their full timetable of lessons delivered live by their teachers in all subject areas on Teams. The use of online white boards, break out rooms and various online tools are included to support learning engagement. We even deliver live science experiments using additional cameras and also host various music lessons and choir rehearsals using our music technology suite. The continuation of clubs and societies is also vital to keeping Mount House students motivated and part of the community. Students can still participate in choir, art clubs, drama club, bake-off competitions and even a live ‘beat the teacher’ fitness challenge with the PE department.
With students experiencing their full timetable online we recognise the need for time away from screens. To support this, our students have been engaging in regular ‘offline days’, filled with activities such as outdoor exercise challenges, arts and craft activities, community engagement and offscreen research in areas of interest. On behalf of all the staff at Mount House we are hugely grateful for the kind and supportive comments from parents and students about the virtual learning programme as teachers are working enormously hard to deliver stimulating and enjoyable live lessons. Contact us to find out more: Email admissions@mounthouse.org.uk or call 020 8449 6889. Camlet Way, Hadley Wood EN4 0NJ
020 8154 3664
INSPIRING EVERY INDIVIDUAL Tailored, virtual learning and support in small class sizes. Barnet / Independent / Co-educational / Ages 11–18 #InspiringMountHouse
mounthouse.org.uk
READING
Reading Get Spring
Recommended by Pickled Pepper Books
Babies & Toddlers
Baby Touch: Seasons: a touch-and-feel playbook
By Ladybird Introduce your baby to all of the seasons with this bright, interactive playbook. Say hello to spring, summer, autumn and winter, from fluffy chicks to sparkly snowflakes! With textured patches to touch, feel and explore, this bright and sturdy board book with grabbable tabs will engage young children from six months upwards. High-contrast colours and touchand-feels stimulate a baby’s senses, while encouraging interaction and play.
Who Said Cheep
By Yi-Hsuan Wu Who said ‘Cheep’? Was it Puppy? No, it was Chick! Introduce animals and their noises in this tactile board book perfect for making baby laugh. Featuring sturdy flaps and fabrics with a surprise mirror ending, this makes for the perfect first introduction to springtime.
Early years
Dog Gone
By Rob Biddulph This is a brand-new, wonderfully waggy story of one dog day afternoon, from the genius behind the YouTube #DrawWithRob phenomenon. Rob Biddulph helped so many families in lockdown provide much needed illustration fun for little ones and parents alike. Every dog has his Dave (or otherwise-named human) but on a walk in the park, the adorable Teddy the pug, loses his. And when Teddy finds himself at the shed of the TERRIBLE TROLL in the woods, he might find more than he bargained for... a new friend. So much fun to share with little ones. 24 | Cherubs Magazine
Where Happiness Begins
By Eva Eland There are so many good books to help children and their grown-ups talk about emotions now. Here is another great one exploring happiness, and what it feels like. This is the second of Eva Eland’s picture books that helps little ones deal with big emotions. 020 8154 3664
READING
Books to get them reading for pleasure The Broken Leg Of Doom
An Interesting Word for Every Day of the Year: Fascinating Words for First Readers
By Pamela Butchart Hilarious, illustrated school-based antics where everything that happens leads to drama and running around and even some fainting! When a session of extreme dancing leaves maisie in the hospital with a broken leg, things take a turn for the weird! Strange noises in the ward at night, missing cuddly toys and a sandwich trolley that only ever has tuna sandwiches. Could maisie’s leg be cursed? If it is, and it definitely is, then everything is doomed! Laugh-outloud fun from one of our favourite authors, pamela butchart.
A Year Full Of Celebrations And Festivals
By Christopher Corr Another in the beautiful A Year Full Of series brings us countless different festivals celebrated all over the world. Some are national holidays, celebrated for religious and cultural reasons or to mark an important date in history, while others are just for fun. Dance your way through the streets of Brazil at Carnival, get caught up in a messy tomato fight in Spain at La Tomatina or add a splash of colour to your day at the Holi festival of colours.
By Dr. Meredith L. Rowe This book is perfect for home schooling. Learn a new and inspiring word every day of the year, arranged into 52 seasonally themed spreads. Each fully illustrated scene provides a fun and supportive platform to introduce little readers to big words and extend their vocabulary. Curated by a literacy expert, these 365 aspirational words will fire your child’s imagination, help them label their emotions and expand their comprehension. What’s not to love!
When we got Lost in Dreamland
By Ross Welford Katherine contacted author and illustrator friends during lockdown to contribute to this wonderful anthology. These stories show that imagination can be a shelter, provide hope, make us laugh, smile and help us to see some light – much needed! With 133 contributions children will revisit this book time and time again.
10 Middle Ln, Crouch End, London N8 8PL 020 3632 0823 • www.pickledpepperbooks.co.uk cherubsmagazine.com
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EDUCATION
Home Schooling Essentials Dedicated school area
A dining room no more, this is now your dedicated space for schooling. If you’re short on space any organised small area will do.
Outdoor time
Being cooped up in the house all day is a recipe for cranky children, so get them out and about even if it’s drizzling with spring rain. Long nature walks, exploring local monuments or just scooting around the park from some fresh air will do the kids and you the world of good.
Art supplies Kids love anything creative, especially if there’s mess involved. Make sure you have a large stash of art supplies to keep them going. Top tip – save all your Amazon brown paper packaging, it comes in useful to lay down to protect the surface.
Quiet reading space Even if, in reality, that means sitting on the sofa, it’s still a space for the children to sit quietly and read (just make sure you hide the remote!)
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020 8154 3664
North Bridge House
Virtual events + private tours
Book an open day at northbridgehouse.com/open NURSERY & PRE-PREP WEST HAMPSTEAD 2 - 7 YEARS FRIDAY 26 MARCH THURSDAY 22 APRIL
NURSERY & PRE-PREP HAMPSTEAD 2 - 7 YEARS TUESDAY 23 MARCH TUESDAY 20 APRIL
PREP SCHOOL SENIOR REGENT’S PARK HAMPSTEAD 7 - 13 YEARS 11 - 16 YEARS FRIDAY 05 MARCH THURSDAY 11 MARCH FRIDAY 30 APRIL THURSDAY 29 APRIL
SENIOR CANONBURY 11 - 18 YEARS THURSDAY 25 MARCH THURSDAY 06 MAY
Email admissionsenquiries@northbridgehouse.com or call 020 7428 1520 for more information
LIFE - ADVERTISING FEATURE
LO ND ON
PA RI S
My Motherhood
Mother’s Day is a day where all journeys of motherhood, however big or small, are celebrated. Cherubs spoke to the company who knows motherhood best – Merci Maman. The personalised jewellery brand create beautiful handengraved gifts for the whole family, and this year their #MyMotherhood campaign champions women on their own unique journey with motherhood, highlighting and celebrating the different experiences for each mother. We asked the lovely ladies from Merci Maman what motherhood means to them.
BÉATRICE – Founder Motherhood to me is the magic of the unbreakable bond between loved ones and the affection of a mother and child that cannot be matched. Merci Maman has always been and always will be a celebrations of motherhood.
MARINE – Head of Brand Motherhood isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ kind of concept. Everyone’s experience as a child and as a mum can never be compared. To me, motherhood is unconditional love, constant support and the huge responsibility to inspire and be the one they look up to.
EVE – PR & Marketing Manager Motherhood to me is all about laughter and love. If i’m half the mother that my mum was to me, I’ll be happy.
INES – Country Manager Spain & Italy Motherhood for me is a challenging and very rewarding gift, that most likely will make me age quicker… but I have a much fuller life than I previously had.
BARBARA – Operations Manager Forgetting nothing and forgiving everything, and getting your biggest kick out of your children’s happiness.
www.mercimamanboutique.com 28 | Cherubs Magazine
LIFE - ADVERTISING FEATURE ALIX – Marketing & Sales Director Motherhood is challenging, sleepless, crazy and scary and at the same time yet the most amazing thing ever!
ANNA – Design & Sourcing Manager Motherhood to me is a gift, a moment whereby we shift to put someone else’s happiness and well-being ahead of your own. Whether you’re a mother or look up to your own, we devote ourselves to love, teach, protect and support.
LANA – Brand Marketing & Campaigns Manager Motherhood means to me a constant support, someone who is always there no matter what. Knowing that there’s someone there to always listen to me and give me a hug when it’s needed!
CHIARA – Marketing & Business Development My mum has always been my biggest support and she always pushed me to try. I came to the UK for the first time alone when I was 13; it was an experience that changed my life and I would have never done it if it wasn’t for her. Motherhood for me means always being there for your child and supporting them in every way possible to help them create their own future.
MARYSIA – German Customer Service Motherhood means to do your best and remember in the hardest of times that the tantrums will pass, teenagers grow out of it, nothing ends a bad parenting moment like a big hug. Being a mum also gave me another perspective on my relationship with my own mum and helped me to be less judgmental with her and childhood memories.
Join in the conversation of what motherhood means to you over on Instagram by using #MyMotherhood and tagging @mercimamangifts
Cherubs Loves
Personalised Initial Pastille Necklace
£79.00
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Personalised Intertwined Necklace
£89.00
Personalised Signature Disc Necklace
£79.00
Personalised Signet Ring
£49.00
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HOMELIFE
Home Edit
Henry Gathered Lampshade
£21.00 Planter with Stand
£19.50
Neptune neptune.com
M&S marksandspencer.com
Woven Nest of Tables
£99.00
Washed Linen Duvet Cover
Next next.co.uk
£80.00
John Lewis johnlewis.com
Storage Basket
£69.99
Zara zarahome.com
Instagram: @tailormadelivingstore Website: www.tailormadeliving.co.uk 30 | Cherubs Magazine
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HOMELIFE
Lick Paint in Terracotta 2.5L
£38.00
Lick lickhome.com
La Redoute Rug
£220.00
La Redoute laredoute.co.uk
Pendant Light
£139.00
Made made.com
Lick Paint in Greige 2.5L
£38.00
Lick lickhome.com
Carafe & Tumblers
£22.00
Garden Trading gardentrading.co.uk
Farida Vase
£28.00
House Doctor housedoctor.com
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PET LIFE
Victoria from Pooches & Prams shares her spring picks for you and your dog. With winter behind us, dog walking and getting out and about with the little ones is so much easier and, let’s face it, a lot more fun! Gone are the days of traipsing through mud in the freezing cold (fingers crossed) and hello to crisp walks in sunshine surrounded by nature coming to life as we walk past. Spring is hands down my favourite season, the colours, the smells and the optimism of the summer ahead makes it such a joy to be out and about in. To celebrate, here are my favourite bits and bobs for you and your family, including your four-legged members of course. For more places to go, and things to do head over to Instagram.com/poochesandprams.
The perfect book full of inspiration for children’s activities. I love The Joy Journal because it’s centred around nature and is full of ideas that you can incorporate into your daily dog walk as well as entertainment at home. We do so many scavenger hunts with Arthur (aged three) when out walking Rupert (our dog), such a great way to keep things fresh and interesting, and this book of full of so much more. The Joy Journal for Magical Everyday Play by Laura Brand is available now. instagram.com/thejoyjournal
Colourful stylish leads for spring walks Rope leads are great, not only are they sturdy and durable but they are so lightweight. I’ve been a fan of Bramble & Friends for a while, their designs are spot on, practical yet striking and all handmade in the UK. My particular favourite at the moment is the lead pictured here, Wisteria. From £30.00 brambleandfriends.com 32 | Cherubs Magazine
PET LIFE
Clean up your mess and your planet As a household we are making a conscious effort to tweak our lifestyle and consumption to become more eco-friendly. At first I found the thought of this completely overwhelming, surely as an individual we can’t make an impact? But then I changed my mind set and realised in fact, small changes can make a difference, so that’s how we are approaching it now, small changes. Adios poo bags are a brilliant example of this, something small that are used most days. They are made from 100% plants so contain no plastic, they are fully compostable, biodegradable and for the added bonus they come in cute colours From £5.99 adiosplastic.co.uk
Keeping cosy while out and about
Finally for ultimate cute dog award Our dog Rupert isn’t one for wearing outfits, however there are a few things he will happily walk around in, which are practical and look sweet. He tends to like Equafleece when it’s cold and then come spring a lightweight cotton piece like this adorable Bark and Tumble one pictured. I absolutely love their designs, colours and the fact they are all handmade in the UK, 100% organic cotton and the fit is spot on. The ideal piece for Rupert if there is a nip in the air or it’s a special occasion. From £40.00 barkandtumble.com
As we pack up our thick winter coats, it’s time to crack out the jackets. I came across this hoodie via @amothersedit on Instagram, my go-to page for anything fashion as I love her chilled yet cool mama style. This little beauty from H&M is perfect from throwing on when taking the dog out or nipping out with the kids. If it’s a bit colder then it’s also a good extra layer underneath your jacket. Super cosy, the only downside is that it is cream, not always practical with dogs and kids, but hey, washable. Hooded Faux Shearling Jacket £19.99 hm.com
it’s
Dreaming of day trips... Travelling somewhere for a day out feels like an absolute treat! I can’t wait to head back to Hughenden, a National Trust country house in Buckinghamshire. It’s not too big, so feels manageable with small children, great hills for the kids to roll down, a little café serving coffee and ice creams, beautiful grounds, sweet little gift shop (I love a gift shop) and it’s dog friendly. I’m really looking forward to going there again. nationaltrust.org.uk/hughenden Make sure you check online prior to visit regarding pre booking and any restrictions in place
@poochesandprams www.poochesandprams.co.uk Cherubs Magazine | 33
SUSTAINABILITY
How to Make Your Bathroom Plastic-Free Karen Maurice @n4mummy. For as long as I can remember, there has always been a plethora of plastic bottles in our bathroom. They drive me nuts, clutter the place and that’s before I start thinking about the amount of landfill that’s there. Now, we all know that plastic is an issue. It comes from crude oil, so every virgin piece of plastic made is using our earth’s precious resources. Also, the process of doing this releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect. And that’s all before we start talking about its effect on sea life and our oceans. And then there’s the fact that it’s not being recycled as it should be. In short, we need to use less plastic in our day-to-day lives. So, here are a few really simple plastic free swaps for your bathroom. Try them; I promise you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Switch squirty soap for an old-fashioned soap bar Most liquid soap is packaged in single use plastic, so ditching shower gel and liquid soap is a really easy way to make your bathroom plastic free. Also, the transportation of bars of soap uses less energy than its liquid counterpart as they are smaller and lighter.
Try toothpaste tablets
Old-fashioned soap bar
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Tubes of toothpaste generally can’t be recycled due to the complex packaging needed to keep the ingredients fresh. So instead, try toothpaste tablets. They come 020 8154 3664
SUSTAINABILITY
Toothpase tablets
receiving a box that told him “You’ve got a nice bum” Plus they give 50% of their profits to help build toilets for those in developing countries. Toilet paper from uk.whogivesacrap.org
Give up the bottle and use bars of shampoo and conditioner
Shampoo and conditioner
One of the simplest ways to reduce clutter and plastic bottles from your bathroom is by using solid shampoo and conditioner bars. They are basically really concentrated shampoo or conditioner, without water. This means you use less and they last longer than a bottle. Like soap, bars are cheaper to transport and don’t come wrapped in plastic. Just make sure your bar of soap is a different colour, otherwise you’ll get very confused. I love Ethique’s hair care range. Shampoo & conditioner from ethique.co.uk
Invest in a beautiful razor Ditch single use plastic razors in favour of a razor for life. I bought this bamboo safety razor from Acala years ago. It fits a doubleedged recyclable razor blade in it, which comes wrapped in unbleached recycled paper. At the end of its life the bamboo is compostable and the metal recyclable, so all-in-all a great zero waste product. Bamboo razor £22.99 from acalaonline.com I have so many more suggestions for a plastic-free bathroom, so do head over to my blog n4mummy.com to read more or chat with me on Instagram @n4mummy Karen Maurice lives in North London with her husband and three kids. She loves pink tea, pink wine and dancing round the kitchen.
in a jar for which you can get refills. You pop a tablet in your mouth, crunch and then brush. The tablet gently foams and leaves your mouth feeling minty fresh and clean. I’ve been using Parla’s toothpaste tablets, but there are other brands such as Georganics or ecoLiving. Toothpaste tabs from £5 a month from parlatoothpastetabs.com
Give a crap about your toilet paper When you buy recycled toilet paper from many supermarkets, it’s still packaged with that flimsy plastic packaging that cannot be recycled. Well if you really care about that sort of thing, then Who Gives A Crap is the brand for you. Their toilet paper comes with no plastic packaging and is either 100% recycled paper or 100% bamboo toilet paper. All delivered to your door with a good dollop of humour. My husband loved
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Razor & shaving bar
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STYLE
Fashion Edit Coming out of Hibernation
Never has the return of spring been more welcome and giving a nod to new beginnings the fashion world is full of florals and soft sherbet colours signalling new life and energy. Mix bright florals prints with cute knitwear in pastel shades. Pair with wide legged trousers and look out for pretty Peter Pan collars
Puff Sleeve Peplum Top
£65.00
& Other Stories stories.com
Espadrille Sandal Wedges
£85.00
& Other Stories stories.com
Daisy Floral Print Black Mini Dress
£65.00
Oliver Bonas oliverbonas.com
Rhodochrosite Gold Mini Pyramid Charm Hoop Earrings
£85.00
Missoma missoma.com
Wide Jeans
£69.00
Arket arket.com
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020 8154 3664
STYLE Striped Knit Sweater
£85.00
& Other Stories stories.com
Textured Animal Print Blue Sports Leggings
£45.00
Oliver Bonas oliverbonas.com
Very Cute Crossbody from See by Chloe
£275.00
Net-A-Porter net-a-porter.com
Veja V-10 Suede Trainers – Multico, Natural & Babe
£115.00
The Dressing Room the-dressingroom.com
Textured Animal Print Blue Cross Back Sports Top
£35.00
Oliver Bonas oliverbonas.com
Instagram: @tailormadelivingstore Website: www.tailormadeliving.co.uk cherubsmagazine.com
Cherubs Magazine | 37
BEAUTY
Radiance in Spring With Elena @els_makeup_box
With spring in full swing, and even more of us now working across from our screens, why not revamp your makeup bag and those zoom meetings with some fresh new makeup staples. Want your nail polish to dry quickly? Apply one or two drops to each nail, and you’ll have ready to go nails in no time.
Subtle peach/coral nails are a true spring staple colour to brighten up our lives. OPI nail polishes really do pack a punching colour as well as being chip resistant. Their nail polishes are also available in the gel polish version too.
Jessica Quick Dry 60 Second Drying
£11.95
Lookfantastic lookfantastic.com
OPI Mexico City Limited Edition Nail Polish
£13.90
Lookfantastic lookfantastic.com
With so much of our time being spent indoors, why not add a little glow and superfoods to your skin. REN tonic toner is packed full of skin food, to exfoliate and brighten up our complexions. Can be used under makeup. REN Clean Skincare Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic
£25.00
Lookfantastic lookfantastic.com For softly glowing cheeks I recommend a blush that is universal and easy to work with. Fenty Beauty Cream blush melts in to the skin, whilst giving the face a soft glow. Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush
Reveal beautiful skin using my personal favourite skin-peeling solution. Use once a month on clean skin for ten minutes, to reveal smooth exfoliated skin. *Only suitable for experienced users of acid exfoliation
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution
£6.30
The Ordinary theordinary.deciem.com
£19.00
Boots boots.com
Who doesn’t love a glistening lip gloss during our long spring days? Use these lip glosses above a matte lipstick or alone for a high shine finish. Lip Lingerie Gloss NYX nyxcosmetics.co.uk
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If you prefer a more sheer makeup coverage, I do love Nars tinted moisturiser. Has great longevity, a glowing finish and helps improve the skin’s overall condition. Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser SPF 30/PA+++
£31.00
Nars narscosmetics.co.uk 020 8154 3664
BEAT THE BURN
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Lockdown Health and Fitness By Mary Huckle
This time last year the UK was still very much in the dark about Covid-19. We watched the virus unfold in China, but never imagined it would have quite the same effect on our island. Lockdown measures ensued and it’s fair to say that we all got rather ‘lost’ in a new kind of normal. Most of us have been affected in one way or another. For certain, the fitness world changed in revolutionary terms. We swapped gyms for our living rooms. We turned to technology to join all manner of Zoom classes. As well as adapting to home workouts, as a nation we’ve been making use of the great outdoors like never before. With shops, pubs and restaurants being closed, our green spaces have become ‘the place to be’ and the safest, according to medical experts. Sales of fitness equipment rocketed, with purchases of treadmills and stationary bikes being high on the list. As I write this, we are still in lockdown, and how long this status quo will go on for we just don’t know. But how are we really faring mentally and physically? From what I can fathom, we have two extremes where some have embraced the opportunity to take control and exercise more, and where others have lost their exercise mojo completely. Some have used the time to take stock of their mental health and make positive changes, and yet sadly, others have suffered more so for all sorts of reasons. Whichever way you look at it, the pandemic has really brought home the importance of health and fitness. There is an obvious and particularly important link between our physical and mental health. It really does matter to stay as healthy as possible. With that in mind here’s some inspiration, and a lockdown challenge.
The Lunge Challenge One of my all-time favourite exercises is the Lunge. Lunges are effective and versatile. They make a great stand-alone exercise, or you can incorporate them into your routine. Switch them up or down; lunges are guaranteed to give your legs a great workout. They help to strengthen your back, hips, glutes and legs whilst improving mobility, stability, balance and coordination. Remaining upright as you perform a lunge will also help strengthen those elusive core muscles. If you’re a newbie, use your bodyweight alone, and progress to holding dumbbells once you get comfortable with the exercise.
• First, make sure that you’re warmed up. • Stand with feet hip width apart. • Keep the back straight, chin and chest lifted,
looking forward, and shoulders relaxed. your core, inhale, and step forward into a long stride, keeping the knee in line with the toes and bending both legs at 90 degrees. • Keep your core engaged, exhale, keep the weight in your heels, recruit the glutes, drive through the front heel, and push back to standing. • Perform 10 repetitions on each leg with good form. You can alternate legs, or you can do five reps on one side first.
Outdoor Magic Spring is almost officially upon us. It’s possibly the best season of the year to step outside and rediscover our local parks, green spaces, and woods. All around us, there’s a strong feeling of new beginnings; rejuvenation, reviving and recharging. Even with lockdown in the mix, we simply can’t ignore nature’s course and its therapeutic properties; in fact, we should definitely be making the most of it. Being outdoors will improve your mood and reduce any feelings of stress, worry or anger. Looking after our bodies involves regular mental cleansing. It’s crucial to our overall sense of wellbeing. I call it ‘green meditation’.
Finding It Hard to Get Moving? Here Are My AllTime Favourite Top 10 Tips 1. Diarise your workouts. This prioritises them instantly. 2. Set a short-term goal. No pressure here, just make it achievable. 3. Prepare your workout clothes the night before and leave them in full view. 4. Using a mat? This too. Leave it out or roll it out and leave it in full view. 5. If you’re completely new to exercise, then start with shorter, moderate workouts. 6. Make yourself accountable. Share your good intentions. 7. Would a workout buddy motivate you? Enlist the help of a friend (but be sure to follow government Covid guidelines). 8. Create an active lifestyle. Take the stairs instead of the lift or walk rather than take the bus or car. 9. Tune in to how your workouts make you feel. Keeping a journal helps. 10. If all else fails, a new pair of trainers or new working out gear may do the trick!
• Engage
www.breakthroughfitness.co.uk Instagram @maryhuckle Facebook @breakthroughfitness1 Twitter @mary_huckle
40 | Cherubs Magazine
HEALTH & WELLBEING
The impact of social anxiety on children and young people during the Covid-19 pandemic by Marilena Andreou Generally, as people, we are born to connect and interact with others. However, for those children and young people that have social anxiety disorder they have an excessive fear of being judged by others, scrutinised and a persistent fear of humiliation. This can then lead to avoidance of interacting in social situations altogether or even limiting their telecommunications. It differs from the slight shyness as an adolescent. Approximately 12% of us may experience social anxiety disorder in our lifetime. The Covid-19 pandemic has understandably exacerbated social anxiety in children and young people. During these unprecedented times, there have been multiple lockdowns and school/college closures causing people a lot of anxiety and young people being apprehensive about the prospect of interacting with others again. Those affected by social anxiety may feel only temporary relief while they stay at home in their ‘comfort zones’ during the pandemic. Social anxiety can also have a negative impact on relationships, hobbies, school and work performance. Everyone has had to adapt to the ‘new normal’ way of life, having to adjust our behaviours accordingly, which consists of social distancing and wearing masks. Wearing masks can even mean that we are not able to fully read facial expressions, which can in turn amplify social anxiety difficulties. For example someone might be smiling under the mask but this could be perceived as the other person staring and coming across as rude. From this, a person may then ‘mind-read’ and misinterpret this with thoughts about being judged or ridiculed. These government changes have strongly gone against our previous experiences in life and this has left a lot of us feeling worried and many of us are spending
more time interacting online with others. Social anxiety symptoms to look out for in young people: • Avoiding eye contact with others. • Sleep difficulties – could be linked to nightmares or worries which are specifically heightened at night. • Avoiding social interactions or making excuses to leave early from events/ social gatherings. • Not wanting to go to school or college. • Withdrawn behaviours – becoming increasingly subdued. • Reducing/avoiding talking on the phone or interacting virtually with others. • Physical symptoms (before or during the fearful situation) such as sweating, shaking/trembling, nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness etc. • Fluctuations in mood, increased anxiety and/or low mood. • Sudden persistent bed wetting. • Reassurance-seeking behaviours e.g. asking parents or guardians if they think certain people like or dislike them. Six strategies for managing social anxiety disorder: 1. Challenge negative thoughts – identify the thoughts that go through your mind. Sometimes it is difficult for one to differentiate between real or perceived threats. Remember that you are safe and it is likely that there is no threat. Bear in mind that it is impossible to know what others are really thinking. 2. Maintain social connections – do the best that you can under these circumstances, connecting by telephone, virtually, through social media, emails or sending letters. 3. Exposure – expose yourself to fearful situations in a way that feels safe for you and starting always in very small steps. For example; talking face-to-face with shop
assistants or going for a socially distanced walk and talk with a friend or relative. 4. Shift your attention – move your attention from being internal to being external when in an anxiety-provoking situation. Try to pay attention to external things, such as people, sights, sounds, and smells instead of what symptoms you are feeling inside you. Anxiety symptoms are not as obvious to others as you might think they are. 5. Structure the day – children and young people thrive on routine and structure. Planning routine work activities such as assignments but also including more pleasurable activities each day in an activity diary. 6. Seek help from a mental health professional – talking therapies are very helpful, cognitive behavioural therapy is a very effective treatment for social anxiety disorder. What parents can do to manage their children’s/relatives’ social anxiety: 1. Talk to your child/relative regularly about what they have been thinking and feeling. Normalise their worries and concerns. Younger children might struggle to describe their emotions – they can use drawings or pictures or stickers to help with this. 2. Encourage your child/relative to connect with others regularly via telephone virtually, text messages and emails. 3. Reassurance giving – while some is acceptable, refrain from excessive reassurance giving as it reinforces the anxiety. In conclusion, it is evident that some people are affected by social anxiety disorder. If you can relate to any of the typical symptoms or you know someone that could be affected, there are some strategies that the individual can try out. Furthermore, the parent/guardian can also give their support to help to try to overcome their symptoms.
Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist www.inspiring-minds-therapy.co.uk cherubsmagazine.com
Cherubs Magazine | 41
LIVING
EatHappyFeelGood
Chocolate challenge brownies I call these chocolate challenge brownies for two reasons: one, I challenge anyone to try them and not love them and two, I’m always curious to see if people can guess what the main ingredient is. If you haven’t already looked at the recipe... it’s chickpeas. A bit weird I know but you honestly do not know they’re there and I’ve made these for many chickpea averse kids who loved them. And while they’re definitely a delicious treat, it makes me happy knowing they’re made with wholesome ingredients and have extra goodness from the chickpeas: protein, fibre, potassium, b-vitamins, antioxidants from the cacao and healthy fats, vitamins and minerals from the peanut butter. Give them a go. I’m sure you’ll love them as much as we do.
Ingredients
• 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained. • 1/2 cup unsweetened smooth peanut butter • 1/2 cup maple syrup • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1 tbsp vanilla extract • 1/3 cup ground almonds • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder • 1/2 tsp baking powder • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/2 cup chocolate chips of your choice
42 | Cherubs Magazine
Method
1. Preheat oven to 180C. Line a square brownie pan with non stick paper. I use a 7.5 inch square pan, 9 inch is also fine. 2. Put the chickpeas, nut butter, maple syrup, olive oil and vanilla in a blender and blend till smooth. Make sure you scrape down the sides and blend well. 3. Add the ground almonds, cacao, baking powder and salt and blend till smooth. 4. Add most of the the chocolate chips and fold through. You can save a few for the top. 5. Pour into your lined baking tray and gently press the mixture down. 6. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes depending on the size of your pan. The bigger the pan the less cooking time needed because it’s thinner. 7. Let it cool, cut into squares and enjoy!
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LIVING
Cinnamon doughnuts Still delicious and such a treat but much lighter than traditional doughnuts, mainly from being baked rather than deep fried.
Ingredients
• 2 cups plain flour • 2 tsp baking powder • 2 tbsp ground cinnamon • 1/2 tsp salt • 1 cup milk • 3/4 cup Greek yoghurt • 2 tsp vanilla extract • 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup olive oil • 3/4 cup coconut sugar Glaze
• 1/4 cup cloudy apple juice • 1/4 tsp cinnamon • 1 1/2 cups icing sugar • 1 tsp lemon juice
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180C. 2. Put the oil, sugar, egg, milk, yoghurt and vanilla in a bowl and whisk till well combined. 3. Put a sieve over a large bowl and sieve in the flour, ground cinnamon, salt and baking powder. 4. Pour the wet mix into the dry mix and whisk together till just combined. Don’t over mix. 5. Spray the doughnut mould with oil spray. 6. Spoon the mix into the doughnut mould and bake for about 14 minutes until a knife comes out clean. 7. Let them cool down for a few minutes so you can handle them. 8. While they’re cooling make the glaze by mixing the glaze ingredients and whisking till smotth. 9. Allow to cool completely and then glaze.
Broccoli pasta I absolutely love this quick and simple recipe. Mainly because it is so delicious and full of flavour but for bonus points it comes together in less than 20 minutes. Feel free to adjust any of the sauce ingredients to suit your taste, it’s easily adaptable and so versatile you really can put it on pretty much anything, mix through a bean or potato salad, drizzle over grilled veg, over salmon or chicken...
Ingredients
• 500g pasta of your choice • 500g broccoli, washed and
• 1 clove garlic, grated • 2 tbsp finely chopped
• Zest of 2 lemons • 4 tbsp olive oil • 1 tbsp chilli flakes
• salt to taste • freshly ground pepper to
trimmed or cut into florets
Method
parsley taste
• 2 tbsp pasta water
1. Cook the pasta in salted water. Two minutes before the end of the cooking time, add the broccoli to the pasta and then drain it all together. Make sure you reserve two tablespoons of the pasta water. 2. While the pasta is cooking, mix all the other ingredient to a large bowl and mix together. As soon as you’ve drained the pasta, add the two tablespoons of pasta water and mix well. The sauce is done! 3. Add the pasta and broccoli to the sauce, mix through and serve.
King prawn stir fry Full of flavour and lots of goodness this is a perfect family meal!
Ingredients
• 300g raw, peeled prawns • 1 large chilli, deseeded and chopped • 4 garlic cloves, chopped • 1/4 cup fresh coriander, chopped • 1 tbsp caster sugar • Juice of 1 lime • 1 tbsp fish sauce • 1 tbsp grated ginger • 2 tbsp sesame oil, separated • 4 spring onions finely sliced • 1 red pepper, thinly sliced • 1 large carrot grated • 1 cup bean sprouts • 2 tbsp soy sauce • Cooked/straight to wok noodles – enough for four people • Extra lime to serve • Sesame seeds, extra fresh coriander and fresh chopped chilli to garnish
Method
1. Pat dry the prawns and add to a bowl. 2. Put the chilli, garlic, ginger, coriander, sugar, lime juice and fish sauce in a small food processor or nutri bullet and blitz together. Pour this marinade over the prawns. 3. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a wok, add the spring onions, red pepper, carrots and bean sprouts and cook for two to three minutes until the vegetables are just cooked and still have some crunch. Add the soy sauce to the veg, stir through, transfer to a plate and set aside. 4. In the same wok, heat the remaining oil. Take the prawns out of their marinade and add to the wok. Keep the marinade. Cook for two minutes till they just turn pink, add the marinade and cook for another minute. Add the veg and the noodles to the prawns, cook for another couple of minutes till the prawns are cooked through and the noodles are warmed through. 5. Garnish and serve.
Instagram: @eathappyfeelgood Website: www.eathappyfeelgood.co.uk Cherubs Magazine | 43
LIVING
At Dad’s Table
Wholegrain Banana, Blueberry and Peanut Butter Loaf Makes one loaf Prep time 10 mins, cooking time 50 mins
Ingredients
• 3 bananas • 100ml Greek yoghurt (or a plant-based alternative) • 50ml olive oil • 1 egg • 1 teaspoon of cinnamon • 100g blueberries • 100g chocolate chips • 100g peanut butter • 300g wholemeal flour • 2 teaspoons of baking powder
44 | Cherubs Magazine
Method
1. Heat the oven to 180C and grease a bread tin. Mash the bananas together in a bowl and then add the Greek yoghurt, olive oil, egg, cinnamon and blueberries. Mix well. 2. Add the peanut butter and chocolate chips and mix again. Sieve the flour and baking powder over the mixture, mix then add to the bread tin. 3. Bake for around 50 minutes, remove and allow to cool. Serve with sliced bananas, chocolate chips and blueberries and more Greek yoghurt.
LIVING
@at_d
ads_ta
ble
Pomegranate and Raspberry Chocolate Bites Makes approximately eight ice cubes. Prep time five minutes, freezing time two hours-plus. Batch cook me! **You will need an empty ice cube tray for this recipe**
Ingredients
Method
2. Half fill each empty ice cube holder with the melted chocolate. Spoon in a little pomegranate or half a raspberry into each one then fill with the remaining chocolate. Place in the freezer. 3. Freeze for at least 2 hours then remove and using a sharp knife cut the cubes in half. Eat immediately before they begin to melt.
1. Half fill a saucepan with boiling water and place a bowl on top of the pan. Break the chocolate up into small pieces and place in the bowl, allowing the heat from below to gently melt it.
• 200g good quality dark chocolate • 50g pomegranate • 50g raspberries
Mix it up
Endless possibilities here. Go for milk or white chocolate (but I think the darker the better). Experiment with different fruits like passionfruit, blueberries, strawberries, orange and pear.
Lemon and Basil-Infused Yoghurt, Fresh Berries, Almonds and Honey Prep time 10 mins **Please note honey is not recommended for babies under 1 year old.
Ingredients
• 200g Greek yoghurt (or a plant-based alternative) • 1 lemon • 30g fresh basil • Around 100g fresh berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries) • 20g almonds • 2 tablespoons of fresh honey Method
1. Spoon the yoghurt into a bowl. Grate the peel of the lemon and finely chop half of the basil. Holding back a pinch of the lemon peel, mix the rest with the yoghurt and basil. Spoon into a wide bowl. 2. Halve the berries and place on top of the yoghurt. Roughly crush or chop the almonds and sprinkle on top of the yoghurt. 3. Slice the remaining basil and sprinkle on top of the yoghurt along with the remaining lemon peel. Drizzle the honey over the plate. cherubsmagazine.com
Cherubs Magazine | 45
LIVING ADVERTISING FEATURE
The Real Value of Property Management for Landlords Whether you have one property or eight, knowing the real value of property management is essential to help you be effective, organised, and profitable. Here we outline the real value of property management.
What is Property Management? Property management is the operation, control, and maintenance of investment properties. In other words, it’s about taking care of your property, so you maximise your rental return and profit. Property management includes the following activities: • Ensuring the rent is at market price • Screening tenants to ensure they’re suitable and can legally rent in the UK • Collecting rent from tenants • Keeping tenant vacancy rates low • Consistent communication with tenants • Providing maintenance and repairs in a reasonable time and with minimal disruption to your tenants • Managing the budget • Preparing the Tenancy Agreement and lodging the deposit in a government-approved deposit protection scheme • Ensuring your property is safe • Ensuring the property is not overcrowded • Ensuring you have a current HMO licence from the council (if your property is an HMO).
The Real Value of Property Management If you are considering whether to continue managing your property portfolio or hiring a property manager, you will need to weigh up the value of having a property manager. You also need to check if the service they provide is a full property management service, or simply a tenant find and rent collection service. Essentially, a property manager’s goal is to get you the best return on your investment. The good property manager will deliver great outcomes for their clients every day while focusing on maintenance to extend the property’s life and ensure it is safe and sustainable.
The best property managers take a proactive approach to help maintain and improve your investment property. In essence, having a property manager work with you is all about trust. As property investors ourselves, we understand the importance of property management and potential challenges. We started this business to combine our love of property, local knowledge, and bespoke service to give our clients solid rental returns and peace of mind. After all, we know what it feels like when your property is vacant, or when you let out the property to unruly tenants. We are aware of the maintenance issues, the risk management, the regulation changes and the increase in costs and expenses you face. That’s why our promise to you is that we look after your property the way we look after our own and to maximise your investment. Here is a list of the roles we provide our clients with our bespoke, full property management service: • Provide accurate rental appraisals based on the market • Advertise your property for rent with effective marketing • Open your rental property for viewings • Screen tenants, including: reference checks, rental history review, Verify immigration status and confirm they can legally rent • Prepare and manage the tenancy agreement signing process, handle questions and lodge the deposit • Undertake rental collection • Manage your financial accounts for the investment property and provide regular reports • Manage the condition report process • Inspect the property regularly • Organise tradespeople for repairs and maintenance • Conduct emergency repairs • Conduct rent renewals and negotiate rent increases • Solve disputes with tenants • Provide regular communication to keep you informed. At REKA Property Management, we offer our clients a full property management service with exceptionally low fees. We can do this because we are a web-based agency and have fewer management layers and less overhead costs. And we don’t charge any agency fees or contract renewal fees for tenants to attract high-quality tenants for our clients.
If you want to know how to achieve solid rental returns and have peace of mind with your property, then call us on 020 3286 286 6468 or email us at Admin@RekaProperty.co.uk
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£1,000
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How Landlords Can Help Ease The London Housing Crisis, Without Impacting Their Rental Returns If you’ve struggled to find quality tenants, reduce rental vacancies or been frustrated doing the necessary legal compliance, repairs or maintenance, then maybe the REKA Property Home Finder Scheme can help you. This FREE service helps landlords to immediately let their properties to good tenants while providing quality accommodation for Local Housing. Benefits to Landlords: • Property let within 10 days • A solid two-year assured tenancy period • Fast-tracked housing benefit within days of inspecting your property • A cash incentive up to £1000 • Fully vetted quality tenants • Receive the housing benefit payment directly to you, the landlord, not to the tenants.
To find out more information, call us on 020 3286 6468 or email us at lettings@rekaproperty.co.uk and quote “rent my property.” W W W. R E K A P R O P E R T Y. C O . U K
TRAVEL
Dream now, Travel later We will be travelling soon and when we do, I think more and more travellers will want to feel secure that they are being looked after and book with a company that offers them flexibility and full financial security. The travel agent is back in demand and especially using Travel Counsellors. I am available 24/7, seven days a week with my around the clock Duty Office, you can be assured that you are looked after before you travel, while you are abroad and on your return. I can book beach breaks, city breaks, tailor-made itineraries, cruises, ski holidays or even an adults-only getaway after months of home schooling. With the uncertainty around travel at the 48 | Cherubs Magazine
moment and the unknown on when we can get on a plane next, we all need something to look forward to, I am hopeful that we will see travel resuming again from May onwards and lots of new bookings are being made for October half term and for Christmas.
Experience various Arabian traditions such as Ayala dancing, henna painting and falconry, a traditional Emirati sport practiced for over 2,000 years. With its many cultural wonders and the enticing hospitality of this exciting emirate, it will be a trip you’ll never forget.
Imagine lounging in Abu Dhabi in the October Half term – an excellent family destination and with some amazing offers at the moment. The bold, sophisticated city of Abu Dhabi is a modern marvel, capital of the United Arab Emirates and perfect for families of every age. Thrilling theme parks and a hugely tempting duty-free shopping zone sit alongside Abu Dhabi’s fabulous culture, rooted in Islamic traditions.
To book your holiday to some of the most luxurious resorts around the world, contact your Travel Counsellor Eda Ayyildiz and take advantage of exclusive benefits including financial protection and a 24hour duty office ready to support you before, during and even after your trip.
First published on www.travelcounsellors.co.uk
020 8154 3664
TRAVEL
ABU DHABI
The W Hotel Yas Island Departing 24th October 2021 Flights and transfers included Based on 2 adults & 2 Children aged under 12 on a Half board basis With the promise that all your holiday plans Total price are in the safest possible hands.
£2,999
“
Let’s dream now and travel later
At Travel Counsellors we’re all about you. So if you’re I am always here if you’d like a chat about options and ideas. looking for a holiday to remember, contact me today. Travel, tailor-made for you, with care.
For up to date travel information follow Eda on Instagram @eda_travelcounsellor
Eda Ayyildiz Travel Counsellor 020 3393 5460 eda.ayyildiz@travelcounsellors.com www.travelcounsellors.com/eda.ayyildiz
“
Remember how easy it used to be to go on holiday? When someone else took care of everything? At Travel Counsellors we believe this is theLow onlydeposit way to of sell£505 travel –and fully flexible it’s such a personal thing that everybody deserves their very own personal expert.
TRAVEL
Argentor Cottage If you are thinking about somewhere super special to stay with your family, take a look at Argentor Cottage in the New Forest National Park on the south coast, 90 minutes from London. This 200-yearold cobb cottage is in the tiny village of East Boldre, near Beaulieu. You will find it tucked down a little lane frequented by the famous free-roaming ponies and donkeys, surrounded by woods and vast heather plains for easy adventures on foot or by bike from the front door.
areas of wild meadow attracting butterflies and wildlife, which children love to see. French doors lead out to a series of grassy lawns for children to play hide and seek or just run around and let off some steam. There’s garden furniture on which to relax with a glass of your favorite tipple and take in the views through the trees and spot deer tiptoeing through the bushes. And, when the sun goes down, wrap up in a blanket and settle down to stargaze in the National Park’s inky black skies.
Step inside and you are greeted by a serene Scandi vibe, which runs throughout the cottage. Think natural elements of reclaimed wood and brick paired with funky ceramics and textiles such as linenblend cottons and wool in various textures, and sheepskin to add interest and cosy softness.
The thoughtful owners of Argentor Cottage have worked hard to combine design aesthetics with the critically important comfort factor, alongside the day-to-day practicality of hosting families. This isn’t your average holiday home. It is a selfcatering boutique luxury experience in a National Park famed for its prettiness, vibrant wildlife, and adventures with mother nature.
The cottage colour scheme is in keeping with the typical Nordic colour palette of chalky hues on the scale of light to dark, which is both calming and soothing. You will find a smorgasbord of craftmanship, upcycling of furniture such as the lounge rocking chair for cuddles with the kids. Plus, high street, and online finds like the woven hanging chair from Amazon, which adds a fun focal point to the main bedroom. Outside a large wraparound garden is bordered with ancient lofty trees, established blooms, prairie planting and
and voted the UK’s number one family theme park by TripAdvisor; the New Forest Wildlife Park; Beaulieu Palace, Garden and National Motor Museum; and Longdown Activity Farm, which has both indoor and outdoor play areas and a petting barn for the baby animals. Lepe country Park is good for walks with great views of The Solent’s busy shipping lanes and located opposite the Isle of Wight (take a day trip from Lymington Pier). Head west along the coast for fossil hunting at Barton on Sea and walk the 1.5mile pebble spit to King Henry VIII’s Hurst Castle, or bring buckets and spades to build sandcastles at Highcliffe. For the simplest of pleasures, pack a picnic and head off into the forest, find a wildflower meadow, relax, chill and make friends with mother nature.
About the area A short walk from the cottage is the Turfcutters Arms, a gastro style pub which welcomes families with open arms, there’s also a big children’s play area in the garden. There are plenty more good eating pubs and eateries within a few miles. Days out with the little ones should include Paulton’s Park – home of Peppa Pig World,
Stay at Argentor Cottage: 7 nights in May costs £1,180. www.newforestcottages.co.uk 50 | Cherubs Magazine
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