Families First Winter 2015 by Families First

FREE Family Food from Stephen Jeffers See Page 22 For good heartwarming family food The paper that families read Issue - AUTUMN / WINTER ‘15 www.familiesfirst-uk.com

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Thought these food were good for you? Check out what is and what isn’t page 6

Crafting for kids Page 11

The BIG Family First Awards Belfast

See who is in the Final on page 19

When it comes to shopping, what supermarket Is the cheapest, we tell you who Page 25

PLUS Lots more inside... CHECK IT OUT IN THIS FREE PAPER

2016 awards now open for nominations, send us who you think should win to jennie@familiesfirstni.com

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AUTUMN / WINTER 2015

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Hi there everyone, In this issue of Families First, Stephen Jeffers gives us lots of ideas on how to cook for a family of 4 for a week on a budget. We look at the very latest in fashion, and our beauty page is giving us the latest to make us all look gorgeous. The new year brings us the cross community short story writing competition. We are calling all Principals, literacy teachers, after school carers and children between 7-11 to enter this fantastic competition. See page???????? For all the details. Also in this issue, we compare the cost of shopping. All the supermarkets tell us they are the cheapest, we find out who really is. With all the regular features on health, crafting, book reviews, there are lots to read. Check out who is up this year for an award in the Belfast awards in February. All in all, a fairly packed issue. I do hope you enjoy the read.

Give life to someone you don’t know Someone like Joshua. He’s 8, but when he was born blood transfusions saved his life.

Best

Isobel

Text BLOOD to 60081 Call 0500 534 666 Visit www.nibts.org

Find us on Facebook too! www.facebook.com/FamiliesFirstNI and www.familiesfirst-uk.com Disclaimer: While every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication and website. Babyface Marketing Ltd accepts no responsibility for any error or misrepresentation. All liability, loss, disappointment, negligence or other damage caused by the reliance on the information contained in the publications or web site, or in any company, individual or firm mentioned , or in the event of any company, individual or firm ceasing to trade, is hereby excluded.

Water : Load of fun

Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service

5 1 2 3 4 5

Reasons We need Water To live

H2O is vital – it keeps kids hydrated, healthy and active, but it can be engaging and exciting too, so it’s time to drink up!

It’s Vital, The existence of water, be it raindrops or the vast ocean, is essential for life of every living creature.

All living creatures need water to survive, it is a natural and healthy beverage. Trying to encourage children to drink P s water will help them get a taste for it, and important first ba ized op s g step towards developing lifelong healthy preferences. an s in bott mall d le h c Parents and primary carers play a very important role in wa cha ase s in and t l helping children to develop healthy hydration habits k a d ter a leng ids o sc e ge ho in making sure that they are offered sufficient amounts t ay du , like last e them t th ol of water to stay hydrated during the day. If your ir rin g h afte ight to d sty, little ones are bored of water, add fruity chunks for a om r sc tim rin natural flavour. Slices of lime, grapefruit or berries add ew ho es k ork ol, in a taste they’ll love! It is advised that children aged 4 – tim and 13 years of age drink 6-8 glasses of fluid a day, ad water e. contributes to maintenance of normal cognitive function. At least 2 litres of water, from all sources, should be consumed every day, as part of a healthy diet.

Research shows that hydrated children perform better in school

Did you Know? That water has three different states? It can exist in a solid, liquid and gas form. That’s pretty clever! H2-Woah! The deepest part of the ocean is 1,580 miles long – it would take a whopping 26 hours to drive that far. You need water Nobody can live more than five days without water intake – DON’T try this at home!!!!

a lot.

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FUNNY FACE POTS

It’s all over Water from lakes to oceans, covers around 70% of the Earth’s surface – that’s

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✔ Flower pots ✔ White paint ✔ Paint brush ✔ Pencil ✔ Black paint pen

Paint the outside of a flower pot with white paint, leave to dry, then apply a second coat and leave to dry. Draw a face on the side of the pot in pencil and, once you’re happy with the outline, fill in with a black paint pen. Leave to dry before popping a plant inside.

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14% of children believe that woods are magical places.

3THIRST OFQUENCHERS THE BEST…….. WITH NO NASTIES. Cawston Kid’s Blend cartons £1.89 for 3x200 ml. Slightly more sophisticated slurpers – my fave is Apple & Summer Berries – perfect for lunch boxes.

13% of UK kids aged 5-18 years, get the recommended 60 minutes of exercise per day

Vita Coco Kids £2.99 for 4x180ml. Coconut water is having a health moment and these are ideal for on-the-go.

60% of mums say

they often sacrifice sleep and exercise in order to find the time to achieve their day-to-day goals as parents.

Imune nurture Fruity Water £1.99 for 4x200ml. Half juice, half water, topped up with extra vitamins – shhh, don’t tell your little ones!

Tea and a chat @ the Hub Grab a cuppa and dip into these bite size reads for that kettle-on feet up moment.

Celebrities keeping fit: Davina McCall

REVIVE YOUR

d! e i r T d! e t s Te ed! v o L

WARDROBE RUN A WIRE HANGER Over your clothes before you wear them to remove static. ADD 1TBSP OF VINEGAR To the water when hand washing silk items for a professional crispness.

SCRUB UP.

We have two requests: Davina’s amazing energy AND that toned tummy of hers, please!

The latest brainchild from Ella’s Kitchen is the new Paddy’s Bathroom range. It’s full of organic goodies, but packs a punch when it comes to removing dirt and grime from little ones – and that puts it top of our must buy list! £4.49 from most supermarkets

The 47-year-old mum of three (yes, that tum has witnessed three kids and is just three years away from a 50th birthday!) made an appearance on This Morning and boy, talk about some fit-spiration! The star, who has sold 8 million fitness DVDs since 2004, threw on her exercise gear to lead an outdoor workout session. Davina looked incredible as she worked through her intense, cellulite-busting 7 Minute Fit routine, including lunges, squats and leg raises.

…. E A DAY… AN APPL ay. A w a n o ti pta Keeps tem has found that dy recent stu ple just before ap n a g n ti arket ea the superm heading to urage you to could enco cent more r buy 25 pe instead of g e v d n a fruit y ary or fatt more sug s. n o opti

USE A NEW DISPOSABLE RAZOR (carefully!) to debobble jumpers. PUT BICARBONATE OF SODA Or citrus peel inside shoes overnight to freshen them. STORE PLEATED SKIRTS In the leg of a pair of tights to stop the pleats from being pulled apart by the hanger.

Keep it cold

Putting a roll of clingfilm in the fridge makes it much easier to locate the end.

now? Did you k ping trip p o sh The ideal volve a t 10am in a rt a st l il w t store rive, eigh 14 mile d ses! six purcha visits and tes u in eight m However e ’r e w est is the long . … e u e u q to prepared It’ a fact!

The 16:8 diet

We’ve had 5:2, now it’s all about 16:8 where you can eat (healthily) during an eight-hour slot each day, say 11am and 7pm- then ‘fast’ for the other 16 hours. The restriction helps boost your metabolism, burn fat and could even reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Clock watching rather than calorie counting works as it keeps you motivated, plus you’ll sleep for much of the fasting period! TECH KNOW-HOW

Meet Sammy Screamer, £50 from the Bleep Bleeps range (bleepsbleeps.com) Pop this gadget on anything you don’t want the kids touching and Sammy will snitch on them a soon as motion is sensed.

IF SUEDE LOOKS TIRED Revive with steam from a kettle, and then get marks off with an emery board.

Could your cuppa really be a life saver?

We all swear by the reviving effects of a decent cup of tea, and of course, everyone knows that herbal tea is good for you. But new research suggests that camomile tea may in fact, have such healthboostin properties that it can help women live longer – lowering the risk of death by and incredible 29 per cent. The research, conducted by the University of Texas, studied 1,677 Mexican-American men and women over a seven year period and found the healthiest – and longest living – were those who regularly drank camomile. But bad luck, fellas, the benefits of the miracle tea only apply to women!

To make your bin easier to clean, put a sheet of kitchen roll in the bottom – it helps catch any leaks and bits that miss the bag.

Breakfast Fruit Smoothie (Serves 4) Preparation time: 5 mins Cooking time: none

Begin by chopping up 2 bananas, place in blender with 200g (7 0zs) raspberries, 100g (4 ozs) blueberries 3 tsp honey, 240 ml (8 fluid ozs) apple juice a pinch of ground cinnamon and 1 cup of ice. Blend all the ingredients until the texture is smooth. Serve and drink immediately! mmmm! 135 cals per serving.

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ON THE SHELF The Bones of You By Debbie Howells (£12.99, Pan Macmillan) When 18 year old Rosie is murdered, Kate can’t believe it, the sweet girl had helped her with her horses and she thought she knew her. Convinced the police are missing a vital clue, Kate starts digging deeper. Twists, turns and a shock ending – it’s the most exciting whodunit we’ve read in years. Summer Secrets By Jane Green (£12.99, Pan Macmillan). This poignant tale flits between two points in Cat Coombs’ life. On one side, there’s her 27 year old self struggling to acknowledge her drinking problem and alienating the father and half sisters she never knew she had. Then there’s her present day self, divorced, lonely and trying to piece her life back together. Witty and down to earth. Cat’s a modern woman trying to face up to her darkest problems. I’m Travelling alone By Samuel Bjork (£14.99 Random) Opening with the grisly discovery of a murdered child in Oslo, the chilling plot of this crime novel may be hard to stomach at first, but it’s worth sticking with. Once the story’s heroes, talented detectibes Munch and Kruger, are introduced, you’ll struggle to put the book down. An incredibly addictive read.

A staggering 112,000 punnets of strawberries are dished up during Wimbledon fortnight – with 7,000 litres of cream. To ensure freshness, berries are picked the day before being served, arriving at Wimbledon at around 5.30am.

Celeb wise words.

Actress Jessica Biel reveals the novel that changed her life…..

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“I’ve read Tender is the night by F. Scott Fitzgerald quite a few times and I just love it. It’s tragic, and I think tragedies might be good for you: you read them and think, maybe I’m not doing so bad – I’m doing OK!”

AUTUMN / WINTER 2015

Accord Counselling Caring for marriages and relationships Helping couples cope with difficulties, giving hope and giving love a chance to be reborn – this is the work of ACCORD Catholic Marriage Care Service. We have 9 centres throughout N.Ireland, with services offered to clients based on client need rather than ability to pay, regardless of faith denomination or none. According to the latest figures, there are more than 2,444 divorces in NI each year. In 2012, the average length of a marriage ending in divorce was just under 18 years. But why do some marriages get into difficulty?

ACCORD research would

show that the rocky road to unhappiness in a marriage is marked by behaviour where people are criticised, insulted, not listened to and sometimes there is violence and abuse. All unhappy couples engage in some of these behaviours and men and women engage in them equally. People tend to blame each other for their problems. One of the areas where counselling can help is to enable people to accept responsibility for what they are doing in their marriage. When people stop blaming each other for their problems and start working together to solve their problems, it gives the relationship great hope. Men and women take opposite and complementary sides of the street on the way to unhappiness in marriage. For women the main source of distress is that their partner does not listen while for men the distress comes from being criticised by their partner. This process can quickly escalate when the warmth, affection and intimacy in a relationship wanes and one person’s need to talk things out is seen by the other person as yet another opportunity to criticise. Gradually, a negative cycle takes shape where criticism is met with criticism, insult with insult and, in some instances, force with force. Both partners end up in a stalemate of distress and unhappiness, having lost faith and hope in their ability to resolve difficulties as a couple.

In some marriages a time comes when the man and woman decide to ‘end or mend’ the relationship and it is often at this point that individuals and couples come to ACCORD for counselling. If a couple can come to marriage counselling willing to be honest and prepared to change they have a very real chance of resolving their difficulties and developing a fulfilling and lasting relationship. Case study: Ann and John’s story* One couple who recently came to ACCORD for counselling, John and Ann phoned our Derry Centre after Christmas. Their relationship had been rocky before Christmas and over the Christmas holidays it worsened considerably. Ann and John have been married for 9 years and they have 3 children. When Ann and John came to ACCORD they were unable to communicate properly, they were no longer relating to one another in any meaningful or loving way. Every conversation seemed to end in a row. Their marriage was in crisis and it was affecting their children. John felt that Ann was constantly criticising him and Ann felt that John just didn’t care anymore. He seemed to be spending an increasing amount of time at work. John said he just couldn’t put up with the constant nagging at home. John and Ann attended counselling for an hour each week for 8 weeks. The ACCORD counsellor provided them with a safe, accepting space where they could talk

Marriage preparation ACCORD Centres are inundated with calls from couples wanting to enrol on their Marriage Preparation Courses. ACCORD is also the main provider of Marriage Preparation courses in Ireland and we are devoting an increasing amount of time and energy to meeting the needs of couples preparing for marriage. There is a growing awareness amongst couples of the need to invest time in their relationships. When couples come to us on a Marriage Preparation Course we receive excellent feedback from them about the course. Couples appreciate the fact that there are trained volunteers on these courses with whom they can share their hopes and expectations in a down to earth way. We also provide Inter Church courses for couples of mixed faith getting married in the Catholic church.

about their emotions – disappointment, loneliness, anger, sadness – and where through listening, and being listened to, they could begin to experience each other in a different light. This mindful listening and honest speaking made it easier for John and Anne to see themselves and each other in a clearer light and to realise that each has strengths as well as weaknesses. Through counselling hope was restored, healing began and their love began to grow again. This is what Ann and John said after counselling: “When we came to ACCORD we were facing disaster, but now we are filled with hope – we are confident that together we can face and sort out our problems – our love for each other never disappeared – it just needed to be rekindled.” *Names have been changed to protect privacy. Quality counselling Our research shows that counselling helps people in unhappy relationships because a significant number of clients become less anxious and more at ease. The fact that counselling works equally well for men and women is extremely encouraging and is probably a reflection of the quality of counselling offered by ACCORD through the creation of a safe space where each hears, and is heard by, the other and where the counsellor deals with both people in a respectful and compassionate way.

ACCORD, Catholic Marriage Care Service, N.I. Regional Office Contact details Tel: 02890 233002 Email: info@accordni.com Web: www.accord-ni.co.uk www.familiesfirst.ie

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If you would like further information on ACCORD ’s services or you would like to come and work with us please contact the:

ACCORD NIRO St Mary’s Church Chapel Lane Belfast BT1 1HH

T: 02890 233002 E: info@accordni.com W: www.accord-ni.co.uk

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T H O U G H T T H E S E H E A LT H F O O D S W E R E G O O D F O R Y O U ?

THINK AGAIN! Thanks to a rise in health food bloggers and a constant bombardment of diet and health news, from which drinks to avoid to which foods are going to take years off us, we’ve been programmed to believe that ALL health foods must be good for us, right? Wrong. What if we told you that some of the health foods we’ve been told will really benefit us, whether it’s their weight loss properties or ability to stave off certain illnesses, aren’t as good for us as we first thought? We’re inundated daily by news of the latest health food fad that’s going to make us look and feel better than ever, but some of these are tricky to find and can be expensive. On top of all that, they might not be as healthy as first realised. Wouldn’t it be great to know which health foods aren’t worth bothering with at all? Nutritionist Fiona Hunter has exclusively revealed to the Telegraph exactly which health foods are complete myths, and we were utterly intrigued by her findings. Here are her results, plus a couple of other health food misconceptions we discovered along the way.

1 / RAW FOODS A R E MO R E N UTR I TI O US THAN FRES H FO O DS

6 / FR E S H F R U I T A N D V E G A R E B E T T E R FO R YO U T H A N F R OZ E N

Fiona explains that this isn’t always the case when it comes to certain veggies. Carrots and tomatoes, for example, have tough cell walls which need to be cooked to help break these down and ‘liberate some of the phytochemicals’, which otherwise would stay inside the cells and wouldn’t be absorbed by the body.

We’re all guilty of assuming that fresh fruit and veg must be better for us than their frozen equivalent. But in her findings, Fiona explains that research from Hallam University, Sheffield, revealed that frozen fruit and vegetables can actually contain higher levels of vitamins than fresh. Why? Because they are frozen within hours of being harvested, the vitamins are locked in, whereas some fresh produce can be over a month old before it reaches the supermarket shelves. Urgh!

2 / AGAVE SY R U P I S BE TTE R FO R Y O U THAN S UGAR Some health food fanatics have claimed that agave syrup, a sweetener produced from the agave plant, is better for you than sugar and other sweeteners because it has a low GI - meaning it causes less of a spike in blood sugar levels than other types of sweetener. Fiona points out that while this is true, one of the reasons that it has low GI is because it has a high concentration of fructose (the form of sugar commonly found in fruit). High intakes of fructose raise levels of triglycerides (a type of fat) in the blood, which could increase the risk of heart disease.

3 / GREEN JU I CE I S G O O D FO R Y O U Seems like everywhere we turn, someone is proclaiming just how amazing green juice is and how it should be introduced into our daily diets. But whether you buy it readymade or make your own at home in a blender, green juices don’t come cheap. And on top of all that, they are actually laden with sugar! Some of these smoothie-like juices can contain anything from 50g of sugar per bottle, mostly from the fruit. It might be natural, but it’s still a hell of a lot of your recommended daily allowance of the sweet stuff.

4 / S US HI IS B E TTE R THAN A S ANDW I C H FO R LUNCH You’d be forgiven for thinking that sushi is one of the best options when it comes to choosing a healthy lunch, but that’s not necessarily the case. It may be low in fat, and if you go for salmon or mackrel you will be boosting your omega-3 intake, but sushi can actually have more calories than a sandwich. It’s usually high in salt and doesn’t offer you much of your five-a-day or protein, so Fiona warns that it might not keep you feeling full for very long.

5 / S PINACH I S A G O O D S O U R CE O F I R O N Bad news ladies, contrary to popular belief (not to mention our younger years spent watching Popeye eat handfuls of the stuff to stay strong) spinach isn’t as good for us as first thought. Although it does contain iron, those little green leaves also contain a substance called oxalic acid which binds to the iron, making it difficult for the body to absorb. If you’re determined to get your iron from green veg, then Fiona suggests that kale, which doesn’t contain oxalic acid, is a better source of iron. The best way to get your iron intake, though, is from red meat, which contains much more and in a form which it is easy for the body to use. www.familiesfirst.ie

7 / MA N U KA H ON E Y I S B E T T E R F OR Y OU THAN S U G A R You might have been fooled into thinking that manuka honey is a healthy equivalent to sugar, with many health food shops now stocking the expensive liquid. But according to Fiona, despite the health claims and the inflated price tag there are no credible scientific studies to suggest that eating this honey offers any real benefits.

8 / FAT- FR E E S A L A D D R E S S I N G S A R E A HE ALTHI E R C H OI C E All these years we thought we were being so good by drizzling a fat-free salad dressing over our lettuce leaves. So imagine our surprise when we read Fiona’s advice that although in terms of calories fat-free dressings might seem like a better choice, studies have shown adding a small amount of an oil-based dressing to salad instead will help the body absorb phytochemicals (which scientists believe have various health benefits for the body).

9 / DAR K B R E A D I S A LWAY S B E T T E R T H A N W HI TE Yep, we’ve fallen for this one too! But according to experts, if a loaf of bread is darker, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s made with whole grains. It could simply contain caramel coloring or a little extra whole wheat and be no healthier than white bread. If you were fooled by this, then next time you’re in the supermarket look for the words ‘whole grain’ or ‘100% whole wheat’ on the package, and make sure the first ingredient listed is: whole wheat, oats, whole rye, whole-grain corn, barley, quinoa, buckwheat, or brown rice.

1 0 / R I C E C A KE S A R E A G R E AT H E A LT H Y S N AC K Rice cakes may be low in fat and calories (around 30 calories per rice cake in fact), but they’re also lacking in any form of nutrition too. Most provide a single gram of protein and fibre, plus the flavoured versions are almost certainly full of artificial sweeteners and colourings!

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AUTUMN / WINTER 2015

Your Wellbeing Not having much success with your bloated tum? It could be you’re tackling things in the wrong way. So if you’re gassy or inflated, there’s a helpful supplement and diet support act that could help ease things. It’s all about knowing your type.

foods include salad leaves, avocados, bananas and tomatoes, plus fruit such as melon and berries.

Yes, you can beat the bloat!

ON WAKING

Feeling puffy? Try herbs and raw food! Don’t you hate it when your middle puffs up just as you’re planning to wear that clingy dress? We’re already wise to the PMS connection, but experts still aren’t really sure why it happens. Its thought to be a response to certain hormones that are elevated in the pre-menstrual phase, which causes tissues to retain more salt and, as a result, more fluid. So how do we deflate fast?

The 24-hour tummy tuck! Here is a smashing little one day, raw food de-bloat that helps reduce the liquid load. All you need is a blender.

Drink warm water with a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice – a good diuretic to help balance your pH levels and the lymphatic system. BREAKFAST

A delicious green smoothie

Blend 1 handful spinach, 1 mango (peeled, stoned and chopped), 500ml coconut water and 1tsp grated ginger.

Mix equal amounts of dried dandelion, nettle and cleavers. Put1tbsp in a pot of boiling water, approx ½ a litre, and infuse for 10 mins, strain and drink one cup three times a day. Drink hot or cold, with a slice of lemon and a little honey. Find dried herbs from £2 for 50g, nealsyardremedies.com.

2. Try a 24-hour tummy deflate Sounds too good to be true, but eating (and drinking) raw fruit and veggies for a day – or two –will help flush the fluid and reduce that puffy look. Go on, why not give it a go? Which veggies? When you start on a raw diet, begin with foods that are easier to digest raw, these

Why it works Asparagus contains prebiotics, to help reduce gas, and lose excess fluids. Avocado helps fill you up and tomatoes help regulate your appetite. MID AFTERNOON

A shot glass measure of natural almonds Why it works Almonds have a protein punch and are a good sourceof gats that will keep hunger pangs at bay. SUPPER TIME

1. Pick some herbs

Herbs are our go-to remedy and tea is the easy way to take them. It is suggested we start drinking it a few days before a period to help relieve the symptoms. Here’s a great recipe.

chopped, ½ avocado, peeled, stoned and chopped, 6 stalks asparagus, roughly chopped. Then mix in the dressing.

Cucumber & coconut soup Blend ½ cup coconut yoghurt, 3tsp lemon juice, ½ tsp salt, 1tsp olive oil, ½ tsp agave and ½ clove garlic. Finely dice ½ cucumber. Drop them into the bottom of a bowl, then pour soup on top.

Why it works Mangoes and spinach are rich in potassium, which helps to reduce bloating, and ginger aids digestion. MID MORNING

Banana & papaya smoothie

Blend 1 cup of coconut water, 1 frozen banana, 1 cup frozen papaya, ½ tbsp raw honey and 1tsp vanilla. Tastes creamy. Why it works Papaya contains papain which is an enzyme that eases digestion, while bananas contain potassium, which helps to relieve water retention. LUNCH BREAK

Green salad with tomatoes, avocado and asparagus (SERVES 1)

Whisk 3 tsp olive oil and 1tsp lemon juice in a bowl. Lightly toss 2 handfuls chopped salad leaves e.g little gem, 2 chopped plum tomatoes, 1/2 cucumber peeled and

Why it works Cucumbers contain quercetin, which is an antioxidant that helps to reduce swelling. Probiotics in yoghurt can help to regulate digestion. Feeling gassy? Big up you good bacteria! Ouch! Do we need to describe a tum bloated by gas? This occurs when there’s an imbalance in good to bad bacteria, feeding yeast in the gut, it’s just like making bread when you leave it to sit and expand. This happens in your gut, giving you a swollen belly. Try some new moves.

3. Pop a gut-friendly supplement! Probiotics experts really rate them, Probiotics work by providing higher numbers of good bacteria, they adhere to the lining of intestines making bad bacteria move on or be excreted. Try Bio-Kult Advanced MultiStrain Formula, £8.99 for 30 capsules, bio-kult.com

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4. A new calm your tum diet Created to help those with IBS the low FODMAP diet eases the angst of a gassy tum and unpredictable digestion. What’s a fodmap? Short for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccardies, Monosacchaides and Polyois – fibre and sugars in foods that bacteria feed on to create bloated tums

and digestion drama. Cut out food high in FODMAPs and your gut calms, bloat gets less and your tum goes down! The lowFODMAP DIET IS A LEARNING DIET, SAYS DIETITIAN Kate Scarlata, High FODMAP foods are removed every 2 to 6 weeks, then reintroduced in a methodical manner. Is that tricky? At first, because it’s not easy to know what foods are okay.

OUT GO

SWAP FOR

Apples, pears

Bananas, berries

Wheat, rye, barley

Onions, Leeks, garlic Cauliflower, baked beans, mushrooms

Gluten-free bread, potato, rice

Green tops of spring onions Spinach Carrots

Milk, cream cheese

Rice milk, soft cheeses

Still want to try? Devotees reckon it can improve a war-zone tum in a few days. Try these recipes for a couple of days and see the effect on your tum.

garlic-infused oil, I large salmon fillet, dash of crushed pepper flakes. METHOD Preheat oven to gas mark 6/200c. In a bowl mix syrup soy sauce, and garlic oil. Season to taste. Place salmon in an oven proof dish and coat with the mixture. Marinate in the fridge for 30 mins. Sprinkle over.

BREAKFAST

Peanut butter smoothie

The protein in peanut butter will keep you feeling full. Bonus! YOU NEED 1 frozen banana, ½ cup of coconut or rice milk, 1 heaped tbsp natural peanut butter, 3 or 4 ice cubes. Blend until creamy and enjoy! LUNCH BREAK

Greek salad with minty vinaigrette (SERVES 4)

Fresh and herby with a zingy dressing you’ll love. YOU NEED 1 large romaine lettuce (chopped), 5 small tomatoes (quartered), ½ cup of feta cheese (crumbled), juice of 1 lemon (about 2tsp, ¼ cup of olive oil, 1 ½ tsp fresh mint (chopped), 1/3 cup kalamata olives (pitted). METHOD Arrange lettuce on a platter. Top with tomatoes and sprinkle with feta. Whisk together lemon juice, olive oil and mint. Season. Drizzle dressing over the salad and add the olives. TIP Cook some gluten-free pasta, cool and toss with the salad. Makes a fab work lunch! DINNER CHOICES

Maple-garlic glazed salmon Garlic and honey may be off the FODMAP menu for a clam tum, but garlic-infused oil and maple syrup are both okay. YOU NEED 2 tbsp pure maple syrup, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1tbsp

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Asian sesame chicken stir-fry

Yes, you can have great flavour and a bloat-free tum. Rhe key is to include low FODMAP veg in the mix to prevent gas. YOU NEED 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp sesame oil, 1 tbsp minced ginger, 1 tbsp sesame seeds, 12 ozs thinly sliced chicken breast, 1 tbsp olive oil, 2 to 3 cups chopped low FODMAP veggies (such as pakchoi, mini aubergine, bean sprouts, squash, green spring onion tops and aubergine). METHOD Mix soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger and sesame seeds. Add chicken and put in fridge for 15 mins to 1 hour, turning occasionally. Stir-fry Chicken in a non stick pan until browned and cooked through. Remove and put aside. Add 1 tbsp oil to the pan and sauté veg until al dente, then add chicken. TIP: Add a cup of cooked brown rice to the pan – don’t worry, it’s okay on the plan! For more recipes, visit katescarlata.com. You can find more info in The complete Low Fodmap Diet by Sue Shepherd and Dr Peter Gibson (Vermillion, £16.99).

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Go for contrasting lids and tips.

Pair a smoldering eye look with a crisp off-white nail polish. The combo looks elegant, plus you won’t have to worry about your manicure matching your clothes. Shadows we love: Bobbi Brown Eye Kohl Palette, MAC Eyeshadow in Print and Chanel Basic Eye Color in Argents.

Perfect your complexion. Camouflage

any pimples by applying a yellowbased cover-up to counteract the redness. Use a concealer brush to pat it on precisely, then blend the edges with your ring finger.

Get tan and toned. Look like a golden

goddess by mixing liquid bronzer with a firming body cream, then massage it into your arms. It’ll temporarily tighten your skin and give it a glow.

Pump up the volume. For oomphy, tousled strands,

try this trick from Nathaniel Hawkins, a celeb hairstylist who has worked with the Olsen twins: When you’re finished blow-drying your hair, switch to the cool setting, flip your head over, and aim the nozzle around randomly for a few minutes. “This creates pockets of air between your locks so they look extra full,” he says.

Beauty Tips... 7

Rework your hair flair. A glittery

accessory adds instant glamour to any hairstyle. If you forget to bring one to work, use a brooch from your sweater.

Sweeten up your cheeks. Create a foxy flush

with a deep berry powder blush. Use a fluffy brush to swirl it in small, circular motions over the apples of your cheeks and back toward your hairline. This will blend the colour evenly.

Revive your manicure. Slick a shiny, clear top coat

over whatever polish you have on your nails. It’ll give them a glossy

finish and prevent nicks so your manicure will look freshly done.

Make your gloss multitask. Keep a pearly white lip gloss

in your desk drawer to slick not only on your lips but also on your brow bones and cheekbones as highlighter. A universal hue we love is Dior Kiss in Sorbet Meringue.

Sweeten your 9.handshake.

If you’re going to be shaking hands and mingling, mist your fragrance on your palms so that your touch will release a small amount of scent throughout the night.

Work a sexy updo.

Fake a gorgeous glow. Mix one part

foundation with one part liquid illuminator, and then use your fingertips to massage it all over your face. Top it off with a dusting of a light-reflecting shimmer

Starting with dry locks, tease the hair around your crown, then flip your head upside down and mist the underneath layers with hair spray. Flip back up, then gather all of your hair — except the front section — into a loose bun and secure with slides. Now mist those face-framing pieces with hair spray and use a round brush to blow dry them so they’re sleek. Insert a sparkly hair accessory a few inches above one of your ears.

11Prep your lids.

Before you apply any eye makeup, blend a creamy concealer onto your lids and into the inner corners of your eyes. This will give your shadow a base to stick to and conceal any redness.

Score perfect party legs. If you don’t have

enough time for a full in-the-shower shaving session, just smooth baby oil onto your legs before you take the razor to them. The oil protects your skin and will leave your legs extra satiny.

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Go for a smoldering

stare. A smoky eye effect is

a classic night-out look. To do it: Line the rim of your upper and lower lashes with a black eyeliner. Now use a stiff brush to smudge the pencil into your lashes. Finish by sweeping a dark shadow onto your lids.

Nix a shiny nose. Left your

powder compact at home? Tone down a glaring T zone with a piece of one of those toilet-seat covers in the ladies’ room. It’ll act as a blotting paper.

Flip up your eye fringe. Don’t

have an eyelash curler on hand? You can use a sturdy plastic spoon instead. Just press the curved end into your eye socket so the edge flips up your lashes, then swipe on your mascara.

AUTUMN / WINTER 2015

LITTLE FRIENDS PRIVATE DAY-CARE, PRE-SCHOOL, PLAYGROUP AND AFTER-SCHOOL CLUB

Little Friends Private Day-Care was established in April 2003 and is located on the boundary of Banbridge. The Nursery has been equipped to the highest standards to comply with regulations. Here at Little Friends we offer a Private Day-Care, Pre-School, Morning and Afternoon Playgroup sessions and an After-School Club over 3 large and spacious buildings. Here at Little Friends Private Day-Care our philosophy rests on the understanding that each child is a unique and special individual with varying interests, needs and abilities. We strive to provide an environment that will help children to develop to their full potential.

Little Friends Objectives

Emphasis is placed on providing a warm and inviting environment giving the emotional support and encouragement that all children need to learn and grow. Our Day-Care comprises of 6 rooms in a large spacious house for children aged 3 months to 4 years.

✔ Introduce your child to new friends and enhance their social skills

Little Friends has an established Pre-School and Playgroup in a purpose built building. It is widely recognised that Pre-school education is of great value and should be available to all Pre-school children. A Pre-school, with its professionally trained team, is able to provide a wide range of opportunities for the intellectual, physical, social and emotional development of each individual child in its care.

✔ Providing a happy, caring, knowledgeable and qualified staff team

✔ Help your children feel welcome, at ease, happy and secure in your absence ✔ Teach your child to develop important skills through play

✔ Promote healthy eating habits by daily preparation of balanced nutritious meals

✔ Providing bright, clean playrooms equipped with plenty of toys, equipment and games, with a large emphasis on natural play.

In Little Friends Pre-school and Playgroup, we welcome and encourage parent’s support and interest in the day-to-day activities. This enables the children to gain a positive attitude towards Pre-school and a sense of security in their new environment. The staff help each child to form stable relationships with their peers and with other adults in the setting. This new found independence helps to provide self-confidence and selfesteem. Little Friends After-School Club is a purposely designed building for children aged 4 – 11years. The After-School club is a large spacious building with extensive secure gardens to the front and back. We offer a drop off and collection service to all local schools in the Banbridge area. Our After-School Club is designed to be a fun filled experience, to allow the children to relax after a hard day at school.

Little Friends Contact Details Little Friends Private Day-Care and Pre-School 67, Huntly Road, Banbridge, Co.Down BT32 3UA Monday – Friday – 7.30 – 6.00 Email – littlefriends@btconnect.com littlefriendspreschool@hotmail.co.uk Telephone - 028406 23438 Little Friends After-School 14, Ballygowan Road, Banbridge, Co.Down BT32 3EL Monday – Friday – 7.15 – 6.15 Email – littlefriendsafterschool@gmail.com Telephone - 028406 69953 - Little Friends Nursery

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NEW Playgroup launching January 2016 Spaces available for both morning and afternoon sessions Call 028406 23438 to book your place now

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KIDS’ FASHION G O R G E O U S E V E RY D AY FA S H I O N F O R Y O U R L I T T L E V I P S ! A L L AVA I L A B L E F R O M M A R K S A N D S P E N C E R

A / HAT £1 2, COAT £37 , BAG £ 12, S HOES £ 16

F / HAT AND SCARF £16 , 3 SE T S WEATER £ 14 , T- SHI R T £9 , J EANS £1 2, BOO TS £30 G / HAT £10, FLEECE £8, T-SHIRT £5 , CHI NOS £ 10 , BO O TS £28

N / GI RLS OUTF I T O / DI NOSAUR HOOD I E

B / HAT £ 7 , R OL L N E C K SW E AT E R £ 1 2, S H OR T S £ 1 2, SHO E S £ 2 6

H / HAT £ 8 , C OAT £ 3 0, S H IR T £14 , J E A N S £ 1 2, BOOT S £ 2 8 I / MI T T EN S £ 1 2 , S OC KS £ 5 , PR A M S H OE S £ 1 0

O / HAT £ 8 , ROL L N EC K J U MPER £ 1 0 , J U M P ER £ 1 6 , SHO R T S £ 1 4 , BA G £ 1 2 , SO CK S £ 6 , S H OES £ 1 6

BO T H AVAI LABLE FR O M M A RKS AND SPENCE R www.familiesfirst.ie

C / H AT £ 8 , C OAT £ 3 2 , S H IR T £ 1 2 , J U M P E R £ 1 6 , S KIR T £ 1 6 , G L OV E S £ 1 0, BOOT S £ 1 8

D / H AT £ 8, S WEAT ER £ 1 2, LEGGI NGS £ 7, S H OES £ 1 4

J / BROWN C OAT £ 3 6, TSHIRT £8, HAT £12, JEANS £12, BOOT S £ 3 0

L / H AT £ 1 6, JUMP ER £ 1 0, T S H I R T £ 1 4 , C H I NOS £ 1 2, T RAI NERS £ 1 8

K / S H IR T £ 1 8 , H OOD E D T OP £ 1 4 , BOOT S £ 2 6

M / SWEATER £10, T-SHIRT £12, C H I NOS £ 1 0, B ROGUES £ 2 2

P / H AT - £ 1 0 , A L L IN O NE £ 1 2 , P RA M S H OES £ 1 0

R / H AT, £ 1 2, DRES S £ 2 2, B OOT S £ 2 6, B AG £ 1 4, ROLL NEC K £ 2 0

Q / T- S H IR T - £ 7, L EG GI NGS £ 7 , S OC KS £ 6 , S H OE S £ 1 4

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AUTUMN / WINTER 2015

Gumdrop Pops These gumdrop pops are an easy gift you can make and wrap or add to a stocking. To make these festive pops, stack gumdrops, dot them with sprinkles and other candies in creative ways, and watch the colourful confections come to life as snowmen, Santas, and other icons of the season. How to Make the Gumdrop Pops Stack gumdrops, dot them with sprinkles and other candies in creative ways, and watch the colorful confections come to life as snowmen, Santas, and other icons of the season. Wrap the candy pops in cellophane bags, and then attach them to gifts or slip them into stockings. Or create a holiday display: Partially fill a large glass jar with sanding sugar, and stand the figurines on flower frogs in the sparkling “snow.” Slide gumdrops onto candy sticks to create body of each pop. (Use leaf-shaped gumdrops for holly pop.) ➤ For Santa Use top half of 1 small gumdrop for hat. Trim 2 oblong candies for arms. Use candy-coated seeds for buttons and pom-pom. Poke candy where facial features will go with a skewer; use sticky tip to pick up and place nonpareils for eyes and nose. ➤ For Tree Use 1 flattened gumdrop for base of tree. Use 1 small gumdrop for trunk. Cut sides from 1 gumdrop; press sides around top of stick, for treetop. Flatten 1 gumdrop; using an aspic cutter, cut out star. Insert sprinkles for lights. ➤ For Snowman Trim top of head; top with 1 candy wafer and half of 1 small gumdrop for hat. Using a skewer (see “For Santa”), place nonpareils for eyes, mouth, and buttons. Insert sprinkle for nose. ➤ For Holly Use halves of small gumdrops for berries. ➤ For Mushroom Use 1 small gumdrop for stem. Use sequin sprinkles for dots.

Button Snowman Cards

This is a quick, easy craft that will keep your holiday cards organized and on display. Save scraps of holiday gift wrap. Using a glue stick, coat one side of a clothespin; press firmly onto the paper. Cut around clothespin with a craft knife to trim excess paper. Repeat on other side. To hang a series of clothespins, clip them to a length of ribbon, and hang along a banister or above a mantel or entryway. Pin cards along ribbon as they arrive.

Send those at the top of your Christmas-card list something extra special: one of these handmade cards. How to Make the Button Snowman Cards

Card Garland

Easy Christmas Crafts for kids Paper Stars Stars made from folded paper are so easy to create that within a half hour you can have enough on hand to adorn all of your presents, string into garlands, or decorate a tree.

Pinup Wreath

Decorate a wall or an interior door by hanging a holiday-card wreath. Using wood glue, affix miniature wooden clothespins to a large (about 14-inchdiameter) embroidery hoop. Alternate clothespins to point outward and inward, spaced 1 1/2 inches apart. Suspend from a ribbon, and clip your cards on.

Felt Holly Corsage

Looking to craft something special for the Christmas season but don’t have that much time? Here, we offer up Christmas crafts that require only a few on-hand materials and take just minutes to make -- perfect for both you and the kids. For a playful nod to the traditional Christmas pin, try these cheerful corsages. They’re easy enough for a child to make but sophisticated enough for her mom to wear.

Holly Napkin Holders

Dress up the dinner table with napkin holders made from felt holly leaves and a jingle bell. To make, photocopy our leaves template, and cut out. Trace onto felt; cut out shape. Fold each leaf in half lengthwise, then steam with an iron to create creases. Thread a jingle bell onto the middle of decorative cording. Tie cord around base of leaves, positioning leaves at bell; knot. Tie cord behind folded napkin. Punch a hole in the letter, and tie to gift with yarn or ribbon. www.familiesfirst.ie

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rogression impressed me most. The books are well written and the 12 way information is presented is kept consistent.

selection tests.

Familes First NI

About the author

THE SHORT STORY CROSS COMMUNITY WRITING COMPETITION FOR 7-11 YEAR OLDS.

Chris has been using AEP’s books for three years now. We go through them together and the improvement in his work has been eally noticeable.

Dr Stephen C. Curran PhD, MA, BA (Hons), B(Mus), PGCE, Dip. RSA, Mcot, has over twenty years of teaching experience in both the secondary and primary sectors. Stephen has written courses for children in Mathematics, English, Verbal Activity, Non-verbal Reasoning and Creative Writing.

Brought to you in association with AE Publications rmation on our range of educational books ase visit aepublications.co.uk

Get Reading, Get Writing, Get Inspired! AE Publications Ltd, have teamed up with Families First NI to bring you the first 500 word short story, writing competition, open for 7 to 11 year olds. Everyone has a story to tell, but we believe especially children. There are lots of reasons for kids to enter 500 words. They could win their head teachers height in books! Win £100 for themselves, plus £500 for their school! But the most important reason is to encourage them to write stories.

We want to read what your pupils come up with, and we promise to READ EVERY SINGLE ONE. We will be here every step of the way to help. There will a full guide available for you to download on our website, with lesson plans and tips on helping your pupil to be creative with characters, and how to engage the reader. If you would like to register for the 2016 500 words short story writing competition, simply register your interest to Isobel@familiesfirstni.com and we will contact you.

There will be a special person at our winners ceremony lunch. So come on, get involved. The competition opens on the 2nd January 2016.

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AUTUMN / WINTER 2015

LETTING GO A HELPFUL GUIDE

There’s a reason why that melody from the Disney film Frozen has become one of the bestselling songs of all time. To be more yourself, you have to let it go. We asked the experts how to

LET GO OF CONSTANT APOLOGISING

LET GO OF SELF DOUBT

LET GO OF GUILT It can feel almost impossible to shake off a sense of guilt, but it’s important to distinguish between healthy remorse that you can use to build a better future, and energy sapping destructive feelings that do you no good, say the experts. You take responsibility for your behaviour and accept you’re a fallible human being who has made a mistake. So when someone offers forgiveness you’re willing to accept it, this is the healthy side of self reproach. But seeing yourself as a bad person who doesn’t deserve forgiveness can leave you feeling constantly guilty. You need to accept and value yourself for who you are and tackle the unhelpful beliefs that perpetuate guilt, tell yourself that other people’s desires are not more important that your own, be clear that, while you are responsible for your actions, you are not responsible for the feelings of those around you – they are! Nor should you expect higher moral standards from yourself than you do from other people, saying no to demands may appear to be selfish, but it’s more likely to be a sign of healthy self-care, and that’s the starting point or helping you to let go of debilitating feelings of guilt.

LET GO OF HOVERING

LET GO OF FEAR

As a parent, your job description covers guiding your child through life, keeping dangers at bay and helping them succeed. But if you won’t let them experience life’s ups and downs without hovering nearby, you’re depriving them of essential opportunities to learn as they get older, says psychotherapist and author Corinne Sweet.

We usually think of self-doubt as a negative emotion – but that’s not necessarily the case. In fact, when we are embarking on a big new venture, a healthy dose of it can allow us to explore whether we’re sufficiently prepared for the challenge. ‘Sometimes our feelings can hold us back from goals and dreams we would really like to pursue,’ says psychologist Louisa Jewell. ‘But it’s really only a problem when it’s chronic – when we question everything all the time.’ The best way to build your confidence is to take baby steps towards your goal, she suggests. So if you’ve always wanted to write a book but never got round to it, start with something small. Begin by writing an online article and see how that goes. As you write each article, your confidence builds. Another important strategy is to find a role model. ‘When you see someone just like you who’s doing what you want to do, you’ll believe it’s possible for you to do it, too,’ says Louisa. ‘It’s also vital to surround yourself with supportive, encouraging people. The more positive reinforcement you absorb, the easier it is to whittle away at your self-doubt. Don’t underestimate this. Say goodbye to the naysayers!’

Women say sorry more than men. Why do we feel we have to do this before sharing ideas, making requests or taking up anyone’s space? ‘It could be argued that we’re socialised to be more aware of the feelings of others,’ says anxiety therapist Chloe Brotheridge. ‘Apologising helps us to soften a request, to prevent us from offending others or appearing pushy or overbearing.’ But apologising can come across as a lack of confidence – if we say sorry too much it may appear that we lack conviction. And by doing so, we are giving away some of our power? ‘For many of us, saying sorry is largely a habit, and like all habits, it can be changed with a little awareness,’ says Chloe. She suggests choosing a day and making a note of all the times you apologise when it isn’t really necessary. You’ll soon start to recognise patterns and automatic habits. ‘Let go of excessive apologising by practising saying no without offering it with an apology. Stand strong in your own space and make requests in a calm, but assertive way.’

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‘It’s vital to remember your child’s experience is their own – they must learn to be rejected, to discover what they really want and how to fight for it,’ she explains. ‘And just as a child picks themselves up after they trip and get bumps and bruises, they learn to manage being upset – and discover that the hurt will get better.’ The most important thing is to keep a clear line of communication open, no matter what they are, says Corrine. But as they reach puberty and beyond, it’s also vital to step back and allow them the freedom to discover their own triumphs and failures. ‘It’s OK to set boundaries about what’s acceptable in your home, but within those, a teen should be developing a sense of themselves as a private person. Unless you have reason to think they might be in danger, resist the urge to monitor their phone or social media – it’s a habit that can become addictive. They need to know you’re always there for them, but you have accept you may be the last person they want to talk to,’ she says. ‘Ultimately, our job as parents is to set our little boats on the water and watch them sail away safely – in their own way and in their own time. And letting go of you urge to hover is all part of the process.’

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One of the biggest misconceptions about courage is that it’s the same as fearlessness. But people who live and work alongside risk every day say fear – not bravery – is uppermost in their minds, according to author Polly Morland. ‘Fear is absolutely central to what they achieve. So realising it’s ok to be scared is often the first step on the road to getting past that fear,’ she says. Just as tightrope walkers learn to step along a wire by working just a few centimetres above the ground, Polly suggests starting small and building up from there. ‘Try to take courage from the people around you and remember that, often, we’re all in this together.’ If all else fails, you can always take a deep breath and simply pretend that you’re not as scared as you actually are. Often the process of putting on a convincing act can work for real. ‘That’s why sometimes we need to walk straight towards the things that scare us, rather than running away,’ says Polly. Meeting fear head on and learning to control your relationship with it can be one of the keys to a well-lived life.

Familes First NI

Little Cricketts Day Nursery and Afterschool

We opened our doors in the Glenavy countryside in July 2010 and have since grown to become an integral part of the local community. We aim to encourage children’s creativity and imagination, culminating in our annual show which showcases the talents of our children, with singing, dancing, instrumental and acting performances. Our parents really enjoy this and all proceeds go to the local community hall.

“Rapport and relationships are quickly established not just with the parents, but with the most important person; your child.”

s t t e k c i r C e l Litt Day Nurser y and Afterschool

“The variety of activities and quality of the facilities are excellent, matched by the dedication and caring nature of the staff… We have no hesitation in recommending Little Cricketts to others. We believe it is a valuable asset in our local community.” “Our daughter settled very quickly due to the excellent routines and activities, caring staff, great outdoor area and fabulous food! The ease of transition plus the joy with which our child attends nursery everyday reinforces that this was the right decision.”

32 Crossgar Rd, Saintfield, Ballynahinch BT24 7AS

Phone: 028

9751 0030

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2 Furze Rd, Glenavy, County Antrim BT29 4NF

tel. 028 9445 3418 www.facebook.com/FamiliesFirstNI

A special feature brought to you by AE Publications

Chris has been using AEP’s books for three years now. We go through them together and the improvement in his work has really been noticeable. Mrs Alison Peters

5–7

WORKBOOK

Maths Numerical Reasoning

Learning doesn’t have to stop at the classroom door It’s important to me that my son Chris makes the most of his education and has the best resources and opportunities made available to him so that he can succeed in later life. However at times it felt like Chris wasn’t in control of his education. If he found a topic particularly difficult, sometimes there wouldn’t be time at school to make sure he had fully understood. I’d look through his homework, see him struggling and we’d have to go through the whole topic again. That’s why we decided to supplement his studies with extra work, outside of school, to make sure he understood his subjects. With so many different books on the market, it was difficult to know which ones would work best. I heard about AEP’s books from a friend whose child was using them. When she showed me how each topic is broken down into manageable sections and presented, it reminded me a lot of lessons from my childhood, learning the techniques required to get the correct answers before moving on to focus on the ‘hows’ and ’whys’. The organisation of topics and pace of progression impressed me most. The books are well written and the way information is presented is kept consistent. Chris has been using AEP’s books for three years now. We go through them together and the improvement in his work has been really noticeable.

ESSENTIAL LEARNING FOR SATs Attainment Levels 3–6 Quantitative Reasoning for CATs 11+ (CEM/GL Assessment) Tests Common Entrance & Scholarship Northern Ireland Transfer Tests

R SS O

Key Stage 2 & 3

CLA

YEAR

11+

ESTE

Ages 9–12

At times the work can be challenging, but this is a good thing, and through AEP’s step-by-step structure, Chris can identify where he’s going wrong and we can make sure he gets to grips with a topic before he progresses further. by Stephen Curran

What he loves most is being able to demonstrate what he’s learned from the books to his teachers at school. They are very impressed with his progression and my husband and I are very proud of him. What’s more, even though he’s now passed his 11+ exam, he still wants to carry on with this extra work. Now my daughter Jade has also started using the books, there’s no stopping either of them! MRS ALISON PETERS About AE Publications All of AEP’s workbooks have been rigorously classroom tested and used in AE Tuition classes for over 15 years. Over 85% of children that have completed the AE Tuition learning programme have gone on to achieve success in the state grammar school 11+ examinations and independent school selection tests. About the author Dr Stephen C. Curran PhD, MA, BA (Hons), B(Mus), PGCE, Dip. RSA, Mcot, has over twenty years of teaching experience in both the secondary and primary sectors. Stephen has written courses for children in Mathematics, English, Verbal Activity, Non-verbal Reasoning and Creative Writing.

For more information on our range of educational books please visit aepublications.co.uk

Familes First NI

When your child STARTS NURSERY or SCHOOL for the FIRST TIME, you want to make the whole experience a memorable one for all the right reasons. When your child starts Nursery or school for the first time, you want to make the whole experience a memorable one for all the right reasons. For many children school will be their first formal break from the home situation so as Early Years teachers and support staff we endeavour to make the move from home to Nursery or Year One as smooth and reassuring as possible. All children are different and whilst most children adapt to their new surroundings easily, others can often find the whole experience a little overwhelming or confusing. Taking time to prepare your child for school will have a positive effect on the way he/she will settle into their new routine. The following are some ideas for helping to build your child’s self-confidence and independence. ➤ Talk to your child in a positive way about their new setting. The Nursery or school is a happy place, new friends, lots to play with, new things to enjoy etc. Point out any friends or cousins who have recently started Nursery or school and talk about the fun they are having. ➤ Familiarise your child with the name of his/her new teacher and assistant. Help your child to recognise their symbol and name - most children, at this stage, can’t read or write, but they may be able to recognise the first letter of their name or even the whole thing. ➤ Enjoy stories together, sing songs and jingles. Teach your child some Nursery rhymes (this is beneficial for phonic awareness and learning to read). Perhaps join the local library or go along to storytelling sessions which are often held there. ➤ They will need to be able to listen and follow directions. To help them do this play games such as I - spy or O’Grady Says (perhaps substitute O’Grady with Teddy Says) or another fun game is the Jelly Bean game. Encourage listening to music or a story CD is another way to build listening and concentration skills. ➤ When out and about with your child do some counting of things you see, (how many cows in the field or how many red cars in the car park), introduce the language of shape and size and reinforce your child’s recognition of colour. ➤ Encourage your child to paint, draw, stick and cut out which develops their fine motor skills and co-ordination. As a parent don’t get anxious about messy play, your child is learning as they explore and experiment. Encourage them to help with tidy up after their play as they will be expected to do this in their Nursery or school. ➤ Make sure your child can use the bathroom properly, remembering to flush the toilet and to wash and dry hands after. “Accidents” can happen but Early Years staff are well equipped to deal with the situation in a quiet and sensitive manner.

➤ Encourage

your child to be independent in their other self help skills - to dress and undress themselves, to pour out their drink from a jug, to use cutlery correctly for snack time, lunch and treats. ➤ Practise social skills such as sharing, turn taking, following directions and making choices. These life skills will help your child make friends in their new setting. Starting school can have a huge impact on your child as it requires him/ her to lead a double life. At home he is dependent, secure and loved while at school he/she has to be independent and work hard to fit into the new environment and routines. During the first few months try to avoid major changes and keep home life as calm, stable and supportive as possible. Familiar routines are particularly important. Your child is likely to want to find the house as he/ she left it when they come home. Your child will feel more content if he / she know who will be collecting them each day and when. Any changes to this routine should be explained. A warm welcome home is essential. Give your child some undivided attention if you can - sit down together and share a snack, a cuddle and chat about their day. Don’t be surprised if there is some change or deterioration in your child’s behaviour or a regression to more babyish ways. It is common for children to display negative or defiant behaviour. Remember the longer, more structured day may make your child tired and he/she is looking for your attention. With this in mind the bedtime routine is important, make sure your child is getting enough sleep and provide some “down “ time after a busy day at school or Nursery. Some children have a very positive start, then go off school once the novelty has worn off and they realise they have to keep going. If this is the case, don’t worry, it shouldn’t last for long. If you are concerned please talk to the staff, they are there to help and by working in partnership, any difficulty your child is experiencing may be easily overcome. Finally make sure the school or setting knows about any particular fears, allergies, medical or family circumstances that might prevent your child from settling in quickly. The more relevant information staff have about your child the more easily they will get to know your son or daughter. Starting school is an important and big step for your child, and for you as a parent too! Enjoy and nurture the experience! Mrs Zaron Perry Principal of Trinity Nursery School Bangor 33 years as an Early Years teacher Associate Assessor for Dept of Education Inspection Teams

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Association for Quality Education Limited

COMMON ENTRANCE ASSESSMENT THE ASSESSMENTS FOR THE NEXT CYCLE (2014/15) WILL TAKE PLACE ON 8 th NOVEMBER, 22 nd NOVEMBER and 29 th NOVEMBER 2014.

REGISTRATION OPENED ON TUESDAY 6 th MAY.

FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE AQE SCHOOLS, FROM THE AQE OFFICE OR FROM THE AQE WEBSITE. For further information, including details of the registration process, the list of participating schools, answers to questions parents are asking about the CEA and details of sample questions and past papers, please visit www.aqe.org.uk . The papers will reflect the English and Mathematics elements of the current Primary School Curriculum.

The Association for Quality Education Ltd., Unit 3, Weavers Court Business Park, Belfast BT 12 5GH Telephone: (028) 90224002

Email: aqeoffice1@yahoo.co.uk

Have you nominated or voted yet? Get onto our web site

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Coming in January 2016 Our new web directory. With over 200,000 hits in November, be one of the First to put your business on the map.

Call Mike on 028 9186 3377

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AUTUMN / WINTER 2015

Bulrush Day Nursery opened in November 2004, as a social economy business providing locally accessible, aﬀordable childcare for parents of children aged 3 months to 4 years old.

SAN PIO DAY CARE

We’re commi�ed to providing a safe, secure and s�mula�ng environment for your child, promo�ng all areas of their development through play, supervised by a team of qualied, experienced and caring staﬀ.

San Pio After schools 3pm-6pm

• Competitively priced • Open 7.30am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday • Full and part time places available; • Registered by Belfast Trust • All meals freshly prepared on premises • Close to Belfast city centre • Childcare Vouchers accepted

£22 per child ages 4-11

Bulrush Day Nursery

1‐17 Century Street Belfast BT14 7BW

t: 028 9035 5654 | e: sbea�e@bulrushdaynursery.com

WE OFFER DAY CARE FOR CHILDREN AGED 0-12 YEARS AND D.E.N.I. FUNDED PRE-SCHOOL PLACES

After school child care programme allows school-age children to balance learning and fun through a variety of experiences. From homework help to fun physical activities, our early education programme is designed so that everyone goes home happy!

*Entertainment Free of charge*

LADYBIRD LANE childrens day nursery

Musical Monkey s Zoolab Tiny Talk Drama

55 Castlewellan Road, Banbridge, Co. Down BT32 4JF

Telephone:

028 406 25701

155, Northumberland Street, Belfast, BT13 2JF

Building Blocks Day Nursery (Toomebridge)

Telephone:

02890232696

Unit 2a Shivers Business Park, 21 Hillhead Road, Toomebridge BT41 3SF tel. 028

7965 9248

www.familiesfirst.ie

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Familes First NI

Peter’s Patch

Rockmount Day Nursery and Out of Schools Club

Day Nursery and After School Club

Finalists in the 2016 Day Nursery Awards

Welcome to our world of adventure nestled in the beautiful village of Hillsborough Rockmount Day Nursery is situated in a beautiful rural setting on the outskirts of Ballynahinch. The Nursery is registered for 90 Children and is purpose built with extensive gardens and play areas.

Why choose us... •

Our aim is to provide a friendly, comfortable and safe environment which the Children will find stimulating and challenging, and where enjoyment and fun are linked with discovery and learning.

• • • • • •

67 Dromore Road, Ballynahinch, Co Down BT24 8HS Telephone 02897560010 email postmaster@rockmount.plus.com

• • • • •

Family owned and run - we will work closely with parents to ensure that our day nursery is an extension of a loving and caring home Qualified staff Stimulating and safe environment Well planned and exciting activities - curriculum based Intercom system to ensure the safeguarding of children Early years member and fully insured Wildlife garden that invites some interesting minibeasts to investigate Hillsborough, BT26 6LJ Vegetable31 patchCarnreagh, to grow our very own Healthy nutritious home cooking on site Woodland walksTelephone : School pick-ups Email: info@peterspatchdaynursery.com Child discounts

Opening Soon in 2010

Sleepy Sleepy Hollow Group

Hollow SPECIALISING IN WRAP AROUND CHILDCARE IN SCHOOLS Group ASQuality WELL AS ALL IRELAND CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE Childcare Provision ACCEDITED DAY NURSERY IN CRUMLIN CO ANTRIM.

WRAPAROUND SERVICE IN SCHOOL. Why us? Ø Fully registered with HSCT Ø Highly Qualified and Experienced Staff Ø Outstanding play program Ø Out of school care from 8am-‐6pm available all year round. Ø Early school finishes and exceptional closures covered.

Sleepy Hollow Group Quality Childcare Provision

Ø Operating within school grounds Ø Fantastic summer scheme Ø Extremely competitive prices Ø No retainer fees during holiday periods Ø Childcare vouchers accepted. Ø Working in partnerships with schools to meet the needs of parents.

www.sleepyhollowgroup.com

DAY NURSERY. Why us?

We are an award winning Day Care Nursery in Crumlin Co Antrim. We offer our own in house training in conjunction with People 1st ensuring that staff are always trained to the highest standards which of course in turn provides higher level of service to the children in our care. We also use MyNurseryPal service offering parents a real time update of everything their child is doing in nursery during the day. Call our nursery manager to arrange a viewing 02894 453976.

www.familiesfirst.ie

028 9268 8005

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AUTUMN / WINTER 2015

BELFAST AWARDS

The Belfast awards are now up and running. We are all geared up for our Gala Dinner in February. You can see a more comprehensive list on our web site

www.familiesfirst.ie A special feature brought to you by AE Publications

Chris has been using AEP’s books for three years now. We go through them together and the improvement in his work has really been noticeable.

We are still looking for a few so get on the web site and nominate today. A special feature brought to you by AE Publications Mrs Alison Peters

Chris has been using AEP’s books for three years now. We go through them together and the improvement in his work has really been noticeable. 11+

ALSO, The Armagh City Awards will be available for 1 voting from the 6th December. We have included a few who areLearning attending. doesn’t have to stop at the classroom door WORKBOOK

YEAR

Maths Mrs Alison Peters 5–7

Numerical Reasoning

CLA

Ages 9–12

At times the work can be challenging, but 11+ this is a good thing, 5–7 Chris can identify and through AEP’s step-by-step structure, Maths where he’s going wrong and we can make sure he gets to Numerical Reasoning grips with a topic before he progresses further. YEAR

WORKBOOK

by Stephen Curran

CLA

Key Stage 2 & 3

R SS O

However at times it felt like Chris wasn’t in control of his education. If he found a topic particularly difficult, sometimes there wouldn’t be time at school to make sure he had fully understood. I’d look through his homework, see him struggling and we’d have to go through the whole topic again.

ESSENTIAL LEARNING FOR SATs Attainment Levels 3–6 Quantitative Reasoning for CATs 11+ (CEM/GL Assessment) Tests Common Entrance & Scholarship Northern Ireland Transfer Tests

ESTE

It’s important to me that my son Chris makes the most of his education and has the best resources and opportunities made available to him so that he can succeed in later life.

R SS O

Key Stage 2 & 3

ESTE

Nominations are open for the following categories, Learning doesn’t have to stop atstill the classroom door but only for a few more weeks. That’s why we decided to supplement his studies with extra work, outside of school, to make sure he understood his subjects. With so many different books on the market, it was It’s important to me that my son Chris makes difficult to know which ones would work best. the most of his education and has the best resources and opportunities I heardavailable about AEP’s books from friend whoseinchild made to him so that heacan succeed laterwas life. using them. When she showed me how each topic is broken However at times it felt like Chris wasn’t in control of his down into manageable sections and presented, it reminded education. he found a topic particularly difficult, sometimes me a lot of If lessons from my childhood, learning the there wouldn’t be time at school to make sure he had moving techniques required to get the correct answers before fully look and through his homework, see him on tounderstood. focus on theI’d ‘hows’ ’whys’. struggling and we’d have to go through the whole topic again. The organisation of topics and pace of That’s why we decided to progression supplement impressed his studiesme withmost. extra work, outside of school, to make sure are he understood The books well writtenhis and the subjects. With so many different books on theismarket, it was way information presented is difficult to know which ones would work best. kept consistent.

ESSENTIAL LEARNING FOR SATs Attainment Levels 3–6 Quantitative Reasoning for CATs 11+ (CEM/GL Assessment) Tests Common Entrance & Scholarship Northern Ireland Transfer Tests

At times the work can be challenging, but this is a good thing, MRS ALISON PETERS and through AEP’s step-by-step structure, Chris can identify where he’s going wrong and we can make sure he gets to Aboutwith AE Publications grips a topic before he progresses further. All of he AEP’s workbooks have able beentorigorously classroom What loves most is being demonstrate what he’s tested and used AE Tuition 15 years. Over learned from theinbooks to his classes teachersfor atover school. They are 85% impressed of children with that have completed and the AE learning very his progression myTuition husband and I programme have goneWhat’s on to achieve success in the state are very proud of him. more, even though he’s now passed hisschool 11+ exam, he still wantsand to carry on with this extra grammar 11+ examinations independent school work. Nowtests. my daughter Jade has also started using the selection books, there’s no stopping either of them! About the author MRS ALISON PETERS

✘ Mum of the year –

supported by Little Kingdom I heard about AEP’s books from a friend whose child was Chris has been using AEP’s using them. When she showed me how each years topic is broken books for three now. We go down into manageable sections and presented, it reminded through them together and the me a lot of lessons from myimprovement childhood, learning the has been in his work techniques required to getreally the correct answers before moving noticeable. on to focus on the ‘hows’ and ’whys’.

✘ Endeavour Award

Dr Stephen C. Curran PhD, MA, BA (Hons), B(Mus), PGCE, Dip. RSA, has over twenty years of teaching experience About AE Mcot, Publications in both the secondary and primary sectors. Stephen has All of AEP’s workbooks have in been rigorously classroom written courses for children Mathematics, English, Verbal tested used in AE Tuition classes for overWriting. 15 years. Over Activity,and Non-verbal Reasoning and Creative 85% of children that have completed the AE Tuition learning programme have gone on to achieve success in the state grammar school 11+ examinations and independent school selection tests.

The organisation of topics andrange pace of of educational books For more information on our progression impressed me most. please visitareaepublications.co.uk The books well written and the way information is presented is kept consistent.

Chris has been using AEP’s books for three years now. We go through them together and the improvement in his work has been really noticeable.

✘ Best Family Hotel

✘ Best Teacher –

Kids Day Care Bangor

✘ Dad of Year

by Stephen Curran

✘ Best Family Hotel

supported by AE Publications

About the author Dr Stephen C. Curran PhD, MA, BA (Hons), B(Mus), PGCE, Dip. RSA, Mcot, has over twenty years of teaching experience in both the secondary and primary sectors. Stephen has written courses for children in Mathematics, English, Verbal Activity, Non-verbal Reasoning and Creative Writing.

✘ Child Super Hero aepublications.co.uk

✘ Best School –

✘ Best Activity Provider

supported by AE Publication.

For more information on our range of educational books please visit

✘ Best Family Day Out

supported by Bella Bambinos

✘ Best Visitor Attraction

✘ Carer of the year

✘ Best Family Restaurant

✘ Grandparent of the year

✘ Best Family Bread

✘ Best Event For Families

✘ Best Family Support Group ✘ Best Soft Play Area ✘ Best Family car Business ✘ Amazing Act of kindness.

VOte Now!

Please, go onto our web site www.familiesfirst.ie and nominate or vote for someone special. BELFAST AWARDS DAYCARE NURSERIES. CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN THEIR FIELD. supported by Tinies

ARMAGH AWARDS DAYCARE NURSERIES

North Down

Belfast Outer

Antrim and surrounding

Newry surrounding areas

Omagh and surrounding

Little Kingdom Kids

Wiggles and Giggles

Sleepy Hollow Crumlin

Giggles early years.

Abacus nursery

Oakey Dokey

KidsKorner Belfast

Tiddly Winkers

Montessori

Juniors Day Care

Bright Beginnings

Bubbles Day Care

Little Cricketts

Deer Park Day Nursery

Playtime nursery

Trinity Nursery

YMCA

Building Blocks Day Care

Orana Centre

Teddy Bears

Happy Faces

Little Angels

Lisburn and surounding areas

Carrickfergus and surrounding

Dungannon surrounding area

Enniskillen

Kids and Bibs Daycare Ltd

Burrendale

Kiddiwinkles

Toddle in

Busy kids

Childrens cottage

Cool Little Kids Club Belfast North

Rockmount nursery

Little Piggies

Peters Patch

Petite Feet

Daisy Day Care

Tic Toc Day Nursery

Just Kids Daycare

Bulrush Day Nursery

Peartree

Minor Miracles Willowbank Sullatober Ladybirds Ballymena

Kute Little Treasures

San Pio Belfast Inner Puddleducks Careers n kids start smart sept An Droichead Belfast West Adventures Day Care FootPrints Wee Muckers Scribbles Tullymore Centre

Banbridge and surrounding areas

Magherafelt/Cookstown area The kids Lodge

Little Friends

Tiny Treasures

Bella Bambinos

Kiddiwinkles

Poppins Day nursery Ladybird nursery First Steps Day Care Craigavon Snow drops day care. Scribbles Day Care Ladybird

Have you nominated or voted yet?

Silverbirch Coleraine/Ballymoney area Mulberry Bush Appletree Downpatrick andsurrounding Happy Children

Totz’n’ teenz

smart kids www.familiesfirst.ie

www.facebook.com/FamiliesFirstNI

VOte Now!

Familes First NI

Minor Miracles Day Nursery

“Where children learn and grow at their own pace” ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Open 5 days a week – 7.15 a.m. – 6.30 p.m. Children from 6 weeks to 11 years Safe, homely and caring environment Learning through play Developing friendships that last a lifetime Breakfast Club After-School Club Flexible Childcare packages to meet individual family needs 84 Rawbrae Road, Whitehead, BT38 9SX Telephone: 028 93373145

Email: minormiracles@dsl.pipex.com Web: www.minormiracles.weebly.com

Willowbank Daycare Nursery OPEN

MONDAY- FRIDAY 7.30-6PM

Drop of and pickups at local schools Afterschools club Just of the main A8 with Park &Ride nearby. Beautiful rural setting, large outdoor play area.

Contact :028 2826 8228

www.willowbankdaycare.co.uk

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AUTUMN / WINTER 2015

DEVOLO DLAN 500 WI-FI NETWORK KIT Without doubt, this is the most useful gadget we’ve tested. Simply plug these wi-fi extenders into plug sockets and they use your home’s electric wiring to extend the range of wi-fi throughout the house. After years of living with wi-fi cold spots (sitting on the stairs to get online), I’m now connected from the basement to the loft.

NOW TV BOX

KINDLE VOYAGE

SPOTIFY

When I first used this little internet box, I thought it was amazing. You plug it into the television to watch catchup channels and YouTube, and it also offers contractfree Sky packages, such as Entertainment, for only £6.99 a month. Then I discovered I could also stream though the Now TV app on three other devices, including my phone and tablet. As a result, I bingewatched all seven series of Mad Men. Nothing to do with a secret crush on charmer Roger Stng, of course. (Box, £14.99, Now TV)

I was one of those people who thought an e-reader could never replace a real book, but I have been totally won over.

During some building work last year, we put about 20 years worth of CDs into storage. But I don’t miss them as, since subscribing to the music streaming service Spotify, I can listen to anything I like via wi-fi speakers, using the iPad to play D.J Okay, it costs £9.99 a month for the premium service that works with my speakers, but I’ve blown that on plenty of embarrassing CDs. And I can now browse new releases, rather than just singing along to Duran Duran.

(kid with two plugs, £109.99 maplin)

If you finish your holiday read quickly, there are thousands that you can access in an instant – you just need wi-fi. Downloading a bestseller in one touch, as I sat in a café in Spain, it was fantastic. The Kindle Voyage is a bit of a splurge, but it’s worth it, as it adapts to any light conditions, from day to night, making it ideal for gripping reads.

Premium, free 30 day trial, then £9.99 a month. Spotify)

(£169.99 Amazon)

EPSON V550 PHOTO SCANNER Many printers double up as scanners now but, for me, a dedicated photo scanner was worth every penny. Researching my family history, I amassed boxes of old photography. This scanner- reproduced perfect digital images to save on my computer. (£199.99 Epson)

The tech you can’t live without

Want to know what a gadget guru really rates? Here are the top 9 gizmos around. TOSHIBA CHROMEBOOK 2 In winter, my home office is like a walk in freezer, but I used to be stuck there, chained to my desktop computer. This gadget was my saviour, Chromebooks are light, cheap and super-fast because they don’t have much storage – instead your documents are automatically stored in Google’s Cloud. You need wi-fi to use one effectively, although you can save documents to work on offline (Standard version £189.99 Currys)

IPAD AIR

CANON POWERSHOT G7 X Snapping away on my smartphone on holiday taking pictures of cute dogs, plates of food, you name it, I’ve often drained the battery without realising and been left in the lurch, unable to make a call. I had an early version of the Canon years ago, pre smartphones, and the latest one take very high quality photos – to rival DSLR camera – so I can use my phone for, er, phoning. (£388 Jessops) www.familiesfirst.ie

The iPad deserves a medal, as it allows me to chat with my mum over a cup of tea – me at my table and my mum at hers. But it’s not only Facetime video calling that’s been a godsend – since my mum was given hers, she googles like a fiend, catches up on TV via iPlayer emails me photos of the garden. (From £319 Apple)

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IPOD SHUFFLE If music is a big thing in your ageing parents lives, why not get them something they can listen to their favourite music every day. It can clip onto a collar of a Shirt or cardigan, and can keep them relaxed and happy (£40 Apple)

Familes First NI

Mini prawn lettuce cups....

Method....

In a small bowl place mayo, horseradish & ketchup whisk well and add zest. Mix prawns in and add cucumber .set lettuce on chopping board. Now place a tsp of prawn mix into lettuce add cress . Roll tightly and hold with a little tooth pick.

Chef Stephen Jeffers...

Chef Stephen Jeffers,has run some of the best kitchens & restaurants in Northern Ireland. He has been a personal chef to the rich and famous and has cooked at the top level for over 25 years. He now works as a teacher, food. Stylist & consultant chef .you can find his food blog on www.chefstephenjeffers.com or follow him on twitter: @chef_jeffers

Stephen Jef fers

Turkey sausage rolls... 20-30 miniatures

100g puff pastry(shop bought ready rolled) 1 beaten egg yolk 50g sausage meat (pork) 60g turkey mince 15g cranberry sauce Parsley (chopped) 10g chestnuts (chopped) 1 tsp water Salt & pepper

Method....

Place turkey mince & sausage meat into a bowl & season well. Now add nuts,cranberry sauce,water & parsley. Place into piping bag,brush puff pastry with egg yolk and pipe pastry with sausage meat. Roll pastry into sausage shape & cut into mini rolls,egg wash well. Bake 200c for 10 minutes ....

Mini Yorkshire puddings, pastrami, horseradish & mustard 20-25 minature puddings Pudding mix 100ml egg (beaten) 100ml milk 100g plain flour Salt & pepper 50 ml Goose fat/beef dripping or vegetable oil Dressing.... 30g whole grain mustard 30g horseradish sauce 1/4 lemon(zest) 1 tbsp of mayo

You need ,whisky,mixing bowl & mini muffin tins Set oven @190oc

Method....

Place flour into a bowl & season with salt and pepper. Make a well in centre and slowly whisk in egg and milk slowly until smooth. Leave to rest 1/2 before using. Now pour oil into muffin tins ,halfway up the tin moulds. Place tin into oven and heat for ten minutes,pour mix into moulds half way up and bake for 20 minutes. Dressing Simply mix all together well. Garnish ..... Mustard cress ,2 slices of pastrami cut into thin strips...

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10-15 miniature cups 1 little gem(split into individual leaves) 40g Norwegian prawns (defrosted) 1 tbsp mayo 1 tsp horseradish 1 tsp tomato ketchup 1/4 lemon (zest) 1/8 cucumber (pickled & finely diced) Cress

AUTUMN / WINTER 2015

Baked Pear in Puff Pastry 1 whole pear(peeled & cored) 3 tbsp soft brown sugar 1 vanilla pod(deseeded) 1/2 lemon (juice) 40g Puff pastry

Method....

Place pear in sugar with vanilla & lemon juice into a heavy pan and caramelise for 5-7 minutes flat side down. Cool pear for 15 minutes. Now place cool pear on top of bench and wrap puff pastry around,prick pastry well & bake in oven 180oc for 15 minutes. Serve with honey comb ice-cream

Little blue cheese, pear & pecan nut toasts 18-20 miniature toasts 2 rounds of bread (sliced thinly rubbed with garlic clove) 30g blue cheese (crumbled) 1/2 ripe pear (finely chopped) 10g pecan nuts(toasted) Chervils leaves

Method....

Set oven 180c brush bread with oil and bake for 5-7 minutes until lightly brown. Now in a mixing bowl add cheese,nuts & pear. Place on top of cool crisp bread,now top with filling place rocket on top.

Winter chestnut soup -crispy bacon & chives... 1 shallot (finely chopped) 1/2 rib of celery (finely diced) 1/4 sweet potato (diced) 1 tsp of tomato purÈe 6 chestnuts (chopped) 1 tsp of honey 175ml vegetable stock 1 tbsp of creme fraiche

Method....

In a small pot add oil, shallot, celery & sweet potato cook soft. Add chestnuts, tomato purée & honey sauté for a few minutes. Now add stock bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Add creme fraiche, salt & pepper blend well. Serve with crispy bacon & chives.

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Turkey Saltimbocca..... 2x 130g turkey fillet(marinated) 2 slices of Prosciutto ham 2 large sage leaves 20g butter Salt & pepper Sauce 30ml Marsala wine 100ml Brown chicken/turkey stock 10 fresh Cranberries 1tbsp Brown sugar

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Method....

Simply place turkey fillet on bench,now add sage on top ,warm with ham tightly. In a non stick pan add butter and cook turkey of each side for 2 minutes. Place into oven @180oc 6-8 minutes until cooked. Sauce In a small pot,add wine and bring to high heat. Now add brown sugar & cranberries reduce until sticky. Now add stock and reduce by half. Serve with fondant potatoes,roast roots & gratin of sprouts

Familes First NI

Recipe Peach Melba Surprise Serves 8 Ready in 1hr 15 mins plus cooling time. 4 Large egg whites 220g caster sugar 1tsp cornflour 1tsp white wine vinegar

How to make….. The Best Meringue. Perfect Pavlova Tips. ✔ Avoid traces of egg yolk In the whites or you’ll never get the mixture to go thick and foamy, as needed. ✔ Room temperature eggs Are best for this – you won’t get as much volume if used from the fridge. ✔ Add sugar 1tbsp at a time And whisk really well between each addition to get the best thick, glossy and stiff mixture. ✔ Love a meringue that’s soft in the middle? Simply remove from the oven after the cooking time. ✔ Prefer a crisper texture? Let meringue cool and dry out in the turned off oven. ✔ Want it chewy instead? Use half caster sugar and half light muscovado for a delicious toffee flavour

Method Heat the oven to 130c, gas ½ Line a flat baking tray with baking parchment. In a metal bowl, whisk the egg whites with an electric hand mixer into stiff peaks. Add the sugar, 1 tbsp at a time, and whisk until thick and glossy. Mix together the cornflour and vinegar and fold into the meringue. Draw a 20cm circle on the baking parchment and spoon the meringue into the centre to make a large nest shape. Bake for 1 hour or until crisp. Leave to cool completely

1 2

from my kitchen Discovered a simpler way to peel those potatoes without fail and we really can’t believe we hadn’t thought of it sooner!

ne of our pet hates in the kitchen has to be peeling potatoes. If they’re small potatoes you end up catching your fingers or breaking a nail when vigorously peeling. Once you’ve peeled off a bit of the skin, the potato becomes a surprisingly slippery little thing and will fly out of your hand spontaneously onto the floor, into the bin or into the dog’s mouth. But never fear, those dramatic potato peeling days are over, thanks to this nifty little trick by food hacker and YouTube user Dave Hax. With a sharp knife, plenty of water and a little bit of magic, you can have naked, peeled potatoes in no time. Read on.

To serve 200g raspberries 2 peaches or nectarines sliced. 4 tbsp apple juice 300 ml double cream 2-3 tbsp icing sugar 1-2 tsp vanilla extract 50g toasted hazelnuts Toss the fruit in a bowl with a little apple juice. Whip the cream with the icing sugar and vanilla, pile onto the meringue and top with the fruit, hazelnuts and a drizzle of fruity juices. 374 calories per serving. 24g fat 13g sat fat 36g carbs.

Pop the potatoes into a pan and add some boiling water. Cook!

The Heat is on! Give your banger an exotic boost

To check if an egg is fresh;

Put it in water, if it floats, it’s off – if it sinks, it’s fine!. Keep hard avocados next to bananas. The ethylene gas in the bananas will ripen them. (this really works) Hold a stale baguette under a running cold tap Give it a few shakes, pop in the oven for 10 mins, and it’ll be good as new.

If you have leftover cream... ...Freeze and use for sauces. For instant, crispy croutons,

Run a sharp knife around the middle of the potatoes to pierce the skin

This handy tip is perfect if you’re baking a cake that needs yolks or whites only. It’s quick, easy and really works! All you need is a plastic bottle (we used a medium-sized one) and a couple of cracked eggs that need separating. Hover the bottle over the top of the egg yolk, squeeze the bottle with your hand gently and watch as the yolk gets sucked up into the bottle as you release your grip - it really is that simple.

GET KITCHEN CLEVER !

Rub them on metal.

Yes, you really can separate an egg yolk from the white using just a plastic bottle. We didn’t believe it either until we gave it a crack (excuse the egg pun!) . We were blown away by how easy it really is.

with this new Fiery Sriacha Thai Classic sauce from Heinz. It’s made with an aromatic blend of chilli peppers and vinegar, but it’s not too hot. You can also use it to take your stir-fry noodles to the next lever! 98p for 220ml from Asda.

To get rid of onion smells on your hands...

Drain and then cool the potatoes with cold water

HOT TIP

cts inse ill e v F emo ies, To r vegg h cold from ink wit d 1tsp s the and ad nsects i er wat lt. The the o a of s ll sink t . i w tom bot

The quicker you are, the better! We learnt that you can only keep the egg yolk in the nozzle of the bottle for a few seconds so make a swift movement when separating the yolk from the white for success every time. This method is worth a try - perfect if you’re making meringues which only uses egg whites, so an efficient way to remove the yolks. Once you’re tried this method, you’ll be doing it over and over again. We’d recommend using a different bottle every time and washing and recycling each bottle once used - just for food safety reasons of course.

Remove the crusts from white bread, cut into squares and microwave on high for 1 min.

Once cooled, peel the skin off into two parts - top and bottom. Ta-dah, peeled potatoes

Try it soon! Its so easy! www.familiesfirst.ie

To avoid rack marks on a cooling cake, Top the cooling rack with a tea towel first.Use raspberry jam

In a Victoria sponge as the pips stop the top and bottom sliding apart. www.facebook.com/FamiliesFirstNI

TIP:

Don’t press the bottle down too firmly on the egg yolk otherwise the yolk will crack and you won’t be able to suck it up and remove from the white. Be gentle but firm with your technique and you’ll have success in no time.

Happy separating!

AUTUMN / WINTER 2015

my shopping basket

We have seen it on the TV, we have read about it in our daily newspapers, but when it comes right down to it which Supermarket is the cheapest.

Slimming World’s orange and raspberry bites are so simple to make, with a zesty base, using Quark to cheat the frosting and fresh fruit on top. Perfect for sweet cravings, plus it gives you an extra portion of fruit. You’ll make this again and again, but you can also experiment with flavours by swapping the orange for lemon or lime instead, or topping with different berries. Ingredients low calorie cooking spray 4 eggs, separated 4tbsp sweetener grated zest and juice 1 large orange 150g self-raising flour 1 level tsp baking powder For the topping: 100g extra-light soft cheese, chilled 100g Quark, chilled 2 level tbsp icing sugar, sifted grated zest ½ orange 200g raspberries You can bake and ice this in advance and keep it chilled for up to 3 days. Slice and decorate with raspberries when you’re ready to eat. Method Preheat the oven to 180C, gas 4. Grease a 22cm x 22cm cake tin with low calorie cooking spray and line with greaseproof paper. Put the egg yolks and sweetener in a large bowl. Add the orange zest and juice. Using an electric whisk, beat for 5 minutes until pale and slightly thickened. In a clean bowl, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form. Gently fold into the egg yolk mixture. Sift the flour and baking powder into another bowl and gently fold into the eggs. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden and firm. Cool in the tin for 10 mins then turn out and cool completely. For the topping, put the soft cheese, Quark, sugar and most of the orange zest into a bowl and stir well. Whisk briefly to create a smooth topping take care not to over-beat or the mixture will be too loose. Spread evenly over the cake. Chill for 10 mins then sprinkle over the remaining orange zest, cut into 16 squares and top each one with raspberries. You can bake and ice the cake in advance and keep it chilled for up to 3 days. Slice and decorate with raspberries when you’re ready to eat.

3 4 5

PRODUCT 2.5KG POTATOES

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£1.69

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BROCOLLI

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RED AND WHITE GRAPES

£2.50

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CHICKEN FILLETS 550G

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12 PACK £3.25

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BASMATI MICROWAVEABLE RICE

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PENNE PASTA 500G

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TOMATO KETCHUP 460G

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£1.75

£1.50

CORN FLAKES 750G

£2.00

£1.98

£2.00

SEMI SKIMMED MILK 2L

£1.30

£1.48

£1.50

SLICED WHITE BREAD 800G

36P

55P

PANCAKES 6 PACK

52P

8 PACK 70P

6 PACK 40P

IRWINS MUFFINS

£1.00

£1.30

WEETABIX 72

£5.68

£5.69

£5.70

GOLDENCOW 500G

£2.69

£2.79

£2.80

FLORA ORIGINAL 500G

£1.00

£1.50

£1.70

FILIPPO EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

£3.70

FRY LIGHT OLIVE OIL SPRAY

£1.50

£2.30

£2.20

WAFER THIN HAM 400G

£2.00

£1.59

£2.50

GREEK YOGHURT FAT FREE MULLER LIGHT

£1.00

50P

68P OR 10 FOR £3

68P OR 6 FOR £3

70P OR 6 FOR £3

ANDREX TOILET PAPER 12

£4.75

£6.00

KLEENEX TISSUES MANSIZE

£1.98

£1.75 FOR 2 PACK

£1.50

64P

60P

PAMPERS BABY DRY 64 PACK

£14.00

£10.50

£9.90

SMA FIRST BABY MILK 900G

£9.97

£10.00

HERBAL ESSENCE SHAMPOO

£3.79

£1.84

£2.00

90P

85P

£1.00

WIPES OWN BRAND

RADOX BUBBLE BATH 500ML RADOX COCONUT KISS SHOWER

90P

89P

£1.00

PLENTY KITCHEN ROLL 6 PACK

£4.30

8 PACK £6.45

£4.50

PERSIL NON BIO35 CAPSULES

£6.00

£10.00

£6.00

£10

£20

£10.00

FINISH QUANTUM 60 TABS ORIGINAL FAIRY LIQUID 500ML

£1.40

£1.50

BEEF STEAK MINCE 500G

£2.85

£3.00

£4.00

CATHEDRAL CITY MATURE CHEESE 350G

£2.00

£4.00

£2.50

FREE RANGE EGGS 12

£1.75

£2.00

DENNY 12 PACK SAUSAGES

£2.00

£2.09

£2.10

BIRDS EYE FISH FINGERS 12 PACK

£2.49

£2.25

MCCAIN OVEN CHIPS 1.5KG

£2.00

£2.50

4 X HEINZ BEANS

£2.69

£2.00

£2.60

BIRDS EYE FROZEN SWEETCORN

£2.00

OREO COOKIES 10 PACK

£1.00

£1.99

£1.70

MCVITIES DIGESTIVE

£1.00

£1.09

£1.15

RICH TEA

£1.00

£1.09

£1.15

TETLEY TEA BAGS 240

£5.80

£4.00

£5.00

NESCAFE GOLD COFFEE

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£4.00

£5.99

£4.00

£126.53

£133.35

£121.80

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Familes First NI

WHY BREAD IS NO LONGER THE BAD GUY

Extra Goodness added to new Hovis Loaves children in the UK are missing out on the recommended intake of oily fish, the main dietary source of Omega 3 and, as a result they could be lacking vital nutrients, known to play a key role in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels . Omega-3 is commonly found in walnuts, flaxseeds and olive oil too, and Hovis has added Omega 3, sourced naturally from seeds, to their new Good Inside™* range making it easier and tastier to consume this essential nutrient.

Hovis, one of Northern Irelands leading bread manufacturers is adding Omega-3 from seeds to its Hovis Good Inside™ loaves after discovering that the intake of the essential fatty acid has fallen to an all-time low. Fresh analysis of data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) 2008-2012 has shown that a staggering 79% of

Baked in Belfast every day, the loaves all contain naturally sourced omega 3 from seeds; wheatgerm, containing 14 essential vitamins and minerals; and fibre, a unique trio of ingredients providing extra goodness for all the family. Just two slices of Hovis Good Inside™ bread contain 42% of the recommended daily amount (RDA) of Omega 3 intake.

need to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Jackie Kirk, Hovis Ireland Brand Manager said “There’s no question that Omega-3s from fish oil is vital for our brain’s functioning and immune systems but Omega-3 found in nuts, seeds and vegetable oils has a proven role in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. “Hovis has found an innovative way to introduce these vital ingredients into people’s daily lives, it’s a great step in the right direction toward better health. Bread remains one of the key favourite foods with 99% of households

buying bread. We know that consumers are gradually reducing their consumption of bread, feeling guilty about eating it due to perceived health concerns. Hovis Good Inside™ was developed using the input of 2,500 consumers who told us what kinds of healthier ingredients were important to them in bread. We hope that the new range will help to bust any common bread-related myths and make bread a healthy choice for the family rather than a food to be avoided.” Amanda Ursell, independent nutritionist, added: “When it comes to essential Omega-3s found most commonly in oily fish, people simply just aren’t eating

Hovis has invested over £5m in an integrated publicity campaign to promote the new range, including an eyecatching TV advert showing children escaping the confines of home and the consoles, getting out on their bikes and enjoying a delicious Hovis sandwich at the end of their day. Hovis hopes that the new range will help to bust any common bread-related myths and make bread a healthy choice for the family rather than a food to be avoided. Photo: Jill Smiley and Ross Johnston, both 12, from Greenisland, take a break from the great outdoors, to enjoy a packed lunch made with bread from the New Hovis ‘Good Inside’ range. The loaves are all baked in Belfast, using naturally sourced omega 3 from seeds; wheatgerm, containing 14 essential vitamins and minerals; and fibre, a unique trio of ingredients providing extra goodness for all the family.

The range – which will include White, Best of Both and Wholemeal – will join the existing Hovis line-up, and will continues to deliver on Hovis’s promise to use no artificial preservatives in any of the products, ensuring shoppers are getting all the goodness they www.familiesfirst.ie

enough of them. That’s why I fully support the fact that, bread, this wonderful staple is now being used to deliver a crucial dietary component - essential Omega-3 which dietary survey data reveals we are not getting enough of in today’s modern diet.”

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*Hovis Good Inside Bread contains natural Omega 3 from flaxseed oil, which if eaten regularly as part of a healthy lifestyle and a varied balanced diet, has been shown to helpt maintain normal cholesterol levels in the blood. For details on Hovis Good Inside range visit www.hovis.co.uk

BOOK

Reviews

Familes First NI Do you know what ‘park your jam on the frog’ means? Fancy some ognib? What rhymes with ‘circus’? …plus many more amazing things you never knew about words. Have hours of fun wixing up your murds with this hilarious book, packed full of rhymes, puns, games, jokes, gibberish and more.

Penguin’ s Big Adventure By Salina Yoon

carriage with Barney and his mother tells them a story to pass the time. And what a story. The story of a young man, a young soldier in the trenches of World War I who, on the spur of the moment, had done what he had thought was the right thing. It turned out to have been the worst mistake he could have ever made – a mistake he must put right before it’s too late…

David Walliams – Grandpas Great Escape HarperCollins Childrens Books

Many years ago Grandpa was a World War II flying ace. But when he is sent to old folk’s home Twilight Towers – run by sinister Matron Swine – it’s up to Grandpa and his grandson Jack, to plot a daring escape. Little do they know, the wicked evil matron is on to them… David Walliams’ hilarious new novel is a rollercoaster ride that will have you on the edge of your seat. It will make you laugh and cry!

Michael Morpurgo An Eagle in the Snow HarperCollins Publishers

The train is under attack from German fighters. In the darkness, sheltering in a railway tunnel, the stranger in the

One day, Penguin had a big idea. He wanted to do something no penguin had ever done. He wanted to be the first penguin ever to set foot on the North Pole.

The Enchanted Horse Magdalen Nabb

Eoin Colfer & Oliver Jeffers HarperCollins Publishers

Did you know that if the conditions are just right, and if you add a little electricity, or magic, or luck, that an imaginary friend might appear just when you need one? An imaginary friend like….Fred. Fred is the best imaginary friend you could ever hope for, but no matter how hard he tries, the same thing always happens: his friend finds a real friend in the real world, and Fred fades away, bit by bit, waiting to be wished for again… Then one day, a boy called Sam wishes for a friend, and Fred appears! For a while, everything is perfect. But what about the day when Sam finds a real friend? Could it be that this time, something magical might happen…? A quirky, funny, utterly irresistible story from a bestselling dream team.

This is a tender and deeply touching story of the love of a young girl, for a dusty old wooden horse discovered in a junk shop. Both horse and girl are sad and lonely, and both find the friend they so need in one another. But it is how they find it that is truly magical, and when a magical story is made utterly believable, then you know you have a rare story. This is one of those. Quite unputdownable, and quite unforgettable.

Hacks for Minecrafters – Command Blocks By Megan Miller

Learn everything about manipulating and programming command blocks in this totally encompassing guide, from the author of Hacks for Minecrafters. Packed with expert tips, cheats, and hacks on command blocks, including a full reference to all the commands and exactly how you use them. With over one hundred screenshots, Hacks for Minecrafters: Command Blocks shows exactly how the experts wield command blocks and make fun modifications to the Minecraft world. Feel inspired by tricks and projects for making your own custom maps and mini-games.

Join Penguin on his amazing adventure! Along the way, he says hello to all of his old friends. But when he finally reaches his destination, he realises he’s all alone in a strange, foreign place ... How will Penguin overcome his fears of the unknown and enjoy this new adventure? A wonderful timeless story about firsts and friendships.

BOOK OF H THE MONT

The Silly Book of Weird & Wacky Words By Andy Seed Warning: includes terrible tongue twisters and ridiculous riddles! From the Winner of the Blue Peter Award for Best Book with Facts

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The Owl And The Pussycat By Edward Lear & Charolotte Voake Edward Lear’s classic poem, The Owl and the Pussy-cat, beautifully illustrated by Charlotte Voake and introduced with a foreword by Julia Donaldson The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea In a beautiful pea-green boat... Edward Lear’s classic poem has delighted readers of all ages for generations. It is given new life by Charlotte Voake’s exquisite illustrations in this beautiful new edition. Introduced by a foreword from world-renowned children’s author and Lear devotee, Julia Donaldson, this is a book to be treasured by Lear fans both old and young. Be sure to look out for Julia Donaldson’s sequel to this much-loved poem. The Further Adventures of the Owl and the Pussy-cat.

AUTUMN / WINTER 2015

Guilt is an emotion that every mother is far more familiar with than they would like. You feel bad when you lose your temper wit the kids, when you can’t get them to sleep, when you succumb to their pleas for sweets. But perhaps the most guilt-inducing issue of them all is work. The funny thing is, it doesn’t even matter if you work full-time, part-time or not at all. One way or another, part of you will worry that you haven’t made the best decision for your children. But is there really such a thing as a ‘wrong choice’?

To Work? Or Not to Work? WORKING MUM WOES Those of us who return to work full-time after having kids will know all about that wrenching feeling you get when you drop you little on at nursery. It’s bad enough dealing with your own guild without combining that with the sense of disapproval you feel from the stay-at home mums (SAHMs) you pass on their way to soft-play, while you’re screeching past in the car trying to shake the image of your sobbing child from your head.

‘I choose to stop working…but it was only a few months before I started feeling isolated’ It’s a feeling reader Sarah Harris knows all too well. I’ve always loved my job as a buyer for a supermarket and although we could have scraped by on my husband’s salary, I just didn’t want to give it up. But that doesn’t make it easier to deal with the guilt when I drop my son off early at school or pick him up late from after-school club.’ For those of us who’ve returned to work out of financial necessity rather than desire, it can be even harder to rationalise your decision. ‘I’m currently ten months into a 12 month maternity leave with twins and the thought of

leaving them makes my heart ache,’ says university lecturer Dionne Delves, ‘but it’s just not financially viable for me to stay at home. My first child, who is five now, went into nursery as soon as my maternity leave was over. It’s not something my husband and I were able to discuss, we really ha no choice.’ And while the Government is continually introducing benefits for working mums, such as increased maternity leave, tax credits and free childcare, there are not state benefits for stayat-home mums, a fact that rules it out as an option for most women. Research for the Department for Education last year found that more than a third of working mothers would like to give their jobs and stay at home with their children, but according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, only one in ten actually does. You may well envy those privileged few whose husbands earn enough to keep the family afloat, particularly as the new figures were announced in the news alongside ‘warnings over the welfare of children’. But is the grass really greener-for the mums, or indeed for their children? MAKING SACRIFICES ‘I chose to stop working when I had my second child because I genuinely thought it was the right thing for me and the kids,’ says Imogen Edwards, who used to work as an office manager. ‘But it was only a few months before I started feeling

isolated, embarrassed and just less like myself. Eventually, I found myself losing patience with the children and became so scared that I’d start to resent them that I’m now looking for part-time work so I can get something back for myself.’

FULL-TIME FULFILMENT There are, however, women who are more than happy with their decision to be a SAHM, such as reader Vicki Child. ‘I gave up a job as an HR manager to be a full-time mum and I wouldn’t want to change it for the world,’ says Vicki, who lives in Essex with her husband and two children. ‘I feel privileged that I get to see my son and daughter grow and develop every day, and be a full part of their lives. I realise it’s not for everyone and we are fortunate to be in the financial postion to be able to do it, which is why, although it’s great that the Government is focused on providing more childcare, I think there should be more assistance for mums, so they have the option to stay at home, too’. And if you working mums out there have felt judged by others, Vicki points out that it can be just as bad, of not worse, for the SAHMs among us who are often stigmatised: ‘Sadly, there seems to be a general attitude that stay-athome mums aren’t contributing t society by not going out to work, and we are often expected to justify what we “do”, she says. ‘Surely providing a secure learning environment for our children is an important role?!’ Hear, hear! HOME OFFICE It is a wish to fulfil this role, while also earning, that has no

‘There should be more assistance for mums, so they have the option to stay at home, too’ It’s not just them us who could feel the negative impact of their decision to give up work, but also, ultimately, their daughters. According to a ground-breaking survey by the smart bods at Harvard Business School, daughters of working mothers are more likely to be employed, earn more and have more senior positions than girls raised by a full-time parent. While sons of working mums were found to spend more time caring for family members in later life, a habit probably adopted from having to muck in from a young age by, say, finding their own PE kit, washing a few dishes or even (gasp) cooking a meal. The study concluded that having a ‘non-traditional role model’ i.e. a working mother, gives children a more egalitarian view of genders, and what is ‘right’ and normal for men and women. The suggestion being that the more common it is for mothers to work, the more gender inequality will be reduced. That’s a strong argument for heading into work every single day.

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doubt motivated other mums to find a way to keep workingbut home, which explains the huge rise in mums who blog, vlog and set up their own businesses. One such ‘mumpreneur’ is Anna-Lee Kewley from Bournemouth, who was working in a building society when she decided something needed to change. ‘The cost of childcare was horrendous and it was difficult having two kids t look after as a single mum,’ she explains. Anna-Lee then noticed a gap in the market for fun, affordable baby clothes and realised she could fill it by designing and making her own. Her brand Baby Moo now has over 85,000 likes on Facebook and she sells to countries across the world. ‘It’s been a hard slog,’ admits Anna-Lee, ‘my working day revolves around the kids’ schedule. I box everything up when Reece is at school and pick Mia up from childcare and we go to the post office to drop off the parcels, then in the evening, I work on the

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marketing. But after a few years of working every day, I now make an effort to take time off and it’s been great to finally find a balance between enjoying time with the kids and developing the business. DIFFERENT STROKES So have mums like Anna-Lee achieved the elusive Holy Grail that is the perfect balance? Perhaps, but this way of working doesn’t work for every mum. As mum of three Andrea Ventress discovered when she tried to swap full-time work as a magazine editor for a career as a freelance journalist: ‘I thought that writing from home could solve the problem of juggling childcare and a job. But all I found was that I was constantly working and checking emails when I should have been watching the boys’ swimming lessons or talking to them over tea. Being self-employed meant I couldn’t ever switch off and I missed having co-workers to chat to.’ Eventually Andrea found a part-time job in a local school. ‘It was a bit of a wrench to give up my career as a writer, she admits, ‘but it gave me back my life. I only worked the hours I was employed to and when I was with my kids, I was really WITH them. Plus, I loved having colleagues, holidays and sick pay again! Evidently, there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution to the dilemma mums face when it comes to work. There are clear pros and cons to working full-time, part time, or not working at all, and these vary from family to family. But rather than going away from this thinking ‘we’re dammed if we do and dammed if we don’t’, the important thing to realise is that you have to do what is right for YOU, refuse to judge other mothers for their choices and finally kick that ever-present guilt to the kerb. None of us are perfect parents. But we’re trying our best. And that’s all that matters.

HOW TO MAKE IT WORK Find a Balance This will change as your priorities change, so make sure you evaluate your situation regularly and allow yourself to adjust. Make sure there’s time for you in there as well, be it time to read a book or go for a session at the gym. ASK FOR HELP Juggling work and family can be stressful, so talk to your partner about sharing tasks, ask a neighbour to carpool and get your parents to babysit so you can have a date night. There’s no harm in asking, they can only say no!

Familes First NI

Open Day

What’s On

4th December 2015 at 2:15pm Our afternoon will compose of a talk by the Principal and then a tour of the school and its facilities. Gilnahirk Primary School 148 Gilnahirk Road, Belfast BT5 7QQ Telephone: 028 9040 1697 Fax: 02890 790184 www.gilnahirkps.org.uk

Browse a selection of handbags, satchels, socks, hats and gloves, wooden toys, essential oils, crystals, hand-painted pottery and Christmas decorations and much more! Opening Hours

Date: 1st November – 31st December 2015 Venue: Learning Space, Fountain Centre, Belfast Ho! Ho! Oh Dear! The elves were minding Santa’s sleigh and have lost some of the Christmas Presents! Can you help the elves to find the missing presents before Santa returns and get a special prize?!

Monday - Wednesday: 10am - 8pm Thursday - Saturday: 10am - 10pm Sunday: 1pm - 6pm Santa’s Grotto Santa’s Grotto will be open: Monday - Friday 11am - 7pm Saturday 11am - 7pm Sunday 1pm - 6pm

If you post Santa a letter in his post box (in the grounds of the Belfast Christmas Market) by 18 December, you’ll receive a letter back from him.

Also make your very own Special Christmas Letter to Santa and post it in our special express North Pole post box! Our in-store elves will make sure it arrives on time with Santa! Dates and Times: November & December. All day. Every day. For more information visit www. learningspaceuk.co.uk or email: marketing@ learningspaceuk.co.uk

Destination Space – Join the Crew! Date: 10th November – 17th December 2015 Venue: W5 at SSE Arena Backed by the UK Space Agency, W5 have joined forces with the European Space Agency’s first British astronaut, Tim Peake, to provide visitors with a unique opportunity to learn about human space flight and follow life on the International Space Station! Space exploration requires a whole field of experts including scientists, trainers, engineers and astronauts. This live show ‘recruits’ and ‘trains’ the next generation of space explorers. Packed with experiments, investigations and problem-solving activities linked back to human space flight young crew members will leave inspired! Visitors can expect to learn about roles in space crew, rocket launches, daily life for astronauts on the International Space Station, resistance training, disorientation training, use of robotics and problem solving with simulation mission activities. Dates: Every Tuesday from 13 October - 15 December and every Thursday from 15 October - 17 December. Show Times: Check show times upon arrival. For more information visit www.w5online.co.uk

Christmas in the Hub Date: 21st November – 3 January 16 Venue: Project 24, Queens Parade Craft in the Hub Saturday 21 November 10am-4pm Join professional Artists and Makers in the Hub and in the Art Pods at Project 24 for the chance to buy that special unique, hand crafted and inspired Christmas gift. Complimentary Gift wrapping on all purchases.

Enjoy free entertainment on the day including; 11am – 3pm enjoy an interactive experience with the Really Rubbish Orchestra 11am – 1pm Meet the Snow Queen and Ice King from Belfast Premiere Circus 11am - 12 noon & 1.30pm – 2.30pm free Children’s Craft Activities 12noon - 1.30pm & 2.30pm – 3.30pm free Face painting Project 24 Christmas Switch On Friday 4 December 6pm - 8pm The Land of Christmas Fairy-tale; twinkling lights, festive foods, fun for all the family with a special appearance from Santa and his reindeer. Grand switch on will take place at 7pm.

Visit Santa Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December 10am - 4pm Come along and enjoy a special visit to Santa in his grotto. Santa awaits with festive goodies for all! Craft in The Hub – Last chance to buy! Saturday 19 December 10am - 4pm Join professional Artists and Makers in the Hub and in the Art Pods at Project 24 for the chance to buy that special unique, hand crafted and inspired Christmas gift. Complimentary Gift wrapping on all purchases.

Enjoy free entertainment on the day including: 11am – 1pm Meet the Precious Pink Christmas Fairy and Valentine Winterbottom from Belfast Premiere Circus 11am - 12noon & 1.30pm – 2.30pm free Children’s Craft Activities 12noon - 1.30pm & 2.30pm – 3.30pm free Face painting

Skate your way into the New Year Friday 1 - Sunday 3 January 2016 10am - 8pm Skate your way into the New Year at Project 24 at the outdoor synthetic ice rink. Skates provided, 20 minute sessions. Belfast Continental Christmas Market 2015 Date: 14th November – 20th December 2015 Venue: Belfast, City Hall The Belfast Christmas Market is back at City Hall from 12 noon on Saturday 14 November! Santa will arrive at 11am on Monday 16 November. Voted as the Best Large Specialist Market 2015 by NABMA, come along and enjoy a fantastic range of authentic continental food, clothing, arts crafts and decorations from across Europe and beyond. You will not be disappointed! www.familiesfirst.ie

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For more information visit www. visitardsandnorthdown.com

Bangor Christmas Switch On & Fireworks Display Date: 21st November Watch the skies above Belfast Lough come alive with spectacular fireworks at the new

AUTUMN / WINTER 2015

What’s On location of Bangor Seafront. The lights will be switched on afterwards by The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Alderman Alan Graham. The event will also include a special Christmas Market in The McKee Clock Arena, festive street-theatre, live music and children’s entertainment. Venue: McKee Clock Market 11am - 7pm (Sat & Sun) Fireworks Display: 5.30pm (lights switched on afterwards) For more information visit www.visitardsandnorthdown.com

Date: 26th November – 3 January 2016 Venue: Belfast Waterfront Price: £10-£48 Following last year’s hugely successful Jack and the Beanstalk, we’re delighted to bring you the magical story of Cinderella, brought to life by a fabulous cast of larger than life characters! Children will love being part of this magical adventure, cheering the goodies, booing the baddies and joining in with the catchy singalong songs… all in true Waterfront panto tradition!

Rumpelstilskin Date: 26th November – 3rd January Venue: MAC, Belfast From Simple straw to threads of gold, In magic strands our tale unfolds… Join us this Christmas as we bring a little mischievous magic to the stage in our adaptation of Rumpelstiltskin – the classic Brothers Grimm tale with typical, mystical MAC twist. Meet Emily, our heroine – brave, beautiful, witty and smart. Be outraged by her father and the King who contrive an unusual and infamous bargain, and encounter the strange little man who can do the impossible…at a price. The MAC’s family Christmas shows are becoming something of a tradition – live music, fun and spectacular action. Suitable for all ages, why not treat the whole family to Christmas at the MAC. Tickets: £10 (Child), £12 - £25 (Adult), available from www.themaclive.com

A Magical Christmas Experience Date: 27th November – 23rd December Venue: Titanic Belfast Join Father Christmas for traditional festive cheer from 27 November at our Magical Christmas Experience. Make your own decorations, play timeless street games, enjoy classic stories, write your Father Christmas letter and visit the man himself in his Old Curiosity Shop where he’ll

check your name off the ‘Naughty or Nice List’. Child (under 13yrs) includes: Candy Cane Storytelling Arts & crafts including festive decoration making, Traditional Games, Father Christmas Letter Writing, Entry to ‘Ye Olde Picture house’, Traditional costume dress-up ‘Naughty or Nice’ list stop, before entering the Old Curiosity Shop, Individual photo with Father Christmas (and print) Father Christmas Gift and Christmas Cookie. For the adults a mug of mulled wine (over 18yrs only) or tea/ coffee if preferred and a traditional mince pie. Tickets: Children £15 Adults £4 Dates: 27 - 29 November: Open Friday to Sunday. 3 - 6 December: Open Thursday to Sunday. 10 - 23 December: Open Daily. Average experience duration is 45min - 1 hour.

Snow White Venue: Grand Opera House, Belfast Date: 28th November – 10 January 16 Price: £17- £32 Bursting with all the ingredients of a classic fairytale, including a Wicked Stepmother, a Handsome Prince and a Damsel in Distress, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs stars Northern Ireland’s much-loved Queen of Comedy in what will be her 26th consecutive pantomime appearance. Most definitely the fairest of them all, May McFettridge will lead the cast in what will be another spectacular Grand Opera House pantomime!

Date:28th November- 20th December 15 Venue: Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast Price: £5 - £37.50 www.crumlinroadgaol.com Step inside a magical walk through the winter wonderland in the heart of Belfast. Meet our Christmas characters as you enjoy a journey through a magical winter wonderland, with lots to see and do along the way... Create a personalised decoration with Santa’s little helper Trixie, add a little of magic to your visit with the help of Sparkle the Christmas fairy and Mrs Claus will tell you a festive story while you enjoy some tasty treats. This magical experience is complete with a visit from Mr Claus himself. Tickets: Adult - £5.00 Child - £12.50 Family (1 Adult & 3 Children) - £37.50 Family (2 Adult & 2 Children) - £27.50 Family (2 Adult & 2 Children) - £37.50 Tickets are strictly non-refundable and non transferable. Venue: Riddel’s Warehouse on Ann Street, Belfast – opposite Elliotts Fancy Dress Shop. To book visit www.crumlinroadgaol.com or call 028 9074 1500. www.familiesfirst.ie

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October – December OCTOBER

DECEMBER

Saturday 17th • 12noon-4pm Ulster New Zealand Trust at Ballance House, Glenavy

Friday 4th-Saturday 5th • 7.30pm Hillsborough Castle

Apple Day

Twilight Night by Fairy Light Friday 30th • 7pm-9pm Wallace Park, Lisburn

NI Festival of Racing

Friday 30th-Saturday 31st • Gates open 11am Down Royal Racecourse The Maze, Lisburn

Purple Turnip Festival

Saturday 31st • 12noon-4pm Lisburn City Centre

Restaurant Week

Starting Saturday 31st Various Establishments

Celebrate Christmas at the Castle Food & Music Festival Friday 4th-Saturday 5th Lisburn Square

Frock Around the Clock Saturday 5th • 11am-5pm St Patrick’s Pastoral Centre, Chapel Hill, Lisburn

Victorian Christmas Market Saturday 5th • 11am-4pm Ulster New Zealand Trust at Ballance House, Glenavy

Santa Dash

Saturday 5th • 2pm-4pm Wallace Park, Lisburn

Carols By Candlelight

NOVEMBER

Saturday 12th • 3pm-6pm Market Square

Harry Ferguson Lecture Night

Christmas Celebration Party

Christmas Lights Switch On

Boxing Day Race Meeting

Friday 13th • 8pm-10pm Hillsborough Village Centre Thursday 19th • 6pm Lisburn City Centre

Santa’s Arrival

Saturday 28th • 11am-4.30pm Market Square

Thursday 17th • 6pm-9pm Market Square

Saturday 26th • Gates open 11am Down Royal Racecourse The Maze, Lisburn