Baby Jars - Don't Throw Them Away!

After washing them out and taking the labels off, baby food jars can be incredibly useful. I have used them for several different purposes, and there is very little you have to do to up-cycle them!

1.  Holding Jars for chocolate chips/mini marshmallows for your hot chocolate kit
2.  Lanterns - simply put a tealight in, or follow the following DIY tutorial
3.  Desk Tidy
4.  Mini Flower Jars
5.  Presents In a Jar

 How To Create

1.  Holding Jars: Simply place all your tiny food items in the jar and close the lid for freshness. I have used mine for chocolate chips, and a larger jar for mini marshmallows. Looks great on a corner of the kitchen counter for your quick DIY hot chocolate kit
2.  Lanterns: either place a tealight in the jar, or use PVA glue and tissue paper to decorate. Coat your jar in PVA, and place torn strips of tissue paper all over the jar. You can make the design more sturdy by repeating this process over your first layer.
3.  Desk Tidy: You can do the same as above for decoration, or cut out your favourite images from magazines and layer these instead to make a collage, then place pens/pencils/paintbrushes inside.
4.  Mini Flower Jars: Tie string around the top of your jar where the indent for the lid is, and hand up around the garden - fill with water and add flowers.
5.  Presents In a Jar: buttons, a DIY hot choc kit, mini presents... The list is endless - you just need to fill the jar  

Losing A Pet

Today, I said goodbye to my beloved 7 or 8 year old bunny, Pippin. She was a black dwarf with a white dot on the end of her nose <3 It's horrible knowing that I can't have my animals living with me because of our agreement in our tenancy.

Last night I had a call from my Mum, saying that Pip was taken to the vets with swollen eyes and genitals. They thought it was a virus, but we didn't yet know how severe it was. Unfortunately, I had another call today, when I was told that the virus had been identified as myximatosis, and was systemic. This meant it would be terminal, and there was not much we could do. Apparently the original strain of myxi occurred naturally, but other strains were developed in labs, and used on the rabbit populations in Australia.

Since then the virus has transformed and there are always new strains - although a vaccine protects your rabbit, it is never 100% foolproof. Sadly, insect bites from mosquitoes and fleas can spread the virus, so it is not easy to protect your animal.

Having Her Put Down
As soon as I saw poor Pippin - with her eyes weeping and practically swollen shut - sitting motionless on the vet's table, I knew she had to be put to sleep. Most people say it's not an easy decision, but for me it was the obvious choice - an instant reaction. It isn't easy to watch - I did cry very suddenly- but I think the best thing you can do for your animal is to stay with them as they are losing consciousness. The comfort gained from your presence will ease their passing.

Beware Myxi
As well as vaccinating against myximatosis, if you have a rabbit they will need to be protected from other viruses - check with your vet that your rabbit has all the protection he or she can get.

Living Situation

At Your Parent's

This one is awkward, but necessary. No one starts in their own home, it's just a matter of time and money really when trying to ease your way into your own space. Living by someone else's rules can be a drag, but having these boundaries in place can prompt you to think about what kind of house you would run and rules you may set. For example, I hate having a 'lights off/bedtime' which was enforced by my Mum on several occasions when I was far too old for it by switching off the wifi. No internet = no noise and not much to do except sleep. (This is a trick I will be using as a last resort in years to come, I am sure.)

As annoying as parents can be, they do look out for you, and provide for you. This is a bonus no other housing option has to offer. 

In A Hostel

You can be placed anywhere, without much say in the matter or much choice of even the general area (you can pick from 4 areas, and even then you could end up in any of them). It is a faster option if you are a high band (Band A being the highest priority and F being the lowest as I recall) but this doesn't mean squat if there is a shortage of housing or an influx of needy people.

However, the council will take care of a lot of handy things for you, like getting hold of a free white good for the kitchen (we have a fridge-freezer). This you will have to ask for, as we only found out about it because we had a floating support worker.

In A Council House
Slightly better than private rented in many ways, but also slightly lower on perks.

In Private-Rented
For us, this is the crem de la crem of the crop.

In Your Own Home
My parents live in their own home, and it definitely has more visible perks than a lot of the other options, but on the other hand they get no help with it - having to make sure money is saved to fix things (like the boiler, at the moment) and make sure everything is running smoothly. In our private-rented 2 bedroom house, we can just call up our Estate Agents and they get someone out to fix whatever problem we have with the house. My parents, on the other hand, would have to pay for this service.

On the flip side, they can decorate however they like and make drastic changes, like putting in a pond or having an extension. In all the other housing options we have listed, you simply cannot go round doing that!

Daily Diary

• Woke up at 8:30am, with help from my partner prompting me "You have Storysacks - you need to get up!"
• Got ready for storysacks with Mini Me: Toast for breakfast then out the door as soon as we were sorted, to get there for 9:15
• Finished picture cards
• Went to pick up cream from Health Centre
• Did a little retail therapy, for myself as well as for some Christmas preps
• Went to a little local Cafe, they had Wifi so I started this post with loads of underscores replacing the space (that key doesn't work :( )
• Had a cheese and cucumber sandwich
• Tried to blog but realised spacebar doesn't work
• Delilah woke up from nap and had a free biscuit
• We headed back home and basically just chilled until my partner got back
• He made pasta carbonara and we watched a horror movie

Summary
Overall, a productive day. Next time I would like to have a blitzed house, but I don't mind letting loose every now and then. It's nice to take a break and have a much-needed walk and a little socialising with locals in shops and at groups :)

My Healthy Eating Plan

After 11 months, I have still failed to lose the babywieght, or what I now refer to fondly as my 'food pouch'. My jeans are a little too snug, and my 'pouch' likes to stretch out my once-flattering figure-hugging tops and dresses.

It is time for change.

Yes, I know this may seem a little pointless with several celebrations coming up - first Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then New Year. . . But it will be worth it as I'll enjoy them that bit more with a healthy diet behind me (so pigging out is more of a joyous treat than an every day slob habit).

My Plan. . .

Drinks - I will cut down on caffiene as it can cause an increase in headaches and migraines, irritate the bladder and make it more difficult to relax and sleep (with the exception of my 6am start days)

Food - I want to get back to my 5-a-day, smoothies could help with this

Carbs - No, I am not calorie counting or doing any radical diet, but by ensuring I only have one carb-filled meal a day, I am cutting down and hopefully eliminating some storage fat

Sweets and Snacks - these will be hard to tackle as I love to snack - Swapping milk chocolate for dark chocolate of 70%, which is as high as I can go without it tasting like coal. Eating fruit and nuts (but not too many as they are high in fat). Yogurts might be helpful too but aren't very filling

Meals - It's time to get the cookbooks out, I might go so far as to do a calorie - count. Maybe just for a day though, as it might make me feel paranoid if I try to do this too much 

Exercise - For all this healthy eating to be worth the effort, I need to make sure I go for at least a 1/2 hour walk every day. What's that you ask? What if it's raining? Don't worry, my backup plan is to do 100 jumping jacks. Maybe I will join some dance classes - these are indoors so will suit me whatever the weather.

Budgeting for The Run Up To Christmas

It's easier said than done when it comes to doing Christmas on a budget. There is so much to think about, for our own families and for everyone else.

To tackle the issue of over-spending and over-indulging at this festive time of year, I have compiled a list of ways you can save and make the most of Christmas and still have money for the new year.

Presents

• Compile a list and stick to it
• Make a strict spending limit for each person (say, £10 each)
• Go to Charity shops
• Keep an eye out for Sales
• Shop online
• Get the same amount of presents for everyone so no one feels left out
• Make sure everyone has one 'main' present (this should be the largest/grandest/most costly)
• Once you are finished, only buy small, inexpensive items as stocking fillers

Cards

• Look out for sales, buy a set/pack of cards instead of individual cards
• If you have any left over from last year, use these 
• Check postage - you can use 2nd class stamps which are cheaper as long as you send them off earlier
• Get value for your money and include a festive family photo (they are lightweight, so cost no more postage)

 Decorations

• Buy at Charity shops 
• Use large beads from necklaces strung up with fishing wire or ribbon to make baubles
• Do as much DIY as possible - paper chains and snowflakes are a good starting point
• Ask your friends and neighbours if they have any leftover decorations from last year
• Look online, especially on social networking sites - it is cheaper 2nd hand than new from the shops 

Food

•  Start as soon as deals are on, checking if food can be frozen and make space in your freezer just for Christmas food
•  Don't buy reduced items as they will go off quickly, but if you will use them straight away then do look out for these items closer to the time
• Keep an eye out for offers, it is cheaper to buy multipacks than individual itmes
• Invite lots of people! This ensures food is not wasted and makes the multipacks worthwhile!

Money

• Start saving asap - have a Christmas savings jar, only to be used for that purpose
• Buy bits and pieces instead of all at once, it won't feel like such a blow to your wallet

Bonjour France!

Bonjour, je m'apelle Mums On Mars!

Hello, my name is Mums On Mars!

Merci beaucoup pour votre attention!

Thank you very much for your attention! 

Félicitations! Cette semaine, vous êtes le pays qui lit le plus le blog - merci!

Congratulations! This week, you are the country who reads the blog the most - thank you!

Your Fb Friend Request

Recently, I set up a Facebook page - if you are a user please do have a looksie!

It's not as 'finished' as the blog, and I only started updated it with links back to our page at the beginning of October - so time must be allowed for it to flourish. 

You can get more involved as all you need is a Facebook account to leave a Comment (and Emojis!) or you can personally write to M.O.M. by sending us a PM (private message).

Agony Aunt - Let's Start!
I am eager to get this feature up and running as it is so interactive for readers - all you have to do is post either publicly or privately your dilemma and M.O.M. will get back to you asap :) 

M.O.M. Would like to be on your Likes - so hit us up now!
https://www.facebook.com/mumsonmars/

Working On It

Hi, it has been a while...

So as it turns out, it is extremely difficult to find a couple hours of 'Me Time' every day, used for the sole purpose of Blogging. A few weeks ago, I started my new job in a convenience store - the hours are perfect (evenings and weekends) and allow me and my partner to have more of an even responsibility regarding looking after our daughter. The pay is great, in fact I earn more an hour than my partner (who has been working for 5+ years) !!!

But..!

The blog has suffered, and as I seem to be the only one posting, I have decided to take over the blog (until my fellow writer returns). I am not sure what's happening on her part - it is unclear when, or if she will return :/ 

My Promise To You

I will do my best do write a little each day, but this can be hard as I have very little time off for family activities now and still need to travel to see my parents and sister, so I guess we will see what happens. My aim is for at least 1hr of blogging a day. I may just have to start waking up early every day (my shift starts at 6 on Sundays, today I am writing as I am, unfortunately, ill).

THANK YOU LOYAL READERS!

I have yet to learn how advertising freely works, so please bare with!