EveryDay Stories; An Eye-Opening Look At The 8th Amendment

EveryDay Stories; An Eye-Opening Look At The 8th Amendment

In Ireland, we are in a time of change. While the rest of the world is shouting Me Too, we are shouting “Listen to Me”. In 2018, our government has promised an as-of-yet unscheduled referendum to decide whether or not to repeal the 8th Amendment of the Irish constitution. This amendment gives equal rights to the unborn as it’s mother; meaning that abortion is an illegal activity in our country and disallowing women from invoking their own autonomy over their bodies. The campaign has been raging to get this referendum for many years, and has certainly escalated in the last five years. This isn’t the first time I’ve written about it, and it won’t be the last. This referendum has the possibility to change the lives of women in this country, and allow them rights to gain healthcare they would be entitled to in their own country elsewhere. For that to happen, we need to, in the (paraphrased) words of Mary Robinson on her election to the office of president in 1990, “instead of rocking the cradle rock the system”.  There are many facets to this campaign, and one of them is EveryDay Stories.

Everyday Stories

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12 Brené Brown Quotes To Get You Inspired This January

12 Brené Brown Quotes To Get You Inspired This January

​If you’ve been around here long, you’ll know that I will rave about the wonderful Brené Brown day and night if let go. I discovered her last year on recommendation of my therapist at the time, who thought that her work on vulnerability and shame would do me some good. Since then, I’ve been recommending her work to everyone. If you’ve not yet been introduced to her work, here are 12 quotes which might get you thinking (and entice you towards her books) this January.

12 Brené Brown Quotes To Inspire You Today

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Sketchy Muma: What It Means To Be A Mother review

Being a mother is hard work. It’s one of the toughest, and yes, most rewarding, jobs out there. It sounds cliched, but it really is one of those things that you’ve got to be down in the trenches to really understand what it is like. It’s a whirlwind of emotions all wrapped into one tiny human who you are SO AFRAID FOR and SO IN LOVE IT all at the same time (while you’re hiding in the kitchen, shoving biscuits into your mouth before their supersonic hearing detects them). It’s a variety of feelings summed up so well by artist Anna Lewis, who has recently released her first book, Sketchy Muma: What It Means To Be A Mother.  I was lucky enough to be sent a copy for review by the lovely people at Quercus Books, and have one to give away!

Sketchy Muma: What It Means To Be A Mother - Book Review and Competition

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How To Set Up Adsense On Your WordPress Blog

How To Set Up Adsense On Your WordPress Blog

I’ve been using Adsense on this blog on and off over the last year and a half. It’s been a hopefully not-too-intrusive way of gaining a small income to cover the costs of things like hosting, and the odd coffee along the way. I couldn’t exactly say it’s been a mad moneymaker, it’s definitely a slow burner, but it’s something that I can set up and leave it there to passively earn which is nice. However, last year, Google Adsense changed their set up and took away the Plugin which had made it so easy to install ads on my blog. I took them away, not knowing the best way to do it, but recently decided to take the plunge and go for it again. Here is how I got it sorted out in one night, and have been reaping the benefits ever since. So, how do you set up Adsense on a WordPress Blog without much technical knowledge?

How To Set Up Adsense On Your WordPress Blog in 3 Simple Steps

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17 From 17: How 2017 Was For Me

17 From 17: How 2017 Was For Me

We’ve survived another year, 2017 is over and 2018 has begun. All without certain world leaders getting at the nuclear codes, and after gaining some new debatable words into the dictionary. For us, it’s been a mish-mash of a year. I really like the framework of Where Wishes Come From 17 from 17, so here’s a look at the BadMammy Year That was 2017 – how was it for you?

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Have The Conversation: Are You An Organ Donor?

Have The Conversation: Are You An Organ Donor?

If you’re active on social media, or have an interest in public health, you may be aware of Orla Tinsley, a Cystic Fibrosis patient who has written extensively about her life with Cystic Fibrosis. Orla is a journalist and activist campaigning for many health issues, including the rights of transgender people to gain gender recognition, as well as gaining essential health care resources for cystic fibrosis patients. This December, a few days before Christmas, Orla underwent surgery for a double lung transplant. Seeing her tweet about it made me well up. I don’t know this woman at all. I know of her, I follow her on Twitter, but we’ve never met nor conversed. But seeing the power of what one person’s actions in life and death, by being an organ donor, can do to affect another affected me more than I thought it could.

Are You An Organ Donor?

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My 2017 Instagram Best 9 – A Year in Photographs

My 2017 Instagram Best 9 – A Year in Photographs

As December rolls faster towards the end of the year, it’s a time of looking back to see what has been. The wonderful powers of social media have made this even easier, with various round up tools presenting us with a pre-filtered image of exactly how our year went. Last year, I did the Instagram Best 9 and shared it here, and I found it a really nice way to look back on the year. So, in the interests of not fixing what isn’t broken, here’s a look at 2017 through the same lens, my Instagram Best 9.

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How To Keep Your Kids Safe When They’re Using iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches

How To Keep Your Kids Safe When They’re Using iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches

As the man in red is just about to pay a visit to houses worldwide, there are quite a lot of young people looking to be in possession of new Apple iOS devices, iPod Touches, iPhones, iPads. All of which they’ll be working with skill while lots of parents try to figure out how exactly they’re doing what they’re doing. As much as we want to protect our kids from everything that could possibly harm them, or from making mistakes that they will regret, in the era of the screenager, it is a seriously tough job keeping track of absolutely everything they get up to. There are however some safeguards which you can take to make sure that your child is safe in their usage of this technology, while remaining relatively hands-off and allowing them to embrace the age of technology (while ignoring you as they beat their high score in Candy Crush Saga).

How To SafeGuard Your Child's Apple Products This Christmas

 

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11 Last Minute Gift Subscriptions They’ll Love This Christmas

11 Last Minute Gift Subscriptions They’ll Love This Christmas

With only a few days to go, the shops are manic, the postal dates have passed and hopefully you’ve still got fingernails after biting them down to see if THAT toy arrives before the big day. However, if you’re stuck for a last minute gift and you can’t face the Christmas crowds in town, don’t fear. Give them a gift that lasts the whole year (or at least a few months) from the comfort of your own sofa. Here’s 11 gift subscriptions that will keep them happy (and keep your sanity) this Christmas.

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Ba-Doopy-Do: My December Little Loves

Ba-Doopy-Do: My December Little Loves

It’s mid-December, which means that we’re truly deep into Christmas mode here at the BadMammy house. We’ve been to see Santa TWICE, his shopping lists updated, and are wrapping up warm against the freezing cold. I was reminded of this format post which I used to LOVE doing because it’s so simple but sums up everything in one piece by brilliant blogger (and friend) Tracey from Love Of Living earlier so decided that it would be perfect to sum up what we’ve been up to this month, and then completely forgot with all the hubbub, so am just getting around to that now. As the December craziness seeps in, it’s great to look back on the month that was. I’m looping in with the #LittleLoves format from Coffee Work Sleep Repeat.

So, what have we been doing this December?

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8 Brilliant Spots To Buy Beautiful Last Minute Gifts in Cork City

8 Brilliant Spots To Buy Beautiful Last Minute Gifts in Cork City

As the last posting day is drawing closer, and shops are starting to fill to bursting with last-minute shoppers, the pressure is on to buy THE PERFECT GIFT. While some people have been prepared since August (I am DEFINITELY not in that category), some of us have gone against our resolutions to be more organized in 2017 and are faced with finding the perfect gift in a short amount of time. As lovely as online shopping is, the chances of things getting here on time and in one piece diminish over the festive season, so sometimes brick and mortar shops are the only options left. While Cork City is full of the regular high street shops (Debenhams, H&M, New Look), it’s also home to some wonderful homegrown small shops with thoughtful gifts you’ll not find elsewhere. Here’s a look at 8 of the loveliest spots to pick up thoughtful gifts in Cork City this festive season.

8 Brilliant Spots To Buy Beautiful Last Minute Gifts in Cork City

 

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The Magic Of Christmas At Fota Beyond

The Magic Of Christmas At Fota Beyond

Christmas is a time of magic, a time of wonder, especially for little ones. This is really the first year that Eliott is getting into it – he is very excited about the idea of Santa coming, and has been singing songs about Rudolph for weeks. With that in mind, we’ve been hoping that a Santa experience will give all of us, not just him, that Christmassy feeling we’re seeking in the dark December days. We were lucky enough to be invited to check out the wonder of Christmas at Cork’s Fota Beyond experience this year.

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16 Parents Who Have Really Had Enough Of The Elf On A Shelf

16 Parents Who Have Really Had Enough Of The Elf On A Shelf

The second the clock struck midnight on 30 November, the elves came out to play. In many houses around the world, and across my Facebook feed, The Elf On The Shelf has invaded. For 24 nights on the run up to Christmas, parents in houses everywhere will be one foot into bed and realize that the bloody Elf is still in the same position as last night. For kids, it’s a magical time, with promises that the elf will ensure that Santa is well-accustomed to words of good behavior. For the adults – well, it’s a decent discipline tool, but it can be a whole lot more effort than it’s worth!  While there are lots of great examples out there for things to do with the elf when you’ve ran out of ideas, like these posts from Jill at Proper Fud, here are some of parents who have REALLY had enough of this Elf on The Shelf stuff…

16 Parents Who Have REALLY had enough of Elf On The Shelf

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Perfect Gifts For The Blogger In Your Life This Christmas

In the run up to Christmas, it can be stressful to figure out just what kind of gifts will put a smile on different faces. Often, it can be useful to focus on a hobby or occupation that the person has when it comes to picking a gift, as it will be something they will use and cherish instead of abandon to the back of the cupboard. Bloggers are no different to this regard. So, if there’s a blogger in your life that you’re scrambling to get the perfect gift for, look no further. Here’s a gift guide to aid you in pleasing the blogger in your life this Christmas.

Blogger Christmas Presents

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15 Christmas Classics on Netflix this Festive Season

Christmas is a time of spending time with family, eating far too many nice treats, and hopefully watching some classic movies. These days there’s no need to hope that the television networks put on our favorites to celebrate the season, they’re all at our fingertips through streaming. Netflix has got you covered this Christmas with a selection of Christmas Classics – both festive themed and ones you may associate with crowding around the tv with the family to watch. Here’s a look at the best of Netflix for Christmas 2017.

15 Christmas Classics On Netflix This Festive Season

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The Late Late Toy Show – A Beginners Guide

It’s that time of year again. Billy Barry children loudly singing and tap dancing their way across our screens. Toys running out of batteries at the wrong moment. Adults trying not to swear infront of the numerous children onstage on live television. And everyone, everyone, is sitting in on Friday night, watching The Late Late Toy Show. It’s an Irish institution for a reason. It’s got a routine to it, a familiarity, and it’s the start of the Christmas season proper in Ireland. So, for anyone living under a rock, or who has not been introduced to the nation’s comfort blanket television programme in December, here is a beginners guide to What To Expect From The Late Late Toy Show.

A Beginner's Guide To The Late Late Toy Show

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Black Friday Bargains For Parents

It’s Black Friday, which means that bank cards and credit cards around the world are quaking in their boots and bargains are being sought. The day originally kicked off in the United States as the first big shopping day before Christmas, but in the last few years, the bargain hunting has spread to this side of the pond. So, what’s on offer this year? Here’s a look at some of the top Black Friday bargains I’ve found for parents – let me know if there’s anything I’ve missed!

Black Friday Bargains For Parents 2017

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8 Christmas Gift Ideas For New (and not so new) Parents

Christmas is a magical time of year. It might only be mid-November, but the rush has already begun to get everything perfect and to start picking up gifts. When there are kids in the house, the holiday can become all about them, and less about the adults in the house. They definitely deserve some love too. If you’ve got friends who have recently become parents, or have been cohabitating with tiny humans for a while, here are a few suggestions for Christmas gift ideas they’re bound to love.

8 Christmas Gift Ideas For Parents

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Snapshot of Sorts

Inspired by Suzy’s recent post, it’s time to revive the Snapshot post to show what exactly has been going on around here lately. We’re getting wintery and busy and spending days willing the germs in creche to avoid our three-foot-tall-typhoid-Mary(or Michael, whatever you want yourself). It’s gotten so bloody dark. On the plus side, it does mean that big coats and nice coffees are back in vogue. But anyway, on with the snapshot – what has been happening around here lately?

Snapshot of Sorts - Life Update

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Have you had your Smear Test Yet? Cervical Cancer Prevention.

Cervical Cancer. It’s one of those big scary C’s that we don’t talk enough about. The words “Mortality rate” and “most common cancer” are bandied about, but as a society, we seem to stick our fingers in our ears and hum. Much has been done on this in recent years, but we’ve a long way to go.

Time to talk smear test - BadMammy.com

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10 GrownUp Advent Calendars For Everyday Treats This December

Advent calendars are something I associate with chocolate, from childhood. Behind each pane, a tiny chocolate, generally Cadburys. However, the market has really expanded over the last few years and you can now find advent calendars of every conceivable type, suitable for everyone’s tastes. As Christmas tends to be a time of over-indulgence anyway, this year I’ve decided to stay away from the chocolate countdown and look elsewhere for daily treats. Here’s a few grownup advent calendars that I’ve spotted that caught my eye – if you’re looking to treat someone this December, get picking them up now before they sell out.

10 GrownUp Advent Calendars You'll Love This December

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7 Sugar-Free Advent Calendars For Kids This December

That time of year is rolling around again all too quick. The evenings are getting darker, the clocks have gone back, you’re having to put the heating on. And the toy ads, oh the toy ads are INCESSANT. On one hand, it’s great to have the Santa card to pull out when your three year old is having a meltdown about nothing at all. On the other, the pressure of getting it right and making it a lovely Christmas that everyone will remember happily is quite another. Advent calendars are something I remember from childhood as being great for getting into the festive mood (those and the Folens annuals!).

However, in my childhood, they were the chocolate-a-day type, which in our house will not go down well. It’s not that we don’t like chocolate – as my waistline will attest – but more so our lack of wanting to give chocolate to the three year old. He doesn’t react well to the sugar, it makes him crazy, and the festive season is crazy enough. So, for parents like me who wish to dodge the chocolate bullet but want to take part in the Advent Calendar joy, here’s some of the best store-bought sugar free (ie not confectionary) versions for kids I’ve seen.

Sugar-Free Advent Calendars Kids Will Love This December

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December Girl by Nicola Cassidy – Book Review

What if your child was stolen? The tagline of Nicola Cassidy’s debut novel draws the reader in and plays on their emotions immediately. Her book, December Girl, is a historical fiction novel, based in the 1800s in Drogheda. I was lucky enough to receive an advance review copy to take part in the Blog Tour to launch this wonderful book, and have been devouring it over the past few nights. So, what’s the book about, and is it any good?

december girl review

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14 Spooky Treats On Netflix This Hallowe’en

One of the best parts of Hallowe’en is getting stuck into the scary movies while tucking into some pilfered treats, right? Thankfully, Netflix has lots of content fit for the perfect Halloween movie binge, with stuff for all ages and tastes. What will you be watching this Hallowe’en? Here’s some of the best of what Netflix have got for you to stream.

14 Spooky Hallowe'en Treats On Netflix

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Robotic Childbirth: A Space Age Teaching Tool or A Wrong Step For Education?

This week, a news story hit that the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland has begun to use a robot for educating their students on the physical elements of childbirth. The news video included some (debatably creepy looking) footage of the robot in practice. Lucina, Ireland’s only “birthing mannequin”, has been purchased for €75,000 to benefit the surgical education of the future doctors taught in RCSI. The reaction to this news story has been mixed, to say the least. Some are horrified at the idea of a robot being used to teach doctors how to work in a childbirth setting. Others find it a genius idea which will likely improve outcomes for future patients as the educational tool will prove beneficial to the doctors in their training. So, what exactly is the reasoning behind the robot, what is it likely to teach that our current system doesn’t have, and is it all a bit of space age nonsense?

Robotic Childbirth_ A Space Age Teaching Tool or A Wrong Step For Education?

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