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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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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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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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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Festive Picks on Netflix Christmas 2016

Have you got your Christmas watching thought out yet? Tradition is to buy a copy of the Christmas RTE Guide and a big marker, staking out your claim on the tv for whatever is on. However, as network television can be a little lacklustre at this time of year at times, Netflix is to the rescue. If you’re looking for movies to chill out with as a family, Christmas specials to enjoy with the kids in bed or simply something to pass the hours lazily, here’s a guide to what you can check out.

festive-netflix-picks-2016

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Christmas Tag 2016 – Some Festive Fun

I’m getting into the festive mood now with so few days to Christmas. Having spotted this tag online, I thought I’d take part – lots of bits about what makes a fab festive holiday time. It’s certainly very different since having a child, there’s a lot more magic than it had for my jaded retail staffer self! I’d love to see other people’s answers to these questions. So, without further ado, here is the Christmas 2016 Tag.

The Christmas Tag - BadMammy.com

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What She Wants For Christmas: Mammy Blogger Edition

The internet is filled with gift guides. Nine days before the big day, you might still be stuck on what the lady in your life is REALLY wanting. If she’s a mother, the likely answer is “Sleep, please”, but since Santa can’t provide a sleeping child, retail may help. I am personally the worlds worst at telling exactly what I want – a source of frustration for himself and anyone else. For the last few years, we’ve used Amazon Wishlists for Christmas, which completely takes any surprise element out BUT does ensure that we get what we want. Chatting to some Mammy Blogger friends, we’ve come up with some suggestions if you’re still gift hunting!

What she wants for Christmas Mammy Blogger Edition - BadMammy.com

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9 Secret Santa Perfect Gift Ideas Below €20

Secret Santa is great. Instead of having to buy lots of presents for a variety of people, the focus is placed on just that one present. Generally it’s also under a price limit which makes it all fair – and easier on your wallet. Lots of Secret Santa arrangements will be doing their swap this week, so if you’re looking for a last minute idea, here’s the post for you. Here’s a look at nine gift ideas for your Secret Santa under €20.

9 Secret Santa Gifts For Less Than 20 euros

 

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Waterford Winterval Santa Grotto – A Wonderful Festive Experience

Although I live in Cork City since 2009, a special part of my heart lies in Waterford. It’s where I was born, it’s where I spent the Summers and weekends of my teenage years. It’s where a whole lot of my family live. I may have been brought up in County Wexford, but Waterford was MY home. On our visits home I love to share this love with E, which I’m hoping will become more frequent when I’m fully road legal! I love coming to Waterford City for Winterval, the Winter Festival which has been a massive success in recent years. Although we were down to see the festival last year, this is the first year we’ve been down to visit the Winterval Santa Grotto in the Medieval Museum. I think I was looking forward to it more than the child! Here’s how we got on….

Waterford Winterval Santa's Grotto review

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The Black Dog at the Christmas Table

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. It’s a time of love and joy and everyone is happy and smiling and nothing could possibly go wrong in this time of magic. Right? Then why are you feeling snowed under, like you want to crawl under the duvet and not return until someone promises to eradicate that Mariah Carey song from the earth? At a time of so much happiness surrounded by family and friends, it can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking the black dog, depression, the blues, whatever you want to call them, will take holiday leave and allow you to enjoy the tiny bits of sparkle and magic at the end of the year. Unfortunately, he’s not into taking holidays much, and this time of year, he can sometimes pull a lot of overtime. You are not alone.

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A Book Is For Life, Not Just For Christmas – Books on our Santa List

I’m an unashamed bookworm from childhood; I grew up with my nose in a book, I love libraries and get annoyed when life doesn’t work out for my fictional characters. It’s something I would love for E as he grows up, as it’s a love which can stay with you for life, the ability to fall into a million other worlds and lose yourself in their lives. I’m also a firm believer that it’s not Christmas unless there is a book present, so as far as the toddler is concerned, here’s a look through what we’ve got in mind this year!

A book is for life - Not Just For Christmas! Santa Book Presents Christmas 2015 Four Walls, Rainy Days - Gift Ideas.

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The Magic of Christmas at Waterford Winterval

The season is upon us and the day itself rapidly approaching, yet I’ve been struggling to get into the festive spirit for some reason this year – despite having a tiny tot who I’m sure will be thrilled by the concept of Santa and MORE TOYS, my former retail employee soul is still rallying against the music and not getting into the spirit of things. This however, was to be combatted by immersing myself into a festival of all things Christmas – Waterford’s Winterval  – during a much needed break away from normal life and home to see family.

The Magic Of Christmas At Waterford Winterval

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Festive Netflix Picks this Christmas AND Christmas Netflix Giveaway

Festive Netflix Picks this Christmas AND Christmas Netflix Giveaway

It’s that time of year again boys and girls, the evenings are getting darker, the days getting colder and the shops busier and more full of stressed out retail staff. People are giving out about “that Mariah Carey song playing AGAIN” while knowing that if nobody can hear them they’ll belt out a few bars along with the music. Best of all, mince pies and selection boxes are in the shops, so it’s time to forget about the “summer body” for the moment and chill out with some amazing eats and some fantastic viewing, holiday classics which were intended to be accompanied by lack of movement and yummy snacks. The Christmas lights are lit and Santa has arrived in shops around the country. So stick on Netflix, dig into your selection box and enjoy! Pass the mulled wine, won’t you? If you pass enough, you may even win the fantastic prize up for grabs at the end of this post!

Festive Netflix

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Ingenious Secret Santa Gifts for Under €15

That time of year again, when someone in the office/friend group/extended family decides the best thing to do is pick random names out of a hat and allocate someone you barely know to be the one you’ve to pick a perfect present for. Oh yeah, and ridiculously small budget to do it in. Sometimes this can be brilliant – if you know the person well, if theres a running joke or you know they have a particular interest. Other times, this spells one thing and one thing only: absolute hell. In that vein, here are some ideas for epic Secret Santa gifts within a fifteen euro budget (the average from what I’ve seen) – these could also be good for those gifts for people you don’t really know but have to have something small for anyway.Ingenious secret santa gifts Read More

Craft-y Gift Ideas at the Glucksman Gallery

With Christmas close at hand (yes, I went there, Tesco has been blaring the music since midnight on October 31st), thoughts have started straying towards gift ideas and trying to find unique gifts that friends and family will love. I spotted the Glucksman Gallery in my alma mater UCC was holding a Craft & Design Fair last weekend and thought it would be a good idea to check it out, to see if I could spot some gift ideas from local craftsmen. I was not disappointed.

Crafty Gift Ideas from Craft & Design Fair, Glucksman UCC - Four Walls, Rainy Days

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The Best Friend Pampering Christmas Hamper

What to get the friend who has everything? The person whose present you really have to get right? Theres only so many bath related gifts a person can get before they start wondering if people have other intentions than just “Ooh, she’s a girl, she’ll like bath stuff” (It’s a good idea to check that persons house has a bath before giving bath bombs. Just a tip.)

The Best Friend Pampering Christmas Hamper - Four Walls, Rainy Days - Christmas Gift Ideas

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