Life, Love and Dirty Dishes delivers award winning funny tales from the parenting front line delivered with humour and heart. We're all in this together.
I’ve spent most of my adult life hating exercise. But I changed my relationship with exercise and now exercise and I are in a much better place! When I say I hated exercise, I mean I had to force myself, really force myself to do it. And it didn’t matter what I tried; Step aerobics […] Read more…
Love it or hate it valentine’s day is just around the corner. What immediately springs to mind when you think of valentine’s day gifts? Flowers, of course. The Flower Shop is a business local to me in the Southampton area and they kindly sent me the biggest bouquet of flowers I have ever received in […] Read more…
In the next few years we have a few 70th birthdays coming up in our family, including my Dad and my Mother-in-law. What do you buy someone for a 70th birthday gift? Especially someone who is hard to buy for, and you want it to be a significant and thoughtful gift. Fortunately Historic Newspapers asked […] Read more…
At Christmas we caved and got my eleven year old his first phone. I say caved because 90% of me thinks kids having mobile phones is utterly ridiculous. But I’m learning during these tween years that quite often I have to give in. I don’t want him to miss out because he is the only […] Read more…
It’s really important to have a good sense of your finances. Keeping on top of your monthly household budget by knowing your outgoings, and reviewing them regularly will help you to spend within your means. It can also reduce your chances of getting into debt, and increase your chances of saving money. It helps to […] Read more…
A few days after Christmas I was lamenting that we had far too many devices in our home. Little got his first tablet for Christmas, and Big got his first phone. And what with Alexa’s and various other devices it’s fair to say we are getting our moneys worth from our broadband. Yet fast forward […] Read more…
Lockdown is hard for everyone, no matter your circumstances. But lockdown can offer a chance for employers to show that they are human, that they care about their employees. To offer long overdue flexibility. Sadly, too often they don’t. Too many employers assume that home schooling is plonking your kids in front of a computer […] Read more…
This post is sponsored by klarify.me who specialise in home allergy testing kits. You can test for 294 allergens with an easy at home test, that makes finding out what you are allergic to simple. I have been paid to write this post, but all experiences of allergy symptoms are entirely my own! I’ve lived […] Read more…
Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful, and since we’ve no place to go, let’s open another box of chocolates early and get that wine seen to. Now, while I am 100% certain those are not the correct lyrics to Baby, It’s Cold Outside, I think it is fair to […] Read more…
My approach to skincare used to be quite hap hazard. It basically consisted of cleanse and moisturise in the morning and that was it. Occasionally I would commit to making more of an effort in my night time skin care routine, but it never really lasted beyond a week. A few months ago a friend […] Read more…
We are all aware of the kinds of the children of the nativity, the nose picker, the flasher and the waver to name a few. But what about the parents of the nativity? All huddled together on tiny chairs in big coats watching their little star be an angel, wise man, donkey, or chicken. Image […] Read more…
I was recently commissioned by Premier Care in Bathing to give my thoughts on the following topic: Premier Care in Bathing is one of the first ever companies to specialise in the installation of bathrooms specifically designed for customers with mobility needs. They are on a mission to encourage families to talk more openly about getting older and future-proofing […] Read more…
I was about ten when I read in a Judy Blume book, Superfudge, that Father Christmas wasn’t real. I had some suspicions. Mainly caused by grown ups asking me “Do you still believe in Father Christmas?” leading me to question was there something not to believe in. Grown ups ask dumb questions. I never asked […] Read more…
I love the poem If by Rudyard Kipling. I think the first two lines sum up life right now… If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you This is my version of If written for the Covid times… If If you can keep your head […] Read more…
I love shopping, and I love a bargain. I have a cupboard in my home full of little gifts that I pick up throughout the year, ready for Christmas. At Christmas I create hamper gifts for people with all of the bits that I have collected. What I love about creating hamper gifts is that […] Read more…
We have lived in our home for 14 years now. It’s fair to say it’s changed a bit in that time. 14 years ago there were just two of us. We moved from a tiny flat to a four bedroom house and rattled around a bit. There were a fair few parties in those first […] Read more…
I’ve always quite enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles with the kids, and the husband and I often joked that we would do puzzles when we were retired. Then 2020 arrived and took away our social lives and left our mental health in tatters. With little else to do we decided not to wait until retirement, I […] Read more…
So many businesses have struggled due to the impact of Covid this year. Which is why I think it’s more important than ever to support small businesses where we can. This is my selection of Christmas gift ideas from small businesses. I hope you find the perfect gift for someone you love. Gifts for the […] Read more…
The whole world and his dog has advice for you when you become a parent. When you should be feeding them, how much you should be holding them, dummy or no dummy. It’s relentless. But what about the practical advice for new parents that is actually going to be useful? Here are 9 things to […] Read more…
I am a firm believer that stocking fillers should be under £5 each. But it can be a challenge to find gifts that aren’t just plastic tat in that price category. I would rather buy the kids things they can use, rather than something that clutters up the house or ends up in landfill. My […] Read more…