How to Find the Perfect Gift: Solve Common Gifting Struggles with These Simple Tips

Struggling to Find the Perfect Gift? You’re Not Alone!

One of the hardest things about buying a gift for a loved one is simply not knowing what they want. You want your present to be meaningful, useful, and appreciated - but finding the right balance can be stressful. I'm in the gift-giving business, but I find it really hard sometimes too!

What’s the hardest thing about buying a gift for a loved one? Especially when you have no idea what they want! Sometimes it can feel really hard to find the perfect gift. We all want to give loved ones something special: thoughtful gifts, meaningful presents, something with a bit of wow factor that will make them smile... But how to choose a gift for someone who has everything (or seems to) - how to find an affordable but thoughtful gift idea, or pick a unique gift for a loved one?

Here are the Top 5 Most Common Gift-Giving Struggles (and how to overcome them):

1. Finding something meaningful - something that shows how much you care, that reflects their personality or interests.
2. Choosing something they’ll actually like - there’s always a worry you’ll pick a gift they’ll have no genuine interest in.
3. Balancing practicality with sentiment - some people like useful, practical gifts, others like something more sentimental; finding the right balance between these can be tricky.
4. Budget - It would be easy to find the right gift if money were no object, right? Having a budget can make decisions difficult, especially in times of rising prices (and often, lowering value).
5. Repetition - worry that you might keep giving them similar gifts each time, that your gift might be a bit boring.

Add into the mix a little bonus struggle: Overthinking! I personally do that a lot - it makes the whole process go from something that should feel pleasurable and fun to something more stressful that it needs to be!

So go on then, how do you solve all these gift giving problems and worries? I’m glad you asked - read on for a few little strategies..!

Simple Strategies for Stress-Free Gift Giving:

1. Finding something meaningful
   A great gift should reflect the recipient’s personality, interests, or emotions. To make it meaningful:
   ✔ Pay attention to hints or conversations, not necessarily about things they want but things that mean something to them.
   ✔ It could be a problem they have - maybe they complain about something, perhaps there’s something they find a bit irritating and you can solve the issue for them?
   ✔ Any particular interests such as family, travel, history, etc that they may have? If you can tie a gift into an interest, or help with an issue for them, then you’re 80% of the way there!
   ✔ A personalised gift also goes a long way to showing how much thought and care has gone into their gift. Something that has been made especially for them will have so much more significance for them than a mass produced item.
   
   
2. Choosing something they’ll actually like
   Worried they won’t love your gift? Here’s how to make sure they do:
   ✔ Subtly gather ideas - you could, of course, just ask them outright but that spoils the fun! When you’ve got a birthday for example that’s coming up, start conversations that might make them mention an item, style, problem or issue they have.
   ✔ Pay attention to what they talk about without making it obvious(!) to give yourself some ideas to start your gift searching with.
   ✔ Focus on their passions and interests, think about their personal style. Bring up topics related to shopping and see what they say.
   
   
3. Balancing practicality with sentiment
   Some people love practical gifts, while others prefer sentimental ones. If you’re unsure:
   ✔ Combine both! A practical gift with a sentimental touch (e.g., my personalised Cook's Conversion Chart shown below) is the best of both worlds.
   ✔ Practical gift ideas are all about solving a problem. It could be something like a place to rest their glasses without them getting knocked off the bedside table, maybe someone at work keeps nicking their mug, or perhaps they have pockets full of poo bags from walking the dog every day and would appreciate a nice little bag to attach to the lead?! It’s the daft little things that we would probably never buy for ourselves that could become a brilliant practical gift they use every day.
   ✔ Focus on daily use If they’ll use it often, they’ll think of you every time!
   
   
4. Budget
   Great gifts don’t have to be expensive:
   ✔ Set your budget and stick to it, and remember it’s not the price tag but the thought behind a gift. Something simple but heartfelt will always mean much more than an expensive no-expense-spared gift.
   ✔ Personalised gifts really come into their own when you're working to a budget. Likewise handmade gifts (either made by you, or by a professional crafter or artisan) will always feel much more special because there won’t be a preconceived price for the recipient due to the uniqueness of the gift. Custom items feel high-value without a hefty price tag
   ✔ Could you pool resources with other family members or friends to buy a group gift between you?
   
   
5. Repetition
   Keep buying them socks or chocolates every year? Tired of giving the same thing every year? Here’s how to change it up:
   ✔ Keep track of the gifts you’ve given in the past to avoid repeating them. Start by keeping notes on your phone perhaps, or start a small gift journal book.
   ✔ Explore niche or unique interests you know they like but you haven’t tapped into yet.
   ✔ Make it personalised - even if you do end up giving them socks again, maybe think about personalised ones this time so that you’re giving a gift a bit less ordinary.

And overthinking? I find when I’m falling down a rabbit hole on the internet and don’t know what gift to buy someone, remembering KISS helps (Keep It Simple, Stupid)! It can be easy to think too much and find yourself feeling overwhelmed, so take a step back. Sometimes the best gifts are the simplest: focus on the person and/or their needs rather than obsessing over perfection. Trust your instincts, as often the first things you think of are spot on perfect!

So keep in mind these two easy tips:

✔ Think about their interests - what makes them happy?
✔ Simple but heartfelt - it's the thought that counts!

By taking a more thoughtful and relaxed approach, these gift-giving dilemmas can become a lot easier and instinctive, enjoyable rather than stressful. Pay attention, personalise gifts when possible, and don’t stress about perfection - the best gifts come from the heart!

What’s your biggest struggle when picking gifts? Who do you find hardest to buy for? ...and have you headed over to PhotoFairytales.co.uk because you might just find something that ticks all the gift giving boxes - for you and for them!

Sarah x

Do You Really Need the Heating On in March? A Marital Debate

Now that spring is here we can turn the heating off, right? It’s March, it’s positively balmy! 

Agree with me? My husband doesn’t. He also doesn’t agree that snow on the roof insulates, that fresh air is bracing, and being slightly chilly is excellent for the metabolism. He’s all thermal vests, I’m very much not. 

We have what can only be described as ‘thermostat incompatibility’. Or to put it more directly: Thermostat Wars. My husband and I can’t agree on the temperature - at all. He tweaks it up, I tweak it down. The dial is right outside the living room, so in the evening whenever one of us casually asks, “Drink?” the other suspiciously watches as they pass through the hallway to the kitchen. 

Should You Turn the Heating Off in March? The Never-Ending Thermostat Battle

My response to the whoosh of the boiler turning on is the same as the whoosh of £10 notes bursting into flame would be. Besides, making it turn on all the time for the heating puts strain on the boiler - and after the boiler we had in the last house, with it’s flaky, frankly laissez-faire attitude to working, I think that’s a very valid point.

For me, a pleasant ambient temperature is one that will see my husband putting on a coat. And he’s not averse to doing that in the house either. For Christmas this year I bought him some thermal socks, hand warmers and a gilet that heats up when you plug it in. He wears them all INDOORS. He’s still cold.

If I’m going to have a particular phrase etched on my gravestone I think it might be: “Is it me, or is it hot in here?”. And don’t go thinking this is because, as the delightful Mr Wallace would put it, I’m a woman of a certain age. Oh no, I’ve been like this forever. To me, my idea of absolute hell is a turtle neck jumper. Or just any jumper, especially one that’s acrylic. I can feel my eyeballs sweating at the thought of it.

We recently bought a new car, and this thing has not only heated seats but also a heated steering wheel. Ridiculous! Thankfully it also has individual climate control, so he can have his side of the car on ‘Bahamas Setting’ whilst mine is the far more sensible ‘Snowflake Setting’. 

We also have an ongoing window war in the bedroom. For me, I absolutely can’t sleep with it shut. This worked perfectly in the old house when my side of the bed was next to the window. Sadly that’s not the case now, so he sleeps with the duvet literally over his head and the ever-present thermal vest on (although not the gilet). I sleep with my legs out. I've been googling "Scrooge type nightcap" for his upcoming birthday...

We can both get quite dramatic about temperature levels, and I admit quite freely that levels of histrionics about said temperature are often just as extreme. I can’t cope with being in a hermetically sealed environment (ie, windows closed), he can’t cope with being in the Arctic (ie, a room temperature below 25 degrees). 

I know that this disparity isn’t how things are supposed to be - women are supposed to be cold all the time, men are supposed to be hot all the time. I’ve seen men with my own eyes, walking about in January in shorts. I suppose at least we’re both the wrong way round when it comes to heating, so I guess we’re not so different from other families up and down the country. And there’s always that day or two every year when the temperature is just right for both of us. Not too hot, not too cold, no need for gilets.

So, what’s it like in your household? Do you also suffer from the Great Thermostat Wars/Standoff in your relationship?

Sarah x

Why do we give gifts?

When you stop and think about it, giving a present to a loved one is a bit strange - especially when you think that in most cases the recipient could have quite simply bought it for themselves (as Miley says, I can buy myself flowers..!)

But that's just thinking about gift giving as a transaction - and it's WAY more than that!

The tradition of giving gifts goes back thousands of years - probably as far back as the beginning of mankind. As social creatures (mostly) we enjoy each other's company (usually), and we like to form relationships with those that are most special to us. Of course 'special' covers a lot of instances: those we love of course, but also those we want to please for social reasons, or maybe impress, or thank, or show allegiance or deference to. Or simply as a way to let them know we appreciate them or are thinking of them. The reasons behind gift giving are many and complicated!

Sometimes gift giving is something that comes from the heart, other times it's a tactical action. Either way, quite simply, giving someone a gift is deeply ingrained in our DNA!

Going right back to pre-history, presenting a gift to someone was a way of reflecting their status - and your own. It's a perfect indicator of how we humans are such an advanced civilisation. Gift giving strengthens our social bonds and our community. It is linked to feelings of love, trust, friendship, reciprocity and cooperation.

The earliest gifts would have been pretty simple and basic (ooh, I don't know - let's picture a lovely shaped stone say, or a nice pointy animal tooth...). As humans evolved those early gifts would have progressed into something more elaborate, so that tooth would be drilled and threaded to make a nice necklace to wear when you're having a romantic date night away from the cave and kids!

Today, gifts are also given to mark celebrations on our calendar: Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. No matter what the occasion though, when you give a gift you're engaging in a practice with deep roots in history and even deeper social significance.

The key thing to remember though is that gift giving is rewarding to the giver as much (possibly more) as the recipient, which is probably why it has become such a large part of our society. Simply put, it makes us happy to give a gift. Researchers have found that it improves our state of mind, releasing dopamine in the brain giving us a sense of pleasure and reward. It triggers an emotional response and a sense of joy, happiness and satisfaction. A lot of that depends on how the recipient accepts the gift of course - we want them to feel pleasure, and appreciate our efforts. It's a mutual reward system for both giver and recipient! 

So next time you buy a special present for someone, just remember your caveman ancestor was also worrying about how to neatly wrap a round stone - and they didn't even have sellotape!

Sarah :)

Top 5 fun ways to Celebrate the Coronation Weekend

King Charles III's coronation in May is just a couple of weeks away now - and it's an event that will be celebrated across the United Kingdom and beyond. It marks the beginning of a new era for the country, as a new monarch ascends to the throne. And it's one that will see some of us huddled in front of the telly, some of us having a family get together - and some of us not so bothered, but enjoying the extra day off! 

No matter what your thoughts are about the coronation itself, this is a perfect  opportunity to come together with friends and family and have a good time - and that's something we can ALL get behind! 

I wanted to explore some ways you can celebrate King Charles III's coronation with your loved ones, and give you some inspiration for the 3 day bank holiday...

1: Host a Party - One of the best ways to celebrate King Charles III's coronation is to throw a party with friends and family. This can be as formal or informal as you like, depending on your preferences. You might choose to host a dinner party with a menu inspired by traditional British cuisine (or a red, white and blue food colour theme, if you're feeling brave/creative!), or a more casual gathering with drinks and snacks. What about a traditional British high tea with finger sandwiches, scones and cake? 

2: Put the decs up - Be sure to decorate your home with flags, bunting, and patriotic decorations (be they serious and tasteful, or a bit kitsch and fun) to create a festive atmosphere! Go on, grab yourself a commemorative mug or a souvenir tea towel - a little bit of coronation bling, all part of the fun!

3: Attend a public event - Celebrate the coronation by going to one of the many public events that will be taking place across the country. From street parties to parades, there will be plenty of opportunities to join in the festivities and show your support for the new king. Check your local council or community groups for information about events near you.

4: Make watching the TV a real event - If you're unable to attend a public event, you could still mark the occasion by watching the coronation ceremony together with friends and family. Set up a viewing party in your living room, complete with snacks and drinks, and watch the ceremony live on TV. If you want to go a step further, you could even encourage your guests to dress up in their finest clothes, as if they were attending the coronation in person (tiaras optional, of course).

5: Think traditional 'Britishness' - Another fun way to celebrate King Charles III's coronation is to participate in traditional British activities. This could include playing croquet, enjoying a game of cricket, or indulging in a typical afternoon tea or picnic. Or why not go to the local pub for some traditional fayre (think Ploughman's Lunch or Steak & Kidney Pie!) and a pint of your favourite - hopefully the weather will be fine and you can enjoy the pub garden (and the bunting will all be done for you)!

Whether you're hosting a party, attending a public event, or simply watching the ceremony on TV - no matter how you choose to celebrate King Charles III's coronation or the long weekend, the most important thing is to come together with friends and family to mark this historic occasion and have some much deserved fun and laughter. 

Sarah :)

It's not been a good week...

I'm going to lay my cards on the table: 

The news has been absolutely awful - what is happening in Ukraine is so distressing and my heart truly goes out to them. So posting upbeat news and messages on social media for work has felt hard: I'm torn between feeling it's all pointless and then on the flip side feeling I need to carry on and try to keep a sense of normality as much as possible. It's a tough one - have you felt this too?

Running a small business by yourself you need to be in a good place mentally: feel motivated and upbeat. It's important for the person who runs the business to have a good mindset and be moving forward, thinking to the future. This last few days, in all honesty, have been hard. I mean, really hard. There have been times when I've felt like throwing in the towel and giving up. Wondering what the point is. Finding it hard to fire up the enthusiasm to log in every day. I've worked so hard to build my little business, I strive to make everything about it as positive and good as I possibly can. I don't want to give it up, but it's hard to keep positive. But I must, and I think it's important that I do. 

So I just wanted to say that if you're struggling mentally and feeling anxious, you're not alone. I am too - I think many of us are. My love, prayers and thoughts are with the people of Ukraine at the moment - but I also recognise that we, as a community, need to stay strong together. The last couple of years have been dire - some of us have been OK, some have been good at saying we're "OK". And what's happening now feels a bit like, "And now this?!". Yes, I know. 

We are more resilient than we know, but let's make sure we look after ourselves and each other, support one another and keep going. Let's keep in mind the struggles we're all facing, let's be kind to others. Let's donate where we can. Let's spend wisely and conscientiously. Let's seek out joy and pleasure as much as we can. If one of us feels like we're starting to droop under the pressure, let's reach out - and let's be honest about our feelings (because we're all very good at pushing it down - which can be a good thing sometimes, but not constantly). 

I've decided that I'm buggered if I'm going to ease up on the ethos I have for my business and give up on what I've worked for, in spite of the bad days when it feels hard to be motivated or creative. When being happy on social media isn't necessarily how things feel in real life - it doesn't matter, I'm still going to be here every day, doing the do, working the work, dreaming the dream...

I'm here if I can help. Let's stick together: community over conflict.

Sarah x

Inflated Exam Results? I think not!

It’s been a big week for our teenagers this week: first A level results on Tuesday, then GCSE results today. No doubt there’s been cheers and tears in lots of households! Thankfully there were cheers here at PhotoFairytales HQ when my daughter received her results on Tuesday - she’s all set now to start her degree in the autumn and everything is good. 

BUT… to let you into a little bit of behind-the-scenes life here, I’m afraid amongst all the cheers there’s been a lot of ranting (and if I’m being perfectly honest, swearing too) - all aimed at the news reports.

As soon as I turned on the breakfast news on Tuesday morning I was instantly hit with news about ‘inflated’ grades, and it was exactly the same again this morning - before our kids had even received their results! Just so that we’re clear here, these are NOT inflated grades. Just because results have been better over the last couple of years doesn’t mean that these students have had it easy or been handed nice, fluffy grades decided on a whim by their teacher to make everyone feel better. I think anyone who thinks for a minute that these teenagers have had it easy, or been handed something on a plate they don’t deserve, is probably not living through this level of the education system first hand.

Let’s look at the challenges they’ve faced: lockdowns (probably tougher on teenagers than just about any age group), some of them have been ill themselves, struggling with anxiety, depression or stress, concerns about schools closing and/or opening, having to wear masks all day long, many have had to deal with family members becoming ill or dying, in many cases poor internet connections, arguments with parents working from home and other siblings over who gets to use the laptop (assuming they have one), trying to find somewhere comfortable and quiet to work (I bet not many had access to a nice ergonomic office chair and desk), patchy support from schools and colleges (because, sorry to say this, but not all teachers and establishments have been ‘absolutely fantastic’ - some were distinctly flaky!). 

Yes, there’s been some schools that have really managed to step up, being there at the end of the phone or internet to give feedback, support and proper teaching in a regulated and timely fashion. Others haven’t. Some teachers went out of their way to make sure their pupils were OK. Others didn’t. So no, not all teachers and schools have been fantastic. Not that I don’t understand (at least in the first lockdown, not so much after that when they’ve had time to adjust), not many of us can adapt to this kind of event without having a wobble! It was expected, however, that the kids knuckled down and worked just as hard as ever: keeping their work to the same standard (if not improving), handing their work in on time and properly completed, etc. That’s a lot to ask from anybody, but for many teens that’s been incredibly tough. And yet they still put in some incredible work for their teachers, the school heads, and the examining board (because it’s not their teachers that have been handing out straight A’s to their favourite pupils - this has been checked and rechecked before the grades were awarded!) - work that got them some brilliant grades. 

We should be celebrating the fact that grades have been great this year, not denigrating it as if its all been a bit too easy and grades have been handed out like sweets.

The newspaper headlines our students really deserve!

The media have also been saying ‘students have been assessed by teachers on the work that they completed’ - which is true, but many would think that means students have had their daily work ticked by Sir or Ms, that’s become their end of year result, and that they’ve only had to learn half the curriculum anyway (so this years cohort is only half educated, so even less deserving of their grades)! This is not the case. 

I can only speak for our own situation and those I’ve witnessed from friends and family, but it hasn’t just been daily work that’s been assessed - this years’ students may not have sat exams in the traditional sense (ie, in a big hall with desks spread apart), but they HAVE been given near constant assessments over the last months, completing exam papers on a weekly basis under exam conditions (so not sitting at home, with their text books open in front of them and given all the time in the world). That’s like sitting exams not just for a couple of weeks, but for months. That’s tough! While these assessments were happening, teachers were still often trying to cram in the entire curriculum - my daughter studied all her modules, just as she would have done in a normal year. Unfortunately, a lot of that was incredibly rushed. That added a huge amount of pressure: not only was she learning new things but she was constantly having to revise and be assessed for the slightly less-new things. It was relentless.

If your child has received good grades, don’t let them for one single minute think that those grades have been ‘inflated’. 

The work they’ve done has been tougher than any other year (in a normal exam year, students are given timeframes, revision lessons, study timetables, mock runs - and more, all to get them prepared… this year hasn’t had that). The grade they’ve received should reflect that gargantuan effort that they’ve put in. They should be proud - inflated, in fact! (Although don’t get me wrong, I think the grade gap between private and state schools is shocking, and that should definitely be addressed!!)

Have you been going through results days in your home this week? Tell me what you've made of it all, I'd love to hear from you!

Sarah :)

Be inspired by... November

This month is the one where the festive season can really start to kick in - and often make us all feel a bit stressed and over-whelmed. Before the chaos of Christmas begins, why not take some time to regroup and think about the joy this month brings? It's not just a gateway into Christmas: it's a beautiful month in it's own right. If you're feeling a bit jaded though, and finding it hard to find the joy of chilly November - especially during Lockdown 2:0 - take a look at my brand new Pinterest board this month. It's full of stunning images that really capture the beauty of the month and I know it will leave you feeling inspired - and maybe even ready to pull on your coat and wellies and head out for a lovely autumnal and atmospheric ramble through the countryside - or a stroll through the chilly, misty streets around your home?!

Now is a great time to grab a bit of 'me time' too - long soaks in the bath with a magazine, a glass of chilled wine, and a couple of candles (and a lock on the door!). Why not book an evening to yourself to enjoy the things you've been longing to do for ages? Cosy up and watch that film (don't forget the popcorn and Revels), or pick up that book you've been wanting to read for ages. Plan a lovely, relaxing Sunday brunch with the family - one where everyone just digs in and helps themselves, where the toaster is within arms length and you take time to read the paper or chat. Pause, and collect your thoughts before December arrives and we start to feel the pressure of Christmas.

Start thinking about the family traditions and rituals that make this season so much fun - you may have missed going out to a fireworks display this year, but you can still enjoy gathering your little family together with fun family games, and gorgeous 'picky' food that everyone can help themselves too.

Make November the time when you pause for a moment - take in the wonders of nature, the crispness of the air, the russet shades and bare tree branches, the mist gathering in the fields, the cosiness of coming in through your front door at the end of the day and sinking under a cosy throw and putting your feet up. This is a month all about YOU.

Sarah x

Free Handwashing Poster - let's beat coronavirus!

Yes, the news about coronavirus is indeed a bit worrying at the moment - the number of cases seems to be increasing daily. The advice from government and health officials is simply to wash your hands as often as you can. So with that in mind, I've created 4 free posters for you to download and print - because whilst some family members and work colleagues will have no problem remembering this, others may need reminding!

You can access them as many times as you need, and print as many as you need.* The free printables are A4 size. For best results print on glossy, photo paper - although they will print nicely on standard printer paper too. To access the prints, click here or on the image below:

Free Hand Washing Poster Printables - let's beat coronavirus!

I've designed a couple of the posters with children in mind - giving simple instructions for handwashing. Display a poster in the bathroom, downstairs loo, or in a nursery or school toilet to remind little ones on the best way to keep their hands clean.

Free Hand Washing Poster Printables - let's beat coronavirus!

The other two handwashing posters are somewhat simpler: just friendly little reminders to wash your hands. Put one up in the hallway so that everyone who enters your home is prompted to wash their hands.

If you want something more permanent (and let's face it, keeping your hands clean is important at any time - coronavirus or not!), why not get one of these handmade wooden hanging plaques made especially for your home? Prices start at only £10.95 including UK P&P, and you can have any wording you like on the signs.

Strung with twine and ready to hang up, you could display the plaque at the end of your banister, in the bathroom, or anywhere that would work best to remind everyone.

Wash Your Hands Wooden Plaque Sign, from £10.95

Current advice is: 

• Wash your hands when you enter your home
• Wash your hands when you sneeze, blow your nose, or cough
• Wash your hands when you go to the toilet
• Wash your hands before eating
• If you can't easily access handwashing facilities, use hand sanitizer which contains at least 60% alcohol

You can find official advice on handwashing on the NHS website - just click here (opens in a new window).

Stay healthy,
Sarah x

* Please Note: The posters are for personal use only and not for resale. Copyright belongs to PhotoFairytales. You are welcome to display the posters in your home or on commercial premises if you wish.

Wow, has 2019 gone already? Was that the fastest year in living memory, or does it just feel like it?! I hope it's a year that's been kind to you, and if not, well, at least it's almost over!

I'm closing at midday today for my Christmas break - I'll be back again on January 9th. Before I go though, I'd like to take this opportunity to say thank you - thank you for staying with me, thank you for reading and following my blog, thank you for being a customer (or not, it's nice that you just follow me... although if you ever do want to buy something, you know...), just basically THANK YOU.

I wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year - from my family to yours.

See you all in January!
Sarah x

BBC Radio Norfolk Young Volunteer of the Year Winner, 2019

Well, this week has been very exciting, and I just have to share it with you - this happened!

Amy Thexton, winner of BBC Radio Norfolk Young Volunteer of the Year 2019

Our lovely daughter Amy won the Young Volunteer of the Year 2019 Award on BBC Radio Norfolk! It was a total surprise - the radio station were very sneaky and told us she was invited in because she'd been shortlisted: to then reveal live on air that she'd actually won! 

Amy, a few seconds before going into the studio - she looks so calm!

Amy has been volunteering at the fabulous Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse Museum, here in Norfolk. She originally went for a week of work experience when she was in Year 10 at school, and absolutely loved it. Her dream is to one day become a museum curator, and the week she spent there completely reaffirmed her wish. At the end of her week she was distraught to be leaving - not only had she thoroughly enjoyed her time, but she'd also found herself working with the super friendly museum staff that she realised she was going to miss. So she contacted the Curator and asked if she could come back as a volunteer, and she's been helping them during her holidays working on all sorts of projects, from working in the archives to creating interactive displays for museum visitors. 

The Museum nominated Amy earlier in the year when they found out about the competition, and were absolutely delighted when she won! I had the opportunity to sit just outside the studio while she was being interviewed and managed to grab a sneaky photo:

Live on air!

It's impossible to describe how proud we are of our girl - not only for volunteering, but for taking it so much in her stride during the interview. Yes, she was nervous, but she spoke beautifully about her work at the museum - we reckon she's got quite a career in front of her!

Sarah x

Your Autumn 'To Do' List

I'm on the mailing list for a certain DIY chain that sends out emails telling me the jobs I need to do in my garden that month... and I must admit, I usually cast them to the bin. I mean, I don't really need to be told I should be out raking up leaves or top dressing the grass - especially when I'd much rather be doing pretty much anything else!

So, I thought I'd create my own 'Jobs to do this Autumn' list, but something a bit more fun - full of things we'd all enjoy ticking off!

Top 12 things to do this Autumn, simple, cheap, fun and cosy

Top 12 fun things to do this Autumn

1. Re-read an old favourite book - got a book that you read many moons ago, that you remember fondly? One that you've read a few times already perhaps? This is the time of year for sticking your nose in a good book, so why not dig out an old book that you know you loved the first time around? I'm planning on revisiting 'Wuthering Heights' again - I loved it when I read it in my teens, so it will be interesting to see if I still do!
2. Get the blankets out - it's all about being cosy at this time of year. It may not be quite cold enough to turn on the heating properly yet, so having a couple of gorgeous throws in the living room that you can snuggle under will be perfect.
3. Candle Power - we had a power cut here at home last weekend, which meant we had to dig out the candles and it was so cosy! It was actually secretly disappointing when the power came back on... maybe we should schedule in a pre-planned power cut every now and then? No telly, the low glow of candles, and a card game with the family, or swapping ghost stories!
4. Leaf kicking - I mean, who doesn't enjoy kicking the leaves about at this time of year?! Fun for all the family!
5. Fall down a Pinterest rabbit hole - figuratively speaking! Anyone who's ever spent so much as 2 minutes on Pinterest will know how easy it is for one click to lead to another. Why not plan an evening or afternoon of pinning and creating a few new boards? Ideas for the garden for the spring, storage ideas, gorgeous bathrooms, a new haircut, creative things to do with toilet rolls, whatever - you'll be inspired! Make a start by visiting my own Autumn inspired board on Pinterest by clicking here.
6. Bake a cake and have some hot chocolate - we've been good, we've spent the summer eating salads and drinking plenty of water, so why not take a day off and do some baking? Coffee & Walnut, Lemon Drizzle, Brownies? Dig out the recipe book or have a Google and get your mouth watering...
7. Start (casually) thinking about Christmas! It might be a bit early for some, but if you have a few hours spare why not grab a notebook and start planning? Get ahead of the game with gift ideas, recipe planning, dates for your diary, and a spot of online shopping!
8. Watch an old movie - something black and white or in glorious technicolour! An old favourite that isn't demanding, doesn't bear any relation to modern life, and will whisk you away to a different world for a couple of hours.
9. Invite friends or family round for Sunday lunch - stick a joint in the oven, get everyone to bring a side dish or dessert (and bottle of wine), and have a relaxing time full of good company and banter.
10. Visit your local park - the trees look amazing at this time of year, full of colour. Go for a stroll or a bike ride and enjoy the colours. Head to your nearest city and have a wonder around the park. Or failing that maybe you have an arboretum or some woods near you, or perhaps a stately home with grounds open to the public?
11. Visit the seaside - I know it sounds weird, but in my opinion the BEST time to visit the seaside is in the autumn and winter! Wrap up warm and go for a bracing walk along the prom. You might be lucky and find a kiosk that's still open and selling freshly made hot doughnuts rolled in sugar...
12. Go stargazing - the earlier nights are perfect for star spotting. You may need to head out into the countryside to get away from the glow of lights, but pick a clear night, bundle up warm and take a flask of something warming - and maybe a slice of that cake you baked in step 6...

Sarah x

Keep it in the family… the mad things families say to one another!

“If we lived there we’d be home by now” …this is a phrase my family would often say to each other whilst pointing at a random house when we were on a long journey home. And it’s one of those daft sayings that you think probably only your family say! (It isn't is it? Is it? Am I revealing too much in this post I wonder... well, I've started now...)

Like, as another example from my own family, “How’s your belly off for spots?” when you want to enquire after a person’s well-being. Or, “Why've you got a face like a violin?” is, or course, a way of checking on a loved one’s mental health at that particular moment. Shorts aren’t called ‘shorts’ in the PhotoFairytales household - they’re called ‘ventilated sun trousers’, because that's simply more fun than just saying 'shorts'.

A typical example of a pair of ventilated sun trousers...

And, of course, there's the classic, "Do you want to buy a battleship?" 

which basically means... erm... well...

You can even get your own canvas print with all the great classic family sayings on it...

My grandpa would look earnestly at you and say, “There is a green hill far away without a city wall, you know!” as if you ever doubted it and he’d found the proof. My mum is Queen of Mad Conversations, with such ice breakers as, “I had one of those but the wheel fell off.” Had what? What did you have? Wheel fell off what?! But that’s the joy you see, when you’re ‘in the know’ you instantly know that your reply should be along the lines of, “But I have the purple one, because they have castors rather than wheels which is better.” Then the reply to that would be, of course, “Yes, but I didn’t like the hairy finish on the purple ones so went for the spotty one instead.” This conversation can go on for hours. Perfect for long car journeys when you’re passing houses you don’t live in but if you did you’d be home by now...

Mad, utterly, utterly mad. Fun though… especially when you have those conversations in public so that people can overhear. I’m sure that over the years we’ve left many, many people with puzzled expressions wondering what on earth we were talking about (tip: queues are a good place for conversations like this)! But that’s the joy: the completely silly stuff that families say to one another that makes no sense to anyone outside!

So, is it just my family that has a history of all these silly phrases? 

What daft things does your family say to one another? Please leave a comment (and let me know that my family aren’t completely and utterly weird!).

Sarah :)

Being a worrier - good thing, or bad thing?

Confession: I’m a worrier. I regularly worry about things, niggle, occasionally have a sleepless night about something or other, find myself getting a bit snappy or stressy because something is digging around in the back (or front) of my head… Many years ago I suffered from depression due to worrying, and found myself on anti-depressants until I found my way out of the tunnel.

What I wonder though, is whether worrying about stuff is a good thing (in a way)? Obviously there are different levels of worry - from mild concern to downright all-out anxiety and breakdown - but for the low to middle range stuff, is worrying actually a good thing? We’re all encouraged not to worry (“If you can’t do anything about it and it’s out of your control: there’s no point in worrying”… “worrying just stops you thinking straight”… “worrying prevents you enjoying the other parts of your life”… “don’t worry, it’ll be fine, nothing to worry about”… “don’t be silly”...). But what I wonder is if there is actually a place for worry. It’s a natural instinct after all - so should we fight that feeling and try to train ourselves to ignore it?

If we didn’t worry, I don’t think the human race would have lasted this long: “If I forget to take my spear with me tomorrow the sabre tooth tiger might get me”. So, at its most basic level, worry is ultimately all about self-preservation. Without worry we’d all be crazy risk-takers!

But on the more complicated and sophisticated level, it isn’t quite as clear cut as that: worrying about something can be more insubstantial or hard to define, or multi-layered (several worries all at once, sometimes inter-connected like the worlds worst Venn diagram!). Worrying about relationships, health issues, family, work, money, etc.

A couple of years ago, my dad said something interesting:

“I’ve always been a worrier. People all my life have told me not to worry about things so much. But I actually think all my worrying over the years about different things has stopped the things I was worried about from happening. Something will come up - I’ll worry about it for a few minutes/days/hours/weeks/months (depending on its severity) but very, very rarely do any of the things I was worrying about actually happen. I think if I didn’t worry about something there’s a good chance it would turn out bad!” 

So, for him, worrying about stuff is like a good luck charm, almost like a superstition! It’s an interesting way to look at things though: to think of worrying as a natural occurrence and just accept it will happen.

Maybe, at the end of the day, we shouldn’t put too much pressure on ourselves to ignore or stop our worried thoughts - perhaps what we should be aiming for is to accept and then manage those worries so that they don’t take over our life and relationships with others. Accept that its inevitable we’re going to worry, almost inviting it in - but doing it in a managed and controlled way. Perhaps our worries are made worse because we worry about worrying! Worrying, by its very nature, tends to make us think in a more extreme way - always thinking the worst, most out-there ideas and imaginings. So if we accept that worry, whilst we’ll still be worrying, we’ll be doing it in a calmer way? Could that be a solution?

What do you think? How do you cope when you have something worrying in your life? What coping techniques do you use (if any)? Leave a comment, otherwise I’ll worry that no one’s listening to me! 😉

Sarah x

The angst of the weekly food shop - 4 hacks to make it less stressful and how to stick to the budget!

Like most families in recent times, we’ve discovered that (contrary to what the supermarkets will have us believe - shopping basket comparisons, blah blah) buying the weekly shop has definitely become more expensive. I’m a strict stick-to-the-budget-every-week kind of woman, but I’ve noticed its getting harder and harder to stick to the target each week.

So, Operation Clawback is in place…

1: Internet shopping is the way to go...
I do our food shopping online. I hate, HATE, doing those massive supermarket shops. Just looking at the image below makes me feel stressed! I used to shuffle around the enormous supermarket every Saturday with armfuls of toilet roll and bread and bleach, trying to find where the husband had wandered off to WITH THE TROLLEY AGAIN, and swearing under my breath because of PEOPLE! But I find its so much easier to stick to the budget when I shop online. I can find all the special offers in one place, I can compare prices much more easily - and, crucially, I can see how much its going to cost me before I pay.

2: I buy from more than one place…
Having said what I said in the last paragraph, I do still do a supermarket shop - but this time it’s in a much smaller supermarket that I know (because I’ve methodically, aka sadly, checked prices against my usual shop) is cheaper for specific items. Basically, we're talking Aldi time. It’s a quicker shopping experience because I know exactly what I’m going to buy and it’s a much smaller shop so I can be in and out in half an hour.

3: The supermarket checkout lottery
Now there's something that always has a kind of ‘game show’ feel about it when you shop in the actual, you know, shop - you never quite know how much its going to cost until you’re there with your purse in hand. Of course, you could fastidiously add it all up as you go round - but no, I don’t think my brain could cope with that. At least, not when it’s also trying to cope with working out Will We Like It/Is There A Cheaper Alternative/How Long Does It Take To Cook/Is Anyone Allergic To It/How Long Will It Last/What’s In It/Is It Healthy Or At Least Not Unhealthy, etc, etc, etc. Throw ‘adding up as I go along’ into the mix and I might crawl into a ball on the floor and start to rock… So, here’s a tip for you: a friend once told me that her mum advised her to basically round everything up or down to 50p or a £1 as it goes in the trolley. So, as you tip those 25p tinned tomatoes into the trolley mentally think “50p”. As you choose a that toilet roll for £2.00 think “£1”. It makes it easier to add up - and can actually be surprisingly accurate. Well, it used to be surprisingly accurate. Now I find you need to round up and down to £1 or £2. See, I said food prices were getting more expensive!

4:Impulse buying be gone!
But overall online food shopping for me is the way to go. Plus, I can do it by myself. No family chucking stuff into the trolley without my noticing (Fray Bentos Pies that sit so long in the cupboard they almost become part of the family), no complaints when I buy something they don’t like/want, being able to stick to my list. I know the apparent trend now is not to do a big weekly shop - we’re all supposed to be nipping into the local mini-supermarket on the way home to buy food for the next 24 hours and no more. Living for the moment. Fancy artichokes on toast and balsamic flavoured ice cream for tea tonight? Then that’s what we’ll be having. Not in the PhotoFairytales household though. I’m sticking to the retro-style weekly shop. Besides, it means we have that lovely cupboard glut sensation. You know, that feeling when you’ve just done ‘the big shop’ and the fridge is groaning with salad and freshness, and the cupboards are full of treats and there’s biscuits in the tin.

The downside of course is that by the end of the week we’re down to ‘freezer surprise’ for dinner and eyeing up the chocolate coins the Tooth Fairy entrusts me with…

Sarah :)

Brand New: 'Family' wooden photo blocks

I'm so pleased to introduce these gorgeous new 'Family' wooden photo blocks - they're a truly special sentimental gift, beautifully finished by hand and featuring your own photos too

These are an addition to the range of stunning handmade wooden photo gifts already available on the site, and I think they'll be absolutely perfect to celebrate your family or mark an important event such as a wedding or anniversary - ideal for Mother's Day or Father's Day too! 

Each block is created from solid wood and has the 'Family' lettering on two sides, plus your own photos on the remaining sides - featuring 12 of your favourite photos in total. The blocks are carefully sanded and hand waxed with Annie Sloan wax to give a wonderfully beautiful aged look. With gorgeous sepia tones to compliment the wood, you can arrange the blocks any way you wish: in a tower, in a row - change their layout every day, and turn the blocks to change the photos on view.

These handmade blocks are part of a lovely range of wooden photo gifts, created for me by a small independent business based in the South of England. Their attention to detail is wonderful, and their items are really special. Take a look at the PhotoFairytales website now to view the full range.

With wedding season upon us now, these will make a really unique gift for the bride and groom - something they will treasure and enjoy forever. Looking for a Fifth Wedding Anniversary present? The 5th anniversary is represented with wood, so these wooden blocks would make a perfect gift!

I really recommend these (I've got a set of 'Dad' blocks in the same style here at home which my daughter gave to her dad for Father's Day), so do take a look at the rest of the items available.

Sarah x

The joy of bread...

Trust me, if I could find a way of turning this into a Scratch 'n Sniff Blog I would - because if you were here right now with me you'd be breathing in one of the MOST delicious smells on the planet... the smell of bread baking. Ahhhhhhhhh.... heaven!

Let me give you a little glimpse into life at PhotoFairytales HQ: every Friday morning I bake bread. I do it during the week too, but on varying days. Whereas Friday morning has become a pattern because the whole bread eating thing becomes more frequent when everyone's home all day.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not elbow deep in flour, kneading and proving, and being all uber-houswifeish! Nope, I cheat, I've got a bread maker - in 5 minutes flat I have all the ingredients chucked in the pan and the machine is doing it all for me. It's on just shy of a 3 hour programme, which means that about this time on a Friday morning I'm getting both barrels of that gorgeous bread smell. It's almost ready!!

I started baking bread not long ago, so I'm just starting out. My mum kindly let me borrow her bread machine for a few months to see how I got on before making the commitment and buying my own machine. Within a month I was online and scouring the many different brands available having quickly made my mind up that there was no going back!

So what have I learnt in the 3 or 4 months since I started baking my own bread? Well, I know that mixing white and wholemeal flour works when I want to do my own version of that 50/50 type bread. I know that adding as much sugar as it states in the recipe is too much - I've cut down from 2tbsp to 1tbsp. I found 2tbsp made the bread far too sweet, but bread seems to need some sugar to help the yeast do its thing. I use just less than half of the recommended salt too - and I've used Low Salt and normal salt, and both work just as well. I've experimented with yeast amounts too - and found that cutting that back a tiny bit actually makes for a nicer loaf.

But my biggest tip of all? How to get a soft crust...

Don't get me wrong, we all like a nice crunchy loaf - but when you're using the bread for sandwiches, etc too you don't always necessarily want the loaf to be crunchy all the time. So, to get a nice soft crust that still has a bit of good 'chew factor' to it, and to stop the bread being a bit on the crumbly side, I've basically upped the fat content. The recipe told me to use water - but I now use roughly 2/3 milk to 1/3 water. And instead of using 2tbsp of butter I now use 2tbsp of oil. And it works every time :) When I get the bread out of the machine I wrap it in a clean tea towel which also seems to help it keep its softness as it cools.

Sorry, this has turned into a bit of a cooking and baking type blog this week, hasn't it? Ooh, the bread machine's just beeped - got to go!

Sarah x

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Bank Holiday days out in Norfolk...

It's a rare gift, a May Day bank holiday weekend with the sun shining! But that's exactly what we got last weekend - and we managed to get a couple of fun days out and a chance to top up our Vitamin D at the same time!

Day one was pretty boring: housework and staying in waiting for the TalkTalk repair man to arrive blah blah, but Sunday and Monday we made the most of it and headed out for the day.

On Sunday we visited Sheringham Park on the North Norfolk coast. Run by the National Trust its a little gem, although I think we were a week or two too early for all rhododendron bushes; but hey ho! With several walks to choose from of differing lengths, you can opt for a short meander or a good old trek. We went for the middle option! There are some great viewing towers to climb, with some fabulous views across the Norfolk countryside and out to sea. There are hills too (take that Noel Coward)!

Bank Holiday Monday threatened a bit of rain in the forecast so we decided to head to Hunstanton (or 'Sunny Hunny' as it's known) - the only west facing seaside resort in Norfolk. It was actually another lovely day (thanks Sunny Hunny) - so we had chips on the prom followed by a visit to see Ernie the Turtle and some very cute smiley Rays and Pot-Bellied Seahorses in the Sea Life Centre. We got to see the otters and seals being fed, and visit the poorly rescued baby seals in the hospital.

We thought about bringing one home - because, let's face it, who wouldn't want a baby seal for a pet? - but decided we didn't want to give up the bathroom that much. 

We stared at the penguins and they stared back, and we decided that they could probably be replaced with plastic ones and nobody would be any the wiser.

Half an hour walking in circles around the gift shop, and then just as we were about to leave the heavens opened. And yes, we'd parked the car a million miles away so we ended up having a squirmy damp drive home in wet jeans. But it didn't really matter - we'd had a good time and although it was back to work/school the next day we had a 4-day week ahead of us. And look: it's Wednesday afternoon already!

Sarah x

How to teach your pet to *actually* talk..."

"Don't make eye contact, she's trying
to teach us to talk again..."

I really should stop trying to teach my pets to talk… but I just can't help myself...

And when I say ‘talk’, I don’t mean bark on command, etc - oh no, I mean TALK!

It’s not something I’m deliberately setting out to do (I’m not totally mad… well, not totally and completely), it’s more something that I just occasionally catch myself doing. Take this morning for example: I reached for a banana from the fruit bowl and Bella Cat watched with interest and made a little peeping sound. So I looked at her and said, “Banana”. I was showing her a banana and repeating the word IN THE HOPE THAT SHE MIGHT REPEAT IT. Yes, well… It’s the same system I used for my daughter when she was a baby, and she picked up the whole talking thing very quickly!

I was once out walking Freddy Dog when he paused to look at a bird sitting on a fence. “Look Freddy”, I said, “BIRD”. He looked up at me, we caught each other’s eye, and I thought: oh blimey, I’m trying to teach my dog to say the word ‘bird’.

Last week Fred presented me with his empty food bowl  by dragging it upstairs and dropping it on my feet (he’s not subtle). I picked it up, showed it to him, and said, “Bowl”. Just yesterday we had some snow and I pointed out of the window and said, “Snow”. I’m thinking maybe I’m favouring teaching the dog over the cat, but that’s really only because he seems to show more willing. Bella just looks on with a slightly wilful expression (I think she’ll be a slow learner - might even turn out to be dyslexic…)

My pets are both (of course) highly intelligent. But I don’t genuinely think they’ll ever learn to talk (though it won’t be from lack of parental teaching and guidance I assure you). Yesterday I saw a dog on Facebook writing his own name with a paint brush. Yeah, but can he talk?

I think if (or when) the day ever comes that Bella says the word ‘Banana’ or Freddy mentions that his bowl is empty rather than shows me, will probably be a surprising but well-earned one. I might be tempted to rename Freddy ‘Gaspode’ in honour of the dog from the Terry Pratchett books (who, if you don’t know, is a dog who thinks like a human and says the word ‘woof’ rather than barking).

Look, Freddy: Blog. Can you say ‘Blog’? What about, ‘Pho-to-Fair-y-tales’? Good boy!

Surely I'm not the only person in the world who does this? Am I??

Love from the nuthouse,

Sarah x

Put that light out! Living with an eco warrior child...

• Put that light out!
• Do you need the heating on that high?
• Have you thought about working in your coat?
• Have you heard of global warming..?
• It is actually possible to type with fingerless gloves on, you know.
• If you go without a bath or shower, it saves water and energy and money AND the planet…

These are just a few pearls of wisdom that fall regularly from my daughter’s mouth… And to be honest, although her nagging is a bit boring it does make me feel like a teenager again, so there’s an upside!

When I was her age the boot was very much on the other foot (see here for all the gory details about my childhood...) - and my parents were the ones with all those catchphrases. Now, as an adult, I’m hearing them all over again! I don’t mind really - I’m pleased she’s aware of these things - I just wish she didn’t turn out ALL the lights while I’m still in the room so that I end up walking around Scooby Doo style with my arms out in front of me.

And no, I’m not going to start working in my coat (call me a wastrel) - I shall stick with my little teeny-tiny fan heater, coupled with getting the dog to lay across my feet, and hope the planet survives.

Sarah x