The key to enjoying a lasting commitment with your partner is openness and total honesty. However, there will always be issues that will test your success as a partner in a committed relationship. Some of these issues will be financial while others may be intimately physical. Here are some of the biggest threats to long-term relationship success.

When Your Spouse Has an Untreated Drug or Alcohol Problem

One of the biggest threats to the success of a long-term relationship is when your spouse has a problem with drugs or alcohol. The problem can become even worse when your partner either fails to recognize the severity of the issue or when they simply ignore it and expect you to do the same. It's important to find addiction treatment for your spouse. But this doesn't mean it will be easy.

When it comes time to deal with the problem, you will need to be extra sensitive. However, you will also need to be firm. You will need to work together very closely as a team in order to find addiction treatment for your spouse. Whether it’s prescription drug rehab in California or alcohol addiction treatment in Georgia, licensed experts are ready to assist your spouse in their fight against substance abuse. The effort will be worth it if you truly desire to remain together as a couple for the long haul.

Chronic Money Problems Can Affect Your Relationship

If you are making much less than you or your partner think you should be, this is certainly an issue. Jealousy over your partner making more than you can also be a source of frequent irritation. It's important to budget your money in a productive manner so that you have the funds available to not only buy necessities but also treat yourself from time to time.

Body Issues Can Come Between You

Your partner may be suffering from severe body image issues. They may be overweight or inclined to dislike some part of their anatomy. These are not only physical but also highly emotional issues that you need to be aware of. It may take a lot of honest, open conversation plus therapy to resolve these issues, but it will be worth it if you want to maintain the quality of your relationship with your partner or spouse.

Dislike of Your Spouse's Family or Friends Can Be Divisive

Another issue that can have a ruinous effect on your relationship is your partner's dislike of your family or friends - or vice versa. While it is true that a marriage is meant to last "'til death do us part", a lot of times it can feel like you unintentionally included other parties in that bargain. A great deal of open, honest conversation may be required to overcome this sensitive hurdle.

A Lack of Openness Can Rupture an Otherwise Strong Bond

One of the most insidious issues that can cause a rupture in your relationship is a lack of openness. How often do you discuss important - or even minor - issues with your partner? How open are you with them about your long term plans? If you find yourself avoiding conversations with your spouse, this is a sign that your relationship may be in trouble.

While all of these issues can threaten the quality of your long-term relationship, none of them are impossible to solve. If you want to remain in your relationship as a committed partner, you will need to work together to get through them. Counseling and other forms of treatment can be of use in helping you come out stronger on the other side.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.

Dreams are funny things, sometimes they're so random but other times they're hopes for the future, then there are the bad ones... No one likes those, especially our little ones.

Mostly dreams are made up of things you've seen, heard or talked about within the last day or so, so The Dream Pillow provides children with the creative freedom to take charge of their dreams and dream happily.

Dream Pillow has created something really fun and unique for kids, The set comes with your choice of pillow, a stack of cloud shaped idea cards and a storybook*. 

The idea is for kids to write or draw on the idea cards just before bed, place it inside the pillow and dream the happy dreams they've created. 

"With the brand mantra Write it down, dream it up, The Dream Pillow introduces a new bedtime ritual for children. Visualization of happy dreams before bed is a proven technique for putting an end to bad dreams. Each night children are encouraged to write down their hopes, dreams and aspirations on a Dream Pillow Blank Idea Card, place the card into their Dream Pillow, and enjoy a restful night’s sleep."

Lilli received her Dreamials Dream Pillow and was super excited, it came packed in a super cute box and inside had her Lamby dream pillow and a whole stack of shaped dream clouds to write/draw on. The pillow was super cute and extremely soft too, I was kind of jealous! 

She was so excited to go to sleep and have happy dreams that night, she grabbed her pen and started drawing out her dream whilst telling me what she wanted to happen, sure enough, she went straight to sleep with excitement.

The next morning I was woke with a Very happy girl that her dream was amazing and that she'd rode a unicorn to her castle with her friends, she was so happy the pillow worked and was so excited to create more happy dreams.
I honestly recommend this for any child who has bad dreams or trouble sleeping or even just for a cute gift it's definitely worth it to see that smile after a good dream.

Buy you're Dream Pillow HERE

*Dreamials pillows do not include The Dream Pillow storybook*

*Disclosure: This is a collaborative post all opinions are my own*

Sex makes you smarter, as scientific research showed this week. And that is not the only reason why sex is good for you. Lustplugs lists ten scientific studies that all show the same thing: sex is healthy and here are the reasons.

1. It is a good workout

During a study last year, people were equipped with an armband that measured their energy consumption. The decision by the researchers: "Sexual activity is - at least in some cases - a serious training."

2. Sex makes you happy

Studies show that sex makes us happier, are numerous. But a recent study shows that we are the happiest when we think we have more sex than our friends. "Happiness is positively proportional to your own sexual frequency, but inversely proportional to the sexual frequency of others," the researchers said.

3. You live longer

A scientific study of men of average age in Wales showed a link between the number of orgasms and the chance of dying. The risk of dying for men who had an orgasm at least twice a week was fifty percent lower than for men who did it less than once a month. Another study, among women, showed that for them, especially quality, and not quantity, is a determining factor for a longer life.

4. Sex prevents heart disease

A study published in the American Journal of Cardiology shows that men who have sex at least twice a week are less likely to have heart disease than those who do it less often. There would also be a similar connection for women.

5. It reduces the risk of cancer

Sex can reduce the risk of breast and prostate cancer. According to scientists, this is due to the release of the hormones oxytocin and DHEA before and during orgasm. For men, the connection is impressive. Research shows that the risk of prostate cancer decreases by 15 percent with each increase with three ejaculations per week.

6. It reduces stress

Not that we need science to prove this, but it has been researched several times. Sex has a stress-reducing effect due to the release of oxytocin in an orgasm. A small side note: masturbation does not reduce stress.

7. Sex is a natural painkiller

Headache is not a good excuse to abstain from the act. Research has shown that an orgasm can relieve migraines, back pain and menstrual pain. This too has to do with the release of hormones such as oxytocin and endorphins.

8. It gives you confidence

Bad sex can make you feel bad - but good sex does the opposite, especially with women. A study of young married women, which appeared in Planned Parenthood, found that positive sexual experiences increase self-confidence. And masturbation also proved good for self-confidence.

9. It is good for the immune system

Whoever has sex once a week has a higher immunoglobulin level, according to a 1999 study. Immunoglobulins are antibodies that prevent infections. A negative point: if you have sex more often, the number of antibodies starts to decrease again.

10. Sex makes you smarter

Recent studies show that sex is good for the brain. Report number one comes from a group of Koreans and Americans who observed rats. Rats that had a lot of sex created new neurons in the brain. That is related to a working memory. Rats that have sex are getting smarter. A second study, in November, focused on mice. In mice, sex led to better performance in memory tests.

*Disclosure: This is a collaborative post *

I love being myself and what better way to show it than with my fashion choices, I love outreagous clothes, bright pink hair and wearing trainers with dresses!

Recently I got sent a t-shirt from Future Poet, a great staple piece for the wardwobe with a great twist!

Future Poet t-shirts feature uplifting quotes on them in fantastic designs, and great colours. 

My t-shirt has the quote "I'm the best version of me" on a black t-shirt with a Future Poet logo embroidered on the arm.

The quality is so good, it's very soft and washes well too. 

After the first wash there was no change in the print on the shirt or softness of the fabric. 

Plus top marks for making a t-shirt that fits my torso, I'm 5ft 10" and a xxl so finding a t-shirt that fits my long and chubby torso is like finding a needle in a haystack so this was a very great surprise!!

You can check out Future Poet on social media or SHOP HERE!

Slime is so much fun and we really wanted to make some this half term, we had some crappy weather days and it's was the perfect time to do this activity so I grabbed the ingredients and we got busy making!
But when making the slime I forgot we didn't have any food colouring but we did have loads of hair dye colours, so we added some and guess what?! IT WORKS! 

We used stargazer hair dye as that's what we use to dye our hair, it's skin friendly and is REALLY bright! You can find this on Amazon or eBay for about £3.50 and because you only need a small amount it will last ages! 

What you'll need:

• 1 cup of PVA glue (clear or white) 
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda in the US) 
• 1 tsp hair dye in your chosen colour
• 1 tsp contact solution (Borax)
• Any glitter, sand or beads you want to add
• Any food essence or essential oil you want to use.
• Mixing bowl and spoon 

Recipe:

1. Add 1 cup of PVA glue in a mixing bowl
2. Add 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
3. Add 1 teaspoon of your chosen hair dye 
4. Add other optional bits like glitter or essence. 
5. Mix well until smooth and coloured. 
6. Add 1 teaspoon of contact solution. 
7. Mix really well until slime forms. 

(sometimes you need more contact solution but don't use too much or it won't be slimy anymore)

We used peppermint extract in our slime to make it smell minty and fresh it's lovely but you can use any scent you want. You can literally get it from any supermarket!
Lilli had so much fun with this making faces and flowers with the slime! She's kept it in a Jacobs cracker box with a rolling pin and some cutters too!!

And you're done! It was super easy to make and we've made so many colours of this! I hope yours turns out great too!

The overall cost of this including hair dye is below:

• Hair Dye 3.50
• Contact Solution 2.69 (Superdrug)
• Bicarbonate of Soda 1.00
• PVA Glue 1.50 
• Mixing bowl 50p

Total: 9.19p, Obviously mine didn't cost that much as I already had hair dye and bicarbonate of soda.

Honestly, don't even ask why I'm squinting!!!

We really hope you enjoy this and have so much fun making your own!!

A clean WooWoo is a happy WooWoo, but did you know most of what you clean it with could be damaging your PH balance?!We've teamed up with WooWoo to tell you how easy it is to have a healthy and happy veejay, pits and other bits!

Woo Woo 'Soothe-It' Intimate Wipes come in 2 different scents, Cranberry and Aloe Vera and Chamomile and Aloe Vera, the Wipes come in a pack of 20 towelettes and are PH balanced and biodegradable so yes you can flush them!

The Wipes are great for freshening up, cleaning up after doing the deed, quickly cleaning your pits and cleaning your sex toys too!

Woo Woo also have 'Tame It' Intimate hair remover creme, simply apply the creme, wait a few minutes and wash off with a sponge for a Brazilian effect on your woo woo!

It's really easy to use and comes with an applicator too so hardly any mess and I'm sure a whole tube would last at least a month or so!

My Review:
The Wipes are really easy to use In my opinion, they pull out easily from the packet and smell really lovely (I have the cranberry ones) I keep them in my drawer for after sex and I tell ya they're so helpful Instead of running to the bathroom with 'excess liquid' or cleaning my toys.

I would definitely recommend having a pack in your bedside drawer, handbag or suitcase. Plus, taking them out and about is easy too as the pack is small enough to fit inside the zip pocket in my bag!!

The Creme is amazing, honestly, I use a razor and it never quite gets it as smooth as a wax or removal creme but this was perfect and took me less than 5 minutes to achieve, and it's still smooth 2 days later!
Definitely, one to use for a holiday for that all-important bikini line.

Because Woo Woo are so generous they've let us host a GIVEAWAY! 

Click the link below to enter.

Competition is open to UK residents only and runs from 23rd April - 12th May 2019

Win Woo Woo Sooth It & Tame It #10

*Disclosure: This is a collaborative post*

You’ve been married for a while, and maybe the fire’s dwindling a bit. It’s normal. Couples go through waves of emotions throughout the course of a long relationship, and it’s only expected that your feelings might change every now and then. Sometimes you’ll wake up and look at your partner through rose tinted glasses, and on other days, you’d want to be left completely alone.

But as any couple knows, making an effort to rekindle that fire every time it starts to feel weak is one of the challenges of a committed relationship. Contributing to that end and dedicating your time and energy towards keeping the love alive will be one of the best relationship investments you can make for your partner.

Wondering what you can do today to spark a positive change in your partnership? Here are a few suggestions.

Be Kind with Your Words

You can probably name one instance off the top of your head when your partner made you feel less than happy with something they said. It’s always easier to remember the bad things. That’s why love psychologists recommend looking for something positive to say at least once a day.

Being comfortable in a relationship makes it easy to forget to appreciate all the things that our partners do for us. So taking the time to write a long, thoughtful message or to say something kind face to face will help secure your partner in your love and make you more aware and appreciative of the sacrifices they make for you.

Glam Up Every Now and Then

We all love a husband who can embrace us and still call us the sexiest, most beautiful woman in the world - messy bun, stained shirt, and all. But even if he still sees your beauty at the end of a tiring day with the kids, there’s no harm in dressing up for him every now and then.

Find a day of the week when you can leave the kids with a babysitter or their grandparents and plan a special night with your guy. It can be a simple dinner at home or a night out on the town. Whatever the case, make sure you dress up for it by putting on your best outfit. Spritzing on a sensual scent doesn’t hurt, of course. Check out the selection at Copycat Fragrances and find a sexy perfume to bump up your sex appeal and keep your man hooked all night.

Give a Massage

Physical touch is one of the main love languages, and it works wonders for couples hoping to establish a more intimate bond. Whether it’s a subtle back rub while he watches TV, or an all-out spa treatment that you took the time to study, relaxing him with your hands communicates a deep sense of love and emotional connection. Some couples even schedule massages throughout the week, taking turns to make their partner feel loved and special for a healthy, happy marriage.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.

Spring came around quick this year and it came with a whole load of great Netflix shows and movies too! From Sabrina to Trolls we have made the ultimate list of what to watch on Netflix this spring for you and your family! So turn on your Panasonic OLED TV, relax with a cuppa, blanket and popcorn and get your binge on!

• First up has to be HOP! It's a great family film and so much fun for the little ones, Its easter themed and will definitely get them excited for the Easter bunny!

• For the little ones again we have the NEW Super Monsters Furever Friends, Jump back in with Cleo, Lobo and the whole gang for this amazing springtime adventure.
• Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina- A rather dark spin on what us 90s kids grew up to love, Sabrina is a 2014 American comic book series published by Archie comics that's now a rather fantastic TV Series, Watch part 1 and 2 Now!
• Dear John- One for the more mature adults- Based on a true story Dear John is very addictive and nerve-wracking.
  
• Jurassic Park Trilogy- New to Netflix this month we got not one but three Jurassic Park films, great for any family movie day!
• Baywatch- The 2017 beachy late-night comedy is bound to get you giggling, you may even work out those abs while doing so!! (coming on the 25th April)
• Twins - Set in the 80's Staring Danny Devito and Arnold Schwarzenegger himself, Twins isn't one to be missed!
• The Lorax- Who doesn't love a good film based on a Dr.Suess book?! Well, I do and this is just perfect, a few songs, a great story and a great moral too! perfect for a family film day!
• Kevin Hart- Irresponsible - The NEW 2019 stand up comedy from Kevin Hart is bound to have you in stitches the whole time plus there's always 3 others that you can watch after if you just can't get enough!!!
• Trolls- The beat goes on- A new season of the trolls series has just arrived on Netflix that's 6 whole seasons to keep those little ones entertained! Join Poppy, Branch and Guy Diamond in their awesome adventures!!

That's my top 10 movies/ shows for this spring on Netflix make sure you let me know what you're going to be watching this spring!

*Disclosure- This is a collaborative post*

Everyone has a dream home, I certainly do, you know, when you get your perfect house and you can just imagine what everything is going to look like, well, I'm going to walk you through what my dream home looks like and give you some great ideas for yours!

First, we'll start with bedrooms, I'd love a 4 bedroom house with fluffy carpets, I currently have hard floors and it's so cold first thing in the morning! One bedroom would be for myself and my husband with a luxury kingsize bed and TV, one for the boys decorated like toy story and one for the girls decorated with unicorns and lots of pinks! The fourth bedroom would then be my office!

Blanc 590mm Round Illuminated
LED Mirror with Demister Pad

I would have 2 bathrooms, one upstairs and one downstairs, one would be a wet room with a power shower and a luxury bath in another. Both bathrooms would have a heated towel rail and LED mirrors.

KSL LIVING - AMENAGEMENT DE SALON
 OU BUREAU EN HOME OFFICE AVEC
BIBLIOTHEQUE ET BUREAU DESIGN
 ET DE QUALITE
- URBAN ZONE PAR TREBOL

My office would have a cubed storage wall, a pc desk with a shag pile rug in the centre for tasteful decor. My office would be painted white a grey chevron and have lots of photos hanging on the walls.

Next would be my kitchen, I'm more of a baker than a chef so the kitchen is my husband's place, he would love a marble countertop with a kitchen island for the cooker and a place to eat. I'd have the kitchen a lime green and charcoal colour and white lines to really make it pop.

Hemi 36" fire bowl- Solus Decor

I'd love to have a laundry room with a washer, dryer and space for an ironing board plus plenty of storage. This room would then have a door to the garden which would have a patio with a firepit and rattan sofas, a ground level trampoline and a swimming pool for the kids. Oh, and don't forget the master chefs BBQ!! 

Lastly would be the living room, my most favourite place in the house, I would have a very large corner sofa with a 60" OLED telly on the wall with grey walls and a feature wall of pink flowers.
I would have a ton of cubed storage and a lovely fireplace to snuggle up to on a very fluffy rug!

Let me know in the comments what your dream home includes?

*Disclosure- This is a collaborative post*

My daughters now at that age where I think she should be helping with chores, She is now 6 and can easily help me around the house and actually enjoys it, I personally think we should all pitch in being a family unit and Olli (whos 2) even helps tidy toys and help with washing etc.

I made Lilli these cute little charts to help with her chores and will have them laminated and stuck on the fridge to help her. The left one will have little magnets to move over from To Do to Done, Its a really great system to help with routines, it has helped a lot already especially in the morning getting ready for school. 

The second design is more of a points system, Lilli can earn points by doing chores, then she can choose rewards with those points such as go to the park or stay up late. This is a really great incentive for Lilli she finds it really exciting to get chores done to earn the reward she wants. It's proven really great so far.

So if your child likes having routines I really recommend these, even if they're not with words but pictures instead this would be really helpful especially those with different mental capability etc...
They're so easy to make and don't have to look great either!

If you like these don't forget to PIN THEM on Pinterest by hovering over the images!

Watch out for more great content soon!