Cherubs Magazine - Summer 2021

EDUCATION • HEALTH • WELLBEING • LIVING • BEAUTY • STYLE • TRAVEL

MAGAZINE

Family Friendly Theatre Shows

Delicious

Pram Snacks

Study Techniques

For Your Child

What’ s On

This Summer cherubsmagazine.com

Inspiring Everyday Family Life

Summer 2021 • Issue 12

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Contents Summer 2021 • Issue 12

Ah summer, how we’ve missed you. We’ve missed the way you make us feel when the skies are blue and the sun is beaming.

The way cafes and pub gardens are buzzing with high spirits and chitchat. But most of all, the sound of laughter in the air – we haven’t heard that in a very long while and we welcome it back with open arms.

Things are evidently very different and our summer plans may have been adapted one way or another. We may be getting ready for car adventures all around the UK, some may be trying camping for the first time, while others are turning their gardens into summer sanctuaries. Whatever it is, enjoy it (if the British weather allows) and embrace the change – it’s healthy for the soul.

Covid-19 has one way or another affected all of us, myself included.

We couldn’t have predicted any of what we have been through, yet we must be thankful to be here to tell the story. I’m looking forward to finding some time to readapting from the ‘norm’ we found ourselves in, to feeling slightly more free.

Personally, I’m very pleased that it’s become easier to spend time with my nephew Alessio (pictured). Who knew aunty life was this good… what was life like without this gorgeous munchkin, hey?

Wishing you all a wonderful summer and be sure to keep that bottle chilled and waiting for you at the end of the day when the kids have left you no other choice.

Love and summer vibes.

Sevim x

Features 8 18 30 38

Five offline camping games and activities for kids Mind the gap Everyday low waste make up Seven yoga poses to strengthen your pelvic floor

In this edition 4 14 22 36

What’s on this summer Summer reads If Cornishware had a queen Ways to create a positive abdominal birth

A taste of ...

10 28 32 40

Education Style Health & Wellbeing Living

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Follow us on social media for regular updates @CherubsMagazine Style Editor: Antonia Sanchez–Toomey Healthy Food Editor: Christianna Karaolis Designer: Chris Webb Printers: The Roma Group

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Where prices or dates are quoted they are correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change. Unless specifically stated the publisher does not endorse any product or service appearing in the magazine. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the prior permission of the publisher.

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Cherubs Magazine

WHAT’S ON

What's on

this summer

The Making Of Harry Potter

Step inside the magical world of Harry Potter at Warner Bros Studio Tour London. There will be special events during school holidays. wbstudiotour.co.uk

Up top at the O2 Centre

Find your inner adrenaline-junkie and climb up the O2 Centre while taking in scenic views. theo2.co.uk

SEA LIFE

Explore the UK’s largest living coral reef and discover hundreds of aquatic creatures at SEA LIFE London. visitsealife.com/london

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WHAT’S ON

Hampton Court Palace Explore more than 60 acres of stunning horticulture at Hampton Court Palace. hrp.org.uk

Peter Harrison Planetarium

A visit to the Peter Harrison Planetarium can fly you into the heart of the sun, transport you to distant galaxies, show you the birth of a star or land you on Mars. Located within Greenwich Park, London’s only planetarium provides a versatile setting for out-of-this-world experiences. rmg.co.uk

ActiveFest

Get ready to take off! Get the whole family moving at ActiveFest this summer at the RAF Museum. Tackle the Hercules, our outdoor obstacle course; race against your friends or try to compete for the top spot on the leaderboard.

You will face the ninja wall, crawl under cargo nets and swing over water to get to the finish line. rafmuseum.org.uk

cherubsmagazine.com

Summer of Play

Wembley Park will kick off summer 2021 with a stellar line-up of free, family-friendly events, including live music, public art trails, open-air sporting and exercise, and outdoor film screenings for locals, residents and visitors. All of which will take place in the spacious pocket parks and pedestrianised boulevards of the North West London neighbourhood. wembleypark.com/summer-of-play

Cherubs Magazine | 5

WHAT’S ON

Top 5 Family-Friendly Shows for Summer 2021

This summer is your opportunity to enjoy family-friendly theatre classics, discover something new and support a creative story-telling industry. What’s more, in August you enjoy half price tickets to a variety of productions through Kid’s Week.

Here are our top five family-friendly picks as curated by @younglondonist from theyounglondoner.com

Terrible Thames Tour

Horrible Histories proudly presents a brand-new brilliant tour: Horrible Histories Live Onboard – Terrible Thames! Take a dive with Horrible Histories into the stories of King Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Julius Caesar, the Duke of Wellington, Queen Boudicca, Jack the Ripper and Captain Kidd, in this history of the Thames with the nasty bits left in.

When: 17 July – 31 October 2021 Where: Tower Bridge Quay, E1Q 1LD How much: Adults £27, children £17, under threes are free terriblethames.com

Zog

The smash-hit stage adaptation from Freckle Productions (the team behind Stick Man, Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales and Tabby McTat) is back and promises to be bigger, brighter and more roar-some than ever before! With lively songs from Joe Stilgoe (The Jungle Book, The Midnight Gang) and directed by Emma Kilbey, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s muchloved Zog is a magical production for all ages.

When: 18–29 August 2021 Where: Cadogan Hall How much: from £19.50 cadoganhall.com/whats-on/zog-2021

Dinosaur World Live

Earls Court exhibition centre has been transformed into London Wonderground and you can catch one of the many shows on offer throughout the summer. For dino enthusiasts Dino World Live is the one to book as you can meet impressive life-like dinosaurs including Triceratops, Segnosaurus and all time favourite T-Rex. When: 3-31 August 2021 Where: London Wonderground How much: from £16 dinosaurworldlive.com

What the Ladybird Heard From Julia Donaldson, bestselling author of The Gruffalo, and award-winning illustrator Lydia Monks, comes the stage show of the much-loved picture book What the Ladybird Heard. With live original music from a quartet of talented actors, puppetry and a whole farmyard of fun, this 55-minute family favourite is the perfect summer treat!

Recommended for ages three and above.

When: 15 July–29 August 2021 Where: Palace Theatre How much: from £12.50 whattheladybirdheardlive.co.uk

Dragons and Mythical Beasts

Unveil a myriad of dark secrets and come face to face with some of the most magnificent monsters and terrifying beasts ever to walk the earth. Discover the colossal Stone Troll, the mysterious Indrik and Japanese Baku; the Tooth Fairy (not as sweet as you’d think), an adorable Unicorn and majestic Griffin. Take your place among legendary heroes, just don’t wake the Dragon.

When: 13 August – 15 September 2021 Where: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre How much: from £17 openairtheatre.com

6 | Cherubs Magazine

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WHAT’S ON

London’s Outdoor Cinema returns for Summer Screenings Pop Up Screens invites you and your family to indulge in an evening that you won’t forget with your loved ones. Its relaxed atmosphere and friendly vibe, praised by critics across the country, will have you coming back year after year.

This year, Pop Up Screens will span across eight London parks and open spaces over three months. Pop Up Screens offers films for fans of all genres; including smash hit musical dramas such as The Greatest Showman, A Star Is Born, Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman. For audiences wanting nostalgia, fans will be able to revisit fan favourites Back To The Future, The Goonies and Dirty Dancing and many more.

Join us for a movie or two and you’ll find a great environment, along with a bar, and some of London’s best street food traders.

Pop Up Screenings Full Listings 23 Jul 24 Jul 25 Jul 30 Jul 31 Jul

North Greenwich – 500 Days of Summer North Greenwich – Grease North Greenwich – Back to the Future Hillyfields, Brockley – The Goonies Hillyfields, Brockley – Dirty Dancing

1 Aug 6 Aug 6 Aug 6 Aug 13 Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug

Hillyfields, Brockley – Greatest Showman Corams Fields – JoJo Rabbit Corams Fields – Pretty Woman Corams Fields – Ghostbusters Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith – Jaws Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith – Bohemian Rhapsody Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith – The Greatest Showman Guildhall, City of London – The Greatest Showman Guildhall, City of London – Moonlight Guildhall, City of London – Philadelphia Guildhall, City of London – The Beach Guildhall, City of London – Dreamgirls Guildhall, City of London – Priscilla Queen of the Desert

27 Aug Manor House Gardens, Hither Green – Bohemian Rhapsody 28 Aug Manor House Gardens, Hither Green – The Greatest Showman 29 Aug Manor House Gardens, Hither Green – A Star is Born 2 Sep 3 Sep 4 Sep 5 Sep 9 Sep 10 Sep 11 Sep 12 Sep 17 Sep 18 Sep 19 Sep 24 Sep 25 Sep 26 Sep

Corams Fields – The Craft Bishops Park, Fulham – Rocketman Bishops Park, Fulham – A Star is Born Bishops Park, Fulham – The Greatest Showman Corams Fields – The Greatest Showman Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith – Dirty Dancing Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith – Jurassic Park Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith – Rocketman Kennington Park, Oval – The Greatest Showman Kennington Park, Oval – Notting Hill Kennington Park, Oval – A Star is Born Bishops Park, Fulham – 10 Things I Hate About You Bishops Park, Fulham – Dirty Dancing Bishops Park, Fulham – The Goonies

Tickets for Pop Up Screens can be bought at popupscreens.co.uk cherubsmagazine.com

Cherubs Magazine | 7

SUMMER FUN

5

offline camping games and activities for young children

After such a long time being subject to coronavirus restrictions, we’ve all become very used to using online games, video games and TV to keep ourselves and our kids busy. But, as people begin to plan holidays again, a family camping trip could be the change you’ve been looking for.

Of course, you should check your local coronavirus restrictions and follow the government guidelines, but you can still have fun at your next campsite.

Getting out into the great outdoors can be great for your mental wellbeing, and it’s nice to disconnect and really concentrate on being active and in nature – even if your campsite has a good data connection, or a wi-fi area available.

To help keep your family off their screens and interacting with nature, Little Adventure Shop has put together a list of five great offline games for camping with young kids, so you can have a fun internet-free holiday with your little ones.

1. Try a sleeping bag sack race You might remember sack races from your own school sports days, and they can be a fun activity to get your kids and yourself active while camping. Draw up a finish line by choosing a landmark or a tree, get in your sleeping bags, and see who’s fastest!

Why not build an obstacle course with things you find around your campsite?

8 | Cherubs Magazine

You’ll want to choose an area that’s clean, and avoid muddy ground, so you don’t get your sleeping bags dirty.

2. Make your own nature scavenger hunt Scavenger hunts are a great way to get your kids exploring their surroundings and spending time in nature. Before you leave for your trip, draw up a list of things for your kids to find – this might be certain leaves (such as oak, beech or chestnut), pine cones, rocks, and acorns. You should pick things for your scavenger hunt that don’t require taking live insects or plants away from their habitat. This is also a great way to teach your kids about the local landscape and ecosystems!

3. Make some DIY bubbles You’ll be taking washing up liquid with you to keep your camping dishes and cups clean, so why not turn the soap into bubbles? Just follow the steps below:

• Pour 125ml of dish soap into a large cup.

• Add 375ml of water.

• Measure 2 teaspoons of sugar and add it

to the water/soap mixture.

• Shake it up and use a bubble wand (or your fingers) to blow the best bubbles you can.

Because you only need to bring a few things with you, this is an easy activity. Plus, your kids will surely enjoy making their very own bubble mixture too!

4. Build an obstacle course Building an obstacle course outside is one of the most exciting games to play while you’re camping. You can design the course to suit your children’s likes and dislikes, but some classic ideas are: • jump over or in between a set of objects (such as toys or jumpers) • do 20 star jumps before carrying on • hop from one activity station to the next instead of running • run and find a certain object from the tent.

5. Make your own waterslide Making your own outdoor waterslide is much easier than you might think. Just take an extra tarpaulin with you, which can be used to create shade if it’s too hot for your little ones. Then, turn it into a water slide with a few buckets of water and a little bit of washing up liquid to make it slippery.

You will need to lay the tarpaulin on a slope to give the kids something to slide down.

This can be a great outdoor activity for when it’s hot and sunny!

020 8154 3664

FUN SUMM E GOLF R !

Kids’ Golf Camp Monday 26th July 11am-2pm Tuesday 27th July 12pm-3pm Wednesday 28th July 11am-2pm One day £30 Two days £50 Three days £65 Call Nicola on 07887 765 765 to book

N

CLUB OF THE YEAR 2021

Bush Hill Park Golf Club Bush Hill, Winchmore Hill London N21 2BU

EDUCATION

MyTutor reveals three top tips to boost your child’s study techniques After a year of Zoom classes and disrupted studies, the fast-approaching first term is bringing a whole lot of pressure and anxiety to children who have fallen behind in their learning – and their parents too.

Cherubs recently caught up with the UK’s leading online tutor MyTutor to get their best tips to boost your child’s study techniques.

From managing procrastination to tackling their most-dreaded topics head-on, these clever tricks will help your child get back on top of their learning and ready to dive into the new year.

1. The Eisenhower Matrix (how to decide what to do, when) A lengthy list of homework can be daunting for any child. The Eisenhower Matrix is a simple way to work out which of your child’s tasks are urgent, which are important, and which can wait. All you need is to create a simple grid of four boxes on a sheet of paper and work with your child to write in their various tasks, like this:

i.e. you get someone else to do it! Since you can’t get anyone to do your child’s homework for them (sorry), they probably won’t need to use this box for school revision, however it might be useful to question whether something that falls into this box actually needs to be done (and no, that doesn’t mean your child should put house chores or their least favourite subject in there!).

This matrix can be a great tool to teach your child how to prioritise their various tasks while taking away some of the panic they might be feeling when they’ve got 20 things to study and don’t know where to start.

2. The Pomodoro Technique (to beat procrastination) This one sounds a little fancy, but in fact pomodoro is simply Italian for tomato. It’s also a common shape for a kitchen timer!

Neither of those things have anything to do with your child’s study however – and you don’t need a tomato-shaped timer to try this technique (although a timer that’s not a phone is a good idea to help shut out distractions). One of our favourite learning experts, Barbara Oakley, recommends this process as a way to bust procrastination and completely focus on any given task.

Here’s a handy infographic that illustrates the process:

The main goal of this technique is to shut off distractions and allocate specific periods of time for highly-focused study, but an equally important aspect of this technique is teaching your child how to manage their wandering thoughts, as well as the importance of taking regular short breaks.

Try planning out two to four of these cycles over the course of a study day, or one in an afternoon.

3. Eat your frog (do what you’re dreading!)

Eat your what now? No, we haven’t gone crazy, and we don’t encourage cruelty to frogs! The ‘eat your frog’ method is a way to bust procrastination, inspired by American writer Mark Twain’s quote, “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.”

Do you know that feeling when there’s something you really don’t want to do, and you end up procrastinating all day while it looms larger and larger in the back of your mind? It’s likely your child knows the feeling too. This method is a great way to break free of that nasty cycle by facing the dreaded task (AKA your frog) first thing – either in the morning if they’ve got a day’s revising ahead of them, or first thing when they get home from school if it’s homework.

Whatever you’ve got that’s urgent and important should come first – though the aim is to try to complete every item while it’s important, but not (yet) urgent. Any items that are not urgent and not important, consider putting to one side.

It sounds a bit silly, but when your child faces the task they’re dreading most first thing in the morning, it means they don’t have to think about it again that day.

When the Eisenhower Matrix is used in businesses, urgent tasks that are not deemed important are usually “delegated”

Website: mytutor.co.uk 10 | Cherubs Magazine

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North Bridge House

New for er: Septemb Open day fairs

Subject stalls, school tours, taster activities and talks from the Senior Leadership Team. Book now at northbridgehouse.com/open NURSERY & PRE-PREP

NURSERY & PRE-PREP

PREP SCHOOL

SENIOR HAMPSTEAD

WEST HAMPSTEAD

HAMPSTEAD

REGENT’S PARK

11 - 16 YEARS

11 - 18 YEARS

2 - 7 YEARS

2 - 7 YEARS

7 - 13 YEARS

SATURDAY 18 SEPTEMBER

SATURDAY 25 SEPTEMBER

SATURDAY 11 SEPTEMBER

SATURDAY 2 OCTOBER

SATURDAY 25 SEPTEMBER

SENIOR CANONBURY

Weekday open events and guided tours available online. Book your visit or call 020 7428 1520 to find out more.

MOUNT HOUSE SIXTH FORM At Mount House all students take three or four A Levels, in addition to the Extended Project Qualification. From September 2021, we will also be expecting students to choose one subject from our new ‘Fifth Column’ on the timetable. There is a choice of options detailed overleaf, and within that we hope all our students will find something which interests them, as well as offering them an academic stretch and challenge. These options will extend their formal learning and ensure that Sixth Formers progress to university and beyond with a wide range of academic skills and experiences.

#InspiringMountHouse

mounthouse.org.uk

AS GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES The Cambridge AS Global Perspectives course is a ground-breaking and stimulating course that stretches across traditional subject boundaries and develops 21st Century transferable skills. It is both cross-curricular and skills-based and taps into the way learners of today enjoy learning, including teamwork, presentations, projects, and working with other learners around the world. The emphasis is on developing the ability to think critically about a range of global issues where there is always more than one point of view.

AS LEVEL THINKING SKILLS Analytical thinking underlies all rational conversation, argument and enquiry. It is characterised by a meticulous and rigorous approach to the nature of the argument being discussed. It involves the analysis and evaluation of information and the development of a range of intellectual skills that aid the use of reasoning to reach clear, logical and coherent judgements within a given context. During the course, students will much improve their ability to analyse any argument presented to them – see what the conclusion is, what reasons are being presented, any assumptions used and any flaws in the reasoning.

AS LEVEL CITIZENSHIP In this course, students will learn more about such concepts as identity, democracy, power and justice and will be encouraged to approach different viewpoints and opinions critically, in order to gain a deeper understanding of contemporary debates surrounding modern citizenship. The course encourages an active and participatory approach to citizenship, including the opportunity to conduct individual research in an area of personal interest.

AS LEVEL LAW Our AS Level in Law fosters students’ interest in law and helps them develop knowledge and skills relevant to further study of law and other subjects. Students will develop their knowledge of the law in England, and the interaction between law, morals, justice, society and technology. They will also study Criminal Law and Tort.

GCSE LATIN

For more information about Sixth Form and Open Days, please call 020 8449 6889 or visit the website www.mounthouse.org.uk

GCSE Latin is designed to help students develop their knowledge and understanding of the vocabulary, syntax and accidence of the Latin language, and also of ancient literature, values and society through the study of original texts.

THE ACCREDITATION FOR LANGUAGES IN BUSINESS [FRENCH] This is a fantastic course to boost employability and develop knowledge of languages for the world of international business.

This blended learning course involves a series of practical assessments to develop students’ speaking and listening, reading and writing skills in a business context. It is suitable for students who have previously studied French to GCSE level.

READING

Reads Summer

Recommended by Pickled Pepper Books

Babies & Toddlers Shark block

By Christopher Franceschelli (author) and Peskimo (illustrator) – 0-3 years Easily the safest way to interact with sharks, Shark Block is the latest in the popular board book series from Abrams. Full of cut-out windows, pullout pages, and bold illustrations this will teach you and your baby or toddler all you could ever want to know about nature’s most exciting predator.

Reading Beauty

By Deborah Underwood – 2-7 years An update of the classic fairy tale for the modern princess, this action-packed picture book gives us an independent heroine whose love of reading breaks a curse, redeems the evil fairy, and creates her own happily-ever-after.

The exciting sequel to Interstellar Cinderella.

Maybe

By Chris Haughton – 2-7 years Chris Haughton has created yet another wonder for story time.

Maybe is a cautionary tale full of fun, suspense, and lots of delicious mangoes! Three little monkeys are left with just one instruction – don’t go down to the mangoes as there are tigers lurking. But can the naughty monkeys resist? Surely just going to take a peek can’t hurt?

14 | Cherubs Magazine

Early years Hey You

By Dapo Adeola (author). Illustrated by Dapo Adeola, Alyissa Johnson, Sharee Miller, Jade Orlando, Diane Ewen, Reggie Brown, Onyinye Iwu, Chante Timothy and Gladys Jose – 2-7 years There are so many good books to help children and their grown-ups talk about emotions now.

Here is another great one exploring happiness, and what it feels like. This is the second of Eva Eland’s picture books that helps little ones deal with big emotions.

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READING

Books to get them reading for pleasure

Big Sky Mountain

Do Something for Someone Else

By Michael Platt (author) , Loll Kirby (author), and Yas Imamura (illustrator) – 4 years+ A gorgeously illustrated call to action for young children to spread kindness and do good deeds. Do Something for Someone Else features real-life stories from children whose small acts of goodwill are changing the lives of others accompanied by a how-to-help section, with simple steps to inspire young readers to take action at home and at school. will fire your child’s imagination, help them label their emotions and expand their comprehension. What’s not to love.

By Alex Milway – 5-8 years Just the thing to get children excited about the outdoors, this is the first in a new series from the author of Hotel Flamingo.

Rosa has come from the city to live with Grandma Nan in the wilds of Big Sky Mountain where there are oh-so-many adventures to be had. As fun as things may be, trouble soon comes knocking in the form of some unexpected visitors.

Twitch

By M.G. Leonard – 8-12 years A brand new, super-duper exciting mystery adventure all about… birdwatching?

Twitch loves birdwatching. He has three pet chickens, four pigeons, and swallows nesting in his bedroom! But when he finds out that a convicted robber has escaped prison and is hiding in the woods, he decides to use his birdwatching talents for a bit of detective work. This adventure is great fun and full of drama.

10 Middle Ln, Crouch End, London N8 8PL 020 3632 0823 • www.pickledpepperbooks.co.uk cherubsmagazine.com

Cherubs Magazine | 15

BROOMFIELD SCHOOL A school for our community

OPEN EVENING

VIRTUAL ROADSHOWS

TUESDAY 5TH OCTOBER 6PM TO 8.30PM

Discover more about us Meet staff Q&A Via ZOOM at 6pm

Various dates visit www.broomfield.enfield.sch.uk/roadshow to book

COFFEE MORNINGS

Visit www.broomfield.enfield.sch.uk/coffee to book

MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW US FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS

Tour the school Meet our pupils Ask questions Selected Thursdays at 9.15am

PARENT TITLELIFE

Getting ‘Crayative’ Cherubs caught up with supermum, Lauren from BeeCrayative Crayons to see how she started a business in the middle of a pandemic and while she was on maternity leave. You see... we told you she was a superwoman!

Well I had just had my second baby and thought, life isn’t stressful enough looking after a toddler, a newborn and a husband in the middle of a pandemic lockdown, that I thought it would be a great idea to start up my own business.

Only joking but it is partly true. I had the idea of making my daughter’s little friends some gifts during the April lockdown in 2020. I started playing around making

beeswax crayons and loved it so much that I thought I am going to make this into a business. Maybe it was the hormones because I do look back and think I was crazy but I would not change it for the world.

Lone behold BeeCrayative Crayons was born and I have never looked back. It is hard work especially having gone back to my day job along with looking after my family and running a household but I LOVE it!

What makes you different from all of the other crayon businesses out there?

They are the only character crayons on the market that are made with beeswax.

This sets them apart from other crayons because they are more natural and not just made with non toxic waxes, it also makes them smell amazing.

So, your maternity leave has finished, what’s the plan now?

I have indeed returned to my day job but, BeeCrayative is not going anywhere. I have poured my heart and soul into creating my business, its like my third baby! I absolutely love making crayons for your little ones.

They were created for loving little hands. To put smiles on their faces when they open

them and realise that they aren’t just toys but you can colour with them too and I hope to continue to keep making them for a very long time.

I want to teach my children that ANYTHING is possible, when you put your mind to it.

Look what you can achieve in the middle of a pandemic.

All small crayons are £6.95 Large crayons start at £8.95 Name crayons start at £7.95

Website: beecrayative.co.uk Instagram: beecrayativecrayons cherubsmagazine.com

Photo credit: @sophieoldhamstead

How did you come up with beecrayative?

Cherubs Magazine | 17

PARENT LIFE

Mind The Gap!

By Aimee Hart @hart_at_home

18 | Cherubs Magazine

PARENT LIFE children closer in age would be hugely positive. Having children go through the same phases together and share the same interests, toys, activities at relatively the same time will mean they have a completely different connection. As they grow they will share things together and become closer as ‘friends’. Your house and your body can get back to ‘normal’ quicker and I guess as you get older you move out of the baby phase and get your life back.

Either way there is always positives to find and negatives to ignore. I can honestly say that I looked at Evelyn before Penelope was born and couldn’t imagine loving a child the way I love her. I couldn’t visualise it. But Penelope has added a whole level of love to our little family along with the usual new baby experiences. Some of which I’d totally forgotten about so here is my “What to expect with baby number two.”

Photo credit: @libby_pearce

1. Don’t expect a carbon copy of baby number one – mine are pretty identical in looks (both like their father) but we can already see differences in their personalities and newborn attributes.

Evelyn slept through. Penelope does not.

Before you have children you are always asked when you will have one… then when you do have a child you are always asked when you will have another and warned about the age gap. It’s a strange conversation because you are basically asking someone something pretty intimate without knowing any sort of background or circumstance. Yet we continue to ask.

Six and a half years ago we had our first daughter, Evelyn. We’d been married just over a year, we were both in stable jobs and we felt it was the right time. I didn’t intend to take such a big gap between having children but as a woman you can’t afford to take your foot off the professional gas without the fear of loosing your path or your rightful progression. It shouldn’t be that way – but it is. Taking a year off to raise a child inevitably means you exit the loop and others may potentially overtake you.

That was what I did with my six-year gap.

Focused on my career. And how quickly that time went. Now, nine weeks into daughter number two, Penelope, I have a new found understanding of the age gap conversation.

I can see the perks of a big age gap but I can also appreciate the perks of having children in succession. Sometimes this isn’t a decision we can make, sometimes we have to leave it up to fate but on the rare

occasion we can choose I think they both offer a varied and wonderful experience of motherhood.

A Gap in Time If, like us, you find yourself with a larger age gap between your children then let’s focus on the positives here. For me, having my eldest at school five days a week gives me the time to breathe and enjoy the precious new-born moments. It gives me routine for my day and allows my little bundle quality time with me during the week. It’s amazing how much a nearly seven year old can do to help and she understands when mummy is needed. She understands my time needs to be shared. She can appreciate the fact she’s had six years of our dedicated time and doesn’t feel left out or unappreciated. She doesn’t get sad when Penelope screams through her favourite programme or story because she acknowledges she’s a baby.

We spent the time talking to her about how our home environment would change and how exciting this time will be.

Back to Back Now, even though I can’t talk from direct experience I can appreciate how having

2. Sleep deprivation is something you get used to – when I was nine months pregnant with Penelope I was dreading the lack of sleep and worrying about not waking up if she needed me. BUT the sleep deprivation is always worth it.

Well, mostly.

3. You know what you are doing – regardless of the gap it does all come flooding back to you and your instincts kick back in with a vengeance!

4. Your baby bag is waaayyyyy smaller!

Gosh, the junk I carried with me after Evelyn was born. You know the basics – changing stuff, clothes, bottle… done.

5. You know your tribe – finding ‘mum friends’ with baby number 1 can be hard!

I was desperate to find connections with like-minded mums with Evelyn and I did (luckily). When number two comes along you gravitate to mums on your wave length and know to avoid those mums who, unintentionally, bring your mood down.

Would I have had such a big gap between my children if my career hadn’t been at its most crucial time? Would I have had another baby regardless of my progression?

Who knows. It did play a part along with moving house, saving money and generally enjoying our time with Evelyn. Baby number two was always on the cards and we are so lucky to finally be going through this journey again. Tiredness, messiness, pennilessness and all!

Website: myevelynandme.com cherubsmagazine.com

Cherubs Magazine | 19

PARENT LIFE

Summer Sleep Sanity Saver

By Sarah Patel - mum of two little ones (18 months apart) and a certified baby and toddler sleep consultant

Want to take the stress out of naps and bedtimes? Think the only way to improve your little one’s sleep is by sleep training or by following a generic sleep plan? Meet Sarah, founder of Teach To Sleep, she may change your mind!

Teach To Sleep’s Top Sleeping Tips For Summer Sleep environment One of the most important things is to make sure that their night time sleep environment is PITCH black. Blackout blinds are well worth the investment but I have heard foil can also do the trick ! The darkness helps our bodies to start producing the natural sleep hormone melatonin which helps us to fall asleep and stay asleep for longer periods. Any light creeping in can cause the body to stop producing melatonin and start producing cortisol as the brain thinks it is time to start waking up.

Temperature Aim for a comfortable temperature, the Lullaby Trust recommends anywhere between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius. If it is a super-hot day it can be helpful to give them a cool bath or a full body wipe down with a cold flannel. This helps to bring our core body down by a degree or two, which is optimum for sleep. Keep curtains in their bedrooms closed during the day and windows open. You may want to use a fan, just remember to direct it away from your baby. If nothing else its noise will help soothe them to sleep and drown out any background noise.

Check out babycentre.co.uk for sleeping bag charts to help you plan which tog sleeping bag babies should wear in differing temperatures.

What is a ‘good’ bedtime?

Rather than sticking to a generic time, make sure that your little one’s bedtime is at a time which suits their needs. Some little ones need a lot less sleep than others so having an early bedtime will only mean they protest more at bedtime and they wake early. Whereas those who need more sleep will suit an earlier bedtime and it may well mean a night with less wake ups and/or a later wake up time.

a nap and plan for it. If possible, plan your journey around their nap times and/or make sure they will have somewhere to nap when you are out, such as a pram or a baby carrier. Snooze shades can be really helpful for pram naps in the summer.

Hopefully my top tips will help you to develop healthy sleep habits for your little one. But if you are in a sleep rut please feel free to contact me via my website teachtosleep.co.uk Private consultations start from £65 but I also offer group workshops in person, if you are based in North London or online if you are further afield.

As well as having a bedtime which suits your little one’s needs, aim for having a bedtime which is consistent, as it can help to regulate your little one’s circadian rhythm (AKA their body clock).

Don’t let naps go out of the window Young babies tend to get overtired easily, making bedtime more of a battle and means they often end up fighting going to sleep. So if you are out for the day make sure you think about when they will need

Website: www.teachtosleep.co.uk 20 | Cherubs Magazine

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PARENT LIFE

The impact of social media on children and young people’s mental health

By Marilena Andreou - cognitive behavioural psychotherapist Evidence suggests that social media use has risen over the past decade in children and young people. Social media allows young people to interact with others in many different ways other than the traditional face-to-face interactions. It enables people to interact with friends and family from all around the world. Although there are some benefits of regular social media use such as feeling part of a community, being able to gain support from others, preventing social isolation and being able to develop and maintain friendships. It should be noted that high social media use has also been linked to a range of mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and stress particularly in young people.

Evidence has shown that for those that heavily use some of the most popular social media platforms (for two hours or more a day), their anxiety can be worsened.

Unfortunately in some cases this can also lead to poorer self-esteem and even suicidal thoughts.

Cyber bullying can also affect young people and cause a great deal of psychological distress. This should not be taken lightly. At times it can be very subtle or very obvious.

For example it can take many forms online such as through sending threatening messages, posting photos or videos intended to cause distress to the victim.

Excessive use of social media platforms has also been associated with body image issues in young people. For instance, they can compare themselves to others (and celebrities) by looking at photos or videos that are posted on social media by others

that have sometimes airbrushed and edited them. They could strive for the ‘ideal body’ and this is not always attainable.

This can then have a detrimental effect on youngsters’ mental health as they can aspire to be just like them. For instance, in girls this can also lead to eating disorders and behaviours such as extreme food restricting or binging and purging. In boys, they sometimes compare themselves to those that are very muscular and this could evoke behaviours such as excessive exercise regimes and extreme diets.

Warning signs that social media is impacting on someone’s mental health:

• Spending

most of their time on social media platforms instead of seeing friends in person.

• Constantly comparing themselves negatively with others on social media.

• Lack of concentration and generally being distracted from school or college work.

• Sleep problems being reinforced by excessive social media checking at night.

• Directly experiencing cyber bullying.

What can be done to modify social media use to improve mental health:

• Monitor

time spent online by using an app and try to set an individual goal of how much to reduce this by each day.

• Keep the phone out of the bedroom when they go to bed at night; this reduces the temptation to check social media platforms.

• Turn off social media notifications; so that the buzzing and beeping of messages and alerts does not become a distraction.

• Try

to completely remove social media apps from your phone; it is likely that the temptation to check on your computer will be automatically reduced.

• Schedule in some regular time each week to interact face-to-face with friends and family.

• Don’t suffer cyber bullying in silence – report it!

How to help a child or young person with excessive social media use:

• Monitor

social media use and talk to young people about why it is important to limit screen time and social media use.

• Speak to them openly about the impact social media could be having on their mental health and agree what action steps they could take to modify their behaviours.

• Encourage them to take social media breaks; particularly if it is interfering with homework then you can ban it until work has been completed.

• Encourage children and young people to engage in other activities that they could also enjoy.

• Try not to become too controlling with a young person over their social media habits as they might become rebellious.

In conclusion, social media can certainly have some benefits for young people and they can find it an enjoyable activity, but it’s crucial to notice the warning signs if the social media use becomes excessive and to take steps to modify those behaviours to improve mental health.

Website: inspiring-minds-therapy.co.uk cherubsmagazine.com

Cherubs Magazine | 21

LIFE

If Cornishware had a Queen...

Cherubs caught up with Karina Rickards to draw an insight into what life is like running a successful business, sipping tea on a beach from one of her gorgeous range of mugs and five kids (yes, you heard right, five!) If there’s anyone that can inspire you, it’s this wonderful human!

Hello lovely Karina, thank you so much for chatting with us at Cherubs. So, tell us a little bit about how you came about Cornishware?

Thank you Sev, and it’s wonderful to be part of this lovely magazine. Just over 10 years ago, my husband and I heard Cornishware had gone into financial administration. I was heavily pregnant at the time with our fifth child. Although life was pretty busy for us back then, we didn’t hesitate and bought the business. We couldn’t bear to see this iconic heritage British brand disappear.

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Where did your career lead you before you dedicated all of your time to Cornishware?

I come from an artistic background. My grandfather was an impressionist, my grandmother used to sew theatre costumes and my father builds beautiful yachts. I was surrounded with creativity throughout my childhood. I worked at Cartier and Kenzo in London, doing their windows, worked in theatre sets and carried on doing art while bringing up my children.

It was only when I dropped my youngest at school, that I decided I would have more time to help my husband run Cornishware. I started decorating a lunch plate successfully

and on the back of that we decided to repatriate the business to Blighty. I work in pottery as a ceramic artist as well as running our marketing department. We have two instagram accounts @cornishware and @cornishware_artist showing our behind the scenes and my stripey life. Our TikTok account is also really popular with one of the videos going viral, it reached 8.4 million views.

You have brought life back to British ceramic making. Where do you draw inspiration from?

I draw inspiration from our life in Cornwall and its beautiful scenery. Our yellow range, for example, was inspired by our coastal

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LIFE there was a need to meet face-to-face, to show I care, to show our customers are important to us. Cornishware is much more than a ceramic business, there is a real stripey community out there.

This summer I have organised two events. A garden party in Duchy Nursery near Charlestown and a boat trip for 80 passengers in August, sailing among stunning tall ships. Both these events were sold out in 18 minutes.

You are 50 and one of the most fabulous women we’ve met. What advice would you give someone out there longing to do what you have?

and settle myself at my wheel. I put my headphones on and decorate mugs, jugs and teapots until it is time to pick up Olivia.

I go for a run three times a week and I have recently joined the Cadgwith Gig Rowing Club on Fridays. It’s a brilliant way to unwind.

Five children? How do you possibly manage a business and home life? We are in awe! walks. Gorse in bloom is everywhere to be seen in Cornwall around Easter time, as well as sailors’ waterproofs and cardinal marks floating at sea. Our beautiful orange was inspired from following a tractor’s trailer filled with shiny pumpkins. It was a lovely sight and as soon as I arrived back home, I started working on colours. The orange is so popular that our website crashed on launch day.

New products such as our deep pasta bowls were thought of at home as we realised we needed something deeper to enjoy our stews, pasta and Thai dishes.

What’s your average day like?

I get up at 6am, work on instagram until 8am. Drive my youngest (I have five children) to school. My three eldest have flown the nest (26/24/22), and I have a 15-year-old (who boards during the week) and a 10-year-old at home.

After my school run, I carry on working on marketing then, with my mug of coffee, I cross the country lane to our pottery which is directly opposite our house. I walk through trolleys full of mugs, plates, bowls

Thank you! After bringing up my five children, I was keen to prove I could also work and make a difference in the world.

I have a lot of energy and creativity and Cornishware has been a wonderful opportunity for me to express myself. My top tips would be to follow your dream, this will mean hard work, forget 9 to 5, this doesn’t exist in our house. Step out of your comfort zone at times, I remember talking on instagram live and felt my knees shake so hard but learned a lot and haven’t looked back since. Another tip is to believe in yourself, don’t copy others out there, be you... do you.

Describe yourself in three words.

Three words... stripey, quirky and loving.

Now that I am working full time, my children have had to learn to do a lot more by themselves, which is not a bad thing.

My teenager can put a wash on, she can cook and look after her sister if I’m late working on deadlines in the pottery. My 10-year-old makes her own breakfast and hot chocolate in the morning, and that too is ok. There’s nothing wrong with that in my book. They are proud of their mother and I want them to follow their dreams too one day. Of course, they get a great big hug when I’m back from the pottery and a cup of tea is handed to me. They’re good girls.

Tell us about #teaonthebeach – what inspired you to start it? Did you think it was going to be so popular?

My #teaonthebeach took place during half term. The weather looked good and I decided to invite up to 30 instagram followers to join me for tea and cake on the beach. It was incredibly popular. I remember a whole bunch of stripey ladies and children walking towards me, with big smiles on their faces, waving hello. Two large Cornishware teapots filled to the brim with hot tea, mugs in hand and delicious cakes were enjoyed that afternoon. I felt

Website: cornishware.co.uk Instagram: @cornishware_artist

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Cherubs Magazine | 23

HOMELIFE

Home Edit Our summer home edit is full of subtle hues and nostalgic pieces inspired by the outdoors and British heritage. Soothing tones and pretty prints is what your home needs right now.

Spiral Candles Set of Six

Compact Fringed Parasol

£25.00

£360.00

Liberty libertylondon.com

Cox & Cox coxandcox.co.uk

Patterned Cushion Cover

£6.99

H&M hm.com

Grey Star Jaal Quilt

£129.00

Dilli Grey dilligrey.com

Ceramic Artichoke Pot

£18.00

Garden Trading gardentrading.co.uk

Website: tailormadeliving.co.uk Instagram: @tailormadelivingstore 24 | Cherubs Magazine

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HOMELIFE

Decorative Jug – Azul

£50.00

Rose & Grey roseandgrey.co.uk

French Cane Shelf Towel Rail

£20.00

Dunelm dunelm.com

Long Rattan Basket

£19.99

Zara Home zarahome.com

Madeline Cotton Medium Cushion Cover

£6.00

M&S marksandspencer.com

Round Rattan Open Weave Chair

£195.00

Cox & Cox coxandcox.co.uk

Blush Pink Lettuce Side Plate

£14.00

Mrs. Alice mrsalice.com cherubsmagazine.com

PET LIFE

Victoria from Pooches & Prams shares her summer essentials for you and your pup It’s getting hot in here…

With Rupert being a pug and not being able to regulate his temperature as easily as non-brachycephalic dogs, we must be super careful when it gets too hot and keep him nice and cool indoors.

These Calm Dog Games are great for keeping your dog entertained at home and good for getting the kids involved too. Fun, quick, on-tap entertainment for your pooch and so nice to take a couple of minutes to bond with your dog doing something different. £19.95 from calmdoggames.com

Going green I’m not one to really dress Rupert up in outfits, as cute as they look, he really doesn’t like it. What I do love is his expanding collection of gorgeous leads.

This webbed design by The Stately Hound, is lightweight and the colour just makes you happy! I love the two tone and the brass hardware, plus, it comes with a matching collar which is a clip fastening rather than a buckle, which I have no say not tried yet but would imagine could be easier? Either way, lovely design, fab colour, and reasonable price. £32 from thestatelyhound.com 26 | Cherubs Magazine

PET LIFE

Staycay all the way As a massive interiors buff, I obsess about finding hotels, air bnb’s, cottages for us to go and stay in that have interesting design and décor. Just because you have kids and a dog doesn’t mean you can’t stay somewhere chic right?

When I heard that Will Hardy had created four treehouses with stunning sustainable design, I added it to our must go to list. After booking quite a few months back our trip finally came round in June this year and it really did live up to expectations. The design of the treehouse is just awesome, plus they are built in a vineyard (wine being my other love) – two out of the four are child friendly (ours had just enough space for a cot) and they are all dog friendly.

Our children are aged one and nearly four and we’d probably wait until they are a bit older to return with them. I reckon five-plus would be perfect (or a newborn that doesn’t move.) but will be going back.

We booked through canopyandstars.co.uk who I must add, were brilliant, and very accommodating, considering I accidently booked the wrong dates to start with.

Puppy power

Beach bums We’ve visited our fair share of dog-friendly beaches but one of our all-time favourites is around the Wells-next-the-Sea area of Norfolk.

Vast landscapes, ample dog friendly areas of the beach, coffee stops and beach huts. We visited earlier this year and rented a beach hut for the day from thehappyhuts.co.uk which just added that little bit extra to an already wonderful little part of the country. Who needs to go abroad when you have this on your doorstep. thehappyhuts.co.uk

The puppy brigade continues to grow and one thing that’s so good to introduce your dog to from a young age is brushing them at home. Even if they go to the groomer’s you never know when you might have to do some maintenance yourself so get your pup used to it from a young age.

I’ve been using the Pet Teezer for dogs for a couple years now on Rupert and really rate them, light, easy to hold and collects a good amount of fur.

This youngest addition to the Pet Teezer family is designed for puppies and while not the most important feature of a grooming brush I just love these summer colours it comes in. £10 from petteezer.com, John Lewis, Pets at Home, Amazon and Pets Corner.

Website: poochesandprams.co.uk Instagram: @poochesandprams Cherubs Magazine | 27

STYLE

Fashion Edit Oh Summer, we are coming for you!

A disappointing spring and the longest winter in history... make way for a warm hot summer. Ice cream shades, florals and classic vintage-inspired pieces will see us through.

Sleeveless Jacket

£19.99 H&M hm.com Lorna Tiered Maxi Skirt – Ivory, Summer Chintz

£68.00

Boden boden.co.uk

Cross Strap Sky High

£160.00

Swedish Hasbeens swedishhasbeens.com

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Mini Pyramid Charm Hoop Earrings

£85.00

Missoma missoma.com Medium Marcie Basket Bag in HandBraided Raffia and Small Grain Calfskin Chloe chloe.com

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STYLE

Matty Shirt Blue Floral Print

£90.00

Sezane sezane.com Raffia & Wrapped Buckle White Waist Belt

£32.00

Oliver Bonas oliverbonas.com

Meagan Strappy Two Part Wood Block Heels

£55.00

Office office.co.uk

Aegis Chain Choker Necklace Set

£180.00

Missoma missoma.com

Slim Fit Mom Jeans

£15.99 Plant-Dyed Bandeau Midi Dress

Stradivarius stradivarius.com

£95.00

& Other Stories stories.com

Website: tailormadeliving.co.uk Instagram: @tailormadelivingstore cherubsmagazine.com

Cherubs Magazine | 29

BEAUTY

Everyday low waste makeup

By Karen Maurice

Since I discovered that my daily foundation had plastic in it, tiny particles that I was washing down the sink, I’ve been on a mission to remove plastic from my makeup bag. In the process I’ve found some incredible green beauty brands, some with zero-waste packaging. All have fabulous ingredients and are far better for my skin and our world than that original foundation. It’s not been a quick transformation as I only buy new makeup when the old item has run out. And I won’t pretend to be totally there yet. But these are the products I’m using every day for a super speedy, school run, low waste makeup routine.

All Earth Minerals is an award winning natural mineral makeup brand based in Cornwall. Ingredients are chosen for their protective and regenerative properties for our skin and are also Vegan and cruelty free. The packaging is some of the most sustainable I’ve come across.

Forever pots are made from reclaimed fishing nets and you then buy refills that arrive in biodegradable packaging.

Zao Bamboo Shine-Up Powder

£22.95

&keep andkeep.com

All Earth Minerals Foundation, Blusher and Bronzer

£2 to £28

All Earth Mineral Cosmetics allearthmineralcosmetics.com

Benecos is a really affordable, certified organic makeup brand and they do a really great eyebrow pencil that has become my makeup essential. I use the gentle brown colour. They are also vegan and cruelty free.

Benecos Eyebrow Designer Pencil

£4.95

Ethical Superstore ethicalsuperstore.com

These zero waste crayons are genius, they can be used on cheeks, lips and eyes. And they come wrapped in paper that you literally just tear off and recycle.

Axiology The Balmies Lip, Cheek and Eye Balm Trio

£29.00

Asos asos.com

Inika Vegan Long Lash Mascara

£23.00

Love Lula lovelula.com

Website: n4mummy.com Instagram: @n4mummy 30 | Cherubs Magazine

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INTENSE ZONES THERE’S INTENSE, THEN THERE’S BLAZE. It’s new, it’s unique, like nothing you’ve experienced. A test of your strength, stamina and willpower, you’ll run, lift and fight. Blaze will push you to your limit and beyond.

An overload of light, sound and energy will power you through your workout.

Our instructors will challenge, push and support you, to achieve results you DESTINATION DLC never thought possible.

Whatever you plan to do on arrival at David Lloyds, you’ll feel like you’re on holiday.

A Myzone heart-rate belt will track your performance every step of the way.

We’re all super excited at David Lloyd Clubs Enfield with owvur exclusive ‘Summer in the Club’ 10+

With your rate streamed onbringing digital screens, you’ll yourclub body atyou! just week event forheart our members which is that holiday vibework into the near the right intensity to get the most from your workout.

Full of fun children’s activities, outdoor pool games, BBQ’S, morning yoga and even gin tasting for mum and dad...

Get ready to feel the burn and join the tribe #Blazetribe

You can give our team a call directly on 020 8364 4332 to discuss your financial savings and our amazing events in Club this summer!

HEALTH & WELLBEING

‘Fresh’ Activewear with Nesh!

Souluxe Black Zip Up Hoodie

£16.00

Matalan matalan.co.uk

Budget

Go Move Printed Gym Leggings

£25.00

M&S marksandspencer.com

Printed Scoop Neck Cropped Vest Top

£12.50

M&S marksandspencer.com

Cotton Twill Cap

Nike Revolution 5 Womens’ Running Shoe

£6.99

£40.00

H&M hm.com

Sport Direct sportsdirect.com

Ladies Nike Revolution 5 Trainers

£44.99 Lightweight Twist Front Cropped Top

Deichman deichmann.com

£17.50

Since lockdown I’ve really got back into my fitness and I have to say what you wear to workout can really make a difference to how you move and how you feel. I know it’s not rocket science but there are a few things you should consider when shopping for active wear.

What activity are you buying for?

For example when practising yoga or Pilates I think it’s more helpful to wear a more fitted top because there is nothing worse than being in a downward dog position and your entire face is covered by your t-shirt and you can’t breathe! Make sure your sportswear meets your needs.

M&S marksandspencer.com Ladies Nike Revolution 5 Trainers

£44.99

Deichman deichmann.com

Know your sizes Extra High-Impact Non-Wired Sports Bra

£17.50

M&S marksandspencer.com

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I’ve been wearing the same workout clothes for years! Honestly I’m actually too embarrassed to reveal how long I’ve worn them for.

Your activewear needs to fit properly otherwise there’s nothing worse than having to constantly pull your leggings up when you’re trying to run 5K (or even 1K in my case!) This is especially important for your sports bras. They need to fit properly 020 8154 3664

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Blow-It Rebel Snakeskin-Print Stretch-jersey Bra

£115.00

Selfridges selfridges.com

Instinct SnakeskinPrint Stretchjersey Leggings

£135.00

Selfridges selfridges.com

Baller Hat

£35.00

Lululemon lululemon.co.uk

Marlin V-Knit Black White

Essentials Zip Through Hoody

£145.00

£75.00

Veja veja-store.com and support you. I guarantee this will make a massive difference to how you feel when you work out.

Define Duffle Bag

Do your research

Luluemon lululemon.co.uk

£158.00

While it’s tempting to opt for a cheaper version because, I get it, you’ve got more important things to spend your money on, there are some items that are sold as sportswear but they just won’t have the technology in them to keep you dry or comfortable when you’re working up a sweat! Sometimes it is worth investing.

These pieces will last you much longer and will help keep you motivated to keep up your good work.

Look great, feel great!

Here are some of my top picks to suit both budgets.

cherubsmagazine.com

Power 7/8 Gym Leggings

£52.00

Sweaty Betty sweatybetty.com

Knotted cotton jersey T-shirt

£70.00

Match Fashion matchesfashion.com

Keep it stylish Well it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t feel stylish even in my gym gear! What you wear really does make a difference to how you feel and even hold yourself. Wearing that old t-shirt you no longer want to wear but have thrown into your workout wardrobe is not going to lift your mood.

Sweaty Betty sweatybetty.com

Nike Womens Pegasus Trail 2

£92.00

Pro Direct Running prodirectrunning.com

Enlite Bra Zip Front High Support

£88.00

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

We caught up with Anna Johnson to talk about all things pilates and find out what drove her to start Haus Pilates Co. and bring so much joy to all our lives.

Who is Anna Johnson?

I’m the founder of online Pilates platform Haus Pilates Co, which brings the Pilates studio experience to your home anytime you want to do a class. My goal is to help you feel the best version of yourself without the battle of time limitations, past perceptions of what exercise should look like and confidence concerns. Constantly we are bombarded by images and media to become something or someone else, but I truly believe you are enough. You may just need help with the tools to thrive, and Haus Pilates Co can do just that.

Tell us a little about your background?

For the past nine years I’ve worked as a TV and radio presenter and actress, working for the BBC, ITV, C5, SKY, MTV and Heart FM plus hosting live events for England Netball, Google, YouTube and Harlequins. At the same time, I was teaching dance-based fitness classes as a side hustle but would always find peace and release in my Pilates classes. So, after a string of life-changing events, I decided to train as a Pilates Instructor with the acclaimed Body Control Pilates to offer others that escapism I felt on the mat too.

Why did you start Haus Pilates Co.?

At the start of the Pandemic all my work stopped and the studios I usually taught at, such as the stunning Beaverbrook, closed, so I was left in a sink or swim situation.

I decided to jump straight in and start teaching Pilates on my Instagram account

@iamannajohnson, which thankfully became very popular. Classes were on a Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with my Friday class becoming my signature class.

I wanted to try and keep that ‘Friday night’ feeling alive that we all missed, so I created a new type of Pilates class – Pilates to House Music which also included a cocktail recipe being sent out before the class. People then did the class to incredible uplifting music and got a bit tipsy after! Yes, it was fun! I loved teaching online so much that I decided I had to make it a more sustainable and long-term fixture, so I decided to create an on-demand membership platform that is Haus Pilates co today. I now offer a range of different classes from PilatesBarre, Dynamic Pilates and Calming Pilates, to House Pilates, Quickie Pilates and Resistance Pilates, so you’ll never get bored. Plus, I love the flexibility of doing it at a time that works for you, without the hefty studio price tag.

What are the benefits you’ve found from pilates? What would you like others to learn?

I’ve found two main benefits from Haus Pilates Co. The first is I’ve finally realised you don’t have to do an hour’s class to call it exercise. Let’s face it, we’re all busy and although it shouldn’t be, exercise is often the first thing that falls off the list of nonnegotiables. So I make my classes easy to fit around your day-to-day plans with 20 to 30 minutes being my sweet spot and trust me you can really get the results you want in that time. Secondly, and this is something I really advocate at Haus Pilates Co and to my lovely members is you don’t have to

punish your body. I often see people doing burpees, grunting, panting, literally looking like they are in hell, and you really don’t need to do that to your body. The media has made people think HIIT is the be all and end all, but I have never been in better shape since Pilates and my body loves me for it too with no injuries in sight. This also was the main reason I created my signature class, House Pilates, to ensure people still got the feel-good endorphins from the high-energy music but moved their body in a way it loves.

So, what are the future plans for the Johnson household?

Very excitingly I’m pregnant, so my intention was to film some prenatal Pilates classes to be able to launch another division of Haus Pilates Co. Unfortunately, I’ve had to hit pause on that for now as I’ve experienced a couple of complications already, but when I get the green light this is something I’m so excited to create. I went through IVF to achieve this pregnancy and feel there is not a lot out there that includes this topic in pre and postnatal classes, so I want to be very open to all the ways in which people can get pregnant and allow my classes to not only help people to get strong for birth and have a healthy pregnancy, but also to calm the anxiety that comes with pregnancy, especially after such a gruelling process as IVF. I also would LOVE to host a Haus Pilates Co retreat somewhere warm, with the best house party a retreat has seen – no green juice, just wine and Pilates! See you there?

Website: officialanna-johnson.com/hauspilatesco Instagram: @hauspilatesco

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Cherubs Magazine | 35

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Ways to Create a Positive Abdominal Birth

By Claire Dugan of Tutum Birthing, North London Are you planning to birth your baby abdominally? Is this your choice which is termed elective, or perhaps you have been advised to do so for a medical reason.

You may be feeling completely fine with this decision or you may be feeling a little disappointed, perhaps with a sense of having no options and the vaginal birth you were planning in your mind being taken away from you. I wonder also if the thought of having surgery could be causing you to feel anxious, casting a cloud over your pregnancy. I want to reassure you that you can still have a sense of control over your abdominal birth and having this sense of control can then allow you to be prepared and excited whether planned or unplanned. If you have elected for an abdominal birth then being aware of what the team is open to doing within your hospital and then communicating this to them via your wishes for birth will also help you to feel more in control.

Your baby’s birth can be magical when you give birth abdominally. It is proven that the more relaxed you are going into your abdominal birth the easier the bonding, healing and recovery can be. We want and need to have an emotional experience however we birth, we should be given the opportunity for involvement and to be a part of the birth as much as possible, therefore you can use hypnobirthing as it has a wonderfully beneficial effect on your mindset and your ability to remain relaxed.

Hypnobirthing as birth preparation really is for all births. Incorporating logic, mindfulness, affirmations, breathing techniques, confidence and techniques to keep the adrenaline at bay so you can enjoy your birth.

So here are my tips, and remember you can put some of these on your birth preferences as your options if you were to need an unplanned abdominal birth.

If you have been using guided hypnobirthing MP3’s in your pregnancy, they would have made a positive association for you which will still be very helpful. Make sure you have your MP3 or music on one headphone, so you have this to keep you calm while also staying informed of what is happening in the room if this is your preference.

When you’re gowning up you can have your gown tied at the front opposed to the back, like putting on a jacket, this will enable you to enjoy skin-to-skin with your little one as soon as you can. We know the benefits of skin-to-skin and this should be as encouraged with an abdominal birth.

It will help to release the oxytocin and to stimulate your supply.

You may have heard of delayed cord clamping. Straight after birth, historically your baby’s cord would have been cut either right away or after around one minute.

We now know that delaying your baby’s cord from being cut has huge benefits for the baby. Delaying it for even three to five minutes ensures they receive a huge amount of extra oxygenated blood volume through the cord from the placenta, up to 30%. They are also then receiving iron, which will be enough for three to six months and white blood cells and antibodies to keep their immune system boosted. They will also get the transferral of vital stem cells. You can also leave the cord until it goes white and floppy. Delaying your baby’s cord being clamped should be done for you unless of course, the baby needs some help after birth and in this case they will need to clamp the cord to assist your baby.

You can have the ECG dots placed on your upper back and shoulders opposed to your

chest which will then allow for immediate skin to skin and for your baby to be placed directly on your chest after birth without any interference.

You can ask for the lights to be dimmed around the theatre room apart from those being used directly above the surgery.

This will allow you to feel more calm and relaxed. Once your baby has been born, it will then be able to enjoy skin-to-skin in a darker, more dimly lit atmosphere up by your chest.

The surgical screen can be lowered so you are able to see your baby being born, this is magical if you would like to experience it. Some parents would prefer not to see it however some have described it as magical. It is your decision however, you do need to communicate this with your birth team. I would suggest before the day, just to make sure it is something they do offer.

Skin-to-skin. The first hour should be as calm as possible to encourage your baby to feed and establish breastfeeding if this is your wish. It will help to produce the oxytocin for bonding and will assist in encouraging your uterus to contract down.

You can request that the midwives do not weigh or measure your baby until after that first initial hour following birth.

I really hope this helps to let you feel more in control of your abdominal birth and for you to prepare in the best way for you both as parents. I would urge you to communicate with your midwives as much as possible, which will then enable you to stay close to your choices and, if it is not possible, then you will understand why.

Are you familiar with the term ‘gentle cesarean’? This means that the obstetrician would make the incision and your baby’s head would be born gently before slowly waiting for the body to follow, this allows your baby to have a calmer entrance into the world. Moving through in this way also helps with expelling the fluid from the lungs which would have been squeezed out if your baby was born vaginally through the birth path. This is something you can request while discussing your birth wishes with your consultant.

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020 8154 3664

Hypnobirthing Classes Tutum hypnobirthing classes are fun, engaging, hugely informative and the best thing is, they are practical.

Your partner will feel more prepared to support you and you will both work together as a team, through the rest of your pregnancy, labour and birth.

W: www.tutumbirthing.co.uk E: claire@tutumbirthing.co.uk M: 07944 156238

7

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Yoga poses to strengthen your pelvic floor

Marica Carleschi, European Consumer Marketing Manager at INNOVO, and part-time yoga instructor

Have you ever completed a HIIT workout, Zumba class or squat challenge and felt a little pee come out? If so, it may be down to having a weak pelvic floor.

It’s very common for women to experience changes in their bodies both as they carry new life into the world and as they begin to age, and incontinence is often a result of this. Despite bladder weakness affecting one in three women, many are unaware as to what the pelvic floor is, let alone how to strengthen it.

Yoga and Your Pelvic Floor Yoga is a calming, meditative practice that can fit easily into your busy schedule and can provide a great support to your pelvic floor strengthening regime.

Here are some of the best yoga exercises to help strengthen your pelvic floor.

So, what’s the pelvic floor you ask?

The pelvic floor is a key set of deep muscles situated in the pelvis, running from the frontal pubic bone to the base of the spine.

Shaped like a basin, the pelvic floor holds all of the pelvic organs (uterus, vagina, bowel & bladder) in place, and supports the bladder to provide control when you urinate.

Chair Pose (Utkatasana)

In addition to providing control over bladder leaks, strong pelvic floor muscles can also provide you with stronger core strength in the abs, improved sexual sensitivity, and better posture, to name a few.

Mountain Pose

The good news is there are lots of exercises that will help you engage this core set of muscles, including yoga.

Start by standing, with your feet hip distance apart and your hands resting at your sides.

Place a yoga block (or a thick book or pillow) between your thighs. Engage your inner thighs and try to lift the block upwards.

38 | Cherubs Magazine

(Tadasana)

Start in Mountain Pose (the posture above), with your arms stretched upwards, and the tips of your fingers lengthened towards the ceiling. Bend your knees, keeping your back as straight as possible, and push your hips back into a squat, as though you’re sitting down into a chair. Keep your heels connected to the floor, without your hips dipping any lower than your knees. Hold the posture for a couple of breaths. Try to lift your pelvic floor upwards, as though you were trying to hold in a wee. Straighten up again slowly. Repeat as many times as you feel comfortable.

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

Happy Baby

(Ananda Balasana) Place a yoga mat or thick towel down flat on the floor. Lie on the mat on your back, and draw your knees in towards your chest.

Hold on to your knees, inhale deeply and exhale. Grab the outside edges of your feet, or wrap your index and middle around your big toes, and pull your knees (bent) out to the side, trying to pull the knees as closely to the floor as you can without causing any discomfort. Pull your feet back with your hands.

Tighten your tummy as though you are pressing your belly button to your spine, and pull up the pelvic floor as we did in chair pose. You can rock from side to side to give your back a lovely massage. Hold for as long as you feel comfortable, then release your legs straight to the floor gently, with your arms at your side to relax.

Locust pose (Salabhasana)

This posture works both the glutes, buttocks and the pelvic floor – three for the price of one!

Lie flat on your tummy on your mat, with your legs together and your arms at your sides. Rest your nose & forehead gently on your mat. Inhale and lift your head, chest, arms, knees and feet off the floor. Squeeze your tummy muscles, glutes and buttocks to help lift everything up off the floor. Keep your legs straight out, hold for about 30 seconds, and then gently release back down. Repeat as desired.

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Boat pose (Navasana)

Start sitting on the floor with both knees as close as possible to the chest, hands behind the knees. Point the toes, feel the ground with both sitting bones, take a deep breath in and push the chest towards the knees, keep the shoulders away from the ears.

Exhale and lift both feet up until parallel to the ground. Keep pushing the chest towards the knees. Options: You can keep your hands behind the knees for support or extend both arms forward. You can keep the knees bent or straighten both legs.

Stay for five breaths. Watch out: do not curve the spine and fold in, keep pushing the chest forward trying to reduce the gap between the chest and the thighs.

Yoga squat (Malasana)

Start in your forward fold with both hands down, shoulder distance apart and feet hip distance apart. Turn the toes to face out 45 degrees angle. Bend the knees and lower your hips toward the floor. Lift the chest. Lift both hands and press the palms together in front of your chest. Push the elbows into your inner thighs and lift the chest a bit more. Remember to keep your spine long, keep your shoulders away from the ears, shoulder blades towards each other, and the neck is long.

Bridge

(Setu Bandha Sarvangasana) Start lying down on your back, arms alongside the body with palms facing down.

Bend the knees and place the heels as close as possible to your sitting bones, feet hip distance apart. If you have a block, place it between your knees. Turn the toes slightly in. Take a deep inhale and on the exhale tuck the tailbone under, engage the glutes and lift your hips and chest up. Squeeze the block between the knees. Think about elongating your spine and start actively pressing the palms and the forearms down on the mat to find more lift. Look up at the ceiling. Five breaths.

The breath is king!

To breathe efficiently the pelvic floor must be involved, and to exercise your pelvic floor efficiently, the breath must be involved. Your pelvic floor moves in a dance with your diaphragm when you breathe.

When we breathe in, the diaphragm moves down, and so does the pelvic floor; when we breathe out, they both move up. Start observing this connection and then start bringing the focus on your pelvic floor. Inhale and keep your pelvic floor relaxed, exhale and engage your pelvic floor by lifting it. How? Imagine you are holding a wee. With a bit of practice, you can begin to accentuate each end of the breath cycle, relaxing and engaging, relaxing and engaging,

Interested in some more pelvic floor exercises? Check out Innovo’s invisible workouts at myinnovo.com; a series of podcasts which can help you strengthen your pelvic floor no matter where you are.

Cherubs Magazine | 39

LIVING

EatHappyFeelGood

Pork kebab with a twist It’s BBQ season! And this delicious twist on a classic pork kebab is perfect for any summer day. Serve with pitta or wraps, vegetables, tzatziki, and humus, it’s going to become a summer family favourite!

Ingredients

Serves 2-3 so multiply amounts as needed • 1kg pork cubed • 1½ tbsp olive oil • 1½ tsp paprika • 3/4 tsp ground cumin • 1 tsp ground coriander • 3/4 tsp salt • 3/4 tsp garlic powder

40 | Cherubs Magazine

Method

1. To a large bowl add the olive oil, paprika, ground cumin, ground coriander, salt and garlic powder. Mix to form a paste. This is the marinade.

2. Add the pork cubes and using your hands massage the marinade into the pork. Cover and in the fridge for at least an hour.

3. Skewer onto metal skewers.

4. Cook over preheated coals for about 20 minutes (you could also cook these in the oven or under the grill).

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LIVING

Mango ice lollies These are a hit in my household! The natural sweetness from a mango makes these a perfect frozen treat! Make them extra special by dipping them in melted white chocolate decorated with pistachios and coconut. Mango’licious!

Ingredients

• 2 large ripe mangoes, peeled and cubed

• 1/2 can coconut milk • 2 tsp vanilla paste

• 2 tbsp maple syrup • Optional – white

chocolate, pistachios and unsweetened desiccated coconut.

Method

1. Put all the ingredients into a blender and blend till smooth.

Taste and if you feel you need to, add a little more maple syrup. Remember that when frozen, the flavour becomes a little subtler.

2. Pour into ice lolly moulds. Add the sticks and freeze for a few hours, ideally overnight.

3. If using, melt the white chocolate in a mug. I do this by giving it 30-second blasts in the microwave and stirring in between.

1 to 1.5 minutes is usually enough. Then just dip the top part of the ice lolly into the melted chocolate. It will set very quickly against the frozen ice lolly so if you want to add the decoration, work fast.

4. Wrap individually in greaseproof paper and keep in the freezer.

Deconstructed Halloumi salad For me, salad is a perfect summer meal. But it’s not always easy to serve kids, they don’t like the way everything is mixed up. Serving a salad in this deconstructed way makes it a perfect family meal.

The children can choose how much of each ingredient they eat, and even if they don’t eat everything, it’s still a positive exposure with a variety of good nutrients.

Ingredients

Serves 4 • 2 blocks Halloumi • 2 cups quinoa, cooked as per pack instructions • 1/2 cup walnuts • 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds

Method

• Vegetables of your choice: I

used salad greens, 3 sliced peppers, 1 sliced cucumber, handful cherry tomatoes • Dressing: 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses, salt and pepper whisked together

1. Cook the quinoa as per pack instructions. While it’s cooking, prepare the rest of your ingredients. Leave the halloumi until last, so it goes from the grill straight to the table.

2. Slice the vegetables.

3. Make the salad dressing.

4. Arrange everything as you want. Don’t forget the walnuts and pomegranate seeds.

5. Pat dry the halloumi and slice into thick slices. Brush with a little olive oil and cook under a medium hot grill for five minutes on each side.

6. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Strawberries and Cream breakfast pots When I think about the flavours of summer, strawberries and cream is definitely a classic and for good reason... it’s absolutely delicious and the inspiration for these breakfast pots. I make a simple strawberry chia jam and two vanilla options: Overnight oats and yoghurt. You can mix and match as you like.

Strawberry Chia Jam

• 2 cups chopped strawberries, chopped into small cubes • 2 tablespoons chia seeds • 2 tablespoons maple syrup Method

Put all the ingredients into a small saucepan and cook for about 7 minutes. It will thicken as it cooks.

Vanilla Overnight Oats

• 2 cups jumbo oats • 2 cups almond or oat milk • 2 tablespoons chia seeds • seeds from 1 vanilla pod • 2 tablespoons maple syrup Method

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Stir well to combine. Leave in the fridge overnight. The next morning, divide it into portions.

Vanilla Yoghurt

• 2 cups Greek yoghurt (Fage is my favourite) • Seeds from 1 vanilla pod • 2 tbsp honey Method

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl till well combined.

Website: eathappyfeelgood.co.uk Instagram: @eathappyfeelgood Cherubs Magazine | 41

LIVING

Pram snacks with At Dad’s Table

Bacon, Cheese and Pea Croquettes Makes 16 | Freezable Creamy, oozy and cheesy croquettes these are great finger food for baby and make a great post nursery or school snack. They’re also pretty tasty for adults too! The key to this is having cooled mashed potato from the start, so make sure you take the time to do this. Make loads and cook from frozen too.

Ingredients

• 500g mashed potato, cooled • 6 rashers of bacon, cooked and diced • 100g peas • 1 teaspoon of dried sage • 60g of cheddar cut into little blocks • A few tablespoons of white flour • 3 eggs, whisked • 100g panko breadcrumbs • 2 tablespoons of tomato puree • 50ml water

42 | Cherubs Magazine

Method

1. Set the oven to 180C. Mix together in a bowl the cooled mashed potato, bacon, peas and sage.

2. Place the flour, whisked egg and breadcrumbs in three separate shallow bowls.

3. Take a handful of the croquettes mix and shape into a log shape, around 5cm to 7cm long 4. Dip each croquette in the flour, then egg then breadcrumb mix ensuring all surfaces are covered each time. Place on a baking tray.

5. Cook for 15 minutes until the breadcrumbs are crispy and the croquettes are piping hot throughout.

6. For the dipping sauce mix the tomato puree with the water.

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LIVING @at_d

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ble

Cauliflower, Courgette and Cheese Bites Makes 20-24 | Freezable | Vegetarian Packed with lots of healthy veg, these wholegrain bites are delicious and so more-ish! Dial down the pepper if you want, but I love the little bit of heat it gives you.

Ingredients

• One head of cauliflower, cut into florets • 2 courgettes • 100g parmesan cheese • 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper • 2 eggs • 225g wholegrain self-raising flour

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Method

1. Set the oven to 180C. Whizz the cauliflower florets in a food processor then squeeze out the water. Grate the courgettes, squeeze the water out too and add to the cauliflower.

2. Add the parmesan, cayenne pepper and eggs, mix well with your hands.

3. Sieve over the flour then mix again. Shape into balls and place on baking paper.

4. Cook for 40 minutes and allow to cool before eating.

Cherubs Magazine | 43

LIVING ADVERTISING FEATURE

How to Attract Good Tenants for Your Property Finding the right tenants is key to making sure your property is looked after. But there is a balance between making sure you’re not missing rental payments because your property is empty and dealing with troublemakers.

Here are our tips to making sure you attract the right tenants for your property, so you can receive a stable rental income.

Tip 1: Figure out who you want to rent to You need to first think about who your ideal tenant is so you can appeal to them. For example, there is always a high demand for rental properties that allow students and has communal shared spaces.

This not only reduces the rental amount for students, but it also serves as a social outlet.

Tip 2: Get your property “rent-ready” Before you list your property, make sure it is ready for potential renters. This means making sure it is safe, well-maintained, and clean. Now is the time to tidy up, declutter and fix the handyman items.

Tip 3: Pet-friendly Consider allowing pets to stay in your property. Even if your new tenants don’t have a pet when they move in, the chances are that if they’re looking for long-term rental, providing a pet-friendly property is a bonus if they decide to get pets later.

What’s more, if you allow pets in your property, then renters will be happier to pay a higher rent in return.

Tip 4: Furnished or unfurnished Consider if you want to rent your property furnished, unfurnished or partially furnished.

Typically, renters who want to avoid the cost of moving items around too often seek properties that furnished. However, this may also lead to your tenants only staying short-term.

Tip 5: Attractive Property Features Most renters want a modern, clean and practical design using quality features. Before you rent your property, consider if you can include some of the following: • functional kitchen(s) • new paint – typically neutral colours are best

• • • • • • • •

modern bathroom, or ensuite storage space matching fixtures and fittings lots of natural light providing fast Wi-Fi garden maintenance (if you have a garden) all bills included off-street parking (if available)

Tip 6: Choose the right letting agent The next critical decision is deciding if you will be the landlord and be on hand to deal with maintenance and repairs (as well as finding tenants). Or if you will appoint an agent to do this on your behalf.

If you decide to find an agent, make sure you find someone reputable that you talk to. You want to build a strong working relationship with them and make sure they can help look after your tenants and your investment.

Find out what their property management service includes and excludes, so you know what your time commitment will need to be.

Tip 7: Prepare for Viewings To make a good first impression, ensure your property is clean and tidy. Make sure you know key information like local bin collection days, internet and energy providers.

Investing in the right property Ultimately, you’ll attract better tenants if your property has features that are in high demand and if the property is in the right areas and near public transport.

First, start by researching the local property market. And then be clear on what type of tenant you want and what is important to them… but don’t overspend.

We recommend that if you are thinking about buying a property to let that you first start by getting professional advice to make a considered decision.

At REKA Property Management, we give our clients the facts about the property industry.

If you want to know how to achieve solid rental returns and have peace of mind with your property, call us on +44 (0) 203 286 6468 or email us at Admin@RekaProperty.co.uk

LANDLORDS WE WANT TO GIVE YOU UP TO

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Rent Your Property to Long-Term Quality Tenants and Receive a Cash Incentive

How Landlords Can Help Ease The London Housing Crisis, Without Impacting Their Rental Returns If you’ve struggled to find quality tenants, reduce rental vacancies or been frustrated doing the necessary legal compliance, repairs or maintenance, then maybe the REKA Property Home Finder Scheme can help you.

This FREE service helps landlords to immediately let their properties to good tenants while providing quality accommodation for Local Housing.

Benefits to Landlords: • Property let within 10 days • A solid two-year assured tenancy period • Fast-tracked housing benefit within days of inspecting your property • A cash incentive up to £1000 • Fully vetted quality tenants • Receive the housing benefit payment directly to you, the landlord, not to the tenants.

To find out more information, call us on 020 3286 6468 or email us at lettings@rekaproperty.co.uk and quote “rent my property.”

W W W. R E K A P R O P E R T Y. C O . U K

LIFE

Editors top Audio Books for those long road trips!

05:00

Megamonster

By: David Walliams | Length: 4 hrs and 33 mins On a volcanic island, in the middle of shark-infested waters, stands the Cruel School. The lessons are appalling, the school dinners are revolting and the teachers are terrifying - especially the mysterious science teacher Doctor Doktur. When Larker is sent to the school, she quickly realises something very odd is going on... something involving Doctor Doktur, a pair of strange spectacles, and a ‘Monsterfication Machine’. Ultimately, she finds herself face-to-face with a real life Megamonster.

There seems to be no escape – but for Larker, nothing is impossible.

A Bear Called Paddington

By: Michael Bond | Narrated by: Stephen Fry | Length: 2 hrs and 39 mins The Browns first met Paddington on a railway station – Paddington station, in fact. He had travelled all the way from Darkest Peru with only a jar of marmalade, a suitcase, and his hat. The Browns soon found that Paddington was a very unusual bear. Ordinary things – like having a bath, travelling underground or going to the seaside – became quite extraordinary, if a bear called Paddington was involved.

The Danger Gang

By: Tom Fletcher | Length: 4 hrs and 12 mins Franky can’t wait to move to his new town – although he wishes he didn’t have to leave his best friend, Dani, behind. But everything changes after the storm, when strange green lightning and powerful thunder crash down on the town. From that night on, the kids who live on Franky’s street start to change. One by one, they become a little odd. A little unusual. A little... magical. Franky’s always wanted to be part of an amazing gang – just like his hero, super-spy Zack Danger! And soon, he realises that there’s real danger in store for himself and his new friends. And so the Danger Gang is born!

The Ickabog

By: J.K. Rowling | Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins The Ickabog is coming! A mythical monster, a kingdom in peril, an adventure that will test two children’s bravery to the limit. Discover a brilliantly original fairy tale about the power of hope and friendship to triumph against all odds, from one of the world’s best storytellers.

And while the kids are knocked out...

French & Saunders: Titting About

By: Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders | Length: 3 hrs If you fancy a good old harmless laugh this is just pure gold.

Please note: contains strong language and adult content.

46 | Cherubs Magazine

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BACK TO SCHOOL WITH KICKERS

THE PERFECT SUMMER TREAT

Based on the award -winning picture book by

Julia Donaldson & Lydia Monks

 Netmums

‘A total delight' The Guardian

LIV E ON STA GE



‘A witty and wonderful live production' Culture Whisper

What the Ladybird Heard © Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks 2009. Macmillan Children’s Books

PALACE 15 JUL – 29 AUG THEATRE

BOOK TODAY nimaxtheatres.com