Family Life

Your Guide to Bringing the Sparkle to Memorable Family Gatherings

Family gatherings are an opportunity to connect, celebrate, and create memories with loved ones. From casual weekends to festive holidays, bringing a little extra sparkle to your event can make it truly unforgettable. Here’s a guide to help you add that special touch, ensuring your family and friends enjoy a gathering filled with warmth, laughter, and joy.

  1. Set the Scene with Thoughtful Decor

An inviting atmosphere can set the tone for your gathering, making guests feel welcomed and relaxed. Try stringing fairy lights around the room or garden, setting up...

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Ellie Green

Ellie Green

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Expert advice on handling Christmas as a divorced or separated parent

Authored by Ellie Green
Posted: Mon, 12/19/2022 - 12:52am

Handling Christmas can be challenging at the best of times, but if you are dealing with it as a divorced or separated parent, it can be especially testing. Self-help separation website, Splitting Up advises parents to be as flexible as possible with holiday arrangements, but what else can you do to manage what can often be a difficult time of year for divorced or separated parents?

Plan early

If you are already divorced, then you may have a Child Arrangement order in place that includes plans for Christmas and other holidays. This may mean you have the children with you...

Sustainable Baby Clothing: Ways for Economically Embracing Sustainability

Authored by Liv Butler
Posted: Sun, 12/18/2022 - 11:32pm

Practicing sustainability means acting now to leave a better world for tomorrow's generation. Buying from companies that make children's clothing with social and environmental consciousness in mind is a crucial first step. This trend has led to the proliferation of eco-friendly childrenswear labels.

Some online retailers focus solely on offering eco-friendly and ethical childrenswear brands, having thoroughly researched and vetted each to save their customers time and effort.

You can use your purchasing power to secure a bright future by favoring businesses like https://...

Advice on how to ensure toys are safe this Christmas

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 12/09/2022 - 11:34pm

To help ensure that the toys you are buying this Christmas are safe Trading Standards has released two short videos.

The videos, about toy safety and buying electrical goods , feature Holly Traynor from the Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service and she gives her top tips and advice on what to look for and what to avoid.

Trading Standards advises that if you are buying new products, you should ensure they display a CE mark, proof that the product has passed EU safety regulations, or the UKCA mark, which is the UK equivalent.

All toys, including ‘free...

Devon County Council teams up with John Lewis on its own Christmas advert

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 11/25/2022 - 7:09pm

Devon County Council and John Lewis, Exeter, have teamed up in celebration of fostering and children in care.

The connection follows the recent launch of the much-heralded John Lewis 'Christmas' TV advert, viewed by millions and seen by many to mark the start of the Christmas count-down.

Often poignant, the John Lewis advert this year focuses on children in care and follows the preparations by a foster carer ahead of the young person's arrival.

Knowing that the young person is a keen skateboarder, foster carer dad spends previous weeks learning how to skateboard...

Family Solicitor Nahanni Simcox

How to have a ‘good’ divorce - Good Divorce Week 2022

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Fri, 11/25/2022 - 1:33pm

As a long-term member of Resolution which seeks to resolve family matters as constructively as possible, The Family Law Company is keen to raise awareness of Good Divorce Week.

The campaign was created to help limit conflict in divorce in the hope that separating couples are more likely to remain on amicable terms. This year Good Divorce Week runs from 28 November to 2 December and is themed Ending the Family Court Crisis.

Solicitor Nahanni Simcox from The Family Law Company explains “While some people might wonder how a divorce can ever be ‘good’, the fact is that by...

Michael Tilston and James Miles from The Mortgage Quarter with the 2021 gift donation

The Mortgage Quarter launches Exeter's annual Christmas charity gift appeal

Exeter-based mortgage broker, The Mortgage Quarter has launched its annual Christmas charity gift appeal, which this year will support seven local charities.

Now in its fourth year, The Mortgage Quarter is widening its campaign this year and calling on local residents and businesses to donate brand-new women's and children's clothes and gifts as well as toys.

Working in partnership with CoLab Exeter, the donations will be split between seven Exeter-based charities supporting children, domestic abuse survivors, families in temporary accommodation and Ukrainian refugees....

5 Best Curly Hair Products for Kids

Authored by Val Watson
Posted: Wed, 11/16/2022 - 9:00am

Does your child have a beautiful head of curly hair? Curly hair can be wonderful, but it can also be a pain to look after.

Curly hair requires a completely different hair care routine from straight hair, so If you don't have curls yourself, you may be wondering how you can help tame your kid's hair and stop their ringlets from getting frizzy unruly.

In this article, we'll give you our five best curly hair products for kids, so you can help your kids keep their curls under control!

#1 Curl Safe Detangling Brush

If you've ever tried to brush through your...

A free, family Hallowe'en adventure comes to Exeter

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Mon, 10/24/2022 - 10:08am

This October, families in Exeter will be able to follow an augmented reality story-trail.

As part of local plans to give families a fantastic half term, InExeter and Visit Exeter have teamed up to provide a free interactive trail for families. Working with High Street Safari, InExeter and Visit Exeter have launched a unique, free trail in Exeter ready for October half term.

The Totally Spooking Out! Hallowe'en trail is an innovative experience that lets families choose what happens in the story as they follow the trail – all you need is a smartphone. Players will hunt...

October half term activities at the National Trust in and around Devon

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 10/17/2022 - 6:34pm

During October half term in and around Devon, National Trust places are hosting an array of family friendly activities and terror-ific Halloween adventures. From spooky scarecrow trails to exploring autumnal colours and harvest displays to wood carving. There’s lots going on to keep your ghouls and monsters entertained.

What’s more, every time you experience a National Trust day out, you help care for these special places for future generations.

Here is what’s happening near you this half term: 

Arlington Court

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/arlington...

Hide and Treat at The Donkey Sanctuary this October

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Sat, 10/15/2022 - 12:31pm

Visitors to The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth are in for a spooktacular treat this October with the Hide and Treat Halloween Hunt.

Hidden around the sanctuary are specially created Halloween crocheted character ‘Neddies’, which people can discover following the clues on their trail sheet.

This fangtastic activity combines family fun, exercise and brainpower. Trail sheets cost £5 each and includes a treat on completion.

The crocheted character ‘Neddies’ must be seen to be appreciated and are the work of talented supporter Judith Crockford. Over the years Judith...

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