Maddie's Blogs Archives - Page 3 of 3

Happy Birthday

by gentlelifehacks | Sep 30, 2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, Maddie's Children's Corner

Maddie has emailed me a blog that she wanted to share with others.

Perhaps, it is a good time to share it as school holidays are upon us all once again.

She said that she wanted to dedicate this blog to her cousin Caden, who will be 10 years old this weekend.

How to make home-made birthday cards and Christmas cards

This is not only simple, but it is easy to do.

If you are making a birthday card for somebody, then you want to try and use colours that blend well with their personality.

Maybe try and find out what their favourite colour is and find out what their hobbies are.

Get a coloured piece of paper or a plain bit of paper.
Fold it in half.
Write a nice catch phrase or perhaps a joke on the front or just write “Happy Birthday” or “Merry Christmas” if you are making a Christmas card.
Do a nice pattern or a drawing or even something that pops out of the front pages.
Identify who the card is for and write something nice about the person, perhaps say something you are thankful for that you recongise about them.
(Optional) If you want to add a little bit of extra sugar and spice, draw a nice picture on the inside, appropriate for their age, maybe a picture of something you think they will like.

I have made home made cards almost my whole life for my family at birthdays, Christmas, and Easter time, and let me tell you that every time I give one to someone it makes me happy, because it always brings a smile to their face, and I like seeing them happy.

So I dedicate this one to my cousin Caden-

“Happy Birthday Caden xoxo”

Read more here if you want other card ideas.

Thank you Maddie for another blog! The photo is of the front of the the card. She also made a very interesting pop out inside the card.

What a great idea to keep busy with in the school holidays, but why leave it there.

See Maddie’s other blog on creative writing for more ideas these school holidays.

There are so many more ways to be creative

We are not born creative, so it takes time to develop those skills that we need to be creative as we grow older.

Fine tuning our fine motor skills and our hand eye co-ordination should start when we are young.

Back to basics

You don’t need anything special or fancy to be creative. It is the opposite really, as the less you have to work with, the more creative you have to be.

Find some cardboard, old egg boxes, paper, tubes, cellotape, glue, buttons, even sand, pebbles or large dry leaves, and children can create a world of opportunity.

What’s not to like? Keeping children busy creating all sorts of wonderful things is a healthy and busy way to spend the school holidays.

Maddie reminded me yesterday of a time when we sorted out old clothes, and then set to re-purposing them by cutting and sewing them into clothes for her dolls and her brother’s teddy.

She is eleven now and still remembers that as a fun way of being creative. I still treasure the hand-made cards and notes that my children made me, and they are stored safely away.

“Grandchildren are like flowers- you never tire of watching them grow”

So thank you Maddie for another lovely blog and the dedication to your cousin on his birthday!

“Health-full” honey bees

by gentlelifehacks | 13/07/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Is honey good for us? Raw honey has been enjoyed thoughout history and has always been known for its health benefits and medical uses. It has a source of antioxidants with compounds known as polyphenols which may play a role in preventing heart disease. Phytonutrients...

7 Cancer Myths

by gentlelifehacks | 06/08/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Cancer and common myths Cancer is something we are programmed to fear. Cancer statistics in the United States alone make quite alarming reading Yet the World Health Organisation reported that in 2019 the top 10 causes of death accounted for 55% of the 55.4 million...

A dog in sheep’s clothing

by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Thinking of selling? Don't be a dog in sheep's clothing. Do it the right way. You would not be the first sellers who have questioned what their own obligations are as to what they should disclose to potential buyers. There are some out there who will blatantly hide a...

Air fryer health benefits

by gentlelifehacks | 28/10/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

When we we were renovating, I purchased my first air fryer. We had limited space so it was ideal until my brand new kitchen was installed. I have since bought my 2nd air fryer ( the same brand -deLonghi "ideal fry"), so we can take one away with us in the motorhome,...

Apple Cider Vinegar’s Mum

by gentlelifehacks | 30/06/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

When fighting illness, it is common to search for products that promote healing. One thing I searched for was a way of maintaining an alkaline body. We were told that cancer does not like an alkaline environment. Cancer cells apparently thrive in acidity (low pH), but...

Are we teens addicted to gaming?

by gentlelifehacks | 17/08/2023 | Healthy living, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

Are you spending too much time gaming or on your mobile phone? A huge percentage of children play video games and studies show an unhealthy percentage can get addicted to them. Did you also know that the World Health Organisation have recognised gaming addiction as a...

Can you hear me?

by gentlelifehacks | 18/09/2024 | caregiving, Coping skills, Good values, Healthy living | 0 Comments

Everyone has bad days. Some days are just worse than others! When we communicate with others it is important to feel that you are heard. How often do you feel that people talk over you? It happens in shops, especially as you get older, or with people who are too busy...

Understanding Dementia

by gentlelifehacks | 19/02/2024 | caregiving, Coping skills, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Wendy was only 58 when she was diagnosed with dementia. This brave lady has written a book about her disease. I was listening to Radio NZ this morning and heard an interview with Wendy who spoke of her life now. She seemed to normalise the disease. A disease that has...

Bad sugar

by gentlelifehacks | 16/02/2024 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

There has been plenty of research done that tells us that a diet high in sugar is bad for our health. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, inflammation are just a few health risks associated with consuming too much sugar. Not...

More rainbows please

by gentlelifehacks | 16/02/2024 | Life Stories, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Symbols of hope They say a rainbow is a symbol of hope. Rainbows are supposed to be a positive sign. They can bring a smile to the saddest person and lighten most people's moods. After my husband died I used to look out for them as I wondered about the belief in...

Create a “laugh alot” garden for kids

by gentlelifehacks | 16/02/2024 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Remember those days of 'Lock down' which must have been incredibly hard on many people, but especially so if you were cooped up indoors with no space to play. Easy projects to keep the kids busy don’t always come to mind, but there are some that are clear winners....

Virus or bacterial infection?

by gentlelifehacks | 02/02/2024 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

With the spread of Omnicron, one of the variants of Covid-19, it is hard not to put every sniffle or tummy ache down to having the virus. This is essentially because, even though most of us who have been able to be vaccinated, have done so, most countries are having...

Mangoes are the fruit of eternal love

by gentlelifehacks | 02/11/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Who doesn't love a mango? I remember as a child eating mangoes in Africa - we would clean the stone and draw faces on it making it look like a hairy face! Later in Australia, we loved eating them and would include them in salads and puddings. The Mango is the...

Is Hashimotos Thyroiditis incurable?

by gentlelifehacks | 29/09/2023 | caregiving, Coping skills, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

So you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis? I was also diagnosed after many years of feeling unwell. At first, in Australia, I was tested for Ross River disease, and then the doctor sent me off to a Heart Surgeon who organised an angiogram for my heart, after I failed some...

Bounce back from illness

by gentlelifehacks | 25/09/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Ask anybody who has been ill and I am sure that they will agree, it can sometimes be hard to bounce back from illness, without following some simple rules. Stay hydrated Eat well Rest often Keep pain under control Keep moving Have a positive attitude Be kind to...

Herbs and health benefits

by gentlelifehacks | 18/09/2023 | caregiving, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Herbs provide a lot of goodness to our diets and this is often ignored by many of us in this busy world of ours. If we can improve our lifestyle by growing a little herb garden, then isn't it something worth considering ? You don't need a lot of space to create your...

Be positive and hold on tight!

by gentlelifehacks | 17/09/2023 | caregiving, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Trying to stay positive is not always easy. Most of us know at least one person who seems to always see the bright side of life. And it is also true to say that we all know someone who leaves us feeling drained or sad. After undergoing some worrying health issues, I...

Eating right as a teenager

by gentlelifehacks | 17/08/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

When you are a teenager it is very important to eat a healthy diet. This will help you with skin infections like acne and help you develop strong healthy bones. Of course you can have a little treat every now and then, but too much could cause serious problems for you...

Teenagers who are stressed and anxious

by gentlelifehacks | 13/08/2023 | Coping skills, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

When you are a teenager, there are many things that can cause stress. Most teens don't really like to talk about it so will mostly struggle with their anxiety on their own. Teenagers are known for getting far less sleep than the recommended amount of sleep we require...

Avoiding acne as a teen

by gentlelifehacks | 12/04/2023 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

Ask any teenager- acne is no fun! If you understand what causes acne then you can try and manage it with ease. When your skin follicles become blocked with oil or dead skin cells, then acne appears. It can be common for teens, but older people in their fifties can...

Business Lingo- Cars NOT Cows!

by gentlelifehacks | 04/01/2023 | Life Stories, Real Estate | 0 Comments

The Big Move- 1995 Emigrating to a land at the bottom of the world was exciting if not different. There were many things other than acclimatising to the cold to get used to, but also trying to understand the quick speech and odd sayings of my new country was a...

Asbestos hazard

by gentlelifehacks | 04/01/2023 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

When buying a house it is always advisable to employ a licensed building inspector to provide information on the building condition. Knowing what to budget for in respect of any repairs required in the coming years makes a lot of sense! Finding Asbestos in a home can...

Fighting to stay healthy

by gentlelifehacks | 29/11/2022 | caregiving, Coping skills, Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Shock medical diagnosis Hearing a shocking medical diagnosis is always going to be stressful. I know how I felt when we were told that my husband had only two months to live. Our world collapsed. Shock made it difficult to breathe. What were we to do? How would we...

Don’t make selling harder by over-pricing

by gentlelifehacks | 26/07/2022 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Buying and selling real estate is not an exact science. Real Estate salespeople are required to comply with the current legislation, and in New Zealand, for instance they need to abide by their professional client and conduct rules. Rule 10 is very important as...

Who’s your perfect match then?

by gentlelifehacks | 08/04/2022 | Lifestyle, uncategorised, Zodiac signs and more | 0 Comments

Have you ever wondered who the right partner is for you? If you are single and unattached how interesting would it be if you could find the perfect match for you? Many people who have been in a relationship for a while are often shocked at how many connecting things...

When the real estate market changes

by gentlelifehacks | 25/03/2022 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

For many years, it is fair to say that Real Estate agents have been operating in a "sellers market". Post "Covid-19", what will the Real Estate market look like? There are many thoughts on this. Obviously it will be changed. There could be job losses, and more...

Make your home a “healthy home”?

by gentlelifehacks | 18/03/2022 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Staying healthy requires not only eating the correct food and exercising the right amount, but also by making sure that we live in a healthy home environment. Everybody wants to live in a healthy home, but sometimes sadly, it is not possible for many people. However,...

House too small now?

by gentlelifehacks | 02/02/2022 | Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

When is the right time to upsize? Wondering if you need to upsize as your toddlers suddenly become"tweens"? Or perhaps it is when they start to bring their friends home as teenagers? It is good knowing where they are and if they feel that they can entertain friends at...

When is the right time to sell?

by gentlelifehacks | 26/01/2022 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate | 0 Comments

For many years, it is fair to say that Real Estate agents have been operating in a “sellers market”. Post “Covid-19”, what will the Real Estate market look like? There have been many thoughts on this. One thing is for sure though- it will be a different world once we...

The things kids say!

by gentlelifehacks | 20/01/2022 | Life Stories, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

1940's -As an "Evacuee" duirng the 2nd World War I had learned two new words that day. I was an inquisitive six year old evacuee in Wales, and in the care of my foster Aunt Florrie. “What does ‘severe’ mean Aunty?” I queried. “It means ‘harsh’ or ‘really bad’ she...

Elephants of Etosha

by gentlelifehacks | 09/12/2021 | Life Stories, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

An occasional grunt or yap of a foraging jackal punctured the surrounding silence. It was early evening and the air was oppressive as we sat mesmerised, taut with the expectation of what we would see of this promised show. Two floodlights directed from our camp lit...

Unusual visitors

by gentlelifehacks | 09/12/2021 | Healthy living, Life Stories, Lifestyle | 2 Comments

The red salt- packed road ran in a straight line up the Skeleton Coast of Namibia. We had left behind the seal colony at Cape Cross a hundred miles back, where the stench of ammonia was so strong, that it brought tears to our eyes, and cleared the sinuses instantly....

When will Covid end?

by gentlelifehacks | 07/12/2021 | Coping skills, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Worrying about things outside of our control is not helpful It is only with acceptance that there can be an absence of worry. This applies to most things in life. A virus has turned the world upside down. We cannot escape the media and understandably are feeling a...

Turn bad news into good news

by gentlelifehacks | 12/11/2021 | caregiving, Coping skills, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

When it seems like the bad news keeps on coming Yesterday I had a much dreaded follow up appointment with the specialist. I was feeling slightly nervous, mainly because of recent experiences, and was certainly not jumping for joy, while I remembered the pain of my...

The Bad Landlord

by gentlelifehacks | 12/11/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

What price should we put on good health? Am I right in thinking that if you are renting a property, and paying good money each week for the privilege one would expect to live in a healthy home? Landlords have been put on notice after the landlords of a damp, mould...

Crazy world house prices

by gentlelifehacks | 28/10/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Buying a home is not for the faint hearted in today's market During the Covid-19 pandemic there has been much said about the shocking increase in property prices around the world. Take Brisbane, Australia for instance- the median house price in September 21 has hit a...

Music soothes the soul

by gentlelifehacks | 27/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

The importance of music Maddie ( aged 11) wrote.... "Music can make a huge difference in peoples lives. I find that music calms me down when I'm mad or when I'm sad. We all need music in our lives as it is important that we think about ourselves every once in awhile....

Tips for a healthier home

by gentlelifehacks | 20/10/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Keeping your home healthy is an ongoing process Sometimes we ignore the smaller issues that then become the bigger issues that cause us pain when we get sick or have to pay for extensive remedial work to alleviate further issues. Climate Change is a very real problem...

Healing with food

by gentlelifehacks | 19/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Living with an Auto immune disease is challenging I know this first hand, as even now, some days I feel like I have been run over and can barely lift my head off the pillow, then other days I am bouncing off the wall. I also suffer at times from waves of anxiety and...

Mindfulness – when the going gets tough

by gentlelifehacks | 18/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

When times are tough When things get tough we often feel anxious and perhaps we might even have issues with sleeping at night. Every time we get stressed, a little part of our brain called the amygdala takes control. The amygdalae defines and regulates our emotions....

The lonely bee hotel

by gentlelifehacks | 17/10/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Children's Corner | 0 Comments

Help our environment with a Bee Hotel During lockdown, Maddie (11) told me that she thought that a good project would be to make a Bee Hotel for the garden. At the time, she was busy re-cycling old glass coffee jars into food storage containers, and we were discussing...

Fighting inflammation with Turmeric

by gentlelifehacks | 05/10/2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Most people love a curry, but did you know that turmeric is one of the herbs that is known for it's beneficial cancer reducing properties, as well as also having many other health benefits. Turmeric contains curcumin, which is a substance with powerful...

Why children love and need pets

by gentlelifehacks | 05/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, Maddie's Children's Corner | 2 Comments

Maddie (11 years) and Lexie (8 years) are cousins in different countries, but since the rolling lockdowns,they talk daily over the internet. They can spend hours showing each other what they are doing every day, whether it is singing, dancing or aerobics, or playing...

Waste not…want not!

by gentlelifehacks | 04/10/2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, uncategorised | 0 Comments

When we throw away our unused old clothing, we are creating greenhouse gases which in turn contributes to climate change. Clothing that ends up in landfills around the world is increasing at alarming levels. It is a very important factor in the lives of our children...

Lock down fatigue

by gentlelifehacks | 30/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Renovating a home is not for the faint hearted Take it from one who knows! But since the beginning of the Covid outbreak and the many" lock down's" around the world, it just became harder. You would think that one would have plenty of time in lock down to do all of...

Mask up and make a difference

by gentlelifehacks | 14/09/2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Wear a mask .... save a life If somebody who was unknowingly infected with Covid-19 or the recent highly infectious Delta variant, and they sneezed within close proximity to you, the chances are you might get the virus, even if you are vaccinated. What are the chances...

The dark side of chocolate

by gentlelifehacks | 13/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

I was talking to eleven year old Maddie who was eating chocolate over FaceTime the other day. Many countries are still in lockdown due to the Delta variant causing so much havoc. She sent me her research this morning for a blog she wanted to write, as obviously she...

Is stress making you gain weight?

by gentlelifehacks | 10/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Have you ever wondered why stress causes you to eat more? Stress can cause many unwanted things and we might not notice them all at first. Stress and your emotional, mental and physical health If you are feeling irritated, or overwhelmed, and have a headache, with a...

Can you cure Hypothyroidism?

by gentlelifehacks | 08/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Hypothyroidism doesn’t have to be permanent Sometimes finding out that you have an auto immune disease can not only be scary, but a relief to eventually find out why you feel so tired, and why you are putting on weight when you are actually eating less. Auto immune...

So what’s your horoscope say today?

by gentlelifehacks | 07/09/2021 | Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Do you check out your daily horoscope? I wonder if there are others like me who will check out their horoscope every now and then, and if they don't like what they read, will find one that they like better? Are you also amazed that when you are reading all about your...

Get on your bike!

by gentlelifehacks | 30/08/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Riding a bike through retirement Who would have thought I would ever ride a bike again at my age? Not me that's for sure! My first bicycle was a second-hand Raleigh. Life in then "war torn" Rhodesia, with Sanctions, meant that we could not buy new things, so when I...

Can Pets improve our mental health?

by gentlelifehacks | 30/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

A loyal friend Basil Brush was my beloved friend. He was a hairy, stocky, short little dog with bucked teeth, an underbite, and a tummy that scraped the steps if he could manage them. He had a deep bark for such a little dog and a very weak bladder, which...

The less you own, the less owns you

by gentlelifehacks | 25/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Do you ever feel like you are running from one task to another? Are you multi-tasking to get things done and constantly in catch-up mode, mobile phone in hand, and answering email after email, and then suddenly it is time to feed the family and catch up on laundry?...

Try something different

by gentlelifehacks | 16/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Simplicity is the highest form of complexity When we first went into lockdown, we decided to try ordering ready-made fresh food online. Our Millenial children had already tried My Food Bag and still love it, so we decided to give it a go too! Our findings From the...

Is Red wine good for you?

by gentlelifehacks | 13/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

To have or to have not After a tough day, I often look forward to a relaxing glass of Pinot Noir. Recently though, after a health scare, my partner gave up alcohol almost entirely, apart from the odd glass of wine. So it made me think whether I was now tasked with the...

Is Goat’s cheese better for you than cow’s cheese?

by gentlelifehacks | 09/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Which is better? Goats cheese or cows cheese? I have always been wary of goats, mainly because I was attacked by one many years ago. The kind owner of the mean goat told me that "Pearl" was not attacking me but merely being friendly. I learnt how to jump a fence that...

Good, bad or ugly?

by gentlelifehacks | 08/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Have you ever wondered about which indoor plants are good and which are bad according to Feng Shui ? A friend of mine once remarked that her son’s new girlfriend had left an obnoxious plant by her front door called “mother- in-laws tongue” as a belated Christmas gift....

Stressed & Angry?

by gentlelifehacks | 06/08/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90 % of how you cope with it. A sense of humour can be an amazing asset when it comes to dealing with stressful situations. It will improve your overall emotional and physical health and will help you to look at things in a...

Is coffee good for us?

by gentlelifehacks | 02/08/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

There is nothing like the smell of freshly brewed coffee is there? So often we are told that coffee is not good for us, but we continue to drink it and enjoy the different varieties that are offered today. The choice is mind boggling! In fact, it is estimated that...

Kill unkindness with kindness

by gentlelifehacks | 23/07/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

It doesn't cost anything to be kind By being "the rainbow" in somebody's stormy day is such a lovely way to think about being kind to others. Even a simple smile can go a long way. How often does a good mood do a U turn when your happy greeting is barely acknowledged...

Zoomers and creative writing

by gentlelifehacks | 23/07/2021 | Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Children and creative writing Maddie (aged 11) loves creative writing and has sent me her reasoning as to why it is so good for children. Maddie is from a generation now referred to as "a Zoomer" - Generation Z I love that she is busy in the school holidays being so...

Feeling like a sad bear?

by gentlelifehacks | 19/07/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Seasonal affective disorder Sometimes when the days seem dull and the sun forgets to shine for days on end, we can suffer from something called SAD (Seasonal affective disorder). This depressive disorder is linked to the seasons of the year and is more common in...

Greens are good says Maddie

by gentlelifehacks | 18/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 1 Comment

Spinach and Kale are 2 vegetables that are nutrient rich with loads of antioxidants, vitamins, calcium, iron and more. Maddie ( my eleven year old granddaughter) is on school holidays at the moment and has sent me a recipe that she has found for a healthy lifestyle....

Oranges to stay healthy

by gentlelifehacks | 17/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

School holidays have arrived again and there are kids still in lock down in some countries. Maddie, my 11 year old granddaughter has sent me a good healthy recipe for a tasty orange drink. Maddie's healthy Vitamin C drink Recipe Get 6 -8 oranges ( or however many you...

Auto immune diseases

by gentlelifehacks | 11/07/2021 | Healthy living, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Finding out that you have an auto immune disease can be a quite scary, but by the time I found out, I was actually relieved to at last find out why I was feeling so ill most of the time. Auto immune diseases occur when the immune system, which is the body's defence...

Baby Baby good for you?

by gentlelifehacks | 09/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 2 Comments

Here is a great little tip from Sandy, in Christchurch, NZ, who was advised by her surgeon to use baby shampoo as a make up remover on her eyelids after having surgery. Unlike many expensive products these days that are sold to remove makeup, like Clinque or Lancome,...

Maddie’s raw egg shake

by gentlelifehacks | 06/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Eleven year old Maddie sent me this quick and easy recipe. She called it a "high in protein" tasty drink. It is refreshing to see somebody so young taking an interest in healing foods. Maddie's simple recipe Use a Blender or Quick shaker Take a cup of milk One banana...

Home and income… really ?

by gentlelifehacks | 06/07/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Home and Income Many people these days are looking for ways to reduce their mortgage. What better way than to have a property that can be split into two seperate dwellings. Of course, they have to comply with the building regulations and various council rules and...

Befriend the little birds

by gentlelifehacks | 01/07/2021 | Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

A simple life hack from Pat... Here is a life hack or handy tip from my childhood friend, Pat Barber who lives in Maryland, USA. How to keep ants from invading Hummingbird feeders. Hang the feeder on a pole and apply a 3/4 inch collar of Vaseline near the bottom of...

Mokopuna

by gentlelifehacks | 30/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

A drawing by Maddie ( age 11)

Spirulina for smoothies

by gentlelifehacks | 29/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

When my husband was undergoing chemotherapy, one of the super foods that he was recommended to use daily was Spirulina. During his cancer journey, our favourite shops soon became the pharmacies and the many health food shops, while we searched for ways of limiting the...

Cancer and Bicarb of soda

by gentlelifehacks | 27/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 1 Comment

When my husband was diagnosed with cancer we were told that bicarbonate of soda was something we should investigate and get into the habit of using daily. We wanted to try every possible avenue in order to keep him healthy while he underwent the invasive chemotherapy...

Do you miss the world?

by gentlelifehacks | 27/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Covid-19 has made it a long 16 months so far. Just when it seems things are getting better, there is another outbreak. Like many people, I have decided to wait and get vaccinated before travelling overseas, even though I miss my family so much. Having an auto immune...

Lemons

by gentlelifehacks | 22/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

When my husband was battling cancer, lemons were one fruit that really helped. We used lemon zest in our salads, lemon juice in his smoothies and teas. Lemons are known to have an alkalising effect in the body. While they are acidic, to begin with, they also are...

Buyer’s remorse

by gentlelifehacks | 22/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

So often when we purchase something we have a feeling of remorse soon after. This is no different when you purchase a house, in fact, the remorse and be much worse. Experienced real estate negotiators are keen to get the deal done that day for this reason. They will...

Smart gadgets

by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Technology | 0 Comments

Renovating a home is not for the faint hearted Take it from one who knows! Smart wiring, or smart homes are often talked about and the digital natives amongst us know all the tricks. Just listening to some of the things required in our new smart home made my head...

Messy house or hoarder?

by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Handy hints, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Sometimes it is hard to differentiate between hoarding and extreme clutter. Many times in my real estate career, I have come across people who do not see the clutter when they come to sell their homes. It is rude to point it out to them, and sometimes difficult to be...

Houses built from hemp

by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Some interesting ways of building homes over the years have included products such as Hemp. It has apparently been used globally as a natural building product for thousands of years. Recently a Western Australian couple hand built their three-bedroom home on a...

10 Simple Life Hacks to Stay Healthy and Active

by gentlelifehacks | 25/09/2024 | Health and Wellness | 0 Comments

Introduction to Healthy LivingIn today's fast-paced world, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can often feel overwhelming. However, implementing a few simple life hacks can significantly improve your well-being and help you stay active. This blog post explores effective...

10 warning signs to look out for when buying a house

by gentlelifehacks | 30/11/2021 | Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Renovating is not always easy. Even the the tasks that look like they could be simple can turn out to me a mission to finish! Have you ever found a few cracked tiles in the kitchen and thought about replacing them? It is okay if you have spare matching tiles, but what...

A wise old donkey

by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He...

Are you a hoarder?

by gentlelifehacks | 20/01/2023 | caregiving, Coping skills, Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Are you a hoarder? They say you should always "declutter" when selling your home? When I was selling my own home after the death of my husband, I wondered if I was a hoarder! They say that hoarding is often a coping mechanism. Apparently if we are bereaved , or...

The dark side of chocolate

by gentlelifehacks | Sep 13, 2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs

I was talking to eleven year old Maddie who was eating chocolate over FaceTime the other day.

Many countries are still in lockdown due to the Delta variant causing so much havoc.

She sent me her research this morning for a blog she wanted to write, as obviously she does not want to give up her chocolate!

Responsible chocolate eating

Chocolate is something that is good and bad for you at the same time.

While it is not just a yummy treat, it can also cause stomach pain and can cause you to gain weight. (Tell me about it!)

Maddie’s research:

Dark Chocolate is actually quite good for you because it can help prevent heart disease, reduce inflammation and can reduce blood pressure.

Research also tells us that it is high in calories and can contribute to weight gain if eaten in excess, so eating it in moderation offers the greatest health benefit.

The healthiest dark chocolate should contain a cocoa percentage of 70% or higher, which provides more antioxidants and health benefits.

It is also supposed to be good source of Iron, Copper, Magnesium, Zinc, Phosphorus and Flavanols.

Health Benefits of Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, which are plant chemicals that act as antioxidants, and are thought to play a role in cancer prevention and heart health, as published online by Cambridge University Press in December 2016.

Consuming dark chocolate can improve several important risk factors for heart disease.

In a controlled study, cocoa powder was found to significantly decrease oxidized LDL (bad) cholesterol in men.

It also increased HDL and lowered total LDL for those with high cholesterol. Read more here

So thank you Maddie!

I have decided to tidy up my own “chocoholic” habit, and only have a little square of chocolate each night, of course, along with my healthy glass of red wine ( read more here)

*PS from Nanna

Dear Maddie,

There is a dark side to milk chocolate!

Especially for anyone who wants to avoid pimples.

Nothing with added sugar is good for your skin, as sugars contribute to the inflammation of skin cells.

Junk foods are also high in sugar (and refined carbohydrates) and will increase the skin’s oil production causing inflammed skin breakouts commonly known as pimples or zits.

So it is never too soon to eat less of the lollies and more of the vegetables and fruit for a healthy glowing skin like you have now.

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by gentlelifehacks | 13/07/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

7 Cancer Myths

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The Bad Landlord

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by gentlelifehacks | 28/10/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate | 0 Comments

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Tips for a healthier home

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by gentlelifehacks | 17/10/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Children's Corner | 0 Comments

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by gentlelifehacks | 05/10/2021 | caregiving, Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

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by gentlelifehacks | 05/10/2021 | caregiving, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, Maddie's Children's Corner | 2 Comments

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The dark side of chocolate

by gentlelifehacks | 13/09/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs | 0 Comments

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by gentlelifehacks | 25/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Try something different

by gentlelifehacks | 16/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Is Red wine good for you?

by gentlelifehacks | 13/08/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

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by gentlelifehacks | 23/07/2021 | Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, uncategorised | 0 Comments

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by gentlelifehacks | 19/07/2021 | Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Greens are good says Maddie

by gentlelifehacks | 18/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 1 Comment

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by gentlelifehacks | 17/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

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by gentlelifehacks | 11/07/2021 | Healthy living, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Baby Baby good for you?

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Maddie’s raw egg shake

by gentlelifehacks | 06/07/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Home and income… really ?

by gentlelifehacks | 06/07/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Befriend the little birds

by gentlelifehacks | 01/07/2021 | Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Mokopuna

by gentlelifehacks | 30/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion, uncategorised | 0 Comments

A drawing by Maddie ( age 11)

Spirulina for smoothies

by gentlelifehacks | 29/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Cancer and Bicarb of soda

by gentlelifehacks | 27/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Lifehacks, Lifestyle | 1 Comment

Do you miss the world?

by gentlelifehacks | 27/06/2021 | Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Lemons

by gentlelifehacks | 22/06/2021 | Handy hints, Healthy living, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Buyer’s remorse

by gentlelifehacks | 22/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Smart gadgets

by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Technology | 0 Comments

Messy house or hoarder?

by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Handy hints, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Houses built from hemp

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by gentlelifehacks | 25/09/2024 | Health and Wellness | 0 Comments

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by gentlelifehacks | 30/11/2021 | Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

A wise old donkey

by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Are you a hoarder?

by gentlelifehacks | 20/01/2023 | caregiving, Coping skills, Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Zoomers and creative writing

by gentlelifehacks | Jul 23, 2021 | Home and Garden, Kid's corner, Lifestyle, Maddie's Blogs, uncategorised

Children and creative writing

Maddie (aged 11) loves creative writing and has sent me her reasoning as to why it is so good for children.

Maddie is from a generation now referred to as “a Zoomer” – Generation Z

I love that she is busy in the school holidays being so creative, and that she sends me her thoughts for this website to share with others.

So thank you Maddie- to quote in her words…

“Story writing is very important in a child’s life.

It gives them a sense of how to be creative and helps them with their identity.

Children are able to communicate with their emotions and of course it improves their reading skills.

Writing also helps children to learn new words and explore different ideas.

It helps with hand-eye co-ordination and improves fine motor skills and muscles by just holding the pencil or pen.

It also helps them channel their emotions and express how they feel.

My idea to help us children with our writing

Create a colourful poster to put up on the bedroom wall with tips about different types of nouns, verbs and adjectives that help with creative writing.

You could do pictures to describe the types of words.

Examples

Noun- a noun is a word that names something such as a place, person or thing
Verb – a verb is the action in the sentence – for example a “doing” thing
Adjective- a describing word like ” Big, happy, or sad”
Adverb is a word that describes a verb ie: “he sings loudly”

Creative writing also helps us to develop creative thoughts by using our imaginations.

It also helps broaden our thought processes and will improve problem solving and logical skills, so it is something to enjoy from a young age.”

A world of text speak

Note from an oldie 🙂

In a world of text speak and emojis, it seems that writing skills and spelling are sadly sometimes being overlooked, so it feels important to encourage our Mokopuna (grandchildren) to handwrite their stories.

They will be able to communicate better with others and will benefit from many of the other positive skills associated with story writing.

There are some great resources out there these days to help children with their learning. Here is an example of one such website that I found.