Warm Up on the Cool Nights: Ten Essential Items for All the Family

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At the moment, with the weather being hot and sticky, it’s essential that you try and prevent overheating – especially when it comes to your children and babies. However, as the seasons change, cooler nights will be upon us, and it will soon be time for us to pull out all of the nice, snug and warm clothing that will help to keep us all toasty afterdark. Check out these ten essential items that will ensure everyone in your family can warm up, and stay warm, on cool nights, without having to spend a fortune on heating bills!

Slippers                                           

Slippers are a must-have for all family members, and with grownup’s, girl’s and boy’s slippers at George being as affordable as they are fun, you won’t have to break the bank to kit your kids, and you, out in a pair that will last.

Dressing Gowns

It doesn’t matter how old, or young, you are, dressing gowns are a perfect way to warm up on cool evenings. They’re also fabulous for the mornings as well, and are available in some amazing prints and styles, including this gorgeous pink spot print one for £8.

Electric Blanket

Bear in mind the effect on your electricity bill before you turn on the electric blanket. However, it’s a lovely appliance that can really warm you up when nothing else will do.

Hot Water Bottle

The cheaper alternative to an electric blanket, a hot water bottle is a great addition to any chilly bed or sofa. A quick boil of the kettle and you’re away!

Baby Sleeping Bag

You can buy sleeping bags for babies in various different sizes and togs, depending on the age of the baby and the warmth of the room. For summer, a 1 tog bag will suffice, but as it gets cooler, you may wish to trade this in for a warmer tog alternative. Either that, or layer them – but not too much!

Onesie

Onesies are a great way to look fun and funky, at the same time as being warm and cosy. Available for all of the family, in various colours and prints, there’s bound to be one that you love.

Slipper Socks

If you’re not one for a pair of slippers, slipper socks are the next best thing!

Thermals

We’re certainly not at the stage where we need to dig out the thermals just yet, but it won’t be long until the winter months are upon us. Thermals are a great way to keep toasty during the winter – they’re also a great item to take with you if you’re heading to a muddy field for a festival at any point over the next couple of months.

Heart-warming Food

It’s known that when it’s a little cool outside, heart-warming food is the way to go. Rather than summer salads and pulling out the barbecue, dust off the slow cooker and make some scrumptious stews, soups and casseroles. There are plenty of slow cooker recipes online for you to have a go at.

A Nice Cup of Hot Chocolate

How can you say no to a lovely, milky cup of hot chocolate during the cooler evenings? Not only is it yummy, but warm, milky drinks help to warm you up too. Go all out with some marshmallows and whipped cream!  

Stay warm on the cool nights, and make the most out of the sunny days that we have left!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. 

The Spooky Scribes Halloween Challenge

My kids seem to be taking over my blog this week. First there was the 'interesting' drawing by the 4 year old of how he sees me and now the 8 year old has landed her very first writing commission in return for some Halloween costumes from George at ASDA.

The deal was she write a Halloween story - they send her the gear.

'Wow' I said to her after she'd finally written it all out - 'Your very first writing gig!'

'FIRST???' she exclaimed in horror.

Somehow I don't think she'll be following in my footsteps...

So here it is - as written by my budding scribe:

Lucy and the Scary Spider.

By Kaya, Age 8

Once upon a time in Callafornya there was a high school called Waferly High. Now this wasn't an ordinary school, but a monster school. And in the school there was a little girl named Lucy. She was a Dark Fairy. And she loved Waferly High. But there was one problem....she was terrified of spiders.

Her best friend was called Sam. He was a Ware-Woolf. And infact in that very school there are millions of spiders. And there's a very cheeky spider called Charlie. And evry time Lucy and Sam are hanging around Charlie comes up and frightens the life out of Lucy, evry time she sees him she screams.

Now she's getting fed up with all the screaming and fearness so she's going to stand up for herself. 

Lucy had a plan. She and Sam would sneek up behind Charlie and give him a fright and see how he likes it. A week later they did their plan and it just didnt work. Charlie is just fearless. Then one day when Lucy was at her house Charlie came by to scare her but...but...gess what? She wasn't scared. It was a mirical. She finally faced her fear of spiders. 

She was so happy and in fact she actcholy made friends with them. They all came around to her house and had tea and cake and they all lived happily ever after. 

The End.

And if you needed proof that this was all her own work (which somehow I don't think you will...) here it is!

Disclosure: The Dark Fairy, Werewolf and Spider Costumes were sent to us free of charge for the purposes of the Spooky Scribes Challenge. Find more costumes from George here.