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When I was a young girl, Nannan Joan taught me how to style hair in ringlets using strips of fabric - no curling irons or heated rollers required! It was such a novelty to me at the time, though strangely in the years since I haven't curled my hair - at least not using rag strips!

Last week it was Princess' birthday and we'd planned a fun day out, so as a treat we decided to style her hair using this technique to help her feel extra pampered on her special day.

In today's post I'll explain the technique we used, complete with a few photos to illustrate this old-fashioned but incredibly effective method of curling hair.

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Very few of us are blessed with an extensive allowance for clothing. Like many mums, I try to buy my children clothes which I hope will last until they grow too big to wear them, while maintaining only a basic wardrobe of garments for myself. 

Taking a little time to care for clothes is the only way to ensure they have a long lease of life. When we look after our favourite garments, we can ensure they last for years. Or at least until we no longer want or need them!
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A beautiful quote on motherhood by Elizabeth Stone.

For me, that momentous moment happened when I held each of my children in my arms for the first time: the emotion was overwhelming, and each time my heart grew in size.

Original photograph by 55Laney69 via Flickr, edited to include the quote by Amanda Kennedy
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For many parents, homework produces a battlefield of reluctance and discontent. Free from the constraints and rules of the classroom, children don't want to be pressured into completing yet more work, but deadlines have been set and teachers are expecting homework books to be handed in on time...

Of course we want our children to succeed at school - what rational parent wouldn't want their son or daughter to achieve the grades that will later land them their dream job? Yet when the task of ensuring homework is completed satisfactorily - and on time - becomes an unpleasant chore when compared with the lure of the latest videogame or playing out with friends, how can we convince our little loved ones to try their best and settle down to tackle the task?

Through Calmer, Easier, Happier Homework, Noel Janis-Norton sets out a programme for parents to help daily homework become a stress-free and enjoyable experience, one which can have lasting effects on our children's ability to learn and on our own skills as educators in the home.

As a keen supporter of my own children's education, I decided to review this book for Glamumous readers so you can get a better idea of how this programme operates, and why you may find it useful in developing your own homework tactics.
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Children whose parents are involved in their formal education achieve higher academic success. Various studies have proved this theory, and I'm sure everyone reading this feels it's important to know how well our children fare at school.

While most parents would like to be involved in their child's education, many of us wonder how we may find the time or in what ways we could participate. We may also wonder what real benefits stem from our increased involvement to see whether it seems worth the increased pressure on our time and resources.

In this article, I hope to explain the benefits of parent involvement in school education, and how even busy working parents can contribute so their children can reap the rewards.

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The Art of Manliness is an incredibly popular men's interest site which is helping to revive "the lost art of manliness". Founded and curated by Brett McKay and his wife, Kate, the site offers a refreshing alternative to mainstream men's magazines by providing quality articles which aim to help it's readers "become better husbands, better men and better fathers" by looking to the past and exploring concepts of "manliness in action".

I've been a fan and subscriber of AoM for quite some time, and it came as no surprise to me that many regular readers are women. Though the site is directed at the male species, it seems the sheer quality and interestingness of the articles presented attract the attention of us ladies too.

Which led me to wonder - are there any alternatives to The Art of Manliness for women?

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Personally I'm not a great fan of celebrating Valentine's Day, at least not in the grand way it is often celebrated now with huge gifts, overly priced chocolates and ridiculously expensive trips to the restaurant (where on any other day a booking for two would cost a fraction of the price).

In my opinion, love should be expressed daily, all year round, not simply reserved for a single day each year. And there are plenty of ways to express romantic intent than buying gifts...

Despite this, I do find the history and mythology of Valentine's Day rather interesting. Call me a closet romantic if you will, but I do enjoy a nice love story and wouldn't object to my other half writing out a heartfelt verse in honour of the day.

So let's consider the history of Valentine's Day: why February 14th has traditionally become the day we send anonymous cards and reaffirm our love. Who was Saint Valentine, and how has his legend come to be celebrated so lavishly?
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Like many busy mums, I often find there's barely time in the day to comb out my tangled hair, let alone paint on a full face of make-up. Weekly manicures have become a thing of the past, and at the end of the month there's barely enough left in the pot for my favourite magazine, let alone a trip to the hairdressers!

Every woman wants to feel pretty and pampered, but when time and money are of the essence, what's a mum to do?

Here are a few suggestions for cheap and easy beauty fixes to fit in with even the tightest of schedules so you can have your beauty fix without having to worry about the cost!

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Often we find that the most interesting and satisfying projects are free! Re-growing vegetables from shop-bought producer is one such project which is not only fun, but a frugal investment to the kitchen garden!

It takes far less time for the vegetables to be ready for harvesting than when growing plants from seed! Kids will love watching the plants quickly develop to maturity, while you can enjoy the satisfaction of saving on grocery shopping by harvesting vegetables grown naturally at home.

Here are three ways you and your family can grow vegetables from the leftovers of shop-bought produce which you can start at any time of year and in many cases grow on the windowsill if the climate is too cold. I've also added links to more projects found across the web - just in case you and your family develop green fingers after trying these ridiculously simple and gratifying ideas!

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French Children Don't Throw Food is an account of the parenting experiences of an Anglophone raising a family in Paris: Druckerman herself is an American former journalist married to an Englishman; their children a daughter and twin boys.

Initially, Druckerman assumes her life as a parent will reflect much of what she refers to as "Anglophone", though she soon discovers that her Parisian peers are not so keen to form friendships among other mothers, let alone choose to be stay-at-home parents who frequent local playgroups and gossip while "over-parenting" their children!

Instead, she discovers that French mothers are equally more strict and relaxed, well groomed women in their own right whose children seem incredibly well behaved and almost never throw food at the tables of the haughty restaurants they frequent.

Her journalist background combined with the experience of motherhood aroused her curiosity as to what creates the "invisible, civilising force" enabling French mothers to seem as though they can have it all. French Children Don't Throw Food is an account of her discoveries and experiences in finding out.

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In the past couple of years, attachment parenting has attracted quite some coverage in the press. Most notably, Time Magazine asked "are you mom enough?" on the front cover of its May edition which featured a shot of Jamie Lynn Grumet nursing her three year old son. The debate which followed was fierce, with critics claiming extended breastfeeding is unnatural while attachment parents defended their right to nurture and bond with their children.

Some believe that attachment parenting implies mum and baby are metaphorically "joined at the hip" while others wonder "what well-intentioned parent is not attached to their kids?" Indeed the term itself is misleading as Ahimsa Mama explains:
"Attachment" connotes codependency, clinging, smothering, and that is a big turnoff for many people.
So what exactly does attachment parenting entail, and why do some families choose to parent their children this way?

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For many women, the dawn of motherhood signals a pause in their pursuit of personal development. They become nurturers, caregivers, selfless beings who when faced with a moment to themselves wonder how best to spend this time for the good of the family, rather than on themselves.

Dreams are put on hold and plans for growing the self are held off until children are older, perhaps even flown the nest... Unfortunately these women fail to understand that personal development is not a selfish treat enjoyed only by themselves, it is an important investment in family life.

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During pregnancy, you'll find a plethora of literature and advice about dealing with your growing baby and what to expect during the birth. Unfortunately there is little mention about what happens to a mother after baby is delivered. And ladies, these are things you really need to be prepared for!

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pancakes with chocolate sauce and mint


This year, Shrove Tuesday falls on the 12th of February, and no doubt your family will be hoping for a plate of pancakes to celebrate the occasion!

Rather than offer pancakes made from a packet (or those awful ready-made things wrapped in plastic), why not treat your family to a batch of delicious home-made ones instead? They really don't take much time or effort to make, and - unless you insist on flipping a pancake only to find it gets stuck on the ceiling - are virtually foolproof too.

Here is my recipe for classic, homemade pancakes to which you can add whatever fillings your family enjoy best.
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There are several lists of top books to read, many of which are a little dated, or include mostly classic fiction which we may not particularly want to read for our pleasure.

Whether you were lucky enough to receive a new Kindle for Christmas, or are taking part in a book reading challenge, here are suggestions for 50 great books to enjoy this year. Featuring a range of genres, classics and contemporary titles, you're sure to find something worthwhile in this list!

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      • How to make ringlets (old fashioned rag curls)
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