What makes the 2022 CX 5 Mazda family car ideal for travel?
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Mazda has always been a trusted brand for family cars and the 2022 CX 5 Mazda family car is the perfect example of why they are so well-loved. With plenty of features to make travelling with kids more accessible, it’s no wonder this vehicle is such a popular choice. But before you make your final decision, it is essential to research this SUV to get a well-rounded idea of what it offers. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the top reasons the CX-5 is ideal for families who love to travel. Read more about the CX-5 to see if it’s the right SUV for you and your family.
Things to look for when choosing an SUV for family travel
Just like any other car, there are certain things you should look for when choosing an SUV for your family. However, with so many options on the market, it’s hard to decide which is right for you.
Here are a few key factors to keep in mind when narrowing down your choices:
Size: Before anything else, you ensure that the SUV you’re considering has enough room for your family. Depending on the size of your family, it is crucial to have enough space for everyone to be comfortable on long car rides.
Safety: This is always the number one priority when choosing a car for your family. SUVs are notoriously known for being some of the safest vehicles on the road. This is especially important if you have young children in the car.
Entertainment: One of the most important things to consider when travelling with kids is how they will stay entertained during the drive. That’s why looking for an SUV with a built-in entertainment system is important. This will keep them occupied and help make the drive go by much faster.
Mileage: If you’re planning on doing a lot of driving, it’s important to choose an SUV with good gas mileage. No one wants to be stuck at a gas station every few hours. Besides this, you’ll also save money on gas, which is always a plus.
Is a 2022 Mazda CX-5 a good SUV for family travel? Here are five reasons why:
Now that you know what to look for in an SUV, it’s time to inspect the CX-5. Here are just a few reasons the Mazda cx5 is perfect for your next family car for travel:
1. 2022 CX 5 Mazda has nature inspired design
The Mazda CX 5 was designed with inspiration from nature. The goal was to create a vehicle that would offer drivers and passengers a feeling of connection with the outdoors. This car features large windows and an open cabin design to achieve this. This allows for plenty of natural light and fresh air to enter the vehicle, making it a pleasant place to spend time on long trips.
2. The 2022 Mazda CX-5 turbo Is fun to drive
The 2022 Mazda CX 5 turbo is also fun to drive. It offers a sporty driving experience while still being comfortable and practical. This car is available with a variety of engines, including a turbocharged option that provides plenty of power for those who enjoy a more spirited driving experience.
3. This vehicle is fuel efficient
The CX-5 is also very efficient, thanks to its Skyactiv technology. This technology helps to improve fuel economy without sacrificing performance. As a result, the Mazda – cx-5 gets excellent gas mileage, making it an ideal choice for families looking to save money on travel expenses.
4. CX-5 Is well-equipped
This SUV has various features that make it an ideal choice for families. These features include third-row seating, a rear entertainment system, and advanced safety features. Additionally, many optional features can be added to further customize the CX-5 to meet the needs of any family.
5. The Mazda CX 5 interior is spacious
What makes the CX-5 truly perfect for families is its spacious interior. This SUV can comfortably seat up to seven people, making it ideal for larger families. This also offers plenty of room for storage, so you can pack everything you need for your next family trip leaving nothing behind.
Standard equipment on the CX-5 Maxx includes:
17-inch alloy wheels with 225/65 tyres
Automatic LED headlights
Rain-sensing wipers
Power-folding mirrors
Rear seats with reclining function and 40/20/40 split-fold backrest
Black cloth seat trim
8.0-inch touchscreen (MZD Connect)
7.0-inch digital instrument binnacle
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
AM/FM radio, DAB+
Electric parking brake with Auto Hold
Leather-wrapped gear shift knob and steering wheel
Push-button start
Conclusion
The signature CX-5 is the perfect SUV for families who are looking for a vehicle that is both safe and spacious. The design view is inspired by nature and packed with features that will make any road trip more enjoyable. In addition, its excellent fuel economy makes it an affordable choice for those looking to save money on travel expenses. By knowing what to look for in an SUV and doing your research, you can easily find the perfect vehicle for your family’s demands.
FAQ
Is the 2022 Mazda CX-5 underpowered?
Other questions are:
Is Mazda CX 5 underpowered
“”The CX-5’s standard 187-hp four-cylinder engine has great throttle response when pulling away from stoplights or hustling around town, so it feels quicker than it actually is. It’s at higher speeds, such as when trying to pass or merge onto the freeway, that it feels underpowered.”
Is the Mazda CX 5 a reliable and long lasting SUV?
“The Mazda CX-5 has a predicted reliability rating of four out of five from Consumer Reports, which is above average. It costs about $447 to maintain the Mazda CX-5 on an annual basis, while the average cost to care for a midsize SUV is $573. So, it’s one of the more reliable options on the road.”
“The Mazda CX-5 remains one of the best small SUVs around. It offers a high-quality interior, sharp handling and a competitive price. It comes up just a bit short in terms of rear passenger space, cargo capacity and fuel economy, but overall it’s an outstanding vehicle in its class.”
https://www.edmunds.com/mazda/cx-5/2022/
Where is 2022 Mazda CX-5 made?
The Mazda CX-5 is made in Japan.
Does 2022 Mazda CX 5 have wireless carplay?
You can connect your smartphone via Mazda Connect™ using Apple CarPlay™ integration for your iPhone® and Android Auto™ for your android, to access maps, playlists, contacts and more on the large 10.25-inch centre display.
Does 2022 Mazda CX 5 have touch screen?
You have a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system to access your Mazda connected services, as well as a four-speaker stereo.
Does 2022 Mazda CX-5 have Sirius radio?
At the Grand Touring Level you can get the add-on Sirius XM radio and a premium 10-speaker Bose audio system.
Does the 2022 Mazda CX 5 have remote start?
Using the MyMazda App, you can start your engine remotely and set the cabin’s temperature before you get in the car. You can also find your Mazda by pinning its location on the map. It also activates hazard lights and the horn to make it easier for you to find your car.
Is the Mazda CX 5 being discontinued?
There are no plans to discontinue the Mazda CX-5.
How do you clean the dashboard on a Mazda CX 5?
Use a soft cloth soaked in approximately 5% of mild detergent that is diluted with water. Wipe off the remaining detergent with a fresh clean water-soaked cloth that has been wrung out well.
Is the Mazda CX 5 a capable off road vehicle?
“Yes—you can take your Mazda CX-5 off-road. The CX-5 has all-wheel drive functionality, creates sufficient horsepower and torque required for off-roading, and tires that can go the distance. Not to mention, it’s just a fantastic car. Car and Driver rates it 10/10 and put it on its Editor’s Choice List.”
https://getjerry.com/driving/mazda-cx-5-off-road
Mazda CX-5 2022 price?
The 2022 Mazda CX-5 starts at $25,900.
*Collaborative feature post
*Images taken from https://www.carexpert.com.au/mazda/cx-5
About Leyla Preston
Leyla is a UK mum of four, a writer and the founder of Motherhood Diaries, which she has edited since 2010. She has written about pregnancy, birth and family life for more than 15 years, edited NCT Harrow’s Special Delivery magazine, and is the author of several children’s and family books. She is also co-founder of Poppy, a new app helping UK parents find trusted local support, and presents Tech Talks Zone, a YouTube channel reviewing tech and AI tools for busy parents. Read Leyla’s story
Our health articles follow NHS guidance and aren’t a substitute for advice from your midwife, health visitor or GP.
10 reasons you should rent a family RV this summer
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You want to book a holiday with the family this summer, but the thought of wading through passport control and cramming the family into packed aeroplane seats on fills you with utter dread. So, why not change it up this year and rent an RV to take you on your journey with the family? Sceptical? Here are 10 reasons you should rent a family RV this summer.
1. You can live in a house on holiday!
You can cook, lounge, sleep and bathe as you would in your own home, but in a much smaller setting. And, if you work remotely, you can work wherever you are travelling to, by hooking up to a local Wi-Fi or carrying a Tep Wireless device around with you.
2. An RV has wheels, so you could be constantly on the go
The beauty of a motorhome is that you can travel wherever your heart desires in the comfort of your home away from home – 24/7. Ultra lite travel trailers make it really easy to just hop on and drive because of their lightweight design and they’re more aerodynamic than a typical travel trailer.
3. You can witness breath-taking views wherever you go
Need I say more?
4. You get a lot more storage for luggage
No more cramming everything you need into a 23kg limit suitcase (which is what the airlines allow for). Pack the kitchen sink because you can. The only restriction you have is the weight of the RV on the road.
5. You can build more travel memories with the family
Holiday memories wouldn’t need to start at the destination. In fact, most of your treasured memories could be while you are on the road to the destination.
6. You can make a pit-stop wherever you like
And that pit stop could be in the RV, because you have your own toilet!
7. Hiring an RV is way cheaper than travelling on the plane and even hiring a room at a hotel
Airfares are now riddled with hidden costs, no matter how cheap you can find the tickets on the net. Hotel rooms charge premium prices for using the same amenities that you would have for free in an RV (albeit on a smaller scale). With an RV rental, you are fully in charge. You prepare your own meals; you pay for your own petrol and you never need to worry about where you’re going to spend the night. That’s why many more families are becoming RV families.
8. RVs are multi-functional
RVs are not just for recreational use, they are literally temporary housing solutions for all daily needs. For example, if you have been forced out of your home due to works, you can live in an RV as a second temporary home for a while. If you have extra family coming over and not enough rooms in the house? Send them to the RV!
RVs like toy hauler travel trailers are great because they feature a ‘garage’ in the rear with a large ramp-door for access. Usually, toy haulers, which are fifth wheel or travel trailers, allow for loading and unloading heavy items like vehicles or other equipment. Or you can use the space to sprawl out and relax if you want. The built in cargo space in fifth wheels eliminates the need to tow a separate trailer.
9. The entire family can enjoy the fun
Bring the dog! Have mini parties whilst the designated driver is driving you guys to the destination. Play cards on your own kitchen table whilst sipping wine. Do whatever you want with the family because you can. All of you can become an RV family.
10. You are free to enjoy your holiday
The beauty of vacationing with family RVs is that you can literally go where the heart takes you, in the comfort and cosiness of your own home, away from home. Yes, I may have repeated this more than once, but remember, you call the shots on this holiday. Not the plane or the hotel, or even the travel to and from the plane and the hotel. It’s you, your family and the RV, all the way.
With the memories of Covid lockdowns and travel restrictions now lifted and becoming a distant memory in our minds, the last year or so has seen many travellers realise just how much they’ve missed the freedom to hop on a plane, or get in a car, and explore the world around them!
And when it comes to taking kids abroad to places like California, for example, people are getting smart with their form of travel and accommodation. You can hop on your family RV and bask in the beauty of your surroundings. Bakersfield has become an exciting new place for lots of travellers now. And whether you’re considering a move to Bakersfield CA, or just looking to have some fun in the area, you can do that with your family RV (just google ‘family rv california’ to find your nearest RV retailer).
And because you can, you can head over to the Kern County Museum, which sits North of downtown, or enjoy an audio journey with your family RV through Bakersfield and beyond, like the Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, which offers fine dining with exciting live music that combines modern and classic country styles.
Whatever you want to do, you have more flexibility with your family RV. So enjoy the journey to the destination in style while making memories that last a lifetime on your holiday.
If you’re looking to buy or rent an RV, just do a Google search for ‘RV trailer rental near me’, ‘family RV rental’, ‘rent a travel trailer near me’, ‘rent travel trailer near me’, or ‘family RV for sale’ and you’ll be able to find a dealer out there (like Jayco) that can show you all the best family RV sales and deals out there.
FAQ
My family and I are taking a 7 day road trip to Australia from Perth to Sydney in a camper van. What are camper van parking spots and interesting places throughout?
What can cause a 30 amp RV power cord to overheat and melt?
“The main cause why your camper plug may melt is usually a loose connection at the campground that will cause additional resistance, thus heat buildup. Also, a common explanation for the camper plug melt is overloading a socket or an extension cord.”
“Pursuant to California Penal Code section 25610, a United States citizen over 18 years of age who is not prohibited from firearm possession, and who resides or is temporarily in California, may transport by motor vehicle any handgun provided it is unloaded and locked in the vehicle’s trunk or in a locked container.”
https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/travel
Is a travel trailer considered an RV?
“A trailer is considered an RV because it contains living quarters and can be towed by a vehicle – even pop-up campers are considered RVs, because they are towable and used for accomodations once you arrive at your site!”
“Camping helps children to develop a sense of adventure. A new environment, unfamiliar sights and sounds, other kids to meet and play with, a tent to help put up and sleeping under the stars all make for a fun-filled adventure.”
This article has some great tips on how to plan a family RV trip.
How much is a family RV?
The average cost of new RVs or motorhomes as they call it in the UK, are around £47,000 and £80,000 for the most popular models. But you can save money by buying a used model. This article shows you the average cost of new and used RVs.
15 Best Family RVs
Another question asked was, ‘What is the best family RV?’
This article has some ideas on the best RV for a family of 5.
Is an RV a good investment?
“While this may seem like a wise choice for your pocket in the short term it’s not a great investment tactic and you need to think of the long haul, because while older motorhomes hold their value better than cars they won’t stay valuable forever.”
Leyla is a UK mum of four, a writer and the founder of Motherhood Diaries, which she has edited since 2010. She has written about pregnancy, birth and family life for more than 15 years, edited NCT Harrow’s Special Delivery magazine, and is the author of several children’s and family books. She is also co-founder of Poppy, a new app helping UK parents find trusted local support, and presents Tech Talks Zone, a YouTube channel reviewing tech and AI tools for busy parents. Read Leyla’s story
Our health articles follow NHS guidance and aren’t a substitute for advice from your midwife, health visitor or GP.
Group 1 2 3 car seat safety guide – the basics
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By law, all children must be secured properly when riding in a car, as proper use of car safety seats can keep your child safe from unfortunate accidents on the road. However, the car seat industry is huge and nowadays you’re not just buying the standard car seat on its own anymore – tons of new car seats have a menu of accessories that come in the box and what even is a group 1/2/3 car seat Isofix bundle!?
If you’re new to car seats and have little to no expertise regarding car seat safety, then this group 1 2 3 car seat safety guide will touch upon the car seats available by age/weight and the typical car seat safety check each car seat needs to go through so your child can keep safe in the car.
This article will however focus on the car seat group 1 2 3 stages and how you can ensure ultimate child passenger safety in the car when your child transitions through each stage.
“Car seats and boosters provide protection for infants and children in a crash, yet car crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13. That’s why it’s so important to choose and use the right car seat correctly every time your child is in the car.”
Children aged up to approximately 11 years old or 36kg must travel in initially rear-facing car seats, transitioning then to forward-facing child car seats and finally booster seats.
But you don’t just fit and go. Your child’s car seat must:
Be properly installed
Conform to the United Nations standard, ECE Regulation 44.04 (or R 44.03) or to the new i-size regulation, R129. Look for the ‘E’ mark label on the seat.
Be appropriate for your child’s size and weight
Be properly fastened and adjusted to fit so the belt fits properly
Must follow car seat regulations
Choosing the right toddler seat can be even more challenging, as different products are available on the market, categorised by car seat groups.
There are four types of child seats for cars, and the size car seat relates to the age and weight of your child. This Group 1 2 3 car seat safety guide will briefly discuss the key features of each car seat but focus on the car seat 1 2 3 group to help you understand which one is the best fit for your situation.
Car seat weight chart
Below is an image taken from which.co.uk that shows the corresponding weight for children’s car seats, from infant car seat to booster seats car seats.
As you can see in the images above, car seats are categorised according to weight rather than age because weight can fluctuate. So it’s not safe to rely on your child’s age when choosing a car seat.
For example, my eldest is in the 99th centile for his age category, my middle boy is in the 25th centile, my middle girl is in the 50th centile and my youngest girl is in the 98th centile. So, following the exact age for all four of my children would be dangerous because my middle children wouldn’t be ready to move on to the next car seat stage at the same time my eldest transitioned.
Start with the infant car seat
When you come home from the hospital, you bring your newborn in an infant car seat. The infant car seat is particularly designed for newborns but can be used for kids up to 2 years old. It mostly depends on your child’s development as some babies (like two out of my four babies) can outgrow an infant car seat quickly.
Infant car seats need to be installed rear-faced for extra protection, so make sure you check the weight and height of your child before you purchase your first baby car seat (which is 0-10kg (22lbs) for Group 0 car seats and up to 13kg (29lbs) for Group 0+.) Also, the car seat’s instruction manual will include car seat safety tips for infants, so ensure you’ve read the manual thoroughly before use.
Group 1 2 3 car seat
This group 1 2 3 car seat safety guide focuses on group 1 2 3 car seats. But, what does group 1-2-3 car seat mean exactly? Group 123 car seat products are 3-in-1 car seats. They can also be called combination seats because they can be used from birth (when your baby is in an infant rearward facing car seat), convertible forward facing toddler car seat, and booster child seat.
It’s also called an all-in-one seat or convertible seat because it’s manufactured to achieve all the purposes combined in just one seat.
Much like travel systems which include carrycots and pushchairs, the best part about convertible car seats is they are used from your child’s birth until they reach the car seat’s maximum height and weight limits, which makes them budget-friendly too.
Are group 1 2 3 car seats safe?
This group 1 2 3 car seat safety guide includes a couple of group 1/2/3 car seat reviews, including the Cozy N Safe Excalibur car seat and the Icklebubba Solar Car Seat, where we reviewed the car seats extensively and found them to be very sturdy and safe.
Group 1 2 3 car seats are forward facing and generally fitted with an Isofix attachment which provides more safety, especially when used with the car’s seat belt too. Your little one is safest rear facing, so you should keep them that way for as long as possible before you transfer them to forward facing seats.
What is an IsoFix?
An Isofix as it is known in Europe and LATCH in the US (which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers or Tether for CHildren) is a mechanism which attaches to the vehicle’s seat via special anchors so you can use the car seat’s safety harness rather than the seat belts of the car.
Is Isofix safer than a seatbelt?
Independent tests show that ISOFIX mounted seats are extremely safe. Rather than relying on a belt, the car seat is fixed directly to the child seat base. That means there’s less movement in the seat in the event of an accident, particularly a side on impact. The real advantage to ISOFIX is that it’s so simple to fit.
https://heycar.co.uk/guides/what-is-isofix
What age is group 1 2 3 car seat products suitable for?
The Group 1/2/3 car seat age applies to children from 9 months to around 11 years of age, but remember, as per this Group 1 2 3 car seat safety guide suggests, weight and size are more important. So these car seats are suitable for children who weigh between 9 to 36kg (20 to 79lbs).
What are the different stages in a Group 1 2 3 car seat?
Group 0+/1/2/3 car seat products include newborn infant car seats, so they are suitable from birth and transition through to booster seats.
I haven’t found a group 1/2 car seat and I’m not sure whether group 2 car seats exist on their own, but group 3 car seats are booster seats without the back. A group 3 car seat can work in combination with a backed booster – this is also called a group 2 3 car seat.
A car seat group 2 3 is a high-backed booster seat and may use the car’s 3-point seat belt or ISOFIX . Seat belt installation – The car’s 3-point seat belt secures both the child and the seat. The seat will have guides through which the seat belt must be threaded correctly.
Boosters sit in car seat group 3 and are suitable for children above 8 years old. A good positioning booster can be used until the child is 13 years old and can come as part of the car seat group 123 products. Note that you should not purchase a booster seat unless your child has outgrown the previous car seat’s weight and height limit.
However, forward-facing car seat requirements suggest your child should be able to be big enough to fit into car seat booster seats, but if they don’t adjust properly, you can always revert to the group 23 car seat (car seats to booster seats). You can always try a backed booster for an easier transition to a booster.
Mistakes to avoid when installing car seats
Not researching before buying
If you’re considering a used child seat for your toddler, then make sure the car seat:
Has no missing parts or visible damage
It comes with a label showing the model number and the manufacture date
Comes with instructions
It hasn’t been recalled
It isn’t over 6 years old or expired
Has never been in a crash
The harness is in excellent condition and the seat belt fits properly over your child
Installing the car seat in the wrong spot
The safest place for a child’s car seat is in the back seat, as far as possible from the active airbags. Avoid placing the car seat in the front seat as the airbag could inflate and hit the back of the rear-facing seat – right where your child’s head is – and cause a serious injury.
Most vehicles should have Isofix mechanisms installed for Isofix car seats, so it’s important to follow your car’s manual for optimum seating positions for your child’s car seat.
Not reading the instructions
Before installing a car seat, read the manufacturer’s instructions and the section on car seats in your vehicle’s manual. The seat should be tightly secured – enabling only 1 inch of movement from front to back when clasped at the bottom near the attachment points – and facing the right direction. It’s important to read the car seat safety brochure and look at the car seat safety ratings so you’re well versed with how to ensure maximum safety when using the car seat.
Reclining the seat at the wrong angle
If you install a car seat in the rear-facing position, ensure you recline the seat according to the manufacturer’s guidelines so that your baby’s head doesn’t move forward. Infants must be semi-reclined in order to keep their airways open. The good news is that most seats come with angle adjusters or indicators to guide parents.
Wearing outerwear in the car seat
You should not leave a coat or thick clothing on when you fasten your child in the car seat because the outerwear leaves a hidden gap between the body and the straps. Remove coats and any other outerwear before you put your child in the car seat and tighten the straps so you can get just a two finger gap between your child and the straps.
Moving to a booster seat too soon
Some kids may need booster seats in cars to help an adult seat belt fit properly. You should opt for a good positioning booster seat when your kid has reached the highest height or weight allowed by the vehicle seat manufacturer. But don’t be so quick to move to a group 3 / booster seat. Try a backed booster first to see if that suffices to secure your child.
If you’re having a hard time finding the right child safety seats in a car for your little one, then you can ask for recommendations from other parents, consult online community groups, or a car seat manufacturer to ensure you have a proper child safety seat and you’re following the car seat guidelines. Halfords can answer certain car seat questions, so try them too!
*Collaborative feature post*
*Some links marked with a ‘*’ are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission when you click through to buy at no extra cost to you.
About Leyla Preston
Leyla is a UK mum of four, a writer and the founder of Motherhood Diaries, which she has edited since 2010. She has written about pregnancy, birth and family life for more than 15 years, edited NCT Harrow’s Special Delivery magazine, and is the author of several children’s and family books. She is also co-founder of Poppy, a new app helping UK parents find trusted local support, and presents Tech Talks Zone, a YouTube channel reviewing tech and AI tools for busy parents. Read Leyla’s story
Our health articles follow NHS guidance and aren’t a substitute for advice from your midwife, health visitor or GP.
Cozy N Safe Excalibur car seat review
*The Cozy N Safe Excalibur Car Seat was gifted to us for review but all opinions are 100% our own.
*Photos by Tomas Preston Photography
Both our daughters are growing at an exponential rate and our eldest girl, being the bustling toddler she is, needs a Group 1 2 3 car seat Isofix bundle for travel, but which also fits along the back of our Vauxhall Zafira with another Group 1 2 3 car seat for our youngest girl.
Read on to learn more about the Cozy N Safe Excalibur Group 1/2/3 Car Seat, which you can buy here.
Claire Leach – 8th July 2021
Bought one of these when my daughter outgrew the 18kg harness. We still wanted her harnessed, so went for the Excalibur. I have to say we are so impressed with it. Our daughter loves travelling in it and often falls asleep. I was worried about her head flopping down, but the recline ensures she is very comfortable. Would recommend.
Cozy N Safe was created in 2006 in the Midlands and is a multi-award winning car seat manufacturer with their own manufacturing site. They identified an important gap in the car seat market regarding the affordability of travelling in comfort and safety without the added cost or compromise. Their Cozy N Safe Excalibur car seat was created by sourcing the best possible materials, research, and development of new technologies to ensure comfort and safety of little ones.
The car seat has even won awards!
What are Group 1 2 3 car seats?
Group 1 2 3 car seats are forward-facing car seats where the toddler uses the seat’s integral five-point safety harness initially or an impact cushion until they are 15kg (Group 1 Isofix car seat) and then uses the car seat’s five-point seatbelt to secure the child and the seat.
The seat then converts into a high-backed booster seat when your child is older/bigger and the five-point harness is no longer used. The car’s own seat belt secures the child to the seat.
Car seats can come with an Isofix base, which is clicked onto the car’s Isofix mechanism if they have one.
Multi-group car seats can be cheaper as they are convertible car seats and your child will grow with the car seat.
How much is the Cozy N Safe Excalibur Car Seat and Isofix and where can you buy it?
You can get the Cozy N Safe Excalibur Car Seat in Black Grey, Red and Graphite for the recommended retail price of £129.99 here.
You can pay later with Klarna and there is a 24 month warranty attached to every purchase.
What can you get in the Cozy N Safe Excalibur Car Seat and IsoFix box?
The Car Seat either in Black Grey, Graphite or Red
Isofix base built in
Cozy N Safe Excalibur Installation Document Guide, ISOFix Guides, User Manual and Car Seat Safety Guide
Removable Cushion/s
How long will it take to be delivered?
UK Standard Delivery 2 – 5 working days
FREE Mainland UK* Standard Delivery over £50
Order values under £50 will be charged at £6.00 up to 10kg.
Cozy N Safe aims to send your goods within 48 hours of receipt of order. In most cases, delivery takes place within 2-5 working days; you will receive an email when your order has been scheduled for dispatch.
Goods are dispatched using a courier service who will deliver Monday-Friday between 9-5.
*Free delivery is to mainland UK only. You can check your delivery costs at the basket stage of checkout by entering your postcode.
Delivery time will depend on the stockist from which you purchase the car seat. Please check the website’s delivery, shipping and return terms before buying. You can also contact Cozy N Safe’s customer service for more information here: +44 (0) 1902 494 905
5-point integral self adjusting harness up to 25kg (Group 2)
Side impact protection
Washable covers
Insert cushions
4-point recline to support child use for younger babies through to toddler stages
Car Seat Safety Rating – Is the Cozy N Safe Excalibur safe?
We couldn’t find a Cozy N Safe Excalibur ADAC rating but the car seat is ECE R44.04 Safety Certified.
Cozy N Safe Excalibur Car Compatibility
To find out if your car has Isofix points, look for Isofix labels between the base and back of your car seats (the fitting points themselves may also be visible) or check your vehicle’s handbook or contact the manufacturer or dealer.
You prepare the ISOFIX if your car has the insert mechanism to support it. If it doesn’t, you clip the two insert guides included with the seat with the cut facing upwards on the two ISOFIX attachment points of your car. Pull the fabric loop to pull out both locking arms to the longest position. See below:
Adjusting the headrest in 5-point harness installation
The headrest (07) must be adjusted so that the shoulder belts are at the same level as your child’s shoulders (see fig. 3). The shoulder belts (08) must not run behind the back of the child or at ear height or above the ears.
You can adjust the shoulder belts by pressing the adjusting button and at the same time pull both shoulder belts forward. Do not pull on the shoulder pads too, but loosen the 5-point harness of the child seat as much as possible (fig. 4).
Press the button of the shoulder belt height adjuster (10) at the rear of the seat shell and tilt the shoulder belt height adjuster (19) towards you. Slide the shoulder belt height adjuster (1) to select the correct height of the shoulder belts (08) and engage it in the position that fits for your child by releasing the button (fig. 5).
Read more about how to correctly install the car seat here.
First impressions of the Cozy N Safe Excalibur Child Car Seat
Our first impressions straight out the box was that the car seat has a premium quality with comfortable and soft material. Our little one was very excited sitting in the car seat for the first time.
Was the Cozy N Safe Excalibur Car Seat and IsoFix easy to put together?
Yes, it was really easy to put together. It comes in one piece and fitting the Isofix and safety strap is simple and quick.
Did baby seem comfortable in the car seat?
The soft padding for younger babies is excellent, as is the side impact protection which made our daughter feel very comfortable. She struggled to stay awake in the seat. She’s almost three years old and sits in the seat upright. When she falls asleep, we recline the car seat for extra comfort.
What are the pros of using the Cozy N Safe Excalibur Car Seat?
The car seat is very quick to fit into the Isofix and our daughter is extremely comfortable against the premium quality material. The seat looks fabulous.
What are the cons of using the Cozy N Safe Excalibur seat?
Fixing the Isofix is simple, however when you want to move the seat and release the fix, it can be a bit tricky to release the Isofix latch. This could have been made a bit easier to handle. The harness straps also get tangled at the back, making it difficult to adjust the tightness of the harness length.
What and who would the Cozy N Safe Car Seat and Isofix be useful for?
This car seat is a very useful investment for any family. Even if it stretches the budget a bit, it is a long-term investment that can last for many years. It is quite chunky, so not ideal if you have a narrower car and/or two kids that need child seats in the back.
Is the Cozy N Safe Excalibur Car Seat and Isofix worth the money?
Yes, it is definitely worth the money as it’s a premium car seat for an affordable price.
What is my overall opinion of the Cozy N Safe Excalibur Car Seat?
A very comfortable and premium car seat which our child loves to sit in. I would buy again,
4 out of 5
Ease of use
The car seat is easy to clip in via the Isofix, recline and clip together with the harness. The design is effortless.
4 out of 5
Fits the purpose
The car seat definitely fits the purpose of travelling with our daughter in comfort and style. She seems to be happy in it and has napped on many occasions.
5 out of 5
Style and comfort
The car seat has a very sort premium feel to it and there is no compromise on safety. The headrest offers an amazing 14 positions and removable inserts ensure the best fit for our daughter no matter her height. All the covers are machine washable at 30 degrees centigrade. Our daughter struggles to stay awake!
5 out of 5
Functionality
The seat clip is tricky to use. But compared to others, it is a lighter item with an easy to use Isofix clip and safety strap. The car seat reclines for younger babies.
3 out of 5
Kerry Acres – 19th March 2022
Seat belt clip is awful and extending to release the belt and then tightening was a work out and really difficult. But otherwise – the seat is lovely , kids are both happy and comfortable and both slept in seats. Overall happy just hoping I’ll get used to clip and tightening straps.
A note from Cozy N Safe regarding the straps
The Excalibur has 2 headrest adjustments, (one is for when you are using the harness, and the other is for when the harness has been hidden). If you use the wrong headrest adjustment it can cause the harness to be pinched making it difficult to tighten. This can be fixed easily by using the correct headrest adjustment.
Value for money
With the high quality material used, the ease of design and the lighter weight, this car seat is definitely value for money.
Very high quality with durable steel reinforced shell, side impact protection, four-position reclined and deep padding. This is definitely a great way for the little one to travel without compromising on quality.
5 out of 5
Safety and security
The car seta is safe and secure. It features all the newest added safety measures you would expect from a modern car seat and security is top of the range.
This really is fantastic value for money, I wanted a 5 point harness for my 3 year old and was surprised that there aren’t many on the market. We bought this one and the joie bold for our 2 cars, we expected to prefer the joie one (being the better known brand and more expensive) but hands down this one is our preferred one, super comfortable and easy to use, excellent product and would recommend to anyone.
*Pricing is correct at 16 April 2022 – prices may vary after this date
*The Cozy N Safe Excalibur Car Seat was gifted to us for review but all opinions are 100% our own.
*Photos by Tomas Preston Photography
About Leyla Preston
Leyla is a UK mum of four, a writer and the founder of Motherhood Diaries, which she has edited since 2010. She has written about pregnancy, birth and family life for more than 15 years, edited NCT Harrow’s Special Delivery magazine, and is the author of several children’s and family books. She is also co-founder of Poppy, a new app helping UK parents find trusted local support, and presents Tech Talks Zone, a YouTube channel reviewing tech and AI tools for busy parents. Read Leyla’s story
Our health articles follow NHS guidance and aren’t a substitute for advice from your midwife, health visitor or GP.
How to become a digital nomad family and travel the world
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Being a digital nomad family might sound like a dream lifestyle (or have you running for the hills) but is it? A remote job, travelling the world, no pressure from a boss, sleeping late, staying the night out with the kids and waking up at your heart will… sound great, right? Well, it doesn’t come as easy as that. Like any other lifestyle, digital nomadism has its fair share of obstacles.
Whether you have just started your remote job because you wanted to break out of the rat race, or you’ve created a bucket list and wanted to spend more time with your family. Or, if you’ve packed up and already jumped on the plane for your first trip, our guide gives you a lot to take away.
Haste is waste
Do you love to make spontaneous decisions, only to regret them later? If yes, you need to drop that habit before going. Sure, a little spontaneity here and there makes life exciting, but being a digital nomad is no joke—you must be careful before taking any unplanned step or travelling to any place. You also have to remember that you’re not just responsible for yourself. You have kids with you, and you will need to ensure they are safe and secure.
It’s essential to think twice and research thrice before you go anywhere, especially for countries that require certain documentation and impose strict laws that foreigners may not be aware of but are punished for violating. For example, if you want to travel to Turkey, you’ll need to research their online-only visa system and application process well before your arrival. Always do your homework before taking off somewhere on a whim if you want to avoid potential troubles.
Don’t take your job for granted
Even if you have a few jobs lined up, you can’t depend on your clients or company to travel with you across time zones. Your savings are an essential backup safety net in case your income runs dry.
Most aspiring bloggers and remote workers would be the first to tell you that online gigs are rarely regular. Sometimes the demand is high, and other times there is none at all. So, to stay safe, break that piggy bank before you hit the road. Work as you travel and save some of your income for your next trip, and make sure you have reliable housing lined up. Sorting out a place before you arrive will save you a lot of stress, especially if you land late or during a busy season. Depending on the city, finding short-term rentals can sometimes be trickier than you’d expect. Platforms like HousingAnywhere Frankfurt (or another local area) can be helpful when searching for short-term rentals. Keep in mind that your family still need to eat!
Carry a spare backup set of supplies
As much as you love the idea of travelling, you also need to keep in mind that you must maintain a consistent workflow—which can be pretty unpredictable given all the variables you might encounter. Where will you find WiFi? What happens if your computer dies, or something breaks? What happens if there’s a pandemic? Oh… wait…
Come prepared with a spare battery, hot spot signal, battery case, and laptop mouse. Preparing for the worst and hoping for the best is always better. Because unless you have a sizeable savings account, if you stop working, you’ll stop travelling, too. And if the pandemic halts you on your journey, you need to be able to continue working while your family are kept safe in secure accommodation while you wait.
Keep an eye on your bank account
Speaking of your bank account, don’t just take off to explore the world without a care in the world under the misguided belief that you’ll just figure it out when you get there. Sorry, that’s simply not how it works. Rather than quitting your job, see if your employer is willing to offer an extended leave or flexible hours.
Own a home or an apartment unit? Don’t sell it for access to fast cash; rent the property to tenants and have a friend or family member manage it while you’re away. You’ll generate passive income to fuel your worldly adventures, as well as a place to come home to when it’s time to head back.
If you’re travelling with an international credit card, be extremely careful as you swipe away. Unless you’re closely monitoring your bank account, it’s really easy to overspend and fall way out of budget. Pro tip: set aside a separate emergency account with enough money to get you a flight home tomorrow, in case something ever happens.
Unless there’s a significant exchange rate, carrying the foreign currency (safely!) with you on hand may be better. That way, it’s much easier to visually monitor your spending amount and dial back the frivolous purchases as needed.
Final thoughts
Enjoy every experience, make new memories with the family, meet new people, indulge in different cuisines, and devour diverse cultures. But, don’t be too hard on yourself as you figure things out along the way, and try to avoid treating your passion as a tedious job. Rather, consider remote work as an end to a means that’s helping you and your family live a life that most people only dream of.
*Collaborative feature post*
About Leyla Preston
Leyla is a UK mum of four, a writer and the founder of Motherhood Diaries, which she has edited since 2010. She has written about pregnancy, birth and family life for more than 15 years, edited NCT Harrow’s Special Delivery magazine, and is the author of several children’s and family books. She is also co-founder of Poppy, a new app helping UK parents find trusted local support, and presents Tech Talks Zone, a YouTube channel reviewing tech and AI tools for busy parents. Read Leyla’s story
Our health articles follow NHS guidance and aren’t a substitute for advice from your midwife, health visitor or GP.
Christmas interior decorating ideas on a budget
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The colder months of the year have arrived. The air is crisp, leaves are turning into an explosion of different colours, and warm recipes are on the menu. If you want to get your home ready for the holidays, it doesn’t have to be an expensive endeavour. Below, we’ve put together some Christmas decorating ideas for turning your home into a winter wonderland and preparing your family for a wonderful Christmas season with a view! Keep reading to learn some great Christmas interior decorating ideas on a budget.
Get your house ready
The Christmas season is a great excuse to dress up your house in fancy festive decorations. Make some Christmas savings, grab your old Christmas cards, colourful scrap paper and all the sparkle you can muster, and let’s decorate your home in time for Christmas!
Prepare yourself with the right affordable outfit
You may not be able to invite others to the Christmas festivities thanks to the pandemic, but there’s no reason why you can’t dress up in ugly Christmas sweaters for the occasion – they’re all the rage at the moment! If you’re feeling particularly crafty, you can even decide to make your own ugly Christmas sweater. Take one of your old sweaters you don’t wear any more and add some tinsel, some patches, and maybe an LED light string for the extra holiday flair. You’ll definitely win the ugly holiday sweater virtual party with that monstrosity!
Decorate your floors with shine
During home improvements, one of the biggest changes can be made in the simplest way – by changing your floors. A large red rug can really make a room pop in time for Christmas. Or, if you want to get fancier than that, then why not Walk on Glass instead? Glass floors can not only make a room brighter, but they can create an illusion of a larger room, meaning you can cram in more Christmassy decor without making the room look too boxed in.
Dress your front door with a bow wreath
(Photo credit: Haeley Giambalvo)
Shout “Merry Christmas!” from the rooftops with traditional Christmas decorating ideas like a super bright and colourful wreath on your front door. You can grab a nice simple wreath from any pound shop for just £1, but it would be so much more fun to make your own. Hot glue different colourful bows together to a Styrofoam wreath and you’ve got yourself a unique wreath that you can use time and time again that won’t burn a hole in the pocket.
Make your own garlands and bunting
If you want to bring a festive, happy ambience into your home, you may want to make your own garlands and bunting. You can hang this decoration from the mantle, from doorways, or across the entryway of your home. Bunting and garlands are also incredibly affordable to buy from craft and handmade art sites like Etsy if you prefer not to do the work yourself.
Make your own ornaments
Christmas trees are the stars of the holiday decoration ideas during this festive season and if you don’t have any ornaments, buying them all at once can be expensive. Instead, you can try making your own out of newspaper or by decorating plain glass ornaments. It’s time to get creative with paint, glitter, and glue! You can spend an afternoon creating your own ornaments with Christmas music playing in the background. It will be a real holiday experience.
Use your Christmas cards as decorations
When we were kids, our mum used to hang our Christmas cards up like bunting and we knew that the Christmas season was upon us. Everything may seem so technical these days, but Christmas cards are still in full flow. Decorate your bare walls with your old and new Christmas cards – there are so many pretty and colourful cards available these days you’d have to be made of stone if they don’t brighten up your mood–and your house.
Get Holiday Florals and Plants
Plants and holiday florals can brighten up any holiday space – plus, they’re an incredibly affordable addition that can make any home feel more festive and joyous. Add a poinsettia to your entryway for a pop of colour. Get a rosemary bush for a functional but beautiful hardy plant that will outlast the season. The plants could also double up as great gift ideas for the family too.
You may even want to go as far as getting a regular subscription and delivery of plants directly to your doorstep. There are plenty of cheap options to choose from that can help you brighten up and cheer up your home this holiday season. Plants are great outdoor decoration ideas too.
Decorating your main table in the dining room with Christmas colours can really impact the whole Christmas theme, but dressing up your dining chairs will spice up the entire room altogether. You don’t have to go all out – a simple wreath at the back of each chair and a lovely colourful centrepiece across the table will do the trick. You can go one step further and add a ‘Holiday’ decoration to your windows, like the image above from shelterness.com, or around the table to get you into the spirit of Christmas.
Or make your own tablescape with found objects
It’s incredibly easy to put together a tablescape with found nature objects like branches and pinecones. You can even spray paint the branches and pinecones a rich gold color so that your dinner will sparkle in response.
Get into the festive spirit by decorating your office desk
The pandemic has brought a lot of workers home which may mean you might have to work over Christmas amid the Christmas decorations. No problem! If your office is in the living room, then make it a Christmas living room and bring Christmas to your desk by grabbing some tinsel from Poundland and some cheap fairy lights. Brighten up your work desk, so you don’t feel like you’re totally missing out over the Christmas period.
Get creative with lighting
Candles are a classic for a reason – they can turn any interior design space into a cosy, calming getaway. Invest in a few pillar candles and put them in key spaces where they can warm up the room. You can even get candles that deliver a holiday-themed aroma like vanilla or cinnamon.
Extend the Christmas spirit into your child’s room by adding a Christmas light. If you have trouble selecting a night light, check out my extensive post on the best night lights for kids here.
Make lots of Christmas food!
My favourite bit about Christmas, apart from the presents, is pigging out on the delicious food. You may be going for a traditional roast turkey and all the trimmings, but this is your chance to get creative with the homemade Christmas treats! I especially love the above little green Christmas pancakes, which are so easy to make. Just add some green food colouring to the batter and cook the pancakes in different sizes. Then you just stack them up on top of each other and cover with sprinkles and a star made from apple to decorate the top. I also love making a Christmas Tree out of puff pastry, it’s so easy to make.
A huge, real Christmas tree is a sight to behold – but it’s often quite a large expense. If you want to avoid emptying out your bank account for a tree you’ll have to throw out at the end of the season anyway, consider getting a smaller (but cuter!) Christmas tree. You can find some great Christmas Trees at your local Christmas Tree farm.
Plus, a smaller tree has the benefit of shedding fewer pine needles on the floor, using fewer ornaments, and using less water. And, most importantly, it won’t make a huge impact on your bank account!
Jazz up your Christmas Tree!
Involve your children and get creative by throwing on some tinsel, baubles (don’t forget chocolate baubles!) and fairy lights. Complete your tree with an angel or a star at the top and dress up the whole look with lots of presents wrapped in colourful gift wrap. Job done!
When you love Christmas, it’s easy to spend a lot of money trying to outfit each room with the best decorations possible. However, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to bring holiday cheer inside. Christmas is a time of happiness, cheer and a whole lot of giving, so make sure you pass on the good cheer and enjoy this beautiful and very magical winter season, by using the tips outlined in this article on how to decorate your home for Christmas on a budget.
*Collaborative feature post*
About Leyla Preston
Leyla is a UK mum of four, a writer and the founder of Motherhood Diaries, which she has edited since 2010. She has written about pregnancy, birth and family life for more than 15 years, edited NCT Harrow’s Special Delivery magazine, and is the author of several children’s and family books. She is also co-founder of Poppy, a new app helping UK parents find trusted local support, and presents Tech Talks Zone, a YouTube channel reviewing tech and AI tools for busy parents. Read Leyla’s story
Our health articles follow NHS guidance and aren’t a substitute for advice from your midwife, health visitor or GP.
Benefits of using public transport over the car during the summer holidays
Ad · This is a paid collaborative post. Links to the partner are sponsored.
We recently came back from North Cyprus and used an airport car parking service to park our car at Gatwick Airport’s car parking site for the week. However, my husband and I couldn’t help but think we should have taken the train instead for that all-around immersive travel experience for the kids. I can count the number of times on one hand that my boys (7 and 8) have used the train or the bus, which makes me wonder whether I should teach them the advantages of using public transport over the car on some occasions. With the help of other bloggers, below are some benefits of using public transport rather than the car during the summer holidays.
What is public transport?
Public transport (otherwise known as mass transport, mass transportation or public transportation services) is the transport of passengers by a group of travel systems which are available for use by the general public. Public transportation is typically managed via a schedule, and you are charged a fee for each trip.
Types of public transport include:
Buses
Trams (or light rail)
Passenger trains
Rapid transit (metro/subway/underground)
Ferries
Airlines
Coaches
Intercity/high speed/overground rail
So why take public transport rather than the car?
There are several public transportation benefits, some of which you can find below:
You can enjoy the journey to the destination
Taking public transportation means that you or your other half don’t have to drive to your destination. Instead, you can use that time, to read, work, study, or simply watch life passing you by. It’s a great way to just sit back, relax and enjoy the sights and sounds around you.
“When I drive, I tend to miss out on some of the sights and sounds around me. It’s so nice to be able to relax on a bus or a train and take it all in!”
“If you are travelling by train you can sit back, relax and have a glass of wine! Book a table and play board games with the kids on a long journey. Train journeys are exciting and part of the fun of the holiday!”
Parking can be an absolute nightmare, especially during the summer holidays when other family goers are fighting for car parking spots. Take the initiative and don’t pay through the teeth for expensive parking spots. Instead, use the money on public transport which can take you to where you want to go instead. If you buy one-day travelcards, you may even be able to save more money in the long run.
“Parking. You’re not having to battle for spaces or pay for the privilege of parking in the best places either. Plus my kids love the bus and train.”
Public transport teaches the kids excellent life skills
It’s essential that kids get a sense of how to navigate public transport on their own. Get them involved in the decision-making process, for example, working out where you need to go, buying the ticket and navigating the map, so they understand the right path to follow to get on the right train.
“It’s such a good life skill for the children. I hadn’t realised that by 7 and 9 my two hadn’t really ever been on public transport, so had no idea about bus stops, train stations, how to buy tickets, how to read timetables etc. So now we use public transport during the holidays to help them understand how to use it! Such a great skill for when they are older.”
“My boys often miss out on bus and train rides as we drive everywhere. So we often take a couple of trips during the summer using public transport as it’s good for them to know how to use it too.”
When you’re driving in the car, you are unable to actively participate with your children. Travelling via public transport leaves you time to talk to them about the holiday, get to know their feelings and emotions, and even play games that they can dictate, so they feel like they have some control in the journey.
Some public transport games can include snakes and ladders, cards, activity sheets/packs, colouring books or even just the age-old ‘I spy’. The kids will love it!
“You don’t have to worry about paying for parking, congestion charges etc. It’s much fun to use public transport because you can engage more with the kids, enjoy the view together and read road signs.”
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“You can give your kids your undivided attention if you’re on public transport, rather than just a fleeting glance in the rearview mirror. This is definitely a huge plus for my kids – especially on long journeys.”
The streets can be packed full of holiday goers trying to get to their desired destination. The advantages of taking public transport are that you tend to bypass those traffic jams, which helps ease congestion too.
“The roads can get so busy during the summer. We like to travel by train or bus as this can avoid the hassle of sitting in queues. Buses tend to have designated bus lanes to avoid the queues and trains bypass this all together. My son loves to go on public transport, and it can also save us money in the long run.”
Public transportation is better for the environment
If you’re not commuting in your own personal vehicle, then you are automatically helping the environment. Public transport reduces CO2 emissions, as well as the stress of being stuck in those pesky traffic jams too!
“It’s better for the environment, if you’re getting the train you won’t get caught up in traffic. It’s often cheaper than driving. You can get up and stretch your legs and walk to the loo whenever you want!”
Travelling via public transport is an activity within itself!
Kids love doing something different, and if you’ve always travelled by car, then they will love travelling by bus or train. As mentioned above, involve them in the process of buying the ticket, navigating the map and encouraging them to enjoy the scenery around them. It is incredible how much they will learn about the world around them when they can sit back and enjoy with their parents guiding them.
“Obviously it’s better for the environment, but my kids find it an activity in itself! They’re excited about going on a bus or a train, they’re excited about the activity we’re heading to, and they’re excited on the way home too. It’s a fun way to travel!”
“It’s a real treat for my boys to go on the bus or the train. They love it we can go on the top deck of a bus and sit at the front so they can pretend they’re driving!”
You can gain real experience into how the locals live
Travelling by bus or train encourages the family to see how the locals live as you get to people-watch in their own digs as you pass by.
“To get a real and authentic experience of how local people and communities live. It’s a fantastic way for all the family to learn about and engage with locals and better understand a country.“
Car journeys can be frustrating – and claustrophobic
Car journeys can feel claustrophobic as you’re tied down with seatbelts throughout the trip, and you can hardly move. You also have to make sure you have bought everything with you on the journey, and make sure you are navigating the roads correctly. Public transport can take the pain away by letting the vehicle take you to your destination while you only worry about enjoying the sights with your family.
“This way or that way? 173 spare nappies or 174? Summer hat, winter hat or both? Try and keep the milk warm or heat it up somewhere on the way? Leave early in the morning or late at night? A1 or M1? Hourly shifts or swap when we’re tired? So many questions, so little chance of choosing the right answers to any of them.”
If you’ve booked a holiday and you require transport to get partway to your journey, then think about booking in advance for discounted travel tickets. Off-peak tickets tend to be cheaper too, so consider this when planning your trip to your destination.
Using public transport comes with several benefits, especially for families, because parents get to sit back and enjoy the travel experience with their children, as well as have a hand in helping the environment as well! So, if you are booking your tickets for your summer holidays, think about incorporating public transport into your journey for a jam-packed fun experience for the whole family to enjoy!
*Collaborative feature post*
About Leyla Preston
Leyla is a UK mum of four, a writer and the founder of Motherhood Diaries, which she has edited since 2010. She has written about pregnancy, birth and family life for more than 15 years, edited NCT Harrow’s Special Delivery magazine, and is the author of several children’s and family books. She is also co-founder of Poppy, a new app helping UK parents find trusted local support, and presents Tech Talks Zone, a YouTube channel reviewing tech and AI tools for busy parents. Read Leyla’s story
Our health articles follow NHS guidance and aren’t a substitute for advice from your midwife, health visitor or GP.
5 storage hacks to keep everything organised this Christmas
Do you find it hard to stay organised over the Christmas period? Us too. Fortunately, Lisa Lyons, E-Commerce Manager of storage solution specialist Plastic Box Shop, has a few handy holiday hacks to help you keep everything in order and make Christmas a little bit easier.
There are piles of presents to wrap, dozens of decorations to arrange, and enough food to feed the family for weeks. It’s Christmas! And, it’s hectic. Eventually it will be over, and the time will come to take down your decorations for another year. And while it might be easy to just shove it all into boxes in the attic to be uncovered again in 12 months times, you might be in for a nasty surprise when you come back to discover a mess of tangled lights and a box full of broken ornaments.
You can avoid this whole rigmarole altogether by taking the time to pack everything away in an organised and careful manner — it doesn’t have to be a massive hassle! Here are five tips you can follow to make the whole process a lot simpler.
Be prepared
When it comes to storing your Christmas decorations, being prepared means having everything you need, organised and on hand. You will want plenty of handy storage boxes of varying sizes, labels to keep everything organised, and some padding to protect your delicate ornaments.
For maximum safety, I would recommend using bubble wrap. It can be reused each year and is much cheaper than replacing expensive or sentimental ornaments. A good way to do a bit of recycling while also making your life easier is to save your wrapping paper and use it to wrap up any extra glassware and crockery.
Store your ornaments safely
Unlike the fun of putting up your Christmas tree and decorating your home, taking everything down again and storing it for next year can be dull. But taking the time to store everything away in a methodical manner will save you a lot of hassle next year when you have to do it all over again. There is no worse feeling than getting half the tree decorated before realising that some of the ornaments have broken, while others have just disappeared.
This problem can be avoided altogether by taking the time to carefully wrap and pack your ornaments individually before storing them. Get yourself an ornament box that has adjustable rows to accommodate the varying sizes of ornaments and wrap each of them up in bubble wrap or tissue as you see fit.
Organise the rest of your decorations
If you haven’t kept the boxes that your ornaments came in — or if you just prefer organising things your own way — you’re going to need a storage solution that makes the most of the space you have. Whether you are shoving everything out of the way at the back of a cupboard or storing things up in the attic, stackable boxes will make your life a lot easier.
The great thing about plastic box storage is that they come in all different shapes and sizes, so you’ll be able to fit in just about anything. If you’ve got lots of small items such as snow globes, pine cones, and other general decoration, a plastic box container with built-in drawers would be the ideal solution.
Avoid tangled lights
Whether hanging in windows, wrapped around the bannister, or dangling from the ceiling, having loads of fairy lights around the house is a fantastic way to get in the festive spirit. But when it comes to taking everything down and storing it away, lights can be the most challenging. Not only do you need to avoid the hassle of getting your wires tangled, you’ve also got to be careful not to break any of the thousands of tiny fragile bulbs.
A great hack to avoid this problem, with the added benefit of reusing some of your Christmas waste, is get some scraps of cardboard and turn them into a makeshift light-organiser. You will need one piece of cardboard for each set of lights. Cut two slits, one in each side of the cardboard, to hold either end of the cord. Wrap the rest around the body of the cardboard and you’ve got a neat little package that can be easily stacked on top of one another in one of your storage boxes.
Organise your gift supplies
Storing your wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, and other festive present decorations can be tricky. If not done properly, paper will crease, tear, and unravel, while your ribbon gets tangled and your cupboard becomes littered with glitter. To avoid this problem altogether, we recommend getting a gift supply storage box or bag. How big you need your box to be will depend on how large your gift supply collection is, but having everything easily accessible makes wrapping presents all year round a breeze.
Packing everything up after Christmas doesn’t have to be a chore. Follow our advice and take the time to do things properly, and you’ll save yourself a headache for many years to come.
About Leyla Preston
Leyla is a UK mum of four, a writer and the founder of Motherhood Diaries, which she has edited since 2010. She has written about pregnancy, birth and family life for more than 15 years, edited NCT Harrow’s Special Delivery magazine, and is the author of several children’s and family books. She is also co-founder of Poppy, a new app helping UK parents find trusted local support, and presents Tech Talks Zone, a YouTube channel reviewing tech and AI tools for busy parents. Read Leyla’s story
Our health articles follow NHS guidance and aren’t a substitute for advice from your midwife, health visitor or GP.
Personalised gifts for the family this Christmas – CanvasChamp review
Gifted · We were sent this product free of charge to review. Links to the brand are sponsored.
Christmas is around the corner, which means fishing out the Christmas tree and assorted decorations and planning your gifts for friends and family. I find the gift part of Christmas particularly difficult because I always follow the natural thinking process of:
Will they like it?
Do they have it already?
So, I am exercising damage control this year and I have opted to send personalised gifts because they are unique to the recipient and chances are they won’t have it already.
But where can I find personalised gifts for the family?
There are lots of websites online that offer personalised gifts and I found a great website called CanvasChamp™ who are offering a massive sale at the moment, with canvas prints as low as £3.89. If you sign up now you will automatically receive a coupon for a free 8″x 8″ canvas print.
Who are CanvasChamp™?
CanvasChamp™ provide personalised gifts, predominantly canvases, at very reasonable prices. They also offer specialised prints, accessories, wall displays, photo gifts and calendars.
My sister is leaving to Amsterdam soon and one of my best friends has moved back to London from New York, so I wanted to find special gifts for Christmas this year that portrayed how important they are to me. I have purchased personalised photo pillows in the past for other family members and friends, and they were all very well received. They still showcase their own personalised pillows on their couch when people come to visit. Ordering a Photo Pillow on CanvasChamp™ is very simple. You head over to the ‘Photo Gifts’ section and then select the first section, ‘Photo Cushions,’ like below:
Once you click on ‘Photo Cushions’, you’ll be taken to the main page, where you can click on ‘Start Order’ to, well, start your order. You will then be taken to an interactive ‘Pillow Tool’ where you can select either a Square Pillow or a Rectangle Pillow in various sizes. You can also opt for the back side of the pillow to either have a block colour or for an extra £1.99, you can add a personalised photo on the back. My suggestion is that for £1.99 only it’s worth personalising the back with photos.
Click in the middle of the pillow in the main window to upload your photo. I used a tool called Canva to create a collage of photos before I uploaded my image, as you can see below:
Once you’ve sorted out the image on the front, go to the back side of the pillow. If you are adding an image to the back, then click the right arrow to ‘Continue to Upload Images’. In this section you can choose to upload your image either from your Computer, Gallery, Facebook or Instagram. When you have finished uploading your image, you will be taken to the Palette Colour Option, but this is only for the back side if you have chosen to use a block colour. You won’t see the colour palette if you are adding a personalised photo on this side. You also have the option of adding text to your pillow, if you wanted to. Finally, you can preview your pillow and if you’re happy, click save and add to your Cart. You should receive your personalised photo pillow within 3 to 10 business days.
Currently, 12″ x 12″ Square Pillows are only £8.75, which is a price massive reduction from £62.50. Plus, when you buy two pillows you get one worth over £30 for free. The code is on the website, so I would utilise this free offer in time for Christmas!
So how did the Personalised Photo Cushions turn out?
Interestingly, the photo cushions arrived in a pink bin with the pillow squashed inside and the cover separate (also squashed). I was initially confused as to why CanvasChamp™ sent the pillow in this way because it meant that the cover was creased. However, when I took the pillow out of the pink bin (which I’m now using as my food bin) and placed the cover over the pillow, the shape of the pillow ironed out the creases.
I am not entirely convinced that the cushion is made of expensive material, but the overall look was pleasing to the eye and I would be happy to send one of these personalised cushions as a Christmas gift to a valued family member or friend.
My dad’s birthday is coming up on 31st December and he has expressed on many occasions that he would like a sentimental photo of him and his two grandkids that he can put up in his office. So, I thought, here’s my chance to send him a personalised canvas of him and his grandkids! Check it out!
Much like the process for the personalised photo cushion, you head over to ‘Canvas Products’ and then click on ‘Canvas Prints’ to take you to the page where you can select the size you want. Prices range according to sizes, but there is a huge sale now, so you can receive a canvas for as little as £3.89! That’s crazy!
When you’ve selected your canvas, click on ‘Start Order’ and follow the steps to create your canvas.
Types of Canvases
You have options to make your print a Wall Display, Photo Collage, Hexagon Prints, Split Canvas, Photo Mosaic, Word Print, Acrylic Prints, Metal Prints, Photo Boards, Lyric on Canvas, 3D Photo Prints or even a Bus Roll!
Select the size
Once you’ve picked your style, upload an image and then select the size you want the canvas to be. CanvasChamp™ will recommend a size according to your image if you are unsure.
Image wrap
Next you can opt for how you’d like the image to wrap around the canvas. You can go for a Thin or Thick Gallery Wrap, a Rolled Canvas, or a Hanging Canvas.
Borders
If you’d prefer a border, there are various options for those too. Once you’ve selected your choice you will then be given an option to hang your canvas with hooks, a sawtooth hanger, an easel stand, or a dust cover back.
Optional colour finishing
You have the option of changing the colour and style of your canvas, using well known colour finishers like Sepia, Grayscale and even an Andy-Warhol effect. There are lots more to choose from so it’s worth playing around a bit with the finish
Lamination Options
If you want to laminate your canvas that’s an extra £3.74 on top, otherwise you can opt not to if you don’t want to pay extra
Minor Photo Touching
If you require any touches to your image like red eye remove or you need to enhance the colour, you can in this section. You can also leave instructions to CanvasChamp™ if you require to change something specific
Proof Request
You can even ask for CanvasChamp™ to send you an email with the design proof before they print to canvas, so you can make sure your image looks perfect before you receive the finished product.
What did I think of the personalised canvas?
I am impressed with the sturdiness that the thin MFI board at the back of the canvas provides. It means that you’re less likely to poke a hole through the front by accident when propping up against the wall. I would suggest you pick the lamination option so that the quality comes out as best as it can get, but at its most basic setting, the picture quality is great, and I think my dad will be very happy to receive this canvas as his birthday gift.
What do I think of CanvasChamp™?
CanvasChamp™ is quite widely used around the world and so has already built up a reputation for quality and reliability. I would say that more care can be taken in the presentation of the photo cushions. But, at least there is a multi-purpose to the bin they provide. I’m more impressed with the sturdiness of the canvas which I haven’t seen when purchasing from other companies. I also found the multitude of options available to you online easy to use and ideal when you are trying to make your gift as unique as possible. I would recommend using CanvasChamp™ as a great personalised gifts service. But, I’d start shopping now so you don’t miss the shipping time.
*In collaboration with CanvasChamp*
About Leyla Preston
Leyla is a UK mum of four, a writer and the founder of Motherhood Diaries, which she has edited since 2010. She has written about pregnancy, birth and family life for more than 15 years, edited NCT Harrow’s Special Delivery magazine, and is the author of several children’s and family books. She is also co-founder of Poppy, a new app helping UK parents find trusted local support, and presents Tech Talks Zone, a YouTube channel reviewing tech and AI tools for busy parents. Read Leyla’s story
