What’s your business ambition right now? Do you want to raise your business profile? Do you want to attract more customers? Put your prices up? Or make more profit? Or have you simply always wanted to write a book?

If any of those goals are ringing true for you join the From Knowledge to Profit course.

In this new course we’re giving a small group of people the chance to work with us to write and publish an eBook over the course of 3 months.

It is an amazing opportunity as we’re bringing together our experience in creating books and eBooks, plus we’ve bought a couple of our favourite experts on board to ensure that the book you create is outstanding.

What’s more, we know that writing is a competitive field. This course doesn’t just help you complete your book, we also tell you how to write a book that SELLS.

If this sounds interesting, follow the link to discover more about the From Knowledge to Profit course. But act fast: you can only sign up in the next 7 days, and we start work at the end of next week!

Last time I did things to do with kids in Wales, this time I’m back up the other end with things to do with kids in Scotland.

If you need accommodation in Scotland take a look at cottages in Scotland.

1. Glasgow Science Centre

A great day out especially if you have children of different ages as there’s something for everyone.

2. National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh

Newly refurbished, the National Museum is well worth a visit. It’s situated just off the Royal Mile close to Edinburgh Castle. Make a day of it, there’s plenty to see and do over the five levels – and it’s free.

3. Royal Yacht Brittania

If you’re a bit of a Royalist then the Royal Yacht is fascinating. Even if you’re not the kids will love seeing where the Queen and staff slept while aboard.

4. Museum of Childhood, Royal Mile

Another free museum, the Museum of Childhood is on the Royal Mile so combine with the National Museum for a fully free day out. The kids will love seeing all the toys from olden days through to the current gadgets they love today.

5. Ski-ing/Snowboarding

Visit the dry slope at Hillend, just outside Edinburgh. Or if you’re feeling brave go and find the real stuff in Aviemore or Glenshee

6. Ratho Climbing Centre

Fancy trying rock climbing? Try out your skills at Ratho climbing centre where you can climb real and artificial rock faces.

7. Scotland’s Museum of Transport

We haven’t visited yet but they’ve spent £85m refurbishing it so it’s definitely on the agenda.

8. Strathclyde Country Park

It’s not Alton Towers but it still makes for a good day out if the weather’s fine.

9. Winter Wonderland at Christmas

Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay Festival is always growing and this year’s Winter Wonderland was the biggest yet. I know most cities have a Winter Wonderland but the back drop of Edinburgh Castle adds a little something special to Edinburgh’s!

10. Fringe Festival in Summer

A lot of people think the Fringe Festival is just for adults – actually there’s tons for kids and even if you just go up to the Royal Mile and see the street acts it’s a great afternoon out. If you can afford Tattoo tickets then go for it – perfect for older kids!

This post is brought to you by Holiday Rentals

Finding a gift for the lady in your life can be hard, so here is our top ten gifts for her, no matter what the occasion.

1. Personalised gifts are a great way to show you have taken the time to think about the gift and biscuits with a personal message iced on the top not only show you have put thought into the gift, but are a nice treat too! Biscuiteers Personalised Love Heart Biscuits are a great choice, not only do they look beautiful, as they are hand crafted they will taste divine!
2. Scent is a powerful thing, it can transport you back to a fond memory or remind you of someone. The Heavenly Scents Gift Box is an excellent present for any occasion. It includes shower gel, hand lotion and a scented candle, all presented in a beautiful gift box.
3. Anniversary gifts are very important, no matter whether it marks a first date or a wedding anniversary, it is a reminder of an important date so a special gift is required. Champagne to toast the occasion is a great alternative to flowers and Louis Roederer Champagne and Ice Bucket is a beautiful way to celebrate any anniversary.
4. If you do like champagne, the Luxury Champagne Gift Basket is another wonderful gift idea that will light up any loved one’s day. Included in the basket is a beautiful rose plant, box of chocolates and fine champagne.
5. Balloons will lift a special someone’s day, so why not send her an I Love You Balloon Bouquet  to mark a special occasion. They will definitely make an impact.
6. Hampers make a great gift idea as they can contain some extra special treats. The Hamper for Her is full of extra special treats, from a beautiful bottle of wine to biscuits, preserves and chocolate covered peanuts.
7. Cupcake are exceptionally popular as a present for a special occasion as they can be shared. Personalised ones will make an even bigger impact and the Personalised Love Heart Cupcakes would also make a beautiful Valentine’s day gift.
8. A nice alternative gift is the Divine Elegance Gift Box which includes a reed diffuser, award-winning elderflower vodka liquor, dark chocolate and a beautiful linen napkin. All to lift someone’s day.
9. Pampering the lady in your life is a great way to get in her good books and the A Little Lift Gift Box is the perfect gift for pampering. It includes handmade Belgium chocolates, a bath preparation made from Himalayan green tea and rice starch, cashmere eye mask, hand lotion and a pewter leather journal. Sheer luxury.
10. Birthday gifts for her can sometimes be hard to choose due to the large variety available, but one present every lady loves to receive are flowers. A beautiful bouquet delivered direct to her door will make her special day, extra special! My favorite is the Vanda Orchid and Lily Hand Tied bouquet as lilies are my favorite flower.

I hope this helps you choose a gift for a special lady in your life!

Sponsored Post

The Guru has been a favourite of ours for over 10 years. The restaurant itself isn’t anything to shout about but the food, oh the food.. well that’s delicious and great value too.

The last time I went with my mum. We’d been to see the new version of Wuthering Heights which was quite frankly hell, how we managed to last for whole 45 mins I’ll never know. After creeping out part way through we needed something good to cheer us up and The Guru is always a safe bet. You’ve probably guessed that it’s an Indian restaurant which serves everything you’d expect from an Indian.

The staff are always wonderful and really attentive. For starter we shared a mixed pakora and poppadums with all the chutneys and oniony bits. The portions are huge so we got a chicken tikka balti korma which is one of the specials. I actually really love the dopiaza too but my stomach is a bit sensitive at the moment! We also had a pilau rice and the largest garlic naan you’ve ever seen – my mum stuck her hand up against it so you could get a good idea of just how big it was.

The bill came in at under £30 and we left with a doggy bag for Alex (yes, one curry fed three people that night!) and feeling like we’d had a bargain. Remains a family favourite and we would give it a good 8/10

www.gurubaltirestaurant.co.uk

More ‘Eating Out in Edinburgh’ reviews;

Mamma’s Pizza 6/10

A new year and so begins a new challenge. Over the Christmas I decided to begin on No.45 on my 100 Things list. The challenge specifically is to be able to play the six songs below, from memory, using both hands.

Moonlight Sonata – Beethoven
Songbird – Fleetwood Mac
Song for Whoever – The Beautiful South
Always on My Mind – Elvis Presley
A Whiter Shade of Pale – David Lanz version
Let it Be – The Beatles

..and so it all started with me buying my keyboard off Amazon. The whole set up was just over £100 which I thought was pretty reasonable. I’ve also spent £30 on books and I’ve begun teaching myself. Here’s the first video!

I wrote this post for English Mum, but the first weeks in January are always a bit dull so a good time to remind myself what a fab time we had

I’ve been eating my way around Boston and I thought I’d share my highlights with you. The trip was a two-legged trip, first few days were spent in Boston and the last two in New York. The food in America is pretty good depending on what you like, we went for standard American fare during this trip but there were plenty of fine dining options along the way. Here’s my food lover’s guide to Boston (and a wee bit of NYC) then..

Breakfast

Thornton’s is one of those places that you imagine the actual Bostonian’s eat, not touristy at all but with amazing food. Alex went for a breakfast bagel which was huge and I had poached eggs with rye bread and home fries (spicy potatoes). I love the Kitsch plates!

Boston loves Dunkin’ Donuts, in fact they have more Dunkin’ Donuts outlets per square metre than any other American city, 77 in total. They are literally everywhere. And their slogan? ‘America runs on Dunkin’, and they aren’t even being ironic. We went once as a treat!

My final breakfast highlight in Boston, and please don’t judge me was at the train station (we travelled to New York by amtrak). You know when you’re up early, cold and starving and you just want ‘dirty’ food. You know what I mean, right? Well Cosi delivered with this breakfast quiche. It was like quiche lorraine in a pastry cup, totally random but it hit the spot! The picture doesn’t do it justice. Honest.

The best breakfast I had, in fact it probably tied with Thornton’s, was at Tick Tock Diner in New York. French toast, bacon and maple syrup. Possibly the best food combination ever. Ridiculously huge portion that was made even more ridiculous with the serving of THREE milk jugs of maple syrup. Only in America.

Elevenses

Also known as second breakfast, ahem. We didn’t partake much. Honest.

Starbucks, they are everywhere, including a full size outlet inside our hotel as well as starbucks perculator in the room! It was a little bit Starbucks overload if I’m honest and I’m now caffeine detox-ing.

I couldn’t write a post on Englishmum without mentioning cupcakes. I don’t really eat cupcakes, apart from Englishmum’s Lime and Pistachio variety. I’m very discerning when it comes to my cupcakes dontcha know. I couldn’t not take a picture (my picture was rubbish so I picked one up from their site instead) of Johnny Cupcakes, which isn’t actually a cupcake store at all but a t-shirt shop, so there we are.

Slight departure from food there, but we’re back on it with Sugar Heaven, possibly the greatest sweet shop in the world. Loved it. Spent an absolute fortune. The pic n mix spans two full walls, that’s serious pic n mix people.

We spent $35 (just over £20) and bought everything from american skittles to a ‘blood bag’ filled with liquid candy for halloween.

Next time…Lunch and Dinner!

We were invited to review the brand new IMAX screen in Edinburgh. Unfortunately I was unable to go so my brother and sister in law stepped in, over to them..

The first thing you notice when you walk in is the size and shape of the screen – it’s noticeably bigger, with a slight concave curve to it. As soon the trailers started, I was pretty much sold on the technology. The screen quality is markedly better in comparison to a regular cinema screen. If you’ve ever upgraded your CRT Television to a Full HD Flatscreen, it’s the same kind of thing on a bigger scale. The seats are closer to the screen because of this, which makes for a more immersive experience. When the trailer for The Dark Knight Rises played, I had goosebumps, and immediately decided that I’d be seeing it in IMAX when it is released.

We were there to see Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. Definitely a good choice to show off the capabilities of IMAX: Big action scenes, swooping skyline shots, and explosions. When a building blows up you’ll be dodging out the way of flying bricks. When Tom Cruise looks over the side of the world’s tallest building vertigo kicks in, and your

stomach lurches. As well as this a new sound system has been installed in the wall panelling, using some sort of fancy laser technology. It’s a real step up in audio quality – you even hear the difference when the movie is silent as there’s no background hum or hiss, so you could hear a pin drop.

So far so good then, but what are the drawbacks? Well, I really don’t see much value in IMAX for anything that isn’t a big action movie – This isn’t going to add a great deal to your average rom-com for example. The big one for me is cost. The IMAX screen in Edinburgh will, at least initially, cost an extra £4.30 on top of your regular ticket price, which is £8.30 for an adult. That’s a total cost of £12.60, which I’m sure you’ll agree isn’t exactly cheap. It’d have to be something I REALLY wanted to see – as I mentioned I’d fork out the extra for The Dark Knight Rises, and a few other select action franchises, but at that price I’d definitely be picky.

It’s that time of year again. Time to look back on my year and be grateful for everything good that has happened.

January: So nothing much happened in January, does it ever? I’ve searched and searched for a photo and all I could find is this picture of a chicken pie. The thing I’m grateful for then is to have the ability to provide food for my family, because not all mums are in that position and it’s easy to forget that we’re hugely fortunate.

February: My little girl turns 5. I’m so grateful to have such a healthy happy daughter who makes me laugh, think and feel so very proud every day.

March: Me winning ‘Best Start Up’ at the Business Mum Awards. I’m so grateful to have been able to do the work I love this year.

April: Trip to Disneyland Paris. I’m so grateful for the many experiences that my blog has afforded me. Erin and I had such a lovely time, memories were definitely made on that trip.

May: Quadbiking, achieving one of my 100 things. I’m so grateful to be able to have experiences and a 100 things list to keep me focused!

June: My Great ‘Nanny Darling’. I’m so grateful to not only have had her in my own life but for her to have been with us long enough to leave an impression on Erin. Always loved, often spoken of, never forgotten.

July: My sister in law’s wedding. I’m so grateful to have a great family. I was also grateful for the hog roast rolls they served up which were delicious. Good times.

August: Trip to Wales. I’me very grateful to have family to go and visit.

September: We took Erin wig wamming. We had a fantastic time and I’m grateful for simple pleasures, the whole trip cost just over £100 proving to me that budget holidays can be just as fun as the expensive ones.

October: Has to be my trip to Boston with Alex. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to visit cool places and to do it with my best friend.

November: Erin takes her Rainbows promise – so proud of her.

December: Slightly cheating on this one – it’s the retreat I went on with life coach Suzy Greaves which was actually at the end of November but the effects of which were felt throughout December. I also don’t have a picture. I’m grateful for the realisations I had and the friendships I’ve made this year.

And so on to 2012….

I’m looking forward to Erin’s disco party in February.
I’m looking forward to WYBOT, our bloggers trip..it promises laughs aplenty and I can’t wait.
I’m looking forward to working on the business
I’m looking forward to taking Erin to London and going wig wamming again.
I’m looking foward to going to BritMums Live
I’m looking forward to learning how to play my new keyboard

and lots more… hoping that 2012 is as fun and fulfilling as 2012 was.

Guest post by Kizzy

Photo by Stuart Miles

Christmas is such a hectic time that it can be hard to find time to look after you. What with all the present buying, wrapping and food preparation, our needs as a mum are always last on the list. So here is a guide to help you look amazing on Christmas day and still have time for everything else.

Before the big day arrives there are some tips you can do to ensure you and your skin are in tip top condition. During the winter months the central heating and cold winds will dry you skin out which can leave it sore and flaky. To compensate for this you will need to increase your water intake so your skin becomes less dehydrate and looks more radiant.

If you do find yourself with a bit of time before Christmas day, make the most of it by having a long soak in the bath, exfoliate your skin, give yourself a mini facial and thoroughly moisturise your body from top to toe! This way you will have less to worry about when time is getting short.

Shall I let you in on a little secret, dry shampoo? This should be in every mum’s bathroom cabinet. It is a fantastic product that will leave your hair looking just washed by simply spraying, massaging in and brushing through. Great for Christmas morning when you have been up since 5 with the children opening presents, need to get the turkey in the oven and still look a million dollars for all your family turning up in ten minutes!

Image by Ambro

Make up for the big day may also be important but if you only have 10 minutes you can still look fantastic. Firstly you need to prepare your skin to ensure your make up lasts all day. If you do have time to cleanse properly then do this but if not then wipe your face with a baby wipe and moisturise. The next step if you have it is to apply a primer. This will ensure that your foundation lasts all day and night leaving you with a perfect appearance you won’t need to worry about.

Next apply your foundation. A mineral foundation is ideal as it is quick to apply and will last if used with a primer. It gives an even coverage without clogging your skin and won’t rub off onto your outfit. Mascara is the next essential item. It helps to frame your eyes and make them appear wide open even if you’ve only had 3 hours sleep! Finally apply some lip gloss to give your face an instant lift and finish the look. Now you’re ready to face the day.

Image by Idea go

So the dinners cooked and everyone’s snoozing in the lounge and you are left to do the dishes, this doesn’t mean that you can’t still be treating your skin whilst being a domestic goddess. Apply your hand cream before putting on your marigolds and with the heat of the water, the moisturiser will penetrate deeper leaving your hands silky smooth and looking well looked after.

So I hope you enjoy your busiest day of the year and do get chance to have some time to yourself but if not you know no how to look your best in 10 minutes!

I’m a bit behind on the whole Christmas prep thing. I did a ton of shopping in Boston and NYC and then got a bit complacent I think.

Christmas shopping is mostly done and all the *cough* santa business has been taken care of. Erin gets to choose three things each year, this year she went for Little Mommy doll (the irony wasn’t lost on us!), Lite Sprite and cool cardz design studio.

Christmas day outfit has been supplied by Mash Jr. She’ll be in blue jeans with diamonte detail and white linen shirt with rose embellishment, no doubt this will be accompanied by a vast array of accessories. ‘Girly’ would be an understatement, really not sure that’s she definitely mine

Christmas dinner menu has been decided, however I’ve made no moves to actually order any ingredients. Meh…I’ll sharpen my elbows on Christmas eve with the rest of Britain, I don’t need sprouts so I should avoid any major tussles. Dinner will be;

Leek and Potato Soup and/or Prawn Cocktail
………
Roast shoulder of pork, roast vegetables, braised cabbage,
chipolatas, roast potatoes, apple sauce and gravy
………
Griddled pineapple in rum, chilli and vanilla sauce with vanilla ice cream

Not exactly traditional, but that’s how we roll. As we’re predominantly teetotalers (so occasionally I fall off the wagon, shoot me) we’ll have appletiser which is Erin’s favourite.

Table decorations are being organised by Erin so so far we have an eclectic blend of gold table cloth, teal christmas tree place name holders and a glitter ball style tree…oh yes and Gu crackers. It’s turning into a very random Christmas.

Still to do… finish christmas shopping, buy food (see above), write christmas cards and send, send gifts to Wales, wrap presents, clean the house, do the ironing, find something to wear, freak out and panic.

Merry Christmas everyone!