It is now such a commonly held understanding that buying single use plastic bottles is bad that it almost seems like we never thought any other way. Could it really be just 12-24 months ago we were buying bottled water and other drinks without a care, using carrier bags, not moaning at our supermarkets for plastic use? Well, yes it can, things have changed fast and one of the really big areas that was quite an easy change for most people was the humble drinks bottle. Not only did buying a reusable drinks bottle help keep our “Blue Planet” conscience clear it was also a chance to make a statement, to look cool or to have something new to make our own. There are now companies offering branded water bottles for events and businesses, you can buy reusable bottles in supermarkets, on Amazon and in all manner of other places.

We rushed out to buy all manner of water bottles but now the dust has settled a bit, which types were any good? Which ones last, which ones are green and which ones were a bit of a con?

Here is a quick guide to some of the more common types of reusable bottle that we have all had time to reflect on.

My weight has always fluctuated and whenever my focus slips away from my eating habits I tend to put on weight. I’ve been really busy over the last few months and my diet has suffered meaning I need to lose about a stone to comfortably fit back into my summer wardrobe. The Dietbon diet meals delivery service does all the thinking for you, delivering balanced meal plans which should help you lose up to 2lb per week.

Sounds like a really good idea when you are a bit too busy to properly concentrate on healthy eating, but does it work?

The perceived wisdom on language learning is that if you want your child to be bilingual, you had better start them on the language early on. However, this is not necessarily the case and it can give people misconceptions about whether it is possible for them to learn a language later in life. In fact, there is no learning barrier to language acquisition that comes from age.

So where does this flawed idea about children and language skills come from? Here we will take a look at why it is easy to believe that children are better at learning languages than adults.

April is whizzing by so time to catch up with what I'm watching on TV (and at the cinema!) at the moment. Last month I introduced movies I have enjoyed over the past few weeks so check out my thoughts on the new Dumbo movie which hit the big screen last week.

To say Husband was a little excited when Jacamo asked if he'd like to review some clothes from their range would be an understatement! Here's what he thought of the online men's fashion retailer...

There are some wardrobe staples I enjoy wearing all year round, a comfy jumper, smart but slightly lairy shirts and a pair of smart casual shoes. I’m always looking for something different and fashion which subtly stands out from the crowd. Jacamo have a great selection of clothing, shoes and accessories and with sizes ranging from small through to 5XL they have clothes for larger men, smaller blokes and everyone in between.

Spring can be a busy season. At the end of this month, we celebrate Mother’s Day. Then comes Father’s Day in May. And in between these dates Easter will occur and of course that means the kids are off school for two weeks.

What’s more, this time of year seems to be filled with birthdays. For me February is the start of the manic birthday season and with two kids at school children’s parties are often a regular feature, especially as the weather warms up. So, how can we prepare and keep on top of all these celebrations? Here are some suggestions to help you.

This bumper issue of What I'm Watching... gives you the low down on all the TV shows I've been hooked on over the past few weeks. And as we've been watching loads of movies lately I've decided to include some film recommendations for the first time! Whoop whoop! So grab a notepad and buckle up...

Little E turned 8 and Little I turned 5 last week. I kinda need to do away with the ‘Little’ now don’t I?! Perhaps just for E as I can’t cope with the thought of my baby getting big! Within the space of 6 days we celebrate the following birthdays: Both my children, my Husband, my StepDad, my Dad and my Mum. Yes. I am speaking the truth! The rest of the year feels like a holiday in comparison to that one week in February...

Requested cakes this year were ‘a brownie tower’ and ‘orange with a horse on top’. I think I nailed both and I actually got to bed before midnight so I’m winning!

Happy Birthday my beautiful girls.

When you’re working at home, it goes without saying that you need a motivational, inspiring space that helps you get stuff done. Working at the kitchen table surrounded by pots, pans, kids’ homework and a multitude of other things that aren’t work related isn’t going to give you the energy and drive you need - I speak from experience after working this way nearly broke my spirit until I decided something had to change.

So whether you’ve cleared out a corner in your living room or you have a small room to call your office, here are a few ideas on how to make it the chicest place going.

The Gargoyle’s nameless narrator is a porn star and cocaine addict who crashes his car into a ravine while high to avoid a shower of hallucinatory arrows he sees coming towards him. The accident leaves him fighting for his life in a hospital burns unit where he meets Marianne Engel, a sculptor and psychiatric patient who believe she and our narrator were lovers in the 14th century. And so begins the story of an enduring romance which defies time, pain and death.