Aurora James
A single parent, published author, professional journalist, business owner, keen home cook, and yo-yo dieter. Expert at family budgeting, useless at DIY, mother to teenage fashion and music lovers and a child with diabetes and one who is sport crazy. My passion is travel - when I get the chance!
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- Page views
- 179,655
- Content
- 91
- Fans
- 3
- Contributor since
- 29/03/2012
Education/Experience
BA (Hons) Communication Media, National Association of Teachers of Dance, Archery GB, London Association of Music and Dramatic Art, Enterprise FellowInterests
Home Cooking, Recipes, Lifestyle, Parenting, Diet, Education, Anything on a Budget, Health, Travel, Caribbean, Italy, Relationships, Dance, Finance, Dating, Archery, DiabetesMotto
Winners never quit; quitters never winAffiliations
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, BBC News, Federation of Small Businesses, Trinidad & Tobago Tourism, British Association of Picture Libraries and AgenciesFavourites
None yet.Fans
Displaying results 1 - 91 (of 91) for All Content
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ITV This Morning: Torvill and Dean set to say goodbyeTorvill and Dean have announced that the next series of 'Dancing on Ice' is to be the last. -
ITV This Morning: Too pretty to get a jobA beautiful and intelligent science academic says she has been persecuted at work for being too pretty. -
Educational days out with your kids that they will loveTake your family on a day out where the kids get to learn something, too. Best of all, it won't cost the earth. -
ITV This Morning - Stuart Hazell is sentenced for the murder of Tia SharpThe step grand-father of 12 year old Tia Sharp changed his plea to guilty 5 days into the court case and is sue to be sentenced today. -
ITV This Morning - Is divorce fair?ITV This Morning looks at whether women should 'benefit' from a divorce. -
ITV This Morning - Downsize the Family Results!ITV This Morning fitness and diet experts help four families get fit and lose weight. -
ITV This Morning: Phobia Intervention WeekOne in five of us have a fear of going to the dentist. Nik and Eva Speakman try and help one man overcome his phobia about getting his teeth treated. -
ITV This Morning: Phobia Intervention WeekITV This Morning tries to cure Liz McClarnon's fear of flying. -
ITV This Morning: Do celebrities with tattoos make bad role models?ITV This Morning debates today whether celebrities who have tattoos are bad role models for the young. -
ITV This Morning: Does dieting make you beautiful?ITV This Morning talks to journalist Samantha Brick about her belief that dieting makes you more beautiful. -
This Morning: Boston Marathon bombingPresenters and guests on This Morning discuss the news from Boston about a bomb attack at the marathon. -
ITV This Morning: The launch of Crime WeekOn 'This Morning' Holly and Phil launch the start of a series of features throughout the week focusing on crime. -
ITV This Morning: The death of Margaret ThatcherToday's 'This Morning' programme was dominated by discussion about the life and death of former Prime Minister, Baroness Thatcher, who died yesterday. -
'Girl power' started for me with Maggie ThatcherWhen Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister, my mum and all my friends' mums were housewives. A female PM was a huge news story. Today, my kids wouldn't bat an eyelid if there was woman PM voted in. -
I DID live on £53 a week - with a baby and no child supportIt's not easy - but it was do-able and horrible. But it is possible - though i suspect Iain Duncan Smith would struggle.... -
This Morning: Is it OK to drug your child for a plane trip?Journalist Shona Sibary has written about how she has given her small children antihistamine tablets to make them sleepy on long haul flights. ITV 'This Morning' looks at the pros and cons of that idea.
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Has sexism been re-branded? No, it's just the same!Teachers think our children are subjected to an over-sexualised culture. They're right - but it's just the same as it was 30 years ago.
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Our new Easter tradition decided by my childType 1 diabetes meant no Easter eggs for the first Easter soon after diagnosis. So my child got to start a new family Easter tradition of choosing a new activity for us to do each Easter holiday.
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I believe in the power of prayerI think prayer helps us to focus, in an increasingly busy world where I often feel like nothing ever stops.
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All dogs and dog owners should be trainedAnother child is killed in a dog attack. It's too common a story in our news. If people can afford to buy and keep a dog, they can afford to have it trained. Training dog owners in dog behaviour could save more dog attack tragedies.
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My credit card pays ME more than £60 a yearI use my free credit card for almost all purchases I make, pay it off each month, and swap points earned for food shopping vouchers.
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How to get your baby to bed and asleepWith new parent exhaustion, bedtime and sleep can become a longed-for ambition. There are some old fashioned ways to get your little ones to sleep - and they worked for me.
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Goodbye BBC Television CentreThis Easter 2013, the iconic BBC building that has broadcast to us for more than half a century will close its doors for good.
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ITV This Morning: Childbirth left me terrified of sexA young mother talks to Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langford about her fear of sex after a traumatic childbirth
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Gertrude, an inspirational mum in MalawiA hard working, widowed mother in southern Africa is the driving force behind an acclaimed African school for 200 children.Also published on:
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When your child gets bracesBraces are more common for children now than ever before. Many think of braces as a fashion accessory but the reality of having braces is a different story.
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Should the NHS go seven days a week?Should our National Health Service go seven days a week - and catch up with 21st century working life? Yes it should!
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Why a gut feeling made me say no to MMRAn inexplicable gut feeling made me opt for separate vaccinations for one of my children.
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BT sent bailiffs after me for money I didn't owe themWhen I left BT, they sent me a final bill for a re-connection charge, and then instructed bailiffs to collect the money from me.
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Do all UK children really just want to be pop stars and footballers?While children in Liberia dream of being doctors and lawyers, Prime Minister David Cameron told them that UK pupils all just want to be famous.
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English Baccalaureate 'risks sweeping away important creative subjects'Critics argue that the English Baccalaureate will harm less able students wishing to do vocational studies. But we can't have a nation of pupils with only GCSE Media Studies and Performing Arts....
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How a pub convoy helped us through the snowThe heavy snow on Friday blocked our main route home. Stranded motorists in a nearby pub got together to work out just how we were all going to get home, while one lady went into labour....
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Low-carb leek recipes this winterLeeks are in season and make a delicious main or side dish for cold winter nights. Enjoy them in low-carb meals.
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Ragu alla Bolognese: The real Spag BolRagu made with milk is the best spaghetti bolognese you'll ever taste.
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I was there... in a quintessential English village for the Diamond Jubilee celebrationsThe Diamond Jubilee 2012 brought our whole village together in a long weekend of music and entertainment.
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I was there... when our village was surrounded by flood waterWhen we tried to drive out of our village, we came across one blocked road after another due to flood water. We had to drive through the shallowest flood to get out, and were almost stranded.Also published on:
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What if you have a favourite child?Most parents have one child who they prefer to the others. Is it okay to admit that? What are the long lasting effects on your family if you do?
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Teen love: When your daughter gets her first boyfriendYou can't plan for when your teenage girl gets her first boyfriend. But when she does, it's a difficult balance between rules and freedom.
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Pregnant: Coping with body changes during pregnancyIt can be the best and worst time of your life. Your body takes over when you are pregnant and you experience months of feeling awful followed by a period of glowing health.
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Single mum: Motherhood clashed with my jobHaving a child turns your life upside down - and your priorities have to change.
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My third world journey changed my outlook on lifeI lived the high life (along with the stresses) but a trip to a poor Caribbean island made me change my ways forever.Also published on:
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Weaning my baby: Why I gave up homemade food plans and opened a jarWhen your baby goes from milk to solid food it's a giant step in their development. They'll tell you when they're ready, and then it's time to introduce them to wonderful tastesAlso published on:
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How I paid off £6,000 of debt in just over a yearYou can't always plan for everything. Sometimes we find ourselves in difficulty and just have to cope. It's not easy. But can be done. This is how I got by.
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Childbirth: Labour rarely goes to planI thought I knew how my first labour was going to go - but I was wrong.
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Taking your kids crabbing and sea fishing in the UKHow much fun can you have with a piece of string, a bit of old bacon and a bucket? Lots - if you go crabbing!Also published on:
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Celebrate Curry Week with these homemade recipesCurry is one of our nation's favourite dishes and making your own can be cost effective and delicious.Also published on:
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Feeding a family well for £55 a weekIt's possible to eat a varied and tasty diet of three meals a day on a tight budget. We had to.
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Avoid tech - let kids use their imaginations againToday's gadgets and technical games can soon lose their appeal, and no child should start life out as a couch potato. Get them out in the fresh air and socialising a bit more. Just like we all used to - they'll love it.
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Shopping with toddlers: 10 tips for better in-store behaviourTaking your child shopping can be fun: you just need to see it that way.
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Fans' favourite Olympic moments: Torvill & DeanTorvill and Dean caused such celebration in my house when they danced their way into history with perfect scores and Olympic Gold Medals in the 1984 Olympics, now we watch as much Olympic sport as we can.
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The first time I ate snailsI once found myself in a situation where I had to try a bowl of cooked snails - and I was surprised at how they tasted.
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Croque Monsieur - the best ham 'n' cheese toastie everThe French have a tradition of making the simplest dishes extraordinary. We have the ham and cheese sandwich - they have 'Croque Monsieur'.
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The Italian family way of eatingEnjoying real Italian family home-cooked meals makes you realise how healthy pasta can really be.
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Our archery team have lit an Olympic flame of aspiration in our homeWatching your sporting heroes in an Olympics is an unforgettable experience. We've cheered and cried, and seen our teams go out by one arrow and one point. But it has given hope here for the next Olympics in 2016.Also published on:
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Record breaker Williamson: Our local archery OlympianWhen Olympic Bronze Medallist Alison Williamson came to our archery club, she inspired my child to aim for the top.
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Being a volunteer arrow collector at the OlympicsHow do you get to be a volunteer at the Olympics - helping out your favourite athletic heroes in your chosen sport?
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My work colleague is a gold medallistLondon 2012 has revived memories for Olympian Imran Sherwani who won a gold medal at the Seoul Games in 1988
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Children's archery tournament: rain stops playWhen you've spent months training and preparing for a big tournament, it's an awful feeling when the torrential rain means it's all called off for another year.
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Tanning tips my daughter learned from TOWIEMy daughter has beautifully brown arms and legs - despite not having seen the sun for weeks. She admitted TOWIE had helped her successfully apply her first ever fake tan.Also published on:
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Team GB archery: preparing for a big tournamentWhen your child is involved in serious competitive sport, you're up with the dawn chorus to get them to tournaments all over the country.Also published on:
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How to budget for an unexpected baby as a single mumWith first babies you think you need to buy everything in the shop -- but you don't. Many things can be bought or received as almost new hand me downs, and you'll be given gifts of clothes and toys from friends and family.Also published on:
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I was a 'Mum taxi service'We drive our children everywhere, but do we really need to be a 24/7 taxi service for them or should they start walking a bit more?
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What you need for serious archery equipmentThe cost of equipment for an archer and the detail you need to address is quite a shockAlso published on:
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Archery: when training takes over the dining roomA mother to a junior Team GB archer explains how her home now has to fit shooting targets in the living areas.Also published on:
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Why bedtime stories are good for your childrenPopular bedtime story classics that help your children learn, think, be soothed and comforted, and ready for sleep.Also published on:
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My birth story - transverse delivery and a fibroidDid the fibroid detected in my ultrasound scan cause of my difficult transverse labour?Also published on:
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Feeling hot? How to stay cool when you're pregnantBeing heavily pregnant in hot weather can be a misery. But there are ways to help you stay cool and fresh.Also published on:
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When your child needs an operationTaking your child into hospital for an operation is a daunting task. But there are some ways to make the experience easy on both of you.Also published on:
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Finding out your child has a life threatening diseaseType 1 diabetes is an auto immune disease. Left untreated, it is fatal. Cases in children are on the increase by 4 per cent a year and medics do not know why.Also published on:
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Being mum to a future OlympianHaving a child in the family who could make it to the Olympics one day is a serious - and expensive - commitment.Also published on:
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Crafts for kids - Potato printingGet creative with what you have in the house. Some paints, paper and old potatoes mean you don't need to go out and buy expensive craft sets.Also published on:
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How to do your reality show audition tapeTop tips for your audition tape for reality TV shows.Also published on:
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The day I took tea with the QueenMeeting Queen Elizabeth is a very special moment. She is still an amazingly beautiful woman, and has the stamina of someone half her age.Also published on:
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Top 5 sports for leisurely ladiesThere are plenty of sports for women to get involved with - and compete in - whatever your fitness.Also published on:
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My vegetarian child has made me a better cookWhen one of my children came home from school and declared himself to be a vegetarian, I didn't take him seriously. Now, thanks to his turning away from meat, we're all more healthy.
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Deep fried sweetbreads with red chilliesIf you like offal, you could really enjoy sweetbreads if they are cooked properly. To contrast the texture of sweetbreads, I think a crunchy batter is the best way to serve this dish.
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Why I hated Sports DayFew pupils shine at Sports Day. It is an important part of the school year and must take place, but the truth is, many of us, especially girls, hate it.
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My power walking workout to burns caloriesI'm too old and creaky to Zumba, so I'm losing inches and burning calories by doing 3 mile walks, 3 times a week.
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Is single life lonesome or awesome?My married friends envy me for being single. There are definitely some advantages, it's true. But is being without a fella all it's cracked up to be?
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How to give yourself a pedicureBuff up those feet in time for the summer flip flops.
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Homemade British asparagus soupAsparagus soup is a beautiful spring vegetable served in an easy and tasty way for all the family.
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Playgrounds mums just bore meSchool gate gatherings bring together a group of people every day, often twice a day, who may not normally choose to socialise or converse. If they're not your kind of people, you're stuck - for years.
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Help your children cope with long car journeys'Are we there yet?' - the phrase dreaded by parents on long car journeys. There are ways to help keep your brood happy and occupied in the car. You just need to plan.
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Perfect egg mayonnaise and cress sandwichWith the right ingredients and a little TLC, this English favourite transforms from a tired old limp snack, to a creamy, peppery taste of heaven on a plate.
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Helping your kids through exam seasonSome successful tips on how to help your children through exam revision in the summer term
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Bite size British food treats for the JubileeForget the sandwiches - make it canapes UK style. We're getting together with friends for a Golden Jubilee Bash and everyone's bringing along something very British but in bite sizes.
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Truancy cannot be solved with finesIncreasing fines for parents of truants won't reduce the truancy rates because most parents are often helpless to act. It's a bigger problem.
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Top tips for women on that first dateWhat do you wear? Do you go all confident or demure and shy? What will he prefer? What if you don't like him? How will you escape? Help!Also published on:
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Really, truly, the best ever chocolate browniesI've spent ages trying all sorts of recipes and then hatched my own - which I may be crazy to share - but here you go - delicious homemade chocolate brownies to die for.
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Planning a children's birthday party: Less is moreTrying to out-do each other with your kids' birthday parties can be expensive, stressful, and to be frank, a waste of time. The children won't even notice, and you're doing it for them - right?.
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Great family cycle routes in Middle EnglandIf you're watching the pennies and need some thrifty days out for the children, stack up your bikes and head for some of the most beautiful - and easy - cycle routes in the UK.