Are you sleeping appily?

Hi all.

Yes i'm still here - I'll explain that in the next post but for now I want to speak to you about something close to my heart. Tiredness, something we've all experienced in one or more ways with embarrassing consequences from time to time (trust me, falling asleep on the bus is never fun.) Especially as one in three Brits claim to have slept through their stop when commuting due to tiredness.

But it's time to claim back that happy sleepy time as March is National Bed Month and our good friends at Vodafone have rounded up some of the best sleep apps to help tackle tiredness – all of which are available to download on the Vodafone Smart platinum 7

Now it's all good and well saying try some apps on an amazing phone (trust me - I own one)  but not without some of the best apps out there to aid a restful nights sleep. So here we list the best four apps for sleep training and tracking to dream journals and gentle alarm clocks to help fight fatigue right at your fingertips!

Our top four for Appy Dreams.
Sleep Genius – | Android (£4.89), iOS (£4.99) Designed by experts in neuroscience, sleep, sound and music, Sleep Genius helps you sleep longer, deeper and faster than ever before. Neurosensory algorithms help you get ready for sleep, train your brain into its natural sleep rhythms and wake you with a gentle refreshing alarm. PROs: Guides your brain through each stage in the sleep cycle Gentle refreshing alarm Relaxation program which reduces stress and anxiety	Sleep Cycle | Android, iOS (Free) Sleep Cycle is the intelligent alarm clock that makes waking up easy. The app helps to analyse your sleep and wake you in your lightest sleeping phase – the natural way to wake up so you feel rested and relaxed. PROs: Wakes you in your lightest sleeping phase Gives you detailed sleep statistics and sleep graphs each night Has 15 carefully selected, high quality alarm melodies
SleepBot : Android (63p), iOS (Free) This innovative sleep cycle tracking app will record any movements and sounds that you make during the night and can provide detailed graphs showing motion, sound, sleep debt, wake patterns and sleep times. It also has a dependable optimal alarm that lets you customize your sleep tracking. PROs: Can track sleep talking and snoring Has handy solutions to fall asleep or stay awake The only sleep app that includes motion and sound graphs, sleep debt log, statistics, trend graphs (averages, sleep/wake times, patterns) and multiple custom alarms	Awoken : Android (Free) Awoken is a lucid dreaming guide that helps you understand your dreams and has techniques to achieve and control clearer dreams. It helps you to become aware that you are dreaming and then helps shape, influence and direct your dreams with clarity. Features such as ‘Dream Journal’ let you jot down your dreams in a diary and review them later. You can also search the most common words from your journal so you can monitor any reoccurring themes.  PROs: Keep your dream journal entries in a searchable list Search the most common words and themes from your search journal Helps shape, influence and direct your dreams with clarity

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So my fellow night owls give these a try and tell me what you think - I will add more of your personal picks on sleepy time application if you can suggest some

Paul

Giving up the smokes?

Today I want to talk to you about a little situation that happened this morning. Which wound me up a bit.

Sat there waiting for the bus with the smalls for someone to come under the shelter with us and immediately spark up a cigarette, meaning we have to go out to keep the kids away from the direct attack of second hand smoke.

What made me laugh was the gentleman who scoffed at me "I'm sorry I've been trying to quit but it's not gone too well." Indeed it's not a laughing point for those who struggle to stop smoking, but the smokes have a hold and won't let go without a fight. 

Well. The European Union is running a campaign called Ex Smokers are Unstoppable to try and help you win the fight by using the most important tool in your pocket. No, not your lighter. Your smartphone you moose! And using your smartphone you can become your own coach to a smoke free life with the iCoach app. 

The iCoach app has 5 different phases which seem to be aimed at those who want to quit but have not began the journey to quitting smoking 

Phase 1: I do not plan on stopping

Phase 2: I should stop, but I am still in doubt

Phase 3: I will stop smoking shortly

Phase 4: I have just stopped

Phase 5: I have stopped for some time now

The iCoach mobile app is available for Android and Apple devices for free!
no word support on Blackberry, Symbian or Windows Phone. 

For many it could be the start of something beautiful and not just in their wallets. And the coaching will require time and will power. But if you succeed with this imagine what else you can achieve!
What's more the Unstoppable team has the support of football team FC Barcelona (Yes! Eye candy) and even support available on Facebook too

If you have kids or just want to break away from the chains of your Ciggy pack. Here is your chance. 

Paul 

Disclosure this is a sponsored post. 

Dear Zoo is 30! Happy Birthday

Me and Vee were invited to the 30th birthday celebrations for the book, Dear Zoo.

Dear Zoo is a book by Rod Campbell. I remember this book being read in lower school to us. It brings back very happy memories for me personally. A classic unchanged through time which will last long into the future for the next generations of children to love

We arrived in London to be welcomed by Event organizer Sally and Fleurble, the Zoo Keeper. Fleurble is a very special Zookeeper, she's discovered the secret switch to a child's imagination, sadly most grown up's lose this button as we grow up. (I thought I found it. But it was just my eye!)

Fleuble (image credit Vee) 

Once everyone arrived we moved downstairs to our little party zone, Fleurble Gathered the children on the floor to read the story, choosing some of children to be one of the pets from the zoo. Vee was lucky to be chosen and loved to be the lion. RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWW!

Suddenly MEERKATS!

Here is a video of Fleurble earlier today!


The Zookeeper told the story in such a way that captivated the children's minds extremely well, even Vee who seems to grow bored easilly stayed sat throughout.

Rod arrived for Q&A session with questions from people on twitter and us there. I never knew he was a scientist and an artist before he wrote Dear Zoo. It turns out a friend suggested he made a children's book from seeing his artwork. 30 years down the road and we have a much loved around the world family book.
He also told us how flap books used to be a luxury and were locked away from children many years back and how he plans to go back to painting and
art soon as he's not in a while.

I also asked Rod privately what his thoughts of the eBook and educational apps avaliable were(at this point i did not know he had an app for Dear Zoo. He told me he felt apps become games to children, instead of an experience. And how he prefers books over apps.
Rod is true gentleman, very lovely person. He signed  our copy of Dear Zoo. I apologise for not thanking you for your time to talk with me. (vee was being a monster) I appriciate it none the less .


Sadly I had to rush off at 4pm to catch the last off peak train before 7pm. But it seems everyone had a fantastic day,  Huge thanks for the party celebrations. It was an amazing day.

If you love and remember Dear zoo as much as many of us do, visit the Dear Zoo pages on PanMacmillan's website for the chance to win an ipad3 with Dear Zoo app preloaded.

Also for more info on Dear Zoo or to buy a copy
Click here 

A few more photos from the day are on my MOLOME Stream


Many thanks to Rod Campbell, Sally from PanMacmillan, Fleur Alexander the storyteller, Vee for her photos (flickr link coming soon)

Also An apology. I called Rod Rob on some of my tweets today. Yes I'm an Muppet. But a truly sorry one at that.

Paul