MUM'S THE WORD… FOR A STRESSFUL LIFE on 14/05/09

OVER HALF BLAME THEIR OWN FAMILY FOR SOARING STRESS LEVELS OVER half of mums say their own family causes them more stress than paying the bills or work problems – most claiming to even be stressed before they’re dressed!

A shock new study*, published today, reveals that even in the Credit Crunch obsessed climate UK mums blame their children for causing stress more than they do the worry of household bills, work issues or their love life. A huge 54% of mums say the biggest contributor to their personal stress is their own family’s unrealistic expectation of them as a domestic goddess**. Expectations of them as a fast paced gourmet chef, cleaner, family accountant, agony aunt and family PA are routine for most mums and all this on top of their work commitments.

Only 5 per cent claimed work-related matters were the main cause of their stress, while 37 per cent said concerns over children caused them the biggest headache with money worries coming a close second with 32%. Just four per cent said their love life was the major stress contributor. The study, by Chicago Town to launch Tuck In Tuesdays, illustrates that soaring stress levels are making Britain’s mums feel more under pressure than ever before. And, as a result, Chicago Town’s Tuck In Team has launched a national competition via chicagotown.com to find the most stressed out mum in Britain and reward her dedication and hard work with a prize package designed to totally ease the pressure.

THE TOP TEN THINGS THAT STRESS MUMS OUT ARE:

1. Concerns over children (37%)
2. Money worries (32%)
3. Household chores (6%)
4. Extended family (6%)
5. Appearance (5%)
6. Work problems (5%)
7. Marital issues (4%)
8. Social life/ Me Time (3%)
9. Feeding the family within budget (2%)
10. Pets (1%)

For more information please contact Robbie Platt or Lorna ONeill at Brazen PR on 0161 923 4994 or chicagotown@brazenpr.com.

*Chicago Town interviewed 1,015 UK mums via survey experts, Opinium Research and asked what caused them the most stress

** the 54% figure was calculated taking into account those factors that contribute towards being a domestic goddess – children concerns, household chores, feeding the family, marital issues and appearance)

Five mums from different regions across the UK will have the Tuck In Team visit their house on a Tuesday, following a recent survey highlighting this as the most depressing day of the week.

The Tuck In Tuesday Team will consist of a children’s entertainer to keep the kids occupied after school whilst a personal chef will cook the lucky family an entire Chicago Town Tuck In Pizza dinner with salad and chips. Finally, a beauty therapist will visit the family home to give mum some much needed pampering to ease away the stress.

To enter, email chicagotown@brazenpr.com and tell us what makes you the UK’s most stressed out mum

TERRIBLE TUESDAYS PUT BRITS IN A BAD MOOD on 15/04/09

Tuesday officially worst day for dating & business deals

TUESDAY is officially the most depressing day of the week for work-weary Brits and the day we should avoid dating and making business deals, an enlightening new study has revealed.

The survey of 2000 adults commissioned by Chicago Town to launch its Tuck In Tuesdays campaign - designed to encourage families to Tuck In to and get excited about the food they love - revealed that one in five of us hate Tuesdays because it’s the day we feel most down.

With ‘Moaning Monday’ - the bedding in day - over, the realisation that we’re still a whole four work-days away from the weekend is almost too much to bear for some.

According to the poll, work disagreements and domestic disharmony are far more likely to happen on Tuesdays than any other day because it’s the day the UK is, collectively, in a national bad mood.

As a result, Tuesdays are also the worst day for sealing business deals, embarking on new professional enterprises or personal adventures or asking someone out on a date.

But we’re not as reserved as we may appear as almost half of us (48%) state that the only thing that’s gets us through a dull Tuesday is the thought of seeing family or a loved one. With a third (30%) looking forward to intimacy with a partner. Unsurprisingly this rises to a massive 38% of men but just 23% of women.

Regionally it seems that men in the North West, North East and Yorkshire are most likely to want impromptu passion with a partner after a bad day (33%), compared to women in Wales who are least likely to crave a canoodle (25%).

Food was also cited as a factor in improving your mood when you’re feeling down, with one in four claiming eating their favourite nosh could transform the way they feel. Women (26%) are most likely to feel lifted after a good eat compared to just 19% of men.

Regionally, one in three Welsh and Londoners claim to feel happiest after tucking in to the food they love and confess that their favourite food beats making love when it comes to feeling good!

Worryingly, just 13% of men and women cited exercise as way to improve their mood, with the same number of Brits thinking about going to bed to get them through. A quarter of Londoners are most likely to get through a dull Tuesday by thinking about that night’s TV

Behavioural psychologist Donna Dawson comments, “Tuesday is the only day without a label. ‘Monday’, is the first day back in, ‘Wednesday’ is mid-week, and the weekend now starts on a ‘Thursday’ for most of the nation – so that leaves ‘Tuesday’ being non-descript, which can be unsettling.

“And while we traditionally don’t like Mondays, it’s on ‘Tuesdays’ when we are likely to feel the most irritable, and for this reason we should avoid negotiating big business deals, embarking on new personal plans or asking someone out on a date on that day. This is because important issues can never be satisfactorily settled if we are not feeling up-to-scratch.

“However, Brits can still lift their mood by taking comfort in the simpler things of life, such as enjoying a good meal with close family and friends. A good feast can act as food for the soul!”

TOO GORGEOUS TO RESIST on 15/04/09

PIZZAS THAT TASTE GOOD ON THE LIPS BUT DON'T LAST A LIFETIME ON THE HIPS

Do you love the taste of pizza but wish they weren’t so laden with calories? Would you like to see traditional flavours with a cosmopolitan twist? If we told you Chicago Town had brought out a women-only pizza, just for you would you believe us? Well it’s true!

The NEW Individual range of pizzas just for girls, is aptly named Gorgeous because its lipsmackingly tasty flavours are simply too good to resist. And you’ll be pleased to know that the ladies at Chicago Town listen when it comes to what women want.

Gorgeous, by name and nature, is a range of thin-based pizzas loaded with luscious toppings and their individuality in size allows for portion control, meaning you’ll be left feeling fabulous, not bloated.
Perfect as part of an evening meal or as a light lunch, and with almost half the number of calories* compared to other typically girly alternatives - including a range of Pret A Manger sandwiches and Weight Watchers meals** – there won’t be a guilty conscience in sight.

And it’s not just the pizzas that are gorgeous and girly. The packaging is stylish, fun and smothered in kisses so if it weren’t for them being frozen, you’d be forgiven for carrying them around in your handbag! The Gorgeous range comes in two tantalising flavours;

Pepperoni & Red Onion – Two thin-crust pizzas with pepperoni, tasty red onion and dripping in delicious mozzarella cheese.

The Mozzarella, Tomato & Pesto features mouth-watering Mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, delicious pesto.

Call it the ‘Galaxy’ of the pizza world, call it what you want – Gorgeous is irresistibly tasty and made for your pleasure. And at just £1.49 for a twin pack, your purses will be satisfied too. So what you waiting for? Tuck In!

Gorgeous will be available nationwide in Sainsbury’s and Morrisons in March 2009.