LIFESTYLE: 5 Ways You Could Be Wrecking Your Home (Without Even Knowing It)


Most of us take pride in our homes and we like to think we’re doing everything we can, from spending a fortune on the decor to spending more time than we might like cleaning, to have our homes looking their best. However, a lot of the time, the things we are doing, or not doing, are actually wrecking our homes without us even knowing it! 
Don’t believe me? Here are a few ways you could unwittingly be ruining your home:
1.Leaving the blinds open
We all like to open the blinds in the morning to let in the light and enjoy a bit of sun, but do you leave your blinds open all day every day? If you do, especially in the summertime, you could be wrecking your floors, furniture and even your paintwork because the sun not only fades wallpaper, paint and wood, but it can also discolour carpets and even warp your furniture if you’re really unlucky. So, next time you head out on a sunny day, close the blinds for a while and give your home a break from those harmful UV rays.
2. Letting that tap drip too long
A lot of us when we see that one of our taps is dripping, ignore the problem. After all, it’s only dripping a little so it can wait, right? Well you might get lucky, and that may be the case, but so often, the longer you leave a slight drip, the worse it will get until you’re on the phone to an emergency plumber covered in water with a bathroom that looks like a flood has hit it. Take care of plumbing problems right away and save your home.
3. Shunning vacuuming in favour of sweeping
I know sometimes it’s easier to sweep your hardwood floors than it is to get the vacuum out and use that, but if your floor has lots of little abrasive pieces of dirt and debris sitting around on it, the act of sweeping them and pushing them around could cause your floors to become scratched and damaged. It’s far better to vacuum wooden floors because it picks up rather than pushes around and you don’t encounter this issue as a result.
4. Not using a stud finder
Have you ever nailed something into the wall without first using a stud finder? I bet you have we all have right? Sure, but here’s the thing, you really shouldn’t because if you don’t, you have no guarantee that you’re nailing your picture frame or whatever into a part of the wall that’s strong enough to support it and that could result in crumbling, damaged walls which means more plastering for you.
5. Letting trees grow free
If you have trees n your garden, you’ll know that the bigger they grow the more majestic they look and the better they are at providing a shady spot to sit, but letting them grow too big could cause damage to your roof, windows and the sides of your home due to branches scratching and hitting the structure and due to excess levels of moisture deposited by the tree. Not only that, but falling leaves could clog up your gutters and drains. Keep your trees in check.
Were you doing any of these potential homewrecking things?
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LIFESTYLE: 4 SIMPLE THINGS THAT BUMP UP YOUR STYLE

Fashion is one of those things we cannot do without, and it’s how some people express themselves. While some are very good at it, others need a little help finding a style that suits them. However, whether you’re a beginner or not, some items take your look up a notch, and require minimal effort on your part. No matter the kind of day you have, these items will make you look like you put maximum effort into your appearance. 

1. A tote bag


If you are always on the go with no time to curate an outfit, then this will help you a lot. A tote bag is a versatile item that fits almost every outfit and occasion. The best part is you can keep whatever you want at a low cost. It is usually lightweight, and nearly every brand has one. So you can get one from your favourite designer in any coloring you like. If you’re not good at mixing colours, then you can stick to the neutrals.

 2. A silk scarf
This is another versatile item that makes you look chic effortlessly. Silk scarfs give off a soft, stylish vibe, and can turn any outfit from boring to extraordinary. You can tie it in your hair on a bad hair day, on your neck as a fun necklace, or your bag as a décor piece. In fact, you can create different kinds of looks with one outfit. So imagine what you can do with more.

 3. A white t-shirt
White is a vibrant colour that goes with everything. So on those days that you just don’t know what to wear, pair a white t-shirt with your pants or skirt and be on your way. You’ll look clean, expensive, and like you know what you’re doing. There are many affordable white t-shirts available in various styles to choose from. All you have to do is find a few you like, and you’re good to go.

 4. Glasses

If you thought glasses are only for nerds, then think again. There isn’t much to do when it comes to styling the eyes, especially if you don’t or cannot wear eye makeup. The next best thing is to find a pair of beautiful glasses to go with your outfit. If you need prescription lenses, then consider getting stylish frames that flatter your facial features. Oakley glasses, for example, have a wide range of eyewear that makes you look fashionable. The fun thing is you can purchase online instead of going to a store. If you don’t need help with your vision, you can just get a cool pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes from the rays of the sun but in a stylish way.
Being fashionable shouldn’t give you a headache, and luckily there are simple and affordable ways to do it. These four tips are just a few that you can try. The trick is to keep practicing with the simple things until you’re comfortable enough to go on from there.


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[AD-GIFTED] STAY HOME THIS SUMMER WITH FEMME LUXE


I think we can all agree that this summer is going to be a strange one! With us still being on lockdown and everywhere being closed it feels really strange, also the weather this week has been miserable and all I've wanted to do is curl up in comfy clothes and watch TV.

I've picked out some gorgeous loungewear sets from Femme Luxe which will be perfect to stay home this summer.

First up, this pink short sleeve lounge wear set is so comfy! I love the simple design, it's so soft and comfy and just perfect for summer as it short sleeved and thin. The leggings are a little cropped too, I love it.

Next up is this peach set, It has an off the shoulder design and the top is cropped. I like the cuffed leg design on the leggings. This set is super comfy and again nice and thin so perfect for the summer. The peach colour is really summery!

Finally is this lilac knitted set, again the off the shoulder style is so lovely. The jumper is baggy and super comfy. You can tuck it under if you prefer a cropped look. The material is super stretchy and so comfy. Even though this is knitted it's really lightweight so lovely for this in between weather we are having. I've been wearing it today, it's warm but raining so this is perfect.

Femme Luxe have so much choice from tshirts, dresses and some gorgeous loungewear sets to check out.









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LIFESTYLE: POPPYFIELD PHOTOSHOOT

Outfits: Amelia- Dress ; Next Cardigan - M&S Me- Dress: New Look Cardigan: Primark  


We went along to this beautiful poppy field the other day and took some photos of Amelia. We love being outdoors and it was nice to wander around the field and get some nice photos of us all. I think we are all getting so bored of lockdown now and i'm trying to plan little trips out but it's so hard when places aren't fully open or don't have toilets. Amelia is potty trained so we've been bringing her potty out with us but it's hard to be out for longer than a couple of hours. We have a couple of National Trust days out booked for next week which i'm looking forward to. The weather is hopefully going to pick up a bit next week too so we might be able to go round and chill in my moms garden.









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LIFESTYLE: 5 SIMPLE TIPS TO MAKE RENOVATIONS EASIER TO LIVE THROUGH

A renovation project, whether you’re having a new kitchen or any other work done, can be pretty stressful. While making changes to your home is always exciting, there’s also a lot of noise, dust, and decisions involved, never mind the inconvenience of trying to live in a building site. If you’re having renovations done, here are some simple tips to make things less stressful and easier to live through. 
Image - free for commercial use
  1. Keep pets out of the way. If you have pets, they’re likely to find the whole thing very unsettling. Dogs especially may be distressed by all the strange people coming in and out of the house, and any pet will be upset by all the noise of building work. To give you one less thing to worry about, try to keep them out of the house. Could they stay with a friend or a family member while work is ongoing? Even if you can get someone else to take them during the hours the builders are working, things will be less scary for them. 
  2. Put things in storage. If you’re clearing out the kitchen ready to be renovated, you’ve got a lot of stuff to find homes for until it can go back into the kitchen. If you have piles of plates everywhere, they can easily get broken and having your whole house feel like the kitchen cupboard will quickly get annoying. Lots of people recommend KeepSafe Storage to store your things out of the way, where they’ll be safe. 
  3. Keep it clean. Renovations are messy. Building dust can feel like it’s getting all over the house, which is annoying. Do your best to keep things clean to avoid the stress. Cover doorways into the room being renovated with heavy plastic sheeting or dust sheets to minimize the amount of dust getting around the house. Think about the access your builders have to the house. Is there an easy way for them to come in and out which means they have less of the house to walk through in dirty work boots? 
  4. Ask questions. There’s a lot of choices to make during renovations, from choosing new tiles to choosing paint colors. If your contractor is asking you to make a choice that you don’t really understand, then make sure you ask plenty of questions. For example, if you’re picking between different flooring, ask about the difference so you understand what you’re choosing between. Ask what will be most hard-wearing and easiest to clean, or ask how the tiles you’re picking will need to be cleaned. If you don’t understand, you can’t make informed choices. 
  5. Give yourself a break. It can be easy to feel like you need to be among the building work every second of the day, so you can keep an eye on the work and make decisions. While it is important that you’re there for any major stages, the stress of living among building work can soon take its toll. Remember to give yourself a break, even if it’s just to get out for coffee.
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LIFESTYLE: KITCHEN RENOVATION IDEAS


I love the idea of renovating our own home. At the moment we are renting so really limited in the changes we can make but we are planning on buying a home soon and I have already started planning the renovations and how we can create the perfect family home for us. I have a big family and we always go round to my moms for dinner as she has a big kitchen/ dining room and I would really like to have a big family kitchen so we can have everyone over to ours for dinner. 

I thought i'd share some tips and things to think about and consider when you are renovating a house or room. 

First up, what do you want to achieve? Do you want more storage? more space? do you want it to feel cosy? do you want it to feel bigger? This is a good place to start otherwise you might get overwhelmed. I want more storage and I want the kitchen to be spacious with plenty of room for all the family and for the kids to run around. Use your measurements and try to come up with a design of the best ways to use the space you have, there's loads of websites you can use to create a design. 

Budget - This should also be one of the first things you think about with any renovation. You need to look into the cost to remodel a kitchen , this will depend on the amount of work you expect to need. If you are going to extend the room and require plastering, new electrics/ pluming this would cost a lot more than just upgrading your cupboards and worktops.   

The design / finishing touches - It's easy to get caught up with the finishing touches like taps and door handles but it's important to do research into everything. Check measurements, read customer reviews on that particular cupboard feature, is an oak worktop the most practical for your family? Is a matte finish going to stay matte with the kids grubby fingers touching them? There are so many different elements to think about and consider when choosing the right products for your renovation.  

Go to showrooms and check out similar kitchen renovations- I would really recommend going into shops to have a look at kitchens in real life, because they are expensive and it's a lot of money to spend on something you've only seen online. By going into store you can feel the quality and see the colours in real life, even if you end up buying it online you might get some good ideas. Also why not knock on and see how your neighbors or people with a similar style house have done their kitchens, you might get some ideas or they could share stories on issues they had with the design. 

Have you ever done a renovation?  Is there any tips and tricks you can share to help things run as smoothly as possible? 









* this post is sponsored

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[AD GIFTED] FATHERS DAY GIFT IDEAS FROM MOONPIG



Fathers day is on the 21st June 2020 

With Fathers Day just around the corner I thought i'd share a few of my favourite picks from Moonpig as they have a really good range of gifts right now. They have a really good selection of cards too so you can buy your gift and card from the same place and even have it delivered straight to your dad in time for the big day without getting out of bed! This is great during the strange times, the shops are a little crazy right now so at least by shopping online with Moonpig it reduces the amount of time you need to spend at the shops. 

I picked out a few bits and got this super cute card from Amelia for Clint, I love that you can get personalised cards on Moonpig, they are just so thoughtful. 

The first gift I picked out was this really cool Beer Hawk Cheers Dad gift set which is the perfect gift for any beer drinking Dad. Clint is really into his craft beers and IPA's at the moment and we haven't tried any from Beer Hawk so this was perfect chance to give them a try. This gift set includes a selection of beers and comes with a glass and some snacks. This set was £25 but they have a few different beer gift sets depending on your budget. 

Next I picked out this 100 Movies scratch off poster as Clint is a really big film fan and has watched SOOO many films so I thought this would be really fun for him to go through and scratch off any films he's watched and then we can try watching the ones that are left. 

Finally I picked out this cool Jelly Bean Bean boozled game as he loves Jelly Beans and this sounded fun. I though it was a nice little gift idea. 

Moonpig have a really good selection of cards and gifts that are perfect for Fathers Day. They have a great selection so there's something for every Dad. They even have experience days so why not treat your dad to a fab day out when everything is back to normal! It would be so nice for him to have something to look forward to. What are you going to pick out for you Dad this Fathers Day? 









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[GIFTED] REVIEW: UH OH MILO BOOKS



I thought i'd share these lovely books that Amelia was sent recently. Amelia has quite a big book collection and we read to her most nights before bed. We set up this little reading area in her bedroom with the beanbag and her books so she can sit a look through her stories whenever she likes. 

The Uh Oh Milo books are all beautifully illustrated and really bright with lots of fun exciting typography. The stories are great and all about teaching your children about good manners. They are funny and the characters are really unique.

Amelia really enjoys the stories and she likes to point out the different characters. They are great for learning colours too as the imagery is so bright and colourful. 

The books retail at £6.99 each but are on offer till the end of June so you can buy all 3 for just £18! 

  



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LIFESTYLE: REDECORATING YOUR BEDROOM ON A BUDGET


Redecorating an entire room can certainly be a costly process. Nevertheless, it is important to rejuvenate your bedroom now and again in order to add some energy and life into it. After all, most individuals spend the majority of their time in their rooms (approximately a third of a person’s day is spent sleeping), and therefore it is highly important that a bedroom evokes positive emotions and is a pleasure to be in.
However, as mentioned, not everybody has the money to spare on redecorating their entire room. This is especially the case when you think of the effects of COVID-19 and talks about a recession, leading to the consequent worry regarding spending too much money. 
Nevertheless, a bedroom does not have to be completely changed around and turned upside down in order to have a different appearance, feel, and vibe. By changing a few mere aspects a person can give their room a great revitalization.
One of the best ideas regarding changing an element in the bedroom in order to achieve a new look is to change the bed. After all, a bed is the main element of any bedroom as it is the main furniture piece. The bed attracts all the attention and dictates a good proportion of the overall look of the room.
Of course, one idea is the change the bed in its entirety. Nevertheless, this is not the cheapest option available. Another idea is to change the style of the duvet and pillowcase. There are so many vibrant patterns and exciting designs. Simply changing your duvet and pillowcases to a different colour can create a new look and feel, breathing fresh life into the room. Make sure you get some duvet cover closure clips to keep yours in place.
However, something else that is effective is to change the bed frame. By updating the bed frame of the bed a room can take on a whole new element of style Leather bedsteads are growing in popularity at the moment, and it's not hard to see why. Their sleek and stylish appearance will add an air of class and sophistication to any room. There are so many different colored and styles of leather bedsteads, meaning that the choice is greatly varied. This is great because it assures that there is something to suit all styles, tastes, and bedrooms.
Add some class to your room with a black bed frame
Every now and again it is a nice idea to redecorate and add some personality and life to the main room of the house; the bedroom.
As a bed is the central piece of furniture and so the main attraction in any bedroom, any changes made to it will have a prominent effect on the entire feel and look of the room.
There are several ways in which someone can change the look of their bed. More subtle changes involve a new duvet cover or a throw. However, if an individual is seeking something more drastic and permanent then a good idea is to change their bed frame.
By changing the bed frame and replacing it with a black bed frame it adds a modern element and some sleekness and class to the room. It is a great way to rejuvenate the look of any bedroom. 
The benefits of a wooden bed

It is absolutely crucial that anybody looking for a bed picks something which suits them and the room in which they are placed. If you don’t like the sound of leather or a black bed frame, we have another option to consider...
  
One of the most popular and well-loved options to go is a wooden bed. There are a whole host of reasons as to why this is the case.

First and foremost, wooden beds have a traditional, rustic, and authentic feel to them which is desired by many. Wood is timeless and has a quality to it which will simply never go out of fashion.

Furthermore, a wooden bed will add warmth to any bedroom it is placed in. This is obviously something sought after because comfort is essential in any bedroom.

Finally, wooden beds tend to be reasonably priced and so are affordable to most. Not only this, but they are durable and long-lasting. Therefore, they will not need to be replaced on a regular basis.
So, to breathe a breath of fresh air into any bedroom all that needs to be done is a bit of bed frame updating and changing your duvet and pillowcases!
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