Getting Your Home In Shape For Summer

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The warm summer months are on their way. Now is the time to prepare your home, so that you can spend your time off in the summer soaking up the sun and not cleaning or carrying out DIY projects. Here are just a few preparations you should be making.

Have a spring clean

Nothing is stopping you from having a spring clean at any time of the year. Households traditionally chose Spring as it was the best time to clean up dust before the invention of the vacuum cleaner. It would also be warm enough to open windows, but cool enough that insects weren’t a problem.

To this day, Spring still remains a sensible time to clean the house. Christmas can create a lot of clutter which may need to be thrown out, sold or donated. You’re also likely to have fewer guests during this period and more rainy days when you’re likely to want to stay indoors.

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Lighten up your furnishings

It’s worth preparing your home for the heat of summer. Those thick winter curtains that kept you cosy over Christmas may need to be taken down to stop you from frying in summer. Shop around for gorgeous ready-made curtains that are thinner and brighter in preparation for the sunny weather.

You may also want to buy a new blanket or a summer duvet for your bed. This could be useful for those hot summer nights when you still want something covering you but can’t handle a regular duvet.

Get your garden groomed 

Spring is the perfect time to start any big garden projects. These include building a pond or laying a patio. Completing them before summer gives you more time to enjoy them when the hot weather arrives. If you’re hiring a handyman to do these projects, you may also have more of a chance of finding someone in the Spring than in the Summer when many gardeners and landscapers get heavily booked. Rates may also be cheaper.

Spring may also be a good time to do any maintenance work. Stormy weather during winter may have destroyed fence panels or damaged plants. If you’ve got a pond, you may also want to clear this out before summer arrives. This is not a fun job and may require putting fish in buckets and draining the whole pond if weeds have got out of control.

You should also start buying all that garden furniture now before the demand increases and prices shoot up. You can usually get good deals on barbecues before summer hits. Also, consider any garden furniture you may want that you needed last year. If sitting outside at night was too cold last summer, a patio heater or chiminea might be worth investing in. If the garden gets too dark in the evening, consider buying garden lights. Solar lights might be a good option as they are cordless and won’t add to your electricity bill.

As for general gardening, this is a good time to sow the seeds for any new plants you hope to grow in time for summer bloom. If you’ve considered growing a vegetable patch, Spring is when soil is generally easiest to mulch up and when most vegetables are perfect for planting.

Give the front of your home a facelift

 The front of your home may also be looking a little shabby after winter. Make Spring the season to give it a facelift. This could be investing in a new driveway or path using Readymix Concrete Not only will it instantly improve the appearance of your home, but it's also a practical solution that will last for years to come. Plus, you won't have to constantly worry about repairs or maintenance.

If you’ve got a front lawn that suffered through last summer’s heat and became patchy, you may want to buy a sprinkler for it. You can find all kinds of sprinkler systems online that can use minimal water, allowing you to save money on your water bill.

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Security

You may also want to up your security for summer. This is when most people are on holiday and out of the house, and so is a popular season for burglars to make their move. Motion-sensitive lighting on the outside of your home can be great for deterring thieves. It also has the dual use of allowing you to see your keys in the dark. You can buy solar-powered motion-sensitive lights so that you’re not using up extra energy. Make sure that all your windows also lock and that door hinges aren’t loose.

Vintage Handbags

A girl's best friend is a handbag!  I love handbags. I have a few I've collected over the years, and never throw them out - I store them away safely. 

The handbag is a statement of personality and attitude. They're a unique statement of a woman's status and quite possibly they're mood.

But, why do we carry handbags? 

For me, it's an extension of "me" that gives me stability, comfort and security, this is all in addition to its main function of carrying and keeping my most important possessions, close to me. As boring as that sentence reads, the handbag doesn't have to be boring.  A handbag can be an extension of who you are. A status symbol, the perfect accessory to dress up your day and your outfit.

Acquiring a handbag is an enjoyable experience, and wearing one is just as positive. Especially when it's a bag that offers history and uniqueness. Like vintage Louis Vuitton from Xupes.

Xupes is an online retailer of pre-owned designer handbags, jewellery and watches. Established in 2009. Xupes base their trading on strict policies of absolute honesty, integrity and professionalism. They have over thousands of luxury items in stock and offer up to 70% off of RRP on pre-owned and brand new high-end watches, jewellery, vintage handbags, fine art and antiques.

Antique or Vintage handbags will often be unique or one-of-a-kind, giving you the timeless and beautiful must-have accessory. It could be the only piece that has survived! If you owned a bag like this, you are carrying on your shoulder, a piece that has a story.

It’s Been a Long Time- Tips on Returning to Work after Kids

If you have taken a few years away from working to focus on raising a family, the thought of re-entering the world of work can feel completely overwhelming. Jobs have moved on, technology is changing and improving every day and though you have racked up a huge set of skills during your years spent with your children, a lot of mothers (and fathers) simply lose confidence after so much time away. Here are some tips on how to get over some of the barriers that may be stopping you from reaching for the career of your dreams.

Research Online

Getting back into the game means knowing where to look, so put down the newspaper because job listings have moved into the virtual realm; finding a job advert has never been easier. Not only do the job listings come with extra details and information, but you can also personalise your search to suit your own availability and distance you are willing to travel. There are also some sites such as blog Jobrapido, which are dedicated to offering advice and tips on finding a job as well as enabling you access to different kinds of listings and vacancies. Online research also allows you to study potential interview questions and learn more on the job you’re looking at. With all the information you need in one place, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been out of the game, getting back into it will be a piece of cake.

Update your CV

After having understood the field and direction you’d like to go in, updating your CV is the next step. Figuring out what your best attributes and skills are is important, and having them on your resume directly will help the employer get a better picture of you too. Thanks to your CV, you will also be able to explain the gap between your last job and the one you’re applying to now- something many parents worry about when going back to work. Explain all the abilities and skills you have had the chance to learn and improve during the gap- parenthood provides us with many (e.g. organisation, time management, organising finances etc…). Show how determined you are to excel in the position you’re applying for; you’ve had your break, show them how much you want to work now!

Network it out

A smart and easy way to ease yourself back into work is also by looking at those around you, and learning from their current situations. Networking is an important part of the job search, and asking people about their jobs, if there are any openings, or if they have any advice is a great way to narrow where and what you’re looking at. Not only will speaking to people help you understand what is out there, but you might even have the possibility of working alongside somebody you already know!

Practice interviews

Once you’re set to go and you receive your first call back interview, practising a few Q&As will definitely get you through the process better. Online there are many resources where you can find many different and interesting sample questions to practice- see if your partner or a friend can help you out with some role-play. The important this is to find somebody you feel comfortable with for the practice interview, and go through them until you feel ready. We all react to interviews differently, but going through mock interviews has never decreased anybody’s chance; so let the questions roll in! You may not be invited for a face to faced interview but rather a Skype meeting which makes the process a lot easier for the company and perhaps for you too. So be sure that you have a Skype account up and running and remember- just because you’re at home during the interview, smart clothes are still essential!

Sex, Money and Death Discussions

When it comes to tricky discussions like sex, money and death, they are not always the most welcome, and/or the easiest of discussions to have. Depending on the situation and who you are talking too, is whether it is a comfortable experience or not. For example, conversations with kids will differ to those with parents; siblings; grandparents or friends. But, these are conversations that at some point are needed and most of the time shouldn't be avoided.  

One subject that most people don't feel comfortable in bringing up, or even thinking about, is wills. When you think, wills, you think morbid and death and you feel insensitive. No matter what you think, wills are important and they don't have to be complicated or expensive.  

When the time does come to begin thinking and talking about the topic of wills with those around us, Which? Wills has simplified the process of learning how to make a will with its easy to use online tool to create a will in 30 minutes.

According to the research, many of us have managed to avoid discussing awkward subject matters with our parents altogether and although it’s clear that wills are generally not seen as taboo subjects, we still don’t really like to talk about them.

The below infographic reveals the trickiest subject matters that we dread discussing are, sex, finances, death and relationships:

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Renovation and Extension Insurance

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Last year we had an extension built. At first, we did consider moving to a larger home, but we didn't really want to move. It was a close decision between, do we move, or do we extend - based on our previous move into this house, which wasn't a very positive experience, we wouldn't want to go through that again (Why it wasn't very positive? even though we exchanged early afternoon, and it should have been in and out, the people weren't even packed and they were not willing to move out until our solicitor threatened them with expensive legal bills - a week later they were still removing their furniture and belongings from our new home).  Plus there is the massive fact that we really like the home we have and the area we live in.

So, we decide to take on the mammoth task to extend and renovate - a year later and we still haven't fully finished yet; we went completely over our budget and time, but then that is normal isn't it?! The extension is done and it's very much apart of our home now, but, the next stage which we hopefully start next month, is to convert the garage into a play room. 

When we had the extension built we had steel work installed, main walls were being knocked down - I remember the first evening the acro-props were holding up the back of our house up, and the wall had been knocked down, I couldn't sleep! my head was spinning and spinning with horror thoughts, would the acro-props somehow collapse, and would the back of the house collapse.  It didn't happen, but I didn't sleep at all that night.

What would happen if something went terribly wrong during building works? are you covered under your home and building insurance? should you contact your home insurance?

If you’re planning on building an extension or carrying out any sort of building work, make sure you keep your insurer updated. Your home insurance could be invalidated if they’re not made aware of changes. 

by adding an extension, you should probably expect to pay higher premium on your insurance – most extensions increase the value of your home, so it would cost more to insure it.

Why Building Insurance should be considered:

With some insurers, a renovation or extension on your home may reduce the protection of your current home insurance policy or invalidate it completely, leaving your home potentially uninsured. You need to consider and make sure you are covered for the below points during the renovation/extension period:

• damage to your property and contents
• theft of possessions and building materials
• personal accidents

Bring More Money Into The Family Home

No matter what your lifestyle is like, there is a good chance that you sometimes find yourself wishing that you had a little more money. This is something that everyone knows the feeling of, and very often it is a simple matter of making some basic changes to your life in order to make it happen. If you are struggling with your finances, or even if you just want to bring in a little more, there are plenty of ways of doing just that. In this article, we are going to go through some of the essential ways that you might want to consider for bringing more money into the home, easily and quickly. As long as you are taking these on board at least to some degree, you will find that they make a noticeable difference in a very short space of time. Let’s have a look at some of the best ways to bring in more money now.

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Passive Income Options

These days, it is much easier than ever to make a passive income, and if you are serious about bringing in more money to the home then it is well worth considering some of these options. A passive income is exactly what it sounds like - an income that you make without doing anything, or hardly anything anyway. There are a lot of ways to do this - some are only for people with certain skills, while other can be done by anyone. Depending on your own personal preferences and abilities, you might prefer one over another. This is just as well, as it will mean that you can focus on the one you do choose much more readily. By way of example, let’s look at the method known as matched betting. This is a kind of betting which is completely risk-free, in which you take advantage of the many opening offers that sportsbooks and bookmakers have on offer to newcomers. This is a legal tax-free way of making a decent amount of money, but you need to be careful and make sure that you know what you are doing. Beyond that, you might want to think about selling goods online, or even offering to teach skills online. These can both be surprisingly lucrative ways to make a decent second income and are worth considering.

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Cutting Back On Bills

One important and often overlooked way to get more money into the home is also one of the simplest: to cut your bills as much as you can. Cutting your bills is powerful, because it allows you to save more money in your bank account on a monthly basis, and this soon becomes more and more as time goes on. If you are keen to pay less on your monthly bills, then it is worth looking at your supplier choices first. It might be that you are not on the cheapest tariff that is available. You might want to compare energy prices online so that you can find out whether you can switch to someone cheaper. Beyond this, there are lots of other things you can do to ensure that you pay less. If you set up direct debits, usually this means that you pay less overall, so that is often a sensible thing to do. Moreover, speaking to your suppliers and seeing whether you are on their cheapest option is also a good idea. You never know what might change if you simply ask the question.
 

Investing

Not everyone feels as though they are in the position to invest, but this is a shame because the truth is that most people are able to invest in something if they want to. It doesn’t actually take that much money to be able to invest in something small, and you can start with small investments and pretty soon work your way up to much bigger ones. With a bit of luck, some cleverness and a dash of patience this might mean that you end up with a considerable amount of money at some point in the future. Investing is often difficult to get right first time, but as long as you are keen on the act of researching, you should find that you are able to make the most of the situation as well as possible. It is often a good idea to seek the opinion of experts before you lay investments. This way, you can be as sure as possible on what you are doing. Hopefully, this will provide you with a great opportunity to bring more money into the home - something that everyone wants.

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Love The Sales Spring Outfit Wish List

I've put together my Spring Outfit Wish List from the Love The Sales website.

As we transition from winter to spring, it means we start to struggle between knowing what the weather for the day will be like - is it hot. is it cold...  

As you expect with the great British weather, it could be sunny in the morning but come afternoon it's cloudy and cold. So for me, making the winter to spring wardrobe transition work, layering ensures I'm ready for unreliable weather and managing that time between paring down my winter clothes to not yet fully wearing warmer weather pieces.

A must-have wardrobe staple is the cardigan. A cardigan I can throw on to take the kids to school, or wear when I take the dogs for a walk (especially along the windy sea wall). I hate being cold, I'm such a wimp with the cold weather and I love to wrap up warm, thus, I love my cardigans.

This time of the year I want to be out of my boots (I've had enough of wearing them by now) and I want to be in comfy, light, easy to wear trainers - but not any old trainer, for me it has to be a pair of Converse.

I love my Converse and unfortunately, they are a tad bit worn and I definitely need to treat myself to a new pair this year. My Converse are my 'go to' shoes to chuck on for ease and comfort and they look fab when worn with: jeans, trousers, shorts, skirts or dresses. Converse trainers are very versatile.

For me it's also the time to get out of jumpers and start to wear tees and shirts.

Ted Baker is one of my favourite clothing brands - my wardrobe is full of Ted Baker dresses and tees. And, I am loving this light spring feel t-shirt with the pretty flowery print. Perfect to pair up with the black skin tight jeans from Barbour.  

Finally, this gorgeous small Ted Baker Leather shoulder bag is perfect- I'm not into large bags at the moment, I like something small and light. Perfect for throwing over the shoulder and it looks very stylish too.

I've kept quite safe with my colour - subtle, but I'm loving grey at the moment, so why not?

• Barbour Overbore Skinny Jeans, in the sale @ £45.00
• Barbour Avalanche Oversized Cardigan, in the sale @ £80.00 
• Ted Baker FREMA Blouse ash, in the sale @ £44.99
• Converse Check Taylor All Star, in the sale @ £41.99
• Ted Baker Leather Shoulder Bag, in the sale @ £94.50

When your car breaks down

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When your car breaks down, it's not fun and it can, of course, be expensive. Over the years we've had a few experiences of breaking down, from running out of fuel, to smoke coming out of the engine.

The first time I broke down, was when Lewis was a baby, I was driving to the shops the other end of town when smoke started coming out of the bonnet. Trying not to panic, I pulled over to the side of the road, and got the kids out of the car and rang hubby.  A lady came out of her house to offer us help and to make sure we were okay, which I thought was really lovely and kind.  Hubby to the rescue. He came out of work, checked the engine - the car had run of out oil! The engine had overheated and well I learnt a lesson that day - to check the oil. That breakdown could have been avoided, and quite a few can, but there are the situations where they can't.

We've broken down a couple of times whilst hubby was the driver - and it always happens when you are far away from home. There was the time we spent the day at Alton Towers, and it was dark when we left for the 4-hour drive home. 10-minutes into our drive home, we broke down. We had to wait for recovery to come and get us back on the road - it was a very long day and worked out quite expensive as there were a few things wrong with the engine.

Many years ago, we went to Butlins, parked the car up, left it for the week. Had a great week, but when we packed up and went to go home, the car wouldn't start. It was completely dead. We called recovery, and it was the battery - a new one was needed. 

Breakdowns

At some point breakdowns are inevitable, whether that be engine failure, flat tyre or you ran out of fuel (done that before too). The best way to avoid car breakdowns is to take care of your car with proper care and checks, i.e. car servicing. Poor car maintenance can cause the worst kind of breakdowns, but with an efficient car servicing from Ossett Tyre House, your breakdowns may be avoidable.  In addition, you can also adopt basic steps to keep your car running like a dream. Make sure you have fully functioning dashboard warning lights (don't ignore them). Water and oil levels are maintained. Check your Battery levels and inspect your tyres.

My oldest is learning to drive this year, and hopefully, he will be on the road soon. I am quite sure he will have a few breakdown stories to tell too.

Holidaying With A Campervan

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With the year we've had so far, which has not been good, we are in need of some time away as a family; even if just a long weekend, a nice break away from everything, somewhere where we can explore and enjoy the outdoors. An adventure. 

This past 2-years we've been discovering our new found love of the outdoors. Each weekend we've enjoyed long walks, discovering new places, like the woods, lakes, coves, etc. beautiful places to take the kids and dogs. And, we want more. 

We've talked quite a bit about visiting the Brecon Beacons this year. I've never been, but hubby has a few times when he was in the army. The Brecon Beacons will give us an abundance of fantastic countryside and beautiful heritage. 

But, what's the best way to get the most of the mountain range?

When I was a kid, we travelled everywhere with the caravan, it was my dad's pride and joy. I have many fond memories from all our journeys and loved the experiences we had. We travelled all over, from visiting Wales, Scotland, to Switzerland and France, and more.  But, why don't we own a caravan? Well, that will be because, hubby has always had a dislike of caravans, not sure why, probably to do with the hauling it around slowly in traffic. So caravaning is a no go, and tents I don't think will work well with the kids. So what other options are there:

Exploring with a Campervan is new and different, and fun - I know the kids would love it.  

But what I like most about this solution is, a campervan gives you the flexibility and freedom to travel, to explore, to be more spontaneous whilst on your travels. You can pull over if you spot a wonderful hiking trail or camping area. It allows you to take advantage of opportunities without having to return to 'camp'.

A Campervan is compact enough that allows you to drive into smaller villages, narrow roads without fearing that you may get stuck! (I remember the challenges of towing a caravan around when we were kids). And, you're not towing a caravan around.

Purchasing a Camper Van Conversion

When you mention Campervans I instantly think of the iconic vintage VW. Which are pretty cool, but there are many other options available. Buying a brand new Campervan looks quite pricey but Campervan conversions seem like a great alternative option. And, you can order the bespoke service to achieve the Campervan that fits your needs, desires, and wishes. You need to think about what you want from your break and what you want from your campervan. Do your research with websites like Base Campers and select accordingly. 

How to Take a Healthier Approach to Home Working

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It may help you to get the better of your challenging commute but home working doesn’t always get a good press when it comes to promoting healthy living. Whether you’re taking your everyday job home with you in order to work flexibly or you’re planning to explore your options as a freelancer, home working has many potential health hold ups. And, if you’re not careful they can build up and detract from benefits such as longer lie ins.

So, before you pack up your laptop and stationary, take a moment to consider how ensuring you take a healthier approach to home working can help you to reap its many rewards more effectively.

Design a great working environment

Are you hoping that home working will free you from hours in transit and exclude you from awkward office politics? Perhaps you’re planning to bypass some serious backache by typing away in the comfort of your own home? Home working or freelance life can help you to design a working environment that’s more finely attuned to your personal needs, but you could find that your freedom leaves you dangerously undisciplined.

When working from home it can be exceedingly tempting to roll out of bed ten minutes before your start time and sit down with your laptop on the sofa. If you do, you’ll likely be doing your productivity (and your back) a disservice. While not all jobs require a physical office and computer set up, failing to establish a dedicated working space will make it harder for you to psychologically clock in and out, which in turn can impede your productiveness and upset your work-life balance.

If you do have a spare room that can be used as study or working area, designating it a home office will likely help you focus. If you don’t have the luxury or a spare room to convert, perhaps you could sculpt a little space off another room? Bi-fold doors make a great partition, allowing light to enter a room and keeping noises and visitors out. Designs like these floor to ceiling doors from Vufold can be used to separate a small office space off a living room or dining room, for example. Once you have a space to call your own you can fit it out with ergonomic furniture that will help you avoid aches and pains. As an extra precaution, carry out regular desk assessments as you would in a work environment. Look at the positioning of screens in relation to your height and ensure you’re not twisted in your chair. It pays to beware of glare too, which can trigger eye problems and headaches. Take a look at this guide from Unison for extra guidance.

Introduce healthy habits

Falling out of bed a little later is a fantastic advantage of home working but it’s important not to unravel its benefits by working late and sacrificing your social life. Far too many home workers and freelancers find their working hours spiralling out of control even though they technically have more flexibility. Learning to say ‘no’ to clients or your boss is a key skill that will keep you healthy and sane when working at home.

Taking proper breaks and eating well is also a necessity. If you find you work better on a project uninterrupted you may find yourself skipping lunch and forsaking coffee breaks to get things finished more quickly but this can lead to burnout and impact on your health. If this sounds like your working style – plan ahead by keeping snacks and drinks on your desk and commit to taking at least one short walk for some fresh air every day.  

Loneliness is another potential consequence of freelance and homeworking that can lead to more serious issues if left unchecked.  Many studies including this one from the University of Amsterdam have identified social isolation as a potential contributor to depression. After a few months you may find you actually miss the office chat about last night’s TV but there are ways to remedy this; some could actually help you develop new skills and enhance your business or CV too! Perhaps the simplest way to maintain some social element to your day is arranging to meet people for lunch, a stroll or perhaps an exercise class during your working day.

Another option is to join an office environment now and again. If you’re working remotely this could mean visiting the office a few times each month. Or, many cities now have shared production space where you can join other workers to use offices and other facilities such as meeting rooms on a regular basis. You could for work from a shared space once each week. Signing up to an evening class or a regular business networking event is another way to ensure you get out and about as well as offering other benefits.

Do you work from home? What are your most and least healthy working habits?

The Jump

The Jump - a TV series in its fourth year now, which has been plagued by serious injuries and is probably one of the most dangerous shows on TV - the best part, we get to watch, on the edge of our seats, celebrities risk some pretty daring winter sports.

Last year there were numerous accidents, with Olympians Beth Tweddle and Rebecca Adlington both suffering from horrific injuries, and to be honest, I didn't expect another series to be made, surely it was too dangerous? But, it seems we all love to watch it and Channel 4's The Jump returned in 2017 with the fourth series.

When I first heard about Jump, I thought, sigh not another silly celebrity competition show. But, we watched it, got hooked and are slightly obsessed with it - what they do is pretty amazing, something I would like to think I would do myself, but know I would be too scared too - so I admire them.

But, I do wonder, why do these celebrities risk it? is it for the thrill... or maybe they enjoy a new challenge no matter the danger.. maybe they thrive on danger..... or is it simply down to money?!. If in doubt, take a look at this infographic by Cash Lady below and then you decide. 

The infographics shares its finding into how much the BBC, ITV and Channel 5 spend on their biggest shows – Strictly Come Dancing, I’m a Celebrity and Celebrity Big Brother.
I’m a Celebrity… Get me out of here.

I Need a Bike

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I haven't owned a bike for years. Which is such a shame and something I would love to change.

Something you probably don't know about me, but growing up I was BMX racer - we were part of the Lowestoft Bandits BMX club/community. My brother started BMXing first, and I shortly followed after and it became a family thing. BMX was our lives. We would travel the UK and Europe competing and when I look back, it was pretty cool - my kids think it is pretty cool too. It's something we did as a family, we were very involved in the BMX community and everything we did was always around our racing.  We were very lucky that my parents gave us the opportunity and support.

I used to bike everywhere, even after the BMXing years. When I was pregnant with both my oldest sons, before I drove, I biked to work, biking was my transport. Then I passed my driving test and I believe since then, I haven't been on a bike! Which is such a shame, considering I loved my bikes. 

With us as a family we've been getting more and more outdoors - as much as I am falling in love with the walking, I itch to get back on a bike. Especailly when we go on our Center Parcs holidays, we take the kids bikes, but hubby and I don't have one. We need one!

I have no clue what bike to buy, or where to start? There are many choices, from road bikes for the more sporty, to electric bikes for commuters, a mountain bike, and much more. But, as I haven't been on a bike for many years, I do like the idea of starting with an electric bike - one reason, they would be much easier to conquer a hill! They are surely faster, and it would be pretty fun.

Hopefully one day soon, I will be back on seat, enjoying the freedom and fun that biking gives you. 

LapLand

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We're considering taking the kids on a trip to Lapland later this year. 10 years ago we took my older two on a winter wonderland day trip and it was amazing, magical. We would love to take our younger two this time, so they can have the experience.

Although, last time we did a day trip (3-hour flight early in the morning and 3-hour flight in the evening), this time we're thinking of doing a mid-week visit, or at least 3/4 days.  The day trip was amazing and I would do it again, but we would love to be able to relax and take our time and enjoy the whole experience.

When we were there we tried reindeer meat (meatballs), we drank in the ice bar, where everything was made out of ice, including the stools we sat on.  We crammed in a lot that day - sledging, snow tubing, kids skidoo through the forest, meeting Santa of course, and some arts and crafts. 

When we arrived the first thing we did was join the queue to see Santa (even though the queue was big). The kids hadn't stopped going on about meeting him, and we were so lucky we did see him first thing, as we watched families leave it to much later in the day to join the queue to see Santa, and some ran out of time and they actually didn't get to see Santa - could you imagine, going all that way and not seeing Santa. 

For us when we visited that day 10 years ago, it was total magic from start to end, and a trip of a lifetime for the kids. And, I want to give my youngest two the same wonderful experience their older siblings had; to visit the wonderful Lapland and to step inside a fairy tale book, to given them the magic into their lives.

Lapland is so picturesque, we drank hot mulled wine in the snow-filled forest, and although the day was compact and slightly hurried, it was amazing. We would, however, love to return, but in a far more relaxed manner, staying in Finland, for 4 days or more. 

So 2017 winter we are considering organising a holiday to Lapland, to experience and to see the beautiful snow-topped fells, snow-covered trees, meeting huskies and reindeer and a relaxed day in Father Christmas’s house; baking festive cookies and enjoying the festive cheer!

Look Fantastic Subscription Box

There something special about receiving subscription boxes through the post each month. It's like giving yourself a gift full of goodies each month.

Subscription boxes are a great idea to discover and try out products you may or probably have never tried before - or even never considered before. I know from my experience with beauty subscription boxes over the years, I've found products that I've fallen in love with and gone on to purchase.

This is why I love Look Fantastic subscription beauty box. I've shopped for my cosmetics etc. via the Look Fantastic website for many years, and as an added feature to their customers, they also offer a great value beauty subscription box service.

The Look Fantastic box gives you at least £50 of value of beauty items, with a mix of make-up, hair and skincare products, for example, the January box includes tweezers, mascara and toning lotion as well as other items. You also receive a travel sized Elle magazine.

January box includes:

• Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes Mascara
• Nuxe Lotion Tonique Douce
• The Vintage Cosmetic Company Rose Gold Tweezers
• Pixi Brow Tamer
• Trifle Cosmetics Liquid Glow
• Briogeo Deep Conditioning Mask

Look Fantastic is £13 per month for 12-month subscription, £13.75 per month for a 6-months subscription or finally £14.50 per month for a 3-month subscription.

You can visit Voucherbox for the latest Look Fantastic exclusive discount codes – although these don’t apply to subscription services.

When a new combi boiler is needed

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2016 was all about the extension for us. We added an extension on the back of the house, moved the living room into the new extension and with the old living room, we partitioned it into two halves which become our utility room and new dining room. 2017 sees our house renovations continue, where we plan on converting the garage into a play-room for the kids and probably most importantly, to replace the boiler.

We currently have a system boiler, which includes an electric thermal storage boilermate upstairs, and a gas boiler, downstairs.

The system has over the past couple of years broken down a few times, 12 years old now, and it's cost us a fair bit in repair costs - especially last year as it needed a new circuit. Also considering the system is not cost or energy efficient.

We want to change to a combi boiler, which will be much more cost and energy efficient for us. In addition, it will save us space in the house. We can remove the thermal storage boilermate and that will give us a spare cupboard upstairs, which we plan to make into Summer's wardrobe.  Her bedroom is the smallest and she has a cabin bed, and that is it, that's pretty much all you can fit in her snug little bedroom. But the thermal storage boilermate in situated in a cupboard directly next door to her bedroom and when we free this up by removing the thermal storage, it would be perfect for her wardrobe.

The gas boiler is currently in the kitchen, and we plan to remove this too and to have the new combi boiler installed in our new utility room, giving us extra space in the kitchen too.

The boiler we will buy from hubbys work (staff discount will come in handy), however, we will need to organise a good heating and plumbing services. Installation of the new combi boiler, of course, must be done by a qualified and certified boiler installation engineers. And so, our hunt for a good reliable local installer will commence very soon. 

There are many ways to find a certified engineer, by word of mouth, internet search, local newspaper ads or an engineer you've used before. We will collect a few quotes and finally, review any feedback or references based on their service.

The plan being we will have a new boiler fitted this year, before the new winter, a boiler that will be under warranty and will give us piece of mind that it won't break down - it will also be cheaper to run, thus, saving us money in the long run.

Winter Veggie Victories

As we begin the slope into the colder months, your gardening efforts shouldn’t disappear. If you take a long winter break, you’ll find that it makes it tougher to get back out the following year. Instead, you should stay active by growing some delicious vegetables that can withstand the winter. Here are five of the best winter vegetables to grow, courtesy of Suttons Seeds…

Peas

Peas are one of the easiest and hardest crops in the world. If you sow them in autumn, you’ll be able to enjoy fresh peas in spring. You’ll want to plant your peas in moist, fertile soil that has plenty of compost dug into it.

Plant them 1” deep, 1” apart in three lines of 12” lengths – but ensure there’s enough space between additional rows. Around 18” should do the trick. You can harvest them in spring.

Broad beans

Beans are a great source of protein and are easy to grow. They’re good to plant in winter, as the low temperature stops nutrients from leaching through fallow soil. You should sow them in autumn, choosing a well-drained site. Sow the seeds 2-3” apart and keep them moist, soaking them well unless there has been heavy rain. Sowing in winter helps prevent black fly infestation – but they need to survive winter so pay close attention to them.

Spinach

Spinach is a healthy salad leaf that withstands winter well with proper supervision. If sown in August, you’ll need to create a fertile bed with plenty of room for plants to grow. Growing in a greenhouse or cold frame helps keep the plant healthy. Whichever method you go for, you’ll need to ensure your spinach has good ventilation.

Garlic

If you’re new to gardening and want something easy to grow, Garlic is a good choice. It’s versatile and resilient. Plant the cloves individually at a depth of around 2.5” – but less deep if you’re using heavy soil. Each clove should be at least a foot apart.

Onions

Like garlic, the onion family is hardy and is good to grow in winter. They can be harvested early in the year and you can experiment with shallots and spring onions too. You’ll want to sow them in autumn and keep a close eye, but most varieties can handle the cold.

General guidelines

So you’ve got your list of hardy winter vegetables that you can start sowing now – but there are some tips to keep in mind.

·       Cover vegetables with carpet or something similar if snow starts to fall.

·       Use compost to aid growth and start a new compost pile in winter as you start to cut and bin dead or dying plants.

·       Dig and fork soil to keep it loose and breathing ahead of spring.

·       You can add some store-bought shrubs to a garden to create winter interest with minimal effort.

There’s no excuse to stay indoors during winter. Keep your garden thriving and watch it bloom once spring rolls in! 

Stand-Out.net Wish List

My son celebrated his 17th birthday over the weekend. He's grown into a lovely young man, maybe a little grumpy now and then, but mostly he's a thoughtful and caring soul. I am a super proud mum.

As well as being at college, he is working part-time and spends most of his hard working cash on clothing! Still, after the past 6-months, I get a little odd feeling when parcels come through the door for him - each time it reminds me he is not a child anymore, he's a growing lad.

With his clothing, he's always been quite strict in what he wears - he only ever wears plain and simple colours, no patterns. He mostly wears black, white or grey.  But recently, he bought a nice light pink jumper - which was a pleasant surprise (an actual colour, rather than black or white) and he suits him.

He buys his own clothes now, but I still like to buy him items too. I understand his style pretty well and so I've put together this wish list outfit I know he would like. All items are from the men’s fashion website Stand-Out.net.

11 Degrees White Pitcher Cap - My son lives in his caps, especially when he is going to work or college. It means he doesn't have to do his hair. RRP £23.95 in the sale.

Vans - he had a pair, same as these a couple of years ago, and recently he keeps asking if I know where they went (recycle bin). Anyhow, he is after a pair and these are perfect RRP £41.95 in the sale.

11 Degrees White curved hem long sleeved t-shirt - he has a t-shirt similar to this, and it really suits him. Perfect for these colder months. RRP £34.95.

Levi broken in jeans 511 - he has a black pair like these, and he'd love a light blue pair. RRP £34.95 in the sale - fab price.

Kids and bedroom windows

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Windows are a problem, children love to look through windows, and mostly by sitting on the window sill - which scares the life out of me.

I have this 'thing' about keeping the windows in the house, especially upstairs, locked. I always remove the keys and store them away. Why? because one of my biggest fears that has plagued me over the years, is the kids falling out of the window.

I always remember from when I was a child, a friend, fell out of his upstairs window and was badly hurt - broken bones but he was very lucky. Since then it has stayed with me, and well, I have this huge paranoia about the windows and the kids.

If they want the window open, I will open it on the safety latch, where the window is slighty open (half an inch gap) but you can still lock it. 

Until the past year.

Now my teens don't want their windows locked, they want to be able to open them and keep them open if they get too hot in their bedroom etc. Which I struggled with. I had to respect their request and put my fears aside and trust the kids to be sensible around the windows - yes they are teens, it's not them I worry about, but it's the younger 2 where I still worry. But, if the younger two go into their big brothers bedroom, I ask him to lock his window.

However, I've only gone and lost the window keys! Can I find them! No. So I need replacement keys, before I go into meltdown. 

My kids sarcastically call me the 'health and safety officer' for a reason. 

But my window fear is real - even if my parents or my sister is looking after the younger two, I will often ask them to make sure the windows are locked (without sounding too much like a complete health and safety control freak).

Lock those windows.

Antique Jewellery

They say that jewellery is a girl's best friend. The perfect accessory which can be worn for any occasion at any time.

Certain pieces are symbolic.

Some are worn as a simple statement.

Some pieces carry a deep meaning and connection.

Most are worn just for the love and joy of wearing a beautiful piece.

Antique or Vintage jewellery is often unique or one-of-a-kind, it's timeless and beautiful. It could be the only piece that has survived. For example, Berganza specialise in Antique jewellery and sell extremely rare, and out of this world pieces, i.e, Medieval Duchess of Lancaster sapphire posy ring, circa 1360-1400 AD - Just wow!

If you owned a piece like this, you are wearing a tiny piece of history, a piece that has a story.

I love the idea of Antique jewellery. The mystery of wearing it, it's romantic. 

With Berganza, you can explore a whole array of design eras and discover which ones most resonate with you.

Antique jewellery you will get:

• Unique - never seen before and will probably be one of a kind.
• Timelessness - when you invest in an antique piece of jewellery, you are purchasing a timeless piece - vintage jewellery pieces from any era are much more likely to stand the test of time.
• It will bring conversation - your antique piece of jewellery will be a piece that people will admire and want to know about.

The One And Only Freebie Guide: How To Score Freebies

If you become a first-class freebie hunter you will enjoy a huge amount of benefits; it will not only will it help your daily budget sometimes but also can help you gain access to products before they are sold to in the shops.

Everyone loves a good freebie and luckily, many websites are actually glad to offer them to you. Even though many of the websites will mainly list similar products, you need to ensure that you get the very best to avoid wasting time trawling through junk.

Visiting Websites That Offer Freebies

Websites such as WOW Free Stuff offer you free products once they acquire them while others are created exclusively to connect users with free products that others are giving away.

FreeCycle is probably the best resource for finding completely free stuff. On the website you can scour your location for items that people are giving away for free. The items can vary from bikes to sofas or even just old stuff but are typically of decent quality and certainly worth more than what you spend to acquire them.

The major drawback is that you will need to collect the items yourself, which makes FreeCycle a great resource for modes of transport including bikes but less than ideal for such items as wardrobes that you cannot easily ride home yourself.

Gumtree and Freeagle are other great resources for finding freebies

Meeting the people who are giving away the free items is usually not dangerous but it is always advisable to ensure that you are comfortable and safe when you are collecting any freebies. It is always a great idea to exercise caution.

Getting The Most Out Of Free Trials

Companies usually attempt to lure people into subscribing to products that they sell by offering free trials. Many people that take up the free trial usually never bother to cancel their subscriptions, which is exactly what the companies are hoping for. Some of the best free trials include:

• Tastecard – Free 30 Day Membership then £79.99 per year
• Xbox Live Gold Trial– Free 1 month Membership then £5.99 every month
• Audible – 1 free audiobook then £7.99 every month
• Amazon Instant Video – Free 1 month trial then £5.99 every month
• Netflix – Free 1 month trial then £5.99 every month

You may be put off when you are doing this considering that you typically have to provide your debit/credit card details upfront but if you are careful and remember to cancel the membership before the expiry of the free trial you will not be charged. The easiest way to do this is by setting a notification on your phone, laptop, or email calendar reminding you to cancel the subscription one day before the free trial expires.

Complimenting A Brand

Being nice to a brand can help you get as much free stuff as you do when you complain about bad products. Write either a letter or email to a brand informing them why you are in love with their products and that you would be glad if they would send you free products.

Ensure that you have personalized the emails and you can be sure to receive a better response. No brand will give away free products to a person that is a big fan of INSERT PRODUCT NAME HERE.

Is it really worth it?

We have heard stories of people that have received lots of free products from brands by simply complimenting them. Free products can range from coupons for Ben and Jerry’s to free burritos at Chipotle.

If you can be bothered, it is definitely worth doing but you can expect to send off a good number of letters for each freebie you receive and for the freebies to take some time to arrive.

If it is your birthday, you can now get all the free stuff that you desire.

Many companies and restaurants love to give away free stuff to those celebrating their birthday. Check the guide we have provided to see the kind of stuff you can expect to get on your birthday. Our favorites include:

·       La Tasca: If you spend £30 at La Tasca two weeks either side of your birthday you will receive a free bottle of Cava. You will need to book ahead of time in the name of the birthday boy/girl.

·       Barburrito: Get a Burritometer loyalty card in a physical store, register it online and on your birthday you will be emailed a voucher for a free burrito.

·       Krispy Kreme: If you become a Friend of Krispy Kreme you will receive a free original glazed doughnut right away. In addition, you will be emailed a voucher for yet another free doughnut on your birthday.

We really hope that you have enjoyed this guide. We would like to hear from you what your freebie tips are below.