Category Archives: lifestyle

What To Do With Things That Won’t Fit In Your House*

02nd September 2017

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Let’s face it; not everything we have in our home really fits! Some things we keep in our home just because we like them being there and don’t want them moved and we hold sentimental value to a lot of things but in reality they just get in our way and clutter our homes- so what can we do about it? Well, if you carry on reading you’re going to find out what you can do with that extra stuff that’s in your house.

Get Storage Boxes

Some things we just can’t find it within ourselves to throw away. Whether it’s an old heirloom passed down through generations, or something your parents got you as a kid, we just can’t bring it upon ourselves to get rid of them! This is why you should really consider getting some storage boxes. These plastic boxes are cheap to buy and are very hard wearing- and the best bit about them is that they have a huge storage space inside them which you can take advantage of! They’re also very sturdy meaning that whatever you put inside them is going to be protected. Most plastic storage boxes are stackable too, meaning that you can put them on top of each other without worrying about any of them falling off!

Storage Facilities

Sometimes the stuff that we want to store is simply too large to keep at home. A garage is the perfect place for it but it could be getting damaged inside there so you need a viable alternative. This is where storage facilities come into play. They are essentially massive lockers for you to put stuff into, all you have to do is pay the rent on them and you’re set to go! This is an excellent option for things that are large and expensive because the storage spaces are huge, so for something that you want to keep but don’t have the room for it’s definitely an option you should look at.

Donating To Charity

This is a great way to get rid of some of the stuff you don’t need anymore and for an honourable cause. Charities all across the country ask for people’s old and unused items so that they can either sell them to make money for their cause or to actually give them away to people who need it most. Charities like oxfam regularly accept donations, so if you’ve got some items that you know not what to do with donate them to a good cause.

All of these things are going to save you room in your house your lost items are going to have somewhere to finally stay, whether it be small, old items that hide away in storage boxes for a few years until you get them out again, or for the big expensive ones that you just don’t have the room for! Decorating your house is also part of owning one, not just keeping it clean, so if you’re stuck for some ideas then read this!

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Degustabox August 2017

30th August 2017
Another month and another delivery from foodie subscription service Degustabox*. Unless you are brand new to my blog (in which case, Hi!) you’ll know this is a regular feature. As with last month I’ve done my absolute best to try everything in the box, but time constraints and wanting to get a post up in a fairly prompt manner means that there are a couple of things I’m yet to sample. I’ll pop up some mini reviews of these on social media when I do try them for anyone who is as curious as I currently am.

For those who don’t yet know, Degustabox* is a monthly food subscription box that gives you the chance to try new and exciting products on the market whilst providing amazing value for money.

Kicking off with the drinks selection, this month we have some coconut water with ginger and vodka from Twisted Halo (£1.50) and limited edition summer bottles from Orangina. I haven’t tried the Vodka drink yet, although it does sound tempting even to my coconut water hating self. I kind of feel like it might be a bit of a gimmick tapping in to the coconut water craze, but the flavour combination sounds lovely and it’s chilling in my fridge just waiting for the weekend.
Orangina is of course nothing new but these summer bottles are worth checking out. It reminds me of long, hot summer days- bought bang up to date with it’s trendy nautical stripes! You can pick these up for £1.20 each.
Tapping in to the “back to school” market is JellySqueeze- jelly in a pouch that is ideal for eating on the go and suitable those who are gluten and lactose free, vegan or vegetarian. I won’t be trying this as I have a long-standing aversion to jelly but they seem like a great idea for lunch boxes and picnics (£0.69 each).
These Light Bites popped chips are a diet product that is exclusive to Superdrug and something I’d ignore on the shelf due to it’s branding. However, they are delicious, especially the pesto and sundried tomato flavour and at under 100 calories per pack are great for anyone counting calories (or to eat two bags at once if you are me- all in the name of a fair review). A bit pricey at 99p a bag, but a nice treat.
I love noodles and these packs from Maggi are great. These “fusian” noodles come infused with sauce and veggies and create a light meal or side in only four minutes- a great emergency dinner and super tasty. £1.39 per pack.
I think I’ve mentioned my love of condiments before and Tabasco Green Pepper Sauce (£1.89) is a welcome addition to my cupboard. Delivery more tang than spice I’ve been putting this on literally everything- pizza, pasta, fish, meat…you name it and I’ve tried it!
Helmans mayonnaise needs no introduction or a review but this squeezy bottle is a no fuss, no mess solution to picnics and BBQs and a handy size if you’re not a frequent consumer (£1.69).
When I was growing up Seabrook crisps were a weekend treat- my favourite back then, and still is now the salt & vinegar flavour- so packed full of taste and at £1.00 for a multipack of six (also contains sea salted and cheese & onion) they are a bit of a bargain too.
Saving the best ’til last, I always look forward to the monthly sweet treats in Degustabox! This month we had Curlywurly Squirlies (£1.99) which are bite size Curlywurly bars in a sharing (hah!) format, as well as Cadbury Dairy Milk big taste toffee whole nut (£0.65) which I passed to my Dad- we reviewed the large format of this bar a couple of months ago and it was a hit, so this single serving bar was needless to say, also a winner.

Refreshers sweets were another childhood favourite and they’ve now been reinvented in to a softies format (£1.00). All the fizz you remember but in a soft and chewy sweet instead- I’d say these aren’t quite as fizzy and I still prefer the original but at the same time I happily worked my way through this bag.

Last but not least comes the Black ‘N White PICK UP! bar from Bahlsen (£1.69) which I think I reviewed once before. A delicious bar of white chocolate sandwiched between two chocolate flavour biscuits- these are so good. Seriously. It’s just as well they are individually wrapped because otherwise I’d be tempted to see the entire pack as a serving size.

On a month by month basis the box costs £12.99 (with a discount for longer subscriptions) but the contents are generally worth far more than this as you can see if you do the maths.
If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim a brilliant £7.00 off of your first box (making it just £5.99!) by entering the code 6HZJ8 at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand regularly over the last couple of years and it’s without a doubt something that I will continue to purchase long after our partnership ends. I love the monthly surprise and excitement as well as the chance to discover products I’d otherwise pass up on the supermarket shelves.

Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what you thought of them.

Posted in food, lifestyle, review

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Top Treats For a Confidence Boost*

14th August 2017

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It’s impossible to feel our best every day, we all have moments where we don’t feel so great, and when those times come the best thing that we can do is treat ourselves to something nice. Getting ourselves little treats to boost our confidence and make us feel happy can go a long way when it comes to getting us back on track and feeling our usual fabulous selves. So for any of you looking to do something a little bit lovely for yourself read on for some favourite ‘self-love’ treats.

Make Up

Sometimes all we need to feel bouncy and positive again is just to mix it up a little and try something new- and when it comes to our confidence that is never more true than when it comes to our make-up. Trying out the season’s latest vibrant lip colour, or treating yourself to a set of eye shadow colours that you’ve never tried before could be just what you need to put a little extra spring in your step- this is exactly how I’ve ended up owning 40+ lipsticks, they are my go-to confidence boost when I’m feeling down in the dumps!

Blow Dry

They say that our hair is our crowning glory and it is true that we certainly feel our best when our hair is looking glossy and healthy. It is not always possible to achieve a gorgeous, shiny mane at home however and if your hair is looking a little lacklustre then a trip to your hairdressers could be just what you need. Getting a lovely wash and blow dry can do wonders to your confidence and is well worth the money for anyone who feels the need for a little beauty injection and a little pampering to boot.

If you are a more a nails kind of girl then treating yourself to a lovely, relaxing manicure could be just what you need to make you feel extra special again. Looking down and seeing perfectly polished and manicured nails can really give us a boost in positivity, so again it is money well spent.

Jewellery

What girl doesn’t love jewellery? And what girl doesn’t feel great in a fantastic new necklace, bracelet or set of pearl earrings? We all have our own style whether you are a boho wooden bangle kind of girl or whether you are a statement necklace, or even if you are more of a classic pearl earrings kind of girl. The point is, buying yourself something pretty and sparkly is one of the quickest ways to have you feeling fabulous again.

Accessories

We can never have too many right? Finishing our outfits off with the perfect bag, scarf or hat is practically an art form and we never get bored of perfecting it. Going out and buying yourself a new asset to your accessories wardrobe could be just what you need to set off that favourite leather jacket or to perfectly compliment that pair of sexy summer sandals.

Self love and positivity is all in the little details. It doesn’t have to cost the earth to treat ourselves to little things that will give us that boost to our confidence, put the bounce back in our step and put the smile back on our face.

What are some of your favourite feel good boosts? For me it’s definitely lipstick or nail polish- the use of these is never dictated by how bloated you feel or what size you are making it the perfect little pick me up when body image struggles are getting the better of me.

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Simple Decorating Ideas for Your Rented Home*

12th August 2017
When you rent a room or house how far you go when it comes to decorating can be tricky to get right. Some landlords allow you to do pretty much what you like- but there are not many that take that approach. Often, even if they do, part of the deal is that you have to return the property to a neutral state when you leave it. Fortunately putting your own personal mark on your home does not necessarily mean redecorating it. There are lots of alternative approaches which won’t leave a mark. Below are some of my favourites.

(Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash)

Hang some artwork
By far the easiest and safest option is to use artwork and prints to decorate your walls. You can get any image turned into a work of art by using this canvas printing company. They have been in the business for more than a decade so really know how to make the process as easy as possible.
The fact they will print any image (and do so in a range of sizes) makes it easy to truly personalise each room. Provided the frame you choose is not too heavy you can often hang the prints without having to drill any holes in the walls- when I was in my rented flat I used velcro tabs to put things on the wall, they are strong but the sticky side is specially designed not to leave a residue on the wall.

Other wall hanging options
Mirrors, photo collages, wall stickers and decals are also really good options for putting your stamp on a place. If you choose to hang mirrors it is safer to hang them by drilling into the wall- just be careful not to hit a pipe or cable when you hang them.
When you leave make sure you allow enough time to fill the holes, rub them down, re-sand them and apply a couple of coats of paint, this way the repair job should be good enough to allow you to keep your deposit.
If you use wall stickers make sure they are the kind that can be peeled off without leaving any residue. Again, remove them at least a week before you are due to move out to give yourself enough time to fix any issues. You can also use stickers on doors and windows as well.

Flooring
Flooring has a huge impact on the look and feel of a room, if it is shoddy nothing you do to the rest of the room will make it look much better. Fortunately there is a lot you can do about this problem even if you are on quite a tight budget.
There are plenty of affordable rugs available- for rooms like the kitchen, dining room, toilet or bathroom vinyl flooring is a good option. You can cut it to size and just roll it up when it is time to leave. Be careful not to cut the flooring underneath when you fit it and be sure to buy the type that will not leak colour into the original flooring.

Shelves and hooks
It is best not to hang shelves where possible, instead opting for freestanding shelving units. For the sake of safety remember to secure the units so they don’t fall over, and add filling any holes once you are ready to move to your `to do’ list.
If you need hooks opt for the suction cup kind whenever you can.

Understand the rules
Before you sign the rental contract it is best to understand exactly what is and what is not allowed. You should also familiarise yourself with your rights and obligations as a tenant in the eyes of the law. This article is a good starting point.

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Posted in interiors, lifestyle

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Beauty- my first ever Glossybox

09th August 2017
I think pretty much every blogger out there has heard of Glossybox. It was the first subscription box I was ever aware of and tempted by, yet for some reason I had never got around to it.
It would appear that August 2017 was a great month to finally get acquainted with Glossybox as I was pretty impressed with every product inside it. The box itself was pretty special too- a gorgeous pale blue and emblazoned with “girls just wanna have sun” (so very true, I’m so tired of grey skies and rain) which just added to the experience.
As with any kind of subscription box I think it’s pot luck each month as to the actual value of the products included. I haven’t done the maths on this one but I’m pretty certain it exceeds the price paid for the box- and to be honest, the box could be packed through of high value products that were frankly rubbish, just as much as it could contain cheaper items that make a big impact. Although this box was sent to me free of charge I can hand on heart say I would have happily paid for this one.
I was very excited to see Essence products included in the box having already given their my must haves palette a rave review. I love the pretty packaging on this one and the shades included just so happen to be right up my street- for me this was the star product of the August Glossybox and it’s been in near constant use since.
Other highlights included the suede lips pencils from Rodial- again the shade is right up my street and this gives an amazing, soft looking matte lip that lasts.
I’m also a big fan of the safari sun bronzer from model launcher cosmetics. Obviously bronzer is a pretty essential summer product for many and this one is up there with the best I’ve tried in terms of being a good suits everyone shade, and it has a great texture.I’m yet to try the hair Replacement care products– I’m intrigued by the 2in1 shampoo and conditioner from Batiste, it’s designed to shampoo the roots and condition the lengths which sounds perfect for my thick and often unruly hair. I’ll be packing this for my holiday next month as a week in a caravan in the Highlands means dry shampoo is going to be 100% necessary.

Probably the most intriguing product in the box is the ice hair mask from Total Repair- this apparently has a cooling effect which powers up the macadamia oil it contains making even more efficient at hydrating the hair. My hair is in dire need of a cut and colour, it’s long overdue which also means the ends are somewhat fried right now…I’ll be giving this a try next time I was it and will report back if anyone is interested…

Anyone here a Glossybox subscriber? After the success of my first ever box I am sorely tempted to sign up and make it a more regular thing but I do worry that it won’t consistently live up to the hype, I’d love to hear other people’s experiences in the comments.

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Glossybox sent me this box for blog consideration, I was under no obligation to post and all opinions are my own.

Posted in beauty, hair, lifestyle, make up, review

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