Nightmare Setbacks When Moving Home*

04th January 2020

Moving home should be an enjoyable experience, but for all of you reading this who have moved home before, you know that not always to be true. Whilst it is enjoyable in the sense that you’re finally getting a place to call your own, it’s not enjoyable in that there are just so many things that can go wrong. It seems to be far more complicated to move from one home to the other than it used to be, and it has now become a rather daunting process. It becomes even harder if you’re moving from one home to the other. First time home buyers are lucky in the sense that they only have to buy a home; when you add in selling your own home into the mix, there are far more things that can go wrong. So, I want to run through some of the nightmares that you might be dealing with, and how you can ensure you’re avoiding them where possible.

Your Home Not Selling

If your home isn’t selling the stress really begins to kick in. This is particularly true if you have already put down a deposit on another house on the basis that yours was soon to sell. If your home is not selling then there are a few things you can do to try and boost the chances. You can advertise it through different estate agents for one. We know it costs a fee to do so, but some people prefer to buy through specific estate agents, so only advertising through one is going to seriously limit your choices of buyers. The other obvious alternative is to lower the price of your house. Arguably, it’s going to affect the move of your home in terms of your budget, but it will allow you to get a quicker sale.

The Legal Side Of Things

The legal side of things is going to be one of the most expensive, especially if the process is carried out far longer than it needs to be. So to avoid the nightmare, you need to find a solicitor that’s going to speed the process up, giving you a professional service. Bannister Preston is just one of the law firms that will do that for you. You need people who know the ins and outs of the processes, as well as how to handle setbacks from the solicitors working with the sellers or buyers on the other side. It’s always good to try and go with solicitors who offer a one time fee, rather than paying for time. You never know how long as sale is going to take, and how much help you’re going to need from them.

Buyers Pulling Out

Buyers pulling out is definitely something you need to contend with. When selling your home to move into another, it’s one of the most common things to happen. There’s really nothing you can do about this one, so avoid the nightmare of putting everything into play because you think your home has sold. Hold off until the contracts have been signed, because up until that moment anything at all can happen!

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How Smart Technology Could Change Your Home For The Better*

03rd January 2020

The world is evolving into a technology minefield, with people continually finding ways to make their lives more comfortable with the help of various bits of machinery and equipment. If you don’t jump on board and get technical you may risk being left behind in a sea of new upgrades. The most significant modern and upcoming trend is smart home technology, but what is it, and why should you be jumping on board?

What is smart home technology?

Smart home technology (also known as home automation) is an umbrella term for using internet-powered devices to provide security, comfort and convenience in the home. The tools are endless; with new ways to control aspects of your home being released every day, with a large proportion of being able to be controlled via your smartphone, it’s a quicker and easier way to control things in your home such as:

Heating

Lighting

Locks

TV and music

Appliances

Although the first smart home firm was founded in 2005 it’s still a relatively new concept especially in domestic homes. Large brands including Amazon, Google and Apple have all since followed the trend and invented products that are commonly used in 2019 and in to 2020.

Why should you be investing in smart home technology?

There’s a lot of speculation about how efficient and overall beneficial smart home technology is, so we’ve compiled a list of the benefits and facts that will make your choice clear.

You can save money on your heating bills

One of the most substantial bills you have every year is your heating bill, with the average household power/gas bill being £1,254. Your heating bills shouldn’t be that high, and the reason they are could be down to efficiency and usage. Smart thermostats are a recent piece of kit that connects your heating system to the internet. Depending on which device you opt for it can change your temperature, what room you are heating and boiler safety- from anywhere you like as long as you have WIFI. Smart thermostats don’t have any correlation with your energy supplier either, so you can install whenever you want. It could save you £££ on your energy bills each year, but it is a substantial investment- with the average smart thermostat costing £250. Make sure you get a qualified gas engineer if you are making any big changes.

Your home safety

Smart home technology can make your home a safer environment- when you’re there and when you’re not. The most popular way to improve your home safety is via smart doorbell. They’ve taken off fast, with an easy way to watch who’s coming by your house. They include built-in camera’s, microphones and speakers that notify your phone when someone rings your doorbell- and you can even answer them via phone rather than answering your door. Although it’s a hefty investment at an average of £100, it’s an excellent device to put your mind at rest- especially if you are away from home often.

Improved Appliance Functionality

If you decide to go all out with smart devices, you can buy kits that connect to your appliances such as lights, ovens and washing machines. Using these not only makes it easier for you to control from the sofa but can help make your activity more accurate too!

What device?

Now you know just how great having smart home technology can be, it’s time to decide what is most important to invest in- and which brand is best. Here are our top 3 smart home devices of 2019, which will make an excellent investment in 2020:

Swan wire-free smart video doorbell

At an appealing price of £49.99, this smart doorbell is one of the cheapest on the market- yet it provides an excellent service bound to help you feel safe. It’s features include:

Wireless connect

Day and night vision

Two-way talk

Heat sensor

30 days of free recording

Overall, it’s a handy device to start your smart home adventure and worth every penny!

Google Nest learning thermostat

Possibly one of the popular devices for new homes, this thermostat connects up to your boiler (it is compatible with most boiler types, and comes free with selected boiler purchases at BOXT.) It’s a bit more of a hassle to set up, as you need to have a professional come and fit it, but the result is worth it. You can control everything to do with your heating through Nest, and it programmes itself after only a week to adjust during the day depending on your schedule. It well and truly is smart and in our eyes worth the £219 price tag.

Amazon Alexa

Over 100 million Alexa devices have already been sold, which is why it’s made our top list. The Alexa is essentially a premium speaker with voice controls, so you don’t have to use a remote. However, it can connect up to other smart home devices to control them too. Look at it as a hub for all your devices to work together! You can buy them off Amazon for £89.99.

Smart home technology is continuously evolving and confusing. But with the help of this guide, you’ve now got your headstart to begin saving money and increasing home convenience!

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A Year of Living

30th December 2019

As we creep in to a new year, and indeed a new decade it seems an ideal time to reflect and look back on what has been an absolute rollercoaster of a time.
As we welcomed in 2010 (which doesn’t really seem all that long ago) I was quite frankly dying. At my lowest ebb both physically and mentally I’m not entirely sure how my body survived all it had to endure whilst I was in the deepest grips of anorexia, nor how it survived the subsequent cycle of relapse and recovery that came in the following years.

And yet somehow here we are, here I am, after a 17 year battle which I can now firmly and confidently say I’m winning. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and it’s within reaching distance.

So what’s changed?
Primarily I’ve changed. Everything has changed. The only thing that remains the same from the shadow of myself I was in 2010 is the love and support of my family and closest friends. Everything else is near unrecognisable and for that I am grateful.

I never dared to dream I’d reach this point. The (almost) confident, (not so young) woman I have become. I never for one second imagined I’d be entering the next decade almost recovered. Without every waking second dictated by food and how to avoid it. Engaged to the most wonderful man; planning our wedding and considering the next stages such as starting a family.

My body no longer defines me, and whilst I struggle on a daily basis with my body image I certainly care a whole lot less. These days my focus has shifted. It’s not about getting to the lowest acceptable healthy weight, it’s about preparing my body for, hopefully, carrying a child- how can you nourish and grow a whole new life when you can’t nourish yourself?

Food has become fun. There’s not really anything off limits these days (aside from the obvious things like brains and intestines). I’ve learnt to enjoy meals out at restaurants that don’t list the calories, our trip to America was all about how many types of M&Ms I could get my hands on, and our daily meals are chosen based on what Bob and I fancy, not what fits my once super-rigid meal plan. I eat biscuits in work these days, in fact let’s take a moment to appreciate that I now eat in work, full stop. This was once one of my greatest fears, and is now one of the social highlights of my day.

Food aside this has been an amazing year for personal growth. Our holiday of a lifetime was a really rewarding reminder of how much both Bob and myself have matured as people. Starting to plan our wedding is exciting and stressful in equal measures and feels scarily adult. I’ve started socialising more; and I’ve enjoyed it.

Life isn’t perfect, but if it were perfect it would be boring. There are tears and tantrums (especially when PMS is involved) and there are times I wonder what the fuck I am doing when I start questioning whether I should be eating something, or whether I should join a gym or not.

I think what I’m trying to say in all of this is that life feels gloriously normal for the firs time. There are ups and downs that pass, but no dramas, no despair. There is still progress to be made, but healthy progress with no urgency.
I’m sure this won’t be the last post I write about my recovery, I’m not quite there yet after-all; something I have to remind myself from time to time, but it won’t be the focus, just as it’s not the focus for me as a whole anymore.
It would be all to easy to be bitter about my past, the years spent worrying and wasting but I’m not. Whilst there’s certainly no looking back with fondness as the mental and physical agony of an eating disorder, I have to thank it in some ways for making me who I am today; strong, capable, stubborn and insightful.

After a disastrous start to the decade that we are now waving farewell to, I am so beyond excited for such a brilliant start to the new one- I can’t wait to see, smell, experience and taste everything the 2020s have to offer.

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How to Make 2020 More Adventurous*

27th December 2019

Not everyone loves the arrival of a new year, but there’s no denying that it does present a pretty fantastic opportunity to mix things up and push your life forward in a positive direction. And 2020 isn’t just a new year, either; it’s an entirely new decade! So that’s a doubly-important opportunity. But of course the new year is just the catalyst, new things aren’t going to come your way just because the calendar has changed — you have to make things happen! Below, we take a look at a few effective ways for ensuring that your forthcoming year is one of adventure.

Start as you Mean to Go On

“Start as you mean to go on” is an underrated cliche. If you get off on the right foot then you’ll find it much easier to keep the standards high in the future. So, if you’re intent on making 2020 a year to remember for all the right reasons then look at bringing the excitement from the beginning of January. This might mean putting a clear mental line between the past year and the new one; this will make it easier to see and feel all the possibilities that January and beyond brings. Indeed, the “everything is possible” attitude will arguably be your most important asset if you want to achieve big things. Believe it!

Local and National Exploring

People always think that adventure means going somewhere exotic or simply as far away as possible from your home. But this isn’t the case. Adventure is a state of mind! And you can do it anywhere and everywhere, including nearby to your home and further afield in the country. If you have the right set of wheels and an adventurous spirit, then excitement will always be within reach. Look at making the most of a 0% APR on new Vauxhall deal, and you’ll be able to build regular adventures into your schedule. You might just be surprised at how many fun and exciting destinations are within easy driving distance of your home.

Trying New Things

You could argue that people don’t push themselves as much as they should. Once we’re settled into our jobs and ways of being, we rarely think to step out of our comfort zone. But there is, of course, a lot of value in doing so. We grow as individuals, meet new people, and infuse our lives with passion — all the good things that you want! So this forthcoming year, think of ways to stretch yourself. It could be putting up a hobby, joining a club, or making subtle changes to your lifestyle.

New Ways of Travelling

We mentioned local travel earlier, but let’s not discount overseas travelling altogether. It’s a magical world out there! Instead of travelling to the usual spots, why not look at mixing things up a little? You can visit those destinations that are a bit more off the beaten path, or even change how you move — there’s a lot of value in travelling by car rather than plane, for instance.

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Pure Retinol Biphase Serum from SkinChemists*

23rd December 2019

Pure Retinol Biphase Serum c/o skinChemists

You should all know by now how much I love the skinChemists brand, so when I got an e-mail about their Pure Retinol Biphase Serum, with it’s impressive sounding list of benefits I was game on for trying it.

I’m still finding my feet in terms of skincare, and now I am over thirty my focus is very much on anti-ageing over anything else. This serum promises to not only prevent wrinkles, but smooth over existing fine lines. It also says it’ll brighten dull skin and help remove age spots, hyper-pigmentation and sun damage.

The packaging fits well with the skinChemists brand, always on the minimal side whilst looking sleek and luxe.

After a patch test (as advised) and discovering no reactions I jumped in to incorporating this in to my skincare routine; something I can now say I have, and awaiting the miracle.

Ok, so there may not have been a miracle, I didn’t wake up looking ten years younger the next day, but there is definitely a difference in how my skin looks, and feels.
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what is different, there has been no drastic changes, but subtle differences that all add up; I’ve lost some of that winter dullness, my fine lines look finer and everything looks all around more even and a heck of a lot healthier.

I’ve been using this after cleansing in the evening and a tiny bit goes a long way, meaning it’s £39.90 price-tag isn’t too bad as this little bottle will last for ages.
I don’t have much to compare it too, I’ve never used anything like it before, but I really like this product. It makes me feel like I’m doing something positive for my skin and it’s making a slow but sure visible difference.

If you’d like to give this a try for yourself then skinChemist are offering a 30% discount when you use the code LAURA30 at the checkout. Let me know if you give it a whirl.

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← Older posts Newer posts →

A Daisy Chain Dream

Nightmare Setbacks When Moving Home*

How Smart Technology Could Change Your Home For The Better*

A Year of Living

How to Make 2020 More Adventurous*

Pure Retinol Biphase Serum from SkinChemists*