Last year I discovered just how handy those empty tubs of chocolate can be after Christmas, especially if you have lots of fairy lights to put away like we do. They’re fab storage for LED lights & decorations & all it takes is a little bit of adjusting…
December is usually full of festive events, pantos & Christmas light switch-ons but this year I’ve found some are some fabulously festive entertainment you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home while supporting performers & local theatres – enjoy..!
Christmas can be busy at the best of times so I’ve come up with some ways that we can use modern technology to make December easier than ever. From gift shopping to entertainment, there are so many festive things you can enjoy without lifting a finger…
Did you know there’s an International Coffee Day?? The celebration was set up by the International Coffee Organization and it launched on 1st of October 2015. So, every year since, we’ve been giving a big cheer for coffee on the first of the month of October!
Seeing as many of us won’t be able to visit our extended family this Easter, I’ve had a think about what you can do to wish your relatives happy Easter from a distance instead…
If you’re looking for interesting and educational ways to entertain your youngsters, you’ve come to the right place! Today, I’m sharing some fun ideas for activities and projects that your kids can enjoy at home…
As I’ve been doing the #FoodSavvy challenge this month with the aim of minimising my food waste, using up eggs, milk, flour and other fillings on pancake day is a great way to ensure that I’m not throwing away potentially edible food. Here are some of my fave ways to
I’ll be honest. I’m not the best cook. Sure, I’m interested in baking and cooking, and I’m always excited to try out new recipes – just sometimes it goes spectacularly wrong. Nonetheless I enjoy cooking for my family and friends and just this weekend we dished up some lovely meals
Over the years I’ve lived in some rather small homes and it’s been difficult to decorate for Christmas in such a compact space. However, that’s never stopped me from filling my home with festive decor each December and, in fact, I’ve quite enjoyed the challenge of making my own DIY
If you have a quite few people to buy for this Christmas, the thrifty way to give your friends & family a treat is by creating a gift hamper. My friend Alina loves to make her own things so this year she decided to make her mum a DIY Christmas
I sometimes just get the urge to shop. Even as a wannabe-minimalist and thrifty gal (whose job relies on it!) it is sometimes just too hard to resist the lure of the high street. If you’re trying to stash the cash (like me) but sometimes just get the urge to
So you’re coming to the end of the summer and it’s time to put those tees away for another year. Just a sec… why don’t you give your t-shirts a new lease of life by upcycling them for autumn? Here are four easy ways to revamp your summer wardrobe for
Your hair is not only your crowning glory it is also an outward indicator of your internal health. Today’s guest post is all about the healthy foods you can eat to enhance your hair without spending a fortune on treatments…
Everyday stress and pollution can cause a lot of damage to your skin. There are skincare products you can use to help you combat these negative effects, but they can also be very expensive, so here are five natural alternatives—some of which you may find in your very own kitchen:
Living on a budget doesn’t mean that you can’t still tick a few things off of your bucket list. I mean, saving your extra cash for travel should be one of the benefits of a thrifty life, shouldn’t it?! Even so, there are savings to be made every time you
If you’ve always wanted to grow your own veggies and pick fresh herbs from your back garden, I’m here to show you that it can be done in just a small space. Here’s how to grow your own herbs (and stop the weeds from making a comeback!) in a raised
If you’re planning a party for adults (or for teens too, I guess!) why not make it a Bob Ross themed event? Think curly hair, canvases and happy little trees and you’ve got the beginnings of an epic painting party that’ll stretch your creative skills and have you giggling for
If you’re a keen crafter, today’s blog post is for you! Learn how to crochet a cute 3D ice cream with this step-by-step guide PLUS you could win a copy of newly published crochet book AmiguruMe Eats by Allison Hoffman. I’ve got 4 copies of the book to give away
Father’s Day is just around the corner on the 16th June so I thought I’d put together a gift guide of slightly different presents for dad that you might not have though of before, including sweet treats, personalised goodies and on trend tech…
Did you know that the delicious cup of hot chocolate, or your morning cup of coffee, or that glass of cranberry juice consists of copper? Do you know that some of the top chefs and healthcare professionals prefer copper pots over modern cookware? Why? Because we all need copper in
Mother’s Day is coming up on 31st March so I thought I’d blog some gift ideas in advance to give you time to head to the shop or put in your orders online. There’s something for all tastes and budgets in my gift guide so I hope you’ll find something
There’ll probably be a charity bake sale in your workplace or in your child’s school sometime soon. Whether it’s for Comic Relief next week or a future fundraising campaign, there will be a chance to show off your culinary skills – but what’s good to bake? If you don’t have
When it’s time for a little one to celebrate their birthday, parents often worry about hosting a party. After all, they want to ensure their kid has an amazing birthday, but they don’t want to blow their household budget on one event. To help you on your journey to party
Here’s some of the personalised and retro gifts I’ve picked up for my husband this year, and I hope they’ll help you get your gift list in order too…
When you’re self-employed, the office Christmas party becomes a thing of the past. That’s why I planned my own Christmas party this year at the Cosy Club – here’s why you should do the same…
Fancy making an advent calendar that you can reuse to help you countdown to Christmas every year? Check out my a step-by-step video tutorial to DIY your own refillable festive calendar…
If you’ve slightly outgrown chocolate advent calendars (I mean, it could happen…) these are the alternatives for you. Make the count down to Christmas fun and bloomin’ delicious at the same time. These two calendars are just screaming out to be opened first thing in the morning so you definitely
Remember the shoebox appeal when you were younger? Packing up small gifts and essentials for someone who really needed it? I really wanted to get involved in a campaign like this in the run up to Christmas so I searched online to find a local charity. And I found a
Of course, you want to throw your children an amazing party, but do you really need to spend an arm and a leg to make great memories? There are so many ways to save money without sacrificing fun at your child’s party. Here are a few things to consider when
Are you ready for Christmas? (Yes, I said it!) All the food, the indulgence and the mulled wine? I’m looking forward to it already, although the health-conscious me is already feeling a little wary. So I thought I’d share some ways that you can get ready for the festive season
Offering holiday accommodation in your spare room is a great way of making a little extra cash. But how do you do it? Here are some easy ways to keep a spare room useful for yourself AND comfortable enough for Airbnb guests.
If you’ve been saving for something special lately, or you simply want to make sure that you have some emergency savings in place for a rainy day, the following tips will help you to find more money for your future…
The decorations and mince pies are already on sale in many shops around the UK now and, with the nights starting to draw in, thoughts turn to Christmas. And also to the expense associated with the festive season, which for some is a stressful time of year. Here’s how to
There’s still a couple of weeks of the school holidays to go, so here are some ideas for entertaining your little ones on their days off, including free events, rainy-day activities and inspiration for learning while they play…
Great news! Your beauty and cosmetic routines do not have to consist of costly, overpriced products and procedures. I’ve been blogging about cruelty-free beauty for a few years now and I’ve found that it’s not only an ethical way to shop, but it’s also cost-effective too. That said, you don’t
Life is already busy enough as it is, without the constant need to pop into the shops whenever you run out of household essentials. However, if you stock up with the following five handy and healthy items, you’ll not only save precious time, you’ll also help your budget stretch further…
Next time you feel stressed or tired, step away from the coffee and biscuits! If you’re craving something to soothe the stress, try these fresh, healthier options instead and feel instantly better, thanks to their calming nutrients…
If you want to revamp your home on a tight budget here are some ways to shop savvy and get the best deals on retro homewares. Plus, you could be in with a chance of winning a super-cool on-trend belly basket in my giveaway so read on to enter..!
Do you love creme eggs? Are you a fan of cheesecake? Well today’s your lucky day because I’m sharing a recipe to make a giant creme egg cheesecake for Easter..!
Mother’s day is coming up on 11th March so I thought I’d share some thrifty tips for ways to celebrate with mum that’ll suit all budgets…
Valentine’s day isn’t just about new couples or married folk; if you’ve got family and friends you want to celebrate with, go ahead and give them a treat this Valentine’s day with these alternative gift suggestions…
Did you know that besides being good for your dietary health, eggs—specifically, egg whites—can also be great for your skin? Read on to find out how…
I’ve been DIYing again, and this time I’m making Christmas gifts. After the fun I had making my Christmas jumper bunting for Emmaus, I jumped at the chance to join in with their Second Hand Santa Challenge again during gift week. I decided to made gift boxes and frames that
Today I’m sharing some expert advice from i heart Wines to get your guests ‘rioja-ing’ around the Christmas tree (excuse the awesome pun!) I’ve already shared my favourite mulled wine recipe using i heart Rosé earlier this week so that’s one warming festive drink you can tick off your ‘to do’ list!
Is there anything more magical than a winter wedding? Especially if it happens to snow on the big day too – ahh, so dreamy! Even though I got married in the summer, I ‘d probably go for a winter wedding if I were to do it all over again now.
When you think of a cosy home at Christmas, what do you imagine? I expect whatever you’re seeing in your mind’s eye is rather similar to while I’m thinking of. There’s the glow of low lighting, lots of soft textures, a roaring fire and steaming cups of hot chocolate on
I tried out this recipe for the first time last week. I found myself with a spare afternoon and decided that it was about time that I got back into baking. I always feel more inclined to bake at this time of year, especially when using delicious festive flavours like
With December 1st fast approaching, I’ve come up with a quick and easy DIY advent calendar that you can make as a family. Plus, it’s reusable so you can refill it with treats every year and will never need to buy a chocolate calendar again! Here’s what you’ll need to
Gingerbread. It’s the taste of Christmas. If it’s not in a latte, it’s in your biscuit tin. That sweet, spiced, scent-of-the-season is everywhere at this time of year and I love it. I that know many of you have long-awaited the arrival of those gingerbread lattes in the coffee shops
Struggling to buy for someone special this year? How about creating a super-personal Christmas hamper? If you plan a few weeks in advance and shop around, it’s likely that you’ll pick up some good bargains, too. You don’t have to be overly crafty to make the hamper look good either.
This year, I’m planning to treat my family and friends to some meaningful gifts. Sure, I could head out onto the high street and get sucked into all the hustle and bustle of buying presents on a grand scale. But often this results in me not quite finding the ideal
There’s nothing I love more at this time of year than filling up my weekends with festive fun. There are so many fantastic events taking place around East Anglia this year that I could easily double- and triple-book myself on most dates in November and December. That said, I’ve come
Remember, remember the 5th of November. As Guy Fawkes night approaches, almost a third of Brits are preparing to celebrate with fireworks, bonfires, food and in some cases a cheeky glass of wine. Whether you are hosting friends or family, or attending a professional display, here’s what you’ll need to help
When the sun is shining and the barbeque is sizzling, what better way is there to round off a tasty al fresco meal than with a helping of fresh fruit and some delicious dipping sauces? Here are some healthy recipes for your summer pud…
Ask yourself the all-important question… what’s my favourite cocktail? Frivolous it may seem, but given that first impressions count and ‘what are you drinking?’ is often the first question a client/date/friend will judge you on – you’ll want to know your preferences. And, at the very least, know your daiquiris from
Outdoor summer parties are often easier to host than indoor parties, and the casual atmosphere of entertaining al fresco means you can get away with being a lot less fancy than you might strive for with an indoor dinner party. I’m hoping to bring my garden up to scratch in
They say that the kitchen is the heart of the home, don’t they? I wholeheartedly agree because it’s where I cook and eat with my husband, it’s where we share the events of our day and is a gathering space for nights in with my friends and family. Of course,
Giving someone a personalised wedding gift is a great way to show family, friends and loved ones how much they mean to you. Many people are turning away from traditional engagements and weddings, and asking for gifts from a wedding list is less popular than in recent years. Even though
If you want to treat a new mum (and give some gorgeous gifts to the little one too) why not create a DIY baby bundle gift basket? This make-it-yourself gift shows your friend just much they mean to you, and gives you the chance to spoil her rotten! So shake
We all have that special someone in our lives. It could be your best friend, your partner, a sibling, mum or grandparent. Someone who brings magic to our lives through the tiniest of gestures…
One of the most important days of your life is your wedding day. It’s just one day of celebration, yet we spend more money on this than many of us earn in a whole year. A few short hours costing thousands seems a little excessive. So is there a way
Planning the hen night can be a daunting task and even more so nowadays as bridal parties want something different and a night out drinking and wearing L-plates just won’t cut it. If you are looking for something competitive, challenging, fun, or just plain silly there is a hen night
We all love to party and have fun with our friends and family, but sometimes events can be bit of a chore. We eat the same foods, do the same things for entertainment and see the same faces. Eventually, it’ll just get boring and we’ll probably stop going to as many
Hoo-gah. Honestly, that’s how you pronounce it. Lagom is slightly a tougher one… lar-gohm. If you’re already over hygge, then maybe lagom is for you. With the new year in full swing, the Scandinavian concept of ‘everything in moderation’ may be better suited to you (especially if you’re making changes to
When was the last time that you went offline? For me, it’s probably been years. Ever since I got my first smart phone I’ve not had a day away from the internet. Well, when you’re carrying a computer in your pocket at all times, and your job is based online, and
I thought I’d share round-up of my favourite festive recipes this Pieday Friday. The idea was to get you in the mood for all the Christmas baking to come but, in fact, I’ve actually started craving most of these recipes now, so I’m sure I’ll be whipping up some tasty
The average person will spend approximately 25 years sleeping, and with good reason. Whoever said ‘sleep is for the weak’ certainly hasn’t experienced the joys of being horizontal on a Sunday morning. I wonder if there’s a stat out there for the amount of time people daydream of their bed
Yes, I still have an advent calendar every year, even at my age. I’ve had chocolate calendars to countdown the days until Christmas for as long as I can remember. And I probably had a printed cardboard calendar even before then. I love opening a door every day, bring me
You know that Christmas is approaching when the coffee shops start serving their Christmas drinks. The usual selection of coffee and tea suddenly flips over to the festive menu sometime in early November. One day you’re buying your usual latte and the next day there’s a turkey and cranberry toasty on the sandwich counter and gold
It’s that time of year again. The clocks have gone back an hour to remind us that winter is almost here and Christmas is very much around the corner. For many people, this means rushing around the shops trying to find the perfect Christmas gifts, but for others it means
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