Shopping for special occasions. It’s something that I really don’t like to do. Sure, I love buying the happy couple a wedding present, and it’s wonderful to watch the youngsters heading off to their first prom. But it’s the concept of spending out on an outfit specifically for that special
Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese art that has been practised for more than 3,000 years. It is intertwined with Taoism and it is said that words cannot describe the discipline. It is an energy and life force that can be felt when you make just a few minor changes
Weddings are a joyful occasion, but they can also be full of stress as well, especially for the soon-to-be spouses. On the other hand, engagement parties are a much more relaxed celebration of basically the same thing – a mini wedding, if you will! An engagement party is meant to
Being tight on cash is never something that is easy to deal with, especially when payday is looming ahead, and you need to catch up on the grocery shopping. There’s only so far you can stretch the larder and when you are in a position where you have to look
Some people are just naturally good with gift buying, whereas others are just not that gifted (excuse the pun!) It’s always a tricky time when a loved one’s birthday is coming up – you’ve bought them everything you can think of in the past, so what do you get them
Were you a bridesmaid over the summer? Do you have a gorgeous freshly-laundered bridesmaid dress hanging in your wardrobe? Think you’ll probably never get a chance to wear it again? Think again! If you’ve recently been a bridesmaid at your best friend’s wedding and you loved the dress you wore
When you’re planning a party, spreading the word without spending a fortune on pricey invitations is important. Whether it’s a birthday party for a child or a party for the grownups, you need to let friends, family and your acquaintances know well in advance so they can plan for it.
Ever since becoming a homeowner, I’ve taken much more interest in home maintenance and household utilities. I’m sure I’m becoming quite a money-saving bore when it comes to bills, but why spend more than you need to, eh? I’ve suddenly found my ears pricking up when they mention gas price
Watching your man get down on one knee and pop the question is an exciting prospect. So how can you make sure that the jewellery in that box is the ring of your dreams? It’s going to be on your hand for a long time so you want something beautiful.
It takes two to tango and, even though popular media certainly seems to think that only the bride is getting married, it’s important to make your man feel special before the big day.
Today’s blog is is something that I’ve started to do some research on since moving into my new home. Sure, it might not be the most exciting subject but it can make a huge difference to the cost of energy bills so the thrifty gal in me just can’t help
When you’ve been living with a guy for a while it’s easy to get used to the fact that you’re both around each other all the time. You can both become stuck in your ways and even though you might be waiting for him to pop the question, it might
I don’t know many people that aren’t looking for more ways to make money. The cost of living isn’t getting any cheaper, and unfortunately, wages aren’t always going up accordingly. So being able to make a second income is always handy – I call it my ‘side hustle’! You can,
So, you’re getting pretty serious in a relationship. Perhaps you’ve been with one another for quite some time now. You’re a serious couple; you know his family, he knows yours. It’s time to think about taking the next step. A lot of ladies might worry about the pressures and traditions
Hello guys! So you’re thinking about proposing to your significant other, are you?? When you are about to ask the love of your life to carry out the biggest act of commitment, you want everything to be perfect, so there are few aspects of the proposal to take into account
It’ll probably come as no surprise to you when I say that weddings are expensive. If you are planning to get legally married in the UK in a church for example, you can’t do it for less £456 (and that’s if you’re getting married in your home parish). That’s still
Weddings are beautiful, special, romantic and joyous occasions that publicly celebrate a couple’s love. However, while everything is about the two of you, you’re also the lead hosts of a lavish event. All your loved ones have been invited and this leads to certain expectations. I’ve already blogged about which wedding
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
With Valentine’s Day coming up next week on the 14th February, I thought I would share some ideas with you for an inexpensive night in with your other half.If you want to avoid the crowds in busy restaurants and don’t fancy filling your home with heart-shaped mugs and pink teddy bears,
When your pal is expecting her baby it’s a joyous occasion that she’ll want to celebrate with all her friends and family. So here are some ideas to help you to organise a baby shower, from the location and decor to the gifts…
Blazing red sunsets, rainbow skies, dark silhouettes and pastel hues. All of these beautiful elements combine to make one of the most stunning features of the evening sky – the sunset. If you’ve never watched the sun setting over rolling countryside, perhaps this summer is the time to do it. It’s a
Does a stack of wedding and party invites leave you with a ‘what to wear’ headache this summer? Why not look to the era of gin cocktails and elegant summer soirees for your party vibe this year? The 50’s is providing us with some serious party wear inspiration right now
Whether you’re planning a wedding or like the idea of having a fancy birthday party, I think that a vintage theme is perfect for summer events. When I visited the Glemham Hall vintage wedding fair I was struck by how many of the decorating ideas would work perfectly well for
It’s only half way through the school holidays and I’ve already been having a wonderful summer break. I’ve been on a few day trips, I’ve visited a handful of places and got a few of my “to-do’s” done. If you’re wondering what I’ve been up to, here’s the goss…I went to
If you have to go camping, it might as well be in one of these. I hereby admit that I am a bell tent fan. I feel like I’ve been spotting them everywhere I go and it’s only making me covet them more and more. Yes, glamping is certainly a
He popped the question, she said yes, and then she popped the question to you – will you be my bridesmaid?! Weddings are a wonderful time of celebration, and it is an honour to be asked to be the bride’s right-hand lady during such a joyous occasion. However, before you
Earlier this year I made the switch over to living a cruelty-free life. I’ve been gradually replacing all my products with their non-animal-tested counterparts over recent months and I’ve finally got to the stage where my make-up bag is entirely cruelty-free. I didn’t want to waste the products that I’d bought
Hurrah I’m finally taking some time off! Don’t worry I’ll be popping back from time to time to share some updates on what I’ve been getting up to during my summer break but in the meantime I’m going to be sharing some fantastic guest posts from my lovely blogging buddies. I dropped
If you’re planning a summer party but want to stick to a budget, how can you get a pulled-together chic look for only a few pounds? Well, if you’re up for a little DIY then adopting a ‘shabby chic’ style will do the trick. Your party decor can be as
It may be Tuesday Shoesday but today I’m doing things a bit differently. Instead of focusing on beautiful shoes and fabulous bargains, I’ve decided to check out that ‘other’ all-important accessory instead: the handbag. It’s equally as important as shoes – you probably don’t ever leave the house without it
I know that many of you love fairy lights at any time of year, just like I do. We’ve hung them in our bedrooms, and we’ve used them in blog posts. Yes, twinkling LED lights make rooms look pretty and they put a smile on my face every time I
If you can cast your mind back to the last few times that I’ve been to a blog awards event, you might remember that I have a bit of a post-ceremony tradition. I love to share photos of the bloggers’ shoes in a Tuesday Shoesday post. Not only do I
In case you didn’t already hear me bleating on about it on Twitter – I’m going to the UK Blog Awards! So basically, you’ll be treated to lots of preparation posts on the blog this week, showing you exactly what dress and accessories I’m going to wear, the make-up and skincare I’m
Today’s recipe is a great one for adding a little bit of excitement to your party. If you’re planning a wedding, hen party, birthday or are even gathering together to celebrate the Queen’s 90th at a street party, this little fruity recipe would be a great addition to a glass
We all have a style uniform, don’t we? A particular style of outfit that you pull on day-in-day-out without really thinking about it. For me, it’s comfy jeans combined with a jumper in winter and the same jeans rolled up with a t-shirt in the summer. I reach for my skinny jeans
After attending a wedding fair this weekend with my bride-to-be bestie, I started thinking about honeymoon destinations. We were browsing the wedding fair stalls when we came across a stand covered in photos of dream honeymoon locations and it got me thinking about where I’d like to go, if I
Your bestie finally asked — you’re going to be a bridesmaid! The next few months (or even years) are going to be a whirlwind of planning, preparation and parties. If you’re going to go down in history as the best bridesmaid ever, you’ll need to up your game. While I’m
Classic interior trends have longevity because they embrace the basic form and function needed in a home, whereas some modern interior design trends tend to fade away as they reflect a current mood in society. Here are some trends that will stand the test of time…
Organising a party that has an underlying theme can be a pretty difficult thing to do at the best of times, but if you are aiming to provide food that fits this theme then the task gets even tougher. The enduring popularity of the James Bond franchise, and the recent
Today I have two fabulous things I want to share with you. Firstly, I’ve got a great step-by-step tutorial for creating glamorous curls at home. And secondly, I’m hosting a fun giveaway in conjunction with John Frieda so that you can win a Frizz Ease styling kit to recreate this
What do you give to your special someone for Valentine’s Day when you’re both trying to save money and clear the clutter? Something very thrifty and useful, that’s what. I know you wouldn’t expect anything less from me so I’m happy to oblige! I’ve upcycled a gift box that I
As I’m sat at my computer writing this blog post there is actually frost on the ground, I needed to defrost my car this morning, and I’ve got the fire blazing in the living room. It’s definitely feeling wintery out there and that can only mean one thing; time for some new
While I’m planning on staying at home with not much to do for the whole of December, I sometimes envy those people who have booked an inspirational trip away during the festive period. Even though I love Christmas in the UK, skipping all the stress that sometimes comes with it does sound appealing!
I love winter weddings. The festive atmosphere puts everyone in a party mood and the cold weather can sometimes even deliver snow – how amazing would that be on your wedding day?! Had I not held my wedding in august, my second choice would have been December, as it’s my
Okay I’m know I’m kind of skipping over Halloween and Bonfire Night, but I’m already so excited about the upcoming festive season. I think it started last week when I opened my first presents of the year as part of a Secret Santa gift exchange. Ever since, I’ve been thinking about
It wasn’t too long ago that I was starting university. I packed up a car with all my worldly goods and moved myself to the other side of the country to start a new life 5 hours away from home. I remember those first few weeks when all I worried about
Sewing, paper craft, baking, upcycling, embroidery, felting, scrapbooking, jewellery, quilting, DIY, cake decorating, decoupage, knitting, art and teddy-bear making (my favourite!). And that’s just for starters. Yes, on Saturday I went to Kirstie Allsopp’s Handmade Fair on the green at Hampton Court Palace and have come away totally inspired. Who knew there were SO
Seriously, just go for it. It’s an amazing day out. I’ve just about recovered from one of the best days that I’ve had this year and can’t wait to tell you all about it. In fact, I can do better than that; I can take you through my whole day
It may not seem like it from reading my blog but I rarely treat myself to new clothing. Honestly, almost everything I buy I end up writing about so you can probably tell from my blog that I’ve only got about three new dresses this year (though I make up
Us women know only too well how difficult it can be to keep up with the latest fashion trends without forking out an obscene amount of money each month, just to look good without wearing the same go-to outfit multiple times. For many ladies, there is even an unwritten rule
This week I tried something that I’d never attempted before; making bread with only two ingredients – neither of which were yeast or fat. Yes, I made milk bread from my Nan’s old Bero recipe book and I couldn’t believe my eyes when it began to rise, especially when you consider
So you have a dress for prom. It’s a straight-forward little black dress or even a plain, but gorgeous, floor-length gown that fits like a dream. But it’s just too simple for you. It is one solid colour; or maybe the cut is just really basic. You really want to
Can you believe the summer sales this year? Every shop I’ve been in this month has been pushing a 50% off discount with big red sale signs everywhere and it’s proving hard to resist! Even though I haven’t yet made any new purchases from the high street sales, (apart from,
It’s that time of year again. Just as you’re plucking up the courage to bare your faux-bronzed legs to the world, someone has invited you to the races. Those who’ve been to the races before will know that it can be a full on fashion parade, and finding something glam
It is becoming increasingly popular at parties and events to have a photo booth, where guests can have their picture taken. These photo booths are an excellent way to let people take pictures of themselves as the evening progresses, and you can even incorporate a theme into your photo booth
The night sky has always fascinated me. From staying up late to watch Patrick Moore on The Sky At Night as a child to getting far too excited about Stargazing Live as an adult, I’ve always had a ‘thing’ for stars. Couple that with my love of maps and you’ve
There’s just one week to go until Father’s Day – did you know it was coming up on the 21st June? I always feel like this occasion sneaks up on us, so I’m often vastly underprepared. But this year is different; I’ve been doing my research and have come up with
Now that we are well into the swing of June I can confidently say that summer is here. While the weather may not always be perfect, the season is undoubtedly the most anticipated of the year. It’s when most of us take a well-earned holiday, many of us finish our
Do we need a heatwave to know that summer is here? Did I suddenly feel more summery when I flipped the calendar over to June? No, the thing that makes me sure that summer has arrived is a good old-fashioned summer sale! Yes, the butterflies, blue skies and sunburn set the scene
Do you remember just before Christmas I shared a sneak peek at a personalised present with you? Well that was actually for my husband and now that he has safely received it (and read it cover-to-cover!), I want to report back to you about it. I made him his very own
I once lost a whole load of photos when my mobile phone died. It was before the days of the ‘cloud’ (which I’m still not sure I fully understand now..!) when you had to physically plug your phone into the computer to get images off it. That particular phone could
For my Style Icon Challenge this Spring I chose Holly Willoughby. I’ve always loved her classic girly style and could easily picture myself in any of the cute tea dresses she wears so it was an obvious choice for me. I am a huge fan of floral patterns, especially as
Some occasions you just have to have a get together. Birthdays, weddings and christenings are no-brainers, but there are some other events that simply demand that you make them social. Things like the Eurovision Song Contest, the FA Cup final and the final of the Great British Bake Off are
Girls all around the globe are beginning to search for the ultimate prom dress, eager to distinguish themselves from their peers while looking grown-up and gorgeous. While some equate elegance with style, and choose bespoke quality to create a lasting impression, others value the price tag when it comes to
It’s been one of those gorgeous spring mornings today; the sun was shining brightly from 7am and there’s was little fresh dew on the grass. It was so lovely and warm this morning that I even popped out for a quick walk before getting started on my work for the
If you’ve ever browsed my blog you’ll know how much I love a nice cup of tea and I think it’s important to stop work and have a tea break at regular intervals. Can I tempt you to take a break right now? Go on, put the kettle on and
Over the past week I’ve been sharing photos of the fabulous places that we visited during our ‘West to East’ tour of the north. After a waltz round The Blackpool Tower Ballroom and spending a day exploring historic Harrogate, we headed east for the last stop on our trip, where
Earlier this week wrote about the start of my West to East holiday, which kicked off in Blackpool over the Valentine’s weekend. I shared photos of my long awaited trip to The Blackpool Tower Ballroom and the amazing seafront hotel that we stayed in – if you missed the post, please check it
Okay, so even though this is a cheeky Valentine’s Day post, I want to start out by saying that relationships can be serious at times. Work and family commitments can end up taking you away from each other and what with paying the bills, saving for a wedding and raising
