If you’ve never considered DIYing your own clothing collection for Spring, here are three thrifty ways that you can achieve a unique look through creating your own custom designs, sewing and upcycling your existing wardrobe…
If you didn’t make any New Year’s resolutions (or if you did but stopped in January!) that doesn’t mean you can’t make a start on your goals for the year right now. Here’s why it’s better to begin your New Year’s resolutions in February anyway…
Here’s a simple idea for creating a Valentine’s Day prezzie or a birthday gift for someone special – or even upcycle your old case with a new design. You can add any phrase you like to customise your phonecase or device case – here’s how…
Sure, it’s nice to go out to celebrate Valentine’s Day but sometimes you just want to stay at home. It’s certainly a money-saving option, as you can enjoy lovely food and a cosy ambience at home for a fraction of the price of your big night out. Here’s how to
If your new year’s resolution is to be more creative, here are some ideas to help you bring more craft, art and creativity into your lives and boost your mental wellbeing in 2022!
I hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas and a very relaxing break. I just wanted to wish you all a happy New Year and here’s to a wonderful 2022 for us all!
I love to be organised and Christmas is no exception, which is why I’ve upcycled some old plastic tubs to create my own dedicated storage for our festive decorations…
Take a tour around artist Katharina’s cosy and Christmassy German home to inspire your own festive decorating this December…
Whatever the celebration, a party hat is the ultimate accessory to get the party started! I’ve made a template that you can download and use to DIY your own party hats in any colour and finish to suit your theme. Here’s how…
I’ve been lucky enough to visit Beyond The Barn’s gorgeous home in the past so I’m super excited to see it decorated for Christmas – here’s a mini house tour to inspire your own festive decor along with a sneak peek inside See Suffolk’s winter issue…
Whenever I’m looking for gifts, whether at Christmas or throughout the year, I always head to local and independent businesses first. If I can find a special present while also supporting a small biz or local maker, all the better! Here are some gorgeous gift ideas from crafters and small
This year, I’m keeping things simple and enjoying the holiday season as safely as possible – but I still want to have some festive fun! So I’ve come up with some fab Christmassy activities that we can all enjoy at home or outdoors…
‘Tis the season to shop ‘til you drop, but are your finances prepared for the holiday’s big bill? If not, it may be tempting to borrow money to afford the festivities, but this is a quick way of putting your finances on the naughty list…
Whenever I enter a lottery, competition or raffle I start to wonder what it would be like if I won. I mean, you’ve got to be prepared, right?! So, today I’m sharing my thoughts on how my life would be different after that big win – I’ve surprised myself with
Whenever I have a wardrobe clear-out, I like to make the most of the items I’m decluttering, so here are some ideas for reusing (or retailing!) your old clothing…
This month, I’ve been preserving my apple harvest so I’ve shared a recipe for cinnamon apple jam below if you want to give it a go. Plus, there have been a few vegetable latecomers this year…
Did you know that shopping seasonally doesn’t only apply to food? When you buy any product there will be a cheaper season to buy it and you can make some impressive savings by purchasing at the right time of year. Here are some items that you’ll definitely get a deal
The thing that usually puts me off baking my own cakes and desserts is the cost of the ingredients – which is precisely why I’ve decided to put my thriftiness to the test and try to make the cheapest ever chocolate cheesecake…
I finally feel like things are happening in our garden now. Looking back over the month of April, I’m actually surprised by how much we’ve got done, even though there’s not much in the way of veggies yet! Here’s the veg we planted & projects we built…
After doing a LOT of research into the ingredients in beauty products I’ve recently switched over to some wonderful natural skincare & cosmetics brands so I thought I’d share my findings with you. Here are some of my favourite organic & vegan products…
As the world starts ‘getting back to normal’ this month, I thought it would be the perfect time to reflect on the (weirdly!) fun times I’ve had at home thanks to the awesome activities that I’ve enjoyed online. Here are 6 of my favourite virtual events…
If you’re a fan of reading like me, you’ve probably already been practicing bibliotherapy without realising it. And it’s not just about reading self-help books; the enjoyment you get from fiction is can also benefit your mental wellbeing. Here’s how…
In the spring I love to find new ways to spruce up my home; tidying, decluttering and revamping my interior. Of course, I always want any improvements to be as low-cost as possible so here are some thrifty tips to get your home looking fab for spring…
I’m sure you already know how handy upcycling is to help you save money & keep items out of landfill – but did you know it’s really beneficial for your mental health too? Here’s how to use your craft skills to revamp furniture & feel happier…
After growing our own fruit & veg in our garden for the 1st time in 2020, this year I’m making plans for a kitchen garden that’ll (hopefully) provide all the fresh produce we’ll need. Here’s my monthly veggie plot update for February (with lots of snow!)
It’s less than a month until Mother’s Day on Sunday 14th March so, if you’re thinking of buying something unique or personalised for your mum from independent makers, that gives you 4 weeks to choose a handmade gift. Here are 8 of my favourite Etsy shops:
Whether you’re celebrating together or apart, Valentine’s Day will certainly be different this year. Here are some ideas for long-distance dates and romantic at-home activities you can enjoy ‘virtually’ during lockdown in February 2021…
Winter is a dream for some cats (cosy radiators, yay) & a right pain for others (urgh wet weather). Either way, your pet may need a little extra attention during the winter months so here are some ideas for keeping your cat happy and healthy this season…
One of the things I’ve enjoyed this winter is going to virtual events. I don’t have to go out in the cold, defrost the car & drive to a venue to enjoy quality live entertainment. Here are some fab low-cost & FREE shows that are available online this month:
Welcome to my festive pallet project! I’ve DIYed a friendly freestanding snowman to adorn your lawn and the best part is that he doubles-up as a family game. I’ve teamed up with DIY website ManoMano to show you how to make this dapper snowman for yourself.
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..!
If you fancy personalising your mobile phone by creating a case with a Christmasy vibe, look no further than this quick and easy star phone case project. I’ve shared a step-by-step DIY video to help you craft this cute festive-inspired case in no time…
If you’ve found yourself with free time during lockdown this year, you might be thinking of setting up a side-hustle to make extra money, or may even be planning to launch your own business. Here are some tips for getting started with your indie biz…
If you want to make a homemade Christmas gift or birthday present for your friends and family, you can easily sew this felt case for their devices or to use as a make-up pouch or pencil case. Here’s a step-by-step video to show you how…
Beautifully layered neutrals, furniture with warmth & patina, and rooms dressed for the seasons. That’s what you’ll find inside Kim Jones’ Texas home & on her blog Salvaged Living. Here’s a tour of her characterful home to inspire your own seasonal decor..
Comedy, markets, theatre, workshops – there’s plenty of things you can do at home this winter. If you’re looking for ways to stay entertained from the comfort of your own home, here are a few fun ideas for enjoying your weekends and evenings…
Many of us love to decorate our homes for the seasons, and Halloween is a great excuse for a pre-Christmas celebration. I’ve pulled together some of my favourite Autumn and Halloween items to help you get spooky while supporting independent makers…
Autumn has almost become a 2nd Christmas in terms of decorating, with interior designers piling up pumpkins & draping leaf garlands over fireplaces. Here’s some fall decor tips from top interiors bloggers to inspire you…
Today I’m sharing some top tips from a Picquot Ware owner on how to clean and refurbish an original teapot, along with some photos of the original range and price list…
Like many special events, such as birthdays, anniversaries and hen parties, baby showers are another occasion where we have to think outside the box if we want to celebrate. Here are a few ideas to plan your at-home baby shower…
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!
If you’ve got a glut of tomatoes all ripening at once (yes, this is me!) here’s a delicious recipe to turn them into an autumnal spiced chutney. I’m already excited to open up a pot this winter to enjoy with my Christmas cheeseboard!
Our living spaces seem to get smaller during the cooler months, don’t they? I think it’s because we’re indoors more & can’t use our gardens as much if the weather is bad. Here’s some ideas to make your living room more cosy & liveable for autumn…
If you’ve got an old sweatshirt that you’d like to revamp for autumn, here’s a quick & easy upcycling video to show you how to give it a new lease of life with a happy slogan…
Planning a sewing project to make your own soft furnishings? Fancy upcycling a t-shirt with a design of your own? It’s easy to create a pretty pattern with lino printing and here’s how to do it yourself…
While writing about home restorations for Reclaim magazine, I’ve heard many stories from homeowners who uncovered problems during their property renovation. Here are some handy tips for renovating a Victorian, Edwardian or Georgian home…
No matter how you’re feeling, pets are there for you and can be a great source of comfort. But that’s not all – here’s why animals are important for mental health and how you can celebrate these important members of the family…
There’s something really soothing about listening to an LP on a vintage record player. Likewise, I quite like the occasional crackle of an analogue radio tuned into my local station. Here’s why you should include retro music players in your home…
Layering up coloured vinyl to create your own t-shirt designs looks really impressive but is as easy to achieve as regular heat-transfer projects. Here’s a video to show you how to do it yourself, step-by-step 🙂
Today I’m sharing some ideas for keeping your whole family entertained, active & engaged – both indoors and outdoors. There’s inspiration for exercising in the park and getting active in the garden, as well as some enjoyable, educational and FREE things you can do indoors. Enjoy..!
If you’re spending more time in the garden at the moment, here’s how to combine relaxation & plant growing to get the most out of your garden (of any size!) this summer…
It’s important to still enjoy your weekends off by doing something special and something social – but what can you do at home on a Saturday night? Here are 10 ideas to give you something exciting to look forward to this weekend:
What do you do if you have a sofa but don’t like the colour of the fabric any more? Why, re-cover it, of course! Okay, okay, that’s a rather flippant way of looking at upholstery, but why not give it a go yourself? Especially if the alternative is just to
If you’ve got your mum coming to stay for Mother’s Day this year, why not give her the hotel experience with a mini makeover for your guest room? Plus, I’ve shared a DIY project to turn an old photo frame into a breakfast tray so that you can bring your
There are savings to be had by shopping online, but there are even bigger savings to be made when you know how to tap into special discounts and deals. Here are three easy ways to save money on products that you already want to buy – by simply letting the
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
Did you know that in Norfolk and Suffolk alone 113,000 tonnes of food is wasted each year? It’s such a shame that we are wasting so much food – both financially & environmentally. The aim of the #FoodSavvy challenge is to reduce our food waste by 20% & decrease single-use
If you love to share your photographs on social media, you’ll no doubt have spotted the latest photography trends on the platforms you use. If you want to replicate those cool photos for yourself, here’s how to get the look for less…
Whether you’re renting or buying, space comes at a premium in any property. The more spacious your interior, the greater the cost of your rent or mortgage. So if you opt for a smaller home & here’s how to use the space you have to best effect…
Does your home smell a little foisty? Do you have condensation on your windows? Is there a little patch of mould in the corner of your room? At this time of year it’s easy for sealed, heated homes to become breeding grounds for mould but don’t worry, it’s a problem
Happy new year! How was your Christmas and new year? What plans do you have for 2020? And the coming decade, for that matter?! If you’re anything like me, you’ll be raring to get started on your goals for the year and will be excited about what the year brings.
I don’t know about you but, almost as soon as Christmas is over, I start thinking about the big clean-up I’m going to do when the tree comes down and the decorations are put away. Even if you don’t usually like household chores (yes, that’s me!), if you own one
When looking for ways to be frugal, it’s a good idea to look through all the categories in your budget as there are always some places you can save money or some bills that could be a little lower. While it’s essential to get the optimum care and products for
Has your Christmas jumper shrunk in the machine? Has your Fair Isle knit got a hole in it? Did that gravy stain never wash out? Don’t worry – before you take your festive pullover to the recycling bank, here’s a quick and easy way to turn your favourite seasonal jumper
With Christmas only a few days away and everyone frantically preparing for the big day, I thought I would share some gorgeously styled photos of festive interiors to give you inspiration for your own decorations this year…
Thrifty living is a great way to make your money go further but it’s only a part of the story. You need to ensure that the cash you save works as hard as possible for you. That means saving and investing that cash wisely – starting in January! Below is
I’ve given my kitchen a 1950s makeover to match the period of our home so I’ve done my research on vintage Pyrex and have browsed countless original designs. Here are some of my favourites from an impressive collection…
If you need to turn your daytime makeup into a glamorous night time look for festive parties, here are 5 makeup products that you’ll need in your kit so that you can party all night long…
If you’re anything like me, you’ll quite enjoy planning your home renovations and browsing finishes for your decor. Whenever I get a spare moment – like during the Christmas holidays – I’m on Pinterest and flicking through interiors magazines to get inspiration. However, sometimes there comes a point where budget
