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!)
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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…
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If you want inspiration for a cosy home that can easily take you from winter into spring, Amy from Cuter Tudor has kindly allowed me to share some photos of her beautifully styled home to provide all the design inspo you need for a transitional interior…
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The clocks have gone back, the days are darker & the weather is colder. But that doesn’t mean we have to feel chilly all winter long. I’ve got some tips for staying warm at home without incurring extra heating costs…
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With the clocks going back at the weekend we’ve now got to deal with darker days and the impending winter. And when there’s not as much daylight it’s not particularly good for our mental and physical health. Here are some easy ways to take care of yourself…
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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…
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Although I already have a wardrobe full of my absolute favourite clothing (and I get excited when it’s time to pull out the jumpers and jeans for autumn!) I’ve noticed a few gaps and have found the ideal seasonal items to fill them…
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Based on my previous posts, you might think I have a ‘thing’ for bedding (& you would be right) but my excitement about today’s review is more specific than just adding new sheets to my heaving linen cupboard….
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Is your shoe rack overflowing at the front door? Do you have more than one pair stuffed into each aperture of the shoe cubby in your wardrobe? Have you got extra boots in boxes under your bed? Don’t worry – you CAN minimise your footwear collection if you stick to the essentials and here are the only three shoe styles you’ll need to see you through the coming season…
Read MoreInspiration for picking out fun outfits and playful accessories for your winter wardrobe that make you feel just as warm on the inside as they do on the outside. Here are some tips for jazzing up your winter outfit while staying warm…
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Win a copy of “The Winter Retreat” by Buildalifeyou.love, which is an inspirational guide to help you take a break and restore yourself through relaxing activities and self-care.
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Christmas is a popular time for proposals and I can’t think of anything more romantic than a snowy backdrop when you’re popping the question. An engagement ring is a Christmas gift she’ll never forget and I’ve come up with some top tips for buying the ideal jewellery that she’ll be overwhelmed to open on Christmas morning…
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Cars are incredibly expensive investments. While many of us scrape enough money together just to purchase the things, subsequent costs follow; insurance tariffs, repair costs and maintenance fees. Here are 5 handy ways you can cheaply maintain your car.
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Now that the cold winter months have arrived it’s time to make sure our homes are warm and cosy. Landlords now have to make sure their properties are more energy efficient – good news for us renters as it could save us valuable pounds! Here are a few DIY jobs you could do to make your rental home a little toastier…
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Having a fantastic winter wardrobe doesn’t have to cost an arm and leg or include countless new pieces of clothing. By adding just a few extra pieces you’ll be able to sail through the season looking effortlessly cool. Here are the three things you need to get you through the winter without breaking the bank…
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Fellwalker Alfred Wainwright once said “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” Seeing as the Met Office have said that the UK has experienced more weather extremes (both hot and cold) in recent years, I’ve decided to prepare myself for a nippy winter ahead. Here’s what you need to stay cosy in the cold…
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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 by cutting back now, to ensure a healthier, happier new year.
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Autumn’s here and the new season fashion has hit the shops. If you’re bewildered by the selection, I hear you! I had a quick whizz around the stores and have concluded that A/W18 fashion can be grouped into a few textures/patterns so here’s how to get the look for less this year…
Read MoreThere are certain tools no kitchen should be without, especially when cooking hearty meals during the colder months – do you have them in your cupboards?? Read on to find out which kitchen essentials you’ll need to create healthy dinners this autumn…
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September seems to be the natural start for any new regime, doesn’t it? I guess it’s the new academic year that makes this month feel like a fresh start. Plus, the seasons seem to change the moment that September hits and that’s when we need to address parts of our health and beauty regime to keep ourselves happy, healthy and looking great throughout the autumn and winter. Here are some easy swaps I’ve made this September to cope with the changing seasons to come…
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The good news is that your tankless water heater will work to its optimum ability if it is well maintained and taken care of. There are many things that can be done to ensure the smooth running of your water heater this autumn. Follow the manufacturer’s maintenance guide for the best results and here are 4 more tips to help you maintain your tankless water heater:
Read MoreI’ve put together a list of my top budget winter holiday destinations to help you beat those winter blues and save cash by travelling out of season…
Read MoreThe dark days of winter can really drag on, can’t they? I’m starting to feel like January will never end! Even though we start the new year with the best of intentions, it can be hard to feel motivated when it’s another drizzly, grey day. So how can you achieve your health and happiness goals […]
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We all know the importance of daylight, don’t we? It’s key to our mental wellbeing at this time of year and many people suffer with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), caused by lack of daylight. It can be easy to wake up in the dark, work indoors all day and then return home at dusk. In […]
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Advertisement feature in collaboration with EDF Energy. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own You never really know everything about your home until you’ve lived in it through the winter, do you? No matter how cosy a house can seem in the autumn, or how light and airy it can appear in the […]
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If you are a homeowner you are probably already aware of the dangers of freezing pipes. As water freezes it will expand, potentially cracking the pipes and appliances. When the water defrosts you suddenly find you have a leak; which can cause a lot of damage very quickly.
Read MoreWith temperatures falling drastically, there is no way one can ignore pulling out their warmest clothes including coats, sweaters, gloves, socks, and hats. But it’s no surprise if you spot your teenager hanging out in freezing weather in just a hoodie – sometimes paired with shorts. In fact, the more you tell them to cover up […]
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There are few things more wonderful than the festive season. It’s the time when you and your family come together to spend time with each other, decorate the tree, share gifts, and generally just get as merry as possible! Of course, the last thing you want is for some kind of household disaster to come […]
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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. Just imagine all those fairy […]
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Yesterday I had one of the most festive days of my life. So much so, that I wanted to come home and tell you all about it straight away! You see, I’d just spent the whole day with my husband at Blackthorpe Barn – already one of the most Christmassy places in Suffolk – and […]
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Compared to most bloggers, I feel like I’m really behind on decorating my home for Christmas. Yes, I know it’s not even December yet, but I’ve been spotting gorgeous photos of bloggers’ trees and homes for weeks now and feel like I’m the only one not to have put up any decorations. So today, I thought […]
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I’ve been daydreaming again, and this time it’s about my perfect lottery-winner’s Christmas. Indulge me for a moment. I’m not saying that I want to win the lottery, nor that I need to have £££s to create a gorgeous home and wonderful Christmas, but I’ve let my mind winder and simply imagine what Christmas would […]
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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 and I’ve already munched my […]
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Do you have a lovely Christmas jumper that you’ve shrunk in the wash? Did the moths nibble their way through your favourite festive pullover? Don’t bin them – you can turn your old knits into Christmas cushions! All it takes is some straight lines of stitching to make cute throw pillows to dress up your […]
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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 up with a ‘must do’ […]
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The arrival of autumn and the festive season has got me thinking about making a few tweaks to my living space to create cosy interior. So, while you’re putting up Christmas decorations all over your home, make sure you’re being sensible budget-wise about decorating your home for the holidays. You actually don’t need to spend money […]
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I don’t know about you, but at this time of year I just want to stay in bed and hibernate. In fact, I wish I was back in bed right now rather than sitting at my desk in my home office. Well, what are laptops for, if not for blogging from bed, eh?! And the […]
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Heading into autumn, there are are few household tasks that you might want to check over before the cold weather comes. Home buyers sometimes only consider the financial burden they’ll be dealt with when acquiring the keys to a new home. Many of them fail to realise the investment of time and labour required to […]
Read MoreSummer in the UK is drawing to a close and with it the warm weather and sunny days have been left behind. I’m convinced that as soon as the 1st September hit, we’ve had nothing but grey days and drizzle – it’s as if the weather knew that the calendar had flipped over to autumn. […]
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If you are living on a tight budget, each season brings its own challenges and I think that winter might be one of the most difficult. During this season one of the biggest issues homeowners face is finding the money to pay for higher-than-usual power bills. We all know that it’s likely that we’ll be […]
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Being invited to a wedding always lifts my spirits. It means that one, often two, of my friends have found happiness, and are ready to settle down to a life together. It also means a party, a chance to meet up with old friends and family, dress up, and generally have a good time. Weddings […]
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I don’t know about you, but I’m about ready to hibernate for the whole of the Christmas period. If you’ve got some time on your hands this week, why not have a go at making some of my festive crafts? All of these projects can be completed within an hour, and you only need a […]
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It’s time to bundle up for winter but first use your head about what’s covering your head. All winter gear isn’t created equally. Here is what you need to know to help you stay snug and warm this winter. Whether you want to keep warm during casual trips to shops, while exercising outdoors, or are […]
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I’ve decided to write about my new handbag for this week’s Tuesday Shoesday blog post. Okay, I know it’s not strictly a shoesday post without any shoes, but the handbag did come from shoe brand Hotter, so I think it’s the ideal time to talk about handbags.Now, I’m not someone who will buy a new handbag just […]
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Winter is coming, and it’s time to think about ways to stay cosy and, more importantly, happy during the winter. With cold weather and long dark nights (and sometimes days) it’s no surprise that many of us start to feel a little down when December comes. But don’t worry – that seasonal slump can be overcome […]
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This Tuesday Shoesday I want to talk about one of my favourite new trends for A/W16 – textured shoes. I’m talking suede, velvet or even crushed velvet being used to decorate even the daintiest of sandals. It’s not just about chunky suede boots this year (although I did already invest in a lovely pair of […]
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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 hosting parties and get-togethers. What […]
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Today’s blog is a quick and easy decor update that can make your home feel really autumnal in a matter of minutes. And you don’t need to spend loads of money on new soft furnishings, or hours crafting a garland, or days painting your walls to add a touch of autumn colour to your home. My […]
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I don’t know why, but autumn always makes me want to start nesting. My thoughts turn to cosy farmhouses and blazing fireplaces in country homes. It’s in complete contrast to my usual love of bright airy spaces and colourful mid-century modern accessories, but I love it nonetheless and start pinning tartan blankets with abandon at this time […]
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I’ve never seen an autumn like it. There are so many leaves on the ground at the moment that you can’t really see the grass anymore. The colours are so vibrant and I’m sure there are more shades of orange, red, green, yellow and brown in this year’s fallen leaves than ever before. And with a garden covered […]
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Brr, it’s cold out there this morning! I’ve already loaded up the fireplace with coal and eaten a bowl of porridge to warm myself up. And we’re not even in winter yet! Ooh, it’s making me shiver just thinking about the chilly days to come. If you’re looking for ways to save money around your house, and keep […]
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Summer is (sadly) gone but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t continue to be vigilant about your UV exposure. Between damage incurred during the warm months and Britons’ love of winter getaways, caution regarding our skin is a year-round job. Today we’re busting some common sun care myths to make sure that your skin stays safe […]
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In honour of the new year and with the aim of making positive changes to my life, I’ve decided to get involved with a really important campaign; #WomanKind. The campaign carries a simple message that is so easily overlooked; care for yourself. With a recent survey by WeightWatchers showing that 88% of women wouldn’t criticise others […]
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One of my worst nightmares is being cold in the winter, alongside any kind of home maintenance disasters. Christmas is precisely the wrong time for a boiler to break down, for drains to get blocked or the heating system to fail, yet it always seems that problems occur at this time of year. Perhaps it’s the […]
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Most of the year I want my rooms to look more spacious, clean and bright. But when winter looms, I suddenly get the urge to start decorating in stronger colours and wishing that rooms were smaller and more cosy. Have you ever noticed how snuggly you feel when you’re in a country pub in December? […]
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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 winter essentials. I try not […]
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At this time of year I want to make my bedroom feel as cosy as possible. But I’m not quite ready to go all-out with a Christmas duvet cover. So what’s the compromise? How do you create a warm, festive atmosphere in your bedroom without turning it into Santa’s grotto? The solution is low-cost, making […]
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One of the constant things about fashion is that it changes all the time. One season we hate baggy jeans and the next season slouchy ‘boyfriend’ jeans are a must-have item. Naturally, men fashion changes as well and over the years we’ve witnessed many men’s style taboos being broken by designers who don’t care about outdated […]
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When I shared tips for taking care of cats during the autumn and winter earlier this week I had a great response and my attention turned to other pets in the family. I thought about the animals we care for who are ‘outside’ pets; in our family we have chickens and guinea pigs, and other […]
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Autumn and winter are not just difficult times for us human, with dropping temperatures, sniffles and dark days, our pets sometimes suffer more in the winter too so today I’ve put together a little blog post about taking care of your furry friends this season. Of course, I want my cats Cookie and Muffin to […]
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With the Autumn/Winter season in full swing, I thought that today would be a good time to share a menswear styling post with you. As you know, I’m a rather thrifty girl and I like to come up with ways to style my clothing to create many different looks from just one special piece. I believe […]
Read MoreIt’s easy to swoon over the beautiful rooms in interior design magazines, dribble over perfectly styled images by designers on Instagram, and fall in love with professional decorating projects on Pinterest. However, recreating even the most simple interior design project can be difficult to achieve in your own home; you’ll have room layout challenges to deal with, be […]
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The other day I was sorting through my wardrobe with the aim of getting rid of some of the things I no longer use. I did that and found quite a lot of things I no longer needed, but surprisingly I also realised that I was short on something and that was handbags. I’ve used […]
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While Christmas may be over for another year, I can’t help wishing that winter would stay around a little longer. Since the start of January it feels to me like the magazines are already talking about spring trends and shops are bringing out their summer ranges – even though it’s still cold and snowy outside! […]
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Even though I only picked up a handful of goodies in the sales this year, I think you’ll agree that my husband has got a great deal with his bargain purchase: a new coat from House of Fraser. It’s been literally years since he got a new coat and even though he already has a […]
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Christmas jumpers. They are everywhere! I can hardly walk down the street without seeing festive knitwear in every shop window and cosy Christmas cardis worn by everyone I meet. I’m not complaining – I LOVE Christmas jumpers! In fact, I have a whole section in my wardrobe dedicated to festive knitwear and I made my […]
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I’ve always loved the idea of a Christmas wedding. Although I got married in the summer, December would have been my second choice. I think that a festive wedding would be great fun to plan; choosing Christmas-themed decorations, using deep red and green colours, and even arriving in a sleigh pulled by reindeer!
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I’ve done it! I knit a scarf! Or is it knitted a scarf? However you say it, I’ve done it! For the first time in my life I have finished an entire knitting project from start to finish and I am really chuffed.When I decided to make a scarf as a Christmas gift for my […]
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When my hamper of festive craft goodies from Country Baskets arrived last week for the Festive Face-Off craft challenge, I was completely stumped as to what I should make to decorate my home for Christmas. I had all kinds of ideas in my head for festive decorations but I had no clue what my mystery […]
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Take one plain pullover and make it into a Christmas jumper for less than £5. What a challenge! I was inspired to create a snowy scene on this knitted blue jumper so I popped out to pick up some supplies for my sewing project and now I’ve created a thrifty DIY festive jumper project on […]
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