Five go to a festival sounds a bit like a modern Enid Blyton book title, and I suppose in a way it could have been. Five of us going off to a festival in a beautiful bit of English countryside on a (sometimes sunny) Saturday afternoon. All that was missing was lashings of ginger beer. A couple of pints of local ale took their place though – for the grown ups in the five at least! I was delighted to be invited along to BerkoFest in the nearby Chilterns town of Berkhamsted last Saturday afternoon. I’ve been to “Berko” quite a few times before and have always really liked it as a town to ... read more
Don’t Let Your Summer Health Disappear Into Autumn
Summer has finished (rubbish), the kids are back at school (phew), and you’re probably getting used to the morning routine and the change in weather (although, there wasn’t loads of sun over the summer holidays). The longer days and the sunshine make it much easier to enjoy healthy food and get outside to keep active, which results in you feeling pretty good about yourself from about May through to September. However, once autumn is in full swing and the days are short and far colder than before; it’s a challenge to keep up with the active side of life and munching on healthy food all day ... read more
Bringing Holiday Home at the James Villas Crafternoon
Anyone who knows me will know how much I love crafting. Crochet is my proper addiction, but to be honest I'm not fussy as to what craft I turn my hand to, especially if there's someone there to teach me how to do it right. What might come as a bit of a shock though is the fact that since moving house on 1 July I have only picked up a crochet hook once. Once! That's pretty much unheard of in my life, but it's been the reality of a crazily busy couple of months. I'm hoping that life is about to calm down a bit so that I can pick my crochet hook up again soon. Especially as I had a weak ... read more
Protect Your Kids From The Dangers Of Lyme Disease
There’s nothing better than venturing outside with your kids and seeing them enjoying the great outdoors, frolicking in the park, jumping in puddles and crunching the early autumn leaves underfoot. However, there is an underlying threat that we rarely consider as it is nearly invisible to the naked eye: the tick. More often than not, you’ve heard about ticks afflicting pets such as cats and dogs, but they can also bite humans especially in areas of parkland where your kids enjoy playing. Ticks can be carriers of Lyme disease, a hugely debilitating illness that can cause muscle pain, swollen ... read more
Blog On 2017 Christmas Jumper Linky
There's less than a couple of weeks now until I head to Manchester again for the next Blog On conference. I know I've said it before, but Blog On is by far my favourite blogging conference and it's the reason I happily head to the wrong side of the Pennines twice a year. The goodie bags are legendary for starters, but I think that by now I'm enough of a Blog On pro to know how to get the most out of the conference. Not only the planned sessions, but also networking with brands and the other bloggers too. I've also pretty much nailed what you need to take with you. If I'm totally honest ... read more
Reviving that urge to travel
Anyone who follows my Instagram account will have noticed that the regular pictures of my laptop next to a cup of tea in a cafe somewhere have been coming from some different places lately. A rather large change in personal circumstances over the summer has led to moving house and travelling around the UK and slightly further afield a fair bit more. And that looks likely to continue. Before children I travelled loads. Around the UK for my job, all over Europe for work related conferences, but also around Europe and sometimes further for pleasure. I love travelling. Love meeting new people, ... read more
The Benefits of Learning a Little Interior Design
A lot of people don’t think about interior design as anything but mixing colours and decorations to pretty something up. It’s a misunderstood craft that can become one of the most underrated hobbies if you’re willing to put some time into learning how it works and what it can do for you. Interior design does rely on the individual learning to have some creative passions, but most people find that when they dive head-first into a new hobby, it’s a good way to actually realise how creative they are on the inside. Far too many people feel they lack the creative mind necessary to make ... read more
It’s Time To Find A New Interior Design Style!
There comes a time for just about everyone where they start to feel as though their home has become a little bit stale. There's nothing wrong with it per se; it's just lost some of the excitement that joy that you found in it when your first moved in. The response that a lot of people have to this feeling is that they assume that it's time to move on and start somewhere new. And yes, there are certainly going to be times when this is the best option overall, but before you put your house on the market and start packing your possessions away in boxes, you might want to consider the alternative. ... read more
Saving Money with LED Lighting
If you’re frugal with your household bills, and looking for an extra way to cut costs, you might want to try LED lighting. LED lighting is one of the major ways to save money on your bills, without compromising on the quality of your lights. Here’s how you can save money with LED lighting. How LED Saves Money LED saves money for two reasons: firstly, LED bulbs use less electricity than traditional incandescent and halogen bulbs. Secondly, they last for more longer than other types of light bulbs. You can replace a 60w halogen bulb with a 9w LED bulb – this will use 85% less electricity. ... read more
You Should Know These Things About Your Home
How much do you really know about your home? When you first move in, you might explore to find out where some important things are, like the fuse box and gas meter. But perhaps you've recently realised that you don't actually know a lot about your property. Maybe you're planning some renovations or thinking about how to save money, and you've noticed you know less than you should. Here are some essential things you should know about your home. Where Are the Utility Fixtures? Your home needs water and energy. Many homes in the UK have both electricity and gas, although some might only ... read more