AD - Summer Bedroom Inspo

Hey beaut's!

I love switching up my decor throughout the seasons, and Summer is the perfect time to get things feeling lighter and brighter, especially in the old boudoir! So with Summer in mind I thought I'd put together a little post of - mostly easy - ways to update your bedroom for the current season, I hope this gives you a little inspiration beaut's!

How To Keep Your Home Warm For Less

There’s nothing worse than getting up in the morning or coming home from work to a cold home. It’s quite frankly miserable to have to wear multiple layers and wrap up in blankets in your own house. While it may seem like an endless battle between keeping your home cosy and trying to keep a lid on your energy bills, there are a number of simple tricks that can make a huge difference to your home’s temperature without breaking the bank! 

Here are some top tips for heating your home and saving money at the same time… 

Curtains 

If you don’t have curtains around your home currently, having them installed is one way to help insulate your rooms. They can be used to your advantage to keep heat in and stop cold air from getting in. Keep your curtains wide open when its sunny to allow the sun and heat to stream in, and firmly shut in the evenings to insulate the warmth already in your room. 

Investing in some long and thick draped curtains that go right to the floor and reach the ends of your windows will ensure no heat escapes or cold air enters underneath. Curtains are a useful temporary solution for homes that may have older window panes or doors with cracks where draughts can creep in.

Smart thermostats 

Another tip is to make the most of advances in boiler and central heating technology. Smart thermostats can be found in many homes across the UK and you should make the most of this. Smart thermostats can be programmed to turn on at certain times of the day or can be triggered by temperature so they kick in or turn off once your home hits a certain temperature. 

Most new boilers nowadays will come with a smart thermostat that can be controlled via a handy app on your phone. BOXT are leading providers and installers of combi boilers in the UK, offering top of the range Worcester Bosch and Vaillant boilers to homes and businesses. Their top priority is customer service and they are renowned for having boilers installed with minimal hassle, as soon as the next day. 

Don’t believe the old wives tale that leaving your central heating on low for longer periods of time is more economical. You should only use your boiler when it’s needed by setting it to come on around half an hour before you get up in the morning or arrive home from work. Doing this means your home is cosy as soon as you walk in but also allows you to avoid overspending on energy bills by having your boiler running constantly. If you have pets, you may want to set your thermostat to turn on for a short period in the middle of the day to make sure your home doesn’t become too chilly for them.

Keep your radiators clear 

Next, try to avoid blocking the heat from your radiators with any furniture. Radiators may not be the best looking items in your home, but placing sofas or other pieces of furniture in front of them will leave you spending more than necessary to keep your home warm. Leaving clothes or towels hung on your radiators to dry will also mean they absorb the heat that should be keeping you warm. Try to keep the areas around your radiator as free as possible to allow the heat to flow freely.

Insulate water tanks and pipes

If your home doesn’t have a combi boiler installed like most do these days, you should try to keep your water tank and pipes as insulated as possible. Minimise the amount of heat lost from your tank by using specially made insulation jackets and make sure your tank is installed in a space that isn’t prone to draughts. 

Pipe lagging can also make a difference by preventing heat from escaping on the journey from your boiler to the radiators around your home. Foam lagging can be found in any DIY store and is easy to fit. 

Draught-proof your home 

If you live in an older or period home, draught-proofing is essential to stop your energy bills from going through the roof. Check around your floorboards, window panes, door frames and more for any cracks or gaps where cold air can creep in. There are plenty of DIY options for preventing draughts like floorboard filler, rubber window seals, under-door draught excluders and more. You will notice a difference in the overall temperature of your home by stopping any pesky draughts from finding their way in. 

Heat reflectors

A final but still important tip for keeping a warm home for less is to place thin sheets of foil behind your radiators. This reflects the heat produced by your radiators into the room, rather than letting it hit the wall and be absorbed. 

*AD - This is a collaborative post.

5 Ways To Update Your Home For Spring!

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Hey beaut's!

Spring is creeping ever closer and I cant tell you how happy I am about that, don't get me wrong I love autumn and the crisp'ness of winter but I just want to see trees full of leaves again, flowers in bloom and slighter warmer temperatures wouldn't go a miss either! With Spring in mind I thought I'd put together a little post of 5 - mostly easy - ways to update your home for the new season ahead!

Introduce Colour and Pattern

One of the easiest ways to update your home through the seasons is by adding some colour or new patterns, this could be a fresh lick of paint, adding a feature wall to a room, or better still just replace cushion covers and throws for lighter fabrics and add pops of colour that way, that is actually my go to 'switch-up' hack through the seasons, I do it every time and it works a treat!

Bring The Outside In

When I think of Spring I do immediately think of flowers in bloom and it might only be February but I've already been buying Daffodils, I just love them! Popping a couple of vases of Daff's or Tulips around your home not only adds an instant yet super easy pop of colour but it gives your home a Spring time feel! 

New Windows

Arhhh windows, obviously this can be a big job but new windows can make a big in pact on how your home looks and feels from the outside and in and can add a lot of value to your home too, and what better time to make the update than during springtime when you want your home to feel bright and airy! If you are looking to make the change Tuffx Glass is the place to look, they're huge toughened glass suppliers in the UK with over 25 years manufacturing experience, supplying places like M&S, Edinburgh Zoo, Next and of course not forgetting our homes! They have everything from glass balustrades and balconies to conservatory glass and fixed roof lights, the choice is endless!

Use Lighter Fabrics In Your Bedroom

Put that teddy bedding away and fold up those thick heavy throws and replace them with lighter cotton sheets or some linen. I also love keeping things quite neutral in colour when it comes to my bedding during Spring, it just add a soft, delicate feel!

Give The Garden A Spruce Up.

I don't know about you but our garden gets severely neglected over the autumn/winter period, so its time for a well needed spruce up! You can freshen up your pots buy giving them a paint and it's the perfect time to plant your bulbs ready for Spring/Summer! I also like to grab a couple of Spring hanging baskets as they add a nice pop of colour! Also give your patio some TLC, get the table and chairs back out ready for those sunny Spring mornings, add some fairy lights around the garden and fill up those bird feeders!  

Are you thinking of giving your a home a little Spring update? What are you wanting to change? I'd love to know!

AD- This post is in collaboration with Tuffx Glass*, all opinions are my own!

Fashion Wishlist With justyouroutfit!

*This is a collaborative post* 

Hey beaut's!

It's been a hot minute since I last done a wish list on my blog, I love doing wish lists as I find it so satisfying when I actually buy something from my wish list, it's like ticking something off your to-do list isn't it he he! Today's wish list contains a few fashion pieces that I've actually fallen in love with on the justyouroutfit website, I'm really into knitted dresses with boots at the moment and the pink ribbed one I've featured below from justyourpoutfit would look amazing with those biker boots! It's also an outfit that can carry you through to Spring too, you know when it can still be a bit chilly but you want to add some pastel hues to your look! Also can we appreciate just how STUNNING that dusty pink ruffle edge pleated bardot top is, team it with some skinny jeans, sandals and some sunnies and you've got a super pretty Spring outfit sorted!

The women's jeans from justyouroutfit are amazing, theres so many different colours and styles to choose from, some of which are super unique! I'm actually loving the look of their charcoal stonewashed denim mom jeans, mom jeans are actually totally out of my comfort zone, I always stick to basic skinny jeans but I LOVE how mom jeans look and I think these folded up slightly with the biker boots is such a look, I need them in my life asap and for £20.00 you cant go wrong! I'm also loving the look of their distressed acid wash jeans, these are such a nice colour for Spring and will go with all the pastel colours as well as white!

Have you got much on you fashion wish list right now beaut's? I'd love to know!

*AD – This post is a paid advertorial with justyouroutfit, all opinions are my own!

My Favourite/Dream Bathrooms Trends!

Hey beaut's!

I think the bathroom is one room in my home that I wish I had multiples of because I have so many bathroom interior ideas, and when you only have the one bathroom it's hard to choose from all the trends that I love! We recently had our bathroom re-done in our home and I love it, I think my favourite looks and trends for UK bathrooms is quite minimal, clean looking and basic, so that's what we went for in ours, I love white and grey tones with hints of green from plants however, I thought I'd share a few other trends/ideas that I have if money and space was no object. 

Free Standing Bath - I mean how beautiful are free standing baths, it's actually on my interior bucket list to one day be the proud owner of a free standing tub! I just think they look so luxurious and timeless with their roll top, gorgeous shape and most have the stunning Victorian looking feet, their just so aesthetically pleasing and whacking in a bath bomb in one of those is my idea of heaven. 

Overhead Shower - Although we updated our shower when we had our bathroom done to a more modern looking one, the goal is to one day have a trendy looking overhead shower,  I'm actually sooo jealous of people who have one. I'm talking a large square one which is  actually installed and running from the ceiling, not only do they look flipping amazing but I can you just image how amazing having a shower with one would be. 

Statement Tiles - Yes I'm that girl that loves a marble tile or two, I adore grey and white together so marble tiles are my idea of heaven as they look amazing on the floor as well as on the walls however...Something a little bit different for me is a delicate pink tile, if I had another bathroom I'd go for delicate pink herringbone tiles with gold hardware and maybe add touches of navy!

As Many Plants As Possible - A huge bathroom trend is to add plenty of greenery with plants whether they're real or fake and I'm totally living for it! I have a few plants in my bathroom as their perfect for adding a bit of character but they also easily fill a gap on a shelf or in a corner, I particularly like plants in the bathroom that either hang from a corner on the ceiling or trailing plants. Good plants to for - for a bathroom are Ivy, Aloe Vero, Spider Plants and Bosten Ferns.  

Column Radiators - I'm so happy that column radiators are trendy again as I blooming well love them, I think the smaller they are the more gorgeous they look so a bathroom is the perfect place for a smaller column radiator. I also much prefer the look of those than a heated towel rail! 

Wow this post has really made me want to get decorating again (please don't tell my boyfriend he he). What bathroom trends do you love beaut's? Do you have any of these already? I'd love to know.

* This is a collaborative post. All writing and opinions are my own!

Haircare Tips And Tricks To Reduce The Dreaded Frizz!

Hey beaut's!

Keeping your hair frizz free it always tricky, especially in the ever changing UK weather, sometimes it seems theres not a product out there that can help, and this is coming from your girl right here who likes sleek straight hair everyday. I have an entire draw filled with all sorts or products from dry shampoo's, oils, serums you name it, it's in there but I've come to realise that its mostly my own tips and tricks that help me achieve my frizz free, sleek hair so I thought I'd share them with you all today!

Use Heat Protection - This is quite an obvious one but it really is a must, I cant stress enough how heat protecting creams and sprays work wonders at keeping frizz and of course damage at bay. I use straighteners a lot on my hair and if I didn't use my heat protecting spray my hair would be a dry, frazzled, frizzy mess and not silky smooth like it is right now!

Wash Your Hair In Luke Warm Water - This is probably the easiest tip to put into place, if your washing your hair with hot water then dial it down a few degrees because hot water can actually strip your hair of its essential oils, which can leave your hair feeling drier, brittle and looking duller. 

Think Of Going Vegan - A while back I actually tried a vegan shampoo, conditioner and hair mask and the results where amazing! The products are free from sulfate, paraben and silicone as well as having a naturally-derived formula which works wonders for the hair. As I said before my hair felt amazing after using the vegan products, it was silky soft, smooth, glossy, manageable and most immortally for me frizz-free. So if your thinking of making the change to vegan hair products I highly recommend you go through with it!

Look At Websites Or Call A Stylist For Inpso - If your struggling with what particular styles to go for - for a special occasion because of the frizz don't be afraid to go that extra mile for ideas, whether it be checking out award winning salons like Top Hairdresser Manchester for advice from the stylists there selves, or just having a browse online can help so much and give you so many ideas, you can also find reviews of products online and get so many recommendations that meet your needs.

Blow Dry With A Brush - I'm not going to lie this is quite hard to master but once you get the hang of it your hairs going to thank you for it! Blow drying with a brush leaves you with such a silky, glossy look to the hair, literally like you've just walked out of the salon, now who doesn't want that because I know I do!

Condition Correctly - Hopefully your already using conditioner - if your not then that's a tip in itself because conditioner has so many benefits such as locking in moisture, getting your hair tangle free, prevents damage and breakage, keeps your hair silky and frizz free and it always makes your hair smell lush too. To get the best results from your conditioner apply it from the mid-lengths to the ends of your hair working in with a wide tooth comb skipping the root area, applying conditioner at the roots can end up weighing down your hair and making your root area quite flat which you don't want!

So there you have it beaut's, a few tips and tricks that are pretty easy to put into place that will help with the dreaded frizz! I hope they help a few of you lovelies out! 



* This is a collaborative post. All writing and opinions are my own!

Get The Lowdown On Design Bundles - How They Can Help You

Hey beaut's!

When it comes to being a blogger designs and visuals are super important, you want your readers to get a feel of your style and of course you want to make a good, lasting impression. A huge part of blogging is of course your socials, it's the way we spread our work and content as far as we can on the likes of Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Tumblr plus more. All of this sharing and creating wicked edits can be such a time consuming thing for us bloggers and I for one am all about finding something that's going to save me a lot of time and faffing about with image re-sizing, creating designs and what not, that's where Design Bundles come in.

If your new to Design Bundles their an affordable site that sells digital products such as graphics, templates, mock ups, patterns, illustrations and craft files. Its basically a blogger or social media lovers dream, you can browse over 150,000 marketplace products so your literally spoilt for choice but the social media mockup design bundles are where the party's at for me, there a brilliant solution to the time consuming and creativity draining issue of social media that's for sure.

The mock up designs are so amazing as you don't have to worry about sizing and cropping. All you have to do is just add in your own image and text and then you are able to create your showcase really easily and it so professional looking too. Personally I love this for Pinterest, I love Pinterest and always have love hearts in my eyes at some peoples gorgeous mock-ups on there, so now I'm very happy I can now do my own easily! I had a play around and came up with a couple of images myself, little testers shall we say and I love them! I just love how the designs are personal to you because you get to edit them how you like and add the text of your choice but the designs are all taken care of, yay!

Other useful things for us bloggers to use the mock-ups for are things like business cards - if your really wanting to promote your blog and get yourself out there these can be quite the essential, you can also do t-shirt mock-ups if your looking to do merchandise. The mock-ups are great for personal use to, t-shirts for occasions like hen-do's, birthday party's and stags! You can personalise cups, you can even create your own wall art mock-ups which is great if you have any funny family phrases that you use as you'd never find those sort of quotes or jokes on wall art in a shop! 

Another fab thing to note is that Design Bundles also offer 24/7 technical support online so you don't have to worry if you don't feel confident or if your struggling to begin with as there is always someone there that can help you tackle any problems that you may occur. I think this is a great feature because when I'm new to anything I could always use a little help so knowing there will be help available at anytime is a godsend!

Have you used Design Bundles before beaut's? I'd love to know!



* This is a collaborative post. All writing and opinions are my own!

Cosy Autumn Date Idea's That Don't Cost A Penny!*

Hey beaut's!

With - dare I say it - Christmas creeping ever closer the autumn months seem to be the perfect time to reign it in a bit and start saving those pennies for crimbo shopping however, we still want to enjoy autumn with our loved ones and of course indulge in some dates don't we! So I've put together a few date idea's - some of which are indoors -  that are sure to save you some money and of course have you feeling all cosy and loved!  

But firstly, finding time to find someone to go on these fun dates with can be a struggle, right? Well fear not because their are so many free dating sites out there to suit everyone such as over 50's dates, gay dates, casual dating and dating sites in south africa just to name a few! Once you've nabbed your amazing self a date why not give one my ideas a whirl!

An Autumn Walk - Theres nothing better than wrapping yourselves up and going for a lovely autumn walk, I absolutely love it when all the leaves are falling from trees and their all crunchy and crisp underfoot. It's also the perfect scene for a little autumnal photo shoot, which you can then pop in a memory book or on the gram of course! 

Get Crafty - Whilst on your autumn walk collect some fallen leaves, pine cones and conkers and make an autumn garland/wreath together. Knowing me I'd make this a little competition between the two of us to see who can make the best one!

Movie Night - One of my favourites, a night in front of the TV either catching up on your favourite TV shows or watching a few movies together! I love getting all the blankets out, whacking the fairy lights on and lighting some candles to give it a real cosy feel, theres honestly nothing better! Some essential autumn movie picks for me are...Hocus Pocus, You've Got Mail, any Harry Potter movie, Sleepless In Seattle, When Harry Met Sally and Moulin Rouge! 

Bake/Cook Together - Why not raid the cupboards and bake/cook something together, it's so much fun seeing what you can come up with and best of all you get to scoff yourselves silly afterwards! 

Visit A Pumpkin Patch - The whole vibe of going to the pumpkin patch makes me feel so much more autumnal (if that was even possible) and really gets me excited for Halloween and pumpkin carving! Theres also the opportunity of doing some pumpkin carving together whilst your there or of course you can get pumpkin carving at home together if your bring some home!

Smores In front Of The Fire - If you have an open fire this is such a lovely thing to do together, get your marshmallows at the ready, not forgetting your digestives and chocolate of course and get toasting! It's a such a cute, cosy idea!

Watch An Autumn Sunset - Grab your blankets and hot chocolate and snuggle up together and watch an autumn sunset, I always find autumn sunsets look pretty epic! 

Theres soooo many fun things you can do during the Autumn months, it's one of the many reasons why I love Autumn so much. What are your favourite things to do in Autumn beaut's? I'd love to know!



* This is a collaborative post. All writing and opioions are my own!