• Family Life - parenting

    The Calm Home: A Psychological Roadmap to Lowering Family Stress

    February 21, 2026 - By 

    Practical Steps to Reduce Stress in Family Life Family life is often a beautiful mix of love and laughter, but it can also feel like a non-stop race. Between work, school, and endless chores, it is easy for a household to become a pressure cooker of stress. In the field of psychology, we look at the family as a single system. When one person is stressed, it ripples through everyone else. To find more peace, we don’t need to be perfect; we just need to make small, human-sized changes to the way we live and interact. Why Stress Spreads at…

  • homestyle - lifestyle

    7 Common Garage Door Spring Problems and How to Fix Them: A Homeowner’s Repair Guide

    February 20, 2026 - By 

    Your garage door springs do most of the heavy lifting when you open and close your door every day. When these springs break or wear out, your door might not open at all, get stuck halfway, or make loud noises during operation. Most homeowners will face spring problems at some point since these parts handle thousands of cycles over their lifetime. Spring issues can show up in different ways. Your door might feel heavier than normal, refuse to stay open, or close too quickly. These warning signs often mean your springs need attention soon. Understanding what causes these problems helps…

  • lifestyle

    The Advantages of Bundled Fireworks for Memorable Shows

    February 19, 2026 - By 

    Bundled fireworks: the shortcut to a well-paced show A memorable fireworks display rarely happens by accident. Even a five‑minute garden show needs a beginning, a build, and a finale that feels earned. When people buy fireworks one box at a time, they often end up with too many similar effects, awkward gaps between fuses, or a finale that runs out of energy. Bundled packs—curated selections designed to be fired together—solve many of those problems in one decision. They’re not just “more fireworks for less money”; they’re a simple way to get balance, variety, and timing without having to think like…

  • The Irish Chain Mini Quilt
    Crafts for adults

    Stash-Busting Perfection: The Irish Chain Mini Quilt

    February 17, 2026 - By 

    The Irish Chain block is a classic and much‑loved design in patchwork and quilting, admired for its elegant simplicity and striking visual impact. Thought to have originated in the early nineteenth century, the block is built around a repeating grid of squares that create the illusion of interlocking diagonal chains. This distinctive criss‑cross effect gives the pattern its name and makes it a favourite among quilters who enjoy strong geometric layouts. It’s a block I’ve wanted to try for a while, I even purchased red and white fat quarters when I visited the Knit & Stitch show. What is an…

  • The Irish Chain Mini Quilt
    The Weekly Edit

    The Weekly Edit {Week 7/2026}

    February 16, 2026 - By 

    Starting my week with the Weekly Edit is a ritual I’ve kept for years. It’s my favourite Monday morning anchor—a chance to slow down, celebrate the ‘small wins,’ and gather the smiles from the week behind us. Part reflection and part record-keeping, it’s my way of documenting our family’s adventures before the next chapter begins. The Weekly Edit {Week 7/2026} We made it to half term! I wish I had the whole week off to spend with my kids but I’ve had to settle for a couple of days later this week. My kids need a break from school after a long,…

  • Maileg mouse DIY
    Crafts for kids - Crafts for teens - Crafts for tweens

    DIY Maileg costumes for Spring

    February 12, 2026 - By 

    Surely Spring must be on the way. Our garden is full of bulbs and our fingers are crossed that it will stop raining for half term next week. The teen and I have been crafting miniature makes for our Maileg mice. We wanted to share the cutest little recycled craft for your little ones (with a bit of help from you!). DIY Maileg costumes for Spring We used recycled cardboard tubes as the base for our DIY costumes. We decided to make a daffodil and a leek – to celebrate St David’s Day next month. We painted our tubes in…

  • a month in the country
    The Weekly Edit

    The Weekly Edit {Week 6/2026}

    February 9, 2026 - By 

    Starting my week with the Weekly Edit is a ritual I’ve kept for years. It’s my favourite Monday morning anchor—a chance to slow down, celebrate the ‘small wins,’ and gather the smiles from the week behind us. Part reflection and part record-keeping, it’s my way of documenting our family’s adventures before the next chapter begins. The Weekly Edit {Week 6/2026} Last week I finished reading A Month in the Country by J. L. Carr. This was a short book but really beautifully written. It was about a man finding renewal and healing after returning from the First World War, whilst working to…

  • Crafts for adults

    Subverted tea towel workshop at the Fashion and Textile Museum

    February 7, 2026 - By 

    I mentioned that I over the weekend I attended a subverted tea towel workshop with Holly Searle at the Fashion and Textile Museum. Using vintage tea towels, the original meaning is subverted by adding a statement which alters the original perspective. It was fun and a great way to spend a morning. The Fashion and Textile Museum I’ve been to the Fashion and Textile Museum a few times now. It’s a wonderful exhibition space near London Bridge. At the moment they have an exhibition called Costume Couture: Sixty Years of Cosprop. Cosprop specialises in period costume for film, television and…

  • homestyle - interiors

    Breathing New Life into Old Rooms with Timeless Patterns

    February 6, 2026 - By 

    Herringbone flooring continues to hold a strong place in British interiors because it offers structure without feeling rigid. The repeating zigzag layout introduces order while still adding visual movement, making it suitable for both traditional homes and contemporary spaces. Unlike plain flooring, herringbone creates interest at floor level, which helps anchor a room visually. In Manchester properties, oak herringbone often highlights heritage features while improving how light moves across smaller rooms. In modern flats, carpet or luxury vinyl herringbone supports open-plan layouts by visually connecting adjoining spaces without the need for walls or dividers. The pattern works quietly in the…