• clothing - homestyle - shopping

    Autumn days, when the grass is jewelled

    September 24, 2017 - By 

    Photo by Allef Vinicius on Unsplash My husband is such an Alpha Male. He took us all out for the day yesterday and spent today boarding the loft! He’s really lovely and does so much for us all, I’m sure we never tell him how much we all love him. Our ninth wedding anniversary is coming up this week but we’ve been together for a whopping 14 years and known  each other for 16. We were driving around our old London stomping ground yesterday and it was quite strange remembering the places we used to go on date night, our favourite Italian restaurant…

  • Vintage ottoman makeover
    homestyle - Pinty Plus Ambassador

    Vintage ottoman makeover with Pinty Plus

    September 21, 2017 - By 

    Recently I was given a lovely vintage ottoman. An ottoman is a piece of furniture consisting of a padded seat or bench, usually without a back or arms, which typically serves as a box. Ours has a hinged lid and is perfect for storing bedding and towels. Our linen cupboard is overflowing so I thought this would be a great addition. It’s also quite slim so fits perfectly on our landing. The only problem was that it was dark brown with a stained fabric top. It was pretty horrible and definitely in need of some TLC. Here’s the before photograph of…

  • Win tickets to the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace
    competition - homestyle - Local Review - London

    Win tickets to the Knitting and Stitching Show London

    September 20, 2017 - By 

    Are you looking for inspiration for your next craft project?  Ticket lines are now open for The Knitting & Stitching Show London which takes place at Alexandra Palace (affectionately known as Ally Pally) from 11th-15th October 2017. This unique show is the biggest event for the UK’s textile art, craft and design community and there is no better place to get great ideas, learn new skills and meet like-minded people.  The show attracts over 30,000 visitors and hosts Textile Galleries by world-leading artists and groups. Headline exhibitions for 2017 are: Units of Possibility – The Reknit Revolution (supported by Rugby…

  • homestyle

    Top tips for keeping your family gas safe

    September 20, 2017 - By 

    Did you know that this week is Gas Safety Week (18-24th September)? Today we’re partnering with the energy company SSE to share 5 simple tips to help you and your family stay safe at home. Now the weather has taken a decidedly chillier tone I have to admit that the doors and windows are closed, the heating is on and the winter duvet is out! I love Autumn as you know, I can’t stop writing about it! I love an Autumn clean as much as I love Spring cleaning and it’s a good time to check all your appliances are safe for…

  • trying to be a savvy shopper (1)
    homestyle - shopping

    Trying to be a savvy shopper

    September 19, 2017 - By 

    Did you know that a third of Brits now believe it’s harder than ever to get a good deal when shopping around? A few weeks ago I was asked to take part in a fun shopping challenge with E.ON. This email couldn’t have landed in my inbox at a better time. I find the school holidays a little stressful money-wise. The children eat a lot, seem to grow out of all their clothes (or go through the knees!) and demand a lot of day trips and days out. Despite your best planning I think good intentions can go out of…

  • too early for Christmas carols?
    homestyle - Monday Happy List

    Monday happy things {Week 155}

    September 18, 2017 - By 

    We had a really busy weekend so it’s nice to finally sit down and go back over the past week. Time for my weekly Happy Things post. The first full week of school was a bit hard on my children. My 5 year old has not been enjoying the transition into Year 1 as she has far less time to play. Her reading has improved so much since she’s been back at school though so all the extra hours of working are obviously paying off. Now the children are back at school I’ve been planning a few craft projects. I…

  • The Handmade Fair at Hampton Court 2017
    days out - homestyle - Local Review - London

    The Handmade Fair at Hampton Court 2017

    September 17, 2017 - By 

    Yesterday I went to The Handmade Fair with my sister for the third year in a row. I really love going to The Handmade Fair at Hampton Court, it’s a great way to learn some new skills and of course go shopping for craft supplies! The Handmade Fair takes place on Hampton Court Green, opposite Hampton Court. It’s a nice location although pretty difficult to get to from our corner of London. We arrived with plenty of time to go shopping before our first workshop. Full experience tickets include a Grand Make, Skills Workshop and the Super Theatre. I booked…

  • JAPAN CANDY BOX
    competition - homestyle - subscription box

    Japan Candy Box September unboxing and giveaway

    September 15, 2017 - By 

    We love learning about the wider world. My kids love to find out about other cultures and traditions and especially food! Monthly subscription boxes are a great way to learn a little about new products so we were delighted to be sent a Japan Candy Box to review at home. We’ve tried a few Japan Candy Boxes before, this is a delicious monthly subscription box filled with 8-10 sweet treats from Japan. I love kawaii – who doesn’t it? – and we all loved looking at each packet and trying to guess what was inside. Take a look at our video…

  • Shopping for Autumn fashion
    Autumn - homestyle - shopping

    Shopping for Autumn fashion

    September 14, 2017 - By 

    Photo by Pineapple Supply Co. on Unsplash The other day I told you that I will soon be celebrating my Ninth wedding anniversary! Woo hoo! Nothing screams wedding anniversary like a date night in a fancy restaurant. Nights out are pretty limited as a parent living in the suburbs, so I’ve been planning my outfit and general autumn wardrobe with thanks to Lyst.co.uk I love shopping online and shopping around to find myself the best deal. Nothing beats gathering ideas from the comfort of my own sofa. There are some brilliant fashion trends for autumn and I’m excited about updating my wardrobe. Not…