• Ai Weiwei Surveillance Camera and Plinth at the RA
    homestyle

    Day and Night All-in-One IP Camera

    September 29, 2017 - By 

    My husband is a big fan of the Internet of Things and it’s safe to say we have a connected home. My friends laugh at me as my Apple Watch and iPhone are constantly buzzing and beeping when I leave home but my husband lovesto try the latest gadgets and make our home ‘smart’. I think there’s a lot to be said for having everything connected and I like the fact we have a smart thermostat, smart lights, smart sockets, internet doorbell, internet connected weather station, smart tv, internet connected SONOS, temperature, humidity sensors in every room and smart smoke…

  • New Banksy murals spring up in central London near Barbican
    days out - homestyle - London - Monday Happy List

    Monday Happy Things {Week 156}

    September 25, 2017 - By 

    Happy Monday morning everyone! I’d forgotten how quickly the weeks go when the kids are back at school. They’ve both settled into their new years so well and I’ve been really proud of them. I haven’t enjoyed policing the increased amount of homework though and we’ve had to tweak their reward charts to make sure it gets done! This week I reached 900 subs on YouTube which made me so happy. I love making videos with my children. I have hours of unedited footage which I’m not sure will ever see the light of day, but as long as my…

  • 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…