10 ideas for a fun girls night out

*Contains affiliate links  As you get older, peoples lives get busier, some get married or have kids (or both), then naturally girls' nights get less and less. It’s good to try and keep up with your friends, though, and if you’ve not seen them for a while, then perhaps it’s time to get something in the diary. If you want to get the ones who usually cancel actually to commit and turn up, though, then maybe it’s time to turn it up a notch on usual plans for a night out. Here are a few fun ideas that may help with that 1. Bowling Not your usual night out but you can’t go wrong with this classic game as it’s always sure to be a good time, and there are loads of places now, which are a bit more grown-up than your average bowling alley and many have restaurants and bars on site. 2. See a Show Depending on where you live, there are loads of different options for the type of show you could see. See what’s touring near you, and even if you’ve never heard of it or you d......

Read more »

How to move home with kids without stress

Moving house can be a little bit of a stressful situation, and that’s before you have children, it can be an exciting time, and it can be a time of change. My eldest has moved twice with us, first from the home we renovated, then we rented for a while before buying the house we currently live in. We are currently gearing up again for another move at some point in the new year and I thought since I've gone through it a few times I would share what I have learnt. I've also written before about what we are looking for in terms of our new home and how to rejuvenate your current home if you have no want to move anytime soon. But once you have searched and found the house for rent or home to buy that suits you and your family, you will have to consider many different things to ensure that your move goes smoothly as possible. What we are looking for when we move house is as little problems as possible, we are always on the lookout for potential issues, and being prepa......

Read more »

Breakfast at The Ivy, Cardiff

*I was kindly invited to the Press night and breakfast at The Ivy in exchange for an honest review.  Cardiff has really seen a boom in the recent years with regards to the foodie scene with a variety of independent eateries popping up as well as pop-up events, festivals and street-food markets. It's also attracted some high-end chains with the most recent being The Ivy . I attended the press night which was packed to the rafters with guests being entertained with musicians, dancers and even fire performers - one way to make an entrance on the Cardiff scene that's for sure.  While I did get to try out some of their amazing cocktails & I know this will quickly become a popular jaunt for evening get-togethers but it didn't give much insight to what they plan to serve up and bring to the table as they say, so another visit was immediately on the cards. Excitedly I was invited to their blogger breakfast and the chance to experience more of what makes The Ivy g......

Read more »

How to make moving house less stressful

Moving house can be an incredibly stressful experience for all involved. From choosing the perfect place, to selling your existing home, to dealing with the practicalities, it can take it out of us. Yet it is something that most of us need to do at some point in our lives, so we wanted to share a few tips with you today on how to make moving house less stressful as there are ways to make this one an enjoyable experience rather than a nightmare!  Don’t listen to too many people Whilst it can sometimes be good to gather a few opinions, this is one of those times when it might just confuse you further. Buying a house is a big deal and choosing the right one for you and your family is an important decision. It is also a very personal decision, which is why it is one worth making with just your partner. If you try to please everyone and take everyone’s opinion into account you could end up not making a decision at all. Everybody will have their own agenda and their own perspect......

Read more »

Why You Don't Need To Be The Perfect Mum

Associated Post  It can often feel like we are not as organised or together as other parents,  especially if we go off others social media, the ones who appear to have it all going for them, doing everything right, the ones with the perfect cupcakes for bake sales, always on time for school run, well-behaved immaculately dressed children, have a spotless home and while there is nothing wrong with any of this I'm just none of those things and that's okay. When first had my kids I felt so pressured to be perfect that I quickly burnt out and often life is never what it seems so I thought I would share why it's important to not feel you have to be the perfect parent. #1: There is no such thing as perfect Oh sure, those other parents might appear perfect, but do you really know what goes on in their family lives? This is why social media often needs to be taken with a pinch of salt as we tend to post our best versions of ourselves. They might have just as many problems......

Read more »

7 Things to NEVER Do at a Job Interview

Before becoming full-time freelancer I had a variety of jobs including working as a photographer assistant, in hotels, bars, offices and even a hospital as a case note filer. I have experienced a variety of interview situations and thought I would share a few tips to help you snag that job. If you want the job, you need to make a good first impression during the job interview. You may have a good idea about some of the things you want to do. But, do you know what you should never do? Make sure to avoid these pitfalls or else the interview may blow up in your face. Interviewers will get annoyed if you do this. 1. Ask About Money Right Away There may be some times during the interview where it’s appropriate to talk about money, especially if they end up asking you what your salary requirements are. But never start off the interview by asking, “How much will I get paid?”. If you make the impression that you only care about the money, your recruiters will be turned off. 2......

Read more »

How To Decorate Your Home So It Stands Out

*Contains affiliate links  All of us who live in a home, apartment, flat, whatever it may be, want to come home to a space that is as warm and comfortable as it is beautiful. We want a home that looks like it could be featured on the front page of a magazine, a home that stands out from any other home that we have ever seen.  This is a great goal, but it can be overwhelming trying to decide where to start or how to get your home exactly how you like it. All in all, it can be a little tricky. There are so many things to choose from, like what type of floor you want throughout your home, your doors, door handles, and sliding barn door hardware . So how does one create this type of look that is trendy and functional, but accommodating? It can be a challenge to make your house distinct from other houses that you have seen, but the look can actually happen easier than you think. Below are a few on-trend styling secrets to make your house  look more flawless than ev......

Read more »

7 Reasons your Car will fail MOT

*Contains affiliate links I'll admit that I've had my fair share of failed MOT's in the past, to be fair I did drive an Austin Mini from 1972 for years so it was very old. Every year when the time of MOT approaches, we all secretly wish we could just hit the skip button and let it be. But in order to being able to carry on driving, stay safe and not have to pay a huge fine – you just cannot ignore MOT testing. What’s interesting is, the fact that even a tiny bit of negligence can hinder your vehicle from passing the exam. It could be something as trivial as empty washing fluid bottles in the car. When you are in a local town like I am in South Wales or a place like Stirling or any part of Scotland (I actually lived in Scotland for 2yrs) you have to get your MOT done on time – otherwise you will panic every time you are on the road thinking you will be caught and subject to a legal penalty. In order to prevent this, I have prepared a list of 5 sure shot reasons t......

Read more »

The thoughtful gift guide

*I'm not being paid to include any of these products. I have been sent some samples, although not all & this is my own gift guide of suggestions for Christmas As we move into an age of less is more and are slowly reducing how much plastic we bring into the house, or if we are that it's recyclable as well as looking to gifts that serve a purpose or give back in some way, the way we shop is surely changing. While Christmas is about fun, festivities and family and I do believe that a little bit of indulgence is never a bad thing and not to get too caught up with how ethical something is as I feel many of us are starting to feel the weight of guilt, I wanted to put together a small gift guide of easily accessible gifts that offer something back, are meaningful and thoughtful gifts and hopefully you will find it of some use.  1. Shine Shampoo Bar These make for the perfect stocking filler and not only are these shampoo bars good for the planet as they com......

Read more »

Ways To Self-Heal Without Putting Your Health At Risk

*Contain Affiliate links  Health is our most precious asset and also one of our most elusive. Looking after our health requires time, and time, as it happens, is often lacking in these modern times. That’s why most people look for time-saving strategies to manage their health. Ultimately, when you work long hours throughout the week, it’s unlikely that your health problems land on top of your to-do list. Not that people don’t want to take care of themselves, but more often than not, our health is taken for granted until it becomes an issue and we really start to feel that burn out. Often when we do start to struggle with unpleasant symptoms, many are more likely to consider a self-healing approach before seeing a professional, as long as it's fairly minor such as exhaustion, feeling run down, low immunity etc this approach can save you time and money. I believe in the power of self-care and a natural approach but of course if you are concerned about anything seek the ad......

Read more »

How To Have A More Ethical Christmas This Year

*contains affiliate links  Christmas is a wonderful time of year, but sadly it is also one of the most wasteful. If you want to make a positive change and try to reduce your impact here are a few things you can try. Less is More I feel we all need to switch our thinking and move away from quantity to quality. I've always lived by the motto that less is more and one well thought out, meaningful gift is far better than lots of smaller throwaway gifts. So when it comes to buying for friends and family do take note of what they actually want or need in their life - presents can also be practical so getting someone of real use to someone is also key. Buy secondhand    The festive season is often the best time to shop in charity shops are more people than ever are declutter and making way for their new Christmas presents and drop off some amazing things in charity and thrift stores. It's a great way to reuse something as well as keep your costs down. I......

Read more »