Reasons why you should love winter

Hey readers,

So it is currently pouring down and the wind is blasting my hair around. It has been like this for several days and it can get more down with all the greyness. 

So, I thought it would be good to write some positive reasons why Winter is actually not that bad and there are some positives to this miserable and grey season.

Let's start off with food - not any old food but comfort food. The yummy stuff full of carbs and gravy to warm up your belly followed by sponge pudding and custard.

A valid reason to stay indoors when it is so cold and wet. You can even be forgiven for wearing your pj's on all day. You can dose about have a duvet day, keep warm and watch as much trash as humanly possible.

If you are feeling cold a perfect way to warm up is to have a hot bath and getting all warm with fleece PJ's.

Blankets and hot bottles rule when it is so cold and all you can hear is the wind whistling and battering the windows.

I will be honest with one of my favourite things to do is to fall asleep with the sound of rain hitting my window. It is so soothing and it makes me feel grateful that I am safe in my warm home.

That being said you can not enjoy a winter walk in woodland and then know that you can come home to get warm again.

Loads of cuddles keeping you nice and warm, safe from any harm and lazying around is the best knowing that you can just relax at home with your loved ones.

Hot chocolate is the desired beverage - perfect to warm your cockles and feel all cosy inside.

What kind of things do you love about Winter?  Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below.

Cheers for reading X

The best Christmas jumpers 2020

Hey readers,

Christmas should be fun and what better way than wearing something festive. Christmas jumpers are so popular so I have checked out some of the best Christmas jumpers that I think would bring festive joy to anyone eyes. 

The best Christmas jumpers for 2020!

1. Not on the high street -  £38.00.

How fun is this colourful statement jumper with the bright red and bold letters? Who doesn't love a good old pun with yule got this?

 You can buy this online at Not on the high street.

2. New Look -  £13.49. 

If your feeling confident then you might like this cheeky little number. It is from New Look and it is in the sale, win-win.

3. Peacocks - £16.00.

This cosy jumper is from Peacocks. I like the cute penguin and the fun element with the sequined hat. It is another item in a sale so grab a bargain. 

4. Next -  £34.00.

I like this jumper because it is something different with the light pink and the tree on the side. 

It looks really good teaming the jumper up with the skirt and boots. You can purchase this jumper from Next.

5. M and M Direct -  £16.00.

When checking on M and M direct website this jumper is new in. It looks soft and fluffy with the material. Let's not forget the adorable reindeer in the middle. You can get this jumper from M and M Direct

6. Boden -  £65.00.

This super flattering jumper in festive red is to die for. I like the deers on each arm and overall appealing jumper to invest in. You can find this jumper in Boden.

7. I Saw It First -  £30.00.

This black jumper with the fun reindeer is a more playful choice if you don't want to take your festive jumper choice too seriously. You can get this jumper from I Saw It First.

Do you like any of these designs for Christmas jumpers? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

Why I don't participate in extreme couponing

Hey readers,

You properly have heard of the American show called Extreme Couponing and the craze is here in the UK. Sadly though there are fewer coupons available here in the UK.

I love saving money, so I researched online about what all this fuzz of extreme couponing is about. 

Since 2008 couponing and finding ways to save money has been a big interest in a lot of peoples life. At the time recession hit hard and people wanted to save money as there was less disposable cash available, especially through loans etc from the bank.

Now there are loads of different ways to save money. A common one is searching and printing coupons, from magazines such as the Tesco Magazine which comes out monthly. 

The other way is to go on to the companies own website and if you sign up to a newsletter it gives you free coupons to print at home, such as Coca Cola or Covent Garden Soup. Next thing you have to do is find the supermarket with the lowest price for that specific product. 

An alternative way to save money is through top cashback sites and SwagBucks.

Then there is the good old yellow sticker hunting where if you got closer to the time the supermarket closes you can be lucky to grab some fab bargains with up to 75% of the original price of the item.

Now I do use some of these methods such as yellow stickers, SwagBucks, Store Rewards which are fab and fairly straight forward to get. Though the only downside with these apps is they take time to build up the reward.

The thing that I can't manage is extreme couponing, where you do the whole signing up to the company and also get a lot of people such as friends or relatives to sign up. Therefore instead of getting one bottle of Coca Cola, you can get four.

Now I am a mum of two young children so don't have a lot of time to faff about and get the permission of others to sign up, hunting for coupons or money back from items etc. 

Most of the stuff I tend not to use so I ask myself do I really need this, nine times out of ten the answer is no. I would much prefer to spend my time doing something a bit more exciting, to be honest with you. 

I think the key thing to be a successful extreme couponer is time to do the research of looking around for the best deal, printing out and travelling.

Now I do use coupons casually for the odd thing here and there but I don't buy multiple items as I do not have space to stockpile (where you buy large amounts of the same product and store them typically in a cupboard). 

Fair play if you do, but if I did have space I can't really be bothered to have to say 15 bottles of strawberry shampoo, 6 bottles of washing up liquid and so forth.

My other problem is that the products tend to be store cupboard or junk food most of the time. You may get the odd offer for yoghurt or Nakd bars but they are few and between.

 As someone on a low income, I need food to feed my family that is reasonably healthy and that I would definitely use.

I believe that nothing is free, there is a cost somewhere down the line. Yes, you can get a coupon but you need paper and ink to print it. 

If you are skint and you can't afford travel, I mean for me to get on the bus it would cost me £3.10 for my child, and £4.00 for me to travel anywhere.

Not to mention the fact that different offers are on at different stores, you have to travel here there and everywhere. Which I don't mind but with two young kids, going on the bus and then shopping is a depressing state of affairs.

I also want to point out that it is better to shop less frequently then go to loads of different places as it saves you in the long run. If you don't shop you will find a solution. Whereas if you are constantly in the supermarket the temptation is there and you just waste money just for the sake of couponing.

A lot of the time the supermarket's own brand is just as good (if not better) then the actually branded stuff, instantly you save a small fortune just by swapping.

Therefore, extreme couponing is not suited for me. 

I  don't knock people for doing it, it is their choice but for me personally, I don't have the time/money/need to warrant the item. That doesn't mean I don't use coupons and they can be beneficial but you have to weigh it up to do I really need this and if so go forth and buy.

What do you think about extreme couponing? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

The best Christmas food to feast on.

 Hey readers,

Halloween is over! Christmas is fast approaching and that means the festive food is entering the isles and shops across the UK. 

I have picked 9 festive food you can pick up over the festive period to get you in the mood. 

1. Festive Colin the caterpillar - M&S.

Who doesn't love good old Colin the caterpillar, especially as M & S have done a twist with a festive Colin costs 10.00 and is being rolled out on 19th November.

2. Specially Selected Mini Beef Wellingtons - Aldi. 

A great supplement for a buffet is these adorable mini beef wellingtons sold in Aldi. They cost  2.99 and are available in-store from December 10th. The flavour is British beef with a mushroom and thyme duxelle wrapped around puff pastry. 

• 
  

3. Duluxe mince pie ice cream - Lidl.

If you like the flavour of mince pie ice-cream I recommend checking out Lidl's festive mince pie flavoured ice cream. It is making a return and I did buy some last year and rate it highly. Also, cracking bargain at 1.99 and available now so what you waiting for!

4. The best British turkey cushion - Morrisons. 

If your bit of a traditionalist then Morrisons have your back with this delightful British turkey cushion.

It looks spectacular and sounds amazing with turkey breast with pork and smoked bacon stuffing, wrapped in maple-cured streaky bacon and topped with a sticky maple glaze. It costs 23.00 and you can order from 19th November.

5. Pink rose prawns - Sainsbury's.

If your looking for something a bit special to serve then check out this aesthetically pleasing Taste the Difference pink prawn roses by Sainsbury's. You do have to order these, they cost 8.00 for 20. 

6. Fish and chips cones - Iceland.

A quirky little number from Iceland in the form of mini fish and chips with the icon newspaper cones. Another fab addition to adding to a buffet and something different that you don't expect. 

You can pick up a box of 16 mini fish chunks and chips in November and price is yet to be confirmed.

7. Giant pigs in blankets - Tesco.

If you're a fan of pigs in blankets then you need to check out these impressive giant pigs in blankets by Tesco for 2.00 for a pack of 10. 

Each pork sausage has been seasoned with pepper before being hand wrapped in streaky bacon rashers. You can pick some up from 23rd November.

8. Bruce the brussel sprout cake - Asda.

If you hate Brussel sprouts then maybe Asda has found a solution to making you change your mind with this adorable brussel sprout cake ;)

 The cake has layers of chocolate sponge with a delicious chocolate frosting. The cake cost 10.00 and is available on the 30th of November. 

Is there any festive food you have noticed that I haven't mentioned that you think to look good? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

What I miss about the 90's!

Hey readers,

Remember the decade of the nighties, can't believe it is so long ago but let's take a moment to celebrate some of the gems of the '90s.

1) Being a child and not giving one thought about responsibility or care about the consequences, they were the days when you didn't have to battle your way through as an adult.

2) Making my own mixtapes with cassettes (yeah them things ;) ) and the real effort of getting the timing right so you get the start and the end of the song.

3) You were less reachable, there was no such thing as social media, well apart from dial-up and that is another story. If you wanted to reach someone you had to call them and that would have to be after six as well.

4) I loved playing Mindsweep, what a simple but addictive game.

5) The time when Freddo's st 10p, shock horror and you could get sweets for 1p.

6) I loved Goosebumps books that I could lose myself in. They were a little dark but that was what was so appealing to me.

7) The best game ever was Sonic The Hedgehog on the Sega Mega Drive.

8) Jim Carey brought out quality films and he was God in the cinema world.

9) Things had more meaning to them as they were harder to get CDs or books. They seemed to hold more value because of the cost and the fact that you had to saves ages to get something. There was less of it making it more appealing and valuable.

10) There was less violence in the news compared to every single day there is some horror story about something or other or maybe because I am rose-tinted glasses on and a little biased.

Cheers for reading X

Leading an eco-friendly life in a busy home.

Too busy to think about how to make eco-friendly choices at home? Try these one-step, one-time ideas to live greener, but think a bit less about it.

Leading an eco-friendly life in a busy home.

Modern life certainly comes with its challenges. The climate crisis has thrown another one into the mix, forcing us all to be more aware of what we consume and how we consume it.

 The most simple and cost-efficient way to start living more sustainably is definitely at home. Green living is becoming increasingly important to people across the UK. More and more of us are opting for energy-efficient appliances, environmentally friendly products and low-waste alternatives. 

A lot of households now actively work to lower their carbon footprint and make their way of life that little bit more sustainable. But with the business of life, how can we fit these changes into our daily routines?

How can we be more efficient?

Making your home more sustainable involves making changes that improve the energy efficiency of your property. This means that you waste less energy and save money in the process. 

Sustainable living means you will make the most of the resources you have, reducing your carbon footprint. This can range from the cleaning products you use at home to the energy supplier you choose to power up your home. 

Some of these changes require sustained change, but some are small, one-off things you can do, which will make a big difference. For example, don’t leave the fridge door open, unplug appliances if they are left on standby, and try to purchase as little plastic as possible.

While making these other changes, it might be a good time to switch your energy supplier. If you haven't managed to switch in a while, it's highly likely that you are overpaying for your energy. 

Not only is this a waste of money, but you can also make the switch over to a more green energy supplier with green energy tariffs. 

A green energy supplier means one that provides tariffs with 100% renewable electricity and aims to offset gas usage by investing in green projects.

 Also, you can switch to a tariff that saves you money, like an Economy 10 tariff for your electricity. This is a one-off task, so once you’ve switched you hopefully won’t have to switch again for a while. 

You can be content with the fact that your energy is coming from more renewable sources. If you lead a particularly busy life, switching suppliers is an easy way to be a lot more eco-friendly at home, without having to put in any hard work.

In short, you want to make sure that your gas and electricity come from renewable sources, rather than fossil fuels that are contributing to climate change. 

You won’t have to feel guilty about the energy you use at home, as you know that you’ll be leading a greener life in your safe haven. You can read more about ways to make your home greener on Ofgem’s handy website.

Go reusable.

Like I said, let’s avoid plastic when and where we can. Stop buying zip-top bags, plastic straws and food in a lot of plastic packaging. Let’s start buying alternatives, like beeswax. 

They last for ages, way longer than plastic, and are far better for the environment. Invest in glass tupperwares so you don’t have to throw away single-use plastic bags and boxes all the time.
 All these things you can do one time so you never have to worry about them again.

Consider composting!

If you like gardening, at least make it efficient! Keeping a compost bin means you won’t have to think about throwing food away, which we all know is really bad. 

Keep a compost bin where you can put peels, coffee grounds and other organic waste. If you don’t have a garden, or enough space to keep a compost bin, then you can always give your compost to public gardens or to friends and neighbours who have the resources.

Save water.

Water is one of our most wasted resources. Think about how many times a day you use water - it’s all the time! 

So let’s start thinking about how much water we use and when. Are you an avid tea drinker? Don’t waste water by filling up the kettle more and more every time you make a cuppa.

 
This also wastes so much energy and you’ll see the consequences on your energy bills. Take shorter showers or buy a low-flow shower head; only use the appropriate amount of water when you are boiling food; don’t overwater your lawn and your plants.

Ready to make all these small changes? Of course, you are! No matter how busy you are with life, work, family and friends, you can transform your eco-lifestyle with just a handful of different, more thoughtful choices. 

Things just got easier if you are struggling to pay for your energy bills.
 
Ofgem has just introduced new regulations for energy suppliers to introduce as of the 15th of December 2020. The new regulation’s purpose is to protect customers who are struggling to keep up with their energy bills. Energy suppliers will be obliged to give more time to customers who are struggling to pay their bills this winter.
 
For those on prepayment meters, more time will be given to top-up and additional credit will be given to those customers who need it. A debt repayment plan will also be introduced for all those that are currently behind on paying their bills. Energy suppliers will also reach out to customers that they deem more vulnerable and aid them in setting up this repayment plan.
 
For more details you can read the full article

30 November blog post ideas.

 Hey readers,
sometimes you may get stuck as a blogger coming up with blog ideas so to help you feel inspired I have 30 fantastic ideas perfect to do during November. Check it out below. 

1. What are your blog goals for the month.

2. Meal plan for the week.

3. What are your thoughts on Black Friday.

4. Share your favourite Thanksgiving recipes.

5. Share your thanksgiving hosting tips. 

6. Favourite autumn fashion trends you like. 

7. Ways to use up pumpkins.

8. Favourite autumn make up looks.

9. Autumn photography ideas.

10. Slow cooking recipes for autumn. 

11. How to get cosy in the evenings. 

12. How to manage the darker days.

13. Write about world kindness day (13th November).

14. Autumn date ideas.

15. Current books you are reading.

16. Christmas decoration wish list. 

17. Best advent calenders in 2020.

18. A list of things to declutter in November.

19. How to save money on your electricity bill.

20. What I am thankful for.

21. Your top mum hacks.

22. 50 fun things to do with your children. 

23. Rainy day outfits.

24. Rainy day activities.

25. November Instagram challenge ideas.

26. November blog challenge ideas.

27. A list of good shows on the telly during November.

28. Write a 'how-to' post. 

29. November bucket wish list.

30. November self-care tips. 

Have I missed anything off the list that you think would make a really good idea for a blog post in November? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below.

Cheers for reading X

10 reasons to love Pinterest!

Hey readers, 

The past fortnight I have fully emerged myself in Pinterest. I used it previously sporadically but this time I got stuck right in. Went a bit crazy with pinning and now would say I am fully Fletched pinner! I have written my case for why I love Pinterest.

1. Escapism - it is a place where I can get lost in beautiful stuff or ideas and not have to go anywhere.

2. Don't have to spend a penny even though you have put loads of ideas together. Cheaper then visiting eBay.

3. You feel connected in an unusual way with random people. You don't have to get too personal but you feel a sense of online community.

4. Let's face it is a great source of inspiration for ideas.

5. Instead of instantly going to Google I hit Pinterest.

6. It is a place to learn something new and stumble on something that you may not necessarily think off.

7. When I am depressed I go there to look at funny pictures, bad parent fails or Pinterest fails and honest it can make me feel so much better.

8. It is a great distraction to eating.

9. It's great for writer's block and there are loads of boards or pins to get your creative juices flowing.

10. It can get you excited the endless possibilities and can help you think in a different direction.

Do you use Pinterest? Do you find it helpful? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below.

Cheers for reading X

Reasons why I love the internet

Hey readers,

 Could you imagine being without the internet....no me neither *sweating profusely at the thought*. 

The internet is my dear friend and it has helped me so much just as a parent which I would be at a total loss without it. 

I have made a list of the reasons why I am thankful for having such an amazing tool.

The internet is where you can find advice and talk with like minded people and generally just feel a sense of solidarity. 

Whether that be topics depression, parenthood etc wherein face-to-face be really difficult to talk to you can relax with a cuppa in a relaxed environment and talk openly with people in a similar situation.

The social media offers a variety of platforms such as blogging allowing you to meet others with similar interests and gain valuable knowledge, find a sense of identity and learn about yourself and the topics you're interested in.

The internet can be a fun way to get information on a whole a host of topics and it is so easy to access 24/7.

The internet lets you meet people from all around the world regardless of distance, money etc. It also provides a wider learning experience as your not limited to what you know but learn about different cultures, opinions and perspectives.

When buying products you can enquire and get information about your purchases. What with more reviews and feedback from consumers this has helped give a bigger picture of weighing up whether to buy an item or not. 

The net also gives you the opportunities to explore different avenues giving you more of a consumer choice. This would not have been possible years ago as pre-internet you would be stuck with the shops you could access. Now in this modern-day, you have more choice.

Research has shown that internet therapy has helped the reduction of onset post-natal depression as you can talk about your experiences leaving you to feel less isolated. Not only that meeting other parents can be a motivator and help make you feel better in your mood. 

Even if it just learning about other people's experiences or knowing that you are not alone with having negative feelings and knowing that others have manned their depression can make you feel better.

Opportunities can arise though the interest such as open university degrees, meeting new people or gaining aspirations to name a few can be down to logging on the internet and connecting to the online community.

Do you relate to any of these positive aspects of the internet? Love to hear your thoughts down below in the comment section. 

Cheers for reading X

50 of the best satisfying feelings in the world

Hey readers,

You know the feelings that are totally satisfying well I have done a list of 50 the best satisfying feelings ever in the world to nod along to.

 

1.  Getting into a new set of PJs. 
2. Pealing PVA glue of the back of your hand.
3. Vacuum packing anything. 
4. Finally getting water out of your ear.
5. Pressure washing anything. 
6. Opening a fresh jar of Nutella. 
7.  Seeing your food coming in a restaurant. But you should always act surprised when the server actually arrives.
8. Getting your hair washed at the hairdressers.
9. Getting the last piece of food that is stuck in your teeth out. 
10. Taking your socks off after a long day.
11. When your song comes on the radio.
12. Wrapping a present perfectly. 
13.  Cleaning your ears out. 
14. Picking off a dry bit of skin off your lips. 
15. Sleeping in on a rainy day.
16. Cracking your joints when they finally are ready to be cracked.
17.  Getting the email you have been waiting anxiously for.
18. The feeling in your stomach after you have been up and down on a rollercoaster.
19. Finding money you didn't have.
20. Stoping a microwave when it has 1 second left.
21. Hearing the right song at the right time. 
22. Realising you have more time to sleep.
23. Rubbing your eyes without makeup on.
24.   Being alone at home and basking in the silence.
25. Taking a sip of the first drink. 
26. Stretching out at the end of the day.
27. Closing the curtains when it is dark and curling up in a blanket.
28. Finishing a book.
29. Working out to a super badass song.
30. Having a pee when it feels like you have been holding it for nine years. 
31. Taking your socks off and getting into bed. 
32. Waking up from a nap and not knowing how long you have been asleep for. 
33. Letting out a dramatic sigh.
34.  Watching the rain from the window. 
35. Drinking water after something spicy. 
36. Putting clothes on straight from the tumble drier. 
37.  Fresh clean bedsheets. 
38. When the hiccups finally go away. 
39. When the web page finally loads after waiting ages with the circle of doom.
40.  Tearing off a piece of paper perfectly from a notebook. 
41. Having a good laugh.
42. Kicking through crunchy leaves. 
43. Washing your face at the end of the day.
44.  Going to bed happy and with a full tummy. 
45. Taking your bra off after a long day.
46. Opening a book on the right page you want.
47. Watching your coffee and milk mix.
48. Relaxing outside on a sunny day.
49. Peeling the plastic of something you have just brought.
50. The first snow of the season. 

Is there any other satisfying feeling that I have missed off the list? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below.

 Cheers for reading X