● Laura Thornberry ● Lifestyle Blogger ● London Based ●

Completed all your last minute Christmas shopping? Need some inspiration for low-cost gift wrap ideas? Look no further!

Christmas present shopping is expensive enough - there is simply no need to spend a lot of money on your gift wrap ideas either as there is so many low-cost and affordable options out there - you just need to be imaginative and creative. Most wrapping papers will get binned or recycled as soon as the Christmas gifts are exchanged and opened, so realistically, you don't want to be spending loads of money on fancy wrapping paper, gift bags or decorative accessories. Let's take a look at 5 last minute, low cost gift wrap ideas for Christmas presents that will look amazing and won't break the bank!

1. Gift Bags

Gift bags are the ultimate lazy option when it comes to wrapping presents, but they can also be extremely affordable. They are also the perfect choice of gift wrap for larger items, or items with irregular shapes that may be difficult to wrap in wrapping paper. Using gift bags is also extremely useful when you are carrying/transporting your gifts. Whether you're going to a friend or relatives house, or they are coming to you, the recipient of the gift has a pre-made bag to take their present home in. Reusing and recycling your gift bags is good for the environment and a sustainable way of gift wrapping your gifts.

2. Brown Paper and String

Brown paper is a very simple, affordable, and environmentally friendly alternative to the traditional-styled wrapping paper. You can pick up rolls of brown paper very cheaply from a number of shops and supermarkets, making it a great substitute that is widely available for purchase. It's also a great choice for those would want to be more eco-friendly, as brown paper is recyclable and reusable. Once your gifts are wrapped, brown paper tied up with string is such a simple, cute and effective way to decorative your loved ones gifts. This low-cost gift wrap idea is very traditional, can make your gift stand out, and makes it look like you took a long time to wrap your gifts - when it reality, it didn't!

3. Ribbons and Bows

To add some extra decoration, extra sparkle and to give your wrapped presents that extra little something special, using ribbons and bows can take your gifts from 0 to 100 in no time at all! A nice ribbon or bow simply adds a nice touch to a finished package. It also can help you when attaching a gift tag or card to your Christmas gift, which helps you remember who's gift is who's.

4. Decorative Christmas Accessories

For those who really want to make their Christmas gifts stand out and look spectacular, adding some decorative Christmas accessories is the way to go. If you've decorated your gifts with ribbon or string, this will be an easy way to incorporate some additional decorative accessories to your gift. I'm thinking candy canes, pine cones, fake plants and greenery, and even some small wooden ornaments.

5. Homemade Wrapping Paper

For those of you who like to be creative, have artistic talents, or even have a little spare time on your hands, making your own homemade Christmas wrapping paper is a great way to make your gifts more personalised and more special. This would also be a great festive activity for those with young children in the house at Christmas time. All you need is a few rolls of paper and some arts/crafts materials, and you're good to go! Some of my favourite homemade wrapping paper design ideas include;

- Using stencils and stamps

- Painting on Christmas shapes and patterns

- Calligraphy and Typography designs

These affordable, simple and easy Christmas gift wrapping ideas will help you save money on gift wrap, and you will be wow-ing all your friends and family members with your creative and imaginative designs.

How do you wrap your Christmas presents? What low cost gift wrap ideas do you have?

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GUEST POST | Getting a hot tub for the first time can be as nerve-wracking as getting a new kitten. It’s super-exciting and you’re looking forward to showing it off to all your friends but doubts can set in.

Am I adult enough to take on this responsibility? How do I look after this thing and make sure it doesn’t die? What do I feed it? Don’t worry, looking after a hot tub is easy and, although hot tubs aren’t as cute as a kitten, a hot tub won’t jump on you in the early hours demanding food, wee on the floor or pull down your curtains. But hot tubs, like kittens, do need a bit of looking after and so here are some tips for new hot tub owners.

Take a Shower Before Getting Into Your Hot Tub

Yes, taking a shower before getting into your hot tub is tedious and you may wonder why you need to go and stand under some water before getting into a big tub of water. But a hot tub isn’t a bath and it’s not there to clean you. In fact, your hot tub would much prefer it if you got into it clean so you don’t clog up the filter with sweat, skin cells, deodorant, body lotions and the general grime we accumulate on our bodies throughout the day.

Regularly Clean Your Hot Tub

Why does your hot tub need regular cleaning if you’re getting into it shower-fresh each time? Because keeping your hot tub clean will keep it in tip-top condition, so drain and clean your hot tub every three months or so, unless you’re using it daily - in which case, you’ll need to clean your hot tub every two months. When it comes to the filter though, that’ll need to be cleaned weekly. Filters are easy to clean though - just remove the filter, get a hose and spray the dirt off, dry the filter and put it back in.

Don’t Be Scared By The Mention of Chemicals

We get it, you didn’t think you’d need a degree in chemistry to look after a hot tub. All those mentions of chemicals, PH levels, water being too alkaline or too acidic, sanitisers and chlorine makes you wish you had got a kitten instead. Being jumped on at 4am with a demand for food would be far preferable than trying to understand, let alone care, what a PH level is.

But it’s fine. Don’t panic. If you bought your hot tub from a reputable hot tub retailer, they will have explained everything to you and, even if it all went over your head, you’d have been given an instruction manual with your hot tub. And if the instruction manual is double-dutch to you, a good hot tub retailer will have a decent after-sales service so you’ll be able to ring them for advice any time you need it.

These are just a few tips for new hot tub owners. Keep yourself and your hot tub clean and you’ll have years of pleasure from it. It goes without saying though - never take a kitten into a hot tub!

Do you own a hot tub? What other care tips or advice do you have?

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GUEST POST| Eating, sleeping and drinking can usually be found at the top of most student’s list of priorities. Students aren’t known for being flush with cash though, so although sleep is free, food and drink can make a big dent in their student loan or wages from a part-time job.

There are ways to get free food though and below we’ll share five ways everyone can get free food, not just students.

Mystery Shopping/Dining

Have you ever fancied being a spy? Then mystery shopping is for you. Mystery shoppers go undercover to report back on a restaurant’s food, service and facilities and in return you’ll get your meal paid for and sometimes a bit of cash on top. Yes, that’s right - you’ll be paid to eat. You don’t have to limit yourself to mystery shopping for food - all kinds of companies use mystery shoppers to find out if everything’s as it should be but as this article is about free food, that’s what I’m concentrating on here.

If you fancy giving mystery shopping a go and getting some free food, just Google ‘mystery shopping’ and you’ll find dozens of agencies you can sign up with. As an added bonus, if you take along one of your housemates in your student accommodation for a free feast, they’ll love you forever and maybe cook you something in return - meaning more free food for you! Just be aware though that you’ll be reimbursed for your food, not paid in advance, so remember to keep all receipts as you’ll need them for proof.

Shopium App

The Shopium app contains a regularly-changing range of items for free or heavily discounted at all the major supermarkets. Download the app and have a look at what they’re offering in your local supermarkets either in-store or online. If there’s anything there you like the look of, buy it, scan the barcode, upload a photo of your receipt and Shopium will reimburse you within a couple of days.

Olio App

The Olio app is like a Freecycle for food. People in your local community who hate waste give away their leftovers on Olio. When I say ‘leftovers’, I don’t mean you’re getting the scrapings from their plates but, for example, if someone’s got too many carrots in their veg box (which is every single person who’s ever had a veg box) and don’t have any horses nearby, they can offload them to a carrot-loving neighbour.

It’s not just local residents who are using the Olio app though. Restaurants, retailers and bakeries are all getting on board with volunteers picking up the leftover goods from the stores and uploading them to the app for anyone to claim. A friend of mine got a whole case of Hellmann’s mayo on Olio. True story.

Foraging

Foraging works better in the countryside rather than cities. You won’t find many blackberry bushes in central London, that’s for sure. But if you are in a more rural location or you fancy a day trip somewhere green, do a spot of foraging for free food that’s as fresh as fresh can be.

Although some things are easier to spot than others, e.g. blackberries or wild garlic, some things you will need to know what you’re doing before picking them unless you want to poison yourself, so take someone knowledgeable with you. Also, it’s a good idea not to forage on busy roads that have spewed exhaust fumes all over the bushes or had dogs going about their business on them.

Shoplift It

If you’re really desperate, you can always shoplift your dinner. This is obviously a joke. Do not do this. Do not steal your housemate’s food from the fridge either.

These are just five ways to get free food but, if you dig around, you’ll find plenty more. And, of course, there’ll be loads of restaurants, bars and cafes in your area offering student discounts as well as lots of ways to save money when you shop online.

What other ways have you got free food before?

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AD| A complicated set of procedures is always at the core of any business. These processes are especially ubiquitous and crucial in the manufacturing industry. From product development and creation to quality assurance and employee safety, each manufacturing business has its own set of procedures in place with distinct phases that demand attention and accuracy.

With so many of these processes running at the same time, it's easy to overlook a key step somewhere along the way. When avoidable errors start to occur, manufacturers need to rethink how they measure and manage processes throughout their enterprises. Errors are significantly more likely to occur if the company does not use good business process management software, so this could be the right option for you. Here are some of the benefits of using software for your manufacturing business.

Better Organisation

Organizing the specifics of each operation in a manufacturing organization might seem to be an insurmountable task. Many businesses struggle to keep track of processes that vary greatly in size and breadth and need a wide range of personnel, time, and resources. With so many variables to consider, it might be tempting to use a variety of different tools rather than searching for a holistic solution to get the task done. After all, how could a single solution be adaptable enough to meet every individual requirement?

A single solution may be "one size fits all" using highly adaptable process management software for manufacturing businesses. The flexibility to tailor each workflow to accommodate a wide range of demands enables firms to manage all of their operations, big and small, in any one location. Eliminating unneeded tools reduces the confusion that results from spreading information too thin and allows management to view cross-organizational data more clearly.

Save Money

It is difficult to detect whether a process isn't operating if faults aren't visible, and it may be tough for production managers to acquire an overview of the materials or resources they need to allocate properly. Manufacturing company software delivers a complete picture of administrative, operational, managerial, and inventory data throughout the organization, allowing you to effectively manage projects with real-time reporting. Your company will save money by saving time and resources attempting to obtain this information from numerous systems and by reducing waste, improving procedures, and profiting from happy consumers.

Streamlines Processes

In manufacturing organizations, inefficiency is a significant drain on productivity; struggling with clumsy procedures and manually contacting team members when they're required wastes valuable time and adds unnecessary weight to your firm. Inefficient procedures can cost businesses up to 30 percent of their income each year.

Accelerate things using software designed expressly for efficiency in manufacturing. A good process management system provides a plethora of automation possibilities, including the ability to start processes, pre-fill custom forms, remind co-workers to finish tasks as required, and more. With dozens of automatic checks, notifications, and updates ensuring that every step in the process is completed every time, increasing speed will never mean compromising quality.

What other benefits are there of using software in your business?

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AD - GIFTED | If you've been on the hunt for the perfect educational Christmas gift ideas for your children, look no further!

If you've got young children in your family, whether that be your own children, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, or any other young friends and family members, the lead up to Christmas can seem very chaotic and overwhelming at times. Christmas shopping can be extremely busy and a tiring experience, especially when you're unsure of what to buy and you have no Christmas gift ideas at all.

For children in particular, there is such a variety of gift ideas that will be suitable for Christmas. During this time of year, there are plenty of advertisements everywhere sharing a variety toys and games, clothes and accessories, and other fun Christmas activities that would be great gift ideas for children. Toys and games make amazing gift ideas as they are something that can be used time and time again, can help improve your child's learning and will never ever get boring! Whether you opt for family-fun board games, wooden or educational toys, or even some cute soft plush toys, you're bound to put a smile on your child's face this Christmas!

Soft Toys

Soft toys are such a cute Christmas gift idea, and there is such a large selection of soft plush toys to choose for. Soft toys are suitable for all ages, whether your child is a new-born, toddler or an older child, you will be able to select toys suitable for their age range, and as well as this, you can purchase toys according to which cartoons or animals are their favourites. In particular, younger children and babies love to explore, love to touch and feel new textures - soft toys can play an essential role in helping to develop sensory skills and encourages some social and emotional interaction.

Educational Toys

For me, educational toys are a good all-rounder gift for anyone, but as a child, you are always learning new skills everyday and will always improve on these skills with daily practice. Educational toys come in all shapes and sizes - whether you want your child to improve mathematical skills, reading and writing, problem solving and logic, motor and coordination skills, there is definitely something suitable for all age groups and abilities.

A great education toy that I have found is the My First Calendar. This magnetic calendar is the perfect gift idea to encourage children to learn simple life skills and use the days of the week, dates, months and seasons of the year, and also the different types of weather. This reusable calendar gift idea offers a fun way of learning as it is very easy to use, as well as being colourful, attractive and eye catching - it's something they can hang up in their bedrooms and interact with daily to help with their visual learning and life skills. The My First Calendar can always help with promoting independent learning, as it can help children with reading, pronunciation and spelling, as well as helping them to associate different months of the year with seasons and to recognise what type of weather usually occurs during different times of the year.

Board Games

Christmas time is all about spending quality time with your loved ones, and there is nothing more fun than spending time playing your favourite family board games. Board games can provide countless hours of fun, social interaction and challenges, suitable for all ages and abilities. For children, playing board games assists with early learning as they are important for a child's mental and social development. Many games feature a wide variety of tasks and challenges, and may offer practice with focus and concentration, mathematical, logic, problem solving and hand-eye coordination skills.

Wooden Toys

For a more eco-friendly, sustainable option for your Christmas gift ideas, wooden toys are a great choice. Wooden toys don't require electricity or batteries, making them incredibly long-lasting and durable. These types of toys can be used over and over again without any damage, which would be a good idea to get for young children who can continue using these wooden toys whilst they are growing up.

Wooden toys come in all shapes and sizes, whether it's building blocks, puzzles and jigsaws, or even board games, there is plenty to choose from. A product I have come across recently from Jaques of London is the Shut The Box Wooden Game. Shut the Box is a straight-forward dice based game that offers an introduction to simple arithmetic, mathematics and numbers. The object of Shut The Box is to use all the numbers on the board, or 'shut the box', determined by the throws of the dice.

Arts and Crafts Activities

For children who love being adventurous and creative, or just love to their hands dirty, choosing the perfect arts and crafts activities could be the perfect gift idea. Arts and crafts activities allow children to be creative, imaginative and experimental, and is something that is definitely suitable for all ages and abilities. Whether your recipient loves drawing and colouring, painting, making models or even textiles, arts and craft activities have such educational value, it's definitely something to consider as a Christmas gift.

What are your favourite toys, activities and games?

12:30 No comments

GUEST POST | If you’re on a low income, a zero hours contract or minimum wage, you might feel you’ll be laughed out of the bank if you go in there asking for a mortgage. So, how can you get on the property ladder with no money?

Average House Price in The UK

With the average house price in the UK being £264,000 and the average salary being £31,285, how is anyone supposed to get on the property ladder, never mind those on a low income (as an illustration, someone working 40 hours a week on minimum wage would be on a salary of £18,532.80)? All is not lost though. You might think you’re priced out of the housing market but there are ways to get on the property ladder with a low income and we’ll have a look at some of these ways below.

Look For Property in a Cheaper Area

If you’ve got your heart set on a townhouse in Notting Hill, setting your sights a bit lower will help you get on the property ladder. When I say ‘a bit’, I mean stop coveting those £6million penthouses on Rightmove and have a browse on estate agents in Essex websites instead. You’ll get far more for your money in slightly less-salubrious areas such as Barking, Basildon or Dagenham and, if you work from home, you can live wherever you like (and can afford), so you won’t be spending thousands a year on your commute.

Save a Bigger Deposit

Saving a bigger deposit is easier said than done, no one’s going to disagree with that. A rightful complaint from would-be property buyers is that they can easily afford a mortgage, as proved each month when they pay rent that’s more than their mortgage payment each month would be. If they didn’t have to pay so much in rent, they could save up for a bigger deposit with which to buy a house. It’s a Catch-22 situation for sure. There are ways to save though, even if you think you’re already financially stretched to your limit.

Cut Down On Essentials and Non-Luxuries

Go through your bank statements and online subscriptions and see what you can cut out. That daily coffee shop coffee? Get a travel mug and take your own coffee on your commute. Do you really need all your streaming services? There must be some you can cut out or downgrade to a cheaper plan. Do you have a gym membership but can’t actually remember where the gym is? Scroll through the apps on your phone. Are there apps you’re paying for but never use? If there’s stuff you really have to buy, here are some tips to help you save money online.

Put The Money in a Savings Account

When you’ve gone through your daily/weekly/monthly/yearly outgoings and cut out those services and non-essentials you can live without, put the money you would have spent into a savings account. This isn’t because you’ll make more money in interest (you get approximately bugger-all in interest these days) but because if you leave it in your bank account, it’ll get spent somehow. Put it in an account that doesn’t give you a bank card and you’ll soon see the money for a deposit build up.

Pay Your Debts Off

I know paying more money out seems to contradict the advice above about cutting down on your spending, but one thing a mortgage lender looks at is how many loans and debts a potential borrower already has. Paying off any debts such as a student loan (okay, that’s possibly a bit unreasonable), personal loans and credit cards will make you look better in a lender’s eyes.

Improve Your Credit Score

A low credit score isn’t going to do you any favours when it comes to getting a mortgage. If you think your credit score is going against you, you can check it for free at websites such as Experian. If your credit rating isn’t great, make sure you pay off any loans regularly and don’t miss any payments. On top of that, pay more than the minimum amount required to really improve your rating.

‘But I don’t even have a credit card. Why is my rating so low?’ is a common question. The reason your credit rating is low when you don’t even have a credit card is because there’s not actually anything to rank you on. No one will know if you’re good at paying back a debt if you’ve never had one. Yet another of those pesky Catch-22 situations.

Yet again, I’m going to contradict myself and say, if you’ve never had a credit card and your credit score is low - get a credit card. This sounds a crazy idea but getting a credit card and paying off the balance in full each month will improve your credit score. I’m not suggesting you get a Platinum Amex and max it out on shoes, handbags or cars each month, but buy your groceries and other regular essentials on your credit card and just remember to pay it off in full each month. You’ll be no worse off but your credit rating will improve.

The above advice isn’t a magic bullet for getting on the property ladder with no money, but a bit of cutting back, compromising and improving your credit rating will get you further towards your dreams of being a homeowner.

Are you on the property ladder? What are your tips and advice for first-time buyers?

10:00 No comments

GUEST POST | If you're looking at planning a visit to Cardiff, Wales for the first time, here are some things you must see, do and experience.

Splendidly situated betwixt the mountains and the sea, Cardiff is making a big splash with visitors. This capital city is small in size, but big in personality. Weekenders are drawn by its unique character and charms. Some come hoping to rub shoulders with rugby players, spy a dragon or two, take in an ancient castle or join in with a good old singsong, Tom Jones’ style. Aside from those quintessentially Welsh pastimes, Cardiff has much else to offer too.

Making waves since the 15th century, Cardiff is now home to 350,000 people. Set just off the M4 motorway, with its own airport and a centrally located train station, these days the city is within easy reach of just about anywhere. With its emblem of the red dragon in glorious abundance, every sign written in both Welsh and English and a chorus of distinctive lilting voices all about you, once here you know, without a doubt, that you are in the heart of Wales. The buzz of the city comes from music, rugby and a strong, proud sense of national cultural identity. Some even claim that the shopping here is better than in Milan. The city is also brimming with lively nightlife options, from traditional pubs to sophisticated bars, live music and a wide range of clubs for a memorable party night out. Whilst Cardiff has all the cosmopolitan buzz of a capital city, it is compactly set within a small area, making it easy to get about.

Cardiff lies within a stone’s throw of the Brecon Beacons National Park and the Black mountains to the North and the South Wales coastline to the South and West, where there are also plentiful Bristol activities. This means that adventurous types, with a penchant for the great outdoors, can schedule in walking, biking, golf, surfing, canoeing and other Cardiff activities. There are small to middling sized mountains to scale, the largest being Pen y Fan, at a lofty altitude of 886 metres. Coastal towns such as Ogmore-by-Sea offer the very hip challenge of surfing. For cyclists, there are a range of on and off-road options, the most famous being the Taff trail. At 55 miles (93 kilometres) long, it wends its way from Cardiff to the historic market town of Brecon. It largely follows the course of the Taff river and is a mixture of on and off-road sections, requiring either a mountain bike or perhaps a hybrid model to tackle it. Even within the city itself, there is the opportunity to get out on the water of Cardiff bay, in a canoe, kayak, wind-surfer or dinghy. Sticking safely to dry land, there is also the rather lovely and very central Bute park to picnic, lob frisbees and generally laze about in.

For rugby fans, Cardiff holds the allure of the 74,500 seat Millennium stadium. This is home to the Welsh national side, fondly nicknamed the Red Dragons. On match days, thousands throng here, creating a sea of red in the stands, together with a carnival display of nodding and bopping dragon and daffodil head attire. Even if you’re not here on match days, you can still sneak a glimpse into the dragons’ lair. Stadium tours allow you to peek inside the dressing room, tread in the footsteps of giants through the players’ tunnel and hold a trophy aloft for yourself.

For culture vultures and seekers of knowledge, there are museums, galleries and shops, including the National Museum of Wales, Techniquest hands-on-science centre and Wales Millennium Centre. There is also the 2,000 year old castle to explore. Back through time, it has been home to a Roman fort, a Norman citadel and a Tudor stronghold. These days, instead of repelling grockles with slingshot and hot tar, it welcomes them with open arms. If you time your visit to Cardiff right, you could sup locally brewed beverages at the Great Welsh Beer and Cider Festival in June or munch your way through the Great British Cheese Festival in September. Music is in the blood of Welshmen and Cardiff is firmly at the melodic forefront. It has major venues in the form of the Millennium stadium and the Motorpoint Arena. These regularly attract the big names in music, such as the legendary figures of Gary Barlow, Dolly Parton and McBusted. There are heaps of Eisteddfod and Jazz options to enjoy and a smorgasbord of live music available in smaller venues too.

If you wish to craft, nibble, quaff and laze, Cardiff offers a wealth of luxurious, sublime and quirky opportunities to do so. You can roll your very own handmade chocolates, create melt-in-the-mouth fudge, muddle some cocktails with a master mixologist or shrug off the hustle bustle of the 21st century at a lavish spa.

As the sun sets over Tiger bay in Cardiff, visitors have their sights set on re-fuelling and thoughts naturally turn to eating, drinking and making merry. Cardiff has a huge variety of restaurants, cafes, pubs, bars and nightclubs on offer. Mermaid Quay is part of the multi-million pound redevelopment of Cardiff bay and boasts a number of restaurants and bars, where you can sit, sup and enjoy views out across the water. Alternatively, you can head for the central area, near the castle and train station. Here lie pubs for every tippler, from traditional to spit and sawdust to trendy and sophisticated.

There are clubs a-plenty too. For alternative music, head for the top end of the town centre. For mainstream chart, dance, trance, house and party music, you could head for the areas around St Mary Street in the centre, Cardiff Bay or Greyfriars road. Cardiff’s motto ‘The Red Dragon will Lead the Way’ perhaps hints at the promise of mini adventures for those that choose to follow, offering something for every size, shape and flavour of visitor to the city. Join the migration and let the dragon lead on.

Have you visited Cardiff?

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GUEST POST | You know how it is when you get a new kitchen. You vow to look after it so well, it’ll look shiny and new forever. Each time you venture into your gleaming kitchen, you delicately stroke the worktops and promise to keep them looking pristine and to never let them get dirty or damaged. In fact, you love your new kitchen so much, you don’t even want to use it. Ever.

But, let’s face it, in the real world, kitchens are there to be used and, not only are they there to be used, they’re there to be used for mucky stuff. After a while, all your good intentions go out the kitchen window and suddenly there’s flour and fingerprints everywhere. Don’t fear though, all is not lost, because below you’ll find a few hints on how to look after your kitchen worktops to keep them looking as good as they did on the day they were installed.

Look After Your Kitchen Worktops By Using A Chopping Board

It probably goes without saying, but to save your kitchen worktops from getting scratched, use a chopping board. Even if you have resilient, strong and scratch-proof marble kitchen worktops, protect them the best you can by not chopping anything directly onto them.

Wipe Up Any Spills Straight Away

As you’ll probably be aware, some foods and liquids stain stuff just by being in the same room as them. Beetroot, turmeric and red wine are just three substances that create stubborn stains, so wipe up any spills straight away to keep your kitchen worktops stain-free.

Clean Your Kitchen Worktops Carefully

Of course, although wiping up spillages straight away is a great habit to get into, that isn’t going to keep your kitchen worktops clean. But before you start channelling Mrs Hinch and start stocking up on cloths and cleaners (who are we kidding, with all the millions she’s worth, she probably hires an actual cleaner now), save your money and leave the bottles of chemicals and abrasive sponges on the supermarket shelf.

Hot soapy water is all you need to keep your kitchen worktops clean but, if they do need a bit of extra help, you can add a bit of multi-purpose cleaners. Not bleach though. Bleach is bad. Also, don’t let a wire scourer or anything similarly scratchy anywhere near your worktops and use a soft microfibre cloth instead.

Clean Into The Corners

How often do you clean in the corners of your kitchen worktops? You know, under the toaster and behind the bread machine? If the answer is ‘When I can be bothered,’ you’ll get no judgement here. I’m exactly the same. But if you want to keep your kitchen looking as good as it did on the day it was fitted, you'll have to make the effort to move those appliances out of the way and get into the corners.

Look After Your Kitchen Worktops With Trivets

‘If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen,’ is a well-known saying (or, depending on your age, lyrics in a Bucks Fizz song). This saying obviously doesn’t apply to saucepans or casserole dishes, so they’ll have to stay in the kitchen even when they’re hot. Heat and worktops aren’t a great match though, so this is where trivets are your kitchen worktop’s best friend to save your worktops from getting scorched and permanently damaged.

Kitchen Worktops Can Last A Lifetime If Looked After

If you look after your kitchen worktops, you'll not only keep them looking good but they’ll also stay in tip top condition and should last you many years, if not a lifetime.

How do you take care of your kitchen worktops?

10:00 1 comments

GUEST POST | Confidence is key to feeling your best in your clothes. There are many ways to improve confidence, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. It can be beneficial to try out many different ways to find the method that works for you. With that in mind, this article will explore some of the most popular ways to help boost confidence, leaving you looking and feeling more confident.

Wear Things That Make You Feel Good

One simple way to boost your confidence is by filling your wardrobe with pieces that make you feel good. This could be a material that you enjoy the feel of colours that bring you joy or a style that makes you feel sexy. It may take a little experimentation to find out what makes you feel the best.

Add Positive Affirmations To Your Daily Routine

Positive affirmations can help you change your mindset and improve your confidence. The way we talk to ourselves matters, and a lot of people are more critical than generous towards themselves. Some people choose affirmations that focus on their strengths, what they like about themselves or noting achievements.

Smile More

No one likes to be told to smile by strangers, but it is worth noting that the act of smiling can help to boost mood. Not only this but smiling at others will often lead to them smiling back, creating positive social interaction. That’s not to say that you should smile at everyone you come across, but taking the time to smile, even when alone, can help bring your mood up and improve your confidence.

Invest In The Right Shapewear

Shapewear can be a great way to help your clothes fit better and more smoothly. This, in turn, can be a great way to feel happier in your clothes. It is crucial to find shapewear that fits your body type and consider the kind of shapewear that is most suitable for various outfits. Take a look at the brilliant shapewear options from Heist to help you choose the right option.

Take Yourself Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Getting out of your comfort zone can help boost your self-esteem, helping you feel more self-sufficient and capable of taking on whatever life throws at you. Knowing that you can handle even the unknown can be an incredible boost.

Throw Out Clothes That Don’t Make You Feel Great

You could consider going through your wardrobe to find items that no longer make you feel good. These could be items that no longer fit well, are no longer your style or that are past their best. You could consider donating or recycling these items so that you can make room for the clothes that make you feel good.

Accessorise Well

Accessories can be the perfect way to finish off an outfit. Even if you’re not feeling your best in something, the right finishing touch can completely change how an outfit feels. You could consider building a good collection of accessories, including sunglasses, jewellery, hats and scarves. These can add more of your personality to your outfit, leaving you feeling brilliant.

How do you help boost your own confidence?

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AD - GIFTED | Love the occasional glass of red wine? Did you know it might have health benefits too?

When it comes to making healthier lifestyle and diet choices, alcohol consumption isn't typically the first thing that you would consider. However, drinking occasional glasses of red wine has been linked to a host a number of positive health benefits that can improve your lifestyle and diet.

There's little doubt that consuming red wine has a number of health benefits, but those benefits will only apply if you drink wine occasionally and in moderation. Consuming large, excessive amounts of alcohol is not good for your body and your health in general, so lets look at 3 health benefits of drinking red wine in moderation.

Can Lower Cholesterol Levels

Red wines are typically known to help lower the bad cholesterol levels in your body. The powerful antioxidants found in red wine may increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol - which is good for you, and help protect the body against cholesterol build-up. The NHS free tools can educate and advise you in aiming to help to cut down on alcohol too - they always advise to drink less, but better quality wines.

Keeps Heart Healthy

One of red wine's most popular health benefits is its effect on your hearts health. Many individuals believe that consumption of red wine can be linked to lower risks of heart/body inflammation and heart disease, as well as a reducing your chances of dying from a heart attack. When red wine is produced, it retains the skin of the grapes used during the fermentation process and this is usually where the beneficial chemicals are located. Red wine typically contains a number of beneficial nutrients that are linked with keeping a healthy heart, including: Polyphenols, Quercetin and Resveratrol - which are all powerful antioxidants with huge health benefits.

Full of Antioxidants

Antioxidants are vital substances typically used for maintaining good health, as they help to protect your cells from damage. Red wine contains powerful antioxidants called Polyphenols. These are what helps protect the lining of blood vessels in your heart. The majority of health benefits red wine has to offer are linked to Resveratrol -an antioxidant found in the skin of grapes.

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Independent Wine is one of the UK’s leading specialist in award-winning Italian wine, and the company stocks a large variety of Italian wines that have won some top awards. Recently, I was kindly gifted a couple of bottles of red wine from Independent Wine, to see what I thought and to share online.

1. Siddùra Erema 2018 | Cannonau di Sardegna DOC

This full bodied Sardinian red wine has a deep, dark ruby colour, enriched with aromas of wild berries and cherry, as well as hints of spicy black pepper. A powerful wine with aromas of fresh, spiced berries, made from Sardinia’s signature black grape variety - Cannonau, thought to be the most ancient in the Mediterranean. It is full of powerful and healthy antioxidants, which is a key element of the famous Sardinian diet.

Awards

Concours International De Lyon 2021 – Silver Medal (2019 vintage) | Sakura Awards 2021 – Silver Medal (2019 vintage) | Gilbert & Gaillard 2020, Gold Medal (2017 vintage) | Decanter World Wine Awards 2019 – Bronze Medal (2016 vintage) | Women’s Wine & Spirits Awards – Double Gold Medal | International Wine & Spirits Competition – Bronze Medal | James Suckling – 91 points

2. Feudi di Guagnano Pietrafinita | Primitivo di Manduria DOC 2019

Old-vine Primitivo wine has a very luxurious and rich flavour, with hints of blackberry and liquorice. It has quite a remarkable depth of flavour due to the particular winemaking process used to make this wine. The Pietrafinita wine again has a deep ruby colour, with strong aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant and liquorice. Since it’s made from passito grapes, this wine has a elements of dried raisins, dates and prunes, followed by notes of coconut and cinnamon.

Awards

Decanter World Wine Awards 2021 – Bronze Medal (2019) | I Vini di Veronelli – 2 stars (2015 vintage) | Luca Maroni – 91 points (2011 vintage)

Are you a red wine drinker? Did you know consuming this drink can have positive health benefits?

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AD| Whiskey is a drink that divides people. Not in the literal sense - when friends gather together to enjoy a dram of a good whiskey, it encourages conviviality and a good feeling. No, what divides people is talking about whiskey, specifically the different kinds, the good and the bad, the technicalities of what even constitutes a whiskey. In fact, as we’ll come to see, even the spelling of the word can lead to differences of opinion.

Below, we’ll approach some of the different kinds of whiskey from the point of view of a beginner and show what the differences are, which whiskeys will work for whom, and where the different types come from. Learning something about these differences may help you when discussing whiskey with someone whose opinions may differ from yours.

Scotch Whisky

As you will have noticed, Scottish versions of the beverage carry the name “whisky”, without the “E” that is usually included in the word when it comes from another country. The word is from a Gaelic translation literally meaning “water of life”, and when transliterated by Scotch distillers, “whisky” was how it was spelt. It’s not just the spelling that differs, though. Typically, whisky is made from malted barley and aged in oak casks, ideally for no fewer than three years. Whether a single or blended malt, single or blended grain, or simply a blended whisky, the Scottish form of the drink has an earthy, smoky flavour seen by many as the ultimate version.

Irish Whiskey

Known for having a smoother finish than Scotch whiskies, the Irish form of whiskey is often made from a yeast-fermented grain mash or a blend of cereals. Like its Scottish counterpart, Irish whiskey is also aged in wooden barrels, though no specific wood is prioritised. The ageing process lasts at least three years, and Irish whiskey can best be differentiated from its neighbour across the sea by the absence of that tell-tale peaty, aromatic tone. Irish whiskey is produced all over the island of Ireland.

Bourbon Whiskey

The most famous form of whiskey produced in the United States, bourbon looks and tastes markedly different from its Celtic cousins - you’ll recognise it by its fiery red colouring and its sweeter taste. The production method is different too - Bourbon is made mostly from corn and fermented in charred oak casks, ageing for up to ten years. Many people believe that Jack Daniels is the most famous bourbon, but it isn’t - it’s actually a…

Tennessee Whiskey

Similar in many ways to bourbon, the big difference with Tennessee whiskey is that it is steeped in charcoal before it is allowed into the casks for fermentation. This allows it a smokier, almost treacly taste which will be familiar to many drinkers.

Rye Whiskey

The alternative to corn-derived whiskeys, this kind is produced using a mash of no less than 51% rye along with other grains before ageing in charred barrels for no less than two years. The different production method bestows upon it a taste that can variously be described as “fruity” or “piquant”.

There are, of course, other sources for whiskey, but these are the main ones exported worldwide. Which you prefer is a matter of personal taste, although Scotch is generally favoured by the connoisseur thanks to its more complex flavour profile.

Do you like to drink whiskey? What is your favourite type?

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AD| Love online shopping? Need ways to save money? Looking for the best deals? This blog post has you covered! The online world is constantly evolving, and as a result of this, it has made many things in life that little bit easier – including shopping. Online shopping is incredibly convenient, easy, and can save so much time and money, why wouldn't you want to shop this way? Nowadays, you can simply order anything online to be delivered right to your doorstep, including clothes, home appliances, food and drink - the list is endless!

Searching for the best prices online can seem like quite a tedious job, but if you have the right knowledge and know what to look out for, you'll be saving yourself some money. So, if you’ve looking for the bests ways of how to save money when making purchases online, then you will need these simple online shopping tips and tricks for the next time you fill up your basket and head to the checkout.

- Use Vouchers and Discount Codes -

Many online retailers offer their customers various vouchers and discount codes when shopping online. There are several ways to get these, for example - signing up to newsletters, seasonal discounts, and installing browser extensions.

Sign Up To Newsletters - Many online stores and retailers will usually reward you for subscribing with a some form of deal, voucher or discount code to use online. This can be extremely useful if you are a new customer to the brand and once you’re on their newsletter mailing list, from time to time, you may receive vouchers or discount codes to your email inbox for other sales and seasonal discounts on their websites.

Seasonal Discounts - Throughout the year, many brands offer seasonal discounts to sell out the old stock in order to offer the customer something new. As well as this, many brands will offer discounts at certain times of the year such as Christmas, Black Friday and end of season sales. These are great opportunities to save money on your online shopping and get the best deals. This is also a great chance to be organised for getting gifts ready for Christmas and birthdays, as you can shop ahead to ensure you find the best online discounts and save as much money as you possibly can.

Installing Browser Extensions - A new way of finding the best deals and saving money online is to download and install browser extensions such as Honey and Pouch. These online plugins will automatically search online for any relevant voucher or discount codes, and apply these to your online basket to lower your total spend.

- Use Cashback Sites -

As well as searching for voucher and discount codes, another money saving tip is to check whether you can earn cashback when shopping online. Websites like My Money Pocket and Top Cashback allow you to earn a small percentage back of the amount you spend online once you complete your purchase through a tracked link. My Money Pocket is a free, money-saving site that offers a number of online discount codes and allows you to earn cashback at over 4,500 brands - including Asos, Superdrug and even Just Eat, to name a few. Cashback websites can seem like a waste of time, and it may seem like a small amount of money to get back if each store only offers 1 or 2% cashback, but over time, this can add up and you could soon be rewarded with 100s of pounds for simply choosing to shop online.

- Use Price Comparison Sites -

To get your product, utility or service at the best price, you might have to visit a number of different websites in order to get the best price comparison. Today, there are a number of reliable price comparison websites with integrated search functions that make it easy to help you find the lowest price. Price comparison websites work by scanning the internet and gathering the total costs from multiple retailers or providers, to ensure you the best rates for products and services you require. You can usually find good deals on utilities, holidays, hotel rental, flights and insurance using websites such as uSwitch, Go Compare and Expedia to name a few.

- Look For Websites Offering Free Delivery -

Many online retailers will usually offer customers free shipping on their orders if you spend a certain amount of money on there store. A great money saving hack would be that if you realise that you are only a few pounds away from qualifying for the free delivery, adding a few more items to your order and spending that little bit more on products can actually help you save some money overall.

And if the items you added as extras are not suitable or what you expected, most of the time you can easily send them back for a refund. Another option for saving money on delivery costs is to order your items for click and collect in store, or even get them delivered to the post office, local convenience store or your nearest pick up point, as many retailers offer this for free and will save you a few extra pounds.

Online shopping is extremely easy and accessible - but the hardest part about it is trying to remember all the various ways you can go about finding the best deals and saving your money. Once you get the hang of using specific cashback sites and looking for discount codes, you'll be doing it every single time you shop online and will eventually be rewarded with incredible money saving results!

How do you save money when shopping online? What other tips and tricks do you have when looking for the best deals?

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