This day I love.......: house

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I have just returned home from a run. A planned 8 mile run cut short due to the heavy rain. I can hear the rain beating down on the glass outside. I stand in the dark hallway cold and soaked to the bone. The door to the front room opens, my youngest daughter reaches out and asks for a hug. Our dog jumps up excitedly to greet me. Little Man snoring away through the baby monitor.

After a shower I return downstairs to sit on the sofa between my girls. Snuggled together under a throw, lights low to help the girls unwind and the dog fast asleep on the rug. We sit there together, warm and cosy, for half hour before bed. It is so quiet I can hear the girls breathing, it is peaceful and I feel happy.

This time together is so precious, the girls at school all day and my training meaning I am spending most evenings running. The idea behind Hygge is to forget life’s worries, to unwind and relax and to feel as at-home as possible. Whenever I return from a run and cuddle my children this is the moment I feel as at-home as possible. In the winter though this seems to feel even more special. Perhaps the dark outside adds to the mood. The warmth inside. The soft cuddly cushions and throw on the sofa are so inviting for a cuddle when I come in from the cold.

The Danish-owned, Scandinavian global home furniture retailer JYSK are celebrating opening their 2,500th store, you can shop online and find your nearest store here, and we are going to be partnering with JYSK and their feel the Happiness Campaign.

JYSK want to know what makes you happy? By letting them know you could be in with a chance of winning a hygge inspired goodie bag.

Keep an eye on the blog and social channels as over the next few weeks as we explore the hygge vibe and JYSK feel the happiness campaign.

To Enter the giveaway simply follow the instructions on the Widget below. Full terms and conditions can be found on the widget along with ending times.

This post is in collaboration with JYSK all words are my own opinion.

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Making the decision to re design your home is not something that should be undertaken lightly. . A lot of people will do work on their properties for all manner of reasons and the decision about why you want to undertake the work should be carefully thought about

There are a lot of benefits on deciding to do work on the home. Once you know why you want to do work you need to work out how you’re going to go about doing it. Doing any sort of renovations and refurbishment work is a big task, and requires a lot of preparation.

Make Sure You Can Afford It

Carrying out work on the home can cost a large amount of money, So be sure you have the finances in place to take on the work that you want. There is no point in attempting any projects or home improvements if you don’t have the money to help you do it. The first thing to do is sit down and draw up a budget. You need to know what you’re earning and how much disposable income you have. That way you can work on setting money aside and saving up to cover the costs of the repair work that you want to do.

Don’t Take Up Too Much of the Home

When you’re doing projects in and around the home, it can be quite intrusive, so you need to make sure you don’t take up too much space in the home when you’re doing it. The best thing to do is to take on the project one room at a time. That way you’ll be in a position to complete each area of the work, but the home will remain habitable. The last thing you want is to have to make half of the property off-limits while work is being done, especially if you have children at home

Safety is Key

With this in mind, you need to remember that safety should always be key in the home. That means you need to try to ensure that the property stays as safe as possible while work is being carried out. There are a number of ways you can do this. For one thing, you need to try to make sure you keep any equipment and tools out of harm’s way. The area where work is being done should be out of bounds while the work is happening. Make sure you educate the kids about the dangers and safety risks they face while work is going on. If you can do all these things you’ll be able to make the process much safer

Have You Planned the Work?

You need to ask yourself a very important question, have you planned the work you need to do? This might seem obvious, but a lot of people don’t actually do this, and it ends up being chaos, plan what needs to be done before work starts. Think about whether you want wallpaper or paint, and what colour scheme you want. This means you will have some sort of direction, and a clearer idea of what to do. Planning and preparation are essential to a smooth and successful project.

Give Both Inside and Outside Attention

You need to remember that the whole of the property requires care and attention. Think about both inside and outside spaces. You could go for stainless handrail systems to improve the visual aesthetic of the garden and you might go for an open fire to increase the warmth and efficiency inside the home.

Bring in Some Pros

Now, there is going to be some work that needs doing that you won’t be able to do yourself and that means that you will need to bring in experts for some jobs. Make sure you address this when it needs to be addressed. Don't attempt to do work you can’t do yourself as this will only make things worse. Bring in the pros and make sure they do a thorough and professional job of things.

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Your house is much more than the four walls and the roof. It is more than the bricks and the motar that go into make up your home. Having that home feeling is a sign of comfort and release. It is the ability for you to come in and be with those you love. Being at home is safe and secure. It is your place and yours alone. You can be who you are here and it doesn't matter.

Similarly, there are days when you can make it sparkle and others when you can let it go a bit. There is something of you and your family here. You find your pets curling up on the couch the moment you leave. Have you ever wondered what it takes to make a house a home? And is there anything you can do to make it more so?

It’s a matter of time.

I think that it’s true to say that time lived in a house will certainly leave its mark. I don’t just mean through the decades. I mean the personality that rubs off when you engage with family life. The activities and bits and pieces that get brought back from trips and travels. The photographs we start to collect, that build up on the surfaces and even walls. All of these add your personal touches. Even the marks and scratches that come with activities and accidents will tell their story. These are some things that only time can take care of, but maybe there are some things that we could do now to instantly bring that touch of home into our houses. A touch that is stylish and personal all at the same time.

Furnishings and fittings

These are the big stamps that we put on any room. A lounge space cries out for that feature piece of furniture that everyone can curl up on. You might have a well-loved couch or be considering upgrading. Think comfort as well as style. Home Space Direct has pretty much everything you need to bring that comfort factor into your home. The more we personalise a space, the more we own it. Couches and sofas no matter how old and preloved, come alive with throws and cushions. These are great for nestling up in and occasionally throwing around!

I quite like the idea of stretching out our family space to include the floor. A colourful feature rug is a good way to bring personality into a room. These look great on wooden flooring but they also serve just as well on top of fitted carpet. Floor cushions add extra seating as well as encouraging family play. The more furnishings we use, the more we soften the edges. The softer the edges, the greater the comfort factor.

Let beautiful colours surround you

Some colours are better than others at creating that welcoming feeling. White and brighter tones aren't a problem as they encourage light. One problem is they might show marks up easily. They do make a great backdrop for artifacts and other wall features that add character. Try and steer away from anything that is too bright and ‘in your face’ colour wise. You might also want to restrict your use of cool colours such as blues and greens. Soft, warm tones help that homely feeling and a good selection can turn a room around from being cold and unloved to warm and welcoming.

Texture is another way to allow touch and feeling to influence your choice of furnishing. There are some fabulous wall coverings that are softened almost to the feel of fabric. Have fun with tactile accessories. Have a fluffy cushion and a selection of gorgeous soft blankets for people to draw up and use.

The curtains you choose to use on your windows can add a real comfort factor. This is especially true at this time of year. Being able to draw floor length curtains not only keeps out the cold, but it also allows the warmth and intimacy you have created, to stay in the room.

Light your space with luxurious down lights and banish any harsh overhead lights. Instead, opt for lamps that you can alter and create intimate pools of light around the room

Your walls can be a family gallery

Your walls can be a place to show off your personality and bring a sense of family into the heart of your home. A great way to do this is display treasured artwork, or just allow your taste in pictures to create mood. Family portraits are great to have around and it can be worth getting some of your better pictures printed out and put into a good sized frame. It can be so nice to see the printed image rather than the digital version.

Storage spaces.

No one wants to live in a museum and some homes can seem a little sterile at times. It’s okay to allow your bits and pieces to spread around but you want to have handy and great storage solutions for the times when you want things tidied away. You also want to have things like board games accessible. They'll be easy to get out (and put away again). Create spaces for shoes and coats so they don’t clutter up your living space.

Personalise your space

Have things around you that reflect who you are. These are the books, the DVDs and the CD’s that you enjoy. All of these say something about you at the same time. It’s lovely to see your real personality shine through. You could have things that remind you of places you have travelled to. Vases, pottery and even random pieces of driftwood all tell a story. Stones, pebbles and feathers make colourful additions and touches.

Did your grandparents ever have a room that was saved for ‘best’ and special occasions? These rooms often have a cold and non lived in feel. Draw your family into shared real living space. It may be possible to for you to create separate areas, using lighting and even screens that will allow some members to have a quiet area, nook or alcove. It would be great to think that someone could be curled up with a book without being disturbed no matter what else is going on.

Encourage family in your space. Try not to let it just become a room for entertainment. Draw everyone together for treats or get out a family board game and open up the floor. The more you allow this to happen, the more your personality, taste and touches will become a part of your house and your home.

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The rain came pouring down and we could not go outside to play. The girls did not want to go out and play, they wanted something fun to do. Something a little different. What they really wanted was Cat in the Hat to inject some fun, so we injected our own.

We took our white Cardboard playhouse from cardboard toys, our blank canvas and let imaginations go wild. The girls were given paint, leaves, stencils and the craft box, the rest was up to their imagination.

The girls began by holding a planning meeting inside their house. They decided what to do and what they would need. Spotty dog decided to keep guard.

The girls began by decorating the inside of the house. They drew lights on the ceiling, a kitchen and bathroom and of course all the other essentials bedroom and their toys. The dogs watched on with interest.

After they had finished decorating the inside they played inside the house and admired their work.

Spotty dog seemed very impressed with the interior.

I was incredibly impressed with what they had drawn, my favourite parts are the lights on the ceiling and the cat in the Hat made an appearance too!

With the inside complete it was now time to start working on the outside. They cut, stuck, glued, painted and created. Busy chatting away and making things. Using objects to dip in paint and act as stencils. Discovering shapes and patterns, mixing colours to make new colours

Day 1 was drawing to a close, they had worked really hard on their house all day but it was now time for bed.

They made smoke clouds for the chimney, a bird in a nest to sit on the roof [Mummy had to help stick him on the roof] and a flag. What house doesn't have a flag!

They stuck solar panels on the front of their house and trees down the side

Even making some pipe cleaner snails for the front of the house.

It was still raining on Sunday so the girls began painting again. Finishing off their hard work they had started the day before. Stamping butterflies, bees and ladybirds on the sides near their trees.

Using their hands they created roof tiles on the side of without solar panels. By the sides of the door they created some red flowers. There was one final task and that was to paint the doors.

After two days of hard work the girls wrote 'Our House' above the doors and had created their dream home. It had everything that their imaginations could think of from flowers, birds and creativity.

A wonderful way to spend a rainy weekend and the girls have a dream house they can play with for many more adventures.

This day I love Rainy day house building

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I remember the day we put our house on the market. We decided to move to be closer to family, better schools and for more space. What we didn't realise at the time was that I was pregnant with my youngest daughter.

Our house sold when I was 33 weeks pregnant, I was still working full time and I had an 18 month old to look after. Stress didn't cover it. What made things more stressful is the house we wanted had sold! We were really disappointed but continued our house search with me heavily pregnant. We fell in love with another house which went to auction. Although we were the highest bidder the owners decided to sell to someone else as they felt they would move quicker.

As luck would have it the original house we wanted came back onto the market and we made an offer straight away, which was accepted. Then the fun started. We had to decide which survey to carry out, which solicitor package we wanted, factor in the different costs of moving and then wait for all the survey results to come back and act accordingly. Some of the results that came back brought back unexpected results and we had to factor in these costs, costs of repairs, bills and other things we originally had not thought of.

I was getting closer to my due date and we still had not got a moving date, stress levels were high. Whilst in labour we got a phone call to give us a completion date, which was then brought forwards and we ended up with 3 days to pack up the house and find a removal van. I was tired, had a newborn baby, a 21 month old and really could have done with out the stress of moving.

I would have loved to have had a fairy godmother to explain exactly what was going on and when. What would happen on moving day, if I had known the movers could have moved the cupboard with items still in them I would not have spent all the time packing things up. Things such as the bills in the new home how to move them across to your name or even to think about ordering your furniture before you move so it is ready for your new home. Yes we spent a month sitting on the floor until our sofa arrived.

Money Supermarket have devised the fairy godmother I needed. An online tool that takes the stress out of moving and even has features built in to save you money.

Money Supermarket have thought about everything to do with moving home. Even what to do with your pets. Something that had not occurred to me until after we moved. Remember to update the pet microchip details, vet and pet insurance details. Money supermarket can also help you discover the cost of your happily every after. This interactive tool is really simple to use and requires answers to a few short questions. At the end it gives you an idea of the cost of moving. I personally loved that the calculator stays with the fairy tale theme.

Whilst we have no plans to move again in the near future, at least I know that if we did I would have a fairy godmother on hand this time with Money Supermarket

I am a member of the Mumsnet Bloggers Network Research Panel, a group of parent bloggers who have volunteered to review products, services, events and brands for Mumsnet. I have not paid for the product or to attend an event. I have editorial control and retain full editorial integrity. I was given a voucher to thank me for blogging about MoneySuperMarket

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One day in your children’s life, they may have to move house. This upheaval can be a big issue in families, especially when your kids don’t understand. It’s even more difficult if you’ve lived in the family home for some time. Getting them to accept you’re moving house (without tantrums) is tricky. However, it’s not altogether impossible. Here’s how to help your little one accept a house move.

Start Early

Before you even start looking for a home, it’s a good idea to let them know that you will be moving house in the future. Explain to them that this means you’ll no longer be living in this house, but you’ll be in a brand new home! By getting the ball rolling early, you’re less likely to have tantrums later on. It will also help when you get them involved - see the next point. If your children are really little, then they may not understand. However, there’s no harm in trying to explain what will be happening.

Get Them Involved

Let your little one feel as though they play a big part in the house move. Let them have a look through the rental homes listed with Hamptons and on other estate agents websites. Ask them which houses they like the look of and which they don’t. Of course, your children can’t dictate where you’re going to move to but, it will get them excited at the prospect of moving somewhere new. You’ll want to keep them involved every step of the way, where possible.

Viewings

It’s not worth taking your child to every single house viewing, seeing as there are going to be many you don’t like the look of. You should, however, take them to see the properties you are interested in. This is another way of keeping them involved in the whole process. You will also be able to see any anti-child flaws in a potential house. Things such as counter heights and stairs are a good indicator of how child-friendly a house is. Your estate agent shouldn’t mind arranging second viewings for your whole family to have a look around. Treat it like a fun family day out!

Packing Up

When it comes to packing things up, some children may worry that they won’t see their toys again. You need to turn this into a game and keep referring back to the house move. Another good reason to start explaining early! Ask for them to put everything in boxes, as if this is the most fun in the world. You may also want to colour coordinate the boxes or get them to draw pictures on the side. This will help them feel more at ease about packing up their stuff.

The Move

Finally, it’s time to move house. Ideally, you should ask for a friend or family member to look after your little ones when moving. It’s stressful enough without children under your feet! You will also be able to get some things in order before they see their new home. This will enable them to feel more comfortable in their surroundings. Especially if you take some of their toys out to play with.

By the time the move comes, your children should have accepted what is going to happen. That’s why it’s important to start early and keep them involved. You’ll find that they’re a lot more keen on the idea if they feel as though they had an input!

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My running friend and I decided to challenge ourselves and sign up for our first 5K run. We picked a route that we had part run before and was at least familiar with the area, the beautiful National Trust property Nostell Priory. National Trust are running a series of night runs and they sounded fun, so we signed up.

The furthest we had run before was 6km, but that was with some walking so we thought this would be a good challenge, Nostell also has a few inclines and muddy patches. We checked the site before we left and noticed it said 6km. Too late now so we headed off to the beautiful grounds

We were in the first 100 to sign up so we were given a festive Santa hat. This caused for the obligatory pre run selfie and festive photo.

We waited for night to fall near to the start line, watching all the other runners warm up. Sending positive thoughts that we were about to run the furthest we have ever run, when the announcer said 'nearly 7km race', I turned and looked and my friend and she at me, oh pants!

We made our way very nervously to the start line, and headed towards the back. 7km was a real challenge and we felt staying towards the back with our slow pace the better option.

Before we knew it we were off. The first night run at Nostell Priory.

It was a real challenge. The dark added a whole new dimension. Unable to see the muddy puddles and shinning a torch in the dark looking for a glowing vest of a marshal or even the reflective glow stick of the route marker was exciting. We ran through woods, fields and round the lake. The course had some steep inclines and some great descents too. There was plenty of mud, and some very slippy patches. The added sense of running in a group and the support from the Marshals seemed to spur me on.

I ran through a bad stitch in my side, through the pain barrier and pushed myself through those inclines. The first lap I completed and was so proud of myself, I thought to myself anything else is a bonus. I made it past the house, round the lake and up the field. I was feeling tired and in pain but at the same time I had a stride going, it wasn't fast but I was moving and not walking. I even overtook a few people. I kept going down the hill and back up towards the house. Before I knew it I was on the final descent to the finish line, I could see it and I had this sudden burst of energy, I think it was the promise of a free mince pie. My legs went for it, sprinting towards the end and then I did it. I ran it, and I was so proud.

I might not have been the fastest but I did not come last. I ran my first race and completed it. I was awarded a glow in the dark medal, which is pretty cool and of course a free mince pie. J had run with me and he even got a medal too!