This day I love.......: idea

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As my girls get older their individual personalities begin to show more. I love watching them change and develop, from babies to toddlers to little girls. As they grow their tastes begin to change and from liking everything pink they now like everything blue. I think mainly influenced by the blue dress that Elsa wears.

As they grow and start to form their own opinions they want more personalised spaces in their bedrooms. It is however not very economical or practical to decorate every time they discover a new like, but what can be done simply and easily is add wall stickers to add personalisation.

My eldest daughter is currently having her room decorated, it was done nearly 4 years ago when she was 2 years old and so is very much in need of a refresh. We have just changed the flooring in her room to a wooden floor, which hopefully will help with her eczema, and are now wanting to update the walls. The walls are going to be kept neutral and we intend on having a nature theme, as she loves the outdoors. One of her walls has been painted different to the others in order to create a feature wall, and we intend on using a nature themed sticker to create this feature in her room. Her favourite is this one:

I have to admit to really liking it too, as it not only is in keeping with the theme it will also last her as she grows.

My youngest daughter does not need her bedroom painting but she could do with the theme of her room updating, as it is currently very nursery orientated. Her loves at the minute are butterflies and birds but yet would not want a nursery sticker. The sticker would need to be more tailored towards a child.

What is great about wall stickers is that you can lay them out on the wall in your own design. Even though the design might be similar to this

We could choose not to use the cat sticker and reposition the butterflies on her wall in our own pattern. This would make for a perfect design for my youngest

Wall stickers are a great way to add a touch of personalisation to a room, in an economical way. They can be changed as often as needed which is perfect for children as they grow up and their tastes change.

This is a collaborative post

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Every week the girls have swimming lessons, and due to their different abilities they are in different classes. This means that I have to keep each girl occupied whilst their sister swims. If I could fit in my costume, I would probably take the opportunity to be in the big pool with them, whilst the other has their lesson in the teaching pool. As it stands though, this is not an option

Half hour may not seem like a long time, but when you are three years old and there is nothing to do, other than watch the general public swim or stare at the vending machine, you get bored very quickly. We are not allowed to watch the lessons, as it distracts the others in the class, so we just sit and wait.

With my eldest we often take the opportunity to read a book, do school homework or practise spellings, but it is more difficult to occupy my youngest. That is until I discovered busy bags from All about party bags. These bags are intended to keep children busy at weddings, or events or even to be used as party or gift bags but they are great at entertaining children any where.

As my girls are very different in their tastes and what will keep them busy, I ordered two very different bags. There are nearly 300 bags to choose from, so there is bound to be something to suit each individuals taste and every budget.

I have to admit to thinking they would make great party bags, and am tempted to order some for the girls parties. The bags are great value, and are packed full of different items. My youngest was incredibly pleased with her bag and it certainly kept her entertained whilst we waited for her sister.

I think the busy bags would also come in very handy on journeys, either car, train or plane. They would be a great gift to give to a child before the journey and they could have excitement at opening the gift and then using the busy bag throughout the journey. As you can choose your bag you could pick items suitable for the journey, or even with a theme related to the destination.

Our busy Bag has been put back into the swimming bag ready for next week. Busy Bag from All about party bags, certainly are a great way to keep little ones entertained.

The girls were sent a bag each for the purpose of this review. All words are my own opinion.

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It maybe cold outside and forecast to snow over the weekend, but we can still dream of the summer. Garden parties the perfect opportunity to socialise with your loved ones in the summer sunshine. It may only be January but nothing is stopping you from getting started on planning a garden party to remember. Whether it’s for your kids birthday party or just a family get together.

Choose a theme

A theme will set the tone for your party and can add a sense of fun to the event. The theme could be inspired by a colour, a country, a film or period. It can also be as subtle or as over the top as you like. Extravagant themes are perfect for children’s parties but can also work just as well for adult garden parties too. Your theme could just be in your decorations and table displays, or could span into your food, drinks and your guest’s attire. Vintage style parties are popular as they are so simple to create. Use Pinterest for some fantastic garden party theme ideas and get your creative juices flowing.

Sort out some seating

It’s likely you will be feeding your guests during your garden party so seating will be required. If you want to go for a relaxed vibe, scatter large cushions and throws around your decking or lawn. This will encourage your guest to sit down while they eat and adds some comfort to your garden. For a more formal approach invest in some rattan garden furniture. This will provide your party with additional seating and surfaces for you and your guests to use.

Organise some entertainment

Your entertainment will probably depend on the type of party you are throwing and the ages of your guests. If you have lots of children attending your garden party, classic garden games such as hopscotch, frisbee and tag are still popular. You can also buy games to use outside such as Twister and oversized Jenga. You can also get the adults involved with family competitions such as egg and spoon races, rounders or a general knowledge quiz. Your theme could also help you find and create some new games that nobody has tried before. Make sure it’s enjoyable and don’t make any of the rules too strict to avoid any upset amongst your guests.

Prepare an alternative

The British weather can be very temperamental and so it can be a good idea to prepare an alternative. You could clear out your dining room or living room and continue the party indoors instead, or put up gazebos which will protect the decorations and food until the bad weather passes. It’s always best to be prepared to avoid disappointment and disaster so think about a plan B while you plan your party.

What are your tips for planning a garden party?

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When your husband's birthday comes around, you might struggle with what to buy him. When you've been with the same person for many years, it might be hard to know where to start. If you want to make him feel special, you should try to choose something that he will adore. Where should you start? Here are a few ideas that I think might just work.

#1 A trip away

Sometimes, it takes going somewhere new to realise what you have. When we go on holiday, it makes us feel fantastic. If you want to show your man you care, why not book a weekend somewhere? You could stay in the UK or even go further afield. Take a look at the package deals you can find online. During the autumn, you'll find that there are loads and loads of offers.

#2 Golf lessons

Does your man love golf? If you want to show him how he can improve his golf skills, there is just one thing for it. Get him some expert golf lessons at a local club. You can often get a bundle of a few lessons. Every man loves to learn new things and develop existing skills. If you get him something that he can use on a day to day basis, I am sure that he will adore it.

#3 Male grooming products

Male grooming has become more and more popular in recent years. Hence, you can now get a wealth of products online. Whether you want to get him a shaver or some luxury face cream, you can find just what you need. If your hubby spends hours and hours getting ready each day, he may just love this gift. Take a look online now and see what products are available. There is a wealth of different things available.

#4 Gift vouchers

If you're not sure what to get your man, why not consider getting him some vouchers? Some guys are picky when it comes to what they want. The last thing you need is him not liking what you get him. If he has a distinct sense of style, let him choose his present. You can get coupons online or buy them in a store. Choose vouchers for a place you know he will love.

#5 Cuff links

You might think that cuff links are a unusual gift, yet they can be useful. Few guys have these things these days. When your man has to dress smart, he will be thankful that he has this little touch. Most jewellers sell cuff links for men. You should take a look at different designs before you settle on one. That way, you will find something that will suit him well.

Choosing presents for your husband can be hard, but you can do it. This gift guide may help you to find the perfect present. What do you think the perfect present is?

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As a busy mum and freelancer, I don't get as much time to work on our home as I would like. I think that your house has to feel like it belongs to you, even if you're not lucky enough to own it. When you've got kids, they need to be able to form an attachment to your home too. I like our home to be homely, but I also like to try and keep it modern. I have a few ideas I try to follow to keep the house looking fresh.

Replace Your Appliances

Major household appliances are expensive, so they're not something that we replace often but I think it's important not to hold onto an old appliance for too long. They do tend to last for at least a few years, you should try to buy something more modern. If you select an oven, washing machine or even toaster that looks cutting edge now, it will still look good in years to come. Stainless steel looks the most modern for most things, in my opinion. Too much colour can make things look out of date quickly. Stainless steel looks shiny, clean and new for as long as you take care of it.

Get New Doors

Sometimes the strangest things can make your home look more modern. Changing your interior decor will help it to look up to date, which you can do fairly often. You can also make some bigger changes, apart from repainting or putting in new carpets. Getting new doors or windows can make your home look more modern from both the inside and the outside. If you view modern front doors, as well as interior doors, you can change the exterior of your home too.

Use the Latest Technology

There are lots of technological innovations you can use in your home. I've seen expensive things in luxury homes, but you don't need to be rich to use smart technology. Even just switching to LED lights can make your home look more modern, as well as saving you money. You can even install lights that you can control from your smartphone or tablet if you want to take things to the next level. You can also stay up to date with the latest electronics, with a new television or sound system.

Be Bold with Colour

Playing with colour is one of the best ways to make your home look more modern. You can paint your walls in bright colours, but I think it's more effective if you use accents. It makes it easier to change things and keep the look fresh, and it keeps things from being too overwhelming. Try to make each space look clean and neat for a more up to date image.

I wish I had more time to work on the house because I would always be updating every room. Maybe one day I'll have the chance to give our home a makeover.

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I love a challenge and the lovely people over at Jus Rol decided to set me a spring themed challenge. They wanted me to take some of their Jus Rol pastry and create a spring inspired recipe. I began to think.

When I think of spring I think of chickens (possibly due to Easter, who knows), blossom, spring sunshine and the colour green. I wanted to use these inspirations in my recipe and came up with the following

Ingredients

250g natural yoghurt

1/2 teaspoon saffron

1/2 teaspoon sugar

500g chicken

1 sheet of Jus a Rol short crust pastry

Selection of green beans and vegetables : I used trimmed beans, magnetout, sugar snap and baby corn

Method

1. Pre heat oven to 180c

2. Grind the sugar and saffron together to make a powder and stir into the natural yoghurt. Put mixture to one side

3. Brown the chicken in a frying pan, once cooked add the vegetables to the pan for 2-3 minutes.

4. Place a sheet of banking paper onto a baking sheet and roll out the shortcrust Jus rol pastry on top.

5 spoon the chicken and veg mixture onto the top of the pastry leaving around 2cm at the edges.

6. Using your fingers turn up the edges of the pastry and pinch to form an edge.

7. Bake in the oven for 25minutes, or until edges of pastry are turning golden brown.

8. Remove from the oven and pour over the saffron yoghurt mixutre.

9. Place back into the oven for a further 5 minutes

10. Serve and enjoy.

I used chicken as my meat as from my original thought process on spring. The green beans and veg are from the initial thought of green. I thought the dish would be a little dry without a sauce or topping so created the yoghurt and saffron topping to add some flavour. The smell of saffron reminds me of the blossom which I also associated with spring. The whole dish has a wonderful yellow glow and warmth which is similar to the spring sun.

The whole dish is simple to create and thanks to jus rol ready to roll pastry everything was quick and simple. The saffron adds s beautiful delicate flavour to the dish and for me is light enough to remind me of spring.

I was sent vouchers from Jus Rol to purchase the pastry used in this post.

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