Archives August 2024

If you have grown tired of your surroundings, it is certainly time to revitalise your home. After all, we see the same walls and floors every day, and so it is only natural that we get a bit bored of this after time. However, the trouble is that changes can cost a lot of money—money which most of us don’t have to spare. 

Grab a paintbrush – There is only one place to begin, and this is by grabbing a paintbrush and adding some colour to your home. This is one of the easiest ways to make a big difference. Plus, there are so many things you can do with paint. You could add an accent wall to a room, you could use wall stencils to paint a particular pattern, or you could paint all of the walls in a completely different shade. The choice is yours, but one thing is for certain: paint will give any room a fresh feel.

Change the flooring – Many people assume that changing the flooring in their home will cost a small fortune. But this is certainly not the case. You can turn to the likes of cheap laminate flooring by Factory Direct Flooring to save money while still improving your property in the process. If you currently have dull and dated carpets, it is time for a change. Not only will laminate flooring give your house a modern vibe, but it will also be much easier to maintain, which is great news for you.

Replace hardware and fixtures – You can breathe some new life into your home with new cabinet hardware, faucets, and light fixtures. This requires minimal effort but it makes a big different. Such cosmetic changes are purse-friendly because you are only going to be paying for a new cabinet knob or handle, for example, but it will look like you have purchased a new cabinet entirely.

Accessorise—Last but not least, master the art of accessorising to give your home a fresh feel. Why not add a pop of colour, scatter cushions, and a new throw? Why not breathe some fresh life and add a touch of nature to your property with some indoor plants? Small changes like this have a much bigger impact than most people realise.

As you can see, there are a number of different changes you can make around the home that will make a big difference without costing you a fortune. From changing the flooring to adding small touches that will give your property a new feel and personality, hopefully, you now have all of the suggestions you need to make a big change to your property with undertaking a big expense.

Date night is practically every night before you have children, all those evenings spent at the cinema or bar. Weekends away together and lazy Sunday mornings in bed with the papers and a pot of coffee. Once you start a family, it is harder to get alone time together but it’s important to try so you keep that spark for each other alive.

If you struggle to get together for a regular date night because you don’t have a babysitter, here are a few ways to create that date night experience at home… After the children are in bed!

Pamper Yourself.

My best tip is to schedule a particular night—put it in the diary so it happens. The anticipation of the night may have you smiling secretly to yourself all day! Click on the image above to see a post I curated for MODE featuring recipe ideas, entertainment options, and some how-to’s to get your at-home date night to go with a bang!

“No babysitter, no problem!”
Ways to have a date night at home! – Tweet this

Tweet: “No babysitter, no problem!” How to have a date night at home: https://ctt.ec/fDzKb+ #datenight

What are your strategies for having a date night with your spouse? Let me know in the comments. One reader devotes one night a week to teeth whitening.

Is this something you have tried. Many people mention boutique whitening, is that a think. Post a comment or send an email to [email protected]. I found some glowing reviews here from Yummy Surrey Mums!

What you need to know before undergoing body contouring or fat reduction treatments

It’s a brand new year, and for many people, that represents a time to get in shape. If you’re considering body contouring treatments in 2019 but haven’t made your mind up yet, today’s blog is designed to help you.

At Global Health and Beauty Clinic in London, we offer fat reduction and skin tightening treatments to ensure you look as good as you feel. Patients visit us from across the Midlands, including areas such as Birmingham, Derby, Leicester, Nottingham and Wolverhampton to undergo body contouring treatments, and below you’ll find some of the commonly asked questions we receive.

What is fat reduction?

This is a non surgical way of improving the aesthetics of the body. We use radiofrequency energy instead of surgical techniques to reduce fat and/or tighten skin. Various areas of the body can be treated, and it’s suitable for both men and women over 18 years of age.

What areas of the body can be treated?

The beauty of body contouring treatments is that they can help you define and tone numerous areas. Most commonly, energy assisted skin firming and fat reduction treatments are used on the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, upper arms (bingo wings) and the flanks.

How does it work?

We offer body shaping treatments with Lipofirm Pro. This is an energy assisted platform which uses the power of radiofrequency to lift, tone and shape. It combines two types of technology to deliver totally non invasive treatments – there is no needles or scalpels, it’s all totally surgery free.

What happens during treatment?

A hand piece is moved across the area of treatment as the energy is sent down into the dermis. It’s not painful though a warm sensation can be felt. A full consultation is required to ascertain suitability and a bespoke treatment plan is devised for each patient.

Can you treat cellulite?

Yes – with Lipofirm Pro we can also help to reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Why is Lipofirm Pro better than other treatments?

The state-of-the-art technology is proven to be both effective and safe. This platform is award-winning and is backed by science – we see the results for ourselves every day, and we think you’ll like them too.

Do you offer skin tightening for the face too?

Radiofrequency skin-firming treatments for the face are also available. This confidence-boosting treatment can help minimise facial ageing signs, including skin laxity.

I love the saying ‘comfort food’. It conjures up the idea of warm, filling treats, home-cooked meals, and eating something out of a bowl—while wearing cosy, cotton loungewear!

Comfort food satisfies you and makes you feel loved, so when I was invited to join the Primula Blogger Club and sent their latest range of cheesy tubs, I felt very loved, and my thoughts turned to comfort food and what I could make!

My children enjoy cheese on toast, so I thought I’d use the new tubs to create an indulgent snack of Primula cheese on toast – with a twist! Primula tubes and tubs are real cheese in a convenient and spreadable form, making them super easy to spread without tearing the bread or breaking a cracker, so I put them to work!

You’ll need:

• Multigrain loaf
• Tub of Primula Cheese with Onion
• Tub of Primula Smoked Cheese
• A few drops of Worcester Sauce

Method:

• Put the bread into the toaster to lightly toast both sides
• Spread creamy cheese onto each slice; I made one with the cheese & onion pot and the other with smoked cheese!
• Add a few drops of Worcester sauce to each slice
• Place under a hot grill for a few minutes until the cheese is warm
• Settle down in your favourite armchair with a cup of tea and enjoy!

The Cheese with Onion flavour has a creamy yet mild taste and the Smoked Cheese flavour is “really nice” according to my husband! This easy recipe is full of flavour and perfect for a snack on these cold winter nights.

Whilst cheese on toast is a favourite for children and adults alike, I also wanted to put together a quick treat for the adults for evening snacking. If you’re a fan of cheese and crackers, why not use Primula cheese for a snack with real character?

I combined the Cheese with a Chilli tub with a Ritz cracker and used the Cheese with Smoked Salmon tube with the Sainsbury’s Mature Cheddar Crispy Thins. The smoked salmon gives a highbrow treat—Primula’s tasty cheese with chopped salmon. You could say it’s a way of having your restaurant’s favourite cheese board in an easy and accessible way at home!

As the Primula range has a long use-by date, they will become fridge staples at this time of year, when a trip to the supermarket on a cold night is less appealing!

The cheese cracker sandwich will save you calories if you watch your weight. Simply swap your Cathedral City Mature Cheddar (around 426 calories for 200g) for Primula with Smoked Salmon—at the same amount, you’ll save around 219 calories!

I’m always watching my weight but the real push will start again in January. Until then I will have a few more nights of indulgent cheese on toast for supper as my winter comfort food!