Planning Our Dream Garden

Chris and I have lived together for the past seven years and during that time, we have only ever lived in terraced housing with little to no outdoor space. We've since had two children and we are at the stage where we are looking to buy our own house, as opposed to privately renting like we are right now. We have a few "must haves" such as living in a suitable area close to the children's school, having a third or maybe even fourth bedroom, a garage and most important, a garden!

I feel like I'd love a garden for the children to run around in and play whenever they like as outdoor time is so important and it's much easier than taking a trek to the park. I would also really enjoy having a more grown up space for us. I've put together a little plan of what I would have in my dream garden (although I doubt I'd get the size!).

Outdoor Toys

 Photo by Luana Azevedo on Unsplash

This is probably the most important for me. I'd love to get the children one of those huge outdoor frames that comes with a swing, slide and lots to climb - it would keep them entertained for ages and would feel just like being at the park. Both children have also expressed interest in having a playhouse so I think we'd opt for a wooden one just so it lasts a little longer. I've also seen some companies that specialise in outdoor chalkboards that fasten to a fence. C and E would both definitely love that and it saves them from using chalk on the patio. Win win!

Food Area
I spend a lot of time on Instagram following home accounts and I am completely envious of Mrs Rackley Home's food area outside. Beforehand, I'd happily just have a patio with some gorgeous rattan furniture and a fancy barbecue, but she has gone that little bit further and installed her own built in pizza oven. I need one of those in my life too! It would be lovely to invite all the family around for a nice alfresco meal in the summer with the children playing next to us.

Grow Your Own 

This is one thing that Chris and I have always said that we would like to do - grow our own veg! There is no way I could have a garden without cordoning a little part off just for growing vegetables. It would save us so much money and it would be a great way to get the kids interested in it and teach them where our veg comes from.

Home Cinema
This is another thing that I didn't know I needed until Instagram came along, this time courtesy of Lust Living. Okay, it probably isn't realistic because you'd need a huge amount of space but hey, a girl can dream! Just imagine sitting outside as the sun goes down, with your favourite movie playing via a projector. Bliss!

Floriculture
I admit, I am not green fingered at all and wouldn't know how to keep a plant alive but it's definitely something that I'd love to learn if I had a garden. I'd probably opt for artificial grass for the main part (just so it looks pretty and green all year round!) but I'd love a "frame" of beautiful, brightly coloured flowers around the edge of the garden. I think it would really set the whole area off and just make it a lovely place to be.

What would you have in your dream garden?

(This is a sponsored post.)

Plastic vs Glass Greenhouses - which should you choose?

Greenhouses are perfect garden furniture for horticulturists as they allow them to make the most of the seasons, experiment with growing more exotic plants and grow more tender vegetables such as cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes.

There is a range of different glazing options for greenhouses and they all have advantages and disadvantages when compared. The right glazing for your greenhouse will be determined by your requirements, personal preferences, climate and budget.

Together with The Plastic People, retailers of polycarbonate sheets, we look at the pros and cons of creating a greenhouse from plastic or glass:

Fitting a greenhouse

With gardeners keen to grow their own produce in their backyards, greenhouses remain in high demand. Customers first face two choices when they decide that they would like a greenhouse – to build or to buy. Although buying a ready-built greenhouse can save time and energy, purchasing the parts from a supplier and assembling it yourself could save you hundreds of pounds.

Experts at Gardeners World estimate that building your own greenhouse would only take up one weekend too. There are plenty of tutorials online to guide you into building a greenhouse but it consists of five main steps:

• Ensuring you have a level foundation
• Assemble each section and attach loosely with clips and bolts
• Fitting the door runners, the door and any automatic window openers or vents
• Lining the glazing bars with foam glazing tape or rubber strips to act as a seal. Fit the roof first with glass or polycarbonate sheets and then the wall panes
• Tighten all the bolts, starting from the top of the fixture

If this sort of DIY is not up your street, alternatively, you can buy one from a garden retailer.

Pros and cons of a glass greenhouse

Gardeners who greatly value the aesthetics of their garden tend to go for glass greenhouses as it gives the ‘traditional’ look. Research by gardeners at The Telegraph found that, compared to twin-wall polycarbonate sheets, glass had a 2-3% higher light transmission. However, this is because the light scatters as it passes through the twin-wall and manages to reach areas that light penetrating through glass cannot which could be advantageous.

One negative of glass is durability. If your greenhouse is in the flight path of any birds or footballs, you could find yourself replacing the panes regularly. Glass is very fragile as a material and can become damaged off a small bump.

Pros and cons of a plastic greenhouse

There are many advantages of introducing polycarbonate panes to your greenhouse. Some polycarbonate sheets, like the ones sold by The Plastic People, were found to be 200x stronger than glass yet half of its weight. This makes the material easier to use and more durable. Due to its hardwearing properties, polycarbonate does not need replacing as much as glass and has been found to be a longer lasting alternative for traditional glass panes. Upon testing (vigorously with a hammer), the plastic sheets were found to be shatter-resistant which is perfect for any mishaps that may occur in assembly or in the garden.

Polycarbonate sheets also filter out nearly all the harmful UV rays that you may become exposed to when gardening in the greenhouse, allowing you to harvest your crop without the fear of sunburn.

If thermal insulation is important to you and key to the growth of your plants, glass is the slightly favourable option. A single sheet of polycarbonate has 0.1 less ‘R’ value (measurement of thermal insulation) than a sheet of horticultural glass. However, this can be solved with a twin-wall polycarbonate panel which assists with useful light diffusion as mentioned.

If twin-wall polycarbonate is your panel of choice, it must be sealed properly as the flutes within the wall can attract moisture, mould and insects – proper assembly would prevent this from occurring.

At one time, a negative property of polycarbonate sheets was clouding over time. However, technological advancements have prevented this from occurring and the sheets remain clear all year round.

So, it appears that polycarbonate sheets could be the new glass when it comes to greenhouse panes. Boasting durability, shatter resistance and light diffusion in all the right places, it is ready to take on any challenge that the UK weather has to offer.

Sources

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=613 

http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/diy/how-to-build-a-greenhouse/

https://www.theplasticpeople.co.uk/products/uses/greenhouse-glazing/

http://www.wintergardenz.co.nz/glass-vs-poly-vs-film.html

(This is a sponsored post.)

 

Christmas Gift Ideas: Yankee Candle

I absolutely love Yankee Candles and I buy them a lot! I love Christmastime and always stock up on 'Christmas Eve' - it's my favourite scent of theirs. I'm sure I'm not the only one who is a fan so I've put together a little gift guide of what's available for all ages and genders.

Candles & Melts:

All Is Bright / Macaron Treats / Star Anise & Orange / Festive Cocktail

All of these are available in either wax melts at £1.49 each, small jars (£8.99) and large jars (£21.99). I was gifted the small jars of each of these scents and I can assure you that they all smell amazing. All Is Bright is probably my favourite and I will definitely be burning these all through the festive period.

Accessories:

Grey Etched Star Jar Candle Holders / Polar Bears Jar Candle Holder / Star White Tea Light Candle Holder / Red and Gold Snowfall Medium Votive Candle Holder / Holiday Party Votive Candle Holder / Festive Trees Large Tea Light Candle Holder / Polkadot Votive Candle Holder / Stripe Votive Candle Holder / Winter Glimmer Large Shade & Tray Sets

This range is a beautiful way to decorate your home for Christmas in a subtle but effective way. They can complement any décor style whether it's elegant or jolly.

Gift Sets:

Advent Calendar / Party Pavilion Advent Calendar / Holiday Party 3 Votives & 1 Votive Holder Gift Set / 2 Medium Jars Gift Set / Holiday Party 10 Tealights & 1 Tealight Holder

These gift ideas will be perfect for anyone's price range. You can choose stocking fillers or make a grander gesture. I've been hinting to Chris about one of their gorgeous Advent Calendar.

For him:

Black Coconut Small Décor Pillar Candle / Black Coconut Décor Reed Diffuser / Aftershave Footed Tumbler Candle / Hair Tonic Footed Tumbler Candle / Serengeti Sunset Large Jar / Kilimanjaro Stars Small Jar Candle / Madagascan Orchid Small Jar Candle / Yankee Candle Turquoise Sky Car Vent Sticks 

I have to admit, I always thought that Yankee Candles were a bit girly and had no idea that they could be a great place to find gifts for men too.

For her:

Lavender Large Jar Candle / Glass Lantern Votive Candle Holder / Scenterpiece® Warmer / Black Coconut Classic Reed Diffuser / Garden Sweet Pea Signature Reed Diffuser / Mums Make Everything Brighter Medium 2-Wick Tumbler Candle / Shea Butter Large Jar Candle / Fresh Cut Roses Medium Décor Pillar Candle / Pink Sands™ Scenterpiece™ Melt Cup / Fluffy Towels™ Scenterpiece™ Melt Cup

I actually would probably recommend the entire Yankee Candle catalogue for women but I'd never be able to fit it all here so here's a little selection of things I think a woman would love - I would anyway!

For parents:

Eclipse Scenterpiece Easy MeltCup Warmer / Rosa Scenterpiece® Warmer / Home Sweet Home® Scenterpiece™ Melt Cup / Vanilla Cupcake Scenterpiece™ Melt Cup / Crimson Flurries Scenterpiece Electric Easy MeltCup Warmer / Robyn Scenterpiece® Warmer

I love the Scenterpiece range and they are perfect for parents because you can burn melts without having an open flame. Great to have around kids instead of candles.

(This post contains PR samples.) 

Bean Bag Planet - Review & Giveaway

I first heard of Bean Bag Planet through a Facebook post back when C was around 9 months old. I didn't think he was the right age for one so I quickly forgot about it. I was recently contacted about reviewing one and was informed that they are great for children aged from newborn to 7 years old. With two children now in that age range, how could I say no? 

Bean Bag Planet have lots of different designs to choose from. I opted for the beige zebra print one as I thought it was a great unisex colour for both C and E. 

When the bag arrived, I was a little surprised that the cover and beans were separate, I imagined it would arrive ready to use. I had to wait until Chris got home from work to help me as I knew me trying to put the beans in myself was a recipe for disaster. I needed him to hold the zip open whilst I poured. We did have a few accidents where beans ended up on the floor but they were easily put back in. You need to put the majority of the beans in the back part then a few in the front bit, where you sit. You can use as much or as little as you want, just as long as it is comfortable for your child to sit on.

The bean bag has a strap on the front to keep smaller children on it but you also get a piece of material without the strap that you can zip on for older children who don't need strapped in. The fact that this product grows with your child makes it amazing value for money. You get 7 years of usage and the quality is fantastic so I don't have any worries about it giving up on us any time soon!

Both my children (aged 10 months and almost 3 years) love the bean bag. It's a new favourite - I think it's the comfort factor! 

The Bean Bags RRP price is £64.99 but you can purchase them directly from Bean Bag Planet for only £29.99! You can also find Bean Bag Planet on Facebook and Twitter. 

We have very kindly been offered the chance to run a giveaway for you lovely people! To be in with a chance of winning your own bean bag just fill in the Rafflecopter widget below.

T&C's:

• The giveaway will run from June 29th until August 28th
• One winner will win a Bean Bag of their choice
• Open to entrants aged 18+
• UK residents only
• Prize will be sent directly from the PR, please allow 28 days for delivery
• No automated entries
• One entry per person

Good luck!

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UK competitions at ThePrizeFinder

Aldi's NEW Home Range

On Thursday 7th May, Aldi are launching their new Home range in stores so can you spruce up your home without spending a fortune. 

Available as a single canvas (48 x 48 cm) or triple canvas (20 x 20 cm), Aldi's range of canvas wall art (£4.99) come in a variety of different designs and are an easy way to add a bit of personality to your walls. 

If you want to kick back after a hard day's work or looking after the littles, you can pick up one of Aldi's quality Cord Bean Cubes (£13.99). It is available in mink, teal, wine, brown and lime so you're sure to find one to suit your decor. It can be used as either an extra seat in the living room or a handy footrest. 

Rugs make a huge amount of difference to a room and are perfect for adding a bit of colour. Aldi do super soft Round Washable Shaggy Rugs for £12.99 each. they are 100 cm with non-slip backing and are available in cream, beige, black, red or brown. 

You can also find Printed Runners (£6.99) to spruce up your hallway and Doormats (£3.49-£3.79) to welcome visitors. 

I love a good nautical theme. My bathroom is actually all nautical! Aldi's pretty and practical nautical accessories are perfect for completing the look. Their Nautical Hooks/Tealights (£6.99) are available in four designs and are great for hanging keys and jackets or simply for adding a bit of fun to your home. The fixings are included too.

If you are a music lover, why not listen in style with a gorgeous Vintage DAB & FM Radio (£29.99)?

The Aldi Home range is available as part of its Specialbuys offering and it is available from 7th May but you must be quick, they're only available whilst stocks last!

(Disclaimer: I received some Aldi samples for sharing this post.)

Ozeri Bathroom Scales - Review

In the past I've done a couple of reviews for Ozeri (Turtlemeter and Moderna Artisan Glasses) and I've loved both items so I was very pleased to have the opportunity to work with them again. This time, I received the fabulous Precision II Digital Bathroom scales.

Our old scales were just that - old! They were manual scales so I could never be sure if what they were telling me were correct. The Ozeri Precision Digital scales and my old ones are miles apart.

The scales use 4 high precision sensor that measure up to 440 pounds and they have an LCD screen which glows blue with your weight whenever you step on them. They switch off by themselves too to reserve battery life. You are able to switch between lbs, kgs and st depending on how you would like them read. They are made from heavy tempered glass which doesn't seem too fragile and the feet are non-slip so you don't need to worry about your floors getting scratched.

The scales come with 4 AAA batteries and a free body fat caliper which is great if you are actively recording losses. The Precision II Digital Bathroom scales are sleek, stylish and would match any bathroom. I trust the weight that the scales tell me and I love that they give half and quarter lbs too.

You can purchase your own set of Ozeri Precision II Digital Bathroom scales on Amazon for £29.95 (on sale at time of writing at £19.95).

(Disclaimer: I received these scales free of charge in exchange for an open and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Wallcreate Canvas Print - Review & Giveaway

Since giving birth to E, I have taken a lot of photographs of her. I had lots of pictures of C dotted around the house so I was so pleased when Wallcreate got in touch about their canvas prints.

Wallcreate have been printing canvases since 2001 and they are regarded as one of the popular canvas printing companies in the UK. You can choose from a variety of sizes (starting from as little as £8.97!).

We were very kindly given the opportunity to try a 30cm x 20cm canvas (worth £14.97) and I just knew I had to get a photograph of E on it. I opted for one that really meant something to me - one of the first photos of her smile.

The canvas arrived promptly and I was so pleased upon opening. The quality of the photograph was remarkable and the frame is very sturdy and thick and it comes with fittings. It feels heavy enough but not too heavy where I would be worried about hanging it. I hate canvases that look and feel cheap but this isn't the case with Wallcreate. With Christmas coming, I definitely think that they would make a fantastic present for family members and the prices are so affordable, especially for the degree of quality that you receive.

Wallcreate are offering my readers the opportunity to win a 40cm x 30cm canvas print of their own. All you need to do is fill in the Rafflecopter widget below. This competition will run for two weeks from 25rd November until the 9th December. UK entrants only. Good luck!

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(Disclaimer: We received this item free of charge in exchange for and open review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Office Organisation with Shoplet

The fact that I blog, have two children and Chris is a student means that we have countless sheets of paper around our home; worksheets, appointment letters, blog related printouts, and storing them where we'd be able to find them easy was a huge faff.

Shoplet UK sell a wide range of Office Stationary and I was pleased to be offered the change to try some out. I received an A4 Storage Box (£7.41) and an A4 Paper File (£29.95 per pack of 10).

The A4 Storage Box I received is a gorgeous hot pink, perfect for my inner girly girl (it is also available in blue, orange, green, white and black). It's collapsible so it's easily stored when not in use. I found that the buttons to build were lined up correctly too. The A4 pages fit perfectly with a little bit of give so I have no worries about anything getting dog-eared. It's made from wood and has sturdy metal handles for easy transportation. There is also a label holder so you know what it contains without having to go through it.

The A4 Lever Arch Files are great for storing papers that you need to flick through. Simply punch holes in your sheet and slot them in. Again, A4's pages fit perfectly with a little bit of give and the file itself holds around 600 sheets. I received a blue folder but they are also available in orange, green, white and black.

Both of these items are very lightweight and are a great way to store your files whilst injecting a bit of colour to your office.

(Disclaimer: We received these items free of charge in exchange for an open and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Redecorating our Home - Haul #1

It may be quiet around the blog for a while as we're currently in the midst of redecorating our ENTIRE house before the baby arrives - why did we think this was a good idea at 33 weeks pregnant!?

Anyway, Chris is doing all the DIY jobs and won't let me paint! He says it's 1) 'I don't want you breathing in the paint fumes' pfft! And 2) he thinks that I will mess it up! How dare he!? :P

We've decided on a nautical themed bathroom, red kitchen, green & cream living room, our bedroom will be purple and C's room will be pirate themed. 

We had a bit of an impromptu shopping trip and managed to find some bargains that will tie in with our chosen themes. 

We picked up this gorgeous whale plaque from Next for just £3! I'm not sure on the original price though. 

We bought two of these cushions from Matalan at £6 each (they were originally £10 each). 

Chris chose this photo frame also from Matalan and it was £10 down to £6. 

He also picked out another frame which was an amazing £5 down from £15! A little bit of the glass is broken at the top but that is easily fixed. 

We also recently ordered the two kids beds and bedding and we built those up last night. 

For the new baby we purchased the Mothercare Gliding Crib. This is £99.99 to buy but as I'm such a bargain hunter, I got it when it was on sale a few weeks ago at £74.99. We bought the Mothercare Crib Mattress with Coolmax to go with it. This is £34.99 to buy but I got it on sale at £24.49. The bedding is the Little Lane Crib Bale which is now £39.99 but again, I got it at the bargain price of £28.99 on sale. 

C also got his first ever toddler bed! The bed itself is the Mothercare Darlington Toddler Bed which is originally £69.99 but is now on offer for £55.99. We accompanied it with the Mothercare Foam Mattress (£39.99). His bedding is the Mothercare Jersey Fitted Cotbed Sheets - 2 pack (£13.99), Mothercare Duvet & Pillow Bundle (£16.99), Mothercare Essential Cotbed Pillowcase & Duvet Set (£19.99) and I won a £50 voucher for Lovably Me so that was spent on his cool Pirate Quilt! 

I'm so excited to get all of the rooms completed but I will be sure to blog my way through it! 

Little Sweet Designs - Review

I know I'm only 14 weeks pregnant but I'm already thinking about what Baby #2's nursery will be like. Little Sweet Designs very kindly sent me a beautiful print to get me started with the decorating process. 

I received the Up, Up and Away print and it really is beautiful. It arrived in a sturdy envelope to ensure that no damage would occur in transit and when I opened it, I discovered that it was wrapped in white tissue paper with a rope bow around it. A lovely touch! 

I think that the colours are pretty neutral so it will be suitable in either a boys or girls room. It's a gorgeous addition to a child's bedroom or baby's nursery and they do a wide range of prints and room decor. 

Prices start at £8.00 and you can get it framed or unframed. 

They also currently have a limited edition print that I wanted to tell you all about. As you know, my son was born prematurely and Bliss Charity is a charity that is close to my heart. Sweet Little Designs have a limited edition print - You Are My Sunshine...Elephant Love - which is £18 to buy. Proceeds from this print will be donated to Bliss Charity. A wonderful cause. 

You can find out more about Little Sweet Designs on their website and follow them on Facebook and Twitter. 

(Disclaimer: I received this print free of charge in exchange for an open and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Canvas Design - Review, Discount Code & Giveaway

I take a lot of photos (mainly of C) and because we live in a rental property and can't decorate the way we want to, I like to inject a little bit of 'us' in by displaying family photographs. I love canvases and I have quite a lot of shop bought ones but none with family pictures, surprisingly!

Canvas Design were offering the chance to review a canvas and I jumped at the chance. I take my photographs on my iPhone 5 so they aren't the best quality. As the quality wasn't so great, I received two small canvases instead of a large one as my image would be a bit distorted. 

They arrived really well packaged and upon opening them, I was so pleased. I had chosen two gorgeous photographs from a recent visit to the park with C. 

The wood is very sturdy and the images are wrapped around well and securely. They are the perfect size to hang along my staircase and even come with hooks to make the hanging process even easier! They're very lightweight too so no worries about them falling off the wall! 

I would definitely recommend Canvas Designs and their canvas start at £5.99 to £60 depending on size and the thickness of the wood. You can view their pricing and size guide here.

They very kindly given my readers a discount code for 15% off your order if you use BLOG15

You can find out more about Canvas Design at their website and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

(Disclaimer: I received these canvases free of charge in exchange for an open and honest review. All thought and opinions are my own.)

As well as the discount code, you now have the opportunity to win a canvas with your photo on it! All you need to do it fill in the Rafflecopter widget below. This is open to UK entrants only. Good luck! 

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