How to Select the Right Car Tyres

I am currently in the midst of learning to drive, and by that I mean, revising the life out of the theory stuff so I can pass the theory test before I even sit in the driver's seat. 

As well as learning the obvious - hazards, speed limits and road signs - I am making sure that I know my stuff when it comes to car maintenance as I know I can't always rely on Chris to help me out like he usually does! 

I am a natural born worrier so I know I'll be constantly checking to make sure that my car is in 100% condition and I’m fully equipped, whether I’m driving on a narrow country road or a busy, bustling city like London. Chris has been driving for around two years now and the one thing he's had problems with the most are his tyres. We've ended up having a flat tyre whilst out visiting family on Christmas Day which needed changing and just last week, we were doing the school run and he said he felt like he needed to just get new tyres altogether. 

Me being me, and wanting to learn as much as I can about cars before getting my own, I am always asking questions about why we do things and Chris is all too happy to indulge me. 

Top Tips for Buying New Tyres:

1. Make sure you are getting the right size for your car and check the measurements. You can find this information in raised lettering on the side of your tyre. This information tells you the width, aspect ratio, rim diameter, load rating and speed rating. Making sure you have a tyre with the correct speed rating is very important as if it is wrong, you can invalidate your insurance.
 
2. All tyres on sale are safe to drive and meet the standards required. Opting for a premium, mid-range or budget tyre is a personal choice. Whilst mid-range tyres can drive well and have a long life span, budget ones may not and might not do as well in wintry or wet conditions. Premium tyres will be the one that will last you longer, get you more miles and generally give you a better "feel" when driving. You can purchase all of these types of vehicle tyres at DAT Tyres London.
 
3. Buy for the season. There are no laws against using summer tyres all year round but going for a winter or all-season tyre give a better performance. 

Once you've chosen your tyres, it's really important to keep an eye on them. Change the air pressure when needed and always make sure the tread is okay. No one wants to be driving on bald tyres! 

This is a sponsored post.

 

Hello 2019!

A very belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I can't believe we are in to 2019 already and I am already hoping that this is going to be one of the best years yet for us. 

At the end of this month, this blog turns SIX years old. I am shocked that I've kept it going so long! In 2018, I didn't blog as much as I wanted to because it felt like too much of a chore - 64 posts in a whole year is awful. I was churning out sponsored posts and reviews which, don't get me wrong, I love because the children enjoy toy reviews and the sponsored posts help pay the bills, but my personal posts got pushed aside and I even stopped writing my What I Won posts altogether. I am planning on bringing those back this year and for anyone who is interested I won a total of 212 prizes worth £5,774 altogether in 2018.

The end of this month also sees mine and Chris's anniversary - we will have been together for nine years - and he turns the big 3-0 in February. Lots of cause for celebration.

I never make New's Years Resolutions because I can't really keep them to be honest but there are a couple of things that I'm eager to do this year. The main one is: learning to drive. I'll be 27 in March so really I should have done this ten years ago. Chris is the driver in our family and I hate having to rely on him or use public transport with two kids in tow. I just need my own freedom. I'm currently almost done with revising the theory and will probably be booking my theory test in the next month. I want to get that passed and out of the way before I start the practical side so I can just focus on that. 

Halfway through 2018 I rediscovered my love of reading. I used to read a lot as a child and teenager but found that I didn't have much time for it after having babies. Now that they are growing up, I'm making time to read and loving it. I'm signed up to Goodreads and have set myself a Reading Challenge of 80 books in 2019. Fingers crossed!
 
Lastly, the biggest thing for us this year is that we are hopefully going to be buying our first house. I will definitely be blogging about all of this and I'm really excited about not renting anymore and finally having our forever home.

Do you have any big plans for 2019 or have you made New Years Resolutions? Let me know!

7 Home Décor Mistakes You Shouldn’t Make

Home decoration is a complete process that you should carry out with great care and focus. A single mistake can destroy the whole decorative effect, effort and money invested. Always buy stuff from reliable sources like if you’re buying carpets online, be sure that the store is authentic. However, people continue to make mistakes that need to be addressed. In this post, we will highlight to home owners the top home decor mistakes they should avoid at all costs.

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/gREquCUXQLI

1. Not Considering Fire Hazards

A lot of effort goes into home decoration with a lot of money as well. People who decorate their home with self-effort should understand how catastrophic fire can prove if it is not considered while making adjustments in the room and house. Never use heaters or other fire items near places where the risk of catching fire is the most.

2. Not Checking Fabric in Person

Everyone has a different choice in furniture and fabric for pillows, bed sheets, sofas and other living room items. When you assign someone to purchase fabric on your behalf, they may not return with what you were expect. This is a serious negligence that should be handled carefully. You should check the fabric before making the final purchase call.

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/GpBkUtY-0dE

3. Using Wallpapers on One Wall

Either you should wallpaper all the walls or don’t do that at all. Using wallpapers on a single wall makes no sense leading to poor home decoration and ugly look of the room. Be careful while you select wallpapers, consider their colour that matches your taste and may give a great aesthetic view to the room and other places where used.

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/95V3AkP3wH8

4. Not Testing Paint Colors

This is for the home owners who decorate their houses on their own and make all arrangements needed. There are a lot of scammers out there. People are selling poor quality paints and decoration items. If you just buy and use the paint without testing some other places, it may be something that you regret later.

5. Stuffing

Stuffing a room is never a wise option. There should be separate areas or rooms where you want to keep your items and fill that with decorative pieces or other items. A room that has a frequent use should contain just decorative items that provide a nice look to the room. Overcrowding makes a place look restricted and diverts attention of the visitors.

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/CGZbE-Pa1S8

6. Out of Place Themes

This mistake needs to be avoided at all costs. You shouldn't use a modern theme in one room while the nearby ones are decorated with an old or classic theme. A single theme that matches with the paint colours, environment and makes you feel better should be employed for the whole building.

7. Getting Caught up in Trends

Falling a victim to trendy styles, themes, decoration ideas, designs and concepts may not prove good for your house. You have a choice that may not match with anyone elses. So you have to be unique in what you choose and what you decide on. Be careful and listen to your heart and everything will go fine and smooth.

(This is a sponsored post.) 

 

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.)