Spring 2016 Home Make Over

Now that we are approaching a new season I have been thinking about my home and the things I want to do to improve it.  I have made a list of changes I would like to make and obviously have myself a budget for these iq option tournament.  I think I would like to change something in every room in my home, whether it be new furniture or decoration I have set myself a goal of completing all of these things by the end of the Summer.  My main rooms I want to concentrate on first are my living room & the girls room.  I love looking at other peoples homes and really want to get some inspiration for my own living room ideas

The Perfect Home

I think we all have ideas of what our perfect home would be like, where it be living in a big house or having the perfect decor.  For me I want my home to be cosy and a happy place where my children feel safe and comfortable.  I want my girls to have a bedroom they want a room where they are happy to play in and sleep.

I thought I would share a list of my improvements for two rooms at home I would like to make and hopefully get some ideas from others too so if you have any make over ideas I would love to hear them.

Living Room

My living room is actually a nice size, but I don't feel its a room I feel cosy in.  I rarely sit in my living room in the evenings and I would actually like to start doing so.  

My sofa I have had for 6 year now its a leather corner sofa, as nice and big as it is I feel that I need a change.  I have grown out of the whole idea of the corner sofa and really would love to get a big two seater, I have seen ideas of what I like now I just have to save to get the perfect one.  I would like to also get a nice chair, its only me and the girls at home so I don't need any huge bits of furniture.

(my living room currently)

Dining table and chairs, I currently have an all white one at home, its small and round but for me its too clinical.  I have purchased a second hand wooden round table and chairs and am going to paint and wax it, I'm quite excited about this but feel it would be more to my style and more homely.

Prints for my walls, I have had the same canvas prints for 6 years now, red flowers which I got to go with my red sofa! and I really think its time for a change.

I am going to browse Pinterest for some inspiring ideas.  I quite like colourful prints and pastel colours so am excited to see what I can find.

If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them! 

The Girls Bedroom

Now I want to change everything in their room.  The walls have no pictures on at the moment so I want to go though some ideas with Abi and see what kind of prints she likes.  I always think that things like pictures and little accessories really can make a room.

They currently have pine beds which I really don't like, I want to get a nice white bed for them each, something girlie I think white works well especially in a child's room as you can then change the decor to any colour really.  Abi likes pink and purple, lovely girlie colours so it will be easy to find nice new bed covers, and little accessories.

Storage - This is absolutely essential in their room as they have SO much.  I mean I know kids accumulate lots of things but I have no proper storage at the moment and am struggling to keep things in place.  I have seen some really cool storage in Ikea which would look great in their room.

Overall for the rest of the home I would just love to update on the little accessories.  Maybe put a few shelves up and get rid of any clutter.  

What improvements are you making on your home this year? 

Planning The Perfect Wedding

This is something that one day I hope I will be doing, but for now I have the pleasure of attending one of my best friends wedding, its not for a while yet but when we sat down recently and had a chat about how her plans were coming along I was so shocked at how much the dream wedding would actually cost.

She had a budget of £15,000 and that has just covered the venue well part of the venue (which I have to add is beautiful) and the catering for 130 guests, you would have thought that amount of money would have gone further but I suppose it does depend on venue and how many guest you want to attend.  

Then there are the added extras, dresses for the bride and bridesmaids, and suits for the groom and best man.  Cars, flowers and any extra bits.  Thinking about it myself is quite overwhelming (and its not even my big day!) 

When my Sister got married, she married her husband on a very tight budget but the day was amazing.  A lovely Winter wedding, she married in a registry office, and had a lovely sit down 3 course meal with close family and a few friends.  Her dress she found unexpectedly in the sale! And so were the bridesmaid dresses.  Her friend is a florist so she was lucky enough to get a discount on her flowers.

Some people save for years for their dream weddings, others are lucky enough to have their parents pay for their special day.  Some people don't get married simply just because of the cost.  This is where places like the Lending Works come in handy with their Low Cost Wedding Loans.  You can go online to the wedding loan calculator and work out how much you want to borrow and how long for and it will give you an instant quote.  I think if you are both working and are in a position to afford the monthly cost then loans like this are great to help to pay for your perfect day.

I hope one day mine will come and I can write about it on here!

Did you have a budget for your wedding?

My Serenity Moment with Yankee Candle

I was recently asked by Yankee Candle if I would like to take part in their My Serenity Moment Challenge, I was sent 4 of their gorgeous candles from their new 2016 My Serenity Collection and I had to create a serenity moment for myself using the gorgeous candles.

This couldn't have come at a better time, last week I was admitted into hospital with a ruptured Ectopic pregnancy (I shall be posting an awareness post on Ectopic pregnancies soon on my blog) I had to have emergency surgery so am now in the recovery process which could take up to 6 weeks.  I have been feeling quite stressed and run down so I wanted to create quite a simple serenity moment. So I waited until the girls had gone to bed and were fast asleep and created a relaxing moment in my bathroom.  I ran a hot bubble bath (I must admit I used the girls Johnson's night time bubble bath! High five to all the Mum's out there!), lit my candles, I was a bit worried about being over powered by the smell of them all being lit but the scents are amazing and we not overpowering at all.  I got out my favourite Elemis shower creme and picked some petals from my lovely yellow roses I sprinkled the petals into the bath and turned out the lights. I hadn't had a change to relax in a bath since coming out of hospital I have only been having showers so this was a real treat.

So as soon as I set my serenity moment it felt like total bliss just to relax in the bath with the candles burning the scents were lovely and I felt the most relaxed I have in a long time, it was a moment like that, that I needed to collect my thoughts and for 20 minutes not to have a care in the world.

I filmed a little video to show what it was like when the lights were out with the lovely candles burning.

There are 4 scents in the serenity collection:

Moonlight - A subtle blend of bamboo, woody notes and bergamot - as intoxicating as moonlight on water.

My Serenity - A definition of calm, warm pear and orange mingle with tropical flowers and soft musk.

Peony - The rich scent of Spring's most coveted bloom - the peony entices with notes of bright sweetness.

Lemongrass & Ginger - A fresh clean mixture of lemongrass and just-cut ginger - pure invigoration.

All of the scents are gorgeous and you could create so many relaxing moments with them.

How would you create your serenity moment?

As part of the challenge Yankee Candle will be selecting finalists themselves and then posting them across their Facebook page where people can vote for their favourite, so if you think my simple serenity moment is something you would like then please head over to their Facebook page and give my post a like (if I get chosen!) 

It would be amazing to make the finals for their competition, the prize is a Spa Day which right now would be amazing! But if I didn't make the finals then I still have 4 gorgeous candles to carry on creating more relaxing moments for myself at home which is what I am going to start doing more of.  

Thank you Yankee Candles for letting me take part in your challenge!

*PR samples 

Clarins Spring Make Up 2016 Collection

Spring is just around the corner I can't wait for the weather to warm up, flowers to bloom and for the nights to get lighter, Spring has to be one of my favourite seasons.  With the new seasons come new collections of make up!  I was recently sent a couple of Clarins products from their Spring 2016 collection to try.

First up is their New 5-Colour Eyeshadow Palette - Natural Glow £33 

Firstly I absolutely adore the beautiful packaging the rose bronzed palette is just gorgeous.  I love rose gold so adore this packaging! The palette is handbag size too which is fab as I love to touch up my make up when I'm out for the day/night and has an elasticated seal which is great so you know the palette isn't going to open up whilst in your handbag or make up bag.

The colours of the shadows are lovely and colours I would use every day and would use as an evening look too, or to create a sun kissed bronzed look.  You could create lots of different looks with this palette.  It also comes with a little card which guides you in which order to use the different shades I used the guide for my first look and was really pleased with my look.  The brush is fab, and has a little fine end for you to be able to blend the colours in.

Along with the palette I was sent the Rouge Eclat Lipstick - Shade 24 Pink Cherry £19.50 

This lipstick is gorgeous, I love how nourishing it is on the lips.  I have used lipsticks in the past which give my lips that dry look but the Rouge Eclat makes the lips feel lovely and smooth, the Vitamin E protects against free radicals and 100% plant waxes provide instant comfort.  The Rouge Eclat comes in 15 different shades (I want them all!)  This is definitely a must have for your make up bag.

For my brows I used my daily brow favourite, Clarins Perfect Eyes and Brows palette.

I am off to Italy this Summer and these will definitely be coming with me in my make up bag to create that gorgeous bronzed look.

*PR Samples.