Let’s talk storage! Before children even arrive, you’re inundated with stuff - whether it’s gifts from the baby shower or cute toys and clothes you’ve bought to prepare. I mean, I bought an insane amount - but you never know how much you’re going to need. Storage is absolutely key.
My house is filled to the brim with LOL Dolls, teddy’s, Elsa dolls, books, race cars and even that dreaded Lego. Yep, not fun waking up in the middle of the night and stepping on one of those bad boys! But okay, I’ll admit it, my house would not be the same without all of these toys, they all have sentimental value, plus Leanora and I love creating scenes with them. From rescuing the damsel in distress, to swashbuckling pirates on a treasure hunt to Leanora’s favourite, her being the mumma and reading all her soft cuddly toy children a good book, then putting them to bed.
Alongside all the toys, there’s also our own family items and decorations around the home. It’s really important for us to incorporate some well thought out storage ideas without compromising on style. Who better to assist, than IKEA! They’re not all hot dogs and meatballs…
Storage is key for my home, it’s not a large home, so space has to be well balanced out. My favourite accessories are storage boxes and baskets. They’re perfect for storing toys, books, plants and everything in between. Not only do they look stylish around the home, they also add a great texture and design element too. Plus when tidying up, it’s the perfect storage solution to get rid of all the clutter. I have a few affordable stylish favourites - the BRANÄS and FLÅDIS from IKEA.
The FLÅDIS is a great multifunctional storage solution and can be dressed two ways:
- With the handles in to show your contents - perfect for the soft plush toys!
- With the handles out to conceal your items e.g. those pesky smaller toys or hanging plants.
They also have a similar one perfect for the kids room - the KRALLIG. It has a stylish light pink base.
The BRANÄS is a hand woven rattan basket, which goes hand in hand with the stylish KALLAX storage unit which I picked up in the matt white. We also have the glossy version in our living room. Not only is it the perfect organisational storage unit, its neutral colour naturally integrates with our decor.
Another great storage solution is the STUK - a moveable storage case that can easily fit in a wardrobe or under the bed. It also slots nicely under the sofa too! We’re using STUK storage cases to store lots of different things:
- Books! The cases help to keep them all in one place.
- Summer clothes (hopefully not for too long!)
- Bed linen - the cases are perfect for this as they’re dust proof!
Sometimes you simply just do not have the room, but if there ever was a time to perfect your storage, it’s now! IKEA have some great storage solutions for your home to suit all your families daily needs.
Lindsey
Disclaimer: This was a paid collaboration with IKEAUK
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When the weather is a dreary as this, all I want to do is snuggle up with Leanora on the sofa, with a good book a warming cup of moon milk and a feel good family movie, with a little extra help of sealing the mood than with a warming scented candle.
I’m a comfort kinda gal, L too, give us the all the slow cooked steak Pies and a hot cuppa of coco with a beautiful scent wafting through the house and we are golden, for us it’s the simple pleasures the little things that we cherish most and a good candle ticks all the right boxes for us both. Even when we get home, shoes and coats are taken off, the first thing she says is mummy candle time haha!
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I’m introducing are new favourite candle which we’ve bought in bulk at Marks & Spencer restore candle in Amber when I first opened this, the scent was intoxicatingly good and could not simply be left in store, it’s rich in scent and fuelled with my favourite which is geranium.
The restore candle once lit, radiates and instantly makes the whole house warm, and even once put out it’s calming scent still lingers through. I find that when this candle is burning I feel calm and at ease, perfect to wind down with after a long day.
If you are looking to make a change of scent or need a little extra comfort on the cold winter nights, I can not recommend this Marks & Spencer Restore candle enough.
Have you purchased the Restore candle or any others from the Marks & Spencer Collection, or what are your favourite candles right now? I would love to hear in the comments below.
Lindsey
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This year, I really want to go all out with a proper spring clean, I do not mean a deep clean, but a whole home revamps, from changing the flooring and finally installing double glazed windows, to officially completing my garden. We have been living in our home for nearly three years now and whilst I want us to move to a bigger house, I've been thinking about investing where we are for a further few years
Now we are family in the middle of March and Spring officials fast approaching there is no time like the present to start getting things organised in preparation for a home update, Pinterest has always been the perfect place for me to start, check out some items that I've been pining here so get some music on from Cheap Vinyl and lets get ready to party
One of the biggest things, you need to think about when updating your home is budget, budgeting is key you got to think about what you need, what it will cost, what you love and does it fit, do you need people to do the job for you, can you do it yourself to save you a little extra cash, plus step away from what you do not need or can not afford. A great way to start is with a list, a list is essential, well apart from your style.
Knowing your style and the look you are going for will help you not overspend, it will also help you think about how the room or whole home will look, therefore not leaving you with a miss matched creation at the end. Whilst thinking of what you want in terms of style and look can be somewhat tiresome enjoy it, that way you are guaranteed to have a great outcome and a stunning looking home. To achieve this, you can always get 2d room layouts that way you can actually place everything you want and know what would look good and what will fit where.
Next week I have a few days booked off and I am going to make the most of it, I actually plan on starting with the bathroom, I want to re-seal the bath and re-grout the tiles and most likely paint the bathroom too to give it a little refresh. I've also been thinking about possibly putting artwork in there also, to give it a completely new feel and possibly a nice tall plant, which I will no doubt be purchasing from Ikea. It is all about mixing things up, not changing anything too drastic, well not in the bathroom anyways, but I want to give it a new uplift and new vibe this Spring.
What you have to remember when redecorating if not wanting to make vast improvements, is paint is your friend, it is a great way to make the whole house or room feel new, uplifted even, paint does not have to cost a fortune either, you can grab an affordable tin from even your local supermarket, they always have offers on so keep your eyes peeled.
Are you springing cleaning your home or maybe just one room? Let me know in the comments below on which room you would like to redesign!
Lindsey
One of the things we love to do, is dine alfresco no matter the season, though it can be a little harder in the winter months, there are a few things that I to like buy, create and style for the colder months in
Braving the chilly weather can be a bit daunting but there are some really cool pieces that will keep you warm and toasty for a wintery weekend or night and you don’t need items that will cost you a fortune.
Fire
For those that have a garden and looking for a winter warming serenity, in order to achieve this a great place to start is with a firepit, chimney or a patio heater, plus its a great way to keep your guests out if you don't want them seeking refuge inside, especially after a party.
Seating
Super important, no one wants to stand all night, so seating is imperative, you can make your own out of crates to even buying some great outdoor furniture, another great way to get creative is by getting blankets and making your very own hammock, or large cushions placed under a tree, got some large tree stumps use, them as additional seating and for even a more creative seating area you can use even a compost bag and just drape over a few throws.
Sheepskin/Wool
Get all hygge outside! What better way to create a cosy corner, where people can chill, relax and have a good old chat with a glass in their hand, by throwing a whole load of cushions and blankets down on to some furniture or even under a tree. I doubt people will mind sitting on the floor as long as it is comfortable.
Light Up
Lighting is key, you want to bring the Arabian nights into your very own back garden, mix the lighting up with some solar powered fairy lights, candles, teas lights eve with lanterns dotted around the garden to give it a midsummers night dream feel.
Lindsey xx
*all pics sourced from Pinterest
I love finding new brands and scents and you do not have to spend a bomb on finding delicious good long-lasting scented candles, for decoration I head to Ikea I literally fill my bag with them, TK Maxx for the more unusual and Space NK or Selfridges for a bit of luxury.
Each season I change my scents and with Christmas only 4 weeks away, I look for more bolder, cosier, woodsier and festive scents to get me in the festive and winter mood.
Arket, my new fave store where you can grab clothes for the family, coffee and cake as well as items for the home, sell a Geranium scented candle it is inviting and fills the room all whilst not being overpowering at the same time. I love burning this after a long day and putting my feet up on the sofa, helping me unwind and relax of an evening, brilliant for de-stressing in the bath to end your day.
H&M can never do any wrong in my eyes, whilst the more affordable priced candles scents do not last as long, they too are great for decorative purposes, they have a new still affordable but a little more pricer premium candle range and this cotton candle, which has a burn time of up to 50 hours is great for burning first thing of a morning, its light and fresh and you will most likely find this candle in my kitchen as that is pretty much were I spend most of my time in the morning and can easily go through quite a few of these.
Just in time for Christmas, my mothers favourite candle brand Yankee Candle is hosting a competition where you could win a Yankee Candle Christmas set over on wowfreestuff head over to enter here.
Have you tried any of these candles? Let me know your recommendations of your favourite candles.
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London Mumma
T'is the season of gift giving, it can be tricky to get someone something special, especially if you have kids and do not know what to get for there teacher this Christmas, but if you are stuck for ideas I defiantly recommend a lovely bunch of flowers from Flowers of Colombia, you can never go wrong with beautiful blooms.
I am all about giving and putting money back in to society so that it thrives and by supporting and buying a beautiful bunch of blooms which last up to 4 weeks you do just that, by not only putting a smile on to your kids teachers faces, you are doing something for a community so that they are able to work and thrive.
Flowers of Columbia sourced from a beautiful fertile savannah above Colombia's capital city of Bogota, lies a vast 7,335 hectares and for every hectare, it provides 14 jobs and 65% of those jobs are given to women, to help them get out of poverty and provide for their family as well as bringing them into a community filled with social programs which is run by ASOCOLFLORES the trade association that represents all Colombian flower producers.
ASOCOLFLORES are big advocates of sustainable flowers to strengthen Colombia floriculture and generate well-being and inspiring experiences for all and has been doing so since 1973, now celebrating its 45th anniversary it is doing amazing work and has been able to generate 130,000 jobs, which enables them to export 228,00 tons and more than 10 million of beautiful boxed blooms each year. In addition to the great work that they do, Flowers of Columbia have also been able to decrease their energy consumption by 61% in 5 years.
I was never one to think about the environment before, but with so much awareness of the impact that it can cause I am racing in to support it, by brightening up the teachers as well as my home.
To see more from Flowers of Columbia and how it inspires our heart through music, check this #FlowerTributeTour video.
London Mumma
I've always, always loved milkshakes, ever since nesquick strawberry powder came into my life in the 90s, fast forward a decade or two I prefer to have the real thing. I mean there is nothing better than a thick, creamy bursting with real strawberries, strawberry juice from Pago and ice cream milkshake on a hot day with your bestie.
I have to say that whilst we had a good time making these cocktails and more fun drinking them, it was a bit of a nightmare. We had to make these milkshakes in the hallway, as the electric box kept on tripping, leaving the back of the house where the place we spend most of them our time, the kitchen without any electric. Crammed in the hallway, not the best place to make these, but sure was fun, even a little strange, these strawberry milkshakes took no time to whizz up, plus Leanora thought it was more like an adventure and cool, 'cool adventure' I believe were her exact words.
Goodies all laden out, blender brought in to the hallway, we got to making these super quick, relatively messy free strawberry milkshakes.
Ingredients
3 large scoop s of Cornish ice cream, or any vanilla that tickles your fancy
2 hand full's of fresh strawberry's, tree tops off (what L & I call it)
1/2 cup of milk
1 bottle of Strawberry Pago
Drop of vanilla extract
1. Pop your milkshake glasses into the freezer to chill for 10-15 minutes, we want to keep our milkshakes cold and thicker for longer, we used the same Eva Solo ones from our Strawberry Soda recipe.
2. Toss all ingredients into your blender whiz up for 60 seconds or the consistency that you like.
3. Pour into your chilled glasses, grab a straw kick back and enjoy, these super tasty and super addictive best strawberry milkshakes, with your bestie.
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London Mumma
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Have you ever just entered a room and you instantly felt more relaxed, at peace and at one with yourself, all your worries left at the door and felt as though you have been transported to a beautiful country such as Croatia, Greece or even my next holiday adventure to Morocco thanks to Holiday Gems, very cheap holidays.
That is how your bedroom should make you feel each time you enter. Your bedroom, not just your home, should be your safe haven. Your bedroom a place of peace and calm and filled with just you, kids too if you've got them and a few good scented candles to relax your mind, help get rid of pesky smells, such as smoke, a good way to help stop is with a little advice from Nicotinell who's website is jammed packed with a great tips. and some crisp new sheets and bedding.
Colour
When thinking about how you want your bedroom to make you feel, you have to start off with your colour scheme. Lighter, brighter colours give you a softer vibe, calming greens, pale blues, to even light shades of greys to help relax your mind, darker colours sucks as reds absorb the light from your room, giving it a more sexier style. You really have to think about what tranquillity what emotion you want to embrace, after all, other than the office this is where you will be spending most of your time.
Bed
The pièce de résistance of your bedroom is a bed, nothing says comfort and luxury than a good bed, I recently invested in an upholstered one from Bed Guru, it was hard to choose but I think I made the right decision and went with a glamorous velvet upholstered bed.
Lighting
The mood has to be just right, if you do not have dimmers, then a good table lamp, candles too can help you set the mood and lighting to your desired requirements for a chilled vibe. A little tip that I got off mu Mumma, was that she puts her table lamp on the floor for a more cosy atmosphere.
Accessories
Accessories make the room, it brings it life and adds a touch of your character and personality to it, plus a few flowers along with family or artsy artwork adds an automatic lift to the room, bringing peace and harmony and love together.
I hope these tips and ideas help bring an uplift into your bedroom.
Remember I have been bashing on about updating the house, well that time has come and I've finally made a decision just in time and I am happy to welcome Spring into my home.
With a glimpse of bright blue clear spring skies yesterday I am more geared up than ever to finally complete the house.
The Easter weekend just went I had a massive spring clean, with a little helping hand from Leanora. Whilst I should have been taking it easy, especially as I made sure to book myself time away from work, I still found myself working, well home working, but it's a necessity and we really enjoyed it.
Nothing like a good declutter at the beginning of a new season, armed with bunny biscuit fuel and a few light refreshments, recycling and rubbish bags at the ready, we set about de-hoarding. Note to self, never declutter with a charged up mad threenager who wants to keep everything that glistens in her eye, I mean we had a 10 minute argument as to why we should throw out a chewed up shimmer and shine pencil (don't ask, I don't know, and I don't care) to which resulted in her FaceTime'ing my mother to tell me off, I mean I pay the bills, kinda glad I was a bad parent and ate half her Easter egg now whilst she was asleep.
I recently attended Amara's home event where they gave me some few tips on updating your home in time for Spring and how to decorate and personalise your home which I will be implementing into my home.
The focus should be on the look and feel that you want to incorporate it into your home adding a little bit of you, once you have your larger items in place, sofas and beds etc, you can then focus on the accessories. This is where I have come to a halt, now whilst I have my larger items, it those little bits that bring a room to life that I've failed to purchase.
I am a firm believer in taking your time, well if you like me 3 years to be precise, but it's all about taking your time and I'll tell you why.
Budget
You got to start off with a budget, whilst I'll know most will go over it or hide the fact you may have done so with your partner, it is always best to have a set budget to work with, it is great for your pocket and knowing where to put your money.
Colour
Look at your room and your space, a lesson learnt if you are bringing in paint for example always purchase a sample, grab a piece of paper and move it around the room, a colour will look different on different sides of the room at various times of the day, so always good to play and move it around to get a good feel. Once you have decided on your colour scheme, stick to it, you do not want soft tones clashing with vibrant colours it won't work and will throw off the whole room, no one wants to walk into a chintz circus. If you are struggling for some help, always head over to Pinterest for inspo.
Blooms
Nothing lifts a room and brings it to life than adding a few plants and flowers into a room. If you can not afford flowers on a weekly basis, Ikea has some amazing artificial and affordable plants, also check out H&M for some amazing vases and the ever favourite Anthropologie also.
Scent
Nothing quite lifts the spirits than a candle burning, I love anything with notes of geranium or Jasmine, perfectly light and fresh and perfect for Spring. A favourite of mine is Baies by Diptyque it just lights up my mood and the house smells insane, in a good way. Looking for something a little more affordable you never go wrong with anything from H&M.
Tell us what you will be doing to inject Spring in to your home?
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London Mumma xx
It's impossible to not feel overwhelmed when you are a parent, with so much to do and juggle from work to kids parties, to be being on the PTA and looking after pets (no, I don't mean dad) and making biscuits for colleagues and preschool, and everything else in between, it can be hard to stay put together, phew I said it and I am not afraid to share some of my mum fails.
The past few weeks have been a little tough, to dealing with mediation, work, parenting, being a pet owner (Milo has been in a few fights of late) homeowner and blogger, trying to keep everything together on little sleep and with so much to do has been really hard and I felt my focus on being a better me/parent/daughter/friend has slipped and felt that I just needed a good cry, but instead I decided to take some time out and this weekend will be my first FULL weekend off in a very long time, and I am clawing my way to it!!
As a parent, I find that you are always expected to be on top of your game and frankly it's ok to not be on top of everything ALL the time. There are days when you just need to do as your child does and simply join in and kidult for the day.
What does matter however, is that you and your child are happy and healthy, I believe in teaching children it is ok to not be the best 100% of the time at everything, and it is ok to take a break and just be silly, have fun and enjoy the simple things in life, there is a time for play and time for work.
I find at times parents just are on a hamster wheel and going at 100 mph and forgetting to have some quality downtime be it on your own to recharge or with family and friends. So surely we should be forgiven when we become somewhat slightly frazzled and slip up, just a tad, I mean there is no shame in the game and just putting everything on pause as saying sod it, I'm getting down with the kid's, parent responsibilities, appropriate parent responsibilities are going out the window just for today.
Despite claiming that I have had a few mum fails, I thought I'd share with you some of my recent ones, to help brighten up your day and put a smile on your face and let you all know, that we can all have a few hiccups along the way and I am bloody sure I will have loads more to come.
I ate her sweets and blamed the cat.
I told her If she eats all her breakfast, that I would buy her a unicorn - SHE IS STILL WAITING AND ASKING.
I pretended I was asleep so that I did not have to get out of bed.
Forgot to pack tissue so let her wipe her hands all over me ( I had white jeans on!!).
I let her put makeup on me so that I could watch the tv in peace.
I let her put makeup on herself so that I could continue watching tv in peace.
I blackmail her, not afraid to admit it when I need quite or for her to get dressed.
I could not be bothered to leave the house all day, so didn't give her or me a bath.
I secretly encourage her to mess up my mum's house, so she knows how it feels and is sympathetic and has L for the night.
I farted and blamed her.
She farted and blamed the cat.
The cat farted, gave me a smug look and walked off (it stunk!).
London Mumma xx
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