LIFESTYLE: The Mums Checklist For Important Home Tasks

 


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When you’re a mum time can get away from you, you are so busy all the time that especially when starting out you may find you quite often forget to eat, shower or any basic tasks really. You are so focused on looking after the bundle of joy you have brought home that you forget about a lot of other stuff. There are also a lot of other things that you need to do as a mum and in your home but could easily be forgotten about so who is it also a checklist for you to make sure that the important things don’t get left behind with everything else.


And the first thing you want to do is assess all of your bills and outgoings. These can often get forgotten about and a lot of companies will entice you in with offers and discounts for a certain amount of time. However once that time has come to an end you will revert back to a very standard charge which can sometimes cost a lot more than you would pay normally. So, by making a list of all of your outgoings and how much you spend on each one you can then go through them one by one and see if you can get it cheaper. Firstly you want to speak to your current provider and see if there is a deal that they can offer you again or you can look at other providers and see if they have any low prices to entice you in with them. 


Another Important one to look at will be your insurance for your home, things change so it’s always important to make sure that everything is up-to-date and you’re covered for everything that you need to from how big your house is if you’ve had an extension put on to what items are in your home in case you made any big purchases. See this website for more information on insurance.


You would also want to go through all of your cupboards, your pantry and your fridge. It is important to have a deep clean of these every so often as you’re bound to find a jar of pickles or jam right at the back which has been out of date for two years. By making sure that you add a regular clean onto your checklist you will be able to save cupboard space, make sure you’re using up what you have and saving money.


Depending on the age of the children it is important to make sure it is safe place for them. When they crawl there are a lot of things that you need to check like sharp edges and  covers on, plug sockets which will need covers on and locks for the cupboards and drawers so they can’t go in themselves. It is important to make sure there’s no wires anywhere that they’re able to pull a grab and there’s nothing hidden under the sofa they can reach.
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ad Gifted - Estée Lalonde Interlock Chain Necklace 18ct Gold Plate - Daisy London



This is the Estée Lalonde Interlock Chain Necklace 18ct Gold Plate, it's also available in Silver and with matching bracelet. 

I absolutely love it! It's such a pretty, dainty necklace. It has a vintage feel about it. I love how versatile it is. Perfect from day to night! I wore it on Saturday night, I went for dinner and drinks with my friends and family and it was just the perfect addition to my outfit. 

The necklace is such good quality and comes beautifully packaged. It would be such a good gift idea for a special someone in your life or for an occasion. I wore it on Saturday for a night out but it would be a lovely piece for a wedding as its super simple. Its so easy to wear so you can easily dress it up or down. I have another necklace from the Estee Lalonde range at Daisy London and I think they will look incredible layered up! 

Daisy London have a huge selection of necklaces, bracelets and earrings... They have such a beautiful selection so head on over to https://www.daisyjewellery.com/ and see what they have to offer. The Estee Lalonde range is my favourite, they have some wonderful pieces. 














 * gifted 

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LIFESTYLE:The Heart of the Matter: Should We Move to Another Country for Love?

 

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If you’re thinking of moving your relationship forward, but you are both in different countries, you may wonder if it is worth taking that leap and going through the process to live with them. But if you are thinking about moving abroad for love, what do you really have to consider? 



Is it Practical? 

The first thing we've got to really consider, even though our heart is telling us to just go for it, is the number of hoops we need to jump through. The average UK spouse visa application can take a few months based on a number of factors, not to mention the fact that there is a significant financial investment, so you've got to really think about the practicalities. It sounds very boring, especially when you want to make that romantic leap into a new life, but the opportunities to prepare will give you the time to really think about what this person gives to you and your life.



What Are Your Expectations of Living in Another Country? 

You might think that learning a new language and cooking the national food is a simple way to ingratiate yourself with a culture, but you have to decide if you are going to be able to adapt to life in a new country in a way that doesn't make you feel uncomfortable and yearn for your home. There is that difficult period when you move to another country, where, after it starts feeling like a holiday, and you are now in a place that doesn't just feel foreign to you, but everything feels different, even something as simple as a kettle- it just doesn’t feel right. Of course, when you are going somewhere for love, you are taking the leap, and it's important the person you're doing this for understands that you are making a massive sacrifice. 



Be Honest With Yourself

You shouldn't only be honest with yourself, but you should be honest with your partner. You are going through the process together, even though you are moving abroad. And it can be incredibly lonely. It's so important to be honest and let them know if you're having a hard time. You may have certain expectations of living in another country, but when you live an ex-pat life, it can be a struggle in so many ways. If you have a partner that understands, they should be able to help you through this difficult time. 



Keep Your Identity

When we move somewhere, we can feel that we have to fit in and conform, but it's important for you to keep your heritage alive. The people that you meet in a new country care about who you are, and they should be interested in where you come from because it is who you are. When we think about meeting new people, we should learn to adopt their cultures, because it's polite and it is a great way for us to learn. But also, they should be willing to do the same for us. Sometimes, we can feel homesick, and it's these moments when we need to do the things that remind us of home, whether it's ordering tea bags online, or watching tv that we enjoyed when we were younger. Moving abroad for love can be the best thing you ever do, as long as you think about it.
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LIFESTYLE: Being Apart From Your Sweetheart: How You Can Cope and Coordinate

 

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If there's anything we learnt from this pandemic it's that being away from the people we love hurts like hell. But we've got to spare a thought for those people who have been away from their significant other for a long time, pandemic or not. Whether there's travel bans, or just a lack of finances, what can we do to cope with the distance? 



Planning Their Journey Home

The most important thing if we feel separated from our loved one is that we have to be proactive. If we are looking to bring our significant other over, we could do it on a spouse visa. Officially called a spouse visa UK, it is a type of family visa for people who want to reunite with their British spouse in the UK. When you start to plan on their journey over, this can help you to feel in control of the situation. It's hard enough when we are waiting for life to come back to normal, but what we can do in the meantime is prepare for when life is going to be better. That way, we're not just sitting around twiddling our thumbs and feeling worse for it. 



Considering the Other People Outside of the Equation

This is something that we need to give thought to, but surprisingly, many don’t. If you are living separately from your partner, and either of you is living with family members or roommates, you've got to consider their needs, but also their safety. In the age of the pandemic, it's important to have the vaccines, but you still need to consider the people you live with, even if you are double-jabbed. It is hard not being with the people you care about, but you also need to consider the safety of others. 



View Technology Differently

Yes, you might be getting sick to death of using Zoom, but there are many ways for you to have those moments of connection, and you can use these to maintain some of your routines, whether it's cooking dinner or watching television. 



Talking About What the Future Holds

There are naturally many things you can discuss with regard to the future, but if you are struggling in terms of the physical sensations, there's no good substitute for it, but what you can do is talk to each other about the way you'd like to touch when you are together again. It may seem somewhat silly to talk about your favourite cuddling sessions, but it can be a very cute way to keep the connection alive. You can also work together to help each other relax, but it's also a great way to start planning the big things in your life. For example, you could start to plan the wedding and get the ball rolling with buying a home together, or just what your first weekend will consist of when you are reunited. 



No doubt, you are going through something very difficult, but it's something that everybody is experiencing in one way or another. Being separated is tough, but you can ease some of the pain by preparing for the future, and it's the hope that can keep your relationship and the spark alive.
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[AD GIFTED] SUMMER WEDDING OUTFIT FT CHI CHI LONDON



My dress- V Neck Embroidered Lace Midi Dress in Blue* 

Amelia's dress- Girls Lace Overlay Tea Dress in Blue*

We went to a wedding on Thursday evening and I was so excited to wear this dress that I was recently sent from Chi Chi London. They do the most stunning dresses! This is their embroidered lace midi dress in Blue and it's beautiful! The fabric is so lovely and its really good quality! The V-Neck cut is so flattering and the floaty sleeves are so sweet. I felt so amazing in this dress and got loads of compliments on the evening. I wore these tan sandals but it's such a versatile dress and you could definitely wear a whole range of colours. I think a Navy bag and wear of heels would look incredible or you could match up the light pink from the floral details. I'm quite short but the length was lovely on me and I love the floaty skatery style of the dress. 

We were also sent Amelia's dress which is also from Chi Chi London. This is the Rhiannon dress which is this super sweet lace tea dress. It's a gorgeous pale blue shade. It is soo pretty and such a gorgeous thick lace detail. Such great quality! They do a similar style in the women's range so you could match which I think is soo cute! 

I'm so impressed with our dresses, they were absolutely perfect and I loved getting all dressed up and going to the wedding and seeing friends again. It's been a strange year but it's finally getting back to normal so go on, get dressed up and go out! Chi Chi London have such a great selection of dresses. They are the perfect place to look if your after a dress for any occasion. They also have a bridal range, swimwear and accessories! 






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LIFESTYLE: GOOD REASONS TO AVOID FAST FASHION

 Fast fashion is something that few people really talk or think about. They just see it as an affordable way to get clothes and they don’t think much about how long it lasts, where it comes from, or even if it’s a good deal in the first place. There are more and more fast fashion brands popping up around the world which can make it seem like a popular go-to option for clothes. 


However, there are actually a couple of good reasons to avoid fast fashion and some of them might surprise you.


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Many fast fashion brands exploit overseas workers


It’s become clear that fast fashion exploits overseas workers all over the world. Fast fashion is cheap because it uses inexpensive labour from overseas countries. Not only are these workers paid a very small amount for their wages, but there has been evidence in the past of gender-based violence in some factories that supply fast fashion companies with their apparel. More and more people are standing up to the shady practices that fast fashion companies engage in. They’re refusing to purchase from fast fashion brands because their processes aren’t completely transparent.


However, there are some fast fashion companies that are working to change their image. Whether or not they can completely detach themselves from exploitative processes remains to be seen, but it’s clear that the public is becoming aware of these practices and are actively avoiding fast fashion.


Slow fashion lasts longer because of high-quality products


Fast fashion tends to be made from low-quality materials, resulting in clothes that don’t last very long. They can rip and tear very easily, and they’re not exactly known to last longer than a season or two. This is why many people prefer slow fashion–it just lasts longer and is better value for your money.


Whether you’re looking for reputable traditional English boot makers or high-end fashion brands that are known for the quality of their garments, investing more in your clothes means that it’s going to last longer. Colours won’t fade, prints are better quality, the construction is superior and the designs are often timeless. If you really want to invest in fashion, then slow fashion is generally the way to go.


Fast fashion ultimately costs more in the long run


Fast fashion tries to capitalise on things like summer trends, and some of them will even collaborate with popular TV shows and cartoons to draw more people in. However, the quality of these clothes doesn’t change. No matter what fast fashion companies convince you to buy, a lot of their products just don’t last long enough, meaning you’ll need to keep buying cheap clothes over and over again.


Instead of buying a cheap pack of shirts from a fast fashion brand, you could buy one high-quality shirt from a reputable brand that will last several washes, hold its colour and design better, and even be more comfortable. Don’t get into a habit of buying cheap clothing products and then just replacing them in a few weeks–just buy better quality clothes.
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LIFESTYLE: DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH INSURANCE COVER?

 

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Looking for the best car insurance involves taking a number of different factors into consideration. One of the most critical factors is the level of cover the policy provides. A lot of people overlook comprehensive cover, as they deem it too expensive. Below, we reveal why upgrading to this type of insurance plan is actually a good idea.


Comprehensive car insurance is the most complete type of insurance plan you can find for your vehicle. While it can often be the most expensive type of policy, you need to consider how much money it can save you in the long run. Opting for the cheapest insurance plan you can find is often a false economy. If you find yourself in a situation whereby your policy does not cover you, you will end up spending much, much more than you would on comprehensive cover. With this type of insurance, you can even claim for accidents that are your fault. Insurance companies will also pay out when the fault of an accident cannot be proven, i.e. if you have been at work and come out to the car park to find your vehicle has been damaged. You will have the peace of mind you need, as you won’t have the worry of unexpected repair expenses. There are great companies out there for second-hand vehicles and parts like Ford car parts, but if you don’t have a good insurance plan in place, all of these savings could go to waste. Also, third-party cover isn’t always as cheap as it seems. This is because a lot of high-risk drivers go for this cover in order to reduce costs. This results in more claims, which means overall cover goes up. 


Should you take out a plan with a new insurer?


When it comes to insurance companies, opting for an experienced firm seems like the most sensible approach. However, new insurance companies can be enticing, as they often offer great deals to try and get people to take out a policy with them. Plus, if you need a specific or peculiar type of insurance, you may only have a limited choice of insurers to select from, which is another reason why you may be leaning towards a new insurance firm. Of course, when determining whether to choose the insurer in question or not, you cannot conduct the traditional search, i.e. you can’t look at their history, read reviews from past clients, or look for any news articles about the firm. However, this does not mean you should abandon due diligence altogether. You can research the people that have set up the insurance firm to ensure they are reputable and have experience. Also, your conversations with the insurance firm should be telling. If they are right for you, you will feel like their priority and you will feel at ease. Finally, you can still conduct the necessary assessments when evaluating the actual policy, i.e. looking at the level of cover. 
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