Blog Posts

Dove Rose Oil Shower and Shave Mousse review

14/1/2019

While I was browsing the post-Christmas sales, I stumbled across this "shower and shave" mousse from Dove, and I was intrigued.

How could something work as both a body cleanser and a shaving foam, without being either sticky or useless? So, naturally, I decided to give it a go.

The Dove Rose Oil Shower and Shave mousse is rose scented and contains essential oils that aim to give you 24 hours of soft skin and a little bit of luxury in the shower.

First things first, the smell is gorgeous. I'm already pretty hooked on most rose scented things anyway, as it's a naturally calming fragrance for me, but this is perfectly formulated; it's strong but not overpowering and it smells natural.

It dispenses exactly like shaving foams do and I found the best way to use it was to spray it into the palm of my hand before rubbing onto my body and then scrubbing with my shower-puff-thing (do they have a name?). You can see how it comes out below:

Once it's on your skin, it doesn't really lather up all that much but it does cleanse nicely and leaves skin feeling soft and smooth, with no signs of the stickiness that I was dreading.

As a shaving foam, it works equally well, it smooths on easily, my razor had no issues and I avoided cutting myself (yay), and it then rinses off well, again with no stickiness.

After drying, I found my skin smelled great and felt clean, but still nice and soft. After repeated uses, it hasn't dried out my skin (another concern I had) and continues to work well.

Overall, I like the Dove Rose Oil Shower and Shave Mousse, it does both of the things it's designed for well with no drawbacks, plus it takes up less space in my shower, so I'll definitely keep using it and buy it again.

The mousse does come in two other options; Argan Oil and Coconut Oil, and you can find out more and see where you can purchase it here:www.dove.com/uk/washing-and-bathing/body-wash/rose-oil-shower-and-shave-mousse.html

If you decide to give it a go, I'd love to know what you think so please drop me a comment down below, or if you have any recommendations for similar products share those too!

Stay safe, x

0 Comments

Money Saving Tips For New Homeowners

7/1/2019

0 Comments

January is here, and we may have lost a few pounds over the festive season...but not off our waist! January and February are always pretty tight times where money is concerned, and it is the ideal time for us to start thinking of some easy ways to save money in every aspect of our lives. For new homeowners, a first Christmas can be a big payout, so now here are some money saving tips for every day around the house.

1. Make A Dehumidifier
If you aren’t sure what a dehumidifier if used for, it is essentially a tool which is used to make the home less damp and it can prevent mould from growing and spreading. When you buy a dehumidifier from the store it can be very costly, and if you are on a tight budget you might not want to spend this cash. But it’s ok, you can make your own at home with some charcoal briquettes in a coffee jar. Punch a few holes in the lid and place a few around the house to trap moisture and keep it away from your windows and walls.

2. Make Your Own Toasties
When you are out and about or at work, it can be tempting to head out at lunchtime to grab a sandwich or a toastie to fill you up for the afternoon. One of the main issues with this is the cost and it can be pricey to pay for one every single day. The good news is you can make them yourself at home by buying a few toastie bags. Simply make a sandwich, place it in the bag and then toast it in the toaster. You can do this in the office or at home and it will save you having to go and buy an expensive sandwich.

3. Use Cola For Cleaning
If you ever notice in your house that you have blocked sinks which need to be unclogged, don’t buy those expensive formulas because they aren’t necessary at all. Cola is the ideal way to clear your drains and you can buy some cheap own brand cola and use this to unclog your drains from top to bottom. Pour it in the kitchen and bathroom and let it sit for a while before rinsing with boiling water. It’s a simple remedy but an effective one!

4. Getting Rid of Stains
One of the most annoying things which can happen when you are out and about is for a stain to get onto a new shirt. If this ever does happen to you there is a simple solution you can do to make it easier to clean off. Take off the item of clothing if you are able and soak it in water. Keep the clothing in a bag where it can stay damp, and when you come home to wash it the stain will lift off much more easily because of the water.

5. Fresh Bottles
If you often take mugs of tea or coffee to work but you haven’t used the mug in a while, you might notice a musty smell when you open it up which can put you off a bit. The good news is that you can simple drop a clove into the bottle when you seal it up, and next time you open it, it will smell fresh and clean.

6. At Home Sunburn Remedies
If you ever burn yourself on something in the kitchen or by being in the sun for too long, you might reach for some expensive aftersun to help calm it and soothe the pain. However this is not necessary at all and in fact you can think about using Aloe Vera gel by snapping off a few leaves, or you can even think about using wet teabags on your skin. These are much cheaper, natural and effective.

7. Hiding Your Valuables
One of the biggest risks of being a homeowner is the idea of being robbed. No one ever wants to fall victim to robberies but it happens often and there is always a big risk. If you want to avoid needing instant payday loans to recoup your things, you need to be smart when storing your items. Make sure that when you leave the house you never leave things like your laptop, tablet or phone on display. These items can be enticing for a robber and if they see them lying around in your home they are more likely to break in. Keep things hidden and locked away for safety.

8. Melt Ice
During the winter there is nothing more stressful than going out to your car in the morning to find it frozen over. Make sure that if this happens you take some baking powder out with you and use this to melt the ice quickly. This way, you won’t ever have to worry about being late for work after trying to scrape ice off the car!

9. Clean The Shower
This simple home remedy is super effective and it will clean your shower with little to no effort at all. All you need is a ziplock bag and some vinegar. Fill the bag mostly with vinegar, place your shower head into the bag and seal it overnight. The next day, pour away the vinegar and run the shower for a few minutes. Give it a wipe and it will look good as new with no mould to be seen!

10. Save On Energy
There are a few simple ways to save on energy in the home this year and they are all things which can make a big difference to the home. First of all you can replace your doors and windows for better fitting ones. Secondly you can replace your light bulbs with energy saving bulbs, and lastly you can think about installing a programmable thermostat so that you can always have the heating off when you are out of the house! All of these things will save you a ton!

*collaborative post*

0 Comments

Five Simple Ideas For A Frugal January

24/12/2018

0 Comments

As a new year begins, we’re all starting to look at our online banking apps and into our purses and panicking a little. Because as much as we know it, and as much as we prepare for it, December is forever tough on our purse strings! And that can mean that as soon as Christmas is over and you’re heading into January, you’re going to want to think about being a little more frugal for at least a month! Because it’s always good to feel a bit more on track financially after you’ve had a bit of a spending session. Yet, it’s not that easy to just start. We all know that parenting can be expensive, so how do you make this work? To give you some ideas, here are five tips to try.

1. Save The Change
First of all, something that might help you is that whenever you buy something, you put the change into a jar. Or that you take the extra pence of an online transaction and put it in a savings account. This allows you to save a little, and reduce the amount you have available to spend.

2. Carry Cash
The next thing you can do here, is make sure that you’re only ever using cash. If you know that you seem to be spending a bit more than you would usually like because you just instantly swipe your card, then leave it at home. You could even look to use the envelope system here just to be more effective. Because when you use cash, and you can actually see the money you have, you usually think twice about spending it!

3. Use Coupons
And, of course, it’s always a good idea to think about using coupons here too. Because if you know that you need to buy something, then actively looking to get a discount is always going to be a good idea. So really think about the coupons that you are available. From Jet.com coupons to cashback offers, there’s always a lot online if you just look. And this will then allow you to save money on the things you know you need to get.

4. Track Your Spending
Then, you should keep your receipts and start a spreadsheet or use a budgeting app. Because the second that you actually start to track what you spend, it’s so much easier for you to be frugal about it.

5. Say No
And then, of course, you can just learn to say no a lot more. And this isn’t just to your kids, but to you as well. Think you want to pick that up in the sales? Or get this on a whim? Well, when this is the case, you should really think about adding that item to a wishlist. Write it down. And in a week or a month’s time, if you still want it, then you can consider going back for it. Because a lot of the time, you won’t. So saying no to yourself more can really work.

*collaborative post*

0 Comments

Creative Storage Ideas For Your Garage

19/12/2018

0 Comments

Although space can be an issue elsewhere in the home, nowhere is it more of an imperative than in the garage. Not only do you need space for your vehicles, but you also want room for all those essential household tools that are key to keeping your house maintained.

Creating space in your garage needn’t be a hassle. Take a look at some of these creative storage ideas and stop worrying about saving space.

Use A Slat Wall
A slat wall is essentially a kind of wall material that allows you to hang baskets and hooks using little grooves. It’s a great way to add storage capacity to a room, thanks to the fact that it can quickly cover an entire wall, without any mess. It looks attractive and is perfectly customisable: if you need to expand storage, all you have to do is add another basket or hook for your implements, and you’re good to go.

Mount Bikes To The Wall
Bicycles can take up a lot of the horizontal space in your garage. As a result, many people have started hanging them vertically, using special hooks. To ensure that the bikes are secure, you’ll need fixtures and fasteners from Tradefix Direct, or somewhere similar. But once the hooks are installed, you can safely store your bikes up against the wall, without worrying about them falling over or tripping over them while you work.

Use Bungee Cords
Some items, like footballs and basketballs, aren’t particularly amenable to storage. You either have to find a big plastic bin or just leave them lying around loose: not ideal.

The good news is that bungee cords are the solution. Bungee cords attached to hooks and stretched up along a wall can provide the perfect solution for storing difficult-to-store items. What’s more, because they’re flexible, bungees make accessing balls easier. Just pull the balls out from between the cords and push them back in once finished. No more balls rolling all over the garage floor.

Create Your Own Shelving
Family life can be disorganised, especially when you’ve got kids running around. What you need is a storage system that helps you keep stuff out of the way until you actually need it. Creating your own garage shelving system is the perfect solution. Building the basic shelves out of whatever material and fittings you happen to have to hand, and then adorn the shelves with labelled plastic boxes to hold all your stuff. You can have plastic boxes for toys, kitchen utensils, bike accessories and much, much more. Storing it all in a labelled rack helped you turn your disorganised clutter into a highly organised inventory. Arranging boxes alphabetically could help you find what you need even more efficiently.

Use Wall Racks
Wall racks are an excellent idea for holding all sorts of bulky household items that you don’t need out all the time. They’re perfect for things like guitars and foldable chairs. Those who entertain regularly use wall racks to keep pesky party items out of the way when they are not needed.

*collaborative post*

0 Comments

Adding A Luxe Feel To Your Home Decor

19/12/2018

0 Comments

Have you ever wished your home looked more like a boutique hotel or one of those fabulously chic pads on Instagram and Pinterest? If you long for that luxe feel, but you don’t have the time or the funds to carry out an extensive, expensive makeover, here are some simple ways to add that opulent edge.

Opt for decadent fabrics
Many of us use soft furnishings to create a cosy vibe in the winter and embrace the natural trend in the summer. Cushion covers, rugs, curtains, and throws can transform a room and enable you to channel different looks simply by replacing a few key accessories. If you’re going for an expensive, lavish look, investing in the right fabrics is a great way to channel this trend for less. Go for rich textures like velvet, faux fur, and satin, rather than wool and cotton, and opt for jewel tones in the cooler months and more subtle shades, such as rose and bronze for the lighter, brighter seasons. Satin bedding is perfect for elegant, classy boudoirs, while velvet curtains and cushion covers are ideal for sumptuous living rooms.

Make a statement
If you don’t want to redecorate entire rooms, buying a statement piece or creating an eye-catching feature, such as a patterned, papered wall, is an excellent idea. Bateau bathtubs look stylish in modern bathrooms, while a chaise longue is a brilliant addition to a romantic bedroom or lounge. Buying brand new furniture can be expensive, so look around for second-hand items or restored and upcycled pieces online and in antiques and salvage stores.

Declutter
If there’s one thing that kills that luxe vibe, it’s clutter. Clutter makes rooms look small, and cramped and it can detract from beautiful furniture, soft furnishings, and decorative accessories. If you’ve got piles of stuff lying around everywhere, make it your mission to tidy up, and create lighter, larger-looking spaces.

An eye for detail
Creating a chic home isn’t just about choosing the right wall colours or furniture. It’s crucial to get the big things right, but don’t underestimate the importance of the details. You can make your home look more lavish in an instant by choosing the right accessories. Opt for materials like marble and shades like rose gold to add serious style to any room. You can pick up everything from vases, candle holders and plant pots to chopping boards, photo frames, and lamps without paying a fortune. If you see styles or items you like in magazines or online, but they’re out of your price range, use the Internet to track down similar products. You’ll often find that discount and high street stores channel popular designer trends at a fraction of the price.

Do you dream of having an Insta-worthy home? Well, now you can! You don’t have to splash a huge amount of cash to make your home look luxurious. Shop around for bargains, look at upcycled and restored furniture, and make use of soft furnishings and accessories to create a beautiful aesthetic on a budget.