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It’s official: winter is coming. That means cosy jumpers, chunky boots and thick jackets are here to stay for the foreseeable future. Many of us tend to stick with monochrome ad we navigate the cold months, with blacks, greys, beiges and navy making a regular appearance. But winter clothing doesn’t need to be dull! Injecting some colour and pattern into your winter outfits will not only make you look great but feel great too. Plus, there’s been heaps of colourful garments at London Fashion Week, so you’ll be on trend too. Here are some top tips that will help you brighten up your wardrobe this winter. 

Add a colourful bag 

One of the most simple ways to add interest to your outfit is to inject a pop of colour through your handbag. If you’re heading for an evening out, why not pair an all-black ensemble with a statement red clutch? Or if you’re getting ready for a day in the office, a colourful tote will always look 10/10. 

Rock a bright jacket 

A great quality coat is an essential in winter, but practicality doesn’t have to be boring. Feel at your best every time you walk out the house with a bright and bold winter jacket. Stores like Damart have a great range of parkas, teddy fleeces, leather jackets and trench coats that offer the perfect combination of fashion and function! 

Wear statement boots 

If you find yourself gravitating towards your staple boots every time you’re getting ready, why not invest in a pair with some real wow factor? This season there are some amazing trends to take inspiration from. Choose a pair with a statement heel – there are loads of options including leopard print, gold and even crystal encrusted! 

Go bold with jewellery 

This may be one of the easiest ways to add a pop of colour to your outfit and there are so many options. Wear a bright chunky necklace over the top of your favourite roll neck jumper. Or pop on a pair of colourful drop earrings or a statement ring that are sure to brighten up your outfit. 

Layer up 

Incorporate colour into your wardrobe by layering up. Pop a well-fitted black jumper under a colourful slip dress. Wear a colourful shirt underneath a cream jumper. Throw a bright jacket over a monochrome dress. The options are endless! 

Why not start experimenting with colour in your wardrobe this winter?

There’s so much going on in the world right now, and with the pace of society moving faster and faster, it’s easy to feel panicked, frantic, and at the end of your tether. However, stress is incredibly bad for your mental wellbeing, and if not looked after, it can have a serious negative impact on your health. So, take these steps to reduce or eliminate everyday stressors and make yourself calmer and happier. 

Look After Your Finances

Money is a major stress for most people – it can be difficult to make sure there’s enough to go around, and even if there is, there are so many different things to think about that it can be overwhelming. It’s important to make sure you reduce the amount of money you spend on things like bills, subscriptions and other unnecessary expenses. Being able to have more money means you can worry less about being able to afford necessities and allow yourself to save up a little on the side or treat yourself every now again. 

Reconsider any bills you need to pay, and see if you can get them cheaper elsewhere. Car insurance is particularly important to keep coming back to – prices and premiums change all the time, and often there are deals for new customers which you can take advantage of. Use Quotezone.co.uk to find very cheap car insurance – it compares over 100 different UK car insurance providers to find you the best deal. 

Practise Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a fairly new concept, but it’s risen in popularity quickly, and for good reason. Mindfulness is a great way to regain some calm and clarity in your life, and the foundation of it means it’s impossible to do wrong. You can practise mindfulness in many ways – some people prefer to sit quietly and focus on their breathing, whilst others like to do activities in which they can be mindful – one activity that’s becoming ever more popular is mindful colouring. 

The best way to implement mindfulness into your life, however, is to practise it anywhere – in the shower, driving to work, washing the dishes. The beauty of mindfulness is that it can be done anywhere for as long as you like, whether that’s a minute or an hour, and it can help you feel in the present moment as well as taking your mind off a potentially stressful day or any problems you may be facing. Headspace is worth checking out for easy to follow audio clips to help you get started with mindfulness.

Make Time for People

Whether we like it or not, our busy lives can mean we end up isolating ourselves – even if we spend a lot of time around people, we don’t make this time good quality, instead choosing to watch TV or go on our phones instead. But it’s incredibly important to make time for those who you care about – it could be friends, parents, relatives – and spend some quality time with them. Think about going for a cup of tea, playing a game, or planning an activity together – things like this can really help you feel relaxed. Busy lives can also be lonely, so making time to mix with people too means you’ll be able to have time to regain some calm and enjoy some time with those you love, so that you’re not constantly thinking about stress and instead focusing on the now.

Life is full of stressors, but with these tips you’ll be well on your way to regaining some happiness.

Anyone who knows me will know that driving is not ‘my thing’. I was never concerned with passing my driving test until I was a lot older than 17, and pregnant with my first child. It was only the thought of taking a pram on a bus that prompted me to learn, and since passing my test I’ve never really enjoyed driving at all. Longer, unfamiliar journeys are always a source of anxiety for me, and I tend to obsess over getting lost, breaking down, or running out of petrol! As funny (or annoying) as this is for my husband, I don’t actually think that my fears are a bad thing. There really are many things that can go wrong when you’re behind the wheel of a 7 seater 4×4, so my caution is probably a good thing! In particular, I’m always worrying about the state of our car tyres, and I tend to ‘go on’ (apparently) about the important of tyre safety too. But it’s important! Here are three reasons why you should be taking the importance of tyre safety seriously too.

Unsafe tyres cause accidents

Around 20% of accidents on UK roads are cause by unsafe tyres. If your tyres are worn, you won’t have enough friction in order to brake properly should you need to. And if you can’t brake properly when it really matters, the results can be serious. Is it really worth putting yourself and others around you at such risk, when a simple car tyre safety check is so easy to do?

Check for minor signs of wear regularly- look for signs of bulging, cuts and tears. Take your car to the garage if you find any of these signs. It’s also important to consult your car’s handbook to find out what level of inflation is required- an under inflated tyre is also very dangerous and can lead to a blow out if left untreated. Ultimately, don’t put it off if you need new tyres. Get your car tyres near Basingstoke at Headley Tyres and protect your peace of mind.

You’re not insured if your tyres are illegal

A staggering percentage of UK drivers simply do not realise that illegal tyres (those with a tread depth lower than 1.6mm) invalidates your insurance- so if you’re involved in an accident, your insurance company will not pay out. And if you’re pulled over and your tyres are checked, you’re in trouble. These rules exist for a reason!

You can easily check your tyre tread depth with a handily named tread depth gauge (or ask your local Basingtoke garage to check for you!). Its important to always check the tread depth in three different places on each tyre, plus check the tread wear indicators found between the grooves of the tread too- this can be a handy indication of how ‘healthy’ your tyre is and how much wear is present. If in doubt, ask a professional to help- there are plenty online if you google Basingstoke garages.

Tyres that are worn are significantly less safe and lower the performance of your car, meaning that if you do find yourself in a tricky situation or having to drive in hazardous circumstances, you may not be able to manoeuvre your vehicle sufficiently. The thought of this terrifies me! If the idea of not being in control isn’t enough, then perhaps the thought of those worn tyres costing you ££££ is?

Unsafe tyres: failed MOT

Unsafe tyres means that your car is simply not road worthy. Not only does this mean you risk endangering yourself and others, you risk being pulled over by the police, footing the bill if an accident occurs, AND your car will fail it’s MOT. That’s quite a collection of bad karma right there! All you need to do is learn how to keep your tyres in tip-top condition, check regularly so you know when you need to replace them, and stay vigilant to wear and tear and accidental damage. The alternative can be costly, in more ways than one. Visit the Tyre Safe website for more comprehensive details on how to perform safety checks, and why its so important.