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Three Tips for Bathroom Renovations

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Three Tips for Bathroom RenovationsIt’s that time of year again, and we’re getting ourselves ready to embark upon some serious spring cleaning and clearing. Oh, and yes- we’re joining the hoards in some DIY this Easter too. I mean, what better time to get sweaty, irritable and frustrated with your loved ones? In all seriousness though, now is a great time to act upon the plans we’ve had set on paper for so long, and the one job we’ve been meaning to get around to for the longest time: the bathroom. Ours has never been done since we moved in so it really does need doing, but there are some very good reasons why we’ve chosen to delay it a little. Here are my top three tips for bathroom renovations- hopefully you won’t rush into anything either once you’ve read them!

Hire a professional bathroom fitter

First and foremost (and if you take nothing else away from this post) please please please heed my first tip. I’ve see first hand the type of headaches that can occur when you try to fit a bathroom yourself. This is definitely one to leave to the professionals, and for so many good reasons too!

For one, renovating a bathroom is nothing like the task you undertake when you choose to revamp another room of the house. Like the kitchen, the bathroom contains plumbing and this alone is a good reason for leaving it well alone- unless you really know what you’re doing. More than that, the bathroom renovation is a technical process and let’s face it- unless this is your job, one week at Easter is never going to be long enough to learn what you’re doing, to the degree needed in order to do a good (and safe) job. Get professional advice on how to revamp your bathroom from Harrogate Bathrooms and save yourself SO MUCH stress!

Keep the kids away

If you have a you family, having your bathroom out of order for even just a day can be a complete nightmare! If you can, keep the kids away for as long as it takes to et your bathroom back to a working room once more. The last thing you want is little people causing mischief and/ or risking injuries to themselves or others. Plus, have you seen what kids are like when there’s any degree of DIY happening around the house? It’s like a free for all in this house, and seeing as this is such a technical job I’m going to make sure the kids are as far away as possible!

Keep your budget flexible

Having a budget for your bathroom renovation is definitely a very good idea, but try to make it flexible if you can. With any project like this there can be an element of the unknown, and extra costs tend to pop up without you realising, or having pre-planned for it. It’s a really good idea to have an extra ‘pot’ of cash at the ready so that your renovation can run as smoothly as possible.

What are your top bathroom renovation tips?

3 Fabulous Ways to Treat Yourself Next Time You’re Feeling Flush

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When you become a mum, your life changes in an instant. The experience is life-affirming, transcendent, and earth-shatteringly beautiful, but despite all of the wonderful moments that come with it, it’s no walk in the park.

One of the biggest sacrifices you’ll make is the time you once devoted to spoiling yourself. You might have been the most low-maintenance lady in existence, but in days gone by you had the luxury of pursuing your passions and putting yourself first when you needed to.

If this self-care is something of a distant memory now, know that you’re not alone, and also that you needn’t feel guilty for wanting a minute to yourself now and then. With this in mind, here are three fabulous ways to treat yourself the next time you’re feeling flush.

Meet a friend for a lavish lunch

3 Fabulous Ways to Treat Yourself Next Time You’re Feeling Flush

Once baby makes three (or four or five), finances can quickly become stretched, but you’re still allowed to occasionally splash out on yourself. Although a lottery win might be unlikely, earmark something luxurious that you’d like to do once you’ve managed to save or scored a win with a scratch card. Lots of people play the latter online, and they’re now one of the fastest growers in the industry, with directory sites listing dozens of different options. Should you get lucky with one of their lucrative deposit bonuses, meeting a friend for a lavish lunch should be at the top of your to-do list. Pick somewhere suitably fancy, make sure it’s either child-friendly or that you have babysitters available, and let the foodie inside you come out to play. Even the most sleep deprived will feel relaxed and refreshed with some haute cuisine to chow down on and a good friend for company.

Enjoy a spa day

You’re already shying away from the mere thought of how much money it will cost, but spa stops are well worth the price tag. This is your treat to yourself, and there is little that will relax you to the same degree as a day of devoted pampering. Leave your little ones with your partner, see if you can get some of your girlfriends on-board, and find somewhere suitably luxurious to kick back and unwind. If you’re really loathe to break the bank, it doesn’t even need to cost that much – there are plenty of sites online that can help you to find the best bargains around, such as e-commerce giant Groupon. Take advantage of these to arrange a day that’s amazingly enjoyable and economical to boot.

Arrange an evening at the theatre

3 Fabulous Ways to Treat Yourself Next Time You’re Feeling Flush

If we’re being entirely honest, there are few things that make us feel as civilized as an evening at the theatre. While that isn’t the only reason we go – we rather enjoy the onstage entertainments too – it does help to remind new mums of how highbrow and sophisticated they still are. It’s entirely up to you whether you want to go with friends, family, or your partner, but be sure to make a night of it by dressing up to the nines, enjoying a beautiful meal beforehand, and indulging in a glass or two of wine while you’re there. There are dozens of amazing new productions to see in 2019, so you really ought to take advantage.

Tell us, the next time you have a little extra money to spend, how will you choose to treat yourself?

Top Tips to Help Your Car Pass its MOT

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Top Tips to Help Your Car Pass its MOTAlmost time for the dreaded MOT? How confident are you that your car is going to pass? How nice it would be to leave your car for it’s checkup and feel safe in the knowledge that it’s guaranteed to pass with flying colours! Sadly, not many drivers have faith in their vehicles- and to me this is just amazing. I mean, our cars are powerful machines. We drive them around, often with passengers inside, and we literally take our life in our own hands as we do so. The thought of being happy to do all of this in an unsafe car is just mind boggling! Surely we should all endeavour to care properly for our cars and be 100% confident that they’re going to pass their MOT every single time? Here are my top tips to help your car pass its MOT- please read, and please add your own if there’s any I’ve missed.

Realise how important the MOT is

First and foremost, your car’s MOT is very important. If it doesn’t pass, its not roadworthy! So it makes sense for the first tip to be nothing more than making sure you understand just how important it is. Don’t put it off. Don’t cross your fingers and hope for the best. If you don’t pass, you don’t get to drive your car, so keeping up with the maintenance only makes sense, especially with the amount of congestion we see on the roads these days. Larger city centres like Manchester and London regularly see huge volumes of traffic every single day, and if loads of those cars competing for road space are unsafe, spewing out dangerous fumes or sporting bald tyres… its a disaster waiting to happen. Don’t be a part of it!

Whatever you do, prioritise your MOT and when if you’re booking in London, get expert help from DAT TYRES.

Check your tyres regularly 

If the risk of being pulled over and given a fine doesn’t give you a nudge, maybe the fact that you’re putting yourself and others in danger if you drive with illegal tyres might do the trick? Check your tyres! If you don’t know how, then get a professional to do it for you, and ask for tips on how to keep up the maintenance in between services. Wherever in the UK you are, you will have access to a reliable garage that will be only too happy to help.

Check your lights

Brake light gone? Then replace it! 30% of cars fail their MOT due to faults with the lights- and these are faults that can be so easily rectified! Carry out simple checks regularly and make sure you act on any faults as soon as you notice them. Again, you could be pulled over if you don’t get it sorted, and there is no way you’d pass your MOT either.

Take your car in for regular services

Pesky service light flashing at you again? When was the last time your car was serviced, anyway? Don’t put it off. Regular services help you to keep on top of your car’s vital maintenance and if you’re not sure on how to look after your car yourself, services are essential. Don’t forget that issues such as faulty brakes can be lethal, not to mention they’ll cost you your MOT pass too.

 

Top Ways Kids Can Help Out with the Responsibility of Dog Ownership

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Top Ways Kids Can Help Out with the Responsibility of Dog OwnershipOwning a dog is a family-affair in that everyone can help out and share the responsibility, even the kids. While the big responsibilities will ultimately fall into the hands of the adults, there is plenty the kids can help with. Look at it as an excellent opportunity to teach kids about the responsibilities of owning a dog, and it also gives them a chance to feel important and bond with the dog.

Here are some ways that the kids can help out with the responsibilities.

Feeding the Dog

Before you hand off this responsibility to the kids, it’s important to ensure that your dog is trained in meal-time manners. Have the dog sit and stay until the food is in the dish, and then give the appropriate command that they are free to start eating. This will ensure that they don’t get a bit too excited and push a child over in an attempt to get at their bowl. To make the chore easier for kids, you can store the food in an air-tight container that is easy to reach and open/close, and place a measuring scoop in it. By using a measuring scoop, they won’t have to wonder if they are giving the dog the right amount.

Brushing the Dog

Regular brushing is a wonderful way to ensure your dog’s coat and skin stays healthy, and it can also be a wonderful bonding experience. You can find a wide variety of dog brushes on the market, but kids may prefer the mitt-type that fits like a mitt or glove right over their hand and has bristles on the palm. Be sure to teach them how to brush gently, and that they should ask for help getting any tangles out.

Helping Out at Vet Visits

As any pet owner will know, regular vet visits are also part of pet ownership. This is exactly why so many pet owners choose to sign up for pet insurance policies, such as those found at https://www.everypaw.com/. Pet insurance for dogs from Everypaw can help with vet bills if anything ever happens to your dog – they also offer pet insurance for cats too.

Taking your dog to the vet is a great way for your children to feel involved in their dog’s overall well-being, to learn about things such as a healthy body weight for the dog, vaccinations, and trimming their nails, and to even ask questions of the vet.

Get Active with the Dog

Here’s a tip that is not only good for the dog’s health, but also your child’s. Encourage them to be active in play with their dog, such as throwing a ball, running around in the back garden, playing tug-of-war, and if old enough – taking the dog for a walk (this may require parent supervision).

Sharing the Responsibilities and Love

Finding ways that everyone in the family can share in the responsibility of owning a dog is not only a great teaching moment, but it gives each individual a chance to form their own special bond with the family pet.