*My Dream Kitchen Wish List

Image from Lonny

Last year we went through a rather disruptive kitchen and utility redesign which brought up quite a few problems and issues along the way. We're really happy with it overall now but there are some aspects that we'd definitely change so today's post is all about the features I'd want in my dream kitchen!

Wooden Units & Lots Of Storage 

I personally love quite homely but clean and modern kitchen styles with wooden units, wooden flooring and lots of storage. We have pull out storage within the kitchen units which I love but it's only in a couple of the units and I'd like to have much more storage as our kitchen isn't huge. Pull out storage baskets and corner units save so much space and our island unit is amazing but it just isn't enough.

There are so many units that I adore the look of on Kitchen Warehouse such as the gorgeous Cashmere units from the Luxury Shaker range as it has a French farmhouse feel to it, the Jefferson units from the Solid Wood range and lastly, the Dust Grey units from the Roma Shaker range. Also, there have to be soft close hinges - we love them!

Image from Kitchen Warehouse

Glossy White Tiles 

Instagram and Pinterest definitely have an effect on my style and design preferences and one of them has to be my need for all white, glossy rectangular tiles which I've seen in so many kitchens on Instagram as well as bathrooms. I feel as though I'm the only one who doesn't have gorgeous glossy white tiles. I'm not for all of the Instagram trends and styles but this one is definitely something I can get behind. I love the look of very clean white tiles within the kitchen or bathroom as they just look so chic and timeless!

Unique Pendant Lights

My personal homeware style is very Scandinavian inspired as I love very minimal interiors with a neutral colour scheme along with textured items such as wood, metal, soft fabrics and stone. My dream kitchen would definitely have to have wooden units, wooden flooring, a soft neutral colour palette with minimal decor, plants and unique features such as metal, industrial looking pendant lights. We currently have spotlights in the kitchen but I think pendant lights look so unique especially if they do have a more industrial, rustic look to them.

What do you think of my ideas? What would your dream kitchen look like?

*This is a collaborative post
*Image from Pinterest

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*How To Keep Warm This Winter

Image from Goodnight Macaroon

The weather has finally tuned in Manchester and we have chilly days, darker evenings and lots of beautiful honey coloured leaves on the trees! Autumn is my favourite time of the year as I love the cosy clothing, seasonal drinks and all the blankets but one thing I hate about the autumn and winter months is central heating. I have eczema and for some reason, my eczema is triggered when I'm too hot and the central heating is on so I always try to avoid putting it on at all costs - eczema is NOT fun so I never want to trigger it. Today's post is all about my tips on keeping warm this winter, without the central heating.

Layer Up

Firstly, I'm reminded of a phrase that when I was on holiday in Norway last year, our tour guide mentioned that's a fundamental part of Norwegian culture: 'In Norway there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing'. That phrase is something I've stuck to ever since as it's true! You can have awful, chilly or snowy weather but you can easily combat it with the right clothing; whether it's a cosy coat, sturdy boots or layering.

Layering is something I've always loved, from vests, cardigans and coats to jumpers, jeans and even thermal clothing - there's no need to have the central heating on if you're layered up. I'm always layered up at this time of the year especially with a cosy dressing gown over me which as I currently work from home, is an essential. There are some great options on sale right now with Black Friday around the corner and one site that is perfect for basics to layer is Chums. Ladies clothing from Chums ranges from waterproof coats, cosy pyjamas and knitwear to basic t-shirts and boots.

Invest In The Basics 

I have gone through a few phases of my personal style from all black, pink jeans and my beloved Criminal Damage hoodie to Ugg boots, pastels and now my classic, minimal almost scandi style. As well as my style and preferences, the other thing that has changed is my approach to the number of items in my wardrobe as I thought that more was better but that isn't the case now.

For me, it's far better to invest in basics and essentials of good quality that I'll wear again and again rather than lots of cheaper basics, such as coats and tees, that won't last as long. I don't think I'll ever have a capsule wardrobe but I think that investing in layering basics is important, especially at this time of the year!

Cosy Homeware 

Lastly, as well as layering, investing in the basics and opting for practical pieces, it's also good to have cosy, warm and inviting homeware. I love autumn and winter homeware as it is all very hygge and I'm all about that cosy hygge life (can I live in Denmark please?). There's nothing better when it's chilly outside to snuggle up under a blanket with a mug of hot chocolate and a movie. I constantly have blankets around during the colder months as well as scented candles, fluffy cushions and fairy lights. I have some fairy lights all around my bookcases and it looks so cosy and homely!

What do you think of these tips? Do you have any tips to stay warm this winter?

*This is a collaborative post
*Image from Pinterest

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*Luxe Christmas Wish List

With the John Lewis christmas advert being released today, that marks the start of the festive season. I've already posted a variety of christmas gift guides already which you can check out for gift ideas but today's post is a luxe christmas wish list featuring items from OD's Designer Clothing. I usually have quite a few items in mind that I'd love for christmas but this year I don't have many; however a look through OD's Designer Clothing has changed that!

Love Moschino Bag  -  Ugg Slippers  -  Tommy Hilfiger Sweatshirt  -  Swarovski Mayfly Ring  -  Olivia Burton Watch 

They have such a fantastic range of items from watches, jewellery, clothing and such as Dsquared Clothing, including the men's Dsquared cap range, Vivienne Westwood bags and footwear. There are so many of my favourite brands including Swarovski, Vivienne Westwood, Ugg and Ted Baker. You're bound to find something special for yourself or someone special this christmas!

Cosy slippers are an essential at this time of the year and I can't think of a better option to treat yourself with than a pair of fluffy, soft Ugg slippers. Sweatshirts, jumpers and knitwear are also essentials for the colder months and I love the design of this one from Tommy Hilfiger. I adore the colour, I love how simple it is and the branding is very minimal too which is what I always look for in a designer or higher end item.

The festive season isn't just about cosy winter warmers though, it's also all about glitz, sparkle and luxe accessories. You really can't go wrong with Swarovski, I have a few pieces from them and I adore all of them as the designs are minimal but so beautiful - especially with this new MayFly ring. Another gorgeous but minimal brand is Olivia Burton! I'm lucky enough to have quite a few beautiful watches from a range of brands but I have wanted an Olivia Burton watch for so long as they are just some of the most beautiful and feminine watches out there.

What do you think of my luxe christmas wish list? Will you be checking out OD's Designer Clothing?

*This is a sponsored post
*Images from OD's Designer Clothing 

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Heyland + Whittle Gift Ideas

Today's post is all about some lovely home fragrance and beauty products from the lovely people over at Heyland & Whittle! It's a brand I have wanted to try for a while as it looks very luxurious and lovely so I'm very glad to try some of their products now. I've been writing a lot of gift guides recently as the Christmas season is fast approaching and I think these items would make wonderful gifts for so many people this Christmas.

*Heyland & Whittle Nordic Pine Scented Room Sachet (£3.99)

Let's start with one of the more inexpensive items which would be great as part of a home hamper or as a stocking filler! The Nordic pine scented room sachet is such an easy way to keep a room or cupboard fresh without the use of candles or diffusers. I love the packaging and the scent is gorgeous! It is a woody, musky and slightly Christmassy sent that is perfect for this time of the year. I've been using it in my wardrobe recently and it is perfect for that as it can be hung up on a rail or added to a drawer. You could also use it in the car, in your suitcase or on hooks throughout the home.

*Heyland & Whittle Sandalwood Oud Diffuser (£35)

Even though I love candles, they're not for everyone so a diffuser is a great alternative. The diffusers I've tried in the past have been very cheap and they looked it but this one is very luxurious, beautifully designed and it smells amazing. I love the bottle design as it is so subtle but pretty and even the box it comes in is gorgeous so aesthetically it would make it a wonderful and indulgent gift this Christmas.

The scent is something I would have definitely chosen for myself as it is very musky, warm and slightly smoky but with some floral notes too – it is exactly what I would have picked for my home at this time of the year. This diffuser looks so pretty in our living room – it matches our style perfectly and it's already making our home smells lovely. Each item is handmade and beautifully boxed so again it would make a perfect, special and indulgent gift.

*Heyland & Whittle Winter Spice Candle (£30)

The penultimate item is one of the most beautifully packaged candles I've ever seen! The winter spice candle is from the celebration collection and it looks gorgeous! It contains a spicy and festive scent of orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove – it couldn't be more Christmassy. I love the box for this candle, so festive! The candle itself is a quintessential Christmas candle, it reminds me of all the Christmassy things I love such as the festive potpourri my auntie used to have which reminds me of Christmases with family, gingerbread and Christmas baking. If you don't want to splash out on a slightly more expensive candle then you can opt for the smaller, cheaper version of the candle which is £13.95. 

*Heyland & Whittle Lavender Soap (from £3.99)

Last but not least is one of their beauty items which comes in a couple of sizes with prices ranging from £3.99 to £6. If you didn't know this already, lavender is one of my all-time favourite scents so this item is perfect for me! I love the scent of lavender and the soap is no different; to me the scent is just so relaxing and calming. The soaps are paraben and sulphate free which is fantastic and they are packaged so beautifully too so they make a lovely little stocking fillers. 

What do you think of these gift ideas? Have you tried anything from Heyland and Whittle? 

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Co-Op Christmas Range

A couple of days ago I received a very cute and Christmassy food package from the lovely people at Co-Op Food which contained some of their new Christmas range including their sandwiches and snacks, some of which are vegetarian and even vegan. I love that so many more mainstream shops and websites are creating and stocking more vegan and vegetarian options as it was not that long ago when I was struggling to even find vegetarian options at the supermarket!

*Bubble and Squeak Sandwich (£2.65)

Let's start with the sandwich which is the vegan option – the Bubble and Squeak sandwich which contains spiced chutney, sweet potato bubble and squeak fritter, pickled beetroot and red cabbage slaw. It's definitely not something I would usually pick up but I wanted to try it as it was the vegan option and I'm all about new vegan options! I actually really liked it, surprisingly! The only thing I didn't like was the pickled beetroot as I personally just don't like beetroot but other than that it's a great seasonal vegan option.

*Co-Op Brownie Bar

My favourite item from the package was the vegetarian brownie bar which I did eat almost as soon as I photographed everything! I'm never usually a brownie person, apart from Brownies one of my friends makes but this one was so rich, moorish and delicious – I would definitely purchase this festive option as it is very indulgent and yummy!

*Co-Op Vegan Tiffin Bar

One thing I love about this range is how clear the packaging is in terms of if a product is vegan or vegetarian! This one is the vegan tiffin bar which is very well labelled, you know what you're buying and it's very yummy too! The bar is also gluten-free and and contains dark chocolate, sultanas and biscuits. Out of these two bars the brownie bar is definitely my favourite but it was quite close and I'd recommend both.

*Co-Op Boxing Day Sandwich

I was lucky enough to be able to choose the items I wanted in my package and while I am a vegetarian and I have been for over 14 years, I did want to choose a non-vegetarian sandwich for a family member to try as well – my mum really likes this Boxing Day sandwich. It contains smoked turkey, smoked ham, winter slaw, spiced chutney and white bread. The only negative thing my mum said about the sandwich was that it would have been better if it was made of malted or wholewheat bread rather than plain white bread.

Overall, thanks so much to Co-Op Food for the lovely Christmassy food parcel! My favourite product from the box definitely has to be the brownie bar as it was just so delicious but I would recommend all of the products I've tried. Previously I've never been a huge fan of seasonal launches, with the exception of Lush, but I think I'm changing my mind – I'm all for the festive ranges now!

Will you be picking up anything from the range? How do you feel about seasonal ranges? 

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Cancer Research Flower Shop

Flowers are not only a great gift idea but the item in todays post is linked to Cancer Research UK which is a British charity focused on developing potential cures for all kinds of cancers. I was very kindly sent the 'enchantment' bouquet from Cancer Research UK flower shop! In the past year they've helped raise £11,000 for Cancer Research UK from the sale of their beautiful bouquets which is fantastic!

*Enchantment Bouquet (from £30)

I love receiving flowers (who doesn't), a bouquet makes such a lovely, fresh and homely gift for so many people! Having a bouquet in the house definitely adds some life and colour when the weather is quite dreary as it is now in Manchester, although it is always dreary here! This particular bouquet is perfect for all occasions, you can personalise this item at the checkout and the best part is that 25% of your gift value is donated to Cancer Research UK with the goal of beating cancer!

The bouquet is so gorgeous and it came really well packaged so you don't need to worry about damage in transit. The bouquet features lilies, yellow carnations, avalanche roses, solidago and pistacia which combined makes a beautiful, classic and fresh bouquet with soft textures and colours that will complement so many decor styles. I love the yellow carnations, they're my favourite flowers out of the bouquet as well as the creamy avalanche roses.

In terms of size it's such a fantastic size option as it is big enough to be an impressive, substantial gift but it isn't huge and overbearing either. There is a good balance in this bouquet of colour, creaminess and greenery! I have mine in my cute pink vase from Hema and I think it looks great on my desk to add some sunny life to my home office, especially as the weather has been quite grey and rainy recently, even more so than usual.

Christmas is definitely just around the corner and I think a bouquet from Cancer Research UK flower shop would make a fantastic gift especially as you not only get a beautiful bouquet to give to someone special but you also donate to charity at the same time – 25% of the value of this gift is donated to Cancer Research UK to fund research with the aim of beating cancer.

Overall, I think the price is fantastic considering how beautiful the 'enchantment' bouquet is and you can get free delivery on this bouquet as well. There are lots of others to choose from including the very colourful World Cancer Day and Warmth bouquets available; or something a little more classic like the Ravishing Roses, Beauty or the Enchantment bouquet, the latter is the one I was very kindly sent.

What do you think of this bouquet? 

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