The Long-Term Benefits of Professional Gutter Cleaning

*This is a collaborative post

When it comes to home maintenance, gutters often get overlooked. They might not be the most glamorous part of your house, but they play a crucial role in protecting your home from water damage. Regular gutter cleaning is essential, and while some homeowners might be tempted to do it themselves, there are significant advantages to hiring professionals for the job.

Preventing Water Damage

One of the primary functions of gutters is to channel rainwater away from your home. When gutters are clogged with leaves, twigs, and other debris, water can overflow and seep into your home's foundation. This can lead to serious structural issues over time.

Professional gutter cleaners ensure that your gutters are free from blockages, allowing water to flow smoothly. This prevents water from pooling around your foundation, which can cause cracks and weaken the structure. In the long run, this can save you from costly repairs and maintain the integrity of your home.

Protecting Your Roof

A clogged gutter can cause water to back up onto your roof. This standing water can lead to roof leaks, which can damage the interior of your home. Over time, the excess moisture can also cause your roof materials to deteriorate, leading to the need for a premature roof replacement.

By having your gutters professionally cleaned, you ensure that water is properly directed away from your roof. This helps to extend the lifespan of your roof and prevents potential leaks and water damage inside your home.

Avoiding Pest Infestations

Stagnant water in clogged gutters can become a breeding ground for pests such as mosquitoes, rodents, and birds. These pests can cause a variety of problems, from spreading diseases to damaging your home.

Professional gutter cleaners not only remove debris but also check for signs of pest infestations. They can identify potential problem areas and recommend solutions to keep pests at bay. This proactive approach helps to maintain a healthy and pest-free environment around your home.

Enhancing Curb Appeal

Clean gutters contribute to the overall appearance of your home. Overflowing gutters can cause unsightly stains on your home's exterior and damage landscaping. This can detract from your home's curb appeal and potentially lower its value.

Regular professional gutter cleaning ensures that your gutters remain in good condition and function properly. This helps to maintain the aesthetic appeal of your home and can even increase its market value if you decide to sell in the future.

Preventing Basement Flooding

Basement flooding is a common issue that many homeowners face, especially during heavy rainfall. Clogged gutters can exacerbate this problem by allowing water to overflow and pool around your home's foundation. This water can then seep into your basement, causing flooding and water damage.

Halloween Party Bags: Spooky Surprises for All Ages

Halloween is just around the corner, and for many of us that means spooky celebrations, creepy costumes, and – of course – delightful treats! One of the best ways to elevate your Halloween celebration is with the perfect party bags. Whether you're catering to trick-or-treating children or hosting an adult gathering, you are covered with these ideas ranging from themed bags to sustainable and budget-friendly options.

Halloween party bags are the finale to an evening of spooky celebrations, encapsulating the character of this haunting holiday in a tangible form. They're not just containers filled with treats; they're a completion of the night's eerie excitement and memorable moments. Offering both a nostalgic nod to traditional trick-or-treating and a bespoke touch to personal parties, these bags serve as delightful mementoes for guests. Infused with themed goodies that range from candies to tiny toys, and sometimes even quirky keepsakes, they extend the party's atmosphere beyond the final farewell, ensuring that the gruesome magic of Halloween lingers just a little longer in every guests heart.

For the Little Ghouls and Ghosts

Whispers from the World of Witches and Wizards

Step into the enchanting corridors of magic and sorcery. Party bags inspired by this theme can overflow with wondrous artefacts reminiscent of the world's greatest wizards and witches. Consider tiny classics that promise to reveal secrets of the arcane (perhaps a miniature notebook), faux potion ingredients that sparkle and shimmer in mysterious vials, or even playful rubber frogs, echoing tales of spells gone awry.

Venturing into the Enchanted Forest

Let the little ones journey through a realm where every shadow hides a tale and every rustling leaf tells a story. This theme beckons mythical creatures and age-old legends. Enrich their bags with delicate fairy wings that promise flights of fancy, unicorn stickers that shimmer with dreams, or mischievous troll figurines that are bound to inspire countless tales of adventure.

Halloween Party Bags For Grown-Ups

Whiffs of Victorian Gothic Elegance

The Victorian era, with its rich gothic undertones, serves as a captivating backdrop for adult-themed bags. Envision lace that tells tales of haunted mansions, dark roses that whisper of forbidden romances, and miniature faux ravens, ever-watchful with their beady eyes. For a touch of personal charm, add a dark, romantic poem or a hauntingly beautiful quote that lingers long after the night ends.

A Dance with the Halloween Masquerade

For those adults who revel in mystery and seek intrigue in every corner, a masquerade-themed bag is the pièce de résistance. Evoke the grandeur of masked balls with miniature masks, each holding a story of its own. Complement these with dark chocolate truffles that melt secrets onto one's palate. And for the pièce de résistance, include a riddle or a cryptic puzzle, challenging them to unravel the mysteries of the night.

In the heart of October, as darkness envelopes the world a bit earlier each evening, these themed party bags promise to be more than just containers of treats. They become gateways to realms of fantasy, mystery, and unforgettable adventures.

Bewitching Bites and Sips: Halloween Party Food & Drink Ideas

The countdown to the spookiest night of the year has begun, and your plans for the perfect Halloween gathering should be well underway. Alongside cobweb-clad corners, mysterious flickering lights and a chilling atmosphere, a table laden with tantalising treats and devilish drinks is a must of any successful All Hallows' Eve party.

So, prepare to embark on a supernatural culinary journey as we uncover some Halloween party food and drink ideas that are sure to bewitch your guests!

1. Mummy Dogs

Enlist puff pastry and sausages/hotdogs to summon an army of mummy dogs. Wrap the sausages/hotdogs in the pastry and bake until golden. Leave a gap for the eyes and apply a touch of mustard or ketchup for a ghostly gaze!

Tip: Store-brand ingredients can be a wallet-friendly alternative, delivering taste without the terror of a hefty price tag.

Tip 2: Instead of using puff pastry you could opt to do a traditional hotdog in a role and use mayo zigzaged across to look like a mummy and stick edible eyes to them with the sauce.

2. Ghostly Pizza

Craft a ghastly yet delicious main dish with ghost-shaped mozzarella on a canvas of pizza base, with olive slices bringing the spectral figures to life. Don't just think ghosts you can opt for other spooky characters such as pumpkins and witches.

Tip: Ready-made pizza bases and a variety of toppings allow for a variety of flavours without invoking the spirits of expense.

Tip 2: If you have Halloween cookie cutters you can use them to cut out the shapes with cheese, ham and some other ingredients.

3. Spooky Jelly Cups

Craft cups of green or red jelly inhabited by gummy worms or spiders for a treat that’s as spooky as it is sweet. A visual and edible delight!

Tip: Keep an eye out for special offers on jelly and gummies as Halloween approaches.

Tip 2: Instead of using cups you could do jelly shot syringes. Just don't chuck them out as you could re-use them for next years party.

4. Witches’ Brew Punch

Mix a potion of green fruit punch, lemon-lime soda, and a scoop of lime sherbet. The resulting frothy concoction is sure to cast a spell on your guests.

Tip: Opt for store-brand soda and seasonal fruits for enchanting flavours that won’t curse your budget.

5. Bloodshot Eyeball Truffles

Create eerie edible eyeballs with white chocolate truffles, veined with red food colouring, centred by a blueberry or chocolate chip pupil.

Tip: Bulk-buy ingredients and make extra – these truffles can be enchanted to stay fresh in the freezer for future spooky soirees!

5 Top Tips for Helping Children Sleep Better

Getting enough good quality sleep is essential for children's growth, development and overall well-being. However, many parents and foster carers struggle with getting their children to sleep through the night. Disrupted sleep patterns can negatively impact children's behaviour, learning and mood. Read on for five proven tips to help establish healthy sleep habits and address common sleep problems in children of all ages. Whether you are a parent, foster carer, kinship carer or looking after a child in any capacity, these practical strategies can support the child in your care to sleep better.

1. Create a Consistent Bedtime Routine

Having a regular, predictable bedtime routine is key to promoting good sleep. Aim to follow the same sequence of quiet, calming activities like bathing, brushing teeth, and reading stories every night. This signals to a child's body that it's time to wind down for sleep. Stick to the routine during weeknights and weekends for consistency. Bedtime routines are especially helpful for children in foster care in London and other areas, as they provide comfort through familiarity even when environments are frequently changing.

2. Limit Screen Time Before Bed

It's best to avoid screen time like TV, tablets, and phones close to bedtime. The blue light emitted from screens overstimulates the brain, making it harder for children to relax and fall asleep. Have screen-free time for at least one hour before bed. This allows the brain to start transitioning into sleep mode. Limiting screens can be particularly beneficial for children in foster care who may be more prone to hyperarousal issues.

SEPTEMBER 2024 BEING THRIFTY

Concentrating on finding more ways of being thrifty, this month has helped me to be able to pop away a chunk of money into my emergency fund and other sinking fund pots. I've now got enough set aside for both B's Birthday and Christmas. It's a great feeling knowing I'm organised. I'm hoping that October will be just as successful.

Amazon shopping panel

This months £7 voucher went towards a new electric toothbrush. I needed a new one as my old one just wasn't charging well any more.

Pumpkin spice syrup

I love a flavoured coffee but popping to coffee shops for one, isn't something we can afford to do often. I love pumpkin spice so got some syrup in so I can enjoy them at home instead.

Cashback/points

I've been using both Everup and Jamdonut as usual this month. One of the main things we needed was a new microwave and managed to get £4 back in cashback as well as going via Virgin Red for points.

Spooktacular Halloween Party Decor on a Budget

With the kids back in school and autumn arriving October 31st will be fast approaching. So it's time to get our spook on and dive into the world of Halloween party decor! Whether you are holding a Halloween costume party, a Halloween party just for the adults or a Halloween party for the kids these six fantastic, budget-friendly party decor ideas are sure to give your guests a ghoulishly good time!

Why Decorate For Halloween?

Why decorate for Halloween, you may ask? Halloween decoration is not merely about transforming your space; it’s about creating an experience, with a delightful dance of the spooky and the uncanny! It’s an opportunity to step outside the mundane and dive into a world of using your imagination and creativity. Decorating for Halloween allows you to express your artistic ability, be it through ghostly apparitions in the yard or a cobweb-covered living room. It fosters a sense of community, as friends, family, and neighbours gather to admire, engage, and revel in the eerie atmosphere you’ve crafted.

Plus, it’s an excellent way to engage with children, cultivating their creativity and building lasting memories. Overall decorating for Halloween is more than just aesthetics; it’s about embracing the spirit of the season, crafting unforgettable experiences, and adding a touch of magic to our everyday lives!

Below I am sharing some of wonderful Halloween party decor ideas with you.

DIY Balloons

Skip the fancy Halloween-themed balloons and buy plain white or orange ones. With a black marker, draw ghostly faces, pumpkins or other designs on them and voila, you’ve got your very own spooky balloon gathering! For extra spookiness, you could use a glow stick inside them before inflating.

BELLA'S COUNTRYSIDE CHRISTMAS BY CLAIRE HUSTON

Ad – review. I was sent a copy of this book for review purposes and all thoughts are my own.

Today I am involved in the book tour for Bella's Countryside Christmas by Claire Huston. Claire lives in Warwickshire, UK with her husband and two children. She writes uplifting modern love stories about characters who are meant for each other but sometimes need a little help to realise it. A keen amateur baker, she enjoys making cakes, biscuits and brownies almost as much as eating them. You can find recipes for over a hundred sweet treats at clairehuston.co.uk. This is also where she talks about and reviews books.

About the book

Fleeing her heartache and horrendous job, Bella stumbles upon a December wedding in the beautiful village of Haileybrook and the spirit of the season moves her to act as a fake date to handsome stranger Jack. Jack and Bella hit it off, but Bella has to leave in a hurry and their magical evening soon becomes nothing more than a blissful memory.

STRENGTHEN YOUR HAIR WITH THE GRO+ ADVANCED SYSTEM FROM VEGAMOUR

Ad/Gifted – The Vegamour Hair wellness products featured in this post were gifted to me in exchange for a review. However all opinions are my own.

The products we use on our hair and scalp can have an effect on our hair's wellness. It's important we use the right hair products so that we have shiny, fuller and healthier hair. Our scalp often gets forgotten about and products that help to exfoliate and remove build up are an important part of our hair care.

Vegamour have a great range of hair wellness products. A few years ago I got to try out their GRO range, which I got on really well with. Now Vegamour has a brand-new launch which is their most advanced approach to hair wellness! I've been lucky enough to try out some of the products from their new launch which is the GRO+ Advanced System that is an extra-strength system clinically proven to reduce hair loss* — no RX required.

*Due to breakage from washing and combing in a 120-day independent, third-party clinical study with 40 participants using GRO+ Advanced Hair Serum once daily.

The system features a clean, plant-based ritual curated for those seeking hair products that pair vegan and cruelty-free ingredients with truly remarkable results. If you are unsure if this range is suitable for you than check out this quick hair quiz. The quiz helps you to work out which range of products are suitable for your hairs needs. The HYDR-8 range is a range for those of you who have dry or damaged hair.

I was sent the new GRO+ Advanced Shampoo and Conditioner along with the GRO + Advanced Hair Serum set to try. The new range was co-developed along with a dermatologist to develop an extra strength system for severe shredding. From their clinical study they found 93% of participants had a clinically measured improvement in hair density and 87% had a reduction to hair loss. They also have great reviews so you know they are going to give excellent results.

How To Decorate For Autumn On A Budget

I love to decorate our home for the seasons, autumn is definitely my favourite and I love to make our home cosy. If you are anything like me then you may have noticed that there is a bigger range of autumnal decor in the shops these days. However, there are plenty of autumn decorations you can create yourself for free or for a fraction of the price you will pay in store. The great thing is if you have kids you can get them involved to create some unique and personal decor items.

Get inspirATION

When comes to decorating for autumn on a budget then you need to get inspiration for the decor that you want to have in your home. These cosy colours and sustainable style trends are popular this year.

My favourite place to find inspiration is Pinterest, where you can find autumn decor as well as crafts to follow. You can also find inspiration from places such as Instagram, magazines, other bloggers and even from visiting home decor shops to get ideas.

Second hand items

Charity shops, online selling sites such as Vinted and car boot sales are great places to find autumn decor or materials to craft autumn decor for a fraction of the cost of buying them new.

You never know what you will find, so it's worth keeping an open mind - for example, if you see a plant pot that would be perfect if it was in an autumnal orange or brown colour then consider painting it or even a plain glass jar can be turned into a gorgeous autumnal piece with the right lights.

Collect pine cones and conkers

Pine cones and conkers are the two things that instantly make me think of autumn, and the great news is that you can usually find them for free whilst out on walks. You can make it a fun activity to do with the kids going on walk to specifically find them or you can start collecting any as and when you see them.

When you have a big enough collection of pine cones and conkers then you will want to clean them to remove insects and sap before you use them to decorate. To do this simply submerge them in a mixture of warm water and white vinegar for 30 minutes then shake off the excess water and with the pine cones bake them in the oven at 200C until the pine cones open up again, which could take between 30 to 90 minutes.

Once you have a stash of cleaned pine cones and conkers there are so many budget-friendly decorations that you can make. I've come across so many fun ideas on Pinterest.

Some ideas include:

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