Home Decor and Organisation Plans

Hi everyone so today I have decided to share with you my plans for our home and

organisation in 2016. If you read my post on my new years goals you will know being more organised was on that list. 

I also did a post called back to normality where I organised a few things to get us a little more organised after Christmas.

 I have now got a copy of The life changing magic of tidying up and am excited to start tidying and being more organised. I want to finish the book first before I start going on a major tidying session but I want to share with you today my ideas on what I would like to do decor and storage wise with our home as well. 

Bathroom

I feel that are bathroom is pretty organised but I do want to organise our 

bathroom unit as I need to find space to fit all our cleaning bits out reach from Blake. 

I also want to get rid of beauty/skincare related products that I know that I wont use as

it will make more space in there. 

I also want to get a new bath mat as our white one is getting a bit tatty now so would love to get a pale blue one which will go well with the theme of the bathroom. 

Our room

We really need to be more organised and tidy with our wardrobe and chest of drawers. 

I plan on getting rid of some of my clothing as I have loads of bits which either don't fit or I've not worn for awhile or even just look a bit tatty now. Clothing is one of the sections on the KonMari method that I am looking forward to organizing. 

I also want to sort out under bed storage as we have some boxes under there which I want to have a sort out of. 

One of the things I really want to do is have an extra photo hook up in our room to make our home feel more personal to use with special photos. 

Blake's Room

Blake's room is probably one of the most organised rooms in our flat. 

I have managed to find places to put all of his toys so far and know pretty much where everything is. 

I want to put up two more photo hooks as Blake has two canvas's that I want up on his wall which is currently stored in his wardrobe so that they are out of the way. 

Living room

I feel that our living room has plenty of stuff to organise and make more personal. 

I'll start with decor bits I really want us to have another photo frame above the sofa. 

I also am thinking of getting a few more decorative bits to go near our fire place which you can't see. 

As for organisation I want to organise the plastic drawers you can just about see. 

We currently have our paperwork all in there which I want move elsewhere and use

the plastic drawers to put CDs in. 

I also need to have a sort out of our book shelf which you can't see in this photo as we have far to many books. I need to be strict and get rid of some. 

The other two things is a wicker hamper which is next to the sofa that has miscellaneous  stuff in and I want to use it as more storage for toys. 

The other things is our table and chairs which again you can't see. 

I find that things just get dumped there and then just gets stuffed in plastic drawers.

Kitchen

I'm going to be honest I hate our kitchen it's so small and we just have so many kitchen bits that we have no room for such as our steamer, breadmaker, grill etc. 

I want to keep stuff but literally have no room for it in the kitchen and we only have a small storage cupboard where we keep bits such as Christmas bits and our hoover and steamer. 

Our kitchen overall is the messiest room in our flat. 

I'm really hoping the KonMari Method works for us. 

I'm planning that whenever we get something new in the future that we

do the one in out thing. We will have to see. 

Do you have any plans for Decor and organisation? 

What I got for Christmas

When it comes to these posts I am really nosey and like to see what others got for Christmas. 

This mainly is so that it can help me come up with ideas for gifts for other people at later date or even

to just add to my wishlist of items I would love to receive. 

I am the same when it comes to reading what people got for their birthday too. 

I know a lot people love these posts but I know some people don't

so if you don't than this post isn't for you. 

I also feel that I have to say this year after year when I do these posts

 that I am not in anyway trying to show off and am thankful for any gifts I receive. 

 I was lucky enough to get the majority of the items that was on my amazon wish list which wasn't expected as it was just to give people ideas. 

Anyone that knows me well enough knows that I love to read. 

My mother and step father in law got me these two books : 

Giovanna Fletcher - Dream a little dream 

and

- Dinah Jefferies - The tea planters wife.

I didn't ask for these books but they definitely made good choices 

as I've not read either of these books before and they are right up my street. 

Stuart and I also received a kitchen tool turn about which was on my wishlist

awhile ago. This was before I got a personalized utensil pot from getting personal last year. 

So we are going to use it for something else possibly to store pens in or something or other. 

Either way its going to come in handy. 

My sister got me the make up brushes that I had been wanting for quite awhile now. 

I got both the Real Techniques Core Collection and the Real Techniques Eye Makeup Brush Starter Set.

I've been getting into make up a lot more recently so having some good brushes is a must.

My sister also got me a book which was on my amazon wishlist. 

The Cinderella Murder. 

I have been getting into thrillers and crime novels recently and this one looks good. 

My Mum got me two items which were also on my list

Adele's new album 25 and Make Up Revolution eye shadow palette 

in flawless matte. This is a great pallette I can use for everyday make up as the shades

are all wearable. 

Then Stuart got me the Make Up Revolution eye shadow palette flawless

which has the shame shades but they are shimmer so ideal for using when

I want a bit of sparkle or for a special occasion. 

Stuart also got me that Kilner glass that I really wanted from Wilko. 

They do them in pink and blue and I got the blue one that I wanted. 

I love drinking my Dr pepper in there and also lemonade. 

I was also very lucky to get The Blogger Planner which I had seen on other blogs and

just fell in love with. I am thrilled with it and so far its keeping me organised. 

Then I got a Himalayan Salt lamp. 

I had been debating whether to get one or not and glad that Stuart got one for me

not just for the health benefits but also as its so pretty too. 

I also got some other gifts not pictured: 

Blake got me a Pandora style bracelet which I love and have not taken off since Christmas day. 

I love it so much. 

Then I also got some gift cards from my Father in law and Stuart to spend in Peacocks and

also my Nan got me an Amazon gift card.

What did you get for Christmas? I'd love to know. 

Everything Your Kids Will Need to Nurture Their Hobbies

In a child's developmental years they are going to need to develop hobbies and interests. These are vital for shaping the people they’re going to become. Social interaction is important for children, It gives them contact with others, and helps them to enjoy interests with their peers. Everybody needs to have some kind of interest in order to nurture their skills, and get the most out of whatever it is they do. When kids are young, their interests will be changing rapidly.

However, they will start to develop some definite interests from a young age. A lot of the time this will be an interest in sports or activities. It’s vital that children nurture their hobbies so that these grow into serious interests. They might even have enough ability that these hobbies could develop into career paths somewhere down the line. This is a list of what your kids will need in order to nurture their hobbies.

Options

The best way for kids to nurture their hobbies and interests is for them to have lots of options. It’s so much easier to select or identify something you’re good at when you have a lot to choose from. When you’re left with just a few choices, it can be more difficult to develop skills at something you’re really interested in. So, you should see to it that the kids have a lot of options for hobbies and interests they might take up. That means you need to check out local clubs and societies in the area. It also means you should find out what their interests are and see to it that they can enjoy and experience these things.

Encouragement

Children thrive on encouragement, and everyone knows this. So you need to ensure that you encourage and motivate your kids. The happier they feel about something, the more likely they are to stick with it. You see, kids are going to experience defeat and upset when they take up hobbies. But they need to realise that this is okay, and it’s part of the gig. They need to be motivated into sticking with what they are doing. And this is where encouragement comes in. This is one of the most important roles you can play as a parent.

Reward

It’s a proven fact that children respond well to rewards and incentives. If they have something tangible to aim for they are likely to become more invested in what they’re doing. This is an excellent way of helping to nurture their hobbies. For instance, their club might provide end of season trophies from the trophy store. Or, you might decide you’d like to promise them a reward if they accomplish something. Use this system to get the kids more excited in their hobbies and interests, and make sure they stick at them.

It’s very important for children to have and develop hobbies from a young age. This is key for them to adapt to the world around them and to discover interests. As a parent, there is plenty you can do to help your children nurture their hobbies. A lot of it is down to the approach you take with them, and how much you encourage and inspire.

Back To Normality

This week onward's we are getting the  flat back in order and getting back into a routine after Christmas. 

We took our Christmas tree down on the first of January and I finally moved most of Blake's Birthday and  Christmas presents into his room. We have a few which are currently out in our living room but am planning on

using the large wicker basket next to sofa to store more toys. 

So far this is a temp way of organizing things as I am getting a copy of

 The life changing magic of tidying up. My goal this year is to be a lot more organised with both blogging and home life. 

I sorted out Blake's bookshelf the other day. 

I moved his winter/ Christmas books into our storage cupboard with the Christmas bits ready for next Christmas. 

So he only has his everyday books on the shelf now. 

I also have three baskets which are filled with bits and bobs. 

One has all his cuddly toys in as he has so many, the next just has random bits in

it at the moment and the last one is filled with toy cars that he has. 

The majority of his toys are currently stored in his toy box at the moment but I do need to organise it a bit better really. We currently have his toy garage set on top of toy box until I figure out the best place to put it. 

I also have put a few of Blake's toys on top of his wardrobe out of the way and he has his 

memory box up there too so that it is out of reach. 

Blake loves playing in his cot at the moment while I get some bits and bobs done and has now started standing up on his own. 

With our loving room I need to sort out the TV unit which has space for us to put more DVDs on. 

Also I want to have a look at our book shelf and decide on what books I want to keep. 

Even though I love books I only really want to keep ones that I enjoyed and not just have books on the shelf for the sake of it. 

As I had also said above I want to sort out the wicker basket so that toys can go in there.

At the moment is full of miscellaneous  bits and bobs we need to find a place for.

I recently also purchased a small chest of drawers for my side of the bed. 

The main reason that it gives me more storage space. 

At the moment I got my make up and skincare bits inside.

The main bits in our room I need to organise is our wardrobe and also our large chest of drawers. 

I have so many clothing I want to go through and sort out. 

One room I've not pictured is our kitchen this is because as its so small it looks messy a lot of the time. 

I need to really have a good organising session in there. 

Our bathroom I find is the easiest to organise. 

We have a little box filled with bath and skincare products for Blake to the side which is fab

as we can fit so much in it. We also have a mettle stand which we have a faux plant on and other bits and bobs. 

As you can see on our window sill we have a basket to put our every day bits and bobs in. 

This area is the hardest to keep organised as I tend to do my make up in here so I end up forgetting to put bits away and it just ends up cluttered. 

Our bath area is pretty organised with just shampoo's, conditioners, shower gels etc dotted around. 

We need to start getting back into a routine of going out and about so my plan this coming weekend is 

to have a look at what groups are on. The children's center in our local area has lot some of its funding for 12 months plus so there aren't many groups on anymore. 

I also want to start doing more things as a family at the weekend. 

As Saturday is Blake's swimming lessons we will have to work something out for Sunday's.

Vitricsbox : Recreating precious moments and memories

Vitricsbox  an innovative new gift which will decorate any home.

 Recreate the most precious memories and moments

I love having photo's dotted around our flat. It certainly makes it feel more homely.

When vitricsbox contacted me to ask if I was interested in reviewing their 3D photo box 

I couldn't wait to get ordering!

 I picked out my favorite photos of Blake (see below)  that was taken when he was

two days old. 

The vitricsbox is your most favorite photo engraved in 3D inside crystal quality glass, illuminated by a string of LEDs and encased in its lacquered coloured box.

You can also personalize your gift even further by adding a special message underneath. 

 The engraved block of optical quality glass is encased tightly in its wooden box.

The 3D engraving is brought alive by LEDS lights which are integrated in the case. The lights are powered by a transformer which plugs into the back and is mains powered. Its cable is 4 feet long.

The wooden box comes in four lovely colors:

-Duck egg blue

- Powder pink

- Jet Black

- soft white 

I chose our one to be in a soft white as it would go with most things in our home. 

I was impressed with delivery time as it arrived within four days of making the order. 

When I opened the parcel I was greeted with a gorgeous black box which excited me further 

as it looks so luxury. 

Inside the box was the 3D photo, I actually cried when I saw

it, it happened to arrive on Blake's first birthday which made it more special for us. 

I have tried my best to get a good enough photo but I can honestly say it looks so much more better

than any photograph could show of it. 

I am very impressed with the 3d photo and love how it looks on my  window ledge. I am also impressed with how it turned out as it's managed to capture every detail from the photograph.

On close inspection you can see the cloud print that is on Blake's sleep suit and all his little features. 

Overall i am extremely happy with the 3d photo and would highly recommend 

 vitricsbox if you are looking for a special gift for someone special in your life. 

 Although not cheap at £84 (with 3d engraving, £79 without) it is more than worth the cost in

my eyes. 

What do you think?  Would this be something you would buy for a loved one? 

Hello 2016

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you have had a lovely time celebrating with friends and family. 

At the beginning of each of year I like to sit down and look back at the previous year and

reflect on how things have gone. 

I also like to write up my new goals for the year ahead. 

2015 wasn't the year for me with goal making and I have been looking forward to 2016 

and the need for a fresh start. 

I always think that having goals for the year ahead is a great motivator even if

you don't always stick to them. So without further ado here are my goals for 

2016. 

Save Money

I can be pretty good with my money in general but I did a lot more spending than saving in 2015.

My money went a lot on home bits in 2015 :

- New bed and mattress

- New Sofa

- New TV stand 

and we have just forked out for a new hoover in the Sales.

There was also the holiday to Isle of Wight. 

We will be booking to go away in 2016 but I also want to make saving a habit. 

I want to start saving between £10-£20 a week if I am able to. 

Meal Plan

I'm not that keen on cooking, Its definitely not a passion but I want to start meal planning 

again. So that when it comes to dinner time i'm not going to be in a panic of what we are going to eat

and also this will help us to use up what we have in our cupboards, fridge and freezer hence saving money.

Be more organised

Not just with my personal life but also my blog. 

I have a daily planner for personal bits to be written in

I have this very cute sprinkle of glitter one. 

I also have the one in the photo above from a lovely company 

The Bloggers Planner. This of course is my planner for all 

things blogging. 

I also want to be more organised around the home. 

We have a lot of stuff and live in a small flat so its pretty tricky to know where to store most

things so being more organised is key. 

Read more

I don't read as much as I use to.

My free time is mostly cleaning and tidying up when Blake is napping. 

Then when goes to bed in the evening I try and get a few blog posts done

or I am on social media. I want to cut down time on social media and read more 

as its something I love to do and has always been my main hobby.

More Family Days Out

I want to go more places as a family so more trips out.

I want us to go out approx once a month on a family trip

and experience more things as a family whether that's 

a trip to the zoo or farm or just a walk around the lake that's nearby. 

Go abroad

I've not been aboard since I was 15 which is nearly 11 years ago. 

We didn't get a chance to have a honeymoon after we marred in 2012 as at the time we just couldn't afford it.

Now that we have a bit of money stashed away we can now go abroad this year rather than staying here

 in the UK. We haven't fully decided where we would like to go yet but are open to ideas

if anyone has any family holiday recommendations? 

What are your new year goals/resolutions if any? 

What I Really Needed To Buy For My Newborn

Having a baby is so expensive. It can be really easy to get into a lot of debt just buying the essentials. What I didn’t realise was that so much of it can be spread out. Not all of it is needed straight away. And Grandparents are wonderful! They will often insist on buying some of the bigger items for you. If you’re about to have your first, put the credit card down. Here’s what you really need for your first month. Get the rest later:

Moses Basket

A Moses Basket is the only place your little one needs to sleep for the first six weeks. You want to be able to move your sleeping baby around the house easily without waking him up. That way he can always be with you. He’ll need to sleep in your room, so you don’t have to rush into another room when he wants a night feed. And it means you can hear when he stirs. That way, you’re more likely to let yourself have a good sleep too.

Newborn Nappies

Whether you choose cloth or disposable, you’re going to need a lot of nappies. They aren’t cheap. It might be best to wait until the birth before your partner nips to the store and buys them. That way you’ll be sure to get the right size! Babies can lose weight straight after birth, so buying nappies that seem small probably won’t be. Only use moist cotton wool to clean a newborn. Creams and wipes come later.

Baby Grows

Grandparents, friends and family, will undoubtedly buy dozens of gorgeous outfits. What you need are the little onesies with press stud fastenings. This makes nappy changes easier. You’ll need two or three a day at first because newborns are messy little things. If you’re buying them in advance, buy white, so they’re not gender specific.

Car Seat

To get home from the hospital after birth you will need that car seat installed. Some pushchairs are part of a complete travel system. This means you get the car seat and other handy bits and pieces. Grandparents usually like to buy the pushchair, but if you get a say in it, see if the car seat can be included.

  

Nursing Pillow

Breastfeeding is stressful enough at first without you getting aches and strains trying to hold your newborn in position. Use a nursing pillow to prop your baby up to the right height and spare your poor arms. You’ve done enough carrying for the last nine months!

Once you have these bits, you can manage for a little while. As you get to know your baby, and you become accustomed to Motherhood, you will find there are plenty of other products that can help make your life easier. Things change every week. But spreading the cost carefully can help make raising your child a little more affordable.

Even nursery furniture can wait until about six weeks after the birth. Of course, the nesting instinct may have you shopping for everything you’ll ever need well before it happens. Making a list can help you prioritize and budget for what you may need.    

Stomach Bug, Christmas and general chit chat

Hiya, I hope you all have had a very Merry Christmas this year. 

I have taken a little break over the Christmas period admittedly 

a bit longer than I had first planned. 

On the evening of the 23rd I came down with an awful stomach bug which kept me up all night. I had my Mum and Sister over on Christmas Eve briefly to drop off gifts. 

But Christmas Eve for me was mainly spent in bed resting up whilst Stuart looked after Blake and finished off the Christmas food shop. 

Luckily Christmas Day I was feeling a bit better but unfortunately even now my appetite isn't fully back and my energy levels are pretty low too. 

Christmas this year was just the three of us together opening presents, relaxing and playing.

It went ever so quick and boxing day was just the same we spent a few hours over at my mother in laws opening more gifts and having a buffet lunch. 

So it's been a pretty relaxed Christmas. Stuart is back at work today until new years eve then off until the 4th. 

Now that Christmas is over I am looking forward to getting our home organised. 

Which means sorting out where Blake's toys will go and other bits and bobs. 

It also means I need to write up my new years goals.I am

also needing to sort out what classes to go to in the new year as

the children centre have lost some funding we need to find some new things

to do which I'll have to budget for. 

I'd love to know what you got up to this Christmas

comment below.