We take such care of our belongings when out and about and dread the thought of our homes being burgled but how many of us truly take care of our home and garden security? It should be one of the most important concerns especially if it has high-quality furnishings and equipment! Unfortunately, many people are simply after what they can get and home burglaries are on the rise in most areas. So how can we prevent these criminals from obtaining our belongings? This handy guide from Rattan Direct has some great ideas and here are a few tips from me to you.

Holidays are great! Whether you like to sightsee, or relax, soak up the culture or stay close to your hotel, but one thing we often do on holiday is indulging a little too much. I'm all for this too. Having that extra dessert, or that one too many burgers, but if you travel a lot like me then that indulgence will soon mean that your weight could slowly creep up and you might not want this. Jet 2, the low-cost holiday company asked me to write about my tips on how to stay healthy on holiday so here they are.

Breakfast



Try and have a healthy breakfast as this will stop you eating rubbish for the rest of the day. If you have a buffet breakfast put in front of you, indulge in a full cooked breakfast by all means but try and have your eggs scrambled or poached rather then fried, avoid anything like fried bread and be sure to have fresh fruit, fruit juice, a smoothie bowl or a fruit smoothie if available.

Lunch

If you have had a large breakfast have a light lunch, of soup, salad or fruit. If you are tempted by the regional delicacies of pastries and cakes then have one here instead of lunch, and avoid anything else.

Dinner

If you normally have fries with everything consider healthier options such as rice or couscous if available. Choose white meat such as chicken and fish over red meat such as lamb or beef for a change. Look for dishes that are colourful and have lots of vegetables such as stir-fries and avoid anything too creamy.

Alcohol

If you enjoy a drink then instead of drinking cocktails, beer, wine or lager all night, have a soft drink in between or sparkling water that has no calories, to pace yourself. Mocktails are a tasty alternative to cocktails without the alcohol just be careful of the sugar content.

Food safety

To avoid an upset stomach go to places where the food is freshly cooked if possible. If you are going to a buffet go at a busy time to ensure that there is a high turnover of the food and that it isn't waiting all day on a hot plate. It is especially good if you can watch the food being cooked in front of you. If you are not sure if the water is safe then drink bottled water and avoid foods washed in the local water like salads. This is why it's important to gather all available travel health information on your destination before you make concrete plans.  

I've recently been thinking about completing some more home renovation. We have lived here for a while now and like most people, I have got to the point where I would like to make some changes. Of course a slap of paint here, a change of decor there doesn’t take much effort but the bigger jobs require that little more time.


Not long ago I had my kitchen renovated and I finally have a kitchen I am happy with but now is the time to focus on the rest of my property. With my son at university, I am keen to revamp my home whilst he is away. It can be so easy to get tied up in all the things going on in our lives and not realise the stuff you want to change until there are multiple jobs to be done around the house. I know I have got a few things on my list of things I want to do around my home!

So many people I know have had their boilers replaced recently and I am thinking about it too - mine has been in for many, many years and I think it is slowly starting to give up the ghost. I’d love an instant hot water supply from a tap - it takes ages for my heating system to heat up enough and I end up standing there for ages, just for some hot water. I am keen to get a heating system that gives me that instant hot water supply - a system that uses circulating pumps to help save energy by not heating a large tank of water and also saving me from wasting a load of water too. How great would it be to be able to do the washing up almost straight away rather than having to run the tap for ten minutes wasting water waiting for it to heat up? It would be great to have a modern up-to-date way of adjusting the heating too, with a tablet attached to the wall. 

If playing golf in hat, gloves and waterproofs doesn't appeal to you, this is a good time to plan a getaway to escape the wintery UK weather. The world is full of beautiful golf courses and many of them are bathed in year-round sunshine so why suffer the British weather, you have a plane to catch!

It is always great fun hosting a party for your friends and family. Nothing beats getting everyone together to enjoy great food and drink and the chance to dance the night away. Great memories are created at events like this, whether it's a special birthday, anniversary, wedding or something else.

If you are planning a special event hiring the right band will make all of the difference. Aside from looking through entertainment sites like Alive Network, the tips below will help you to do exactly that.

In the good old days, P.B. or pre-blogging, I had a small family run high street jewellers. We prided ourselves on selling the best quality jewellery for the style-conscious man and woman, and this is where I first came across Dower and Hall. 

Dower and Hall are a British company founded by husband and wife team Dan and Diane. Their passion for jewellery shines through in their beautiful designs. From engagement rings with the best quality diamonds, to more fashion-led luxurious jewellery made in a range of metals, Dower and Hall jewellery does not disappoint.  

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If you’re looking for your next holiday spot, Italy is an amazing destination that you and your travel companion should really consider. It really is an incredibly unique destination in that it has something to offer everybody at any time of year; sun, snow, sea, mountains, lakes, cities there really is something for any kind of holiday. Because of this Italy is, of course, a hugely popular holiday destination for tourists from all over the world; meaning at certain times of year you may find the more popular destinations full of tourists.

One part of Italy that has managed to retain its incredible unspoilt nature and authentic traditional way of life in Sicily. Not only will your camera roll be full of photos by the end of your trip, you will also make some of the best memories of your life. Here are a few things to look forward to.

Beautiful Beaches


If you’re planning on visiting Sicily during the summer, you are in for a treat. Thanks to its crystal clear water Sicily boasts many of the most beautiful beaches in all of Italy and indeed Europe. Its deep blue coloured waters are so transparent you can see some of the incredible sea life below.

The waters are great for scuba diving and water sports, though even a run of the mill snorkel will allow you to see the wondrous sea life below the waves. The beaches are definitely one of the highlights of the Italian island not only for the water but of course for the sunshine, clean sand and beachside bars serving the fresh catches of the day.

Amazing Accommodation

Leave the hotel behind and choose an original accommodation for your holiday. You can rent a place to stay owned by locals, which is often near the beach and will allow you plenty of room, privacy and a real home from home!

Local companies such as WishSicily have a really impressive array of Sicily villas with pools throughout the island meaning whether you fancy somewhere next to the beach, or in a little provincial town, you can find a lovely place to stay. Freedom if you have children and don’t want to book more rooms in a hotel; freedom if you want to buy your own food and eat some of your meals at home; and even just the simple freedom of feeling at home in another country!

Fantastic Food

Markets offering a selection of local produce, fresh fruit and vegetables and famously good Sicilian street food means you’re never going to go hungry on your trip - even if your budget is limited. Check out the food markets in Catania for example. If you have a villa it can be a smart move to buy local ingredients and cook at home in order to save money and cater to the kids, however eating at a restaurant at least once during your stay is an absolute must. You will find lots of delicious options on the menu.

Sicily is known for its fish dishes, freshly caught and cooked using ingredients local ingredients to make incredibly delicious meals. You also have many pasta options depending on what your taste is. If seafood isn’t your thing you needn’t worry as there are so many dishes it’s impossible not to find something you fancy. The flavours are out of this world when it comes to authentic Sicilian cuisine, and you can’t forget dessert either as many of Italy’s most famous sweets originate from Sicily.

Happening History

Of course, Italy is known for its fascinating historical heritage, and Sicily is no different from the rest of the boot, being full of important and perhaps surprising history. Not only does it have two volcanoes (that you can hike and visit) but it also has spectacular ancient architecture. Considering the various different cultures that have inhabited the island over the course of its long history, the architecture has been shaped and evolved along with it. All over the island, you will find unique monuments of those that were there before us, and realize how much Sicily was touched by them. Take a stroll through the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, or visit the ancient Greek amphitheatre in Taormina- you will not be disappointed.

So, if you were questioning where your next postcard should be sent from, I hope I’ve convinced you that Sicily is where your plane needs to land. Obviously, you can’t see everything in one trip, but what you do see will have you looking to come back again for more!

I've been looking for that perfect bathroom cabinet for a while.  Something that is stylish, sleek, modern and functional. Well, I think I've found it, finally! A white gloss console cabinet from JD Williams.

So what are your rights when it comes to flight delays? We travel quite often so have been researching to know exactly what to do in certain situations and what we are entitled to if required.



Every year, flights are overbooked, delayed, diverted or cancelled. Travellers are left frustrated and are left inconvenienced by this. The Flight Compensation Regulation (261/2004) is a piece of EU legislation that has set rules for the compensation that passengers can claim in these instances. The EU Court of Justice also strictly imposes air passenger rights so airlines must adhere to policies, accommodating passengers and providing refreshments if their flight is delayed.

If passengers are departing from or arriving at an EU airport, these regulations apply to them. Passengers from outside the EU are also included if they are arriving at an EU airport and the airline is based in an EU member state.

I bet the idea of claiming flight compensation seems quite stressful and a lot of hard work. But what if I told you there were companies out there ready to help you claim any compensation you are entitled to. If you are wanting to claim for a flight delay but think the process may be quite difficult, then perhaps consider a company like Flight Delay Claims 4 U.

Flight Delay Claims 4 U offer a no win, no fee so there really is nothing to lose. There is also no initial fee. They also offer access to specialist flight compensation solicitors - these qualified solicitors will take on your claim and use air passenger rights and case law to achieve the best result they can for you. They also have a dedicated flight delay claims team so you can track the progress of your claim as the company helps you seek compensation for your delayed flight.

If your flight has been delayed for three hours or more, you could be entitled to up to £540 compensation. The company has a 98% success rate in court which is great. They also have a live flight delay and cancellations feed where you can claim to. What should you do if your flight is delayed? You need to gather information, take photos and keep all official airline documents such as letters, tickets and vouchers.



Whilst we haven’t yet had to claim compensation as we haven’t ever been delayed for long enough, it is always a risk when flying as much as we do and knowing our rights is key to knowing where we stand. After all, rules and regulations are there for a reason and are there to protect us.

Have you ever been delayed for a long period of time when travelling?
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Hotel Chocolat, the luxury chocolate company makes the perfect chocolates which make excellent gifts but did you know that they also have a tasting club? No? Well, let me tell you all about it here.

The chocolate subscription club is a service that means once a month you get a special edition box of delicious chocolates delivered to your door. What's especially cool is that you are given a chance to rate the chocolates and influence future selections through your scores as well as getting the chance to taste experimental chocolates before they hit the shelves.

So I was given a box to try. The chocolates were delicious as always. I have to admit I am a big fan of this chocolate brand so it's hard to be objective! My favourites were the raspberry pannacotta, with lush fresh raspberry flavours, and the peach and jasmine, a sweet delightful and fruity centre enrobed in white chocolate.



In fact, all the chocolates were delightful and really high quality, you could tell by the taste. That's because they use best cocoa powder in the chocolates, cocoa powder from cocoa farmers they support in St Lucia.



I also like the mix of white, milk and dark chocolates in the box, a little something for everyone really. Every month, the box is unique and especially chosen by their in-house chocolatiers, and every month they create new and delectable chocolates for their customers to try.
Win a Hotel Chocolat tasting box worth £22.99

One entry per household 

Winner will be contacted within 7 days of the competition ending. 

If I do not hear from the winner within 28 days I reserve the right to redraw 

Please allow 28 days for delivery 

Closing date 2017-11-12 11:59:59 PM

In the Autumn I like to think about sprucing my home up. It's the perfect time of year, just before Christmas, and by injecting some freshness with new furnishings and fittings, your home will get a transformation in no time, ready for the busy Christmas period.

This year the cool Autumn trends in colours are inky blues, amethyst and terracotta. 




Inky blue hues, amethyst and terracotta have been trending all year. Inky blue is a versatile colour and fits well with tones of sage green and grey colourways whilst rich amethyst shades will bring warmth to a colour scheme. With both these colours, metallic and silver shades will compliment the shades perfectly, whilst crystal accessories will lighten it all up. Another trending colour is terracotta, and this is the perfect colour to create a cosy welcoming home when mixed with warm amber, citrine and tourmaline hues.

Now, something I really need for my home this Autumn is new blinds. The blinds in my office are old and beige and are totally not me. An injection of colour would be the perfect way to show my personality and bring our home bang up-to-date.  For our bedroom, I would be looking at a floral print to match a duvet cover I have and for the lounge a cream, beige and brown design to coordinate with the muted natural tones of the furnishings I have. This is where You Choose from Apollo Blinds comes in. 

You Choose is a bespoke roller and roman blinds service, from Apollo Blinds, one of the UK's largest providers of made-to-measure blinds. 



The service allows you to choose from a massive selection of over 270 materials in their soft cloth blind range. Want a roller blind in this seasons must have inky blue colour? No problem. Want a Roman blind in a leaf and flower print? Of course! What about a simple black and white stripe? Easy to do. If you want a funky print for your child's bedroom you can have that too.

You Choose also work with iconic home designer brands such as Cath Kidston, Orla Kiely and Josef Frank, so you have the designer look, with a made-to-measure service and no expensive mistakes that can happen when you make your own blinds at home. In fact, I wouldn't know where to start with making my own blinds, I've been to three sewing classes and I still can't sew! That's the genius of the You Choose blinds. You get a bespoke made-to-measure service, so blinds for any shape window, even difficult sizes, with the most amazing array and choice of fabric.   Even if you can't find the pattern you like in their range they will go out of their way to help you find that perfect design that will coordinate with everything.




The Apollo Blinds You Choose service starts from £84 and I think is a reasonable price for that luxury service. The only problem with the You Choose service is which design to pick!  

Let me know, would you use a service like this? What style of print would you have on a bespoke blind?

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Artsy Couture is a website with simple goals - to provide the consumer with the highest quality, most innovative photo products at amazing price points.

Starting out in 2012 in a small two-car garage with just a dream, many sleepless nights and one product, the company was built and launched for the professional photography market. Based in Hunt Valley, Maryland, USA, they now operate out of two production facilities and are run by a fantastic team.

Artsy Couture has evolved over time and today is a full-service boutique photo lab that offers an array of premium products, for the professional photographer as well as the average person taking photos for a hobby. They ensure that the quality of the products are exceptional and strive to bring innovative products to their consumers on a regular basis.

I’ve been taking a look at the site recently and have really been liking what they have to offer. So much so that I have created a wishlist of the items I think I would most like in and around my home.

Canvas Wrap
Win an Artsy Couture Canvas Wrap up to $150

I am a big fan of executive lounges having tried the Virgin lounge at Heathrow, the No 1 lounge at Gatwick and Heathrow and the Executive Lounge at Cardiff airport. So it would be good to try out the Plaza Premium Lounge at Terminal 2 Heathrow.  There are a number of lounges at Heathrow Terminal 2 so it would be good to see how this compares. 


The Plaza Premium lounge at Heathrow Terminal 2 is situated after departure.



On arrival, we checked in at the reception desk, who welcomed us and advised us of the Wi-Fi password.  The Zen-inspired lounge has mood lighting, lots of space and is decorated in muted tones of creams, browns and beige. One of the first things I noticed was that the music playing was relaxing adding to the overall ambience of the lounge.



There are a few of different areas to sit, most with comfy chairs and sofas and a high table area with power points.
There is a bar area where you can order your drinks. Wine and lager are included in the price, as well as soft drinks, tea and coffee and some spirits. Tea and coffee are available from a machine and cans of drink are in a nearby fridge. You do have to pay for certain premium spirits. There was a selection of snacks on the bar which was a nice touch including nuts, olives and tortilla chips.



We sat down and made ourselves comfortable before going to the main serving area for food. We had just missed breakfast at 11.15am so the lunch options were out instead.

The food area had a selection of cold and hot dishes including some vegetarian options such as vegetable frittata, chick pea tagine, potato wedges and Cajun vegwrap.



There was a decent salad selection, with cheeses and meat including salami and ham.



A tempting bread selection with butter and Flora was also available.