Having a new niece or nephew is an exciting time. I mean, who can resist a cute baby and especially so when they are related to you? A new parent will need a myriad of items for their newborn, from a pram and cot to clothes and toys. So when you are looking for gift ideas you will have a lot of choices, but you may not know where to start. To narrow this down I have an article for you today on gift ideas for a new niece or nephew, your welcome! Let's have a look at gift ideas for a newborn niece or nephew to make your shopping easier.

Soft and comfy sleepsuits

Soft toy suitable from birth

Baby photoshoot voucher

A baby record book

The first milestones are precious, like the first word a baby makes, and when they first walk, so a baby record book makes a great gift. It's lovely to have somewhere to keep precious items like the hospital record cards, a souvenir of baby's first haircut, baby hand and footprints and more so a modern take on this is a keepsake box.

If you want to renovate your bathroom but you don't have much budget you may not know where to start. However, it can be done on a budget and it can be successful too. You don't need to spend thousands to get the look you want. Let's have a look at how to renovate your bathroom on a budget and see if you can pick up soma tips. 

1) Do it yourself is the key

2) A lick of paint can do wonders

A lick of paint can really do wonders and make a bathroom look like new. There is nothing like white paint to make a bathroom look fresh. Blues and greens can also work well for a fresh look. You can even paint the tiles if you don't want to retile. Just be sure to clean the tiles properly, prime them with special paint then repaint with tile paint.

3) Redo the tiling and you will be smiling 

By redoing the tiling you can have a whole new look without the cost of remodelling the whole bathroom.  As mentioned before, repainting the bathroom tiles is a great idea and at a relatively little cost too. If you want to retile with patterned or mosaic tiles then it is a bigger job but it can be done, or maybe replace a number of strategic tiles that will fit in with the current look. Regrouting can also work wonders to get a fresh clean look. 

4) Replace the shower and the taps

5) Stylish storage can help the clutter

Storage is relatively cheap and can help declutter surfaces. Put up some wall mounted shelves for towels and toiletries, or buy some big rattan bags for towels. Under the washbasin you can put a wall hung vanity unit to store what you need and it won't take up any surfaces either giving the illusion of more space. You can even hang an organiser behind the door to keep everything you need in, at relatively little cost. Check out the sales for new storage, new towels and new fixtures and fittings.

As you can see you can renovate your bathroom on a budget. Let me know if you have and how you went about it?

Since the pandemic swept across the world, many of us have said goodbye to our daily commutes and have taken up working at home instead. As millions of us around the world were sitting at desks in our homes, we discovered a whole new world of working. However, with this new world of working, we also found the potential downsides of remote working, with people struggling to separate work from home life. If you’re finding it hard to switch off from work when you’re remote working, this article will provide you with 3 top tips for taking back control of your working week.

One of the biggest problems with working from home is that it can be a challenge to distance yourself from your workspace. If you work from home, it is highly recommended that you do not work where you sleep or spend your time relaxing.

It’s really important to find ways to separate your work responsibilities and tasks from your day-to-day living. For example, setting up your desk in your bedroom would be advised against as you want to ensure you can separate work life from home life. Working from your bedroom could cause your brain to associate that room with work and not with sleeping and resting. You want to be able to switch off at the end of your working day and give yourself some time to rest and relax. The same goes for your days off and knowing when it is time to take one. This, quite frankly, can be done even easier if you opt for using platforms such as Timetastic, where you can book time off work simply without wasting your time and energy.

Another great way of turning off when working from home is to stay active. Looking after yourself with a little daily exercise is so important so it keeps your mind and body healthy and active.

If you’re having a stressful day and you can’t wait to slam that laptop shut, get out and get active, Exercising on a daily basis is so good for your body as the link between physical exercise and mental wellbeing has been heavily documented. When you exercise, you release endorphins, the feel-good chemicals in the brain, and when you release these, you stave off low mood and loss of libido. Furthermore, you’ll feel better about yourself and soon that stressful day at work will be long forgotten.

So, there you have it, three helpful and easy ways for you to turn off when working from home. Don’t let working take over your life, take back some control now!

The Netherlands is a very underrated country in my personal opinion. Often referred to as Holland, it is known for the laid-back capital Amsterdam, but there is also so much more to see and do outside of the city. Here are my top attractions in the Netherlands.

1. Boat down the canals in Amsterdam

2. Have a drink at the Heineken Experience

3. Visit the Rijksmuseum

The Netherlands is known for its beautiful tulips and the best place to see a display of colour is Keukenhof, also known as the Garden of Europe. The largest public garden anywhere in the world, stroll among the 70 acres of flowers and over 7 million bulbs of tulips that are planted every year. If you are inspired to create a garden of tulips when you return then tulip bulbs can be bought easily online or at your local garden centre.

5. Explore the pretty village of Marken

The small but perfectly formed village of Marken is a lovely spot to visit on a tour of the Netherlands. On the Ijsselmeer Lake, visit to see the painted houses in bright colours on stilts, and the fishing boats on the lake. The best time to visit is when one of the festivals is on so you can see the traditional dress and the woodworkers making clogs in the olden way.

6. Eat some cheese in Edam

Edam another pretty town in the Netherlands, is home to the famous Edam cheese. The 12th-century town produces Edam with a yellow rind, not the red rind we all know. When you are here visit the 18th-century cheese warehouses and see the cheese being weighed, or you can visit the cheese markets on a boat tour of the area.  You can combine a trip to Marken with Edam and Volendam.

7. Take the kids to Efteling 

My last attraction to visit in the Netherlands is the theme park Efteling. It is famous for being one of the oldest theme parks in the world and is divided into different zones based on legends, myths and fairytales. With a range of attractions aimed at little ones to big coasters aimed at adults and adventurous teenagers, it's a fun park for all the family. 

So here are my top 7 attractions in the Netherlands. I have only skimmed the surface as there are lots to see and do. I hope this has given you some ideas so you can carry on with your own research if you are visiting the area. Or maybe you want to combine it with a visit to Belgium and Luxembourg - the Benelux area. Whatever you want to do I hope you enjoy the trip!

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Your home is your sanctuary. You want it to embody not only your personality but also want to be comfortable in your home. Putting your personal stamp on your home is so important once you move in, whether you rent or buy.

To create that sense of serenity from the second you arrive home, you need to give the exterior a little TLC. The second you see your home you want to feel welcomed back. Spend time investing in how it looks. Plant some flowers, paint the fence and freshen up the front door. A lick of paint can go a long way.

Choose Your Colour Scheme

When it comes to decorating downstairs you want the house to flow from one room to another. Whether you choose retro furniture, traditional oak or grey painted furniture for a modern look you need to choose your colour palette accordingly. Creating a sense of cohesion is very satisfying. By choosing a colour palette you will be able to adapt the wall colour to complement and find colours that go with grey painted furniture that you have already chosen.

Dress The Room

Now that colours combinations have been decided, the next step is adding those homely extras. When putting your room together you need to consider texture. The texture of items makes such a difference. By mixing them up you are adding depth to your space whilst enabling the room to become more comfortable and inviting. For example, in your living room, you may choose to add a chunky knit throw to your chair, to invest in a thick pile rug, or add some velvet cushions. These ideas all add comfort and texture.

Get The Right Lighting

The lighting in any room not only provides light to fill the space but creates an ambience. When decorating you should be aiming for three types of lighting to be present in each and every room. There is the main ceiling light, which is designed to provide an overall light to the whole room, then accent and more decorative lights. This could be in the form of lamps or up lighters. This acts to draw the eye to a particular area such as a reading corner or to shed light on decorative pictures. Then the third is mood lighting such as having candles dotted about the room to be lit and create that dim warm glow that makes any space inviting.

Don’t Clutter Your Space

It is important to ensure that you are adding your personality to every room but remember less is more when it comes to your home. If you get carried away you can create a space that becomes overstimulating and doesn’t embrace that relaxing cosy space that was originally envisioned.

With every New Year's resolution, many of us aim to cut our spending. However, every year we often end up giving up this resolution. Being able to filter out your needs and wants and applying the smart ways to shop is actually a skill that could help many of us.

Not jotting down what you need beforehand is the biggest mistake to make. Whether you are out for groceries or shopping for some clothes, it's always sensible to make a list of what you need. This will help you save time, save energy and save money! The rule here is to follow a checklist you've made before your shop, ticking off what you get as you go. This shopping list technique always works as it will discourage you from window shopping, and help you stay focused. .For example, if you want to buy trainers, you will only visit the Nike outlet , collect the specific one and leave the store, saving you from moving from aisle to aisle and stopping you from picking up things at random, which ultimately leads to impulsive buying.

Sales and discount offers are a great way to spend your money wisely. This will not only save you money but will let you buy quality branded clothes at a bargain price. Therefore, always buy all brands on Supersales. Many chain stores with genuine products arrange annual or occasional sales. Sales on Black Friday, Boxing Day, and New Year sales are all worth checking out. are worth. Why not make a note in your calendar for when the sales are likely to be on. By doing this you will be able to save in advance for the sales too. Additionally, promotional deals on grocery items can also save you some money. All you need to do is to be aware of these deals, either by SMS alerts, email subscriptions, or online notifications. The supermarket apps are good for highlighting deals like 2 for 1s or round pound deals.

Another money-saving move is to use discount coupons or Nordstrom promo codes for discounted, but high-quality clothing items to refresh your wardrobe without breaking the bank. Signing up for loyalty cards is a good idea to earn discounts. Moreover, you can get discounts on grocery products by collecting coupons from magazines or print them from online websites. You can even get your shop for free!

If you need some new spectacles or are buying glasses for the first time there are many things you need to take into consideration.  In this post, I will be looking at how to buy the right glasses for you, and what to take into account.  This post is an advertorial, all opinions are however my own.

Strength

If you need reading glasses you may go for a varifocal pair too.

Face shape

Your face shape can affect which glasses you buy. A frame shape can flatter your face shape, and here are some suggestions below, obviously these are just suggestions, so go with what you like! 

Oval shape - suits many shapes of glasses, square or round are good.

Square shape - round and oval shapes can soften your look.

Round shape - rectangular frames and wayfarer frames are a great look.

Heart shape - wraparound frames or rounded frames. 

Many websites allow you to upload a photo and try on your glasses virtually. This can be a huge help if you have bad eyesight and won't be able to see well with clear lenses in store. Buying glasses online like this is convenient too.

Material 

There are many materials you can choose from. The more traditional materials are plastic, metal and acetate. A new breed of glasses is around and today glasses frames can be made of carbon fibre, titanium and aluminium too. Titanium and aluminium are both very strong and corrosive resistant so a good choice if you work outdoors or are rough on your frames. These new materials will have a higher price tag so it's something to think about but there are still plenty of cheap glasses around if your budget is smaller. You may also want to consider rimless frames especially if your lenses are thin.

If you want to find out more about the materials that glasses are made of check out this article here.

Colour and design

Of course, the colour and design play a big part in why you choose a glasses frame. You may want to consider your skin tone and how this suits the colour or the glasses frame. I like warm browns as this suits my skin colouring. 

Some frames have a subtle or more obvious design, such as tortoiseshell colouring, brand logo e.g. Gucci,  Swarvoski crystals, or a very obviously bright colour. The frame choice can be harmonious or make more of a statement. 

As you can see there are a number of things to consider when buying the right glasses frames. Although this is a simple guide I think at the end of the day choose what you like, and what you can afford as that's the most important thing.

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We have been through a particularly hard year and more, and we have also been through a particularly cold and rainy spring, but summer is finally nearly here with rolled back restrictions and (we’re hoping) some glorious sunshine.

Even though restrictions are lifting, it is important to remember that we should all be doing our best to minimise unnecessary contact and that means that we should all try to avoid going in and out of shops where we can. Reusable water containers are a great way to save on money, they’re a great way to keep you from going in and out of newsagents and supermarkets every hour or two, and they are a much better choice for the environment.

Don’t Forget Your Masks And Hand Sanitiser

As mentioned, some things have changed but we still need to make sure we are wearing our facemasks when we go indoors, and that we are washing our hands regularly. Packing extra supplies of masks and hand gel doesn’t exactly scream “summer holiday”, but it’s so important and it will give you that extra peace of mind for you and your family.

Don’t Forget To Take A Good Book

One of the most appealing things about taking a holiday is, perhaps surprisingly, the idea of spending a few days away from our screens. Whether it’s peering at the laptop as you work from home or feeling your eyes glaze over as the next episode cues up on Netflix, we’ve all had more than our fair share of blue light in the last year or so.

A holiday is a great opportunity to dive into a good book. Whether you’re finally getting round to starting a classic, diving into a brand new thriller, or reading a children’s book with your little one, we all love a good read. Check out these book deals to find great bargains on an amazing range of titles. Fresh Deals works with WH Smith, Amazon and other sites to find the best offers for you.

Don’t Forget To Prepare For The British Weather

Even though we are all hoping for a bit of sunshine, most of us know that if you book a holiday in the UK, you need to pack for all four seasons. May has definitely reminded us of that important lesson. So, be sure to take your sunglasses and suncream, but you should also make room for that big jumper and your waterproof coat.  Remember, if you take the cold weather clothes with you, then you probably won’t need them!

Finally, Don’t Forget Your Phone Charger

How many times have you gone on holiday without your phone charger? Seriously, double-check it now and save yourself the hassle of buying a new one when you’re trying to relax!

So these are my packing essentials for a summer holiday. Do you have any packing essentials especially for a holiday in the UK?

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