Quick note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links; if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.
Everyone loves a beautiful home that feels like it could feature in the next Elle Decor Magazine. It wouldn’t matter how long it takes; the challenge is where to start. Some reports suggest that home improvements are more popular as people spend more time at home, with UK homeowners spending £55billion on renovations since March 2019. If you want to join this train, here are a few ways to make your home look more stylish.
High and wide hanging curtains
It doesn’t matter where you live or your home design; curtains are always a must-have. They can serve a multipurpose function, including providing privacy, blocking light, or boosting your home aesthetics. How you hang your curtains can add a lot of style to your home. So instead of hanging your curtains close to the window frame, do it “high and wide.” This means mounting the rod as high as possible so that the curtains gently kiss the floor when draped. Consider using a curtain rod that extends about six inches beyond your window frame for maximum impact.
Throw in some area rugs
It is normal to feel like your home lacks a final piece even after deciding on your theme. However, throwing in a rug is a simple solution. For example, after choosing the ideal sofa for your living room, you can add a rug as a centrepiece that brings the overall room decor together. Your area rug can make a significant impression when it covers a large part of your floor. It can be tough to pick the correct area rug, and some other considerations to make things easier include style, material, pattern, and care requirements. Whether you prefer natural materials or patterned designs, there is a rug for everyone to make a dramatic statement and make your home look more stylish.
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Pick the right paint colour
Choosing a paint colour is one of the trickiest decisions you will make when you want to make your home look stylish. This is usually the case when the rest of the décor is centred around the colour pallet. Some colours can instantly transform your home and make it look and feel stylish. However, you have to decide if you want bold or soft colour schemes. Colours such as grey, beige, and yellow never go out of style and can complement nearly everything. Parquet Flooring can make your fantastic paint colour stand out.
It is easy to focus on your home’s interior to make it look stylish. However, your exterior can drag your effort if left unattended. Naturally, your home exterior will degrade faster from exposure to various weather conditions. However, adding some green, front door décor, and stylish outdoor lighting can set the stage for what’s inside. Uniqueness is key to making your home stand out from the neighbouring houses. And while style can be personal, other general improvements like cement rendering can enhance your home exterior and make a statement.
Achieving a stylish home can be challenging, especially on a budget. Yet it is not impossible if you know where to look. The tips discussed above can help you achieve your dream home.
Looking to renovate your home? And more importantly, Renovate On A Budget?
Renovating your home can be exciting, but it can also make a huge dent in your finances if you don’t prepare adequately. According to research, about 77% of homeowners in the UK spent money on home renovations in 2021. Have you considered renovating your home but haven’t done so due to the cost involved? Thankfully, there are some budget-friendly options you can consider to help you save money, including the practical tips below.
Refresh and renovate with new paint
Image Credit
The quickest, easiest, and most affordable way to give your home a facelift is to paint the walls. You don’t need to paint the entire room. Refresh the space with a new colour. You can make it a fun family activity by painting together or choosing which options you’ll want to revamp your rooms with.
You don’t need to do everything in one day. You can do it in bits, tackling one space at a time, Engineered Wood Flooring to spruce up your floor.
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to renovate your home.
Create a character with velvet dining chairs
Your home reflects you, and there’s no reason you can’t show your personality through your interior design. One great way to do this is by adding some unique pieces of furniture. For example, why not explore some budget-friendly velvet dining chairs? Not only will they add a touch of luxury to your space, but they’ll also help to create a focal point. Plus, they come in various colours, so you can find the perfect ones to reflect your personality!
Change out cabinet hardware
A simple, budget-friendly way to add spark to your kitchen is to change your cabinet hardware. And no, you don’t have to buy expensive designer knobs, either. Instead, check out your local hardware store or search online for affordable options from various brands. The great thing about this project is that it could take less than a weekend with minimal tools to renovate this area. All you need is a screwdriver and patience to remove the old knobs and get the new ones in place.
Renovate by Layering lighting with new fixtures
Swapping out your lighting is one of the most impactful ways to create a dramatic change in your home without doing a major renovation. You can buy lighting for relatively little money, and several options are available. You can also layer in different types of lighting, from spotlights to ambient lighting. Options you can explore include accent lighting; this could be fairy lights around the bed frame or LED strip lights underneath cabinets that provide just enough light to set off any room. Additionally, an overhead light or two will brighten up any dark room and provide an interesting focal point for the eye. Look for vintage fixtures that fit your preference and budget, or go bold with statement pieces like unusual wall sconces or glass pendants.
Upgrade kitchen and bathroom countertopsto renovate this space
The most popular kitchen and bathroom countertop options include durable acrylic, wood, and marble, which come in many styles and shades. Plus, it’s straightforward to install yourself. If you’re looking for something with a bit more luxury, you can opt for quartz or granite. Both of which are still relatively cost-effective. If you don’t have a lot of countertop space in your kitchen or bathroom, consider adding a backsplash when you renovate. It’s an inexpensive way to give your room an instant facelift. Another pro tip: look for remnants at local building yards for more savings!
Add storage solutions
Smart storage solutions can make searching for various home items easier. One inexpensive option is to repurpose furniture. For instance, use an antique or vintage dresser as a stylish bathroom vanity, and a stack of old suitcases as end tables. Or sturdy boxes as handy yet stylish storage. Plus, baskets of all shapes and sizes are incredibly versatile and can store everything from books to pot plants. Finally, add some hooks and rods to your walls or the back of doors. They’re great for hanging hats and scarves or storing cleaning products out of sight.
Incorporate smart tech for efficiency gains
There are many intelligent tech options, but one of the easiest is getting smart lighting hubs and bulbs. Which allows you to control your lights remotely. These can help save money on electricity bills by ensuring you use the light only when necessary. Smart thermostats are another great option that keeps your interior warm and saves you money in the long run. Beyond this, there are lots of fun gadgets you can get, like Alexa or Google Home, that allow you to control other items in your home, such as security cameras, door locks, and more. It’s an easy way to add convenience and give your home a little 21st-century touch!
I wanted to share with you some unique and quirky gift ideas I’ve been trying out. Whether you need an idea for a birthday, wedding, or a treat for a friend – I have you covered.
Please note – some of the items featured were sent for me to review – all thoughts are my own
Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.
Let’s Dive into the Quirky Gift gift ideas…
KIND2 – Shampoo & Conditioner Bars
I was kindly sent these shampoo and conditioner bars to try. My hubby and I have different types of hair. But we both tried them and were impressed.
The bar lathers up and the foam isn’t too overpowering, but it works. They also dry quickly so you can keep them in a dish to use next time.
I have very dry, frizzy hair and these products still nourished my hair – which can be quite difficult to achieve, with some products.
Overall, I would purchase these bars again, or as a gift for a loved one. The sustainability element impresses me. Just imagine all the single-use plastic we go through, with beauty products alone. Something MUST change.
Why not visit Etsy and check out some independent sellers?
Cheerful Buddha
I was recently contacted by Cheerful Buddha who kindly sent a gift pack to try. Having tried their products before, I can confirm their coffee is great.
As a prosecco lover, I was over the moon to be contacted by Say It With Champers to review their Christmas themed mini Prosecco product. I was so excited about it arriving, and was not disappointed with the package when it did arrive.
I don’t know about you, but I do love a personalised product. It gives more meaning to a special gift for someone and shows you have thought about them. These gifts would also be perfect for use in the corporate world. My dad gets a luxury Christmas hamper each year from work and always gives us some of the products from it. What a treat.
The unboxing
The main thing I was impressed with upon arrival of the Christmas themed mini Prosecco was the packaging. When I opened the box, it was wrapped in a cold jacket, which meant it was ready to drink straight out of the box. I find this pretty amazing and it’s something I didn’t expect.
The website also offers Champagne bottles. All occasions are covered and they even sell vegan champagne. Their ready-made hampers also look fantastic.
Who I selected the gift for
I selected a gift for family members, one of which loves prosecco as much as I do! The fact the recipient can keep the bottle with the personalised label and it can then become a keepsake is also a bonus. This would be particularly apt to mark a special occasion or remember a significant event, like a graduation or work-related achievement.
If you’re looking for a great movie to watch whilst your drink your prosecco, check out this post: 25 movies to stream this Christmas.
Final thoughts
Overall I am happy with the product and can’t find fault with the end-to-end process. From ordering to delivery, the process was smooth.
Check out my Guest Post from Jasmine Fitze. I am accepting guest posts on all of my blogs – you can find more details here.
Introduction
Hi, I’m Jas! I feel so grateful to be writing a guest post for Mummy Conquering Anxiety. Especially around this time of year. Autumn is my favourite season of all. And I enjoy writing plenty of blog posts around this season too. And candles are a great topic!
I am a digital creator who loves creating content around architecture, travel, food and drink, coffee, and lifestyle. In addition, I love to see the little things every day. Learning to love my own company by venturing out of my comforts. And providing the life that I deserve. I hope you can feel inspired by the life I live. Realising life’s happiness starts off with small and simple joys.
Quick note: Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people
Candle Talk
I love it when autumn arrives, purely because of the overload of candles. Candles are up there as one of my favourite things to buy in shops. Especially when the seasons are changing and you get into the cold, crisp, autumnal weather. When it gets to that point, there’s nothing better than cosying up at home. Surrounding yourself with warm aromatic fragrances, and sipping on some luxurious hot chocolates.
I would say that my candle preferences are more towards scents that are rich, sweet, vibrant, and spiced. This is why I get excited when autumn comes around because I feel in my element. I could get lost for hours in the home fragrances selection trying to find the ones that I vibe with.
A collection showing some of my favourite scents:
Pumpkin Spice: Takes me into a world of pumpkin patches, spiced lattes, pumpkin everything basically!
Cinnamon: Forever love the warm spices of cinnamon that remind me of autumnal bakes and hot chocolates.
Coffee: With me being that much into coffee I just can’t get enough of the coffee scents, especially as each one has its own richness and character to the flavours with the creaminess bringing it all together.
Spiced apple: Sweet but juicy scents that I get from this fragrance. Definitely makes me think of toffee apples or apple pie/ apple crumble, and even apple cider of many kinds.
Coconut: I’ve always been into coconut-scented things. I love the creaminess and subtlety of the scent, I think it’s an ideal all-round candle, but especially ideal for having next to a box of chocolates, particularly bounty’s to compliment the atmosphere.
Honey & chocolate: This scent I’m particularly talking about is the Glade candle. When I came across it I knew I had to pick it up. Smells Devine and I thought of it like a crunchie chocolate bar and this candle delivered those sensational aromas.
Are any of these scents your favourite too? Comment below
There’s something quite magical about walking around the city in your warm and thick coat, with a coffee in one hand, and seasonal shopping bags in the other. What I love about this home decor piece is that they make for an ideal gift for someone or for even yourself. On any special or random occasion, there’s a candle for everyone at any time!
Shopping for Candles
A few shops that I recommend browsing for autumn candles & diffusers are TK MAXX, B&M, and Wilko.
I am forever heading to TK MAXX for their library load of candles and diffusers of all different aesthetics, scents, and personalities. I highly recommend making a visit to have a smell through them. You’ll likely end up walking out with a great collection.
In Wilko, you will find plenty of autumn-scented fragrances such as pumpkin spice, apple cosy cider, and marshmallow Irish cream. Great prices if you are looking for a unique scent at a low price. And with the sizes, they have a good burning time. B&M have a selection of basic and characteristic candles. Ones that are ideal for repurposing other household decor pieces.
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One shop that I haven’t mentioned yet but have to put out there is M&S with their distinctive candles. They are pricey but the jar has battery-operated lights, within the jar of the candle, so it serves multiple purposes. It would for sure make an excellent centrepiece to a dining table or coffee table. Bringing a glowing atmosphere to the room.
Alternatively, there are plenty of wonderful small businesses on Etsy, such as @dolewickscandleco (check her out on Instagram). DW Home is also a great place for endless seasonal scents with distinctive jars. Perfect for repurposing, check out their Instagram and website for more. On Instagram, there is @illumine_candle_co which is a small business in Exeter, with beautiful hand-poured vegan-friendly soy candles.
Candles are up there as one of my favourite pieces of decor to buy purely because they light up the room so well and the stunning aromas each one has. I also love repurposing them, giving them an extra life through using them as drinking glasses or desk organisers, they come in handy for many things.
And That’s a Wrap…
We have now come to the end of this blog post. I hope you have enjoyed reading through my candle preferences and suggestions. Here’s to many more cosy days at home as well as shopping adventures.
If you would like to learn more about me and my content, see the details below.
I’ll leave some links below, I hope to connect with some of you!
With Father’s Day right around the corner, I wanted to share some of my favourite Father’s Day Gift ideas.
If you follow this blog, you will be aware that I regularly find it difficult to buy for the men in my family. It becomes even more difficult when they already have everything they want! I am constantly finding new and quirky gift ideas, that nobody else would think to buy. And I have some great Father’s Day Gift ideas to share with you today.
Let’s dive into the Father’s Day Gift ideas
Quick note: Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.
Some items were also sent to me for review – all thoughts are my own
1. Cheerful Buddha
I was recently contacted by Cheerful Buddha who kindly sent a gift pack to try. Having tried their products before, I can confirm their coffee is amazing. And I am now a huge fan of their chocolate as well. Perfect as a Father’s Day Gift.
MUMMYCONQUERINGANXIETY_15 AT THE CHECKOUT FOR 15% OFF
2. Subbytech
Subbytech sent me their CliX Light Up Charging Cable to try out and I was not disappointed. I love the fact that it comes with several adapters, which magnetically click into place.
We also love an extra-long cable – and you can purchase it in various sizes.
Check out these other gift guides, which might be helpful if you’re purchasing for the man in your life:
I think you all know what’s coming up – who doesn’t love a box of flapjacks?
Flapjackery offers award-winning, gluten-free flapjacks in a variety of flavours. Choose between boxes of 3, 6 or 12 giant flapjack slices. Each box contains a combination of chocolatey, scrumptious flapjack flavours. And with message plaque boxes, you can now tell your Dad or father figure, how much he means to you.
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4. Buy Sheds Direct
Maybe you want to treat a deserving Father to the ultimate gift – a garden shed. I know my hubby wants a shed or garage, to restore furniture. Whatever the reason, I am sure this would make the recipient really happy.
Weird Fish currently has a sale and a great Men’s Section for you to browse and select a great Father’s Day gift.
6. Dare Motivation
Why not give a healthy gift this Father’s Day?
Dare Motivation is a Nutritionally Complete plant-based shake. An all-in-one blend of seeds, superfoods, herbs, phytonutrients, and pre-and probiotics. As well as 26 essential vitamins and minerals.
Free Delivery on all Orders Over £20 to Mainland UK
20% off with Code AWESOME20 or by signing up for the newsletter
Refer a friend & get £10
Final thoughts
I hope you found this guide useful and found some great gifts for your loved one
It is a proven fact, that the early years of our lives shape who we are and how well we cope with challenges in adult life. A traumatic experience in childhood can have lasting effects. Exploring emotions is vital.
All human beings have emotions. They start to develop at an early age, often when toddlers don’t really understand what they are yet. The common one in our house at the moment is missing other people. This involves a daily conversation filled with reassurance, that everyone misses the people they love.
Because toddler emotions are a challenge I currently face. And I know other parents definitely go through this cycle, I wanted to write a post dedicated to the best stories I could find, discussing children’s emotions.
Quick note: Mummy Conquering Anxiety is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people
Let’s look at the research into why we should explore emotions
Understanding children’s emotions are critical to understanding their behaviour. Early years children feel a range of emotions, but often cannot express, interpret or process them like us.
With poor emotional skills, it could be harder for children to learn:
Children grow and develop rapidly in their first five years across the four main areas of development. These areas are motor (physical), communication and language, cognitive, social and emotional.
Social and emotional development means how children start to understand who they are, what they are feeling and what to expect when interacting with others. It is the development of being able to:
Form and sustain positive relationships.
Experience, manage and express emotions.
Explore and engage with the environment.
Positive social and emotional development is important. This development influences a child’s self-confidence, empathy, the ability to develop meaningful and lasting friendships and partnerships, and a sense of importance and value to those around them. Children’s social and emotional development also influences all other areas of development.
Parents and caregivers play the biggest role in social/emotional development because they offer the most consistent relationships for their children. Consistent experiences with family members, teachers and other adults help children learn about relationships and explore emotions in predictable interactions.
To nurture your child’s social and emotional development, it is important that you engage in quality interactions like these on a daily basis, depending on the age of your child:
Be affectionate and nurturing: hold, comfort, talk and sing with your baby, toddler and child.
Help your baby experience joy in “give-and-take” relationships by playing games like “peek-a-boo.”
Provide your toddler with responsive care, letting them practice new skills while still providing hands-on help.
Support your child’s developing skills; help him/her, but don’t do everything for your child, even if it takes longer or is messy.
Teach social and emotional skills, such as taking turns, listening and resolving conflict.
What happens if we don’t manage emotions
One of the most important ways parents or guardians can help is by listening to their children and taking their feelings seriously. They may want a hug, they may want you to help them change something or they may want practical help.
Children and young people’s negative feelings usually pass. However, it’s a good idea to get help if your child is distressed for a long time if their feelings are stopping them from getting on with their lives, if their distress is disrupting family life or if they are repeatedly behaving in ways you wouldn’t expect at their age.
What’s Troubling Tawny? The award-winning second book in the Sumatran Trilogy! Tawny longs to make friends with another rhino, but her shyness holds her back. When she meets a hornbill called Tallulah, she is surprised to learn that she has a lot in common with the beautiful bird.
Poppy the porcupine has always wanted to make a friend, but her defensive nature prevents her. When a young tiger cub stumbles upon her one day in the rainforest, she reacts badly and scares him away.
Determined to change her ways, she sets out to find him, but little does she know that the tiger cub is about to have a problem of his own. In the face of danger, will Poppy find a way to save the day?
The Problem with Poppy is the award-winning debut picture book by British author Emma Sandford. Illustrated by Ukrainian artist Olena Osadcha.
If you could change something about yourself, would you do it?
When Sarah Simpkins is teased about her shadow in the school playground, she finds herself wishing she didn’t have one.
That night she has the chance to make the wish come true. But will losing her shadow really make her happy?
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Let’s Be Friends Again
Purchase the book below:
Let’s Be Friends Again
Kids World Books – Sibling fights, tantrums and subsequent bonding is the theme of this story.
The story is narrated by a boy and he narrates rather than shares his experiences with his sister. The boy and the girl play together. They spend most of their leisure time together. Just like every sibling, they fight often and bond subsequently.
The boy finds some trouble with his sister. The boy sometimes babysits for his sister and she used to trouble him! However, she was a good listener and the boy used to tell some great stories. The boy refused to share his toys with her. Yet, the smart girl used to grab all her brother’s toys. The tantrum began when the girl played with his brother’s pet turtle!
The girl thought that the tank where the pet turtle was kept was too small for the turtle. She carried it to the pond and let it free in the pond.
The boy was as angry as he lost his pet turtle. He showed his anger in many ways. He shouted at her. He threw away his toys and kept on thinking about his turtle. His parents supported his sister. He planned to avenge the loss of his pet and imagined many things. (This is definitely a fun part that everyone would die laughing).
He couldn’t sleep for hours thinking about the pet. He then saw his sister playing in the garden so happy like never before. The boy was surprised as well as very angry seeing her sister happy.
He made a decision! What was that?
Let’s be friends again, the lovable brother and sister, their cute fights, rivalry, etc are narrated beautifully. It happens very commonly in every household.
Children and young people are still developing – they don’t have adult brains or bodies, so need help to understand and manage their emotions.
You’ve probably heard your parents or grandparents say “they’re just attention seeking” or “they’re being difficult”. But there’s usually more to it than this.
We often ask people who contact Children 1st Parentline: “What is your child trying to tell you when they’re acting like that?” Looked at this way, unwanted behaviour is usually about a child needing something – or their way of trying to work out how to manage something.
From a toddler’s need for comfort to a teenager’s conflicting desires for independence and security, testing behaviour is common and is often set off by everyday experiences rather than big events.
Jodi also thinks the book will come just at the right time for children who have had to shut themselves away all year and might be scared to try something new.
She added: “It is a lovely story for 4–7-year-olds about taking yourself out of your comfort zone to try new things.
“Worley’s story is a fab way to engage children with these cute little monsters and learn how to develop their confidence.
“The book also included suggested activities for parent and adult readers.
“I’m also now writing my second story for the series about Worley and Co!
“Having suffered quite a bit as a kid – I lost my dad at 10 and my best friend at 14 – and had a lot of bullying and not nice things going on and I didn’t know how to cope,” she explained.
“That had a massive effect on me as an adult which led to a breakdown. I don’t want kids to go through what I did. The more people I can teach and I can help the better. I don’t think I would have had as big a meltdown if I already had tools to use.
“My characters are all monsters – I have a whole tribe of emotions monsters that teach children about emotions. Worley is the main one and he meets his friends with different emotions.
“The first one was teaching him to be brave and through the monster, you learn you might make a mistake but it will be fine. He realises he doesn’t need to be the best at everything.
“The second book is about anger. The book is written as a rhyme; basically, Worley gets angry and doesn’t know what it is. His friend George, the angry monster, teaches him it is ok to be angry and how to manage it.
“It is done in quite a fun way so children can understand.”
Buster Finds His Beat
Purchase the book below:
Buster Finds His Beat
A feel-good story about an autistic boy, That will capture your imagination and fill you with joy.
Buster uses ear defenders to soften sounds he hears, Find out what happens when he faces his fears…
Pick up your copy, you’ll be in for a treat, As he uses the power of sound to find his own beat.
The first book in a new rhyming picture book series from D.M. Mullan and Kirsteen Harris Jones – welcome to D.M. Mullan’s Curious Tales… Hector van Groat If something is missing, and you’re feeling blue, you could learn from Hector, who feels this way too. This little genius lives in an upside-down boat, and he grunts from his hill like a grumpy old goat. “Hector van Groat needs no one but Hector because he is a genius, a crazy inventor”.
A beautifully illustrated picture book about mental health for young readers. Where Is My Smile? is the story of a little boy who can’t find his smile anywhere. He searches and searches, but it’s nowhere to be found. Where could his smile be? This delightful picture book is perfect as a bedtime story, and to help little children understand that it’s okay to be sad sometimes, but we can always find our way through it.
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed reading my list of books to inspire conversations with your toddler about emotions.
Do you have any of these books? Or will you be purchasing them? What techniques do you use to explore emotions?
I would love to hear from you in the comments below.
AD – We’ve recently renovated most rooms in the house, and it was time for a refresh. We don’t want the hassle of fully decorating. But a simple canvas photo, which displays your cherished family memories, can bring the room to life.
I am excited to share with you some new canvas pictures I’ve created…
In this post, I want to discuss the reasons I display so many pictures on my wall at home:
Mental Health Benefits
If I’m having a bad day, looking at cherished family memories displayed on my wall can lift my mood. It makes me feel much better. I find myself standing there for a while, thinking about all the great times we’ve had. It’s great to look forward to creating even more family memories. And reminisce about the good times with grandparents who’ve now passed.
Strengthening the family unit
Research shows that children who grow up around images of their family unit, learn who they are and where they fit in. What a wonderful lesson for your children. My toddler has commented on our pictures many times before. And she always notices and gets very excited, when we put new ones up.
Helps us form stronger memories
Picturing memories as clearly as when the photograph was taken, helps us remember them accurately. The human memory is a funny thing and it can fade as we grow older.
I remember looking through an old suitcase of photographs that my Grandma had. It was my favourite pastime when I visited her house. And my little one is following in the family’s footsteps. She gets excited when we have a new photograph on display. And regularly asks to look through the photographs on our phones, or photo prints hidden away in storage boxes.
Creates a feeling of homeliness
What is more homely than having your immediate family displayed on your wall at home? We get comments from everyone who visits our house, on how lovely our images are. And whilst some family members moan because I take “too many” photos on a day out. They are always happy to see the end result and the lasting memories.
Create a timeline with a gallery wall
In our house, we have a whole wall dedicated to the birth of my little one, surrounded by other family memories. We explain the story of how she arrived and let her look at the pictures. It’s a great way to approach a tough subject with your other family members. My birth story caused me a lot of pain and trauma for a while. But I am now finally able to look back having moved on. And I always loved the birth pictures being displayed, despite how challenging the experience was.
Now let’s talk about how I created these wonderful images:
Collage Canvas
If you follow any of my blogs, you will know I love a good collage to display several photos in a set format. The templates available at MYPICTURE.co.uk are easy to use and provide you with a picture arrangement to group together and display your favourite memories.
We have two collage canvases’ on our wall and will be gifting another one to a family member. Creating lasting memories like this can make a wonderful gift for family members. It will never go out of fashion or be hidden away in a drawer.
Nothing can beat cherished family memories…
Photoboard
I love the photo board idea. It looks great on the shelf next to the TV. And is a recent picture of our little family. Doing what we love best – being outdoors and walking in nature.
Mouse mat
This memory is from a holiday abroad. Somewhere our family has visited for years and it has a special place in our hearts.
It will make the perfect gift and I can’t wait to see the reaction!
Discount code
You can now use discount code CONQUERING15. The code gives a 15% discount on top of any other discount running on MYPICTURE.co.uk
Final thoughts
My next step is to create a photo gift, using my toddler’s wonderful nursery pictures. Like other parents, we have so many and it’s difficult to display them all.
Any suggestions on how to do this?
Do you have photo walls at home? What are your thoughts on canvas photo collages?
I would love to hear from you in the comments below.
Speak to enough people, and you’ll get a sense that no one really wants to work — they just do it because, well, they have to. Yet, while it’s fine to just make a living so you can enjoy other aspects of your life. We all know that, deep down, it’d be much more satisfying to make an income by doing something that you truly love. If you’re passionate about your work, then, on most days, it won’t feel like work at all. Learn how to Make Money from your passion…
Pexels – CC0 Licence
Making money from your passion can seem like a pipe dream, but it’s more within reach than you might expect. In this post, we’ll look at a few ways that you can earn that bread doing something you love.
Become a Coach
If you have a talent for something, then in all likelihood, they’ll be other people who also wish they had that talent. You might never sell out Madison Square Garden with your guitar, but you can take all your learning and understanding and help other people to improve their own skills. There are plenty of ways to sell your skills online, too — for example, you could consider putting together an online course. If it’s good enough, then you will make sales.
Create Your Own Products
You could also consider creating your own products. All those products you see for sale in the store? They didn’t come out of thin air — they’re there because someone made them. Of course, it’s unlikely that you’ll ever be able to create your own car. But your own t-shirts, makeup products, home decor items, and accessories? As with anything, if they’re good enough, then people will be interested in buying them. Look at selling online and at craft markets.
Start a Marketplace
You don’t even necessarily need to make your own products to begin selling. One increasingly popular option is to put together your own online marketplace where vendors can sell their products. This requires more work than most other suggestions here, but equally, it can be much more profitable, since you’ll get a cut of every product sold. Take a look at this handy ‘create online marketplace’ guide to see the steps that you need to take. The beauty of this business idea is that it can provide a relatively passive income since you’re just creating an environment where other people can buy and sell.
Follow the Path of Others
Everyone wants to make a living via their passion. But here’s the thing — some people have actually been able to do it. It’s these people that you should be looking at. Seeing how other people have made their dreams come true can provide a valuable source of inspiration that can motivate you to carry on even when the going gets tough. How you do it will differ from how they’ve done it, but you’ll likely find that there’s much that you can learn from them. You may even contact them directly to see if they can help you/you can help them.
#AD – post in collaboration with Poster Store. I was gifted these posters, in exchange for a review. All views and opinions are my own, based on the product I received. Photos were also taken by me.
My personal journey throughout a bumpy year has now coincided with my living room revamp. Both of us have a fresh outlook, a fresh lick of paint, and a new attitude. No going back to our drab, negative, old ways ever again.
Why I opted to create a gallery wall with Poster Store
Our house requires some TLC. Poster Store contacted me at the perfect time. With my transformation this year, following mental health struggles, it was time to introduce some relaxing colours and prints into our home. A wall that will help my mental health moving forward. Therefore, I opted for Nature Posters.
Poster Store has a range of amazing posters. You can buy the posters, or add Scandinavian designed frames that are both beautiful and affordable, in a range of different colours and sizes. The website is easy to navigate and you are offered the correct size frame when you select your poster.
I needed inspiration for designing my gallery wall, and I used this as an opportunity to completely refresh our living room. Poster Store has a large poster selection, including different themes and categories for all tastes and they release a new poster collection every Tuesday.
Even better, all posters are printed on sustainably produced high-quality paper. Who doesn’t love a brand committed to helping the environment? It’s always a huge selling point for me.
The posters I selected
Creating a gallery wall with Poster Store, was a simple process.
The gallery wall section on the website helped me achieve the image I had in my head, of what I wanted our room to look like. I have absolutely no experience with interior design, but this section helps you imagine the posters on your wall at home. We’ve created epic wall art and I love it.
Before checking out this section of the website, I spent a while searching for prints. We finally made a decision, bearing in mind factors like a theme, how the images would complement our wall and what they would look like in our home.
The finished wall
Conducting some research on wall colours, narrowed down my choice. Of course, I had to buy some paint and spruce up the wall, to compliment my posters. We opted for Lush Green and I must say, the colour transforms our living space. I am so proud we managed to create a relaxing vibe. Working from home means I spend a lot of time here. I smile every morning when I walk into the room because it makes my home feel even more homely than it did before.
The colour of the wall, contrasting against the posters, just brings the surroundings to life. My journey throughout a bumpy year has now coincided with my living room revamp. Both of us have a fresh outlook, a fresh lick of paint, and a new attitude. No going back to our drab, negative, old ways ever again.
A run down of the individual posters and frames I selected
Glenfinnan Viaduct Poster
We knew this one would look great on our wall and I picked it from the very beginning of our search. It had to take centre stage on our gallery wall. I love it so much. It reminds me of days out walking and it’s just an epic image.
Summer Sunrise Poster
This poster reminds me of a lovely holiday we had in Devon as a couple. We stayed in a cosy cottage and the view from the back garden was very similar to this picture. I’ve booked those holidays in the past to help destress, try and ease my mental health struggles and stop and take stock of nature.
I now get a similar vibe standing in my living room and it brings back wonderful memories of our holiday.
Sunflower Field Poster
A beautiful image of nature. As a family, we spend a lot of time traveling to soak up the outdoors. With the winter months setting in, it’s a little more difficult to get outside. It’s great I’ve now brought nature inside and I can look at it every day.
Sunflower Poster
What an image. Our little girl was recently gifted a sunflower and it’s growing nicely in my parents’ back garden. This picture makes us smile for that reason and the colours match perfectly with our wall colour.
Sunshine Forest Poster
This one is a close second to the viaduct poster. It reminds me of a beautiful time of day and I can almost hear the birds singing and the rustle of the leaves in the forest when I look at it.
Other areas of the house
Giraffe Poster
I had to purchase this print for my little girl’s bedroom. There is a range of giraffe posters on the website but I fell in love with this one. It complements the current pictures we have on her bedroom wall and is a great addition.
Roald Dahl Magic Poster
This one is for my office. Because I am working from home for the foreseeable future, it’s all about creating a positive work environment, to match my newfound positive thinking regime. I also love how playful this quote is. It reminds me of my little girl and the magic we feel when we see the world through her eyes.
I didn’t purchase this frame from Poster Store, as I intended to do something different with the quote initially.
Final thoughts
I hope you enjoyed reading my post. Maybe you feel inspired to reinvent one of your rooms?
If you do, take advantage of the discount code below:
Code: MUMMYCONQUERINGANXIETY40
40% on all posters (except Selection Posters and frames)
Not combinable with other discount campaigns. Valid from 8th to 21st of November 2021.
I would love to hear from you in the comments section below. About our room revamp or any plans you have to do your home up.
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