Lifestyle

Blog posts related to lifestyle – you will find a range of topics under this section, all related to my life as a mummy, with a toddler

5 Ways To Cope With Betrayal

Dealing with betrayal is one of the most challenging things that human beings ever have to do. When the bonds of trust are broken with someone you love, it’s hard to heal.

Fortunately, there are ways to deal with betrayal and put your life back on track. Here’s what you need to do: 

Say How You Feel

In the immediate aftermath of betrayal, start by stating how you feel. Just writing down your emotions on a piece of paper can have a profound effect on your well-being and helps you get to grips with what you’re going through. 

In the midst of betrayal, people go through a whirlwind of emotions. You might feel anger, fear, loneliness, confusion, surprise, and sadness. When someone disrupts your reality, you don’t have an emotional template to fall back on, so you must discover it yourself. 

Avoid Retaliation

In many cases, people who have been betrayed have a solid urge to retaliate. When you think about what happened, you feel tempted to punish the other person, believing that they deserve punishment. 

However, this approach rarely works in practice. It’s often just a way to prolong the heartache and delay healing. Plotting and planning your revenge takes up valuable energy that you could put into taking care of your own well-being. 

Take Time Out

The next step is to avoid the person who betrayed you, taking time away from them if necessary. If your partner was unfaithful because of love addiction, there isn’t much you can do personally. Texting them every five minutes makes it much harder to deal with the fallout, and prevents you from spending time considering what happened. 

Avoid constantly checking their social media. Tell them that you’re going to take a break from communication. Spend time with people who can support you and have your best interests at heart. If the person tries to contact you, ignore them or get someone to respond to them on your behalf. Make it clear that you want a break but that you will be in communication in the future. 

Look At The Details Of The Betrayal

Betrayal can occur for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes it’s flat-out malice, but that’s rare. In most cases, it comes from a place of fear, weakness, or carelessness. Many people behave compulsively in ways they can’t control without ever wanting to hurt their victims.  

Once you examine the betrayal, you’ll start to see the human side of what happened. You might also empathise with the betrayer’s actions, seeing why they did what they did. 

Learn From It

Betrayal seems like a catastrophe and it is easy to place all the responsibility on the other person. However, learning from your experience is one of the best ways of coping with it. The more you can understand why the other person did what they did, the wiser you’ll become. 

Betrayal haunts the naive. Therefore, if you can gain more knowledge of how the world works, then you can live more successfully in the future.

Betrayal

Changes to Make to Your Kitchen To Improve Your Home

kitchen
Image Source

We all have a long list of interior design projects we want to focus on in the near future. Whether that’s because we’ve just moved into a property and want to make it our own, or because we’ve been in our homes for a while and want to spruce them up a little. Some people will even be looking for interior design work to be carried out pre-property sale in order to boost the space’s value. Whatever your reason for making improvements to your home, you’re going to want to make sure that each space receives the attention that it is due. For now, let’s focus on the kitchen. Here are some suggestions that can really bring this space to life.

Complete Renovation

If you have the budget, the best way to tackle your kitchen is to undergo a complete renovation. This can completely take out the kitchen that is in place at the moment and replace it with brand new countertops, cabinets, islands, drawers and more to create a space that meets all of your individual needs and requirements. Expert-fitted kitchens can be fully customised to ensure that all of your boxes are ticked, adhering to your chosen colour scheme, and aesthetic and also taking more personal touches into account, such as wine coolers, and spice racks and even taps that boil or cool water for immediate use.

kitchen

Countertops

Kitchen countertops go through real wear and tear. Sure, we should all try to keep hot items on the hob and only chop with a board. But most of us ignore our own advice on a regular basis and the countertops tend to take the brunt of this. Hot pans, knife marks, staining… it’s not surprising that you will need to replace this element of your home at some point or another. When choosing a new countertop, take a few factors into account. Sure, aesthetics and colour scheme may be what you care about most, but you also need to consider practicalities. Choose a material that is water and oil-resistant, sturdy, hardy and durable. You will likely also want a non-slip surface for security while chopping ingredients.

Flooring

Kitchen flooring can go through some hard times too. Kitchens tend to be relatively high-traffic areas in most homes, especially if they are paired with an open-plan dining space. Kitchens also tend to experience a lot of spillages and splashes. If you’re considering replacing your kitchen floor with something new, make sure to choose something splash-resistant that is easy to clean. Again, non-slip options are generally wise too, as you tend to deal with hot liquids and sharp kitchen tools in this space.

These are just a few areas of focus to get you started on your kitchen improvements or renovations. Hopefully, you’ll soon have the kitchen space of your dreams to enjoy!

kitchen

Which Florida Cities Do Retirees Like the Most

Florida is a gorgeous state that seems to be built out of nothing but long shorelines and vacation towns: but what’s it like to live here as a retiree?  Whether you’re planning a retirement in the distant future or you’re ready to move now, these are the top reasons why Florida is a great place to retire: and where in the state you should go! 

Why Retire in Florida?

If you’re not from Florida or haven’t visited, you might be unsure why this state is such a hot choice for retirees.  The main allure is the warm weather that will keep you active and outside year-round.  Although cold weather can be nice: it’s harsh on joints and can leave you stuck inside doing nothing but watching television.  Retiring in an area where you can make the most of the entire year ensures you don’t have to waste a second.

On top of this, Florida has so much to do you could never get bored!  From fun theme parks to fantastic sports like golfing and scuba to the countless museums and art galleries: there’s truly something here for everyone.  

Sarasota

Just south of Tampa is this gorgeous city that’s become the top hot spot for retirees!  From the gated communities, waterfront homes, and luxury hotels to the countless things to do and see: you’ll fall in love with Sarasota as well!

Retirees

Tampa

Tampa is one of the best-known cities in Florida, but it’s also one of the most expensive.  Although the cost of living here is around 23% lower than that of NYC: it’s still pricy compared to the rest of the state.  The humid summers can reach 90 degrees, but this is a gorgeous city that’s able to weather any storm! 

Fort Lauderdale

This gorgeous beachside city may be a dream come true for retirees!  Although Fort Lauderdale houses for sale can be expensive: many say it’s worth it for all of the perks you can find here!

This has been a popular vacation and retirement area for years now, meaning that it’s better outfitted for older community members and can take care of you when you need it to.  You can enjoy everything from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino to the Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment!

How to Pick Your City

If you like the idea of each of these cities but aren’t sure which to go with, consider a few different points.  Not only should the city be affordable and able to easily be moved into: but it also has to be a location where you can find things to do and enjoy.  Each of these cities has a different personality that will fit a different retiree, so consider how much of that speaks to you and what you need when you’re ready to move.

You could find paradise by retiring in Florida! 

Florida is Made for Retirement

Florida has everything from warm weather year-round to soothing beachy vibes, so there’s nothing holding you back from this paradise!  Consider checking out Florida soon and considering it for your retirement.  

Retirees

Board Games I Loved Playing As a Child

Does anyone remember the iconic board games you used to play as a child? They even made those travel-size ones so your parents could entertain you on the aeroplane. Maybe as an adult, you have a life-sized chess set ( I really want one of those regal-looking chess tables, except I don’t know how to play!). Someone, please tell me in the comments, that they have battleships. Or operation? 

In this post, I am going to delve into why we loved playing these games so much as children. And also why we remember them so fondly. 

playing as a child

The benefits of playing board games 

Teaches you patience

For anyone who ever participated in a family game of monopoly, you will appreciate the level of patience required. This game can cause ongoing family disputes. Let me know in the comments below whether this game has ever caused you a family rift.

Playing a game of this nature requires small moves in order to lead to a bigger goal. Like goal setting as an adult. With the end result meeting your goal. Bring the winner, or make progress. Depending on how you look at life. Or how competitive you are.

You experience winning and losing 

We are in the process of teaching my little one, life isn’t always about winning. It’s a hard lesson to learn, even for an adult. 

Playing board games will teach her about being both the winner and the loser. Hopefully how adults process these emotions, and how to act accordingly when each one of these eventualities happens. 

Teaching a person that it isn’t always about winning, but it is about making progress and participating, is one of the best lessons to learn.

They help you meet new people

In recent years, the rise of board game cafes and other social spaces offering board games makes me happy. Hopefully, holiday lets might bring them back soon, now we are in a somewhat post-pandemic phase. I used to love checking into our holiday cottage and searching for the board games cupboard. 

Does anyone remember the World Of Warcraft centres? You only have to take a look at Twitch or YouTube to realise the gaming industry is huge. However, I am still a fan of the old iconic games, and whenever we show my little one them, she is too.

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Playing board games enhances creativity and self-confidence

I am a huge fan of any activity which increases creativity and self-confidence. Board games can be particularly beneficial for quiet individuals and connecting with young children, as a way to focus their minds and allow conversationAs an introvert myself, I love being part of something but also have a chance to sit back and take in what all the other players are doing.

Board games increase brain function

It is well known that engaging in play assists in practising essential cognitive skills, such as problem-solving, decision making, and higher-level strategic thinking. These are all measures my little one’s nursery and the school put in place for her to attain. And also essential skills we want to equip her with, as parents.

Encourages laughter

The twists and turns in any board game, or forgetting to take your turn in monopoly, can create laughter throughout the participants. And we all love an activity which creates laughter. 

You can play board games anywhere at any time

There are no restrictions on your time when playing board games. You can practice by yourself, and lose yourself in learning how to master the game. Or you can spend hours trying to beat your opponents. I personally love any activity which allows you to lose time and immerse yourself in the experience. The world can be a scary place and escaping into a game can help your mental well-being.

In the world of tech, it’s also easy to play on your computer or phone. Maybe bring back some of those fond memories, play on a tablet with your child or partner and reap the benefits listed above. 

Board games promote family time

Family time is something I am a huge advocate of. I’ve recently changed my circumstances to enable more time with my little one. And as a family, we try and do a few creative activities each day. Even when we have tablet time, we try to make this as interactive as possible and purposefully pick programmes and apps which allow for learning and development. 

Help children understand how adults think 

Toddlers love to mimic the world around them and it’s how they learn. What better lesson than sitting down and witnessing the critical, analytical thinking involved in a board game? It’s a valuable lesson we must teach our children. 

My fond memories from childhood

I still remember the joy and anticipation I felt each time I played operation at my grandma’s house. Such a simple game brought hours of fun. It allowed my grandma to join in, but probably also sit comfortably (something anyone caring for children needs to be able to do – as a must. As a parent, I realise that now).

Battleships was another one of my favourite games and I would play with my dad and my grandad. When remembering these moments, they are etched in my mind so vividly. And I remember the pure joy attached to the moment.  

Final thoughts 

What are your fond memories from childhood?

Tell me your favourite board game. And whether you play these online or with the physical item? Do you love to do both?

I would love to hear from you in the comments below. 

playing as a child

Keeping Your Bathroom A Pleasant Space To Occupy

It’s not as if any homeowner is going to start entertaining their guests in the bathroom anytime soon. But it’s true to say that this space deserves our care like any other. Our bathrooms tend to be areas where we greet our day as we wake up. Perhaps, enjoying a warm shower on a cold morning, and the place we wash and prepare ourselves for bed each night. Let’s make it a pleasant space.

So, a room that bookends our daily experience is worth focusing on, especially because it’s a space that even our guests are sure to occupy at one time or another, unlike our garage spaces, utility rooms, and even private bedrooms.

But with a family to take care of and a household to run, it’s not as if you have much time to clean every space through and through daily. Nor would that be a useful way of spending your time. For this reason, keeping your bathroom a pleasant space to occupy will be aided by the following investments and provisions:

pleasant space

Odour Defeaters & Ventilation

Odour defeaters can, of course, keep the bathroom smelling fresh and nice. This can be especially important in ground-floor bathrooms where open windows or ventilation may not be as easy to ensure at all hours of the day. That said, ventilation locks on your windows, ventilation bricks, extraction fans, and more can ensure that the airflow in such a space is properly handled, so that the moisture isn’t trapped and won’t turn damp. Ventilation will also ensure the bathroom is a pleasant, clear-headed space to occupy.

Comforting Floor Mats

A pedestal mat and a thin floor rug can be a good way to help you avoid foot stains when someone is leaving the shower and is a comfortable means of greeting your feet instead of the cold tile on a winter’s morning. A comforting floor mat also adds some nice aesthetic value to the space which can be invaluable as you try to decorate with limited room to do so. On top of that, keeping your bathroom a pleasant space to occupy is often defined by the small furnishings that tend to make all the difference. A few trimmings can change the character of the space anew.

Towel Warmers

Towel racks can be a nice addition to the space and help you remain organized. But some of these can also be tied to your central heating so they heat up in the midst of the colder seasons. Sure, getting out of the warm shower on a freezing morning can be incredibly uncomfortable, but the feeling is diminished greatly if we’re met with a warm towel we can use to get dry and make it back to our bedrooms while getting dressed. As they can be switched on and off at your discretion, you don’t have to worry about these radiating elements adding too much of a cost to your heating bill at the end of the month.

With this advice, you’re certain to keep your bathroom a pleasant space to occupy, as caring for the smaller rooms in our homes can be more impactful than you think.

pleasant space

Different Ways To Improve Your Home

We all yearn for the creature comforts of a well-designed home. While many do-it-yourselfers labour diligently on their homes and appear to be constantly updating or renovating. This is not possible for those of us who don’t know the difference between a table saw and a drill. Of course, the latter group might just hire someone to renovate their homes for them, but it would entail untidy and pricey improvements. Anyone who has completed a significant remodelling to something like a kitchen or extension will attest to the unforeseen costs and massive mess that it produces. How can we modernise our homes without undergoing substantial renovations? We want updates that all of us, not just the clever do-it-yourselfers, can do.

(Image credit)

There are some things we can do and prepare for but when things happen that we can’t control like a hurricane or something that causes damage to our property then we need outside help from contractors and ​​working with an experienced property damage lawyer.

Make Room for Open Space in Your Home 

Homeowners choose an open floor design in which the kitchen, family room, and dining room all flow into one large open space. In addition, formal dining rooms appear to be out of favour. This is your chance to make additional space in your home, making it more appealing to both you and your visitors. You may be wondering how you can achieve this without breaking down walls. Actually, it may be easier than you think to make your home appear open and breezy. It can sometimes be as simple as getting rid of larger, heavier furniture or shifting furniture around the room to evaluate which arrangement provides the freest space.

Time To Upgrade Your Home’s Lighting 

A well-lit room may genuinely come to life. A dimly illuminated space appears small, dark, and confined, whereas a well-lit room appears open, airy, and welcoming. There are several methods to use lights to liven up your home. Some of the simpler methods include purchasing table and floor lamps for your home. Place a couple of tall floor lamps strategically in dark spots and watch your room spring to life. Layer this illumination with lights on side tables to create a welcoming and cosy atmosphere. Then, if you’re feeling daring, you can replace all of those outdated ceiling fixtures with the magnificent modern masterpieces on the market.

Window Treatments Should Be Updated And Renewed

Windows appear to be frequently disregarded. Homeowners struggle to determine which style will best complement the room, prompting them to give up and leave the windows plain, or install basic shades for privacy. You are missing out on a whole stunning layer of decoration by leaving your windows blank. While individuals who are fortunate enough to have ocean or mountain vistas may disagree, even the nicest views can be framed by attractive window panels. Windows can be styled to match your personal style and taste. If you’re overwhelmed by all of the options, look at the colour schemes you currently have in place.

first home

10 of the best chocolate-free advent calendars

I’ve always wanted a decorative reusable Advent calendar. Something which looks epic on a fireplace and takes centre stage amongst your Christmas decorations. But I think my little one is still a bit too young. 

As such, I’m on the hunt for an affordable but special chocolate-free advent calendar for each of us this year. Something to add a little cheer to each day, after the rubbish last few years we’ve all had. 

December in our house is also a manic and stressful month, due to our jobs. Therefore any small touch we can add at the end of a busy day, to alleviate some stress is welcome. 

A treat a day for a whole month definitely fits in with my new self-care regime. 

It was lovely to light a different scented tea light each day throughout December. We love candles in our house. They add to the magic of this season and give my mental health a little, much-needed lift.

chocolate-free advent calendars

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.

Check out my list of quirky but affordable calendars 

For the Toddler in your life

My little one loves her cars and would have so much fun playing with any of the below items.

I don’t want the little one eating chocolate every day in December and therefore it has to be something creative or fun. 

Any parent will know, this also means we can’t have chocolate. Because all toddlers seek out and steal your food. Hehe!

For the lady in your life

Wilko 24 Days of Gin Advent Calendar

Perfect for gin lovers, this set includes 12 flavour mixers, two edible pearls, 6 glass rim sugars, and 4 cocktail shimmers. Just add the gin and make the perfect cocktail.

Candle advent calendars

I’ve purchased a Yankee candle advent calendar before and it was lovely to light a different scented tea light each day throughout December. We love candles in our house. They add to the magic of this season and give my mental health a little, much-needed lift.

Make up advent calendar

Who doesn’t love a make-up calendar? I talk all about the Boots No7 calendar in my recent Christmas gift guide. Here are some of the best alternatives I’ve found.

Tea advent calendar

I’ve ordered the Clipper advent calendar and I can’t wait to open it.

For the man in your life

My hubby is a coffee lover and therefore any of these would be the perfect fit. Given the opportunity, he would always want chocolate, but I am sticking to my guns on chocolate-free advent calendars for 2021.

Cheese advent calendar

Who doesn’t love a bit of cheese? Especially in the run-up to Christmas when the cheese board is on the menu.

Pringles advent calendar

How amazing. You can have your favourite snack in an advent calendar. I love the sound of this one.

Alcohol advent calendar

For the man in your life. Get in the festive spirit with a little tipple each day.

Self-care advent calendars for men

A great before Christmas treat, for those much-needed self-care moments.

Menkind advent calendars

Menkind has a range of fantastic calendars. Including these self-care beard oil and a male grooming one.

Final thoughts 

I hope this list of chocolate-free advent calendars has provided some inspiration for a calendar for you or a loved one.

Let me know which advent calendars you will be buying this year.

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The Charm Of Handmade Gifts Whilst You’re On Holiday

AD / PR samples

Picture a British seaside town, with the seagulls making noise and the fresh sea air. The charm of the seaside!

I don’t know why, but it’s such a British thing to buy gifts for other people whilst we are on holiday. I’ve purchased some of the best birthday and Christmas presents for people whilst on my holidays. Maybe I am more relaxed or have spending money. I really don’t know the reason behind it.

Now picture a small boutique with handmade, one-of-a-kind gifts. Then imagine the shop is labelled as an art collective. It’s the type of place I could spend hours in. Therefore, I HAD to transport all my lovely readers to this shop for a little while.

Come along and see what they have on offer

Bring together handmade pieces from several different creators, it’s the kind of place we would visit whilst on holiday. Mainly because my hubby would stop just outside and say “this is your type of place, let’s go in”.

If you follow this blog, you all know I love a unique and quirky gift for someone. I am so excited to share with you some of the unique and quirky pieces sent to me by Zebadiah’s. You can view a list of the artists featured on the website.

charm

Handmade earrings

I love handmade earrings. Simply because you would be hard pushed to find someone else wearing the same pair.

Hat

How cute is this handmade hat? My little one looks cool in hats and she has a collection at home already. I just know this one will come to be one of her favourites. And we are heading for cooler weather in the UK, so she will get so much use out of it.

Brooch

Transport me back to the days of looking through my Grandma’s jewellery drawer. She had a lovely white dresser with a wide drawer. All the pieces were laid out on tissue paper, all sparkly and amazing. Since this moment, I’ve loved brooches and I try my best to pin them to going out jackets whenever I can. This one will be coming on my next outing with me! My little one has also shown an interest in it.

Dress

The dress is fantastic. You can tell it’s such good quality material and the colours are amazing.

I honestly can’t wait to wear it. My little one commented that it looked like a rainbow. And we are kind of matching with the dress and the hat.

Other items which stood out to me

I’ve had a browse on the website and the ceramic bowls and bracelets really stood out to me. Everyone has a different preference for what they like and the reason why. You will find something amongst the collections for yourself. Or a great gift for someone else.

Head over and order online today

charm

Final thoughts

I hope you enjoyed reading about this amazing little find.

Have you checked out the products? What are your favourites?

charm

Why Gift Guides Are An Amazing Resource When Online Shopping

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 you.

Where do you look when you want to check out a product? Or find a quirky and unusual gift? Google of course. I don’t know about you, but I trust what I read online, mainly when it comes from bloggers I know and love.

Do you want to know why? We do our research! In order to write a blog post, you need to know what you’re talking about. Check out the products for yourself and do a lot of scouring the internet. That makes what we write an amazing resource. We put the hard work in so you don’t have to.

I mainly write about the products I buy as a customer. Some of them, like No7, I have bought for years and therefore know all about the range. It is about sharing this knowledge with others to make their online purchases easy.

amazing resource

Here are some of the gift guides I have written previously

Feel free to check out any of these gift guides for inspiration and ideas. When shopping for a loved one, we often think about a gift that suits their preference and personality. I personally love a unique and quirky gift, with a special touch.

10 UNIQUE MENKIND GIFTS FOR THE SPECIAL MAN IN YOUR LIFE

4 AMAZING GIFT IDEAS FOR THE SPECIAL MAN IN YOUR LIFE

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX FOR YOUR VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT

THE BEST DISCOUNTS & DEALS ON THE INTERNET FOR MOTHER’S DAY

THE REASONS I PURCHASE WITH ONE TRUSTED BRAND FOR GIFTS & SELF-CARE PURCHASES

THE ULTIMATE LIST OF SELF-CARE PACKAGE GIFT IDEAS FOR EVERY OCCASION

5 LAST-MINUTE ONLINE CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR THE ONES YOU LOVE

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE MY TRUSTED NO7 ESSENTIALS

Some of the unique and quirky small brands I have worked with

I love supporting small businesses and discovering products people may not know about. Especially hand-crafted products. The kind you would find at a small craft market, or the little gift shops on holiday. When a purchase resonates with me, or I feel like I would gift it to someone, I feel obliged to share my knowledge with other people.

A UNIQUE AND QUIRKY GIFT FROM DO US A DITTY

CHECK OUT THIS FABULOUS SELF-CARE GIFT BY COTTON & GREY

YOU MUST CHECK OUT THIS SELF-HEATING EYE MASK FOR RELAXATION

BREATHE BRACELETS – 10 BREATHS BRACELET

CHRISTMAS-THEMED PERSONALISED MINI PROSECCO

What’s next on the blog?

I have two exciting gift guides coming up on Thursday 28 July 2022 and I am also in the process of organising one for August 2022. I genuinely love working with these brands and putting the information together.

You will also get to see more video content. keep an eye on Instagram and TikTok for details.

If you’re struggling with gifting ideas

We all have that one person who is really difficult to buy for, don’t we? In our family, it’s my dad.

If after reading these gift guides, you’re still looking for the perfect gift or something extra special, check out these ideas below:

Why not give the amazing gift of a special book, journal, diary or any of the other amazing products from Waterstones?

An English Heritage membership is the perfect gift for anyone who loves exploring. Maybe you have a loved one who enjoys reading about history? The great news is, that you can also take six children with you when purchasing an adult membership!

CAN I INCLUDE MY CHILDREN IN MY MEMBERSHIP?

English Heritage membership allows every Member to take up to six children under 18 within the family group into any of our properties at no extra charge.

English Heritage website

To accompany your special gift

The gifting package isn’t complete without thinking about the other bits you need. Such as cards for special occasions and wrapping paper.

Silly Sentiments

amazing resource

Silly Sentiments is an independent UK-based greeting and gifting company that specialises in personalisation. We’re located in the Midlands and control all elements of production, from design to print, passing savings to our customers.

Some other quirky mentions before we wrap up (hehe)

The Gift Of Cake

Our service is about making it easy to deliver happiness direct to someone’s door

The Gift of Cake is a family business based in the South West of England.

We wanted to provide a service for ordering a cake online, including a personalised message and sending it by post as a lovely gift for the lucky recipient. But it’s not that easy to send a cake through the post. So we’ve invested time, money and hard work to provide a great solution.

Celebrate Gifts

Celebrate Gifts Ltd is the UK’s leading manufacturer of Chocolate Bouquets, Yankee Candle Bouquets, Alcohol Bouquets and Hat Box gifts.

All Celebrate Gifts are handmade by our team of qualified florists and come with the option to add a complimentary gift message. Our gifts also arrived fully assembled so they can be taken straight out of the box and enjoyed!

The Indytute

Unusual Gift Experiences in London

Inspiring lessons, workshops and experiences that make brilliant days out and unusual gifts for any occasion.

From Hula to Harmonica classes, Gin Tours to Paddleboarding the Indytute offers unusual gift experiences in London. 

Founded by Calypso Rose in 2013, the site has grown in popularity ever since and now offers over 160 unique and unusual experiences.

Final thoughts

I hope you enjoyed reading my gift guides and why I think they are important when shopping for special occasions. An amazing resource we can tap into to make our busy lives much easier!

Have you purchased from any of these brands before? What’s your favourite? or do you have someone who is difficult to buy for?

I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

amazing resource

Introducing The Gel Wax Melt by Village Wax Melts

PR Productsthese gel wax melts were kindly gifted in exchange for a review. All thoughts are my own and I would never recommend something I wouldn’t purchase myself

I was thrilled when Village Wax Melts agreed to send me their new gel wax melts to try. I hadn’t heard of this latest trend, but I am always hunting for melts packed full of fragrance.

Gel Wax Melt

I frequently talk on the blog about using self-care purchases to improve my mental health. Going through a mental breakdown highlighted how much I need this daily self-care. Buying a candle or wax melt and burner, is now on my weekly shopping list. Whilst I am working from home, it brightens my day. And depending on the fragrance, it can also calm stressful moments. What a revelation to try out a gel wax melt. I was also kindly gifted some other products, which I will discuss throughout this post.

Gel wax melts

I was so excited to try these and they did not disappoint. Before trying out this new product, I previously had to put my used burners in the freezer to remove the leftover wax. You don’t have to do this with the gel. It just peels out after use.

They are also more highly scented and you can smell the fragrance as soon as you open the tub. I wanted to take some great photos and videos for the blog, but I was genuinely mesmerised by how it melts. And I found myself sitting there are ages watching the process. Doing this is calming in itself. Definitely, something I would purchase in future, instead of the usual wax melts.

Wax melt selection

Village Wax Melts also kindly sent me a range of normal wax melts to try. I loved the shape and the fragrances. I will be honest and say I was previously put off buying scents which mimic perfumes and aftershave. But I have to say that the savage (wax melt and gel wax melt) was so refreshing. I am sure we all wear perfume for a night out. But having that same smell burning in your home makes you feel fresh. Like you’re on holiday, in a busy bar, living life. The scent isn’t as overpowering as someone wearing it, but it’s lovely to brush past as you walk to the kitchen. I am now sold on perfume and aftershave-related scents and love also loved the Aliens scent they included for me. Scents which transport you to another familiar situation, are excellent.

The scent I loved the most

Out of the wax melts I was sent, my favourite one has to be Aperol Nights. Because I love them so much, I have nearly used them all. I suppose we all have different tastes, but this one is my go-to and I will be ordering it again.

https://www.tiktok.com/@mummyconqueringan/video/7131673436513914118?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7113980612197254661

Final thoughts

I hope you enjoyed my review of these fantastic products. Please go check out the website.

Gel Wax Melt