WHY YOU SHOULD SPEND A LITTLE EXTRA ON YOUR HOME INTERIOR

Your home might be your castle, but there's no need to tear down the walls if you want to give it a new lease of life. Whilst spending hours of turmoil on DIY and countless funds on major renovations might seem like a good idea on paper, more often than not, something a little more subtle is often enough to bring a little life back to your homestead. The average home improvement also adds around 10% of value to a home according to Zopa, so improving your home should always be seen as a legitimate investment.



Instead of ripping out the foundations, why not instead consider a couple of new pieces of furniture to redress and refresh your interior. Of course, whilst your initial instinct might be to go for something cheap and cheerful that looks and feels ok; good enough never lasts.

By spending a little more on luxury furniture however, you could be investing in something that could last for decades and you won't need to change in a year or so when the seats start to sag and the cracks start to show. As we're looking to make a major improvement here, we'll be focusing on the two pieces of furniture that are arguably the most important in any home.

The Sofa

Whilst more doesn't always mean better, the old adage of “you get what you pay for” tends to ring true when it comes to furniture. This is no more true than when it comes to the sofa. Besides your bed, this is probably the piece of furniture you will be spending the most time on, so choose wisely. It's also a piece of furniture that will arguably be taking a lot of abuse, so investing in a strong and sturdy sofa is always recommended.



A good luxury sofa should be flexible enough to be used as a makeshift office, a relaxed reading spot and even the occasional bed (we've all had to spend a night on the sofa before). As a rule of thumb, the more you spend on a sofa, the more durable it will be and the longer it will last. This is only true, however, if you're smart and look past the frills and the big brand names and focus instead on the materials, the frame and the overall build quality. Whilst aesthetics are important, look for build quality first and foremost and materials that will withstand the stains of time.

The Bed

Without a good bed, a house is just not a home. Most of us will spend at least 30% of our lives in bed, so it's imperative that you invest in a mattress that will provide you with adequate support. The vast majority of modern mattresses use memory foam, which is shaped by the contours of your body over time, forming a sort of 'sleep profile' that essentially makes your bed feel like your bed. A decent mattress means a better sleep and a better sleep means a happier life in your home. It's also a very subjective piece of furniture. Mercifully, we live in an age where it's possible for even the most pickiest of sleepers to find the mattress that's right for them.

Of course, the mattress is not the only component to a good bed. The bed frame is also important, though we would always recommend spending more on the mattress than the frame. Ultimately, the frame is just there to support the mattress. Make sure it's sturdy, but don't push the boat out unless you really want to!

Disclaimer: Guest Post.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST BLINDS FOR YOUR WINDOWS

Blinds can bring a number of positives to a home. They can be used to vary the lighting and create different atmospheres and aesthetics, and they can of course look attractive and be the final piece in a room’s décor puzzle.

The problem we can have sometimes is deciding on which set or style are the right option - as it’s fair to say there’s quite a lot of choice on offer.  So, to help you with this, we’ve put together this little guide that explains some of the different types of blinds you can get as well as which colours and themes work best in different places.

The Popular Types of Blinds

In terms of the actual types of blinds you can buy there are:

Roller blinds - these are often fabric blinds that can be rolled up or down through pulling or releasing a cord. These can sometimes also be strips of wood.

Venetian blinds - these blinds can be made of wood, plastic, metal and in some cases fabric and are rows of slats that can be tilted back and forth to control light and be fully retracted up when horizontal. These functions are facilitated by a pull cord and a twisting lever.

Roman blinds - these blinds are also fabric and retract through a pulley system in a row of horizontal pleats, like a sort of concertina effect.

These types can be used to adorn any windows in the home.

Different Colour Options

There are no set instructions about which colours should go where, but a good rule of thumb to follow is that bright and neutral tones are best suited to living rooms and areas where you’ll be spending a lot of your time.

Equally, darker colours go better in bedrooms and bathrooms - basically any areas of the home where you might want a little more privacy. This colours guide can help point you in the right direction if you’re still not sure.

Not all independent sellers will have a big range of colours or types of blinds so it’s a good idea to head to an established seller like Direct Blinds. Such providers are likely to have much more choice and can also provide you with useful buying expertise. 

 
Performance Features

Some manufacturers can also offer different performance features like:

Made to measure fitting - you tell the manufacturer the size you want, and these are custom made.

Water resistant materials - ideal for bathrooms and kitchens.

Blackout materials - a great option for bedrooms.

Hopefully with the above you should be able to select a set of blinds that are perfect for your home and your needs. A final tip is to do some literal window shopping or contact sellers and request free samples to get a first-hand look at how a set of blinds would look in your rooms.

Disclaimer: Guest Post. 

WHEN TWO BECAME THREE

There once was a girl,

And that girl met a boy,

They found living as two,

Was a life full of joy.

These two happy lovebirds,

This couple, this pair,

Were snug in their nest,

But they thought it quite bare.

So they cuddled up closer,

And made room in their tree,

And their joy overflowed,

When two become three.

I'm growing a human!  

Coming Summer 2019 

xxx

THE GEORGE AND DRAGON, EPPING

You may remember earlier this year, I reviewed The George and Dragon in Brentwood. Well, I headed back again, but this time to their newly refurbished Epping branch.

We really enjoyed the food beforehand and left agreeing that it was one of the best meals we had ever had. When the opportunity came along to head over to the Epping branch, we couldn't say no. This time, my boyfriend's parents Debbie and Terry joined us both which was lovely and it gave a chance for another two people to join The George and Dragon fan club!

I am unsure what the interior looked like before, but it is now stunning. Tucked away on Epping High Street, parking is quite limited and taking two cars made things a little more difficult. However, we managed to luckily get two spaces right outside the restaurant.

The restaurant is definitely living up to the festive themes that are upon us. The lighting was perfect; dimly lighting up the outside front with small trees decorated with twinkling fairy lights. Very cute and it was even cosier inside.

It was a very warm and welcoming greeting from the hosts at front of house who ticked us off a list and asked if we would like to sample cocktails and canapés at the bar or be taken straight to our reserved table. We decided to save our bellies and asked to be seated.

The restaurant is separated slightly with the bar and drinks area on the left and the restaurant side of things on the right. I like the idea of this if you want a quiet meal without having to put up with loud people drinking or vice versa; if you want to enjoy drinks without feeling like you're disturbing people eating.

The interior was super cosy and warm, almost making you feel like you are in a little pub house in the countryside. With a real roaring fire and cosy sofas in the lounge/bar area, we took our next steps to the right and was seated at a nicely sized round table in the corner of the restaurant area.

I liked that we was given 10-15 minutes to settle in and explore the menu and not jumped on and pressured to quickly order something. We ordered a range of soft drinks and a white wine for Ricky's mum. They do have a fantastic botanical gin menu that I tried out at the Brentwood branch, however I didn't want to drink alcohol as it was a Wednesday night!

We started off by catching up with each other whilst trying out the Artisan Rustic Breads (£5.95). A slate of rustic and freshly baked breads arrived with flavoured butter, olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dip into. Also included were some Nocellara olives which Ricky and I particularly enjoyed.

The menu is pretty simple but has enough choice for everyone; from pizza, pasta, seafood, steaks and burgers. Sometimes I find menus can be a little overwhelming with too much choice to choose from, but this one was perfect. There is also a separate vegan menu which I was very pleased to see. Even though I am not vegan, I do sometimes prefer ordering vegan or vegetarian meals, so it was nice to see that they're catering for vegans.

I ordered the Crispy Karaage Chicken (£6.95) which is exactly what I ordered before and I remembered how much I enjoyed it. Crispy and slightly crunchy bites of chicken were accompanied with a pot of katsu chicken curry sauce and ribbons of cucumber, kale and cauliflower cous cous salad. Honestly so recommendable.

Ricky went for the Chargrilled Lamb Koftas (£6.95) which arrived with two koftas on sticks, goat's curd, plum tomato, roasted red pepper, cucumber and a mint salad. This is something I was keen to try myself and will no doubt order next time if I am not tempted by the chicken again!

Debbie went for the Sweet Chilli King Prawn Roll (£6.95) which arrived with the most stunning of food presentations. Julienne vegetables, chilli, coriander and king prawns were wrapped tightly inside a see-through rice paper. Presented alongside a pot of chilli dipping sauce, Debbie said she enjoyed it, but wasn't a fan of the rice paper. However, I was aware that rice paper is big in Japanese food (something I particularly enjoy), so is a bit of a marmite choice. 

Terry stayed on the sea food theme and ordered the Lobster and King Prawn Pot (£8.25), which again came beautifully presented.  Devon crab is mixed with cream fraiche and was accompanied with toasted ciabatta bread slices for dipping and scooping.

All of our starters were demolished and enjoyed (sadly leaving the rice paper behind), so we was very much looking forward to trying our mains.

Debbie chose her favourite meat; Roasted Pork Belly with Seared Scallops (£18.95). I'm not a big fan of pork, but I must admit it did look rather scrumptious! A beautiful cut of pork belly was presented alongside potato dauphinoise, butternut squash purée, green beans, toasted almonds, crackling and red wine jus. It was reported to be a really delicious main meal and a side of seared scallops was the perfect addition.

There's a bit of an occurring theme here, but myself and the two others all went for 9oz Rib-eye Steak (£21.95) and I am so glad I did. I always get nervous about ordering steak incase it's not cooked how I like it. However, I am pleased to report back that the waitress listened and the chefs delivered three beautifully cooked steaks to our table. Succulent, easy to cut using provided steak knives and not too chewy.

The steak comes with twice-cooked chunky chips (very large and very yummy), crispy onions (almost like a tiny onion loaf, but not as sickly), grilled mushroom, confit tomato and baby kale. I ordered mine with my favourite peppercorn sauce (additional £1.95) which I love to pour over steak and chips. Gosh, I want another plate of it!

After feeling pretty stuffed and disgusted with ourselves, of course we ordered desserts when the waitress came back over to offer us the next round of food. Although, Terry was sensible and went for a coffee instead.

Ricky went for his favourite (he never orders anything different and actually ordered this at the other branch)... the Warm Belgian Chocolate Brownie (£6.75) which arrived warm, with warm chocolate sauce and a few scoops of vanilla ice-cream.

I can't say too much myself, as I also ordered a personal favourite; the Melting Chocolate & Peanut Bomb (£7.95). However, this one is different and slightly more sickly, but delicious with a sticky toffee pudding inside a chocolate shell and peanut butter ice-cream inside of that; delivered with a pot of hot chocolate sauce that the waitress has to pour over (for safety reasons), which melts the shell right before your eyes.

Just to add a little more naughtiness, on the side are some scoops of vanilla ice-cream and whipped cream. It's safe to say that I was unable to eat it all, but boy was it scrump-diddly-umptious!

Finally, Debbie ordered the Apple & Blackberry Crumble (£5.95); something I was rather tempted to order myself, but chocolate and peanut butter got the better of me. She said it was a lovely crumble, served with hot custard and a Demerara crumble. I sadly forgot to photograph this. Told you the chocolate got the better of me!

Once again, The George and Dragon pulled it out of the bag and we left all feeling and discussing how impressed we were with the food and service. I am already looking forward to re-visiting and exploring more of the menu.

Visit: The George and Dragon, 208 High Street, Epping, Essex, CM16 4AQ. I would recommend booking a table beforehand which can be done online or by calling 01992 579493.

Disclaimer: A complimentary meal was provided, but I was not obliged to post a review. All content is my own. 

NOVEMBER MEANS #CHRISTMASSTARTSNOW

Not updating my blog for a month must mean I've been busy. Nope, I've just not had much to talk about until now... because today is 1st November which means Christmas is NEXT MONTH!

Getting Halloween over and done with always makes me happy because it means the end of October and the start of the Christmas festivities. This year will be extra special as it's mine and Ricky's first Christmas in our beautiful house, so I am super excited about buying our very first tree and choosing all of our own decorations.

A recent OnePoll found that 30% of 1000 participants think that seeing the first Christmas TV advert is what signifies the start of Christmas. A 23% of those people said that starting their Christmas shopping was the start of Christmas for them and 10% of people said eating their first mince pie of the year was the beginning of Christmas.

Mince pies are definitely one of my weaknesses around this time of the year and it doesn't help that they are available in the supermarkets as early as late September. I'm not alone with 30% of Brits choosing Mince Pies as their favourite festive sweet treat. I love eating mine in all different ways; whether it's warmed up in the microwave and demolished on its own or paired with some vanilla ice-cream or double cream for an evening treat.  Yum, yum.

The Mr Kipling Deep Filled Mince Pies are brand new and improved, with a brand new look and flavouring. The traditional fruity mincemeat in a butter filled pastry casing, melts in the mouth and gets you feeling all festive at the touch of your tongue.

* Now available in most major supermarkets. 

A box of 6 Mince Pies are priced at £1.50 (RRP) and there's several other varieties in the range for 2018. Choose from the traditional or 6 Iced Top Mince Pies (£1.50), 4 Gluten Free (£2.50) and for £3.00 there's even a 12 Mince Pie Variety Box which has something for everyone!

Even Elsie demolished one!

This all recently got me thinking about what Christmas means to me and now what it will mean as I now have my own little family of 2 and all past traditions have now come to an end. Christmas would usually involve waking up with my sister at our parents house and spending all day in our pyjamas until we got a little dressed up for Christmas dinner later on. Bacon sandwiches would be enjoyed in the morning before opening presents and I was always the present giver; putting all the gifts in individual piles.

I think I should be able to persuade Ricky to let me start putting up Christmas decorations around the third week of November. We don't have any specific plans for Christmas just yet, but with both families to see, we will probably spend Christmas Day at home and enjoy it as our second but our first in the house and then spend the next few days with each family.

Mr Kipling kindly sent us over a hamper of festive goodies to get us in the mood and it did exactly that when we opened it. Inside was a gorgeous grey, knitted blanket which matches the colour theme of our living room perfectly. With a festive smelling candle, board game and Christmas films included; we are already well in the mood for Christmas in this house hold.

Tonight, I am off to start my Christmas shopping and possibly pick up some decorations for the tree! This is the most excited I have been in ages!

Disclaimer: This post is in collaboration with Mr Kipling and contains sponsored content.  All words and opinions are my own.

HOW TO SAFELY MOVE HOUSE AND MOVING TIPS

Can you believe we have been home owners for a whole month already? It's been almost a month since I revealed the news on my blog. We are finally settled in and it really does feel like home now. Whilst not every room is completely finished, everything is a working progress and coming together nicely. Our living room is my favourite room in the house at the moment. It's just so cosy and homely!

Moving home is stressful, but it is a fun and exciting time. With a new home, comes a new chapter of your life in a new place, so it’s understandable that you might be excited and maybe even nervous too. To help you with your impending move, here is a list of moving house tips and move guides of what to do when moving house. These should help keep you safe and sound throughout the entire moving process and hopefully be the best way to move house.

Moving house tips - What to do when moving house

The first thing on our moving house tips list to do is to plan ahead for your move. You’ll need to work out exactly what needs packing, what you can get rid of before the big move, and just what you’ll actually need to pack everything into - and essentially make a moving checklist. Are you the type to carefully pack up your clothes into boxes a week before you move, or are you more likely to throw them into a bin bag right before putting them in the van? 

Whatever your style is, you need to make sure that you’re prepared for the move by having enough boxes and bags to put everything into. Plus don’t forget extra materials, like a lot of bubble wrap and tape to ensure that everything stays exactly where it’s supposed to when you’re moving. You don’t exactly want to pack everything up sloppily and drive it to your new house, only to unpack and discover that all of your plates have disintegrated along the way and all of your picture frames have shattered.

One other point to mention here is to think about the weight of the boxes. You’ll want to try and spread the weight out evenly across all the boxes you’re packing, so that you don’t end up injuring yourself. This wouldn’t be great right before moving to a new house!

Further moving house tips

Where possible, get professional movers to help you. These can often be the difference between having to spend an entire weekend hunting through your new house for something important, like a duvet set to sleep under, and being able to get everything unpacked with a minimum of fuss, and is often the best way to move house. Plus getting professional movers in means you’re less likely to suffer from a problem, such as a slip or a trip whilst carrying boxes, which can lead to you needing to claim for personal injury compensation.

If you do have a personal injury whilst moving your house and it wasn’t your fault, then you might be entitled to claim as a result, so we suggest that you get in touch with lawyers to see what kind of case you can build. A solicitors can help with building a case to help get you compensation and will assist you throughout the entire process, saving you some stress on top of the additional stress from moving house. 

Label everything properly. Not only is this important to know where everything is for both you and anyone helping you move, it can also save someone from being accidentally injured if they go to grab a box and find it’s a lot heavier than expected, or contains sharp objects that weren’t expected.

Don’t forget to update your address, either a week or two before you move out or as soon as possible after you move. This can be key for ensuring that your move goes smoothly as you can register for a new doctor and other services and not have to worry about them at all during the moving process.

And finally, pack a survival box or bag. This can consist of the basic essentials, such as snacks, a bin bag or two, tea bags and some cutlery and crockery as well as toilet paper. This is just to ensure that you have a quick way of making your home liveable when you’re unpacking everything without needing to dig through a million different boxes to find everything you need to make a cuppa! 

Moving house checklist

As an added bonus, here is a quick checklist of the above tips for you to use as a way of judging what to do when you move house.

Have you planned ahead for how you’re going to pack everything?

Have you got enough boxes and materials to pack everything up?

Are you able to get professional movers in to help you?

Have you labelled everything correctly?

Is everything evenly distributed so there’s nothing too heavy to pick up?

Have you updated your address?

Have you packed a survival box/bag?

Have you got any further tips or anything you can share about moving in the comments? Write below as I am always interested in more tips and tricks for moving house safely!

MY 2019 BUCKET LIST

The last time I set myself a bucket list, I don't think I finished it let alone completed it. However, now I have reached the peak of my mid 20's and we are fast approaching the end of the year, I thought it was a great time to set myself some new musts for next year. Whether this ends up being a to do list, a wish list or a bucket list; here's some things I want to do.

1) Finish decorating my house

After buying our first house last month, it has been the most expensive thing we have ever done, but for good reason. At the moment, only the living room and kitchen are complete. Our main bedroom still needs finishing and we haven't even started to touch the spare bedroom yet. I would like 2019 to be the year that the house plans start winding down and finalising; both for the sake of my purse and it would just be nice to photograph the whole house.

2) Learn to drive

I remember this being on a previous bucket list about 3 years ago and it is something I have never done. Unfortunately, I gave up learning to drive when I was 20 and it's one of my biggest regrets in life. In all honesty, I don't really need a car, but it would be nice to have a little run around to go from A to B and back home again.

3) Travel somewhere new long haul

The only place I have been long haul is New York and I think that is actually considered mid-haul. I would love to travel further into America or Australia as I have family in both parts. I am also craving the sun and a get away due to skipping a holiday this year thanks to purchasing a house. It will just be nice to jet off for a couple of weeks and eat lots! I would most likely use a website like Holiday Gems to find the best holiday deals and destination ideas.

4) Take up a new hobby

Fact is that blogging was my hobby which in reality stopped being a hobby when I started to make a living from writing on my corner of the internet. I am not sure what I would like to take up, but it would be great to learn a new skill or even learn a new language. Just something different and something new to focus on.

5) Get another pet

It's no secret around here that Elsie is my first love in my life. However, I have been feeling broody for another dog for a few weeks now. I just know that if I end up feeling like this still by Christmas, then getting Elsie a furry brother or sister is something I would try and persuade my boyfriend to let me do. Who doesn't want another dog to cuddle up to?!!

Dislaimer: In collaboration with Holiday Gems. All words and opinions are my own.

5 OVERLOOKED EXPENSES THAT RUIN YOUR CAR'S BUDGET

It's no secret that running a car is one of the most expensive things to own and run. It's one of the main reasons that I don't drive, but I know from experience of my partner having a car, that the metal box with four wheels he drives around in, can eat up his wallet.

I sat down with my partner to chat about his driving experience of around 13 years and what he thinks about the expenses that come with it. His first car was a very common and typical second hand car. He then decided to buy a brand new car which was an expensive purchase at the beginning, but worked out cheaper in the long run.

Whilst it can seem cheap to buy a second hand car for a couple of thousand off the internet, it can end up costing you a whole load more in the long run. Cars are like people; the older the get, the quicker they slow down. It may be cheaper to save your money for something newer or to even take out a brand new car on finance and avoid second or third hand cars altogether. Whilst those car dealerships can suck you in, sometimes it is best to walk past and leave them. With brand new cars, you can guarantees.

As a safety precaution, you are supposed to check your tyres every time before you drive. However, in most cases we don't. If you notice that a particular or more than one tyre is slowly deflating, you should take it a tyre garage to get repaired. It's much cheaper to pay out for a repair cost than what it is to buy a brand new tyre to replace.

Car insurance is one of the dreaded things to pay that come with owning a car. It can be easy to go with any company, but it is best to use comparison sites and speak to several insurance firms to find the best quote for you. There's special car insurance packages out there for new drivers, 18-25s and female drivers. Taking an extra day or two to research good deals could save you a lot of money.

We all get sucked in at the supermarket or in shopping mall car parks when there's a group of men advertising to do car washes for £10 whilst you shop. In addition, they can hoover and valet the inside for an additional £5. For the average person who likes to keep their car tidy, you would be looking at spending a LOT of money in a year on something that you can do yourself one weekend at home.

Finally, we would all love to drive a car that runs perfectly in every way from the day you purchase to the day you scrap it for something newer. However, things can happen along the way. Whether it's hitting a pot hole in the road, scraping against a curb or an un-insured driver may hit you; these are all things that will burn a hole in pocket.  My partner highly advises that every car driver should put some money away every month for car related emergencies like this.

If you are in need of spare parts for your car, then visit KAP Motors for genuine spare parts. It is always better to shop around for parts that your car may need, rather than giving up on it and buying a new car altogether. Whether it is a new engine or light replacements; this is a great place to get any parts you may need.

Disclaimer: In collaboration with KAP Motors. All words, opinions and photographs are my own. 

ESQUARED - THE NO CONTRACT GYM AND FITNESS CLASSES

Gym contracts scare me, a lot. I've been lucky that the gym I left before moving house, was a cancel any time kinda contract and that suited me much better. It has meant I've been able to cancel my contract as I no longer live nearby and am able to look at other gyms in my new area.

The gym I used to go to was great but there was a few facilities it didn't have that I really would have liked to have tried. A swimming pool would have been amazing for days where I didn't feel like pushing my quads on a leg press machine. I also really wanted to try boxing to keep fit and tone my upper body, but another thing that m previous gym didn't offer in the classes it provided.

That's where the Esquared fitness app comes right in handy. Available for free download on Google Play and ios, Esquared searches for pay as you go local gyms, sports centres and fitness events. Sadly, it hasn't arrived at any centres near my new house just yet, but it has meant that I can book London based swimming sessions and fitness classes to go to after work.

The app is incredibly easy to use and has been stress free whilst using it. You start by either selecting all or choosing a few things you are keen on looking for i.e swimming sessions, boxercise, yoga etc. 

It then works using your current location. It presents you with a map of where you currently are, or you can search for an area you will be visiting in the near future. 

Dotted around the map, you will see black squares with prices which means there is some form of gym or fitness classes in that area available to book with. You simply select the individual black square and it presents all of the information you need to know.

For example, there are 22 spaces left in a Yoga class at 5.30PM today, lasting 1 hour for just £10. Perfect. 

Esquared is a fairly new app and I can see it being a rather popular one in the fitness world. It gives the opportunities to find fitness classes or centres that allow quick pay as you go visits, rather than being tied down to a 24 month contract that causes many problems if you need to cancel it. I'm all for it!

Disclaimer: In collaboration with the Esquared app. All words, opinions and photographs are my own.

OUR LIVING ROOM - ONE SIDE

Our living room is about 90% complete and we couldn't be happier with the result. As mentioned in my previous post, buying a new build house has meant that we have been lucky that decorating has been kept at a minimum. Every room was already painted white and brand new carpets were laid as part of the buying price.

I have been buying bits and bobs for the house over the last 3 months and these mustard fluffy cushions from The Range were actually the first purchase. I think I found them on a reduced aisle for around £6 each, so we have 4 of those. We already knew in our heads that we wanted a grey sofa, so knew mustard would be a great pop of colour. Ricky also picked up this industrial style lamp in The Range for around £70 which was a steal, as we had been seeing them around previously for £100+.

Our sofa is from Sofology and is called 'The Cricketer'; the first sofa we actually saw 3 months ago. We wanted a corner sofa which would allow us to both lay out when watching films. It's quite an expensive sofa I won't lie, but velvet is something I really wanted and so it made sense to buy what we really wanted as it's the one room in the house that we will be spending most of our time in (although Ricky likes to think mine is the kitchen). 

We did visit a Sofa Club pop up shop in which we saw a much cheaper grey velvet sofa at a fraction of the price of the Sofology one. After explaining that we required a corner sofa with the exact measurements of 240 x 240 cm, one representative told us it was not possible and that their sofas are not available for custom sizing. 

With limited choices available, we decided to visit another Sofa Club pop up shop nearby. The representative there told us it was available to order with a custom size, so we paid a £50 deposit and placed an order. A few days later, I received a phone call from Sofa Club letting me know that it actually was not possible and proceeded to ask if I would like the sofa delivered at 270 x 270. Well, NO.... it won't fit! They apologised and refunded us the deposit. Therefore, I do not recommend Sofa Club AT ALL and it made much more sense to buy the more expensive sofa from a reputable company!

To complete the lounge area of the room, we had decided we wanted a lighter grey colour for the back wall as a feature wall. Valspar Paint (available at B&Q) kindly provided us some vouchers to buy some paint for a few rooms in the house (more on the other rooms very soon!) and this is the result. We spent so long choosing the correct shade of grey, but settled on 'Elephant in the room' which is just the coolest name too! 

I am so impressed with Valspar Paints as the wall only required one coat of paint, when I have previously always had to do two or three. It also dried fairly quickly and did not smell of that dreaded paint smell that can make the room smell for days on end. 

I am so in love with our 50x70xm prints from Desenio and have been itching to get them up on the walls. They luckily got in touch to collaborate with me, which has always been a dream as I always see them collaborating with bloggers.

We chose 3 black and white animal prints (Lion from side, Lama, Elephant from side) as a fun and unique twist to the room. We just love how it looks like the lion and elephant are looking at the lama! They also offer frames on site, making it super easy to frame your prints with the right sized frame. We went with black frames, but there's lots of different frames to choose from. 

From 11-13 September, you can grab 25% off Desenio prints (excluding frames, handpicked and collaboration pieces) with code beingashleigh

What do you think of this area in our living room? We are really happy with it and cannot wait to show you the other side of the room soon. We are just waiting for some dining chairs to arrive! 

Disclaimer: In collaboration with Valspar Paint and Desenio. All words, opinions and photographs are my own.

ERM, WE BOUGHT A HOUSE

Three and a half months later and I'm finally here. Number 70. Sitting on my velvet sofa, watching 13 going on 30 and smelling the gorgeous smell of our first roast dinner cooking. Allow me to update you all on a brand new chapter in my life.

We bought a BLOODY HOUSE.

As soon as I turned 25 at the beginning of the year, I knew I wanted to move out. Together with a jumble of meeting my boyfriend last year who I consider 'the one' (ok, cheese, I'll stop), a relationship breakdown with family and turning the big 25, I wanted something to call my very own. I have a fair few things I wanted to achieve by this age and moving out is one of them.

Now I can light candles that I was not allowed in my family home and I have bloody gorgeous flowers sitting on MY kitchen windowsill in a jar that is meant for pasta storage, because c'mon on now, buying a vase is never on the list of things to buy when you get your own first place, is it?

This is the stunning Citrus Coulis bouquet from Appleyard London. A truly fabulous mix of cerise germini, tara roses, blue agapanthus and foliage to finish. I've had flowers from them before and can vouch they last for quite some time provided you change the water and I've also been spraying the flowers with a mist of water everyday to ensure the sun doesn't dry them out too much!

I had been looking at renting a flat since around February this year and it was an experience in itself. With me, comes Elsie and it was proving near impossible to find anywhere that would accept a dog. We had called maybe 30 properties in a week or so and only found one rented flat that would allow a dog... if we could pay a few thousand in advance. Nah, you're alright mate. Stick your average flat and £1200PCM rent where the sun don't shine.

I had never really thought about renting being dead money or the fact that renting is paying off someone else's mortgage. I don't think there is anything personally wrong with renting and it is something I would have totally done if it meant that Elsie could come with me. Even though some people may see renting as dead money and I agree that it ties you up with no freedom to make a home completely yours i.e decorating etc, I think renting is a great option if you want to experience living on your own/away from home and familiarity. Personally, I had to think of a plan B as it was either rent a property or re-home Elsie... and that was never going to be an option. 

With all of this flat rent hunting rejecting going on, I felt very disheartened and disappointed that I could not move out sooner than I would have liked. However, that's when the discussion of buying a property came up and it was like a non-stop roller coaster from there.

With a quick look at properties online, I have always said that the space I wanted to live in would be new-ish, bright and airy, with excellent transport links and a good circuit for dog walks. Well, I have literally hit the jackpot.

Our home is a 2 bedroom new-build house with a lovely garden, three bathrooms, transport links, a fabulous shopping centre 5 mins down the road and a local Chinese and chippy. Erm, what more could I ask for?

They say a house chooses you and I can't agree more. Most people go and view 5 or 15 homes before finding the perfect one for them. However, this was the first house we organised to view and within a week, we paid a deposit to secure it.

It ticks every box that we both had for a first home and is the perfect starter home for a young couple ready to start a family(😏)... not to mention it has a lovely and maintainable size garden for Elsie. I feel extremely lucky that it is a new build too, as we haven't had to do too much to the place; just a lick of paint in the odd place here and there (more on that soon!).

I never thought I would be able to afford to buy a house (like literally, EVER) but anything is possible when you work hard. I hardly dip into my wages, so together with that and my blog income, I have been saving for the past year with the goal to move out within the next 2 years. Together with my boyfriend, we was able to put down the fees; deposit, solicitor fees and a mortgage broker to help us find the best mortgage to buy our own home together.

I personally don't recommend paying a mortgage broker as it cost us £500 upfront and a whole load of stress on top. I am sure there's some better companies out there, but the one we used really made us regret not going to the bank ourselves to apply for a mortgage. We seemed to constantly be chasing our 'advisor' for updates and signed a few documents that had mistakes made by them... not good! My best advice would be that if you have the possibility of getting a mortgage off your own accord, then definitely do it. Otherwise hire the best mortgage broker in town!

The solicitor side of things was a smooth process in which communication was always made with us with updates and information on the next steps. We was given a move in date of 4th September, but that was pushed through quicker in time; luckily for Ricky's birthday. So, as of Tuesday 28th August, I not only moved out of my mum's house, but into my first home with a boyfriend.

I am in absolute love with my house and cannot stop buying bits for it including #hinchhauls (if y'know, ya know!) and am just SO excited to spend the next however many years here! I have so much to share with you, so expect lots of interior posts over the next few months. You can catch more regular and live updates on my Instagram though, so make sure you head over there and hit follow to be in the know!

Disclaimer: This post contains a gifted item. All photography, words and opinions are my own.