When I first moved into my fixer-upper house, the kitchen was in a state. However, we didn’t have the budget available to be able to completely renovate the room so I had to get creative with some easy (and frugal!) fixes.

It made the kitchen livable for a few years while we saved up for some new cabinets, so I thought I would share some kitchen upgrade ideas with you, from easy updgrades to some very thrifty upcycles. Let’s get stuck in…

1. Revamp the worktop

Among these smaller (not small per se, but not as big as a full reno) changes would be replacing tired worktops with natural wood worktops, as they are resistant, they can be re-sanded or re-oiled to renew them if they get older or a bit damaged, and they bring a warmth and classic style to the room.

You may be interested to know that a walnut kitchen worktop will cost considerably less than other countertop options, such as marble, granite or even composite surfaces. Yet it still delivers the same level of luxury finish that’ll elevate the units (even low-cost DIY options) to look like a custom-made cabinetry-standard kitchen.

2. Change the doors

If you already have a gorgeous wooden worktop that can be easily refinished and brought back to its best, you can reuse this and simply relace the doors on the units. Keeping as much of the existing kitchen as possible, such as the cabinet carcasses, worktop, sink and appliances cuts the cost of a kitchen upgrade considerably.

And, if you’re not spending your kitchen budget on those elements, that gives you a bigger budget to spend on elevated doors and hardware. You could choose a new colour, which will completely change the look of the room, or you could go classic for a traditional farmhouse kitchen look that’ll work perfectly with the existing wooden worktop.

Alternatively, you can repaint the cupboard doors you already have using suitable paint. I previously shared a quick DIY video guide on revamping a melamine kitchen with spray paint so be sure to check that out too. I loved the bright blue colour and it lasted for years, which meant we had much longer to save up for a new kitchen in the meantime.

3. Flip the flooring

The flooring in a kitchen is often the thing that wears out first. This room is usually a high-traffic area, with lots of the family using the space at once for multiple tasks, so damage is likely to occur. Vinyl tiles begin peeling off with water damage, lino can get scuffed after years of use, and stone can become stained by spilled drinks or dropped food.

It’s possible that the tatty flooring is what’s bringing down the whole look of your kitchen. So, why not try refreshing or replacing the flooring before you start tackling the cupboards? Laying down a washable or indoor-outdoor rug might be enough to cover up the floor and freshen up the room.

Or installing water-resistant wood-effect flooring over the top of your existing tiles – perhaps in a stain colour to match the new worktops – can completey revamp the space without you needing to touch the cupboards at all.

4. Revamp the walls

An even more frugal option for upgrading your kitchen without renovating might be to simply repaint the walls. If you have neutral cabinets in white or wood, these are the ideal backdrop for a bold colour choice on the walls. You’ll be amazed at what a difference a colourful wall will make to completely transform the space – all for the cost of a tin of paint.

If you’ve already got coloured cabinetry, such as black units or a bright colour, why not pick out this shade in a patterned wallpaper? You could go geometric, painterly, traditional or floral. You don’t even need to paper all the walls – just one feature wall opposite the run of cabinets can help to tie the whole room together for a cohesive look.

Plus, you can add personality to your kitchen using lighting, accessories and artwork, like I have. I personally love a dash of colour against the simple cream cabinets, it really helps to elevate the look of the flat-pack kitchen – and my neon lights are my favourite touch.

5. Update the hardware

Possibly the thriftiest update of all is to simply unscrew the handles on the kitchen cabinets and replace them with fresh new hardware. You can upgrade basic units by choosing luxe finishes such as brass, copper or wood, like I have. Just make sure the fixings are in the same place as the old handles so you don’t need to drill new holes in the doors.

Or, let’s go one step cheaper and repaint the doorknobs you already have. For the cost of a tin of chalk paint or a can of direct-to-plastic spray paint, you can upcycle the existing handles to create a completely different look. Slick black looks great against wood or white for a sleek minimalist kitchen or you could choose a vibrant or pastel colour to create a fun kitchen that’s uniquely yours.

I hope these five ideas have helped you to uncover new ways to upgrade your kitchen without having to splash the cash on a full renovation. Let me know in the comments below what home hacks you’ve already used in your kitchen and what other tips you have for a kitchen update, I’d love to hear your ideas!

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This article is a sponsored collaboration. The pink links in the content indicate a sponsored link or information source. The blog post reflects my own experience and the sponsor hasn’t had any control over my content

This past weekend I was lucky enough to attend Suffolk based festival Latitude. Far from the rowdy all-night music festivals you might be imagining, this event is a celebration of arts, culture, music and, as I discovered, family fun.

Having camped at the festival multiple times as university student in the late-noughties and, later, regularly visited with my husband and friends during the twenty-teens, I thought I knew what I could expect from Latitude.

However, this time, I was visiting with members of family, including those with children, and I was amazed by all the child-focused elements of the event. The kids’ zone has always been there but I’d never really noticed it before. Now, I found myself being constantly surprised by the sheer volume of provision for families.

If you’ve got little ones and considering a visit to Latitude next year (or beyond), I thought it might be helpful if I shared with you a selection of the incredible family-friendly aspects of Latitude festival that really impressed me during my visit this year…

Family-friendly arenas

Let’s start with the different arenas that I felt were ideal for families to enjoy. The most obvious is the Kids’ Area, where you’ll find the helter-skelter, Tommy Bradshaw’s Punch and July shows and a stripy big top tent. Running alongside this is Camp Greenpeace, the ideal place for children to learn about bushcraft in the woods of Henham Estate.

Then, in the family camping zone is a traditional funfair complete with Ferris Wheel, which leads into the Enchanted Garden. This sprawling section is home to Colour Town, movement and dance classes, archery, a mini zoo with wildlife animal displays, theatre, creative workshops and more. One of my favourite local charities the Fairyland Trust was there, along with ‘Get Medieval’ and the Norwich University of the Arts.

Across from the Kids’ Area is the Cosmic Shambles Forest, with even more educational displays on Museum Street including a Crab Museum, the centre for computing history and the Orwell Astronomical Society. This is where science-themed sessions were held throughout each day for children and adults alike, featuring famous names from the industry including some of my personal faves; Professor Chris Lintott from The Sky at Night, Springwatch presenter Chris Packham, Robin Ince from The Infinate Monkey Cage and scientist Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock from CBeebies.

There seemed to be something for every age group in each of these areas (yes, even the parents – yoga and coffee, anyone?) so you’d easily fill up your whole weekend schedule just by visiting all the family-friendly arenas and watching the entertaining and educational performances.

Creative workshops

Wandering around the site, I couldn’t even try to count the number of creative activities that are available for kids. I spotted upcycling workshops, drawing and painting classes, sticker-making, stained glass mosaics, rocket-blasting, sculpture studio, weaving and crafting musical insutruments. I even spotted children sawing wood and nailing planks to build a huge ship.

One of the top sessions I spotted was clay modelmaking with Jim Parkyn, best known for his work with Aardman Animation. The taught children to make their own models of dogs, monsters and even pink Latitude sheep! The children were each gifted a plasticine modeling kit and got to take home their creations, possibly sparking a new love of modelmaking in a generation of children.

Not only were children learning new skills, developing their creativity and expanding their knowledge in each of the family-friendly areas, but they were all able to make something themselves to keep and take with them. I can imagine them enjoying recreating the activities back at home during the shool summer holidays, keeping the fun going long after the festival is finished.

Smaller stages

I’m not only talking about the theatre, music and even comedy shows that are put on in the Kids’ Area, although there are a whole programme of these performances and all are really fascinating. In fact, each time I wandered past the big top in that zone, there was always a crowd of captivated kids watching some top class entertainment designed just for them.

Photo by fabulous family photographer Claire Lacey

But, what I’m actually talking about is the fact that there are so many stages dotted around the arena that you don’t have to worry about trying to squeeze your little ones into a massive crowd at the Obelisk Arena.

Photo by fabulous family photographer Claire Lacey

Instead, you can all enjoy watching bands and dance groups in the Trailer Park, Alcove, Waterfront or Sunrise Arena – they’re smaller and less crowded yet still deliver an epic festival experience for youngsters and teens. And a dance at the Disco Shed beside the river is a must!

Photo by fabulous family photographer Claire Lacey

I hope this round-up will help you to get an idea of all the fun things you could enjoy if you attend Latitude Festival as a family. Let me know in the comments below what you enjoyed most about visiting Latitude with your youngsters, I’d love to hear what activities and entertainment you loved. Thanks!

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I attended Latitude festival as a member of the press but was not asked to write this blog post. This piece contains my own opinions and experiences of the festival and I am not responsible for your experience of the event.

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Starting at a new educational establishment or taking a new course in September can be an exciting time. Personally, I really enjoy this time of year – having been a student for most of my adult life, I always see it as a ‘new start’ each year.

It’s wonderful to be taking a course on a subject that you really want to learn about and I find that the time between September and Christmas really whizzes by in a flurry of freshers events and lectures. So, to help you feel prepared in advance for the next semester, I’ve come up with a list of study essentials you might need.

Whether you’re starting your GCSE options or A-Level subjects or are moving away to uni or studying at a local collage, there are always a few items that you’ll need – and you might be able to save money on them if you start sourcing these essentials now.

There’s plenty of advice for students available online from Student Union officers to help you have a flying start when you arrive in September – but if you want to get ahead of the game, here are 4 essentials you can begin getting organised over the summer before your course kicks off.

1. Essential Tech

In August and September, there’s usually a big sale on tech items in stores and online. That’s because retailers know that students often have a loan or grant to spend on the things they need for their course, so they’ll slash prices to be the most attractive option for you to buy.

Most students will need a laptop, printer, keyboard and so-on ready for writing their essays and doing research at uni. If this is the case for you, you can wait until September to take advantage of those seasonal discounts on tech.

Or, if you want to get prepared over the summer before your course starts, you can keep an eye out for refurbished tech, which might mean you’re able to get a better system or a branded laptop for less money by shopping secondhand.

If you already have a laptop or PC that works but is a bit old, you’ve got time to take it to a tech repair company to have the system hardware upgraded before you start your course. This will ensure it’ll last for longer and perform the way you need it to.

Plus, by sorting out your tech over the summer, you’ve still got time to install any specfic software you need for your studies. There’s nothing worse than sitting down to start working at your computer and then getting stuck becuase you don’t have the right programes installed and it taking ages to update!

2. Specs for studying

I think another essential before starting a course is getting a sight test. You’re going to need to be able to see clearly in your classes in order to learn – the first time I realised I needed glasses was when doing my GCSEs and the instructions on the classroom board looked blurry, so I couldn’t follow.

So, before your start at your new school or college, head to the opticians during the summer and get a sight test. You may discover you need glasses for reading or that you’re short-sighted and might even need spectacles for driving.

Plus, even if you don’t need glasses to improve your vision, you might want to consider getting blue light glasses like I did. These are an essential if you’re going to be working at a computer for long periods of time, such as while writing assignments.

The lenses protect against blue-violet light emitted by digital devices to reduce eye strain and glare, allowing you to work at your PC or read on your tablet more comfortably for longer. I’m currently wearing prescription blue light glasses while I write this and find them really helpful in minimising tired eyes.

3. Study space

While I was a student, I found that it’s really hard to work on essays and assignments if you don’t have a dedicated study space with a desk and an office chair. Even though it’s possible to sit in bed with a laptop (and rather tempting some days!) it’s not the best way to be productive with your time as you’ll probably feel too relaxed and will work more slowly.

It’s also not great for your posture, your legs or your back to be sitting cross-legged or hunched over a screen. No-one needs a sore back and stiff knees while trying to concentrate on revision. So I think a desk space is absolutely crucial for your success at college.

So, make sure you’ve got a desk to work at but it doesn’t need to be office furniture – it could be a small table or even just a deep shelf in an alcove at the right height for you to sit at. Then you should turn your attention to your seat.

Since getting researching ergonomic office chairs for my own workspace and finding the ideal one for me, it has made a huge difference to how comfortable I feel while working. I can therefore work on tasks for longer, which is essential when you’ve got a last-minute essay to write!

4. Books, books, books

If you’re starting a new course, no doubt you’ll have a few textbooks that are recommended reading for your subject. Often, when studying at uni or college, you’ll receive a list of required books before your course starts and you might even be asked to read some in advance before the module begins.

So, when you receive the reading list, try to source those titles online immediately. If you wait until September, there will be many other students shopping for the same books, which will drive the prices up. There are also lots of ways to get cheap or even free academic textbooks to save you splurging your a big chunk of your student loan on books.

Timing is everything – if you’re shopping secondhand to save money, you might find that the textbook you want is completely sold out if you wait until September. So, head online to browse for a pre-loved edition of the book you need now – last year’s students will probably be trying to sell their old textbooks on auction sites or secondhand marketplaces so it’s the perfect time to sit down and shop for that list of books.

I hope these suggestions will help you to feel prepared AND save money in advance of starting your new course in September. Let me know in the comments section below if you’ve got any other things you’d add to this list of studying essentials for new students, I’d love to hear your ideas.

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I love to read but rarely dedicate enough time to it. However, during the warmer months, I’m more likely to spend some time sitting outdoors and having a peaceful read while the birds tweet away in the garden.

Plus, I’ll always pack a book or two in my suitcase for a summer holiday read. That way, I can enjoy a more relaxing getaway (rather than having my phone with me for entertainment) and I always come home with a mind full of ideas that I want to implement.

Here are some ideas for some wellness books that’ll motivate and inspire you while providing some practical advice and an interesting read…

Meee in a Minute

Rather than just one book, the ‘Meee in a Minute’ collection by Sid Madge contains three lovely reads, each of which focuses on simply ways that you can improve different areas of your life, from your general wellbeing to work balance and family relationships.

I really enjoyed reading these books for a number of reasons: Firstly, they just seem very welcoming rather than overwhelming. Sometimes a self-help book can feel bulky and serious, whereas these books make the process of improving your life into a fun concept.

The books contain bitesize ideas and suggestions that can be absorbed easily and implemented quickly to help you improve all the different facets of your life. I think the books would be suitable for most age groups too, from teens to the retired.

Additionally, the books are small enough that you can easily carry them with you for a quick read whenever you get a spare moment. Rather than scrolling your phone while waiting for something, you could whip out your book and read one of the ideas – each is no more than two small pages.

Plus, there’s an app that corresponds with the books and helps y ou to check in with yourself and reflect each day, so be sure to check out the My Mee app too.

Each practical guide is written in such an engaging way that you’ll be smiling before you know it and you’ll have learnt something new in just 60 seconds. Recommended for a lovely quick pick-me-up.

Creativity and Crafting

I’ve previously shared an article on the ways that crafting is good for your wellbeing so it’s probably unsurprising that I’ve included a collection of craft guides in this round-up of wellness books.

The books are from a wide range of craft-themed books available from GMC Publications (which stands for the Guild of Master Craftsman) – where you’ll find creative guides on topics as varied as papercrafts, art and tatting jewellery to pyrography, woodwork and weaving.

My personal interest is in textile art so this selection of books provides the ideal inspiration for me to pick up a project and get creative. Crafting with your hands not only helps improve dexterity and cognition but also encourages a feeling of flow and therefore peacefulness. Sounds lovely, doesn’t it?

I found these books to be particularly easy to understand and really helpful with their illustrated step-by-step instructions to learn these craft techniques. The embroidery and cross stitch books even contain templates to help you complete the projects shown, so you get a real sense of achievement while working through the book. Perfect.

A short book about ego

With more than 30 years of experience in meditation and political activism, the author A Short Book About Ego and The Remedy of Meditation, David Edwards, provides a simple and direct guide to transforming emotional pain into peace and happiness.

At a time when many of us are feeling affected by world events and are feeling distressed, angry, dissatisfied or sad, this book shows us how meditation has the power to bring each of us relief and a sense of emotional healing.

With reference to the theories of Ego put forward by great minds in the fields of psychoanalysis, sociology, philosophy and spirituality, the book discusses the strategies the brain uses to help us feel ‘special’. Plus, it discusses how letting go of this drive can help to improve the way we feel.

As someone with a keen interest in psychology, I found the theoretical details fascinating and thought-provoking. Reading the author’s personal experiences made the content relatable and encouraging, ensuring the book stays away from textbook territory and offers an enjoyable read.

Prevention is the cure

For those who are interested in the ways that lifestyle can help to prevent problems in the future, this guide by Patrick Holford, founder of FoodfortheBrain.org may be of interest. The focus of this book is the steps you can take to boost your brain health, with reference to ALzheimer’s and dementia prevention.

Alzheimer’s: Prevention is the Cure argues that less than one percent of cases are due to genetics, therefore indicating that it’s possible to minimise the risk factors through the choices you make today. The author insists that future mental decline can be halted and (case studies in the book indicate it could even be reversed) by dementia-proofing your nutrition and lifestyle.

The ‘use it or lose it’ advice extends to movement, music, socialising, playing games, reading, watching, listening, and learning, making prevention achievable and even fun! Coupled with nutrition advice, suitable supplements and vision and audiology care, the book covers all bases to help you live well while improving your brain health.

The book is the result of a global Alzheimer’s prevention initiative launched by Food for the Brain and also supports the ongoing prevention research of the Food for the Brain Foundation.

Shockingly useful

In our busy everyday lives, it’s easy to forget that simplest of things often produce the most effective results. So, social media star Emiliya Ilieva Belcheva has published her 6th book, which promises to be A Shockingly Useful Book, covering everything from motivation and relationshipes to nutrition and skincare.

The book is written as a series of essays, so it’s easy to pick up and flick through. The authors natural voice definitely comes across in each of the chapters and is filled with personal examples to inspire readers. As such, it has quite a lot of pace to it and I found myself reading it rapidly.

I hope this round-up of wellness and creativity books will inspire you to pick up a book that might help to boost your wellbeing. Let me know if you have any other suggestions of brilliant books you’ve read in the comments below, I’d love to hear what titles have inspired you so that I can have a read of them too.

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Legal family matters can quickly become expensive, with the solicitor’s hourly rate, paperwork fees, court costs, and administrative charges adding up faster than expected. But at some stage, we’ll probably all need to contact a solicitor to help with things like buying a home, inheritance planning and future-proofing our finances.

Plus, when facing difficult family situations such as divorce, child custody arrangements, or other family law issues, many people worry about the financial burden almost as much as the emotional one. Finding affordable legal support is often a top priority during these already stressful times.

Navigating the legal system without breaking the bank requires careful planning and a strategic approach. From choosing the right family law office to preparing efficiently for consultations, there are several ways to manage costs without compromising on quality legal advice. Knowing which services you truly need and which options are most cost-effective can make a noticeable difference to your budget.

With proper knowledge and preparation, it’s possible to handle family legal matters without facing financial hardship. Taking time to research local family law offices, compare fee structures and review other support options can lead to substantial savings while still ensuring legal rights are properly protected.

Let’s get started…

The Hidden Costs of Family Legal Proceedings

Family legal matters often come with surprising expenses that catch many individuals unprepared. For example, Land Registry fees usually cost a minimum of £100+, while filing for divorce costs £593 in court fees alone. That’s before a solicitor even gets involved, with the overall cost rising significantly once legal advice is added. Solicitor services can cost several thousand pounds, especially when involving property or children.

No matter what legal advice you need – for the good times or the difficult – traditional solicitors often charge hourly rates between £200 and £240, which can quickly add up over the course of a case. Choosing a firm that offers lower hourly rates or fixed-fee services can help keep costs under control. Some firms provide rates as low as £90 per hour for certain services.

Many local family law offices typically use hourly billing models. A case that continues for months might cost thousands more than expected. Each phone call, email and meeting adds to the bill. In this instance, lack of preparation often directly results in higher costs so getting organised from the start can save hundreds of pounds – here’s how:

How to Prepare Documents to Reduce Billable Hours

Gathering the right documents before the first meeting with a solicitor can save significant amounts of time and therefore money. Better organisation means the solicitor can spend their time working on processing your application rather than wasting time sorting through documents and requesting more information.

Digital organisation makes sharing information easier and cheaper. Free resources from Citizens Advice and court websites offer templates for organising documents. These templates help ensure you have all necessary paperwork ready before your first consultation.

Document Checklist for Different Family Law Scenarios

Different family law situations require specific documents:

• For property issues, documents like house valuation reports, up-to-date mortgage statements and written records about additional assets are needed at the outset. This helps the solicitor progress without delays or repeat requests.
• When preparing for financial discussions, bringing along paperwork that shows recent banking activity, details about pensions, records showing mortgages and payslips is essential. Keeping these documents on hand means the solicitor will not waste time contacting banks or pension providers later.
• For family issues, creating a clear timeline of important events related to the case helps solicitors grasp the details quickly. A chronology with key dates and your marriage certificate, children’s birth certificates and any other significant events can cut the consultation time significantly.
• For divorce proceedings, necessary items include marriage certificates, proof of address, financial statements and identification documents. Having these ready before contacting solicitors saves time during initial consultations.
• Child arrangement cases require additional paperwork. School records, medical information and a detailed schedule of current care arrangements are essential. A proposed parenting plan showing how childcare should work going forward helps solicitors focus on legal strategy rather than basic information gathering.
• Financial disclosure is often the most time-consuming part of family law cases. Courts require a Form E for financial proceedings, which details all assets, income, and expenses. Many people find completing Form E challenging without professional support, but filling in the free template before seeing a solicitor can make a real difference.
• When making a will and putting inheritace plans in place, you’ll need to bring information on the money, property and belongings you have, the beneficiaries of the will, executors, any charities you wish to support, and guardianship details for children under 18. By the way, if you’re over 55 you might be able to take advantage of Free Wills Month to help with this.

Completing forms beforehand means the solicitor spends less time on paperwork, so clients only pay for review rather than full preparation, making this a practical step to keep expenses down.

Making the Most of Free Initial Consultations

Many family law solicitors offer free 30-minute consultations. To get the most out of this time you should bring a concise summary of the situation and specific questions abut the costs and timelines – along with the most important documents, of course!

Asking about their experience with similar cases provides helpful information. The focus should be on learning about their approach, the likely outcomes and getting specific advice about next steps.

Preparing a list of the same questions for each solicitor allows for direct comparison of their approaches and fee structures. Noting how clearly they explain legal concepts and whether they seem to understand financial concerns provides helpful feedback.

Maximizing Value

Being direct about budget constraints from the beginning is important. The most helpful solicitors can adapt their services and suggest practical ways to keep costs manageable if they know about financial limitations. Some might suggest handling certain parts of the process independently with their guidance rather than offering only standard service options.

Discussing the structure and transparency of solicitor fees should come early in the conversation. Some family law offices offer fixed-fee packages for certain types of cases while others rely on traditional hourly rates. Knowing exactly what is included within a fixed-fee service can help avoid misunderstandings or surprise expenses later.

Plus, virtual consultations can provide the same legal support at a lower cost. Many family law offices now offer video meetings, saving on travel time and expenses. Some firms even offer reduced rates for virtual appointments since they require fewer office resources.

When to Consider Alternative Dispute Resolution

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods bring major cost savings compared to traditional court proceedings, so you might want to consider these options when you need legal assistance in the future.

Family mediation involves working with a neutral third party to reach agreements about children, finances, or property. The mediator helps both sides communicate effectively. Most cases require just 3-4 sessions, keeping costs predictable and manageable.

Mediation typically costs between £300 and £1,500 total, while court cases often run from £5,000 to £30,000 or more. This price difference alone makes ADR worth considering.

Collaborative law is another more affordable approach. Both parties and their solicitors sign an agreement to work together without going to court. This process typically costs £4,000-£8,000 total, compared to £10,000-£20,000 for contested court proceedings.

Family arbitration is an option between mediation and court. An arbitrator makes a binding decision like a judge would, but the process is faster and less formal. Costs usually range from £3,000-£6,000, saving both time and money compared to court.

I hope this article will help you to save some money associated with solicitor costs the next time you’re buying a property, making financial arrangments or resolving a family matter. Let me know in the comments below if you’ve got any tips for making the process smoother and more cost-effective, I’d love to learn from your experiences.

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The topic of shopping for toys came up recently in my household when I was searching for a suitable gift for my niece. I wanted it to be relevant for her age and be something that she would enjoy playing with, whilst also providing a learning opportunity and promoting imaginative play.

I browsed the options available and began to learn more about what types of toys are right for each stage of a child’s development. According to research from Petite Amélie, the experts in creating magical childhood bedrooms, there are toys you can choose for every phase:

0-6 Months

Sensory play and comfort are key at this age. Lightweight rattles and crinkly toys will provide soothing sounds to delight their senses, while plush baby-friendly fabrics provide tactile comfort. Fabric books provide the best of both, with softness, textures, patterns and scrunchy sounds.

Newborn-friendly teddies and little animal comforter blankets are a cute gifting option too, and they may end up being a favourite toy throughout the child’s life. I made bears for my niece and nephew when they were born and, although they weren’t suitable for playing with at that age, the children still have them and I’ve recently completed a bear repair to keep them going for many years to come.

6-12 Months

Babies start to be able to grasp items, so they can be gifted items like stacking rings and shape sorters. Choose children’s wooden toys made from sustainable materials with smooth, non-toxic finishes and no sharp edges to make them suitable for little ones to handle.

Playmats and play gyms are also handy for tummy time at this age and are often full of colour and pattern that attract the baby and keep them engaged. Plus, teething toys with different textures are very handy to help soothe little ones during this phase.

12-18 Months

They’ll start to take their first steps during this time, so you can support this activity with a baby walker. If you choose one with interactive details like cogs and an abacus, it’ll double up as an engaging activity centre that improves their motor skills, too.

Developmental toys are handy to help them learn new things while they play, such as simple puzzles, stacking cups and building blocks. Plus, musical instruments are very captivating to young ears and they’ll love being able to make sounds and may encourage them to begin using their voice to join in with the music.

2-5 Years

Imaginative play is at its best during these years, when toddlers can be encouraged to create stories and interact with others during playtime. In order to encourage this, choose toys with characters, such as doll houses, or that involve a profession, like a garage or fire station.

Larger toys like play kitchens, tents and teepees make great gifts for birthdays and special occasions, as they encourage little ones can act out scenes and problem-solve while they role-play. Plus, they’re more physical now, so they can be gifted trikes, bikes and ride-on cars. They’ll have been walking for a while, so they will be able to balance on vehicles and enjoy the ride.

5-10 Years

Things don’t change too much during these years – you can still choose gift sets with characters and role-play toys. Also, bear in mind that they’ll have much better motor skills, so they will enjoy more intricate toys like building basic kits with Lego or getting creative with an art or craft set.

But they’ll still be into cute things, too, like those big squishy toys that are in all the shops. You can give the gift a more grown-up twist by incorporating a second use, such as the Warmies honey bee, which is not only super soft, cute and cuddly but is also weighted for comfort and can be heated up to provide warmth in the winter or chilled in the freezer to provide cooling relief.

10-13 Years

This is the age group of my eldest niece and nephew, so that’s almost as far as my experience of selecting toys goes, other than knowing what I would personally like to receive as a big kid myself! While transitioning from primary school to high school, I’d choose toys with an educational aspect, such as science experiment kits or bigger build Meccano sets.

They’re also likely to be getting interested in tech at this age. So now’s the time to treat them to a fun kids’ camera, like a mini one that they can take digital photos with or one that instantly prints the pics. Or they might ask for a tablet to ‘help’ them with their schoolwork, so a basic one might be an option at this age. Plus, they love to stamp their personality on their bedroom, so wall art, fairy lights or a poster is a great choice.

13+ Years

I think it’s best to let children choose their own toys at this age! Who knows what teenagers are into these days? I like to take my niece and nephew out to the toy shop on their birthday, where they can select any item they like (within a budget!) and then we go out for lunch or I take them to an activity or theatre show.

This not only means they get the toy they really want – probably something to add to the collection they proudly display in their teenage bedroom, like a Funko Pop, a superhero character or a Disney-themed Cable Guys holder that stores their gaming controller or phone – but you’ll also get to spend some time with them during your day out, which is so special.

While it can be tricky to know what a child or teen would want to receive for their birthday, I’m sure they’ll love any toy you get them and, if you’re happy with your choice, that already makes it the perfect present for them! Let me know if you have any suggestions for the best type of toys and gifts to buy for children at each stage of their development, I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments below.

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This article is a sponsored collaboration. The pink links in the content indicate a sponsored link or information source. The blog post reflects my own experience and the sponsor hasn’t had any control over my content

I’ve been spending a bit of time travelling around recently and as such, I’ve realised that I quite like a hotel room. The simple style and crisp white bedding speak to the minimalist in me and I find staying in a hotel really peaceful.

However, there’s nothing quite like coming home to your own bed after a trip, is there? Sinking into the familiar mattress in your own bedroom is so lovely when you get back home and you always get a great night’s sleep.

So, I’ve decided that the best way for me to combine both of my favourite places to sleep is by refreshing my bedroom to give it a bit of a hotel ambience. This doesn’t mean spending a fortune on remodelling the room to create more space, it’s simply a few touches that make all the difference.

Here’s how I’ve carried on that peaceful hotel atmosphere in my own home:

An upscaled bed

The last time I went away, I realised what it was about a hotel room that makes me sleep so well – the bed. Often in hotels, a double bed is two singles attached together, such as in the last hotel I stayed, which is the room I’m aiming to recreate (above). This means the sleeping space is so much larger than a bed you’d find at home, plus your own movement doesn’t affect the other person in the bed.

There are two factors at play here – the size and the support. I’d previously enjoyed having a king-size bed but the bedframe was too long at the foot of the bed, so I’d always knock my shins on it as I walked past.

I wanted to find a super king size width, but with a less protrusive frame, which led me to the Origin luxe upholstered bed frame. The floorspace it covers is 2340mm x 1880mm, which is actually shorter than my old bed – so it gives me a bit more space in the room, which only adds to the spacious hotel feeling I’m aiming for.

Plus, it just looks really luxurious: the deeply padded headboard is upholstered in a calming oaty linen colour and it provides comfortable back support for sitting up in bed while reading. Having a larger bed feels more opulent, further adding to the hotel look and feel.

The mattress is another key factor in ensuring a wonderful night’s sleep, both at home and away. After trying many different mattresses over the years, I’ve discovered that it’s rather difficult to find the right one to sooth my back issues.

With a sedentary computer-based job combined with a very active lifestyle, I often find myself shuffling into bed at night feeling stiff and sore. I want to wake up refreshed and restored so choosing the right mattress has been key. And I think I’ve finally found the solution with the Origin Hybrid Pro mattress that was recently gifted to me.

I’ve only slept on it for a few days so far but it already seems to have made a big difference to my creaking back and hips. From the very first moment I laid on it, the extra plush pillowtop surface was just so sinkably soft that I didn’t want to get back up.

During that first full night, I fell asleep straight away and slept deeper and longer than I have before – even sleeping-in by an extra hour and needing to set an alarm clock to make sure I got up in time for work! It has 7 ergonomic zones providing enhanced support and pressure relief so I practically bounced out of bed that morning, feeling thoroughly refreshed.

A deep-filled duvet

Of course, I now realise that having a bigger bed means my old bedding and duvet no longer fit. But that’s okay because it was definitely time for me to replace my old duvet – I’d had it for years and it was losing fullness by the day.

To achieve that hotel-inspired feeling, I think the duvet should be puffy, deeply down-filled and heavy; the hallmarks of luxury bedding. When looking for a duvet I decided on a goose feather and down 13.5-tog duvet, crafted from pure cotton for freshness.

This should suit all seasons – even the cold winters we get here at the coast – and it feel thoroughly luxurious. From the moment I started to fluff it up, I could tell it was going to give me the hotel-inspired look and feel I wanted to achieve.

In fact, the big square pockets of natural down and feather filling are so poufy that they’re visible even with the duvet cover on, lending a soft, cocooning feel to the bed that makes you want to dive straight in.

When shopping for new bedding, I also chose a luxurious quilted mattress protector with an advanced allergen defence system that makes it ideal for allergy sufferers. Plus, it helps to extend the lifespan of the mattress, which I certainly want to preserve and protect so that it can provide years of comfort.

Pressed sheets

Crisp white sheets are a staple of all hotel rooms and I love that smooth look of a neatly made bed. The key to achieving that hotel-sheets feeling is that bedding has been ironed – something that makes a huge difference to the look but isn’t really necessary in daily life.

I’m never going to be someone who wants to iron their bedding (or anything else, if I can get away with it!) so, if I’m going to do it in order to achieve a hotel-inspired look, it has to be a quick process.

I bought an easy-care soft-touch bedding set that is quick drying and is super-fast to iron. You can whizz a hot iron over it and it’s done in minutes rather than the hours of pressing and steaming required with crisp linen or cotton. Plus, it dries on the line in no time, saving you the cost of the energy to tumble dry it.

After washing and drying the sheets for the first time, I actually set a stopwatch and timed myself to see if I could iron them quickly. It took me about 7 minutes to press the duvet cover and pillowcases – and most of that time was taken up by ironing out the creases where it had been previously packaged, so I bet it’ll be even quicker next time.

Hotel beds rarely have anything else other than a couple of throw cushions, so I’ve added some bolster cushions (that came with our sofa) to complete the bed. Combined with my floor-to-ceiling wardrobes keeping all my clothing and daily essentials stored out of sight, the room is really starting to feel like a hotel room; clean, crisp, neat and minimalist.

For me, that equals relaxation, so I’m thoroughly happy with how the master bedroom looks after its mini makeover. I didn’t have to redecorate the room or change the flooring to achieve my desired hotel-inspired ambience; it was more about how it feels to sleep in the room and that has certainly been improved by the luxurious proportions of the frame, the comfortably supportive mattress and the fresh natural bedding.

I hope this article has inspired you to refresh your own room to create a hotel-inspired look. Please let me know in the comments below what touches you’ve used to achieve a hotel vibe in your master bedroom and please share your own hacks for enjoying a staycation at home.

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If you’re celebrating something special during the summer, you’ve got the perfect excuse to get in the garden and host an outdoor party. But rather than your usual BBQ, why not host a plant pot painting party instead?

It’s a fun way to get creative and it can be enjoyed by all members of the family, so it suits many different occasions, from Mother’s Day and Easter to birthdays or hen parties. You’ll be decorating old or new pots and using outdoor garden paint, which is suitable for painting terracotta, wood and more.

In fact, plant pot painting makes a great birthday party activity for kids. If you have little sponges and foam shapes available to paint with, it allows even the littlest children in the group to (while supervised!) get creative and paint a pot of their own.

You don’t have to be an artist to create a beautifully painted terracotta pot – abstract designs look great in the garden and simple patterns like spots and stripes add a pop of colour. Dots can be combined to create petals and flowers, while a few brushstrokes or a marker pen can turn a yellow spot into a cute bumble bee.

I’ve shared the full step-by-step guide to painting terracotta pots over on the Do It With Cans website, where you can find a list of essentials you’ll need for your plant pot painting party, so be sure to check out my painting guide here.

Ideally, you’ll do the first couple of steps to prepare the pots in advance so that your guests at the pot painting party can focus on creating a fun design on their designated pot. You’ll also need to create a safe painting zone by laying out newspaper, old packaging or cardboard – and don’t forget the aprons in case you get messy.

When we held our party, it was a mix of adults and children, which was a lovely experience. The adults helped the youngest children to dollop paint on their own pots and even got involved in crafting their own floral designs, too.

After the painting session, you’ve got a natural break for food while the paint dries. After a lot of hand-washing, you can serve up party snacks or even a full lunch. If it’s a sunny day, the garden paint will be touch-dry within an hour or two (check the guidelines on the product tin), so you can include the planting process in the activity.

You can all add compost and pretty plug plants to your own pots. It’s another element to the activity with the added bonus that everyone goes home with a beautifully planted terracotta pot to brighten up their patio or windowsill – the perfect party favour.

We got a selection of low-cost seasonal plug plants in trays, which were easy for youngsters and adults alike to pop out of the trays and plop into the pots. You can choose flowers in hues that complement the paint shades you’ve used or just go for a riot of colour!

I hope you make use of this fun idea for a children’s birthday party, a bank holiday weekend, or a hen do activity in the future. If you do, please let me know what event you are celebrating in the comments below and I’d love to see your creations, so please tag me in your photos on Instagram @cassiefairy.

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As we head into the summer, I start to get excited about BBQ season, but there’s one garden party in particular that I love the most – a Games Day in the garden with our family and friends.

Inviting your favourite folk over to your garden to join in with some gently competitive fun is a wonderful way to spend a sunny weekend. With most other options for summer days out inevitably costing a lot, this is a frugal way to have some fun together when you’re on a budget.

You can take turns at hosting the Games Day and you can all bring along a favourite garden game or contribute some food to share the cost. This got me thinking about what elements go into creating a lovely, chilled-out summer event like this, so I’ve put together a list of my top tips for having some fun in the sun with your favourite folk…

1. Garden games

Naturally, for any games day hosted in the garden, you’ll want to include some classic garden games. We often play big versions of games, such as giant Jenga and outdoor Connect 4. It’s fun to play with an oversized set and it allows family members of all ages to get involved in the games.

But the old classics are always the most competitive, so if you want to challenge your friends, go for a game of ring-toss quoits or croquet (yes, very Bridgerton!) as these games make the most of the fact that your party is being held outdoors.

It was while attending a garden games day that I first discovered the Scandinavian skittles game ‘Molkky’. Again, it’s a game that all ages can enjoy – the rules are easy to understand and I’ve played it with my tiny nieces and nephews and also their grandparents.

If you haven’t seen it before, take a look. Plus, you can definitely make this game yourself with a bit of DIY. My friends played the game in our garden one summer, and soon after, their family crafted a set of skittles for themselves from leftover wood.

2. Indoor options

As with any garden-based gathering, you have to be prepared for the weather to turn. Sure, we’d love it to be a bright and warm day, but you never know what’ll happen, so it makes sense to have some indoor games ready to go in case the rain appears.

Obviously, you can’t take the big garden games inside, so stick to board games and card games to play with your friends while the weather blows through. You can all gather around the dining table and get stuck into a fun game. I’ve previously shared some ideas for a grown-up games night, which might give you some ideas, too.

The cheapest option has got to be a pack of cards, and there are so many games you can play with the deck. Each family will have their favourites (and sometimes their own rules!), so hours of competitive entertainment are possible with just a pack or two of cards.

Gathering around a card table with snacks and drinks is one of the most fun things you can do with your friends. I’ve always enjoyed playing the kind of card games you’d find in casinos, like poker and blackjack. These games bring a touch of Vegas to your living room, and they’re surprisingly easy to learn, even if you’ve never played before.

One of the most popular poker variants, especially in online casinos and at home game nights, is Texas Hold’em. It’s a strategic but accessible game where understanding the basics can really level the playing field. If you’re curious or need a refresher, here’s a handy guide to the rules of texas holdem.

Remember that episode of Friends where the girls secretly learned the rules to challenge the boys?
That’s the vibe we’re going for: just friendly competition with no real money needed. My top tip if you’re
playing gambling-style games is to use counters, pennies, or paper tokens (like my friends did at their
wedding), so the stakes stay low but the fun stays high.

When you’re playing games indoors, I’d recommend choosing ones that are quite fast to play (probably not Monopoly or Cluedo!) so that you can complete a round and crown a winner within about 5-10 minutes. Then you can have a natural break for more drinks, food and loo-breaks before you move on to another game or do another round.

3. Eats and treats

Although we’re hoping for a sunny outlook for our garden games day, you can’t always rely on the weather being nice, so I wouldn’t commit to having a BBQ. Plus, it takes members of your group away from the games while they cook, meaning they’ll be missing out on some of the fun.

So, I think it’s better to pre-prepare any food you’re planning to enjoy in advance – a cold buffet means no one is slaving over the BBQ, and the meal will already be waiting when you’re ready for it.

In fact, I’d go one step easier than preparing a buffet – I’d pre-make some sub-sandwiches or picnic rolls. These are easy to grab and go, so your guests don’t need to sit down with a plate, knife and fork to eat. Plus, you can pick one up between games for a quick snack.

Likewise, with sweet treats, there’s no need to prepare puddings as this will result in more washing up for you and might end up being messy in the garden. So, I’d recommend stocking the freezer with boxes of ice cream cones and ice lollies – that’s dessert sorted in a matter of minutes!

4. Prizes

Finally, I think that prizes are a lovely addition to any games day. It makes each game even more competitive if you have a prize available at the end of it. We sometimes have mystery prizes – a small item wrapped up so that the winner of each game can ‘lucky-dip’ in the prize pot and win something, like a chocolate treat, a silly joke present or even a pack of cards – always handy!

Or perhaps you might want to create a leaderboard to log everyone’s wins throughout the day. It’ll be fun to watch how each game affects the chart, with people’s names moving up and down the leaderboard. After all the games are played, you can crown one overall champion of Games Day.

There may be a trophy that they get to keep for the year and bring back to the next Games Day to be competed for again, creating a tradition of regularly getting together with friends or family each summer.

I hope this has given you some inspiration for your own Games Day this summer. Let me know in the comments below if you’re planning anything similar with your friends, and I’d love to hear about the traditions you have for having fun with your family – a favourite game or a tricky challenge you try each year.

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This article is a sponsored collaboration. The pink links in the content indicate a sponsored link or information source. The blog post reflects my own experience and the sponsor hasn’t had any control over my content

So you found the one and you’re ready to ask them to marry you. Congratulations! But first, you need the ring. Saving for an engagement ring may seem intimidating at first, but with the right strategy and a bit of patience, it can be doable. 

Whether you’re dreaming of something sleek and simple or you want to go bold and brilliant, I’ve got some top tips to help you save for that perfect symbol of forever.

1. Set yourself a budget

Figuring out how much you want to spend is the first thing you should do before starting to save for an engagement ring. While the tradition used to be investing a portion of your salary (a month? a year??) to buy one ring that lasts forever, but that’s a rather outdated way of looking at things. It’s not one-size-fits-all because everybody has different budgets.

Take a look at your income, expenses and current savings accounts to give you an idea of what you can afford to spend on an engagement ring. Once you have a target amount to aim for, you’re going to be able to create a plan to reach it. And the clearer your goal, the easier it is to stay motivated.

Photo by Claire Lacey Photography

2. Start a separate savings account

If this is going to stay a surprise, then you may need to open a new savings account away from your partner. That’ll certainly be the case if you have a joint current account, a Help to Buy ISA and joint savings accounts that you’re both contributing to for your life together.

Having a separate savings pot makes it easier for you to track your progress and helps to avoid any accidental dips into those funds for other things. You could even nickname the account something fun like ‘Operation Sparkle’ to keep things lighthearted and goal-oriented.

3. Automate your savings

If you get paid on the same day every month, this step is pretty easy. Once your dedicated savings account is up and running, set up automatic transfers for every payday. Even small yet consistent deposits can add up quickly.

Without the stress of remembering to do it manually, you’ll be able to take a load off your shoulders. After six months, you could’ve saved a decent chunk of money without the stress of remembering to do it yourself. The key here is that automating your savings takes the mental effort out of the equation and keeps you on track.

4. Cut back on non-essentials

You don’t have to cancel all your fun plans or stop living your life, but a little trimming can go a long way. Make coffee at home instead of hitting the cafe every morning or pause those unused subscriptions. You can then redirect those small savings towards your ring fund – every pound will help in the long run.

5. Shop smart

When you’re ready to buy, remember that doing your homework can save you a significant amount. This is where shopping with trusted resources, such as a rare carat online engagement rings seller comes in handy. They’ll allow you to compare diamonds and ring styles from reputable jewellers, so you get the most sparkle for your savings. Often, you’ll be able to find something stunning without overpaying and that’s a win-win.

You can also try shopping secondhand for vintage or antique jewellery to cut costs. Also, if you’re opting for a gold engagement ring, consider the carats – you’ll have to buy the same carat ring for your wedding ring, as wearing rings of two different carats can potentially damage the softer ring over the years due to friction. So, make sure you can afford the price of both the engagement and the wedding ring in whatever carat you choose.

Remember, the engagement ring is a meaningful symbol, not a competition. What matters most isn’t the size of the diamond, but the intention behind it. Choosing something beautiful within your means will mean more savings left over for your future life together – and your partner will fall in love with it anyway, because you gave it to them!

Let me know in the comments below if you have any other handy hacks you tried when saving for your wedding or engagement, I’d love to hear your money-saving tips.

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This blog post is a collaboration. The pink links in this post may indicate a collaborative link or information source.