life

High-tech Mattress Helps Couples Sleep Better Together

Many couples are facing a new challenge in their relationships: getting a good night’s sleep together. From snoring and tossing to general restlessness (and small children!) these disturbances often push partners to seek separate bedrooms, a trend known as ‘sleep divorce.’ However, sleep expert Lisa Artis, Deputy CEO of The Sleep Charity, advises against this growing trend, stressing the importance of co-sleeping for emotional connection, conflict resolution, and overall well-being.

For those looking for an alternative to ‘sleep divorces’, some have found that the right mattress can make a significant difference. Many shoppers, for example, have praised the Simba Hybrid® Original mattress for easing night-time disturbances between couples. While buying a new mattress may seem like a big investment, for some, it has proven to be worthwhile in maintaining both sleep and their relationships.

A New Study on Sleep and Relationships

A recent study* by Simba highlights the generational divide in how sleep affects relationships. According to the research, more than 60% of young people in relationships (aged 18-34) believe that improving sleep would strengthen their connection with their partner. In contrast, only about 33% of Baby Boomers (aged 65 and older) felt that better sleep would have the same impact on their relationship.

Paul R, a customer, shared his experience:
“Last year, my girlfriend refused to stay over because she couldn’t get a good night’s sleep. She’s used to the finer things in life, and my cheap bed wasn’t cutting it. After buying a new mattress and some high-end sheets, she agreed to stay over again. Now, everything is great, and according to my Fitbit, I’m getting an extra hour of sleep each night. Thanks, Simba, for helping me save my relationship—I thought it was me she was avoiding, not the bed!”

The Sleep Divorce Debate

‘Sleep divorces’—where couples sleep in separate rooms—have become increasingly popular, especially among celebrities, as a way to cope with snoring, fidgeting, or other disturbances during the night. While this may provide short-term relief, experts like Lisa Artis believe it can come at a cost. Artis suggests that sleeping together offers benefits like emotional bonding and more restful sleep, pointing out that couples who share a bed get around 10% more and less fragmented REM sleep.

Simba’s research shows that 60% of Gen Z (aged 18-24) and nearly 67% of millennials (aged 25-44) believe better sleep can improve their relationship, but only 3 in 10 Baby Boomers (65+) agree. This highlights a significant shift in how different generations view sleep and its impact on their personal lives.

Customer Stories of Improved Sleep

Couples struggling with sleepless nights have found that the right mattress can make all the difference. Shoppers have shared their positive experiences, particularly with the Simba Hybrid® mattress, which some say has eased snoring and restlessness.

Julia G, for instance, reviewed her purchase:
“I haven’t had a full night’s sleep in years because my husband snores dreadfully due to a medical condition. But thanks to Simba, that’s a thing of the past. The snoring hasn’t completely gone, but it’s much improved, and I’m finally getting some proper sleep.”

Another customer, Naomi O, said,
“Somehow, my partner doesn’t snore anymore! I also barely notice him getting in and out of bed, so I’m not being disturbed at all. I just wish we’d invested in a Simba mattress sooner, but better late than never!”

Keith K, who chose a more premium option, the Hybrid® Pro mattress, also shared his experience:
“We’ve got a new baby, so we’re up a lot during the night. The mattress is so comfortable that we’ve loved sneaking in a cheeky afternoon nap—it’s hard to get back up! Plus, the top zips off for easy washing, which is a lifesaver with a baby. Massive thumbs up from both of us.”

Not Just a Trend—A Practical Solution

While some might dismiss the idea of a fancy mattress as an unnecessary expense, it’s worth noting that investing in a better sleep setup can have long-lasting benefits. A well-rested couple is often a happier couple, and for some, this investment is one that pays off.

Emma S, another customer, remarked:
“I don’t feel my partner moving at all, and he doesn’t complain about me fidgeting to get comfy. The mattress springs are great, and the fabric feels really nice. Plus, the free mattress protector is a bonus!”

For some, the addition of a quality duvet has also been a game-changer. Emma T noted:
“The 3-in-1 hybrid duvet is amazing. It’s not cheap, but it regulates temperature perfectly. I’m a warm sleeper, and my wife is always cold, but under this duvet, we’re both sleeping like babies.”

Expert Advice: Sleeping Together is Worth It

As sleep divorces rise in popularity, Lisa Artis urges couples to work on their shared sleep habits rather than opting for separate bedrooms. She encourages couples to “consciously recouple and sleep better together” instead of giving in to the temptation of sleeping apart. Co-sleeping, she believes, offers important emotional and physical benefits that go beyond simply getting rest.

Whether it’s investing in a new mattress, rethinking bedding options, or working on better sleep habits, the key takeaway is that good sleep is essential for maintaining healthy, happy relationships. After all, as one shopper put it, “I’m finally sleeping well—and I didn’t have to move into another bedroom to do it!”

21% off for young people, key and charity workers

This is a post in collaboration with Simba who are B Corp certified. Simba are on a mission to bring great sleep to the globe. But know times are tough and quality sleep products are costly. That’s why Simba offer exclusive discounts to several groups in the community such as key workers, students and others. Just check your eligibility here – you’ll find A Guide to UK Bed Sizes here too.

*Simba commissioned Sago to poll 2,017 respondents for the research.

create, life

Nailing the Mommy Look Without Losing Yourself

Being a mom (or indeed, a mum) can be an exciting, chaotic adventure, but that doesn’t mean giving up your personal style. While the “mommy look” may come with stereotypes attached, that doesn’t have to mean living in yoga pants and ditching makeup forever. Accepting your new role while remaining true to yourself is completely achievable. Don’t feel the pressure to go out with a full face on, however, here’s how you could combine practicality with personality so that you look and feel just as fabulous as before.

Photo by Sai De Silva on Unsplash

Finding the Balance Between Chic and Convenient

Parenthood often forces your schedule around nap times and school pickups, but finding the balance between chic and convenient can be done. Start by investing in good quality staple clothing pieces, a ‘capsule collection’ if you like, that can manage your busy lifestyle. Classic jeans are great, along with stylish tops that allow free movement, and BF access if needed, and layering is your friend here for sudden temperature shifts and adding depth to an outfit. Add statement accessories like a beret, bold sunglasses or colourful scarves for quick wins of style without compromising comfort.

Embrace the Power of Makeup and Simplicity

Time is of the essence in the mornings, so making each moment count with an efficient makeup routine can make all the difference. Try investing in quality BB cream for quick application and an instant hint of glow. Mascara and tinted lip balm often suffice in creating an attractive appearance. Natural yet put-together looks help maintain that ever-elusive sense of self while meeting daily demands.

Hairstyles That Work as Hard as You Do

On those busy mornings when time is of the essence, having a versatile and easy hairstyle can be your ally. Look for styles that transition seamlessly from playdates to board meetings. Ponytails or quick top knots may come to the rescue. More complex styles could include heatless curls – twisting your braids the night before so they will unfold into beautiful waves by morning.

Utilise Tutorials for Your Hairstyle

The internet offers numerous hairstyle tutorials that can help simplify your morning routine. From quick buns and braids to elegant updos and more, online resources have you covered for any type of style you might be in search of. YouTube and Pinterest offer step-by-step guides from professional stylists and everyday enthusiasts alike, giving you access to invaluable tutorials that can teach you techniques that will enable you to transform your look with minimal effort. Investing a small amount of time learning from these videos could equip you with techniques for effortlessly altering your look. Start with a low ponytail tutorial as your starting point, and add twists or braids for unique variations. Not only will this approach save time but it’ll also inspire creativity allowing you to experiment and discover styles that suit both your personality and daily needs.

Accessorise Carefully

Accessories are the perfect way to give your hairstyle an added layer of character and add flair. Just a few clips, pins or headbands can transform even a basic style into an eye-catching one in no time at all. For busy mornings and reduced effort required in using accessories such as hats, or hair scarves which tie quickly in just seconds while adding instant style. Headbands also work great at taming flyaways while adding flair.

Self-Care Isn’t Selfish

Being a mom may make time for “me-time” seem impossible. Yet prioritising yourself is important not only to maintaining sanity but also expressing yourself uniquely. Find activities that help ground and rejuvenate you such as monthly spa visits or reading a favourite book before bed, anything that helps keep the balance. Being a parent shouldn’t take over who you are as an individual.

Find Joy in Making Your Own Rules

Now is the time to forge your own path towards fabulousness. Fashion doesn’t come with one size fits all rules, rather it should be an exciting journey filled with trial-and-error. Have fun experimenting and switching patterns or looking into diaper bags that could double up as fashion accessories. There isn’t an obligatory style guide attached to parenthood, feel free to make up rules as you go.

Revel in Your Natural Beauty

When it comes to personal style, embracing your natural beauty is an age-old approach that never goes out of style. Letting your natural hair texture flourish and showing off unique features can be very empowering and liberating. Not that this means forgoing makeup or styling completely, just focus on accentuating natural features instead. Using gentle plant-based products for skincare purposes as well as maintaining an effective routine that addresses skin needs will create radiant canvas complexions. Staying natural simply means acknowledging and celebrating what makes you beautiful.

Conclusion

In motherhood (or fatherhood), remember who you are first, an individual first and foremost. Your style reflects this identity through stitches, stains and all. Adopting parenthood doesn’t have to mean forgoing your personal flair. With some creativity injected into daily activities you can navigate “mommy look” gracefully and enthusiastically. Be the stylishly unique lighthouse standing proud on shore among parenting cliches.

This is a collaborative post.

kids, life

Preparing For A New Baby? Here are some things you need to know

Are you starting to, or have you been preparing for a new baby recently? If so, the first thing that we want to say is congratulations. That’s such exciting news, and we’re super happy for you. Now though, you want to start preparing for a new baby as much as you can to get ready for their arrival. It’s going to be tough sometimes, and you’re probably going to question whether you can do this at least 100 times over the next few months, but we promise that you can. Keep reading down below if you are interested in finding out more about what you need to know when it comes to preparing for a new baby.

Understanding Sleep Safety

First thing that we’re going to mention is that you need to understand sleep safety. Now, there are so many different views and opinions on this, but the facts are the facts. Your baby is going to be at their safest when they are swaddled in a blanket, in their own sleeping space. However, a lot of people do not agree with this, or this becomes too difficult if they have a fussy baby, so they tend to co-sleep instead.

Co-sleeping is a super controversial topic, and not one that we want to get in the middle of. You need to do whatever is best for your baby, but if you are going to co-sleep then you need to read up on how to do it in the safest possible way. Of course, they are going to be safer in their own space, but sometimes you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do. There are lots of people who co-sleep, but there have also been many problems with it in the past.

Breast VS Bottle Feed?

Another controversial topic that we want to address is breast fed or bottle fed. Every mother has the right to choose which way they decide to feed their child, and you should make that decision according to what you feel is right for you and your baby. Yes, that’s right, we said what is right for you as well. Your baby is not the only consideration that you need to make here, you are important as well and you need to take your feelings into account.

For example, if you don’t like breastfeeding, if it’s too draining, if it’s hurting you too much, or if you generally just do not like it, you do not have to do it. Yes, there will always be those people out there who say that breast is best, but this is mainly the colostrum in the beginning. You don’t have to do anything that you’re not comfortable with. Fed is best. Always.

Typical Gifts You Will Receive

There are some gifts that you are more likely to receive than others, and you need to know this so that you know what to buy and what to expect from others. Of course, you should never expect anything from others without a reason to. If someone has said they’re going to get you a gift or if you know them to be that type of person then sure, but try not to rely on anyone else if they have not voiced their intentions.

Your friends and family may go online and type in newborn boy gifts or girl gifts depending on the gender of your baby. They will then use whatever comes up to help them decide on a gift which most of the time are cute little outfits, blankets and things like this. If there is something specific that you would like though and you have someone who asks you what you want for the baby, it’s okay to ask for things. Of course, as long as they are not outrageously expensive 🙂

You Do Not Need Everything

One of the things that we feel you need to know is that you do not need every baby item and product that you see. We promise you that. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you might need this, that, and the other, but more often than not, you don’t.

You don’t need 500 muslins, five or six will do (although you will be washing them a LOT!). You don’t need 500 blankets, a couple will do. You do need quite a few outfits because they tend to have a leaky nappy or sick up their milk, quite a bit in the beginning, especially if they have reflux issues.

You also do not need mountains of toys for a new baby. Yes, getting a baby swing, a baby mat, or a baby chair is a great idea as it keeps them entertained when you need to do something, but you definitely don’t need all three until they get a little older. Most of the time, you won’t use half of the things you purchase, so try not to go too crazy.

You Will Never Be Fully Prepared

The final piece of advice, and potentially the most important piece of advice that we are going to give you is that you can never be fully prepared. This doesn’t mean that you should not try, and it doesn’t mean that it’s pointless to do so. You can get as prepared as possible, and it will definitely help you in the long run, but you will never be fully prepared as it’s impossible. Your life will change a lot, and you will never be able to fully comprehend that until you experience it for yourself. We don’t say this to scare you, just so you understand the reality of the situation.

We hope that you have found this post helpful, and now have a more firm understanding of some of the things that you need to know about preparing for a new baby. It’s a long journey, but it’s one of the most rewarding things that you will ever experience in your life. You’ve got this, even when it seems impossible, even when it seems like you can’t do it anymore. We promise, you can.

This is a collaborative post.

life, teenage reviews

Our Perfect night in

Our Purrrrfect night in!

Ali writes:
Well, what could be more perfect than an autumn night in with your favourite cat and teenager right?

As these teenage boys get older, they want to spend more time apart from me – hanging out with their friends, or playing computer games and chatting online with mates. Having a kitten changes all of that – (as you will have read in other posts this year!) Kipper the cat has been such a blessing and has really brought the family together.

Once you’ve settled on the sofa on a Saturday night in to watch Strictly or the X-Factor (or both) Kipper the cat will find his way onto a warm lap and curl up and pin you down for hours!

I’ll admit, I’m pretty sure it’s cupboard love, as he’s always a bit more loving at breakfast and supper time if Whiskas cat casseroles are on the menu, but needless to say – it’s got both RB and myself back into cosying up on the sofa together to read a book of an evening – with a mug of tea and a play ‘Russian Roulette’ with a box of chocolates, (to explain, you take it in turns to eat a chocolate from the box without looking at the little diagram, which is really fun, as long as you don’t accidentally get the Turkish Delight).

We generally have refreshments on hand for Kipper too – whilst we are supping our tea, we always have a bowl of water in the sitting room for him, as well as fairly close to his food bowl in the kitchen – we read somewhere that they like to have fresh water available in more than one location – frankly, for us, it’s simply a ploy to get him to hang out with us some more, ultimately, he’s turning into a bit of a teenager…

This post is in conjunction with WHISKAS® but all thoughts are my own

#DateNightWithMyCat

kids, life

Five things you could do with 5 minutes peace

What we wouldn’t give for FIVE minutes peace and quiet!

We KNOW that the Holiday period is meant to be about being sociable, and playing with all of the new toys and gadgets – we KNOW that, yet, wouldn’t it be just delicious to sneak off and find five minutes peace and quiet to yourselves?

Our friends at Mahabis asked KidsChaos to share what we would do with those FIVE minutes, so we put our feet up and had a ponder…

Five things you could do with #5minutespeace and #thegiftofdowntime

1) Write a to-do list… even though that sounds like WORK, it will actually make you feel less anxious about things you may have forgotten about – jotting down your top priorities for the week ahead.

2) De-clutter your kitchen junk drawer (in fact, that could go for your handbag, your sock drawer and your magazine rack as options too!) Set an egg timer… and stop when it pings 5mins… (it’s actually very therapeutic!)

3) Give a friend a quick call on the telephone, just five minutes to ‘check in’ with someone who might like to hear your voice, rather than read your text!

4) Have a read of a chapter of Michael Townsend Williams’ book Do Breathe: Calm your mind. Find focus. Get stuff done.
“we breathe better, we think better, feel better and do better. Finding stillness inside, we create success outside.” Or take five mins to download his app here BreatheSync.

5) Put the kettle on, make a cuppa, and put your feet up!

It’s really amazing what can you do in five minutes hey?! It will honestly make you feel more productive and that you are on top of things, taking five minutes out to reflect.

Mahabis have published their very first Christmas advert, about finding 5 minutes peace this Christmas. This time of year can be so hectic, and we realise how rare it can be that you have time to put your feet up. Needless to say, spending five peaceful minutes away from noise will energise you, to be able to concentrate on the demands of family life (like making pancakes together, or being thrashed at the latest Christmas game)…

our very first christmas advert // ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ sometimes we all need 5 minutes peace. here at mahabis, we hope to make those minutes extra special. this christmas, give the gift of downtime. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #5minutespeace #thegiftofdowntime #mahabis

A post shared by mahabis (@mahabis) on Dec 7, 2017 at 10:35am PST

A post shared by mahabis (@mahabis) on Jun 17, 2017 at 4:44am PDT

This post has been written in conjunction with Mahabis.

charity, create, education, gardening, gardening with kids, key stage 2, kids, life

Q&A with a community gardener

Q&A with a community gardener

Community gardener and founder of yourspace.sutton Kevin Plicio runs local community garden nursery Seears Park Nursery in Sutton. This nursery runs on pure volunteer manpower and community spirit, running training courses and therapeutic activities in a calming and peaceful environment. He has been running the beautiful non-profit nursery for almost six years, transforming it from a run-down nursery to a social and stunning community hub which has just recently been opened to the public.

As his daughter, Hannah, I’ve grown up around the transformation of the park, seeing it go from overgrown and slightly wild, to open space and inviting. Perfect for family days out and picnics, the nursery offers scenic and photogenic open areas, free for the public to utilise.

Q- So, tell us about what made you want to run a community project?
Well, the idea originally stemmed from me working at other projects, but these projects were all tailored to one specific group of people, or had one specific service, and I wanted to do something more socially integrating and open to all users, regardless of their background, age, or ability.

Q- What is there to see?
Honestly, there’s so much! We have this really great pond that’s just teeming with life, frogs, fish, newts, and even in the evening we get the occasional duck family coming to stay – it’s such a sight! We also have vegetable patches, some art display inside the main classroom from a local artist Santiago Plicio, the polytunnels have a great plant selection, including a great cactus area. We’re also in the process of making smaller gardens as part of the garden nursery, where 6 out of the 16 planned are complete. We also have this really stunning willow circle, which is just beautiful.

photo-1465405269228-024e4723a8d9 — thanks to Stephanie Krist for this photo

Q- Tell us about your volunteers, and who helps run the nursery.
We have quite a large group of volunteers here at the nursery, and without them, there would be no way that the place could be running. Some people volunteer for a month, and some have been volunteering for years, and we appreciate every bit of help we get. Their generosity and time is something I’m always going to be so grateful for.

Q- You’ve just opened to the public for the first time in almost six years, how does that feel?
It feels amazing, we’ve been getting this place ready for the public for so long and now it feels as if our work is finally paid off, and we can do what we’ve always set out to do, create a community project that everyone can benefit for. We’ve been running training courses and school placements for years which is so amazing, but now we can finally make it open to everyone, which was always the plan. We now run a plant sale every Saturday from 10:00am until 4:00pm, and the nursery is otherwise open Monday-Thursday from 9:30 until 5:30.

Q- Got any last words or comments that you want everyone to know?
I’d just love to see you there! Bring your friends, family, dogs, come and experience and enjoy the nursery, see what’s here, and if you want to contribute in any way then we’d love to hear from you too!

Seears Park Nursery is open to the public from 9:30am-5:30pm Monday to Thursday, and 10:am-4:00pm on a Saturday for the plant sale and general public use. Follow them on Facebook for events and updates here

Note from Ali – Thank you so much, Hannah, for introducing me to your dad’s amazing community project. Here’s a picture of a pond that my 13-year-old son made, with the addition of the Junctus that he bought from the Nursery!

Written by Hannah Plicio-Keattch

create, life

Colour Lover YELLOW

Colour Lover YELLOW

Hello – My name is Ali Clifford and I go by the name of @incredibusy, and I rather like the colour YELLOW.

I think this colour penchant is quite a recent phenomena – if you look through my instagram feed, it seems to be somehow dominated with brights, and spots of yellows – I don’t really think it was intentional, it just seems to evolved that way!
We even had a ‘sogoodineveryway‘ theme a couple of weeks ago! #sgiew_YELLOW click here to read about that.

When I was a child, with red hair and freckles, my mother would tell me, “oh no Alison, you CAN’T wear yellow! It just doesn’t suit you….” so I started rebelling… From my eyeshadow at art school (seriously, not a good look, like a gone-wrong watermelon) to the frocks I wear today.
I’ve all sorts of outfits, and accessories in yellow now, and even have a small collection of yellow shoes.

I’d LIKE to be maybe someone who wears more muted colours – I love the style of friends like Ali Dover – we have similar colouring (oh, and the same name), and she just always looks so fabulous – denims, and stripes, straight out of the Toast catalogue… I do try, but the wabi-sabi in me means I’m better off multi-coloured (and a bit scruffy…)

My favourite flower in the garden happens to be yellow FORSYTHIA – to look out through the kitchen window on a rainy day and see that Forsythia bush shining like the absent sunshine, really lifts my spirits too.

Laying on a carpet of grass looking up at the blue blue skies… (#nofilter!) We have enjoyed our half term break; but it’s got us thinking about the SUMMER (and getting away from ✈️ flight paths!) – any top tips for festivals this year?? Late summer September looks like a weekend at the @goodlifeexperience – and we have August covered off with a week at the @fforestgather summer camp, a festival that’s not a festival (see blog link in profile for more on that!) but what about you lot? Anything early summer festival-wise we should check out? Anyway how about we celebrate the impending SUMMER with a new #sgiew hashtag? If you’d like to join in next week; this is a “heads up” that we will be looking for your #sgiew_goodlife photos; so tag us on your festival pics; school fête photos; tea in the garden; bunting on your tents; and how about we throw in a PRIZE TOO? We have two adult tickets with camping @goodlifeexperience worth £198 up for grabs – get tagging! Use #sgiew_goodlife to join in #sgiew #blueskies #laburnum #bunting #teainthepark #teaparty #festival #summerfete #belltent #greatoutdoors #goodlife #summer #simpleandstill #slowliving_nurture #underthefloralspell #theartofslowliving #aslowmoment

A photo posted by Ali Clifford (@incredibusy) on Jun 4, 2016 at 2:26am PDT

Evening sunshines! 💛 Finally finished our latest mid-century-modern upcycle project with the help of @madebymrsm and her AMAZING fabric design… *windows*. Two #found chairs given some love. We appeared on #periscope today sharing this project and asking whether to chalkpaint the back-rest, or legs, and the result is just divine! What do you think? We have three further chairs, should we leave them unpainted or try yellow this time? #wildandwolf #retro telephone prop courtesy @4_living http://www.4living.co.uk/ Oh I have 25% OFF for you until Sunday MIDNIGHT with discount code *incredibusy* Colours: 💚peacock green 💛English mustard (seen here) 👤black 💙petrol blue 😺concrete grey #midcenturymodern #upcycle #AnnieSloan #ParisGrey #chalkpaint #london_by_incredibusy #homedecor #interior #design #capturingcolour #epig #abmlifeiscolorful #DScolor #yellow #retrophone #midcentury #textiles #upholstery #upcycling

A photo posted by Ali Clifford (@incredibusy) on Sep 15, 2015 at 10:44am PDT

I’ve even started painting furniture in tones of yellow and grey, that combination really works well for me, you can watch me making some desk stationery below in some beautiful fabric by my friend Kate madebymrsm – (oh, and I appear to have a yellow telephone prop too… guilty!) And – really – you have to check out Kate’s hashtag – #100daysofyellowstuff

And finally, I’d like to give a big shoutout to instagram, for helping me find my creativity again – after a long absence from my art school hobby of photography, I’m back in the game – finding the love of yellow peppers – probably my biggest ‘like’ on instagram to date!

Thank you Becky, for the prompt, loving all of the colour stories over on colourlover.co.uk!

life

Top Five Summer Hair Trends

As well as refreshing your wardrobe with lighter coats, floaty tops, short pants and strappy sandals, Summer is the perfect time to shake out that hat hair and shake up your look with some new season hair trends. From the headscarf headband to the hun, here are five favourite Springtime looks for locks:

The Hun

If you’ve got long hair and only try out one new hairstyle this Summer, make it ‘the hun’. The half up, half down bun has been seen on celebrities galore, from Khloe Kardashian to Hilary Duff to JLo, and is a doddle to do. Just pull half of your hair up into a messy bun and – ta-da – you’re bang on trend in no time at all!

Plaits and Twists

Pretty plaits and twists are a great solution to combat summertime showers and blustery weather – plus they’ve got the catwalk seal of approval, having been seen at the Gucci, Giles, Herve Leger and Alexander McQueen SS16 shows.

Florals

Nothing says Summertime better than flowers, which makes floral embellished headbands, crowns, clips and hair ties the perfect way to pretty up your hair. ASOS has a whole garden full of blooming beautiful floral hair accessories to choose from.

Headscarf Headband
The retro-style headscarf headband, often in a bow style, was big last summer and is set to be just as on-trend this year. If you want to treat yourself, Benoit Missolin has a super cute and quirky range of headscarf headbands in bright primary colours, spots and stripes. The Red Estel Polka Dot headband is very Minnie Mouse!

Rose Gold

It’s time to say goodbye to grey and hello to rose gold as the new colour trend of the season. A super wearable take on the pink and copper colour trends, it’s a gorgeously rosy burnished blonde shade that will look lovely in the sunshine. If you’re not keen on committing to a new hair colour, tap into this trend with metallic hair accessories instead. The Gold Starfish Headband by Berry is just right for an early season holiday abroad!

crafts, kids, life

Jennie Maizels Sketchbook Club

Anyone who knows me, knows what a massive fan I am of Jennie Maizels…

I became aware of Jennie’s iron-on patches when I was working with Green Baby – so quite a while ago now!

So when I found a love for instagram, I was delighted to catch up with Jennie again and to tell EVERYONE I knew to take a look at her fabulous visual sketchbook holiday diaries.

Recently I have started a weekly instagram photo challenge #sgiew (more on that here) and asked Jennie if she would be a guest judge – we were delighted when she agreed, and I asked her to tell us a bit more about herself and her new #sketchbookclub:

We asked Jennie what had influenced her early days as an artist:

Jennie: I grew up just outside London, my parents are both Artists too, so it was a very creative childhood (we didn’t even have a TV!). Growing up with two artists could not help but inspire me. My parents run the Outsider Art Magazine, Raw Vision

My father is also an art collector, so our house was crammed with sculptures, paintings,
murals and mobiles. I cannot think of a more creative environment. My parents receive
coach loads of visitors who wish to see my father’s amazing Outsider Art collection, so I
feel very privileged to have grown up surrounded by such inspiration!

I am very lucky, I live in heart of the beautiful Hampshire countryside in a village called
“Braishfield’ with thatched cottages and a village pond. It is classically English and we love
it! I have a studio on a remote farm, it’s incredibly peaceful but very hard to find, we have
to string up balloons and signs every time we have a visitor so they can find us.
Primarily I am an illustrator but I also hold online courses and run my small business where we supply my Pop-Up Books, Stationery and Iron/Stick-on Patches to the world…

My studio is crammed full of sketchbooks, paint and of course pencils. I have always had a real love affair with coloured pencils and keep them in colour coordinated tins, I use a
brand called Prismacolor that I have shipped from the States, so I have a vast collection!
Sketchbook Club started as a result of my complete obsession with Sketchbooks.
I keep prolific holiday journals, I find them so absorbing, relaxing and fulfilling, I now can’t
go on holiday without completing one.

I am a complete Instagram addict, I love how it connects people, an instant snapshot of
what people are up to, both creatively and domestically, I find it fascinating. (it also appeals to my nosiness!). Illustration can be quite an isolating profession, so being able to show the world your work in progress is incredibly positive and a great way to gauge future reactions to your published work.

It was through Instagram that Sketchbook began. I was posting images of my holiday
journals and also of the work I was teaching in my Sketchbook Club here in my studio and
was overwhelmed by peoples responses. This lead to an huge demand to hold an online
version, so the Online Sketchbook Club was born.

It’s been absolutely amazing, so fabulous to see the community growing. Each module has a hashtag so people can show/comment/advise etc. on pieces of work. Have a look at the first model #SketchbookclubHouses and you’ll see what I mean.

I actually get quite emotional when I scroll through the feeds, I can’t believe so may people
are taking part!
Sketchbook Club Course two is launching in a few weeks and I can’t wait to see what
people create from it.
I truly believe that given the right tools and guidance, anyone can draw.

It is all about having the fear of the blank page taken away, I never start to illustrate without knowing what I am about to draw, you wouldn’t bake a cake without a recipe, or play the piano without music, so I don’t see the difference. I am just giving people the ‘recipe’ to create something they will be enjoy creating and be hugely proud of.

I have kept sketchbooks since I was a little girl and encouraged my children to do the
same. there is something a little bit magic about them. No pressure (just turn the page and
start over if you are not happy), portable (I never leave home without one) and completely
addictive.
People who have literally never drawn before, have got involved with my Sketchbook Club
and are now drawing as their main crafting hobby. It fills me with indescribable pride and
makes me happier than I have ever felt before in my career.

Check out Jennie’s website here:
and don’t forget to follow her on instagram here @jenniemaizels, and me too!>> @incredibusy and fellow #sgiew host @redtedart

cooking with kids, key stage 2, life

How to cope with a growing family

With two boys, who seem to be growing bigger every week, we are doing that thing of contemplating extending the back of the house. When they were small, pre-school, it didn’t seem so crucial to have separate living and playing areas – Although, as they got to school age, establishing the sitting room as the ‘grown-up room’ gave back some tranquility and escape from the lego.

And now they are nearly as tall as me, we’ve had to buy bigger beds, with built in desk and wardrobe space, and had to rethink the downstairs living area…

As you know, we love ‘family cooking time’ where we bake and cook together as a family, yet these boys take up a LOT of room in our galley kitchen these days.

The kitchen is one area that we have not changed since moving in, and I LOVE our old Edwardian kitchen floor though, ridiculous as that sounds, these tiles make is so hard! It’s something I have been struggling to come to terms with inevitably having to say goodbye to these beautiful old tiles – unless we can find a way to incorporate them into a new layout!

Glass box kitchen extension, Richmond : Modern kitchen by Holland and Green

So we’ve been looking at LOADS of different kitchen layout designs, to find a way to do this, perhaps with a glass box extension, to let in more light, without taking too much of our small mid terrace garden?

Or shall I just bite the bullet and go for something completely different and accept that change is as good as a rest as they say? There’s always the option of finding some new rather lovely tiles to play with! – watch this space!