Reviews and Sponsored

This is a sponsored guest post provided by MusicMagpie. For more information about this kind of post please read my disclosure for readers page. Kat xoxo

The winter frost may not be thawed yet, but there’s no doubt that spring cleaning is already on your mind. If you’re relishing the thought of getting rid of all those old toys, magazines, and thoughtful but impractical Christmas gifts, why wait to get started? Organising and de-cluttering your home now will give you a head start on all that stuff; plus, it’s a good way to make money for a vacation or fun-filled outing when the weather finally warms up. Here’s how you can do it.

1. Sell your games and toys. If your kids have officially outgrown all those old toys, search around for consignment sales where you can turn them into cash by passing them along. Make sure to organise each set of toys by age group to make lightening your load a little easier. And if you have “big kids” who like to play video games, consider selling those games online, which is an easier and faster way to get rid of them. You can sell computer games for cash, many times without even having to pay for the shipping to send them off.

2. Clean out the closet. Are you still holding on to those tie-dye shirts and acid wash jeans that you wore decades ago hoping that they will come back in style? If they ever do, we’re sure that there will be an updated version of them that you can pick up at your favourite apparel store. In the meantime, however, pack up all of your old fashion statements and head to the nearest vintage store to see how many quid you can get for them. This will make space for more modern, more adult fashions and also give you the cash to pay for them.

3. Donate to a charity. Speaking of old clothes, you probably have some items that don’t fit neatly into any “vintage” category. If this is the case, consider making a charitable donation to an organisation that provides low-cost clothing for low-income families. It may not be a direct way to make money, but you could get a tax break for your thoughtfulness.

4. Digitise your music and movies. That home entertainment centre never really went with your decor to begin with, so why not put it up on Gumtree to make a few extra bucks? And while you are at it, you can also download and then sell all those old DVDs and CDs that it holds so that you never again have to figure out how to make rows and rows of discs look like an attractive feature in your home. MusicMagpie is a site that allows you to sell music and movies in bulk while also paying for your shipping and sending a cheque directly to you.

5. Use the Internet for selling miscellaneous items. And finally, what will you do with the exercise bicycle that never got any use, or that hideous set of kitchen towels that someone gave you for Christmas? If the Internet has taught us anything, it is that one woman’s trash is most certainly destined to be another woman’s treasure. Unload all of your quirky and unwanted items onto buyers using a popular listing site that will get you lots of page hits.

This is a sponsored recipe provided by Tesco Direct with words and photographs from me. For more information about this kind of post please read my disclosure for readers page. Kat xoxo

Sunday eating is all about slow and cosy food in our house. Pottering around ovens fired up, slowly enjoying the time together. The last hing on our half term list was to bake and a new recipe to try hit the spot with my sweet toothed children.

This recipe is an easy one to attempt with children as it doesn’t require much weighing but rather cup and spoon measures. The flavour is sweet and delicately fragrant while the crumble crisp without a hint of clagginess. This definitely crosses the seasons with the lightness of Spring and the comfort of Winter.

Strawberry and Rhubarb Crumble Recipe

Fruit Filling:

1 punnet of British strawberries, slightly overripe if possible

1/2 of a large stalk of rhubarb, cut into 1/4 inch pieces

1 ripe plum

2 teaspoons of sugar (slightly more if berries are not ripe)

15 g of butter, diced

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1 tablespoon of port or Marsala wine

Crumble Topping:

50 grams butter (adjust as needed)

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon white or Demerara sugar

1/2 cup fine ground polenta or corn meal

1/2 cup oats

2 tablespoons flour

1/2 tsp cardamom

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ginger

Preheat oven to 200°C – serves for 4 – 6.

• Slice the fruit roughly 1/4 inch thick and add to oval baking dish.
• Sprinkle sugar, vanilla and port over the fruit, and evenly distribute the small pieces of butter on the top.
• Add all ingredients to food processor or blender and mix until cohesive and the butter is fully integrated. If too moist (like a dough), add more oats and flour until it becomes slightly crumbly.
• Evenly distribute crumble topping over the fruit, making sure it’s mostly covered, and sprinkle a teaspoon of sugar over the top.
• Put in the oven and turn temperature down to 175°C. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
• Serve warm with custard or vanilla ice cream, a bit of extra sugar if needed, and a cup of tea!

Recipe copyright Kathryn Wallace.

This is a sponsored guest post provided by Good Energy. For more information about this kind of post please read my disclosure for readers page. Kat xoxo

Going green isn’t only for the affluent. It’s not just for environmentalists, and no, it is not just a trend that celebrities have picked up on. Even if you don’t have a lot of money (and in fact, especially if you don’t have a lot of money), going green is within your reach. It can help you save on everything from your car’s engine check-ups to your entertainment budget. Find out how simple measures such as contacting renewable energy companies and digging that dusty bicycle out of the garage can put you on the path to saving money and the environment at the same time.

1. Start cycling. This is one of the most effective and profitable ways to go green. Replacing your auto routine with a cycling routine to get to work and home will save you petrol costs, car maintenance costs, and health care costs. This is because regular exercise will boost your immune system and keep you away from the doctor. In addition, cycling is also great for the environment because it eliminates the carbon emissions associated with driving an automobile.

2. Switch to green energy. Research shows that you could be saving up to three per cent on your home energy costs by switching to a renewable energy company. You may not think those are very big savings, but when you compound them with the convenience and customer satisfaction that many of these companies offer in an attempt to compete with the Big Six, you’ll surely be saving a lot more than money.

3. Turn down the air conditioning and heat. In addition to paying less for energy, you could also be saving money by using less energy altogether. Simple, energy-efficient measures such as using a programmable thermostat and turning down your hot water heater by a few degrees can also come through as valuable savings on your next energy bill. Also, invest in a comfortable, plush blanket that you can wrap up in when you are simply lounging at home to make it easier to be conservative with money spent on climate control.

4. Save on lighting. If you want to save even more money, find inexpensive but highly efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs, which require less energy than incandescent bulbs. Or better yet, don’t use the lights at all in the daytime. This solution works particularly well if you have an area of your home that is exposed to natural sunlight through large windows.

5. Go paperless. This doesn’t just apply to using less printing paper in the office. You could also save money, and trees, by cancelling your delivery service for the local newspaper and heading to its site online to read the news.

6. Even your laundry can be green. Not literally. But you can save energy by washing your clothes in cold water and hanging them to dry instead of using a clothes dryer. Remember, as well, that front loading machines use far less energy and water than top loaders the next time that you’re on the market for a new washer.

This is a sponsored guest post provided by uSwitch. For more information about this kind of post please read my disclosure for readers page. Kat xoxo

If you’ve been reading or watching the news, you have probably become intrigued about the green lifestyles of the rich and famous. However, what you may have missed while taking in all of that environmental coverage is how inexpensive it is for you to go green yourself.

In fact, most people who decide to live a greener lifestyle start by cutting their energy consumption. This is one of the biggest money-savers around, especially when it comes to household budgets. From finding the best gas and electricity prices to taking advantages of quick fixes that make it easier to use less power, here are some of the best ideas for reducing your energy spending at home.

Hot vs. cold

Climate control is one of the best inventions of the 20th century, but you may not need as much of it as you think you do. Whatever temperature you keep your thermostat on in the winter, try turning it down by a couple of degrees to keep more of your money in your pocket when the energy bills come. Do the opposite in summer. A programmable thermostat will do the job for you so that you can set it and then forget about it. You can also save money by turning down the temperature on the hot water heater.

In addition to using less energy, you could also save money if you compare energy prices for different companies in your area. Many homeowners could be getting a better rate on their electricity and natural gas without even knowing.

Small investments

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to energy-proof your home. Small purchases such as flow-control shower heads, for example, can significantly cut the amount of water you use when taking a shower, which in turn cuts down on the amount of energy used to heat it.

Another little investment that is well-worth the money and effort is the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs, which are more modern and use less power than their incandescent counterparts. You could also purchase window caulk for the entire house for just a few pounds as well as weather-stripping for doors with the same amount of money.

Appliance use

It is always a good idea to shop for energy efficiency labels on new appliances when you are in a position to buy them, but did you know that you can save just as much money by changing the way you use your appliances now?

One of the most efficient steps you can take now is to invest in inexpensive but useful power strips that you can use to plug in your television, DVR, stereo, computer, and other entertainment or office equipment. This will prevent those appliances from loading standby power, which helps them turn on quicker but also eats through your energy budget.

Here’s a laundry tip that can help you get the most out of your washer and dryer. Only wash clothes in cold water (they’ll still get just as clean!), and use the efficiency options on your washer so that you don’t waste water. Try hang drying all of your delicate clothing to save energy on dryer usage. And when you are ready to purchase a new washer, remember that models that load in the front instead of on the top use less water and less energy.

Making sure your appliances run smoothly is also a great way to save energy. Refrigerators, for example, use less power when you make sure to clean the coils at least twice a year to remove dirt and dust.

There are some things which are easier to explain to Mr Kat than others. The arrival of an anonymous valentine’s hamper was a little tricky. Luckily a small bribe of some chocolate from within and he stopped asking awkward questions.

Once again Interflora have been sending me gifts and when it’s chocolate on offer I’m weak. Their chocolate lover’s valentine’s hamper is a delight. Filled with a range of chocolaty goodies which will keep even the most determined of chocolate eaters busy well beyond Valentine’s day.

The contents are a mix of UK made goodies and sumptuous chocolates including: Divine chocolate, Divine cocoa, Four Angels double chocolate cookies, and Belgian truffles. If you are lucky enough to receive one of these then my advice to you is keep it out of sight as the last thing you want to be doing is sharing, well, maybe just with your valentine…

Many thanks to Interflora for indulging me once again. Their ever expanding range will have your eyes out on stalks not to mention their reputation for getting flowers delivered (have you seen their bunches of tulips? Love them!)

This is a sponsored post written by me with links to Compare the Market. For more information about this kind of post please read my disclosure for readers page. Kat xoxo

In lean times it is good to have good plans when it comes to your finances. It is far too easy to will everything to be better and not take control of the situation. For me I am finally taking off the blinkers and creating some comprehensive financial plans.

My first job is to sit down with the bank statements and work out what our fixed outgoings are each month. The bills, mortgage and direct debits which don’t change from one month to the next. Then I shall go back through the year and look at the irregular payments such as classes, car tax and insurance. Things which don’t go out monthly but do need to be accounted for. Once I have those figures they are going into a calendar so I have a visual reminder of our set outgoings.

Knowing these figures I can see what’s left between what we earn and what we spend. Essentially this isn’t much at the moment! What is left needs to be divided up for the household budget: groceries, consumables, petrol, shoes and clothing. I find that shopping at the supermarket can be done in a haze and you only realise what you have spent at the check out – far too late! To combat this I’m using a mix of mental arithmetic and pre-shopping planning so that I have an idea of what the shop is likely to cost. There is no room for error so if our weekly grocery shop goes over budget it is back to the drawing board to figure out which meals to change to bring the cost down.

My next job is to analyse our spending. I run the bills through uSwitch to check I’m getting the best deal, keep an eye on Money Saving Expert for good financial deals and question every expenditure – do we really need it? could we get a better deal? One of our worst offenders is unsecured loans namely credit cards which have built up while we waited for Mr Kat’s former employer to pay him (*still* waiting). Going on comparison sites to find the best deals and move your existing balance can save you hundreds and prevent you from building up bigger debts from interest.

Having my finances laid out feels scary but by doing this I can plan to ensure we turn our fortunes around. We know our bottom line each month and we know how to direct our money to ensure a secure financial future. My aim is to reduce our debt and work towards the point where we have money to save.

Image: nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This is a sponsored post written by me with links to Feather & Black. For more information about this kind of post please read my disclosure for readers page. Kat xoxo

There is no time of day that I feel more connected to my family than when we’re cuddled on the childrens beds reading a bedtime story. Recently bedtimes have seen the addition of chapter books at story time. We still read plenty of picture books but Milla is increasingly able to follow longer stories read over time.

Her interest started with Winnie-the-Pooh, a book she was given by a friend when we welcomed her into the world. It has always been on the bedroom shelf and dipped into but recently it came out nightly until we had read the entire book. Next came Finn Family Moomintroll, the dark mystery perfect for Winter reading.

I have been trying to come up with a wish-list for the library and looking through my old books for inspiration. Milla can be quite sensitive about ‘nasty stories’ and so I’m on the hunt for gentle yet exciting tales to take us through bedtimes in the next few months. What would you recommend?

As they were rolling around on Monty’s bed the other night, there was talk of the big room move. Betsy and Monty will be moving into our spare room soon and as Milla pointed out; we’ll need to decide which room to have stories in every night.

It pulls at my heartstrings thinking of them growing and moving on. I do wish all three could share a room indefinitely. It won’t be long before homework and childrens desks need to be accommodated and bedtime stories become a personal, rather than a family, activity.