I love a product that has multiple uses and I think that coconut oil tops the list of multi-purpose products that I love! Today I am sharing my top 10 uses for coconut oil.
Use as a toothpaste. I like to mix a tiny bit of coconut oil with baking powder or activated charcoal and use to brush my teeth.
Oil pulling. This is a great way to clean your mouth after brushing your teeth.
Face Cleanser. Just warm a little between your palms until it liquifies, rub in circular motions over the whole of your face then remove with a damp, warm cloth.
All over moisturiser. I really like to use coconut oil where I have really dry skin, especially my legs after shaving.
Hair treatment mask. Apply to dry hair, make sure the product is spread well over the hair, wrap hair in a warm towel and leave for up to an hour before washing and styling your hair as normal.
Pet treat. I give Roxy coconut oil in her Kong toy as a replacement for peanut butter.
Cooking. There are so many different recipes that you can substitute coconut oil for instead of other oils! Have a look online!
Hair serum. I like to use coconut oil as a hair serum to tame flyaway hair. I warm a teeny bit in the palm of my hands and then lightly run my hands through my hair.
Cuticle Oil. I have used loads of expensive cuticle oils in the past but have found that rubbing coconut oil into my cuticles every few days to be as effective as those products I used to buy.
Have you used coconut oil for anything? Let me know in the comments!
I can’t quite believe that we are nearly halfway through the year and with that, we are all set to welcome Summer into our lives. I can’t wait for the arrival of Summer and this post is just a little list of all the things I am looking forward to!
Warmer days.
Lighter clothes.
Dresses and bare legs.
Sandals.
The scent of sunscreen.
Barbeques.
Time in the garden in the evenings.
Butterflies.
Bright flowers.
Blue skies.
Better weather.
Beach walks.
Warm nights.
Stargazing.
Ice lollies.
Fruit and salads.
Cool, refreshing drinks.
Fun.
Being outdoors.
There is so much more Summer has to offer us, what are you most looking forward to? Let me know in the comments!
Laundry, a bit like breathing, we all have to do it. Today I’m sharing my Top 10 Laundry Products.
Method Laundry Detergent – This stuff is not only better for the environment but each fragrance smells AMAZING and the scent really lasts on your washing too!
Method Fabric Conditioner – Again, much better for the environment but also leaves towels really soft!
Tesco Orange Laundry Gel – I use this on the dog towels and, even using a tiny bit, the towels seem to come out really clean.
Unstoppables Scent Beads – I only really use this on blankets and jumpers at the end of the season (or coats) as the scent lasts for a really long time.
Dylon Colour Catcher – These are really useful when washing underwear or light clothes as they seem to stop the colours going grey.
Vanish – I love the block soap that Vanish do, its one of the best things I have used on stains. It’s also useful for spot treatments on carpets and upholstery.
Dylon Brilliant White Repair Sachets – If, like me, you have white clothes that are starting to look a bit dull, these are perfect for getting them white again.
White Vinegar – I use this if my towels are going a bit hard as it seems to make them soft again. I put a cup full into the machine with the wash load.
Aspirin – This stuff is amazing for removing antiperspirants marks. Crush up a couple, add some hot water then dab onto the marks, leave for 30 mins then wash as normal.
Today, for my Top 10 series (you can find other posts here) I am sharing my top 10 cleaning products. These are products that I have tried and tested, work well for me and ones I will keep buying.
Method Anti-bac – Wild Rhubarb I love the scent of this and that you can use it all around the home – bathroom, kitchen, living area, it is perfect for any job.
Method Toilet Cleaner – This stuff is amazing and guaranteed to make your loo sparkle and smell fresh at the same time.
Zoflora – Twilight Garden This stuff is amazing. It is marketed as a disinfectant but it has so many uses. I use it to wipe down my radiators, mop the floors and occasionally, when the dog towels are really grubby I will stick a cupful into the machine with them. A little really does go a long way and the scent will fill the house and last for so long too!
Soda Crystals Soda crystals are brilliant for fixing stinky drains and washing machines as well as sorting out slow drainage in sinks and baths! They should be a cleaning cupboard staple in everyone’s house!
Ecover All Purpose Cleaner This stuff is brilliant on floors, especially my kitchen floor which needs mopping at least once a day where Roxy is in and out all the time! And it’s another product that a little goes a long way. I like that this product is multi-functional as well, I like to mix a bit with water in a spray bottle and use it to wipe down shelving and windowsills.
Method Glass Cleaner This is one product I will, probably, never walk away from. It is the only product I have found that cleans glass and mirrors effectively without too much hard work and doesn’t leave an annoying film or smears everywhere.
Method Shower Spray This product works a dream for shifting soapy residue and dried hair conditioner splodges from glass shower surrounds and tiles. I use it every time I have had a shower on the tiles and it makes them really clean and shiny.
Vanish Pre-Treat Stain Remover Bar This is a staple in my cleaning cupboard. Not only can you use it on clothes but you can spot treat carpets and upholstery with it too!
Bleach. I’m not going to link to a product because this is one thing I will buy from anywhere, I always buy a big container of the thin bleach and will use it where and when necessary. I love the smell of bleach, especially in the bathroom but its handy to use all around the house!
I don’t know about you but, sometimes, it feels like a whole day has rushed by and I don’t seem to have achieved or done anything much at all. Today I’m sharing with you my steps on how to have a productive day. There will be tips, tricks and hacks that seem to work for me, mean I get more done, and more out of my day. These simple steps seem to help me both in my working day and in my personal life so can be applied to any part of your life.
Preparation
Make a List
Knowing what you would like to achieve in a day goes a long way towards actually achieving those things. I like to sit down at the end of the day with a notepad and pens and create a list of things I need to do, want to do and things I should do the following day. Every activity gets written down however big or small, significant or insignificant it may be. Once I have a list then I can move on to the next step.
Categorise
Categorise
Next, I like to go through the list and categorise everything into 3 lists – Need, Want and Should. I like to use highlighters here so I can see what categories things fall into. Things that go into the Need list are things that absolutely have to be done that day, they can be things like making appointments, sending emails, household things, anything that has to be done that day and is time specific. Next is the Want list which I use for things that I want to do or achieve that don’t really have any fixed priority except for personal gain. Want things can include reading a book, having a bath, working on art, anything that is about you and what you want to do. Lastly is the Should list which I use for things like cleaning the fridge, clothes washing, tidying up, organising my books, things that should be done but are not really needed to be done at a specific time.
Prioritize
Prioritize and Timings
Now I have the categories sorted I go through them and number them in order of importance – 1 is high importance and 4 is the lowest/no importance. I can see then what order I should complete the tasks in.
Timings
Next I allocate timings to the tasks, so, for example 20 mins for responding to an email, 10 for a phone call, 40 mins for reading…. I can see what will take the longest and what will be really quick to tick off my list. I like to work with a mix of high priority and quick tasks as it makes me feel good about getting things marked off and encourages me to continue with my work.
Make a Timetable
Making a Timetable
The final step I take is to timetable everything into my day. I write out my day in hourly blocks then schedule in the things I want to achieve in that timeframe. I schedule in all the Need and Should items then add the Wants in around them where there are gaps.
Creating a list and timetable like this the night before helps me to wake up motivated and ready to start the list. I get up knowing what needs to be done and have an itinerary for the day that I know will work for me, I get things done that I need to, things I should do and also have time for anything I want to do as well. I find mixing the tasks up keeps energy and enthusiasm high while keeping productivity going. And scheduling in Wants through the day means I have a reward of sorts to look forward to along the way.
How do you plan your day? What are your tips for being productive?
It’s no secret that I have a massive love affair with all things stationery, so today in my Top 10 Thursday list I am sharing my favorite places to buy stationery and stationery related products. These are in no particular order!
A little list for you today of the things I’m looking forward to over the next 3 months, also known as Spring. There are 2 dates for when Spring starts depending on which calendar you use – the meteorological calendar (1st March) or the astronomical calendar (20th March). See more on these dates and reasons behind the difference here.
Another Thursday and another Top 10! This time I’m sharing my Top 10 Places to Visit.
The beach. Living where I do in South Wales I’m not too far away from some spectacular beaches and I think there is nothing better than beach walks any time of the year.
Parks. I love being outdoors and going to the park, seeing the different coloured leaves on the trees and keeping an eye out for different animals that I may spot.
St Fagans. I love visiting St Fagans, I try to go every few years and have a walk around. I love that you can go into the buildings and have a look around and get a feel for how life was in years past.
Cardiff City Centre. There is so much to do in Cardiff…Independent shops, shopping arcades, a castle, museum, fab pubs…well worth a visit!
Bath. I love Bath, again, so much to do from independent shops to Roman Baths, a spa and lovely places to eat too.
Museums. There is something about visiting a museum that I really enjoy, not only do I learn things but the atmosphere has a really calming effect on me. Always worth a visit when its cold or raining!
Tate Modern. I’ve been to the Tate twice, once to see a Damien Hirst exhibition and the other time to see the Shape of Light exhibition. I have not really ventured around any of the galleries yet but I really want to go again. Visiting art galleries can help with creative ideas and it’s always interesting to see the different types of mediums artists use.
Book Shops. Wherever I go I usually end up in a book shop somewhere. There is something really lovely about spending time browsing in bookshops and I normally come away with a few to add to my collection!
Markets. I love markets. There is such a selection of different items on show and available to purchase. And some markets hold special events, like craft markets or food market days which are really worth checking out.
Abbeys – Tintern Abbey and Llanthony Priory in particular. I love heading to an abbey with my camera and a picnic in the summer months and having a leisurely walk around, taking in the architecture and atmosphere.
