Which Pets Are Best For Young Children? | Pip Milburn

October 26, 2019

Having a pet is great for kids. It teaches them responsibility because they have to look after it and it also teaches them to be more social. Some pets are great for helping the family to stay active as well. When the kids are a […]

Parenting

What To Expect In Student Halls – Pip Milburn

October 18, 2019

If you’re sending a child off to University, they might be feeling a bit nervous about living in student accommodation. Halls can be quite a culture shock, especially if you’re not a big family. Living with others and learning to look after yourself is a […]

Interiors

Adding Some Personality To Your Bathroom | Pip Milburn

October 1, 2019

A bathroom can seem like quite the empty space. It can feel like there’s little substance to it, and it’s just there for you to brush your teeth in the morning and have a shower at night – and when you think about it, that […]

Days Out

Elmer’s Great North Parade with Tyne and Wear Metro | Pip Milburn | AD

September 22, 2019

Tyne and Wear Metro recently got in touch and asked us to go on an adventure. If you follow my YouTube channel you will know that adventuring is what we loved to do! Tyne and Wear Metro have teamed up with St Oswald’s Hospice and […]

Lifestyle

All Of The Ways You Can Protect Your Home | Pip Milburn

September 20, 2019

Home ownership or having any form of assets can be a worrying thing to many. From houses to cars these assets tend to have a high value to us, and of course, means we have spent our hard earned cash to purchase them in some […]

Mourning the end of summer? Don’t be sad for too long - autumn is finally here! Now is the time to get cosy and relax, with plenty of exciting times ahead. The colder weather can come as a shock to many, so it’s important that you’re prepared while we’re still experiencing the milder side of September. Get your home ready for the season ahead with these tips for prepping your home for the winter chill. Image Credit: Unsplash under Creative Commons Check your doors and windows Doors and windows need maintenance over time, and if they’re letting any kind of draught then you need to do something about it. Go around your home and make sure everything shuts and locks properly and that the seals are all properly in place. Maintaining your windows and doors is important, and you’ll find it’s better to fix problems as you see them to stop them turning into larger issues. Making sure your windows are doing their job will mean you won’t lose unnecessary heat during the winter months. Get a smart meter If you want to save money on your energy bill and become smarter about your energy use, it’s time to get a smart meter. A smart meter is a great tool for tracking your usage, helping you to keep track of your spending too. There are several smart meters out there from different providers, but Which’s smart meter guide could help you work out the best option for you. Getting smarter about your energy use will benefit the environment as well as your household bills, so make sure you think carefully about how you use energy in your home. Check on your boiler Dealing with a broken boiler is many people’s worst nightmare. You’ll soon miss a lack of hot water and heating when something goes wrong! If you don’t already book in an annual boiler maintenance check, start now. It helps to give a manual inspection to check the safety of your boiler and make sure there are no obvious signs of something wrong. It’s also worth making sure your boiler is covered by the right insurance, you don’t want to be caught short if the boiler needs replacing. Stock up on cosy textiles Is there anything better than snuggling under a blanket on the sofa when it’s dark and gloomy outside? With the colder weather approaching, you need to make sure you’ve got plenty of cosy textiles around to keep you warm and make your home more inviting. Invest in some new cushions, blankets as well as a new dressing gown and slippers for yourself. The danger here is that you’ll be too comfy to ever want to leave the house again! Make better heating choices There are many different types of heating available for your home, and making the right choice based on your household and your habits can help make sure your home stays toasty. Setting timers is a great way to ensure your home is heated when you need it, and having a smart home system can also help you control your heating when you’re away from home. Some people prefer to install panel heaters in their homes, especially if you only need to heat one room at a time. This can be a lot cheaper to run than central heating, as well as being more energy-efficient. Don’t be afraid to put the heating on While you should always strive to cut back on your energy use, you shouldn’t be afraid to put the heating on. If you’re cold, don’t suffer - do something about it! There are plenty of tips you can try to help you reduce your spending so that you can afford to spend a little more on your heating during the winter months. Making sure your home is warm in the mornings and at night is important, so don’t hesitate to put the heating on when you need it. Bring back the hot water bottle The hot water bottle is a classic device that still has plenty of great uses today. Filling a hot water bottle and putting it in your bed half an hour before you get into it is an amazing feeling. It’s also nice to snuggle with a hot water bottle while you’re chilling on the sofa. An affordable way to provide you with some additional heating, you’ll soon warm up with a hot water bottle by your side. Invest in an insulated bottle or mug Just like a hot water bottle, an insulated bottle or mug makes a great investment for winter. Popular bottle brands sell bottles that can keep your liquids warm for up to 12 hours. So if you made a cup of tea before bed, it’s likely it’ll still be lovely and warm for you to enjoy in the morning - allowing you to enjoy some extra time in bed where it’s warm! Insulated travel mugs are also great for making tea or coffee from home and forgoing the daily coffee shop run. You’ll easily save some money which will come in handy for Christmas! Make your decor warmer A warm home isn’t just about putting the heating on. You can create a warmer home by making your decor warmer and making it more appropriate for the season ahead. Christmas is still a short while away, so you’ll be wanting to focus on introducing deeper shades to your home such as reds, burgundy, dark blues and warmer shades of yellow or orange. There are a lot of ways you can make your house look and feel warmer to help you change your home around. Candles and warm lighting can also help to set a warming mood, so get those lighters ready for those cosy nights in. While it might be relatively mild outside right now, rest assured the colder weather is on its way. Make sure you do what you can to prep your home for the winter chill and make the most of the season ahead.

Interiors

Prepping Your Home For The Winter Chill | Pip Milburn

September 11, 2019

Mourning the end of summer? Don’t be sad for too long – autumn is finally here! Now is the time to get cosy and relax, with plenty of exciting times ahead. The colder weather can come as a shock to many, so it’s important that […]

Lifestyle

The Do’s & Don’ts Of Buying A Car | Pip Milburn

September 6, 2019

Image For most people, buying a car is one of the most significant financial commitments they will make – so naturally, you’ll want to ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible, and that you are able to find a vehicle that is absolutely […]

Lifestyle

Toon Tour Sightseeing Bus Review | Pip Milburn |AD

September 1, 2019

The Toon Tour is a new open top bus service run by Go North East, stopping at 18 fantastic attractions across Newcastle and Gateshead. Go North East asked us to hop on board and tell you all about the new sightseeing service. The bus will […]

Lifestyle

Adults Only: Enjoying Rome Without The Kids | Pip Milburn

August 23, 2019

(Image Source) Family holidays can be an excellent way to bring your flock together. Having the chance to experience new things as a group always has its benefits, and your kids can get a lot out of the chance to travel the world. Of course, […]

Lifestyle

A Simple Guide For Your Wedding Day | Pip Milburn

August 15, 2019

Photo by Beatriz Pérez Moya on Unsplash Did you just get engaged? If so, congratulations! It’s the first step to an unforgettable life together. If you are keen to start planning (as many brides-to-be are) it’s good to create a list of all of the […]