Last week, I was invited to Giffgaff’s Game Plan event which was held at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead. The event was to introduce Giffgaff’s financial service, Giffgaff Game Plan as well as offering money advice from some rather successful money bloggers. The Life Goals workshop included three topics: Bad Credit, Mortgages and Everyday Saving. It was something completely different to what I am usually used to but I thought it would be super helpful and it exceeded my expectations.
The first workshop I attended was Bad Credit ran by successful money nerd Miss Thrifty who started her blog in 2008. Her session was extremely informative. Personally, I know that I have a really bad credit rating so I knew as soon as I was invited to the event that this is the workshop that I definitely wanted to go to. Within the session, she explained a bit about credit scores, some helpful tips for maintaining a good credit score and ways in which you can repair your score.
So for those of you who are unsure what a Credit Score is, it’s for lenders to evaluate whether we, as customers, are likely to be a good customer. The Credit Reference Agencies (CRA) usually have a number that represents as good or excellent however lenders don’t usually use the scores but are more interested in the report that you have. Lenders require a credit report if you are applying for a mortgage or rental agency, utility bills, insurance, phone contracts or loaning something out. I had to have one done when applying for my New Look Store Card.
There are three main CRAs that you can use to check your credit score, these are: Experian which 76% of lenders use, Equifax which 54% of lenders use and Transunion (credit karma draws records from) which 30% of lenders use. Some lenders tend to use multiple CRAs to check your credit score which you can find more information on the Money Saving Expert website. Miss Thrifty explained that it would be helpful to get your score from each of the agencies and that it should be quick and easy and you shouldn’t have to pay. If you are a Barclaycard user, you can access your Experian Credit Report for free via the app. Credit Expert do offer a monthly subscription which may be helpful when your are applying for a mortgage or if you are a victim of identity theft. ClearScore is another useful website to use as it gives you more data about your spending and borrowing, as well as being free.
So what are Miss Thirfty‘s top tips to rebuild and repair your credit score?
Pay your bills on time – never miss a payment! I have wrote down in a notebook when a bill is due to be paid and tick it off every month when I’ve paid it. It’s an easy way to keep track of when you’re paying it as well as the expenditure that you have.
Register to vote. If your ineligible, send all three Credit Reference Agencies proof of your residency.
DON’T TAKE OUT PAYDAY LOANS! It screams to lenders that you are desperate for money which is not what you want.
If you rent, opt into the Rental Exchange Scheme. It’s an incentive brought in from Experian where you pay them your rent money then they pay it to the landlord.
Make purchases on your credit card however don’t use more than 25% and pay it off the following month. You can use a credit rebuild card to help build up your credit score.
Understand the difference between a hard search and a soft search. A hard search is one done by the lenders which will leave a footprint on your credit report whereas a soft search doesn’t leave a mark. It can usually be an enquiry on compare websites such as compare the market.
Schedule your applications. It’s best to not apply for too much within a six month time frame, no more than one or two applications.
Finally, keep an eye on your credit file. It takes time to rebuild your credit score so you do have to be patient. It won’t be a quick fix!
The other workshop that I was interested in attending was Everyday Savings. Now if you know me, I am rubbish when it comes to budgeting and spending. If I see, a new outfit in New Look or River Island then I will go in and buy it because I feel as though I need it. I struggle to save any money because of the high bills that I have coming out every month so by the end, I am usually using the £50 that I put in my savings account at the start of the month.
This session was ran by Eileen Adamson, a financial coach and PE teacher as well as money blogger based in Scotland. She is passionate about encouraging people to talk about money and why it matters. She wants people like myself and you to feel confident and in control of our money. Her session was very motivating and interactive with little games to help us along the way.
Not only did Eileen get us talking about what gets in the way of saving money and why it matters but what it means to us individually. It could be something as simple as retirement or dreams of going travelling or buying your own house. She explained that if you had a credit card with a maximum of £2,000 at 17.9% and you paid the minimum payment every month then it would take you 24yrs to pay it off as well as paying an extra £2,580 in interest. Now if you paid a fixed payment of £60 per month, it would take you 3yrs and 9months to pay it off with £698 interest. I was so surprised with these figures that it has encouraged me to save money. After the event, I transferred the £50 that I usually save back into my savings account and I know it has only been a week but it is still in there.
Meal plan! You can save up to £800 a year just from planning your meals. For someone who likes to be organised, it’s surprising to know that I find it difficult to plan meals but I’ve started this week and realised how much money I actually spend on eating out because I don’t have a meal plan.
Haggling can save you up to £725 per year. Firstly, research on comparison sites for the best deals and then get in touch with your current provider via the online chat or email/phone. Make sure you remain polite. If you are unsure, just state you’ll think about it and try again in a week’s time. If that still doesn’t work you could always be passed through to the Retentions Team as they want to keep you. My phone contract runs out later this month. I’ve been with O2 for four years so I believe I have room to haggle my way into receiving some money off. I was thinking of trying this technique so I’ll let you know how I get on.
Do you have a long commute to work, university or college? Market research websites are great for earning money just from completing surveys. There are so many sites on the internet that offers this however there is a list of them on the Save the Student website.
TopCashback and Quidco are affiliate marketing websites that give you a percentage of your money back when you buy something with retailers. For example, when I brought my Canon 77D I sent an image of my receipt to the cash back provider and they gave me £80 back which I paid towards my camera.
Fiverr is a handy little website if you have some spare time and have a skill that’s worth sharing. It takes minutes to set up and you can earn money from simply sharing your skill with others.
Simply analyse you’re spending. There are so many apps and websites but you could also write everything down. Personally, I heavily rely on my banking app to see where my money goes but at the moment I am also trying to write down my expenses for the month in my notebook too.
Finally, Plum & Chip. The majority of you are probably wondering what the hell these are because I know I was struggling when it was mentioned. Plum is a read only application via Facebook Messenger whereas Chip is an app that you can download on your phone. Both applications take money without you even noticing to help you save money. You can withdraw that money whenever you need to but the best thing is you don’t even notice it. It’s definitely something that I am going to take a look into when I have some regular money coming in.
Overall, I really enjoyed the event. I gained so much out of it that it was definitely worth going, it wasn’t just the nice cheesecakes either. Unfortunately I didn’t really get many images because I was trying to take in all the information however there was a photographer on the night. The sessions I attended were very informative and both Eileen and Miss Thrifty were enthusiastic about what they were talking about. I highly recommend checking out Giffgaff’s Game Plan as you can easily check you credit score, access your credit report, compare loans, credit cards and insurance, and learn some handy money tips from experts.
♥
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This is going to be a bit of a girly chat kind of post so I want you to feel as comfortable as possible. Perhaps read this while you’re in the bath with a face mask or siting down with a cuppa and some biscuits on a Sunday morning.
Everybody worries about their health. It’s a well-known fact. After dealing with Laryngitis and Tonsillitis many times, I’ve become a bit of a worrier. I know that it’s all in my head but then sometimes it is okay to be worried when it comes to your health.
I don’t tend to speak about periods and girly things to anyone that much. I still don’t feel 100% comfortable about going for a bra fitting in M&S every couple of months. Anyway, I’m rambling a bit, of course when I got that letter inviting you for your first smear test you could only imagine where my head was at. The first thing that popped into my head is how am I going to feel comfortable when I get anxious about going to a regular doctors appointment? The second was what if the results came back abnormal and I needed more tests. Well I am here to tell you about my experience and, in advance, it was fine!
Back in July, I went for my first ever smear test. Everybody told me the procedure is fine and over within seconds. It felt slightly uncomfortable but nothing that you should feel worried about. However, I’m not going to lie to you and say that I didn’t feel anxious and filled with fear. You are going to feel like this especially for your first smear test because it’s the unknown. I’ve had six tattoos in total so I can deal with pain and discomfort but no one is particularly going to enjoy whipping out their downstairs garden for someone you don’t meet on the regular. The procedure was fine! Under recommendation from friends who’ve also had to deal with the awkward situation, I wore a light weight dress so I could cover my dignity up a little bit. It was over pretty quickly and it definitely didn’t hurt.
They explained that the results usually come back after a week or two of waiting. It seems like forever during the time frame but life goes on. You keep yourself busy by doing the usual things like working and socialising so you are likely to forget about them until the letter arrives. Don’t just assume that if you haven’t heard by now everything will be okay. Sure enough my results came back and I was invited for a Colposcopy appointment because they had found abnormal cells. The one thing that I was nervous about. There could be many reasons for this which could include: abnormal cells like myself which usually go away on their own, an infection called human papillomavirus (HPV) which means the cells are less likely to go away, after several screening tests that were unable to give any result and the nurse/doctor thinks your cervix doesn’t look healthy.
I waited about two weeks for the appointment and I was secretly a nervous wreck. The name made me feel uncomfortable and unsafe. I didn’t know what to expect and kept asking myself whether I should be worried or not. I didn’t really have anyone to talk to about it which kind of made it worse.
My appointment was on the 2nd of August. I was 100% dreading the date but with me being so busy recently, it helped take my mind of it just a little. On the day of the appointment, I arrived a little bit early which probably wasn’t the best thing because I sat there panicking. The doctor sat me down and carefully explained the procedure to me.
I had a Punch Biopsy done which, in short, is a tiny skin sample taken from the surface of your cervix. I was extremely uncomfortable no matter how many times the doctor said relax, I would constantly tense up but looking back over the experience it really wasn’t that bad at all. It just felt like a nipping sensation as if you were to get a tattoo but the pain was not half as intense. It was more awkward rather than anything but that might be because I was seeing a male doctor which had me on edge already. He gave me a leaflet explaining that they may be some discharge or bleeding and to not have sex for 2-3 days. The results came back confirming that there was no evidence of cancer and that they would like a further smear test done in 12 months time to just monitor it.
So girls, what have I learnt from this experience? I’ve learnt that smear tests aren’t scary at all. They are there to help detect something that could be life threatening but as long as you have screenings it will be fine. These screenings will prevent you from potentially getting cancer and that’s why they are so so important.
As soon as you receive your letter inviting you for your screening just book it there and then, it might even save your life. Don’t leave it, JUST GO FOR YOUR SCREENING. If you are worried about yours or want to ask me any questions, feel free to message me on any of my social media platforms or email me! It’s all on my contact page.
♥
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This time of year really does bring out the stationery obsession that I have kept hidden from many people but if your anything like myself you will more than likely enjoy this post. Printkick* is an amazing website if you are looking for back to school, home office or business products; selling everything from pens and promotional folders suitable for meetings and lectures to bluetooth speakers and notebooks.
The website allows customers to buy stationery in bulk to kit out everyone in your business or offer up to potential clients and customers as gifts or you could even treat yourself to the odd thing to ease you back into University life.
There are a variety of products in a range of different colours that you can add your own brand or logo to as well as having a bit of advertisement for your business.
I had the opportunity to test out their website and I found it super easy to use with a friendly and helpful chat option, if needed. I’m a huge music lover and I think anyone who follows my social media will know that so I had a peak at the technology section. There are so many interesting things that can help with looking after your important tech including screen protectors, phone stands and folders that can comfortable fit your iPad in which would be brilliant to take to meetings or lectures.
They kindly sent me a little goody bag that included: a practical pouch for my iPad, a screen cloth, pen, 3-in-1 adapter, bluetooth speaker and notebook. The speaker itself is amazing quality. It easily connects up to my phone, iPad or laptop with bluetooth or an Aux cable. The volume is fantastic and so loud which would be perfect for all those fresher’s parties too. I’m really impressed. I’ve been using it to blast a focus playlist which helps me with work.
The pouch easily fits my tablet in and I can see it being extremely useful for travelling to and from University. The screen saver cloth protects the screen as well as being used to clean my gadgets’ screens and can also be used as a mouse mat. The notebook is one of those classic essentials that I know I will use for something or other at some point in my academic year. I like how the notebook has a loop to keep your pen enclosed without having to dig in your Mary Poppins handbag for a solid five minutes.
Overall, I was really impressed with the customer service and quality of the products that I received from Printkick. If your looking for some new stationery to take to University with you or to help kick start your business, I highly recommend giving Printkick a look.
♥
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At the beginning of July I attended the Viking Photography Masterclass based at the Botanist, Newcastle. The aim of the evening was to give bloggers like myself the chance to enhance our photography skills whether that be with a camera or a smartphone and ask any photography based questions.
The evening was organised by Viking, a stationary and office supply company, and Elouisa Georgiou, a Yorkshire based photographer who specialises in events, commercial, travel, interiors and food & drink photography.
When we arrived, we were kindly given a named sticker with our Twitter handles on which was such a good idea as there was so many new faces and a glass of Prosseco or water depending on what you fancy. I grabbed a table with Amy, Alice, Becca, Kate and Mel who are all lovely girls. We were able to catch up and introduce ourselves to each other which was so lovely.
The first thing which Elouisa explained was to try and get out of our comfort zones and start shooting in manual rather than automatic. It gives you better control of your images which I completely understand. Ever since I have started photography as a hobby, I’ve tried to shoot in manual especially when it comes to still life photos. The only time I tend to use automatic mode nowadays is shooting outfit pictures with Alice.
The evening gave us a chance to explore creative portraits, product photography, flatlay images and food & drink photography by using boards to bounce light and prisms to refract and reflect the light – something that I’ve never tried before.
Firstly, here’s some key words that you may come across across when talking about photography. You may even have knowledge of these already.
Shutter Speed – This is how fast the shutter captures your image. For stop motion, you will need a higher shutter speed number compared to capturing motion where you will need to shoot at a lower shutter speed to create that blurred effect. Remember the higher the shutter speed means less light is being let into the camera.
ISO – The lower the ISO, the less sensitive the sensor is to the light. As the ISO increases the camera is more sensitive to the light. For clear and less ‘grainy’ images we always want to shoot with the lowest ISO possible.
Aperture – This is also known as the F stop, this controls the depth of field. When buying a lens for a DSLR camera, you will usually come across eg. EF 50mm f/1.8 so in this case the aperture is f/1.8. The aperture is the amount of subject you will have in focus in the foreground or background of an image. A wide aperture such as f/2 or low F stop has a softer focus of the background which lets in more light as well as creating a lovely blurred background . A narrow aperture such as f/22 or higher F stop has more focus in the background and lets in less light.
Elouisa explained that balancing all three of these without sacrificing one will give you a clear and attractive image. Tripods are useful for shooting at a lower shutter speed to capture an image without the motion blue if you don’t have a great deal of light.
So, what have I learnt?
Natural light will be your best friend. The phrase is so true. When shooting my images, I much prefer natural light because my photos look better. Be aware of ambient light in a room, play around with colour balancing images.
Turn off or block out ambient lighting in the room
Foam boards are cheap and can help to bounce light
If the lighting is to strong, diffuse the light with a clear curtain
Use a tripod so you can shoot slower
Use natural reflectors in a room
Creative portraits is something that I’ve never really explored but given the chance to use prisms, glasses, bottles, windows and mobile phone screens added something interesting and gave my images a bit more of a creative field. I experimented with holding items over my camera lens to create interesting light and blurs and some of them worked really well. Shadows and reflections create visibility through a reflective surface which offers something different to your usual portrait.
I really like the creative portraits that I took at the event of Amy, Becca and Alice with the prism in front of my camera lens. I think they were really unusual and different to my usual style of photography.
Every blogger wants to achieve the best flatlay images for certain kinds of blog posts and I would say that mine have improved over time however these tips might help if you’re a newbie or just looking to improve your flatlays.
Use a tripod to help with stop any motion blur
Keep the shot consistent
Use the live view to help compose different elements within your flatlay
Don’t be afraid to go outside the frame; play around, have some subjects in shot and others half out the frame
Large gaps between subjects aren’t aesthetically pleasing
There are no rules to flatlay photography
Try and use a lens with less distortion to create the ‘perfect looking’ flatlay
I really like the flat lay image that I took of the snacks that were provided on the night however it would have worked better if I was angled at a bird’s eye view or used a tripod to look directly down so the sugar snap peas weren’t blurred.
Food, drink and product photography is the one that I personally want to improve the most and fortunately for me it’s the one that I tend to photograph the most whether that be my favourite haircare range or what I’ve had to eat at a restaurant. It was really nice to be able to explore and have some time experimenting with the tips learnt at the masterclass as well as ask questions.
Practise using ‘magic angles’ to find your favourites – straight on, 45 degrees, bird’s eye view
There is no rule to say you need the entirety of the plate or product in shot
Bounce boards, menus and paper even out the light in shot to create light and shadow where you want it
Use what you can find to decorate the image but try not to make it busy
A lower aperture creates a lovely blurred background or move the product further away from the background
Don’t be afraid to focus on other details
Try and use a lens with less distortion to give more realistic proportional images
We had about two and a half hours to take a range of photos using the tips that we had learnt from Elouisa. After some time, we could send one to an email address for it be printed off and talked about what went well and what didn’t. There was so many amazing photographs that was shared on the night and it was super lovely to see so many skills. Elouisa shortlisted a couple of photos however Amy’s won and she was given a printer that was being used on the night. The printer used on the night was the Canon Pixma TS5050. I’m so proud of her!
On our way out we were kindly gifted a document with all the tips from the night and a tripod with a bluetooth remote which is going to come in super handy.
I just want to say a huge thank you to Viking, Elouisa and the Botantist for a fabulous evening. You can follow Elouisa on Instagram for photography tips and inspiration.
Are you a pro photographer or are you just learning your way round a camera? I hope this post can help you with some tips or tricks.
♥
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Today is my birthday! I can’t sit here and say that I’m thrilled about being a quarter of a century this year especially when it felt like only yesterday where I was sipping cocktails on a beach for my 19th birthday but life continues. I thought I would take this time to create a list of 25 things. It’s like a little bit of a recap of what I’ve achieved, things that I have learnt and perhaps a couple of things you might not know about me. It’s definitely a little bit cheesy but hopefully we can get to know each other a bit better…
I started my blog. It’s definitely one of my favourite things that I have achieved to date. When I say it has changed my life, I honestly mean it.
There’s so many places on my bucket list but I’m an anxious traveller especially when it comes to flying.
I am definitely a stay-at-home type person. After moving to Shrewsbury and back up to the North again, I’ve learnt I love my home comforts too much. There’s nothing better than being around your family and living less than a minute away from the beach.
I’ve always had body confidence issues but I’m learning to overcome them now. It’s something that I have struggled with right from an early age but I have curves and I do have places I don’t particularly like about my body but this is me and I’m slowly learning to love it.
The Greatest Showman is the best film that I have watched to date. I’m a complete film buff especially since I treated myself to the Odeon Limitless card. My favourite film used to change on a daily basis but ever since seeing The Greatest Showman it has changed my outlook on life.
I’ve overcome school bullying. I left school nearly nine years ago this year and it’s took me that long to overcome the horrible comments and remarks that I received. In the end, I’m such a stronger person compared to what I was back then and I am so proud of it.
I am a Prince’s Trust award winner. Last year I won the Rising Star Award for the North East. At first I didn’t think it was that much of a big deal but the fact that I’ve won something for how strong I have become as a person is rather fantastic. It has literally filled me with so much confidence.
I’ve taught myself how to use a DSLR. Nowadays I feel pretty confident with my camera skills but when I was younger I had no clue. I never studied photography so I’m pretty proud of myself for being able to use a DSLR.
I’ve learnt to cook meals which don’t actually taste too bad. I’ve always enjoyed baking but I’ve never really been a strong cook until recently.
Social media has always been something that I’ve enjoyed. I would spend hours designing and creating my Bebo and tumblr profiles.
I got into University twice. Okay so I’ve not achieved a degree but I’ve successfully went through the University process two times. I’m actually going to be studying for a Foundation Degree starting this September. I’ll be studying Fashion Retail and Enterprise which I am super excited to start learning about. I might seem a little old for it but I have finally found something that I enjoy.
I have taught myself to enjoy reading. I was diagnosed with dyslexia whilst I was at school and it has always put me off reading until I read The Fault In Our Stars and since then I’ve read some amazing books. Okay, it might take me a little longer than others but I’ve started to enjoy reading books in my spare time. I’m currently reading Wilde Like Me which I am really enjoying.
Mark and I met on a website called Tagged when we were 15 and we’ve talked ever since. We used to send each other love three times a day for two and a half years, cringe!
I have an unhealthy obsession with Spotify. There’s nothing better than finding new music to listen too and Spotify is my favourite app to do this. There are some amazing music artists on the platform that I just love.
My style used to be pretty basic until I started working at New Look. I used to always wear black jeans, converses and some kind of top but nowadays there are a number of different styles I enjoyed wearing including pinafore dresses and jumpsuits which I used to avoid like the plague.
I am such a sentimental person. Do you know those cocktail sticks that you get on holiday? Well I’ve got plenty of them in my memory drawers. I’ve got four under bed storage drawers which are full of cards and childhood memories that I just can’t go through and sort out because I want to keep everything.
99% of my wardrobe is from New Look mainly due to the staff discount but also because it is the only place that I can actually buy clothes that I enjoy wearing.
My dogs have helped me to overcome my social anxiety. When you are out for a walk so many other dog owners come up to you and talk to you about their dogs. It has helped me improve my confidence talking to other people which has helped me grow as a person.
Hareshaw Linn in Bellingham is my favourite place to be. I love how calm and relaxing the walk is to the ‘big waterfall’. As a family, we used to have a caravan and spent every weekend in the countryside.
When Mark isn’t staying at mine I still sleep with teddy bears. I alternate between my build-a-bear that Mark got me which smells of strawberries and one I received as a present from my Grandma when I was three years old, cheesy I know but I actually don’t care how childish that sounds.
I really don’t like the feeling of being drunk or having a hangover now. Don’t get me wrong a love a cheeky little drink now and again but the feeling of being drunk actually scares me and at the tender age of 25, I just can’t hack the hangovers no more.
I love anything related to Harry Potter although I’ve only been to the studio tour in London once and I have yet to see the Cursed Child play – something else which is most definitely on my bucket list!
I’m hopeless when it comes to budgeting and saving money. Anyone who knows me personally will understand that when I have a little bit of money, I struggle to save it. Now that I’m 25, I would love to be able to save and budget for grown-up things like a mortgage and stuff.
I love Greece. There are so many beautiful islands just waiting to be explored. The last time I went on holiday was to Zante and I had such a lovely time. I really want to visit Crete, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes…
Lastly, I am so proud of who I have become. I find myself feeling so much more comfortable in my own skin which is a huge thing for me. I don’t find myself wanting to hurt myself and wishing I was someone different. I am actually a nice person.
This was actually ridiculously difficult to do although it has been something really good for my mind! Even if it’s not your birthday grab a pen or open up your laptop and write down a couple of things you are proud of or achieved during your lifetime. It’s definitely a post I am going to be able to look back over when I am having a shitty day.
I would love it if you could leave one thing you have achieved in your lifetime. Let’s all inject some positivity into each others lives.
♥
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Can you believe Father’s Day is next week?! That’s right on the 17th June, it’s the day to celebrate your Father, Dad, Grandad and everything he has done for you. I don’t know about you but anything that involves presents for men have me baffled every single time. I thought I would give you a couple of ideas which might be a little helpful to you not just for Father’s Day but for any celebration.
The easiest gift that is perfect for Father’s Day is something personalised. There are so many different options available to you, not only online but in-stores as well. I’ve recently talked about designing a watch from Gifts Online 4U (read here) that I will be gifting this year, however, they have released a selection of new products including cufflinks, bottles of alcohol, a personalised tape measure and even an at home brew kit. I encourage you to have a look on the Gifts Online 4U website because they do have some wonderful options. The wrapping paper is from Pretty Gifted whom I have used plenty of times before.
Personalised by Ryman is a new range of unique and bespoke gifts that is designed to make someone feel special. You can personalise a selection of notebooks, frames, wrapping paper and stationary. I was kindly gifted a soft cover notebook*, a Parker Jotter pen* and a personalised mug*; the customer service was fantastic and the products arrived quickly which is what I like when ordering personalised products. If you are a student, you can also save yourself 10% with your student discount which I think is brilliant if you’re on a budget. The products which I received are such good quality for the price especially the notebook.
If your father is into skincare and pampering himself then you could opt for some cruelty free skincare. I know that Nivea, Dove and LYNX are quite popular however non of these brands are cruelty free. Superdrug offer the B. Men range which, personally, I think is quite underrated. The Volcanic Cleansing 4 In 1 Wash* is a brilliant product because it is suitable for multiple uses. You can use the wash for face, beard, hair and body as well as being suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Charcoal products are all the range this year so you could treat him to the Charcoal Face Scrub*. It’s a 3-in-1 product that deeply cleanses, purifies and smoothes the skin.
Bulldog Skincare and LUSH are other brands that are cruelty free. The Prince Shaving Cream is a good option if you know your father has quite sensitive skin. Whilst Bulldog offer a range of products including deodorant, shower gel and moisturisers. You could create a shaving kit in a basket or wash bag to gift on Father’s Day. For an example, it could include: an electric shaver and the B. Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm*.
You can’t go wrong with a mix of food or drinks. Previous years I’ve gifted food hampers with a selection of his favourite foods and coffee. The best thing about this is you can really tailor it to what your dad likes. If your dad is a coffee drinker I recommend looking at Bird & Wild as it’s sustainable, eco-friendly coffee that gives back to charity as 6% of sales are donated back to the RSPB to help protect wildlife and restore woodlands. At the moment Bird & Wild comes in two delicious flavours: Seasonal Blend is medium roasted with dark chocolate tones and bright floral aromas whereas the Espresso Blend is medium dark roasted with a tang of cocoa and fruit ideal for more espresso and milky drinks. You can buy them on Amazon or Ocado so they are super accessible and a really good company to support.
WAKEcup is aiming to end single use cups and bags by introducing reusable, sustainable options. They are made from farmed bamboo, Tryek paper and BPA free plastic which makes it ideal to add into your food hamper present. If you can get to Selfridges London, WAKEcup is offering personalisation of the range from the 15th – 17th June or alternatively you can order personalised products on Not On The High Street too. The WAKEcup includes a bamboo coffee cup, water bottle and tea infuser whilst the WAKEbag include a polypaper bag, tote bag and wallet. They even partner up with eco charity partners, the Marine Conservation Society and A Plastic Ocean, where 10% of all the profits go too.
Another safe present worth looking into is getting your dad or grandfather a pair of slippers. Lazy Dogz are a British designed leading e-tailer of slippers who have also released Beach Dogz for sandals. All their footwear have memory foam insoles and toughened soles. What I love most is that from £1 from every purchase goes to the Manchester Dogs Home. Of course, there are a range of different styles to suit anyone including women if you are wanting to grab a pair yourself. The pair I chose were the Milo Black Sandals*.
Finally, you can’t go wrong with a pair of socks. You can walk into a supermarket, clothes store or get a pair in your weekly ASOS order and just know that he will not be disappointed. Is socks just the one thing that men seem to forget or are they just too lazy to buy a couple of pairs themselves? I’ve recently discovered Critically Endangered Socks who are such a lovely company. The company was founded by a lovely man named Dom Desmond who met an NGO called Friends of the National Parks Foundation who protect areas of the rainforest and help critically endangered animals. Last year, he created the company to support some of those endangered animals including: dolphins, leopards, elephants, turtles and orangutangs. The socks are made from cotton and bamboo. Bamboo is biodegradable and natural which means they are certified free of any harmful chemicals and kind to allergy prone skin.
The socks above are the Sumatran Elephant* and the Maui Dolphin*. Each pair comes individually packaged in a box with a card to give you a bit more information about the endangered animal which just leaves you feeling as though you’ve done something good for the planet.
I hope this post has given you some inspiration for what to get your dad. Have any of these taken your fancy? What have you got in store for your father this year?
♥
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*Some of these products featured in this gift guide have been sent to me to review and feature on my blog. This does not affect my opinion on the products and services from the brands featured.
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The pouch easily fits my tablet in and I can see it being extremely useful for travelling to and from University. The screen saver cloth protects the screen as well as being used to clean my gadgets’ screens and can also be used as a mouse mat. The notebook is one of those classic essentials that I know I will use for something or other at some point in my academic year. I like how the notebook has a loop to keep your pen enclosed without having to dig in your Mary Poppins handbag for a solid five minutes.
Every blogger wants to achieve the best flatlay images for certain kinds of blog posts and I would say that mine have improved over time however these tips might help if you’re a newbie or just looking to improve your flatlays.
Today is my birthday! I can’t sit here and say that I’m thrilled about being a quarter of a century this year especially when it felt like only yesterday where I was sipping cocktails on a beach for my 19th birthday but life continues. I thought I would take this time to create a list of 25 things. It’s like a little bit of a recap of what I’ve achieved, things that I have learnt and perhaps a couple of things you might not know about me. It’s definitely a little bit cheesy but hopefully we can get to know each other a bit better…
This was actually ridiculously difficult to do although it has been something really good for my mind! Even if it’s not your birthday grab a pen or open up your laptop and write down a couple of things you are proud of or achieved during your lifetime. It’s definitely a post I am going to be able to look back over when I am having a shitty day.
Can you believe Father’s Day is next week?! That’s right on the 17th June, it’s the day to celebrate your Father, Dad, Grandad and everything he has done for you. I don’t know about you but anything that involves presents for men have me baffled every single time. I thought I would give you a couple of ideas which might be a little helpful to you not just for Father’s Day but for any celebration.
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