9 Ways To Stay Warm Without Putting On The Central Heating

Toast House & Home Winter collection

We’re part-way into November, the mercury is in single figures, and us freelance work-from-homers are feeling the chill. I have my own ways of keeping the heating off while remaining alive through the winter months, and I thought it might be worth sharing my tips here.

Motherhood mixtape | Five songs that broke my heart

I know, I know, not the most enticing of blog titles! But I heard a new song about motherhood recently that made me cry and I realised I've been crying at beautiful music fairly consistently in my twelve years of motherhood. So I thought I'd list out the main culprits. You'll have your own heartbreakers, of course, but I hope these ones resonate (and no, the theme music to 'In the Night Garden' is not one of my five, happily!).

Storysmith HQ | Our dream home

It's all happening. In a few weeks, we'll have the keys to our new home (nicknamed Storysmith HQ as an amalgamation of our surnames). But - alas - we won't be moving in for quite some time. It's a project you see...

Bee School | A Sunday spent learning about local Bristol honey

A few weeks back, we spent a very special afternoon in the company of Bristol's newest beekeepers, our friends Sas and Ash. The kids are both big honey fans and desperate to see for themselves how hives work, so we headed up to the allotment for Bee School.

DIY WEDDING | Make up lesson plus what I wore

When you're planning a wedding at quite short notice (in our case because my lovely stepson James was moving abroad for two years), most of the top suppliers will inevitably be booked up already. I spent ages trying to find a make-up artist who wasn't but to no avail. The other complication was that our wedding ceremony and the reception were on subsequent days, so I would've had to pick one - do I want professional make up for the formal pics or would I rather look my best for the party?

DIY WEDDING | How to make your own wedding rings in Bristol

With just two days to go until our wedding, I should definitely be panicking now and not writing a blog post. Let's just say this is a cathartic and soothing distraction from the mayhem around us, as I talk you through the absolutely brilliant experience we had a few weeks back making our own wedding rings.

Swallows' Flight | A slice of summer in Devon's South Hams

Now that we're past midsummer and the nights will begin to get longer again (thanks winter-loving friend who reminded me of this on Friday!), the possibility of a super summer like last year is fast slipping through our fingers. This month has been wall-to-wall rain, which has made me extra grateful for that sun-soaked Easter weekend we enjoyed in Devon a few months back.