Citrus Spice and Travels

Autumn home improvement projects

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 15:38:00 +0000

Autumn home improvement projects

Autumn is one of my favourite times of the year – the air is no longer that horrible muggy warmth of summer, meaning you can actually get a good night’s sleep without having to open all the windows and keep the fan on all night. The perfect balance of seasons. Not to mention how beautiful autumn is, how could you not like it? The changing colours, the pumpkin-spiced everything and the warmer clothes, it’s simply fantastic.

This year, Autumn is also synonymous with home improvement projects. Why? You might ask. Why not? That’s the right question to ask. I recently noticed some small bits around my house that needed some TLC, so I thought of checking if there was anything else I should do to prepare my house for the colder months. After some browsing, I put together a list of the essential home improvement projects for autumn. So, if you’re looking for something to keep you busy, give some of these a go!

Give radiators some attention.

With the temperatures dropping, the thought of using your radiators will be at the forefront of your mind but have you had a look at your radiators since last year? Are they working as they should? Are they looking their best? After all, your radiators are part of your house and, as they are completely visible, they should look as good as possible.

From bleeding radiators to re-painting radiators, there are key things (and aesthetic things!) that can be done to make radiators work and look as they should. Hammerite is a great metal paint that can be used to paint radiators. You can purchase this paint at Kent Blaxill or various other decorating centres and/or websites. For radiators in awkward places, I’d recommend spray metal paint – it will do wonders in tight and difficult to reach spaces.

As She Might Be Loved explains, “Whilst large spray paint cans and paint sprayer are ideal for larger surfaces, such as fences, smaller spray cans are suitable for harder to reach surfaces and small surfaces, such as chairs and bed frames.”

Paint front door.

Let’s face it – the front door is the first thing your family and friends (and the mailman!) see when they visit your home. Do you want them to feel welcome? Do you want them to have a good impression of your home? You can even ask these questions to yourself. Do YOU want to feel welcome when you see your home’s entrance? If your home’s entrance is looking a bit outdated or dull, maybe it’s time for a new lick of paint.

Forbes mentions that a newly painted front door will also stand out from your neighbours’ doors. Plus, highlight that autumn is the perfect time to paint it. “A freshly painted front door helps your home stand out from the block, and it can be finished in less than an afternoon. Fall is usually the perfect time for this activity; just pick that afternoon wisely.”

Seal windows and doors.

Breezy, cold draughts are something you don’t want to experience at home when the weather starts cooling down. So, walk around your house and double-check any windows and doors for unwanted gaps. If you found any holes that might be letting cold air in and warm air out, it’s time to seal them.

*collaborative post

Ways of using garden stones in your garden

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 15:38:00 +0000

Ways of using garden stones in your garden

Looking for ways to spruce up your garden with elements that will look stunning all year round? Maybe you’ve been specifically searching for ways to use rocks in your garden. Whether you are simply looking for ideas or know (almost) exactly what you want, I might be able to help.

For me, my garden (and the overall outdoor space!) has always been my favourite part of the house. If I could spend all my time outside, I would. Unfortunately, the weather prohibits it. However, no matter if I can be outdoors or not, I still enjoy being able to look at a beautiful outdoor space which I spent so much time and energy perfecting.

Garden stones are a fantastic way of decorating an outdoor space and a big part of my outdoors. Stones look good throughout all seasons, come in all sizes, colours and types, plus, require little to no maintenance. As this article on Gardening Etc mentions,“Whether you choose pebbles, gravel or something a little larger, they'll bring texture and visual interest to all manner of features.”

Stones are truly fantastic. To give you some inspiration, I decided to choose some of the top ways of using garden stones in your garden. So, whether you want to change up the look of your outdoors or simply add a new feature – why not use decorative stones?

Where to buy garden stones?

First and foremost, let’s go through where to purchase good quality stones. There are a hundred and one websites and physical stores where you can buy stones, also called aggregates. However, it’s important to choose a reliable business that will offer you a good quality product.

For instance, Mainland Aggregates are a local UK family-run business where I have purchased a variety of decorative aggregates, including pebbles and slate chippings. But don’t just take a positive review from me, Mainland Aggregates has 4.8 Feefo rating, with over 1000 reviews.

I’d recommend looking for local businesses and always checking business reviews to see what others are saying about their products and service.

Ways to use garden stones.

Garden paths.

An easy way to integrate aggregates into an outdoor space is to create a garden path and/or footpath. As Rice Cakes and Raisins comments, “aggregates are the most popular (or at least the most common) way of defining garden paths and footpaths.” This mostly includes gravel paths, which can be used with a variety of types of gravel, including decorative gravel and self-binding gravel, depending on the look you want to go for.

Patio pebble mosaics.

Looking for a relaxing outdoor project? Pebble mosaics are a lovely way to enhance the look of any patio. This is a project that is not for those looking for a quick and easy spruce up. Pebble mosaics take time and effort. However, the final result will be worth it! The best thing about pebble mosaics is that you can create any design you want, so let your creativity run wild!

To get an idea of how to create a pebble mosaic, follow this easy-to-follow guide on This Old House. They explain everything you need to know from start to finish, from the tools and products needed to step-by-step instructions on how to create a beautiful pebble mosaic.

Water features.

Have you always wanted to have a beautiful and peaceful water feature in your outdoor space? Do it. Water features are eye-catching features that will make any garden space look that bit more special. You might think that a water feature will be an expensive addition to your garden. Think again. Discover affordable water fountain ideas at Country Living. They have put together a list of 17 DIY water features that can be done without breaking the bank!

**Collaborative Post

Fixings 101: screws, bolts, nails and nuts

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 15:37:00 +0000

Fixings 101: screws, bolts, nails and nuts

Even though fixings aren’t the most elegant of things, they are extremely important to our day-to-day. Fixings are everywhere, being an integral part of the foundation of most structures and/or furniture. Desks, chairs, doors, cars, buildings… you name it. No matter the type of structure, it will most likely have screws, nails, bolts and nuts.

To give these little details some big attention, I’ve decided to dedicate an article talking about the ins and outs of fixings and fasteners. The best part about this article is that I’m not alone! Today, I’ve decided to speak to the experts and get some professional insight into these small details that make up 99% (not an accurate figure, just me saying it) of our life.

Who are the experts?

I spoke to Speedy Fixings, UK-based supplier to civil engineering, construction and similar industries. Speedy Fixings have been providing consumers and companies with products since 1999. Plus, besides their “on the shelf” products, they also manufacture bespoke products to order, including custom-made shims and bespoke post supports.

Types of fixings.

Nails.

Even though it is unknown exactly when nails were first invented, it is safe to assume that nails are the first type of fastener ever used. The first nails were forged using hammers and made out of copper and iron. As Tidy Away Today comments “Nails are one of the most used types of fasteners and have been used for centuries. Archaeological evidence shows that these fixings were used in Ancient Egypt around 3,400 B.C and since then, little has changed about their design.”

Nails are no longer made one by one using a hammer. Today, thousands of nails are made per minute by machines. These fasteners are now more readily available than have ever been and continue to be a popular fastener choice for many projects.

Screws.

Screws are similar in size, shape and function to nails. However, unlike nails, screws have ridges along the body to grip screw holes or create their own threaded hole. There are various types of screws, from common screws, including plasterboard screws and wood screws, to specialised screws, such as coach screws and double-ended screws. Each type of screw is suitable for specific materials. As this article on The Spruce mentions, “Screws can be used in a variety of materials, like concrete, brick, or metal, though they are most commonly seen in wood, drywall, and machinery.”

Bolts.

Bolts have a threaded body similar to a screw. However, these have a smooth end unlike screws, which have a body that becomes narrower from the tip to the head. Lucha Libre explains “bolts are non-tapered fasteners that require nuts and washers to be secured to a surface.” There are a variety of bolts available, from coach bolts and concrete bolts to more unique bolts, such as U bolts. If you need help choosing the right bolt for your project, I’d recommend speaking to a professional.

Nuts.

Nuts are most commonly hexagonal shaped fasteners made of metal and are used alongside bolts to fasten objects and/or surfaces together. Different types of nuts are used for a variety of applications, from nyloc nuts that feature a nylon insert, preventing components from loosening, to securely nuts that prevent materials and objects from being tampered with.

*collaborative post

Why I love knurled handles

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 15:37:00 +0000

Why I love knurled handles

It wasn’t until recently that I started seeing knurled handles everywhere – kitchen cabinets, doors, drawers… you name it. I quickly fell in love with these beautifully detailed handles and have been dreaming about adding these all over the house. I mean… can you blame me? These stunning handles are much more than standard handles, they are elegant, unique and sleek handles that perfectly balance aesthetics and function.

Maybe you’ve never seen these handles. Maybe you don’t feel so strongly about them as I do. That’s fine. Everyone is allowed to like different things, but right now, knurled handles are taking over my thoughts. So, I felt like talking about them. The question now is… why do I like these so much?

Just have a look for yourself. After quickly browsing Ironmongery Experts, I found a variety of UK brands that make stunning knurled handles. From matte black knurled lever handles by Frelan Hardware to satin brass knurled knobs by Carlisle Brass – the choices are endless!

1. Modern design

Knurled handles are a great choice for any contemporary property looking for modern and elegant handles. Plus, you can use these anywhere in your home, from your kitchen and living room to your bedroom and office. No matter the space, these will fit right in.

2. Unique look

These handles feature a diamond-patterned texture with vertical and horizontal or crossing lines on the surface of the door handle. Not only does this give the handle a one-of-a-kind look but also, due to its design, it offers extra grip and, thus prevents hand slippage.

3. Add texture

Did you know that texture is one of the most important elements of interior design? As this article on Luxury Lifestyle Magazine states, “texture can elevate a space and add a sense of depth, weight and tone to a room”. Texture can be added everywhere and anywhere in a space, from walls to floors and even on doors, such as textured door handles. Knurled handles are great at adding small texture details in your home.

Even though knurled handles are my favourite, door handles, in general, are fantastic and don’t have to be a boring addition to a room. As Dungarees and Donuts says“Door handles come in a variety of styles, finishes and designs, so there will always be something to suit your interiors. So, stop looking at door handles as simply functional methods of opening and closing your kitchen cabinets.”

*collaborative post

What is a pergola sliding roof?

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 15:36:00 +0000

What is a pergola sliding roof?

When it comes to outdoor shading structures, there are countless options to choose from. Whether you are looking for a parasol umbrella, a pergola or something more unique, you are bound to find a shade to suit you. I recently started looking into these structures a little more, hoping to find something for the last few remaining sunny days and that would also carry me through to the autumn (and winter for that case!). That’s when I discovered a pergola with sliding roof.

Tell me more about pergolas with sliding roofs

A pergola sliding roof, also known as a retractable roof pergola, is a structure with a roof that “can tilt to provide shade when desired or let in those rare beams of sun” as Emma Plus Three describes it. This means that you can relax outside no matter the weather, enjoying that fresh air all year round. Traditional pergolas can be said to provide “quick shade fixes”, ideal “if you like the look and feel of being undercover” as Ideal Home puts it, but they do not offer the same protection that a retractable roof can. In particular, pergola sliding roofs by Designer Shade Solutions Irelandprovide year-round comfort and protection like no other pergola I’ve seen before!

What is special about Designer Shade Solutions?

Now you may be thinking... what makes Designer Shade Solution’s pergolas so special? Well, other than the obvious protection from the elements, these structures have other benefits too! Let’s Fix It enlightened me in a recent blog post that these pergolas can be customised “with side glass screens, heating and lighting to create the ultimate outdoor retreat”. So, if like me, you were looking for a structure to take you into autumn and winter, why not add some heating to your pergola system and begin relaxing, even in the snow! Let’s Fix It also goes on to add that “further customisation or bespoke design is available upon request”, so if you have a specific idea in mind, I’d recommend getting in touch.

Entertain with your retractable roof

Clearly, a retractable roof pergola is an excellent solution to year-round shading. They offer advantages that a traditional pergola could only dream of and truly create an element of bliss in your outdoor space. Pergolas with sliding roofs also make an excellent entertainment space; whether you want to host a BBQ, alfresco dinner or just some relaxing drinks, this structure gives you the perfect reason to start organising!

So, will you be installing a pergola sliding roof outside your property? I know I will as soon as summer is here

*collaborative post

PAJ Easy Finder 4G

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 19:08:00 +0000

I travel a lot and it's really important to ensure that my luggage is safe and reaches its destination. I was thinking how I could do this? I looked at various options and that is when I came across the idea of purchasing a tracking device. After much research I came across the PAJ Easy Finder 4G tracker.

What is the PAJ Easy Finder 4G tracker?

The PAJ Easy finder is a new generation of GPS trackers with 4G coverage. It is suitable for vehicles, people, valuables and luggage. It is compact and small enough to fit into a pocket. The tracker comes with a charging cradle, M2M SIM, USB power outlet adapter and a leather pouch for storage.

How easy is it to set up the PAJ Easy Finder 4G Tracker?

After unboxing the tracker and before the first use it requires to be charged for 8-12 hours.

Next down load the PAJ app alternatively you can use the desk top version if desired.

Log into the start.finder-portal.com and purchase a subscription, Next activate the device.

How does the PAJ Easy Finder work?

The Paj Easy Finder works with a sim card on a 4G or 2G network or a mixture of both. It is able to live track any item and provides instant alerts. The tracker provides live tracking in over 100 countries. The tracker has a 14 days battery life, however the more the tracker is moved and it will send more alerts using up more battery life so it may not last the full 14 days. It also has standby mode.

It provides:

Motion / vibration alarm

Alarm notification as soon as the GPS tracker is shaken or moved.

SOS alarm

Alarm message as soon as the SOS button is pressed.

Radius alarm

Alarm message as soon as the GPS tracker leaves the specified radius.

Speed alarm

Alarm notification as soon as the GPS tracker exceeds a certain speed.

Battery alarm

Alarm message as soon as the battery level is low.

I used the PAJ Easy Finder tracker in my suitcase on a recent trip to Portugal, it gave me the reassurance that I was able to track my suitcase every step of the way with alerts.

Once the tracker was set up, all that was required was to place the Paj tracker that was fully charged in my suitcase amongst my clothes. I found it easy to set up and use. It provided all the information I required about my bag.

The tracker offers many functions, some more complicated than others which enables you to obtain highly detailed reports about the item you are tracking through live maps, distance, range finder and past history.

What is the total cost of the PAJ Easy Finder 4G tracker?

The tracker can be bought from Amazon and there are different types available for tracking various things. My main use for this tracker was for travel. The Paj Easy Finder 4G Tracker that I had was £48.99 plus £5.00 for 1 month Subscription. There are various different models available that are priced according to the model and facilities they offer.

The tracker was very useful as it sent me shock alerts notifications promptly and accurately.
I was able to track device live on a map showing route information. This was useful as we had a wedding dress in our suitcase and we had peace of mind knowing where the suitcase was every step of the way.
The two week battery life was useful as it lasted the duration of our holiday.
The instructions were unclear regarding leaving the tracker on in the aeroplane hold, however a call to the customer services cleared this and they said it was OK. I was told that the new manuals will be updated with this missing info.
There were various options for the subscription purchase to suit your needs such as monthly, quarterly or annually.
My device did not send me a low battery notification although the instructions says it should. A call to the customer services soon resolved this small glitch.

Overall the tracker served it's purpose well, the customer support was good and efficient. I will continue to use it on my travels as I found it useful.The tracker was gifted to me and all the points raised in this post are of my personal experience using it.

*Collaborative post

The best thing I bought this summer - a retractable pergola

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 11:00:00 +0000

Today’s blog post is one I have been dying to write about for a while now. I often like to share with my friends and family things that I have recently purchased, giving my own mini-review and recommendations. Well, let me tell you, my friends and family have definitely heard me go on about this product for a while now and some of them have even got their own thanks to me! What is this mystery item I hear you ask? Designer Shade Solutions retractable roof pergola that’s what! I am going to tell you everything you need to know about these amazing shading structures and hopefully have you hopping on the trend too.

So, what are retractable roof pergolas?

The best place to start is probably with this question... what are retractable roof pergolas? To put it simply, retractable roofs or louvre roofs as they are also known, are pergolas with a roof that can tilt to create shade, open to maximise sunlight or shut to protect from heavy showers. This means that these “modern pergolas truly allow you to be outside more (and protect you from the elements)” as mentioned by Dork Face in a recent blog. Since having my own retractable pergola roof I have experienced a range of different weather conditions and I can confidently say not one has stopped me from enjoying my beautiful garden space.

What if my garden isn’t big enough?

This next question is one I’ve commonly heard whenever I’ve told anyone about my retractable pergola. Thankfully, there’s an answer to this! Designer Shade Solutions “offer an entirely bespoke experience” as said by Life on the Lock, so they can create the perfect pergola to suit your criteria. For example, when installing my pergola, I chose to have it as a stand-alone piece in my garden, but you can alternatively attach your retractable roof to your property as an extension or have it custom built to your desire. Not only this, but I also added heating to my pergola so that I can continue to enjoy it even in the winter. Who knows maybe I’ll spend Christmas morning relaxing there!

The best investment option

My final persuasion point on these structures is the excellent investment option that they offer. Moving and Improving admits that “a pergola on its own is more likely to provide broken shade than full shade coverage”, not to mention the lack of protection they offer against wind and rain. Retractable roofs are clearly worth the investment in this sense as they offer practicality as well as visual appeal, unlike traditional pergolas. They can even help to increase your property value too so, what are you waiting for?

What do you think?

So, there you have it, a retractable roof pergola - the best thing I bought this summer (and maybe even this year). Will you be contacting Designer Shade Solutions for your bespoke structure? Get your garden ready for the colder months and hold on to those warmer days spent outdoors for a little longer.

**collaborative post

Stockholm in three days Part 3- Stockholm City Library

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 16:30:00 +0000

Stockholm is a very beautiful city and full of history, If you like city breaks this place is a must visit. You can easily cover all the sites over three days and if you haven't read my Stockholm day 1 and Stockholm day 2, I highly recommend you check these posts out . I have covered how you can stay on a budget and explore the city without breaking the bank.

On our third and last day in Stockholm we had half a day to explore the city before making our way to the airport for our late afternoon flight. After breakfast we packed and checked out of out hostel. We were able to store our luggage at the hostel as we set off to explore more of Stockholm.

Our first stop was the Observatorielunden a park very close to Drottninggatan. It is set upon the hill top, with an observatory that dates back to 1700 century. there is a cafeteria and ample seating so you can enjoy the calmness only a stones throw from the city centre.

Not far from the Observatorielunden, only a short walk away is the famous Stockholm Central public library. You will wonder what is so special about it?

The Stockholm Public Library was created by Gunnar Asplund. He was a world-famous architect and he designed this beautiful library, the design is called a Swedish Grace.

The spiraling book shelves on several floors house thousands of literature. Just walking around these corridors and feeling the books is an experience in its self.

After the library we walked into town and stumbled across a flea market. We obviously had to stop and take a look.Those of you who know me I have prop obsession as I also write a food blog so the Flea market was a good find. I found some pretty vintage spoons to bring home.

All the sight seeing and walking makes you hungry. It was time for another fika, Swedish coffee and cake stop but we were very tempted by the amazing pancakes at Choijs Pancakes We gave in and ordered two pancakes. Greedily as we ploughed through them we had to admit defeat as neither of us could manage to finish our plates.

After a final look in the shops we had to collect our luggage and make way to the airport for our flight home. If we had had more time we would have loved to visit Vasa Museum, set up from the only 17th century ship that was salvaged. You can visit this museum together with entrance to the Vrak a museum about wrecks. For the ABBA fans, a visit to the ABBA Museum is a must and of course for those who like photography the the museum of Fotografiska, photography museum is another one not to miss. It is set in the custom house showcasing contemporary art.

Our three day city break to Stockholm was really enjoyable.There were many things we would have liked to do and places to visit which we hope we can do next time we go to Stockholm.

If you are planning on visiting Stockholm do check out all three posts below and also the vlogs about our trip.

Check out my Stockholm Day 1 and Stockholm day 2 and our vlogs below:

Stockholm in Three Days part 1

Stockholm in Three Days part 2

Vlogs

Stockholm Day 1

Stockholm Day 2

Stockholm Day 3

Top tips for installing a garden fence

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 14:59:00 +0000

Finally in the UK we are getting some warm sunshine. It is the perfect opportunity to spend time outdoors in the garden. Vitamin D is really good for your health, body and mind. We love dining out doors and relish every opportunity to spend time in our garden. That's why its important to ensure that our garden is clean and tidy and well kept and that we have privacy too.

A home’s boundaries are an important thing to have to separate your space from your
neighbours, as well as creating a strong sense of security. While a hedge seems attractive
and a good solution, they can take up to several years to grow. A stone wall can also be a
good choice to surround your home, although it can become quite costly. Fence posts tend
to be the go-to solution as they can be found at affordable prices and installed in a matter of
days. Here are some tips on how to install a garden fence.

1. The first thing to scan the area that you’d like to install the fence in. Check for
anything that could be damaged whilst installing and figure out if you’ll need to
access someone else’s property to get the job done. There is no right or wrong time
to do it but avoiding very hot, cold or wet conditions are best.

2. Figure out the materials you may need to get the fence up securely. These could be
from tape measures, screws, drills, hammers, fence panels to even cement mix. Do a
good amount of research so you can get the work done quick.

3. Remove any rocks, plants or debris from the area you’re going to be installing the
fence in to ensure it sits well in the ground. Mark down an area with string to ensure
your fence is straight and not wonky which won’t be pleasant to the eye.

4. Dig holes deep enough to hold your fence up strong and follow that by marking out
positions and creating holes for the remaining fences.

5. Consider a gravel board to allow water to flow away instead of being soaked up by
the wood before lowering your fence into place. You may need assistance for this
part.

6. Secure your fence well and consider applying a protective paint to the fence to
ensure it stays in better condition for a longer period of time.

**Collaborative Post

The benefits of piling foundations for your property

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Sun, 17 Jul 2022 16:12:00 +0000

Photo by Tierra Mallorca on Unsplash

We have been recently searching for a new property but the property prices are really high for what we want. We have started to look at other options such as moving out of London to the suburbs as property is cheaper and also purchasing a smaller property that has ample land with a scope to extend. This option was recommended to us by our estate agent and we are seriously looking into it as it means we can initially move into a smaller property and when we can afford it we have the opportunity to extend.

We thought this was an option to consider. The agent gave us some information and details about property extensions and this is when we discovered about piling foundations.

What are Piles Foundation?

Piles foundations are long poles made from wood, concrete or steel. The art of piling dates back centuries when these poles were placed under homes to build a sturdy foundation. With the need for more housing becoming a bigger issue and the lack of strong land to build them on, piling foundations is becoming well needed. Here are some reasons why piling foundations for your property may be beneficial.

Why Use Piles Foundation?

Homes tend to be heavy and in consistent use. Many find a home and choose to live in them for a relatively long period of time which means having a home with a strong foundation is a necessity. Piling allows a high weight capacity and can allow foundations to hold extremely heavy buildings easily. Pilings are generally installed by professionals and are specified so that won’t be a concern.

Many areas of land that could be homes to new buildings are made up of weak soil which doesn’t allow work to take place. However, with ground investigation being done, it can be determined what is needed to help this. Piling tends to be a great way to transform weak soil to be able to hold strong and weighted buildings.

They are a good way to create a neat piece of work as pile foundations are built deep in the ground and are not visible later on. Best of all, piling can be done anywhere, especially in areas that can’t really be drilled, which is why they are becoming a common method for building strong foundations.

How easy is to Install Piling Foundation?

They can also be installed in any area in long lengths. This is great for someone who would potentially look at creating a new home from scratch in an area that may be difficult to build on. Lastly, the sizing for piling is pre-made in factories which make construction much faster and easier.

We are happy to have learnt about this option and will definitely consider it as our property search continues.

*Collaborative Post

Stockholm in three days Part 2- Stock Old Town and Gamla Stan

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 12:04:00 +0000

In my previous post you read all about my first day in Stockholm, the journey from the airport, checking in to our hostel and a tour of the hostel. Today I am going to share what we did on day two of our three day trip to Stockholm.

The hostel beds were really comfy and after a good nights sleep we were ready for an early start on our second day in Stockholm. We enjoyed a simple breakfast of cereals, fruits and tea after which we took a short leisurely walk from our hostel which is very conveniently located near the bus station to the old town. We had booked two walking tours with Nordic Freedom Walking Tours. The tours are approximately two hours long and are free to book, all they ask for is a donation at the end so that they can fund more tours for the tourists. The guides conduct the tours in several languages. This is a very inexpensive way to see Stockholm and take in some history if you are travelling on a budget.

We arrived at the meeting point for our first tour of Stockholm city. Our first stop was The House of Nobility. It is a corporation and a building that maintains records and acts as an interest group on behalf of the Swedish nobility. We walked past the The Parliament House, the Riksdag. It is located on nearly half of Helgeandsholmen, in the Gamla Stan district of central Stockholm.

We also visited The Royal Palace of Stockholm, it is His Majesty The King's official residence and is also the setting for most of the monarchy's official receptions, open to the public year round. You can purchase tickets to view the inside. The palace has many interesting things to see. In addition to the Royal Apartments there are three museums: the Treasury with the regalia, the Tre Kronor Museum and Gustav III's Museum of Antiquities.

During the walk, it was interesting to hear the guide narrate the story of Margaret Krook a well known artist, whose Statue is erected on the corner of the Royal Dramatic Theater at Nybroplan. There is a heated coil that runs through her body as she always insisted that statues are cold and she did not want a statue of hers that was cold, hence the heated coil was run through the statue erected in her memory after her death.

After our tour we were famished so we found a vegetarian/vegan restaurant called Hermitage. The cafeteria style restaurant offers a buffet system and the choice and variety of food was amazing. I would highly recommend it if you visit Stockholm.

After a really delicious and filling lunch we decided to check out the shops. Most are Swedish style, very clean very modern and European. Sweden is not cheap so we limited our shopping to a few souvenirs only.

After our lunch we joined our second walking tour of the old town Gamla Stan, the original city center. It is made up of Stadsholmen island and the islets of Riddarholmen, Helgeandsholmen and Strömsborg. The old town is packed with cafés, restaurants, tourist shops, studios, galleries and museums, including the Nobel Prize Museum and the Post Museum.

This walking tour was really enjoyable as there were lots of cobbled streets and very picturesque buildings. We walked down Swedens narrowest street Marten Trotzigs. They say that if you walk along it with your arms extended touching the walls on the right and the left and make a wish it is going to become real.

We finished our walking tour at Stortorget public square. We enjoyed taking photos of Schantzska House and Seyfridtzska House the famous coloured buildings.

After our walking tour, we enjoyed a Fika which is very common in Sweden where you stop for a coffee and cake and enjoy a chat with your friends and watch the world go by.

Our walking tours in Stockholm were most enjoyable but also very tiring. After some relaxing back at out hostel we went out for an enjoyable dinner at Indian restaurant Saffran. Another good find so I would highly recommend a visit there is you visit Stockholm.

In the Next blog I will cover our Day three. Watch this space. If you missed my Stockholm day 1 you can read it here:

Stockholm in Three Days part 1

You can check out our vlogs here:

Sweden Stockholm Day 1:

Stockholm City Hostel Tour and Drottninggatan

Sweden Stockholm Day 1: Stockholm City Hostel Tour and Drottninggatan

Sweden Stockholm Day 2:

Stockholm City Tour for Free of the Old Town and Gamla Stan!

Scandic Hamburg Emporio

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Wed, 25 May 2022 11:53:00 +0000

I recently attended the ReBoot22 Conference hosted by Traverse Events in Hamburg. The conference was all about creativity within your work, recharging ones energy to help you work better and being more productive. The conference spanned over four days Friday to Monday. On the Friday and Monday, we enjoyed days out to explore Hamburg which were arranged by Traverse.

On the Saturday and Sunday, there were hands on lectures and practical sessions hosted by some amazing speakers on a variety of topics. The evenings were time to mingle and party at various different venues in and around Hamburg.

is the second largest city of Northern Germany and it is also one of Europe’s third largest ports. It is connected to the North Sea by the Elbe River and throughout Hamburg there are many rivers and canals and over 2500 bridges. It is a very green city with lots of parkland and open spaces.

Hamburg boasts a rich architectural heritage; the city is also home to iconic venues such as the Elbphilharmonie and Laeisszhalle concert halls.

Their designs are simply stunning and the views from the roof top of the Elbphilharmonie are spectacular.

Getting around Hamburg is easy; there is the Hamburg Metro which is an underground transport system known as U Bahn. It has 4 major lines that are colour coded and 91 stations.

There are plenty of hotels and hostels in Hamburg to suit all tastes and budgets. During my stay, I stayed at the Scandic Hamburg Emporio.

I found the Scandic Hamburg Emporio very centrally located and it is very close to the GänsemarktStation, this makes it the perfect place to stay if you want to explore Hamburg. The hotel has the option of bicycle rental in cooperation with Hamburg City Bicycles to allow you to get around Hamburg and explore by bike.

The hotel is very contemporary in design, but what I was totally impressed with was their commitment to sustainability. The Scandic Hamburg Emporio has taken various actions to make a difference. They have a water design theme around the hotel to show this and focus on taking measures to reduce water wastage. All the water is filtered, carbonated and chilled in the hotel to save 160 tons of CO² by eliminating transportation. Guests are encouraged to reuse towels where appropriate and additionally, in order to reduce unnecessary water waste and laundry costs, the restaurants do not use table cloths.

Scandic pays attention to the careful use of resources by using green energy from renewable sources. You will find that throughout the hotel, there is energy saving lighting and motion sensors which avoid unnecessary use of electricity.

The hotel decor is bright and airy; all the rooms are eco rooms which are very spacious and have real wood flooring, an ensuite shower and toilet. The rooms have a mini bar, kettle with tea and coffee making facilities and a fridge, therefore it is perfect to enjoy a drink whilst spending time in the room. You will find everything you need in your room such as; a hair dryer, ironing board and iron and also shampoo and shower gel in refillable dispensers. All the rooms have bins with compartments for separating the waste for recycling.

At breakfast, there is a huge variety of food on offer. The self-serve buffet has options of continental, cold and hot foods, together with cereals, breads, fruits and juices. The hotel sources seasonal and organic products and supports fair trade.

I was really impressed that there was a gluten free section too and plant based milks and yoghurts for those guests with dietary needs. Sustainability does not stop there, I was amazed to learn that the oils as well as fats used in the hotel kitchens are converted to second-generation biodiesel via Refood and food waste is converted to biogas.

During our stay we had the pleasure of having the free mini bar that was replenished daily and we also had the use of the living room on the seventh floor.The living room has a private work space and kitchen facilities with drinks and snacks available throughout the day. It was perfect for those guests that want peace and quiet to work or relax and get a bite to eat without having to go down to the main restaurant.

To continue their support in sustainability, in the ArtRooms on the 7th and 8th floors, guests use toilet paper from the non-profit company Goldeimer and support the sanitation projects and work of Viva con Agua with their purchase. Every Scandic hotel commits to supporting charitable projects each year.

The hotel has conference rooms with facilities for hosting meetings too. For those that enjoy their daily exercise, there is a well-equipped gym and sauna too.

The hotel is totally barrier free and braille is used in the lifts for those partially sighted guests. I am so glad I stayed at a hotel that is supporting sustainability in such a strong way and also ensuring that all the guests have a comfortable stay and are encouraged to support sustainability too.

Stockholm in three days Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 09:58:00 +0000

I love travelling and I always regret that I was not brave enough to go solo travelling in my student days. However its never too late to do the things you have always wanted, so when my daughter asked me to go to Stockholm for a long weekend in March 2020, I jumped at the chance.

Stockholm is the capital of Sweden, it is a very cosmopolitan city. The city stretches over 14 islands, it has many universities, shopping plazas and plenty of Scandinavian history with the Royal palace situated in the city center. There is lots to see and do and the plan was to discover all these amazing places during our three day city break.

The weather in Stockholm in March is between -1 to +5 degrees C, so it is good to go well prepared with warm clothes that you can layer, take a hat and scarf and gloves and good shoes if you planning on exploring the city on foot.

This was no luxury five star hotel break, it was going to be a city break on a budget. What I mean by that is that we had booked a hostel for our accommodation and lots of free walking tours to explore the city. It is possible to travel on a budget and still have a great experience.

Our city break was for three days, Fri- Sunday. We flew from London Heathrow to Stockholm Arlanda Airport, the flight is very short and convenient and as we had opted for only carry on luggage so it was a breeze to get in and out of the airport and we saved on paying for additional baggage.

Morning flights mean you get a chance to enjoy breakfast at the airport and get an early start to your vacation. To make the most of a short break it's a good idea to set off early and return late, that way you make the most of your time especially for short breaks.

Stockholm is a beautiful city and the airport is only 25 miles away. At the airport, it is really easy to buy tickets for the Flygbussarna airport coaches which run every 15 minutes to the Stockholm City Terminal, the journey takes only 45 minutes and costs approximately £10.00 one way.

We had booked our two night stay at City Hostel, it is in a central location in Stockholm and it is only 15 minutes walk from the city bus station and city center. To enter the hostel there is a flight of stairs, this may pose a problem for some one with a disability.

My student days experience of hostels was cold dormitories with shared bathrooms and toilets and freezing communal kitchens. However when we arrived at the hostel we were staying at I was pleasantly surprised.

The reception is manned between 9 am and 6 pm. It is not necessary to pre reserve the rooms however it is advisable to do so during peak season and if you want a private room.

Our flight was an early morning one as we wanted to make the most of our long weekend. City Hostels offer to store your luggage safely in a locked secure area on arrival if you arrive early and they also offer to store luggage on check out days if you want to go exploring before your return flights or on ward journey.

We found this really useful and made use of this facility on arrival as well as on departure day as our return flights were in the evening.

Since we were able to to drop of our bags we went out exploring the town and to pick up some groceries for our breakfast for the next two days.

The standard of living in Sweden is high. It certainly is not a cheap city as food and drinks are costly amongst other things.

After exploring the town and enjoying a late lunch we checked into the hostel. Checking in was an easy process and in no time we were in our room enjoying a coffee and the famous cinnamon bun planning for the next day.

The hostel can accommodate up to 79 guests per night. There are options of 6,8,10 and 12 bed dormitories, and also private rooms that have a tv.

We had booked a private room which had bunk beds, the bottom being a double bed and top bunk being a single bed. The rooms are compact but very clean. There was a small hanging rail, a desk and a chair in the room and a TV . There were usb charging ports, plenty of sockets and bed linen was provided. As we were travelling light we rented the bath towels at a very reasonable rate of £ 1.50 each.

The communal space and corridors were well lit and there were security cameras for safety. Modern wall art graced the corridor walls, the decor was clean and minimalist giving the hostel a very sleek feel.

The hostel had male and female showers and toilets which were immaculately clean and all had hair dryers.The sharing kitchen was well equipped and the lounge area had sofas with plenty of books and board games, free tea and coffee which was an added bonus.There was a laundry room and a quiet working station area equipped with computers and WiFi was readily available too.

The charge for the private room was approximately £ 50.00 a night so £25.00 each which is pretty reasonable for the location. The location of City Hostel is convenient, immediately next door is a 7 Eleven mini market that was open till late selling all essentials, coffee, food and house hold items. A five minute walk around the block there is a larger supermarket and there were many coffee shops, bars and restaurants in the vicinity.

The kitchen was extremely well equipped with crockery, plenty of storage for food and also had an oven and microwave. Although we did not cook, we did have breakfast at the hostel and really enjoyed chatting to the other travellers staying at the hostel. I liked the idea where people could leave any unwanted non perishable surplus food in the pantry for others to use instead of wasting it by throwing it away.

My experience of a hostel stay was very pleasant and comfortable, If you are looking for clean basic accommodation with no frills I would highly recommend City Hostel. In my next post I shall feature Stockholm City and things to do on a budget and places where we ate.

You can watch the you tube videos of our Stockholm trip below:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Have you ever stayed in a hostel in recent times? Do share your experience in the comments below.

You can also read all about my Peak District Hostel stay at Castleton

Why Your Business Should Have a Digital Marketing Strategy

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 20:50:00 +0000

During lock down I started my online cooking classes. It took a lot of preparing, planning and executing to get every thing in order. From planning the classes, testing recipes and getting all the equipment was just the beginning. Next I had to create a the business plan, do market research and plan a budget. These are not the only things that are required, to target the right niche and understand your business a digital marketing strategy is very important to make your business survive in these tough times.

Photo by Campaign Creators on Unsplash

A digital marketing strategy highlights the specific goals that you want to achieve from your digital channels and provides a sense of direction for those activities. Without a strategy, efforts are meaningless and there’s no real way to understand your performance. I have teamed up with an SEO agency in Hertfordshire to explain why your business needs one.

Understanding the Competition

Healthy competition is great for business as it creates opportunities to learn and grow. By carrying out research on your competitors you can look at what they are doing to take your own learnings, fill in the gaps and improve on your performance. That might be content ideas that drive traffic and those that don't perform so well. On the SERP in particular, you can use your competitors to see what content Google favours and that visitors want to see.

Improve Efficiency

Monitoring and investigating how your budget is spent can help you to increase your ROI and get more bang for your buck. It's simple enough, without monitoring you won’t have a clue as to how well you’re doing. There are many tools out there that can help you keep an eye on this such as Google Analytics that allows you to track your conversions and revenue. You can even drill down to find out which channels are performing the best and identify problem areas that need to be addressed.

Understand Your Customer Better

Reviewing analytics can also help you to better understand your customers, what they love and do more of it to bring in additional revenue. Again, this is all information that you can access through analytics tools that allow you to see where your customers are spending their time and where they are “bouncing” off. This can help to boost customer satisfaction and user experience which is more than likely to be rewarded by Google and other search engines.

Photo by Myriam Jessier on Unsplash

Starting up a business needs a lot of thought and planning and if executed properly and methodically it can pay off. Do lots of research and plan accordingly. Have you ever thought to start up your own business? Do share your any useful tips you may have in the comments below.

**collaborative post.

Choosing a Bicycle.

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 21:33:00 +0000

As a child I never learnt to ride a bike and I never felt that I had missed out. It was only after I had kids and we taught them to ride bikes I started to feel left out, especially when we went on forest holidays and my partner and girls rode bikes and I had to walk everywhere. I decided to take adult bike classes and learnt to ride a bike. am still a beginner when it comes to bike riding but I am certainly closer to my goal. The next stage is to purchase a bike, there are so many options to think of and consider.

What Are Your Needs For A New Bike?

Determining your needs for a new bike can be easier if you already ride on an occasional or regular basis. Think about the things that you like about your current bike and features that could improve your riding lifestyle. You may need to do more research if you haven't ridden in a while or want to learn to ride. Find out more about popular bike builds, including the vintage-inspired beach cruiser for women, and options for off-road riding.

Image from six three zero

Cruiser vs. Hybrid Bikes

A cruiser bike can be the perfect choice if you ride recreationally on paved or other smooth surfaces. Hybrid bikes are good for riding on trails. You can also ride a hybrid bike on the road, as these builds unite road and mountain bike features. You can cover more distance and ride at faster speeds on an electric hybrid bicycle.

Image from six three zero

Casual riders may prefer cruiser bikes. These bikes and comfort bikes are also good choices for commuters and others who ride bikes for transportation. Hybrid bikes are suitable for riding on and off of the road on trails and unpaved paths.

Getting a Special Gift for the New Year

If you want to commit to fitness or reducing your carbon footprint in the new year, the gift of a bike supports these goals. You can get as good of a workout on an e-bike as you can on a manual bike. E-bikes make it possible for you to push your limits.

Many people ask can ebikes go up hills, and the answer is yes. You can ride uphill with relative ease on a multi-speed bike. An electric motor and options for pedal assistance or full electric power only make elevation changes easier.

Plan Your Rides To Decide On a Bike

Planning the rides you plan to take can be a decisive factor with regard to the bike you need. If you want to ride at the beach or on level or paved surfaces anywhere, a cruiser bike or comfort bike can be the perfect option. These bikes prioritize a smooth ride over speed.

A hybrid bike is the best option for riding on trails and other off road terrain. You can get a manual hybrid bike or a 250W or 500W hybrid e-bike. A 250W e-bike has a top speed of 24 miles per hour with pedal assistance or 15 mph full electric. These models have a 30-mile pedal assist

range and a 15-mile full electric range. A 500W e-bike can reach 28 mph with pedal assist or 20 mph full electric and has a 40-mile pedal assist and 20-mile full electric range.

A new bike can significantly improve your riding lifestyle and encourage you to go for rides more often. With all of the options available for manual bikes and e-bikes, it is easy to find the right bike for your riding lifestyle. E-bikes make it easier to rely on cycling as a mode of transportation, while all manual and electric bikes can make exercising more convenient.

Whichever bike you opt for make sure that it suits all your needs as it’s something that will last you. Do you have a bike? Which type would you recommend for a beginner like me? Do share your suggestions in the comments section.

*Collaborative Post

UK Bloggers August 2021 Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 11:00:00 +0000

UK Bloggers August 2021 Giveaway

The last few months have been a tough time for one and all. We have all struggled in our own ways , some with job losses, some with stress, isolation and loss of loved ones. I have found my blog has been a saviour for me during these tough times. Its been a space where my readers have continued to support and motivate me by visiting and commenting and keeping the blog live.

In view of this continued support from my readers, I have teamed up with UK Bloggers to host a giveaway for £120 M&S E-Gift Card. Please do enter the giveaway below:

Meet the Bloggers

The following UK bloggers have all come together to contribute towards this giveaway, offering you a chance to win an M&S e-Gift Card worth £120. Kindly support us by visiting some of the websites below or following us on social media pages.

The Giveaway Prize

One lucky winner will win a £120 M&S e-Gift Card! An M&S eGift Card can be can be used online at marksandspencer.com or in over 700 M&S stores across the UK.

Terms and Conditions

1. There is only one prize of a £120 M&S e-Gift Card.

2. There are no runner up prizes.

3. This giveaway is open to UK residents aged 18 and over, excluding all bloggers involved with running the giveaway.

4. The closing date for entries is midnight on 08.08.21.

5. The same Rafflecopter widget appears on all the websites involved, but you only need to enter on one website.

6. Entrants must log in to the Rafflecopter widget below and complete one or more of the tasks - each completed task earns one entry in the prize draw.

7. Tweeting about the giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget will earn five bonus entries into the prize draw, increasing your chances of winning.

8. One winner will be chosen at random.

9. The winner will be informed by email within 7 days of the closing date and will need to respond within 28 days with their email address, or a replacement winner will be chosen.

10. The winners' names will be published in the Rafflecopter widget (unless the winner objects to this). 11. The prizes will be dispatched within 14 days of the winner confirming their address.

12. By participating in this prize draw, entrants confirm they have read, understood and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.

How to Enter:

To enter the giveaway, simply complete any or all of the Rafflecopter entries below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Summertime Renovations on a Budget

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 07:08:00 +0000

Photo by Pedro Monteiro on Unsplash

Summer is a good time to get your house in to ship shape. It's the perfect time to apply a fresh coat of paint, get those much needed renovations and repairs done. It's ideal time to get your boilers serviced, your carpets cleaned and curtains laundered.

Together with the home renovations, it's important to have that family time, book a holiday and make the most during the school holidays too.An economic holiday is to do a staycation in another city. House swapping is a great idea too, as is camping and chalets holidays Sometimes just a weekend away is enough to relax and enjoy family time away from home and get a change in scenery..

All these extra things do eat into our set monthly budget and we often find that our finances start to suffer during the summer months.This is when cashasap.co.uk come in handy. They are the perfect way to access payday loans without any hidden costs. Short term loans are a form of unsecured credit offered at higher interest rates. It can be a solution for times when you don't have the money and need a small amount to tie you up for those extra expenses.The loans can be accessed online at any time, which makes it simple and convenient for you.

Photo by Pedro Monteiro on Unsplash

These are the minimum criteria you need to meet to apply for a cashasap.co.uk loan. You must:

Be at least 18 years old
Be in full or part-time employment
Be a UK resident with a UK bank account and a linked debit card
Fully and honestly fill out our application form
Have a working mobile phone and email address
Be able to afford the repayments over the term of the loan.

There is no queuing, to get the loan you are required to fill in an online form.Once approved the money is directly transferred to your account. First time customers are limited to a £400 loan although this limit can grow to £750 pending successful repayments and continued qualification for a cashasap.co.uk loan. The loans can be for 35 days or you can opt for a multi month instalment loan for up to 6 months.

Of course renovations are important but do be mindful that you only take out a loan if you can afford to pay it back. You can always find other inexpensive ways to spruce your home

Move furniture, dust and clean under it. Air your soft furnishing in the sun and deep cleaning them to give them a new lease of life.
Upscale furnishing that you have, a fresh coat of paint or vanish gives old furniture a new dated look
You can get fabrics purchased in charity shops that you can make cushions and throws with.
Swap labour with friends who can come and help out to save labour costs, and payback by returning the favour.
I have found that buying a large pot of white paint and a smaller pot of coloured paint and mixing the two to get your desired paint colour is cheaper than buying premixed coloured paint.
Sometimes you just need a few new pieces to add to your room to lift the rom up and give it a fresh look.

Photo by David Pisnoy on Unsplash

I hope that you take inspiration from this post and spruce your home and make it ready for the winter These are just a few ideas for home renovations, do you have any ideas that you have? Please do share them in the comments section below.

**collaborative post.

How to brighten up a dark room in your house.

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 19:13:00 +0000

If your home is an old build or has high ceilings and dark wood it can make the room look dark and dingy. Have you experienced this? There are several ways that you can brighten the room and open it up.

Some ideas to help to brighten a dark room:

Paint the walls and in a light colour
Paint the doors and skirting boards in a light colour

Image from Pixabay

Replace the floors with wooden floors or fit a pale coloured carpet if you are carpeting the room
Light coloured or pastel curtains and bed linen will help to keep the room bright and airy. Avoid dark colours except to add a pop of colour in the form of throw cushions and rugs

Photo by Beazy on Unsplash

Keep the room clutter free and minimalistic as to create space.
Pine or white furniture will add openness to a room, avoid dark furniture.
Invest in good lighting and lamps dotted around the room to give more lightening.

Photo by wu yi on Unsplash

Lastly if you own the property and you have scope to renovate you can add aluminium framed flat fixed roof lights. These will instantly add natural light into a dark room and they are the perfect solution to make the room brighter and lighter.

What are framed flat fixed roof lights?

Framed Flat flat fixes Roof lights are set in the roof to help to increase the flow of natural light into indoor spaces. They also offer good thermal insulation and light transmission. The glass that the roof lights are made from is energy efficient and designed to prevent heat escaping out through your roof light.

Image supplied by Tuffx Glass

The Aluminium Frame has a thermal break which helps to create an insulated barrier and reduces the transfer of heat and cold through the frame decreasing condensation and improving energy efficiency.

The roof lights are made by Tuffx, in the UK; all their products are manufactured to the highest industry standards and are tested vigorously to ensure that they provide the best quality in materials.Tuffx are well experienced as they work on both domestic and commercial projects.

Image supplied by Tuffx Glass

The roof lights are available in double glazed or triple glazed safety and are available in clear, solar and privacy glass too.The roof lights are custom made to your room size requirements and ready for delivery within 3-4 days.These flat fixed roof lights are the perfect way to add extra light to a dark and gloomy room so why not choose fixed rooflights to let natural light into your home

*collaborative post

Reclaim Your Life (and your space) with Effective Storage

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 20:55:00 +0000

Photo by Nathan Van Egmond on Unsplash

It’s surprising just how easily possessions start taking over your space. Before you know it, the cupboards are full, the surfaces are crowded and there’s nowhere to put anything.Sometimes you definitely need more space, other times you need a new way of using the space you already have. These expert tips will help you make the best of both solutions.

Make Furniture Work Harder

Furnishings should absolutely be decorative, stylish, and attractive. But it makes sense to see that it's also practical and functional.Storage furnishings can make any room feel bigger and brighter because it gives you a space to put the annoying little things that clutter up surfaces.

Photo by Douglas Sheppard on Unsplash

We’ve all got TV remotes, games controllers, mobile phones and their accessories, cables, and chargers, not to mention tablets, laptops, notebooks, pens and spare batteries. A drawer or shelf in an occasional table means you can keep the surface clear. The same goes for a coffee table with a lift-up lid or a shelf underneath for magazines or books.

Photo from Pixabay

You could also make use of footstools with storage, trunks, or fancy chests, or even just a decorative basket or tub as somewhere to pop in the corner and hold toys - either for children or pets.

Upstairs, take the same approach with bedroom furnishings. If you have a divan or ottoman bed, make use of their storage spaces, and if you use a frame bed, invest in some under-bed storage tubs. The ones on wheels are handy and easily retrieved when you want to clean or get something out.

The wardrobe too, can probably hold more than you think. Add a second rail under the first for short garments or use a couple of tension rods at the bottom to keep shoes neat and in pairs. One of those plastic drawer towers is also a nifty addition. It may not look pretty, but inside the wardrobe no-one will see, and you’ll get lots of space for folded items, undies or accessories

Rethink Storage Options

Sometimes you need to clear some space, which goes a bit further than reorganising the things you own. This gets tricky because possessions are often precious. Maybe inherited items, treasured photos, collectibles, souvenirs or just stuff you love but don’t use much.

Instead of making heart wrenching decisions to get rid of things you love but have no room for, self storage rooms give you the best of both worlds.

Some people like to take a seasonal approach. During winter, they store stuff they only use in the summer months, and vice versa. Everything from garden machinery and furnishings to winter coats, motoring accessories or just somewhere to store luggage between holidays, we’ve all got lots of possessions that have a seasonal cycle of use.

The cool thing about self storage, apart from handy locations you can get to in a flash, is the way you can customise the room. As long as you don’t hammer or drill into the walls, you can install shelves or drawer units to keep your room organised.

Image by Pixby

A Few Décor Ideas

Like it or not, we're all products of the society we live in, and we tend to do what society dictates is the 'norm'. This applies as much to arranging furniture as to social behaviour. But if you haven't got room for a big sofa, there's no rule that says you can't have three chairs instead. They're easier to move around and group together, and a footstool lets you put your feet up as well as giving a bit of extra seating when it's needed.

Other space saving decor tips include:

Taking off your traditional swinging doors and installing sliding doors instead. You'll lose a little wall space where the door slides but gain a lot of floor space because the door won't take up as much room.

Use wall lights instead of floor lamps.
Have one big rug instead of a couple of smaller ones. Small rugs tend to break up the floor area, creating a more closed-in feeling.
Choose sofas and armchairs with legs. Even short legs let light circulate while throwing less dense shadows.
Pale colours on the walls. If you like strong, bold, shades, have an accent wall and echo the stronger colours in cushions, pillows or throws.

Photo by Darren Richardson on Unsplash

These all help create a unified look that makes a room appear ordered and organised. The odd bit of clutter is more easily forgiven when the overall atmosphere is spacious and calming.

The biggest benefit of sorting out your things, whether with home storage or self storage, is the mental freedom it creates. You can get on with anything without having to clear space first, and when you want something, you'll know exactly where to look to find it.·

**collaborative post

Five things to avoid doing before buying a house

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Wed, 26 May 2021 18:26:00 +0000

Photo by Aubrey Odom on Unsplash

Buying a home can feel a lot like going into a well-decorated battlefield: but there are some issues that we often aren't warned about. For example, is it okay to buy the first house you see? Should you aim for the top of your budget? Be careful; these five things could make your first home-buying exercise a mistake.

Don't simply accept the asking price.

This rule applies in buying cars, going to car boot sales, and of course: buying houses. If you see a home you adore, and the market is suitable for it: barter! Try to get the price lower, and pay attention to details like repairs that are needed or past flooding to use it to your advantage. This is one of the most important steps to buy a house. If you’re unsure about being able to negotiate, work with an appointee or estate agent who has some practice in this skill. Although they might not be able to get you the house for 90% off, these are trained negotiators who will do anything to get the sale so they can to earn their commission from you.

Don't wait to get approved for your loan.

The worst feeling you can have when house hunting is to find your dream home and then have someone swipe in at the last minute while you're waiting for your loan to be approved. It's okay to window shop a little, but when you're ready to buy a house, make sure you start the loan application process. There are many banks and brokers that offer loans as well as personal finance companies like SoFi (https://www.sofi.com/homes-loans/), who you can explore when you're ready to get started with the loan process for your new home.

Don't underestimate the size of a project.

The most significant mistake many first-time homebuyers make is thinking they can handle any project that comes their way. Taking out a wall might look easy and fun on HGTV, but if you don't know how to check if a wall is load-bearing or if it's got electrical or pipes in it: don't do it on your own! Many home buyers get their homes and then procrastinate the projects long enough to become the next homeowner's projects. Don't let that happen to you. If you see a project you're unsure about hire a professional who can do the job properly and safely.

Photo by Tierra Mallorca on Unsplash

Don't fall for the first house.

This happens a lot for younger first-time home buyers. They'll find a beautiful Victorian home or fall for a classic ranch-style, and just because it's the first house they've seen, they'll think it's the perfect place for them. Although this can happen, and it's okay to buy that first house, it is equally important to check a few properties to compare.

Don’t buy more than you can afford.

Although lenders are careful not to lend out more than they think someone can afford because it's a hassle to get that money back: they also don't know every part of your financial circumstances. If you know that things are tight right now while you're paying 1500 a month on your apartment, don't try to make yourself think a 1450 a month house payment is much better. Check your finances well and make sure you have budgeted for bills, mortgage, repairs and have money to live on each month that include maintenance and groceries.

Carefully comb through your finances, and ensure that you don’t commit to more than you can comfortably afford. That means avoiding going too big and considering moving further out from metropolitan areas to get the house of your dreams.

There are many things you need to consider when house hunting, do check out my other posts in the series Buying your own property:

Are there are tips you can share with me about purchasing your property. Please do share in the comments below.

*collaborative post

Giveaway Jute Selfie Bag

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Mon, 17 May 2021 08:00:00 +0000

I am really excited to have been gifted The Jute Selfie Bag which is perfect for a travel blogger. You can read all about it in my recent blog post about Ruislip Lido.

The Selfie Bag is really useful and contains:

Bluetooth tripod selfie stick: get the perfect angle with a Bluetooth selfie stick to connect to your phone. This selfie stick is perfect for group photos, holiday snaps and for when you want to get your whole outfit in the pic.
Pocket for Selfie Stick: a handy pocket for that vital bit of kit….the selfie stick.
Zip top: the whole bag has a zip across the top for added security and so that you can be rest assured that nothing will come tumbling out.
Pop up reflector: to get the perfect lighting for your selfies we’ve included a pop-up reflector which comes tucked up in its own mini bag.
LED ring light: if the reflector doesn’t quite cut it, then give the LED ring light a go. This ring light handily attaches to the top of your phone, plus it comes with a lead to charge and has 3 settings so you’re sure to get just the perfect lighting.
a selfie stick that has its own little pocket inside the bag, a mobile ring light and a set of miniature reflectors in a zipped bag that clips inside the bag.

I am really pleased to share that The Cotton Bag Company has agreed to giveaway two bags to two lucky winners. (I per winner)

How to Enter:

· Simply complete the Rafflecopter widget below to verify your entries

· Entries can be via blog comment, Facebook, Twitter etc

· Please read the rules they form the terms and conditions of this Giveaway

· Closing date – 3oth May 2021 12.00 am

How Rafflecopter works:

You will need to complete the mandatory entry first usually making a blog comment. You can do this by clicking on leave a comment at the bottom of the post and leaving your reply in the comment box. Please note your comment will not show immediately as it needs to be moderated however rest assured it will appear on the site, so carry on with rest of entries.
Login to Rafflecopter click to see what the question is. Make a comment answering the question on the blog.
Go back to Rafflecopter and click the green button to tell me you have made a comment, this will unlock all the other options. All entries are checked to see that the mandatory question is answered, if its not all bonus entries will become void.
Rafflecopter will tweet, like and follow on your behalf.
For bonus entries you can return to this page and enter the daily bonus entries.

Rules:

This giveaway is open to all readers over 18 who live in the UK.
The winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter (which uses random.org) and announced on this page.
Prize: 2 x Giveaway Jute Selfie Bag (1 per winner)
citrusspiceuk is hosting this giveaway in collaboration with Cotton bag Co . Their decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. They reserve the right to withdraw the competition at any time should any unforeseen circumstances arise, in case that the prize is not available a similar prize of same value will be substituted. No monetary compensation will be given.
Cotton bag Co will be responsible for sending out the prize to the winner, by entering you are **consenting** to share your address for the prize to be sent and be contacted by email to notify you if you have won the prize.
Please note to be compliant with the new GDPR rules by entering the giveaway you are consenting to allow citrusspiceuk to contact you if you win the prize. Your data will NOT be used for any other marketing purposes.
All entries will be verified, failure to follow instructions correctly will result in participants being disqualified. Please do not cheat.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post is in collaboration with Cotton bag Co

Visit to Ruislip Lido

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Fri, 14 May 2021 20:16:00 +0000

Times have been tough during the last year with the Covid situation. With so many lockdowns and restrictions taking care of your body and mind became even more important. Working from home, homeschooling and spending so many hours indoors can make us fatigued and depressed.

During this time my family and I took to walking, exercising in an open space which was permitted within the covid restrictions. It meant that we could get some fresh air and also get our daily exercise whilst enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Our regular visits to Ruislip Lido has kept us fit and healthy and helped us remain sane during the lockdown. Ruislip Lido is a reservoir and artificial beach in Ruislip, within the London Borough of Hillingdon, England. The Lido and woods span over 726 acres is is the perfect place for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

There is a play area set on the beach with climbing frames and a pirates ship, swings and slides. There's also a children's splash pad with water jets, masses of playground equipment and toilets with changing rooms.

There is a area with gym equipment for adults and a small railway that goes around the 60 acre lake that is home to swans, ducks and geese.

The lake is surrounded by ruislip woods and there are many walking trails through the woods. The walk around the lake takes approximately 45 minutes if done leisurely and is really beautiful and picturesque. We really enjoy the walks around the lido and always take pictures as the scenery is always changing with the seasons.

On my walks, I always take my Selfie bag with me, which is really useful. The Jute Selfie Bag from Cotton Bag Co is large enough to carry my water bottle and a snack together with all the products it comes with.

The Selfie Bag contains:

Bluetooth tripod selfie stick: get the perfect angle with a Bluetooth selfie stick to connect to your phone. This selfie stick is perfect for group photos, holiday snaps and for when you want to get your whole outfit in the pic.
Pocket for Selfie Stick: a handy pocket for that vital bit of kit….the selfie stick.
Zip top: the whole bag has a zip across the top for added security and so that you can be rest assured that nothing will come tumbling out.
Pop up reflector: to get the perfect lighting for your selfies we’ve included a pop-up reflector which comes tucked up in its own mini bag.
LED ring light: if the reflector doesn’t quite cut it, then give the LED ring light a go. This ring light handily attaches to the top of your phone, plus it comes with a lead to charge and has 3 settings so you’re sure to get just the perfect lighting.
a selfie stick that has its own little pocket inside the bag, a mobile ring light and a set of miniature reflectors in a zipped bag that clips inside the bag.

The handie selfie stick works using bluetooth and also has three foldaway legs in the handle that converts it to a tripod if needed.

I captured some lovely photos using my selfie stick and managed to get a couple of clicks by using it as a tripod too. The selfie bag is my favorite item to take on my days outs so that I always have everything I need to capture amazing photos and I can add extra in the bag saving me having to take multiple bags out.

The woods have lots of are picnic benches dotted around so you can stop and have a rest, enjoy the birds, wildlife and recharge your mind with a cup of coffee and snack. There are many clearing in the woods,which are perfect place to take a yoga mat and practice some outdoor yoga too.

There are lovely wildflowers and bluebells dotted around and plenty of other flowers to enjoy.

There is a coffee shop with outside sitting where you can purchase food and drinks and refreshments. The trails in the woods are all signposted and of different lengths to suit every walker. A mini railway runs through the woods and is a nice ride especially for kids.

You can just pop to the Lido for your morning walk but can easily spend half a day at Ruislip Lido. There is also a restaurant at the lake called Waters Edge, which has both outdoor and indoor seating areas, where you can enjoy a lunch or dinner or just drinks whilst enjoying the beautiful views.

What have you been doing to keep fit and healthy during lockdown? Do share your experiences in the comments below.

#gifted I was sent the selfie bag to use, all views and opinions are my own.

Polar Credit an easier money borrowing option.

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Sun, 25 Apr 2021 19:22:00 +0000

Photo by Gabby K from Pexels

We all get that moment or time in life when we are strapped for cash. It might be due to an emergency, home repairs or an unexpected car expense. This is when we dive into our savings or an emergency pot. However we don’t all have that emergency pots or savings to dive into so what do we do? We might be lucky to have family that help out, but again we might not all be that fortunate. So what is our option?

Photo by Ksenia Chernaya from Pexels

There are many borrowing options such as bank overdraft, using credit card, securing bank loans, taking out payday loans, using a pawn broker or other money lending vendors. All these types of borrowing incur lots of interest and it is important to check the interest rate and payment terms as they can build up to make the repayment very expensive and you could get in to debt very easily. You can also consider the option of option of Polar credit.

What is Polar Credit?

Polar creditis a new, simple way to get fast, accessible credit. They are a direct lenderwho makes their own lending decisions and you are not required to have a guarantor to borrow money. They also reward customer loyalty by reducing the interest after one year of opening the account, then again after another 6 months.

How does Polar credit work?

1. Apply online -You can do this using an online form which is easy to fill.

2. Choose a credit limit- You can apply for a credit limit that works for you and, if approved, use it as and when you need to. The good thing about polar credit is that you only pay for the amount you use not for the amount you ask to borrow.

Photo by Cup of Couple from Pexels

3. Transfer- You can request to transfer money to your nominated bank account whenever you need the funds. You can transfer as much money from your agreed amount as you need, the minimum amount starting from £25

4. Repay- The repayments are flexible, you can pay the agreed minimum payment each month. However if you wish to and can afford it you can pay more than the minimum requirement whenever you want to. There are no early settlement fees and you can continue to make further transfers into your bank account at any time as long as you comply with the terms of your credit agreement.

We all get sudden emergencies or occasions when we need to borrow money. It is important to research and do this with caution and only borrow what you can payback to avoid getting into debt.

**collaborative post.

Different types of allergies you can suffer from.

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 18:30:00 +0000

#AD

Image Credit Diana Polekhina on Unsplash

10-30% of the world’s population suffers from some form of allergy. There are many types of allergies, some are seasonal and others are all year round. An allergy happens when the body’s immune system thinks a certain substance is harmful and reacts to it.

A few types of allergies that people can suffer from are:

Image credit Allef Vinicius on Unsplash

Pollen allergy – this is commonly referred to as hay fever which presents with itching and running of the eyes or nose. It is particularly worse in the spring and summer months where more pollen is released from plants.

Mold and mildew – This can result from damp conditions in the home and surroundings.There is no easy way to avoid these, if your property has damp and mold it is better to fix and repair these to avoid ill health.

Latex allergies- Many items made from rubber such as balloons, shoes, clothing, bandages and toys have latex in them. If you are experiencing irritation when using these products, do check what they are made from so that you can avoid them.

Image credit Kote Puerto on Unsplash

Pets allergies- Pet hairs and fur are what most people are allergic to. People who are allergic to pets react with sneezing, wheezing and breathing difficulties. If you experience from these type of allergies, it is best to vacuum the hairs and furs frequently are and sanitise them frequently.

Image Credit Tom Hermans on Unsplash

Food allergies – Examples of these foods are seeds, nuts, fruits and vegetables. Some allergies are mild and others can be life threatening. Some ingredients such as gluten or lactose can also cause allergies in many people.

Drug allergies - Certain medications and drugs such as antibiotics and creams can cause harmful side effects and allergies. If you are allergic to any of these medications, it is important to keep note of these medications.

Image Credut Erik Karits on Unsplash

Insect allergies - Bees, wasps and certain insect bites can cause allergies in many people. Dust mites are very common and many asthma sufferers react to them badly.If you get an insert bite make sure you have an antidote for it and for mild allergies take antihistamines. Keep mattresses, furnishing and floors and carpets free from dust by vacuuming.

If you are interested to find out if you are allergic to anything, it is possible to take an allergy test. Allergy tests can pinpoint hundreds of allergies, so you can take advice from a specialist on how to avoid these and tackle them with expert advice.

Image credit courtesy from klarify

Taking an allergy test could not be made simpler with the klarify.me home allergy test. Everything you need to carry out for the test is included in the box. Once you get the test, all that is required is a small blood sample which you send to the klarify lab. The next step is for klarify to analyse the sample for over 296 allergens and send you a detailed personalised report within two weeks. If you are interested in taking an allergy test you can order a klarify.me home allergy test from their website. It retails at £149.00

Top Tips for Protecting Your Home Against Cracks & Leaks

noreply@blogger.com (Citrus Spice and Travels) — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Qusai Akoud on Unsplash

Maintaining a property can seem like a full-time job at times. We fix one problem, only for three more to arise. While we may be inclined to put off these jobs in favour of something more enjoyable, doing so may lead to more serious issues later down the line. Protecting your property against damage such as cracks and leaks should be a priority if you want to avoid any expensive repair work later down the line. I have teamed up with a flood defence foundations company to offer you some advice.

Brina Blum on Unsplash

Often, cracks and leaks are caused by issues with the foundations of your property, which is frustrating because you can’t see what’s going on, so it’s easy to miss. If the soil surrounding your home becomes too dry during the summer months, it will shrink, which might cause the foundations to move slightly to fill the new gap. Use a sprinkler during hot weather to keep the soil moist, and refrain from planting trees too near to the property, as they will soak up the moisture.

Viktor Mogilat on Unsplash

Likewise, if the soil becomes too moist, it will expand and put pressure on the foundations. With this in mind, ensure your drainage system is working properly during rainier seasons and sweep away any pooling water. Check your gutters on a regular basis to ensure they haven’t become blocked with leaves and other debris.

Юлия Заковеря on Unsplash

Leaks can also occur when there are damaged or missing roof tiles, so be sure to monitor this too. It would also be wise to fill in any cracks around your windows and replace the sealant if it has decomposed. These are fairly quick fixes that will help your prevent more serious damage in the future. If you’re not comfortable completing these maintenance tasks yourself, don’t hesitate to contact a professional to help.

Sometimes outdoor task like these are best left to professionals to tackle. Do you have any tips on home maintenance that you follow? Please do share your tips in the comments below.

**collaborative post