Quality Built to Last with Vorwerk's Kobold VK200

There was a time when, if you bought something, such as a fridge, or a toaster, you would assume it would last for years. In my parent's day, no one expected to replace an electrical appliance. Perhaps perform a repair now and again, but you would anticipate having the same one until it got a bit battered and loved, then replacing it would be a major event. In today's 'consumable' society, everything seems to need replacing every few years and its driving me mad. In the last five years, I have been through three vacuum cleaners, the quality has been that bad. So, in this review I am investigating what you get for your money when you invest in the Kobold VK200, from Vorwerk. An appliance designed to last.

Cleaning Short Cuts and Tips to Keep Up with the Housework

It's very easy to get completely overwhelmed with housework. I do. It feels like I blink (or get absorbed in Facebook arguments) for a second couple of hours, and Armeggedon appears, uninvited, in my house. There are various issues that can cause this unwelcome phenomenon to occur. Maybe you are a bit of a hoarder, or have a brood of mini-hoarders, or just have other things you'd rather be doing. Whatever the reason, you are left with two choices; you can either dedicate yourself to a life maintaining a spotless showhome, worthy of a spot in Good Housekeeping or, you can do what I do and cheat a bit, fake it, and have a clean and happy home, without the hours of rubber-gloved drudgery. Here's how.

Win the New Look Astonish Range

Beautiful Bowood House and Gardens - Review

Bowood is somewhere that I remember going as a child and I have wanted to visit again ever since. I remember it being very beautiful and having lovely gardens, as well as a stunning lake. There is also an imposing stately home too, which I knew Phil would love, as he is a massive history buff. It's situated in Calne, in Wiltshire and is famous for its rhodedendrons, which are available to view at an additional cost. There is also a private walled garden that you can pay extra to visit. So, we set off in the middle of half term through the country lanes of Wiltshire to Bowood House and Gardens. This is our review of what we found there and if it lived up to my wonderful memories!

SS Great Britain - Step Aboard and Back in Time

The SS Great Britain has always been one of our favourite Bristol attractions. What I love about it, is that it is perfect for all weathers. The deck is gorgeous in the summer sun, but if it rains, there is plenty to see undercover. We haven't been for a while now, though and I had wondered if it would still appeal to L now that he is older. We took Phil along this time, too, and he hadn't been since he was at school. What I noticed was that, we all got something different out of it and there was something for everyone. We were lucky with the weather this time, it was really warm and sunny, although it did make the Dry Dock a bit humid, it was like the tropical house at the zoo! I suppose all that glass will do that...

It's National Bed Month! #ReclaimYourMattress and Your Health!

We are a family of allergy sufferers. We snuffle our way through summer, and then, when the heating comes on, some of us even sneeze our way through winter! This winter has been particularly snuffly, and we have suspected many different culprits for the itchy eyes and endless sneezing. Dust, heating, winter bugs, but it was only recently I turned my attention to the beds. I invested in anti-allergy pillows, but they didn't seem to make much difference. I have, however, just found out a wealth of facinating, and, in some cases, a little bit gross, facts about mattresses. In case you were also unaware, your mattress is not the innocent bed-bystander that it would seem.

Review of the Airram Mark 2, It's Even Better and We Love It!

Last year, I reveiwed the Gtech Multi and I was really pleased with it. It had some great, well-thought-out features and I am still amazed by how powerful it is, and how far it goes on a single battery charge. So, when Gtech told me about the improvements they had made to the famous Airram design, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to put it through its paces. I was given it to try, and am, as always, impartial in my views. I have tried to find negatives, honest, but it really is a great little vacuum cleaner. The first thing I noticed, as soon as I opened it, was how few parts it has. It was ridiculously easy to put together, and very straightforward to use. The husband does not 'do' instructions, and even he hasn't had an issue with it! 

Win £50 Astonish Cleaning Bundle - Review and Giveaway

The husband is fairly unique in that he does his fair share of the housework, without grumbling. Like a lot of men, he does like a pat on the head and a KFC now and again, but he is generally quite happy to pitch in. So, when I was asked to review a range of products from Astonish, who better to pose for the photographs! We were sent a number of products to review and are also pleased to announce that we have a Back to School Pack worth £50, containing a selection of essential laundry busters to make life as a parent just that little bit easier. The pack will ensure that your child is top of the class when it comes to looking smart. Just what every parent needs after Day 1 of the new term! Read on to find out if our kitchen really did sparkle after trying out some of the products! 

Creating Storage from Scraps. Guest Post

A Guest Post by The Husband

I've always held the theory that my generation, I'll be 50 this year, was the last generation to be brought up by Victorians. My grandparents were born in 1905, therefore my mother to this day lives by Victorian values. I spoke when I was spoken to, was downstairs ready for breakfast, after making my bed, at 7 o'clock and that was when I was seven years old. I grew up respecting my elders, didn't even know what a swear word was and I didn't say; 'Thank you', I said; 'Thank you very much'.

Creating a Bedroom for a Nine Year Old Boy on a Budget

We've been planning L's room move for some time now. Recently, The Husband had some time off, so we thought we had better go for it. As this was a low budget venture, it was going to take a lot of time and consideration to get it right. We didn't want to spend a lot, because L is at an indecisive age and it probably won't be long before he has set his heart on a whole different colour scheme. Like black, or something. So we endeavoured to create the ideal boys boudoir for under £100. Here's how we got on, including the tricky task of moving his precious sticker collection from his old bedroom wall to the new one!

Best Flooring for Children's Rooms

In an ideal world, children would be surrounded by fluffy loveliness at all times. Everything would be white and sumptuous, like clouds. This is how we quite often begin our room decorating as parents, when we are imagining that cute little bundle of joy that will occupy the pastel coloured nursery. However, that is before we discover that our little bundle of joy has a mind of its own and is usually sticky. By the time they are crawling, we are starting to wish we had plastic wrapped everything.

More Bedroom Brilliance!

I have become unnaturally obsessed with furniture recently. Since I started investigating what's out there, I just can't stop browsing. I am discovering amazing space-saving contraptions and mind-blowingly inventive storage solutions all the time. I've always been interested in making the most of storage, ever since sharing a two bed flat with two teenagers and a baby. I don't think it will ever leave me, even if I lived in a mansion!