Ember Travel Mug²

Travelling around London for work reasons, blog events, to meet up with friends or to go shopping brings with it a whole lot of bad habits that I am trying to stop - too much plastic packaging and buying takeaway coffee.  It is so easy as you travel around to move from coffee shop to coffee shop over the course of a few hours and before you realise that habit is not only expensive but incredibly wasteful.  I have got and have used my fair share of travel cups and whilst they start off being quite the revelation, they soon become worn and tired and less useful, that cup which once gave you 3-4 hours of hot(ish) beverages starts to struggle to keep things warm for an hour, then I was kindly gifted the Ember Travel Mug² and I am pretty obsessed with it.

As I mentioned in my Mother's Day gift guide, the Ember Travel Mug² is the perfect gift for someone who is always on the go. 

Designed to be used on-the-go, the new Ember Travel Mug² does more than simply keep your coffee hot, this smart mug not only allows you to set an exact drinking temperature but it also keeps it there for up to 3 hours, so your coffee is never too hot, or too cold.

If you love technology then you will absolutely love this mug because it is app-controlled. You use the Ember app to set your temperature, customise presets for your favourite drinks, receive notifications when your desired temperature is reached, personalise your mug, keep count of your caffeine intake and so much more.  The app is so easy to use and follow that I set mine up within a few minutes and my mug was ready to use, but if you don't want to use the app, then the mug still works just as well without,

The Ember Travel Mug² works by using seven temperature sensors, a rapid cooling system, a microprocessor-controlled heating system and temperature presets to create your perfect temperature. On the front of the mug you simply need to tap the 'Ember' logo twice, then you will see both the '+' or '-' which you use on the mug to select your temperature. It is worth noting that the temperature presets are 120°F - 145°F (50°C - 62.5 °C) and it holds 12 fl. oz (355 ml) of liquid.

The Ember Travel Mug² is designed to last an average of three hours on the go. The three-hour battery life is expected when pouring in liquid hot, and a set temperature of 57°C. If you like it cooler, your battery will last longer, and if you like it hotter, then your battery will decrease slightly. At any time, you can tap the Ember sign and it will show you just how much battery life is left with an LED battery sign.  Charging your travel mug is really easy, inside the box you will see a base for your Ember Travel Mug to sit on and you simply plug it in and let the mug charge. 

As this is a travel mug, the Ember Travel Mug² has a leakproof, push-to-open lid which will not only keep your hot beverage hot, it will also ensure you don't spill it as you go. I can be quite clumsy when I am tired and have been known to just put my travel cups into my handbag without giving it a second thought, only to find later in the day my whole bag swimming in coffee. With this mug, the leakproof lid is absolutely that, it doesn't allow a single drop of liquid to escape unless of course, you open the lid to take a drink.

I think it is pretty obvious how much I love this mug and if it has captured your attention, you can read more about it via the Ember website and it costs £179.99 to purchase.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Home renovations - The Floors

Just before Christmas we had our bathroom fully renovated owing to a leak coming through the flat above ours and as it was something we had been intending to do for some time, this gave us a kick up the backside to actually get it done.  As always with home renovations, it comes with a whole host of issues and decisions that need to be taken.

One of the areas we struggled with choosing something for was the flooring, beforehand we had some cheap carpet which wasn't quite laminate but wasn't quite a rug either, it did, however, look like floor tiles.  So I looked around for some different samples - laminate, wood, LVT and tiles and in the end opted for tiles which ended up being a light grey with grey grouting between them.  

We do have one outstanding issue that needs to be rectified and it is the hallway flooring. At present we have managed to fix part of the flooring which was damaged during the leak with some leftover laminate flooring that I managed to find hidden in a cupboard, the flooring in all rooms was one which was either installed or laid before we moved in. We have however decided that we will be looking to change the flooring in the hallway and the lounge, workmen cause dirt and dust and some stains are irreversible.  For the hallway, the current favourite is to choose wood flooring as it offers more insulation and will be hardwearing enough for the cats wh seemingly like to go skidding across the floors when having a game of chase.  

For the lounge, what was a light beige coloured carpet will need changing entirely as I can see the footprints from where someone walked across it after the hallway floor had been varnished - so needless to say, it drives me mad and other than purchasing an extra-large rug to try and cover as much of the current carper as possible, for the time being, it stays as it is.

Have you bought a new rug, carpet, flooring lately? Do you have any advice on what to choose, best colours?

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

A Cosy Night in with giffgaff

We are living in unprecedented times, I am sure we can all agree to that and for me, I am trying as best I can to keep to my usual routine.  During the week my alarm hasn't been changed, though I might press the snooze button a few more times than I usually would, I go to bed at the same time and whilst I am now working from home, the weekends are still my downtime.  Sunday is still reserved for an hour of 'Me time' be that in a bath of bubbles, or a nap and on a Saturday night, date night is now taking place at home with a film and some snacks, though last weekend it came via a box of amazing products from giffgaff.

Inside my box, I was kindly gifted with some products to make that chilled night in a little more fun and definitely much more bearable than it might have been.  The first item out of the box is the Smartphone projector which is suitable for use with iOS and Android and Windows* compatible smartphones. *version 8 and above.  This device is simply brilliant, whether you are watching some old videos on your phone, have logged into Netflix or Amazon Prime to watch a film.  

Naturally, the room you use the projector in needs to be pitch black, your phone brightness needs to be on 100% the self assemble guide is really easy to follow too. Keep an eye on my Instagram to see the projector in action.

Added into my box is also the Marley No Bounds Portable Bluetooth Speaker System, which is not only water-resistant and dustproof, it also features 10 hours of playtime, so if you are ready to do a Star Wars marathon or even Harry Potter, then you don't have to worry about your speaker running out of charge. But if playing something out loud is likely to annoy other members of your household, then also included is an alternative option - the Marley Smile Jamaica in-ear headphones. 

These headphones have been a bit of a lifeline whilst I am working from home, they mean I can take part in conference calls without having to broadcast it across the house and because they feature noise-isolating technology, I can fully concentrate without getting distracted.  Also,  because these headphones are to all intents and purposes wireless, I am not tripping over cables, they are charged using a USB. Further to that, they work up to 10m away from the connected device, be it your Kindle, iPad or iPhone and the function of being able to answer calls, forward, rewind and pause calls and media is invaluable.

A night in for me is not perfect until the right atmosphere has been created. That means lights down, Himalayan salt lamp switched on and candles lit.  Again, another gift within the box is a giffgaff bespoke candle made by McKinley and Paget and it smells just absolutely wonderful of orange scents.  

The candle comes with 30 hours of burn time and it is a brand I am really keen to learn more about because the stories behind each candle are a delight to read.

The final items within my box include a £5 Sim credit so that I can call friends and family, something that is definitely important to be doing at times likes these and a voucher to ensure that we have a really nice meal for two, something I am very much looking forward to using at a later date.

What I absolutely love about this concept is the thoughtfulness that has gone into each box and its theme. Without question it does help to create a great night in, it is slightly different to something we might have ordinarily done to watch a film together and it certainly created a lot of laughs as we tried to get the balance just right so that we could both see and hear what was going on.

What do you do for a cosy night in?

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Making Room for Your Fashion & Beauty Stash

If you’re struggling to find space for clothes, make-up and other beauty or fashion products, chances are a lack of space is only half the problem. The other half is the way we use what room we have. When space is in short supply, using it effectively is even more important. 

Photo by Taisiia Shestopal on Unsplash

Storage and Display for make-up

Few beauty routines are complete without a little splash of colour from make-up. But even if you don’t like, or own, lots of foundations, eye colours, blushes and mascaras, chances are you’ll have favourite moisturisers, hair care products or bath and shower gels and creams.

If make-up is your thing, you’ll know how expensive it gets. And maybe you’re attracted to the packaging as well as the product. The cost makes everything worth keeping from a purely practical point of view, and the attractive colours and pretty boxes make the products worthy of display whether they’re being used or not. While you’re also considering where to store your beauty products, consider what you will be doing with your Keratin hair straightening treatments. Keeping your hair and beauty products in one place is a must, as this will ensure that you are organised. Your things need to be kept organised so that you don't have total stress when getting through your morning routine. Straightening your hair should only be done with the right products, which is why Keratin is often used.

Creating display areas to show off your beauty products also has the advantage of keeping your collection together, making things much easier to find than rummaging in a bag or drawer. Try one or two of these display ideas:

• Use letter racks for eye shadow palettes, especially the larger ones with multiple shade options.
• Invest in a couple of magazine racks to hold hair styling gadgets such as straighteners or tongs, rollers or ties.
• Keep your eye out for pretty mugs or small glass vases, both of which make excellent holders for eye pencils, liners, or mascara wands. Charity shops are treasure troves for unusual or vintage cups and vases that could be make-up display containers.
• A rainbow of nail polishes looks appealing when displayed on a revolving cake stand.
• Install a shelf close to or over your dressing table or make-up mirror for items you use most often.

Sort Out Your Wardrobe

Getting your wardrobe organised so you can see and find everything makes getting dressed in the morning so much easier, especially if you like putting separates together and adding matching accessories.

• Tackle hanging clothes first. Arrange the hangers so all the short items are together and all the long clothes are together. This should leave plenty of accessible space underneath the shorter clothes. Here, you could pop a plastic tower drawer to hold undies, accessories or shoes.
• Alternative wardrobe storage for shoes is a shoe rack at the bottom of the wardrobe. If you don’t have space for a purpose-made shoe rack, fashion your own with a couple of tension rods intended for lightweight curtains. Fix them at the bottom of the wardrobe a few inches apart with the back one higher than the one in front. Hook the heels over the back rod and let the sole of the shoe rest on the front rod. Tension rods are brilliant as they come in many sizes. You could even use one as a second hanging rail for light clothing.
• Loop one end of a length of chain (bought from hardware or DIY shops), over a hanger and let the other end dangle down. Use the length of the chain to hang other hangers or S hooks so you have somewhere for bags, scarves, ties or necklaces.

A Seasonal Self Storage Option

There are now so many self storage units in London and elsewhere, that it’s become a go-to option for people who’ve discovered the seasonal storage method.

You can practically double your wardrobe space in one fell swoop when you remove everything that’s out of season. Putting all the stuff won’t need for the foreseeable future into self storage also means those items are not cluttering up other areas in the house.

When searching for a self storage facility, you will want to focus on how convenient it would be for you to access your personal belongings in terms of travel time, ease of access and schedule i.e. opening and closing times. One that is local to you is more than ideal and it's within reach of a five to ten minute ride by bus or car is golden. It's really a matter of practicality and convenience for example if you live in Greenwich it would be ideal to get a storage facility in Greenwhich, the same logic would be applied if you live in a place like in Bournemouth or wherever you may reside.    

There’s a hidden advantage to tucking things away in self storage. When you haven’t seen an item of clothing for a few months, chances are you’ll have forgotten it and it’ll feel new and fresh again. Also, if you’re not sure whether you want to keep something or get rid of it, putting it out of sight gives you some breathing space so you don’t have to make that decision. You’ll know, as soon as you get it out of storage, whether you’re glad you didn’t throw it away or if you really don’t want it anymore. 

You’re allowed to install drawers or hanging rails and shelves in self storage facilities, as long as everything is free standing. It’s easy to make a walk-in wardrobe for seasonal clothes you can swap out as the seasons change.

Making room for a fashion and beauty stash without slashing your collection in half can feel all but impossible. But it’s not, with a bit of lateral thinking and a few clever strategies.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.