Candyfloss & Dreams

Author: Kat Candyfloss

  • Modern Day Proposals and Engagements

    This is a collaborative post.

    I think there is a lot of pressure these days on couples to have lots of fuss when it comes to engagements and weddings. Sometimes it feels really daunting and there’s just so much to consider. Where do you even begin?! I also think these days, a proposal is a little different, or at least it’s not quite what you expect from the movies. I mean, I’m sure it is for some people of course. There will always be a little bit of surprise but I kind of feel with modern couples it’s something you talk about first.

    In a way I think that’s taken some of the pressure off because hopefully we already know what the other person is going to say. It’s something you know together will happen in your future because you are probably already living as married and just want to make it official and enjoy your lives together. I’m not making this sound very romantic am I? Am I the only one that feels like this? It kind of curbs around the will they, won’t they and just becomes a matter of when.

    When it comes to engagement rings are you supposed to choose together or are you supposed to just wait and see? I think these days, again, you’re likely living with this person already so they’re going to know your tastes in jewellery and engagement rings. F Hinds have some gorgeous single diamond engagement rings which I think are really classic and suit most budgets. Choosing together you can find something you both really like, and again it takes the pressure off a little bit doesn’t it.

    So when the day comes around, the proposal happens with a ring that fits and you love to wear it looks like the done thing is an engagement party. I’d love a nice meal with close friends and family to celebrate but to be honest a party just isn’t for me. Then it seems people either go for a long engagement or begin frantic wedding plans to create the perfect day. I’ve seen some beautiful weddings that have taken years to organise and some equally beautiful that have been done in a few months. No matter what, it’s your day to spend exactly how you want. That being said I’ll probably have the smallest and most basic wedding I can get away with! Again, it takes the pressure off such a big, daunting but ultimately lovely and exciting day.

  • The Ultimate Tips For A Budget Bedroom

    The Ultimate Tips For A Budget Bedroom

    This is a collaborative post.

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    A bedroom is a lot more important than you think. Yes, it’s a place where you rest your head and catch up on sleep. But, it’s also a room where you communicate with your partner, relax, and enjoy the night’s entertainment. Simply put, it has more than one purpose if done properly. Unfortunately, creating a flexible, multipurpose boudoir isn’t easy if you don’t have a big budget. After all, home improvements are never cheap at the best of times. But, what if there was a way to create an unbelievable bedroom on a shoestring? Would it be of interest? Good, because below are several thrifty ways to renovate on a budget. Good luck!

     

    Raid The Shed

     

    Why the shed? It’s because this is the place which is home to the spare cans of paint. You know? The ones you buy and never use again?! Well, it’s about time they got some action because you can’t afford to buy new tins every couple of weeks. Instead, you should use what you already have. There is no need to worry if they aren’t a particular colour because that can change with one easy fix. All you have to do is mix the colours together and create a homemade hue. It’s pretty simple to do even if you have zero experience because most of them are self-explanatory. However, if you need help, there is plenty of colour guides available online. Just put down some newspaper, follow the instructions, and apply to the walls.

     

    Reclaim Furniture

     

    People with money wouldn’t think twice about buying a new piece of furniture. They would think twice about purchasing a second-hand one, but you can’t be so picky. Anyway, there is nothing wrong with used furniture as long as you follow the golden reclamation rules. Firstly, don’t buy it because it’s cheap. The cost is a bonus, but what you want is a piece that fits the room seamlessly and looks stunning. Next, don’t take the furniture at face value. Because it’s a reclamation item, there is a chance that it has problems that need solving. Before you commit, try and find out about its level of quality. Finally, try it before you buy it as this is the only way to test for quality.

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    Shop In Sale Season

     

    There are pieces that even the thriftiest of people won’t consider buying second-hand due to hygiene. A mattress springs to mind straight away as you don’t want another person’s leftovers. But, beds are expensive, so what should you do? The trick is to find stores like John Ryan by Design which have competitive prices. That way, the initial cost should drop from the outset. Also, keep an eye out for sales and discounts that will lower the cost. Even if it is only ten or fifteen percent off, the promotion will make a considerable difference to your bank balance. A tip: online shops tend to have the best discounts. And, you can create price alerts that make you aware of new sales and promotions.

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    Think Outside The Storage Box

     

    Utilising space more effectively is one tip the experts all agree on by and large. As it turns out, just clearing out the clutter is enough to transform a bedroom into something special. Sadly, most homeowners don’t have enough storage solutions due to a lack of space. So, the clothes and toiletries stay where they are, and nothing changes. The good news is that a drawer or bureau isn’t the only solution to your storage woes. In fact, they may only add to the problem because they are bulky and take up lots of room. Crates and boxes, however, are a lot sleeker and more flexible regarding structure. Instead of plonking them in the corner, they can fit into the wardrobe or under the bed. Plus, they are a lot cheaper than a chest of drawers.

     

    Do It Yourself

     

    Some projects need a professional to finish the job. In truth, all of the above are pretty basic tasks for even the most amateurish novice. So, there is no need to hire a painter or decorator to take the project off of your hands. They only add to the budget, and yours is very low, to begin with. It may cost you time, but it won’t cost you an arm or a leg. Anyway, a bit of DIY never hurt anyone… much! Just take it seriously and there is nothing to worry about other than a few scratches and scrapes.

     

    Your ‘pitiful’ budget isn’t embarrassing anymore. In fact, it’s more penniful than anything else!

  • A Change in British Politics

    A Change in British Politics

    Like many, I have taken a real interest in British politics over the last few weeks. I have never thought of myself to be a person that is politically savvy. I’ve been old enough to vote in three general elections and the EU referendum although I’ve only ever voted in three of these occassions. I wrote a post about my feelings on Brexit last year as a remainer. I voted to remain and I accept the decision was not in my favour. I’m not hateful or bitter about the decision and all I can hope for now is a fair Brexit whenever that actually happens.

    I also made it pretty clear that I was voting Labour in the recent election. I have no problems sharing my voting choice or political position, in fact, if anything this election has really made me think a lot about who I am as a person, what my principles are and what I want to be known to stand for. I accept that as a Labour voter, we lost the general election. I know, I stayed up all night watching the results come in and I celebrated each Labour seat taken. I had predicted a hung parliament around a week or so before the election took place so I kind of knew what to expect.

    What I didn’t expect was a demand and supply agreement with the DUP and I am pretty sure most Conservative voters also didn’t vote for the result. I’ve also read a lot in the run up and aftermath of how, again, some voters are attacking those that voted differently, just like they did with Brexit. I am just sitting her quietly on a Sunday afternoon with my family, thinking about the future and the changes that might take place over the next few months positive that political reform is on the brink. We have cried out for a change in British politics over the last year. There have also been a lot of personal attacks from both sides of the fence which are unacceptable and inexcusable.

    1. Saying Labour Voters don’t work and scrounge of the system.
      I saw family members share this across my social media and it really angered me. Mainly because we are Labour voters and we earn a living. I have also rejected benefits because I think the system is flawed. My partner works full time, and I work from home for sometimes many more hours than I would in an office job. A particular meme that went along the lines of “Labour voters turnout will be high until 5pm when the Tory voters come out of work.” How dare you make that assumption. There are Labour voters in university, in apprenticeships, in paid employment with zero hour contracts and you have the audacity to generalise them as non working benefit scum? I know of many Conservative voters who are not in paid employment and voted Tory for their own reasons. That is completely fine, voting for your chosen party is a personal choice but these sweeping generalisations are not funny and are unfair.

      It goes along with saying Labour voters are just spending all the tax payers money and with the cuts the Tories have put in to out of work benefits, that simply isn’t true.

    2. The whole IRA terrorist sympathiser and therefore every Labour voter is a terrorist sympathiser too.
      Yep, I saw this one being passed around too a lot. Terrorism is inexcusable but the only person or group to blame, are the terrorists. The only thing politicians can do is attempt to keep peace. They can do this by funding the police. I have to admit, I’m a bit young to have felt the full force of what happened in Northern Ireland during the seventies and eighties. However, what really frustrates me is after all the smear campagin attempts through the tabloids (seriously, who reads these and believe them to be true?) which blasted this in people’s faces every single day and then we have a government formed with the DUP. I really don’t get it.

      3. This election is all about Brexit.
      No.
      Every single general election is about who will be prime minister and form a government for the next five years. The EU referendum was about Brexit, the snap election was about who will lead. It angers me when politicians assume the electorate are stupid and that is exactly what happened. Whilst I agree that a general election was unshakably the right thing to do, it was done for the wrong reasons. Part of me can’t help but feel a little sorry for Theresa May because I feel like she has a lot of bad eggs advising her on what she should be doing which has lead to so many U-Turn decisions. I want to celebrate a female Prime Minister but mostly, I want to celebrate the best person for the job and in this case I don’t think she was the right candidate. It frustrates me that she was a firm remain voter for Brexit and has decided that the public want a hard Brexit. We are a country divided right now and whilst the majority may have been with the Leave campaign, there were still a lot of people that voted remain. With such a small majority I don’t understand why that lead to the decision of a hard Brexit. Fair enough, good negotiations are needed with balanced, reasonable and functional arguments put forward. As far as I’m concerned there were just Leave or Remain on the EU ballot paper, not “And if so…would you like a hard or soft Brexit?”

      It makes leaving the EU sound like cooking an egg. Frankly, leaving the EU is a bit scrambled at the moment if you ask me.

    I don’t know what the future holds but I am confident we will see another general election before it’s time. However, I think we should celebrate a few wonderful things about the last eight weeks or so.

    1. Turnout was high. Some constituencies saw record numbers which is fantastic. However you vote, the fact that you turned up and had your say was amazing.
    2. Young people are getting interested in politics. I was so proud of the arguments both my sisters had for voting the way they did. I wish politics came into school at a younger age because we do live in a democracy and every voice is important. I hope this turns politics back into everyone’s game rather than the 35+ electorate.
    3. We finally found out the naughtiest thing Teresa May has ever done which has actually been a highlight for every single voter.

     

  • Dear Undecided Voter

    Dear Undecided Voter

    Dear Undecided Voter,

    Our next general election takes place in one week, on Thursday 8th June. If you have registered to vote, you’ve probably received your polling card by now and you know where to go. Voting is not hard, complex or scary. It’s made simple for you. You may have voted before, you might not have. I am not going to tell you who you should vote for. It is a personal decision and its important you cast your vote on the things that mean the most to you. If you are thinking of voting opposite me, I will not tell you that you are wrong. We may disagree, and that is fine. But I would like to tell you the reasons why I intend to vote Labour.

    You see, I hear all these stories saying to vote tactically if you want the Conservatives out. I hear in my constituency I should vote for the Liberal Democrats. I live in a constituency that has, for all of time, been conservative lead. I live in an affluent area in the South East were the commute to London is easy (and expensive) and where house prices are high. But I can’t vote for a party that I don’t agree with which is why I can not vote for the Conservatives and I can not vote for the Liberal Democrats. Brexit has been voted on, I am not interested in negotiating with the EU and then having another vote to say whether those terms. I was a remain voter, I have accepted the result and feel we need to move forward with it now. If there was another vote, a vote on the terms, I just wouldn’t bother to go.

    But I will go to the polling station for our general election because this vote is not about Brexit. It is about who will govern our country for the next five years and no manifesto has ever made me feel so positive about the future. Brexit is, of course, going to be a part of it and I want it to be a Labour lead Brexit because I want to protect our human and workers rights. I do not understand the free tarriff becuase I am not in the manufacturing business but I appreciate this is an issue for some.

    Undecided Voter

    I will vote Labour because I know they will protect our NHS.
    I will vote Labour because free school meals should not be abolished for infant schools.
    I will vote Labour because I believe that nationalised services like rail and energy will save everyone money.
    I will vote Labour because my partner has been on minimum wage in his job for five years. He earns £7.50 an hour to support two other people. We do not receive any form of working or child tax credits (more because they are a pain to deal with) and because he deserves to get a living wage rate of pay.
    I will vote Labour so my partner can retrain if he needs to so that he can increase his wages without paying massive fees and landing us in even more debt.
    I will vote Labour because I feel inspired by Jeremy Corbyn. That may not be a popular opinion but I enjoy hearing him speak and how passionate and caring he comes across.
    I will vote Labour because zero hour contracts are an awful thing and should be banned.
    I will vote Labour because I think men should be allowed four weeks paternity pay. Two weeks off with your child is not enough time to adjust.
    I will vote Labour because I think 6 and 7 year olds are tested unnecessarily and that should be stopped. More pressure does not need to be on our teachers and infant school pupils who still care more about playing than phonetically spelling 40 words.

    All of these points, I genuinely believe will be better for everyone.

    With this last week left before we vote do your research. Read the manifestos, speak to people, ask why they are voting for who they are voting for. Get those conversations started. Think of the NHS, the strain on nurses and doctors, long waiting times, no beds…think of our Education service, all those school collections and fundraising days. Think of our future and the future you would like your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to have.

    Please vote.

  • 5 Tips to Make Your Home Cosier

    This is a collaborative post.

    Everybody wants a home that looks and feels cozy. Above anything else, it makes you want to spend time in your home, especially when the weather is cooler. Instead of braving the chill, you can just curl up inside with your loved ones and have a night of pure relaxation. However, that cozy doesn’t just happen. You need to be taking care of a few details to make sure your home swoons with that warm feeling throughout. Here’s how.

    Source: Pexels.com

    Pick the Right Furniture

    It all begins with the furniture! You can take the coziest room in the world, but if it feels like you’re sitting on a bed of nails, then it doesn’t matter: you won’t be comfortable! Make sure you’re buying those pieces really allow to sink into the deep comforts of a relaxing home. If you don’t currently have those furniture pieces, then take a look online at second-hand websites. People are always upgrading their furniture, so finding a comfortable piece shouldn’t be a problem.

    Bring the Warmth

    One of the most important things that determine the coziness of a place isn’t even seen; it’s just felt. Having a warm house goes beyond just cranking the heating. You need to make sure that the home is well insulated so that heat can’t escape, and isn’t drafty and letting the cold are in. Everywhere in your home can be warm. Keep your bathroom warm with a towel radiator; it’ll also make getting in and out of the shower all the more enjoyable. If possible, look at adding a real fire to your living room. They’re the ultimate symbol of winter comfort.

    Rugs and Carpets

    There are some arguments to be had for having wooden floors, but when it comes to being cozy, everyone knows that carpets are the true winner. Invest in the right kind, and you’ll have your own warm cloud to walk on when the weather is chilly. If you do have wooden floors, then look at a carpet. They’re warm and can help bring a room together. They’re also easy to add or take away, as the mood fits.

    Get the Lighting Right

    A harsh light never helped anyone. To make your home cozy, you need to think about the lighting you’ll have in each room. Knowing a few lighting tricks can make it simple to take a room from cold and gray, to warm and cozy. Each room is different of course, so take a look at the best ways to light individual rooms. Darker, more atmospheric lighting is the best, especially in living rooms.

    Add Fuzzy Animals

    When all else fails, you always have fuzzy animals to fall back on. Adding a cat or dog to a home instantly makes it homier, especially in the winter time. Of course, you don’t want to buy a pet just because it’ll make your home feel more relaxing; but if you were looking for an excuse to get one anyway, then this might be the right solution!