Candyfloss & Dreams

Category: Lifestyle

lifestyle blog posts focusing on home, lifestyle, parenting, pregnancy, family life and home and style. Home decor and working at home, working at home as a self employed freelancer and blogger. Family lifestyle blog posts including family reviews, family products and saving money as a family. Being a more eco friendly family.

  • Helpful Advice For First-Time Home Buyers

    Helpful Advice For First-Time Home Buyers

    This is a collaborative post.

    (image source)

    Buying a house for the first time is an exciting, yet stressful experience. This is one of the biggest purchases you will ever make in your life, so you want to get it right. Should you be about to embark on this momentous and life-changing chapter in your life, we have some helpful advice for you.

    Is it right for you?

    For starters, are you in the right place to buy a home for the first time? Consider your personal circumstances. If your life is open to change, such as getting married or moving on in your career, then renting accommodation may be the better answer. You need to be in a stable place in your life, so take a step back before you embark on the home buying process.

    Dealing with your finances

    The financial aspect of buying a house is the biggest worry for first-time buyers. However, you can make it easier for yourself by saving as early as you can. You will need money to put down a down payment, as well as those other ‘extras’ that come with owning a home, such as insurance costs and utility bills.

    When it comes to getting a mortgage, shop around. There is no need to stick with your regular bank if you can get a better mortgage rate elsewhere. As with any loan, you need to be able to make the repayments, so remember to buy within your means. Getting a mortgage can be a minefield so read more here for advice you should find helpful.

    Take your time

    Don’t rush into buying your first house. There is a lot to consider, besides the financial aspects mentioned above. You want to be happy with your purchase, as you don’t want to be stuck with something impractical to your needs. Think about the location and the size of your family, for starters. Buying a house is exciting, but spending time in research and planning before signing on the dotted line will benefit you in the long run.

    Get a second opinion

    It’s easy to fall in love with a house when you are searching for the right place, but you don’t want to be blind to its shortcomings. Having a second pair of eyes will help you get some perspective, as another person may spot faults within the property that you haven’t noticed. Be it a family member, friend, or a qualified professional, listen to the advice of others before you spend a fortune on a potential money pit.

    Curb your spending

    This is your first step on the property ladder, so you don’t need to buy the house of your dreams just yet. Know what you can afford, and spend accordingly. Provided the house meets most of your needs, you can upgrade and add value to the property later. Then you can sell the home at a greater price later on, and have the means to move into something that more closely resembles your ideal home.

    We wish you great success in your new home.

  • SENSSE Beauty Products Review

    I’ve talked before about how I’m trying to take better care of my skin and using some new skincare products. I’ve been balancing this out with two tools from SENSSE’s range of fantastic tools. I’ve been lucky enough to try the SENSSE Silicone Facial Cleansing Brush and Exfoliater alongside the SENSSE Hot and Cold Facial Bar. Both products work really nice alongside each other for amazing skincare results and for a really nice treat. I think cleansing is so important and I really notice a massive difference after regularly exfoliating.

    The SENSSE Facial Cleansing Brush is fantastic because you really get the most from your cleanser. I’ve used this with a few different cleansers including cream and foaming. I’ve found using the cleansing brush I need half as much as I would usually use so it’s really helping me to get the most out of my products too. The brush gently cleans the skin and exfoliates thanks to the little brushes which feel very soft. It’s quite strange going from a manual motion to an electronic one but it really has been making a massive difference. My skin looks so much brighter when I cleanse and exfoliate properly and this also helps to clear breakouts.

    SENSSE Beauty Product Tools Review

    The SENSSE Hot and Cold facial bar is amazing and even Adam is convinced by it. The product massages the face with your chosen moisturiser and again a little goes a long way. First you use the warming setting to relax the muscles and apply your moisturiser. You can either have it warming or warming and massaging which really helps to relax the muscles in your face. Once your moisturiser has been applied you switch to the cooling setting which helps to tighten everything back up, close your pores and helps to prevent any nasties getting back into your skin. The cool setting is also amazing to use in a hot flush or on a hot day.

    Both products are easy to charge, maintain and clean. The come with USB style chargers and are easy to transport.

    Disclaimer: I received these products in exchange for this review. All opinions remain my own. 

    Accidental Hipster Mum

  • Peachy Fox Organic Skincare Review

    I usually have pretty good skin but I do have some mild rosacea, dark circles and suffer the occasional breakout. I’ve recently been trying out Peachy Fox Organic Skincare to try and get a bit more moisture in my skin and reduce the redness. Peachy Fox are a London based organic skincare company that are pretty new to the market and have some great products available on amazon. I’ve been able to try the Anti-Redness Skin Calming Lotion, Organic Collagen Eye Gel and Organic Retinol Moisturiser. The combination of these three products has helped reduce the puffiness under my eyes which is something that really irritates me. The eye gel really brightens up the area too which reduces those dark circles.

    I think the Anti-Redness cream is great, it’s really calmed my skin down and using this and a simple BB cream I don’t feel I always need a full face of makeup to leave the house. The lotion glides onto the skin really easily and I usually leave it about five minutes to allow the lotion to absorb into my skin before applying any makeup. It’s a little thin to use at night but makes a great morning moisturiser. The Retinol moisturiser is probably my favourite product. I have combination skin which has a few oily patches so I find I need a moisturiser that provides a matte affect. This really helps reduce shiny patches under my makeup and keeps my skin looking smooth and feeling hydrated.

    I really like that these products are organic as I want to use things that I know are going to be sourced well and good for my skin. With all three of these products I find a little goes a long way. Each have a little pump which dispenses the perfect amount each time. You can buy these products on Amazon now.

    Disclaimer: I received these products for a very low discount in exchange for this feature. All opinions remain my own.



  • Top 7 Ways to Get a Better Night’s Sleep When You’re Pregnant

    This is a guest post.

    It’s hard enough to fall asleep at night on the regular, but now you’re pregnant, and there are other comfort issues at play.   

    Although there’s really nothing you can do about the kicking and moving (at least until baby comes) there are some things you can do to make yourself as comfortable as possible so that you can get the maximum amount of sleep each night.  Because, after all, your baby is growing inside you and you both need as much rest as possible! Check out this infographic which talks about how your mattress affects sleep quality.

    Here are my top 7 ways to get a better night’s sleep when you’re pregnant:

    1. Find a position that works well for you.

    In general, everyone has a sleep position that they prefer.  Some people are side sleepers, some are back sleepers, some prefer a fetal position or to sleep on their stomach.  When you’re pregnant there are obvious reasons why some positions won’t work for you.

    It’s important to note that sleeping on your belly can be dangerous for the baby and for yourself, because it can restrict blood flow to both of you.  Know that sleeping on your left side is ideal for your circulation and baby’s blood flow and growth, according to WebMD, but ultimately you should experiment with different positions until you find the one that works the best for you.

    1. Invest in a pregnancy pillow.

    Pregnancy pillows can be amazing for helping you get comfortable at night.  Not only do they make you feel more comfortable but they also position you correctly, and help keep you from assuming positions that might be harmful to you or your baby (like rolling over).  

    If you’re not sure which pregnancy pillow is the right fit for you, you should check out this helpful list of comparisons from SleepAdvisor.

    1. Sleep in just the right spot.

     

    And I don’t mean in your bed.  Sometimes your bed is going to be the best place, but when you’re pregnant, that couch, armchair, or futon looks pretty good, too!  It all just depends on what makes you feel the most comfortable.  

    Sometimes it’s going to be the room that gets the coolest within your house, and sometimes it’s going to be in the chair that reclines the farthest.  Experiment with different locations, surfaces, and levels to find the best fit for you.

    1. Get a Maternity Band.

    Maternity Bands aren’t for sleeping with, but wearing one during the day can definitely cut down on your pain at night and allow you to feel more relaxed, leading to better slumber.  You can read this article from healthline.com on why Maternity Bands are super helpful during pregnancy.

    1. Ease Up on Caffeine & Large Meals Before Bed

    You’re pregnant, so you’re likely avoiding caffeine anyway.  If you aren’t, you definitely need to, because not only is it bad for baby but it’s also not letting you sleep as much as you should be able to at this point.   

    Additionally, although you are eating for two (or three), you should limit the size of the meals you eat before bed. Large meals before bed can lead to even more heartburn, indigestion, and it can make your body stay up all night trying to digest the meal, when it should be helping your baby grow.

    1. Find Things that Relax You.

    This is kind of an obvious one, but a lot of times women get so wrapped up in taking care of their families that they forget to take care of themselves. Make sure you’re doing things for you.  Wear comfortable pajamas, put on your favorite movie,  take a hot soothing shower, or drink a cup of sleepy time soothing (non-caffeinated) tea.

    You should make sure to do whatever it is that makes you feel relaxed right before bed for an amazing slumber.  If you don’t necessarily have a relaxation routine, you may want to look into yoga and meditation, and there are specific classes geared towards pregnant women.

    1. Limit Electronic Exposure

    Finally, as soon as your favorite movie or TV show is over, you should turn it off.  The worst thing you can do is try to go to sleep with the television on, or with your mobile phone in your hands.  The electronic glare affects your brain and “wakes it up”, leaving it even harder for you to go to sleep.  

    Not to mention, the jury is still out on whether the emissions from these devices can be harmful for you in large doses.  Make sure to be truly unplugged at night so you can go to sleep soundly. Of course, the one thing that you can allow yourself to have electronic wise, is a sleep tracker, which will let you know how much sleep you’re actually getting, and ways you can improve.  Here’s an awesome sleep tracker, and some more tips from Candyfloss & Dreams.

    Try these simple tips for a better night’s sleep and in no time at all, you’ll not only be sleeping with a baby, you’ll be sleeping like a baby.

    Better Night Sleep When Pregnant, Top Tips For Sleep

  • My Breastfeeding Story – I Could Not Cope

    My Breastfeeding Story – I Could Not Cope

    I wouldn’t say I’m an advocate for breastfeeding. In fact I have hardly talked about my early day parenting struggles on the blog because I didn’t really think anyone would care but I’ve read countless amount of stories about breastfeeding recently with it being National Breastfeeding Week. I’m not really sure why there needs to be a national breastfeeding week to be honest. I’m not entirely sure why I’m even bothering to write this. So many will disagree, some will agree, a lot of people really wont care but hey, why not share my thoughts and failures too. If it helps. Late to the party, as usual.

    I’ve already written about how I feel like I’ve failed my daughter and all the parenting mistakes and mishaps I’ve had. Well, not all but still. I know that breastfeeding is natural and anyone who wants to and can should and should be free to do it wherever they want. I get that people want to defend the right to feed. I don’t agree that mothers should be ushered into a public bathroom to feed their baby. I think that’s appalling actually. I also don’t understand why it’s a common debate between other parents. How does the way another mother feed their baby affect you? Mothers that bottle feed feel judged, mothers that breastfeed feel judged. Surely, as mothers, we feel judged all the time about every single parenting decision we make, can we not just cool off on this one choice? I once spoke to a midwife who said I couldn’t care less how you feed your baby, as long as the baby is fed what does it matter? I wish more people had this attitude.

    I breastfeed in total for 16 weeks, the majority of it was combination fed and it was awful. It wasn’t beautiful, it was exhausting. I didn’t enjoy it. I didn’t have support. I didn’t want to feed in public because I didn’t want to get my boobs out in all there massive glory. I also needed about eight cushion to support Evie around my flat tyre belly and I was so scared to move properly because I was terrified I’d rip a stitch from my c-section. I don’t think breastfeeding is beautiful in the same way I don’t think child birth is beautiful. It’s just something that happens…I don’t understand comments that say it’s oh so beautiful and glorious and wonderful. I don’t think I’ll ever see it like that.

    My breastfeeding journey was rubbish. When Evie was three weeks old I was told by a nursery nurse I had never met before who came to my house that I was doing a rubbish job, that Evie wasn’t gaining enough weight, that I should give up, that I was a failure. She was absolutely vile to me and I reported her to my health visitor for her attitude. I was 21, I was vulnerable, I was in a horrible relationship, a new mother, recovering from major abominable surgery and I had to face that. So not only was I dealing with the horrible cluster feeds, bleeding nipples, overwhelming tiredness that made me cry, the inability to sleep in my own bed because it was too high for me but to be told I was failing was too much. I gave in, I went to formula and I got a decent night sleep. Evie also started putting on weight. She slept through the night at seven weeks and has done ever since. I don’t feel guilty about my decision to change.

    Having another baby has been a very real topic in our household for the last few months although we haven’t decided when it’s brought back a lot of feelings and questions. Do I really want to breastfeed again? Yes, because I do believe that those first 16 weeks gave Evie some goodness which stopped her being so sickly. I’m going to be less fat which will make movement easier (post birth I mean, because I am losing weight!). I’m going to have a supportive partner who actually loves me. However, I do not want to exclusively breastfeed. I don’t want to attempt to do it in public and that is a totally personal choice. I don’t care if other people want to do it, I don’t want to. I don’t want to be the only one that gets up in the night. I want to be able to go out and see family without being dictated by the boob feeds. I want to express and if that doesn’t work I will formula feed.

    But I worry. I worry if I start breastfeeding that my baby will not take a bottle and then I’ll be stuck doing something that I understand is good and healthy and natural but something I don’t enjoy. Something that makes me feel trapped and scared because I might not do it right. Something that means it will completely be down to me and I don’t want to be the only feeding parent. The thought of it makes me anxious and makes me want to not even try. I don’t care that this makes me selfish, my body is mine. I know people will probably be thinking oh you might feel different next time around, it gets easier, you might enjoy it. I won’t. I know I won’t because I know that I will get those thoughts of NO in my mind so strongly that out of sheer stubborness I won’t feel happy about it if I can’t express, combination feed or use a bottle. I need options in my life.

    So my message is to those that feel like you’re failing for whatever reason you’re not. Don’t let anyone judge your right to choose how you parent, how you feed. Do what works absolutely best for you. Get yourself informed, seek support from and don’t judge yourself. There is a story behind every successful breast and bottle fed baby. Seek them out.