Engineered Wood Flooring - A Flooring Option

We all have different choices in our home décor and one of the most important things we have to consider is the type of flooring we should consider.  Many of us have carpets, some have laminate floors, some have vinyl and there is also the option of wooden floors too. I love wooden floors especially as there is so much choice in styles, colours and finishes. They come in a range of prices to suit all budget can be affordable.

There are many choices in wooden flooring such as, vinyl, laminate, parquet, solid and engineered hardwood flooring. One popular choice is solid wood but it can be expensive, an alternate choice is engineered wood flooring as it is less costly than solid hardwood flooring. Engineered wood flooring has many advantages, it provides stability and resistance to variations in temperature and moisture.

It is well suited for installing underfloor heating and can be fitted either using tongue and groove or click lok fitting system. Engineered wood flooring is generally made from three layers.  A real hardwood top layer and two base layers of soft wood. The three-layer construction enables the flooring to become stable and durable. The top layer of floor can be of any choice of hardwood, colour and finish. It is possible to stain the wood, have a raw finish, hand scrapped, oiled, lacquered or distressed.

Engineered wood flooring offers great choice, variety and it can be more affordable but it can have its pros and cons like any product. I would highly recommend that you look into which type of which flooring best suites your household needs when deciding on the colour, style and floor type.

 All photos in this post are used with permission 365 flooring

**Collaborative post

Incy Wincy Spider - Bostik Challenge September

As you all know I am part of the Bostik Bloggers member and the month of September I was sent a Bostik craft pack on the theme of Halloween. As always my niece Little M came over with her little Brother S  and we had lots of fun creating Halloween craft.
Little M was telling me that she has been teaching incy wincy spider to her little brother so we decided to make a spider to go with the rhyme.


Things you will need to make the spider:

1 Piece black A5 piece of funky foam
White chalk or silver pen
1 black pompom ball
2 eyes
2 black pipe cleaners
scissors
Bostik Blu Tack
Bostik Blu Stick

How to make the Incy Wincy Spider:

1. Using the white chalk draw a spiders web on the black funky foam and keep aside.

2. Fold the pipe cleaner in half and cut them in half. You should now have 4 pieces.
3. Place them together and twist them in the center. Spread the pipe cleaner to make the spiders legs.

4. Take the black pom pom and using the bostik blu stick it on to the center of the spiders leg to make spiders head.
5. Using the Bostik Blu stick,  stick on the eyes onto the pom pom on either side.

6 Take a small piece of Blu tak and stick it to the bottom of the spider.
7. Position the spider on the black foam spiders web and stick.

Little  M and Little S has lots of fun playing with the spiders we made.

Incy Wincy spider went up the water spout

Down came the rain and washed the spider out

Out came the sun and dried up all the rain

So, Incy Wincy spider went up the water spout again

Incy Wincy spider went up the water spout

Down came the rain and washed the spider out

Out came the sun and dried up all the rain

So, Incy Wincy spider went up the water spout again

Incy Wincy spider went up the water spout

Down came the rain and washed the spider out

Out came the sun and dried up all the rain

So, Incy Wincy spider went up the water spout again....

This craft is suitable for young children although, adult supervision may be required for using scissors and stapler. If you like this project check the link below for more art and craft projects, that you can do with your children.

Kids Arts and Craft Videos
Kids Arts and Crafts Projects 

Being part of the Bostik 2019 bloggers with Tots100 and Bostik, I was sent some craft items in a box to create this project.

Back to School Book Marks~Bostik Challenge August

The children's summer holidays are almost over and its time for preparations for going back to school. We received the Bostik box and the challenge for the month of August was back to School using the Bostik Micro Dots.

My little crafting buddy Little M and I made the Bostik bookmarks to help her mark her page in her reading book. She made one for her self and one for her little brother.

Equipment you will need for the bookmarks:

1 sheet A4 card any colour of your choice
Scissors
pencil
Ruler
Felt tip pens or colour pencils
Bostik Micro Dots


How to Make the Bookmarks:

1. Using your ruler and pencil cut out a rectangle 12 cm x 18 cm
2. Along the short side divide the rectangle in to three 4 cm parts and draw a line with your pencil
3. Carefully fold and score along these lines. Take the microdot sheet and cut it to the same size as the card. Stick the Micro dots as shown in pic 4 on one side of the folded card and stick the fold down. You will now have a long rectangle measuring 4cm x 18 cm
4.Mark three cm from  the top edge and draw a pencil point and cut it out.

5. Draw a point for the lead
6. Colour in the pencil point.

7. Decorate the book mark any way you like. You can either stick flowers, beads or cut outs using the microdots to decorate your bookmarks or decorate with felt tip pens to your liking.We chose to add both Little M and her brothers names.

Book marks are ready to use.
You may like other  Bostik craft posts:

This craft is suitable for young children although, adult supervision may be required for using scissors and stapler. If you like this project check the link below for more art and craft projects, that you can do with your children.

Kids Arts and Craft Videos
Kids Arts and Crafts Projects 

Being part of the Bostik 2019 bloggers with Tots100 and Bostik, I was sent some craft items in a box to create this project.

Places to visit near London Bridge.

London Bridge area has many interesting things to see and do. There are many restaurants, iconic sightseeing places, pubs, cafes, restaurants and hotels near London Bridge to discover. 

A stone’s throw from London bridge station is Borough Market. It is one of London’s most popular markets where you will find International and British produce. 

Here you will find ingredients and foods from all over the world. The atmosphere, the ambience and the smells are mesmerising and it’s a food lover’s haven. In this famous wholesale and retail food market you can find all types of artisan food, cheeses, produce, spices. It has many eateries and cafes and food stalls selling delicious food.

On the opposite side of London Bridge, there is the beautiful Shard. Here you can enjoy drinks  at the Gong Bar and then dinner at Hutong at The Shard. You can also purchase a ticket to visit the Shard viewing gallery on the 72nd floor for iconic views of London. This is the most enjoyable experience and a definite must.  

For those that enjoy history, the Southwark Cathedral is situated less than five minutes walking distance from London Bridge station. You can enjoy the herb garden there together with art exhibitions in the refectory and a souvenir shop. The Cathedral is a calm and serene place to visit and perfect to stop for a refreshment break. 

We have all seen the famous Tower Bridge and a visit to it is a must if you are near London Bridge. It is only a 10 minute stroll from London Bridge station. You can book an excursion to discover the history of Tower Bridge. 

The excursion includes a walk over the Bridge’s 42 Metre High Walkways and see the views below of the spectacular glass floor. You can also visit the Victoria engine rooms and learn about the history of Tower Bridge. For the art lovers there is also an art exhibition ‘Tides of Change’ by Southwark Arts Forum.

Along by Tower Bridge is the Queens Walk, it follows the south bank of the River Thames from Lambeth Bridge to Tower Bridge. The walkway is several miles long and passes some of London's most popular tourist and visitor attractions. 

You can also visit the HMS Belfast here which is permanently moored on the River Thames. It is a museum ship that is spread on 9 decks. You can explore the nine decks and see and learn all about life at sea.This is  a really fun visit especially you have children.

Hay’s Galleria in Tooley Street is a nice place to stroll through; it was originally a shipping dock that was redeveloped in 1980 to create an indoor market with plenty of shops, cafes and restaurants. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a cup of coffee and cake.

London Bridge is not all about hustle and bustle, it also has nearby the Potters Field. This place offers visitors the perfect green open space along the riverside. Here you can relax from the cities noises and enjoy some peace and tranquillity.

We enjoyed our visit and were able to get some fantastic views of the river and London.There is so much to see and do in and around London Bridge. I will definitely visit again to do the river cruise , and visit the Globe Theatre.

* This post is in collaborative post, the spending money was gifted by Hotels.com, but all views are my own 

Tyre maintenance before you plan any trip.

Pic courtesy of  Kevin Phillips

With the school summer holiday soon to start, it’s time to plan ahead some day trips and staycations for the family. Often day trips or overnight stays are enough to get a break and at the same time you can see and visit lots of different places.

It’s really important to make a list of places you plan to visit, what activities they offer, what the entrance costs will be and of course what sort of restaurants and food places are nearby. This year we are planning road trip to Scotland. Some of the places we plan to visit are Edinburg, Loch Ness, Inverness, Pitcochry, Ben Nevis and Glasglow.

 Pic courtesy of  Scozzy

Before the trip it is important that you have serviced your car and checked that it is in good working order. Check that lights, brakes and fluids are topped up and most important check that the tyres are all in good working order which is of paramount importance for the driver and the passenger’s safety.

 You should always make sure the tyre pressure is adequate and check them for any types of bulges, punctures or damage. Always make sure that the spare type is serviced too so that in case you need to change it is in full working order. There are many garages which will offer a tyre checking service, and even if you happen to require this service whilst travelling you can get the best local prices on tyres in Edinburgh at Point S

Whilst driving through Scotland’s scenic routes, the roads can often be difficult to drive on. Having good quality tyres will ensure road grip is provided and you can be safe from accidents or the vehicle getting out of control in the narrow winding roads. Other benefits of having the tyres checked is that is that it will help you to manage your fuel usage effectively and give you a smoother driving experience.

                                                         Pic courtesy of  Frank Winkler

With the car fully checked the next thing is to pack some spare blankets, food, drinks, first aid kit and lots of activities for the kids to do in the car. Always try and take frequent stops so everyone can stretch their legs and recharge. Driving in long stretches can be tiring and often dangerous, plan your trips so that the journey is manageable. Taking in turns to drive is also a good idea on long journeys.

Last of all enjoy the trip and be prepared if emergencies happen it is all part of the excitement of road trips.

I hope to write more about out trip in the forthcoming posts.

* in collaboration with Point S

Masquerade Mask ~Bostik Challenge June 2019

I have been part of the Bostik Bloggers for almost 4 years now, although 2019 there has been some changes and instead of doing a monthly post I am doing one post quarterly with the brand. The theme for June was open so Little M my crafting partner and I made this lovely Masquerade Mask for her to wear at her birthday party.

Little M loves these crafting challenges and we always try and do  at least one crafting session a month, however of late Little M is enjoying baking so we have been doing more baking than crafting.

To  make the Masquerade Mask

Equipment you will need:

Pink glitter funky foam

24 cm piece elastic

Feathers assorted colours

4 Funky foam stars assorted sizes  and colours 

Scissors

Pencil

Stapler

Bostik PVA glue.

How to make the Mask:

1. Using a masquerade mask template place it on the pink foam and draw around it. Cut the mark out carefully.

2.Mark a hole in the temporal corners to fit the elastic.

3.Thread the elastic through and with the the help of an adult staple the ends secure. ( We tried gluing but when we stretched the elastic it came unstuck)

4. Arrange three assorted feathers on each temporal corner and glue them down with the Bostik PVA glue.

5.Using the Bostik PVA glue position and stick the foam stars in place.

6. Let the glue dry for 30 mins .The mask is ready to wear.

Image for pin

You may like other  Bostik craft posts:

This craft is suitable for young children although, adult supervision may be required for using scissors and stapler. If you like this project check the link below for more art and craft projects, that you can do with your children.

Kids Arts and Craft Videos
Kids Arts and Crafts Projects 

Being part of the Bostik 2019 bloggers with Tots100 and Bostik, I was sent some craft items in a box to create this project.

Atreya Spice Farm ~Goa

Spices are my life, I grew up in a household where the spice box was my mums best friend. She used them for cooking, medicinal and even for ayurveda and beauty treatments. Spices have so many wonderful benefits, they are aromatic, flavour some and if used correctly have tremendous health benefits.

I recently wrote about the health benefits of ginger and turmeric on my food blog. Spices come in dried form and of course fresh too. There are many varieties and species of plants that produce these spices and on my recent trip to Goa I was very lucky to visit the Atreya Spice Farm. The spice farm is based in Molem, Goa and you can do a day trip to the farm where they offer guided tours followed by a traditional Goan Lunch.

On arrival we were welcomed in a traditional way of a tikka and garland and offered refreshments before the tour.

Atreya farm is a 36 acre estate that is made up of forest land, wooded groves, tropical gardens, an orchard, an astrological plant park, and a medicinal plantation. It also has coconut and areca nut plantation, wildlife and birds and butterflies.

  

When we visited Atreya spice farm in October, it was recovering from a cyclone that had damaged a lot of the plants.The farm suffered a lot of damage and it is slowly being rebuilt. 

The tour around the spice gardens was very interesting. Sonali our tour guide  was very knowledgeable and she was very passionate about the plants, the spices and their benefits. She shared a lot of interesting tips with us of home remedies.

There were nutmeg trees, cardamom plants, cinnamon trees and many more. There were many more interesting varieties of herbs and plants. 

We also learnt about Feni a local liquor drink made from cashew nuts which Goa is famous for. Our guide showed us how it was fermented in the traditional way. We were offered a taste of it and believe me it was really strong, an acquired taste for sure!!!

The tour was extremely interesting and we learnt so much about how each spice can be used to benefit your health and reduce certain symptoms and ailments.

After the tour we enjoyed a lovely traditional vegetarian Goan lunch served in the rustic restaurant. The lunch is prepared on site using all the herbs and spices from the farm. It is cooked and served in earthen pots to give the food the authentic taste.

We enjoyed rice with dhal, chickpea curry called chole, stirfried dry cabbage, pakore (vegetable fritters) Goan bread and pappodams.

The spice farms also have a  souvenir shop selling farm grown spices, herbal oils, coconut carvings  and organic handmade soaps.

The Coconuts were carved in many designs such as monkeys, elephants and Lord Ganesh  a Hindu monkey god and looked beautiful.

We had a lovely visit and would like to thank Atreya Spice Farm for the lovely gift they gave us, a hand carved Lord Ganesh from a coconut shell. It is a lovely gesture from Mr Amrut the farm manager.

You can visit the farm as a trip on its own  and pay at the entrance or book through a package where you can do a combined day trip to Dudhsagar Falls, Atreya Spice plantation and the Old Goa Churches.We booked the combined trip through Trip Raja

We will definitely visit Atreya Spice Farm again on our next trip and would highly recommend anyone going to Goa to visit it. It's very educational and informative day out.

Since out visit, the farm has also introduced elephants there.

You may like to read about my other Goa posts:

Dudhsagar Waterfalls
Goan Old Churches