Category: Lifestyle

Events & Gift Guides, Lifestyle

Family Beach Break Essentials

by At Home With The JohnsonsLeave a Comment on Family Beach Break Essentials

Ad- The below items were received for review purposes, as always any images, words and opinions are my own.

When it comes to family days on the beach, I consider myself a seasoned pro. After relocating to the South Coast almost three years ago there is nothing that we love more than a family day on the beach. With more UK breaks on the horizon than ever due to the pandemic I thought now would be the perfect opportunity to share some fantastic products with you that I have tried and tested to ensure you have an amazing UK beach break this summer.

Fun and Games With Bespoke & Oak

There is nothing we love more than family sports on the beach and this amazing family rounders kit is guaranteed to turn heads this summer. Personalise all four bases and your family rounders bat, this solid wood kit is perfect for a family to enjoy on staycation or beach day. Great for games in the park, in the garden or at the beach this is a purchase that will just keep giving. Be sure to check out the Bespoke & Oak website for more fantastic personalised wooden gifts.

Frugi Little Sun Safe suit

Keeping your little ones skin safe is a top priority for parents on a day out at the beach, but the combination of sand and sun cream can be a nightmare for both parents and children. Luckily Frugi Little Sun Safe Suits have you and your little one covered. Perfect for your little water lovers paddling adventures at the beach these colourful and stylish sun suits not only look great but the UPF 40+ rated material is also impressively made from recycled plastic bottles! The high neckline, 3/4 length sleeves and shorts are ideal for keeping children’s delicate skin and burn prone areas safe and covered. With a fantastic range of colour and style options Frugi sun safe suits are a must have for any beach breaks this summer.

Summer Accessories With Frugi

Let’s not forget the accessories! We all know life with children means packing everything but the kitchen sink, luckily these handy bags in fabulous Frugi designs are perfect for packing your Childs favourite beach toys in. The unmistakably fun Frugi designs will mean your little one will be eager to carry their bag with pride. The waterproof drawstring bag is made from recycled plastic bottles, how amazing is that?!

Keep your child protected on your UK break with Frugi accessories, these reversible hats are perfect, with a fun Bikes print on one side and a classic Chambray design on the other, the Ross Reversible Hat is perfect for helping to protect your Child’s sunny adventures! With a large brim to keep the sun out of their eyes, this bucket-style hat is a must have for little ones this summer.

Bloomsbury Mill Nap Mats

With so much fun to be had on a UK break it is no surprise that your little one might be in need of a little power nap here and there. The nap mat from Bloomsbury Mill is the perfect solution for on the go napping. Each super soft nap mat is available in 3 different designs and include a built in pillow, mat and blanket. Folding in to a compact size, these mats are a must have for days out with little ones. The super lightweight and quick to dry fabric makes them a must have for a UK beach day.

Moore Maxxam Swimwear

Revolutionary crinkle fabric MAXXAM has been loved since the 80’s and continues to be one of the most unique fabrics ever created. Fun, comfortable and sustainable this incredible children’s range is set to become a must have for little ones this summer. With it’s impressive stretching powers, Maxxam swimsuits can grow with your child making them not only cost effective, but environmentally friendly by saying goodbye to fast fashion. When the summer is over these incredible suits can be used in a multi-activity fashion so that your little one can dance, swim and play all year round in their stylish suit.

Aerobie Rings

Invented and loved by many since the 1980’s Aerobie products are widely recognised and for good reason. Providing hours of entertainment to both adults and children Aerobie rings are unbeatable when it comes to beach time fun! The original Aerobie Pro flying ring was used in setting a Guinness World Record for the farthest throw in history – an incredible 1,333 feet / 406 metres, this champion ring is sure to bring hours of fun on the beach. Perfect for the little ones the Aerobie Sprint will fly twice as far as a regular disc which makes for exhilarating games of catch. Ideal for those who enjoy the incredible flying performance of Aerobie rings but have younger players or a smaller space for play. The unbeatable gliding power and easy to use ring design makes Aerobie products perfect for entertaining the whole family this summer.

Phlat Ball

Throw a disc, catch a ball! Phlat Ball is a unique transforming toy that turns from a disc to a ball in just a simple throw. With a soft, flexible plastic material Phlat Ball has a comfortable grip which makes it perfect for active play, children and adults. Flat pack your transforming ball to take it anywhere this summer for hours of fun.

Gruum SPF

When it comes to UK breaks, sunscreen can too often be overlooked. Be sun safe thanks to the grüum Dermatologist Face Sunscreen. This high quality, dermatologist approved face sunscreen melts into the skin to protect against the damaging effects of the sun. With UVA and UVB SPF50 and SPF30 protection, the water resistant formula is hypoallergenic and easily absorbed, leaving no greasy residue on the surface of the complexion. I love how this feels on my skin and the handy handbag sized bottles make Gruum sunscreens perfect for on the go sun protection.

Sleepy Hammock

Maximise your relaxation on your UK break this year with a hammock from Sleepy Hammock, with a huge range of hammocks to suit all, Sleepy Hammock pride themselves on their comfort, look and feel. This Vivere’s Combo Ciao Hammock is not only super comfortable but it’s lightweight and compact design means that it can be transported easily on your travels. The tool free set up of the hammock is fast and easy taking less than 10 minutes to build, maximising your rest and relaxation time! I love how sturdy the hammock is so you can rest in the knowledge that there will be no you’ve been framed moments! Simply kick back and relax in style this summer and check out Sleepy Hammocks incredible ranges of Hammocks to suit all.

SUP Drinkware

There is nothing worse than cracking open a can or bottle on the beach only to find it has gone warm! SUP Drinkware have you covered this summer with their stylish stainless steel collection. Their double-wall insulated Stainless Steel drinkware collection keeps your drink cool for longer, not just cool…ice cool! The Sup-cool technology is built in to all drinkware products and keeps drinks cool for up to 24 hours! No condensation or drips, just perfectly cold drinks every time!

Fashion & Beauty, Lifestyle

My Spring Fashion Finds

by At Home With The JohnsonsLeave a Comment on My Spring Fashion Finds

Post contains Affiliate links

I have spoken briefly about the fact that I have been on a weight loss journey the past year. I have lost almost four stone through eating well and finding a love for regular exercise and have gone from an unhappy size 18 to a work in progress size 12. I feel so much better and above all much more energetic and happy, while I still have a way to go but I am proud of how far I have come. After surviving lockdown dressed in the few pieces of activewear I had purchased, my thoughts turned to a spring wardrobe sort out, it was not long before I realised that nothing I owned last year fit any more. I made it my mission to list all of my clothes that no longer fit on Ebay and this is what has allowed me to be able to have a cheeky splurge on some new pieces for spring which I thought I would share with my readers. If you are looking for some easy to wear, high street pieces then I hope this post brings you some ideas. I hope you love my recent finds as much as I do!

I will start with a classic staple, the denim shirt dress. I shared this dress on my Instagram Stories last week and was inundated with link requests. Super comfy and easy to dress up or down. This beauty is from ASOS and is currently out of stock, I have found an almost identical River Island one that I love, click here. Alternatively this H&M dress is gorgeous. If you would like to keep an eye out for this dress being re- stocked the product code is 1747037.

Another from my ASOS haul, I just know I will wear this lightweight, mint, shirt dress to absolute death! The colour is gorgeous and it looks great either with or without a belt.

Click Here for the Dress.

Now this is something I would previously not have had the confidence to buy. I absolutely love this puff sleeve, belted playsuit and cant wait to wear it in the summer. The pockets are what sold it to me! I have also worn the belt with other outfits because it is the perfect summer belt. Total bargain and in the sale too! Click here for this beauty.

The hunt for the perfect white blazer was not one without it’s struggles…. and A LOT of returns! This beauty was from H&M and I love the more tailored style. I found with height not being on my side I looked like I was drowning in a lot of blazers.

I am loving these H&M jeans, they are a great colour for spring and the slim fit mom style is more flattering on me than some more baggy style jeans.

Picture the scene, it’s the 21st June, the world has opened up again and Mummy is going out for drinks! I couldn’t not buy this dress! The colour, the fabric, the style, I love it. I teamed it with this metal belt which I know I will wear loads, the perfect way to glam up any outfit. I have just seen H&M have another style in the same fabric, linked here.

I love an item that is multi season and this gorgeous skirt does not disappoint. While spring florals normally only work seasonally, the orange tones mean that this skirt would be a staple teamed with tights, boots and a leather jacket during A/W too. The fit is perfect, nipping in the waist and the light fabric is perfect for summer. I have teamed this with trainers buy can’t wait to crack the sandals out.

Another one I shared on my Instagram Stories last week, this dress is perfect for spring. Slightly thicker in material than the other denim shirt, I love this teamed with my Veja trainers for a casual spring look.

These linen blend dresses were shared to death online last year and it’s no wonder. The perfect casual dresses, they are lightweight, the perfect length and super comfortable. I belted this white dress for a more dressed up look. I also have it in black as seen below. Really rate these and a total bargain.

I picked up this cute striped top from H&M, teamed with jeans or denim shorts this is perfect for bringing a touch of sunshine to any outfit.

I hope you enjoyed this little haul and I will share more pieces as I get them. You can check out other items I have my eye on in the ‘Fashion Finds‘ section of the blog.

Chynna x

Interiors, Lifestyle

Transforming Our Living Space With MuralsWallpaper

by At Home With The JohnsonsLeave a Comment on Transforming Our Living Space With MuralsWallpaper

What can a mural do for my space?

Everyone has a wall that they have no idea what to do with, a problematic blank space, a large blank canvas, a wall for which you cannot seem to find a purpose. It’s blankness is an ocean of possibilities but perhaps it seems too daunting to decide what to do with it. A mural feature wall is the perfect way to give any room a wow factor, a great way to introduce a key colour into a neutral space while adding texture and interest to your room.

Look no further than MuralsWallpaper to transform your space with style. MuralsWallpaper offer an incredible selection of murals, patterns and photo wallpapers to suit all ages and styles. Challenging the boundaries of what wallpaper can do by offering pioneering designs, their wallpaper murals are designed to complement any home decor style. We chose this Adhere, concrete effect paper to create a dramatic wall that adds a look of texture and depth against a neutral colour palette. The mural features a faux cement texture effect that will give your wall a rustic yet stylish appearance. This wallpaper offers a subtle and neutral block colour style, which is significantly enhanced by its rough faux cement appearance.

How Do I order mine?

The ordering process could not be more simple! We simply measured our wall and added the measurements into the calculator to create our custom fit mural. The design team make the mural to fit any size or shape of wall. Once you send the requirements to the design team, they send a mock-up of your wall mural before they produce it. The mural arrived quickly and well packaged.

Was it hard to hang?

After some bad experiences in the past, my husband was a bit sceptical about using any kind of wallpaper or mural. After reading about the simplistic process of using a MuralsWallpaper and falling in love with their fabulous designs I set upon my mission to change his mind! Of course, my powers of persuasion worked their magic and he agreed! The Mural arrived promptly and packaged in a nifty tube to keep it safe and pristine. Included in the tube was a fantastic step by step guide which was easy to follow and made hanging the mural an absolute breeze! The whole installation was faultless and we are thrilled with our mural. Here’s how we did it….

How we did it

The first steps we took were in preparation, we ensured the wall was smooth, clean and completely dry. Our wall was imperfect with old plaster, but we took steps to ensure that the wall was filled where needed and smooth from sanding. This handy guide on the MuralsWallpaper website helped us identify how best to prepare our wall surface for the mural. To begin the installation, we rolled out a section of paper and used the handy cutting lines provided to create our first drop. The drops are numbered and roll out staggered in a way that the tops and bottoms of the drops match. We then brushed on ‘paste the wall’ paste ready to apply the first strip. Unlike so many wallpapers, the paper was thick and robust so there was no fear of tearing while fitting. You can be assured that all of MuralsWallpaper murals are created using British paper sourced from FSC regulated forests. They also use water- based links so are environmentally friendly. Every wallpaper is made to order which is great for the environment, keeping waste to an absolute minimum.

We had cables in place to fit wall lights once the wallpaper installation was complete, we made a small slit in the paper to pull these cables through carefully. We repeated the process across the whole wall and could not believe how quickly we finished, the whole wall took less than an hour and a half including a tea break!

The Wall Lights fitted
Adding accessories to the wall
The wall creates a great backdrop for blue accessories

As you can see the mural creates the perfect feature backdrop for our living space. I added hints of blue in my accessories to compliment the colour of the wallpaper. I am thrilled with the finished look and can’t fault our experience with MuralsWallpaper. From the ordering process to the installation, MuralsWallpaper truly have made creating unique and stylish looks super simple and affordable. With a fabulous range of designs from funky florals to textured looks there is something for every space. I hope you love it as much as we do!

This post contains gifted items however all words and opinions are my own.

Chynna x