Category: Lifestyle

Events & Gift Guides, Lifestyle, Uncategorized

Valentine’s Gift Guide

by At Home With The JohnsonsLeave a Comment on Valentine’s Gift Guide

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

Love it or hate it Valentine’s day is a great excuse to show someone how much they mean to you. For me, Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to make sure we take time from our busy lives as Mum and Dad, to treat each other and force us to spend some quality time together- Something we often let slide down the priority scale. Valentine’s gifts can be a minefield, so I have done the thinking for you and have put together a selection of gifts that are guaranteed to be a hit this Valentine’s.

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Dartington Crystal Cushion Large Heather Vase

This stunning hand made vase by the iconic Dartington Crystal is guaranteed to put a smile on her face this Valentine’s day. The Heather coloured glass has been designed with a delicate optic effect and features an indented base that helps to retain or splay out floral displays. This beautifully simplistic and chic vase is one of a huge collection of stunning vases by Dartington. Check out their range and order yours here.

Sassy Shop Wax Melts

Sassy shop Wax offer a huge range of beautifully scented melts to suit everyone, meaning that they will make a fantastic gift for your loved one this Valentine’s day. Their brightly coloured and thoughtfully designed bars are offered in a vast range of scents, from scents to create a relaxing environment to scents made to lift and invigorate, these are a true crowd pleaser. The melts are long burning and release powerful scents around the home. Head to Sassy shop wax website or social media to discover their gorgeous fragrance range.

Handmade Perfect4u Candles

Always a crowd pleaser, candles always make for a great Valentine’s gift. Handmade Perfect4u offer a fabulous range of scented candles and diffusers at affordable prices. I was kindly sent the Cassis and Fig candle to try and I am really impressed with the scent and burn. The Cassis is rich and teams perfectly with the sweet scent of fig for a well balanced and lovely fragrance. Soy wax delivers a clean and toxin free burn that is environmentally friendly. Discover Handmade Perfect4u range here.

ProCook Crystal Champagne Glasses

Valentine’s is the perfect excuse to reach for the bubbles, so do it in style with these ProCook crystal champagne glasses. With their stylish, angled design and long elegant stems, the ProCook crystal champagne glasses are guaranteed to add a touch of modern sophistication to your date night. Made from quality crystal glass these stunning glasses really have the wow factor and make a great gift. These timeless classics will be used again and again, sold in a pack of 4 so that you can share the love, get yours here.

Tesalate Towel for Two

Winter can feel extremely long and dull, so it’s probably not a surprise to hear that February is the most popular month for brits to head on holiday for some winter sun! If you have plans to escape the cold or just want to gift someone the promise of summer, then this towel for two is the perfect gift. Tesalate offer a huge range of sand free, fast drying towels, in the most stylish designs. Photographed is the bohemian towel for two, the quality of these beach towels is amazing and it’s big enough for two, how romantic. Get yours here.

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Yardley English Dahlia Eau de Toilette

Forming part of their floral classics range, Yardley classic floral scents are always a fabulous gift for women. Inspired by a diverse variety of flowers and containing an impressive 90% naturally derived ingredients. The delicate fragrance of Dahlia is met with fresh citrus notes, a warming patchouli and musk base making this divine fragrance wearable every day. Yardley offer an extensive range of timeless florals to suit all, check out their full range here.

Dr. PAWPAW Ultimate Red Balm

Another beauty wonder from the makers of Dr Pawpaw Original Balm, this nourishing lip balm is all you need to make your lips kissable this Valentine’s day. This balm has a subtle pinkie red tint that gives your lips and cheeks the perfect pop of colour. This paw paw balm is made in the UK from a variety of natural ingredients including the ingredient fermented Pawpaw, the fruit of the plant Carica Papaya. The Pawpaw has been found to have natural healing qualities and that’s why this nourishing balm is a must have. This make up bag staple is available to buy at Sainsburys.

Pretty You London Sleepwear

Effortlessly sexy and plush, this Animal Spot Cami and shorts set makes the perfect Valentine’s gift. This cami short pyjama set really feels special, finished with a chiffon layer trim and subtle Pretty You London branding, it drapes perfectly over the body for a sophisticated yet sexy look. The elasticated waistband and loose fitting shape make this the perfect pyjama set for your loved one. Check out Pretty You London’s stunning range here.

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Bulldog Skincare

A firm favourite among men, Bulldog is skincare for men, made easy. From the classics to more advanced skin care, there is something guaranteed to please everyone. The Original Bamboo Razor has everything he needs for a great shave, if he is bearded, the fast absorbing and nourishing beard oil will make the perfect treat. Team with Bulldog’s classics such as shower gel and moisturiser and you will be on to a winner this Valentine’s. Shop the full range here.

Trendhim Anchor Clasp Bracelet

Not sure what to buy the man who has it all? Look no further than Trendhim for all of your stylish male gifting needs. From Bracelets and watches to bow ties, Trendhim has it all. This gorgeous black and gold clasp stacked bracelet features an on trend nautical steel closure that hooks on to the luxury leather straps. Explore Trendhim’s extensive and stylish range of bracelets here.

Dear Barber Style & Go Collection

When it comes to hair many men are set in their ways, Dear Barber are set to change that. The unique styling and grooming range allow men to experience luxury grooming at home, every day. With it’s stylish yet traditional vibe, the Dear Barber style and go boxes are sure to be a huge hit with your man this Valentine’s. Absolutely everything from the Dear Barber range is made in the UK, for a true and authentic traditional feel. The products ooze luxury and grandeur but at a surprisingly affordable price. Check out the range here.

Food and Drink

Mermaid Pink Gin

Generally speaking, you can’t for far wrong with a boozy gift, especially Gin! The gorgeous and striking bottle (plastic free may I add) in it’s pink design means that it looks perfect as a valentine’s gift. Inspired by it’s Isle of Wight setting, Mermaid pink gin is made from ethically sourced and totally natural ingredients. The gin itself is aromatic and refreshing with it’s infusion of fresh island strawberries, zesty lemon and a subtle hint of savoury rock samphire. I love the taste of this gin, it is far less sickly sweet than other pink gins that I have tried and a much cleaner flavour, you can tell there are no artificial sweeteners in it and every taste left me impressed. You can pick yours up at Marks and Spencer’s this Valentine’s or click here to find out more.

Myprotein Protein Truffles and Spread

Although Valentine’s makes most people reach for the flowers and chocolate, many of us (me included) are still keeping up our good intentions for the new year and trying to loose those pesky Christmas pounds! Myprotein have come up with the perfect solution so that you can indulge in chocolatey treats this Valentine’s, without the guilt. Packing a massive 2.6g of protein per truffle, these melt in your mouth sensations are the perfect Valentines treat for your health concious loved one. The truffles are velvety smooth and pack a real chocolate kick, they are almost brownie like in their richness. The chocolate spread is equally delicious, it has a silky texture and will be perfect as a guilt free solution for dipping fruit this Valentine’s. Don’t miss out on tasaty treats this Valentine’s, Get yours here.

Guylain Chocolates

Known and loved by many, this Valentine’s classic by Guylian is certain to make a great Valentine’s gift. Guylian creates all of it’s great tasting chocolates with only the finest Belgian chocolate. These Praline Hearts in their eye-catching red box, are marbled and filled with delicious roasted hazelnut praline. An elegant and timeless classic, get yours here.

Perky Blenders Coffee

Variety is the spice of life as they say and Perky Blenders have it in abundance. Their team is passionate about providing an extremely high quality product with excellent service. As well as providing an incredible selection of top quality coffee Perky Blenders also offer coffee subscriptions through their website, the perfect gift for a coffee lover this Valentine’s. Roasted daily, to make sure their coffee is at it’s freshest, convinient letterbox friendly and biodegradable packaging and a great variety of delicious blends, every coffee lovers dream! Get yours here.

Lifestyle, Uncategorized

2020 Goals

by At Home With The JohnsonsLeave a Comment on 2020 Goals

I am, and have always been that wanker who loves a new year! There is just something about the feeling of a new and fresh year ahead of me that I just love. I am not going to lie, every year I set resolutions that I NEVER keep, maybe they are unrealistic? maybe I don’t handle the pressure of resolutions well? or maybe I have just been doing it wrong? That is why this year I am ditching the word resolution in favour of goals. For me this year is going to be about small changes that give big results.

Write more

Staring this blog mid last year has opened up something inside of me that I did not know still existed. I spent most of my school years being distinctly average in every subject bar English and this was purely because it was the only thing I have ever been truly passionate about. Writing, reading and all things words feels good for my soul. As I have touched on before, being a stay at home mum for near on a decade has been incredible but has also left me feeling a bit lost now that I am no longer attached to a baby or toddler 24/7. Not only am I hoping that 2020 will bring more success with my blog and social media but I am also learning that writing anything seems to help me be the best version of myself. I treated myself and my sister to Goodbye 2019 Hello 2020 by the inspirational ladies at project love and I am hooked! Putting my dreams, goals and feelings on paper has been incredibly therapeutic and the questions really provoked me to dig deep in myself to answer what I truly want moving forward-seriously recommend.

Lose Weight

Ok so if I write this down I am more likely to stick to it…. I hope. I don’t deal well with stress, upheaval or change. I can tell you exactly when it all started going wrong and it was during the process of buying this house, then followed the move, the loneliness of leaving my friends, and of course the craziness that renovating brings. As a really rubbish result I have gained weight and it’s time to stop ignoring it and do something about it. I have always been a bit of a yoyo dieter and the older I get, the more I am realising my weight is greatly affected by my mental health and my mental health is greatly affected by my weight, it is a totally vicious cycle but I feel that recognising this and my pattern of behaviour has given me the determination to work on myself this year. Following on from my love of writing, I ordered a three month food planner from Fox and Moon which includes a daily food diary, meal planner and weight loss pages, I am finding writing all of these down really helps to keep me on track and visualise where I am and where I want to be.

Less Screen Time

Of course on first glance this goal does not exactly go hand in hand with my goal to Blog more, but the screen time I am talking about is not blogging, emails and working on content, it’s the mindless times when you realise you are looking down at a screen when you should be looking up. I am the only person in the family who takes photos…. seriously if you checked my husbands camera roll you would not know me and the kids existed, with that said I will still be taking my phone out with me but handing it over to my husbands pocket as much as possible so I can keep my mind focused on family time, especially at weekends. The children are growing too fast and I don’t want to miss a thing.

Whatever your 2020 goals are, I hope you all have a fantastic start to the year.

Chynna xxx

Lifestyle, Uncategorized

The Relocation- One year on

by At Home With The JohnsonsLeave a Comment on The Relocation- One year on

So it has been just over a year since we relocated so I thought it was about time that I updated those of you who have been following our story as we reach this milestone. I can’t actually believe it has been a year already! It has gone so fast and I am truly loving our decision.

When I did our 6 month update we were at the beginning of our first summer living on the beautiful South Coast of Dorset and WOW what a summer it was, we were at the beach at least four times per week and would often head to the beach for dinner after school and work. We made the absolute most of it and life felt like a constant holiday. One thing I am very aware of this year is that as we head into Summer 2020 we need to watch the pennies more than last year. Let me tell you, ‘That holiday feeling’ did not just come from spending time at the beach, it came from living a life of maybe a bit too much ‘sod it lets get a round of ice creams’, stopping at the supermarket to pick up beach picnic food and a few too many cheers bubbles! The little treats all add up so this summer although I intend to have just as much fun, I also know we need to rein in the holiday vibes ever so slightly.

I believe my last relocation post was one of my first ever blog posts. I am now further into my blogging journey and it is one of the best things I have ever done, at a time where I was feeling a bit lonely and daunted with my new social situation i.e.. new place and no friends, blogging rescued me. I joined the Bournemouth Bloggers network with a bit of encouragement from my lovely friend Emma who runs the network, who I had met at a local messy play group. I have been to some incredible events this year and met some truly amazing people. As someone who has suffered with anxiety over the years, the blog is a great outlet for me and the social aspect of the events has really pushed me out of my comfort zone at a time it was needed. I have been fortunate enough to see huge growth on both my social media and blog and this in turn has led me to work with some great brands in the past 6 months. I am and will always be extremely grateful for opportunities that come my way and the continuous support of my followers and readers.

The littles have settled in to school very well and no longer have that newbie feeling. It has amazed me how accepting they have been to change. They had the best summer of their lives and now 2020 is here we are all on the countdown to those warmer days. My husband started a great job shortly after the move and not only is he loving it but he also spends a lot more time at home than he ever has done before, with the added perk of an early finish on a Friday meaning we get extra weekend time, the balance has been perfect for adjusting to our new lifestyle and it has been great having him around more for extra support at a time of such great change.

The house is coming along well, we have near on completed all of upstairs, which including taking a wall down and a full bathroom refit isn’t bad going. We will be taking a bit of a break after we do the landing, stairs and hallway to recoup some money, enjoy a bit of rest and save up for phase two. We are hoping to begin planning and potentially starting our extension in 2021 but we need to pay down some of the debt we have encured from renovating to make sure we are in the best possible position when it comes to taking on an expensive and time consuming task like an extension. As with the renovations we have done so far, even when we stop for our break we will still have plenty to do! With buying a fixer upper half the battle is making things temporarily liveable and that is exactly what we will be doing with downstairs. With potentially another two years until the extension is done we need to give downstairs a temporary makeover, also on our hit list for this year is the garden, doing up some furniture and snagging some of the finer details of rooms we have already done. So don’t worry, there will still be plenty more renovation updates coming from us this year.

As always being honest and real is my priority and while this blog post seems sickeningly happy of course there have been obstacles, darker times and struggles since my last update. Renovating around three children is tough, tougher than I ever thought it would be, I feel a lot of guilt sometimes that they live in an imperfect home with busy and often stressed parents, but like everything in life I try to keep in my mind that this is a phase and will pass. I love renovating and we are enjoying making our house a home but I can’t deny that we crave a bit of the old normality that we used to have at sometimes. I have always struggled with anxiety, especially in times where I feel out of control or like life is a bit upside down, life is often upside down these days and I feel as though doing up the house has meant that we still do not have much routine even one year on. As a result I have gained weight this year and my mental health has been a bit up and down at times. This year I will be tackling becoming more healthy and concentrating more on my wellbeing, these tend to go hand in hand with me and tackling one naturally results in improvement in the other. All in all a whirlwind but very exciting year, I look forward to updating you all again in the near future.

Chynna xxx