Mandy Shares Life

It does not matter how much effort you put in when improving the design and aesthetics of your home interior, as from the outside no one can see a thing. Unless you actually invite a guest to come inside and give them a grand tour, it’s unlikely they will ever get a chance to see anything other than the exterior. Transforming the outside of your house can be so simple, yet it’s so effective in many different ways. It doesn’t take much to get started, and the value you can add to your home may attract attention from investors and potential buyers too. If you want to find out more about how you can give your home a greater curb appeal, then read on to uncover some of the best top tips to help you get started on your journey today!

A Lick Of Paint 

One of the best things that can be done to completely transform the overall look of your home is to give the exterior wall as a fresh lick of paint. This can be done on any other suitable surfaces too, such as fence panels that need a new lease of life. If you haven’t ever considered the thought of painting your house then now is really the best time to get started - you can really show your own unique personality and style through whichever color it design you choose. Make sure that you pick a period of time that doesn’t see much rainfall and get started, and remember that the more layers of paint you apply, the better the end product will be. Choosing the best color might seem a little tough as it’s a big commitment if you’re opting to paint your entire houses exterior, but at the end of the day it is your home and whichever color you choose first should be the one that you go with. Don’t let other people’s opinions cloud your judgement - if you want a pink home with green fencing to surround it, then just go for it. 

Invest In Some Decking 

Investing in some kind of patio or other similar feature to add some space onto the outside of your home which you can utilize through all weathers is such a great idea. With so many different decking options, it’s hard to pick just one and you may need to ask the advice of some patio builders before you get started to ensure that it will stand strong for years to come. You can opt for a decking or patio area either on the front of your house around your porch, or around the back of your property in your enclosed garden area. It’s even possible to have it surrounding your house on both sides, and there are many different extra features such as roofing, stairs, built in benches and so much more than can really transform the look of your home. Not only are these investments so practical and functional, they also look amazing as an addition to the design of your home and can be customized go really reflect your individuality. It really doesn’t matter which color you choose for the initial installation, as you can easily purchase a new pot of paint or wood stain that better suits your own style that you can use personally at a later date. 

Get To Gardening 

If you’re lucky enough to have a garden yet foolish enough not to take advantage of the green space that you have been blessed with, then it’s time to get ready and switch up the look and style of your little patch of nature. Getting green fingered is actually so much more simple than you may think, as there are a whole range of different ideas that you can implement to improve the look of your garden in no time at all. Planting some flowers will add bursts of color all around, as you will no doubt attract bees and butterflies that will do the extra work of spreading the pollen all around to encourage seedlings to take roots in other places too. If you have the space, growing your own fruits & herbs is an amazing way to utilize your garden and create some delectable smells and tastes that you can enjoy both in their appearance and when you eventually get to consume them. This way, you are also doing your bit for Mother Nature and helping yourself to save the planet one little step at a time. When winter finally sheds its coat and the weather starts to heat up, take the first opportunity to use your lawnmower and remove all of the wild and unruly grass and weeds that have begun to take over your patch. When you have a large expanse either in the back or front of your abode that you may want to consider filling with something unique and special, then perhaps a water feature or fountain of some kind will be your best bet. The elegance and class that an angelic water feature can provide your home with is truly endless, as they can be purchased in tough long lasting stone or even marble should you have to budget to make it work. They are so relaxing to watch and enjoy, and the value of your home will increase somewhat due to the complete change of aesthetic that a piece like this can provide you with. 

With any luck, these top tips can help you to understand the best ways that you can transform the exterior aesthetic of your home in no time at all. It doesn’t have to be so difficult to create the perfect amount of curb appeal, just think about giving your home a lick of paint and pull on your gloves to get down to gardening. Plant some pretty flowers, fruits and herbs to fire up the senses and add a few pops of color here and there, whilst taking the opportunity to add some other more regal features such as a water fountain. 

When we are looking to make a stamp on our home, arguably, the one thing that really gets in the way of us doing this is if we have to sign on the dotted line of a temporary contract. And renting a property is, for the vast majority of us, a stark reality. And this means that we might not get to think about how the home decor can really represent our personality, or what we can do to make the place our own. But there are things that we can do, despite the fact that we are renting somewhere. There's that feeling that even though you live in a rental property, even for an extended period of time, then it's not possible to make it your own. Let's show you how you can do this, as well as a few practical points of coping with a rental property.



The Pressure Is Off

Arguably one of the greatest assets of rental properties is that you don't need to look after it as you would your own home. Naturally you have responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance, but if there are major problems, it's down to your landlord or letting agency to sort this out for you. If there are problems such as bugs or termites, it's their responsibility to contact pest control. Not having that pressure to maintain a home in this sense is like a weight lifted off your shoulders. Owning your own home means that you can make an abundance of changes, but if something were to go drastically wrong, you would have to foot the bill. Let's not forget; the word mortgage is literally translated from the french as “death pledge.” So if you feel the urge to complain about not owning your own property, there are times when you are better off in this respect. But, we still need to figure out how to make a property our own, even though it's not ours. How do we do this?


Making A Place Your Own

It's still possible to make a place your own even though it's not yours on paper. These days, there are so many different laws that prohibit you from doing certain things, or at the very least, you have got to ask permission of the landlord to make specific changes. Depending on the landlord, they may let you make changes without issue. As such, if you want to make a few little changes so the place feels like your own, you can make a couple of alterations like adding a few different items to your kitchen. You can makeover a kitchen in a very short space of time, and changing out the faucets for a new shinier one can make the place that sense of reinvigoration. As well as this, you could install removable wallpaper. You could also start replacing the window coverings and hanging curtains, or Venetian blinds to make it a little bit more you. And remember, a perfect way to change the feel of a place, even if you can't paint the walls, is to add a few pictures.

Do You Need To Own Your Own Place?

It feels that we need to own our own property, but there are so many stories out there of people who have bankrupted themselves because that's what they thought they needed. Yes, there is a sense of incompleteness if you don't have your own place, but the reality is that most of us can't get our own place. If you want to, and your objectives in life have changed, you've got to go somewhere you can afford. A lot of people like to stay where they are, especially in city areas, because they are close to essential amenities. But people are now taking the opportunity to move further out into rural areas so they can get more for their money. But you've got to think if you really need to own your own place. A lot of people rent and even share houses with people now, and yes, as frustrating as this can be, you've got to think about what you want in the grand scheme of things. If you want a family, you might want to purchase your own place, but if you don't have the money, you can still rent. Many people have rented for years and will have to until their dying day.

Making The Most Of A Rental Property (Even If You Want To Buy Somewhere)

There's ways for you to dress up your rental property and make the most of it, although you may want to purchase your own. The fact of the matter is that you need to save money in order to put a deposit down. But because we are renting, we feel that all of our earnings go directly into this. As a result, we tend to blame our rental property for bleeding ourselves dry. But the fact of the matter is if you want to save up for a property, you'll have to find either a property that gives you the opportunity to save money or you have to alter your lifestyle. Altering the property can be frustrating if you find that there are numerous problems. One of the big ways of improving your living circumstances is to find somewhere that straddles the balance. A lot of people move into shared accommodation because they want to save a lot of money. But in doing this, you are living with people you might not get along with. On the other hand, you have the opportunity to find the right sort of people. It's a widespread way of getting by now, finding other professionals, and having a house share. But, if you can find somewhere that is just for you and one other person that gives you the opportunity to save a lot of money, then it is a win-win situation! 



The Reality Of Renting

It is a reality that most of us have to make do with a rental property. As such, we may not feel that we can make a place our own. But it's about that delicate balance. While you might not be able to make drastic alterations, if you are to find somewhere that is your own, that you can rent for a long time, then it's no bad thing. So many of us have good relationships with our landlords so that we can make specific alterations to the property. We don't necessarily have the opportunity to renovate a property or add extensions, but when you look at the pros and cons of renting, the balance is very much in favor of the advantages. Renting takes off a lot of that financial pressure. When you look at purchasing a home, there are plenty of hidden costs that you need to factor in. But a lot of us can feel like we see the wood for the trees. Purchasing a property feels like you have ownership of your own life, but mortgages can be crippling comet especially if you want a property of a certain standard, and you feel you need to make it work. Of course, you can always sell up, but if you had a suitable living situation, a rental property can be a perfect way to ride out your late 20s. And if you have an ideal rental property that is big enough, who's to say you cannot live the rest of your life there? Sure there will be a time that you need to move, and so you can think about saving up for a property, but in the meantime, there are still ways for you to cope in the world of renting a property. It isn't as bad as it appears.

Getting By...

It all depends on what you want. Some of us feel that we need to own your own place, because it gives us a foot on the ladder as it's an investment. But these days, with millennials, and the quality of life is more important than the actual material goods is in your favor. Renting a property means that you don't own it, but because of the exorbitant expenses in life you might find renting a property is the best financial option for you right now. And you can still make a property your own because you have no choice to do so. It's not like you can't put a nail in a wall, or paint a little. Because so many of us have that opportunity to alter a property as we see fit. And also, there are plenty of options for those that want to buy a property further down the line, but rent the property in question before buying it. If you have a good relationship with your landlord, and you are in a position to buy, then you can make an offer. The benefit of this approach is that you've already got the property, you've moved in, and you already know what you want to change to it. But for most of us, we have to get by renting your property. In which case, getting by isn't as bad as it sounds.

This look is ideal for a weekend stroll, very comfy, fresh and of course flattering. The floral print gives the perfect touch of girlyness and the sneakers the comfort you need to conquer your day.  You already know how much I love my hats, so adding one to the look would make a difference.  

What do you guys think?

I'm Wearing:

Shoes | Frankie4

Saving the planet is a cause and an issue that cannot be ignored. Going plastic-free, packaging-free, banning straws, and recycling are just some of the ways that we can help to save the planet and just some of the things you will hear being talked about. Now, no one's perfect of course traveling has a huge impact on climate change, and no one is saying that you can never go on a plane again or never use a plastic bag again (although the latter does come across as a crime today), but there are little things you can do, and if we all do them one step at a time then we can contribute to helping the environment and trying to reverse some of the damage we have done. 

Go Green 

If you don't know what this means, speak to your energy provider, but essentially, it means switching to green energy where you will still get the same benefits, but you'll be being a lot kinder to the environment. Green energy comes from natural sources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, plants, algae, and geothermal heat. These are renewable, which means that they're naturally replenished. Many companies now offer renewable energy tariffs, so it couldn't be simpler to switch to.

Save Water

Saving water supplies is another thing you can do to help with saving the planet, but apart from turning the tap off while you brush your teeth and not using the hose pipe, how else can you do this? Check out Rainwater harvesting from National Poly Industries which allows people to manage and create their own water supplies, which would enable self-reliance and sustainability.

Eat Less Meat

If you can't cut it out entirely then simply try to cut down on your meat consumption as the emissions from intensive dairy and cattle farming are a big part of the problems with climate change and the environment. To provide the supply of meat that we consume means feeding farmed animals with massive amounts of grain and water before sending them off to slaughter, then there is the processing of the meat and the transportation involved in the whole process which is extremely energy-intensive. Also, the animals themselves and all the manure that they produce release even more greenhouse gases into our atmosphere. If you switch to vegan, there are other benefits you will enjoy in your own health too, so even if you don't go fully vegan, choosing of the vegan menu every once in a while or enjoy some meat-free days could still be very beneficial. 

Be Conscious Of Other Food

When you are buying food from the supermarket, be conscious of where it is coming from and how far and how it has had to travel. You cannot change the food industry, but a small step you can make into helping out the planet is to keep your food shop and your diet rich in seasonal locally sourced products and ingredients. Check labels in supermarkets or to be safe, if you go to your local greengrocer you'll be able to know where your food is coming from a lot more easily.

Walk More

Walking will keep you fit and healthy which is always a bonus, but also what helps here is the fact that Petrol and diesel cars are a huge source of emissions which are bad for both air quality and climate change. If it's too far to walk, then jump on your bike.

If you’ve been rewatching a few classic films recently, you’ve probably fallen head over heels in love with some of the fantastic decor ideas. Take a look at some of the James Bond movies with Sean Connery and Roger Moore to get your dose of sophisticated 60s, 70s and even 80s interior style. For something a little more kitschy and quirky, make sure to head to the other infamous spy, Austin Powers where fun and psychedelic decor are a never-ending source of inspiration! 

If you prefer something more classic, the old Hitchocks always gave a lot of attention to minimalist decor pieces to create the atmosphere in the room. But you’ll need to tune in to Agatha Christie’s most famous sleuth, Hercule Poirot, to get a feel of the Glorious 1930s. Indeed, the Brtish TV series with David Suchet is the most celebrated representation of the Belgian detective and is also the most faithful to the period decors. You’ll love the clean lines of the Art Deco against the romantic Art Nouveau display. It’s impossible not to fall in love with a vintage decor. However, when you can’t afford to live in a 1930s manor house with a butler, you need to create your vintage interior without breaking the bank. Here’s how to do it: 

Homeowners: Check what you home is truly made of

If you’re a homeowner, you need to be ready to investigate. Indeed, did you know that many first-time homebuyers may not even realize they live surrounded by vintage architecture? Take a look under your carpet. Go on, have a peak. You just need to go to a corner and carefully grab the carpet with pliers. You should be able to pull up enough to get a glimpse of what’s underneath. You might find hardwood floor – it’s pretty standard in houses from the 1950s and before. With a little DIY magic, you could refinish your flooring. You can remove your carpet alone, and after a lot of sanding, you can stain the wood for protection. DO make sure, however, to get in touch with your local skip bin hire before you start your improvement project. Indeed, removing the carpet is going to be messy! You want to have all the removal equipment ready to avoid any mess at home!

Wait, what’s in the attic?

Old properties are full of surprises. But you may get caught up in the process of decorating before you start exploring what’s in the attic or the basement. Don’t skip the exploration phase; you might discover some unexpected pieces. While you are unlikely to find an 18th-century French commode in your attic, you may come across old wooden furniture that you have never seen before. Knowing how to identify antique pieces can help you to give your decor a fantastic boost. An antique is a piece of furniture that dates back from a previous generation. Fine dealers consider that antique furniture has to be 150 old or over, but mainstream antique dealers focus in anything that is 50-years-old. Depending on your skills and equipment^^ent, you can also choose to attempt small renovation works by yourself. However, leave the big jobs to specialists!

Can you renovate some of your pieces?

It doesn’t have to be an antique piece to create a vintage feel. However, you can choose a few central pieces from reclaimed wood furniture and material. Wooden doors, especially, are a popular item in reclaimed wood and salvage centers. Take close attention to the type of paint used on the door. Indeed, if the door has been painted before 1960, the coat could contain lead — in which case you should refer the door to a specialist. Otherwise, be patient, and you can strip your door back to normal. Wouldn’t you love a gorgeous Victorian or Edwardian door at home?

Fake it if you can’t make it

The best and easiest way to showcase a piece of furniture while making it look older than it actually is is to distress the paint. If you’ve never painted your furniture before, you’d be pleased to know that with chalk paint, it is a pretty easy and straightforward process. Indeed, chalk paint covers everything – you don’t need to pre-coat the surface – and dries quickly. You might want to use coats of different colors, so that when you distress the surface with sandpaper, you can see the second coat pierce through.

Distressed paint

Create a vintage accent wall

What’s a vintage wall? If you’ve seen pictures of home interiors from the 1960s and 1970s, you’ve got a pretty clear idea of what wallpapers would have looked then. You can still find original wallpaper from previous decades – Etsy is a good address for this. Similarly, you can also find excellent reproduction too if you’re worried about using the original thing. Unless your decor can take it, it’s best to stick to one accent wall and use paint on the other walls. It’ll make sure your wallpaper stands out magnificently!

Invest in a few key pieces to set the mood

You don’t need to buy the real thing to design a vintage look and feel at home. Simple touches such as switching your usual plastic soap and gel container for a chic glass dispenser can completely transform the vibe in the bathroom. And why not add an elegant little pouf in the living room to break the typical lounge decor? A pouf brings a little 1950s femininity to your interior!

Add a touch of fun to your lounging outfit

Do you remember when you were a kid and dressed up like a princess? It made you feel like Cinderella for a day. You might have grown out of your Cinderella obsession, but the principle still applies. Dressing for the part makes you feel like the real thing. Of course, there’s no need to invest in a vintage outfit for your everyday wear. But you can pick a few elegant homeware items, such as a pair of slippers. Feathery mules are back in trend, so you might find a sweet little pair to feel like a classy diva at home!

Nothing beats the magical feel of a vintage home decor. But thankfully, you don’t have to buy a manor to feel like you’re living in one. A few DIY tips and attention to the right places and tada, you’ve got yourself the perfect and timeless feel and touch!

The great outdoors. For some, those words will fill them with horror. The thought of being out there without the comforts of modern life will fill them with a sense of discomfort similar to sleeping on a bed of nails. For others, the great outdoors stands for a grand adventure. Something out of the ordinary that defies the uniformity of consumerism and breaks us free from the shackles of the mundane. And you know in which category you fall. Just close your eyes and think of your ideal holiday. If that’s urban shopping and sunny beaches sipping a cocktail, then the great outdoors is not for you. If you think of wild water running, tall trees looming and dirt between your hands and clothes, then you are that adventurer ready for something less ordinary.

The Classic Adventurer

The classic way to enjoy the great outdoors is simply with a backpack, tent, and a pair of functional hiking boots. This is probably the most common image people have of this type of vacation. Also possibly followed by the idea of foraging or fishing for your own meals. And although being able to enjoy the outdoors in such a way will spark the imagination the most, it’s actually meant for the more experienced traveler to partake in. 

Camping To Start With

What you want to do, especially if you are new to this is to start with more organized and structured ways to enjoy the great outdoors: camping sites. Camping sites usually offer a mix between having to rough it out yourself and some basic level of creature comforts. Think of normal toilets and showering facilities, a basic shop for food items and a fairly neat and ready-to-use patch of ground to set your tent up in. For most people, this is the perfect way to get into it and, more importantly, figure out if it’s for them at all.

Hiking Holidays

The next step up is to go on organized hiking trips abroad. You can see stunning places, feel like a true adventurer, all in the company of like-minded people and a skillful guide. You could go see the Scottish Highlands, the Inca Trail in Peru, the Appalachian Trail, Kungsleden in Sweden, or the Bay of Fires in Tasmania. These are genuinely adventures that will provide you a lifetime of memories.

A Lifelong Adventurer

Once you get hooked by the hiking/great outdoors bug, it might never let you go. You might decide that the standard ‘go see London/New York/Berlin/Paris/Barcelona’ holiday won’t cut it for you anymore. At this point, you might want to consider making a life-long investment in some serious adventuring hardware. This could be that super-deluxe tent your wanted but was unsure if you were going to get the use out. Or that solar charging unit that seemed a bit steep but would have been so welcome on your last trip. Or level up, get one of those Austrack Campers that will not only outlast you, but they might also even become heirloom pieces to pass on to the kids! Because in the end, a sense of adventure is personal, but it’s even better when it’s shared.

There is nothing quite like a road trip. It doesn't even have to be a long one - weekends are the perfect length for exploration. You can find adventures, relaxation time and fun all on the same trip. You can discover new things about yourself as well as the new areas you're visiting. Road trips can be daunting and hard to plan at times, but with the right help, hacks, and travel tips, you can make your weekend road trip the best time you've ever had. Let's take a look at some of the hacks that you need to make your dream road trip an easy one to have.

Go For Hire

 A lot of people clear out their cars ready for the trip of a lifetime, but what if your car is on its last legs and just about makes it to the corner store? What you need is a reliable van hire to make your trip go off without a hitch. If you hire a trailer, you get a vehicle which has already gone through the various checks necessary to ensure that it's safe for the road. You also get the perfect car for the things you want to bring with you: plenty of space for your stuff as well as your friends!

Plan Loosely

You can military plan a route, but you can't plan where you're going to be when there are road delays. The best thing that you can do is have a loose idea of which route you want to take and be aware of other routes. You can't predict extreme weather shutting the roads for you, so you may as well plan loosely enough to know where to go. How to get there is part of the fun of the trip.

Preload Your Playlist

 It's so important that you are entertained when you are driving for hours, and you can't always guarantee that you are going to pick up a radio signal. So, you need to think about getting your phone ready and filled with as many playlists as possible. You can always have back up phone chargers in the car to cover you in case you run out of battery before you get to your destination.



Share The Work

. It's highly unlikely you're road tripping alone, so if you're not, take advantage of your mates and get one person reading the maps while you drive. Have someone else on cooking duties with a camper stove and a bag of groceries. It's all about sharing.
Roadside Rescue. If you don't belong to one already, get on the list of a roadside rescue service. They will be able to give you a helping hand if you get stuck in the middle of nowhere. You need to know the local services can come and rescue you when you need them.

Road trips are supposed to be fun, and they can be if you would just allow them to be. Take your time and plan it right for the best weekend ever.

You already know that traveling is a very big part of my life,  so I've had to step up my game when it comes to packing and of course my luggage.  

Ya saben que viajar es una parte muy importante de mi vida, por lo que he tenido que mejorar mi juego cuando se trata de empacar y, por supuesto, mi equipaje.

I recently got this beautiful set from American Tourister I absolutely love the color, so clean and girly, they have a very sleek hardside exterior which I really like as well.  I got the  Stratum XLT 28" Spinner, the Stratum XLT 24" Spinner and the Stratum XLT 20" Spinner all in the ''Petal Pink'' color.

Recientemente obtuve este hermoso set de American Tourister. Me encanta el color, tan limpio y femenino, tienen un exterior rígido muy elegante que también encuentro súper favorable. Obtuve el Stratum XLT 28" Spinner, el Stratum XLT 24" Spinner y el Stratum XLT 20" Spinner, todo en el color '' Petal Pink ''. 

 I like how they move, and how spacious they are, I could store a whole bunch more of stuff thanks to that and of course to a new method of folding and packing my clothes. 

Me gusta cómo se mueven, y cuán espaciosas son, pode almacenar un montón de cosas más gracias a eso y, por supuesto, a un nuevo método de doblar y empacar mi ropa.

I used to pack my clothes in rolls but honestly I find that folding them ''Marie Kondo'' style is waaaaaay more efficient, I definitely recommend giving it a try.

Solía ​​empacar mi ropa en rollos, pero honestamente encuentro que doblarlos al estilo '' Marie Kondo'' es muuuucho más eficiente, definitivamente recomiendo probarlo.

Another very useful tip is to get your hands on this type of bags, best way I've found so far to keep my hair products, perfumes and skincare all in one place, safe and secure, no leaking and no mess.

Otro tip súper útil es tener en sus manos este tipo de bolsos, la mejor manera que he encontrado hasta ahora para mantener mis productos para el cabello, perfumes y cuidado de la piel en un solo lugar, a salvo, sin fugas ni desorden.

If your luggage has this type of compartments give them some use. This one in my suitcase it's perfect to keep small things like chargers, pill cases, brushes and all the little things you don't know where to put and don't want to have all over the place. 

Si tu equipaje tiene este tipo de compartimentos, dales algo de uso. Este en mi maleta es perfecto para guardar cosas pequeñas como cargadores, estuches de pastillas, cepillos y todas esas cositas que no sabes dónde poner y no quieres tenerlos por todos lados.

I've been so happy with these, and I feel they make my traveling experience way easier. What are your packing/travel tips?

He estado muy contenta y conforme tanto con las maletas como aplicando estos tips que les comparto hoy, siento que hacen que mi experiencia de viaje sea mucho más fácil. ¿Cuáles son sus consejos a la hora de empacar / viaje?