Top tips for a stylish pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time when women look their most beautiful. You will find yourself with boosted -or discover completely new- voluptuous curves, and have a healthy, happy glow. Thinking about your maternity and breast feeding wardrobe and the image you project is the first step to looking, and more importantly feeling, like a beautiful mummy.

Here are the top tips for a stylish maternity:

Size matters.

It can be easier to move away from maternity lines and breast feeding clothes and simply buy and borrow regular clothes in a bigger size. Many pregnant women find themselves borrowing their partner’s clothes, or buying clothes from the men’s sections. This is fine for comfortable wear around the house. But constantly wearing bulky clothes which are far too big will leave you looking and feeling much bigger than you are.

With so many stylish maternity lines available, once your bump has grown too big to fit into your regular clothes it makes sense to move towards clothes which are specifically designed to flatter your shape. In cooler weather wear a fitted long-sleeved maternity top with a loose scarf for a chic snug look.

Lots of women look forward to buying a new maternity wardrobe and it’s not difficult to see why. Not only will the clothes flatter your bump, but they are also designed with optimum levels of comfort, with natural fabrics to avoid irritation and a comfortable cut.

Start with the basics.

Maternity underwear will give you a neat silhouette to begin with. Look for comfortable cotton fabrics and designs which give you the support. Buy some nightwear too; maternity nightwear is more comfortable than any others out there.

Build a basic capsule wardrobe. Some nursing tops are essential, as is a cotton tunic to wear comfortably with leggings. In cooler weather you might want to invest in some maternity knitwear too. Show off your new voluptuous curves with V-neck or scoop-neck tops.

After pregnancy you will require a changing bag. These don’t have to be padded with bright cartoon characters. Designers such as Koochu create gorgeous handbags which secretly double as changing bags. Check out their beautiful patent handbags which contain a washable cotton lining with useful hidden pockets; including a hidden base compartment for a changing mat, nappies and wipes.

Don’t be afraid of glamour.

So many designers are creating gorgeous more formal maternity dresses and skirts, meaning you don’t have to sacrifice glamour just because you’re pregnant. Try treating yourself to a pampering session and buy a new dress and shrug for an evening out.

Some maternity ranges can be worn during nursing too, with hidden concealments and enough stretch to fit whatever size your belly is. Clothes which are suitable for both the pregnancy and nursing stages will let you really get your money’s worth. Browse nursing tops with hidden concealments, which are practical and available in beautiful designs. How about a nursing top in a vest shape with a long, flowing skirt and sandals in summer?

And don’t be afraid of colour, stand out during pregnancy and nursing with a bright top or scarf. Changing your wardrobe for maternity no longer means you have to sacrifice your style!

A Beautiful Mummy breastfeeding and maternity boutique specialises in beautiful and practical clothing for pregnancy and beyond. Visit their website today for beautiful maternity and nursing tops, dresses and knitwear, as well as a range of Koochu changing bags.
Nursing tops

Help yourself to sleep better by investing in some Egyptian cotton bedding

There’s nothing nicer than the feeling of getting into bed when the sheets have just been changed and wrapping yourself up in that newly-clean, soft and cosy duvet. But there are materials available to help make this experience even better.

Egyptian cotton bedding is the latest fashion to be found within the household. It is more commonly found within high-class hotel rooms, but lately, people have decided to bring this unique bedding into their homes. Its promises of bringing comfort and durability to the bedroom, allow us to add a touch of luxury to our nightly slumber.

Identifiable by its distinctive yellow petals and black seeds, the tropical plant called Gossypium barbadense (also known as extra long staple cotton) is the source of Egyptian cotton. The natural fibres that are attained from this plant are then turned into Egyptian cotton sheets, producing a fabric that is soft, luxurious, divine and extremely comfortable. Any Egyptian cotton bedding feels cool and crisp to the touch, meaning that it is suitable for use during any time of the year.

During any discussions about cotton sheets, you may have heard the term “thread count” being thrown around quite a bit. Vertical and horizontal threads are used to create this material and the “thread count” refers to how many are used in one square inch of fabric. Therefore, if an item of bedding were to have a high thread count (it is generally suggested that one purchases bedding with a minimum thread count of 200), then it would mean that the fabric would feel smoother and more luxurious.

From a practical perspective, Egyptian cotton does not demand any specific requirements and can easily be machine washed with the rest your laundry. As well as this, there is no need to worry about Egyptian cotton losing its colour as it can last for many years without any noteworthy fading; because of this and as an extremely absorbent fabric, Egyptian cotton allows sheets to be set with deeper, brighter and more resistant colours.

Those who have trouble sleeping may particularly benefit by investing in some Egyptian cotton sheets. More often than not, the reason for one’s insomnia is due to discomfort in some way; whilst this could be due to a regular pain that one may be suffering etc, it can simply be down to uncomfortable bedding. Egyptian cotton is extremely absorbent and takes moisture away from the body during sleep; this consequently reduces our sleeping temperature, enabling us to sleep much more comfortably. If you are one who suffers with insomnia, try investing in Egyptian cotton sheets as they could be more beneficial to you than you may initially think.

It is common for many people to keep their bed sheets for years on end, never investing in anything new. Have a think about when the last time was that you bought yourself new bedding. The comfort that appealed to you when you first bought your bedding is slowly being worn down by constantly being washed and reused. By treating yourself and investing in Egyptian cotton bedding, not only will you be gaining that long-overdue comfort, you can also rest assured that your investment will be long lasting. Your high quality sheets will last for years on end, thanks to the fine cotton that is used to make them which contains a high thread count per square inch.

Browns of Weston sell a wide range of bed linen as well as bath linen and curtains.Established in 1909, they currently stock Egyptian cotton sheets of 200, 400 and 800 thread count and are constantly expanding their range. To add that touch of luxury to your home, contact Browns of Weston today and invest in some Egyptian cotton bedding.
Egyptian cotton bed linen

What type of curtain track or pole will suit your room?

Youre in the middle of redecorating your lounge and youre confident that youve sorted out the big important aspects of the room. Youve got your brand new sofa in place, your clean and luxurious carpet has been put down, maybe youve even got your curtains picked out and they are ready to be put up. But have you considered whether you want to attach them to a curtain pole or a curtain rail? And if so, do you know which specific type or style will suit your room?

They may not be the first thing you think about when you are decorating a room within your house, but curtain poles or curtain rails are important to the practicality and aesthetics of your newly decorated room.

Curtain rails (also known as curtain tracks) are generally white in colour and available in metal or plastic. They use gliders as a means to open and close curtains and are available in a variety of forms. The three most popular types of curtain rail however are uncorded, corded and electric tracks. The first, and probably the most common curtain rail is the standard uncorded track; these are simply curtains that are physically pulled open or closed and we tend to see these used more regularly on a day to day basis.

The second type of curtain rail is a corded track. These incorporate a long cord, which can generally be found running down the side of the curtains. This cord must then be pulled to open or close a pair of curtains and whilst these are still around today, they are not as fashionable to be used alongside curtains in modern society; you are more likely to see them being used on blinds nowadays.

The final version of a curtain rail is an electric track. Whilst these are well-known for being used within large office conference rooms, it is becoming trendy nowadays to install these within the home and add a touch of luxury to ones surroundings.

Curtain poles on the other hand, use ringlets that are fastened to the curtains and which can then easily be opened or drawn manually. When it comes to decorating, curtains poles can provide you with a bit more freedom than curtain rails as they are available in a variety of colours and materials. They can give you the opportunity to really show off the look and style that you are trying to achieve within that room. For instance, a metal curtain pole would give off a gleaming contemporary look, whereas a light wooden curtain pole would appear more natural.

Curtain poles can also give you the opportunity to be a bit more creative. Finials are shaped, and often coloured, additions that are attached to the ends of a curtain pole. Midials have exactly the same concept, but instead these can be attached anywhere along a curtain pole. By adding finials and midials to your curtain pole, you can really show off your personality and be creative simultaneously. In addition to this, if a finial cannot be attached to your curtain pole, dont despair as you can still add midials to it, ensuring that your personality shines through.

Whether you feel that your room would be better suited to curtain rails or curtain poles, there are numerous companies out there that can offer you a wide variety of suitable products that can be measured and tailored to meet your needs.

A wide range of curtain poles, tracks and rails are available from Tracks Direct. With 40 years experience, they endeavour to provide total customer satisfaction and aim to deliver your purchase within as little time as possible. Visit their website for further information on curtain poles/tracks and to look at their range of finials and midials.
 
Curtain pole range

The advantages of choosing a DIY conservatory

If youre thinking of adding an extension to your home and youre looking at a conservatory as an option, have you ever considered a DIY conservatory?Do it yourself (DIY) conservatories can create that extra space you crave without the price tag associated with getting someone else to add an extension for you.You can choose your design and have the materials delivered to your home and then its up to you to install it.

The pleasure you can gain when your friends and family mistake your conservatorys craftsmanship for the work of a professional will be so satisfying.There is no better feeling than seeing your hard work come to fruition in this way.The most obvious reason people choose a DIY conservatory is that you can save money as you dont have to contract a team of builders.

DIY conservatories are often supplied with instructions and so theres no need to panic that you wont have the skills.If you chose to contract a team of builders you would need to plan around their time and you will often find the work takes longer and is spread out over weeks or even months.The only timescale you need to plan around if you choose DIY conservatories is your own.

You can create that weekend project youve always dreamed of or plan to build it in time for a special occasion or good weather season.With recent advances in design and technology conservatory installation has never been easier.

Choosing your DIY conservatory design

There are several designs you can choose to buy and fit yourself or create your own bespoke design with your unique requirements which will help you maximise the space you have available.Lean to conservatory This is the most basic of all conservatories and will suit most homes. The lean to style is generally one of the smallest designs.

They are ideal for bungalows where the height of the conservatory is restricted by the height of the building.Edwardian conservatory - This usually has a high pitched roof which maximises the light in the building.The simplistic style can be more personalised with the use of different types of glazing and ornamentation.In many Edwardian style conservatories the roof is the focal point and there is generous indoor space.

Victorian conservatory This style might have a pitched roof and a bay or bell ended shape.You can get Victorian style conservatories with different numbers of bay sections - often called splays, so that you can stipulate the number that you want.When making a decision about the style and design you want, remember to think about what you want to use the space for.

Are you looking for storage, living quarters, a play room or dining area? Once youve established how the space will be used you will be able to choose a design to fit your needs.There are certain steps you will need to take to ensure you can build the extension including contacting your local authority for advice and approval.DIY conservatories are flexible, low cost and practical so start thinking about yours today.

You can purchase DIY conservatories at Conservatory Quote Online who provide you with competitive quotes from leading UK manufacturers and companies. Their expert team are on hand to offer advice and guidance you can trust besides low prices from leading household companies.Visit their website today to find your own bespoke conservatory, sunroom or orangery home improvement package.
DIY conservatories