I've always been eager to look after my feet, so when Flexitol contacted me to gift me some of their products, I certainly didn't hesitate. I decided to choose something different, foot care products that I've never tried before, as a way of mixing things up a little.

The thing that makes Flexitol such a brilliant and intense form of foot care is their main ingredient: Urea. Designed to retain moisture, the Urea is used in every one of their products to give maximum hydration to your feet.

Moisturising Foot Cream.
I went back to basics with this first product. Foot Cream is something that you can never go wrong with although, in the past, I've found some of them to be too thick or lumpy and just not too pleasant to apply. This Flexitol Foot Cream, however, is incredibly smooth and thin. The thin consistency is nothing to be fooled by though; it applies like a dream and rubs into a sort of gel which leaves a layer of what feels like some sort of 'hydration barrier' on the skin. Although it will sound cliche, this product really does leave skin feeling soft. It'll take a few minutes to soak in, but not too long, and I generally do tend to apply this before bed. My favourite bit of this one has got to be the scent. It's a fresh, clean smell which I feel is so vital for your feet. At £5.99 for this fair sized tube, I'd definitely repurchase this. 


Moisturising Foot Foam.
To be honest, I wish I loved this product but it just isn't for me. First of all, I love the size of the bottle - it's the perfect size to pop in a going-away bag but also big enough to get plenty of product. The concept of Moisturising Foot Foam is brilliant too. You simply apply the foam onto your feet and ankles like you would apply shaving foam. As you begin to rub the foam into your feet, it turns into a cream that's a similar consistency to the Moisturising Foot Cream. All in all, it moisturises well and does a good job BUT it just stinks. Due to the fact that this product is perfume and preservative free (which is definitely a brilliant quality to have), it brings with it the rather pungent smell of... cheese. Don't get me wrong, I love cheese, I just really don't want my feet to smell like it. Nevertheless, I can see this working really well for people who need intense foot-care treatments and those who are enjoying a little pampering. 

Heel Magic.
This is by far one of the best and easiest foot care products that I've ever used. A pure and simple, roll-on stick of solid moisturising foot balm that has made caring for my feet so much easier. On a night, I'll get into bed, take off my socks (usually fluffy Christmas socks) then roll a fair application of the Heel Magic all over my feet, with focus on any dry or rough skin then, after around 2 minutes of keeping my feet off the bed, I'm ready to let it do its magic while I sleep. Packed with Shea Butter, Coconut Oil AND Olive Oil, it does a tremendous job of soothing my feet and making them feel less dry. Luckily with a pleasant smell, I've been trying to use this as often as I can. Admittedly, applying too much can mean that you also have to get your hands greasy (it only took me a few days to figure out exactly how much to apply to avoid having to get my hands involved) and seeing results takes a little bit longer than the other products, but I have to sing such high praises purely for how entertained I am by this product. I feel like it'll last me a long time so at £6.99 it's excellent value. 

Not only did moving into my first rental property teach me a thing or two, but it also made me really want to share the products and items that have been helping me along the journey in order to help other people moving out of their home too. I found the most important parts of making sure my house felt like a home were: Cleaning, Repairing, and finally, Settling In. If you're moving out soon, whether it's into Student Halls, a Rental property, or a House of your own, there are definitely a few items that I can recommend for you to easily meet the 'Clean, Repair, Settle' criteria. Here goes...

To Clean.
If you know me, you know I'm a bit of a clean freak. I don't do germs, grime, mess and dirt so when I first moved into my new rental property, I found that I needed a lot of cleaning products on hand and a lot of tools for maximising the cleanliness of my place. Over time, I found the best products that worked for me and, while I'm still learning, there's definitely some that I'd love to recommend. 

For tackling tough dirt, like mucky hobs and stained furniture, it has to be Elbow Grease All Purpose Degreaser. I've found this product for a brilliant £1 in a few shops now - from the bargain stores to Tesco. It's strong stuff yet not damaging to a lot of materials - 100% the best multi-purpose de-greaser.

For Antibacterial cleaning, I've been using the Dettol Power & Fresh Green Apple spray. It doesn't clean quite as powerfully as Elbow Grease so I generally do a clean with that first, then eliminate bacteria with this spray; I use this one because it smells divine and leaves the surfaces very fresh. 

This one is a bit more expensive than a few bottles of spray (aka, a lot more expensive) and, just for the record, I don't have one of my own and the one that I do use is borrowed from my family, but this next item is an absolute lifesaver. For awkwardly shaped flats, minimum storage space around, and the need for trustworthy and long lasting investments, the Dyson Cordless Vacuums are a complete league of their own. They're perfect for size, practically, trust, and power - I would love to have one of my own in the future and it's definitely at the top of my wishlist. 


To Repair.
I'm kind of handing over to my boyfriend, Jamie, for this little bit now as he does fancy himself as quite the handyman but, you don't always need to have your own makeshift handyman on call, all it takes is a half decent toolkit. From a Junior Hack Saw, Pliers, a bunch of different screws, a few different screwdrivers, a hammer, and, if you're feeling fancy, a power drill. In fact, shops that have substantial DIY sections are usually quite understanding and helpful when it comes to amateurs; Wilko does a 'Home Repair Kit', which is a box of a few different hooks, screws and clasps for just £3. You can also head to this shop for their 'pick-n-mix' style scheme but, instead of sweets, it's screws, hooks and whatnot. Although some of us would rather it be the sweets, you'll find toolkit essentials a lot more beneficial in the long run.

If you are looking to splash out on a fancy drill to have in your household, Jamie recommends his brilliant Makita Power Drill and the Impact Driver which was very kindly gifted to him one year. When we first moved in, Jamie found these tools made it so much easier and quicker not only to put up the classic IKEA flatpack pieces but for dismantling old, leftover furniture that can be a complex puzzle of screws, dirt and rust. Our move would've been a whole lot more difficult without it.

To Settle In.
I definitely had to learn my way to settling into my new flat by trying and testing as well as fulfilling gaps. For example, I found adding lamps with soft, warm bulbs around the place something very relaxing and calming. There's something quite special about finishing off a day of busy-bodying, fretting, and flitting around, by then relaxing in an ambient room with a cup of tea and a good book or something on TV.

Admittedly, moving in isn't all sunshine and rainbows and, believe me, I went to bed some nights rather frustrated. Again, I'll admit, I'm still a little frustrated as to where on Earth (or at least, where in this flat) are my straighteners going to live, or where will my gym clothes go right now, or the fact that I could be spun around a million times and I'd still be able to map out the exact line of cables behind the sodding TV. Okay, I get it, I sound like a perfectionist. I guess I am, but do not cry my fellow perfectionists, storage boxes are the answer. Take it from me, there's a storage box in this flat that contains a makeup bag of nail polishes, a yoga band, and a bunch of notepads. Why? They had nowhere else to go just yet. Storage boxes are the way forward when it comes to making the mess look a bit more organised - it's also helpful for lifting things off the floor and eliminating clutter.

A big part of settling in for me meant to bring home to me. As a true home bird and mommy's-girl, one of the essential parts of 'home' that I wanted to bring with me was my Mum's cooking. Over the years, my mum has taught me her ways of cooking to the point where I can pretty much perfect her Spag Bol down to a t. A lot of the food that Mum cooks is Oriental and Mediterranean dishes so having a Rice Cooker was always quite the game changer. Being the students that we are, Jamie and I knew that getting a Rice Cooker of our own would be so helping at making cooking meals easier as well as feeling familiar. We got ours from Asda Home at a fantastic price of just £12. They're beneficial for 1 person right through to 6 - definitely a kitchen must-have.

It's crazy to think that it is coming up a whole year since myself and a bunch of other bloggers were contacted and taken on as ambassadors for the skincare brand, Botanics. As many ambassador contracts go, this one was also on a 12-month basis and therefore, as August comes to an end, so does this chapter. I've really enjoyed being part of the Botanics community; I've met so many brilliant bloggers through it and, as I became an ambassador at the start of my blogging journey, it has helped me learn and grow too.

Being an ambassador meant that I was lucky enough to be sent products in the post every so often. The products varied across the range, from brightening and hydrating the skin to rejuvenating youth, as well as 80-100% organic products - I was delighted to dip my toe into every different concept they had. Of course though, amongst all of the products, I definitely had my favourites. Some of the products I even now couldn't do a day without. Here are my favourite Botanics Skincare Products from my year as an ambassador.

Hydration Burst Day Cream.
This day cream was received quite recently, actually and, to be honest, seeing as though I had already found a lot of products that I liked over the previous year, I didn't really expect another one to come along. Here's the thing, when I was younger, I suffered quite badly with sensitive, dry skin so the only day-to-day facial moisturiser that worked for me was a thick balm. Since being with Botanics, I have discovered so many more gentle products that care for my skin just as perfectly, if not better. This Hydration Burst cream is something that I will definitely be taking into the Winter with me as it is a thick gel-like consistency and really does settle into the skin with a soft and hydrating feel and, despite the thick consistency, it is generally lightweight on the skin. The 'Clary Sage' ingredient also gives it a wonderful smell that I find quite hard to describe.


Organic Rosehip Facial Oil.

 

Everybody MUST know by now that over the past few weeks, I have been moving into my very first independent home, away from my parents, with my boyfriend, Jamie. The property that we've moved into is a 2 bedroomed flat and we've been waiting a mighty long time to officially move in.

As August flipped over, we finally moved into this flat and have been hard at work sorting everything out since. So much so, that I've barely been on social media and haven't had an ounce of time to write a blog post until now. And I know that a bunch of people are dying to see the new place in all of its glory but, as there are still, boxes, bags, and bare walls all over the place, I'm afraid I'll have to keep you all waiting that little bit longer.

Anyhow, as this is my first 'independent flat', I've learnt a lot even though my journey is just beginning. Some of the things I've learnt are specific to rental properties and some will stretch to other grades of property too so if you're moving anytime soon, you might want to know the 5 things I've learnt from moving into my first rental property.

New knives are sharp.
For those of you like myself that seem to be lacking a bit of common sense or have recently found themselves going delirious from tiredness, it's worth learning that new knives, straight outta the packet, are very sharp. It's also worth noting that I probably should cut bread in my hands going towards my fingers... yup, that might prevent future sliced fingers too. 

'Professionally cleaned' means nothing.
Every viewing that I attended taught me that, before I moved into the property that I chose, it would have been professionally cleaned. Bullsh*t. My mum and I pride ourselves as rather good at cleaning but were a challenged when we first got the keys. So, as soon as we got into the property, we were scrubbing, wiping, bleaching, hoovering and whatnot. There were so many absolutely disgusting things around our flat and, only thanks to our hard work, the place is now on its way to being a lot more spotless.


It's a very tiring process.
As I mentioned before, I've been going a little delirious from tiredness lately. Not only is lugging boxes and bags, cleaning top to bottom, and general living and breathing tiring, I have also been losing sleep over the amount of activity going on in my brain. One night I was awake between 2 and 4AM just wondering how to organise a set of shelves. Half of it was out of overwhelming excitement and the other half was just frustration of not being able to organise shelves in the early hours of the morning. I'm pleased to say, however, I'm starting to get caught up with sleep - a few well-needed naps have been very necessary. 

Things will challenge you along the way.
A lot of the time, landlords, agents, and contractors are fine-tuned to do the very bare minimum. Luckily for us, our estate-agent/landlord is pretty helpful and active but, across the whole process, there have been a few occasions where nothing has been done with ease. We're currently tackling awaiting a boiler fixture, expecting a roofer at some point, and trying to understand the mindset of whoever left one of the walls magnolia in a white room. Things are slowly but surely coming along and, if anything, I'm learning to have patience.

There's always something missing.
No matter how much I packed and planned before moving in, there was always going to be something missing. For some reason, we seemed to acquire 2 cheese graters but were lacking a few basics like a sponge, a feather duster, and a kitchen bin, to name a few. Despite the fact that we took trips to shops to get all of these missing essentials, we still find a few things are missing. Next on my list is a shelf. Yep... it really is simple little things like that.

As a blogger, a lot of my work is done on my iPhone and, to be honest, it's the same for very many other bloggers. The iPhone dominates the influencer community to the point where blogging these days pretty much only requires an iPhone. With its endless amount of Apps for making our lives easier to the almost impeccable camera qualities - they're a power beyond belief. Although, there's no doubt that there's a big issue with them that everyone is plagued with. 'Storage Almost Full'. Those dreaded words. Sometimes, though, it can be kept on top of and, a little less than often, can be redeemed by taking a few simple actions Organising and Decluttering your iPhone is something that should hopefully keep those storage warnings at bay; so here's how I organise my iPhone:

Purchase one. Delete another.
Let's start with possibly one of the most effective ways to declutter your iPhone and that is the 'Purchase one. Delete another.' rule. This rule means that every time you purchase an app - let's say the latest Zen game that everyone is talking about - you have to have a look through your phone and chose which current App to delete. I find that the majority of the time, I have no bother picking out an app to delete - it's usually a game or service that I haven't used in a while and won't really miss. And be brutal with yourself. I have this ethos when it comes to decluttering my home too - If you have to think about getting rid of it, get rid of it'; this basically means that any item that you give an 'umm' or an 'arrr' about doesn't deserve your time and should be eliminated.

Regular Rejigs.
On the subject of deleting apps, having a rejig of your apps is just as essential. I will try and do this about once a month. I tend to look at each page and delete any apps that I no longer use or don't see any future use for and delete them (again, using my 'If you have to think about getting rid of it, get rid of it' maxim). My first page is always dedicated to the most important and useful apps such as the main social media gang (Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest), my mobile banking apps, and the essential apple apps (such as photos, maps, music, ect.). Along the bottom of the screen, I keep the absolute essentials like Mail, Messages, Phone and Camera - keeping these along the bottom bar means that, whichever page I'm on, I always have access to them. And finally, having an iPhone 8 PLUS means that there's a lot of screen to get my little fingers around, so I like to keep the apps that I use close to my thumb in the bottom-right corner - you can call me lazy, but it really does make sense.


Keep Folders Short.
According to thisiscompletelyfake.com, 1 in 4 of us have encountered a person who likes to brag about their phone being completely made up of folders in our lifetime. Of course, that's not quite true, but if you have and it irritated you too, then you'll understand my frustration. Some people can get far too carried away with Folders and, in fairness, it's quite easy to do. They keep everything looking neat and categorised however they also do a good job of filling up your iPhone space. Yes, you only have 2 pages of Apps on your phone, but if it's because the 1st page is made up of double-page folders, then you're just as bad as the next person. Apps can often get lost and forgotten about in the folders and, to be honest, it's not really making your life easier if you have to click and scroll through all of your health apps before you come to the one you need. 

Here's a test for you: Without looking at your phone, name all of the apps in one of your folders.

If you can't name them all, then you clearly need to dig that folder out and have a lil' rejig. The apps may still be of use to you but, if they're in that folder, hidden away in the depths of Apple tech, then you might want to consider dragging them back out and letting them be free in the open air of your screen.

Use Searching.
This one is something that SAVED MY LIFE when it came to whittling down 2,000 unread emails to 0 and when I was forced to scour through photos and delete some to save my iCloud storage. USE SEARCHING. So many people don't even know about this - especially on photos. If you go into photos and search for something, e.g. "Flowers", it'll bring up all of the images on your device that the system identifies with having flowers in them and, if you no longer need them, you can delete them. Similarly, if you are wanting to declutter your Mail, this is just as effective. Say you know that you get emails from Pinterest that you don't really need to read (but you don't want to unsubscribe from them completely) then search "Pinterest" in Mail and delete from there. Go on and on doing this until you're done. This is how I managed to go from 2K unread emails to none in about 15 minutes. It's so easy and more comprehensible to your mind than it is when starting at a black (or blue) hole of 'unread' dots.