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A Wine Win for Busy Mums: My Honest Review of Naked Wines

As a mum of two wild young boys, I don’t get much me time. Between the school runs, dirty hands, and a laundry pile that defies logic, my idea of luxury these days is sipping a glass of wine before 9pm (while it’s still cold). So when I stumbled across Naked Wines new offer—£75 off your first case worth £139.99—I was intrigued, skeptical, and honestly, a little hopeful.

Why I Gave It a Go

Let me be clear: I’m not a wine expert. I’m just a woman who likes a good glass of wine with her lasagna and something crisp when I collapse on the sofa after a long day. I love discovering new things, but I don’t have the time (or energy) to stand in the supermarket aisles Googling wine reviews.

Naked Winesicon promises something different: wines from independent winemakers, handpicked to your taste, delivered straight to your door. That alone had me clicking. Add in the hefty £75 discount, and suddenly I was saying “yes please” before the kettle had boiled.

The Ordering Process: Mum-Proof and Painless

It’s easy. You just pop on their site, answer a few fun questions about your taste (Do I like bold reds or fruity whites? Kinda thing), and boom—Naked Wines suggests a tailored case for you. No faff, no fuss, no jargon. I picked a mixed case, and with the discount, it would be just £64.99 for wines that would usually cost over double that. Score!

Delivery & First Impressions

The box arrived quickly—within a couple of days—and everything was securely packed (no broken bottles or wine-drenched cardboard). Inside? A beautiful mix of whites and a cheeky rosé.  It felt personal and special—like I was part of a secret club for wine-loving mums.

The Wine: Worth It?

Short answer: yes.

Longer answer: every bottle I’ve tried so far has been delicious, and there’s something about knowing it’s made by real people—not huge corporations—that makes it even better. I even shared a bottle with my neighbour during an impromptu garden chat (in between kid tantrums), and she couldn’t believe I’d paid less than £7 a bottle.

Final Verdict: A Treat Worth Trying

So here’s the deal: if you’re a busy mum like me who wants to treat herself without spending hours researching or splashing out, Naked Wines is a win. The £75 off makes it a no-brainer, the wines are genuinely good, and the whole process feels like self-care wrapped in convenience.

You deserve a glass of something lovely. This might just be your new go-to.

Quick Tips

🛒 Use the offer here:

£75 off a case worth 139.99 with code WINES75

🎁 You’ll get £75 off a case worth £139.99—so you pay just £64.99 for 12 bottles
🚚 Free delivery, great support, and zero wine snobbery

Let me know if you try it—I’d love to hear your favourites!

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The Latest Trends in Plus Size Clothing That Boutique Owners Need to Know in 2025

When it comes to wholesale plus-size clothing trends, no year is the same as the last as with everything in the fast-moving world of fashion. Keeping up with trends not only helps the bottom line, it preserves your boutique’s relevance in an often competitive and crowded marketplace. We have isolated five major trends permeating the wholesale plus-size market for 2025. Harnessing the momentum of these trends should help you stay somewhat ahead of the game.

Maximalism

Maximalism refers to bold patterns, colours, textures, or any combination. Maximalist designs often place a premium on bold, even brash, styling that catches the eye and holds the attention. Whereas minimalism implies a restrained approach to design, maximalism deploys an everything but the kitchen sink style. If your boutique caters to fashion-forward, sophisticated clients, then the maximalist trend is sure to become more prominent this year.

Waist

The differences in waist construction in wholesale plus size clothing not only demonstrate the segment’s versatility but also its unique approach to the silhouette and contours. This also factors into clothing purpose and intent. More formal styles prefer cinched waists while casual styles tend to avoid this kind of restriction. It largely centers around how you will wear the garment and for what purpose. This applies to customers as well. If your customers tend to shop for more formal, business-type apparel, then a more constructed, cinched waist is likely to sell as opposed to something a little looser.

Inclusive and Body Positive

Inclusivity and body positivity in wholesale plus-size clothing largely refer to the concept of adaptation and reconfiguration of traditional styles for more full-figured customers. This can also mean a kind of re-imagining of what it means to be plus size and how that impacts clothing choices. The goal here is to offer the trends in the mainstream market in your own. Look for successful adaptations of widely popular styles.

Flowing Garments

Combining comfort, elegance, and timelessness, flowing garments are the wardrobe staple that every full-figured person should own. In this category, you will want to combine colours with textures or even patterns with various styles of waist and shoulder. The idea here is to give form and direction to the wearer’s body while also imbuing it with an elegant aura.

Comfort and Elegance

One thing that is an ongoing trend and debate in plus-sized clothing is how much you need to balance elegance and comfort in a single garment. This also ties into functionality. What we recommend here is a customer analysis. If your customers tend to buy business casual or formal wear, then you will want to trend towards that or if they prefer workout clothing and lounging in the home, the materials, cut, style, and even brands will be very different from the former. Again, as with many things in business, this all boils down to knowing your customer, what they like, and how you can accommodate that given your supply chain and inventory considerations.

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How To Feel Confident On Your Summer Vacation

There’s a lot to enjoy on vacation.

 

You don’t have to get up early for work, prepare your own food, or, in some cases, make your own bed. However, for many, it’s also a time when their self-confidence is put to the test. After all, whether you’re wearing a bikini or something a little more modest, there’s a lot of pressure to look a certain way. This can make it hard to feel confident in your own skin.

Photo by Chen Mizrach on Unsplash

 

As you deserve to feel your best on holiday, we’ve put together a list of ways to make sure that you feel like the most confident version of yourself when you reach for that sunscreen. Read on to find out more!

 

Remember that all bodies are bikini bodies. The idea that we have to be the smallest version of ourselves to look back on a bikini is not only outdated, but incredibly untrue. As such, being mindful of the fact that every body is a bikini body will help you feel a little more confident, even if you have to repeat this mantra over and over again until it sticks. 

 

Dress for your body type. Learning how to dress for your body type will ensure that you

always look your best, as it will allow you to create interesting silhouettes with your outfits or clothes that flatter your figure and draw attention to your best assets, no matter what they may be. This, in turn, will help you to carry yourself with a little more confidence, as you’re much more likely to like what you see in the mirror. In addition to this, you should always make sure that you’re picking out clothes in colors that complement your complexion, hair or eyes.

 

Change up your hair. Nothing gives a girl confidence more than a makeover. As such, scheduling a visit to a hairdresser or stylist before your trip can also be a game-changer, especially if you instigate a relatively big change. For example, if you’ve always had shorter hair, now may be the perfect time to try out human hair extensions to experiment with a little bit of length and volume. This will also allow you to play around with a few different looks when getting ready each day or evening, which can leave you feeling a lot more confident in how you look.

 

Develop an effective skincare routine. Working to develop an effective skincare routine, such as by knowing which ingredients to avoid to prevent breakouts, will leave you feeling more confident than ever in your skin. This means that you will not have to apply a fresh face of make-up when on vacation (unless you really want to). 

 

Final thoughts. In short, there are many steps that you can take to elevate your confidence ahead of your next big adventure – from trying out a new hairstyle to getting a little stricter with your skincare regimen. This way, you can focus on making memories that will last a lifetime as opposed to worrying about how you look or feel.

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The Journey to Body Positivity

Body positivity isn’t about meeting somebody else’s standards; it’s all about learning to appreciate and care for your body as it is, without comparison or criticism. 

We need to lose the stigma. 

This journey isn’t always an easy one, as social media, unrealistic beauty ideals, and the daily stress can all make self-acceptance feel a little bit out of reach. 

However, small steps can help you build a healthy relationship with your body and boost your overall happiness. 

Photo by RF._.studio _: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-woman-wearing-white-tank-top-3618732/

Let’s have a look at how you can start your journey towards more body positivity below.

Practice Daily Self-Compassion

The way that you talk to yourself is really important. Pay attention to your inner dialogue. If you ever catch yourself being critical about your appearance, pause and try to change those thoughts. 

Rather than focusing on flaws, remind yourself of what your body does for you on a daily basis. It carries you, it gives you experiences in life, and it supports you through challenges. 

You could also write down things that you appreciate about your body every day; it could be your strength, your smile, or the way that you feel after you’ve had a good night’s rest. 

These small acts of kindness towards yourself can help move your mindset to a more positive one over time.

Limit Negative Influences

The content that you look at can have a huge impact on how you see yourself. 

If you find that certain social media accounts, conversations, or magazines leave you feeling insecure, then it is time for you to move away from them, or at least take a break from them. 

Follow people and communities that celebrate real, diverse bodies, and surround yourself with positive, supportive voices that encourage you to have self-acceptance.

Take Care of Your Body Without Punishment

Exercise and healthy eating shouldn’t feel like something that you are doing to punish yourself. Instead, you should be moving your body in ways that make you feel great, whether it is yoga, dancing, strength training, or walking. 

Make sure you nourish yourself with food that also looks after your well-being, without attaching it to guilt about what foods you are eating. 

Another way for you to look after your body is to create a space where you are able to fully relax and get some rest. 

When you treat your body with care, you are naturally going to start seeing your body in a more positive light.

Use Relaxation Tools to Support Wellness

Relaxation is important for self-care; however, it is something that is often forgotten. 

Stress and tension can take a huge toll on your mental health, which is going to impact how you feel about yourself. 

One tool that can help look after your wellness is using a zero gravity massage chair. These chairs are designed to reduce pressure on your spine, relieve muscle tension, and improve circulation. 

When you apply a zero-gravity position, your body feels weightless, allowing you to fully relax and reset.

Finally 

Body positivity is a journey; it is not something that is ever going to be complete. 

Some days are going to feel much easier than others, and you will be much more positive on some occasions than you will on others. 

However, it is important for you to show up for yourself, care for your body, and learn to appreciate it for what it does, not how it looks.

One of the small acts of self-care you can do today is to look after your body and your well-being. Where are you going to start?

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Review: Aqua Sana Forest Spa, Sherwood Forest: A Blissful Retreat in Nature

Looking for a sign to indulge in a day of pure relaxation and luxury? This is it. Visiting Aqua Sana Forest Spa in Sherwood Forest is the ultimate escape, where nature meets rejuvenation. From start to finish, the experience is nothing short of magical. We had a Forest Spa day, which totally met our expectations.

Unparalleled Relaxation in Nature

Picture this: lounging in a treetop sauna, gazing over the pretty Sherwood Forest. The serene surroundings are just the beginning. Aqua Sana takes relaxation to the next level with invigorating outdoor treetop showers, dreamy, heated pools, and cosy hot tubs where you can unwind surrounded by nature’s beauty.

Want to freshen up? The complimentary Comfort Zone cleansing station is the perfect pick-me-up in between spa experiences. Then, it’s time to drift away in one of the many relaxation zones. There’s even a room with a built-in sunset ceiling—a tranquil space designed to lull you into a peaceful daydream. And don’t miss the complimentary meditation sessions; they’re so calming, you might just drift off into a nap. We did! I find it really hard to relax, but the fact I actually fell asleep, says it all!

More Than a Spa Day

Aqua Sana offers an impressive 25 spa experiences, each designed to soothe, refresh, and inspire. From ice rooms and salt rooms to steam rooms and saunas, the variety is unmatched. The stunning views throughout the spa enhance every moment, making each space feel like a personal haven.

To elevate your experience, Aqua Sana offers complimentary facial tutorials, helping you make the most of your skincare routine. The spa also provides robes (yes, they’re plus-size friendly!), towels, and a curated selection of wellbeing sessions to keep you feeling zen all day long.

Dining Delights

No spa day is complete without a delicious meal, and Aqua Sana delivers. The Vitalé Café Bar is a lovely spot for lunch, offering a menu that’s as nourishing as it is flavourful. There’s lots to choose from and it’s far from a boring menu.  The standout? The ricotta cannelloni—it’s pure perfection and a must-try!

Pampering Perfection

For the ultimate indulgence, treat yourself to a spa treatment. My pick was the Comfort Zone  Himalayan Salt back, face, and scalp massage. The combination of expert techniques and soothing products left me feeling like I was floating on air. I could feel the stress melt away. It was the perfect way to end a day of bliss.

A Mini Getaway

What sets Aqua Sana apart is how transformative the experience is. Though it was just a day, it felt like an entire weekend getaway. We left feeling rejuvenated, refreshed, and ready to take on the world again. (Although we could definitely do a overnight stay next time!) 100% recommend.

 

*This was a press trip, all views are my own

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Designing Small Spaces: Clever Tips for Maximizing Every Inch

Decorating small spaces can feel like a daunting challenge. How do you infuse personality, functionality, and style without overwhelming the room? One of the most powerful tools in your decorating arsenal is colour. When used thoughtfully, colour can transform even the tiniest of spaces into vibrant, cosy havens. Here are some clever tips to make the most of every inch of your home using colour—and a few functional decor ideas to elevate your space.

Light Colours to Open Up the Room

Light shades like whites, creams, pastels, and soft greys create an airy feel that makes a room appear larger. These colours reflect light, enhancing the illusion of spaciousness. If you’re decorating a studio apartment or a compact bedroom, stick to a cohesive palette of light hues for the walls, furniture, and flooring to maintain an open, unified look.

Use Bold Accents Strategically

Bold colours can create depth and drama in a small space when used wisely. Consider painting an accent wall in a deep shade like navy blue or emerald green to anchor the room. This technique works particularly well in areas where you want to create a focal point, like behind the bed or around a fireplace.

Pair bold accents with neutral furnishings to balance the look. For example, a rich teal wall can complement a white sofa and natural wood finishes for a clean, contemporary aesthetic.

Maximize Vertical Space with Colour

When floor space is limited, look up! Use colour to emphasize vertical elements and make ceilings appear higher. Paint stripes or install colourful shelving to draw the eye upward. Additionally, incorporate practical yet playful pieces like a cat bedside table that doubles as storage and adds character to your room.

Create Zones with Contrasting Colours

In open-concept spaces or small apartments, use colour to visually define zones. For instance, you can paint the dining area a different shade than the living room to subtly separate the two areas. Rugs, curtains, or colour-coordinated furniture can also help delineate spaces without adding physical barriers.

Add Personality Through Artwork and Framed Photos

If painting walls isn’t an option, let your artwork do the talking. Vibrant prints and personal touches like family photos can infuse life into your space. Consider framing photos with sleek, colourful frames that complement your decor. Grouping frames of varying sizes into a gallery wall can add depth and a curated feel, even in the smallest of rooms.

Mirror Magic with Colour

Mirrors are a classic trick for expanding small spaces, and you can enhance their impact with colour. Choose a mirror with a bold, colourful frame or position it opposite a vibrant wall to bounce hues around the room. This not only makes the space feel larger but also introduces an extra layer of visual interest.

Don’t Forget the Floors

Rugs are an excellent way to introduce colour and texture into a small space without crowding it. A bright, patterned rug can anchor the room and pull together a cohesive look. Alternatively, a neutral rug with subtle pops of colour in its design can add dimension while keeping the space feeling open.

With these tips, you’ll be ready to embrace every inch of your small space and turn it into a design masterpiece.

 

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