Making Home Link Up #18: Dining in Style With Our Duckydora Amalfi Dinner Set

Welcome to the #MakingHome weekly link up!

Be inspired by posts all about home; moving house, home decor, DIY, crafts, family activities, recipes, gardening and more. It’s all here under one roof at Mrs Crafty B’s.

Don't forget to join in this week and link up your own posts. The linky is open from Friday until Tuesday. Find out how to take part at the end of this post. 

Our home is an eclectic mix of things collected over the years from various points in our lives and places we have visited. Something they all have in common is the feeling of happy. We enjoy bringing in pretty things to make us smile and making things personal. Everything tells a story, holds a memory or gives us a simple pleasure. Our collection of dinner ware has grown in the years since we were students (a longer time than I care to recall) and although we have fond memories of those days, they aren't pretty to look at. As big foodies, I have been waiting eagerly to replace our chipped mismatching plates with a nice dinner set that we can enjoy. When I was asked to consider some handmade items by Duckydora, I jumped at the chance.

Making Home Link Up #17: Home Uses for WD40

Welcome to the #MakingHome weekly link up!

Be inspired by posts all about home; moving house, decorating, DIY, handmade for home, crafts, family activities, recipes, gardening and more.

Don't forget to join in this week and add your own posts if you are a blogger. You can find out how at the end of this post. 

First up, a little bit of an update from me.

Over the last couple of days, I have had a bad, BAD situation going on with my lovely boots. The zip keeps undoing from the bottom up when it is fastened. I realised that an extra zip tooth has made its way through the pully and I have no idea how to fix this. Help please! In trying to get the zip back down, I had a bit of trouble so I rubbed a little bit of my trusty friend, WD40 onto the teeth to help it along. Then I remembered this post and another situation recently where WD40 caused me to be very smug.

My Cake Addiction: Cake by Post with Baker Days

If you are not already familiar with my relationship with cake, let me enlighten you. I love cake. Like a lot. Baking it, buying it, eating it, whenever or why ever. there is no occasion that need not be celebrated with cake. Now that we have that straight, I shall tell you that when I was asked to try out a cake via post (like through my letter box) I wasn't too sure I could get on board with that concept. Firstly, how in the heck does a cake survive being posted?

The Making Home Link Up #15: How to Clean Your Oven

Welcome to the #MakingHome weekly link up!

Be inspired by posts all about home; moving house, decorating, DIY, handmade for home, crafts, family activities, recipes, gardening and more.

Don't forget to join in this week and add your own posts if you are a blogger. You can find out how at the end of this post. 

First up, a little bit of an update from me.

The new year has given me a bit of a boost. 2015 was a bit glum on my part and I lacked motivation to achieve in all aspects of life. It is totally cliche but 2016 has brought with it a new determination to drive my business forward (Hello My PA), spend more quality time with my lovely family and to make our home beautiful. I don't really make 'resolutions' as such but I am determined to get my mojo back and find the old me! 

So last week I launched #CraftyBs online and now I have no excuse not to make time for myself to indulge in a hobby. Our routine at #CraftyBs HQ has changed up a little bit, allowing me to get focused and Hubby B and I have started a little bit of home organisation and spring cleaning. Not bad for only 15 days into the year right? 

There are things in the house that have been a bit neglected since we moved in, one of them being the oven. It is very well used and the build up of roast dinners, weekly teas, baking and of course Christmas cooking was making me cringe a little. I had a little dig around in our cleaning box (I totally have one of those) and I found something that meant I could literally (I kid you not) wipe this stuff of with a damp cotton cloth! 

Halloween 2015 With Dylon

Here at Crafty B's HQ we are big fans of dressing up. The Little Bs have a dedicated storage unit in their room with all manner of costumes and items to use in role play. With a few ideas of what the Little Bs might like I was keen to find out what Dylon had come up with for this years Halloween palette. I was not disappointed. 

Scenting Your Home: Forbidden Fruits GloLite, Warm Hearts Tealight Holder and Iced Snowberries Tealights; A PartyLite Review

I recently conducted an online poll in which over 45% of the participants said that fragrant candles were their favourite way of scenting their home. I only ever use fragrant candles but alongside scent, the warm glow of a candle adds something extra to a cosy evening in. Being a fan of lighting candles in the home for various occasions I was excited to be asked to review some products by PartyLite. 

Making The Weekly Shopping Quicker and Easier with the New Capitan List App

Over the summer holidays, the weekly shopping routine got to be a bit hectic. We were making more than one trip over a few days, going for random things, doubling up by accident and forgetting various items. Now the new term has started and I am working regularly, I don't have time to not be organised. So imagine my excitement when I was asked to try out a brand new list app, Capitan. We all know I love a good list! 

The new Capitan List App

Dunelm Vacuum Pack Storage Bags

Here's the low down on a bit of a storage solution. It's not genius. It's not good looking. It's not innovative. In fact its really common and you see adverts for these all the time. I am just here to stick my hand in the air and say "yup, me, I have used them. They are great".

Oh you have no idea what I'm jabbering on about yet do you?!

WD40 to The Rescue

You know all those posts and pins about the 100,000 uses for WD40? Well I'm going to be specific because I just had a lightbulb moment.

Getting 2015 Organised with a Gruffalo Family Planner

If I haven't mentioned before, I love a bit of organising! A place for everything and everything in its place. It means I can be efficient, I know where everything is when I need it and when it comes to organising myself, I know what I'm supposed to be doing and when. I am very easily distracted and so I have to keep a notes of all sorts so I don't forget anything. Nothing makes this all easier for me than my family planner.

Each year I meticulously pick out a family planner that is pretty and has enough columns to keep track of family activities, birthdays, Hubby B's commitments, meal plans, events, my tasks, appointments, school dates etc. This year has been no different, except that I had a little help from Baby B and he picked a gooden! He first spotted this Gruffalo planner when Christmas shopping.

Making Home: Review of a Custom Address Stamp by The English Stamp Company

In my 'Making Home' mission I am considering all areas. The concept of 'home' is personal to everyone and I want to make ours perfect for every aspect of our lives from children to working to relaxing. I'll be looking at creating beautiful spaces, decorating, DIY, efficient living, organisation, getting creative in the kitchen and more. I am starting off by looking at an item that is bound to make my life a little bit easier and more efficient as well adding a bit of pretty.