*This is a collaborative post.

London is such a beautiful place to live and to visit. There are some amazing, places that you can travel to and you absolutely should see. Travelling by car in London isn’t always as straightforward as it may seem though. As wonderful as this part of the UK is, you do have to be mindful of how busy the roads can get. Places such as New Kings Road and Henleys Roundabout can be particularly difficult to pass at certain time of the day.

Staying safe on the road is impossible with tyres that aren’t up to scratch. Here are a few major points to consider when looking after your tyres;

Tyre pressure –

If you don’t know what the correct tyre pressure is for your car you should find it in your manual, or by doing a quick google search of the make and model. If your tyres aren’t inflated correctly, the feel of your car can change dramatically. It has a direct effect on how well your car grips to the road, meaning under inflated tyres can put all of your passengers in unnecessary danger.

Under-inflated tyres can wear out quicker than if they were correctly inflated. Not having enough air in them can have an effect on how economically your car runs. Making sure they’re at the right pressure will not only increase the safety of your car, but it’ll save you money as well.

Over inflated tyres can also be dangerous, as it can mean that tyres wear out quicker than they should. Over inflated tyres also reduce traction on the road as it deforms the shape of the tyre, reducing the footprint on the road.

Old tyres –

As with most things in life, after a while things can begin to look a little tired. Everyday use takes its toll on your tyres and you might find that they get damaged along the way. If your tyres are looking a little worse for wear, it’s probably worth investing in a new set.

Sometimes tyres can perish with time, so even if your pressure and tread are looking good they may still need a little attention. The safety of yourself and your passengers is paramount, it’s essential that you check your tyres for wear and tear on a regular basis.

Tyre tread –

Car tyres have tread on them to help them grip well when the road is wet. The minimum tread depth for cars in the UK is 1.6mm. This has to be consistent around the entire circumference of the tyre and across the middle three-quarters of breadth. If your tyres don’t have enough tread your car isn’t safe for use. Not only that, if your caught with tread below the minimum depth, you could be in for a fine as well as points for each tyre that isn’t up to scratch.

*I was gifted a sight test and pair of glasses for the purpose of this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Marks and Spencer, to visit one of their stores with an opticians. I’ve been wearing glasses for about 6 years now and I was due for a sight test as well a new pair of specs, so this couldn’t have come at a better time. Prior to this, I wasn’t aware that Marks and Spencer had branched out into eye care. As it happens they have five stores with opticians throughout the UK including; Derby, York, Manchester, London and Bolton. Our closest store is Derby, so I booked myself in as soon as I could. Booking online is really simple and I had an appointment just the next day.

The Derby store –

The Derby store is located inside the Intu shopping centre, this makes parking and getting to your appointment really simple. I parked right outside the M & S doors, you can’t get easier than that. As always this M & S store is clean and inviting, there’s a cafe right next to the opticians too if you’re in need of refreshments. The staff could not have been more polite and helpful on my arrival, an absolute 10/10 for customer service.

First I was invited into a small room full of a lot of equipment! The assistant took photographs of my eyes and carried out a few initial tests, ready for the optician to take a look at during my full sight test. The assistant was very knowledgeable and made me feel really comfortable in her presence. I have a ‘birth mark’ on the back of one of my eyes, sometimes this is picked up and I’m given an insight into what it is. Other times it’s ignored. During these tests they picked it almost immediately and they talked me through its characteristics, showing true competence in their role.

After these tests, I went though to the optician who carried out the rest of my sight test. Again, I was made to feel very comfortable throughout the entirety of this examination. I was told that my prescription had changed and that it was advisable to get a new pair of glasses, to make sure that my sight was the best that it could be.

Choosing new frames –

M & S have a lot of frames to choose from including their home branded pairs and designer pairs. They currently have a buy one get one half price offer on some frames too, which is great if like me you like to swap and change the style of glasses you wear, each pair of glasses comes in three different colours too!

I find choosing glasses quite a difficult task, especially when I’m on my own. I’m not always the greatest judge of what suits me, so I need someone to give me an honest opinion of the different styles. This was what I loved most about the staff at Marks and Spencer. The assistant who helped me find the perfect pair of glasses wasn’t afraid to give me her honest opinion and it was gratefully received. There were plenty of frames to choose from and she gave me her full attention until I found the ones I wanted, I honestly felt like I could have taken the entire afternoon to make a decision and she still wouldn’t have minded.

I had a text from Marks and Spencer just a few days after choosing my glasses, to let me know they had arrived back in store. I was really impressed with how little time it took for them to be made up, this is one reason I’ll definitely be returning. Lucky for me, I had the same assistant on returning as I did on my first visit. As she was so lovely and hard-working, I was really pleased it turned out that way. We tried on my new glasses and they fit perfectly, I loved the look of the frame and I left with a smile right across my face! I took my youngest daughter with me when I collected them too and all the staff really made a fuss of her. Life with littles is always made easier when people go out of their way to make BOTH of us feel welcome.

Writing a positive review always makes me happy and this is no exception. I would like to thank all of the team at Derby M & S opticians for a great visit and excellent service – you’re a credit to Marks and Spencer!

*AD – This post was written in collaboration with Neos SmartHome.

This week we were tasked with testing out the new Neos SmartCam in our home. As a parent, keeping a watchful eye over my children is paramount. There’s never a moment goes by when I’m not preoccupied by what our girls are up to. Over the past few weeks though, both girls have reached an age where playing independently has become very appealing. The love to go upstairs and play in their rooms, without myself or Hubs constantly looking over their shoulders. So when our Neos SmartCam arrived I knew exactly what we would use it for – child watch!

What does the Neos SmartCam do?

Amazingly, the Neos SmartCam is packed full of features without the hefty price tag to go with it. At just £19.99 plus £4.99 for tracked, next working day delivery it’s a complete steal for the amount of spec that you get.

Top features –

• Motion detection – any movement is picked up and a notification is pushed straight to your smart phone.
• Night vision – Day or night, this camera provides a clear image.
• Cloud storage – 12 seconds clips are automatically recorded and save to the cloud upon motion detection.
• SD card enabled – enables the camera to record video without a Wi-Fi connection.
• 8 x digital zoom – available in live streaming and playback.
• Two-way audio – listen in and reply when necessary.
• Auto-arming – automatically kicks the camera into action when you arrive at or leave home.
• Live stream – see what’s happening anytime, anywhere using the Neos app.
• 1080p full HD – picture perfect images.
• Downloadable clips –  save clips to your phone to share later.

Setting up the Neos SmartCam –

Setting up this super compact camera could not be more simple. All you have to do is download the app, plug in the mains powered unit and follow the set up instructions on the app. The whole process took me less than five minutes with no hiccups along the way. The camera is easy to move around different rooms too, you just unplug, relocate and plug back in. The camera will stay connected to your phone, so you won’t have to re-pair to your device each time you move it. Also, because the camera is so small, it will fit nicely anywhere in the home, without feeling at all intrusive to the look and feel of the room.

What do we think of the Neos SmartCam?

The thing I love most about the Neos SmartCam in the peace of mind it gives me. I don’t want our girls to feel like are being smothered by me following them into every room when they are playing. This camera gives our entire family the freedom to be in our own spaces within the home, whilst also making sure that everyone is happy and safe. I know our girls love that they can enjoy spending time in their own rooms, chatting to each other without constantly feeling like they’re being followed.

I was very impressed when I realised just how many features this camera has, especially considering the purchase price is so low. The two-way audio is a very useful tool, especially when the girls are up to no good and they need a little word in their ear! All I have to do is use the audio feature, instead of encroaching on their games. I’m also a huge fan of the night vision feature, which came in very handy when we had a poorly girl this week. We set up the camera to keep a watchful eye over night whilst she slept. This gave us all peace of mind, meaning we got a good night’s sleep!

Overall, as a family we are really impressed with the Neos SmartCam. It’s ease of use, clear image and extra features make this unit well-worth the £19.99 price tag. This camera has only been with us a week and we have already benefited so much from the freedom it has given us as a family.

*This is a collaborative post.

January is arguably the most depressing month of the year. The excitement and build up of the festive season is already a distant memory, the weather is cold, and the days are dark, and your pay check has to stretch so further than it usually has to. But just because you’re in a bit of a pinch, doesn’t mean that you can’t treat yourself.

Sure that new foundation and BB cream will have to wait until next month (Kamagra Paypal, are incredibly popular right now) but you can still spoil yourself with one of these simple, ideas. Go on, you deserve it!

Take. A. Nap.

If the life you lead is anything like mine then you’re probably up to your eyes in sleep debt with a generous helping of sleep deprivation on top. They say that around 99% of us aren’t getting enough sleep, so why not take one for the team and tackle that statistic head on. Make your nap more of a treat with a lovely fresh pillow case – takes less effort than changing the whole bed – whipping your bra and tight clothing off and catching Kamagra Paypal Payment.

Pick up an old favourite

Being a book lover is hard when funds are low and you’re watching your bank balance, so why not treat yourself to a second read of a novel you simply adore. Reading a “comfort” book gives you just that, comfort. For me it was always Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Just a few chapters here and there was enough to give my mood a boost. Go and find your favourite and get it out of retirement.

A hot bath

Lock yourself in the bathroom, light some candles, play a feel good or relaxing playlist and run yourself a nice hot bath. Add some Epsom salts, bubble bath, flower petals or essential oils and take as long as you need to relax and unwind. Don’t forget to completely moisturise all over when you’re dry, so your skin is gorgeously supple and soft. Kamagra Paypal Uk?

A movie marathon

This might be a contested opinion, but for me, the best movies are the ones you’ve seen a hundred times, know word for word and can easily fall asleep to half way through – no matter what the genre is! Set yourself up with some snacks, treats and your duvet and get watching. The hardest part is choosing the film to watch!

Take a walk

And leave your phone behind! Getting out and surrounding yourself with nature is a scientifically proven way to reduce your stress levels and it just makes you feel good! Try leaving your phone and technology at home so you can really get away from the world for a while. You could even take a picnic and spoil yourself with some tasty treats.

Watch a YouTube tutorial

If you have drawers of old makeup just sitting there gathering dust then why not learn how to contour, or try a new eye shadow technique?