Tech accumulates as we move forward into the digital age. In a year, it's not uncommon to see people upgrading to another flagship smartphone, the latest TV or laptop.

This means that you'll have more gadgets and electronics that you wouldn't know what to do with. Multiply that per family member and you will have a lot of old tech in boxes filling up your attic, room and garage.

If you're looking to get rid of small to big appliances and electronics, why not sell them to get back a return on your investment? Instead of throwing them out with the rest of your rubbish, you opt for a more sustainable choice and save the environment in the process. Cell phones in landfills contribute to a toxic environment because they leach deadly components as they degrade.

What's more, you won't have to declutter every year by maintaining a sustainable practice. For instance, don't just upgrade for upgrade's sake- if your two-year-old phone can still make calls, send an SMS or browse the web, chances are that it will still work for another year. Unless the battery is dead or the phone is cracked, you won't have to buy that newest model.

Ready to sell your stuff in exchange for cash? Here are a few ways to get started.

Post Ads for Old Tech Online

If your gadget, console or smart appliance is still working, then you can still get a considerable return for it. You can ask for a higher price if you still have the cable, adapter, box and any accessories your old item may have.

eBay. eBay is the go-to platform for old stuff, including collectables, rare items, vintage products and of course, smartphones and gadgets.

Amazon Marketplace. At Amazon.co.uk you'll be able to sell 2nd-hand items, books, ebook readers, DVDs and any of the stuff you don't want. Create an account and start getting appraisals for your unwanted stuff. Once the company receives your items then you'll receive gift cards or credit.

Facebook Marketplace. Harness the power of social networking and have your items sold quickly with Facebook Marketplace. If you have an account, head to the section and do the same steps as you would on eBay. Upload a photo, a description and share it with your friends. Meet up and you can make money off your old items.

Photo by Bruce mars from Pexels

Trade-In for Gift Cards or Cash

Major brands will have kiosks and places where you can drop off unwanted things for gift cards, store credit and others. For instance, you can hand over your old iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad at an authorized Apple Store and get store credit towards a new model.

If you don't intend to upgrade to a newer phone, laptop or console, there's an easier route for selling your old stuff. Tech recycling companies can take your iPhone X, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Samsung Galaxy Note, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and Microsoft Surface Book. Visit the site, fill up the online appraisal form and send your gadget in. You'll receive payment 2-3 days after they receive the item.

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood from Pexels

Old games and consoles can be exchanged for money on GameStop, while DVDs and CDs can be handed off on MusicMagpie.co.uk

Recoup by Recycling

Those who have a mountain of old stuff, including laptops, computers, monitors, printers and bulky office items can sell their hardware to specialist shops that can turn them into a refurbished state. Call them up and arrange for a pick-up if you have dozens of heavy equipment, you'd like them to properly dispose of.

Or, you can look up local charitable institutions and bring up working tech for them to use. You'll be giving something for a worthy cause.

All electronic and gadget companies in the UK must have a place where people can drop off their working and non-working stuff for recycling. The WEEE, or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive ensure that your things won't keep on collecting dust just because you don't have a recycling centre nearby.

With this in mind, you won't have to worry if upgrading to a new TV, smartphone or appliance is sustainable or not. Call up the manufacturer and ask where the nearest recycling program is. It's better to hand it over to them and get something in return so you can recoup some of the costs of your new smartphone. Your old gadget will be in safe hands and will be reused or harvested for precious metals.

Photo by Karol D from Pexels

If you liked this post check out this tech review here

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.

LittleBrian is known for making paint sticks, they're super cool and make hardly any mess at all I absolutely love them! So when they bought out their face paint sticks I was so eager to have a play with them.

The face paint sticks come in a nice box with a little booklet on some faces you can easily achieve with step by step instructions on how to do it, they're super bright and are totally mess-free, plus they won't smudge either so even the little ones can have their faces done and even if they touch it it will not smudge!

Little Brian Face Paint Sticks

A fun, clean and mess free way of face painting. No need for sponges, brushes or water. Face paint sticks twist up and down just like a glue stick allowing application when out and about. Easy application and quick drying. Once dry, the face paint will not smudge. The pack includes a how to booklet with 6 designs

• Little Brian has been one of the leading of children; s paint, glue and art materials in the schools and nurseries since 1973
• A fun, clean and mess free way of face painting
• No need for sponges, brushes or water
• Face Paint Sticks twist up and down just like a glue stick allowing application when out and about
• Easy application and quick drying Once dry, the face paint will not smudge

For the first face paint design we chose to do a unicorn, it was super simple and looked ever so pretty, I found it a bit hard to get the thin lines but soon realised if I tilted the pen it would go thinner. Overall Lilli loved it I just wish I had some glitter to top it all off!

Next, it was Olli's turn and Although I wanted him to be a giraffe he chose the bee and he sat really still and giggled when it tickled. The bee was so simple literally a yellow base and black striped bits he loved it and he looked super cute.

Lastly Lilli wanted to be a ladybird so we wiped the unicorn off just using a baby wipe and I was so surprised at how easy they clean off, we got to it straight away with the red and black ladybug and made sure it had 6 spots for Lillis age, it didn't look the best but she didn't sit still enough for me to go into detail.

After I did all the faces I decided to do some for myself and done a cute hand tattoo of a poo emoji and Lilli had a rainbow that looked really cute and her friend wanted Harley Quinns mask so we did that too and it turned out awesome.

Overall I think these are great for children, as someone who face paints a lot at local events, these wouldn't be my first choice but definitely great for kids to play around with. Plus you can keep them in a little bag and top up any throughout the day if you wear them out somewhere.

Lilli and I really had a lot of fun with these and will definitely be using them more throughout the summer too :)
If you want to buy some head over HERE and show your designs off tagging @littlebrainpaintsticks on Instagram :D

In summer I spend so much time in my garden, I love the long evenings, family Bbq's the kids playing before bed and just chilling in the sun.

Well, it was about time to spruce up my garden just in time for those rays! 

I found these amazing solar lights from KooPower, we got some garden spiked solar flickering flame torches and solar fairy lights they look amazing.
They look great and they're really easy to set up, simply take them out of the packaging, attach the ground spike if you wish then plant it in the ground or on the fence or even bend them to a shape they're very flexible. 

Both sets of lights are really great quality and feel really durable which is great for the harsh winds and winter we have in the UK.
The solar fairy lights have 8 lighting modes including flashing, chasing, slow fade and twinkle and can have a power timer/memory so you could have them on for 6 hours and off for 18 and that memory will stay until you remove and/or change the batteries. The flickering torches are a safe alternative to real flames and do great at illuminating gardens or footpaths for up to 10 hours once fully charged. 

Because the lights are solar powered they obviously don't work straight away and take about 6/8 hours of sunshine to fully charge.
In the winter the fairy lights can be switched to a battery because there is less sun to charge them. The lights come with an on/off switch so you don't have to have them on all the time, we'll probably just have them on for BBQ's or when we want to stay out in the garden later.

Both sets of lights look amazing in my garden although I have no grass it's all tiled they really help light it up. They're so brilliantly priced and can really help spruce up even a little garden.
If you want to spruce up your garden for summer head over to KooPower and grab some amazing lights at some really great prices!!


Disclosure: This is a collaborative post all opinions are my own.

Hasn't it got warm recently?! Summer is coming and I'm so thankful I live near a beach, its a 10 min walk and it's amazing a splash park and golden sands. *Bliss*

So I've been faffing around online for so long to find a decent swimsuit for all my curves to squish into and high Street stores we're just not going to cut it.

I came across UK Swimwear, they had the most amazing designs and even do plus size! (can I get a halijuliah) I honestly spent ages on the site and in the end narrowed it down to 3...i didn't want a bikini or even a tankini and most certainly not anything my big lady boobies can fall out of either!
So after much deliberation I chose the perfect one, The Sunflair Swimsuit, it was rainbow and had my size and cup size too! Just look at it 😍

Excuse my squinty eyes,
i had no glasses on! 

My order literally came within days and the packaging was lush, wrapped up and in a holographic packet I loved it, as soon as I opened it up I knew it was the one, I immediately tried it on and I was not disappointed one bit, it was the perfect fit, mega comfy and it even supported my boobies without squashing them flat like others have done in the past.

We soon headed off to the beach in half term and had an amazing time at the splash park and on the sand, my swim suit stayed comfy all day and I didn't even have to pull up my shoulder straps they stayed put all day.

Overall this is the best swimsuit I've had in a long long time and I would definitely recommend anyone buying one from there the quality is that good it will probably last for years! Even after washing and tumble drying it its stayed lovely and in great shape.

My one flaw is that the boob support isn't wired but the support that was there was really good on its own, I guess it's just down to personal preference.

So head on over to UK Swimwear and get an amazing suit just in time for the beautiful summer time.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.

Summer is here and we're off to the beach!But what to pack? Yes, make a list cause you'll always forget something as you rush out the door!

First up is a bag...
Take the biggest bag you possibly can and a carrier bag for all the wet clothes too!

"An IKEA blue bag to carry all the wet towels/clothing home - also makes a great makeshift paddling pool" www.afewfavouritethings.com

"A rubbish bag to pick up our rubbish and any rubbish near us."Www.uniqueyoungmum.com

Then Suncream...
Factor 50 for the kids and me cause I burn so easy! And like factor 20 for Mike cause he doesn't burn he just goes brown.

"Never forgetting the sun cream anymore since I used to do plenty of that in the past, and lots of cold water! "www.myeverythingbeautiful.com

Next up is some water...
"I freeze bottles of water and keep them in the cool bag. Not only do they keep everything cold but they slowly melt throughout the day so at the end of the day when you have to make your way home in the hot car or on foot you have an ice cold drink to hand!" www.tantrumstosmiles.co.uk

Towels...
The sand free kind are my favourite but any old towel will do, Plus keep an extra one on hand for hair or just a stylish Cape if you get cold haha

" A muslin to get the sand off feet, travel towels as they pack tiny and are incredibly light and a book - well a girl can dream!!"www.popitha.com

"Always, a beach towel, sunglasses, sun hats, sun cream, and a book. Not forgetting money for an ice-cream." www.champagneandpetals.com

Blankets and parasols...
I never take a blanket or parasol or even windbreakers but I really should cause I regret it every time!
But they keep the sand at bay and a cosy place to play.

You can buy a sand free beach towel here and use code MUMMA15 FOR 15% OFF! 

" Fitted sheet or extra giant picnic blanket so there is plenty of sand free room!"Www.Mummieswaiting.Com

"We have recently purchased a fabulous sand free blanket. We live near the sea and the car can look a right mess with all the sand we bring home. This blanket stops sand sticking to it and with a quick shake it's clear of sand and ready to pack in the car with no worries"Www.ourbucketlistlives.co.uk

A book or magazine...
Everyone likes a good read while they catch some rays... I prefer a word search or crossword to do then I don't have to worry about losing my place if I have to go help the kids!

"An entertaining magazine to enjoy"www.upliiftingandinspiringcontent.com

"Factor 50, ice poles (they never last but you get a couple before they defrost and they help keep the wine cold ;) ), Parasol, baby powder to help remove sand, books and beach games" www.familycampingeurope.co.uk/.

Other bits and bobs...
Talc... I always go to the beach with some talc... It's really a great soft way to get sand of you and helps with the little ones too!

"Talc to get the sand off our feet"www.anklebitersadventures.co.uk

A cool box.... there's nothing worse than a warm drink, a cool box is great for cold drinks and cool picnic snacks.

Bucket and spade... Who can forget that right?! There's been plenty of time we forgot to bring ours and end up feeling so guilty we buy a whole new one to add to the collection that cost an arm and a leg!

Sunglasses... I always make sure we have our sunnies on... Being blinded by the sun isn't the best look especially in those squinty selfies!

Floaties... So maybe not armbands but maybe a ring, a boat or a lilo would be cool just don't float out too far! Also, the lilo can double up as a sunbed ;)

Cabrera clips... They're so helpful with clipping bags to buggies or even clipping flip flops to bags to not get too sandy!

Sun hats... Make sure everyone has a hat to wear... Sunburn can even get your scalp and the heat can give you a headache so make sure you take one with you.

A deck chair... If your feeling like sitting instead of laying take a foldable deck chair, they're great sitting around near the kid's pool or near the water on the beach.

After all of what to pack here are some great safety tips!

Learn your beach rules... They may seem silly but they keep you safe! Learn and obey them at all times.
Find your nearest lifeguards hut and make your children aware, use this as a lost child point too.

Wrist tags... Wrist tags for the beach are really great idea write your name and number on it so if your child gets lost they can call you to find you. On RNLI beaches safety tags are FREE too ;)

Watch out for sea life...
Jellyfish look a lot like carrier bags in the water and crabs can be super fast and pinchy, be careful but respect the wildlife around you.

Take notice of beach flags...
Red and yellow, black and white, orange, red? What do they all mean? Learn your flags and take extra care on your beach visit.

Stay together...
This may seem like an obvious one but this applies everywhere including the water.
Plan a meeting point in case you get separated.

Inflatables... 

Photo: Nigel Millard

Blow-up toys and airbeds are designed for pools, not the sea where they can easily be swept out. If you do use them at the beach, then:

• ensure children are closely supervised
• keep near the shore
• only use between the red and yellow beach flags
• follow the lifeguard’s advice
• do not take inflatables out in big waves
• never use them when the orange windsock is flying, as this indicates offshore winds which will blow inflatables further out to sea
• if you do get into difficulty, then stay with your inflatable as it will keep you above the water.

Every Summer, the RNLI and Swim England hold Swim Safe sessions for 7-14-year-olds at selected beaches and lakes. The sessions are free and teach children vital skills to stay safe in and around open water.

If you want more beach safety take a look at RNLI tips HERE...
Plus they also have some amazing printables for kids too!!

Being a parent is hard sometimes but what's even harder is the amount of sleep that we don't get!

For new parents it's the night feeds and for toddlers it's the early mornings then they get to school age and its constant up at stupid o'clock even on the weekends!

Well Sleep Master may not be able to help with the early mornings but they definitely can give you a great sleep!
Sleep Master have created an eye mask with built in sound muffling for people who have difficulty sleeping or for those who just want a quick nap during the day.

It's one size fits all design completely eliminates light and muffels sound for the perfect all natural sleep remedy.

The material is super soft with a velcro patch at the back so it doesn't have to be super tight or uncomfortable, it's washable at low temperatures and for a cooler sleep you can stick it in a zip lock bag in the fridge for an hour before bed or your nap and it's so refreshing!

I've used this mostly every night since I got it and I absolutely love it, especially now its sunny in the mornings this really helps me get in those few extra hours of refreshing sleep.  The material is super soft and really comfy to sleep in, plus I have quite thick hair and it does up around it perfectly without any hassle so that's a great bonus!

So if you want a great night's sleep go buy a Sleep Master HERE and let me know in the comments what you think.

Also go check out Renovation Bay-Bee Blog Here for some awesome posts!

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post

The key to enjoying a lasting commitment with your partner is openness and total honesty. However, there will always be issues that will test your success as a partner in a committed relationship. Some of these issues will be financial while others may be intimately physical. Here are some of the biggest threats to long-term relationship success.

When Your Spouse Has an Untreated Drug or Alcohol Problem

One of the biggest threats to the success of a long-term relationship is when your spouse has a problem with drugs or alcohol. The problem can become even worse when your partner either fails to recognize the severity of the issue or when they simply ignore it and expect you to do the same. It's important to find addiction treatment for your spouse. But this doesn't mean it will be easy.

When it comes time to deal with the problem, you will need to be extra sensitive. However, you will also need to be firm. You will need to work together very closely as a team in order to find addiction treatment for your spouse. Whether it’s prescription drug rehab in California or alcohol addiction treatment in Georgia, licensed experts are ready to assist your spouse in their fight against substance abuse. The effort will be worth it if you truly desire to remain together as a couple for the long haul.

Chronic Money Problems Can Affect Your Relationship

If you are making much less than you or your partner think you should be, this is certainly an issue. Jealousy over your partner making more than you can also be a source of frequent irritation. It's important to budget your money in a productive manner so that you have the funds available to not only buy necessities but also treat yourself from time to time.

Body Issues Can Come Between You

Your partner may be suffering from severe body image issues. They may be overweight or inclined to dislike some part of their anatomy. These are not only physical but also highly emotional issues that you need to be aware of. It may take a lot of honest, open conversation plus therapy to resolve these issues, but it will be worth it if you want to maintain the quality of your relationship with your partner or spouse.

Dislike of Your Spouse's Family or Friends Can Be Divisive

Another issue that can have a ruinous effect on your relationship is your partner's dislike of your family or friends - or vice versa. While it is true that a marriage is meant to last "'til death do us part", a lot of times it can feel like you unintentionally included other parties in that bargain. A great deal of open, honest conversation may be required to overcome this sensitive hurdle.

A Lack of Openness Can Rupture an Otherwise Strong Bond

One of the most insidious issues that can cause a rupture in your relationship is a lack of openness. How often do you discuss important - or even minor - issues with your partner? How open are you with them about your long term plans? If you find yourself avoiding conversations with your spouse, this is a sign that your relationship may be in trouble.

While all of these issues can threaten the quality of your long-term relationship, none of them are impossible to solve. If you want to remain in your relationship as a committed partner, you will need to work together to get through them. Counseling and other forms of treatment can be of use in helping you come out stronger on the other side.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.

Dreams are funny things, sometimes they're so random but other times they're hopes for the future, then there are the bad ones... No one likes those, especially our little ones.

Mostly dreams are made up of things you've seen, heard or talked about within the last day or so, so The Dream Pillow provides children with the creative freedom to take charge of their dreams and dream happily.

Dream Pillow has created something really fun and unique for kids, The set comes with your choice of pillow, a stack of cloud shaped idea cards and a storybook*. 

The idea is for kids to write or draw on the idea cards just before bed, place it inside the pillow and dream the happy dreams they've created. 

"With the brand mantra Write it down, dream it up, The Dream Pillow introduces a new bedtime ritual for children. Visualization of happy dreams before bed is a proven technique for putting an end to bad dreams. Each night children are encouraged to write down their hopes, dreams and aspirations on a Dream Pillow Blank Idea Card, place the card into their Dream Pillow, and enjoy a restful night’s sleep."

Lilli received her Dreamials Dream Pillow and was super excited, it came packed in a super cute box and inside had her Lamby dream pillow and a whole stack of shaped dream clouds to write/draw on. The pillow was super cute and extremely soft too, I was kind of jealous! 

She was so excited to go to sleep and have happy dreams that night, she grabbed her pen and started drawing out her dream whilst telling me what she wanted to happen, sure enough, she went straight to sleep with excitement.

The next morning I was woke with a Very happy girl that her dream was amazing and that she'd rode a unicorn to her castle with her friends, she was so happy the pillow worked and was so excited to create more happy dreams.
I honestly recommend this for any child who has bad dreams or trouble sleeping or even just for a cute gift it's definitely worth it to see that smile after a good dream.

Buy you're Dream Pillow HERE

*Dreamials pillows do not include The Dream Pillow storybook*

*Disclosure: This is a collaborative post all opinions are my own*

Sex makes you smarter, as scientific research showed this week. And that is not the only reason why sex is good for you. Lustplugs lists ten scientific studies that all show the same thing: sex is healthy and here are the reasons.

1. It is a good workout

During a study last year, people were equipped with an armband that measured their energy consumption. The decision by the researchers: "Sexual activity is - at least in some cases - a serious training."

2. Sex makes you happy

Studies show that sex makes us happier, are numerous. But a recent study shows that we are the happiest when we think we have more sex than our friends. "Happiness is positively proportional to your own sexual frequency, but inversely proportional to the sexual frequency of others," the researchers said.

3. You live longer

A scientific study of men of average age in Wales showed a link between the number of orgasms and the chance of dying. The risk of dying for men who had an orgasm at least twice a week was fifty percent lower than for men who did it less than once a month. Another study, among women, showed that for them, especially quality, and not quantity, is a determining factor for a longer life.

4. Sex prevents heart disease

A study published in the American Journal of Cardiology shows that men who have sex at least twice a week are less likely to have heart disease than those who do it less often. There would also be a similar connection for women.

5. It reduces the risk of cancer

Sex can reduce the risk of breast and prostate cancer. According to scientists, this is due to the release of the hormones oxytocin and DHEA before and during orgasm. For men, the connection is impressive. Research shows that the risk of prostate cancer decreases by 15 percent with each increase with three ejaculations per week.

6. It reduces stress

Not that we need science to prove this, but it has been researched several times. Sex has a stress-reducing effect due to the release of oxytocin in an orgasm. A small side note: masturbation does not reduce stress.

7. Sex is a natural painkiller

Headache is not a good excuse to abstain from the act. Research has shown that an orgasm can relieve migraines, back pain and menstrual pain. This too has to do with the release of hormones such as oxytocin and endorphins.

8. It gives you confidence

Bad sex can make you feel bad - but good sex does the opposite, especially with women. A study of young married women, which appeared in Planned Parenthood, found that positive sexual experiences increase self-confidence. And masturbation also proved good for self-confidence.

9. It is good for the immune system

Whoever has sex once a week has a higher immunoglobulin level, according to a 1999 study. Immunoglobulins are antibodies that prevent infections. A negative point: if you have sex more often, the number of antibodies starts to decrease again.

10. Sex makes you smarter

Recent studies show that sex is good for the brain. Report number one comes from a group of Koreans and Americans who observed rats. Rats that had a lot of sex created new neurons in the brain. That is related to a working memory. Rats that have sex are getting smarter. A second study, in November, focused on mice. In mice, sex led to better performance in memory tests.

*Disclosure: This is a collaborative post *

I love being myself and what better way to show it than with my fashion choices, I love outreagous clothes, bright pink hair and wearing trainers with dresses!

Recently I got sent a t-shirt from Future Poet, a great staple piece for the wardwobe with a great twist!

Future Poet t-shirts feature uplifting quotes on them in fantastic designs, and great colours. 

My t-shirt has the quote "I'm the best version of me" on a black t-shirt with a Future Poet logo embroidered on the arm.

The quality is so good, it's very soft and washes well too. 

After the first wash there was no change in the print on the shirt or softness of the fabric. 

Plus top marks for making a t-shirt that fits my torso, I'm 5ft 10" and a xxl so finding a t-shirt that fits my long and chubby torso is like finding a needle in a haystack so this was a very great surprise!!

You can check out Future Poet on social media or SHOP HERE!