Thursday, 23 January 2025

Mum Life Meets Fashion: How to Keep Your Style Sharp Amidst the Chaos

 

Image Credit: Pexels

{This is a collaborative post}


Being a mother is no small feat. From changing nappies to attending PTA meetings, the tasks and responsibilities are seemingly endless. In the midst of this dispersed routine, it's common for mums to lose sight of their previous way of life - one that included taking time to get ready and putting together stylish outfits. 

However, retaining your sense of style doesn't necessarily mean you have to forego your mum duties. With a little bit of thought, planning, and stocking up on some key wardrobe essentials, you can keep your fashion game on point, even amidst the chaos of motherhood. Let’s take a closer look at how to effortlessly balance motherhood while maintaining your personal style. 

 

Find Balance Between Fashion & Function

Embracing the mum life doesn't mean sacrificing your style. You can still look chic while staying comfortable and practical. Invest in good-quality basics that offer both style and ease, like stretchy jeans, flowy tops, and comfortable shoes. Don't forget to pack a few matching bikini sets for those family beach days, which provide both comfort and flair. A pair of easy-to-throw-on sunglasses and some simple yet elegant accessories can also instantly elevate your outfit, ensuring you feel stylish without compromising on function.

 

Easy-to-Style Wardrobe Essentials

Maxi dresses, loose-fitting cardigans, and wide-legged pants are fantastic pieces that are easy to put together while remaining stylish. Also, consider investing in some high-waisted jeans. They are fashionable and serve as a tucked tummy shield during those playground frolics. Versatile items like button-down shirts or knit sweaters can be mixed and matched leading you to look photo-ready at all times. 

 

Don’t Shy Away From Colours & Patterns

Dressing up as a busy mother doesn't have to mean sticking to boring, monochromatic outfits. This is where you can take out those matching bikini sets that have been waiting to see the light of day. Bright, bold colours and vibrant patterns not only add a fun element to your outfit but also cleverly disguise any accidental spills or smudges. 

 

Tuesday, 7 January 2025

Are plumbers regulated?

 

Image credit: Pexels

{This is a collaborative post}

When hiring a professional to work on your property in pretty much any capacity, you’ll want to make sure you get the right person for the job. We’ve all heard horror stories of ‘cowboy’ tradespeople, and it’s worth putting some effort into avoiding these situations. 

While in most cases, you’ll have to judge whether the individual or company in question is trustworthy, in others you’ll also have some regulatory frameworks to help you out. Here, we take a look at the different ways in which plumbers are regulated, and how you can use that information to help you get the right plumber for your needs.


What do plumbers work on?

Professional plumbers with the appropriate qualifications are able to work on the whole of your plumbing system in your home. That includes the water pipes, heating system, gas system, and drainage pipes on your property. While some of these will require more care than others to work with safely, all can result in serious incidents if repaired or installed in an unsafe manner by an unqualified plumber.


The different regulatory bodies

Plumbers are regulated, but not by a single entity. There are a few different regulatory bodies to be aware of.

Gas Safe Register

The most important regulatory body when it comes to plumbing is the Gas Safe Register. Any plumber who’s going to work on the gas system in your home, such as a boiler technician, must be registered on their list in order to legally work on your property. 

It’s easy to search for any plumber's name on the list, and it’s something that’s worth checking before hiring a plumber for any gas-related job. Whether that’s someone from a company like Able Plumbers or a professional who is self-employed, it only takes a second to put their name into the search box.

WaterSafe

For plumbers who work on water systems but not on gas, there is the WaterSafe register. Importantly, unlike the Gas Safe system, WaterSafe is voluntary. Plumbers do not legally need to be members in order to work on your water system, but it is an efficient and handy way of checking how trustworthy the individual is who you’re considering hiring for the job.

Qualifications

In most cases, professional plumbers will need to hold something like a Level 2 or 3 NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) in plumbing in order to work in that capacity. There are also City and Guilds Diplomas that can sometimes be used, and other plumbers may have qualified through other means. 

Regardless of how they received their training, to be authorised to work on a gas system, they will need to be Gas Safe Registered. If they say that their training was through another route but they aren’t Gas Safe Registered, then something is likely wrong and it’s worth going with another plumber. 

The regulations covering plumbers in the UK exist for your protection, and it’s important to take them seriously. By using things like the Gas Safe Register, you can help avoid using any dangerous tradespeople for any work you do on your house.