How to get your beauty sleep and create a relaxing bedroom

The festive season is fun but busy, and we all need our beauty sleep to be at our best.

Take a moment to create an area of private relaxation in your bedroom, a space where you can unwind from the silly season.

My essential list for creating a bedroom where you can rest, relax, and revive your energies.

• A few fresh flowers.  Just a few blooms cut from your garden are lovely, scented if possible.  You would do it for house guests, this season do it for yourself too.  
• When you have guests staying, or children home during the holidays, let your bedroom be your retreat, a little oasis where you can have a little quiet time.  Make sure you have a few extra pillows so you can sit comfortably, a snuggly throw to cover your feet, and a good book handy to dip into.  
• Trinket box for festive season bling.  Tis the season for getting dressed up, a handy trinket box on the bedside table will keep your party bling in check.  
• Make sure you have enough pillows if you are having guests to stay.  Last time we had guests I realised little Miss J had moved into a big girl bed and we were a few pillows short.  Plan ahead so that everybody will be comfortable.
• Bamboo cotton pillow cases.  Soft, yet silky, the only pillow cases I use at the moment.
• Keep a notebook in your bedside table, for making notes, doodling, and writing to do and shopping lists.
• Open your windows and let in the lovely fresh air.  Well I guess this only works if its summer where you are. 

This post was written in collaboration with Sleepmaker, but as usual all opinions are entirely my own.

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Boxes from Freedom

Cow hide rug turned headboard

Chiang Mai Dragon in mocha

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My You Tube debut...Top Tips for making a beautiful home with Every Mama Knows

This is a super exciting announcement!  I have made my You Tube debut with the lovely ladies of Every Mama Knows!  They like this little blog and wanted to interview me on my top tips for creating a beautiful home.  Very exciting and not just a little flattering.  
Every Mama Knows is all about connecting people, especially mama's, through all the things they know.   They say it best "Sharing Mum-tested tips, inspiration and product recommendations. Because we know Mums trust other Mums. Simple."  

It was such fun, we brainstormed, we wrote scripts, we filmed, drank coffee and ate cake.   
I am far more comfortable in front of the screen than on it and I was very nervous about it all seeming a bit forced and contrived, but these mama's know their business and the result is very natural and very me.  Go on, watch it yourself and let me know what you think.

So what are my top tips to make your house into a beautiful home?

1  -  If I could add one thing it would be cut flowers
2  -  If I could take one thing away it would be clutter (invest in storage)
3  -  Put art or photographs on your walls
4  -  Keep it personal, your home must be meaningful to you
5  -  Buy things you love, they always seem to go together in the end

I can tick being a on film off the bucket list, although it was such fun that I hope I get the chance to do it again.  Thanks for making it happen Michelle, Caro, Suzannah and Joel!

Pop along to the Every Mama Knows facebook page and see what they are sharing today.  And feel free to share your top tips and recommendations with them too, that's what this is all about.