3 ways you should be using instagram

I've been spending lots of time with friends lately (one of my 2019 goals is to work less at the weekend and see friends more) one topic that keeps coming up amongst many of them is how we use social media, especially instagram in our day to day lives and it's not taking a bathroom selfie. There has been lots of negativity around the app that i'm sure you may have noticed but I don't want to go into any of that instead I want to share with you how I use the app in my day to day. 

Instagram can be a wonderful place if you use it in a valuable way for you. 

Here are the three ways I use instagram and can highly recommend it:

1. Friendship

There's an incredible community on instagram you just have to find it. 

It really can be a place to meet new people and actually make some real friends. All you need to do to start is send a simple DM (direct message) and you're off. It's actually much easier than trying to do the same in real life in a room full of strangers. There's something about having a conversation with words over an inspiring image that can make a connection. After all time is so valuable and for someone to spend a moment sending a message really is worth all the effort. I for one have made some incredible friends through the app. It's been a place to find my tribe and a network of supportive women in business too.

2. Inspiration

It is true inspiration is everywhere but especially on instagram. Use it to inspire your everyday, from up-cycling an old t-shirt or mending a broken vase to how to style an outfit.

3. Discovery

I can't even count the number of new brands, small businesses, big businesses, artists, designers, poets, writers, photographers and more that i've discovered on instagram over the past few years there are so many. Use it to discover all of the things that aren't on your doorstop or your everyday. With the save feature mine has become a miniature pinterest board.

On that point here are five instagram feeds that are really inspiring me this month.

I hope they inspire you too.

@nicoleocran

A fellow fashion lover and lovely human, her wardrobe is to die for. I love seeing her daily #ootd and styling tips.

@emmajanepalin

Home to transform a rented abode she'll inspire your interior design in no time and also has the sweetest pup.

@elisalex

A sewing inspiration and a hand made wardrobe of dreams. Elisalex makes me want to call in sick and sew all day long. One talented lady.

 @2lgstudio

I had the pleasure of meeting London based Interior Designers Jordan & Russell at an event last year and they are as lovely as their feed. They have an incredible eye for design.

@becki_clark_

Super talented illustrator and the kindest human. Her florals and pretty pastel feed bring me all the joy.

Remember instagram isn't real life and now go and unfollow all of the accounts that don't spark joy (Marie Kondo your instagram!) and make that scrolling more meaningful. After all life is too short right?!

Zeena X

Sharing a bed with your boyfriend and the mattress of dreams

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I have never been one for going all out on Valentine's day nor do I expect any grand gestures and a sea of red roses from my lovely boyfriend Zack. He knows it's just not very me. That said I do love anything covered with a heart shaped print and any excuse for some self love and sleep wellness this Galentines, Valentines or Palentines day.

Sleep is a funny old thing, it's such an important part of life, health and well being and somehow something that gets neglected. I often struggle with sleep and go through phases of sleeping like a baby and then there are nights when I don't sleep at all. Zack is the complete opposite and I am always envious of his ability to fall asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow. Whilst I lay beside him in complete turmoil unable to stop my brain from racing through tomorrow's to do list. Hoping I don't wake him up. It doesn't help that I am a night owl and he is an up at at 'em morning person either. 

For me the hard task of trying to quiet my mind and get ready for a restful night's sleep ensues. I've tried the delicious scented lavender sleep sprays, relaxing baths and mindfulness apps which are lovely (I do adore a sleep spray) but they don't always seem to work for me sadly. So you can imagine I was super excited when eve sleep got in touch about their mattresses of dreams and how it might be the solution to some of our sleeping woes.

It was possibly the speediest delivery we've ever experienced, our mattress arrived in less than 24 hours in the signature tall narrow box that we've all seen on TV. I of course wanted to get inside it as soon as we'd pulled the mattress out! The power of vacum packaging will never cease to amaze me. It went from as flat as a pancake to fluffy marshmallow in no time at all. We might have even jumped on it!

Zack in his element...

I was particularly impressed with the packaging and attention to detail.

There's always a bit of an adjustment period when sharing a bed with someone... 
Zack and I have been together for three years and we both have some annoying and loveable habits and when better to share them with you all than on Valentine's day... 

"Zeena is a little "fidge" as I like to call her, as when we first get into bed she will fidget and wriggle for ages until she is comfortable. Very cute, if she didn't move the mattress so much and wake me up. With the eve mattress I don't feel a thing, the mattress is super cushioned and the memory foam means I don't feel my little "fidge" at all!" says Zack.

Zack is a particularly light sleeper, despite trying my hardest to creep into bed without waking him up I always seem to as I am indeed a wriggler. That said he hasn't seemed to notice with our memory foam filled eve mattress.

"Zeena is always cold, especially before bed, she will then whack up the heating just as we get into bed. Now I am a warm person who tends to sleep without any covers or clothes.. so I get pretty sweaty with the heating on. The lovely cool, breathable mattress eve has made is just perfect for cooling me down, even though I'm roasting next to the radiator!" says Zack.

I am indeed always cold and even go to bed with socks on. I am that person! I love to layer up with the duvet and blankets much to Zack's annoyance. I call him my personal radiator when we get into bed because he is a hot water bottle. Wonderful in winter but less fun in Summer I can't wait to see what a difference the cooling layer of our eve mattress makes. The dreamy linen sheet set that arrived from eve really are the most luxurious bed fellows. I cannot imagine life without a linen bed sheet now there's something quite nostalgic about proper sheets.

Despite our sleeping habits we always wake up in each other's arms and it's the nicest way to start the day before jumping in the shower, getting dressed and heading out for the day. We both work long hours so it's often the most we see each other and so having a good night's sleep is so important and really makes all the difference. We are most certainly more grumpy when we don't sleep well.

Whatever tines-day your celebrating make sure sleep wellness is at the top of your list we already feel refreshed and raring to go. The only thing our eve mattress doesn't seem to help me out with is Zack's impossibly loud snoring... if you have any good tips for how to get him to quieten down I am all ears.

If you'd like any extra sleeping tips and to learn about eve sleep you can find out more here. Our mattress and luxury linen sheet set was very kindly gifted by eve sleep, i've included the links so you can find them easily over on their website. 
PS. They've also got an amazing offer on until the 17th of February, so be quick!

This post is sponsored by eve sleep, thank you for reading. I hope it helps you sleep as well as we did.

DIY - How to sew your own hair scrunchie

Scrunchies are BACK in a big way!

You might have noticed this trend emerging last year so I can happily tell you hair accessories are even bigger for this year and here to stay so get ready to channel your inner 90's and Rachel from FRIENDS look with a DIY tutorial on how to sew a scrunchie of your own.

I have always been rather obsessed with hair accessories so am very excited to jump on board with this trend. Not only are scrunchies fashionable but they're also a brilliant way to use up your fabric offcuts and scraps. If you're new to sewing or just a beginner this is the perfect easy beginner project to get started with. If one of your goals for this year is to start sewing more and even sew your own clothes you might also enjoy reading this post here where I share some of my top tips to get started.

Another great benefit to using hair scrunchies as fashionable as they are they are also much better for your hair than using hair elastics. The reduce breakages and if you opt for a silk scrunchie there's nothing more luxurious and kind to the hair. Especially good if you have thin or thinning hair. One of my personal goals for this year is to up my self care routine - which I easily neglect in favour of deadlines and saying yes to everything - so i'm kicking of February in the right direction with this DIY sewing project. 
Goal two - Matching scrunchies to my outfits here I come!

You will need:

• Fabric scraps (I used a 53cm x 18cm rectangle)
• Elastic (This works best when it is roughly wrist width add a 1 cm overlap. I used a 6mm wide by 18cm piece)
• Fabric scissors
• Pins
• Sewing Machine
• Hand sewing needle
• Matching Thread
• Pencil or invisible marker pen
• Measuring tape
• Safety Pin

Step one

Cut your chosen fabric and elastic to the desired measurements.

Step two

With right sides together pin and sew the long sides together with a 1.5 cm seam allowance leaving a 5cm gap on either side.

Step three

Turn the fabric tube right side out. Align the short edges and sew the seam up.

Step four

Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic length and feed through the fabric tube. 

Step five

Overlap the elastic edges by 1cm, pin and stitch together securely. I use a wide zig zag stitch or hand stitch together.

Step six
Close the open seam. Turn the open edges in towards the elastic, pin and sew the gap closed using a machine top stitch or invisible hand stitch. I prefer the later as it's neater and tend to use a machine if I have a few on the go or a really good matching thread.

*If you're an advanced sewist why not try making a matching on contrasting colour piping and sewing this along the centre seam at step 2.*

I hope you've enjoyed this quick DIY sewing project. Leave me a comment below if you'd like me to share a tutorial for a bow scrunchie next. I'm not sure about you but i'm addicted to sewing these and have a whole lot of fabric scraps i've finally found a use for. They also make great gifts for your galentines and palentines this Valentine's season. After all February is the month of love so why not share some with your favourite humans.

If you'd rather buy a scrunchie and aren't ready for a sewing project just yet see my top scrunchie pick below. I have a few of these already and love them!

For more DIY sewing and printmaking projects and lots of inspiration get your hands on a copy of my book
How to Print Fabric.

PS. This post contains affiliate links, this means I may earn a very small % of any sales that are made through the link, this doesn't add any cost to you it just helps me run my blog and pay for the monthly hosting :) 
Thank you for reading!