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Author: Lauren

European Coastal Travel: A Different Way to See Familiar Destinations

19th May 202623rd May 2026
a sandy beach with blue sea ahead and a wooden boardwalk stretching away

One of the main reasons that Europe is so appealing to British travellers is that it’s accessible. All we need to do is hop aboard a plane, and we have access to all of the cultural and scenic treasures that the continent’s amazing coastline has to offer. But with the convenience of air travel (and… Read More

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Straightforward Seasonal Home Updates with Significant Impact

19th May 202623rd May 2026
thin blinds with light casting a shadow through them

Ensure the mood of your home always suits the season with these straightforward design updates that are easy and inexpensive to do yourself. Going beyond simple seasonal décor generates truly transformative results, so you feel uplifted or cocooned the moment you cross the threshold. Decluttering Your Rooms Before you begin any interior design change, you… Read More

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Why Some Garden Sets Outlast Others by Decades

29th April 2026

Garden furniture sits outside for months. Rain arrives without warning. Temperatures shift. Wind gets into joints. Some pieces crack or rust within two seasons. Others hold up for twenty years. Manufacturing decisions made long before a set reaches a showroom determine which category it falls into. Higher prices don’t guarantee longevity. Weatherproof labels don’t either.… Read More

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Declutter Your Home, Declutter Your Mind: A Guide to Better Organisation

29th April 2026

A busy home can quickly start to feel overwhelming when clutter piles up, and there never seems to be a spare moment to sort it all out. Between the school run, the daily commute, and the general hum of domestic life, the physical objects we accumulate can often mirror our mental state. The good news… Read More

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Interior décor must-haves for new build homes

29th April 2026

Stepping through the front door of your new build home for the first time is magical. This pristine property is a blank canvas and those crisp white walls represent a fresh start.  As the removal van departs, it’s time to think about how you want to transform these bright, airy rooms into your sanctuary. Looking… Read More

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Is Your Family Car Still Working for You? 5 Clues It Might Be Time for a Change

1st April 20261st April 2026

For many families, a car is more than just a way to get from A to B. It is an important part of daily life that allows you to do the school runs and food shops, but also to take fun weekend trips to museums and beaches, or longer road trips during school holidays. So,… Read More

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When Garden Furniture Survives British Winters Better Than Expected

31st March 20267th April 2026

Garden furniture in the UK faces a particular test. Rain arrives without warning. Frost settles overnight. Summer sun scorches surfaces within hours. Most outdoor pieces show wear within a season or two. Yet some materials hold up far longer than expected. Defy the usual cycle of replacement and repair. Rattan has become a common sight… Read More

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Seller’s edge: 3 summer upgrades that command a premium

25th March 2026

Collaborative post. The UK housing market is set to drastically change by the summer of 2027. The focus will shift significantly onto the Future Homes Standard, where all new homes in England must be built with solar panels and other energy-efficient measures.  While this is great news for those buying a new house, it does… Read More

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Moving With Kids: Tips to Keep the Whole Family Calm and Organised

25th March 2026

Few life events test a family’s patience quite like moving house. Add children to the equation, with their questions, their attachment to familiar spaces, and their talent for poor timing, and the whole process takes on a new dimension. Whether you’re upsizing, relocating for schools, or exploring new homes for a nice change, keeping the… Read More

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Travel and Home Comfort: A Blog That Inspires New Experiences

8th March 2026

Life is made up of many moments: some pass unnoticed, while others leave a lasting impression. A blog about family life and travel helps not only to capture these moments but also to draw inspiration for new experiences. Every trip, every cosy evening at home is an opportunity to see the world in a new way and fill everyday life with warmth and meaning.

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Welcome to Scrapbook Blog! I'm Lauren and am too lazy to keep a real scrapbook so I have one online instead! I share where we go, what we do, what we love and much more! For every day life find us on instagram stories

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Recent Posts

  • European Coastal Travel: A Different Way to See Familiar Destinations
  • Straightforward Seasonal Home Updates with Significant Impact
  • Why Some Garden Sets Outlast Others by Decades
  • Declutter Your Home, Declutter Your Mind: A Guide to Better Organisation
  • Interior décor must-haves for new build homes
The lighter evenings are a blessing. The kids hav The lighter evenings are a blessing. 
The kids have been learning to skateboard (I think actually they're Longboards?) recently... And we've sort of (on purpose) forgotten about the family couch to 5k runs... Might start them up again now there's more daylight to play with 🤭
A bright but incredibly muddy walk around @kneppwi A bright but incredibly muddy walk around @kneppwilding estate with family. Not pictured...Arlo elbow deep in mud wearing a white hoody 🫣
A family that runs together... moans about going r A family that runs together... moans about going running together 🙃
It is nice to run in the frosty forest instead the of the windy seafront though. I don't think I'll ever really enjoy running but it is getting easier at least.
Merry end of the year. Merry end of the year.
The magic of little mice, and Christmas trees in g The magic of little mice, and Christmas trees in general, at Petworth House 🐁🐭🌲
Made a start on Christmas shopping at the Makers Market (#buylocal if you can!)
A weekend away to start the festive season off... A weekend away to start the festive season off... Longleat festival of light was a nice way to do it because we got to see gorillas, red pandas, crocodiles and lots more AND the light trail once it got dark. Plus we got to feed sealions and see an Owl show. However back to real life and work and not feeling that festive again. I think it'll help when people start putting lights up on their houses. Haven't really thought about presents for the kids, putting out own tree up (obvs not till December anyway!) or anything else festive-y! 

Swipe for various light up things, a massive (singing) tree and animals 🦍🐊❤️
12 years today 💒👰‍♀️🤵‍♂️ 12 years today 💒👰‍♀️🤵‍♂️
Sibling love = Athena looking up how to do things Sibling love = Athena looking up how to do things on Animal Crossing for Arlo. 
The dynamic has definitely changed since she started secondary school, but there are still glimmers.
Roll on next week's school holiday. 🖕 This 8 week Roll on next week's school holiday. 🖕

This 8 week long half term can DO ONE. So fed up with literally pushing Athena out of bed in the morning because she's slept through her alarm. The sheer amount of organising involved when they reach  secondary is nuts... All the different apps, the endless requests for money (by school, not her!) the stress of running out of data when your train ticket is on your phone... The stress of the trains being up the spout, the massive amounts of homework (that the parent app helpfully tells us is not complete even when it is and 'youll know if your child didn't complete it as they'll get a consequence mark' - this hasn't happened because she's a conscientious kid but it means we need to look at Google classroom on top of the bloody shit app!)

Let's not mention spending 60 quid on shoes that gave her blisters so bad on both feet she was hobbling. 

Aaaaargh. Will enjoy a week off from it all, even though I've not got any time off work myself 🙈
Beg to differ Beg to differ
Week one of secondary school has been a success fo Week one of secondary school has been a success for Athena: the trains, the rain, the finding the way round a massive school, the horrific blazer, shirt and tie situation... nothing seems to phase her. She had a week away at camp in the last week of the holidays, didn't miss us at all and had a blast, plus loved being a bridesmaid for her auntie and just seems too grown up! 

Hoping any other new year 7s are getting on okay too!
Sunny Monday evening strolls... We felt like we ha Sunny Monday evening strolls... We felt like we had to get the kids out of the house as we were both working all day 🙀

#eveningsunshine #inthewoods #moonbridge #storrington #sussexwalks
How is this little girl about to finish year 6? A How is this little girl about to finish year 6? A few more days of fun, activities, leavers services and tears to get through and then secondary school is round the corner!
A brief flit to Norfolk to celebrate with @longben A brief flit to Norfolk to celebrate with @longbennett_...just one month to go till 'I do' 👰💒💖
It's still me, Lauren. I just changed my Instagram It's still me, Lauren. I just changed my Instagram name from scrapbook.lives to something that's more 'me' as I don't blog much anymore (at all really I'm just not ready to actually SAY I don't blog anymore 🤭)

Trying to encourage some sunshine by posting holiday pics from Gran Canaria a month ago... Hope it works 🤞 as Athena is off her her school residential today for 3 days of outdoor activities! I've bought her two rain ponchos just in case! 

#namechange #newnamestillme #itme
E L E V E N ✌️ Athena had had a brilliant birthday E L E V E N ✌️
Athena had had a brilliant birthday today, a waterpark & exploring sand dunes - as well as basically a week of celebrations (well actually a month - as we gave her a main present of a new Fender acoustic a month ago today so she could use it in her lessons). 
Still amazes me that she's off to secondary school in about 12 weeks, she reached the top of the waiting list for our top choice school this week and we gave her the option to accept it if she wanted to but she is adamant that the school she was awarded (2nd choice) is where she wants to go - even though she doesnt know a soul going there and half her current cohort are going to the other school! She knows her mind and she's not afraid to be out of her comfort zone 🥰🤩 #eleventoday #beautifulbirthdaygirl
A little allotment update. I'm finding it hard to A little allotment update. I'm finding it hard to keep on top of it, in fact I am very much under it: weeds, things that aren't growing and things that are but have been eaten.  I'm working two jobs, trying to sort out the garden at home, volunteering with scouts and all the other life admin stuff that life chucks at us and just find it hard to get there much, but I feel so much better when I've been - so should prioritise it more. The lighter evenings deffo help! 
#allotmentlife #downattheallotment #growyourown
Bluebells 🌱 A little jaunt through the woods this Bluebells 🌱 A little jaunt through the woods this evening with the biggest one and Sam whilst Arlo was at Cubs. There are still so many bluebells about! Hoping the nicer weather sticks around as twilight stroll in the woods is a lovely way to wind down of an evening 🩵💙🩵💙
I have this thing with windows... A selection of I have this thing with windows... 
A selection of lovely and very old windows at Arundel Castle. We spent the day there exploring on Easter Saturday. Will try and remember to share some more photos at some point as the castle really is beautiful. It's ten minutes away and we'd never been inside before, just around the gardens.

Also an excuse to use one of my favourite songs, bonus points if you know what late 90s movie it's from?

#arundelcastle #arundel #visitsussex #westsussexwonders 
#medievalcastles #ukcastles #windowlight #wowwindow
#ihavethisthingwithwindows
Arlo loves a bit of crazy golf so we booked a game Arlo loves a bit of crazy golf so we booked a game at GloBalls as part of his bday celebrations. Eye wateringly bright but lots of fun. We did the Zootopia course (I believe, it was a couple of weeks ago!) but there were 3 or 4 to choose from.
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The lighter evenings are a blessing. The kids hav The lighter evenings are a blessing. 
The kids have been learning to skateboard (I think actually they're Longboards?) recently... And we've sort of (on purpose) forgotten about the family couch to 5k runs... Might start them up again now there's more daylight to play with 🤭
A bright but incredibly muddy walk around @kneppwi A bright but incredibly muddy walk around @kneppwilding estate with family. Not pictured...Arlo elbow deep in mud wearing a white hoody 🫣
A family that runs together... moans about going r A family that runs together... moans about going running together 🙃
It is nice to run in the frosty forest instead the of the windy seafront though. I don't think I'll ever really enjoy running but it is getting easier at least.
Merry end of the year. Merry end of the year.
The magic of little mice, and Christmas trees in g The magic of little mice, and Christmas trees in general, at Petworth House 🐁🐭🌲
Made a start on Christmas shopping at the Makers Market (#buylocal if you can!)
A weekend away to start the festive season off... A weekend away to start the festive season off... Longleat festival of light was a nice way to do it because we got to see gorillas, red pandas, crocodiles and lots more AND the light trail once it got dark. Plus we got to feed sealions and see an Owl show. However back to real life and work and not feeling that festive again. I think it'll help when people start putting lights up on their houses. Haven't really thought about presents for the kids, putting out own tree up (obvs not till December anyway!) or anything else festive-y! 

Swipe for various light up things, a massive (singing) tree and animals 🦍🐊❤️
12 years today 💒👰‍♀️🤵‍♂️ 12 years today 💒👰‍♀️🤵‍♂️
Sibling love = Athena looking up how to do things Sibling love = Athena looking up how to do things on Animal Crossing for Arlo. 
The dynamic has definitely changed since she started secondary school, but there are still glimmers.
Roll on next week's school holiday. 🖕 This 8 week Roll on next week's school holiday. 🖕

This 8 week long half term can DO ONE. So fed up with literally pushing Athena out of bed in the morning because she's slept through her alarm. The sheer amount of organising involved when they reach  secondary is nuts... All the different apps, the endless requests for money (by school, not her!) the stress of running out of data when your train ticket is on your phone... The stress of the trains being up the spout, the massive amounts of homework (that the parent app helpfully tells us is not complete even when it is and 'youll know if your child didn't complete it as they'll get a consequence mark' - this hasn't happened because she's a conscientious kid but it means we need to look at Google classroom on top of the bloody shit app!)

Let's not mention spending 60 quid on shoes that gave her blisters so bad on both feet she was hobbling. 

Aaaaargh. Will enjoy a week off from it all, even though I've not got any time off work myself 🙈
Beg to differ Beg to differ
Week one of secondary school has been a success fo Week one of secondary school has been a success for Athena: the trains, the rain, the finding the way round a massive school, the horrific blazer, shirt and tie situation... nothing seems to phase her. She had a week away at camp in the last week of the holidays, didn't miss us at all and had a blast, plus loved being a bridesmaid for her auntie and just seems too grown up! 

Hoping any other new year 7s are getting on okay too!
Sunny Monday evening strolls... We felt like we ha Sunny Monday evening strolls... We felt like we had to get the kids out of the house as we were both working all day 🙀

#eveningsunshine #inthewoods #moonbridge #storrington #sussexwalks
How is this little girl about to finish year 6? A How is this little girl about to finish year 6? A few more days of fun, activities, leavers services and tears to get through and then secondary school is round the corner!
A brief flit to Norfolk to celebrate with @longben A brief flit to Norfolk to celebrate with @longbennett_...just one month to go till 'I do' 👰💒💖
It's still me, Lauren. I just changed my Instagram It's still me, Lauren. I just changed my Instagram name from scrapbook.lives to something that's more 'me' as I don't blog much anymore (at all really I'm just not ready to actually SAY I don't blog anymore 🤭)

Trying to encourage some sunshine by posting holiday pics from Gran Canaria a month ago... Hope it works 🤞 as Athena is off her her school residential today for 3 days of outdoor activities! I've bought her two rain ponchos just in case! 

#namechange #newnamestillme #itme
E L E V E N ✌️ Athena had had a brilliant birthday E L E V E N ✌️
Athena had had a brilliant birthday today, a waterpark & exploring sand dunes - as well as basically a week of celebrations (well actually a month - as we gave her a main present of a new Fender acoustic a month ago today so she could use it in her lessons). 
Still amazes me that she's off to secondary school in about 12 weeks, she reached the top of the waiting list for our top choice school this week and we gave her the option to accept it if she wanted to but she is adamant that the school she was awarded (2nd choice) is where she wants to go - even though she doesnt know a soul going there and half her current cohort are going to the other school! She knows her mind and she's not afraid to be out of her comfort zone 🥰🤩 #eleventoday #beautifulbirthdaygirl
A little allotment update. I'm finding it hard to A little allotment update. I'm finding it hard to keep on top of it, in fact I am very much under it: weeds, things that aren't growing and things that are but have been eaten.  I'm working two jobs, trying to sort out the garden at home, volunteering with scouts and all the other life admin stuff that life chucks at us and just find it hard to get there much, but I feel so much better when I've been - so should prioritise it more. The lighter evenings deffo help! 
#allotmentlife #downattheallotment #growyourown
Bluebells 🌱 A little jaunt through the woods this Bluebells 🌱 A little jaunt through the woods this evening with the biggest one and Sam whilst Arlo was at Cubs. There are still so many bluebells about! Hoping the nicer weather sticks around as twilight stroll in the woods is a lovely way to wind down of an evening 🩵💙🩵💙
I have this thing with windows... A selection of I have this thing with windows... 
A selection of lovely and very old windows at Arundel Castle. We spent the day there exploring on Easter Saturday. Will try and remember to share some more photos at some point as the castle really is beautiful. It's ten minutes away and we'd never been inside before, just around the gardens.

Also an excuse to use one of my favourite songs, bonus points if you know what late 90s movie it's from?

#arundelcastle #arundel #visitsussex #westsussexwonders 
#medievalcastles #ukcastles #windowlight #wowwindow
#ihavethisthingwithwindows
Arlo loves a bit of crazy golf so we booked a game Arlo loves a bit of crazy golf so we booked a game at GloBalls as part of his bday celebrations. Eye wateringly bright but lots of fun. We did the Zootopia course (I believe, it was a couple of weeks ago!) but there were 3 or 4 to choose from.
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