We’re all feeling the pinch this year again, and with the heavy winters we seem to be experiencing lately, it seems all the more important to find ways to reduce heating bill.

We all know the standard advice to reduce heating bill: turn the thermostat down by one degree, wear an extra layer, drink hot drinks, insulate your loft/cavity walls, and use solar energy if you can.

But there are other ways that you can keep warm while still keeping your heating bills to a minimum.

1. Exercise at home: instead of paying to use the gym, get a home exercise programme on DVD and generate your own heat for a fraction of the cost. Take the Insanity® 60-day challenge or try P90X, both available from beachbody.co.uk, and not only will you get the body you always wanted, but you will find yourself turning the heating off within minutes of starting the warm-up!

2. Get domestic: baking, cleaning, peeling vegetables, washing up, stripping wallpaper – once you get started, you’ll soon be stripping off the layers! Try out some new recipes for the family, and the oven will warm the room, not to mention sending out delicious smells at the same time.

3. Pamper yourself: take a long, hot bath or shower and then wrap up in fleecy pyjamas, wooly bed socks and a robe, before spending some me-time applying a warming face mask and massaging in a luxurious hand and foot cream. It’ll get your blood pumping and warm you up as well as relaxing you, before you curl up in bed for an early night with a good book. Bliss – and all without putting the heating on!

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It’s dark, it’s cold, the joys of Christmas and New Year have been and gone, so what’s to like about January? If you find yourself succumbing to a low mood, here’s seven ways to beat the January blues.

1. Get outside as often as you can. This is especially important if you work indoors during the day and are travelling to and from work in the dark – increasing your time in the daylight is a sure fire way to beat the January blues.

2. Move around more: getting your blood pumping will kickstart your metabolism and help to keep your heart healthy, as well as keeping you warm, waking you up and giving you a much-needed energy boost.

3. Drink more water: maintaining optimum hydration keeps your energy levels up, cleanses your system of toxins and helps to keep you mentally alert

4. Enjoy your Christmas presents: just because the festivities of Christmas and New Year are over, don’t assume that January needs to be all work and no play. Get all your pressies out and enjoy reading your new books in your new bubble bath, playing with the kids’ new toys, or planning how to spend any money or vouchers you received.

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We all know the benefits of drinking more water: being properly hydrated improves your mental ability and physical performance, increases energy levels, speeds up your metabolism, curbs your appetite, improves the appearance of your skin, and flushes your body of toxins.

So it’s not surprising that so many of us include ‘drink more water’ on our list of New Year’s resolutions every year, myself included!

It’s not always easy, though: if you’re not already in the habit of drinking water throughout the day, it can be hard to remember or to find time to fit it in.

So it’s important to find fail-safe ways of getting more water daily, almost without noticing.

I’m trying the following five ways to get more water daily:

1. Start your day with water: I try to start the day with a large glass or two in between coffees that I have a head start on my eight glasses. I also find that the more water I drink, the more I want, so starting early sets me up well for the rest of the day.

2. Use a water bottle: I have a gorgeous pink water bottle bought from a cycling shop, and I carry it with me everywhere so I can’t forget to drink more. It also means I can drink at my desk without fear of spillages!

3. Keep water in the car/on the desk/next to the ironing pile! Wherever I am, whatever I’m doing, water is next to me. Even if I am having a glass of wine in front of the TV in the evening, there’s a glass of water next to it!

4. Swap it! I am a big fan of tea and coffee throughout my working day, especially in the winter months, but caffeine can be dehydrating, so actually works against my efforts to improve my water intake. So, I’m swapping some of my hot drinks for glasses of water, or if I really need a warm pick-me-up, I am opting for a caffeine-free, hydrating cup of green tea instead

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Winter can really take its toll on your skin: harsh weather, central heating, and moving from extremes of hot and cold can be drying and cause your skin to become more sensitive, leading to breakouts, broken veins and a dull, uneven skin tone.

Here are five  easy ways to better skin to help lift your skin out of the winter blues:

Use less soap: unless your face is actually dirty, there’s no real need to use soaps or scrubs on your face every day – they can end up making your skin produce more oil in the long run. Simply cleansing with water and then gently rubbing dry with a soft towel to exfoliate is enough for your daily routine.

Switch moisturizers: changes in weather can mean changes in your skin’s needs. In winter, you might find you need less sun protection but more moisturisation. Have a look around your local supermarket for bargain creams that offer what you need right now.

Drink more water: it is a simple fact that flushing your system with plenty of water will help hydrate your skin and give you a healthy glow, so aim for the recommended eight glasses a day for a healthier-looking complexion.

Exercise: getting your blood pumping and working up a sweat will help deliver more nutrients and rid your skin of toxins. Exercise will also prompt you to drink more water, helping to rehydrate your skin afterwards.

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Remember a couple of X-Factors ago… an awkward blond girl with an alluring voice? The girl is Diana Vickers and she ‘made it’.

Since being an X-Factor semi-finalist in 2008, the lovely Ms Vickers has signed a record deal, charted number one on the UK Singles Chart, released an album, starred in a West and show and launched a clothing brand.

Singer shminger – we want to know about the FASHION!

Diana Vickers’ clothing range is called Dee V and has sort of a retro, vintage vibe that is punctuated by a modern sense of fun and cool. A Diana Vickers belted jumpsuit from the latest collection is the talk of the fashion hub… and I keep seeing it advertised on my Facebook page – that’s got to mean something, right?

Although Facebook has my style preferences slightly wrong, I have no doubt that the Dee V Studio 54-inspired belted jumpsuit is the perfect accessory for a great night out! It’s chic, elegant and feminine.

The Diana Vickers belted jumpsuit features cuffed detail to the legs that shows off your favourite statement heels, it boasts fine straps and is lined for a smooth and flattering fit.

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