Vivastreet blog

Grab yourself a hat and scarf to stay warm this winter

We’re all feeling the cold here at VivaStreet as the weather has suddenly plummeted and a seriously chilly spell has taken over the country. It even looks like we may be in for a white Christmas!

While we’re all trying to keep warm and avoid coming down with the sniffles, we still want to look stylish in the big freeze. So instead of digging out your holey old winter woollens from the back of the wardrobe, why not take a look at our large selection of winter wear to help get you through this cold snap.

We’ve got everything to help you feel cosy, from cashmere scarves for your extremities to this gorgeous thermal vest for what’s underneath.

You can’t help but feel toasty in one of these gorgeous fleeces, but how about a sheepskin coat? No longer the reserve of dodgy car salesmen from the 1970′s, they can’t fail to keep you warm and they guarantee to make you look stylish at the same time.

Ski gear is the perfect way to make sure you don’t catch cold when the temperature drops, and despite its name it doesn’t have to be reserved for the slopes. Check out this ski jacket, for example, which promises to keep you warm without looking out of place while you’re wandering along the high street.

Meanwhile, let’s not forget our feet! You can’t go wrong with Ugg boots to ensure your tootsies don’t freeze. Even though they’ve been around a few years, they’re still all the rage and look so stylish with jeans, leggings or a skirt. But this year why not check out the latest line in Uggs….. cardy Uggs. A cardigan for your feet = perfect!

But this cold weather isn’t just affecting our own bodies. Don’t forget poor little Fido, who wants to keep warm this winter too! Have a look at these cute little dog coats and make the pooch in your life happy.

Hopefully this cold weather will be gone as quickly as it has arrived. In the meantime, wrap up and stay warm!

Posting free classified ads has never been this easy and fast, in fact really, really fast!

We are happy to announce that you can now post your ads without being a registered member.

How does it work?

In Step 3 on the posting page you have 3 options:

1. Create an account
2. Use existing account
3. Post  without account

If you choose the last option – Post without account – all you need to do is enter a valid email address. Your email address will be used as the primary way to contact you. All Vivastreet notifications and communications will be sent only through your email account. Once you will create your ad you will receive an email Activate your Vivastreet Ad Now! – You will need to confirm your e-mail address so that we can begin processing your ad.

New posting page

This Christmas hamper would make the perfect festive gift

Christmas is about many things; giving and receiving gifts, singing Christmas carols, spending time with the relatives and watching yet another James Bond film being just some of them. Well, there’s one thing the festive season most certainly is about, and that’s eating! Yes, it’s that time of year when most of us have to resort to loosening the belt buckle by a notch or two after some serious over-indulgence.

If you’re the unlucky one lumbered with the task of having to cook for the extended family on Christmas day and you’re dreading the thought, then don’t despair. VivaStreet is Santa’s very own little helper, and can advise on everything from where to buy turkeys, to how to cheat and buy a ready-made Christmas cake! It’s your veritable one-stop Christmas food shop!

We have some gorgeous luxury hampers on offer, which would make the perfect gift and guarantee to keep the family quiet for several days. They contain all the Christmas essentials, from cranberry sauce to Christmas pudding, and come as a fantastic reusable woven wicker basket.

If you need a little bit of guidance on how to rustle up the perfect festive feast, then why not pick up this Gary Rhodes cookbook, which is full of tips on how to impress your guests. Of course you can use it long after the Christmas season has passed.

Admittedly, even with the help of dear old Gary Rhodes, some of us just aren’t as au fait in the kitchen as we would like to be. We don’t know about you, but here at VivaStreet the mere words ‘dinner party’ are enough to get us into a tizz! But yet again, there’s no need to panic. VivaStreet has just the thing. Have you ever thought about what it’s like to hire a chef? This could be the answer to your prayers – let them sweat over the Christmas spread while you sit back and relax with your glass of mulled wine. We love this idea too – cookery class gift vouchers. They make the perfect Christmas present for a loved one who has always dreamed of being able to cook like a pro.

But let’s not forget one of the most important things…the grog! Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without some mulled wine, and Santa will never forgive you if he doesn’t get his annual glass of port or sherry. VivaStreet’s food and wine section has endless ideas for what booze to fill up the cupboards with. This case of wine, for example, will keep the family happy until the supermarkets re-open.

So make the most of the opportunity to over-indulge before you make your New Year’s resolution to lose those extra pounds. Bon appetit!

You don't need to build a huge wind turbine to save energy in your home

The Climate Change Conference is going on in Copenhagen as we speak, where world leaders are gathering together to discuss setting targets for cutting carbon emissions in order for us to clean up our act and save the planet.

There is much that should be done on a national and international level, but there is also a lot that can be done on a smaller scale, and that starts with each and every one of us making changes in our own homes.

As well as small things like turning off lights in empty rooms, using energy saving light bulbs and taking showers instead of baths, did you know that there are ways we can actually CREATE our own energy in order to help the planet?

Probably the most well-known methods of creating energy are wind and solar power. But don’t worry, you don’t need to set up huge wind turbines in your back garden to get started (the neighbours probably wouldn’t be too impressed anyway!) First of all, making your own solar panels is surprisingly easy. You can easily start generating energy in your home by placing some simple solar panels on your roof. Get your hands on this step by step guide to see what we mean.  And did you ever think you would be able to build your own electricity generator? Well, it’s not as difficult as you might think. You can choose between solar or wind power, or both, and can work towards one day ‘unplugging’ your house from your electricity supplier, and generating all of your own energy. And we’re talking renewable energy here, as it’s straight from mother nature herself. Imagine being able to save money AND save the planet at the same time!

But it’s not all about solar or wind power. Did you know that you can also create electricity to power your home by using magnets? We have guides on the site on just how to make your own magnetic power generator, which create free energy and don’t require a resource like wind or solar energy to function.

So if you feel like you’d like to give renewable energy a go, but just want to test it out on a small scale first, then take a look at these solar powered garden lights. They recharge by sunlight during the day and then contain enough energy to switch on at dusk. Impressive stuff!

Clearly there’s no time like the present for each of us to do our bit to fight global warming, and that means starting by saving, and even creating, energy in our own homes. There’s plenty that we can all be doing to cut our fuel consumption, which is not only good news for the planet but also great for our wallets too!

Property tenants choose ‘temping’ over renting

We’re witnessing a new trend within the property market which is impacting on landlords and tenants alike.

The so-called weekday renters, or ‘tempers,’ are those for whom the daily commute to work has become a bit too much of a drag. Perhaps the journey is a little too long or expensive, public transport is too unpredictable, or even long working hours are making the journey home at the end of the day almost pointless. Whatever the reason, property owners across the country are seeing a surge in demand from professionals looking to rent a room from Monday to Friday. Landlords are cottoning on to the idea, and have started to make available weekday rooms for those looking for a place to crash after a long day in the office.

As people choose to hang on to their jobs, at least until the recession is thoroughly behind us, property ‘temping’ is becoming a great option for those who, faced with a significant daily commute, want to spend a little less time staring out of the train window. It’s worth bearing in mind that flatshares have come a long way from the outdated notion of having to pay over the odds for a thin-walled dingy bedsit, and in fact they are increasingly becoming the smart choice for professionals. Luckily here at VivaStreet we have a number of flatshares to suit every budget and location.

As well, why not explore whether your budget stretches to renting a property on a more full-time basis, in case long working hours on a Friday (or even after work drinking!) make the idea of sleeping over close to work a little more appealing, and a lot less tiring.

And finally, for those for whom even a weekly or fortnightly commute is still too much, then don’t forget we have a huge amount of properties for sale if you’re considering upping sticks completely.  It’s clear that whatever your budget, location or working situation, VivaStreet has a range of options to suit your needs, so there’s no need to put up with an exhausting daily commute any longer!

Looking for love? Vivastreet is here to help ...

It’s that time of year again when everyone seems to be talking about how they’re going to spend the festive season, and, more importantly, who they’re going to spend it with. Families make plans to get together and couples look forward to snuggling up with each other under a cashmere blanket in front of a roaring fire. Well, as much as we love Christmas and all the fun and good times that come with it, we know that there are some people who perhaps haven’t been too lucky in the love and romance stakes this year, and who are not fortunate enough to be able to curl up with a loved one this winter.

One thing’s for sure, it’s not easy to meet that special someone, especially when everyone around you seems to be already married or sprouting offspring. Are there any good ones left?!

Well, VivaStreet is here to help. We have a huge amount of singletons on the site all looking to meet a friend, lover, or soulmate.  We have men looking for women, women looking for men, women looking for women, and so on. It’s so easy to sign up and – most importantly – it’s all free! Currently, the number of single men looking for love is far outweighing the amount of women we have signed up, so come on single ladies, what are you waiting for… you could make some man a fantastic Christmas cracker!

Online dating is what all the cool singletons do these days, and it’s as normal as swapping numbers with someone down the local boozer. So if you are single, then why not give it a go. We may not be able to promise that you will meet the love of your life, but you will certainly get chatting to some new people  who may become firm friends. And for those of you who are already in a relationship, then don’t worry, there’s still lots of opportunity to make new friends, as many people sign up to VivaStreet who are just looking for friendship.

So why not give yourself the best chance possible of meeting the future man or woman of your dreams?

Just remember to stay safe. VivaStreet encourages users to be very cautious in giving out personal information, and to always tell a friend where and when you have arranged to meet someone.