How to make the very most of being at home during the summer holidays? Nonstopmama asked Anita Kaushal, author of the beautifully presented Family LifeStyle Home and Travel books (Thames & Hudson), to share her tips for bringing a breath of fresh air to your daily surroundings. An interiors stylist, Anita also has her own product range and writes a blog about family living (see anitakaushal.com).

‘Just like the clothes we wear, our homes benefit from a seasonal update,’ says Anita. ‘It takes little time and effort to bring the sunshine in’.

The simplest, least expensive changes can make all the difference, as Anita shows with her exclusive tips for nonstopmama:

•  Clean: for me it all begins with a clean. Dusting the cobwebs off the ceiling, mopping the floors, getting carpets and window professionally cleaned, walls painted and all those little jobs that need attention completed.

•  Scent: like fragrant calendars, using the seasons to guide the scent is a good guide. Elegant fresh smells of honeysuckle, hyacinth and narcisus in spring and stronger scents like basil, fig and jasmine  now, in the height of summer.

•  Flowers: the wonderful thing about summer is all you need is one big bloom in a small glass vase, or even in an old fashioned tea cup, to bring a room alive. Even wild flowers from the garden look stunning. I prefer a few, big blousy flowers in each room rather than one display in the kitchen.

•  Window dressing: if possible, change your window dressings to lighter fabrics or blinds. Not only will these let in the summer breeze, they make the most of the summer light. Either simple linen or, in my case, I have used hand embroidered sheer voiles and simply pinned them to the top of window frames and let them hang down in panels. It takes minutes and looks stunning.

•  Cushions: just by adding lighter fabrics – linen, white cord, florals – you lift the mood of a place. You don’t need to buy cushions either. I buy bits of vintage fabric and just wrap them around cushion pads, then tie old necklaces around them to keep the fabric in place and to add a pretty little detail. I also find that by using necklaces in this way, I actually remember to wear them from time to time.

•  Paint: try painting directly onto your walls; perhaps above a fireplace. Use white chalk to map out your lines and the simpler the better – it could be a motif, a flower, words. I find using a darker version of the same color paint that is on the wall works best.

•  Mirrors: look for cheap pine mirrors with broad frames and use the frames as evolving collages.  If you like colour and a little chaos, then just stick the articles directly onto the frame. But if you want a little order and – more importantl – to preserve the images, photos or cards you use, photocopy them all in black and white.  That way, you have a mish-mash of memories on the wall, but they all sit well together.

I just tear the photocopies, so they have rough edges as if ripped from an old book, and then stick them randomly as and when the mood takes me. The mirror/wall evolving over the seasons and reminds me of the joy that surrounds me.  Another idea is to stick dried flowers all over a frame – it looks so pretty, is really easy and you can’t go wrong.

•  Revamp a dining table: make a simple dining table into a star attraction by covering it with decadent wallpaper. Just wallpaper onto the table as you would on a wall and then cover the paper with clear acrylic varnish a couple of times, to seal it and stop it marking.

•  Entertaining: if you have a garden, nothing can be easier than summer entertaining. Tealights in jars, a little bunting and brightly coloured picnic blankets create the perfect backdrop for grilled food and salads – the best part of easy summer entertaining, as you can pretty much pre-prepare everything so it can’t go wrong.  Nothing welcomes in the summer more than the sound of family and friends sharing your space and enjoying the sunshine.

Coming soon at nonstopmama: Anita’s tips on family travel.

Proof that fab-smelling, feel-good beauty treats don’t have to blow the budget, we’re loving Johnson’s new 24 Hour Moisture Gentle Exfoliating Body Wash With Shea & Cocoa Butters (£2.99, available now at chemists and supermarkets), which has the most yummy, made-for-summer scent and helps to get skin glowing (it’s a great one to use pre-self-tanning).

Another hot weather favourite, Sanex’s new Dermo Hypro Allergenic Shower Gel (£1.95) is formulated for very sensitive skin. But we just love the fresh, uplifting smell and the fact that it feels gentle on the skin and not drying.

A note to family festival-goers: the Johnson’s Baby team will be at Camp Bestival this year – taking place at Lulworth Castle, Dorset, from Friday 30 July – Sunday 1 August – with a bespoke Johnson’s Baby “flower” baby changing area (more info on this to come!) and toddlers’ play area, amongst other things. They’ll also be giving away 1,000 packs of Johnson’s Baby Skincare Wipes (a camping must-pack) over the weekend. For more info and tickets, visit campbestival.co.uk).

Meet the new Joseph! Last night, nonstopmama went along to see Keith Jack make his debut in the lead role of the UK tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice and directed by Bill Kenwright (we didn’t take much persuading. We love a great show and left with the programme, cast CD and fridge magnet. The t-shirts were tempting, but you’ve got to stop somewhere).

Keith, who shot to fame as the popular runner-up for Joseph in the BBC series Any Dream Will Do, got a fab reception as the curtain went up at the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre - after an announcement over the PA that ‘there weren’t any cameras or mobile phones in the book of Genesis, so please switch them off’ – and a standing ovation when, finally, it came down (as finales go, it’s definitely grand. We loved it).

Keith has toured in the show before in the role of Narrator, a part played in this run by Trina Hill, who has just joined the cast. She does a great job, being on stage for most of the performance and constantly running up and down a staircase whilst singing (beautifully) at the same time. Impressive.

Keith takes over the title role in Bournemouth (book tickets here), where the show is currently running until 14 August (check all UK tour dates).

Are we nearly there yet? In some cases, yes, and others, almost! With the summer hols upon us, what better giveaway than a big, glossy book filled with ideas for days out to suit all tastes and budgets – from big ride theme parks to museums and galleries, a bit of National Trust flora and fauna or a family-friendly farm or fun-packed beach resort. You’ll find it all in 501 Days Out For Kids In The UK & Ireland.

Put together by a team of writers, this is as much a coffee table book as it is a specialist travel guide (although, we warn you, leave it out to be flicked through and you’ll have no end of ‘requests’). With a destination per page and great photos throughout, it also features crucial details such as ‘Amount of Walking’ and ‘Best Time To Go’. It’s a great way of getting some fresh ideas, which you can then follow up online to check seasonal opening times, admission prices and so on.

We have two copies of 501 Days Out For Kids In The UK & Ireland to give away. All you need to do is be signed up to receive nonstopmama’s email updates (see top of page), ensuring that the email you give when you subscribe is the same you use to enter the giveaway below. It’s as simple as that!

One of our dear friends at nonstopmama is in the midst of a hair crisis (a perm that left her locks frazzled, and in urgent need of some professional TLC). It’s still a work in progress, but we gave her the latest damaged hair treatment trio from US salon brand Bumble & Bumble to try in the meantime.

Her verdict? The new Mending Shampoo (£21), Conditioner (£23) and Masque (£27) “for the (truly) damaged” has, she said, definitely helped to restore softness and manageability. It’s available at selected salons nationwide, and you can buy Bumble & Bumble products online at spacenk.co.uk).

Hot on the cowboy heels of Toy Story 3 (hitting UK big screens on 19 July), a new land devoted to the much-loved movies – Toy Story Playland – is due to open at Disneyland Paris on 17 August. Featuring a Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin, RC Racer (a sky-soaring, authentically luminous orange Hot Wheels track, inspired by the film) and more, it was still under wraps when nonstopmama paid a flying visit last month, but we found lots more going on to thrill small and big kids alike as part of Disney’s New Generation Festival.

Now in full swing, the New Generation celebrations continue all year, with new characters to meet and catch in the parades (back tickle from Buzz Lightyear, anyone?).

Old meets new at the must-see Disney Showtime Spectacular, where you can catch Mickey, Minnie and co. getting down with newbies including characters from Ratatouille, Mr Incredible and Elastigirl, Mike and Sully of Monsters Inc. and others.

Our hot tip if you’re visiting with Toy Story fans? Head for Woody’s Roundup Village at the Disneyland Park, where at specific times you can meet the hero himself, along with the rootin’ and tootin’ Jessie (check the schedule for times and details).

And, finally, if you’re thinking about revisiting the first two Toy Story movies and have a DVD player that’s Blu-Ray compatible, the Toy Story/Toy Story 2 (Blu-Ray) Special Edition box set is nothing short of fantastic in terms of clarity, sound and overall recreate-the-cinema experience (even on our not-enormous screen). To infinity, etc. etc. …