My Monthly Beauty Buys - March

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It's been a bit of a low key beauty purchase month for me, mainly as I spent a fair bit on buying various bits from the new Rosie Huntington-Whiteley collection from M&S which I reviewed here. There were a few other new purchases though which deserve a mention in my monthly roundup. Alpha-H Liquid Gold Alpha-H Liquid Gold (£33.50 for 100ml) contains glycolic acid, the new 'in' thing in skincare. It's known for it's rejuvenating qualities on skin, exfoliating dead skin cells and stimulating the repair and renew cycle for new cell growth. To use, you apply over the face using a cotton pad at night, and then apply your usual moisturiser (or you can skip your moisturiser for a more intensive treatment). ...

A tale of two toddlers…

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I am the mother of a particularly clingy toddler who, at 23 months, is still experiencing pretty bad separation anxiety. If we’re at home, it’s likely he’ll be wanting cuddles on the sofa; if I take him to a soft play I’m the mum being led around by her finger as she desperately tries to fit through the foam equipment without putting her back out; if we’re out and about I’m probably carrying him, as he prefers a pick-up rather than to walk. I’ve developed some pretty impressive arm muscles! I’ve pretty much accepted that this is how he is, and although I try and encourage him to be independent, if he wants a cuddle I’m not inclined to deny ...

A Spring Trip to Bocketts Farm

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There's no better time for a visit to the farm than spring - you're guaranteed to see loads of baby animals, and with any luck you might get some nice weather too. We lucked out with the weather for our visit to Bocketts Farm last week - it was the day that really signalled the start of spring - sunshine galore! We timed our journey well and were among the first people through the doors to the farm, so had the run of the place for quite a while. The only downfall (if you can call it that) of Bocketts Farm is the sheer number of things to do in the entrance barn. There are ride-on tractors for toddlers, with a huge track, ...

5 of the Best Children’s Wallpapers

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When it comes to decorating a child's room, I think wallpaper is a great choice - used in the right way it can add a fun element to the room and tell a story which sets imaginations alight. Although we chose a muted grey and yellow theme for Max's nursery, I'm conscious that as he gets a bit older he's going to want to chose things for himself and we're likely to face redecorating. I'm not keen on staring face on with a Peppa Pig mural (his current obsession), so I've been eyeing up my favourite children's wallpaper. Cole & Son's Woods and Stars, £78 per roll Cole & Son's wallpapers are iconic British designs and offer fantastic prints that really stand out. ...

5 Happy Things #10

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It feels like we've finally broken through winter and spring has sprung. The temperature has risen, the sun is out, and we've had the windows open for the first time in what feels like forever! Our activities this week have definitely been more outdoors based, and my mood has been so much better for it. 01. We had a lovely trip to Bocketts Farm this week - we got there really early for opening and were some of the first people in. It was lovely to have the run of the place, and to see Max be so keen to explore a bit more independently. He loved the little ride-on tractors, and was a huge fan of the big slides in ...

My breastfeeding experience

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When I was pregnant I was asked many times by midwives and others whether I planned to breastfeed. I'm a big reader, so I was well aware of the health benefits of breastfeeding, but had also heard from some friends that they'd not been able to breastfeed for one reason or another, so my feelings were fairly laid back; if I could breastfeed, I intended to, but I wasn't going to put unnecessary pressure on myself. I felt I was fairly prepared for the realities of breastfeeding - like many people in the UK I'd completed the NCT course in preparation and thought I knew all I needed in terms of the technicalities, positions, and who to contact if I was having ...

My Home Office - A Room Tour

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It’s fair to say that our spare room has been somewhat neglected in our house decorations – initially it was going to be the nursery, but a nasty damp problem put pay to that plan. A vast amount of repointing, drying out, and replastering later, it was finally ready for decorating and to become my home office. I work from home and I wanted a space that was bright, airy, and inspirational to work in. Sian Elin The starting point for the décor was Sian Elin’s Tress Multi wallpaper – as soon as I saw it I knew it was the one. As far as I’m concerned, if you’re going for wallpaper rather than paint it should be bold and make a ...

23 Months

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23 months - just one month now until you'll be turning two! I know all parents say it, but where did that time go? It seems like just the other day we were bringing you home from the hospital but here you are rapidly growing up into a little man. Your kind side has really come out this month - you've started saving your last grape / piece of biscuit for me and then feeding me it. You even handed me have the little biscuit that came with my coffee at M&S the other day - normally it's swiped from under my nose before I can get a look in! Despite loving your food, you're clearly a much better sharer of it than ...

The Liebster Award

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I was really chuffed when I got a tweet the other day from Fi at Beauty Baby Me to say that she'd nominated me for the Liebster Award. I'd not heard of it before, so I had to look it up - it's an award passed from blogger to blogger as a way of recognising and supporting other blogs and bringing the spotlight to newer bloggers. And then the next day I had another tweet from Jemma at Anxious Mummy to say that she'd also nominated me! Thanks so much to both of you lovely ladies - I'm really chuffed that you thought of me and happy to take up the mantle! I've answered both sets of your questions, and just ...

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Makeup for M&S

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Marks and Spencer's long-term collaboration with model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has to be one of their most successful partnerships - I struggle to remember the last time I bought a bra that wasn't from her lingerie range! So as soon as I heard that Rosie was putting her name to a new makeup range for M&S I was excited to see what was on offer. A quick glance at the range didn't disappoint - the packaging is really beautiful, all so on trend in rose gold and very Charlotte Tilbury-esque. Admittedly, on closer inspection, it's clear that it doesn't feel quite a high-end as Charlotte Tilbury - the palettes feel that bit heavier, and the click mechanism on the palette isn't quite ...