Lovely Little Christmasey Items

1. Christmas Memories Yankee Candle ; Scentedcandleshop.com
2. Duracell Ultra Power Batteries ; Amazon.co.uk
3. Forever Friends Personalised Baubles ; Foreverfriendsonline.com
4. Personalised Christmas Sack ; GettingPersonal.co.uk
5. Christmas Robin Decoration ; countrybaskets.co.uk
6. Photo Bauble ; Photobox
7. Christmas Pinecone Hanging Decoration ; countrybaskets.co.uk
8. My First Christmas Personalised Bauble ; GettingPersonal.co.uk

I've been stocking up on lovely little pieces for Christmas already. As a lot of people do, I also love Christmas Yankee Candles, so far I have; Christmas Memories, Snow in Love and Lake Sunset all from the Scentedcandleshop.com. I've stocked up on batteries, especially as I now have a Son and his toys often require some sort of battery. The Ultra Powers from Duracell are really good. As this is Ethans first Christmas personalised baubles are a must, Foreverfriendsonline.com and  GettingPersonal.co.uk have some adorable ones to choose from for a great price. The photo bauble from Photobox caught my eye as it's rather unique, I'm going to get one with a photo of Ethan in, or perhaps a photo of us all. For adorable christmas decoration pieces, I'm turning to countrybaskets.co.uk, this is the first year that I've heard about them and after browsing through the products on their website I have that Christmas feeling. Really worth a look for unique pieces. I so wanted to get Ethan a personalised Santa sack, that he could use from year to year and this one from GettingPersonal.co.uk is the best I've ever seen, I couldn't be anymore pleased with it!

Have you brought any Christmas items yet?

Are your Pets a Part of Your Family?

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." ― Anatole France

I've never lived in a house without pets, and I hope that I never will. Ethan, Adam and I live with four cats right now, whose names are, Sammy, Sooty, Shadow (pictured below) and Charlie. More on them here. 

For me personally, as an animal lover, a house isn't a home without a pet. Our cats make the place lively - they make us laugh with all of the silly little things that they do, they keep me busy, clearing up after them when they bring in.. mud, leaves, mice.. (yeah, nobody said that it was easy) - they keep us warm and brighten our days when they curl up on our laps, rubbing their heads  towards ours. They mean they world to us. They are a part of our family. 

When I lived at home with my Mum, we very sadly lost far too many cats on the road. Though, we had one lucky little guy that survived after coming into contact with a vehicle. His name was Boots, he was brother to Bear and Son to Cocoa and he lost his leg after being hit by a car.

This cost my parents £350 and it's fair to say that after this they looked straight in to cat insurance. Boots went on to live many more years, he came home after the surgery very timid, not himself, but within weeks was back to the cheeky little guy that we all knew and loved. He'd chase birds, climb fences and even roof tops (yes, really, with three legs!) and he even intelligently managed to grow his tail over on the side that he'd lost his leg to help him balance.

Sadly, after surviving the collision and mastering his three legs instead of four, he's now no longer with us and neither is his Mum, Cocoa nor his Brother, Bear. But they live in our memories, and we really do have some fantastic memories of them.

They made my childhood what it was and they played a big part in helping to make me who I am today. 

Boots and his Brother Bear.

* I have linked to Argos in this post but in reality you are spoilt for choice if you are looking to insure a pet. There are other providers you can find from searching on Google or Yell so I recommend you get quotes from more than one and compare what is covered.

Blogger Business Cards

I'll be attending my first blogging event next year; Brit Mums Live and will be taking with me a handful or so business cards for my blog.

They'll be so many different faces there and it'll be impossible to remember everyone that I talk to or who talks to me so I think it'll be a great way to reconnect with fellow bloggers and PR's after I've spoken to them and the event is over.

I'll be searching online for mine and checking out sites like Pixel2Print. I know there are some great deals to be had online when buying business cards.

On the cards I'll be adding the most important details of all - my blog header and url. Then my contact information, including name and email address. Social media handles would be ideal if I can get them on and a photo of myself could be beneficial. 

I want my business cards to look clean and professional and most importantly reflect me and my blog. 

Birchbox // November

Before now, I had never relished in the utter excitement that is opening any sort of monthly beauty box full of surprise girly goodies. Birchbox, November, was my very first! And as it arrived at my front door, the excitement came, the same excitement that I would compare to waking up as a child on Christmas Day with a sack full of presents pressing down on your toes. 

You see, for me, the key thing with beauty boxes, be it Birchbox or Glossy Box or any sort of other box, is the element of surprise and the girly goodies tucked away inside. 

Inside of my treasure box were the fabulous products you see above, my favourites being the ivory lace highlighter pencil and the Laura Mercier body butter (which smells divine). The Birchbox pencil sharpener was a great addition for me personally as I was in need of a new one. The tea samples we're great, though I hadn't expected to find them in there as I had assumed it would consist purely of beauty related items. The perfume sample, English Laundry by Christopher Wicks is a really lovely scent, I was pleased to have the opportunity to own a little tester spray, as it's probably not something I would have ever got round to sampling.

Overall I'm really pleased with all of the items inside this months Birchbox. I'd probably have liked another full size item, but what I did get was a lot for a box that is £10 a month, considering the price of beauty these days. Am I beauty box fan? I'd have to say yes, the sheer excitement of what wonderful and interesting little goodies that I'll find within is what has me.  

Do you sign up to any beauty boxes? 

Lots of Love, 

Alex 

Tips for Throwing a Party With Friends Before the Christmas Rush Begins!

There's nothing like a good excuse to hang out with friends! And throwing a bit of a get together just before all of the Christmas rush begins is a brilliant excuse to gather all of your friends around you!

Schedule your party for around the start of the month, most people are paid at the end of the month so there'll be less excuses for people not to come, like not being able to afford 'that' dress or a couple of bottles for the party. Aiming for the start of the month also means that other peoples schedules are less likely to be already jammed up with other commitments.

Guest List, do you want a big party or a casual evening with friends? Make a guest list to help you figure this out. Then once you know who you want to come, figure out how you'll be inviting them. Private Facebook event for invited members only, text message, a phone call, word of mouth, formal invitation?

Sending Invites:  If you're opting to send invites then do so a few weeks in advance. Aside from the usual who, what, where and when, let guests know if you are serving food, whether they should bring a small gift to exchange at the party and whether they should dress up. I came across a nifty little Facebook app the other day by Fancy Dress Ball which enables you to plan an event, pick a theme, invite your friends and pick your outfits, it's pretty cool - definitely worth checking out, as you can organise all this in one place and stay better organised.

Menu: Decide on a menu. Cook? Cater? Order in? Finger food and snacks? Remember to get in some Holiday drinks to keep everyone in good spirit. For great party food ideas, take a look at some easy to make recipes like these red onion and brie tarts bbc.co.uk.

Decorations: With Christmas approaching, festive decorations are a must. Check out your local discount stores for some cheaper Christmas decs to give your party that festive feel.

Music and Games: Stuck for ideas for music? Why not have a browse of YouTube to find yourself some party music inspiration. Party games will give your party that 'fun' atmosphere, pick games that are easily set up and easy for all to understand. 

  

Get creative with your party and most importantly enjoy it! 

Will you be holding any festive parties?

Lots of Love, 

Alex

Christmas Gift Ideas: For Women // Part 1

Are you looking for some inspiration on what to get women or even ask for yourself this Christmas? I hope this helps..

HoMedics gel shiatsu 2in1 back + shoulder massager with technogel 

This is amazing. It's got a bit of a price tag at £249.99, but let me tell you from someone who has scoliosis and who suffers with back pain daily, that this is worth it. I was paying £35 just on seeing the chiropractor more often than I would like to add up to try and alleviate my pain and since owning this and before this a smaller massager from HoMedics, I've not been back because it keeps my pain at bay. The great thing about owning one of these, is that you can use it whenever you like and it fits on to most chairs. It's fantastic and would make the most amazing gift for back pain sufferers or for people who like to get massagers often.  It's available to buy at homedics.co.uk.

Naked Fake It Gotta Glow Set

Naked are one of those brands that you just know to trust, they produce great quality products and their products are also 100% cruelty free meaning they don't test on animals. This is the perfect treat for fake tan fans who are also animal lovers. You can pick this up for £14 at nakedbodycare.co.uk and whilst you're there this Naked Mama hand cream is SO worth a purchase as well, it's fast become my favourite ever hand cream!

£3.99 100ml

Front Cover Cosmetics Collections

I really like these, maybe it's a girl thing but I'd get pretty excited to receive one of these for Christmas. This particular one is Colours of the Catwalk - Metallics collection and is £19.50 from frontcovercosmetics.com. There's quite a lot in it for the price considering the price of make up these days.. I'm a big fan.

The Elchim 3900 Healthy Ionic

This is the hair dryer that's been endorsed by British hairdresser of the year Angelo Seminara (among others). It reduces drying time by 30% making it eco friendly and is said to make hair feel a lot more fuller. It comes in 7 shades including a special titanium edition. This would make an amazing gift for any girl/women and can be picked up at http://www.salonsecrets.co.uk/

Micro Pedi Gift Set

Who remembers my Emoji Micro Pedi review from earlier this year? I was so impressed with it and I regularly use it. Emoji the company who made it have now released a Micro Pedi gift set, it looks amazing! The Micro Pedi on it's own is just heaven - it's so relaxing, so the gift set would make a fantastic gift. It's priced at £39.99 currently and is available at micropedi.co.uk

U Little Beauty Enriching Night Cream

This is another cruelty free brand that's completely worth noting. This night cream from the brand is brilliant. Apply a small amount on your face and neck at night and wake up with softer skin, it's as simple as that. A firm favourite of mine! It's priced at £15.50 from mahinaturals.com.

Wilko Hourglass Luxury Hat Box Gift Set

I can't quite believe how much you get in this amazing gift set from Wilko, plus you get the really pretty hat box to store whatever you like in. I also can't quite believe the price.. it's £10 down from £20 at the moment. This is worth snapping up asap. It does currently say out of stock online, but it's worth popping into a local Wilko to see if you can get your hands on one of these.

Indulgence Hamper

Who knew that Moonpig did hampers? And such nice hampers! Their Indulgence Hamper is probably the nicest hamper ever. The quality of the products inside blew my mind. This may be one that you might consider for a couple as there is a male gift box inside. I cannot rate this high enough and the hamper even comes in a really fancy box too that already looks gift wrapped. This is beyond worth it! £40 from Moonpig.com

Skinbreeze Skincare Range Serums

These unique looking serums are fabulous. To use them you remove the rubber hygiene cap from the syringe tip and twist the syringe plunger to unlock. Then dispense onto your fingertips and apply over your entire face (for the rejuvenation serum, with the brightening serum apply to specific dull looking areas that you want to brighten). Doing this morning and evening. The brightening serum is ideal for those who want to reduce the formation of unwanted pigmentation and brown spots and the rejuvenation serum helps combat general signs of ageing. Skinbreeze also offer other products in their skincare range of which can be found at skinbreeze.co.uk

Personal Planner Review + Giveaway

I'm a bit over-excited about my new planner from personal-planner.co.uk..

I love how personal it is. I was able to customise the size, the front cover, the back cover, the inside cover and even the design within the planner itself. In fact, I was able to customise pretty much everything about it, including the ruler colour.

I opted for a pink month box with flying bird pattern to give it a feminine feel to it for me and then since it's purpose is as a blog planner for myself and my blog, which tends to focus towards my experiences of motherhood with my Son, I picked out the blue for the note section for the days.

I added a few of my own dates in such as birthdays and anniversaries (not pictured) and also added the 'to do this week' and 'list of the week' boxes you can just about see in the above photograph towards the bottom, to help me keep on track of things. 

There's a section where you get a choice of adding in things and I opted for maps of the world, just because it's something that interests me. But this can be personalised to taste. There's lots of room at the end of the planner for additional notes as I've opted for lots of lined pages, but again this can be personalised. There's also an overview for the following year and I forgot to mention that the planner can be started from any month you wish. 

It works in so many ways, for lots of different purposes and for people of all ages from in the work place, to a school/college/uni work planner to a blog planner. It''s one of those that because it can be tailored to preference it's suitable for anyone and everyone. 

Prices start from £14.95 for a personal planner and it was incredibly easy to personalise and order.

I'm giving one away, so if you'd like the chance to win one just enter via the rafflecopter form below. UK only I'm afraid and please do enter carefully because entries are moderated. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Moving Update: A step closer

Well, it looks as though right now we may be a step closer to moving. The bank/underwriters seem to have accepted our mortgage application. Up until now our offer had been accepted on the house we want to own and we'd passed our credit check. 

We have quite good credit because a good few years ago when we first looked into moving, we we're refused by one particular bank for having no credit. This basically meant that we'd never had to borrow any money and so we hadn't shown that we could pay back owed money. It seemed unfair, that just because we hadn't needed to borrow money we were being penalised. But we were advised to take out a credit card and just spend what we would normally spend on the bank card on that, ensuring we paid it off every month and never went over. This worked for us and helped build us up a good credit rating. I'd advise looking into credit cards only if you don't get tempted to over spend and know that you will pay it off on time. It wasn't a problem for us, so it worked, but that's my own personal experience. 

We we're contacted this morning to say that the bank are now going to be doing the valuation, so it's all looking quite positive. But I am one of those people who doesn't like to get too ahead of themselves, so I'm not telling myself that this is definitely going to happen for us. We just have to sit tight and wait. They say moving is one of the most stressful things that a person can do, well they're right. I just hope that all this nervousness and agonising over a yes or a no pays off. 

I think it's pretty obvious that moving means a lot to me, and it really does. But it won't be the end of the world if it doesn't happen right now, I'll just need to find a quality that doesn't appear to really exist very well within me; patience. 

You see it's not just about me, in fact it's not really about me at all. It's about Ethan, it's about giving him the best start in life, in a great little area with a lovely little school for him to go to, it would mean the world to me. It really would. 

Winter Walking With Your Baby

When you’re out and about with your baby, winter presents its own set of challenges. The low temperatures, dark nights and wet terrain make it a season many mothers take shelter from. While this may be tempting, it’s important that your child is getting fresh air every day, so that they can build their natural defences. 

A lot of babies love being taken out, and it’s an excellent opportunity for them to sleep in the stroller as you walk around.  Before you head out, here a few things you should consider:

Timing your walk

Babies who weigh less than 4Kg shouldn’t be taken outside if temperatures are lower than 15 degrees Celsius. For older babies, walks can last a little longer but it’s recommended that you walk at certain times of day. The best time to brave the outdoors is just before or after lunch when temperatures are at their highest. Of course, current weather conditions should always be taken into consideration – you don’t want to get stuck in the middle of a blizzard!

Winter isn’t the season to break new ground by challenging your walking ability. When you have your baby along for the ride, it’s important that your walks are short, sticking to well-maintained footpaths. 

Wrap up

Dressing appropriately for the weather is essential. Make sure that you and your baby are suitably wrapped up against the elements. A baby’s head is proportionately larger than an adult’s, so it’s crucial they wear a hat if you plan to take them outside. The head is also the one area they’re likely to lose the most heat from; combat this by wrapping them up in a coat that has a hood to layer over their hat. Not on the High Street has an adorable selection of hand-knit hats that are perfect for your baby’s noggin. Cover their hands with a pair of thick mittens and they’re about ready to go outdoors.

As for yourself, it’s recommended that you wear a pair of shoes that are durable and offer protection against the slippery terrain underfoot. The shallow heel of this leather Bellissimo boot from Pavers offers excellent stability in the winter weather. The knee-high length and leather material also make it a warm and water-resistant choice.

Transport

Once you and your child are ready to embark on your winter walk, you should make sure that they are comfortable in their pushchair. Take a flask of warm dilute squash with you and pull the cover of the baby stroller down if you are stopping for an extended period of time. If you’re in the market for a new pram, make sure you consult our buyers guide here!

When you do stop for a break, make sure it’s in a sheltered spot that’s out of the wind. Stopping off at a local pub before you make the return journey is an excellent way to catch your breath and warm your cheeks, before you make the trip home again.

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What my Dream Home Would Consist of...

Can you imagine being able to live in your dream home? What would the outside look like? What about the inside? Where would it be?..

Mine would be in the forest somewhere probably, or in the countryside, it doesn't matter, just in the middle of no-where please. Then there'd be glass, lots and lots and lots of glass. I'd have some express bi-folding doors to bring all of the light in and then in the summer all of the lovely summers air. They'd open up my home, making the outside feel part of it. And then in the winter, when the snow fell and it was too cold to go outside, well then I'd just sit, sit and gaze through the glass. Feeling like I was part of the magic, that I was outside enjoying the snow, but really I'd be inside with a mug of hot chocolate and warm toes. To me, that's what so great about having those kind of doors and big windows. That's why there'd be lots of glass.

I'd have a roaring fire and a cosy rug. My interior would be modern, yet also family friendly for my little guy. I'd have lots of white everywhere. White always looks so clean and airy. I'd like an indoor swimming pool and even a sauna but I wouldn't want to push my luck. The floors would be similar to the above picture but with huge rugs everywhere, to give that cosy appeal. The light fittings, sound system and the bathroom would be high-spec and the garden outside would be beautiful and would include an additional secret garden hidden away for Ethan (and I) to explore. 

What would your dream home consist of?

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Christmas Gift Ideas: For Kids & Teens

Stuck for ideas for kids and teens this Christmas? Here's some inspiration..

KIDS

 Stabilo Pens and Pencils

Worried about easily distracted children leaving pen lids off? There's no need for the worry with the Stabilo Power pens which have a 5 weeks cap off time without drying out! The Stabilo Woody 3-in-1's are a colouring pencil, watercolour and wax crayon in one! And the SMARTball 2.0 is a ball point pen with a built in stylus, perfect for gadget fans as it works on all touch-screen displays. Available from Rymans and all good stationers. 

Musical Tambourine (3 years+, RRP £9.99)

Decorated with Bee Smart’s signature star design, this durable wooden tambourine is great for discovering noise and rhythm. Packaged in a high quality wooden box, this is another ideal gift for budding young musicians this Christmas and matches the Bee Smart Musical Xylophone.

Juicy Lucy Pretty Party Set RRP £5 exclusive to Sainsbury's

This pretty girly girl party set is a perfect Christmas gift for girls aged from 4-7 years old, it's an exclusive to Sainsbury's so pop in and get yours as soon as you can!

This Minnie Mouse Polka Dot pamper bag (RRP £8) is another that is exclusive to Sainsbury's. Perfect for young girls, a classy bag full of some of Minnie's beauty essentials!

Forever Friends Silver Plated Best Friends Necklace Set £14.99 & Adorable Plush Bears

Each of these cute best friends silver plated necklaces from the Forever Friends collection feature a beautiful pink zirconia and between them have the words 'Forever' and 'Friends'. Available from Argos. Also, take a look at http://www.foreverfriends.co.uk for a beautiful collection of their adorable soft plush bears. 

TEENS

Michel Mercier Detangling Brush For Kids RRP £12.95

Say goodbye to tangled hair and knots with this fabulous detangling brush with it's flexible bristles which have been designed specifically to detangle knotted hair, available from Michel Mercier.

Young Driver driving lesson

Give your teen the chance to get motoring - the perfect gift for 11-17 year olds, Young Driver offers teenagers the chance to get behind the wheel of a real car with a qualified instructor before they’re legally allowed to take to the road. Not only will the recipient have great fun, but early driver training has also been proven to reduce the likelihood of them having an accident when they do go on to pass their test at 17 by more than a half.

You can buy a voucher for a 30 or 60 minute session with a choice of 30 venues to choose from across Great Britain. Available from www.youngdriver.eu 30 minute lesson voucher - £31.99 60 minute lesson voucher - £59.95 Vouchers are valid for nine months.

Wilko Mr. Classic Wrist Watch from Wilko £9 

This chunky wrist watch from the Mr. range has been classically designed for the suave understated gentleman. Perfect for brothers, nephews and the men in your life.

Nelsons Pure & Clear Range

Nelsons Pure & Clear anti-blemish care is an effective blend of natural plant extracts that can help cleanse away impurities for even-looking, radiant skin. A great gift idea for teen girls. Pick the range up online at Boots or Amazon.

Wilko Hourglass Nail Colour Set

Pick up this gorgeous set of 5 nail polishes from Wilko for £6 OR get 2 for £8 on assorted gifts - which, I think, is amazing value. These colours are fantastic and so on trend for this Winter!

I hope I've been able to inspire you with some great gift ideas for Kids and Teens this Christmas. Look out for more great gift guides for all the family coming soon! And you can check out the gift guides I've already put together by clicking on the 'Gift Guides' tab at the top of this page. 

What to Consider when Buying a Pram or Pushchair

I remember when it came to making a purchase of a pram for Ethan, that it wasn't as straight forward and fun as I'd wanted it to be. In all honestly, it was quite a bit stressful. I realised I had so many things to consider.. Did I want a travel system? Did I need all of the accessories if so? How much should I pay? So many questions whizzed around my mind. I settled in the end for the Graco Evo and it's been good to me. I'm happy with it and it's as lightweight and as easy as I needed it to be. But for new parents, or soon-to-be-parents, here's what you really need to consider when buying a pram or pushchair..

+ Newborns should really lie flat

This is to protect their backs. It's recommended that a pram for a newborn should consist of a lie-flat option. We actually, didn't purchase the carrycot for our travel system. Instead, we opted to use his newborn car seat which attached to the pram. This was fine, we were told, as long as he came out of it for a stretch every 2 hours, which he more than did. A lot of parents do this and the choice is yours, but the recommendations seem to sway towards a lie-flat option for the newborn stage. 

+ Thinking about strollers

Strollers are generally introduced around the 3-6 month stage. You may not need to purchase one. The pram that we have has a stroller type attachment that comes with it as standard. Ethan could last in it for a long while. The reasons, as I understand them to be, that people opt for strollers are usually because they are more lightweight, easier to fold, easier to get into a car boot and therefore better for travelling. We're actually due to review a stroller soon and will also be holding a giveaway for one, so  I will have more information on this soon!

+ What about the size?

The size of the pushchair matters. It matters that it fits in to your car boot and that there is still room for shopping to fit. It matters that you can easily get it in and out of your front door and up any steps and that there is somewhere for you to store it. Sizing also matters because it needs to be light enough for you to easily assemble and disassemble. I have a back problem, so this is something that I thought about very carefully. 

+ How much should I pay?

That's a difficult question to answer. Prams and pushchairs all vary in price. Most are a couple of hundred pounds. You need to pay what you 1. can afford and 2. what you feel comfortable in spending. I would recommend reading up on potential pushchairs before purchasing them. There are a few websites, like Mumsnet around where you can actually read different pram reviews and get other Mums opinions. Shop around for prams shops online who offer a great range of pushchairs, and also head over to eBay and check out local Facebook selling groups to see if you can get your hands on your desired pram any cheaper. 

Buying a pram, can at times be a little stressful, this is because you need to get it right for you and your baby. Take your time with it and enjoy testing out and playing with different types of prams before you make your final decision. :)