Angela Langford Bloom & Glow Review + Giveaway

Angela Langford produces a range of natural & organic skincare products (www.angelalangford.com) all handmade in the UK using the highest quality natural, and where available, organic raw materials. Including her specially designed natural face oil, Bloom & Glow which I am featuring today.

Bloom & Glow is the bottle pictured below, it is packed with concentrated natural and organic raw materials. It contains high levels of essential fatty acids, vitamins & antioxidants which help improve skin's elasticity, restore radiance and give skin a gorgeous healthy glow. It also helps to balance, calm and revitalise skin. I've been using this every night just before bed, after I've removed my make up, and I feel like I've been waking up with better feeling skin ever since I've started using it.

It is quickly absorbed and doesn't make skin oily or greasy – on the contrary, it can really help balance skin. If you are pregnant and finding your skin is unbalanced, this is the oil for you!

Bloom & Glow is available here: (www.angelalangford.com) RRP £22.55 (25mls).

The lovely Angela Langford has very kindly teamed up with me to bring you, my lovely readers, a special giveaway! She's agreed to giveaway 3 of her Bloom & Glow bottles to the readers of Bump to Baby. 

So that means that 3 of you will win a bottle each. This is UK only and you should read my giveaway disclaimer before entering. Good luck :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Home Decor: Which Bed Frame Would you Choose?

As you all know, my family and I are moving house very soon. In fact, we're pretty sure that it's going to be towards the end of next month - How exciting! :) (It's taken long enough, haha). What's even more exciting is that we're pretty much replacing all of our furniture and purchasing brand new pieces. The reason behind this is that at the moment we have a lot of dark furniture - we we're heavily in to the black-brown decor theme when we moved into the house we currently live in. But now we're both really being drawn towards white coloured furniture. I think that reason for the sudden love of white, is the fresh and bright feel that it has to it. Along the fact that it doesn't show up as much dust, haha ;)

At the moment we have a dark brown faux leather the bed frame, which we will be selling to the lady that is buying our property with the view that we will be purchasing ourselves a gorgeous crisp white bed frame. For the bedroom we're more than likely going to be decorating it a white/duck egg blue/grey theme. I've put together a little bed frame inspiration board below featuring small double beds and such that I'm being drawn to. I think that my favourite of them all is number 1. I love the high back and the low front and for some reason, I feel that it's kind of got a beach feel to it, which I really like. 

| 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 |

I'd love to know which of these you would choose?

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Home Decor: It’s all about the finish - 6 subtle touches that can refresh a bathroom in a few minutes

-source

Your bathroom is likely to be one of the hardest working rooms in your house. In addition to seeing to all those essential functions we all must do on a regular basis, they’re also places for us to relax and unwind after a busy day.  

With so much regular use by every member of the family, bathrooms can quickly become tired, unloved and unwelcoming.  The great news is that it’s one of the easiest rooms of the house to refresh and update without spending a fortune or the need to completely redecorate.

Try one of these fantastic quick fixes to turn your bathroom from boring and drab to spa-like fab in less than a day:

Update Fixtures and Fittings

Bathroom fixtures and fittings such as towel rails, toilet roll holders and shelves can be purchased for very little money, but the difference replacing them can make is amazing. Go for sleek silver and glass fittings for a classic spa look or colourful fun and funky for a modern bathroom that would be great for children. Traditional wooden fittings look great in a shabby chic or vintage inspired bathroom.

Deep Clean

Never underestimate the power of a bit of good old fashioned elbow grease, and your bathroom will need this in bucket loads to help it look fresh and clean at all times.  Toilet bowls can quickly become stained, and taps, shower cubicles and shower heads watermarked or coated in lime scale.  

 There are numerous products available to help us tackle these stubborn areas, and with a little time and effort your bathroom will look as good as new in no time.

-source

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

Introducing a beautiful bathroom mirror will not only help to maximise the space and light in your room but it will also introduce an interesting feature into a relatively boring room.  Bathroom mirrors literally come in all shapes and sizes, and care should be taken to choose the right one for your room - too big and it could be overpowering, too small and it will look lost.  Try to find one that ties in with the overall ‘look’ of your room.

Smart Storage Solutions

Any bathroom, no matter what size, can always use more storage! There are some really clever bathroom solutions available that will help to maximise the space you have.  

These include:

Back of the door storage

Floating shelves

Wicker or rattan baskets, which are both attractive and useful

Tilt out bin for laundry

Under sink shelving units

Wonderful Window Dressings

Bathrooms obviously need a degree of privacy, but the trick is to find a solution that offers you this, as well as being stylish and in keeping with the ‘theme’ of your room.  You also want to encourage as much natural light into the room as possible, meaning that heavy drapes, curtains and blinds are usually out of the question.

Consider window treatments such as colonial style window shutters, or wooden blinds.  Both are easy to clean and look wonderful in any setting.

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Guest Post: Family Fun in Brighton

Brighton attracts 8 million visitors a year, lots of whom are families who return year after year. With so much for children of all ages to do here, it's hardly surprising that they do. With old favourites like Brighton Pier providing hours of fun for young and old, and newer attractions like the bowling alley, and SeaLife centre, there's lots here to keep children entertained come rain or shine. Some great options are:

Peter Pans Adventure Golf

An all time favourite at the seaside, adventure golf never fails to delight children of all ages. Just minutes from the marina, children will love trying out the 18 hole pitch and put course, hitting the balls through half pipe tunnels, slopes and drop throughs. Perhaps hold a competition to see who can get round the course first.

Spring Barn Farm

Situated in nearby Lewes, Spring Barn Farm is a lovely farm to visit with children. There's a great indoor play centre, toddlers soft play area, two huge jumping pillows, adventure playgrounds and tractor and trailer rides. You can of course also see the animals and have a cuddle with some of the smaller animals at the farm like chicks and bunnies. Throughout the day there's a long list of animal encounters, including feeding the pigs, egg collecting and pony grooming. There's a lovely farmhouse kitchen restaurant selling warming soups with crusty freshly baked bread and family favourites like lasagne and burgers. You'll also find delicious homemade cakes and biscuits for dessert. Perhaps pick up some supplies for lunch for the following day from the farm shop too. A great day out for animal lovers. 

Brighton Treasure Trail

Why not follow a treasure trail around Brighton? Starting at Brighton Pier you'll discover Brighton Seafront, the Artistic Quarter, the Fishing Museum, the relic of the West Pier and lots more. With children in mind the trail follows the story of Hairy John, an infamous pirate and smuggler. Your job is to find out where he's hidden his treasure. A very different way to explore the town.

King's Road Playground

There's a great playground on the seafront that is perfect for younger children (although older ones are still welcome). Here you’ll find lots of sandpits, a huge paddling pool, climbing frames and a kiosk for snacks - it's the perfect place to pull up a deckchair and relax while the children have fun running around and building sandcastles. 

Volks Electric Railway

Opened in 1883, this is the world's oldest operating electric railway. The railway runs for just over a mile along the seafront from the Aquarium near Brighton Pier to Black Rock near the marina, stopping off at Peter Pan's Playground and Adventure Golf along the way. Open between Easter and September it's a great way to get around between the most popular attractions on the seafront and is always a firm favourite with children. 

Book your break to Brighton with the children (some great deals on low cost family friendly accommodation can be found right here https://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/book/brighton-hotels) and enjoy a fun filled family holiday in one of the UK's most popular holiday resorts. 

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Guest Post: Gender Determination Ultrasound: Know Your Baby’s Gender

 

Discover your baby’s gender as early as 14 weeks gestation with a private gender scan. With 95% accuracy and 100% suspense, you won’t be able to wait. 

Waiting until that momentous day when your little miracles arrives, can seem like a long time to find out if you’re having a baby boy or girl. You want to start narrowing down names and buying gender-specific outfits; picking colour schemes for the nursery and purchasing pink or blue furniture. Having a baby is exciting in itself; do you really need the added anticipation of not knowing?

There’s the 20-week scan of course, otherwise known as the anomaly scan, but why wait until you’re halfway through your pregnancy to find out your baby’s gender when you can know as early as 14 weeks. A private gender scan allows you to know the gender of your unborn baby very early on in your pregnancy.

So what are the benefits of knowing your baby’s gender in advance?  How will knowing if you’re team pink or team blue prepare you for the arrival of your little one?

Feeding Goats in the Rain

We decided to visit a little farm recently called Bucks Goat Centre that's really close to where we live and the weather in true typical British style was absolutely crap! It did actually look like a lovely (perhaps a little cold, but still lovely) day with gorgeous blue skies and fluffy clouds when we left home but unfortunately as soon as got there the skies opened up on us..obviously. Apart from the rain and the mud (the type that's really thick and oozes!), oh and the broken umbrella, it was a lovely little experience. We're (as you'll all know by now) big animal lovers, so we love to take Ethan to places like the farm.  Here (taken when the rain decided to eventually stop) are a few photos from our day. :)

Our Daily/Nightly Routine

So far - we're not the type of parents who have really tried to enforce a routine with Ethan.  To be honest, I just had no idea what to expect when I was pregnant in regards to a routine. Would we have one? Or would we be okay without one? The answer is that Ethan, probably like a lot of other babies, got himself into his own routine and that's the way it's always stayed. We just work around it. It works for him and it works for us.  I'm always interested to hear about other babies and parents routines so I thought I would post ours for anyone who might be interested in what my days at home look like with a 10 month old. 

Enjoy a Winter Sport Holiday whilst you Work

Who's been enjoying watching the Winter Olympics? 

Well if you have, you may be feeling a little sad that the Winter Olympics are coming to an end on Sunday. There are people all around the world who may even begin to experience the Olympic Winter Blues.

To combat this an innovative app has been created that allows people to find remote working spaces and offices which allow individuals to do their day job and then enjoy an afternoon skiing or skating - pretty awesome if you ask me! If you're a remote worker then you'll know already that you have the amazing freedom to work anywhere you like, so why not take advantage of this and go somewhere you can enjoy a fun and thrilling winter sport?

This site has been created as a Google mash up that combines remote working locations and local ski and skate locations that enables you to enjoy the winter sports throughout the year. Olympic Hangovers will host the mash up, allowing people to enter in other locations and resorts they know that will allow people to enjoy the winter Olympics after it has ended. Allowing you to enjoy a winter sport holiday whilst working - Sounds pretty damn awesome, don't you think? :)

Find out more here: www.winterworking.co.uk

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Out for a Walk and some Lunch

Sundays are all about family fun - it's the day that we like to spend together. Usually we go out for the day or sometimes just for a few hours for lunch or dinner. We also enjoy taking a walk from time to time - we all get a bit of fresh air and the exercise does us good. Though, if I'm honest, we do tend to pretty much use the car most of the time these days for ease, comfort, warmth and of course to save on time. Precious, precious time. And trust me, these days it is just that - precious.

Today we decided to walk over to a lovely lakeside pub/restaurant that we're lucky enough to have close by to us. (Oh and I should say that if you read my post about our first youTube video were I said that I'd brought myself a fancy new coat, well, it's the coat above! hehe What do you think of it? I love it, though it's very easy to mark!) We took the Cosatto Giggle pushchair with us - it was the very first time we'd taken it out and I have to say I'm a little bit in love with it. We were very kindly sent it for the purpose of review, the lovely people over at Cosatto have very excitingly asked me to be one of their Brand Buddies. So there will be a full review of it coming up very shortly.

Todays post is yet another photo heavy one from me, because as you all know I do love taking photographs and once that DSLR is in my hand there's literally no stopping me! Because of course pictures act as memories and memories are priceless. 

Here are a few shots from today. :)

Helping himself to crisps!

'C'mon Mummy, let me have a snack'

No highchairs free - so a giant chair for a tiny baby!

My world.

Taking flying lessons with Daddy.

 

Home time.

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend?

Where do Broken Hearts go?

Have you ever suffered a broken heart? If so, you certainly aren’t the only one. It’s the subject of a million books, poems and love songs, and with a heart being broken every 17 minutes, it’s not hard to see why!

But is heartbreak really something that affects us physically? Or is it just an emotion that we allow ourselves to indulge in?

Heartbreak is something that’s touched so many of us and research shows that one broken heart can cause as much damage to our health as smoking for 2.5 years! Shocking isn't it?

Benenden health, has created a ‘Where do Broken Hearts Go’ infographic that shows how we’re affected by heartbreak, whilst revealing some shocking stats! (Take a look at it here!)

Win a Mummy + Me Pamper Kit worth £32.99 from Love Boo

 With Mothers Day coming next month, I thought it might be nice to talk to you about a brand that I'm loving at the moment called Love Boo. And kindly enough, they've agreed to team up with me on a giveaway for you guys, which was pretty awesome of them. :)

Love Boo are an award winning British brand, known for creating luxurious, paraben-free skin care loved by beauty editors, mothers and babies alike. Love Boo was born in 2008 by two ex-magazine editors Jennifer and Corinna who met at the start of their journalism careers. After falling pregnant at the same time with their second children, it was while on maternity leave that the idea for their natural skin care range was born. 

Three years later, they're still as excited and passionate about creating target specific skin care suitable for babies and women both pre and post pregnancy. They've worked really hard at building up a trusted reputation through the premium quality of their products and the level of customer care they offer, ensuring an all round positive and happy experience for their customers.

Through their website  customers can buy gorgeously designed products such as anti-stretchmark creams and oils, skincare goodies for Mum, baby hair care and skincare products and the most perfect gifts for Mum and Baby including this lovely Mummy and Me pamper kit priced at £32.99.

Which makes the perfect baby shower or Mothers Day present! For Mum, there's Bath Soak, great for soothing tired muscles and Miracle Oil, which leaves skin perfectly hydrated and helps prevent stretch marks. For Baby, there’s an all-in-one shampoo and body wash, soothing baby lotion and a nappy barrier cream, all made from the kindest, natural ingredients possible.

Mummy & Me Pamper Kit contains:

• Splendidly Soothing Bath Soak, 250ml
• Super Stretchy Miracle Oil, 100ml
• Very gentle Top-to-Toe Wash, 50ml
• Kind & Creamy Baby Lotion, 50ml
• Soothing Bottom Butter, 10g

If you'd like to get your hands on one then you can pick yours up here or alternatively enter my giveaway below using the rafflecopter form. Please note: This is UK only and you must read my giveaway disclaimer before entering (found here). Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Herbal Remedies

As many of you know, I suffer with scoliosis (aka curvature of the spine) and experience daily pain with it. I like to be open and honest about it on my blog because I know from people people I've spoken to over the Internet that my posts help to bring some comfort and support to others who also suffer from scoliosis pain. Today I've decided to talk about herbal remedies and explore whether or not they're worth looking into for different medical complaints. 

What are Herbal remedies and where can I get them from?

Herbal remedies are made from plant materials that are used to treat disease and help maintain good health. They have been used since the beginning of human history. There are different traditions that use plants as remedies. Herbal remedies (often referred to as herbal medicines) have been used in the UK for centuries. Today they are used mostly as a complementary treatment (given alongside conventional treatments). Herbal remedies can be brought from trusted websites such as napiers.net.

Are herbal remedies effective?

Results from studies show us that:

• St John's wort can alleviate depression

• echinacea may prevent or reduce the duration of a cold in adults

• an extract of hawthorn, used in addition to conventional treatments, can benefit people with chronic heart failure

• ginger can relieve the sensation of feeling sick and vomiting

• Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) and Salvia officinalis (sage) may improve mental ability in people with Alzheimer's disease

• horse chestnut seed extract can treat the symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency (where blood in your veins doesn't flow properly)

The scientific evidence for the use of herbal remedies is often conflicting and although the symptoms of some illnesses improve with some herbal remedies, the best evidence doesn’t prove that herbal remedies cure illnesses. (Information from Bupa)

Joints & Backache

For me, I'd be looking at herbal remedies to help my back pain and from researching Flexiherb and Napiers Joint Ability are two that stand out, with Flexiherb going to be my own personal choice I think. FlexiHerb is a traditional herbal medicinal product used for the relief of aches and pains in muscles and joints. It is traditionally used for: backache, rheumatic pain, muscular pain and other general aches and pains, so I think that's pretty much what I'm after.

I'm going to be ordering mine but whilst I wait for it arrive I'd love to know if any of you have tried any herbal remedies before? And if so - what did you think to them? :)

Please note: I am not qualified in this area. Information source is mostly from Bupa UK. Please speak to your own GP for further advice in this area.

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Guest Post: The astonishing things guide dogs are capable of

This article by Bolt Burdon Kemp is about guide dogs and their extraordinary skills. 

Guide dogs aren’t limited to only helping with mobility issues. They are also capable of doing much more than this.  Sufferers of traumatic brain injury (TBI for short) often have trouble dealing with everyday life after a distressing accident and may need some help to fully function again.  If you know someone with traumatic brain injury, you will have experienced that these people often have problems with their memory, and may not even remember who you are despite of the fact that you might be a friend or family member. 

Guide dogs can assist with tasks in everyday life. They can open doors, help you to unload the washing machine and much more. Seizure alert dogs have to be said to be able to sense an oncoming seizure. Although this is not scientifically proven, there have been many reports on how seizure alert dogs alert their owners about 10 minutes before a seizure happens so that they can find a comfortable spot during a seizure.  There are also reports on how dogs can improve the lives of diabetics, letting them know that low blood sugar is imminent. 

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/smerikal/6521500705/

A guide dog can also be a much needed friend after emotional trauma. Many sufferers from traumatic brain injury and other conditions may feel a bit lonely as well as isolated. A dog can alleviate the feeling of loneliness and offer comfort when a person is in stress. Spending time with a dog can often have a soothing effect and make people feel more relaxed. Guide dogs are often Golden Retrievers as a breed which are dogs that have a gentle personality that has a calming and relaxing influence on a person. 

A guide dog needs up to 10 years of training so a lot of time and effort is put into showing the dog tasks and also finding a suitable owner that is in need of a friend and assistance dog in their lives.  Charities train the dogs and help all the way through the process of matching them with their owner. 

Guide dogs are not just for people with impaired vision and hearing. In fact, even military veterans that have suffered distress in battle often get matched with dogs to help them overcome their traumas and successfully get used to everyday life again. 

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Amaya London Scented Candles

I, like a lot of other people, love burning candles. The warm glow, the cozy feel, the sweet scent. I usually have a candle (or two) burning every evening in our living room just to add a little touch of relaxation  when we sit down at the end of the day to eat dinner.

A few weeks ago QVC UK kindly sent me a trio pack of Amaya London candles for the purpose of review. Visually, both the packaging and the candles give off a contemporary feel. The set features three scented candles set into frosted glass holders embossed with the Amaya logo which will burn up to 45 hours each. I think they're ideal to use to fragrance your own home or even to give to someone as a gift. 

The candles:

• 1 x Pink Honeysuckle candle - a bright floral bouquet. Green top notes give a big first impression and herald a parade of flowers to follow; cool cyclamen, heady honeysuckle and finally spicy lily

• 1 x Lavender & Neroli candle - a fresh herbaceous lavender scent blends rosemary accords, jasmine, rose and thyme with a woody base and precious musks.

• 1 x Mandarin & Nutmeg candle - a citrus opening leads towards a heart of white peach, freesia and jasmine spiced with nutmeg before leading to a sweetened base of tonka bean, musk, cedar and vanilla.

They can be found here and are priced at £32.64. If you've ever owned these, please let me know your own thoughts. :)

My 1st Years Review + Giveaway

We've teamed up with the lovely people at My 1st Years to bring you this exciting review and giveaway. My 1st Years sell lots of lovely items for babies including baby shoes and lots of other personalised baby gifts, two of which you will see being reviewed by us here. We'll also be giving away one of their large personalised waffle teddy bears at the end of the review so don't forget to enter that to be in with a chance of winning. :)

10 Things a UK Holiday wouldn’t be Complete Without

The UK is full of some amazing places from world renowned attractions to secrets that only the locals know about. 

If you’re looking for a slightly cheaper holiday this year, or are keen to explore the land slightly closer to home more, we’ve compiled a list of 10 things that a UK holiday just wouldn’t be the same without. (And don’t worry; an ‘umbrella’ is not one of them!).

1. Seaside food

Us Brits are known for our love of fish and chips, ice cream and sticks of rock...and rightly so! No UK holiday would be the same without eating fish and chips out of newspaper on a bench and having a laugh, despite how cold it is! 

2. Souvenirs 

You don’t have to walk very far to come across something the kids will no doubt want to take home with them, from postcards to key rings or to things like shells from the beach. Armed with a camera, their no doubt best souvenirs will be their snaps and memories of their UK break. 

3. Visiting landmarks

The UK is home to an array of incredible landmarks, from natural phenomenons like the Cheddar Gorge in Somerset to man-made iconic attractions such as the Tower of London. 

4. A good walk

We’re blessed with beautiful countryside in all four countries in the UK, which all make for great walks. It’s so popular that you can even get walking maps and apps for every corner. Or, if you prefer, a walk along the promenade works just as well! 

5. A trip to the local

Brits love a good pint, so why not do a tour of the best UK pubs? It’s a great way to get chatting to the locals too for more tips. If you’d prefer a nice cuppa over a beer, you won’t have to look hard to find a nice cafe serving afternoon tea, too. 

6. Exploring the local heritage 

It’s incredible how different each country in the UK is, and even how much they differ from city to city. There’s plenty to do regardless of where you go. Be armed with a guidebook or ask at your hotel for some ideas and inspiration for great activities to keep you all busy. 

7. Some fun and excitement

If you like your holidays to have a bit more ‘wow’ factor, the UK certainly won’t disappoint on that front. With 29 theme parks in the UK, 50 zoos and an array of activities like ghost walks, wax works museums, adventure lands and science museums, there’s clearly something to amazing the whole family.

8. Engaging in seasonal festivities

With so many things going on in the UK at different times of years, there’s no doubt an even that you’re scheduling your holiday around. Things such as the Edinburgh Festival, Sound City Festival in Liverpool and Cowes Week attract thousands and thousands of visitors from across the globe each year. 

9. Experiencing off the beaten track entertainment

Why not explore other aspects of your chosen location by doing some research on off the beaten track activities and sites? Getting to know the locals is also a great way of learning about hidden gems that the guide book might not tell you about. 

10. Visiting historical sites of interest

The UK is home to world famous people and sites, and you can visit many historical sites of interest on your travels. For example, for the Harry Potter fans out there, there is a list of Harry Potter sites in the UK to visit which will be a truly magical experience. 

OXO Tot Review + Giveaway

I've reviewed for OXO a few times now. Whenever they pop an email in my inbox asking if I'd like to try something new and give feedback, I always say yes. This is because every single one of their products that I've come across has been absolutely brilliant. I think it's the quality and design of their products that has left me so impressed time and time again. 

OXO's product lines include:

• Cooking Tools
• Household Cleaning Tools
• Baby and Toddler Products
• Bath Cleaning Tools and Accessories

• Barware
• Garden Tools
• Storage and Organisation Products

• Waste Cans
• Lighting
• Office Products

And they have the following brand names:

    

This post, I'll be focusing on 3 of their products from their Tot range for babies..