B U B B L E G A R M

Ramadan 2019

2019-05-06T18:53:00.001+01:00

Ramadan Mubarak...

This year I have kept the decor really simple, I have hung up the bags I talked about in my last post with a golden moon I made myself and I used 2 pieces of our Grimms natural wooden rainbow to represent the moon. I love the simplicity and still believe that less is more on all occasions.

I have added Ramadan, moon, star and cultural themed books to the kids book wall in their bedroom.

I can't resist a bit of a moon and star garland which I got from a random seller on ebay.

I added a chalk wall to change up seasonally and the kids have been going wild on it. I added some wooden stars I kept from a few years back which I generally use in Winter, but it's perfect for Ramadan.

I have simplified the reading nook under the closet to encourage more snuggles, reading and learning about the holy month.

I didn't go ahead with the wooden house as it just seemed too extra, so I went ahead with a "Dua bag" instead which is from Anthropologie's Christmas collection. I have folded up all the duas needed for Namaz + a few extra and placed them inside the bag to learn as we go along.

I hope you enjoyed seeing how I have placed a few Ramadan themed decor pieces in our humble home.

Wishing you all a blessed month inshAllah. xXx

Ramadan prep...

2019-05-03T21:08:00.000+01:00

Ramadan / Ramazan is getting closer, I have always done a countdown to Eid ever since Esra was tiny and have kept up the tradition. This year I wanted to share what I'm planning early incase anyone needs any last minute ideas and encouragement. It's honestly the best thing to see their excitement for the holy month and it makes me so happy to see their enthusiasm.

DIY String lights are from Tiger.

I am still doing just the one hanging advent style parcel to open each day for both kiddos to share.

The number cards are from Poundland and are located in the wedding section. The striped bags are sold as candy bags (5x7) which I purchased from eBay.

Inside the bags are a mixture of fun toys, useful items, treats, prompts and activity ideas. I found this the best way as too much of anything can be overwhelming. I have some fun stuff for Esra including a mermaid lip balm, cat bag, highlighters, unicorn sharpener, glow in the dark moon necklace and some henna. For Adem I have gone with hot wheel cars, a Schleich cheetah and motorbike stickers. I have added some sweet treats and balloons as they always go down well.
I have added prompts like; separate something for charity, buy or make something for the homeless, and help cook Iftar.
I have added activities such as; make some sparkly play doh, make cupcakes, make cookies, make a paper mache mosque, build a mosque from wooden blocks, learn about the phases of the moon, make moon decorations, make lanterns, make origami paper stars make Eid cards and decorate a cake for Eid.

(Zoom into the photo for a close up!)

I have added props which I will reuse each year, the cookie cutters and wooden cake topper were purchased from eBay. The silver stars were from NYE decor years ago which I have kept.

I have tried to mix it up so they get a variety of alternating toys and activities so they learn to share and to be grateful.

If you don't own a mini letter stamp set, (I have 3 sizes) you need to as they make beautiful personalised cards. The last parcel contains a card making kit I put together and I can't wait for both of them to get creative and make family and friends cards.

I will also be incorporating the wooden house I shared on IG, and will be turning it into a 'dua house' where a prayer or hadith will go in each slot, we will use this just before bedtime. I will share photos of that too once it's all complete.

That's all for now... I will check back in once everything is out and in its place inshallah.

xXx

Kids desk area...

2019-04-28T18:46:00.005+01:00

Happy Sunday, I have been neglecting my blog again but want to get back into the swing of things as I'm going to try and update regularly for Ramadan as I have SOOO much planned which I will be sharing.

I wanted to update the blog with Esra's desk area as it has proven to be a good move. I gave Esra my Ikea 'Norrasen' laptop table which has worked out to be a great compact kids desk. She uses the area daily for her artwork and homework. I was basically using it as a shelf so it didn't make sense for me to keep it.

I have added a piece of her art in a frame and some bunting I made for a cosy feel. These faux wood frames are from Poundland and they look so good! We also have the rainbow bedding from H&M that Esra chose herself. I have used a supposed side table (Ikea - Mastholmen) as a chair which in my opinion works really well. I love to add wicker wherever I can.

We also have some beloved Ostheimer bears which are placed out randomly around our home. Here we have the 3 little bears which are great for storytelling and just so pretty to look at.

I like to keep it simple and decorate with artwork we have made throughout each season... I love to repurpose scrap fabric for crafts.

Less is definitely always more. I will be sharing Adem's side of the room too, including their reading nook and just more interior posts in general.

Speak soon! xXx

My Minimised Makeup Collection...

2019-01-29T13:29:00.000+00:00

Happy Tuesday!

Wow, so this post has been a long time coming as it's really interesting for me personally and I'm sure for many others to see what I have narrowed my collection down to. It's a real mixture of brands and here is what I'm using at the moment.

I'm going to start off by saying I try to apply the "one in, one out" rule for my makeup too, so I don't buy a new mascara before the one I am using is finished which has helped decrease and minimise my collection greatly.

I can't say I have applied this to ALL areas as I still have quite a few lipsticks but it has still been decreased about 80%.

Mac Face & Body Foundation (Shade C3)- This is the only foundation I own and use as it has a gorgeous light coverage with an extremely natural finish as it's water based. Check my full review HERE! I don't wear foundation everyday so I don't need to own 2352 different versions.
Benefit Porefessional - A lovely primer that I sometimes use under the Mac Face & Body or on my lids for a longer lasting finish.
Mac Strobe Cream - I love this stuff for a dewy finish on my cheek bones for days I want to look super fresh.
Mac NC30 Studio Finish Concealer - This is my number 1, I use it everyday to cover any blemishes with a brush and sometimes even under the eyes warmed up in-between my fingers if I haven't had enough sleep. Review HERE!
Soap & Glory Kick Ass Concealer - This concealer has a lighter and darker shade which I mainly use under my eyes, sometimes I mix the colours or use as is depending on how tanned I am. I did a review on this before, check it HERE!
Benefit Hoola - I have the stick and powder version, the powder version being my favourite. This has always been a favourite and I purchased it to replace my Nars Casino but I think I prefer this more as it's cooler. Review HERE!
Mac Snowflushed Extra Dimension Skin Finish - I love this beautiful illuminating highlighter, and I'm sure it will last me ages, I don't use blush but this gives me the perfect amount of colour whilst highlighting.

Benefit Bad Gal Bang - I got this in a Xmas see and it's not my favourite, but once it runs out I will be repurchasing L'oreal Voluminous as it has always been my favourite.
Makeup Revolution Light Brown Eyebrow Pencil - I have repurchased this about 10x already, it's a lovely waxy pencil that is the best match for my brows and is under £3.
Benefit Gimme Brow - A great eyebrow gel that actually keeps them in place, to be honest though a bit of hairspray on a brush also does the trick.
Miss Sporty - Khol Kajal Deep brown - A lovely soft chunky eyeliner that is perfect to smudge in for a subtle everyday look.
Barry M Eye Define Liquid Liner - This is really nice long lasting true glossy black liquid eyeliner with a bendy but sharp applicator, I also like L'oreals version and buy which ever is on offer when I run out.
Rimmel Nude Eye Pencil + Sable Brown - Great on the water line, Rimmel pencils have always been great basics. (I can't believe I have stopped using black pencil on my waterline, I now find it too harsh.)
Nars Galapagos Eyeshadow - Yes, if I could only own 1 eyeshadow it would be this. It's a beautiful brown shade with specks of golden finely milled micro glitter that can be applied with a light or dark hand to create a more smoky finish.
Mac 'Ready to Party' Eyeshadow - I can't rave about this enough, it's what I use daily on the inner corners of my eyes.
Bourjois 01 & 03 - 01 is a lovely classic champagne gold shade suitable for all over the lid for a great everyday look. 03 is like a nude dusting of glitter to amp up the look. I enjoy both of these as they are easy to apply with my fingers.

Mac Lipsticks - Pure Zen, Sandy B, Ramblin' Rose, Creme Cup, Velvet Teddy, Freckletone, Ruby Woo & Diva. My all time favourite is 'Creme Cup' which I probably wear most days. I am so terribly disappointed that 'Hue' has been discontinued but I have found that L'oreal does a good dupe, however the shade number has rubbed off so I can't tell you what it is! I now only own 1 red shade (Ruby Woo) and one berry shade (Diva) in the Mac mini versions as I don't wear them that often.
Lipliners - Barry M (Minx) this is a great dupe for Mac 'Dervish' which I team with 'Creme Cup'. Miss Sporty 'Coffee', Collection 'Nude Pink' are both quite similar to Mac 'Spice'. Another favourite is Rimmel 'Addiction' which I have run out of. I sometimes also use Rimmel 'Hazel' brow pencil on my lips as it's similar to Mac 'Oak' when wearing 'Velvet Teddy'. I have Mac 'Cherry' for when I wear a red lip.
Lipgloss - Mac 'Oyster Girl' - I realised I'm not really a lipgloss person so reduced it to just the one, I use this over the top of nude lips for when I want glossy lips for more of an evening look

Wow, all done! I don't own a face powder as I never really used it. My skin isn't that oily for me to need it daily. I just pat my T-zone with some tissue if I need to blot and voila. I got rid of my palettes as I don't want too much choice and to stress about what shade to use, I also don't like the bulky packaging that comes with them. I use my bronzer in my crease, and don't really wear eyeshadow daily. However, I am thinking that I need Mac's 'Texture' eyeshadow a warm brown and maybe 'Carbon' for some black when I really want a smokey look, apart from that I don't think I am missing anything!

Are you surprised? What do you think is the perfect amount of makeup?

Current Favourites...

2019-01-22T15:28:00.001+00:00

At the moment it's really easy for me to choose my favourite things as luckily I have years of experience when it comes to actually knowing what I really like and use. I don't like to waste my money on hyped of products and neither should you.

Here are a few simple items I use in several ways...

Rosehip Oil - I removed the label because I hate labels - I use this once a week overnight on my face as a night time treatment, I use it on the ends of my hair after I wash it. I use it for dry skin, I use it for scars, I add a few drops to the bath, my foundation and even as a hand moisturiser. It's a MUST have beauty item and because of this I don't buy any targeted creams with "rose oil' in it as they only add about 1%, this way I can add it to any cream for extra vitamins.

Lush Tea Tree Water - I love this thing as a toner and generally just to freshen up! If I get stressed I literally use a spritz and it balances me out. It's also nice to use after applying makeup - personally I don't think anybody needs a fixing spray as this does the job just the same.

Lush Sugar Plum Fairy Lip Scrub - Ok so I only use this one way and that's as a lip scrub, but Esra loves, it so if you want to be a cool mum, get this for yourself and let your daughter use it too as it smells and tastes delicious!

Roberto Cavalli Eau De Parfum - This has been my most favourite scent since last Summer and I have already repurchased twice, I also have the 'Nero Assoluto' version which is in essence supposed to be the darker/night version but I like this one much more. It's such a sexy scent suitable for date nights and even for everyday wear. It has notes of pink pepper, orange blossom and tonka bean and the scent just drives me crazy!! I absolutely love it, give it a whiff if you can.

Mac 'Ready to Party' Eyeshadow - So if you know me, you know I used to own almost every Mac shadow, but now my collection literally consists of about 4 eyeshadows and this one is my favourite. I use it as a highlighter for the inner corners of my eyes and sometimes even on my cheekbones. I promise without it I look like I'm dying for a coffee, and as soon as I put it on I look wide awake. It's a pale lilac leaning towards the champagne side with an iridescent sheen with hints of violet, blue and pink. I love it because it brings out the green in my hazel eyes and works well with my olive (NC30) skin tone.

Here's a swatch and I believe it will suit any skin tone from extremely fair to dark as it can be layered and has a really smooth consistency. Just look...

What are your favourites at the moment?

Minimalist Makeup + Beauty Storage

2019-01-18T16:29:00.001+00:00

Guess what? I achieved my goal of having a small amount of makeup that I can transport with me anywhere, but it only took me FOREVER to get here and it's a pretty big deal for me as I used to have mountains of makeup! I can now officially take ALL my makeup with me if I need to without thinking, don't get it twisted I don't but I can if I want to!

My makeup only takes up 1 drawer space in these Ikea 'Moppe' drawers and a jar that is on top filled with brushes and some pencils. I put my makeup on standing usually in a rush with a toddler hanging off my leg so I don't need a chair, I love my mirror which is from Anthropologie.

I also keep day to day items on top in a gold tin box which came with one of my perfumes at easy reach and my jewellery is nicely displayed too, because I've realised that if I don't see it, I don't wear it. (I have however kept my more fancy 'date night' jewellery separate as I don't need to access them at all times, as lets face it date nights aren't as regular after 2 kiddos.) I have been storing my items this way for a few months now and I love that it's clutter free and looks very minimal.

I added little hooks to display my dainty necklaces and a couple of bamboo bowls to store some studs as they usually always get lost.

In the rest of the drawers are sunglasses, rings, hair ties, skin care and nail items.

I also use pretty things that bring me joy like coconut bowls to store my rings inside the drawers as it makes me happy and sparks joy. Yes, I am a huge Marie Kondo fan, so much so that I have even considered becoming a rep, because even when I walk into charity shops I want to help them organise and that isn't normal apparently lol...

Have you minimised your makeup and beauty items since the good ol' blogging days? I must say, it's much nicer and less overwhelming, I am going to come back with more minimalist spaces as I have some free time now that Adem is going to nursery a couple of days a week... Woohoo!

Speed Toy Review - Bright Starts Activity Balls

2017-06-06T20:45:00.003+01:00

I am always on the lookout for new engaging baby toys that can grow with the child, what mother isn't? Adem is now 9 months old and I purchased him these little sensory activity balls and they have gotten a lot of love over the past few days that I had to do a quick speed review on it.

I am not really one for bright plastic toys but these are a definite exception. Basically, there are 5 balls and each of them do different things. Most of these types of toys make different noises but these are a little bit different. Here is a quick description of what each ball does.

Rotating image that turns and spins as the ball is rotated with no sound.
A little animal in a rounded shape that makes a rattling noise when shaken inside the ball.
5 Separated sections plus the sides that make clicking sounds individually when turned. (The middle orange section is easy to turn with a baby's finger when pointed- Adem's fave!)
3 Separated sections plus the sides that make clicking sounds individually when turned.
Rainmaker with tiny beads

Adem LOVES these so much, I have popped them in a little bag and taken with me for picnics to the park, they are great for crawling as they roll around and the different sensory activities help develop fine motor skills at an early age. These are suitable for 6m plus as advised by the packet but they really are suitable from newborn onwards up until any age really. Even Esra enjoys playing with them, she rolls them around trying to connect one ball to the other by rolling. We have also been using it with a muffin tin combined with other spherical shapes for added fun.
(I purchased from eBay as it was £1 cheaper, but they are available on amazon for £7.99)

A big thumbs up from us!

What are some of your favourite toys for babies? I'm kind of toy crazy if you hadn't guessed but I do try to make ethical choices, purchase quite a few from charity shops and really try and stick to a 'one in one out rule' as I can't stand to be drowned in toys. I have really minimised the amount of toys we have and it just feels SO much better. *raises hands*

SNS Hamper / SNS Tots And Tykes Hamper

2017-06-05T20:35:00.000+01:00

When you get contacted and asked if you want a hamper for your littles, you say yes like me, particularly when you need some cheering up!

But, first things first this is NOT a sponsored post and I have not been paid to write this post & this post does not contain affiliate links. However, these items were kindly gifted in exchange for possible coverage on the blog. Now that that's out of the way I can continue!

I am sharing because I actually love some of the things that were sent and am pleased to to have been introduced to new innovative brands that I would have possibly never known about. I have also been using the items for over a week now so I can actually give honest mini reviews.

Off I go!

Pigeon Organics - Ahhhh my favourite from the bunch, a great ethical and organic brand that's made in the UK. They sent Esra a dress which she wore immediately, and another 3 times already. The beautiful cotton is great quality and soft to touch, the design and colours remind me a little of 'Joules' with its classic yet simple textile design. Adem's sleep suit is a gorgeous woodland print with asymmetric poppers, I love that you can fold the foot section over and have his feet sticking out as don't babies just seem to grow out of them in literally 2 weeks, this way they last so much longer. This is definitely a brand I will look into for the future, they sent a catalogue and I have my eye on a few things for Autumn.

Pigeon Organics Website Facebook Twitter I nstagram

Bundle And Bean Multi Use Footmuff - When I first saw this I couldn't figure out how it worked or if it would actually be of any use, but it's actually a genius product. It rolls up so small and has an adjustable velcro strap at the back so therefore fits on everything from a buggy to a car seat and apparently even a carrier. I basically chucked this under the buggy and of course the wind in London is aways in full swing and I took it out on a windy day instead of a blanket and I absolutely LOVE the velcro feature as it prevents it from flying away and keeps my little man nice and warm. I also have a footmuff but it's quite bulky and more suitable for Winter. This is perfect for Summer, rolls up nice and small and you can even use it to sit on at the park as an emergency play mat.
Priced at £29.99 it's not too bad and well worth the money. It's also available in many different designs, CLICK HERE to see more and quote 'BUBBLEGARM' for 15% off.

(FYI - The buggy I am using is the BabyZen YOYO which I absolutely LOVE and cannot recommend enough if you live in the city & if you have a small boot space in your car as this is one of the only buggy that folds up so small you are even allowed to take it on the airplane and put it in overhead cabin luggage, but that's a whole new post!)

Bundle And Bean Website Facebook Twitter Instagram

BABEASE - Who doesn't love pouch food for on the go? I do as they are so convenient for when you are in a panic and out and about. Babease specifically do vegetable based ones which I love as other brands do a mixture of meat and fruit and when you look at the ingredients it's like 2% of something rather than 50%. Adem is 9 months old now and eating mainly whatever I cook. However, if something I've made isn't suitable I will use a pouch, sometimes I have even used them as pasta sauce too. He really loved the quinoa + beetroot & pumpkin and pea flavour but wasn't too keen on the chickpea version. I will definitely be purchasing more of these just to have as backup, they are available in Tesco's and Boots and a few other places. If you go to their website you can fill in a form to get a free sample which is awesome.

Babease Website Facebook Twitter Instagram

FrezyDerm - I'm quite strict with sticking to using only the Weleda Calendula baby shampoo but, I tried this and it was actually really pleasant. The scent kind of reminded me of Mustela products, it caused no irritations or tears as it's PH level is 7.1 compatible and paraben free. It also has a nifty dispenser that I like & I can definitely see myself repurchasing. The magic spray has a nice scent but didn't do anything extra than a standard detangler. I prefer to use 'Nitty Gritty' on Esra's hair as its quite long and repels any nits she may attract from school (yes I am OCD and spray it a lot) and also does a good job of detangling.

FrezyDerm (pronounced free-zee-derm) Website Facebook Twitter Instagram

Get Fruity Bars - These are yummy oat bars that I have been keeping in my bag for when Esra or even me need a quick nutritious snack. They are gluten free and vegan. These make a nice change from the nut bars and contain only fruit, oats and virgin coconut oil. A perfect 'Elevenses' snack with coffee that you can share with your little one. Available from Waitrose, Tesco & Ocado - Use Code 'FRUITY17' for 20% discount on their website.

Get Fruity Bars Website Facebook Twitter Instagram

Start Rite - I love the T bar shoes from Start rite and will be getting Esra THESE in either navy or pink with the £50 voucher I was sent. I just haven't had a chance to go to a store and get them yet thanks to Ramadan and half term.

Start Rite Website Facebook Twitter Instagram

Bria Organics - 100% natural skin balm for eczema and dry skin conditions containing organic borage oil, rose hip oil, chickweed oil and beeswax. This was handmade by a mum in the UK and now sold worldwide. This is very handy for the handbag as I have it in a small size to soothe baby soft skin and even perfect for my dry mama chapped hands. I keep this in my bag and it's been perfect for Adem's dry cheeks and even my cuticles. A much nicer alternative than just using plain coconut oil which I normally do. Quote 'FREED3' for free delivery on their website.

Bria organics Website Facebook Twitter Instagram

Little Butterfly London - The packaging on this brand just speaks volumes, It has mint green wooden lids, glass jars, all organic and what more can I say... If ever a nappy change product needed to be on display, then this brand has it. They also won gold last year for 'The Green Parent' awards and I'm not at all surprised why. the nappy change cream has been an excellent barrier and prevented any sort of rash. I still like my Selena calendula nappy cream but this just gets top marks because of the packaging. The baby massage oil is so really lovely too and the sweet orange scent is really soothing. This brand has some lovely products and would make the perfect gift to someone who is expecting for their baby shower. Quote 'MUHSINE15LBL' for 15% off.

Little Butterfly London Website Facebook Twitter Instagram

Tiddlers And Nippers - Ok so I'm organised but not too sure about this. It's a notebook to track weaning, basically there are sections for EVERYTHING, what foods they ate, what times, amount of milk, what kind of milk etc... But, this isn't for me, but if you know somebody who is super organised and would even want to somehow track everything to do with weaning (possibly a first time parent) then this could be a great gift. But, sadly for me this is something I will pass on but it's a great quality heavy notebook if you are wondering. They also have other designs, so worth a look!

Tiddlers And Nippers Website Facebook Twitter Instagram

Wow, that was a lot! But I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing up the little reviews. It's always nice to receive a little hamper, and such a treat for a mama to be or a new mum.

What was your favourite from the bunch? Mine was the clothes by Pigeon Organics as well as the Bundle and Bean footmuff that I can't be without now.

Speak soon! XoXo

Ramadan Mubarak...

2017-06-01T00:39:00.000+01:00

I just wanted to hop on here and wish everyone celebrating Ramadan a blessed and beautiful month. I am a few days late in posting this but still wanted to share. Thank you to all those who commented on my IG post.

This year I managed to whip up a countdown to Eid, with a Ramadan advent calendar. I based this years parcels around kindness and giving as opposed to little gifts that would be unappreciated the next day.

If you didn't do one this year, fear not, because you can still do one for the last 10 days, which is actually a great and more minimal idea which I will probably do next year.

I filled the parcels up with either craft activity instructions including things like make a sadaka/charity jar, decorate a lantern, make a mosque etc, plus colouring pages which you can easily find via google if you type 'Ramadan printables', things to do; like help around the house or other people like separate some toys and clothes for charity, practice Arabic letters, pray with mummy and more things on that level. I also added a little teeny tiny chocolate egg to each parcel which has been much appreciated!

Here was the first parcel, and Esra got to work straight away. She loves waking up in the morning and tears open a bag right away! :)

I printed off the numbers from @sweetfajr website on IG.

I have also made a little reading nook with all Ramadan books which I love adding to each year.

Here's the mosque we made last year, and I'm not sure if we can make a better one, but right now it takes pride of place inside our fireplace. I can't wait to make another one that Adem can participate in inshallah.

I already have 99% of Eid gifts sorted for Esra and Adem, as I have got so much planning to do for our holiday I needed to get those done and dusted. So, a pat on the back for me lol.

How have you prepared for Ramadan this year?

Fast foreward 7 months - Let's talk teethers!

2017-04-07T09:04:00.002+01:00

Ok, so technically a little more than 7 months, but little man aka 'Adam Laith' is 7 months old now, so let's go with that. He was born on the 24th of August and is the cutest, happiest and sweetest little boy ever!!!

I'm not going to get into his birth story as it's all a blur, and I sadly won't be sharing photos of Adem or Esra anymore as that's what we decided upon as a family. I already announced that a while ago on Instagram, but thought I would mention it on here too, incase anyone had missed it. I also wanted to thank you all for the continued support regarding the subject, I definitely think it was the correct thing to do and feel really good about it.

Furthermore, I've been through some tough stuff lately, like losing my grandfather and both kiddos getting the chicken pox. But, life goes on which seems cruel but it has to be that way. My family are still in Turkey and it just seems like everyone is still on holiday and everything feels surreal. I genuinely didn't think I would get back to blogging as I had kind of given up on it due to how different it is now than when I first started. But, I have decided not to let that bother me and just do my own thing and stay true to myself always. I'm going to be using blogging as a sort of therapeutic output hopefully my positive energy will shine through.

Onto the teething part. Well, Mr Adem has 2 teeth at the bottom and he has been quite miserable with it which has the complete opposite of Esra who wasn't greatly affected by it at all. I am using teething gels and powders which work a treat too but, theres something about little toys that do the trick. I have basically purchased almost every single teether on the market and wanted to share my views and favourites as it seems I have become quite addicted to buying toys. But, not just anything as I'm really quite fussy, which can sometimes get the better of me. I have really tried to be conscious of the materials used, the toxicity and safety of the products. Here's what I am sharing today....

1) Manhattan Toys - Skwish in natural £12.50 I love this teether which is also a great grasping toy. Esra used to have the multicoloured version and loved it just as much too. This was basically the first toy that Adem held, he likes to wave it around and really teethe on the big beads. I love that it's wooden and the beads make a rattling sound providing a great sensory and tactile experience. The only downside is, it's technically better from 6m+ as when he was smaller I found that the beads sort of poked him in the eye as he was trying to chew on the beads at a lower level. However it's perfect for him now at 7 months.

2) Green Toys - Twist Teether £9.99 - This teether again is similar to the squish in size but a lot more loud as it's made from 100% recycled plastic milk bottles and makes a cool clacking sound when shaken. The plastic is completely non toxic and safe to chew on and made in the USA. It's one of the only brands of plastic toys which I truly trust. (We also have some speed boats and stacking cups for the bath too.) Adem absolutely loves the hard plastic and just loves chewing on the different shapes. I love that the colours on this are pastel and not so in your face like most baby toys. This is one of the toys that I usually attach to the buggy to take along with us as it really keeps him entertained and his gums busy and soothed.

3) Banana Teether - This is a classic and definitely worth the hype. We started using this when Adem was about 12 weeks old to just massage his gums which calmed him down instantly. It's made from a bpa free silicone which for some reason I'm not 100% comfortable with but he really enjoys it as it gives him so much relief.

4) PolkaDottKids - Silicone and Wooden Teethers - These are fantastic handmade in the UK teethers that aren't only beautiful to look at but work really well as easing pain too. Adem loves the simplicity of the designs and can chew for ages on just the simple wooden rings. A definite must have for the handbag.

5) Sophie the Giraffe £14.99 - This was Esra's absolute favourite and the only teether I needed with her. But, for some reason Sophie isn't quite cutting it with lil man. He holds it for about 5 seconds then chews on it for 2 seconds and throws it away. "Mama buy me more" is the message he conveys. So thumbs down for Sophie this time around. Side note, seen as though Adem wasn't enjoying it I decided to cut it open to see if there was any mould inside and I'm happy to report that there wasn't which is a huge relief as this was Esra's that I kept so it's over 5 years old, Eeeek!

6) Calmies Ball £14.99 - I only purchased this teether last week as teething and chicken pox is possibly one of the worst combos ever. I thought it would really help calm him down true to it's 'calmies' name and make him forget about his itching and focus on his gums. It's a great tactile ball that squashes flat and smells absolutely divine like vanilla cakes. It's completely eco friendly and non toxic made from rubber and I love it. I have even caught my husband playing around with it as it's a great sensory toy and absolutely perfect to teethe on. It's a great size that fits nicely in his hands and lovely and soft for him to chew on. This is possibly my favourite of them all as it can be used just as a simple ball to roll around to enable crawling and even as a bath toy.

Gotta get my moneys worth obviously/

7) Matchstick Monkey (emerald green) £12.99 I only got this yesterday and it's very similar to the banana teether but the handles are smaller and thinner making it easier to hold. It's basically the exact same thing in the shape of a monkey and you definitely don't need both but I couldn't resist the lovely colour. This is quite a new toy on the market and at first I wasn't sure on the quality of it as I thought it had a strong chemical scent but my husband assured me that there wasn't. On the brighter side, Adem giggles when he sees the monkeys face so thats a major positive in my book.

8) Grimms Toys Wooden Fish £15 - I'm not gonna lie, when I was buying this one from a local toy boutique I thought about how cool it looked and that I simply had to have it for my boy. I thought I was buying it more for me than him but, I was wrong. Adem, completely and utterly loves this solid wooden fish. He is forever chewing on the tail and manipulating it in his hand. It's really easy for him to hold and has the softest rattle inside which is really quiet. I am so happy he loves it as I felt kind of guilty for buying him something that didn't look like much fun. It's so easy to fall into the trap of buying typical bright, flashing and loud baby items but the simplest of things make babies happy and it's important not to overwhelm them. I LOVE the brand 'Grimms' and they make some lovely toys and I have quite a few on wish lists for Eid and Birthdays.

9) Hevea Dummy - This soother is pretty big, I tried to give it to Adem when he was a newborn but it just looked so wrong so I saved it and thought he could use it as a teether when he was a little older. It's made from completely natural safe rubber and it really helps calm him down if he's upset, he just puts it in and out of his mouth and moves it around his gums whilst biting and chewing on it.

10) Nuby 'Spin n Teethe' Triangle Teether £3.79 - This teether is a firm favourite which I attach to his jumperoo and it's constantly in his mouth making him smile. We also had the bugaloop but the bright colours and shiny plastic just scares me, he also didn't enjoy that one as much as this. I know I'm slightly extra in that department but, I can't help it. This triangle version is one that I will sometimes throw in my bag too as I don't mind if it gets lost as it was quite cheap, because lets face it 'baby brain' with 2 kids is a million times worse lol and I am bound to forget stuff whilst out and about. Confession, I already lost a few things - oh dear

11) Wooden Egg -Tiger Stores £2 - This isn't technically a teether but I go to Tiger a LOT and when I saw this it reminded me of the Montessori egg and cup toy and that was that. Adem LOVES this SO much. He's constantly trying to roll it around and bite at it with his teeth. The shape and size is perfect and I love the fact that it's not a conventional teether and made from solid wood. They have loads in stores at the moment because of easter. Try one, with your baby and if it fails just use it for display or crafting, but I guarantee it will become a favourite. :)

Wow it seems I have a lot to say and missed the sound of typing, well done if you read up to here!

In conclusion we basically LOVE most of these teethers but Adem also loves to chew on his soft toys and even his sleeve. My top 5 would be the Calmies ball, Green Toys teether, the banana, Grimms wooden fish and the egg and a bonus would be the polka dott teethers as they are so damn beautiful!

What are your favourite teething toys? Well, not you personally but your bubbas :)

Disclaimer: No affiliate links, not paid, not sponsored, I purchased everything with my own money apart from the polkadott teethers which were gifted. Honest opinion as ALWAYS!

30 Weeks Pregnant...

2016-06-08T23:49:00.003+01:00

Wow 30 weeks already, only 10 weeks until little mans due date. Time is honestly flying by this time and I honestly feel a little overwhelmed. I'm definitely trying to be a lot more minimalistic with this baby and I still haven't personally crocheted a blanket for him yet, but my mums made 2 already. I love this yellow popcorn stitch one! We have got the cot and moses basket, I just need bedding and a stand for the basket, also some newborn clothes, carseat........ ok I still need a lot. But, it's ok I have time, I think.... :)

I have started collecting a few bits for my hospital bag, and decided to purchase the Weleda Baby Calendula shampoo & body wash as it had so many great reviews on Amazon. I used Burts Bees with Esra which was lovely but this time around I wanted something different and fresh.

A few days after I was contacted randomly by the PR for Weleda with a press release for the shampoo & body wash I had just purchased asking if I wanted a sample, I explained I already purchased it and they sent me a few other baby bits instead which was lovely. I have used the face cream on Esra as she complained here cheeks were itchy and it was so lovely and rich with a smooth texture that absorbed well. I feel like I'm going to get hooked on this brand as I have tried a few bits from their skincare range for me in the past and it was really nourishing, I'm loving the more natural brands as always. I will keep you updated with which products are true hits.

Here's the bump at 30 weeks, 7 & a half months pregnant.

Some people tell me I'm tiny, some people tell me I'm huge, I think I'm pretty average for 30 weeks, little man was measuring well at previous midwife appointment, but she did say that he wasn't very big as I complained that I felt huge :) I have no idea how much weight I have gained as I haven't weighed myself, I will once I see some scales though as I'm just curious. To be fair, I'm not fussed as I know I will lose it once he's out. (positive thinking) Overall I am feeling good, similar to Esra's pregnancy but this guy is definitely more active, pushing, kicking and doing all sorts of sports in there. He is also giving me pressure down below when I walk for long periods of time and has been giving me so much heartburn.

The most comfortable thing for me to wear are these jeggings which sit under the belly and not even maternity, I have also purchased a couple of leggings in the next size up and have managed to avoid purchasing maternity clothes. Although I did get a couple of really cheap maternity tops from New Look in the sale. I refuse to wear maternity everything and look frumpy! I have 1 pair of jean shorts from H & M maternity that I kept from Esra's pregnancy and it still fits so perfect for the warm weather if the sun stays out in London. Furthermore, my belly button is still an 'innie' but I'm sure within the next few weeks I will upgrade to being an 'outie'. No major cravings, apart from 'Lilt' soft drink which is so random for me.

Hello little one, apparently baby is the size of a melon.

I can't wait to meet you little one! :) Esra, is still so excited, I have been keeping her involved with everything and she honestly can't wait to meet her little brother.

I am a bit scared, ok very scared of the whole birthing process as I know what to expect. But, I have been a bit more sensible and done a bit more research this time for the healing process. With Esra, I had a natural water birth which was beautiful but traumatic for me as it happened so fast. I'm aiming for the same natural water birth this time round too, but hoping I can be be a lot calmer inshallah (wishful thinking) I have to make sure I pack some candles and lavender essential oil, ok haha that was a joke, "aint nobody got time for that", but in theory that would be nice! :)

Here are a few things I have been using and a few things I will be using soon.....

Earth Mama Angel Baby - Postpartum Bath Herbs

These are like a sitz bath, they are packaged like little tea bags and you let them sit in the bath which helps the healing process. This also had excellent reviews so I had to purchase. There are also so many other products from this line but I think I will try to make my own concoctions of some of them.

Neal's Yard - Mothers Balm

I'm still using this luxurious balm on my belly day and night, and still no stretch marks touch wood.

Reusable Bamboo Cotton Breast Pads

A much more eco friendly option, as the disposable ones are just wasted. Although I'm sure I will keep some of those on hand too as these aren't waterproof. I purchased these from ebay for really cheap and they are excellent quality.

Tums - Antacid Tablets

I have these whenever I have heartburn and they help so much, they taste a lot nicer than gaviscon too.

Which Hazel

I have been using this as a toner on my skin, but I purchased to make postpartum healing pads, I saw on youtube how you can mix aloe vera gel and which hazel and apply onto a sanitary towel, place in the fridge and it's instant relief for where mama needs it most.

Weleda - Stretch Mark Massage Oil

This has been so lovely, I have been alternating using this with the Neal's Yard mothers balm, I really didn't think I would love anything as equally but I do. this oil is so nourishing, rich and soothing and if there's any itch, it's sure to be gone as it contains jojoba, sweet almond & wheat germ oil and arnica. I would highly recommend, I was sent this too which is perfect as I would never of purchased it myself as I felt that nothing would compare to the mothers balm. Also, a note to other mamas to be, don't bother with bio oil, it's one of the most terrible oils I have tried, not nourishing at all, if your really stuck, then use olive or coconut oil from your kitchen and you will benefit 10X more. I also purchased a tub of the cocoa butter stretch mark balm, and it was a sorry excuse for a balm, seriously a waste of money.

Weleda - Perenium Massage Oil

This is supposed to be applied to your lady part in preparation for birth, I purchased after researching for anything that prevented tearing. TMI, I know but there is stuff out there peeps.

Weleda - Nursing Oil

This is to be applied to the nipple and breast area to keep it moist and stimulate and prepare for milk flow, this was sent to me also. With Esra I used Lansinoh, but I like that this is all natural and an easily absorbed oil, will see how it goes.

Ok, now I have to go pee! *typical pregnancy talk*

Speak soon x X x

Lush Haul...

2016-03-01T12:44:00.001+00:00

Who can resist the scent of a Lush store?

Definitely, not me... particularly when its a new mahoosive store in Oxford Street. I walked straight in and here's what I walked out with...

I actually went in only to buy a cleanser and maybe 1 bath bomb...

'Angels on bare skin' is a lovely soothing cleanser made from ground almonds and lavender oil. I used to use this in the past quite regularly but somehow it slipped my routine. However, pregnancy skin is a lot more sensitive so I thought the introduction of this back into my life will be just the 'pick me up' my skin needs.

This cleanser is soothing and calming and great for dry skin and eczema too, as you can see it is a solid crumbly product and you pinch a bit off and put it in the middle of your palm, add water and lather onto your skin. It smells of lavender so it's very comforting and a great product to use right before bed.

I picked up 2 bubble bars, 1 bath bomb and I was given an extra bubble bar as a random act of kindness, the SA was so sweet and she even recognised me and told me she read my blog, shout out to you Zahra, thank you so much.

The Comforter (Bubble Bar) This is an all time favourite, I always buy one with every Lush purchase as you don't have to use it all in one go. I crumble bits off and make it last as long as possible (About 4 baths worth). It smells AMAZING with a fresh fruity scent with notes of blackcurrant and bergamot. Furthermore, it produces lots of lovely bubbles and pink bath water, what more does one want?

UltraViolet (Bubble Bar) This is from the new easter range and I purchased for the same reason as mentioned above, its a nice hefty large chunk and can be used for several baths when crumbled off. It looks amazing, like a dark rainbow and the scent is divine!! It contains Rosewood and jasmine so it's high in floral notes and produces lovely violet bath water and just sounds really relaxing. I think this one is for me! :)

Fizzbanger (Bath Bomb) This is bright yellow and blue on the inside so changes colour as it fizzes away. Esra's favourite colour is green at the moment, so the fact that her bath water would eventually turn green, sold me on this one. It smells like citrus lemons and cinnamon and I'm sure Esra will have a lot of fun tonight. :)

Down The Rabbit Hole (Bubble bar) This is part of their easter range, it looks like a candy swirl and smells really sweet with notes of orange, I am sure Esra will love this! (This was the one that was given to me as a random act of kindness.)

I wish you could smell everything... Mmmmmmmm

They had so many cool bath bombs and bubble bars, I basically want everything! I haven't been to Lush in AGES and really feel like I'm having withdrawal symptoms lol. I am planning to go back and get some shampoo and conditioner bars for my hair, I also want 'Big" shampoo and 'Curly Wurly' for Esra plus a whole lot more!

What are your favourites from Lush right now? There was so many cool Easter items, and I really wish I got the bunch of carrots, check them out if you haven't already.

On another note, I have all the ingredients to make my own bath bombs, so might try and make a few with Esra, that will be way more economic but probably won't look as good!

15 Weeks Pregnant...

2016-02-25T12:11:00.001+00:00

Good afternoon and Happy Thursday, I'm back as you can see however, not quick enough like I promised for January. As you can see from the title of the post, I got pregnant :) therefore I had the worst morning sickness literally as soon as I found out and EVERYTHING was on hold as survival mode kicked in.

We found out I was pregnant just before my birthday which is Christmas day, it was a lovely surprise even though it was still planned, it honestly feels crazy to be pregnant with baby no2 as it feels like yesterday I was pregnant with Esra. Baby's due date is 16th of August 2016. Esra is 4 but will be almost 5 when baby arrives, I think it's a nice age gap, I could no way have dealt with 2 toddlers and am glad we waited a little longer.

I had the worst nausea which lasted 24 hours of the day, I was vomiting and not eating much and to top it off I got a cold in Decemeber followed by the worst Flu in the beginning of February. My nausea is almost gone now that I'm in the 2nd trimester but it does make an appearance now and then particularly in the evenings. However, I am feeling SO much better and feel back to my normal self, i can eat and enjoy my food and I am not sleeping as much as I did in the 1st trimester as I feel like my energy is coming back as the placenta kicks in.

Here's baby bump at 15 weeks and 2 days, I'm smaller than I expected to be at this stage but I was quite tiny with Esra too and didn't start showing properly until much later. I did however expect to be massive at this stage as it's the 2nd pregnancy, but I'm sure I will eat my words and be huge towards the end lol.

I'm roughly the same size I was with Esra, I did stop working out whilst I was really sick but ready to get back into it now, I want a healthy fit pregnancy and hopefully I keep it up, I damn well will keep it up! :) I'm just praying for an easy smooth pregnancy inshallah...

Lets talk Lotions and Potions...

My hair has been quite dry and I have been enjoying using the Organix 'Argan oil of Morocco' range, I LOVE the serum on damp hair which definitely adds moisture to my locks. The shampoo and conditioner is great too however I want to try the 'Coconut Milk' range next.

With regards to my growing belly and breast area I have been using the Melvita 'Extraordinary oil' and a mixture of the Neals Yard 'Mothers Balm'. The Melvita oil absorbs instantly as it has a silky fine texture and is a "dry" oil which is great when you don't want to transfer oil to your clothes.

However my absolute favourite for my belly is the 'Mothers Balm'. I used 3 tubs of these for my pregnancy with Esra, I always apply this at night and sometimes in the morning. I got absolutely no stretch marks on my belly and I'm hoping that I don't get any this time round too. It's not a big deal if I do, but anything to prevent it.

The 'Mothers Balm' has a really thick balmy texture and is quite greasy when applied, it does absorb but it still leaves a film on the skin which I love as it's really soothing and feels moisturised at all times. 10/10 from me!!

The 13 week scan was truly amazing, as soon as I saw baby moving and heard the heart beating my heart melted. I was so anxious but everything seemed good at this stage thank god. I do panic when I don't have nausea and we didn't buy a doppler as I just feel like it will drive me mad. My next scan is on the 30th of March where we will find out the gender. I honestly don't mind what baby is as long as they are healthy inshallah. A girl would be lovely so that they can be sisters but a boy would be so lovely too, it will be nice to have one of each. I am happy with whatever god has planned for us, I just can't wait to find out so I can go shopping! :)

Any gender guesses?

Esra thinks baby is a boy and is really happy to be a big sister. We had to tell her right away as she kept jumping on me and asking me to pick her up and swing her around, so we had to tell her and she has handled it really well. She just wants to shop for baby too, she keeps picking up baby clothes and asking if we can buy them. She is SO excited and asks everyday if baby is coming out today.

I am kind of in nesting mode already, obviously baby will sleep in our room with a moses basket for a while and then move into Esra's room. I'm trying to think of how I can make space for the both of them as Esra's room is quite small, but I can do it especially with my decluttering approach. It will be a challenge and I can't wait to see what we end up with.

I haven't done any shopping for baby yet and don't really plan to until after the gender scan, but I'm sure I will be back to making some crochet goodies for baby in no time. I do however plan to be as minimalistic with this baby as much as possible. I feel much more ready and know what is really needed and what isn't. Wish me luck!

So if you have read all the way to the end, well done :) and speak soon! x X x

Why hello there....

2015-12-25T19:33:00.000+00:00

Firstly, Merry Christmas to all those celebrating today. It's been exactly 1 whole year since I did the last blog post and this post is long overdue but here it is....

Yup, it's my birthday again, another year older and wiser. I must admit, it's been nice having a break from picking up my camera, checking emails and updating but it feels good to be typing away right now too.

As most of you know from Instagram, Esra unfortunately got Mastoiditis this time last year and required emergency surgery. I have deleted most of her photos and everything mentioning the hard times as I just can't bare to look at them. For those of you who don't know, 'mastoiditis' happens when a middle ear infection gets untreated, or in our case misdiagnosed several times. We went to A&E and the GP several times but kept getting assured it was a viral infection and that it would heal on it's own. Mastoiditis is very serious as the mastoid bone is the bone that supports the brain and if the infection had leaked through it could have caused major problems. The surgery itself was stressful enough as the incision they made was right near the facial nerve. All my hairs are shivering and standing up thinking about it! Luckily, we got the surgery on time and my little pumpkin has made a very good recovery and is left unaffected thankfully. Anyway, I am so thankful that we overcame that stage in our life and have closed that chapter. I take everyday as a blessing and like to enjoy every moment. I just felt like I needed to update on here to let those know who didn't know.

This year I got Esra a little pink "winter" tree that we popped into our fireplace, initially the decor was minimal but she kept coming home with little pine cones in her pocket along with metallic string and clay ornaments from nursery so basically everything got shoved onto it all artistically organised by Esra herself lol, it's so nice to see them smile.

I want to start blogging again, but only once or twice a week about things that interest me and things I enjoy doing. I'm still liking the not checking emails every 2 seconds idea, and will keep that up for as long as I can. Blogging has changed SO much since I last started and it feels like everyone is a pro at it now, but my viewpoint has changed so much in that past year. I still love my makeup and beauty but I'm OK with not having an entire room full of products, I like to use natural products where possible instead of chemical based and like to take a more eco friendly option where I can too. My aim has always been to own decent sized makeup bag full of makeup and hopefully I will achieve that very soon as I have already downsized so much.

I'm on a journey to become a "minimalist" and I feel like I'm almost there, but I need a final declutter in some key zones and plan on sharing some of my journey with you.

Thank you all for your patience and hope you understand my lack of posts, hope you have all had a fab day and now enjoying some Christmas films in cosy pj's.

I'm already planning my next post, speak soon... x X x

The big 3 0 & Merry Christmas

2014-12-25T13:14:00.001+00:00

It's official... I am now 30 and so here's to the 30's being the best decade of my life ever!! I just want to express how truly grateful I am for everything I have in my life, I'm humbled by your comments on Instagram everyday and I pray I can do better and be a better person everyday. Thank you all for your amazing support, I truly appreciate it.

How amazing does this 'Flake' cake look, I feel huge just staring at it but feel even better when it's in my belly of course! How can one person love chocolate so much!? A massive thank you to my husband who knows me too well! :)

Merry Christmas to all of you who are celebrating today, I hope you are all having an amazing day with your loved ones.

XoXo

Smashbox Double Exposure Palette + Swatches

2014-12-23T14:55:00.000+00:00

Time for some palette drooling!

Introducing 'Double Exposure' the new palette by Smashbox including 14 shades that transform slightly differently when wet enabling you to have 28 shades. The palette contains shimmer, satin & matte shades that either turn metallic, sparkly, get deeper or intensify when wet. It's housed in a sturdy cardboard palette that comes with a mirrored magnetic closure lid that is practical and hard to miss.

The palette is the ultimate neutral lovers dream, I definitely prefer it to the UD Naked palettes and that's quite a strong statement as the Naked palettes are beautiful too.

I love that the palette contains cool and warm tones to create any type of neutral look, it has light shades suitable for daytime use and deeper darker shades perfect to create dramatic looks for the evening. It has every single type of shade you need including highlight, crease and depth enhancing shades.

It also includes a double ended brush, personally this isn't enough for me to create an eye look t, but I like the short side for upper and lower lash line, and the angled fluffy side to deepen the outer V. However, the quality of the brush is no doubt amazing as I have been using Smashbox brushes for years with no problems and they still look brand new. Plus, it's always a handy bonus when a palette contains a brush.

Here's what they look like swatched...

Some of the colours like 'Quartz' and 'Flushed' have a lovely duo chrome finish with hints of gold which look really pretty. The texture is smooth and pigmented, the matte shades are a little dusty but all you have to do is tap off the excess like with most matte shades. I really can not fault the palette.

You can see that the shade 'Copper' turns completely metallic and looks so beautiful and warm, 'Fig' & 'Espresso' get deeper perfect to intensify any look. The shade 'Midnight' really reminds me of 'Contrast' from Mac, you can see it adds a little sparkle and same with the shade 'Temper' too.

I love this palette and think it's truly beautiful. I can see me recreating lot of lovely looks with it and I think I will be using this for New years eve along with my birthday too.

Price £37
See more info HERE.

What are your thoughts on the 'Double Exposure' palette?

(Disclaier - PR sample sent for consideration for review, I was not paid for this post and all opinions are my honest views as always - no affiliate links.)

Nail Care Must Haves

2014-12-22T09:00:00.000+00:00

Happy Monday! *pass over the coffee please*

I love taking care of my nails but being a busy mama they get neglected more often than they should. However, recently my nails are looking in tip top shape and I couldn't be happier. My problem was that my nails would grow and then chip or break really easily and I would have to start all over again. I also couldn't decide on a nail shape and I have finally agreed that almond nails suit my nail bed much nicer than square. I have been doing this routine for a few months now and everything is working great. Here's what my nails can't live without;

OPI Nail Envy - This is an amazing nail strengthener that I apply it to my nails whenever I remember, it's recommended to apply a layer everyday for a few days and then remove, I do that sometimes too but I also use it as a top or base coat. This has definitely made a difference, my nails are no longer weak and instead a lot stronger with less bending as it contains protein and calcium to strengthen the nails. I sometimes also put a couple of coats on and use it like a clear polish which looks pretty too.

Sally Hansen Gel Cuticle Remover - I apply this to the cuticles, let it sit for a bit and then wipe off and push my cuticles away, it seriously does the trick and I prefer this method to cutting them which I used to do. I do this about every 3 - 4 weeks.

Cuticle Pusher- I use this to push my cuticles back and away after I have used the cuticle remover. It's so cheap and no nail care routine is complete without it.

Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File - This is the mother of all nail files, I can not ever imagine using anything else, it's made a huge difference to the smoothness of the edges and strength of my nails. It's washable and reusable and you will never need another one unless you break it. If you are not using a glass nail file and your nails are breaking, that is probably a key factor as to the weakness and quality of the nail. This file is so smooth and a pleasure to use and I highly recommend it.

Burts Bee's Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream - This smells amazing and is also so nourishing and beneficial at the same time, it's perfect for dry cracked cuticles and will have them back to normal in no time as it contains 100% natural sweet almond and lemon oils. (At the moment you can get little duo sets which contain the cuticle cream and lip balm which is worth checking out, see HERE)

Nails coated with Nail Envy.

What are your nail care favourites?

Current Favourites...

2014-12-21T12:45:00.000+00:00

Happy Sunday, I hope you are all well and enjoying the festivities of this busy month! I wanted to share a few of my beauty favourites today with mini reviews that are putting a smile on my face.

These are a few of my favourite things....

Garnier Ambre Solaire Self Tanning Lotion

I have been using this stuff for years, I generally use it for my face at night when I want to wake up with a natural tanned glow, I sometimes mix it in with my moisturiser for a more subtle effect. I mainly use it every 2-3 days to keep me looking fresh.

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation

I have this in the shade 'beige' which is a tiny bit light for me, but I actually prefer it that way as I use it as a concealer for under my eyes and to highlight my cheekbones and centre of my face, this way I get a light coverage with a natural look that lasts all day without me wearing foundation all over my face.

Beauty Blender

I love this for natural looks, it makes any foundation & concealer apply seamlessly and beautifully. I love it with the foundation I mentioned above, I wet the sponge and squeeze out the excess and dot the foundation under my eyes and on the centre parts of my face and blend out with the beauty blender using bouncing motions, it makes any foundation feel lighter and sit better on the skin.

Body Shop Mini Strawberry Hand Cream

I love that the body shop is doing mini hand cream versions of their amazing body butters, the strawberry one just smells so delicious I want to slather it all over my dry winter hands. I have the coconut one too which smells equally as delicious.

Essie 'A Cut Above' Nailpolish

I love this rose gold glitter topped over a nude polish, it's perfect for the festive season and definitely a winner for new years eve nails. I shared an image on IG but you can see it pictured below too.

Yves Rocher Flower Party By Night Perfume

This smells sweet, fruity and floral at the same time with a hint of spice and liquorish, it contains almond essential oil, star anise and bourbon vanilla extracts. It's a nice evening scent and I have been loving using it this past month as it's a sophisticated kind of sweet. It's also small which is perfect for the handbag or travel.

What are you loving lately?

(Disclaimer - The perfume was sent for consideration for review, I wasn't paid for this post and this post contains no affiliate links. I was also sent other items from the brand but only included the perfume as it was the only one I liked. Honest opinion as ALWAYS!)

Toys with a Conscience..

2014-12-19T17:23:00.000+00:00

Good afternoon and hello! I have been MIA recently as Esra has been ill with viral infections for several weeks now so everything has gone off track. And, just as she was getting better she now has another ear infection and all my attention has been turned to her for major cuddles as you can imagine. She's doing a little better today and I'm praying it will continue that way....

This morning we had a squishy delivery from Ikea which included this rather big brown bear who has taken over the cuddling role!

Ikea has launched 'Soft Toys for Education' campaign where proceeds from soft toy sales help fund to save the children and UNICEF's educational projects around the world. For every soft toy, book and children's game sold between 26 Oct - 27 Dec, Ikea Foundation will donate €1 to children's education through UNICEF and Save the Children. That's seriously amazing as there are so many fun & beautiful toys to choose from at Ikea which literally sell themselves, so the fact that part of the money is going to a good cause is truly wonderful.

I don't always run campaigns on this blog as you know, but since this one was about children it hits home and any way which we can help any child around the world is simply beautiful. I wanted to get the post up ASAP and maybe help you with a Christmas gift if you are stuck for ideas whilst helping a good cause.

The big brown bear pictured is the Vandring Bjorn and priced at £13.

It's the perfect gift to pair with a bear themed book, our current favourites are 'I want my hat back' by Jon Klassen and 'We're going on a bear hunt' by Michael Rosen. It will also work great with 'Brown bear, brown bear what do you see' by Eric Carle.

It's also the perfect tea party guest.....

Next on our wish list is this adorable little sausage dog (Smaslug) and deer (Sotnos) I can't wait to pick them up for Esra on our next visit to Ikea.

What are your favourite soft toys from Ikea?

(Disclaimer - The bear was a PR sample sent for consideration for review, I was not paid for this post, there are no affiliate links and this is an honest post as always.)

Earring Storage + Date Night

2014-12-13T11:02:00.000+00:00

Happy Saturday and good morning to you, the reason for my lack of posts the past week is simply organising and cleaning. I have been separating, donating and reorganising like crazy. I have really put pressure on myself to get the whole place sorted before the new year, I need to chill. Anyway, today I am showing you how I store my earrings.

I have so many earrings, many of which I have purged. I can't truly appreciate them unless they are stored properly. I have used various storage options including hanging them around vases, on burlap, inside a multi pocket hanger and many more and none of them have been as effective as I would have liked. I have finally found the simplest easiest solution that is working great for me and they are tiny grip seal bags, it was either this or ice cube containers and I knew that would look pretty but wouldn't work. I love having a rummage and this way nothing gets tangled or lost, it's a nice organised type of chaos I can handle.

I have stashed them all inside one of the Ikea Alex unit drawers alongside other bits of jewellery and it's working a treat. I really love that unit, it houses EVERYTHING!

And hello from me, so last night was date night and it seems I can't whip out my SLR before we leave and opt for phone photos instead, which is why I hardly share date night photos anymore but I seriously need to, maybe that can be my new years resolution.

I got the prettiest dress from H&M, I couldn't see it on the website but it's new as I haven't seen it in store before, it was a steal at £24.99. It's fitted at the waist and then has floaty with slightly shorter sides with quite a bit of fabric which is unusual for the high street. I wore it with black tights, block heel boots and a cropped leather jacket with a cream crochet shawl. I went for red on the lips using Illamasqua 'Box' and Mac 'Impassioned' lipstick to get the perfect raspberry shade tone to match my Barry M Raspberry nails. I LOVE the 'Mary-Lou' highlighter as you can tell I lathered it on lol, but it's just so pretty! I teamed it with bare eyes with just a little eyeliner, mascara and a low up-do. It's a perfect festive date night look and I can't wait to wear the dress again!

Wishing you all a lovely weekend! x X x

Mary-Lou Manizer...

2014-12-06T11:18:00.003+00:00

Welcome to my life Mary-Lou, you are possibly the best highlighter ever.

If you are looking for the perfect highlighter to sparkle this festive season, then look no further.

Hope you are having a lovely Saturday morning, last night I came home to a nice little parcel and of course I had to blog about it first thing this morning. I have seen quite a few 'The Balm' products floating about the bloghesphere but never actually tried anything. Laura from 'Buy Now Blog Later' raved about this product and did a little giveaway on IG too as it was THAT good, so of course I immediately ordered one for myself and here I am.

The packaging is beautifully retro and sweet...

It comes in a nice little mirror compact and holds 8.5g of product.

It's a candlelit champagne shade with a beautiful shimmer without any glitter.

It's highly pigmented with one swipe....

And now let the angels sing... It's so beautiful once applied on the skin, it adds a candlelit glowing shimmer without any sparkle and has a beautiful velvet like texture that applies smoothly without being chalky or powdery. It's such a gorgeous warm champagne/vanilla shade and perfect to highlight the tops of the cheekbones or even use as an eyeshadow. I can see it working with many skin tones as it's quite light for fair skin tones yet warm enough for darker skin tones to not turn ashy. They also do several other shades too which may be great for deeper skin tones. This brand is certainly worth checking out and definitely worth the hype, and the price point is good value too, so no complaining from me. Next one my list, is the Bahama mama bronzer.

And here's a comparison with some of the other highlighters I own, as you can see it's definitely the one that stands out the most.

Price £16 - Available from many online UK websites including Feel Unique, Asos, Superdug and many more. Give google a go if you are interested for the cheapest price. I ordered mine from Amazon via Beauty B a third party seller.

Do you own Mary-Lou? If not, what's your favourite highlighter?

Top 10 NUDE Lipsticks

2014-12-04T09:00:00.000+00:00

Nude lips are my ultimate favourite... My signature look without a doubt is a subtle smokey eye with winged liner and nude lips! I am a nude lipstick addict, and can spot a very special one in an instant. I have owned them all throughout the years from high end to drugstore and these are the ones that have lasted and are my current favourites.

If you would like some nostalgia you can see my 'Top 10 Nude Lip Products' here from 2009 and I am happy to say that a couple have made it through to this post too.

Now time for some swooning....

All of these photos of nude lipsticks just makes me so incredibly happy, you just can't go wrong with them. You can see how greatly loved these lipsticks are just by looking at the condition of them, some lipstick shopping is on the cards I think.

And in an almost lightest to darkest order....

MAC Myth - A light neutral almost matte nude, the lightest nude I own. This is way too light for me to wear on it's own, so I will either lightly dab it on, use it to tone down other lipsticks or use in the centre of the lips for a slight 3D effect. This would be great on fair skin tones if you want to wear it full on.
MAC Creme D'Nude - A creamy muted peachy beige nude that goes on ever so smoothly due to it's creme sheen finish. It's the perfect night time nude to match ANY smokey eye.
RIMMEL Kate 113 - A pigmented peach nude which compliments smokey brown eyes beautifully, it has an almost matte finish and I love the warmth it adds.
MAC Shy Girl - A light peachy coral beige, this one is also a creme sheen so it has a slight gloss to it, it's perfect for day or night time looks.
MAC Pure Zen - This is a slightly frosted warm nude which has a subtle sheen when applied and it's one of my ultimate favourites, it's extremely similar to 'Hue' in finish and they are definitely close sisters but this is a tad warmer. Definitely a special lipstick!
MAC Hue - A soft milky pale pink nude, this is my most favourite lipstick ever! I wear it in the evening mostly and is one I always count on and that always works well with me. It has a slightly cool undertone which I love and it's one I will forever keep on repurchasing. I have been known to wear it in the day too, and it's always in my bag.
YSL Rouge Volupte 2/Sensual Silk -A creamy pigmented light neutral nude, this always looks polished and adds a beautiful shine with no need for gloss, it smells and feels amazing. This one is definitely for special occasions and night outs.
MAC Creme Cup - A milky light pink nude that has a cool blue undertone. This is my ultimate daytime nude to pair with a clean winged flick. This is always in my bag too!
MAC Honeylove - A light beige rose toned nude with a matte finish, this is the perfect daytime nude that looks like your natural lip colour, perfect for olive skin tones.
RIMMEL Kate 03 - A dark warm nude that looks like 'my lips but better' shade, I love this for everyday particularly because it's almost matte yet still hydrating. This will look amazing on deeper skin tones too.

Honourable mention goes to Rimmel 'Nude Delight' a warm toned peachy neutral nude perfect for daytime which has a subtle sheen. I couldn't include it as I have run out but still feel it deserved a mention.

FYI: The lipliners I use on rotation with these shades are, Mac Oak, Mac Dervish, L'oreal Cappuccino & L'oreal Honey.

What are your favourite nude lipsticks? Next on my list is Mac Velvet Teddy!

Hello December // Chit Chat

2014-12-01T09:47:00.000+00:00

Good morning and can you believe it's already December?! December is my birthday month so I am always excited and now on the hunt for the perfect dress. I am determined to go into January more organised and better than any year before, if I can get over my cold that is. *blows nose*

Image Source

This December I will be decluttering my home in a bid to go into the new year fresh instead of making resolutions and to forget about them 2 weeks later. I will be re editing my wardrobe and trying to live on less with a more minimalist style if that is even possible. I have spent the last couple of months getting rid of "stuff" slowly in every room and now December is the time to go full force. Power to me!

This year I turn 30!!! Wow it's crazy because when I was younger I always thought 30 was really old, but actually now I see it's just the start of being a woman and appreciating everything. The past 10 years have been so amazing and rewarding, I graduated from university, got married, started a blog, had a baby and here I am. I now want to do something more challenging, whether that be doing a masters or getting back into designing. I am excited to see what the next decade will unravel for me.

I aim to be more organised with my blog and am now scheduling posts beforehand to help me with time management. So get requesting your favourite kind of posts. I will also be trying to squeeze in more FOTD posts like I used to as the world needs to get in on the secrets of this mamas daily makeup. However, I feel that blog posts are not enough... I have been playing with the idea of YouTube as that is the next step forward to explain myself more clearly, it's one thing reading something and the next visually seeing them. But, I can't seem to bite the bullet and do it. Wish me luck and watch this space!!

Christmas? OK so we don't celebrate Christmas or have a tree and it's been quite hard trying to explain that to a 3 year old. But, she knows we have 2 Eids and that they are very special, she knows that different religions have different celebrations. It's my birthday on Christmas day so we still have something to celebrate. Furthermore, we will be celebrating winter and doing lots of winter crafts & activities to enjoy the jolly season. I did consider getting a tiny pink tree for her room but fear that is the wrong way forward. I may do new year gifts but am undecided, any help on this subject is appreciated. However, I LOVE Christmas, I love looking at other peoples decorations and getting cozy at home watching cheesy Xmas movies!

Wishing you all a blessed and jolly December.... And I hope we get some snow this year!! x X x

OPI - Next stop the bikini zone...

2014-11-27T18:13:00.000+00:00

Next stop the bikini zone? I have no idea why this nail polish is named this because to me it doesn't relate to summer or bikinis and is not suited for the Brazil range that launched this summer. Instead, it screams... Festive sparkles, cool lavender skies and snowflakes perfect for winter!

The shade is a shimmering cool toned lilac with a golden opalescence finish, it also looks like a silver taupe in certain lights with a lilac undertone. The extremely finely milled glitter transfers as a beautiful shimmer that catches the eye and light, perfect for the festive season. This polish in my opinion will work great with a little black dress, smokey eye and nude lips!

I am in love with this shade but the only downside is that it's quite sheer so you need 3 coats for it to look opaque, however the good side is that it dries really quickly and lasts a long time on the nails without chipping due to the shimmer which in essence strengthens the nails. Furthermore, it also wipes off easily as the glitter is so finely milled, so no elbow grease needed.

A big thumbs up from me for this shade, I have worn it for my past 2 manicures so I had to share!

What nail shades are you loving lately?

Esra's Play Kitchen...

2014-11-25T08:30:00.000+00:00

Good morning world!

I love being a mama to my little princess and creating magical spaces for her to let her imagination flow. In the past I attempted to make a DIY play kitchen from 2 side cabinets which was actually successful but it didn't quite cut it, so when we moved we purchased the Ikea 'Duktig' kitchen for Esra which I obviously hacked. It's currently on sale for £49 so look no further if you are looking for Xmas gifts for toddlers.

Today I will share details of everything you have ever wanted to know about Esra's play kitchen.

Be warned this is a long picture heavy post!

The first thing I did to the kitchen was paint nearly every surface white apart from the worktop and under part of the top shelf. I just used a plain white wood paint from Wickes. I changed the handles with white ones from Ikea's kitchen section as I wasn't too keen on the plastic grey ones. I also covered the microwave door with a scrap of fabric then finally settled on this 'Belle & Boo' gift wrap which suits the feel of the kitchen more, we don't use it as a microwave but more for storage. I LOVE how it turned out and so does Esra, she loves pointing to Boo everyday.

I painted the outside and inside of the oven door with black chalkboard paint so that Esra can draw whatever she is cooking or use it like a menu which has been pretty useful, and I also write messages for her to see when she wakes up which is pretty cute. Of course the kitchen has a lot of crochet bits I made including this hand towel.

I also placed the rustic shelf upside down to create a more earthy feel which adds to the charm. On the shelf are:

Honeybake 'Le Toy Van' pink wooden mixer I got on sale from John Lewis
Vintage Teapot I painted mint green which was a gift from my grandmother
Sasse & Belle wooden toaster from Amazon

Le Toy Van Bakers basket I purchased from Igloo toy shop for half price as the box was torn, gotta love bargains! (seriously how adorable is the pretzel and wooden crate it comes in?!)

Mint green wooden mixing bowl from Boots.

Honeybake 'Le Toy Van' birthday cake from Amazon.

Voila cake & biscuit stand from Amazon

Belle & Boo Tea set (The cups are hanging on the hooks, the teapot is on the tray)

The white tub that stores the wooden utensils is from Ikea too.

Yep we have quite a bit of stuff, but it's hard not to! We also have:

Melissa & Doug Pizza party set from Amazon
ELC pink kettle from Mothercare which makes a boiling & pouring sounds.
Asda pink wooden pot and pan set with mitten
Learning Resources Super sorting pie from Amazon (The best sorting toy ever!)
Learning Resources Counting cookies from Amazon. (Amazing for learning numbers)
Plan Toys wooden Tea set with red detailing from Amazon
Plan toys wooden food & beverage set from Amazon
Plastic Cupcakes from Poundland - Also the shaker pictured with pink pom poms and pink beads is from pound land too but I did a DIY on it obviously and glued it shut.
Mini yellow clock is from Accessorize
Magic feeding bottles are from Amazon
We love playing shops with THIS Hape cash register which I didn't photograph but I'm sure you have seen it on my IG feed. It's stored in the bottom shelf on the right hand side.

The Peter rabbit tin houses all of the chalks for the chalkboard and was fro TK Maxx, I think there was tea in it before. The wicker basket under the kitchen holds lego Duplo and the legs on the kitchen are adjustable if you flip the grey bits over so you can use it from very young.

And yes more play food! We have some from Ikea, some wooden ones from Mothercare and some felt food I made including the eggs, salad, cupcakes and ice cream. We also have some foam food we collected from Cbeebies magazine too. (The tray is from Poundland)

All of the crochet bits were made by me or my mum which add that extra homely feel which I love. Esra's kitchen is definitely more amazing than mine. FYI The prayer in arabic is by LucyArts1 on Instagram.

I also hung a wicker basket to go shopping with which I got for 99p from a charity shop but I added the wooden buttons and fastening of course. I basically have to hack everything lol.

The pink tray is a melamine plate from Rice which I also got from Igloo toy shop and the pink pot is a ceramic one I picked up recently from Poundland, they also have a mint version too which we also have. The pink cake stand with the cupcake stand is from H&M home section.

Wow that was a long post and I hope I covered everything, moral of the post, hack away and don't be afraid to update things to suit your taste. Esra has SO much fun with her play kitchen and plays with it every single day, she knows where everything goes and happily puts them back. (Ok not all the time) But, it's such a great way to teach organisational skills too... Yes my child at 3 is already an organisational freak and knows that everything has a place. A play kitchen is a magical thing for a toddler and this Ikea one is definitely budget friendly and is beautiful and sturdy once hacked of course. The first thing Esra does when she has a play date is cook up a storm even with older kids, thankfully it is something that your child will grow with so it's worth investing in some key pretend play toys to last for years to come. All this stuff wasn't purchased at once of course, that would be crazy. It has been accumulated over the past couple of years with Eid and birthday gifts. The good thing is there is always space for new ideas with a play kitchen, the next thing on our list is crochet donuts that I will one day eventually make.

I hope I have given you some ideas and inspired you to think outside the box and of course helped you with a wish list for Xmas too. I have included as many links as possible to help you with your search, none of which are affiliate links btw.

Now who is coming over for a tea party? That is the question....