EllaandIrene's Blog

Special Feature: Father's Day Gift ideas on a Budget

2019-01-24T09:26:00.002+00:00

This is a special father's day feature. I call it special because it is budget inspired. A great gift shouldn't necessarily rip a hole in your pocket or cost you an arm and a leg because it's the thought behind it all that counts. So worry less about breaking the bank or not being able to deliver, I present to you some budget inspired gift ideas and it might just give you some inspiration and further ideas of what to get. Let's begin, shall we!

1. Family Photoshoot Voucher - Price £10
From buyagift.com

I personally find the idea of photoshoots very appealing because pictures are memorable keepsakes. There will be numerous times when you will look at a picture and you realised you have just opened a floodgate of memories. I think this is quite a brilliant offer for that price and you definitely cannot go wrong with it. It's not just super affordable but there will be very rare, beautiful and memorable bonding moments dad will share with the family plus the keepsake you get to take home at the end of the photo session.

Visit buyagift,com for more budget- inspired gift ideas.

2. Mr Natty Bring me Sunshine Beard Elixir - Price £ 9.50
From John Lewis

Now I know you most likely were not expecting to see this, but you might have probably noticed there is a bit of the 'beard gang' movement going on at the moment; so this is bang on trend so to speak. Contrary to what I would have imagined, I have seen lots of men looking very suave with their well trimmed and maintained beards. So if your recipient has joined the beard gang train, this might be quite the gift, a bit unusual and unexpected I have to admit but bound to put a smile on his face and keep the beard shiny!

You can also visit the John Lewis website for more men's grooming and skincare gift ideas for a budget price

3.Gentlemen's Hardware Collar Stiffeners - Price £10
From John Lewis

I present to you these lovely brass collar stiffeners in a beautiful little box. I personally do not think this is a gift that will end up sitting at the bottom of a box lost somewhere in the house. I see it as a gift that will enjoy constant use if your recipient is someone who enjoys wearing shirts quite often. Now I know some men's shirts will sometimes come with collar stiffeners whilst some don't but could definitely do with one. I think this is a super bargain and bound to be a firm favourite for your recipient. Business, pleasure, whatever the occasion, if a shirt is involved then this is bound to keep the shirt collar in check! Talk about letting the collar do the talking.

More father's day gift ideas for budget prices at John Lewis

4. Boss Bottled Unlimited EDT 100ml - Price £30

Currently on offer at Boots

If you ask me this is a brilliant one! This perfume/aftershave originally retails for £62 and even more on some other sites but currently on offer hence price above. If I had to judge Boss Bottled Unlimited by the success of the original Boss Bottled then I would expect nothing less than near perfect from this fragrance. Hugo Boss is generally a good brand and for that price, you definitely can't go wrong. Good idea if your recipient is big on scents.

Boss Bottled Unlimited

5. Three Course Meal with Sparkling Wine for Two - Price £30
Cafe Rouge Various UK Locations

I doubt if my list will be complete without food because more often than not you would find this the easiest option if you cannot readily come up with any gift ideas. Nothing beats good food in a restaurant with a welcoming ambience. It's perfect for getting that special person out of their regular routine to something different, relaxing and of course something the whole family can possibly be a part of too. Of course, this is just an idea so if your recipient is not a fan of French cuisine then there is a vast array of dining options out there to choose from; think Italian, Indian, Meditteranean, a taste of the Caribbean and so much more. There is something bound to tickle the taste buds and leave the tum feeling happy and well fed too.

Image Source : Cafe Rouge

So there you have it! Whatever it is you eventually decide on, I hope more than anything else, your warm thoughts and kind gesture goes just as far as your gift goes.

Feel free to share your gift ideas with me too!

Happy Fathers' Day :)

Catch up soon x

My Top 5 Fragrances of all Time

2017-06-06T13:13:00.000+01:00

I love life and I love the indulgent luxury that comes with it. By that I mean I love the good things of life and because I work exceptionally hard I think it's fair that I treat myself to the occasional splurge on indulgent items.

I love fashion and all of the added extras that come with it but most people who know me will tell you that if I had to choose between buying a new pair of shoes or a bottle of perfume, I would definitely go for the latter. I have always been a fragrance lover since as far back as I can remember but what's so ironic is the fact that my olfactory nerve is not quite great!

I would more often than not be the last person in the room to pick on smells. There are of course good and not so good sides to that but never mind, what I lack in that area I make up for with my super sharp sense of hearing.However, that doesn't deter me from making my house a smell sanctuary, You are surely bound to get engulfed in a potpourri of lovely fragrances in every area of my home you turn to and you might have to do a double take if you walk past me on days when I decide to bask in my favorite smells.

I present to you my top five favourite fragrances of all time, never mind the season.

BLACK ORCHID by TOM FORD: I recall the first time I bought this perfume, it was on one of those days when I absolutely felt low in spirits and indulged myself in a bit of retail therapy to make me feel better. Call it a spontaneous purchase but I have not looked back since then. How do I describe this fragrance? Think rich,exotic and absolutely sophisticated. A perfect balance of sweet,floral and woody. It lingers but not in an overpowering way,I love how it envelopes me its almost like I am being hugged by Tom Ford! haha. Some people tend to think that this perfume is more suited to the autumn or winter months and I agree but I think you might be able to get away with it anytime of the year; day or night if you spray it minimally because a little goes a long way. Its a unisex perfume but with a very distinct difference.

AVENTUS FOR HER by CREED : A quick spray of my DH's Creed (for men) is all it took me to get addicted to this perfume and I knew I had to get the female version for myself. On days when I want to step out feeling like a BOSS bursting with Confidence, this is my go to perfume. If you are someone who doesn't want to put herself out there then this might not be for you because this perfume is bound to command some extra attention. Its refreshingly empowering and you'd find the question of ''what perfume do you have on?'' rolling in non stop because this perfume is irresistible like that. A lot of people tend to think there is a lot of hype around this perfume but hey, when something is exceptionally good you have got to rave about it! This is not a perfume that lingers overnight and fades away,its crisp smell lingers much longer. Its simply gorgeous.

GREEN IRISH TWEED by CREED : Oh dear! Do I love this scent or what?! I don't care what anyone thinks but this perfume I love so much. When I went shopping for my Aventus at my local John Lewis, I got to try out a couple of fragrances even though I knew what I was looking for. The lady attending to me encouraged me to try Green Irish Tweed and she casually mentioned '' you know there's quite of celebs who use this perfume as well.... Prince William, Naomi Campbell ( never mind I once bought a concealer at boots after the shop assistant swore Naomi Campbell couldn't do without it but I sadly had to chuck it in the bin because I absolutely hated it) and a host of names I really can't remember now.
After the concealer experience of course, I sure learnt to follow my personal needs rather than follow celeb trends but this perfume was definitely high up there for me. It smelt so cool,fresh,exuberant and timeless and it reminded me of something but I struggled to place what it could be. It was definitely a happy memory and I loved it! It was no surprise I returned a little while after to purchase a small bottle as its quite a pricey perfume. Unlike my Aventus though, I only use it on special occasions as I don't think its suited for 24/7 use. I also ensure to have it on at least 40 minutes before stepping out of the house so that way am sure all of its 'complexities' have settled nicely. Most people say its more suited for men but not sure I agree, it smells great on me, earns me compliments every time I wear it so that settles it!.

J'ADORE by DIOR : This perfume makes me swoon! Its beautiful, oh! so ultra feminine and very sensuous. After running out of my last bottle, I purchased another as a special Christmas gift for myself. Guess what?! I am yet to open it just yet because I just cannot bring myself to ruin the euphoria of knowing I have an unopened bottled of J'adore. It just ticks all the right boxes for me and it never fails to uplift my spirits. I love how I can never get over J'adore, its my little perfection in a bottle.

FAR AWAY by AVON: Yes. You read that right and its nothing to do with downgrading or being broke and unable to feed my ''high- end'' luxury perfume addiction. Its just that there are times when I feel like getting lost in the crowd, not drawing any attention to myself or I just can't be bother to pull out all the stops whilst dressing up. This is my all time favourite classic. I have never run out of a bottle and don't think I ever will! If you are a fragrance lover and you have never tried any of the avon fragrances especially 'Far Away' then I encourage you to give it a try. Even if it means trying it out as a bed-time fragrance. You can thank me later. Its an unbelivable stark contrast to its price and you have to wonder how something that smells so good can come at such a pocket friendly price. You definitely got me on this one Avon.

A lot of people tend to ask me to critic perfumes and fragrances knowing how much I love them and I always say my love for perfumes and fragrances has ironically not evolved to that status just yet. I just want to bask in those gorgeous smells without having to bother my head talking about sillage, opening notes, base notes and all that malarkey. I'd let the critics do all the smell, sillage and longevity analysis.

If its smells good, makes me feel great, doesn't cause wreckage to my pocket then all is indeed good with the world!

I am open to trying new fragrances so feel free to share your favs with me.

Catch up soon!

Pause and Reflect : Blogging Reality Check+What I have learnt so Far

2017-05-30T19:13:00.001+01:00

Image Source: Pexels

P.S This is not a blogversary post :)

I can't believe its been just a bit over three years since I started this blog. At the time, I was on maternity leave having recently had a baby and I recall my sister who blogs here had encouraged me to start a blog as I couldn't stop moaning about how much I lacked ideas on what to do besides caring for the baby.

Although I work in an IT related industry, I still had to run to my sister for virtually everything in terms of getting the blog up and running. Once my blog was all set up it meant I had to find my footing in the blogging world or as in the bloggers lingo ''find my niche''.

In the early days, I wanted to be a mummy blogger who reviews stuff and by that I mean I wanted to basically talk about products, stuffs and services on my blog, form an opinion about them and draw a conclusion which I think might help readers make an informed decision if they ever felt the need to either make a similar or guided purchase etc. So sometimes , I would write about personal purchases and at other times as I learnt the ropes really quickly I would ply the ''Blogger request'' route.

Most times when I did the latter though, I did feel like a fish out of water as I am quite a shy and introverted person and did not feel like I stood the chance against other well grounded bloggers with an already established blog presence in terms of audience,content and influence. So I gave up that route and stuck to talking about personal purchases and the occasional review opportunities that came in via direct contact with companies and agencies.

As time progressed I started losing interest in blogging, I gradually slowed down and before I realized it I had completely stopped blogging! It took me well close to a year to return to blogging and I promised myself I would only go with the flow, no stress,no pressure and definitely no desire to limit myself to just a specific area of interest anymore.

Image source:Pexels

In Hindsight, if I had to start it all afresh i.e newbie blogger , here's what I would have loved to tell myself :

- Follow your heart and do what makes you happy: Its definitely the first thing I would have said to myself. As I mentioned earlier, I started blogging majorly to help me balance things out on the home front, i.e new baby, family, etc. Deep down within me I wanted some sort of creative outlet, somewhere I could put my thoughts to words,somewhere I could explore and just generally talk about things that interested me, just an extension of me really. However, before I realized it, I had veered off my original path and was doing something totally different and inadvertently carving a ''niche'' for myself without realizing it!

I am not saying its not okay to have a niche because there is nothing wrong in having one and it does have its own benefits but I did not feel it was for me. I would describe myself as a mix of rebellious and unconventional so boxing myself into a corner by focusing on a specific area left me feeling bored and I lost interest in no time hence the long break.

So, for the past couple of months since I returned to blogging, I have blogged solely about my interests. It doesn't feel so contrived anymore and I appreciate the freedom of being able to express myself . its been out with the ''niche'' and in with the ''interests'' and if I had to , I would describe myself as a blogger of many interests and my blog as a general content blog with something for everyone.

- Give it Time: Everything good requires time...and effort. In my early days of blogging, I wanted everything to happen quickly. I mean from engagement, traffic, social media following, monetization etc. Outside of blogging,I am not quite a ''waiting person'' but I soon realized that my impatience was something I had to actively work on.

Right now I am in a place where I realise that all of the things that I wanted for my blog requires not just fulfilling the''effort and working at it'' side of things but it also requires copious levels of patience because with blogging there is no magic recipe for success, Time and patience is all you need so K.E.E.P C.A.L.M and B.L.O.G O.N

Image Source: Google

- Don't Compare and Contrast because you are not in competition with anyone: ...except yourself. That's right! This is something I have always told myself even prior to blogging. I am not a competitive person so I take everything in my own stride. I do not seek to outdo anyone other than myself because I realise the only competition I need is within me. When it comes to blogging , it is exactly what it is, blogging and nothing more!

There have been times when I have visited other blogs for a bit of idea and inspiration but that's about it. I always say a little bit of healthy competition is okay if it works for you and from a blogging perspective that will be in terms of motivating and inspiring you to put up better posts than the last one you have written. But if you find that you begin to put so much pressure on yourself to be better than the next blogger then you need to pause and reflect before you lose your identity.

Above anything else, blog for your self and for what you believe in; Stop comparing...start blogging!

Engage- Interact- Repeat: I honestly wish I knew this earlier ! Looking back now, the saying that no man is an island was so apt to my situation back then. What was I thinking, hoping that people would keep stumbling on my blog and helping themselves to my blog posts? Ha!

Now I do appreciate the importance putting my blog out there and I never hesitate to utilize the various social media platform available for such opportunities. Sometimes I chide myself for not engaging more and I often put it down to my introverted nature but of course I do not see the need to put so much pressure on myself than necessary, so I take things easy and go with my flow.

Networking, engaging with readers, i.e responding and appreciating comments, engaging with other blogs and just keeping these actions locked on constant repeat does go a long way not just for blog growth but think self confidence and morale booster too.

Interact-Engage-Repeat
Image source: Google

Never give up! : You really should be proud of yourself and what you have achieved on your blog because not everyone has a flair for writing. Not everyone is interested in putting their thoughts to words or sharing their opinion in the manner in which you put yours out there so well done!

I remember when I struggled with content continuity and the niche I found myself in, back then, I experienced more ''bloggers block'' ( yeah, bloggers struggle with what to write as well, its not exclusive to writers alone) even though I had so much time on my hands. I just simply lacked ideas, whereas these days I struggle more with finding the time to put up content for the many ideas I have - such irony of life!

Don't forget I said it takes time, so if you find yourself fizzling out, its ok to take a break but keep it in mind never to give up. Run out of ideas? Take a good look around you, the internet, friends, family, work etc. There is definitely something that is bound to catch your attention which you can capture ideas from. Revamp your blog, redesign your blog, re-brand your blog, something is surely bound to get you back on track but it all boils down to you not giving up! so never forget that.

...So don't give up!
Image Source: Google

...And on a final note
Doing things the same way as others will mean losing your individuality. Like everything else, blogging requires a bit of individual approach and personal touch so if you choose to be a niche blogger or a multi interest blogger like me, ensure you do not lose your personality because that is the uniqueness that makes you stand out.

You might find that some of the things I have talked about resonates with your blogging journey or it doesn't at all, the bottomline is - Just do you!

You have probably realized by now that there might come a time when you will be pretty much faced with making decisions, taking next steps or probably just starting afresh but definitely not quitting.

Take some time out, reflect and ask yourself the question '' what would I do differently?''

Catch up soon! x

Review: HP ENVY 4527 ALL-IN-ONE PRINTER

2017-05-03T23:02:00.002+01:00

It's been a while since we had any reviews here and I have to admit the fault is all mine! I have just been too busy with other personal things and as such barely had the time to look up new campaigns etc. However, things are easing up a bit and I do look forward to sharing my ideas and honest opinions on a broad spectrum of EVERYTHING, so watch this space!

Straight to business shall we? Good! Its all about the HP Envy 4527 All-in-one printer. To start with, I would refer to myself as a tech savvy person but perhaps if you ask my husband and kids am probably thinking they would refer to me as the perfect gadget junkie, or how else do you explain all the cables,chargers etc in my living room which extends to the bedroom and every other room that has a socket in the house? *sigh!*
Plus my inability to part with old stuff means there is a constantly rising stack of gadgets. I am still struggling with the idea of having a car boot sale or just holding on to these items,who knows what might become treasure tomorrow? *Think collectors item!*

Coming from me this might sound like a surprise but I have got to say there are some gadgets I have had to constantly question my need for but others I knew from the get go would be an absolute value and one of such is the HP Envy 4527 All-in-one printer.

About the HP Envy 4527 All-in-one Printer
Just like the name implies, it a printer for all times and seasons and by that I mean this printer is not just limited to printing,copying or scanning documents but it easily prints pictures too. It is a wireless and easy to use touch screen printer,capable of easily connecting to WiFi and affords you the opportunity to easily print high quality photos directly from your smart phones or tablets.

My experience with the HP Envy 4527 All-in-one Printer
TO start with I have to say this is one of the easiest gadgets I have had to set up,I did not have to refer to the manual for once. Once plugged, it was simply ''touch and go'', via the on screen display feature it provided set up instructions including a step by step guide on how to load the ink cartridges .
The printer is quite aesthetic and makes a nice and decent addition to my home.

Its such a versatile little gadget that didn't let me down when I put it to varied work and leisure tasks i.e printed,scanned some documents and also printed some coloured pictures.

I particularly love the fact that the printer is so compact and takes up very minimal space. If I had to compare it to my previous printer in terms of design, functionality and feature , I would give the HP ENVY 4527 All-in-one printer consistently top marks,it definitely ticks most boxes for me.

I also love the fact that it is surprising quiet, I mean with my previous printer, it almost seemed like there was the 'hesitation' of whether to print or not with the constant clicking sound! Its not so with the HP Envy 4527 printer, it prints at the flick of a button, it just prints...no hesitant clicking sounds!

Apart from the fact that that it is a wireless printer, when it came to printing pictures from my phone, I realised I didn't necessarily have to connect to my wifi or any networks to do so. Once linked to phone I simply followed the on screen instructions and in no time the printer was churning out my pictures...just like that high res photos printed right in the comfort of my home .

I have to also say that the quality of my pictures were just as great as those of the ones I had printed from the photolab in the past. I also had some random documents printed off my email as well with no hassles at all either.

There are still some other features I am yet to try and this includes printing black and white pictures, which the printer is very well capable of doing, automatic two sided printing which I absolutely cannot wait to try and of course the remote printing. I really look forward to being able to send stuff straight to the printer from anywhere, whilst on the go via the printer remote mobile app.

My Verdict
HP ENVY 4527 currently retails at £44.99 and I have to say for that price the printer is an absolute bargain. With its set up so easy and straightforward , it is surprisingly packed with such powerful and versatile features and capable of meeting your various printing needs.
If you are someone who does a lot of remote working or working from home, you would probably find this ideal for your day to day routine and I find it functional enough to suit the needs of a very small office too.
The printer definitely works a treat and cannot fault it. I would give it 🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars.

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Please note views and opinion expressed are solely mine.

HP ENVY 4527 All-in-one printer from theinsiderseu #hpprinters campaign

Couch Chat: Coping with Depression, Anxiety and the related

2017-04-19T11:48:00.003+01:00

Dealing with Depression
Image Source:Google

A couple of weeks ago I read about the demise of Amy Bleuel a promising young lady and strong advocate for mental health issues. She was the founder of project semi colon ; a not for profit mental health initiative. She was also the brain behind the extremely popular semi colon tattoo that trended on social media for quite a significant period of time, to stir a further awareness of mental health challenges bordering around depression, suicide and self harm.

Amy drew strength from what would ordinarily have drained her will to live, her father's demise(and the circumstances in which he passed away) and other personal life struggles she had contended with and overcome. She started project semi colon as a mark of respect to her father, providing what became a strong advocating platform for various mental health issues. Just like the semi colon in writing (or Literature if you prefer) the semi colon project reiterated the fact that whatever situation you find yourself, its not the end of you. No matter how clouded things may seem its ok to definitely keep going because hope, love and comfort can and will abound. In Amy's words ''In literature, an author uses a semicolon to not end a sentence but to continue on. We see it as you are the author and your life is the sentence. You’re choosing to keep going.”

Its very sad to know that Amy lost her own battle with depression but its reassuring to know that her story and the legacy she left behind will continue to live on and I write this post in memory of Amy. Thank you for being such a strong voice and source of inspiration people struggling with their emotional and mental wellbeing.

your story isnt over;not yet
Image source:Google

Over the past few weeks as well, I have continued to come across several personal stories, many of whom have found the courage to seek help and others who have sadly lost the battle. I really felt compelled to talk about my own personal struggle with depression perhaps not so much in details but as form of respect and support for anyone going through the struggle alone. I understand that it might feel like a personal struggle no one understands but please know you are not alone. I realised that quite a lot of people struggle with depression, anxiety and other mental health issues but there is already so much stigma associated with these conditions making it such a battle to reach out for help support. However, its about time we all understood mental wellbeing is just as important as physical well being which is why I feel its important to share my personal experience as well.

Google Image

Coping with Depression:My Experience
Its been close to four years but it always feels so fresh in memory. I recall those ''cloudy'' periods in my life when everything seemed like a haze and it just felt like it had to end. I had no inkling of what had to end but I knew something had to give. I knew what it felt like but I struggled to put it to speech even though the words constantly played in my head. Sometimes it felt like I was stuck in a maze and there was just no exit. Other times ,I felt like I was trapped in a can of bubbles, I wanted to be free but I didn't know how to set myself free. Other times, i felt like recoiling into a world I had created in my head,the feelings were emotional draining and left me empty most times.
I was surrounded by so many people most especially my beloved family but I felt extremely lonely and alone, I struggled to share how I felt but I dreaded the hurt, fear, backlash and mockery that would come from it.I feared I would be misunderstood. To the rest of the world,I functioned as a normal human being,capable of loving, living and achieving but within me I fought a silent battle;every minute, every hour,every day. I couldn't bear to speak out for fear of letting my loved ones down, I had quite a handful of people who looked up to me, how dare I portray myself as a weakling!
Because as I came to understand it there was a lot of misconception around depression and mental wellness. I remember once having a conversation with someone along those lines which broke me further but ironically strengthen my resolve to continue to suffer in silence. Over several nights, I kept playing the conversation in my head. I tossed in bed, I shed a lone tear and silently questioned my emotional and mental capabilities. I thought of the many times, I would take toilet breaks at work and spend all the time crying and questioning the will to live but would step out afterwards all smiles and ''refreshed''. I thought of my commute back home and how I often longed for a window seat so I could look out of the window and drown myself in tears. I thought of how my mood alternated from happy to sad and often remained that way for a long time, I was unstable, low and on the edge; These unexplained feelings never went away, it was a constant companion. I searched for answers in books, the internet ...just something to help me understand how and why I felt the way I feel and I found the answer. I realised I was depressed and I could fare better with help, support and guidance..........

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today, I am in a better place and faring well and am grateful for the help and support I had that made it all possible . Things might not always seem the way I want them to be but I am getting a grasp of life and coming to terms with the fact that sometimes it will get rough before it gets better and sometimes its plain landslide victory- easy peasy! Such is the beauty of life.
I am learning not to wish my challenges away or recoil into a corner, rather I choose to put in some effort no matter how minimal and I find satisfaction in knowing I tried,its hard sometimes but still I keep trying! I am not going to lie by saying its been all pure bliss and happily ever after! Sometimes the past still lurks in the shadows and on days when it feels like am ''slipping'' back I find strength in my personal mantra ''Some days are sunny, Some days are rainy and some days are just a mix of both;I will endeavour to get by''
I am not ashamed to share my story, on the contrary I find comfort in the hope that someone reads this post and realises that they shouldn't have to suffer in silence. If that person is you I want you to know that you are not a loony, odd, abnormal or alone, there are lots of people going through similar so don't be too hard on yourself.

A few more things you could take away with you:

-You are not WEAK: No matter how you feel, or however much insensitive comments you have to keep up with be rest assured you are not weak. You are simply going through a period of life you have no control over. No one has the right to judge you for being human or make you feel less of yourself just because of what you are going through.

Image source: Google

-Don't be afraid to seek HELP: I can understand if you choose to suffer in silence especially if your life seems to be the picture of perfection to the outside world. There is so much misconception about depression and anxiety and its not uncommon to hear people say things like ''oh you'd be fine'', ''snap out of it'!'' ,''...but you don't look depressed'' and all other insensitive remarks.
Still! don't let that deter you, when you feel like you could do with some help and support don't be held back by anything and if you do find help please don't feel like you are burden. There's people out there who genuinely care and are more than willing to help.

Please speak to someone if you experience any of the above more often than usual.
Image source:Google

-Its not about who YOU are! : Your appearance, social,financial and academic standing ,race,gender or abilities have absolutely nothing to do with depression,anxiety or the related. Its simply no respecter of who you are or what you have achieved. Its doesn't play out like the lottery, or cherry pick so please don't consider yourself a victim. You are going through a phase perhaps not pleasant but definitely through no fault of yours so don't be hard on yourself. Things will get better with time.

-Identify the CAUSE - tackle the EFFECT: Whilst the same might not be said for everyone, from personal experience I found that identifying and come to terms with the ''triggers'' helped me a great deal. By triggers I mean the root cause of whatever it is you might be going through. I realized that my situation at the time was embedded in a particular situation I thought I could not get over, constant nagging fear and worry is all it took to get me spiraling down. It was such a relief to face my supposed fears just by speaking to someone about my deepest worries in therapy over a period of time. As you get better you might find yourself experiencing those ''trigger moments'' or similar that can cause you to go spiraling down again, don't feel overwhelmed or scared. You have got to remember that you have been through a phase, you can get help, you can get support so don't feel afraid to ask.

Help doesn't necessarily mean Medication: Most people think opening up about their fear, anxieties and depressive feelings automatically translates to either being sectioned or being placed on heavily sedating medication.
NO! No two people are the same just as no two situations are the same. I for instance benefitted from a lot of counselling therapy where I was able to express myself freely,talk about my present worries and concerns for the future. As I slowly eased out of therapy, I buddied up with a very friendly lady who often checked up on me at regular intervals. It was a smooth transition. I found a great support system in my family as well too as I was finally able to open up and carry them along with me during the process. All of the help and support was based on specific assessment and relevance to my individual needs. The first step is seeking help and being rest assured in the fact that whatever help is being offered is of your best interest and wellbeing so please don't feel hesitant to reach out.

I end this post on a positive note because I feel fulfilled to have spoken about an issue so delicate yet important . I want to thank you for letting me share my thoughts and experience with you and I hope you find one of two things useful. I might not know you in person but I care about your emotional well being and I wish you the best for life's onward journey.
Allow me to leave you with this last few words '' Flip over to the next page because your story isn't over;not yet!'' <3

*Post written in honor of Amy Bleuel: Founder - The Project Semicolon*
Read more about The Project Semicolon HERE
(Image source:Google)

*For free confidential emotional support contact the SAMARITANS HERE

* For help,support and advice with mental health issues contact MIND UK HERE

*Please also get in touch with your GP/Doctor/ health care professional for medical support,advice and help.

You are not alone x

Move Over 2016! New Year Resolutions: What's the Big Deal?

2016-12-30T07:59:00.001+00:00

I can't believe the year has gone by so quickly just as I also struggle to believe I haven't put up any content on my blog for God knows how long. I can assure you though that's for the latter I have got an acceptable reason (haha) which I will share in due course. For the former, am afraid am just as surprised as you are! But so looking forward to fresh beginnings.
I mean come on 2017!!!
Speaking of fresh beginnings, I have been thinking long and hard about new year resolutions and how I struggled over the years and I had an epiphany(hmm!) .

Share my thoughts below and feel free to share yours with me.

Happy New Year!
Image Source:Google

I am not a big fan of New Year resolutions as I never really follow them through. Matter of fact it vanishes like a mist before the first 24 hours into the new year has ended.
But you see, I mean I can't even commit to 5 mins of exercise and diet without succumbing to a sudden craving! How weak is that?!

But you see that is me, a weakness I have lived with over years ,my inability to follow through on my ideas, live my dreams, make up my mind on so many things, severe unprofitable liaisons etc.
My inability to stick to my guns when I need to say NO to people but rather say yes so I PLEASE rather than OFFEND.
Today I choose to put myself out here, warts and all.

I choose to put out what people might think is the vulnerability of most and as such not unusual but there is a reason.
This might sound like another resolution but perhaps seeing it as a duty to self being thrown out in the open might make it more desirable to achieve.

I need to self-detox, rediscover self again and learn other life lessons as they come along.
I want to sleep and wake up with just my own burdens on my chest, I want to be able to say NO NO HELL FREAKING NO to a lot of things without feeling sorry and displeasing myself for the selfish benefit of others.

I want to take baby steps again and grow into something I have dreamt to always be for a while now.
I have heard, shared and lived the physical and emotional pain of so many and in the process unconsciously become an emotional wreck myself.
Bloody hell, why does my own Agony Aunt go MIA when I need her? As I unconsciously set up myself to be that for others.
Well, I choose to understand what self love is and live it for me.

I have sacrificed blindly , trusted in faith and without bias , wholeheartedly laid myself down like the proverbial "doormat " to be walked over because am all about selflessness and sacrifice and perhaps kind hearted like that !
P.S This device is now officially out of storage,look elsewhere.

There is perhaps a lot I could learn from my toddler ; zero worries,undeterred and cheering only for self.

Perhaps this might not go down well with some but who cares? it's always been about others now it's about me!
* so help me God*
I have always been happy to keep whatever concerned me at the back burner but I guess it's time a detour happened, it's about pruning the irrelevancies and sticking to what really matters .
Am grateful for the few genuine at heart God blessed me with, they are like the needle in the haystack ,hard to find but worth the effort.
In all, I refuse to let this musings of mine end up being confined to the bin of history .
I should indeed practise more self love because Life is too short to gloat over memories which reminds us of the past.
Its time to live the dreams which gives a glimpse of the future.
I choose to Live Love and Laugh -for self
I choose Self Love
Yes to Self Love
I plea allegiance to Self
2017 in a few.

See you in a bit x

Book Review : Monsters Love Underpants

2015-05-27T14:07:00.002+01:00

''...There are prowly monsters howling loudly and drooling monsters from the steamy swamp.

There are wild, woolly mountain monsters and spiky, spooky monsters from outer space. And

they all have one thing in common - they LOVE underpants!...''

Oh hello there!

Monsters love Underpants
by
Claire Freedman and Ben Cort

I was just reading out loud a little excerpt from the book ''Monsters Love Underpants'' . I would describe it as a marvelously appealing , visually attractive and cleverly illustrated book for kids aged 3+. Its Packed full of rhyming words which will keep kids very amused and well entertained, my little girl cannot seem to get enough of this book and we have read it over and over again and of course we have infact chosen our favourite monster underpants from the end pages as well!

Monsters Love Underpants is the seventh collaboration from bestselling and award winning duo Claire Freedman (author) and Ben Cort(illustrator). With the pant loving antics of Aliens,Dinosaurs,pirates and even Santa Claus having been exposed in this hilarious series of Claire and Ben's pictures books- its now the turn of monsters to show us what their pants are made of!

The Monsters who love Underpants -Cute!

Monster Underpants

The paperback edition includes a very special QR Code that takes you to a free reading of the

book by Mel Giedroyc from the Great British Bake Off! Means, your little ones can still be kept entertained being read to whilst you are quickly attend to other things.

Their books together (Alien Love Underpants, Dinosaurs Love Underpants, Aliens in Underpants save the World, Aliens love Panta Claus, Monstersaurus and Pirates Love Underpants) have sold over 3 million copies and are published in 21 languages.

I think Monsters love underpants is set to be just as big as Alien love underpants which was a winner of the Richard & Judy children’s bookclub. There is a hugely successful stage production of Aliens Love Underpants, which has toured the UK for two years, did a stint in London’s West End over the summer of 2014 and is set to return to the West End in 2015.

You can catch up on the Alien Loves Underpants series on Youtube (absolutely loved it and thumbed it up) and of course you should get a copy of this book for your little one(s) which you will find on Amazon at no strain to your pocket!

Finally, to keep up with updates about the books series and of course just to be entirely sure you never miss out on what the Monsters or Aliens got next up on their sleeves then you can keep up to date with them on Facebook.

Praise for Claire Freedman and Ben Cort’s Underpants books:

“Guaranteed to get the little ones giggling.” Daily Mail

“Fun, colourful and dynamic” The Times

“This book is a feast of colour and humour” Red House Children’s Book Award

About the Creators

Claire Freedman is the author of over forty books for young readers. She had previously tried various genres before discovering a passion for children's books.

Ben Cort is one of the most sought after illustrators in children's book publishing and has worked with a variety of authors and publishers.

**Review copy received in exchange for my honest review**

Perfect and Personalised Gift Ideas from Wrappz

2015-04-03T08:11:00.003+01:00

Its another period of celebration, holidays and of course gifting again; Easter is here and I just love the thought of being able to shop online for a variety of gifts devoid of all the the stress of shopping in store especially with the kids.

Speaking of which, I thought I would tell you about Wrappz, an online store which provides beautiful personalised gifts which you will find perfect for birthdays,anniversaries and every special moment worth being celebrated.

Wrappz Online Store Logo
Image Source:Wrappz

All of the products they offer are produced right here in the UK, which I think great for factors such as:
Print quality
-Only high quality materials which means you get a premium product.

Skilled Artistry
-You get to purchase beautifully designed products which have been designed by super talented artists.

Speedy delivery
-You can purchase an item/items knowing that it will be delivered as promptly and safely as possible.

Of course you can also put your own spin on things and put your imagination to work by generating your own preferred designs using your own texts and images or should you wish there is an array of easy to use templates to help you get started and make things easier with personalising your choice of items,you only need to add your texts and images to give you a nice looking instant collage!

If you are still searching for that ideal gift for that special person then you might want to try the personalised phone cases from Wrapped which comes with a 20% discount for a limited time only.

To claim this offer simply head over to the Wrappz online store HERE , and apply code FBFAN20 at checkout to claim your 20% discount! The code is particularly for personalised phone cases but can be used anywhere on the website at checkoout.

Have a look at some personalised items from Wrappz:

Thermal mugs: Wrappz Personalised designs
image source:Wrappz

Personalised Faux Leather Phone Case:Wrappz
Image source:Wrappz

Sky Hardware Skins:Wrappz Personalised Designs
Image Source:Wrappz

Personalised Gaming Skins: Wrappz Designs
Image Source:Wrappz

Find out more for yourself by visiting the Wrappz website HERE , and don't forget to use the discount code FBFAN20 at checkout.

Happy Easter Lovelies! Enjoy the holidays xxx

Review: Brainwavz S1 Earphones

2015-03-29T19:33:00.004+01:00

Over the weekend I received a fantastic pair of in ear monitors or if you would prefer earphones to try from Brainwavz.

The Brainwavz S1 earphones is described as a dynamic in ear monitor that uses dynamic driver speakers housed in an all-metal shell which have been tuned for a powerful bass,sweet vocals and accurate sound reproduction.

Brainwavz in ear monitors

My initial reaction on seeing the package was one of positive surprise because to be honest I was not expecting it to come in any form of fancy packaging so that helped me to form an initial opinion not only of the product but the manufacturer in itself.

It's not every day you come across a product whose packaging has been painstakingly designed to help you form a positive first impression. I know there are quite a lot of products which rely on their packaging to sell for them whilst the contents in itself isn't exactly great. On the other hand, there's also products that come in very modest packaging but offering great quality content.

Brainwavz earphones: great packaging

I could not wait to find out which category the Brainwavz earphones would fall into. I have had quite a few earphones in the past and being someone who relies on listening to music or a podcast or some inspiring messages on my commute to work to help me set the pace for my day there is always an ear piece or two in my bag. Just recently I was pressed to let go of my second earphone which I kept as a spare in my bag just in case I forgot or misplaced my IPhone's earphones. I was looking out to replace my spare earphones so you can imagine just how pleased I was when I got offered the Brainwavz S1 earphones to try.

Brainwavz S1 earphones

Brainwavz: ergonomically designed earphones

Having talked about the packaging, the product in itself looks great and the design is quite aesthetic,superior and ergonomic. It is designed to be worn over the ear for good sound isolation and of course comfort. I absolutely hate struggling to keep earphones that keep slipping out of the ears in place so I love this.

In terms of performance, I am really impressed. The sound input is rich and well balanced, just the way I like it. I noticed that it filters sounds quite well and equally picks the slightest of sounds which I really appreciate as it just makes the whole listening experience worthwhile.

Whilst I will not be drawing any comparisons between this earphones and any other brand making similar, my opinion of this product is that it is up to par with other high quality ear phones you will find out there.

I also like that it comes with a zip enclosed pouch or hard carrying case which means the ear piece can be safely tucked away when not in use. For someone like myself, I can at least save myself the hassle of not only emptying my bag in a bid to get to my ear phones but I can save myself some time trying to get my ear phones untangled as the carrying case will help to keep it nice and tidy for next use.

Brainwavz S1 over the ear earphones

Brainwavz:hard wearing case for ease and comfort

The Brainwavz S1 earphones also comes with other accessories to include an airplane adapter,comply foam tips, silicone bi-flange and tri-flange ear tips.

Brainwavz:contents and accessories.

The Brainwavz S1 earphones is compatible with IPods, iPhones, MP3 players,computers,laptops and other audio devices.

You can purchase the Brainwavz over the ear earphones for £37 by following the link https://www.amazon.com//dp/B00G4UQ6U8/

**Brainwavz S1 earphones sent to me for review purposes. All views and opinions expressed are entirely mine**

Health and Lifestyle: Lets Talk about that Back Pain

2015-03-14T17:44:00.003+00:00

Quite a number of people experience back pain at one point or the other. For some it might be an occassional thing perhaps due to a specific reason which they have been unable to identify but for some other people Back pain is an issue that continues to linger on with its effects impacting on the quality of their lifestyle and overall well being.

Research suggests that an estimated number of adults in the UK will experience back pain during their life time with attendant widespread social effects which include isolation,withdrawal and damaged relationships. Lower back pain has been identified as the cause of disability worldwide and has been estimated to cost the UK economy over £6 billion. However, 90% of back pain sufferers stop consultation after just 3 months despite 3 in 4 people still suffering pain and disability one year later.
These findings suggest millions of back pain sufferers feel limited help is available and continue to suffer in silence.

Most people's low back pain is often described as ''non specific''. A situation that occurs when the pain does not arise from any medical condition such as,a slipped disc,fracture or even a known disease but rather from the structures of the back and quite a handful of common lifestyle practices have been known to aggravate the problem.

I was reading a book titled ''Lifestyle change for Relief. At last'' by Dr Steven Geanopulos and I found it very helpful in terms of understanding back pain, it also contains detailed information on how to keep back pain at bay by caring for the spine and general health.

Lifestyle change for Relief. At last.
By Dr Geanopulos

The book covers key areas of interests relating to the spine, back pain and its management. These include a clear assessment of what chronic back pain means to each person, identifying causes of the chronic back pain,establishing the link between individual lifestyle and chronic pain,the role of nutrition/diet and of course a practical action plan to having a pain-free living.

What does Chronic Pain mean to you?
Lifestyle Change for Relief. At Last

What are the underlying causes of Chronic Pain
Lifestyle Change for Relief . At Last

Health and Lifestyle Choices and Chronic Pain
Lifestyle Change for Relief. At Last

Role of Nutrition
Lifestyle Change for Relief. At Last

Meditation does help improve health and lifestyle
Lifestyle Change for Relief. At Last

The book has opened my eyes to a lot of things I would otherwise not have paid extra attention to. For instance, I have been able to draw up an activity plan for myself to cover areas of nutrition,physical activity and of course meditation.

Action Plan! Planning is key
Lifestyle Change for Relief. At Last

As a mum and in full time work it might not be uncommon to hear me say I am exhausted leaving me no time to engage in other things really.However, I am prepared to make an effort to alter my lifestyle for healthier results as I now know that I do not really need to spend hours to achieve that.I will aim to incorporate 10 mins of exercise 3 days a week into my weekly schedule.Because of the kids I keep an excellent healthy eating plan already but I will also aim to make water my preferred go to beverage and cut back on the fizzies
(so help me God) and I look forward to experimenting with meditation. Of course this will have to happen at a time when the kids are no where in sight, perhaps early in the morning before they get up from bed or when they are taking their afternoon nap or the whole purpose of meditating will be defeated!

I suggest you read the expert tips and advice listed below on how best to manage the your back below. It is very informative and helpful and will come in handy for the management of back pain.

1- De-Stress
To be honest, even I need to be told and constantly reminded about this.
Prolonged stress can worsen pain due to the release of the hormone Cortisol and an increase in muscle tension. If you begin to sense and can establish you are mentally stressed , Addressing the state of mind by meditation or simply, quiet periods of reflection can help. Engaging in activites such as Yoga and Pilates which have been shown to help with stress and anxiety are also positive steps to take.

2- Watch your Weight
Again, this is also something I also need to talk to myself about. I mean these are also very helpful tips that can be imbibed not just to help alleviate back pain for people that experience it but also for an optimal healthy lifestyle.
Maintaining a healthy life style is key.Ongoing poor nutritional choices and carrying excess weight can negatively impact the health on the long term and as such contribute to increased inflammation and lower back pain. Choosing to go for nutritious and well balanced diet, eating small healthy meals and snacks on a regular basis can mean you are less likely to let extreme hunger dictate what you eat thus helping to avoid high calories and sugar options which lead to weight gain.

3-Keep Moving
This is probably the most challenging of all. I mean when the opportunity arises who does not want to remain on the couch all day? Being a couch potato is probably the most relaxing thing ever and as a mum when I do get the opportunity to just raise my feet, I am there for as the longest time possible, sometimes as long as 5 minutes!

Lack of regular movement can contribute to issues with the spine and degeneration of spinal joints. So physical activity in the form of regular exercise is vital to care for the back.Controlled movement of the spine can also help those suffering from long term non specific lower back pain. A new study suggests that a device called KYROBAK which delivers a unique combination of continuous passive motion (CPM) and Oscillation Therapy(OT) significantly reduced pain scores in long term non specific lower back pain sufferers after just 10 minutes of use each day for 3 weeks.

-Source Spink Health/Dr Geanopulos

Alright then, off to start my first 10 mins of exercise. Stay Healthy!

***Copy of Lifestyle Change for Relief. At Last. by Dr Steven Geanopulos ,additional tips and advice received from Spink Health along with additional input from myself have been used to develop and write this post***

Mother's Day Cards from Made with Love Designs. (Exclusive offer 30% Discount Code)

2015-03-09T15:53:00.002+00:00

I know this is so like last minute but its better late than never and I simply would not be pleased with myself if I did not share this with you. I was browsing online for Unique Mother's day cards when I came across this exclusive hand made online greeting cards boutique: https://www.madewithlovedesigns.co.uk/

MadewithLoveDesigns is filled with the most beautiful and bespoke set of greeting cards I have ever seen. Lovingly crafted,it is definitely intended to thrill the recipient with a sprinkling of the wow factor.

Made with Love Designs

MadeWithLoveDesigns make personalised handmade luxury greeting cards for those special occassions. All of their greetings cards can be personalised with your loved ones name on the fronts and further personalised with an inside printed message if you wish. So you can express yourself,feelings and emotions with all the words that make it just as personal as you want.

Cards are available in colours to make a truly unique and personal card.

Most of their greetings cards are available with fully personalised wordings, offering personalised text printed on the front of cards over a number of lines and also your wordings printed inside the cards too!

Note: Character limits apply to personalised wording depending on each greetings card design.

-Made with Love Designs

Have a look at some of their Mother's Day Collection and grab yourself a discount with the discount code below:

MadewithLoveDesigns: Mother's day Card

Exclusive to EllaandIrene's blog!

Head up to https://www.madewithlovedesigns.co.uk/ to pick up one of their Mother's Day greeting cards using discount code ELLAANDIRENE30

Code expires on Friday 13th March.

Saturday delivery available so orders can still be placed up until Midday on the 13^th for Mothers Day delivery.

Simply shop as normal and then add the code to the shopping basket to receive discount.

Peace and Love X

**Review**

Unless otherwise stated,views and opinion expressed are entirely mine.

Sweets,Sweets and More Sweets! : Delicious Treats from Scoff Club!

2015-03-07T08:54:00.001+00:00

Its almost impossible for me to say no to ''sweeties'' as my four year old would say. I mean one minute I am making resolutions but fraction of a second later I am happily treating away. So you can imagine how pleased I was to return home (after my first day back to work from maternity leave) to meet a box of sweets waiting for me from Scoff Club!
surprise! surprise!!

Scoff Club: Favourite Retro and Classic Sweets!

To be honest, I was not expecting to meet a very good sized box generously packed full of sweet treats so I was genuinely impressed and pleased.

Scoff Club :What a Treat!

Unwrapping my sweet treat :Scoff Box

For what its worth,I think the Scoff Club box would be great as a surprise present/treat and is bound to put a smile on the recipient's face. I mean its just like giving someone a box of chocolates,a box of sweets is just as great as a box of chocolates! its just as well if you wish to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings too, trust me this is one variety box you do not want to miss!

Anyways, my fabulous retro and classic sweet box contained some of my favourites like Swizzel's Rainbow drops(Hmm....Yum!) and also the following :
-Refreshers
-Sherbet Fountains
-Pic' n' mix
-Drumstick,Vimto and Chupa Chups Lollies
-Double Dip
-Fun Gums etc

Yum Yum, Sweets and More Sweets!

Variety of Sweets from Scoff Club

Scoff Club Sweets

Ok Lovelies, I really have to go now, cannot wait to gorge on these treats!

If you would love to get your hands on one of these treat boxes, please visit Scoff-club-sweets

Peace and Love X

** sample Scoff Club box of sweets was sent to me for review purposes.

Views and opinions expressed are entirely mine**

Teaching and Learning made Easy with Twinkl Learning and Educational Resources.

2015-03-05T06:23:00.001+00:00

Twinkl: home of unique learning resources.

In the past week,I have been engaged in reading sessions with some children at my daughter's school for about half an hour every afternoon as part of the build up to World book day. It is of course on a voluntary basis but I was happy to be a part of the sessions because of the initiative behind it. Myself and a handful of other parents who had volunteered to be a part of the exercise had been teamed up with teachers in each class within the school who arranged for us to listen to the children read.

Myself and the other parents had a bit of briefing session with the teachers in charge to tell us the aim behind the reading session,what they hoped to achieve out of it and of course what was expected of us in the process,we were also provided with very helpful and easy to understand learning resources from Twinkl to guide us through the process. Some of these resources included Guided Reading question cards which provided ideas of key questions to ask as it relates to the book each child read.

Guided Reading question Mat from Twinkl

There was also the Tricky word sound mat which looked something like this,

Tricky word sound Mat

Phoneme cards quite similar to image below,some record activity sheet and a couple more stuffs.

Phoneme Cards

It was a pleasant and eye opening experience. It definitely was an opportunity for me to learn lots of useful stuff which I could put to practical use during reading times with my four year old and honestly the learning resources absolutely helped me to confidently engage more with the kids during the reading sessions. I know now for future reference that being a teacher isn't a walk in the park!

So it was a pleasant surprise for me when the opportunity to talk about the Twinkl resource on the blog arose.

''Twinkl is your first choice for easy to use,trusted and high quality teaching materials for educators and parents world wide-professionally crafted materials with a personal touch''.

At Twinkl, you will discover an enormous number of useful and easy to adapt learning resources for the Early years Stage,Key Stages 1 and 2,SEN and even home learning as well. With over 196,000 resources specially designed by Professional teachers,designers and illustrators you will can be rest assured that there is no need to go anywhere else as with Twinkl its a world of very generous resources at the click of a button.

Twinkl offers free membership that allows users access to a vast number of resources.
However, Twinkl also runs additional services that you can choose to subscribe to. There is the Gold membership which is a high quality but low cost option at £29.95 a year and there is also the platinum membership which is priced at £44.95 a year and gives you access to all Twinkl resources.
This premium service gives access to well over 29,000 exclusive resources which includes lesson plan ideas, power-point presentations,activities,worksheets,role play resources and so much more!

Twinkl Awesome Badge

I am absolutely excited to have been offered the opportunity to access the brilliant world of near endless learning and educational resources via a platinum subscription. More than anything else, its definitely an opportunity for me to be more aware and involved in my four year old daughter's learning journey and also an opportunity to infuse new and ingenious ways of learning to make it an enjoyable process for her.
There is an absolute wealth of resources at Twinkl and honestly if you ask me, choosing to subscribe to this service is a great idea. It means you not only optimise the use of the generous resources Twinkl provides but with your subscription you also help ensure that Twinkle can continue to make all the useful resources such as they ones they continue to offer.

Twinkl also provides an opportunity for you to create your own resources which I think is an absolutely brilliant idea.
With Twinkl Create you can bring your ideas to fore and produce some excellent educational resources as well to suit individual needs and preferences.

In addition to all the wonderful things Twinkl provides there is also an amazing community forum on the website which you can find here . As you would expect of any good quality community forum, it is a meeting place for the continually growing educational community on Twinkl to discuss,share inspiring ideas and provide support to each other.

Please visit the Twinkl website to explore exclusive learning resources. Find out more for yourself at http://www.twinkl.co.uk/

** Twinkl Premium Subscription offered for the purpose of this review**

My Mother's Day Gift Guide Featuring Avon Cosmetics and Jewellery

2015-03-03T07:58:00.000+00:00

Mother's day should really be one of the most important and celebrated days in the world. I mean I am not being sentimental or trying to chip in any more emphasis than there really should be but with all due respect and honour , being a mother is probably the greatest sacrifice any woman will ever make. Its like the only job whose biggest rewards come from things as little as the gift of a squishy hug, a lovely heart melting smile and of course just the pure joy of watching the kids grow up into well balanced and happy adults.

Happy Mother's Day to every mother out there! Trust me you do nothing short of SUPER so well done!

As a Very Special Treat to myself, I ordered a few items from the Avon brochure via my friend who is an Avon Representative. I love Avon products because they not only come at unbelievably affordable prices but the quality of their products is amazing too.
I have picked out four of my favourites and thought to share with you because I feel they would come handy as gift ideas.

Gift Ideas from Avon

1. Avon Far Away Collection.

Avon Gift Set
Image Source:Avon

Every time I see Far Away perfume, I smile to myself because it gives me fond memories. I recall the first time I ever saw this perfume was on my mother's dressing table,am talking about a very long time now. Out of curiosity I tried it on and its smell is one that has stayed with me since then. Many years on, a slight whiff when walking past someone and I can easily tell its Far Away. I love it.
The Avon collection is just like a perfume gift set and it includes :
-50ml Eau De Parfum Spray
-150ml Body Cream
-75ml Perfumed Body Spray
You Pay: £10(Worth £20)

2.Starr Necklace,Bracelet and Earrings Gift Set.

Starr Necklace, Bracelet & Earrings Gift Set: Avon

This is a very pretty Gold- Coloured plated Jewellery Set comprising of earrings,bracelet and necklace.
As Soon as I sighted this in the order brochure, I knew I just had to get it. I simply cannot wait to rock this gorgeous but simple enough for every day wear jewelry. My pictures did not exactly turn out well so had to make do with one from the Avon website, trust me these look really nice, I saw it on my friend who refused to let me covet hers even for a minute but rather would have me take crappy pictures of her jewelry set and buy mine instead, haha!
You Pay £7 (Worth £10)

3. Prepare to Party Gift Set

Prepare to Party Gift Set from Avon

Excellent Bargain I must say. This set contains all you would need to create your perfect day or night time looks plus the perfect addition of a clutch bag. When you purchase this gift set, the clutch bag contents include
-EyeShadow Duo in warm Cashmere
-Ultra Colour Lipstick
-Glimmerstick Eye Liner in Blackest Black
-Supershock Mascara in Black.

Do me a favour will you? This product is currently on offer, so, check out the prices of the individual items and grab yourself a bargain as quickly as you can.
You pay :£10 (Worth £28)

4. Spring Blossom Diffuser

Spring Blossom Diffuser from Avon

You probably would have noticed by now how much I love fragrances and Scents. If you have not then please allow me to tell you all about my weakness for scents and fragrances! I just could not say no to this Fragrance diffuser. It comes in a lovely gift box containing the diffuser, fragrance oils and some other related stuff. Plus this also came at a bargain I definitely could not afford to miss, so I was happy to include it in my order. Cannot wait for those lovely smells to waft through my home!
You pay : £7.50(worth £15, spend £8.50 across mother's day gifts and get it for a bargain price of £7.50)

Inspired with my gift guide? Let me know what you think and do feel free to share your gift ideas with me too.

Peace and Love X

**Image Source via Avon website and Google**

Meet my new best friend! Spanx In-Power Line Super Higher power Shapewear.

2015-02-27T09:00:00.001+00:00

First of all, I know I Joined the Spanx band wagon a bit late but for me its a case of better late than never!

I mean, why did it take ages for Spanx to locate me or is it simply a case of the other way round?

Spanx Shapewear: In-Power Line Super higher power

For quite a while now, I have been searching for the ''perfect'' shapewear to help do the needful. After two kids via ceasarian, my body has sadly refused to sync with my mind, haha! It now has a mind of its own and continues to grow in leaps and bounds! Lol.

At the moment I am a size 14 and I would describe myself as petite or small perhaps. Often times, when I am out with the kids, I get people asking me if I am minding them whilst their parents are away! I mean if anything, if people think I look too young to be the mum of my kids then it just means I am growing gracefully and I am very grateful for that.

To be honest, I am not going to push myself to do anything drastic in a bid to achieve a svelte figure and just as long as I am fit and healthy I am A-OK! So I absolutely love myself as a size 14 just as much as I love myself when I was a size 6.

Spanx Shapewear: Info Leaflet

Back to shapewear! Haha, typical me. So my search for that perfect shapewear has been a long and laborious one. I am not someone who would purchase an item because celebrities have been said to endorse it,Personal experience is key for me. Everytime I thought to try a new shapewear because the one I purchased had left me utterly dissapointed and had found a new home in the bin, I would say to myself to leave spanx to the very last option and try another brand and trust me I have tried quite a bunch.

However, my mindset totally changed two weekends ago. I had attended a reception dinner with hubby and I absolutely looked gorgeous in my lovely gown. Of course, I had a full slip shapwear on to help smoothen and hold everything in place. I found out very soon (and by this time, we were almost at the venue) that it would be an absolutely struggle to have the shapewear remain in place, it kept riding up and even worse was I spent the better part of the night struggling to keep it in place. Absolutely ruined my evening, total nightmare! ...Enter spanx! I had tried on quite a few brands and I felt I had finally gotten to my last option. Time to experience what all the fuss with Spanx has been about.

I was really wary on just purchasing anything from the Spanx website. It had to be something similar to what I have had in the past to give me good grounds for comparison so I settled for In-Power Line Super Higher Power. Then choosing the right size was another challenge. The size chart on that website is not exactly the most helpful, thank goodness for google and reviews. I finally settled for a size C.

Spanx In-Power Super Higher Power Shapewear

Delivery was quite quick and I could barely wait for the delivery person to leave so I could shut the door and get to serious business. My initial reaction upon unwrapping the item was one of shock! It looked so small and definitely not the most attractive piece of underwear I have owned! My heart absolutely sank but I did not let it deter me, after all there had been SEVERAL times in the past when I have had to squeeze my self into various clothing no where near my size just to give myself a reason to purchase it rather than giving up entirely because the store had run out of my size.

Anyways, so after much pulling,heaving,yanking and what have you, I was able to get it in place and it was absolutely worth it. I looked in the mirror and was absolutely pleased to see what it helped me achieve. Once I got it on, it felt comfortable, My slight tummy bulge was very well hidden and it held me firmly in all the right places. What is not to love about my new best buddie? I wanted to be sure, it would stay in place once I started moving around so I dressed up and went for a short walk and returned back home, I had to keep asking myself if I still had it on, it was absolutely comfortable I did not feel I had a shape wear on. I have worn it a second time after that and the experience was pure bliss! I felt no restriction or constriction in this shapewear and I am absolutely hooked on this so much I have now placed another order for a couple more different spanx shapewears.

As for me, the search for a ''perfect shapewear is finally over .I have found what I have always needed and it is indeed my new best friend!

Peace and Love X

''Speaky eyes'' with Spooky Eyes Colour contact Lenses

2015-02-23T17:36:00.002+00:00

A lot of people myself inclusive have tried contact lenses at a certain point in our lives. It could be for medical benefits or just for cosmetics purposes.

If you are one of the many people who wear contact lenses for cosmetic purposes then this post is for you. You are probably tired of wearing the same once beautiful but now boring colours lens every other day aren't you? Great!! because I am about to tell you how you can ditch boring for a vast variety of colour contact lenses with spookyeyes .

Image source : spooky eye website

Speaking of spookyeyes, they are the only site which brings a vast and amazing range of safe and easy to wear colour contact lenses with absolutely brilliant themes. I am talking about Zombie contact lenses,Vampire contact lenses,crazy inspired lenses Halloween and white out contact lenses but to mention a few. Speaking of safety and ease of use, you will find detailed information on how safe the contact lenses are,how to keep them clean and of course detailed steps on putting on and taking off your contact lenses, all sorted here!

If you are a naturalista like myself, (never mind how much I sounded like I really need to infuse colours into my life) they also do natural colour contact lenses so you can be rest assured you can still make your eyes do all the talking!

I was offered a sample of the coloured contact lens via etailPR, Although I wished I had gone for something much more brighter,colourful and perhaps daring, you see I am not so bold so I settled for the blue funky contact lenses, see what it looks like here . I chose to go with the blue funky contact lenses because I felt it would look very natural and not draw too much attention to my eyes and I am glad I did.

Warning:

I had to make myself look glam and also made a lot of effort with make up so please do not expect to see me look anything like the picture I am about to show you below if you run into me anywhere.Sorry! Haha!

Talk to the eyes! The eyes only!
Blue funky contact lens from spooky eyes.

So that's pretty much it lovelies. Would you like to try a natural look like mine or would you like to go a bit more colorful,bold and daring? Then visit https://www.spookyeyes.com/

Peace and Love x

**PR sample recieved via EtailPR**

Views and opinions remain mine.

Get Creative with T-Shirt Design Kits for children from BuyTshirtsonline

2015-02-17T17:58:00.004+00:00

Last week I was looking up fun activites to keep my four year old and her baby sister busy during the half term. My little girls enjoy playing outdoors but obviously,when the weather does not permit we settle for indoor fun play and activity which we of course never run out of. Our lovely home is full of toys, books and so much more to keep little ones busy. However, you probably know by now that with kids nothing beats a new toy or even a new fun activity. They are usually quick to ''forget'' their old faithful toys and fun activities when a new one surfaces which is exactly what happened when we received the parcel containing the T-Shirt design kits from buytshirtsonline .

Let me tell you a bit about BuyTshirtOnline before I get down to recounting our experience with the T-Shirt Kit.

T-shirt Design Kit from BuyTshirtonline

Its is a family run business that offers quite a range of products from wholesale T-Shirts,ethical and environment-friendly clothing, branded active wear ranging from Fruit of the Loom,Gildan,Stedman and Hanes all at pocket friendly prices.Their services also include digital printing and embroidery with a dedicated in house art department that can transform your ideas and sketches to a professionally designed T-Shirt. They supply local and international businesses irrespective of size and also have a friendly customer service team who will be happy to help If you are not quite sure of which items to order. Charities,schools,sports clubs and associations are also welcome to use their services. See more details on what they offer here .

So how did we fare with designing our own T-Shirts?

Obviously the T-shirt kit is meant for children so in this case I was happily offering adult assistance to my excited four year old who could not wait to try the T- shirt on once the design was complete.

The design kit sent to us contained the following:

-Fruit of the Loom T-shirt (2)
-Fabric Pens/Paint
-Tshirts Transfer of choice
-Instruction Sheet

T-shirt design Kit

-T-shirt Transfers of our choice.
For this, we chose a princess theme because my daughter loves princesses and sees herself as one. There is no disputing that she is because she is my gorgeous little princess!

Prince Themed T-shirt Transfer

Princess themed T-shirt Transfer

-Fabric Pens/Paints

Fabric Pens

-Fruit of the loom T-shirts (2)

Fruit of the Loom T-shirts(2)

...and of course, a well detailed information sheet containing instructions on how to design our T-shirts!

Design Instruction sheet

So we started off by drawing some designs on the T-shirts using the fabric pens provided in the kit. My daughter had a preference for drawing rainbows which she absolutely wanted no help whatsoever with. She was absolutely pleased with how her rainbow turned out and apart from a few colour smudges on various parts of the T-shirt I was also happy to see her express her creative side.

Colours of the rainbow! Beautiful!

Flowers and heart shaped detailing design

Heart Detailing Design

Since we had a spare T-shirt in her younger sister's size I also tried my hands out on designing as well. I did a few flowers and heart shaped designs on the spare T-shirt and finished it off by ironing the fabric transfers(face down so the image is on the fabric) onto both T-shirts for about 60-90 seconds, left the T-shirts to cool off and then carefully pulled off the checked backing paper (which the image was placed on) revealing the Princess.

Have a look at the completed designed T-shirts below.

Ready to wear Designed T-shirt :)

My daughter absolutely enjoyed getting creative with these T-shirts and to be honest, I really would not describe myself as the most creative mommy but I am absolutely proud of what I achieved with one of these T-shirts.

There is so much you can do with these T-shirt design kits, think Long holidays, Half terms, family visits,Stay overs or you just run out of ideas to keep the little ones busy and so much more. This T-shirt design kit is bound to keep the kids occupied for almost as long as they want, plus they also get to put their creative side to good use, designing T- shirts for the whole family! How cool is that!

However,bear in mind that when it comes to transferring the fabric designs on to the
T-shirts adult supervision is required so the kids can get busy designing the T-shirts whilst an adult takes care of Transferring the designs on to the T-shirt(s) at a later time.

Time to introduce the kids to something new? Visit buytshirtsonline to get your hands on one of these T-shirt design boxes.

Have fun!

Peace and Love X

**We were sent a T-shirt design kit in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and views express are entirely mine **

REVIEW: InstaNatural Youth Express Eye Gel

2015-02-11T20:53:00.002+00:00

Hello Lovelies,

Its mid-week and I don't know about you but I am really looking forward to the weekend; The only time when I attempt to sit back and raise my feet for as long as five minutes. Ok, let's not get into any lengthy weekend talks now, because I am going to need to tell you quite a bit about Insta Natural Youth Express eye gel.

Eye Gel by InstaNaturals

When it comes to skincare products, I am always very careful not because I am choosy but because I now know what I didn't know in the past about my skin, that my skin knows what it wants and what it doesn't want it definitely doesn't. As such, my daily skincare routine is just a tad above basic - SIMPLE pure soap bar and SIMPLE kind to skin replenishing moisturiser cream for my skin, Clarins gentle beauty soap and Johnsons daily essentials day cream for my face and twice-monthly I simply exfoliate with a Salux beauty towel scrub (CAVEAT: not for the faint-hearted) and HT26 exfoliating body cream and exfoliating clearing face mask to get rid of dead cells and reveal my skin's inner glow.

So you can imagine how undecided I was with regards to trying out the Youth express eye gel. Quite frequently, I wake up with puffy eyes which kind of drags on for a while into the day. I absolutely hate that it makes me look worn out and even more embarrassing when people ask if I am tired or if I feel ill. If you are someone who struggles to get enough sleep then you probably know what I am talking about!

I am happy I did not confine it to the bottom of my cosmetics drawer because I would never have been able to tell if the product works or not. First of all, obviously, as the name implies because it is a gel I like the soothing coolness it gives when applied in the puffed-up areas which are usually under my eyes and obviously with any product which is aimed at producing evident results, continuous and regular use is required and I have adhered to this by using it twice daily for the past two weeks now
(in the morning and in the evening) to be able to measure the level of results the use of this product has given me and so far the results are nothing drastic but I have not noticed any significant change to the target areas of use. I will, however, continue its use at least till I run out and then update post on further changes.

InstaNatural eye Gel

So what is InstaNatural Youth Express Eye Gel made up of?
The manufacturers pride themselves on the use of natural and organic ingredients devoid of parabens, sulphates and alcohol. Some Ingredients include:
Deionized Water, Organic Aloe, Matrixyl 3000, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-3, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Plant Stem Cells, Cucumber, Organic Jojoba Oil, Vegan Hyaluronic Acid, MSM, Amino Acid Blend, Euphrasia Officinalis, Organic Gotu Cola, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin, Wildcrafted Reshi, L-Alanine, L-Isoleucine, L-Aspartic Acid .....and a handful more.

Would I recommend?
Our skin and its needs are different. The product claims to offer a lot of benefits in terms of use so if you experience issues like puffy eyes, dark circles and related stuff perhaps it might be worth a try, see if it works for you. The gel comes in a 1.7-ounce bottle and as I do not need an enormous amount for each use I consider it will last enough for the next couple of weeks to enable me to continue its use and report back on any changes noticed.

Where to buy:
InstaNatural Youth express eye gel can be bought on Amazon for $19.97 dollars per bottle
(1.07 ounce). You can also visit InstaNaturals website here for more details.

That's all, for now, lovelies, catch up with you soon on my next post.

Peace and Love X

**Insta-Natural Youth Express Eye Gel recieved in exchanged for review**
All opinions expressed are my own.

Shinning in Black at the 2015 Grammy awards : My top five best looks.

2015-02-09T17:22:00.003+00:00

Hello, Lovelies.

So last night was a really busy one, well at least for the celebs especially with the BAFTAs and of course the Grammys! To be honest, I kind of goofed and by that I mean I managed to stay awake till the end of the BAFTAs and what happened afterwards I really cannot explain as I later found out this morning I slept off on the couch, I was very tired!

Anyways, turns out I didn't lose much as I had a bit of catch up with my sister who blogs here about the Grammys, who wore what and other celeb related gossip. I always enjoy chatting with her, she does know quite a lot and of course, she inspired this post because she knows how much I love black dresses.

There is something sophisticated, Sensuous and sexy about black and its just a colour you can never go wrong with. Black is classy and you really should have at least one staple black dress in your wardrobe, trust me you will thank me later for this little tip.

Ok, So here are my top five best looks..... In black of course

5. Beyonce in Proenza Schouler

Beyonce shines in Black Proenza dress
Image Source:Google

Beyonce comes in at number 5 in this black lace dress only because it seems like I have almost seen her in something similar to this, no I know now its not Deja Vu! She has definitely been in something similar to this on a red carpet and perhaps it's safe to say quite a number of times as well.
However, a queen remains a queen no matter what so Queen Bey I totally love how you pulled this off.

4.Kelly Osbourne in Christian Siriano

Kelly Osbourne in Black and white Christian Siriano
Image Source:Google

To be honest, I really cannot fathom what it is I like about this dress but I like it. It's actually very modest when it comes to ''WOWness'' but its kelly so I guess its ok. This might sound a bit odd to read but I tend to think because Kelly is a co-host on the Fashion Police show she will never commit a fashion faux pas. Anyways, this ain't all black everythang, call it polka-dotted or black and white if you want but I like the look and for that single reason Kelly Osbourne comes up 4 on my list.

3. Kat Graham in Yanina Coture

Kat Graham stuns in Yanina
Image Source:Google

Ok, I know I am cheating a little bit cos this is not entirely black but some of these dresses are irresistible . I mean look at this dress!! My situation with this dress is like me walking into a grocery store to pick just one item and next minute I am pushing a trolley to the checkout till. I was looking up celebs in black dresses then I saw this and could not get my eyes off it. Ok, I know some people might think it odd taste to even cast a second glance at this dress but I kind of love it still, although I would strongly consider less of all the white business running all over the beautiful black sheer.

2.Jessie J in Ralph and Russo Fall 2014 Couture

Beautiful Jessie J in Ralph and Russo
Image Source: Google

I love Jessie J because I think she kind of reflects her type of personality in her choice of clothes. She strikes me as a relaxed but versatile person. Almost every time I see her pictures such as this one, the only thing that comes to my mind is ''this is definitely someone who is comfortable in her skin and what she wears''. Jessie J to me does not try too hard with a fashion statement because she achieves it effortlessly.

1.Ciara in Alexander Vauthier

Ciara winning in Alexander Vauthier
Image Source: Google

Ciara takes the crown with this fabulous one-shouldered dress. I just cannot stop staring at this picture. This dress is effortlessly gorgeous and just makes me feel very covetous now, I really wish it was mine! Oh well! I just love this dress and it kind of totally wipes out any tomboyish memories I had of Ciara doing those crazy dance moves I secretly tried in the bathroom (sheer horror). She looks so beautiful, feminine and absolutely sweet. How very endearing.

That is definitely a wrap and I hope you enjoyed reading this piece.

Do let me know what you think, share your favourite looks on the Red Carpet with me.

Peace and Love X

**Images Sourced Via Google**

Fashion Edit : My Valentine Wish List

2015-02-07T02:36:00.002+00:00

Hello Lovelies!

Its been quite a hectic week and I am so glad its weekend again. You probably know by now how much I love weekends and look forward to it. Not to worry, I promise not to bore you with my weekend plans again so turn that frown up side down :)

Ok, so its february and its definitely my best month ever. You are probably thinking well, yeah it just means its another valentine,no big deal! But hey, its more than just that for me, my birthday is just a few days apart from valentine so its always a perfect opportunity to tell my DH to splurge on a few luxury items. Its almost always like ''ask and you will recieve'' and trust me I have learnt to ask wisely rather than on impulse. yeah,I grow wiser each year.

I always digress don't I? I was going to share my Valentine wish list with you but here I am talking about my birthday, ok that can wait. Lets talk romantic sweet nothings now.

Alright, I know a lot of us would love to share valentine's day with a loved one, you know, that special person or anyone you hold close to heart but sometimes, its just something that never comes around to happening. Its however not an excuse to give your self a bit of pampering. I mean sharing Valentine with anyone at all is not a set in stone rule but I think its definitely an opportunity to show yourself some love. I mean you can never love yourself too much , or that's what I think anyway. You can only love others as much by loving yourself first! Now that's something to set in stone and keep as your personal mantra.

OK,so I have no clue what I have been saying so far but you probably know by now I have simply been trying to build some kind of platform on which to introduce you to my Valentine wishlist. I don't think its working but if you have read up until this point then you probably should just have a look at what I intend to splurge on!

Voila! My Valentine's Wishlist!

1. Coast Damaris Dress

Coast Damaris Dress

For me this little number ticks all the right boxes for me and I am head over heels in love with this Coast dress. I love that it comes in what I call my most sophisticated colour, black. The well structured waist line, intricate lace details on sheer fabric and fine pleats makes it just so feminine and gorgeous to look at. Plus it comes in a decent length as well which means I can flaunt my pins as much as I want.I definitely intend going to bed tonight dreaming about myself in this piece!
Where to buy: John Lewis
£135

2.Asos Peace of mind pointed high heels

Asos Peace of mind pointed high heels

When it comes to shoes, I am always weak at heart . I just can never say NO! After much thinking and swapping and trying out a few pairs of shoes in my head I finally settled for this pair.For me,the beauty of these shoes lies in its simplicity. Now these are the kind of shoes that sets you in the mood to waltz to some romantic music. I mean, how can you possibly wear a pair of these and stay seated?! Its lovely and I definitely think it would go well with that lovely dress up there.
Where to buy: Asos.com
Was £48 now £24

3 Asos Pearl and Bead Embellished Box Clutch

Asos Pearl and Bead Embellished Box Clutch

I would describe my personal style as simple but very chic and sophisticated. I am not someone who loves to draw attention to myself but I like to add a bit of wow factor to my outfits if you know what I mean. I quite like the type of compliments I get at functions when people are like ''Oh! I really love how you look effortless chic''. It kind of gives me a confirmation that I am seen in the exact way I want to be seen, confident,mature and well put together. Speaking of wow factor, this gorgeous clutch bag completes my wish list look. I could hardly resist having a second glance when I came across it. Its heavily beaded with a combination of faux pearls and beads. It is sure to Jazz up any outfit.
I love!
Where to Buy: Asos.com
£38

4. Tiny Tudor Drop Earrings

Tiny Tudor Drop Earrings:Accessorize

I think this little piece of jewelry helps balance the look. Its very delicate and bespoke. I think it is just the right size of accessory to compliment the dress and would sit well with the dress and clutch. Its almost like they were made to compliment each other. I really cannot say much of this lovely piece of earring because I am simply wowed by the price and the beauty of it. #musthaves.
Where to buy: Accessorize
£7

5. Viva La Juicy Gold Couture

Viva La Juicy Gold Couture
Image Source: Google

My valentine wish list would never be complete without my signature scent. People close to me know I absolutely love perfumes and fragrances and yes, I have tried an unbelievably lot of them too.
However, Gold Couture has grown on me and I absolutely do not see any other perfume taking its place anytime soon.
Its made it to my valentine wish list because this is something I keep wanting more of and its being a case of replacing bottle after bottle of this lovely fragrance. This is my go to perfume morning,afternoon and night! I L-O-V-E it.
Where to buy: Check with your local perfume stockists as price may vary.

That's me done with my Valentine Wish list.Let me know what you think and feel free to share yours as well.

Peace and Love X

Its the nation Vs Cancer! United in the fight against the disease on World Cancer Day.

2015-02-04T00:49:00.001+00:00

The fight against cancer.
Image source: Google Images

It's world Cancer day and like several others across the nation and of course the world I am also lending my voice to a worthy cause. I am uniting with the rest of the world to show support for every one who has been affected one way or the other by cancer. This cause is strongly championed by Cancer Research UK and the theme this year sends a very strong message to cancer- #wewillunite!

United in the fight against Cancer
Image Source: Cancer Research Facebook Page

You probably already know just how much of a devastating disease cancer is and how much effort is being put into life saving research, geared towards finding a cure for this horrendous health condition. This continues to remain an ongoing process. Research will simply NEVER stop until that ground breaking discovery is made and just like me, you need to stay positive,believing that soon,very soon it will happen and of course we all can work towards making it happen by supporting the cause too!

I really don't want to dignify this devastating illness with too many words but honestly, thinking of all the lives and families that have been affected leaves me with just one strongly worded sentence for cancer :
"The world is uniting today against all forms of you and together we will beat all shades of you to it!"

Show your support and join the fight against cancer! Please follow link for further details: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/support-us/donate/world-cancer-day#donate

Image Source:Google Images

Peace and Love X

Have you got a Baby Blanket to spare? Dettol Baby Blanket Donation Campaign needs it for a good cause.

2015-02-02T10:00:00.002+00:00

Dettol Baby Blanket Campaign

It feels like it was just yesterday I held my brand new babe in my arms and gently cooed into her ears as we prepared to leave the hospital .I had previously bought quite a handful of baby stuffs and knowing how important baby's journey home was to me, I had gotten a very beautiful white blanket for that moment. I watched my husband as he gently wrapped my new angel in her pristine blanket, apart from sleepless nights we both looked forward to exciting times with the new addition to our family.

Its now been well over 10 months now,how time flies! A few days ago , I was just clearing out my baby's wardrobe as she seems to be growing very fast and I noticed a very neat pile of baby blankets which had not been touched in a while. about three of them had been gifts we received when baby was born but others had been from when I had my first child and they had not seen much use only because I hold a special preference for that first blanket my kids have had from birth, sounds like sentimental attachment.

So I simply thought to my self, ''How about you give some of these blankets towards the support of a good cause like the Dettol Baby blanket Campaign ?''

Let me tell you a bit about the Dettol Baby blanket Campaign.

The Dettol Baby Blanket was launched by Rachel Stevens,Ambassador of the Dettol Anti-bacterial laundry cleanser and of course a celeb mom . She donated the first baby blanket to the campaign with the sole aim of highlighting the shortage of baby blankets available to infants born to less privileged families and to also raise an awareness of the dangers of bacteria on baby blankets.

Rachel Stevens actively supports the Dettol baby campaign

Dettol estimates that approximately 50 babies are born into poverty with every passing minute of each day and these infants will unfortunately experience situations reflecting a lack of basic essentials including hygienically clean blankets.

Rachel Stevens

Rachel Stevens is calling out to mums,dad,parents to donate a blanket to the Dettol baby blanket donation charity campaign to help babies in need. Upon collection of the baby blankets, they will be hygienically washed with the Dettol Anti-bacterial Laundry Cleanser, an additive that kills 99.9% of bacteria even in temperatures as low as 15°C , leaving all blankets germ free before being redistributed to families.

Celeb mom,Rachel Stevens wants you to support a worthy cause too.

For every blanket donated, Dettol has pledged to donate £1 to Sparks- a children's medical Research facility dedicated to funding pioneering research to make an impacting difference to the lives of children and families affected by serious illness or disability.

I totally enjoyed reliving memories of my little's ones homeward journey, I most likely reminded you of some special moments didn't I ? You really should relive your precious moments again too, share your memories on twitter with @DettolBlanket by using #sharethememories

More details of the campaign and how to donate a baby blanket can be found here: www.dettol.co.uk/donate

**Disclaimer**

This is a charity campaign and I have received no financial rewards for this post.

However,a bottle of Dettol Anti-Bacterial Laundry Cleanser is being sent out to myself to try out as a kind gesture for supporting this good cause.

Moms and Dads! Read my review on the WEEKEND BOX (Plus get YOUR FIRST BOX FREE!!)

2015-01-26T09:49:00.002+00:00

Hello lovely people.

Its the start of another promising week and I cannot believe just how quick the weekend flew by.

I mean, I love weekends, mine is almost always packed with a handful of activities but I guess that's expected being a mum of two kids( four years and 10 months respectively) .

This weekend, I decided we should try something different.

A couple of days ago, I had received a cute little box of surprise from The Weekend Box . It is packed full of fun, creative and exploratory activities to keep my four year old entertained and busy for a considerable period of time. Although we were both quite excited, hers was understandably more as she would not stop asking me when she would get to find out the contents of the box.

Lovely box,my pictures do not do justice :(

Roll on Saturday and we finally opened the weekend box! First thing I noticed was that the content of our box was an Aztec themed one! So every activity in the box was centered around the Aztec theme. What fun way to play and learn!

The box contains four color matching Aztec themed activity bags with the contents of each bag involving a bit of cooking, exploring and of course making stuff, how creative! .

Each activity box includes an accompanying color matching instruction sheet and as I mentioned earlier, necessary materials needed to complete each task. There are also accompanying reward stickers for each activity completed and a somewhat bigger ''Finished'' sticker to be awarded when all the tasks had finally been completed.

I like that the box provides an opportunity to teach kids the importance of following through on tasks and being rewarded.

So here's what the weekend box contents looked like:

Green Activity with Hattie the Hedgehog- Aztec Parrot! My four year old and I made a colorful parrot while her younger sister looked on attentively. She was very eager to do this on her own but I reminded her Mr Maker(from Cbeebies) said Scissors is sharp so she gladly welcomed my help with cutting out the parrot's nose and also applying glue to get the parrot bits together.

Blue Activity with Sammy the Squirrel- Aztec Mosaic Coaster! Sadly, I only went as far as cutting bits and pieces for this task. My little girl was very excited to try out the designs on the instruction sheet on her own. It might not look so Aztec but I am proud of what she's done. After all the aim is to get her creative and encourage her to use her sensory abilities more.

Red Activity with Wooster the Rabbit- Aztec Hot Chocolate! This was quite fun to do. We simply made a cup of frothy hot chocolate using regular hot chocolate stuff and the special secret ingredient that came with the box for this purpose (You will need to get a box for your little one to find out what the secret ingredient is). It tasted really nice.

Add caption

Yellow Activity with Oswald the Owl-Aztec Pattern Prints! After much convincing, my daughter agreed we save this last activity for next weekend but I kind of tried this out visually in my head and I think this will be the most fun of all the tasks due to the amount of creativity involved.

My daughter, absolutely enjoyed completing each task. As a parent, the weekend activity box seems like an answer to thoughts of what to do on days when we have had to stay indoors perhaps due to unfriendly weather or other reasons. In the same vein, no longer do I also have to worry about ''what other thing'' to take along for a visit to the park with the kids, the weekend box is sure to come to the rescue. We obviously would not be cooking in the park but we can make more themed animals, get creative and explore! My daughter,has told me she is looking forward to telling her friend's in school about her new parrot she made over the weekend.

The weekend box would be great as a gift for kids between the age range of 3-6 years. Compactly sized so it fits through letter boxes with ease, It comes at a decent and pocket friendly price and it gets delivered fortnightly and monthly so this is something to consider if you would perhaps prefer regular subscription..

Would you like to try the weekend box too? The very lovely team at Weekend box are giving you the opportunity to get your hands on one of these boxes at no cost to you. Yes! you get your first box free.

Simply head up to weekendboxclub and order your first box for free using promo code SEUN195

Do let me know how you get on with the box. I hope you enjoy the activities with your little ones.

As for me and my little girl, we look forward to completing the last activity which is the Aztec pattern prints next weekend.

Peace and Love X

**Disclaimer**
Complimentary Weekend box was received for review purposes.
Unless otherwise stated, views,opinions and pictures are my own.

Health Supplement: Microbiome Plus+GI Probiotic (Giveaway contest included)

2015-01-23T11:37:00.001+00:00

Hello everyone,

Its Friday again! How excited are you? I am definitely excited as I am looking forward to a fantastic line up of weekend activities. So its has been a minute (well not literally but isn't that what anyone says when they have been away for a while?) and I thought I would drop by to say a quick hello and to tell you about dietary supplement Microbiome Plus+GI.

I was recently sent a month's worth of supply of Microbiome Plus+GI probiotic to try and I received these about a few days ago. I am yet to try out the product but that definitely does not stop me from telling you about it as healthy living and natural health supplements is something most people are interested in these days.

Microbiome Plus+ GI Information Leaflet

Pic taken by me

What is Microbiome Plus+ GI?

According to the manufacturers Micropharma, Microbiome Plus+GI is a new line of probiotics sourced from nature and intended to serve as dietary support.
There are currently 3 products available and each is intended for specific use.
Microbiotic Plus+ bone
Microbiotic Plus+heart
Microbotic Plus+Gastrointestinal

What are Probiotics?
In very simple terms, ''friendly and helpful bacteria'' that help keeps your gut healthy!
Naturally occurs in the body and can also be found in foods and supplements.
You are probably thinking now, foods?, Supplements? How is that?
Yes! Probiotics can be found in natural foods like tomatoes,onions,banana and also anything from yoghurts and dietary supplements such as the one I have been talking about.

Would I recommend the product?

No two bodies are the same and so are our health needs. What works well for me might not be well suited for you and vice versa.

I always advice that if you intend to use any health related product , please speak to you doctor before you commence its use.
Also as with most health supplements, please understand that it is meant to be a dietary supplement and as such should NOT be substituted for your regular diet. Dietary supplements are only meant to complement your diet and not replace it.

If you would like to win a month's supply of Microbiome Plus+ GI, simply drop a comment below listing the 3 Microbiome Plus+ GI products. Please remember to include your email address so you can be contacted if you win!

Winner will be selected at random.

**Giveaway is open to US and UK entrants only**

Have a lovely weekend.

Peace and Love X

**Disclaimer**

PR sample provided. Information provided is for review purposes only.
I have not received any monetary compensation for this review.
Unless otherwise stated, opinions expressed remain solely mine and cannot be reproduced without my consent.

Lashes in 3D? Lets talk about Younique 3D fiber lashes Mascara

2015-01-19T19:12:00.001+00:00

Hello lovelies.

I hope you had a fantastic weekend? It does fly by so fast and then its Monday and the week drags by so slowly! How unfair is that?! Yeah I know, so why not let me lighten up your day a bit? Lets talk about this new magic wand I stumbled on. Am talking about none other than Younique 3D fiber lashes mascara!! Am almost certain you have heard of it but if not you are not alone.

Image via Google

I must confess,I am not a big fan of make up but hey this definitely caught my attention. Its not like I would go without make up, I mean I always make sure to look good but I tend to tilt towards being an ''au naturel'' you know the ''I woke up like this look'' and I have found that only one make up brand has been able to help me achieve the look; Mary Kay. I have stuck to it for as long as I can remember (am talking 2006/2007, thanks to my lovely friend Sade who introduced me to the brand).

I did try Mac a few times but I felt so out of my skin, cos I thought it made me look older than I really was and more than anything else every time I stepped out of the house I seemed to feel like I was saying to people ''Hey! am right in your face!''. For me it was too bold a make up statement so back to ''au naturel'' it was.

Image via Google

The only issue I seemed to have with my preferred make up brand was the mascara.If you ask me to describe my eye lashes, I would say scanty,short, scattered or almost absent maybe? Being a lover of natural looks, I am not a fan of false lashes so I would usually find myself applying my mascara over 3 times to achieve a close semblance of how I would have loved my lashes to look, full and voluminous but all I usually ended up with was smudged and clumpy eyes lashes. How sad!

That's not to say I did not stray occasionally, you know I did try a couple of other brands as well like the L'Oreal false flash flutter, Volume million Lashes,Max factor false lash effect and a couple more I cannot recall now but I was not too impressed either. Lets just say my eye lashes does have a mind of its own! I since returned to the use of my beloved Mary Kay mascara and I have since gotten used to the fact that some things are just meant to be ...like my sorry lashes for instance.

Well, I digress a bit so back on course. So this weekend,I stumbled on this 3D-ish mascara which I am looking forward to trying. I absolutely cannot wait to find out what transformation my eye lashes will experience.

So far from what I have read and also heard, a lot of Glam ladies like you and me are giving this a big nod as its being said to readily create the perked up look you would achieve if you were to use the falsies (glue and lash extensions), apologies to my glam ladies with a love for lash extensions.

Image via Google

From what I understand of this mascara, mode of application might be a little err....lets say quite a process (although, I would let you find that out for yourself as I would do very soon) but I have been made to understand that for someone like myself for instance, proper application will take me from ''Mummy scanty lashes'' to ''Mummy full lashes'' which leaves me even more impatient to try this little wonder wand.

That's not to say there aren't people who are displeased with this product, there are! Its a world of mixed reviews for this product but for me I have read so much and heard so much that it leaves me even more curious to find out for myself what the hype is all about and if it would finally relieve me of my ''life- long worry'', you sure know what that is by now.

Well, I am going to have to make an exit now. An about to become mine, Younique 3D fiber lashes has been sitting in my online shopping basket for quite a while, I need to complete my order please!

Stay Beautiful, Ciao!

Peace and Love X