Goodbye 2O14, Hello 2O15

2O14 is nearly over and if everyone's Facebook status' is anything to go by I'm guessing it was a pretty crap year for a fair amount of people and they are more than happy to see the back of it.

We certainly had our share of bad news this year, I'm not going to bore you with how 2O15 will bring a whole new me because I can't even fool myself into believing it so I'm not going to waste my time trying to fool you guys! 

Andy has how ever made a new years resolution for me that he wants me to stick to, it's one I've promised myself to do many times and have failed miserably each time so here's hoping because Andy made it for me I stick to it.

Something as simple as 'treat myself more' is such a hard thing to do now that I'm a mum, I get so much more joy out of treating the girls and Andy but the time really has come to stop squeezing into clothes that do me no justice at all and look like I am actually human and not just wandered off the set of dawn of the dead.

By the time this is actually posted I'll either be sharing a kiss with Andy after the countdown or safely tucked up in bed (yay for panic attacks controlling my bed time!)

I hope you all have a wonderful time bringing in the new year and whatever it is your up to you be and stay safe!

Merry Christmas!

(source)

A very merry Christmas from my little family to yours!

Hope you all have a wonderful day. 
I look forward to catching up with your posts about how you spent your day

The Girls Christmas Eve Baskets

 *Please excuse the awful lighting*

I know you've probably seen many christmas eve basket posts from all of us excited mummy's BUT 

This year is the first year I've done the girls a christmas eve basket! 

Last year I left it way to late to make one up so this year I just had to them one each.

The baskets I got from eBay for a bargain price of £6.99 + £1.99 postage, I plan to re use these baskets every year so really worth the price paid.

 

In Daisies basket 

- Frozen mug/cup

- Smarties chocolate Santa

- Frozen busy pack

- Gingerbread man bath bomb

- Reindeer socks

- Reindeer food

- Magic reindeer dust

- Snowman soup

-  Antler headband

- Tube of jellybeans with a reindeer finger puppet

- Christmas book

 

In Issy's basket

- Christmas book

- Reindeer socks

- Smarties chocolate Santa

- Marshmallow lolly

- Antler headband

- The snowqueen book

- Reindeer food

- Magic reindeer dust

- Frozen mug/cup

Gingerbread man bath bomb

- Snowman soup

The Christmas Decoration SALES have started!

 

 Stags/reindeer's £2 each, Star £2, Silver bows £1,Leaf tree decs 5Op,Wooden tree decs 5Op,Pink stag tree dec 75p and Red tree dec 5Op

Yesterday while having my usual wander around wilkos to pass a bit of time before the last school run of the day it was only right that I paid the christmas isle a little visit.

After only being there that morning I didn't expect to find anything different considering I go in there everyday but to my surprise all of their decorations were now 5O% off!!! 

They were amazing prices before that so it would have been rude of me not to grab some wouldn't it?

THEN I popped into ASDA as I had some more time to pass there were those beautiful christmas cards down to £1 it goes without saying that a set of those beauties went straight into my basket! 

I've found myself stalking all shops that sell christmas stuff for any reduced items, I've noticed loads half price on the ASDA website but not many in store yet so be sure to check online first! 

 

 £2.5O
I fell in love with this the first time I saw it but we already had stockings so I never got it but as soon as I saw it was half price it was a sign that it had to come home with me! I'm dying to get my hands on another one to go the other side of my console table.

Bedding set £6 and cards £1 from ASDA

LUSH - Sparkler Bath Bomb

 As soon as I saw sparkler I was really excited to purchase and use it, I had alot of high hopes for it!

I finally used it the other night in the girls bath (I'm really late I know)

I don't know if it's because it has sat for some time but I was really disappointed unlike northern lights it didn't wizz around or resemble a sparkler at all. It frothed and hardly moved again I don't know if this is because it had sat for some time rather than being used shortly after purchase, tbh in the photos I took it looked like the girls had an accident in the bath rather than a bath bomb which is never pleasant.  When it eventually came into life it still didn't wizz around like usual when they reach the inside, it just sat pretty lifeless so I gave it the extra oomf! 

It turned the bath a yellow colour which the girls said was wee *insert monkey covering eyes emoji here*

It left the bottom of the bath covered in glitter which if my mum saw would send her into a total freak out! I was expecting to be there for some time scrubbing the bath trying to get rid of it all but with a quick run round with the shower the bath looked brand new again.

I'm gutted I didn't use it sooner, I think I'd repurchase again next year to see if it actually was down to it sitting for so long and reading other reviews on it.

 

 Did you get your hands on sparkler this year?

The Girls Non Chocolate Advent Calendars

The girls already had 2 chocolate advent calendars one from us and one they get every year from their school but when I came across these on the Argos website reduced down to £3.99 for the moshi monster one and £4.99 for the monster high beauty one there was no way I could leave them behind! Issy's become monster high obsessed since she saw my monster high dolls I got for my birthday (Yes I got some monster high dolls for my 23rd birthday) So that added to the MUST of getting them.

 In the moshi monster calendar each window reveals a micro figure, Daisie is mad on things like little figures ATM you'll even find her setting up a little play scene out of my tea light candles. She'll sit for hours playing away so this was just perfect for her. She's got a bit ahead of herself and opened a few to many doors.

The monster high one reveals a different kind of beauty product, I'm a little gutted that this one is set out in number order maybe I'm just a big kid but I love the mad hunt for the days number. So far Issy has got some eye shadows, lip glosses,lip balm,body glitter,stickers,hair bands, toe separators,nail file,hair clip.

I'd defiantly buy another toy based advent calendar for the girls next year and leave out the chocolate one as the school provides one every year for each child. Although Issy has asked for a Yankee candle one like my one next year, wheres my baby gone?

Did you get your little ones an advent calendar with a difference this year?
 

Stocking Fillers For Her - £10 & under | BOOTS

Each item pictured above can be found over on the BOOTS website priced at £1O and under, If you'd like a link to a specific item please do let me know :)

StarLyte Candles

The other week I don't know how but I came across 'theworks' website, Originally drawn in by all the Disney Frozen bargains for the girls Christmas eve boxes, Down the side popped up a glass jarred candle very similar to yankee candle for just £3.99? I have way to many candles but of course that beauty went straight in my basket and off I went on the hunt for more scents, I was more than happy to pay the £3.99 but whats that it's in the 3 for £1O gift offer?

I'll take every scent you have!

So in the basket went 3 16oz candles Mulled wine,Winter Cotton and Vanilla creme.

I grabbed the mulled wine for my mum as its one of her favourite scents and I can't seem to find one by Yankee maybe it has such a posh name little common as muck me hasn't cottoned on to it being mulled wine. I've had a sniff of this and now I'm dying to put in another order for one myself. 

I'm really not keen on the smell of this one it smells like I've opened up a pack of biscuits and it really bits my nose (best way I can explain it) It has quite a harsh smell to it, I have Vanilla frosting by Yankee which I wasn't keen on either and this smells identical so perfect for anyone that love the baking kind of scents.

Winter cotton is by far my fave scent out of the three so much so I see myself grabbing another with my next order along with the cinnamon which I spotted having a peek at the website the other day.

As soon as you open the jar your instantly hit with that fresh washing smell and it smells divine.

The label seems pretty christmas themed so it may be one that comes out at christmas time if I can bare to tuck it away until next year.

Have you tried Starlytes candles?

The Christmas Tag

(Image from google)

One

What is/are your favourite Christmas film?

The Grinch is one of my top faves! I'm so glad that its one of Daisie's too, lately every time I've asked what film she'd like to watch the answer has been the Grinch! Then ELF who doesn't love that film?

Two

Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

Christmas morning it just doesn't seem right to open them all on christmas eve but I always get my Jim jams from my mum on christmas eve so I can wear them through out christmas day! 

Three

Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

In 2OO9 when Issy was coming up to 2 years old I went stupidly over the top with presents so much so she ended up crying because she didn't want to open anymore presents.

Four

Favourite Festive Food?

This is where I get a bit boring as there's nothing majorly festive that I like but I LOVE my Brussels sprouts and pigs in blankets, A hot chocolate with whipped cream on top always tastes that much better in the festive season too but that's as adventurous as I get when it comes to festive food

Five

Favourite Christmas Gift?

The sally and doctor finklestein statue/figure Andy got me in 2OO9 from America as there is none in England is one of my top faves but each gift I receive I appreciate and love!

   

Six

Favourite Christmas Scent?

I love spiced apple, This year I have a few Yankee christmas scents and it's to tough to choose just the one! 

   

Seven 

Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

The girls always get their new pajamas or dressing gowns ready to wear for christmas day, Last year they got a bag of little goodies and this year they have a christmas eve basket full of treats which will come out and be restocked every year!

.

Eight

What tops your tree?

For the past few years its been a winnie the pooh holding a star which is my mums but this year its a red glitter star to match our red and white theme this year, I have my eye on a star made from twig style wood for next year.

Nine

As a kid, what was the one gift you asked for but never received?

I can't actually think of anything, I went through a stage of wanting a horse that I never got if that counts?

I never really asked for it for christmas tho.

Ten

What is your favourite Christmas song?
  'Fairytale of New York' by the Pogues is my all time favourtie I started playing it in November, Following that has to be Wizzard - I wish it could be christmas everyday!

 Eleven

 What's the best part of Christmas for you? 

 It has to be seeing the girls get really excited over a toy they've seen and knowing I have it in  my wardrobe waiting to be wrapped and then of course it's seeing how excited the girls get with the build up to christmas and then there's christmas day seeing their faces spot their piles of presents then getting stuck in with the unwrapping!!

I'd love to see your answers if you take part, Feel free to leave me a comment so I can check them out

#Nextmas Wishlist

VotiveCandles / 12PieceDinnerSet / HouseRulesFramedPrint / DuffleBag / PatchworkThrow / QuiltedBoots / PinkWatch / HeartKnifeBlock / JewelleryBox / MarcJacobsGiftSet

With Christmas on it's way I'm sure everyone is already sick of seeing wishlists but as I know Andy takes a peek at my blog every now and then it's only right I drop him some hints!

Is it just me with lists full of stuff for the house when it comes to christmas and birthdays since having my own house? 

With so much cute stuff on the next website its hard not to want half of it for your home, Everything looks so cosy and cute.

I've been after a Marc Jacobs perfume since laying my eyes on it, I have no interest in the actual perfume as I've never smelt it but I just need one of those gorgeous bottles in my life if the perfumes as gorgeous then bonus! 

Who doesn't love a new handbag and a fresh pair of boots?

I had a pair of quilted boots like this from Primark and I loved them but I wore them so much they ended up with fronts like Zippy's mouth as tempting as it was just to glue them back together it really was time to let them go.

If you spy anything you want from my list click the link below the image and it will take you directly to the item, Aren't I kind to you?

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

A little while ago I entered one of the amazing giveaways held by one of favourite bloggers raspberrykiss

and I was lucky enough to receive an email saying I had won!

I'd won a gorgeous bomb cosmetics gift set all wrapped so beautifully I'm yet to break into it because it's just to pretty but it smells so good that it's killing me not ripping it open.

HUGE thank you to Shannon for hosting such a great giveaway! 

If you don't already follow raspberrykiss pop by and have a peek I promise you won't be disappointed

Have you won any giveaways/competitions recently?

Snapfish phone app - 5O FREE prints a month

During the week I received an email telling me about the snapfish app which allows you 5O FREE prints a month for a whole year!
All you have to do is pay the £1.99 postage, I'm a sucker for some photo prints of the many snaps I take so it goes without saying that I took full advantage of the offer and made my first order.
2-3 days later they landed through my letterbox, A lot of the photos I chose I hadn't rotated so I expected to have some miniature pictures because they had been printed round the wrong way like I've had before when I never rotated my pictures with another photo printing company but for the £1.99 it wasn't a total loss if they that happened again but to my surprise every photo had been printed the correct way!
Each photo was one taken on my phone so I also didn't expect the quality to be all that but again the quality of each print is amazing considering the quality of phone pictures.
Safe to say I'm going to be taking full advantage of the 5O FREE prints a month offer without a doubt,You can download the app by simply searching 'snapfish' in your app store.
No code needed your 5O FREE print per month offer will automatically be applied when you download the app.

Have you tried the snapfish app?

LUSH Haul Nov '14

This is my first order with LUSH cosmetics new completely naked packaging! 

D'Fluff strawberry shaving soap 7Og - £5.75
 We’ve whisked up our shaving soap with fresh strawberries and cocoa butter to create a gorgeous bit of fluff that leaves you silky smooth. This marshmallowy treat contains coconut oil, golden syrup, and egg whites to create a light texture that makes de-fluffing a dream.

 

Luxury lush pud bath bomb - £3.5O
 Unwind (or calm down excited children) with this soothing bath bomb. Perfect before bedtime, drop this in the bath and watch it create pastel-coloured islands in the pink water as it fizzes and froths. Sharing its fragrance with Twilight bath bomb, the comforting tonka absolute, ylang ylang, and relaxing lavender oils will help banish tension.

Shoot for the stars bath bomb - £3.5O
 Paint the swirling colours of the night sky over the surface of your bathwater with this multi-coloured bath bomb. Drop this in your bathwater and watch it shoot around the bath releasing multiple colours before leaving a trail of quicksilver. As the spinning and swirling orb comes to a standstill, enjoy the sweet scent found in Honey I Washed The Kids and the calming, shimmering midnight blue water.

Golden wonder bath bomb - £3.75
 If you're wondering what's inside this golden bath bomb, give it a shake and drop it in the bath to reveal its glittering contents. Soak in its soft citrus fragrance as the vibrant gifts inside unveil themselves and make you feel as if you're bathing in luxury. The uplifting blend of sweet orange, lime and cognac oils will leave you feeling cheerful. 

Father christmas bath bomb - £3.5O
 A festive bath bomb to bring Santa's presence into the bath. Once you pop this jolly bomb in your bath, it turns your water from bright red to vivid green. This year, Father Christmas will fill your bathroom with the popular sweet scent of Snow Fairy. All we want for Christmas is this Santa, baby!

Cosmetic warrior face mask - £6.5O
 A gentle and balancing fresh face mask with antibacterial tea tree and fresh garlic working together to cleanse. Fresh green grapes clean and cool the skin, whilst free range eggs tighten its texture and antimicrobial honey leaves it soft and moisturised. Smooth a generous layer of this mask onto your face and leave for 10 to 15 minutes.

 and my free issue of LUSH times!

Have you had a LUSH haul recently? 

Make it personal with Snapfish

With christmas on the way you can't beat that personal touch for nannys and grandmas, My mums a sucker for a personalized calendar with 4 older brothers she is without a doubt going to end up with a fair few but she still loves them none the less.

On snapfish not only can you get your standard prints done but you can choose from a HUGE range of different things acrylic blocks,mugs,calendars (4 different styles not to mention a choice of sizes too) Christmas tree decorations,photo books,cards,posters,canvas and much more including animated gifts too!
With so much on offer it was so hard to choose what to get but in the end I settled for a calendar each for my mum and Andy's mum, a porcelain mug for my mum and a cheeky present for myself a gorgeous tree decoration.
It's really simple to do, I had a bit of trouble getting it to load the option to get photos from my laptop but got their in the end, to make it easier you also have the option to upload from Facebook too.
My items arrived in 3 separate deliveries but each one arrived one after the other and within 4 days maximum for the last delivery. I'm super pleased with the quality of each of my items.
While showing a friend the pictures I'd got ready for this review, she couldn't wait to get her hands on some for christmas presents this year.

Enjoy the company of that special someone, every time you take a sip 

 With my mum having arthritis in her wrists she struggles to hold a normal mug so as soon as I saw a porcelain one I just had to get her one with one of my favourite photos of her and my dad from when they were younger.

Start a tradition by creating your own collection of photo ornaments and adding to it each year. With a Porcelain star with your choice of photo in the centre.
As soon as I saw the option of having a photo of the girls in a christmas ornament I just had to have one, I'd love to add to my collection with a new picture every christmas of my girls as they grow. Will be on the list to get grandma and nanny one too!

 Share a year of smiles! 
Enjoy your photos every day of the year with a unique photo calendar.
When your a nanny of 12 and a great nanny 6 it's handy to have each of their birthdays jotted down to remember when they all are instead of having to write it down in pen and risk running out of space, Having it already printed in the calendar is perfect!
(Unless I'm doing up your calendar and not only get one of the dates wrong BUT also missing a few daughter in-laws birthdays out)
Snapfish offer 4 different styles of calendar each with a range of sizes and an even wider range of backgrounds to use.

Don't fancy having each birthday printed off? Or have a few birthdays in one day one being your own?
You can pop in a picture of the birthday girl/boy!
My mum not only shares her birthday with two of her sons but they are all born on April fools day I'm promise I'm not early and its not an April fools. So with each of the boys birthdays jotted down as well as a happy birthday message to my mum a picture of her as a little girl in the box just added that special touch!

*I was very kindly sent a voucher code in exchange for an honest review on items I purchased. All opinions are 100% my own

Winter Wants #1

Tartan cape / Knitted headband / Tube scarf / Checked oversized blanket cardi / Embelished bobble / 

Tan boots / Ripped knee jeans / Oversized jumper / Tartan scarf / Black boots / Embelished gloves

Christmas Decorations £1 & 99p

ALL items were either from poundland, 99p store, wilkos and card factory.
(Christmas throw £5 ASDA)

Yep it's November and all the christmas posts have started so have another :)
It's no secret I LOVE poundland and a good bargain, no christmas would be complete without popping in and buying loads of christmas decorations despite doing the same every year so they really aren't needed!

The minute the christmas bits start showing up in the shops there I am everyday stalking the isle like some kind of grim reaper waiting to spot something new as you've got to be quick, poundland is just like primark you've got to grab it while you see it or it might not be coming back!
This is just the start of what I've managed to grab this year so far minus the 4 tea light holders I really didn't need (I forgot to include them in the photo bundle)
There was another bauble to accompany that lonely little bauble at the back but my darling dog decided she'd eat it -_- 

Have you picked up any bargain christmas decorations this year?

Making Christmas Magical

Magic Reindeer dust 99p from card factory & Santa letter Asda £1

Each year I make sure we do all the little things that make christmas all that more special/magical while the girls still believe!

I'm a sucker for everything being magical but now Issy's older and going up in school she's showing signs of knowing Santa isn't real :( *heartbroken*
Now that she can read when I used the Santa fake call app to get them into bed the night before she done her own detective work the day after and read that it said fake and when she called he didn't talk back, I said it's because he doesn't speak to children before christmas only adults but there is no denying the fake part of the app name, Time for a phone password maybe? Then there the Santa's on the tele aren't real because how did they get in there? Oh to be a child again.

The writing to Santa, Christmas lists, Reindeer food, leaving out a mince pie,milk and a carrot, sprinkling the magic reindeer dust so they know where to land and Santa's special key hung on the door so he can get in,Letters from Santa,Christmas eve boxes this year I'm hoping to get my hands on some christmassy bedding for the girls too.
We do it all! I'm always on the hunt for other little things to make it magical while I can, I'm going to be that mum that's still doing this sort of stuff when my girls are 18 and while they are rolling their eyes and cringing.
 

Is there anything magical you do at christmas time to make it all the more magical?

Tartan VS Pastel Christmas '14

This year I was pretty sure my mind was made up on having our white tree up with tartan decorations, me and the girls wearing tartan dresses for christmas dinner BUT then I imagined a white tree with pastel decorations which also looks gorgeous in my mind! 

I've gone crazy on tartan so it's likely tartan will win the battle but I am thinking of a 3FT white tree somewhere with pastel decorations so I can be naughty and have the two. 

Isn't one of the rules as a woman if you can't decide go with both? As nothing haunts us more then the things we didn't buy etc?

Each of these items can be found on the Wilkos & Asda website apart frim the tartan heart and star tree decorations they are from poundland which I've already grabbed myself.

 

What colour scheme would you go for out of the two?

What colours are you going for this year?

 

LUSH - Lord of Misrule

Inspired by the ruler of the Pagan Feast of Fools, Lord of Misrule brings mischievous revelry to the tub with a spicy herbal blend of patchouli and black pepper oil. As it slowly froths in the water, hypnotic swirling silver luster is released and the deep green exterior soon gives way to a rich, wine-colored center. Just like at the Feast of Fools, when the wine begins flowing, the revelry really begins! Popping candies fizz and crackle, creating a world of magic and mischief right before your eyes.

I'm pretty sure I paid £3.5O but it's no longer on the lush website as Lord of misrule is one of their Halloween bath bombs so I can't be 1OO% sure.

I grabbed lord of misrule on my most recent trip to lush in Bromley they didn't have many of the ones I set out to buy but I finally got my hands on this one! 

Pink was one colour I didn't expect to see but as always LUSH always pack their bath bombs with all sorts of surprises, I loved how it left my bath looking like a watermelon until I climbed in and mixed it all together. 

I won't need to go into to much detail on colours etc as I have the video of my one up on my you tube 

YAY!

If you want to see regular bath bomb demos you can subscribe to my channel 'here'