intu BROMLEY Peppa Steppa

Last weekend the girls, myself, our neighbour and her little boy went along to some half term peppa pig fun at intu bromley shopping centre.

We set off nice and early and made a pit stop at mc'donalds for lunch as a treat for the kids before we headed off to the peppa pig fun, We booked both the peppa stepp dance with peppa and a meet and greet in advance on the intu website both of which were totally FREE!

We expected nothing but a little dance and quick photo there was half an hour between each thing we booked after all it was free you really can't expect to much BUT each of the little ones also got some cardboard glasses just like the ones peppa wears, a little book with activities in to have during the peppa steppa dance where we learnt a special dance instructed by peppa.

When our time was up and we were on our way out of the little arena the kids also got a sticker and a sticker activity book with an RRP of £3.99!

All for free both me and my friend were really impressed we would have happily paid for the dance and meet and greet alone without receiving either of the books.

I'll be keeping a close eye on my inbox for emails from intu alerting me of anymore activities going on during the half terms.

Be sure to check your local intu shopping centres website to see what activities they have going on this half term.

I've been to IKEA!!

If you have me on facebook you would have no doubt seen my 'If I don't get to IKEA soon' outbursts that I had pretty often, If you also have me on instagram you'd have seen I FINALLY got to go yesterday!!

I have a fair amount of IKEA furniture (mainly in the girls room) for someone who has never been to IKEA but at last I got my hands on lots of cute little bits.

I've heard so much about IKEA meatballs and oh my! I have to agree how perfect are they I'm kicking myself for not buying a bag of frozen ones like I had planned to.

As a candle addict it would be totally wrong for me to have left IKEA without buying any candles or candle accesories so I just had to have one of each scent from the SINNLIG range. 

Once again I'm gutted I didn't buy some of the others I spotted! 

I planned to grab some bedroom furniture while there for our new room but money wasn't on my side and I decided to do the adult thing and get measurements of my room to be sure they actually fit before just jumping in and buying something I may end up having to sell because I don't have the space.

I'm a little gutted I didn't grab more than I did but that means there will be a next time and I can save lots before I go if I ask my aunty Shell very nicely to take me again! 

If there is anything you see that you'd like a price of please don't hesitate to ask.

 

Envelope Kites

Last bank holiday the girls came across some bubble wrap envelopes I had in one of my many junk drawers and asked if they could make kites out of them.

So they set to work painting their kites and used some ribbon I've had laying about for what seems forever, After they had finished painting their kites and they had dried we had a stroll to the park and put them to the test! 

They didn't work how I'd imagined with the wind catching enough inside to open them up a little but they done plenty of spins not as high as the girls would have liked but it was a great bit of afternoon fun.

Issy's fun factor ratings

Decorating fun factor - 1O/1O

Flying fun factor - 2/1O

Daisies fun factor ratings

Decorating fun factor - 1O/1O

Flying fun factor -3/1O

Glossybox | MAY

MeMeMe Enchanted eyes dual ended eye wand £6.95

Blue eyeliner is the key trend for spring and this dual ended eye shadow stick is all you need to effortlessly achieve the look. With two blue tones to choose from, it's never been easier to update your make-up.

Shop at www.mememecosmetics.com

I doubt this will be a product I'll use not because its a bad product but the blue is a bit to brave for me. 

Etre Belle Aloe vera ultra moisturising gel £15.93

Prepping your skin for summer has never been easier. For an instant rescue when skin needs a little TLC, this cooling gel hydrates by delivering moisture deep below the surface, in turn reviving your complexion. Whats more aloe vera makes for the perfect post sun soother.

Shop at www.etre-belle.co

This is one product from this months box that I'm looking forward to using! With the sun slowly making an appearance longer each day my fair skin is going to need it after a day in the garden.

Zerreau towel off shampoo foam £7.95

This is the next generation of dry shampoo- infused with a delicate apple scent, the towel off foam formula allows you to wash your locks without the need for water! It gently cleanses your hair leaving it silky soft and fresh.

Shop at www.festivalshampoo.com

I can't wait to give this a go my hair ends up greasy way to quickly after washing but I just can't get on with dry shampoo at all it never seems to make a difference appearance whys and just makes my hair sticky. 

If anyone has any tips on how to use it better please let me know!

SASS Intimate perfect skin concentrate £12

The perfect treat for your skin post shave or wax. SASS's concentrate soothes the skin and reduces hair regrowth, while exfoliating ingredients including salicylic acid and fruit enzymes delicately exfoliate to ensure ingrown hairs are a thing of the past.

Shop at www.boots.com

Collection cosmetics Field day lipstick £2.99

Step into spring with a stick of on trend pastel pink across your lips, courtesy of Collections new Field Day range. With a beautiful matte finish, it's the perfect ay to update your look in seconds.

Shop at www.superdrug.com/brandshop/collection

This is another item I doubt I'll ever use, again not because its a bad product just the shade of pink really isn't for me. In my march box I got both a lip paint and nail polish in orange and I was little bummed having so much orange in one box but now I'm pretty bummed I didn't get the peach shade I've seen someone else get in their box.

Total box value - £32.56

LUSH - May Day Bath Bomb | VIDEO

 

 £2.95 each 

 With fennel oil to stimulate your skin, and antiseptic rosewood oil to soothe and uplift. Its sweet, sherbety fragrance will leave you feeling calm and revived. 

 How cute is this little guy?!?

I missed out on the mothers day and Easter range this year (other than a fluffy egg that the bromley store still had)  So there was no way I was letting the May Day bath bomb pass me by to.

I didn't expect anything to exciting to come from the bath bomb as it's white but how cute is he tho and better yet the cause behind the bath bomb

For every one of these fruity, sweet-smelling bath bombs that's sold, all the proceeds (minus the VAT) will go towards the groups behind the Votes For Animals campaign giving animals a voice this election: Animal Aid, The League Against Cruel Sports, and Save Me.

Without a doubt I will buy this bath bomb again just for that reason alone.

 

Finishing Touches range by Card Factory

Now that I have a card factory local I've found it's become a routine for me to nip in just to have a look at whats new in the small display of home ware items, It wasn't until mothers day that I realized they done so much little bits for the house.

I've been hunting for pretty prints and inspirational quotes for the girls bedroom wall for awhile now and these were just perfect even more than what I was looking for as I was just looking for simple prints but these come in a frame which gives you the option to have it free standing or hanging on the wall.

All for £1.99

And who can resist a scented candle?

The camera really doesn't do the shades of the colours any justice at all they are beautiful, Unfortunately there was no "smile every day" ones left without the A missing on them. 

 The grey fits perfectly with my new bedroom colour scheme plans, They smell lovely I don't know how strong they'll be once burning but even unburnt the quotes and colour is enough to brighten up any room, They are fairly big for only £1.99 too.

I have no idea what I'll be putting in this little box but for £2.99 with such a lovely quote I just couldn't leave it behind. I'm thinking a little memory box of random tickets,photos etc from days out.

I also got a pack of 4 heart coasters Enjoy the little things written on them with a little holder for them they can be spotted in the left hand side of the first picture.

Do you ever shop in card factory for things other than cards?

Zoflora - Cherry Blossom

With a full house containing two little ladies,a pooch and a bike building man child it goes without saying that a good family friendly disinfectant is needed and it would be handy not to have a bottle for each room/surface.
Zoflora is just that!
Zoflora is a 2 in 1 action disinfectant and comes in many gorgeous scents, you can use Zoflora on floors,baths,tiles,taps,worktops,drains,sinks,dishcloths,toilets,potties and hard surface pet areas.
Zoflora can also be used in 4 different ways!
I'm much more of a spray and go girl as I get a bit carried away when it comes to diluted things and end up throwing half a bottle in because I like to have a full on whack in the face of scent so I love that Zoflora comes with instructions on how to turn it into a spray.
So I'll be getting myself a pretty spray bottle and be doing just that!

I first used Zoflora in my bathroom, Instead of a spray bottle (as I haven't got one yet) I used a small bowl and as I said above I get a bit cap full happy but done well and only used two as I could smell the cherry blossom almost instantly.
Zoflora lifted the bath water residue from the baths the night before really easily with just one swift wipe with a sponge, unlike most disinfectant/cleaners Zoflora didn't leave a harsh chemical smell which puts me off cleaning whenever the girls are around making it difficult to ever get done.
Now that I have a trusty bottle of Zoflora I can now get some cleaning done with the girls within earshot and not panic over the harsh smells.
I'll without a doubt be stocking up on different scents!

I was a little gutted to find the bottle wasn't as pretty as the box but that really isn't as important as whats inside!


*I was kindly sent a bottle of Zoflora in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts are my own

NEW LOOK | Sale picks MAY '15

Black ripped plolo neck, split longline top £6.00 down from £12.99

Gold plated headphones £7.00 down from £14.99

White grid check sleeveless £9.00 down from £14.99

Shell pink batwing sweater £5.00 down from £9.99

Best friends forever heart plaque £2.00 down from £3.99

Yellow grid print shopper bag £8.00 down from £17.99

Grey split side cowl neck longline sleevless top £8.00 down from £12.99

White caged espadrilles £8.00 down from £22.99

Black metal clip duffle bag £8.00 down from £19.99

Nothing to wear t-shirt £4.00 down from £7.99

Induction VS Natural | My experiences

As I've experienced both a natural labour and an induced one I thought I'd share my experiences and thoughts on them.

Natural

I was initially booked in for an induction with Issy once I'd become a week over my due date, With a stretch 'n' sweep done that morning little did I know that night I'd end up in labour.

When I arrived at the hospital to be checked over I was already 5cm so wasn't allowed home and had to set up camp for the night at 4:3Oam Issy was born.
My labour from being admitted to hospital until I gave birth was 7 hours and 36 minutes.
I was free to walk around the hospital and pretty much do what I wanted within reason, I had my own room with on suite shower + toilet a lovely spacious double bed to relax through my labour on, a little cot that looked like something you'd put fish in all set up and waiting for my baby.
I was left to progress through my labour alone with a buzzer for a midwife should I have needed one to pop her head in and reassure me of anything,
After giving birth we were left to have cuddles and to get myself sorted for quite awhile before I was moved onto the shared ward until visiting hours again
The whole process was a very personal and relaxed experience which I'd love to have again. 

Induction
After many bleeds and losing some of my waters in one I was booked in for an induction 2 days later.
I was finally admitted onto a shared ward after a bed shortage the day before and my induction being canceled not as personal and comfortable as before but bearable after settling in and waiting around for the nurse I was given my first pessary and strapped up to a monitor, I wasn't allowed to do anything but sit strapped to the monitor for a good 2 hours. Once that was up I was free to go for a walk if I wanted but couldn't stray far, Beside me I had a woman on the phone having a rant about how she'd been in for 3 days with still no sign of the induction working (YAY!) It was like that episode of F.R.I.E.N.D.S with everyone coming in and being wheeled out again while Rachael was still waiting on progress! A few hours later after not a lot happening it was time for my 2nd pessary and back to being strapped up onto the monitor not without a little girl go flying into it knocking the machine and half of the lady besides me family visiting when it wasn't visiting time then came the super niggles painful enough that it must be working surely? Time to be checked over 2cm's dilated (you've got to be kidding me?) With the night drawing in and finally reaching my limit of pain that wouldn't allow me to lay down  it was time I got some sleep along came the offer of pethidine after all the questions will it affect baby at all etc etc. She stuck that beauty in my leg along with an anti sickness injection PERFECT! So high you could have stabbed me in the leg and it's likely I'd have laughed at you. Then BAM! There goes my waters at last BUT Andy has just that minute left? His bike so loud I know for sure he literally just left so wouldn't be able to check his phone for a good 1O minutes (which if you read my birth story resulted in him missing Daisies birth)
So although it wasn't an awful experience it wasn't as personal as I'd have liked Andy was only really allowed in during visiting hours and having a ward full of women really didn't feel like a personal magical experience between me,Andy and my mum but one shared with a room full of people I didn't know, Of course that all changes once you reach 5cm's and you then get to enjoy the rest of your labour alone in a room of your own but I didn't get that as I shot from 2-3 straight to 1O very suddenly.
With no delivery rooms empty other than the girl opposite me being cleaned ready for her but with a Daisie crowning in the hallway while I'm sat in a wheelchair trying to hold her in I had to claim the room as mine half cleaned or she'd have been born in the hallway without a doubt.
I know not all inductions end up as hectic as mine but I really wasn't keen on the whole situation nothing felt personal to me but very rushed to get it over with to spare a room for the next person, maybe if I progressed nice and slowly I'd have had the personal feeling as I'd have been in my own room alone with Andy and my mum once I'd reached 5cm.