Happy Sunday | Week Twenty Four

Whether or not you think Sunday is the end of the week, or the beginning of a new one, I thought it would be a nice idea to look back on the week that has just past and to look at the things that have made me happy and made me smile.
I think it can be easy to look back on a hard week and miss out on those things. A week of bad weather for example can really make it seem as though the whole week was a complete fail. But it probably wasn't. We must all smile at least once a day. I know I do, even if I forget it.

Things that made me happy this week:

 

Biking to see Friends

I made friends with a couple of mums on the school run and one of them has just moved close-ish to us. It's just a 10-15 minute walk and we had planned to go round for lunch and a play on Tuesday. At the last minute (we were running late) we decided to walk there and Charles went on his bike. He did so so well without his stabilisers but the poor boy ended up with sore calves and muddy legs because he had shorts on and kept having the pedals catch him. He was very polite when people came the other way and would stop and move to the side without me having to tell him.

Kippers

I've been a bit lazy with healthy eating recently. It's something I am really hoping to be able to sort out once Charles goes back to school and I am able to walk the school run again to give me the push to eat properly too. I mean, I'm not being too bad, but not as good as I once was.
Anyway, this week I had a kipper salad and my goodness, it was amazing. One of those lunches that you really enjoy making and eating and can't wait to have again.

Joules

If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen the issue I had with a dress I fell in love with but really disliked when it turned up. My nan had given me some money to buy myself something so I bought this with the money, so I decided to send the dress back and instead look at something else from Joules to get instead.
This blouse is beautiful and I was so excited to find it. When I looked earlier this year this shirt was only available in sizes 12 and 14...both were too small for me and I needed a 16 or 18. Now when I find the shirt again and need a 12 or 14...they only have an 18! I went for it anyway as I do like to wear these blouses oversized and on top of a vest, almost like a cardigan.
I think it looks great with skinny jeans and will wear it a lot, along with my others, in the Autumn and Winter.

Embracing the Waves

My hair is naturally wavy/curly and this week I managed to wash it in the evening but didn't have time to dry it so I stuck it in a pony for a few hours. Just before I went to bed I put my hair down and really quite liked the style it naturally went in.
The following day I had therapy and wanted to wear my hair down so I put some shine spray in it and gave it a little scrunch with my hands et voila! It went like this. I recently bought some hair tongs so I think I will use those to give the layered side a bit of a boost but it's definitely a style I will do more now my hair is shorter.

Writing

Harry has been waking up in the evenings recently. He comes downstairs to find me and on Thursday night I let him stay downstairs with me.
We both window shopped for a new handbag for me, and then he spotted my notebook. They are not allowed to write in it but I let him this time and I was glad I did. I have the most adorable pictures of penguins, a rocket with a smiley face and, for the first time ever, he wrote his name. I am so so proud. He saw me write it first and then copied me. He couldn't quite work out how to do a 'y' so instead chose to do a triangle instead....cute!!

The Green Mile

Odd one this one. The Green Mile making me happy, when actually at the end I sobbed and sobbed so much that I had to cover my mouth with the blanket I was snuggling under so I didn't really bawl. But you know, Tom Hanks, Tom Hanks and yeah, Tom Hanks. That's the main reason this film made me happy.
I think all of the actors are amazing, it is such a strong cast and I really like the storyline, the way the film is set and, just everything about it.
It's another film now added to my 101 things in 1001 days list.

What made you happy this week?

Linking up to:

The Ordinary Moments: Mummy Daddy Me

My Week That Was: Make, Do and Push

School Holidays Week Three | Reunions and Family

Week three of the school holidays was probably the one I was most looking forward to. My nanny and aunty from Somerset were coming over to visit and as we hadn't seen them since 2011, when Harry was a tiny newborn, we were super excited to see them again.
We were also really excited to be able to spend a whole week with my mum too.
We had a busy week planned with days out but then also with some time at the bungalow my nan and aunty had booked for the week. It had a beautiful view of the beach and sea as well as a big lawned area surrounding it which was perfect for the boys to play on and for us to sit and relax whilst my nanny had her afternoon nap.

Our days out were filled with visiting new places, and visiting places we haven't been to for a couple of years. Two of the days were spent in Great Yarmouth, as was the Sunday night as we went to watch the Stock Car Racing. Oh I love it! The smell, the sounds, the excitement. I did get a bit over the top squealy as the cars rammed into each other and crashed on the corner we were standing. It's expensive at £15 per adult but worth it for a fun night out.

Before we went to the Stock Car Racing (yep, I'm apparently writing about my week backwards for some reason) my husband took the boys over to his dads and I went for a girls meal with my mum, my aunty and my nanny. It was so lovely to be Lauren and to not be in mum mode. I wanted my nanny to see me as me and not as a stressy anxious mum wanting the boys to behave. It was lovely to be able to relax and enjoy each others company.
It's funny how your relationship with family members can change as you get older. I don't get to see my nanny that often with us living so far away, and it breaks my heart as I love her dearly, and although we are not OTT soppy I feel really close to her, and my aunties, despite the distance. I've always felt like we had a good relationship, like she respects me and appreciates me as much as I respect and appreciate her. So being sat with her, being able to have adult conversations, and joking about silly things was amazing.
 
I found myself just sitting and watching her at times and it made me feel so content. We went round to my mums house on the Friday and my nan was round there and it was the best, warmest feeling to see her sat in the dining room, talking to me in the kitchen, and then sitting in what is usually my seat. When I went back to my mums on the Friday evening, after we had enjoyed a lovely time at the bungalow and said our goodbyes, I burst into tears....again after we had been crying in the car. The image of my nanny sat there was still fresh in my head and it hit me that it's not something that I see as much as I want to. But it also made me feel overwhelmed with happiness that she all of a sudden became part of our everyday life. We're not sure she will be able to visit here again as it's such a long and uncomfortable journey so those images will always stay fresh in my mind.

My nanny made such an effort with the boys and I can't even bring to words how much I appreciated that. I do get very paranoid about their behaviour, even though I shouldn't because they are not that bad but I want to protect them, and me, from people judging us. I was so desperate for her to see that they are good, lovely boys and to see me as a good mum.
As we said goodbye and I tried my hardest not to cry and had to keep telling myself to let her go as my arms seemed to freeze, she said in my ear "They are two lovely boys you have there" and I broke down.
She knew the words I wanted and needed to hear.

It was quite possibly the best week of my year and although it was sad saying goodbye, so so sad and hard, we had comfort in knowing that in just 9 months time we will be visiting them. My husband is staying at home so it's a roadtrip for me, my mum and the boys, staying in a beautiful barn in Somerset.
The most exciting thing is that Harry will be meeting my other Aunty, and my Uncle, for the first time which will be super super emotional but I can not wait!
I'm counting down the days already.

I'm sharing happiness with My Two Mums Join in their weekly link up and share your happiness too.

CALAFANT Pirate Ship | Review and Giveaway | August #AsobiAmbassador

We were delighted to have recently been chosen as guest bloggers for the August #AsobiAmbassador project.
Our role consisted of us choosing an item from the CALAFANT model range, and reviewing it.

CALAFANT is 100% recyclable cardboard models that are easy to build, fun to decorate and wonderful to play with! 
Whether your little one wants to create their own fairy-tale castle, pirate ship or tree house, CALAFANT cardboard models make these dreams a reality. Using an extremely sturdy, yet light and flexible cardboard material, CALAFANT has made it possible for every child to have their very own magical escape! All pieces are pre-cut and pre-punched and can easily be put together without glue or scissors, thanks to the CALAFANT slot-system. Once their masterpiece has been built, children can paint and decorate it as they wish and the final result is a toy they take great pride in! 

I was a bit apprehensive about the model at first mainly because of it being made out of cardboard. With two boisterous boys I imagined it broken before we had even finished making it. However, I was surprised at how robust the material is and quite liked being proved wrong.
Although the boys wanted to do the majority of the building it was a little too fiddly so they just watched me. It was a bit confusing but once I got into the swing of it it was pretty simple.
Things we liked in particular:

1: How robust it is. I liked the fact I was able to completely build it without anything breaking, snapping or ripping.

2: The size. This pirate ship is listed as 'large'. I wasn't quite sure how big it would be but I feel the size is perfect for my boys. It's not too small and delicate so if they want to role play using it then it's not likely to get broken. It can sit nicely on Charles' chest of drawers without taking up too much space.

3: Decoration. I absolutely love the fact that children can decorate their models however they please. As you can see below by our final piece our boys decided to keep our pirate ship very very simple (despite encouragement from me to make it nice and pretty for the blog. Pfft)
With the boys sharing the pirate ship I liked that we could separate certain parts so they both put their mark on it.

4: Prices. The prices of these are so reasonable. It might seem like a funny thing to pick as something I liked in particular but my boys were really impressed by the whole CALAFANT range and I have the image of us collecting pieces over a number of years and ending up with a really nice display. The fact that this won't cost a fortune and will most probably now involve a big pile of CALAFANT wrapped presents at Christmas because of the reasonable prices makes me really pleased!

5: It's original. I love the idea behind this. I like that children can be involved in so much of it, from the building to the decorating. I love that it can be a really good project to get siblings involved in together or simply a task you can set one child to by themselves.

6: The detail. I was really impressed with the details on the pirate ship, and the other products in the range. The treasure chest was something the boys particularly liked, the opening portholes and of course the sails and flags at the top of the masts.

7: Age range. I think this pirate ship is suitable for a range of ages. Harry is 3 and Charles is 5 and both enjoyed it just as much as the other. I think it's nice to have a product which children of different ages can focus on and work together to build or decorate together.

If you want the chance to win one of the CALAFANT [large] Pirate Ships thanks to www.kindtoys.co.uk then please fill in the Rafflecopter form below.

Terms and conditions apply, please read these before entering.

Kind Toys are kindly offering 20% of all Calafant items throughout September using the code “CALAFANT”.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the reviews and giveaways by the other August #AsobiAmbassadors

Blog By Baby | CALAFANT Robot

Dancing in my Wellies | CALAFANT Pirate Ship

Susan K Mann | CALAFANT Robot

Innocent Charms Chats | CALAFANT Palace

Red Rose Mummy | CALAFANT Treehouse

Hello From Jo | CALAFANT Horse and Carriage

Bella and Bear 'Eye and Mighty' Eyelash Curler | Review

I've never been blessed with long eyelashes. I've always relied on a good mascara to frame my eyes and to give me the eyelashes I've always envied in others.
When I was a teen I tried various eyelash curlers, mostly the cheapest I could afford and I didn't really feel they made a difference. I think this was a mixture of the fact that they weren't the best on the market and that I didn't really know how to use them.

Now I am 28 I feel I am more aware of make up that suits me and also of how to use products. I suppose being obsessed with watching beauty videos on YouTube certainly helps now too.

My basic everyday make up has mainly consisted of eyecream, eyebrow pencil, concealer, and mascara as well as foundation if I really need it.
Sometimes the mascara will work perfectly, and at other times it's as though it doesn't want to play nicely and will leave my lashes looking like tiny straight spider legs.

Recently I was sent the Bella and Bear 'Eye and Mighty' Eyelash Curler. I was really looking forward to trying this, particularly due to the fact that I have seen a few beauty YouTubers using eyelash curlers and I wanted to see if, now I am older and a little more wiser, I could get them to work for me.
I was immediately aware of how good the quality is. Especially compared to the ones I used to buy as a teen. They are really comfortable to hold and to use. The pad is also really comfortable and doesn't cause any pain or nipping, again as the cheaper ones used to do. If used correctly the pads will never need to be replaced.
Due to past experience I didn't expect much from these, but I was still willing to try and to give them a go. And, I was amazed to find that they actually worked.
I have small eyelashes, and do have a habit of picking my mascara off at the end of the day which in turn, makes my eyelashes smaller and sometimes quite uneven.
Using the eyelash curlers alongside a really good mascara made such a difference to my lashes. Not only do they curl upwards but they also separate a lot better and create a better shape.

The Bella and Bear 'Eye and Mighty' Eyelash Curler costs £12.99, is available to buy on Amazon and comes highly recommended by me.

I was sent the Bella and Bear Eye and Mighty Eyelash Curler for the purpose of this review.

Frugi Outerwear | Review

A coat made from 100% Recycled bottles. Yes, that is the latest wonderful product we have been sent from one of our favourite clothing brands, Frugi.
The Explorer Coat has a water resistant outer layer with a soft fleece lining.
The boys coats are available in two colours. Navy with silver reflective stars on the pockets, the back of the coat and on the hidden pocket on the arm and a red with navy starred pattern all over the coat again with the silver reflective stars on the pockets and back of the coat.
We chose the navy coat for Charles as we felt this was the smartest design for him and the most appropriate for his age.

We ordered the size 5-6 and it fits perfectly. He has enough room for it to last this Autumn and Winter. The quality is fantastic and I am confident that it will keep in the same perfect condition until Harry is old enough/big enough to wear it.
The length is great too and I really like that it has a dipped hem at the back making it slightly longer.
Charles loves that this coat is "snuggly and really soft. I like the hood and the secret pocket on the arm that I can put secret stuff in".

The coat costs £46 which is reasonable given it's quality.
Perfect for school or for general wear we highly recommend this coat. Now we need some rain so he can put it to good use!

We were sent this coat for the purpose of this review.

Happy Sunday | Week Twenty Three

Whether or not you think Sunday is the end of the week, or the beginning of a new one, I thought it would be a nice idea to look back on the week that has just past and to look at the things that have made me happy and made me smile.
I think it can be easy to look back on a hard week and miss out on those things. A week of bad weather for example can really make it seem as though the whole week was a complete fail. But it probably wasn't. We must all smile at least once a day. I know I do, even if I forget it.

Things that made me happy this week:

 

Therapy

I had my second therapy appointment this week. I am really determined to try and get to the bottom of this whole anxiety/depression/OCD/Social Anxiety stuff and I felt that this week was a really good week. My therapist is wonderful and I really feel like I can trust her as a professional, and that she understands me and wants to help me.
We looked this week at problems in my past and how they affect my thoughts, behaviours and emotions now.
She's also been giving me homework which has helped and is good for me to be able to sit down at home and to think about things for the next session.
I'm really looking forward to my session next week and hope that I continue to progress.

Emma Bridgewater

I had some Amazon vouchers to spend and immediately purchased some hair tongs leaving me with £10. Well, you have never known of someone to umm and ahh and stress so much about what to spend £10 on. I could have saved it, but no, I wanted to spend it NOW. I could have spent it on little Christmas presents to put away for the boys, but no. I could have spent it on dvds to extend my Tom Hanks film collection, but no.
Eventually though I found these two Emma Bridgewater items that I could not resist. I have lusted after Emma Bridgewater products for a while now but the price tag has always put me off.
The past two or three weeks I have felt really bogged down and unorganised when it comes to my blog, this has then made me feel really stressed and I got to the point where I felt like I was struggling to cope.
Despite having various notebooks with a schedule plan I still continued to get muddled. This Day to Do notepad is IDEAL and made a change instantly. It's so easy to be able to organise my posts and to keep a track of. At £6.00 I felt it was a really good investment.
I couldn't resist to also buy the matching 'Write it Down' pen. Ok, I would never usually spend this much (£4.99) on a pen but look how beautiful it is.
Harry has a tendency to break pens so I am going to make sure he does not get his hands on this beauty.

Birchbox

I was sent the August Birchbox to review [you can read my review here along with an exclusive Birchbox discount code]. I really love getting things to review which I truly enjoy and would purchase for myself, as well as something that I maybe before would have been put off purchasing for whatever reason. The Birchbox was something I would like to purchase but had reasons not to (worrying that products wouldn't suit me) but my mind has definitely been changed.
I also really liked getting this because it was something for me, and gave me an excuse to pamper myself and look after myself, which all ladies need.

 

That Skirt. And Summer Meeting Autumn.

This week I went to the cinema with the boys and my twin brother. I didn't really know what to wear as it was a little bit windy. Considering we would be sat down most of the time I decided to embrace the seasonal changes and wear my uber comfy Clarks wedges whilst I can alongside one of my favourite skirts. This skirt had very little wear last year due to not fitting me and being too small....now it is too big but fits ok perched on my hips with a tight top holding it in place. I love the colours in the skirt and will be wearing it a lot in the Autumn teamed with tan boots and tights.

His Comforter

I always wanted my boys to have a comforter. They didn't have dummies and due to breastfeeding just used me as their comforter. They will occasionally take toys out with them, and for a while Charles used to take cars to bed with him every night. Before he could count he knew exactly how many cars he took to bed and would know if he had lost one. He would take around 15 or so to bed so how he knew he had lost one I don't know!
Harry is attached to his big Mickey Mouse teddy. Mickey comes with us on a lot of adventures and journeys despite being so big. Harry loves carrying him on his shoulders, because Mickeys legs get tired.
I really love how we have to treat Mickey like he is a member of our family, a real person. He gets strapped into the middle seat in our car, he was sat comfortably on the bench next to Harry when we ate in Nandos and even had his own seat in the cinema.

Takeaway Coffee

On Sunday we headed up to the Midlands to have lunch with my husbands Aunty and Uncle and then to head to a 100th Birthday party.
We got up later than planned and whilst I was getting ready the boys had their breakfast and then we had to rush out of the door....meaning I missed out on my morning cup of coffee. After we picked up my mother in law on the way we stopped off at my favourite garage (yes, I have a favourite garage, the Rowley Mile Services on the A14 if you were interested) and my husband grabbed me a Latte. I hardly ever have milky coffees now as they make me feel really ill, but I can't resist a Wild Bean Cafe. They didn't have any of my favourite Hazelnut syrup so instead my husband used his initiative (he is a good boy) and gave me a shot of caramel instead. It was deeeeeelicious.
Sometimes it's the little things your partner does that you really appreciate. My husband really gets my need for a coffee on a long journey and always makes sure he gets me a good one.

What made you happy this week?

Linking up to:

The Ordinary Moments: Mummy Daddy Me

My Week That Was: Make, Do and Push

Equip+: A Waterless Wash | Review

Life on a boat has it's struggles. We have to make sacrifices when it comes to things we usually take for granted. Water is limited so we have to limit how many cups of tea and coffee we have. We use alcohol gel on our hands instead of using the sink.

We spent 4 nights on the boat and struggled with the lack of washing. We couldn't find any showers near where we were moored so the baby wipe wash was all we could manage.

When we got home I noticed a delivery from Equip+. Equip+ sell a range of waterless wash products which are ideal for anyone who camps, goes to festivals, holidays in a caravan or takes mini breaks on a boat...so basically anyone with limited access to a bath or shower.

I was sent a variety of products to try, and unfortunately due to another boat deciding to not follow simple sailing knowledge and managing to crash into our boat we haven't had a break on her since the end of July, so I used the products at home instead.

I really love the idea of these products and in terms of boating they are ideal as we have limited storage and want something we can use and then throw away. 

To get a negative out of the way first, the only product I didn't like much was the Waterless Shampoo Cap. It was easy to use and surprisingly made my hair wetter than I thought it would, and when I first brushed my hair I was convinced. But after less than 5 minutes my hair became really knotted and felt quite dry and coarse. After washing it with my normal shampoo it was back to normal.

I can't say that I wouldn't recommend it, because I think the idea behind it is genius and really helpful, but it didn't suit me therefore I wouldn't use it again. Everyone reacts different to particular shampoos so I guess I just don't react well to this one.

The other products I really like. 

The Protective Wipes contain coconut and Canadian Willow Herb to help soothe the skin. These gives the wipes the most beautiful scent which along with the wipes themselves makes you feel really clean. These wipes include a 6-in-1 Formulation for your most private places. Cleansing, moisturising, anti-itch, barrier protection, deodorising and soothing.

The Oversized Wipes are not too dissimilar to the protective wipes. These contain coconut extract for cleansing, aloe vera for soothing, and organic Karanja Nut glycerin for moisturising. I really like these wipes and again felt clean after using them. The scent is nice, although not as pretty as the Protective Wipes.

The pack of 4 Super-Thick Wash Mitts are brilliant if you need that feeling of a thorough wash. These are individual spun-lace mitts, strong enough for large areas and hard to reach places.

The sizes of the wipes and mitts was perfect I feel and I particularly liked that they are large and not "baby-wipe sized".

The wipes are all dermatologically tested and pH balanced. Clinically tested and safe for skin.

Other than the shampoo cap I would repurchase the wipes and mitts as I think these are essential items for any holiday or mini break where showering isn't practical (or indeed possible).

The Equip+ range is available to buy in Sainsburys and Tesco.

 We were sent these products for the purpose of this review.

Rockabilly Kids Toothbrush | Review

I can't even tell you how many toothbrushes our boys go through. Too many, it's actually quite ridiculous. They are constantly falling on the floor or being taken into other rooms in the house and ending up lost in toy boxes or under the sofa. Very hygienic right?!

I think the best thing for children is to have a fun toothbrush. Something that encourages them to clean their teeth and to keep their toothbrushes safe (and clean) on the windowsill.
The Rockabilly Kids Toothbrush, from Stand Up and Smile, is just right for any child and is Europe’s first self-standing toothbrush. The patented product also promises to make cleaning teeth a lot more fun!

This innovative product has been approved by dentists and is without doubt the most hygienic brush in the bathroom! The cleverly designed toothbrush will never topple over, something Harry and I spent quite a while testing. Seriously, it's very entertaining and quite addictive. It avoids the need for a toothbrush holder, which is alarmingly considered to be the 3rd dirtiest item within an average household! *

There are 6 designs and colours available, all of which really appeal to children. Each pack comes with 3 replacement toothbrush heads, along with one which is already attached to the toothbrush. The reason for this is that the toothbrush then lasts for a whole year (as toothbrushes are supposed to be replaced every 3 months). With an RRP of £6.99 I can't see any reason to not purchase one of these fantastic toothbrushes for your child.

 *The National Science Foundation in the USA rated the toothbrush holder the 3rd dirtiest item within an average household. They found an average of 30 % more coliform bacteria (a family relative to both E.Coli and Salmonella ) when compared to a typical toilet seat.

We were sent the Cowboy Rockabilly Toothbrush for the purpose of this review.

Fancy Dress T-Shirts | Review

I always find it quite cute seeing a little Spiderman or Superman walking around the zoo. Or a Princess Elsa walking around the supermarket.
So far we've only had one occasion where Charles has wanted to go out dressed as Spiderman, and this was to a boat exhibition. We let him wear the costume because it was fun for him, and it made everyone smile as they saw him.

Online store Kids Tshirts has a wonderful way of children being able to embrace their favourite characters, or to be able to pretend to be someone they aspire to be, without wearing a full costume.
This makes it a bit more suitable for particular occasions where your child may want to wear a costume and it doesn't quite fit the dress code, or may not be very appropriate.
These are also great for fancy dress parties where a child may want to wear trousers (or a skirt) rather than a full costume.
The t-shirts are designed in-house before being printed onto every colour of t-shirt imaginable.

We were sent a tshirt each for the boys. I gave Harry the choice of which tshirt to choose for them both and he chose the Turtle Power in Purple for himself and the Dragon with Wings in Green for Charles.
Although these are not people or creatures they aspire to be, Harry thought these tops were 'lovely and really really good'.

The boys are not yet at the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle phase, although did watch it at a friends recently and really liked it, so Harry wasn't really aware of what he had chosen although knew it was a shell. For me and my brother though, it brought back a lot of memories from our childhood. The tshirt is available in the four colours to suit each of the turtles in the tv programme.
The fit is perfect and the tshirt washes really well.
The dragon tshirt is also a great fit and Charles particularly likes pretending to breathe fire at us all. The wings on the back of the top are a great detail which the boys found particularly fun, along with the green glittery scales.

These tshirts cost £9.99 and £10.99 which I think is really reasonable for a tshirt with this much detail. I love the variety of tshirts on the site, and may be tempted to purchase some of the Christmas themed ones in December.

We were sent these tshirts for the purpose of this review.