A Few Mothers Day Gift Ideas

It's a bit of a comfort post for gifts, some snuggly treat ones!  I'm a sucker for a candle but I also am very particular that the majority I burn are natural or soya wax (Diptyque a huge exception to the rule).  One of my absolute favourites is the Parks Aromatherapy range which I grab from TK Maxx for £9.99 a candle.  I like to light them at night time especially.

This was a larger one in the most beautiful glass jar.  (stunning vintage roses - Aldi)

They burn evenly so there's no waste.  

You can pick them up in store and in HomeSense but there's a few lovely gift box sets online here. 

The Clarins hand cream above I bought from duty free last year but at the time John Lewis sold them as a trio set.  It smells amazing but there's another set out currently that has a lovely range of scents.  

Clarins White Flowers Trio Set £25

As we've got the candle, some nice hand creams it would be wrong not to include the Queen of all comforts - a nice new hoodie!  Love this one from Uniqlo and grey is my perfect sweater colour. 

Hoodie £24.90

Whilst we are on the grey jumper side, the lovely Susie So So popped this one up on her Insta feed the other day.  So up my street.  80% merino and 20% cashmere and a great price too. 

Cashmere Merino Cable Jumper £55

And finally, a firm fail safe gift for me, something Emma Bridgewater!  I popped to Bicester Village at the week-end (no pleasure for me, watching my hubby spend his birthday pennies!) and saw this gorgeous new print called Rainbow Dots.  They had a few pieces in but there's only 6 in the range anyway.  I just really fell for it.  I think the candle and jug were my favourites but was in a rush so not the best photo's I'm afraid but you get the idea.

Plate £19.95 (£12.95 at Bicester)

Rainbow Dots Flower Candle £17.95 (Bicester outlet were cheaper - around the £10 mark)

Rainbow Dots Jug £34.95 (£25.95 at Bicester)

Well ok, I did window shop....This Gucci scarf and bag was on my 'lust list' from December.  Santa obviously thought I wasn't well behaved last year.  No comments please.  Bag stayed in stock (reduce it more Gucci?!?!) scarf didn't but just came back in - when I've totally spent all my Christmas and Birthday money.  Life just isn't fair is it.  I will leave you with these beauties.  Princess signing out now.  

Quick Manicure Tips

I was asked by one of my lovely followers over on Facebook if I had any tips on good nails as she wanted to start doing them herself.  Well yes, I do have a few!  I will admit I don't have painted nails often, I would love to but with one child still in nappies the hand washing (and a little light OCD with the house work) doesn't allow.  However I have mastered a fairly good manicure routine when I am in need of one.  I have got into some good maintenance habits this year, partly I think due to my time spent working in London as I had to always have well groomed nails.  My swear by hand cream is Clarins, I put this on every night.  I  would love to say during the day also, but I forget and just using this at night seems to be enough to keep my hands and nails in good condition.  The only other one I find works nearly as well is The Body Shop hemp hand cream, it is a fraction of the price.  Oh and I think the Queen uses this one?!?

I keep my nails short and tidy with Wilkinson Sword nail scissors.  They are at least 10 years old and have stood the test of time, I even use them on my girls.  I find clippers are too harsh on my nails, they tend to snap more.  I then use Mavala emery boards (my Mum put me on to these) and file in to the centre of my nails.  I hear the glass emery boards are amazing but I have a stash of the mavala ones at the moment so I've not tried them yet.  Only this year have I purchased a buffer (yes I know, I am a little slow with some things).  I really notice a difference when I use this as I have developed a few ridges across my nails now and not only does it blend them but I feel the polish sticks better to them also.  You literally just buff quite vigorously across the whole nail.

During the course of the week I apply a cuticle oil to my whole nail and massage partly down my finger.  I do this probably 2-3 times a week before bed whilst I am switching off and watching an episode of Sex & The City (I work my way through the series, currently on season 5!).  It then has time to seep in.  I love Solar Oil due to the almond smell but have been told any oil will do.  I have also started gently pushing my cuticles back whilst in the shower sometimes. The moist air and hot water makes them really easy to do.  Then before a manicure I use a wooden stick ( I find the metal too hard to use myself) to push them back some more, always after soaking in warm water first.  I don't do my cuticles all the time, it just depends how bad they are and how much time I have.

So the polish. I always apply a base coat, previously Mavala but currently a Helen E one.  If you don't you run the risk of yellow nails.  Now my top tip, always allow time between your coats.  If for example I need them painted for the Friday, I will apply the base and one coat Thursday night once the kids are down.  One coat dries quicker with less chance of smudging whilst you sleep.  Then I will do the second coat before I jump in the car for an appointment (or sometimes whilst sat, strapped in the car so I then don't smudge them moving around!).  If you have a good half an hour in the car driving somewhere this is perfect as again it's only one coat to dry and as you have a base and previous coat it adheres really well.

I am a little slack and don't apply a top coat.  Usually this is a time thing, I just can't factor it in but if you do have time then do, it will probably make them last longer.  As for the nail polish itself, I pretty much use all brands.  I love the colours Chanel do but they stay put best on my toes in the Summer, no more than a day on my fingers usually.  I like Essie, OPI, Jessica but I'm swayed more by colour than brand.

I'm no pro, this is just what works for me.  I hope that helps Jo! x

New Years Resolutions Update

I am going to keep on at myself as no one else will, they are my resolutions to fulfill so if I write about them more frequently, hopefully I will succeed more!

1.  Getting measured, well I did.  And to my amazement I wasn't wearing the wrong size just it was far to loose!  After being strapped in properly, my current bra's didn't feel so bad but they are old and pretty much at the end of their life.  I was given a different style to try which fitted so well, but didn't give me the cleavage I was after.  A week later and they went down to £6, so I have purchased but they are currently still sat on the hangers.  I know at 32 I really do need to realise my petite frame up top isn't going to magically grow over night but no one is happy with what they've got, so a push up bra has always been a must for me.  I will let you know if the 'good fit' style ever leave their hangers!

2. Reading my magazines on time.  Well I have a huge back log.  Who throws out old magazines without reading them?  I just can't!  Even a year old big fat glossy mag deserves a quick scan through, you never know what you might find.  I am trawling quite quickly through my 'Style' magazines so I'm hoping in the next month.......

3. Manicures.  I have semi booked one!  Provisionally booked 2 dates whilst I get my head around the child care.  Over a month in advance, how organised!  Next is a free facial voucher I received after buying my Clarins hand cream months ago.  I need to book that one in pronto, my skin needs seeing to.

4. Water (pinched from fellow blogger Avril).  I think this one needs post-it's stuck around the house to remind me.  Is it only me or does anyone else just forget to drink?  Food I never seem to forget, drink, I could go hours upon hours.

5. No experiments with make-up to report on, it's been a busy month so far!

Not make-up but this last week I have been trying Sudocrem on my breakout of blemishes (I would like to say hormonal but in reality, it's down to the chocolate, end of).  I have read about it several times but as I had a pot open for the baby's bum (!) I thought I would give it a go.  I wouldn't say it made them disappear over night like some reviews have suggested but it definitely dried them up quicker so I will be using this little trick again.  It doesn't rub in so well, so you only need a pin head amount but it sits there doing it's job overnight.  I love reading beauty tips like this that I can try without spending any extra pennies.

My Beauty Must Have's!

Clarins Hand cream - always on my Christmas list as an indulgent hand treat. I love love love the smell, not too greasy. Cheaper alternative The Body Shop's Hemp Hand cream - great for the Winter months and just tried their Rose and Almond versions too, lush!

Lancome Hydra Zen Nuit (Night!) Cream - a random airport purchase from my hubby (pre hubbyness!) as he knew I liked the brand, I now won't be swayed on this. I recently purchased the day version in the duo pack and also rate this. Always have a separate night cream, skin laps up the extra moisture at night.

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream - a cult miracle product - even just recommended it to my friend for her 4 year old's chapped skin. Use it on anything! I apply on lips before bed, hang nails, sores, you name it, I apply it!

Elnett hairspray - Been using for 6 years + now. Recently tried a free trial sample of another brand, gave me sticky hair! A golden (literally in the packaging!) oldy that doesn't skimp on quality.

Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash - I love this smell! It wakes me up in the morning, refreshing and cleansing. Great price, doesn't dry out my skin. Easy pump for shower use, cheap and fab!

Clarins Eye Contour Gel - after being told to start 'treating the problem' of dark circles under my eyes (several blogs down!) I was given a sample and I am hooked. I only use in the morning as is so refreshing and I really do believe in it. Doesn't crease under make up and my darkness with time has faded. Yet to hit the spot with an eye cream for the night, still work in progress.

Shopping list item; (aside from my London Fashion Weekend date this Friday, wooohoo!) is a colourful lipstick. Lipgloss, wind and long hair = a nightmare. Noticed that am just slicking on a gloss in ease, they are pale and do nothing for my complexion. Have a Boots voucher so am off to the Chanel counter for a pocket treat of luxury colour!