Summer Primark Haul | Fashion & Beauty

Hands up who loves a good Primark haul?

 The giant of the high street is not a place I get the chance to visit often anymore, but if I do happen to be in the city centre it's hard to resist having a look.

There aren't many shops with such a vast range of products - from staple basics like tights and vest tops to on-trend childrenswear, a revamped beauty offering that's been garnering praise from professionals and high fashion pieces at super accessible prices. 

And of course we all know it's scientifically impossible to emerge empty-handed once you've gone past those shiny glass doors. My mum was up visiting from Cornwall recently and she wanted to pop in and stock up on a few things because they don't have one where she lives.

I'd almost forgotten how much of a thrill it is chasing down the gems in there, and I found quite a few this time - I had to do a serious basket edit before checking out.

Here's what made the cut...

How To Travel In Style - Whatever Your Budget

Seeing the world is an adventure that is high on most people's bucket list.

And whether it's spending months trekking around South East Asia living out of your backpack or flying to the top VIP suite in Las Vegas on your Cessna Citation X+, everyone wants to feel good when they travel.

But if you don't have the champagne budget, is it all out of the question? Can you have the trip of a lifetime without unlimited funds?

It turns out that travelling in style is just as much of an attitude as a credit card limit. You can have the A-list experience without living on beans on toast for months to fund it. Here's how…

Kiss Lash Couture Triple Push Up & Extensions | Review

My quest for perfect lashes is something that will never end, and they are a topic which regularly features here on my blog. 

Some women may be born with naturally long, thick, curly, Disney Princess lashes but alas, that hasn't been my fate.

Whether it's trying out the latest faux mink flutter or learning how to do my own eyelash extensions, a bit of lash loving is always on the agenda here.

So when I spot some new lashes that look gorgeous, I can't resist giving them a go.

Mama Style | Wild About Easter

How did the Easter holidays treat you this year? 

It was an unbelievable weekend of constant sunshine where we live, so it really felt like an actual holiday. It was the perfect blend of spending time as a family, hanging out in the garden using our pizza oven, meeting family and friends and doing Easter egg hunts with the kids, trips to the park and tackling a few outstanding jobs around the house.

Of course, all these quick-fire weather changes can be a little confusing when it comes to what to wear. At the start of last week, I was still in my thermal tights scraping frost off the car windshield in the morning, so to suddenly be in 24 degree heat was a little surreal - I had to hurriedly pull out a couple of the summer pieces I'd bought recently with holidays in mind!

Life, Lately | April 2019

Welcome to spring! With the beautifully sunny Easter holiday we've just had, it really feels as if the seasons have turned a corner.

I tend to go into serious hibernation mode post-Christmas, and as a family, we had a couple of setbacks at the start of the year - serious illness and bereavement in both sides of the family.

And so it has felt like 2019 got off to a very slow start. Finally, everything is feeling fresher and brighter.

Latest In Beauty | Sunday Times Style Awards Edit

Okay, so I did say I was through with beauty boxes for a while, but I also said I was easily tempted and here we are!

While I have cancelled my regular sub to LookFantastic due to being thoroughly backed up with items I haven't used, the Sunday Times Style edit with Latest In Beauty was being so buzzed about on some of the beauty groups I'm in on Facebook that I couldn't ignore it.

You can pick your own items from a selection of products shortlisted for the Sunday Times Style Awards, and there were several things I really wanted to try.

This is only a one off, once a year box but apparently last year's sold out super quickly, and although I saw quite a few people saying the options weren't neatly as good this year, I'm happy with what I picked.

The Beauty Edit | Part Two

Recently, I shared some of my hot new beauty discoveries here on the blog. And because the best movies always have a sequel, and there are a few more items I've been loving, here's part two.

Mama Style | Dotty About Culottes

Quite often, my life doesn't feel very put together, so sometimes the only remedy is to take refuge in clothes and try to create a look that is. 

Although fashion won't fix all your problems, it can put a little smile on your face and give your day a lift. I've never been one of those girls who just look cool in whatever they wear, and it feels like style is a secret language that I don't speak.

That's why it's quite important to me to share outfits on this blog, in a way. I want to fly the flag for those who struggle a bit with fashion but love it anyway.

Look Fantastic Review | March 2019

Beauty boxes have long been a favourite indulgence of mine.

As a make-up junkie, the idea of a surprise box full of beauty treats popping through the letterbox each month is too good to resist. I love to make new discoveries and also to have and endless supply of minis to take on holiday with me!

Four Simple Hacks For Easy Natural Beauty

Skin, hair and nails are all essential elements in making us look and feel good, but we face a daily battle from the outside environment, UV rays and pollutants when it comes to keeping them in good condition.

You may think that unless you have a hefty budget, great personal care routines are out of reach, but that couldn't be further from the truth. A few simple routines will keep your skin glowing and your hair well conditioned, and they don't have to cost the earth.

The changes below are easy to make - and they've all been scientifically proven to help you look your best.

The Beauty Edit | New Products I'm Trying

So let's talk all things make-up.

It feels like quite a while since I did a post purely focused on the new products which are rocking my world, and there's a few things I've been trying lately that I've really enjoyed and come to rely on.

As a mum of two, I'm short on time but still quite fussy, so I tend to like products that offer multiple benefits in one hit.

Getting my glam on has always been a part of my identity and motherhood hasn't changed that. I still love to make new discoveries when it comes to skincare, hair and makeup but equally, I know what I like.

How To Survive Maternity Leave Like An Absolute Boss

There's a word I learned recently that I love. I had never heard it until a couple of months ago, but instantly, instinctively, it made sense to me.

That word is ‘matrescence’, and what it refers to is the process of becoming a mother - like the birth equivalent of ‘adolescence’. There are a lot of parallels, really - both emotionally stormy times when your life (and your body) is transforming beyond recognition.

I believe this word should be more widely known, because it acknowledges the journey that you have to go through to earn your motherhood crown.

Being a mama is more than just the biological accident of reproduction. It's a hard earned process of growth, a story of sacrifice, ingenuity and learning to love harder than you ever thought possible.

Romilly Hero At Six Months

It's time for a little personal update, and I wanted to do a post about the milestones that my daughter, Romilly Hero, has reached.

I've never been good at filling out baby books, so it seems a nice way to record how she is now she's reached six months old.

The last six months have been the quickest of my life. Having two kids to take care of is a game changer because every minute of the day is pretty busy! So much has changed already and I'm actually now thinking about going back to work in a few months.

It's made me determined to really enjoy the rest of my maternity leave, and I've been lucky enough to make some really lovely mama friends along the way - people I know I would be friends with even if there weren't kids in common.

Tili Box | Be Kind Edition

Couldn't we all use a little more kindness in our lives?

As kindness and self care seem to be growing themes within the world of beauty and all of our busy, frazzled lives, the latest Tili edit stepped into the trend with a collection of products called ‘Be Kind’.

This beautiful, watercolour box of treats are centred around giving your wellbeing a boost. After the slight disappointment of February's Look Fantastic box, I decided to treat myself to the Tili offering - you know exactly what's in the box ahead of time, so no chance of not enjoying the contents!

Mama Style | Friday I'm In Love

Ahh, the mama life. A land of cold cups of coffee, sticky fingers and never being able to go to the toilet on your own. I didn't choose the mama life, it chose me.

And while I'm very glad it did, it does mean that ‘dressing up’ now generally becomes ‘scooping the least soiled item out of the laundry basket’. And I'm okay with that a lot of the time, but other times I think that putting together an outfit just helps me to reclaim a little piece of me.

Travelling With Tots : The Insider's Guide

Image

Love travelling with toddlers? Relish a long-haul flight with small people? Unlikely! If you haven’t set foot on a plane since those school trips to Russia, then you should know that things have changed, a lot.

While it still isn’t the easiest thing travelling with small children it doesn’t have to be as traumatic as you might think.

We bring you the insider’s guide to air travel with tots, how to cope and what to expect.

Look Fantastic Review | February 2019

Did you have your heart broken this Valentine's Day, or were you loved up?

It was the season of love for the beauty sub boxes, as they plied us with products to make us gorgeous and date night ready.

Only for me, it's the first month that Look Fantastic have really missed the mark (plus, I was the only sad person in a very empty gym on Valentine's night, as Sebastian had been struck down with man flu). I saw a spoiler thread in one of my beauty Facebook groups, and tried to cancel, but as you're tied in for a three month cycle, I got the February box anyway.

Read on to find out why I was disappointed….

Can You Make Your Home Look Endlessly Modern?

Image 

This is the question that every homeowner wants to answer. Obviously, if you live in a house for an extended period of time then you’re going to need to renovate.

However, we’re talking about things breaking down or wearing out. You shouldn’t have to renovate every few years because your home design starts to look outdated.

Still, how can you avoid that? Can you make your home look endlessly modern?

Here are a few solutions that might help you out.

Monthly Check In | Are You Still On Track With Your 2019 Goals?

How did January treat you? Are you still on track with your goals for the year, or have you given up and fallen face first into a pile of chocolate cake five minutes after you uttered the word diet?

Motivation and willpower are funny things. Most people aren't very good at them (my husband is, but I'm pretty certain that he's a robot).

I usually fluctuate pretty drastically - I'm an all-or-nothing kind of person. January actually went pretty well for me with some goals, but I still have a way to go and I've focused on some more than others…

It's Time For A New Hobby - Need Some Inspiration?

Image 

How much more Netflix can you take? Temple Run on your smartphone? Reading books on your Kindle?

These three hobbies are popular for a generation of techies who want to sink into their smart devices. The problem is, when you spend all day long in the office staring at a screen, the last thing you want to do is go home...and stare at a screen!

If you’ve ever found yourself wishing you can think about picking up a new hobby, now is the time. You can do any of the screen-related hobbies, of course, but that doesn't mean that you cannot do something new!

Planning The Perfect Wardrobe | 2019 Essential Edit

Above all, style should always be fun. So why does it sometimes feel like such a headache?

I feel like I've spent much of my adult life trying to work out what I like, but over the past few years I've begun to feel like I finally get it. It's probably an age thing, but I feel like I've gotten to know what suits me in terms of colours and shapes, and what I will actually wear as opposed to what's destined to hang unloved in the back of my wardrobe.

My goal is a fully integrated, well edited wardrobe that epitomises my style, covers everything I need and excites me. It's a dream closet based around neutral shades, gorgeous materials and beautifully made basics.

Look Fantastic Review | January 2019

LookFantastic’s monthly beauty box subscription has always been a brilliant mix of up and coming brands and established favourites, and out of all the boxes I've tried it's never really put a foot wrong.

So when this gorgeous pale blue box of loveliness landed to brighten up my grey January, I was as excited as ever.

The contents of January's box were hand picked to tie in with the resolutions of having a fresh start and a cleaner life that most of us have at this time of year.

BFF Mama Style | Leopard Loving Lady

Are you loving all the leopard print this season?

People tend to love it or loathe it, but I must say it's something that's always in style with me. I just love the way it can inject some vibrancy into a look.

In my eyes, leopard is a neutral and I love to clash it with other prints, especially stripes. I've gone a little bit mad with the print this season as there are so many fabulous pieces around - I'm going to look like a brunette Bet Lynch at this rate!

10 Signs It's Time For A Career Change

Image

Once upon a time, we all started out in one job. And we then stayed in that one job until it was time to retire. But those days are long gone.

Joining one company at the age of sixteen and then retiring with a healthy pension at the age of sixty isn’t really the done thing. In some ways, that’s unfortunate, but in others, it’s a good thing.

Sure, working for a company that then gave you a good pension was smart, but what happens if you started out in a role or an industry that you’re really not all that keen on? Or maybe you were kind of pushed into one route when you really wanted to do something else? What could you do about it then? Well, not an awful lot.

These days, we all have more choice. WAY more choice. Because getting onto the right career path in the first place can take time. And sometimes, it may even be a good ten years into one career before you realize that it’s just not right for you. Because you change and companies change and what was once a great fit, might not be anymore.

Yet it’s easy to want to ignore that. When really, you need to be taking it in and then making sure that you do something about it.

So if you are thinking that you might like to make a career move, but you’re kind of ignoring it, let’s take a look at why it might be right for you.

The Year Of Living With Less

It started with a Christmas jumper. A funny item to trigger a realisation.

I had ordered one I ‘had’ to have for Christmas day. It needed to be mine. I placed my order, but a couple of days later I got an email to say that the dispatch had been delayed. It wasn't going to arrive in time.

Immediately, I found another stockist and placed a duplicate order, chucking a handful of other items into my basket while I was at it. The next day, predictably, the first one turned up.

Why was I so desperate to get my hands on a novelty jumper that I would order two, plus a load of other stuff I didn't want or need?

I looked around me - a wardrobe overflowing with items I've never worn. A dressing table stuffed with untouched cosmetics. A bathroom packed with ‘spare’ toiletries.

What on earth was I thinking?

Suddenly, I began feel suffocated, oppressed by the sheer weight of my belongings. It was madness.

Tili Beauty | Urban Jungle

Beauty boxes are something of an addiction for me, as you can probably tell from the many times they crop up here on the blog.

But there's really nothing like a little piece of delight swooping it's way to you through the post.

One of the standouts for me in the past has been Tili. Curated by QVC, who are actually the Uk’s biggest beauty retailer, it's usually a clever mix of cult favourites and up and coming products.

It's not a monthly subscription and it just seems to come out as and when, but it's usually worth catching. I didn't order the last couple, but when I saw ‘Urban Jungle’, their latest offering, I knew I had to get on board!

This box is all about the rigours of city living, with pollutant-shielding formulas, skincare designed to detox and makeup to act as your urban camouflage.

Why Are Diamonds The Perfect Gift?

Image

Buying a present is never an easy task. You want to purchase something that is going to stand out from all of the other gifts. You want to wow your friend/partner/family member with the thought you have put in and the innovative present you have selected. You don’t want to go for anything cliché.
However, you want to make sure they like it at the same time and that it is something they are going to get a lot of use out of. Finding this balance is not easy, especially when you have to buy a new gift year after year.

Hello 2019 | My New Year Goals

How did 2018 go for you?

Our year was steady and pleasant, with the one big change of our daughter being born. Last year, knowing the baby was on her way and all the chaos that happens when you have a newborn, I wasn't too strict with the goals I set for myself - deliberately going for the realistic approach.