Skin Care Staples // TEN Anti-Aging Range

One of my upcoming favourite skin care companies have released a new anti-aging skin care range. Made in Italy, the TEN anti-aging range includes four essential skincare products which actively fight the ageing effects of photo-damage, fatigue and lack of moisture. It is made with "no nasties" and is free from parabeans, ethanol, SLES, formaldehyde, dyes, colour, phthalates, lanolin, soap, paraffin mineral oil and nitrosamine. It is suitable for sensitive skin and has been formulated to reduce the risk of skin allergies. The range includes;

Anti-Age Revive Eye Contour Cream, RRP £29.70, 30ml

Anti-Age Complete Rejuvenating Care Cream, RRP £34.50, 50ml

Anti-Age Luminescense Skin Exfoliation Care Cream, RRP £29.70, 50ml

Anti-Age Instant Lifting Cream, RRP £34.50, 50ml

My Thoughts

Sprucing up the Bedroom

Gorgeous designs from Linens Direct.

I'm always wanting to update various parts of our home, pinning away all my ideas on Pinterest. But, lets face it, all those ideas and dreams soon mount up and my bank account soon brings me back to reality! However, there are some really inexpensive ways that you can spruce up rooms in your home. One room, which is actually very easy to update, is the bedroom.

P.Y.O at White House Farm, Norfolk

This afternoon we spent some quality time as a family, wandering around orchards and pumpkin patches at White House Farm, Norfolk. I had been searching for a place to take Darcie for a while now, and managed to stumble upon this this place online. I'm so glad I did, because its such a wonderful little find.

Life Lately // Instagram

The last week or some have been pretty lovely. I have been fairly quite on the blog front, but I've been taking quick snaps over on my Instagram to share with you all.

Welcome to October Half Term!

Its that time of year again, October half term! October half term is one of my favourite breaks, it feels like its the most needed out of all the holidays through the year. Any other teachers agree? I'm looking forward to spending it with family and friends and of course getting ready for Halloween! We haven't got many days out planned, we wanted to just go with the flow and see where the week takes us. I think sometimes its better that way.

#DolceGustoBloggers // Ristretto Ardenza

Ok, its another coffee post... Is it safe to say I'm an addict now?! He he he, ok, I'm not quite an addict as I only have one coffee drink a day - but I certainly can appreciate good coffee. Today I am introducing you to Nescafe Dolce Gusto's latest addition, Ristretto Ardenza. I was very kindly sent this beautiful hamper of goodies, including this latest release, to test drive.

#OvernightCoffee Thermos Winter Showcase

Yesterday I was incredibly lucky to have been invited to Prufrock Coffee by Thermos to discover the art of coffee and their fantastic winter product showcase. It was an early start, with a 6:40 am train journey into London - the first time I have visited London all on my todd! Being a little unsure where the venue was located, I wanted to give myself enough time if I got lost! But, apparently I'm an expert navigator and arrived in plenty of time! On arrival we were greeted to humongous pastries and asked to try some coffee which had been in the Thermos 1.2l Vacuum Insulated Beverage Flask since yesterday evening. The coffee was very hot and deliciously smooth. 

Healthy Halloween Toddler Treats

Healthy Halloween Toddler Treats with Aldi 

With Halloween just around the corner, we decided to take on Aldi's challenge to make some healthy Halloween treats for little ones. We were kindly sent some ingredients and some ideas of some rather spooktacular treats. I have to admit, I haven't really shopped at Aldi's before but I have been pleasantly surprised. The price of the items gobsmacked me and did wonder whether quality would be risked - but it hasn't! I'm looking forward to discovering more that Aldi has to offer in November, when one opens in our town. Anyway, I digress, lets look at these tasty treats!

My Best Buddy // Silent Sunday

Mummy B xoxox

Dream Bathroom

Bathroom ideas

Bath's are my escape time, relaxing in a sea of bubbles whilst watching the latest episode of a TV series I'm following or a reading a good book, is definitely my favourite kind of 'me' time. Our bathroom is fine, but we haven't done anything to it since we brought the house. The house was brand new when we bought the it, so really it doesn't need anything doing to it - but we would love to decorate it just to put our stamp on it. One thing we do need to buy is a new bath panel as our's cracked. Whoops.

Baby Loss Awareness Week 9th-15th October

During the 9th to the 15th October 2014 is Baby Loss Awareness week, where throughout the week bereaved parents, family members and friends can commemorate the loss of those who where taken too soon - knowing that other families elsewhere in the world will be doing the same. Baby loss, unfortunately, is so very common. There are are around 4,000 stillbirths every year in the UK and 1 in every 200 births ends in a stillbirth. Eleven babies are stillborn everyday in the UK, eleven couples going home with empty arms and a hole in their hearts that can never be replaced. It’s hard to believe that this is still a common occurrence, how can we lose that many babies before they are even given a chance in life? This doesn't even include miscarriage figures, in 2012-2013 39,000 miscarriages that resulted in a hospital stay were recorded - this doesn't include those “missed” miscarriges either. 

So, on the 15th of October, I will be lighting a candle at 7pm and taking part in ‘Wave of Light’ to honour those babies who never got the chance to take their first breath, steps and words. To think of those parents who long to be with their children or who didn’t even get the chance to meet them. When I look at my own daughter I find it so hard to comprehend the pain they must feel and how brave they are to carry on. I know many of you will find this a difficult topic, and I know many, too many, who deal with this loss on a daily basis and I hope that you can find comfort in the knowledge that people are coming together think of you and remember those who were taken too soon.

You can find our more about Baby Loss Awareness week HERE or purchase a Baby Loss Awareness pin to show your support HERE.

Mummy B xoxox

Baking with Wayfair

Baking with Wayfair, sugar cookies & Salted caramel and chocolate cupcakes 

Me and Darcie have been very lucky this weekend. We received some lovely baking equipment from Wayfair, so we could have a special baking session and share with you our favourite recipes. We decided to make a sugar cookie and salted caramel and chocolate cupcakes (which are simply our of this world!). These are super easy and fab to do with toddlers and children.

Sugar Cookies

I have had a love hate relationship with biscuit type bakes. For some, very strange, reason I never normally get it right! That was until I bundled up this recipe! Now the ingredients may seem like a lot, it does make a mahoosive batch, so I tend to use half and freeze the other.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup of butter, softened
• 2 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tps vanilla extract
• 5 cups of plain flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• Pinch of salt

Method

• In a large bowl/mixer cream the butter and sugar together. 
• Add eggs and vanilla
• Gradually add flour, baking powder and salt, mixing well
• Pop dough in the fridge for an hour
• The roll out, to about  1/4" thick and cut to shape (top tip, roll on to baking parchment and cut into shape, peel the excess away and you are good to go!)
• Cook at 190 degrees Celsius for around 10mins

Darcie had so much fun making these, all I had to do was measure the ingredients and give it one last mix and she pretty much did the rest! The cookie cutters we received from Wayfairs are so cute, they are fairly small which means you can make little treats as opposed to larger more indulgent cookies - they are the perfect size for toddlers. 

Once the cookies are are cooked you need to place them on a cooling rack, this one is amazing. If you are short on counter space, but want to get your "bake on", this stackable cooling rack is most definitely the answer! Once cool its time to decorate!

We, sorry, I mean Darcie, opted for green icing with these rather cool dinosaur decorations. We left the rest o'natural.

Salted caramel and chocolate cupcakes

So next are these very indulgent cupcakes, which whilst Darcie enjoyed helping to make them, they are probably more a mummy treat ;).

Ingredients

• 200 grams of sugar
• 200 grams of softened butter
• 200grams of self raising flour
• Two eggs
• Two bars of your favourite salted caramel chocolate

Method

• In a large bowl/mixer cream the butter and sugar together
• Beat the eggs and add to mix
• Slowly add in the flour
• Partially melt the bars of chocolate (its nicer to partially melt because then, when have cooked the cupcakes you get some lovely gooey chocolate within the sponge.... heaven)
• Add chocolate to the rest of the batter and mix well
• Divide batter into cases, this will make around 12.
• Bake at 190 degrees celsius for around 15mins

Once these had cooled nicely its time to decorate! We decided to have a buttercream frosting, with a bit of sparkle and white chocolate star shaped sprinkles! 

We had so much fun experimenting with the piping kit we received - its clear I have a lot of practicing to do! But they look so pretty all the same, and with the golden glitter they look (and taste) the perfect treat for autumn. 

I hope these recipes have given you some inspiration, we have most certainly had lots of fun making them ( and eating them!). Wayfair have some many fantastic products to help aid baking and encourage little ones to bake too - along with sooo many beautiful items for the home.

Mummy B xoxox

Bedtime Routine

Bedtime routine at two years old

It has been about two months now since we discovered a magic element that was previously missing from Darcie's bedtime routine. However, I post this with great caution hoping I won't jinx it! Before this "magic element", we tried all the usual things to help Darcie fall asleep. The only thing that would work is if either me or Jamie laid by her side till she fell asleep. Whilst, yes, this is lovely, it could take two hours. It got to the point where is was exhausting and actually quite stressful - not a good environment to be falling asleep in!

Then one evening I had a eureka moment. Why doesn't another member of our family have a go at comforting her? No, I didn't call in the Grandparents, I let Lady (our dog) come into her room. This maybe very controversial, but to us was a no brainer. Darcie and Lady have a very special bond. Lady is patient and doting and Darcie adores spending lots of time with her best furry friend. Lady doesn't go in her bed, she simply lays by her door and thats all Darcie needs and she falls asleep by herself. No crying, no tantrums and no two hour battles. Its like we now have our evenings back, and we can have some much needed chill time. Of course occasionally we still have some difficult evenings, if she has had a nap during the day sometimes it takes her a little longer to settle. Or if she is feeling unwell, but, on the whole - its so much better!

So how does our routine go now she is two?

• Bath
• Snuggle time on the sofa with a cup of milk  
• Two stories in bed
• Her night music comforter gets turned on
• We say our goodnights and "love you's"
• I turn her light off and leave her and lady to settle
• After 10mins I check to make sure she is asleep and then Lady comes back down stairs

Its completely magical to see their bond, just knowing Lady is near her room is enough for Darcie to feel safe and comforted. So for me and Jamie we are pretty indebted to our amazing doggy!

Does your child have a special bond with their pet? Or does your child have any unusual ways of comforting themselves at bedtime?

Mummy B xoxox

Autumn Activity // Leaf Crown

Leaf Crown Activity

Hello all, can you believe its the first of October? I can't, this year has flown by and to be honest, it really doesn't feel like October either with this unseasonably warm weather!

Today I thought I would share with you an idea that I kind of pinched from Darcie's nursery, The Leaf Crown.  I have by no means of showing you 'a how to', just this pretty cute picture I snapped of her showing off her creation she made whilst at nursery yesterday. But basically, they have used sugar paper double sided tape and leaves they collected (along with pretty coloured fabric leaves too) on a little walk. Pretty simple, but fun activity for tots!

We will be making our own for sure!

Mummy B xoxox