Busy, Busy, Busy

Well, I've been a little AWOL this week from my blog and I really haven't been "blogging capable".

I have wanted to be able to though - I've just been soooo blooming busy.

Too busy to blog?

Scandalous I know!

But it's most definitely been worth it.

Because as I type this, I'm sat in a very pretty cottage in Osmotherley - thanks to the brilliant Sykes Cottages - surrounded by alcohol, lovely food and lots of greenery with seven lovely ladies.

~ Five of said ladies are sat with me, music on in the background, totally putting the whole wide world to rights

(as you do!)

and

~ Two lovelies are busy in the kitchen, cooking up a real storm for all of our teas

(I did offer to help - honestly!)

So my busy, busy, busy week has consisted of food shopping, DVD buying and new PJ purchasing.

~ New PJs make me so happy ~

Naturally these are all very reasonable excuses to have been forced to step away from the blog for a little while.

But to make up for this I thought it would be nice to give you a little sneaky peak into what will no doubt be a very eventful, very fun and quite possibly (most definitely!) an intoxicated weekend

And all of which will obviously be all over my blog next week.

Cheers to the weekend

Snapfish - Personalised Gifts Review

~ Eeeekk ~

! Check out today's date !

It is now exactly one month until Christmas Day

~ How exciting ~

However, as exciting as this obviously is, the realisation has also now hit me that I have still yet to buy any Christmas gifts.

I have none...nope...not one...

Ooops

Strangely though, I don't seem to feel at all stressed about my lack of gift buying - not in the slightest.

Which is very unheard of for me.

And I'm going to certainly offer up a little bit of "Thanks" to Snapfish for a portion of this overly calm demeanour.

They are just so blooming easy to work with - total stress eliminators.

I must admit though, I hadn't actually heard of Snapfish before, but after speaking to family and friends it would seem that I was very much in the minority as everyone seems to love them and all of their personalised loveliness.

Where on earth have I been??

Anyway, I jumped at the chance to have a little delve into the on-line, digital, personalisation world that is Snapfish and create a few masterpieces of my own.

Although I don't have a great many photographs saved onto my computer, I found it very easy to access pictures to use via my Facebook page - Snapfish allows selected snaps in albums saved on Facebook to be accessed and used by them.

And they upload very quickly too (always a plus point).

Once the pictures were safely sat in my Snapfish folder, it was just a case of choosing the products I wanted, placing the pictures in their desired location and - HEY PRESTO - pretty items created.

I chose to make two personalised calenders - one a more family orientated one, which will be perfect for our kitchen at home and the other, a lovely desk calender, ideal for work so I can brighten up my office all year round.

Both calender designs can be snipped, edited, moved and tweaked to make sure the finished style is exactly how it needs to be.

The overall finish is very clear and the calendars themselves are really sturdy too.

Fab

Then, I opted to make a few little bits to team with my work calender creation - perfect to bring a little bit of myself into my work space.

The brilliant, pink bordered mouse mat has made a fab addition to my desk and is a real talking point with everyone who sees it.

The surface is really soft and smooth, and even though the photographs are printed onto a material, they are still perfectly clear and easy to see.

I just love it

And as I do love pink, I added another item bordered with the lovely colour - a fantastic, glossy mug, again covered in a whole host of my son's piccys...I was even able to add a little text to it too.

What a perfectly complementing pair

...even if I do say so myself...

To totally finish off my personalisation frenzy, I added two lovely little key-rings into the mix too.

One of just my son - which I gave to the Hubby, and one of my son and my Hubby - for me.

Awwww

I do actually love Snapfish now.

They were so quick and easy to work with - from the initial design stage right through to delivery - everything was easy with no fuss at all and the finished products were great - just as expected and of a really high quality,

Perfect

What's more, this whole order - including delivery - came to the very reasonable price of £40

Not bad, not bad at all.

Now that I know what there is on offer, I think Snapfish will definitely be helping me make some very lovely, very thoughtful Christmas gifts which will undoubtedly make a lot of people smile.

No wonder I'm not worried about my Christmas shopping this year

* gifts provided free of charge for a honest review of items and ordering - words and photos all my own

Pandora - #PANDORAwishes - Leeds

Like most people, I do love pretty things, nice jewellery being high up on that list of loves.

I was very obviously thrilled to be invited along to an exclusive VIP event earlier this week at the amazing Pandora store on Briggate in Leeds

I just adore all that Pandora has to offer and already have a charm bracelet and some very meaningful charms - that I can't help but continue adding to - and I have two very pretty rings...but I'm hoping to, very soon, have three when my upcoming birthday arrives...

They are all just so amazing.

*fingers crossed*

So yes - I was extremely excited for this event.

Even more so when I noticed that the amazingly beautiful celebrity couple Louise and Jamie Redknapp would also be attending.

...and that the host for the evening was to be none other than Sarah-Jane Crawford

(who also showed off her amazing DJ skills)

~ Just how stunning is this lady though ~

So - why all the fantastic celebs?

Well, Pandora have enlisted the help of the fab celebrity couples to become their brand ambassadors to bring to life their "Pandora Wishes" - #PANDORAwishes - campaign

#PANDORAwishes is all about letting others know exactly what our Pandora Wish would be, ideally by using the wish list option that Pandora so kindly offer on their website.

And this is what Jamie and Louise expressed to us...after milling around, taking photographs and posing for umpteen selfies that is

(such lovely people!)

The twosome took to the stage where they discussed gift buying for each other - in particular, how Jamie makes sure he gets his pressie choices just right for Louise...

...he sometimes needs a little helping hand...

And that is where the usefulness of the Pandora Wish List service comes in so handy.

By choosing the things you love yourself, in all the correct sizes, the wish list can be sent to other people so that there is no mistaking the things that you really really want.

Those all important gifts should be spot on every time.

Naturally (of course!), I created my own wish list and I think the Hubby has taken note already...

...well, my birthday is in ten days so I'm hoping that he has...

Anyway, it was such a lovely event, Jamie and Louise were just perfect.

...and gorgeous...

~ s w o o n ~

All of the staff were friendly, the drinks - alcoholic and non-alcoholic - were plentiful and so were the very fancy, and very tasty nibbles the lovely, smiley waiters kept plying us with

(Well Done Lads!)

And trust me when I say, one of those special white Pandora bags would definitely make the best Christmas gift.

How do I know?

I just do!

Happy Shopping and Happy Wish List creating

Cotton Traders All Useful Day Trip Decider

If you happen to have read my blog over recent weeks - first let me say a massive thank you - and secondly, well, you'll know that I'm very partial to a trip out every now and again.

I love popping off for day trips and I have visited a fair few fab places in my time.

But sometimes, I must admit, I struggle to think up new and exciting things to do.

We've either been there and done it before, or - particularly if I fancy visiting an unfamiliar place - I won't have a clue what's about to do.

And then I was introduced to the Day Trip Decider from Cotton Traders

Now the Day Trip Decider does exactly what it says on the tin - it helps you decide what you would like to do.

And it does this with just a few little clicks of the mouse.

Firstly, choose the region you would like to visit...

...then pick from a choice of three towns in that area...

...then - would you prefer to be:

~ "Active And Involved"

or

~ Nice And Steady

~ Indoors

or

~ Outdoors

...choices which allow the Day Trip Decider to present an ideal activity, perfect for the type of day out most suited...

And it suggested that I try out Chester Zoo - which is exactly what I shall be doing this weekend.

Fab.

The Day Trip Decider is so simple and easy to use.

It's great at finding things that otherwise may have gone un-explored - those things that you don't even know about so certainly wouldn't go and look for.

If a person isn't local to Great Yarmouth for example, then it probably wouldn't be known that Yesterday's World is there, a museum with exhibits from the 18th, 19th and 20th century - but with this little tool nothing is left un-explored.

It really helps to plan and organise those all important days out.

Check out Cotton Traders Day Trip Decider for yourself and see what it suggests for you.

And I'll make sure I let you know how my day-trip goes too.

I can't wait

* a collaborative post

Letters Direct From Santa's Lapland Mailroom

I don't know about anyone else but I love getting letters and parcels through the post.

It's just so exciting.

I always rush to the door if I hear the postman approaching, even if I'm not expecting anything fancy, there's just something that makes me a little giddy seeing what he has brought for me.

And then today at work, a colleague told me, huge smile on her face, just how over the moon a lovely surprise pressie landing on her doorstep earlier this week had made her feel.

It would seem that no matter our age we all love a good delivery.

They totally brighten up the day.

With this in mind then, put yourself in the shoes of a 'ickle child and imagine just how amazing a pretty letter through the door would make them feel.

~ Excitement overload ~

For a start, it's unlikely to be anything they've ever really had before which totally heightens the surprise element.

But then...

...imagine how that excitement would escalate the second they notice that what they hold in their hand is from none other than Santa himself.

W O W

My son has had similar letters in the past and has loved them, but, if I'm honest, he's beginning to question things a whole lot more now, now that he's the grand old age of nine, but I am determined to keep the Christmas magic alive for as long as I possibly can.

I'm not ready to let him let go of Santa just yet.

And I'm hoping Lapland Mailroom will help with this.

Lapland Mailroom are a family run company who supply personalised letters to children - worldwide - for a pritty impressive £7.95.

Letters can be delivered directly to the child or can be delivered, unsealed, to an alternative address, but will still have the child's personal details on them to help keep that special element alive.

I opted to have the letters sent to myself, allowing me to take a sneaky peek at them and allow me to get them to the kiddies myself.

They arrived individually, personally addressed in a lovely, Santa stamped envelope.

Inside the envelope I found an array of Christmas goodies too - and all for no extra cost either

(which is an offer that won't be around for too long I wouldn't imagine...)

~ Bargain ~

Inside, I found:

~ a "Nice List" certificate...it is always good to know that you're not on the "Naughty List" now isn't it.

~ a Christmas activity pack filled with fun things to colour and bring to life...including a "Santa Stop Here" sign

VERY important!

...and of course...

~ the letter itself - the one sent direct from Santa himself

...which comes complete with a cute Santa picture seal - obviously to prove the authenticity of everything...

I found both letters really lovely, Christmassy and very festive.

The whole process of making them was really simple too.

There are four different letter options to choose from which help to vary the style received - always good if there are multiple children in one house - especially if they are of different ages.

So choice made, I filled in a few details which helped to make the letters unique - obviously with information that only Santa would know - things like a best friends name, a most wanted Christmas gift - all that kind of secretive stuff.

Once I had reviewed everything and made sure I was happy - I placed my order and sat back and waited.

And I wasn't disappointed - I think the letter's are fab.

I can't wait until they land on the doorstep to see the reactions they get.

Delivery from the mailroom begins to happen on December 1st - so - that leaves just enough time to pop along and begin to get all Christmas creative.

Happy Excited-Moment Making

* letters sent free of charge in exchange for a review - all thoughts, opinions and photographs are my own

My Autumn "Best Bit"

I'm becoming so much aware of the fact that winter is well and truly on it's toe-freezing little way.

I mean, there's nothing quite like saying a huge big "Hello" to the season than being stood, at 9am, on a Sunday morning, in the middle of November, watching your child play rugby.

No escaping winter's approach in that situation, trust me...!

And with winter around the corner, it's time that Autumn was on it's way out.

Awww - see you next year Autumn.

Which got me to thinking - what exactly do I like about Autumn?

Hmmmm...

~ I certainly like the clothes in the shops at this time of year

~ I certainly like all the deeper, darker berry lipstick shades that are so much more acceptable the colder the weather gets

...but what else does Autumn mean to me?...

I noticed that Sykes Cottages had a little competition running where they wanted to find out about the nations "best bits" of Autumn.

They encouraged entrants to take a snap of their individual favourite autumnal thing and explain what it is that makes it so fab.

Hmmm....

So, my bestest of the best bit about autumn...?

This took a little thinking about (hence why this competition entry almost didn't happen) but a photograph summing up Autumn for me would have to be this...

Now I could have gone (or tried to go) a little arty and taken lovely pictures of beautiful leaves falling from trees...but for me, that's just a hindrance - and one I usually slip in too.

I could have taken a lovely weekend stroll in the woods with my family - which is one of my favourite things to do - but it's just so blooming cold, damp, wet and rainy at the moment...and these are not best bits for me.

The picture I chose illustrates my best autumn bits very nicely I think.

Snuggling up under a comfy blanket with my beautiful son to watch a brilliant movie is my best bit of any season.

Especially if there is hot chocolate and marshmallows on offer too.

YUM

Plus the cold and wet weather outside, the warm fire, hot chocolate and snuggles inside.

Bliss

And I know my idea of Autumn's Best Bits isn't very traditionally autumnal to most, but to me, well, I couldn't think of a moment to better it.

Autumn Perfection

*a competition entry post

Shoes...For The Hubby...From Jacamo

I would never begrudge The Hubby or The Son from having lovely, nice things at all.

Nope - not one little bit.

I love them having nice treats and little surprises.

But when it comes to deliveries - in particular lovely shoe deliveries - well - I'm afraid I am quite the selfish moo.

I want ALL the shoes - just for me

But alas (that's how dramatic this makes me feel!), this wasn't the case when the Husband was sent a shoe box delivery from male fashion brand Jacamo

And what a very nice shoe delivery it was too.

One from none other than Mr Freddie Flintoff's footwear range.

Fancy, eh.

I have to say, personally I think Freddie Flintoff is fab, which is an immediate reason to like the shoes in my opinion.

But seriously though, they are a very nice pair of shoes.

They are really smart - my Hubby is not well known for his smart dress, he much prefers comfy joggers and trainers after a hard week at work...but then again who doesn't...but my Hubby does take his relaxed dress-mode to the slight extreme at times, I mean he even wore casual pumps on our wedding day.

But obviously, there are times when he will undoubtedly need to be smart, times - unlike your own wedding - when others will dictate the dress code of an event, and it is at these times when casual footwear will just not do.

And for these such occasions, it is shoes like these Flintoff by Jacamo Plain Toe black ones which will be absolutely perfect.

The shoes are leather and are very well made.

They also have a slight heel and a small lace detail up the front.

My Hubby assures me that they are really comfy too - and coming from a trainer lover like him, then that really must be true.

And as the wife of the shoe-wearing-Hubby, well, I think they look fab and make a lovely change to his usual footwear choices.

We have never considered Jacamo before when Husband-Shopping, but I think we will be heading back to them in the future for more Hubby-shaped purchases - no busy shops, no queues and such a great selection...

...lets just say The Hubby was impressed...

Thanks Lots Jacamo

* shoes sent for consideration of an honest review - words and images are all our own

The Balm Cosmetics - Simply Amazing

I make no secret of being a lover of all things pretty.

Especially make-up that is pretty.

I'm such a stickler for a bit of packaging.

And the very lucky me walked away from the Sheffield BBloggers (post found here) meet up a little while ago the very happy owner of these AH-MAZINGLY pretty make-up items which I won in the raffle

Five fantastic make-up pieces from The Balm Cosmetics.

~ What a prize ~

I was in beauty heaven let me tell you...and I think I was a little bit envied by a few of the other lovely ladies around me too...not that I'm surprised - I mean just look at the packaging.

~ I LOVE IT ~

Beautiful pin-up ladies and the quick-witted, catchy names for everything...

Hmmm...I can see a product addiction developing here...

Let me show you what my lovely prize consisted of shall I - before I get a little too spend-happy.

*places bank card firmly back into purse*

I'm definitely an eyeshadow girl - I always have been really - so I was in total awe immediately when I saw the beauty that is the Balmsai palette

The set opens out, with a mirror at the top, some very handy eyebrow and "eye-flick" stencils in the bottom compartment and then the amazing array of pretty coloured shadows take centre stage in the middle section.

And just how pretty are they!

The eighteen different coloured shadows are split into four sections:

~ the "In The Buff" section - neutral, base shades

~ the "Mavericks" section - for a little bit of colour

~ the "Curve And Angle" section - for the brows

and

~ the "Catch A Wave" section - which can be used wet or dry

~ Brilliant ~

They are all equally as great and are the most - (I'm no expert but feel that this is the correct time to pull this word out of the bag) - pigmented - shadows I have ever used.

Just a little swipe of the brush collects so much product which stays put for ages, and they blend lovely too.

Yep - my absolute favourites without a doubt.

Another new favourite from my prize bundle is the Cindy-Lou Manizer

It is the most brilliant, shimmery, bronzey highlighter EVER

Even just a little swipe across it with a fingertip collects so much product which applies like a dream to the face, and brightens up cheekbones (or wherever you fancy) in an instant.

It is so pretty.

Now, translucent powder - I've never really found one that I've liked enough to make a regular part of my daily make-up routine really...well...I have only tried one before - it was so light and a total mis-match for my skin that I just gave up on the idea of using it totally.

However, after catching glimpses of my shine-fest face in some recent photographs, I have been on the hunt for a more usable one for a while.

And then I found Sexy Mama

" A Translucent Powder, With Oil Absorbing Spheres"

It sounded perfect

And it looked pritty perfect too.

Actually, I do think that it still may be a little light for my complexion, but a quick sweep under bronzer seems to work, no problem.

Shine - be gone.

Now, something that I'm still learning to get to grips with is the eye-flick.

I just can not do them at all.

But I want to - so much and even more so than ever now, because look at the tools I have to do them with...

Schwing

...with a very cheeky picture on the box too...

I love it

This black liquid eyeliner has such a thin, precise brush that I know it would make my eyes look fantastic...

...once I have managed to master how to use it properly that is...

There is something that I am getting better at using these days though, and that is mascara...

*proud smile*

...and this, The Bodybuilder, a black, volumising mascara is fab and perfect for creating massive, bold lashes for a big night out.

The brush isn't too big or clumsy - perfect for me - and a quick swipe across the lashes really does build them up.

And as I said before, I will be adding to my "The Balm Collection" as soon as I can possibly manage it - everything is so pretty and I just want the lot!

Thanks lots for the out-of-this-world prize The Balm Cosmetics - and thanks to Sheffield BBloggers for having such a fantastic raffle.

I love everything