As I'm sure regular readers know - I am a complete list lover. I have lists for everything and my to do lists run my life for me. It's the only way to ensure that everything in this busy household gets done. In the past my lists have often just ended up as part of my main notebooks that are in use at the time, but one recent review item from Bureau Direct seems to have changed things. Let me introduce the Mark's Storage it A6 notebook. With the innovative plastic cover with a ziplock section where you can keep (and still use) your smart phone, it's certainly different from many other ... read more
Traditional handwritten letters #StationeryWednesday
It's a while ago now since Nickie and I shared what was in our January review packages from Bureau Direct and since then I've just been so busy using the stationery that I've struggled to find time to actually review it! To me though that's a sign of good stationery - something that just gets used because it's so perfect for the job, not just because you're reviewing it. Firstly I was sent the Crown Mill A5 Writing Set. Now, the main reason for asking to review this was to fit in with one of my new year's resolutions which was to sent more handwritten letters to friends in the post. As ... read more
Review: Perfect7 Woman
When I first saw the press release about new Perfect7 Woman from Seven Seas the headline really stood out for me. What's the perfect time to think about ageing? Now, I admit that I can officially no longer say early thirties when talking about my age, and forty isn't all that far away now (yikes!) but the idea of having to think about ageing was a bit of shock to me. I know I'm getting older, but the word ageing seems to have negative connotations about it somehow. But, the truth is that I am starting to think more and more about my body, how it's doing, and what I'm doing to it, and ... read more
Mothers Day Flowers from Debenhams Flowers – Save 25%
He may not realise it yet, but there's quite a lot of pressure on my husband this year come March 15th. Not only is it Mother's Day, but it's also our wedding anniversary (and his Mother in Law's birthday the day before too!) When it comes to ordering Mothers Day flowers it's something that just has to be completely right first time with no margin for error. I was pleased therefore to be asked to trial run the Flower Delivery for the big day by reviewing a bouquet from Debenhams Flowers. I chose the Beautiful Day bouquet which had some lovely muted shades and a classic style to ... read more
How often do Brits bathe?
This is one of those subjects that I don't really like to put too much thought into. Many years of commuting on public transport and spending time with my nose in a stranger's armpit tells me that not everyone is a shower a day person like me sadly. Those people at LateRooms.com have done their research though and some of the results are rather shocking! I mean, who knew that the average Yorkshireman has 7 and a half times more baths in a year than most people? Or is that just because shower technology hasn't reached Yorkshire yet? Disclaimer: This post was brought to you in ... read more
Review: Pamper Parcels
It's is exhausting being a mum. To be honest I'm finding having a four year old and a two year old more exhausting than the newborn days. There are still some sleepless nights, but there's also all the stuff that needs doing in the daytime. Masses of laundry, school homework, forms that need returning, pre-school visits to do, school run, nursery run, swimming lessons, playgroup, shopping, cleaning, school uniform to mend, school shoes to buy, the daily routine of getting through meals and bath and bed time. It can feel like an endless treadmill. Christmas just adds to the workload. There ... read more
Embracing real ink #StationeryWednesday
I'm loving my current work with Bureau Direct. Not only do I get to choose what to review every month from a fantastic range of stationery goodies, but I'm also rediscovering how much I love writing with a pen - something that I suppose I've gradually stopped doing seeing as I spend so much time on a laptop or tablet. After embracing ink pens these last two months - both the Herbin rollerball and the the Lamy Vista - it seemed like there was just one ink challenge to overcome: real ink. Bottles of ink scare and thrill me in equal measure. At primary school I remember one boy Amit who ... read more
Review: Little Princess Hama Bead Gift Box
Well the Halloween Hama beading may be over for another year, but the Hama love is not waning! CraftMerrily recently sent us a couple of Hama Bead gift boxes to review and the first of these has proved to be such a favourite with Little Miss C that I have to admit that we're yet to properly tackle the second one. The Little Princess Hama Bead gift box comes with one princess shaped peg board, 3000 beads, and instruction sheet and a piece of the required ironing paper that you use when fixing your designs. Being a typical four year old girl (and one that happens to be a huge Frozen ... read more
Review: The Sticker Club
So, whilst it seems that boys go mad for diggers, I think the equivalent thing for little girls has to be stickers and Little Miss C seems to have been obsessed with them since she was very young indeed. At first it was the physical act of just sticking them anywhere that exited her. Since then it's moved on to how the stickers actually look and then spending ages creating pictures with them, or using them to decorate things. I remember when I was a child collecting stickers and actually being too afraid to stick them on to anything in case it ruined my collection. I also recall sticker ... read more
Review: My First JCB Big Wheelers Joey JCB
What is it about little boys and diggers? When Little Miss C was younger she'd always point them out if we walked past one, but with Master C it's a whole different level of enthusiasm. We've been known to go for walks just for the sole purpose of walking past some road works or a building site so he can sit in his buggy and watch the diggers and other building vehicles go about their jobs. Is it the bright yellow colour? (Pretty much the only colour he can identify - or is that a related thing too?) Or maybe the flashing yellow lights on top? Or is it the digging action? Whatever the reason ... read more