Get Extra Voomp with MONAT Haircare

I've always had fine hair. Limp and lifeless hair has been something I have struggled with over the years, and I've found myself trying to find ways to add volume. Other than making sure i get my hair trimmed regularly, using the correct hair care products is important. As well as using the correct products it's also important you use them correctly. An example of this is using conditioner only on the ends of my hair to prevent weighing it down and causing greasiness.  

I've recently had a chance to try out a wonderful hair care range from a company called MONAT.  They sell a wide range of hair care products for all sorts of hair types and I got to try out the MONAT Volume System. 


The three step system enhances volume and invigorates your hair while adding fullness and manageability. The MONAT Revive Shampoo cleanses whilst volumizing adding body to fine and limp hair. The Revitalise Conditioner is a gentle formular that delivers moisture and vital ingredients to aid plumping and energiseses hair from root to tip. Last of all in the system is the Reshaper Root Lifter which is a root amplifying spray that creates long lasting high impact volume. It also protects hair from damage against heat styling and increases shine to your locks. MONAT says no to toxic ingredients, meaning I'm happy knowing that I'm using products that are safe.

My hair has definitely been feeling a lot thicker than previously, whilst using the range.  I've also been finding my hair has definitely been easir to manage as well. Some days I've been lucky to not have to use straighteners as my hair hasn't been as frizzy.

You can buy the set for £85 or you can purchase them individually. Shampoo (£30), conditioner (£45) and roof lifter ( £30). If you are blessed with hair that doesn't needed extra voomp than there are other sets available to suit your hair type.





MONAT also offer the chance to become a Market Partner, where you can actually sell the products and earn a percentage.You can get started for just £99 which includes your personal MONAT website, training & marketing materials and 35 samples that you can share, or keep to yourself, and a generous 30% off the retail prices of the products. This is an ideal opportunity for SAHM's like myself as hours are flexible and you can work right from your sofa.  

By taking up the opportunity to become a Market Partner MONAT offers product packs to get you started. This allows you the chance to try out some of the products you will be selling at up to 55% savings.

#LittleLoves March 2019


March has been another good month. We are getting more settled in our house now, although there are moments it still feels a bit strange. We've had both sets of family over to visit us already which has really helped. We've also been coming up with ideas and decided what part of our home we want to get sorted first etc. Our new door was fitted the beginning of the week which we are pleased with. Blake's still settled although we are struggling to get him into a pre school around here atm due to him needing 1 to 1 support.

I've actually managed to do quite a bit to include for my LittleLoves this month so here they are:


READ
I've managed to read a crazy amount since my last littleloves post. Admittedly I have been reading from around 9pm to 1 am most nights as I've started having sleep issues again. I've read 8 books this month.

The Secret Library by Oliver Tearle 
Not only has this book got such a lovely front cover it was a great read for my  reading challenge. I've now ticked off reading a book about books. Oliver Tearle shares in this book well known titles that have helped shaped the world we live and also features other book related facts such as the forgotten Victorian novelist who outsold Dickens.

YOU by Caroline Kepnes
Having watched the series on Netflix back in January I knew I had to read the book. Obsessed with an aspiring writer a bookshop manger goes to extreme measures to be in her life. The book is an awesome thriller and I enjoyed it as much as the series if not more.

Beauty and the Beast - Lost in a book by Jennifer Donnelly 
You may be aware already that my favourite Disney film is Beauty and the Beast. When I spotted this book I just had to have it! It's an original addition to the fairy tail where it features lonely, bookish Belle who finds an enchanted book in the Beasts library called Nevermore. The book takes her into a glittering new world, although Nevermore turns out to be not what it seems.

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
Moriarty is one of my favourite authors, unfortunately although I did enjoy this book it didn't live up to her usually writing in my opinion. The story features 9 strangers who are about to find out if a 10 day cleanse in a health resort can really change you forever.

The Tattoist of Auschwitz By Heather Morris
Based on the true story of Lale and Gita Sokolov, two Slovakian Jews who survived Auschwitz and eventually made a home in Australia. A harrowing story that is beautifully written. There may be thousands of fiction books featuring the Holocaust however this one is a compelling read that I loved.

The Thing About Clare By Imogen Clark
Definitely not my favourite read of the month. I did find some parts of the book getting boring and found I was trying to painfully get through it. The story is about the Bliss family. Featuring a dying wish and devestating secrets and makes you ask should the truth really stay buried.

Our house by Louse Candlish
A bright January morning in London, a family moves into a house they brought on Trinity Avenue. Nothing strange about that. Except its your house. And you didn't sell it. A gripping book that has a rollercoaster of events and features deceit and lies. 

The women in the Window by A.J.Finn 
A thriller that reminds me a bit like The girl on the train. Slow paced to begin with however it soon got gripping and I found myself drawn into what had happened.









WATCHED
So glad to have internet back and be able to binge watch some great shows and films on Netflix!

Series:

The Umbrella Academy 
Reunited after their father's death, estranged siblings  with extraordinary powers uncover shocking family secrets. I was hooked from the first episode and raced through it.

Dirty John
Based on real life events Businesswoman Debra Newells life unravels after she falls for the lies and manipulation of John Meehan.

The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann
Everyone's been talking about it in social media and viewing there thoughts on what has happened. I'm unsure what has happened as there are so many theories and the police obviously didn't do there job properly especially within the first 24 hours of her disaperance.

Workin Moms
Maternity leave is over for these moms and its time for these four Moms to go back to work. See them learning to navigate kids, bosses, love and life in modern day Toronto.

Films:

I feel pretty
After an accident at spin class a women who is usually plagued by doubt wakes up with new found confidence.

Isn't it romantic 
After hitting her head an architect who hates romantic comedies wakes up to find her life has become a dazzling, cliche-driven romcom.







HEARD

Music

Jade Bird- My Motto 
Ava Max  - So am I
Emile Sande - Sparrow

Life: 
We heard from Blake's pedatrition this month who has confirmed that Blake is Autistic. It's been a long slog to get to this point however we releaved and are determined for Blake to get the help he requires to make his full potential. 




WORE

I've been wearing a new perfume this month. I was gifted it for my mother's day gift guide, however I had to mention it here as well due to really loving it. SEKSY Elegance is an exotic, oriental fragrance for a sophisticated taste. With of notes mandarin, jasmine and blackberry musk.
MADE

Near the beginning of the month was pancake day and so we made delicious pancakes. My favourite topping is Nutella with strawberries and Stuart likes his the traditional lemon and sugar or with syrup.

Blake and I also made up his new my kitchen fairy garden set and he now has some delicious microgreens to add to sandwiches or salads.

We also got around to making some delicious homemade yoghurt thanks to EasiYo and the opportunity to review their yoghurt maker and yoghurt mixes. 


AND LASTLY..

We headed to Lincoln and went to see the museum of the moon at the collection museum. We are actually heading to Lincoln again tomorrow for a gaming festival Stuart wants to go to. 



Making Delicious Greek Style Yoghurt with EasiYo

Yoghurt is definitely one of our favourite snacks in our household. Blake goes through a lot of yoghurt, as he has 2 kid size pots a day. I'm also a fan of yoghurt especially as it's a healthy snack/dessert option especially if had with your favourite fruit. 

I've always been interested in the idea of making our own yoghurt, but was put off the idea as I thought would be a complicated process. However when were invited to give the EasiYo yoghurt maker a go we were keen to give it a try.



Making yoghurt with EasiYo isn't that hard and is a great activity to do with children. In fact its only a 3 step process for making fresh and delicious tasting yoghurt at home. All you need to make the yoghurt is their yoghurt maker, yoghurt jar and a sachet of  one of their delicious yoghurt mixes. The mixes come in a variety of flavours such as; strawberry, banana, and vanilla. Plus more exciting flavours such as Passionfruit,Rhubarb and Mango and Coconut bits . They even sell some delicious Greek Style mixes which are right up my street.

We recieved the starter kit which had the yoghurt maker, a yoghurt jar and x2 flavour mixes  (strawberry and Greek style) we were also sent 2 flavoured Greek style yoghurt mixes in Raspberry and Peach. EasiYo also sell extra jars including ones that are smaller and ideal for packing in lunchboxes.






As I mentioned above its such a simple 3 step process :


1. Half fill the yoghurt jar with tepid (room temperature ) water. Add the contents of the yoghurt mix, pop on the lid and give it a good shake. Then fill the jar up with more water leaving around 5mm from the top and shake again.


2. Place the plastic space all the way down in the yoghurt maker (making sure it’s the right way up) to the bottom and fill with boiling water to the top of the spacer.


3. Put your jar of yoghurt mix into the yogurt maker so that it sits on top of the spacer. The boiling water will rise part-way up the sides of the jar – don’t worry. Put the yogurt maker lid on and leave it for 8 to 12 hours (or overnight) to set.


Once done all you will need to do is store in your fridge and the yoghurt will last for around 2 weeks of course you may have already eaten it all by then! 




The most important thing is the taste test! We are pleased to say its absolutely delicious. In fact Blake was eating mine and requesting more after so it's a big hit with our fussy eater.


The yoghurt maker makes 1kg of fresh yoghurt and we will definitely be buying more of the mixes once we run out.  I love that its so easy to set up and make the yoghurt and its easy to clean as well.  As you can see above I chose to add fresh raspberries to the top of my Greek Style yoghurt. You can also do so much with the yoghurt and EasiYo have a handy recipe page to give you some fun ideas for what you can make such as dips, smoothies, overnight oats and more!


*We were given an EasyYo yoghurt maker in exchange for a review, however all thoughts an opinions expressed are our own.


JML Aqua Jet Duo Mop

Moving to a house where only the stairs and hallway are carpeted has meant I'm having to keep on top of cleaning our floors regularly. when you have a child you find yourself having to mop up spills etc more often. With this said it means we need a good mop to make sure our floors are clean. The JML Aqua Jet Duo Mop is the prefect multipurpose mop as its great for both wet and dry cleaning, due to its double sided micofibre mop head. 


In an attractive light purple and grey design the Aqua Jet Duo has a built in spray bottle which holds up to 700ml of clean water so you can spray as you mop. Personally I prefer to add equal parts of floor cleaner and water so that I know my floors are clean and disinfected. This also means that I get a lovely fragrance in the room.  I'm not a fan of bulky and heavy mops especially the idea of having to drag them up stairs. The Aqua Jet Duo is light weight and because of the built in spray bottle it means I've got the right amount of clean water right where I need it in front of the mop head. 



The double sided microfiber mop head are great at cleaning in different ways. 

The Terry weave microfibre is a dense, super-absorbent material that can absorb and hold up to SEVEN TIMES its weight in water, so it’s perfect for even the heaviest mopping tasks on hard floors like tiles, laminates, wood and even stone floors. 

Chenille weave microfibre, with its longer thicker fibres, creates a static charge, attracting dust as it moves across floors, shelves, door frames and windowsills, trapping not only the visible dust but also the invisible bacteria and even allergens.





Pros and cons in regards to the mop:

Pros:
- Lightweight
- double sided
- built in spray bottle 
- sprays clean water in front of the mop
- spray trigger intergrated into the handle
- mop head can be taken off to pop in the wash


Cons:
- Handle is one size. I like mops where you can change the height of the handle
- Hard to tell which side is used for dusting and which is for the moping


Overview:

It's a handy mop for cleaning around the home. The built in spray bottle with the intergrated trigger on the handle is a great idea and works well. The dusting side isn't amazing but does the job. 

Mothers Day Gift Guide 2019

When I became a Mum I started to appreciate my own Mum a lot more. Especially knowing how little time she had for herself, how she always spent her money on us and not on herself , how hard being a parent actually is and so much more. With just over 2 weeks to go until Mothers Day I've compiled a selection of items that are perfect for all types of mums. This year the clocks going forward means loosing an hour of much needed sleep for us Mum's so I think we definitely deserve a treat. As for those of you who sadly don't have your mum around these ideas would make the perfect gifts for yourself.







Three Mills Wine range |

If like me you or your mum loves wine but not always the alcohol than Three Mills Reserve Wine with 10.5% ABV makes a lovely gift. Whether your Mum prefers red, white or rose Three Mills has a bottle of each in the reserve collection. The wine makes a wonderful gift for mum to enjoy on her own or to serve with Mothers Day dinner.


Navy, high waisted leggings | Love Leggings| £14.50

As a Mum all I want to is to feel comfy and so leggings are my go to Mum "uniform". So finding a great quality pair that aren't see through is important of course! Love Leggings sell a wide range of  excellent quality leggings in a range of colours and styles. I chose to opt for high waisted ones to cover up my tummy. 

Marine Moisture Face masks | Procoal | £24.99 for a pack of 3 sheet masks

After a busy day or week I like to sit back and relax with a Face mask. The marine moisture face masks from Procoal are a powerful and deeply moisturising sheet mask. The lightweight sheet mask helps to deliver an instant rush of renewing moisture for a beautiful glowing radiance. The masks come in a pack of 3 which are suitable for all skin types and are powerfully blended with botanical extracts. Each mask has an equivalent of 25grams of serum, contains no nasties and is cruelty-free.


SEKSY elegance perfume | SEKSY Beauty | £35 for Romo

I love getting perfumen as a gift and SEKSY Elegance is an exotic, oriental fragrance for a sophisticated taste. With of notes mandarin, jasmine and blackberry musk. Embellished with a Swarovski® crystal and a detachable Swarovski® charm that can be added to your favourite jewellery. It’s a two in one gift for the one who deserves it the most.


The Book of Mum | The Book of Everyone | £23.99 (paperback) £29.99 (hardback)

I love personalised itemd and The Book of Mum features page after page of beautifully designed facts, curiosities, and nostalgia proving once and for all that your mum is, in fact, the best in the world. Personalise her gift with your photos, messages, and memories to make your mum a keepsake she’ll treasure for years. 





Sakura Blossom Ramen Bowl | Sous chef |  £19.50
The beautiful extra-large bowl in a delicate duck-egg blue glaze is decorated with dainty Japanese cherry blossoms. The perfect size for pasta, noodles and soup dishes or if like us you can use it for crisps when you have visitors over.




Nextbase 312GW Dash Cam | Nextbase | £99.99

You’d expect your phone and television to have Wi-Fi, so why shouldn’t your Dash Cam? The 312GW is a Dash Cam that reflects the modern connected world with inbuilt Wi-Fi that allows you to connect it directly with your smartphone or tablet. Once a connection is made, you can download your recorded videos and share or even edit using the Nextbase CamViewer App and Nextbase Replay 3 editing software. On top of that, the 312GW boasts 1080p high-definition recording, GPS mapping and a 140-degree wide angle. 




Luxury Afternoon tea for two | Red Letter days | £59

Red Letter Days offer a wide range of different experiences so you are sure to find the perfect one for mum. I'm a huge fan of afternoon tea and the luxury afternoon tea for 2 is a best seller. With multiple handpicked venues in the UK there is something for everyone.

Smartbox Dining for two | Buyagift | £59.99

An ideal gift for a foodie like me is the Dining for two smartbox. 
  • This voucher includes a selection of over 725 afternoon teas, romantic dinners or tasty lunches for two people so you mum will be spoilt for choice.

My Fairy Kitchen Garden

Blake finds planting fascinating. In fact at preschool last year he loved planting his own broad bean with the help of the preschool staff. With us now having our own house with a garden, I'm looking forward to us being able to involve Blake more with gardening. If like us previously you don't have access to a garden children won't need to miss out getting involved in fun planting activities thanks to My Fairy Garden. My Fairy Garden from Interplay have a wide range of fun sets available, for children to enjoy being involved in growing there own mini gardens.



We were sent the My Fairy Kitchen Garden from Interplay to review. The set is a great way for children to learn how to grow food. The new kitchen garden is home to Fairy Fenn who will watch over your garden and help to grow delicious pea shoots. The pea shoots can be enjoyed in salads, sandwiches and even on pizza. 

What's include:
- Window sill planter
- Fairy Fenn
- Fairy house
- Picket fence 
- Pea shoot seeds
- Instruction booklet 



Before starting don't forget you will need soil as this is not included. The instructions are easy to understand you need to clip the house together and add the cute picket fence to the planter. Fairy Fenn sits on on either the picket fence or kneels on the ground, she has jointed legs which enable her to do so. 

You will also need to pop the pea shoot seeds in a glass of water for 6 hours ( no more than 24 hours) for them to grow. Once you have followed all the instructions and the set is constructed and the pea shoot seeds planted you will need to find a sunny spot on your windowsill to ensure that the seeds will grow. 
You will also need to remember to water them regularly. 



The My Fairy Kitchen Garden is such a fun way for children to engage with learning how to grow there own pea shoots. It also helps them to learn how to take care of plants by watering when needed and the excitement of  keeping an eye out for pea shoots sprouting through the soil. 

We  love that the set can be used again and again too so there is no waste. The Fairy Kitchen Garden looks perfect on our Kitchen window sill and we are looking forward to eating our yummy microgreens. 



Our Ready 2 Robot Movie Night

With collectables being popular and Blake loving little figures, we decided to say yes to a movie night with Ready 2 Robot. This is the first collectable Blake owns and I'm sure there will be many more over the years. The movie night was the first time we had come across R2R and Blake was excited by his goodies.

When it comes to a movie night snacks are important hence why I was happy to see the popcorn and nacho's in our box along with the collectable, episodes on a USB stick and a clapperboard. Popcorn and nachos are definitely our favourite movie snacks, how cute are the little popcorn boxes?  They are ideal for making sure we had the right portion each.




Each of the episodes last around 2-3 minutes making it not too long. Each mini episodes feature a different R2R ready for battle each other.  Once we had finished our snacks and the episodes we got out the collectable. We received the Blot Blasters set. Blake was definitely excited to see what R2R we would get. What I like about collectables is that its a mystery which one you will get. Although this does have a downside if your child wants a particular one.








To find out what Blot Blaster you have got you have to remover layers to reveal the contents. Under the layers you will find that there are plastic compartments which are labelled 1 to 4. Open each layer at a time to reveal the blind bags inside. Inside these blind bags you will find R2R parts such as arms and legs. 

In the last compartment you will find a small tub of slime to pop out. Inside the purple slime you will find your pilot. The slime is super slimey and Blake wasn't a fan at all. If your child loves slime though just to warn you it maybe a small amount however it'll easily get messy.






Ready2Robot are best suited for ages 5 and over and are available from Smyths. Single Packs RRP: £9.99, Bot Blasters RRP: £14.99 and Battle Packs RRP: £19.99