May Favorites

Happy 1st of June everyone, so another month has gone by and we are almost half way through 2016.  Blake and I have quite a few favorites so I'll get straight into it. 

I brought two new tops this month ready for the warmer weather and they will be ideal for when we go away later in the year. They are both from Peacocks and should be still available.  The first one is this Lace Up Paisley Print Top which was £14. It has a dipped hem at the back and a criss cross fastening at the front I love the paisley print and have a maxi dress in the same print which I am yet to wear. The other top is a Red Lace Insert Vest it features a v neck and has a dipped hem at the back and was £12. 

I have been using the Mitchum solid deodorants since the end of 2015 and I don't know why I haven't included it in a favorites post til now. I find that spray deodorants don't really work that well for me as I have to keep topping up throughout the day and with this one I don't have to. They are pricey but I've never brought it full price which is usually £4.99 I look out for them to be on offer and get them in bulk at £2 each. 

I've had a bit of a summer cold during May and my nose has been bunged up quite a bit so 

I've been using both the Olbas inhaler and Olbas Oil to help with that. The oil is great on my pillow at night. 

During May I got around to reading the Unmumsy Mum and loved it I will certainly be keeping it on my bookshelf and dip into it from time to time. Also not photographed I have been loving watching Once Upon A Time on Netflix when I have some spare time. 

I was sent the new E45 Derma Protect spray moisturiser from Bzzagent and have been loving it. I'm pretty lazy when it comes to using a body lotion as I find it too time consuming but I love spray lotions as I find it more quicker and easier to apply. I tend to buy these type of lotions when on offer as they can be pricey I've seen this one sold in my local superdrug for £5.99. 

Onto Blake's favorites he's been loving his books a lot this month and one his favorites is the Usborne Noisy Farm. I picked it up from a charity shop and Blake has loved hearing all the animal noises.  He has also loved Terrific trains which I also picked up from a charity shop.

Blake's Granny picked up this cute Noahs Ark story The Great Flood which he has loved me reading to him.

Another charity shop find is this Leapfrog discovery house, he has the farm one but this month has been playing with this one non stop.  He has also loved playing with his Fisherprice piggy bank and is now trying to put the coins through the slot. 

Last of all I've included his new storage boxes as we love them. They are a great size and currently store some of Blake's Happyland toys in. They are also great quality and go perfectly with his room. 

What are your favorites for May? 

April Favorites

Hi Everyone, so its the first of May which means its favorites time! For April I must admit there isn't that many things that I have been loving this month but I'm hoping May will be better. 

Photo source 

I really like wrap tops at the moment I only own one which is this navy and white stripe one from yours clothing. I picked this one up as it was on sale it is a bit low cut so I wear it with a white vest top underneath. I definitely want to buy some more wrap tops though. 

Photo source 

Another clothing item is this gorgeous Kimono from Dorthy Perkins. 

I picked this up as it will be great for the summer and for taking with me when we go to Cape Verde later in the year. I love pattern at the bottom and have worn this quite a bit already when its been a bit warmer. 

A bit of a random one but I'm liking the Natrasan First Aid Spray at the moment. 

I love a good multipurpse product and this spray can be used for: 

- wounds and bites

- acne, spots and athletes foot 

- minor burns and scalds

- hand and skin disinfectant 

- hard and soft surface sanitation

I've mainly been using it to clean out Blake's nappy bin and changing mat but I've recently used it as a hand disinfectant when I ran out of hand sanatiser.

I've mentioned Twinkl quite a lot over the last week so I wont go into too much detail. 

Twinkl is basically a fab site that has great teaching resources which teachers, childminders and parents can use to aid children's learning. 

I've only been using this for two weeks with Blake for bath time and we are really loving it.

You can read my review here. I love that its got such a gentle powdery scent and that a small amount goes a long way. Blake is loving it too because of the amount of bubbles. 

Blake loves books and the Usborne Peep Inside Dinosaurs book has been his favorite this month. He's had this book for a few months now, but this month he's really enjoyed us reading this book to him. He also loves sitting there lifting the flaps up and down and turning the pages. 

When we went to Mead Open Farm at Easter we picked a few items up in the gift shop. 

One item I've not pictured is his new bath toy which he is loving. Its a fishing net and 3 mini rubber ducks he's loved this at bath time. Another item we got from there was the above puppet I do think it is very over priced at £13.99 which Stuart brought for Blake but he does love it and we try and get loads of use out of it when playing with Blake. 

Last of all we got him this little steering wheel toy which was also from the gift shop at the farm and for £2.99 its not a bad price. Blake loves pressing the buttons which makes engine and horn noises. He's not quite got the hang of pulling the bottom bit quite yet but still he has been playing with it a lot this month.

What are your favorites from April? I'd love to know, comment below. 

Blake's Easter Basket

This weekend will be Easter which has come around pretty quick. 

Last year I shared with you what was in Blake's 1st Easter basket, 

I have done one once again for him this year as I love the tradition. 

Last year Blake was 4 months old at the time and I picked out bits that I knew he 

would get use of.  He still loves the books and the ball set we had got him. 

The only things he doesn't use anymore are the inkless print set as it was a one off thing and 

the sock on's as he out grew them and are longer needed. 

So here is what is included in Blake's Easter basket this year: 

The Easter Story (Usborne books)

In The Night Garden Happy Easter

Hey Duggee: Follow That Egg!

The Beatrix Potter Collection - The World Of Peter Rabbit & Friends (DVD)

Rabbit in a carrot 

As Blake loves books it is why I chose for his basket to have mainly books. 

He loves to sit on my lap and snuggle up as I read him a book or two. 

I picked out the Dvd as I love peter rabbit when I was younger and want Blake to enjoy

Beatrix potter too. 

The cute little rabbit in a carrot is cute little gift idea which I had to include. 

I'm looking forward to giving Blake his Easter basket on Friday and then snuggling up with him reading his new books and watching some of stories from the DVD. 

We didn't include chocolate in this years basket as Blake tends to be fussy and 

sometimes he likes chocolate and will get it all over himself. Other times he's not 

keen and just chucks it on the floor so it would be a waste. 

If you have kids will you be doing a basket this year for them? 

If so I'd love to see what you have included. 

Easter Gift Guide

With Easter all most here I have put together a range of Easter gifts from sweet treats to

alternative gifts there is something for everyone. 

If you love eggs and not just the chocolaty kind then you need to check out 

The Crackin Egg Co who have a selection of free range hardboiled eggs.

They are perfect as a snack when you’re on the go, or just feeling peckish. Choose from Salt & Black Pepper, Sweet Chilli, or Sour Cream & Chives to give your eggs extra flavour.

If you love chocolate and coffee than Beanies have the perfect combination. 

The My Beanies Choc Mini Stash has 3 deliciously chocolaty flavors:

- Chocolate Orange

- Mint Chocolate

and

- Double Chocolate 

By the way they are also less than 2 calories per serving.

If you want to give your kids an alternative gift then this cute little rabbit in a carrot from 

Born Gifted is such  a cute gift idea. A soft bright orange plush carrot with a green felt top and a zip. Undo the zip and inside is a charming baby rabbit! 

The rabbits come in 2 colours and you never know which colour will be ‘born’ when you unzip the top of the carrot. 

 £5.99

Another great alternative gift for kids is a selection of books. 

I was sent a fab selection to enjoy with Blake. 

Hey Duggie: Follow that egg 

Join everyone's favourite dog in this adorable board book for budding young Squirrels!

In this seasonal title, Duggee and the Squirrels go on an egg hunt with a difference – making it a perfect gift for the Easter holidays!

Hello Little Egg

Welcome to Puffin Rock - home to two young and fun puffins, Oona and Baba. 

Join the pair as they embark on new and exciting adventures.

During playtime, the two puffins find an egg all its own, and endure a race against time to reunite the lost little one with his worried family!

Chicken Nugget

Sometimes the bravest hero of all . . . is just a little chicken!

featuring a laugh-out-loud funny story and adorable, relatable characters. Chicken Nugget has plenty of series potential, and enjoys a timely release just ahead of Easter!

Chimpanzees For Tea

When Vincent’s mother  gives  Vincent  a shopping  list  and  asks him  to do her  a special favour, Vincent  is  enthusiastic and excited, determined  to  get  it  right … but  after  being  interrupted  on  the  way, he  ends  up  bringing  a whole  hord unexpected guests back  home!  Of course Vincent’s mother  just  wanted to  make tea…  But  is that….  a  CHIMPANZEE?!

This is not a bedtime story

Sophie doesn't want a story time filled with cute kittens and birthday parties, she wants rocket-launching helicopters and a giant robot dinosaur! Clever, funny and heart-racingly exciting, this is a book to inspire and delight every little girl and boy.

Blake has really loved listening to me read these books and has been sat on my lap snuggled up. We definitely recommend these titles. 

Moving on to sweet treats Holland & Barrett have a fab selection of eggs

The Dairy free egg: 

A delicious Organic Fairtrade Milky chocolate Easter Egg for those seeking to avoid dairy, gluten and nuts.

The no added sugar egg: 

A wonderful dairy free milky chocolate made with no sugar added. This delicious chocolate is ideal for those who want to avoid added sugar, dairy, gluten and nuts .

£3.99

Elizabeth Shaw, has given a new lease of life into there Easter offering this year by launching a new range of luxury chocolate Eggs.

The milk orange crisp Egg has a deliciously crunchy orange flavour milk chocolate shell egg with melt in the mouth honeycomb crisp pieces. 

Wrapped in a beautifully designed gift box which includes 12 milk orange crisp chocolates and a uniquely decorative ribbon handle, making this the perfect gift for someone special in your life. 

£10 

This chocolate egg certainly felt very luxury and we enjoyed this chocolate egg. 

Even Blake who ended up taking some from the box when I wasn't looking.

Another fab brand to try out is Monty Bojangles I was sent the Choccy Scoffy egg.

Which is a delicious hollow milk chocolate truffle Easter egg on top of a collection of individual truffles. This creamy milk chocolate egg is made with Belgian milk chocolate and accompanies a selection of Choccy Scoffy cocoa dusted truffles.

This egg is to die for I really enjoyed the truffles. 

£6

Of course I couldn't miss out Cadburys when it comes to Easter Eggs and

other chocolate treats. 

This year they have such a huge range of Easter chocolate treats.

These small/medium range of Easter eggs are an ideal gift. 

 Whether they love Cadbury Dairy Milk Freddo faces, Cadbury Dairy Milk Buttons or Cadbury Mini Eggs to name a few, they won’t be disappointed as these delicious treats will help  to create special and memorable moments on Easter morning. 

Cadbury Dairy Milk Egg ‘n’ Spoon is the ideal treat to share. 

In keeping with the theme, open up the egg box to reveal four individually wrapped delicious Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate eggs. Crack the top of the egg and use the spoon provided to scoop out and enjoy the fluffy mousse centre, yum. 

Cadbury Dairy Milk Freddo Minis frog shaped choco-licious treats will have the whole family smiling and there’s plenty to share. Ribbit!

The Cadbury Dairy Milk Bunny is filled with a delicious light and fluffy vanilla mousse that tantalises the taste buds with an abundance of flavour and texture. 

Last of all if you prefer sweets over chocoate than Swizzles have 

a fab Easter mix and Spring selection.

This is the ideal gift for Stuart as unlike me he prefers his sweets to chocolate.

There is a fab selection: 

Lollypops

Drumstick lolly

love hearts

refreshers etc. 

Will you be going the traditional chocolate egg routine this year? 

Or maybe you will be doing an alternative gift I'd love to know. 

What you are getting your little ones, your other half etc? 

comment below.