Joie Every Stage Car Seat Review

When you have a child one of the most used things which you will need is a car seat I think this is something which we used nearly every single day. Around 18 months ago we had to replace Jess's baby car seat and I did a lot of research into finding the best car seat for us because of course, it has to be something which works for you all. Jess spends a bit of time when she is going around in the car.  We chose the Jolie every stages car seat in the black colour this is one which is going to last her until she is around 12 years old or 36kg which is scary because it is such a long time away.

One of the reasons why we chose this car seat was because it has 5 different reclining settings this allows you to reface until 18kg which is around 4 years old.  You do have to wait till your child is around 9kg to forward face which approximately is 9 months old. 

We didn't reface once we got this car seat because Jess was a nosy child and she actually wanted to look out of the window we actually let her do this even though we know the benefits of having your child refacing for a longer period of time. There are another 4 settings which allow you to forward face which is amazing because this means that once your child is kicking the back of the actual car seat and this could be annoying to others you may want to change the setting.

Due to the fact that this car seat can last till your child is 12 you are able to adjust the headrest, it has 10 different settings and this is something we have found is pretty easy to be able to do. The sides also can widen which allows your child the room they need within the car seat. Of course, this is not a full car seat when they become older it becomes a high backed booster which fits in the guidelines within the UK when this occurs the 5-point harness gets tooked away and you use the normal seat belt which means that it is not in the way. Currently, we have to use the actual seat belt in order to keep the car seat safe meaning that it does not move. 

This car seat can actually be stripped down and the covers thrown in the wash which is something which we have had to do in the past because Jess can struggle with car sickness. This is handy as well if you have a small child in the car who could do the same I have also had to wipe it and found it drys pretty quickly which is amazing because if you are like us you are always using it. This car seat is very easy to actually install into your car and can be done in only a couple of moments which is great if you are like me and you might need to take it in and out to either put it in someone else's car or due to the fact that there has been a spillage. 

Jess must find this comfortable due to the fact that on more than one occasion we have found her sleeping in this for long periods of time while she has been travelling which proves this claim it even comes with thick padding on the shoulder straps and buckles meaning it is even more comfortable for the child. For sure this car seat is very well padded as well as being secure. 

I would recommend any parents who are looking at either purchasing their child's first car seat and are not bothered about been able to click it onto a pushchair. Or patents like us who were looking to upgrade their original car seat to purchase this item. I know it does seem expensive at close to £200 however it will last your child a long time and you can not put a price on their safety.  If you are not interested in rear facing you could look into the Jolie elevate 123 car seat another car seat I own foe a different car which I will do a review on at a later date.

Do you own the Jolie ever every stage car seat if so what are your thought? 

Charlotte xx

Days Out - Eureka National Children's Museum

Eureka! National Children’s Museum is somewhere where I visited as a child and can still remember elements of so when we found ourselves with a spare free weekend with no plans. We decided that we would take Jess for an amazing day of hands-on fun there is always a lot to play with the look and of course, learn about. Just because it is a Children’s Museum, it does not mean that it is not suitable for toddlers at 2 Jess had so much fun as you can see from her face on some of the pictures.  Halifax is only around 1-1 ½ hours away from where we are based which means that there was not too much time spent in the car travelling to our day out.

When we arrived, there is a large car park which is next to the museum which we found pretty easy to park in, and I think it cost us around £4 for 4 hours this is something which we did not think was too expensive. The museum is opposite the train station, so if you are travelling in by train, this is something to be aware of. When we arrived, we went to the wrong way as we did not notice the building, so you really need to keep your eyes peeled. Outside of the museum, there is actually a large play area which has sand pits as well, however when we visited it was snowing which meant that Jess was unable to play outside. When we visit again, I am sure this is an area which she will have so much fun playing in.

It could have been due to the time of year when we visited it was the start of December it was pretty quiet we did not have to queue . One thing which does make me happy is that there offer annual pass tickets as part of their normal entry price which means you pay once and can visit as many times as you want within 12 months. This for sure is something which is going make us want to visit again we are already planning to go back when Jess is a little bit older maybe in March/April time.

The first area we saw was the all about me gallery which is one which is one of the areas which I would say is the most interactive. This is an area which I would say is great for all ages as there is so much to play with. Of course, because I went with a toddler it does mean there were some of the things which she was not interested in because it went over her head. However, there is so much that the under 5’s can do as you can see Jess was brushing her teeth like she would at home. There is an area which maternity area which you can scan a dolls tummy which shows you the baby in the tummy like a real scan. This would be a great area to visit should your child become an older sibling. Jess is just starting to like babies, and she is always playing with the dolls which we have now at home.

The areas which Jess loved the most had to be the living and working gallery this is on the bottom floor. This area is exploring pretending kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, a garage which even has petrol pimps and a working car wash. If this is not enough, there is also a Mark’s and Spencer’s which is just like the real shop. There is a post office, building suite and a Halifax bank as well which has a million pound chair as well as a bank volt and a cash machine which is available for the young ones to play with. Jess as you can see loved the shop I think we did the whole weekly shop in this little M&S as well as her pretending that she was so posh and could afford to sit on the million.

The rest of the areas is split into 6 areas which desert garden, town, ocean, jungle, country and ice garden. These are areas which Jess adored because there was a lot for her to do and this is an areas which is made for the under 5s so it did not go over her head at all like some of the other areas had done.  Desert was one which Jess loved so much because of the fact there was something which you put balls in turned the wheel and the ball came out the other side. I think we must have lost a fair amount of time in their for sure she was having the time of her life.

Downstairs there is a SoundSpace and Soundgarden this is an area which we did at the end, so we did not spend a lot of time in it due to the fact our car park was running out. I think this area was a little bit too old for her, but this is something which she might enjoy more in the future when she grows up. There is a soft play area in the corner I think it is meant to be for those who are under 5 and some of the areas is for those who do not walk yet. This area was very busy and full of children who were over 5, so Jess did not really want to play in this area as older children can scare her.

Eureka is for sure worth the money it is £12.95 for adults, and because Jess is under the ages of 3, it was only £5.25. Of course, you get the free annual pass for the end of the year because we found that Jess was very tired at the end of the day she I don’t think made it out of the car park before been asleep. I can see you been able to visit your child is at least 10 years old. Even though we visited on the weekend it was not too busy Jess still got to see everything which she wanted. I love how this is so child-friendly, and they change parts of the museum every 3 months which means that it could be very different when you visit.

For sure I would recommend visiting Eureka, and I know we will be back in the next 12 months. Have you visited Eureka if so what were your thought.

Charlotte xx

A Review of 2017

As we approach the end of 2017 I thought I would reflect on the year as a whole this year has had something which has had a number of highs as well as a couple of lows which is not something which I have shared a lot of on my blog. This is not even a post I know that I am going to post for all I know I might bottle it and this ends up sitting in my drafts and this something which you never end up reading which is something I have done with a few posts recently.

At the start of the year it saw us lose someone who meant so much to use as a family she has been ill for a short while however, had been unable to communicate with us for a few years now, however, she meant so much to use and I am glad that she meant to meet Jess. When Jess went to visit her face always lit up and she laughed which is something I took to heart.  I am glad to say that she did have a very long and happy life I hope she has found peace and is happy up there and is watching down on us and my little family.

Very early on in the year, I managed to smash my Facebook page target which I had set up only a couple of weeks before this mean so much to me because I did not know that, so many people would want to follow me. It still amazes me that people want to follow me and my really boring life. It does mean so much to me and I hope you all know how special you are to me.

When the weather becomes warmer we actually managed to explore and take trips to the park as a family which is something which I loved to be able to do and can not wait till the weather is a little bit nicer and we can do it again. It is currently a currently a little bit cold to be at the park even if te ends up wrapping up. For sure in the next few weeks, we will be heading to the park because it is something which Jess loves doing and it burns so much energy which is amazing because she is a fireball of energy all of the time.

2017 saw us explore a few more places we went over to Chester for the first time since Jess was born of course we had to take her to the zoo because she does love animals. It is amazing that she can get her fix by watching the show the secret live at the zoo which is something which she loves to do. The zoo is somewhere which I would love to take another trip too this year when the weather is a bit warmer than it currently is. I can’t wait till they are on summer opening times which means that we can spend the whole day there.

While on the trip to Chester we also managed to pop into Liverpool which is home to Mattel play which of course is somewhere which we had to make a trip to. This is something which I have done a blog post on if you want more information, however, this is a place where I might have to go to again because Jess has massively got more into fireman Sam since our visit. I now need to research whether there is a paw patrol world or something similar as this is for sure something which she would love to go to.

Travelling on trains is something which has occurred a lot during 2017 as the fact I have been completing even more of my degree which is scary because I only have a couple of months left now which scares normal people let alone someone who has been studying for their degree since 2013/ I now need to be able to get some work experience  which might help me be able to get on my masters. I actually want to continue my studies and do a master in physiotherapy this hopefully will be in York as well because it is a city which has my heart at the moment. This year has actually been special because it has meant I passed my sports massage course which meant that I am qualified to give sports massages which is something I am thinking of doing in the time between obtaining my degree and starting on my masters as there is a period of 6 months where I will still need to be earning.

This year has also seen us complete our first deployment as Daddy went away in May and did not return until November. Which of course was a challenge I am lucky that I had a lot of support from my family which meant that it went pretty easy. Jess was amazing throughout because you do not know how much it actually affected her because her Daddy was away it did make her very clingy because she was scared that I was going to leave her as well. Hopefully, this year does mean that it does see us been able to have a whole year as a family even though we know there is going to be some exercises hopefully there will not be a long deployment like last year.

Joe did manage to actually come home for Jess’s birthday which of course was special I think this might have meant more to her than actually getting her presents. We managed to get a day out for her actual birthday we went to Yorkshire Wildlife Park we adored it because there are animals and there is also Polar bears which is not something which you see a lot of within the UK.  I think this is going to be a place which we end up having to go to again within the next few months and it is not actually very far from where we live an hour ago from it.

We have managed to have a fair few normal days which is good because when you are constantly on the go like us you sometimes need to take a break because otherwise, I find this is when you actually become ill. I have found that during this Christmas break I have managed to become ill a couple of times which is never good I think this is one of the reasons why I need to take more breaks. Maybe I should start watching a series and then this may mean that I have something to binge watch.

Thank you for following our journey in 2017  I hope you follow along with us in 2018 as we have a lot of exciting things coming up which are already planned and I am sure there is going to be a lot more in the pipeline.

What did you do this year?

Charlotte x

2017 Goals Reviewed

I am going to review my blogging goals of 2017 because this year is coming to an end now and I thought that today would be a good time to reflect on the year which has been 2017 in a blogging capacity. I have not managed to hit many I think only one of my social media goals, however, I have actually been able to do a lot of things which I could not have imagined. This year did actually see me get a better camera I now have the Cannon G7X Mark II this is something which I was luckily gifted to from Joe.  This was so that I would be able to capture some of the memories which he would of Jess when he was away.

I think that my photography has actually come on a lot this year, however, of course this is something which I want to improve more. I think that I will be able to actually use Jess more because this camera does have a screen she can actually see herself and as long as Jess can see herself she is very happy to be photographed.  This year has also seen me work with some amazing brands who I could have only dreamt about for example I have worked with Prestige Flowers, Bakerdays, Rock Up Hull & Toddlerbike 2. I could not work these amazing brands without you all following me and actually reading my posts.  So, thank you so much because I enjoy and apricated every single one of you.

On to my social media goals which I set at the start of the year

Twitter

Current-1400

Goal-2000

As you can see I was 600 followers away from my goal which is fine with me because I actually grew by 500 followers this year. I have not been that active on twitter for some reason however, this is something which I would like to change. I know this is something which I could do on the commute and hopefully, I could take part in more chats which occur on there.

Instagram

Currently- 800

Goal-1000

Instagram is one of the social media which I find really hard to grow but this is something which speaking to other bloggers find. It is something which I think I need to be able to post more often on there because I think I only posted around 40 times. Instagram stories I have found a great way to interact with my followers. They are something which I love watching and are something which I think that I could do a fair more of them this year.

Bloglovin-

Currently- 205

Goal- 250

Bloglovin in a platform which a lot of bloggers came of this year and this is because of the way that it changed their terms and conditions. This could be one of the reasons why I may not have actually achieved my goal. I am proud that I have managed to grow a little bit but as long as I know that people are still reading my posts and I feel like I am creating content which I love and would want to read. This is a goal which I might actually set for 2018 because I do think that it could be achievable.

Facebook

Currently-149

Goal- 50

Facebook was the only platform which I managed to achieve my goal on this year which is shocking because it is not the platform which I do not use that often I think I actually might have to use it more because it is something which you are all loving at the moment. I manage to nearly triple my likes on the page which is amazing I will be looking to post more videos and share them over there.

Thank you for actually allowing me to achieve some of my goals this year and without you, I could not have reached these crazy numbers. It sometimes shocks me that people out there actually want to read the content which I product.

Charlotte x

Lush- Christingle Body Conditioner Review

Christingle is one of the items which I actually featured in my July favourites which is surprising as this body conditioner is actually part of the Christmas collection this is why I have waited so long to do the review because you should be able to get your hands on this product now.

I really love using this should I have really bad sunburn in the summer months but also I love to use it on very aching muscles which I may have from all of the exercise which I do I walk at least 5 miles most days which means that sometimes I get very tired muscles and this works wonders for that.

If you do not know how a body conditioner works you just lather it all over your body before getting out of the shower, I do this away from the flow of the water to prevent water getting in the pot and also massage it into my skin before been washed away. Then you get back into the shower and rinse the lotion off. I have used it as a body conditioner as well in the past this is if you want a more intense use.

This body conditioner does actually moisturise your skin which is something which we all need in the winter months you do not need to use of the body conditioner due to the jojoba oil and murumuru butter which can be found in this product.  Peppermint and methanol crystals as the main ingredients this does actually mean that your skin is left supple and pump as well which I have found is great as my skin was super tight after been burnt in the summer and also I want to be pump skin because I feel like it always looks better. 

It's unlike anything that I've tried from Lush before - a strong, crisp and very refreshing spearmint and peppermint aroma with a note of menthol that gives it a slightly clinical element as well this may not be a scent for everyone so I would recommend that you do smell this body conditioner before you purchase this item.

I am loving using this product again due to the fact that it helps my skin repair myself which is something I need with the harsh winter months. This produce leaves your skin moisitured but beware it does have a greasy feeling for a while after leaving the shower it may be for around 5-10 mintutes and you would not want to put clothes on during this time. 

I will be purchasing more of this beauty before the this goes again for another year. It sure is one of Lush's hidden gems. 

Have you tried a body conditioner before if so what did you think?

Charlotte x

Toddlerbike 2 Review

Recently we was contacted by the lovely people at Toddlerbike who asked us if we would like to review their toddlerbike 2. Jess is one of those children who love to be outside even when it is a little bit chilly and she loves been on ride on's she even got on one and started driving around mothercare on one of out most recent visits.

I was not actually in when the box which this bike arrives in and my parents thought that it was an empty box because it actually weight 0.8kg which is around 3x times lighter than other toddler bikes such as the Scuttlebug.  This means that it is not too heavy for toddlers to carry I have found Jess carrying her own which is always good because she can take it out herself in the summer. You could throw it under the pram and take it to the park should you want and should you have to pop in the car it would fit in with a pram in the boot as well.

This bike is designed for toddlers between the age of 18 months to 3 years so Jess is slap bang in the middle of the age that this is designed for as a two year old. This bike is really easy to control it has really narrow wheels and I think this could be the reason why Jess seems to be able to turn corners very easily meaning she for sure can get a speed on so I have to be careful she does not run me over.

The height of the bike is perfect Jess she can reach the handle bars without having to bend over too much or have to stretch which must mean that it is very comfortable for her which means she want to stay on it for longer which is always a bonus.  This bike is so hard wearing plastic and we have had mud on it and all I did was wipe it with a baby wipe so I would say it is super easy to clean which is great if like us you are still using it outdoors.If you have the space unfortunately we do not you could use this indoors.

Toddlerbike are waterproof, toddler proof and also come with a 3 year guarantee which is always handy with crazy toddlers like Jess who could break anything very easy.  I will be recommending these bikes to friends who have children younger than Jess because they are something which I think everyone will love and they are a small business who deserve more love.

The bike comes in three different colours  midnight blue, pinky pink and racing red. It does not break the bank coming in at £23.95 with free shipping to UK and Ireland. These would make a great Christmas present and should you want to order one I have a discount code for 10% off with the code Blog17.

Do you know anyone who would like this bike?

Charlotte x
 I was sent the product for the purpose of this review. As always opinion and photos are 100% my own.

Lush- Ultrabland Facial Cleanser Review

Ultrabland is one of the skin care items which people would not reach for that often it is one which people for some reason seem to love look however, this is an item which I picked up after having a skin care consultation in store a while back. I could not have been happier when I tried this product I am so glad that I got recommended this product.

Ultrabland is a a really thick cleanser which is almost like applying butter to your face it is that thick I know what you are think this is not something which you are selling to me. However, Ultrabland  is made up of rosewater, beewax, and honey which means that this is one of the products that Lush do which is not actually vegan. I used this cleanser on a night because it helps remove stubborn make up which is great because I can find it hard to remove some of my mascaras I love how it leaves my skin as well. It leaves it with a lot of moisuter which is great as I have found in the past some can be very stripping it also makes my skin feel very smooth and plump overall it does feel like my skin is super healthy when I use this product.

The reason my skin feels all the benefits is due to the main ingredients being almond oil, beewax and rose water which together help hydrate the skin, act as an antiseptic and exfoliate as well as calm any areas which may be irritated. This is one which I love using in the colder months because my skin becomes very dry and needs as much moister as possible I also love that it is so soothing because if for some reason my skin does become chapped I can still use it without there been a huge amount of pain which is always a benefit for me.

I have noticed that it does help with redness as this sis something which some of the time I do suffer with this helps to soothe the skin. It also helps brighten the completion which is something I need because I am working so much at the moment I need skincare to help make me looking like I am healthy and not just living on caffeine.

I only apply a small dollop of this product to try skin them massage it in which causes the product to melt and turn into a clear oil which breaks down the make up and anything else which can be found on my skin. When my make up has been broken down I get something like a warm flannel and wipe off the product. I have been known to use this as a mask as well which I leave on for around 10 minutes which doing something such as finishing getting ready for bed and I have found that when I do this I do not actually need a moistener this keeps it hydrated enough. This is a bonus if you are going on a weekend away as you could in theory just take one product your cleanser and not have to take a moistersier as well.

Lush recommend you use a cotton pad to remove the cleanser however, I have found that I am still left with really greasy face which is something non of us like. This is why I use something like a flannel because I find that it is so much easier and does not leave you with the greasy horrible layer.

I would recommend this product to anyone and I will be repurchasing again when I have use a few more of the cleaners I have in my stash up first. This is one which has helped with imbalances and I would say maybe has resulted in me having a few less breakouts which is always a bonus.

Have you tried ultrabland if so what did you think?

Charlotte x

Jim Chapman- 147 Things Book Review

 

Youtuber books are something which we have seen a rise of in the past couple of years from the likes of Zoella and Fleur De Force even though I have been subscribed to them in the past I have not purchased these books. However, recently Jim Chapman another, famous YouTuber who I have been subscribed to for a long period of time. I was very lucky to receive a copy of his book 147 things which is something which excited me as remember watching his video when he announced that he was going to bring out a book out and had been meaning to pick it up when it was released. 

147 things is not an autobiography or a fiction story book like other YouTubers have been. In Jim's own word's it is a guide to the universe which means that it is a non-fiction I have so many questions which I thought I was the only one who thought about when I can not get to sleep. There are even things which I have never even thought about which is shocking because I thought I was completely random.  

I think one of my favourite facts in the book is number 48 which is Honey bee's and how their testicles explode when they use them which is something really random it may be the childish side of me which find this so funny. I wonder what would happen should humans do the same. This book does have an element of personal information it does feel like Jim is a friend who is telling you about these facts and letting you get to know him a little bit more which is something I enjoy. You can for sure tell that Jim has written the book because it is exactly like he is in his videos which is something which I think is a fantastic thing. 

I have loved how due to the facts only been a page or two I can read a few of them when I have a little bit of spare time for example when I am commuting or on my lunch break from university. It is a good book which you will laugh out loud and it does take your mind of things which may be going on in your life currently. This I think only took me a few days to get through and is for sure on which I will be recommending to other people to pick up even if they have not viewed any of his videos in the past.  The pictures in this book or doodles as you may call them are stunning I wish I could have some of them printed and frame them because they are actually that nice.

This for sure has taught me a lot of new facts and is something which I am sure that every age group will laugh out loud with and enjoy and for sure is going to be on a fair few people's Christmas list this year. I am so grateful to receive a signed copy of this book as it was something which I was going to pick up for myself when the book was released. I would recommend getting your hands on a copy of this book and you can do that on amazon. You can check out more of his video's here and also an exclusive Q&A here.

Have you read the book yet or is it on your wishlist?

Charlotte x

This item is a PR sample however, all views are my own as always/

Bedtime Reading With Miffy

Bedtime is a time which some parents dread I know sometimes because I have a toddler who does not like to go to bed for the fear of missing something while she is asleep it can be a right old battle. At the moment she seems to want screen time just before going upstairs and this can mean we have a tantrum when we removed the iPad from her before bed. At the moment in order to win the battle with her we have been saying shall we go upstairs and read a story before bed.

This means that I am getting to give her a cuddle and she is having a little bit of quiet time before going off to sleep meaning, in theory, it should be easier for her to drift off to sleep. I have also have fond memories of reading before bed and I think this is what has made me want to read more for pleasure as an adult hopefully this is something which Jess will benefit from as well. I even seem to think when I was a young child that I had some of the miffy books as well so it is great to see an old character still around now. I have noticed since we have been reading stories before bed that she has learnt more words which is great because it means she has a wide range of words to choose from and her speech is coming on amazing this is something I am so proud of her for.

We were very lucky to be sent miffy at the gallery and Miffy the fairy to read as part of our bedtime routine and this is something which we are so grateful for. In the miffy at the gallery, she goes off and visits the art gallery as you would expect this is a story which is not too long in length meaning it is perfect at keeping her short attention span and also can be read in one go.

Miffy the fairy is a story of when miffy shares with us all the things which she would do if she was a fairy and all of the spells she could cast upon people. I wonder what different spells Jess would do if she had the powers to be able to do whatever she wanted. Actually, I bet I do not want to know this.

These Miffy books have a very good colourful illustration on the page next to them which means that the child's interest is always maintained which is good if you have children with short attention spans like Jess. I also find the length of these books amazing there are around 30 pages which means that it does not take too long to do the bedtime story before I scoop her into her cot and usually she is just about to drift off.

I love that these books actually allow us to spend a period of time together reading and away from all distractions it feels like it is a proper little bit of Mummy and Jess time which is amazing because sometimes I feel like we do not get enough of this at all. This is something we try and do most nights if Jess is not too tired and grumpy. I think I might have to hunt out more Miffy books in the future because I am really enjoying the two which we have currently

Whyourare you favourite books to read before bed?

Charlotte x
This post contains a PR sample however, all words are my own 

Lush- Mask Of Magnaminty Review

Mask Of Magnaminty is a facemask which I am constantly repurchasing and have been since I first tried it over two years ago now. I have hormonal breakouts like any other girl more so around the time of the month and this is when I seem to be reaching for this product more and more. Before I had tried this product I had actually managed to read the reviews now any of you who have done this will know it has really high reviews. 

This is not one of Lush's fresh facemask however, it is self-preserving which means that it does last a bit longer meaning that you do not have to use it as quickly as a fresh one and this also does not have to be stored in the fridge. Which if you are anything like me is a good thing because I put them in the fridge and can actually forget to use them because I rarely go to the fridge before a shower. 

The main ingredient of this facemask is peppermint oil this is what makes it get for people who have acne or spot prone skin as it is actually a natural antiseptic which helps promote healing of scars and blemishes which can occur when skin there is breakouts. I have noticed when I have been used this the scars which I have from previous spots do seem to fade which is a bonus when you are very self conscious about scarring.  

This mask also can help tighten pore which is something which is not always a problem for me but this is always a bonus because having huge pores is not something which we all want. As well as this another benefit which helps soothe and protects the skin from break out as you may remember I said I use this more when I am breaking out. The ingredient which helps this is the bentonite gel and African marigold oil. 

I use this mask maybe only once a week on my whole face and then when I need it in specific areas I will use it more for example when I break out I will apply this maybe every day however, I have been known to use this overnight and it has the same benefits as washing it off after 30 minutes. 

You'll find when you scoop some out of the little pot that it's a really thick mask full of little scrubby bits because the mask is so thick and lumpy, you have to apply it to the skin in quite a thick layer to get even coverage. Be careful not to apply it too thickly however, so that it doesn't dry onto the skin. This is just a waste of product and makes it harder to remove. Do be warned, the application can be super messy I have been known to get it in my hair at stages which can be super annoying. 

Once the mask is on your skin you get that immediate tingly, cold feeling all over your face that comes with peppermint oil this is a feeling which I have to admit I really like. This mask contains Kaolin clay, which whilst setting on your skin, pulls impurities like oil out from your pores, but without drying your skin out even though I do feel like I have to moisturise after but that is just me. 

When you wash the facemask off it is actually exfolicating as you rinse it off which is great because I love looking at how much dead skin cells I have removed as well as the extra oil which does not need to be in my face.

I love this facemask and it is one which I will repurchase time and time again I think I have already been through a couple of the larger pots of this facemask which shows that I really do love the product. I would recommend this product to others who may have blemish/spot prone skin. 

Have you tried mask of magnaminty if so what did you think?

Charlotte 

Skip Hop Unicorn Backpack Review

A year ago I was on the hunt for a nursery bag because Jess was going to be starting nursery and it meant that I needed to be able to carry a few items for her every single day. I actually watched a video that Jess Avey did a video which was all about what was in her toddler's nursery bag. He has an amazing Skip Hop backpack and once I saw that I knew I had to have one. I think her son had the monkey one however, I knew that I needed to get one which could be a little bit more girly I am all for gender neutral but Jess does get called a boy a hell of a lot. This is when I saw this amazing Unicorn bag on the JoJo Maman Bebe website and this was before the unicorn trend actually started. I have seen a lot of people use these style of bags recently I think I have seen a couple of these people who have been had the unicorn bag.

These skip hop bags are actually £20 which to some people may seem expensive for a backpack bag for a toddler to carry or use for nursery. I did actually a discount code which got me £2 off this bag but I did worry that I had an purchased a bag which was actually expensive would not last us that long. This bag has actually lasted us at least a year I have been able to wash the bag I do not know if you're meant to wash it, however, I did and it looked as good as new. I only washed it on a gentle wash I would not recommend washing it on a high temperature I think I did ours on a 30.

This is inside the bag as you can tell there is a lot of space in this bag and it does actually have a couple of complete full outfits in the bag. As you can see there is a lot of room which means that a lot more could be carried in the bag. I think I have managed to put a whole weekend worth of clothes including spares and pj's as well as nappies and wipes which is a hell of a lot of stuff to fit in a bag which does not look like it will be able to fit that much in. This means you could use your bag as a weekend bag for your toddler or for your hand luggage if you lucky to be going on holiday.

The bag also has a huge pocket on the front which I have found is good for storing gloves and socks which is something which we always need now because Jess seems to be able to get her socks wet at nursery easy and I know I am going to need easy access to her gloves because of the fact that the seasons are changing and mornings are getting colder. I think this would be a great place for snacks if you are traveling because it is so easy to access them.  On the side, the bag does have a holder for a bottle which is great for when we are traveling because I can stick a fruit shoot in the pocket so I can grab it before Jess kicks off because she is thirsty.

The straps which are on the back can be adjusted which means this bag can grow with your toddler which is great because if yours is anything like Jess they will want to be able to carry their own bag. I can even adjust it so it fits over one of my shoulders should I need to carry the bag instead of Jess, for example, should I make the bag to full for her to carry it. I think that one of the reasons Jess wanst to carry her bag is because she thinks she is a big girl and because of the fact that the bag is so cute she wants to.  The straps as comfortable for Jess to be able to wear them all day which is great because it means that she is not going to get in discomfort when she wants to wear this.

I would say that the skip hop bags are worth the money because we have used ours nearly every single weekday for a year. However, if you are not going to use the bag every day and are scared that your child will not get their money's worth I would look for a discount code or on Amazon as they are on offer every so often. I think that the quality of this is still as good as new of course it does have a few scraps from the use but you could not tell we have had this bag over a year. I think that had I purchased a cheaper bag I may have had to repurchase a new bag by now.

Have you tried a skip hop backpack?

Charlotte x

Bookworm- Got Your Back Review

Can you believe it me finishing books at the moment is like buses it takes you a while for you to do one and then come along in no time. This is the second book which I have finished this month which takes me up to the grand total of two finished this year I am unsure if I will actually finish anymore this year because of the fact that I am returning to Uni in a couple of weeks and who knows if I will have time to read for pleasure. Anyway here are my thoughts on Jane Fallon's got your back book.

The Blurb:

A husband. A wife. A mistress. And the ultimate plan for revenge . . .

The husband

James never intended to lead a double life - with a wife in London and a mistress in the country, it's exhausting. But that's all about to change . . .

The wife

Stephanie isn't really snooping when she finds a text message from a strange woman on her husband's mobile. But now she's found it, how can she ignore it? It's time to track the woman down and find out what's going on . . .

The mistress

Katie has no reason to believe her boyfriend, James, is cheating until someone claiming to be his wife gets in touch. Now she's been cast in the role of mistress. Not one she's happy with . . .

Once Stephanie and Katie know about each other, they must decide what to do. They could both just throw him out or they could join forces to make his life hell first . . .

But revenge isn't always sweet. And what happens when one woman thinks enough is enough but the other doesn't know when to stop?

My Review

Now I thought this was going to be a book which I loved it has an amazing story line which seems to interest me a wife and a mistress which sounds like they there is going to be something really exciting which we did not see coming. Some great revenge on her husband which sounds like my cup of tea well I hate to break it to you the story line/ plot was actually better than the book itself the plan that Stephanie and Katie come up with but it wasn’t as exciting as I thought it would be. I wanted more of a ‘smack-you-in-the-face’ resolution or perhaps some kind of unexpected event or twist to make me go ‘wow!’, but it was just a little lacking. I wanted something a little bit more juicy than that to happen if I am been truthful.  

I think the characters were a little vague as I didn't really connect with them. If anything I think the wife Stephanie was really hard to like at all there was just something about her. The love interest for Stephanie , Michael, was sooo boring and dull. It felt like they had no chemistry at all and everything seemed to be super rushed with that relationship. This is the stage when it just seemed to get really boring from then onwards. I must say, I liked the part where they were styling celebrities for the BAFTA's. That was quite interesting but the rest was dull. 

This is a book which was not a page turner it was one which I finished because I hate not actually finishing a book and I did leave a while back part read because of the fact that I was not enjoying it that much. This is a book which I can see people reading around the pool or on a beach because it is something to pass the time when relaxing in the sun but it is not one which I would recommend people to go out and purchase. 

Have you read this book if so what did you think?

Charlotte x

Lush Curly Wurly Coconut Shampoo

Curly Wurly Coconut Shampoo aims to keep curly hair moisturised and define the curls I know I do not have the world's curliest hair I have wavy hair instead but I decided a while back that I was going to try it because my hair needs as much moisture as it can get. Some of may know that I have pretty thick hair even though I seem to be losing a lot of it after having Jess at the moment I always seem to have it up in a bun as well because it is so easy and that can cause breakage which is not great at all. 

I will admit that this shampoo did help the condition of my hair and I did notice that the wavy were more defined when I had been using it however, it is not my favourite shampoo for a couple of reasons which is the reason I don't actually know if I would repurchase again in the future.  

I will warn you that one of the reasons I don't know if I like it is because the shampoo has an odd texture – very thick, almost looking solid, with flakes of coconut. Due to this you really have to lather the shampoo up so I found it’s best to put water into my hands alongside the shampoo and apply it to soaking wet hair. This then does foam up and work as a normal shampoo would. I know some people may be worried about getting water in the black tub. I didn't find it to be too much of a problem but towards the end, I did notice that it was becoming a little bit watery which way bother some people but because I had had it open a couple maybe every 

The only downside I found of this was that the flakes of coconut get stuck in your hair as you wash it, but don’t let this put you off as they’re easy enough to comb out whilst your hair is still wet, and the condition of your hair afterwards is worth it. You just need to make sure you get them all out or you might like me think you have super bad dandruff every time you wash your hair with this product. 

I would recommend this to anyone who has curly hair and it is a product that I may go back to in the future but at the moment I am loving a solid shampoo. 

Charlotte x

Mattel Play!- Liverpool Review

I know this post has been a long time coming ever single time I see the pictures I think about that fact I that I need to do a review however, I have not got around to it. That is the reason why Jess may look young in the pictures because they were actually taken back at Easter time when we visited Mattel Play! which is on the Albert dock in Liverpool.

The only reason I actually knew it was there was because I had seen the lovely Hayley from stretchmarks and sparkles visit with her boys. Mattel is a 3 floored building which is designed for under 5's. The top floor is dedicated to Thomas the tank engine which has you may know because Jess goes on a lot of trains she likes to watch Thomas.

On the Thomas floor there is as signalling box which allows your child to feel like they are in control of the whole network. As you can see Jess is playing with part of it here and I think we had to wait a while for her to actually come of because she was having so much fun. Also on the floor there is a little trains which the children can get on a be pushed around on it is almost like a ride on Thomas. There is a farm which allows the child to grow the fruit and veg before picking them which allows you to help your child learn their fruit and veg. 

There also was the colaeorks which has foam bricks in which you could build the areas was a little dark and this was not something which actually interested Jess. You could even drive a stationary Thomas which of course Jess spent a fair amount of time on. However I think Jess's favourite part of the floor was the ball pit which has Harold the helicopter in because she could with help get in a slide out the back into his ball pool. For sure this was the bit which she spent the longest in it was so nice to heard her laugh so much.

The second floor is dedicated to bob the builder which I will admit is a show which Jess has not seen a lot of. I think since the visit it is one which she has seen more of. On this floor they have beanbags which allow you to sit and watch episodes of the show however, only been one Jess wanted to play rather than sit. They have a kitchen which allows you to make food and drink for the famous builder making his lunch before he departs for the job I know this is an area which Jess would love so much more now as she is obsessed with play food.  They also have an area where you mend pipes and stop a water leak as well as build a new wall for a house. These are area which Jess spent some time at. The other activity  on the is a tracing your favourite character from the show however, Jess was still a little bit young to want to do this. I on the other hand had a great time trying to do it.

The third and bottom floor is an area dedicated to Fireman Sam. So as you can imagine as you enter you can put on fireman's helmets these were to big for Jess which is a huge shame. But when you got into the main room Thai was the smallest of all three levels you have little slide area which Jess loved walking up the stairs and sliding down. A speedboat which you could drive and use the hoses to put the fire out which was on a wall. This floor also has a little grocery store which Jess decides she would fill her trolley up and pretend to be a shoplifter. Mmm might have to keep my eyes on this little one. There was also a huge fire engine in there which you could play inside but this is not something we did.

When Mattel is busy you get a period of 2 hours from entrance however, we did everything we wanted and spent around an hour and half and we was all shattered after it. Overall we had an amazing time I seem to remember that it was not very expensive for how much you actually got I would revisit maybe in a years time when Jess may get more out of it. Anyway that's just an excuse to visit Liverpool again.

Have you visited Mattel Play If so what did you think? 7

Charlotte x

Bookworm- The Rise and Fall Of A Yummy Mummy- Review

Reading is something which has been a huge passion of mine for a long time however, since going to university the first time and been given a lot of reading to reading for pleasure is not something which I have done a lot. I don't think there are many parents who manage to read a lot I think this book is actually one of the first which I have finished this year which I know is shocking seen as it is August usually I would have read around 20 by now.

I decided to read this book which is the rise and fall of a yummy mummy because I wanted something which I thought would be super easy to read and this seemed like it could be one of those books which is a constant page turner

The book's blurb is the following

For every mum who has trodden on one plastic brick too many, or looked at her phone instead of lovingly recording her little one's every moment, or poured a large wine because it's four o'clock on Friday. If you've ever shared a post from the Unmumsy Mum or giggled at Hurrah for Gin, this book is for you.

Amy Crane is in crisis. Six months after the birth of her baby, Amy still looks pregnant and can't remember the last time she had a wax, or an orgasm. Motherhood is stirring up disturbing questions about her own childhood. And she suspects her boyfriend is cheating. Enter Alice, yummy mummy superior, on a mission to transform Amy's body, and love life. As Amy swaps breast pads for Botox and climbs out of a vortex of self-doubt, her libido awakens from its long nap and things get rather more complicated ...

A wonderfully well-written, funny and sharp novel about the trials of playing hip happy families and the contradictions at the heart of modern motherhood.

My thoughts 

The book was very similar to others which I have read in the past it has a very typical ending which I could see from the middle of the book which really almost annoyed me because I like to be surprised by a book which has a twist which this one did not. I also found the main character Amy really annoying as well towards then end because she always need to have someone tell her she was good enough however, it is almost reassuring that characters do need to be told this and not all the time life has a happy ending because for sure we know this is not always the truth. Even people in books have bad days, ,weeks, and months which I found comforting for some reason maybe because I know what it is like to have one of these as well.  I found the book a page turner and did manage to finish it pretty quickly however, it is not one which I can see myself rereading but Polly Williams is an author I would look at purchasing her work again as I did enjoy this book. 

Overall I would recommend it should you want a page turner book maybe for reading around the pool but you do not want a typical chick flick. 

Have you read this book if so what did you think?

Charlotte x

Scuttlebug Review

Scuttlebugs is something which I have known that I was going to purchase for Jess for a long time because as you may know Jess is a child who loves to be outdoors and I am sure she hates it when she actually is stuck inside because the weather is not great. Way back at the start of May time I was looking at the scuttlebugs because I knew I wanted to get it early so that Jess could use it after nursery when the days were getting longer and also if we have a nice weekend. I found out that that they were retailing for around the £30 mark.

As you may know, I love a bargain and because of the fact that I was ahead of the season I thought I would have a look on Ebay and see if anyone was selling one which has been barely used because this is not something which bothers me that much. I knew that I was just going to give Jess it and it was not going to be a present at all.  I managed to pick one up and I think it cost me around £15 posted.

If you do not know what a scuttlebug is basically a three wheeled balance bike which children up to around the age of 3 can use as a ride on. They push themselves against the floor and it moves it can be used both indoors if you have enough space which is something I do not have. Or you can use it outside like Jess does.

The scuttlebug comes in a range of different colours however, we choose the black and red one which means that I could always save this should we have another child because of the fact that it is not that girly.  The scuttlebug we have is actually shaped and looks like a ladybird which is attractive and colourful to a child's eyes. 

It came folded away which means that you have to assemble the bike but it is very easy and does not take a long time it is literally 3 clicks and then it is up. This is amazing because as we all know children do not like waiting for a long time to be able to play with their toys. Something which I worried about when I had seen these previously was about how sturdy they were but I can report after owning one for a while that they are very sturdy. They are also so lightweight which means you could carry them to the park you could even fold these up and put it under the pram.  I have no concerns how long these are going to last because Jess has used this for a long time it is showing no signs of wear. I also love how small they fold because it means that it very easy to store if like us you do not have the largest amount of space to put toys. 

I do not know if I can imagine Jess playing on this next summer when she is nearly 3 because I have a feeling that she may be a little bit too big for it however, I know that she is taller than most children her age so this is something to take into consideration. 

I think that it would be worth keeping your eyes open for when these are on offer because I do not think that they are fully worth the RRP of £30 however, if you can get your hands on one of these cheaper I would recommend it. Personally, I think that they are worth around the £20 mark and have noticed Amazon does have them in certain colours for this price. 

Have you purchased a Scuttlebug, If so what did you think of it?

Charlotte x

LittleLife Toddler Daysack Review

Ever since Jess had started to crawl I said at when she started walking would be purchasing her a rein bag the reason behind this is because it still allows her to be independent and if you knownJess you will know how indepdant she loves to be even nursery have commented on this. So Jess thinks that she is actually walking and been a big girl without having to hold my hand unless she is crossing a road and I can still control her which means that she can not run into the road or get into any other danger.

I remember around November time when Jess had started walking and started to want to go explore more I purchased her the Littlelife daysack because I knew that this was something that I had been looking for. They do as range of different animals so there will be one which shit your family they now even do character ones I have seen the gruffolo and Minnie Mouse. In hind site I kind of wish I had got the Minnie one because Jess has become obsessed with her in the last few months.  The Daysacks have the removable rein which means when Jess is a little bit older we can use it as a small backpack which has enough room in for her drink and a few other things such as snacks. Having the option  to remove the rein means that when she is in a huge open area such as the park you can remove it and let her run free without. Her thinking she is too free as she is still wearing the backpack. This is something which we have done a number of times now and is seems to be something which she seems to enjoy because she is more independent.

You can also adjust the chest pads which means as Jess grows the bag will still be able to fit her I think it is till age 4 you can use this little bag however I am sure a lot of that would be just using it as a normal bag. The shoulder pads are actually pretty thick and soft which means that it is comfortable for your child to wear which is something that you want should they be wearing this for a long period for of time. 

I have used this bag so much I have purchased a similar one for the car so that we always have one should we need to take s last minute journey and do not have this one Jess is still able to walk,.  We have used this bag in a number of places from the town centre, parks, seaside and farms. At all of them we have never found that we have had an issue with the bag. We even took her to the rugby at Easter with it and the security were amazed with it they said however I looked like I was controlling a drunk person.

It is not just me  who has used the bag obviously Joe has used it with her and both sets of grandparents have actually used it. It was his nan though who could be a little bit sceptical  about things like as she is usedmtomdoing what they did back in the day when she was bringing children up who even stated that they are a good idea and she wishes that they had them when Joe had been growing up. 

The bag is something which I could not be without now because we get so much use out of it. I think this most be one of the best £20 I have ever spent.

Do you have one of these bags, would you use one? Let me know in the comments 

Charlotte x

Lush - Volcano Foot Mask Review

Once the summer months approach I think about taking care of my feet which I have neglected for the majority of the winter. The reason behind this is because I think about wearing sandals or dolly shoes and nobody wants to have horrible feet. I try and remove a lot of the dead horrible skin using an amazing foot mask which I treated my mum to one birthday. I am someone who spends a lot of hours on my feet should it be walking or just not resting that much because that's hard to do when you have a nearly two-year-old in toe. The foot mask, of course, is from Lush and it is the Volcano. I will admit it is not one of the prettiest products Lush do.

This is an ice cool mint foot mask which contains Pumice which allows you to run the dead skin away making your feet look amazing. It also has Kaolin on which helps to clean and repair skin and then finally papaya which helps digest dead skin ready for removal. This little pot is amazing and does save you a hell of a lot of time because it would take a lot of treatments to do a lot these elements.
Volcano also helps deodorise, cool and simulation the feet this is due to the tomatoes, menthol and the lemon and cinnamon which is in the mask. This allows you to be able to treat your feet which are hot and have been in your shoes all day which they deserve should you hammer them like I do.

The way I use this mask is to cover my whole foot with the mask I make sure that I apply plenty of it. I then wrap my feet tightly in cling film which helps you to lock the moisture and soften the skin. I do this before I shower as I am able to rinse it off.

I have found that my feet are a hell of a lot softer and some of the dead skin has disappeared. It helped with my roughness which is a problem which I do suffer for and I have found that it did help. I think that this is a product which I am going to be reaching for a lot more now the summer is here I could be using at least once a week just before I paint my nails to give my feet a full on pamper session.

Do you have a favourite foot mask? If so what is it I would love to be able to try some of the others?

Charlotte x

SENSSE Silicone Facial Cleansing Brush And Exfoliator

As some of you may know I have a Magnitone Cleansing I think it is the Lucid one I have have been using it for a couple of years, however, one of the things which annoy me about the brush is that I have to change the heads and they are around £6 per head. They need changing every couple of months as well. Recently I was contacted as asked if I would like to review the SenseSiliconee Facial Cleansing Brush and Exfoliator.

As soon as it arrived I was shocked it comes in the most gorgeous packaging it reminded me of when you purchase a new Apple product and you get the satisfaction of unboxing it. With this product, you get the facial brush, a USB charger and a bag where you can store the brush when it is not in use. You do not get the plug for the USB but this is not a problem I have so many of them. 

The brush as the name suggests is made of silicone which means that it is antibacterial and antifungal this means that there are no changing heads like with other cleansing brushes which are a bonus. This brush is actually great for all skin types at the moment my skin is a little bit more sensitive this could be due to the amount of sun that it has been getting and I now it is not used to it. 

The device flashes when it has a full charge which lets you know when it needs to be taken off charge which is helpful for me because I always forget to take things of charge. On the front of the device, you can turn the brush to a more intend setting which for me is something I always tend to do because I like a deeper clean. There are 6 speeds which you can use and you can change them depending on where you are using it. If that makes sense, for example, I use a higher intensity on my t zone than I do on my cheeks. I think this is because my skin is less sensitive or it seems to be. I have noticed that after the period of time where your skin breaks out because you have changed your skincare that my skin actually is clearer this could be for a number of reasons however I am putting it down to cleansing my face better than I have put down to this clever device. I have noticed I break out a lot less and some of the pores which I could see clogging no longer do look as clogged. 

I don't have to put any product on the brush head unlike with then magnitude I just use warm water thinks the same when I am done and want to.clean the brush after use.  The device notifies you after 15 seconds allowing you to know that it is time to move on to the next section of your face. On the back of the brush is the anti-ageing element which is harder you are meant to use this on areas where fine lines will appear and on your neck. It is supposed to reduce the fine lines by plumping the skin, however, this is over a period of time so I couldn't tell you yet if this element of the brush works, 

Another element which I really like is that after 3 minutes of not using the device it goes to sleep which is great because we have all forgotten to turn something like a toothbrush off and then come back next day to use it and it is dead so thanks to this element this can not occur.  Another element which in love is the device is waterproof which means you use it in the shower like I do every single morning. This knows you do not forget to do it and also it doesn't take a long time to do which for me is a bonus as a busy mum. 

The facial brush is £90 however currently is on offer on Amazon for £49.99. The outlay is only once as you do not have to purchase any extras for the device it is all included in the box when the device arrives. I am giving one lucky winner the chance to win their own facial brush For your chance to win enter below.

Win A Sensse Silicone Facial Cleansing Brush and Exfoliator #1

The giveaway will end on the 20th July and the brand will contact the winner. 

Have you ever tried a facial brush like this if so what did you think?

Charlotte x