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

Dreaming of A Jet Plane

I am sure that I am not alone when I say I am sat dreaming of hotter climates while I spend a lot of time on the commute because as all know January is a month where most of us travel when it is dark in the morning and arrive home when it is again dark. Without factoring in the weather, we have had snow, ice and rain already this month. Some of us can not wait to have some sun on our backs in the summer in the UK is not guaranteed, and it seems months till people jet off on their summer holidays. Why should you have to wait that long when your children's have a break from school next month in February or are you lucky like us and are not tied down to school holidays yet.

I am dreaming of jetting off on my a holiday soon because it is dark as I have mentioned when I am commuting it is always dark which never makes you feel amazing. I have a hell of a lot of work which is causing me stress because as some of you know, I am only around 4 months away from completing my degree. I feel like being able to spend a week with Jess and having a lot of quality time would make me feel less stressed and I could always work when she is sleeping on a night.  I also need to make sure I take a break because otherwise, I will become ill when I finish because the amount of stress will come down fast. This is something which happened at Christmas which is never good because it almost ruined quality family time which is never good and increase my mum guilt. 

It was not until I actually thought about it we have not been on a family holiday as a family of 3. The first summer Jess was born we went to Norfolk with Joes's parents so even though this was a holiday it was not a pure family holiday. Then last year because Joe was deployed we did not actually have a family holiday this is something which I really want to change very soon. I feel like we would have a lot of family time which would create some amazing memories which we could treasure for the rest of our lives.  Of course, this would be Jess's first time on a plane and I have not been on a plane for over 5 years which is not great when you love to travel and explore new places. 

Just because it is February does not mean that you have to travel hours on a plane to somewhere like the Carribean for hot weather which you might not want to if you have young children. This for sure is not something which I would want to do with Jess yet because I know she would not sit for that long.  You do not have to break the bank either February half term holidays deals can be found I found a holiday to Crete for only £123pp with the weather likely to be double the temperature of the of the UK. I think that travelling in February/March time is a good time to travel as it will not be as busy as in the summer which may night suit you should you have young children like Jess.  Also, it will not be too hot which could be a problem should you go in the height of the summer.

Have you ever travelled in a half term?

Charlotte xxx

This post is sponsered by Holiday Gems

Beauty Product I Have Been Loving

Today I thouight I would share with you some of the beauty products which I have been loving over the past few months I could not tell you how long some of them I have been using however, these are the ones which I have been reaching for every single time I have been wearing make up. As you can see from the picture some of these are actually tools which I have been using rather than an actual product.

The first product which I have been using to apply my foundation is actually a beauty sponge I think this one was part of a pack which I purchased from Primark a few months back. I know this one is in deprate need of a clean this is a job which I really need to get done at some stage soon. I think the pack which I got had around 5 different make up sponges and I have been using the pink one which you can see in the picture as well as a smaller orange one which I use under the eyes.This pack was around the £2 mark and for sure is somethng which I can see myself purchasing again in the future. I love the way it makes your foundation look it does not make it seem like it is cakey at all instead it is more of a natural finish and this is something which I am always looking for. Recently I have acutally got the beauty blender that this is a dupe for so I will be intrested to see how the this compares to the orgainal.

Real techniques brushes are something which I have used for a long time now it must be at least 4/5 years and it is not until you try another brand of brushes that you realise how amazing these ones are. They are not too weighty which I find amazing because frequently will I have to travel with them they also I have found do not allow you to apply too much make up. The eye brushes allow you to blend out eyeshadow making it look like you have made such an effort and spent a long time blending when this is not the case at all. I think my favourites out of the ones which I own is the blusher brush is very soft and easy to clean which is great for busy people like me however, the element which I like the most is the fact that you can blend which does save you looking like a clown for sure a look that nobody wants at all.

All these early mornings and late nights end up taking their toll which means that I need a concealer which is going to make me look like I am wake and full of energy even when this may not be the case. My trusty Rimmel Wake Me Up Concelear for sure make me look like I have had hours of sleep of course I have to blend this out with the beauty sponges which I mentioned. This for sure hides the those tired eyes by lightening them up this is a concealer which I would only recommend using under your eyes. The reason behind this is because of the fact that it is a highlighting concelear which means that it would make spots even more obvious something which nobody wants at all. This is a product which I will contiue to repurchase because we all know more sleep is something us mum's and students always need this product will not break the bank because I think it is only around the £5-6 mark and a I find that a tube of this last me around 3/4 months depending on how tired and how much I reach for it.

Boujous healthy mix foundation is another product which makes me look like I have had a bit more sleep than I have an that my skin is more healthy and radient than it actually is. It is like putting on some magic cream which makes you look a lot more awake a look which I think most of us need in January when it is a bit grim outside. I find this foundation is medium/high coverage which means that it covers all of the blemishes and the majority of spots which I get however, if I get a bad spot I sometimes do need to still use concelear to hid it. This does have a natural dwey finsih which I know may not be to everyones taste but for me I think it looks like my skin but better and this is the look which I would rather be achieving. This is a foundation which is actually under £10 and will not make you look orange at all which is a bonus for me because this for sure is not a look at would want at all.

Who doesn't want better eyelashes for me I always want them to look like the have more volume and a little bit more length than they actually do. For the past couple of years I have been using the Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara which I have found has always been doing the trick some how it manages to make your lashes longer and give them volume without making them look like spider legs. I have found that on day which I have not been wearing mascara I look like I am very tired because my eyes look less open therefore looking less wake than I actually am. Again this product is not one which is going to damage the old bank balance too much as it is around £5-6 but this does start to dry out after a few months however, I do actually prefer it when it is drying out. I know you are meant to replace your mascara every 3 months however, I have to admit this is not something which I do currently.

Rimmel 107 is a shade which people were raving about a few years ago for me it is one of the most perfect winter shade it is a kind of dark red colour which I always seem to reach for at this time of year maybe because I think that it suits been with a paler skin tone something which I have to rock at this time of year. |For me it does look like a berry tone red shade this is a lipstick which I have found to wear evenly which means that you do not end up having lines where it has worn away again thsi si a lipstick whcih I can wear for 3-4 hours without having to reapply this includes me eating and drinking throughout this time. I can not remember how much this lipstick is however, one thing which I am aware of is that it is actually under £5.

Seen as most of these products have been around the £5 mark I thought I would share with you a couple which I have been loving which have not fallen into this bracket. The first been the Benefit Goof Proof eyebrow pencil for sure this is something which I love it allows me to make my brows look a little bit neater in between getting them wax or threaded I love to have neat but natural brows. I did get colour matched by a lovely lady called Sian who matched me to shade 4 I feel like I never have found a pencil which is so soft and you can actually work with. The spoolie on the other end means that you do not have to carry one around with you which is always a bonus when you want your brows too look neat.

The final product which I have been loving is the Diesel Loverdose perfume this is the scent which I can be found wearing on the weekend more than when I am just at uni. This is actually like no other scent which I have found previously to me it is a little bit dark this could be due to one of the key notes actually been liquorice and rich vanilla. This is something which I can smell for a long time after applying it usually I can smell it when I go to bed which is at least 10 hours after applying it. I adore the bottle of this as well I think this is one of the first reasons I picked up this perfume for sure you could attract all of the men wearing this.

What products have you been loving recently?

Charlotte x

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

5 Money Saving Tips Online Shopping

I know that when you are thinking about saving money you are trying not to so be a lot however we all know that we have to spend money. Whether it be gifts which you need for people such as people having birthdays or items which you need to replace.

I am for one a person who prefers to shop online because it does mean that I don't have to interact with humans and I can do it in the comfort of my own house. Of course there is a lot more temptation to spend more money when you are shopping online the reason behind this is because you do get a lot of emails when sales are on and you might be tempted to shop online. However you might know the sale was on without this so today I am going to share with you 5 money saving tips for when you are shopping online. 

The first one is use sites which as quidco which is a cashback site there is also top cashback. I personally have only used quidco and in the past year I think I have had over £100 back on purchases which I have made and would have made anyway. I use google chrome web browser and have been able to add it so that when I go to a site which quidco gives cashback on it tells you so that you do not miss out on the cashback. It is amazing to see how much money you can get back I even got some money back from car insurance and hotels it doesn't have to just be normal shopping which you can get cashback on.

Click and collect is something which saves my life because of the fact that I am never at home to get the deliveries. A lot of websites do actually charge you to have items deliveried as well however if you have a store close you might be better if clicking and collecting the item most stores do this so you still can shop in your pyjamas if you would like to. I did the majority of my Christmas shopping this year and never had a bad experience. Most websites charge around £3.95 however it might be cheaper for you to click and collect over the year you could save a fair amount of money. It is actually sometime in quicker for you to get things via click and collect I know Debenhams is one of these sites where you can get it in store within 24-48 hours for free however you would have to pay extra to get the item that quickly. 

Check returns policy's before you purchase recently I gave noticed a number of the clothing sites which I have been using charge for returns. This is something you might want to be aware of because if you are like me you might order things in a couple of sizes because you do not know which one is going to fit. However if it is charging you to return it is something to be aware because it may not be as cheap as you think for example if the item is in the sale it might be more expensive than you would have paid. I know sites like misguided used to charge £4 returns I do not know if they still do this but it does put me off ordering sites like this because it can be costing me to try clothes on which I could not actually try on in a store.

Avast safeprice tool bar is something which Joe told me about list before Christmas this is a tool bar for your computer which tells you if a product you are looking at is cheaper on another website. This is so useful because who doesn't want to save money on a product that they are going to purchase anyway. I actually found Jess's new pram £20 cheaper than I was going to pay thanks to this toolbar I just googled avest safeprice in order to be able to install this. This is something which I could see myself using a lot and saving even more money which is always looking at items. They sometimes are for sale cheaper on sites which you would not have thought of using for example the pram was in symths toy store not a place which I would have thought sold actual pushchairs. This is a free toolbar so why not go install it now.

The final tip is a page which I got recommended by someone it is a page on Facebook called Present Hunter.This is a page which shares offers and deals for all kind of items I have purchased a lot using these deals for example I got a desk light on Amazon which was £35 but I got it for £3.99 which is amazing thanks to this site. This is something which we needed and may have purchased anyway they also purchase misprice items which usually is on Amazon and only last for a short period of time. This page I know is going to be really handy when we are looking for household items. They have posts such as clothing both for children and adults at the moment they keep posting character Pyjamas for children for only £6 from places such as Tesco. 

How do you save money when your shopping online? 

Charlotte xx