Ted Baker - My Top Picks!

Ok I normally like to pick up a bargain and I also like to share them with you, but today I will have to steer away from the bargains and share some awesome clothing from Ted Baker! 

I know it's a bit pricey but these beautiful pastel pieces are to die for and good quality too in my opinion.  

So if you're looking for something a little special try one of my favourites below: 

1. Pleated Lace Skirt £119 2. Orchid Floral Dress £189 3. Rose Print Skirt £129 4. Printed Maxi Dress £209 5. Floral Print Sweater £99 6. Floral Print Tee £45 7. Floral Printed Dress £189 8. Regency Houses Shorts £89 9. Oil Painting Trouser £119

Love Sophie...xxx

Polly Pocket Wall Party

Do you have any of the Polly Pocket Wall Party range? We do! My girls really love to play with this range and spend hours enjoying themselves with the Polly Pocket world.  We have slowly collected different pieces of the range for my eldest daughter and now buying a new section for my youngest's birthday too.  

You may be a bit worried about attaching toys to your lovely walls which is understandable as we also had the same worry.  But so far so good - there has been no problem with marking the wall and provided in the box are these special adhesive strips designed specifically for painted walls.  It is also nice to have a toy which is not taking up floor space!  By sticking it on the wall it is out of the way but the girls can still see it so it is never forgotten.  With hundreds of little pieces i.e. shoes, drinks etc there are also dedicated storage ares where you can put all these little fiddly, easily lost things away to stay safe and sound.

Above is a picture of my Daughter's Wall Party but below are also some of the choices in the range ranging from around £8.00 to £25.00.  In my opinion a good value worth while toy which is played with regularly! 

Love Sophie...xxx

Lost & Found - Book Review

I received Lost & Found: True tales of love and rescue from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home from Penguin Publishers to review and must admit I was totally sucked in by the emotional stories inside.  If you are a lover of animals then why not give this book a try and with profits going direct to Battersea you can't go wrong!

There is a sweet foreword by the beloved Paul O'Grady followed by 12 real life stories of course my favourites belong to the kitty stories! I also love books with photos in the middle which is exactly what you get with Lost & Found.

As you may already know we have four cats two of which were adopted from our local Cats Protection. Battersea care for around 190 cats and kittens and 400 dogs at any one time.  All in all 3.1million cats and dogs have been helped since Battersea was founded in 1871.

So if you are a lover of these furry creatures why not buy this book and help towards Battersea's ongoing goal to look after all dogs and cats who need help.  

Love Sophie...xxx

Winter Little Adventures Challenge

This post is an entry for BritMums ‘Winter Little Adventures Challenge’ sponsored by Barny, individually wrapped bear-shaped sponges with a hidden filling Find out more about Barny here. 

My girls were very pleased when we received our Barny sponges.  We haven't had these before in our house but according to my six year old they are very popular at the school lunch table! We received the apple and strawberry flavours and both girls really enjoyed eating them, so much so that they were gone before you could say Barny! The great thing about these little Barny sponges is that they contain no added  colours or preservatives and they are individually wrapped so are perfect for lunch boxes and snacks when out and about too! 

Lulworth Cove

We have also been on a little family adventure to Lulworth recently.  If you didn't already know, Lulworth is in Dorset (which is where we live).  There is a beautiful little cove called Lulworth Cove funnily enough and a tiny village too.  A short walk along the Jurassic coast also brings you to Durdle Door.  This is a beautiful place to visit if you ever have the chance.  The last time I visited was when I was at school so we thought it a nice idea to take the girls.  

Being January the weather was bitterly cold but the sun was out (a bit) and we had a really lovely day taking in the sights and adventuring around the village.   As it was out of season it meant there was hardly any people or tourists so we were free to roam around as we pleased checking out the pebbles and shells on the beach.  We found a tiny mollusc which the children 'saved' by returning it to the sea.  We also found a lot of tiny waterfalls coming from the white cliff's and running down along the pebble beach into the sea which the girls loved jumping over and inspecting.  

Although we looked hard we didn't find any fossils but the girls collected a lot if shells and interesting shaped pebbles.  They also found an awful lot of washed up seaweed but my three year old was positively not keen on being anywhere near it and would run screaming in the opposite direction when her big sister teased her about it! Ha! 

We finished our adventure off with an ice cream for the girls (crazy children!) and hot drinks for the adults and also popped into Lulworth Castle for a very quick wonder around the grounds before heading home! 

All in all we had a wonderful adventure and really enjoyed getting out on a crisp winters day, especially as it wasn't raining for a change.  There was no arguing or bickering between the girls for the entire day and we all got home feeling happy and refreshed!

 

Love Sophie...xxx

Body Shop - Vitamin E Range

Have you seen the latest offering from the Body Shop yet? If the answer is no then let me introduce you to Vitamin E Overnight Serum-In-Oil!  Claiming to be just as good as 8 hours sleep for your skin with a unique texture offering a non-greasy, fast absorbing formula.  The link above will take you to The Body Shop's dedicated page to this new product with instructions and videos on how to use which I love!

Other products in the range include  Body Butter, Body Lotion, Cool BB Cream, Cream Cleanser, Cream Exfoliator, Eye Cream, Facial Cleansing Bar, Facial Oil, Cleansing Wipes, Facial Wash, Hand & Nail Treatment, Hydrating Toner, Iluminating Moisture Cream, Intense Moisture Cream, Lip Care, Moisture Serum, Night Cream. Moisture Mask, Moisture Lotion, Tinted Moisture Lotion and Face Mist...Phew!!  To see more information and the prices of any of these products please click here.

I have had the chance to test the Face Mist and Night Cream and this is what I have found:

Vitamin E Face Mist: This is a great addition to your beauty cabinet!  It has a light rose fragrance and is not too over powering.  I have been using to set my makeup and it really helps your look last! You can also use to freshen up through the day.  The spray is very light and you don't feel like you've just stepped out of the shower with a dripping wet face which is good.  This also means it drys very quickly leaving you to get on with your day.

Vitamin E Moisture Cream: The thing I love most about this range is that the products are very light and easy to apply.  This cream is great it goes on smoothly and absorbs into your skin really quickly and easily, perfect for when you ar about to apply your makeup. The scent is very subtle too and doesnt make your eyes sting like some stronger smelling products can do.  










Love Sophie...xxx

n-greasy, fast-absorbing formula delivers fuss-free, instant skin
comfort! This technical innovation combines power an

d indulgence to replenish and recharge
skin with moisture overnight. With a unique texture, this non-greasy, fast-absorbing formula delivers fuss-free, instant skin
comfort! This technical innovation combines power and indulgence to replenish and recharge
skin with moisture overnight.With a unique texture, this non-greasy, fast-absorbing formula delivers fuss-free, instant skin
comfort! This technical innovation combines power and indulgence to replenish and recharge
skin with moisture overnight.

Jillian Michaels Review - Ripped In 30

This is my favourite Go-To workout from Jillian Michaels I do it pretty much every Monday as it is a great all rounder and really gets your heart pumping!  You'll need an exercise mat and some hand weights for this workout.

The DVD is split into 4 different 20min workouts starting easy and getting harder.  The idea is to do one workout for an entire week moving to the next for four weeks.  Each workout is then divided into three circuits which you repeat twice.  Jillian has broken each circuit into the 3-2-1 which includes 3 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio and 1 minute of abs.  This keeps the workout varied and interesting.

Personally I like to do two of the four workouts in a row - Workout 1 and Workout 4.  This means I can get almost an hour of exercise in ranging from easy(ish) to really hard. I really enjoy this DVD and would definitely recommend you give it a go at only £8.08 from Amazon you'd be mad to give it a miss!

Love Sophie...xxx

Workout Wear By H&M

In all honesty there is nothing like wearing some new workout gear to give you a little extra inspiration in the gym!  This week I have been checking out the latest workout clothing range from H&M and have succombed to ordering some new items! Their latest offerings are fab with great colour ways and clothes suitable for running, yoga, outdoors and general athletics.  With most items costing under £15 you can't go wrong, there is also a range for men too!  

Check out my best picks below:

1. Sports Tights £14.99 & Sports Top £12.99
2. Yoga Trousers £12.99 & Sports Bra £12.99
3. Sports Bra £12.99
4. Base Layer Tights £12.99 & Base layer Top £12.99
5. Waist bag £7.99
6. Sports Trousers £19.99 & Sports Top £7.99
7. Yoga Trousers £7.99 & Sports Bra £12.99
8. Lightweight Jacket £24.99
9. Sports Top £7.99

The New Granny's Survival Guide

If you are expecting a baby and would like to buy something for the grandmother-to-be or if you are the grandmother-to-be you have to buy this book! Currently available on Amazon.

I was given this book to review by Mumsnet and although not a Grandmother myself I thoroughly enjoyed all the book had to offer and can't wait to pass it on to my mum and mother-in-law who I am sure will really enjoy and appreciate the witty tales and advice.

With some really great extracts from real 'Grannys' I found it hard to choose my favourite but if I was pushed I would have to say this is one of my favourites:

"How much advice should you give to the new parents? Somewhere between none and none, in my experience.  My favoured way to listen to what she wants to do and say what a good idea that is" (gracesmum)

There is so much advice in this book ranging from 'Becoming A Gran' to 'Discipline' and 'Bigger Grandchildren' the list is endless and you really can't go wrong.

Take it from me, this book is a very enjoyable read and I would definitely recommend it. Thank you Netmums and Gransnet for publishing such a fab book!

This Week I Am Loving...Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Honestly what's not to love?  I have been chomping at the bit to watch the latest Dracula series starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers!

Having watched every series of The Tudors I really must say how happy I am to see him back on our screens in this fabulous new take on Dracula! If you haven't seen it yet, tune in...you won't regret it! 

So I will round this love fest up by letting you all know - All I Want For Christmas Is...Jonathan Rhys Meyers!

Love Sophie..x

Try The Stick Man Trail With Your Kids

Last weekend we thought we'd take the kids for an outside adventure and get a bit of fresh air while we were at it. We visited our local Forestry Commission Moors Valley to take part with their Stick Man Trail. At £2.00 per child you get a Stick Man guide book and also some pipe cleaners to use when making your very own Stick Man. There is a route guided by signs and hidden Stick Men which provide activities as you go and instructions are given on how to make your own Stick Man too!  We all really enjoyed ourselves and made sure we found each and every hidden Stick Man along the way!  The Hubby was engrossed in making the girls their own Stick Men with their hand picked sticks and we ended the day with a trip to the adventure park.  Of course no brisk winter walk is complete without a glass (or two) of mulled cider and hot chocolate and we all warmed ourselves feeling satisfied with our great day out.

With most trails running until the end of January I would definitely recommend you give this a go! 

Love Sophie..x

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Stereophonics In Concert

Me and the hubby went to see the Stereophonics in concert last week at the BIC! It was fab, I never used to be a huge fan but I have really enjoyed listening to their latest album, Graffiti On The Train.  After seeing them live I was really impressed and we both really enjoyed ourselves.  

Let me let you in on a little secret...never come to a concert with us! We tend to buy seated tickets as I am so short I find it hard to see over all the bodies when standing.  At every concert we have ever been to we are always surrounded by the most miserable looking people you have ever seen, they look like they have been dragged to these concerts, they don't sing, they don't clap and they definitely don't dance! It is honestly quite hilarious and as I am someone who is full of beans and looking for a bit of a dance, being surrounded by these miserable people is not good.  Despite this we had a really good time and the atmosphere was amazing, here are some pics of the concert for you:

Also before I go I feel I must mention how gorgeous the lead singer Kelly Jones is!  After asking my husband if Kelly is married (I couldn't help it...it just slipped out!) my hubby replied "I don't know but he's really short"! Oh well you can't have everything, let's just sit and stare at Kelly's photo for a moment...or two!

Love Sophie..x

The Last Instalment For NaBloPoMo!

It's the 30th November and today is the last post for NaBloPoMo! I hope you have enjoyed hearing from me everyday!?  If not don't worry the torture has come to an end! Thanks to Vonnie at Nowt Special for hosting NabloPoMo 2013 for us and to answer her Day 30 prompt - The hardest part about blogging everyday for me is trying to come up with something interesting to say!

For this last post I thought I'd link to some of my favourite November 13 posts:

1. Turning 30!
2. Buns In My Oven
3. Job Description Of A Mum
4. The Book Of Bedtime Stories
5. Ode To Mummy
6. Pizza Rolls
7. Meet The Kittens
8. Give A Three Year Old A Camera...
9. This Week I'm Loving...
10. A Blast From The Past

I hope you enjoy reading these...if you would like to hear more from me please follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Bloglovin!

Now let's wave goodbye to November and welcome in December!