Wednesday 29 May 2019

Step into Summer with these Fashion Fixes!

Ad {gifted}. The weather has been very changeable lately hasn't it! Nothing like compared to last year when we were in the middle of a heat wave, crazy or what! That been said I cannot wait for our family Summer holiday in the South of France and I have to admit I'm already starting to buy a few little bits here and there, I just love being organised and shopping for holiday clothes. I've been working with Fashion World and Jacamo recently so I have been able to add a few more items to mine and my husbands holiday wardrobe. A little bit about Fashion World - a trading style of JD Williams & Company Ltd one of the UK's leading direct home shopping companies, offering a large selection of clothes all items are designed to flatter and fit but at good value. Jacamo prides itself on providing a wide variety of clothes and aims to appeal to any man regardless of size, aims for good value while offering top quality items.

Now, I'm not very good at having 'capsule' outfits, my husband however is definitely a shorts and t-shirt guy or chinos and smart shirt where as I tend to stick to a similar style when on holiday and layer up which I always find handy as although the weather in the Dordogne is generally wonderful there is the chance of thunderstorms which can turn the weather a little chilly at times, not very often it happens but best to be prepared! Here is a selection of items that I chose and hopefully I'll be getting alot of use out of them when the weather sorts itself out and the sun starts shining. So here are a selection of items we have been trying out and getting ready to step into Summer!


First up are these gorgeous magenta cork flip flops by Superdry (RRP £18.00), anyone who knows me will tell you that I pretty much live in flip flops, as soon as the weather shows signs of Spring/Summer they are on! I have tons of flip flops and they are without a doubt one of my wardrobe staples and I couldn't live without them. I loved these ones as they are a little different with the cork sole and will be great around the pool side!


Vest tops, you can never have too many....now I am a bit picky with vest tops as they need to be long line, I can't stand having short ones they really need to be a decent length. I tend to layer these and wear under shirts or tops as needed, these two come as a twin pack (RRP £15.00) and are so soft and comfortable, these would be really good to travel in whether flying or driving. 


I then chose these wonderful striped shorts (RRP £18.00), I actually hadn't worn shorts for many years, I just couldn't find any that I liked until I decided the slightly longer length were great because they are good to wear both during the day and can be style up a bit for evening wear. These linen shorts are perfect for just that, ideal for city tripping and then adding a fancy pair of flip flops/heels and a floaty top and blazer and you've got a great little evening outfit.


Floaty tops are another one of my favourite type of Summer top, much nicer to not have a load of fabric cling to you in 30+degree heat and these cami style tops (RRP £20.00) are great. I love the wooden button detailing on this top and again has a long line style which is great for bigger busted ladies as they hang better. I also really like the pink stripe design of this top, this will be ideal for Summer days in sunny Sarlat, Dordogne. 





There were a couple of other items that I chose including a white cotton sleeveless shirt (RRP £18.00) which is really long! Much longer than I was expecting but lovely and again perfect for hot days but also would look great teamed with some black leggings. I also had a rather nice  heart midi dress (RRP £39.00) with angel sleeves and flattering design this is a very pretty dress. I have to confess I forgot to take pictures of these but you can see them online. I can't want to wear them!

My husband chose these Superdry shorts (RRP £20.00) which are so nice, they are like a sports short so perfect if your chap is a bit more active or he wants something a little less formal and more of a relaxed fit. He thinks these are great and the fit is spot on. There are a wide variety of shorts available on Jacamo, there really is something for everyone. 


He then chose this classic Ben Sherman polo shirt (RRP £48.00 although is now on sale for £31.00) I think polo shirts can look so nice as part of an outfit, my husband has his 'good' polo shirts and 'work' polo shirts so he has a variety. This Ben Sherman top is such good quality and the fit is a slim fit but looks lovely on, my husband was very pleased with it! Perfect item for holidays!





Overall I have been very impressed with the quality of all of the items, especially for the cost which is very reasonable. Head on over and check out the huge variety of clothes available, there is something for everyone. 

* Please note we were kindly sent the items free of charge in exchange for an honest and unbiased review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tuesday 21 May 2019

Moji Pops!! *Review*

Ad {gifted items}. If you read my blog regularly then you'll know that pocket money collectible toys are a hit in our house. Recently we were sent a selection of series 1 moji pops that are available to purchase in all leading retailers....now! The bright and cute collection of mini toys might be my favourite collectible ever. Based on ever day objects these cheeky little characters have emotion based faces that you can flip over to change their mood and expression and swap between the characters as you wish. 



With over ninety to collect in series 1 there are loads of fun and cheeky characters to find, these range from glittery, nature, travel, music, food and sport there are so many to collect. Along with the single blind bags there are blind bagged 'story' boxes (these contain two Moji Pops and a mini stage for them to act out a scene) RRP £2.50, there are six photo prob blister packs (RRP £7.00) each containing seven Moji Pops and photobooth type accessories and a photobooth frame to capture some pics! There is also a blister glitter surprise (RRP £10.00) which contains six Moji Pops and two surprise 'ultra rare' glitter Moji Pops and finally there are four different 'I like' playsets which consist of themed Moji Pops and various pieces of scenery and accessories to bring the scene to life. The playsets include 'I like ice cream, pets, party and movies'. We were sent 2 of these and they are such a wonderful addition to the items available. They add another dimension and extra play-ability for the children. 



They are a huge hit in our house, my youngest absolutely loves them, she is a 4 year old who spends alot of time creating stories and acting things out so these are perfect and have really encouraged this side of her. I love the addition of the playsets and photo booth props, it adds something a little different to other brands that are available. 


What I love about these toys is that make perfect pocket money/stocking fillers/party bag gifts/rewards. They don't break the bank and often my kids just love receiving a little blind bag as a reward for doing something good or as a little treat. They also make great gifts for your children's school friends, I always struggle to think of nice gifts for both my kids and these would be great to give as a gift.



What did we love?

- Pretty much everything! They are cute, colourful and quirky and lots of fun to play with

- Great price, there is a good selection to choose from meaning budget can be changed depending on what you would like

- With over 90 to collect your collection will soon grow!

- The swappable and flippable emotions on the faces are quite simply a brilliant idea and they are easy to do by little fingers

- Encourages imaginative play and role play, great for little story making fans!



Anything we weren't so keen on?

- There is very little we didn't like, these are fab little toys. I guess if I'm been picky the little square faces that you take out to change some we found came out very easily and others not as much. This didn't affect my daughter loving them any less though.


Moji Pops are aimed for children from 4 - 6, definitely  not below this due to very small parts. Available from leading retailers and lots to choose from so you won't be disappointed. I'll leave you with a few close ups of these cheeky, little characters!








* Please note we were kindly sent the items free of charge, all views and opinions are honest and unbiased, I will always share my true opinions of items received.

Tuesday 14 May 2019

6 Things People Get Wrong when Buying and Wearing Jewellery

Ad {collaborative content} Jewellery is such an important part of building an outfit because it’s those added accessories that really take it to the next level. The right necklace or bracelet can turn a pretty dull outfit into an amazing one just like that, so you need to have a well stocked jewellery box. However, there’s a fine line between looking great and ruining your outfit with the wrong jewellery, but a lot of people make the mistake. It’s important that you know how to buy the right jewellery, how to look after it, and how to match it to your outfits so it compliments them rather than ruining them. If you find that your jewellery just isn’t working for you, it could be because you’re making one of these common mistakes.


Thinking That Expensive Means Better

When it comes to buying jewellery, you could spend literally millions if you had the money, but more expensive doesn’t always mean better. A lot of people assume that, just because something is expensive, it’s going to be great quality and it will look great with anything that you wear it with. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. It all depends on the style of jewellery that works for you and what you’ve got in your wardrobe. You can buy the most expensive piece of jewellery in the world but if it doesn’t suit you, it doesn’t suit you.

It’s more important to think about what fits with your style and which different outfits you’re likely to wear it with. You also need to set yourself a good budget before you go out shopping. If pushy salespeople try to get you to look at the more expensive stuff, just let them know that you weren’t planning to spend that much and they’ll direct you to the cheaper stuff.

Not Caring For It Properly

If you’re spending a lot of money on a piece of jewellery and it’s good quality, it should last you a lifetime. However, it will only last if you care for it properly. So many people spend good money on jewellery but then they neglect it and it starts to look worn and tired. It’s important that you’re cleaning it properly on a regular basis so it doesn’t become tarnished. You also need to store it in a lined jewellery box so it doesn’t get scratched or dented when you aren’t wearing it. If you just shove it in the back of a drawer and leave it there, it’s not going to look great next time you bring it out to wear it.

Layering Too Much

Layering jewellery is a good way to wear it, but so many people go overboard. Necklaces, for example, look great if you layer up a few smaller ones over a nice floral dress. It gives the same effects as a chunky necklace but you get more variety in the jewellery. You can do exactly the same with bracelets as well, but it’s so important that you get the balance right. If you try to layer up too many chunky necklaces or bracelets, it will just look crowded and none of those pieces will stand out. It’s important that it looks as though you’ve made an informed choice about which pieces to wear together, rather than just putting on every necklace that you own.

People often do the same with piercings. Layering up earrings is a popular fashion trend at the moment and it can look great, but only if you get the balance right. For example, combining some tragus earrings with lobe piercings is fine, but if you also have a rook piercing as well, that may be too much. You also need to make sure that if you’ve got rings in one area of the ear, you’re using a smaller stud elsewhere so you don’t have one piece of jewellery taking over from another and they all stand out.

Not Considering The Occasion

It’s important that you match the jewellery that you wear with your outfit, but you also need to consider the occasion. Not every piece of jewellery is going to be suitable for wearing at work or to a formal event. In general, larger pieces of jewellery, especially chunky necklaces, work best with a more casual outfit. They’re great for summer outfits with long flowing dresses, but they’re a lot harder to match with a black dress at a formal event. Equally, smaller more understated pieces of jewellery are fine for lifting a fairly plain, smart outfit, but they’re going to get lost in a casual dress that has a lot of colour and a bold print. It’s important that you think about the tone of the occasion when you’re picking jewellery.



Not Having A Focal Point


Layering jewellery and matching different pieces is fine, but it’s important that you have a focal point as well. Statement pieces like a big necklace or some large dangly earrings are fine on their own, but if you wear both, it isn’t clear what the focal point is. This is when the outfit will start to become crowded and messy and it will seem as though you haven’t put much thought into it at all. When you’re wearing statement jewellery, it’s important that you choose one larger piece and then use smaller, more subtle pieces of jewellery elsewhere.

Not Considering Skin Tone

Most people consider skin tone when picking out clothes and they know that if they have fairly light skin, wearing lots of white can make them look a bit pale. However, a lot of people forget to follow the same rules when they’re picking out jewellery. If you have a darker, warmer skin tone, gold is definitely the best colour for you. But people with fair skin look a lot better in silver or platinum. That doesn’t mean that somebody with fair skin can never wear gold jewellery, but it’s important that you consider it and experiment with pieces to make sure that they compliment your skin tone well.

If you can avoid these mistakes when buying and wearing jewellery, you can make sure that it always compliments your outfit and elevates it to a new level.

Friday 10 May 2019

Revamping your Living Room.

Ad {collaborative} I'm a person that likes to move furniture around and try different things in rooms to see if we're maximising the space. I often find myself thinking about how we can improve where we have our furniture and how simple changes can make quite a big difference to a room. For example, we would love to get a new kitchen/diner at some point, however this isn't an option at the moment so to give our kitchen a new lease of life I simply changed the colour of the walls, added some new art work and some fresh, white wooden blinds - I can't tell you how much difference it made! 


I have recently been thinking about our living room. We've been quite indecisive about how we would like to decorate it and at the moment it's fairly plain and dominated by our rather large sofa's! We have a beautiful log burner but some wasted space in the crevice where it is. I've thought long and hard about how we can maximise this space and I think I'm going to paint it a very dark, striking colour and add some shelves to display photos of the kids and some ornaments, make it a really focal point. 

I've also been wondering about a a new coffee table , we have a large wooden coffee table at the moment and although this is lovely I have been lusting after something a bit more modern and would fit into our decor better, but also something that is long lasting and looks great. Sometimes simple changes such as a new coffee table can make an impact. 

I would also like to keep our current family canvases on the wall but make more of a picture wall with them, I love capturing family memories and I think having these images in our living room keeps with the family theme but also makes our living room feel cosy and welcoming. 

I love candles but am always conscious about open flames with the kids so I use wax burners, these I find make our house smell divine and I love that I can change the scent depending on the season!

I also have several throws in the living room, it keeps us warm in the colder months and they look great when added to the sofa's, adds a nice homely touch.....don't you think?


Have you guys got any ideas what else I can do to change our living room and revamp it?

Thursday 9 May 2019

Zuru Smashers!! * Review *

Ad {gifted} Chop, chomp, parpppp!!! Smashers are back for a 3rd series and they do not disappoint!! Along with this surprise eggs comes the smash rex who if you have a dino mad son like my own is a fantastic addition to the range, and something a little bit different. We love these surprise toys, they are like the toy that keeps on giving and my kids love finding out what creatures they are going to discover.   


We were recently sent a selection of Zuru smashers series 3 items, including the smash rex to try out and see what we thought. The kids had a whale of time hunting out the dino eggs that I had hidden around the garden.... got to make them work for the toys haha. We were able to do our dino egg hunt in the garden while the weather was nice.... where has the sun gone, so much for spring?! Inside our hunting pack we had a magnifying glass to help with the search and plenty of smashers to hide.


The smashers are available in one, three and eight packs as well as the smash rex and the super dino egg storage tin to store all those secret finds in! The smash rex provides extra playability with the smashers, simply pop an egg in his mouth, lift his tail and press down for the egg to smash it in his mouth and then poop it out ..... with realistic comical sounds!! Perfect for the child that loves gross things! Ewww!



With over 100 smashers to collect there are plenty of opportunities to collect lots of different varieties, you can even download an app on your phone to keep track of which ones have been received. Also the smash eggs are able to be rebuilt so you can continue to smash and play frequently. Included in the smash rex is a smash egg rebuilder which is very helpful when trying to build the eggs back up again - which does take some practice!


As you can see below there are groups of dinos that can be collected, there are also skull smashers and dino fossils to scrape and wash some cement away and discover another dino surprise! I love having a slightly different way of discovering the dino's, it's really inventive and just adds a nice little touch to the smashers. There are also rare dino's to find within the smashers.


The eggs themselves are well put together so they don't fall apart when you remove them from the packaging, they take a bit of a chuck with a bit of force to get them to come apart or pop them in the smash rex mouth to munch them apart to release , we collected all of the bits once smashed and put them in a bag to rebuild at a later date. 



What did we like about Zuru smashers, season 3 dinos?

- Lots of dinos to discover and collect including some rare ones  

- Available in a variety of prices from £1.99 to £19.99 so perfect for pocket money pressies and more elaborate birthday gifts

- Unique smashable gifts with the ability to rebuild the eggs after increasing the playability of the toys

- A must for any child that loves the surprise type toys with a collectable aspect 

- The smashing aspect is lots of fun, the kids absolutely loved smashing them and being able to throw them around to try and break the eggs

- The smash rex is a great addition to the range, it adds another dimension for the children to play with the eggs, some of the dino's can even be hidden inside the smash rex too so kind of doubles up as storage


 Anything we weren't so keen on?


- The eggs aren't the easiest to rebuild once smashed, the nest is helpful as are the instructions but there is definitely a knack to it, also if you have alot of the eggs you will find there are a huge amount of bits to them


- The smash rex does take some practice to get it to chomp, the egg needs to be in a certain position for it to work we found












Overall, we really like the Zuru smashers series 3. The attention to detail on the dinosaurs is amazing and there are loads to collect. They are lots of fun and having the ability to collect lots from different groups and record them on the app is a great idea!


I'll leave you with a few more pictures of the smashers and our little collection of dinosaurs!!





* Please note we were kindly sent the items free of charge in exchange for a review, all thoughts and opinions are my own