Beating Mum Dark Circles with Remescar

It's a bit of a cliche about mums not getting much sleep and feeling constantly tired. I remember complaining to my sister about being exhausted when pregnant and I remember her reply 'get used to it' clearly. We have been blessed with Sophie being an amazing sleeper, but somehow I always do seem to be constantly tired and it shows in my skin. Team this with the dreaded 18 month sleep regression and S having had a nasty cough and cold, I'm finding myself up more frequently during the night - so I haven't been looking my best. Therefore, collaborating with Remescar to promote their Eye Bags and Dark Circles cream couldn't have come at a better time. 

 Luckily I don’t suffer from bags under my eyes, but dark circles do appear letting everyone know that I’ve been up most of the night - not a good look. Layering on the concealer has generally been my port of call, but being able to instantly banish the shadows is an even better option. 

 I must admit I was a bit dubious of the ‘instant’ nature of cream, but I’ve been really pleasantly surprised. Putting a tiny rice-grain size amount under each of my eyes and gently smoothing it from the corner of my eye outwards in the following few minutes my dark circles have faded. 

Before

After

As well as using it in the morning as part of my daily skincare routine, I’ve also found it perfect for a pick-me-up if I’ve been going out in the evening over my make up to help me look more human. If only the cream would help my brain think it had had a bit more sleep, well thats what coffee is for I suppose!

 Remescar Eye Bags and Dark Circles Eye Cream has recently launched in Boots and priced at £29.95

Post sponsored by Remescar

Autumn Home Styling

I love Christmas, it can never start to early in my opinion. I love looking round the shops at all the decorations, planning for special meals and little touches to make it even more magical than the year before. My husband sensibly won't let me get any decorations up until 1st December so until then I'm giving my home a little autumn make-over. I love making little tweaks and changes around my house to keep things interesting and suiting the season. As we went very neutral with our decor (it is a bit of a grey palace!) and simple with our furnishings adding different colours and ornaments to change with the seasons works well and hopefully doesn't get too cluttered and busy.

If you follow me on instagram you will have seen that pretty much every picture this month has contained my beautiful white pumpkins. I spotted them on pintrest last year and was desperate to find them. So this year I stared early in my hunting, asking at local garden centres and when they would be getting them in. Alleluia - I found the bigger variety at Crockford Bridge Farm Shop in local Wyevale Garden Centre and then found the funky pumpkin mecca at Garson's Farm in Esher a few days later. Since then I have spotted them at my local Waitrose - so everyone seems to be getting the white pumpkin obsession. I think they are a more stylish way to nod to the halloween vibe and they will suit most room styles too. 

I've been in love with my Lightbox since I bought it almost a year ago, changing the wording to suit the moment. So popping in a cozy autumn option seemed natural. If you are looking for more inspo for yours search they #lightbox hashtag on instagram for of-the-moment ideas.

As well as my white pumpkin corner in my kitchen, I've also gone for a white and orange stripy beauty in my formal lounge which I've teamed with a bowl vase full of pine cones on my faux leather tray. These ones are winter scented that I bought in a garden centre a few years back but finding your own would be even more fun.

My final pumpkins are sadly not real, I spotted these in Neptune Weybridge and had to take a few home with me (always three). I think they are a fabulous idea for inside decoration, not going to go mouldy or smelly and you can reuse them year after year. Also a good idea if you have little people about a real pumpkins can be rather heavy!

What ever the time of year is I always have blanket throws on the arms of chairs and sofas. Prefect for snuggling under in the garden on cool summer evenings, make shift picnic blankets, or for making den for Sophie. However, when it gets cooler I find myself wrapping up in them in the evenings watching TV. So to autumnify I've added to my collection and gone for this beauty with navy and mustard stripes along with my more standard grey and cream. Again this is from Neptune in Weybridge (Castlefield Throw) and I have been obsessing over it ever since it cam into store. This one is definitely for me - I'm not sharing!

Adding extra candles around also makes it feel more autumnal and changing my home scent to a warm and rich fragrance. I'm currently burning this Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay beauty, which fills the room with the aroma of woodland fruit picking walks....

Living in a period property we are lucky to enjoy original fireplaces, although we don't have a working fire as the chimneys would cost a fortune to re-line we do have a bioethanol burner to get the  fire-feel. I've added a big hurricane lantern next to the fire filled with remote controlled church candles to add to the glow in the evenings.

I hope you're enjoyed this little tour of my autumn additions to home, next stop Christmas decs!

Toddler Sophie's Autumn Wardrobe

Autumn is here. It is official. The Indian summer and warm September fooled us for a while, but this week has brought proper cold requiring jumpers and coats and the trees are finally starting to let their leaves turn amber. I love the autumn, the promise of roast dinners, welly walks and evenings curled up drinking hot chocolate wrapped up in blankets keep me from missing the long days of summer. 

 I also love a change in season as an excuse to shop for my favourite little person. Her warm clothes from a year ago aren’t going to have a hope of fitting, so I HAVE to shop, an excuse I can’t make for my own wardrobe. I was hoping to make a little look-book of Sophie wearing all her new threads, however, in true mum fashion I seem to have got most items a bit big (I never quite seem to get this right!) so I’m going to have to save this until she has grown a bit more. Also getting a toddler to change outfits repeatedly isn’t going to result in a happy girl to pose for photos either... That said, I've got a few pic of her wearing a few of these outfits.

 As much as I love discovering new brands, when I find great quality and designs I love, I do keep going back. So I’ve picked up some classics from Boden, Joules, JoJo Maman Bebe & Next. I hope you love these pieces as much as I do. 

 Dresses are great and I love jersey styles that are really comfy for this active age. The favourites I’ve found are a pink and navy breton striped drops waist from JoJo and as Sophie is cat obsessed, she loves meowing at this fat little fur ball friend on her tummy! Teamed with white or grey cable tights and they are ready for play time. 

JoJo Maman Bebe Nautical Dress

Joules Fur Ball Dress

 Play sets are a perfect for no-brainer outfit and I always love the array found in Boden. The fabric is always super soft on precious skin. This forest friend print is too cute and just right for Autumn.

Boden Printed Jersey Playset

 Cardies are essential for every girls wardrobe and I’ve gone a bit OTT with animal patches and pockets. Who doesn’t want furry hedgehog or spotty dalmatian cheering up your knitwear? 

Boden Hedgehog Cardigan

 

Joules Dorrie Cardigan

As much as I love animal themed clothing for little S, I do think mini adult clothing is adorable and chose her a cute little outfit from Next. Winter shorts and tights with a lace top and leather boots are very chic for autumn. Ohhh the cuteness! 

Next Cream Blouse

Next Shorts & Tights Set

Next Chelsea Charm Boots

 Coats are an essential, and its good to be practical as well as cute. I found this padded jacket in hot pink in Joules (£29.95) at end of the summer but thought it was bit too pink. So I was delighted when a few weeks later I found the bright blue version. The neon pink zip and floral hood lining stop it being boyish and it is super snug but really light. 

Joules Toddler Padded Jacket

 For rainy days, I am obsessed with fisherman yellow jackets. Reflective trims on this Boden number (£39.50-45.50) for the dark afternoons to come are fun yet practical and the snug jersey lining will keep my little one cozy too.

Boden Fisherman Jacket

Of course, I'm sure I will be making a few more additions to Sophie's wardrobe as Winter really sets in (I'm terrible, I know) so I'm sure I will style a 'deep winter' outfits post too...!

Wisley Gardens Welly Walk

A weekend at home is looked forward to as much as a trip away in our household. No mad packing on a Friday and we have time to relax and unwind our own schedule. As much as I love catching up with fiends and family, having some time with just the three of us without jobs and chores is precious. Yesterday we ignored the forecast of grey skies and headed for local Wisley gardens. On sunny days and during school holidays this is a mother’s mecca, but we found it eerily quiet when we arrived, but made the most of feeling like we had the place to ourselves. 

Sophie loved looking at the fish in the pond looking at all of the plant and having a run about with her two favourite people.

RHS Wisley is beautifully maintained and we always find a new area to explore before heading to one of the cafe’s for a caffeine stop and hitting the soft play. 

 Although it wasn’t the wettest of days, it seemed a good excuse to don the wellingtons, especially as I’m slightly obsessed with Sophie’s first pair from JoJo Maman Bebe. Sophie was also giving her new coat from Joules its debut outing to keep her super snug. 

Our happy little girl ran around to her heart's content burning off lots of energy. So content we even managed to pose for a rare family snap - after a bit of jiggling to get the camera balanced on the top of the buggy!

All too soon the morning was over and our little explorer was ready to be wheeled back to the car and to head home for nap time.

 I can’t wait for more autumnal family outings as the leaves change and we can rustle through them when they fall. Any suggestions for trips warmly welcomed!