Monday, September 29, 2014

Autumn Fashion Inspiration ♥

 

Autumn has still not fully arrived here so there's still time for me to update my wardrobe with some gorgeous, cosy pieces which will be perfect for keeping me warm and stylish this season. I've been browsing online and have spotted some gorgeous autumn fashion on one of my favourite brands Esprit's website. I've been shopping from this brand for years now and really love their collections, the quality is amazing. I've put together some autumn fashion inspiration with this super stylish, monochrome with a hint of gold inspired outfit of the day look. 

A nice, warm coat is an essential for an autumn day and I though this faux leather biker jacket with fake fur collar was gorgeous. It's the perfect style of jacket for both day and night wear and I think it's really stunning. I seriously want this as I love the look of leather biker jackets, plus, leather and faux leather are such a great look for autumn too.

I love ankle boots and they are a staple footwear item for me once autumn arrives. These lace up ones are so on trend and have a grungy kind of look to them which I'm a big fan of. The block heels means they'll be comfortable for all those leafy autumn strolls too.

It wouldn't be autumn without hints of gold around the place and what better way to embrace the golden loveliness then with some statement jewellery. I think this golden bracelet has a lovely look to it and is just the perfect piece for brightening up this monochrome outfit.


If the days get a bit colder and you feel like wrapping up a bit more a printed scarf is the best accessory to have. I always carry one in my handbag once the colder months set in. I've been searching Etsy for some unique printed scarves and have found some gorgeous infinity scarves in cross print and star print. I think this bow print chiffon scarf is really pretty too and it's only €6.58 - such a bargain! The print on this scarf would go really well with the monochrome inspired outfit above too.

Autumn means we can all embrace our jeans again and hide our legs away once more and these vintage style jeans are great. I think darker denim is more fitting to autumn and the skinny legs on these would look great with my favourite - ankle boots!

It wouldn't be an autumns day without a jumper in sight and this black and white striped one is gorgeous. I think the knit on it looks great and it looks so cosy but yet still super stylish. You can never go wrong with stripes either, perfect for any outfit.

Finally, a handbag is an essential for when you're out an about on those crisp autumn days and I think this black handbag with star detail is stunning. It's not too big or bulky either making it the perfect size for carrying anything you may need, another autumn essential - an umbrella, would fit in it perfectly too.
That's just some of my autumn fashion inspiration. I love this outfit of the day. I think it's casual yet still being quite chic and stylish. I need that jacket in my life, pronto! In fact, I think I may just need all the pieces, I love this look, it's perfect for an autumns day.


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Living Arrows - Week 39 ♥

I am taking part in I Heart Snapping's weekly Living Arrows project, a photography project to capture an image which represents the magic of childhood through a parents eyes through the actions, likes, dislikes, looks and movements of your own children. Below is my picture for the thirty-ninth week of Living Arrows. 

This week my boy has been teething like crazy, it's strange as three more teeth are already through so I'm wondering if anymore are popping through, only five more to go - yay! He's been fighting his bedtime, trying to stay up with me and sit on my lap, so much so that I've resorted to reading him multiple bedtime stories, stroking his hair, singing and giving him a warm bottle of milk in his cot, the milk worked somewhat and I'm glad to have found something which brings him a little comfort to help him drift off to sleep. Now that the darker nights are here I think it's time to begin lighting the oil burner in his room too, French Lavender Yankee Candle wax tart melts are a winner with him. I love looking at him while he's sleeping. He always looks so peaceful and like a little angel to me. I wonder what he dreams about? I can't wait for the days to come where he tells me about all the wonderful times and characters he's encountered whilst dreaming. I love this boy so much and now he tells me he loves me too - "uv you" he softly murmurs to me as I slip out his door when he's lying down to sleep.

First he was sleeping peacefully.

Then he heard Daddy coming home from work...

I cannot believe that next week marks forty weeks of this project, I love it more and more as the weeks go by.
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Friday, September 26, 2014

Traditional Afternoon Tea At Castlemartyr Resort ♥

For ages now I've wanted to go for afternoon tea with Jacek, in fact, we had planned to go for afternoon tea on Valentine's Day 2013, the day our son was due but Jacek had to work and I went into labour so that was the end of that! So for our anniversary this year, which was on the 24th, Jacek promised to take me to the beautiful Castlemartyr Resort for afternoon tea and it finally happened! It was such a lovely experience and I just had to share on the blog, mostly for my own memories but also to show you all just how wonderful this place is and to have you all swooning over the delicious food. I warn you, this is a picture heavy post and you may become quite hungry reading it!
 We were escorted into the beautifully decorated Bell Tower restaurant and were waited on hand and foot by the friendliest staff I've encountered in a long time, honestly the customer service is top notch. The Lady Fitzgerald's Afternoon Tea is a set menu but you get to choose your choice of tea from a large selection, we were able to smell the tea and have a look at each one before we chose. I don't drink tea so I was happy to give Jacek my selection too. He chose the Moroccan Mint tea and the Irish Whiskey Cream tea, the scent of both was unreal. I ordered a glass of pink champagne which was such a treat for me, it was so amazing that I had to order a second glass after I finished my first, it was a celebration after all.

 We were first served the 'Sweet Start', a buttermilk panna cotta with honeycomb, freshly diced strawberries, a strawberry consumé and basil cress. It was served it a little glass cup and saucer and it was delicious. I'm a big fan of panna cotta and this was one of the best I've ever had. I loved the taste of the crunchy honeycomb combined with the soft and delicate panna cotta, it was seriously yummy.

 We were then given the show stopper of the afternoon tea - the three tier selection of freshly made finger sandwiches, scones, banana bread fingers, lemon and poppy seed fingers and a selection of indulgent treats created by the pastry chef which included Swiss roll slices, macaroons, eclairs and a chocolate liqueur mousse which was also served in a little glass cup accompanied by a custard and raspberry filled cone. This three tiered selection really was amazing to look at and for me, was the best part of the afternoon tea.

We worked our way through the gorgeous selection of treats on offer, my favourites being the chicken, rocket and wholegrain mustard sandwiches on multi-grain bread, the scones with clotted cream and strawberry and prosecco jam and the banana bread fingers. Jacek thoroughly enjoyed his tea, finishing five cups in the hour and a half that we were seated for and he really loved the lemon and poppy seed fingers.

Jacek and I loved our traditional afternoon experience, we were very full, happy customers at the end of it all and we will hopefully visit Castlemartyr Resort again in the near future. I'm so happy we finally went there and were able to celebrate our third anniversary in style! I couldn't have imagined a better way to celebrate than some gorgeous treats in a beautiful setting with the one you love.

 Castlemartyr Resort's Lady Fitzgerald's Afternoon tea is €29 per person and is most definitely worth every penny. You can read more about it and find booking information on the Castlemartyr Resort website.
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Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Weigh-In Wednesday - My Weightloss Journey with XLS-Medical Week #1 ♥

 Anyone who knows me personally will know just how much my weight gets me down. After I had my son my weight just got out of hand and the numbers on the scales kept climbing up and up, even when I wasn't eating much throughout the day. Sometimes I would only find the time to have one meal and a snack throughout the daybut still my weight kept climbing. I hate my body. There, I said it. It seems like nothing I do shifts the weight - exercise, healthy eating, even special diets don't keep the weight off. All of these things for me have worked in the short-term but have not resulted in long term or maintained weight loss. When I was approached to trial XLS-Medical's 12 week Direct Fat Binder programme I decided to give weight loss another go and use every morsel of effort I can muster up to at least try and make myself feel better about my appearance and myself in general. I need my confidence back, I need to feel like my old self again.

I have now been taking XLS-Medical Direct Fat Binder for one week. The Direct Fat Binder can help you lose up to three times more weight versus dieting alone and I like the sounds of those odds. I take a sachet of the directly into my mouth after a meal three times a day and taking them doesn't bother me. The sachets have the appearance of a sugar sachet and are very discrete, I have the berry flavour and it doesn't leave a horrible after taste in my mouth, it's quite pleasant actually and I like the texture of it. I don't know if it's down to the change of foods or taking the Fat Binder or both but I feel as though I have tons more energy. I'm able to get so much stuff done throughout the day and still find the energy to go for a brisk walk up and down the hills of my town pushing my son in his buggy and actually having the energy to do all these things is such a big deal for me.

Along with taking these sachets I have also stepped up my exercise regime. I have been brisk walking up and down hills pushing my son in his buggy for distances between 4k and 5k everyday. I aim to do this 5-7 times a week and actually enjoy getting the fresh air and feeling as though I have pushed myself. I've even been getting the urge to run and that's something I haven't done in a long time! I have also been keeping a food diary and have consulted with a dietician. This was a big help for me as I was able to pinpoint what my flaws are when it comes to my eating habits and what I can do to improve them. I have been eating a lot of high protein foods such as eggs, beans and lean meat and I'm actually enjoying my new, clean eating meals. To help me keep on top of my healthy eating and exercise goals I've been using two fantastic apps - My Fitness Pal, which helps me track my calorie intake daily and My Tracks which helps me keep on top of my speed, my route and how many calories I'm burning whilst exercising. I highly recommend these two apps to anyone who's beginning a new weight loss journey like myself.

As for weight loss this week, I'm delighted to report that I've lost 2lbs! I'm delighted that all my hard work combined with taking the XLS-Medical Direct Fat Binder is paying off for me! I've also lost 5cms off my body too so I'm toning up and losing weight, it's amazing and I can't wait to see the results after my 12 week programme has ended. If I lost 2lbs every week I'll have lost almost 2 stone in weight by the end of my programme, I would love to achieve that amount of weight loss so much and am determined to work for it.

Hopefully next week I can report some more good news to you all with more weight and centimeters lost. Wish me luck! You can read more about XLS-Medical Direct Fat Binder and the other fantastic products they have to offer on the XLS-medical website.
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Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Bath Time Pampering With The Secret Paradise Collection From Heathcote & Ivory ♥


 It's not often that I have a bath, usually by the time I put my son to bed in the evenings I'm too exhausted for anything but lying on the couch surfing the net or watching tv but when I got some goodies from the Secret Paradise collection from Heathcote & Ivory I couldn't resist but make some time for myself to have a nice, hot, relaxing, pampering bath. The Secret Paradise collection is absolutely beautiful, adorned with floral elements, hints of gold and pink flamingos to boot (my favourite!), the packaging has a feel of the exotic and just exudes luxury and the scent - it's amazing! The products have a mixture of scents including floral and citrus notes with hints of sandalwood, white musk and cedarwood which fill up the whole room while using the products. The collection is so unbelievably pretty and the products themselves are quite decorative, I actually thought it was a shame to use them up as they were so lovely looking.

 I have the Secret Paradise Scented Candle In Tin and I have to admit I haven't burnt this yet as I've been using it as a decorative piece. The candle itself is pink with little hearts inside and the packaging on the gold tin is beautiful with it's floral and hummingbird design. I've been keeping this candle in the bathroom and think I will light it for a relaxing bath once the winter nights arrive but for now I think it's a gorgeous decorative piece. The Secret Paradise Scented Candle In Tin is £8.

I also have the Secret Paradise Bath Fizzer Crackers which don't seem to be available on the Heathcote & Ivory website now but I thought they were quite fun. Each cracker contains three little bath fizzers which don't do much to the water but they smelt great. I would have liked these a whole lot more if they made the water bubbly or change colour.

 My favourite product from the collection by far is the Secret Paradise Bathing Flowers
These look so beautiful and have the look of real flowers, my favourite being the lilac rose. I wasn't sure if these would melt into the bath or if they were just for decoration but they actually dissolve into the water after some time. You simply pull off some petals and pop them into the water for a bath surrounded by petals which are infused with essential oils and floral and citrus scents. I thought these were so luxurious and actually quite romantic. I think they'd make a lovely Valentine's Day gift for other halves too.

I thoroughly enjoyed my bath with these gorgeous goodies, I love the novelty of the bathing flowers and would purchase them again. I love the feel, look and scent of the Secret Paradise collection and was delighted to get to try out some goodies from the range. I think the Secret Paradise collection is a gorgeous collection which is perfect for those who want to have a few decorative yet practical pieces in their bathroom. I also think the collection pieces would make perfect gifts for the special someone in your life or even if you want to give yourself a little luxurious treat, I actually think the pieces would love lovely as part of a hamper. You can browse more of the collection and purchase too on the Heathcote & Ivory website.
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Monday, September 22, 2014

Living Arrows - Week 38 ♥

I am taking part in I Heart Snapping's weekly Living Arrows project, a photography project to capture an image which represents the magic of childhood through a parents eyes through the actions, likes, dislikes, looks and movements of your own children. Below is my picture for the thirty-eighth week of Living Arrows.  

This is my boy, I actually cannot believe that. How on Earth did his father and I create such a beautiful little thing with a heart of gold and a such a happy soul, it amazes me everyday that he is mine. I love everything about this picture, it captures him in his essence, completely happy in his 'splash splash', his beautiful, golden curls cascading down his face, soaking wet after shampooing. His smile is so stunning to me, it's not obvious in this picture but he has the most adorable little dimples when he smiles, that smile just makes my heart melt. I love the joy I see behind his eyes in this picture, if I can wish him but one thing in life it's to be happy, it's such an important thing to be.

I love this perfect little creature, I'm blessed to be called his mother.

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Friday, September 19, 2014

New Additions To Tyler Lee's Wardrobe - Autumn/Winter 2014 ♥

This will probably be the last 'new additions' post for Tyler Lee's autumn/winter wardrobe for awhile because the boy has enough clothes... who am I kidding?! I just can't help myself when it comes to cute little toddler clothes but in all seriousness, I want him to get proper wear out of everything he has so I really do have to hold off on the purchasing. I'm going to have to avoid Instagram like the plague because that's where I'm finding most of his funky and unique clothing these days, plus they're all handmade on there, even better! However, this makes them all so hard to resist, I could never find pieces like this in Ireland and I think that's why I love them so much, I won't be seeing any other toddlers in our area wearing the handmade pieces and I like my boy to be unique. Let me show you some of the beauties gracing his wardrobe this season.

These monochrome and grey American flag leggings are from an Instagram find called Mag+Pie. I saw a little cutie wearing these and thought they were fab so I had to get them for my boy too. I got these in size 2T so I think they'll be too big for awhile yet but I can't wait to see Tyler Lee in them. His daddy said he'll be like Keith Flint from The Prodigy's Firestarter video as he was wearing a top in a print like this but that's fine with me because I love The Prodigy and I love these leggings too.

I spotted this top whilst browsing the Zara website and thought it was quite cute. I was looking out for some long-sleeved tops for Tyler Lee as it was and I think the ones Zara have to offer are quite funky. I like the fox ears at the end but am a bit confused as to why the slogan says 'wolf' and not 'fox', nevertheless it's a cute top and will look great with his leggings/jeans and a little jacket.

These Little Red Riding Hood leggings are also from Mag+Pie. I think a childhood should be full of fairytales and folklore, even when it comes to clothing so this print really caught my eye when I saw it. I love how the print is suitable for a boy too, so unique! I would also like to point out that Mag+Pie's leggings are made to perfection and the fabric is a great thickness, not at all flimsy like other baby legging brands I've sadly come across. I also love their bunny, fox and umbrella prints... but no more buying!

This long-sleeved top is also from Zara and the arrows sold me on this right away. The little Panda character is quite cute too. The gold/coppery coloured print is perfect for autumn, sadly I got this in a size 2-3 years so it's going to be too big for awhile, aww.

Everyone raves about Zara's leggings and their quirky prints, evident with the hype surrounding their arrow print leggings (which Tyler Lee has) so when I saw these teepee or 'hut' as Zara are calling them I just had to get them. These were only available in size 2-3 so they're going to be too big too for awhile - why does my child have to be so thin!
 
This plaid shirt is from H&M and this will be used as an accessory piece more than anything. I thought that this would be great for layering over Tyler Lee's band t-shirts and for tying around his waist with some outfits. We're fans of the grunge look and now that he's a bit older we can dress him in that style more often.

These skull and cross bone leggings are from Zara and I think the print is great. These were also only available in size 2-3, it just goes to show how popular Zara's baby leggings are.

This jumper is from H&M and I think it'll look quite cool with Tyler Lee's leggings and his jeans too. It'll be great for keeping him warm in the colder days whilst keeping him looking quite stylish too.

These cloud and rain print leggings are another Instagram find from a shop called Muffin and the Bear. I thought these looked absolutely amazing and so unique. I had to get them for Tyler Lee as they suit the Irish weather perfectly. This picture is from Muffin and the Bear's Instagram but I couldn't help but show you all these leggings before they arrive, I'm in love with them.

This long-sleeved top is from H&M and I thought the slogan on it was quite fun and much better than getting a plain long-sleeved top just to keep my boy warm. I think this would look great with a little leather-look coat, if only he had one!

Have you been buying any new season clothes for your little ones recently?



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Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Wheelybug Bee From Hippychick - The Toy With A Conscience ♥

 As a mother I'm always on the lookout for new, fun, beautiful looking toys for my little one, especially when occasions such a Christmas are on the way but what's even better for me is when I stumble across a toy or children's product which has all these qualities but which also has the added extra of being charitable or ecological or even both when it comes to it's manufacture or proceeds, the Hippychick Wheelybug Bee offers all these fantastic qualities and is also charitable, making it the perfect toy with a conscience for me. As you all may know, bees need to be protected from extinction and to help this cause Hippychick are offering a percentage of their Christmas sales from the Wheelybug Bee to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to help save the Shrill Carder Bee from extinction - a very worthy cause and such a noble thing for them to do I'm sure you'll agree. Our Wheelybug Bee came with an activity sheet all about bumblebees which is fun for children to colour in and solve the puzzles as well as learning about how to protect bumblebees from extinction and what can be done to help the cause.

If the charitable aspect of the Wheelybug Bee wasn't great enough already, let me tell you about the toy itself. I have to admit, it's pretty amazing and Tyler Lee absolutely loves his. It's not often I see him getting hyped up over a toy but as soon as he saw the Wheelybug Bee he was all over it. The bee part itself is so striking to look at with it's bright yellow and black stripes, it's also so soft to sit on and is finished perfectly. The bee body is fitted to a wooden panel and then to swivel wheels which allow the Wheelybug to go in all directions - backwards, forwards, around in a circle, side to side, whatever your little one fancies! The bee also features two springy antennae - Tyler Lee's favourite part of the Wheelybug, he likes to bat them and make them spring from side to side, so adorable! The Wheelybug is then finished with a handle at the front for your little one to hold onto whilst riding it around.

Tyler Lee is just getting to grips with moving around on his Wheelybug Bee but is absolutely loving it! This is his first ride on toy so the novelty and newness of it all is so exciting for him. The Wheelybug Bee really is such a beautiful toy and I love the classic look it has as well as the finish and materials used. The quality of it is fantastic and it's so unique to other ride on toys I've seen before, I also love that it's not plastic either, yay for natural materials when it comes to toys! I highly recommend the Wheelybug Bee to any parents looking for the perfect gift for their little ones this Christmas, not only is it a fantastic looking toy but it's also fun and easy to store as it's not big or bulky and some of it's proceeds are going to charity - what could be more fitting for the season of giving?

Wheelybugs are available in two sizes - small £59.95, suitable for 1-3 years and large £69.95, suitable for 2-5 years, we have the large size. You can read more about the Wheelybug Bee here and see the other adorable Wheelybug design Hippychick have to offer on the Hippychick website. You can also visit the Bumblebee Conservation Trust for more information on the effort to bring bumblebees back from the brink of extinction.
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