Liz Earle Superskin Oils

I love a good body oil, especially in the winter, as my skin gets a bit dry from the central heating. My elbows and knees are my problem areas and when I feel the dryness rubbing against my clothes, I know it's time for a pamper! The two Liz Earle Superskin Oils are perfect for that and I can't stop using them. 

New makeup bits from Soap & Glory

I am not gonna lie, I am becoming more and more obsessed with Soap & Glory! From their incredible bath and body products to cult makeup staples, I can't get enough! They released these stunning palettes and blushers a while ago and I think they would be perfect as stocking fillers for Christmas!

Why I joined and QUIT Slimming World

Trigger Warning - I am discussing Eating Disorders in this blog post!

I never ever in a million years expected to be writing this post. Firstly, because I have always been a bit confused about the principles of Slimming World, secondly... because when I was originally planning to write this post a few weeks ago, it was meant to be titled: 'I joined Slimming World'. Unfortunately, it just brought out the worst demons in me and I ended up relapsing pretty badly into an eating disorder I've suffered with since my early teens.

Liz Earle Botanical Essence No.9 review

I adore Liz Earle fragrances and the new Botanical Essence No.9* is no exception. Plus the bottle is definitely my favourite one so far, as the vibrant purple colour is just stunning! 

Buggy Board Maxi Plus Review

Oh, do I wish I had this amazing invention in my life sooner! The Lascal Buggy Board Maxi Plus*(£99.00) from Cheeky Rascals is everything I hoped for and we have been using it for the past few weeks on longer walks to give Zac a little break, when his legs get sore or when I am in a rush and he just can't keep up with me. 

Charlotte Tilbury Dreamy Look In A Clutch

I have been dying to try Charlotte Tilbury products, but I waited patiently for her store to open in Glasgow, so I can swatch things and decide what I really want. It's safe to say, that my 2016 Christmas wishlist consists mainly of CT makeup, haha :) I was lucky to receive this beautiful Dreamy Look In A Clutch*(£90.00) set at the masterclass I attended (read about it here) where I simply fell in love with all the products and I now cannot wait to add more to my collection. Someone hide my credit card, when I go shopping next :)

GET 15% OFF CHARLOTTE TILBURY with my unique code, applied automatically, just go to 
www.charlottetilbury.com via this link. 

Alternatively use my unique Charlotte Tilbury discount code: SANDRALFA4QR

Kids bedroom tour

I am sure I promised a kids bedroom tour ages ago, but I never got round to taking the photos. You've seen bits and bobs on my instagram, but I really like having these kinds of blog posts to look back on, so here it is. The photos didn't turn out as good as I would like unfortunately, as the light has been terrible lately. I will try to link everything I can underneath the photos.

£12 Chloe Faye Dupe

I always carry a big bag with me, but I needed something smaller to take with me when I am out and about, so I had a little browse on ebay and I found this small Chloe Faye dupe for £12! I was worried it might be a complete waste of money, but it is absolutely gorgeous and I love it! After all, I just can't afford to fork out £930 on the real Chloe Faye at the moment, which is stunning by the way!

Charlotte Tilbury event & makeup masterclass.

Last week I attended a pretty special event - a makeup masterclass with the one and only... Charlotte Tilbury! Yep! The queen of makeup herself, showed us how to create her 'Dreamy Look' and we were sat in front of big mirrors, armed with all the products to follow the live lesson. AMAZING!

Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Palette Review and Swatches

Whenever Urban Decay release a new eye shadow palette, I know it will be a good one. Their formula is my favourite and I love the brand with all my heart! The new Naked Ultimate Basics Palette*(£38.50) is one of the best UD releases since the original Naked palette came out and I am very pleased to have it in my collection. It's packed with stunning matte colours and perfect for everyday use.

Afternoon Tea with Liz Earle

Guess what my lovelies? I went to my first ever event! Yep... After saying no to events for over 4 years, I finally kicked my anxiety's butt and got over my fear of meeting new people and being socially awkward. I just couldn't say no to afternoon tea with Liz Earle, as her skincare products have a special place in my heart! It was such a lovely event and I was worried for no reason, because everyone was lovely and I am now feeling more comfortable going to any future blogger events.

Giorgio Armani Lip Magnet Liquid Lipsticks

I became obsessed with matte lipsticks (just like everyone else, I know...) and I very rarely wear anything else these days. Liquid formulas are my favoruite type and the new Giorgio Armani Lip Magnets*(£27.00) are the ultimate liquid lipstick dream! I am not exaggerating- they are the best liquid lipsticks I have ever tried and I fell in love with them at first application.

Primark Velvet Matte Lipstick Crayons

More Primark beauty bargains? Yes, please! I picked up some more of the Velvet Matte Lipstick Crayons and I love them sooo much. They are not the most incredible, luxe lip products out there, but for £2, with a nice formula and a matte finish, I am pretty impressed!

Perfect base with bareMinerals

I have been wearing a lot of makeup lately, so I am trying to make sure I have some light coverage/natural days too, just to give my skin a bit of a break. I have been using some fab bareMinerals products to cleanse and moisturise and their Complexion Rescue and Invisible Light Duo to even out my skintone and add a glow to my face.

Piccolo Organic Baby Food.

When it comes to baby food, I make most of it myself, from scratch. BLW or purees, I prefer to know what goes into it and avoid anything with preservatives, added sugars or artificial sweeteners. I do buy organic  food pouches occasionally, as Mia loves them and our new favourites are by Piccolo, an awesome brand we discovered recently.

Cosatto Hug Isofix Daisy Dot Car Seat with 5 Point Plus Anti-Escape System

There comes a time in your baby's life, when they are not so little anymore and they start growing out of their cot, pram and car seat. We have used a Doona for the past 14 months and as amazing as it was, it has to be put away for the next baby and Mia recently got an upgrade to a big girl seat. She was soooo excited during her first front facing ride! We opted for the Cosatto Hug Isofix Daisy Dot Car Seat*(£280.00) with 5 Point Plus Anti-Escape System and we absolutely love it!

Home Sweet Home

I have been a bad blogger... Yep... I said it. I actually can't believe it, but I have only been blogging once or twice a week. And you know what? I am not even feeling guilty about it. I am sooo busy with regular mum stuff these days, breastfeeding, school run, healing my back, getting in shape and enjoying life, that blogging took a back seat. I am more relaxed and I have been doing bits and bobs to make the house feel more cosy. It's so nice to just write this, because I am feeling like it, not because I have a deadline. Here are some lovely decor bits I purchased recently that I just adore, including some great bargains you might love!

Primark Liquid Lipsticks

I really wanted to try some metallic liquid lipsticks, so when I found some in Primark at £2.00 each, I couldn't resist. I picked up a gold, a sparkly burgundy and also a matte brown. 

BABY: Frugi A/W Reversible Dress

Can we just take a moment to discuss how hard it is to take photos of toddlers? Gone are the days, when Mia was happily posing for photos, lying down on a blanket, giggling and smiling. She is now a little tornado, so getting a photo of her in focus is practically impossible. I tried my best though :) Mia is wearing one of the new A/W pieces from Frugi and we absolutely love it!

Sapporo Teppanyaki Glasgow Dessert Menu

You probably know how much I love desserts! I live for desserts! That's why I just couldn't turn down an invite to Sapporo Teppanyaki Glasgow for an evening of dessert tasting and cocktails. Oh my! It was like a dream come true! All my fellow sweet tooths out there will completely understand my excitement!

Date Night At Home

Finding time for date night as a parent who doesn't really have any childcare available to them is hard! We manage to go out for a meal once every 2/3 months, but that's it. That's why I was super excited about the idea of  the Get Date Night box, which allows you to have quality time together in the comfort of your own home! All you need is some free time and the rest is in the box! Yay!

Mia's Cute Frugi Outfit

I  almost forgot about this cute little outfit we were kindly sent as a thank you for being guest bloggers on Frugi's blog (read our post about healthy snacks for kids here). How adorable does Mia look in pink and blue? I am in love! All these items are actually on sale right now, just in case you want to treat your little one to some beautiful organic cotton pieces.

Mia is wearing the Little Lola Dress in a lovely pink colour, with white stripes, a beautiful pony applique on the front and a bow at the top. The elasticated neckline makes it super easy to put on/take off which is ideal when you're dealing with a crazy little munchkin like Mia :) PS.She's wearing size 12-18 months right now.

 To go with the dress and cardi, we picked the Little Norah Tights in a turquoise colour with white polka dots and a pop of pink on the toes and heels. Soo, sooo pretty!

The Happy Day Cardigan is made with the softest organic cotton and the quality is outstanding! We've washed it many times already and it still looks brand new! It is perfect for the transitional period between Summer and Autumn and adds a gorgeous pop of colour to any outfit. We love it!

 Just look at that cheeky little face and her cute teeth! Oh, I love her sooo, sooo much, even when she's being a diva, haha :)

 Pulling more silly faces. My little ray of sunshine! She makes me laugh 24/7!

If you've never ordered from Frugi before, make sure to check out their sale here to see for yourself how well made and beautiful their clothes are. We can't recommend their lovely products enough! 

Sandra & Mia xxx

*gifted items


  

My current go to makeup look.

Since Zachary started school I have been wearing makeup Monday to Friday, as I just can't face new people without some slap on! Maybe I will relax more in a few months, but at the moment, I ain't going nowhere without winged liner, haha :) This look has been my go to lately and here's what I used to create it.

Models Own Makeup

I am a bit late to the party (I feel like I start most of my reviews this way, haha), but hey... Models Own do makeup! I love their nail polishes and they were one of the first brands I fell in love with back when I started blogging, so it's nice to see them expanding their makeup collection and branching out into a new territory. I think they had a few makeup bits on offer already, but the new selection is huge!

Too Faced La Creme Lipsticks

I don't own many Too Faced products, but I have always been intrigued by the brand and the two products I have tried are amazing - the Better Than Sex Mascara (review) and one of the La Creme lipsticks in Juicy Watermelon (review). When I was kindly sent the latest shades from the range, I was like a kid with new toys :) Couldn't wait to swatch them all and play around with the colours. The La Creme Color Drenched Lipsticks*(£18.00) are simply stunning inside and out and I am obsessed with the formula!

Lancome Grandiose Bendable Liner Review

I am one of those people who is faithful to one liner and keeps repurchasing it. I try a lot of new formats and formulas, but I always stick to my one and only Bourjois Liner Pinceau in Black. It has been my Holy Grail for the past 7 years and I don't think it will ever change. There aren't many liners that even compare to my favourite, but the new Lancome Grandiose*(£23.00) is now officially my second choice and I adore it!

Current skincare favourites

My skin has been a real pain lately, with lots of hormonal breakouts and those horrible little bumps right under the surface. I am pretty sure that it has something to do with the amount of cake I've had recently for mine and Mia's birthday. Anyway... I am currently sticking to a simple regime and these are my favourite products to help me soothe my skin, get rid of the scarring and prevent future breakouts.

New Benefit Brows

When it comes to brows, Benefit products have always been the most popular, along with their brow bars. The full range was recently revamped, with many new additions as well and an extended selection of shades, which is always a bonus. I have four of the products to show you today, so let's get started.

Mia's Big Girl Cot (Little Green Sheep Mattress & Mattress Protector Review)

When Mia grew out of her Snuzpod (insert sad face), I decided to get her a new cot bed as the mattress in the travel cot I used for Zachary had to be replaced anyway. I opted for the simple Ikea Gulliver Cot, as you can convert it to a toddler bed easily and I liked the white wood. 

Classic Black Wrap Dress

Can we take a moment to acknowledge that our British Summer is officially over? Was that hot week back in May supposed to be it? I am wearing black tights, cardigans and ankle boots in July! Yep... We couldn't even take the photos yesterday after I got ready, as it was raining ALL DAY!  Are you wearing Autumn outfits too?

Moomooi by Feelunique

I adore pretty things, so when this gorgeous bundle arrived at my doorstep, I fell in love immediately. Feelunique collaborated with a talented illustrator Meredith Wing to create this dreamy 'Moomooi' collection and you can now buy it from feelunique.com. The prices are very affordable and all of the pieces are hard to resist.

Urban Decay Vice Lipsticks

I am sure you've heard about Urban Decay launching a whopping 100 shades of VICE lipstick*(£15.00), right? Now that's what I call a good selection of colours and finishes. I have 5 of the lippies to show you today and they are simply stunning!

Ted Baker Layally Bag and my thoughts on designer pieces. Worth the splurge?

I featured my gorgeous Ted Baker Layally Bag in many outfit posts, but I wanted to review it separately and share my thoughts on designer bags and if I am happy with my purchase or if I regret it 2 years later. 

Mamas & Papas Zoom Travel System Review

A good travel system is essential when you have a baby and I was hoping to use Zachary's one for Mia, but it got damaged when our garage roof started leaking. As I left all baby purchases till last minute, we ended up with no travel system for Mia when she arrived 5 weeks early. We eventually got the Doona to get out and about, but for proper outings, we opted for the Mamas & Papas Zoom Travel System*.

Breastfeeding Stories: Marissa & Iver

As promised, I am continuing the 'breastfeeding cafe' I hosted with Medela with a series of breastfeeding stories from other mums, as I thought it would be a good idea to share some boobie love on the blog regularly. Today, Marissa (who is a lovely mum I chat to on instagram) is sharing her breastfeeding story with her little boy Iver. 

Foreo Luna Play Review

I have the Foreo Luna and Luna Mini in my life, but the new Foreo Luna Play* (£29.00) is a fab little addition to the Luna family and I couldn't be more excited about it. Why? Well, it's the cutest little cleansing device on the planet and... it is pretty affordable too!

Eden Perfumes, vegan and cruelty free (+finding discontinued Gucci Envy)

I have been meaning to write about this amazing perfume, by an even more amazing company since the day I bought it, but I never got round to it till now. I had to feature it on the blog though, as it deserves to be shouted about from the rooftops! OK, so... let's show EDEN Perfumes some love!

Whisbear The Humming Bear Review

I have lots of baby related reviews planned for June, including todays blog post dedicated to Mia's cuddly friend Whisbear The Humming Bear*. We've had it for a couple of months now, so it's been very well tested and I must admit, I am a big fan.

Wuti Wrap Review

I already reviewed one of the We Made Me baby carries here, but today I want to tell you all about the Wuti Wrap*(£49.99), which is possibly my favourite out of the three I have been testing.

OOTD: Summer Vibes

With the sun making an appearance quite often these days, I am finally getting my wardrobe Summer ready and adding some lightweight and colourful pieces, like this stunning tunic by Johnny Was* from Navabi.

BABY: Zoocchini Hooded Towels

 Who doesn't love a cute hooded towel, right? I personally adore them and I have a couple for bot Zac and Mia. They are most useful for babies, but bigger kids love them too, especially when they are as awesome as the Zoocchini designs.

#TheBigBreastfeedingCafe 2016 With Medela

 If you follow me on Instagram, you will know that yesterday was the day of The Big Breastfeeding Cafe hosted by lots of breastfeeding mums across the UK with Medela. As an ambassador of the brand, I obviously took part to celebrate the beauty and importance of breastfeeding.

Frugi Swimwear

With Summer just around the corner, sorting out protective swimwear for the kids was one of my priorities. That's where Frugi came to the rescue. With a big selection of swimsuits for babies, toddlers and bigger kids, they will keep your precious ones safe from the sun and looking stylish too.

How to Appear Way More Professional At Work

Do you feel as though you aren’t as professional as you could be at work? Maybe you feel disorganised and chaotic or feel like your appearance is lacking a bit, but you don’t know where to begin. Either way, these tips will show you how to make a positive change for yourself.

Be Organised

It is nearly impossible for you to look professional if you are not organised. Think about your boss asking you for a super important document. You might not be able to remember where you placed it, and as you look for it frantically, your boss may be left wondering about your competency. This is the last thing you want, but it is possible for you to make a change with the right approach. Being organised means that you have a good understanding of what you should be doing at any given moment. It also means you know what to prioritise, and what can wait. If you want to be more organised, start by decluttering your desk and arranging your files so you can always find what you need. Ensure that all of the documents are organised and that you can access them with ease. Using a planner is a good idea, as is using a to-do list so you can track everything.

Escentric 02 by Escentric Molecules

My perfume collection is like a small fragrance shop, but I always have space for new interesting additions. The Escentric 02*(100ml, £69.50) by Escentric Molecules is a scent that simply blew my mind and I can't get enough of it.

Barry M Chisel Cheeks Contour Kit Review

I've been meaning to share this little gem with you for ages, but as usual... I've been a busy bee The Barry M Chisel Cheeks Contour Kit*(£6.49) has been a staple in my makeup bag for a good few months now and I absolutely love it!

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