Convenient Ways to Boost your Property’s Exterior Appeal

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Do you want to make your home look better than ever? Maybe you want to make a positive change, but you have no idea where to start. Either way, this guide will give you some perspective so you can make your property look its best.

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Sticks review

I don't own many stick foundations, so I was very excited to try these Teint Idole Ultra Wear Sticks*(£27.00) by Lancome. I have two shades - one base colour, which can also be used as a concealer and one dark shade which I have been using as a bronzer and contour.

How Switching to an Electric Car Can Transform Your Daily Routine


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Many people love the idea of owning an electric car. The unlimited CO2-free miles, the absence of pollution, and the fact you never have to show up at a petrol station ever again. Your home is your petrol station!


But electric cars go way beyond this. In fact, they have an ability to transform your lifestyle in ways you never expected. But what can you expect? Let’s take a look. 

Gift Ideas That are Perfect for Any Occasion

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Sometimes we know exactly what to buy for someone for their birthday or a special occasion; other times, we need to buy something special but can’t think of anything that would be worth investing in. Don’t worry; you are in the right place. In this article, you can find five wonderful gift ideas for any occasion. Whether you buy them solo or combine them, they make excellent gifts.  


Travel: Weekend in Wales

Back in February, we packed our bags and drove from Scotland to Wales for a relaxing weekend in a lovely cottage which we arranged via GuestToGuest. It was a 6 hour drive each way, but we absolutely love road trips and after travelling with the kids to France and Poland a few times it was nothing to worry about. 

10 Tips For Taking Better Care Of Your Skin

So you want to improve your complexion? As much as it can seem like that’s the elusive task we’re all trying to achieve, having glowing skin isn’t impossible. All it takes is the right approach to your skincare. After all, taking care of your skin is essential for having a healthy, glowing complexion. But even knowing that, it’s not always easy to know where to start. When your skin is a mess, you’re showing early signs of aging, or you just want a complete overhaul, it can be a little confusing.

With all the different skincare products on the market, it can be hard to know where to begin. But if you’re looking for simple tips to get started on your skincare journey, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog post, we’re going to take a look at the ten steps you can take to boost your skincare routine and achieve the glow you’re after.

The Perfect Lake Windemere Trip


Nestled in the northwest of England, amongst other picturesque bodies of water you will find Windemere. Surrounded by rolling green hills, and as deep as 220 meters in some places, Windermere is not just a sight of natural beauty but very popular with tourists as well. Keep reading to find out why and how to plan your perfect trip. 


Lancome L'Absolu Glosses

Lancôme was the first high end brand I have ever tried as an adult and I wore a lot of their makeup on my wedding day, so it has always been pretty special to me. Back then, I used to be obsessed with lipglosses and their Juicy Tubes, so using a Lancôme lipgloss always makes me feel very sentimental. The new L'Absolu Glosses feature a beautiful non sticky formulation and they look gorgeous on the lips. If you are a fan of the glossy look, keep reading.

Sönd Clean Slate Cleanser Review

I have been using the Sönd Clean Slate Cream Cleanser(Gentle Daily Cleanser)* (£22.00) for a good few months and I absolutely love it. I only ever use cream or oil cleansers for removing my makeup and this one is one of my favourites.

The Ordinary Skincare

First blog post of 2018 and I am starting the year with a skincare chat. Not a detailed review, as I am not a skincare expert, but I am just going to share my thought on a few things I have tried from The Ordinary, who offer fab products at affordable prices, including blogger favourites like: Hyaluronic Acid and Glycolic Toner. And they now have a counter in Glasgow too, which is fantastic news!

Our Christmas Eve traditions


Christmas is a magical time in our house. From decorations, festive scents and yummy food, to the atmosphere and little traditions I like to get the kids involved in. One of the most special parts of the celebrations for us is Christmas Eve, as the build up of excitement reaches it's peak level and the kids cannot wait to wake up the next day to find their presents under the tree.

Season's Cleanings

With Christmas only days away, I am secretly relieved that I am not hosting any guests this festive season. I get myself all worked up and panic and as a self confessed hoarder, I always have a lot of organising to do. The team at Vorwerk asked me to take part in their Season’s Cleanings campaign, designed to reveal the lengths people go to when it comes to impressing guests and I am going to tell you all about my cleaning habits.

Christmas Gift Guide: stocking fillers & more.

Only one more week till Christmas and here is my final Christmas gift guide! Perfect if you still have some shopping to do. All of these items are available instore and online so you can definitely get them in time. I must admit - I am only half way there with my xmas shopping and I am going to brave the shops on Monday to tick the remaining bits off my  list. 

Gift Guide For Her

This gift guide was definitely my favourite one to put together, as it features my current favourite fragrances, stunning jewellery, accessories and gift sets. I would consider all of these pieces quite luxurious, but I included options for budgets from £25 - £160.

Christmas gift guide - beauty gadgets.

It's time for another gift guide and this time it's all about electrical beauty. From hair tools, to face cleansing, nail care and foot care. There's a gadget for everyone.

Christmas Gifts from Soap & Glory (£5 to £30)

Soap & Glory always smash it at Christmas time with their fabulous gift sets and stocking fillers. Their SPA Of Wonder Star Gift*(£30.00) just dropped at Boots and it is a BARGAIN! Here's the low down on what's inside and some more gift ideas for S&G fans. 

Giorgio Armani Ecstasy Shine Lipsticks

I am a huge fan of Giorgio Armani lip products, especially the incredible Lip Magnets, so I was really excited to try the new Ecstasy Shine Lipsticks*(£29.00). Using matte lipsticks all the time can be a bit drying for the lips, so it's important to switch things up and go back to more hydrating formulas like this one. Can you see the gorgeous shine? 

FENTY Beauty review

Just when I started moaning about being stuck in a makeup rut, Rihanna launched Fenty Beauty  and I was loving makeup again and actually looking forward to playing with new products. I never buy into the celebrity hype, but with the gorgeous formulas and focus on a flawless base, I just couldn't wait to see what the hype was about!

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Collection

I am a huge fan of Charlotte Tilbury products and I am absolutely loving the Hollywood Collection. I have one of the Matte Liquid Lipsticks, the Contour & Beauty Light Wands and the Complexion Brush. Spoiler alert- they're all amazing!

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 

Day out at Soar Intu Breahead and Vegan Pizza Express Lunch

We recently went out for a super fun day at the newly renovated Soar at Intu Breahead and I am so impressed with the new modern look! The ‘space trees’underneath a ceiling of stars and a ‘light box’ wall showing all the constellations in space look incredible! We went to a chocolate workshop with Zachary, bounced at the new Gravity Trampoline Park, had vegan lunch at Pizza Express and finished with some mini golf. 

Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition

The kids have been testing out the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition tablet*(£99.00) for the past few months, which comes in an awesome kidproof case - a life saver! With 1 FREE  year of Fire For Kids Unlimited, it will help you keep the kids entertained, while offering plenty of educational apps and features too.

Glamglow Gravitymud review

I love a good face mask and unless you've been living under a rock, you will know that Glamglow does face masks really, really well! I adore their original Youthmud and the Supermud clearing treatment, so my expectations were pretty high when I gave the Glamglow Gravitymud*(£42.00) a go. Was it love at first try though? 

Warm Autumnal Sweet Potato and Kale

I adore salads, but when it comes to  the cold Autumn/Winter months, I like to serve them warm for a more comforting feel. One of my favourites is this kale and sweet potato recipe with green beans, pomegranate, feta (vegan), rocket, caramelised shallots and the most simple dressing!

Liz Earle Botanical Essence Shampoo & Conditioner

I am very fussy with shampoo and conditioner, as I like gentle formulas and I can't use anything too heavy on my fine hair. I have always liked the Liz Earle hair care line, but this limited edition duo, scented with Geranium, Citrus and Vanilla is simply out of this world!

Lord & Berry Timeless Kissproof Lipsticks

Are you over liquid lipsticks yet? No? Me neither! I never will be to be honest. I just love long lasting, super pigmented, smudge proof formulas and these Lord & Berry Timeless Kissproof Lipsticks*(£15.00) offer just that. I am impressed!

Not ready to let go of Summer scents

I feel like we didn't really have a Summer in the UK, so I am still trying to cling on to some Summer scents and a bit of sparkle, before I transition into autumnal options. I am absolutely obsessed with the Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess EDP* and I am also adding a nice glow to my skin with the Radiant Shimmering Body Oil*

Glasgow Day Out (Science Centre, Jamie's Italian + Buchanan Galleries).

As we are now back in Scotland, I thought I would finally share our day out in Glasgow which happened over a month ago, but I simply didn't have time to talk about it. We visited the Science Centre which Zachary absolutely loved, followed by lunch at Jamie's Italian and a spot of shopping at Buchanan Galleries.

Travel: Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens

We're currently on holiday, but I found some time to catch up with my blog and I found this blog post saved in my drafts- our Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens photo diary. We went a few times and I absolutely love it there. With or without kids, it's an amazing place to visit if you're in Edinburgh and the entry is free.

Shimmer and Glow with Tropic Skincare

 Even though the Summer is almost over, I am not ditching shimmering body oils, golden highlighters and SPF. I love a bit of glow, regardless of the season and SPF is essential all year round as well.

Too Faced Love Light Highlighter in shade Ray Of Light (review +swatches)

As a self confessed highlighter addict, I get far too excited about trying new options. This Too Faced Prismatic Love Light Highlighter*(£25.00) in shade Ray Of Light has been my go to for the past two months and I cannot get enough of it! Even my 2 year old is obsessed and asks for 'sparkle', haha.

Jurassic Kingdom and Tea-Rex Party (Glasgow Botanic Gardens)

Keeping a 6 year old amused is becoming harder and harder, as he finds a lot of stuff boring, so I was really keen to take him to the Jurassic Kingdom at Glasgow Botanic Gardens to see some real size dinosaurs and attend an opening party with a special guest Dr Neil Clark, the Hunterian Museum’s Curator of Palaeontology.

Fashion: A touch of silver with new DW watches

I've been so obsessed with rose gold, that I ended up with a collection of watches in one colour. I realised that it was time to add some silver arm candy to my collection when I was looking for something  to match my rings and I only had one option. Daniel Wellington is my go to brand for watches and these beauties are my recent additions.

TRAVEL: Emma Bridgewater Factory Tour

Last but not least... I am sharing part 3 of my Emma Bridgewater experience - the factory tour! We have booked it separately, as the day packages were all sold out on the date I wanted and at a cost of £2.50 per person which is then redeemable against factory shop purchases - it is the most amazing deal!

TRAVEL: Princes Street Suites Edinburgh

Hi everyone. I love reviewing hotels on the blog, so when we were asked to take part in a Kidsadvisor campaign with Princes Street Suites Edinburgh, we jumped at the chance.

Glasgow Day Out: Kimble's breakfast, St Enoch Centre, Kelvingrove Museum, Baffo Lunch and Riverside Museum.

I recently got a very exciting email from Glasgow Life, inviting me, my husband and the kids to take part in two days out in Glasgow, packed with activities for the little ones and some yummy food. We couldn't say no! Here's day 1 our little adventure.

Emma Bridgewater Decorating Studio & Garden

As promised, here is part two of my Emma Bridgewater experience. We booked the Decorating Studio session separately, as there was no spaces left for the full day package, but I am actually glad we did it this way. I had so much fun decorating my own pieces and I want to do it again! I am also including loads of pictures of the gorgeous garden! Enjoy!

Home decor: New living room additions.

Our living room is absolutely massive, so we had to fill it with loads of furniture and decor bits to make it feel homely. Our walls were still pretty bare though, so I was very excited to add some new prints from Desenio to make them look more aesthetically pleasing.

Current BareMinerals makeup favourites

I am a huge fan of bareMinerals and I use their makeup every single day. From their foundations, to powders, lipsticks and eyeshadows - they offer so many amazing products, I don't even know where to start! They're just an incredible brand. 

The Fragrance Shop Discovery Club

I love trying new fragrances and I always have loads of little samples in my stash, as they are a perfect way to discover new scents and a great size to keep in your handbag, when you're out and about.

Beau Belle Rose Gold Makeup Brush Set

I have a huge collection of brushes, but this Beau Belle Rose Gold Makeup Brush Set*(£59.95) must be the most beautiful design yet. The rose gold handles are so pretty and I adore the white travel pot the brushes came in.

Emma Bridgewater Cafe and Factory Shop


If you follow my instagram account, you will know that I am an Emma Bridgewater addict. I just can't help it, I am obsessed with EB designs, so it was only a matter of time till I dragged my husband to Stoke On Trent for a day of EB madness! I thought it would be a great idea to split this into three posts, as I have far too many pictures, so here's part one, all about our journey, the factory shop, the outlet and the cafe.

Parenting: SmarTrike 5 in 1 Infinity Review

As Mia was turning 2 years old this month, I thought it would be a good idea to get her a SmarTrike*(£99.00). We opted for the purple one as it is not too girly (I try to avoid pink) and I could possibly use it with a boy in the future. But let's talk about the fun stuff!

Lancôme Monsieur Big Mascara review

I have been a huge Lancôme fan for over a decade and I adore their skincare and makeup. Plus my favourite foundation is the Lancôme Teint Miracle, so I am always keen to try new products from the brand. My latest makeup crush from Lancôme is their new Monsieur Big Mascara*(£21.00) and I am not the only one loving it, as it's getting loads of fantastic reviews! Well... see the before and after and decide for yourself!

BareMinerals Blemish Remedy Anti-Imperfection Serum review.

As far as I can remember, I have struggled with breakouts. From acne on my face, back and arms to sore hormonal breakouts on my jawline or tiny ones allover my face. I went through a few periods of having relatively clear skin as well, but I can't remember the last time I had a completely spot free face. Considering the fact that I just turned 30, it is pretty ridiculous! That's why I am always on the lookout for new products aimed at blemishes, like the bareMinerals® Blemish Remedy Anti Imperfection Treatment Serum*(£36.00).

Guerlain Mon Guerlain Fragrance Review

You know when you smell a fragrance and you instantly fall in love? Well, this is it for me! The Guerlain Mon Guerlain EDP*(£68.00) was love at first... sniff and sight, because it's not only a beautiful fragrance, but a stunning bottle too! I am a huge Guerlain fan and I am obsessed with their Meteorites, so I was very pleased to add this new scent to my collection.

Liz Earle Superskin Superlip Balm Review

I am a huge fan of the Liz Earle Superskin range, so when I first got my mitts on the Superskin Superlip Balm*(£16.00), I was very excited! It quickly became a staple in my makeup bag and in my night time skincare routine and I am absolutely in love with it.

Lancome matte shakers review

I adore matte lipsticks and lip stains, so I couldn't wait to try the new  Lancôme Matte Shakers*(£19.50). First of all - they are super cute, but most importantly... they have been on my lips almost every day in June! I am soooo impressed!

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