Christmas cheer, or Christmas fear?

As you'll have already noticed, i have added a countdown to Christmas on my blog and it has really brought home to me just how little time i have left to prepare! I have two adorable daughters who understand that we are pretty cash-strapped, but that doesn't mean that i want them losing out on receiving some nice gifts! I imagine for many families, this is one of the toughest times of the year - i know it is for me, as not only to i have to find ways of buying gifts, but i have to continue paying those monthly bills!
It seems that whilst most people are preaparing and looking forward to the festive season, i am making myself ill with worry. It's so difficult when you have kids, as although mine don't really expect alot, i like to get them what i can to avoid them feeling left out at school and getting stick for not having much....some of their mates receive many expensive gifts which is just not possible for me, and i really don't like putting myself in debt, so i try to buy within my means.
I would love to hear your thoughts on dealing with Christmas, whether you're well prepared or just wishing it was all over, and if you have any advice, it would be more than welcome!! x

Fantastic Giveaway on Bling and Buy (COMPETITION CLOSED)

If you haven't entered this fantastic giveaway by the lovely Em, then you really should!! There are some gorgeous prizes to be won from various sites including Funky Junk, Love Hearts and Crosses and Laura's Jewllery to name but a few. Entry is easy - just check out her blog for full details http://blingandbuy.blogspot.com/2009/10/bling-and-buy-big-giveaway-and-sneaky.html

Above are some of the wonderful items up for grabs - they'd make great Christmas presents too!

Femfresh review

I have recently been trying out Femfresh (sorry about the picture quality!) so thought i'd write a review on it.
This is the first time i have used a special wash for those intimate areas, and i have to say that i am really pleased with this product.
I received 1 bottle of intimate wash and 16 individual wipes. Each are soap-free, pH-balanced and Hypoallergenic, so they are suitable for anyone to use. I was most impressed as they have a really pleasant smell so you're left feeling refreshed and above all else....clean!!
Each wipe is individually wrapped so they are easy to carry in your bag AND they are flushable...yes, they DO actually flush away too!
Overall i have to say that i will continue to use these products, and my daughters too, as they are so gentle so as not to irritate the skin and left me feeling fresher than ever!

Samsonite Baby Travel Back Pack

I received this fabulous Baby Travel bag from http://twitter.com/ICBABYDOTCOM after, yes, you guessed it, i won it on twitter!

The pictures of this really don't do it the justice it deserves.

Firstly, i have to say that i was really impressed with their service. Not only was i informed that it had been posted, i was also told that it would be delivered by courier and would arrive before 5pm - so well done for keeping me updated!

The quality of this bag is amazing, it is so hard wearing that it will last for as long as needed and is well capable of taking a bit of a bashing - not that you'd want to mind!

Inside there are a couple of handy pockets for nappies and baby wipes etc, there is a very handy bottle holder on one side of the bag and a very up-to-date mobile phone holder on the other. It also comes complete with a baby changing mat which has it's own little bag - very handy!

You can purchase this from ICBABYDOTCOM for the very reasonable price of £14.95 and to make it even easier, heres a link to take you directly there - do check out the other products available as they have some wonderful items!

http://www.icbaby.com/pages/samsonite_baby_travel_back_pack_black.htm

Chocoholics Competition! « Chocolates for Chocoholic's Blog

Chocoholics Competition! « Chocolates for Chocoholic's Blog

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The White Queen

As my Twitter followers may already know, i received an email last night telling me i had won a fantastic Limited Edition leather bound copy of The White Queen by Phillipa Gregory. This has just totally blown me away - i really can't believe how lucky i am! I haven't received it yet, obviously, but just check this out
http://www.whitequeenstore.com/Pages/Home.aspx

I'll post a couple of pics when it comes too! :-)

Revlon® Pedi-EXPERT™ Pedicure

I was fortunate enough to win this on Twitter and i have to say it is absolutely brilliant! It's a similar idea to the Pedi Egg, but this comes with a lifetime guarantee rather than being able to buy replacement blades.

As you can see from the pics, it comes in a handy, easy to hold little tub, which stores the nail file and the clippers - very handy, and it has 2 sections. One of these contains 190 micro-files which removes hard, callused skin and the other, a stainless steel finishing file to guarantee feet are left smooth and free from roughness. As an added bonus, you also receive some excellent nail clippers to keep those toe nails in tip top condition and a standard nail file.

I would strongly recommend this to anyone who suffers from dry, cracked heels etc as it is safe and easy to use - all dry skin which is removed is contained within the pedi expert so you just empty when finished and wash with warm, soapy water.......make sure you dry it thoroughly afterwards though!

Top marks to Revlon for this, i think it's fab!

Parenting Worries

I am a born worrier and look at the down side of everything which is why i feel my kids lose out alot! I watch the news and hear of kids being abducted or beaten up by other kids and it chills me to the core making me want to wrap mine up in cotton wool - of course, this is neither practical or fair. My eldest, as you probalbly already know, is almost 15 now, yet rarely ventures out with her mates - and this is down to me! We have a very open, honest relationship, and she tells me the things her mates are getting up to like drinking, having sex, cutting themselves - i don't want my girl going down the same road, so i tend to say "no" to going out in the evenings with them. I do, however, allow her to travel to the metrocentre with them on a weekend. I am now beginning to feel like a "bad parent" for trying to protect her as the only way we learn is through our own mistakes! Don't get me wrong, it never causes arguments when i say "no" as i have explained how i feel and how much i love both my kids, but it doesn't make me feel any better.
I just wandered if anyone else experienced the same kind of feelings and if not, how do you get passed them??

Unmissable Giveaway of MAC products (CONTEST NOW CLOSED)

For those of you who aren't aware, there is a superb giveaway from http://www.sweetshugahon.blogspot.com/

One winner will be chosen to win 4 products including 1 MAC Eyeshadow, 1 MAC Lipstick, 1 MAC LipGlass and 1 MAC Blush, all in the colours of your choice - what more could you ask for??

To be in with a chance of winning all you have to do is:

Leave a comment on http://sweetshugahon.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-first-contest-mac-giveaway.htmlsaying what MAC Eyeshadow, Lipstick, Lipgloss and Blush you want -
eg. Please give me my: MAC (colour choice) Eyeshadow and so on! Simple!
RULES FOR ENTERING:
You must follow her blog
You must post link in your own blog
You must be over 18

Annie Review

Well, I went to see the musical Annie at the Sunderland Empire last night and i have to say, it was slightly disappointing!
The remarkable Su Pollard was starring as drunkard Miss Hannigan, and she did an absolutely fantastic job - truly believable! The way she staggered around the stage, swinging her pearls and coming on to any male in her presence was hilarious.
Little orphan Annie was played by Lydia Tunstall and she also did a remarkable job of gaining sympathy and laughs form the audience - a really good choice for the character!
Although the acting was pretty impressive, the production itself was quite slow moving and nowhere near as good as the film....it was a very long 2 hours!
Not strongly recommended, but not a bad night out.....working on other half now to see Peter Pan (starring John Challis as Hook) in a couple of months - watch this space!

iamboutique and Funky Junk fab giveaway! (CONTEST NOW CLOSED)

If you haven't already entered this competition, it's not too late so what are you waiting for??

From Twitter, @iamboutique and @Funky_Junk are running a fabulous competition where there are 3 fab prizes for 3 lucky winners...just click on the link and follow the instructions....Good Luck!!

http://bit.ly/QRAu5

Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Lipcolour

This is an absolute "must-have" if you are sick of having to reapply your lippy throughout the day, then this was made for you! Advertising claims that it "stays on your lips for up to 12 hours" - and it's not lying!! I have been using this and chomping my way through the day to try and prove it wrong....massive fail!

Despite having cuppa after cuppa, toast, biscuits crisps AND my main meals, this never needed to be 'touched up' and in fact, i had to scrub a little at bed time to remove it!

It is available from all good Superdrug stores and comes in 20 different shades. As well as lasting the distance, it is also breathable and glides on easily with no stickiness.

I am massively impressed with this and would strongly recommend it! :-)

Cooler Contest (CONTEST NOW CLOSED)

A Bit About Me

Here goes...

I was born in Newcastle in 1976 and it will come as no suprise to some of you, that it was on 1st April!

I lived in Newcastle until my parents divorced when i was 2, then moved to Gateshead with my mam. I can't say i had a particularly happy childhood as my mam always seemed quite bitter towards my dad for leaving - and this anxiety was taken out on me from the constant yelling to the throwing of cups, plates, ornaments, you name it!

From a very early age i learned never to say what i felt, just to bottle everything up, and to be honest, i'm still pretty much the same today - i'd rather tie myself up in knots than admit somethings wrong!

The thing about having a bad childhood is that you learn how "not" to bring up your own kids...don't get me wrong, i had all the latest gadgets etc, but there is no compensation for love and a cuddle.

My life has been a constant battle with myself...i tried several times to end it all from taking pills, to slashing my wrists and from the age of 12 till around 15, i self harmed. I found this a good way of getting rid of some of the anxiety i felt...the need to be loved and wanted!

At the age of 17, i met my current partner and although a bit cliche, it was love at first sight. We just seemed to click and by the time i was 18, we were living together in a small 1 bedroom flat and expecting our first child.

My daughter was born in October 1994 and she was (and still is) absolutely adored. Weighing in at 6lb 12oz she was like a little doll. From around 6 weeks old, she slept right through the night, and was never any trouble......we moved into our first house in the December of the same year.

By my 21st, I was expecting our second child....another girl. Born in May 1997, weighing 5lb 11oz was my little "porcelein doll" (as she was nicknamed!). She was a totally different kettle of fish compared to my eldest...she NEVER slept and refused to go to anyone but me - she was such hard work, but totally worth the effort!

I can't say that life is easy, because it's not, it's a daily uphill struggle. I don't speak to my mam or her side of the family any more - we came to blows a few years ago, and i told her a few home truths which she didn't appreciate! Since then, i have to say my life has been a little easier - no one questioning me or judging me.

Well, that's all you're getting to know for now....anything else you want to know, just ask...i don't bite (not hard anyway!) x

Review of Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo

This is one of my most recent reads, and the first book i have read by Linda Castillo.


The book is written about the life of a young Amish girl who left her hometown and her beliefs only to return some 16 years later as Chief of Police Kate Burkholder.

Shortly after her return to the usually quiet village of Painters Mill, the body of a young woman is discovered with roman numerals carved into her abdomen and Kate is quickly on the case! As the story unfolds, you see that there is alot more to Kate Burkholder than meets the eye, and she has harboured a dark family secret since she left all those years ago.

As more bodies are discovered, Kate's behaviour is causing a few whispers among fellow colleagues...will her secret be disccovered? Could her past have returned to haunt her? Kate knows she has to solve this case, but with so many twists and turns, she is struggling to comprehend what is happening and to make matters worse, her own sister points the finger of suspicion in her direction! You begin to realise that, unless the murderer is found, Kate could be his next victim!


I don't want to give away any more of the plot, but i found this a truly captivating novel and extremely difficult to put down. A few tears and giggles along the way made this book an absolute pleasure to read.


I would strongly recommend this to any lover of crime novels, and even those who aren't!

I'm a Newbie!

Well, this is all a bit new to me and to be honest, i don't have a clue what i'm doing so please be patient with me!
I have decided to start writing my own blog in order to review a whole range of products from cosmetics and perfume, to books etc. I am always trying new things, and therefore always have plenty to say so i figured this would be a good place to air my views!
Any comments regarding anything i have written, are most welcome and appreciated!
Next post, i'll tell you a little bit about myself, but this is it for now! x