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Dear Daisy, It is your first day at school...

#GBBO linky #1 Lemon Swiss roll



So following the start of the Great British bake off and Polly from Polly's world linky (click here) I have made a Swiss roll in with the theme of the first programme. I decided to go for a lemon version, recipe by the hairy bikers! 


Ummm confession number one- I didn't make my lemon curd! Aldis version did the trick!!!! It's hard enough baking with a baby to entertain too. 

- First up grease your flat tin and set your oven to 200'c
- Then whisk the eggs, caster sugar and lemon zest up until it resembles meringue type texture - takes about 6 minutes in a stand alone Kenwood


- Fold in the flour with a metal spoon, very gently so not to knock any air out of it
- Smooth gently into tray, ensuring it reaches all of the corners and then pop into oven for around 8 minutes (recipe says a bit longer but it was really going gold so any longer and it may have burnt!!) 
- When it's done and out of tray roll it up when warm- a trick mum gave me is to use a wet tea cloth to stop it cracking (it worked for me!) and then leave it until completely cool 
- In meantime whip cream ready to fill it
- Unravel and spread on curd and then cream. The hairy bikers make a butter cream type icing but I just whipped double cream.

Curl back up and dust! Ta daaaa! 
I was surprised how relatively easy and quick this was to do, I'll definitely be trying it again soon maybe the traditional jam recipe . 

Lots of love,
Hayley xxx


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Avon Haul #2

My latest mini Avon haul included:

Colour Correction Palette
Concealer brush
Glimmerstick in smoky grey
Fixing spray 


I buy most months from Avon as a friend of mine is a representative and often drops the book around. You get a real mix if products in the catalogue varying from super cheap like the Color trend range aimed more at the teenage market (although I have been known to order bits from it like nail polishes!) and then the higher end of the brand like Anew (aimed at the lets say more nature audience). 

I've used bits and pieces of their make up and bath bits and bobs etc for years now, I'm not loyal to anything really from it but I do like to try things from there and there bubble baths etc can be really good value for money for every day bath times as well as their sun lotions. 

First up the colour correction palette. 


This was on offer for £7.50 (usually £10.50) and so I thought I'd give it a whirl. It comes with a funny little brush that again I won't be using. My other fault with this is that it would be useful if it came with a reminder of which segment was for, I'm no expert and had to look back in the book to remind myself. Although I did experiment anyway!  But just so you know, pink is for a glow, beige hiding blemishes, yellow conceal redness and orangey to brighten skin! 

This is after using the product- no other make up. 


All in all a thumbs up! 

Next up is a concealer brush, a bargain at £2.50. I was a little sad how small it was, my last brush was slightly bigger and flatter but I guess I've just got used to and hooked to my last one! It worked just fine though and I'm sure it'll become my staple concealer brush no trouble. 


I've used the glimmersticks a few times and they're really good! No mess, no need for sharpening and go on smoothly! Really recommend. 

A few weeks ago I tweeted about the make up fixing spray and how I didn't really like it, it's very wet feeling! Which is odd when you've just put your make up on. However I've stuck with it and actually it's very good at keeping base make up in place! 

This is the finished make up job using Makeup Revolution iconic 2 eye pallete and hot and spice blush palette too, along with Tropic eye brow define set. 


Lots of love,
Hayley xxx
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The little things.. I love 💗

There are a lot of things I love and enjoy about life, and these are just a few of them... 


My little Daisy - obviously top of the list along with all my other family and friends but this is more for those unusual, non obvious or material things in life... Sometimes we need to remember the nice things in life, that are usually free :) that's not to say I don't love material things and I could live without them!! 


Watching the sunrise and sunset will always be top of my list. 

Listening to the rain in a caravan

Walks on the beach

Feeling the sunshine on your skin (obviously doesn't happen often enough!)

Hugs and the way children squeeze the life out of you! My nephew is the best at this and the way his little face lights up when you haven't seen him in a while

The sea and the sound of the waves 



A crisp, sunny winters day with the dog

Photos- I take hundreds and hundreds! 

Baking, I have done so much lately which makes me sad but as part of Polly's bake off link up hopefully I'll do a little more! 

Making my home pretty and planning what to do next, again not so much time anymore but my Pinterest is full of ideas to get on with when I do! 

Listening to the owl during the night feed or the bats squeeling

The way Bob gets embarrassed- yes a dog gets shy when he trumps! 



The way I imagine him to talk (I'm sad I know)

Receiving flowers but also giving them to people

Growing something myself- like our hugggggge courgettes

The way yawns are contagious - why is that?

Driving on a sunny day with the windows open


Days when I don't get dressed!!! 

Looking back through old photographs 

When the sheets in bed are nice and cool on a hot day or when the house is all toasty

Talking of bed, I love my bed! But more than that I love clean sheets!! 

Going home.. This is a feeling I had when working away and something I look forward to on the last day of a holiday

Going home to Bob the dog, always so pleased to see you! 

Letters, I love a proper hand written letter.

The smell of a smelly candle filling the house with a homely feel


The smell of babies, my baby girl especially.  

Finishing a book

Listening to music that brings back certain memories

There are lots and lots of things I love! And I could go on all day... 

Lots of love,
Hayley xxx
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Modelling days... A lifetime ago and some advice

Some may already know I used to do some modelling in my younger days (how old do I sound?!), well my last "shoot" was around 3 years ago and that was for self interest not paid work or for anyone in particular. 

I thought I would write this as I see a lot of girls trying to get into the world of modelling and sadly there are a lot of people out there that can exploit this on all different kinds of levels. For example to start with you will see a lot of advertisements on places such as Facebook, YouTube etc from supposed agencies but at the end of the day after the excitement of the prospect of  becoming a model all they are doing is offering photo shoots to build portfolios and then charging a whopping bill at the end of it. 



A REAL agency won't charge you for this privilege as they will hope to get some good piccies, to enable them to get you work and therefore make money that way through commission. 

Anyway I've rambled on a bit there... 


So I started after being approached and getting a portfolio built up with an agency, Plain Jane. That doesn't mean that I then didn't get carried away and pay for further photographs when conned by other supposed agencies who could also promise me work (work that never came). But this was minimal in my case, thankfully. I also knew I was short for a model and I could only really do commercial and portrait work, nothing like runway or editorial! 


I enjoyed it for a few years and made a bit of money alongside college and university but nothing like you would expect. You need to be able to be really flexible and travel to make anything, or you did back then anyway. There are now so many girls out there who want to become models that most will do it for free (yes free!!!) and therefore why would clients or photographers pay you??! It became very saturated and it was a lot of work and time for not a great deal of return. I got a buzz from seeing the photos but even that wears off after a while! 


After I had done commercial work for a while more opportunities tended to come from the lingerie/ glamour side of the industry. Again being small this was an option available- I had pretty large boobs what more do they want!!! It's not exactly like that but again it wouldn't be well paid because of the "Jordan" culture that so many girls dreamt of being in. I'm not saying that there aren't models out there that don't do well and make a really good living out of it as there are, but I do think unless you really are that one off girl then sadly you would need to be open to do more on your shoots (exactly what you are thinking- not for me!!) to make anything or do it for personal enjoyment. 



If you are interested in modelling or you want to get your child into it then please use the ALBA site to look at the list of approved agencies, the only list I would trust of decent agencies and real ones at that. 

If you do go along to a shoot where you don't know the photographer or client in question always take a chaperone. It's not unusual for shoots to be held in old warehouses etc as they have the space and aesthetics to make great photos but I would never go alone. It's also not unusual for photographers to work from home, theirs or yours. Again always have some one with you for your own safety. 




If you have any questions please do ask away!


Lots of love,
Hayley xxx
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Makeup Revolution #2

You may have seen my previous post on Makeup Revolution and my mixed reviews on the products- if not find it here. Generally I loved them but did find a few of the bargain £1 lipsticks a bit like a crayon. 

So.. I tried a few of the palletes. There is a real buzz around them in the blogger world at the moment and had to try at least one as especially the eye palletes got brilliant write ups. 

First up is the Blush and Contour pallete in Hot spice. Retails at £6.


How nice is the packaging? For such affordable prices I don't think it looks bad at all! 


The colours in this pallete are really warm and rich, usually I would go for more pinky peach tones but it's nice to try something different and actually these would compliment a tanned complexion nicely. 

Here are some swatches..




(Picture using blush and eye pallete for a very natural around the house look today)

In this pallete you get a good sized mirror which is great as so many don't now and I know some of their other products don't come with them. 

Next up is an eye pallete for just £4 which I chose from Superdrug last week on a little shopping spree. I went for this pallete as the colours are neutral and can be used for all occasions, there were some amazingly bright ones which took my eye but for starters I thought I would try this one: Redemption Pallete Iconic 2



I'm afraid I stormed right in before taking some nice glossy photos of this! I get a bit excited and have to use things right away!!! As you can see I threw the applicator away firstly, who uses those sponge flimsy applicators anyway? That's a bit of disappointment and also no mirror in this pallete. But then for the price you can't complain! 

This product is my favourite that I have tried of Makeup Revolutions, it's nicely pigmented, goes on nicely and lasts all day without the need to touch up. 

It's a mix of shimmery tones and matte which is what I like best about it! The lighter tones on the left I have been using as highlighters too. I will definitely be purchasing a few more of these! For the price how could I not??



Which products have you tried and liked or disliked?

Lots of love,
Hayley xxx
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A Pinterest addiction

I've always liked making things but never really had the time to do much. The only thing I've done really apart from all the bits for my wedding two years ago is upcycling my furniture for our home. 

I still don't have time to do much it would seem! When Daisy is awake I either want to spend time interacting, cuddling or walking etc with her and when she isn't I tend to have other things that need doing like having a shower!!! (Or hoovering the dog hair carpet up !!) 

However I've found a new love for Pinterest recently and this just encourages me to do some! First up is our garden.. It's a lovely big garden that Ben has worked hard on this year and it's really starting to look lovely, however there's still lots of room for personalising it and making it "lived in". 


This was made from an old piece or greenhouse staging (a pallet would be good!) painted with Sandtex outdoor paint which actually paints on lovely considering it's a gloss. I don't usually have the patience for it, I find gloss gloopy and it takes ages to dry!

We got the brackets and pots from Amazon and then to fill them and make them look pretty. Pretty easy but I love it and think it looks really effective! 

Some other tasks I'm working on (I seem to have too many thinking about it!) are getting the play/ spare room sorted and lovely, finishing some upcycling on furniture in the house and more for the garden. These are some bits I've seen on Pinterest that I love at the moment; 


You can find my boards here.

 I am now busy planning a party for Daisy as a bit of a welcoming garden party and am busy doing some crafty bits for this... I'll share when they're complete :) I don't want to give it away just yet! Those who know me personally will already guess it's vintage themed! 

Other than Pinterest does anyone use anywhere else for inspiration?

Lots of love,
Hayley xxx


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*Colorsport rapid lash-gro eyeliner

Let me start by saying I would usually avoid any review or product associated with wet eyeliner, I am the most unsteady, wobbly handed make up applier ever- I am certainly no professional. I have never mastered a cat flick and I am not about to attempt it either, not for the likes of public humiliation anyway!! 

But..

Rapid- gro??? As in make your eye lashes grow?? How could I turn that away?? It claims you can have thicker, longer lashes in 60 days! I'm up for that! You have probably heard about Colorsport 30 day mascara before. 


Again please excuse the dark circles it was a tricky, hot night last night with a 3 month old baby!! 

So I applied it as I usually would, very gently and as light handed as I could manage, I am not up for the thick heavy vampy eye look today! 



I had the brown colour and in the bottle it very much looks brown. However on my eye it appears much darker, very glad I didn't go for the black! So be cautious! 

It went on smoothly (well as smooth as my clumsy fingers would allow) and I was pretty pleased with the result really. I was dreading having to wash off and do again just for photos!! 

I can't comment on how your lashes are in 60 days or so just yet but I will do when I've used it in that time, Im very curious!! 


The active ingredient is capixyl which is clinically proven! How ever on closer inspection it does say in the small print only tested on 17 subjects, not a huge testing panel. But if it worked for them then it's for a good chance it will for others! 

I'll give it a whirl anyway! If it hadn't have been easy enough to use then I probably may not have bothered, but it's a nice make up product really! 

Anyone else tried it?? 

 Its available in a few places including Boots for £14.95 full price if you wish to try it.

 I'll keep you posted! 

Lots of love,
Hayley xxx
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3 month update

3 months!!! Where have those months gone? This last few weeks we have seen so many changes and developments, I just wish I could pause time now for a few weeks to saviour them some more before moving on to the next leap. 

This week Daisy was weighed and I honestly couldn't believe it, 11lb 1oz - where has my 5 pounder gone???! She's getting chubby now and she's filled her skin out completely. Look at the difference here in 9 weeks;


She doesn't even look like the same baby!! Sadly I'm starting to pack away all the newborn clothes now and even a few of the 0-3 months, although that's the size she is currently wearing really. The 3-6 hang off her still! 

Her hair is lighter and long now, I'm hoping soon to be able to put a bow in it! Well without it looking like I've accessorised an egg anyway! 

Some little traits and developments this month:

- I thought she was a chatter box last month but that was nothing! She cooes and oohhs as if she is having a little conversation now, to us, her toys or her big hairy brother Bobby the dog 
- Movement has moved up a notch, not only does she love a good kick but she now somehow pushes off with her feet and can move across the room doing so. Clever, strong girl!
- she's realised she can get her hands in her mouth, so she is now always covered in drool! She was a thumb sucker buy now it's a fist!!! 
- Fascinated by her toes, if I sit her up and she spots them she is mesmerised! Wriggling them, making herself laugh. A friend lent us some of the Lamaze socks with rattley bugs on which she loves!
- she is always smiling and giggling 


(Daisy and her cousin Mollie) 

- Tummy time is still hit and miss but now instead of lying flat face planted she lifts it up and more often than not rolls over after growling a bit!! She is very strong though and pushes off everything with her arms and legs, you really have to watch her! She tried to jump off the health visitors scales this week! Which did secretly make me laugh after she had sat there preaching about safety for the last half an hour!!
- She has discovered that lying down is not for her and it's boring and will grumble until you sit her up or hold her to stand, the monkey! 

Daisy is still a good sleeper and quite a few nights a week will sleep through from around 9 until 7/8. She's always been pretty good, but don't be fooled that doesn't mean we don't get the odd difficult night and then it comes as a shock!!

Daytime sleeping is minimal, I have to wrestle her for what feels like forever to just get her to have 15 minutes to recharge! But if it means she is a sweetheart at night then so be it. 

Her character is really coming out now, although she has always pulled some faces! She now sticks that bottom lip out with attitude, shouts for attention and squeals in excitement at her favourite people. 
This has been a big month in terms of changes, I can't imagine what's coming in month 4!! 

Lots of love
Hayley xxx
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Thrifty lollies #3 Citrus Delight

Here we go again, another in the lolly series... 

Again no alcohol involved, next time I promise!!!!!! 

So for this all you will need is:

A lemon
Orange juice
An orange 

Simple! But so tasty and healthy with no nasties, just what we need in this weather. 
First slice your lemon and orange and pop segments into the holders, watch our for pips and ribs that won't be too tasty and you wouldn't want too choke! 

Next squeeze in your lemon and orange so all the natural juices go in. Then as easy as it sounds just top up with orange juice. If you fancied you could use a lemon based drink but it depends how bitter you want them! 
How cute are these new holders by the way from Wilkos? 

Freeze for a few hours, these won't take take much longer than 3 hours as they're mainly water based, the milk recipes will take a little longer. 

And ta- daaaaaa!


Have you tried any?? 

Lots of love,
Hayley xxx
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