REVIEW | LALALAB

We moved into our new home a few months ago and since then I have become slightly obsessed with decorating our home and interior design. I love taking photos which has resulted in an abundance of photos ready to put up in our home. I was looking for something a bit different and have liked the Polaroid snapshot for a while. Although I don't have a Polaroid camera... yet!

However, I stumbled across this fantastic app LALALAB on my tablet and you can simply upload your photos and arrange them into different frames. Obviously I went for the Polaroid look as seen above and the quality is amazing! 

The prints were £0.29 each (at the time of posting this) for the 'vintage' look @ 10x12cm. You can add text to the photos, as well as change the colour to the background. I am looking forward to ordering more photos from LALALAB and trying out different designs to decorate our home with.

*Photo from Pinterest*

Boutique Of Molly Review | Jojo Moyes | 5 Week Fit

So sorry for the MIA it's been a crazy few weeks. Crazy good though with family visiting, new babies (not mine) and just general mummy/toddler mayhem days which resulted in me half asleep by 7pm! No joke!

So I thought I would do a round up of what I have been up to...

Boutique of Molly

First off, a lovely fashion boutique contacted me to see if I would be interested in blogging about them and an item from their shop. I was delighted and obviously jumped at the chance. I opted to try this super cute summer number, the 'ARIELLA' Self Tie Halter Neck Maxi Dress...

We are going away this summer and I love fresh, bright maxi dresses like these to show off my tan and I think they're perfect for strolling along the beach during the day or to go out in at night. The dress is a stretch material so it's really comfy, perfect for when I have a food belly from being 'All Inclusive' for a week! I tried it on with flats because I don't aim to be taking my heels away, and it was a perfect length. I do love this dress and I am really looking forward to wearing it when the weather is a little warmer. I may even team it with a little light blue denim jacket to wear over here, where it's a tad cooler. And of course, colourful nails and a light pink lip.

*Please note these are the Boutiques photos from their website - http://www.boutiqueofmolly.com - I just haven't had chance to take a photo of me wearing the dress with hair and make up done.
The boutique sell a range of clothes in various sizes and I aim to make more purchases throughout the summer to add to my case. Thank you ladies x


Jojo Moyes - Me Before You

I have finally managed to finish a book! Woo hoo. I did aim to finish it in a month but let's be honest that was never going to happen. However, I did really get into this book and it soon proved difficult to put down. It wasn't what I expected. I love a good RomCom book, you can't beat a giggle and a love story. Me Before You though had quite a deep side to it. I won't spoil the story for you but the book is about 2 characters who in normal circumstances probably would never have come together but circumstances change and they realise how much they really need each other. Its a heart wrenching, beautiful story and although I was a little sad at how the story ended it was very real and believable. I was left wanting to read more so that's always a good sign!


Davina's 5 Week FIT

I am not even going to try and lie, I have started this DVD from the beginning 3 times now. It's not that I don't like it, unlike some other exercise vid's I have tried in the past, far from it. Davina and Ed are great and make a very motivational team. The exercises are easy enough to follow and the time just flies by. Before you know it you have completed your sets and are knackered to boot. My problem really has been time. I know, I know I shouldn't make excuses so from the 1st May I am going to start it again and I WILL finish it. No more excuses, summer is coming and Mr Sun isn't waiting for anyone.

I promise I will do a post at the end of the 5 weeks on how I have done, with before and after pics eeeek. Fingers crossed I'll be a lot lighter! :)

I think that's all for now. I have a few beauty posts to do so you can catch them soon.

Ta-ta for now x

Life | Spring Has Sprung!

Happy Spring my lovelies! I can definitely say my mood of recent has perked up and I can only determine its down to the lighter days and some good old vitamin D from the sun. I love Spring and would go as far as saying its my favourite season. Brings everyone out of the dull, cold miserable back end of winter.

So to celebrate the warmer weather, and the bank holidays (yey!) my family and I headed up to Durham to visit the in-laws for a quick Easter break. Its like a little retreat up there as my MIL lives right in the middle of the beautiful countryside and you can't help but relax.

Now we have Little C in tow we like to make an effort to head out and abouts whether we are at home or away and try new things. So while we were in Durham we headed to a local farm called Hill Hall Farm.

It was a fantastic place not just for the kiddies but for the adults too. We got to hold baby chicks that weren't even a week old, feed the sheep and their newborn lambs, the kids could take turns on the Donkeys and on the way back out we went for a cuddle with the bunny rabbits. As an added bonus the farm had an outdoor and indoor play area, just in case all that fresh air and excitement didn't tire the kids out. :) The prices were £7.95 for the adults and our baby got in free. A bit pricey I thought for a farm but I didn't realise how much there was to do. On a summers day you really could spend all day there, it was a tad nippy the day we went. Plus the staff were all lovely and would tell you all about the animals, we even got to see a baby lamb being born and learned about how the sheep can foster other lambs. It was superb.

Overall, it was a fantastic day out and we all came away feeling very spring-y!

I also got to head out and get some miles clocked in my walking shoes. Was great to get outdoors in the fresh air and burned a few calories too. Was very lucky to go walking with this view.....

Then we went on a easter egg hunt, more for Little C but we all joined in and had a lovely time. Good job I burned those caloies off as now we have a mountain of chocolate waiting to be eaten!

As my MIL is a professional nutritionist we discussed my current favourite topic 'Healthy Living' and I enjoyed a Gluten and Dairy free diet for the days I was there. I felt great and didn't complain about my usual aches and pains once while I was there. So refreshing to be treating my body with a it more care. I am going to be writing a post soon showing my food diary for the day and giving some tips so keep an eye out.

Also, my mum very kindly bought us some daffodils (she loves them) for the kitchen so we have a lovely bunch of bright yellow flowers to keep the springy-ness in our home too.

I hope you had a lovely Easter!

Where are your favourite places to take the kids in Spring?

Health | Dairy Free and Me

A few months ago I was reading Khloe Karadashians 'Strong Looks Better Naked' as I was really impressed with her transformation which has been done by having a complete health and fitness overhaul. Whatever people might think about the Kardashians I do think they work hard to stay current. Khloe took on her health adventure for personal reasons but has reeped the benefits. I was engrossed in her journey and feeling motivated myself one chapter caught my eye. Khloe spoke about going dairy free in her book and not only had it aided her weight loss but she felt better in herself. I was intrigued.I had played around in the past with going gluten free or sugar free along with a wealth of faddy diets but none of it stuck and resulted in me putting weight ON! So I would call myself highly knowledgeable in fads and what doesn't work. So with this in mind I didn't really consider going dairy free for very long.

Little did I know a few months on I would be a dairy free convert!

After reading the book I remained motivated but I am yet to make a green juice or set foot in a gym however there's time yet. It was after spending an afternoon with my mother in law (who happens to be a trained nutritionalist) who noticed how severe my eczema had got especially on my hands. They were painful, red and at times bleeding. Moisturiser was past working and I didn't want to go down the route of steriods off the doctor. My MIL mentioned cutting dairy out of my diet, not to lose weight but to calm my ezcema as dairy can be an irritant.

At this point I was willing to try anything as it was getting very painful and embarrassing. At first I changed my milk to Almond milk and was pleasantly surprised how nice it was. I cut out my butter and cheese next (I am yet to find a dairy free alternative I like but I have never been a butter fan). Within a week I noticed a massive difference in my ezcema. The redness and dryness had calmed right down. Within 2 weeks I noticed I didn't feel bloated or gassy anymore. I no longer felt like I had a head cold every morning, my sinuses seemed clearer. And as an added bonus I have lost 7lb in a month (I will add here that I have taken up walking once a week and tried to cut out the 'crap').

I am not 100% dairy free yet but I am getting there. This is not a fad but it is a lifestyle change that is making me feel better and healthier. I don't believe in cutting things out completely unecessarily so I would strongly recommend getting professional advice before cutting any food group out of your diet. Dairy can be hidden in many different ingredients but the big items I have changed. I do have friends who are dairy free (for medical reasons) and have been a great source of support but I have also check out Go Dairy Free, Pure Free From Blog and Jamie Oliver for recipes, tips and advice.

Are you Dairy Free? Please share your tips.

Life | Afternoon Gin's & One Too Many Cakes

First of all apologies for being MIA for the past few weeks. The good news is all is well so lets get to it. Instead of doing separate posts I thought I would do a round up of my recent days out and favourite places I have been.

Lazy Lounge, Leeds

I started off heading over to Leeds to meet my old uni pals for an afternoon tea with a difference. My friend had been bought an afternoon tea for 4 at the Lazy Lounge and invited me along. What I didn't know was that the Lazy Lounge is a Gin bar with a multitude of different Gin's to try, along with an odd cocktail or two which we enjoyed. The food was delish and considering they had to cater for 1 vegetarian and 2 dairy and gluten free customers (I was the none picky one who could try the whole platter yum) I thought they provided a great selection of sandwiches and desserts. Smiles all round.

The bar itself was very warming with barrel's and wooden table tops aligning the floor. The decor was perfect for their theme and I could have easily hid away from the rain in there all day long. Although I wasn't a massive fan of gin prior to this visit we got a gin cocktail in a tea pot with little tea cups and saucers which I thought was very cute and it was gorgeous. I'm not sure what the cocktail was called but I would be perfect so summer. So fresh and light. Upstairs in the bar there was a tasting session on which I thought was a great idea and something I would like to consider going to next time. I ended the day with a few glasses of fizz while we chatted and put the world to rights before heading back home. Perfect afternoon to catch up with friends, lovely food, tasty drinks and homely atmosphere. 

Pot of Cream Just for Little Old Me!!

Need any more excuse??

Cheeky game of Jenga and a Bellini next door @ Toast, Leeds

East Avenue Bakehouse, Liverpool

Next I headed over to Liverpool for my cousins baby shower that was being held at this little, quaint bakehouse. Again, we went for the afternoon tea but this time there was definitely less alcohol involved but we did each get a glass of champagne which I thought was a lovely touch.

The food here was absolutely amazing. I was excited as soon as I walked in as there was fresh bread and cakes out on the counter for sale and they smelt and looked gorgeous.

We all got pots of tea to share and the teapots, cups and saucers were super cute. None of them matched and added to the quaint factor. The milk also came in old fashioned mini milk bottles which I just wanted to pop in my bag and bring home but I didn't! 

As I have already said the food here was on another level. I was stuffed and couldn't finish my tray (you shared with your neighbour at the table) but the waitress came round with boxes so you could take home anything you wanted to which I thought was a nice touch. A word of advice the chocolate brownies are THE best I have ever eaten. A must buy if you go!

A lovely afternoon in a unique bakehouse and another great place to chat away to my family while celebrating a lovely occasion.

Really cute baby shower touches to my place setting.

Love Darcey Ru Bridal Boutique, Bolton

Last off was the launch of my sisters new Bridal Boutique in our hometown Bolton. She has worked so hard with her partner and BFF to bring this beautiful boutique to life and I couldn't be any prouder. The launch was a huge success and the dresses they have in store are out of this world. If only I needed another wedding dress.... hmm when can I renew my vows again? The night was topped off with glasses of champagne (or orange for us drivers), cake pops and cupcakes. It looked a heavenly mix of pink and whites with splashes of glitter, perfect setting to find your dream dress. So if you are looking for your perfect wedding dress, or need a dress or two for your bridesmaids and are in the North West area then I would highly recommend Love Darcey Ru. If only there was a boutique around like this when I was planning my wedding...

 Let me know if you've been or plan to go to any of these lovely places and I'm still looking for more blogs to read so get sending me your links.

*All comments are my own and the places I ate at have more on the menu, this was just a snapshot of our visit*
Please note this post was written a few weeks prior to my Dairy Free diet changes.

Life | My Pinterest Obsession

Over the last year I have become somewhat obsessed with Pinterest. A friend got me into it who was planning her wedding and had designed an online 'Monica' file of all the things she liked. Which was a lot! Although I wasn't planning my wedding, that happened a few years ago now, I was moving house and wanted some inspiration on interior design and making our new house a home.

That interest has developed into an obsession of the site and I now have folders on travel, photography, mummy stuff, blogging and event planning to name a few. I have got so many ideas and inspiration, I have found new bloggers and websites that I now use daily. Plus it has been a really good learning tool for me. I love make up but I am no make up artist. I needed to work on my application and technique and Pinterest has helped me do that. It has also given me an interest in nail art, something I haven't considered doing before but I am currently researching courses so I can turn this interest into a hobby, and who knows a potential career!

Here are a few examples of my folders... feel free to follow me on @Back2blonde1

Have you got Pinterest? Send me your links in the comments below. 

Life | Let's Go 2016

Let's Go 2016.

I don't really like doing new years resolutions as I never seem to stick to them and then feel pressured to make better resolutions the year after just to make up for my fail the year before. So this year i'm not going to label it but I do have a few things I would like to do, places to see etc.

Some of which I thought I would share with you here:-

1) Read more books.

Hardly a statement stopper but I do want to read more. I have always been an avid reader but since I had my daughter I have found myself short on time when it comes to reading, that and I would have rather slept following many sleepless nights with the baby! However now the baby is sleeping better I have picked my hobby back up. I am normally a fiction chick-lit fan but I have recently been interested in motivation, better yourself books. This is where the Carrie Loves.... Book Club will come in. I will be reviewing my new books every few weeks so I can share with you some of my favourites.

2) Take more photos.

Photography is another hobby of mine and I love to take snaps all the time. Sometimes life gets in the way and you stop taking pictures of the special moments. I aim to take a photo every day this year and get some of my photos framed.

3) Go somewhere new.

I really do want to visit somewhere new this year. Now we have our little girl we like to go on days out, family walks etc. We often visit the same places so I want to make the effort of trying new places this year and make a trip somewhere I haven't been before... hopefully Dublin (fingers crossed!).

4) Work on my health.

Every year I promise myself that the next fad diet will be THE one. Well it never is and I end up miserable so this year I'm not messing about with fads. Healthy eating, walking/running and trying new exercise classes are on the agenda.

5) Trying new recipes.

Following on from the healthy eating I want to learn to cook new dishes. I don't hide the fact that i'm not the best cook. In all honesty my husband is a dab hand in the kitchen, especially when he makes his own curry from scratch. Gorgeous! But I want to start cooking more for my family and I. Getting us to try new vegetables, meats, fish and sauces. Keep it exciting!

6) Create my new office.

We moved into a new home a few months ago and my husband and I have agreed to change one of the spare rooms into a make shift office/spare bedroom. I can't wait to decorate and I am glued to Pinterest at the moment getting ideas. It's going to be my blogging space so I want it light, fun but relaxing so I can get my spotify playlists on the go while I work.

7) Take 5!

I got this idea off Lorraine Kelly's morning programme on ITV. One of my fav authors, Giovanna Fletcher, has been doing a special on how important it is to Take 5 for yourself. It's so easy to get caught up in a busy lifestyle of work, children, husband, cooking, cleaning the list goes on. And often when we do get to stop and relax its slumped in front of the tv. Nothing wrong with that but is it really YOU time? I aim to try some new exercise classes, go walking with a friend of mine and to take more baths with my gorgeous Lush products and a glass of red wine! Yummy!

8) Make more of an effort...

This is quite an important one for me this year. I really want to make more of an effort to see our family and friends. Sounds so simple and something I should be doing already right. Well it is but sometimes I just feel like time gets away with me. I work a lot and so does my husband so in our down time we like to spend it with our daughter, sorting the new house out, getting jobs done, doing the big shop and before you know it it's Monday again! Plus I do struggle with anxiety and sometimes prefer to stay home in my 'comfort zone'. However, there are no excuses when it comes to time with the people we love so I am making more of an effort to say yes and go out for lunches, call for a brew or two or even head over to Leeds to see my old uni pals for a Gin and Afternoon Tea day (more to follow on that in a few weeks ;-)). Also, on this point, for the people who aren't close to home we like to Skype/Facetime a lot as its the next best thing.

So that's my to do in 2016 list. I could go on but these are enough to be getting on with for now.

What are your plans for 2016?