Dolls and Babies - The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

Ok so at two we were in the dinosaur phase, at two and a half we entered the Disney Princess phase and now added to that we have just entered the baby phase. Every day I pick Honey up from school we have the exact same conversation. Me - "Hi darling did you have a nice time at school? What did you do today?" Honey - "I played with babies." That's it. Every. Single. Day. Which is a little more info than before, "I played with toys" (no sh*t Sherlock) which I've had every previous day.

Anyway, babies, I have vivid memories of my mum buying me my first baby. I must have been about four, we got all dressed up, and just the two of us went into Brighton for the day, we must have ditched my brother somewhere. I specifically remember begging my mum for a lovely baby with long hair, not very realistic obviously, and my mum explaining babies do not have long hair so why don't I chose a more realistic baby. I probably had a huge screaming tantrum because I left the shop with a baby with knee length hair. Anyway, in this vein, and since Honey has become obsessed with babies (and ramming them up my top so I have a baby in my tummy), I decided to buy her a nice doll with long hair. Big mistake. I bought her this doll from Argos Dream Toys, I don't know what I was thinking. Not only has it got a hideous Peppa Pig outfit on, which Honey actually wants to wear, it is absolutely huge. Like nearly the same size as Honey. It's so freaky even Honey doesn't like it. In fact she really, really, really doesn't like it. It's so scary it's rammed in the bottom of a toy box and will probably never see the light of day (I did manage to bribe her with a juice for you all to see it though!)

To make up for it Bea is getting a Baby Annabel for Christmas (see bottom). They are sweet little French babies that cry and wee and do all that gross stuff, her bff has one and she goes on about Baby Annabel all the time so at least I know she'll like this one. In the mean time though, and if you're looking for any Christmas doll type presents, we do have a little baby from the ELC, which must be naked at all times, and which she sleeps with everynight, she adores it. We also have a super freaky Rapunzel styling head from the Entertainer which she can plait the hair of and paint the nails etc. See below. Warning though, do not leave it anywhere sitting up, I've nearly given myself a heart attack when walking into a room to be confronted by this staring at me.

Our current favourite doll/ baby selection

Baby Annabel

Sleep in a Bottle - Elizabeth Arden Advanced Night Repair

A few months back Estee Lauder released a new formula of its best selling Advanced Night Repair, now called Advanced Night Repair Synchronised Recovery Complex II (what a mouthful!). 
I'm a little late to the party with this one as I did not like the original formula at all. I wasn't keen on the smell or consistency and apart from that it didn't actually do anything for me. I used a big sample too, over about a week and still it made no difference whatsoever. So when they improved the formula and came up with the new formula I wasn't remotely interested. However after a couple of samples found themselves in my Boots bag I decided to give it a second go. And boy am I glad I did. It is amaaaaaazing. I wake up in the morning after applying this on its own the previous night and my skin looks amazing. No matter how many glasses of wine I've had or however many times the children wake up in the night my skin looks fresh and somehow smoother. It also looks hydrated and glowing, a world away from what it normally looks like. You can put moisturiser on over the top for an extra moisture boost, which I probably will do as the weather gets colder. My skin is on the dry side with the occasional spot, which it clears up, goodness knows how, so it is suited to all skin types. Anyway it is that good I will never be without it. I'm going to buy their eye cream too as I've been told by a friend it's just as good. You can buy it from Boots here.

They say 

PRODUCT DETAILS

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II
See the transformation as all major signs of ageing look significantly reduced. Wake up to more beautiful looking skin-every day.
Advanced Night Repair addresses the appearance of all key signs of visible ageing, with innovative technology for more comprehensive and precise night-time renewal.
• Lines and wrinkles look significantly reduced. More than 75% of women felt their skin looked more youthful.*• Skin feels smoother, hydrated, stronger. 82% of women felt their skin was immediately hydrated.**• Skin looks younger, radiant, more translucent and even toned. 83% of women felt their skin looked healthier, fresher, more rested.*• Effective for all ethnicities.
Experience the power to change the look of your skin-every night.
NIGHTLY RENEWALMaximise the power of skin's natural night-time renewal like never before with our exclusive ChronoluxCB™ Technology-a major innovation. 
It helps promote the natural synchronization of skin's night-time renewal process so that it renews its appearance at exactly the right time.
And now, it supports a natural night-time purification process, vital to younger-looking skin. 
DAILY PREVENTIONHelps protect skin's appearance against environmental damage. Helps reduce the look of past damage caused by every major environmental assault.
INTENSE HYDRATIONHyaluronic Acid locks in moisture, creating the optimal conditions for skin's natural renewal. Every Night. Every Day. Every Key Sign of Ageing.
25+ Patents Worldwide.***

========================HOW TO USE• Apply on clean skin before your moisturiser.• Use several drops.• Smooth in gently all over face and throat.
NIGHTLY RITUALMaximise your experience for younger, healthier-looking skin with this nightly ritual:• Apply a drop on each fingertip of one hand. • Touch fingertips of both hands together.• Massage serum over face and neck, starting at the centre, outward.

========================FORMULA FACTS• Dermatologist-tested• Ophthalmologist-tested• Fragrance-free• Non-acnegenic

========================*Consumer testing on 524 women for 4 weeks.**Consumer testing.***Patents and patents pending. 

Winter Wishlist

My Winter wishlist actually includes a few things I couldn't just wish for, I had to have asap. Such as the amazing parka from the Kooples, the crystal Zara necklace, black stilettos and foxy Joules jumper. The rest will be mine in the very near future!! 

Clockwise from top left Ash boots, Kooples parka, silver Converse from Office, matt faux leather leggings from Topshop, grey cashmere from John Lewis, black Topshop courts, black Longchamp Le Pliage shopper, black leather Zara skirt, black/grey Topshop Leigh jeans, floral Ted Baker jumper, crystal statement Zara necklace, foxy Joules jumper.

Wonderful Wallpaper

Wallpaper has had a huge resurgence as of late, after going out of fashion after everyone over doing it in Laura Ashley in the 80s and the signature wall of the 90s, it is now back and bigger and bolder than ever.

You can get anything from red brick to wood panelling to colouring in wallpaper and personalised lettering. I personally think something with a small pattern is the most chic, that way I won't get bored of it so quickly.

I'm having huge fun browsing beautiful prints for the farmhouse we have just bought, I'm looking for something wild in the small downstairs toilet and a gorgeous colourful print for a large children's bedroom (the room being large not the child).

Here are some of my favourites, yet to be decided on, from Cath Kidston, John Lewis, Notonthehighstreet, and Rockett St George.