Urban Escape Harpenden - Style and Couture Evening...

Tonight I was lucky enough to be invited to the Style and Couture evening held at Urban Escape in Harpenden. It was an evening dedicated to showing people how to recreate their favorite styles at home and answering any hair related questions you may have.

On arival, you were greeted by the gorgeous Ellie, Amy and Natalie, with a lovely glass of prosecco and then shown to your chair where you could ask your stylist to show you how to recreate your favorite look. They also provided you with lots of tips and information on how best to look after your hair.

Everyone that came to the evening seemed to have a lovely time and all looked absolutely gorgeous on leaving. The combination of prosecco, hair and an amazing team of stylist made for a wonderful evening enjoyed by all.

The Harpenden team, managed by Deepa is the most wonderful and talented group of stylist and always take the very best care of you when you visit the salon. If you have not yet found 'your perfect salon' I highly recommend that you pay a visit to Urban Escape in Harpenden. 

The Fitness Space Harpenden - Grand Opening...

Today I attended and covered the Grand Opening of The Fitness Space Harpenden.  It was a great morning with two special guests, one being the mayor of Harpenden, who helped Aarron the owner cut the ribbon and the other was Tim Benjamin, ex GB athlete and the creator of The Fitness Space Franchise.

Aarron and the Mayor cutting the ribbon.

Tim Benjamin | Mayor of Harpenden 

The Gym

Now I could be biased as 1. Aarron and the gym are my neighbors, no excuse living upstairs. And 2. I am a member there. But in all honesty, it is the best gym I have ever attended, strong words I know but it's true!

The Technogym equipment is amazing and easy to use and if you ever are unsure about how to use something there is always a friendly member of staff on hand to help and explain. Two more unique features that you get with being a member of the Fitness Space is the use of their app My Wellness that is connected to all the equipment tracking your progress and keeping you in direct contact with your personal coach. They also offer a body composition test that breaks down everything and helps show your progress month by month as well as number of classes including Box Fit and Hot Yoga.

The best part for me, however, is how personal they are at the Fitness Space Harpenden. They know each member by name and make you feel so welcome and comfortable. They develop fitness programs around you and your needs and strengths and will help you work your way through that personalized program before leaving you to get on with it each time you come in. 

I have been a member of many gyms and been put off going so many times by being intimidated by other, shall we say 'muscley' members, scary looking equipment and just being lost as a member. But that is not the case here, I love and enjoy going to the gym now. I love seeing my results month by month and wish I could attend more. 

Huge credit must be given to Aarron the owner, who has an amazing presence in the gym and has helped me along with so many others in a relatively short time since opening. Aarron supported by his amazing coaches/staff Amy and Manuella make they gym what it is and I couldn't recommend it more. 

If you live in or around Harpenden I strongly encourage you to pop in, have a look around and have a chat with either Aarron or one of the girls. Or just check them out on their FB page which again is hugely focused on their members, inspiring and helping them to achieve the best results possible!

Tappas anyone - Mexican range by Crofton by Aldi...

As a food blogger and lover of entertaining collecting amazing dishes, serving plates etc. is something that has become a bit of an obsession. The dream is Ina Gartens Kitchen and if you know who that is you know what a mean. She is prepared for every theme and every occasion and has a kitchen you would never want to leave. It is a foodie and wanabe food photographers dream.

Now if you not Ina or a professional foodie on tele this obsession can be expensive but if done the way I do it, by hitting the supermarkets and charity shops, you can feed your habit without breaking the bank.

Places like ASDA, Sainsbury's and Aldi can sell some really amazing things without a huge price tag, especially when they are coming to the end as that is when they go on sale. And charity shops, especially where I live can be goldmines. My favourite has to be Aldi though. They have 'themed months' which is  fun and great for blogging! But most importantly it is all really well priced and great quality.

My latest purchase was a few bits from their Mexican range.  They had all sorts from serving dishes, to jugs and even hotplates and all so brightly coloured. They were sold along side fajita kits and Mexican spices, basically giving you everything you could need to have a fabulous Mexican themed dinner party.

There was so much to choose from but I went for the items I would use most. I think all of this only came to £20! Which is amazing!! And to be honest although Aldi has a once its gone its gone policy you can still pick a few of the bits up and for half the price. You just have to dig :)

Again I will mention that the quality is great  and if you look after it, it  will see you through many the fiesta :) or other occasion.

And on a side note I will say... I will be first to admit I was a supermarket snob but ever since my first trip to Aldi I have never looked back. And that applies to groceries too.

Have you ever visited Aldi and picked up something fabulous for the kitchen or home?

Relax with Colour - Adult Colouring...

At the beginning of the year I wrote a 2016/New Year post and one of the things I wrote about was to be more creative and do more colouring as its something I really enjoy and something that really switches me off to the world around me. It gives me and my mind a moment of peace and a way to get lost in a world of colour, shapes and patterns.

Being a mum to a toddler, running my own business and having a mind that never stops finding, a moment to breath and refocus can be hard to come by but by giving myself even just 10 minutes, with the TV off, my phone out of reach and with some luck the boy asleep, I can really relax and take time to calm myself and my mind.
It's funny how in adult life we always turn to things that brought us joy as a child to bring us back down to earth and find a bit of peace.

Adult colouring isn't new I know and there are MANY obsessed people out there but if you are one of the few that hasn't found it yet I recommend you give it try. Here are some of the books I have picked up and the pens/markers/pencils I use along with them.

 The Art of Mindfulness: Relaxed and Focused Colouring -  Is a beautiful book full of wonderful patterns and pages that really excite the imagination especially, when colour is added.

 The Mindfulness Colouring Book: Anti-stress art therapy for busy people -  This gorgeous little pocket sized (just under A5) book is my favourite and one that I take with me when I travel. I am not a big reader and find this is a great alternative while waiting in airports or even when beside the pool. The pages are made up of beautiful landscapes of patterns and really transports you into a calmer more peaceful world.

 Beautiful Patterns: Creative Colouring for Grown-ups -  This is a new addition to my collection. The pages again filled with wonderful bold patterns. This book is usually around £9.00 but I was lucky enough to pick it up in the Books for Children Store in Harpenden for just £1! If you live in this area and haven't been there yet...GO!! Its amazing!! I pick up a new book for Benji nearly every Tuesday when I am in town.

One thing that comes with an Adult Colouring obsession is an obsession with stationery and finding the right pen/marker/pencil. My favourites at the moment are  STABILO Fineliner ,  Paper Mate Flair Pens and WH Smiths Water Colour pencils. But to be honest when ever I see a deal I am tempted to get some new ones. You can never have enough he he . Wilko is also great for markers and pens.

Are you a fan of Adult Colouring? What books are your favourite list at the moment?

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes...

So this just happened and has totally made my day!! They are so pretty and so delicious!

These beauties are not from my own recipe but the lovely Floral Frosting's and taken from the wonderful Lemon Freckles new Zine Lemonmade.

Unfortunately I am not going to share the recipe with you, as I want you all to head over to Charis's blog or get your hands on Toni's fabulous Zine for it!

Instead I will share some photos and hope they inspire you to give them a go, you wont regret it!!!

My Mandy...

My Mandy, how I miss my princess while I'm away!! 

Hopefully she is behaving herself and giving my friends Magda and Tomic lots of kitty cuddles!

Are you a cat or a dog person? Maybe a bit of both?

Illustrations by Kayley Mills...

I am sure quite a few of you are aware of my Instagram obsession and my love for super talented beauties and their illustrations. I think I am drawn to the talent I wish I had! 

I have mentioned the super fantastic Sophie and the the beautiful unicorn that is Toni on my blog and today is the turn of the sparkling princess that is Kayley Mills. 

Kayley's amazing work is just beyond amazing! I just love her and her style. I love it so much in fact that it graces every room in my house, well except for the bathroom but that will probably change soon!

She has done everything I ask her so perfectly my saying in my kitchen, our family portrait, the sign for Benji's door and even special Dinosaur bunting for his bedroom.

I don't just request custom pieces but also love her prints in her etsy store Kayley Draws too, to which she is always adding to.

So if you haven't got your hands on one of her prints...WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!? They are fabulous just like the gorgeous lady herself!

Hidropark - Alcudia, Mallorca...

Feels strange writing this last post about Spain, reason being I leave for Cyprus tomorrow :) *YAY* But when I am a mummy that can only blog into the late hours, getting posts up when I can, writing a post about one holiday the night before the next is fine!

So Hidropark...one word FUN!!!! And by far Benji's best day! It was the day before we were due to head back home so we thought why not. I am so glad we did.

The park is packed with fun rides for big and small kids and the baby area is just awesome. So awesome infact that I think its the only place Pan actually went on a slide lol

In saying that I must mention that Pan swimming is a Miracle!!! I literally had to tackle him into the water! Swimming isn't the issue, its the getting out part - skinny man = no fat to keep him warm! If only I could give him some of mine lol

I of course wouldn't get out and enjoyed the slides while Ben was napping! ( think its the mermaid in me...water is my happy place!)

The wave pool was also a big favorite of ours and we spent our last hour there taking the compulsory underwater holiday selfie. Even got Benji *hi five me*

Hidropark was such a good way to end our holiday and had us all smiling even when we went to bed. Me and Pan are big kids ourselves sometimes I think.

It can get a little pricey doing a water park and if you have a little one, toddler age, Hidropark is great as the other water parks are allot more expensive and are more for the older child.

Final word...Hidropark, as you can see from the last pic Pan gave it a thumbs up :)