The beauty industry in the UK is one of the most popular and profitable being worth approximately over £17 million and statistics indicate that this will increase as the year progresses.

While beauty may be great for the national economy, it is not beneficial for the consumer’s pocket. Records show that the average British female will spend an overwhelming £100,000 on beauty products in her lifetime. It is seen that facial beauty products occupy the largest proportion of this amount with the average annual spending amount being approximately £279.41. That calculates to be £18,000 or so across the woman’s overall life span.

One of the top attributes all women aspire towards is having a healthy complexion. Statistics show that approximately 24% of females cite dry and cracked skin as their largest concern, with oily complexions following closely at 22%. Contrary to popular belief, acne is not the most concerning attribute coming in at only 15%; however, it does still contribute to the disruption of a healthy of complexion. This explains why foundation is another big facial beauty product expense.

By using a high quality foundation from a designer brand, it is possible to gain a healthy complexion. Unfortunately, this designer brand setting can cost the average person up to £30 or more; therefore, it is essential that we find the best foundation first time around to avoid unnecessary expenditure. While colour-matching is often performed in-store, the artificial lighting and professional application can result in choosing the incorrect product.

Needless to say, it would be ideal if we could take home generous samples of brand foundations to try each for several days. You would not have to waste money on products that are not well-suited to your skin type or tone.

• The Clinique Superblanced™ Silk Makeup SPF 15 10-Day Sample

As part of the free samples selection was this Clinique foundation product. A new, highly rated item that is ideal if you are searching for a foundation offering sheer to moderate coverage. It has an oil-free base with a natural, ‘naked’ matte finish making it perfect for combination or oily skin types.

The unique formula of Clinique’s Silk Makeup sample is beneficial because it adds moisture to the skin removing oil where required. This mixture not only improves the skin’s complexion, but also makes the wear comfortable throughout the day. The SPF protection is a bonus feature helping the skin appear vibrant and as attractive as it would without a foundation.

Even with the advantages of the product, a bottle of this foundation costs a mere £23 making it ideal for your skin and pocket.

The Clinique Superblanced™ Silk Makeup SPF 15 foundation was the first sample I tried and I was initially very impressed with its performance. The assistant at the beauty store matched my skin tone well applying blusher and lipstick in addition. I walked out of Boots pharmacy feeling like a model, convinced I had located my perfect product. Unfortunately, this was not the case.

As time passed, I attempted to replicate the initial look created by the assistant at Boots. Sadly, I found this procedure too difficult to perform and I found that the foundation was not blending correctly. It began appearing too rigid and heavy for my preference and I was no longer interested in the formula.

• The Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup SPF 10 10-Day Sample

Voted first in the United Kingdom, the Double Wear by Estee Lauder is an iconic foundation beauty product. Its promise to keep the wearer appearing fresh and natural-looking is the base of its cult following. Regardless of what you are doing, where you are, the climate or culture, Estee Lauder ensure that you will continue looking flawless.

When collecting my sample from the House of Fraser, the Estee Lauder beauty counter assistant provided me with information regarding the product and its advantages. She used an eye match tool to find the ideal colour for me and tested a sample near my neck.

I will admit, I was not keen on the foundation in the beginning as I prefer lighter formulas. I was also put off by the product’s supposed 24-hour durability. I felt the foundation was not suitable to my face and as the product was not applied to my face in-store, I had yet to determine whether or not it was worth my time.

When I used the sample at home, I began to take an interest and it grew on me. While I do find the formula to be slightly heavy, the colour tone match was perfect and looked natural. I am also highly impressed with the buildability of the foundation.

• The Smashbox Studio Skin 15-Hour Wear Hydrating Foundation 7-Day Sample

As noted in Glamour Magazine, the Smashbox Studio Skin foundation is one of the most beneficial beauty products and is definitely worth spending money on. Created without the use of chemicals, oils or dangerous fragrances, this product can hydrate the skin without unwanted shine.

The Smashbox Studio Skin Hydrating foundation is a highly practical option for daily use. It is perspiration-resistant and offers 15-hour coverage for the wearer, which is ideal for people who have busy lives or enjoy attending the gym after work.

Disregarding the popular Studio Skin Primer, I had not used a Smashbox product before in my beauty regime. I was slightly dubious about the product; however, the counter assistant at Boots assured me that this foundation was fantastic. In fact, to convince me she even threw in a hydrating prima sample.

Similar to the Estee Lauder option mentioned above, this product was tested on a small portion of my face. It was only once I returned home that I was able to see the full effect on my entire face. The result: I like the product.

Smashbox has really smashed it out of the box with this foundation. It is beneficial in that it glides on easily during application and was not too matte in appearance. Lighter than the other samples, it met my colour preference and skin tone needs.

• The Estee Lauder Double Wear Nude Cushion Stick Radiant Makeup 10-Day Sample

A second free sample from Estee Lauder was the Double Wear Nude Cushion Stick foundation product. This was an ideal option because it presented as a liquid makeup stick and a pro tool in one.

The formula was light in weight and hydrating giving the skin a healthy complexion. It is easily used for sheer to medium coverage and can last for approximately eight hours.

Before you start saving your money, you should understand the basic difference between a want and a need. You have to specific about what things really matter and what things do not. Only then you can start living your life more frugally, goal-oriented and efficient. Below are some of the basic tips for living frugally.

1- Learn Your Resources
You cannot live frugally until you know your money, where it comes from, where does it go and how much of it comes and goes. It is like one of the basic need to live frugally. If you would not have a strong grasp on your financials, you will never be able to live frugally.

2- Spend Less Than You Earn
Once you know everything about your resources, it is time to make changes and live below what you earn. The cut you will make from your expenses by living on a lower budget than the amount you earn will open doors for investments, savings, and will eventually fuel your finances to stability. If are never able to cut your expenses and save more money then you will never be able to make it for a frugal lifestyle.

3- Learn the Difference between Expenditure and Investments
You might think that spending and investing are similar to each other but you have never been so wrong. When you talk about investments, you spend your cash for the sake of profits or in other words, to get a tangible asset like training for a job skill, buying a house that will not only save you rent money but will probably be sold at a higher rate, and investing in shares etc. On the contrary, spending is the expenditure of money for buying something that will not increase in its value but will become cheaper with respect to time, for example, eating out, buying new clothes or a cell phone.
Living frugally doesn’t necessarily mean that you always prefer investments overspending as you cannot live without spending money on your basic needs but it is helpful to know the basic difference between these two.

4- Always Go for Quality
Frugal life does not mean that should always go for purchasing something cheap, it is actually about looking out for the best option which can be giving preference to quality rather than price sometimes. For example, a t-shirt that you will buy for $3 but will not last a month and you would have to buy another one for each month will not take preference over buying a t-shirt that will cost $15 but will easily cover you up for the rest of the year.

Baby showers are fun and an important part of becoming a mother. But sometimes they can be expensive and a little difficult to arrange. Here we discuss 8 ways of arranging a baby shower that is more thought full and less expensive.

1. Baby Starter kits
   Many companies offer free baby stuff hat include nappies, wipers, feeder bottles etc. This also can be a great gift.
2. Gifts for the older siblings

The older siblings can feel a little neglected once a new baby comes. While you are giving gifts for the new born it is a good idea to include the older child as well so that he/ she doesn’t feel left out. You can give a free ticket to XYZ circus, age appropriate computer games or coloring books.

3. Baby Formula
   Choosing a baby formula is not easy for starters they are very expensive and second not every formula suits every baby’s needs. There are many brands providing free samples, you can give them as a gift. It will save the parents the hassle from choosing different brand, this way they will have a number of choices right there in their hands.
4. Nappies
   Every baby needs nappies and it is one of the biggest expenses. You can give samples of different brands of nappies so the parents can easily choose which suits them(i.e. the baby) the best.
5. Baby Wipes
   The great philosophers of ancient times once said “nappies and Wipes go hand in hand” (ok may be they did not but they do don’t they). Every time you change a diaper you also need one or more wipes. The problem is babies have sensitive skin and not all brands can suit them. You can give the parents samples of different brands of wipes then they can easily find out which brand suits best the baby.
6. Baby portraits
   We never get tired of seeing photos of newborn babies. This can also be a great gift as many studios offer free prints or at very little charge for infants and it is something that parents will always remember and cherish.
7. Safety ID kit
   The most important part of being a parent is keeping your child safe. Many companies offer free Baby safety I.D. kits and this will be a very useful, thoughtful and loving gift that anyone can give.
8. Shopping bags that are reusable
   As the family is expanding so will their grocery and they will need something to carry it in. Companies often give away free tote bags which has their logo or advertisement on it. It can also be a great gift.

The Confident You Campaign is something that all mums can relate to, whether it’s your first baby or your fifth! Having a baby changes the dynamics in your life in lots of different ways, some you are prepared for and some can come as a complete surprise.

Mamas and Papas recently completed a national survey of roughly around 2000 new mums about their health and fitness attitudes. Based on previous research, they found that their target audience of mums who are 25-34, are worried about their personal appearance and weight. They are inclined to do activities to stay fit, but find it hard to manage their time around family life and as a result, they often skip meals or eat unhealthy. Their research found some interesting results, which shows that actually the new generation of mums are very active in the diets and exercise – post pregnancy. See what Mamas and Papas found with the Confident You survey.

Since becoming a mum myself, I can relate to a lot of the findings. On a personal level, I know that I have at times struggled with my appearance, what I should and shouldn’t be eating, while at the same time trying to look after children. My kids pretty much always trump my needs but that’s the sacrifice I am happy to make while they are still fairly small. I’m still trying to find the elusive balance, however, I don’t let that defeat me and I’m always striving to keep us healthy as a family.

Having children definitely makes you look at your own diet. Not only do you want them to have nutritious food but you also have an example to set as well as having the energy to keep up with them. I also feel that despite not actually doing any proper exercise *cough* I’m fitter than pre-children , simply as I’m running around after them. My life was much more sedentary before!

I’m a week late, but this little girly has turned six months. Half a year already having this little ray of sunshine in our lives. Although each stage in a baby’s development is special, she’s at the point where things are really starting to become a little more interesting for her and also for us.

She’s started the weaning journey now, which really marks the end of an era for me. As demanding as it can be exclusively breastfeeding, it’s always been a time that I have cherished with all my babies. As we’re still in the early stages of weaning, there hasn’t really been any marked change in taking milk and like with both my boys, I hope to continue until about the one year mark.

She’s not yet sitting up by herself but she’s sturdy none the less. I’m in no hurry for her to rush and reach her milestones, after all she’ll grow up at some point and these baby months will be over in a blink of an eye. She’ll probably surprise us all one day and be one of these babies that skips stages or does something a little different to her brothers, like bum shuffling!

Getting a photo of her with the milestone card was pretty challenging. Once she had her eye on it, she was stopping at nothing until she got it. She went to great lengths to swipe it which shows what a determined little girl she is becoming.

She really is such a smiley baby but as luck would have it, I don’t always manage to capture it on camera. She’s clued up already, as when the camera comes out, her face changes. I think she’s getting used to me snapping away and using her as my latest muse but it won’t be long until things will be very much on her terms.

I just love her little expressions that she’s making now. My husband and I always joke that it makes a change to have a baby with expressions. Simply because both the boys had such fair eyebrows, you could hardly detect that they had any! So they always looked more surprised than anything. The way she furrows her brow in an inquisitive way is just so cute.

She’s definitely got us all wrapped around her little finger and in particular her biggest brother. He completely dotes on her and it’s so lovely to see.

As hard work as having three children can be, we still pinch ourselves that we decided to try for one last baby that turned out to be a girl. Six months later and it still feels surreal to say I have a daughter and yet it’s like she’s always been part of our family now.

It doesn’t take much for me to be quiet on my blog lately. Life can be pretty hectic most days and I do struggle to find a happy medium where I can do all I need to and set time aside for the blog. In a nutshell, I managed blogging with more ease with only one Beastie!

Anyway one of the main reasons I have been finding life busy is the fact we have moved. It all happened rather fast and it’s been a bit of a whirlwind. We made the decision to move in with my husbands family while we rent out our flat. This way we hope to save lots of pennies to one day buy that house (and garden!) we have been dreaming of.

So big changes all round and not least for the boys. What I am loving is the fact they now have a bigger bedroom to share which also doubles up as a playroom for them. Their old bedroom was so crammed to the rafters with their beds and cots and chest of drawers that they had no room to actually play and have their toys in there. Beastie also found it very hard to settle at night in there and just didn’t enjoy it like a child should with their ‘own’ room.

This is where their new room is going to be different. We have given them as much floor space as possible by putting their beds in one corner, one big boy bed and one cotbed. My husband was keen to take down the cot sides for Baby Beastie but I didn’t feel the need to do this yet. He hasn’t made another bid for freedom for quite a while and the longer I can keep him contained in his cot the better. When Beastie was set loose, we ended up with him in our bed for another year and I am keen to prevent history repeating itself. As the cotbed is still up then the baby monitor will stay in place. He has a movement sensor mat under his mattress and unlike his brother, he doesn’t set it off all of the time. It’s piece of mind for me and as long as he stays put in his bed, it shall stay put.

It also means his big brother can get in to keep him company and look after him from time to time. That’s what big brothers are for…

So what makes the perfect holiday? It can be any number of factors that makes a holiday truly amazing and unforgettable. Yet fundamentally it starts with being together and getting away from it all.

It’s so hard to switch off from work mode when at home and concentrate on spending time with the kids. It’s not always easy to find the time to properly play with them, actually listen to what they have to say and respond with genuine interest. Yet it’s so important to nurture their little personalities and let them grow.

For me, it’s always been about sunny holidays. Nothing quite beats that feeling of the sun on my face and body. When I lie on a sun lounger and feel the warm breeze around me, I instantly relax. I’ll open my eyes and squint up to the vast expanse of blue sky and think to myself, ‘this is what life is all about’. If only I could bottle this feeling and sprinkle it around on rainy days…

Of course now I have a family, my sun lounging days are few and far between, but do you know what? Holidays are also a lot more fun now children are involved. They give you more of a reason to get out there and enjoy yourself and we can always learn a lot from kids.

Our holidays are now about seeking adventures with three little people in tow. Three little people that only want to enjoy themselves to the max and only see the world through innocent eyes. We want their adventures to be ones that they always remember and shape the memories from their childhood. Memories that we make together as a family and will always be cherished. The kind you reminisce about for the rest of your life and aspire to recreate. The carefree days.

Last summer we were still a family of four and a bump and we were limited in what we could do on holiday.

Now we have a little lady who has joined the ranks and it’s exciting that our children’s adventures will now be as a threesome. This summer, she will be big enough to enjoy her first holiday and she has two big brothers who can’t wait to go swimming with her.

Being in a position to sit by the poolside and just wile the time away having a little chat. Nothing is standing in your way of spending quality time just hanging out together. No pressing schedules or workloads, apart from what activity might be next or what time you plan to get ready to go out and get something to eat.

It’s also essential to look the part on holiday. Holiday accessories are key.

Sometimes it’s nice to feel the sun on your back while you dip your toes in the water. Just hanging out together, appreciating each others company.

Sunshine, pools and water jets are a pretty cool combination. However, there’s always the initial shock of that first plunge…

When it all gets a bit too much, cuddles wrapped up in a towel can make everything better.

When it’s summertime, you can dance around in your pants if you want to.

And walk around without a care in the world…also in your pants if you want to.

You can wear big cheesy grins.

It’s also a time to let your imagination run wild. Don’t you just love the magic of make believe?

It’s perfect for learning new skills in the sun…

And it’s about simply having the time to wind down after an exhausting day outdoors…

So as a family we’re more than ready for some new adventures and challenges. The boys are at the stage where they really want to try new activities and the fearless attitude is still very much present. Something I now envy!

We want to soak up the sun on an amazing beach resort while trying out exciting pursuits on the sea. Or wrap up warm on the ski slopes and get to grips with an entirely new skill. A chance to experience what the resorts have to offer for the whole of the family, while getting some much needed time as a couple. It’s the best of both worlds.

Also, we’re crucially overdue a proper family photograph too. This is the only snap of the five of us and no one really wants Christmas thrust in their face right now, do they? I’m thinking of one with sunkissed skin and a nice sunset as a backdrop.

We love to tell a story through photos and video and our adventures on a holiday of our dreams would be no less. In fact we’re intrigued with what we could come up with…

Our holidays might not be perfect, but it’s all about being together. Having nothing that gets in the way of being silly, laughing, smiling and doing what we want to do everyday. Falling into bed everynight after a day spent doing what makes our hearts happy. That pretty much sounds like bliss.

I’ve always talk to people these days how much I feel I have changed as a driver since my children arrived. As a parent you become more aware of your own mortality and the risks that you may have once taken are no longer an option. I worry myself too much sometimes thinking about the unthinkable which is not being around for my boys when they are growing up. As a result I drive much more sensibly now and am always thinking of the dangers that may lie ahead – even when I don’t have my precious cargo onboard.

I seem to have a greater awareness of what other drivers are doing and in much less of a hurry than I once used to be. I do still get mild road rage (obviously not violent!) and will always have that side to me. My little back seat driver also notices when someone has ‘annoyed Mummy’. Oops…but I’m generally much calmer and have mellowed over time. I guess age may be a factor here too.

Still my main priority is the safety of the boys followed closely by keeping myself safe. We recently upgraded our car to a larger one and one that I feel is much safer to be driving with a family. There is much more room for car seats and ample leg room for swinging legs. Buying suitable car seats that are secured properly is paramount to their safety.

I’ve seen some cases lately where cheaper car seats have caused children injuries during accidents, rather than preventing them and it’s always a good idea to get advice after a road accident. It can be scary enough being involved in an accident but knowing that the very seat that is designed to protect them has failed, is very worrying indeed. I personally can’t believe that equipment that is sub-standard is available to buy and pass safety tests. You can’t put a price on the safety of your family.

 

It’s getting to that time of the year where Autumn is looming. The children are back to school and summer holidays are coming to an end. I would consider myself to be very much a summer person and certainly crave the summer months when we are in the midst of winter, especially when all we have is grey days and endless rain. Even crisp winter days lose their appeal as I don’t like much being cold!

Luckily we have had a pretty good summer compared to previous years and I really can’t complain. It’s still warm some days now and I would happily embrace and indian summer. Autumn can wait until November as far as I am concerned.

We had our summer holiday back at the start of July and already that seems like a long long time ago. We wanted to make the most of taking our last holiday out of term times. As of next year Beastie will be at school and we will have to book up in the holidays like everyone else with school kids. To me that simply says, busy and overpriced! In the future we will definitely be on the look out even more than before for low cost holiday deals.

We’ve been lucky in the fact that for the past few years we have been able to holiday at my parents villa in Spain, where they live all year round. We have only been on one all inclusive break (before children!) and although it was great not to have the hassle of sorting out our meals on a daily basis, I am not so sure it would be the type of holiday that we wouls choose to take often.  A self-catering holiday is always my preferred choice and it gives you much more freedom. If you are visiting somewhere new, you are more likely to take in the local sights and culture if you are going out and about to eat.

Now we’re in September, I’m hoping this finer weather will be sticking around a bit longer and before I know it, it’ll be time to think about booking up for next year. After all we always need some (guaranteed) sunshine to look forward to…

Beastie already owns a Gold Stars book from Parragon so when we were asked if we would like to try out some of the Gold Stars range we knew that we wouldn’t be disappointed. The Ready for School Pre-school Bumper Workbook Beastie already has, is by far the best educational book I have bought him to date and it was an absolute hit from the start. He loved it so much in fact, he completed the first thirty pages with only a small amount of guidance from me. He even asks to do some writing of his own accord now and this is due to the pre-school ready for school book. It seems to have something that other books have failed to offer, it’s engaging.

He is certainly ready for school and he only has a few more days to go and he’ll be all set to start. I have no concerns about him starting his first term as he is so excited about going to his new school and meeting his teachers and classmates.

These books are ideal to support your child’s learning and also make it fun. If you are a fan of reward charts then you will see how the same concept works well with activity books. Beastie loved being able to place a gold star at the bottom of each page once he had successfully completed the task he had to do.

They make learning fun and support your little superstar’s learning and build skills at home with the Gold Stars range, available from pre-school age to Key Stage 2 and covering Maths, English and Science.

Developed by teachers and educational specialists and supported by the national curriculum, the Gold Stars collection features bright and clearly illustrated activities that make learning fun and engaging.

Packed full of tips for parents, fun illustrations and with added incentives including pull out posters, practice pads and stickable gold stars, the Gold Stars range is trusted by parents and loved by kids.

The pre-school bumper workbook comes with several sections that include:

Starting to Write

Starting Phonics

Phonics

Starting to Count

Starting to Add

First Maths

I really like the fact that the book gives helpful tips to you as a parent and offers advice on how best to complete the book and reward their efforts. It may not come naturally to many parents and we’re not all natural born teachers, so simple advice can really help. Having patience and offering encouragment is important but so is recognising when your child is also tired or distracted. It’s a great opportunity to spend some one on one time with your child in a quiet place. The book progressively gets more difficult so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on how they are doing so that the process will be much smoother.

The activities in this book provide the perfect way for young children to start enjoying Maths and English ahead of school as they start to learn to write, count and add with confidence. It supports the National Curriculum Key Stage 1 – so you know that you are providing material that is relevant to what they will be learning at school and will only reinforce what they are doing.

The key Stage 1 Bumper Workbook and English book are the next level that Beastie will be completing. As they are aged 5-6 and he hasn’t started school yet, I feel they are a little too advanced for him at the moment. There are some more basic activities but the majority of the book requires him to know a little more about comprising words. In a few months time he will be ready to get his teeth into both of them.

I particularly like how the books individually focus on consonant blends and vowels. They are so cleverly structured and geared towards fun learning that it’s hard to find any aspects that aren’t positive.

The English Key Stage 1 book comes with a handy practice pad that can be removed from a sleeve inside the cover. It’s a more condensed version of the bumper book but has all of the same style of activities and of course the gold stars. These are good if you want to separate subjects when they are learning.

It’s also good to know that each book comes with a guarantee from an Educational Consultant and guidelines on how to help your child’s learning develop.

The range is available at all major retailers including Tesco, WH Smith, Sainsbury’s, Amazon and Early Learning Centre with books ranging from £2.99 to £7.99.

Here he is sporting his new school cap whilst working on the Key Stage 1 Pre-school Bumper Workbook – that’s commitment for you!

 

Nb. We were sent some workbooks for the purpose of the review but all views and opinions are our own.