tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51544686437361802142012-05-21T15:13:12.937+01:00Lipgloss and BabywipesThat's what you'll find wherever I am! As a mother of 3 small children I'm a very busy parent, but I also love all things beauty related and hope to show how it's easy to combine the 2! You'll also find other bits and bobs posted about, and I am always happy to review products.jodie smithnoreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-15753749336811441452012-03-16T20:05:00.000Z2012-03-16T20:05:47.180Z2012-03-16T20:05:47.180ZMy favourite read ever - Mammywoo<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is a blog I follow which I believe is the best thing I've ever read. Seriously. If she turned her blog into a book I would buy it. The hardback.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You may be familiar with her, Lexy, from <a href="http://misslexywoo.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Mammywoo</a>. Last year she won Best New Blog in the MADS awards. In my opinion she should win best blog every year. Lexy's blog chronicles her adventures through motherhood and a heart-wrenchingly honest account of a battle against severe depression. Her style of writing is awesome, sometimes almost poetic, and so many times I have laughed and cried while reading a post. Lexy's writing can't help but touch your heart, whether it moves you to tears or fits of giggles. Or both.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With her permission below is an extract from a recent post on her blog, Carry on... Curry (Aunty Pat? You may want to give this one a miss), which you can read in full <a href="http://misslexywoo.wordpress.com/2011/11/23/carry-on-curry-aunty-pat-you-may-want-to-give-this-one-a-miss/">here.</a></span><div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Anyway. Cucumbers.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I am so positively childish that I find buying a cucumber more embarrassing than selecting and then purchasing a job load of Tena lady or even Tampax.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Reminding myself that Therapy has taught me to be honest, I switch Cbeebies on for Addison and pick up my phone.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>He answers after the second ring.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>‘Irish one, I am not buying the cucumber’ I state clearly, channeling my inner lion.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>‘We need wipes as well’ he replies, seemingly not hearing my roar.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>A cucumber, wine and wipes?</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Is he trying to kill me?</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>No. Way.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>‘Irish one,’ I say trying not to laugh ‘There is no way in hell, I am walking up to the till in Morrison’s with a cucumber, a bottle of wine and some wipes’</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>‘Why not?’ he asks confused, while I nearly cry laughing.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>‘Think about it!’ I shout.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>‘I have done and I don’t get it. Am I missing the joke here?’</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I start to try and explain but he interrupts me, his voice dropping an octave.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>‘We need some condoms too.’</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I throw my head back and howl.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>‘What?’ he asks, confused but trying to be assertive (confused and assertive, not a good combination!)</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>‘Are you serious?’ I spurt out in between gaspfuls of hilarity ‘you want me to walk up to the VERY BUSY check outs at Morrison’s, in the middle of the afternoon and buy condoms, wine, a cucumber and some wipes?’</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>‘Yes.’ He states matter of factly before finishing the call ‘I don’t know what is so funny but I have to go now. Love you.’</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>An hour later after I have got Addison dressed, tried and re-tried in my head over and over again to make the shopping list sound less seedy and more motherly, blushing just thinking about what the check out girl or boy might think I am planning, I get a text message.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>PMSL. MENTALIST. I WILL BUY THE CUCUMBER. LOVE YOU.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Thank god for that, I think putting my phone down just as it beeps again.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>BUT YOU BUY CONDOMS OK? I AM NOT STANDING AT THE CHECK OUT HOLDING A CUCUMBER AND CONDOMS.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The man has a point.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Compromise reached.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Another win for therapy.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Hang on… Condoms?</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>HA!</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>It’s not christmas yet is it?</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-1575374933681144145?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-67287491073099877682012-02-27T20:35:00.000Z2012-02-27T20:35:09.338Z2012-02-27T20:35:09.338ZXia-Xia Hermit Crab and Confetti Cottage - Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KmDelSHTjTI/T0vjKsAyG2I/AAAAAAAABJM/Bb0XtsgYaK0/s1600/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KmDelSHTjTI/T0vjKsAyG2I/AAAAAAAABJM/Bb0XtsgYaK0/s320/logo.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were recently sent the XiawXia (pronounced Sha-Sha, as confirmed by my daughter!) Interactive Hermit Crab and Confetti Cottage to review.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are currently 4 crabs available as shown below and we received the orange one in the bottom right hand corner of the picture.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k4M39a0ThRo/T0vjJhpeIoI/AAAAAAAABJE/zK0yK15P-qE/s1600/XIA+XIA+GROUP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k4M39a0ThRo/T0vjJhpeIoI/AAAAAAAABJE/zK0yK15P-qE/s320/XIA+XIA+GROUP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These are really cute little creatures which scuttle forwards and backwards when you squeeze their pincers. They have a little sensor which tells them when they've run into something, so they change direction. It's scuttling caused mass hilarity in our household as it ran about all over the place. They reminded me a little of the wind up toys that I had as a child, although these run on batteries. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Each crab comes with a 'micro friend' which lives inside its shell, but can also perch on a little peg at the front of the shell. The shells are interchangeable between crabs and there are separate shells available to collect so a little girl into collectables would really enjoy these, assuming that more characters become available.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The crabs can also be turned off, so they don't wear themselves out running backwards and forwards when they're not being played with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Confetti Cottage is a sturdy little house which the crabs can live and play in. It has a main compartment and something like an attic.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WgaAYayCX9o/T0vjFsaciJI/AAAAAAAABI8/zlRJIiuREIM/s1600/87030-Confetti+Cottage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WgaAYayCX9o/T0vjFsaciJI/AAAAAAAABI8/zlRJIiuREIM/s320/87030-Confetti+Cottage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is also a good way to carry the crabs around, and has a 'front' door and a 'back' door. However I really struggled to get the full sized door open - there is nothing really to grip on to to pull it down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was really impressed with the sturdiness of the cottage. Unfortunately, the attic part is a little tight to get the crabs in and out of, and when my daughter was trying to get her crab out, one of the pincers snapped off. I was surprised and disappointed that it broke so easily, basically within a few hours of playing with it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The micro friends were really cute but easily losable and a bit of a worry when you have tots around - my 15 month old would easily have put it in her mouth and choked on it or swallowed it, and my 5 year old who helped me review this isn't that careful about where she puts things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The crabs retail for about £9.99, which I think is a little pricey for what they are, taking into consideration how easily the crab broke and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">as Confetti Cottage also retails at around £9.99 </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- I would happily buy more if the crabs were around £5 but I can't see me paying around £10. The shells on their own retail for about £4.99, which again, I would be prepared to pay up to £3 for. Personally I think they've got their pricing a little bit wrong but we are pretty new to collectables so I'm prepared to be corrected!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despite the couple of problems we had with it, I still love this toy - the crabs are so cute! I imagine they would also keep a cat entertained for a while! I hope the problems I've highlighted are addressed as with a lower price tag and a slightly more sturdy tag we would definitely be buying more. Even if just for me to amuse myself with!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>We received one crab and the Confetti Cottage for the purposes of this review - no other reward was given. The opinions given in this post are my own.</i></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-6728749107309987768?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-80421747890014727542011-10-14T10:00:00.000+01:002011-10-14T10:00:01.179+01:002011-10-14T10:00:01.179+01:00Black Opal Effect Mani!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Inspired by the wonderful manicures produced by the TraceFace Philes, in particular <a href="http://www.thetracefacephiles.com/2011/09/barry-m-trio-of-awesomeness.html">this</a> post I decided to do a holographic strip over dark polish manicure. I wasn't sure which strip polish to use but then remembered I'd picked up a lovely NYX polish in Purple Ave during my last trip to the Outlet village! Although it looked lovely in the bottle, when I applied it over a pale colour it just didn't look as good. But I think over a black polish it is absolutely stunning!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I applied 2 coats of a black polish I had to hand (in this instance a Rimmel black) and then a coat of Seche Vite to seal the colour. I then applied 2 coats of the NYX followed by another coat of Seche Vite to give it real gloss and this is the result:</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The polish on my pinky was a trial of another glitter polish!</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7qFp7Dngt_A/TpdC2WnoY6I/AAAAAAAAAIM/jnDoe184UYg/s1600/011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7qFp7Dngt_A/TpdC2WnoY6I/AAAAAAAAAIM/jnDoe184UYg/s400/011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's really hard to convey properly in photographs (especially as I'm rubbish at taking them!) but the holographic particles catch the light beautifully and reflect different colours. It really does give the effect of a black opal. The NYX polish is similar to a bar glitter polish but the shapes are random which I think gives a great effect. I can't stop admiring it and moving my fingers around to catch the light in different ways.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think this is one of my favourite manis to date, but I'm tempted to take a leaf out of Tracy's book and top this off with a crackle polish, just to see how it works. If I do, I'll let you know!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-8042174789001472754?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-36688702477812435202011-10-13T20:19:00.002+01:002011-10-13T20:19:15.306+01:002011-10-13T20:19:15.306+01:00GALAXY Traditional Style Hot Chocolate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6cXajjYnHY/Tpc1BIO6rdI/AAAAAAAAAHU/RqEr33nt_Pg/s1600/HGWH+Logo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6cXajjYnHY/Tpc1BIO6rdI/AAAAAAAAAHU/RqEr33nt_Pg/s320/HGWH+Logo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If there is one luxury in life I need, it's hot chocolate! There is nothing like a comforting silky hot chocolate drink with squirty cream and marshmallows (or a flake. Or both! I've even had one with maltesers!) It's my treat when I take the kids to a soft play centre, if I can fight them off the marshmallows and the chocolate! It's my treat when I've had a stressful day, or been out throwing snowballs at the kids. I mean building snowmen. Anyway, you get the picture. It's my go-to comforter and warmer upper!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I really didn't need to be asked twice to review Galaxy's new Traditional Style Hot Chocolate!</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rOmq_AXq9vA/Tpc2oGkxjrI/AAAAAAAAAHk/OcrcP5weR2E/s1600/Galaxy+Traditional+Style+Hot+Choc.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rOmq_AXq9vA/Tpc2oGkxjrI/AAAAAAAAAHk/OcrcP5weR2E/s320/Galaxy+Traditional+Style+Hot+Choc.JPG" width="190" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a new product, which you make with milk instead of hot water. I usually use instant hot chocolate, but these can be a bit thin. I heated up some milk in a saucepan, tho I could have easily have popped a cup of milk in the microwave. When it was close to boiling I poured the milk in the cup and added 4 heaped teaspoons of the hot chocolate powder, which resembled instant coffee granules, and stirred. I know you don't really need telling how to make hot chocolate with milk instead of water but I just wanted to show how easy it was to heat up the milk and that it didn't really take any more time than boiling the kettle. The granules dissolved instantly, something that I find a problem with instant hot chocolates.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">OH MY GOODNESS THE TASTE!!! You know those simply divine luxury hot chocolate drinks that you sometimes come across? That's what it tasted like, rich, creamy, just the right level of sweetness and chocolatelyness! I used 1% milk and was surprised at just how creamy and smooth the drink was with such a low fat milk, but you could just as easily use semi skimmed or full cream if you preferred an even creamier taste.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The RRP is £2.99 for a 300g tub. So it's not going to make your cheapest cup of hot chocolate. However, I'd keep this in the cupboard for those days when nothing but a bit of velvety luxury will do!!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Galaxy are also doing a great promotion for charity at the moment. Head to <a href="http://www.hotgalaxywarmheart.com/">http://www.hotgalaxywarmheart.com/</a> and just by a single click you can help one of the two charities Galaxy is supporting, at no cost to you.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>I was sent this product for the purpose of this review but the opinions expressed within this post are my own.</i></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-3668870247781243520?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-22302751667448828282011-10-09T22:30:00.001+01:002011-10-09T22:30:13.992+01:002011-10-09T22:30:13.992+01:00Would you like a bag with that?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last week a new law came into effect here in Wales. No longer can free bags be given when you make a purchase. If you want a bag you have to pay at least 5p, usually with the proceeds going to charity.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In principle, I'm in favour. They've been doing it on the Continent for years!! That's why shops like Aldi and Lidl don't provide free bags. It encourages you to reuse your shopping bags - providing you can remember them! However, British bureaucracy being what it is, it just couldn't be that simple, could it?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Firstly, it's only in Wales. That's great if you live in the middle of Wales. If you live on the borders like I do, then you have to remember which country you are in when you go shopping!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Secondly, someone decided to make the law really complicated. Semi packed foods can be sold in a bag. However, you add a packaged food to that bag, you have to pay for it. This means that when you go to McDonalds, you can have your fries in a free bag (they count as semi packaged). You add a cheeseburger to that bag and you have to pay!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thirdly, we now don't get green clubcard points when we shop at Tesco :(</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So while I quite agree in cutting down the use of plastic bags, I do feel that it could have been put into practice in a better way.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-2230275166744882828?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-69504754001804321202011-09-25T22:18:00.001+01:002011-09-25T22:19:05.786+01:002011-09-25T22:19:05.786+01:00tommee tippee NEW Sangenic® Wrap & Go<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was recently sent this product to review.</span></div>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>NEW Sangenic®Wrap & Go
</b>nappy wraps are: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">anti-bacterial, killing 99% of germs on contact<o:p></o:p>
</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">infused
with a fresh citrus scent to combat odour<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not only are the wraps hygienic and
easy to use,but the <b>NEW Sangenic®Wrap & Go dispenser </b>fits neatly into
a change bag, hand bag, or will clip onto your baby’s pram, pushchair or even
your car door. So you’ll always have these hygienic wraps at your fingertips
for your ultimate convenience!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QGndAFfEiAI/Tn-Taf-k30I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/xDQ8LIvVWtY/s1600/tommee+tippee+nappy+bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QGndAFfEiAI/Tn-Taf-k30I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/xDQ8LIvVWtY/s320/tommee+tippee+nappy+bag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The system consists of a little bucket with a handle and a roll of wraps. The roll fits on a little prong in the bucket and the lid fits on top and can be used to wrap or unwrap the roll. The wraps then fit thru the slot on the side.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was impressed by the fresh scent of the wraps. This is definitely a product you want in your changing bag if you are likely to have to carry around a dirty nappy for a while before you can get to a bin. Normal nappy bags just don't stop the smell from escaping and I've quite frequently had a pongy bag or car. The sangenic wraps are definitely good for keeping the smell all locked in. They are also larger than the average nappy bag too so ideal if you have a toddler or maybe a disabled child in nappies.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The design is nice and bright and you should be able to detach the handles so you can hang the little bucket from your pushchair handle, tho I haven't quite worked that out yet. Unfortunately the lid isn't brilliantly designed. I found it quite often fell off and then the roll of wraps fell out and unwrapped themselves all over my bag.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The dispenser and 2 refills retail for £4.99 and 3 separate refills also retail for £4.99. Each roll contains 15 wraps so it works out quite expensive and I would probably stick to my 89p for 100 bags for most nappy changes, but I would use these wraps for those instances when it's not possible to dispose of a dirty nappy straight away.</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-6950475400180432120?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-59830865941883508962011-09-25T20:42:00.002+01:002011-09-25T20:42:48.143+01:002011-09-25T20:42:48.143+01:00Hello, I'm Back!!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Firstly I'd like to apologise for being away so long! My personal life has been pretty hectic and I now find myself a single mother of 3 children under 5, one of whom has special needs. But this means that more than ever I need something for myself and this should be it. So (kids allowing) here's to a lot more posts and a busier blog! Meanwhile, thanks for sticking with me during my hiatus. You never know, I might even get the hang of scheduled posts :)</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-5983086594188350896?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-26457707300652930092011-08-22T21:43:00.004+01:002011-08-22T22:35:51.728+01:002011-08-22T22:35:51.728+01:00100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups Week #7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theheadsoffice.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/100WCGU-72.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.theheadsoffice.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/100WCGU-72.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I have to say I was thrilled when I read the prompt at <a href="http://www.theheadsoffice.co.uk/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week-6/">The Head's Office</a> and couldn't wait to get writing! Hopefully this will be a lighter piece than my previous two efforts. I'm not going to tell you the prompt, see if you can work it out for yourself!</span><br />
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<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b><u>Bamboozled!!!</u></b></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Ceri stared at the canvas in disgust. She'd completely foozled her attempt at painting the cat. However much she tried to convey his smugness, all she'd managed was to make him look constipated! Mind, it was hard to concentrate with the brabble from the twins in the background. She wasn't sure what it was about this time, probably whether Dr Who or Chuck would be a better ally against an army of CIA robots.</span></b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: normal;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">She stood up with an air of determination. "That's it!" she thought. "I need a growlery for all my projects! Somewhere I can hear myself think!"</span></b></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-2645770730065293009?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-69487040197487167862011-08-18T22:35:00.000+01:002011-08-18T22:35:35.553+01:002011-08-18T22:35:35.553+01:00Car Crash TV and Bitch Fights - What's the attraction?Celebrity Big Brother got me thinking tonight - what is it that makes us watch something that is absolutely rubbish, or follow a bitch fight thread, or see what's gone off in a real car crash?<br />
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I first started thinking about this when a certain blogger got shot down in flames on a certain mum forum for the entrance she made, and as soon as I heard it was 'all kicking off' I had to go rushing over and read the entire thread to find out what was going off.<br />
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Tonight, I knew CBB was going to annoy me - but there's something compelling about watching something that's really awful. As it turned out, it was a bit of a misnomer - 'Celebrity' Big Brother it ain't! But that's beside the point.<br />
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What about you? Are you a rubber necker? Can you ignore a car crash? Either the real kind or the TV kind? Do you have to know all the details behind a twitter fight? Or am I just nosey?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-6948704019748716786?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-72806138922053713142011-08-18T02:01:00.000+01:002011-08-18T02:01:35.823+01:002011-08-18T02:01:35.823+01:00Lip gloss and baby wipes<i>Whilst trying to find a new name for my blog I came up with the name: Lip gloss and baby wipes, which for some reason sparked off a creative streak in me which lead to the story below. I just wanted to convey why those 2 items are of such importance to a mother. I'd love any feedback on my writing! If you don't like it I won't plague you with anymore of it!!</i><br />
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Lip gloss and baby wipes. She always had them around her somewhere. The wipes to mop up the inevitable spills, mucky fingers, sick, blood or tea. The lip gloss in an attempt to look like the yummy mummy she longed to be without drawing attention to the teeth she wished were straight and bright white instead of slightly crooked and stained.<br />
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Not that there was much chance of that happening. 3 pregnancies had taken their toll on her body and her belly sagged like an apron over her trousers. No amount of dieting was ever going to get rid of that souvenir. And she was certainly never going to be seen in a bikini again. She had stretch marks on her stretch marks reaching up to her bust. No, motherhood had left its indelible marks on her body and there wasn't much she could do about it now.<br />
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Magazines in the supermarket aisles taunted her: 'X lost all her baby weight 2 days after the baby was born!' 'See Y's post baby figure!' "Sure", she grunted to herself. "I could have looked like that if I didn't have a baby permanently attached to one boob while trying to chase after a demented toddler and cook tea for a grumpy husband. I could have looked like that if all I had to do was worry about looking good!"<br />
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Her one solace was her nail polish and lip glosses. Her husband had no idea of the amount of money she spent on make up but she was careful with her budget and that was her one indulgence, her treat to herself for whenever she was allowed some 'me time' - which was once in a blue moon.<br />
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She'd never been 'pretty'. Cheap, ill advised NHS glasses and a natural lack of style had made sure of that. But she loved pretty things. Sparkle, glitter, glamour - secretly she longed for it all. The gorgeous dresses in the magazines that fitted a size 0 model would never look right on her, but nail varnish would always look good, no matter what size she was. And it made her smile to see a bit of glitter on her fingers.<br />
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She had a love/hate relationship with lip gloss. She loved it and had hundreds and wouldn't go out the house without it. But she hated how sticky it could feel and how, when the wind blew, her hair would stick to her lips and then leave a slimey trail across her glasses. And she also hated the fact that it wouldn't come out of bed linen or off wall paper when the kids had got hold of it and decided to smear it everywhere! But applying it made her feel more like a woman and less like a cow/chef/all purpose maid so she ensured she had some on her at all times.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-7280613892205371314?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-16473073188684510962011-08-15T23:42:00.002+01:002011-08-22T22:17:10.553+01:002011-08-22T22:17:10.553+01:00100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups Week #6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theheadsoffice.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/100WCGU-72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.theheadsoffice.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/100WCGU-72.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.theheadsoffice.co.uk/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week-6/">The Head's Office</a> has set a new challenge for this week with the prompt: <b>…the sun shone but…. <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">So here goes! Please view the other entries at the above link as well.</span></span></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The sun shone but the strong breeze coming off the sea was chilly and she wrapped her cardigan tighter around her. The wind tossed her hair and blew it against her mouth, sticking to her lip gloss, but she didn't notice. A dog ran up to her, panting, pressing its cold nose against her hand but ran off as it's owner whistled. He gave her a puzzled glance as he passed her, wondering why this woman stood there at the same time every day, staring out to sea. A lone tear ran down her face as she turned and walked back to her car.</span></span></b><br />
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</b><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-1647307318868451096?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-72217514274134767472011-08-15T00:17:00.000+01:002011-08-15T00:17:08.981+01:002011-08-15T00:17:08.981+01:00Deuce Beauties 100th Post GiveawayThe lovely <a href="http://deucebeauties.blogspot.com/">Deuce Beauties</a> is running an amazing giveaway with the chance to win a stash of OPI nail polishes, to celebrate her 100th post. You can enter<a href="http://deucebeauties.blogspot.com/2011/08/giveaway-my-100th-post.html"> here</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EtZBiv_SNbI/TkA6N-ioK8I/AAAAAAAAAxo/u1ovZzcGdeM/s320/opig1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EtZBiv_SNbI/TkA6N-ioK8I/AAAAAAAAAxo/u1ovZzcGdeM/s320/opig1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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I'm not sure I should really be sharing this with you as I have my eye on the Pirates set in particular, but it's such a fantastic giveaway it would be rude not to! The giveaway is open internationally so fingers crossed!!!<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-7221751427413476747?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-82415057104413284442011-08-12T23:39:00.001+01:002011-08-22T22:16:46.462+01:002011-08-22T22:16:46.462+01:00100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups Week #5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gXsJZOCe6xU/TkWqVNnv5II/AAAAAAAAAGs/bOI2JvZue90/s1600/100WCGU-71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gXsJZOCe6xU/TkWqVNnv5II/AAAAAAAAAGs/bOI2JvZue90/s1600/100WCGU-71.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've joined in with <a href="http://www.theheadsoffice.co.uk/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week5/">The Heads Office</a> 100 Words Challenge for Grown Ups. This is the 5th week but the 1st week I've joined in. This was the prompt this week:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8Z-nvF4Y1Ag/TkWqXcgAczI/AAAAAAAAAGw/gz7RNy3tkT0/s1600/prone-man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8Z-nvF4Y1Ag/TkWqXcgAczI/AAAAAAAAAGw/gz7RNy3tkT0/s320/prone-man.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Panic </b></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I</span> clung to the floor like a fly to a window pane as I felt the familiar waves of panic wash over me. The floor moved under me, as liquid as the sea, yet the people staring at me as they walked past seemed to have no idea that the ground beneath them was so unstable. Blackness engulfed my soul like a suit covering every inch of me. I barely heard the man who came up to me: 'Miss, are you ok?' I heard a scream, then realised it was my own voice uttering the same word over and over.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-8241505710441328444?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-49756533396506086312011-08-12T21:58:00.000+01:002011-08-12T21:58:28.649+01:002011-08-12T21:58:28.649+01:00What I Learnt Today - FREE OPI!! (kind of)I read a fab post today at the lovely Diamond Solitaire about her latest <a href="http://prettydiamondsolitaire.blogspot.com/2011/08/small-opi-haul.html?spref=tw">OPI haul</a>. Apparently you can double up your Tesco Clubcard vouchers to spend online at <a href="http://www.beautyexpert.co.uk/home.dept">Beauty Expert</a>, including their stock of OPI nail polishes!<br />
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Being a nail polish freak, having recently been introduced to OPI (is it just me or are their bottles extra gorgeous?) and having nearly £60 of Clubcard vouchers stashed away I think I deserve to treat myself to some 'free' OPI polishes! Of course they also stock other great beauty ranges but I'm really into my OPI at the minute (despite only owning one bottle!) so that's where it will be going!<br />
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Also, mucho gracio to the lovely missielizzie at her blog Me and My Shadow for her very helpful post about <a href="http://missielizzie-meandmyshadow.blogspot.com/2011/02/re-claim-your-lost-clubcard-vouchers.html">reclaiming lost clubcard vouchers</a> as I found I had quite a few that had got mislaid!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-4975653339650608631?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-62088064623530686032011-08-12T21:46:00.000+01:002011-08-12T21:46:01.626+01:002011-08-12T21:46:01.626+01:00Nails Inc Haul!!<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I recently discovered <a href="http://www.nailsinc.com/">nails inc</a> and had a little spending spree on their website! However, thanks to a discount code, the Lucky Dip and free gift I ended up with 14 nail polishes for less than £4.75 each - not bad for full size nails inc</span> polishes! I tried to photograph them all but some of the nudes didn't photograph very well but here you go anyway:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A6eHI_CnSWQ/TkWPYoKDnzI/AAAAAAAAAF4/lWz4kf7oRns/s1600/359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A6eHI_CnSWQ/TkWPYoKDnzI/AAAAAAAAAF4/lWz4kf7oRns/s320/359.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KHZxOwhoL3M/TkWPmOLMteI/AAAAAAAAAF8/50nsMkTm1rw/s1600/360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KHZxOwhoL3M/TkWPmOLMteI/AAAAAAAAAF8/50nsMkTm1rw/s320/360.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aP1FSYHQj3g/TkWPqpa0QrI/AAAAAAAAAGA/st0kzl5etlk/s1600/361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aP1FSYHQj3g/TkWPqpa0QrI/AAAAAAAAAGA/st0kzl5etlk/s320/361.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-McYVVCsSSdM/TkWPvDKl7RI/AAAAAAAAAGE/IX886le7y0Q/s1600/362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-McYVVCsSSdM/TkWPvDKl7RI/AAAAAAAAAGE/IX886le7y0Q/s320/362.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UsjVo1VKM84/TkWP4OL7xmI/AAAAAAAAAGM/pAOCxuELw8k/s1600/364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UsjVo1VKM84/TkWP4OL7xmI/AAAAAAAAAGM/pAOCxuELw8k/s320/364.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5L7MuaAfgOk/TkWPzvnJ7DI/AAAAAAAAAGI/HAPA6Vh7ns0/s1600/363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5L7MuaAfgOk/TkWPzvnJ7DI/AAAAAAAAAGI/HAPA6Vh7ns0/s320/363.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I'll try to come back and name all the different shades later. The pink one in the middle is a much richer colour than it shows on this photo and actually looks better applied than on the bottle. I've tried 5 of the colours already and am pretty happy with them, although one of the glitters peeled pretty quickly, but I'll do a blog on the individual colours later on.<br />
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I'm hoping to get better at photographing nail polish to give a better true representation, although photos never really show colours as well I think.<br />
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Only 9 more shades to get thru lol!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-6208806462353068603?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-6622432981358441892011-08-09T19:09:00.003+01:002011-08-12T20:30:55.238+01:002011-08-12T20:30:55.238+01:00Blog Makeover - Help Appreciated!!<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Having now decided what direction to send my blog in I need to makeover my blog and I also feel it needs a new name. This is where you come in!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm looking for a name to reflect my interest in beauty products, especially nail polish, and that I'm a mummy, without having 'beauty' or 'mummy' in the name! Something along the lines of:</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Nails and Nappies</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Milk to Manicures</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Lipstick and Pushchairs</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You get the idea!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Please enter your suggestions in the comments box, and if I use your suggestion there might even be a little reward coming your way, probably in the form of a bottle of Nails Inc.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Looking forward to hearing your suggestions!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/2799699/this-is-me?claim=y4p2ecqqc4k">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-662243298135844189?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-4391946443288396432011-08-02T20:17:00.000+01:002011-08-02T20:17:00.469+01:002011-08-02T20:17:00.469+01:00I'd Do It All Again - Would You?<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've read alot of posts where women have been </span>so traumatised by giving birth, for various reasons, that it's something that they remember with horror, and for some of them, the though of going through it again is more than they can deal with. I also have friends who had such bad experiences that they were unable to bond with their children straight away. And I know many have suffered Postnatal Depression as a result. In fact the idea of enjoying childbirth is so alien to them that when I have mentioned it they've looked at me like I was mad!<br />
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But I love giving birth! I'd do it again if I could but I really can't cope with having any more children.<br />
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Admittedly, Girl's birth wasn't the birth I'd planned. She was late, so I was induced, because of the induction she had to be constantly monitored, she hated the monitors so moved away from them, ended up back to back with me and got stuck and had to be dragged out by a huge doctor! Meanwhile I'd had an epidural. So no, it wasn't the best birth experience and I couldn't think about it initially without crying, as I felt I'd failed her by being induced and having an epidural and needing an assisted birth. But I loved the feeling when they placed her on my tummy and those precious first few days when she was so tiny and so new, this small bundle which needed so much care and attention but defined me as a mother and produced such a big feeling of love, more than I could have imagined.<br />
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After I had Girl I knew I had to do it again. I couldn't wait to have another baby and when she was 11 months old I got pregnant again! After 'failing' at my first birth I really wanted a 'natural' birth this time, no drugs, no assistance, nothing.<br />
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So with Boy, although I had several sweeps to set me off, I did it all naturally. I used a birthing pool tho came out of the water to actually give birth, gas and air and no drugs. I remember as he arrived saying 'I did it! I did it myself!' I had doubted my body's ability to do what should come naturally. So I was delighted that I'd done it all by myself (so to speak!).<br />
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With Bug, I'd done it both ways so all I wanted was for her to be safely delivered. So I was open to what I would need. I didn't fancy a water birth again - no real reason except you can't wander around in a pool! So I stuck with gas and air, had a shot of diamorphine, spent most of my labour hanging over the bed and delivered her with one push! Of course, although the delivery was easy, the placenta got stuck so I ended up going off down to theatre to get it removed which sort of marred a 'perfect' delivery, but that's another story.<br />
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With the other 2 we'd known what we were expecting, but with Bug it really didn't matter so we didn't find out, and having my husband tell me she was a girl was a magical moment.<br />
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So although I'm not particularly keen to go through labour again, I love those first few days after the baby's born. They are so small, so loveable, so dependent on you for everything. I also seem to get a rush when I give birth so for the next few days I feel on top of the world. I am never so happy and so bright - until the baby blues kick in. Then I hit rock bottom.<br />
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It's not worth a pregnancy and having another kid just to experience those few days of absolute wonder and joy but I treasure the memories I have of those 3 times I've experienced it, and am extremely sad that some mothers have a much different experience.<br />
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What about you? Would you do it all again if you could? I would.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-439194644328839643?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-68288353191503687442011-07-30T22:46:00.002+01:002011-08-12T23:51:35.331+01:002011-08-12T23:51:35.331+01:00Finding My Niche - And a Giveaway! - *closed*I've been neglecting my blog quite a bit lately, for several reasons, but a big reason is that I wasn't really sure where I was going with it. But I think I may have found my niche and what I want to write about and am celebrating it with a small giveaway.<br />
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I love make-up and jewellery. I think I mentioned in a post that I've been an Avon rep. I just love all the prettiness, and making something pretty. I've started making jewellery and hope to have my own business some day. And I just love the new special effect nail polishes that are around. Particularly the crackle ones! I find myself talking about them to everyone. So it kind of seemed natural that my blog should go down a beauty route. So there you go - a mummy beauty blog!<br />
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Don't worry, its still going to be relevant to mummys! I don't wear make-up every day and I'm rubbish at moisturisers and stuff. I have to wait until the kids are in bed before I can paint my nails so quite often they're just plain. Or chipped. I'm kind of hoping that I'll be able to find the best easy make-up products for busy mums who only have time to throw on a bit of lippy and mascara before they go out!<br />
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I recently invested in a load of new eyeshadows from <a href="http://www.beautyukcosmetics.com/">beauty uk</a> who sell a gorgeous range of make-up products at a really good price. My attention was caught by their good value <a href="http://www.beautyukcosmetics.com/products/eyes/eyeshadow/eye-shadow-palettes">Eye Shadow Palettes</a>, 10 eye shadow colours for £3.99. I ordered the Pastels palette but there was a slight mix up in my (large!) order and they sent the Twighlight palette of blues instead. I contacted them by their very friendly <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/beautyuktweets">twitter feed</a> and straight away they sent me out the correct palette and told me to keep the other one! I don't really wear blues so it's this 'freebie' that I'm offering as a giveaway!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G-9ImCagIXM/TjR5aLH_IfI/AAAAAAAAAF0/M3UXrpzhZ3Q/s1600/eyeshadow+pallette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G-9ImCagIXM/TjR5aLH_IfI/AAAAAAAAAF0/M3UXrpzhZ3Q/s320/eyeshadow+pallette.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twighlight Eyeshadow Palette</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I'm giving away a brand new beauty uk Twighlight Eye Shadow palette worth £3.99 (only to UK followers, sorry) and this is what you have to do:<br />
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<ol style="text-align: center;"><li>Become a follower of my blog, either via GFC or subscribing via email (mandatory)</li>
<li>Follow me on twitter - <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/meetJoSmith">@meetjosmith</a> (mandatory)</li>
</ol>Please leave me a comment saying you have completed the above 2 steps, along with your GFC name and twitter name.<br />
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You can gain an additional entry by tweeting the following:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">I've entered to win a @beautyuktweets eyeshadow palette with @meetjosmith here: http://tinyurl.com/3oheqls</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Please leave an additional comment after you have tweeted. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The competition will remain open until midnight 8th August 2011 and a winner will be picked at random.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The competition is only open to UK residents.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The prize has been provided by me and I have received no incentive for this post.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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***Update***<br />
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The winner was picked by random.org and the winner was:<br />
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kikicomp!!!<br />
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Congratulations</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-6828835319150368744?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-27293221891257518152011-07-23T22:18:00.000+01:002011-07-23T22:18:52.534+01:002011-07-23T22:18:52.534+01:00Red Hot World Buffet Leeds - Caribbean Food and Drink Festival<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We've all been there. You fancy a nice family meal out, but you want Indian but your other half would prefer Chinese. Dad doesn't want any of that foreign muck but Mum wants to try something different. Uncle Jeff will have a starter, main, sides and dessert and then insist on splitting the bill equally and somewhere there's a teenager who's just decided she's vegetarian! By the time you've decided on where to eat its too late anyway, and nobody is quite happy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> So go visit <a href="http://www.redhot-worldbuffet.com/">the Red Hot World Buffet</a> - problem solved!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'd thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Nottingham restaurant with friends a couple of years ago, so when I was asked to check out the <a href="http://www.redhot-worldbuffet.com/specialoffers.html">Caribbean Food and Drink Festival</a> they are currently promoting and I realised I would be near Leeds I jumped at the opportunity!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If you are unfamiliar with the concept of Red Hot World Buffet then basically it is a restaurant described as "<i>A food lover's fantasy</i>". For a set price per person you can visit the buffet and help yourself to the wonderful selection of food on offer, as many times as you like. There are starters, sides, mains and desserts, and the food is a variety of Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Italian, Mexican, Indian and English, although from 15th July - 14th August they are also offering Caribbean food.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I was supposed to be taking my husband with me, but he wasn't feeling very well so my sister-in-law came instead, who is a notoriously fussy eater. She thought it was brilliant which I thought said a lot in itself!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Leeds restaurant is in the style of an airport and we found ourselves sat next to the fusilage of an aeroplane which was a bit odd, and the first time we headed off to get food we got a bit lost as it is a massive restaurant and it isn't that clearly signed but we just headed in the direction from where people were coming with plates laden with food! I was slightly bemused at being confronted with stacks of desserts as soon as I entered the buffet area but soon located the starters and, well, made a start!</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KNNNvftP_aA/TisvhNormfI/AAAAAAAAAFg/DHBMrkeSHdE/s1600/Photo0164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KNNNvftP_aA/TisvhNormfI/AAAAAAAAAFg/DHBMrkeSHdE/s320/Photo0164.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The starters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We were quite impressed with the cute little dishes the salads came in! There really is an incredible amount of choice! The Leeds restaurant offers 200 dishes! The salads were fresh and the onion bhajis (a particular favourite of mine) were hot, spicy and crispy.<br />
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Something I love about the Red Hot World Buffet is the opportunity to try something new. I have always wanted to try sushi and mussels (tho not necessarily together) but have never wanted to order a full meal in case I didn't like them. That evening I had mussels for the first time and loved them, and enjoyed several raw tuna sushi. I will definitely be having them again!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XSYN7uZiKVc/TisvoA14bLI/AAAAAAAAAFk/LcoOJZQmfXk/s1600/Photo0165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XSYN7uZiKVc/TisvoA14bLI/AAAAAAAAAFk/LcoOJZQmfXk/s320/Photo0165.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mussels, prawn crackers, won ton, jerk chicken...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>As you can see I'm not a food photographer but the jerk chicken from the Caribbean section was just as it should be, the won ton was goregous and the Akai fish was yummy!<br />
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They are also offering 6 new cocktails during the Caribbean Food and Drink festival and I would thorough recommend trying the Jamaican Jig (I think!) - an alcoholic chocolate milkshake! What more could a girl ask for?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8qWLT8cbSNQ/Tisvvhm_myI/AAAAAAAAAFo/G3GsTBWUL-Y/s1600/Photo0167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8qWLT8cbSNQ/Tisvvhm_myI/AAAAAAAAAFo/G3GsTBWUL-Y/s320/Photo0167.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More mussels, sushi, and Mexican</td></tr>
</tbody></table>You can also ask for certain dishes to be cooked in front of you, but I wasn't that brave!<br />
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The meal was accompanied by a live band playing music on traditional Caribbean instruments including 50 gallon drums. Unfortunately the music itself wasn't traditional Caribbean music but a mix of 80's and 90's stuff so it didn't quite sit right but it was pleasant enough.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZP8Tki7vPk/Tisv22V5aNI/AAAAAAAAAFs/xbZqtbE3y-I/s1600/Photo0168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZP8Tki7vPk/Tisv22V5aNI/AAAAAAAAAFs/xbZqtbE3y-I/s320/Photo0168.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pudding!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>There was a ginormous selection of desserts presented in bite size little dishes - perfect for allowing you to have a small taste of lots of different things. The Key Lime pie was divine and I also and panacotta for the first time which I will also be having again!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jabtYAVhNuk/Tisv_tUsE7I/AAAAAAAAAFw/7GRx6t_0O2o/s1600/Photo0170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jabtYAVhNuk/Tisv_tUsE7I/AAAAAAAAAFw/7GRx6t_0O2o/s320/Photo0170.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice cream!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I had a little bit of room left for some ice cream! Again, a huge choice of flavours, served up on request, along with a selection of sauces and sweets to add to it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The food was excellent, tasty, fresh and hot (except for the salads. obviously!) The waiters were pleasant and helpful and I can't wait to go again!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The cost of the meal varies depending on the restaurant you visit, the day and the time but on a Saturday night in Leeds your entire meal will cost £14.99, half price for children under 10. For such a huge selection of food and considering that covers your starters, mains, sides and desserts and you can eat as much as you want, I think it's a bargain! Unfortunately there are only 6 restaurants so far, in Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Northampton and Nottingham. However, if you are near one of these restaurants I fully recommend a visit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Disclaimer: The cost of the meal and drinks were complimentary for the purpose of this review but the opinions expressed within are my own and no further recompense was received.</i></span></span><br />
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</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-2729322189125751815?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-83728548737207410802011-07-13T23:24:00.001+01:002011-07-14T08:22:35.713+01:002011-07-14T08:22:35.713+01:00#MUMenTUM - The Tricks We UseI've not made a #MUMenTUM post for a couple of weeks - probably because I was ashamed. I've not had a very good couple of weeks - I've stalled, diet wise, but trying to give myself a kick up the bum. So far I've lost 1 stone 5 1/2lbs which isn't bad but I've been hanging around the 1 stone 2-4lb mark for a few weeks now and it's time to get back onto losing weight. So I thought I'd list some of the tricks I use to make sure the scales say what I want them to say, and the other methods we employ to have our cake and eat it!!<br />
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<ol><li>Take as much off before you get on the scales. Watch, glasses - you name it, it's coming off.</li>
<li>Wee as much as possible before weigh in. It's a well known fact that water retention will make you put on weight so try to wee away as much as possible before you get on those scales. I have been known to go to the loo before I leave the house and as I arrive at Slimming World. 5 minutes away!</li>
<li>Food that you eat after weigh in doesn't count. Hence the huge bar of chocolate and 2 bottles of cider I've just downed (and that's just what I'm admitting to!) Weigh in night is treat night and you've got all week to lose those pounds so stuff yourself (disclaimer - this is not a recommended diet tactic, it's just how normal people manage a diet!)</li>
<li>Don't eat before weigh in. Any meal is bound to add a couple of pounds!</li>
<li>If you normally get weighed in jeans and think you may not have lost this week then go in a skirt or something else light weight. Swapping jeans for a lightweight skirt or shorts or leggings is good for at least a pound!</li>
</ol>So, those are my scales tactics for when I know I've had a bad week. Come on, admit it, we all have them. So my question is - what tricks do you use?<br />
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Another disclaimer. Please do not follow this blog in an attempt to lose weight. Any weight loss will only be achieved by a calorie controlled diet and plenty of exercise!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-8372854873720741080?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-31923858924314932362011-07-13T22:49:00.000+01:002011-07-13T22:49:35.694+01:002011-07-13T22:49:35.694+01:00Spider Bones by Kathy Reichs<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I love the 'Bones' </span>series of books. I've read all of them and was reading them before the series appeared. I was delighted to find it had been made into a TV series but found the character of Temperance Brennan on TV to be quite different from the Temperance Brennan in the books. For instance, the TV version appears to be on the Autistic Spectrum whereas the book version is an alcoholic (tho mostly on the wagon). I find i have to separate the two characters and enjoy them separately as the 2 don't really relate. They even have different family backgrounds.<br />
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Anyway, I always look forward to the new Bones book and Spider Bones was not a disappointment. Again, graphic detail, bizarre twists and danger for the heroine herself. Although I have to say, I did see the end twist coming, I thought the clues dropped were a bit heavy handed and rather obvious.<br />
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The best bit about the entire book is when a cop says to a suspect: <i>"You claim to be smart. Know all about DNA. I'm sure you watch </i>CSI <i>and </i>Law and Order<i>. Maybe </i>Bones<i>, but that may be over your head.</i>" The sheer gall of referring to her own TV programme based on the Bones books took my breath away, made me laugh, re-read the sentence and enjoy the book even more that Ms Reichs felt comfortable making that reference!<br />
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So if you love the Bones series of books, if you love a good mystery, or if you are new to the books and enjoy CSI and similar dramas then get hold of this book. The technicalities can sometimes bog you down but nothing can stop you enjoying this good read.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-3192385892431493236?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-23853808736054444012011-07-08T10:54:00.000+01:002011-07-08T10:54:14.060+01:002011-07-08T10:54:14.060+01:00How Do You Manage 60 Minutes a Day?So the current advice I'm getting is that my kids should be getting 60 minutes of exercise a day. My question is - How?!?!<br />
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I have a small house and the weather has been atrocious lately so they've been stuck inside. I don't have the time or the energy to spend 60 minutes a day exercising - I've had M.E. so have to be careful about what I do - so am limited as to what I can do with them.<br />
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They're 3 and nearly 5 and the eldest starts school in September with the other being in nursery every day so hopefully they'll get a bit at school but what am I supposed to do in the school holidays? I love the way one of the recommendations was take them to soft play! Yes, I can really afford to take 2 kids to soft play every day for 6 weeks! I'd be bankrupt!<br />
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So any ideas would be gratefully received - how do you make sure your kids get enough exercise every day?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-2385380873605444401?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-76053500186734667812011-07-08T10:45:00.001+01:002011-07-08T10:45:51.317+01:002011-07-08T10:45:51.317+01:00Avon Eyeshadow - Why Did I Keep Buying Them?<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've been an Avon rep tho had to </span>stop recently after Bug was born. I love eyeshadows and kept buying all their new shades and quads but was vaguely aware that I wasn't quite happy with them, which is why I kept buying more.<br />
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After reading lots of beauty blogs I've finally worked out what the problem is - the eyeshadows are rubbish! I believe the correct term is lack of pigmentation - the shades look fab in the palette but when you apply them there is hardly any colour.<br />
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I'm not very good at photos yet so can't show you what I mean but I think I'll be throwing away all my Avon eyeshadows and finding a replacement. I know No 7s are quite good and have heard good things about Beauty UK but am open to any suggestions!<br />
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I thought I was just rubbish at applying them until I used one of my old No 7 eyeshadows and realized how much more colour I was getting!<br />
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Something else I noticed as a rep is that when taking photos of their products, they don't take photos of each of the different shades. If you look closely all the pictures are exactly the same, and I defy anyone to make an eyeshadow break up in the same way. Which means that the photos are not an accurate representation of the colours but have been shopped to make them look that colour.<br />
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I've always loved Avon products but have become a bit disillusioned lately.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-7605350018673466781?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-13660294758106506342011-06-26T21:52:00.002+01:002011-06-27T21:34:55.513+01:002011-06-27T21:34:55.513+01:00MUMenTUM - Such a failure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AWnHIWZVmRI/TgebzlSmLZI/AAAAAAAAAFI/dmS7hwzBmrU/s1600/MUMenTUM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AWnHIWZVmRI/TgebzlSmLZI/AAAAAAAAAFI/dmS7hwzBmrU/s1600/MUMenTUM.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yep, that's how I feel. A total failure. I'll tell you why.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This week I put on 2lbs. Totally expected as I didn't stick to the diet and ate donuts, chocolate, pastries etc. So of course I put on 2lbs. But I went to fat class anyway to try and get some encouragement. And I did. But there is one aspect of group slimming that I find very negative, and it's all in my head.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have to be the best.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This isn't just a slimming thing. It's a life thing. I had to get As at school - I used to ask for spelling tests in primary school because it was something I was good at (and then wondered why the kids hated me).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Week after week I've had Slimmer of the Week, even Slimmer of the Month, which I felt a bit of a fraud having as I'm breast feeding which helps with the slimming. I've now lost 1st 1.5lb in 10 weeks. Averaged about 2lbs a week. But on Wednesday a guy came to group, second week in, he's lost 10lbs. Do you know how long it took me to lose 10lb??!! And then my friend who I took to fat class, and I know has a much higher BMI than me, lost 8lbs in a first week. Fantastic for her! Really pleased for her. But I've failed. I'm not the best anymore. People are going to overtake me on my weight loss journey. I'm going to be going to fat class for ever and I'm always going to be fat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I know I've hit my wall and I've got to push through it, and I am trying sooooo hard to get back on track and keep going. Tell me I'm not mad and I'm not the only one to feel like this?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've started and failed at so many diets, when I got to 1 stone I thought 'Yay, I can do this'. Now all my negative thoughts about dieting have come back and I'm convinced I'll fail. I have to get through this wall. I'm not even back to pre-pregnancy weight. Somehow, I've got to grit my teeth and get through it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On the plus side there isn't any chocolate in the house anymore. I've eaten it all.</span><br />
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<script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=95379" type="text/javascript" ></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-1366029475810650634?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5154468643736180214.post-68386580949511405672011-06-22T23:01:00.000+01:002011-06-22T23:01:41.729+01:002011-06-22T23:01:41.729+01:00Breastfeeding - What They Never Prepare You For<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Apparently it's Breastfeeding Awareness Week or some such thing. Anyway this occurred to me earlier and it seemed rather apropo. I love breastfeeding. It's the best thing in the world for me. But that doesn't mean it doesn't have it's drawbacks...</span><br />
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<ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You will never know if you've gotten pregnant again because your periods don't return for ages anyway.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You will live in a bra for however long you choose to breastfeed for or sleep in a wet bed. Seriously - the only time you will take it off is to have a shower.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Secluded spots will become no 1 on your priority list when deciding where to go. Unless you're the sort of person who doesn't mind flopping it out anywhere.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">At some point you WILL end up feeding your baby in a public loo. I defy you not to be in some restaurant/posh place where you really feel it is totally inappropriate to breastfeed.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Be prepared to one day end up soaking wet - your nipple pads have moved or are just full up. And you just have to put up with smelling of milk for the rest of the day.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Somebody, someday, will get an unintended flash of your boob. Can't be helped.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Your baby will feed like an angel at home but when you are out and need them to latch on and stay latched on else show your nipple to all and sundry, then is when they'll decided to play the hokey cokey - in, out, in, out, shake it all about!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Once your milk lets down, the baby doesn't have to put much effort into sucking - it tends to shoot out of its own accord. This means either your baby will have a sudden choking fit as half a pint of milk pours down its throat or it will come off your boob and your milk will shoot halfway across the room and hit your unsuspecting toddler in the eye!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You will never look sexy. Breastfeeding bras are not glamorous.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You will permanently have a one boob look. See previous point!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Breastfeeding a teething baby hurts!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Your last breastfeed will make you cry. Whatever the reason, nothing is more emotional and sad than stopping breastfeeding. </span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> For all that - for me, it's the best thing in the world and I wouldn't change it for anything. But I do wish I'd been warned!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5154468643736180214-6838658094951140567?l=meetjosmith.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>jodie smithnoreply@blogger.com0