#silentsunday

A Special Gift From L’Occitane

Mother’s Day, a day of relaxation breakfast in bed and bunches of daffodils… Yer right!

Ok, I’m pretty such the kids have made me some lovely homemade gifts and cards which I prefer! As for the whole relaxation thing… Well… An almost teenage boy with Aspergers Syndrome, a daughter who is fast forming a bit of a chip on her shoulder and an ever demanding toddler, I can most certainly forget that!

As it happens we are actually off to my nieces and nephews Christening this morning, so breakfast in bed is gonna have to wait anyway!

I do love being a Mother! Life Is always full of little surprises and I can’t honestly remember the last time I felt the need to complain that I was bored!

The memories built with my children are all so precious, whether its memories of our first family holiday or the day in which each one of them arrived in the world.

Yesterday I was sent a lovely little gift from L’Occitane & The Millennium Hotel. Their intention being, to make my Mothers Day that bit more specia.The gift, a beautiful little boxed set that contained, 30 ml of Shea Butter Hand Cream, 30 ml of Rose Autore Hand Cream & 30 ml of Spring Cherry Hand Cream. All delicately scented and beautifully presented making them the perfect little treat for hands.

Earlier in the week the Millennium Hotel had asked me a few questions that I was more than happy to answer, like what’s my most memorable holiday? To which my answer was… Its hard to choose just one whether it be the all inclusive packaged holiday to the Caribbean or the week spent at the Lake District, each one was special in its own little way.

As for family holidays, we had an awesome trip to Oxfordshire a few years back! We were attending the fabulous Wilderness festival, camping in a tent for the weekend. This mini break has to be one of my most memorable. I’d never done the whole outdoors thing, but the kids loved it. There was plenty to do at the festival and if the kids were not enjoying a sessions hola hooping we’d be swimming in the beautiful natural lake that runs through the woodland.

I’ve actually never stayed in a Millennium hotel but looking at the London hotels on their website I would defiantly consider both the Mayfair and Knightsbridge hotels. Both are in great locations and seem to offer luxurious facilities. I like it when a hotel goes the extra mile by providing its guest with those special little extras to make their stay more comfortable. I’d be extremely pleased to find L’Occitane products in my hotel bathroom and the Millennium Hotels offer just that. Having read some rave reviews on the Millennium Knightsbridge Hotel it would seem L’Occitane and the Millennium form the perfect partnership.

Well, thanks to both the Millennium Hotel and L’Occitane for the beautiful gift. Maybe next year I’ll be in one of your London hotels enjoying a L’Occitane bubble bath for Mother’s Day.

Must dash… A christening awaits.

Happy Mother’s Day everyone.

No Financial payment was made for writing this post. I did receive the L’Occitane gift free of charge for the purpose of this review. Nonetheless I was under no obligation to write about it. All opinions are honest and that of my own.

Homemade Sweetie Jars For Any Occasion

I just thought I’d share some of my latest sweetie jars I’ve put together.

I love these round jars that almost look like fish bowls (a little bigger and these would be perfect for punch).

The round jars have been decorated with pretty self adhesive transfers. One is decorated in a pretty rose design making them the perfect gift for Mother’s Day or a girly birthday gift. This jar is filled with blue and pink Bon bons as well as the classic love hearts. The jar is finished of with the tying of a pretty pink ribbon

The Love Tape is used to secure the lid

The second round jar is decorated with pretty little butterflies and then filled with layers of retro flying saucers, shrimps and bananas and dolly mixtures, making this ideal for the 80’s sweet fan.

Round jars also make perfect table centre pieces for weddings and christening. Once your jar is empty these make ideal storage solutions. I have one or two housing cotton pads and one for beads.

I’ll soon be setting up a site where I’ll be selling a variety of jars filled with sweets and other gifts (pampering goodies, craft kits etc). I’m also planning on making a selection of party bags and Wedding favours.

If that wasn’t enough I’m also thinking about selling items of furniture I refurbish using mostly Annie Sloan paints, as well as other vintage items.

Check out the fantastic jar bottles I’m planning on selling! Absolutely perfect for baby showers. Fantastic don’t you think?

If anyone has any tips on the whole online vintage shop idea, I’d love to hear from you.

Say Happy Mothers Day The Baker Days Way

If like myself your not the best at baking cakes, or simply can’t find the time, then you’ll love Baker Days Cakes.

Baker Days offer the ‘Letterbox Cake’ a perfectly formed personalised cake, packed with TLC in a pretty little keepsake tin, that easily fits through the standard letterbox, meaning the lucky recipient doesn’t even need to be home to receive it.

With hundreds of designs to choose from, Baker Days offer a unique idea for a Mother’s Day gift. Each cake can be personalised with your own message and there is also the option to add your very own photo to your cake.

I sent my mum a pretty Baker Days Letterbox Cake for Mother’s Day, which arrived a few days backs. This certainly put a smile on my mums face and I was invited round for a piece with a cuppa.

For Mum I had chosen the cutest little heart and flower design. The centre of the cake sports a pretty vibrant heart surrounded by flowers. The message reads “Best Mum, Love from Claire” Its then finished of with a pretty floral design in the same vibrant pink around the sides of the cake.

I was presented with a range of flavours and cake base ingredients, when choosing my cake. Although we opted for a simple sponge that was still moist and delicious, also on offer were fruit, carrot, double chocolate or even gluten and wheat free. Some involved a very small additional charge that was most reasonable at no more than £2.

Mums cake arrived carefully packaged in a snug fitting box. The cake is perfectly presented in the cute keepsake tin with the added touch of a packet of love heart sweeties.

Mum was most impressed with the gift and so was I.

Letterbox cakes from Baker Days cost from as little as £14.99 with free delivery and a next day option if ordered before 2pm.

Baker Days also make larger party cakes and even cupcakes for all occasions.

Checkout the Baker Days Website for more information.

Disclaimer: We were supplied with a Baker Days Letterbox cake free of charge for the purpose of this review. All opinions are honest and that of my own.

Tutorial – Pretty Miniature Fabric & Lace Sewing Kit

This dinky little sewing kit is super cute and makes a lovely little gift idea with that added personal touch. What’s more its dead simple to create.

All you will need is

A few scraps of blue floral material
Some scraps of light blue lace
Ivory or cream ribbon
Pale pink thin ribbon
Mod podge
Faux pearl (small)
Mini sewing kit in clear casing (available in supermarkets, newsagents and many other places)

Tools needed…
Scissors
Brush for Mod podge
A glue dot

This is so simply that it won’t take to many words to explain how I did it!

So, first you want to cover the top of the casing in mod podge. Then cut down your material and stick it down on the case adding a layer of mod podge over the top of the material. Do this step for the front and bottom of your case! Remember, Its better to have the material a little bigger than cutting it to small. So if you have a little excess cut this only once the material is dry and turned somewhat stiff to avoid the material slipping about and ending up to short.

Once dry take a strip of light blue lace and measure it against the top of your casing of your mini sew kit. Cut to size and with mod podge stick it along the middle of your already covered casing. Again add mod podge to the top layer of your lace.

Once dry work on the sides of your box using the same technique to apply the blue floral material. Leave to dry for around 30 minutes.

Now use some more light blue lace to cover the front edging of your casing just where the case clicks shut. Be careful not to add mod podge to the cases clip. Once your lace is dry you can then cut away the excess material to reveal the cases opening and closing clip.

At this stage I had emptied my sewing case and separated into two half as to allow them to fully dry without anything becoming glued shut.

I then added a strip of cream ribbon across the middle of my top casing (across the light blue lace) using the modge podge.

Only once I was confident my casing was completely dry I placed the two pieces back together again and refilled with my mini sewing items.

The last thing I needed to do was add a pretty little finishing touch. I did this by cutting my pale pink ribbon to size and then tying it into a pretty little bow. I added my bow to the middle of the cream ribbon on the lid of the casing with a glue dot followed by a little mod podge.

And there you have it! A perfectly formed miniature sewing kit housed in a girly floral and lace case. Perfect for any handbag and an ideal gift for Mother’s Day.

Mothers Day Crafts – Mum Heart Magnets

I love this craft idea by my 10 year old daughter..,.

Miniature mum magnets, designed to put a smile on any mummy’s face this Mother’s Day.

To make these cute set of three magnets you will need the following…

Plaster
Mini heart moulds
Assortment of acrylic paints
3 Alphabet acrylic beads in the letters (M, U, M)
Round magnets
Mod Podge

Additionally you will require some
Water (to create your plaster)
Old credit card (smooth of plaster)
Fork (to mix plaster)
Paint brushes
Additional brush for mod podge.

To make up you plaster see our last post (click Here) it simply involves just adding water.

Pour plaster into moulds & level of with an old credit card.

Leave to set, you can place in the freezer for a speedier process.

Carefully remove hearts from the silicone moulds.

Alice then used a range of different paints to decorate her 3 hearts.

Once your paint is dry cover in a coat of mod podge and secure one of each of your beads to the centre of each heart.

Once dry add a second coat of mod podge.

Stick your magnets to the back of each heart.

Now place on the fridge.

There are many ways to give these magnets an element of surprise.

Check out what Alice did for me!