Buy Cheap Get Cheap?

It has been such a lovely sunny day here, and I really hope it has shone brightly for you too. The day started with me thinking I would dig out one of my pretty summer dresses to wear, after a change of mind I decided I would go for my shorts ( which meant the leg first leg shave of the season ;) and I began my little make-up routine which isn't much these days but I do try. I then realised I had run out of this....

My YSL Touch Eclat concealer. I use it for my under eye bags mostly, but I also use it as a concealer and I personally think a super product. It is of course super expensive ( in my eyes ) and I did a little sigh when I pressed the magic button on the end and nothing came out. I would have to fork out quite some pennies to replace it. I was then told by a friend today that a very similar product is available from Aldi's for just two pounds. "Two pounds" I screeched, ( in a cyber way as this was on facebook ) I think I shall have to try and get me one of those. So what I was wondering, is do you think the more you pay for something the better the product? I am more than happy to use a £2 concealer if it does the job adequately for me. Master Poppins has been left with one or two chicken pox scars on his face and I knew that Bio Oil may help with this, at approximately £8 I thought I would try the home Bargains version ( Re-Gen oil ) at £2.50 and it seems to work a treat. It made me wonder why so much money is spent on products when you can ( practically get the same one ) at a much cheaper price. Is it purely the name we are paying for? Or if you buy cheap do you actually get cheap and end up paying more in the long run.  

So anyway if you have tried the Aldi concealer I would love to know what you think, and I don't think I shall be running out to get my YSL replacement just yet. I was however pleased that I hadn't run out of my M&S nail varnish as weather like this just makes me want to have those nails of mine painted. And what colour do you think I opted for....

Yes it had to be pink....

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Handmade Heart Swap

After nearly four years of writing this home/family/craft/all sorts blog I thought it was high time I hosted my very first handmade swap. I myself have taken part in many swaps in the past ( it has been way too long ) and if you have never taken part in one before, you should perhaps consider this being your first one. I have been moved so much with some of the most thoughtful things that have been sent my way and I myself love to send things made with a whole heap of love.

So this is how it works....   

The theme for this swap is all things HEART related, be it colour, shape, love, I think you get the idea. A heart theme is one very close to my own heart as some of you may already know Master Poppins had a cardiac ballooning at only 3 months old and weighing less than a newborn due to his prematurity. I shall be forever grateful to his cardiologist and his team at Alder Hey who performed the procedure. Like many of you, perhaps you have a fondness for hearts around the home and I think you can never have enough ;) A total of five items should be included in your parcel and postage costs should ideally be kept as low as can be, the best things come in small packages lets remember ;) Sign up shall close in one weeks time, the 27th of May and then anyone who has signed to take part I shall pair up. Over the next day or so after sign up closes I shall publish a blog post letting you all know who your swap partners are ( it may be a good idea to keep your eyes peeled around then ) and I shall include blog links so you can get in touch and learn a little more about each other. If you don't have a blog you can still join in and I shall include your twitter/facebook page link if you have one when it comes to the pairing up post. I would like everyone to be able to take part, so international readers are welcome to get involved too, though please confirm when signing up by commenting on this post if you are happy to post internationally or UK only. Obviously this makes things easier when pairing you up. I think a month is a fair time to get those crafty hands working so swaps should be sent out on or before the 27th June to your swap partner. Although this is called a handmade, so sewn, knitted, painted, crafted, crocheted you name it swap, you of course may pop in a thrifted ( not expensive) heart related item or two if you wish in your parcel as part of the 5 items and chocolate MAY be an added extra ;) You could chat about this with your partner when I have paired you up. 

IMPORTANT: There is NO skill level required in this swap, and it is not a competition or about who made this that or the other better than anyone else. This is about sending the love, and all skill levels may apply within, believe me, even with my wonky sewing lines at times the love is well and truly there. Receiving a handmade gift is just the loveliest thing ever and hopefully if you join in this swap you shall see what I mean. If for any reason you are unable to send your swap partner their swap please let me know asap and then I can perhaps pair them up again. I hope that explains it all and of course it would be lovely if you do sign up to share your love by posting this little badge on your blog sidebar with a link to this swap for others to see if they want to join in too. I thought this one I made up was rather pretty for your blogs.

I shall be back with a post about who is paired up with who, and so I don't look a total billy no mates and no one wants to join in, luckily myself and Clare who I got chatting with on Instagram about doing a little swap are already signed up. So, at least two of us shall get a pretty parcel through the post ;) Don't forget to take photographs too when your parcel arrives and I have also set up a little Flickr Group in the hope ( fingers crossed) that many join in to share their heart photographs. All I ask is that you put in as much love in your swap as you would like to receive yourself and everyone involved shall have the bestest time ever :)

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Milk Bottles And Straws

There has been mucho chatter on twitter this week about my love of these sweet little milk bottles I purchased from dotcomgiftshop They had been out of stock for a while and I couldn't wait to get my hands on them, they reminded me so much of my time at infant school, where I was given out a daily dose of milk in what I can only describe as ickle milk bottles. As soon as they came back in stock I grabbed 'em, don't you think they are just the cutest.... 

They come with their very own milk bottle crate and I think they have many uses, little teeny vases, perfect for wedding displays and parties, I would even drink champagne from them ;) For me, for now, I love the idea of them being used for good old fashioned milk, and the sentimental attachment I have with them makes it extra special. Of course you need straws, and not just any old straws but the coolest, retro, stripe, paper ones.... 

I did alot of research in purchasing said straws, sad but true. I found they can vary in price and quality a bit and although I really fancied the pink stripe I couldn't find them anywhere or had sold out in many places. I think retro red is pretty cool though. These were from Papermash a lovely little website. I wondered what Master Poppins would think of having his daily milk ( albeit at home ) in an ickle milk bottle, and at the same age I remember having my own at school. Well he loves it....

And I am sure the milk tastes extra good being drunk from one of these don't you ;)

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