The Park, The Family and Me

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

A few weeks back (maybe I need to do 2 lifestyle posts a week to fit them all in?!) our church held a community day in our local park. It was where ours and a few other churches got together, talked, ate ice cream, listened to music, socialised and kiddies ran about in the sunshine. It was lovely.

A little bit obsessed with this pleated emerald maxi skirt.

I love this shot because it has Ben (my new little step brother, who I'll properly introduce one day) and Norman (the nicest, most interesting man from our church EVER) in it. Little nothingy fact for you there!

My up and my down in the family tree. 

Hollie (my new little step sister). 

In the last few months I've experienced some amazing, luxurious things but days like this always top them. Days when you're close to your nest, feel loved and valued by the people you share it with and feel content with your lot. 

For the first time in a long time I feel like our family is working. My Dad has a new girlfriend who has 2 children and is like a breath of fresh air. She values family and fun above appearances and protocol and I feel like her ethos has spread to us all and we are all really enjoying life. In an ideal world my Dad would have found her right after my Mum passed away, but alas, we has 20 years of bleaugh to make us so much more thankful for what we have now. I'm so glad that hers and Darcy's arrival coincided too.

From a not-normally-into-Summer person, I'm enjoying this season far more than I should. It's making me feel all kinds of happy. 

What do you plan to do in the next couple of months? Please give this winter-lover some sunny ideas!

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Toodlepip!

xx

This month my Ultimate Advertiser is The Life of Bon. If you would like to find out more about advertising on this blog, click HERE. Secrete sneaky sidenote (I wonder how many of you will notice this?) - As of tomorrow I am posting twice a day so if you wanted to advertise, June would be an AMAZING month for you! Woop. 

 This page contains links to outside sites, including affiliates. Click on the 'Sponsor' tab to read my disclosure policy.

Plus Size OOTD | Midi Dress and Bow Belt

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

We have discussed it before but I am plus size. Fat, chubby, cuddly, bigger boned, call it what you like, the fact of the matter is I am a size 18 and feel relatively alright about this. As that lovable rouge Honey Boo Boo (google her) would say, 'I'm size CUTE' hahaha.

Lately I have been buying, wearing and LOVING midi length clothes. I find them to be so flattering and so comfortable (no worrying about thigh cellulite showing for me!) and also I find that I feel quite confident in them in a, 'I don't need to show off all my flesh to be sexy or attractive' way. 

Navy Jersey Midi Dress - ASOS

Denim 3/4 Sleeves Jacket - Primark (last season)

Red Bow Belt - Primark

Gold Bobble Necklace - Accessorize

Coral Heels (Also worn HERE) - Newlook

I don't know about you but I find that I make so much more effort with my outfits in the Summer. In the Winter it seems to be just a matter of putting on as many clothes as possible but still being able to move, but now the warmer weather is upon us I feel like getting dressed is 'a thing'. 

I absolutely love this outfit today. It can be dressy or casual and could take you from day to night (trust me, I've done it) and because the dress is cotton you feel like you are wearing jimjams! Also, since the dress (HERE) was only £25 and I have already had SO much wear out of it, I'm declaring it a bargain!

I wrote/photographed quite a few OOTD's last year so if you would like to take a looksie, here are some of my favourites ::

Smart Orange

Bright White

Rainy Summer

Beige Spring

High Waisted Florals

Family Picnic <-- 2010="" from="" p="">

What key fashion pieces are you loving this summer? Where do you find most fruitful to shop? 

Please do let me know in the comments but a polite request- Please don't just write 'Amazing Post!' and then leave your blog link. There are repeat offenders of this that just write that on everyone's blogs so they can spread their link about, without even reading the post and it's rude. I'm all for leaving your blog as your signature if you have written a proper, relative comment because it enables me (and others) to find you and you're being part of the community, but please don't just spam and go. It leaves a very bad taste and only reflects poorly on you. There, consider yourself told off and behave in future- thank you!! x

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Toodlepip!

xx

This month my Ultimate Advertiser is The Life of Bon. If you would like to find out more about advertising on this blog, click HERE.

 This page contains links to outside sites, including affiliates. Click on the 'Sponsor' tab to read my disclosure policy.

30 Day Snap Reminder

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

Just a quick reminder that if you would like to be part of my 30 Day Snap project that it is starting this Saturday. 

If you haven't heard of it yet, all the information can be found in the original post HERE. There is also a pin/badge for your blog if you would like it.

I am so excited for this challenge. I don't think it's going to be easy but I think we will be so proud of ourselves if we see it all the way through! If I manage it, I'm going to have a little photobook made so that I can display my efforts in my home.

Do let me know in the comments if you are taking part and I look forward to walking down this path together, it's going to be so fun.

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Toodlepip!

xx

This month my Ultimate Advertiser is The Life of Bon. If you would like to find out more about advertising on this blog, click HERE.

PS- Soon following by GFC (the little squares on the right) will be taken away (thanks google, not). If you would like to continue to stay up to dat with Sprinkle of Glitter, follow on Bloglovin'. It's free, easy and the most popular way to follow your favourite blogs. 

Guerlain Terracotta Light Sheer Bronzing Powder

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

A few weeks ago the kindly PR people over at Guerlain gifted me with a far too generous goodie bag of gorgeous products to play with. To be clear, I'm not being a smug showy beauty blogger, just an excited like a kid at Christmas one. Hope that's alright with you :)

As any woman would, I have been thoroughly enjoying the luxury of these beauties and thought now is a good enough as any time to share one of them with you.

This last picture was taken slightly spur of the moment whilst I was wearing the bronzing powder. I had applied it about 6 hours prior and as you can see on my cheekbone, it is still going strong. As you can see from my jawbone however, my foundation wasn't! I know this isn't your classic 'beauty shot' but I'm hoping you'll all think, 'Oh how lovely to see the makeup in it's natural on-the-go form', haha. 

So, onto the product. Let's all just stop a moment and rejoice in how b-e-a-utiful it is. When I have this compact in my handbag, I feel like such a lady. It's mature, sophisticated and luxurious, just like me -raise eyebrows here. Also, rather conveniently the palette is complete with a good sized mirror. 

Retailing at £34 per compact (handy link HERE), this is definitely a high end item. With five different shades of tan ranging from dark to coral and luminous pearly particles, this powder leaves a gorgeous subtle bronzed effect with a hint of highlight. There are no glitter flecks, nor are you left orange, it is just a super classic bronzing powder. 

If you were to use a light hand I think you could blend this all over your face to set your foundation and add a slight glow, but I prefer to concentrate it on my cheek bones to give a bit of a tanned flush. I love the pigmentation of this powder (not so crazy that you run the risk of looking muddy, but not so faint that you have to spend years with your brush) and I find it blends easily into my liquid or gel foundation and works well with other powders.

All round I am so positive about this sheer bronzing powder. It is an absolute pleasure to have in my makeup bag and I look forward to making the most of it this Summer. 

What about you? Have you tried this product before? Would you spend £34 on a bronzing powder if it was really lovely? I'm always so interested to hear your thoughts on luxury beauty products!

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Toodlepip!

xx

This month my Ultimate Advertiser is The Life of Bon. If you would like to find out more about advertising on this blog, click HERE.

Motivational Monday #16

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

Merry Monday! Don't be sad that the weekend has gone, be joyful that you are privileged enough to see a new week and achieve your goals.

Please feel free to pin today's image. 

This quote by Theodore Roosevelt is brilliant and something that all too often I need to remind myself of. 

I think it's kind of obvious what it is saying but the jist is- if you compare what you have to people who have more (or less), you're not going to love your own stuff the most and will be less happy for it. 

I am a sucker for this. You could give me the most amazing bag ever and I would be giddy with glee, then see someone with a slightly better bag and feel like mine is rubbish. Honestly, it's terrible how easily I compare myself to other people, other success, other everything. It leaves me feeling unsatisfied, unmotivated and unworthy. 

Recently I have stepped back a bit from all this comparison crap (sorry for my potty mouth there) and taken stock. I focused on what really matters (which we discussed last week) and I can't tell you how much better I feel for it. I am happy with my lot. I have enough. I am fulfilled. I am fine. Knowing these things makes me feel good. 

It goes without saying that nobody has everything. Your friend might have a beautiful house worthy of several pinterest boards, but she might be lonely. You might have an amazing partner and fabulous friends but live in a (what you think to be) crumby little flat. Both of you are comparing lives and neither of you are happy with what you already have. 

Next time you find yourself doing this behaviour, think to yourself, 'What do I have? What do I love about my life?', and I bet you'll find it's a lot. 

Stop comparing yourself to other people, it feels really rubbish. Alternatively, if you are looking at people and thinking, 'Ha! I've got better xyz than her! Hahaha!', that's no good either. Those kinds of smug or gloaty feelings are false positives. They might feel good for a few minutes but they are stemmed out of spite and don't fulfil you. Just focus on your own stuff and be glad of it. 

Yes, today has been a bit preachy. If anything I'm preaching to myself who is in much need of learning this lesson this week! 

Do you struggle with this too? What are you glad of in your life?

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Toodlepip!

xx

This month my Ultimate Advertiser is The Life of Bon. If you would like to find out more about advertising on this blog, click HERE.

Happy Hour | Lychee Ripple

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

As a responsible (!) adult over the age of 18, I enjoy the odd tipple here and there. I have gone through my 'clubbing days' and am now finding myself with a more mature(ish) palette and looking for quality over quantity.

I have seen a few bloggers sharing some of their favourite cocktail recipes or even news ones they have whipped up in their kitchens and decided that this would be a lot of fun to do over at Sprinkle of Glitter.

I want to make it VERY clear though that by running this feature I am not promoting drinking to excess and am keen to stress that these ideas are for those of you who are over the age of 18 in the UK or whatever the legal age to drink in your country is. I feel that since this blog has an older audience (compared to my YouTube channel which is slightly younger) that we can all cope. I'm not going to run this disclaimer every week but I felt it important to have it said. Please ensure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients used. Should you have any concerns about ingredients used, please consult your doctor as I am lacking in a medical degree and would be of no use to you. In a nutshell- be adults, be cool. 

Now that's done, let's get down to business!

This is a cocktail for those of you with a big sweet tooth. It's not too sophisticated, it's fun and silly. I like drinks like that. I think would be perfect for a girls night in with a few DVD's and some popcorn.

Cocktail Recipe 

per glass

1 part vodka

1 part raspberry ripple cordial (mine was from morrisons for about 60p)

3 parts fresh lychee juice

4 parts lemonade 

Garnish with -

Pomegranate seeds (they look like sunken jewels)

Crushed ice

Berries you have available (I went for a strawberry as it's in season)

Serve with a smile and enjoy!

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Toodlepip!

xx

This month my Ultimate Advertiser is The Life of Bon. If you would like to find out more about advertising on this blog, click HERE.

A Most Marvellous Place To Shop

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

Last weekend Matt and I took out Darcy and some cash (not both from the cashpoint I hasten to add) and headed out to our local vintage superstore. I say 'superstore' but what I mean is- a big old brick warehouse sort of building that has been converted into a shop where individuals can rent out small areas of space to fill with all sorts of treasure and customers can purchase at a central till. Does that make sense?

If you live in Northamptonshire, it's called 'Most Marvellous Place To Shop' and is situated on Abington Square opposite the Jaguar garage. Parking is limited so expect to park in the near by multistory.

We had only intended to buy some interesting glassware for a new blog feature I have coming up, but we couldn't help not explore every nook and cranny. Darcy thought she was in treasure land. Although I will say, a toddler in a room full of antique china can produce some pretty tense moments!

Little hands finding little joys.

Despite Matt being hidden by a smudge and Darcy looking away, I LOVE this picture. It perfectly captures the moment. 

I can't decide if this orange tea set is so amazing or so rancid?

Trolls! I used to have so many of these!!

We left about £70 lighter with over 20 vintage glasses, 3 vintage jugs and 2 other mystery items which I will feature in a future post.

I'm really excited to use all my glasses and had so much fun poking around and seeing what there was out there. Matt loved finding all the comic book and robot stuff and Darcy was just over excited for the sheer amount of things to look at!

This is definitely the kind of place I could go every weekend and is a really unique place to take friends from out of town. Next time Thrifty comes to stay, I'll be sure to take her- she'd LOVE it!

Have you ever been to a place like this? If so, share the name and location so we can look out for it next time we're in that area!

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Toodlepip!

xx

This month my Ultimate Advertiser is The Life of Bon. If you would like to find out more about advertising on this blog, click HERE.

PS- Soon following by GFC (the little squares on the right) will be taken away (thanks google, not). If you would like to continue to stay up to dat with Sprinkle of Glitter, follow on Bloglovin'. It's free, easy and the most popular way to follow your favourite blogs. 

Darcy's Den

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

I was going to save this for next week because I felt like I should do a beauty review but really, bronzer over baby? I don't think so! 

Yesterday Darcy and I had nowhere to go and no intention of getting out of our pijamas so spent the day playing inside. Since her cot is downstairs at the moment and she's using my office as a place to sleep (she sleeps better in there because of the blackout curtains) there is a little unused nook in her bedroom. 

It was all very spur of the moment but we decided to build a cosy little den and read some books together. For the 'Mummy Mafia' out there, she was supervised every second of the game and fairy lights are obviously not something she usually has so close to her. 

Pretending to be asleep, complete with tiny 'snore' noises. 

All we did to make this was open up the clothes dryer, drape blankets on top, lay the giant duvet on the bottom and bejewel with ornaments rose lights and, most especially, my wedding veil. 

I have my veil displayed in Darcy's room so it was to hand and since she wasn't left alone at any point, I felt OK with it being part of playtime. If you are planning to make this more of an independent activity I would definitely not advise using such precious materials! 

Darcy thought her den was the bees knees and stayed in there for about 40 minutes- long in toddler terms!! I just know we're going to make more of these round the house as she grows so I will be sure to share them with you too. 

What were your favourite childhood games?

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Toodlepip!

xx

This month my Ultimate Advertiser is The Life of Bon. If you would like to find out more about advertising on this blog, click HERE.

Amazing Advertisers || May 2013

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

I know I say this every single month but seriously, how quickly has this month flown by?!

This is our monthly opportunity to learn a little bit more about the bloggers and small businesses who are advertising this month with Sprinkle of Glitter. We're a friendly bunch after all. 

The Life Of Bon

Bonnie is an American English Teacher married to a 'fine ginger'. Her posts are about her life and the journey she is taking through it. If you like posts that are lovely and long that you can just get sucked into and forget your own world for a few minutes, this is the place for you. Bonnie's writing is amazing and really enables you to feel connected to whatever she is talking about, even if it's tasteless hamburgers. 

Brinkle

Arm candy anyone? Oh me oh my these bracelets are just lovely. Brinkle has advertised with me before and made me swoon over their mix of colours with metals so I should be used to the lovelies by now. All items are reasonably priced to hop on over and take your pick!

Daydream In Blue

Tom is a little love. That is all. Haha, no I jest. Zoe and I are just on Skype talking about him and saying how much we love his blog and YouTube channel and how creative he is. His blog is what I would call 'lifestyle' (WOOP!) and his pictures are just beautiful. The layout, content, images and feel of this blog are just a feast for the eye and you'd be a fool not to go right on over and follow him. 

Flutter and Sparkles

I have read Gemma's blog for as long as I can remember, since the beginning of my blogging life in 2009 so she is no stranger to me and hopefully not to you. Her blog is what I would call a 'classic' beauty blog, perfect for girlie girls who want to learn a little more about specific items but also those who are just enthusiastic about beauty, fashion and shopping! Gemma is currently hosting a very generous giveaway so do hop over and check that out. Be quick though because it closes this Sunday!

Miss Imogen Smith

I want to get lost in Imogen's blog. It is a beautifully laid out place to let your crafty, homey, feminine, creative heart run free and full to the brim of ideas and inspiration. In her 'about' section, Imogen talks of her love for Beatrix Potter and this just made me feel a little bit more in love. A girl who likes graphic design, bunnies, crafting and vintage- hello!!!

Nails, Hair & Me

Emma has only recently come back to her blog after taking a few months off to pass her exams. She is now working in a local hair salon and blogging about her experiences. Although there are only a couple of posts to read, I can tell Emma is really girlie and has a great passion for all things beauty related.

The Glamoration Nation

If you're looking to learn more about a particular beauty topic (like how to deal with spots), then this is the blog for you. With factual, informative posts, you will come away feeling knowledgeable and confident in the topic you have read about. With subjects ranging from teeth to celebrity inspired tutorials and also a YouTube channel to check out, you should have plenty to keep you busy when you feel those beauty cravings pang! 

Adventures After Hours

I'm cheating slightly here but really, Danny has summed this up himself better than I ever could- "Adventures After Hours is a lifestyle blog focusing on menswear and more importantly approaching fashion and style with a positive attitude. I promote adventures, individualism, and seeking happiness through everything you do." I love that. I always applaud people who tackle life with a positive attitude and love it when people, like Danny, want to share that with the world. This blog is well written, beautifully laid out and well worth a read, whatever your sex. 

Sophie Jane

Sophie is already in my good books because she is taking part in my 30 Day Snap project- YAY! Sophie's posts are that perfect kind for when you just need a little escape or a quick mind break from work. They are short (but not without effort), punchy and too the point. She updates her blog regularly and with interesting topics that if you like this blog, you will like hers. A really sweet slice of the net. x 

Bows, Bangles and Bakes

Jen has put all her thick cardigans away this month *she types as she watches the rain crash onto the window* because she loves to organise- Jen please will you come and do mine? Jen's blog is sticky. What I mean by this is that you'll read one post and then want to read another, and another and another. I particularly enjoy her OOTD's because they are clothes that I would wear and her Charity Shop Tips were really helpful too. Well worth a read. 

Amy Grace

First of all, Amy has a tattoo of a whisk on her foot and I think we'd all like to know more about that! Second of all, this blog is charming. Amy is 19 and lives in upsidedownland- Australia! There are blog posts about beauty products (complete with labelled swatches) and life experiences (my all time favourite I think). A lovely little read and the perfect blog to flick through on a tea break. Have a looksie. 

Life Is Worth The Fight

Stacie is one of my long-time advertisers and I love having her. Her blog is about her life dealing with Pulmonery Hypertension and the trials and tribulations it brings her. From the months that I have been reading this blog I have learnt not to pity Stacie's suffering but to understand more about the condition, more about what it is like to have to attend so many hospitals and more about what it must feel like to be constantly waiting for organs. It is because of Stacie that I have decided to stop being a wimp about needles and give blood. Go read her and be inspired :)

Tada!! Those are my ladies and gentlemen (very excited to have boys this month) of the sidebar, who help keep Sprinkle of Glitter running and provide me with plenty of reading material at 1am in the morning when I know I should be sleeping- dagnam them for writing such addictive blogs!

Have you found any new bloggers this month? Are any of them old favourites?

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Toodlepip!

xx

This month my Ultimate Advertiser is The Life of Bon. If you would like to find out more about advertising on this blog, click HERE.