30 Day Snap #30 - COMPLETION

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

Today is the last of the 30 Day Snap and I have mixed emotions. 

I'll miss reading all your comments and stalking through (don't lie, you do it too) everyone else's entries but I must say, I'm looking forward to having a little break. Not a proper one, I'll still be posting everyday, but only once, not twice.

What have I learnt from the 30 Day Snap?

Well, I've learnt that it was a much bigger challenge than I thought it would be. Remembering to take my cameras places and actually taking a snap of something worthwhile, editing, uploading, and publishing was a bigger job than I anticipated. 

I didn't evolve my photography skills like I thought I would. I was so focused on taking a snap of something that represented my day that I stayed in my 'safe zone'. I will find new ways to improve my skills. 

This community IS a community. By doing this challenge and seeing who else is taking part, I have found a much bigger network of inspirational women and made new friends. That alone was makes it worthwhile. 

That I really do heart the small things. I've said it before but this challenge has only confirmed it. I had big days in London, went to parties, hosted parties, took road trips and saw a lorra lorra friends but I chose to focus on the ordinary and 'mundane' little bits of life. It's those things that I like to see of other people's and they are the aspects that I cherish most. To me, wandering down to the corner shop to buy sweets with Darcy is no less of an event than going to Google HQ to party in the YouTube space- both of which I have done in the last 4 weeks. 

Most of all I have learnt that Life. Is. Good. I have easily found something happy to photograph each day and I have been blessed with big ol' heap of brilliant memories. 

Did you take part in the 30 Day Snap? Whether you did it for a day or you managed the whole 30, let me know below. If you didn't, what have you enjoyed about this challenge? Or will you be glad to see the back of it haha?

Let's chat in the comments!!

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Toodlepip!

xx

30 Day Snap #29 | Blankets

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

Confused as to what The 30 Day Snap is? Read THIS to be in the loop and join in.

Yesterday was the day my guests left and I was pooped!! I spent a few hours clearing up (still in the process of this) and then when Baby Glitter napped, I crashed. Hard. 

We have a huge wire crate of blankets in our living room so napping is always far too easy. I can see them from where I'm sitting right now. Uh oh. Zzzzzzzz. 

Tomorrow is the last day of this challenge! It's not been as easy as I thought it would be! Have any of you stuck with it the whole way through?

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Toodlepip!

xx

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

30 Day Snap #28 | Crayons

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

Confused as to what The 30 Day Snap is? Read THIS to be in the loop and join in.

Yesterday (as you know) I had guests and we had a lorra lorra filming time. If you are a YouTube channel enjoyer (real title there), then lots of exciting stuff is coming up for you.

Whilst we filmed, Darcy created a masterpiece in her book and that's pretty much all I snapped yesterday. The 30 Day Snap is HARD to do when you have people over, much harder than I thought it would be!!

What have you done today? Are you taking part in the 30 Day Snap? Give yourself a shoutout!!

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Toodlepip!

xx

This month my Ultimate Advertiser is It's A Blondes Life. 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.

Grey Skies and Vintage Books | Lifestyle

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

It's Friday, which means Great Big Lifestyle post. Hurrah!

Last week Matt and I visited some old friends in Market Harborough who I hadn't seen since my school days. I talked more about that HERE. I knew I wanted to take snaps but thought I would see if my little compact point and shoot camera would be up to the job of Friday Lifestyle standard photographs. It turns out, it wasn't. 

I carried on regardless and tried to make the best of a grey day with a camera not up to the job I wanted it to do, but ultimately I regretted not taking my big girl Canon 600D with me. It's big and heavy but it really does have much better results. You live and learn I guess. I'm looking into buying a pancake lens so that it's that little bit less chunky to tote about so I'll update you on that if it happens.

Pity party over, let's crack on with the visuals. 

After we left our friends we spent about an hour mooching about at a moochy pace. Market Harbourough is a lovely little village packed with charity, second hand book and arty shops. I'm an absolute sucker for vintage books and am growing quite the collection for Baby Glitter's nursery. I look forward to doing a tour of that soon for my YouTube Channel!

I'd love to say this was a perfect, wonderful, everybody smiling morning but it just wasn't. Darcy waved her brushes (latest obsession) round like crazy and hit her own face twice, the weather was a bit grim and really, we wanted to get home and retreat a little. 

I toyed with the idea of painting this lifestyle post as a magical experience but then that's not really lifestyle is it? Sometimes life is sparkles and butterflies and sometimes it just is grey weather and squarky kiddies. That's alright. By lunchtime we were right as rain and Darcy was tearing round the back garden sans lethal hairbrushes and the sun had come out- hurrah once more!

Have you had any days like this recently? Where you expected amazing and came out with average? Comment them and console me! Haha x

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Toodlepip!

xx

This month my Ultimate Advertiser is It's A Blondes Life. 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 #27 | Bubbles in the Park

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

Confused as to what The 30 Day Snap is? Read THIS to be in the loop and join in.

I mentioned yesterday that I had the lovely Tyler and Zoe staying, so a day out in the sunshine was in order.

I took my big girl camera for a lifestyle post as well as my point and shoot for a vlog- go me for documentation haha!

I won't go too much into it (keeping you in suspense) but basically it was a PERFECT day. Everything ran smoothly, everyone was happy, Darcy had a blast and all was merry and bright! More days like this please! 

What have you done today? Are you taking part in the 30 Day Snap? Give yourself a shoutout!!

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Toodlepip!

xx

This month my Ultimate Advertiser is It's A Blondes Life. 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.

Beauty Review | La Petite Robe Noire Eau De Toilette by Guerlain

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

Do you remember back in May when I talked about these beautiful Guerlain products? I said that I would be sure to review more of them as and when I had given them a fair trial and now is that time. Hurrah for standing by promises. 

For the last few weeks I have pushed my other fragrances to one side and have been focusing my efforts on the Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Eau de Toilette and have been thoroughly enjoying it. 

Today I sat down to do some research to see what precisely the scents are within it and what key notes I should tell you about. On visiting the official Guerlain site I found that the fragrance was described as 'floral' and on visiting John Lewis, I learnt that the fragrance was 'fruity'. Quite a difference and quite unhelpful. 

Fortunately Boots came up trumps and told me that this perfume has notes of roses, jasmine, orange blossom, white amber, cherry, blackcurrant and apple. With a mixture of floral and fruit, I can see where Guerlain and John Lewis were heading. 

If I were to describe this myself, I probably wouldn't clearly identify the ingredients (who really does say, 'Mmmm smells just like white amber to me!'??) but I would agree with the fruity-floral hybrid. I find the scent to be elegant, initially fruity and over time fading to floral, not girlish but not something your mother/aunt would wear. Essentially, I would say this scent is perfect for the 20something girl on the go who wants a perfume that will last all day and say, 'I'm a sweet, pretty smelling human, but I'm not a ditz, I know what I'm about'. Yes, fragrances talk now. 

Ranging from £36-£70 depending on size (30ml-£36, 50ml-£50, 100ml-£70) this is not a 'high street' fragrance but I believe it's worth the cost for the quality you are given. I would say this is something you would treat yourself to if you were celebrating (I'm always celebrating things haha) or would make a really lovely present for a friend or relative. I'm actually going to put this on my list for 'Gifts to give the girls when their birthday's come round'. No frantically searching round shopping centres for me!

Aside from the fact that this perfume is an absolute delight to look at (shell pink liquid in the gorgeous dainty bottle seriously floats my boat) and wear, I had another reason to be so excited to use a Guerlain scent. 

An exciting story. 

My Grandma Peggy is in her mid 80's now and grew up in London during the WW2 blitz. She worked as a office girl in Whitehall where she did war administration and paperwork in the Department of Air Ministry. She says she was about 19 at the time.

One day a handsome Air Commander and two Squadron Leaders were seconded to her office. One of them, Stan Hope Joel, was a millionaire and on one of his tour of duty trips to France, he visited Paris and bought my Grandma a huge bottle of Guerlain perfume and smuggled it back to London for her. I'm told it was called 'Liu'. 

Baring in mind this was the blitz and everything from sugar to hem lines was rationed, this would have been an absolutely amazing treat. Grandma says she kept the bottle for years and when Grandad feels up to it he'll have a look and see if it's still in the attic.

I know everyone does, but I love my Grandma so much. I wish she would agree to appear on camera!

I don't know about you but I thought that story was so wonderful it couldn't not be shared. 

As always, what do you think? I would love to see discussions in the comments about whether £36-£70 is a lot for perfume, what you are coveting at the moment and if you have any amazing family stories about beauty products like mine? I'm really lucky on this blog that you are all so active in the comments so I look forward to chatting with you. 

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Toodlepip!

xx

This month my Ultimate Advertiser is It's A Blondes Life. 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 #26 | Princess BBQ and Pink Hair

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

Confused as to what The 30 Day Snap is? Read THIS to be in the loop and join in.

Yep, it's last night's instagram picture.

As you can see, I have guests this week so the 30 Day Snap isn't going to be toooooo much of a focus- real life comes before internet life, which I think you'll all agree with.

So, Zoe and Tyler are staying til Friday and I'm loving the fun we're having so far- this was a princess themed BBQ of course.

Oh and have you noticed something new about my hair? Full post coming soon!

What have you done today? Are you taking part in the 30 Day Snap? Give yourself a shoutout!!

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Toodlepip!

xx

This month my Ultimate Advertiser is It's A Blondes Life. 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.

50 Shades Of Louise

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

It's Wednesday here on SprinkleofGlitter so you know what that means! (Anyone get that? Comment if you did and we can be best friends for life).

This week I carried on my trend of non-beauty videos and did another silly one. For those of you feeling starved of beauty products, don't worry, it's coming!

Apologies for such a quickie post, we have guests and I'm ignoring them- eepp!!

Let me know if you have any video requests or ideas or, if you have a YouTube channel, give yourself a shoutout :)

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Toodlepip!

xx

This month my Ultimate Advertiser is It's A Blondes Life. 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 #25 | The Great Outdoors

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

Confused as to what The 30 Day Snap is? Read THIS to be in the loop and join in.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm an Autumn/Winter girl. I like thick knits, cosy fires, rain on the window and the promise of Christmas. I find Summer to be a chore, constant worrying about fatty bits showing, being to hot, flies getting in through open windows etc. 

This Summer though, I'm coming round to it. I'd developed a love for 3/4 length skirts and I've been embracing the great outdoors more. Annnddd by 'great outdoors' I mean, this short grass with buttercups in. That's about as wild as I can manage!

How have you been getting on? Who else's 30 Day Snaps are you enjoying? 

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Toodlepip!

xx

This month my Ultimate Advertiser is It's A Blondes Life. 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.

1 Minute Hair Style - Easy Messy Bun

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

As any of you who have eyes will have noticed, this Spring I began my transformation from ombred brunette to blondey blonde blonde. It took a few salon trips to achieve the exact hue that I was after but once it was set, I was happy as a little blonde clam.

The important part now is caring for my hair to ensure it stays it's best for longest.

When Pantene Pro-V contacted me and asked if I would like to try their 1 Minute Wonder Ampoules and a few of their other styling kit products from their strength and shine collection, I was keen to see what they could do. The ampoules contain the highest concentration of conditioning actives that promise to leave your hair even stronger against styling damage than before it was dyed- a winner in my books! Easy to use, all you need to do is snap the seal of the ampoule (seriously satisfying), squidge out the conditioner onto freshly washed hair from root to tip, leave on for 1 minute, rinse off and voila- super nourished golden locks of joy.

Something that nourishes this well is highly welcomed by me, since we all know that after a few rounds of bleach, hair can be pretty thirsty.

To celebrate my newly strengthened hair, Pantene asked if I could demonstrate a one minute style and share it with the lovelies that read this blog. Since I so rarely do hair posts (I think I've done about 3 in 4 years haha), I thought it might be nice and that you might enjoy a change- they say change is as good as a holiday after all!

I decided to use a little Pantene Shine Serum to give my hair a bit of pep and gloss. It applied smoothly and evenly and left a lovely sheen to my ever so slightly lacklustre hair (thank you mr blowdryer). I love that this was so quick to use and really was a matter of put-on-hand-put-on-hair. Nourishing and perfect for quickie quick styles.

Using a hair bobble/hairband matching your hair colour, tie a pony tail. Wrap the pony tail round it self to make a bun and secure with another bobble/hairband. Leave a section free at the front. This will give you something to frame your face with in the next step.

Pull and tweak your bun to give it that 'messy' vibe and use kirby grips/bobby pins to secure it in place. I also pulled a few strands out round my face and pinned my fringe/bangs to the side. You can pin in whatever way you think suits you. You can also use hot styling tools (wands/irons) on the pulled out bits if you feel they need it. This is a very flexible style. 

To ensure it would be secure for the day I spritzed on Pantene Style and Protect Hairspray. 

Tada!! The easiest hairstyle ever! I wear my hair like this A LOT because it requires little effort but kinda looks like you did a lot of work, haha love a hair illusion!

Pantene have offered to give away 5 sets of the 1 Minute Wonder Ampoules so if you would like a chance to win one of those, comment below with 'I'd love a 1 Minute Wonder In My Life' and I will announce the winner next Thursday in a blog post. This giveaway is open to UK residents only. 

What do you think? Do you do this easy messy bun? Do you have any super quick styling tips that I could try? Let me know in the comments!

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Toodlepip!

xx

Thank you very much to Pantene for sponsoring this giveaway. 

This month my Ultimate Advertiser is It's A Blondes Life. 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 #24 | Stay At Home Working Mummy

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

Confused as to what The 30 Day Snap is? Read THIS to be in the loop and join in.

Another iPhone snap today- grainy as granary bread (oooh good one, not), but I likes it. 

It was either this or a park shot and I felt like this summed up the behind-the-scenes-ness better. This was me writing my Amazing Advertisers post yesterday, with no bottoms on (it was early) and a bed-head PJ clad baba playing next to me. This is pretty much what every single morning of my life looks like and I love it. 

In other news, as you may have guessed from the potty, we are introducing Darcy to the concept of using it. Thus far she isn't keen so I thought if I kept it in sight it would make the idea less shocking for her. Essentially, this morning my lounge was an office, toilet and playroom. The joys of being a stay at home working mummy!

NB- Blogger hates me today and won't centre all my text. It makes me want to shout at the screen. Gr. 

How have you been getting on? Who else's 30 Day Snaps are you enjoying? 

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Toodlepip!

xx

This month my Ultimate Advertiser is It's A Blondes Life. 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.

Motivational Monday #20

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

Twenty weeks of motivational posts. Crikey me! Are you getting bored yet or shall I continue with another ten?

I found this quote on Pinterest but it's original source is THIS Etsy shop which is so cute- I'm tempted to buy it framed so that I can hang it in my office- I'm a sucker for mint. 

I chose this quote today because sometimes we all need a little reassurance. 

Having the job I have (blogger/vlogger) has a lot of perks. One of those perks are that I am invited to attend a lot of press events which are dressed up as 'parties'. They offer you a couple of complimentary drinks, host it in a lovely setting and it's perfume and heels all round. Except delve a little deeper and it's brands trying to woe you in the hope that you will feature their product on your site. Nothing wrong with that, they are often a pleasure to attend but it's important to see them for exactly what they are. If I were to accept all of them, I'd be back and forth to London, constantly buying new outfits to wear, sipping champagne with the glamourous beauty blogger gals and going home with a lorra lorra goodie bags. Sounds amazing right?

Yes, it is, I'm not ungrateful I assure you (seriously, I'm like a kid on Christmas morning on the days I do choose to go into the big smoke!). However, along with all that sparkle and fizz, I'd be missing out on days and days of Darcy time, I'd hardly see my husband, my laundry would pile up, my friends would be neglected, my garden patio would miss me and I'd spend a lot less money on crisps from the corner shop (I suspect I keep that shop in business). What I'm saying is, Should I take excitement and glamour over a calm, mundane but incredibly loving life? I think, no. 

It's OK to believe that crazy and wild aren't always the way and the light. Sometimes a calm life is lovely and should be valued more highly. I'm sure had I been in a different season of life I would opt for busy/exciting but right now, I'm content. I like my lot. 

I shouldn't have to explain myself or give justifications for why I chose calm over crazy, I shouldn't have to have someone tell me it's OK, but I do.

So, if you are looking for someone to tell you it's OK, it is. 

IT IS OK.

If you prefer to spend a night in with a take away rather than dancing the night away in a club, that's FINE. If you decide you'd rather not pack 50 things into your morning, that's FINE. If you choose not to 'spill the beans' with your gal pals because you know it'll cause drama, that's EVEN BETTER!

As long as you are happy, not harming anyone and still doing all the things you NEED to do, it's OK to live a calm life. I'm enjoying mine so much. I spend a lot of time at home and it's my ultimate happy. 

What do you think? Do you ever feel obliged to do things when all you really want is a good DVD and your duvet? Are you ever made to feel boring when all you want is to spend quiet time with family? Let's chat about it in the comments and be calmies together!! Haha.

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Toodlepip!

xx

This month my Ultimate Advertiser is It's A Blondes Life. 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.