Friday 13 October 2017

Eco Style Coconut v Black Castor and Flaxseed.

Hiya!!
I finally managed to get this video up!!

It's been such a nightmare as I'm still having problems with storage and lap top issues. I tried uploading to YouTube in parts with the idea of using the video editor.... they only went and removed the video editor didn't they! Gahhhh so I had to download my videos and put them together with movie maker which took 4 hours to open them in the first place!! Gahhhhhh I kid you not, I actually recorded the video in May or June!!

Rant aside I was so excited when I saw the two gels as I had seen them around online on Blogs and Videos from people in the US and thought it would be ages until we got it here.

I also talked about my updated Wash n Go technique.

I chatted on so much I had to split the video into two parts:

Part One - First Impressions and Demo:



Part Two - Results and Thoughts:



Thanks for watching xxx

Thursday 12 October 2017

Chit Chat - Cloudy with a Tag

Hiya!! I don't really have a direction, theme or title for this Blog Post. I just wanted to blog today....

Maybe I'll get a title during the post.

I am feeling a little blah today... I'm not sure if it's the weather but lately I am just sooo tired. I feel blah most days.

Today we had so many appointments and I still have a class to go to later, so I shouldn't really feel lethargic but I do.

I guess this is part and parcel to living under a black cloud. I have my weekly appt tomorrow but I'm not really looking forward to it as I haven't done much of my list, I suppose I did do some organising and decluttering but no way near enough to report about.

I really would like to climb under my duvet and stay there until the weekend. I was feeling ok yesterday and Tuesday too for that matter - maybe I should have blogged then hey πŸ˜’   - But today.... ugh. Well today is not a duvet day, it is a busy day and I most really get my self into gear and shake this blahness (is that a word?) off.

Ok slight convo change....  This blog post is sooooo sombre let me go look for a tag to do to lighten up the mood.....


Right!! I found a Fall Tag, I'm leaving out the halloween questions.

Favourite Fall lip product? 

I will put a few faves for different types I think;
Lip Balm - Pumpkin Spice (Maybeline Baby Lips )
Lip Stick - Coffee Shimmer {264} (Rimmel London Lasting Finish)
Liquid Lip Stick - Glory {matte} (Makeup Revolution Retro Luxe Kit)

Favourite Fall Nail Polish? 

Hmmmm I don't have a particular nail varnish fave but I do like to try darker colours in the Autumn/ Fall.

Favourite Starbucks Fall Drink? 

Pumpkin Spice Latte!! All day long lol. Saying that, I haven't had a PSL for a couple years now. I'm wondering what it will taste like with almond milk. Maybe Ill give it a try.

Favourite Fall Candle? 

arggghh how can I choose?? I am actually slightly addicted to candles. My fave are Yankee Candles and I cant help buying the little samplers when I see them.
I love watching the Bath and Body Works haul videos and am secretly - well not so secret now I've said it online) jealous as they look and sound wonderful.
Ok pushed to choose, I'll cut it down to 2 Yankee Candles:
Honey Glow
Candy Corn

Favourite Fall Scarf or accessory?

I have so many scarves to choose from but I love darker colours in the Autumn/Fall.

Favourite Fall YouTube Videos to watch?

I love to watch Fall decor hauls, Fall room decor "tours" and Bath and Body Works Fall hauls.


                            ................................................................................................................


Sooooo I think we turned it around in the end. I almost deleted the first part of the post and was so tempted to just post the tag but hey, this is real life and all that. Hopefully my next post will be better. 'See' you soon xxx

Monday 9 October 2017

Meal Planning - last weeks shop and meals.

Hiya!! Last week went by in a whirl of appointments, pity parties and shopping trips.
At the beginning of the week, I had the idea to start meal planning again.
I often feel overwhelmed by the time evening comes and when it's a really off day I find it hard to get on with day-to-day stuff. Thinking about what to cook often falls into that category. Having meal ideas already lined up helps so much.
It also helps to quash the million "whats for dinner " questions if I actually write them up on our menu board lol.

I went to pick up a few bits on Monday and the store was offering free delivery with an over £20 spend. I just had to shop and they would pack and deliver, whooooop whoooooppp 😊
That was great for my back/hands as I normally have to lug the groceries home I end up having to leave heavier items behind and often miss out on special offers etc.
Sooooo I did a bigger shop and concentrated on only buying dinner items. I found that it really helped my anxiety and stress levels and also kept me on budget as I wasn't just picking up items willy nilly.

I was meaning to come home, show the dinner items and then plan out the meals for the week, but.... life happened and each day my intention to post went out the window and then it was Saturday... so yeah...

I decided that I would still post last weeks shop and meals as it can be a reminder for future meals of what worked really well, which meals went down a treat and for shopping inspiration etc.

Hopefully it will at least be interesting for you too lol. I will be browsing other blogs to get meal planning inspiration, motivation and tips.




Ok, enough chatter and onto the actual post.😌


Items;
 meat:
Chicken thighs x2
Beef Cubes x2
Chicken Wings
Fajita Kit - bbq x2
Chicken Cubes
Tuna Pack (4 cans)

 Veg:
Spinach
Mixed Vegetables
Shredded Lettuce x2
Tomatoes (6pk)
Cucumber

 Dairy:
Red Leicester Cheese block

 Sides:
Potato Wedges
Sweet Potato Wedges

 Misc:
Olives
Pickled Onion




Meals; - my meals are in ()

 Monday:




Chicken Fajitas with Wedges {using chicken chunks}
(Mixed veg wrap and sweet potato wedges)
 - well received, the chicken flavour was well liked

 Tuesday:
Chicken Wings and Pasta Cheese
(veggie pasta stew - soup thickened too much lol)
 - well received


 Wednesday:





Stewed Beef with Rice
( Sweet Potato, Spinach and mixed veg with rice - chopped the wedges)
 - fave meal of the week for family. Beef was a hit. Seconds requested also request for next week.

 Thursday:
Peri/Thai Chicken with Mashed Potatoes.
(Chick Pea, Spinach and veg pilaf)

 Friday:
Tuna Mayo with Rice

 Saturday:
Store Bought Southern chicken and Pizza
(Chick Pea, Spinach and veg pilaf)

                                      ..............................................................................................

I'll be doing a meal planning post for this week tomorrow as I'm still deciding.

Please let me know if you have a meal planning blog or know of any.

Thursday 28 September 2017

Wash Day after Protective Styling.

Hiya!! as usual, I forgot to post that I added a video up.

This is (another) wash day video. I thought it would be fun to record one after a semi longterm protective style.
I was sent some activated charcoal shampoo and conditioner and it came at the right time as I wanted to get my hair and scalp squeaky clean after my ps.









I'd love to hear what you do to treat your hair after a protectve style.

Thanks for watching xxx

Wednesday 27 September 2017

Summer Holiday Recovery and little update.

Hiiiii!!!! OH MY GOSH!! I have just started to recover from the mayhem that is Summer Holidays.

Now let it be known right from the start that I do actually love my kiddies... I love them to bits... I do.
However... Summer Holidays can put all that love to the test.
I am one of those parents who teachers look at in a mixture of surprise, approval and disbelief when I utter the words "I cant wait for the holidays" Other parents give me the side eye until they realise I actually mean it... and I do.
I enjoy having my boys home, I enjoy having days without the rush and hurry of school mornings. I still end up waking up early but I have a more leisurely start to the day (and can even have a rest in bed if the kiddies are still asleep).

With all that being said, Summer Holidays can be hectic and stressful at times and the one that just went.... crazy. The UK weather often meant that my kiddies were "stuck" inside with pent up energy. I like to have activities at hand to keep them occupied but it was tricky at times because they really just wanted to be outside.

Grocery shopping and cooking was a madness also. Bread, milk and cereal seemed to have grown wings and flew off... I couldn't keep them in the house if I tried. I did have fun experimenting with different recipes and healthy snack ideas.

Along with all the fun, I had many opportunities to exercise my referee skills.... siblings can argue over the smallest things and hot tempers can end in fisticuffs..... did I actually just say "fisticuffs"?!

This year we didn't go away over the Summer as we are planning to go away later on so there wasn't even a vacation to break up the time so it was week after week of solid.... lets go with fun for positivity sake lol.

As the Holidays came towards the end, we went into "back to school" mode and got caught up in uniform and supplies mayhem which was followed by actual school preparations and then school starting back and slightly different routines that had to be put into place.


Added to a huge change for us as a family (hopefully I'll blog about this at a later date - and no there isn't a new addition to the family lol) we definitely were in a state of upheaval but we are just about coming to a steady routine now.

It seems that it really is the season for transitions and changes.

Life Update.

I used the summer to get a grip on all the things I need to change and improve in my life and am continuing with the start in changes. I will blog more in time and document my changes. The most apparent one is my extra weight loss. I had been trying over the summer to kick my weight loss up a notch and although I deffo could have done better, I made better choices and my clothes are showing the changes in my body. My face seems smaller to me and I did a double take a couple of days ago when I caught my reflection in a store window lololololol my legs look a little smaller, I was wondering who was walking so close to me but realised it was in fact me !!! wowwww!! I had a ditzy moment for sure but it really shocked me as I don't notice day to day. That morning I was wondering why my cardigan kept hanging weirdly and the sleeves were waaayy long, my trousers kept trailing under my shoe... when I saw my reflection it dawned on me that the clothes didn't mysteriously stretch... my body is starting to shrink. Haaaaaaaa its actually making me laugh as I type as it sounds so silly but yea.... that actually happened.

I also notice people that I haven't seen for a while do a double take when they see me.... those who don;t know me very well go to walk past me or look at me with a "where do I know you from look" when I say hi and then they seem to recognise me. A few actually mention they didn't recognise me.
Those who do know me explain that it's because of the weight I have lost.
I often think they're just being polite but that reflection episode has made me start to take their comments for truth.

A family wedding was another instance where so many people were shocked..... I don't even think I have lost that much though.... hmmmmm. The mind is a strange thing sometimes. Ill just keep going and my mind will eventually catch up with my body.

I am making active changes in my emotional/mental health as well as my physical health and have been referred by my GP to get some help. It feels both weird and nice that I am finally taking the steps towards a healthier mind.



SOoooo what a mega post that turned out to be!! If you read up to here thanks so much and if you skimmed down to the end I don;t really blame you lol.

Thanks as ever for reading my little blog. It's really warming to see the stats. I know I don't get many comments - please don't be shy I love a good chat... evidently😁 - but I do appreciate all of you who take the time to visit and read. Have a great day xxx

Tuesday 4 July 2017

Trying out smoothies - Getting over the texture

Hiya!! I hope you are having a great week so far, my week didn't get off to the best start but I'm determined to change the way I react to "struggles" I may not be able to control things that happen or the way people behave or what they say.... but I can control the way I react... the way I internalise things and my actions.

With all that being said, I am pushing through and getting on with things, focusing on my goals and doing better rather than focusing on the grrrr things.

For the longest of time people have been recommending smoothies to me as a way to help get healthier and even lose weight, I tried it out a couple years ago and couldn't get past the textures (bleughhh) all the bits and... (bleughhh) even the thought is making me squirm.
I couldn't bring myself to make myself anymore. I made some for the boys and hubby and they went down really well but not for me, no way.
I like some of the ready made smoothies in the shops, the Naked blue or green ones are delish but they are quite expensive and as I continued to drop certain food items and limit the intake of others they became too sweet for me anyway.

My mummy received a Nutri Ninja (one of the top models) for Christmas from her hubby (Hi both of you 😘 ) and since then has been making smoothies everyday, this from someone who didn't really eat fruits and such like that. I was tempted to try one but the thought of the bits just put me off..... I was at her home last month and she made convinced me to taste one of hers and it wasn't bad at all, it was quite smooth... still too much texture for me but promising.

Forward to last week, I found a new youtube channel with a Jamaican chef and he made 3 smoothies in his ninja.... they looked soooo good and I made up my mind to give smoothies a try as part of my weight loss refresh/ boost.

I purchased some fruit and veggies and built up the courage (it took over a week...) I picked up some fresh strawberries on Monday and yesterday was the day.


I chose Pineapple, Banana, Strawberry and Spinach, placed them in my Ninja cup, added a little Honey,  Vanilla Extract, Ice and some Coconut Dream that hubby bought me to try (thanks babe 😘)




















I let the Ninja do its thing and then blended again.... and again..... and once more lol, I wanted to get it as smooth as possible.

When it was to my liking I stopped blending, added some more ice and put the lid onto the cup (I realised it was the mixing cup not the serving one but why dirty another cup lol) and popped in one of my plastic straws.





The smoothie was actually smooth!! whoooppp whoopppp!! I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't completely smooth and I had to force the bleurgh reaction away but it was really nice. I may blend a little extra next time, I contemplated sieving the smoothie but I wanted all the goodness.
I may have put in a little too much spinach as the taste of it was very strong but as I had a lot of sweet fruits I wanted to balance it out a little.

The Coconut Dream gave it a creamy taste and also added to the flavour. I am glad I chose that instead of almond milk which I was going to use at first. All in all it was a positive experience lol.

I drank it during the day and that in itself stopped me from reaching for snacks and I was quite full all afternoon until evening.
I will definitely be having smoothies more often and incorporating them into my Healthier Lifestyle goals.


Please let me know if you have any smoothie recipes for me to try.

Monday 3 July 2017

Weight Loss Journey - Refresh

 Hiya!! I have mentioned in the past that I am trying to loose weight and although I have lost some, its not near enough for me. At the very start of my (serious) weightloss Journey, a couple years ago, I just had a "a ha moment" something just clicked and I decided that I would make a proper try at dropping my weight for once and for all.

I knew that it would take a very long time.... very long!! At my largest I was in the danger zone.
I knew in my heart that I would have to be half my size to be in a healthy place but that is only the beginning because when I get there, I'll have to keep on losing weight so that I can be at my goal.... soooooo.... I had a long and hard task ahead of me.

I plodded on and changed so many habits. Over the year that followed I lost weight, got healthier and felt so much better.
In the next year after that, I started to be more active, walking, work outs etc. and that enabled me lose even more weight.

My decision to stop eating meat had the bonus result of weight loss and my new dairy allergy intolerance meant I had to stop eating dairy products which in itself helped too.

In my mind, at times, I feel like the same super big person.... Only pictures really allow me to see just how much weight I have actually lost. My clothes are also a good "measuring tool" I have so many clothes that are very big now that used to fit me well.

Looking back at the way I was - not only in appearance but my mindset and level of activity - It is hard to believe I am the same person and in reality I'm not really Her... She is someone that used to exist but no more, I have made great changes and it's now noticeable to others - especially when I wear more fitted clothes.

Face comparison - Then vs Now


I decided a couple weeks ago that it's time to really push my efforts and work harder. I walk soooo much more than I did and that's great, I actually cannot believe how much I walk now, but I want to do so much more. So I'm calling it a weight loss refresh.... not exactly a restart as I am doing well but a push to do more.

I have upped my water intake, for 2 weeks any time I wanted a drink I only had water. I have had a couple days where I have had other drinks and I do notice a difference so I will make an effort to drink more water again.
I have watched my portion sizes and limited the amount of many food items that I love to reat but really shouldn't.
I am going to make more of an effort to do more activities, whether a work out, dance, extra walk etc,


I don't really post much about my weight loss journey but I think it will be a nice idea to do so more, it will be motivation for my low days and also a great record for me to look back at when I reach my goal weight. I'm hoping that it will also motivate others who are on a weight loss journey too, no matter how much (or little) they may have to lose.


soooo heres to a weight loss refresh..... I cannot wait to get to goal but know it's a day at a time kind of journey for me.

Saturday 1 July 2017

Using My Stash: Curly Kids Curly Creme Conditioner.


A couple years ago I started a little challenge to use up my Hair Stash products.
I called it Product Junkie Rehab you can find the first post HERE and the used items HERE and HERE .... yes I blogged only two items.... I did use up items (obviously) from then to now but I also bought lots of stuff too.

This time around I am using my stash without buying anything else (on the whole I have been great but I must confess to buying three items since I started around March this year - quite good considering my past pj tendencies).
This is part of my general house declutter and also I plan on using all the products I have and then using more natural products especially my Kokolicious goodies.

Anywhooo..... I thought it would be great to document my stash use up for interest and added motivation but also to review the items I use. If I need to purchase an item in the future I'll be able to choose an item I know is good and works for my hair.
Hopefully the reviews will be helpful for you too :) .

Okaaaayyyyy......

The first item I'm talking about is Curly Kids Curly Creme Conditioner - (Leave in Conditioner)

I have purchased this many times in the past, in fact I had one in my "to use" pile in the posts.





 Definition from official site:

Excellent leave-in conditioner that adds vital moisture and shine. Hair will become noticeably healthier and easier to manage. Minimizes breakage and damage due to dryness.
This product does not contain petrolatum, mineral oil, sulfates or paraben!


 Ingredients (from my tub):
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetereath-20, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Olea Europea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Cetrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, BIS (C13-15 Alkoxy) PG Amodimethicone, Fragrance, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phenoxyethanol.


My Experience/Review:
As mentioned before, I have repurchased this item many times. I love the way it makes my hair feel. I use and recommend this as a cheaper (money wise) alternative to Shea Moisture's Cocout and Hibiscus curl enhancing smoothie.
The branding reminds me of Mixed Chicks.
I love that it's parben free and also no mineral oil/ petroleum


Texture:
This has a rich, creamy consistency that I love. It is thick but not too heavy and has a whipped like feel rather than a dense one.






Fragrance:
A sweet, tropical smell, Coconuts and pineapples. I really like the fragrance it doesn't smell like a fully natural smell but neither is it highly synthetic. The smell isn't sickly and it lingers on the hair long after application.


Value for Money:
Approx £3.99 for 170ml/ 6fl oz -The price is really good. It is very affordable especially for the quality




Pros:
No parabens.
No Mineral Oil.
Great Price.
Lovely fragrence.
Hair feels moisturised when using.
Has a thick and creamy consistency which really works for my hair.
Can be found in local Hair Shops I have looked in. (its in all of the ones I've looked in)



Cons:
Can cause build up if used for many days or too much.
Jar is smaller than I would prefer (although the price is so good, repurchase isn;t an issue just a little inconvenient.



Would I repurchase?
I would and have repurchased again. I would and have recommended this product to others.
My only issue would be that I looked online for ingredients (I was too lazy to get the tub and type out the ingredients) and many stores had Dimethocone and Paraffinum Liquidum (paraffin oil) listed, I knew for sure my one didn't have that so double checked my tub and they definitely are not listed on there.
The manufacturer website claims - This product does not contain petrolatum, mineral oil, sulfates or paraben!
I'm not sure why there is discreprencies there.... makes me wonder. Maybe the ingredients have changed?
I will have to check the tub if I go to purchase in the (very distant lol) future.

Curly Kids Curly Creme Conditioner -  can be found in local Hair Shops (beauty supply store)



Thursday 29 June 2017

...... All Done!!......

Whoooopppp Whooooppppp

wheeeewwww weeee and Yayyyyyyy!!

Ok, cheering over lol.

The bathroom took a little while longer than usual due to the hectic phase and busy days causing me to have a longer stretch between deep cleans but it went along well and I feel much better now it's done.

Mello was fast asleep so I tried not to make too much noise while cleaning.

Kitty came to "help" me clean  and also chase a spider lol.

My phone battery was very low so I didn't listen to any music while cleaning the bathroom but I hummed and sang as I worked.



Bathroom Cleaning Items:

Broom, Dustpan, Mop as before
Costco Cleaning spray (will add name)
Cleaning Flannel
Microfibre Cloth
Scrubbing Brush
Bath and Shower Gel - Faith Tear Tree and Lemon





















::Bathroom Hacks ::
*I use the dish scrubbing brush with the white scrubbing head to clean my shower incl the doors, sink, tiles and mirror. I fill the liquid compartment with bath and shower gel and use my spray to clean with (today I used the Costco spray)
The scrubbing brush is fabbbbb!!!
*Spirit/White vinegar is amazing in the bathroom great for the windows and mirror and freshening the plug holes/drains.



I'm having a quick break. Drinking the rest of my tea and having a little bit of day old baguette - oh the life lololol.

I'll bring the mats from the bathroom and WC to was as well as kitty's food mat, put the washed clothes to dry and fold the dried clothes......

Then it's get dinner sorted and get ready for mid week fellowship project.


Thanks for "keeping me company" during my cleaning.

Please let me know if you have any cleaning hacks or tricks and any Song suggestions to listen to while I clean. Have a great day xxx

.....Short Pit Stop :) ....

Downstairs is now done, whooo hoooo!!

I also washed kitty's food and water bowls (I must remember to wash the upstairs water bowl when I go back down), put his food mat to wash and filled the bowls.




I made a peppermint and fennel tea with a little honey to refresh me and soothe my throat (hay fever, allergies, and what feels like a summer cold is attacking) and a quick toilet break (tmi??? Probably)
And it's bathroom cleaning time!!

Poor Mello is taking another nap bless him.

Towel folding, rubbish sorting, tidying surfaces, emptying and cleaning bin, washing toothbrushes and flannels, sweeping, cleaning the shower, mopping, cleaning sink and toilet(yukkk).

My phone battery is on 10% gahhhhh

.....Phewww.....

Phewwww that was a mini workout!!

WC and Litter Tray Music -
Satisfied - Walls Group
Old Rugged Cross - Marvin Sapp
Here Is My Worship [feat, The Cry] - Jaye Thomas
Brighter Day -  Kirk Franklin
Who You Were - Travis Grene
Empty Me - William Murphy

WC all done!!  As it's quite a small area it doesn't take that long I also have to sweep it daily to remove the dry kitty litter that's kicked out.
There's lots of tiles in there but they clean down easily enough.

I change the litter tray every few days, more regularly in the summer and hot weather as I find it gets smelly much more quickly.

WC Cleaning items -
Hard Broom - Poundland
Dustpan and Brush - Ikea
Mop and Bucket - as before
Mopping water/liquid - as before
Microfibre Cloth - I use many different brands, today's is from Mighty Pound
Kokolicious Multipurpuse spray
  For the toilet -
Toilet duck
Cleaning spray from Costco (will put name in)

Litter Tray Items -
Litter Tray - Poundland - I had a tesco one in the eraly days but its low and the litter and stuff (bleugh) would get kicked out too much. The poundland one is nice and high. I need to replace it soon but I dont see any in my local stores.
Kokolicious Multipurpose Spray - I like to use natural stuff for kitty
Carex antibacterial wash.
Kitty Litter Scoop - Tesco - as part of their starter kit.
Scrubbing brush - Had for so long I can't remember where I got it from or the brand.
Plastic bags on a roll - Poundland.
Kitty Litter - I use all different brands, I'm trying to find one I really like.... there have been some real bad ones. I have been using the Coshida Fullers Earth one from Lidls. I used the very last bit of it just today and I probably wont be buying it again which is a shame because the price was great.



::Kitty Litter Hacks/Tips::
*Use plastic bags with handles - it makes it so much easy to tie the bag up when done and keeps all the smell inside the bag.
*Place the plastic bag in the sink, you can use the surface area to dispose of the yucky litter and also have your hands free to do so easily.
*Use a face mask if you need to. It becomes a must in really hot days for me (baulk)
*Use the scoop to push the yucky litter in the bag, and to swish around the tray.
*sweep up the drooped litter before tying the bag... sounds obvious but the amount of times I forget    lol.
*Place the tied bag onto the door handle while cleaning the tray - it keeps it off the floor and acts as a reminder when leaving the room... I have forgotten the bag in the room soooo many times lol, I'll be like "what's that smell??"..... "Ohhhhhh"
*Use a round scrubbing brush that has a compartment for holding cleaning liquid meant for dishes to get into the corners of the tray, I don't put liquid in it but the height allows my hands to stay far away from the yuck lol
*After cleaning, ensure to dry the tray thoroughly - I use a microfibre cloth only used for this to dry it off.


Now to wash the dishes and clean the cooker.... then that will be it for downstairs :)

....WC Time....

Mopping all done!!

Mopping Music - 
Magnify His Name - Chevelle Franklyn
I'll Keep Running - Todd Dulaney
Identity - James Fortune & Fiyah
Something About The Name Jesus - Kirk Franklin

I also wiped down the cupboards, folded dried clothes, put wet clothes in dryer and another load to wash phewww.

Now to do the downstairs toilet... or WC lol
Sweep, mop, clean tiles and sink and also the toilet (yukkkk)

I'll empty, clean and change the litter tray as well.

... mopping ...

Wow!! That took longer than planned, lots of hidden "dust bunnies" and miscellaneous objects. I deffo built up a sweat there.

Sweeping Music -
Try Jesus - Fred Hammond
Great Is Your Love - Walls Group
Your Love Wins - Marvin Sapp
I Will Exalt [feat. Amanda Cook] - Bethel Music


A bag full of recycled rubbish(including the waste from the projects)  and 2 dust pans of rubbish later it's now time for mopping. I boiled some more water to make the mop water hot.





 mopping items -
mop - string type from Poundland - I used to have a spin mop but SOMEONE broke it....
Mop Bucket - Spin Mop.... without the spinning bit as SOMEONE broke that too (are you noticing a pattern)
Mop Water Liquid - boiling hot water, essential oils (this time around I used Tea tree, eucalyptus, orange, clary sage, rosemary and geranium) Baking soda and Apple cider vinegar (I use either acv or spirit/white vinegar) a little washing up liquid (this time it was Fairy apple) - I normally use Dr Bronners but have run out.

::Mopping Hacks::
*I use a scrubbing Brush with a handle meant for dishes to tackle extra grimy bits or stuck on bits... when you have a house full of boys it's amazing what you can found stuck on the floor **shudder** .. and some of my Kokolicious Multi purpose spray.
*I re used the water from the condenser in the dryer to save on water.




.. mummy break ..

That part all done.....

Eggs frying with a little onion salt, cracked black pepper and mixed herbs.


Mello woke from his nap so I stopped to get him so lunch, he wanted fried egg and bread so I decided to fry some up for Kay and Hubby while I had the frying pan out lol. - another side note.... hubby was complaining that the pan always sticks when he uses it..... no wonder seeing as SOMEONE decided to either scrub the non-stick coating off or use metal ore something on it!! Gahhhhh- my good good frying pan. I actually purchased it to replace the one SOMEONE ruined gahhhh!!!

Anywhooo back to the cleaning.

I LOVE to listen to music while I clean. I enjoy Gospel music as it keeps me uplifted and happy when doing chores that I hate to even think about (esp. toilets!! bleugh) and up beat when I actually want to moan about what somebody has left for me to do etc.
I use Amazon Music and use playlists. I like to listen to their stations as I get to hear new music and also reacquaint myself with oldies but goodies.

Now to pick up all the bits and pieces on the floor **blush** and sweep up, I'll do the downstairs passage at the same time.

Clean With Me....

hiya!! I have to do a bathroom, toilet, kitchen and dinning room Deep Clean blitz and thought I'd blog for added motivation and also a way to get blogging more.

I am using my phone so please excuse any typos etc.
{{sidenote, why did the blogger app get removed?? 😫}}

I have gotten behind on my chores as it's been hectic here so it will take a little longer than usual. Also Mello is home sick today so I'll be looking after him as well.
We have been working on science fair projects so I have added fun of cleaning up spilt paint to add to the daily grime.

Okay.... enough procrastinating- in with the cleaning.

Kitchen & Dinning Room
Firstly I  like to fill the sink with dishes and washing up liquid so they can soak while I'm cleaning - however I did the dishes last night so there's not many (Yayyy for me lol)

For small amounts of dishes I just fill my washing bowl, wash the dishes, place them on the side as I wash and then rinse.
If there is a lot of dishes, I fill the bowl with cold water, fill the sink with washing water and the dishes and as I clean them, I use the bowl to rinse as I go.... this makes the chore quicker and also takes into consideration that there wont be space on the side for me to hold the dishes before I rinse them.




Washing Up Items -
Washing Bowl - Had for a while, I cannot remember where I purchased it although I will be getting a new one soon as I notice slight wear and tear.
Washing up liquid - I use different types, today its Fairy apple.
cleaning brush - Poundland and waitrose. I bought a few and use the handles and replaceable heads from both stores as they both fit each other. (its the same type as the one shown in the bathroom picture except I use the green scrubbing heads for the dishes).

::Dishes Hacks::
* I love to use the cleaning brushes that have the scrubbing heads on them, they clean so well and the handle makes it easy to clean in cups etc. The great thing about these are that the handle holds some cleaning liquid soooo handy.
* I used to add some bleach to my cleaning water ( it's something I inherited from my mother) but when I stopped using bleach a few years ago I always had the niggling feeling that I needed something... it might be all in my head though as I choose Washing up liquids with antibacterial properties.... Now when I want to add a little extra, or for items that were strong fragranced I use a little Tea Tree oil in the water. 
I also use my Kokolicious multipurpose spray for greasy or burnt dishes and pans.


Next I normally boil the kettle for the mop water and put a washing load on and place any clothes that may have been in the washing machine, into the dryer - Today I put a load on while I had my breakfast and put the clothes that were in the washing machine into the dryer - so this will be the next lot of loads.
I re used the water from the condenser in my dryer for the mopping water, its warm and also saves on using water.
ahem - excuse my foot lol.



Clothes Washing Items -
Non Bio Washing Powder - I use different brands but at the moment its Persil. Non-Bio is a must for mine and a couple of the boys sensitive skin and a eczema.
Kokolicious softner

Saturday 27 May 2017

Hiiiii and New Hair Growth Challenge.

Hello Stranger.... Ok I know I'm the stranger and have been AWOL .... again!!

I wont bore you in this post about the whys and wherefores but I'll deffo do a update post soon.

I just waned to quickly post that our next round of the 90 Day Hair Growth Challenge is up and running. Whoooop Whooop lol.

It will be great having you all join in again, I love seeing and hearing all about your progress. Please let me know what methods you will using during the challenge.

If you have any ideas an/or hair growth hacks for me to try please let me know.

I will be doing a Q&A and info video as I have had quite a few questions re: the growth challenge so let me know if you have any.

Here's the Start and Length Check Video:




Wednesday 15 February 2017

New Budget Buys Series

Hiya!. I hope you are all well and enjoying your week so far, I have started a new Series called "Budget Buys"
Hair, Beauty and even household items can be quite costly so I am always looking for ways to save pennies.
I'll be sharing my favourite budget items, brands, hacks, tips etc. and looking for new ones too.

For the Series I thought I would visit a few low cost shops and get some items to make a DIY Subscription Box. I love watching subscription box unboxings and reviews and also reading about them on blogs, forums etc but they can be quite expensive and many don't seem like great value if I'm honest so I thought it would be fun to do my own.
This time around I went to Poundland and picked up a variety of items.







Please let me know if you have any ideas, tips, suggestions or even any brands you would like me to try.

Thanks for watching xxx





Monday 13 February 2017

Checking In!

Hi!! I have no words for my blomas 2016 epic fail so I'll just gloss over it and carry on as if it didn't even happen.

I thought I would come and do a quick "check in" post as its been a while since I posted last (shamelessly ignoring that my last post was part of the blogmas fail) I have been trying to organise myself better and it has been very busy the last few months. I feel as the boys get older the appointments, plans, trips etc just become much more and the time to do it all in gets shorter.
I seem to be behind with my daily schedules frequently and as fo my planned tasks... I'm always playing cach up.

I will be having a proper look into organising techniques, tips, hacks and tools and get my stuff in gear.

I am still trying to eat better, exercise more and shift this weight. I am walking a great deal and that's really been helping. I have stayed on my Pescatarian challenge although I don't actually see it as a challenge any more as it's been a long while and I am not finding it a struggle at all. In fact I actually eat more vegetarian and vegan meals as I don't have fish everyday.

My hair is striving and I am going to start another hair growth challenge soon as quite a few people have requested another one. I am contemplating putting my hair in a protective style as it is quite cold here with snowy days and lots of rain.
I wore my hair stretched for a couple of weeks and while it was nice having sleek styles and seeing more of my hairs length, it was quite a lot of manipulation - more than Im comfortable with and also quite time consuming for the school runs.

I have a fair amount of products and items that I have been kindly sent/given to review which I will bw doing very soon. I am very grateful for the opportunities given to me but I am trying to ensure that I keep close to having fun, informative and interesting content rather than just review after review which can come across as disingenuous at times.
I also wouldn't like to feel pressured to giving a certain review just because I was sent an item. I have reviewed items/products that I have purchased myself in the past just to share my experiences and offer suggestions for things I love, I think as long as I use the same criteria when reviewing these given items Ill be ok. I do realise I'm probably overthinking it all (whats new there ;) )




Well..... That's it for now. It's half term here and the boys are keeping my day nice and busy lol.

I hope you all had a great New Year and your year so far is going well.