HalloOooOoooowe'en

BOO! Scared ya eh?

I'm waiting patiently for the trick or treaters to start appearing at the door, I've made around 40 wee bags of treats, so I hope that's enough!  But I'm beginning to think it might not be as last year we had around 20 or more and our estate was tiny now there are loads more houses and lots more kids.  What do you put in the treat bags?  This year I opted for just sweets and a cookie.  I remember when I was trick or treating I'd hate to get green unripe satsumas and horrid small apples.. and monkey nuts.. yuk!  All those things were tossed aside and all I wanted was the yummy sweets... I bet my dentist just shuddered there!

Today McBump had her second baby massage class, she loved it.  And she is now sound asleep so chilled out.  After class we had a lovely afternoon at a friends house, she had a new baby too who also attends baby massage... so we had two chilling out babies.

I think I see trick or treaters.................

Wish List

I'm not a material girl AT ALL but sometimes it's nice to have a look at things... so here's my wish list:  (do you have a wish list?)

1.  I love watches, especially Swatch.  I've had one before in 1988 but I am loving the Jeremy Scott collection at swatch and I adore this one - Swatch Punk

2.  Ugg Boots... or as I call them Uggly Boots.  They are not pretty but I love them!  I bought a pair from House of Fraser in Glasgow probably about 5 years ago, they were £170 they were also the last pair in stock but had a slight mark on them, so I got them reduced to £145.  It was the most I had ever paid for a pair of boots but they are still on the go, ok they look a bit worn hence adding chestnut ones to my wish list.

3.  Ness Wellie Boots - love these in 'crush'.  I was never allowed Wellie Boots when I was wee, Mum always bought my Sister and I leather boots from Clarks.  I was always sad as I wanted orange wellies!

4.  I love both of these bags from Ness and one is on Sale!  Bag 1 and Bag 2.

5.  Lush Lush Lush!  I've never had any products from Lush but I adore the smell when I pass the store on Buchanan Street!  McGirl (my middle child, she hates being called that), received some Lush products for Christmas, bath bombs, soap and snow fairy stuff... it was amazing - I used the soap and loved the smell it was like bubblegum!

6.  Spa Day / Pamper day... I've never had a pamper day or any sort of spa treatment, I don't even get my eyebrows shaped or go to the hairdresser so the thought of a spa day, massage, manicure, pedicure etc sounds like something for Royalty!

7.  Chocolate has to be on everyone's wish list right?.  

We all need red shoes, Dorothy had them and they took her home!  I love these red mid heels from Office.

9.  VW Beetle... gotta be old style.  I'd not be fussed on the colour but I do love purple!

10.  Last on my wish list (as I thought I better limit it to 10).. is a holiday... somewhere warm (not too warm), peaceful, beach, pool and good local history.... bliss!

Voila!

Ax

A day out (Yay!).. in Glasgow (Boo!)

Friday... should I say Woo!?  It seems that everyone on my Facebook this morning was excited it was Friday and they were all mentally preparing themselves for a weekend of going out, fun, cocktails etc... Me on the other hand had a trip into Glasgow planned and four service assessing jobs to do... not my idea of fun but it did mean breakfast and lunch was paid for and I still earned a small fee for each job.

Long gone are my days of going out and having fun... actually I don't know if I have ever experienced that looking forward to the weekend to get dolled up and go out. Well, I probably have but it was most likely way more than 21 years ago... and I don't remember that far back!  I love my nights with my family and I know how blessed I am to have such a loving family but I wonder what it's like to get all dolled up, music playing as you get ready, planning what to wear, the excitement of meeting friends and then tasting lots of cocktails... think I've tried two cocktails in my life and one of them was on holiday!

Anyway... Glasgow...  I'm not a huge fan of Glasgow City Centre, most due to the Chuggers (Charity Muggers)... you can't move in Buchanan Street for people asking you to donate or sign up for something.  Don't get me wrong I am not against any charity and the simple bucket shakers are fine.  We donate to charity every year... instead of receiving  Christmas gifts from family and friends we ask them to donate to our chosen charity.  This year we chose Anthony Nolan (our page is here: https://www.justgiving.com/applemajik).

Our trip to Glasgow was OK, the City Centre has changed quite a bit since my last visit, well the shops have.... I was especially surprised at how good St Enoch centre was, some of the new shops were lovely... although we didn't go into the individual shops, it was a window shopping day!  I would have liked to have shopped in Ness, it looked lush... oh yes and Lush it smelt so so gorgeous as we walked up Buchanan Street!  I do hope I get into the store after Christmas and pick up some grab bags that Transatlantic Blonde told me about.

Something fun we saw at Hamley's...

Planning a trip to Braehead and Ikea at the weekend... rock and roll :)

Ax

BookBug!

Aww we didn't manage to go to Rhythm Time class.  McBump had an unsettled night on Tuesday evening which resulted in a late bed time, around 11pm... so being the cute lazy bum she is, she slept till around 9am on Wednesday morning, even then I was trying to wake her before.  We'd never have made it to Livingston for 10.30am so we had to miss out.

But, today we had a BookBug session at our local library and I had fun.... McBump slept all the way through the songs and story time.  McBump was a McPumpkin for the day too!  Too cute!  I am sure McBump will love BookBug (when she's awake) as the other babies loved it today.  I tried out some of the new songs when we came home and we had lots of giggles!

I've had an exciting email about a possible photo-shoot for a feature called Snow Babies for a tabloid newspaper... if anything comes of it I'll be sure to let you know.

Ax

Chooseday!

It's two for one at Dominos Pizza on a Tuesday... now what to choose!

OK, I am over excited about dinner tonight.  I've not had a Dominos Pizza for probably 16 months or so due to my milk allergy, but as recent events (maybe having a baby, changes to my body?) have for some reason allowed me tolerate milk products, I am giving the Texas BBQ (no peppers, but olives please) with the double decadence base a go!  I won't be having the two pizzas, my Son will enjoy the Pepperoni Passion!

Enough about food... Yesterday McBump and I went to our first baby massage class!  We loved it!  McBump cried a little at the end of the class but she was getting hungry (so am I, still thinking of the pizza).  At the class there were about 8 babies and I would say everyone enjoyed it.  I'm looking forward to next week.

Tomorrow McBump and I have a Rhythm Time class in Livingston, the first class is free so we may as well give it a go.  Rhythm time classes look good, but I think they may be more beneficial to older babies but I'm keen to introduce music to McBump early on in the hope that she can enjoy playing the piano that we have at home.

You might know this but... www.mcbump.co.uk is now up and running :)

Come back and visit soon,
Ax

X Factor and Guest Posting!

Hey!  Have you just watched the X Factor?  As I mentioned yesterday I am guest posting here about the X Factor and I thought I'd post my views here too!  Feel free too add your comments, be great to hear what you think too!

So, it's Rock Night on the X Factor, this should be fun...or not!

I'm also glad that Tulisa has got rid of the blonde roots, they were not pretty at all!  The judges all looked sweeeeet tonight, although Gary's tie?? Looks like I just knitted it in the ad break, is this a new trend??  I hope so I have some black wool upstairs!

First up tonight was Marcus Collins, his song choice was Lenny Kravitz - Are you gonna go my way.  I'm not a huge Marcus fan and I didn't rate him much last week but after a shaky start tonight he was actually not too bad and looked very comfortable rocking with the dancers.  I must add though, his ripped teeshirt was a tad vile!

Next up was the sweet sweet flame haired angel, Janet Devlin whose song was Sweet child of mine - Guns and Roses.  OK she wasn't totally rocking out but her take on the song was brill, she is my favourite of this year.  She also looked fab and was wearing a Stella & Dot Pegasus Necklace!

Uh Oh, here comes Sami Brookes... OK this girl can sing, but I think she wowed everyone at the auditions and she hasn't brought anything else to the table since then.  I think we just expect her to be good and she is but she doesn't blow me away.  Her rendition of Cher - If I could turn back time was good but nothing special.  Her stylist still hasn't got it yet... bring in Gok please, I could see the lines of her spanx through the leather dress!

Rhythmix next, they don't excite me and I really don't get how they sang a mix of two Pop songs, Ke$ha - Tik Tok and Salt n Pepa - Push it, and could class that as Rock!  The vocals were pretty poor and even when singing together you could hear that one or two of them were shaky and out of tune!  They also look like they just took a tumble in a jumble sale!

Pretty girl Sophie Habibis turned Rock song Living on a prayer - Bon Jovi into a ballad, she was pretty nervous and you could see it in her eyes and hear it in some notes but she did look amazing!  I like Sophie she has a great voice and I hope she finds her zone soon so she can shine!

Craig Colton, the guy who chews up his face as he sings.  Tonight he looks as if he has a bird's nest on his head, he so needs a hair cut!  OK I think this guy can sing but he sang Oasis - Stop crying your heart out, and I hate Oasis, totally loathe them.  So he could have sang this song perfectly and amazing but I still wouldn't have liked it, sorry!  

Peering through my hands as I'm scared to see what she is wearing this week it's... Kitty Brucknell singing Live and Let Die - Paul McCartney (covered by Guns n Roses).  Are they trying to make Kitty look like Lady Gaga?  Kitty was a bit rubbish to start off but once the song built up and she could let go she was good!  I like Kitty and I don't like her all at the same time!  I think she looks kinda weird, small eyes and her make up doesn't really compliment them.

Frankie Cocozza, the guy whos hair I'd LOVE to take clippers too and also maybe throw him in a bath!  I so don't get him AT ALL, he is total crap.  Tonight he is singing Get your rocks off - Primal Scream and all I can think is - pull your trousers up you've got a saggy crotch and I can see your horrid underwear.  I don't have anything good to say about this guy, he's got to go soon!  AND what was his entrance all about, does he think he's already a star?!

The Risk singing Gnarls Barkley - Crazy... Oh I don't think I liked this, did I just see them looking at each other thinking WTF?  Nooooo they are pleading the sick card, don't you just hate that?  Someone is out of tune and they play the sick card!

Heeeerrrrreeee's Johnny!  Johnny Robinson, aww you gotta love Johnny he is such a nice person and you just want to feed him up!  I'm loving Johnny singing I believe in a thing called love - The Darkness.  He isn't the best performer to look at when he's performing a Rock song as he is a bit camp which is bizarre but he sounds great tonight and he strangely done great with that song.... I am so pleased he didn't say 'Vogue' at the end!  Go Johnny, you RAWK!!!

Misha B, yeah she's a Rock chic and she rocked Prince's Purple Rain!  She also had fab eye make up!  Not much else to say as she was good.  I try not to read the press and what happens backstage and I try and focus on the singing as that's what the competition is about.... I'm not interested in how much of a diva this girl is or what goes on backstage, that's just me.

That's it over for another week, I predict that Rhythmix and Sophie will be the bottom two... The best performance tonight for me was Misha B and the worse was Rhythmix.

A x

Guest Posting - TOMORROW!

Excited!  Just organised for me to do a guest posting on http://transatlanticblonde.blogspot.com/ blog!  It is an X Factor post, I'm really looking forward to this!  I'll link it here too.

Ax

Days and Dos

I've seen on many blogs different activities for different days, so I've been giving it some thought and I might try some new things. So far I was thinking of:

Moaning Monday - a day where I can rant / moan about something be it a brand, TV programme, the weather... anything really!

Chooseday Tuesday - a day where I choose one thing that I'd like be it a product or something I'd like to achieve.

Wordless Wednesday - a day where there are no words, just a photo that sums up the day / week.

Thrifty Thursday - a day where I post about bargains, things I've bought and saved or things I've made to save money etc.

Fashion Friday - a day to post a photo of what I am wearing (or someone else in the family) and a run down of where the items are from.

Saturday and Sunday - whatever goes really.

I'd also be posting as normal any debates or reviews etc.... anyway, what do you think of the list?

Shopping

What do you prefer... instore shopping or online shopping?

I was shopping today with my daughter (not my brand new daughter hehe) and I had planned to buy some new clothes, maybe a new coat / jacket and some boots but I came home with 2 new nail varnishes (Barry M), lip stick, lip gloss (both Rimmel) and a scarf (Top Shop sale - £18 reduced to £3!). I had a quick look at some clothes but I found that browsing instore was quite boring... trying to get passed other customers, sales assistants too forthcoming or some not bothering their butt and clothes rails untidy or too full that you can't get the item out to look at it... sizes not available etc etc.  I ended up giving in and going home.

So here I am online looking at the same boots I tried on in Dorothy Perkins and considering now buying them online!  I am browsing their sale online and it all seems so much easier and hassle free AND I can take it back to the store or return via online all for free!

I think online shopping is a winner in my view - it is totally hassle free and there is the added bonus of extra discounts if you sign up to some companies newsletters (which you can unsubscribe from if they send out too many) AND you can usually always get some cashback at Top Cash Back!  Win Win Win!

What do you think?  Instore or Online shopping?

Ax

Pampers Vs Huggies

Which brand do you use?  17 years ago my preferred brand of nappies was Huggies, back then the velcro type fastening was quite new and Pampers still had a sticky fastening which when you checked baby's nappy the nappy couldn't fasten back.  Now it's a total turnaround!

When McBump was still growing in my tummy we had bought some Huggies as I thought they would be the best, far superior.  But I was wrong, the nappies that I used in hospital were Pampers and when I got home and tried out the Huggies I was quite disappointed.  The Huggies were very bulky and the waist area wasn't as stretchy!  I was wishing that my 2 boxes of Huggies would be used up quickly so that I could open the Pampers we had bought!

The Pampers nappies are great!  They are much thinner and feel more snug on, the waist area is so comfy (not that I've tried the nappy on!).  There is also the cute animal on the front, each nappy has a different character...exciting!

I don't like 'dissing' the Huggies brand as when I used them 17 years ago for my daughter they were brill, but I think they are stuck in some nappy rut and need to move on.  The only good thing about them is the Winnie the Pooh character on the front... although I still giggle at Pooh (poo) being on a nappy!

Let me know what you think, which do you prefer?

Ps... McBump loves Winne the Pooh!

Ax

McBump