My 1st Years - Velour Snuggle Towel

I've had this in my photo album since Bethany got given it by Blogger Aunt, Bex from Futures. My 1st Years specialises in personalised presents for babies and children, I had already tripped over them when I was pregnant but didn't think about it afterwards as I was little busy with a newborn.

I got an mail from Bex one day asking for spellings etc and I was wondering what she was up to. She said that she was getting a present sorted for Bethany and to keep an eye out for a parcel. A few days later we got a parcel in a beautiful box from My 1st Years, inside wrapped in tissue was the most beautiful velour cuddle bunny ear towel.

For those who know me reasonably well, I have a slight obsession with rabbits. I do think this has transferred to Beth as he bedtime toy is a bunny, so this was perfect. You can imagine my excitement when I opened it and screamed, "It's has rabbit ears!"

It is a thick towel, the velour is on the outside while there is a more absorbent layer underneath. I got given this May last year and we still use it today as it is very generous in sizing. It's washes very well and shows not sigh of any wear or washing.

I have already purchased from them again which I'll do for a separate post as they are Bethany's birthday present. This exact towel is no longer available, but they do a blue/pink one that is almost the same, this is for the pink towel. I now want the velour bathrobe for her, well it is her 1st birthday next week....

The Elevease Shower Step*

After I wrote about injuring my back post pregnancy, I was asked by the Elevease Shower Step to see if their product could be any use to me while I recover.


The step is an invention of college student Aoife O’Driscoll as a solution to the problem she had of shaving her legs in the shower. ElevEase not only solves the problem of shaving your legs in the shower, it is also great for exfoliating, tanning, moisturising and leg and foot care in general. It adheres to the side of the shower/bath at knee height.

Model not me, sorry

The problem I had when I injured my back is that I could not bend fully over and found it huge trouble to do any 'mainence' on myself. I did have a willing Husband to help but I would rather do these things myself and truth be told I went into labour with hairier legs than I wanted. I did find this really useful, It gave the much needed support so I could bring the lower leg/feet to me, rather than bend for them. 

 I have the white version which is £16.99 or there is the rather snazzy Chrome finish for £23.99, both available from http://elevease.com/ I find this really useful and now with a nearly healed back, I still use it to prevent anymore injuries coming. I even now have one for my Mum who had a major back operation many years ago and is now disabled, she still gets help but she likes that fact that she has that option available if she feel she can use it.

 *Product was provided for my review, views are my own

How My Mum Influenced My Own Beauty Routine

My mum is now in mature years, but I tell you to look at her she doesn't look it.

She is loyal to her skincare, for as long as I could remember she has always used Boots No.7 skincare care for her dry skin. She always one to promote the cleanse, tone and moisturiser routine. I've tried to give her more premium skincare, I was given Estee Lauder's Resilience Lift Extreme and she never touched it. I remember when they changed the cleansing products and I made sure I gave my mum good enough warning, she stocked up before it went.

The one thing I have taken from my mum is her bath routine, which I've now adapted to a shower routine. After a shower I run a flannel over the skin so it's damp rather than wet, use oil over the skin (my mum uses baby oil, but I use my Weleda Pomegranate Body Oil) and then moisturise. Recently, I have been complaining of itchy skin because of the dryness and my mum gave me Nivea's lotion for very dry skin (£3.79 in Boots). It is thick enough to give good moisturise but light enough to sink in without trace.

I still like the fact that even now I'm older and married, she never stops mothering.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, mothers-to-be and the mothers-in-waiting.