Once upon a time many moons ago a blogger was sent a t shirt for her small child to review. However, because this blogger was a little useless and a lot forgetful it took her forever to write the review. On the plus side though the blogger’s child was really able to put it through its paces and the review was all the more accurate for the delay!

So, we were sent a Junior Mafia t shirt to review. I’m a big fan of really bright clothes for Sam & was very pleased to see that this wasn’t a just a red t-shirt, it was RED! Love it! Sam has been wearing it for about 6 months now, for playgroup, play dates, cooking, jumping up and down in muddy puddles and generally running riot. It’s been a delight to wash – it hasn’t run with the lighter colours it’s been in with and hasn’t lost its shape at all.  Sam cannot do any activity without leaving some trace on him and this t-shirt has managed to withstand them all including paint, mud, felt tips and food. I’ve only had to use Vanish on it once and that was on ball point pen ink that had leaked. Nothing has left a long term stain which is normally a problem with Sam’s clothes – they tend to have a shelf life of around 2 months as he thinks ketchup is more entertaining on his clothes than in his mouth. Scruff.

The t-shirts aren’t cheap (this one is currently £10.39 including a 35% discount) but they do last. I was working out that in the time Sam has had this t-shirt he’s had and destroyed 3 others, costing around £6 each so  the cost per wear is a probably less than a run of the mill top from a supermarket. It’s a nice quality material, the printing looks good and is funky, it washes well (no bobbles), doesn’t fade and keeps it shape. The only problem is now Sam is growing out of it. Gutted. However I think we’ll be investing in this one. It’s gorgeous!

(This is Sam wearing his Junior Mafia t-shirt to do bowling on the Wii in last week. He gave me a split second smile and showing off of the top before saying “I done doing photo. Now I bowl”. Being 2 keeps you busy.)

Emma is one of our Review Goddesses. She actually lives over at Not Such a Yummy Mummy, but you can find her on Twitter too.

No Flowers, Slippers or even Sold Out Telegrams. No.

How about just whizzing you away somewhere really rather special for the weekend instead? Get the whole family, take your Mum, your children, and all spend a couple of days remembering what it is that makes Mothering the tippy-top fabulousness that it truly is?

There’s the cottage in Cornwall that will allow you to sleep in a room like this…

“Lantau Cottage is a former 17th Century ship merchants’ cottage with wonky floors, a winding staircase that incorporates an original full size ship’s mast, and an Elizabethan panelled bedroom. Allegedly once the home of a famous pirate, every part of the (5 bedroomed) house has stunning original features, from Elizabethan panelled walls and original fireplaces to Oriel windows and antique furniture. The unusual reading room leading from the master bedroom is a particularly unique and enchanting feature, and the house is steeped in history and character. The location of the cottage is idyllic, hidden in a narrow street but just moments from the beach.”

A weekend of alleyways and back streets to explore, the banjo pier and sandy beach. Galleries and shops and of course restaurants, pubs and cafes too; Looe  harbour is just the perfect place to watch the world go by.

Or maybe, if Cornwall isn’t your thing, you’d like to go the other way…

“A new stunning luxury waterfront holiday house on the remote Knoydart Peninsula on the West Coast of Scotland, with one of the best sealoch hot tub views in the UK. Boat access only, though fast water taxis run daily. Castaway to “Britain”s last wilderness” with floor to ceiling glass, vaulted ceilings, superking beds, bose, wifi, antiques, large open plan social area and feature stone fireplace.”

The house is in a stunning position – share the views with only the deer, golden eagle and abundant birdlife while you watch dolphin, porpoise, seal and otter in the loch. Climb one of the three munros, organise a days stalking on the Knoydart Estate. Look for sea-eagles, book a rangers guided walk, go crabbing on the shores of Loch Nevis, fungi foraging in the woods beside the house or just curl up with a book after a long soak in the hot tub under the stars.

Both properties have short break availability in the next month… Now tell me you’re not already mentally relaxing in one of them? What better way to celebrate Mothers Day than planning a stay in one of these…

Both properties are available via the rather wondrous One Off Places site – you might just want to have a look round while you’re there.

The lovely people at The Natural Nursery are letting us give away three Flip Reusable Nappy Trial Packs to three lucky winners and it closes tomorrow. Flip Reusable Nappies are ultra-flexible and an innovative insert system that lets you choose which way you want to nappy today.

We are giving away a luxurious Mamami by Chet luxury baby changing bag to one lucky winner in our latest competition. The ultimate in luxury baby change bags. Loved by famous mamami’s Sophie Ellis Bexter & Lauren Lavern the Mamami ultimate luxury baby bag is the perfect accessory for all style-conscious Mums. The Mamami by Chet is a truly stylish yet practical baby changing bag, designed for the mummy who won’t compromise on style or glamour!

Well, yes, slippers are about as glam as getting socks. Or a pinny. I know.

BUT.

These aren’t really ordinary slippers, are they? And if Mothers Day Gifts are all about making you feel special, and pretty, and pampered – then these check all the right boxes.

Satin, crochet flowers, bead work, dainty almost-not-there mule elegance…

We love them.

And – they’re from Ruby & Ed.

So there.

Those rather lovely satin rose and crochet corsage mules on Ruby & Ed for £36.

Just how gorgeous are these telegrams?  Each one is hand crafted, totally unique and designed to celebrate the classic British Telegram.  An original 1940′s typewriter is used, and they even add vintage stamps and authentic franking.

The message reads -

WOULDN’T SWAP YOU – STOP WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU – STOP FOR BEING MY MUM – STOP

Obviously each telegram is customised to your own recipient/sender, and for just one extra £1 a dried Viola will be sent too.

A Small Touch Of Perfect, yes?

You can even have it sent directly to someone else – or, of course, yourself for you to hand deliver. They will be posted on March 31st.

All this loveliness for just £10 from Imperial Telegrams (who can be found over on not On The High Street).

Liberty sunflowers. On a notebook. With a Ribbon.

*swoon*

Found over on The Gifted Penguin for just £9. Sold (PleaseThankYou).

So very Pretty.

So very Elegant.

So very Wearable.

That is all.

Yours for £91 from Lilia Nash Jewellery on NOTHS.

…in the next newsletter, y’know. It goes out tonight – are you signed up yet? Just clickety-click on the adorable paper boy to make sure you get a copy..

Sweetness in a handbag. The mirrors are handmade in the UK, using recycled and vintage fabrics,  and they come in that handy little pouch which can be personalised with up to 9 words (I’m rather taken with being a ‘Beautiful Mummy’ myself).

Best of all, at just £6 from Snapdragon they’ll not break the (piggy) bank. Do have a mosey around the site; if you’re looking for something a little bigger the embroidered chicken coffee cosy and the meadow cushions are total gems.

Yes, yes, it’s a cliche. Flowers on Mothers Day. But really – who doesn’t LOVE getting flowers? A cliche only becomes a cliche when it’s true y’know.

And I’m also aware that M&S probably aren’t the first name that springs to mind when you think internet flowers. But. Can’t you just smell those hyacinths from there?

And just look at this jug of sweetness:

That’s a mini rose bush planted in there, not cut flowers. Now I know from personal experience that I would kill those off in fairly short order – but they’d still last a darn sight longer than the cut ones. AND I get to keep a Very Pretty Jug to fill with other Pretty Flowers. Which can never be anything but good.

So; if Someone You Know is looking for some flowers this Mothers Day, you could do worse than send Someone You Know to have a mosey around M&S.

The Bag of Hyacinth’s and the Rose Jug are both £25

**Sponsored Post**

So pretty! I’m not a big wearer of grey – it’s so easy to look grim and colourless rather than softly feminine. But I absolutely defy anyone not to adore this gorgeous dove grey tulle scarf. Just look at the lace!

And d’you know what else? It’s a snip under £20 from Cavania. *whispers* And while you’re pointing a loved one in the right direction, you might just want to encourage them to trip over the handmade bracelets…

Spottiswoode Trading is a place with beautiful, unique and even personalised soft toys that children will love. You might be looking for an Easter gift to compete with the far-too-many chocolate Easter eggs kids get these days (well in my day it was one small square of chocolate to be shared with my siblings.. mutter, mutter).

I am particularly smitten with this soft, colourful medical case (£35) because it’s just so much nicer than the hard plastic sets you usually find.

And I can’t think of one little girl (and a few boys) who wouldn’t LOVE to carry this gorgeous dolls house bag (£28) around with them!

Spottiswoode Trading currently have their own competition running to win a very cute personalised Bunny – ‘like’ them on Facebook to enter.

Peace. Even Tranquillity. Water softly cascading. Candles. Lighting. Warmth. No need to speak for hours. Pure Calmness.

And rela-a-a-ax.

Tell me this is not what every Mother wants. Just for one day.

And contrary to popularly-held beliefs about my opinions on family holidays at Center Parcs, I actually think the Aqua Sana Spas do it better than some of the best. The treatments are excellent, the atmosphere is perfect (noise and chattering are frowned upon, I saw two bunches of ladies get sternly told off for talking too much) and because they are built on a large scale the options available are really wonderful. So many variations of sauna/steam rooms, quiet meditation areas, water beds under the sky, loungers and fur throws by a fire, the pool…

Best of all, the prices are excellent – where else can you get a full day Spa experience including a really excellent Aldo Zilli lunch for £69? Even better value in my book are the Spa Breaks – £139 will get you two days in the spa, your overnight stay, and lunch, dinner & breakfast are included too (not to mention cycle hire). There are four currently scattered around the country, and it shouldn’t be too hard a trek for most people to find one nearby.

So, if someone you know just might be looking for a really fabulous Mothers Day Gift idea, you might want to prod that someone you know gently in the direction of the Aqua Sana Gift Vouchers page. A day off, spent in restful peace with nothing to do but be still? You can promise them from me that you will be Very Happy Indeed.

Thanks to the Archers, I’ve been wanting one of these all week. And today, feeling rather *cough* fragile (in a gin-and-dancing induced fashion), I succumbed. Oh, the joy. The sheer heavenly perfectness that is Lemon Drizzle Cake. Be careful though – one slice is just never enough. With a large mug of tea (and a hangover *ahem* ), TWO slices may not do it either.

*supposedly* Serves 10… (yuh. right.)

Prep Time – 15 minutes

Cooking time – 35 minutes

What you Need:
2 small lemons (unwaxed, scrubbed)
275g granulated sugar
175g butter, softened (plus some for tin greasing)
200g self-raising flour
½ tsp baking powder
3 large eggs

What You Do:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 ºC/fan 160ºC/Gas 4.
2. Line the base of a 900g (2lb) non-stick loaf tin with baking parchment and butter the tin well.
3. Finely grate the zest of the lemons.
4. Put 175g of the sugar in a food processor with the butter, flour, baking powder, eggs and lemon zest and blend on the pulse setting until the mixture is just combined and has a thick, smooth texture.
5. Spoon the cake batter into the prepared tin and level the surface.
6. Bake for 35 minutes or until well risen and pale golden brown.
7. Remove from the oven and cool in the tin for 5 minutes.
8. Squeeze one of the lemons to get about 3 tablespoons of juice and mix this with the remaining 100g of granulated sugar.
9. Turn the cake out onto a wire rack set about a tray or plate. Remove the baking parchment and gently turn the cake the right way up.
10. Stab the cake with a skewer, making around 50 deep holes.
11. Slowly and gradually, spoon over half the lemon sugar, allowing it to thoroughly coat the top of the cake and drizzle down the sides.
12. Leave the cake to stand for 5 minutes, then do the same with the remaining lemon sugar.
13. Leave to set for at least an hour or until the sugar and lemon has crystallised.
14. Serve the cake in thick slices with a good strong cup of tea.
15. This cake actually improves on leaving for a day. So I’m told. Mine never seem to make it that far.

To paraphrase poorly, it’s a fact universally acknowledged that a woman loves stationery. It is. I’ve never yet met a female who didn’t breathe an “oooh!” at the site of a pretty notebook.

And, I have to say, as many notebooks as I have, my newest biggest tippety-toppest faves are Paperblanks.

Beautiful designs, without being pretty-but-no-point books, they’re manufactured in a sustainable way too. The Journal as Functional Art. Perfect.

You can check this page to find your nearest stockist - or of course head over to Amazon for a wide range.

Oh how I love these! My husband did treat me to them a couple of years ago – and they have been a much treasured addition to my shelves ever since.

You can, of course, use them as postcards – oh yes, they’re fully functioning proper ones.

Me? I’m far too selfish to share by actually SENDING them (*horror*) – the box sits propped open above my desk, and I rotate the first card to give myself a new cover every few days (I’m currently seeing an awful lot of very sweet penguins on  A book of Toys by Gwen White ).

Now I know I’m a sucker for some Penguin iconastic styling – but who wouldn’t want these?

£15 of your pounds from the Literary Gift Company will snaffle someone close to you one of these essential boxes y’know.

It’s Friday (Huzzah!) and it’s Blog Hop time again (If you’re new, just click here to see what the Blog Hop is all about). Remember, you don’t need to go to the effort of writing any new posts, the joy of this is rediscovering things you had forgotten you wrote – and introducing old stuff you wrote and are proud of to new readers. But of course, if you have something new to say – we’re mucho happy to see that too. Just pick a post, add it to the link, swoosh in a little bit of code and away you go.

Visitors get to hop from blog to blog to blog, finding new friends, re-discovering old posts from old friends, and passing lots of lovely traffic and comments (and biscuits) along the way.

*Time*

This week, the matter of losing an hour of life’s most precious of commodities, we’ve gone with ‘Time’ as our theme. You can take that anyway you like, we don’t mind what you have to say on the matter any more than we mind when you wrote it! Now – got your post? Here we go then….

• copy the link, and bung it in the clever linky widgety thing down underneath here.
• Once you are in the list, look at the bottom and you’ll see it says ‘get the code here‘.
• Grab that code! Plop it into your post, so that browsers who come to you will be able to follow the Hop from your post onwards (hopefully stopping to comment and share a biscuit). Please don’t forget this step – the Hop works much better if the Hop can keep Hopping!
  
• NB – WordPress.com users please us this instead <p><b>Powered by Linky Tools</b></p><p><a href=”http://www.linkytools.com/wordpress_list.aspx?id=81966&type=thumbnail”>Click here</a> to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…</p>

So. We give you Littlestuff’s Blog Hop #7 – ‘Time’.

It’s here, it really, truly is here…. Spring! to be swiftly followed by Summer, hurrah! Ahhhhh, that lovely warm tingly feeling of sun on your skin after the bitterly cold Winter we’ve had, so nice… BUT…. careful!

Sun damaged skin is no laughing matter. Ultra Violet light from the sun is a form of radiation. Excessive exposure damages the DNA of skin cells and greatly increases the risks of skin cancer occurring later in life. Skin cancer is now the UK’s most common form of cancer and doctors have suggested that most cases could have been prevented simply by reducing exposure.

So, to celebrate the warmer months in style we have teamed up with our fabulous friends at The Beach Factory to give you a gorgeous bundle of sun protection goodies in our latest competition. One lucky winner will receive an O Neill Beach Bag, San Diego Hat Co. Sun Hat, and Sunsense Daily Face Cream UPF+50.

I have to thank Lou from the Archers at the Larches for pointing me in the direction of Garden Girl. And these hats. I don’t know about you, but I always feel very grown up when I’m gardening. It’s like putting the washing on the line – I’m not faking it I really AM grown up enough for this house/wife/mother/home malarky.

But gardening  in a pretty hat? Now you’re talking. Graceful, elegant and horticulturally wise, serenely floating around the lawns (this is MY fantasy, okay? Of course there’d be ‘lawns’ and not a rough grassy area that’s been kicked up and slid across by small footballers and burned by a wee-ing dog), quietly deadheading roses, maintaining absolute and effortless wisteria control, kneeling elegantly to tug up the odd weed, hair carelessly tucked behind one ear in an oh-so-flattering casual manner… *cough*

Well. Anyway.

Back n the real world I love this hat. So there.

The Pretty Hat For Gardening Elegantly In  is £21.95 over on GardenGirl right now. Careful – if you’ve aspirations to be a gardener, once you’re in there you may be sometime.