Homesense Christmas Come Shop With Me & Haul!

If you have followed me for a while you will know my never ending LOVE of Homesense. I've been uploading hauls from the store since I started my YouTube channel and often pop in for bits and pieces to decorate my house with. So imagine how excited I was when I was asked to work with them on a paid ad. Not only did I get to go and film a festive 'Come Shop With Me and Haul' but I also have been given the chance to chat about their amazing 'Hang A Bauble' Campaign. The campaign aims to raise money for The Prince's Trust Achieve Programme, which is a personal development course aimed at re-engaging 13-19 year olds with education. And as a former secondary school teacher it seems the perfect charity to help promote.

The Mum That Doesn't Bake.

Every year I buy my children's birthday cake. My really good friend Mr Asda bakes them whatever the hell they want! We have had Disney Princess cakes, Spiderman cakes and last week I picked up a particularly nice rainbow affair. And every single year, without fail, as I take it to the till I think "F*ck. I really should be baking this shouldn't I?". EVERY year. Twice a year, oh and the bake sales at school and at Brownies. Let's not forget them. It's only for a moment, then I get my act together and carry on with my day. But there is something deep in me that thinks "good Mums bake cakes".

A lot of my friends on social media bake. I see instagrams of them lovingly making some rainbow cake. Or you know those dead fancy ones where you cut into it and sweets pour out like something from Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. I read the odd tweet stating "Up at 11pm and still making my sons Paw Patrol cake!" and I think "oh that's love that is, that's real commitment". I am yet to tweet "Went to Asda at 9:15am and left at 9:20am with a Shopkins cake and a Crunchie for me". It doesn't really have the same effect does it. Doesn't really show love. Shows a bit of a 'must try harder' element to parenting.

41 Things I Learnt By The Age Of 41

1. The world is full of a lot of d*ckheads.

2. So when you find someone who isn't one? Cherish them.

3. Friendship is now quality over quantity.

4. A laugh with three good friends, is better than a night out with 27 that aren't that interested in you.

5. Family are everything. Even when they drive you mad. Which they will. Quite often.

6. Being a Mother is the best thing that will ever happen to you.

7. Being a Mother is the hardest thing that will ever happen to you.

8. Never trust anyone who says motherhood is easy. They are lying. Nobs.

A Little Christmas Home Tour

One of my favourite seasons of the year is winter. I'm not a huge fan of summer and running around after the kids sweating in a swimming costume. I'm more suited to snuggling under a huge couch blanket and watching something on Netflix with the kids. It seems each year I get more and more excited about Christmas and if I had my way I would start decorating the second we put the pumpkins away. Online homeware store Cox & Cox appreciated my love of getting ready for the festive season (unlike my husband) and asked me to work with them on an AD. Using some of their beautiful bits and pieces to decorate my home. So I lit a candle, shoved on Mariah Carey and got to work.

Plus Sized Christmas Party Dress Look Book!

Christmas is just around the corner and it's time to think about events that you have coming up. It might be that you have a few work dos to attend. Or you are planning something super fancy for New Years Eve. For me, as well as celebrating all the festivities, I will also be spending a few days celebrating my ten year wedding anniversary so I wanted something extra special to wear. As a size 18 lady in her 40's it sometimes can be quite hard to find styles I feel confident in that still look good. So when clothing website JD Williams got in touch with me to work on an AD together I was a bit worried I wouldn't find anything I liked. Thankfully...I was wrong.