Half a Year

Today Willow turned 6 months old. It's hard to believe that 6 months ago we were spending our first and only full day and night in hospital together, before bringing her home the next day for my partner and I to start this truly incredible journey as a family. 

Mama-Made Monday's | Little Button Cloud

After the chaos of moving home (a real challenge with a baby!) and a eerie silence here on the blog as we unpacked and settled in, I am finally back with a new post. As it's a Monday I am carrying on my fab new weekly series - Mama-Made Monday's -, my chance to showcase some of the amazing businesses out there founded by hard working mamas who use their beautiful talents to create stunning products for mamas and babies alike.

This week I'm handing over the reigns to Gem over at Little Button Cloud - a brand which is firmly on my wishlist for Willow, loving the unique and alternative creations on offer.

5 Unique Gifts for Newborns

Although any gift is always appreciated when you have a baby, it's very easy for you to end up with outfit after outfit or must-have essentials that you'd already thought of and stocked up on. We ended up with so many newborn and 0 - 3 months outfits that some were completely wasted, only being worn once to say 'Look, she wore it, thanks!' then never worn again. 

Here's my top 5 picks for more unique and personal gifts you can give a newborn, from keepsakes they can look back on in years to come to personalised gifts for their nursery. 

Ed's Easy Diner, Nottingham

I've always had a fascination with 1950's America, loving the idea of kitsch diners, pastel hues and flared out dresses. The idea of rolling up in a bubblegum pink Cadillac with a wrap-bow in my hair and a jukebox playing as booths fill up with guys and gals dressed to impress, I just love it.

Almost 60 years later American diners are still hugely popular and many franchises have gained huge followings of devoted customers who make regular visits just to get their nostalgic kick, whilst devouring classic American diner food.

Mama-Made Monday's | The Milk Collective

Another Monday has rolled around and I have another amazing Mama-Made brand to share with you all, and this one is a personal favourite. I first came across The Milk Collective when browsing Instagram for brands who made toys, clothing and nursery decor that fitted the style and theme I wanted for Willow. I came across these beautiful milk bottle rattles and instantly fell in love, ordering one for Willow when I was pregnant. 

It's time to hand over the spotlight to Jazmin, to let her tell you all about her wonderful and unique brand, The Milk Collective. 

Find Your Vice with Urban Decay

One brand that never fails to deliver when it comes to bold shades, incredible formulas and amazing colour pay-off is Urban Decay. One of the most loved makeup brands worldwide, they're most well known for their eyeshadow palettes and Naked range which has become a cult must-have among makeup adorers. 

Over the past couple of years Urban Decay have put a lot of focus on expanding their lip product range, reinventing their Revolution lipsticks and creating shades and finishes which rival both high-street and high-end brands, even knocking a few premium brands off of the top spot. The most recent Vice collection, fronted by Ruby Rose, is the biggest lipstick launch yet.

Authentic Mexican Food at Plan Burrito, Loughborough

A big foodie, I love finding hidden gems, even more so when they are local and budget-friendly. Plan Burrito, situated on Ashby Road, Loughborough, is a small but fun venue that is passionate about providing authentic Tex-Mex food with a simple menu and tons of flavour. Given the opportunity to visit Plan Burrito for myself this week, I popped along to see what the menu had to offer.