I've never been the most consistent at getting my hair cut. For years I did my own hair, determined as an ex-stylist myself that I didn't need to go to a salon when I could do it myself at home. That worked, for quite a long time too, purely because of the style I had at the time. Once I started trying to grow it longer and decided it was time to let my shaved-side grow out, things got a little trickier and for the past 18 months I have been getting my hair done more regularly. That said, since having Willow I simply haven't had the time, and so it had been 7 long months since I last had my hair pampered and preened. 

Today I am handing over the reigns to a lovely blogger, Kariss over at Shy Strange Manic, who is sharing a fab post all about her favourite pin-up makeup picks.

A lot has happened in the past month, with Willow now over half a year old - just -, and forever edging closer to being 1. With a house month in July and settling into a new little routine for all of us, it's been a month of big changes for the whole family, not just Willow. Yesterday (August 26th), Willow turned 7 months, and I can't believe how quickly her first year is flying by.

One of my favourite places to dine in Loughborough is Browns Lane, a venue with a beautiful restaurant serving a la carte cuisine accompanied by a relaxed bar, perfect for post dinner drinks. Situated on Browns Lane, a minutes walk from Loughborough town centre, it's the perfect destination for any occasion.

Half Bake & Shake is your one-stop destination for satisfying your sweet tooth, situated on Baxter Gate, Loughborough, offering everything from sweet treats to American shakes. Hard to miss, with it's vibrant and unique appearance, standing out from all the usual venues in Loughborough, Half Bake & Shake has been perfectly modelled on the vibrant 1950's era in America; a slice of diner heaven in an otherwise dull town.

I like to keep my everyday beauty essentials close by, so I can reach for them with ease without having to delve into the depths of my beauty collection trying to find them. Always on my beauty station, I know I can quickly pick up my beautiful floral Ted Baker Tavvii Secret Trellis Large Wash Bag, which has a lovely leather effect top and gold detailing and a fresh floral theme, and grab any essentials I'll need for the day ahead.

I think we can all agree that when you are pregnant, you spend a lot of time researching and Googling, trying to find out what you need, what labour will be like and all the big milestones your baby will reach. One of those milestones is starting to eat, no longer relying just on milk but instead delving into a world of tastes, flavours and textures.

As we settle into our new home, something I absolutely adore is coming down with Willow in the early mornings and instantly being enveloped in a beautiful scent of fresh florals. I've always been someone who loves having fresh flowers in the house and it works wonders to lift my mood when I see a stunning bouquet. Having worked in a village flower shop in my teens, I find it therapeutic trimming stems and arranging bouquets, it's very relaxing and always leaves me feeling content.