Current Beauty Favourites | Just Add Ginger

When it comes to the makeup I use I really am a creature of habit. I know what works, I know what I like and I know which brands suit me the best so trying to get me to be a little more adventurous is very tricky. However, when you open your beauty drawer to find a lipstick you bought when you were a teenager (yes, really) you realise it's time for a major clear out. 

Now that I've had a bit of an upgrade I've come across some absolute gems that I now can't be without. These are the beauty products that help me feel put together, help hide the signs of tiredness and just generally make life easier. Without all these hair, makeup and body products I don't think I would leave the house feel half as confident as I do. They are my my beauty BFFs and I only thought it right to sing their praises a little bit.

MAKE UP

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation (150) - It took a while for me to build up the courage to buy anything from Fenty Beauty. Having had some bad colour matching experiences I was really scared to go and peruse the counter in Harvey Nichols Beauty Bazaar in case I ended up leaving with the wrong shade and wasting my money. Since I was pregnant I've had an issue with foundations oxidising on my skin so I knew I had to make sure I was absolutely happy before loosening my purse strings. 

Since having the foundation in my make up bag I have thrown away any others that I owned. I love everything about this foundation and what it does to my skin. I love the airbrushed effect it gives when I apply it with a big fluffy brush. I love how versatile it is and love how natural it looks whilst still giving me some much needed coverage. 

Fenty Beauty Killawatt Highlighter (Lightning Dust / Fire Crystal) - I picked up the Killawatt highlighter duo in at the same time as I bought the foundation. I tried it out first because I just had to know just what the colour payoff was like (I'd seen how insanely pigmented Trophy Wife is). And I was really pleasantly surprised at how subtle and simultaneously buildable the highlighters were. I now use them every day, alternating between the two shades depending on the occasion (I sometimes use both if I want a glow you can see from space). A little goes a long way so I know I'm going to get my money's worth, but when I do eventually hit pan I won't hesitate in repurchasing them.

L'Oreal Perfect Match Concealer (1.N Ivory) - I bought the L'Oreal concealer on a complete whim. My trusty Collection Lasting Perfection was out of stock in my shade and I was in desperate need of something to hide my eye bags so this one was a total impulse purchase. And now it's here to stay. The salmon-y shade of the concealer really helps to brighten up my skin, hiding signs of tiredness and adding a bit more dimension to my face. Don't get me wrong - Collection Lasting Perfection will continue to be a firm favourite, but the L'Oreal definitely has been my best friend on days where I'm wearing how sleep deprived I am all over my face.

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara (Brown) - I'm no stranger to the Volume Million Lashes Mascara. A few years ago it was all I used. However unlike most makeup products, I get drawn into the hype of mascara adverts and one day my loyalties disappeared. But since I was in the market for something new and finding myself browsing the L'Oreal stand I remembered Lydia Millen mentioning it in some of her beauty videos and this jogged the memory of how much I used to like it too. I didn't realise at first but I picked it up in a brown. This doesn't make any difference really though. Just one coat is enough to add drama to my lashes, open up my eyes and help me look much more awake than I usually feel. 

BODY

ESPA Restorative Balm - Even though I have the upper hand when it comes to my feelings of anxiety most of the time, there are moments where I feel myself getting really flustered. It's not a nice feeling and it can make me feel really helpless because I'm often with Eric and just have to power through when really I need to vent. 

I received the ESPA balm in a set that I got for Christmas and it has been living in my coat pocket lately. Whenever I'm feeling tired or overstretched (which is normally when I'm more likely to have a blip), I apply some to my temples, wrists and neck and having the scent drift into my nose really helps to calm me down. 

Layering Lab Body Spray (Oriental / Fresh)* - As a mum constantly on the go I have this fear that I am going to smell. Day to day I normally end up getting covered in baby food, spit up, slobbery or snot and I never want to end up being stinky. I have  a few perfumes I use but lately I have loved using the Scent Laboratory body sprays. I got them in a lucky dip at CarnLIVal and I am absolutely obsessed with the way they smell not only individually but also together. The notes are really fresh and light and if there's ever a morning where I don't have time for a shower I will spritz these on me and I instantly feel better.

HAIR

S Factor Papaya Leave-In Moisture Spray - My hair texture is one that is very susceptible to tangles. It's a lot better than it used to be but the odd dry patch tends to crop up every now and again and I need something to keep my locks snag-free. I'm going to be honest - I was totally suckered in to buying the S Factor spray because of the packaging but it has actually turned out to work wonders on those pesky knots. I spray some on my hair when is almost dry after a shower and work my brush through and the tangles always disappear after a couple of goes. 

Wet Brush - How I have got by all these years without a Wet Brush in my beauty stash boggles my mind. Ever since I have made an investment it has become an absolute game changer when it comes to the condition of my hair. I used to use a brush with natural bristles (plastic bristles would only cause me pain) but after using this brush I've come to realise how useless those bristles were on working out knots. I fully bought into the hype of the Wet Brush and it paid off - my hair has never felt smoother!

What are your current go-to beauty products? Is there anything you would recommend? Let me know in the comments.

*I received the Layering Lab body sprays during the CarLIVal event. This does not affect my opinions. For more information, please see my disclaimer.

What's In Eric's Baby Bag | Just Add Ginger

It feels like wherever you go with your baby you need to pack for ever eventuality, meaning that you end up leaving the house with everything but the kitchen sink. It was ridiculous the amount of things we had to try and squeeze into Eric's changing bag when he was a newborn. Now that he is getting that little bit older we don't tend to take as much, but it still amazes me how much we need to carry with us. 

Eric actually has two changing bags now. The first is by Babymoov and is the one we take with us on most outings if we know we are going to be out a long time. The other is a little baby-size backpack with an attached rein. And this is what we now take if we are going on a short trip or to a local baby class. It's a downsized version of the main bag and I tend to pack it according to what time of day it is and how being out will fit in with Eric's schedule. 

So let's say we are planning to be out and about for a full day....here is what we would pack in Eric's baby bag - 

Changing - Eric has outgrown (touch wood) major poonamis now so I only tend to pack one set of spare clothes for a full day. However I make sure I squeeze in as many nappies and nappy sacks as I can because I never want to be caught out. I still have my box in the car where I keep a stash of emergency supplies, but if a really messy incident should happen or he is feeling unwell, it's a bit of a hassle to have to run out to the car to fetch something. Another staple is a tube of Metanium or Bepanthon because we have a baby with really sensitive skin and unfortunately nappy rash is a frequent visitor.

Food - You know the Very Hungry Caterpillar story? Well that's Eric. He loves his food and could probably eat for England if you let him. And when he's hungry boy do you know about it! Snacks, jars, a beaker of water and of course bottles and ready milks comprise a huge amount of what we take in the changing bag because you never want to be caught out. Thankfully Eric is at an age now where he can normally have something from the children's menu if we are going out to lunch or dinner, but it is always best to be as prepared as you can because you never know when hunger is going to strike. 

Entertainment - We are getting to that stage with Eric where if you're not careful he will get bored easily. He isn't quite walking yet but he is very mobile and doesn't really like being clipped into the pushchair if he is  fully awake because he just wants to be out and exploring everything around him. So having a couple of toys or a book he can look at is vital for a trip out where he can't get out and crawl. Ones with rings at the top that you can clip onto things are really handy to have in dining situation too because you can secure them onto a highchair and (finger crossed) this means you can almost eat a small portion of your meal undisturbed. 

Misc - Eric is a baby who does have a dummy. He will put it in and out of his mouth as and when he wants it but there will undoubtedly be time when he drops it on the floor, we misplace it in the car or is just gets lost so we always need to have a couple of spares with us....just in case. He also snuggles a muslin cloth when he's tired and wants to go to sleep. So again we take a few of these because they do come in handy in a number of different scenarios and I don't really want Eric to be cosying up to a soaking wet muslin cloth.

And finally....the changing bag would not be complete without my purse and keys. Sometimes I take my own bag out, but for ease I just tend to throw what I need in there because I don't want to be lumbered with pushing him around and carrying two different bags as well....I just don't have enough hands.

Fellow mummies - what do you pack in your baby's bag? 

Lindt Chocolate Orange No Bake Cheesecake | Just Add Ginger

Since moving into the new house almost a year ago, we have been waiting for just the right opportunity to play hosts at a dinner party again. Sure we've had a couple of small gatherings, summer BBQs and house parties, but both Ryan and I love showing off our culinary skills so much that a big dinner was high on our list of priorities. 

Fortune would have it that we agreed to host Christmas dinner. Everyone in Ryan's immediate family were all getting ready for a wedding on the 27th and my parents were already going to be here. Plus with it being our first Christmas as our own little family unit we didn't really want to be anywhere else but home - it just all made sense. 

Ryan volunteered to take care the main bulk of the the cooking (he had a brand new gadget - a sous vide - which he was / still is obsessed with) so I offered to sort out the pudding. 

Wanting to be in keeping with the season I trawled the internet for good crowd-pleasing no-nonsense desserts. Then I came across this one on the BBC Good Food website. Incorporating a seasonal chocolate of choice and with a recipe that wasn't too unfamiliar to me, we headed to our local supermarket to stock up.... 

Only to find that several of the ingredients I needed were unavailable! With a disaster looming in the horizon I quickly made the decision to substitute a few things. And actually, it turned out beautifully. 

Substitutions: 

16 Hobnobs 16 Chocolate Chip Hobnobs 

225g Terry Chocolate Orange 225g Lindt Chocolate Orange

The creaminess of the Lindt added a rich and decadent flavour to the cheesecake filling that was creamy but not heavy. There was not much difference in taste in the base, but every now and again you would get an extra hit of chocolate.

This cheesecake went down a treat with everybody and has been my most successful dessert to date. It easily served six of us with some left over so is definitely perfect for dinner parties or if you are having guests over. Making the filling does get a little bit fiddly, but the end result is well worth it. 

If you decide to give this dreamy dessert a go, let me know in the comments!

Spitroast Kitchen Crosby* | Just Add Ginger

Whenever I hear about a new local coffee shop or eatery, I get really excited. Being mum to Eric means being constantly on to go. He is so full of beans that a day spent at home generally just consists of me chasing him up and down the living room because all he wants to do is cruise around the furniture, attempt to climb the chimney and generally cause chaos. So the more we get out the house, the better...

...Especially if it's somewhere I can combine mum duties, food and catch-ups with friends. Even though I love and am incredibly lucky to be in the position to be a full-time mum now, it can be really isolating. Having outings that involve human contact, free entertainment for E (he is so nosey and loves to look at everyone and everything around him) and the ability to appreciate good food whilst he is distracted are always something I look forward to.

I was kindly invited down to Spitroast Kitchen* for lunch this past week. Supporting local and independent businesses is something I always try to do and having never visited before, I was really keen to head on down, tuck into some food, and see what it was all about. I'm always adding to my list of places that are accessible, baby-friendly and serve good quality so I was really hoping this ticked all the boxes. Seizing the opportunity to meet up with one of my mummy friends, on Monday afternoon, a - somewhat grumpy Eric - in tow, we packed up and headed on out.

Located on South Road in Crosby Spitroast Kitchen is really easy to find. You can either chance it and see if you can spot a parking space on the road, or if not, there is a car park about a five minute walk away. I will say that it is a bit of a squeeze to get a pram or pushchair up over the step and into the restaurant on your own (a lovely staff member saw me struggling and came to help), but once you are inside, there is loads of space to negotiate a buggy. 

The restaurant has a really relaxed atmosphere about it, with a big open kitchen, bare-brick walls and an eclectic, well-curated mix of industrial-inspired decor that isn't overwhelming on the eye. It's a space that was airy and light in the day but would look great for evening dining experiences too. It wasn't overwhelming or pretentious, and the demographic of diners there ranged from families to friends and a few couples too.

Once we were seated (our table was at the back - lovely and big, with plenty of space for two babies, a highchair, prams et al) there came the agonising decision of just what it was we were going to eat. With both a lunch and main menu to look at, there was a lot to choose from. And it all sounded delicious. 

Wanting to get a full appreciation of the food that Spitroast offers I decided to order from the main menu, opting for a rotisserie roast chicken 'drum & thigh' with sweet potato chips and a greek yogurt dip. My friend opted for the chicken pesto pasta which had been high on my own list of dishes to try (yes - I was secretly hoping she'd let me sample some).

As someone who will always like having options, it made me really happy seeing that the main menu gave you the chance to build your own menu, allowing you to pick your own chicken portion then add one or more sides. It's not just a concept that suits those with varying appetites but is also something that takes into account diners' budgets too!

There wasn't too long a wait for the food but by the time it came out I was so hungry I couldn't wait to tuck in - the smell in Spitroast was making my mouth water so much! Both dishes were a treat for the eye, with the chicken having been particularly well plated. The staff were really accommodating and at our request had brought out a bowl where we could put a very small portion of the pesto pasta for Eric to try (I always like to include him in mealtimes and let him have a little taste of the food we are having). 

I don't think my chicken could have been more perfect of it tried. Super crispy skin and juicy succulent meat it was probably some of the best I had ever tried. If I had put a knife to it I think it would have glided through with ease it was that well cooked. It was also the perfect size for a lunchtime meal and would be ideal for those with small appetites at teatime too. The seasoning on the meat was balanced perfectly too. The dip was a refreshing accompaniment but in all honesty I didn't need it for the chicken, instead using it mainly for my chips.

And the pasta? That was lovely too. A really decent portion size for the price, with a good chicken to pasta ratio (yes I did get to try some). Eric was a big fan too, chomping away on several pieces of spaghetti and just generally having a whale of a time people watching. 

If it wasn't for the fact that I wanted to leave room for dessert I wouldn't have left a crumb on my plate. Spitroast had nailed it. 

And as for pudding? We have a saying in our house - 

If you're going to be a bear be a grizzly. 

So that's just what I did. Without a second glance at the dessert menu I ordered a slice of homemade Nutella cheesecake and oh my god it was like a little slice of heaven on a plate. Not wanting to make my friend feel guilty (she chose not to have dessert) I tried to hide the delight on my face but I think I totally failed. It was just too yummy. 

In my eyes Spitroast Kitchen completely smashed it. They deliver on good quality food, excellent presentation and great service. I felt completely at ease being there with a baby. No request was too much and I would 100% go back there again. My friend even booked her and her other half in for Valentine's Day as we left - she, just like me, was really impressed. 

Supporting local independents is so important, especially when you're living in a world of chain restaurants. And with branches both in Crosby and on Smithdown Road, rotisserie fans in Liverpool, you really have no excuse. Get yourself down to Spitroast Kitchen and tuck into one of the many tasty dishes they have to offer - I promise you you will not regret it one bit.

*I was kindly invited down to Spitroast Kitchen Crosby to enjoy a complimentary meal for myself and a guest. This does not affect my opinions. They are my own and always 100% honest. For more details, please see my disclaimer.

Eric At 10 Months | Just Add Ginger

Every month on my Instagram I upload a milestone photo of Eric but it is really rare that I update you all on his progress and development. Part of it is because he changes so much that I find it hard to keep up with myself. The other part is that I just don't really ever have the time! 

But I feel like lately he has changed a lot. The little tiny baby we brought home from the hospital who was all nose and was swamped by his going home outfit has gone and now we have a babbling, crawling, cruising toddler. And whereas I am saving making a video update until he turns one, I wanted to share his progress here instead. 

Photo: Michael Ivan Photography

Sleeping 

At about eight months Eric took a turn with his sleeping....again. Instead of sleeping through the night he started waking at about 4am again. And sometimes he was fully awake. I would have to sit in his room for about an hour, reading to him and stroking his back until he fell back to sleep. We knew this couldn't go on and that we had to make a change. Ryan did a little bit of reading and we realised that Eric just wasn't going to sleep early enough. So we switched up his bedtime routine. 

Now he goes to bed in between 7pm and 8pm. We give him his last feed in a dimly-lit living room, change his nappy and then take him upstairs to bed. Then it's a story, a goodnight kiss, and then he's left to it. Normally he will go straight down but if he doesn't we do practise some controlled crying so that he learns to settle himself. All being well he will sleep until 7am the next morning, only stirring in the night if his dummy falls out. 

Cruising & Crawling 

Eric army crawled from about six months, but proper crawling didn't fully click until he realised how he could pull himself up into a standing position. To me that makes no sense but something in him must have twigged. However now his movement of choice is cruising. He loves toddling around the place holding on to whatever he can to get himself from A to B. He is also really happy when he's walking clutching on to our hands. On a couple of occasion he has decided to stand up unaided so walking isn't too far off, but you can tell he needs to build his confidence up a bit more first. 

Photo: Michael Ivan Photography

Eating 

There isn't really a food we've given Eric to try that he hasn't liked. He was a bit iffy with avocado for a while but I persevered and now he doesn't really mind it. The only issue we have with food is that Eric still doesn't have any teeth, meaning that everything we give him needs to be either super soft, melt in the mouth or mushed up. Trying to come up with creative ideas for lunches and dinners can be tricky (we do use jars quite a bit), but whenever we go out there is usually something on the children's menu that he can eat which is nice because he gets to be a part of the dining experience and  eat from a big boy plate.  

Talking 

We have a very vocal baby on our hands nowadays. For a while everything was "mama" but now Eric can say "dada" "baba" and "gaga" too. We could have sworn he said "daddy" the other day so we are holding out to catch him doing that again. There's no real pattern to when Eric 'talks' but listening to him babble away when he talks to his toys or after you say something to him is the cutest thing.

Personality & More 

Eric is still a really chilled out baby but he does have moments of being an absolute monkey. If there is something wrong he will let you know about it. If he's hungry he's grumpy, if he's tired he's grumpy....and heaven forbid you should take something off him he's not meant to have! But these instances are really rare and 99.8% of the time he is an absolute joy. He is happiest when he is looking at his books, or cruising around the furniture, and he still loves cuddles with daddy (although he's starting to want to snuggle into me more which makes my heart melt). He really likes watching The Gruffalo's Child, and more recently Tangled - he thinks Pascal is hilarious. We must have had that film on at least thirty times. I don't mind though - hearing his laugh is so worth it. 

It seems like out of the blue Eric will do something amazing. And over the past few months he has clapped along to others doing the same and learnt to wave. He loves doing the latter and will quite happily wave not just to other people and babies but also to inanimate objects (which I'm not going to lie does freak me out a little bit).

At the end of January Eric started going to a childminder. I really needed to have some time to myself during the week to focus on blogging or YouTube or to just do housework. Eric is so inquisitive that I don't really get a minute during the day to do very much. He only goes for one full day a week but this is plenty of time for me to get things done. 

Even just writing this I can't believe we now have a 10 month old. It simultaneously seems like a minute and a lifetime since Eric was born and I'm still in awe of the fact that we are starting to think about his 1st birthday celebrations!

What I Got For My Birthday | Just Add Ginger

What I Got For My Birthday posts are some of my favourite to read. But up until last year I never felt very comfortable doing one myself because, well, I didn't want anybody to think I was trying to brag. But I had so much fun doing last year's post that I wanted to continue on the tradition - not only to express my thanks to those of my nearest and dearest who kindly bought me gifts, but also to provide a little bit of present inspiration - just in case anybody reading this is trying to think what they should get that someone special for their birthday.

My birthday falls the other side of the festive season when everybody is feeling low and lethargic after a couple of weeks of indulgence so the only thing I look for in my birthday is a day full of things I love doing. And because this was my first as a mummy I was extra excited to spend it with both of my boys. But as ever, I was blown away by the kindness of my friends and family and just wanted to say thank you to all of those who sent me cards, bought me a gift, and sent good wishes to me on the day.

After getting me such an amazing hamper filled with my favourite food and beauty treats for Christmas, I didn't think Ryan could do anything to top it. But he completely blew me away this year. Not only did he buy me a wall lamp for our bedroom (which I asked for) but he also surprised me with tickets to see Legally Blonde in the summer. I mentioned wanting to go and see it again a while ago so he must have really been paying attention. I absolutely love that musical and am so excited to take him along this time because I think he'll really enjoy it (he wouldn't want to admit it, but the film is one of our go-to feel good favourites). But the most special present was getting to spend the day with him. I'd asked him to book it off as holiday and we made our time really count with a lovely dinner the night before at Yukti, a yummy breakfast, and then a day busy doing nothing. 

After a good portion of last year being spent trying to snatch time to create content I've been really wanting to get back into practising good time management and organisation when it comes to blogging and filming for my channel. So with that in mind I asked my parents for a planner from Dot Creates. I had seen Louise Pentland feature them in one of her videos and knew that having a designated place to jot down ideas and keep track of where I'm up to in terms of blog posts would be ideal. And so far it's really helping. I've got enough ideas written down to take me up to May and I love the layout of the planner, with both overview and more detailed pages. Plus the design so darn cute. If you're in the market for a blog planner, I'd definitely recommend going to check out Dot Create's collection

Ryan's parents very kindly got me a snuggly blanket shawl and a new set of make up brushes. They know me really well because after spending most of my pregnancy feeling warm I am now back to really feeling the cold. Having a portable blanket to hand means that I am prepared for when the chill creeps in (it'll also be really handy to have in the car for longer journeys). I also can't wait to get stuck into using the make up brushes. I get into such bad habits when it comes to washing my brushes that having another set to use is really useful. Now with two sets to hand I can no longer make the excuse of not being able to clean my brushes because I wouldn't have any to use. 

My sister and brother in law treated me to a voucher. And I love a good voucher. Having options and indulging in a little online shopping makes me really happy, especially nowadays. I wasn't able to find any clothes I wanted or needed but I ordered four Disney Princess sheet masks by Mad Beauty. They are absolutely adorable and perfect for setting aside for pamper evenings. I've used one already in preparation for a night out and I was really impressed so I have high hopes for the rest (I'll be sure to do a blog post on these once I've treated my skin to some tlc. 

Little Eric also decided to surprise his mummy with a bouquet of flowers, a box of chocolates and a balloon. He also slept pretty well the night before so I managed to have a little bit of a lie in before we headed out to his class in the morning. 

I had an absolutely fantastic birthday. I was quite lonely on the day last year but this one totally made up for that. And now I just can't wait to see what lies in store for my thirty first year. I have a feeling it's going to be awesome. 

Bathtime With Kit & Kin* | Just Add Ginger

This post has been a long time coming. Not because I have been lazy, but because when it comes to Eric and recommending baby products I am always extra cautious. 

Last year whilst scrolling through Instagram I stumbled across Kit & Kin, and, having been utterly enamoured by both the designs on their nappies and company core values I was the kind recipient of a sample pack of their nappies to try (you can read all about my first impressions here). 

Having been really impressed by my experience using the nappies (they are so easy to put on one handed), Kit & Kin reached out to me and asked if I wanted to receive some baby skincare products to review. A little while later a lovely parcel arrived at my door containing both a full size hair and body wash and a bubble bath. 

Like with the nappies I really liked the packaging for both the bubble bath and the body wash. I am incredibly careful when it comes to what I use on Eric's skin. It is really sensitive and I take care to choose products that contain good ingredients and aren't overly perfumed. So what I really appreciated about the Kit & Kin packaging was that it wasn't too fussy. With a simplistic design with an easy-to-read choice of font, it highlighted all the important information that you want to know as a parent in a really attractive way. I also liked the fact that each of the products differed slightly in design, with each showcasing a different coloured flower. It sounds like such a small thing but when it's bath time and you have other things to focus on, having something identifiable that allows you to easily differentiate between products is highly appreciated.

Because I find bathing Eric a little tricky, we tend to wait until Ryan is home. This also means that E's skin doesn't dry out too much. Baths usually happen a few times a week, and we make sure baby has a good old soak (he loves being in the water). So we waited for a Sunday morning to try out our Kit & Kin goodies. We drew the water to a reasonable depth, tested the temperature (we use a clean temperature probe to get an accurate reading) and then poured in a little of the bubble bath. 

Certified by the COSMOS association and approved by dermatologists, Kit & Kin's skincare line is also hypoallergenic, meaning that my concerns over using products that were going to irritate Eric were instantly squashed. Both the bubble bath and the hair and body wash have a soft and delicate fragrance too that is the kind of scent that reminds me of babies - fresh, lovely and very comforting. 

Since he was teeny tiny Eric has suffered with cradle cap. We have tried everything on it from Detinox to coconut oil. Nothing seems to make it go away 100%. It is a bit of a bugbear but something we've learnt to deal with as best we can. Going in to testing out these products I had no expectations of it helping with his flaky scalp. However, the formula is really gentle and nourishing that it means after use his head looks much better and his hair feels super-soft and looks really healthy too.

As a company I really rate Kit & Kin. Keeping both baby and the environment in mind they are a brand I would not hesitate to use again. Now that I am a mother I care a lot more about what is in the bath and body products I buy so knowing what I am using is free from harsher ingredients helps put my mind at ease. The bottles were received contain a really generous amount and will last for ages. We are working through one at a time as the bubble bath is gentle enough to use as a baby shampoo too (we use it in foam form).  

Have you tried out anything from Kit & Kin? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

* Kit & Kin very kindly gifted me the bath and body wash and bubble bath. This does not affect my opinions. They are always 100% honest and informed by my own experiences. For more details please see my disclaimer.

Say It With Songfinch | Just Add Ginger

When it came to thinking about what to get Ryan for Christmas I knew it had to be something really special. We had been through an incredible amount together in the space of a few years, with him basically holding me together through some of it, and I wanted a gift that showed him not just how much I love and apreciate him and also how amazing a father he is too. 

I first heard about Songfinch through Jo's blog and I was really drawn to the whole idea of what the website offered - the opportunity to capture your stories and memories and create a personalised song. For what I was looking for this sounded ideal. So I hopped on to the Songfinch website, a million thoughts spinning round my head, and my heart fluttering in a mix of terror and excitement. 

Now I may be a blogger and lover of all things creative, but whereas I'd normally let my inner voice dictate what I write, leading my fingers in a dance across the keys and not really paying much mind to whether there is a structure until after a post is complete, I knew that with this process I had to do things slightly differently. 

Songfinch breaks the process down into really manageable stages. You get to tell you story, then pick the genre, mood and vocalist you think would suit your song's message best. It was a really easy process to use. But being the perfectionist I am I was having trouble collating my thoughts into succinct pieces. So I reached out to the team via a contact email address for direction. A few days later, after receiving some guidance from Songfinch, I was ready to put fingertips to keys and get started. 

The whole process of song creation took about a week. You wouldn't think it was possible to take something so special and do it justice in just seven days but the minute I tapped the play button on Just Us Three I was blown away. Rose Betts (our vocalist) had taken all of my words and created something so beautiful that it made my heart swell with love and my eyes fill with tears. I could not have been happier with the outcome, and as soon as Ryan heard it he felt the same. It was perfect.

Once the song is completed it can be played on computer, tablet and mobile and is easy to download. Having the option to have your song with you wherever you go is a really lovely touch as part of the reason I wanted to do this for Ryan is that he has a constant reminder of how much we love him.  

If you are on the hunt for a truly bespoke gift for someone special then you should look into creating your own song with Songfinch. Start to finish I was incredibly impressed by the service and the support I received and the end result is more special than I had ever hoped. 

If you like the idea of creating your own personalised song, you can find out all about Songfinch here.