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It is no secret that I have a love affair with shopping.

It is no secret that I have two adorable daughters.

It therefore comes as no surprise then that when I buy something, I usually have to buy two of them and whilst there is 6 years difference in age, from time to time, they do like to dress in similar clothing. (Not all of the time, obviously, as the 2 year old can still get away with cute bunny ears on her dressing gown but that is considered not cool by the 8 year old!).

So you can imagine my delight when we were asked to review items from the new Joules range. I have to be completely honest and admit that I always thought that Joules was all about delightfully bright wellington boots and attire for country folk and whilst this may have been part of its original creation, the colourful range and beautiful prints are perfect for my "floral" named girls. 

We choose the gorgeous quilted jackets from Joules and when I say we, I really mean me. I loved how they have a classically British look but the burst of floral lining gives them a beautifully girlie look.

The quality goes without saying, the jackets are warm and it may sound silly but the zips work and the children can use them! I cannot tell you my frustration with childrens coats where the zips get stuck. This may sound like a small thing but when you are on a strict morning schedule, those few minutes dealing with a zip matter! Also trying to wrestle a toddler out of a jacket with a stuck zip is no fun .... but I digress. 

Joules clothing isnt high volume, low price, it is all about quality, style and standing the test of time. Unfortunately for me, I have now found other things on the site that my girls will look adorable in, I just don't need to let them see the horse print attire as knowing my two, they will want a horse to go with it!

You know when people talk about a "light bulb" moment? You know the one where they have a moment of clear clarity about something? Yes? Well I think I had one of those this week and as usual I have my mother to thank for it.

I *may* have mentioned that there is a wedding happening this year and in true "me" style, have been looking at finding stylish, savvy and different ideas to inject into the day. I have gone from the sublime to the cor blimey (oh my goodness I am sounding like my mother now) but one thing my gorgeous man and I have decided on is that this is to be a stress free wedding. (I can hear you laughing you know).

So we designed some very simple but (in our opinion) very stylish invitations for said impending celebration but when I showed my mum, she just looked at them and said "they weren't what I was expecting". 

Her reaction wasn't what I was expecting either!

It caught me off guard as she is usually quite gushing about my ideas and really enthusiastic. Obviously this wasn't one of those occasions and it took me a little while to think about how I felt about it and what other people might think too.

Then it happened .......

We loved the simplicity of our design. 

It was what we wanted and what we are having, so why should I be so concerned about the approval of others.

If you are happy with the decisions you have made, then whose business is that but your own? It made me think of how much I could let go if I stopped letting other people’s opinions dictate the way they think I should live my life. 

Its that little thing that makes you feel differently about everything.

It was more of a light bulb crashing moment, but a light bulb moment nonetheless.

My mum is awesome and I do value her opinion, now I just need to go and check what she thinks of this post ............ joking!!

Linking up with All the Small Things.

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They say that you can take the girl out of Birmingham but you can't take Birmingham out of the girl and this is so true! I was born and bred in Birmingham and whilst the postal address is Warwickshire these days, I will always be a "brummie" girl at heart. I am proud to think of my home town as the country's second city as it is surrounded by gorgeous countryside, historic sites and the famous Black Country, (the region was given this name because during the 19^th Century, smoke would billow out of the many iron working foundries clouding the air), Birmingham has its own rich historic roots, preserved by the city for centuries.

We were looking at things to do as a family and I forget that there is still so much on our doorstep. If you’re interested in history and art, go on a cultured adventure to Birmingham and get those creative juices flowing! Book yourself into a hotel near the city centre and read up on this guide for inspiration of where you can go while you are visiting.

Symphony Hall

Rated five stars on TripAdvisor, Symphony Hall stands grandly in the middle of Broad Street, Birmingham’s prime entertainment and leisure destination which contains art galleries, theatres and family orientated entertainment (aswell as a considerable number of bars and clubs that I frequented in my youth). The structural pioneer, Symphony Hall was built during the 1980s, putting Birmingham on the map, as well as creating jobs during the recession. Now the jewel of the city, the concert hall is built in a traditional ‘shoe box’ design, amplifying a rich acoustic sound. This structure harks back to the 19^th century, mirroring grand concert halls such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

[Picture of Symphony Hall is copyrighted by Rob Abdul via Flickr]

Electric Cinema

Now this is very cool .... the Electric Cinema is the oldest cinema in the United Kingdom. Built in 1909, the much-loved institute showed its first ever silent film on the 27^thDecember in the same year. Back in those days, many homes were without power or light. Consequently, many people thought that electricity was created by the use of black magic and witchcraft. Even now, the cinema revisits this belief and its deep-rooted Edwardian history. For instance, in February 2013, teenagers from John Henry Newman Secondary School, a local catholic college with specialist status in the arts, played an interactive horror game. The activity featured amateur dramatics, including spinning a wheel that dictated what type of death they had to act out such as ‘scared to death’ and, hilariously, ‘bear attack’.

The Black Country Living Museum

It is a little known fact that Birmingham was the world’s first industrial town, emerging in the 1830s. The Black Country Living Museum captures the industrial past and offers a commentary on our developed present. A favourite among locals and visitors alike, the Black Country Living Museum has it all; costumed staff giving tours, authentic fish and chips and 26 acres of open-air history that you can immerse yourself in. They even have a vintage tour bus! Find out more about the museum by visiting their website, including details of how to get to the museum. Rest assured, you’ll be an expert on the Black Country and the industrial revolution after the enthusiastic staff are done with you!

[Picture of the Black Country Living Museum is copyrighted by Darlo2009 via Flickr]

So whilst the proposed HS2 railway is offering us quick trips to London, I think for now I should just remember to enjoy what is on my doorstep.

Disclaimer : This post is in collaboration with Novotel but all "brummie" roots are our own!

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As I am sitting here listening to the rain, I am also chatting to a friend about the possibility of going on holiday together. Going away with friends is great fun but going away with new friends means that we will be on our best behaviour, being more courteous, considerate of our guests, hoping the children are on their best behaviour and trying to look good in a swimsuit.

It may feel like we are still in the height of winter, but before you know it, spring will be in the air (she hopes) and we will see the first snowdrops springing to life from the frosty earth. While it’s probably going to still be a little cold for me to expose my legs to the elements, it won’t be long before we are hopefully ditching the knitted dresses and tights and opting for summer skirts instead.

Winter is a season when many of us forget, choose to ignore, or simply don't have time to consider the importance of pampering, unless it involves a gorgeous soak in the bath among a handful of scented candles, a good book and a fizzy bath bomb. Looking after your skin may have been pushed to the back of the to-do list; after all, it’s winter!

With spring just a couple of months away, now’s the time to think about a suitable routine so that you can be looking and feeling fabulous in a spring dress in no time. With plenty of George dress options making their way onto the rails, prepping your legs so that you can look as fab as possible in them is a must! I have lived in their knitted dresses for work this winter, so can't wait to see the new collections.

Exfoliate

Exfoliation may seem like a fairly obvious step, but rough patches and dead skin (shudder) can accumulate which, considering it’s the winter, we probably won’t care too much about. However, if you’re ready to get into a gorgeous sundress, exfoliation will help to get them back to ship-shape condition!

Shave

Enough said.

Moisturise

This is essential to keep your skin moisturised, especially if you’ve just exfoliated or shaved. It’ll help to keep your skin hydrated and feeling supple. Choose a cream that doesn’t leave behind any sticky residue and make it a ritual after your shower.

Tan

We all love a summer holiday, not just for the break but for the bronzed look you come home with. If, like me, you don't want to expose your skin, take the cheat option and tan at home instead with some self-tanning products, just make sure you don't end up streaky. Here speaks the voice of experience!

Tone

The New Year is a great time to begin an exercise programme and you don’t even have to join a gym either; there are plenty of home exercises that you can incorporate into your daily routine. Some friends and I are trying to motivate and encourage (or shame each other) every day into doing exercise. It is day 14 and I have done something every day so far. Let's see how we are on day 114!

So I have my plan on getting my body into shape for our holidays this year, I just need to work on keeping the children (and other half) in line ...... and deciding where we are going to go!

Disclaimer: This post was brought to you in collaboration with George at Asda but as a regular customer, this is also a natural recommendation. All summer body concerns and tan experiences are our own.