GASTON LUGA

It still amazes me as to what I find when I rummage around in my bag! Toys, half eaten packets of food, receipts, a long lost lipstick, hair bands, library cards... and the list still goes on!

Being mum means I get to carry everyone else crap too apparently! Thats exactly why I want to talk about my collaboration with Gaston Luga and how I wish I'd had this bag sooner!

We are always out and about exploring, walking, cycling etc so I found it so much easier to have a backpack rather than a handbag. Now not all backpacks are pretty (you should of seen some of my old school backpacks!) but Gaston Luga offer a range of beautifully functional bags with amples of room. Which I certainly need. I chose my bag in black as I knew I would need it to go with so many things and I really don't have time to be changing everything over from one bag to another all the time! It is big enough to fit in everything I need (and everyone elses) without looking. bulky or too big!

You can also get 15% off all items online with free delivery with the code THELITTLELODOWN 
Find the website here : Gaston Luga

*Bag gifted as part of a collaboration 

THICKER FULLER HAIR REVIEW

Hello everyone. If you follow me on Instagram you will know that a little while ago I was sent some products from the team at Thicker Fuller Hair to try. I have been using the products since and I can say they are a thumbs up from me. Many factors contribute to thin or thinning hair and for me it was the loss of hair after pregnancy. At first I didn't really notice it but as time went on more and more regrowth was appearing! Since using these products I have noticed a big improvement in scalp health and how my hair feels and falls. On the whole it feels so much healthier! 

For more information on the products click here.

SKIN CARE WITH DERMALOGICA

A few months ago I was very kindly gifted some dermalogica skincare products in collaboration with a skinfluencer program. As I have now been using them for a while I can give my honest opinion. the verdict : I love them!! I will go through the products for you below.

Skinperfect primer. It says 'smooth fine lines, brighten and prime for flawless skin, and prep skin or makeup'.  I find when I use this my make up sits nicer and looks fresh all day! Plus it has an SPF 30 in! I can honestly say this is by far my favourite skin care product.

Skin smoothing cream: It says 'Next generation moisturiser with Active HydraMesh Technology infuses skin with 48 hours of continuous hydration and helps protect against environmental stress'. I use this every morning, I find it tightens pores and leaves my skin feeling smooth.

Redness relief essence : It says 'Redness-reducing essence calms and restores balance to sensitive skin'. This goes on like a serum and I use it after I have cleansed.

Special cleansing gel : It says 'Soap-free, foaming gel cleanses all skin conditions'. I really like this product. After visiting The Yarrow hair and beauty Salon to have a facial with an amazing facialist (ask for Amy) they advised to mix the daily microfoliant so it becomes both scrub and cleanser. i find my skin feels amazing after.   

Precleanse : It says 'deep cleansing oil melts impurities and makeup from skin'. This smells fantastic and after taking my eye makeup off I will start my dermalogica routine with this giving myself a little facial massage at the same time. 

Daily microfoliant : It says 'Achieve brighter, smoother skin every day with this iconic exfoliating powder'. Like I said I mix this in with the Special cleansing gel and I find it makes the best exfoliant I have ever used.

So my morning daily skin routine would be: 

1. Remove eye makeup with a gentle eye cleanser (if there is any left over)

2. Precleanse with oil (plus a little massage)

3. Exfoliate and double cleanse in one

4. Pat in some redness relief essence

5. Moisturise with skin smoothing cream

6. Apply primer 

This post has been a long time coming but I wanted to give my skin a good amount of time using the products to see how they would affect my skin. I have found since having Casper my skin does break out once a month and these products really help in calming that down. Please note I didn't have to write this, it is my own opinion and I would recommend all the products I have used so far from dermalogica. These products were gifted. 

J2O SPRITZ

How are you all enjoying the summer so far? I have to say I am loving the time off with the kids and the weather hasn't been to bad either! There is nothing better than cooling off with a nice cold refreshing drink on those really hot days is there?! I have been lucky enough to have been sent some of J2O's new spritz bottled drinks. They are incredibly refreshing whether you are passing them around and enjoying them on a hot day or replacing them for your usual mocktail in the evening, everyone can enjoy them! They come in two flavours : Pear and Rasberry, Apple and Watermelon,.

Did you also know that most of us Brits outraged with overpriced purchases including mocktails? Replacing them with J2O Spritz could be the answer to keeping those costs down! If you would like  more information on this click here.

Please note products have been gifted. All opinions are my own.

CASEAPP COLLABERATION

Hello everyone! I am so excited to be collaborating with CASEAPP and bring you a 20% discount code valid until the end of June 2019! Just enter THELITTLELODOWN. 

In addition to this I am also running a giveaway over on my Instagram account @thelittlelodown where you have a chance to receive an item from their website for free!

To enter with a chance to win you will need to head over to IG, tag a couple of people who you think would love to win also and make sure you are following both myself and caseapp. 

You must live in either Europe, Canada or North America to enter.

Good luck and don't forget to take advantage of the discount code!

OUTFIT DETAILS

So this month I am going to try and join in with an instagram hashtag challenge set up by @mywardrobethismonth which is a daily prompt for fashion and beauty. I am planning on posting the outfit details over here on the blog and I haven't decided yet as to whether I am going to post daily to here or a 'what i wore this week' style. please let me know which you think I should do either via IG direct message or email or comment on this post. 

So first up (and I know I am a few days late)

The prompt today was 'I have this thing with' and I choose printed skirts..

Top HM

Skirt and sandals Primark

OUTFIT DETAILS

I have been meaning to post these outfit details for a whole week now! So here we go... 

Shirt - Zara (old but there is a similar one on the website)

Jeans, shoes, belt and bag all Primark

I'VE WRITTEN A GUEST BLOG POST!

I have some exciting news! I have written a guest blog post for the lovely tommyandrex. It's all about becoming a mother again for the third time and my top 5 must haves for new mums which I have also listed below. If you want to go and give it a read click here.

5 Must have items for a new mum.

 All of these have been tried and tested by me.

So aside from all the obvious ie beds, cribs, cots and clothes etc this is what I've chosen:

• Large and extra large muslin cloths! They are so handy to cover up if breastfeeding, to use as a swaddle or a blanket and to mop up any accidents! The list of uses goes on. 
• A good change bag. I chose to spend a little bit more money this time around as I know just how much they get used and for how long! I wanted one which doubled as a handbag as well so I went for the pacapod firenze. It has removable compartments which have been fantastic and enough space to pop any of my bits in too.
• Stokke trip trap high chair. This high chair has a newborn attachment and Casper has sat at the table with us since day dot. It has made life so much easier and now at a year, we have adapted it to his height and he is so good at sitting at the table to eat all his meals with us.
• A ring sling. I have used a ring sling from when Casper was a few days old and I still use it now. It's such a lovely way to have your baby close and be able to settle them whilst giving you the freedom of being able to move about and use your arms! I have been lucky enough to work with wanderlustmumma who do the most beautiful slings. 
• A freezer full of healthy, nutritious pre-prepared meals.I can't stress this enough, if you are about to have a baby or have a little newborn finding some time every few weeks to batch cook a whole load of meals ready to whip out the freezer is a must! I breastfed Casper (still do) and those of you who have breastfed or are planning on breastfeeding will know how often they feed when they are tiny. So aside from being up in the night quite a lot and being tired, finding the time to prepare a healthy meal every night is hard work. Having a few of these meals in the freezer meant I didn't have to worry about cooking and I didn't have to worry about the nutrition I needed to breastfeed. 

GOOD FRIDAY OUTFIT DETAILS

These photos were taken on that beautiful Easter bank holiday weekend! Love this outfit, its easy to wear and super affordable. I am just waiting for that warmer weather to return now.

Skirt, shoes, handbag and sunglasses are Primark

T shirt H&M 

ROMAN ORIGINALS

I recently added a few new pieces to my spring wardrobe so I thought I would share a couple of looks

This lovely dress and polka dot trousers were kindly gifted by  roman originals

click here for Roman Originals 

B R E A K F A S T

I am sharing this super easy breakfast idea which is far less effort than it looks! Ingredients and what I have used are listed below.

* Pack of part baked rolls (I usually shop at Aldi so would pick them up there but the ones in this photo are Paul Hollywood crusty part bake rolls)
*Fresh coffee
*Homemade berry jam
*Orange Juice ( decanted into glass bottle)
*Butter

Really it's that simple! I put the rolls in the oven for about 8 mins and whilst they are baking i get set the table and get the coffee ready. Stress free and it gets all the family round the table eating the same thing for the first meal of the day.


Table mats, knives, plates, cups and tea towels from ikea. 
Caffettiera Bodum

The Dress

True to my word here is my first post under the STYLE section! 

Whilst away on our holiday we went for a meal out to celebrate Jacks birthday! These are by no means the best photos taken... let's just call them the out takes! 

*Dress is French Connection

*Shoes Kurt Geiger  

               

BELGIUM

 

Well we have been home from our sunny holiday in Belgium for one week now! I did say I would write a blog post on our time there so here we are. I have been travelling over to Belgium all my life as half of my family come from and still live there. It’s a wonderful place to go and visit. We stay in DeHaan and we have family to accommodate us. I do know there are plenty of places, hotels, villas and holiday parks actually in DeHaan itself  which would be lovely and ideal for a family.
It’s so flat there and everything is close and very accessible, so we take scooters, bikes, skateboards or walk almost everywhere. If you are a walker and enjoy walking for long distances this really could be your place to visit! There are walks you can do which take you from coastal town to coastal town (you can even walk along the beach from town to town). Walks can take you through beautiful country lanes or equally as scenic woodlands. Let’s now get to the beach... we are a family who loves the beach and this really is some beach! It’s miles long with plenty of activity from a great wooden pirate ship sunken into the sand for kids to play, volley ball nets set up all along the width, sun loungers for hire, a beach library, little cafes and bars set up in beach huts (not to mention the cafes  and bars along the promenade above the beach) they even have people walking along the beach with big coolers selling ice creams and fresh custard filled doughnuts! The tide goes out really far and feels like you could walk for miles leaving behind big shallow pools of water which the kids all play  in.  You can take dogs onto a specific area of the beach too which sand dunes back onto! Win win!
There are plenty of other things to do if the beach isn’t your thing. In the centre of town you will find a big park which is home to two play areas for kids  separate one for younger and older, a mini golf   course, a cafe restaurant, boules, tennis courts and quite often throughout the summer this is home to  evening entertainment of music, dancing and kids discos. Surrounding the park you will find cafes,     bars, ice cream parlours (which we visit on a daily basis without fail) go carts for hire (which can  be used in the park) even a carousel.
We have so much fun every summer here and my children are already looking forward to going next  year! Please leave a comment if you have any questions, I’d love to hear from you!

Lauren x