Heledd

My Captured Moment #4

Welcome to My Captured Moment, a weekly linky where I share my favourite ‘Captured Moments’ and invite you to do the same.

This week my captured moment is an oldie but a very goodie. This photo was taken on the day I met my baby brother for the first time. I was nineteen months old, so of course I have no memory of this momentous day but from the picture I seem pretty happy about the situation. My brother and I are very close in age so grew up together, we’ve always been friends and I know this is unusual but never really fell out as kids. He’s calm and kind, and one of the most selfless people I’ve ever known. On Sunday my baby brother turns 34, so he’s not so much a baby anymore. Happy Birthday little brother! xx

my-captured-moment4Having gone through this incredibly special moment with my own children, when Lili came into the hospital to see me and meet Poppy for the first time, I know exactly how my mother would have been feeling in this picture. Although, I must admit she looks like she’s ‘holding it together’ much better than I did. I was an emotional wreck, unable to control the tears of pride and joy from running down my face.

Share your Moments

Your ‘My Captured Moment’ can be a single picture or a series of shots, new (taken this week) or old, with or without words. The idea is to simply share a moment in time you’ve captured on your camera and make sure it doesn’t go unseen. This could include vintage shots of your own childhood and beyond or a simple picture you’ve recently taken and want to ‘show off’.

How to Play along

• Link up every Thursday to Sunday (ending at 11.50pm)

• Add my badge (or link back to my website using #MyCapturedMoment) at the bottom of your post.

• Share the love – try to comment on at least three other posts. After all that’s what it’s all about.

Go Social

Tweet your posts to me @HeleddLavender using the hashtag #MyCapturedMoment and I’ll retweet. Hashtag your picture #MyCapturedMoment on Instagram (follow me @HeleddLavender) and I will pick a favourite each week to regram and tag you, hopefully this could get you some new IG followers.

Running in Lavender

Email, RSS Follow
Heledd

My Beauty Hub with Karen from Mini Travellers

As you may already know I love talking about beauty products and playing around with lotions and potions. A few weeks ago I shared my favourite beauty products and recommendations in a post called My Beauty Hub Q&A. This week my lovely friend Karen from Mini Travellers is sharing her favourite products and answering my Beauty Hub questions…

Beauty-Hub-Karen

1) What is your day time make-up uniform?

I use a light Moisturiser by Simple, a No7 fluid foundation and always some black mascara.

2) What do you use to wash/ cleanse your face?

I just use soap at night time and I use a Smoothing Facial Scrub by Simple in the morning – I like the products from the Simple range.

3) What is your most indulgent beauty product?

I think that would be my Dior New Look mascara.

4) What is your favourite super market beauty product?

As I’ve already mentioned, I really like the Simple range of face and body products. They’re light and gentle on my skin.

Simple-BeautyHub

5) Do you have a favourite body product?

That would have to be Bio Oil, which I’m still using (after my pregnancies), especially on my stomach!

6) What would be your desert island beauty item?

Again, my Dior New Look mascara!

Dior-BeautyHub

7) What is your number one hair care product?

A light leave-in conditioning spray. I have very thin hair so I don’t like to use a heavy conditioner.

8) You’re at a Spa, what treatment would you choose?

Always a back massage. I seem to carry stress in my shoulders.

9) Do you have a signature scent?

Chanel No 5, very old school but classic!

Chanel5-BeautyHub

10) What do you use in the bath?

I can’t remember the last time I had a bath but I do own some beautiful Jo Malone Amber and Lavender Bath Oil.

Over the next few weeks I’m going to be asking some of my blogging friends the same questions and serialising their answers in a regular Beauty Hub post. If you’d like me to feature you in My Beauty Hub, please copy these questions and email me you answers (heleddinlavender@gmail.com), along with your blog URL, social media details and a picture of yourself.

Thanks for taking part Karen xx

Post Comment Love
Email, RSS Follow
Heledd

A Dim Sum Afternoon Tea

With Chinese New Year just around the corner, I was recently invited to attend a dim sum afternoon tea at the Le Chinois restaurant at the Millennium Hotel in Knightsbridge. If I’m honest all I read was ‘afternoon tea’ so I was expecting some delicious scones and little cakes and pastries but this was no ordinary afternoon tea! This was one with an Asian twist.

DimSum

Once I finally arrived at the venue (it was one of those days when everything that could go against you, did) I was greeted by the team from Joe Boggs and the Millennium Hotel, and quickly offered a glass of cold champagne. At this point I knew the day was getting better. I mingled with some of the other bloggers that were invited to the event before we were all taken through to the dinning room, where we were served our dim sum banquet. As you can read from the menu below, the amount of food on offer was amazing and each one was more delicious than the next!

The Menu
Crispy chicken stick
Crispy shredded duck spring rolls
Sauteed prawns coated with wasabi
Minced chicken wrapped in lettuce
Crispy scallop rolls
BBQ pork bun (Chai Siu Boa)
Red bean and pandan mochi cake
Fresh sliced mango
Prawns with Passion Fruit Colis (dip fried)
Steamed minced pork dumplings (Siu Mai)
Traditional Peking Duck

To Drink
Oloong and Jasmine Tea and Champagne!

Here are some pictures I took on the day, be prepared for some serious food porn here…

dimsum6 dimsum4 dimsum5 dimsum7 dimsum2 I’d like to thank the team at Joe Blogs and the Millennium Hotel for inviting me along to this event. I had a great day and came away feeling very lucky and very full! For more information on the event click here.

If you ever find yourself in London and fancy an afternoon tea with a difference, I fully recommend the Le Chinois restaurant at the Millennium Hotel in Knightsbridge. Especially if you’re a fan of dim sum and Peking Duck pancake rolls.

 

 

Email, RSS Follow
Heledd

A Family Day – Richmond Park

We had no plans this weekend, no playdates or birthday parties, visitors or errands to run. I don’t know about you but this is a rare occurrence in our house. And to top it off the weather was bright and sunny, although of course very cold. After a lazy morning of pancakes in our pyjamas and helping Lili with her homework, we decided to take a drive out to Richmond Park. We love going over there at this time of year, it’s such a beautiful park full of lakes, woodlands, gardens and of course there’s the deer!

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, January can be a very slow and slightly depressing month but this year I’ve made a conscious effort to enjoy every day and really take in the ordinary moments of our family life. So instead of spending the day in our pyjamas (which is also a lovely option on a cold January day) we wrapped ourselves up in our woolly scarves and hats and headed over to Richmond Park. The girls ran free and took in the fresh air, and were amazed by the wild deer that we saw while walking around the park. By the end of the day Poppy was shattered and ended up asleep in my arms, the perfect end to a perfect day.

I love the pictures we took on Saturday, the light was amazing and we managed to get some beautiful natural shots that perfectly captured our family day out…

richmond6 richmond7 richmond8 richmond10 richmond11 richmond12 richmond15richmond20 richmond26 richmond24 richmond23 richmond4 richmond17

I’m linking this post up to The Ordinary Moments linky hosted by the very lovely Katie from MummyDaddyMe. This is one of my favourite linkies as it really helps me appreciate the little things and document them here to remember forever.

 

Email, RSS Follow
Heledd

When in Rome

The other day I was having lunch with a friend and somehow we got talking about our favourite cities. The usual suspects came up; London, Paris, New York, Barcelona but after a long discussion on the merits of all theses great cities I came to the conclusion that my favourite city has to be Rome.

Spanish-steps-Rome

The Spanish Steps – Rome

I first went to Rome on a Six Nations rugby’s trip back in 2004 (I know this may seem unlikely but I do actually enjoy rugby – don’t forget I am Welsh and it’s in our blood). Wales were playing Italy in Rome and we had tickets to the game. I was not prepared to fall  in love with the city – I was going to have fun and watch Wales win. Well I did have fun and Wales did win but the main thing I got from this trip was my love for this beautiful capital city, the food and it’s amazing history.

Three Things I Love About Rome

1. Just Walking Around

There is so much to see and do in Rome but one of my favourite things to do is simply walk around the city, going from one fountain to the next. There are over 20 fountains dotted around the city, each one more beautiful than the next. The fact that there is one around most corners means that when I think of Rome, I think of fountains. If I had to pick my absolute favourite, of course it would have to be the famous and amazingly beautiful Trevi Fountain. This fountain has appeared in several films, including Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, where the stars are seen dancing in the water in one of cinema’s most iconic scenes.

Trevi Fountain, Rome

Trevi Fountain – Rome

Rome2

From La Dolce Vita

Of course while walking around Rome, you also come across the city’s other iconic landmarks including; the stunning Colesseum,  beautiful Spanish Steps, The Pantheon and the dramatic ruins of the Roman Forum. As a bit of a history geek, I found all of these attractions so interesting, I was literally mesmerised by the stories and history of this fascinating and once powerful city.

Colosseum-Rome

The Colesseum – Rome

You can literally spend the day walking around Rome and see all these iconic sites for free. All you need is a good pair of shoes and some money for a delicious lunch, which brings me on to my next subject…

2. The Food

Have I mentioned I love pasta and ice-cream? I think it may have come up once or twice on this blog (take a look at my about me page). So it’s no surprise that the food in Rome is ‘right up my street’! The Italians really know how to eat and to make you appreciate every mouthful – the pasts is always homemade and authentic, the salad is always fresh and juicy and the ice-cream is quite simply on another level. For these reasons, I can literally only visit Rome for a few days at a time, because if I was to stay any longer, I fear I’d come home weighing considerably more! My absolute favourite meal (and I remember it clearly from my last trip to Rome) was a beautifully light but silky smooth bowl of gnocchi with a sage butter sauce – it was out of this world! I’m desperate to go back to Rome just so I can experience it again.

Gnocchi

 

3. The Other City

Yes, with Rome you buy one and get one free! The Vatican city is a walled enclave within the city of Rome. Once you’re on the other side of that wall, you’ll find yourself in the cultural capital of the world, within the sites of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums. They feature some of the world’s most famous paintings and sculptures, including the famous masterpiece that is the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo. The funny thing about visiting the Vatican is that you’ll find yourself walking around with your head in the air for most of the day (ending up with a stiff neck) but it’s all worth it, as the ceilings will quite literally take your breath away!

rome1

 

There are of course many other reasons for visiting Rome (I haven’t even mentioned the shops!) but these are the three things I love most about my favourite city.

Email, RSS Follow
Heledd

My Beauty Hub with What Katy Said

Beauty Hub

I’m a total beauty junky and love nothing more than talking about beauty products and playing around with lotions and potions. Last week I shared my favourite beauty products and recommendations in my Beauty Hub Q&A. This week my lovely friend Katy from What Katy Said is sharing her favourite products and answering my Beauty Hub questions…

1) What is your day time make-up uniform?

I am trying much harder this year to return to my ‘old ways’. So, my current uniform consists of primer, cc cream, concealer, foundation, powder, blusher, eyebrow pencil and a slight hint of eyeliner. Just a natural look, nothing heavy (although writing it down it does seems a lot!)

2) What do you use to wash/ cleanse your face?

I am very strict with this one, I cleanse, tone and moisturise every single day without fail. I use Nivea 2 in 1 cleanser/toner and a L’Oreal anti-aging moisturiser.

3) What is your most indulgent beauty product?

I’m not sure I have any…. I’m never able to justify spending too much money. Maybe one day I’ll treat myself to something from Bare Minerals!

4) What is your favourite super market beauty product?

I always buy from the highstreet, my favourite product has to be my L’Oreal primer. It makes my skin feel so soft and makes my make-up easier to apply. I only started using it a few months ago but I’ll never go back!

5) Do you have a favourite body product?

This is where I let myself down. I do love Garnier’s Hyrdolock moisturiser, it really makes my skin feel refreshed and full of moisture. I forget to use it though, so my skin is dreadful!

beauty hub

6) What would be your desert island beauty item?

If I was stuck on a desert island I would probably just want a hairbrush! Not sure what else I would care about- or maybe some shampoo!

7) What is your number one hair care product?

I love L’Oreal Elvive Full Restore 5 Leave-in Conditioner, you just spritz it on and it leaves your hair looking really shiny but doesn’t leave any weight or greasiness.

8) You’re at a Spa, what treatment would you choose?

A back massage!!!! I had one for my birthday last year and almost fell asleep on the table! I really must book to go back soon – the therapist had magic hands!

9) Do you have a signature scent?

I collect perfume, it’s bit of a habit really – I just adore the pretty bottles! Anyway I have quite a few and so choose depending on my mood. On my wedding day I wore Princess by Vera Wang and every now and then I like to put it back on to remind me of the day.

My favourite range is the Britney collection. Before you shun me, hear me out! They’re actually designed by Elizabeth Arden and are just fab! My favourite is Fantasy, very fruity.

10) What do you use in the bath?

I am not a fan of baths to be honest, the whole idea of laying there naked freaks me out! I am a shower girl and I really love the Nivea in-shower moisturiser. I’ve run out actually, must remember to pick some more up!
Over the next few weeks I’m going to be asking some of my blogging friends the same questions and serialising their answers in a regular Beauty Hub post. If you’d like me to feature you in my Beauty Hub series, please copy these questions and email me you answers ([email protected]), along with your blog URL, social media details and a picture of yourself.

Thanks for taking part Katy xx

Email, RSS Follow
Heledd

My Captured Moment #3

Welcome to My Captured Moment, a weekly linky where I share my favourite ‘Captured Moments’ and invite you to do the same.

This week my captured moment is a series of pictures that were taken two years ago, the last time we had real snow here in Surrey. Lili was two and Poppy was a tinny baby in my arms. As you can see from these shots Lili loved it, she enjoyed running around and kicking the snow. Lets hope we have some more snow soon, I want to take more shots just like these…

my captured moment my-captured-moment3 (2) my-captured-moment3 (3) my-captured-moment3 (4)

Share your Moments

Your ‘My Captured Moment’ can be a single picture or a series of shots, new (taken this week) or old, with or without words. The idea is to simply share a moment in time you’ve captured on your camera and make sure it doesn’t go unseen. This could include vintage shots of your own childhood and beyond or a simple picture you’ve recently taken and want to ‘show off’.

How to Play along

• Link up every Thursday to Sunday (ending at 11.55pm)

• Add my badge (or link back to my website using #MyCapturedMoment) at the bottom of your post.

• Share the love – try to comment on at least three other posts. After all that’s what it’s all about.

Go Social

Tweet your posts to me @HeleddLavender using the hashtag #MyCapturedMoment and I’ll retweet. Hashtag your picture #MyCapturedMoment on Instagram (follow me @HeleddLavender) and I will pick a favourite each week to regram and tag you, hopefully this could get you some new IG followers.

Running in Lavender

Email, RSS Follow
Heledd

Do You Fancy A ‘Snap’ Trip?

If you’re anything like me, you live for the weekend. I’m constantly planning – What are we going to do? Where are we going? Usually we have birthday parties to attend or play dates organised but every now and again a clean weekend will pop up, a weekend with no plans – a blank sheet. I never really know if a weekend is going to be completely free until the very last minute so it’s always difficult to plan a weekend away.

However, I recently came across Snaptrip. Snaptrip have the largest selection of last minute self-catered accommodation in the UK – ranging from cottages, houses, apartments as well as more unusual properties such as huts, barns and old churches. Each property is hand picked by Snaptrip to ensure the highest quality at the best possible price. They also work closely with the owners to ensure the highest level of customer care and service.

The Snaptrip website is incredibly simple to use and navigate (they even have a fab app if you prefer using your phone or tablet), making it really easy (maybe even too easy in my case) to search through their properties and book a last minute ‘get-away’. Also, by booking last minute through Snaptrip you can save up to £100 on the price of your stay – basically the owners don’t want their properties to be empty, so Snaptrip are able to offer reductions to ensure the properties are filled.

I don’t know about you but I tend to get addicted to these sites and spend hours trawling through the pages and picking out my favourites properties for future mini-breaks. So it’s no surprise that I have a list ready and waiting for when a ‘clean weekend’ pops up. These are just some of the ones on my list…

hero_st-clair-petrockstow[1]

Beaworthy, Devon £273 for 3 night

snaptrip post

Bradford Abbas, England £264 for 3 nights

hero_Golde_2011[1]

Newquay, Cornwall £738 for 3 nights (sleeps 6 adults)

snaptrip

Telford, Telford and Wrekin £277 for 3 nights

So there you have it, my latest obsession and biggest tip for a spontaneous luxury get-away that won’t break the bank! Who wants to be cramped up in a tinny hotel room (as a family of four or five), when you can be spreading out in one of these beauties – and for the same price!

Special Offer

Snaptrip have offered all Running in Lavender readers £25 off their first booking, this is on top of any discount you receive by booking late. All you need to do is mention this offer when booking and £25 will be taken off your total.

This is a contributed post but all thoughts, opinions and copy are my own. I only write about things I genuinely love and would use.

I hope you enjoy your next mini-break! Will it be a ‘snap’ trip?

Email, RSS Follow
Heledd

Sunday Stars #13

sundaystars

Welcome back to our Sunday Stars linky, a place for you to share your favourite posts each week.

Myself and a group of lovely bloggers decided to start this linky together. We wanted to create a place where all our favourite posts from the week could be easily shared and then thought why not let everyone join in! We take it in turns each week to host but we all comment and re-tweet throughout the week.

Last week’s Top Reads

Last week’s ‘Star’ posts came from Life with Six Kids who wrote the most moving and brave post on domestic violence and her personal experience. This really is a post that everyone should read.

And Mamascribbles for her brilliantly written post on the reality of parenthood: the good, the bad and the ugly! We especially loved the last section written by her other half!

Back to this week…

This linky is designed to give everyone a place to show off their favourite posts and make sure they don’t go unread. This week it’s myself and Amy from Everything Mummy who’s hosting and we can’t wait to read your star posts!

Tweet your posts to either of us (@heleddlavender or @amycooperem) and @SundaysStars using the hashtag #sundaystars and we’ll RT. We’ll also be pinning your posts to the Sunday Stars pinterest board.

Next weeks hosts will be the lovely Karen from Mini Travellers and Jess from Mummy of Boy Girl Twins so keep an eye out for them next Sunday.

The Rules:

• You can link up to 3 post old or new, anything that you are really proud of and want to share.

• Please remember to add the Sunday Stars badge to the bottom of your posts.

• Share the love – try and comment on at least three other posts. After all that’s what it’s all about.

Running in Lavender

Email, RSS Follow
Heledd

Sisters – January

This year I’m going to join the Siblings project. This is a monthly link-up I’ve been following for the past few months – and thought that the beginning of a new year would be the perfect time to join in.

These photos were taken last Monday, it was a bonus day (otherwise known as ‘Inset Day’), Lili’s last day of the Christmas holiday. Dom was back at work, so as Lili would say “it was just us girls”. We’d had a relaxing morning and after lunch we decided to take a stroll into the village for a sneaky hot chocolate and a walk around the park.

The girls have really come together over the Christmas holiday. Poppy’s now talking, so they can play together and communicate in a way that they couldn’t do back in the summer holidays.  I love how Poppy copies everything her big sister says and shouts ‘and me’ when she feels she’s missing out. I think these pictures really show their closeness and the special bond they share as sisters.

TheGirls9

TheGirls4 TheGirls2 TheGirls6 TheGirls7 TheGirls

dear beautiful
Running in Lavender
Email, RSS Follow