Pretty in pink watches

I love watches and have a collection of them from over the years. Different watches for different occasions. Ones to wear every day and ones for special occasions. 

I would like a girly pink watch for my collection and there is no better selection that at The Watch Hut where you will be spoilt for choice.

Perhaps the classy Michael Kors Lexington Watch with the striking bright pink against the gold or the quirky charm style of the Lulu Guinness Irresistible Watch?

Or maybe the sporty Breo Digital Watch with contrasting yellow or the unique and minimalist look Verb Usb Watch?

The Ice-Watch always lures me in though, I have one in white and it is my absolute favourite. I love their chunkiness and they suit my style so I think I would opt for Pantone Universe Ice-Watch.

Which watch do you like? Have you got a collection of watches too?

Sponsored post. Words are my own.

Improving your sleep environment

Since I've been a mother, I must admit that a good night's sleep has disappeared. From staying up late to catch up on jobs, having time on the Internet, to worrying and fretting over something until the early hours of the morning. Whilst putting in place a sleep routine for Little Bird, my own routine has gone out of the window - clearly shown by the dark circles under my eyes. 

I was set a sleep challenge to test out ways of improving my sleep environment with help from the Web-Blinds sleep guide  to see if I could get a good night's sleep. 

 My bedroom has been quite neglected and needs decorating and improving. Furniture is broken, bedding is old and mismatched and piles of clutter have accumulated. It was very hard to relax in an environment that was shouting out with jobs to be done and felt untidy. This of course induces anxiety and not sleep. Firstly I had a good de-clutter and bought a wire storage box to put some of my bits and pieces in, rather than them being on view to me as I lay in bed. 

The bedside table was cleared and a lovely scented candle placed there as the flickering light and lovely scent are very soothing. Of course, I'd only have the candle on when I go to bed early to read as being candle safe I don't want to fall asleep with it on! According to the sleep guide, the aroma of lavender is one that promotes relaxation so you could have some lavender oils too, maybe a spray of some on your pillow. 

I have also turned over a new leaf with my eating habits, no more late night snacks that will lie heavy on my stomach making me feel bloated and uncomfortable to get to sleep. Likewise to caffeine, as I was still drinking coffee until late at night and then unable to doze off. Silly really. Instead I now have a milky drink in my new green owl mug as a bedtime drink and it is so much better. The milk contains natural chemicals that encourage the production of melatonin that helps you sleep.

More on this in another post but I now do daily exercise (shock!) and this has really helped. The sleep guide details how exercise has been proven to help insomniacs. It has certainly helped me get to sleep and stay asleep. Instead of waking several times through the night and still feeling lethargic in the morning, I have woken up feeling refreshed and raring to go. The exercise also helps you do feel less stressed which I really do need.

It is important that the bedroom is a restful place and calming colours will help you create a sanctuary for sleep. I am going to introduce more greens into the room as they make me feel at ease and also pretty items that remind me of the garden. Thinking of the garden is something I like to do to drift away so a few flower or bird decorations are what I like around me as I lay in bed. 

For me, one of the most important points I read in the sleep guide was how modern technology is keeping us awake. I am very, very guilty of this. The laptop in bed has been firmly put away as has lying there catching up on emails on my phone at 1am (well more often than not). It has been so much better to go to bed and read a little instead, winding me down rather than feeling wired from searching the Internet. I have wanted to go to bed earlier to relax and have better organised my day so that I do not feel there are so many jobs still to do in the house.  The temperature of the bedroom is also important and it is advised that a cooler temperature is better for sleep. I bought some lovely new cotton bedding with a pretty pale stripe in it that felt so fresh and lovely to sleep. Being comfier helped a lot and having bedding that matched rather than odd bits of this and that made the bedroom look lovely. I want to be there, the room feels more pleasant and serene. There's a few more things I need to fix (like the collapsing chest of drawers) but the room is certainly better than a week ago.

 Trying out just a few ideas has really helped. All things combined have led to me to have had a better sleep over the last few days. I have woken up feeling less in a brain fog, less grumpy and it is simply through getting closer to the 7 hours sleep. I have even felt less hungry the next day which is great for my diet.  

What do you do to get a good night's sleep?

For some great ideas, have a look at the sleep guide by Web-Blinds.com

This was a collaborative post with Web-Blinds.com. Payment was received to improve my sleep environment. All words are my own and an honest account.

Our friend the horse

 After a walk around the forest, picking up pine cones - which my boy is no longer afraid of, stopping for a snack and hiding in dens, we saw our friend the horse.

 

Now my little boy is an anxious child. However, with animals he shows such a courage and a caring nature. He strides up and give our ned a gentle pat.

 

Has a little chat about the weather and the price of oats these days.

 

Has a check of the quality of the horse's new coat. Fine wool you say? Are you sure, now let me feel it. A lovely tartan my friend, very smart on you.  

Now let me tell you the gossip about the chickens that live further up the pathway.... After a few minutes of catching up, the two friends say there goodbyes. 

Till next time.

Bye.

Neigh.

What's growing in Dad's greenhouse - April

April days spent by my dad in the greenhouse. Sowing seeds, nurturing seedlings and meticulously potting them on. Whole trays of cabbages and calabrese (that's broccoli to us). Perfect strawberry plants, not a blemish and the future summer flowers all growing in a warm hotbed. Liliums for my mum, in tall pots, grown from bulbs that my dad over wintered are now full of growth. Delphiniums already steadily climbing up and on their way to providing a beautiful show in the summer. Tomatoes starting their life with true seed leaves showing and a whole host of others from peppers to sweetcorn. Best of all, I get to take trays of them home to plant on my allotment :) 

Of course the rest of the garden is coming along too and the pond is full of frogs. I spotted one cheeky fella poking his head out. I took all my vegetable plants home and this week I need to get then planted at my allotment. Gorgeous free family food. 

Creme Egg Cake

Creme eggs. Love them or hate them?
I love them and think they are really pretty so wanted to use them in a cake. I actually made this a few weeks back and then also saw that Mammasaurus had made a delightful Creme Egg Chocolate Quiche (you have to see it - yummy!) So.....I thought I'd share it on here. It didn't turn out as pretty as I wanted it but then my baking never does.

Firstly.... I made a chocolate mousse to sandwich the cake together with and then cover it.  This needs about 225g of chocolate, broken into pieces and two eggs. I melted the choccy in a glass bowl in the microwave - very carefully, taking it out frequently and stirring it. It can burn so easily. Separate the two eggs. Whisk the egg yolks into the warm mixture. Leave to cool.

Whisk the remaining egg whites in a clean bowl and with a clean whisk - the slightest bit of grease can ruin this. When you get soft peaks you are there! Fold into the chocolate mixture and there you have a lovely airy mousse. Chill in the fridge for about 40 minutes.

I made a basic sponge so it wouldn't be too sickly using my usual method of weighing 3 eggs and matching the same weight in caster sugar, self-raising flour and baking margarine.
Firstly beat the caster sugar and margarine together until the grittiness has gone. Add a cap full of vanilla essence. Then alternate between adding the eggs and the sieved flour.
Once the mixture is smooth, add to a greased cake pan. I use silicon ones. Pop in the oven at about gas mark 4 / 180 degrees C for about 20 minutes.

Once cooled sandwich with the mousse and cover it too. It is quite gooey but it will firm up later. Break several Creme Eggs, have a little nibble :) and put the rest on the cake. I added some white chocolate stars too. I put the cake in the fridge for a while to do this.

Enjoy xxx