Hi! (waves).

Friday Five (1 of 5) Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Set

I'm a fan of the iconic Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream and I spotted that little set above whilst browsing the TK Maxx site. It's a brilliant price (£24.99) given that a tube of Eight Hour Cream would cost you £28 alone. I'm due a new tube of Eight Hour Cream, the last one has lasted me (cough cough) a long time (we're talking years - please don't judge). It's the one thing I turn to when my lips are chapped and sore, if my brows need taming, if my hands are a little dry and cracked, the list goes on. It's my little all rounder. It's so good that the husband is a bit of a convert and if I can't find it, it's probably been squirrelled in to his bedside drawer.

"Darling, have you seen my Eight Hour Cream?"
"You have?"
"Hand it over".

If you've seen my IG, you'll notice that I've started going everywhere with a water bottle in my hand.  I really am trying to drink more water though it is a bit tough going. Basically the hubs brought back a freebie drinks bottle from work one day which I commandeered for myself, I've used it but it's looking a little tired and scratched now so I bit the bullet and finally ordered myself one of the Hydratem8 bottles. What I like about them is that they have times marked on them so you know how much water you need to drink by a certain time - a kind of a regulator. I did think about drawing on my old bottle with a Sharpie but I know it's just not the same and a new toy is as good a motivator as anything. I first saw one on the lovely Chloe's IG feed and then I spotted one of my mummy friends with one - it's always good to see something in real life. I now have to order another as my eldest has requested one and even offered to pay for it himself! Oh and I like how you sip up the straw rather than tipping the bottle. Little deets which make a difference!

I don't normally do stars. And I don't normally do really oversized. I've somehow managed to skip all the star prints and star jumpers out there but this oversized Blue Vanilla one appealed. It's one size and it's actually too big for me but a taller friend who was with me when I took delivery of the top has taken it off my hands now as she loved it at first shake out of the packet. It does drape nicely though and it could be one of those perfect lounging around pieces that we all need. I just thought I'd share as I thought it was really good for the price especially now it's in the sale.

No matter how many times I say, undo your laces/straps on your shoes/trainers to my boys. They don't. So if you can't beat them, buy them trainers where they don't need to do the laces.




Both boys were over the moon with their trainers - (just £10 each from Primark) and just on the right side of cool for them. They both like sports style rather than retro style trainers so I can't get a pair of Adidas Gazelles or Sambas on either. Ah well. I can still get them to wear what I want ... my way. Hopefully these will get them through the summer till we get to September when we look at the school footwear situation again. And I like that the trainers up there have got a touch of the Adidas Tubular Shadow trainers about them haven't they?

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Last Note :

I got new sneaks. If you follow En Brogue you will already have had an introduction to them here. Aerska? A new brand on the block by Gillian Davison, a lady with a touch of wanderlust who basically set about developing the shoe she wanted - a sneaker that took her from day to night without the gym bunny look. Something she could pound the city streets in and still stay comfortable but stylish. I think she did that with her London Sneaker.

I've got the cool white pair. I'm essentially a white trainer/sneaker girl and if you've looked through my old pics, what you will spot is that I love a pair of white trainers. I find that white footwear goes with just about everything in a way that black footwear doesn't for me. I can't explain it, it's just the lay of the land in my shoe world. Anyway, I've had them a couple of weeks and not said much about them - I wanted to wear them a bit and see if they were good. And what do I think?

I think they look good. They are currently still pristine and I actually intend to keep these looking neat. I have my scruffy trainers and now I have a smarter looking pair - the design reminds me a little of the Repetto lace ups which I've coveted in the past, infact if Repetto made sneakers, they would look like these London sneakers. And that black neoprene contrast - a little urban yes?

They're also very comfy. Yes I know I'm getting on a bit and the sensible light switches on more and more often these days but you know in my world, comfort is key right? The leather is very soft and supple so there's none of that nipping across the top of the toes where they bend like you get with some hard leathers when you're just starting to break them in. And they have a small hidden EVA wedge which is really supportive of your heel. I sound like a nana don't I but hear me out - I've started to get a touch of heel pain since I started doing more walking trying to hit the 10k steps target on my Fitbit daily. So this little wedge heel thing - a godsend!

Oh yes, they're easy. Not like back of the school sheds easy but really good and easy to put on for people like me who don't like undoing their laces on their trainers (for the record, I never undo the laces on any of my trainers) and now I legitimately don't have to with these Aerska ones as that clever neoprene sock detail means you don't actually have to undo and tie the laces at all. You just pop and go and like a tube of Pringles. 

Anyway, I really like them. That's all you need to know ;)

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Last Note :

* Aerska London Sneakers  c/o Aerska 

.... or anywhere you fancy really with one of these little French style market bags. I know, I know, it's not that practical and everyone can see what you've got in it but as long as your purse and phone isn't on show, I think it might be okay and quite fun. Infact I think it's just perfect for all those food festivals I seem to find myself at, for stashing weird flavoured cheeses and packets of exotic sounding pork sausages which the eldest boy has somehow managed to persuade us to buy. Again.

Not convinced? Well, Catherine below is enough to convince me to carry one.