The Musings And Thoughts Of A Butterfly Mind

A blog to chart my life, my likes, dislikes opinions & thoughts as I approach my 50th Birthday Mum of 2 gorgeous girl. Sometimes scatty but always authentic Twitter @abutterflymind

[butterflymind]

The softest, chewiest peanut butter Rolo cookies you'll ever make!

Ingredients:

1 cup (approx. 250g) creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup (approx. 115g) butter, softened

1/2 cup (approx. 100g) granulated sugar

1/2 cup (approx. 100g) packed brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups (approx. 190g) all-purpose flour (US) / plain flour (UK)

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

24-30 Rolo chocolate candies, unwrapped

Method:

Cream together the peanut butter, butter, and both sugars until smooth and creamy. Add eggs and vanilla, mixing until well combined. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt, then stir into the wet mixture. Scoop dough halfway, press a Rolo into the center, and cover with more dough. Flatten with a fork to create a criss-cross pattern. Bake at 350°F (approx. 180°C) for 8-9 minutes—do not overbake! Let cool on the sheet to set.

CTA: Tag a friend who needs these!

Hashtags: #Cookies #HomemadeCookies #RecipeOfTheDay #Baking #SweetTreats

[butterflymind]

“I tried Hugh Jackman’s mum’s FAMOUS butternut squash risotto 🇦🇺 Full recipe with UK & US measurements 👇”

INGREDIENTS (SERVES 4)

• 1 tbsp olive oil or unsalted butter (same for US)

• 1 medium onion, finely chopped (about 150g / 5 oz)

• 2 cloves garlic, crushed (same for US)

• 300g risotto rice, Arborio (1½ cups)

• 120ml dry white wine, optional (½ cup – or use extra stock)

• 600g butternut squash, peeled & diced small (about 4 cups)

• 1–1.1L hot vegetable or chicken stock (4–4½ cups)

• 60g grated Parmesan (½ cup)

• 40g unsalted butter, to finish, optional (3 tbsp)

• 80g baby spinach, big handfuls (2 packed cups)

• Sea salt & black pepper, to taste

• Optional: squeeze of lemon at the end

METHOD (UK TERMS, WORKS FOR BOTH)

1. Add the oil/butter to a large frying pan or wide saucepan on low–medium heat.

2. Soften the onion with a pinch of salt for 5–7 minutes until translucent, then stir in the garlic for 1 minute.

3. Tip in the risotto rice and stir 1–2 minutes until every grain is coated and slightly translucent at the edges.

4. Pour in the wine and stir until almost fully absorbed.

5. Stir in the diced butternut squash, then add a ladle of hot stock. Cook, stirring often, until the liquid is mostly absorbed.

6. Keep adding stock a ladle at a time, stirring and letting it absorb before adding more. Cook 18–22 minutes until the rice is creamy and just al dente and the squash is tender.

7. Turn the heat to low, stir in the butter and Parmesan until glossy, then fold through the spinach until just wilted.

8. Taste, season with salt, pepper and a little lemon if you like, then serve in warm bowls with extra Parmesan.

CTA

“Save this for cosy season, and tag me if you make Hugh Jackman’s mum’s risotto at home 🥄”

#hughjackman #celebrecipes #risotto #butternutsquash #comfortfood #easyrecipes

[butterflymind]

The Healthiest Way to Eat Cake for Breakfast! 🥕🍰 Stop scrolling—your morning routine just got a major upgrade. This tastes exactly like a decadent carrot cake, but it’s packed with nutrients to fuel your day!

The Recipe (UK Edition):

1 medium carrot, peeled and roughly chopped

1 frozen medium ripe banana

75g (approx. ½ cup) frozen pineapple chunks

180ml (¾ cup) light coconut milk (or any milk of your choice)

60g (¼ cup) plain Greek yogurt

20g (¼ cup) gluten-free oats

1 tbsp pecan or almond butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp ground cinnamon

Pinch of ground nutmeg

Method:

1. Add the chopped carrot, frozen banana, pineapple, milk, yogurt, oats, nut butter, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg into a high-speed blender.

2. Blend on high until completely smooth and creamy. If it’s too thick, add a splash more milk.

3. Pour into your favourite glass.

4. Top with a little extra grated carrot and crushed pecans for that signature carrot cake crunch!

5. Enjoy with a glass straw.

CTA: Save this post so you have the perfect breakfast idea ready for tomorrow morning! Let me know in the comments—are you a team “smoothie bowl” or “smoothie in a glass” person? 👇

#carrotcakesmoothie #healthysmoothie #breakfastideas #smoothierecipe #cleaneating

[butterflymind]

A night at The Lowry Theatre, Salford

Experience a night to remember at the Lowry Theatre in Manchester! Enjoy a delightful meal at the venue’s award-winning restaurant, offering

[butterflymind]

Since I started my blog lots has happened In my life but the one thing that has remained constant is the gym.. It’s my therapy .. life with two teenage girls and the taxi duties it entails means little mummy time !! The gym is my non negotiable .. my me time and an opportunity to take out those stresses on the weights.!!! not only do you get a strong improved body you get a strong improved mine ..the most common excuse is “I don’t have time to go to the gym” it’s all about priorities, what motivates you and an hour in the gym does a lot more for you than a coffee in Costa or watching the telly . When I first went I was so unfit I fell off the treadmill 😂😂😂. You don’t have to start high, just one step at a time ...xxGood luck !

[butterflymind]

Decleor Prolagene Lift Lifting Flash Mask 50ml

I was lucky enough to win this marvellous product the brilliant Gorgeous shop - they are mine and girls must go to beauty online retailer because of their great prices and wide range of products

I am always manically busy so when I read this is An anti-ageing 1-minute flash mask promising firmer, more radiant ski in a minute it sounded perfect With Iris Essential Oil, Iris Pallida, this natural origin mask combats the effects of time while preserving skin’s integrity.

Decleor claims that this mask reconnects with its firmness and elasticity, face contours are like lifted, wrinkles are smoothed. - some promising words My skin will radiate an intense glow. I’m getting excited !!!

So does it work ?? Well I scared myself by removing al my make up and massages some on . The texture is just right and like all decleor products smells just divine … that’s down to Its 100% natural origin fragrance formulated with Real Lavender Essential Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia

The results were impressive especially seeing as it’s a 1 minute mask .. my skin was noticeably brighter And I think firmer .. I was off to a birthday party tonight before I put this on and works a treat you can buy it from gorgeous shop website

[butterflymind]

Update ....

Life has kind of taken over since I last posted .... it’s been testing !! not enough hours in the day .. but have made a promise to myself to start charting all the crazy things that have been happening .. ❤️❤️

[butterflymind]

Total Gem in Liverpool ❤️

Last week as you know the horse mad Hopey and I went to the Liverpool international horse show .. So we decided to make a weekend out of it ! I love spending time with each of mys girls individually and this was a perfect opportunity !

Because I knew that we were going to be short on time between performances I wanted to stay close to the arena. I know there are a couple of hotels on the dock but had never heard of the Staybridge Suites until I stumbled across them on good old trip advisor . A little bit more research showed that the hotel is actually directly opposite the Echo Arena where the horse show was being held plus there was limited parking at the hotel which was a real bonus. The thing that attracted me the most was the fact that the suites are actually fully kitted out with combination ovens, fridges, dishwashers and importantly for mega tea lovers like us.. A kettle So I booked - it was actually cheaper than the other dock hotels

We arrived before the first performance of the show and I popped into reception about parking, the staff were lovely and friendly and gave me a card to the car park which was amazing. Hopey was made up because the horse show had built the temporary stabling for all the horses right across the road so we were really in the middle of the action ! When we came back we stocked up a few essentials In the little onsite shop.. There wasn’t a massive choice left but Hopey was Adament she wanted to eat in the room so we made the best of what there was. Our room was on the fifth floor and the view, as you can see from the pictures was stunning ! It was right opposite the arena and the wheel - couldn’t have asked for a better view .

The room Itself exceeded all expectations .. It had a fully equipped kitchen area, a great big comfy king size bed, sofa, wardrobes and a big shower room with a plentiful supply of toiletries and towels . There was a telly, which to be honest we didn’t watch, free wifi (hopeys had to post all her horsey pics on Instagram!) and also a belting hairdryer.

The bed was super comfy and we slept like a dream.. In fact we got up for breakfast (thanks to the fire alarm going off due to someone burning toast!), went to breakfast then Hopey came back and crashed back to sleep on the bed .. So I took advantage of the late checkout offer and let their snooze !

breakfast is held downstairs and is breakfast style and free! There is a great choice of hot food (buffet style), cereals, juices, pastries the lot.. All of brilliant quality .. There is also a lounge area with an open fire where you can just go and chill and mingle if your wish? there is a washing room with washers and dryers, that we didn’t make use of and also a gym. The appeal of these apartments are Immense and I genuinely cannot believe I have not stumbled over them before , I get the impression that they are used by businessmen, flight crew etc as a home from home during the week and then more leisure users over the weekends. We genuinely didn’t want to go home! The staff were fantastic, the apartment was spacious fantastically equipped (I could stay there weeks on end to be honest!) and it’s location fantastic ! There are a few other Staybridge Suite around the uk (they are owned by Holiday Inn)! And there is another one planned for Manchester this year ! They will most definately be our first port of call when staying away gone - faultless ! . Further details can be found at http://www.ihg.com/staybridge/hotels/gb/en/liverpool/lplkw/hoteldetail

9 Jan 2016

[butterflymind]

Simply Argan - simply gorgeous skin! Anyone who knows me will confirm I'm a total beauty nut ...and my teenager is even worse ! With the holidays to Spain in two weeks I want to get my skin smooth and as bikini ready as possible so was delighted to win this Coffee & Argan scrub with coconut oil and vanilla by Simply Argan . SImply Argan was founded after the owner of the company discovered the wonders of Argan Oil whilst on holiday in Marrakesh and the company started to trade in 2011. Their core product is organic cold pressed Argan Oil sourced in Morocco. I've used Argan oil products to thicken my hair but never on my skin and was dying to give it a try . So after a session at yoga I decided to give it a whirl . THe scrub comes in a plastic pouch and when you open it you can smell the most gorgeous aroma. I'd expected the strong scent of the coffee to be the main scent but this wasn't the case .. All the fragrances mixed in beautifully to make the most fabulous bouquet of lovely smells . My first impression was that the scrub was not as sloppy as I had thought it would be - most of the scrubs I have used previously have been quite oily but this wasn't the case with this scrub - it was actually quite dry and I was interested to see what the results would be . My fears were unfounded ! The scrub on the body felt fabulous and in damp skin the smells just wafted off the body My skin felt silky smooth, more plumped up and fresher and really moisturised, not oily , just beautiful soft and fabulous results . It does say on the packet - this product is messy but that's part of the fun! My skin was still hydrated after a nights sleep and looked brilliant - can't wait to use it again ! The scrub is currently for sale for £19 on the website - normally £25 and this is for a 200gram pouch. The website is www.simplyarganoilshop.com

[butterflymind]

Queen Tea - Really Royal Body products !

As you may have gathered by now I’m A total tea lover. I can give up booze but my cup of tea…. No chance! So when I some products from Queen Tea cosmetics I was more than slightly over the moon.

Queen tea is a range of fresh and natural skin food inspired by Afternoon Tea (these sound like my kind of people!). There slogan is Cosmetics with a Conscience and for every milk bath sold they donate milk to children to help fight poverty and malnutrition around the world. In addition 10% of the profits from the detox boxes are donated to the Trussell Trust to raise awareness for Uk hunger poverty . In this somewhat materialistic & money grabbing world it’s great to see a company actually putting back rather than taking ,

I got sent two products - The black tea body scrub & the bath milk powder . There are currently six products in the range - the other four are a green tea body scrub that sounds fabulous and the remaining three are bath tea bags - each with different qualities

I am a total beauty product and cosmetic freak and love body scrubs, the only problem I usually find is they are gritty but don’t always leave the moisture behind in the skin after exfoliation . tHe scrub is packed in a plastic pouch as you can see and comes in a cute tea caddy style tin. I opened the bag and was semi expecting a sort of mushy teabag smell - how wrong was I ! It has the delicious aroma of Bergamot essential mixed with the tea and it’s divine ! The scrub is not thin and runny like your normal scrubs it’s thick & chunky so off into the shower I hopped! The scrub itself is made from black tea, olive oil, sugar salt & bergamont oil. The tea helps to tone and protect the skin from premature ageing (boy do I need that!) the oil oil nourishes and smoothies the skin, the sugar and salt exfoliates and the Bergamont oil - besides smelling fabulous, induces sleep . I rubbed the product on my skin and a little goes a long way .. The scrub is effective but doesn’t strip the skin and leave it dry .. The oils totally moisturise the skin and appears to trap the moisture - as well as feeling deliciously clean, scrubbed and polished my skin felt smooth and moisturised and 3 days later it still does, this Is a definite product for my list ! I normally use the elemis salt scrub, this is at £16.50 a tin half the price and works even better and I don’t say that lightly ! Really fantastic product that should be used once a week

The other product I was sent was the Oat milk Bath Powder . This was cutely packaged in a brown paper bag It contains non fat dried milk, cocoa butter and oat bran . There wasn’t really a distinctive smell to the product like the scrub but I think for ultimate benefits this is designed to be used with the bath tea bags in the range . The product is an off white powder so i put some in the bath and prepared to soak ! I felt like Cleopatra soaking in her ass milk bath, though unfortunately with no one around to hand feed me grapes . The milk was moisturising and left my skin noticeably smoother and I did I fact feel a lot more relaxed after using it . The bath milk sells at £13.50 a bag The products are all natural, vegan and vegetarian friendly with the added bonus that the packaging can be recycled

Quite simple Queen Tea have great products on their hands.. Am so delighted I’ve stumbled across them .Especially the scrub - Evie my teen daughter is as equally obsessed with it. She left the evidence of her sneaking her use of it on the side . I reprimanded her for using my stuff without asking - her reply “ but mum it looked so nice and I only had to use a little bit ” . Can’t disagree with her !

You can find out more about Queen Tea on their website www.queenteacosmetics.com or give them a follow on Twitter @queenteauk

[butterflymind]

Juicy-Licious - the best way to start the day ! Since I decided to get my act into gear and sort out my health and diet I've been very careful about what I put in my body .. Working on the philosophy "if my Granny couldn't have eaten it - neither should I " .. Meaning aiming for natural foods without nasty additives and preservatives. I've never been a great one for eating fruit .. Which is bad.. But I've got round this with home made smoothies and the improvements to my Health have been fantastic Sometimes though, there are times when you don't want the bulk of a smoothie, or are on the go and are in need of a quick but healthy AND tasty alternative ... I think I've found the answer ! The lovely people at Coldpress Juices offered to send me some of their juices to try and I was delighted. Coldpress Juices is a brand I've only just come across. I was on the go and felt in need of hydration and a healthy kick and so .. I must admit with some trepidation as it sounded so darn healthy.. Picked up a bottle of theirs Juicy Roots . This is a blend of beetroot, Carrot, lemon ginger and apple- it was absolutely delicious. It was fresh, lot sweeter than I had anticipated and the lemon and ginger gave it a kick and also had the added benefit of settling my slightly acidic tummy ., I was converted and decided to found out what it was that made their juices so different from the competition. Well the clue is in their name ! Rather than being heat treated like a lot of other juices Coldpress Simply "cold press" their fruit and veg which means their juices and smoothies preserve more of their taste and essential nutrients lost in the typical pasteurisation process used by other companies. The freshness is also preserve for 6 months and with Coldpress you get over twice the nutritional value as pasteurised juices - as well as a zillion times more taste The first juice I tried was the one that scared me the most - the green one- Known as Mean Greens! There is something about green juices that I look at and thing ugh sludge, green mush and so it was with a slightly wrinkled nose I opened this combination of celery, cucumber, lemon, lettuce, spinach, pear and pineapple . I wasn't quite holding my nose as I drank it but quite close! And for no reason! It is absolutely flipping gorgeous - it's earthy with a kick and is a perfect consistency- not thin like a normal juice and not gloopy like a smoothly . It's scrumptious, full of goodness and has totally conquered my "fear of green" I also felt ridiculously healthy! The next juice I tried caused a scrum in the house as both the girls and I all wanted to try it - the Valencian orange juice . Being a kind mother .. And all in the name of research regrettably ... I had to share this three ways! I can honestly say with my hand on my heart it's the nicest orange juice I've ever tasted... It's fresh, it's zingy and it's like an explosion of taste in the taste buds- it's truly delicious plus has the added benefit that it provides you with 100% more vitamin c than its rival juices . The kids were in raptures over this juice - they love the funky hexagonal bottle and the taste is reminiscent of a hot summers day abroad .. Totally delicious I was sent one of the gorgeous juicy roots juices which I've detailed above and the final one to try was the coconut, pineapple and banana smoothie .. This was fresh and very palette cleansing .. Just like a piña colada but without the alcohol (now there's a thought! 😂😂😂😂) .it was tropical and tasty and immensely refreshing. Both the kids loved this one as well - they have great taste! Smoothies and juices get a semi bad press because of naturally occurring fruit sugars but Premium Juices such as Coldpress make an important contribution to helping us reach our 5 a day and vitamin c quota, because of the process it is made by there is over twice as much nutritional value in it so you need to drink less (if you can bear to that is!) reducing your calories and sugar ! Coldpress juices can be bought at all major supermarkets and Start from around £2.75 for a 500 ml bottle You can find out more about the range on their website at www.coldpress.co.uk or like me .. Follow them on Twitter on @coldpressjuices

[butterflymind]

Gold Collagen mask .. Tried and tested ! Regular readers of the blog will know that I have reviewed the Gold Collagen liquid supplements before and loved them ! So much so that I decided to carry on after the first box and take of advantage of the three for two offer At Boots. I was delighted to find out that When you bought three products you got a box of Gold Collagens Hydogel Mask absolutely FREE! The rrp for these is £19.99 The masks are aimed to combat tired looking and dehydrated skin whilst cooling it and soothing it while it hydrates and nourishes. The key ingredients in the mask are Pearl Extract which is a good source of antioxidants, Hyaluronic acid, which is something found naturally within the skin and supports water retention, glycerin which helps to attract and retain water to the skin and finally mix of botanical extracts including Red Algea and Tea Tree . Being as you know, almost 50 🙈 this sounded like a brilliant thing to try On Sunday, with all the jobs done and the kids safely in bed I decided to have a bath and chill and it seemed to be the ideal opportunity to try out one of the masks . So as instructed I cleansed and exfoliated the skin . The I opened the foil lined bag . Inside was a two piece mask with cut outs for the eyes and mouth (a million apologies for the slightly freaky picture of me with it on .. But it's all in the name of beauty 😂😂) the mask is clear and as its gel feels slightly rubbery ... It has what Gold Collagen has a second skin technology where upon contact with the skin it fits the facial contours . The top half was easy peasy to do but I found the bottom half slightly trickier to position but a few seconds juggling about and I was all sorted . My face was immediately cooled felt divine and after a few minutes I could feel the tension almost draining away under my eyes, like the mask was sucking out all the naughtiness lol . As the mask reaches body temperature the formula is released into the skin and penetrated . You keep it on for 20-40 minutes . What I loved about the mask was there was no mess, no dripping and no cracking - you could simply relax and feel it drain away the tension in the face . The mask doesn't dry out and when you remove it any excess moisture is absorbed back into the skin.. The results were absolutely brilliant - to be frank I was quite astounded - the charming crows feet around my eyes were visibly reduced as were other lines such as the horrible ones that appear around the mouth as you get older. My skin felt hydrated, looked dewy plumped up and soft . I cannot rave about this enough. I got better results from this than I have done from professional ... And a lot more expensive salon facials. It's amazing .. A real wonder product and one I will most definitely use again. A miracle worker .. Absolutely love it !.. In case you hadn't guessed !

[butterflymind]

Haircare that's the hottest Spanish export since Antonio Banderas .. Sounds fab .. But is it ? Anything that claims to be as hot as Antonio Banderas has a lot to live up to in my book - he's lush! So when I was lucky enough to try Montibello revitalising Gold oil essence shampoo I was, being a self confessed beauty junkie ! over the moon ! Montibello is a family based company founded in Barcelona in 1967 - almost as old as me! There activity has been in the professional cosmetics market though I've noticed you can buy the products from companies such as Amazon and Fragrance Direct . The Gold Oil essence shampoo includes Amber oil and the wonder oil known as Argan oil this gives the hair nourishment strength and shine as well as preserving the hairs natural youth .. But does it live up to its impressive credentials? Today I'd been at work then mucking out the daughters horse (lovely job in this weather) so jumped in the shower and decided to wash that horse right out of my hair using the shampoo . I shampooed twice and noticed immediately that my hair didn't have the dryness it can sometimes have when its been rinsed. It was easy to comb through with a wide comb and even though damp the hair felt smooth . I towel dried to reduce the excess moisture and then just rough dried my hair. When it was dry the first thing I noticed was the shine As you can see in the picture (apologies for the no make up selfie ... Hope it hasn't traumatised you too much!) My hair is highlighted and sometimes can look a little flat .. Not so with this shampoo - it appeared to have revitalised and lifted the colour and made the hair mega shiny , it feels lovely and smooth and even my daughter commented as I gave her her bedtime kiss . My hair is quite fine but it looked much fuller - noticeably so . There is no dryness on the ends and my hair feel moisturised and soft . As hot as Antonio... Well let's face it .. Nothing is ! But this is a close second ! It's a definate "si!" From me ! You can follow Montibello on Twitter @montibellouk or check out their website www.montibello.com

[butterflymind]

Possibly the best tights in the whole world !

Since losing weight I’ve found that I can now buy clothes that I actually love rather that camouflage kit ! It’s a revelation ! And I’ve found rather than dressing to “hide” so to speak I’m now going for bright and beautiful ! So when the lovely people at thetightspot.com contacted me and I asked if I’d like to do a review for them my fingers were on the keypad checking out their website quicker than Usain Bolt out of the starting block ! I was astounded At the range and choice of hosiery, socks and other things on their website - how the heck have I not come across them before ? They stock all the top names such as Jonathan Aston, Wolford Charnos and many more

The product I was asked to review were a pair of Cecilia de Rafael Uppsala high gloss tights and they come in a choice of six fantastic colours . I decided after much deliberation decided to go with the black. - see here why I was spoilt for choice! Cecilia de Rafael Uppsala, High Gloss Tights from www.thetightspot.com

Luckily for me they arrived on Christmas Eve so I could really put them through their paces over the Christmas period. First up was Christmas Day ! I took the tights out of the packet and they reminded me of dance tights, they are super smooth, gorgeously satiny almost and beautifully glossy . I’m a size 10 and between 5ft 5 and 5 6 and I fitted perfectly into the medium size - they come in small, medium, large and extra large . They are 150 denier, gloss opaque and made from luxurious high shine yarns- the finish of them is fantastic - there is a cotton gusset and the seam is stitched down the back. They pulled everything up and in (ladies you know what I mean!) With it being Christmas I decided to team them with a glittery dress and heels … This dress had been in the wardrobe winking at me but I always put it back thinking it’s just that little bit to short - teamed with tights it was perfect and the sheen of the tights gave the dress a more edgy and glamorous feel - they took it from being a dress to actually being an outfit ! The tights actually got more comments than the Christmas presents - everyone was like “what have you got on your legs? Tights or leggings?” And my answer was “well actually it’s the best of both words. They have the sleek fit of tights but the coverage of leggings - just with sass! ” I felt strong, sexy sassy and confident - they were Mega comfortable, no wrinkly, no droopy knees riding down, twisting or anything .. They stayed put and the “tight workout” included cooking Christmas dinner, tidying up and maybe a little bit of karaoke (ssh don’t tell anyone !) . I loved them so much I wore them again to a Boxing Day party, this time with a red tunic blouse I have - the perfect foil. It just covers my bum and with leggings it’s always looked out of place and lumpy - with my stunning Cecilia de Rafael Uppsala tights and my knees boots - A sort of sexy puss in boots look or so I was told 🙊- it was the perfect outfit. Although the the tights are high gloss they are ultra flattering - they hold and shape the leg and give a brilliant sleek silhouette …they are my new favourite wardrobe staple. Yesterday it was the theatre and I wore them again - teamed with. My Biba dress and knee boots. The tights don’t snag, ladder and wash like a dream .. No sagging or losing shape - just brilliant

So I think you can gather these are a massive massive hit - I’ve never had so many compliments over my legs ! They are super flattering, extremely comfortable to wear and add a bit of sass to any outfit .. I’ve worn the with a sloppy jumper and they look equally brilliant - they just edge up any outfit with style.. And you can have a pair for free !

To coincide with this review www.thetightspot.com are giving away a pair of these stunning tights on my Twitter page worth £34.95 in the colour and size of your choice . Whoever wins, just let me know which you want and www.thetightspot.com will send them straight out to you !

To enter just follow me @abutterflymind … Follow @thetightspotuk, retweet the pinned tweet, tell me how many colours that Ceilia de Rafael Uppsala tights come in -simple 😀-

The lovely people at thetightspot.com have also created the 10% discount code “butterfly10” for both myself and my followers to use site wide. Go there now and buy !

[butterflymind]

Total Gem in Liverpool ❤️

Last week as you know the horse mad Hopey and I went to the Liverpool international horse show .. So we decided to make a weekend out of it ! I love spending time with each of mys girls individually and this was a perfect opportunity !

Because I knew that we were going to be short on time between performances I wanted to stay close to the arena. I know there are a couple of hotels on the dock but had never heard of the Staybridge Suites until I stumbled across them on good old trip advisor . A little bit more research showed that the hotel is actually directly opposite the Echo Arena where the horse show was being held plus there was limited parking at the hotel which was a real bonus. The thing that attracted me the most was the fact that the suites are actually fully kitted out with combination ovens, fridges, dishwashers and importantly for mega tea lovers like us.. A kettle So I booked - it was actually cheaper than the other dock hotels

We arrived before the first performance of the show and I popped into reception about parking, the staff were lovely and friendly and gave me a card to the car park which was amazing. Hopey was made up because the horse show had built the temporary stabling for all the horses right across the road so we were really in the middle of the action ! When we came back we stocked up a few essentials In the little onsite shop.. There wasn’t a massive choice left but Hopey was Adament she wanted to eat in the room so we made the best of what there was. Our room was on the fifth floor and the view, as you can see from the pictures was stunning ! It was right opposite the arena and the wheel - couldn’t have asked for a better view .

The room Itself exceeded all expectations .. It had a fully equipped kitchen area, a great big comfy king size bed, sofa, wardrobes and a big shower room with a plentiful supply of toiletries and towels . There was a telly, which to be honest we didn’t watch, free wifi (hopeys had to post all her horsey pics on Instagram!) and also a belting hairdryer.

The bed was super comfy and we slept like a dream.. In fact we got up for breakfast (thanks to the fire alarm going off due to someone burning toast!), went to breakfast then Hopey came back and crashed back to sleep on the bed .. So I took advantage of the late checkout offer and let their snooze !

breakfast is held downstairs and is breakfast style and free! There is a great choice of hot food (buffet style), cereals, juices, pastries the lot.. All of brilliant quality .. There is also a lounge area with an open fire where you can just go and chill and mingle if your wish? there is a washing room with washers and dryers, that we didn’t make use of and also a gym. The appeal of these apartments are Immense and I genuinely cannot believe I have not stumbled over them before , I get the impression that they are used by businessmen, flight crew etc as a home from home during the week and then more leisure users over the weekends. We genuinely didn’t want to go home! The staff were fantastic, the apartment was spacious fantastically equipped (I could stay there weeks on end to be honest!) and it’s location fantastic ! There are a few other Staybridge Suite around the uk (they are owned by Holiday Inn)! And there is another one planned for Manchester this year ! They will most definately be our first port of call when staying away gone - faultless ! . Further details can be found at http://www.ihg.com/staybridge/hotels/gb/en/liverpool/lplkw/hoteldetail

9 Jan 2016

[butterflymind]

Lovely hair-raising experience with GNS Hair products

As you know I am a mad mad beauty addict and adore trying out new things. I have past shoulder length hair that is very straight, very fine and highlighted .. Finding the right range to suit my hair and give it volume and gloss is my equivalent of finding the Holy grail!

So I was delighted to win this range of GNS Hair products in there Christmas competition . The name for the range GNS is an abbreviation of Good Natural Science and there are three products in the range . The ultra moisturising shampoo, The deep moisturising conditioner and the GNS Moisturising Protein spray . The range was developed in 2014 by a lady Called Sandy Gordon who as a frequent wearer of hair extensions struggled to find the right products to suit so developed this range . Saying the range is suitable for non extended hair and extended equally. mine is free of extensions as you can probably guess. All the products are paraban and sulphate free and say they promote hair growth and repair thin and damaged hair. This means it’s safe for the girls too and Evie being s typical teen has tried it already and is in raptures over it on her waist length hair

The packaging of the products is very sleek and perfect for the modern bathroom shelf. The products contain Argan oil and macadamia oil and first thing I notice when I pour some shampoo in my hand is the smell! It’s like Nutella in a. Bottle - totally divine ! The shampoo is a nice thick consistency and lathers well. I do two shampoos and then put on the conditioner on damp hair and combed it through to the the ends with a wide comb. I rinsed and towel dried the hair and squirted on the Protein spray , combed through with a comb then rough dried with the hairdryer and quickly styled with my @hairphilosophers 3 styler (best brush ever as you know if you read my earlier review!).

So the results ! .. The products were great ! Usually with moisturising products it weighs my fine hair down and makes it flat, not the case with this range .. As the day went on my hair didn’t drop or go flat like it normally did, it stayed full of volume and shame throughout the day .. And even after sleeping on it (usually the pillow head kills of decent hair!) it’s still great ! These are products that live up to their promises … Great hair, no nasties and not a bad price …the products cost £14.50 for the spray and £14.95 for the shampoo and conditioner or you can buy all three for £34.95. To find out more go to their website Www.gnshair.com or follow the, on Twitter @gnshair_uk

09.01.2016

[butterflymind]

What a weekend Hopey and I had - the #Liverpool international #horse show.

Hopey, as you may have gathered, is slightly horse obsessed ! So for part of her Christmas present I got tickets for the two of us to go the Liverpool International Horse show which was being held for the first time at the echo arena in Liverpool . I’ve been to the Echo loads of times to see pop concerts and was interested to see how they could hold a horse show in the same arena - I can’t say I was filled with enthusiasm for what lay ahead but boy talk about a u turn !

The three day event ran from the afternoon of January 1st to Sunday 3rd January.There were 6 sessions in total and we were lucky enough to attend 3 of them - the Saturday afternoon and evening session and the Sunday evening (which was a delightful and unexpected bonus as I actually won that set !) The format of each session was much the same.. An official show opening including songs from the “Bootleg Beatles” , a show jumping class, a demonstration by Clemence Faivre a French stunt rider which was beautiful, (the Shetland pony grand national (brilliant and Hopeys favourite part!) interval , The Horseman team which is a basically a troupe of thee French men jumping Grand Prix-height jumps in their underpants (sounds random but you couldn’t help but be amazed show they hurdled over jumps of 1.70m!) then another Show jumping class then the finale .

Next to the arena, the convention centre had been turned into a shopping village and there was also the warm up arena where you got to see the horses and riders in close quarters - Hope loved this part - identifying all the riders and admiring the beautiful animals as they warmed up for action. The shopping village had a good range of stalls, mostly equestrian related and Hopey managed to pick up a range of goodies including a blingy sparkly whip, bargain riding boots, discounted jodhpurs, a fly veil and treats for her horse Daisy and off course the massive stuffed Liverpool Horse Show horse which almost needed a stall of his own!

The organisation at the event was a masterclass of how an event should be run! Everything was clearly marked and exceptionally well organised and the Echo arena staff friendly and helpful as usual.

The show jumping classes were brilliant . The ones before the interval seemed to have a more “fun vibe” to them .. On the Saturday evening it was the mini major fancy dress relay which was brilliant - young riders being teamed up with world class riders racing around the arena in fancy dress - not sure who took it more seriously to be honest .. The children or the professionals 😂. the Sunday evening it was the professionals competing against other in pairs in the knockout - brilliant and nail biting stuff ! The standard of the showjumping in the Abbey road speed stakes and the Grand Prix were amazing - the course designs were fantastic - all amazing to look at and testing for the riders and the horses. The whole events just “flowed” and massive credit has to be given to the people down on the arena who so efficiently changed the course and kept things flowing . massive massive credit to Geoff Billington and his team for the informative and humorous commentary through out - they kept the crowd entertained and and even explained things in easy terms to those of not au fait with show jumping ,

We loved being able to wander round the arena, to see the horses and riders at close quarters to feel the vibe, to feel the tension and competitiveness of the competition. It was a fun, entertaining and awe inspiring couple of days and even for (previously) none horse addicted people like me there was something for everyone .. The only slight criticism was the lack of food outlets - they could do with something in the actual shopping village where you can eat as you wander as there is so much to do! It was a brilliant weekend, I’m desperately hoping it becomes a yearly event - we will certainly be coming back and are now booking for the sister event at Bolesworth in June .

For more info go to www.liverpoolhorseshow.com

03.01.2016