Mother's Day Giveaway: Win A Krug Baumen Watch Worth Up To £200

Mother's Day in the UK this year falls on Sunday 26th March and I am looking forward to breakfast in bed from Caitlin and Ieuan.

This usually consists of a cup of tea (made by Mat) and a Hot Cross Bun (also prepared by Mat) which is then eaten by Caitlin and Ieuan while I drink the tea, the four of us squished up in our rickety wooden double bed.

If you would like to inject a little glamour into Mother's Day this year for your mum (or if you're a parent, guardian or carer who feels in need of a little reward for all your hard work),  I have a beautiful watch from the Krug Baumen watch to give away from Watches2U and you can choose one from this range up to the value of £200 for either women - or men.

That should certainly earn you a few brownie points to smooth over your past indiscretions (such as being collected from school when you were 'ill' in order to spend an afternoon in bed being fed tea and toast whilst listening to the radio).

Krug Baümen offer a wide range of watches from classical dress watches to robust sports watches and their classically styled dress timepieces can be worn to formal occasions and corporate occasions, thanks to their elegant leather straps, minimalist dials, and stylish touches - suitable for mums everywhere.

These are my favourites from Krug Baumen.

Krug Baumen Ladies Principle Diamond Chronograph Watch - £195

This is a Seiko VD53 analogue ladies wristwatch built by Krug Baümen. It has a tan leather strap with a metal case that compliments the cream dial and comes with a 2 year manufacturers' warranty.

Krug Baumen Ladies Tuxedo Black Gold Watch - £145

This wrist watch (1965KL-G) comes with a gold metal bracelet and a case which compliments the black dial.

Or how about the Krug Baumen Charleston 4 Diamond White Dial Gold Strap wristwatch?

Krug Baumen Charleston 4 Diamond Wristwatch - £175

The 5116DL ladies watch comes with a gold metal bracelet and a metal case combined with a white face.

Of course, there's no reason why the lucky winner couldn't choose a man's watch.

Watches2U is one of the largest online UK watch dealers today and offers free UK delivery as standard with same day dispatch if you order by 4pm Monday to Friday.  They also have a price match service and you can earn VIP points on purchases, reviews and friend referrals.


The Giveaway

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget and the usual terms and conditions apply which you can find on my competitions page - along with lots of other great giveaways.

UK entrants only.  The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 17th March.

The lucky winner can select one watch from the Krug Baumen range up to the value of £200.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

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Planning For The Holiday Of A Lifetime? Try Abu Dhabi

Before the children get any older, you may feel inclined to take everyone on an amazing holiday which nobody will forget. 

You want this holiday to be the best of the lot, and you are prepared to save as much as you need to ensure that nothing is going to cost too much or that aspects like the entry prices to different venues are not too high for your budget. 

The holiday of a lifetime means that it will not be forgotten about in a hurry by your children. In fact, it means the opposite. They will remember this holiday that you are planning for the rest of their lives and will continue to talk about it when they are in their twenties or thirties.



Picture source

A place which can cover all aspects of the meaning of your holiday of a lifetime, is Abu Dhabi which is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and is the second most populated city in the UAE. 

The city is full of history, from artefacts to hotspots to memorials. It is also home to a dense amount of restaurants, pubs, cocktail bars and also has many places of interest to visit during the day. 

It is a common misconception that Abu Dhabi can be a difficult place to get to, in terms of flights and airport transfers to and from your hotel - but this is simply not true. 

Proof of this is booktaxiabudhabi which can provide easy access to transport you to and from the airport.

Heroes Sports Bar is a very popular destination for travellers. It is family friendly, has a great range of drinks and even offers food for a quick bite to eat if you are not stopping long. If someone in your family is a sports fan, various games are shown in the bar meaning it may be hard to get your husband or son out of there!

Origins could be a good choice for you and your family to eat at. The menu is varied, though consistent, and offers different types of food to suit everyone - even the fussy eaters. The ambience is peaceful, the price is good, the service is excellent. For something a little different, you could try Vasco’s, which has a great view of the sea. Depending on what you choose, the food can tend to be overpriced but nevertheless it still tastes delicious.

To please the kids, take them to Yas Waterworld which is a sprawling water park filled with all kinds of activities the children can get stuck into. While they are out having fun in the water or sliding down the water slides, you can relax under the sun with a nice refreshing drink. 

The Sheikh Zayed Mosque is also a place you must visit. Beautiful architecture, mouth opening artwork and an extremely interesting religious background means that this place will appeal to the children as well as the older generation. It may be better to arrive here in the morning as it can tend to get busier as the day goes on.

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New Releases, Free & Bargain Books Link-up Week 9 2017

How are you all this week?  As half term draws to a close here in Wales we're gearing ourselves up for the return to school.

You know, that time when you discover your darling offspring have 'forgotten' to mention their homework or the fact that their shoes are pinching and they need you to blow at least £40 in your local school shoe shop.

We've not exactly done a lot, having been hit by a nasty tummy bug but it's been good to rest up a bit.

Don't forget World Book Day on March 2nd - time to start planning your kids' dress-up for the day (you might this post a useful resource), and of course it's St. David's Day on March 1st so Welsh Lady costumes and rugby shirts at the ready.

As usual, there are some great books on the linky for us grown-ups - and don't forget you can always add your own to spread a bit of the book love.

Don't forget that I still have plenty to be won on my competitions page and don't forget my problem page here.

Happy bargain and freebie book hunting on this link.

Have a great week!

Sharing the Love of Books
Enjoy our selection of New Releases / Free & Bargain Books this week

Authors please feel free to add your own books
Readers please free to add your own finds
(any genre except erotica welcome)

This weekly link up is hosted by Beck Valley Books & these awesome book loving blogs...
Monday
 Life as Leels | IrishdaisylovesRomance | Book Babble | All Romance Reader
Tuesday
It's My Side of Life | Celticlady's Reviews | First Time Mommy Adventures 
Wednesday
Beck Valley Books | Cinnamon Hollow Reviews
Thursday
Miki's Hope | Nicki's Nook
Friday
Ebook Addicts | I Love Romance | Colorimetry | The Ultimate Fan Blog | Mother Distracted
Saturday
Totally Addicted to Reading | 3 Partners in Shopping | Angie's Angle | I Create Purty Thangs | Wishful Endings
Sunday
Lynchburg Mama | LibriAmoriMiei | Ali - The Dragon Slayer | Wondermom Wannabe | Deal Sharing Aunt | Rambling Reviews 

For Pre-orders post - PRE-ORDER / genre / title /author

For New Releases post - NEW / genre / title / author

For Free Books post - FREE / genre / title / author / end date 

For Bargain Books post - SALE / price / genre / title / author / end date
(Strictly no Erotica please.  Steamy romance is fine but watch those covers people, incase any underage child is viewing it!)

Click here for this weeks awesome selection!

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My Problem Page - Edition 8 2017

This week I'm talking about what constitutes a toxic relationship, how to deal with an ex who dumps you even though they claim they love you and the mystery of limerence.

If you would like any advice, feel free to treat me as your agony aunt. Just message me or pop a comment in the comment box at the end of this post. I promise to be gentle.

Here are this week's questions.

Q: Should I discuss limerence with my boyfriend? 

I just learned about thing called limerence on internet. I think I am limerent to one guy from my office. I want to discuss this with my boyfriend. Will he not feel bad about me having feeling for someone else?

A: Just because it has a fancy name, does not, unfortunately, mean your boyfriend will be OK with it.

Basically limerence is the same thing as a crush. 

For lots of people, being emotionally attached to somebody else is still being unfaithful. 

You don’t say whether this other guy feels the same, or whether you both flirt with each other, or whether he even knows you’re interested in him (I suspect he does). 

If nothing has happened and you love your boyfriend, I would keep quiet. But it does hint that you are not that happy with your boyfriend and it may be time to move on. 

If you do tell your boyfriend I suspect he won’t be happy but it may be a way to force a resolution to a relationship which you may have outgrown.

Q: A guy and I are interested in each other and are talking to see where it goes. Should I be texting him every day? 

We are talking to see where it goes but he says work is his priority and is unable to talk everyday due to a really hectic schedule. Should I text him a little something at the end of the day everyday to help lift off a little bit of the stress of work? Or would that look too desperate?

A: I’m curious. If you two are really interested in each other, why are you not making arrangements to meet face to face? 

It’s very easy to hide behind text messages without taking any risk (or commitment). I think that this guy has gently told you he’s not that interested in a relationship right now - hence the old “hectic schedule” excuse. 

If he were desperate to meet up he would make the time. I don’t think he’ll be fooled by you texting him something ‘relieve his stress’ everyday and in all honesty I don’t think it will make much difference. 

You’d be better off keeping your distance, not chasing him (certainly not every day) and letting him chase you if he’s interested. 

I can tell you’re really keen but people don’t usually talk about the possibility of having a relationship if it’s right - they get on and have one.

Q: How can we ensure we conceive a baby next month?

A: You can’t. Conception doesn’t work like that. It may take a year to conceive even for healthy couples. 

All you can do is try to work out when ovulation occurs (generally around day 10 of the woman’s 28 day cycle - if she has a regular cycle) and ensure you have unprotected sex during that time. 

You should also ensure your lifestyle is as healthy as possible - good nutrition, limited alcohol, no cigarettes or drugs, plenty of exercise. 

Good luck.

Q: What qualities do very intellectual men like in a woman?

I’m interested in dating a certain male academic. I’ve never dated a particularly intellectual man before so I was wondering what kind of differences there might be in terms of dating.

A: I am not, clearly, a male academic but I do think you have some rather stereotyped ideas of what male academics do on dates. 

I’m sure they don’t drift about quoting from Proust and discussing nuclear fission. 

I’m also unsure that intelligence has all that much to do with love - although it certainly helps if you ‘match’ at least vaguely in that regard. 

It’s clear you want to make a good impression and that’s understandable but you shouldn’t have to change yourself to make someone else happy (I’m not talking about bad behaviours here). 

Has this man actually asked you out on a date though? 

If he has then have confidence in yourself and concentrate on your best qualities. 

It wouldn’t hurt, I suppose to read a little about the guy’s field of interest so you at least understand what he does. But I’m sure you’ll find a date with an academic is barely different from one with a guy on a less cerebral plain.

Q: What does a toxic relationship look like?

I am worried me and my girlfriend are falling into a trap, we love each other dearly, but sometimes have nasty fights.

A: To me a toxic relationship is one in which you both bring out the worst in one another and consequently see these your bad behaviours get worse and worse. 

Or they are relationships where the balance of power is firmly in one partner’s favour while the other, though miserable, does not have the strength or motivation to change things. 

Arguing is perfectly normal in healthy relationships. Physical violence and outright abuse is obviously not. 

You don’t say what constitutes a ‘nasty fight’ but it sounds as if you need to sit down when the dust has settled from one of these fights and talk about what happened and what is annoying you both. 

I suspect you are both aware of exactly what the issues are but don’t make the mistake of hiding behind psychological terms when what you really need to do is talk openly and, if necessary, leave the relationship.

Q: What are the chances of getting back with your ex who loves you but has dumped you?

A: It depends why you were dumped. Did you cheat? Were you unkind? Did they leave for someone else? 

I think a lot of people would say that if your ex truly loved you, they would not have dumped you - as harsh as that may sound. 

And if they have started another relationship they are not being very truthful, are they? Or perhaps the pain of whatever happened outweighs the pleasure of being with you and the trust has gone. 

The only exception I can think of to this would be if they were married or in a long term relationship and yours was a fling or affair. 

All you can do, I suppose, is give it time and see if bridges can be built again but in the meantime don’t sit about moping. 

Rebuild your life and see other people. You may find you no longer want them back. 

How would you have responded to these questions? I'd love to know. You can find more advice on my problem page.

Disclaimer: All materials included in this post are intended for informational purposes only. This post/information is not intended to and should not be used to replace medical or psychiatric advice offered by physicians or other health care providers. The author will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages arising therefrom. 

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How to make your hair naturally beautiful in 6 easy steps

The cosmetic industry has seen a huge rise in hair product sales in the last 20 to 30 years as well as in the types of hair product available to buy.

Whilst this undoubtedly gives us a lot more choice, it can be really hard to tell what kind of ingredients the average products has. Some of them may even contain volatile ingredients which could put the health of our body and skin at risk.

Luckily, we are more aware of the variety of chemicals that go into our products and today, more than ever, we are trying to turn to natural solutions and products.

Here are 6 great tips to keep your hair naturally beautiful from Nick Stoyanov, content strategist for  HollywoodMirrors.co.uk , an online family-run business in the UK helping to bring glamour to the home with lighted mirrors.

Start with your diet

No matter what you do, it is necessary to start with your diet. Hair receives a lot of nutrients from your food such as vitamins, minerals and proteins.

If you’re malnourished, this will affect your cells leading to loss of hair and lower quality of follicles. You can make a huge difference to the condition of your hair by eating more foods such as salmon, oranges and carrot.

Be careful when buying hair products

A lot of women make a mistake by using the wrong products for their hair type. First of all, you should always be suspicious about products making grand claims and offering instant results.

Although the product may be good for your current appearance, it may lead to long-term damage to your hair.

In fact, you should choose products that have a smaller number of ingredients. With each additional ingredient, the risk of hair damage increases. Simply put, you can never know how your hair will react to something. Try to focus on natural products instead.

Too much treatment

If you’re a neat freak, you probably comb your hair often. In fact, you probably comb it too often.

Like most other systems in our body, natural processes work to keep our hair healthy such as the secretion of sebum.

Excessive treatment (for example, too much washing) can remove natural oils from your hair making it more susceptible to damage.

Let your hair be wild from time to time. Give it a rest by avoiding combing it in the evening unless you are going out.

Avoid heat 

Similar to combing and washing, heat is something that can ruin your hair. It dries out both your scalp and the hair follicles making them rough and easy to break which can lead to split ends.

Ideally, you should wash your hair several hours before going out, then use a drier just a bit so that it remains damp. After that, it will dry out on its own while you’re still at home.

Check your scalp 

Besides your follicles, the skin on your scalp can also pose a problem. Various issues such as hair loss, hair thinning or dandruff may be caused by scalp issues.

There are numerous problems you can have with your skin. For example, it may be dehydrated or perhaps it doesn’t have enough natural oils.

Stress and malnutrition are also common causes of hair issues.

Condition your hair with natural oils

Oil is crucial for your hair but some people deplete their hair's natural oils by over-treatment.

This is why you should add some artificially. A good choice is tea tree oil or coconut oil - the purer and more natural the oil the better.

By feeding your hair with them, you will definitely see an improvement in its condition.

Like everything else in life, you need to be moderate when it comes to hair care. Overdoing it can only endanger your cells leading to various health issues.

Make sure to use a lot of natural products and place emphasis on vitamins and minerals.

With such a strict regime, you will have beautiful hair that will last for ages.

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Beck Valley Book Tour: Hurricane In Paradise by Deborah Brown

Set against the steamy backdrop of Tarpon Cove's sun-kissed, tropical waters, sexy sleuths and best friends Madison and Fab are at it again dealing with the occasional dead body. Hidden just below the surface of the small town lies an underworld, one steeped in deceit, corruption, and deadly secrets. It's only a matter of time before Madison and Fab find themselves on a collision course with the police, who consider them likely suspects in a murder.

Ride along on their adventures when the duo realizes that a family member is missing and pull themselves away from all jobs to track him down. Theories: walked away, freak accident, kidnapped? If so, then why no ransom demand?

Hurricane in Paradise is book ten in the thrilling and humorous provocative Paradise series, which finds the two waist-deep in mystery and romance. It is a smart, adventurous read that delivers heart-thumping, non-stop action. Join Madison and Fab as they solve the most twisted of cases, through unconventional ¬– and highly entertaining – measures… sometimes in flip-flops.

The Paradise series, are Florida Keys mysteries, “great as stand-alone reads, but they're like chips...you won't be able to devour just one!”

Available to buy from.....

Amazon.com    Amazon.co.uk   Amazon Paperback 

"Deborah Brown's Florida Keys mystery series is highly addictive! The characters are quirky & amusing. The dialogue is snappy. The plot highly entertaining & thrilling. All the oddball cast of characters are back as well as Mad's & Fab's deliciously hunky loves, Creole & Didier." 

"Madison and Fab are so much fun to read about along with their better halves. This time there's murder (of course), a missing family member and a crazy grandma! You'll love this book so much!"

"Once again Deborah Brown has written a wonderful humerous highly entertaining book."

Above reviews from Amazon

About the Author

I've been writing, in one way or another for as long as I can remember; writing poetry, short stories, a romance novel secretly stashed under the bed and sappy love letters. Fiction should be fun. I wanted to create the perfect beach book, to make the reader laugh, cry and cheer... and then run out and tell their friends about it.

My love of reading began when I was seven, the day I opened the cover of my first Mrs. Piggle Wiggle book. Mrs. P gave lessons to other children in how to behave and to me I learned to love the written word. I live with my family and demon children aka rescue cats in South Florida.

Find the author on the following sites...

Website  Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest  Google+  Goodreads  Amazon Author page

My Review

Madison and Fabiana are back and so is a hurricane which starts the book by causing havoc and leaving a decided aftermath for the pair to sort out.

All the usual favourites are back, Creole and Didier, Mother and Spoon and the crazy cast of characters at The Cottages.

The pace is full on as usual and there are enough escapades (thanks to the roguish Brick) to keep the girls fully occupied.

This time though one of their cases is more personal than usual as Brad, Madison's brother goes missing and it's a race to find him.

There are laugh out loud moments and the dialogue is punchy.

We know these two so well now that I found myself wishing for a new team member to add a little freshness to challenge the girls' friendship. And it would be great to know a little more about Fab's mysterious French background.

Fans of the series will love this one and Brown's gift is to create stories which stand equally as well alone as they do as a part of a series.

Also available in the Paradise Series

              

Follow the Book Tour

I received this book through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY

Win $25 Amazon.com Giftcard / Paypal Cash
(winners choice)
Open Worldwide

Ending on Sunday 19th March at 11.59pm EST

Enter Below and Good Luck !!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are you a book reviewer or book blogger? Join our book tours reviewers team - Apply Here x

Current book tours open for sign ups HERE

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Cute, Quirky & Wonderfully Unique Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

It seems like only yesterday we were buying Christmas gifts, doesn’t it? And yet, already it’s nearly Mother’s Day. Where has the time gone this year, it’s just flying by, isn’t it?

With Mother’s Day on the way, whether you’ve got a mum to buy for, an aunt, a step mother, a grandmother, or another special lady, it’s time to start thinking about the perfect gift idea for them.



Photo from Pixabay

Finding that perfect gift can often be a struggle, especially when you don’t want to get them something too similar to what you got them last year.

There’s only so many times a bunch of their favourite flowers, and a box of fancy chocolates will cut it, isn’t there?

As a mother myself, I know how important Mother’s Day is, not just for those of us who are mothers, but also for our children. 

Being able to give your mum a card and a gift to thank her for everything that she does all year is important, as it allows you to ensure that your mum knows how loved she truly is.

The question is, of course, how can you go about finding the special woman in your life - aka your mum, grandmother, aunt, or step mother, that perfect present? The key to gift buying success is getting a little creative and being willing to think outside the box.

With that in mind, below are a few cute, quirky gift ideas that should help to make picking a Mother’s Day gift that little bit easier for you.

Hand painted ceramics



Image credit

For a present that’s wonderfully personal and unique, hand painted ceramics are ideal. Head to your local ceramic painting centre or order a kit off of the internet and spend some time creating some beautiful ceramics for your mum. 

If you’ve got little ones of your own, perhaps you could get them involved too? Whether you opt to paint her a selection of plates, a teapot, a set of two new mugs, or something else, it doesn’t matter; it’s just a case of finding something that she will love and get use out of. 

A great way to make the ceramics that you make a keepsake is to decorate them with yours’ and your children’s hand prints. Hand painted pottery not only makes a great gift but is also a lot of fun to make, and is something that you and your kids can enjoy doing together.

Family Scrabble board art

Since Scrabble has become more and more popular over the past few years, there are now lots of people selling family Scrabble boards as wall art. 

These are Scrabble boards with the names of each family member added to them and entwined, as words are in a normal game of Scrabble - how amazing is that? 

The best thing about this gift, apart from the fact that it’s wonderfully personal, is that you can easily make it yourself, so it doesn’t have to be expensive. All you need is an old Scrabble board (or a print out of one), Scrabble tiles, glue, and a photo frame that is larger than the Scrabble board. Then it’s just a case of fitting everyone’s names together.

Beauty box



Picture link

If your mum is into her beauty products and loves to pamper herself, why not put together a beauty box for her of little treats?

Think about all of her favourite beauty products, from the lipstick she loves to her favourite perfume from thefragranceshop, and pick out a few bits and bobs to go into her beauty box. 

As well as picking beauty products that she already loves, try to find some products that you know she’ll like but has never tried before. Perhaps some lovely luxurious bath bombs, a rich face cream, and a hair mask could be ideal?

Day out

What do you get the woman that’s got everything? If your mum is one of those women who has everything that she needs, then perhaps planning a special day out could work out better than picking her a gift. 

For a day out that she will love, think about the types of things that she likes to do. If she’s a big foodie, why not take her out for a fancy lunch? Does she love being pampered - if so, a spa day could be ideal. Is your mum someone who loves adventure and trying new things? Then how about booking her an experience day, trying something new, such as flying a hot air balloon.

Family photoshoot



Photo source

Is your mum always saying how she wishes you had more family photos? Then how about booking a family photoshoot to celebrate Mother’s Day? 

Perhaps you could get all of your siblings and their children together for a big family photo shoot? 

If your mum is always asking for more family photos, then this could be a perfect way to make her dreams come true. 

Best of all, a family photoshoot need not be expensive, as there are plenty of online deals that you can take advantage of - it’s just a case of taking the time to look around to find the best deal.

Jewellery

If your mum is a woman who loves wearing jewellery, then you can’t go wrong with a new pair of earrings or a new necklace. However, before you pick a piece of jewellery for her that’s similar to all of her other pieces, take the time to look at unique jewellery designs. 

Etsy has some fantastically unique jewellery designs, many of which are handmade, so it’s worth taking the time to have a browse, to see if there’s anything that you think she would like. 

Perhaps a piece of jewellery with your children’s handprints on would be nice? Don’t be afraid to pick a piece that’s unique, as often the unique pieces are the best pieces.

Picking that perfect gift for Mother’s Day isn’t always easy, but hopefully, the ideas and suggestions above have given you some ideas that are a little different to the normal things that you pick out.

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