Category Archives: Shopping

Reviewing Baby Items – Newborn Nappies

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Reviewing Baby Items – Nappies

Hello Severn Wishes followers! Today I am talking about Nappies! In fact I am doing this short review post today about which Newborn Nappies we found to be best. I am comparing on several different levels.

Our son is moving on to the next size up now, and it’s been interesting to look back at what we have tried and tested and what has worked for us. And it’s also been useful to compare prices! We shopped around to be competitive and even tried other brands because other brands were expensive.


✩ Newborn Nappies Tried & Tested ✩
✩ Pampers – Size 1 Newborn 22 Nappies for £2.50 – £4.00
✩ Tesco Loves Baby – Size 1 Newborn 25 Nappies for £0.85 – £1.00
✩ Aldi Mamia – Size 1 Newborn 24 Nappies for £0.85
✩ Boots Baby – Size 1 Newborn 24 Nappies for £2.50 

✩ Scores ✩

✩ Pampers ✩
Design 5/5
Fitting 4/5
Sticky Tabs 4/5
Wee Indicator 5/5
Details – 4 – 11 lbs (2-5kg), Wetness Indicator. Quilt lined so as to pull wetness away from baby’s bottom. Soft materials used and air channels to keep the skin breathable. Navel friendly shape and design for newborns. Nappy design has size increase indicator lines. Recommended by the British Skin Foundation.
My Opinion – The design is great on Pampers, they are soft and have a good fit. We have had over 100 of these nappies and only 1 that leaked. I would purchase these nappies but only on special offers and not at full price. 

✩ Tesco ✩
Design 5/5
Fitting 5/5
Sticky Tabs 5/5
Wee Indicator 5/5
Details – 4 – 11 lbs (2-5kg), Wetness Indicator and it has Soft Cord Protection. Hypoallergenic and Dermatologically Tested. Nappy design has size increase indicator lines. The sticky tabs are strong and they are also a different colour which makes it easier to see on those sleepy nappy changes in the middle of the night. It has a nice colourful design as well.
My Opinion – Overall a great fitting nappy that is soft for baby and affordable too. We haven’t had any nappy malfunctions as yet and we have now used over 300 of this type. 

✩ Aldi ✩
Design 5/5
Fitting 5/5
Sticky Tabs 4/5
Wee Indicator 5/5
Details – Size 1 is 4 – 11 lbs (2-5kg), Wetness Indicator and Soft Cord Protection. Hypoallergenic and Dermatologically Tested. Anti Leak System and Breathable Soft like Cotton. Nappies are made from fibres that are from sustainable forests. With a cute character on the front and size increase indicators.
My Opinion – Very soft and easy to apply with the long sides and long frills to prevent leakages, a great nappy overall. We have been very happy with the ones that we purchased, both quality and price.

✩ Boots ✩
Design 3/5
Fitting 3/5
Sticky Tabs 3/5
Wee Indicator 4/5
Details – Size 1 is 4 – 11 lbs (2-5kg), Wetness Indicator and Soft Cord Protection. Hypoallergenic and Dermatologically Tested. Basic Design.
My Opinion – We had 3 Nappies leak out of the 24 in the pack. They were not as soft as other brands either and I had two nappies where the tabs came clean off during a nappy change rendering that nappy unusable.

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Overall Thoughts

I would happily continue with either Tesco or Aldi Nappies. We prefer shopping in general at Tesco though, so we wouldn’t go out of our way to find an Aldi store just to get their nappies. However if we were passing one or heading there for another reason I would more than likely stock up on a few of their Mamia Nappies, they are good quality and very affordable. The Tesco Loves Baby Nappies have been best overall while staying affordable, and the bonus is that we get points on our Tesco Rewards card.

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Thank you for reading this short review post today. I hope that I have given you an insight into the world of Newborn Nappies and if anyone needed some inspiration on what brand to try… you now have my opinions.

✩ Sabrina ✩

Spectrum Collections Sweetheart Brush Supporting Cancer Research Wales

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Spectrum Collections Sweetheart Brush Supporting Cancer Research Wales

If you want to do something for charity this month but also get an amazing makeup brush for yourself while you’re doing it, then head over to Spectrum Collections and their website. Supporting Cancer Research Wales they have designed and created the pink sweetheart brush and it is just gorgeous! Super soft bristles cut into a heart shape with a shiny metallic pink ferrule into a pink handle.

You can buy the brush for £14.99 on their website and £10.00 from every brush sold will go to Cancer Research Wales. Do something incredible this Autumn, and while you help find vital research for the fight against cancer, you’re gaining an incredible brush for your collection too! In my opinion this makes a wonderful gift for cancer survivors as well. (Click the website image below for a link to buying the brush).

I grew up in Wales and lived in the country until I left for university. During that length of time I watched some family members fight cancers, some of whom sadly are no longer in my life because of it. So whenever I get the opportunity to raise money for Cancer Research I do so. When Spectrum Collections announced they were collaborating for this brush release I was more than happy to get on board, and to support them by writing this post, and get the word out.

Spectrum Collections Brushes are also Vegan and Cruelty Free.

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So, as with every Review of mine I always score the product. I am giving the brush a unanimous 5 stars! It’s appearance is beautiful, the quality is excellent, the value for money is great because £10 of your spend goes to charity and finally delivery was fast and Spectrum always present their post so beautifully too!

Appearance 5✩
Quality 5✩
Value for Money 5✩
Delivery 5✩

5✩ Product – Spectrum Collections Sweetheart Makeup Brush

 


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Thank you for reading this review today, I hope that some of you reading this will consider supporting such a worthy cause. Don’t forget to follow Spectrum Collections on their social media and you can find the links via their website (link below). Remember if you want to see what I’m doing and reviewing on a more daily basis, then why not consider following me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook too! You can find my links on the main page of this website. Thank you for supporting Severn Wishes today.

Spectrum Collections Website

✩ Sabrina ✩

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Reviewing and Comparing Chocolate Chip Cake Bars

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Reviewing and Comparing Chocolate Chip Cake Bars

So today I’m Reviewing and Comparing Chocolate Chip Cake Bars available from Tesco. Why? I hear you ask, well someones got to do it! Ha! Ha! No seriously though, I have been living off tasty snacks since my son was born. Including Cake Bars! I have needed sugary snacks to get me through long nights and early morning feeds.

I have shopped at Tesco for many years and I have always supported their own brand products too. Sometimes I would only purchase the branded version if they were on special offer.

Today I wanted to Review the two most similar cakes that I buy regularly and explain what I like best about each of them. I am going to score them after the product information has been shown, and tell you why I choose to buy them.



Here are the two types of chocolate chip cakes bars that I purchase on a regular basis. Exclusive to Tesco Ms Molly’s Treat Store and Mr Kipling Exceedingly Good Cakes.

 

This is what the cake bars look like out of the boxes.

 

✩ Cake Bar Product Information ✩


Ms Molly’s (Exclusive to Tesco)

Pack Size: 5 Cakes
Cake Bar Size: 26 grams
Values per 100 grams: Fat 5.4g Saturates 0.8g Sugars 5.9g Salt 0.1g
Energy 442 kJ / 106 kcal
Details: Each Cake Bar is individually wrapped in clear plastic, with the eat by date stamped upon it also.
Price per Packet: 47p (works out to be 9p per cake bar)
Suitable for Vegetarians. 

Mr Kipling

Pack Size: 6 Cakes
Cake Bar Size: 24 grams
Values per 100 grams: Fat 5.0g Saturates 2.0g Sugars 9.6g Salt 0.11g
Energy 456 kJ / 109 kcal
Details: Each Cake Bar is individually wrapped in a brown Mr Kipling wrapper.
Price per Packet: £1.60 (works out to be 26p per cake bar)
Suitable for Vegetarians.

My Opinion Of Each Cake Bar Brand.

Ms Molly’s: These are delicious cakes that have been individually baked so that the inside stays soft and the sponge is light. There are chocolate chips running throughout the inside of the bar that taste delicious and are a nice contrast in texture to the sponge cake itself. You can see from the image above that the cake bar is a nice shape and are always a good golden colour to show they are well baked. They are very affordable at 9p a cake, and I would happily put them in my trolley every time that I go shopping (and usually do!) The use by dates are normally around 2-4 weeks after the purchase date which gives you plenty of time to eat them. Overall I really enjoy the taste and texture of the Molly’s cake bars, a nice sponge and delicious chocolate pieces, to be honest the price is just a bonus!

Quality of Product 5✩

Value for Money 5✩

 

Mr Kipling: These cake bars have very tasty chocolate chips that are not only found inside the cake itself but also scattered on top of it. The Mr Kipling brand is very well known and I am fond of their cakes. The only downside with these particular cakes is that they are cut bars and not baked individually, so the sponges aren’t as soft as some other cake bars such as Molly’s. Even though I find the chocolate tastes nicer in these cakes the actual sponge itself isn’t as moist or as soft as its cheaper counterpart. For this reason I would honestly choose the Tesco own version of Molly’s over Mr Kipling.

Quality of Product 4✩

Value for Money 3✩

 


Here are what the two bars look like inside. As you can see the texture of the Ms Molly’s is more moist and is a bigger size. Where as the Mr Kipling bar is a lighter texture sponge but with more chocolate chips.

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Thank you for reading this review today. Don’t forget to follow me on Social Media to see what I’m up to on a more daily basis! I do love my food so I watch out for more food related posts in the future.

✩ Sabrina ✩

Reviewing Baby Items – Bean Bag Planet

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Reviewing Baby Items – Bean Bag Planet

I first saw the Baby Bean Bag on Facebook several years ago. After years of following their page and reading customer reviews, when I got towards the end of my pregnancy I decided to order a Bean Bag for us and our new little one.

What appealed to me the most was that the Bean Bag can be used afterwards for Toddler and Child as our child grows up. It will eventually be a part of their bedroom as somewhere comfortable to sit and read.

There were many designs to choose from including unisex ones. You receive the Bean Bag with the Harness Cover and a Spare Non Harness Cover too in the same colour. Despite this I decided to order an extra harness one so that if our one ended up in the washing machine we would still be able to place baby on the bag safely.

You do have to pay an additional £3.99 for the Bean Bag Filling, but they guarantee that it is Fire Safe Polystyrene balls that they use.

I featured these bean bags on my “Baby Wish List Post” and we had one given to us as a joint gift for our son from friends who read my blog. This excellent coincidence meant that we received two bags the week before our son came into the world. And it’s been very handy to have one on both floors of our house.

I purchased the Cars version of the bean bag in Grey, where as our friends got us the Safari one in Yellow.

Here are some close ups I have taken of the very cool designs situated on either of the bean bag planet bags we have.


The bright colours are inviting, and there is also a bear that you can find playing peek-a-boo on all of the designs I have seen. This is a cute addition so when children are older they can search for this little bear on the sides of their seat.

So I wanted to include what my husband thought in this review too, I will firstly outline what I think and then dictate his thoughts.


My Opinion

A very handy product to have in more than one room of the home, it is convenient to place baby into safely while you need your hands free. An ideal size and height too because you don’t have to bend too low to place baby into it. This item has become one that we use daily in our home to accommodate our needs between feeds and changes of our newborn baby. We cannot wait for him to grow with the bean Bag too and it will be used in his bedroom one day.

I found the ease of ordering on the website a good experience, and there were a ton of great designs for us to choose from. As for delivery the bean bag comes wrapped and then boxed but is flat. You place the bean bags inner bag inside when it arrives.

The quality of the fabric, bean bag base and the unique design of it, is what had me intrigued enough to buy. I have not been disappointed in the item. I did think they were quite expensive for what they are, but when you use the product as much as we do, its convenience outweighs how much I ended up paying.

After using the product now for several weeks I have to say the easiest thing about them is the use, just place your child in the centre and strap them in using the harness. I am happy that I made this product purchase for our son. Here is a photograph of our son at a week old, enjoying a nap in his Safari bean bag.

Quality of Product 5/5
Value for Money 4/5
Delivery of Product 4/5

Overall Experience 5/5

 

My Husbands Opinion

A versatile and good quality material that is soft for baby to lay on. Our newborn is always comfortable when lay on it. I like that our baby has a good view when laying on the Bean Bag too. It’s a useful item that can be easily moved around the home into any room or living space. We think they are that good a product that we now have 2 of them (thanks to a gift)! We use 1 for upstairs and 1 for downstairs!

The bean bag itself is good value for money however be aware of the additional charges to fill the bean bag with the polystyrene balls, and there are quite high delivery costs as well.

I would recommend this product and it’s a good idea for first time parents. It’s also useful for parents with pets because it allows baby to be quite a lot higher than the floor and therefore easier to keep an eye on unlike the mats that require babies to be lay on to a flat surface on the floor. Here is another image of our son, as you can see he is happy and content on the bean bag, awake on this image as opposed to asleep on the previous one.

Quality of Product 5/5
Value for Money 4/5
Delivery of Product 4/5
Overall Experience 4/5

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Here are some Bean Bag Planet designs.

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Links

Bean Bag Planet Website
Bean Bag Planet Facebook

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Thank you for supporting Severn Wishes blog today, don’t forget there are plenty more reviews to read across the website, just click one of the categories that interest you on the main page. I hope that you have enjoyed this review and I wish you a wonderful rest of your day.

✩ Sabrina ✩

 

 

Reviewing Baby Items – Poddle Pod

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Reviewing Baby Items – Poddle Pod

My husband and I purchased a Poddle Pod at the Manchester Event City Baby and Toddler Show in March. It cost £34.99 (special price for the event) and we chose the Nelly Parade cover. We were impressed with the demonstration of the product, and I had also followed the company for some time on Facebook. I was adamant that I wanted one of these for when our baby came along.

Poddle Pod have many designs, some are unisex and others are more suited to a gender of baby. But not only do these make great items for parents to buy, but they also make a great gift to expecting parents, that is my honest opinion because it has become extremely handy to us.

Most newborn babies love to be held in someones arms, cuddled and cradled. However this isn’t a practical part of every day life for many of us. Poddle Pod has been designed to give parents a few hands free minutes while ensuring baby is comfortable and safe inside the inner shape of the Pod. It has a very clever design which is weight activated, this allows the baby to supported and makes them think they are being held.

It’s heavier than you would think to pick up, and has a soft fleece side and a patterned cotton side to the machine washable cover. The Poddle Pod is made from high quality fabrics and the filling of the pillow is both anti fungal and hypoallergenic. The best part for me is that it’s also made here in the United Kingdom, and you all know how I love to support businesses in out country above all others.

Poddle Pod is currently available in two sizes, which are 0-6 months and  6-36 months of age. I would certainly consider ordering a larger Pod when our son grows out of this current one.

I wanted to include my husbands thought in this review, so here are what both us think of our Poddle Pod purchase.

Quality of Product 5✩
Value for Money 5✩
Use and Purpose 5✩


My Opinion

I like the convenience of the Poddle Pod, it is easy to move around the home or to take with us to visit family. It’s unique internal shape is a comfort to our baby and we often find that placing him inside it to chill out during a cry is really handy. Not only does baby like resting but also sleeping inside the Poddle Pod. I have often placed baby inside the Pod after a feed and a winding, so that I can keep an eye on him as he dozes before placing him into his basket.

The shape and size of the Poddle Pod is ideal to lay on several surfaces including the bed and the sofa. Many a time have I been running errands in a room and placed my sleepy baby inside the Poddle Pod knowing he will be comfortable. I was very happy with the overall quality of the product and the material is excellent, easily washable and to get on and off the item using the zip.

This is a rather useful item that I am very happy that we purchased. So far it has been durable and has held it’s shape during the first eight weeks of its use.
I would certainly recommend this product to first time parents who may need somewhere safe to lay their baby down at times. Especially if they are feeling overwhelmed with the need for baby being held, this allows a few moments of respite for them while they do daily things. Even having a warm cup of tea or a hot meal can make all the difference in those first few weeks of being a new parent. The Poddle Pod can aid people in achieving this with its clever design.


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Quality of Product 5✩
Value for Money 4✩
Use and Purpose 4✩

 

My Husbands Opinion

I liked that the Poddle Pod fitted comfortably inside our travel crib for comfort while sleeping away from home. We like the overall design and the shape commits to holding our baby safely. The cover is convenient to remove when requiring a clean and we purchased an additional cover so that if one is in the wash we can still use the Pod.
We chose the Elephant design due to the nature of our nursery theme and are happy with the quality of it. Although there were many great designs to choose from, and we would consider other ones when we get the larger Pod in the future.


Discount

If you would like to receive 10% off your purchase of Poddle Pod then follow them on Facebook (link below) and use the code FB10 on their website.

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Important Information About The Poddle Pod

✩ Great for Supervised Naps
✩ Perfect for Photography
✩ Excellent for Support and Comfort
✩ Ideal for Tummy Time
✩ Easily Portable
✩ Machine Washable Cover
✩ Weight Activated

 

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Links

Poddle Pod Website
Poddle Pod Facebook Page


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Thank you for supporting Severn Wishes blog, I hope you have enjoyed this review and I wish you a wonderful day.

✩ Sabrina ✩

What I Put Into My Hospital Bag for Labour, My Experience with Tips and Tips From Friends

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What I Put In My Hospital Bag, My Experience In Hospital and Tips from Me and from Friends

As the due date of my little one was fast approaching I had begun to compile my items for my hospital bag. I had done a lot of research because I didn’t want to be bringing anything unnecessary, and I also didn’t want to forget something either that I could have otherwise over looked being a first time mum.

One thing I knew that I wanted was a nice blanket to wrap our baby in. My husband and I wanted to personally choose a nice outfit to bring baby home in too. And other than the usual necessities of a hospital stay, I was clueless as to what other items I may need for baby.

When you sign up to various baby things you will undoubtedly get a list or two about what you do and don’t need for hospital. Of course every couple is different and you also have to consider the time of year too. The best ones we found were the Bounty one and also one that we had at a Mothercare baby event.

I also talked to friends who had had babies recently to get their take on what they used the most and what they may have wished that they had had with them. Here is what a few of them told me…

Pip Said; “My son was born with lots of hair and I didn’t consider I would need a baby brush or comb! I sent my partner out to buy one so that we could comb all the baby gunk out of his hair!”

Louise Said; “We used two separate bags for convenience. Consider that you might be in labour or in hospital for a while, so headphones, a book or magazine might be a good idea. Don’t forget to have a car seat ready for when you go home as the hospital need to see you with it when you leave with your baby”.

The image above shows all of the items that I got inside the bag that I ordered from “Goodies 4 Mummies Pre Packed Maternity Hospital Bags”. I wanted a new bag specifically for going into hospital, but one large enough to put everything inside. I did not want to carrying multiple things because they wouldn’t fit. I contacted this page via their Facebook messenger section and discussed what I needed. In the end I chose this gorgeous bird design bag. The contents you see were all included, and most of it is excellent quality. You can choose whether you need a specific gender of items or neutral. We already knew we were having a little boy so I chose the blue. This included a Muslin Cloth and a Hat that were blue in colour.

I would rate the bag and the contents a 5/5 for range and quality.
I would rate the service of this business a 5/5 as well, fast delivery too!

The one thing I had read online that my mind hadn’t even considered was a pair of disposable slippers for the ward and (because I was having a summer baby) a portable fan. The slippers were luckily included in the Maternity Bag that I had ordered.

Our son decided to make an entrance into the world on one of the warmest days of the summer so far. It was 30 degrees Celsius in the delivery suite room. It was at that moment I was so happy that I had purchased a portable fan!

This fan was only £11 on Amazon at the time I ordered it. The device can be charged up via a USB cable and then runs on a full charge for approximately 10 hours. With 3 speed settings as well it was rather handy. The fan has a fold-able handle that is situated at the back when not in use. Ideal size for holding and for transporting, and in my opinion not that heavy either. I would review this item as a 5/5 considering the price and convenience of it, it was used throughout my labour during the day and night, my lovely mum was in charge of holding it over me, and a great job she did too. Here is the link below if anyone is interested in purchasing one.

EasyAcc Handheld Electric Fans Mini Portable Outdoor Fan with Rechargeable 2600 mAh Battery Foldable Handle Desktop for Home and Travel – Black

Knowing that we also got an opportunity to have a photograph taken of our baby by the hospital Bounty Photographer, meant that I wanted it to be memorable. They suggest a tiny soft toy, blanket or comforter to be in this photo. My husband and I have decided a comforter with a soft toy attached, and a spare blanket are the right things to take with us. Although you can bring almost anything you can think of.

Here is a final list of exactly what I have put into my hospital bags. I eventually did one for our baby and one for me. Just so that it was easier to find items for either person on the day or days that followed in hospital. It turned out to be a very good idea too!

Here is the final list of exactly what I have put into the bag for our newborn baby.

2 Packets of Baby Wipes – newborn and sensitive skin friendly
Cotton Wool Balls
Nappies – Newborn and Smaller Baby
Baby Grow and Sleepsuits for while in Hospital – Mixed Sizes
Outfit for Coming Home In
Small Cuddly Toy / Comfort Blanket
Baby Blanket
1 Set of Hat / Mittens / Booties / Socks
Baby Changing Mat
Barrier Ointment and Nappy Rash Cream
Baby Hair Brush and Comb
Muslin Cloth
1 Bib

We ended up being in hospital for 4 days first of all after my sons birth. I was very lucky that my husband was able to go home and collect items for me including spare muslin cloths, spare outfits for baby and he also had to go out and buy some tiny baby clothes too after our little one lost some weight.

You are always better to have more than you need than not enough. I would say it’s a good idea to bring several outfits with you because you don’t actually know the size of your baby until they arrive. And the majority of babies lose weight in the first couple of days as well. Be prepared!

Here is the final list of everything that went into my Hospital Bag. This key will identify to you whether or not I used the item or I didn’t.
★ Used
✩ Didn’t Use / Need
After this list I will be briefly outlining what my most used items were and what I definitely couldn’t have been without.

Hospital Notes and Birth Plan ★
Maternity Pads ★
Breast Pads ★
Old Pants/Underwear (Several) ★
A Top To Wear In Labour or just Afterwards ★
Old Vests / T-Shirts ★
Nursing Top / Nursing Bra ★
Nightie (Staying Overnight in Hospital) ★
Hair Bands and Hair Brush ★
Deodorant ★
Toothbrush and Toothpaste ★
Toiletries – Face Cream / Shampoo / Eyedrops etc ★
Lip Balm ★
Glasses Case and Cleaning Cloth ✩
Towel (Old One) ✩
Face Cloth ★
Cloth for Other Areas ★
Bag for Dirty Cloths to go into ★
Money – Spare Change for Drinks / Snacks ★
Mobile Phone Charger ★
Disposable Slippers ★
Hand Sanitiser ★
Spray Bottle for Water ✩
Face Wipes ✩
My Expert Midwife – Spritz for Bits and Nipple Balm ★
Handheld Fan ★
Bottle of Water and Bottle of Isotonic Drink ★
High Energy Snacks ★

Overall there was very little that I didn’t use out of my bag. And what I didn’t was usually down to the hospital providing the items for me, such as towels for showering etc. Sometimes you would of course prefer to use your own which is understandable. Some things such as the Spray Bottle for Water I was recommended by so many lists to take with me, to spray water on to my body while hot in labour, and to spray on sensitive and swollen areas after to cool myself down. However it was forgotten all about during my labour which progressed quite quickly.

There were a few items I couldn’t have done without. The disposable slippers for one, a godsend on a busy ward recovering from birth. Another thing was the lip balm, you won’t believe how dry your lips get in that environment. And also the isotonic drinks I had brought with me were an excellent choice, and I have my midwife to thank for their recommendation.

I will be reviewing the My Expert Midwife items in a separate blog post.

Thank you very much for reading this blog post today. I hope you have found it interesting and I have to say I cannot believe I’ve brought this post to you after baby is born. He was definitely in a hurry to meet everyone. However it’s exciting! Thanks to my friends who contributed their ideas to this post and thanks to everyone for their patience while I adjusted to life as a new mum!

Come back soon to Severn Wishes for Reviews and Lifestyle!

✩ Sabrina ✩

Heavily Pregnant At A Summer Wedding, Reviewing My Outfit Choices And How I Coped

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Being Heavily Pregnant At A Summer Wedding,
Reviewing My Outfit Choices And How I Coped During The Day

I very recently attended a family wedding, which was really lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed the day and the evening. However being heavily pregnant there were some precautions that I needed to take for my safety, and also some decisions I had to make that some people might not have considered for themselves.

I wanted to write this blog post for two reasons, one is to review the items that I bought for my outfit and why I chose them. And reason two is because I hadn’t thought about some things until I was being a sensible adult and realised that quite a lot could be over looked. So I am sharing my experiences with you all today in this honest post.

Firstly I want to talk about my outfit. I’ve been quite lucky in regards my pregnancy, I haven’t put on a great deal of weight and I am mostly bump! However this proved tricky for me when I was shopping for maternity wear dresses…

Most places have taken into consideration people who may have gained weight all over, especially on certain areas like the bottom and boobs! However this isn’t me, and I tried on several beautiful items that sadly just made me feel like a sack of spuds! They gave me no shape or were too baggy in most areas…

So… then I decided to do a BooHoo order of two of their Maternity dresses, and there was one dress that fitted me well and I finally got some of my confidence back. Any pregnant woman will tell you, your confidence goes down after the second trimester, because everything makes you feel like your bump is massive (even if it isn’t) and I just wanted to flaunt my great figure and my bump too! But I just had to find something that made me feel like that.

Out of the two dresses I had from BooHoo the first fitted perfectly when I had my shoulders back and I stood tall, it was however a little low cut with a v-neck style. I knew how I wanted to fix this and decided to take myself off to New Look.

New Look always have what I want, I very rarely go into the store and come out empty handed. What I wanted to buy was either a crop top, vest or cami top that was pretty and high neck, and something that suited the dress too! My plan was to wear the top underneath and it look like it was just part of the dress. I wasn’t disappointed when I found the perfect top, and not only was it a great price, but I also got into my pre-pregnancy size because (as I mentioned) I haven’t put much weight on on my chest at all…

Finally I needed a pair of shoes to go with the dress and a cardigan if it were to be a cooler day. It was a good job that I bought a nice cardigan in the end because it turned out to be a rather windy day! And as for the shoes… well I got these gorgeous pregnancy friendly flat ballet shoes half price! What a successful shopping trip.

My ensemble of these items ended up looking like this… and I was very happy and comfortable (which was my main aim!) with what I chose. This is the practice dress up, I had leggings on in this image but swapped for tights on the actual wedding day. I also decided to add a white rose accessory clip in order to hold the dress snugly to the top underneath it.

✩ Clothing Reviews ✩


Name: White Maternity Polka Dot Wrap Smock Dress
Details: Available in White, Black or Terracotta. This dress sports half sleeves and an all over Polka Dot style. Total length is 92cm (36.5″). Available in Sizes 8 to 16.
Materials: 95% Viscose and 5% Elastane.
Purchased: Online at BooHoo
Price: £15.00
Link BooHoo Website

Material Quality 5✩
Overall Design 5✩
Overall Fit 4✩
Value for Money 5✩

I really liked the overall style of this dress and I would most definitely wear it again. The material might be a little thin but it’s just what you need for summer. It’s soft and comfortable to wear and the skirt section flows just enough to make you feel feminine – even with a baby bump!

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Name: Pink Sheer Lace Bow Ballet Pumps
Details: These type of shoes are available in many Colours and Styles but the Pink has Low Stock online – check your local stores. Available in Sizes 3 to 8. Sheer Design with Bow on the front. Black still available online.
Purchased: In Store at New Look
Price: £5.00 – £8.00
Link New Look Website

Material Quality 5✩
Overall Design 5✩
Overall Fit 5✩
Value for Money 5✩

I really like the pretty lace on these shoes, they aren’t just attractive though they are so comfortable to wear too. The price was excellent and I would happily wear them throughout the summer with any outfit they would go with. I already own many different colours and styles of this exact fitting shoe, I always go back to New Look when I need new versions, usually this is to match one to an outfit that I don’t already have a pair for.

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Name: Pink Jersey Longline Cardigan
Details: Available in many Colours and Styles (online currently in Pink or Pale Blue). Available in store in Sizes 6 to 18. These cardigans are soft and have two nice large pockets one on either side. They are long sleeved and lightweight, ideal for Summer.
Materials: 96% Viscose and 4% Elastane.
Purchased: In Store at New Look
Price: £12.99
Link New Look Website

Material Quality 5✩
Overall Design 5✩
Overall Fit 5✩
Value for Money 5✩

These cardigans from New Look wash and wear really well. Would you believe me if I said I owned fourteen of these now? I have collected this style for over the past ten years, and whenever New Look release a new colour I usually buy it! I wanted this lovely light pink to go with my outfit and I am always pleased with this type of cardigan.

 

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Name: Black Crochet Neck Ribbed Cami Top
Details: Available in the Colours or Black, White, Olive and Pink. Available in Sizes 8 to 18. A pretty top that is ideal for Summer, Crochet is in this year. Wear alone on a hot day or pair with other clothing to add a textured touch (like I did with my dress).
Materials: 95% Cotton and 5% Elastane.
Purchased: In Store at New Look
Price: £8.99
Link New Look Website

Material Quality 5✩
Overall Design 5✩
Overall Fit 5✩
Value for Money 5✩

I was impressed with this cami top. Due to my baby bump I wouldn’t be able to wear it on it’s own this summer. However underneath other clothing to fill in gaps like I have done with my dress for this particular outfit, it works perfectly. It fitted really well and was comfortable too. Being mostly cotton I expected it to be of a good quality and it certainly was, it washed well too.

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How I Coped During The Long Day

My main tips for coping during long days out are to carry a water bottle with you. In the summer it’s even more important to stay hydrated. Make sure that you take regular seated breaks to avoid any unnecessary swelling of your feet and ankles, especially if it’s a warm day. Make sure those who are attending with you know how to help you if you need it.

It’s a good idea to bring your hospital bag and notes with you in your vehicle if you’re going to be a long way from home for more than a few hours. At my stage of pregnancy I could easily have gone into labour, better to be prepared. Also look up your nearest hospital or maternity unit just in case!

I made sure that my outfit was lightweight overall and that I was comfortable from my head to my toes. Nothing was too restricting or tight. Another top tip of mine is make sure you do a test run of the outfit before the day, that way you can see if there are any issues with it that you may want to fix.


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I hope you have enjoyed reading this post today. Have a great day!

✩ Sabrina ✩

 

Spectrum Collections Marbleous Set Review

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✩ Spectrum Collections Review ✩

I have reviewed many Spectrum Collections Brushes over the past few years. I love their style, quality and variety. They make for incredible pictures because of their unique colour and styles too!

This year I really wanted a set of the Marble ones. After I won some money on a Postcode Website and I received some points on the Spectrum website for my reviews and recommendations, I managed to get a substantial amount off this beautiful set. Not only that but I waited for an special offer weekend too! Perfect timing!

So why the MarbIeous Set? I had wanted this set for a while, it has been on my wish list for a long time. I think the white and grey is beautiful and it also matches the white furniture and makeup pots that I have in my bedroom. Another reason is because the set comes with its very own makeup bag, and also contains a brush of every type to suit every sort of makeup application.

Spectrum Brushes are Vegan and Cruelty Free, another reason why I love them. Having tried many brush brands I always seem to go back to Spectrum, I cannot rave about them enough! So yes I am doing yet another review on my blog about their quality. I won’t bore you by going through every single brush, but I will say that their variety is excellent. In a set like this one, you can use some brushes for more than one purpose. While I don’t pretend to be a makeup expert because I don’t even apply it every day, what I do know and recognise is the great quality makes a big difference.

✩ White Marbleous 12 Piece Set ✩

The 12 Piece Marbleous Set are gorgeous white handled brushes finished in a stunning rose gold ferrule. The bristles are grey and white in colour and are incredibly soft. The set consists of 5 face brushes and a collection of 7 of Spectrum’s best selling eye, brow and lip brushes. Not only that but the set comes complete with its own white and marble makeup bag for you to store them in. They are the perfect tools for creating makeup looks, starting with a flawless base and then a perfectly blended eye look, the brushes can be used with ease. Some have multiple purposes too.

The Marbleous set includes the following:

A00 – Luxe Powder
C07 – Luxe Tapered Sculptor
A02 – Angled Foundation
C02 – Flat Top Contour
A05 – Precision Blush
B05 – Luxe Blender
B06 -Tall Tapered Blender
A07 – Stubby Shader
A12 – Fluffy Pencil
A13 – Short Smudge
A14 – Brow Definer
A15 – Lip Definer

Here is the link to this set on the Spectrum Collections Website

White Marbleous 12 Piece Set

The Website Price is £69.99


So do you like the look of these brushes? If not then why not check out the website to see all of the other types available. The colours and sets are incredible! The more recent ones include Mean Girls, Star Sign Sets and even Disney! Why not check out my code below and the website for more details!

Some of the brushes can be purchased individually and others as just sets. The prices have a wide range for those who don’t have a lot to spend but who want quality products.

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If you would like to get 15% off your own set of amazing brushes then click my link below and use my unique code on your order.

Sabrina’s 15% Off Code

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When your order arrives you will find your brushes all sealed and wrapped up, brand new and smelling as such! Remember to always clean your brushes before using them including new ones!

I was particularly impressed with the delivery, my brushes were neatly wrapped and safely transported to me. Spectrum have excellent packaging and I always recycle the plastic afterwards too!

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Thank you very much for reading this review! I cannot wait to see what Spectrum bring out next! And I hope to continue using these brushes and taking gorgeous photographs of them as well. Check out my Instagram and follow me to see them most often!

If you do decide to order some brushes using my 15% off code then leave me a comment and let me know what you bought!

Have a great day and thank you for coming to Severn Wishes Blog!

✩ Sabrina ✩

Our Baby Items Wish List and Changes We Are Making At Home

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Baby Items Wish List and Changes We Are Making At Home

When you get to the shopping stage of having a baby it can be quite overwhelming. I have read so many reviews I am not sure what to go for in some aspects. However there are some items that I most definitely want to buy, products that I feel will help my husband and I overall when our baby does arrive.

This blog post is quite a short one, I’m outlining a few things that are still on our wish list to buy and why we would like to get them…

Wish List for our Baby

Considering I’m such an organised person there are still a few things that we don’t have for baby as yet. The reason being is that we were researching and comparing brands in some product cases, and some things we just couldn’t make up our mind on.

You often get told to buy things that are actually quite unnecessary, however there are also things that both fellow parents and bloggers have recommended to me. I’ve then done my own research and also attended demonstrations at baby shows in order to help make my decisions.

My plan is to review each of the main items that we do purchase, I can only do that once baby is here though and we are actually using them. So today, I want to outline my current wish list and the items I’ve considered getting. Some things that we have in fact bought, will be reviewed in time.

In the next few paragraphs I’m going to be explaining why I want these particular products for baby and the reasons that others have given me for buying the item which has sparked my interest in the first place.

Belo Teething Mitt £12.99

Website Here

I have been introduced to Belo Teething Mitts recently via Facebook when a friend shared their recent competition. I liked the style of them, although they aren’t as popular as some brands they seemed quite affordable and peoples reviews reflected a good quality.

Once baby is born I would consider ordering a pair of these mittens especially if our baby begins to chew their hand or digits for example.

These Belo Mittens are available for babies aged 3-12 months. They are BPA Free and Safety Tested, they can also be washed in the washing machine.

Here is an image of their mittens, they are only available in blue or pink at the moment.


Bean Bag Planet £39.99

Website Here

One thing I have been looking at for months has been the baby bean bags available on the market. My husband and I bought a Poddle Pod already from a baby show. But I like the look of the bean bag because baby will grow with it.

Here are the main reasons why I would love to buy our baby one of these. The product has two covers, one for newborns with a harness and the other one is suitable from toddler to ten years old. The bean bag base is waterproof and wipe clean. Not only is the inner product fire retardant but the bean bag also features a removable and adjustable filling.

Here are some photographic examples of the sorts of styles that Bean Bag Planet currently do. It also costs an additional £3.99 to have the bean bag filled.

 

 

Gummee Glove Teething Mitten £10.99

Website Here

Another Mitten that I have seen and like the look of is the Gummee Glove. This baby mitten has teething sections attached and they make several sizes for different babies stages. I would love to invest in the first one which is for 3-6 months, and if baby gets on with it I can get the next size up.

The reason I like the look of this teething mitten is because they are made with 100% cotton. It is BPA, Latex and Phthalate Free, Safety Tested and Machine Washable. Gummee Glove currently comes in three colours, Yellow, Turquoise or Pink.
Here are some images of the Gloves currently available and I have included a link to the website too for anyone who wants to see it.

 


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Changes We Are Making at Home in Preparation For Baby

 

It’s taken a while but we’ve finally began to order things for our baby. We’ve decided to make some changes at home, getting rid of things to make room for new items such as furniture. We have removed a wardrobe so that we can have a baby changing table with storage shelving that will be ideal for us to store nappies and things in.

Something else that we have done is rearranged our bedroom so that when baby is here the Moses basket won’t be against any external walls. It’s important to read up about the safety aspects of your home, and make sure you have taken any precautions or rearranged furniture so the room is well ventilated for example.

Other preparations that we still have to make are more tidying and putting away of items that may create allergen risks. It also means I will have less to do when baby is here, such as making hoovering easier and dusting time less – neither of which are bad things!

We hope that in these final few weeks we will still have the time to complete the rooms exactly how we want them, before baby makes its appearance. I will be reviewing items we have been particularly impressed with individually on the blog, as and when I have time to. So stay tuned to Severn Wishes in the coming months if you’re interested in any of that!

Thanks for reading everyone! Do you own any of these products? Please let me know what they’re like in the comments section if you do!

✩ Sabrina ✩

Argos Hygena Evie Fabric Chair In A Box Review

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Maternity and Pregnancy Week

Argos Hygena Evie Fabric Chair In A Box Review

Today I am reviewing the Hygena Evie Fabric Chair. We purchased this in Charcoal Grey because we plan on using it for when I am nursing our baby, and Grey is one of the colours we have chosen for our nursery.

When I read about the “Chair in a Box” I was astounded by how many good reviews it had on the Argos website. I wanted something that was sturdy and comfortable that wouldn’t cost the earth, and there were so many positives from customers on the site. Eventually we decided we liked the darker colour available and decided to see what other websites were offering chairs of a similar design and shade.

We shopped around for a couple of evenings and nothing seemed to compare to this one for both the quality and the price. What swayed us in the end was the Argos Furniture Weekend in April, where the chair was reduced in price. We took advantage of this deal and after having reserved one, we picked it up from our local store. It did fit in the back of the car with a squeeze through the door, it was a heavy and awkward square box you see.

Prices

We Paid For The Chair On A Furniture Deal Weekend of £103.99
The Usual Price is £129.99


Chair Details

Colour: Charcoal Grey. (Other Colours Available).
Dimensions: Height 79cm Width 74cm and Depth 76cm.
Materials: Wooden Feet, Foam Filling and Polyester Fabric.
Additional Information: Seat Depth 52cm and Weight of Assembled Chair is 20kg. Width between the Chair Arms is 44cm. Height of Arm Rest is 43cm.
Link to Argos Website


My Honest Opinion

Overall I am impressed with the look and feel of this chair. It is firm to sit on and has a good ratio between its back and the arm height. The colour is suitable for most rooms, we are displaying it in the bedroom, ready for me to use to get dressed during late pregnancy and then for nursing my baby at night time.

My Photographs

Here are some images of the chair fully assembled and in place in the room, and a few of the closer details such as the buttons and the fabric.


Thank you for reading this blog post today, and I hope you have enjoyed this review!

✩ Sabrina ✩