Category Archives: Lifestyle

Health and Well Being – Steps to Smarter Eating

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Well Being and Health – Steps to Smarter Eating

Smarter Eating is something that we can all get into doing more often. Because some of these things are so easy to become good habits too, you just have to be patient. Try introducing them one at a time, and after some time why not do several on occasion and then give yourself a day off from them once a month? There are many ways in which you can look out for your health, and these are the ways I have found to be quite easy. Remember food should be enjoyed but some things need to be in moderation.

 

✩ Hydration ✩

So we all know that we should be drinking a minimum of 8 glasses of water a day. Depending on the size of the glass that you use, this can equate to anything from 1.5 litres to 2 litres each day. When they say “a day” they mean within 24 hours.

So here is my Top Tip – Keep a reusable bottle or glass by the side of your bed, make sure that when you wake with your alarm in a morning that you drink before getting out of bed. Not only are you having your first glass of water, but you are also helping your body to wake up and your blood pressure to regulate as well.

Another tip is to carry a reusable bottle of water with you everywhere you go. Not only will it remind you to drink, but it will also save you money because you won’t be buying drinks from shops or vendors.

 

✩ Embrace Your Favourites ✩

Favourites! We all have them! Embracing the ones that are good for you is definitely the way to go. And if not then why not try and add good things to your faves. Such as halving your bowl of ice cream and adding fresh fruit. Or you could add frozen spinach on top of your favourite pizza! Enjoy your foods but make them better for you.

 

✩ Boost Flavours ✩

Boosting the flavours of bland foods that are good for you but not entirely pleasant to eat is a great idea. Why not try and add low fat yoghurt to a bowl of fruit or to a bland (but good for you) cereal. You can try low fat versions of your tastier favourites such as cheese, or add fresh herbs to your meals.

 

✩ Eat More Vegetables ✩

It may sound easy, but sometimes we get lazy after a long day when we look at a pile of vegetables that need to be prepared. The trick and tip from me here would be to buy frozen. You waste less doing this and can only get out what you are going to use. It’s faster to measure up portions too! Easy to add two cups of mixed diced vegetables into a curry or a pasta sauce, for example, than counting out how many carrots you need to peel and then chop and then cook…

 

✩ Eat More Grains ✩

Dependent on your dietary requirements getting more grains could be difficult. However if you don’t have any allergies you should consider this. Getting more fibre through your diet. I love cereal, and my favourite happens to be high in fibre. Why not make a switch for a week if yours does not and see how you feel. Add fruit or jam if you require a sweetness rather than adding sugar.

 

✩ Try Something New ✩

We all get curious from time to time. My most recent example of this would be when I tried the new range of juice drinks from Tropicana – Tropicana Essentials. Although more expensive than my usual choices I wanted to try something that was meant to be better for me, and more beneficial to my health…  It is made of fruit and vegetables and I did notice I had more energy after consuming it on consistent days.

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Thank you for joining me for this next installment in my well being and health related posts today. I hope that you are able to take something from my tips and they can help you improve your lifestyle.

✩ Sabrina ✩

 

 

November 2018 Treatbox Reveal

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Hello and Welcome to the November 2018 Treatbox Reveal
with Sabrina of Severn Wishes Blog.

Happy Treat Box Day Everyone! It’s the last Treatbox of the year before the Christmas box!

This month the Treatbox UK theme is “Freedom and Me Time”.

The little sticker reads “With Love” attached to a deep navy blue tissue paper.

Here are all of the contents of the November 2018 Treatbox.

This month there are 6 items in the Treatbox plus a Calendar Print and an A5 Print.

Calendar Print for November 2018
A5 Print – Definition of Hygge
Treatbox Colouring Book featuring Treatbox drawn pictures
Set of Colouring Pencils
Pair of Socks – Polar Bears Design
Treatbox Rose Gold Heart Wish Bracelet
Spacemasks – Interstellar Relaxation
Kiwi Slice Eye Pads

Here is a selection of my photographs of this month’s box, I hope you enjoy seeing the items up close.

My Favourites

My favourite pieces in this box have to be the Colouring Book with Pencils, the Socks, and the Bracelet. As a mum to a young baby I don’t get much time to do things like face masks anymore! Ha! Ha! Maybe one day I can get an afternoon to myself, have a pamper! And with that in mind I hope that they will keep! It’s a lovely idea for a proper pampering though!


My Overall Opinion

I enjoyed the fact that we had several Treatbox Original and Unique items this month. The bracelet is beautiful and the over all quality of the items is good. Although we only received socks in the September box I do love socks, I always have cold feet and you always need quality and cute socks! Especially now with Winter fast approaching, Socks are indeed wanted!

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Are you thinking of ordering a TreatBox for yourself or for a gift for someone?
Then you can find Treatbox subscriptions and build your own box at their website.

Check out my previous posts in this unique category of my website called ‘Treatbox’ especially for these box reviews and reveals – Severn Wishes Treatbox.

Thanks for reading this months box reveal today, if you have any thoughts of your own that you would like to share or if you have purchased a box after reading one of my reviews then I would love to hear your from you, why not leave me a little comment in the section below.

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Thanks for reading this post everyone! I hope you have enjoyed this months reveal and review. Have a great November! Check out my social media especially Instagram for more Reviews and products in use!

✩ Sabrina ✩

Well Being and Health – Easy Ways To Make The Most Of Vegetables

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Easy Ways To Make The Most Of Vegetables

 

We often throw away a lot of fruit and vegetables that have a habit of going off before we get around to using them. In this post today I’m going to outline the ways in which I make the most of vegetables and how easily you can so to.

 

Sabrina’s Top Tip is to invest in a blackboard or a meal planner or even both! That way you won’t forget to use what’s in your fridge! Plan out one night a week that is a Treat Night where you can have something tasty like chips with your evening meal, but otherwise mix up your vegetables so as not to get bored with the weekly selection.

 

Buy Frozen

You often get a lot more veg for your money with frozen, and it’s just as good for you with most brands choosing to freeze hours after the vegetables are picked. Frozen often gives you more per kilo as well, with things such as broccoli because you’re not paying for the weight of its stork, or spinach for example which is frozen in far larger quantities than you find it in fresh packets. Frozen veg also has the added benefits of you only using what you need each time rather than you wasting with cutting sections of fresh veg up when preparing them.

 

Make a Soup or Sauce

Usually I make a soup or a sauce out of veg that needs using up, or left over veg that wasn’t all eaten during something like a roast dinner.

 

Use your Peelings – They are the most nutritious parts!

If you often peel potatoes, parsnips, carrots and sweet potato, but throw those peelings away, you should consider making your own vegetable crisps out of them.
A greatly tasty and healthy snack for children between meals or as a starter while the evening meal is cooking. Keep them for 48 hours in a clean lidded Tupperware box to keep the crunch!

 

Save Money By Using the Stems

If you prepare Cauliflower and/or Broccoli regularly, do you ever use the stems? There are a few options to save you throwing them away.
Make Cauliflower Rice by putting the stems and any left over florets into a processor to make cauliflower rice.
Make an easy vegetable curry by cubing the stems of cauliflower with any left over potato and cook them a little longer than you would usually to soften them up.
You can take broccoli stems and either shave them finely using a peeler and fry them with stir fry vegetables or dice them and add them to pasta dishes.

 

Buy Seasonal to Save Money

Look into buying Seasonal Vegetables that are on offer in Supermarkets. Some of the larger ones in the United Kingdom do weekly deals too! Make sure you plan your week around this and use up the items that will spoil first so as to ensure no waste.

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 I hope you’ve enjoyed this short post and my vegetable tips!

✩ Sabrina ✩

 

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 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 ✩

 

 

August 2018 Treatbox Reveal

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Hello and Welcome to the August 2018 Treatbox Reveal
with Sabrina of Severn Wishes Blog.

Happy Treat Box Reveal Day Everyone! I have been so busy (and exhausted) these last few weeks with my newborn baby, and I am bringing you this Reveal a few days later than planned. Remember if you follow me on social media like Instagram, I usually post things there first, so keep in touch that way if you always want to be first to find out what is inside subscription boxes such as this one.

This month the theme is “Botanical”!

Behind the lush grey shade of tissue paper and the sticker this month that reads “When life gives you lemons make lemonade” and through the paper I can see an array of leaf related patterns!

Here is a list of all the items contained in the August 2018 Treatbox.
(Remember they can always vary slightly such as the quotes!).

This month there are 6 main items in this Treatbox plus a Calendar and an A5 Print.

August Calendar Print
A5 Print – “Today”
Set of “Happiness” Cards x 10
Blank A5 Notebook “Turn Over A New Leaf”
Pink Quote Pencil “You Can Plant A Dream”
Anatomicals Botanical Purifying Tea Tree Face Mask 25g
Shobu Bathbomb for the Shower
Lunch Bag/Cool Bag made from Recycled Materials – Botanical Design

 

Here is a selection of my photographs of this month’s box, I hope you enjoy seeing the items up close and if you have any questions about any of them please leave me a comment at the end of the post, I will do my best to find you an answer.



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My Favourites

My favourite pieces in this box have been the “Happiness” cards and the Lunch Bag. I’m always happy to use items that have been fully or part made from recycled materials, and I’m always happy to support British business as well.

The cards are well designed and printed to a high quality, inspirational and unique to Treatbox which makes them extra special. Now that I’m a new mum I’m finding things like Cool Bags very useful. I currently have a bag of drinks and snacks in three rooms of my house, so wherever I might end up for breast feeding I have a bag of supplies ready to help me through the times ahead.


My Overall Opinion

What I enjoyed this month was a theme that was well thought out and the actual botanical theme was intriguing. I wondered what sort of things would fit into this category, but actually it all worked well. I liked the uniqueness of some of the products because they have been designed and created at Treatbox HQ!

I’m looking forward to using the two skincare items (when I get fifteen minutes to myself) and hope that they are as relaxing and as self caring as they seem to be on their packaging.

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Are you thinking of ordering a TreatBox for yourself or for a gift for someone?
Then you can find Treatbox subscriptions and build your own box at their website https://treatboxuk.com/

If you aren’t sure on whether to try a TreatBox for yourself or not I would say order a one off box, and then if you’re happy with it you can always subscribe afterwards. Check out my previous posts on the Treat Boxes I have received so far, in this unique category of my website called ‘Treatbox’ especially for these box reviews and reveals – Severn Wishes – TREATBOX

Thanks for reading this months box reveal today, if you purchase a box after reading one of my reviews then I would love to hear your from you, why not leave me a little comment in the section below.

Also if you have any questions about any of the items from this month’s Treatbox then please get in touch I am more than happy to answer them if I can.

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For those of you who don’t know I had my baby in July, and he wasn’t too well at the beginning. He is making great but slow progress now thank goodness. So it has meant that my blog has had to really take a back seat, more so than I had originally anticipated it would. Hopefully once our routines are established I can get back on track with two posts a week, but until that time it looks like it will just be the one post. I hope to continue with Treatbox if I’m able to in both time and of course financially. But my little boy comes first from now on, as many of you can understand.

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So don’t forget that Severn Wishes website isn’t just about Treatbox! I write about every aspect of my life and review many a variety of things. So if you enjoy this reveal why not check out my other categories.

Thank you for your ongoing support for me and my blog, I hope you have a wonderful month that is August.

✩ Sabrina ✩

Review and Unboxing of the July Box from The Lifestyle Box Co

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Hello and Welcome to a brand new Unboxing and Review with me, Sabrina.

Today I have the pleasure of bringing you the Reveal of the July box from The Lifestyle Box Co. I’m excited to be bringing you this brand new collaboration on Severn Wishes.

I have been approached by the lovely ladies at the company to unbox this Lifestyle orientated subscription box on my blog, and explain what the box and the company are all about.

The Lifestyle Box Co is fast becoming a number one subscription box for women in the United Kingdom. If you love all things Lifestyle, you want high quality items and all while supporting an independent British company, then this is definitely the box for you!

Inside this monthly subscription box you can find 4 treat items, these tend to be from the following category types. There’s Stationary, Homeware, Fragrance, Confectionery, Beauty and Jewellery.

Whether you’re into treats for you or for your home, The Lifestyle Box Co has a little of everything to brighten up your month, all delivered direct to your door.

The overall look of the subscription box is excellent, a professional logo sits centrally and the first thing I notice after that is its strong box to transport the items that are inside. The box is also reusable due to its fold over lid, because I have seen how durable it is I will certainly be reusing it for something.

I’ve been sent the July box which has a theme of “Secret Garden”. I’m intrigued as to what items may fall under this theme and category, there are plenty of flowers available at this time of year to make products out of… so without further ado! This is what I found inside the box…

The Secret Garden Box – July 2018

The Treat Kitchen – Mojito Gummies
A jar of delicious sweets in Mojito flavour designed to sit inside their very own cardboard beach hut.
Family Run Business Based in Nottingham in the United Kingdom
The Treat Kitchen Website

Kabloom – Seedbom – Pollinator BeeBom – Throw it Grow it!
A Starch Based Biodegradable Shell that is Filled with Organic Compost and Wild Seeds to help the “Bom Thrower” Save The Bees! This mix is ideal for Honey Bees and Bumblebees!
Kabloom Website


Potters Crouch (since 1986) Passionate about Fragrance
This Candle which smells of Daffodil and Narcissus (No11) is beautifully presented in a silver and black tin. Handmade in St Albans in Hertfordshire using Fine Fragrances and Superior Ingredients.
Candle can be burned inside or outside and has a unique floral smell.
Potters Crouch Website


The Salt Parlour – Lime and Avocado Energise Scrub 60g
A Vegan and Naturally Cruelty Free product that is ideal for the summer with people wanting to make sure their skin is in top condition for the sunshine.
Treating your skin to a Natural and Earth Friendly product that smells divine! This salt and sulphur scrub comes as the mini tin with its own wooden spoon to help you get exactly the right amount of product out for each use. A zesty lime scent infused with the oil of avocado to leave your skin feeling amazingly nourished and glowing. Made in the United Kingdom.
The Salt Parlour Website

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My Overall Opinion

My overall thoughts about this subscription box are that the quality of its items out weighs many that are available on the market. I was impressed with how the box is put together. Not only was the theme well considered but the products inside are made to a high standard, those that state they are made in the UK is a bonus in my eyes. We are supporting business within our country and I would rather be doing that these days. I’m also impressed with how the theme goes throughout the products but nothing is duplicated. So one if for enjoying in a scented capacity, one is to consume, one is to use on the body and the other is for us to distribute and see what grows from it. The box has an overall great mixture of items, and I’m sure many people would appreciate a little bit of everything, including things we can do ourselves.

My Favourite Item

There were two treats that I liked the most and I couldn’t choose between them. I am a huge fan of nature and grew up in rural countryside, so the “Seed Bom” resonated deeply for me with memories of fields of wild flowers, and I’m up for anything that helps with our Bees too! The other item has to be the Candle, what a gorgeously presented product, that not only is created to a high standard but it’s also handmade in the United Kingdom, I believe that effort can be seen and smelt in its quality.

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More About The Lifestyle Box Co

 

The Lifestyle Box Co are based in Cheshire and is an independent company ran by two inspiring women Marie & Melanie. The aim of the Lifestyle box is to be a treat for women who enjoy the more luxurious of lifestyle items. Melanie and Marie believe people should be able to treat themselves and feel guilt free when it comes to self care and self love. Hard working women should be able to enjoy a treat without any worry, and all the better if the products are supporting small businesses and strong UK brands.

Every month there is a different theme, and the ladies work hard to research high quality brands and products for their boxes. This month for July was of course “Secret Garden” but there have been many other themes in recent months, all of which have been received by customers with great success! The boxes also have a colour to coincide with the theme…

I asked Marie to tell me a few more things about The Lifestyle Box Co. and this is what she said…

“Melanie & I started the Lifestyle Box co for a number of reasons…..we are VERY alike, we love to shop and we have keen eye for hunting out beautiful items. Melanie is the ex head buyer at boohoo so brings a wealth of experience there too.

We are big lovers of mindset, positivity, spirituality and ultimately self care. With the Lifestyle Box we saw that busy women were often putting themselves last on their long list of priorities so we love to embrace this as their guilt free moment in the month where they treat themselves for a job well done!

We wanted to be more than just a beauty box….we adore beauty and pamper products, but then we equally adore gorgeous chocolate truffles, or a trinket for the Home, or a beautiful bit of stationary….
Our boxes have a monthly theme. Each theme has a colour and we build each box around that theme, carefully selecting four items that compliment each other beautifully.

Our July box is our Secret Garden Box. It’s been a huge success and another sell out box 💚 We’ve also been featured in Cheshire Life Magazine this month and you can read our full story there too! It’s been a fab month.”

The subscription to The Lifestyle Box starts from £20 and you can subscribe from one month up to 6 on a prepay plan. It is a rolling monthly bill that has a renewal date of the 20th of each month, with the boxes themselves being dispatched on the 10th of each month. You can cancel your subscription at any time, and the boxes will always contain four items.So have you been convinced to look more into this incredible company owned by two passionate and independent women? If so then I will now leave some links below to their website and social media so that you may follow the brand at your own leisure.

The Lifestyle Box Co. Website
The Lifestyle Box Co. Instagram
The Lifestyle Box Co. Facebook

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Thank you for visiting Severn Wishes today, I really hope that you’ve enjoyed reading this post as much as I have enjoyed reviewing the items. I would like to thank Marie and Melanie for approaching me to review this box, it has been a privilege to unbox such a gorgeous array of treats.

Come back soon for more Reviews and Lifestyle!

✩ 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 ✩

Types of Baby Kicks, Learning About Your Baby and Things to do in the Third Trimester

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Types of Baby Kicks, Learning About Your Baby (Facts) and Things You Should Do In The Third Trimester

I have been writing this blog post for some time now, I keep adding to it whenever I come across a great fact! Hopefully you will find this post interesting ans also beneficial if you or someone you know is pregnant. Feel free to send them to link to my website!


✩ 12 Different Types of Baby Kicks ✩

By the time you reach the middle of trimester two your baby should be making a routine for itself. This is important to take note of because these movements should remain similar right up until the day you give birth.
The Kicks Count Charity is really useful for anyone who wants to know more about how their baby should be moving during their pregnancy.
Remember that taking a five minute time out every couple of hours to sit or lie down and just focus on feeling your baby is a good idea.
Doctors recommend that healthy movements are around 10 an hour for a baby between trimester two and birth. This varies with all mothers and babies and some move more at different times of the day. But monitoring what is normal for you and your baby is extremely important. If you don’t feel any movements for a few hours contact your midwife – don’t leave it until the next day!

Here are some cool facts about the different kinds of baby kicks you should feel.

✩ Flutters – The First Feelings – Similar to Trapped Gas

✩ Tapping or Butterfly Wings – It feels very light but if you focus you can feel it

✩ Kicks – You know when you’ve been kicked & the force only gets stronger

✩ Punches – Punches feel different to Kicks – you will learn the difference trust me

✩ Rolling – Looks like a Ripple across your skin – usually caused by Babies Bum during a turn

✩ Squirming – Baby is running out of Room and Wriggles a lot instead of Kicks

✩ Bubbles – this tickling feeling and popping can be Baby blowing Bubbles of Amniotic Fluid – cheeky!

✩ Hiccups – A rhythmic tapping or popping that goes on for a minute or so…

✩ Spasm like Feelings – Baby makes a Rapid Movement and you will know about it from the force!

✩ Nudges – Usually in Third Trimester – You’re getting Elbowed! Not much room to kick out!

✩ Pressure – The final new feeling will be the pressure of babies head as they descend down ready for birth…

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✩ Third Trimester Feelings ✩

So as the due date for our baby is fast approaching I thought I would share some knowledge with you all that I came across this past month or so, and I found these facts really interesting and wanted to pass them on.
I have been relatively well in my second trimester, and really enjoyed being pregnant at this stage but it’s gone by all too fast. Now that I am well into the third however I am feeling a lot more tired, lack of sleep has a lot to do with that because I’m suffering with my hips (SPD) and it can be very painful at times. Always aim to lay on your left side!
My advice to any of you at this stage is to keep active. I have only finished work (full time on my feet) as of three weeks from my due date week but I have had a lot to do at home. Do a bit and Rest a bit, is my new motto!
Here are some great facts!

✩ Interesting Third Trimester Facts ✩

✩ Doctors class 28 weeks gestation and onwards as the third trimester. At this stage your baby will be as big as a Canteloupe Melon and weigh around 2 pounds!

✩ Make sure (if you don’t already do so) that you always sleep on your left hand side of your body from now, it’s so important for your blood flow and reducing the risks to the baby!

✩ Your partner might be able to hear the babies heartbeat from now on, in a quiet space get them to gently press an ear to your bump (where you think babies body is) and listen closely…

✩ At around 28/29 weeks gestation your baby will be able to smell the same things that you smell!

✩ During this stage of Pregnancy your baby will receive all the essential nutrients that it needs from the food you have eaten, it gets this first at your Digestion, and you just end up with the leftovers baby doesn’t require. Therefore it’s always important to make sure you’re getting the right minerals and vitamins from your food and (if you need it) a Pregnancy supplement.

✩ Some women suffer with Constipation at this point of Pregnancy. Eat High Fibre Cereals as well as wholegrain or wholewheat products. Broccoli and Cauliflower are also very good for you too!

✩ Don’t forget to drink plenty of Water! Pregnant women should aim for between 2 and 3 litres a day, closer to 3 if they can on warmer days.

✩ Did you know that what you eat now can determine what baby may eat at the stage of weaning? By consuming a varied diet which includes a variety of spices, herbs and strong tastes, this can help your baby when they begin eating solid foods later in their life. Baby should recognise Garlic for example, if you ate a lot of it while you were pregnant. Fascinating stuff!

✩ You are now using an extra 900-1000 kilo-joules of energy each and every day just to fuel that baby growing you’re doing! That is why women in the third trimester need around 250 extra calories a day added to their diet. I recommend full fat yoghurt as a snack with some fruit, and an extra bowl of cereal for how I get mine most days.

✩ Did you know that during the third trimester you should be able to feel when your baby has the hiccups? It will feel like a rhythmic tapping or popping feeling and often lasts a couple of minutes at a time.

✩ After around week 34 of pregnancy your baby can put on around half a pound of weight per week.

✩ At around week 35 your “Nesting” instincts might kick in. (For me it was even earlier!) So don’t worry if you feel the need to clean and tidy up a lot!

✩ Only 5% of Babies are born on their actual due date! Bare this in mind when booking time off work!

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✩ Things To Do In The Third Trimester ✩


✩ Make Some Time For Yourself and Partner

✩ Do Something You Won’t Be Able To Do When Baby Arrives – Like Watch That Movie

✩ Read To Your Baby (See my other Pregnancy blog posts about this)

✩ In the final weeks of pregnancy you might want to consider some batch or bulk cooking, or at least filling up your cupboards.

✩ Stay Active! Short steady walks or Swims are really beneficial.

✩ Drink more Water! And eat more Vegetables!

✩ Consider looking into your Birth Plan, Pain Relief Options, Nursery Ideas and Baby Names! (if you haven’t already!)

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I hope you have enjoyed reading this lifestyle and pregnancy post today. There will be many more coming up and different ones once my baby arrives too! Thanks for reading Severn Wishes today.

✩ Sabrina ✩