The Baby and Toddler Show at Event City in Manchester – Our Experience and Our Purchases

The Baby and Toddler Show at Event City in Manchester – Our Experience and Our Purchases

When my husband suggested we visited a baby show in order to get some ideas on baby purchases, I jumped at the chance to try some products out and begin to look at what we wanted to get for our baby. The closest two for us were Manchester and Birmingham, however I felt the one at Birmingham Event was too close to our due date.

The Baby and Toddler Event is sponsored by Emma’s Diary, and you receive a free pack from them for attending the event. We booked tickets online, it was cheaper to do that and by doing so we also got a discount. Check out the link at the end of my blog for more information on the tickets and next show available. Until then…

Here is a look at the show and a map of the general layout at Event City.

What I Thought Of The Venue

Event City is easy to get to from the Trafford Centre, if you use the main directions on a sat nav you cannot miss the Event City signs. Event City is just off from one of the main roundabouts at the Trafford Centre ring road.

It was a clean area and the arena was big enough for the stalls without you feeling like you were sardines at all times. Not only was there enough room but the stalls had adequate room for their samples and stock to be displayed.

The parking was ample at Event City but we were on the overflow car park because the tarmac part was full even an hour after the show opening.

There were some companies doing product demonstrations which were particularly useful to us. It was also good to see so many passionate people who were selling their products and who had a good knowledge base. In my opinion these stalls were the best, directly explaining how their products work.

Several talks from experts also went on during the show and times were available in the brochure.

There was a brochure and a board which had the map layout for the floor which was handy too. Because there were a good number of stalls, some for baby related items and some for toddler, we tended to stick to those that would be relevant for us.

Facilities for Pregnant Women

There were toilets by the entrance and a fairly large dining area situated in the centre of the arena with plenty of tables and chairs for people to sit.

Freebies from the Show

Emma’s Diary Bump to Baby Pack 2
Aqua Wipes pack of 12 baby wipes
AproDerm Barrier Cream 30g

Emma’s Diary Pack Bump To Baby

Included the following items;

Pack for £5: Made for Mums

Included in this pack that you order for £5 when you order tickets;

Items That We Purchased

While going around the show we witnessed several excellent demonstrations such as Snugglebundl and Poddle Pod. Although having followed both of these brands on Facebook for some time, I wanted to see the items for myself before making any purchases. My husband and I were most impressed by these two brands and bought both products. I do plan to review both of these items once our baby has arrived. So watch out for those reviews later in the summer.

Here are some images and information on all the products that we came home with.

Snugglebundl Blanket in Grey with white Stars £32.99

Poddle Pod and Elephant Cover £34.99

The Sleepybobo – Gerry the Giraffe – 2 items – £19.00

Bibs at Funky Giraffe – 6 Bibs for £10

Bibs at Zippy Bibs – 2 for £5

Our Event City Baby Show Haul!

Overall I was happy that we went to the show, and very happy to have purchased the above items. Not only did we get some cool freebies but we have also made a start on the items for our baby, and that was our main goal. We managed to enjoy some of the facilities at the Trafford Centre afterwards with it being next door, and really made a day of it.

The next one is being held at Birmingham NEC from the 18th to the 20th of May 2018, if you’re considering going or to book tickets, or just to see more information about the event click the link below.

Thank you for reading this blog post today, I hope that you have enjoyed looking at our purchases and reading about our experience at the show. If you have any questions feel free to comment, I will answer them if I can, if not check out the link below.

 Sabrina 

Emma’s Diary Baby Show Page

Sennheiser GSP 107 Gaming Headset Review

Sennheiser GSP 107 Gaming Headset for PS4/Xbox One/PC/Mac – My Detailed Review

When I began testing this headset I was looking for three main features. These were the Quality of the Sound, whether any Background Noise could be heard, and the level of Comfort when wearing it for a length of time. Over several tests, two of which were more than three hours of wear, I established the key features of this Sennheiser headset.

The headset is surprisingly lightweight and sports an open design; this is perfect for someone like me who enjoys a lot of gaming. I tested this headset with my PlayStation 4 console, and I was impressed with how easy it was to set up and to use. This Sennheiser product comes with the headband and main cable attached, as well as a double adapter for use with a variety of devices.

The Clarity and Sound were excellent, not only is it clear to myself as the user, but also to others who were listening to me through the microphone. There is no background noise and the sound itself through the microphone is crisp and clean to listen to. People can hear me clearly and I can also hear others with clean definition of sounds and voices. The noise cancelling feature is one that definitely works to the benefit of the user.

Now for the Comfort level of the headset. The two ear muffs are soft to the touch and sit comfortably on the ear. The headband is adjustable for those who have larger heads or more hair to fit beneath it. By having the ear muffs either side of the headset it sits level and stays in place because it’s balanced. There is a foam section on the underneath of the headband which is a nice addition to allow for a soft sitting on the top of the head. The final comfort feature surrounds the design of this headset, where by the ear pieces are made with gaps so as to keep your ears cooler with prolonged wear. After testing this for several hours I can agree that in comparison to previous headsets I have owned, the comfort of this one is substantially better.

The headset features a double adapter which allows you to plug into the console or device and then into the microphone and audio. I was surprised not to find the ability to mute on this headset design and that is why it has lost a point for me on Design. As a Gamer it is something that I have used regularly on other headsets, you might be in a Party Chat with several others when you get a phone call for example. That ability to mute the Party is one that I expected to find on such a high profile headset. The only other issue is with the adapter, if you remove one (like the microphone because there is no other way to mute the conversation) while in game, others will then hear a distinct crackle sound as you disconnect the adapter. When you reconnect the crackle is also heard and it rather loud, but then the sound quickly becomes clear again once the adapter is firmly back in place. This is why it has lost a point on Connectivity as well.


Overall the Sennheiser GSP 107 is an excellent headset. If you need one for clear sound and wonderful clarity then this is the headset for you. Sound, voices and music all exist crisp and clean through the ear pieces. I have used the headset to record my own voice on to pre-recorded gaming video, to listen in game, and to chat with friends in an in game chat. I have been impressed with the quality of the product and the features. The headset has some wonderful appeal and merits, especially if you’re looking to use the item frequently. The Sennheiser comes with a 2 year warranty as well.

I am extremely happy with the headset, and would recommend it as a gift for anyone who loves gaming. Ideal for teenagers and adults because of the adjustable headband and the range of devices that it can work with.

I would like to thank my gaming friends who helped me to test out the item and by listening to me go on and on over the gaming chat 😉

 Thank you for reading this review today, I hope you’ve enjoyed finding out what I thought about this headset, I would definitely recommend it.

This item was supplied to me by Argos (because I am a registered Argos Tester) so that I could review it. It has an RRP of £49.99 but is currently on offer for just £29.99 (as of today’s date 08/11/17).

If you would like to take further a look at this product here is the link to the Argos website.

Have a wonderful day!

 Sabrina 

The Latest Perfume Samples Reviewed

The Latest Perfume Samples

I often sign up to receive the latest samples of all sorts of things, such as snacks, perfume and makeup to name just a few. But what I loved about these two fragrances I wanted to share with the world.

GIVENCHY
Live Irrésistible Délicieuse Eau de Parfum

If Your Mood is Bend the Rules While Being Irrésistible.
And Your Motto Could Be “Life is a Playground”.
This is the Perfume for you.

That is what Givenchy says about this fragrance, it is for women who don’t conform to rules and often break them. Givenchy brings this new scent to life with a floral delicacy that is as sassy as it is sweet. Highlighting notes of Madeleine and Caramel-Coated Roses, adding a touch of sensual Tonka bean in the mix too. It is a deliciously smelling fragrance, ideal for women who live intensely, without the fear of rules or constraints.

Givenchy says: Be yourself, because that is what makes you irresistible, live your life to the fullest while wearing Live Irrésistible!

Notes
Top Note: Madeleine Accord
Heart Note: Rose Essentielle
Base Note: Tonka Bean

My Thoughts
I really liked how sweet this perfume smelt without being overpowering. It was both unique and unusual and I had not had the pleasure of trying this range in my life so far.

PACO RABANNE
Olympéa Intense Eau de Parfum

Paco Rabanne says this perfume is Illicit, Unexpected and Captivating.

Designed for the modern day Goddess with hints of Oriental Scents and Intense Fragrances. The main features depict a bold and sexy scent. Paco Rabanne want Olympéa Intense to be for women who are independent and are empowered by the notes encompassed in this intense perfume. If you are fiercely feminine and enjoy everything that is beautiful in life, then Paco Rabanne believe this is the scent for you.

The Oriental Scents include Blossoms and Amber and other various Flowers that seem to tumble around the strong smell of the Vanilla and Orange.

Notes
Top Note: Salty and Vanilla Amber Accord
Heart Note: Orange Blossom
Base Note: White Ethereal Amber Base

Intensity Of: Orange Flowers, Grapefruit Flowers and White Pepper.
Sensual Scents Of: Cedarwood, White Amber and Salty Vanilla.

My Thoughts
I was very pleasantly surprised by this perfume, the vanilla shines through but the floral notes bring it all together to form a scent that I feel suits a range of occasions.


Perfume makes a great gift for people at Christmas and on Birthday’s too. Here is my Sabrina’s TOP TIP for you all. When picking a perfume for someone, write down the ones they already have, and google what the Notes are in them. Depending on what they are made from, you look for a pattern, such as the scent of Rose. Then you choose a new perfume with a Note of Rose contained within it. Usually the person notices similar scents and enjoys them more.

 Thank you very much for reading this review today, please let me know if you have either of these perfumes yourself, I would love to know what you think about them.

 Sabrina 

Chanel Perfume Samples Review

coco-and-tendre-swRecently I was sent some Chanel samples, and I was so impressed with both of these scents that I have decided to review them and explain what goes into making each of the fragrances.

The first sample was Chanel Chance ‘Eau Tendre’ and the second was Chanel ‘Coco Mademoiselle’.

chanel-tendre-1-swchanel-coco-1-sw

Chanel Chance ‘Eau Tendre’ is a floral and fruity perfume that features notes of Jasmine, White Musk and Grapefruit. The unique round bottle is what you would normally discover this fragrance in. This particular perfume is designed with happiness in mind and I loved its unusual and unique scent.
chanel-chance-eau-tendre-swChanel ‘Coco Mademoiselle’ is a more bold perfume designed for the confident woman. This scent features notes of Jasmine, Rose and Orange. An oriental and fresh smell that is meant to be worn by those who are strong and independent. The inspirations behind the fragrance stem from the personality of Gabrielle Chanel, and the vibrant and sensual notes of it make this perfume unique. I loved that it smells like nothing that I own already.

coco-1-swchanel-tendre-2-sw Both of these perfumes are rather different in taste but I enjoyed wearing both of them. I feel that the Chance Eau Tendre is more of a scent that I would wear for shopping and time spent with loved ones, where as I am more likely to wear Coco Mademoiselle on a ‘date’ night.

Over all I prefer the Eau Tendre scent on my skin, and I think it’s a wonderful gift for a woman who likes these notes in her perfumes. I hope to one day own a full sized version but until then I shall enjoy the 3ml bottle I was sent. Thank you Chanel!

img_3057Thank you for reading this review today, I hope you have enjoyed my opinion on these two scents. And remember that perfume smells different on everybody’s skin, so make sure you try before you buy by visiting your local perfume shop or cosmetics store. And don’t forget to #TakeYourChance on perfume to find one that suits you 🙂

Sabrina

MAC False Lashes Extreme Black Mascara – Can it give my lashes the lift?

If there is one thing I love since becoming a blogger, it’s the fact that I can receive samples now and don’t feel guilty about them being free, because I am always reviewing what I am sent and giving my opinions on the brands in return.

Mac Bloggers
So today’s blog post is all about a sample I had from MAC which was a Mascara boasting a false lash look in extreme black. Of course every woman wants to have great looking eyes without hassle and too much effort. And it literally took me seconds to apply the sample mascara and I was so pleased with the results I took an unflattering selfie straight away to show you.

Mac One
So you should be able to see from this image below the length and darkness of my lashes when the MAC mascara was applied. This is just one thin coating, so once dry you could apply more of it for a bolder look.

Mac Four SW
This small sample will go a long way I’m sure, and the mascara itself had barely any clumps when I applied it. The brush was good at coating my lashes but not that good at separating them. I found I was wiggling the brush and trying to separate my lashes with the end of the brush. Once I was satisfied I took this eye selfie to compare between my natural lashes and the ones coated with the MAC false lashes extreme black mascara.

Mac Three
For a small sample the brush was very good, it allowed for an even coverage of the product. I am unsure if this will be the identical brush used in the full sized product because I have not seen one, but it works well for its shape and size. It becomes narrower towards the end which is handy for the inner corners of the eye, and for coating lashes on the lower lash line.

Mac Two SW
I hope you have enjoyed this review, please keep reading to see my final scores on this sample product and another image comparing the appearance with my natural lashes too.

Mascara Mac SW
My final review for MAC false lashes extreme black mascara is;

Quality of Item 4/5
Effectiveness 4/5
Appearance 5/5

Thank you for reading this review, if you liked this beauty post then please consider subscribing so you don’t miss the next one. You can do that on my main page, and click the beauty category for more posts like this one.

Have a lovely day!

✩ Sabrina ✩