Inside our Halloween Party for 2021

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I've always been a lover of Halloween, I have fond memories of dressing up as a ghost with a bedsheet over my head or a witch with a broom as a child so I've always wanted to create that magic for our children too. Joshua is an October baby so he saw his first Halloween at two weeks old while wearing a pumpkin outfit and so as the years have gone on, we've dressed up and bought spooky snacks to celebrate.

I went all out last year because we spent most of the year inside and incidentally created some Halloween traditions of our own so with the spookiest month of the year rolling around again, it was party time once again. 

We had one very excited vampire and one tiny pumpkin this year and we had the best time so I wanted to share a peek inside our Halloween Party and give you some inspiration for next year.

The Temple Spa Joyful Places Beauty Advent Calendar 2021

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As October comes to an end, we're fast approaching the most wonderful time of year and I have another beauty advent calendar to show you and oh it's a good'un! 

Featuring 24 doors full of Temple Spa favourites, new treats and award-winning creations, the Temple Spa Joyful Places Beauty Advent Calendar is inspired by our 'happy place'. The award-winning beauty brand suggests it might be a physical place, space, landscape or a little retreat we can escape to in our minds to find inner peace and joy. 

The calendar combines a peaceful inspiring scene with emerging dreamy, hopeful faces and as you open each drawer, you'll be able to turn it around to discover heartwarming messages and daily affirmations. The new design also means you'll be able to re-use it for storing beauty products, jewellery and more once you've opened all your drawers in December.

Be warned, there are spoilers ahead...

The OK! Beauty Box // Hydration Heroes

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Towards the end of 2020, OK! launched their very own beauty box subscription service - one that guarantees a minimum of five handpicked products a month with a minimum value of £60 each month. Now if you've been around these parts since the beginning then you'll know there's no shortage of beauty box reviews on Alice Anne so I've been interested to see just what this one is like. 

Beauty box subscription services have always been hugely popular, once upon a time Birchbox was leading the way but in recent years there has been so much more choice available with a budget to suit every pocket. What makes this one a little different is that it seems the OK! Beauty Box compared to other boxes of the same or similar price point, has the highest guaranteed value per month which is music to my ears. 

USE 67INFLUENCER to get your first box for only £4.95 rather than £15!

Joshua's Halloween Box 2021

A few years ago, I was chatting on Twitter about Halloween boxes and if they were a thing because I really loved the idea of creating one for Joshua. My idea originally stemmed from Christmas Eve Boxes and so I started researching and didn't find much so I thought I'd just create my own and it was super popular so I've since shared the boxes I've made for him ever since. 

We're not really into trick or treating and buckets full of sweets so a Halloween Box was the perfect alternative for our little ghoul and to help make things a little spooky. I love this as our little tradition, I enjoy making them every year and I'll have an extra one to make for Evie in 2022. 

Five Happy Things // September

Oh September - it always feels like the start of a new year, it's probably the relation to school years especially as our son is back at pre-school. I feel like after a completely dismal August we had such a beautiful September and not just because it was full of baby snuggles.

We're still making the most of our smalls wins. little memories and happy moments where we can - they don't have to be a huge, momentous thing, they can be just about anything - be it a chocolate bar you treated yourself to or a long walk listening to an audiobook.

So here are five handpicked happy things from our September ...

The Body Shop Share the Love Big Advent Calendar 2021

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The Body Shop advent calendars are back and it is their biggest and best year yet! This year's theme is Share the Love which you'll notice carries through to not just their advent calendars but their stocking fillers and gifting range too with the words joy, love and kindness adorning most of the collection names and packaging. 

This year, the calendars feature an all-new and unique pop-up construction that transports you to a joyful Christmas world. As The Body Shop is celebrating all of those who spread love selflessly this year you'll become familiar with their character, Joy and her merry collective. Keep a lookout for them in their vibrant illustrations across festive packaging, in their stores and online, as they come together to care for others with creativity and kindness. 

You'll also find behind each "door" is a little act of kindness alongside your daily surprise to help you get inspired and share some magic this festive season.

Be warned, there's spoilers ahead...

L'Occitane Luxury Beauty Advent Calendar 2021

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It's advent calendar season and I have one to show you from one of my favourite skincare brands, L'Occitane.

Every year I share one of L'Occitane's advent calendars and with three to choose from including their oh so beautiful reusable advent you're bound to found the one most suited to you.

I find advent calendars are a great way to discover a new brand and try their products before committing to something full size; So with hand creams, facial cleansers and soaps to their much-loved oils and perfumes, it's a fab treat to open each day in the lead up to Christmas.

Latest in Beauty 24 Days of Advent - The Beauty Edit

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When it comes to beauty advent calendars, I've been waiting patiently to see what Latest in Beauty had in store for us and yesterday I finally had a peek inside!

Available NOW - The Latest in Beauty 24 Days of Advent - The Beauty Edit has landed in time to make your festive season go off with a bang and with twenty-four show-stopping products from everything to makeup, skincare, haircare and more included - you're gonna want to hit that shop now button.

The beauty calendar is worth over £360, their highest value calendar yet and it can be yours for just £70! You can also get £10 off using the code ADVENT10 but be quick because it is absolutely going to sell out.

Just a forewarning, there are plenty of spoilers in this post!

Say HELLO to our newest addition...

On 27th August after some early morning cuddles with our son, Arran and I made our way to our local maternity hospital ready to welcome our daughter. I sit and write this one month later as she sleeps on my chest after it has been the most wonderful month.