Rosie Corriette

Notes from a retired blogger

Author: Rosie

  • Freya at Lingerie by Victoria Review

    Freya at Lingerie by Victoria Review

    Pretty underwear is a lovely treat no matter who you are, so when Lingerie by Victoria sent me this stunning Freya set I was over the moon.

    Measuring 34G (yes you read right, that wasn’t a typo) bras are pretty important to me – get the fit or style wrong and you can kiss goodbye looking good in your outfit and say hello to the dreaded box of junk on your chest look – and we all know it isn’t pretty.

    I’ve long been a fan of Freya, they just seem to strike the perfect balance between support and style and they last a fair amount of time which is kind of important when DD+ bras can sometimes cost the same as a weekly shop! I love love love the graphic floral prints and burst of colour for this fun loving summer style, plus the wider wires means that it wills stand up to the tough challenges of mama life 😉 – it’s perfect for summer and is pretty enough to tease a glimpse under summery tops.

    Freya-DD+Lingerie-By-Victoria

    Lingerie by Victoria is a fantastic online destination for DD+ Lingerie from 28-56 backs, and swimwear, stocking the of likes Freya, Fantasie, Triumph to name but a few. I like it how some of my favourite brands are all in one place and you can browse really easily and most importantly compare which style is best for you.

    So all that is left now is to pack this Freya beauty of a set and wait for the tan that will come with spending nearly a month in Spain!

    Disclosure: I received the Freya underwear set for the purpose of this review.

  • Pizza Express: Our Second Dining Table

    Pizza Express: Our Second Dining Table

    “Shall we have a cheeky Pizza Express Mummy?” These are words I hear at least once at week and it’s often all I need for us to head to our local Pizza Express in Cheam Village. I will happily admit that we spend far too much time at Pizza Express and we wouldn’t have it any other way. So when we were invited to review their new menu and to celebrate Pizza Express joining up with Ice Age Collision.

    We all have our ever faithful favourite Pizza Express choices but this time I promised to stray from my usual mushroom bruschetta followed by Fiorentina on a classic base with a soft egg. My mum and I decided to share the new calamari with Caesar dip and the anti-pasto for one: take it from me, both are amazing. I then chose a Padana on classic base (what can I say, I’m a sucker for good dough!) with added pepperoni… Move over Fiorentina there’s a new fave.

    #PizzaExpressIceAge-Mummy-and-Boo

    #PizzaExpressIceAge-Mummy-and-Boo

    Fear not, I’m still a creature of habit as I opted for my favourite dessert of Cafe Reale with a fresh mint tea… I’m pretty sure the hot water and mint leaves cancel out all the indulgence of the previous two courses!

    #PizzaExpressIceAge-Mummy-and-Boo

    One of the great things about Pizza Express is the Piccolo menu; for £6.95 Boo has a three course feast and she’s got her routine down to a tee – dough balls to start, margherita with cold olives on top and an ice cream with a side of bambinoccino to finish it off.

    Yes the food and atmosphere at Pizza Express is great but what has us coming back week in week out and treating it as an extension of our dining table is the staff… All of the staff are the friendliest bunch and make such a fuss of every child – special shout out to Eddie who is Boo’s latest best friend, which can mean only thing: we’ll be back before the week is out.

    #PizzaExpressIceAge-Mummy-and-Boo

    See you soon Pizza Express!

    Disclosure: We were invited to Pizza Express in order to review our meal.

  • The EU Referendum: An Apology to my Daughter

    The EU Referendum: An Apology to my Daughter

    I’ve been awake since 2.30am – I woke up as you were stirring and foolishly decided to check the count, and from then I laid awake squinting at my phone as the results were updated – with each district being a slow and falsely encouraging sign that we’d remain until about 4.30am when the BBC predicted that the Leave vote would win. I then stopped looking as we all knew the eventual outcome.

    #NotInMyName

    As you laid in my arms snuffling away undoubtedly dreaming of something Bootastic I felt so sorry. Sorry as a mother that this is the world you are set to grow up in. One where the country is polarised on not just an economic decision but our core identity.

    Today is a sad day, not one of ‘independence’ as some have billed it which can far too often be synonymous with isolation. I’m sorry you future has been irrevocably changed and not for the better. Nothing is great about a nation that doesn’t want to be part of something bigger. I am so sorry that today I am ashamed to be British.. . I have never said that it hurts just to write it, but what hurts more is to know that you live amongst people who are not only completely opposite in their outlook on life – democracy is everything regardless of whether you get the outcome you want and I would never seek to undermine that – but I don’t feel home. Europe is our home and now they will have us leave it.

    I’m sorry that 16 million people didn’t vote, I’m sorry that we don’t have mandatory voting – since when did people become so flippant with democracy?

    There is so much uncertainty and hatred –granted on both sides – and I’m sorry that your generation will inherit this poison legacy.

    I’m sorry that Europe will think that I voted, wanted this; that I don’t want to be part of the EU. I so do.

    Not enough people take an interest in politics on a day to day level and that’s something I’d like to see change – I for one will now seek to help campaign, influence and take an active role in trying to secure you a better future.

    I’m sorry that I don’t know where this leaves us with regards to our future. Is there a place for you and me in a Britain, or more importantly is there a place for Britain within us.

    All I know is that you woke today excited that it’s Friday which means PE and yet I as a mother am less certain about what your future holds than I ever have been. As a mother, I should have the answer and for once I don’t and am scared. I am so so sorry Boo.

  • Partnering Up with Everyone Active

    Partnering Up with Everyone Active

    Everyone-Active-and-Mummy-and-Boo

    30 minutes of activity, 5 days a week. We all know how much we should be getting but actually making sure that happens is a different matter. My local gym is Everyone Active Westcroft and together we’ve partnered up to showcase the very best (and fun) ways of leading a healthy and active lifestyle for all the family.

    We already spend a fair chunk of our week at Westcroft as Boo has swimming on a Monday and Ballet on a Tuesday. Plus our local library is attached which means even if Boo hasn’t got a class, a trip to Westcroft is often an extension of the walk home from school.

    Whether it’s the most state-of-the-art gym equipment, sports facilities, ASA accredited swim programmes or fun activities for children; Everyone Active has something for everyone to enjoy. As part of our partnership I’m taking full advantage of the gym and have also started personal training session with Nick. Today is our second session and I can already say it’s a very strong love/hate relationship: I hate the pain but love the results – I’m hooked.

    If you want to find out just how much craziness is within Nick, my personal trainer check him out smiling (yes smiling, who actually does that!!) while on spin bike.

    So whilst you’re all crying because it’s raining on the first day of summer I’m getting ready to head to Westcroft for another PT session where there’s a guarantee of puddles of sweat and dropping it like it’s hot; and psyching myself up for my first spin class later this week in over a year – there is nothing that can prepare you for the pain that awaits you in the saddle! You know what they say: summer bodies are made in British summers.

    Disclosure: I’ve been given complimentary membership and personal training sessions.

  • Jet Set Style with American Tourister

    Jet Set Style with American Tourister

    When you spend as much time in an airport as me and Boo, it’s the little things that really make a difference. American Tourister knew that we like to travel light within Europe so asked us to road test their hand luggage on our latest trip to Alicante in a couple of months ago.

    It’s no secret that I’m a self confessed fan of travelling light, and have managed to condense our packing list down to the essentials meaning that I only every check a bag in for either long haul or if we’re spending the summer in Spain.

    These bright and funky hand luggage cases from American Tourister were perfect for out half-term trip to Alicante. There was plenty of room for our clothes and accessories with me and Boo having one each and the smooth wheels made navigating Gatwick with a 4 year old a breeze. Luggage isn’t the biggest part of your holiday but getting it right means you can start your travels relaxed – I even managed to put my feet up!

    American-Tourister-Hand-Luggage

    Our luggage lusting with American Tourister is here to stay and the biggest question now is which design will tae our fancy next.

    Disclosure: American Tourister kindly sent us luggage for our trip to Alicante. All opinions are my own.