Afternoon Tea with Twinings!

  

A few weeks back I was very kindly sent some tea to try and review from Twinings, as part of their afternoon tea range. This is not something I have done  before on my blog, but as soon as I received these lovely tin tea caddies I couldn't wait to get tasting.....any excuse for a little afternoon tea party!!

We love a cup of tea in the lee household....in fact I think I'm pretty much running on it at the moment. English breakfast, being my favourite.  I have to say I am a little safe with my tea drinking sticking to what I know...so Peppermint and Earl Grey were a new thing to me, but I like to try new things and was open minded.

As soon as the girls heard about an afternoon tea party they wanted in on the action. They do love to get the tea cups and cake stands out. Such girlie girls.

Cheese and cucumber sandwiches, classic victoria sponge, bake well tarts, and a family favourite cornflake cakes make the perfect treats to accompany a lovely pot of tea.

 

 

 Dress up time!!!

Adorned in pearls, flowers, sparkle and frilly dresses the girls couldn't wait to tuck in...I had to be especially speedy to get a picture before everything had been consumed!! lol!

 

 

 

So down to business, the tasting.......

 

English Breakfast Tea:

As soon as you open the tin the smell that greets you is instantly relaxing and this is only emphasised as the boiling water hits the bag.

It has a lovely warm orangey colour and is full of flavour. I like my tea quite strong and with some other brands of tea I can find I'm left with a bitter taste if the bag is in too long. I didn't find this with the Twinings English breakfast tea, its very robust in flavour and also refreshing.

This tea is lovely on its own but I like to drink mine with a dash of milk and a spoonful of sugar.......with three munchkin's, a mountain of washing and a house to keep the sugar is keeping me going!!!

 

This is definitely my personal favourite tea, its simply delicious and i'm drinking it morning, noon and night!!

The girlies enjoyed it too!

Peppermint tea:
Wow, the smell when you open the tin! intense minty freshness hits you immediately.
I am really surprised how much I have been enjoying  this tea. I've wanted to try peppermint tea for a while now, and this doesn't disappoint. 
Peppermint tea is very versatile and can be drunk hot or cold, and after experimenting I have found that I really enjoy it once it has cooled. Obviously it is minty to taste, which I found it very strong and therefore preferred it when it hadn't been infusing for too long. I also love a little bit of honey in mine. ( can you tell I have a sweet tooth at the moment??!!)
Not only does peppermint tea taste fab but it is good for you too, helping with relaxation, sleep and digestion.  Even more reason for it to become one of my everyday drinks.

and last but not least....
 

Earl grey :
Well i'm going to start by saying I think Earl grey may be an acquired taste...its a very different taste.

It's almost impossible to explain what it tastes like, because Earl Grey tea is black tea flavoured with bergamot,  which is rarely used in anything else so its hard to relate the taste to something. The bergamot gives a mild flowery, perfumery taste its very aromatic. Its not a strong tea its mild and I found it most refreshing lightly infused with only a little, or no milk. 

 

I've really been enjoying these teas and will definitely be more adventurous with my tea tasting in the future, but it is hard to top a cup of English Breakfast tea.

One month old!

I can't believe I'm writing this post, my little man is a whole month old already! Where has time gone?

Well the last month has had it's highs and lows.

Third time around I should be a pro at this right? No? That's not quite how it works.

I hadn't forget how tough the first weeks with a newborn could be, but even when you know what's coming those pregnacy hormones can just knock you sideways!

One minute totally elation, happiness, love and togetherness and the next tears, guilt, worry and tiredness. The first week is definitely the worst for me. Day 5 in particular stands out.

The sun was shining it was lovely and warm outside and Pat was at home, but I didn't know if I was coming or going. Poor husband. One minute I wanted a cuddle the next I didn't, I wanted to be with everyone but in silence. Crying but not being able to articulate why, and feeling so frustrated with myself for being so crazy! 

A teary tired mess. But after much persuasion from my little crew we all went out for dinner and the grey started to lift.

Thank you family for being so understanding and for picking me up in those strange hormonal moments!

We talked a lot with the girls about having a new baby. About having a brother or sister, sharing names, what babies do and don't do, all the things that may change for a while and forever, and how mummy's time will be a bit more limited once baby arrives. 

And as much as you think they understand you can't be entirely sure how they will react and feel until the baby is here. 

Having done this before Ruby knew what was coming, but to little Eliza-Grace it was all new! 

Well she followed Ruby's lead and we have been so impressed and amazed with how totally accepting and loving they have both been with Jude. They completely adore him! So much so that there is often a mini battle over who can hold him first and for how long. The little lad gets completely smothered!!

If he so much as whimpers they race to his Moses basket to put his dummy back in or to sing him twinkle twinkle little star. If all else fails I hear... 'mumma Jude wants boobie!!!' with so much urgency in their little voices because they can't bare him to be upset for even a second. 

So so sweet! Oooo I love my little girls.

I think by third time around we have definitely learnt not to worry so much about doing everything 'right' and to go with our instincts. We are much more relaxed and trying to enjoy each day and not get bogged down by the boring stuff. Which is easier said than done somedays.

Jude is a little treasure, he's only been here for just over four weeks and we couldn't imagine life without him. He has been a model baby (so far) and we havent been loosing too much sleep...but frankly I think being the third they just have to fit in.......and he fits perfectly. 

All that worrying about how things will change pales into insignificance because from the minute we met him we were hooked!!

I am so I love with my little man...I can't get over him, I couldn't imagine having a boy but now I couldn't imagine anything different. It's magic!

I'm not denying that there have been, and will be days when I want to pull my hair out. When everything gets on top of me and three little people, and a house to run just seems too much.

I know there will be many of those days and moments. But it's all totally worth it. 

I'm a very lucky lady to have these three little beauties, and I tend to enjoy them...because it goes all too fast for my liking!

 

Stop growing up so quick munchkins!!! :)

X

Jude's first bath!

Day 21 and a very special date with my little boy....his first bath!!

I didn't leave it as long with my girls but third time around I'm so aware of how fast time flys and am trying to savour and hold onto every mini milestone! Plus his newborn smell is just so yummy!

Having such luscious locks meant that Jude wasn't a totally stranger to the water....a few hair washes had occurred in his first 21 days...but this was his first full on bath. 

We waited until the girlies were all tucked up in bed and Jude and I got in a lovely lavender bath, whilst daddy took a zillion photos of our little man floating about. 

20 minutes of pure heaven!!! 

Love you baby boy!!!

*this is my first post using the blogger app...it's was so easy, and means I can blog on the go, and one handed!!! big bonus! 

also all the pictures in this post were edited using the new beautifulmess app, created by the clever ladies over at a beautiful mess. it's amazing and I'm totally addicted!!! go get it!!! :) 

X

life lately....photo heavy post!

warning!!! lazy post alert!

hello everyone,
just before jude was born i treated myself to a lovely new camera, and as you can imagine my memory card fills up pretty fast (snap happy mummy)....this morning i finally got time to load them onto the computer!
so here is a selection from my camera roll.

life lately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

my little man all snuggly in is peanut! handmade by my lovely mum.

house full of flowers

brother, sister time after school
wellies and lace (girls getting themselves dressed...bless them)
sleepy boy
skin to skin munchkin's
grandad love
bank holiday...sunshine at last.
paddling and posing in shades
photo opportunity in the garden...(eliza-grace wouldn't play ball)
boy time
cuddles with auntie charlotte
hot tub fun
me and my toasty water babies
stories in the garden!!

we love it when the sun shines!!!

back soon xxxxxx


(I've had a lot of people ask about jude's handmade cocoon or peanut as we call it, and where to find one. it was handmade by my mum and if your interested in one she is going to make a small number to sell. you can email her at cantercare@hotmail.com )

we have a boy!!

 

introducing our beautiful boy Jude!
he came into the world in the early hours of last saturday morning, and we are totally smitten.
a baby boy...what a surprise...this is a whole new thing.
we're all adjusting well and can't imagine life without him. there has been a lot of cuddling going on this past 10days. i think this little mr may have three mummies!!!!

this is only a quick post as i need to get back to snuggling.....day 10...how did that happen??? as usual its going far too quickly.
i will be back soon driving you all mad with more pictures.

welcome to the word my little prince, we love you more than you can imagine already and we look forward to watching you grow. (not too quickly...please)
x

special gifts for little people.....stunning handmade quilts!

Look at these beauties!

 

 

 



 

I' am always searching for that special present for my munchkins, that unique kind. The kind that will be enjoyed by all for years to come, and over at the lovely Painted and Patched they've got it nailed.

 

A quilt I think is a must have for any baby and nursery, and these beautiful handmade quilts really are a work of art.

They are made from the softest organic cottons, hand dyed silks and bamboo wadding....and all the quilt designs are limited edition; with only a certain number made of each. Making them a really unique piece and a truly special gift for your little one.

I think that's my favourite part!

  

 

They come in many different colour ways and designs suitable for little boys and  little girls.

 

 

These heirloom pieces will get better with time and are to be enjoyed and passed on from generation to generation. Just gorgeous! What a lovely gift.....and just look at the packaging....swoon!

I'm in love.

Well done ladies at Painted and Patched these are really special.

http://www.paintedandpatched.com/

 

' pretty in pink '

 

 

 

so i am officially the worlds worst blogger! i always have every intension of blogging every couple of days....i start a post then something crops up. i have a list of unfinished posts. is it just me?? honestly all you fantastic mummy bloggers out there...how do you manage it??? share your secrets.

 

thank you to all you lovely peps that email, tweet and continue to follow me, i will try and be better at this blogging lark.

 

well that out off the way...this is what i have been up to over the last week or so; making a limited collection of dolls. my 'pretty in pink' collection. 

i had a lot of fun making these beauties...and a few late nights too!!!! this will be my last lot of dolly's for a while as baby number three is nearly here!!! aaaahhh more little people and less time. he he!

 

i hope you like them...my little ruby wanted to keep them all. 

 

i have two of these lovely ladies left so if your interested head over to my Etsy shop (link at the top) or you can email me directly at dollfacebyjessicalee@gmail.com 

 

mwah

x

 

 

 

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getting ready for number 3

so i haven't talked baby yet...but we are getting pretty close and pretty excited in the lee house.

i am growing rather large now and am nesting like a lunatic. driving pat mad with endless list of jobs to do and things we need to buy.
why is it when your pregnant you feel the need to get the paint out, re-arrange/re-organise every drawer/room and decorate everything in sight??? is it because we feel there will never be any time again??? probably. aaahhh no time, the days already go to fast.

although being a little petrified of becoming a mummy of three munchkins, i can't wait to meet this little wriggler.
what are you in there and what will you be like??
not to long now.....8 week countdown.

there are so many gorgeous baby products out there that my pregnancy brain has found it very difficult to make decisions. and i can't say having had two babies before has helped too much  because there seems to be so many more choices.

everything we had for the girls was used to its full potential and there for was chucked when we moved. Leaving us with only a pram (that was new for Eliza-Grace) out of a the long list of things you need for a baby. i can't say i am complaining though as i love to shop!!! poor husband.

so here is a mix of a few things on my wish list and some purchases we have already made for baby lee no.3.

 

 

1. sophie giraffe, she is such a lovely teething toy.
2. snug moses basket.
3. gorgeous man on moon print.
4. babygrow...how cute.
5. maxi cosi car seat that also fits onto our i candy pushchair.
6. beautiful rocking chair
7. i actually want this for me ;)......sad joe pillow. just gorgeous.

 

family days!

#latepost

 

these pictures are from a few weeks back...somewhere in-between colds, temperatures and ear infections.

the munchkins had been saving up their pocket  money to take a trip to the Disney store in bluewater, so as promised we surprised them and made a day of it.

 

pizza is always lunch of choice for these little ladies, so pizza we eat. followed by some seriously decision making as their little eyes scanned shelf after shelf of Disney toys. i think we must of been in there about an hour before they made there final choices. by this point i had lost the will to live.....i think its the hottest shop in the world.

 

anyway we left with two happy little girls and a lovely family day out.