babyurbeautiful

As mums, taking time out for yourself is a rare treat.
Whether it be for a quick nail paint, life-saving gel nails, or a blow-dry (the white noise often sends the sproglet off - remember this, ladies).
Whatever way you choose to use your spare time to feel half human, is an achievement in itself.

Having a 3-year-old at pre-school (3 today as it goes) *sobs*.
I get Tuesday and Thursday to myself to try and squeeze in a pamper around work and life admin - although most of the time is spent multi-tasking on the phone/I-pad (which he has usually commandeered) with every cloud 'n all....

Cat (Bub Editor 2) and I tried to co-ordinate our diaries, turns out she was having a pregnancy massage and I was off to review the new Margaret Dabbs, housed in Corinthia's swanky Espa Spa - so here we go.

Three weeks ago the internationally renowned Margaret Dabbs, set up a new sole spa at the Corinthia hotel, and I couldn't wait to waltz those weary tootsies down the marble hallways to prep for his birthday (Albie really appreciates red toenails, let me tell you).
His theme is 'Blaze and the Monster Machines' so naturally I planned a shiny red polish aptly named 'cheeky' to match his balloons!

Marble Massive - swanky changing rooms

Before any colour goes anywhere near your toes, a thorough Medical Pedicure is performed, and this is where the pedicure is like no other I've ever experienced before.
Margaret is the pioneer of the Medi Pedi - which is performed by one of her skilled and qualified podiatrists. Mine was the lovely Thomas, extremely professional, friendly and informative - and a big fan of my feet!

This pedi is not focused on 'pretty' with just a scrub, clip and shape and shiny polish - this is the real deal and is a hybrid health and beauty regime for your tootsies.
However good or bad your feet are - the Medical Pedi addresses the foot in its entirety.
Turns out my 'disco ankle' is a little bit worse than I thought it was.
Thomas wants me back.

The Medi Pedi is performed on a dry foot to ensure long-lasting results. The entire 45-minute treatment takes place on a super huge squishy bed and gives it less of a clinical feel.
While you're all cocooned and cosy, out comes the surgical paraphernalia to remove dead skin, tidy your nails, and skilfully transform your feet from weary to cheery.
It's really strange to see your feet minus any polish, very unconventional these days.

Your feet are overhauled via the safe, surgical removal of all dead and dry skin and calluses.
The nails are then cleaned (all the gross dead skin removal under the nail bed), shaped and buffed (never seen the blighters so shiny, and bare) and your feet are left revitalised.
The lovely Thomas then added the pampering part of the pedi, of a scrub followed by foot massage using Margaret's signature Emu-oil based products.
Emu oil is used for its anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial products - all the anti's, if you please. Three hours later my feet still feel super soft.
The piece de resistance was being able to close my eyes for ten minutes and enjoy the added addition of oxygen to revitalise - minus the nitrous oxide part, unfortunately.

Then came the pretty part. I was slowly transferred (NB: floated) to the Finishing Studio to finish off my tootsies with the super shiny 'cheeky' that ravishing red I mentioned earlier.

Mammas on the Oxygen...

Medi Pedi: 45 mins is £85, with Director is £125,  Supreme Pedicure, 55 minutes £60, Shape and Polish, £25, www.margaretdabbs.com  plus you get to use the swanky spa facilities at the www.corinthia.com

LN x

Mandara Spa, London

Whittebury Hall, Towcester in Northamptonshire

Ragdale Hall in Leicestershire

If you're stumped with what to get a chum for Christmas, who is pregnant - here's a good idea.

We we're sent a sample of Velvet Living London's baby bear box, and it really is beautiful, however, I'm not sure the recipient would appreciate actually how much the box is worth.

Velvet Living was originally a quintessentially British homeware blog by Heather Slade, who found an overwhelming amount of friends and family getting married, pregnant, engaged - she was forever rushing into John Lewis to stock up. Which then led her to the idea of creating a well presented gift in one place, at the right price, without compromising on quality.
 Here Velvet Living was started and the blog blossomed into a veritable treasure trove of boxes - perfect for every occasion.

We kindly received the baby bear box - inside there's an exclusive and absolutely adorable Coco &Wolf (exclusive to Velvet Living) bear print body suit, Cowshed Baby Cow Milky Body Lotion (200ml) and Histoire D'Ours Soft Grey Bear.

Now, the box retails for £50.00. I think for a gift for family and first time you'd be looking to spend £30-50, fair?

The Cowshed body lotion is around £10.50 - everyone loves Cowshed. If you don't know it, the paraben-free baby items are just divine.

The teddy is absolutely delightful, as delicate as a real bunny rabbit, butter-soft with a scruffy finish, beautiful quality and on inspection on google, a real collectors item and quite hard to find.




A small one will set you back around £25-32 (not as nice as this one) as it is only 25cm, I don't think the recipient will appreciate the worth. If you're in the know - you will.
It's of fantastic quality, and my little man LOVES it,  I feel sad, that if I gifted this box, the recipient would not be aware of the actual RRP of the cherry-picked items. I'm not saying friends are not grateful, but you get me?

Then there's a Coco & Wolf body suit. The exclusive body suit is stunning, and is exclusive to Velvet Living, you can find other examples of their exquisite designs here :

Coco and Wolf

For £50, you get fastidiously chosen items in a beautifully packaged box, the thought that has gone into it (I have to point this out as some people may say why aren't I making a saving?) It's not about that. You don't walk into John Lewis, and say if I pick these three items - can you do me a deal?

Think of it like this; it's the ultimate personal shopping box. Someone has done for you exactly what you set out to do, without the stress, and given you the inspiration you were after.
It may be the first time you are introduced to the adorable brands, and savings aren't the aim of the box at all - it's all about the full package (excuse the pun).

www.velvetlivinglondon.co.uk