New Year New You Giveaway - Burt's Bees

Burt's Bees is now a well known natural beauty brand that has become loved by many, and is a special hit with the blogging community. I was lucky enough to be able to test out a selection of their great products and now so will one of you lucky ladies!

Here's what they say: "Burt's Bees is an "Earth Friendly, Natural Personal Care Company." We create natural, Earth-friendly personal care products formulated to help you maximize your well-being and that of the world around you"

And here are the products I got to test and what I think about them.

Tinted Lip Balm - In Red Dahlia £5.99

This is a very smooth soft balm and even though the Red Dahlia colour is the darkest of all of they're colours it is still only a subtle tint, not a heavy colour. I have been using it for a few days and it has left my lips quite soft and stopped them chapping in the cold wind. Their is no scent or taste to it, which is fine in my books as it's not really important to me.

Richly Replenishing Cocoa & Cupuacu Butters Body Lotion £9.99

This is a rich creamy lotion and a little goes a long way so this is going to last me a while I think. The smell of this one is very subtle, a slight hint of vanilla is all I can really pick up, but it smells very clean and fresh. Which I rather over a floral or heavily scented cream. Although it doesn't leave my skin silky smooth it is nice and soft after a few applications.

Mango and Orange Energizing Body Bar £4.99

Ok in all honesty I haven't had time to try this one out yet - so expect another review at a later date. What I will say is this smells great even in the box!

Mango & Orange Body Butter £12.99

I used this after the sugar scrub and it left me all soft, silky and smooth which was great. I also used it on its own as my general day to day moisturiser and it really is great. I'm not usually a fan of heavily scented creams but the fresh, zingy smell of the orange in this is really nice.

Mango & Orange Sugar Scrub £12.99

This is a little bit oily for my liking but it helps work the sugar in to the skin more easily. Plus the sugar granules are very small making them much easier to work with and really rub into the rough patches. It left my skin a bit oily after washing off but then I used the moisturiser and this solved that problem.

Onto the giveaway bit!

The winner will be chosen at random and will receive all the items below in a cute Burts Bees Cotton Wash Bag.

Shea Butter & Vitamin E Body Lotion £9.99
Honey and Shea Sugar Scrub £12.99
Honey & Shea Conditioning Body Bar £4.99
Honey & Shea Body Butter £12.99

Tinted Lip Balm - In Pink Blossom £5.99

This is open internationally, just remember to leave you email address in one of the entries so I can contact you.

Mandatory entry:

You must be a follower of my blog via google friend connect and leave a comment here telling me what is your favourite scent.

Extra entries may be gained by:

Telling me your favourite item from Burts Bees (1 entry)

Follow Burts Bees on Facebook (1 entry)

Follow Daisy Dayz on Facebook (1 entry)

Blogging/Twittering/Facebooking this giveaway (1 entry each)

Following Daisy Dayz on Twitter (1 entry)

Follow Burts Bees on Twitter (1 entry)

Please leave a separate comment for each include your twitter tag, Facebook name where relevant, or they will not be counted.

This competition will end at midnight GBT on the 21st January.

Good luck!

And why not enter one of my other giveaways - if you haven't already

Win a Jar of Handmade Hearts customised Make-up Bag

Win a Boux Avenue Gift Set

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of my blog or sponsoring a giveaway please feel free to drop me an email at daisydayz25 at googlemail.com

Daisymay X

New Year New You Giveaway - Jar of Handmade Hearts

So hands up if you got new make up for Christmas?

Me too, so that's why todays giveaway is so well timed. Todays giveaway is sponsored by Jar of Handmade Hearts who has offered up a personalised make-up bag. You get to chose the fabric from their wide range on offer and the name to be put on it.

So here is a little bit about the shop and it's great owner Hailing.

Whats your name and where do you come from?

My name is Hailing. I’m a Northern lass but live in London!

Tell us a bit about the real you?

I’m a wife to my first love and a mother to our gorgeous little boy called Henry. I’m lucky enough to bake and sew for a living. I’m very crafty and have had a go at pretty much everything from crochet and card making to painting pottery and fimo modeling but I always come back to my sewing machine.

Is there a story behind the name of your store?

I was inspired by a Jar of handmade hearts on my craft shelf. I keep meaning to decorate the house with them but they look so pretty just in the jar.

How long have you been making your designs?

I’ve always made gifts over the years and recently decided to bite the bullet and set up an online shop, which has only been open for 6 weeks. I’ve been making most the items I sell for as long as I can remember but technology inspires some of the newer additions like the kindle and Ipad covers.

Do you have any formal qualifications for your craft or is it just a hobby?

No formal qualifications, just years of practice and you know what they say practice makes. (Although I must confess I’m far from perfect. I still have moments where I want to throw my machine out the window!)

What is your favourite material to work with?

It has to be fabric. There’s nothing nicer than a shiny, new fat quarter just waiting to be made into something beautiful.

Of your items, which is your favourite and which is your best seller?

This is a tough one... I’d say my favourite item to make would be the personalised baby cubes because they look so pretty when finished and I know a tiny human will be receiving it!

I was lucky enough to have my personalised cosmetic bag featured in The Sun newspapers Christmas gift guide so this has been the best seller so far with the personalised kindle covers and mini hot water bottles not far off!

Where do you get your inspiration?

My son inspires my baby products. He can be surrounded with toys but will opt for flicking any labels / tags he can find so needless to say he loves the baby cube and the mini blankie toy. My family and friends inspire my other designs – purses, kindle covers etc – all made after requests!

Do you have any favourite etsy stores?

I do indeed! I have lots earmarked for a purchases in the New Year, especially from http://www.etsy.com/shop/sweettreatsbakery and http://www.etsy.com/shop/FusionSweets. Plus I’d like to give a shout out to my sister, Meiling, who makes fabulous hat and scarf sets – http://www.etsy.com/shop/cutsiepoo

What are your plans for 2012? Any New Years resolutions?

I always make resolutions but never seem to be able to keep them. This year I’m writing them all in a little book which I plan to keep in my handbag. Top of the list so far are to exercise, eat more healthily and hand-make all my gifts from now on. I’m really going to try and keep them this time. Honestly.

What’s your favourite flower?

I have two – my nieces Lillie- Mei and Poppie-Sue! In terms of the garden variety I’ve always loved peony roses but have recently discovered how amazing gladioli are, they look gorgeous are really inexpensive too.

Onto the giveaway bit!

The winner will be chosen at random and will receive a personalised make-up bag.

This is open internationally, just remember to leave you email address in one of the entries so I can contact you.

Mandatory entry:

You must be a follower of my blog via google friend connect and leave a comment here telling me what fabric you would chose.

Extra entries may be gained by:

Telling me your favourite item from a Jar of Handmade Hearts (1 entry)

Following Jar of Handmade Hearts on Facebook (1 entry)

Follow Daisy Dayz on Facebook (1 entry)

Blogging/Twittering/Facebooking this giveaway (1 entry each)

Following Daisy Dayz on Twitter (1 entry)

Following Jar of Handmade Hearts on Twitter (1 entry)

Following Mrs Creative Blog (1 entry)

Heart Jar of Handmade Hearts on Etsy (1 entry)

Please leave a separate comment for each include your twitter tag, Facebook name where relevant, or they will not be counted.

This competition will end at midnight GBT on the 18th January.

Good luck!

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of my blog or sponsoring a giveaway please feel free to drop me an email at daisydayz25 at googlemail.com

Daisymay X

Argos - Women's Clothing range

Argos has now taken the step again to branch into the clothing market, but this time they are stocking a few selected brands instead of a huge catalogues worth like they did with Additions. I took a quick browse through their womens clothing section and was pleasantly surprised to see a great selection of women's graphic print t-shirts.

Most of the items they stock at the moment are sports wear or basics items for everyday wear. These are just a few of the t-shirts they currently stock for women and they are also great value for money with prices ranging from just £5.99 to £11.99. Plus at the moment buy any 2 for £15!

Would you consider buying from Argos? Are retro print t-shirts going to be a basic staple for your summer wear? I think they are the kind of item they will always be about in everyones wardrobe.

Daisymay X

This is a sponsored post by Argos

New Year New You Giveaway - Boux Avenue

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Yes it is! I know! How fast did that last year disappear!

No doubt all of us will have made some new years resolutions to change something about ourselves or our home. Whether it be lose weight, stop smoking, paint the bedroom, sort the garden, we will all be trying to improve or change something. So with this in mind, throughout January I am going to be running a 'New Year, New You' giveaway series!

I have been lucky enough to score you, my lovely readers some great prizes. And today is the start of them.

My first lovely giveaway sponsor is Boux Avenue

Although usually known for its beautiful lingerie the giveaway prize up for grabs today is actually a 'Pink Taffeta' Gift set containing: a hand wash, body butter and 'rose petal' lip balm.

I was lucky enough to be able to try out all these goodies for myself so here is my review on them.

Pink Taffeta Hand Wash

We now keep this by the kitchen sink! Everyone in the house loves the smell and how much it lathers - even the boys. Pink Taffeta smells of roses mainly although the description also lists amber and peony as ingredients. The floral sent isn't too overpowering or strong though it's just subtle enough. As I said the lathering is great so a little goes a long way.

Pink Taffeta Body Butter

So smooth and soft this cream is really luxurious but not at a high cost £12 usually but £6 on sale at the moment! I would really advise you to buy some. Again the smell is floral but not too strong and it really does leave your skin silky smooth. I felt I had to use a fair bit of it though as it sunk in to the skin very fast so didn't stretch very far. I feel it would probably be for special occasions rather than a daily moisturiser.

Rose Petal Lip Balm

Simply the smell of this stuff will make you swoon, possibly the best smelling lip balm I have come across in a while, and I have tried many! Made with real rose petal essential oil you can really smell the difference between this and the factory made scents you often get in lip balms. This gives a great shine to you lips, but on the down side doesn't actually moisturise them at all, or protect from the harsh weather like vaseline would, it's also a little oily but I guess this is due to the essential oil which make it smell so good. I suppose you can't have everything. I still love it though and usually use it in work and to go out in the evenings.

Onto the giveaway bit!

The winner will be chosen at random and will receive a gift set containing all 3 items from Boux Avenue.

This is open internationally, just remember to leave you email address in one of the entries so I can contact you.

Mandatory entry:

You must be a follower of my blog via google friend connect and leave a comment here telling me what your New Years resolution is.

Extra entries may be gained by:

Telling me your favourite item from Boux Avenue (1 entry)

Following Boux Avenue on Facebook (1 entry)

Follow Daisy Dayz on Facebook (1 entry)

Blogging/Twittering/Facebooking this giveaway (1 entry each)

Following Daisy Dayz on Twitter (1 entry)

Following Boux Avenue on Twitter (1 entry)

Subscribing to Boux Avenues You Tube (1 entry)

Please leave a separate comment for each include your twitter tag, Facebook name where relevant, or they will not be counted.

This competition will end at midnight GBT on the 14th January.

Good luck!

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of my blog or sponsoring a giveaway please feel free to drop me an email at daisydayz25 at googlemail.com

Daisymay X