Category: Reviews

The Very Useful Friends and Family Railcard
Alliyah Dawud
March 18, 2019


I don’t wish to brag but I can get about the UK on the Train with the girls for a 1/3 off! And if we use the Train there’s no worry about whose driving and the girls can pretty much play, read, colour and do whatever (as long as we access to a table) and I can sit back and listen to an audio book-result!

Anyone that knows me well knows how I used to find it stressful travelling (and preparing to travel) with my children. It was an utter drag and well I disliked it a lot.

Soon after becoming a new me (e.g. not letting the little things in life bring me down) I discovered that some simple ‘systems’ and preparation (including my favourite LISTS) would help me feel calmer; much much much calmer.

Nowadays I don’t think twice about hopping on a Train with the girls to go visit friends, Museums, Parks etc etc. I just get up and go. Of course a bit of forward preparation never hurt anyone in my opinion so I do have a few organisational hacks that help for example:

1) I have a basket with ‘snacks’ in so that if we do go on a trip somewhere on the Train the girls simply get a few snacks out and pack them….

2)…in a designated backpack we use on our day trips. We keep this page for this purpose only. No other toys, snacks etc enter this bag. End of story.

3) I have a selection of colouring books and pencils we take on the train and these are kept separate to the girls other items. We grab them, pack them and we’re done.

4) On longer trips we pack 2 Barbies each to play with on the train.

5) We ALWAYS pre-book our tickets. I’d rather not have to look for seats on a crowded train and I have had to kick people off our seats before but in all honesty I don’t care; I paid for something. It’s mine.

On longer trips we pack a ‘picnic’ for the train and depending on what time the journey is we pack different things. So if we’re travelling early in the morning we’ll pack stuff like Turkey rashers, Breakfast Burritos etc. If it’s a lunch time trek then sandwiches. I generally try to avoid being on the trains at night because trains are usually more full than a cattle barn.

So a third off rail fare? How is it possible? We have what is known as a Friends and Family Rail Card. You need a child to get one of these bad boys (and the child must travel with you to get a third off fares). The card costs £30.00 a year and basically saves you on pretty much every journey you take (some terms and conditions apply but I’ve not had any issues in the 14 months we’ve had one).

We’ve been plenty of places and plan to continue to use the Trains for stress free travel. Our favourite places to visit include Blackpool (one train change and that’s it!), Liverpool (direct Train), Birmingham (home!) and of course my second home Manchester!

But the most important place we visit is….St Neots. With my girl gang member living in Cambridge (St Neots) it’s a fair trek by car….so we love the fact we can travel to see loved ones and the journey isn’t taxing or tiring.

One of the blessings of the card is you can elect two adults to be names on the card. I have my own name and my Mothers name on my card. You could nominate someone that spends time with the children (an uncle, grandparent etc etc). I know there are families where one spouse uses their family car for work so it’s useful to have an additional transportational method especially during summer holidays to keep the children occupied. Trains work well. I know Trains get a bad wrap because of costs, delays and improvements but in all honesty if you can see past that get yourself a Rail Card and go have some fun (and who knows you may get to listen to that audio book you’ve been meaning to listen to for ages!).


Get out into the fresh air. A mini review of Victoria Park (Stafford)
Alliyah Dawud
March 2, 2019

There’s a few hidden gems across the West Midlands and one of them is in my opinion Victoria Park in Stafford. This beautiful award winning Park can be found in the heart of Stafford (opposite the Train Station) on the banks of the River Sow. The Park has received lottery Heritage funding and is currently undergoing some magnificent restoration to a bygone era.

And as the weather warms up I want to encourage you all to get out more, get more fresh air and reap the benefits of exercise. Not to mention children need sunshine, fresh air and a space to let off steam. What better place than a Park?

We are currently located in Stoke-on-Trent which is a short drive to the Park but to make this into an adventure we go by Train…because the Park is literally opposite the Park and the girls think we’re travelling far and wide (When it’s like 15 minutes away). Plus when you use the Train there’s no need to find Parking; which is awesome.

I love Parks; they are the perfect venue for play dates or inviting the whole group to have a Picnic, play some games and generally accommodate a large brood without worrying about space.

Victoria Park has a lot to offer. It’s easy to spend hours in this Park. We travelled by Train (all a part of the adventure). The Park first opened it’s gates in 1908 making it one of the oldest around (that is still in full use).

The Park boasts some great floral displays around the Park making it very picturesque The River Sow snakes through the Park providing many banks to sit down and relax on. As with any water you do need to watch little ones; and ensure they understand the dangers. The well maintained grounds provide many places to have a picnic around the park (we sat next to the River and nope it did not stink even in the height of summer).

If you forget to pack a picnic or snacks there’s plenty of shops nearby (including coffee shops) so you won’t struggle too much to find reasonable priced food or drinks.

There’s a huge play area for children of various ages to enjoy. There’s swings, group swings, trampolines, toddler play area, roundabouts, huge climbing frames….everything is well kept and in pristine condition. Both girls loved it.

And there’s a huge sand play area that the youngest in particular loves (just remember to pack some buckets and spades!).

The Park has toilets on site too which is a blessing especially for anyone with youngest children. There’s also an ice-cream van on site which helps in the heat.

For the hotter months there’s a brilliant Splash Pad for children to enjoy (it’s worth packing swimming costumes for this or at least a spare t-shirt to change little ones into if they get too wet).

The Park can get busy but that adds to the atmosphere. We ran into a Grandparent that used to visit with her Granddad. She’d moved away when she got married but her son relocated due to work and she was reliving her childhood through her grand babies.

We spent approximately 4 hours at the Park which is unbelievable as my youngest gets bored very quickly. It’s a stunning Park and I recommend it for families, couples, elderly….everyone! This is such a beautiful Park it would be nice to visit in each season to view the changes.

My top tips:

Pack a picnic and picnic blankets as it would be a shame to miss the opportunity to not eat in this glorious Park
Pack SPF and swimming costumes (or spare clothes) for the Splash Pad.

Don’t forget a towel to dry off!

Don’t forget some food for the ducks.

Talcum powder will help get sand off children’s skin so it’s worth taking a small bottle if you have one.

Buckets and spades (labeled with your little ones name) would be useful if your little one like playing with sand.

Don’t forget wet wipes. Always useful especially where there’s ice-cream…

And lastly, take a stroll along the River…whilst eating an ice-cream.

My top three websites I recommend for Modest Mama Fashion…
Alliyah Dawud
January 28, 2019

I have a rule of thumb I go by. If I know something makes me look frumpy and doesn’t make me feel good or suit me I don’t have it in my wardrobe. It’s as simple as that. If it’s not in my wardrobe I cannot wear it.

I also have other rules I go by:

  • I don’t buy items I cannot wear with my existing wardrobe items
  • I have a ‘style’ for work I stick to.
  • I have fail safe outfits that are at the core of my wardrobe.
  • If something suits me I stick to that and spice it up as and when I need to (e.g. new colour, texture etc).
  • I have a huge collection of jeans and make no apology for that as I have a pair suitable for 90% of life events.
  • I don’t try outfits on when I’m not feeling my best.

As someone that dresses modestly I can sometimes struggle to find things that fit my requirements. I love Autumn because I can layer up and things that were not suitable due to short sleeves etc suddenly I have more outfit options.

When I do find a website that is economical and caters for my needs I use them a lot. I generally don’t purchase a full wardrobe for each season as a lot of what I wear is transferable through seasons.

So here are my TOP THREE websites:

1 LOTD.COM (Look of the day)
I’m no avid fashion follower but I do mix things up by purchasing a few bits that are more catwalk inspired for the season.
LOTD is a website aimed at women with the primary mission of providing affordable fashion. And it’s all about the latest trends and what’s hot now.
If you follow LOTD on Social Media you will often find codes for % off or free postage too. I purchased one of my favourite slogan (the future is female) t-shirts from LOTD. I recently placed an order at 3:15PM to have it dispatched the same day and delivered the next day (I paid £3.99 postage).
Another bonus of LOTD is they offer a student discount on non sale stuff.
Orders are dispatched super fast and I’ve not had any problems with them.
Recommended: their t-shirt range.
Price range: I’ve picked up t-shirts and maxi skirts for £2.00 each…

2) everythingfivepounds.com
A website where nothing is over a fiver. It’s a treasure trove of goodies some of which are from the British High Street (I’ve ended up with a skirt from Primark and dresses from other more ‘expensive’ High Street favourite shops.
There’s also non-labeled goodies too.
But nothing is over a fiver.
Postage costs vary based on the weight of your parcel and you rarely get discount codes for these guys however if you follow them on Social Media you are likely to see lots of new items come in and spend more than you plan so I don’t recommend it.
A great range of products. I’ve ordered jackets, dresses, skirts and even boots (these boots were a fiver!).
Recommended: the maxi dresses, boots…everything really.
Price range: nothing is over a fiver however they do have sales! Yes that’s right. Sales. What more could a Mama ask for?

3) eBay
Hear.me.out.
I love statement necklaces and these can retail at crazy prices on the High Street. If you have patience you can order off eBay and have them delivered straight from China for a fraction of the price. So if you are looking for a piece of costume jewellery that you won’t be wearing a lot and cannot justify spending £35.00 on a necklace head over to eBay.
You can also pick up vintage items and new clothing from some big names outlet stores. I bought a pair of Jeans from Very Outlet story for £11.00 (yes they were new). On their website they were priced at more than double that. You may need to do a bit of searching but there is bargains to be had.
Recommended: jewellery and outlet stores.
Price range: varies.

Where do you shop for Mama bargains online? Drop your recommendations below or let us know on Social Media and share your pearls of wisdom with us on there.

My top 10 beauty product discoveries of 2018
Alliyah Dawud
January 28, 2019

90% of my discoveries cost less than a £10.00….so all in all budget friendly awesomeness.

It seems like months ago that we said goodbye to 2018. It was if any thing a testing year. It taught us a lot and I believe a lot of us are stronger for what we went through.

In 2018 I tried a range of products and have created a list of top 5 discovered along with a summary of the product.

Don’t forget to leave your own favourite discoveries below.

1) Soap and Glory 3 in 1 daily Vitamin C face wash (350 ml for £8.00).
Environmentalists please turn away as this product contains those little balls that literally wipe clean the gunk on your skin to leave it glowing.
£8.00 quid for a face wash? Yes! Because the bottle lasted me over 3 months. It’s huge!
The face wash left my skin feeling clean, it mattified the oily patches (I maybe 22 but my face believes it’s 15….) and the best bit?! It didn’t dry my skin out. No dry batches. I felt my skin was clearer and it LOOKED clearer. I love it. No breakouts either since using this produce too. It’s bloody amazing.

2) Pure Active 3in1 Charcoal Blackhead Mask Wash Scrub ( 150ml for £4.99)
Limited space in your Bathroom? This is an awesome product because it’s three in one. It’s a wash, scrub and mask. As we know the world has gone mad over charcoal and this product ticks the major trend box. I used it as a mask (I use various masks and this worked extremely well for hormonal skin) and can recommend it. No staining around the sink either so no crazy clean up required after.

3) Herbal Essences Bio:Renew Shampoo Argan Oil (400ml for £6.00).
I honestly thought Argan Oil was a myth until I purchased some oil (and soap) in Marrakesh. A little goes a long way and you can notice the difference from first use. After using the shampoo followed by the conditioner I noticed my hair was less dry, looked healthier and shinier. I’ll be honest. No product has ever left me wanting to use it again and lived up to any hype from their multi million pound advertising campaigns. Great on coloured hair too.

4) Superdrug Vitamin C Orange Peel Jam Mask (50 ml for £4.99)
I don’t understand how this product isn’t being raved about. It literally brings your skin back from grey to bright. It’s THAT good. It gives you a glow ( a healthy I slept 11 hours and meditated too stylee) and smells divine…well if you like the zesty smell of orange. After one use you will notice a glow. It’s that bloody good.
Actually the full range is THAT good but as I haven’t used them all enough I will save reviewing them.

5) Boots Traditional Glycerin and Rosewater (200ml for £2.39)
If there was ever a budget product that deserves cult status and to sell out THIS IS IT.
I use it at night before I go bed and find it cleanses, moisturises and tones all in one. And it smells nice. And there isn’t an endless list of ingredients either. And the price guys. Can we talk about the price? Sometimes we don’t need to reinvent the wheel…this case is a golden example of it.

6) Boots Botanics All Bright Radiance Serum ( £8.99 for 25 ml )
This is one of products you read about but don’t really understand the purpose of. You apply a few small drops to cleansed and moisturised skin. This gives you a lovely healthy glow (making it ideal for tired and dull skin). A little does go a long way with this Serum too.
I apply it over BB Cream and even lighter Foundations for a nice glow. It’s plant based magic and is at the more reasonable price point for similar products. Boots often have this on offer.

7) Loreal Pure Clay Red Algae Glow Face Mask ( £7.99 for 50 ml for 10 applications)
I’m a lover of clay based masks and this fits the bill nicely. This brightening and exfoliating mask leaves your skin visibly glowing from the first use. I use mine weekly as part of my routine however you can apply it up to 3 times depending on your own skin requirements.

8) No7 Youthful Replenishing Oil ( £23.00-available at Boots)
I have combination skin and I was looking at a face oil to apply during the day to help with dry patches and keep skin moisturised. And this product did the job. Prevention is better than cure so if you are looking at keeping skin looking young this is an awesome product to consider (also a little goes a long way).

9) Superdrug Radiant Balm Brightening Radiance Balm (50 ml for £5.99)
If you need a pick me up for your skin this is an awesome product. Add it to your skincare routine and see the difference in just weeks…literally. Ideal for the winter months where you need a boost.

10) OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Extra Penetrating oil (100 ml for £6.99).
This is the holy grail of reasonable priced hair treatments if there ever was one. I apply this after using the Herbal Essence range of Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner and I’ve never had such shiny hair. This bottle will last you a while.

And that’s my list of my top 10 discoveries.
Remember that unless you have a reaction and need to stop using a product you can only really tell if a product works for you after a reasonable amount of regular usage.

Do you have any products you discovered in 2018 (or earlier) that you can’t live without? Let us know below by sharing them.

Be social! Follow us on Facebook, IG and beyond!

Our Retailer of the year 2018…PRIMARK!
Stylemesisteradmin
January 22, 2019

Without a shadow of a doubt Primark is taking on the world. Stores are popping us Stateside and their ranges are constantly evolving, moving forward with the times and their price point in perfect for the teenage fashionistas, young Mamas, Grannies buying for their broods…etc etc etc.

This year I discovered the Primark Cosmetic Range. Now as we know many cosmetics firms have accepted that having a limited range foundation colours is no longer appealing to the UK consumers. Most probably because skin tones are no longer just ivory…and that’s a fact accepted widely now (kinda like the whole hey we’re not all size 6 you guys….).

I’m Asian and used to struggle to find a foundation to match my skin on the UK High Street. But thanks to Boots colour match services I now have the perfect red lipstick (Pillarbox red y’all) and foundation too. I also found out whilst getting myself rematched (because skin tone can change with seasons) that I didn’t need a full coverage foundation as my skin was actually in awesome condition (yay to the skin care routine!). Oh by the way my skin was still the same colour. I could rave about Boots No 7 colour match foundations but I won’t this is about Primark.

Anyway…I found Primark were selling Matte lipsticks, red lipstick (proper red. Like Alliyah red which is red with sass) and foundations. I picked up some lipsticks…because a girl can never have enough red lipsticks and I also invested £3.00 on a foundation in the shade Honey.
And guess what amigos?!

The foundation was a PERFECT MATCH.

Can you imagine my joy? Well I guess you can’t but it’s an amazing feeling!!!

On top of that I’ve started allowing my daughters to wear nail polish at the weekends at the Primark 60 pence per bottle polishes are proving not only popular in our house but are pocket friendly too (I’m sorry but my girls have to EARN treats…I’m old skool).

Apart from the foundation discovery why else am I saying Primark were the biggest winners of 2018 for me?

The fit on most products was improved!
There was enough Disney stuff to keep us all happy (Have you seen my Grumpy Duvet cover?!)
The Harry Potter Range had us all sending off applications to Hogwarts
They don’t use plastic bags…
The sales rack always have bargains on…
I picked up a pair of Chelsea Boots for…£3.00!
They also have sales.
Their home range is ever changing (side note: Primark not all that shop in your store watch reality trash so can you please ease off the crap. Thank you).
The mens range was also awesome this year (although I don’t think I purchased anything from the range this year).
Their Stationary range is the reason I need a bigger loft
Their perfume range is actually quite nice. I love the smell of roses, uud and I noted they had a few awesome fragrances during 2018. Not too expensive of course and yet they don’t last that long (however I did notice the £10.00 perfumes from the Christmas rang lingered the day after on my coat too).
The newborn range is so cool that I’m excited about welcoming bambino Tebbutt into the fold by buying lots of HP stuff and making them look like a wizard….
For those celebrating Christmas the decoration range was absolutely amazing! From Disney Princesses, Tinkerbell and Mary Poppins to Harry Potter.
Mary Poppins merch was everywhere!

Did I mention the price point?

Social Media wise the Primania section on their website is breeming to the edge with fashionistas posing around the world in Primark purchases. Primark are also active on other media platforms too (check out their Instagram for latest arrivals). Most stores have their own Facebook page to update customers on what’s in and what’s expected in soon.

So I know Primark is often accused of exploiting sweatshops however this article is about the fact they’ve done awesomely in 2018. There’s no negative in here.

What can we expect from Primark in 2019? I’m expecting pretty much more of the being ‘on trend’ with lots of Aladdin merchindise in May (can we have duvet covers please Primark!) as well as more slogan t-shirts and further investment in their cosmetics range. I believe we’ll also see better sizing that will be awesome for plus sizes everywhere.

I’m assuming further world domination is also on the cards. Go Primark!

The only slight downers for Primark are the following:

No website. Now I get why this isn’t practical however can Primark imagine the profit if they went down this path, invested effectively and PUT THE RIGHT team in the right place and allowed INTERNATIONAL purchasing?
Of course they would need to sort out the sizing…hence why they need to develop it and move forward at the right pace….

Their use of reality TV stars in their campaign. They are not needed. The price point means parents that are spending on their children on the High Street are twice as likely to walk in regardless of some woman off a reality TV show being on a poster.

Their customer service at HQ level is PANTS!
I emailed them on several occasions to ask if the Honey shade of foundation would be available across the ranges they have (e.g. powder). I got fobbed off my them to speak to my local store. Spoke to staff in store and they said HQ dealt with what to send out. And the same happened again. AND also when I reached out to them via Social Media. So that’s a thumbs down.

So Primark…we’re ready for your 2019 ranges..are you?