We always have a family get together at Christmas with my Auntie and cousins. It started as the Chase and Filewood Christmas Party but now that all 5 cousins are married and both my Mum and Auntie have married again, there are actually no Filewoods and only 2 Chases! Never the less our annual gathering will always be known as the C and F Party and this year we have a special party planned.

My Mum is hosting the party at her house and I am in charge of decorations!

It will be a safari send off for one of my cousins and his wife, as they are off to work in Kenya! How exciting!

So no turkey this year, Mum has got African curries on the menu and a Moroccan tagine planned.

I found this good link to how to present Kenyan food and ideas for recipes so we will have a go at a couple!

I have been researching leopard print lanterns and jungle photo props as I want to set up a photo booth in the conservatory, complete with safari hats, binoculars, camouflage nets and old suitcases!

My current crush - super safari party ideas!

Don't you just love the Passport style invitations! They are on my must buy list!

Linking up with this month's host. The Wright Stuff.

I have read a few articles about e.l.f (eyes lips and face) make up lately, a brand I had never heard off until we went to America in June. My sister only had one 'must buy' on her American shopping list. Well to be honest it was one long list, under the single title e.l.f.

We raced into Target and spent quite a considerable amount of time at the e.l.f cosmetic stand. The make up range is extremely affordable and fantastic quality. The packaging is similar to MAC and is well presented.

The good news is you don't have to fly to America to buy it!

You can purchase the make up range here.

They have an entire product range dedicated to holidays! You can also find tutorials and tips on their website.

We each bought about $15 worth but that bought us a basket full!

I can't live without the eyebrow kit which cost $1.

It is a creamy palette of two colours (you could blend them if your brows are in between although there are 4 colour options) which is incredibly long lasting and makes a huge difference to your overall look. If I was going to miss eye make up on a day when I am at home, I still would apply this eyebrow filler, in short strokes with the angled brush.

You may think this sounds silly but your eyebrows frame your face. It's my sister's favourite feature of hers. Take a photo without any make up on your brows and then one with, you will notice a definite difference. However, don't go over board. Subtlety, is the key. The Scouse brow is not a good look!

It has really touched my heart seeing all the photographs of little ones in their first school uniforms. My Facebook feed has been full of long sleeves, pristine coloured cardigans and sweatshirts and nervous toothy grins.

I have exactly 364 days left until it will be our turn with big boy. 364 days to get him wiping his own bottom, 364 days left of being Mama, as I am sure the second he enters the school gates, I will become Mum.

When I went back to work after maternity leave, my husband bought me this book as a present. A Mother and Toddler Journal to record all the lovely things we do together. At the time, (when I was very sad to be leaving him to go back to work in Swindon) I took it slightly in the wrong way and was upset as I had three whole days less of fun to record. Worried about missing all the new experiences he would have either at Nursery or with Granny.

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Ridiculous. As filling it in has been a great reminder that we really do make the most of all the time we have (as well as reminding me that I was lucky to only work part time). At home and out and about. Of course there are days when it seems like CBeebies has been on loop but overall I think the boys have a good balance of down time and fun time! Here are my favourites!

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My Mama's Monday Must Do is to get it up to date. There is one page about going to a Pet Store and we have on several occasions had a cheats trip to the 'zoo', I mean Pets at Home! So another trip is in order but armed with a camera!

If you fancy filling in your own journal of adventure you can buy one here.

mamasmondaymustdo