I’m SO thrilled to introduce this week’s nonstopmama Podcast, in which I chat all things natural beauty with the lovely Nicola Elliott, founder of NEOM Luxury Organics!

Click on the link below to listen to the Podcast:

(Or, if the link isn’t showing on your iPad/similar, then you can download it here!)

I know how much nonstopmamas ♥ this GORGEOUS range of all-natural goodies for the bath, body and home (along with high profile fans including the Duchess of Cambridge) and Nicola’s story is inspiring.

During our chat, she tells us what inspired her to create the range, why she’s passionate about au naturel beauty and why she believes real life beauty and wellbeing is NOT about conquering your ‘To do’ list or doing a hundred ‘butt lifts’ at dawn!

Stay tuned for Nicola’s personal ‘natural’ make-up favourites, too (and maybe skip over the bit where we get onto ‘green’ loo cleaning and cat litter trays) …

At the start of the show, in beauty news, I also mention these new summer nail colours …

…. from Butter London and Little Bu!

Show notes:

Click here for info and to buy the NEW NEOM Enchantment scented candle and diffuser  (below) …

Nicola and I also mention Dr Hauschka; naturissimo.com; Balance Me; Sarah Chapman skincare; Trilogy; A’Kin; Burt’s Bees; Green People; The Organic Pharmacy; Lavera; Earth Friendly Baby; Ecover; Weleda; Bare Minerals and the Lily Lolo range.

Thanks SO much to Nicola for being my podcast guest this week, and thanks to you SO much for listening and spreading the word, nonstopmamas!!

You know we’re properly into summer when, suddenly, it’s all fake tan and espadrilles in the nonstopmama email inbox.

EspadrIles are very much in the style spotlight right now. The fashion cognoscenti (hooray for spellcheck) have declared them THE footwear of the moment and – as one press shot that came through this afternoon puts it –  ’the new flip-flop’, even.

And this, via Grazia: Cameron Diaz, Instagram-ed in her Stella McCartney neon lace-up ones …

What do you think of the trend, mamas?

Honestly, I’m not SO crazy about the original, flat espadrille. Maybe it’s because I wore them so much in the Eighties – perhaps I rope heel-peaked too soon …

But, then, it’s not like doing-it-the-first-time-around has ever put me off (see knotted t-shirts, neon nails and more possibly-shouldn’t-have-gone-back-there-but-I-was-powerless-to-resist moments).

Plus, I always wear down the backs, so they become espa-slippers pretty quickly.

What I DO love, though, is a wedge with an espadrille heel. I bought a silver, strappy pair last year from Boden which have already had a couple of outings over the last few weeks, and this year’s new Spotty Bow version (pictured top) is fun.

I’ll come back to the fake tan tomorrow, because, mamas, I’ve found a GOODIE!!

Honestly. It’s amaze-balls.

Remind me to tell you about the special mitt, too (it’s NOT a fake for the faint-hearted).

But don’t remind me that someone announced, at the weekend, that “Mummy, you’re looking a bit hot and orange”.

So, when I was a little girl I used to play ‘radio shows’ (did you ever do that? Or was it just me?).

I’d tape them on my big brother John’s tape recorder (how prehistoric does that sound?) and get SO excited about the whole thing.

I even sang the jingles (let’s not go there).

Hence, my inner 8 year old got REALLY excited about launching the NEW nonstopmama Podcast!

And, remarkably, lots of lovely beauty, homes and fashion insiders have agreed to come onto my grown-up (not) ‘show’ and chat about what they’re up to.

It’s a bit more high-tech, now, too. My (super-patient) husband hooks an enormous white microphone up to my laptop and tells me not to press anything (because I am the most untechy person you could hope to meet).

Plus, I get to wear pro-style headphones, too, which makes me feel like Roz from Frasier.

But that’s when any professional similarity ends.

So, Sian – one of the co-founders of the amazingness that is the Mama Mio skincare range – is one of my first guests and, really, was very lovely about the fact that I am learning-this-as-I-go-along!

Click the link below to play this Podcast!

(If the mp3 player doesn’t appear (if you’re viewing this on an iPad, for example) –  then click here instead!)

During our chat, we talk pregnancy beauty tips and, MOST excitingly, about the upcoming Royal arrival and how nonstopmamas can enter to WIN two places on the Mama Mio ‘Royal’ Baby Shower, being held in Central London, on Wednesday 19 June (all details and to enter here – GO, GO, GO, mamas!).

So – here it is, after some serious editing (in which I attempted to keep Sian’s good stuff in, and zap my rambling).

This meant I did skip out some bits which I’d have loved to keep in – such as Sian and I chatting about how fab the TED podcast talks are – but if I’d done any more fiddling, it wouldn’t be up until Christmas.

If there are any Woody Allen fans in the house, the scene from Manhattan Murder Mystery where they’re splicing the actress’s recording?

Not. Far. Off.

We’ll get better as we go and, if you’re up for it Sian, I’d love to do another one!!

You’ll be relieved to know, I didn’t sing the jingle.

Show notes! (Which sounds pro, anyway!)

The Mama Mio skincare range is available at stores nationwide, and online at mamamio.com.

Key products mentioned in the Podcast include Tummy Rub Oil or Butter, Lucky Legs (except, actually, that bit missed the edit, but the product is a MUST for pregnancy pins!!) and Boob Tube. <
The mamas would also love to welcome you over at the Mama Mio Musings blog!/blockquote>

This giveaway has now closed and the winner is Anne Brookes! BIG congrats to Anne, and thanks to everyone who entered this fun, last minute giveaway with Mama Mio and nonstopmama!!

Watch this space for LOTS more gorgeous, super-summery giveaways to come!!

I’m DELIGHTED that the lovely Mama Mio mamas are saving two seats at their ‘Royal’ Baby Shower exclusively for a nonstopmama and her friend …

… and it promises to be LOTS of fun!!

The mamas are hosting this celebratory afternoon in central London for expectant Mama Mio fans, in honour of the Royal arrival in July!

The afternoon promises to be LOADS of fun, with a ‘Royal’ bus tour, a yummy tea and a gorgeous goodie bag to take home (it’s Mama Mio, so you know it will be!!).

And we have TWO TICKETS – that’s two places on the ‘Royal’ bus!! – for one winner and a friend to give away!!

To hear more about the day, and to snag some great tips on pregnancy beauty and skincare, click here to listen to the NEW nonstopmama Podcast interview with Mama Mio co-founder Sian!

To enter the giveaway to WIN two tickets to the Mama Mio Royal Baby Shower on Wednesday, 19 June, in central London, simply:

 1. ‘Like’ the nonstopmama Facebook page or Follow us on Twitter, at @jbadenh or Pinterest (JBadenHoward) – OR all three (you can’t blame a girl for asking …).

If you’re following on Twitter, please tweet the message “I’ve entered to #WIN 2 tickets to the @mamamio Royal Baby Shower with @jbadenh at nonstopmama: http://bit.ly/ZRArUI“.

2.  ‘Like’ the Mama Mio Facebook page here!

3. Then simply leave a Comment below, to let us know you’ve done the above!

That’s it!!

The winner will be chosen at random by computer (we’ll email them to check they can come, and to make all the arrangements with the Mama Mio team – but we will need to hear back from the winner within 24 hours, otherwise we’ll have to draw another simply because of the time constraints!).

Please take a mo to check out the giveaway rules here, thanks so much!

This giveaway will close at midnight on Saturday, 8 June 2013.

This giveaway has been promoted at Loquax and ThePrizeFinder – UK Competitions.

HAPPY WEDNESDAY, nonstopmamas!! XX

(Via Pinterest).