June Favourites

So I haven't done a favourites in a while. It was nice to sit and think about what I have been loving and using the most this month.

Skincare

This month I have been trying to make more of an effort with my skincare, hormones have been raging havoc.

Firstly with the Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel which takes off my make up pretty well except some eye make up which I mop up with a miscellar water.

Then whilst on holiday I went back to my teenage years and purchased the Clean & Clear Blackhead Clearing wash and mask as I had forgotten a mask. This was on offer for some silly price so I got this and have really enjoyed using it again daily as a wash and twice a week for a mask. I do think it has made a difference and has definitely kept a lot of blemishes at bay.

Lastly is a travel size of the Zelens 3t Complex which I actually got for free with a Cult Beauty order and I really love it. I use it as a night cream and can feel it moisturising and also tightening which I like. Unfortunately I am at the end and will be cutting this open to get the most out. I have looked at repurchasing but it is way to pricey for me to justify with a small child (sad face). I am actually really gutted.

Make up

Both of theses are new purchases that I have used most days since getting them.

I was in Superdrug and decided to look at the Make Up Revolution stand which is not a brand I particularly pay attention to but keep meaning to. Honestly the stand was a bit of a mess and it was hard to find anything but I spotted this face palette that contains a bronzer, highlighter and blush. The bronzer in this is matte which I like to use for contour and the highlight is actually surprising good. The blush is a bit too shimmery for me, it would be great if I had a decent tan though.

Also whilst out doing the weekly shop I spotted In Style magazine that had a free Eyeko fat eyeliner. I already own the skinny one and for the price of a magazine it was worth a try and I am so glad I did. I struggle with liquid liner but surprisingly using a fat liner I have found much easier. Plus it is more long lasting and doesn't smudge as easy which I find a problem with the skinny version, a different formula perhaps?

Television

So I am going to put Game of Thrones in here. The last episode was this week. I won't give away any spoilers just encase but I love this show. I did try reading the books once but found them a bit difficult, I may go back and try again now that I know a bit more of the background and where the story goes (loosely). I am excited for the next season but believe there are only two seasons left. I get a bit of an empty hole when a series I love ends for good.

Baby

We are not using anything new for the baby at the moment. Although we are getting through a fair few teething granules as she has decided this week to cut all four top teeth in one go. These have been a godsend along with Bonjela and Calpol.


What have you been loving this month?

Em x

First Holiday

So in June we went on our first holiday as a family!! I wanted to spend some time together which doesn't happen a lot before I go back to work in July so we spent a week in Dawlish, Devon.

It was a bit traumatic getting everything sorted to go, it was ridiculous how much stuff we had and I honestly felt like giving up and not going. I'm glad we did.

I love it in Devon, especially Dawlish town, there isn't loads to do but there are a few shops, arcade and the sea.

We went on a couple of days and just mooched around, it was a bit dull and dreary but we walked along the sea next to the train track which for some strange reason really excited me!

We also went to Babbacombe Model Village, I remember going there as a child with my parents and it was still amazing. So much work goes into it. Plus they have Westbury White Horse, a little bit of home on holiday.

It was a really nice week, the baby was well behaved. I was a bit worried about how she would be away from home but she was fine and went to sleep with no problems in different surroundings.

I felt like such an accomplished mummy that week, with her food prep and going out everyday (which I don't like doing at home, we like home!!!) and having her pram was amazing, no more bag and towel carrying we just bung everything underneath the pram. Although it was a bit awkward getting onto the beach but we didn't trek very far.

Plus having a child meant we had an excuse to be a bit lazy, we didn't leave most days until after her morning nap even though we had been up since 6am most days. I expect that will change in future years when she is up and raring to go out.

All in all it was an amazing week and I can't believe it is over and I am thinking of work now.

Em X

What's in my changing bag

As I love these types of posts and videos I thought I would show my changing bag as that is my new mummy life now.

The bag I use is a Babymoov and it is the Baby Star changing bag. I got it from Amazon Click here to view. When I was originally looking at bags I wanted quite a neutral colour and one that would go with both our pram and my tastes, this one fitted the bill. It is mostly grey but has blue patterning to the side which goes with our pram which is navy, it also has really nice detailing to the front with embellishments and stitching. It also came with some extras, there was a fleece and a bottle warmer (not in the pictures as I don't use these currently) and a dummy / pacifier holder.

I have to say I am quite impressed with what I can fit in this bag, it wasn't until doing this I realised how much I have!!! I really pack it in there!!

On top I keep the toys so they are easy to get if she is fussing, at the moment she is into rattles and bright objects. These are all from various places but her favourite is the elephant with a rattle on the end, this was a gift so not sure where it is from.

Underneath these are all the practical things, nappies, wipes, spare clothes, dribble bibs, muslins and a feeding bib which is waterproof on the back so her clothes don't get soggy. I also take a bottle with me in a Tommee Tippee Bottle Bag and depending on where I am going I will take hot water to warm the bottle in a Tommee Tippee Bottle and Food Warmer.

There are pockets inside that I keep small things in including a plastic bag for soiled or wet clothes, teething medicine and Infacol.

Then my belongings I have really cut down - to think I used to carry a large handbag and now I only have a few things. I carry around my beauty items in this plastic travel bag, it makes it easier to see and also prevents me from loosing things in the bottom of the bag. When a bag is this full trying to find something small at the bottom is a nightmare. Then I downgraded my purse to this little coin purse and keep just a few cards and coins. Lastly I have my diary, I am trying to use my phone more but I use this diary for loads and am struggling to let it go.

That is everything I manage to squeeze in.

Hope this helps anyone with a baby on the way or those like me who are just nosey!!

Em x

February favourites

Beauty
There are quite a few things that I have been loving the past couple of months.

I have been trying a few new skincare products and my favourite is a new eye cream. I went for the Mizon Snail Repair Eye Cream and I really like it, I feel like it is doing some good and makes my eye area feel tighter when I apply it.

Make up wise I have been loving my palettes and powders for some reason.

I have done a post already about my L'Oréal La Palette Nude in Rose Read it here, it is my go to palette for my eye make up.

Also I finally used my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Palette. I am really bad with expensive products and loath to use them but I decided that I will keep this even after it is past its best as it is my first high end make up purchase so has sentimental meaning. I love it and use it to create dewy glowly looks for both day and night.

Lastly a  mention for my Soap and Glory Brow Archery pencil in Hot Chocolate, and a powder from H&M, it is the True Matte Finishing Powder in Porcelain. I use these both a lot but never think to mention them.

Television

I have been binge watching so much on Netflix. I resubscribed in December and have since watched all of Once Upon a Time, Pretty Little Liars, Vampire Diaries and am part way through Mortal Instruments and American Horror Story.

I haven't been trying anything new in the house or with the baby this last month.

What have you been loving recently?

Em x

5 minute 5 product make up look

So this is my first ever make up look post and the first time my face is out there so people of the internet be kind. Also my photos have little to be desired, I need to work on my photography skills!!!

However I wanted to share this mainly for the products I used as now that I have less time to get ready I have had to perfect a quick make up look.

This look uses just 5 products all of which are drugstore and really affordable, obviously you can swap in or out any of these products for others you may have.

The 5 products I have used are:
Collection Lasting Perfection concealer in 01 Fair.
Barry M Get Up & Glow face palette.
Soap and Glory Brow Archery pencil in Hot chocolate.
Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara.
L'Oréal Infallible Mega Lip Gloss in 103 Protest Queen.

To save time I haven't used a foundation just a concealer, I find that the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer has a really good coverage when applied with a foundation brush.

Next onto brows - I had to decide between brows and eyeliner. Brows won. I just brushed them through added shape and filled them in a bit.

The Barry M Palette is something I have been really surprised by. There are 3 blushes a coral, bright and pale pink, then a shimmery bronzer and a highlighter. For this quick look I have used the pale blush on my lid with the highlighter over the top to give a nice shimmer. If you have a slightly darker skin tone you could possibly use the bronzer or the brighter blushes. I then also used the pale pink blush on my cheeks.

I added a coat of my Max Factor False Lash Effect mascara plus some L'Oréal lip gloss and I'm good to go.

Hope you liked my first make up look. Comments very welcome.

Em x

Mum and baby 3 months

My baby girl turned 3 months old this week!! It's so crazy how fast that has gone. Actually it is scary, if these 3 months have gone this quick the rest will and before I know it I will have to go back to work.

Although the past three months have flown by so much seems to have changed, she is growing so fast. I have got out the 3-6 month clothes, I probably should have done it a week ago but I am trying to cling onto her being small, the 3-6 month clothes look huge but when I actually get them on her they do fit which scares me, before I know it she will be running around.

Most of my time at the moment seems to be either putting things in the baby or waiting for something to come out. She gobbles her milk down like she is out on a binge drinking session, I have never seen anything like it. She tries to get it down so fast I have to take the bottle out all the time to allow her to breathe. Then I spend the remaining time waiting for outgoings!!! which I find way to interesting. If she doesn't go for a number two for a day I am waiting for her to explode, then we class the severity on how many wipes it takes or if it is a bath situation. Our conversations have really changed since having a baby!! Then burping, this is what I seem to be doing the most, getting the wind out is our main obstacle.

In the last week or so she is staying awake more in the day, she doesn't take too much entertaining at the moment, she seems way to interested in the sides of her cot, her hands, lights and peoples faces. She talks a lot and smiles, mostly at her dad, not that I'm jealous!! It is funny, she looks at him and just grins it is hilarious and amazing how they recognise people so young. Also this week on the day she turned three months she did a giggle, like a proper belly giggle.

She is a good sleeper, has been since she was about two weeks old. She likes her sleep like her mummy. At the moment she is going from about 11pm through to 7am. She has a few cat naps in the day but nothing longer than an hour or so. I don't mind her not sleeping much in the day as I like my night time sleep so I'm glad that she has got herself into a routine (it has nothing to do with me).

As for me I am mostly back to normal plus a few pounds!!! I have recovered from the birth and my stiches are all healed. Obviously one thing that is not back to normal is my tummy, still a bit saggy and wobbly, I think that will take a while to get back to what it was before and I will have to exercise!!! Then there is my general weight, I am up a dress size all over, I wasn't the skinniest before the baby and now I have more weight to get rid of. I will get there though I am determined. Mostly!!

I have also found my skin is a lot dryer after having her, I seem to itch a lot so am trying to remember to moisturise but as I have to grab a shower when ever I can I don't always remember, plus it's one of those boring jobs.

Mentally I am fine, I do get a bit down and sometimes feel lonely or like I am doing everything but that's rare and I think my mood swings are more severe now I am back to the monthly cycle (rubbish) so that will probably explain it.

I have yet to venture to a baby group, I am not sure exactly why I keep chickening out of going. I think it is going out by myself with her, I have only done it a couple of times, I like to have the support of someone else. If she starts grizzling I think I can cope better having someone there. It sounds silly - I think it is because I doubt myself a bit, I'm not too sure but I need to get over it at some point and go to a group for her as well as me. Did anyone else take a while going to their first group?

Are you a new mum? What are you loving or perhaps struggling with?

Em x

L'Oreal Color Riche La Palette review

This is a quick review on my L'Oréal Color Riche La Palette.

There are three palettes in the range Nude Beige, Nude Rose and Smokey Black each with 10 shades. I have the palette in Nude Rose as these colours suit my skin tone better. As you can see below it is already well used!

The Nude Rose palette consists of more warm toned mauves and rose colours with a couple of darker shades great for along the last line. There is good mixture of shimmers and mattes. The matte shades in the palette are really creamy and blend really nicely on the skin, the shimmers are not as creamy but also are not powdery so sit well on top of the matte shades but do work well straight onto the lid and do not move a great deal.

As the palette has such a good balance of shades it is so versatile and can be used to create so many different looks for both day and night.

If you want to see some looks with this palette let me know.

Em x

New mum confidence tips

So I have been thinking bout what motherly advice I can pass on and to be honest there isn't much, I need more than I can give! But one thing I wanted to write about are tips that I have used for feeling like my old self and more confident.

Tip One - Buy new trousers
As soon as I had my baby I wished to be rid of my maternity clothing, I still wear them but it is nice to have some clothes that are not maternity. So as none of my pre-pregnancy trousers fit I tried to think of alternatives to my maternity jeans and leggings that I could add to my wardrobe. Whilst shopping at my local supermarket I found some jeggings and bought a pair to try (in the next size up) and after going back and buying more in other colours they are all I have been wearing. It is so nice having something else to wear other than maternity jeans and leggings. They are stretchy and have elasticated waist so they are comfy and make me feel more normal.

Tip Two - Pre-pregnancy clothes
I also dug out any of my pre-pregnancy clothes that I wore early on so the floaty tops, tunics and oversized tops. Wearing clothes that you haven't in months is a real boost in confidence.

Tip Three - Pamper yourself
Take time for yourself, go and get your hair or nails done, its nice to have some pamper time and if your like me I didn't spend a lot of my time on myself in late pregnancy and having someone else to wash your hair is luxury. Or if you don't want to go out ask your partner to be in charge of baby and take a long bath and relax. It is surprising what a nice soak can do for your mood and outlook on life.

Tip Four - Treat yourself
In the first few weeks of motherhood I didn't wear any make up but when I decided I wanted to it was nice to have some new make up to wear. You don't have to spend a lot buying  new everything, just a new foundation, mascara or lipstick can make a difference when you have time to do your face.

Tip Five - Look after your body
Try to eat healthy, obviously when you are recovering from labour and have a newborn there is nothing better than a cup of tea and biscuits or chocolate but after a few weeks start to think more consciously about what you are eating. Keep the biscuits and chocolate for a treat. Also remember to drink lots of water, it is something easily forgotten. This will have a great impact on how you feel and will also help clear your skin for those days where you don't get a chance to put make up on!!

Do you have any other tips for getting back to normal and feeling yourself?

Em x

Christmas gifts

I wanted to do a post on what we got for Christmas not to show off but we got some really good gifts and the ideas are ones I will be using for future years. Plus I want to keep Christmas alive for a bit longer, it goes way to quickly.

Considering we did not ask for anything specific our family and friends did very well, I seem to have years like that where I am so happy with what I have got people and had ideas and other years I have no clue what to get. Anyone else have that?

We got some joint presents for myself and my husband, the best were these retro sweets and Game of Thrones Monopoly from my parents. Here we are in the middle of the game, which is still ongoing (it's pretty even at the moment!!!) I think this is a really good present idea and will probably do some thing similar for others.

 

Some of my favourite gifts were more sentimental gifts like these elephant patterned trousers from my brother in law. I wasn't expecting anything as he only got back from travelling on the 22nd but he bought these in Asia, I cannot wait to wear them. I also got a Disney DVD from my best friend, she got me Sleeping Beauty which is one I haven't seen which she must have remembered. My main present from my Husband was a Wii U, although I expect it was more for him!! I am really rubbish at games I don't know why the only game I was ever good at was Crash Bandicoot on PS1!! But I seem to be pretty good at Mario Kart. Perhaps I will stick to children's games as my forte!!

 

We also got some amazing things for the baby as well. We got various toys to last her over this year. I have come to the realisation that our lives are now going to be full of colourful noise making plastic. The horror!! Although one noise maker that I don't really mind (yet) is a musical book that can either sing the songs with words or just the music. It also has buttons for colours and instruments, she is too young for that but does seem to love the music. She also received clothes, she had a 1st Christmas onesie with the cutest reindeer feet. Just take a moment for those feet!! Then we started our book collection, I love reading and really wanted some fairy tale stories and got this really amazing book with gold embossing and it is just beautiful. She won't know what the hell I am on about but I will read it to her anyway.

I hope that everyone got what they wished for this Christmas and aren't too depressed now it has gone. Only 351 days till next Christmas..... Ok sorry I will take that back.

Em x

Naughty purchase

A quick post about a naughty bit of shopping I have done which I received today.

I am working on a post about my beauty wants and was writing about the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit palette which I have been eying up for a long time. I knew it was limited edition and not sure how much longer it would be available. So I decided to buy as I would regret it if I didn't.

It came today!! I was so excited I waited like a little kid at the door for the delivery man to get out of the van!!

It is beautiful and made even more special by the packaging it came in from www.net-a-porter.com, here are a few photos of me unboxing. (I also bought a new eyeliner to try).

It's almost to perfect to use!!

Keep an eye out for a What I got for Christmas and my Beauty wants post.

Em x

2016 Goals

New Year Resolutions are not something I normally go in for as I am really bad at keeping them I get depressed and eat chocolate!!

However I need to make some changes in my life and feel like a fresh start at the beginning of the year will help me, so rather than New Year Resolutions I have decided to do a 2016 goals, so if I don't achieve them at the beginning of the year I won't get down as I have the whole year to achieve them.

Most of these are very cliché goals but I feel I need to write them down and I will update on them which I think may help me to get there.



Study
I have been studying AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) for a few years and I am on the last level. I struggled with two of the exams and the last time I took them I had just found out I was pregnant so I was not in the right frame of mind. I sort of gave up then to be honest but I want to get this done and hopefully being on maternity I will be able to fit it in whilst I am at home.

House

Our house is a real mess and still not finished. My Aunty saw it for the first time a few weeks ago and her words were "You have a lot of stuff" which we do. Neither of us went through our belongings before moving in and so we have just moved rubbish from one place to another and now it needs sorting out. Also we haven't finished decorating and I have no pictures up or curtains, these are the things that make a place feel homely and I want to get the house done this year.





 

Weight loss / fitness 

This is the most cliché goal. Having a baby just before Christmas meant that it was hard to start on a diet or exercise routine and I have put on weight since giving birth with all the Christmas food, I have no self control. I am not going to set myself a weight loss goal but am going to have a dress size goal. This is because I have always been quite heavy for the size I am so I don't really look at my weight, obviously when I get on the scales and it is really high I get depressed but I want to feel good in myself so I will aim to go down a couple of dress sizes. Also I do want to get fitter, I have gone through phases of exercise but never really stuck at them so I need to find the right exercise for me. I cannot run due to leg problems which is annoying as I do like running, also I am a bit of a loner when it comes to exercise so struggle in classes. I think a bit of research is needed to find something that is right for me. I do enjoy kettlebells so might look into that.

What are your resolutions or goals for this year?

Em x