Tuesday, 30 June 2015

UPDATE: New Blog Design and Social Media Links

This is just a short and sweet post, but I couldn't not talk about...my new blog design!! I'd had the same blog design since I began blogging and thought it was the perfect time to update my blog's look. I'm so happy with the results, though there are some things I want to tweak a little bit. Any parent will know that getting the time to make these changes isn't easy, but luckily there's no rush. The design is from pipdig and I couldn't be more impressed, highly recommend them! Installing the blog design was quick, simple and clearly explained - everything I needed when caring for a 12 week old baby.

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Monday, 29 June 2015

BABY: Marks and Spencers Sale Haul

 I've expressed my love for the Marks and Spencer's baby and children clothes many times on my blog - they are always so cute, stylish and excellent quality! Sometimes the downside is the price, they can be expensive. Personally, I find it hard to justify spending over £24 for an outfit that will only fit for a couple of months. So when there's an M&S sale I'm straight onto their website or instore to grab as many bargains as I can get my hands on. 

On the way back from our recent holiday to Cornwall we nipped into Cheltenham for a bit of retail therapy. It actually turned out to be a pretty stressful visit, as Isabella was sick all over me and the floor in Primark, screamed down Marks and Spencer's and was sick on me a couple more times! Shopping isn't anything like it used to be. However we did manage to have a quick browse in the sale section, which was pretty big and well stocked - so if you fancy picking any pieces up I'd head to your local M&S asap. I bought all of these things 2 days ago, so hopefully they should still be available in some stores.  

Anyway, on to the haul...
 
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Sunday, 28 June 2015

REVIEW: Cosatto Giggle Group 0+ Infant Car Seat in All Star

Buying a car seat isn't an easy task, with so many options on the market, all varying in price, features, standard and age they're aimed at. When we started looking we felt overwhelmed by the choice and didn't really know where to start - did anyone else feel like this? We obviously wanted the safest option for our baby, with the addition of compatibility to the pushchair we ended up buying and it being reasonably priced. After a lot of searching and being completely unsure how we would ever make a decision, we settled on the Cosatto Giggle Group 0+ Infant Car Seat in All Star. It's also available in a range of other designs, which all match the Cosatto Giggle 2 range of pushchairs/travel systems.
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Thursday, 25 June 2015

HOME: Orla Kiely Home Fragrance Range

Throughout our house renovation we've lived in a variety of conditions, including no bathroom, no flushing toilet, no kitchen, no heating during December/January, no hot water etc etc.
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Tuesday, 23 June 2015

FOOD: Moroccan Meatballs (vegetarian and meat versions)

Despite there only being two adults living in our house, me and my husband, we still have to cook two completely separate meals every night. This is mainly because I'm a vegetarian and he isn't, but he also doesn't like a lot of things - like cheese, I mean who doesn't like cheese?!
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Sunday, 21 June 2015

BEAUTY: Ted Baker Mint Beauty Bag

Ted Baker have done it again - created the most beautiful gift set, but this time they've taken it to a whole new level by adding rose gold/copper detail to the packaging. Stunning.  
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Friday, 19 June 2015

10 THINGS: I cannot leave the house with now I have a baby!

Oh how times have changed. My life no longer consists of grabbing my randomly filled handbag as I leave the house, I'm now grabbing a changing bag which has been packed with thought and precision. Every parent will know that leaving the house with a baby or child in tow is no easy task. It takes planning, preparation and packing of your changing bag - the three p's. I've now been a Mummy for over 10 weeks, so I've got what I need for a little baby down to a fine art.
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Wednesday, 17 June 2015

FOOD: Spring Pea Dip with Parmesan Crispbreads

Summer is just around the corner now and we can all finally start having picnics, bbq's and generally spending more time outside (yay!) Recently I went for a picnic with some other mummies and really wanted to make something I hadn't cooked before.
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Monday, 15 June 2015

NEW RELEASE: Chicco Dry Fit Nappies

 
Today there is a very exciting launch happening - Chicco are launching there first ever range of nappies exclusively into Boots stores! You are probably already familiar with the brand Chicco, as they have such a fantastic range of baby products already on the market. Now they've decided to branch out and create a line of nappies that are extra absorbent, super thin and gentle on the skin. The fabric-like breathable lining reduced heat and helps to prevent rashes and irritations, something all parents will know can be a battle sometimes.
 
Other than supermarket branded nappies there has only really one main brand of nappy available on the market, which hasn't given parents much of a choice. However, Chicco have added a new choice for parents to consider - their Dry fit nappies. This exciting range includes sizes newborn up to size 6, something for everyone. I really like the fact that they come in these large packs, as a new parent I'm quickly discovering quite how quickly we get through nappies. I was reading the 'YOUR BABY week by week' book by Simone Cave and Dr Caroline Fertleman and it said that a baby will averagely use 5000 nappies between being born and potty trained! Therefore it's so important you find the perfect nappy for your baby.
For the past couple of weeks we've been lucky enough to trial the Chicco Dry fit nappies in size 2* (£7.99 for a 50 pack - that's only about 16p a nappy) and we've been so impressed. Since Isabella was born we've tried 3 other different brands of nappies, some have been a disaster (hello major poo leaks and stained vests!) and others have done the job well. What we, and I think most parents, look for in a nappy is that it doesn't leak, is comfortable, not too bulky and reasonably priced. I wouldn't want to put Isabella in a nappy that irritated her skin by not properly absorbing what it should do. 
 
Sizing wise I think they are on the smaller side for each size, though I only have experience of size 1 and 2 nappies. Isabella was 8 weeks old when we started using the Chicco nappies and she needed size 2. She was already in size 2 but the Chicco ones didn't come up as high on her tummy as the ones we had been using before. This isn't a problem, as the Chicco range goes up to size 6, I just think that she will be onto size 3 nappies quicker than other brands. Just something to consider if you choose to buy the Chicco nappies from Boots. 
 
The Chicco nappies have been brilliant at absorbing everything it should do, without irritating the skin at all. In fact Isabella had some slight redness at the top of her legs, which disappeared when we started using these nappies.
 
The nappies feel soft and have a small design on the outside. Personally I prefer a larger design with baby friendly images, such as animals, but really that has no affect on the quality of the nappy. I'm just a sucker for cute designs! However, I do like the fact that it clearly says the size on the front of the nappy. I used to get my old size 1 and current size 2 nappies confused with each other, but there's no chance of that happening with the Chicco nappies.
 
The nappies have stayed secure despite Isabella's excessive wriggling, she loves to kick her legs! Therefore reducing the risk of leaking and rubbing against her legs.

We were also lucky enough to be sent the Chicco 4Ever Friends Mrs Giraffe Stroller Rope* (£14.99) and Mrs Giraffe 4Ever Friends Rattle* (£6.99), which Isabella has been loving!
 
We haven't really been using the stroller rope yet because her pushchair doesn't have a bar across her front until she's a bit older. But we have been playing with the Mrs Giraffe Rattle and it has been so entertaining. If she's crying and I shake around the rattle she stops almost instantly and wants to know what it is making all of the noise. We are also trying to help her grip things, so this rattle is perfect because the noise really attracts her to move her arm around once she's got hold of it.
 
Don't forget to keep your eye out for the Chicco nappies when you next visit Boots!

Feel free to leave me a comment - I appreciate every single one :)

Helen x 
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Sunday, 14 June 2015

BEAUTY: Drugstore haul with my first impressions

You know when everything in your make up bag and skincare routine all seem to run out at the same time? Well that happened to me recently, so it was the perfect excuse to mix things up and try new products. Cue a trip to Boots to update/transform both my make up bag and skincare routine. I thought I'd combine this drugstore haul with my first impressions of the products, as it's always helpful to know if a product is worth buying or not. 
 
L'Oreal Infallible Foundation in Porcelain (£9.99). I have tried the matte version of this foundation (read my full review here) and after initially not really liking it I ended up really liking it's medium-full coverage. It's not the easiest foundation to blend into my skin but with a lot of buffing I got a pretty flawless finish. So I was intrigued to try the more satin/glowy version of the Infallible foundation. This one is aimed at people with drier skin, which is certainly me at the moment (since giving birth my skin has become the driest ever!)
L'Oreal 4D Mascara in Black (£10.99). My trusty Maybelline Cat Eyes mascara was running out, so I needed a new one that did everything that mascara did and more! This L'Oreal mascara had some pretty impressive claims about making your lashes longer and with more volume. However on first impressions I don't like this mascara, it's a pretty dry formula which I don't like. It didn't seem to coat my lashes with anything, so I certainly didn't get the volume or length I was looking for. After three coats my lashes still looked like I hadn't applied anything, not the best first impressions for a relatively expensive drugstore mascara. I'm not giving up on it just yet, I will continue to try it out and I'll keep you updated.


 
L'Oreal True Match Foundation in Rose Ivory (£9.99). Boots had a 3 for 2 offer so I thought I'd restock on one of my favourite drugstore foundations. They don't currently have 3 for 2, it's 2 L'Oreal products for £12. I love this foundation, it has a medium coverage, blends well and covers almost everything I want it to. Personally, I like quite a full coverage foundation, like Estee Lauder Double Wear. True Match has a lighter coverage but still covers dark circles, blemishes and  uneven skin tone.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in Light (on offer for £4.49). This is another repurchase - this concealer is just perfect for the summer months. I don't tend to use it much during the winter, just because I like to use something with a better coverage (like Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer or Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer). We are now entering the summer months and I love to 'wake up' my skin with products that have a more dewy finish. This concealer is perfect for lightening up the under eye area and using as a kind of highlighter. I apply it in a triangle shape under my eye, blend with a duo fibre brush from Real Techniques and set in place with Rimmel Stay Matte powder in Translucent.
Dior Nude Foundation in Ivory (reduced to £10). This was the absolute beauty bargain of the year so far, in my local boots they had a basket of reduced make up. If you go to Boots I'm sure you know the one, it usually has broken eyeshadows, lipsticks that have been opened and generally not great things. However every once in a while there will be a gem, a bargain that cannot be resisted and the day I went in it was this Dior Nude foundation IN MY SHADE! I couldn't believe it, despite only just buying two L'Oreal foundations the day before, I couldn't turn down this bargain. Dior Nude usually retails for £32, so with a price tag of £10 you can probably see why I couldn't walk away without purchasing it. It was unopened, never been used and even in the box - complete winner. This is probably the lightest coverage foundation I've tried in a long time, yet it somehow gives a good amount of coverage. The kind of coverage that is perfect for a summer day when heavy make up would probably just melt off your face. I actually really like the light texture of this foundation, which is such a contrast to my usually pretty heavy textured foundations. I think this is going to become my new favourite foundation for the summer.
L'Oreal Elnett Satin Hairspray (travel size). I'm currently using the Fudge Urban Iced Raspberry & Vanilla hairspray, which has a pretty strong hold and you can tell when I have it on. I wanted something a bit lighter on the hair but with the same hold. As this is such a popular hairspray and I had never tried it I thought I'd give it a go. First impressions of the hold and feel on the hair are really good, however I don't like the smell of it. The Fudge hairspray smells really nice, so it might be that I'm used to that scent but either way I don't like it.
Ogx Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo and Conditioner (travel size). I was watching someones (I forget who) YouTube video recently and they mentioned this shampoo and conditioner as being amazing for your hair. I've been in such a hair rut for about a year now, always using the same products but not really liking how they make my hair feel. So I thought it was about time I tried something different. Instead of buying full size products straightaway I like to try them in a travel size first, to see if I like it without wasting lots of money. I've washed my hair a couple of times with this duo and I'm seriously impressed! After the first wash my hair felt so soft and smooth, a real improvement. It didn't give my hair the shine I wanted it to, but it did make my hair feel amazing.
Nivea 2 in 1 Eye Make Up Remover (£3.89). Another repurchase - if you need a good eye make up remover that does actually remove waterproof mascara then this is a great budget alternative to something like the Clarins Instant Eye Make Up Remover.
Nivea Cleansing Wash for sensitive to dry skin (£3.15). I currently use the Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanse and Polish to take off my make up at night but wanted something to use in the mornings that will help to rehydrate my dry skin. So far I like this as a cleanser, it's creamy, moisturising and doesn't leave you with that tight feeling so many cleanser give you. 
Garnier Softening Toner for normal to dry skin (£3.29). Although I don't have sensitive skin I thought that this isn't going to be too drying on the skin due to it's gentle formula. I've liked using this after cleansing to make sure all of my make up is removed and it leaves my skin feel refreshed. 

What have you been enjoying from the drugstore recently?

Feel free to comment :) 

Helen x 
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Saturday, 13 June 2015

BABY: Bathtime with NAÏF

I just love the background stories behind brands, especially brands that have been created by people who have a dream and make it come true. NAÏF is one of these brands - created by two Dads who wanted to bring high quality and honest baby care products to the market. For me its really important that we only use baby products that are as natural as possible. Babies skin is so incredibly soft and sensitive, I don't want to use anything that will aggravate my daughters skin, as I'm sure a lot of parents don't. 
NAÏF baby care product range include: nourishing shampoo, cleansing wash gel, softening body lotion, nurturing cream, diaper cream, milky bath oil and soothing baby oil. You can buy these seperately or as a gift set, which would make a lovely gift for new parents. The design of all of the NAÏF products is so stylish and contemporary, a simple and clear design makes these perfect to have on display in your bathroom. 
The NAÏF Softening Body Lotion* is especially developed for the delicate and sensitive baby skin and is suitable for everyday use. It is a perfect source of moisture for dry skin, which Isabella has had since she was born. Made from natural ingredients, such as cottonseed oil, sweet almond oil, avocado oil, macadamia oil and bisabolol (chamomile), it is kind to her skin too. I've really noticed an improvement in Isabella's dry skin since using this body lotion, her arms were espeically dry and flakey. 
The NAÏF Cleansing Wash Gel* is based on a soap-free formula, therefore it does not irritate the skin or sting the eyes. The mild forumla gently cleanses while preserving the skin’s hydrolipidic film to leave skin feeling soft and smooth. Made from natural ingredients such as cottonseed extract and gluten free wheat protein powder. I find the ingredients in the NAÏFproducts very interesting and unique on the baby care market. Bathtime is such a lovely time of the day in our family - its the time we spend together focusing on our daughter. We bath Isabella every couple of days and this cleansing wash gel has been a nice way of ensuring she's clean and that her skin doesn't get irritated. 
Washing Isabella's hair was the first 'washing' we did with her after she was born, her hair was covered in 'goo' from labour/giving birth (nice!) Initially she wasn't a fan, but after the first couple of times she now likes it, espeically when we sprinkle the water over her head - it must be such a strange sensation for her. The NAÏF Nourishing Shampoo* is especially developed for the baby’s delicate hair and scalp and again is based on a soap-free formula. The mild formula leaves the hair soft and shiny. Made from natural ingredients such as cottonseed extract and gluten free wheat protein powder. I love how fluffy and soft Isabella's hair is after using this shampoo, she was born with a lot of dark brown hair but when it's washed it looks even longer!
When Isabella is old enough I'm looking forward to taking her to baby massage classes. Some of the ladies in our NCT group have already taken their babies to a massage class and it sounds really good, especially for babies with colic. As soon as we start baby massage I'll be using the NAÏF Soothing Baby Oil*. It is especially developed for the dry and sensitive baby skin, penetrating the skin easily without leaving a greasy film. It moisturises and reinforces the natural protection of the skin, with a combination of plant oils and essential fatty acids. This results in a supple and silky-smooth skin. Made from natural ingredients such cottonseed oil and bisabolol (chamomile).

You can buy NAÏF products from Boots, so they're very accessible on the high street and well worth checking out next time you're in Boots. 

Have you heard of NAÏF before?

Feel free to leave me a comment :)

Helen x


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Wednesday, 10 June 2015

FASHION: My Breastfeeding Friendly Capsule Wardrobe Outfits

As I explained in a previous post I have found finding suitable outfits for both breastfeeding and my changed body pretty difficult. So, after lots of searching online I have finally put together a capsule wardrobe of items that can be mixed and matched to create an array of breastfeeding friendly outfits. As part of all of these outfits are the H&M nursing vests, which I wear underneath tops. This means I lift up the normal top and unclip the nursing top, resulting in the minimum amount of skin is exposed! I loved wearing dresses before giving birth, so the there's a lot of skirt and top combinations, as it's the next best thing to dresses! To see what the whole clothing item looks like and it's price check out the previous post.   

Which is your favourite outfit? 

Feel free to leave me a comment :)

Helen x
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