REFLECTION: 11 Incredible Parenting Blogs of 2017

2017. What a year. The year we met Poppy. The year Isabella became a big sister. The year I went on maternity leave for the second time. The year we became a family of four. It's been such an incredible year and throughout out it I have turned to many blogs for inspiration, support and tips on bringing up two children. Being back on maternity leave has meant I've had more time to sit and enjoy the writing, adventures and photos from fellow parenting bloggers, which was been such a joy. There are so many inspirational blogs out there now and almost everyday I use an idea, craft activity, tip, trick or recipe from my favourite bloggers. As it is the end of the year I thought it would be the perfect time to put together some of my favourite parenting bloggers, so that you can enjoy their blogs too. Grab a cup of tea, get comfy and enjoy getting lost in the world of parenting blogs...

INSTAGRAM: 60 Inspiring Accounts to Follow in 2018

Almost every Friday I enjoy doing #FollowFriday over on my Instagram Stories, along with many others. It's the perfect chance to find new accounts to follow and support the ones I love. As 2017 is coming to an end I thought it would be nice to share the love and pop 60 of my favourite Instagram accounts into one blog post. That way you can enjoy these incredible accounts too! It was hard whittling it down to just sixty because there are so many beautiful Instagram accounts out there. Instagram is such an inspiring (and frustrating...two words... new. algorithm.) platform, with endless special, pretty and magical photos being added each day. Moments are constantly captured and shared, some carefully put together, others quickly captured just at the right moment. 

MOTHERHOOD: Is it what I expected?

As it was Isabella's first birthday yesterday I've been doing a lot of reminiscing about the past year and what a year it's been. Everyone warns you how much a having a baby will change your life and they're not wrong, everything changes. Mostly for the better, though some of the changes are for the worse - oh how I hate the constant worrying/guilty feeling! Having said that when I think about my life before Isabella it makes me sad...it makes me sad to think there was a time she wasn't in my life. Strange really as there have been a lot more years without her, than with her. I blame the incredible new level of emotion that was created within me after having Isabella.

REFLECTION: My Top 10 Skincare and Hair Care Products of 2013!

2013 has been a year of discovering new products, I was stuck in a routine with my skincare and hair care and to be honest I was pretty happy! But then I started trying new products out, my eyes have been opened to the effects different products do have on your body. I thought I'd put together a list of my favourite products of 2013 and ones that I'll definitely be repurchasing throughout 2014!

Hair Care

1) Naked Brunette Radiance Shampoo and Conditioner (£4.19 each from Boots) - I absolutely love these for creating glossy, healthy looking hair. The fact that they are 97% natural is a massive bonus, I know that I'm not putting on any harmful chemicals into my hair, which is reassuring! My hair has never been so shiny and easy to style - I've almost run out of these so I'll definitely be repurchasing them early in the new year. See full review here.

2) Schwarzkopf got2b Guardian Angel Heat Protecting Spray 200ml (£2.99 from Superdrug) - I recently had my hair cut relatively short compared to how long it was. I hadn't had my hair cut in a very long time, so I needed all my split ends cut off. I also wanted to have a sweeping fringe cut back in (I last had one in 2010 but found it very annoying constantly covering my eyes!). After getting my hair cut I always feel like I need to look after my new 'do', so I start using products that I've neglected. I've had this heat protecting spray for a while and it's so good for protecting my hair without being greasy or heavy. I've found that some heat protecting sprays make your hair feel like it has a lot of product in, which I personally don't like. This is a light but effective spray that I'd highly recommend.

3) Tangle Teezer Salon Elite Detangling Hairbrush (£11.99 from amazon) - I actually won this earlier in the year and it sat unused for a while. I'm not sure why because I had heard amazing things about Tangle Teezers and had wanted one for ages! When we moved house I rediscovered it and have used it everyday since. When I had long hair I was really struggling with how knotted my hair was getting, the Tangle Teezer was the only hairbrush that would remove the knots without breaking my hair badly.

4) Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush (on offer for £1.45 from Superdrug) - why did I not know about dry shampoo earlier?! Tom's sisters use it all the time and it was them I learnt all about the wonders and convenience of dry shampoo! It's great for giving your hair a refresh and volume and it can mean you don't need to wash your hair everyday, which we all know is so bad for our hair! I've recently had a sweeping fringe cut, so this dry shampoo is perfect for revitalising it! 

5) Denman Ceramic Hot Curling Brush D74 (£8.79 from Boots) - since having my hair cut shorter and a sweeping fringe cut back in I have needed to blow dry my hair everyday with a curling brush. I don't actually curl my hair with the brush I just use it to give a bit more volume at my roots. This curling hairbrush is ideal because I found that cheaper hairbrushes prickles just melt under the heat of the hair dryer! The Denman Ceramic Hot Curling Brush works with you to help create extra volume! 

Skincare

6) MyChelle Deep Repair Cream (£24 from MyChelle website) - if your skin struggles in the winter with being dry this is the moisturising cream for you! It has a really luxurious feel to the cream, which is absorbed quickly. This cream not only rehydrates but also restores and repairs - ideal combination for the cooler months. See full review here.

7) St Moriz Medium Instant Self Tanning Mousse (£2.99 from fragrancedirect) - I'm not sure if this should really go under 'skincare' but it does go on my skin! This self tan is amazing and I'm pretty sure you will have either heard of it or tried it yourself! At only £2.99 you can't really go wrong, it gives an instant colour which makes applying it easy. It will then develop over time, I tend to apply it at night and by the morning I'm lovely and tanned. Although this is an 'instant' tan it does last longer than a day. Once you've washed the colour guide off (I actually prefer it with the colour guide on - it's a darker colour) you are left with a lighter tan. You can build this up over a couple of days if you do like a darker tan. They also do a 'dark' Instant Self Tanning Mousse too.

8) Aromatherapy Associates Renewing Rose Cleanser (currently in the sale for £18.96 from Beauty Bay) - I was given a sample size of this product on the VIP evening at Eden Spa (see post here), I couldn't wait to try it out. Mainly because I had heard such excellent things about Aromatherapy Assocaites products but also the rose scent reminds me of the most relaxing steam room at Eden Spa that smells of rose! This cleanser is so luxurious, it quickly and effectively removes make up, while deeply moisturising. I've tried some cleansers that leave your face feeling 'tight' as it's been dried out. After using this product my face was moisturised and clean!

9) nspa Brightening Detox Scrub (£4.50 from ASDA) - I use this scrub everyday in the shower, it's a light scrub so it's ideal for everyday use. I can get patches of quite dry skin sometimes so it's important I exfoliate regularly. I love the scent of this product, as well as how long the product lasts for. I've had my tube for about 4 months now and I'm not even half way through it, despite using it everyday! See full review here. 

10) LUSH Cupcake Fresh Face Mask (£5.95 for 75g) - I became such a big fan if lush late last year, I used to be put off my the smell in the shops being overpowering but now I love it! As there isn't one in my local town it's such a treat when I do get to visit one.  I've also just made a rather large order from the lush sale, I'm so excited for it to arrive! This face mask has to be kept in the fridge, which actually makes applying it even better due to the contrast between the cold mask and hot bath. If you like chocolate then you'll love this because that's exactly what it smells like! I have to be honest I do mostly get it for the smell, although it does also leave my skin very soft and cleansed too. 

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Which products have been your favourite throughout 2013?

Feel free to leave me a comment :) 

REFLECTION: My Top 15 Moments of 2013!

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2013 has been a very important year in my life as an adult, a lot has changed and there's a lot to look forward to. So I've put together a list of my favourite moments of 2013, in no particular order! I think it's important to reflect during this festive period, we can spend quality time with the family and appreciate the small things in life. Those moments money simply can't buy!

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1) Tom proposing on the 6th May 2013 - I look forward to finish planning our wedding and getting married in 2014!

2) Going on a family holiday to Italy in April 2013, we have always gone on holiday as a family but as we all grow up it is becoming harder and harder to find a time we are all free. I hope this wasn't the last family holiday, as I treasure all the memories a holiday creates.

 

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3) I started my first 'proper' full time job in April 2013. It has been exciting, stressful, nerve-racking and one of the most fulfilling experiences. I absolutely love my job - everyday is completely different and it's so rewarding!

4) Tom and I moved house in October 2013, we have been looking to buy a house for the past 2 years but with no luck. There doesn't seem to be much movement on the housing market in our area, so when the rental contract on our last house came to an end we weren't sure what to do. With only 2 weeks until we had to move out we finally found a gorgeous converted pub to rent and that's where we are now! I learnt how much hard work moving house is.

 

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5) I started this blog properly in June/July 2013, I had been blogging before but due to my new job simply didn't have any time to blog. At the start of the summer I really wanted to get back into blogging and have loved every second of it! I find it quite therapeutic sitting down and writing a blog post, I've experienced some amazing products and spoke to so many lovely people on Twitter (my twitter account - @Treasure_E_M). I can't wait to see where my blog goes in 2014.

6) My Sister-in-Law giving birth to a beautiful baby girl called Daisy in May 2013. I feel quite an amount of responsibility being an auntie now and I hope to be the best auntie I can be, just like my own auntie! Watching a family grow has been so lovely and made us very excited for our future too!

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7) My brother completing the London marathon! He wasn't particularly fit, so it really was a challenge for him. He trained hard, ate a lot of pasta and completed the London a Marathon in 5 hours 42 minutes!!! I tracked him the whole way on the online tracker and felt so immensely proud when he crossed the line! I have a lot of admiration for him and his achievements. 

 

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8) Planning our own wedding has been a learning experience, as well as being very exciting! The organised side of me loves a bit of organising, any excuse to write a list! I spent the summer emailing venues, trying on wedding dresses, talking about all things wedding and visiting venues. All with the thought that 'this time next summer we'll be getting married'! 

9) A number of family and friends were really poorly at the start of 2013 but they are all starting to get better now, which makes us both very happy. I hope that 2014 continues to bring good news to them all and that they all get completely better.

 

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10) Going back to Lowestoft with Tom back in August. Lowestoft will forever hold a special place in my heart, my Grandparents had a caravan there for the whole of my life up until I was 20 years old! We used to go there every summer for a short break, so there are loads of family memories held there. When we had to get rid of the caravan because it was too old it was very much an end of an era. I've missed going there every summer since, so when Tom suggested going for a short weekend break there I was so excited. It probably sounds strange but its such a comforting place to go for me, I just wish it was a little nearer!

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11) Waking up on my birthday in March and there being snow all around us! Tom had taken me away to a Shepherd's Hut in the Peak District for my birthday, when we went to sleep it was really cold outside but I certainly wasn't expecting to see fields laced with snow in the morning! I absolutely love snow if I don't have to get to work or go anywhere. We also saw lambs that had been born that day, so very cute.

12) Tom did a two year graduate scheme with a company after university, which was perfect as it allowed him to experience four aspects of the company to see which he liked the best. In September 2013 he was offered a job in the area he wanted to work in! I'm so very proud of all of his achievements, he works so hard and deserves all the success he achieves!

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13) Making lots of new friends at my new job - they've taught me a lot about myself, mostly along the lines of how un-wild I am! They've reminded me that I am only young and that I can go out and party sometimes! It is a bit of a hassle because I live over an hour from the town they all go out in, so I have to speak very nicely to Tom so that he'll kindly pick me up in the middle of the night!

14) This is a pretty shallow 'top moment if 2013' but getting an iPad mini for Christmas this year from Tom has been SO exciting! I've gone on about how much I'd love a tablet of any kind so much but never ever actually thought I own one (unless luckily won in one of the many iPad competitions I enter)! I really do feel so lucky :)

15) Going Hovercrafting for the first time - we went for my brother's birthday. It's such a unique experience and pretty hard work! You have to completely lean to the side you want to move but if you lean too much you will dig into the ground, it's quite an art to master it!

What have you top moments of 2013 been?

Feel free to leave me a comment :)