Pregnancy: the struggle is real.

My pregnancy seemed to drag on forever! This was partly due to us finding out so early on. I think I was about 3/4 weeks when I found out (on my husbands birthday!) 

We were over the moon as we'd been trying after a rainbow baby (actually babies, there were 3 little sacs) in October. So I went to my doctor and started the process of getting my midwife appointment. What I always found strange was that no one did a pregnancy test on me, they just believed I was pregnant! I could have been deluded! Anywho. I got my 12 week scan date for the 29th February - I was so nervous. 

Me at 11 weeks.

 

Baby R at 11 weeks even though it says 12w3d on the scan. 

My scan revealed that I wasn't as far a long as we expected, this was due to the length of my cycle, so we had to book for another scan as they couldn't do the required tests. But there was a baby! And it had a heartbeat! And it was in my tummy and it was alive and healthy! The relief!

The next week dragged!! I couldn't wait to see Baby R again. 

 

 

The day before our second scan 

 

Baby R had changed so much

It was so lovely to see the baby again, but the anxiety is still high, I found this the whole way through my pregnancy, no one can prepare you for that. At this scan, baby had done the required amount of growing and the sonographer was able to take her measurements to do the tests, I also gave some blood today so they could do further tests, just to wait to get our results.

 

The day our results came in the post, I cried and cried! Our baby was going to be perfect, and the chance of the baby having any abnormalities was extremely low. Our baby was going to be ok.

Having hit the second trimester, the tiredness was starting to wear off and I was loving being pregnant. I was feeling ok, I still had a little nausea but I was feeling great. 

 

 

I wasn't really showing much by 15 weeks but I remember starting to really pop on Easter Sunday! It was becoming difficult to hide! I didn't tell anyone at work until we'd got the results from the scan. I think the stripes made the bump look bigger!! 

 

 

At 16 weeks we moved home. And I was so ill. I had a chest infection and flu and I felt like shit. How I managed to do it, I just don't know. I lost a bit of weight during this time, that's why my bump looked a little smaller at 17 weeks. I went to the doctor at 17 weeks too as I got some antibiotics as I wasn't getting any better. The doctor also listened to the baby's heartbeat to make sure everything was ok, and the baby had the most amazing strong heartbeat! It was magical!

 

At 18 weeks I met my local midwife, for my booking in appt locally to my new area. She listened to the baby's heart beat again. Still lovely and strong. And my little bump was filling out again! She also requested a 20 week scan at the John Radcliffe instead of me having to go back to Watford General. 

 

Gender reveal at the next scan! 

Jx

Blusher, Brownies & Babies

So it's been about 20 years since I've written a blog post. I've been a bit busy making a baby! My little bunny was born on the 16th September and she is the light of my life!

 

This is Rosie Hope Reynolds. She weighed 8lbs 3oz of pure loveliness. 

I'm going to start (try to) documenting my time with Rosie and our little life together while I'm on maternity leave. 

I'll start off with the pregnancy...

Jx 

The best tan ever...?

So, this may be a bit premature as I've not let the tan wear off completely but I have to say I'm in love with this new tan from Hi-She! 

It is called: 

He-Shi Rapid 1 Hour Liquid Tan 150ml

And is £22 from feel unique.com

Honestly, I was almost translucent when I applied this tan on Thursday night (it's now Sunday) The tan has a colour guide allowing you to see where you have applied. It's liquid in consistency and dries rapidly. There is hardly any smell and isn't tacky.

After an hour the tan had developed, but not as much as I'd hoped. So I left it on for a further 1.5 hours - almost the maximum recommended time. After my shower, I was a lovely golden colour - very natural and not at all patchy (apart from a few user errors around my hands oops!) But to my surprise, the tan continued to develop over night, and when I woke in the morning I was very dark! Love it! 

This is no filter and taken in my bathroom, (so probably not the truest of indications) 3 nights after application. I really should have taken a before photo! But trust me when I say I'm pale, I'm pale! 

Again no filter in this (excuse the pjs) but you can see the tan line where I had my knickers on! 

This will become my staple tan now, I've had so many disasters with fake tan, and now I've found this little beauty I will be sticking to it. 

Hi-She say:

Made from 100% natural DHA and is an odourless, paraben free formulation with the addition of Pentavitin® for superior instant, long lasting moisturisation and Vitamin E for advanced anti-ageing properties.

And it really does moisturise, I didn't think it would, as it was only a liquid and appeared to have a high alcohol content but my skin was lovely and smooth the next day. 

I also have moved on to my bb cream instead of foundation as this provides a lovely base for make up! 

All in all, a fab product and I will be using in conjunction with the hi-she gel from now on. 

Has anyone else had any good or bad experiences with hi-she or self tan in general?

Jx

Peanut Hottie Surprise Cupcakes

A month or so ago, the lovely people at Peanut Hottie asked me to make something yummy out of some goodies they sent me and film it! Who am I to resist a yummy peanut butter challenge??

They sent me some peanut hottie drink, original and chocolate, some peanuts, snickers, peanut m&m's, peanut butter and a mug!

I decided, as I love baking to make some cupcakes. I called them Peanut Hottie Surprise Cupcakes!

I used a simple cake mixture of sugar, flour, butter and eggs and added some peanut butter to the mixture as well as some of the chocolate peanut drink powder. And the surprise element of the cake was a hidden peanut m&m in the centre! 

Here are the finished articles!

If I were to make them again I think I would use a syringe and put melted jam in the middle- like a peanut butter and jelly cupcake! Mmmm I might just have to try that now! 

The link to my video can be seen on Peanut Hotties Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=655369024567891

Here is me at the start of the video ;)

I happen to love this drink and at only 83 calories a serving, you can afford to indulge!

Has anyone else tried Peanut Hottie? Have you made any wild concoctions?

Jx

Vita Coco Coconut Oil

I'm jumping on the bandwagon that is coconut oil. Celeb after celeb is gushing over it! 

I love coconuts the smell, taste, the memories, but I've never actually used it myself in it's raw oil state. So I bought some from Amazon. I decided to go for the Vita Coco range as I like their drinks and is a trusted brand.

Vita Coco say:

Vita Coco, the company who first brought us delicious tasting coconut water, now brings to our shores its own brand of 100% Organic Coconut Oil. Cold pressed from Organic coconuts, 100% raw and extra virgin, this new addition to the Vita Coco Family is the perfect cooking oil and goes a long way to rescuing dry skin and hair - that's why people swear by it!

My review today is using it as an intensive hair treatment. My hair is driving me mad at the moment. Really dry and knotty (refusing to cut it- I know I should to keep it in good condition, but I just can't, too scared) Anyway, I love an intensive conditioner so was excited to try this natural version. 

To start I warmed about 3 tablespoons of oil in the palms of my hands until it was in liquid form then applied to the mid-lengths and ends of my hair. Obviously, it feels very greasy and got worse the longer it was left on, but I didn't mind as I knew it was doing my hair good! 

It smells so good, (if you like coconuts that is) felt really nourished and healthy. 

I read somewhere that you are to leave it on for a minimum of 2 hours to overnight. So that's what I did. I left it on overnight and hoped for the best.

I gave my hair a good two shampoos and proceeded to blow dry as usual. Whilst I was combing through, I did have a "what have I done here moment" as it wasn't combing as easily, so I was a bit worried. Then I worried that my normally quite greasy hair would be extra greasy, but I was pleasantly surprised. The result was impressive. Super shiny, bouncy and nourished. 

I think this will become part of my regular haircare routine, maybe once a week or every 10 days. I suspect it would be lovely on the hair when you are on holiday, relaxing in the sun.

I love coconut oil! Now to try oil pulling! And in cooking. Apparently it's nice on toast instead of butter - who knew!

Who else has tried coconut oil? And what have you done with it?

Jx

Beach Blonde Brought Back

I can't even begin to tell you the EXCITEMENT I have that the lovely John Frieda have re-released the Beach Blonde range after it was discontinued around a decade ago. I'd written to them advising them of my distress but to no avail.

So, when I was shopping the other week, I see it there, on the shelves, looking all pretty and sparkly and waving at me, I couldn't believe my eyes!

It's is honestly, the best holiday shampoo and conditioner I've ever used, nothing else has come close. It's minty fresh scent reminds me of holidays and sunshine and happiness. It gently cleanses hair of chlorine, salt and sunscreen. The conditioner softens and smoothes hair without weighing it down. I just love it! 

John Fried says:

NEW!BEACH BLONDECOOL DIP PURIFYING SHAMPOO

• Cleanse your hair of daily dirt and product build-up with this purifying shampoo which leaves hair feeling silky soft and lightly textured, for an effortlessly tousled beach style.
• Infused with spearmint and notes of citrus for a fresh fragrance that evokes nostalgic memories of summer vacations at the beach, while the cooling complex leaves an invigorating and refreshing sensation.
• Suitable for all hair types and shades, including colour-treated hair.

NEW!BEACH BLONDESMOOTH SEAS DETANGLING CONDITIONER

• Prep your hair for an effortlessly tousled beach style while softening, for a silky-smooth finish.
• Expertly formulated with Kukui Nut Oil, which is rich in Omega 3, this lightweight conditioner gently detangles and nourishes dry and damaged hair without leaving it feeling weighed down or limp.
• Infused with spearmint and notes of citrus for a fresh fragrance that evokes nostalgic memories of summer vacations at the beach, while the cooling complex leaves an invigorating and refreshing sensation.
• Suitable for all hair types and shades, including colour-treated hair.

You can purchase from most supermarkets, but I found mine from Sainsburys, priced at around £5.99 each for 250ml.

Well done John Frieda, I'm sure you've made a lot of women very happy.

Does anyone else share my happiness?

Jx

Sunday snuggles

To be perfectly honest, this probably doesn't warrant a post to itself, but my youngest fur baby had been super affectionate this morning! We had some lovely cuddles. This is what Sundays are about! 

We've had Molly Moo just over a year now, and I've invested so much time and love into making her as lovely as she is. I couldn't imagine how much joy she would bring me.

Molly is a silver marbled Bengal, and absolutely bonkers! She is the second bengal I've had (my mum has one) and they are a particularly lively cat, not one for someone who hasn't had experience in keeping cats, as they are not normal! 

Molly is crackers! She's talks, jumps on the tops of doors, rushes around like a nutter, I've honestly never known a cat like her! But couldn't be without her now.

Has anyone else got a Bengal? What are they like?

Jx