Pregnancy Update - 36 Weeks Pregnant

Aloha Bloggerinos,

This snap was actually taken 2 weeks ago at my Baby Shower (shall I do a post/video on this? I can't decide), so I'm a little bit bigger now.

Well since we last had a pregnancy catch up,  A LOT has happened and I will try and condense it all down so as not to bore you to bits.

Physically

I'm bigger. A given! But now I just feel cumbersome and find I waddle about and huff and puff and can't really get up much speed. My usual 10 minute saunter to the midwife's centre has now turned into a 15 minute lumber. Sometimes I deliberately put my hand on my bump so people realise I'm not just walking funny, and that I am actually with child! haha.

About 2 weeks ago, I had a bit of a scare and went to hospital. I had been wizzing about and getting on with life, still working etc, and then I started to notice my tum was really tender and sore. I tried to sleep it off but after 2 days I was in agony and hadn't felt Baby Glitter move for some time. After quite a few calls to labour triage (honestly, you have to practically fight your way in there!!), they told me to come in and bring an overnight bag. I was really panicked at the thought of staying over but Matt was so calm and reassuring. After being hooked up to all the monitors and stuff, it turned out I had 1. Strained my stomach muscles by overdoing things and 2. Baby Glitter was back to back, and still is. Urgh. I'm doing all the exercises to encourage her to move but she's having none of it.

After feeling very smug about gaining no weight at all, I have now gained a stone. Oh well. I'm planning on breast feeding, eating healthy and exercising (I need a reason to take my swanky Silver Cross Pram on walks) so hopefully that will go. I'd like to loose a fair bit but won't bang on about it because diets and weight loss bore me zzzzzzzzzzz.

Sleeping is really rubbish now. I struggle to get to sleep and then only have it in small bursts because I either wake up needing the loo or have a really vivid dream. I'm trying not to nap during the day (I'm on maternity leave now) so I can sleep at night but it's tricky.

There have been a few other little physical things, but at the risk of giving you a bit too much info, I'll leave it! haha.

Emotionally

I'll admit it, I've been an emotional nightmare to live with. One minute I'm standing over the beautiful moses basket thinking how amazing it will be when I can see my baby in there, and the next I'm having a huge cry over the fact that my eyelashes look 'excessive'. This is no joke, I put on false lashes for my Baby Shower, thought they looked too much and burst into tears and had to be calmed down with an ice lolly ahahahaha!

Matt has been beyond patient. He fetches me drinks and pillows and runs me baths (the only place I can be where my lower back doesn't ache) and even painted my toenails for me the other day now that I can't reach them easily myself!

Cool Stuff

I have practically everything I need now. The last little bits are nursing bras (I bought 2 but they feel like straight jackets so I need to exchange them) and maybe a bottle cleaner and to work out how to use the steriliser.

I'm reading lots of good baby books at the moment, which I may do a separate post on.

I was given soooo many gorgeous things at my baby shower and have also been sent some great bits (will defo do a video on these, or Zoe might come and kill me!)

I've been playing the bump lots of music and she really reacts to it- it's amazing! She wiggles about and I like to think she is dancing and smiling and being all like "yyeaaahhhh, I love this song!".

I've probably missed lots out but I'm sure you'll hear more now that we're on the home stretch so to speak.

Come on Baby Glitter, come ouuuttt!!

Toodlepip!

xx

FOTD- MAC at London Fashion Week

Aloha Bloggerinos,

Yesterday I was one VERY lucky lady. I was invited to an event hosted by MAC Cosmetics at London Fashion Week at Somerset House and had the most exciting day ever!

I'm going to talk about it in 2-3 posts because I want to tell you EVERYTHING so you feel like you were there too, but this one is just a quickie because I'm more tired than a sloth on sleeping pills.

At one point during the day, we were given the chance to have our makeup done by one of the makeup artists, in any look we wanted- yabbadabbadooo! Now, seeing as I have been in a bit of a rut lately, doing the same looks over and over, I asked the artist (Natasha from the Dublin store- a cosmetic genius) to do strong red lips, as this is something I have never had the nerve to do myself.

I seem to be totally incapable of taking decent pictures of my own face, so here are my shoddy attempts and at the bottom I'll tell you what Natasha used.

Ok, so I look a bit mental here but I was having a 'bleaugh moment' and forgot to smile/use my face at all hahaha. This was taken in the mirror of the MAC media booth (which by the way, was heaven. Actual heaven).

This is Natasha the Makeup Goddess. She gave me so many brilliant tips that I would never have thought of and I really feel excited about trying some new things out.

So, what did Natasha use to create this look?

Lips

Lip Pencil in Cherry

Lipstick in Red Russian

Clear Lipglass

I need to buy all of these the moment I have some mula! They are wonder products for sure!

Face

NW25 Pro Long Wear Concealer

Medium Care Blend (not entirely sure what this is)

Fling Brow Pencil

Eyeliner- which I think was Fluidline but obviously I had my eyes shut! ahaha

Anndd I already had my own mascara on.

It was so fun having my makeup done by a professional and I'm looking forward to telling you all more about the day.

What do you think? Would you sport a red pout?

Toodlepip!

xx

Lou's Reviews :: Liz Earle Toner and Moisturiser

Aloha Bloggerinos,

Do you remember when I posted about my love for the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser HERE? Well, those crazy gals at Liz Earle were kind enough to read my review and then send me the next two steps in the range, which I was over ze moon and zo stars about now that I'm such a convert! Eep!

(How professional is that? I do think Liz Earle have excellent PR)

I was generously sent a bottle of  Instant Boost Skin Tonic and a jar of Skin Repair Moisturiser (for dry skin).

Instant Boost Skin Toner

A while ago I asked you all what the point of toner was, so it was good luck that you all answered before this product arrived, otherwise I'd be fumbling around in the dark for something to say like a blind mouse.

I have been informed, by none other than you clever Bloggerinos, that the purpose of toner is to remove any remaining yuk from the skin, close the pores and prepare your skin for moisturising. Now that I know this, I am much more inclined to use toner and much less clueless- thank you!

I love this toner. It doesn't smell the same as the Cleanse and Polish (which is a shame because I am in love with the fragrance of that one), but does still smell mature and sophisticated. I go through phases. Sometimes I like the funky vivid smells of Lush Whoosh Shower Jelly and Snow Fairy, and sometimes I like a more grown up scent.

The packaging, like all of this range, is very bathroom friendly- pastel greens with unoffensive silver writing, lovely. Also, I like the cap of the bottle. Rather than take the whole cap off, you twist the lid and tada, a little nib where the toner comes out of, allowing you to control the flow of product and prevent wastage. A bonus in my books.

I have only ever used one other toner before (Lush Breath of Fresh Air) so I am by no means an expert in this field, but I know what I like, and I like this. It feels refreshing but doesn't make my skin tingle and it doesn't leave me feeling all tight and horrid- this is a big thing for me because my other one does leave me running for the face cream post haste!

I can't say I noticed that it removed any remaining yuk from my face, but I really do think this is because the Cleanse and Polish kit deals with everything and does such a good job that there is nothing left to remove.

Phewf, who knew I could talk about toner for so long?! Sorry!!

Skin Repair Moisturiser

I'm in love. Fact.

I used to use Lush Dream Cream religiously because I enjoyed the thick, non oily consistency. Then Baby Glitter started making my tum her home, my sense of smell went gaga and Dream Cream became Nightmare-Vomit-At-The-Smell-Of-It Cream. I had been using a Vaseline body lotion in it's place because I could bare it, but this. is. brilliant!

The scent is subtle yet fragrant- I'm yet to put my finger on it but all I can think of is that it smells 'clean'. Does that make any sense? I hope so!

This product sinks in beautifully, especially after using the 2 prior steps the routine, but I have also used and enjoyed it after a little makeup wipe cleanse (sometimes I just don't have the energy for a full routine/I'm lazy).

It leaves my skin feeling revived, soft and I have noticed my foundation sets very well over the top of it.

Win win win.

Links are at the top for each product but for the whole Liz Earle site and prices (I didn't include as they are different depending on sizes), click HERE. 

Have you tried these or similar products? What did you think?

Toodlepip!

xx