Organix goodies

A few weeks ago we were sent some of the Organix goodies range to try out. I'll have to apologise for the lack of photos. As soon as the box arrived the kids were in it helping themselves to the treats. The packaging didn't survive. Whoops!

 

 

As a parent it's so hard to ensure that your kids eat healthy all the time. But with Organix Goodies you feel like you are giving them some treats that are healthy.

The thing I love about them is not only are they organic they are also made with only natural ingredients.

 

 

From the get go the gingerbread men where the favourite by far. They are mildly flavoured for their little palettes too, which is great, kids are very sensitive to new flavours. The kids loved them and they are a great addition to a lunch box without breaking the no junk food rule in creche. (Organix have a no junk food promise anyway so you know you are in safe hands)

 

 

My favourite was the popcorn. So so good. The older one wasn't mad on these but she's much more into savoury things anyway.  The baby loved them and I felt so much more comfortable with her eating these than normal popcorn. Normal popcorn scares me a bit when the kids eat them. I'm always afraid they will choke. These are a much better alternative.

 

 

 

 

 

 The berry bars were so handy to have in my bag for when we were out to hand out to hungry bellies. They taste so juicy. And they are packed with raisins. The kids loved them. And again were a great addition to Lauren's lunch box. She is supposed to be eating dinner in creche but is point blank refusing to eat the dinners so I'm having to pack lunches for her.

 

 

 I'd kind of forgotten about Organix if I'm being honest but I will deffo be restocking on the gingerbread men! And will try out some of the other treats in the range. I was in Dunnes over the weekend and they have offers on Organix at the moment if you are price savvy and looking to save a few quid.

 

 

Go check them out. You won't be disappointed.

Lots of love
Donna

Xxx

Urban Decay troublemaker Mascara

I'm forever in search of a good mascara. You know the one we are all in search of. I've really crappy natural lashes so it's a mean feat for any mascara.

 

You've probably seen all the promo for urban decays latest offering Troublemaker.

They claim that it's so good that it should be illegal. Very big claim!  The mascara claims to give 13.7 times more volume than your natural lash, a sexy fluttery intensely black lashes. Super fat, super long and sex proof!! Yup they said that lol.

 

 

 

 

Although it's not a waterproof formula it claims to stand up to hot and heavy situations. Lol. The formula can be layered and doesn't clump.

 

I think you'll agree. The packaging is beautiful. Urban Decay customised the brush too. So that it grabs all the lashes even the tiny inside ones that some bushes just don't get to.

My first impressions of this mascara are good. I tried it on straight away and have to say I really noticed a difference in the length of my lashes straight away. I'll give it a few more goes before I give a proper verdict on it. So far it's a thumbs up.

 

Troublemaker Mascara will be available from Urban Decays Dublin boutique on Grafton Street from September the 27th and from Debenhams and House of Fraser from September the 28th. And with a RRP of €23 it won't break the bank either.

 

 

Get out there ladies and see if it is truly sex poof!.

 

 

Lots of Love
Donna
Xxx

Monday Blues

I've been very quiet on here of late. I had varicose vein surgery and I go in to have my gallbladder removed soon too. I have really just enjoyed the downtime if I'm completely honest. Not having the 1.5 hour commute to and from work. The rush in the mornings to get the kids up and ready for crèche. The rat race really.

But reality has returned and we are back in full swing. My surgery went really well, very little pain and the bruising is fading. My skin is very sensitive in areas where veins were removed. I am presuming this is normal. I will do a post on the procedure once I have the second leg done as my second leg is a more complicated one so I want to see what the recovery from that one will be like.

The girls started a new crèche last week. What an emotional time that was. Saying goodbye to the old one was tough. But its a change that's for the greater good as the girls will be going to school next door to the new crèche so the move would have had to been made at some stage. New crèche is lovely and the girls are settling in well.

I have been trying out loads of new products so I have a load of reviews coming up too.

So be prepared to hear much more from me this week.

Lots of Love

Donna

XXX

Health and fitness, MIA

I've been ever so quiet here on a Friday with my health and fitness posts. Reason being I haven't been well. I was recently diagnosed with gallstones and boy have they been giving me grief. So for the moment I haven't been feeling well enough to exercise. My diet has had to completely change too and I have been surviving on really plain foods so boring.

I head on holidays in a week and have now 3 surgeries scheduled for when I return. So for now the exercising will be knocked on the head.

I will try and get some healthy posts up soon.

lots of love

Donna

Review - Skin Nerd cleanse off mitt

Having 2 small kids my skin care routine is crap! absolutely non existent some nights. And you can really tell too. Underneath my safety net of makeup my skin is dull and patchy. I've been using baby wipes mostly for the past few years. Which although aren't the worst thing I could use but lets face it they aren't great for your skin.

I need to start looking after my skin again but that's a whole different post. Back to the review. So it's really weird washing your face without a product, really weird and I'm not sure I'm entirely comfortable with it if I'm honest. Isn't it gas how warped our brains are. Now you can use a cleanser with the cloth if you chose but its designed so that a cleanser is not necessary.

The Cleanse off Mitt was created by skin therapist Jennifer Rock AKA The Skin Nerd. Its a microfiber cloth with tiny little loops which hook onto makeup and oil on the skin. Its free from any chemicals or irritants to the skin so makes it a great alternative for anyone with sensitive skin.

You literally wet the cloth and wipe your face clean. And ladies it removes full coverage foundation. It has a life span of approx. 3-6 months so you will save yourself a fortune on wipes as this one is only €5, I got mine in Meaghers Pharmacy you can purchase it Here. You wash it afterwards with a bacterial soap and there is a little hook on the side you can hang it up to dry. You can also throw it in the washing machine inside out of course, to protect the little hooks.

I did find that I had a bit of a panda eye in the morning but what ever I use I always seem to end up that way in the morning so it was no different to any other product I use anyway.

And why is it different to a normal face cloth I hear you say? Its the loops / hooks, a normal facecloth doesn't have these so doesn't cleanse the skin as well. Face Cloths are also made from a denser fabric so therefore harbour more bacteria too. I think I may replace all the face cloths in the house with this mitt.

I think this will be great to take away on holiday, lighter option for me too as I will have a case packed with wipes and nappies as it is anyway.

So I'd definitely recommend buying it and giving it a go. And it's Irish! And its Eco friendly too.


Lots of Love

Donna.

XX

PS any tips on getting my face in better nick drop me a line

Bellamianta Dark Mousse

I've said it a million times before. I have brutal skin for tanning naturally and with self tanners. So when I buy tan I always go for the dark option and that generally turns out the way a normal persons tan would, until now!

I tell you the things we do for our blogs! So I done one leg in tan one without just to show you how dark this tan actually gets! And I have to be honest the photo doesn't show it as well as it looks in reality.

I've used Bellamianta now a few times and it is by far my favourite tan to use. I find it a little sticky when its first applied but it doesn't last long at all. It claims to dry in 60 seconds, I didn't time it but I'm sure it was a wee bit longer than 60 seconds. I love that it has a guide colour in it too. I am not mad on tans without it cos I'm not great at applying and nearly always in a rush. I used the sun kissed luxury mitt but the bloody thing has a rip in the top now so I will deffo purchase the Bellmianta mitt now.

Now the bit that sold me, I've very dry skin of late, Bellamianta claims to have an ultra-smart hydration system, I wouldn't say it hydrates the skin really well like a lotion would, but my skin feels much nicer than after I apply some other tan brands. And it definitely wears off really well too. I never once looked patchy. Bellamianta claim no fake tan smell, while it smells lovely while applying, it still has a fake tan smell in the morning. Sorry Bellaminata. I don't think there will ever be a tan which doesn't smell and I've come to accept that.

What I especially love about this tan is its ready to wear, you are instantly tan to a point and it develops over time too so you can manage how dark you want to go. 2 hours for light, 3 hours for medium and 4 hours plus for dark.

I have struggled to find a tan that gives me a dark but golden tan and I swear Bellmianta has been a game changer for my pasty white skin. Yes its more pricey than the cocoa brown but for me its well worth the money.  And best of all its made from all natural ingredients!


So there you go. Worth the hype, worth the money and I will deffo repurchase.

Lots of love

Donna
XXX

My IVF Story - A personal account

I've thought about writing this post for a long time and wasn't sure if I'd share, it's a very personal journey but if I think it's a nice story to tell and possibly help someone else who's looking down the barrel of the IVF gun or currently on their journey.

 

So make yourself a cuppa it's a long one :)

 

My journey and I say mine because it is mine not ours, it’s my experience from my eyes not my husbands. This is how I felt and what went through my mind and heart at the time. And he was rhere and was so supportive and we did this together. But I can only say how it was for me.

 

My journey started out in 2010, we decided to start trying for a baby. And the heart ache might I add is instant really. You think every month will be the month and when it’s not you really feel it. It’s a horrible feeling. My close friends had kids and other friends in my circle where pregnant or mammies. In fact it felt like then entire world were pregnant and having kids. And in the first few months I could smile and be happy for them but as time wore on the smile remained but resentment inside grew along with sadness.

 

They recommend that you wait a year (who ever they are!) before you seek medical advice. After a year had passed of us trying we went to our GP. I went to my GP armed with as much information as I possibly could, so I knew what I needed to ask her to organise for me. She was great and a real support to me right through the entire experience, something that's really important for this journey. You will need it.

Armed with the information I had mainly gathered from the internet, places like rollercoaster and boards I asked her to send me on for a multitude of tests and a sperm test for my husband. I'd bought a fertility monitor and let’s face it, the trying had become more of a military operation than anything fun or exciting. Stress was taking over and it was a chore. That happens to a lot of couples, it's hard for it not to.

I had my AMH levels checked and all the usual bloods done. I can’t remember the exact figure now of my AMH but it was on the low side but not in the really low side.  I went on to have a HGC x-ray to check my tubes, all was ok with me so far. My hubby had some issues with his swimmers, he was cycling a lot, going to the gym, using the sauna and steam room, laptops on his lap etc. None of which are good for the swimmers. But after a couple of months on a healthier diet, lifestyle change the swimmers were even better than normal. Happy days! And to be honest I felt at the time that if the issues were with me I could cope better, I think that's more to do with the control freak in me!

But more months passed and nothing happened. At this point I was so deflated. I'd be all aw I'm ok, it will happen. I'll be a mammy. People would constantly ask so when you having kids.....I'd joke and laugh and make comments like "oh I'm enjoying my fancy holidays way too much for kids" inside I was dying. I'd cry a lot. But always put my best foot forward. 

 

I didn't want IVF who does? I thought about adoption, but I really wanted my own baby. Adoption was something that would take years and I wanted this baby yesterday! My sister became pregnant during this time too and although I was sooo sooo happy and soooo excited for her, her news was like a stab in the heart. When my Nephew was born he was the little dose of happiness my family needed. He brought the happy back. But it didn't last long. I yearend for a baby of my own. My heart ached. It was starting to get really tough emotionally.

I went to see a gynaecologist at the end of 2011 and had a laparoscopy and D&C done in January 2012. Everything seemed normal, he did comment that my cervix was "tight" and that he dilated it. But still nothing was happening. At this stage I was so down. My life was a sea of fertility gels, fertility tests, timed sex and misery. Honest to god misery.

My mam passed away in 2001, I really needed her now. For her to tell me I would be ok, you know no matter how old you are you are never too old for a hug from your mammy! She would tell me it would all work out and I would believe her.

 

I was determined to become a mammy. I said before that for some reason I wasn't happy to do IVF. Maybe because I felt like a failure, getting pregnant was something I avoided for so much of my life and something I thought would be so easy, how wrong was I? Late 2012 we attended the HARI unit in the Rotunda Hospital for our introductory meeting. I was shocked by the number of people there and the age ranges. It wasn't all older couples there was a total range of ages there.

So 2013 we started with our ivf cycle. One thing this entire process I learned, you are not in control of anything, nothing is in your control, nothing. It’s the biggest waiting game of your life. It was a rollercoaster of emotions when we started. Joy, elation, fear..... The list was endless. But it was a really positive step too. We were hopefully on the road to becoming parents. We had to attend a counselling session too before we started. I was given my prescription and instructions and the process started (I can do another journal post if people wanted it as I kept a journal during the process). I was monitored throughout, all dignity is left at the door ha ha. I was still going to work etc. during this time. A thing I changed for the next cycle.

Now for the bit I wasn't expecting, you expect that it won’t work, that you don't end up pregnant. But what I never prepared myself for was a cancelled cycle. I didn't have enough eggs for them to collect. I had 3! I was so upset. It literally took the wind out of my sails. I sobbed. They offered for us to do IUI but I thought it was a bit of a waste of our money so we were told to go home and try naturally. Devastated. I really needed my mam. I was being so strong and brave on the outside but really inside I was starting to break.

We gathered ourselves again and in the June the process began again. This time I changed the times I took the medication to suit me and my schedules. They upped the drugs and things were going really well, until the opposite, overstimulation. I was producing too many eggs. Bloody great! More obstacles! How much more stress can I take. This time round I stayed off work, I rested. And now again, I faced not being able to continue AGAIN. I was monitored closely. Overstimulation can be dangerous. Not what you want. But my Mam was watching over me, I truly believe that. It levelled out, we were back on track.

Egg retrieval day arrived. I was so scared. They told me I would be sedated. I wasn't sure how that would go. Would I be awake, in pain???  Turns out I was basically knocked out, all I remember was the consultant telling me that he had got 21 eggs! Twenty bloody one!!!! So so happy. We had a huge chance. We would make it eventually, if not this cycle, we would have another one.

Because we had so many eggs, we were going to do a day 5 transfer instead of a day 3 transfer. Basically a day 5 transfer has a better chance of implanting than a day 3 transfer but the risk of more embryos dying during the process is higher.

18 eggs fertilized and 10 made it to day 5. The clinic calls you to let you know how they are all doing kind of cute, kind of terrifying. The strongest embryo is selected to transfer. I'll never forget the day. It was a beautiful sunny day, Gay Pride was on. Everyone around were in great form. It was a wonderful day for what was about to happen.

You need to have a full bladder for the transfer which is so uncomfortable. And you didn't think this would be plain sailing now did you??? This is me! Course not. They couldn't get the catheter into my womb. Cue panic. Crap!. We are at the finish line.....Don't do this to me!!  I was asked to go empty my bladder a small bit, maybe it was compressing something. Eh how do you when you are busting empty a small bit? It’s amazing what you can do when you put our mind to it.

Back in to the procedure room. And by the way it’s all very official. You are asked your name and date of birth a lot. You get to watch it all unfold on the screen. I'm still panicking at this stage. What happens if they can’t get this embryo in?  A question to this day I still don't know the answer to.  And it’s really horrible too, our uterus is cramping the entire time. Success at last, it was in. And now the waiting begins.

They advise you not to test until the day they say, this is to rule out any false positives. The wait is awful. You imagine all sorts of pregnancy symptoms, you feel like it’s not working. It’s a complete mind game. Your emotions are all over the place. You fear happiness. You feel like it’s all too good to be true.

You want to test but at the same time you don't want it to be over. You fear the answer.

 Then you test, you think you are imagining the second line. Is it there or is it in your mind. We were extremely lucky, we got the two lines.

 I was pregnant. Finally pregnant. I cried like a baby!!! The emotions that I felt. Elated! Almost sorry that I didn't start this process long before. Worried that it wasn't true. Worried about what could still go wrong. Noting is a given. You are still not in control, never once in this entire process are you in control.

 Pregnancy is a gift not all women get to experience and I will tell you now, I enjoyed every second my baby was in my belly.

 40 weeks later, we welcomed our beautiful baby Girl Lauren. Our blessing! It was a day of so many emotions, relief she was here, she was perfect, she was mine. Sadness that I couldn't share this with my mam, but so thankful that myself and my husband made it.

 

 

The struggle to get her was hard, although it sound so hard and so much to deal with, it not a process I would ever hesitate to do a million times over if I had to.

 And the icing on the cake???  Her baby sister Ellie joined us almost exactly 2 years later completely by surprise not one bit planned!!!  She completed me and my journey to be a Mammy. The love I have for these girls is so strong. I sometimes think the word love isn't enough. And let me tell you the shock on my face when I done that pregnancy test was hilarious. To go from planning every intimate encounter to just becoming pregnant without a second thought is amazing! I'm so lucky. We are so lucky.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are going through the process and want a chat get in touch. I'm not an expert but I have been there and had a positive experience and hopefully can just be a new set of ears to listen. My email is lipglossandslippers@gmail.com

 

Stay strong life has a funny way of working itself out in the end.

 

Lots of love

 

Donna

XXX