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

Fitness Friday - Quick and easy at home workout

Let me start off by saying 1. I hate the gym and 2. even if I did like the gym with 2 kids and working full time its very hard to get any time to get to a gym.

I need to get into shape. I've spent most of my 20's and all of my 30's hating how my body looks. And I'm all about loving the body you have but I don't. And I also want to set a healthy example to my two young girls. I want them to grow up with good eating habits and exercise without feeling like its a chore....like I do ha ha ha

I need something which can be done quickly but help burn fat. This is a plan that was put together for me by my husband who knows a bit more about fitness than me :)

I don't have any weights at home so I improvised and used 2 x 1.75ltr bottles of water :)

15 x  Lunges with weights
15 x Hip thrusters with weights
Plank x 15 seconds (I know I'm weak :))
15 x press-ups (on my knees for now)
15 x flies
15 x dips
15x squats
15 x bicep curls
15 x shoulder raises

I done this x 2, and done it every second day. And remember to do each exercise slowly with a controlled movement. This is really important. The day after my first workout I could barely walk. I am soooo unfit.

Next week I am going to up everything x 5 reps.

Also always remember to stretch before and after your workout to avoid injuries. This is a really important step! There are some stretches I found really helpful.

Hopefully I can bring in some couch to 5k to this eventually too. Or maybe even a body coach HIIT workout. They are on you tube so handy.

Lots of Love

Donna
xxx

Urban Decays first ever Boutique in Ireland

I was recently invited along to a master class in the fab new Urban Decay boutique in Dublin. This is the first time Urban Decay have had a boutique in Ireland, they previously have only been present in the larger department stores.

Urban Decay are one of my all time favourite brands so I was only delighted to attend. Danielle Roberts who is an outstanding make up artist was going to be giving us a demo of some of the Urban Decay boutique exclusives. Now I never knew there were such things as boutique exclusives ! Turns out they are fab!! and multipurpose and malfunctioning too. Amazing.

I arrived to the store with a few minutes to spare so I decided to treat myself to a new foundation, I've been dying to try their all nighter foundation for a while so thought this was a good time to get matched by one of their makeup artists. I was looked after by the lovely Lauren, although I should have taken note of her surname as she told me there are actually 4 of them in the store! (lovely name too ;)) She discussed with me my preference in tones and what foundation I currently used etc and came back to me with 3 shades to try. She applied them to the jaw line and we compared them in two different lighting scenarios  and we both agreed that 2.0 seemed to be the best match. (I'll

I was also lusting after one of there contour pallets so decided to add this into the purchase too. Lauren recommended the flushed one and I have to agree I love it too. This will be dead handy for me to take with me on holidays as a one stop shop. Lauren recommended using the bronzer and highlight on the eyes for a quick look. and I agree its ideal.

I signed up to their VIP list too so I will be kept in the loop with any new releases or events at the store which is a great way of keeping up with the new and exciting products as they are released.

Once I was done with my purchases I headed upstairs to the absolutely stunning studio where Danielle was about to start with the master class. The studio is stunning and can be used for private makeup lessons great for getting the girls together be it work colleagues or friends to have a make up lesson together and a bit of girly bonding time too. Awesome!

Danielle started off by asking the model to cleanse her face so that her skin was ready. She then talked us through the skin prep options, she used their Quick Fix Hydracharge Complexion Spray all over the face, and gave it a good few sprays making sure to really soak the skin. She applied the naked skin foundation which looks soooooo amazing, I was sooo tempted, I may go back and purchase. She then introduced a boutique exclusive called Velvetizer Translucent mix -in medium. This was a game changer lads. It's a powder that you can use to give a foundation a more matte / velvet finish and to give a more full coverage consistency. Another amazing product was the liquid aura illuminating mix in medium. This was an absolute wow product for me. I was  blown away.  It can be mixed in with your foundation or used alone. And is a stunning highlighter. So you see it really pays to talk to the girls in store they will have so much knowledge on the products available.

 

 

She also used the naked skin concealer too. To set the skin and give a dewy look Danielle used setting powder in translucent. The next product I fell in love with instantly!! Naked illuminated in the colour firebomb. Danielle used this as a blush and highlighter and omg its fab!

Now onto the lips, Danielle, started off by using UD rehab makeup prep lip love she then used a vice lip liquid lipstick in the colour crimson which she allowed to dry before applying the top coat. Danielle used a vice top coat called copycat and this my friends was a game changer. I'm in love with it, if only I could pull off a red lip :(

Danielle finished off by setting the entire look with Chill setting spray which is moisturising on the skin. Chill will be another item I'll be adding to my shopping list for sure!!!

 

 



Ah there you are RTC :)

Any one for a selfie?

So get yourself down to the store, its one of the coolest looking make up boutiques around. The staff are so friendly and so helpful.

Keep your eyes open for updates on the release date for the naked heat palette.

What's your favourite Urban Decay product?

Lots of Love

Donna

XXX

 

Mammy Guilt

Some days are harder than others. I often spend a day constantly barking at the kids!

"Don't do that", "don't hit your sister", "don't climb on that", "that's the last time I'm telling you".

Most of us are the same. These little people we created try us so much at times. And then it hits us. Takes hold, that feeling in your stomach.....god all I've done all day is tell them what they can't do or that they are bold. Its horrible. The mammy guilt.

Or the days when you have to get your house work done cos you've been in work all week and you don't have a cleaner or someone to do the laundry so you throw them into the garden or in front of the TV so you can get stuff done. And it hits you, the mammy guilt.

And you read all the Facebook meme's about how time with them is so precious and hold them a little longer, tell them you love them etc etc. And you have a moment and a tear the odd time. And it hits you. The mammy guilt. And it's crap.

I've said some cracking things to my kids and laughed and thought did I really just say "stop standing on your sisters head please" hahaha and you do you say things that you never thought you'd ever come out with.

Long gone are the days when you could sit and do your makeup or hair to perfection. I now share my makeup with a 3 and 1 year old. They insist on doing their makeup too. I let them because I know it's the only way I will get to do mine in somewhat of a peaceful way. Long gone are the days of immaculate makeup palettes some include baby snot and spit. But that's ok. I love them. But of course there are the times that pisses me off too. Because for once I'd like something that was actually just mine and not fecking communal. And that I could do my winged liner which is a pain in the backside anyway without two fecking monkeys swinging out of me whilst I do it. I mean I deserve a fricken medal for that right? And then you give out......and it hits you the mammy guilt.

And dont even get me started on the guilt when you drop them to creche. There they go your most prized possessions into the arms of women who will basically raise them and spend all the time with them that you can't because you're in poxy work!!! And then it hits....the mammy guilt.

And you see it's a vicious cycle the guilt. Because work is a sanctuary at times. You get to be by yourself, drinking hot tea, eating lunch with other civilised humans with knives and forks. Noone calling mama 65 million times in that precious 30 mins. Then the guilt hits you. You miss them.

You collect them, you hug them, you kiss them, you could eat them you love them so much. Then they start and you wish you were back in work 😂😂😂

My point is. You love them, they love you, unconditionally. You need to go to work, you need to clean the house......you need to eat and have a cup of tea. And we shouldn't feel guilty about wanting to have time to ourselves. Because those fucking meme's on the internet as lovely as they are......they aren't real life.....real life gets messy.....real life hurts.....real life feels all the feelings not just the cosy ones.

So yes there will be the mammy guilt......but the mammy love far out weighs the mammy guilt.....and there will always be the mammy love!!!!

Take time out to look after yourself and your mental health. And if that means ironing for an hour because the ironing is getting in on you. Then do it.

Happy mammy = happy kids.

Lots of love

Donna
Xxx

Competition over on my Facebook

Hi Everyone,

Just in case you don't follow me on Facebook. Head on over for a little competition I'm running. Facebook

Best of luck.

Lots of love
Donna
Xxx

Mammy Monday : Our Positive Breastfeeding Journey

I thought I'd never in a million years breastfeed, I thought 1. I was too much of a prude and 2. Why should I do all the night feeds. As soon as I found out I was pregnant  on my first daughter I knew it was what I wanted to do.

 

I always looked on it with an open mind. I'd give it a go if it worked out it worked out if not there's nothing wrong with formula. Luckily for us we took to it like ducks to water!

The first few weeks were the hardest, Lauren fed almost constantly. Which led to a lot of discomfort. But once she got the supply up it was plain sailing. I am so lucky, I've never had any problems and have for the most part enjoyed the experience. 

 

I naively went into this journey thinking I was in charge lol how wrong was I! I had first said 12 weeks that's it we'll be done breastfeeding by then, wrong! Oh when she has teeth I'll stop nope wrong again, we ended up feeding until my first was 16 months old and my second was 5/6 months old (we only stopped sue to a change in my circumstances not because I wanted to)

 

 

Now don't get me wrong I enjoyed every day (almost) I've learned a lot on this road and the main thing I've learned is that I wanted to make my daughters happy as they are my number one concern.

 

 

I used to get asked a lot when would I stop breastfeeding and I used to have the answer, I used to have a time frame, but then I decided that all that was important wasn't what anyone else wanted but truly that my only concern was that my child's emotional and nutritional needs were being met, and not to be worrying about what "Mary" from down the road thought or anyone for that matter!

 

 I mean no one would ever ask the mother of a 10 month old when they were taking the bottle from them or when they would stop formula! I just wish the same respect could be given to breastfeeding mothers too. No one really has the intentions of breastfeeding a child until they are 16 lol but when they are still a baby its completely normal and I'm saying well done mama if you have fed your child till they are way past the baby stage and fair play to you for doing what is right for your family. Its a hard road so give yourself a well deserved pat on the back.

 

It's been a mostly positive journey for me,  I've met loads of breastfeeding mammies who can advise me and me them. I had no problems feeding her in public but that's been mainly thanks to my nursing cover, it's been the best €30 I've ever spent. I'd highly recommend buying one, especially for when you are out or you have visitors that you aren't 100% comfortable whipping your boobs out in front of ha ha ha.  I got mine in boots similar to this one here Boots don't seem to stock them on their website so that's a link to Bella Baby who are a fantastic baby shop.

 

 

If you pregnant and thinking of breastfeeding my advice is do your research, have an idea what to expect but for the most part just relax you'll be amazed at how much they teeny tiny person might already know. There are loads of support groups on facebook and in the community. At the time I attended a class which was organised by the public health nurses in my area so check that out, ask when the come to visit when you get out of hospital. Ask your own mam or a friend if they breast fed. Also have a back up plan, what will I do if it doesn't work for us. There are also lactation consultants in the maternity hospitals, so just ask for help.

 

I did use a pump for times when I was away from the babies or wanted to attempt bottles (which my first daughter point blank refused and she ended up never having a bottle.) I would say wait until you know if its going to work out for you or not before purchasing one as they are quite expensive, don't throw your money away. And for the first couple of weeks anyway you wont use one as you and baby will be getting used to things yourselves.

 

I'm not an expert by any means, but I found the following items really helped me :

 

An absolute essential : Multi Mam Compresses

Nursing Pads: I used both disposable (these were my favs) and the reusable ones which were so soft. I was given mine as a gift but there are loads of places online where you can buy some and boots have some here

Nipple Cream :) this was the one I used

Nursing cover as I mentioned above.

 

So like I say, I'm by no means an expert, far from it, I'm just a mammy who has a positive breast feeding story. Try relax, go into it with an open mind and remember, once your childs emotional needs and nutritional needs are being met that's all that matters and that can be achieved by breast or bottle or both.

 

Lots of Love

 

Donna

XXX 

 

 

Mammy Monday - Baby Wearing

When I was pregnant on my first I would ask friends and family what was their must have baby items. I was obsessed with getting the right items and not wasting money on the rubbish ones. I remember asking a guy in work and he recommended a baby carrier. He emphasised that we bought one that wasn't cheap as he had done which was uncomfortable to wear and ended up being thrown out and replaced by a more ergonomical one.

So after his advice I went and done my research and who knew how big a thing baby wearing was! There are so many options, Wraps, Slings, Buckles no buckles. On my first baby I wasn't comfortable enough to use a wrap. I just didn't have the confidence to handle a baby well enough to trust myself to get her into it safely lol but when baby no2 came along I was a pro and we used a wrap all the time.

For Lauren baby no 1 I went with the Ergo baby carrier, my dad had asked was there something he could by us for the baby and I knew straight away this was something he could get for us as they aren't cheap. We bought ours from HipBaby.ie. At the time it was €124, this included the newborn insert. I found this carrier so easy to use and Laure was so comfortable in it. It truly was a lifesaver for me in the early weeks. I wouldn't have gotten a thing done if I didn't have this carrier. It meant my hands were free to do my hair and my makeup if I wanted to leave the house.  Which sound so vain, but I can tell you now hair and makeup are really important to a new mam! Make you feel like you are some what human and a somewhat like the pre baby woman you were. 

Lauren was a savage as a newborn and if it wasn't for this carrier I may never have eaten again. She fed what felt like non stop in those early weeks and cried as soon as she left my arms and every mammy knows how hard that is. Especially when the fuss has died down and your visitors are few and far between and Daddy has returned to work. You would do anything for 5 mins of peace to have a cup of tea and a sambo.  Or when the washing is piling up and you think you'll never get it done, even though you just gave birth you are in this mad rush to get some normality back to your life and heaven forbid your house would be messy if a visitor arrived.  (yeah we are all nuts!!)

Anyway back to the baby wearing, I could go on and on about those early day episodes of new mammy crazy ha ha ha. I chose the ergo based on reviews I read on line and the ease of use too, knowing I would have to get this on without any help. I chose a very neutral colour so that daddy would use it too. I really wanted the galaxy (stars pattern) one but I knew daddy wouldn't be comfortable in that one. We also got it with the newborn insert so that we could use it straight away. The ergo can be used with the insert from birth up to 4 years old or 45lb and can be worn in 3 different positions. Front inwards facing, back inwards facing and on the hip. Ellie baby no 2 is now 15 months old and we continue to use it. People constantly say oh god is your back not broken with her in that and the answer is no its not and that's because its made to be as ergonomic as possible ensuring that the weight is distributed where it should be thus making it as comfortable for the person wearing it.

Since we bought ours Ergo have come out with a 360 carrier which can be worn with the baby facing out in the front. I'd love to try this one as I sometimes feel now that Ellie is older shes far more nosey and I think she would enjoy it more. I might sell on my ergo and use the money towards a new 360.

The wrap I used was a stretchy wrap by an company called funky flamingo, I got this one on amazon for around €20. It was fantastic. I loved it in the earlier newborn days, I didn't use it much as she grew as I felt the ergo was best for out on walks and taking with us on days out. But I know plenty of mam's who used theres much more than I did.

There are loads of great places now where you can read reviews and figure out which baby wearing option is the best for you and your family.  There are also sling meet up's held in local library's and cafes too where you can try out the slings before you buy. I'll leave some links below so you can arm yourself with as much information as you can before you buy. And no matter which option you choose you wont be disappointed.

There are so any benefits to baby wearing, happy baby, happy mammy and that's a win win situation. Great for babies with reflux too, cos they are in an upright position. Gives them a break and mammy and daddy a break too.  lets face it in those early days when you haven't a notion of what you are doing, the baby kind of knows more than you do and they love to be held and rocked it settles them and while holding them forever in your arms would be amazing its not always practical. So I'd highly recommend a carrier. A good one that's not going to break your back in the process.

Some of the sites I love are listed below.

Babywearing Ireland

ww.kneetokneeslings.com

Have you used the Ergo 360? Let me know if you  would recommend it.

Lots of love

Donna

xxx

Smoothie Recipe

This one is one we love in our house and its healthy and easy to make. Fruit can be a pain in the you know what to keep in this heat so I love the frozen smoothie mixes from Aldi, means less waste too.

We all have one for breakfast the odd morning and the kids love them, they do however prefer them a little sweeter so I add a drizzle of honey, when Ellie was under one I used the vanilla flavoured yogurts instead.

We use the breville active blend, we have the family one, which has 2 large bottles and 2 smaller bottles.

 

Its really quick and easy to make especially if you are tight for time and the breville bottles are dead handy for taking on the go. And its so easy to clean too. Win win :)

Recipe

Half a bag of Aldi Frozen Smoothie mix (strawberry and banana is a fav in this house)

A couple of tablespoons of Natural Yogurt (we like the Greek style ones)

Drizzle of honey

1 glass of orange juice

(quantities really depend on how many people and what you are using to blend, the quantities above do for myself and the two little ones)

 

 

 

 

Lots of Love

 

Donna

XXX



Favourite Summer Scent

There's nothing like a scent that takes you to a certain place in time. That fragrance for me I Estee Lauder Bronzed Goddess. It's like a little bottle of summer.

I discovered this perfume through a colleague in work. She would spray it throughout the day and I just loved it.

Its not overpowering and a soft fragrance. The main fragrance for me is the coconut but it also has a musty vanilla tone to it too. Which I don't normally like. I'm not a vanilla person.

There is an entire bronzed goddess range available too, I've yet to try them but the oil sounds like something I'd definitely be interested, it helps revitalise dull skin and helps tame frizzy fly away hair all with the Bronzed Goddess scent. I like the sound of that!

I believe though its only available in the summer months too. So make sure you get to your nearest Estee Lauder counter and grab yourself a bottle of summer.


Love

Donna
XXX

Emporio Armani Diamonds Rose Perfume Review

Hi my name is Donna and I am a perfume addict. Yep that's me, I have loads and loads of perfumes bottles in my bedroom. Some I love and always repurchase some not so much!

My all time fav perfume is most definitely Stella. I j'adore this stuff its my signature scent :) I am a fresh smelling perfume fan, not into flowery or sweet at all.

 

You would be forgiven for thinking that with the word Rose in the name this would be a flowery fragrance, I know I did presume myself. I was however pleasantly surprised. It does have a flowery undertone to it, it's also a teeny bit sweet something I am not normally a fan of, but its mainly fresh smelling it's very much a just out of the shower smell which I love. I am loving loads of things of late so I apologise for that :) but I am here to tell the truth and this fragrance is one to try.

And the price tag (which my dearly beloved Stella has a hefty one to say the least) Diamonds rose in my opinion has a great price tag at €34.50 for 30ml and €44.50 for 50ml.

After a couple of hours of wear I cant smell it off myself but I am told it is still noticeable on me. My granny once told me if you cant smell a fragrance off yourself then its a perfect match for you.

I must do a perfume collection post soon.

what fragrances are you loving this summer?

Love

Donna
XXX

Sunscreens and Sun Safety - Mammy Monday

Having worked in cancer services, sunscreen is something I am very passionate about. Having 2 kiddos in the recent good weather you get sick of applying it but its a necessity. Sunburn is so dangerous in so many ways. Especially for kids.

The following photo really caught my attention. It's got the wow factor big time. It's doing the rounds on Facebook at the moment. And it really shows the damage sun can do to your skin. It prompted me to do a post on sun safety.

I've used an array of sunscreens on myself, I suffer from prickly heat when I'm abroad so I need to ensure I choose a sunscreen that's not going to affect that. I've written a post on my favourite sunscreen for prickly heat suffers I'll link it here. Natural tone sun screen is a brand I 100% love. Its a bit more expensive than other brands but if you are like me and prickly heat has ruined many a holiday then you need to give this a go.  You can purchase from their website here. At home I can use anything as we don't get a long enough run in the sun for the prickly heat to take hold. I use the Aldi one on myself for days in Ireland and I haven't had any issues with it. I chose spf 30, I just feel there is absolutely no point in getting burned or trying to tan in Ireland as there is zero chance of maintaining a tan here so I'm not going to risk it.  And mama's and dada's please remember to also apply sunscreen to yourself too. This is a mistake plenty of parents make. We apply sunscreen to the kids but forget ourselves. And lets be honest, being burnt to a crisp with kids who are cranky from the heat ain't no ones idea of fun.

Did you know that skin cancer is the mist commonly diagnosed cancer in Ireland. In 2013 there was 10'785 of skin cancer diagnosed. So skin cancer is something we really need to take seriously in Ireland. We need to remember that the sun here in Ireland is the same sun that's abroad so is more than capable of causing damage to the skin.

Most of the skin damage occurs in childhood, and although those cute little bodies look adorable with a little tan, tanned skin is in fact damaged skin. Skin cancer takes 10-15 years to develop and is the most common cancer in people aged 15-44. The Irish cancer society website have some great tips on keeping little ones safe in the sun you can visit their website here.

Here are the things I do to keep my littlies sun safe:

• Sunscreen: A factor of at least 30 and with the highest UVA and UVB you can find. (La Roche-Posay ticks all these boxes). Apply 20mins before going out in the sun and at least every 2 hours during the day or after swimming/ pool fun.
• Hats: My eldest is very fair so I "try" my best to get her to wear a hat as much as possible when out in the sun. She's now 3 going on 30 so its hard to get her to wear anything she hasn't picked out herself so I try and pick hats that are character based or sparkly to get her attention. Shes goof most of the time. My baby is as bald lol get that's from me poor child lol so her head is really in danger. She will keep most hats on her head. But I always ensure I spray her head with factor too.
• Sunglasses: Really really important and really really hard to keep on the little shits. We bought my eldest a pair when we were in Portugal a few years ago they are the wrap around type and as babies they aren't too bothered with trying to take them off. In fact they are happy to wear them to take the glare off their eyes. They were expensive enough roughly €30 but worth the money. The older kid is harder to get to wear them. But throw aul Elsa on them and she will wear them 90% of the time. It is important that they are up to European standard en1836 and have UV protection.
• Shade: Where kids are concerned shade is really important so when you are looking for the best spot by the pool or at the beach make sure you have a parasol or there is somewhere you and the kiddos can escape to especially between the hours of 11am and 3pm when the sun is at its strongest and remember this applies to Ireland too.
• UV Index: You really need to be aware of the UV index this can range from zero to +11. the UV rays are what do the damage. I noticed yesterday in Hickey Pharmacy they are giving a free UV index patch when you purchase 2 or more La Roche- Posay products. You can also enter your details on their website where they will be randomly selecting 1500 people to send these patches to. You can visit their site here to join their waiting list to be sent a patch.

I know that the Aldi sun creams got great reviews online and my family and friends rave about them. So I tried them out, they are what I am currently using here at home. I am using the spf 50 spray bottle on the kids its one for sensitive skin, it's really important to use a sunscreen that's made for kids on their skin, they offer a protection with ingredients suitable for their delicate skin. However after a friend used the Aldi one abroad she found that it wasn't great with wet skin, so I have decided to revert back to La Roche-Posay kids sunscreen for holidays instead. They have one that is targeted at kids with wet skin, which will be ideal for us in Portugal as my eldest daughter loves the water. This is available from most pharmacies and retails for around €19.95. I've used it before and loved it. But it is pricey, but in my opinion its worth every cent to ensure my kids skin stays safe in the sun. 

Last year I was sent a bottle of Kiehl's Activated Sun Protector with SPF50+ and it was amazing on the kids skin. Especially on my daughter who was only a few months old at the time. She wasn't in the sun at all but for those moments in the buggy where the sun caught her skin I felt 100% assured she was protected. I used it on myself too and it left my skin feeling amazing after it. The bottle itself isn't very big so doesn't go a long way. But if you have sensitive skin I'd highly recommend it. They have a face one too, I used the body one.


I hope you find the above helpful and if it reaches out to just one person / family, I'll be happy.


Lots of Love

Donna
XXX

Review - Lidl Self tanners

I was really hoping this would be a better review but alas its not. If you frequent Lidl you'll have seen the Self tanning milk and self tanning mousse. At €1.99 and €2.99 I thought they were worth trying and certainly weren't going to break the bank. (and I even think at the moment they are on offer too with a euro off)

Now a wee disclaimer, I only tried the mousse, because after that I just couldn't be bothered trying the milk. The mouse is white so there is no guide colour, which I don't like anyway. I normally apply tan last thing at night after my shower,  I am generally rushing when applying it. So no guide colour can be disastrous. It has a really weird consistency too, almost felt soapy a bit like a shaving foam. It applied well but took a while to dry into the skin.

The results: I got all the fake tan smell but very very little tan. Now I will say, my skin is absolutely crap at tanning and developing a fake tan,  especially my legs. This was more like one of those gradual tanners rather than a fake tan, if that makes sense. It wore off well and although I wasn't a golden goddess, there was a noticeable change to my skin.

It wasn't the worst I've tried but I'd rather spend the extra money and buy the Cocoa Brown tan instead.

I'm almost out of the Cocoa Brown at the moment so I think I might try one of the other newer tans on the market and see how I get on. So watch this space for more reviews.


Lots of love

Donna

XXX

Fitness Friday

Hey Lovelies,

Soooooooo.......This week has been a total write off where exercise is concerned. With a 3 year old who refuses to sleep for more than 3 hours and a baby who's not been herself the energy levels have been so low.

I recently had a scope done as I was suffering from pains and discomfort in my stomach, which was worse when my stomach was empty. I thought I might have had a stomach ulcer. Turns out I have Helicobacter, which is a little bacteria which burrows holes into the lining of your stomach, this then allows the acid in your stomach to attack the lining of your stomach and left untreated can cause ulcers. I was lucky mine hadn't done any severe damage yet. So I have 6 weeks of treatment to cure this. And when my stomach is empty it affects me more. So I've been over eating a lot of late. But the past week my eating has improved. I've been keeping a food diary and keeping track of what I'm eating and seeing it in black and white has helped so much.

I'm trying to change my lifestyle and not go on a diet. Making better food choices and getting out and exercising more.

My typical day food diary looks  like this: (keep in mind I'm up most days at 5.30-6 am so I tend to have 2 breakfasts to keep me going. I'm trying to have 5 small meals a day this seems to help my stomach a lot I think because I don't ever get over hungry.

Breakfast:

7am ish:Berries with Low fat Vanilla Yogurt and a small amount of Aldi Almond and Raisin granola.

10am: Fitzgeralds Slim Bagel Toasted with a boiled Egg and a cup of tea

Lunch:

Ham and cheese salad with, Tomato, cucumber, peppers, pickles and some salad cream.

Dinner:

Baby potatoes, Veg and Salmon.

I will then have a cup of tea in the evening with a couple of squares of dark chocolate once the kids are in bed.

I've cut out the rubbish 95% of the time. And the above is a typical day for me. My downfall are weekends. I really need to improve on that.

One thing I done this week was take my before pics, that gave me some motivation to get my ass in gear.

I think the main thing is that you keep going, don't make bad food choices into a bad day then into a bad week. Just draw a line under that bag of crisps that you 'had' to have and leave it at that.

I've been loving Ursulawalsh.com and thenakenblondie for dinner and snack ideas.

Anyone else you guys would recommend for good recipes?

Hopefully next week I can improve on my exercing 

Lots of love

Donna 

Xxx

Review & Product Rave - Botanics Radiance Balm All Bright

Hey Dolls,

Where do I start. This product has been a saviour for me. I have really dry skin on my face, which can be an absolute pain, especially when your favourite foundation is Estee Lauder Doublewear. It can make your skin look so old!!!

 I was about to give up on my beloved foundation when my sister suggested mixing it with some of the balm. At the time too Boots had them on offer and I got it for half price so it was a total steal.

This product has been raved about all over the net and also said to be an excellent dupe for Mac's Strobe Cream and I tend to agree. This is a beautiful product, when applied to the skin it does exactly as it says, it gives a beautiful glow and highlights the skin fabulously.

I use it in two ways, as a base for my foundation when I am heading on a night out or looking for full coverage and for every day make up I mix it in with my Estee Lauder Doublewear. Using it this way has meant I've been able to continue my love affair with my all time favourite foundation.

If you are lucky enough to have good skin this would be lovely even on its own for summer. You would need to apply SPF as this doesn't contain any.

Its a total bird on a budget product which does all that Mac Strobe Cream does at fraction of the price at €8.59. Its something I use daily and have repurchased time and time again. You can purchase it from the Boots website here.  

I've loved this product so much I've purchased the day and night cream from the same range.

Let me know if you have used this product.

Lots of Love

Donna
XXX

Changing things up

So after a very long break and a couple of attempted come backs I am most definitely back to doing what makes me happy.

Blogging is something that I love to do, I love reviewing and sharing etc etc. Ive really missed it. But being a mammy to 2 small girls and working full time I really just haven't had the time to sit down and write. Plus I am sooooo out of the loop on all things beauty but that's about to change. I really need to up my game.

So the plan is to start bringing more aspects of my life into the blog and make it a more lifestyle blog than just a beauty blog.

So I plan to schedule 3 blog posts a week:

Mammy Mondays : all things mammy, kids and baby related.
What I'm loving Wednesdays: all things I'm loving at the moment, Beauty, Makeup, clothes etc
Fitness Friday: My fitness journey, healthy lifestyle, weight loss and much more.

I know I gave them tacky names lol

Hopefully from here I can get back into my passions as well as being super mam ha ha ha

So to celebrate my comeback I'm going to run a little competition over on my

So I hope you'll give my blog a like and share the love over on Facebook xxx

Love
Donna
xxx

Fitness Friday: Couch to 5K

Let me start off by saying I am a total couch potato, I exercise very little at the moment and eat what ever I like. That's all about to change. I'm determined to get back into running and eating healthy to lose weight and tone up. And after having 2 two kids its gonna be a challenge. I don't want to enter my 40's feeling uncomfortable about my weight and not happy in my own skin.

So I'm going to be posting here on a Friday letting you guys know how my week has been and what exercises I have been doing and how the eating is going.

I'm no expert, but I think sharing my progress will help keep me motivated and on track.

 So if you would like to come along with me on my journey, you can follow me here.

On my Twitter
On my Instagram

I'll be using the map my run app available to download in the play store or iTunes. I will be following the couch to 5k programme.

I've set myself a target to run the 10k in the women's mini marathon next year for MS Ireland. MS is something that has affected my family in the past year so I think its a great cause and its something that will give me the motivation to do this. Some of you might think huh? 10k that's nothing but for me someone who's doing very little exercise at the moment, believe me its a big thing.

Going to try rope in my sisters and friends too :)

So if you want to join me on my journey stay tuned.


Love

Donna
xxxx