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