Project 365 - Week 52


25th December - 31st December

25/12/16

26/12/16

27/12/16

28/12/16

29/12/16

30/12/16

31/12/16

It's Christmas! Well it's been and gone but what a lovely Christmas we've had! We spent the morning opening and playing with toys at our house and then my Mum paid us a visit with a second dose of presents. Then after lunch we headed over to Nick's parents for Christmas dinner with all his family and the third lot of present opening. Christmas Day was absolutely fantastic, surrounded by our loved ones and Noah just had the time of his life. He was so excited for Christmas this year. On Boxing Day we usually have our annual party at my Nanna's house but sadly she passed away earlier in the year. It was really surreal not to go round to her house on Boxing Day as this is something I've done every year for the past 27 years. As we were unable to do so this year my Dad held a similar party at his house and although it was different I'm sure my Nanna would have been looking down at us and smiling as we were all together just as she'd have liked us to be. Even though Boxing Day was bitter sweet for that reason we all still had a wonderful time and of course came home with even more presents and plates full of party food too! The rest of the week we pretty much took it easy as the festivities really took it out of us. Today it's New Years Eve and we've had a lazy family day in, followed by a Chinese take away! 

Here's to 2017! Happy New Year everyone! 


Mummy & Me - December



I can't believe we are heading towards the end of the year already. I think 2016 may possibly be the fastest year of my life and it was filled with many fantastic things, our holiday in May, big blogging opportunities, Noah turning three, lots of family days out and of course the biggest being conceiving our baby girl.

For our final Mummy & Me post of the year I just had to use these two photo's although there was quite a few to choose from this month. A quick selfie of Noah giving his Mummy a big kiss, can't beat those moments. Then the photo below, Mummy with both her babies. I'm so excited to see what 2017 brings! Have a wonderful New Year everyone! 



Nicola... Life Through My Eyes

Bepanthen Nappy Care Ointment - Review



When you become a parent there are endless amounts of worries which run through your mind on a daily basis. My son is now three years old and I'm currently pregnant with baby number two and I'd like to say the worries subside a little as they get older but that isn't the case, there's always something to mull over. I suppose as parents it's our job to worry and it shows how much we care.
One of the things I worried about especially as a new parent was nappy rash. I'd read and heard a lot of stories about babies in discomfort with nasty rashes on their delicate behinds so I did a little bit of research and discovered Bepanthen. A lot of parents apply cream and ointments once the nappy rash has reared it's ugly head but with Bepanthen it's all about prevention and not just the cure. 

Our little ones bottoms go through so much when wearing nappies, especially with their night time nappy which they can wear for up to 12 hours a night. Imagine having a damp nappy on your bum for that long whilst you sleep, it's no wonder some babies are prone to nappy rash. This is where Bepanthen comes in.


What is Bepanthen?
Bepanthen is an ointment containing Pro-Vitamin B5 which gently aids natural skin recovery, while keeping it soft smooth and moisturised too. It forms a breathable transparent layer protecting even the most delicate skin from the causes of nappy rash. Bepanthen doesn't contain perfumes, antiseptics or preservatives and is clinically proven to protect from the causes of nappy rash.

How does Bepanthen work?
It cures. Bepanthen's ointment contains Pro Vitamin B5 which aids natural recovery of sensitive skin while keeping it soft and hydrated. Bepanthen also works by helping to seal in the skin's natural moisture, providing optimal conditions to allow gentle skin recovery without drying out your baby's delicate skin.

It protects. It's clinically proven that Bepanthen works by forming a transparent layer protecting even the most delicate skin from irritants and rubbing. The water in oil ointment keeps the skin healthy and hydrated, which is essential to help maintain its natural protective barrier.

How do I use Bepanthen?
You simply apply a thin layer of Bepanthen to your baby's clean, dry bottom after every nappy change. You only need a little ointment at each change because a little really goes a long way. Bepanthen offers additional comfort for your baby as it is non-sticky and is easy for mothers to clean.


Bepanthen recently launched a new e-book called What the Parenting Manuals Don’t Tell You. This book shares genuine tips for new or expectant parents from mums and dads who have experienced it all. It even includes a tip from me, so you'll have to keep a look out for that one! Not only does this book share invaluable tips from fellow parents but it was created in collaboration with parenting expert, Lisa Clegg. It's an excellent book, especially for new parents and it's also free to download. 

We've always sworn by Bepanthen and it's certainly a product we will continue using once our baby girl is born in February.

Have you used Bepanthen before?

- Wrote in collaboration with Bepanthen. 

30 & 31 Weeks Pregnant - Baby #2



Baby
Baby girl has grown from an estimated 15.7 inches to 16.25 inches long. On average she could have grown from 2.75lb to 3.3lb and is really starting to fill out now. Over the next few weeks it's all about bulking out and forming some fat beneath her skin. I can really tell she is growing rapidly now because there's less room for her to wiggle around and her movements feel different, it's like there's a baby dolphin swimming around in there! She's hard at work practising to breathe and often gets bouts of hiccups which is such a strange but lovely sensation! Her eyes can now dilate and change in the light and she often responds to hearing our voices, especially Noah's.  


Mummy
This Mummy is aching from head to toe! This pregnancy has been so similar to my first in some aspects but so totally different in others. I've had a lot more symptoms, aches and pains this time around and I think that is mainly because it's my second pregnancy, labour and pregnancy the first time around must have wrecked my body! I have quite bad pelvic and lower back pain at the moment and when I wake up in the morning I can't walk for a few minutes. It also makes it difficult to be on my feet for a long time and getting asleep at night is quite tricky too. Nausea has also returned and heartburn is still rearing it's ugly head. I've also got low iron which I had with Noah so I'm on the supplements again which also add to the not so pleasant symptoms, ha ha. All this aside I'm still really enjoying pregnancy, I don't think much could ever change that. Even now on the last stretch of my second pregnancy I'm still totally in awe at the whole experience, I think it's incredible. I'm really trying to savour every moment as I know this will probably be the last time I will be pregnant and I know that I'll really miss it.

I still can't get my head around how quickly this pregnancy has flown by. It only feels like yesterday when we were trying to conceive and I was documenting my first trimester of pregnancy. To think that she could be here in just 9 weeks time is just crazy! I feel so unprepared this time around because with Noah I had everything sorted quite early on. I think with your second pregnancy you are a lot more relaxed about the whole thing and you have another child occupying your attention too so there's not as much free time. As soon as we get into the new year I have to start getting everything ready for her because I have a feeling she may come early. We will have to wait and see!

See you next week! 


Project 365 - Week 51


18th December - 24th December

18/12/16

19/12/16

20/12/16

21/12/16

22/12/16


23/12/16

24/12/16

This week has been all about the lead up to Christmas and we've been doing lots of festive things to get us all in the spirit. We've been reading Christmas stories, making Christmas decorations, watching Christmas films, we've visited Santa and talking lots about the day too! Noah had nursery on Tuesday afternoon as usual and did lots of Christmas arts and crafts. On the Wednesday he had his Christmas party at nursery which he really enjoyed! When I went to drop him off they were sat with the head mistresses who was playing the acoustic guitar and singing Christmas songs, it was so lovely! Thursday was spent shopping and Friday we took Noah to another Santa's grotto. It was absolutely terrible weather wise but we just had to get out the house and fit one more festive activity into the mix before the big day! Today is Christmas Eve and I plan on finishing all the preparations before visiting family later tonight, we are so excited for tomorrow! I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

What have you been up to this week?

Lalaloopsy Mittens Fluff N Stuff - Competition



Christmas is fast approaching and the big day will be here before we know it. Are you organised this year? I'm not at all, I'm so behind with everything but I'm still so looking forward for it! Noah is at the age now where he's so excited for Christmas day and I've already lost count of the amount of times we've sang Jingle Bells!  

To add to the Christmas excitement we were invited to take part in a rather fun and festive campaign with Lalaloopsy. We were sent the Lalaloopsy Mittens Fluff N Stuff doll to keep and a craft set to create our very own Christmas decoration.

Lalaloopsy Mittens Fluff ‘n’ Stuff Doll is busy sewing snowflakes into her dress, because there’s a princess ball coming to Lalaloopsy Land! Mittens and her friends have sewn their unique style into their magical gowns. They look sew royal! Lalaloopsy Mittens Fluff ‘n’ Stuff Doll was sewn on December 21st. She was sewn from an eskimo’s scarf. Lalaloopsy Dolls live in a colourful, silly world, and it’s your job to keep the magic of their world alive!





Noah insisted on creating his Christmas decoration first thing in the morning, straight after his breakfast (hence the PJ's!) We were sent a big snowflake decoration, glitter pens and lots of different shiny gems to decorate with. Noah really enjoyed getting messy with the glitter pens and placing all stars, hearts and circle gems on the different parts of the snowflake. I did wonder if they would all be still stuck down once dried but much to my delight they did and the decoration is now hung proudly on our Christmas tree! 

How would you like to win a Lalaloopsy Mittens Fluff N Stuff doll? I'm have one to give one away to one lucky reader! To enter all you need to do is use the Gleam form below! Good luck and don't forget to enter my other blog competitions!
Lalaloopsy Mittens Fluff N Stuff Doll

Terms & Conditions.                                                                                                 
1. There will be 1 winner who will win the prize mentioned above.
2. Prize sent directly by the PR. 
3. Competition ends 15/01/17
4. Incomplete entries with be disqualified. 
5. UK entries only.

Graco Evo XT Pushchair - Review



I've been part of the Generation Graco team for the past few months and as my contract with them draws to a close I bring to you my third and final review. Before I get onto that though here are my first and second reviews of the Graco Milestone Car Seat and Graco Modes 3 Lite Trio in case you missed them the first time around. 


As previously mentioned the final Graco product I was sent to review was the Evo XT Pushchair and although Noah doesn't use pushchairs like this anymore I was invited to share my initial impressions of the model.


The Evo XT was very easy to set up once out the box and straight away both my partner and I were impressed. We noted how perfect it would have been for us when Noah was a little younger as we love to explore and the all-terrain rubber tyres would have been a godsend for us as a family. Just steering the pushchair around the house I could tell how easy it would glide over both smooth and rough surfaces as the tyres are so large on both the front and the back of the pushchair. The front wheels can also be locked which is of course down to preference as I don't tend to use that option myself. The pushchair also has all-round suspension to ensure a comfortable ride for your little one even when exploring off road.



Another great feature of the Graco Evo XT is that the seat can be used both rear and parent facing, this is always something I always look for in a pushchair or travel system. It's great to have both options so you can switch it around to your child's age or preference. The seat unit is comfortable, has a five-point harness and is easy to recline with three different settings. You can adjust this using a button feature rather than a toggle which is another aspect I always prefer in a pushchair, so another thumbs up there.

Not only does the Evo XT have good tyres and a great seating unit but it also has a large hood to protect your child from the elements and has a really generous sized shopping basket too. The pushchair also comes with a rain cover and cosy toes which I think is brilliant as sometimes you need to buy these separate at an additional cost.



Features:

Suitable from birth to a maximum weight of 15kg (approx 3 years)
Reversible forward and rearward facing seat
Three-position recline for comfortable snoozing
Includes rain cover and luxury footmuff
Ergonomic height adjustable foam handles
Front and rear mudguards to keep you pushchair clean
Removable front swivel wheels
Compatible with Graco XT carrycot and Graco Snugfix car seat (sold separately)
Large shopping basket under the seat
One hand easy fold
Long wheelbase for added stability
Large wheels with rubber tyres and a multi-terrain tread to handle rough ground
Refined suspension on both front and rear wheels
Extendable sun canopy in hood
Pushchair Weight: 10.5kg
Folded Dimensions: H106xW60xD41cm


The Graco Evo XT can be used from birth (with the additional purchase of the Graco Evo XT carrycot) through to three years old. It's priced at £399.99 which I would have been more than happy to pay as it has everything that I look for in a pushchair and more.  

What features do you look for in a pushchair? 
- I was sent this product for the purpose of this review. However all opinions are my own.

Christmas Treats for the Interior Lovers in Your Life



If you’ve got an interior design aficionado in your life, then you’ll know how hard finding them the perfect Christmas gift is. From picky friends who have their own individual style, to self-confessed interior snobs who only want the best name brands in their home. Here are some amazing present ideas to make sure that you put a smile on their face this Christmas:

Scandinavian Style
A huge trend throughout 2016 which looks set to continue into 2017, Scandinavian design is so hot right now when it comes to homeware. Something from any of the leading brands will be a big hit with any interior lovers. Take a look at the offerings from Muuto at Skandium, where you’ll find amazing quality interiors ranging from bowls, to tables, shelving and light fittings in the cool and minimalistic traditional Scandinavian style.

Copper
Coppers has taken over rose gold as the favourite metallic hue and is great for adding a warm glow to the home. Interior lovers will probably already be on the back of the trend so a copper present should really go down well. Depending on your budget there’s scope for all different types of gifts from copper cutlery to martini glasses, vases and light fittings. If your interior lover is a bit of a stationary enthusiast

Marble
The Instagram lovers favourite surface, marble is a real interior staple right now. Whether you’re looking to gift someone a marble iPad cover or other marble accessories as a smaller gift, marble themed items make great stocking fillers. If you’re wanting to find that dream gift for someone really special, a marble round table for their kitchen or a marble and gold light fitting makes a perfect expensive interior gift.

Novelty Interiors
When it comes to those really picky interior loving friends and family members sometimes it can be a good idea to go for a novelty themed item which can be a bit of a gamble. From the pineapple themed candles and ornaments that dominated 2016, to quirky photos and hanging plant pot holders, there’s an array of affordable novelty interior gifts for those people who are too hard to please.

With all these great gift ideas for the interior lovers available for a range of different budgets, you’ll be sure to pick up something special when it comes to finding the perfect gift.
- This is a guest post.

Project 365 - Week 50


11th December - 17th December


11/12/16


12/12/16

13/12/16

14/12/16

15/12/16

16/12/16

17/12/16

Another week, another Project 365. This week has flown by in a hectic blur despite not even being that busy really. The start of the week was a pretty lazy one as I've been taking it easy as I'm currently struggling with pregnancy related pelvic pain. On Sunday we did visit Gordon Riggs which is a local garden centre which goes really over the top at Christmas, it's fantastic. Monday my Mum took Noah out for the afternoon so I spent the free hours catching up on some blogging. Tuesday Noah had nursery and he cried when I left him again, I almost cried too! When I went to collect him his new key worker said that he'd had a great time though, which is a relief. Wednesday was Mummy and Noah day and when Daddy came home from work we all went out for a nice dinner at one of our favourite places, The Ramm Inn. I won't tell you what I ate because it was a lot, it's so good through! Thursday was nursery again and thankfully Noah didn't cry! I think it had to do with the fact one of his favourite members of staff was in charge of his group, as soon as he saw her he went and sat on her lap. Friday and Saturday seem to have gone really fast even though Noah is unwell again, with another epic cold. I've spent the last few days trying to have a clear out for Christmas and although I've gotten rid of a lot of things you can't really tell! I think the rest of the weekend will be spent wrapping presents and trying to prepare for Christmas.

What have you been up to this week?


Superhero Shoes – Pumped Up Powers & Heeled Heroines



In the world of superheroes, power comes in many forms. Whether it’s super-strength that enables a hero to hurl cars over their heads, the ability to fly, or to run faster than the blink of an eye, the array of feats that we see on the silver screen is impressive.

With all those flashy powers, glitzy lifestyles and heroic antics, the humble aspects of a hero’s life are sometimes overlooked. For instance: consider the demands of a superhero’s routine - dashing to and from crime scenes and kickboxing with villains - what kind of shoes should they wear?

Think of The Flash – and then imagine him wearing a pair of sandals. Super speed and flip flops wouldn’t end well, would it? No. Superheroes wear footwear that aids their abilities – but has also become iconic in its own right. Footwear retailer Brantano has gathered some of their favourites…

Wonder Woman’s Battle Boots
The heroine everyone recognises, Diana Prince, a.k.a Wonder Woman, is one of the longest-serving female superheroes. The daughter of Zeus, she made her debut in 1941 and is back in the public eye thanks to a new look for her role in the DC cinematic universe. Her classic look is one of confidence and colour. Alongside her iconic bracers and tiara, she wears red knee-high boots with a signature white stripe. In a practical and much-praised move, many of her comic boot appearances have eschewed high heels in favour of flat boots.

In her latest iteration, Gal Gadot’s heroine is clad in armoured knee-highs that have sandal-style straps and a wedge heel. Impractical? Maybe. Stylish? Yes.
Star Lord’s Rocket Boots (Guardians of the Galaxy) Peter Quill, or Star Lord, was portrayed by Chris Pratt in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy. His guile and charisma helped lead a team of misfits against super villain Ronan, whose forces were threatening the galaxy.

While doing so, he stays on-trend thanks to a space cowboy inspired look — a pair of reddish-brown walking shoes that are topped with knee-high greaves. The kicker? These boots have rocket boosters in them, enabling Star Lord to cross large crevasses and thrust through the non-gravity of empty space.

Superman’s Iconic Red Boots
Think of Superman and you immediately think of blue and red, a pair of red spandex and cape over the famous blue costume. However, the look wouldn’t be complete without the boots to match. Superman, when not hiding behind the Clark Kent alias, wears his just below the knee greaves with style. Even in his latest, more realistic portrayal by Henry Cavill, which has removed the comic-book briefs, Superman still wears his bright-red boots. Proof you need to stick with your signature style.

The Power Rangers
The Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers were a TV phenomenon in the 90s, but are set to launch themselves back into the public eye when their new action film is released in 2017. Combatting lord Zed, the team of heroes take their instruction from Zordon – but seem to take fashion tips from more famous superheroes, as they also wore colourful knee-high boots.

Captain America’s Combat Boots
The latest version of Captain America, played by Chris Evans, is a no-frills superhero that mixes patriotism with strength. Styled to portray a man who withstands no nonsense, the ‘cap’s’ costume is a jumpsuit style military get-up that doesn’t mess around. Like his outfit, his boots are all about utility. Combat boots with a thick sole, they’re perfect whether he’s pursuing crime on foot or on his motorcycle.
The Joker’s Knife Boot (The Dark Knight)
The clown prince of crime isn’t just the arch-nemesis of Batman, he’s also a challenging role for any actor to take on. In what is arguably his most famous on-screen appearance, the Joker was immortalised by the late Heath Ledger as a dark, psychopathic villain. Interestingly, in this entire list, he’s the only character to not wear knee-high boots. His iconic purple suit caught the eye, but it was a hidden knife in his brogues that surprised Batman in a melee combat. Plus, they looked great with brightly-checked socks.

Ultimately, there’s a lot to be learned from superhero fashion. A longer length pair like knee high boots must grant some sort of secret super power – considering almost every superhero there is confidently sporting such footwear. Maybe the real secret to heroism and fame is a pair of knee highs?

- This is a PR Collaboration. 

aden + anais Cosy Muslin Buggy Blanket - Competition



Once upon a time, a new mum found herself searching high and low for the muslin swaddle blankets her mother and grandmother and generations of Australian women before them had used to comfort their own babies. When she couldn’t find them anywhere in her adopted home of the USA, she made them herself, and aden + anais was born.

aden + anais are a brand that is close to my heart. I used their swaddles, muslins and towels with Noah and now with baby number two on the way I'm excited to use their products all over again. I find that aden + anais are always improving and adding to their already amazing range of products and a new collection which has just been released is called cosy muslin. 

The cosy muslin range is made from a completely new fabric to aden + anais. It's made with an open weave brushed cotton, which is snugly warm but still breathable so babies and toddlers don't overheat. The fabric is also the softest ever to feature in the aden + anais range, even better than the merino and bamboo collections and that's saying something! The range features swaddles, muslins, crib sheets, sleeping bags, dream blankets and buggy blankets. 
This is the first time that aden + anais have released buggy blankets and products made from this material so to celebrate the occasion I have one to give away. If you'd like to with a cosy muslin buggy blanket in your the colour of your choice then please use the Gleam form below! Good luck and don't forget to enter my other blog competitions!   

aden + anais Cosy Muslin Buggy Blanket

Terms & Conditions.                                                                                                 
1. There will be 1 winner who will win the prize mentioned above.
2. Prize sent directly by the PR. 
3. Competition ends 08/01/17
4. Incomplete entries with be disqualified. 
5. UK entries only.

Num Noms Advent Calendar #NumNomsAdvent



As soon as Noah was old enough to eat solids, he was old enough to have his first chocolate advent calendar. It was his second Christmas and he was around 13 months at the time. He's now three years old and every year his advent calendars seem to get more and more adventurous as the years go by, much to his delight. 

We've been working closely with Num Noms over the past year and a few weeks ago Noah was asked if he'd like to receive a Num Nom advent calendar. I didn't really know what to expect in regards to the opportunity and in my mind I imagined Noah opening a Num or a Nom a day. I can honestly say that I wasn't expecting a huge box filled with all sorts of individually wrapped Christmas and Num Nom themed gifts, I was very impressed! The Num Nom advent calendars were put together especially for bloggers so we felt very happy and privileged to get a hold of one. 


Choosing a gift out of his Num Nom advent calendar is one of the highlights of the morning for Noah and he usually asks to select one after he's had his breakfast. We are now almost two weeks in and have discovered some fantastic surprises inside, from Num Nom mystery pots through to sweets and even Num Nom deluxe packs! Our #NumNomsAdvent has certainly made the countdown to Christmas even more exciting! I wonder what we will discover tomorrow? 

Do your children have advent calendars this year? 

- We were sent this product for the purpose of this post however all opinions are my own.