Sleep Masks by Bedtime Bliss

The products shown are gifted but all thoughts are my own

Bedtime Bliss is an amazon.co.uk shop specialised in luxury sleep wear, they not long ago contacted me and asked if id like to try out their Patented Contoured and Comfortable Sleep Mask and I jumped at the chance thinking sleep mask might help me get back to sleep easier/quicker after being up in the night to feed Rory. 

A few weeks later they contacted me again to ask if I would like to try their Organic Bamboo and Cotton Sleep Mask as well so I thought this would be a great opportunity to try two different items in order to review and compare them for you!

Both masks are available in a selection of lovely colours and come with a carry pouch and earplugs. The carry case is super helpful to keep the mask clean and safe but would also be great if you were travelling with them. I havent used the ear plugs but I can imagine these would be so helpful on a flight. You could literally block out the whole world with your sleep mask and ear plug combo. Now that is bliss.

The black sleep mask is the Contoured and Comfortable Sleep Mask. I have used this a lot now and it does help me sleep after a night feed. Its so nice to be able to completely black out and drift back to sleep making my sleep interruption much easier on me! The contoured eye shape means that you can open your eyes inside the mask without having your lashes scrap against the mask which I really like for comfort reasons but also if you had make up on such as for travel, it wouldn't mess up your eye makeup like a traditional eye mask would. This is a huge plus for those who travel a lot and sleep want to not look like they've been sleeping for hours when they get off the plane!

I can imagine the contouring would be good for those with sensitive eyes as well as there isn't any fabric pressing on your sensitive eye lids.

The Organic Bamboo and Cotton Sleep Mask also has this lovely contouring but in my opinion has a much softer, spongier feel which makes it all the more comfortable compared to the Contoured and Comfortable Sleep Mask. Everything else about the masks are very much the same but I would say that the Organic Bamboo mask is my favourite of the two as it has a more luxurious feel. 

The Organic Bamboo and Cotton Sleep Mask also has this lovely contouring but in my opinion has a much softer, spongier feel which makes it all the more comfortable compared to the Contoured and Comfortable Sleep Mask. Everything else about the masks are very much the same but I would say that the Organic Bamboo mask is my favourite of the two as it has a more luxurious feel. 

Ultimately though, both masks do a great job of doing what they are supposed too and I would highly recommend them both! But my personal favourite would have to be the Bamboo and Cotton because it is so lovely and luxurious feeling!

Check out Bedtime Bliss on Amazon here and on Instagram here.

Baby's First Christmas Wishlist

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Christmas 2018 is Rory's first every Christmas, well, he was in my belly last year and certainly made himself known in the form of severe morning sickness but this is his first out in the world.

Liam and I are Christmas crazy, we absolutely love it so we are so excited to experience it with Rory, as a little family this year. These are the baby's first Christmas bits I've been eyeing up...

1. I came across this stocking in Next while window shopping the other day and have fallen a little bit in love with it. Me and Liam have matching stockings and Watson (the dog) has a different one so really, we need to replace Watsons and get two that match so we have two of each stocking. This Mini Elf one is so cute and its such a good size that Watson presents will probably all fit inside and we will be able to use them for many years to come. 

2. This little two piece is absolutely adorable! I mean, what is cuter than dinosaurs wearing Christmas hats and holding presents? Next has the best Christmas baby stuff!

3. This freakishly cute number is from JoJo MamanBebe, Rory does have a few things from them but they are just really expensive and considering he will only wear it a few times, I didn't feel worth the £17 price tag but isn't it lovely?!

4. These are actually pj's but I think they would look so cute and comfy for a Christmas Day outfit, and they are only £5, I mean, what?! This has to happen.

5. Every baby needs a baby first Christmas bauble don't they? We've been looking and looking for a while and they all seem to tacky for me, pink or blue with glitter just isn't for me but we love this one! Peter Rabbit is always a winner!

I'll be honest, I am absolutely addicted to Christmas baby stuff right now, I just want to buy it all but being on maternity leave means having to restrain myself a little but I have already purchased two Christmas jumpers! haha!

BABYS FIRST CHRISTMAS: What we've bought so far

This year will be Rorys very first Christmas, he will be exactly 20 weeks old, still very young, so Santa (me and Liam) didn't really know what would be the best presents for him.

We are planning on getting him the Fisher-Price Kick n Play mat as his main present but this is everything else we have bought so far.

The first thing I bought was this DANCE book, it is literally adorable, with dancing animals on each page, the pages have little tabs to pull which I think Rory will love. 

I got a set of six soft blocks, these were a bloody steal! Only £3 from Sainsburys in the sales. I think Rory will really like knocking these down once ive stacked them up and they can grow with him and help him develop his motor skills.

We have bought quite a few books for him because they are a perfect gift that can grow with a child but also, currently being read to is the only way to get him to sleep for bedtime. We lay him down in his cot sleepy but awake and read books until he's very nearly asleep then sneak out out of the room like a backwards walking ninja. He just loves to be read too.

Firstly we bought the Paddington Treasury which includes 6 classic Paddington Bear stories, Liam and I have such a soft spot for that adorable bear and we are doing our best to force that love onto Rory as well.

We also got The Dinosaur That Pooped Little Library, I'm a big fan of the illustrations and I just love a mini library because Rory can hold onto the little books himself.

You must have seen the Aldi Christmas advert with Kevin the Carrot right?! He and his little family are just the cutest so I couldn't not buy the story book for Rory. We are the kind of family to read Christmas books all year round so I think this will become a firm fave.

We usually do Christmas Eve boxes, me and Liam have one and so does Watson the dog but we thought we would just give Rory a small present for Christmas Eve this year as he's still so young and won't understand it properly until next year. We got this sing along We Wish You A Merry Christmas book to read to him on Christmas Eve.

We also aren't doing a stocking this year just because he's so little and we don't have much to go in it but I did still buy a few little stocking style bits for him such as these bath crayons, he loves a bath so I think he will really enjoying flailing his arms and seeing the colours appear.

A few other bath bits are this set of sticky fish for the side of the bath and this duck that swims through the water, I really think he'll love watching these!

We didn't want to go too crazy on presents this year but we might also get maybe one more present as well as the Fisher-Price mat, maybe something musical or the squeaky eggs I mentioned in a previous post.

I hope you found this interesting, maybe it'll help you shop for your babies first Christmas or another baby in your life! Thanks for reading!

REALISTIC: Nursery Tour 3 Months In

I posted a nursery tour before Rory was born and like most peoples nurserys before baby, it was pristine. Clean, hoovered, organised and adorably unused. However, things change the moment little one arrives! It suddenly becomes a used space, your life turns upside down, you no longer have time to clean and tidy so that perfect nursery often falls to pieces!

I do try and keep things neat as possible but it certainly is a more lived in space now!

As of this week Rory is now in his big boy cot, the Moses basket is no more, my little 7lb15oz newborn is growing up! 

When he's in the cot the cot top changing table comes down for safety reasons but I pop it back up in the morning when its time to get him changed and dressed. Currently we do have a cot bumper up because I felt it would make the transition from moses basket to cot easier as it would feel more enclosed like the moses does. He currently isn't rolling so I'm not too worried about them but I will be taking them down when he is!

Rory has loved this mobile right from day one, sometimes we have to take it down when we are trying to get him off to sleep as it distracts him but we put it back up in the morning to keep him entertained while Liam and I get ready for the day. I also sometimes lay him here so I can leave him safely if I need a wee!

This whole area has stayed pretty unscathed in the last three months but my god, the dog hair on this mattress is insane, you'd think the dog slept in there too! The sheet has to be cleaned all the time!

This little corner used to house the nappy bin but I have since decided that they are gross and even grosser to empty so now I just throw the nappies in the kitchen bin and take the kitchen bin out more regularly. It so much easier! 

This bouncer was originally downstairs and was used loads when he was really small as he loved to sleep in it but these days his 18lb body is just a little too heavy for it, it no longer bounces but its handy when I'm trying to get my makeup on or put the clothes washing away.

The top of this unit is now just a dumping ground, Liams iPad is often up here as we use it as a baby monitor (HACK!) and it is always covered in chargers and nappies! It's gross but it's reality that I don't always have enough hands to carry a baby and a pile of nappies downstairs so usually there is a nappy of two living up here. 

My once beautiful tidy nursing chair is now always a mess, sometimes the blanket is folded but usually it's a crumpled mess on the floor and the chair now houses a pillow off of the bed which is covered in breast milk as it is so helpful to have a big pillow to nurse on and I couldn't be arsed with buying an actual nursing pillow. Those things are expensive!

Who needs a foot stool anyway?! I actually usually put my feet up on the little wooden bar so I don't mind so much that on the foot stool now lives the toy box, the toys in here are the ones Rory doesn't yet care about and downstair we keep a box of the things he currently likes. It is also the hang out spot for the sick covered muslin I use during night feeds. 

This area is where the moses basket used to live but now little man is way too big for it, it has been put away and replaced with an IKEA picture ledge which I am using as book storage. I love how it looks and it is at perfect grabbing height for Rory when he's a bit more mobile. I do like to lay him on the floor down here sometimes and he just loves to look at the books and all the colours.

These draws were my pride and joy when waiting for Rorys arrival, they were so perfectly organised and so cute. Liam and I used to go and look through these draws and just get so excited! These days they are a bit of a mess but are still remotely organised so I'm not too ashamed. Top draw is bits and bobs, nappies, wipes, health stuff and bath bits. Just all the necessary stuff.

Second draw is clothes and still looks quite organised, it's a lot emptier than it used to be because now that he has gone up a size he only has the things he needs rather than all the 0-3 bits that I impulse bought while pregnant. During the day I like him in mostly neutral clothes as he's a stylish little fella.

At bedtime however, I love a cheesy sleepsuit or a superman pj set! This draw is a lot more colourful and a lot more disorganised. Its mostly pj's, a few clothing bits and miscellaneous stuff like swim trunks and halloween costumes!

Well, this draw is embarrassingly messy but folding blankets is not high on my agenda these days. This draw is muslins, blankets, towels and sheets. It's a disaster but the draw still closes so I'm happy!

So this is my realistic nursery tour three months in, it's not too horrific but it's no where near as nice as it once was but that's nothing to be ashamed of.

 Mess is apart of motherhood!

Rory's Christmas List

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Rory will be 20weeks old for his first Christmas and I couldn't be more excited! Liam and I do Christmas big, we visit every garden centre, go crazy on presents, including a big pile for the dog and have a beautiful Christmas tree that is far too large for our little house but we love it none the less. 

Last Christmas was a magical one because a tiny little Rory bean was blossoming in my stomach and we told our family around that time by putting his scan in Christmas cards. Although I spent the whole Christmas period with severe morning sickness (I had to open presents while holding a bowl full of sick) it was technically our first as a family of three, four if you count the Watson (the dog) but this year is officially our first Christmas as a proper little family with a beautiful little boy to enjoy the festivities along side us!

He is finally getting into toys a bit, he will bat at and kick the toys hanging from his play mat and cuddle his Jellycat Fox but by Christmas he will be the perfect age to really enjoy more things, especially things that will encourage his development. 

These are the thing I have on his list so far...

One

The first thing I desperately want for him is this Fisher Price teepee with built in play mat and mobile.  He loves the play mat he already has but he spend a lot of time on it so by Christmas he will be bored of it and this is the ramped up newer version! 

Two

Squeaky eggs were a favourite toy of mine as a baby, I feel like loads of small children love these so I am sure Rory will be no different!

Three

The Tiger Who Came To Tea is a classic. I will be asking people to get him mostly books because I would like to start building him a mini library as I really want to encourage him to read. This is a must have book!

Four

This tummy roller is basically to help with tummy time. You lay your baby over it to help them enjoy tummy time and keep their little faces from being buried in the carpet. Rory loves tummy tummy time, I usually just flip him over on his play mat then get my face down to his level so interact with him but his chin is just so close to the ground and looks so uncomfortable so this roller will be super helpful. It is also a toy itself so its multi purpose.

Five

I will definitely be getting Rory either this or the teepee for Christmas, I am leaning more towards this because of space. This is such a unique toy, it is like a standard play mat with the toy arch but it also has the piano for the baby to kick at and play! It is so cool and will encourage baby to understand that what his feet are doing will effect the world around him. This mat is also adaptable into a sit up piano so it will grow with him. 

What are you getting your little ones for Christmas? I have been excited for Rory's first Christmas since before he was born so I am literally counting down the days!

Youtubers I'm Currently Loving

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I am home so much these days, usually glued to the sofa under a feeding/sleeping baby so I have been watching A LOT of youtube. I thought id talk you through who ive been loving recently and maybe help you find someone new to watch!

Shane Dawson

Who isn't loving Shane right now? His recent documentary style series The Mind Of Jake Paul has gained a huge following and with good reason. It was incredible, so eye opening and captivating. I have also really enjoyed his other series such as a real tear jerker when he meets up with his estranged father for the first time in years. 

Our Tiny Tribe

I have been watching Our Tiny Tribe for a while now. They started their channel when the lovely Ebony was pregnant with the cutest baby on earth, Daisy. Their channel follows life as a family of three, four if you count Tilly the dog. If you are a new parent I suggest you go and watch them from their very first video, you'll love it.

Isabel Brandon

Isabel is a young mum with two gorgeous little ones, Ollie and Baby Alice. She's a real person, down to earth, does normal mum things and she's just such a sweetie. If you want to watch someone normal, she's your girl.

Giovanna Fletcher

Gi is amazing! If you haven't heard of her, you must live under a rock. She is married to Tom Fletcher  (Mcfly), has three gorgeous boys, she's an author and an all round mummy superhero! I personally love watching the video versions of her podcast HappyMumHappyBaby and I absolutely loved reading her book of the same name while I was pregnant. Such an understanding mum you can look up to with such a lovely family.

OkBaby

These guys are a new love of mine! Oscar and Kyra are teenage parents with two children under 3 and are expecting a third! For a couple so young they make parenting look easy but also relatable. Oscar especially is just the most amazing dad and I love watching him with his little ones. I AM ADDICTED!

KBaby

K Baby is Kyra from OkBaby's personal channel, Ive really enjoyed watching her pregnancy updates and wish I had come across them while I was pregnant but I am still enjoying them just as much now that little Rory is with us.

Ryland Adams

Ryland is Shane Dawsons boyfriend which is how I came across him. He is such as genuine person and the way him and Shane are together is heartwarming to watch. Their chemistry is so sweet. He also has a sister Morgan Adams who also has a channel, I've been loving her too!

Jazzybum

I've been watching Jasmin for a while but recently she's had me in stitches with her trying halloween costume videos and vlogs. She has a great sense of humour, she's a real person and I've really been enjoying binging her videos!

Who have you been watching recently? 

Everyday Makeup For When Time Is Limited

These days I'm lucky to get 5 mins to do my makeup while Rory entertains himself, I usually put him in his cot to watch the cot mobile while I quickly slap some makeup up on attempted to make myself look presentable and less tired!

Don't get my wrong sometimes when you're a mum you just need to forget about makeup and enjoy your day and there is nothing wrong with that. At least 5 days a week, I am bare faced and I actually really love it but other times its nice to make more of an effort. 

For the base I usually don't bother with foundation,  I am super lucky to have good skin so I just use the Marcelle BB Cream in Golden Glow. I gives me a nice colour and evens out my tone. 

I desperately need concealer with the massive bags under my eyes so I use the Boujois Healthy Mix Anti-Fatigue concealer in 51 Light. It is a relatively sheer concealer which I like because this gives a natural look so that me skin still looks like skin!

I then powder all this into place with a H&M powder. Super necessary for me because I get so sweaty through out the day, having to hold a radiator baby most of the day.

The most important part of this look is the highlighter and blush from the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Vol 3, the blush is a lovely pink shade, very natural but with a beautiful shimmer that makes my face look super healthy. I use highlight 2 in the palette and I am addicted to it! It makes you look like you have a natural glow from within, almost not there but makes you look so incredibly healthy!

Bronzer is my favourite step! I use the Urban Decay Beached Bronzer in Beached, I use a big fluffy Makeup Revolution brush to disperse the product which provides a really natural looking glow. This shade is perfect for me as it is just the right tone for everyday, I also lovvvvvveeee the packaging and just simple enjoy using it.

If Rory is still behaving himself I then use a fluffy Anastasia Beverly Hills eye brush to run some bronzer through my eye crease to give my eyes a little bit of depth and the I add a little highlight to my brow bone with the same Hourglass highlighter. For my brows I would usually use a brow powder to shape them but if I don't have the time then I just use this Fill + Tame Brow Gel in Brunette. I just run it through my brow hairs to provide a little colour and definition without looking too done.

For my lashes I have been using the Tanya Burr Cosmetics Selfie Lash, this isn't my favourite by far because of how little it does to my lashes but I find it works well for this look because it almost looks like I'm not wearing any mascara, matching well with the natural look. 

Lastly I use a little of this Body Shop Lip and Cheek stain in Peach on my lips. It's great because its a stain which lasts all day and is in a very natural your lips but better shade. I have had this for yonks so I doubt they still sell this same product but I'm sure they sell something similar! 

Please enjoy this really early Christmas photo of me and my boy while wearing this natural, quick, everyday look. I may look a little like a thumb but at least I'm glowing!

I've really been loving BB creams instead of foundation recently but only own this one mentioned in this post, what ones do you guys recommend? I'm desperate to try some other ones!

Trying Mamia by Aldi *

 This product was gifted but all thoughts are my own* 

By now I have used a good 80% of baby wipes brands on the planet. I never consistently buy the same ones although I do have my favourites, before having a baby I didn't realise that all wipes were different and that some would work better for me than others, I just thought they were wipes for baby butts!

We bought one pack of water wipes to bring with us to the hospital because at the hospital it was either that or cotton wool and water which I think is gross. My first experience with water wipes was during the night with a 1 day old baby covered in poo and millions of wipes flying out in one go! I mean, they cleaned him but I wasted loads and they were sort of too wet for me. Then after that we tried so many different wipes finding some too wet, some too dry but my main peeve was when too many wipes came out at once!

My favourites so far are Pampers Pure and Johnsons Extra Sensitive. But being that they are both big baby brands they can be quite expensive, I mean, £1 doesn't seem like a lot but it is when you use as many as a newborn needs!

Mamia is the baby brand by budget supermarket, Aldi. I have heard great things from friends and family, the prices are much cheaper than name brands and even a little cheaper than most supermarket brands. A full size pack retails for 49p which is half the price of bigger brands! So they can wipe twice the poo for the same cost!

As you can see on the front of the packet, these wipes have won a good few Mother&Baby Awards which is super reassuring that they are good for my baby. They are also suitable from birth and sensitive skin which is exactly what you want, keeping the chemicals at a minimum.

I have been using these exclusively for a week now and I can honestly say, I love them! They are just the right wetness, wet enough to do a good job but not so wet that they slip all over the place. They don't always come out one at a time but they do more often than not which is a huge plus for me. Overall, I feel like I am using less of these wipes per bum change and they are also cheaper which will save us a lot of money!

I don't usually shop at Aldi but I might have to start so I can pick these up more often!

More Tranquil Beauty Treats! *

These products were gifted but all thoughts are my own* 

Not long ago I was lucky enough to be send a bath pillow by Tranquil Beauty to review, if you look back a few months you will see how much I loved it! I've now been super lucky to be sent a few more bath time/pampering beauties to try.

The first item is these Massage Cups, I didn't even really know what they were until I received them, this is what the instructional leaflet says...

"Cupping is a deep tissue non invasive natural therapy that targets cellulite, by stimulating blood circulation: fat and toxins built up on the surface of the skin are promoted to the lymph drainage system. Our lovely cups leave skin visibly tighter, breaking up deposits of all that bad stuff"

I did a little research of my own and found that cupping is also used to help with the appearance of stretch marks which I have quite a few of (Thanks Rory!) I found this really interesting as I would do anything to improve the appearance of these pesky stretch marks! I know there is no miracle cure for them but any help is appreciated!

The instructions recommend you lubricate the skin first or use in the shower and make use of the water and soap. I have been using the Johnsons Bedtime Baby Cream, just because its what I had to hand and it works perfectly. Any kind of body cream would work well.

To use the cups, you squeeze and press against the skin then release the squeeze so that the cups suction to your skin. You can vary the pressure by experimenting with how much you squeeze the cup when applying. There are two size cups which do the same thing but just make using on different body parts easier.

I have been using the smaller cup on my stomach and hips, it works perfectly for this area.

I have been using these now for a few weeks now, the instructions do say to wait 30days of use before judging the results. So, baring this in mind, I am not currently seeing huge results but I do feel like something is changing! The stretch marks do seem lighter to me! And I am really enjoying using them as they feel really nice on the skin.

I will update you further in a few more weeks and let you know if anything has changed!

The second item Tranquil Beauty kindly sent me is a bath mat. I mean, bath mats are boring right? But they are a bathroom essential so I was pretty excited to have a good quality mat and to be able to review and see if this bathmat is any better than your cheap basic one. 

The packaging isn't quite as fancy as the cups or as the bath pillow I previously reviewed but it doesn't really need to be as it is a bath mat after all. 

I haven't had many bath mats before but the ones I have had haven't fitted around the plug hole like this. I personally stand quite close to the plug hole as we have an over the bath shower which is just above it so this is actually a really helpful addition. I also think that most mats don't span the whole bath length, just covering a small area in which for you to stand but this one fits the whole length meaning you have no slip risk anywhere in the bath. Great for children who fidget!

My favourite use however is to hold Rory's AngelCare bath seat still. I usually get in the bath with Rory and sit in front of the seat, I have to use my knees to hold the seat still while I bath him which can be really annoying. The mat is so helpful as it holds the bath seat in place for me! Obviously, please don't ever leave your child unattended but I do find this so handy and it means I have a little more freedom to clean and play with my little water baby.

Overall, the cups are really fun, really enjoyable to use and I like them a lot! Whether they work or not remains to be seen but I'm impressed with them so far.

The bath mat is very simple but I do think it has advantages that your basic bath mat doesn't, so if you are in the market, you can't go wrong with this one!

You can purchase the cups and mat HERE

Baby Boy Winter Wishlist

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Autumn is officially here and the weather sure reflects it! It is so freaking cold! Poor Rory has been constantly wrapped in blankets and wearing layer upon layer to keep warm as our house is like an igloo right now! Even with the heating on!

These are a few cold weather items I have been eyeing up...

We already have a Paddington style yellow rain coat ready for our Center Parcs holiday but I feel like he also needs an all in one to keep him toasty on outdoorsy walks, I'm not sure whether a waterproof option (one) would be the best choice or a wooly one (five), on one hand I think waterproof would be great as it is going to get quite rainy in the coming months so it will ensure he stays dry but then on the other hand I'm thinking well I'm not going to leave my baby out in the rain, he will have a rain cover over his pram so maybe waterproof isn't that important and he would be happier in something super snuggly?

Rory has a matching jumper and joggers set from Morrisons Nutmeg range that I absolutely love, I just think the style looks adorable on him and it just feels so wintery and warm for him. (two) is from  Next and it is literally adorable!!! So colourful but it's £12, I mean, this isn't expensive but option (four) is from Asda and it is literally the same idea but in grey with a slightly more grown up feel and it is only £7!!! I'm leaning more towards getting this one as it is equally as cute but much cheaper!

I also have a soft spot for knit wear, this cloud knitted all in one (three) just looks so warm and snuggly! I love that it looks suitable for a little one, really cute but also very modern and understated. 

The HEY set (six) is so lovely! I really like how colourful and child like it is, it would suit Rorys cheeky personality so well!

Next, Morrisons and Matalan are my absolute front runners for baby boy clothes at the moment, what are yours?

Base Products by Revolution Pro

I've been using Revlon Color Stay as my foundation and Collection Lasting Perfection as my concealer for literally ages. I don't tend to experiment with base products because its just too damn hard so when I find something that works, I stick with it. But, Revolution Pro has been all over youtube/blogs recently so considering I've been scrapping the barrel for a while I thought I would for once, try something new.

For foundation I thought I would try out the foundation drops in F2, this is the second lightest shade. I am quite fair but do have some olive tones to my skin, I tried the shade on my hand in store as well as a few others and thought this one looked the best but I think the lighting in store must have deceived me because its actually quite light! 

Liams nan actually asked me if I was feeling unwell! Ha!

The shade issue is obviously my fault but the product itself is actually very good! It is described as light weight with a medium coverage. I would agree, it does feel beautifully weightless on the skin and the coverage is medium in my opinion. I have quite good skin so for me it does nicely cover up my imperfections but I would say that if your skin is quite blemished then maybe this won't be enough for you. I have oily skin and I actually find it to be quite drying, I can work with it but I do feel that it might dry out dryer skin and might make blemishes look a little crusty. 

Overall, I am a fan! I wouldn't say it is the best foundation I've ever used but I certainly will be finishing the bottle! Once the weather gets colder and my skin gets dryer I might need to reconsider but until then I'm really liking it! Would recommend!

The concealer I chose is the Revolution Pro Full Coverage Camouflage Concealer in C1, Revolution Pro describe this as a concealer providing lasting maximum coverage. I went for the lightest shade which is describes as for fair skin with neutral tones and in hindsight I should have gone for C2 which is aimed at yellow undertones which would definitely have worked better for me. The concealer is described as maximum coverage so I expected that it would be thick, it is very thick, so thick that it is actually quite difficult to blend out and rather than settle into the skin it seems to sit on top of it. It seems too crease extremely badly and quickly, I powder it down as soon as I apply it and even that can't stop the creasing! 

If you don't have lines under your eyes maybe you will be ok with this but for me, it almost makes it look like I have wrinkles because it settles into my under eye lines so badly and obviously. The only way I can use this is too only apply on the outer section of my under eyes, completely avoiding the inner corner and inner under eye. 

This concealer however is really great for covering blemishes, due to the high coverage and thickness it covers so well and for me, I don't have lines on the rest of my face so it doesn't crease. So essentially, if you are crease free you'll love this! Otherwise its not for you!

Overall, I have been impressed with Makeup Revolutions rebranding, the packaging is sleek and more expensive looking than it used to be. The products are arguably better quality and the newer releases have been exciting ones! I would recommend the foundation, not so much the concealer but I definitely will be trying out some other Revolution Pro products! 

How To Entertain A 6 Week Old Baby

Since becoming a mum all I do is worry and one of those main worries is am I keeping my baby happy, entertained and am I stimulating/ helping him learn. I don't want to just leave him in a bouncer and hope for the best, I want him to thrive and learn! 

These are the things I've been doing to keep my 6 week old Rory entertained!

The most used baby product for us so far has been this Mamas & Papas octopus play mat, we got it in the sale and have used it every single day since Rory was roughly a week old. 

We are luck that Rory is quite independent and has always enjoyed laying on it and playing by himself. The 8 legs crinkle so he loves to kick his little legs and listen to the crunch, he stares at the mirror that hangs from the centre and screams in joy. He even likes to nap on it! 

When he gets bored of being on his back on the play mat I just flip him over for some tummy time! The mat is lovely and soft so its perfect for this! Rory loves a bit of tummy time and usually likes to lay and suck his fingers, occasionally trying to push himself up and look around which is great for his developing muscles! 

Something we have been doing more and more this past few weeks is using a carrier, Rory doesn't love his pram unless he's asleep and I don't love being restricted so using a carrier has been amazing! It is super beneficial for your your own wellbeing to get out of the house but its also great for baby to see new places and get some fresh air. It makes walking the dog so much easier and I love it for running errands as I'm completely hands free. And it means his little head is always at kissing distance!

We even took him for a walk with the family through sunflower fields which wouldn't have been possible with the pram. He slept all the way through the experience but he was very cosy against my chest. 

Everyday I read at least one book to Rory, he doesn't always pay attention or even seem like he's listening but I think its really important to get him interested in books and reading early. He has taken particular interests in these two, Thats Not My Lion has different textures inside which I rub his little fingers on and he loves that! Faces is also a great book as it is black and white which are the most interesting colours for babies, he mostly just likes the mirror on the front though!

I am already planning on getting him lots of books for Christmas and maybe even start working on a library corner for his nursery so he can really start to enjoy them and build up a good collection.

A change of scenery is always nice and that includes for babies. My lovely mum handmade this 

quilt for Rory so when the livingroom is becoming boring I take the quilt and lay it in different places around the house and just let Rory look around and play in a slightly different surrounding. He loves this! I also scatter a few different toys around him to interact with such as these rubber ducks.

Lastly, he really likes noise. The blue bear sings a lullaby and the other sings about numbers and foods. Not only are they great for learning, the also have bright colours that mesmerise him! He stares at them for such a long time and loves to knock them over! It can become boring pretty quite though having to keep sitting them back up again!

As Rory gets older I hope so incorporate loads more reading and when he's a bit older I can't wait to start doing arts and crafts with him! Both Liam and I are very creative so we can't wait to do these things with him!

What keeps your littles one entertained? I'd love some more ideas!

BABY - Getting Autumn Ready

All of a sudden the weather has become so cold! It is officially the start of Autumn, the countdown to halloween, pumpkin picking, pumpkin spiced lattes (my autumn addiction) chilly evenings snuggled under a duvet and warmer clothes!

I am Rory is currently in 0-3 month but wont be for long with the size of this boy! So I've started collecting autumnal clothes for him in 3-6months. We also have our first family holiday together in November so I have bought a lot of this stuff with the intention of him looking bloody adorable in our holiday photos! 

First thing I obviously needed to get was jumpers, he will live in jumpers in the colder months because they are perfect for laying and babies constantly get cold, then you bundle them up and they are sweating then you take a layer off and they are freezing. Its a vicious cycle so layers are the key!

The navy blue one is a lovely thin knitted jumper with a very grown up print but does have the little fox pattern towards the top giving it a cute youthful look, I will say now that I have been collecting these bits since before he was born so they may not be available still in store but this particular jumper is from H&M.

The brown fox jumper is my fave, it is from Next and it is so sweet its unreal! It is a great thickness for fall weather, its got some thickness and warmth to it but its not too thick that it will make him sweat. I also love the colour as it is very autumnal and looks lovely on Rory's olive skin tone.

Leggings have been a staple in Rory's wardrobe so far so joggers will be the autumnal next step as they are similar in look but much thicker to keep his chubby little legs warm. These lovelies are from Next but these style can be gotten in so many places, H&M are currently selling three packs of similar ones in cute colours that I might have to get as well!

Babys in dungarees literally melt me! I have included two pairs in this haul. This pair is from Pep N Co (Poundland) if you can believe it! How cute are they?! They have such a vintage feel to me, they just make me think of something I would have worn as a child. I cannot wait to put Rory in these! They don't have poppers on the crotch though so the poor boy will have to deal with being nude when having a nappy change which is very reminiscent of nights out wearing a jumpsuit, anyone know what I mean?

The other pair of dungarees in from Next and I just love how modern they, very grown up and stylish. Rory has worn these a few times already and they keep him perfectly warm while making him look like a little fashionista badass.

It rains a lot in Autumn, we all know that. I've already been caught out a few times this year! I desperately wanted a Paddington Bear style rain coat and came across this little gem in Boots. It's not too thick which is actually perfect because it will fit over a jumper and keep him from overheating which can happen when you are wearing a jumper and a thick coat. I just think this is the most adorable thing and I can't wait for him to wear it!

I have so much more to get ready for the cold weather and for our holiday still, such as some jeans and more jumpers. What do you all recommend? 

Baby Buys I SHOULD or SHOULDN'T Have Bought

One          Two        Three         Four          Five          Six

9 months is a long time to prepare and buy everything your baby needs in anticipation of their arrival but sometimes you just don't know what you will or won't need until little one is here! We bought everything we thought we needed and still found that we needed more, we also found that many things we thought were essentials weren't essentials at all and have gone unused! 

Obviously every baby and every family/situation is different so it may be that you use all these things but these are the items that I wish I hadn't bought...

SHOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT

Mittens - I bought loads of mittens, I was thinking babies scratch themselves and they are sold everywhere so they must be necessary right? Well, not only were Rorys hands way to big to fit in them anyway from day one (he has massive hands) but I didn't ever feel the need to use them anyway! I just keep his nails cut short and if I did feel mittens were necessary I would just put him in a sleep suit that had the built in ones which most of them do!

Booties - Same really! His massive flippers never fit in them and whats the point of them anyway? A lot of baby clothes have feet and if they don't, I just used socks!

Fleece Blankets - Considering Rory was due on the 1st August and we were having an insane heatwave, I have no idea why I thought these would be necessary. We haven't used them yet but I suppose we might in the colder months so they aren't a complete waste but what I would say is that you need to consider the time of year when your buying blankets. We have gotten much more use out of the breathable cellular ones!

Too Much Clothes - Buying baby clothes is so exciting and I loved it! We bought so much stuff and we also got gifted so much stuff but so much of it never got worn before he grew out of it and now I am frantically trying to get him to wear all his 0-3months stuff before he out grows them too! And as much as dungarees and jeans are cute, he lives in sleep suits and the odd pair of leggings anyway! 

SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT/GOT MORE OF

Books and Toys - We bought a few things but we were of the mindset that we wouldn't use them for ages but I have found that that just isn't true. I have been reading to him from very early on and he loves to look at brightly coloured toys even though he's not quite able to play with them. We especially love the "Thats Not My" books and I have bought him "DANCE" for Christmas!

Sleep suits - We bought a few but just didn't really prioritise them, I wanted to dress him in adorable outfits everyday but really sleep suits are the most comfortable and practical for a little baby. We also didn't have any in newborn or 0-1month sizes because we were convinced he would be big so we actually had nothing that fit him in his first few weeks! I would really recommend buying a few things in all sizes just to cover all bases, you can always return them if you never use them! We love the Mothercare 3 packs as they are amazing quality, come in loads of sizes and are available in loads of adorable patterns.

Long Sleeve Body Suits - I bought a few of these but I mostly bought short sleeve as he was due in the summer but I found quite quickly that even thought it was hot, he's a baby and he needs to be warm! They are also perfect for wearing under sleeping bags at night to keep those chubby little arms warm!

Sleeping Bag - We had one of these in 1tog but in the past 7 weeks we have ended up having to buy two more in different togs! Babies need different togs to covered different temperatures, the weather is so unpredictable at the moment so you need variety! They also last until 6 months so they are a good investment that will last a long time.

Moveable Car Seat - We originally did so much research into car seats and what would fit our car the best, be the safest and last the longest. We opted for a seat that can't be carried and lasts up to age 4, we didn't want to waste money on a car seat that could be carried because they only last up to age 1. And being that our boy was predicted to be quite the chunk (he is!) we didn't think it would even last till then. But last minute we decided to get a moveable car seat in order to make leaving the hospital easier and we have been using that one since! It has proven to be so much more practical and easier to get him comfy in the seat before walking to the car rather than having to faff around once you get there. 

THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN AMAZING!!!!

One               Two

These two things have been the most incredible products, I would honestly say they have made motherhood so much easier for me and I would be lost without them!

Firstly, Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier. I had never intended to use a carrier as I was so in love with my pram and wanted to use the hell out of it but Rory got upset not being close to me, its a pain to put up when your alone and you can't walk on uneven surfaces which doesn't sound like a big deal but for me, it is! I love walking the dog over the grass, going to parks and being handsfree when I shop so this carrier has been a lifesaver. I feel like me again when I'm wearing it, I can do everything I usual do while still being a mummy. 

Sock ons are little contraptions you put on over your babies socks to keep them securely on their feet and they are revolutionary! I haven't lost one sock and they are also great to wear with sleep suits that are a little too long because they hold babies feet in the right place which was so helpful when Rory was really small and always pulled his feet out of the legs of sleep suits. 

If you take anything from this post, it is to buy these two items urgently as they will change your life!

Is there anything I haven't mentioned that you've loved for your little one! Let me know!