Bath Time with Tranquil Beauty! *

The bath pillow was gifted but all thoughts are my own*

I have never been a bath girl, mainly because I have never had a decent bath anywhere that I have lived. When we got on holiday I often treat myself to a bath bomb and make use of the hotels bath though! 

But recently my very pregnant, very large body has been aching like crazy and I've just needed a bath! I've been having one almost every night so went into Superdrug and treated myself to a few bath products to make it all the more luxury! Despite my tiny, old fashioned green bath. I will talk about those things a little later!

One thing I was missing was a bath pillow, as my bath is so small I often ended up with a sore neck and just couldn't stay in the bath for that long as it was just so uncomfortable. I was considering getting myself one when I was contacted by Tranquil Beauty. 

Tranquil Beauty are an Amazon shop specialising in beauty and spa items. The reviews on their store really do speak for themselves so I had no concerns that I wouldn't like this product! I was not disappointed!

Something that first impressed me was the delivery, you are kept so well updated on the items progress and it came the day after dispatch! I was so shocked when the postman delivered it! Such incredible service so already step one impressed me greatly.

It came in a fancy looking black box as shown above, meaning the product was well protected during delivery and it also means that that this product could make an amazing gift! That was my first thought, I bloody love wrapping presents and this box is the perfect box for wrapping. I feel like this is the sort of product you could gift to such a variety of people due to it's neutral colour and who doesn't love a bath? 

It would be great for an older lady who needs a little support in the bath, an aching pregnant women like me, someone who just loves a bath or even kids!

There are 7 suction cups on the back of the pillow, they are super strong so they ensure than once your pillow is where you want it, that baby is not moving. The pillow itself is made up of two segments so it can be made to fit different shape baths, my bath doesn't have a very large back so it doesn't sit quite the way I'd like it too but it still does the job and stays secure. 

It is waterproof (obviously) and wipeable should you get makeup all over it like it did. It is a sort of memory foam type material on the inside so it moulds to your shape making it super comfy. 

Cost wise, it isn't the cheapest bath pillow out there but it certainly isn't expensive either. I would definitely say that it was worth the money! I can see it lasting me a really long time and getting loads of use.

Purchase your own one here!

As for products to make my bath all the more relaxing, I've mostly turned to trusty Zoella products. I went for Bath Frosting which is a bath powder that turns your water milky white, moisturises your skin and smells amazing! It is from the Jelly and Gelato range which is my favourite of all the Zoella scents.

I also got Scooper Dooper which is a bubble bath in the original Zoella scent, another one of my fave scents. I use a huge scoop of this too create the most perfect bubbles!

My favourite thing though is this Imperial Leather Cherry Bakewell bubble bath, it literally costs 90p, smells incredible and creates the most bubbles! Scooper Dooper is a little pricey so I find myself being really sparing with how much I use meaning less bubbles but as this one is only 90p I pour it in until my whole bath is a pink bubbly masterpiece and don't feel bad about it! 

These can all be bought from Superdrug!

Baths have been revolutionised for me! I am hoping to still get the time for them once baby arrives which is probably wishful thinking but I am sure as hell going to try! 

Check out Tranquil Beauty on Amazon and Instagram for updates!

Baby Boy Nursery Tour!

Decorating the nursery has been the most exciting thing but also the most stressful! We live in a really small one bed house so have had to do a total over haul of the whole house to make room for our impending little one! We have thrown away everything that isn't a necessity, painted all the walls, bought loads of new furniture that works better for our space but most importantly; given up over half our bedroom for the nursery.

My partner and I now have a bed, two thirds of a built in wardrobe and a small dressing table and thats it. Its been really hard to downsize but I am so glad we did it. Apparently I'm a hoarder so its been really nice to be brutal and only keep what we need.  Everything is so much tidier for it! 

Our bedroom is an L shape and the nursery takes up the larger half of the L. Starting from the right hand side of the room, up against the built in wardrobe we have a tall black lamp, washing basket and nappy bin. This part of the wardrobe is hard to access which is why it is the babies, we store things that aren't everyday in here. Such as spare nappies, wipes and clothes that won't fit for a while. The washing basket was an IKEA bargain, as was the lamp and the nappy bin is a Tommee Tippee Sangenic Tec. 

Next to that is the cot, he won't be sleeping in here for a while as we have a moses basket which will live next to the bed but isn't this the cutest! It is the Mini Cot from Mokee, it is slightly smaller than your average cot but is still a really good size and turns into a bed when he's bigger. Such incredible quality and so cheap!

Underneath the cot we are currently keeping the swing, bouncer and play mat. These won't stay here once baby arrives but makes a decent storage space in the meantime!

 Hanging on the side we have a gorgeous quilt my mum made, it has Peter Rabbit on which is lovely for a little boy but is also in neutral shades so matches our grown up space nicely.

This mobile is from John Lewis, we are huge animal lovers so this was right up our street. So cute and hopefully will keep babies attention but not to garish to look at. We also have Ewan The Dream Sheep, he is a sleep aid and I can't wait to use him! He lives in the cot at the moment but will probably get put on the moses basket when baby comes! 

We didn't have room for an actual changing table but I did want somewhere dedicated for changing so this cot top changer was the perfect option. Also from Mokee, it secures on the top for safety and can also be hung from the side of the cot if need be. It is super spongy and the raised edges make it feel so safe and comfortable!

Next to the cot we have the Malm four drawn chest of draws from IKEA, it was the perfect option as it has loads of room and the sleek design worked perfectly in our bedroom. It looks grown up enough to match our things but also the babies. 

On top of the drawers we have a GroEgg which is a room thermometer, this is a must. It will help so much in knowing what to dress baby in at night, as first time parents I feel like we will need the help! We also have an Amazon Echo Dot, it will be handy for when we need hands free help like the time, some music while feeding or whatever else. 

Then we have this hamper with changing essentials in, it is within easy reaching distance of the changing mat. Inside we just have the basics, nappies and a packet of wipes. 

Next to the small hamper we have this jumbo one! This currently holds all his toys and books. He won't be using these for a while so we don't have much but we have collected a few books, some soft toys and some comforters to start him off with. 

Next to the drawers and right at the end of the room and against the wall is the nursing chair. We didn't want a proper nursing chair as once we are done using it this one can be used elsewhere in the house and won't go to waste like a dedicated nursing chair would. I have added a super soft grey blanket for chilly late night feeds and a cushion. It also has a handy footstool just out of shot. It is from Argos.

Now for the drawers which I can't stop looking through! 

The top drawer has practical things such as nappy bags, cotton balls, creams and bath stuff and hygiene things. Again, within perfect reaching distance of the changing mat should I need nappy bags or bum creams!

The next drawer is clothes. This drawer melts my heart, we got drawer separators from IKEA which work so well to organise the tiny clothes! I've folded and stored everything side ways so we can see exactly what we have, I have become very protective over this draw and it will break my heart when it gets messed up which I'm sure it will the moment baby gets home!

The third drawer has a few more clothing bits in more drawer dividers. Smaller bits like hats, socks, bibs and mittens. They are all so tiny and adorable, ahh!

Then the rest of the drawer holds towels and wash cloths. I cannot wait to wrap him up in these towels and take loads of photos and have lots of cuddles after his baths!

The bottom drawer is sleep stuff, cellular blankets, thicker blankets, sleeping bags, swaddles and extra cot/moses basket sheets. We definitely have more than we need in here but who can resist buying a soft blanket! 

So thats everything! Little boys nursery is all organised and ready for his arrival. The only thing we are missing is something like a canvas or print to go on the wall above the cot but we just haven't found the perfect thing yet! We don't want to rush and put something rubbish up there so we are just leaving it bare until we find just the right thing. 

I am so happy with how everything looks and so proud at how we have made it all work in such a small space and with a small budget. One of my main worries when we found out I was pregnant was how we would fit a baby into our tiny house along with two adults, a dog, two guineapigs and a rat but we have done it and I am in love!

Urban Decay Beached Bronzer Review

We all know I'm a huge Urban Decay fan and I have been really enjoying using the bronzer from the Urban Decay Jean-Michel Basquiat blush palette for the past few summers. It is a deep warm bronzer that just works so well on my skin once ive got a bit of a summer glow. 

Although I love that bronzer, it is apart of a palette which can be annoying to take with you on your summer travels so when I saw this new release I though, I need it. 

The packaging is in a thin plastic compact with a good secure closure and the most summery worthy palm design on top. It is very sleek and compact but actually holds 9g of product which is a really nice amount! Especially when compared to my previous everyday bronzer which only has 2g. I don't feel like this will run out/hit pan anytime soon! The packaging also feels very sturdy, I don't feel worried that it'll break when I pack it away for a holiday. 

It comes in two shades, I went for Beached which is the darker shade. I am quite a pale girl so I don't know how well this would work for someone darker than me which is a let down as there isn't a darker option!  

Beached is a deep warm shade that I personally love,  it is also matte which makes it a good shade to contour and bronze with. I like to use it with a big fluffy brush but place it more precisely in place of contour. This gives a lovely summery, healthy look to the skin. 

As you can see, my skin tone is quite pale so it is a shame that there isn't a dark shade available. There will be many people this just won't work for which is such a shame as the product is great! So buttery and long lasting. 

I am really happy with this bronzer and if you're skin tone is similar to mine or lighter, give it a go! If not, sadly this isn't the one for you!

Baby Things We Already Have And Can't Wait To Use!

One               Two              Three               Four

If you have a baby or are expecting one I'm sure you've been doing the same as me and randomly going into the babies space and looking in every draw. Touching all the little clothes, smelling all the clean blankets and stroking the teddy bears, just generally looking forward to when little one finally arrives and uses all these adorable things! 

We have been incredibly blessed to have been gifted so many lovely things from family and friends, we did buy the majority of little boys things ourselves though. The nursery space takes up about half of our bedroom which we have fully redecorated to make it a neutral space that is suitable for both ourselves and for a baby, we didn't want the space to look too childish so a lot of the items we have bought are in white and grey. I'll be uploading a nursery tour soon!

I thought I'd talk you through just a few of the many things we have for baby that I am desperate to use! The next 3 weeks can't go quick enough!

One

Firstly is Ewan The Dream Sheep, it feels like everyone in the world has recommended Ewan and it helps that he is bloody adorable. So when my baby shower rolled around and people started asking what we wanted, I had to add Ewan to the list. Ewan is a sleep aid essentially, he is both a nightlight but also has a button in each foot that each makes a different soothing sound to help baby sleep. It did seem like faddy crap to me originally, like how can a few noises help a baby sleep? But the hype surrounding it is insane so I am now convinced it will help me raise a sleeping angel. Fingers crossed!

Two

One thing Liam was adamant on was that he hated standard Moses baskets and wanted something a little different. I told him that he could choose anything he wanted as long as it didn't cost the earth like most of the fancier ones do! He researched like crazy and came across a brand called Mokee, they are super affordable and we decided to go for a sleep bundle which included the Moses basket, cot and both mattresses for £229. I mean, thats such an insanely good price! I will say that the delivery took almost 7 weeks which is hard when you are as excited as we were but it did all come in perfect condition and the quality exceeded our expectations. 

The Wool Nest (shown) is the thing I am most excited about,  it is the softest, cosiest thing on earth and I am so excited for the first time we lay our little bundle down in it and most likely stare at him all night long! 

Three

First of all, babies name is not Jamie. That is still a closely guarded secret that only a few people know and are sworn to secrecy! Something we desperately wanted was a personalised blanket with little ones names on it. It just felt so special to open the box and see his name for the first time beautifully embroidered on this gorgeously soft white cellular blanket from MyFirstYears. This was a a baby shower present from Liam's mum (one of the lucky ones who knows the name) and is currently hanging on the side of the cot, it feels so surreal to see his name taking pride of place. It really brought it home how close we are to having a real baby here!

Four

Lastly, one of the first things we bought for baby was this Jellycat Lion. It has been with us since the very beginning of this pregnancy so it feels only fitting that it is one the things I am most excited about! I know he won't play with it at first but he will look so cute snuggled up next to it in photographs! Like all Jellycat toys, it is the softest thing. Our poor dog has been desperate the get his teeth around it for months, it's heartbreaking watching him lust after it! 

In all honesty, I'm excited for everything. Even plain white socks get me all excited. Even nappies get me excited! I'm crazy, I know but these are the few things I find myself staring at the most. 

What are you guys loving for your little ones? 

36 Week Pregnancy Update

The past few weeks have been busy to say the least! We went on holiday to Devon for 5 days, had a baby shower and Liam graduated university for the last time!

It is so lovely to have the photos and memories of Baby Fish at these events but my god did he make himself known!

Things have really ramped up recently, let talk about it!

1. Officially nothing fits, nothing. I have been shoe horning myself into maxi dresses and hoping they don't burst at the seems. 

2. It's not only clothes that doesn't fit, now neither do my shoes or my jewellery! I noticed while on holiday that my ankles had really swollen up and I could barely get my shoes on, I wore a Thomas Sabo anklet on the first day of holiday and by the last, I couldn't get it on. I did have a ring snuggie on my engagement ring which I no longer need and I live in flip flops. 

3. A whole week of walking along beaches and non stop activity really took its toll, I have never felt more tired in my life but also never felt better in my own skin! It was so nice getting my bump out in a bikini and taking gorgeous beach bump pics! 

4. I had the best time at my baby shower and am so grateful to everyone that made the day special and got lovely presents for Baby Fish. 

5. Washing baby clothes is a bloody nightmare, the whole time a wash is on I find myself constantly worrying that everything will come out misshapen or the wrong colour. It hasn't happened yet but I'm a washing disaster so I'm waiting for it!

6. I think I have a stretch mark, it is faint and pink but I feel like its getting darker. I'm not too sad about it as I expected it to happen but with only 4 weeks left! How annoying!

7. I am still being sick, I think it is safe to assume now that it isn't going away. I'm fairly certain I will throw up during birth/labour. 

8. His movements are so strong now that they are quite often really unpleasant. His rolls make me feel physically sick but at the same time, if I don't feel like every 5mins I panic like crazy.  

9. I think I have carpel tunnel, my fingers are constantly tingling/numb. Midwife says it's nothing to worry about but it really is driving me mad! 

10. We have had our 36week scan which was a horror from start to finish, the lady who did my blood test and blood pressure I swear was trying to kill me. She did my blood pressure repeatedly until my whole arm went purple and I couldn't move it then she tried to take blood from that arm which obviously didn't have any as it was dead! So she proceeded to wiggle the needle around and stab at me for ages before moving to the other arm. Then the lady doing the scan was so rough that she bruised my stomach but the overall outcome was that baby is fine and not quite as large as they originally thought so thats good at least!

I honestly can't get my head around the fact that he is due to be here in 4 weeks! We are completely prepared though, everything is washed, folded, put away, built and stocked up! The only thing left to do is get a mirror and window shades for the car, so I'm just using my time to sleep and relax my aching body now! 

Please don't be late little boy! I can't wait any longer to meet you! 

Baby Shower!!!

Last Sunday was my baby shower, my mum and my sister (above) planned the whole thing and it was held at my mums house. A baby shower is something I never dared to think about when we were trying to get pregnant as it just seemed like something we would never get to do, the fact that I'm even pregnant amazes me everyday and getting to share this special day with all my loved ones was just magical. 

I have my proper camera and my polaroid with me but I was so busy enjoying the day that the only photos I took were polaroids. Not that I mind as these photos are adorable! These are close ups of the polaroids and I just think they look so vintage and its so special to have just one copy of them which I am going to scrapbook along with other memorabilia from the day. I adore scrapbooking and can't wait to start on it! 

The shower was girls only but Liam did pop in towards the end to see the presents get opened and help with the cleaning up. 

My mum organised some games, there was no eating out of nappies at this shower (gross), we did the price is right, guess how many sweets in a bottle and the game above which you have a bag for each letter of "BABY SHOWER" and we had to guess a product that was in the bag starting with that letter. It was extremely hard, I sucked at it but my gorgeous niece Evie sure did enjoy emptying out all the bags once we were done and making a right mess! Look at that grin!

Evie's grin making an appearance again as she stuffs her face with cheese balls. This girl can really eat! She devoured half the buffet then sat on a scone, covering herself and her surroundings in jam!

Food in her hand again! 

The best bit about the shower was getting to see family, having all the girls together is so nice as it doesn't happen very often. Having everyone together to celebrate our impending little boy just made me so happy to know that he is going to be so loved and surrounded by such a great family. 

  

My mum went all out on the decorations and they looked great! 

We had a pick n mix table that pretty much just melted in the scorching heat but while they lasted, they looked absolutely adorable!

She also made this amazing nappy cake! It took me ages to take apart once we got home but we certainly won't be running out of nappies for a while! 

I had the best day and am so grateful to my mum and sister for organising and decorating everything and so thankful for all the gorgeous presents we got given. Little one will certainly not want for anything with this lot around! We could barely fit it all in the car to take it home! 

Now to chill out and wait for this little fish to make his grand entrance! 

Our Babymoon!

For the past five years Liam and I have been to the same place in Devon on holiday every year, Woolacombe, North Devon. Last year, he actually proposed while we were there at our favourite private beach so we were really sad when we ultimately decided that we wouldn't go this year as I would be 34 weeks pregnant and it was the only time we could go between Liam's university commitments and baby's arrival. 

As we go every year, the holiday park that we always stay at were sending an abundance of emails and letters about booking a holiday, deals and offers. We got sent such a good offer that we just couldn't ignore so decided that we would take the car chair and hospital bags with us and hope that the baby didn't make an early arrival and that I wouldn't die of tiredness while there! 

The huge bump and my swollen ankles didn't stop us from exploring the beach, we opted to hire some adorable deck chairs and enjoy the beach in a more peaceful way rather than exploring the rock pools like we usually do! It is extremely hard to get out of a deck chair however, when you are very pregnant! 

Couldn't not take at least a few classic Liam from behind photos! They are my favourite to take! 

On the last day we visited a beautiful little village and had a cream tea while taking in this amazing sea view! This village had the steepest hills on earth, I've never panted so much in my life and Liam had to physically push me up hills but it was worth it for this incredible view!

I mainly took polaroid photos because they just feel so much more special than a digital and the camera is also a lot lighter to carry than our massive camera we usually use! This worked out so much better for my tired whale body to handle! 

We took some lovely bump shots but this one is probably my favourite.

I have an insatiable appetite at the moment so we did spend most of our time either eating or planning where to eat next. We had loads of amazing cream teas, drank loads of tea and drowned ourselves in fudge. 

The best meal though, was the tapas. We went to this same tapas restaurant last year the day Liam proposed so it felt really special to go back again with baby fish as well. He kicked away in my tummy like crazy while I drank a delicious Peach and Passionfruit Daiquiri Mocktail, we went for the endless tapas deal so we had so much food and left feeling painfully full but it was worth it as the food was genuinely the best I have ever eaten. 

This was the view from our deck chairs I mentioned earlier, who wouldn't want to have a picnic looking at this and reading a book in the sun! We did get a little burnt though, despite the sun cream. But again, so worth it. 

We had such a good week away, the last just us two before we become a family of three! I can't wait to take the little one with us next year. We didn't take our dog, Watson, this year as we felt Liam would have his hands full looking after me let alone our needy yet adorable pup but he will definitely be coming next year so we can have a proper family holiday! 

The best Babymoon!