Clever Little Discoveries for baby

As a mum to be and also an observant bystander when seeing parents out and about, I know that being a mum/dad is a tough job. From birth, you are responsible for a new life, and you want to do the best you can possibly do for your child. Of course, no child is going to breeze through the first few months/years of its life without some drama, be it a bump or bruise or a fever or trapped wind. I’ve come up with a few items from a very handy website that you may well already know about, but if not then continue reading my clever little discoveries for baby, sponsored by Babythingz.

1. Sock Ons- £2.99

I had a few pairs of these given to me as a present for my baby shower. They are such a cute little gift which I could see saving a lot of time and hassle. I cannot wait to try them out as I know my baby is going to be a real fidget bum just like me!

2. Head support- £15.99

I really do think that something like this is worth investing in as it can be used straight from birth and up to around four months. Its main function is to prevent flathead but I’m guessing that by the looks of this cushion, baby will find it super comfy and supportive too! You can use this in a bouncer, rocker, carrycot or wherever your baby’s head is lying and it will help elevate them a few more degrees which makes a lot of difference to their field of vision.

3. Crib wedge- £24.99

This is a little different to the head support. The crib wedge (designed for the crib or cot) can also be used from birth but is designed to help baby sleep better. The main reasons you should give this a go is if your baby suffers from regurgitation, colic or breathing problems during the night. Of course, these are all very common occurrences in babies, so I really wanted to show you this as I had never seen one on the shelves before.

4. Wood effect corner cushions- £3.99

For someone who lives in a farmhouse where the walls and ceilings are pretty much wooden, I’m definitely investing in these! The usual plastic looking corner cushions just wouldn’t fit in with our decor at all, so these are definitely on my purchase list for when baby gets a bit older!

5. Crib rail teething protector- £18.99

Carrying on from the last clever little discovery, again for when baby is older, this caught my eye on the Babythingz site. Available in multiple lengths, this looks like a saviour buy if you are walking in to find your baby sucking on its crib edges! The protector will provide a safe and soft surface for baby to bite down on when teething starts to kick in.

6. Baby banz sunglasses- £12.99

Lastly, I wanted to share this cute little item with you. Again, the website has a ton of choice in colour and style, but I fell in love with these retro white sunglasses! Suitable from 0-2 years and fully adjustable, hopefully this will help those parents out there who struggle to keep sun protective headgear on baby’s head!

 

There’s so much more to discover on the Babythingz site. For winter time, I’m loving the look of these cosytoes to go into my pram.

Let me know what you think of my clever little discoveries for baby and if you have tried/seen anything like these items before?

Saharasplash x

This is a sponsored post 

See my maternity photos from 27 weeks right here before you go!

 

Maternity Photoshoot at 27 Weeks

I always knew that when I fell pregnant I would want to do a maternity shoot. Being a lifestyle blogger has only made my photography craze more apparent and I guess there are a few reasons behind this. First, it’s about documentation. Not only can I look back through my posts, I like to think that it’s something I’m leaving behind for future generations. Second is about good quality. The more I blog, the more I want to improve upon my skills so that I can be proud of each post and know that they are getting better and better each time. So here we are with a maternity photoshoot at 27 weeks.

The start of July saw Paul and I venture a few miles down the road from Ipswich to Bramford. We were meeting a local photographer called Kerrie who runs her own business- Beautiful Creations Photography. She is known for newborn and family shoots so I was thrilled to be spending a few hours with her on a lovely Saturday morning.

We found the most perfect corn field to take some wonderful shots, it was super relaxed and a lot of fun, though a little hot in that field!

I’m in love with how the shots turned out. Kerrie brought along several props including a floral bouquet which matched my dress so well.

The dress I’m wearing is a maternity dress from Chi Chi London found via Love The Sales.* It made me feel like a woodland nymph as we took to our next backdrop against the trees.

I couldn’t help but bring Paul in for this last shot- Kerrie did the most amazing job at capturing our family in the moment like this.

Bring on the next maternity shoot planned for when I reach 33 weeks! Have you had/would you like to have a maternity shoot? Let me know in the comments!

Saharasplash x

Find Kerrie’s Facebook page here

*This post is via Love The Sales

If you liked this maternity photoshoot at 27 weeks, here’s my latest post on baby essentials!

The modern face of marriage

Getting married, hitched, wed, or whatever you want to call it is a life changing decision. For most couples who are married, I’m sure you look back on your wedding day as one filled with happiness, joy and great memories. Each wedding I have been to, including my own, I have found to be such an intimate and personal thing. No two weddings are quite the same, little hints and touches of the couple spread around to make it their own. After talking with my nan recently about her own wedding, I can’t help but feel that times have changed incredibly over the past decades, both for better and for worse! I want to share a few of our stories and some facts from a family law firm (Cardiff)* in this post on the modern face of marriage.

Going back to my nan, she told me that she got married at the same time as one of her sisters in a joint ceremony for financial reasons. It was a church wedding, a traditional catholic wedding which took place in Derry, Northern Ireland in 1963. Her dress cost £13 and both rings were £19. My dress, well price comparison is quite difficult, but it was a lot more than that! Our wedding- which took place 8 months ago- saw Paul and I married at a registry office as well as by a humanist in our own home the next day.

On my nan’s wedding day, she was told not to have any champagne at the toasting because she wasn’t old enough. I had a sip or two, and no one told me not to.

On the night of the wedding, my nan wasn’t told by anyone in her family on what to expect. My wedding night consisted of unpacking a marquee and looking over all the crazy photo booth images until 3 in the morning, then we fell asleep!

A non religious wedding weekend such as mine and Paul’s would certainly not have been possible for my nan, though I can happily report that it’s been 53 years since their wedding and my grandparents are still together and are the epitome of an old married couple.

Attitudes have changed so much not only towards marriage, but relationships in general. Introducing same sex marriage in the UK has brought us into a world that is so much more open and relaxed about marital ideals and what it means to marry the one you love. However, I do find that with a more relaxed view over the decades, the number of weddings that seem to expire has grown by far too much. How many divorced couples do you know? I conducted a poll on Twitter and 72% of people knew a close family member or friend who had gotten a divorce.

Photo by Camera Hannah

Can people really get married now without that tiny little thought in the back of their mind saying ‘well, if something does happen then I can just get divorced’? I feel this is a luxury that so many people (not all) take advantage of in countries where divorce has become so normal.

Of course I am happy that divorce can mean freedom for certain abusive and unfaithful relationships, but I do think that it is all too easy to say ‘I do’ now that it doesn’t necessarily mean ‘I do until death do us part’. In the source from the Cardiff law firm, 42% view marriage as a way to increase their financial security- I wonder if that percentage would have been higher or lower back in my nan’s day!

I believe that Paul and I waited the right amount of time before getting married, about 6 years, which included living together for a considerable amount of time beforehand. We got to know each other like no one I’d ever met before and we are soon to be expanding to three before we celebrate our first year of marriage.

We have been on countless adventures, starting out at a little Twilight convention in Birmingham, then travelling to the biggest comic convention ever in San Diego soon after becoming a ‘couple of nerds!’

67% of people surveyed think that there is less pressure from society to get married now than there was 10 years ago- I certainly felt no pressure to get married whatsoever before we were ready. Interestingly enough, 53% of people asked would want a civil ceremony. Does this show that marriage is becoming less of a religious thing and more like a status thing? I know I am certainly guilty of feeling that happy moment I could ‘status update’ my life on social media after the wedding. I’m proud to represent the modern face of marriage, and I plan to stay married providing Paul continues to be one hell of a tolerant husband!

How do you feel about your wedding day, whether married, planning or dreaming? Would you have wanted to get married in a similar style to my nan or to me?

Saharasplash x

Facts from survey (not including my Twitter poll) comprising of 2,000 GB men and women. Source: Slater Gordon. All figures from survey are from YouGov Plc.

*This is a Sponsored Post

Head back to the home page here to discover more, and thanks for reading about the modern face of marriage!

 

Best Bras at six months

I’ve heard a lot of pregnancy announcements this past month from personal friends as well as on social media. I’m sure you have noticed a pregnancy bug going round in the blogging industry! Falling pregnant at the start of this year means that while many are entering their second trimester, I am now starting my third. I guess this works in my favour slightly, and so I wanted to do a helpful blog post for those mamas to be out there! This post is all about the best bras at six months.

Bravado Designs

Seamless Nursing bra in Silver Belle 

Bravado is an award winning brand specialising in maternity and nursing bras. These bras are designed to go from bump to baby and are so comfy. At 18 weeks I was measured as a 32DD bra size, which is a size S on the Bravado sizing chart for this bra.

Monogrammed Leggings by Dharmabums

Bravado have designed their bras with a clip system so that it’s easy to detach when breast feeding. I love the colour range in this bra, there are so many to choose from!

Price: £30

Bravado Designs

Sweet Pea Nursing bra in Pink Lemonade

Usually pink is not my go to bra choice, but this just jumped out at me and looked so fabulous. I’m wearing a 34 B/C here which fits just right!

Again with the magic straps, this bra is so supportive without having the uncomfy underwire as my bump now reaches higher up my torso. I think it looks like an Easter egg if you look at my bump face on!

Price: £26

Hunkemöller

Ava Padded non underwired bra in Grey 

This next set isn’t a specific maternity set, but don’t be put off in buying non-specific maternity bras when brands like Hunkemöller can provide! I adore this set from their non underwired range.

Ava Bra: £25 (size 32D)

Ava Brazilian Brief: £12 (size M)

The detailing is stunning and makes me feel like I’m still stylish- all mums to be shouldn’t have to compromise on underwear when buying the best bras at six months or at any stage. Find exciting brands that work with your new shape and help you to feel great about your body.

I hope this has helped a few of you out who are struggling to find bras whatever stage you are at in pregnancy. Would love to hear your stories in the comments below if you are having trouble, or if you have already tried these particular bras out.

Saharasplash x

PR Samples 

RUSH Salon Wimbledon Village

When it comes to salons and regular appointments, I must admit that this is so not me. I’m the type of girl that never gets root touchups and would rather leave it six months until a sort of ombré happens. So when I eventually do make it to a salon, I’m going to have something major done. Here’s my experience of the RUSH Salon Wimbledon Village.

The RUSH Salon Wimbledon Village has been open for just a few months now, so I was really excited to visit its brand new site. There are two RUSH salons in the area, one being just Wimbledon and this one being much closer to Wimbledon Common on the High Street.

Here are some snaps of my hair before- far too long and much damage and breakage due to  brushing and styling. Can you believe the last haircut I had was before my wedding back in November?! My stylist Zoe had just the thing, starting off with the best hair wash complete with massaging chair!

Zoe used the Kerastase trio above from the Volumifique range as well as cutting off a sizeable chunk to refresh my hair.

Having long, fine hair will also weigh it down more, meaning less volume unless you style with product.

Here is the after pic! So much better right? The ends look so healthy compared to just an hour beforehand, I was so pleased to have some fullness back in my hair.

I know there’s a mirror line in this shot but I was trying to be edgy and sort of like it! What do you think of my hair difference? Have you been to a RUSH Salon before? Let me know in the comments below!

Saharasplash x

I was sent to RUSH Salon Wimbledon Village for my honest review, all thoughts are my own. 

 

Brand new Botanics Collections

So the day of this event was one of the stupid crazy hottest days of the year. Even in the cab ride over with the AC full blast, I was seriously melting! The hot summer ride pulled up outside the venue in the heart of Soho, and I stepped into a magical scene filled with botanicals everywhere the eye could see. The exclusive range at Boots has had a drastic makeover and I’m here to share the brand new Botanics collections news with you!

You can search the hashtag #theplantone on social media for all the details, but I’ll fill you in on the main points. The Botanics brand focuses on natural skincare and using the power of plants to induce healthy skin. This new launch sees us celebrate five new collections which targets different areas of skincare:

Botanics- Organic
Botanics- All Bright
Botanics- Hydration Burst
Botanics- Radiant Youth
Botanics- Triple Age Renewal

 

I was shown round the display room and had a chance to sample, smell and learn about each of the collection’s unique properties.

This Organic green range is powered by Rosehip, rich in Vitamin C and Omegas 3+6

Not only were the brand new Botanics collections there on the day, there was also an Australian Yoga wear company called Dharma Bums showcasing their new plant inspired collection! They had a monogramming service too so I was so thrilled to take away my favourite pair of leggings with my initials. I tried them on over my bump and the stretchy material worked just fine.

Instagram: @Dharmabumsactive

I had such a fun time hand picking products from the new range tailored to my own skincare needs. I’m trying out:

Radiant Youth Microdermabrasion Polish: £9.99
Hydration Burst Cleanser: £6.99
Hydration Burst Day Cream: £8.99
All Bright Micellar Cleansing Solution: £5.49
All Bright Eye Roll-on: £11.99
All Bright Radiance Balm: £7.99
Organic Facial Oil: £11.49

The entire new range is available exclusively at Boots (on shelf) as of tomorrow and online as of today! Tailor make a skincare collection that’s made just for you via Boots.com.

Saharasplash x

Thanks for reading all about the brand new Botanics collections. If you’re in the mood for one more post, definitely read the one where I went to a Magnum ice cream party!