Tabitha!

I've been remiss and haven't even posted a picture of my beautiful daughter Tabitha on my blog!

Here she is aged 8 weeks

I also wanted to show you a gorgeous gift I received from my best friend. She painted this canvas herself and it's taken pride of place in Tabitha's room. If you'd like one for your child (each is unique to your child) then drop me an email.

Things I love this week #1

As I have a few moments, a small person is asleep on my lap, my thoughts dwell on items in my cosmetics which I particularly love this week!

Sleek MakeUP's LASH OUT mascara. I am so surprised by this mascara. In a good way. I am not one for mascaras bought from high street stores (I prefer to buy my staple Beauty Without Cruelty on line). However, a couple of uses in and I was impressed enough to keep it in my every day make up case. It has a thin wand with a thick formula that combine to give roots a real boost in thickness and when swept to the ends an enhanced curl. It's thick so work with it carefully, using a lash comb or clean/dry mascara wand to avoid ending up with two rather clumpy lashes as they stick together! It really has worked to make my lashes longer and thicker, giving that false lash look. If I don't find anything better in the mean time I would definitely repurchase this mascara.

Sleek Make UP Au Naturel i-divine Palette. I have been using this day in and day out for the last three months since moving house and taking an eternity to unpack the rest of my make up. Even though it is now unpacked, I have continued to use this palette. It constantly surprises me when I mix and match different shades for completely different looks, I can go from a "nude" to a full on smoky look in a few strokes from this palette.

New-ID i-groom eyebrow pencil. I have recently purchased three back ups of this amazing eye brow pencil as I feel real fear when I think of running out of it. It comes in one colour and the density of colour is dependent of how many sweeps of the pencil I use. I find it very difficult to find a perfect black/brown for my eye brows, but this is brilliant. The slanted triangular shape of the pencil makes filling in and shaping brows super easy, in one stroke. Try it, you won't look back!

Lumiere Cosmetics Lumi Lips in Spice or In The Nude. Let it be known that I am a not a fan of sparkly or sticky lip glosses. In fact I just had a massive clear out and threw them all out. I am now the proud owner of less than a handful. These two are my massive favourites as they are soft, moisturising, you can see the colour on your lips and natural looking. I would go out of my way to repurchase these from the US as I haven't found anything comparable to the quality, wear and colour.

Daniel Sandler Foundation/Concealer in Deep Sand and Watercolour Creme Rouge. A simply amazing duo of products that make my make up application and wear supremely simple and effective. The foundation is creamy but light. I like to apply a few dots to forehead, cheeks and chin then blend with a damp blush brush (try it, it feels quite refreshing!). I have converted both of my sisters to this foundation, they love it - possibly not as much as I do but then they are not as cosmetics obsessed as I am.

So, which products are you particularly loving this week, it being the week of love and all that?

Smells, smells, smells.

Smells; it's all about smells. Some women crave food, I crave smells. Notably the following:

LUSH - Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter. Mr OJ often rolls his eyes at the frequency I am found with my nose in a tub of LF. At £6 for a 50g it's a bargain nail treatment which really does work to keep cuticles nourished and dry bits at bay. I use this most nights and revel in the lovely lemony/lavender scent.

Liz Earle Nourishing Botanical Body Cream. I adore the fresh and uplifting scents in the body range. From the shower gels to this rich and gorgeous body cream. Really good for bumps and all over feel good factor. You can use it after dry body brushing (which did help keep cellulite at bay during the early months of pregnancy when exercising was difficult. Pregnancy doesn't require much of a circulation boost as your circulation is already pretty pumped up having to cope with a baby growing inside too. With prices starting from £4.75 for a travel size, it's a great treat for weekends away (or going in to hospital!).

Tisserand Intensive Hand and Nail Cream. This is my biggest addiction. However, I feel I should qualify this as whenever I use this (for example sitting in a doctors waiting room) everyone seems to like it and even look around to see where it is coming from. One receptionist asked what it was! Even Mr OJ says that when I use it in the car and he gets in, he notices and says that "something smells nice". Which is high praise indeed. I can often be found with my face in my hands (not crying) but inhaling deeply the gorgeous essential oils. There are far too many to mention. At around £7 for a generous handbag sized tube (75ml), it's an absolute bargain and a delight to use. It lasts months and I repurchase time and time again. But I warn you, it's highly addictive!

Jonathan Ward candles, I don't need to tell you how much I adore Jonathan's candles. I own more than my fair share but they have been marvellous. I wish I could take one with me to hospital (perhaps I shall sneak in some tea lights)

Since I have gestational diabetes I can't mention the normal cravings of chocolate, cake and icecream which I would love to indulge in! Although, I can have them sometimes, probably less than the average non-diabetic! I suspect that my other senses are trying to compensate as I also adore using bright and bold make up and nail wraps! I think pregnancy heightens all of your senses so it's been a great time to experiment with new products.

Do you have any weird addictions (to legal substances) or pregnancy cravings that you'd like to share?

4 weeks to go and counting, plus a skincare review

Firstly, I am so sorry to have neglected by blog, YouTube is one thing to neglect through sheer lack of time and energy to film, edit and upload, but I am annoyed that I let my blog slip!

So as the title suggests, I have exactly four weeks to go to my due date. Which in reality means 2-6 weeks before our little girl arrives! Complications mean that if I don't go in to labour on my own, I will be induced around Christmas day! This is highly unappealing as I was hoping to be tucked up with baby on the sofa with a box of Roses on Christmas Day. However she arrives, it will be a blessing and I will soon forget the method of extraction!

Anyway, I have lots to review and tell you about in later posts. I will desperately try not to leave it so long next time.

In the mean time, I leave you with a little review of a skin care product I purchased a few months ago. NUDE skincare cleansing oil, 100ml. A link to the product range is here. I normally use a cleansing oil (Dermalogica Precleanse which I purchase from John and Ginger (it is about £5 cheaper and their UK shipping is fast). I have used Precleanse for about 3 years and thought I might see what else there was on offer.

Now I must first say that I am LAZY which is why I use cleansing oils. They are on the whole thorough, non messy and quick. I want a product which does not require a separate eye make up remover and emulsifies with water so that I don't get a dirty wash cloth covered in make up. Those are my two must haves.

NUDE skincare delivers on one of these criteria - namely that it turns to a milk when warm water is applied. However, I have found on a few occasions that eye make up is not removed and ends up all over my towels and bedlinen. I am no newbie when it comes to cleansing and I am thorough but this is too gentle to remove all make up. I am not even talking about waterproof make up, just run-of-the-mill mascara and liner. More than a few times I have woken in the night with streaming bloodshot eyes from recalcitrant eye make up!

At £19 for 100ml it is more expensive than Dermalogica Precleanse (approx £20 for 150ml), however, the added cost are associated with the organic nature of the ingredients. I hate this trend but I believe you get what you pay for and so I like to pay for good quality ingredients.

The NUDE skincare oil cleanser is certainly more portable in its pink rubbery secure bottle but you do have to use it twice to get a thorough cleanse. The scent is neither off putting or appealing, a kind of floral oily scent. So far it hasn't made me stop using it (even during pregnancy)

Other than not taking off eye make up properly in one go, I can't fault NUDE cleansing oil. My skin loves the slightly thicker feeling oil and doesn't feel dry once rinsed. It's a very good skin massage oil, so I like to combine a facial massage with my cleanse. My natural skin texture and oil level has not been affected and I no longer have dry spots or blocked pores around the nose. I really do believe in being gentle and kind with flare ups. Aggresive treatments are best left alone until all else has failed.

Will I repurchase though? Sadly I don't think so, the difference in price and performance is not significant enough to make me switch permanently. I am really glad I tried it and would recommend it if you weren't a make up wearer as it's gentle and will benefit all skin types.

Pregnancy Massage at Calcot Spa.

A welcome distraction from the impending birth of my first child and the news I had been given the day before that due to gestational diabetes I would need to be induced early, was a trip to Calcot Manor and the Spa. I was feeling low about this as I had really wanted a natural labour. One where I could potter about at home, my husband and I could work through the contractions until we were ready to go to the hospital. But alas it is not to be, having taken in the news I have decided to concentrate on the positive aspects of an induction. That is, if it works, a hopefully short labour and we will know the date of her arrival. We will have her home in time for Christmas where we can celebrate as a real family together.

So I'd like to say a big thank you to Aromatherapy Associates for providing me with the opportunity to experience Calcot Spa and a pregnancy massage. I have had several pregnancy massages prior to this one so it was lovely to compare them. I don't know if it's just the stage I am at, but this one was by far the best I've had so far.

Set in beautiful manicured grounds just outside of Tetbury, Gloucestershire, the Spa is nestled behind the main manor where guests and visitors can relax in a tranquil setting. For the adventurous there is an outside hot tub, but for the less inclined, a beautiful indoor pool awaits you. My advice is to use it before your treatment as you'll be far too snug and relaxed to want to swim about.

I arrived characteristically flustered and just on time (thank you to UK Mail who never turned up with my delivery of a sink - how glamorous) So I was taken straight to the treatment room (pictured below).

I had the pregnancy massage which was an hour of body massage and a mini facial using Aromatherapy Associates pregnancy safe products from the Rose collection. Having used these products during my pregnancy I felt happy that I wasn't going to have any reactions or worries about ingredients. I have most of these products already but it is 100 times better having someone else massage them in! At nearly 8 months pregnant I am in the stage whereby even bending over is a challenge for my poor back and knees! This massage was divine and specifically designed for pregnant ladies. The back massage was performed with me on my side with a bolster to cuddle and a heated under blanket meant I nearly drifted off to sleep. I had to wonder whether I could use this in labour to relax, if only I could teach Mr OJ to massage as well. I guess it's not too late to get him trained up?

The staff were all very friendly and helpful, not because I was a reviewer or because I am pregnant but I could see them interacting with others in the same way. After the massage I was taken to the chill out area (pictured below) where I could (if I were not pregnant) use the sauna and steam room. So instead I read magazines and sipped on cucumber water. Downstairs is a little restaurant where a group of mothers were chatting and breast feeding happily. It's definitely a child friendly place as it also has a crèche facility if you'd like to slip off for a treatment or meal during the day. But it does have a grown up feel about it, smart and spacious, which is nice for mums as I get sick of coffee house decor and high footfall grubbiness.

Find out more about Calcot Spa by visiting their website, there is also a downloadable treatment and price list. I also purchased a few products whilst there to stock up on Aromatherapy Associates Nourishing facial oil (£39 for 15ml - which lasts about 6 months with intensive use), which I am running low. I can't live without this facial oil! I would also recommend the Rose Body cream, my skin felt very soft but not greasy afterwards. It's perfect for expanding tummies and puffy ankles. I am also already planning my next visit with some non-pregnant and pregnant friends so that we can enjoy the relaxing and warm atmosphere of the Spa together.

Do you have a favourite place, doesn't have to be a spa, that relaxes and recharges you?

Pregnancy skincare tips

This post has been asked for many times over the last few months so it is the least I can do. It seems I am not the only one who has suffered with insufferable skin over the first few months of pregnancy. Crossing fingers and toes that I have reached an agreement with my skin, I've prepared a few tips for you.

My skin became very dry so I switched to using a facial oil during the day and night (normally I just wore it at night). If your skin does the opposite and becomes oily, consider adding a toner to your routine (I don't use a toner as I don't use cream cleanser but a damp muslin cloth) which will help remove excess oil without increasing production. Also reduce the amount of moisturiser and keep it to areas which need it.

My skin also broke out a lot, but not in white heads but just painful bumps under the skin. These types of spots were generally reserved for pre-period spots. The only thing I could do to alleviate the pain was to use a cold compress to keep the swelling and itching down. I also applied copious amounts of aloe vera gel.

The other reason for naff skin was coping with stress. And it is stressful being pre-3 months pregnant and being advised not to tell everyone! So you're stuck with this wonderful news but too scared to tell anyone! I had to wait until I knew that the baby was viable and over the danger time for spontaneous abortion and that it was more likely to survive.

There is little you can do about reducing your stress levels when outside events cannot be ignored or controlled. My husband and family rallied around to help me. My sister would visit and cook healthy meals (I had been surviving on cereal and toast at this point) and to generally cheer me up. Don't go through it alone and don't be afraid to lean on people a bit, they won't mind.

Let's also not underestimate the power of morning sickness, which thankfully ebbed away at 4 and a half months. At this point I was literally on my knees, desperate for it to end. Three and a half months of feeling and looking like death was enough for me!

On the occasions I did have to venture out and socialise I have some tips for make up:

Concealer is your best friend - for those insomnia dark circles and hormone spots.

Radiance enhancers - contrary to popular belief, there is no pregnancy glow, just more redness on the cheeks to cover up. I used a foundation by Daniel Sandler which has shimmery pigments in the formulation. It makes for a subtle glow all day and evening.

Blusher is really good for warming up a sickened and wan complexion. Choose something subtle and a few shades deeper than your natural cheek blush. If you don't know what this is then pinch your cheeks to increase blood flow and note the type of colour you get.

If you're not up to wearing a lot of eye make up then a subtle sweeps of something shimmery and of the taupe variety does for all occasions. Then add mascara. I decided to make my own eye shadow from the various pigments I had lying around. Cold pressed with alcohol it resembles a shimmery cream/brown which suits everyone. I really should market it...

Avoid perfumed glosses, nothing is going to make you feel more ill. If you like menthol/minty lip glosses then these are good for staving off morning sickness (which lasts all day I might add).

I am now just over 7 months pregnant (where did the time go?) and after a few months of feeling relatively normal and forgetting half the time I was pregnant, I am definitely starting to slow down.

I hope these tips are useful to you, either to prepare you for your pregnancy or if you're in the early stages and wondering who switched your skin over whilst you were asleep!

Faux Snakeskin Nails

If you want something snazzier than greige this Autumn, I recently wore these grey snakeskin design instant manicure nail wraps. I've had them for a few months and always thought they were a bit too showy for every day wear. I am not brave enough for animal print nails for an every day look.

However, this Autumn I plucked up courage to wear them and now they have become a favourite. I feel a bit of a prude for overlooking them for so long, and a bit silly as they've received so many compliments.

The best thing I like about this design is that they just work with every outfit and occasion. I just prefer them to nail polish, which is why I haven't reviewed any nail polish for the longest time. I don't feel like wearing it and when I do it chips within a nanosecond or smudges!

So my advice this Autumn if you're not quite ready for bold colours, is to go with this sort of design, it speaks volumes in terms of style. It certainly beats the latest craze sweeping the US for using naturally shed snakes skin embedded in clear polish or gel nails.

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Available from Rebel Nails for £7.99 per set for fingers or toes.

These nails were reviewed as a PR sample.