Don't Trust Me, Try It For Yourselves

I have a Yummy Mummy friend who swears by Liz Earl's Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser to keep her skin looking flawless, which I have to say it always does.  If I'm honest I thought her beautiful complexion was more to do with her healthy lifestyle than a skin product, so when given the opportunity to review it for myself I was keen to see just how good it really was.

For those of you who regularly read my blog you'll know I'm having a pretty tough pregnancy.  My eye lashes have broken, my hair is limp and split and my skin is the worst it's ever been, with a combination of dry patches and spots.  So it had it's job cut out. Could it really transform my skin to look as amazing as my friends?

100ml Bottle of Cleanser, Two Muslin Cloths and Neat Little Pouch

I was really excited to receive a full sized 100ml bottle of the cleanser complete with two muslins cloths in a neat little pouch.  The challenge ahead was tough and so there was ample product to thoroughly put to the test.

The plant based cleanser has a two-phase action.  Don't let this put you off. Not normally one for faffing around I found this process as quick and simple as removing a wipe from a packet and cleaning my face.

Phase one is the cleansing. Free from mineral oil, the product has a rich and creamy texture and swiftly removes all traces of face and eye make up, even stubborn mascara. Simply rub the product into dry skin. Phase two is the polishing. Polish off the cream using the pure muslin rinsed in warm water to gently dislodge dead skin cells and voila, clean soft radiant skin.

Quick, simple and most importantly enjoyable, thanks to the super refreshing, slightly tingly sensation provided by the eucalyptus and the silky smooth effects of the cocoa butter.

This product really does speak for its self and I think you have to try it to believe it.  I've used it for two weeks and all but one little spot has gone and the dry patches have totally disappeared.  Pretty remarkable given how bad my diet is due the continuing nausea.

I almost forgot to mention the cost.  All too often things that really work are not affordable. With houses full of little people feel us Mummy's are often reluctant to splash out on ourselves.  But this is an almost guilt free purchase. The 100ml bottle complete with two muslin cloths and bag, retails at £13.75.  An affordable price for something I would consider to be a luxurious product.  

Overall, based on value for money, effectiveness and ease of use I award it a 10/10.  My friend is so pleased that I'm now a Liz Earl convert and so am I. I can not wait to try more of their fantastic products.

I'm not yet a Yummy Mummy but with this fabulous new find in my bathroom cupboard I soon will be,

Donna.............x

Silent Sunday

Donna....x

Birthday Boy

Today our beautiful boy has reached the grand old age of Two and what a fantastic couple of years he has given us. I looked at him on his new big boy bike and had to fight back the tears. I am so incredibly proud of the little person he is becoming and feel totally blessed to have him in my life.

Yes he's a cheeky monkey and like all toddlers has his moments but on the whole is a very happy, determined and polite little boy who can capture even the grumpiest person with his cheeky smile. I am so grateful to have had this precious day with him before our new arrival "arrives" next month. Life is about to change and adjustments will need to be made so to have one last day all about him was perfect.

We took his new Strider to the park, baked and decorated a cake, opened presents and went to Giraffe for supper.  Not the big party we would've had if I'de been feeling well but a very special family day.

As he climbed into bed and snuggled down with his quiet lions, I looked down at his beautiful face and  remembered why it is I could not live without my beautiful boys.  I kissed him goodnight and prayed the next year brings us all as much happiness

and so I'll leave you with these..

Determined as Ever 

Very Proud Mummy

Mummy Daddy William and Bump

William Very Proud of His Creation 

Blowing Out the Candles

Donna.................x

Let's Help Save the Children

           

If you only ever stop once to read one of my posts, please, please make it this one.

Yesterday saw the first Save the Children Bloggers Conference put into motion ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, where world leaders will meet and life changing decisions will be made. 

Fellow blogger, Chris Mosler along with Liz Scarff on behalf of Save the Children are once again leaving their own families behind and jetting off to New York a to put pressure on David Cameron to play his full part in solving the health worker crisis.  

What crisis you may ask?  Well let me explain. The 3.5 million global shortage of trained health workers which is leading to unnecessary and very much preventable deaths. As a nurse and mummy I am reeling with excitement to finally have the opportunity to blog about something I feel passionately about and in some small way help this incredibly worthy campaign. 

You too can help and here's how;  

• Firstly Chris will be handing over a petition and is aiming to get at least 60,000 signatures.  The figure currently sits around the 42,000 mark so we have our work cut out.  Please lets not let her and all those people whose voices can not be heard down. So if you haven't done so already, sign the petition, it takes less than 30 seconds and can help to change lives.

• Next @HelloItsGemma and @michelletwinmum  want (need) to see 100 posts of 100 words linked up by Tuesday. If 100 bloggers each write a post about this and encourage more signatures that could make a massive dent in the 20,000 signature shortfall.

• Write your 100 words about a great health professional you have encountered in your life. Add a link to the petition and either link or add in some information from Save the Children about the #Healthworkers campaign

• Link to a number of other bloggers/ vloggers and ask them to do the same. 

• Tweet about it, facebook mention it, remark on google plus, talk to your friends and families on the phone, whatever you can do to spread the word to just a few more people, please do it.

A Little Reminder of What It's All About

It's so easy to take everything we have for granted.  We catch a glimpse of clips on TV and are shocked by what we see.  Soon enough though the baby cries or the oven beeps and we're once gain distracted by our every day lives.  The ones that contain technology, food and health care facilities and workers at our every beckon call.  Imagine life without these necessities.  Where you can't drive to A&E and they check your infant over for the tenth time only to reassure you its just another cold, but instead walk for miles with your seriously sick baby who dies in your arms on the way.  We must help give these children the right to live,  No Child is Born to Die!

and so i'll leave you with this, my 100 words about a great health professional I've encountered.

"After returning to the recovery ward following the birth of my son, I haemorrhaged. Still in shock after his traumatic arrival and paralysed from the spinal block, I felt humiliated and mortified at the idea of having to be washed. An amazing health care assistant came to my aide. Without saying a word she reassuring placed her hand on mine. She then helped me to freshen up whilst diligently preserving what little dignity I had left. Not the person who saved our lives but the one who saved my sanity. I will always be grateful for her empathy and kindness"

I would like to pass this on to 

@The_iDad

@firsttimemum1

@ljbarton

@madcatsbabies

@mummyandbeastie

Please lets use the power of blogging to do what we do best and spread the word, 

Donna.......x

Boys Toys

For the first time since Williams arrival Not Yet a Yummy Daddy and me are strongly disagreeing on one specific area of parenting and  it's causing more than a little friction.  The most ridiculous thing is it's not about, discipline, routine, education or instilling good manners.  No it's about toys.  Not any old toys but what constitutes appropriate toys for boys.

When William began to toddle and we met his best buddy Harry in the park he always delighted in pushing his friends little blue pushchair around.  At the time I accepted hubby didn't want William to have a pushchair but hadn't realised it was the beginning of much bigger issues.  

For his second birthday Harry received a play kitchen. I observed the boys indulging in full on fantasy role play, baking us Mummies cakes, making us cups of tea and cooking our dinner.  It was amazing.  Their little imaginations were hard at work and for me it was the first time I'de witnessed such innocent play from William who usually is busy taking things apart and working out how to put them back together.

I love to cook.  It's a life skill required by men and women so I see no reason why William shouldn't have his own little kitchen for his birthday next week.  To say I was not prepared for hubby's reaction is an understatement.  He totally doesn't get it.  He has never been chauvinistic.   In fact he's quite the opposite.  He's a  hands on Daddy and husband always willing to do more than his share of household chores, cooking and childcare, so I don't get why he has such strong views on boys toys.  Does he really think William will start listening to Shirley Bassy and want to strut around in my thongs if he has a plastic kitchen and a few bits of wooden fruit to play with?

I'm genuinely at a loss.  My husbands father was very much a mans' man and raised his sons to be "proper men" until he passed away when my husband was 14 years old.  I can only assume this has had some baring on my husbands need to distinguish between what is appropriate for boys and girls.  I need to be sensitive to hubby's concerns whilst trying to make him see sense.  I guess I could be wrong though, maybe it's me that needs to see sense?

Please share your advice before my poor son turns into a roughty toughty thug and I end up bashing my husband around the head with my brand new shiny saucepan.

Donna......x

More Than a Shopping Centre

Located in the heart of Kingston, The Bentall Centre has come a long way since it opened over 18 years ago. Today the Centre contains over 80 shops and attracts over fourteen million visitors a year. It's undoubtedly a spectacular building with a glass atrium containing some 2,000 fibre optic lights.   This impressive building gives a light and airy feel and could never be claustrophobic, not even on the busiest Saturday or during the hectic festive season.

As a local resident I 've always been aware of its outstanding beauty and fabulous array of shops but what I hadn't appreciated is quite how child friendly it is.  Firstly there are many more children's shops than I'de realised, including the amazing Fun Learning, which stocks unique and quirky children's toys and those with educational value.  A fabulous find for me.  Polarn O. Pyret, Swedens leading brand is another clothing store on many occasion I'de passed by  but never stopped to look in.  I hadn't realised what I'de been missing.  They stock gorgeous clothes to keep our youngsters looking, smart, warm and dry.

Aside from the shopping they have excellent catering and mother and baby facilities so eating out or nappy changing is never a problem.  For us Yummy Mummy's they offer a wide variety of beauty treatments inside Bentalls including; treatments at the Clarins counter, eyebrow threading or a Fish pedicure if you're brave enough to give it a go. They also host a calendar of childrens' events from guest appearances like Mr Maker to face painting, dance work shops and much much more.

Up on the second floor is the World of Children creche where all members of staff are CRB checked and qualified to work with children.  You have to see this place to believe it. I was so impressed with not only how professional it was, but also the huge variety of activities available for the children to do.  I have often wondered who leaves their children in there to go shopping but it wasn't until I saw for myself I actually understood how nice it must be to drop your children off for a a couple of hours fun. Gone are the days of dragging my tot around desperately plying him with snacks whilst I dashed about trying to do some essential shopping.

The price varies depending on the age of child and the length of stay but you can click here for more info or better still pop along and see for yourself.  They also run a toddler group every day which I will definitely be checking out with William.

So there you have it.  The Bentall Centre is much more than just a shopping centre, it is a stunning building of outstanding architecture and plays a very active role in the local Kingston community.

I would like to say a big thank you to Blog-Match and the Management Team at The Bentall Centre for organising the exclusive tour of the centre.   I will certainly be making much more use of the available facilities.

Donna..........x

D-Day is Dooming

My recent 4D scan has confirmed my bump is in fact a baby and all too soon will replaced with a squidgy mummy tummy and a squirming bundle. With William's second birthday and D-Day drawing closer I can not help but think about how our lives are once again going to change.  I keep peeping over the other side and imaging life with a toddler and a newborn. I know it's going to be tiring and I'll need more than a little Touche Eclate to cover my bags but I'm not sure it can be any harder than feeling permanently sick and caring for a 2 year old.  I'm sure I'll let you know in a few months.

I've recently started to think about giving birth again.  As i've been  unwell throughout the pregnancy I may be required to have an elective c-section but until it's formally agreed and a date set in stone I will prepare myself for a natural delivery. First time round I was in a bubble of  ignorant bliss but knowing I may have to endure the most indescribable pain imaginable, is quite honestly freaking me out. Somehow it's like preparing  for torture but one that delivers a much awaited for precious gift.  It took me a long time to come to terms with the traumatic arrival of William but I'm trying hard to make myself believe this time it may be completely different.  I don't deny I can be precious but I'm also the sort of person who doesn't stay down for long and can pick myself up when I need to.  

So for now I'm going to concentrate on preparing my little family for our new addition.  Having children is undoubtedly a blessing and it's that thought I must try and keep at the forefront of mind.  I rifled through my albums and found the first photo ever taken of William. It makes me smile every time I see it and reminds me now of what is to come, for all the sickness it will be so worth it when three becomes four.

William George 24.09.09 9lbs1oz

Donna.....x

Through Conception Birth and Beyond

WaterBaby is an everyday water and citrus drink fortified with a careful blend of vitamins and minerals including zinc, calcium and the recommended daily allowance of folic acid to help provide nutritional support through conception, pregnancy and breast feeding. Another gimmick or an innovative idea?

Well I wish I'de known about them in the early days of my pregnancy when due to hyperemesis I could only sip slowly on ice cold lemon drinks.  Now at 33 weeks I still have nausea and struggle to keep tablets down as they cause me to vomit.  I had my first bottle toady and enjoyed being able to sip through the day.  It feels good knowing I have consumed the necessary vitamins my growing bump needs, especially having been recently admitted to hospital to receive intravenous vitamins due to being so depleted.

Currently it's available in a delicious citrus flavour.  It doesn't contain any nasty hidden ingredients or leave a horrid after taste. I genuinely could not tell it was fortified, it was simply light and refreshing.   I know the fab team over at WaterBaby are working on a new pomegranate flavour and I would love to see them somehow incorporate vanilla in one of their flavours as it really helped me with morning sickness.

It is available in 500ml bottles and the RRP is £7.99 for 7 bottles or £28.99 for a months supply.  This is obviously not an affordable option for everyone, but it is suitable from conception through to breastfeeding so can be used however you wish.  For me the hydration and supplementary support through those early days and now for the tough last few weeks I would consider them a wise investment.

From the bottle, in a glass or frozen and consumed as an ice-lolly they are a great way of making sure you and your precious bundle receive the appropriation hydration and vitamins you need through this special time.  For more info clink here and see for yourselves

Enjoy 

Donna...x

Baby Premier 4D Scan

Baby Premier is the country's leading private ultrasound organisation, so when offered to review their specialist service and have the unique experience of seeing my beautiful baby boy in 4D, I leapt at the chance.

I had no preconceived ideas of what the ultrasound would deliver as genuinely didn't know what to expect.    As much as I was looking forward to seeing the 4D images, I was so concerned about his development due to my sickness I was mostly seeking to gain reassurance that he was well.

The Harley Street clinic is located within a short five minute walk from Regents Park tube station, which made for an easy journey.  I arrived feeling calm and excited with my chocolate bar and fizzy drink, a pre-requisition to get the baby moving if they're being a bit stubborn, which I assumed mine would be.

The sonographer explained what was involved and what we could expect to see.  She was incredibly professional and thorough.  With my big bump exposed and covered in jelly the excitement began to really kick in. The initial scan was in 2D.  At this point  I was delighted that all his measurements were taken and his vital organs checked.  It had been a long time since our previous scan so to see his little heart beating and knowing there were no obvious major concerns was a huge relief.

We then had his gender confirmed and there was no doubting this time that we had ourselves another gorgeous boy.  We saw him drinking amniotic fluid, practising his breathing and generally squirming around.  Suddenly the screen switched and we got the first wonderful glimpse of our baby boy.  

I was truly stunned.  The picture was so clear.  There he was cuddled into the side of me and appeared to be fast asleep.  Not for long though.  A few gentle prods and he began to perform, although he refused point blank to move away from the edge of my womb which he was clearly using a s a pillow.  

This is a collection of the 3D colour images I received, which for easy viewing I have made into a little slide show.

The prices for the 4D Bonding Scan range from £97 for a basic package to £160 for the Premier Plus package.   I received the Premier Plus package which included all of the following:

• Baby Premier 4D ultrasound scan
• Written growth report
• 4D DVD scan recording (of upto 10 minutes)
• CD-Rom of a minimum of 8 x 3D colour images
• DVD and CD complete with stylish clamshell 'handbag safe' case
• Gender confirmation (if required)
• Baby Premier Gift and accessory bag

Contents of the Premier Gift and Accessory Bag

We all know having a baby incurs a million and one expenses so it will totally depend on your personal situation as to whether this is financially viable.   From a personal perspective, having been so incredibly unwell during the pregnancy, the reassurance gained from the scan was invaluable, then to top it of, I also got the unique 4D bonding experience.  

There's no doubt it's a luxury service but if you can afford it then I would certainly recommend it.  To see the facial features and expressions of your unborn child is indescribable and a highly memorable experience myself and my husband will never forget.  

I will leave you with an edited version of the 15 minute 4D DVD we were presented with so you can see for yourselves the marvels of the technological world we now live in.

May I present our beautiful new addition...........

This review was for a complimentary 4D scan provided by Baby Premier, however all opinions expressed are all my own 

Donna...x

No More Dry Itchy Skin Thanks to E45 and ASDA

We were asked to review some E45 Junior Foaming Bath Milk on behalf of ASDA.  As William my 23 month old my son  has  extremely sensitive skin and is prone to out breaks of eczema we were keen to put it to the test. Since reviewing the Forever Naturals Range I have not used any other products as his skin has been the best it's ever been, so as a nurse and a mummy I was interested to see how it would fare against it.

The packaging is great and William enjoyed shaking the bottle to mix the ingredients
together.   I was initially worried the product would have an oily consistency and make the bath slippery but I was wrong.  It's was very light and not the slightest bit greasy.  A quick swish round the bath with the shower hose was all that was needed to wash any residue away, no different to normal.

The bubbleablility was also a surprise.  Given the product is especially formulated to help with dermatological conditions and requires additional capabilities to moisturise it fared well.

Initially it produced what I would consider a normal amount of bubbles which William delighted in playing with.  The only difference being the the bubbles dissolved more quickly than his ususal brand and did not laast the duration of the bath.  Not really a major issue as our fifteen minutes of play time was already over and we were happily getting on with washing and tooth brushing.

Williams skin was left feeling soft and moisturised without the greasy sticky residue sometimes present in products with moisturising properties.  The product is fragrance free, a necessity of products by this nature but it still somehow managed to leave him smelling clean and fresh, the way you should do after having had a bath.  

The product is available from ASDA and retails at £4.95 for a 500mls bottle.  A competitive price for a specialist product.  Overall I was very impressed and would be happy to try out other products in the range.

It would be great to see a Junior shampoo available. William often gets dry patches across his forehead and on the back of his neck if we don't thoroughly rinse out his shampoo.  A mean feet with a wriggling toddler who's not to keen on having water tipped over his head.

Thank you ASDA and E45 for introducing us to another wonderful range of junior toiletries.   If like William your little one suffers from dry itchy skin it is worth a trial, like me you may be pleasantly surprised.

A Very Grateful William and Mummy

Donna....x