My Week 22 Bump Update

"Your baby is the size of an aubergine and now nearly weighs a whole pound. Eyelashes and eyebrows are forming and the baby can now hear your voice, heartbeat, your circulating blood and even a gurgling hungry stomach!"

How far along: 22 weeks exactly

Days until due date: 126 days

My bump: My bump is still growing and I feel it is starting to really protrude now and form that nice round, pregnant-belly shape. I feel I have reached the stage where people look at me and realise I am pregnant rather than just a bit bloated! I hope anyway...

Weight changes: Pre-pregnancy = 8stone 3lbs. Today = 8stone 12lbs (+9lbs).

Stretch marks? No, thank goodness.

Cravings: Nothing really - still can't manage to eat big meals so am enjoying lots of little snacks. Yoghurt with figs, walnuts and drizzled honey is a personal favourite at the moment.

Sleep: Still sleeping really well with my DreamGenii pillow and am waking up less during the nights.

Symptoms: Nothing new but I can sense my belly button is on its way out. It has gone very flat and weird-looking...it freaks me out a little if I'm honest! The sooner it pops the better. Oh and I am also having really vivid, sometimes quite distressing, dreams at the moment which is apparently closely linked with pregnancy.

Best moment this week: Catching up with my friend who is 32 weeks pregnant and spending the whole afternoon talking about babies and birthing plans! It is lovely when you have someone who is going through exactly the same journey you are and you can share all your excitements and concerns with them without fear of boring them with baby talk.

Worst moment this week: Getting bumped in my car by a distracted driver whilst I was driving at the weekend. Baby and I are fine but it really shook me up and upset me for the rest of the day.

Miss anything? Not really.

Maternity clothes: Yes I have well and truly embraced the maternity clothes now and have put a lot of my old 'pre-baby' items into storage to make room for those gorgeous stretchy leggings and jeans. I only really needed to get some trousers as all my tops are still fine to wear so I headed to H&M and lucked out on some super comfy (and quite flattering) black leggings and dark demin jeans.

Movement: Every now and again I might feel a little flutter or an odd pop of air in my stomach but they are still few and far between. It will be nice when the movements are more obvious and more consistent so I can get really excited but I am just being patient for the time being.

Gender: Unknown and we aren't going to find out either. I think there are so few genuine surprises left in life I couldn't think of anything better than letting this baby be one of them. I plan for Rob to be the one who reveals to me what we've had (if he can see through the tears!) - a little girl or a little boy.

Belly button in/out: In (but weird)

Wedding Rings on/off: On

Mood: Happy and relaxed and enjoying this stage in my pregnancy where I am starting to show but still very able to do all my excercising without a cumbersome bump in the way.

Looking forward to: Being a bridesmaid on Thursday at my lovely friend's wedding. It will be such a gorgeous day and I cannot wait to see her get married. :)

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

View Post

Imperial Leather Sweet Shower Creams

Pick 'n' Mix this mouthwatering collection of sweet shower creams from Boots (£1 each)

I love a good shower gel and the sweeter the better. It is no surprise then that this new range of candy-inspired, sweet shop favourites shower creams from Imperial Leather made their way straight into my shower.

These four new, pastel-coloured shower creams have been inspired by those childhood classics that we all enjoyed filling our paper bags with after school - sweets such as fruit salads, marshmallows, spearmints and my personal favourite, sherbet lemons. Each gel is splendidly fragranced to give you a real burst of flavour in your shower and really takes you on a trip down memory lane as you lather up in a sweet cloud of zesty, sugary lemons or soft, candy floss sweet marshallows. The shower creams leave your skin feeling soft and pampered and smelling divine! For just £1 each there really isn't anything not to love about these new additions so which ones will you be picking up?

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

View Post

Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream Forever Eau de Parfum

Get lost in a dream with the new Marc Jacobs fragrance* (£59) | available from Boots

Whilst packing up my beauty essentials for my recent trip away to the gorgeous Greek island of Santorini I was faced with the onerous task of deciding what would be my holiday fragrance to take away with me. I always like to choose just one (saves room for duty free on the way home!) and something that will then continue to remind me of our happy trip away. The delivery of the new Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream eau de parfum could not have come at a better time as I was zipping up my suitcase and after one sniff and look at that translucent, swimming-pool-blue bottle, I knew it would be the perfect holiday scent. The aqua-hue of the packaging reminded me of the endless blue skies we would soon be sunning ourselves under and those iconic blue domes found along the rocky landscape of Santorini.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream Forever is inspired by eternal blue skies, infinitely reaching and never-ending. It embodies the youthful reverie and ethereal charm of Marc's dream girl and is an elegant addition to the Daisy Dream family. I seem to fall in love with every new release from the Marc Jacobs fragrance range and this latest makeup-table-pleasing bottle is no exception. The scent is a little deeper than a lot of the sweet, soft, girlie perfumes that come from the Marc Jacobs Daisy family with the signature notes of blackberry, blue wisteria and white woods leaving a luxurious floralcy and velvety feel. The top notes of blackberry, grapefruit and pear are perfectly mixed with jasmine, lychee and blue wisteria to give us a really elegant scent. At the base of the perfume you will detect white woods, musks and coconut water which deepens the overall fragrance and adds a woody-sweetness which makes it a lovely scent to carry you from Summer into Autumn Winter.

Have you given this newest release a spritz and a sniff?

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

View Post

Essie Lovie Dovie Nail Polish

Before I embarked on my little holiday to Santorini earlier this month, I was desperate to find the perfect pink manicure shade to take away with me. I love doing my nails on holiday after a few days in - my nails always feel so much healthier when I'm abroad and I enjoy sitting on the balcony in the evening sun, painting my nails before heading out for dinner and drinks at sunset.

Searching the aisles of Boots I of course was drawn to the Essie stands where I found a selection of pretty pinks that would be the perfect shade against a golden tan. Essie Lovie Dovie is a light to medium, creamy pink. It is fun and girly and flattering on most skin tones. The formula is as lovely as you would expect from any Essie polish - opaque after two coats and lasts a good four-five days so the holiday manicure will still be going strong on the plane on the way home!

Have you tried this shade from Essie?

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

View Post

My 20 Week Bump Update

"Your baby is the size of a mango and now measures 10 inches from head to heel. They are growing bigger and stronger every day and key senses are still forming eventually enabling them to smell, see, hear, touch and taste. You are officially at the halfway stage now and you will feel those flutters and kicks any day now."

How far along: 20 weeks exactly today (half way through my pregnancy now!)

Days until due date: 140 days

My bump: Apologies for the bikini bump pictures and dodgy tan lines but I have just returned from a little sunshine break in Santorini but was determined to capture my 20 week update before I left. Bump is still forming nicely and I think baby was loving all the walks, swimming, sunshine and Greek salads last week. I have returned from holiday feeling so healthy and refreshed.

Weight changes: Pre-pregnancy = 8stone 3lbs. Today = 8stone 10lbs (+7lbs).

Stretch marks? Still no stetch marks to be found. Still slathering on the Palmers Skin Therapy Oil which I love and plenty of aftersun every night after our long days outside.

Cravings: Greek salad. After eating so many leafy greens, olives and the sweetest cherry tomatoes ever, I need to recreate some of those delicious salads for my lunches this week.

Sleep: No complaints - sleeping like a baby once I get comfy, curled up on my left side.

Symptoms: Nothing new.

Best moment this week: Our 20 week scan. We attended our anomaly scan today at the hospital and are over the moon that everything is perfect and right on track with our little one. I still find the whole pregnancy process absolutely fascinating and I was just in awe of our baby wiggling about on screen, kicking its legs, sucking its thumb and opening and closing its mouth right on cue! Mind blowing!

Worst moment this week: Coming home from 30 degree heat and sunshine to a cold and rainy England!

Miss anything? Not really.

Maternity clothes: Having managed to get away with my normal Summer clothes over the last few months it is definitely time to invest in some Winter outfits which will include some maternity jeans and leggings.

Movement: I really thought I might have felt something by now but I still haven't recognised any of those tell-tale flutters or kicks but I am not concerned. Having seen our baby wiggling away today on the sonographer's screen I have all the reassurance I need.

Gender: Unknown and we aren't going to find out either. I think there are so few genuine surprises left in life I couldn't think of anything better than letting this baby be one of them. I plan for Rob to be the one who reveals to me what we've had (if he can see through the tears!) - a little girl or a little boy. Our sonographer asked us today whether we wanted to find out the sex and knowing she could just tell us there and then was a wavering moment, but we stuck to our decision and turned away from the screen at the appropriate moment...there was no peeking I promise!

Belly button in/out: In

Wedding Rings on/off: On

Mood: Happy. Relaxed. Fit and healthy. Excited for the second half of my pregnancy and all the highs and lows it may bring.

Looking forward to: A short working week and catching up with family and friends at the weekend.

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

View Post

Jo Malone Mimosa & Cardamom Cologne

The new fragrance from Jo Malone. Mimosa & Cardamom Cologne* (from £42) | available online

"A new bohemia awaits. Mists of honeyed, golden mimosa float above the spiciness of freshly crushed cardamom. Warm, ethereal, mesmerising."

The latest scent story from Jo Malone has landed and it is a real treat. Mimosa and Cardamom is inspired by a longing of faraway places - a time during the Victorian era where British travellers explored the globe and brought back exotic treasures to fill their home. The fusion of the powdery, honeyed floral of mimosa with the spicy, fresh cardamom gives us a sensual, unique and adventurous scent that I have completely fallen in love with.

Now I tend to adore most new scents from Jo Malone but there is something particularly special about this newest release. It feels exotic and magical, the subtle spices and woody notes from the creamy tonka and sandalwood transport you to the spice markets of faraway lands whereas the honey-hued mimosa adds a warmth like the afternoon sun in late August. However this fragrance is very much an Autumn/Winter scent and is as comforting as early evening walks through crunchy, fallen leaves or hot, steaming mugs of cocoa in front of a log fire! I love the cologne but can imagine the candle would be particularly lovely also as a treat for your home as the Winter nights draw in.

The new Mimosa & Cardamom fragrance is available as a cologne, body and hand wash, body creme and candle so however you wish to enjoy this mesmerising scent, there is a product out there for you.

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

View Post

Bobbi Brown Greige Collection

The Bobbi Brown Greige Collection* - available on counters and online now

I am so ready for Autumn now. From the fashion, weather to the makeup collections, I am ready to embrace the chillier nights and sixty denier tights all for an excuse to treat myself to a pumpkin spiced latte every now and again. I love this time in the beauty calendar as we start to see the Autumn Winter makeup launches creep into stores; lips are getting darker, eyes are more intense and smokey and skin is left bronzer-free and flawless.

True to form, Bobbi Brown have released a stunning new collection to welcome in the Autumn season comprising of a new eye palette, three intense pigment eye liners, two long wear cream shadow sticks, four rich lip colours and two new shades for your nails. The Greige Collection is inspired by the shade range Bobbi Brown herself discovered while mixing paint during a home project featuring the perfect blend of beige and grey hues.

For me, the showstopper from this new launch is the Greige Eye Palette (£52) which is the real centrepiece of the whole collection and offers us eight of Bobbi's favourite grey and beige-toned eyeshadows. With a mix of matte, shimmer and metallic shadows ranging from the subtle to the striking, this palette has everything you need to make a statement this season. I love the mixture of hues and finishes and the navy blue packaging is particularly gorgeous. The pigmentation is on the softer side so if you prefer something a bit more intense you may want to skip to the intense pigment eye liners and shadow sticks!

Next up is one of the new Rich Lip Colours (£20) in Bikini Pink. Lightweight yet full coverage, these lipsticks are seriously lovely to use and Bikini Pink is just my shade! The texture is wonderfully smooth and moisturising and stays on for a good few hours. If you fancy rocking the darker, wine-stained lips this Autumn then I recommend picking up Crimson or Rose Blossom.

Finally we have two more offerings for the eyes; the Intense Pigment Eye Liners (£26.50) and the Long-Wear Cream Shadow Sticks (£21). The Intense Pigment Eye Liners are new to the Bobbi Brown makeup range and offer us a unique pressed powder liner in a very handy, portable compact. The colours are richly pigmented and can be used to execute a precise even line or blended and smudged out for an instant smokey eye. These mini palettes seriously pack a punch and are the ultimate must-have if you love you eyes heavily lined for serious statement look. Each compact has three pigments, two rich liner shades and a standout colour to create a range of eye looks. I have Midnight which combined a gorgeous navy blue and charcoal black either side of a striking pop of blue.

Finally two new shades have been added to the ever-popular Cream Shadow Stick range; Greige and Midnight. These sticks are great at gliding on smoothly and giving you the freedom to line, define, shade, smoke and highlight the eyes in one easy step. If you are digging the blue eye trend then I definitely recommend picking up Midnight which is a nice alternative to your normal black liner and will give you a smokey eye look quickly and easily!

What new releases are you loving from the Bobbi Brown Greige Collection?

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

View Post

My 18 Week Bump Update

"Your baby is the size of a dragon fruit and is nearly six inches long. Its weight will increase about six-fold over the next month! Your baby is practicing breathing and its chest is moving in rhythm as if breathing air. Your baby's hearing has now fully developed so it can hear the sounds coming from outside the womb much clearer."

How far along: 18 weeks exactly today.

Days until due date: 154 days

My bump: My tummy is still continuing to pop out gradually and is starting to feel a lot harder and firmer now. I have also noticed that I have become a lot more veiny this week (a common pregnancy symptom) and I have two quite obvious veins now showing either side of my stomach.

Weight changes: Pre-pregnancy = 8stone 3lbs. Today = 8stone 9lbs (+6lbs). After not really gaining much in the first 12 to 13 weeks of pregnancy, my weight seems to be going up rather steadily now at 1 lb a week which is right on track. It is a little daunting seeing the scales increase every week when I know I am eating very healthily and still exercising every day so hopefully it is all baby...

Measurements: Pre-pregnancy = 32, 26, 34. Today 33, 27, 35.

Stretch marks? Still no stetch marks to be found. Still slathering on the Palmers Skin Therapy Oil which I love.

Cravings: All the healthy things! Always craving lots of fruit - pink lady apples in particular, but they have to be ice cold from the fridge. I also spotted those Candy Floss grapes for the first time in Waitrose yesterday so had to buy a pack. They could be my new addiction!

Sleep: Sleeping well still especially with my new DreamGenii pillow. I have had a few uncomfortable nights though where I have rolled onto my back and the weight of my tummy causes my lower back to really ache in the morning. I have also found that I have been going to bed even earlier for the last few weeks - by 10pm I feel quite exhausted and just have to crawl under the covers which is crazy as I used to stay up until past midnight most nights watching television with Rob! I definitely feel the benefits though of getting more hours sleep and I always wake up early with bags of energy.

Symptoms: My skin was really suffering last week but this week I can see it is starting to really clear up which I am so happy about. No other major symptoms to report on apart from my veins becoming a lot more noticeable. This happens during pregnancy due to the increased blood supply (up to 40%!)pumping round your body and carrying nutrients to your baby and can show everywhere from your boobs, stomach, hands and legs.

Best moment this week: Trying on last Summer's bikinis in preparation for our holiday to Santorini next week and discovering they still fit me!

Worst moment this week: Saying no to a chunk of Camembert!

Miss anything? The freedom to go places without having to suss out where the nearest toilet is. An increased thirst plus a compressd bladder is not the best combination!

Maternity clothes: Nothing yet but I will definitely need to get myself some matenity jeans when I am back from holiday. If anyone has any recommendation on best places to shop then do let me know.

Movement: Still patiently waiting...

Gender: Unknown and we aren't going to find out either. I think there are so few genuine surprises left in life I couldn't think of anything better than letting this baby be one of them. I plan for Rob to be the one who reveals to me what we've had (if he can see through the tears!) - a little girl or a little boy.

Belly button in/out: In

Wedding Rings on/off: On

Mood: Happy. Energetic. Positive.

Looking forward to: Our holiday to Santorini. We fly out on Sunday for 8 days of sunshine and relaxation - with a few coastal walks and lengths of the swimming pool thrown in to keep us busy! So the next two weeks might feature a special bikini bump update from our Greek Island retreat so stay tuned for that. I am also looking forward to talking to our baby more and playing it music now I know they can fully hear everything that happens outside the womb. Better start devising a playlist!

Twitter . Facebook . Bloglovin'

View Post