Sunday, October 30, 2016

Ways To Save On Your Christmas Shopping ♥

It's November next week (eek!) and for many people, myself included, this marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping period. I bought some bits throughout the year, usually when they were on sale with large discounts, but I do the bulk of my shopping during the beginning of November to the first two weeks in December and I'm always looking to find the best deals and save money when I shop.

You can see some of the things that I've already gotten for Beau's 1st Christmas here.

I'm one of those people who will go from shop to shop to try and find the best bargain. I don't want to pay more for something which I could have gotten down the road for a whole lot cheaper and when I shop online I do the same too.

So with Christmas shopping on the forefront of my mind, I thought I'd share some ways to save on your Christmas shopping, all things which I do myself and which really are great for saving money.

1. Use an online deal finder website
Using an online deal finder website can help you to find the best price for the product you're looking for without spending hours trawling through websites or shops yourself.

I love finding things when they're on sale, I mean, who would want to spend more when they have to?

2. Use reward card points to pay for presents
Lots of stores offer rewards cards with point systems these days and depending on how often you shop in these places, those points can really build up. All year round I save up my Boots and Debenhams points - both places I shop in on a regular basis and I then use those points to purchase Christmas gifts with. This is a great way of saving some money whilst Christmas shopping.

3. Take advantage of 3 for 2 offers/multiple purchase offers
Throughout the year lots of stores, including toy stores, will have 3 for 2 offers available - meaning that if you buy two items the cheapest is usually free. This is a great way of stocking up on the kids Christmas presents and getting some things you actually wanted in the first place for nothing. Keep an eye on toy store websites and social media to see when these offers are available, as some are more advertised than others and you may be missing out on a great deal.

Multiple purchase offers are available in all supermarkets in the weeks before Christmas and are a great way of stocking up on all the Christmas goodies and foods that you and yours enjoy, without breaking the bank.

4. Use voucher codes
Voucher codes are a great way of saving money when online shopping. Before I buy anything online I search around to see if there's a voucher code available. Using these when shopping for Christmas presents is a great way of saving some pounds.

5. Remember that the kids don't care where a gift comes from
Some people refuse to buy anything unless it comes straight from a store, however, children aren't really fussed about where there gift comes from, so long as they enjoy it. Over the years I've picked up some great books for my sons Christmas book advent calendar in charity shops for under €1 each - much less than what they were going for in book shops and they were in great condition too.

I've also found some gorgeous wooden toys at car boot sales and some lovely things for sale on local selling groups on Facebook, all for a great price. Remember that just because a gift is second hand doesn't mean that the kids will love it any less.

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?

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Thursday, October 27, 2016

My Weight Loss Journey | 12 Weeks On ♥

I've been on my weight loss journey for twelve weeks now and I have to admit, I'm so surprised that I've stuck with it for this long. I guess that when you find something that works for you it's so much easier to stick with it and see results.

On July 30th I started having protein shakes for breakfast, a simple change, but one that has had a great impact on me, not just because of the weight loss, but also for giving me some nutrition and allowing me to have a breakfast - something I always skipped before. You can read about the beginning of my weight loss journey and some of my results here.

Since July 30th I've lost 89cm/35in off my body and I've dropped two dress sizes. Some people think that buying protein powders and specialised food is too expensive to keep up, but with money saving resources such as Myprotein discount code vouchers it doesn't have to break the bank and I can honestly say that buying my protein powders isn't putting me under any financial strain at all.

I made the decision to get back into shape after my pregnancy because I felt awful about myself, I hated the way I looked and I had no self confidence at all. I didn't want to be in any pictures with my boys and clothes shopping was something I avoided and dreaded. Now that I've lost some weight I'm actually asking Jacek to take pictures of me with the boys, keen to not be missing from our photographic memories any longer and I've picked up some new clothing bits too, all in a smaller size. I can't even describe the feeling of being able to put on a smaller sized item of clothing and actually fit into it again but it's a great one!

I've also become a lot fitter since I began on this journey, I no longer get out of breath quickly and I'm easy to go running after Tyler whilst carrying Beau in his sling without feeling like I'm going to collapse!

For anyone who may be contemplating making a simple change to their diet like I did and who might be looking into having protein shakes I thought I'd share my weekly results just to show what can be achieved.

Week 1-4: -31cm
Week 5: - 16cm
Week 6: -9cm
Week 7: -8.5cm
Week 8: -13cm
Week 9: -10.5cm
Week 10: +7cm
Week 11: -8.5cm
Week 12: +1.5cm

I've had two weeks with gains in centimeters but my body is toning up and gaining muscle instead of fat so I was expecting this. I can see all the changes my body is going through thanks to my diet changes and I love seeing the results and having others compliment me on the results.

I still have a long way to go when it comes to my weight but I've made a great start and I'm determined to keep going. My goal is have lost 100cm by Christmas, so please do wish me luck!

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Monday, October 24, 2016

Silver Cross Pioneer in Carrycot Mode | Review ♥

Silver Cross is a brand my family and I have loved for quite some time now. When Tyler Lee was a baby I had a Silver Cross Classic Sleepover pram for him (featured here), a lovely 'high pram' to go on walks with him in, all snuggled up inside on those first few snowy February days of his life. I also had a Silver Cross Linear for him, this being my 'shopping pram', perfect for taking out and about and popping in the car.

When he got to toddler stage I then moved him to a buggy, the Silver Cross Pop (reviewed here) being one of the best I had for him with it's roomy seat and plenty of leg room so that his feet no long dragged on the floor, as it had done with other buggies.

So when the lovely people at Silver Cross got in touch and asked if I'd like to try out and review their Silver Cross Pioneer with Beau I was absolutely delighted to try another lovely pram from their range and to have this as 'just Beau's pram', his from the beginning and until he's out of prams and buggies altogether.

The Silver Cross Pioneer is one of the most stylish prams I've ever had the pleasure of using. I chose the newly released vintage silver colour pack for my pram which consists of a silver hood and apron and I think this colour pack looks beautiful with the chrome chassis.

The pram looks quite luxurious with the little touches it has - such as the black leather effect on the handles surrounding the chrome Silver Cross logo and the button to extend the handle, the leather effect bumper bar, the cup holder and the matching chrome detail on the hood, all the features on the pram tie in together and they make it something quite lovely to be seen pushing along. I get so many compliments on the pram and it really is such a pleasure to have my precious little babe pushed about in.

Silver Cross Pioneer in Carry Cot Mode Features - 
✓ Swivel front wheels for easy maneuverability
✓ Interchangeable colour ways for customisation
✓ Soft 100% bamboo material mattress and liner for baby's comfort
✓ Large sized carrycot
✓ Large basket
✓ Quick-click fold for putting the chassis up and down
✓ Bumper bar.
✓ Extendable handle for taller users
✓ Easy to assemble
✓ Can fit in a small car boot

Beau is extremely comfy in his pram. The liner and the mattress of the carrycot are made of super soft bamboo material which really is so lovely to the touch. He's always happy laying in his pram and thankfully the carrycot is a generous size - perfect for my long boy. He's still in the carrycot now at five months and I'm delighted that I've been able to get this long out of it as I really do love having the carrycot on the pram - I'm not yet ready to move him to buggy mode!

The carry cot attaches to the chassis very easily by just popping it onto the adapters. It's also removes very easily too, you simply pull on the sides and it pops off - it really couldn't be easier. In fact, the ease of use with the carrycot and chassis has encouraged me to bring the carrycot everywhere with us, even if I'm just popping in somewhere quickly. The chassis and the carrycot fit into my small car boot too so it's really convenient for me to take them with me when I'm out and about.

The Pioneer features a large basket underneath, perfect for popping bags and other essentials into when out and about. However, it's impossible to get bags, if they have much in them, into the basket while the carrycot is on top of the chassis, there just simply isn't the room to slot them under and on more than one occasion I've had to lift the carrycot off to place things underneath - far from ideal I know, but I'll get over this as the other features of the pram really are spot on and I'm hoping that in buggy mode the basket will be easier to get to.

The maneuverability and handling of the pram is fantastic. The swivel wheels on the front really help to steer it well and I've even been able to push the pram one handed and not have it veer off to the side. I've taken this pram on all types of terrain - gravel paths, grass, tarmac, footpaths - you name it, it's been on it and it does handle really well, not being too bumpy for baby either. As the Silver Cross website says, the Pioneer is 'designed for adventure' and I definitely agree with this.

The hood is a lovely feature on the pram with the silver detail on it and it is a good size. The hood is lined UPV50+ material and has a silver lining to reflect heat, insuring that baby doesn't get too hot on warm, sunny days. The hood clips onto the sides of the carrycot and is held on sturdily with velcro strips.

The Silver Cross Pioneer currently retails for £695 and this price includes the chassis, carrycot, pushchair seat, a colour pack of your choice, rain cover and cup holder, which I think is very good value for money for something you're going to get a lot of use out of over many years.

Pros -
Lightweight and easy to push
Front swivel wheels for easy maneuverability
Very comfy for baby
Extendable handle
Can fit in the boot of my car
Very easy to use and assemble
It's a good price point for the quality and what it includes

Cons -
The basket is very hard to get things in when the carrycot is attached to the chassis

Conclusion
I really love this pram, even with the con I've pointed out above. It's such a beautiful pram and it's so easy to use. It's actually a dream to push and I love strolling along with Beau in it. It's very comfortable for baby and this is a big thing for me as we use it a lot and I want him to be happy in it - which I'm delighted to say he is. This is a great pram and I'm so happy that I've been able to use it with Beau.

I'll be sharing an update on the Silver Cross Pioneer and how we're getting on with it again once I move Beau to the pushchair mode of it.


*We were sent the Silver Cross Pioneer for the purposes of this review, however, as always, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

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7 Of The Best Photographic Locations in Cork & When To Visit Them ♥

The other day I Googled - 'good outdoor photography locations in Cork' and could find no information at all apart from places to photograph buildings or places of interest around the city - both really not my thing when it comes to photography.

I was hoping to spread my horizons and find a new location to take pictures of my boys in, but sadly there were no recommendations of beautiful outdoor locations, so I thought I'd share six of my favourites on the blog today, for any other photography lovers who are looking for some gorgeous natural backdrops and locations for their photos.

I was hoping to pop along to the orchard at Barryscourt Castle in Carrigtwohill but it's closed for renovations. I then went in search of a pumpkin patch, but that's something we lack here in Cork, so I'll just have to go back to the drawing board when it comes to finding somewhere for nice autumal shoots other than the woods.

I prefer places where I can take pictures of my family surrounded by nature, open spaces where the background is just as beautiful as the people in the shot and ever since my passion for photography ignited, I've discovered some beautiful locations around Co. Cork which are perfect for taking some beautiful shots outdoors. Whether it's family shots, wedding pictures or just beautiful nature photography you're after, these locations really do have it all.

Ballyannan Woods, Owenacurra Estuary (just outside Midleton).

This is a location we discovered for the first time in May, having gone looking for a place where there was lots of bluebells to be found. I think it's fair to call this place 'the bluebell woods' because there literally were bluebells everywhere and that was with us visiting at the end of the season.

When to go? April and early May are the best times to visit to see all the bluebells in their full glory and make the most of them as a beautiful photographic background.

Blarney Castle & Gardens

Blarney Castle is a place we frequent multiple times a year, although not for the lovely castle (although this does make a great photo backdrop too), but for the amazingly beautiful gardens they have there. There are so many parts to the gardens, all offering something different - flowers, trees, a little waterfall, etc.

When to go? We go every February to celebrate our eldest sons birthday and photograph him amongst the daffodils and snowdrops. However, last year the daffodils had bloomed a bit early so January and February are the months to capture those. The summer months are perfect for capturing all the beautiful flowers in bloom and making the most of the stunning trellis walkway they have their too.

 Fota House & Gardens

This is a place we frequent a lot as it's great to let our son run free and the gardens offer a perfect backdrop for pictures. There's lots of mossy tinged trees, flowers and grassy areas which are great for capturing natural looking shots. There's also a lake with a beautiful lookout point and staged stone steps which are lovely for posing for pictures too.

When to go? February is a great month to go to capture the carpets of snowdrops and daffodils which appear by the stone steps. The summer months are also great for capturing the flowers in bloom. If you're looking for autumnal shots then October is a great month to go to capture shots amongst the fallen leaves.

O Keefe's Woods, Ballynacrusha, Cobh

This is another place we go to often as there's a fairy wood here, perfect for letting the little ones imaginations run wild. The woods offer a beautiful lookout point over East Cork and there are so many lovely places in the woods from a metal bedstead growing out from a tree, stick dens and lots of fallen trees to sit on. Also, it's a very quiet place so it's perfect for taking pictures in peace.

When to go? My favourite time of year to visit is autumn to make the most of the trees and the fallen leaves.

'The Sunflower Field', Rossleague, Cobh

This is a place I discovered by chance while taking my sons to back of the island one day. Driving along I noticed a patch of yellow over the hedgerow and when I stopped I was delighted to see that there were lots of sunflowers and a gap in the hedgerow to enter the field. These made the perfect summery photo backdrop.

When to go? August is the best month to go to capture the sunflowers in their full glory.

The Old Head of Kinsale

This is a beautiful location if you want to have the sea as a feature in your photos. The cliffs and the wild flowers growing on the Old Head make a lovely backdrop for photos too. Although, if you're visiting with small children, do make sure to have reins attached to them or carry them in slings for safety.

When to go? The summer months through to September are the best times to visit to capture the flowers in bloom - and the sunshine of course!

Roches Point

The beautiful lighthouse and beach at Roches Point make a great backdrop for photos. The little coloured houses have been called 'Balamory' by people on my Instagram feed and it's just a beautiful place to visit and photograph at.

When to go? March through to September are lovely months to visit Roches Point, especially on a sunny day.

These are just some of my favourite locations to capture beautiful photos of my family in the great outdoors. I'm sure there are lots of other stunning locations dotted around the county, I just haven't had the chance to visit or discover them yet. If you know of any other great photographic locations around Cork then please do share them with me.

I regularly find beautiful spots to photograph in by chance whilst I'm driving. I prefer to photograph outdoors and try to find the most beautiful natural backdrops for my photos, however, I always make sure that my family and I are respectful to nature and to other people's land and I hope others will do the same.

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Monday, October 17, 2016

Change The Life Of A Child | Why You Should Sponsor An Orphan Today ♥

Sadly, there are millions of children in the world today who have lost one or both parents. For many of these children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, this loss denies them of the happy, healthy childhood which they deserve and means that they can’t go on to achieve their dreams as adults.

However, charitable organisations, such as humanappeal.org.uk, give you the chance to help to change the course of a child’s life through sponsoring an orphan.


The above video is very powerful and shows why these children are in need of help, but in case you're in need of more information, here are five reasons you should take this transformative action today and sponsor a child in need:

1. Food
According to the World Food Programme, poor nutrition causes 3.1 million deaths in children under five each year - that’s half of all deaths in this age group. In developing countries, where the vast majority of the world’s hungry live, about 100 million (one in six) children are underweight and one in three is stunted. By sponsoring a child, you can help ensure that they have adequate sustenance to stay healthy, develop normally, learn and play.

2. Water
In the world today, over 650 million people lack access to safe water and every day almost 900 children die because of diarrhoeal diseases brought about by contaminated water and poor sanitation. Your donation could help make sure that a child has access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation. Not only could this help to keep a child disease-free, it could also protect their dignity and well-being by preventing them from having to defecate out in the open where they may be at risk of attack.

3. Shelter
There are approximately 150 million children in the world today that live on the streets, many of whom have been made homeless by the death of one or both parents. These children, who often have no choice but to beg and scavenge for food, are at risk of malnutrition, disease, exploitation and abuse. With your support, charities can take these vulnerable orphans under their wings and provide them the shelter of an orphanage or foster home where they can receive the protection, care and emotional support that all children deserve.

4. Medicine
Everyone has a right to life-saving safe and impartial healthcare, but unfortunately many children do not have access to even the most basic medical treatment. You can help to ensure that babies are delivered safely, children receive immunisations to help them stay healthy and can consult a doctor when they are unwell by pledging money to a child.

5. Education
Education is a powerful tool for helping children to escape poverty and create better lives for themselves and their communities. These barriers include, but are not limited to, poverty, political conflict, and gender inequality and lack of infrastructure, resources and qualified teachers. By supporting a child financially, you can help to give them the education they need to progress, no matter what their race, religious or gender.

Remember that when you sponsor a child, you are not only assisting that individual - you are also helping to improve a whole community of people in need and that is such an amazing thing to support.

Every child deserves a childhood, to be healthy, happy, safe and have access for food and clean water. It's not a privilege but a human right and by sponsoring an orphan you are helping to save a child and give them a chance in life.

*This is a guest post on behalf of humanappeal.org.uk, a charity who I have made a donation to also.

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Getting Back Into Shape After Pregnancy ♥

I've had two babies within three years and I'll be completely honest here, these pregnancies and new baby days have not been kind to my body. I look at myself in the mirror and I don't recognise the person staring back at me, my body is so much different to how it was in my early twenties and I won't pretend here, I absolutely hate how I look.

My weight has been an issue ever since I had my eldest son, a mixture of post natal depression and agoraphobia contributing a lot to my weight gain - I mean you're going to gain weight when you don't leave the house aren't you?

Thankfully, this time around after giving birth, I'm much happier, active and focused on improving myself and I'm so determined to become slimmer, fitter and healthier, not just for me, but for the two beautiful boys I want to be around to parent for many, many years to come.

So today I thought I'd share how I'm getting back into shape after pregnancy and I'm very happy to say that these things are really working for me and I'm seeing some changes which are really making me feel so much better and confident in myself.

For the past 11 weeks I've been having protein shakes for breakfast. These really help to set me up for the day and keep me feeling full. Also, due to the high protein they have, they've helped me to lose weight and inches off my body - 35 inches since I began having them on July 30th. It's been great to see my body becoming slimmer, clothes feeling a lot looser and I love seeing the number of inches lost going up week after week - it keeps me motivated and eager to lose more. You can read all about my weight loss so far and the reviews of the shakes I've been having here.

Beau and I out on one of our woodland walks
However, now that I've lost weight I could really do with toning up and have been looking at ways to do this, other than just going for my normal walk pushing the pram up and down hills of course. I see on my social media some of the girls I know going to boot camps and training sessions in the gym such as cross-fit etc.

I don't know if these would be for me though because I prefer working out on a one-on-one basis and I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't be mortified taking my out of shape self along to a training session... I think building a workout routine is so important though and you can read more on this page. Building a workout means that you're challenging different parts of your body each time you workout to get the results you're looking for.

My Nan told me last week that there's a girl who she sees with a personal trainer up on the track when she goes walking. I can definitely see the benefits of having a personal trainer. For someone like me who can sometimes lack the motivation or want to go out and exercise, having a personal trainer there to keep you on track and to have a proper workout with, tailored around the areas you want to work on would be fab!

I'd really love to have the personal trainer experience and not just because I think it would be kind of cool to say "I can't, sorry! I have a session with my personal trainer today..." - if anything it'd be a valid excuse for getting out of things at least! The PT experience seems to work for a lot of celebs, they're always papped having work outs in parks, etc., so I don't see why it couldn't work for a normal being like myself too.

As I said above, I go walking with my pram quite a lot and it's actually a great workout pushing it up and down the hills in my hometown - I've even been jogging with it! I don't know if it's just me or what, but I actually find it a lot more enticing to go out for walks on the cooler autumn and winter days. I make sure that the boys and I get some fresh air everyday and even just popping Beau into the sling (seriously, he's the best weight I could ever carry around) and going for a trek with them both through the woods counts as a workout for me, because believe me when I say they keep me on my toes!

I honestly believe that simply running around after the two of them and having to go up and down the stairs with them for what seems like a million times a day has contributed to my weight loss too. I'm happy to say I no longer get puffed whilst I'm running about with them and it's great to have a lot more energy, cause lets face it, I really need it!

One thing I'd really love to try as part of my 'getting back into shape' mission is yoga. It's something I've wanted to try for quite a while now and my friend and I were speaking about going to a class together - I'm so glad she's up for it too because I know I'd never go on my own. So hopefully this is something I can do to improved my fitness and flexibility, I'd at least like to give it a go.

I'll be updating the blog on my weight loss and fitness progress every two weeks, so do pop back if you're interested in reading about how I'm doing.
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Sunday, October 09, 2016

Autumn/Winter Baby Clothing Bargains Wish List ♥

I make no secret of the fact that I'm a bargain hunter. I like to find the best price for the things I want and have to buy and I usually end up purchasing things in the sales as I can't resist the bargains that they bring.

These days I'm at my happiest when I'm picking up some gorgeous outfits and clothing pieces for my boys, especially the baby things for my little Beau, and I thought I'd share some lovely bargains I've discovered online lately.

I saw these adorable little Infant Purl Knitted Booties in the UGG sale and thought they'd be adorable with Beau's little outfits this winter. The knit look would go really well with all the cardigans my grandmother has knitted him and would be perfect for keeping his little toes snug and cosy. These are just £24 on sale.

The Cath Kidston Transport Baby Sleepsuit is one of my favourite finds of late as Beau had the vest in this print when he was first born. I didn't think this print was still available so I was delighted to find it and this is now just £10/€15.70.

The Baby Boden Reversible T-Shirt has such a sweet print, I love the nautical theme but I think the addition of penguins makes it quite wintry too. The fact that it's reversible is also a nice touch too. This is now just £13 and they have lots of other lovely t-shirts on sale too.

I just love the Ladybird Baby Boys Hooded Knitted Cardigan as I can never resist a baby blue piece and that pixie shaped hood with the pom pom on top is too adorable and so on trend too judging by all the babies in pom pom hat pictures I see on Instagram! This is now just £12 on sale.

I literally gasped when I saw the badger jacket by Baby Boden, it's gorgeous! They have it on sale in both Beau's and Tyler Lee's size too so I think I might have to get matching ones for the boys! This is now just £24.40 on sale.

All items above were found via Love the Sales.

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Thursday, October 06, 2016

5 Tips For Buying A New Family Car ♥

Getting a new car can be quite costly, but for some people, having a car is a necessity in life. For our family, we need two cars as Jacek takes his car to work each day and I need a car for taking the children to and from school.

Both of our cars are second hand, as we wanted to own our cars outright. I would have loved to have bought a new car, but the burden of a monthly car loan was nothing something that I wanted to bring upon myself and, the car I bought hasn't given me any trouble at all and has been perfect for what I've needed it for.

Did you know that if you have an old or damaged car sitting on your driveway or in your yard and you want rid of, that you could get cash for old or damaged cars? This could give you a bit of a financial boost to put towards another car purchase, while getting rid of something you don't want - win, win, right?

Here are a few things you should always keep in mind when purchasing a new car:

1. Safety is a priority
No parent is willingly going to but their children in an unsafe car, hence why I'm more inclined to want a new car. However, if you're going for a second hand car make sure you do thorough checks before purchasing. Bring a mechanic or a family member who you know is knowledgeable about cars, with you to the viewing and let them check the specifics of the car and determine in just how good a condition it is.


2. Determine your budget
Although I know I would love a brand new car, I know that it would be quite costly and with two kids to pay for I have to judge whether or not I can take on an extra bill every month. If you think you can afford it then car finance can be a great route to go down when it comes to being able to purchase your new car and pay back it back on a weekly or monthly basis, but remember to look carefully at the interest rate (APR) to make sure you're getting a good deal. This is an option I'm currently looking into, I just need to work out my monthly budget. Some people may think that this isn't an option for them due to bad credit history, however, sites such as Moneybarn offer bad credit car finance, not just looking at your credit score but taking other factors into account too to help you get the funds you need to get a new vehicle.


3. Take your family size into account (and if it'll be growing some more!)
As I said I need a five door car as I have two children. There's no point in sticking with a small car just because you've had it for a long time. I need more space in the car and I really do need those extra doors for getting everyone in and out easily. It's important to take into account how much space you'll need for car seats and booster seats as your child will be using them for a considerable time. Also, it's important to think about whether or not your family will be growing some more, going for a bigger car can help you in the future by not having to upgrade or change your car again too soon.

4. The Economical Aspects
It's important to take into account, when changing your car - the cost of insurance on the new car - whether it will be going up or down, how much tax you'll have to pay on the car each year and petrol/diesel costs (if you're going up an engine size). My current car is only a one litre and is quite cheap to run and tax, hence why I've been slow to change it. I'll be considering the economical aspects before I purchase a new car as these will also have to be factored into my monthly budget.

5. The age of the car
I've recently discovered that some insurance companies are refusing to accept new policies on cars that are over ten years old. This means that you could be shelling out money on a car that's perfect for you, only to then not be able to insure it. If you can afford to get a newer car then definitely go for it.

Remembering these four tips will help you to choose the right car for your family and your budget.

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Wednesday, October 05, 2016

Do Babies Choose Their Parents? ♥

Before I had even found out I was pregnant for the second time I was having a bit of a 'stumble upon' night on the net searching random things, one particular night my search was related to angels and spirituality - subjects which I am quite interested in and I came across an article which was debating whether or not babies, when they are spirits, choose which parents they go to in order to give those parents an experience or teach them a lesson which they need to know. 

There were comments from parents who stated some strange things their children had said to them, as if they were here before, things only dead relatives such as grandparents should know and some children had even stated to their parents - "Before I came to meet you I saw you and choose you to be my mummy/daddy". Now this is the internet and people can dramatise, etc. for shock factor but I felt some sort of credibility from these comments. 

For awhile now my eldest has demonstrated some things to me which are explainable, things which he shouldn't know but does. Awhile back a picture of my grandfather appeared underneath our couch, I have no idea how it got there but my son found it and was able to tell me it was "grandad". This was shocking enough at the time to me, but since he's turned three he's also been able to tell me that the man in the photo is called Michael, something which I, nor anyone else has ever told him.

After my second baby was born my eldest also started saying that there was a man in his room at night, and at first he was scared but now he knows he a nice man. That he tells him to "shhh and go to sleep" and that this man is Michael. I know three year olds have a very active imagination but this seems too much to be a complete fairy story about a man who died long before my son was born. It seems that my boy knows a lot more about us all than I had ever expected...
 
When I had my son I always got the impression that he was here before, in fact I tell people this a lot. People have pointed out that he can be quite serious, thoughtful and is like a little philosopher, to me he has an old fashioned presence and if I'm honest I would love it if he had picked myself and Jacek to be his parents and to teach us something in life. 

I imagine him as being a baby spirit in a big white room and seeing all the parents waiting for a beautiful baby but picking his dad and I. It's such a special thing to think that this wonderful child chose us. He's already taught me so much already, mainly the art of patience as before I had him I was like a firecracker, but he's amazing, my little angel man as I affectionately call him.

After I suffered my miscarriage in 2014, the day after my eldest sons first birthday, my friend and I were having a conversation, she also loves all things spiritual and the topic of babies choosing their parents came up, luckily she didn't look at me like I had two heads and knew exactly what I was talking about. The words she said to me that night have been so comforting to me and through the low times I've had since all this happened, like right now, hence why I'm writing this post, I just have to get my thoughts written down, her words have been nothing but a comfort to me. 

In short my friend told me that "my baby knew it couldn't stay with me for long but choose me anyway to be close to me and be loved by me because that baby knew that even after it had left me it would continue to be loved completely and what more could a baby want?"

This words have meant so much to me and have impacted on me so much. In fact as I type this I'm getting quite teary eyed, I just find the whole concept quite beautiful and so comforting, a silver lining to the terrible, heartbreaking experience that is losing a child. 

I wanted to share these words in the hope that other people who have lost their children could also maybe find some comfort in this idea. I know it has been a saviour for me and when I get down I try to see the light and love my unborn baby wanted to bring to me.

Ultimately I do believe that babies choose their parents. I always love to believe in the spiritual side of things, I'm not really one for needing concrete evidence to believe in something and feel hope. 

I do hope that we will meet our unborn baby one day and will be able to thank them for what they have taught us even though they were only with us for such a short time. They personally have taught me to appreciate every moment I have with their big brother, to relish and cherish each second we have together, be patient and to never give up hope or be sad at actions of people who don't really matter. 

*Update* I have since had my beautiful rainbow baby, Beau, who has reconfirmed my belief in the idea that babies choose my parents. Since the moment I found out I was expecting him I felt an overwhelming feeling of happiness and calm, things which I greatly needed in my life at the time.

I strongly believed that my baby would be a happy little soul and I'm delighted to say that my believe became a reality as he is the most joyous, smiley and placid little thing I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He has brought us all some much needed joy and his beautiful, smiling face reminds me that there's good in everyday - a lesson I was much in need of learning.

To my beautiful, wonderful children and all the lessons they have taught me, thank you 
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Monday, October 03, 2016

Haircare After Pregnancy

Many symptoms come and go during pregnancy, some to be expected and others which may come as a bit of a surprise, and the topic I'm discussing today is one that definitely came as a surprise to me - hair loss after pregnancy.

During the course of both my pregnancies my hair became very soft, wispy and very easy to get a brush through and during my second pregnancy my hair grew like wildfire and it's now the longest it's ever been.

However, once both my pregnancies had ended and all those pregnancy hormones settled down, once again my hair became a bit of a nightmare, becoming unmanageable, knotty and very dry. After having Beau I've also noticed another problem with my hair - it's falling out, a lot.

I can't go through the day without finding strands of hair all over my clothes, all over the house and it comes out quite easily even just by running my fingers through it. I even spotted strands today all over my freshly washed clothes whilst hanging them on the line... So I'm sure you can imagine the damage being done to it when I put a brush through it.

Just to reassure anyone experiencing this, hair loss after pregnancy is perfectly normal and is nothing to be embarrassed about at all. However, if your hair loss is severe and it's beginning to become a major issue for you, like this former ballerina who's hair fell out from having it tied up too tight, then there are procedures which can help, such as hair transplants, a procedure which she availed of. If this is a route you'd like to look into then you can check out the FUE hair transplant cost to see if it's an option for you.

Since having Beau I've been doing some things to try and get my hair back in good condition and to try and minimise and combat the hair loss too and I thought I'd share them today for any other ladies who may be experiencing this too.

1. Keep up with the vitamins and supplements
During pregnancy everyone is advised to take pre-natal vitamins and everyone does their best to keep up with them as it's good for their baby, however, after baby is born and the busyness and tiredness of having a newborn kicks in, taking our vitamins and supplements may fall to the wayside. I've been trying hard to keep up with mine and can see the benefits to my hair, skin and nails from taking them. It's a small thing to do each day but it really does help.

2. Deep condition your hair twice a week
Anytime I have a day when I know I'm going to be at home cleaning or whatever, I put a deep conditioner in my hair and leave it in while I'm getting everything done. I then wash it out and my hair feels silky smooth. Doing this also makes my hair less dry and this is something which my hair has struggled with since I gave birth. My favourite deep conditioner is Lush's Marilyn - it works miracles!

3. Lay off the heat
Styling my hair isn't something I get to do very often anyway, what with the school runs and sorting out the boys, but this is good news for my hair as it means it isn't getting heat damaged. I let my hair dry naturally and then just style it with some mousse or volumising dry shampoo and I'm good to go. The less heat the better.

4. Brush gently and use a Tangle Teezer
Before I had my babies I used to brush my hair with a barrel brush - what was I thinking?! I've since switched to a Tangle Teezer and it was one of the best things I could have done for my hair. I use my Tangle Teezer in the shower to help rinse my hair of conditioner and it really works to not pull my hair and contribute even more to the hair loss. If you're not a Tangle Teezer fan then using a wide-toothed comb is the best option for not pulling on your hair.

5. Find the right products for your hair
I found that after pregnancy, products that once worked for my hair, no longer did. The shampoo and conditioner I used to use just made it look greasy on top and extremely dry at the ends and I'm not going to lie, it was a real case of trial and error finding products which now worked for me. I now use Aussie shampoo and conditioner and these have been great for my hair. I can't lie though, if I had the money I'd be using Lush's Rub Rub Rub on my hair as it's a miracle worker. The €20+ a tub just isn't an option at the moment though...

Have you experienced hair loss after pregnancy?


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