A few days ago, I launched Project 2016, a series of posts about self improvement.
I explained why New Years Resolutions are a bad thing for most people and explained how I'd never managed to get mine to stick, long term.
Instead, I'm looking at incremental lifestyle change and how to make lasting changes.
In this post, we’ll look out how to set goals that actually stick.
Phew - wasn't December a hectic month?
I feel like the whole of this year has gone by in a blur and especially the last month. Prepping for our first family Christmas has taken up a lot of time, and goodness know where the days go when there's a three month old to look after!
I'm starting a Five Favourite series to quickly share some of the stuff that's caught my eye each month. It can be cultural, beauty or home related, new stuff or rediscovered.
Here are the items I've been loving this month…
Are you one of life's goal makers? Do you value and strive for constant self-improvement?
Do you see the beauty in fresh starts and achieving what you thought you never could?
Does the thought of 365 fresh new days where you can dream anything, accomplish anything, become anything, inspire you?
If so, then these posts will be for you.
Did you all have a nice Christmas? It was a very special one indeed in our house, as it was the very first one for our little boy, so of course we were determined to go all out and make it extra special.
It was also the first year that we stayed at home. Normally, we spend the holidays touring round different sides of the family, but this year we decided that would be too stressful and we’d have a sort of ‘open house’.
Somehow - and I'm not even sure how - that turned into us making Christmas dinner for eight, which was never the idea! It did put a bit of stress onto the day, but it was lovely to see how much everyone wanted to be with Theo on his day.
So it's pretty obvious by now that I'm totally obsessed with lashes. And recently I decided to try out individual mink lash extensions.
Time for me to get ready is extremely limited at the moment with a three month old, so more often than not all I manage is a slick of BB cream before I have to leave the house. I was hoping that lash extensions would make me look more polished and save me time in the mornings.
I have dabbled in lash extensions before, but they were the small beaded ones, with two or three lashes on each bead and made of synthetic fibre.
I found that, although I liked the effect, after a while they began to really irritate my eyes. On top of that, when one or two inevitably fell off, they left quite a noticeable gap on the lashline. So they weren't for me.
These lashes promised something different, would they deliver?
When did you last go nude? No, I'm not being over familiar - I'm talking lipstick of course!
Nude lips are the classic that never dates. At this time of year, with smokey eyes and glitter galore, they're a must to complete a look.
They're also perfect for busy mummies, so I've found myself reaching for the nude shades in my collection much more frequently lately.
I'm choosing nude lips over brights and seasonal berries because you can swipe them on one-handed while running out the front door without too much precision.
Every girl needs a nude lip wardrobe. It may seem simple but there's a whole world of different textures, finishes and shades to choose from.
I have more nude lip products than I care to mention but hey, it's a look that never goes out of style.
Here are my top five. Dive in…
Have you ever wanted to create a time capsule?
I remember when I was a kid, every so often Blue Peter would do an episode where they would either make a time capsule or dig up one that had been buried in the Blue Peter garden.
I would be fascinated by the snapshot of another time, what they chose to include, and the memories it brought up.
Are you looking forward to Christmas parties? It's an absolutely magical time of year, but undoubtedly one that some find very stressful with so many parties, drinks and ‘do’s to go to.
As a new mother, this is the first time I've been out since having my son, so although a part of me is looking forward to taking some time out from mummy duties, I'm also feeling a little anxious.
That's why I've teamed up with George at Asda. As well as inviting me to show off some of their festive fashion, they also asked me to share some party survival tips. We’ll get through this together!
They have everything from perfect party dresses to cool separates and beautiful shoes. Texture, embellishment, sparkle… It's all there, looking great and easy to shop!
So here are my top tips for Christmas party survival...
If you’re trying to think of gifts to buy for a homeowner, homeware can be a pretty safe bet. Buying them something thoughtful for their home is always a good idea.
This post will give you some inspiration so you can go shopping with confidence:
Most of us want thicker hair and go through all sorts of rituals with hairspray, mousse and back combing to achieve what we want.
But what if there was a way you could get thicker hair every time you washed it?
That's the thinking behind Nioxin, a three step thickening kit featuring a shampoo, a conditioner and a scalp treatment.
For £18.95, you can get a starter kit tailored to your specific hair type. Lots of new mums experience hair loss due to those crazy hormones so I wanted to see if this treatment could help.
It was really easy to get hold of the kit from the wide selection of hair products at Just My Look. They carry so many different brands of hair and beauty products, it's heaven for a beauty junkie like me!
For some, it's a flawless skin finish. For others, a bright pop of colour on the lips. Yet others can't leave the house without their hair done a certain way.
But for me, it's all about lashes. It always has been, and always will be. I'm a complete flutter junkie.
Having long, feathery lashes makes me feel happy, joyful and a hundred times more appealing. Give me Disney princess lashes and I can conquer the world, even with unwashed hair and no lipstick!
So it's no surprise really that I've become something of a connoisseur of falsies over the years. From deluxe mink lashes to tips on how to wear lashes for daytime, I love it.
Recently I placed an order on FalseEyelashes.co.uk a website dedicated to all things flutter, so I thought I'd share my findings.
One of the less thrilling aspects of parenthood is the amount of stuff you have to take with you on the move.
Blankets, changing bags, toys, play mats and more… a lot of the time, leaving the house feels nearly impossible.
So any solution that can combine several functions, while being colourful, fun and easily portable is a clear winner.
The Foxey is a genius blanket/playmat/cushion/toy storage/cuddly friend invention from Peripop.
Bright, vibrant and cute, the Foxey certainly had Theo at hello. It caught his eye immediately and has been his constant companion ever since arriving.
Having family days out is so much fun and a great way for everybody to bond. You don’t always need to plan your family days out; sometimes, spontaneous days out can be even better!
However, most of the time you’ll need to plan to make sure you can get everything you want to do done. Let’s take a look at a few things you can do to plan the best family day out ever:
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Tying the knot is a huge deal. It’s supposed to be for life, so of course, it’s a big commitment to make.
It means different things to different people too. Some people look at it as a ceremony to celebrate their commitment to their partner. Others do it in the name of their religion.
Regardless of your beliefs, there are a few considerations you must make before you tie the knot. Take a look:
What's your favourite brand of drugstore makeup?
There are so many gems out there at the moment it's kind of hard to choose. But one brand I love and always seem to come back to is Maybelline.
They have a knack for innovation and launching new products that just seem to tap into the mood of the moment, and it's all great value.
I found myself doing a mini Maybelline haul the other day and picked up some of their newest products.
Here's what I thought of them and why you might need them in your life...
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I’m going to level with you; I love to shop. It’s one of my favourite things to do, and I think it is for most women.
The main problem with going shopping is that it can be expensive. Women’s fashion seems to be getting more pricey with every passing year.
So, can we still enjoy the shopping experience without spending an arm and a leg? The answer is, of course, yes! And I’m going to share some tips that will help you to achieve this.
The leaves are falling, the skies are misty. Halloween and pumpkin spice lattes have come and gone. Bare feet and toes roaming free in flip flops and sandals are but a distant memory. But don't despair, because autumn brings with it lots of opportunity to parade around in badass footwear. I say bring on the boots, tackle those trainers and go wild for wedges.
I absolutely love autumn dressing, and get a little thrill packing away my summer shoes for some more cold weather friendly options. So here are my essential, must-have shoes to get the wardrobe ready for autumn.
I absolutely love autumn dressing, and get a little thrill packing away my summer shoes for some more cold weather friendly options. So here are my essential, must-have shoes to get the wardrobe ready for autumn.
Part of me still enjoys getting a little box of goodies every month, but all too often the majority of items go unused. I stash them away to take with me on holiday, but there’s only so much I need at one time!
And I've very rarely found items that have made me want to buy a full size and include them in my regular routine. But would this box change my mind?
One of the most challenging things about being on the move with a baby, as any mummy will testify, is the amount of stuff you end up carting around with you.
The list seems never ending, and leaving the house in the morning can seem like a military operation. Then you realise that you don't use half the stuff you brought out with you anyway!
Being a confirmed collector of handbags, it's also a sad fact of motherhood that I never get to use them any more as everything gets chucked into Theo's changing bag.
Lately I've been all about the home accessories. Now I'm home with the baby a lot more, my nesting instinct has majorly kicked in and I am loving cooking, baking and making our home a beautiful place for my little family.
So I jumped at the chance to test this gorgeous Silhouette Oven Glove by Proud & Co.
You wouldn't think 'stylish' and 'oven glove' belonged in the same sentence as they seem to be a home accessory that's in constant use but gets a bit neglected from a design point of view.
But now you can have your home baked cake and eat it, because Proud & Co have married great functionality with a gorgeous design.
Hello dolls
It feels like a very long time since I posted one of these, and my life is completely unrecognisable from the last time I did.
Having a baby has turned my life totally upside down and nothing is the same as before.
Genuinely I didn't realise how full on having a newborn is. You think- they sleep a lot, don't they? But I didn't realise it only tends to be in short bursts to begin with.
You find yourself trapped in an endless cycle of nappy change, feed, soothe, sleep that somehow consumes each day.
Theo is what I call a 'Velcro baby' as well- meaning he cries everytime you put him down!
Some days it's honestly as much as I can do to grab a shower! I never realised it would be quite so intense, but despite all that I have been enjoying it as well.
Here's what we've been up to lately...
What to do about this seasonal dilemma? Well, there is a beauty solution out there that I always turn to and that is a good oil.
Oils are a multi-tasking wonder product and one of the first things I turn to when I need to give my skin or my hair an extra boost.
They can smoothe, calm and add lustre easily. And despite sounding counter intuitive, if you suffer from oily skin, they can be exactly what you need.
They can smoothe, calm and add lustre easily. And despite sounding counter intuitive, if you suffer from oily skin, they can be exactly what you need.
A handbag is an essential accessory for nearly all of us women! A handbag can not only finish off the outfit, but it can help define your style too.
There are many reasons for choosing each handbag. The style, the fabric, the colour and the size are just a few of them.
I honestly cannot live without my handbag. In fact, I might go as far as to say I live in my handbag. Everything I could possibly need during the course of the day is in there. I have lipgloss for every morning and night of the week.
And all my essentials are thrown in and out every day too. But each of my handbags was chosen to coordinate with one or more outfits. This means I may have quite a lot of handbags around!
You may have suspected I wouldn't have had a chance to do much shopping in my first month as a new mummy, but that's where you'd be underestimating me.
In fact, when you're pinned to the sofa breastfeeding for hours every day, there's actually not much else to do than scour the shops online one handed on your tablet!
It's been a strange month for sure, maybe it's the sleep deprivation but I haven't really felt with it a lot of the time.
I've spent hours scrolling through Pinterest and wishing I was thin and stylish with time to do my hair.
The reality is you're lucky to get a daily shower in with a demanding newborn.
I'm also desperate to get out of my maternity clothes. Its horrible to still have to wear them after pregnancy and I'm so keen to lose the baby weight and feel like myself again.
So I have been shopping in the hope I'll be able to wear these items and play with the makeup soon!
Well, guess who's been window shopping again?
Although I don't have as much time for playing around with make-up with my little boy to look after, that doesn't mean that my obsession with the stuff has stopped.
I still lust after pretty potions and powders, and as usual I have a wishlist as long as my arm of products I want to try! Lots of treats have been catching my eye lately, from high end to high street - great makeup is everywhere at every price point at the moment. It's very hard for a beauty junkie to resist!
Here's my pick of autumn beauty stunners that I'd like to add to my collection.
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If you're a planner like me, and you love finding thoughtful, unique surprises for people, this topic will definitely be on your mind at the moment!
With Christmas fast approaching, it won’t be long until the high-street is full of men’s shower gels, fragrance sets and other unimaginative options. If you’re looking for unique unusual gifts for your other half you probably won’t find them here.
The internet however, is an oasis of gift ideas. Here’s some of the best gift ideas I’ve found to give you some top notch inspiration.
Source: Pixabay
When fashion and beauty make up such a large part of your life, people can be intimidated about what to buy for you.
After all, what do you get for the woman who already knows exactly what she wants? Even though I write a lot about what's in trend, it's the simple things that make me the happiest.
I'm pretty low maintenance, honestly!
I think I attribute that to motherhood more than anything. Having your own little bundle of joy gracing the world allows you to put a lot more into perspective.
You learn to cherish the little moments that make your heart melt. I'd be lying if I said that being a mum hasn't changed my outlook.
When people (my husband) worry about what I might like when my birthday and Christmas roll around, I assure them that I appreciate anything. After all, It's the thought that counts.
And besides, you can be sure that the things I have my eye on are already being saved up for. Anything else is just a bonus. If you're worried about what to get your lady for that special occasion, read on.
As you may know, since having little Theo a month ago, I've become much more interested in anything that makes the world a better place, and that includes investigating the options around more eco-conscious, ethically made or environmentally-sound products.
More of us than ever are beginning to ask questions of the brands we know and love, asking them to be transparent and to do business in a conscientious manner, from food products to washing power.
This can be slightly more difficult when it comes to fashion. Brands that are ethical sometimes sacrifice style for their principles, and many of us struggle to balance our desire to support the good guys with the need to look good! Its one of the hardest battlegrounds.
Getting married is so exciting but it’s also really stressful for the person who has to do all the planning.
Organising a wedding is really hard work because there is so much to do in a short space of time.
If you’re getting married in early 2016, then you only have a few months to go. The new season is looking to be full of fabulous styles and modern ideas. Here’s how to dip into what will be on trend for your wedding.
One of my absolute favourite shops to have a browse round is Home Sense.
In fact, both Seb and I are pretty obsessed with the place and we go along pretty much every couple of weeks to see what they have in, and Seb also works close to the store so he often pops in on his lunch breaks!
If you don't know Home Sense, it's basically the homewares department of TK Maxx, given its own store.
It has all kinds of designer home stuff from past seasons, so you never know what you'll find. The stuff is great quality and there are bargains to be found.
Some of my favourite finds in the past have been Ralph Lauren tablecloths and napkins and Le Creuset cookware. It's brilliant.
For one of our first trips out with Theo, we went there as the store is not too far from our home and easy to get to in the car, and we found a few little treasures I thought I'd share.
London is often regarded as one of the world’s greatest cities.
In fact, the writer, Samuel Johnson, once said, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life, for there is in London all that life can afford.” Samuel Johnson couldn’t be closer to the truth with his quote.
There is so much to do in London that you can never get bored. Here are some of our favourite things to do.
by treehouse1977
A baby in the house means a lot of changes for the whole household, but particularly for a first-time mum and dad.
Before the baby arrived, for the most part, time outside work was yours to do what you pleased, and that probably meant two or three nights out a week – even if you were just going to the gym, not necessarily going out to socialise.
However, all that changes when you’ve got a little one in the house, and once you’ve got them into a decent bathtime and bedtime routine, the prospect of being at home every night can feel a little monotonous.
As the nights draw in and autumn starts, it’s a good idea to have some alternative ways to spend time at home as well as just seeing what’s on the box.
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We all want career success; every one of us wants to be their office’s greatest success story, don't’ we?
However, without confidence, your chances of having a prosperous career are low. Even if you aren’t a confident person outside the workplace, at work, you need to be. Fake it until you make it!
With my job being in marketing and PR, people skills are a definite must. You're also advising clients on communications strategies, and that means having the confidence to sell your ideas. But what if you don't feel sure of yourself?
Boosting your workplace confidence is actually, much easier than you would think. To help you become more assertive in the workplace, here are a few tips to take note of:
A little slice of joy through your postbox. That's what beauty boxes can be when they're good- but a few months ago I was losing all faith in them.
I'd switched over from Birchbox to Glossybox after finding the spark had gone, only for the same to happen again. I was seeing the same few brands cropping up and nothing was really inspiring or delighting me. So I cancelled my subscription.
Then last month, I was tempted back to Birchbox by their September offer plus a discount code. And I decided to keep it on a month more and see what happened.
So, what was in the October Birchbox and was it good enough to convince me to stick with my subscription?
You’re probably well aware by now that happily ever afters aren’t usually the case. Life isn’t a fairytale. There are arguments, and obstacles to overcome.
That being said, your wedding day will be one of the most magical days in your entire lives. If you want yours to be extra special, here’s what you need to know:
I've sort of been in two minds about authoring this post. Birth is such a variable experience, you'll never find two the same, so each person's story is unique.
And as someone who was very squeamish and averse to hearing anything about it before having my own baby, part of me still believes ignorance really is bliss.
I used to hate it when people would try and tell me their birth war stories - I firmly believe mummies-to-be are better served by a positive, relaxed attitude than by any amount of 'honesty'.
Too many people think they're 'being real' or doing you a favour by sharing dark tales of suffering and stitches - and actually its usually about them wanting to show how brave they were than trying to prepare you for what's to come.
On the other hand, I did a lot of reading of other bloggers birth stories before I went into hospital, and for the most part I found them calming and reasurring.
Sure, there were bits that made me wince, but most of it made me think 'that's not so bad.'
So here is my own story about little Theo's arrival into the world...its your choice if you want to read on or look away now...
(Warning: this post is almost as long as my actual labour!)
It seems makeup is all over the place lately. Not only do we watch TV adverts showing us how we can create a flawless look, there’s Pinterest and Instagram to make us feel inadequate when it comes to our makeup skills. Some of the looks on there are insane!
Even more so when you realise the hashtag ‘no filter’ has been used - how?
It must be some form of witchcraft! In this guide, we’ll talk about how you can become a bit of a makeup pro and impress people with your skills. Take a look...
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Jewellery boxes overflowing with pretty pieces is the stuff of princess fairytales. Yet we can’t all stretch to the likes of Tiffany & Co. So drum roll please as we introduce an elegant alternative. Costume jewellery. Beautiful pieces are manufactured by hand at affordable prices. This means you can save money (or buy more items!)
Too Faced have definitely emerged to become my favourite make-up brand of the moment. Not only have they knocked it of the park with their new foundation launch Born This Way, but they also make my holy grail mascara, Better Than Sex (if you're interested, I did a comparison post on that with a high-street dupe here).
So the next item on my list of products to investigate was their legendary Chocolate Box eyeshadow palette. After all, what woman could resist a palette of shadows in shimmer and matte neutrals, dressed up in this cute chocolate bar tin that also smells of chocolate?
But would the shadows live up to the insanely high expectations I had after trialling their other products?
There are lots of special occasions when you might want to buy someone a gift. The birth of their babyis one of them, and you may be unsure what to get.
I appreciated every single one of the presents I was given when Theo was born. So I thought I could give some advice about what makes a good gift for a first-time mum.
I loved all the gifts we got, but some of them were more useful to me than others. Not all the presents I enjoyed were practical, though. Sometimes what a first-time mum needs most is something that cheers them up and helps them feel more human.
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However, amidst all that excitement of counting down the days, it’s only natural to have some fear. Being a parent is the hardest and most important job in the world. On a brighter note, though, it’s also the most rewarding.
As long as you’ve made the right preparations, there’s absolutely nothing to worry about.
Here are four essential tips that every soon-to-be parent should listen to. Believe us, they’ll help you greatly over the next year or two.
Having my first baby has been like stepping into a great void of the unknown.
It's been both everything and nothing like I expected, especially as my limited impressions of what it would be like were based entirely on what films, TV and books have told me, which - as it turns out - don't happen to be very truthful. Surprise surprise!
One of the most unsettling things about the whole pregnancy journey is how little it's possible to know in advance.
Every pregnancy and every experience is completely different, so you can do as much research as you like and the chances are it's still going to be nothing like you expected.
But there were a few things that struck me quite clearly about the whole experience - things I didn't expect, that set me wondering.
Accessorising your outfits is a must if you want to enhance them in just the right way.
Pairing accessories with your outfits adds an extra layer and so much more interest. You can also show off your personality with your accessories!
Here are some tips to accessorising your outfits perfectly:
Confession time. Before Theo came along, I really wasn't that bothered about organic products, especially when it came to personal care.
And yet, something about bringing this little person into the world has really changed my mind. Babies are so pure, and the idea of bringing them into contact with lots of chemicals doesn't sit right.
This idea has led to me being more interested in eco-friendly and organic products for myself as well.
That's why I was interested to try ORGANII - a new range of mouthwashes, made using organic alcohol extracted from fruit and vegetables.
This means they're free from any pesticides and chemical fertilisers. If you have very sensitive teeth and gums, it's also much less harsh.
If you want gorgeous skin, you need to put in a little bit of work. Most of us aren’t blessed with naturally gorgeous skin, so you need to set some time aside each day/week to perform maintenance and keep it looking its very best.
Here are the only tips you need:
Hello my beauties
What a packed month September turned out to be! With a new baby, I wasn’t sure if there would be much hauling this month as chaos descended, but actually as I was waiting around for him to arrive, feeling whale-like and irritable, one of the only things that made me feel a bit better was some internet shopping!
Even though my last few hauls have been pretty beauty-centric, this month I actually ordered some clothes.
I’m so eager to get back into ‘normal’ clothes and out of the three outfits that fitted me at 9 months pregnant that I jumped the gun a bit and ordered some pieces for autumn, as well as a couple of beauty bits.
Spending quality time with your partner is so important.
If you don’t spend quality time together, you could risk the spark going out. I’ve just had a baby, but I know how important it is for me and my partner to keep our dates alive.
Here are some of my ideas for spending quality time with your other half:
Hi All
I have a guest post for you today, something all lovers of equestrian pursuits will adore, or even those of us that just love equine style in our clothes and accessories.
Enjoy! xx
It is with so much love in my heart that I'm really pleased to annouce (at last!) the birth of our little son, Theodore Athow-Frost - or Theo for short.
Documenting my pregnancy on this blog has really helped me to process and share the journey, from all my uncertainties and fears when that little blue line first showed up ona test, to the frustration, joys and funny moments through the last 9 and a half months.
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