February Favourites

I have been trying to take a little more 'me' time lately.. By that i don't mean a day at the spa or anything like that but maybe a slightly longer soak in the bath of an evening or 15 minutes to do my makeup in the morning as oppose to the usual 5 minute rushed job it usually is. As a trained makeup artist i do tend to miss the days i spent taking agessss to do my makeup but it was done to perfection and now i just don't get the time. Unfortunately i don't have the kind of skin where a little bit of tinted moisturiser would be enough. So a very quick foundation application is an every day must!! Nowadays i skip a lot of steps completely. So most days a slick of mascara and and bit of filling in of the old eyebrows is usually all i do, esp on the days i am staying in or just running errands. But if i am going out to soft play or meeting friends etc i will pop on a little eyeshadow mostly neutral shades, a tiny hint of blush and if I'm feeling in a 'i want to look like a yummy mummy' kind of mood then a dab of lipstick.. So onto my favourites and what I've been loving..

1. Twinning Pomegranate & Raspberry Tea

I am currently doing Slimming world and wanted to cut down on the amount of cups of tea i drink especially as i was having 2 sugars in my tea. I remember drinking this herbal tea when i was expecting Ethan and i really liked it, its great for those who want to try something different but don't like the 'usual' herbal teas because i was never a massive fan of them but this one actually is really lovely and is great if you want something sweet, it just curbs the cravings for biscuits or chocolate, well at least for a little bit.

2. Nivea Extra Gentle Eye Makeup Remover

I got this a couple of months ago. Its for sensitive eyes and I'm loving it. I avoid a lot of eye makeup removers because many of them seem to irritate my eyes and i do have to rub it in a bit with the cotton pad as i wear liquid liner and lots of mascara. So i wanted something that even with all the rubbing to get it off was going to be gentle on my eyes and this one does that and it gets it all off too!

3. Rimmel Nail Polish in 313 Rita Rouge

I try and do my nails every Sunday night.. if I'm being organised that is. I have been wearing this shade from Rimmel for three weeks straight. I'm just loving it. This deep berry/red wine colour is right up my street and goes with anything i wear not to mention for me it looks more interesting that a basic red sometimes. This is also a really nice polish aside from the shade. A small simple bottle but has a large brush so its quicker and easier to apply. I use 2 coats for a really opaque colour.

4.  Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo in Bronze

I bought this for the second time in January, i had not used it in a while but i remembered i loved it especially this beautiful bronze shade. I have so many bronzy coloured eyeshadows in my collection that its now bordering on ridiculous! So what's one more, right?.. Well this one is worth it for sure! Yes its bronze same as all the ones i have but it is a cream so its easy to apply & no need for brushes, it blends in beautifully in seconds and looks like you've made more effort with your eye makeup more than you actually have. Its also the kind of bronze that picks up the light in a beautiful way and this seems to be one of few i get most compliments on. 

These days i have little time to spend applying my makeup so anything that is quick and easy to use is a winner in my book. I'm not sure though if it does last '24hrs' I've never worn it this long! But it does last quite nicely, i never feel the need to retouch it. The one downside for me is like most creams in their packaging it does dry up so does not tend to last that long so make sure if your using this to keep the lid nice and tight to keep it air locked so you do have it for longer! Ramble over... 

5. Dairy Milk Thins

Maybe a slightly random favourite but these thin little treats have been a little saviour to me on slimming world. I have quite a sweet tooth and some days i really struggle to keep it at bay.. I want to eat whatever the hell i want.. but i also know i simply can't do that if i ever want this weight to come off.. or it never will. My struggle with willpower is a never-ending one. So I've switched to lighter options and this is another one. This one on slimming world is still 5 syns however when I've been 'good' all day this is my treat come the evening time with of cup of tea.. satisfies my sweet tooth without going too far and feeling that dreaded 'guilt'! 

6. Loreal False Lash Sculpt Mascara in Black

I picked this up in boots a few weeks back. I needed a new mascara and I'm always on the look out for new/amazing mascaras that will give me the longest thickest lashes you've ever seen..

I do expect a lot from a mascara and probably expect too much really as my lashes are nice but not amazing. They were so long as a child but they just don't seem to be like that anymore. So I'm always longing to get those childhood doll lashes back again.. This Mascara i had picked up on a whim, i had no clue what it was like. I had read no reviews on it and had seen no advertising on it but as you can probably tell it being in my favourites and all... i like it... i like it alot!! 

Its slightly curved plastic brush elongates more than it thickens but it does get at every lash from the root & especially the small inner corner ones. It coats the lashes nicely even after one coat and does give the lashes some really nice length. 

7. Oral B 3D Brilliance Toothpaste

I watched a favourites video by Zoella some weeks back and she mentioned this toothpaste! So a few days later while i was doing my food shop in Asda i spotted this and thought I'll give this a go! Very rarely loyal to a toothpaste, i often switch from brand to brand never really believing all their claims of being the best toothpaste for whitening teeth but i thought they wouldn't be in a favourites video if it wasn't half bad! I have to say i have really noticed a difference using this toothpaste, its only been over 3/4 weeks since i got it but its definitely slightly whitened my teeth which I'm delighted with! So that teaches me to not be so cynical about these toothpaste brands and sometimes they actually do what they say on the tin.

8. Britney Spears Fantasy perfume

So i am including two perfumes in my favourites because i have been wearing these two only all month or probably since Christmas and i have a good collection of perfumes. This one is soooooo yummy.. i have been wearing this one nearly everyday. It might not be a 'high end' perfume but i don't care! its lovely and sweet and i always get compliments on this one especially from the other half. It makes me feel summery, sexy and super girly! 

9. Chanel No.5

This is the other perfume that i tend to go to, not half as often as my Britney one but well this is a Chanel no.5 after all.... and i don't want to waste it! It's not cheap that's for sure but worth the money! I got this one as a present at Christmas but i have bought this as a treat for myself over the years. As perfume goes this is a pure classic, it oozes sophistication & elegance. Its the one i usually wear when i am getting dressed up or going anywhere special to make me feel great and finish off the 'look' nicely. 

Thanks for reading!! xx

 I do love to know what people love and really rate beauty or non beauty wise! ..so do please let me know what yours are!

Have a lovely day/week! 

Kerrie xx

The Mummy Tag

A few months ago i was tagged to do 'the mummy tag' however..its been a quite a few months since I've posted anything at all so getting back into it i thought this would be fun to do....xx

1. Are you a stay at home mum or a working mum?

I work Part time in London & currently on maternity leave until July.

2. Would you have it any other way?

Yes!!! I would love to be a stay at home mum. Not because i have no intention of working. But i just want to be around for the boys. They are at such a young age (7months & 2yrs old) I would happily work when they are both at school. But if i am honest in an ideal if i could choose being at home or working. I definitely would want to be at home.

3. Do you co sleep?

Nope, we have never done that. For one we were lucky with Ethan he slept through the night from 5 weeks old. Dylan has only recently gone from a moses basket to a cot as he was premature so has been fairly small for a long time. He also sleeps through the night luckily. I guess in the situation where if they are just not sleeping then it means you don't sleep so that kind of exhaustion must be so so hard to deal with then i could totally understand co sleeping but for us it wasn't ever an issue. I personally would be too afraid i would squish them in the night! I was always pretty firm that i wanted the boys to sleep in their own beds so it wouldn't become a problem down the line an they would have that little independence.

4. What is your one must have item for your baby?

A great pram!!! As for most people I'm sure it is an absolute necessity. However getting the right pram is something to really think about and research properly. I went around shop to shop looking for the right pram/stroller/travel-system when i was pregnant with Ethan. I thought i knew what i was looking for but as with most first time mums to be i really didn't have a clue. Of course i had been given advice from family & friends on brands, and what to look for, what not to look for.. But i still felt non the wiser. Many of my friends had gone through 2 or 3 prams since they had their child. I was sure i didn't want the hassle or expense of all that. So after much browsing and researching online.. I went with a Silver Cross Surf and loved it from the get go! A great pram that folds up and down with ease and one where i don't have to pump the tyres with air every minute is a dream. That pram saw me all the way through with Ethan and i have since used it with Dylan even though it is on its last legs am still reluctant to let it go..

5. How many kids do you plan on having?

I have 2 little boys and i also have an (almost 8yr old) Stepson who visits us once a week. I think i definitely want one more. Though i think if we were doing good financially and had a nice size home we would want 2 more..

6. Date night.. how many nights per month?

hmmm.. probably zero at the moment..? ha ha. We rarely get to have a date night these days. We do try and do it normally but lately we just haven't got around to it. However i do think it is important in any relationship not to forget about each other just because of kids, work, stress... life basically. So i need to take my own advice there and organise a date night with my beloved, because this question has just reminded me that we have not had a 'date' in ages..lol x

7. Your child's favourite show?

I would say paw patrol & Ben & holly's little kingdom

8. Name one thing you bought before you had your baby and never ended up using?

Muslin cloths!! When your expecting esp with your first you look on websites, in books or even from friends on what they wouldn't be without. What is necessity and what isn't. Muslin Cloths seemed to be a popular necessity! so versatile everyone said, you wont be without them. Well. I stocked up and no they weren't used. I think i gave them a good try in the very early days with Ethan and did not get the hype when a wipe was sufficient. If they spit up a little i would use a baby wipe and if it was more than a little i would throw their clothes/blankets etc in the wash. A little lazy perhaps...maybe...

9. Your Child's favourite food?

Ethan's Favourite food is Spaghetti Bolognese and Pizza. Dylan is only starting solids this week so time will tell..

10. How many car's does your family have?

Just the one at the moment.

11.  Weight gain before pregnancy during, after and now?

I weighed 10 stone before i fell pregnant with Ethan. Then once i had him i was 12 stone. And pretty much stayed there.. With Dylan i think went to 14 stone ish. Not overly sure as i avoided scales as much as i could then! The Weight after Ethan was just too depressing.. After Dylan i was down to 13 stone. And i never really lost much after that. I tend to comfort eat in times of stress and last year was not an easy year, so it never came off. But now i am feeling more positive about it and i joined slimming world in January. My weight is about 12.7 now so trying to get the baby weight off slowly but surely this time.

12. Dream holiday with your kids?

Not sure about a 'dream' holiday.. but any holiday right now would be amazing! he he. Lots of places i want to take them... Cornwall, Ibiza (the family part!lol), Disneyland Florida, sharm el shiekh and more..

13. Dream holiday without your kids?

hmm.. Somewhere tranquil. Like the Maldives.. that would be amazing.

14. How has your life changed since your baby was born?

Its transformed completely. .But in the most amazing way. I wouldn't swap it for the world. I also think since becoming a mummy i am a nicer, more caring person. When you have to put them first in every way. It really does make you grow as a person. Life is busy and tiring.. but amazing.

15. Finish the sentence ..'it makes my heart melt to see..'

Ethan giving Dylan kisses & cuddles..or simply holding his hand. Its just the sweetest thing in the world.

16. Where do you shop for your kids?

Next mostly i do love their kids range. Also Primark, Zara, Mothercare.

17. Favourite Makeup or skincare products?

Mac Lipsticks, Clinique Moisturiser (the yellow one can't think of the name off hand) Estee lauder double wear foundation or Revlon colorstay foundation.

18. Huggies or Pampers?

Neither! Have i used both but didn't think they were great.  I prefer supermarket own brand ones, not all of them are good. But Asda and Aldi ones are great.

19. Have you always wanted kids?

I think since i was a child i always wanted kids especially as i am an only child. I had an amazing childhood but i missed having siblings and never hid that fact. It was fine as a kid when i got extra presents and my parents full attention. But as an adult.. it can be hard not to have anyone. So for that reason i always wanted my own family and thought if i ever had a child, i would need to have more than one. However i do like my own space.. and as i matured and got older i did question whether i would be a suitable mother many a time. When i was in my twenties and single, for some reason i couldn't picture me having children. The older i got i just didn't see it happening..Mostly because I didn't feel maternal.. so i was worried that deep down I'm not sure i want them or if i would be a good mum. When i found out i was expecting Ethan it was a big big shock to us! but one amazing one... and i would not change anything. and i know for sure now that... i am maternal and i am a good mum.

20. Best part about being a mum?

Watching these little people grow and learn new things daily. Watching their little quirks and who they take after.. their little giggles. And of course the all kisses and cuddles we share... best feeling in the world!

I tag all to do this tag!! Thanks for reading.. xx and Happy Saturday everyone! Have a great weekend.

Kerrie xxxxx