babyurbeautiful

Just a quickie regarding the lovely new John Lewis Online Baby Catalogue, which you can download from their site here.

Anyone who has bought from John Lewis before will I'm sure testify to the high level of customer service, ease of returns etc. I recently bought all the new stuff for my house move from John Lewis for this reason and as an example I received a faulty product and they sent a courier to collect and exchange it the very next day!

With free delivery on orders over £50 and the price match promise 'Never Knowingly Undersold' you don't even need a reason to shop around!

The catalogue is also quite interactive with a zoom feature, and a 360 view/video option for many items, and advice pages for many sections.

I am definitely shopping here for my baby stuff from now on.

Visit the Baby section at www.johnlewis.com for more info.

CB

Now I'm not the type to spend £70 on a miracle face cream, but before I had my baby I would definitely think nothing of spending a wedge of my salary each month on my appearance: beauty products, salons etc. And doing so was completely normal. I strongly believe that when you look good you feel better about yourself.

Stats: Sat 3 August
Weight: 64.6kg
Exercise: Spent whole day scrubbing kitchen and rest of house
Naughty food: I had a few pieces of that Dairy Milk choc with the sweeties inside! and hubby made pasta for dinner

~

Things aren't going all that well if I'm honest. We had buyers look around our house Sunday so spent entire Saturday cleaning. Inexplicably it took about 4 hours to clean the kitchen top to bottom! I felt like I'd run a marathon afterwards but who can tell if I burnt a lot of calories or not.

The problem is, all that work made me want naughty food on Saturday night. So I need to be a bit stronger. But at least we didn't crack open any wine, so that's good.

My weight has crept up a bit but such small differences could be down to something as simple as not having been to the loo, so not too worried.

My friend has just given birth to a new baby, and I want to buy them something that doesn't cost the earth but will be a keepsake to commemorate their special new arrival.

Being a fairly new Mum myself (I have an 18 month old), I know the gifts that are nice or useful to receive and those that unfortunately get stuck at the back of the cupboard (it's the thought that counts!)

I don't have time to shop around and was pretty certain that if I went to Johnlewis.com I would find the perfect gift at a reasonable price.

It was actually hard to decide because there are so many beautiful choices but my top picks are as follows:

Vera Wang for Wedgewood Baby Music Box, £40

Although one of the most pricey of my selection, this gorgeous silver-plated heart-shaped box was my top choice, as it is so stunning and timeless, yet actually useful too (you just turn the key at the bottom to play a sweet lullaby). I actually bought one of these for my nieces too, and it is great to have engraved with a birth or christening date. (TOP TIP: John Lewis don't offer this service but you can get it done for a bargain price at Timpson's! Find you nearest store here: www.timpson.co.uk/locate). The design features a raised, engraved heart that contrasts with the smooth surface.This also comes gift boxed!!


John Lewis Birth Certificate Holder, Silver, £22

This silver plated birth certificate holder is another great choice at a resonable price, and again could be engraved. Also comes in a gift box.

John Lewis Silver Plated Piggy Bank, £22 

Another silver plated choice to allow for engraving and again at a lovely price! This is great to pop in all the gifts of money from friends and relatives, maybe to put in baby's trust fund (I still haven't done this!!).

New Baby Keepsake Box, White, £14.95

I never received one of these boxes so I created my own, but as a parent there are always bits you want to keep as memories so this is a perfect gift, again at a reasonable price. (John Lewis do another box with pre-labelled drawers but I found there are personal bits you will want to throw in so that wouldn't work for me, so this would be my preferred choice.)

John Lewis Baby Hamper, £100 



Not cheap, but if you are feeling generous, are buying for a special relation, or just got a bonus at work, then you could invest in this gorgeous baby hamper.

The beautifully presented hamper contains:

• Large teddy bear with ribbon bow at the neck
• Silver plated photograph frame with teddy design
• Passport holder and luggage tag with embroidered details
• Teddy bear dinner set including a mug, egg cup and spoon
• Padded Baby's Room sign with bead and sequin details
• Embroidered photo album in classic silver and white

All the items are presented in a beautiful gift box, trimmed with a smart ribbon tie and teddy gift tag, so you can add your own personalised message.

If I received one of these I would certainly be chuffed, wouldn't you? You can get one from the John Lewis website here.

John Lewis have various delivery options from standard delivery from £3 to next day from £6.95 and named day from £9.95, or you can collect in store. See www.johnlewis.com for more details.

If I may say so myself - I've got a lovely tan.

If you managed to catch some sun in the recent heatwave, and if like us you want to hold on to it - invest in a tan enhancer.

Stats: Thurs Aug 1
Weight: 64.4kg
Exercise: weights, 100 squats, mowing the lawn
Naughty foods: I ate the last chocolate hobnob .. just to get rid of it you know

~

So I've decided to post these in the mornings now as there is just no time in the evenings between making dinner for Lucy then for us and putting her to bed.

After the sit-ups on Wednesday I felt a bit like someone had kicked me in the ribs so I gave them a miss yesterday in favour of some simple weights and other non-stomach straining exercise. Hopefully doing the garden in 30 degree heat sweated off a few ounces too!

Off to a slow start I think but as long as I can keep off the naughty snacks I think I'll be ok!

Early pregnancy plays havoc with your skin. All those hormones whizzing around can change your usual skin type dramatically. With both of my pregnancies I developed terrible spots for the first couple of months. I have also tried to avoid any facial products containing chemicals, which has made it difficult to find anything suitable to deal with my ageing yet spotty skin (I am 37! an older Mum). Currently 15 weeks pregnant I am also still breastfeeding my 18 month old daughter, which means being really careful about what I put on my skin.

I have tried quite a few really 'natural' products, but I often feel that I need something natural yet with a bit more strength and oomph to it. The MamaMio High Protein Face Care range seemed like the answer to my prayers! MamioMio say that all of their products are safe throughout pregnancy because their no nasties policy applies to everything they do. (MamaMio list every ingredient in the enclosed instructions and on their website, along with details of what each ingredient does for your skin: which makes the long list seem much less scary and much more positive).

MamaMio promise that their high protein range will deliver firm, fabulous and glowing skin from day one. I decided to try the following three products from the Try Me Trio Set (£23) for ten days (the recommended time frame for radical improvement) to see if their claims are justified.

The set contains:
• Clean Slate – aloe-rich gentle foaming cleanser
• Mighty Moisture – day and night moisturiser
• Eye Know – all in one eye serum to depuff and debag


I'll be honest I didn't expect miracles. Most skincare products are marketed these days as the new miracle treatment. I have to say I was pleasantly suprised. After only three days my skin actually started to look (a little) less spotty and more glowing! Wow! I did notice that it glowed more straight after use and then it wore off a little during the day. A reason to become addicted!

I also found the products pleasant to use, see my comments below:

Clean Slate £22.50 for 150ml – aloe-rich gentle foaming cleanser


This is soap free, SLS free etc. One tiny pump lathers up nicely and skin feels clean afterwards but not tight and stripped of oils. TOP TIP: Use bath gloves to lather this up and scrub your face! Rinses off easily. No strong fragrance just a light pleasant one.

Main ingredients include:  Organic aloe vera leaf juice, ecocertified coconut derived cleansers, Ecoskin™, glycerin, Phylderm Vegetal`C2™, Tritisol™, sweet almond oil, avocado oil, lavender, lavandin, chamomile and mandarin oils.

Mighty Moisture – day and night moisturiser

One moisturiser for both day and night is pretty useful. MamaioMio describe it as : lightweight in texture but  super-heavyweight with actives, which include Hylaronic acid and omegas and tightening proteins and peptides. I agree it is a  very light cream, and you only need one or two pumps for the entire face and neck. I think this is the main product component of the set that creates the 'glow'. Skin looks dewy afterwards but is not sticky. It has a gentle lavender scent but it doesn't linger after application.

Main ingredients are: Peptamide 6™ hexapeptide, Proteasyl™ peptide, Hyaluronic Acid, Triactigen™ , Tritisol™ , Phylderm Vegetal C2™ , Oat Protein, BVOCS™, Helioguard 365™ , Ecoskin™ , Aloe Vera Leaf Juice (organic). If you want to know what these are and what they do, take a look at the details in the Ingredients section on the website here.

Eye Know – all in one eye serum to depuff and debag

This eye serum is extremely light and I only applied one little pump around the entire eye area. I found it easily absorbed and didn't sting eyes. Eyes didn't feel tight or sticky afterwards but it gave a nice silky feeling to get rid of dryness and lines.

Main ingredients are: Hyaluronic Acid, Peptamide 6™ hexapeptide, Proteasyl™ polypeptide, PhytoCellTec Solar Vitis™, EyePro 3x™, Triactigen™, Tritisol™, Phylderm VegetalC2™, BVOCS™, Oat Protein, Ecoskin™. Again,  if you want to know what these are and what they do, take a look at the details in the Ingredients section on the website here.

For other Mums and Mums-to-Be concerned about putting nasties on their face, but in need of some real product action, give MamaMio's High Protein Face care range a try. This great trial size pack also means you don't need to fork out loads on products until you know you are happy with them.

You can buy MamaMio products direct from their website here: www.mamamio.com/uk/ or from a stockist such as John Lewis or Mamas and Papas, see a full list here: www.mamamio.com/uk/store/.

MamaMio also do a range of products particularly tailored to pregnancy such as stretch mark oil, bust fiming cream etc, see them all here.  Our other writer will be testing some of these soon, watch this space!

CB

I think Autumn Reeser is gorgeous and she pretty much rescued US teen soap The OC from extinction back in the day. All of which makes me happy to learn she is expecting her second child, a son, in November. Give it up for November babies - what what!

The 32-year-old actress talked about the news on her website Movie Lifestyle: "The pregnancy has been following pretty much the exact same pattern as my first, and although it would have been nice to balance things out with a girl, I wasn’t surprised to find out we were adding another awesome little man to our mix.”

We love Autumn's relaxed maternity style and think she looks great!

So this is it. I'm annoying myself with constantly complaining about not having lost my baby weight and I have only myself to blame. Yes, I am naturally lazy, but that's no excuse!

I've decided that there can be no more excuses, August is the month I'm going to do it. I have a holiday abroad at the end of September and am determined to wear my bikini, even if the one-piece is fashionable right now. I also want to be in good shape again to go back to work so I can buy some nice smart work clothes (yes it's all about the shopping!).

Here's my plan. When Lucy is napping I'm going to spend at least 20 mins doing something strenuous. Like lifting weights or doing sit-ups or dancing like crazy to MTV Dance. And I'm going to eat less sugar and fewer carbs overall - not cut them out altogether but just have less.

And you guys are going to keep me honest. Every day I'll do a short post in the evening with my daily weight and what exercise I've done. I'm also going to be even more honest and list any naughty things I've eaten in the previous day to shame me into not eating them again.

Admittedly, this is more for me than for you readers but if anyone is game to join me, or if you're doing a weight loss plan of your own and need some support, please update in the comments section with your own stats. I'm listing these posts under the category FIT MUMMAS.

Good luck!

RL xx

Starting weight: 65kg dead on
Exercise: sit-ups, star jumps, weights

The Babyzen Yoyo Buggy

After my Twitter rant last week about how annoying large pushchairs are on public transport, (sorry!), I was excited to hear about a new lightweight and foldable pushchair on the market.

Apparently, the revolutionary new Babyzen YOYO travel buggy has been flying out of the shops since it launched here in the UK 3 months ago.



The feature that really caught my attention is the weight: it is only 5.8 kg! This is half the weight of most buggies and less than the Bugaboo Bee at 8.5kg, which I purchased mainly because it was one of the lightest  on the market, (amongst other things.) Although my Bee is fairly easy to manoeuvre on public transport, it is still pretty heavy to lift up and down stairs at stations with no elevator, especially with a toddler sitting in it! This is even more relevant now that I am pregnant again! Those extra few kg can make all the difference!

At £309 RRP it is also very good value (my Bugaboo Bee cost £500, before accessories). Of course, you could just get a cheap stroller if you have a toddler, but it won't have a lot of the features of a proper buggy, especially the following:

The major plus of the YOYO is that it is the first buggy in the world to fully comply with size recommendation for cabin baggage. Anyone who has flown with a young child will also be familiar with the hassle of having to get the buggy packed away into the main luggage hold as it is simply too big to take on as hand luggage. The YOYO is truly compact buggy (52 x 44 x 18 cm when folded), great for planes, as well as squeezing into a car boot etc. (The Bugaboo Bee is 88 x 43 x 31).



Just like the Bugaboo Bee, the folding mechanism on the YOYO allows it to be opened and folded in seconds with just one hand, and it can then also be carried over your shoulder with the detachable shoulder strap. You can see the video demo here: http://www.babyzen.com/video-yoyo.php.

BabyZen list the other key features as follows:

• 4-wheel suspension.
• Exclusive "soft-drive" system: no need to lock the front swivel wheel, even on rough terrain.
• Reclinable backrest, removable and washable fabrics

.

You can also buy some accessories (similar to the Bugaboo's) such as the cup holder, footmuff and brolly.

Unfortunately, the buggy is only suitable from 6 months and  up to 15kg. (The Bugaboo Bee is suitable from birth.) The seat is also not reversible (as the Bugaboo Bee is), and the seat is forward facing, which is really more targeted towards toddlers than babies, who like to keep their parents in view! It is also not possible to replace the seat with a compatible care seat as you can on the Bugaboo I'm afraid, a useful feature for Mums about town getting taxis. However, if you live in a big city, you can always put the whole buggy into a black cab. TOP TIP: The new Hailo phone app has been a lifesaver for me on this front, enabling me to travel in taxis without the car seat, and enabling me to hail a cab in minutes wherever I am, via the app, rather than standing out on the street trying to find one.

The handlebar is not adjustable as the Bugaboo is, but thanks to its curved and 106 cm high handlebar, it is comfortable to drive a YOYO, no matter how tall you are.


The YOYO is available in red, black and blue and the new Grey and Pink editions have been launched and will be available from the end of July. Covers are interchangeable.



So for all you keen travellers and Mums-about-town- get your hands on this great value portable buggy right away!

There is a full list of stockists on the babyzen website, but if you want to buy online try www.huggle.co.uk
or www.pramworld.co.uk

Visit their website for more info www.babyzen.com

Currently 14 weeks pregnant my bump is starting to show, so I thought I would invest in some maternity swimwear now because I take my 18 month old bubba to Waterbabies swimming lessons every week, and my usual attire is getting uncomfortable.

I have small boobies and not many curves, used to be a size 8, now more like a 10, so was looking for something to flatter my shape. I searched many websites but ended up back at my old fave Figleaves.com where I purchased two items: a one-piece and a Tankini set.


Zoggs Mallacoota Maternity Scoopback Swimsuit £40

This was my favourite. It has a built in shelf bra for support and shape on the bust, and a stretchy yet supportive tummy panel. Extremely comfortable now at 14 weeks, (but not sure what it will be like at full term?) It is also very cute!This is also part of the Zoggs Swimshapes range. The Swimshapes range allows you to choose from a number of figure complementing swimsuits, depending on your body shape (pear, hourglass etc). I am more of a rectangle so mine flatters bust, tum and bum!


 The above is me at 14 weeks in my one-piece!

Midnight Grace MaternityPin Up Spot Halter Tankini Set £42

This tankini is so cute! It has lightly padded cups to give shape to a small bust, which is a bonus for me! It is also made from a soft, stretch fabric, which feels a little less restrictive than the one-piece. However, it doesn't have the belly and boob support that the costume does, which makes it second on my list.

I have always found that a gentle and pleasant mix of aromatherapy oils in a product can instantly change your mood, and give a sense of well-being, so I thought I would try out a couple of Amphora Aromatics products on myself (14 weeks pregnant) and bubs (18 months old). However, there are certain oils that are deemed to be safe when pregnant and some that aren't (babycentre.co.uk lists them here), so I chose to test milder ones on us both, which limited the products I could use. The Amphora website does actually have a brilliant 'safety' section next to each product, and will tell you whether to avoid during pregnancy.

My faves:

 Lavender and Chamomile Barrier Cream £4.74 for 60ml
This is one of my faves from the range- a great all purpose cream. It is very thick but rubs in easily as a barrier cream should. Helps protect bubba's litle botty from nappy rash in the current hot wether. Also a great hand cream for my dry chapped Mother's hands! (The website also says it is good for 'gardening hands', but I don't have time for gardening at the moment so can't back up that claim!) It is only very lightly scented. Obviously it is nice and mild too as it can be used for baby, which makes me feel safer using it on myself.

Peppermint Foot Gel £4.03 for 60ml

For tired, swollen pregnant feet, this Peppermint Foot Gel feels amazingly tingly and refreshing and smells nice but not too strong. Amphora suggest keeping it in the fridge during the summer months, and the cold gel does feel more refreshing than warm. It is nice and natural compared to some other foot gels, being paraben free.

Amphora Aromatics are a wholesaler and retailer of many Pure Essential Oils and related Aromatherapy products. They produce their own large range of  creams, gels, massage oils, bath oils, aromatherapy roll ons and perfume sprays.Check out the full range on their website www.amphora-aromatics.com/.

Of course we're super pleased for Prince William and Kate that they have a healthy baby boy, so in the spirit of all things Royal, we thought these Royal themed outfits from George at ASDA are super-cute. And perfect for our own little prince and princesses!

My favourites from the ASDA Royal range are this blue romper suit complete with crown motif and the pale pink slogan t-shirt.





















And who knows, if your baby doesn't puke on it too many times it might be worth something as commemorative memorabilia in the distant future when Prince George becomes King!

Visit the ASDA George website for the full range.

Thea Skincare won a 'Green Parent Natural Beauty Award' in 2013, as well as a Gold Award for a face care product in the 2013 'Freefrom Skincare Awards': so I thought I would give it a try, since I am currently vegan and pregnant/breastfeeding, thus avoiding (where I can) products containing chemicals. They also support the Cruelty Free Campaign against animal testing, a big bonus point.

There is a range of natural products for both Mum and Baby, see here for details. I decided to try the following all-purpose cream (a useful feature for saving the pennies):


Organic Coconut and Lavender Top to Toe Baby Soothing Lotion (£7.95 for 200ml)


This lotion is so natural you can use it all over a newborn, as well as yourself. It is sulphate and paraben free, vegan and is 78% Organic. Ingredients include Aloe Juice, Lavender, Chamomile, Orange Blossom, Shea Butter and Sweet Almond Oil, all extremely nourishing. It claims to be perfect for healing nappy rash.

I found it more like a light cream than a lotion due to it's viscosity, but it wasn't heavy despite the oil content. It absorbed easily with no residue. Also it didn't have a strong scent just a light pleasant one. I would definitely use this on myself and bubba as a body lotion. However, I think that nappy rash requires something a bit more medicated personally, because it didn't help with my bubba's botty, which happens to be sore at the moment due to this sweaty hot weather! I also feel that my face needs something a bit more targeted than an all-purpose, due to my combination ageing skin (I'm 37 now!).

It is nice though to use something on the body that really works, but truly has no nasties in it. It is also reasonably priced, because a little goes quite a long way.

See Theaskincare.com for more details.

CB

Scorching heat aside, summer is a fairly easy time for pregnant women in terms of what to wear. Stretchy dresses and loose tops are the order of the day, with no worries about finding a decent pair of maternity jeans or a sweater that doesn't make you look three times the size!

But for anyone who isn't due before the summer ends, now is a great time to start thinking about autumn maternity wear, as there are some good summer sales on.

I've spied some great deals on the Vertbaudet.co.uk. Check out these stylish autumnal pieces.

Maternity Before & After Dress, black, now £13.50
























Readers, if you've spotted any great deals on stylish maternity wear, do let us know in the comments.

RL xx

As Royal Baby product marketing hits fever pitch with the announcement of the naming of Prince George Alexander Louis, we have picked a few of our favourite baby products to commemorate the birth of our future King!

Limited Edition Diamante Cuddledry Towel £39.99




The original Cuddledry apron towel, invented by mums Helen Wooldridge and Polly Marsh, is on our must-have list for new parents. Designed to be worn around your neck like an apron, the ingenious design leaves both hands free for safely bathing and lifting your baby, giving new parents one less thing to worry about. Made with an extra cosy double layer of towelling, the apron towel has one side for super absorbency, an outer velour layer for softness and the diamante design on the outer layer, safely away from any of the drying action! This is a limited edition diamante apron towel – the crown jewels of the Cuddledry collection! Hopefully still available from the cuddledry website here.

JoJoMamanBebe Royal Crown Baby Booties, £14.00




These cute little slipper shoes are perfect for little princes (or princesses- there is a pink version) who are learning to walk, as they are made from soft leather and fit the foot like a glove, so baby doesn't stumble. Sizes from 0 to 24 months are available. Buy from the JoJo website here.

The Gro Company bespoke His and Her Royal Grobag for newborns, £70.00



Grobags are, I believe, the best baby sleeping bags you can buy. Just an example is the hidden zip join, and the zip going downwards  rather than upwards so older babies can't open it. All Gro products are great quality, and they have really thought about the ergonomics to make being a Mum that little bit easier.

Focusing on HRH’s William and Kate’s individual and shared passions, 60 Grobags went on sale in each design, ie His and Hers, at a RRP of £70.00 each with all proceeds going to The Lullaby Trust.  These Royal Grobags from the Gro Company are yet another example of innovative, high-quality design from the UK’s leading provider of Baby Sleep Bags. Contact Gro to see if you can still get your hands on one!

Saffron Bells Silver Anklets- £85 single / £140 pair



Apparently the royal baby has some Saffron Bells- a gorgeous silver anklet with a Thai spiritual element to them (in Thailand, the jingling of bells on baby anklets is said to ward off evil spirits). Owned and loved by: Sienna Miller, Amanda Holden, Una Healy, Jenny Frost, Michelle Heaton, Amanda Lamb, Sarah Cawood and many more they have been described as the new ‘baby tracker’ – their bells help you hear where your child is. Definitely a great christening or baby shower gift, or a treat for your own prince or princess. You can get more info on their website here.
 

 Scarlet and Argent Cashmere Teddy Bears £95



A truly bespoke Teddy Bear made by Merrythought for Scarlet and Argent. Made from 100% Cashmere,  and hand-stitched to perfection at Merrythought, the last remaining British teddy bear factory. These 100% cashmere limited edition bears are a perfect gift, or the ultimate treat for your bubba.

I always thought cuddly toys were pointless until my daughter was about one, when she became extremely attached to a couple of her teddies, in particular the really soft ones (one of which was a Harrods bear BTW! Expensive taste!)


Scarlet and Argent is renowned for its superb quality. The brand has been created by Yorkshire-based Hainsworth which is one of Britain’s most prestigious textile mills and a luxury fabric supplier to the Queen. Its iconic scarlet cloth is worn exclusively by the Queen’s Guards and Prince William even wore it on his wedding day. The company was awarded the Royal Warrant for supplying Her Majesty the Queen with interior fabrics following the fire at Windsor Castle in 1992.

Visit their website here.

As much as I love skirts, being a new mum this summer means I'm all about shorts instead. They're versatile and comfortable and no chance of accidental granny knicker exposure when you bend over or a random gust of wind catches you!

Here are some of my faves in the shops right now.

Ria Textured Shorts at boohoo.com £15




















Florence and Fred striped shorts - perfect for the beach! £10

ASOS peach tailored shorts £18




















Henry Holland denim shorts at Debenhams £21 (down from £30)



















RL xx

The sunny weather may have disappeared for a few days but it's still going to be hot and muggy this week - yuk!














I am sooo not looking forward to it, and I know it's going to be a nightmare for my skin with extra oiliness and sweat cause my makeup to slide! So today while we have a brief respite, it's time I stock up on Papier Poudres.











Now there's nothing quite like the real thing to mop up excess moisture, especially over makeup, but there are plenty of less expensive versions. I like Boots own Skin Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets at £2.66 per pack.

For the real Papier Poudres, visit the website www.papierpoudres.co.uk.

Well rumour has it the Duchess checked into the Lindo wing at 6am this morning. What a day to be contending with Labour - the heat! Wishing Kate and the Royal baby lots of luck.