babyurbeautiful

I don't buy myself a pair every month, but I feel like do for my little one... Because he hides or throws them.

It has taken me AGES to write this post, and I feel terribly bad - but three holidays, a child and a job to juggle - please forgive me!

But, my argument is...I needed to give this particular treatment a fair trial in the weathering stakes, from wind to sun to rain to shine and sweaty gym sessions.
I had the treatment on Monday 30th March.

Here goes....

Entering the Trevor Sorbie salon (KeraStraight Global Ambassador) with trepidation, I was immediately greeted by a handsome Cypriot hairdresser, Petros, who would be tending to my tresses.
As I waited for him to pop my coat away, I spied a novelty, a Red Velvet cookie - given my wheat intolerance, I shouldn't - but I did!

Anyway, he led me down to a little room where two of us were waiting for the KeraStraight KS UltimateTreatment.
Designed to help you manage your locks, the award-winning keratin treatment simultaneously repairs and straightens hair, to deliver fuzz-free easy-to-manage hair. Just what I needed.
Funnily enough, the other client was a new mum, and given I'd just gone back to work - and also a new mum (of Albie, now 18 months), there's a trend going on here....

During the 'anaphase' of pregnancy (the one where you get thick, lustrous, amazing locks) my hair was doing its thang - thick, bouncy, sexy - rocking a dip-dye - I was satisfied.
After baby came along, and the impending breastfeeding stage, came the 'telephase', where 60 per cent of hair falls out - my hair was parched, breaking, crying out for a new style. So what did I do? The thing most mums do when they want to regain their identity, hopefully gain some compliments and feel alive again?

Cut my hair off short and sort of dip-dyed it unsuccessfully.

Unsatisfied and feeling so terribly mumsy, the condition was atrocious, I needed help. This is where Kerastraight came in.

No enhancement needed - my parched/over-processed locks BEFORE SHOT

After the huge furore around Brazilian blow-dries and their Formaldehyde content, the Kerastraight treatment boasts low PH proteins, and none of the aldehydes in the vapour or formula of the banned ones.
Jez Barnett (I know, amazing, right?), the founder - has created this gentle formula that is featured in all the best salons around the world.
Having experienced quite a few in my time (I'm curly, and love bleach), I was often reduced to tears as the vapours irritated my eyes - but can report nothing this time around.
It is also perfectly safe to have during pregnancy and breast-feeding.

It's designed to renew dry, damaged and weak hair, transforming into into healthy, straighter and stronger. With highly concentrated proteins, it delivers elasticity, and shine that can last for up to 4 months- saving on £25 weekly blowdries - chance would be a fine thing, eh?
You can also, unlike the old versions, wash your hair just 30 minutes after - and there's also no horrible growing out period - it just fades naturally.

The first week, there was an awful stench each time I washed my hair. I thought my bin had been left in the bathroom or the cat had crept in and done something - it was so unpleasant I was worried my hair might smell like this for the next 4 months. Within 2-3 weeks it had subsided, I have NO idea what ingredient was doing this - but thankfully, it diminished.

Blow-drying was MUCH easier, but unlike past Brazilians where I could just run my fingers through and leave it - my hair still looked a little frizzy on the layers and ends - this could purely be where I'd had a bad dye-job.

I do think that Petrus gave me a light version of the treatment, so I didn't look like I had an oil-slick and unlike the earlier versions, I didn't have poker straight hair but I DID have movement - which was one of the reasons clients didn't go back for further treatments - they couldn't handle HOW straight it was!

I am pleased to announce my hair has grown from a bob, to my shoulders in the time it's taken me to review and post this - and it's much more manageable but I'd like to be able to eschew my straighteners and go without, but the bleach and ends are leaving me with no other alternative but to keep using them.

Kerastraight in full force - June 6th (2 1/2 months down the line)

There's a long way to go with getting my hair health back - but the Kerastraight has definitely helped with the majority of it.
It's a must-have treatment for post-partum, it makes life so easy - cuts the drying time and product overload and has definitely got my hair on the road to recovery.

Look how long it has grown in a matter of months!

Treatment is from 2-3 hours and from £150.

www.kerastraight.com

I'm always hankering after cool pieces for my little man, but they tend to come with a whopping price tag.
I'm used to Primark these days, so when I see an eye-wincingly painful £35 jumper (that, let's be honest, will last 5 minutes) I run for the door and tuck away my credit card begrudgingly.

Here at Bubs, we were sent a couple of pairs of mega cool Blade and Rose leggings - and MAN are they super sweet.
With a small price tag of £10-11 per pair (dependant on stockist) - so not only are they reasonable, they can make a great gift too.



Designed and executed by Amanda Peffer, mother-of-two, whilst on maternity leave (there is hope mums!)  using her two children's middle names; Harvey (BLADE) and Issey (ROSE).
Jovially conjured up because baby Issey always had her nappy/bottom on show  - they are a cool way of finishing off an outfit - and leaving feet free to roam.

Style them up with a crisp white baby gro and you'll get plenty of wear out of them (not you, you know what I mean).

Rosie gained a rabbit, stripy pair - whilst Albie got a rocket pair, perfect for my little pocket rocket- I've also spied this particular pair on some cool industry people's kids. Yeah boi!



Blade & Rose

Whenever my baby doesn't sleep well, I put it down to teething - darn teething, every time.

Wearily I trudge to his bedroom, rock him back to sleep, pop in the dummy, trudge back to mine with him in tow, you know the score - we've all been there.

However, the other morning, I had an epiphany. I had simply changed his nappies to a competitor brand.  Could this be the answer to his nightly awakenings?

Let me first say, I'm not averse to trying new brands, bargains, and basics. I'm not knocking the new nappies at all, they're affordable and keep those poo spillages/squashed packages in tact and are really great for the day.
But in the morning, they seem to be a lot heavier, and soggier than my favourite brand I have used from birth - Pampers Baby Dry.




So - after swiftly purchasing a new packet, of Baby Dry, unless it's pure coincidence - he's been sleeping through again. Strange, huh?

(Aside from the other night when we had a sleepover and he kept standing up and talking in the middle of the night as we were all in the same room!)

I wonder if any of you other mummies have experienced this, or indeed want to try my top tip?

I guess those little bums get used to the cushioning or feel of a certain brand - but Mum knows best.

Baby Dry £15 for 74 or 148 for £25

Lauren x

What a lucky little boy Albie is.
Recently he received a huge delivery of Burts Bees goodies, both mummy and baby were delighted to give them a go.
Rather than list every single item, we decided to list our stand-out ones that are used daily, or could work as a gift for someone expecting soon.



Shampoo & Wash

One of our favourite stand out items was the lovely Burts Bees Baby Bee Body Shampoo & Wash for his blonde thatch, £7.99, www.feelunique.com
With aloe, oat flour and soy proteins, it's gentle and is sulfate, phthalate, petrochemical and paraben-free. To you and I - no nasties.
I added a 5p size blob onto Albie's fluffy head and gently massaged it in. It gave a fair amount of foam, we had no tears or fuss, in fact he barely noticed (was two busy with his bath shape-fitting fish).
I then smoothed some onto his body, his little chubby arms, working the silky lotion onto his stomach and limbs, and the whole time a lovely aroma of honey filled the bathroom.
After a natural dry to hone his curls, his hair was lovely and soft, non-fluffy and smelt delicious.
I kept drinking in the lovely aroma throughout the next day.

Multipurpose Ointment

We've used this from day dot, the rich shea-butter (a natural fat) based cream not only smells sweet, like almonds, and forms a effective barrier against dryness.
Again, with the Burts Bees ethos, it is 100 per cent natural. It's also pediatrician tested and approved and hypo-allergenic.
Even if baby has any flare-ups the cream is excellent for sensitivity, so both baby and mummy get relief in the form of this non-irritating ointment.
I had this on the side one day, and a friend helped herself thinking it was lip-balm, I daren't tell her I'd earlier been smothering it on his bottom!
This long-lasting number retails around £8.99.

Burts Bees Multipurpose Ointment

This brand is incredible for both mummy and baby - and makes a wonderful gift for a mum-to-be.

We've got a lot of love for Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish. A trusted and gentle brand that stands for all things natural and botanical.

The two-step cleansing programme works by the first step: a creamy cleanse to remove any dirt and debris of the day, then the polish part includes using a muslin cloth to polish off any dead skin cells, remove the cream, and reveal softer and more radiant skin.
The cult-classic cleanser ensures squeaky clean skin and is suitable for all skin types.

Liz Earle Cleansing Steps

To celebrate their 20th anniversary this summer, Liz Earle has created an exclusive collection featuring three new versions, each with a fragrant twist on the original.

Rose & Lavender
Grapefruit & Patchouli
Orange Flower & Chamomile

The trio is presented in the signature azure coloured tin, and comes with two muslin cloths and retails for £50. It's available now.

Celebrating 20 years Skin Service

www.lizearle.com

Thank god for Jeremy Kyle. If it wasn't for that show, I might never get up off my bum. Every morning I am rudely awoken at least three hours before I'm ready, and immediately the routine starts. I do it on auto-pilot: Change nappy, let cats out, prepare porridge, give fresh water, prepare fruit for the porridge, make my much needed tea, feed/observe my little one eating breakfast, remove porridge from floor, reheat cold tea, give cats dinner and water, make toast, make husbands lunch, unlock door for husband so he can fly out and not miss bus, wave off "daddy", eat cold toast and luke warm tea collapsed in front of tv, watch my little rascal and occasionally shout NO and get up when she eats the cat biscuits. Finally get up off bum with a jolt at 9.25am when the dreaded Jeremy Kyle theme tune comes on! 

GAWD it's taken me ages to post this - yes I am crap. But you'll forgive me for introducing you to this year's hottest make-up bag must-have.

The stress of going back to work, along with many other factors has left my skin somewhat shite.
My mummy acne is back. I conveniently get it on one cheek, which merely highlights its existance in comparison to the spot-free cheek.

I've been slapping on M.A.C face and body foundation, a very light, lovely, dewy almost tinted moisturiser, with a real watery base - then mixing it with the Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow, £38.50, Wonder Glow and I didn't feel any different, I was just going through the motions - and hoping it'd sort my skin out.

I visited a lovely chum's little ones 2nd birthday and after she quietly asked me if I'd been having 'BO', nope, not smelly pits - BO-tox.

Well, you can imagine I was somewhat taken aback, but also quite flattered she'd thought my skin was worthy of a hushed 'has-she-hasn't she?' moment. It wasn't until then I realised that aside from my MAC staple foundation, the only new factor in my make-up bag was indeed the Wonder Glow.



The instant soft focus beauty flash balm is a multi-tasking product that can be worn under or over your foundation, on its own or mixed in with foundation (which I do).
Had I indulged in a facial - I probably would have the guts to go out bare with the WG alone.

L to R Beach Stick in Ibiza, Magic Cream, Wonder Glow

As it is infused with tint, and has hints of warming gold particles in it it's ultra flattering on all skin tones.
 The soft focus effect blurs imperfections, fine lines (hell, yeah), dull and tired skin is left lustrious, silky and glowing.
With BioNymph Peptide Complex - which is also found in her Magic Cream (another winner but £70 for a pot - eek) Magic Cream the compex helps boost collagen production and improve on the war against wrinkles long-term.

Now if you don't know Charlotte Tilbury, she is make-up artist to ALL the greats, having used her make-up prowess to full capacity creating  oodles of front covers for Vogue. One of her best friends and clients, is the ubiquitous Kate Moss, she even named a NUDE KATE lippy after her, a rich, opaque mid-nude with hints of beige and peach - in equal measure.

The Wonder Glow is a real must-have, it'll be a great addition over lightly tanned skin, great with foundation and just every day for a quick boost. I'm also a huge fan of the Beach Stick in 'Ibiza' which has been used for contouring as well as a nice bronze boost - it is SH-AMAZING!

The Magic Cream hasn't amazed me, mainly for the large price tag and fact it's down to its last few scoops, if anyone begs to differ, please tell us!

L x

IF there's one thing that got us through our pregnancy and left us super supple and sweet scented - it was Palmers Cocoa Butter.

No word of a lie, not a stretch mark in site and we'll attribute it to daily massaging of the rich, and nourishing cream.

If you don't know about Palmers brilliant products for mum and baby - where have you been? From their relatively new spray-on moisturiser in a can (perfect for when you're too fat to bend!) to the divine nappy cream that has kept nappy rash at bay, as well as leaving our little one's bums super scented.

We have a great giveaway consisting of THREE, yes, THREE massive bundles of goodies that will get you through 40 weeks of pregnancy and beyond.
We wanted to offer it to you to coincide with Mother's Day and all that hard work you put in - we thought you deserve a MASSIVE treat.

All we ask from you is to use the entry mechanism below, or simply tweet us (babyubeautiful) and (palmersuk) your mummy and baby selfie.
Now, we're not alienating anyone - aunties, uncles, and nannies can join to - but it MUST be a baby & you selfie - and we will pick our favourite three at the end of the competition.

Each set is worth almost £50 - it's such a GREAT treat - get involved by clicking on the following link to the: Rafflecopter giveaway.

Tweet us to enter @babyubeautiful @palmersuk 

DURING the first year of their lives a baby gets up to 15 colds according to my lovely GP. Although it's totally normal because of their weak immune system it doesn't make it any easier to deal with. Combine that with colic, teething and tummy bugs and it can feel like a never ending cycle of illness.

To make sure you're prepared for everything that comes your way make sure that your bathroom cupboard is well stocked with the following essentials, as recommended by mum-of-two Natasha Harding.

Calpol 

Where would we be without it? There was a call for action to make it taste horrible to babies as some mums are giving their children too much of it. We say, stand away from the Calpol - when faced with a fractious, poorly baby it is often the only salvation.

ColdZyme

Colds generally begin in the nose and throat so if you can zap it early chances are you'll be able to ward off the dreaded lurgy. Although you can't use the spray on babies it's ideal for older children over the age of four - and also for mums, so you don't catch yet another cold from your little darling.

Nelsons Teetha

Teething is horrible for the whole family but Nelsons teething granules - a homeopathic remedy really seem to help. They simply dissolve in a baby's mouth to help provide instant pain relief.



Bepanthen

The fact is your baby is going to get nappy rash at some point - and girls are more susceptible than boys. I swear by Bepanthen. Not only does it stop nappy rash in its track but if your little one is sore it clears it up immediately.

Rescue Remedy

Some days it all seems too much and when you're not sure what else to do for your tot then Rescue Remedy may save your bacon. It's a combination of five flower essences specially blended to give comfort from tough days. It can be used anytime, anywhere and is suitable for the whole family.



Skin Salvation

Eczema is horrible and sadly exacerbated by many of the chemicals found in many body washed and soaps. If your child gets dry skin and/or eczema you should give Skin Salvation a go. It's moisturising and soothing. I've used it on my son's eczema and Lexi's cheeks when they get sore from being outside in the wind.

By Natasha Harding

Yoga is great for women - but when you're pregnant it's even better. I started teaching in 2006 after qualifying when I was nine months pregnant with my first child. Since then my classes have grown year on year - and pregnancy yoga is more popular than ever.

By Natasha Harding, Yoga Mumma

Yoga is a wonderful exercise to try as  it may ease many of the ailments that women suffer from when they're pregnant such as backache, sciatica and general aches and pains. Pregnancy yoga includes visualisations and women can use this time to connect with their unborn child.

You will also learn relaxation and breathing techniques that may help during labour.





Yoga generally ends with a relaxation and/or visualisation so make sure your feet are warm and snug. these OM socks by the Yoga Clothes Company are just lovely.

Poncho - The Yoga Clothes Company

If you're a bit chilly you won't be able to relax. These super-soft ponchos are perfect to keep you warm.

Meditation cushion - Yoga Matters 

Some women find it difficult to sit cross-legged. If you do then a meditation cushion is useful to sit on for most of the seated poses you'll do.

Cushion

You'll be encouraged to lie on your left side at the end so will want to support your head. A cushion from your bed or sofa is just fine.

ENDS

My daughter has been doing baby-led weaning since 6 months (she's now 14 months) but we're only just getting to grips with cutlery and crockery...and it often ends up being smashed onto the floor. She seems to prefer eating from her high chair tray or table so I'm facing quite a challenge. 

It's often hard to find somewhere baby-friendly, and then there's the hope that baby doesn't decide to have a melt down - which is obviously out of our hands at times.

In the heart of Whitechapel, along bustling Mile End Road - adorned with 50's style lights, and a welcoming uber trendy front is Foxcroft & Ginger. 
Hailed that, because the family name is Foxcroft, and Quintin's wife, Georgina is a proud redhead.

Aside from having Cbeebies on repeat all day for the babies, what can you entertain the older kids with? Have you stumbled across popfun.co.uk yet?

It's aimed for 4 to 9 year olds and available on Freeview.

POP is the first channel to be added to Freeview children's portfolio in eight years, and is available on channel 125, Sky Digital channel 125 and Sky 616.

The guilt-free channel helps make learning fun. It has programmes from History Hunters, Finding Stuff Out and Wild Kratts, and it's a chance to help create those budding Einstein's but help us, as parents, brush up on general knowledge - and believe me, we're rusty!

The fun and factual programmes are actually related to an area of the national curriculum, so you don't need to feel guilty about plonking the kids in front of the TV whilst you get your general housework done.

They've also recently created an app called POP Artpad which is also free on on both the App store and Google Play.
Kids can create drawings and edit photos with silly hairstyles, different colours, textures and pencils, as well as stickers from the programmes aired on POP like Littlest Pet Shop and My Little Pony.



It's all free - so we thought we'd tell you - keep the kids amused, and learn a little while they do.

Enjoy!

We're keeping everyone's pecker up by offering lots of lovely comps this month - if you're as miserable as we have been with the freezing cold climes -  then you will definitely approve!

Our friends at Nelson's are offering a fab goodie bag of essentials from their range, especially the divine muscle soak, various supplements and baby essentials NB: we can't live without their teething granules and calendula cream.

                             PLUS a gorgeous hooded winnie-the-pooh dressing gown in fetching yellow.
                             Your little one will LOVE!

To get involved please follow us on twitter, retweet and show some love! 

                             Enter here for a chance to win this fabulous prize:



a Rafflecopter giveaway