Saturday 8 December 2018

Tearing Up The Rulebook This Christmas

The 25th is around the corner and that means one thing; Christmas traditions! Get ready to break out the jumpers and the eggnog because you do it every year. This year though, you want to try something new. After all, it's hard to break the suspicion that the novelty has worn thin and is taking away from the festive experience. Hopefully, something new and unpredictable will give Christmas its edge back so that you can enjoy it in an entirely new way. 
SHARE:

Monday 3 December 2018

Christmas Gift Guide For All

Yes, it's that time of year again! It's Christmas time! This year I decided to be a bit more organised and can safely say that I have finished approximately 90% of my shopping.
However, if you are not as organised or just need a few last minute ideas, I hope that this guide can help you.
SHARE:

Friday 30 November 2018

Surrogacy | Another Journey?

One of the main questions that I was asked during my surrogacy pregnancy was "Will you go again?" and my answer was always "No". After the scare we had at seven weeks, I didn't feel secure or safe enough with my own body to risk it. Plus, I had my own girls to think about too.
SHARE:

How to Budget at Christmas

Christmas is stressful and also costly. Long gone are the days where a few chocolates and a satsuma in the Christmas stocking will suffice. There are a few things that I have learnt over the last few years when it comes to budgeting and saving money over Christmas. If this is something you are interested in, then keep reading.

SHARE:

Saturday 24 November 2018

Surrogacy Update | The Birth

 I can't quite believe that I am sat here writing out my labour story this soon; I was pretty adamant that I would go overdue like my last pregnancy. Although ever since we had the false early labour scare at 37 weeks, we have been on rather high alert in case the little one made an early appearance.
Before I delve straight into it, I just wanted to make a note of saying that I will not be including any photographs or the name of the surrogate baby in this post - that information is not mine to share and I do hope that you are understanding in that.
SHARE:

Tuesday 13 November 2018

Take The Trauma Out Of Bath Time With These Decor Ideas


Bathtime with kids is the worst time. If you don't set aside at least an hour to the cause, it just won't happen. Your kids will do anything possible to avoid washing. they'll distract you, put it off, and even outright run away. Even if you get hold of them, getting them in the water is like getting a cat in a box. When you do finally get them in the water, it's cold, and noone can be bothered anyway.
In reality, there's no reason why bathtime has to be this traumatic. Wouldn't you love a life in which your kids are more than happy to get in the bath? Or, if that's not possible, wouldn't you at least like to halve the effort required? If you answered yes, then you've come to the right place.
While we can't ensure that your kids start washing without complaint, focusing on your bathroom could help. With a few alterations, you may be able to put an end to the trauma. If that sounds good to you, keep reading to find out how.

SHARE:

Saturday 3 November 2018

Surrogacy Pregnancy | Third Trimester

How on earth am I already posting about my third trimester of this pregnancy?! It only seems like yesterday when the fertility treatment was underway and we were all patiently waiting on two blue lines during the dreaded two week wait.
SHARE:

Thursday 25 October 2018

Give These Underrated Spanish Destinations A Chance!

Spain is by far one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and there are a lot of good reasons for that. From the amazing weather, the beautiful landscape, and the breathtaking architecture to the vibrant culture and fascinating people, Spain is the kind of place that you can keep returning to time and time again and never run out of amazing things to do and see. However, a lot of people tend to end up focusing on the more obvious parts of the country. Now, there's nothing wrong with that, the more well-known parts of Spain are well known for a reason. However, it means that a lot of amazing parts of the country end up ignored. With that in mind, here are some parts of Spain that you may well want to check out next time you take a vacation.
SHARE:

Tuesday 16 October 2018

My Child Has Hypermobility

I recently found out that Aoife has Hypermobility Syndrome; this is something that I always had suspicions of but had been fobbed off by her previous podiatrist and given insoles for her shoes to help with her supposed instep.
SHARE:

Wednesday 10 October 2018

Christmas Toys And The Benefits Of Play

With Christmas in the not too distant future, many parents are starting the frenzy of Christmas shopping. As parents we spend an extortionate amount of money on toys every year, why do we do it? We do it to please our little ones by getting the “next big thing”, to ensure they get the same as their friends and to create childhood memories which last a lifetime. Whilst these are all excellent reasons, it’s easy to forget that toys play an extremely important part in our child’s development. Children learn through play and having a good range of toys to play with, gives a vast range of learning opportunities.

SHARE:

Friday 28 September 2018

My Child Doesn't Eat


I was recently reading a post written by Lucy discussing her youngest daughters eating habits; it quickly dawned on me that I could have written the post myself about Florrie.
SHARE:

Saturday 15 September 2018

Ashamed to Admit I Bedshare

This post has been languishing in my drafts for months now; it's been one of the most nerve wracking posts that I have published as I know full well a lot of people's views do not reflect my own. Heck, if I had read this post three years ago, I too would have judged about how "irresponsible" it was.
SHARE:

Wednesday 5 September 2018

You're Going To School!

When that 7lb 15oz screaming bundle was first placed into my arms, I never thought that we would be at this stage so soon. Three and a half years seemed like decades away, yet here were are; your first day of school is done and dusted.
SHARE:

Thursday 30 August 2018

Tips For A Low Maintenance Garden

When it comes to maintaining a garden, I am certainly not the first person that anyone would come running to for advice; I am most definitely the least green fingered person ever. I just can’t seem to keep plants alive and there are way too many creepy crawlies lurking in the bushes for my liking.
SHARE:

Monday 27 August 2018

Surrogacy Pregnancy | Second Trimester

I can't believe that I am already writing another trimester update; it only seems like last week since I was able to share my first trimester journey. I am currently 29 weeks pregnant and almost in the single figure countdown!
SHARE:

Saturday 18 August 2018

Florrie | On Your First Birthday

 A year ago today I was one day overdue and severely fed up - it was the longest I had ever been pregnant for as your sister had turned up two days early. I'd had symptoms of early labour the day before on your due date - a show and back aches. All of which died off as soon as I rang the hospital of course.
SHARE:

Friday 17 August 2018

Foobot Review

There's so much information around at the moment on how to live healthier; changing your die, improving your exercise regime, undertaking meditation etc. But what about monitoring your indoor air quality? This is where Foobot comes in handy; it can detect the invisible pollutants in our homes and make them visible to us.
SHARE:

Monday 30 July 2018

Thank You Midwives

 

Support throughout your pregnancy is essential; your partner, your friends and your family are all seen to be key support figures during this time. However, one of your most prominent support figures should be your midwife.

SHARE:

Wednesday 25 July 2018

Preschool Gratitude

It has almost been a week since Aoife had her last preschool session; in September she will be starting her school nursery and I can honestly say that I don't know how we are already at this point.
She has been attending preschool three times a week since last September and it really has been the making of her. Whilst she has attended a private nursery one day a week since she was five months old, her preschool has done a lot more for her.
SHARE:

Sunday 15 July 2018

Cheerz Photobook Review and Giveaway

Since starting my blog, I have been looking at ways in which to improve my photography skills and love nothing more than to print off physical copies. I figure that I won't be on social media forever and like to have photo albums full of memories for my daughters to be able to look back on in years to come.
SHARE:

Friday 13 July 2018

Ask A Surrogate


Surrogacy isn't something that many people come across too often, although you would probably be surprised at how common it is now becoming. When I was researching surrogacy, there were so many questions that I wanted to ask experienced surrogates, purely for my own knowledge and curiosity.
I took to a blogger group to find out exactly what they wanted to know about being a surrogate.
SHARE:

Tuesday 10 July 2018

Flora Fairy Trunki Review and Giveaway

Unless you have been living under a rock for the last few years, then I am pretty sure that you would know what a Trunki is or at least seen one.
These amazing contraptions were designed with travelling families in mind; we all know that travelling can be stressful, but add a small child running around into the mix and it can be disasterous - this is where the Trunki helps!
SHARE:

Thursday 21 June 2018

What Not To Say To A Surrogate Or Intended Parent

I understand that the vast majority of people haven’t come across surrogacy in ‘real-life’ and may not know what to say to those involved.
SHARE:

Sunday 10 June 2018

Roco Clothing - Review

"We believe in dressing up in gorgeously impractical things, like tulle, sequins, sparkles and lace"
With Florrie's first birthday coming up, along with a whole host of other events, trying to find the perfect party dresses for two little girls is no mean feat; especially when the eldest is so damn fussy.
Luckily for us Roco Clothing offered to send us a few pieces for each of the girls. Having worked with Roco Clothing before, I knew that their stuff was beautifully made and unique.
SHARE:

Thursday 7 June 2018

Guest Post - Social Media Parenting

Today I have my lovely friend Kirsty sharing a post on social media parenting - I met Kirsty almost  four years ago when we were pregnant with our eldest daughters who ended up being born a day apart. Kirsty blogs over at Holly's Legacy where she talks about all three of her children, alongside baby loss and parenting after a loss.
SHARE:

Tuesday 5 June 2018

Surrogacy Pregnancy | First Trimester

Now that the cat is out of the bag, I can finally start talking about the first trimester of my surrogacy pregnancy.
At this moment I am almost 18 weeks pregnant and, so far, my second trimester has been fairly smooth sailing compared to my first trimester which was the complete opposite.
SHARE:

Sunday 3 June 2018

Father's Day Gift Guide

It's crazy to say that Father's Day is only two weeks away; it feels like yesterday that I posted my Christmas Gift Guides!
My dad and husband are the most awkward people to buy for, especially for Father's Day. If you share my pain, just take a look below for a couple of ideas that may help or inspire you further.
SHARE:

Wednesday 30 May 2018

Surrogacy Update | Heterotopic Pregnancy

Now that the cat is out of the bag, I can finally start talking about the crazy first trimester experience that I have had. I am currently 16 weeks pregnant and, so far, my second trimester has been relatively smooth sailing. However my first trimester was the complete opposite.
SHARE:

Wednesday 23 May 2018

Irish Termination Referendum - Yes or No?

After hearing so much about the upcoming referendum in Ireland regarding the countries termination laws on the news, along with many other blog posts discussing the topic such as Sarah's, I felt compelled to discuss my views as this is something that I feel rather strongly over.
SHARE:

Sunday 20 May 2018

Tips For Indoor Date Night

As a parent, date nights are a rather rare occurence these days; tight purse strings and no babysitters can cause a challenge. Due to this, we have had to adjust our date nights - no more out on the town for dinner and drinks! Our date nights now consist of evenings in with a good film and a take away.
Here are a few ideas for an indoor date night with your other half:
SHARE:

Thursday 17 May 2018

My Surrogacy Journey | An Update

This is a post that I have debated publishing; not because I feel that the subject of surrogacy needs to be hidden or that it's something to be ashamed about. I actually feel quite the opposite - I want to shout it from the rooftops as it is something that I have been so passionate about over the last fifteen years.
SHARE:

Thursday 26 April 2018

Summer Infant Slumber Melodies Bear Review


Sleep hasn't been a known concept for me over the last eight months; Florrie is the ultimate sleep thief and she definitely thinks it is for the weak. I plan on sharing a post about our sleeping arrangements in the next few weeks but wanted to share an item that has definitely helped, especially with nap times and self soothing.
SHARE:

Tuesday 17 April 2018

Sleeping Well As A Parent

A good night's sleep is something that I have missed for over three years now; even when I am away from the girls I am always up late then wake at the crack of dawn. The days where I would lay in until gone 9am are now a fond distant memory.
SHARE:

Sunday 1 April 2018

Aoife | On Your Third Birthday

I'm writing this the night before you turn three; exactly three years ago at this moment I was at home experiencing what I now know were contractions. At the time they were quickly brushed off as Braxton Hicks by the midwife on the other end of the phone.
Little did I know that in a few hours you would be well and truly on your way into the world and my life would be changed forever.
SHARE:

Saturday 10 March 2018

Anxiety and Me

Anxiety is something that has been a part of my life for years. It isn't something that I ever really discuss with anyone, not even my husband. As ironic as it is, I get anxious even talking about it. There is still such a huge stigma surrounding mental health that I can see exactly why people aren't so open about their experiences.
SHARE:

Friday 9 March 2018

Bednest Review

When I found out that I was expecting baby number two, I made it clear that I was hoping for a girl so that I could save a fortune on clothes. The main things that we knew we would have to fork out for were a car seat, a pram, a cot, and a crib.
SHARE:

Friday 2 March 2018

Mother's Day Gift Guide

Mother's Day is fast approaching and I am pretty sure that there are a few of you who are stumped on gift ideas other than the signature flowers and chocolate. 
Take a look at the selection of gifts I have chosen which I am sure will brighten up your mum's day; There are also a few discounts included too.
SHARE:

Monday 26 February 2018

Guest Post - Making a Baby

This week I have my lovely friend Hayley from Winging it With Two Boys talk about her experiences when trying to conceive. All of Hayley's links can be found at the end of this post.
SHARE:

Tuesday 13 February 2018

Egg Donation

If you follow me on social media and my blog, then you will know of my surrogacy intentions. At this present moment, the process has officially started and hopefully I will have a positive test soon!
SHARE:

Sunday 11 February 2018

Guest Post - Preemie Mums, You are Strong!

Today I have a guest post from Natasha - she is a 24 year old Mum Blogger from London. Check out her blog for information on fun things to do with your kids in and around London. Her links can be found at the end of this post.
SHARE:

Tuesday 6 February 2018

Parenting Sacrifices

When I was pregnant with Aoife I was very naive - I, rather foolishly, thought that when my daughter arrived that my life would be pretty much the same except that I would have a mini me tag along. I knew that I would have less sleep, but I figured "hey, sleep when she sleeps!"

SHARE:

Friday 2 February 2018

Valentine's Day Gift Guide

I can't quite believe that Valentine's Day is just around the corner! It's the day where our Facebook feeds are filled with one extreme to the other - the overly gushy "I love you so much" statuses to the "Single and loving it!" ones.
SHARE:

Thursday 1 February 2018

Visiting Hawaii with Children

When I think of a holiday, instantly my mind wanders to daydreams of white sandy beaches, glistening clear ocean waters, a warm temperature and copious amounts of indulgent food and drink. Hawaii has been on my bucket list for the best part of twenty years and now that we have our girls, where better to look at taking our first holiday as a family of four?
SHARE:

Friday 26 January 2018

Tips for Maintaining Your Car

*Sponsored Post*
When it comes to maintaining our car and keeping it in check, I will hold my hands up and admit that it is all left to my husband to deal with. My car maintaining skills extend to filling the fuel tank and putting air into the tyres.
SHARE:

Thursday 25 January 2018

Antipodes Merino Review

If there is one baby essential that I think every parent should invest in it would be a baby sleeping bag. Both of my girls liked to kick their blankets off in their sleep which resulted in them waking up in the middle of the night due to the cold.
SHARE:

Wednesday 24 January 2018

To My Mum Friends



Last week I wrote a long overdue letter to my friends without children; I figured it was only fair to spread the love to my mum friends too.

SHARE:

Sunday 21 January 2018

Surrogacy Sunday | Expenses

As mentioned previously, here in the UK it is illegal for a surrogate to be paid to carry a child for someone else. However, the surrogates expenses legally do have to be covered, provided that no profit is being made by the surrogate.
SHARE:

Thursday 18 January 2018

Statutory Maternity Pay Survival

At some point during your pregnancy you will leave your workplace to start preparing for your new arrival. Being pregnant can be stressful enough as it is, but adding in the worry of managing your finances whilst on maternity leave doesn't help.
SHARE:

Tuesday 16 January 2018

To My Friends Without Children.

Dear friends without children.
We haven't spoken or seen each other for a while; it's probably been months actually. The last time we saw each other or had a proper conversation may have even been when I was pregnant with Florrie.
SHARE:

Sunday 14 January 2018

Surrogacy Sunday | How Do I Match?



Unlike the US, here in the UK it is illegal to advertise for a surrogate. So, if you require a surrogate, how on earth do you locate one? Also, if you are a surrogate, how do you find the couple that you wish to help?
SHARE:
BLOGGER TEMPLATE CREATED BY pipdig