Daxon VIP Fashion Network

   I have heard that Daxon are inviting bloggers to become a Daxon VIP Fashion Blogger and be part of their blogger network.  Those will be rewarded with £50 Amazon Voucher  You will need to add Daxon's button to your sidebar and write a short post to spread the opportunity to fellow bloggers.  So I had a look at their website and came across some items that are just my cup of tea at fantastic prices.  Take a look HERE for more information.

As you know I have recently had my third baby and this time quickly realised I need to be Victoria as well as mummy.  I'm nearly 28 and I was 22 when I became pregnant with Annabelle so to be honest not been 'me' for a while.

Victoria Before= Loved styling my hair
Victoria Now= Manages to wash and blow dry it twice a week

Victoria Before= Loved mooching round the fashion shops a couple of times a week
Victoria Now= Has to book a day slot to go Clothes Shopping

 I guess you can see the pattern...  


So I had a look around Daxon's Website to see what items were my cup of tea and suit my everyday life.  'Daxon is part of Redcats, which is the 3rd largest home shopping organisation in the world. You can enjoy more choice and value when you shop with any of the Redcats brands. We source the best quality products and offer you the highest level of customer service.'  Daxon specialise in top quality ladieswear for all occasions!

  

Ladies Expert Design Tunic with Hidden Support

 I love this, elegant but simple! I am not one for too much going on with my clothes.  This is actually on sale at the moment for £17 which is great value, it also has hidden support so if you bend over you are not showing the world everything.  Mums you know what I mean!!

I

Ladies 2-in-1 Effect Sweater-Style Dress with Scarf 

 also love this!  It reminds me of the clothes that I saw on the high street last winter but were they here this winter, no! So happy I have seen this. My mum would love this also! It is £39 !!

Taillissime Striped Cotton & Denim Tunic

This is also my style! I just love the whole outfit! I would get good use out of this tunic! This also has an offer of 40% off so it now costs £27!!

The White Company Review

Have heard of 'The White Company'? If not you will have to carry on reading to find out!

 

  The White Company began in 1993 to create a UK house Store that specialised in supplying stylish designer quality items for the home that are affordable.

 I was one of the lucky ones to be able to review for this company!!  I havn't been to 'The White Company' store or bought anything online so it was a new experience for me.

 I was sent a box of goodies which was beautifully packed, I have to admit due to having my son around that time I wasn't on the ball at taking the picture!  It consisted of a Fluffy Penguin which has quickly been adopted by Callum.  A beautiful scented Candle which has almost gone which is a good sign isn't it? A Christmas decoration and finally some Hand & Nail cream.  All of which can be ideal presents for Birthdays, Mothers Day and other special occasions.

 My favourite item was the Candle, it is the Orange Grove Signature candle  part of their candle collection which was a combination of mandarin, bergamot and orange flower, it smelt absolutely gorgeous.  I have always loved Candles but never found one that was just what I wanted, Not sickly smell, actually had a scent when burning and lasted a while so you could get your moneys worth.  I have to admit I have found that candle.  The smell was relaxing and calming, just what you need after a hectic day as well as not being too strong with a newborn baby in the room.  I could smell the lovely scent all downstairs as it was burning which gave it that homely feel.  I have got half the candle left and its been on quite a few hours when put on.  The details from the website state ' this candle was hand filled in the UK using high quality refined mineral wax to achieve the best possible burning performance  long clean and even'.  It also states that the candle is 140g and has 28 hours of burning time.  This candle cost £20 which in my opinion is a bit pricey for our family at the moment but would defiantly consider it for a special gift.





This is the fluffy Penguin I, I mean my children were sent and yes it is as fluffy and cute as he looks in real life!!  I have been sent the small penguin but there is  a large penguin also.  He is made from exquisitely soft plush and the most important thing he is machine washable!!  He would be an ideal gift for a new baby to sit on display in their room until the baby is old enough to play! He costs


  This is an ideal gift for a mummy like me for £12! It is white Lavender hand and nail cream and comes in this very attractive pump bottle which looks great in my bedroom on the side.  It is luxurious cream which soaks lovely into your hand and smells divine. The smell reminds me of when you have a manicure at a beauticians, so a great item for home use.

                                   I was also sent this glass beaded star decoration which can be used all year.  I love anything attractive and sparkly so it is situation on show in my kitchen.

Stopped Breastfeeding Today! If only it was easy!

  Before I became a mum I used to see mums latch their baby on like it was a piece if cake.  I used to wonder why some mums didn't like it and choose formula.
  When I had Annabelle she did latch on but I know now that the soft little sucks was not the way it actually feels a few days later.  With all three I have found breastfeeding hard due to the toe curling pain I have experienced.  Luckly with my second Callum I got him latched better and was manageable and fed him 6 weeks which was longer than 1.5 days with Annabelle.  With both Annabelle and Joseph I suffered badly with soreness, cracked and bleeding nipples and had mastitus with Annabelle .  I had help this time but I felt so alone as once the breastfeeding councilor had left it all went wrong again.
   When Joseph was about 5 days old I had had enough , my other half was busy with my other two, I was stuck upstairs feeding almost constantly   The reason that I fed upstairs was due to being too scared to move or be knocked due to the pain.  I hadn't spent time with my children in nearly a week and this was not fair on anyone.  I did noticed that he could hardly move his tongue due to a piece of skin, I googled and came across tongue tie.  Joseph's tongue was the same.  I sent the councillor a message explaining that I had stopped and I thought that Joseph had tongue tie.  She said she could get him referred asap to have it cut and would come for a chat the following day.  I decided to start up again as it would help him even if he went onto bottles later plus I did really want to breastfeed.  I went out and bought a pump and  breast shields to get me through.
 The next 10 days were hard but I couldn't have done it without the shields as my nipples had time to heal.  Day 1 my son happily took to the breast and was happy so I was happy., day 8 I was in tears as it was painful after 20 minutes on each breast.  I then had to top up with formula which wasn't what I had hoped for.
 Once the tie was cut it was lovely, prob due to the fact Joseph was having a sleepy feed, I thought Yes we have cracked it!  I was wrong, he nursed for most of night and following morning so I was so tender.  Again I had just had enough.  I was tender, it was taking him ages to feed then had to be topped with formula anyway.  Plus I could not do anything, the house was looking a state, I was so unhappy.  I decided to stop as I was just not having any support from my other half.
  Again the guilt and longing to breastfeed set in a few days later after being totally formula fed.  I tried one last time and it was much better, not painful but not comfortable at the same time.  However he was feeding 40 mins then I had to top him up with formula.  I hoped that my supply would up but after a week it didn't.  My son was happy to nurse and that is why I kept going.  But 40 minutes then topping up was too long.  How would I cope when my other half is back at work.
 Today after 4 weeks I have decided to stop.  I am sad as I wanted to do it for at least 6 months and my son seemed happy to feed more so than the bottle.  However I have to think about everything, timing, my health( anxiety based) and especially Annabelle and Callum.  I have moments where I would love to put him on the breast but I have tried 3 times and need to call it a day.  I formula fed my other two and enjoyed it but I didn't and will not enjoy the price!!  I just hope that when my milk has stopped leaking the guilt will go.
 I tried my best and that's all I can do!

Dear Annabelle, Callum & Joseph

   I can't believe at 27 I am a mum to 3 amazing Children.  Before I became a mum life was about me, what career I was going to do, having fun with daddy and my friends.  Now that  life has not gone but has got to fit in with being a mum and I would not change it for the world.

 I could never imagine what being a parent was like but now I am one it is the most magical feeling in the world.  I look at each of you and I am so proud of the little people you are, your personalities and how clever you are.  Even when each of you were (and are) a newborn and sleep, eat, cry I was and am proud.

 I look forward to waking up to spend time with you, laugh and play with you though I have to admit I look forward to bedtime too.  I remember Mamma saying the same thing to me and I understand why.  Being a mum is so rewarding but tiring at the same time.  When you are asleep I get the moment to look at you and think I made you, aren't I clever!

 All three of you are and will be the best thing I will ever accomplish and I want to say I Love You xx

My Water Birth Story

  Well I was 5 days overdue and that morning had decided that I was going to have a lazy day and didn't want to go into labour. So I got the duvet and snuggled on the sofa with my Callum and Annabelle. When Callum was in bed I ran a bath and added radox without the clary sage just incase it set me off. I also had a bad stomach and needed the loo!

In the bath I though bump was a bit still then I could see my stomach tightening and seemed regular but choose to ignore.

Got out of the bath at 230 and I got a crampy feeling and then another, started to time and they were every 5-7 minutes apart. It was all in my back and so I was leaning over in which my daughter thought I was playing horsey and tried to climb on my back! Poor thing as she got the wrong reaction, Rang mum and my other half and they came asap as I was panicking as my Callum had woken up.

By 430 my contractions were 3 minutes apart and I rang labour ward. I went in and was 3cms. Pretty gutted as was 6cm with my Annabelle when I got to hospital. I must have had a better pain threshold then. She asked me to use a birthball in the waiting area and see how I get on. About 1 hour after that the contractions were more intense and the midwife said lets go to the labour room. The gas and air were waiting and I grabbed it so fast! So used the ball and gas and air, my other half massaged my back when I got a contraction. The pool was ready and I got in about 8! I had felt the pressure feeling all the way through the labour but it was getting more intense but the gas and air was helpful. Then about 9 I started to push and the midwife asked me not to use gas and air. Joseph William was born after 12 minutes of pushing and luckily only had graze. The midwife pushed Joseph under me and I caught him, it was amazing!

We got skin to skin for quite a while after and he fed from me very soon with him rooting. I was so lucky to get another waterbirth it such a lovely new unit, blow up pool, lights that change colour, warm room. We went home at about 1am as its a midwife led unit but I was happy to as we live a 2 minute drive away from the hospital.

So even though I didn't want to go into labour my body/baby did! Maybe it was the pinapples or clary sage I had rubbed into my feet day before, who knows

Update on how Late Pregnancy was for baby no3

  When I got to about 38 weeks my pregnancy got so much harder.  I think this was because I had to look after 2 children who are 3 and 1 years old and as we have 1 car so I was doing the nursery run as well as dropping my other half at work and collecting him at 6pm!  Seriously the only thing that got me through was my radox bath at 730pm each night!

This is my last bump photo! It was 8 days before I had him!!  

 I luckily was sleeping well at night as the day was so tiring! If the children were arguing I had to jump up and once I fell over before I got to them due to shooting pains in my groin which was either sciatica or engaging pains! A few days before I had him we went to do a few jobs like go to the bank.  We then went to b & q and when I got out of the car I had what pregnant mums to be called 'daggers' and I couldn't stand up or walk I was crying in pain!  We went straight home and I got into the bath for relief! Needless to say I am not missing that! 

 My due date was the 22nd and as my daughter was born on her due date so I was getting very impatient! I tried bathing in clary sage oil but to be honest the smell was vile! My friend said try Pinapples so off I went to Tesco.  I actually enjoyed eating Pinapples and Cream!  That night I massaged my feet with the clary sage oil and baby oil! However the following morning I was so tired and didn't want to labour!  I did not know that this was my last day of being pregnant!!

Introducing our new addition to the family!!!

  Hello!!  I have found it hard to have time to drink a cup of tea never mind write on my blog, I think I forgot how much time a newborn takes up!! When I started this blog Callum was about 5 months old so I guess he was in a routine so a bit easier to blog.   Every time i'm about to log into blogger i'm needed! Luckly my other half has let me have some 'me time' and looking after Annabelle and Callum whilst my newborn is sleeping!!

Little Man just now :)

 So this is my gorgeous little newborn  JOSEPH WILLIAM  :)

 He was born on the 27th November 2012 so he is nearly a month old!!! 

 Luckily my other half has been off on paternity for 2 weeks, then worked for 3 days then off again on 2 weeks holiday so he isn't back until January! Though to be honest I am more organised when he is at work :)

 Annabelle and Callum on a whole are happy with their baby brother!! Annabelle can't stop kissing him and callum strokes his head now and then.  I am not going to lie having 3 under 4 is a challenge!!

 So I will write seperate posts about the last 4 weeks!! So firstly I think I will post about late pregnancy and the Birth!!!!

Review- Halos N Horns Mango Melon Mayhem Shampoo and Conditioner

I am a HUGE fan of the Halos N Horns Range and was very happy to review the Shampoo and Conditioner.

   Both of my children hate having their hair washed by either myself or their dad.  It is something I do not look forward to especially whilst pregnant!  So when the Product arrived I got Annabelle my 3 year old really interested.
  At bathtime I let Annabelle pour some into her hands and rub the green product into her hands which she found very funny!  It smells lovely and i'm sure this helped Annabelle as she was happy to rub it into her hair.  It really smells good enough to eat! Luckily my two children didn't attempt this :)
  It is kind to eyes which helped when I had to wash the shampoo and conditioner out.  I still have to have a towel on standby though.
  After it was all washed out Annabelle was very happy and said her hair was now princess hair!

  I think this is a great product.  I like that the Shampoo and Conditioner is together which helps with the ease of it.  It has great effects, Annabelle and Callum's hair was lovely and soft!  I think the price is very reasonable at approx £2.69.  It will in fact last me months as I do not wash my children's hair as much as my own as it doesn't need it!

 I defiantly recommend this product!!!


HERE is the Halos N Horns Website