Boy or Girl? Boy or Girl?

Ava joined me in the sunny garden

The weather has been so rainy and grey everyday here so not had the opportunity to blog for a while but the sun was shining today so I was ready and out! I've also been sick everyday and couldn't get rid of a horrible migraine all week but have been back to normal since yesterday so feeling good again.  The exciting news is we are going for a gender scan tonight and get to find out if boy or girl and I can not wait, so doing a blog post right now is a distraction and will waste some time.  Although I won't be sharing what the baby is because i'm having a gender reveal baby shower for my close friends and family so it will still be a secret until July, sorry!

So the outfit, I actually wore this outfit for a night out at the weekend and i've got to say I have been paranoid about my new shape last week but I think the bigger the bump grows the more you have to adjust to your new body and that means re-adjusting your closet and style.  Although I do still feel happy to wear outfits that show off my curves so I went hunting for a midi pencil skirt and came across this red stretch skirt from H&M and I was planning on wear a white blouse but every one I tried on made the outfit look too business-like so I then went on the hunt for a long-sleeve crop top and found this in Topshop sale.  My absolute LOVE purchase at the weekend had to be my new heels from River Island and I love them because they still give me height that I like to have when i'm going out but also they are so comfortable.  These are definitely staple for anyones wardrobe so I recommend going and getting a pair.

I feel this outfit is a really great daytime outfit too as it has a vintage feel to it so I wanted to shoot it today with sunnies and a bow in the hair to give that vintage, summertime feel and I cant wait to wear this again meeting the girls for Summer mocktails, although this skirt might only have one month left in it with my bump.

This week it's all become very real that i'm having a baby.  This might sound crazy as i've been pregnant for 20 weeks now but I think its because of the more obvious bump and now I feel the baby move it makes me excited and anxious all at the same time.  I have to be honest that I am so nervous about labour and I think about it all the time.  I am just hoping that my nerves become settled towards the end of pregnancy and with antenatal classes that they make me feel more prepared and in control and not make me go the complete other direction and panic.
 
Just want to finish with saying congratulations to the winner of the Cwtch Organic Teething Ring which is currently making it's way to the other side of the world to Australia, so well done Margaret-Anne.  I will be having another giveaway in a couple of weeks and it's a really great piece so as soon as it arrives I will photograph and post the new giveaway.

 

Work and after work #OOTD

White Dress - Primark 

 PU Sleeve Blazer - H&M

Shopper Bag - H & M

'Tres Cool' Tee - H&M

Lipstick - Topshop 

I am today: 15 weeks 1 day 

I didn't think I would have time to blog today but I was ready for work early so thought I would capture what i've been wearing to the office.  I am feeling bigger by the day so outfit ideas I have in my head, once i put them on, don't work, at all.  So I have spent tonight online shopping for more maternity wear.  However I do feel really comfortable in this white stretch A-line dress which I bought from Primark last week and still manages to keep bump under wraps.  I just team it with black tights and my lightweight blazer which has contrasting PU sleeves.   My hair is in a funny growing out my crop style stage so sometimes I style still into a crop shape and keep my fringe high which takes 5 minutes so more time to watch breakfast tv and have more toast!  Today's lip choice was a barbie pink shade from the Topshop lipstick range.  And then when I got home it was straight into my casual wear with this motif tee I got from H&M yesterday and stretch cigarette pants, and i'm still in it right now, chilled out with Real Housewives of Beverly Hills on, happy lady!  

Pregnancy Update:  I have been cramping on my left side a lot today.  I know its just growing and stretching pains but it does make you feel anxious with every pull.  Got myself booked into pregnancy exercise classes starting next week - will let you know how they go 

Julia    

Blueberry Shade #OOTD

Sunglasses - River Island

Coat - Internacionale

Dress - Red Herring

Clutch - Ebay

Lipstick - MAC Hang-Up

Today I kind of went to the dark side.  Well it is still chilly out there although the sun was out so it was a dress day but thick socks and jacket were still a necessity.  It was my day off so I had no real plans so just strolled into town to pick up yet more maternity clothes and food.  I am loving what Kimberley Walsh stepped out in the other day, mixing leather and shades.  I did try on my trousers today with teh aim to team it with my cropped leather jacket and white top but they made me look bigger then I am so new trouser it is.  So with keeping the dark style of Kimbereley's look I swapped it with a dress and over bum jacket.  I haven't worn my dark shade of lippy in a long time and just because i'm about to be a mummy doesn't mean I still can't experiment with different shades of lipstick.  

Pregnancy Update - 15 weeks today -the bloat has gone, so bump is definitely all bump but my boobs, ooft are sore and huge, lovely!

Julia    

This week's pregnancy essentials

         

So i'll  be heading into my 15th week on Monday and this week I have felt great.  My normal energy levels have returned making me able to do things, go places, concentrate at work and clean the house.  I only began to feel fatigue and nausea from week 6 and my skin broke out really bad which is becoming clearer with rest, hydration and a better skin regime.  

My essentials this week begins with the DreamGenii pillow that I can't sleep without now.  I purchased this when I was 4 weeks just so I had it for when I started to feel uncomfortable with a growing bump, but it is great for support of the neck and I used it the moment I received it.  I lie with it on the sofa just to chill out and now that I am sleeping more on my side with a showing bump this pillow makes me nod off instantly.  

Next is my recent face products, and I put my hands up as I usually swear by MAC cosmetics but my recent little affordable purchases have been an absolute god-send with my skin break out.  The phwoar paint concealer from Seventeen  gives amazing coverage and doesn't seem to be going down anytime soon which is great news as I am needing a lot of it right now!  I bought this Rimmel foundation after seeing a review in a magazine and at first thought it would be really chalky on the skin but it gives a great, fluid coverage and you only need to place a small drop on your foundation brush as it spreads really evenly around the face with just a little amount.  The blusher stamp and powder also from Seventeen are perfect affordable makeup essentials and I have to say that i am really impressed with the Seventeen range.  Although I can swap from MAC to high-street for some my makeup I could never swap my MAC lipstick and especially my Viva Glam red!  

Now the hair, THE HAIR! so mine went crazy frizzy and dry which I did read on blogs can happen when pregnant so I've been trying a few products to smooth my hair because it was to the point I couldn't get my round brush through to style my hair.  Some products didn't really change anything but my mum gave me this Oil Repair from John Freida and it is a little miracle in a bottle.  What i've been doing is at night I spray the oil all around my head into dry hair, massaging it into the root and then sleep with it in and when I shower in the morning it preps the hair and makes it smooth.  With the addition of the Toni & Guy Shampoo and Conditioner I have noticed a huge change in the condition of my hair and the scent of the conditioner is really lovely which is just an added bonus.  

So I was gifted the Clairns body oil from my auntie when she found out I was expecting and in the card wrote ''A few drops a day keeps the stretchmarks away.  I never used any oils and my body is covered.  My friends all used this oil and have hardly any stretchmarks"  So that piece of information was all I needed to know and I began rubbing a drop of this oil at night immediately.   It is a bit pricey but you hardly need to use any of it for good coverage around the tummy, chest and thigh area.  With the rest of my body i've been using this Cocoa butter lotion which smells incredible and softens the skin perfectly.  

And speaking of incredible smells, Tom Ford 'Oud Fleur' is my essential perfume, okay so it aint cheap at £140 (thankfully a Christmas gift) but you do only need one spray on the neck area and it lasts.  I have been a Chanel 'Noir' wearer for a while but when I smelled the Tom Ford on my friend I had to have it.  At first  spray it is a strong scent but the after notes of the floral scent soon kick in and I feel once i spray this then my outfit is complete.   

Now my last 2 pregnancy essentials this week is firstly the Baby Center website for keeping up to date with your pregnancy and having a great platform to share your feelings and experiences with fellow mums to be.  And secondly, my cat, okay so not everyone has a cat but this week she has been great company during my many naps so I had to feature her on this post.  

  

I would love to hear your comments and questions - so just get in touch below 


Julia