#OOTD and 24 week update

Pattern Chiffon Kimono - H & M £9.99

Green Pleated Hi-Lo Dress - H & M  £12.99

It's been a little while since I've blogged and it's been down to painful ribs, internet being down and a rainy, rainy Scotland.  Today I am 6 months pregnant and what a milestone that feels like, 1. Because I never even thought I would get pregnant and 2. The day we found out seems like a lifetime ago but we are here and it feels incredible.  The love and support I have felt in the last couple of weeks has been amazing.  I think it's because there is no getting away from the reality that a new addition to the family will be here very soon and friends and family are just so excited.  There isn't much to report on pregnancy symptoms wise apart from going to the doctors to get a throbbing pain around my lower ribs looked at which turns out to just be the uterus pushing on my lower ribs and because I'm short it is really painful early on in pregnancy.  So heat packs at night have really helped but with sitting at my desk at work for 8 hrs doesn't really help but I'm just trying to keep as stretched and mobile as I can to ease the pain.  I've been doing a lot of shopping for holiday clothes this week and purchased a couple of flattering maxi dresses and tankini from Mamas and Papas and H&M is so good for kimonos and oversized chiffon dresses so stocked up on these in different patterns and with the help of my little sister will be doing some blog posts in the sun with the purchases.

So with a day off and a break from the rain I decided to do a blog post today using the backdrop of my husband's scrap yard, why not? It's a bit different.  The multicoloured kimono and green pleated hi-lo dress are both from H&M and will be perfect for holiday, especially with gold sandals and chunky gold accessories.  I will be travelling to Spain in 3 weeks so coming up to 7 months pregnant and I am a bit anxious about travelling so far along in my pregnancy but with it being a short flight and staying at my parents house in Spain it should be a pretty relaxing and well squired break away. 

This week I have my midwife check up.  I would love to be having another scan, it just feels great and puts your mind ease having a scan but I feel him, and he's moving away (definitely on my ribs) so there is no need to keep having monthly scans.  

Ok off to rock side to side on the gym ball and think about what to have for dinner 

Julia x 

OOTD - Hearts and Mint

Heart Print Shirt - New Look Maternity £17.99

Skinny Black Jeans - Mothercare £20.00

Peeptoe Platform Heels - River Island £55.00

Well today I am 20 weeks....I cant believe i'm 5 months pregnant already.  At the beginning the 3 months seemed to just drag and every week seemed to take forever but now it is all going past so quickly and August does not seem that long away.  So today I had a photoshoot for a magazine article on maternity and fashion bloggers and I was so shocked to be asked as my blog is only a month old.  Uhm, who knows what images the photographer uses but I am hoping it is the just the close up face shots because I looked huge in the middle of 4 gorgeous fashion bloggers, but the girls were so lovely and made me feel amazing so it was a great shoot and I am looking forward to seeing the final result.  I did colour my hair for the shoot which started with a purple fringe and mint and silver everywhere else but when I washed it this morning all the purple ran out and was left with just this mint colour but it was a happy accident as I prefer the subtle colour addition to the blonde.  For reference the dye I used was Bleach London 'Sea Punk' (buy it here) mixed with 3/4 conditioner and 1/4 dye to create a soft mint colour.  

Now the challenge is picking a boys name me and the hubby can agree, everything I love, he thinks its too hipster and the names he suggests are too masculine and common so the debate continues.  

Pregnancy to do list - I have my 20 week check up scan at the hospital next week and will be arranging the date for my nursery furniture delivery, can't wait 

I also want to say that my thoughts and prayers are with Taylor Jenkins (The Taylor Diary) and her family at this moment in time.  I follow her lifestyle and maternity blog and was so sad to hear her waters broke last week at just 30 weeks pregnant and her lovely little girl is currently in NICU.  Taylor posted a gorgeous image of her baby with her husband on instagram and what a gift!  Wishing her well x 

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