A recap...

To say that 2011 has been eventful would probably be an understatement!

Lows:

Our landlords putting our lovely house up for sale when I was 28 weeks pregnant.

New landlords deciding they no longer wanted to rent out the house a week before we moved in.

Pregnancy scare at 32 weeks with doctors saying baby would come within 12 hours.

Spending a week in hospital.

Being sent home from hospital and having to leave Finn in NICU.

Ryan starting a new job the day Finn came out of hospital and not getting to spend any time together.

Ryan losing his job.

Prospect of having to move away from friends and family.

Highs:

A very amazing uneventful pregnancy up until 32 weeks.

Finding a great house in a pretty little village.

Finn hanging on an extra 3 weeks to be delivered at 35 + 2.

Getting to meet my beautiful boy earlier than expected.

The care of the neonatal staff looking after Finn.

Leaving the hospital with Finn at 17 days old with no health problems.

Watching Finn grow every day.

Meeting some amazing new friends.

Ryan getting to spend time at home with us as a family whilst looking for work.



Pretty much every low this year has been cancelled out with a high which is always a good thing!

 

Ryan has his second interview in January so we will find out whether we need to relocate, which is a scary but exciting prospect for the new year.

May

Teeny tiny feet



June

 

July



August

September

October

November




December



Cute pic of my pup in the snow 2 years ago!

A whirlwind of 12 months!

Love Mel & Finn xx

Happy Boxing Day!

I hope you've all had a fabulous christmas! Finn was a little over whelmed but loved it.

We had a strict £30 limit for each other as so nothing interesting really to show you, however Finn has a massive mountain of toys, how we'll get them all home I don't know! I've even entertainted the idea of flying with Finn just so we free up two spaces in the car for toys.

I've been a bit photo mad the last few days so this is just a very small selection!

Love Mel & Finn xxx

Dear Santa, I have been very good this year...

and I know I'm a little late with my Christmas List but if some (any!) of these could make it under the Christmas tree then I will be a very very happy girl.

A Mulberry Bayswater (my friends boyfriend just treated her to one of these, jammy cow!)

Short Chestnut Uggs - to replace my £5 cheapies which have a mouth

A beautiful Opal ring - I've wanted an Opal ring my whole entire life, I think they are beautiful

Christian Louboutin Black Pumps - I'd kill for the red sole

Naked 2 Palette - simply gorgeous

And if I could have just one day hour with Taylor Lautner & Robert Pattinson, then I would never ask you for anything ever again.

A girl can dream!

What one thing do you wish Santa would deliver you?

 I'm taking Finn to see Arthur's Christmas tomorrow then we are off t'up North for the week to spend Christmas with Ryans family

I hope you all have a very merry Christmas lovelies.

Love Mel & Finn xxx

GlossyBox - December Review

Hi lovelies,

I thought that after a review for any yummy mummies followers, I would do a non baby related review!

I was super excited to receive this months GlossyBox, expecting it to be better than ever. So when my postman opened my front door and left it in the porch (who elses postman does this? not sure what's wrong with the letterbox!) , I was downstairs quick as a flash!

This very festive looking box lived up to my expectations (although Octobers is still my favourite). GlossyBox had gone all christmassy on us, gone was the dusky pink box in favour of a fetching Santa Claus red box.

Here's what I got in my box

MeMeMe - Seventh Heaven Facebase

Generally I don't use a primer as I haven't found one I totally love but this is fab, instantly sinks into your skin, mattifies and evens your skin tone providing a great base for your make-up. Excellent size for a sample too. Personally I don't like the smell, smells like toilet cleaner to me but a lot of people love it!

Rituals Foaming Shower Gel - Indian Rose and Sweet Almond Oil

I cannot describe how much I love this, it smells divine, like marzipan and sweeties, so does my bathroom walls after I squirted it all over them by mistake, you have been warned! The scent lingers subtly on your skin for quite some time. I don't wear perfume any more as I don't like Finn smelling of it, so this is perfect for me.

Deborah Lippmann nail polish in ‘Razzle Dazzle’

Again I love it, such a beautiful Christmassy shade, plummy purple with raspberry glitter, it is absolutely gorgeous. It also seems to be wearing very well, three days later and I only have one chip on my thumb. I also received an extra 'Stripper to go' nail varnish mit, which was handy as I'd ran out of my nail polish remover and was desperate to paint my nails in Razzle Dazzle!

Blink + Go Mascara

Not even going to waste words on this, hate it! see previous review!

Cargo lip gloss

I'm not normally one to slick on the lip gloss but as Christmas is coming up everyone wants a little sparkle. I received the shade Serengeti which is a lovely peachy shade with a shimmer running through it, a your lips but better hue.

If you would like your own GlossyBox for £10.00 plus £2.95 p&p then click here

Love Mel & Finn

MAM Review - Bite & Relax Phase 1

So the lovely ladies at MAM must of heard my cries of desperation and sent Finn one of their newest teethers, the Bite & Relax Phase 1 to review

What it does...

Unique shape helps fine tune baby's motor skills

Mini Teether for babies from 2 months plus

Extra light weight for even the smallest of babies to hold

Designed especially for front teeth

To be launched very soon (add them to facebook to be kept update!)

This teether is from 2 months + plus and is very light so even the tiniest of hands could hold it and enjoy biting on it's textures surface. Finn is still a dinky thing and sometimes struggles with larger/heavier teether so this was great for him.

Finn's hand eye coordination isn't quite what it should be with him being prem, however the design of this teether means he can hold the handle and guide it to his mouth ( er, or his eye!) very successfully.

Conveniently it comes with a sterilising box, which if you have a bubba like mine who loves to drop everything he holds then it comes in very handy! You simply fill the box with 25ml of water and ping it in a microwave at 700 - 1,000 watts for 3 minutes. Ta da, squeaky clean teether.

Now Finn enjoyed chomping on this teether, normally not many fit in that gorgeous little mouth of his as he is still the size of about three month old but this was perfect for him. Also because he is a little monkey and I think his back teeth are coming through, he kept putting the handle end in his mouth as it went deeper to reach the pesky back teeth!

We were kindly send this teether for consideration, all reviews and opinons are honest and 100% my own.

Fear not followers who are not here for Finn, I am on a blogging roll, next up GlossyBox (yes I'm aware I said that two days ago!)

Love Mel and happier Finn xxx

December GlossyBox - Blink + Go Hi-Definition Mascara

Hi Lovelies,

I do have a GlossyBox review to do this month but I thought I would start with one of the products first!

I received the full sized Blink + Go Hi-Definition Mascara//'Longer, thicker, sexier. Give your natural lashes a stunning flake-free, waterproof boost'.

This retails at £14.99 for 8g, which is more than I would normally spend and I already have my holy grail mascara being Max Factor's False Lash Effect Fusion.

I only wear waterproof mascara one day a week when I take Finn swimming and with lots of splashing babies I need a decent waterproof mascara, at the moment I use Models Own Ultra Water Proof mascara which is a bit rubbish at defining but a fab job of withstanding underwater swims and lots of splishing and splashing.

 Blink + Go isn't a brand I've heard of before and personally I don't rate the mascara at all.

Naked lashes

Main photo//One coat of mascara//Small photo's//two coats, curled.

The wand is a quite thin and also angled to get the hard to reach lashes.

With one coat of mascara it actually looks quite good, longer and more defined however with a second coat it clumps quite significantly.

However I'm really disappointed with staying power of this product, I had a shower about 30 mins after applying the mascara and wiped my eyes whilst in there, immediately had a black hand and full on flaking with a streaky black face, not a good look!

 Definitely not a product I would repurchase or recommend.

GlossyBox & Haul review up tomorrow.

Love Mel & a still grumpy Finn x

My ears are bleeding...

I've had quite a shock to the system yesterday. Finn seems to be in full blown teething mode (can't feel any toothy pegs though!). He's crying the house down, now Finn never ever cries, I know I'm very lucky with this but oh my gosh it's horrible to hear and to know I can't do anything to help him, apart from cuddles, bongela and calpol!

I have heard there is a miracle teething powders called 'Ashton & Parsons Infant Powders' they have rave reviews but I have called every local pharmacy and none are stocking them due to manufacturing problems, so if anyone happens to be in/near a pharmacy and sees them then please let me know, I would be you lifelong friend!

If any of my lovely followers have any suggestions on other teething remedies then I'd love to hear them!

Calpol has knocked Finn out now so I shall go and finally take photos of my recent hauls and get them uploaded tonight!

Love Mel & a very very grumpy Finn xxx

An update

Hi lovelies,

I apologise for my lack of blogging, since Ryan lost his job I've had to be good and go out less and shop much less. So me and Finn spend our days playing and meeting up with friends. Which doesn't really make for exhilarating blog posts.

Because of the field of work Ryan is in, for him to find another job it's going to mean relocating. His parents live in the North West and mine in East Anglia, so hopefully we will find something within a decent travelling distance of both. I'm not quite sure how I feel about moving to somewhere I've never been, making new friends, finding a new job and having no family around but it will be an adventure I'm sure! So again fashion and beauty aside, I shall leave you with a few picture of my gorgeous boy.

I also wanted to say hi to my fabulous new followers, it makes my day when I see I have a new

follower!

I *will* upload my H&M & Boohoo haul asap, time escapes me at the moment!

Love Mel & Finn x

Garnier B.B Cream Review

Hi lovelies.

How blinking cold is it? I'm bundled up in jumpers and Finn is in a million layers and his super cute snowsuits!

I've been meaning to buy the Garnier B.B cream for a while after seeing lots of reviews but wasn't that sure it would do anything for me and it is a hefty £9.99, but I'm an ad mans dream and was suckered in after seeing the advert!

It boldly claims to be a 'Miracle Skin Perfector'. Quite a claim.

This is my normal naked, cleansed and moisturised skin (please excuse the wet hair)

As you can see it's quite blotchy and a little uneven with a few scars and marks here and there.

Now it says it will //Even tone and boosts glow//Blur imperfections//Smooth fine lines// have 24hr hydration//and give SPF15 UV protection

 I find it quite a thick consistency, almost foundation like but it does go on quite light and blends easily.

 I thought it was quite a dinky tube for £9.99 but a little does go a long way.

I chose the shade 'light' as the 'medium' was a little orange, now being half Portuguese I'm never a 'light' in anything so I think if you're very pale then even this might be a bit too dark for you.

As you can see it does work quite well, I'm not as 'wowed' by it as I thought I might be, then again I do wear a heavy foundation daily (ELF Flawless Finish). I do wear this on days which I'm moping around the house or visiting friends but I wouldn't wear it on a night out or even if I was going out in the day as it just doesn't give enough coverage for me.

If you've got good skin to start with a generally don't wear a heavy foundation then it'd be great for you.

However it'll be great for the summer though when I still want some coverage but not anything heavy.

Right I'm off to put the heating on again!

Love Mel & Finn xx

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

I'm all Christmassed out!

Tree up, house decorated, presents wrapped, salt dough decorations made, Christmas card photos taken.

All I'm missing is mulled wine and a mince pie, damn you diet!

Love Mel & Finn xxx

Squeezing in a GlossyBox Review - November

Thought that I would review my GlossyBox before I leave for Manchester!

November 2011 - The Christmas Gift-Guide: Part 1

5 products to try before your buy (whether for yourself or others)

Heres what I recieved//Arbonne FC5 Cooling Foot Creme//Dead Sea Spa Magik bath salts//Monu Skin Perfector//Nail Roc Designer Nail Wraps//Serge Lutens Perfume Samples

 I know a lot of people were disappointed with this months box as the Dead Sea Spa Magik bath salts were in a previous box, again we received perfume samples which you can pick up free at any beauty counter, also this box contains no make up.

 I feel they probably peaked too soon giving away such amazing samples when they first started and this months box was a bit of an anti-climax however I wouldn't say I am disappointed with it.

I love the Nail Rock wraps but unfortunately my nails are quite small and they wouldn't go on nicely but they would be fab for Christmas nights out. As I am a fan of Dead Sea Spa Magik I look forward to using the bath salts after my gym sessions as they are fabulous at relaxing the muscles.

I find the Serge Lutens samples quite nice actually, uni-sex and clean, fresh scent. A long cry from my favourite Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb but they are lovely for everyday wear, not that I will be repurchasing them at £86.00 for 100ml!

I am yet to try the Monu Skin perfector but I hear it's a perfect primer for make-up and the Arbonne FC5 Cooling foot Creme will be given away at Christmas as a stocking filler.

All in all a good box but not fabulous, fingers crossed GlossyBox will pull something amazing out of the bag for their Christmas Box!

Love Mel & Finn xx

An Interlude

Hello lovelies,

We are headed up North again tonight to celebrate some birthdays. Ryan and I have had a lovely hotel stay booked for us, it'll be the first time we have left Finn over night, he'll be at his Nana and Gramps house but I'm still rather scared about this!

My orders have been delivered to the in-laws so I have lots of posts planned for when I return.

I shall leave you with a few things we have been up to in the past few days, none really beauty related I'm afraid, I have a horrible cold and I've been trying to sweat it out in the gym so I shan't scare you with my rough looking self at the moment!

Glossy box arrival//making salt dough feet//Lush baths//dog walks//nail wraps//sitting up unaided//chatting to daddy//floury hand prints//

Hope you all have a lovely week, it'll be decemeber when I'm home, one step closer to Christmas, eeeekk! Cannot wait to put my Christmas tree up!

Love Mel & Finn xxx

Sky Line Pink - Revlon Review

I promised a review of this a few days ago, since then I have been trying to take a photo that does this gorgeous lipstick justice. I previously thought I wasn't too bad a photographer but it seems not!

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Sky Line Pink is a light pink colour with a frosted shimmer. I had seen a few reviews of this lipstick before I bought it and I find it to be more of a golden nude colour on myself where on most its a pinky nude. Either way it's lovely soft and creamy muted golden/pink nude, perfect to go with dramatic eye make up for winter.

And just one of my cheeky monkey on our walk today.

I'm thinking of started a baby related blog, I want to do baby led weaning and there is little information on this, and we also might be re-locating in the near future so it would be nice for friends and family to see how Finn is growing, but I'm not sure if I can cope with two blogs!

Love Mel & Finn xxx

clumbsy me

Sorry I've been a rubbish blogger!

I had meant to schedual some posts in yesterday but I managed to fall down the stairs with Finn in my arms.

I some how just stepped off the fourth step thinking I was at the bottom, landed on my feet which then gave way so I ended up like a sack of spuds at the bottom!

Luckily he was fine but I landed awkardly on my wrist and decided to go to the 'walk in' doctors who sent me a&e to check it out, I've only stretched my ligaments with a possibly tear but it seriously hurts! I generally have quite a high pain thresshold but not today. bad times. so unfortunately my typing skills are pretty low at the moment

I have H&M, BooHoo and Next orders being delivered shortly so by then I should be back to normal hopefully!

On a side note, Breaking Dawn was absolutely amazing, honestly the best film I have seen this year! We were 30mins early for the midnight showing and still had to sit right at the front, which gives me an excuse to go again to see the bits I might of missed!

Thanks to Beth @ MommaB&Babyboy I have managed to work out how to make collages, so here are our last few days.

Love Mel & Finn xx

When you can live forever, is anything worth dying for?

What do you wear to a midnight showing of a film if you're going for drinks first, do you dress up as you'll be in a bar, or do you dress down as you'll be in the cinema?

This doesn't bode well for the most indicisive girl in the world!

Love Mel & Finn xx

Gingerbread lattes....

On Friday before Finn's swimming lesson (which he did a 5 second under water swim!) we met up with my friend Lizzie and her gorgeous little boy for the obligatory Starbucks and had lunch at Wagamama's. Her little boy was a superstar and Finn unlike him was being a whinge!

Also had my first Gingerbread Latte of the season, I absolutely love them and I'm sure it'll be the first of many, sod the diet I NEED these!

Strangely I met Lizzie on NetMums on their 'meet a mum' board. You write a little bit about yourself and ask other mums to contact you, I imagine it's like writing a dating ad!

I have lots of friend with children but at the time I had Finn I only had one friend with a baby so thought it would be good plan to meet some other new mummies.

I remember adding Lizzie to facebook and then arranging to meet for a coffee (Starbucks as always) and Ryan asked me if I was going to be wearing a red rose so Lizzie would know who I was!

Two hours later we were still chatting over probably our third coffee with two dozing babies in prams.  Lizzie's little (I'm lying here, he's a chunky monkey!) boy is only a month older Finn so it'll be nice for them to be able to play together when they're a little bigger.

I'd definitely recommend it as a great way to meet other mums, obviously with meeting anyone online you have to be careful but luckily for me Lizzie wasn't a pervy man posing as a mum!

Hope you've all had a lovely day, it's been gorgeous here today, lots of sunshine and blue skies.

Love Mel & Finn xxx

NOTD - Facets of Fuchsia

Now I may be a bit slow on the uptake here as I have read so many reviews on this nail polish, but it is blindingly beautiful!

I am so glad I purchased it. Revlon's A/W collection includes 'Facets of Fuchsia' which has fuchsia glitter suspended in a black polish (so many reviews say in jelly, but it's just normal black polish to me!).

The first coat goes on really wishy washy and I was thinking that it would take at least three coats to be opaque but the second goes on really well and sealed with a top coat it's just gorgeous.

I imagine it is going to be a complete nightmare to remove but as I can't stop staring at my nails at the moment I'm really not fussed!

I cannot take a picture that does it justice and that shows up the true colour of the glitter but I'm sure you have seen the many pictures out there of it!

I have a bit of a Revlon obsession at the moment as I also bought the 'Sky Line Pink' Super Lustrous Lipstick, which I'll review shortly.

We've had some pretty drastic news here, which I may or may not blog about but it's going to mean some major changes and upheaval in the next couple of months but as the saying goes, what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger!

I shall leave you with a few pictures of my smiley boy.

Lots of love, Mel & Finn xxx

****Oh I've just seen my first Coca Cola Christmas advert of this year, eeekkkk I can't wait!****