I’ve wanted to buy this shampoo and conditioner for years but always held back because it’s not cheap. I finally decided to treat myself.
I discovered the brand on the Ginger Parrot store. A website with news and products for redheads.
Ginger Parrot have bundle deals for the Henna and Horse-chestnut line or Colour Enhancing line. I preferred the Henna and Horsenut as it used more natural ingredients.
I searched for Simply Redheads to learn more about the brand and discovered their new line, Henna and Cherry shampoo. Their products use natural ingredients and free of harmful ingredients (E.g SLES, parabens) and won an award.
Customer Service
I emailed them to get advice on which one I should buy. Zoe replied and was really helpful. Both henna lines were suitable for me. The Cherry has the added benefit of being anti-dandruff and reducing hair loss – neither are an issue for me.
The Cherry wasn’t in a bundle but she put one together for me. When she packaged up the goods, she added two travel size bottles from the hose chestnut line so I could try them too.
I must say, the customer service was the best!
Henna and Cherry Shampoo: RRP £14
Henna and Cherry Conditioner: RRP £14
Bundle (shampoo & conditioner): RRP £22
Review
I didn’t notice much difference whilst using the product but my husband noticed the next day that my hair looked shinier and healthier.
The Cherry isn’t a strong scent. I’d hoped it would be more fruity but it’s very subtle. I guess that’s better than being overwhelmed by a smell.
The henna isn’t strong enough to influence the colour of your hair, just to give you the healthy boost that henna is good for. I once used a henna dye and it was so messy, but this was really easy to use. It is simply shampoo/conditioner.
The bottle is quite big. Despite my long hair, I can’t see this running out soon. It is more affordable than I originally anticipated.
Will I buy again?
I would buy this again. I haven’t tried out the travel size bottles yet and I’m tempted to swap them with the other brand in my hospital bag. I think next time I’ll buy the Henna & horse chestnut as there is a bundle that includes a leave in conditioner and I like the look of that.
This was the second event of the 2018 Felixstowe Book Festival that I chose to attend.
It was hosted at Felixstowe Library and they put on a selection of nibbles. The sandwiches were really good and I got a glass of fresh orange juice in a wine glass (very sophisticated). Not so sophisticated was trying to juggle my paper plate, glass, mobile phone, notebook and pen but I somehow managed.
A post shared by Hayley Long (@hayleylongevity) on
The format of the event was Hayley interviewing Virginia about her book and chatting a little about her own too – like they were two authors hanging out. It was very informal between the pair. It made the event very personal as they told us about their books and what inspired them to write these stories.
Afterwards, we got to mingle and I had a wonderful inspiring chat with Virginia.
More about Hayley and her new book “Being a girl”.
Hayley was inspired to write a book that gives teen girls advice on how to survive puberty, however, there are lots of useful tips that would benefit women of all ages. She describes her book at ‘How to make life easier’.
Hayley showed us some pages from her book with illustrations by Gemma Correll (famous for Pugs, not Thugs) and that some text is small like a whisper and some text is big and loud. It looks like a fun book by about an awkward subject.
I was delighted to hear that Hayley is a local girl and went to school here. It is really inspiring to hear that someone with similar roots made it and that it is possible.
Writing about such a personal topic was quite scary to publish as she wasn’t sure what reaction she would get. Of all the complaints she envisioned, she had not anticipated people would complain about a tampon on the cover.
I didn’t buy her book today but if it is still around when my little girl is starting high school it sounds like the kind of empowering book I would want her to read. She has also written other stories that are based around the Suffolk area that sound really good.
More about Virginia and her new book “Who Runs The World”.
Virginia is a very passionate woman who talked about how much the world has changed in the past 100 years for women, like being able to vote and how she feels there is still more to be achieved. She discussed the recent equal pay success but that she thinks the next step is to change the culture and is supportive of the ‘me too’ movement. It’s not just about changing the law but about changing the way we think towards each other about what is right and wrong.
The idea for this book was sparked whilst chatting to someone studying Tess of the d’Urbervilles at school. She has also studied this book 30 years ago. I’ve never read the book so I had to try to follow what it was about by what she was saying but it sounds as if the main character is repressed by a man and although she liked it in school she now looks back and sees how wrong it is.
Virginia’s imagination then began exploring the idea of a world where women were in control and how this comes about. She didn’t want to simply switch society over, she wanted to create something new. Then she came up with the idea of a virus that only affects those with the Y chromosome.
Killing off all the men made me giggle. It made me think about a warning I read once about why you should never piss off a writer. I couldn’t find the quote online so I made my own (see image above) which captures the gist of it. Virginia doesn’t want men to die but this quote makes me feel there are few men that may have made her virus deserving list.
Virginia is very animated when she speaks, especially doing typing hands when talking about writing. It made her a very likeable person to listen to. She told us about how difficult writing this novel was as she kept worrying about what people would think and if she has portrayed women without men’s influence in their life correctly.
She questions how gender is portrayed and spoke about how strong women are always made out to be masculine and asks why this is. Why can’t women be allowed to be strong and still accepted as a woman?
Virginia likes to make people think “How do you want the world to be different” and is often impressed at school visits how much the children are aware of what is wrong with the world and how they want to change it.
After the interview there was time for us to eat some more food, buy the books and chat to the authors.
I waited patiently and then had a lovely chat with Virginia. I asked her about whether people had judged her for writing SciFi. Most people I know, judge me for writing fantasy. She was very encouraging about writing what you love and never giving up.
I asked her about how long it took her to find the right agent. She told me that a few years ago she had been writing scripts and had an agent but when she wrote The Rain she found a publisher quickly and was picked up by an agent too. She told me never to take rejections personally and to keep trying. She also pointed out that self publishing has come a long way and especially for Sci-Fi and Fantasy it can really expand the market for writers.
She encouraged me to find local writers groups as these can be really useful to critique your work. Another lady overheard us talking and introduced herself. She does a leisure learning course at a local college on Creative Writing and encouraged me to come along and meet the other students who often form their own group once the course is complete.
I bought Who Runs The World and Virginia signed it and wrote a nice message to me inside to encourage me to never give up.
The invitation to be a Naty Ambasador came up on Instagram and the timing couldn’t have been better as I was looking at my nappy options.
Anyone can sign up to become an ambassador and there is no obligation to buy their products. However, to gain the rewards of being an ambassador you will need to spend money as it is in the form of generous discounts. Here is what you get:
65% off their diaper bag (full of products to start you off)
10% off your first order
Free shipping when you buy two or more products
Quarterly exclusive limited offers for ambassadors only
I signed up and this is what I received:
Diaper bag (changing bag to UK residents):
Diaper bag (with free products): RRP £79, ambassador price £35
The bag
I don’t know the individual price of the bag but it is:
GOTS certified organic cotton
Internal pockets for everything
Stroller attachable
The bag is a dark Khaki green canvas style material. The clasp slide through a loop so will be quick to open when you need something inside. It feels of good quality.
The stroller attachment is on a Velcro loop. You could use it to attach thinks you don’t want to lose, like car keys, and tucking it inside.
Internally there are nine pockets, labelled up to help with organising the contents. There is a pocket for your mobile, sunglasses, nappies, food, nappy bags, wipes, wallet, clothes and bottle. I’ve not tried out the pockets yet to see if they are big enough. The food one looks small, perhaps it’s only intended for cutlery and bibs. There appears to still be a decent amount of space in the middle.
To start you off, the bag comes with the following products:
The nappies: RRP £6.25, free with diaper bagThese nappies are what inspired the brand 22 years ago! Landfill is full of plastic nappies that can’t biodegrade and are a real problem. In addition, mainstream nappies are full of harmful chemicals. Naty devised a nappy that only uses natural ingredients and is gentle to your babies delicate skin and biodegradable! Rash cream: RRP £5.15, free with diaper bag I think you can see from the picture all the reasons that make this nappy cream special. There is a long list of no nasties. It is a certified natural and organic product. Once baby is here, I probably won’t use this right away as I try to put off putting any products on my baby’s skin as long as possible. It will be handy to keep – I remember when Noah was teething, he got sore. I’m sure I’ll need something for baby number two when that happens and this product ticks all my ethical boxes. Baby wipes: RRP £2.95, free in diaper bag These sensitive (unscented) wipes are safe to use on a newborn. However, I will use cotton wool and water for as long as I possibly can. I will pack this is my changing bag in case I’m somewhere that I can’t do that. These wipes are also environmentally friendly as they are biodegradable. They were the first brand to be Vincotte certified which is the highest standard for renewable raw ingredients and very difficult to achieve. There is a good article by Thames21 about how wet wipes are polluting our rivers and contributing to the micro plastics problem. Click here to read the environmental impact of using mainstream wipes over an eco alternative like Naty. Magazine and crown: price unknown In the bag is a magazine all about the brand. It tells the story of why it began its mission 22 years ago to develop a brand that is kind to children but also the environment. It details all the innovative products they’ve added over the years and it’s turns out that they do a lot more than just nappies. There’s a double page spread detailing all the certification and awards they have achieved (Vincotte, SSNC, FSC, Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association, GOTS) to prove their eco status. The crown is a little cardboard for your little prince/princess and printed on it says ‘King of Nature’.
With Noah, I rarely used nappy bags. I would use the sticky tabs to fold the nappy up and make a sealed parcel and put straight in the bin. Sometimes, there wasn’t a bin and I had to take my stinky parcel with me.
I don’t like nappy bags as they are more plastic waste and another layer that’s filling landfill.
When I saw that Naty had a biodegradable alternative, I was keen to buy. I will be selective about when I use them (i.e. a real stinker and no bin nearby). I’m pleased they can biodegrade and I feel better about using these.
Would I recommend?
The products certainly meet all my desires where the environment is concerned. I feel happy about using this brand on my baby. The little lady hasn’t arrived yet so she’s not tested them out but I have high hopes these will get repurchased.
Naty has a subscription service that allows 15% off and is for all customers (ambassador or not).
I think the benefits of being a Naty ambassador are awesome. I’m glad I signed up and would recommend it to anyone interested in supporting or trying out an eco friendly brand.
I’m not going to post an update every day as I think that will be too much, but I thought every 5 days would be a nice spacing. Here is how it is going…
I only discovered that NaNoWriMo can be done in July (not just November) the night before it was due to start. I quickly created my account and set my goal. You can click here to see my post about this.
My goal is to write 25k to finish my novel titled Glide. I’ve called the project Diamond In The Sky as this is what I am considering renaming the novel as. Here’s how I am getting on towards the challenge.
Day 1
To achieve 25k, Camp NaNo suggested my daily goal be 807 words. I was very pleased when I kicked off with 806 words.
It was a fun chapter to start with involving the battle where Kiara loses her soul and becomes a crow.
Day 2
I achieved 442 words which wasn’t as great as I hoped but it was the first day back at work and I was shattered when I got home.
It’s not so much the word count I was disappointed with but with what I wrote. This chapter was the first time Kiara got to fly. For something so exciting I think the chapter needs more to it. When I come to edit, I think I’ll spend a bit of time improving this part.
Day 3
Today, I went to my first hypnobirth class and returned home so chilled out, I could barely move. I couldn’t write, I couldn’t do anything but be relaxed. I think everyone should do the course (pregnant or not). We live in a busy world and learning to find your zen is crucial.
Sadly, the result was a terrible word count of zero. On a plus note, I wrote some notes on what needs to happen in the story to give myself some focus.
Day 4
I wanted to make up for skipping yesterday so despite a hard day at work I got in front of the keyboard and added a further 1,973 (the best word count so far!). My focus notes really helped me get started which saved time and got me writing. Perhaps, day 3 was more productive than I realised.
Day 5
There is no denying that I’m tired now. I went to work wearing odd shoes (one navy, one black). In my defence, my bump is so big now, I can’t see my feet when I am slipping on my shoes. At least they were the same style. I would show you a pic but my feet look awful, so swollen, like trolls feet.
When I got home, I tried to put my feet up but my little boy wasn’t himself. He had this foul eggy burps and I thought he was going to be up all night being sick. I decided it best to conserve my energy and go to bed early. In the end, he was only up twice to use the loo but no sickness – phew.
Reflection
The first 5 days has gone okay. I would like to have done better but I am fighting against my body and juggling my responsibilities. Now is the weekend, I’m hoping to get in front of the keyboard, get ahead and set a new best. I’ll let you know how I get on by day 10.
Personally, I would like to achieve the challenge early incase my baby comes early.
Are you doing the challenge? How are you getting on?
Skin Organics Clean Beauty is a subscription box with a selection of non-toxic, cruelty-free, organic and natural products. These may be skincare, body care or beauty products. Their aim is to help you discover clean, green and cruelty-free products and brands. They dispatch on 20th of the month.
Cost: £19.00 (+£3.95 P&P) subscription, UK
What was in my box?
Hydrate
This months theme is Hydrate. Inside this box are six products.
The card has details about all the products and discount codes if you decide to buy.
Sofia Latif: Facial Oil (sheet lists price as £20.00)
This product was shortlisted for the Free From Skincare Awards 2018. This is a night oil that you can use to massage you cleansed face before bed and lift your senses. You can also add a drop to your morning moisturizer.
I have got a lot of facial oils at the moment but I will try it out before the end of the month so I can let you know how I got on with it.
Bowe Organics: Organic Lash Oil (sheet lists price as £19.99)
This product was also shortlisted for the Free From Skincare Awards 2018. You massage the oil into clean dry lashes and it helps them become thicker and longer.
It sounds very promising. I will need to get using this right away as I’ve booked in for a lash tint and lift at the end of the month and I’m not sure I can use it after that.
The Cosy Cottage: Mango Nutter & Lemon Foot Balm (sheet lists price as £5.00)
An intense foot balm to smooth and hydrate feet with mango butter, coconut oil, aloe vera and lemon oil.
I’m hoping this smells so good that I can entice my husband into giving me a foot rub *fingers crossed*.
Lucidlure: Allava Hair Mask (sheet lists price as £5.50)
This hair mask is suitable for all hair types. You can either leave it on for 2 hours or over night for a deep condition.
I have never used a hair mask before. I’m excited to see how I get on and whether this is something I should add to my beauty regime.
Refreshing Peppermint Facial Mist (sheet lists price as £4.25)
This is a floral water for refreshing your face throughout the day to pick you up when feeling sluggish in the heat.
I recently bought the Naturismo limited edition box which included Odacite, black Mint Cleanser. I’ve found the cleanser to be an amazing refreshing way to start the day and love the minty smell. That’s why I think I am going to get on well with this facial mist. Plus, it is just what I need in this hot weather and being heavily pregnant.
Peppermint & Lemongrass Pulse Point Oil (sheet lists price as £4.25)
This is for sharpening your senses and to treat headaches. Also helps treat cold or flu, jet lag, and combat tiredness and stress. Simply apply to pulse points.
This sounds really good and just what I need as I am finding it increasingly hard to stay awake at work by the afternoon – I am counting down the days to maternity leave (24 July – not long now).
Would I recommend?
Yes, another amazing selection of high quality products and by brands I’ve not heard of before.
I’m keen to use the Bespoke Aroma products and can’t believe how affordable they are. I’m looking forward to using the foot butter. I’ve never used a hair mask or lash oil, so I am unsure how I’ll get on with those. I never would have thought to buy them. My bathroom cabinet is full of facial oil, I doubt I’ll get around to using this one this month.
All the products meet the promise of clean, green and cruelty-free – so if that’s something you desire, this is a great box for you.
Reflect on previous box
I’ve had a month to use the products I received and share my thoughts.
This is how I got on using the products from my April box:
Sadly, I have been a bit stressed at work and returning home too exhausted to even pamper myself which has resulted in some products not getting used as expected. In addition, the past two weekends my little boy has been ill which steals my time and energy. Hopefully, June will be a better month and I’ll find a little bit of ‘me’ time.
A.S Apothecary: Wild Beauty Balm (website lists price at £42 for 30mls & sheet lists price as £21.00)
This has easily been my favourite product in this box. It is quite pricey so I am not sure if I will be able to afford it on maternity leave but it definitely will be on my wish list.
Just Be Botanicals: Loved Aromatherapy Chocolate (website & sheet lists price as £2.75)
I knew right away that this wouldn’t be for me as I don’t enjoy the bitter taste of dark chocolate. However, it is the most beautiful chocolate I have ever seen. It has rose petals within the bar and looks very elegant.
I’m going to share give it to my mum (she won’t mind that I had a little nibble). She’s not usually a chocolate person but does indulge sometimes in dark chocolate, plus, I need to find out how her holiday went.
Isla Apothecary: Neroli Body oil (website lists price as £32 for 100mls & sheet lists price as £4.50)
I haven’t used this. I put it in my hospital bag as it is a handy travel size bottle. I’m sure it will be lovely after my post birth shower.
Bodhi & Birch: Desert Rose Facial Oil (website lists price as £38 for 15mls and sheet lists price as £9.95)
I’ve just got too many face oils at the moment that I haven’t had a chance to use this.
Lucky Cloud: Nourishing Cleansing Balm (website and sheet lists price as £8.00)
This is the sort of cleanser I do really love but I’ve got a few cleansers on the go at the moment so I’ve decided to save this one for later in the year. I’m afraid I haven’t tried it out.
Roques O’Neil: Himalayan Detox Bath Salts (website and sheet lists price as £10.00 travel size)
A salt bath is very healing so this is in the draw in my bathroom ready for a relaxing bath when I return from hospital. I remember feeling very sensitive after delivering my son and a salt bath did help soothe and make me feel better.
Parents with children aged 2 to 6 years old were able to drop in between 10am and 12noon to try out the Arty Mouse range. This is ideal for their age group.
This was a free event (no ticket needed). However, the books were available to buy at half price and I couldn’t resist.
Representatives of Arty Mouse (I think from Top That Publishing) and volunteers of Felixstowe Book Festival, had prepared tables with different activities for the children to try. The children were able to move freely between the tables.
Here is a pic of Noah trying out their Arty Flashcards. These cards enable children to practice their writing and develop their reading skills.
Afterwards, children were rewarded with a certificate and some Haribo sweets. Sadly, I left behind Noah’s certificate and drawing of a cat, although, I think I would have been in more trouble with him if I had lost the sweets (luckily I put them in my bag).
The Arty Mouse products are a little bit special and make lovely gifts (especially the box kit books). I told Noah he could have two for the summer but the box ones I’m saving for his birthday and Christmas. He was very good about me taking them away as I could tell he wanted them most.
Noah was excited to get started in his book right away and really loved the themes in the book. He’s very into anything with wheels and robots are trending with him at the moment.
As I mentioned earlier, I am already a fan of Arty Mouse after discovering the fabulous books during last years Felixstowe Book Festival. I can’t believe I haven’t written a review of those we bought last year and I will make up for that later this month.
So, firstly, I don’t mind that some of the maternity/nursing outfits are modelled by someone who isn’t pregnant as the outfit should be for during pregnancy and afterwards. In fact, I think it would be useful if these outfits were shown on a pregnant woman and a nursing woman to show how it looks at both stages.
My gripe is that I don’t believe any of these models are pregnant (the ones with bumps) or nursing (the ones without bumps). Everyone I know who is about to have a baby or just had one, have massive milk jugs ready for their hungry newborn. Even women who usually describe themselves as flat chested!
These models have lovely perky pre-pregnancy boobs like women who have never had a baby. It has led to disappointment when I have tried outfits on as they just don’t fit. Rather than sulk that my hunt for the right dress goes on, I decided to share the pics of me trying on the dresses.
This peach dress looks classy and sophisticated on the model. It has a lift flap to access for breastfeeding. I like the colour and the satin ribbon that gives it something extra. I’m not keen on having sleeves in the summer. I wasn’t keen that under the flap the material was gaping and caused an unattractive crease. My husband thought I looked like a nun. I sent this back.
This is the prettiest nursing summer dress I have seen. On the model, I think it barely looks like a nursing dress. It’s a style I’d love for summer every year and I love pastel blue.
I’m not a ‘frills’ girl and certainly not after this – they were everywhere. The clasp at the bust was gaping. I think it needed a modesty panel underneath to take into account that it may gape. The blue had a grey tinge to it and wasn’t as pretty as the advertised picture.
The gaping made it feel tarty and not pretty. I sent this dress back.
It looks so pretty on the model and a beautiful light summer staple that you could easily dress up or down for multiple occasions. It could even be worn smart to the office in the summer.
This dress is terribly creased and I think it’s the sort of material that creases easily. I doubt I’ll have time to iron and do a school run with a newborn in September. The buttons are just decoration so it is not suitable for breastfeeding post pregnancy. In addition, the bust was too small and you can see the fabric straining in the photo – very uncomfortable.
The model looks like a young version of me. I think everyone loves when they see a model similar to their own colouring as you can instantly tell if an outfit would suit you or not. However, she doesn’t look pregnant or like she’s just had a baby…
Lilac is a colour that isn’t around much in the shops but is ever so pretty. I bought this dress as something casual to wear but it fit and looked the best out of all the designs and was the cheapest.
I pulled the drawstring tight above my bump but when the baby is here and I am feeding, I will wear it loose like the model. I’m hoping the loose style will be flattering on my post-pregnancy body. I kept this dress.
The hunt goes on…
Although I kept the H&M lilac dress, it wasn’t quite what I wanted. I’ve booked a photo shoot for when the baby is here and I wanted a dress for a nice family picture but one I can feed and wear every day afterwards.
The lilac dress is perfect for summer feeding and I think teamed with leggings and a cardigan I can wear it through the cooler months too, but it is too casual looking for the shoot.
Please let me know if you see a dress you think I should try? I’m trying to avoid all the patterns and flowery styles and I don’t want to spend too much.
NB: I am 34 weeks pregnant in these pictures. Although, on Instagram, I put ’36 weeks’ as I was thinking ‘just 6 weeks to go’. Silly baby brain.
Shopping for maternity/nursing clothes
The second-half of this article is to help you out shopping. It will cover what you need to buy and when and the best places to buy. Many high street stores don’t cater to pregnant or nursing women.
You can try looking for regular clothing and adapting it for your changing body like stretchy fabrics or straps that come down easily. Button tops or wrap tops that you could still nurse in. If you are ordering regular fitting clothes you will likely need to buy larger than your pre-pregnancy size.
If you wish to buy actual maternity/nursing clothes then you will probably have to shop online as the high street is limited or nonexistent. If buying from this range, order in your pre-pregnancy size.
What you need for the stages
First trimester (up to the end of week 12)
From early on, especially if this isn’t your first pregnancy, you will feel bigger. I felt like I was constantly bloated and nothing fit comfortably. Plus, I wasn’t ready to tell colleagues so I needed to hide the little bump.
I stocked up on clothes from Primark in a size or two bigger and wore loose-fitting tops. I opted to wear anything with a stretch like leggings or joggers.
The only maternity clothes I bought were some staple pieces from George (Asda), such as:
Maternity Tapered Stretch Trousers: RRP £8 (a bargain for work)
Maternity Over Bump Skinny Jeans: RRP £14 in black (I returned later to buy again in blue)
Maternity V-Neck Camisole: RRP £7 in navy, black and blue
Maternity Nursing Pyjamas Short Set: RRP £15 (these will last me from bump and beyond)
Racer Back Maternity Tankini Top: RRP £12.50 (I also bought the bottoms but can’t remember the price)
Strappy Lace Trim Comfort Bra/Comfort bra: RRP £6 (black and white)
20 Denier Maternity Cooling Tights: RRP £3
I matched them up with the things I could still fit into from my wardrobe. At this stage, your boobs are growing so you ought to wear bras without underwire. I wore sports bras, the cotton cami style bras from George and Groupon.
NB: Later in pregnancy, I had to shorten the straps on the V-neck camisole top as maternity bras come up high. I wish they’d put adjusters on the straps.
Second trimester (week 13 to end of week 27)
This is when you start to sport a noticeable bump. By the end of this trimester, people may even feel you show enough that they are able to comment on your beautiful bump. If you’ve told people, you’ll likely want to wear clothes that show it off.
I was lucky enough to go with a friend on a shopping trip around Lakeside. I got measured in Debenhams but bought my bras from Marks & Spencers. I got nursing bras so that I could use them after my pregnancy too.
The first shop I bought maternity clothes from was Top Shop but the store I went crazy in, for their brilliant range of maternity (and nursing clothes) was H&M.
However, H&M Lakeside had only one changing room, the store was boiling hot in March and there was nowhere for the pregnant women to sit who were waiting!
MAMA 2-pack nursing tops £17.99 ( I bought a few packs)
MAMA 2-pack t-shirts £12.99
MAMA Nursing dress £24.99 (suitable to wear to work too)
MAMA Floral pattern T-shirt £12.99
I really wanted to buy more but maternity bras are very expensive so my shopping trip had already exceeded my budget & usually I’m really good at not overspending.
In these final few weeks, I am feeling very big. Most pre-pregnancy clothes no longer fit with the exception of the odd loose maxi dress or stretchy maxi skirt. Even non-maternity leggings press into my bump.
I resent buying something that I can’t wear past pregnancy as I don’t have long left. I don’t want a dress that will cling to my bump if I’ve had the baby. I plan to breastfeed so I’d rather invest in nursing wear although choices are very limited. I have found ASOS to have the best range for maternity/nursing clothes.
I’ve also found a very basic store online that sells nursing clothes at affordable prices called Happy Mama. They also sell delivery gowns. I plan to order some pieces from their site next month for my hospital bag.
I bought a dress from Mamalicious for my sister’s 10y wedding party but it didn’t arrive in time. They said it would take 3 to 4 days standard delivery but it took 10 days! I complained and returned the dress and they refunded the cost plus P&P.
Where to buy
These are the stores I found best for clothing during my pregnancy:
ASDA – George
Top Shop
H&M
ASOS
Boohoo
Happy Mama
Mamalicious
Seraphine
Where are your top places to buy maternity/nursing wear?
When I attempted NaNoWriMo back in November 2017 I blogged 5 tips to help you achieve. The only thing I’m doing different this time is my goal is 25k words and I’m going to use Google Docs so I can write anywhere! If you’d like to read my tips, please click here.
What I learnt from failing
Well November 2017 was a very challenging month for me and I didn’t achieve NaNoWriMo despite my top tips. November is always busy month for me but last year’s November was awful!
I don’t think you should see failure as a reason to give up. It’s a chance to learn and grow and become even better. If you’d like to learn from my mistakes, please click here.
These nappies are what inspired the brand 22 years ago! Landfill is full of plastic nappies that can’t biodegrade and are a real problem. In addition, mainstream nappies are full of harmful chemicals. Naty devised a nappy that only uses natural ingredients and is gentle to your babies delicate skin and biodegradable! Rash cream: RRP £5.15, free with diaper bag 
I think you can see from the picture all the reasons that make this nappy cream special. There is a long list of no nasties. It is a certified natural and organic product. Once baby is here, I probably won’t use this right away as I try to put off putting any products on my baby’s skin as long as possible. It will be handy to keep – I remember when Noah was teething, he got sore. I’m sure I’ll need something for baby number two when that happens and this product ticks all my ethical boxes. Baby wipes: RRP £2.95, free in diaper bag 
These sensitive (unscented) wipes are safe to use on a newborn. However, I will use cotton wool and water for as long as I possibly can. I will pack this is my changing bag in case I’m somewhere that I can’t do that. These wipes are also environmentally friendly as they are biodegradable. They were the first brand to be Vincotte certified which is the highest standard for renewable raw ingredients and very difficult to achieve. There is a good article by Thames21 about how wet wipes are polluting our rivers and contributing to the micro plastics problem. Click 
In the bag is a magazine all about the brand. It tells the story of why it began its mission 22 years ago to develop a brand that is kind to children but also the environment. It details all the innovative products they’ve added over the years and it’s turns out that they do a lot more than just nappies. There’s a double page spread detailing all the certification and awards they have achieved (Vincotte, SSNC, FSC, Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association, GOTS) to prove their eco status. The crown is a little cardboard for your little prince/princess and printed on it says ‘King of Nature’.
