Back to Blogging...

So I thought I was going to stop blogging as with work, a baby, and 8 year old I felt I didn't have enough time, however now I'm on summer holidays I think I'll give it another go, there's no hard and fast rule that says I can't just do it when it suits me, its a hobby for me, so I'm not going to put myself under as much pressure! The other thing that often discourages me is that I really don't feel that I'm as computer savvy as I should be, I start comparing myself to other blogs and seeing how there's are much better than mine, but once again, I'm going to remind myself I'm just doing this for fun, its not Vogue I'm writing for!! So, I hope everyone is enjoying their summer and I look forward to sharing some posts with you!!

Style for the First Holy Communion

My sons First Holy Communion was in May, we had such an enjoyable, special, memorable day. Senan was so excited to wear his suit, he knew it was an extra special day! I got his suit in Next. It was sold a separates which was brilliant because the trousers were age 9, the suit jacket was age 8 and the waistcoat was age 7! The shirt I put with it was actually a school shirt that came in a packet of 2 from Dunnes Stores. His tie was one belonging to his Daddy! I bought his shoes in Paul Byrons in Mullingar. Baby TJ's suit was also from Next, lucky enough I bought age 12-18months even though he's only 8 months old! His little shoes I picked up in Penneys.
His Daddys bought his suit in Galvins Menswear in Mullingar, it was a fantastic deal they're running at the moment, the suit, shirt, tie and shoes all for €199! Such excellent value and I was impressed at the selection to choose from!
Lastly, me, I of course ended up in a mad shopping panic trying to find the right dress! After shopping in Dublin, Navan and Mullingar I ended up spotting a dress online in Coast. Being honest, I would not have looked at the dress on the hanger in the shop, never mid try it on! But, the dress looked lovely on the model. So after phoning around I found a dress in my size in Dundrum and thankfully it fitted and I loved it!! My sister spotted the coral coloured Mango jacket/blazer in House of Frasier. The icing on the cake were the shoes I got, they looked like they were made to go with my dress and u'd neve guess where I got them! When I went to the beauticians the Thursday before the Communion Lisa at Beautique Beauty (The Downs) sells shoes and handbags and had a perfect pair of shoes, and they only cost €40!

The Nibbler- Review

Baby TJ got this as a present from his aunty and he loves it! (and so do I!)
She spotted it in Tescos and knowing how much he loved his food thought it might come in handy and that it has!
Basically it's a little net that you can screw off and pop in different food and it has a handy handle for the baby to hold. I found giving TJ fruit like strawberries and melon was tricky because it was so slippery it just kept falling out of his hand! But with this he can get a good grip and still suck the juices and taste lots of new flavours!
So far he has tried melon, strawberries, peeled grapes, orange, blue berries (they were a bit sour) and some peeled apple (juicy red ones).
To clean it I wash out all the bits left in the net, I soak the net in boiling water and pat dry with a tea towel, I wash the handle with soapy water. I find it really handy if I'm out for coffee or dinner, it keeps TJ very happy and busy! :)
As you can see in the photo 'The Nibbler' by Nuby costs €4.49 and is available in Tescos. It gets a big 'THUMBS UP' from me!

Baby TJ @ 7months old with his 'Nibbler' 

Ever have one of those weeks....that was just brilliant!

I had a full week off work this week which was lovely, especially since I'm only about 4 weeks back at work! Anyhow, my week off is nearly over and I'm just reflecting on how enjoyable it was! Just a perfect mix of kiddie time and me time!

I don't want to come across like I'm gloating because normally my weeks are fairly mundane and un-iteresting which made it even more important that I document the past week so I can look back and remember, you know what, life isn't all that bad or boring!

The Saturday of the May bank I met a friend in Malahide and we had a quick browse in Cari's Closet, some fabulous dresses and lovely friendly helpful staff. After that we popped back into Dublin Zoo with our kids, it was packed because of the nice weather but we enjoyed our afternoon strolling around looking at all the animals. Sunday was a day at home, no galavanting and I actually got into a cleaning frenzy (trust me, it does not happen often!) I even squeezed in a 5mile run, what a productive day! Bank holiday Monday we went to my local schools 50 year anniversary reunion, it was lovely seeing old faces and my brother had a piece of art work displayed especially for the occasion, he is so talented and his artwork looked amazing! After that I went to a hurling match, you know it's summer when there are constant GAA matches! But it was such a sunny day it was lovely to stand outside and watch the game, and to make it even better the team my boyfriend was on won :) To round off our Bank Holiday weekend off my boyfriend and I went to The Park Hotel (in Mullingar) for a quiet drink. In the picture I'm holding a wine glass but as you might have read in other posts I don't drink so its just 7up in the glass! I just prefer drinking out of the wine glass, call me crazy!
I am on a hunt for a dress to wear to my sons Communion this month so myself and 2 friends went to Dublin on Tuesday for a day of shopping! We started on Grafton Street, had a quick Starbucks coffee break and went over to Henry Street, after looking in soooo many shops I didn't find a dress, I ended up a bit stressed that I couldn't find a dress but we did get lovely food at The Church restaurant, very tasty! Cheered me right up!
Wednesday was a day at home with the kids, Senan loves when I (try) play the Xbox with him and TJ was happy watch me rearrange the wardrobe as I sang and played with him. Wednesday night I went to a play 'Move over Mrs Markham' in the Mullingar Arts Centre, it was a very witty, enjoyable show-lots of laughs!
Thursday was another kid free day and perhaps the best day of the week, I went to see The Lion King in The Bord Gais Energy Theatre, we went to the matinee show and it was absolutely fantastic, probably the best show I've seen yet, my only regret was that I didn't bring my 8 year old son, Senan, I know he would have been mesmerised by it! After the show we got a bite to eat in Elys Restaurant just across from the theatre , The food was so tasty and the waiter was so friendly and helpful, nice waiters make such a difference!
Week is nearly over, I promise! Friday I had lots of kids time in the morning, then I brought the boys on some more dress shopping in Navan! My main reason was to check out Ollie and Mac Boutique which I follow on Facebook and they are always posting fab dresses, I tried on a nice purple peplum dress but it just wasn't what I wanted for the Communion. Friday night I went for dinner to celebrate my friends 30th birthday, I can't believe it's all 30th's, feel like just yesterday we were celebrating our 21st's! We ate at Dominiques Restaurant in Mullingar, the food was amazing, I got the vegetarian filled peppers (I'm not vegetarian) and it was just divine! For dessert I got the chocolate brownie, unfortunately it was full of raisins and nuts which wouldn't be my favourite personally but 100% intend of going there again so will try out some of the other desserts! The food was presented so nicely and there was such a buzz and atmosphere in the restaurant it was lovely! I did have to leave straight after dinner though because the baby was awake and giving out, I think he may have bad
wind, he settled eventually!
Saturday and Sunday were normal, grocery shopping, parents over for dinner, hanging out with the kids, catching up on washing and watching Kim and Kourtney Take Miami! Back to work and normality in the morning!

Wardrobe essentials

Top ten basics in my daytime wardrobe that I could not be without!

1. Brown boots
I got mine in Penneys, love the heel, so comfy but gives me a bit of height at the same time :)
2. Blue denim jeans
These are Pepe Jeans, a friend actually gave them to me. I love that they have a bit of stretch. They get sooo much wear!
3. Beige mac
I got this mac in the kids section because the length is just perfect on me! Sometimes the adults ones can be too long (I'm a shorty!)
4. Black blazer
Again I picked my black blazer up in the kids section of New Look. I am in dire need of a black blazer as my current one has definitely seen better (less faded) days!
5. White & black shape wear tops
My sister introduced me to the shape wear vest tops in Penneys and I could not be without them! They just help smooth out the lumps and bumps under my tshirts and fitted shirts and jumpers. I don't have any pics because they're both in the wash-oops!
6. Brown belt
I actually have 3, every time I get a new one I am supposed to throw out the old tattered one but I admit I am such a hoarder!
7. Black skinny jeans
Such a basic for daytime and nighttime looks! I love the Penneys skinny jeans, they fit me nicely but also because they are so cheap I can replace them more frequently, faded black jeans are not a good look.
8. Wooly v-neck jumper
I find these so handy, the cream and coral ones in the pics I got in Old Navy in America and the checkered (golfer-ee looking one!) is Tommy Hilfigure. H&M have a great selection at the moment.
9. Brown handbag
I took a picture of my brown Guess handbag that I must have worn for a year solid! I loved it. At the moment I have a brown Kardashian handbag, the straps are beginning to show wear and tear so I have my eye out on a gorgeous tan/brown Michael Kors handbag, maybe I should change things up a bit and try a black one??
10. Stripy T-shirt 
Again, such a handy basic, pop them on with jeans and a blazer and its a simple yet classy outfit.

What are your wardrobe essentials?

How I try make my life easier

I think one of the reasons I love reading blogs and watching reality shows all the time is because we can learn so much from each other. Sometimes I feel we take for granted there is just one way of doing things, we grow up watching our mothers, who watched there mothers! However, in reality there are so many different ways to live out lives, raise our children, what to wear, what to eat, how to exercise, the list goes on! I love hearing new advice/information that can help make my family life easier and more enjoyable but also I love striving to live the best life I can live! Even if those around me think I'm a bit cracked! You can't make everyone happy all of the time, but as long as you stay true to yourself and what makes you happy and as long as your not intentionally trying to hurt anyone else, do what you want, the way you want! :)

Anyhow, that said, here are a few ways I like to simplify my life, or get the boring stuff done so I can spend more time on the fun stuff! ;)

How I make my life easier:

1. I use the tumble drier, I don't own a clothes line. (I know this may not be the best thing for the environment or my electricity bill, but it really makes my life easier!)
2. I make a menu /food plan for the week, so I'm not staring into the fridge every evening wondering what will I cook tonight!
3. I do one big shop once a week. I write my shopping list to correlate with the food plan I've made. I even freeze the milk. This way I don't have to make any stops to the local shop. Saves time and money!
4. I ask my boyfriend to help out. And I'm lucky to have a great family who are always willing to help! This makes an unbelievable difference, just knowing you have people you can depend on when you need a dig out is peace of mind.
5. I use batiste dry shampoo in between showers, its not the showers I mind it's how long it takes to dry and style my hair!
6. I use anti bacterial wipes to clean the bathroom. I give a quick clean round the sink and toilet, so a 'big' clean only has to be done every month (or two!) 
7. I use baby wipes to clean small patches of dirt on the kitchen floor instead of having to mop the floor everyday. Actually I use baby wipes to clean so many things in my house!
8. I don't iron clothes. I realise I'm lucky I don't have to iron men's shirts for work. What I try do is fold the clothes as soon as I can after the tumble drier is finished and for the most part they are crease free!
9. I hired an aupair, so no drop offs or pick ups with the baby, again such a time saver. I could do a whole post on how great having an au-pair is!
10. I bulk cook the babies food and freeze it.
11. I bought a good Hoover and steamer, and I've never looked back, it makes things quicker but also everything looks much cleaner!
12. Bulk buy stamps, a bit random I know but I always buy 10 stamps at a time which means I don't have to wait until Post Office opening times etc.
13. I don't drink anymore, again, I know a bit of a random one to put in here but it honestly makes my life so much easier! I don't have hangovers and I have more money at the end of the night which makes life a lot easier! 

Do you have any other ways you make life easy for yourself? Please share! :) 

Baby shower party!

I know this is going back a while but I was browsing through old pictures and thought I'd write a quick post about my baby shower just in case anyone is thinking of organising one!

I was about 8months pregnant for my shower, I got my cream lace dress in H&M, it wasn't actually a maternity dress just a few sizes bigger! My beige wedges I got in Dunnes Stores.
I made the invitations for the shower myself (lots of free time back then!)

Baby Shower Invitations     

I was lucky enough to have my sister and mother do the majority of organising for my baby shower. I didn't know if it was a boy or girl so we went with neutral colours! We had buns and cakes with tea and coffee. The main cake of a baby bump myself and my sister made! It was a chocolate biscuit cake with roll out icing on top, again, I had lots more time on my hands back then before the baby was born!

Baby Shower            

During the baby shower we also had a few games organised, while it seemed a bit awkward to get
them going at first, once everyone got stuck in they were great fun and I would definitely recommend playing some!
The first was easy, everybody had to guess and write down what weight they thought the baby would be (some crazy guesses!) and when they thought it would arrive! My friend Nicola was nearest with the weight and my mother nearest with the date.
The next game was a roll of ribbon was passed around with a scissors and everybody had to cut of a length they thought would fit around my tummy (have plenty of ribbon!) and then I tried each one on, this was great fun and someone actually had the length almost spot on!
Next we had a card with different attributes (eyes, ears, nose etc.) and people had to fill in who they thought the baby should/would take after! Some interesting answers! :)
Our final game was just a quick multiple choice quiz, the questions were aimed around baby facts, it gave us lots to chat and laugh about!
My mother made gorgeous white rose flower arrangements in glass vases as party favours that everyone got to bring home.

It was such a fun, special day with family and friends.

Baby Shower Games

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What's in my bag!

I saw this on some other blog pages and thought its a cool post to do! Brings out the nosey side of me!!
So, firstly my bag is a brown Kardashian Kollection bag that was brought home from New York to me (before Kardashian Kollection started to be sold in Dorothy Perkins!) I love the bag and the gold buckles. It's a great size to fit lots in (important when I have 2 kids!) although it can be difficult to find things at the bottom of the bag! It has 2 shorter handles as well as a longer around my body strap (especially handy with a baby!)

I never leave home without my white iPhone, it actually spends a lot more time in my hand than in my bag! The silver cover I have on it at the moment was a present from my son, he got it in Penneys :) Also, coincidentally, another present from my little boy is the little hairbrush/mirror, it has come in handy on many occasions!

 

Next up is my River Island purse, I'm very fussy about my purse layout, where coins, cards, notes etc go! This one is perfect though and my glasses case and glasses are more often than not always in my

bag. I should actually have taken a pic of my glasses, they're dark purple Guess glasses, you'd be surprised how much they go with! 

As a Mammy there
is always something baby/kiddie related in my bag and today it just happens to be one of the babies rattlers! This was only €1.49 in Dealz! And it's one of TJ's favourites! Beside that is my notepad that is FULL of lists! And general info that comes in handy, I also have a little pouch with letters and stuff I use regularily. I found a canderal at the bottom of the bag! I tried to cut down on my sugar by using canderal but it didn't really work :( I also always have a money bag full of change, so handy for parking meters and tolls!

Lastly, I have an old sunglasses pouch that has a few handy bits and bobs in it, the pouch just keeps it all a bit organised! I have 2 nail files for some reason, and a collection of pens. My fav pen is my pink Parker pen, I love it! There is a small black comb that's perfect for back combing and I really don't have much makeup in my bag but I do have a Clinque lipgloss and perfume combo. I was surprised I didn't have a bottle of nail polish in there because there is normally one floating around!

So that's my bag! What's yours like!?

#30daywardrobechallenge update

So I started #30daywardrobechallenge a little while ago, I have days 1-6 on an earlier post and here are some more of my outfits! Again, I'm no style expert but its just what I can root out of the wardrobe and throw together, some days are more successful than others!

Weekend in Kilkenny

Just a quick post today, I've been quite busy since I went back to work so I was really looking forward to my night away in Kilkenny city for my friends 30th birthday.
We went down Saturday evening and checked into Syd Harkins. It was extremely basic but the location was fantastic! There was also a lot of noise from the street, but if your just looking for somewhere cheap and for a few hours after a night out it does the job!
We went to 'The Left Bank' pub for the 30th party. The interior is fab, so much artwork on the walls and a fantastic atmosphere, one big drawback is the location of the toilets on the 3rd floor! After the Left Bank we went to Morriseys for some dancing, although maybe I'm showing my age but it was very full and lots of very messy people!
The next morning the sun was shining and we went for a lovely stroll around the castle and gardens, absolutely gorgeous! We chose Kilkenny Design Centre for coffee and scones, the food looked amazing, lovely dinners, mouth watering desserts and my scone was yum! If your ever in Kilkenny it is definitely worth a visit, not only for the food but also for the gift shop which has such an amazing array of Irish crafts and products.
It was a short visit but I enjoyed it so much, great catching up with friends and enjoying some of the wonderful sights Ireland has to offer 😀

#30daywardrobechallenge

I'm quite new to all this twitter and blogging malarky but while I was roaming from one link to another I stumbled onto Younghipandhomely blog and it's there I read all about the 30 day wardrobe challenge.
The basic rules are you have to wear a different outfit everyday for 30 days, but, it has to be clothes that are already in your wardrobe and you can wear the same piece of clothing more than once as long as you wear it with something different!
I'm on day 8 already and starting to struggle! I dread to see what I'll be rooting out of the back of the wardrobe by day 30!!

If you want to check it out here is the link:

http://www.younghipandhomely.com/2013/04/30-day-wardrobe-challenge-day-1.html

And #30wardrobechallenge on twitter, hope you join in!!

Below are some of my outfits so far. I know I'm no trendsetter but just a mother trying to make the most out of what's in her wardrobe! I can imagine there are lots more mothers out there in the same boat!

Quick, Easy,Healthy and Tasty!!

Ok, I'm not going to pretend to be a master chef but I just HAD to share this meal because it's so quick, easy, cheap and nutritious!!

Turkey sweet and sour stir fry

I got all the ingredients in Aldi:
Turkey pieces
Bag of frozen stir fry veg
Soft noodles
Sweet and sour sauce

I don't have a wok so I just used a large frying pan.

1. Brown the turkey pieces on pan
2. Throw in frozen veg
3. Put in noodles
4. Pour in sauce

It's really as quick and easy as that and very tasty! Give it a go!

Maternity Leave is OVER!!

I had such plans for my 7 months of maternity leave. I'd go on little shopping trips all over the country, have regular coffee mornings with friends, I could experiment with new recipes and bake lovely buns and cakes, maybe redecorate the house and spend time on my crafting, perhaps join a yoga class to help get my figure back,,, the only thing I didn't factor in was the actual reason for maternity leave-the baby!! And how minding a baby takes sooo much time and effort!!

Looking back I was in cuckoo land, many a day I was lucky to get dressed and put something (not necessarily nutritious) on the table for dinner, never mind actually leave the house!!
I do feel I got off to a bad start, I had an emergency c-section so really my first 6 weeks recovery knocked me for six! I got so used to being at home home in comfy clothes ie. tracksuit bottoms and baggy tshirts, that when the time came that I could leave the house I nearly didn't want to! I plodded through the first 12 weeks of sleepless nights and was quite reluctant to leave the house with the baby, it seemed like more hassle than it was worth! He fed every three hours so it seemed like I was always stopping to feed him and never actually getting much done in between!
When he did start to fall into a routine of his own accord things felt like they were getting back to some sort of normality. We have had highs and lows, sleepless nights and smiles and giggles!
I'm sad to be going back to work now that he can interact and notice what's going on around him. I feel terrible that he knows when I leave the room, I wonder is he going to spend the day wondering where I have gone! But I cannot wait to walk in the door and see the smile on his face and give him a big cuddle and kisses after my days work.

Baby related highlights of my Maternity Leave:
1. Holding TJ for the very first time.
2. The first time he slept for 8 hours!
3. Watching TJ fall asleep on his Daddys chest.
4. His Christening day, having so many friends and family to share his special day.
5. Watching TJ and his brother play and laugh together.

Baby related Lows of my maternity leave:
1. Finding breast feeding so difficult I had to give up after 6 days.
2. The sleepless nights!
3. TJ and me being sick the same week-torture.
4. Watching TJ get blood samples taken to check his iron levels.
5. Recovering from an emergency c-section, I found it very difficult.

Non baby related highlights of my Maternity Leave:
1. My first night away without the baby, staying in a hotel in Dublin, going to dinner an a show with Enda.
2. Completing a 15 mile run in Monaco!
3. Going to Paris with my 2 sisters.
4. Starting a blog!
5. ALL the coffees I got to go for with friends.

Non baby related maternity leave lows:
1. Having wardrobe meltdowns when so many of my clothes didn't fit (and still don't!), it can be tough adjusting to a new body size and shape.
2. Losing so much of my freedom. My older boy is 8 so I was used to just hoping in the car and going here and there without much effort or fuss!
3. Never knowing when my next sleep in might be!

Overall it has been a great maternity leave, I got to spend so much time with my gorgeous baby boy, but, with lots of sprinklings of me time thrown in-to keep my sanity!
But I can safely say I am in no rush to have another maternity leave anytime soon! (if u know what I mean!)

Blazers and brights!

Finally the weather seems to be brightening up so it's time for my wardrobe to brighten up too!!

I got this bright multicolour top in Penneys for my trip to Monaco in March. Here are 2 outfits I combined it with, kind of cheating though because it's d same outfit reversed! One is navy skinnies with pink blazer, other is pink blazer with navy skinnies! The nude peep toe wedges (Dunnes Stores) are lovely for Spring/Summer and I picked up a cream bag with gold chain and zip which was handy for holidays.

Navy Blazer: I Love H81 An American Brand
Pink Blazer: Stradivarius
Navy skinny jeans: Penneys
Pink skinny jeans: Penneys
Cream Wedges: Dunnes Stores
Cream bag: Penneys

Lovely lunch for 7month Baby...

I love that TJ I onto solids! And I think he does too!
Today he tried yogurt for the first time! I mixed some Greek yogurt (from Aldi) with his apple and pear purée, he also had a banana chopped up. He really doesn't seem to like banana, I've tried them a couple of times with different fruit and baby rice and he just doesn't seem to want it! He gobbled down his yogurt and fruit though!

10 more things about me...(21-30)

21. I love musicals
22. I try to keep a gratitude journal
23. I've spent 3 summers in America
24. I love going to bingo
25. I've only ever had one boyfriend
26. I love 'pick and mix' , especially the cups you can get in Tescos. The strawberries are my favourite!
27. My first car was a 1989 Toyota Coralla that my uncles gave to me.
28. I got my first permanent teaching job in September 2004 and I'm still teach in the same school.
29. Kourtney is my favourite Kardashian
30. I love cardmaking and scrapbooking 

10 more things about me...(11-20)

11. I am a such a procrastinator
12. I love meeting friends for coffee
13. I have fantastic parents
14. I'm afraid (petrified) of dogs
15. I adore white chocolate
16. I always try go to be at 10pm
17. I am a complete hoarder
18. I am competitive
19. I dislike cleaning
20. I love writing lists!

Plaster Paris Bump!

This was one of the most fun things I did during my pregnancy! At about 38 weeks (my bump was nice and big!) I decided to make a plaster of Paris mould of my big bump! I had my sister and some friends over to give a helping hand!
What you need:

• Plaster of Paris (I got it in my local chemist)
• Vaseline
• Cling film
• Towels (it can get messy!) 
• Bowls of water
• Newspaper 

I put newspaper on the floor under the chair. I wore an old bikini top and pair of shorts. I decided to do a mould from my shoulders down to under my bump, some people just do the bump. 

How to do it: 

• Rub Vaseline all over belly and shoulders
• Cover in cling film, it can feel tight if you wrap around your tummy and back
• Next, wet the plaster of Paris and smooth over
• Over lap the layers-no gaps
• Do at least 2 layers 
• Leave to dry/set for about 15 mins.
• Carefully remove and leave to dry

I just left mine as it was but if you like you could paint and decorate it! 

If I'm having a 'fat day' I can just pop on my 'bump' and suddenly I don't feel as fat as I thought I was!! :) 

10 things about me

1. I have 2 sons
2. I'm very superstitious
3. I have 3 sisters and 2 brothers
4. I am a primary school teacher
5. I haven't drank alcohol in 2 years
6. I can't swim
7. I lived in Perth for a year
8. My birthday is on the longest day of the year (June 21st)
9. I believe in karma
10. I love reality tv

Could anything else break on me....seriously...

This week I feel like I've had a terrible run of bad luck! My car broke down, I dropped my iPhone and cracked the screen and our new stove broke!! The only consolation is, superstitious me believes everything happens in threes so there are the three things broken! Hopefully there will be no more!
I hate moaning and moaners! But I know every now and then a good old moan and whine and even cry (which I was very close to!) is needed! I try to snap out of it as quick as I can and try see the positives! The brakes could have given up when I was doing 120km on the motorway but thankfully I got to stop before I hit anyone or anything! While the screen broke on my iPhone it is still usable and the crack could have been a lot worse and the stove, well I don't know too much about it, Enda is going to hopefully sort that one out! All I know is the fire can still be lit and keep us warm in this crazy weather!
So moan over, hopefully my luck will improve, think positive because what you think about you bring about!!

Feng shui

I've read information online about Feng Shui, originating in China thousands of years ago to do with the flow of energy. It is so complex and I feel like I could read about it forever! But I really like the sound of it and I'd love to know more about Feng Shui however for the moment these are 3 ways I incorporated it into my life and house so far.

The first is a small statue my aunt gave us, it's ment to generate prosperity.
The second tip was always keep the toilet seat down and door closed to prevent energy from flowing out.
And the third is paint the front door red as red is considered to be lucky in Feng Shui and the front door is the entry point for abundance and opportunities to enter. If you don't want a red door they suggest other colours depending on what direction your house faces.

I'm hoping to keep making small changes around my house to make it more Feng Shui friendly!

I also looked at good Feng Shui layouts for babies bedrooms when I was organising TJ's room, I'll have a post showing his finished room at some stage!

Casual and Comfy Style

When I was browsing online I came across picture number 1 (really sorry I can't remember whose page I saw it on, so if it was yours let me know!) Anyhow it got me thinking I could create a similar look with some bits and pieces I have in my wardrobe.
In picture 2, I teamed the ivory wooly jumper with a denim shirt over it and denim shorts, brown ribbed tights, legs warmers and uggs. I wasn't happy with this though because I thought the denim shorts and denim shirt together were too much so I swapped them for black jeggings and brown boots and I was happy with the final look! (no.3) Like I say,casual but comfy :)

Denim shirt & brown boots & leopard print scarf: Penneys
Black stretchy jeans: River Island
Ivory wooly jumper & brown tshirt: H&M

Brown Thomas Fashion Show

Last Sunday I had such an enjoyable afternoon in The Shelbourne Hotel at the Brown Thomas Fashion Show in aid of IYF Charity.
We were greeted with some tasty, fruity cocktails and jazz music creating a lovely atmosphere.
Perched up at the bar the afternoons entertainment began with Oliver Callans very witty impressions of well known politicians and public figure. He even did an impression of Brent Pope who was in the crowd!
Brunch was promptly served, gorgeous blueberry pancakes with maple syrup followed by a mousse with strawberries and pomegranate topping.
Next up was the fashion show. Lots of style from Victoria Beckham creations to Stella McCartney and much more. There was a wide variety of clothes, shoes, handbags and accessories modelled. On the catwalk were some very unique designs, but truth be told I couldn't see myself wearing too many of the outfits modelled.
After the fashion show some fantastic prizes were raffled, raising funds for a worthy cause. Unfortunately I didn't win any! 😔
Overall it was such a nice afternoon, we met some lovely new people and enjoyed the fashion and food!

Baby TJ is 7months old today! How he's doing...

Where have the last 7months gone!! I will admit I wished the first 3 months away! All I wanted was 6 hours of unbroken sleep! So at 7 months here's how he's doing:

His routine:
TJ usually wakes at about 6.30am, I give him a bottle and at 7am he gets a spoon feed. He stays up playing with his toys and wandering around in his walker until about 9am. I get him dreased during this time also. He's wearing 9-12 month clothes, although they are starting to get tight, I find dungarees the comfiest for TJ as the trousers can be a bit tight on his belly.
At 9am he goes down for a nap in his cot. He normally sleeps until about 11 although this can be a longer/shorter nap depending on the day. I try never to wake him up. He is quite a light sleeper and wakes easily if there is a lot of noise in the house.
He has a bottle and spoon feed at 11am. Stays awake playing until about 1pm, then goes down to his cot until approx 2.30pm. I can tell now he's getting tired because he starts rubbing his eyes and whingeing a bit.
He gets his next feed at 3pm, again a bottle and spoon feed. He's awake for the evening then. At 6pm he gets his bottle and last spoon feed. He's changed into his sleep suit and goes down to bed by 7.15pm. He can get narky at this hour of the evening and seems to get excited been brought down to bed! We always say 'Night night, TJ go sleepies'. We even get babysitters to say this! (a tip I got from Alison Scott-Wright's book 'The Sensational Baby Sleep Plan')
When we're going to bed we give him a bottle, he stays lying in his cot (a bit like Nina Fords 'dream feed'). Some nights he takes 4ozs, other nights he might only take 1oz! Many nights he wakes looking for his soother to be put in his mouth, although last night he didn't wake at all!!

Feeds and food:
7am: 6oz's of aptimal hungrier baby formula.
Millupa creamy porridge.
11am: 6oz formula
homemade puréed fruit
3pm: 6oz formula
Millupa/Cow & Gate boxes of food: I try all the different flavours, pear and rice etc.
6pm: 6oz formula
Home made dinner puréed, veg and meat eg. Sweet potatoe and turkey, carrots and chicken, potatoes and fish etc.
10pm: between 1 and 4 oz's of formula.
Snacks/Finger Food: Liga and rusks, squares of cheese, fruit
TJ has definitely cut down on the amount of formula he drinks, he generally isn't as interested in his bottles but loves his food! If he doesn't drink all his formula it gets mixed up with his solids.
He does seem to eat quite a lot of food for a 7month old but I also think he's bigger than the average 7month old, and my mantra is 'Every baby is different!'

What he can do/milestones:

• He can now sit up by himself!
• He can put is soother in his mouth. (and anything else he can get his hands on!)
• He rolled over once so far! Waiting for him to do it again!
• He is not a fan of tummy time!
• He can kind of hold his bottle in his mouth, wouldn't be able to feed himself the whole bottle!
• He can whizz about in his walker.
• He is starting to babble and shout.
• He has no teeth yet!
• Noticing everything that's going on around him.
• Plays well with his toys and rattlers, they can now hold his attention.

Baby Fashion-Chinos

I love baby TJ in this outfit! I have to say I'm a sucker for a knit jumper and chinos! It's one I my favourite outfits to put on the boys!
The navy and white stripy jumper is from Next and the chinos are from Heatons. Navy and grey socks are Baby Gap.

What I wore...

On Sunday I went to The Brown Fashion Show in The Shelbourne Hotel in aid of Irish Youth Foundation. I'll have a blog shortly telling you all about my fun day but for now here's what I wore. The pictures were taken at the end of the day so I don't think it looks quite as well as it did at beginning of the day!

My dress is from Villa. My jacket is H&M and my black heels are from Dunnes Stores. I'm wearing a Tiffanys necklace and pearl earings and necklace.

It's not a diet, it's being healthier...

My motto normally is 'If I exercise I can eat whatever I want!' and to be honest that has worked pretty ok for me so far.

However since I've finished training for the half-marathon the running has definitely decreased so I need to focus on my diet more. That said, I'm going to start by making a few small changes which will hopefully make a big difference!
Firstly, I never say 'I'm on a diet', personally that never works for me, what I tell myself is 'I'm on a healthy eating kick'. I know you might wonder what's the difference but to me a diet makes me think I've to sacrifice a lot of food whereas healthy eating makes me think it's something I should be doing anyway.

Healthy eating to me means:
* Everything in moderation
* Drink more water
* Swap some of my coffees for grean tea
* Eat smaller portions
* Eat slower and chew more
* Eat healthy snacks-fruit, veg, nuts
* Eat just one treat a day, and sit down and enjoy it.
* Take my iron tablet and multi vitamin everyday.
* A huge advantage I think is that I don't drink alcohol (can be hard to do in moderation! 😁)

I am hoping if I can do all this I will lose a few pounds. I don't own a weighing scales so this can be difficult to keep track of! What I really want is to be able to fit into my size 8 penneys skinny jeans, at the moment I'm at the annoying stage where size 8 is too tight (it does close though!) and size 10 is a bit loose and baggy.

I'm going to look up a yoga class too.

Senans communion is May 18th which is fantastic motivation to stick to my healthy eating. (I still need to go dress shopping for me!)

Wish me luck, I'll keep you updated on how it's going. :)

Keeping the kids busy- Idea #2

I know this isn't a very original idea but baking is always a winner with kids! Here's just a few tips:

1. Keep it simple!!! You don't need to try out a new recipe, rice krispie buns/cake always work well, or simple fairy cakes, scones are also an easy one too.
2. Let the kids get creative. Have sprinkles, food colouring, extra sweets for toppings. Kids feel more pride in the finished product if they have put their own personal touch on it rather than having it look perfect or exactly as it looks in the picture!
3. Use this as a great opportunity for developing oral language: mix, measure, how much, stir, ingredients, temperature,,, just keep talking about what you are doing and the utensils you are using.
4. I know there are lots of fancy cookie cutters out there and if you have some fantastic! But, if not, encourage your kid to get creative and use different size glasses, lids of tubs, egg cups, have a root in the drawers you'll be amazed at what you find!
5. Take time to enjoy the fruits of your labour! If it's a nice day go outside for a picnic with your freshly baked treats or if its wet and cold, how about setting up a tent or hut wit cushions and blankets and have an indoor feast!

A website I find lovely simple recipes on is www.odlums.ie
They have a specific 'Baking with Children' category. One of our favourite recipes are the Oaty Cookies.

Neon nails

Neon colours seem to be all over the shops this season, but if like me you don't want to jump straight in, one simple way to ease ourselves in is with nail polish! This is a nice bright colour (109 Off To Miami!!) I picked up in Penneys recently, at only €1.49 you can't go wrong! And it adds a great pop of colour to any outfit! Have fun experimenting!