Wedding Plans

So I got a bit of a shock when I opened my emails the other morning and saw this....

so much to do in so little time!

I do have a few bits checked off the list

• venue Here's where we're getting married
• band Lightening Strikes
• cake Bouquets 2 Banquets
• hair Agnes Burke Hairdressing

ok, that's not a huge amount but it's a start!

On my list this week is to book

• humanist/spiritualist
• wedding dress shopping appointments
• makeup

and perhaps have a peek at Pinterest for invitation inspiration, although I'm so nervous of going on Pinterest because I have a feeling I could lose the run of myself!! My motto for our wedding is 'Keep it simple', mainly because with three kids and work it's a time issue.

I'll keep you posted on how the plans are going. I can't wait to go dress shopping. I don't even have the faintest idea what kind of dress I would like, I think this may be a good thing as I'm happy to try anything on!

Any tips, info, help, advice.... please feel free to send it this way!

How I lost my baby weight...third time around

If I had to answer in 2 words it would be 'Weight Watchers',,, but that wouldn't make a very interesting blog post so let me go into more detail about Weight Watchers and losing my baby weight journey!

Annabel was born March 5th 2015.

A friend once said '9 months up, 9 months down' regarding baby weight and it really stuck with me, so that has always been in the back of my head, to be fair to myself and not put myself under too much pressure, but really at the end of the day I'm happier in myself when I'm at a healthy weight and my clothes fit nicely.

First baby: I was 21, it was 11 years ago, I actually don't remember thinking much about baby weight, we didn't have social media, it wasn't all over the magazines, none of my friends had babies so it wasn't a hot topic of conversation! My fashion sense consisted of O' Neils tracksuit bottoms so thinking back I was probably lucky that I didn't give much time or attention to baby weight, I just went on about life as normal.

Second baby: I was 29 when I had TJ (by emergency C-section), I was delighted I was pregnant and truthfully I did not watch what I ate when I was pregnant, in my head I was gonna get huge one way or another so I might as well eat plenty along the way. After TJ was born he was a very poor sleeper and quite a demanding baby so I was so tired and exhausted I really didn't think or care much about losing weight. With this post pregnancy I really took the approach of lots of exercising and still eating pretty much what I liked. When TJ was 6 months old myself and a friend ran a half marathon in Monaco, we had trained for maybe 3 months before hand, I jogged between 3 and 5km a few days during the week and a long jog at weekends,,, it did help me lose the baby weight and I think the running was great head space too.

Third baby: So baby Annabel was born March 2015 (by planned C-section). I definitely feel by this stage there was so much more pressure to 'lose the baby weight', tv programmes, magazines, Instagram, there were always so many images and articles about celebrities bouncing back to their pre pregnancy figures and while I knew to take it all with a pinch of salt it's still there at the back of your mind! At the end of April 2015 myself and my mother joined Weight Watchers together. It really helped that we did it together because we could talk about different food and recipes. If we were out and about we would help keep each other on track. I've always preferred saying I'm starting a healthy eating plan rather than I'm going on a diet. I really feel on Weight Watchers you can eat lots, even the treats, in moderation. We went to our meetings religiously every Thursday morning, we weighed in and stayed for the meeting which too was vital, the meetings have so much useful information and just keep you motivated to keep going. This time around I didn't really get to include any exercise, with 3 kids I just really didn't have the time. I had great will power most times, I ate porridge for breakfast, usually eggs of some sort for lunch and a healthy meat, spuds and veg with out all the extra sauces and butter for dinner. Every night I would have a weight watchers chocolate bar and a cup of tea. The treat at the end of the day really kept me focused not to pig out during the day. The weekends I was a lot more relaxed about my food, we usually went out for dinner or had a take away but I would watch my portion sizes and remind myself that I didn't have to eat every single morsel that was served up to me! I changed a few things things like using Brennans Be Good bread instead of regular white bread. I changed to unsweetened almond milk. I began to use brown rice and pasta instead of white. I made healthy alternatives for dessert. I really found small changes made a big difference. Over the course of 12 months I lost 2 stone. Genuinely this was by watching what I was eating, not including any exercises. Even though I lost all the weight and fitted into my clothes I still have what I call a 'pouch' from the C-section, but I just don't think that is gonna go!

My sisters wedding last November was the goal that kept me focused, I even got through Christmas fairly okay, but I definitely have hit a bump on the road. I am not watching what I eat at all, I'm being lazy about my food choices and the pounds are creeping back on. I'm planning on getting back to my weight watcher meetings every week, and what works for me is if I plan my food. So on a Sunday I want to write down what we will eat for the week and buy everything we need to keep me on track. I think it's important to have healthy food in the presses. The one time of day I really struggle with is when I get home from work at about 4, I find the biscuit tin is being raided, so I need to plan out a healthy snack for this time.
With my own wedding this November I think I have a good enough goal to work towards! I'll keep you posted how I am getting on!

I'd love to know how you stay on track with your healthy eating,,, please share any tips you have!

Christian Dior Makeup Haul

In my post about my night away in Dublin last week (here) I mentioned I got my make up done at the Christian Dior counter in Brown Thomas. I wanted new lipstick and I know if you get your makeup done it is redeemable against 2 products, so I figured I'd get my makeup done and see what lipstick colour looked nice :) And hey who doesn't like getting their makeup done by a professional! Like I said it was last post, this was a big treat for me!

Dior Haul!

The only Christian Dior makeup I owned before this was an eye shadow pallette that my mother got me when I was a teenager, so I just felt like a change, something new and different because God knows I am a creature of habit!!

The makeup artist used the Airflash foundation which I was really excited about because I saw it on other people and thought it was flawless. I didn't actually love it on me though :( I didn't think it gave me as much coverage as I liked and I just didn't like that when you spray it on it kinda goes all over the place, it got on my top and handbag. I know to some people that's not a big deal but I just couldn't see myself liking that if I used it everyday! So I decided to go for the Forever foundation in a darker shade. ( I personally felt the Airflash shade was far too light, even though I know it was the actual match for my skin tone!)

Lip liner: Brown Fig

Lipstick: Rouge Dior 434

Lip Maximizer Collagen Activ

I LOVE the lipstick shade the makeup artist chose for me, I never would have chosen it myself but I love it on! The lip liner and lipstick are a perfect match and I had no intention of buying a lip gloss, but, the Lip Maximizer Collagen Activ is just fantastic, I really felt it made my lips look plumper and it gives a slight tingling sensation too!

Overall I love my new products and think they are a great addition to my every growing makeup bag!

Make up I did myself using Dior foundation, lip liner, lipstick and lip gloss.

Before and after picture of Dior make over in Brown Thomas Dublin

Family Break in the West of Ireland

Like I said in an earlier post (here)  I had zero plans for the Easter break which I was fairly happy about, but when I was waiting for Senan at soccer practice (I spend a lot of time waiting for Senan!) I spotted a great deal on Dealrush. It was a 2 night stay in the Grand Hotel in Ballina, Co. Mayo,(website) with breakfast for €100! (For 2 adults, so myself and Senan counted as the adults, the baby was free and I'd to pay€20 extra for TJ...still good value!) There was also supposed to be a 30minute spa treatment but there were no appointments free so they offered me a robe and slippers in my room. My brother and niece live in Ballina so after a quick phone call to check they were free I bought the voucher and booked the room! I am normally never that decisive or productive! 

Ok, so truthfully I hate packing for 3 kids,,,I'm not the lightest packer either so it literally took me about 3 hours Monday morning to get everything packed...and of course you can imagine how helpful a 3 year old is in the middle of it all...spot the ironing board!! Thankfully Annabels bottles don't need to be sterilised anymore and the ready made formula is so handy for trips away so packing for her wasn't as bad as it was a few months back. 

The hotel itself is lovely. The staff are so friendly and helpful, I was so impressed with how friendly everyone was, nothing was a bother, even the last day packing the bags into the car one of the poor workers got drowned in the rain, I told him I was fine as I didn't want him spending the day in a damp shirt but he insisted. Our room was lovely and spacious. The double bed was huge, which was great as TJ slept cross ways in the bed! The had a travel cot set up and there was still so much space. We were on the same floor as the leisure centre which I have to say was so convenient. We just got our swim suits on and headed over (I had a dressing gown and slippers from the hotel because I would not be seen wandering the corridors in my swimsuit!) The pool is was, nothing too impressive, but the kiddies pool was heated which was fantastic, it was like being in a luke warm bath, which is better than other kiddies pools where I've sat in freezing! We were lucky to be the only kids in the pool as it is quite small. The kids loved it though and Senan could swim in the big pool.

All set for our morning swim!

On the first evening I ordered food in the bar and got to bring it up to the room as Annabels bed time is 7 o clock. Senan had the burger and chips which looked very tasty and TJ and I had the goujons and chips which were fine! It was also a pleasant surprise that they had a kids club running for the week! I hadn't realised this when I booked it! The 2 boys went the first evening. They were the only kids there, Senan (the 11 year old) was a bit bored but TJ loved it! It was a great way to pass an hour or two in the evening.

The plan then was to have an early night and watch a movie together on Netflix. We had brought the ipad and laptop (and ipods and iphones...terrible I know!)....but the Wi-Fi did not work in the room. I spoke to reception and they said they'd look into it but it wouldn't work. They offered me to move rooms but with a one year old already asleep and enough luggage that would last another person a month this wasn't an option! I have to say I did find this a huge issue. Grand it worked out ok, the boys were tired and fell asleep, but honestly to go away with 3 young children to a hotel that says it has Wi-Fi and find it doesn't work really bothered me.

The Hotel Pool (Picture from their website )

We brought the kids to Tumble Jungle play centre in Ballina. No matter how many of them they see they never tire of them! This was also had loads of bouncing castles in it too, it was huge. It was perfect for all ages, a 1 year old through to an 11 year.

We went to Tumble Jungle play centre in Ballina.

Like I said the bed was huge!!

Fancy night away in Dublin

When I got my Easter holidays from work I literally had nothing planned, friends were flying to amazing destinations and I had no plans, mainly because I thought we were getting our house painted over Easter, but this has been postponed until Summer. So I am pleasantly surprised with how Easter is going so far because I've spent three nights away! The first 2 were with the kids and then I had a lovely child free, girly night away with a friend.

It was a fairly last minute little trip so we decided to stay in the Westbury just off Grafton Street in Dublin. I have always wanted to stay there so it really felt like a big tick off the bucket list (even if it was only for one night it still counts!) I just love all the little attention to detail in a 5 star hotel. The room was lovely, not much of a view, but so quiet, you'd never know you were in the heart of Dublin! And I'd a lovely sleep in til 8:30! (Its a sleep in when you have three kids!)

Breakfast wasn't included in the package so we just had a coffee in the room and sat back and chatted and chilled until it was time to check out. We then went to Brown Thomas. I wanted to get new lipstick so I decided to book to get our makeup done which is redeemable against two products. I know I wasn't going anywhere but it was a nice treat! I booked the Dior makeup artist. I'll do a blog post soon on the products I bought.

After all that it was time for lunch, we popped around the corner to Laduree for some afternoon tea. Again a real treat. It was all so tasty. I just love the look and feel of Laduree. The caramel macaroon is definitely my favourite!

After lunch we browsed a few shops but I didn't pick up anything new,,,which I am very proud of! Then it was back home to 3 kids and reality! But at least the batteries were recharged!

Life with 3 kids...

I grew up in a family of six children and loved the hustle and bustle of it all, I always imagined I would love a house full of children but with three I know for sure I will never have six kids,I would not be able for it! Hats of to my mother and all the other amazing women who have raised large families!

I find that working full time as a primary school teacher and having 3 children age 11, 3 and 1, life can be fairly hectic at times, and then at other times I think, no, I've got this under control,,,but to be honest that doesn't happen often! I find myself always looking at other people and wondering how do they do it! I do think I am lucky that primary school hours and holidays are fantastic when I have small kids, I don't have to worry about getting them minded during holidays etc.

Lately I definitely feel life has gotten easier and I totally put that down to the fact that Annabel is now one. I think the baby baby stage is quite difficult as you're so much more tied to feeding them bottles, winding them, and working around their nap times. Now Annabel can feed herself her own bottles and finger food and is in a good routine, and (I hope I'm not jinxing myself by writing this)...sleeps all night. I find we can come and go a lot easier. What I probably find most difficult is bringing the eldest boy Senan to all his different activities. But thankfully I have great friends and family who are always able to help out, having a good network of people around you is vital I think,,, and not being afraid to ask for help. I often feel bad asking for people to help out, but I don't think I'd get through a full week (day sometimes) without the help of family and friends.

I do suffer with huge guilt that I don't spend enough time with my kids, or that I'm on my phone too much, or that the eat too many sweets, but I think most parents out there feel like that.

I definitely love and need my 'me time'. I work with small kids all day and come home to kids so I do think for my sanity I need some quiet time! I love meeting friends for a coffee, or when the weather gets nicer I love going for a jog, I find it fantastic for clearing my head.

I feel like I could write so much about life at the moment, but I don't want to bore you all so if there's anything you'd like to ask feel free to leave a comment x

Annabels First Birthday Party

So for Annabels first birthday party I decided to go for a kind of afternoon tea theme and because it was also Mother's Day this felt like a lovely way to celebrate the two occasions :)