That Wondrous First Year

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Babies are fascinating aren't they?

Before falling pregnant, I hadn't given it much thought, sure babies are cute and all but that was as much thought I'd given to it until I was growing my own.

From the minute I fell pregnant I was researching what was happening each week, comparing his size to various fruits and animals and keeping a close eye at what would be happening next. Waiting for my weekly update was one of my favourite things especially as my bump grew more and more.

The Naked Cherry Palette

As a long term Urban Decay fan, I love when they come around with new releases especially when I get to add a new eyeshadow palette to my ever growing collection. There are never enough colours in my eyes or for my eyes in this case.

Last year saw the discontinuation of the original Naked palette as well as the Smoky but with that saw plenty of rumours about some newbies, including Naked Honey which I hope is true and the Urban Decay Naked Cherry which I've been getting to grips with since Christmas.

Using a Menstrual Cup Six Months On

Last September, I made the decision to start using a menstrual cup. I had Joshua via caesarean so I'm not that different down there but having a baby weighing down on my insides for nine months has changed things or at least I feel like they have when trying to use a tampon. I needed another option and so with environmental impact being such a big focus at the moment, it seemed logical to try a menstrual cup and and because I really didn't want to use sanitary pads.

I've shared My First Time using a Menstrual Cup & Your Menstrual Cup questions answered so far so I thought a post on using my Mooncup six months on would be a nice final post to share. 

Tropic Skincare & My Newest Discoveries

Tropic Skincare is a brand I only really discovered towards the end of last year, I shared my post Three Faves from Tropic Skincare in October and had a really great response so I started to explore the brand more and found even more products that I loved, especially the Lip Fudge which I use daily. Just before Christmas I was sent the 12 Days of Tropic advent calendar, full of treats from the brand along with some hero products of theirs as well as everything I'm showing you here so I had to share my latest thoughts with you and why I think you should give Tropic Skincare a go. 

Björk & Berries Swedish Skincare

For someone who didn't have a full skincare routine until five years ago, skincare has quickly become a passion of mine especially as the years tick on by. I had quite a basic skincare routine prior to my blog and discovering more about different brands and products over the years has really ignited my passion. I have some very firm favourites but I'm like magpie so when a new brand catches my eye, I can't help myself. 

Björk & Berries are the latest brand to grace my beauty cupboard and it's one I've really enjoyed learning more about. The brand started in northern Sweden and its story is one of nature. Björk is the Swedish word for Birch also known as the life giving tree which is exactly what I want to hear when it comes to skincare. The basis of the skincare is clean, natural and organic with fragrances inspired by the uniqueness of Swedish nature. 

What I've Been Reading through January

I've written about my love of reading a number of times, it's what I do to relax and take some time out so making one of my goals for this year to read more was really important to me. I have a to-read pile which has been gradually increasing in numbers for the last year but now is the time to finally start making a dent in it. I set up a Good Reads account when I first bought my Kindle in 2016 but I never gave it much attention until this year.

My Most Used Products of 2018

The beginning of a new year always brings our fair share of most used products posts and I sit in wait for them, they're my favourite! If a beauty blogger has spent an entire year using the same product again and again, you know it's a good one. We are in the fortunate position that we get to try so many different products month in, month out that it can sometimes be a little hard to stick to the same products unless they really are firm favourites as another newer and (promised) better product comes along. 

I've tried numerous new products throughout the last year but there are always some that stick and so I give you a handful of products that haven't left my side in 2018.

Calendar Girls The Musical

Those of you with marvellous memory may remember I went to Leeds in August with Mayflower Theatre to see the dress rehearsal of Calendar Girls as it began its tour throughout the UK. I had such a wonderful time, adored the show and I couldn't wait for it to come to Southampton. 

It opened in Southampton last night and I went along to watch the show again in my home city. It's a story that I'm sure touches each of us in some way and the production is beautifully told with some laughs and all-important singing. 

Clarins Spring 2019

The new year doesn't just bring resolutions and new goals for the year ahead, it also brings an abundance of Spring beauty collections and the first one to fall into my hands is by one of my all time favourite brands, Clarins. January 6th saw the launch of the new collection featuring an all new eye shadow palette and a handful of other products to help you start the year flawlessly. 

I've been playing around with two of the products since before Christmas so I could give you my opinion as soon as the collection was released. 

A new year treat is definitely needed right?!

Hello 2019

There's a first for everything right?! Well this is the first time I've sat down and written out a new year, new me type post with goals for the year ahead. I'm not one for putting my resolutions and goals out publicly to be honest I'm not a resolution and goal type person anyway and tend to stick with what will be, will be but after a pretty crap 2018 I yearned for a new direction and change in my life. 

December on Instagram

Just like that another year is over and I'm ready to share my final Instagram round up of 2018 and possibly my last. I'm undecided at the moment if I'm going to stop sharing them completely or if I'm just going to do them quarterly instead. It's a post I've always loved doing but I'm going to decide at the end of this month whether to continue them or not. 

We ended 2018 in a flurry of pigs in blankets, cosy pyjamas and Christmas films despite my sadness from the months prior and the thought of spending our first Christmas without treasured loved ones we did have a wonderful month full of oh so perfect festive moments. Here's a little round up...