September 2015 - Running in Lavender

HeleddSeptember 30, 2015

Me and Mine – September

September is over and we’re now securely in the Autumn months. The leaves are changing colours, the concurs are falling and the summer holidays feel like a distant memory. It also means that it’s time for my Me and Mine post.

This month has seen Lili go back to school and start year one and little Poppy start pre-school. I still can’t believe she’s old enough to be going to pre-school, which meant the whole thing caught me by surprise. Before I knew it the big day was here and I hadn’t prepared myself for the separation at all. She on the other hand was fine and acted like it was nothing new. Children all around her were having little panic attacks and minor meltdowns but she ignored it all and settled in quickly and with no fuss. Suddenly I realised that it was me, who wasn’t ready!

At the beginning of the month we also met the newest member of our little family for the first time, at our 12 week scan. We’ve obviously known that we’re pregnant for a couple of months but it wasn’t until I saw that little head and heard the heart beat that the reality of it all sank in. All of a sudden I completely fell in love with this little baby and knew that he or she will complete our family. I feel so blessed and happy to be in this position as it’s not something I would have chosen a few months ago but now that we’re here it feels right and telling the girls last week cemented that feeling.

These pictures were taken in our garden on Sunday…

This month:

I have been…

* Getting excited about telling the girls our big news

* Watching Dr Foster on the BBC and Nashville on E4

* Shopping for maternity wear – yes already!!

Dom has …

* Loved sharing our exciting baby news with his family and of course the girls.

* Taught Lili to ride her bike without stabilisers and is very proud with himself.

* Started a new job and a new chapter in his career, as he’s now set up his own business.

The girls have been…

* Telling everyone about the ‘baby in mummy’s tummy’.

* Gone back to school and started pre-school.

* Watching Alphablocks and Number Jacks – they’re both fab DVDs for learning phonics and numbers.

Follow

HeleddSeptember 29, 2015

Becoming A Party of Five – {A Pregnancy Announcement}

Yes , you read that right A Pregnancy Announcement!

We are expecting baby number three…

So there we go, the secret’s out. I’m now sixteen weeks pregnant and finally getting my head around the shock of this little miracle. Luckily I’ve had no sickness or nausea but the tiredness has hit hard on a few occasions. Also, my tummy has definitely popped out a lot sooner this time round – although all the chocolate I’m craving can’t be helping.

Here’s a little video that includes the moment we told the girls that we’re having another baby…

I always thought we’d have two children, so after Poppy was born almost three years ago I felt so blessed and so happy to have my two little girls. Fast forward three years and I honestly thought that our baby years were behind us. We’ve sold our baby things and all my maternity clothes are long gone – so we really are starting again!

If I’m being honest it’s taken me a while to get used to the idea of having another baby and going through this whole process again. This means I didn’t feel the usual joy and excitement I associate with finding out that I’m pregnant. Questions like… “What will this do to our family dynamics?” and “Will the girls’ bond be split by the arrival of a new sibling?”.. all went around in my head. I’ve struggled with so many different feelings over the past couple of months but my husband’s support and infectious excitement has helped me through.

I’d say I was in denial for the first few weeks and didn’t tell anyone about our news. I told my mum when I was nine weeks and a few close friends but even then I was in shock and not really enthusiastic about sharing the our secret.

I also felt incredibly guilty about not being excited, and was worried that I would never feel the level of joy that I felt with my other two. However, the second I heard the heartbeat for the first time and saw these amazing images on the screen, I knew everything was going to be fine and that this little baby was going to complete our family.

Last week we told the girls that I had a ‘baby in my tummy’ and their reaction (although shocked initially – as you can see from the video) was wonderful. They’re both over the moon and keep talking, hugging and kissing my bump at every opportunity. They’re both convinced it’s a girl and are currently coming up with names, including; Rose, Isabelle and Evie…. the list goes on and on.

So here we go again! I will be sharing all my experiences with you all on this blog and on my YouTube channel over the next six months. Please join me on this unexpected journey, as I prepare to become a mum of three and we as a family get ready to become a ‘party of five’.

Baby number three is due mid March 2016.

Follow

HeleddSeptember 28, 2015

Things I’m loving lately {September}

As September comes to an end and we’re well and truly back in the swing of school days, I thought I’d do a little round up of things I’m loving this month.

It has been a funny old month… I loved having the girls off during the summer weeks so much, that sending them back to school (and to start preschool) has left me feeling a little flat. Don’t get me wrong they both love going to school and I’m happy to see them settle in and ‘get on with it’ but I just miss our long lazy days together.

Also, I’m not the biggest fan of routine, so getting up to the sound of an alarm clock and doing the school and preschool runs are not fun. But hey, life goes on and it’ll be half-term before we know it!

So here we go, the lovely things I’ve found this month, that have made me happy….

Beauty

Over the summer I ditched my red lips in favour of a more natural ‘nude’ colour. As the weather turns cooler I find myself reaching again for my favourite red lipstick and lip liner. My new favourite is this Marks & Spencer Autograph one – the shade is quite aptly called ‘Poppy’.

I’ve also been using a lot of my Lee Stafford Argan Oil Big Fat Wand, which is perfect for creating big lose curls and tussled waves. It’s infused with argan oil to give soft, silky hair – plus it heats up in 30 seconds! I just love the effect this wand gives me – messy yet groomed wavy hair. Perfect!

Fashion

This time of year can be so tricky when it comes to fashion and knowing what to wear. One minute it’s pouring with rain and cold and the next it’s warm and sunny.

However, one thing I have treated myself to recently is a new cashmere jumper, which is (for me) a must-have for Autumn/Winter. I’m totally obsessed by cashmere and enjoy nothing more than snuggling up on the sofa in my warm, super soft jumper or long cardigan.

I recently picked up this grey number from GAP for £89, which although is expensive for a jumper, is excellent value for cashmere. It’s the perfect shape, shade and as you’d expect so comfortable. If I could wear this every day, I would!

Top tip: Buy a size up for a more casual ‘boyfriend jumper’ look.

Home

Along with Spring, I think Autumn is another season where I tend to have a good clear out and sort through the house. I’ve recently got a *new duvet from The Fine Bedding Company and it’s simply gorgeous! Seriously, is there anything better than new bedding – of any kind? Given half a chance I’d spend a small fortune on new bedding and nightwear.

This fluffy new duvet came with a gorgeous set of Flint+Flint {the secret of skin health} beauty products in a cross-promotion they’re calling ‘Beauty Sleep” how cute is that?

Food

This month I was sent the new *Little Dish recipe book, which I’ve now read cover to cover and ‘tabbed’ all my favourite recipes – and believe me there are many! One of the first recipes in the book is a super easy and delicious bircher muesli, made with oats, berries, milk, yogurt and honey. I’ve been making this most nights lately, so I have a gorgeous and healthy breakfast waiting for me in the morning. Now that is worth getting out of bed for!

On a serious note, if you’re after a good, easy cook book, full of family friendly recipes and ideas – I really do recommend this book. It’s rammed with over 100 suggestions that I’ll be going through over the next few weeks.

And finally…

How cool are these little *Huggies ‘Style on the Go’ pouches? I’m always carrying wipes with me, lets face it, as a mum of little ones they’re essential! These pouches not only look cool, they’re refillable and incredibly handy.

Pop over to Life at the Little Wood, to read what Emma’s loved this month along with a host of other lovely bloggers that have joined in with this monthly roundup of favourite things.

Disclaimer: I was sent items marked with a * in return for inclusion in this post.

Follow

HeleddSeptember 24, 2015

My Captured Moment #38 {A Picture Link-up}

Welcome to My Captured Moment, a weekly linky where I share my favourite ‘Captured Moments’ and invite you to do the same.

This week my ‘My Captured Moment’ is a series of pictures I took last month, while we were staying with my family in Wales.

As we move into Autumn and the weather turns cold and increasingly wet, it feels nice to look back on these sunny pictures of our beautiful summer.

I especially love these pictures as they really show the strong, loving bond my girls share and how happy they are in each other’s company. I hope they always feel like this and will always be as close.

Share your Moments

Your ‘My Captured Moment’ can be a single picture or a series of shots, new (taken this week) or old, with or without words. The idea is to simply share a moment in time you’ve captured on your camera and make sure it doesn’t go unseen. This could include vintage shots of your own childhood and beyond or a simple picture you’ve recently taken and want to ‘show off’.

How to Play Along

• Link up every Thursday to Sunday (ending at 11.55pm)

• Add my badge (or link back to my website using #MyCapturedMoment) at the bottom of your post.

• Share the love – try to comment on a few of the other posts. After all that’s what it’s all about.

Go Social

Tweet your posts to me @HeleddLavender using the hashtag #MyCapturedMoment and I’ll retweet. Hashtag your picture #MyCapturedMoment on Instagram (follow me @HeleddLavender) so we can share our pictures and hopefully get some new followers and likes.

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.runninginlavender.com/" title="Running in Lavender"><img src="http://www.runninginlavender.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/My-Captured-Moment-badge.jpg" alt="Running in Lavender" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

An InLinkz Link-up

Follow

HeleddSeptember 20, 2015

Vlog Club {My Top Five Chick Flicks}

Welcome to this month’s Vlog Club!

This month’s Vlog Club theme is Chick Flicks. Now as a movie addict I found this theme incredibly difficult, there are so many great movies out there and it’s so easy to overlook a classic. Here are some of my favourites that didn’t make it into my Top Five.

1. The Notebook – a beautiful movie that always makes me cry

2. The Holiday – a must watch at Christmas

3. Dirty Dancing – a real classic

4. Pretty Woman – another classic

5. Breakfast at Tiffany’s – I just adore Audrey Hepburn (enough said)

6. Sweet Home Alabama – a great little story

7. Practical Magic – the most amazing house and little shop

8. How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days – a little trashy but I love it

9. Bridesmaids – hilarious movie

10. Flashdance – best ending to a film ever

So even though I love all these films, they didn’t make it into my Top Five. Here is my video and my top five favourite chick flicks…

VLOG CLUB

“Vlog Club” is a monthly link up where myself and other bloggers all share a video of our Top Five (the theme changes every month) – and then we all share our videos through the link tool below.

If you vlog (or fancy starting) and would like to join our club, you can email any of us or you can simply join the Vlog Club Facebook page.

An InLinkz Link-up

Follow

HeleddSeptember 20, 2015

Sunday Stars – 20th September

Welcome back to our Sunday Stars linky, a place for you to share your favourite post each week.

Myself and a group of blogger friends decided to set up this linky together. We wanted to create a place where our favourite post from the week could be easily shared – then we thought why not let everyone join in? We take it in turns to co-host but we all comment and re-tweet throughout the week.

Last Week’s Star Posts were…

THOUGHT ON MOTHERHOOD – by Jenny on a Plate

And

DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE THE X-FACTOR – by Carry On Katy

Do give these two posts a read, they’re both amazing!

Back to this week…

This linky is designed to give everyone a place to show off their favourite post and make sure they don’t go unread. This week it’s myself and the lovely Amy from Everything Mummy hosting and we can’t wait to read your star post!

Tweet your posts to either of us (@heleddlavender or @amycooperem) and @SundaysStars using the hashtag #SundayStars and we’ll RT.

Next week’s hosts will be two of my favourites; Karen from Stopping at Two and Jess from Mummy of Boy Girl Twins – so keep an eye out for them next Sunday.

The Rules:

• You can link 1 post – old or new, anything that you are really proud of and want to share.

• Please remember to add the Sunday Stars badge to the bottom of the post.

• Share the love – try and comment on at least three other posts. After all that’s what it’s all about!

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.runninginlavender.com/" title="Running in Lavender"><img src="http://www.runninginlavender.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/sundaystars.badge_1.jpg" alt="Running in Lavender" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

An InLinkz Link-up

Follow

HeleddSeptember 17, 2015

My Captured Moment #37 {A Picture Link-up}

Welcome to My Captured Moment, a weekly linky where I share my favourite ‘Captured Moments’ and invite you to do the same.

This week’s my ‘My Captured Moment’ is (you knew it was coming!) my girls on their first day in year 1 and pre-school. This is a tradition I’ll keep up every year for as long as they let me.

Yes, Lili is now in year one and my little baby has started pre-school. I’ll be honest, I totally underestimated her strength and her readiness to start pre-school. I was prepared for tears and separation anxiety, I thought we’d have tantrums at the door and heartbreaking scenes as I walked away – but no. She surprised me by taking it all in her stride and wondering into the classroom like it was something she’d done a hundred times before. With chaos and screaming kids all around her, she turned to me and said in her little voice ‘bye mama’.

Suddenly, I realised that I was so ready to deal with her tears and cries that I hadn’t prepared myself for the fact that my baby girl was starting pre-school – and then the reality hit my like a bus! I turned away and the tears flooded my eyes!

The main thing I’ve learnt this week is that my little girl is a lot stronger than I give her credit for, she’s quiet and shy but she’s also confident and brave.

Share your Moments

Your ‘My Captured Moment’ can be a single picture or a series of shots, new (taken this week) or old, with or without words. The idea is to simply share a moment in time you’ve captured on your camera and make sure it doesn’t go unseen. This could include vintage shots of your own childhood and beyond or a simple picture you’ve recently taken and want to ‘show off’.

How to Play Along

• Link up every Thursday to Sunday (ending at 11.55pm)

• Add my badge (or link back to my website using #MyCapturedMoment) at the bottom of your post.

• Share the love – try to comment on a few of the other posts. After all that’s what it’s all about.

Go Social

Tweet your posts to me @HeleddLavender using the hashtag #MyCapturedMoment and I’ll retweet. Hashtag your picture #MyCapturedMoment on Instagram (follow me @HeleddLavender) so we can share our pictures and hopefully get some new followers and likes.

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.runninginlavender.com/" title="Running in Lavender"><img src="http://www.runninginlavender.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/My-Captured-Moment-badge.jpg" alt="Running in Lavender" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

I’m also linking this little post up to The Ordinary Moments Linky run by my friend Katie at MummyDaddyMe.

An InLinkz Link-up

Follow

HeleddSeptember 14, 2015

They Had Me at Liberty!

It’s not often I get excited about baby collaborations, especially these days but this one by Mamas & Papas and Liberty London did make me sit up and take notice. Together they’ve created a stunning collection of pushchairs, bags, home and nursery accessories, toys and the most beautiful little vintage inspired clothes.

I was lucky enough to be invited to the launch a few weeks ago at the Liberty store on Regent Street – and I absolutely fell in love with the collection! I really feel like it’s something completely different and incredibly pretty. I’m not a big fan of bright cartoon like prints, so everything in this range is right up my street. Also, it looks so expensive! I guess that’s the Liberty affect.

The print for the pushchair and accessories is a hybrid of the iconic Caesar and Ares prints – that has been exclusively created for this exciting collaboration.

Also, everything in the range – from the pushchairs to the cushions, toys and even a vintage style rocking horse proudly shows a sweet little Liberty logo, adding to the exclusive feel.

Here are just some of my personal standout pieces…

This year Liberty (my favourite London department store) celebrates its 140th birthday with special product launches and events taking place between now and the end of the year. Pop onto their website for more details.

This stunning collection is now exclusively available at Liberty and Mamas & Papas.

Follow

HeleddSeptember 10, 2015

My Captured Moment #36 {A Picture Link-up}

Welcome to My Captured Moment, a weekly linky where I share my favourite ‘Captured Moments’ and invite you to do the same.

This week I’m obviously feeling slightly nostalgic and (God help me) maybe a little broody. I came across this black and white picture of Lili and Dom when I was sorting through some old files and instantly knew it would be this week’s ‘My Captured Moment’. I took this picture when Lili was just a few days old, it must have been one of her first few mornings at home with us. She looks so tinny and I just love the look of wonderment and amazement on Dom’s face. It feels like they’re getting to know each other with just a look.

I must get this picture framed and hung somewhere in the house!

Share your Moments

Your ‘My Captured Moment’ can be a single picture or a series of shots, new (taken this week) or old, with or without words. The idea is to simply share a moment in time you’ve captured on your camera and make sure it doesn’t go unseen. This could include vintage shots of your own childhood and beyond or a simple picture you’ve recently taken and want to ‘show off’.

How to Play Along

• Link up every Thursday to Sunday (ending at 11.55pm)

• Add my badge (or link back to my website using #MyCapturedMoment) at the bottom of your post.

• Share the love – try to comment on a few of the other posts. After all that’s what it’s all about.

Go Social

Tweet your posts to me @HeleddLavender using the hashtag #MyCapturedMoment and I’ll retweet. Hashtag your picture #MyCapturedMoment on Instagram (follow me @HeleddLavender) so we can share our pictures and hopefully get some new followers and likes.

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.runninginlavender.com/" title="Running in Lavender"><img src="http://www.runninginlavender.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/My-Captured-Moment-badge.jpg" alt="Running in Lavender" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

An InLinkz Link-up

Follow

HeleddSeptember 9, 2015

Princesses for a Day at Disneyland Paris

Last week we spent a magical long weekend at Disneyland Paris. The girls had seen the TV adverts and watched many YouTube videos of this amazing place but nothing could prepare them for what they were about to experience. The daily parade, the late night fireworks display, the characters walking around, the rides and of course (and most exciting for my girls) the live sing along FROZEN show! I could go on and on, we had the most wonderful time.

On one of the days, we’d booked in for ‘Lunch with the Princesses’, this was the girls’ opportunity to get dressed up and meet their favourite princess, or as we like to call them, their ‘heroes in tiaras’. I’d told them both about this extra special treat the day before we set off for Paris and handed them a package each to open. Inside these packages was a new princess dress each for them to wear on the day; Cinderella for Lili and Princess Anna for Poppy. To say they were excited would be a massive understatement, I now wish I’d recorded the moment as it really was very special.

The two new dresses were from George at Asda and an absolute bargain at only £12.50 each. The quality of both dresses were great and the detail on the Cinderella dress especially, was beautiful. To be honest, once we got to Disneyland I started comparing our dresses to the 60€ version sold on site and I was surprised and thrilled that our Asda dresses were as good as these ‘deluxe’ versions.

On the big day the girls got dressed up and we all excitedly made our way to Cinderella’s restaurant (called Auberge De Cendrillon) in ‘Fantasyland’ for the big lunch. Here are some pictures from the day, as you can see Lili and Poppy had the most incredible time…