mummy blog

Mama’s beauty go-tos 

Hi everyone, 

Today I thought it would be fun to share the makeup I have been loving lately. Not because I am good at doing at my makeup (full disclosure I am not) but because these are products that work for me and ones I find extremely easy to use and thought maybe some of you may want to give something new a try. 

The first product is foundation:


Wet & Wild Photo Focus is my new all time favourite foundation – It’s medium coverage, feels lightweight and has a semi-dewy finish. I purchased from Crush Cosmetics for $15.00 and in my opinion you just can’t beat it!!! 
Next is bronzer 


Soleil Tan De Chanel – its a creamy, warm bronzer. It can be used as a base under your foundation or over the top. I use it in place of a traditional powder bronzer. On occasion I use it as an eyeshadow too. It’s a bit on the pricey side but it is a large container and will last ages & ages. I purchased from David Jones for $69.00
Next is an eyeshadow palette 

Marc Jacobs Beauty Style Eye Con in 204 Starlet – is a great every day palette with lots of colour choice and I like that it is small enough to fit in a makeup bag when travelling, yet still has a decent sized mirror. The payoff is gorgeous and I feel like a little bit goes along way. I purchased from Sephora for $89.00 (currently out of stock) 
Lastly is lipgloss & lipstick 

I love lipsticks and lip glosses and honestly my favourites haven’t changed for a very long time. My favourite lipstick is Chanel Rogue Coco hydrating lipstick in Rose Cosmete. Its a nice pale pink and one I feel comfortable wearing everyday. I can’t find this colour readily to buy, however I orginally purchased from David Jones and they still have a great variety of colours for $53.00 


My favourite lipgloss is Marc Jacobs Beauty Enamored Hi Shine lipgloss in the colour Sugar Sugar 312. It can be worn alone or over the top of lipsticks, I do both but love wearing it alone when I haven’t got any makeup on but want to look a little put together. This lipgloss was ‘free with purchase’ so is a dinky travel size however Sephora sell the full size for $42.00 and it will be a purchase I make once I run out of this little baby. 
What have you been loving lately? What’s your go to makeup items, I would love to know! In particular mascara, I have the hardest time finding a mascara I actually like. 

Until next time, 

BCM

Advertisement

Baby names we love but won’t be using… part 2 

Hi again, 

Last year I shared baby names we love but won’t be using and thought that I’d do it again, seeing as we had another visit to the baby books for our newest baby and had to go through the naming process all over again. (Isn’t that one of the hardest parts of having a baby) 
1.


This was a name my husband wanted for Rhemy, I liked it, but didn’t love it. We revisited it for Miami as he still really liked it, but I couldn’t commit. 

2. 

This one I still love and my husband likes it too. It was a contender, but I guess Miami was just the winner this time.

3. 

This was our boys name, we found out the gender of baby #2 as well, so we didn’t look at many boys names. 

4. 

This was my baby girl name for as long as I can remember. I really don’t know why it wasn’t used for either girls, I guess it just never felt right.

5. 

Simple and elegant. I love this name, my husband loves this name. Just not enough. 

6. 

I love this name for a girl, my husband wouldn’t budge! 

7. 

We talked about Rosie, it has sentimental value to us, but I just didn’t like it with our surname. 

8. 

I loved this for a girl, my husband didn’t hate it, but just wasn’t as big of a fan

9. 

This was a high contender for Miami, we both really liked it, and then I changed my mind! 

I’d love to hear your names that you love but won’t be using, post them below in the comments. Share around with your friends and see their names, it can be a great source for names for other parents. It can be fun to see what a couples baby could have been named, etc.

Until next time 
BCM

Mummy guilt! 

I know I have talked about this on a lot of my blog platforms in one way or another but it is one that is most relevant to right now. One I think most (if not all) of us feel at one point or another. Mummy guilt! 

It’s a bitch! It creeps up on us when we don’t expect it too, when we are going about our every day, when we are working, when we are trying to sleep! 

I feel it a lot – I feel it for Rhemy and how quickly she had to grow up. For the moments she needs me and I can’t be there for her because her sister needs me more, for the times I realise I expect her to be older than she really is and for making her share us before she really had too. I feel it for Miami because she doesn’t get the attention she deserves, because I feel like I haven’t got the time to give to her like I gave to Rhemy, I feel it because I can’t always be there when she needs me to be and that she always has to share us. 

I blame myself when Rhemy is naughty – even though I know it’s the naughty twos! I blame myself when Miami isn’t crawling – even though I know kids do things in their own time! I blame myself when they are hurting and think of ways I could have prevented it – even though I know I really couldn’t have! I blame myself when I miss things when I’m at work – even though I know being at work means I can give them more.

Let me tell you though that mummy guilt subsides when I see them playing together, Miami laughing so hard and Rhemy being so kind. When Miami lights up when I see her and Rhemy tells me she loves me. When they hold hands because they want too or when Rhemy tries to show Miami how to crawl. 

Mummy guilt is a bitch but deep down I know I’m doing this mama thing right! 

Thank you coffee

To my dearest coffee,

I am writing to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you have and continue to do for me, especially in these last few years. I always drank you because I enjoyed you, but now you are my play button. The kick up the but I need to begin my days.

You have managed to single handily pick me up on multiple occasions, even if I have had to consume 4 cups of your sweet goodness to get said pick me up. You have been my morning go to for years but now you are my afternoon go to as well. You have been reheated, spilt, shared with family, friends and acquaintances. You have been tipped out, spat out and remade. You have put up with and offered so much. How would I have ever survived without you?

Without you, some days would seem so much longer. Some days I don’t know if I could open my eyes, talk to people, be nice to people. Functioning off two hours of sleep is made easier with you, not easy – easier. You are a good excuse to get together with friends and a good excuse to sit alone on the lounge for a while.

As with all good things, you certainly have your cons, such as the new stress I have when trying to enjoy you, when my toddler is in the room. The constant reminders that you are hot and the cup is not for babies is getting old. Yet I still find myself needing you every single day.

People say you’re no good for me, but  I don’t see myself ever giving you up.

Thank you coffee for all you have done!

 

[Hope you enjoyed my sarcastic letter of one of my life saviours, until next time BCM]

 

Feature image sourced from pexels.com

 

 

Baby name trends! 

Naming our baby was a much harder task then either of us expected. My husband likes names slightly more conservative and myself, a little out there. We “vitoed” each other so many times, I thought that was going to end up being her name.

We settled on multiple names, to then change our minds a week later (okay my mind, I changed my mind)! There really was some goodies in there, so we have no intention of sharing, you know just incase the next one is a girl.

I have read so many articles relating to the trends of baby names, but I have to admit this this last trend has taken the cake. According to Baby Center  #instagrambabies is now a thing! Parents are naming their children after Instagram filters and other related editing apps. Now while some of the filter names are usable, Willow anyone? I am interested to see where our next naming inspiration comes from.

I completely understand the attraction of using a name from somewhere the majority wouldn’t expect, but I do have to wonder where do we begin to look next?

Now I have to say, I support everyone’s decision to name their child whatever their heart desires, it has long been the case that what one couple thinks is beautiful, another does not!

So I ask you, what do you think?

Is your next baby going to be called Valencia or is there somewhere else we can look for the names of future children?

Comment below!

Today baby won! 

Today our baby won, we didn’t stick to routine or the “rules” we have in place. Today our baby won and that’s okay! 

You see we have been away for 3 weeks and during that time she was unbelievable – an absolute superstar! In and out the car like a yoyo! In the pram for hours! New surroundings and three days of travelling there and back! Barely a cry most days, please note I said most! 

   

  

Rhemy’s routine went out the window. Her bedtime was still the same every night but naps took place when we could get her to have them (and wherever we were). She started to wake pretty early in the morning but still slept through so really no complaints from me. 

You see we really do like Rhemy to have a routine, to have playtime and to know when things are happening during the day but today she won. She dictated the whole day. She slept when she wanted. (3 hours at 10.30am) she’s generally a afternoon napper and a morning power napper. She was rocked to sleep, which is never needed at bedtime (nap time maybe). When she woke she spent time in our bed! I know, I know not the best idea! 
Surely it’s okay for her to have a win somedays. Maybe I am in the minority, maybe I am not but as far as I can see it is! 

Rhemy won today and that’s okay!  

  
 
Now please comment below and tell me when your baby won, if it happens regularly or not at all. 

The Best Things About Being Called Mum

I have been giving this topic a lot of thought over the past few days and initially I thought I would have a top ten or even have my favourite things about being a mum numbered, but it occurred to me I can’t rate the things I love nor can I round them off to a even number. So here they are, in no particular order.

  • Rhemy: I know this is a fairly obvious one and honestly probably doesn’t need to be said, but I can’t have a list of my favourite things without listing her. She has taught me so much about myself in her short time on this planet. She is hilarious and wonderful and as corny as it sounds, she is my heart wandering around outside of my body (not that she wanders far).
  • Newborn smell: My friends who have children always spoke of the “newborn” smell and I believed them but I truly had never experienced it until I had my own baby. But they were right, the newborn smell is something out of this world!
  • Playtime: Never in my life, did I think I would enjoy singing nursery rhymes, on the floor under a mobile with a child who can not sing along, but my god I do! Seeing her face light up when the little characters twirl around above her, her gorgeous smile when I bop around singing for her bring me complete and utter joy. Luckily Rhemy doesn’t judge my singing or dancing and just enjoys our time together haha.
  • Baby clothes, shoes and accessories: This is not really part of motherhood but it is part of having a baby and probably has a lot to do with the fact that Rhemy has more clothes then she has been able to wear, but I love dressing her everyday. I love picking outfits for her, I love accessorising with headbands and little shoes. I love the compliments she recieves. I love making headbands and little barefoot sandals for her and hope one day I will be able to make her little pieces of clothing.
  • The way baby looks for me: I know, babies love their mums and that early on they are able to distinguish their mother and father from others that visit. But nothing prepared me for the feeling I would get when it was blatantly obvious that Rhemy wanted me.
  • Morning time: Just after Rhemy wakes up and she has her bottle I sit her on my lap facing me and we talk. She talks back and smiles and once or twice she has giggled. I love this time, it is our time just the two of us!
  • Her milestones: Seeing my daughter reach her milestones, is a feeling that I could not prepare myself for. The pride I felt when I heard her laugh and coo for the first time, when I witnessed her first smile and even when she had her first bottle is overwhelming.
  • Naptime: I love putting Rhemy in her swaddle and putting her in her crib. She is so peaceful and content and this time everyday reminds me of the unconditional love I feel for this tiny little human.

So I ask you to leave a commment and tell me what you are your favourite things about Being Called Mum?
Insta: @being_called_mum

Vasovagal Syndrome 4 months on

It has been four months (tomorrow) since the birth of Rhemy and four glorious months of no fainting, light headiness or nausea that is caused by having Vasovagal Syndrome.

Before I was pregnant, I was diagnosed with Vasovagal Syndrome and once my medication dosage was correct, it was something that did not bother me day to day. However when I was heavily pregnant I struggled severely with passing out. My medication was not working, but it was not an option to cease taking it. This reason among others, was why my c-section was moved forward from the original scheduled date.

Four months on and I have halved my medication, I feel great and have not fainted or felt dizzy. I had an appointment with my cardiologist just over a month ago, who was thrilled with my progress and even suggested that over time I could take myself off my medication and perhaps I had begun to out grow this syndrome.

When I was first diagnosed I couldn’t understand how you could grow out of this, however now I am sure you can. My triggers are pain and heat, while I haven’t been in pain lately (lucky me) I have been in the heat, walking and even participating in the gym and I have not once felt slightly off. With all these factors in mind, I am hopeful to be completely off my medication by the end of the year.

Vasovagal Syndrome is not over common and many people do not know about it, I struggled finding information on it when I first found out this was the reason why I felt faint for no real reason. I would love to hear from people who have this or even used to have it.

Until next time!