Not the original plan...

Sophia's Nursery Tour

2012-01-20T13:27:00.000-08:00

Sophia's nursery is without a doubt my favourite room in the house. I haven't gone crazy painting the walls candy floss pink, but at the same time it's undeniably a little girls room! The furniture is part of Argos' Curve Nursery Furniture range, personally I think it's great value compared to some of the Mothercare and Mamas and Papas furniture ranges.

Faux Sheepskin Rug - Ikea. Flower arrangement - Matalan. Mirror - Pound Stretcher!

Rabbits, Candle and Trinket box - Gifts

Canopy - Ikea. Mobile - Babies R Us (Sweetie Pie Range)

Butterfly Mirrors - Home Bargains. Nursing Chair and Footstool - Kiddicare.com

Walker - Vtech. Playmate - FisherPrice Rainforest Jungle Gym

Rainbow Fish Images and Frames - Charity Shop

Pink Storage Boxes - Ikea

Sophia is a big fan of her room, she especially likes crawling around on her rug! How have you decorated your little one's nursery?

Buy Less, Wear More!

2012-01-16T12:01:00.000-08:00

"Buy Less, Wear More," I am making this my resolution for 2012. I find that I often use Sophia as an excuse for missing out on various occasions and celebrations that I really should go to. Having "nobody to babysit" is a feeble excuse when Sophia's Daddy or my parents are always more than willing to look after her for a few hours whilst I go out an let my hair down. I love getting ready for nights out and having an excuse to look attractive for a change!

These are the three most recent additions to my wardrobe so I never suffer from a "I can't go out, I have nothing to wear crisis"...

Sweet Kisses Waterfall Dress - French Connection - £30 (Reduced from £120)

Lucinda Sequin Fitted Dress -French Connection - £55 (Reduced From £150)

Daffodil Dress - Warehouse - £12 (Reduced from £60)

These three dresses have all bases covered from a family meal, a girls night out and casual drinks with friends. I have no excuses to stay in now! Do you find that you're always making excuses and missing out on special occasions since the arrival of your little one?

The key to looking "Mumsy"

2012-01-16T06:29:00.000-08:00

Before Sophia came on to the scene it's safe to say I had my own clear and defined sense of style. Floral dresses, fun prints, brogues, leather jackets and body con. I was pretty gutted that I hadn't been given a pre match pep talk about the greatest fashion killer of all time - Pregnancy. I wasn't one of these people who embraced their new curves. Nothing about pregnancy made me feel sexy. I certainly wasn't lucky enough to stumble across the elusive pregnancy glow. I quickly piled on three (okay...four) stone and soared from a size 6/8 to a size hippo/rhinoceros.

The zoologists amongst you will know that styling a rhinoceros is not an easy task. As fast as you could say Topshop, my wardrobe turned from stylish to complete and utter bag lady (without the hobo chic connotations.) Think baggy tunic tops and dodgy prints. Conjure up the image of a Tramp in your mind and you have my pregnancy style nailed.

There has been light at the end of the tunnel, I'm grateful that losing the pregnancy pounds hasn't been too difficult a journey. One thing I am really struggling with is my now lost sense of fashion. Since I've been awarded the title of "Mum" I just don't feel comfortable in my pre-pregnancy wardrobe. I look at the contents of my once loved wardrobe and frown because it doesn't seem "Mum Appropriate." I'm not sure where these feelings come from but I think it's down to proving myself as a good albeit young, Mum. I want to prove to the world that I'm just as decent and worthy to raise a child as a married thirty-something.

At this rate I am in danger of becoming far too old before my time. I probably need some serious intervention before my entire wardrobe becomes black and beige...

It doesn't HAVE to be perfect.

2012-01-08T15:12:00.000-08:00

The prospect of becoming a parent for the first time is pretty daunting but for someone like myself with no prior experience of children, it was beyond terrifying. For this reason, I decided that everything 'HAD to be perfect' otherwise my child would turn out a lesser character as a result.

It's for this reason, I've decided that the process of becoming a parent turns you ever so slightly insane. Perhaps this is all part of a greater genetic process, without an element of insanity perhaps we would never choose to become parents. Biology aside, one day you're a perfectly rational human being and the next day you find yourself having a nervous breakdown over whether you should buy a maize or a wicker moses basket.

The intelligent part of my brain knew that at the end of the day, I was giving birth to a baby. For some unknown reason, I had conjured up in my mind that my unborn child was some judgemental, materialistic little being, that needed to be satisfied at all times. How I managed to convince myself that my newborn would know the difference in quality between a Bugaboo and a Quinny Buzz now beggars belief. I pictured her little face in the hospital, staring up at me in disgust when I wrapped her in a soft cotton shawl, "Ermmm... Hang on a minute Mummy, why isn't this cashmere?!"

I'm not claiming to be a parenting guru but the one thing I've definitely learnt from this parenting lark is that it really doesn't have to be perfect. I chose the maize moses basket in the end and the Bugaboo and cashmere shawls were financially out of my reach but strangely enough my baby doesn't love me any less or resent me for it. She's currently upstairs, fast asleep in her cot, dreaming of warm soft loveliness. She's not upstairs stroking her baby pink dyed Mothercare sheets, whinging about their low thread count.

So... A little tip for any prospective parents, give yourself and your bank balance a break. You'll quickly realise that your baby won't give a hoot whether he or she is swaddled in Prada or Primark. Your baby will always think you're perfect.

Introducing "The Plan"

2012-01-07T13:54:00.000-08:00

In the words of John Lennon, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." I couldn't have put it any better myself. One minute I'm trying to balance a mortar board on my head whilst clumsily posing for a graduation photograph and the following week I'm holding a white stick complete with two red lines.

Two unobtrusive red lines that may as well have flashed and screamed "IN NINE MONTHS YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A BABY!!!" Shaking, along with the initial feeling of "oh s**t", I thought to myself, 'hmmm...this wasn't part of the plan'. A year an a half down the line, I can't even remember what my original plan was. One thing I do know is that today's reality is so much better. I have the perfect daughter and her Daddy would be perfect too if it wasn't for his love cricket (trust me, it's a loooooong game.)

I'm hoping this blog will be a little insight into how I've managed to wing my way past a few hurdles without falling flat on my face... so far so good!

Wishing you 'Elf and Happiness for 2012

2011-12-25T12:04:00.000-08:00

A picture really does say a thousand words!