Thursday 23 October 2014

Tips for staying in France with a toddler

Whilst we were in France this year I discovered a few little things that may be helpful to you.

1. Supermarket trolleys don't have straps on. So if you have a toddler/baby that won't sit still it's best to bring along their pushchair or have them in a carrier strapped to you.

2. Proper high chairs seem to be few and far between in restaurants. And if they did have one it may not have straps. Quite a few restaurants seemed to have booster seats but there was no strap to be seen not even one to attach the booster seat to the chair. I was so glad I took our Totseat with us, I would definitely recommend taking one or something similar with you.

3. If you're going to be purchasing nappies, Pampers are SO expensive so go for a cheaper brand. The first time we travelled we purchased Carrefour own brand, these worked very well. This year we purchased Pommette, these weren't so good.

4. Food wise, the selection of baby food in the supermarkets were amazing (and looked rather good), there was loads of fruit purees as well as main meals. There was just not any baby snacks, and I couldn't even find any little packs of raisins. As I didn't know what there would be I did take loads of toddler snacks for Ben like Carrot Stick crisps and some little fruit snacks, so I was prepared.

5. The milk colours are different in France, whole milk is red. And we couldn't find any whole milk in any of the service stations on the way down, or on the P&O Ferry crossing either. We didn't even bother looking on the journey home!

Monday 20 October 2014

Skincare Routine - Night

As I showed you my morning skincare routine last Monday, this week I chose to follow it up with my Evening routine,



I start by removing my make-up. For that I use L'Oreal's Micellar water. this is okay, but when I've run out I'm going to try the Garnier one next.


After that I then follow it up with the Liz Earle Cleanser, Toner and Moisturiser like I use in the morning. The Hot Cloth Cleanser gets off the remainder of make-up that I have and cleanses the skin better as well.


I use a different eye cream at night. Olay Total Effects 7 in one, I never used to use eye cream anytime, but figured it was better too and to help brighten up the area and protect it better and help with preventing those wrinkles.

Thursday 16 October 2014

Ben's 18 month update

So Ben's now a year and a half old! Another month has gone by so fast! It's getting harder and harder to take photo's of him, as he just won't sit still!


Back when we were on holiday (seems so long ago now!) Ben was picking up 1/2/3 new words a day, this has slowed down a bit now, but I can't believe how many words he has, he can't say them all properly but tries so hard. I particularly like the way he says curtain.


That 4th molar cropped up during his 18th month and all his others are now pretty much fully through, even had a couple of teeth brushing times when he wasn't screaming. He would cry every time I tried to brush them, I have to lay him down and force it, which I really hate. But he needs to learn they need to be brushed and it doesn't really hurt to do so.


Ben now loves sitting on the sofa, he likes to play with his little pack of Frozen playing cards that we got for free with a weekly shop. I did take them on holiday with us and he played with them for hours.


He'll now help me take the dry washing of the clothes horse and put it in the basket as well.


He is such a confident walker now, all he wanted to do whilst we were in France was go for walks, so that improved his walking greatly.


He now tells use nearly every time that he has done a poo, and also touches his nappy when he tells us. As you can see he does have a potty, and some big boy pants, and also a book. I'm just explaining to him what a potty is for at the minute, and once he's more aware we'll start the potty training.


This bus has to be his favourite toy at the minute, and he's beginning to copy the letter/phonics and words said.

He's also turned into such a cuddly little toddler, and goes Mumma and Dadda when he cuddles us, which we love.

Monday 13 October 2014

Skincare Routine - Morning

I thought I would show you my skincare routine, I did do a review on the Liz Earle Cleanse, Tone and Polish routine that I use, but I also use other products as well. This is what I do in the morning.


I start off with the Liz Earle Cleanser, apply it to dry skin and then use a muslin cloth soaked in hand hot water to remove it along with any dirty etc. that's on my skin.


I then follow that up with the Liz Earle toner. I apply a few drops on to a cotton pad and wipe it over my face, just to remove any remaining cleanser, I find this really wakes up my skin as well.


Being a mummy I don't get as much sleep or time to relax as I'd like so I decided to add the Liz Earle EyeBright into my routine on recommendation from my mum. I find this really helps sooth and wake up my tired eyes in the morning.


I then follow that up with the Liz Earle Daily Eye repair, just apply a little bit and pat it in under and around my eyes.


A couple of years ago I was still quite oily and getting regular breakouts. This L'Oreal Skin Perfection Serum changed all that. My skin is now a lot more normal and I only get breakouts around that time of the month. When I ran out of this earlier in the year and didn't use it for a few days back came to breakouts! So this is an essential to my routine.


Last of all I use my Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser in Normal/Combination.

Friday 10 October 2014

What's in my Changing Bag

This is what I carry around with me, since Ben became a toddler.


My bag is by Summer, I got mine from Amazon.


This is pretty self explanatory nappies, wipes, changing mat, nappy bags and hand sanitiser. I always make sure I use our own changing mat, over the top even if there's already one there. As only Ben has used ours and we wipe it down, just more sanitary.


I always carry Ben's red book around - you never know what could happen! And also some sachets of Teetha for emergency's. If Ben has been having a rough few days I also try to remember to pop some Calpol in the bag as well.


These are my things, purse, phone, keys, sunglasses, and the lip product that I'm wearing that day - if any.


Since Ben started walking I keep the reins in the changing bag. Sometime's I'll let him out to have a little walk around, and he doesn't really like holding my hand much any more.


As we seemed to have an unusually sunny Summer this year I just kept Ben's suncream, sunglasses and hat in the bag. Right now as it's finally cooled down these things aren't in there any more. But will be replaced by his Winter hat and mittens when it gets colder.


Whenever we go out I put in a fresh cup of water, and some snacks, a bib and a muslin cloth for wiping off crumbs (saves on those baby wipes, haha!)

Monday 6 October 2014

Holiday to France 2014

Just to overwhelm you with some of the photos that I took on our holiday to France.


Ben on the ferry, sleepsuit and jacket both from Jojo Maman Bebe.





Photos taken in Prayssac during the clothes market. Ben's vest and shorts are from Next.







We spent a few hours in the afternoon at a lake, not too far from the town we were staying in. Ben just loved paddling.





We also visited Rocamadour and had lunch there.




There was a monkey sanctuary there as well. Couldn't believe I managed to capture a mother and father washing their baby, so cute!



These last two were taken in Puy l'Eveque on our last night when we were out for dinner.

Friday 3 October 2014

Ben's 17 month update

As promised my first post typed after my holiday, Ben's 17 month update - I really cannot believe he's nearly a year and a half!


Such a cheeky little boy, look at his face! Haha! Around half way through his 17th month Ben started picking up a new word a day, I couldn't believe it, he would just copy one of the words that I said.


He still loves to be naughty, and still displays his cheeky little grin when doing so! Still loving all the same toys as well, and still won't sit still!


He had a little growth spurt during this month too, and I had to swap his holiday pyjama's for 12-18 month sizes (shows how small he is!). He also had 3 molar teeth pop up at the same time, teetha granules and calpol were my life savers! He started eating his food a bit quicker when those molars appeared.


He finally stood up by himself! It was actually on the ferry on the way to France that he started doing it. So only a couple of days before the end of the month. I am so happy that he has continued to do this as well.


Still loves to walk and spend lots of time outside, whenever I go outside to hang the washing up he wants to follow me.


I think that's about it, Ben's 18 month update will be up on time in just a couple of weeks.