I've really been loving H&M for their price point and gorggggg wood pieces and then of course LaRedoute - where i recently got India's bed from. Although i shouldn't promote getting things on finance it was a great way to afford it and they usually do amazing sales and 'VIP' codes if you sign up which gave me 40% off!
One day I realized how much the little one has taken over and even our bedroom space had turned in to her 'dumping' ground. I find it really hard to make balance as I'd rather a livingroom be a cute play space rather than a mix match of adult and toy clutter but that just me.Maybe if we had a larger home with multiple rooms i'd feel different.
The point of this small little ramble is that I've decided to change up our bedroom with the mind of it being an adult space ONLY. I may even treat us to a vase. We're very limited on money for this change so I'm taking to my trusty paint everything white skill and seeing what i can come up with on eBay/ facebook marketplace/charity shops etc. Wish me luck!
I'm back on youtube after being away for many months. I find it hard sometimes as it's like being on bigbrother constantly, apart from you have to watch yourself 10 million times over until you edit yourself 'cool' enough for someone else to watch - just to go and leave a negative comment or thumbs down. Social medias kinda brutal when you think about it right? Anyway, I'm not my biggest fan however I've decided to put that aside as pictures just aren't doing it for me at the moment. I love them, photography truley is my passion. However, you then miss the quirks, funny, cute or even insane moments. That's what i want to document... along with the crying and sad. I don't want to create clickbait titles or crazy thumbnails. My channel is going to be what it is. Our life. Like it or lump it but I do hope you enjoy it haha.
Here is the first vlog back, i have uploaded more since then so you have a few to catch up on!
In all honesty, you're all probably bored of me blabbering on about how much I love Smallable, but for you all that don't follow me over on Instagram... I LOVE SMALLABLE.
Smallable is somewhere you can find beautiful things that have been perfectly curated for your home, nursery to even skincare or fashion.
I personally have loved the company since finding them when i was pregnant. This however made me spend far too much, that's what your first ones all about though right? I love to shop with a whole range of brands and they seem to always stock the ones i adore which is perfect for Indias modern bohemian style and myself, the shopping addict.
I think that in general, the clothes are a little bit pricier as they're a lot more special/better quality and some brands sustainable. However they have the best outlet which i'm constantly refreshing, defo one to check out if you can't afford the full price items.
''We love brands and designers that tell a story and that are committed to making goods with the utmost respect for human beings and the environment. We like being selective, without being elitist. Well-being, beauty and goodness are the very essence of our DNA.
We support designers who are committed to:
- environmental protection and human respect.
- ethical production by supporting communities of women and men and by adhering to employee protection schemes.
- a local limited production.
This is what Smallable guarantees; products made with care by passionate designers, very often in small quantities and sometimes by hand.''
They currently have a private sale going on so i sifted through the pages and found these... Alas, i have no money this month so please shop so i can live through you all. So many gorgeous pieces ... goes and cries in a locked toilet.
Its also the best place to find your matching outfits with your babe.
My Favourite brand to twin in.
Sidenote* I was talking to my friend the other day and discussing the prices of Mamas and Papas and how when you're in the shop although you wince, you would easily pay £22 - 34 for a dress, so how come we find it harder to support smaller businesses when presented with that price? Is it because it's a in the moment rather than see the numbers on the screen?
Another sidenote* I spent more than i EVER have on a Millk knitted set for India and she wears it 2/3 days of the week for the past 8 months. i, of course, bought it in the bigger size. whereas things i have bought from lets say Asda or Next have been worn once or twice and forgotten about. So i think that if you truly love something and you will enjoy seeing your little one being in it. Go for it. Just make sure you buy some Vanish! Never be afraid of ruining clothes, there's always a solution to fix it plus life is for living!
Soak those almonds of yours about a cup full overnight so they're all juicy and plump.
So first of all lets get the kettle on and stew some chai tea bags, you could totally make your own flavour and not cheat with a tea bag by stewing honey, cinnamon , ginger, vanilla, cardamom , cloves and cinnamon with a bit of water. Who has time for that though? You'll have to strain it etc etc etc i'm lazy so lets get back to the tea bag deal.
You'll only want a little bit of water in with the chai tea just enough to get the flavour running through your milk.
While thatsaaaa brewing lets make the almond milk, now i have a Almond Cow machine and i know that not everyone has that luxury so i'm going to give you the recipe on how i made it before hand.
Usually people say to peel the skin off the almonds but honestly i don't notice the difference enough to feel the need to do so.. but if you would like? then do so. Stick them in the blender with some water ( the ratio i use is 1 cup almonds 3 cup water ) and blitz until smooth...pour the liquid out in a secure muslin cloth over a bowl ( or you can get a straining bag ) and pour the almond mixture in to it. Then bunch up the cloth or bag and squeeze the milk out SO DAMN SATISFYING. You'll be left with pulp which you can make in to almond flour, just dry it out and store in to a jar until needed.
Last step combine your brewed chai tea and milk together, thats it.
The milk lasts up to 3 - 4 days in the fridge :)
It's so much easier than you think and cheaper than buying it already bottled.
I love experimenting with vanilla and agave nectar.
Use my discount code : GEORGIE for $15 dollars off www.almondcow.com
So here's the thing, I want to write a crazy good blog post on how you should switch to reusable nappies because they are the bomb and maybe you're a little like me making some ridiculous narrative like you're gonna be covered in poop all the time and your washing triples. Guess what... I'm shit at writing blog posts however I can pop that disgusting bubble you're imagining because it isn't half as bad as you think!
When it comes to babes it's easier to stick with what you know. Everyone has a million opinions, there are also so many options ... why would you go with the rogue one? The one that's saving the planet? Duh just that, let me through this figure at you - 8 million nappies are sent to landfill every day in the UK alone, which are estimated to take 500 years to decompose PER NAPPY.
I want to start this off by saying i'm not perfect and i don't 100% use them all the time. That's okay, we have to remember that you have to be real with your situations and do the best you can do. Making small changes are better than making none!
I think the main thing you think of is having to deal with poop, which yes isn't very glam but you've probably done at least one rodeo with an explosive poop nappy which can only desensitise you to everything else in life, right?! I don't think anything can phase you after that.
We actually use liners inside the reusables, due to her pooing solids now its nice and easy just to plop that in the toilet. I have read reviews about parents having poo knives or spatulas which i find hilarious but honestly scrape or shake that poo down the toilet and give it a rinse off. It's really not a big deal.
Fun fact - technically, you’re supposed to put the poo down the toilet with disposable nappies too, so that faecal matter doesn’t go into landfill, and spread diseases. I found that out over on mamalina's blog so if you're interested in this post you should defo go over and check her out! She's much better at all this than me.
So now we've moved on from poo, what next? *I've only used Bambino Mio ones so my experience has only been with them. Which by the way are absolutely awesome. I make sure the inside lining is pulled out and the velcro tabs are folded together, I then simply put them in a lined laundry bag then when I'm ready just shake them out into the washing machine, It's really no hassle. I don't tumble dry them as this would ruin the velcro tabs, just simply lay them out on a rack overnight ready to be used the next day.
India loves them. The painstaking task of putting of her in a nappy stops! She picks out whatever print she fancies and will stand there, like the queen that she is waiting for me to put in on! So they must be comfy for her versus the 'normal' pull-ups.
What happens if you're out? Just get a watertight small bag! Pop the nappy in that until you get home.
Theres no soacking poo stained clothes in the sink as they're much better at keeping that poop in or even those midnight runs to the shop because you've run out of nappies.
Just buy 3 and use them every couple of days, you will be shocked. The worst thing that happens is that you'll hate them ( totally won't happen ) and you can resell them! Plenty people buy second-hand ones online as they actually get more absorbent the more they're washed!
I would highly suggest the Bambino Mio ones.
''The award-winning miosolo is a simple, stylish and super soft all-in-one reusable nappy which is as easy to use as a disposable! The nappy is onesize* meaning it will grow with your baby from birth to potty training.''
Hope this has helped a little and if you have any questions feel free to ask me :)
Because it's stupid.
Thats the answer to the title of this blog.
The end, good read as usual.
Okay so you know my strong point isn't writing. To be honest i don't really understand why i have a blog. I'm rubbish at it. I feel like i would be amazing if i had a podcast... thats if i could stop stuttering my words every second sentence - total tired mum brain. So realistically i shouldn't start a podcast until Indias ...well... 28 and hopefully has moved out. So yeah just bare with me for a few years with this.
Back to the subject.
It really annoys me that still in this ' modern era ' we still are being confined by stereotypes, shapes and sizes. Can we all get over it already?! The thing is i'm finding that it's becoming worse and i was totally guilty of it. I've had a shoody few weeks with getting my brain to realise that I AM OKAY just the way i am and thats what i want anyone thats reading this to feel as well. It's such a easy trap to fall in to seeing all these perfect Victoria secret models do star jumps off mount Everest with just a cute pom pom hat and sweaty betty outfit or the mum next door that has spawned triplets yet is still a size zero and house is spotless. Then you find yourself googling at 2am what fits a 4ft nothing dwarf with short limbs, stupidly long mermaid hair and scribbles for tattoos. We've all been there right?! Okay okay with different words though? right?My point is if i ever get there. We should wear what makes us happy. If we are spending money on clothes why are we wearing what we feel should fit a pear shape instead of that disgustingly fun neon pink chunky jumper?
You were born you and unless you have kardashian / Jenner money nothings changing that. So enjoy you. Put to bed those words you say to yourself when you look in the mirror. Let's not care what Caron from accounts is going to type about you.
You only have one life don't waste a minute on anyone else.
All you have to do is cut out all the pulp and then hammer a cookie cutter all the way through! You'll be left with pumpkin 'star ' - or whatever shape you use, that you can pop in the oven for 30 minutes for a tasty treat.
Just peel the skin off before eating!
Studs.These are so easy, just push them in to the design you want. They were a bit too satisfying and i ended up going over the lid.
Last but not least chalk paint! It covers amazingly well. Below is just one coat.
