New Beginnings

Ok, so here we go....

I am not even sure how to start this entry..... Or what to say exactly.... But I just kind of want to kick myself in the behind and not let me have any further excuses I guess.... So that is why this post is going online....

Well let me explain what I actually mean.... So, after having two children over the course of 3 years, not doing much exercise at all and not really watching what I eat my body is looking, hmmmm, let's say just not really like it used to. Don't get me wrong at all, I am really about embracing a postpartum body and everything it brings with it. Wobbly tummy, stretch marks and the good old not so fresh looking boobs.... I mean seriously, our body has given everything to bring new life into this world and that is amazing!! So we should all be allowed to look exactly what we look like without being body shamed for it!!!! 

However, I have been trying to embrace myself for the last years and I simply do not feel comfortable in my own body any more. I am not a person to let any media influence my body image, and I would consider myself with a strong person who doesn't really care what anyone thinks of her. It is purely coming from within me. I used to be really happy with my body, do a lot of sports and naturally not overeat without even thinking about my food. However, somehow all this has changed and I think it crept up on my and I didn't even realise when I stopped caring.... But now this is really catching up on me. I am unhappy whenever I feel that I ate something I, in my mind, shouldn't have and I can't stand what I see in the mirror., which is not healthy thinking.

So in order stop me from always thinking about starting a healthy lifestyle again and exercising eating well, taking some time for myself, and not doing it, I thought, if I just post this entry and maybe even 1 or 2 people read it then I have to go through with it and stop finding excuses for myself.

Maybe we can even find a few mummy's that are likeminded and start supporting each other on our journey to get healthy and fit. 

If you feel the same and would like someone supporting you let me know and maybe we can start this journey together. 

Let's do this!!

Does Makeup Expire?

Hello Everyone! 

A couple of days ago, I watched a YouTube video where makeup expiry dates were mentioned.

Usually, I went by what I had been told in the past, which was basically that any powder should be alright for about 3-4 years, creams for about 2 years etc. But little did I know....

My husband asked me not long ago, how I know how long my makeup will last. I just replied, as long as it does not crumble or smell weird I am sure it is still ok to use. Just as long it is not way over the above mentioned time frames. Anyways, in this particular video it was explained that the little open cream pot with a number and 'M' inside it which is printed on each makeup or skin care item indicates the expiry date. To be honest, I had never paid attention to this symbol, neither did I look for it. 

Almost immediately after hearing about this, I went to my makeup draws and started to check each piece of my precious collection. Almost every single item was out of date and I had to toss as good as all my make up.

For the first few days, I was really upset about having to throw away almost all of it. However, by now I see it as a fresh start to having minimal makeup, only having products that I will actually use up and that I love. To be honest, I feel so much better about my makeup by now because I actually enjoy every single item and I am not constantly thinking 'Oh, I need to use this or I need o use that' anymore. 

Also, there is of course the health aspect of using expired makeup. I am not an expert or a doctor but using old makeup can cause eye irritations and worse. So please be aware of this. For information on this topic please consult with a doctor.

Over all, these were the approximate expiry dates that I came by mostly.

Lipgloss: 12 month

Lipstick: 24 month

Powders: 12 month

Foundation: 12 month

Mascara: 6 month

These dates of course also apply to skincare. I know that from now on, I will religiously be checking the dates on each packaging and ruthlessly be discarding any item which is going past this date, no matter how much I love it.

Love,

Linda

Neue Produkte von Rival De Loop Young

Hallo Alle zusammen,

Heute möchte ich euch gerne ein paar neue Produkte von Rival De Loop Young vorstellen die seit kurzem bei Rossmann erhältich sind.

Das erste Produkt welches mir aufgefallen ist waren die Lippenstifte. Ich muss zu geben das ich bei dem Lipgloss erst ein wenig skeptisch war, aber so bald ich ihn ausprobiert hatte, war ich verliebt. Die Zusammenstellung des Lipliners und des Lippenstiftes in dem tollen Nude-Braun ist einfach perfekt und wird mit dem leichten schimmer des Glosses super in Szene gesetzt. Auch der Matt Gloss in dem schonen Rot Ton kann im Winter bestimmt zu einem meiner Favoriten werden.

Dann gibt es auch einen Eye-Brightener. Dieser kann alleine getragen werden (zum Beispiel decent über das ganze Lied verteilt bis hoch unter die Brauen) oder unter einem Liedschatten getragen um diesem einen Sanften Hauch an Schimmer zu geben.

Für die Nägel darf es natürlich auch an nichts fehlen und hier bei habe ich diese zwei ausprobiert. Einmal einen sehr dezenten Sommernagellack in hell Rosa und einen etwas ausgefalleneren in dem neuen Cookie Look. 

Meinen Favoriten allerdings habe ich mir bis zum Schluss aufgehoben. Und zwar dieses Lippenöl. Alleine die Verpackung is zum dahinschmelzen! Das Öl trägt sich sehr angenehm auf und verleiht den Lippen einen wunderschönen Glanz und ist dabei feuchtigkeitsspendent und pflegend. Mein absoluter Liebling!

Ich hoffe der kleine Einblick in diese neuen Produkte hat euch gefallen!

Bis zum nächsten Mal! 

Linda xxx

Top 10 Tips For Buying A Wedding Dress

1. Set A Budget

First things first. Before you go out shopping for your dress, you need to set a budget. Wedding dresses can be really expensive because hours of work are are being invested in each dress and a lot of material is needed. So, it is best to sit down and think about how much you would like to spend or how much you can afford. Please keep in mind that you will also need to set aside a budget for alterations. Don't be afraid to ask how much they could come to because they are expensive. Once you are in the boutique, make sure you let the salesperson know about your budget before she/he shows you any dresses. It is no good to fall in love with a dress you can't afford and end the day upset.

2. Shop Early

The big surprise for a lot of brides is, how long you actually need to buy your dress in advance. 

You will need to order your dress 6-9 month before your wedding. If you are unsure what you are looking for in a dress or if you are really indecisive you should give yourself even more time, let's say 10-12 month. If you leave it for too long your choices of dresses might become very limited and a gown you fall in love with might be out of reach.You also need to allow approximately 8 weeks for alterations. These will however depend in your dress. A simple gown will be easier/faster to alter than a heavily embellished ball gown.

3. Research

If your heart is set on a designer make sure you do your research to find out which boutiques actually stock the brand. Also, if your heart is set on trying a particular gown, ring up the store before your appointment to make sure that they have it in their collection. You don't want to be all excited only to have your spirits down by not getting to see the dresses you expected.

4. Entourage

It might sound perfect to have all yor girlfriends/bridal party plus your family members present for this big moment, but please keep in mind that this moment should be about you. Too many opinions can really spoil this experience. Not everybody likes the same styles and probably has their own idea as to what you should look like on your wedding day. It is best to narrow it down to 2 to 3 people. It will make the entire experience more relaxed and you are more likely to find a dress that you love with only the occasional constructive criticism. Anyone else can join you later for yor fittings if they can't wait to see you before your big day.

5. Lingerie

It is a good idea to wear underwear similar to the one your are thinking of wearing on your wedding day. This will already give you an idea of the fit of the dress and if you will need a bra at all... Thinking of it in terms of maybe wearing a corseted gown....

Also it might be best to keep the underwear nude, because you sure don't want to peek black undies to the whole boutique.

6. Be Open Minded

It is important to try on a few different styles of dresses. If the salesperson suggests a dress or a different style for you, go ahead and try it on, they are the experts and know what will suit you. Even though your heart might be set on a mermaid style you might be surprised to find yourself falling in love with a big ball gown.

7. Makeup

Wearing an understated pretty makeup on the day and doing your hair up nicely is a very good idea. It will help you envision yourself on your big day. My suggestion however is to keep your foundation to a minimum. The shops do not appreciate stains on their sample dresses. Also, maybe wear your hair in a simple updo that can easily be taken down if you would like to see yourself with a bit of a different look on the same day.

8. Read the Fine Print

A good salesperson will talk you through everything including the price, colour, style number, name of the gown, delivery date, deposit, alterations fee and cancellation policy. Ensure that you get all these details in writing and a contact number to call should you have any queries. This ensures you will not lose your money should there be anything wrong with your dress upon delivery.

9. Considering Second Hand

If you are on a really tight budget or simply do not want to spend a huge amount of money on a dress you will only wear once, maybe consider a pre-loved dress. This is what happened to me. I visited a wedding show with my mum and the second dress I tried on, I fell in love with. We were not seriously looking for a dress but just browsing and playing dress up. Therefore, I was not paying attention to the prices. Unfortunately, the gown was way out of my budget and I was so disappointed that I lost all interest in dress shopping. I knew this dress was the one for me and about a couple of month later, I was lucky enough to find it on a pre-loved site online. A week later the dress was mine, at a fraction of the original price. It was in perfect condition. Of course it needed some alterations and a dry clean, but at least I had my dream dress. If you would like to know more about how I did my dress shopping, let me know in the comments below and I can write a post about it.

10. Have Fun!

Today is about you, and only you. Enjoy this day to the full extend and don't worry too much about all the details, everything will fall into place and you will find 'The One Perfect Dress'. But don't stress too if it is not on your first appointment. This is the day everyone should fuss about you, tell you how beautiful you look and simply make you feel amazing.

Apple & and Pear Baby Puree

This is one of the very first purees I made for my baby. He absolutely loves it!! It is very simple, delicious and will usually make about 2 portions depending on how hungry your little one is. :-)

All you need is:

1 large apple
1 ripe pear

Heavy based sauce pan with a lid

Hand blender and a high rimmed plastic pot

Some water

How to make it:

I peel, wash and chop the apple and pear and add the chunks to the pot. Then add a little water, about as much as to cover the bottom of the pan.

Once the water is boiling, I let it cook for about 5 minutes. Then transfer the fruit to a plastic pot and blend to the desired consistency. How long you blend it for depends on how far along you are in the weaning process. For very young babies blend it until it is very smooth, and for a little older babies who are used to some foods or textures you can leave it a bit more lumpy or just mash it.

Then place the purée in a fun little bowl and cool it down quickly. It needs to be completely cool before feeding it to your baby or otherwise your little one might become quite bloated and have tummy pains.

Enjoy!

Love,
Linda

Please keep in mind that I am no expert, doctor or dietician and this is simply what worked for us. Please check with your doctor/health visitor before making changes to your babies diet.

Baby Food - New Series

Hello All,

my little Baby Bear has now been on solid foods for a bit more than a month and has taken very well to weaning. He basically munches everything I give him except of banana puree. :-) Somehow, he kind of hates it (even though he eats everything containing banana and licks banana slices…hmmmm).

I have been making all his purees from scratch and will continue to do so now as his food is getting a bit more solid. This way I can ensure that he gets the most nutritious and fresh foods possible without any additives. Also, it is much more pocket friendly as the baby jars and pouches are really expensive and making food yourself is really enjoyable and saves you a lot of cash. 

It is up to you if you prefer to make up big batches and freeze your baby food or if you cook it fresh for each meal. We don't have a big freezer therefore that option is unfortunately not working for me. But hey, I love cooking, so why not cook several times a day. :-)

In this series I will share my recipes for all his purees and fingers foods, and let you know about my experiences with them, the good and the bad.

Please keep in mind that I am no expert or dietician and this is simply what worked for us. Please check with your doctor/health visitor before making changes to your babies diet.

Hope you enjoy!!!

Love,
Linda
xxx

Maybelline Dream Flawless Nude Foundation

Well, i have to say, I barely ever sway from my favourite foundations into new territory, however, you just cannot escape the mass load of adverts for this new gem. It seems to be the new favourite among us bloggers and you tubers….. So what is this all about?

The 'Dream Flawless Nude' is a very light weight, very pigmented foundation with a fluid texture and is quite a new thing to the drugstore. You have found the likes before with the YSL Fusion Ink, Dior etc, but not at an affordable price. 

An extra bonus is the really cute and girly bottle which I absolutely adore! Additionally, it features a new type of applicator which is shaped like a tear drop to allow easy application (if you would have to use it without a pump or this it would probably end of all over your shirt, dressing table etc. but not on you, its that liquid). I am not sure that this new applicator is going to end up being loved by me, but for the meantime I just simply dab it on my face, blend it out and be done with it…

Before each use you will notice that a clear liquid collects above the actual foundation, but this is normal. There is quite a fair bit of alcohol in this product, which will separate on the top. Before use, simply give it a really good shake and it will mix nicely.

The foundation itself keeps to its promise. It melts into your skin!!! Once applied you will not feel it and even after hours of wear it will not budge, which is great in summer time. 

The coverage it light to medium but you can definitely build it up to a medium or light full coverage. 

The finish is also absolutely lovely!! It has a slight satin sheen to it but is not too dewy and therefore I would say perfect for oily to normal skin. If you have very dry skin, you might want to stay away from this foundation as I can image that it might look caky (but give it a try with a really hydrating moisturiser as a base). However, on my combination skin, it looks absolutely beautiful. The only downside that I found is that it has quite a yellow tinge to it. I have got the fairest shade, which is ivory, so I am not able to say that it is the same with every single shade but I could definitely notice it (but not to a point where it would bother me).

All in all, this is an amaze balls foundation for spring summer time which can battle much more expensive high end brands at a drugstore price. 

Let me know in the comments below what you think!

Lots of love,

Linda