Weight Watchers Update

Hello it's been a while, naughty me. I have been getting back into routine with baby classes again, and have been all over the place, but I'm back! Its snowing and I have lots to post over the next few weeks.

So yes, I was a little too ambitious over Christmas to think I could start Weight Watchers, so I only started on the 7th of January and I'm really pleased to say I have lost 5.5 pounds so far. Huzzah! I don't feel deprived and I have been exercising almost everyday and really enjoying being active again. I have the Jillian Michaels DVD, (lots of them) for those of you who don't know she is the trainer on The Biggest Loser. Hard core but fun and motivating.

The leader at my Weight Watchers group is fun, not patronising and very to the point, so I think I'm going to find it easier to stick to this than anything else out there.

We have just booked out first family holiday and we are off to Mexico in May, so it's a goal in mind for me to think of too.

Looking forward to see how i do next week!

My New Baby Must Haves

Hello and Happy New Year! I hope you had a lovely festive season and are now ready to start 2013 with a bang. I have a few friends expecting at the moment, and for all you soon to be mummies or new mummies out there,  here are my top buys that I couldn't live without and a few things that I would avoid. I have used links from John Lewis as I know the deliver across the UK and Worldwide and have given me very good service and advice. Mamas and Papas and Kiddiecare. But you can get these products from other stores too. I hope you find it helpful.

Sleepyhead Deluxe Bed Guard

http://www.johnlewis.com/231482924/Product.aspx

http://www.sleepyheadwebshop.com/en/products/sleepyhead/sleepyhead-deluxe-pristine-white.html

This is a sleep pillow, and for me was an alternative to a moses basket. You can place it in the cot, on the sofa and know your little one wont roll out. The best thing about this is that its like an instant soother, my little girl settled in this within minutes. It clame to "reinvent" the womb. Whatever it does, she has had amazing nights and daytime naps in it. And from 8 weeks has slept through the night. This is an award winning design ,and once you use it you will really see why. If you read the reviews on the John Lewis website you can see many shared experiences. It is expensive, but when you are having a good nights sleep you will be grateful. 

Bugaboo Cameleon 3

http://www.bugaboo.com/400

http://www.johnlewis.com/351796/Product.aspx

Expensive but wicked pram action! Really smooth and very comfortable, light steering and if you enjoy walking it’s a good one. It comes in lots of different cloths so you can customise depending on what suits you. If you really want to splash out, there are designer covers too.  But this pram has thought of everything, and the biggest bonus for me is the tyres are anti-burst. My friend has just had a burst tyre, and couldn't go out for a while until it had been repaired. This pram also comes in a smaller city version called Bee and a double pram called the Donkey. You can get this in John Lewis UK and now selected Mamas and Papas stores.

Troll Bedside Crib

http://www.johnlewis.com/231463971/Product.aspx?s_kwcid=ppc_pla&tmad=c&tmcampid=73&pup_ptid=%7Badwords_producttargetid%7D&pup_kw=%7Bkeyword%7D&pup_c=%7Badtype%7D

As well as the main cot in the nursery,  this is a small cot that fits next to your bed. The side drops down making access to baby easy. It's a safe way of co-sleeping, which helps  bonding, sleeping, and when you are feeding it's great to just be able to pick your baby and put them back so easily. It's also wonderful when you wake up in the morning to see their little face next to you. I much prefer this to a Moses basket on the floor, or Moses basket on a stand, as I found the stands not to be as stable. 

DreamGenii Maternity and Nursing Pillow

http://www.dreamgenii.com/

http://www.johnlewis.com/230519017/Product.aspx

Looks funny, but when you hit 5 months you will be in love with this. It supports your bump and makes sleeping comfortable again. You can use a pillow between your legs, but you don’t get the bump support that by 7-8 months you are really desperate for. I didn't use it for feeding as it didn't suit me, but my friend did when her little one was 1/2 months old while she got used to feeding.  

Magic Startgaze Playmat

http://www.mamasandpapas.com/product-magic-stargaze-playmat-stripe/759482710/type-i/

I love this, I call this her dance mat. the lights and music make this so much fun for her and me. You can also plug in your Ipod, and I also hang some of the smaller Lamaze toys from it. As your baby grows it deconstructs so it will last a while. It's a more expensive mat but its one your baby will actually use, as you buy so many toys they are not interested in, rather buy a few good ones.  

Baby Bjorn or a Wrap Carrier.

http://www.kari-me.com/

http://www.babybjorn.co.uk/

http://www.johnlewis.com/231099136/Product.aspx

These are great especially if you dont want to take your pram with you. It's a practical way of carrying baby whilst doing your food shopping, so you dont have to put your baby in those seats that are oftern very dirty and for the Dads who don't like to push a pram around. The baby Bjorn has a good reputation is very secure and comfortable to wear. My husband prefers this to using wraps as its easy to slip on and off. There are diffrent ranges, so I would advise going into the store to feel what's most comfortable for you. My latest discovery had been the Kari me wrap. I was given one with no idea how to use. Once shown I have fallen inlove with it. I find it increadbly confortable across my back. My little one likes the closeness of it, and its great carrier to do things around the house with. I like this as her legs don't just hang as with other carriers but are in a "frog" position so she is getting that bit more hip support. It's well worth learning how to use. 

Baby Bath

http://www.mamasandpapas.com/product-acqua-two-stage-ergo-bath-pearl-white/4538472/type-i/

http://www.mamasandpapas.com/product-acqua-bath-support-pearl-whitesoft-lime/4552499/type-i/

This bath is really secure for baby to lay in. It has bottom and arm supports to prevent them from slipping, and has enough room for them to really have a splash in. I didn't feel comfortable putting her in a big bath yet, so for me this was a great solution until I feel she is ready. 

If you feel you what to but baby in the bath and have the space to, then some kind of support is essential, as you and baby will enjoy bath time a lot more. My friend uses this in her bath.

Of course these do provide support but never ever leave your baby alone in the bath 

Video baby Monitor

http://www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplay0_10751_-1_135541_10001 

This is amazing! Babies cry, move and fuss in their sleep. When they are small you as a parent can jump at every move and sometimes it just disturbs them. With this you can see if they are really awake and need you, or if they are settling themselves or talking in their sleep. It’s also reassuring you can check what they are doing without entering the room. I got this on advice to a friend,  who said this was invaluable, and still uses it for her 2 year old. Now she is potty training she can see in the night if she needs to go. My little one is a brilliant sleeper and I think this has helped 

Other Products I couldnt live without

• Lavender Oil from Boots – I mixed 6 drops of lavender with a glass of milk and put it in the bath about 1 weeks after birth and healed in about 3 days! So soothing.
• Sudocrem – No sore bottoms here! I use quite a bit to make a barrier and have done so since birth
• Muslim squares – Seriously you need about 20. Mothercare do good offers on these and are oftern 3 for 2 
• A nice blanket.
• Brest Pump (because nothing is sexier!!!!!)
• A good nappy bag.
• Car seat, They wont let you take baby home without one. We have the maxicosi pebble. This also fits into the bugaboo pram! Genius
• A mirror to put in the back of car, so you can see babies face in the rear view mirror. Its also entertains them at about 2/3 months.

Things to avoid

• Buying too many parenting books. I read the Gina Ford book, and that made motherhood sound horrible. For me its not realistic and she has never had children. Being a midwife and able to leave the children at the "front door" for me is not the same, plus the emotional attachment is not there either. I'm sure it works for some but It was too regimented for me 
• Spending too much on clothes. You will probably get loads for gifts and there is only so much they can wear before they grow out of them.
• Too many Little shoes, they never stay on!

Bio Oil Vs Johnson's Skin Protecting Oil

I am very lucky, I have inherited great skin on my body from my parents. My mum doesn't have stretch marks and touch wood neither do I really, I have gained a few on my arm from pregnancy and some on my hips, but I'm always looking out for products that will make the skins texture look and feel better.
I have in the past used Bio Oil, but Johnson's released their version and I thought I would give it a try and compare them for you.

Bio Oil
This is a well established skin treatment that claims to improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks, uneven skin tone, aging and dehydrated skin. This oil is a mix of plant extracts and vitamins based in the oil with a breakthrough ingredient of PurCellin Oil. It contains vitamin A and E known to help heal and encourage skin to repair (full list on website)

This oil in the bottle looks a light pink, but it is actually clear and has a light constancy. it doesn't feel greasy on the skin and absorbs well. It has a light fragrance and is not strong enough for you not to be able to wear your favorite perfume over it.
It pricey, £8.99 for 60ml £14.99 for 125ml and £19.99 for 200ml (prices from boots) but a little really does go along way.

Does it work?
I had a small scar on my leg that seems to have faded but it took a while to go, and the over all look of my skin is smooth especially across my chest area. I do think it  helped with the elasticity of my skin, and keeping it will hydrated in the winter months. Over all I think it is worth it, especially if you have new scars, then I'm sure it would be more affective with reducing red marks and bumps.


Johnson's Skin Protecting Oil
This is a clear oil , light consistency and claims to change the look of stretch marks in 4 weeks. It has a lovely smell and absorbs well into the skin. The key ingredients here are botanicals, almond and wheatgerm oil as well as vitamin E (full list on website). This too is pricey £14.99 for 150ml (boots) but again you don't need much, and they advise you massage into the skin twice a day in a circular motion.


Does it work?
Surprisingly yes it did, and not after 4 weeks, after 1 weeks I noticed the difference in my marks, they were no longer red and after 4 weeks they were really not as obvious. This was really fast working, I was so happy. It maybe because my marks are relatively new.
I think that is the key with these products, to get them as soon as you notice the marks or scars and then continue for prevention, but I'm really impressed with how my skin feels and looks having used this product.

So who wins, for my it's Johnson's, It just suits my skin better, I also prefer the flip top bottle as it doesn't leak and have found the Bio Oil screw top to leak sometimes. I love the results from Johnson's and it doesn't mess my clothes. Bio Oil is great and I know it works for a lot of people, but if you want give something new a try I couldn't recommend Johnson's Skin Protecting Oil enough.


http://www.bio-oil.com/en-us/

http://www.johnsonsbeauty.co.uk/body-care/skin-perfecting-oil/

Let The Battle Commence

So... My little darling is four months today. Time whizzes past when you are watching someone else grow. I'm now looking in the mirror and noticing the new wobbly bits my angel has left me with.
I enjoyed my pregnancy, with strong advice from my best friend who is now expecting her second baby "enjoy it as you will never have this time again, when you have your first baby to look after too". With these words of wisdom I did. I slept, relaxed, went out and ate for 4!. Yes I know, you're only meant to eat an extra slice of bread in your last trimester, but having spent most of my life watching what I eat as I used to be a dancer, and having spent a year getting fit for my wedding I thought I'm going to get away with this while I can.

Stupid really, as I'm bigger than I have ever been, and have a lot of hard work to do, and a wedding to attend in May.

Now weight loss and breast feeding, everyone says its the key you will lose weight without even trying...MY ARSE. Yes I haven't put on extra, but i haven't lost either.
Now you burn 300 -500 calories breast feeding you are meant to eat the extra, and your body holds onto fat too when feeding to make sure you can provide for your baby. (Aren't our bodies clever) So hopefully when I stop I will shed what I'm holding on to, but of for now WeightWatchers is the key!

WeightWatchers have a program for breast feeding mothers Huzzah! And my leader has a few in her class who have said the weight is finally falling off and I know it works, I have a friend who lost four stone in 6 months and has kept it off.

So my new journey begins, I want to have more children and I want to be healthy when I do so I can have another pregnancy like my last, enjoyable and carefree.

I will update you with my losses every Thursday, starting on the 27th (I know I'm crazy its Christmas) but if I can survive Christmas and the beige buffets, I can survive anything.

Wish me luck guys!

For more info on WeightWatchers click below.

http://www.weightwatchers.co.uk

Changing Weather, Changing Skin

With the weather turning Baltic, and having a 16 week old, it's still so important that I get out and about to my baby classes, seeing friends and of course shopping! 

My little ones skin is taking the brunt of the change, one minute being in the cold, the next in the heating of the home or shopping centre, she now has dry patches that I have been on a mission to try and resolve. 

The first range I have tried is the New Cusson's Mum & Me 

Their range is Hypoallergenic, Pediatrician approved and kind to eyes

Sleep Tight Baby Bath

The mild cleansing bubbles are kind to little eyes, whilst the added moisturisers help care for your baby’s delicate skin. 

Available in 500 ml 

Key Ingredients: Lavender and Camomile (Full list on website) 

This smells beautiful, I do prefer the smell of this to the Johnson's bedtime bath. It doesn't over foam and doesn't dry out her skin. The scent doesn't stay around for long though which is a shame. My Little one likes to have a good splash in the bath, and the wash doesn't seem to bother her eyes at all. This is a hit for me!

Sleep tight Massage Oil  

Sleep Tight Massage Oil contains a blend of Jasmine and Aloe Vera to soothe your baby’s skin

Available in 100m

Key ingredients: Graoe Seed Oil, Jasmin, Aloe Vera (Full list on website)

This is a light oil, and again has a very pretty scent. Its not to heavy and doesn't leave greasy marks on my baby girls clothes. It's inexpensive compared to some baby massage oils and works well on the skin. I don't think I would use it as moisturiser, but more for a more indulgent massage and then layer a moisturiser on top. I'm enjoying using this with my daughter, it's a great way of bonding and it's relaxing for both mother and baby. 

Emollient Body Cream 

This rich moisturiser is fragrance free and contains gentle emollients and Almond oil to help moisture and care for eczema prone sensitive skin

Available in 125m

Key Ingredients: Almond oil, Shea butter, Sun flower seed oil (full list on website) 

This is a thick moisturiser with no scent, and it kind of reminds me of silly putty. It feels great and you really have to work it in to the skin. The next day the dry patches on my baby were even more pronounced. Now I have never used an emollient before on myself so I don't know if this is supposed to happen but the second night I used it the next morning it was clear and smooth.

Lastly I stupidly put it on her face and within seconds it wen bright red. It's a body cream and it doesn't mention for face so that was my mistake. the redness went down within 30 minutes.  

Overall I think the range is good, the best thing about it is the smell, its gorgeous. I think I 

will try the range for mothers, and will try the bump range when I have my next child. 

http://www.MumandMe.com/

Baby Face - With Neals Yard Remedies

So, when I found out I was having a baby one of the first tell tale signs apart from having an even stronger sense of smell and possessing a pair of watermelons down my top, was my skin. It had gone crazy, especially down the jaw line which we know can me a sign of hormonal changes. I already have oily skin and the previous year had been on a skin improving campaign to get me wedding skin ready.
Now being pregnant I wanted to go for natural skin products, knowing that it's recommended that I should stay away from certain ingredients that I would usually go for when fighting the dreaded breakouts. Retinoids - vitamin A, Salicylic acid, and other acids were  no no, and I popped into Sk:n in London, who kindly advised me that these can get into the blood stream so are not recommend.
On my way back from worked I popped into Neals Yard in Victoria Station, the lovely and excited shop assistant showed me three products that not only transformed my skin in about four days, but I'm still using now.

Here we have Palmarosa Facial Wash, Yarrow & Comfrey Moisturiser and Clarifying Mahonia Skin Gel.


Palmarosa Facial Wash

Deeply cleanses oily and combination skin.  Removes inpurities without stripping away natural oils.
£15.50 / 100ml
Key ingredients: Marigold extract, Palmarosa herb oil, Lemon peel oil, Tea tree leaf oil. (Full    list on website)

This face wash feels great on the skin, it has many essential oils in which are organically produced which means it's not stripping like some oily skin treatments can be. I use this with my Clarisonic twice a day, and it feels as though I'm getting a deep cleanse without irritating the the skin. I would also recommend this for anyone with with sensitive skin. The scent is strong but not overpowering, and doesn't seem to stick to the skin. 


Yarrow & Comfrey Moisturiser

Gently balances OILY or COMBINATION skin. Yarrow helps balance the skin's natural oils whilst comfrey promotes regeneration of damaged skin for a fresh complexion.
£18.75 / 50g
Key ingredients: Yarrow, Comfrey, Rosemary, Almond oil, Shea nut butter. (Full list on website)

This is moisturising, but not greasy and feels very soothing to the skin. It's a white thickish consistency cream. While I was pregnant I did find the smell over bearing, but now although strong it is manageable, but for the good it does I will put up with it. The scent soon passes. I found it a good base for my make up to sit on as it works into the skin well so my foundation doesn't slide. I have had this cream for about 6 months and it's still not finished, a little does go along way! It is more expensive than most but it's worth it. 


Clarifying Mahonia Skin Gel

A purifying treatment to restore balance to blemished skin.
£15.50 / 10ml
Key Ingredients: Thyme, Mahonia, Gotu Kola, Aloe Vera (Full list on website) 

Saving the best until last, this is my little miracle in a bottle and mad of 97% organic products. Putting this on I did think "fat chance it working" but overnight my spots were gone or massively reduced. It comes in a small pump bottle, and one pump is all you need to spread thinly over your problem areas. Again it has a strong herbal sent but again this fades, and for me it didn't look tacky or peel under makeup like some spot gels can. If there one one product out of the three that I would say is the must have, its this one. So Neals Yard, please don't ever discontinue this I would cry for a very long time!!! 

Overall I would say I have had a massive success with Neals Yard, their products are good quality, their staff have great knowledge, she picked up other products read the ingredients and told me what I could and couldn't have it was great and I felt assured. They also have baby care products and therapy rooms where you can get spa and alternative treatments. 

Once I have stopped breast feeding I may try other products from their range, and I will be visiting their treatment rooms in Clapham soon. But I can't recommend the products I have tried enough. 

http://www.nealsyardremedies.com

Hello and Welcome

Hello!

Welcome to my blog. My name is Jihan-Annesa, I'm married and have a beautiful baby girl who is now 3 months old (time has flown). You will be reading this if you are interested in beauty products baby products and anything lifestyle really.
Some of the products will be new, some old and some favourites that I have rediscovered. I will also let you in on classes that I take my daughter too, I hope you find these reviews helpful and enjoy the videos that will soon follow.

Love Jihan x