BumpH2T: Getting my fitness back

There was no way  I was going to call this post getting my body back as I am under NO illusion how hard post birth will be. As much as I have had plenty of pals whose bodies have sprung back to 'normal' very quickly after birth, I know my shape will have a difficult time. I will have a new body to adjust to and one that will deserve all the praise following the fertility treatments, the miscarriage and then labour, so all I want to focus on is getting some of my fitness and strength back which is something I loved doing pre-baby.

I was invited to pick a couple of items with JD Williams from their super expansive sport and leisure ranges to help me get back on my feet when the time comes, and I had a pretty difficult time deciding considering the amazing brands they stock. Adidas, Puma, Regatta,and Ellesse are all there among affordable lines designed for anyone to get into fitness which is an approach I am a big fan of. Not everyone has a swish leisurewear budget to play with and I would hate that to put anyone off from trying. Another thing I noticed about their products is they also cater to larger sizes which is a huge thumbs up. Having been far bigger in the past I know how daunting fitness and exercise can be from the outset, never mind being met with the idea of tiny gym clothes that you can only imagine suiting one type of body shape.

With Sports bras with sizes up in the 40's and outdoor jackets in sizes up to 30, they really do cater to a wide audience which is amazing. For my post baby slow comeback I am planning to just kick off with walking when I can and when baby allows so my top picks needed to include a sports bra an outdoor jacket and some new leggings.

I was overwhelmed with strong choices in the sports bra department and in the end settled for this front zipping number which handily helps make it breastfeeding friendly too- a double win. For the outdoor jacket I have had various Regatta jackets in the past and always been impressed with their performance twinned with looks and price so decided to go with this chic black number with warm fleecy lining in the hood. The Brianna jacket is slimming,  super practical and goes with everything- ideal!!

Lastly I needed new leggings and how could I say no to these loud print beauties!? Love the colours, love the style and love that they are in fact high-waisted, I am already so excited to get wearing them. Pineapple always have the jazziest designs. I picked up a nice basics black tshirt to pair with them and it is super comfy and lightweight so pretty perfect for getting out there with the pram!

Working on this post has actually got me really pumped up for getting back into it when I can, and having a few new bits is a definite motivation, it is like having a new pencil case for your first day back at school! When my shape settles a bit I know I will be back taking a look on the site as the affordable ranges really appeal to me, especially while working with my maternity pay :)

Written in association with JDwilliams, all opinions as always are my own

My Pamper Night In with Simply Be

Since I have finally given in to all things pregnancy and accepted that I am carrying some serious extra weight, I have realised I am POOPED! Officially a bit done in and in need for some proper quiet time and some proper comfy clothing too- this stomach is ready to stretch! Timing could not have been more on my side when Simply Be sent on info of their updated loungewear pages and sent me a couple of bits to try out. Even though I knew about Simply Be from various advertising, I hadn’t actually gone on and taken a look at the vast array of items they stock. From beauty and skincare to shoes and accessories, it is a proper treasure trove!

I am now the proud owner of my very own unicorn pajamas ( aka a blogger’s dream PJ!) some of the boldest gold star print lounge pantswhich are one hundred percent what I will be rocking to the labour ward come January, some super comfy underwear basics and my favourite thing for a quiet night in…. new make up to play about with!! I can’t be the only one that uses theses nights to mess around and smother myself in makeup literally just to take it off and whap on a good face mask?? I have been itching to find a new mascara so this wee set from Clarins complete with the eye makeup remover was ideal for treating myself too.

Simply Be new underwear and a fab mascara set from Clarins

just look at these star  print joggers!!!

Having wavered between sizes over the years, I love that Simply Be cater to fuller figures (from 12-14 to a size 34) and provide actually decent fashion options and not just oversized tops.  Smaller frames are not left out either and the website also has really expansive sections for beauty , accessories and shoes. I have been super impressed with the quality of the items I received considering how low the prices were. The PJ set of dreams is only £10 which is so good for such a sweet set that even comes packaged so nicely, and the star print joggers ( also available in plain black) are £18 which is pretty ideal for something so spangly. I love the cuffed bottom and the drawstring waist is ideal for my expanding stomach right now! I was really impressed with the Pretty Secrets bra I received which although affordable it is really nicely made and is incredibly comfortable. I might have just found a new place to buy bras from finally as the range they stock is really beautiful and the size range is again fantastic.

Settling in for a Sunday night with a fresh set of comfies was really what I was needing right now, so thanks to Simply Be for sorting me out and for introducing me to a whole world of ranges to explore, I am already eyeing up the Christmas pjs for my next purchase!



Written in association with SimplyBe. All opinions as always are my own

Glasgow Reviewed; The St Enoch Summer Event

I have been WAY behind on blogging of late, but life has gotten in the way. So I was excited to ease myself back in with a couple of fab events in the last couple of weeks and it felt goooood. First up was a wonderful evening of perusing the latest summer collections from various shops in the St Enoch Centre in their pretty lovely atrium area. For the last 5 years I would walk through the centre twice a day as it was on my route to work and I loved that in the evening I could easily pick up bits and bobs I needed as part of my commute as it is open to 7pm. Moving further away at the end of last year however means I am in town far less often and I hadn’t even been up to the newly refurbished eating area and it is a pretty nifty space!! With floor to ceiling windows and some really cool Scottish based art installations on the walls and ceiling, it is actually a  handy central space to stop over for some quick and tasty food in a super packed town.

It provided an excellent area for a heap of shops to showcase their beautiful summer offerings for bloggers to take a peek at. With the super delicious Kimbles providing the snacks ( seriously the brownies were next level) and Mud Urban flowers with their beautiful bright blooms as a back drop, I had the loveliest evening. It was really amazing to be introduced to perfect summer items from shops I am less likely to be in like Pavers Shoes or Claires Accessories. There were really beautiful accessories, clothes and shoes to take in from kids wear to pastels to neon brights. I was really taken with an incredible embroidered dress from Matthew Williamson at Debenhams that had so many people swooning over it. There was also a wonderful toddler rainbow dress and yellow mac from Billies Market that pretty much everyone wished they could fit into!

I loved that the St enoch team left no stone un-turned and made sure their was make up, hair and skincare all represented too. It was the ideal event with everything under one roof!! I finally got to get my hands on the Kat Von D foundation I have heard so much about, and it was ace to get a chat with the Murad team, turns out they have some amazing  new products out that I had totally missed. I tried out the textures of  the Invisible Perfecting Shield and I was really impressed, I could tell how well it would sit under make up which is impressive when it is SPF 30. And for a total SPF-aholic like me the new City Skin with SPF 50 is a total must buy for me, I am going to head in to Debenhams to take a closer look next week. I have had a lot of success with various of their products in the past so I have high hopes for these ones.

I also had the chance to have a quick scalp analysis from Aveda and it was fascinating taking an up close look at my follicles and get tips to improve the condition. Their products smell like an actual zen oasis, what calming scents! And there was  no way I was leaving with out a quick swatch frenzy of some smashbox palettes either, I have been lusting after 

I am not sure what else I could possibly want from an evening and It was the perfect reminder of just how many amazing shops are sitting within the ST Enoch centre. I have identified some new must visits ( not just Kimbles for more chocolates) and have a whole new list of summer wants to pick up.