Slimming World; Helping my Head

I feel like the bottom has fallen out of my stomach this week, I just can fill it up. It could be the pregnancy, not getting sick is so alien to me, so I don't know if this hunger is normal or not. Bump is starting to twinge though, so it could be him.

Breakfast No.2 of the Day

It could also be the breastfeeding, Daithí's teething so I've been up all night feeding him, more than I've been feeding him in a long time. So sleep is a rarity for me. I think the reason I don't sleep well anyway when Shane is on nights, is I get serious isolation anxiety, being in the house by myself over night with the kids. It feels like far too much responsibility.



I had a bit of a wobble this week, emotions got the better of me and I had been eating my feelings. Slimming World came to the rescue yet again though, I had walked into the meeting late, I wasn't gong to stay, I wasn't feeling it. Somehow I managed to lose 3 lbs so I stayed and I am so glad I did. We had a very emotionally positive and inspiring group, which has given me the motivation to really tackle this week head on. I need to take this week one meal at a time.


I realised that despite how helpless, and tired and utterly unmotivated I've been feeling, I have actually achieved a great deal in the last few months, and am doing quite a lot for myself.
I had pilled on the weight with Fionn, lost it, then pilled it on again after Daithí. I was using that as an excuse to do nothing. I was lacking any sort of confidence or motivation, and had kinda accepted that that's just what happens when you have kids.

A few years ago, I'd have NEVER put a wet-suit on in font of anyone.
Let alone share a picture of it on the internet!!

But after being refereed to Slimming World and the gym by my health visitor, I've been feeling so much better in myself. and I've started saying yes to everything. Things I'd never had dreamed I would do. The Wolf Run, Surfing, and The Kerry Challenge next month.

Group activities normally give me serious anxiety,
especially where physical fitness is involved. 

Food has always been my emotional crutch. I always struggled with my image and weight, and pined my self worth on how I looked. Slimming World is slowly changing that for me.

I'm not saying I feel great, far from it, honestly I'm a wreak atm, I'm really struggling with this pregnancy. I haven't gotten excited, I haven't even really been acknowledging it. Shane hasn't been either, and I think that's contributing to how shitty I'm feeling.

There's also so much with selling the house and buying a new one, that's not exactly stressful, but mentally exhausting and emotionally draining. I'm trying to not let it get the better of me, and am just focusing on our trip home next week, and the few days away from the kids, hiking in the Kerry mountains. I think the break will do my mental health the world of good.

The Kerry Challenge, is a 75km hike, over 3 days in the Kerry mountains, in aid if dEBra.
The charity helps and supports families of children and adults living with Epidermolysis Bullosa.
EB is a genetic skin disorder that causes the skin to blister and tear at the slightest touch.

Our GoFundMe page can be found here.
For more information about EB click here.

Pregnancy, Weight Loss, Breastfeeding, Wolf Run, Buying & Selling Houses, Sleep

I turned 27 this week and things are all becoming very real and grown up and I don't like it.
I'm slowly coming to terms with the phrase unplanned pregnancy.

I'll soon have another one climbing on me!

Yup, that's right, baby number 3 is on the way, and although we had most definitely planned on another baby at some point in the future, this has come as a bit of a shock. I hadn't gone back on the pill after Daithí was born, because it fucks with my head, and I'm fairly sure it played a part in my PND with Fionn, so we decided to use alternative methods of contraception. Yet, somehow, with condoms, and me breastfeeding, I've only had one period since Daithí was born a year ago. I still managed to get pregnant.

On my first two pregnancies, I was sick from day one. The sickness never stopped, but got progressively worse until the boys were born, then it magically stopped. I was so bad on Daithí (you can read about that here), Shane made me write a letter to myself to talk me out of ever wanting to get pregnant again should the mood have struck.

This time however, I've been fine. Like totally fine, so fine I'm still not actually convinced I'm with child. What prompted me to do a test was my reaction to Shane asking one day when I had a bug if I could be pregnant. I nearly ate him. 'How the fuck could I be pregnant, What the fuck are you talking about, fuck off'. This massive over reaction made me think, shit, I might be.

There we are now!
3 Months pregnant and
survived The Wolf Run

I think it was bad timing, because he was sick, proper bells and whistles, in a shit mood for almost a month, man flu. I can feel my eyes rolling just typing that. But his apparent, complete lack of interest made me want to slap him and yell 'suck it up sunshine, it's not your body going through a 3rd pregnancy in 4 years'. But I didn't, because I'm nice, and I need to work on my sympathy face, and bed side manner. Wanker.

So we've been to the midwife, had a scan, everything's fine bla bla bla. I'm continuing with the gym, Slimming World (it's supported by the Royal College of Midwives) and Breastfeeding (despite Shane being on at me wean Daithí, I have no intention of stopping - the 'support' conversation with him is one for another day!).

I also decided to stick to my plan of doing The Wolf Run I had signed up to a few months back. It has been a personal goal of mine for quite some time, and I am so glad I achieved, before I turn into a giant preggo whale again and can't run for another year.

From a practicality point of view, the pregnancy has meant we need a bigger house, and that means a longer commitment to England. I'm still not sure how I feel about that, but I'll get to that another time. I don't have time for emotions right now.

On the wall in the
Estate Agent's and everything! 

Our house went on the market this week, and we're viewing more houses than I can remember. Trying to get my head around Stamp Duty, and Mortgages, and Legal Fees etc. etc. etc. is making my brain want to cry. Ok, so we've bought a house before, and that was bloody stressful, but adding selling a house to the mix is just head melting. There's also needing to have to done before this baby arrives, as I really don't fancy moving with a new born.

I really wish there was a class you could take that just explains in lay-mans terms what everything means. 'predictability', 'chains', 'conditional offers', it all means SFA to me, but you don't want to let on you  know nothing, because then you could be conned, but seriously, like, what's the difference between a 'decision in principal' and a 'mortgage in principle', and why do they put negative marks on your credit score?

That's another thing I haven't managed to understand since moving here. My bloody credit score, I know what it currently is, but I couldn't tell you how it got there, or how to make it better.


The one thing I am grateful for is that the puking hasn't started. Yet. Everyone say's this must be a girl so, but, I'd be quite happy with 3 boys, we shall see. I don't know if it's breastfeeding hormones that are protecting me from the horribleness of it all, of if the last 6 months of Slimming World has helped me more than I know, (this is the first time I'm not starting off a pregnancy with an obese BMI.) What ever it is, I'm afraid to change anything!!

I'm hoping to write a bit more, but if it's a toss up between blogging and going to bed at 7pm, I'm going to bed!!

Bed doesn't always mean sleep
though when you have a 3 & 1 year old

Some Blokes are just Dicks

I was going to wait for my rage to subside a bit before writing this, but if anything I've just over thought the situation and got more angry, so maybe writing through it will help.

I was hit on yesterday in the park, while there by myself with the two kids.

Some random bloke with his two sons decided to cat call me across the path, and say something along the lines of 'you've got a cracking body love', my resting bitch face turned instantly to a death stare and I kept walking, following Fionn to where he wanted to play.

He followed me along the path, and although didn't get angry, was clearly annoyed at my lack of appreciation for his remarks. 'Are you not going to say thank you? I just paid you a compliment?', I made it clear I wasn't interested and continued to engage with Fionn and Daithí, but he didn't stop.

'Why are you in the park then by yourself if you're married?', 'you could just be nice and come chat to me'. I was annoyed at myself for even saying it, but it's like men will sooner respect another guy and not infringe on their territory, than take a woman's rejection as reason enough to not keep pursuing.

In a bar or a club, I think I would have been more assertive, and probably told him to Fuck Off, partially because I've probably come to expect that sort of behavior in those kind of places, but not wanting to upset the kids I remained polite. Why are we so conditioned to not cause a scene, to not offend, to brush off that sort of behavior as OK. The two young boys he was with are going to grow up thinking that's an appropriate way of talking to someone.  Is it Fuck.

Uninvited comments on a strangers appearance are not compliments, they are harassment. I'm definitely not going to thank you for deeming my appearance acceptable enough for you to pass unsolicited comments on it.

Continuing to engage someone who quite clearly isn't interested isn't going to get you a date. It's intimidating. It's especially intimidating when you're there by yourself, in a bloody park, trying to keep up with two toddlers.

He eventually did walk off, and I could see him hassling another woman there by herself with her two daughters. She made a bee line for the playground where she met her mother and husband. We left fairly quickly after that, I fell in step with them as they returned to the car park, I didn't want to walk past the man again by myself.

I was annoyed with myself for letting a dickhead ruin Fionn's time in the park, I should have stayed and let him play until he wanted to go, but I was shook and just wanted to get home.

It's not going to stop me going back to that park, but it has left me with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth, and I will definitely have my guard up a bit more.

We got a coffee after, coffee always helps.

Getting ready for a rare night out

Before having kids, I was a hair and heals girl every weekend, prepping for a night out started on a Wednesday! Nothing was too much bother and I loved the build up. I loved spending hours getting ready and always felt amazing when I went out.

Post kids however, and living away from home with no babysitters has, means nights out are few and far between. When we do get to go out, I'm lucky if I get time to slap on some make-up and throw my hair up into something that resembles a fashionable pony tail, between feeding, bath and bed time.

So you can only imagine how excited I was to travel home for my sisters 21st. The kids were being minded for a full 24 hours, so I got to get ready properly. I say properly, flying with two toddlers and a husband (I don't know who's worse) the night before meant it was a rushed job but there was still time!!


With compliments of Cosmetic Alliance  there was a box of goodies waiting for me when I arrived in Dublin. Including the new Abella Viva self tan mouse. People are going nuts for this tan across social media so I was excited to try it out. Developed specifically for the Irish complexion, it's only available in salons and online.

I used the mouse in Golden. It went on like a dream, no streaks, and came up beautifully and evenly. It also didn't have that usual self tan stench, which meant I was able to wear it all day before showering just before the party.


Myself and the girls were booked into Inglot to have our faces painted. My MUA was a sound young artist, who I had great chats with about pregnancy and breastfeeding as she is expecting her first baby this year. It's mad how good, honest conversation with a stranger can set you up for the day. Inglot are always spot on with applications, and we all left delighted.

Vanessa Lashes

Chloe Lashes

I also tried Depend Cosmetic false eye lashes, in style Vanessa. I'm always a bit dubious about lashes, especially after having my make-up done. I love the look of them, but I'm terrible at applying them. These went on so easily I surprised myself. They were light, and fit just right. They were so easy to apply, I even decided to try another pair, in style Chloe a few nights later for a dinner out.



Over the next few days (and nights) we took full advantage of the offers of babysitting and went out every chance we could. It's all we can do to fit 6 months worth of socialising into 10 days. The tan held up well, and I felt done up even with minimal effort.

I can't wait to try the rest of the goodies I was sent, including a stamper set from Depend Cosmetic to go with my ever growing collection of Depend7Day polishes. If you've been following me on Instagram you'll know it's one of my obsessions.

Cosmetic Alliance are currently running a give away of Depend Cosmetic False Lashes on their Facebook page. Be sure to check it out here https://goo.gl/qVycjq

Slimming world on holiday

Size 12 jeans! Hells Yeah
-29lbs

I started my Slimming World journey 17 weeks ago, and have lost 29lbs so far. It's become a high-light of my week, sitting in the meeting and chatting to new friends. 

But when it comes to traveling back and forth between the UK and Ireland as often as we do it's so easy for me to just throw caution to the wind and fuck up my entire progress. 

Not this time. I need to stop treating trips home as a holiday so I checked with my leader and I was able to go to group in Dublin. It even came off my countdown, so no need to pay. Score!

Now this is where my anxiety severely set in. The same anxiety I got joining my current group for the first time. I feel like a right tit not knowing where I'm going, who the leader is, where everyone sits, etc. etc. So I had decided I wasn't going to go. But then I got pissed off with myself for giving up so easily. I looked up groups and conveniently there was one about to start in half an hour, 5 mins from the house. I knew I had to just go and do it before I thought my self out of it. 

The whole family are on SW now!

Going in I knew I was going to gain, that was fine, I had my sisters 21st three days previous, and although I didn't have a single bite of the Dominos that was being delivered thick and fast to the party, I had been drinking till 7am! +3.5lbs. ARGH!!! But, there was no judgement from my new surrogate Irish group. Just a round of applause for making the effort of going and staying to group, even when away from home. 

And that's exactly what I love about Slimming World, there's never any judgement. Image Therapy is all about support. Encouraging each other, picking each other up, pushing each other on. 

We've talked a lot in group over the last few weeks about smashing that idea of 'dieting'. This isn't a diet. At least I don't feel like it is. It's like a whole new positive, healthy way of eating and living. I'm just annoyed I've spent so much of my life not on the program. 

Poor Fionn just wanted
to get home to bed!

Without sounding like an absolute gobshite, I feel like I have a whole new outlook on life. I'm approaching food differently. For example, we arrived home from Ireland Monday night, dropped Shane to work and got stuck behind a road traffic collision on the M6 for 2 hours. with two toddlers in the car. FUCK.  

Nothing like a boy
and his Mango!!

Old me would have written that off as a bad week and turned to food for comfort. Instead, I woke up Tuesday morning, went to group (another 3lbs gain) then went to Aldi. By the time Shane woke up after his night shift I had soup made, a dozen eggs boiled for snacking for the week, Wednesday's dinner in the slow cooker, and a weeks worth of overnight oats ready to go in the fridge. No matter what is thrown at me this week, I know I'm not turning to food for comfort. 

Now, I know I've gained 6.5lbs over the last two weeks, but 10 nights of dinners out and drinking every day will do that to you. It feels like we have to fit 6 months worth of socialising into a week. Take advantage of the babysitters, and get straight back on plan when we get home. 

If my 9.5lbs loss after Christmas is anything to go by I'll be half a stone down next week. Watch this space!!

belated Christmas and a positive new year...

I've been quiet the last few weeks because I've felt like I  haven't been able to write. I had some negative things said to me after my last big post, and have had things I opened up about thrown back at me in an argument, and I started to question what's the point.
I realise though that kind of is the point. I'm being as bluntly and as brutally honest as I can and that's going to rub some people the wrong way, but because I genuinely believe in what I'm writing, I have to just accept, that putting yourself out there in a public forum,will result in a mixed-bag reaction.

Christmas was lovely, exactly as we planned. Shane had a whole week and a half off work, and decided not to go in for any over time like he normally does. Because we have no idea where we'll be or what situation we'll be in next year, we figured the best thing to do was to just spend some quality time together as a family. I can tell you it was much needed.

We stayed in the UK again this year, we don't normally go home for Christmas. It isn't that big a deal to my family, and it's way too stressful in Shane's.  So we stayed, and chilled out. Lots of food, drinks, days out and movies cuddled up on the sofa.

I continued to go to Slimming world, I think even that helped limit the damage to 9lbs, Two weeks off plan, eating and drinking anything and everything I wanted, I don't think that's too bad. Time to draw a line under it and get back on plan 100% it's the only way.

New Years Eve I did something to my back. I was pulling Fionn off Daithí and it just went, I dropped him on the sofa and fell to the floor. All these stores you read of heroic toddlers who call 999 for their injured parents, yeah Fionn is not ever going to be one of those kids. I couldn't get to my phone, so just had to wait till Shane came home, and took me to out of hours. The lovely cocktail of drugs prescribed to me, drastically reduced when I told the doctor I was breastfeeding. So after congratulating me for still going strong at 10 months, she reduced my dose of everything and sent me on my way.

I had a suspicion I had Diastasis Recti, meaning a separation of the abdominal muscles, a condition common in pregnancy, particularly so with transverse babies. This was confirmed for me, and she presumed that my back has been over compensating as a result of total lack of strength in my core. There's little I can do, but I have spoken to a post-pregnancy personal trainer, so hopefully I'll have a plan of action soon

I digress, the New Year has me feeling positive and excited for the year ahead. I've made four resolutions to myself, and writing more, ignoring the criticism that comes with it is one of them. So with any luck you'll all be hearing more from me in the coming months.
*sorry for lack of pictures, I am anxious to get this first one out of the way to I can get back to writing properly*

S x

There's more important things in life than nails, but they're a good place to start.

Everyone who knows me, knows I am nail #obsessed and have been since I was a child. I used to always have them painted beautiful colours.

Then I had kids, and they fell right to the bottom of my list of priorities. But any chance I got, I'd have a Shillac manicure and hope it would last 6 weeks, until I could find the time/money to have them done again, 6 weeks would turn into 3 months, and you get the picture. Finding time with kids is hard.

So I bit the bullet and started painting them myself again. About two months ago, on Instagram I swore blind I was never going to bother doing my own nails again, after they chipped only a few hours later. Well today I am eating my words!!

Depend Very Berry & Jamberry Granada and TikiHut

I've found two amazing new brands that I have a feeling will be featuring in a lot of my IG posts in the future.

Depend and Jamberry

I skeptically bought a starter pack and some colours of Depend 7 Day. Half expecting to use it once, it not to work, and for it to be banished to my nail box, never to be used again. I was wrong.

That same week, I was also sent some samples of Jamberry Nail Wraps to try. Again I was skeptical. I had never used wraps before, and always felt like they were a bit cheep and childish. Again, I was wrong!

Both brands insist on correct nail prep for best results, this is the step I always manage myself at home; cleanse, scrub, buff, cuticles, etc. etc.but I never manage to get any further. So I had to make a conscious effort this time to not open the bottle of wine and to do my nails instead. 

I figured the best way to see which was best was to pin them against each other, and see which lasted longest. I was seriously impressed. Even with my dishwasher breaking and having to actually wash dishes (how very 1950's) as well as the usual, bathing kids, doing laundry, cleaning bathrooms etc. etc. neither budged for 10 days. At which stage I was bored and wanted to change colours anyway.

Depend 7Day
Healing Trees & Nature's Lullaby

Depend has basic 4 steps, Cleanse, Base, Colour and Top. Fairly straightforward. The bristles
 of the brushes are very cleverly designed to spread and cover your nail in one neat sweep, so even doing my wrong hand was easy. Each layer only took 2/3 minutes to dry and the final look was flawless.






Jamberry is a little bit more complicated. You cut the wrap roughly to size, peel it back with an orange stick, heat with a hairdryer/ heater for a few seconds then apply it to your nail and file down. It sounds complicated, but after the first application I got the hang of it. The upside of the wraps is you get beautifully delicate designs, so even if you're completely anti-ambidextrous like my self, both hands still look fab.



I've also tried Jamberry on my toes, and my god they LAST!! You'll have to take my word for it as I may be banned from the internet if I shared pictures of my feet,

Both will set you back about £30/€30 to get yourself started, but (and sorry about this) I challenge anyone to stop there. The colours and pattern combinations are endless. It has become a Monday night ritual of mine, I get the kids to sleep and sit down for some me time. I may not have slept in 3 years, or had my hair done in 2, but when I have my nails done, I feel like I have my shit together.

Jamberry are available here
Depend 7Day is available here

S x