40 weeks pregnant.

How far along? 39 weeks and 4 days.

Total weight gain/measurements: 3 stone! Although i did lose 5lbs from all the walking Ive done trying to get her out.

Maternity clothes: I have about 3 tops and 2 bottoms that still fit me so I'm constantly washing them now.

Stretch marks? I'm covered in them. even my belly has them now they look so disgusting! :(

Sleep: The past 2 nights Ive actually had a good 3 hours sleep where i haven't woken up which has been amazing.

Best moment this week:being so close to our due date, we are nearly there :D

Miss anything? my body i really cant wait to start exercising now.

Movement: it has slowed down a bit as she has run out of room in there now but shes still an active baby.

Food cravings:  Still nothing where i have to have it.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Fish or peas i still cant stand the smell or eat it!

Gender:Our little girl Sofia :)

Labour signs:Loads of pressure and some bad period pains so I'm just waiting now for some contractions to start happening.

Symptoms: Period pains which are getting more painful and loads of pressure especially when i walk.

Belly button in or out? Outie!

Wedding rings on or off?  Off. I tried to put my engagement ring back on but it got stuck, i miss wearing it.

Happy or moody most of the time: Fed up and so emotional this past week i had a meltdown over our kettle breaking but it's only because I'm getting so impatient. I just want to hold her now :)

Looking forward to: Tuesday is my due date and Wednesday fingers crossed they will give me the sweep :)

37 weeks! Full term!

How far along? 37 weeks and 3 days!

Total weight gain/measurements: 3 stone! way more than i wanted to put on.

Maternity clothes: I have a few that still fit me and im living out of tracksuit bottoms and leggings! I cant wait to get back into my jeans again.

Stretch marks? Tons! :( i have loads on my legs now and starting to get some on my belly.

Sleep: I get about an hours sleep before i get up to pee. I literally get up at least 8 times a night to pee so i get no rest.

Best moment this week: Getting to full term and Sofia's head is now engaged so could be any day now :D

Miss anything? SLEEP!

Movement: So much movement now. It's more her rolling around which really hurts. 

Food cravings:  Still nothing where i have to have it.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Fish or peas i still cant stand the smell or eat it!

Gender: Still a girl. We had it confirmed another 2 times :)

Labour signs: Ive been getting pains for the last month which doctor said is braxton hicks. The last week im getting so much pressure and some sharp pains so id say it wont be long :)

Symptoms: Backache- still hurts me everyday.Period pains- ive had these on and off which are more intense now.

Belly button in or out? Outie!

Wedding rings on or off?  Off which was sad taking them off!

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy now we are near the end :) finally!

Looking forward to: 19 days time which is my due date and she will finally be here :D

 

This picture is actually 35 weeks!

Never Forget. 1 year on.

September 13th 2013 marks a special day as it would have been our little girl Jade's first birthday. It's hard to believe a year has passed already and to think we would have had a 1 year old now is crazy!
It's bitter sweet as we are having another little girl in 8 weeks time, I think it would be a lot harder if I was not pregnant now!
I think about her every day and wonder what she would look like and how she would have been and I would have loved for Sofia to have a big sister here.
It has got easier as time has gone on and I know she's happy wherever she is and i know my dad will be spoiling her on her birthday!
So happy 1st birthday baby girl we miss you everyday xx
Never forget xxx

30 WEEKS PREGNANT!!!

How far along? 30 weeks and 1 day!

Total weight gain/measurements: i have put on about 20 pounds since the start which is more than i wanted to.

Maternity clothes:I am living out of leggings and long t-shirts as nothing else fits me! with only 10 weeks to go im not going to buy any maternity clothes its just a waste of money!

Stretch marks? My sides have got a lot in the last week but none on my belly yet so im hoping it stays that way.

Sleep: Sleep is on and off now as she is sitting on my bladder i have to get up to pee about 5 times a night so i never get a full nights sleep.

Best moment this week:Hitting 30 weeks and realizing how close we are now to having our little girl with us :)

Miss anything? My body! i have no control over it anymore so il be glad when i have it back ha.

Movement: Movement and kicks are so strong now to the point where it hurts sometimes so i know she is getting bigger and stronger everyday! 

Food cravings:  Still nothing where i have to have it.

Anything making you queasy or sick? Fish or peas i still cant stand the smell or eat it!

Gender: A little GIRL :D our little baby Sofia x

Labour signs: Nothing yet.

Symptoms: Heartburn still have it but im learning to live with it now! Backache is getting worse each week. Swollen ankles which i was not expecting it just looks worse more than anything. Leg cramps, i get it mostly at night so im using a foot pillow to help.

Belly button in or out? Pretty much out now!

Wedding rings on or off?  Off which was sad taking them off!

Happy or moody most of the time: Il say moody now im just ready for her to be here now im getting too impatient.

Looking forward to: Our next scan next week to see her again and check her size as she was measuring bigger last time. 

6 months!!! 24 weeks!!

How far along? 24 weeks and 4 days!

Total weight gain/measurements: In total i have put on about 14lbs so 1 stone heavier! Its been hard for me to get on the scales and not cry when i have put on a few pounds I forget sometimes I'm pregnant and its only baby weight ha!

Maternity clothes: So far i have only bought 2 nursing bra's and 1 maternity top as it's so expensive! I just get a few Penney's tops in bigger sizes because they are so cheap and I'm only going to be wearing them for a short time.

Stretch marks? YES!!!! which I hate. I only have them on my boobs so far but i get them anyway so I'm just waiting for them to appear on my belly soon. I'm using Avon's stretch mark cream and baby oil at the minute but nothing is working!!

Sleep: I get very little sleep in this heat and i need to buy a pregnancy pillow to support my belly at night.

Best moment this week: Watching our baby from the outside seeing him/her kicking and rolling around.

Miss anything? Fitting into all my lovely summer dresses i have :( It's just more motivation for me to get my body back after little bambino is out!

Movement: Loads of movement especially at night baby seems to come to life at around 1am or early in the morning, guess it's just preparing me for when it's born ha!

Food cravings:  Nothing really strong cravings, i guess mayonnaise I'm addicted to it anyway but i have to have it with pretty much anything i eat now!

Anything making you queasy or sick? Fish or peas i still cant stand the smell or eat it!

Gender: We still don't know! But we find out in 6 days which is so exciting :D

Labour signs: No.

Symptoms: Heartburn, it has eased off alot but i still get it at least twice a day! Tiredness, i find myself so tired all the time again maybe it's just the heat but i fall asleep so early now! Backache, I have bad backache where i cant get comfortable unless I'm lying in bed.

Belly button in or out? Almost out!

Wedding rings on or off? On but it's starting to get a little tight so id say by 30 weeks it will be off!

Happy or moody most of the time: I'm gonna say a bit of both I'm sure Matt would say more moody though ha!

Looking forward to:Friday when we have our 4d scan and we get to see our baby's face and find out the gender and i can finally buy clothes and tell everyone his/her name :D

10 things people do not tell you about pregnancy!

1. You will get dark hairs growing on your stomach which make you look like an ape!
2. That glow everyone talks about doesn't exist! You just get a face full of spots! 
3. Feeling your baby kick for the first time is amazing but also very weird its like there's an alien in your belly!
4. Whenever you have to bend down to get something you have to plea or squat, not the most attractive look!
5. What baby wants baby gets. Even if you want chocolate if baby doesn't want it, it will let you know by making you get sick after it! 
6. If you laugh or sneeze too hard you WILL pee a bit!! Be prepared!
7. Using bio oil will not stop you getting stretch marks if you are prone to them you will get them anyway!
8. You wont be able to run anymore and if you try you will look ridiculous. You will also have to hold your boobs as they will feel like they are going to fall off!
9. Everyone will touch your belly even strangers and its SO awkward, if you didn't put it there don't feel the need to keep poking at it!
10. You will loose all your dignity even before you give birth, you will be surprised how many people get to poke and prod at you throughout your pregnancy!

Bump update :)

So this week its been such a relief to finally tell everyone we are pregnant :) 
I literally took about 10 pregnancy tests because we just didn't believe it.
Hitting 12 weeks has been such a huge milestone for us and reaching the second trimester :)
We have been for 2 scans to check the baby early this time and both scans baby was growing on track with a strong heartbeat and moving around. Im glad we will be getting lots of scans to give us piece of mind that baby is ok.
I havent had any strong cravings yet just chocolate milk or milk in general i think that could be because of the heartburn which has kicked in full force now. Ive noticed im finding it hard to sleep at night or get comfortable as i get further along. One of the bonuses of being pregnant though is my boobs have gone up about 2 sizes ha.
As for movement i haven't felt anything yet just little flutters on and off right where the baby is i cant wait till i get to feel kicks :)
We havent started buying anything yet we will buy all the big stuff a few weeks before im due and clothes when we find out what we are having which we should no in about 5 weeks :)
We both think it's a boy and every symptom has indicated boy but we will probably get a shock and find out it's a girl, either way i dont mind as long as it's healthy.
We have another appointment in a few weeks so we will get to see our little king prawn again.
As for a bump im starting to show a little bit already and ive finally gained 2lbs.

This week our baby is the size of large plum it's crazy :)

Planning Our Wedding!!

So we got engaged just over a year ago and we've had such a mad year we haven't had time to even start thinking about our wedding. Finally we have time to start planning and we are hoping to get married in the next 2 years. I pretty much have everything planned down to every detail all Matt has to do is show up on the day ha :) We know our budget so were just going to a few wedding fairs to get the best deals and see which venue we like best. I can not wait to get my dress Ive tried on a few but nothing has felt like the one yet!! Me and Matt decided on 3 bridesmaids and 3 groomsmen, I have my sister Linzi and my best friend Edel and I have one more which I haven't asked yet because I haven't seen her in a while :) We were originally going to have 4 of each but since my dad passed away last year i asked my brother to walk me down the aisle instead :) Hopefully tomorrow we will know more about the official date!! 

I cant wait to marry my best friend and be Mrs Lianne Crowson :)
xx

Mens Skincare!!

Men think looking after your skin is only something women do. It is so important for men to look after their skin as it can become dry/dehydrated/sensitised being exposed to the weather or when playing sports. Also shaving can irritate the skin leaving it dry and flaky. There are a lot of products nowadays men can buy to keep their skin looking nice. I would even recommend just starting with an exfoliator and using it once a week and a moisturiser every day. I am a big fan of Nivea products and they do have a skincare range for men. So girls if you want to get your boyfriend/brother/dad a gift, get him something that's going to keep him looking young and handsome :) And men don't be embarrassed to look after your skin or buy skin care products!! 

Some ranges of products for men:

• Nivea.
• Dermalogica.
• Neutrogena.
• Clinique.
• Gillette.
• Dove. 
• L'Oreal for men. 

 

Looking After Your Hair!!

After years of dying my hair, straightening it every day and not looking after it my hair gets so dry and damaged. I find sometimes the best things to use are stuff you can find in your cupboards at home. One thing i love to use is Olive Oil. This can get pretty messy so i usually have a towel around my shoulders, you can heat it up in the microwave till its warm not hot! I just lather it into my hair when its dry and focus mainly on the ends. I leave it for an hour or two and shampoo it out with warm water and my hair always feels so silky after. 

If you have frizzy, curly hair like me, you can put a small drop into your hands and drag it through the ends of your hair when its wet. It will help control the frizz when you dry your hair.
Or you can get a spray bottle and put some in and just spray a small bit onto your hair when its dry to give it a shine!

There are oils you can buy from the shops to use in your hair like jojoba & coconut oils or Moroccan Argan Oil. Olive oil is just an alternative if you already have some at home!!

 xx

Hair Dye Disasters!!

When I was younger I had really long, thick brown hair. I used to get blonde highlights in it and it was nice but I got bored of them really quick and made the mistake of putting black dye in my hair. I loved it until I decided I wanted to go light again, big mistake!! My hair turned out gingery/brown and I had to leave it like it for 3 months. Then I went and got blonde put in it and it ruined my hair, half of it fell out and I had to get it cut short just below my shoulders because all my hair started snapping. It looked so bad I had to put a brown dye over it I was so disgusted at what the hairdresser let me come out looking like I got my money back!! I had bleached roots and gingery/blonde ends I wish I took a picture of it now.

I left my hair for about a year then with the brown dye in and now I only dye my roots. I would just advise anyone who wants dark hair use a semi-permanent dye or go the hairdressers, NEVER use a permanent black. If you change your hair all the time but cant afford to go to the hairdressers use a semi-permanent dye. If you dye your hair the same colour with permanent dye just do the roots every couple of months.  

My hair now is still ruined, it's grown a lot but its so thin and snaps all the time. I will keep my dark brown colour forever now and not mess with my hair. I just wish id never dyed it black!!

 

My natural hair colour!

 

With blonde highlights and darker brown!!

 

Black Hair!!

 

After the black was taken out. Gingery/brown!!

 

My hair now dark brown!!

 x

Fake Tan!!

I am so pale like to the point where people always think i look sick ha. So when I go out if i wear a dress I like to wear some fake tan. I have 2 favorites Sally Hansen and Wow Brown!! 

Wow Brown:
I bought this tan at a beauty trade show about a year ago just because it was the cheapest one there and it's the best tan ive tried. I'll usually put the Wow Brown on a few days before and build it up, i love how it comes out coloured on your skin so you can see where your putting it. The only problem i found was dark elbows so i just put a small bit of Vaseline on them before i apply it. I put it on before bed and wash it off in the morning, it drys quick and doesn't smell as bad as others ive tried. I apply it with latex gloves or a tanning mit.

 

Sally Hansen:
I used to buy the dark one and I just ended up looking like an oompa lumpa ha, so now i use the light glow and it looks so much better. Its so handy if the last minute you need to go somewhere as it comes out straight away and covers everything. So if you have any marks or anything on your skin it covers it brill!! Or if your legs are like mine, I have thin skin so my legs look like road maps with my veins showing ha so this is a must have for me!! I love it!!

x

My Skincare Routine and products!!

My skin has never been completely clear I always get spots and i hate it. I'm 23 and my skin is still like a teenagers!!!! ughhhh!!!! Ive been using the Thalgo skin care products and Nivea for a while now and they are defiantly helping. Sometimes I slip up and use face wipes which is really bad for your skin but if it's really late they are just handy, but i would avoid using them because they make your skin dry out.

Thalgo products:

• Cocooning cleansing milk- which is a make up remover, its for dry/sensitive skin. I just use a blob on a cotton disk to remove my make up. My skin always feels so soft after i use it. I use this twice daily.
• Cocooning tonic lotion- This is used after the cleansing milk it helps to tighten pores and remover any excess make up. I use this twice daily aswell.
• Softness exfoliator- I use the exfoliator once a week. My skin always feels so smooth after it and it looks better. It removes any dead skin building up on your skin. 

 Nivea products:

• Daily essentials extra gentle eye make up remover- because your eyes are sensitive and the skin around them is so delicate you don't want to use anything harsh on them. I use this because its so mild, I just use it with a cotton disk to remove my mascara. Its the only product Ive used that hasn't made my eyes sting!!
• Soft moisturising cream- I love this moisturiser its so light on my skin and it absorbs so quickly, I use this twice a day. Its amazing!!

 My skincare routine!!

• First I use the Nivea eye make remover with a couple cotton disks and press the disks onto my eyes and leave for a minute. Then i gently wipe off the mascara, I don't ever rub my eyes because i don't want to get wrinkles lol.
• I use the cocooning cleansing milk after with cotton disks to remove any make up on my face and neck, I never use it on my eyes.
• After i use the toner to close my pores and remove any cleansing milk or make up left on my skin. I always let it dry.
• Then i use my Nivea moisturiser to hydrate my skin.
• I do this routine twice a day, before I put my make up on and when i take it off in the evening.
• Then once a week I use the exfoliator maybe twice depending on how bad my skin gets!!

Tips:

• Never use soap to wash your face, it removes the protective layer off your skin leaving it open for bacteria to get in and it drys it out.
• Try to avoid using face wipes as they remove all the moisture from your skin and dry it out as well.
• Use a eye make remover and avoid rubbing your eyes.
• Exfoliate once a week to help rejuvenate your skin.
• Find a good moisturiser that suits your skin type and use it twice a day. If you can find one with an SPF in.

Some products I find amazing are from the Dermalogica range, they have products for every skin type. They can be a bit expensive sometimes but they are defiantly worth it!! 

x

How To Maintain Your Make Up Brushes!!

I have always had bad skin so I have to make sure to keep my brushes clean. The main reason I use brushes is because so much bacteria gets on your hands and then when you touch your face it spreads and its not good for your skin, also the heat from your hands aggravates it. I never use sponges because they hold so much bacteria, if you do use them wash them in warm soapy water after use and dispose of them every couple of weeks.

                                       ^^^^^^ My Sunaura Make Up Brushes ^^^^^^

How i clean my brushes!!
I always use Johnson's baby shampoo and warm water to clean them. I wash my foundation brush once a week sometimes more depending on how bad my skin gets. For the eyeshadow brushes i wash them after i use them, there are times i get too lazy to wash them mostly on a night out lol. After you have washed them leave them lying on their side on a towel, if you put them upright the water will run down and loosen the glue.

Tips:

• Use a mild shampoo.
• Wash foundation brush once a week.
• If you don't use brushes wash your hands before applying foundation.
• Wash eyeshadow brushes 2-3 times a week.
• Use warm water.
• Let brushes dry on their side.
• Never leave them to dry upright.

Hope this helped :)

x

Top 5 Favorite Perfumes!!

1...Katy Perry Meow!!
Matty got me this perfume for Christmas he was going to get the other Katy Perry perfume Purr but picked up the wrong one. I love this one it is so much nicer than the other one and i find with a lot of perfumes the smell goes after a wile, but this one lasts all day :) The thing i love the most though is the bottle, i am obsessed with cats so its purrrfect ;) lol

2...Ralph Lauren Blue.
I always make sure i have this perfume so i never run out. I got a big bottle from my parents this year when they came back from travelling around Europe. It was the last present my dad gave me before he passed away so it's a special one for me x

3...Rihanna Reb'l Fleur.
One of my best friends Leanne used to wear this perfume to college, i kept going to buy it but it was always sold out. Then i luckily got the last one from a small chemist.She has another perfume Rebelle but i didn't like that one.

4...Paris Hilton Heiress.
I bought this perfume years ago and love it but when i went to get it again they stopped selling it everywhere. I recently found a few so i got them. To top it off theres a mirror on the bottle, what girl wouldn't love that! :P

 

5...Paris Hilton Sheer.

I no another Paris perfume but i love it, the only one i dont like of hers is Fairy Dust. It smells like a mans perfume. The thing i like about this perfume is its fairly cheap but smells amazing :)

 x

Pink, Black and gold nail design!!

How to create this look!!

What I Used!!

• OPI nail polish, pink flamingo.
• Star Nails, nail art pen, metalic gold.
• Star Nails, nail art pen, black. 
• OPI Top coat.
• OPI base coat.

Step by step!!

• Apply a thin layer of the base coat and let it dry.
• Then a thin layer of the pink nail polish.
• Once that is dry apply another layer to make the colour stand out.
• Undo the black nail art pen lid to get the long brush and from the top corner of the nail do 3 strokes downwards.
• Get the old pen and use the top part with the point, dot the gold following the black lines. Let the nail art dry completely.
• Lastly apply the top coat, this will give the nails a shine and protect the nail art.

You can try this out with any coloured nail polish or nail art pens to create the look you want!! :)

x

Make Up Look For A Night Out!

 How To Achieve This Make Up Look!!

Products I Used!

• ART DECO Rich Treatment Foundation number 12 mixed with number 15.
• Rimmel Stay Matt Powder.
• Essence Get Big Lashes mascara.
• Bourjois Paris 54 Rose Frisson blush.
• Essence Liquid Eyeliner Black.
• ART DECO eyeshadow palette.
• GOSH lipstick, shade 134 Darling.

 Step By Step!!
Face:
Apply moisturizer to your skin before your foundation and let it sink in for a minute. Then using a foundation brush or your hands whichever you prefer apply a thin layer of foundation. If you have oily skin apply powder on top of the foundation in the areas you find gets a shine. I usually apply it all over my skin because it makes my foundation stay on longer. Using the same brush apply blush onto your cheekbones in a circular motion, this will keep the blush even.

Eyes:
Apply a light layer of white/cream eyeshadow onto your entire eyelid and under the brow to define it. Then use a light purple and apply it on your eyelid up to your crease. With a slightly darker purple work it into the crease of your eye making sure to blend it. Apply a thick layer of the liquid eyeliner to your top lid winging it slightly at the end to create a slight cat eye effect. Take your false lashes and measure them along your lid to see is they fit, if they are too long cut off a small part from the inner corner. Apply the glue and let it get tacky for about 20 seconds before placing them on. Once they are in place use mascara to thicken them up.

Lips:
I used a nude shade of lipstick, with the GOSH darling lipstick i found i didn't really need lip gloss but if you want to add it on just to add a more glossy look i would use a clear one or a gloss a similar colour to the lipstick.

The make up i used was a mixture of cheap and expensive brands, i find sometimes the cheap brands are just as good as the dear ones.

x

A Few Daily Must Haves!

These are a few of my daily must haves!!

Stretchy Jeggings!!
I have a pair of these in light/dark and white denim. They are so handy and go with everything. I love the stretch band along the top its so much better than having a button digging in all day. You can dress them up with a cute top and heals or wear them casual with a tank top and flats or boots. I wear them with a pair of knee length boots, a plain t-shirt and a baggy wooly jumper. 

Pink GHD!!
I have had so many straighteners and they either take ages to heat up or they don't give my hair that sleek look the GHD does. It only takes a few seconds to fully heat up and only needs to be swept down the hair. My hair gets quite frizzy when i've dried it so i use it after once ive applied a heat protector to my hair. Definitely couldn't live without it!!

Black Leather Jacket!!
Everyone needs a good jacket that can be worn daily or for nights out. Its so handy to bring out as its light and being black it goes with pretty much anything. I usually pair it with a pair of leggings, a long t-shirt to go over the leggings and my black knee high boots.

lipstick!!
My all time favorite lipstick, GOSH velvet touch 134 darling. It's a neutral shade and is not dry like a lot of lipsticks, depending on the day id sometimes add a clear gloss over the top but it really doesn't need it. And i also love the name its so cute!!

Lastly My Decaf Coffee!!
I drink about 8 cups a day so i had to switch to decaf and i honestly do not notice the difference. Its so much better for your body, my two faves are Carte Noire and Nescafe!!

Nail Crazy x

I am obsessed with Nails, painting them, gel nails, designs, nail art anything you could think of!!! 

I started a you tube channel a long time ago which i will be continuing to add more videos to soon.

Here is my link http://www.youtube.com/user/nailartdesigns637/videos?view=0&flow=grid
Hope you can check out some of my videos :)
xoxox

Pick Of The Week!!!

I have tried so many foundations in the past expensive and cheap. I have very pale, porcelain skin so finding a foundation can be very hard. The one brand i found amazing was GOSH!! They have a porcelain shade which matches perfectly to my skin tone. I love this shade however i found i do look a bit washed out with it so i tried the next shade up which is natural. It is a slight shade darker and looks flawless once applied. I find with a lot of foundations they either cake your skin or don't cover at all, but this one covers and is very light on your skin. In Ireland its 15 euro a bottle but it lasts so long. At the moment they have an offer for buy one get one half price which i think is brilliant.

Before applying i usually apply moisturizer and the gosh primer to my skin. Then using a brush i apply a light shade of the GOSH x-ceptional wear foundation and then a light powder to my t-zone. I would defiantly recommend this to anyone who has pale skin or acne/bad skin as it has great coverage with a natural glow!!!

                                     ^^^^^^Gosh X-Ceptional Wear, shade Natural ^^^^^^

Penneys/Primark Make-Up Review!!

I came across Penneys/Primark make-up a few days ago, i decided to buy some to test it out. I was impressed by how cheap it was each item was 1.50 euro each. I kind of thought by being so cheap they would not be as pigmented or not very good. I was very impressed by the pink shade of lipstick as i added some lip gloss over the top of it, the color came out brilliant. The mascara is good for an everyday use as its very thin, i usually like a thicker brush to use. The eyeliner is handy as you get 2 in a pack with a sharpener with it. I found the eye pencil quite sharp but once i filed it down a bit it was fine. Overall i would buy these again, they are great for using everyday for a casual make-up. As for the lipsticks they are fun colors and once a bit of lip gloss is added they look just as good as the expensive brands!!!

                         ^^^^^^Primark/Penneys Make-up. Mascara and Red lipstick^^^^^^