Ava's Room

Hey guys, Apologies for the lack of blog posts over the last week or so.. my phones been playing up so haven't been able to transfer photo's etc! Today's post is about my daughters bedroom which I would like to share with you all.. as we rent we are keeping the room walls magnolia but added lots of little girly touches so the room is fit for a princess! Ava has the largest bedroom in the house (lucky thing) to compensate for all her toys etc, at the bottom end of the room I have tried to make it like a little book corner where all her teddies & books sit on a boxed in area, and little chairs beside it. (see the last picture) I will eventually add more books and bookends to make it a bit better! I also love her bunting which she has over her cot and in her book corner area, I think it's so girly and really sets the room off nicely. I love little accessories like hanging hearts and plaques which are dotted all around her room. I've just had to invest in some more storage to house her toys and clothes, alot of her toys are downstairs too so she's never bored whether she's upstairs or downstairs - although I'm already dreading what else she's going to have for her birthday in April! She has a Disney princess wardrobe which isn't pictured and she has recently had a TV and DVD player put in her room aswell.. spoilt and not even 2 years old yet! Hope you enjoyed my post, if you've got children what's their room like? or do you have a separate play room for them? Louise x

My Body Shop party!

Hello everyone.. well since I wasn't really blogging last summer I thought I'd share my Body Shop party with you all which I had at home last year. (late post I know!) Here's the party pack I received prior to my party..

I found a rep called Karen who came to my house and set up a little stall full of treats on my dining table, she ran through what would be going on and what offers I would be entitled to for having the party. I invited all my close friends and had quite a full house! This was back when I lived in my small flat so as you can imagine with 8 of us in a tiny lounge it was a bit of a squeeze! However we made the most of it, some of the girls including me (of course!) were drinking wine and having a fab time. I put on a few seasonal nibbles, cupcakes, strawberries & cream and a big jug of squash for the non drinkers! Karen then went through the Body Shop catalogue pinpointing one thing off each page for all of us to try.. this was the exciting bit! This also helped some of us who maybe wouldn't have bought the product normally but after trying it gave it a go! She came round with a bronzing tan oil which was lovely and shimmery and melted lovely into the skin, without the horrid smell of normal fake tan - had to get myself a bottle of this! She also came round with a cooling spray for your face (ideal in the summer months when you're hot & sticky!) As part of my hostess benefits I got to choose from a treatment out of the following.. facial, foot massage, hand massage and something else which I've forgotten lol! I chose the hand massage as didn't want to get my feet out in front of everyone or lose my make up during a facial (not a pretty sight when you've got guests!) It was lovely and relaxing and showed me that actually one of the fab scrubs can be used on your hands aswell as your feet, instead of just being used in the shower! So I then also purchased the peach body scrub! We all had a giggle, played games etc and just generally a good time! Something different to have at home rather than your usual drinks etc, why not hold a Body Shop party?! My partner, Tom was working away at the time so it was a nice way to spend my evening with friends! Here's a few pictures of the night including the goodies I purchased..

My weekend!

Hey guys how are you all? I've got a spare hour now the little one is finally asleep so thought I'd update you on my weekend! My daughter Ava had not one, but two birthday parties to attend this weekend! (I swear she has a better social life than me!) The first being my partners cousins little girl Lottie.. she turned 5 and had a fabulous girly party fit for a princess in a lovely little church hall. Ava had a whale of a time especially when it was time to eat haha! Becky (Lottie's mum) did a fab job in making the room look pretty and joined in with all the kids for their party games etc, I was the music helper equipped with my docking station, and doing the important job of stopping the music for both musical bumps and the good old party favourite, pass the parcel! Here's the party in a nutshell...

My mum then had Ava overnight which meant a nice little break for me! So I went to bingo with my sister in law Amie.. we didnt win! Today after I picked Ava up we had another little party, this time my friend Leeanne's little girl Lola who was 3. It was just a little tea party at my friends house with a buffet and yes again, pass the parcel haha! Ava enjoyed herself and was dozing off as soon as we got home bless her! Here's birthday girl Lola with her cake...

What did you guys get up to at the weekend?

I'm back!

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic christmas and new year, I certainly did!
So here we are at the start of another year, in depressing January and I thought to myself, I should really give blogging another go after not posting since last May!
It's nice as a busy mum to wind down in the evening when the little ones in bed, and to have my "me time" and blog about what I've been getting up to and my favourite things etc!
So what's everyone's new years resolutions? Mine is ALWAYS to lose weight haha, hopefully I actually do this time as I still have the dreaded baby weight to lose (my daughters nearly 2!) I want to be slimmer for summer and also healthy and active for my little girl, as she has me chasing about everywhere after her!
I'm also fast approaching 30 and I've heard the weight is harder to shift as you get older, so it will be great if I can achieve my goal this year.
I'm not following a particular diet (I never seem to stick to slimming clubs etc) so just doing my own thing... 3 healthy meals, less wine and chocolate, more walking! Seems pretty simple to me, we all know what puts the weight on us so fingers crossed this works for me.
Is losing weight one of your new years resolutions? If so how are you planning on doing it?

Louise x

So I've joined Weight Watchers...

Hey everyone!
So I decided to join Weight Watchers today,  after failed attempts with Slimming World and trying to follow my own healthy eating/diet plan i've decided that enough is enough and went along with my mum to the meeting today.


Basically I put on lots of weight during pregnancy and after having my daughter was left with 2 stone to lose - not what I expected after having a baby at all! I was abit naive in thinking once you had the baby you'd get straight back to your pre pregnancy weight! (although this does happen to alot of lucky buggers!!)
Before pregnancy I was a size 10-12 and felt comfortable and confident in my clothes.. 2 years later I am the complete opposite, I dread nights out because I feel fat and simple things like jeans just look horrible on me.
I have to admit i've been stuck wearing leggings for a long time and feel this year is really the year to shift it all and be at my target for christmas.. which I think is doable.
There's also another little problem, I absolutely LOVE my food and defintiely the reason why i've struggled with diets.
Another problem is Tom, my boyfriend, who when i'm being extremely good will bring junk food into the house and phone takeaways - it's so hard to have the willpower to say no and at weekends have been known to binge thinking "oh it's fine i'll start again Monday"
However, it's not only about looking nice in my clothes and being slimmer.. it's also about health. I'm 27 this year which is not all that old but I think nows the time to start watching what I eat and be good to my body!
The good thing I like about Weight Watchers is that you get your extra 49 "weekly" points which you can spread across the week or have in one go - basically for that treat you want.
This works for me because I can be good every day and go out for lunch or dinner with Tom on a weekend (we love eating out) or have a takeaway and use my 49 points aswell as my usual 31 daily points - some weeks they'll be used on a glass of wine or a night out but I just think it's great that you've got that and can still lose weight. Part of my problem was being really good and craving something really nice so I would cave in and ruin everything - with this I get the best of both worlds.
I did join briefly last year when I had literally just had Ava, she was only 3 or 4 weeks old and I think it was too soon as my body was still adjusting after the labour etc - I only lost a couple of pounds so didnt stick with it.
A year later i'm raring to go and can't wait to see the change in me over the coming weeks and months! The leader Emma recognised me and was lovely, agreeing that it was too soon last time.. she's a really supportive leader which is what you want.
I look forward to updating you on my progress.. also feel free to follow my instagram for pics of my meals, my name is "lfreed86"

Hey everyone! Well this is my very first blog.. not too sure where to start so i'll begin with a bit about myself!
I'm 26 and live with my partner of 4 years Tom and our daughter Ava-May who's just turned 1.
I've recently gone back to work after having Ava, so currently juggling work and home life aswell as looking after a toddler which can prove tiring!
Luckily I only work 2 days a week at the moment which is enough for me!
I spend alot of time with my friends going for coffee, lunch, shopping, bingo, walks and the occasional gathering round mine. My friends mean alot to me and i'm a big believer in not dropping your friends when you have a partner - you never know when you might need them!
I have also learnt along the way who your true friends are once you have a baby.. the friends I have around me now are 100% true friends.
I also see my mum alot who has become my best friend - we have always been close but definitely closer since having Ava. She's a fantastic nanny and absolutely dotes on her.

I also love being pampered, trips to the salon having my nails done and eyebrows waxed & tinted regularly. Also have the odd facial and pedicure as a treat and I love blow drys for a special occasion.
I have been judged in the past for this, like i'm wasting money.. but what I say to that is i've always worked - our bills are paid and Ava has everything she wants so if I want to treat myself I will - it's not like I go out all the time anymore since becoming a mum so we all need something to look forward to!
Talking of nights out, I used to be a regular on the "party scene" haha sounds funny.. I was out every weekend without fail - I worked shifts but would always find time to go out. Sometimes would work back to back shifts (a late followed by an early the next day).. and go out inbetween! The hangovers were horrendous and I certainly couldn't do it now lol! I had the best times before becoming a mum.. pubs clubs, girly holidays, blackpool to dublin to magaluf etc memories i'll keep forever.

I still go out but obviously not half as much - maybe once every 1-2 months. I have amazing times now but with my daughter, I've started a new chapter in my life, I love every minute and wouldn't change a thing!
Well i'm gonna come to a close with my first blog, still lots more to write about - hope you enjoyed reading!

Louise x