It's been an absolute age since I've taken part in one of these tags and when my lovely friend Sarah from run jump scrap tagged me in the mummy tag I had to take part. One of the things I like about blogging is finding out a bit more about the blogger behind the blog so here's your opportunity to find out a little more about us in the Beautiful Things household.
1. Are you a Stay at Home Mum or a Working Mum?
I'm the same as Sarah.....both. I work 3 days a week (8-6:30 but am out the house 7-7 you can say) and the rest of my time is spent looking after the kiddles, the house and blogging when I can. For those that don't know I'm a Nurse, currently a Practice Nurse which I'm loving. I will be moving surgeries in November still doing 3 days a week but slightly less hours which is much more family friendly so I'm looking forward to that.
2. Would you have it any other way?
Mmmm I don't think so, I feel I have a pretty good work/life balance. I really do love my job and I wouldn't want to give that up and I do like earning my own money to be able to treat the kiddies. Of course, at times I want to stay at home with the children but mostly I just wanted to be working better hours and hopefully the new job will be able to help with this.
3. Do you co-sleep?
Nope and never have. I was far too scared to have either of them in bed with us as a newborn and I never felt comfortable with that idea. In my opinion our bed is for us and the kids beds for them. We do let Alfie come into bed with us on a morning and he'll snuggle in but to have him or Elarna take over our bed........ uhhh uhhhh, nah, not for us!
4. What is your one must-have item for your baby?
A gro-bag or baby sleeping bag. I absolutely swear that these helped my 2 sleep better and through the night. With both of them I had them in bags by about 10/12 weeks and Alfie slept well from about 5 months and Elarna slept through from about 10/12 weeks! Lucky we are yes but I think using a sleeping bag definitely helped.
5. How many kids do you plan on having?
No more than 3. I'm quite happy with 2 at the moment but there is a part of me that wonders about a 3rd, hubby on the other hand is quite happy with 2! Trouble is with 3 is you open a whole new realm of things to sort and adapt with a 3rd I guess! Who knows, I reckon I'll get a puppy before a 3rd baby!
6. Date nights? How often do you have them?
Not that often. Since moving closer to parents we have been out more but this has tended to be with friends. We have been out a couple of times just the 2 of us for special occasions which has been lovely but really date nights are few and far between!
7. Your child’s favourite show?
Alfie still loves to watch Thomas and Friends and Paw Patrol but is quite liking Truck Town and Blaze and the Monster machines......oh and My Little Pony! He is also likes to watch nature programs too. Elarna really likes Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom.
8. Name one thing you bought before you had the baby and never ended up using?
Probably this winnie the pooh projector thing, it was cute but Elarna wasn't remotely interested in it when she was so little.
9. Your child’s favourite food?
Homemade pizzas without a doubt, or pasta, or ice cream! Elarna pretty much eats anything at the moment.
10. How many cars does your family have?
We now have 2. We have managed with 1 car for several years now, I think we've done well but with Alfie starting school we just had to get another car to make things easier. We have an Audi A3 which we will change for a bigger Audi at some point and as our run around we have a little Mazda 2.
11. Weight gain, before pregnancy, during, after and now?
I was a weirdo and lost weight in both my pregnancies, about 2 stone...... I suffered with nausea for weeks and weeks and heartburn/acid reflux for a while in the latter part in my pregnancy and could only ever eat small amounts. Sadly I have put on a bit of weight in the last year and know I need to shift it again so that is an upcoming challenge.
12. Dream holiday with your kids?
Like Sarah, it has to be Florida. I've never been and am dying to go, I have since I was little. We waiting till the kids a bit older though so they can really appreciate it.
13. Dream holiday without your kids?
Bali (our honeymoon destination) or somewhere tropical like the Maldives or French Polynesia. Somewhere utterly luxurious and beautiful.
14. How has your life changed since having kids?
Quite alot to be honest. We no longer have improtu trips to the cinema or to our friends or the pub. We have to plan things far in advance and realise that jobs that need doing often take a back seat to satisfy the kids requests and needs. That being said we have grown up alot in the last few years and settled into family life which is lovely.
15. Finish the sentence “It makes heart melt when…”
I see my babies playing together. I often look at them (when they playing nicely) and think goodness me I am the luckiest person alive to have these 2 in my life.
16. Where do you shop for your kids?
Probably best to ask where I don't shop, ha! I don't tend to go to Primark, I can never seem to find anything I'm keen on when I look. I am really loving H&M at the moment, Matalan is also great but my most shopped places are Next, Mothercare, John Lewis and M&S. I also love to buy bespoke clothes from companies I've found on Instagram, it's alot of fun looking for clothes this way.
17. Favourite make-up and skincare products?
Oh god I have too many to mention! My staples are La Roche Posay tinted moisturiser for day to day wear but otherwise it's Mac studio fix foundation if I want to heavier coverage. I love my Sephora bronzer and my Mac soft and gentle highlighter. I love Mac eyeshadows and also I've been loving Urban Decay shadows too. My favourite mascara is either Bare Minerals Lash Domintation or Too Faced Better than Sex. I also swear by Benefit boi-oing concealer for day to day use and erase paste for a more heavy duty finish. I also love a decent black, kohl eyeliner. Phew, told you there was alot and this is just my day to day face ha!
18. Huggies or Pampers?
Pampers over Huggies but I actually quite like Tesco nappies if I'm honest.
19. Have you always wanted kids?
Oh definitely, I've always been quite maternal. I'm pleased we waited until we did though as in hindsight I was no way mature enough to look after and nurture a small child!
20. Best part of being a mum?
Oh gosh, this is such a difficult question, being a Mum is such a privelege, I guess just seeing them develop into little people and nurtring them and ensuring they get the best start in life. I love seeing them happy and smiling and that is probably my favourite part of being a Mum, well that and being able to go and see kids films at the cinema hehe.
If anyone else fancies taking part consider yourself tagged!
Fab questions and answers. We co-slept and still do, our twins are four, but I understand it's not for all. #BestandWorst
ReplyDeleteAhhh I love reading things like this. Getting to know people! Would have very similar answers for a lot of the questions! #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteAh have a third!! We are pretty similar for this eh? I need to work too and I agree h n m is fab for clothes. I do need your make up collection though!! Xx #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading a bit more about you Helen. Super mum springs to mind. I'd love to know how you manage to fit everything into your day?!
ReplyDeletewww.vanityandmestyle.com
One of my favourite foods is homemade pizza too - does this make me a child?!? #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteAwww such a lovely tag. So nice to read a bit more about you and your family. Its sounds like the job move could really be great for you guys, good luck with it all! Emily #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to do this soon. I've read a few of them now and am keen to do my own. Always interesting to read others :) #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteSome good little tips for a Mum-to-be here! I've been looking for a sleeping bag for a while but I'm not sure if they can go in them from birth - they seem like a great option though! It's always nice to get to know the people behind the blogs! #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteOh love these posts, it's so nice to get to know the mummies behind the blog a little more #BestandWorst
ReplyDeleteI am so nosey so love these type of posts. Love the makeup list. I need a rocket up my bum and everyday is just bare minerals foundation, bronzer and mascara. So boring! I went to bali years ago with an ex and it was lovely. I still have mosquito bite scar as a souvenir! #bestandworst
ReplyDeletePeachy is getting into Thomas and Friends now. Every time she hears that theme song she stops whatever she's doing and stares at the tv. #bestandworst
ReplyDeletehehe im so with you on co-sleeping. never have and just never wanted to when b was a baby. was worried id roll on him or stgh! he comes in the bed in the morning but that is it! #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteLovely post - and beautiful children. I also like Tesco nappies and when my two play nicely together - which is becoming more and more frequent as NC nears the grand old age of 1. We are lucky indeed. #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteI did the daddy tag recently I love a good tag and finding out more about the person behind the blog thanks for hosting
ReplyDeleteMmm homemade pizza..good choice! I love h&m too but can't afford m&s and next although I do love their kids clothes. Lovely to get to know you a bit more :) xx #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteSo lovely to get to know a bit more about you! :)My daughter is only now becoming fussy with food, well, at least, she knows more what she does and doesn't like! #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteAlways lovely to learn more about each other.It truly is special seeing the kids play together. #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteOOh love this will do thank you and great answers xx
ReplyDeleteWe've recently been nominated for a Daddy Tag - all I have to do now is persuade Misery Guts to do it! #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed learning some more about you! I was the same way with co-sleeping the doctors scared me out of it. Thanks for sharing. #Bestandworst
ReplyDeleteAw I love reading these - I'm totally with you on co-sleeping it was never for us either, I value my sleep way too much! I'm so looking forward to being able to go to the cinema again, even if it is to watch kids films! xx #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteLove reading these posts, especially because I'm such a nosey cow. Gro-bags would probably be the best thing I had for my little boy, along with Ewan the dream sheep for the first year! #binkylinky
ReplyDeleteI love these kind of posts, such a fab way of getting to know someone! My dream holiday is also Florida! :D #BinkyLinky
ReplyDeleteBack from the #BinkyLinky Thanks for linking up to the #BinkyLinky
ReplyDeleteI love reading these. Number 15 I agree with 100% :) however, we co-sleep and I wouldn't have it any other way, it works for some people and not for others :) great post #binkylinky
ReplyDeleteGreat tag and questions Thanks for linking to the #binkylinky come back next week please
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid if you have that 'maybe' feeling with number three, it never goes away! lovely learning more about you, Mrs C x #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteI love these as it is always nice to get to know bloggers better - great tag questions too!!
ReplyDelete#bestandworst