The New Outlet, Wembley

After much anticipation, I visited the 'London Designer Outlet' which opened on Thursday in Wembley. I had been looking forward to it opening since I found out they were building it a few months ago, and even though not all the shops were open, it didn't disappoint. I had a great day and grabbed myself some great bargains.

My favorites were:

Nike, Bjorn Bourg, The Sunglasses Hut, Guess & Super Dry.

My money went on....

Nike:

Lunar forever - £70 down to £45

Dri-Fit - £10 down to £7

Slim fit - £32 down to £22

Super Dry

Hooded polar windcheater - £69.99 down to £41.99

Bjorn Borg

Hoody - £70 down to £50

Lace string - £13 FREE!

Lace bandeau - £23 down to £16

Zebra - £16 down to £10.50

Should have come to: £303.99

Actual spend: £192.49

Total saving: £111.50

My Baby & Me - Month 5

 

 

Another massively busy month. Bit late with this again, but next month going to be back on track.

 

Now in my third week of college and so glad that I made the decision to go. Due to the timetable and living close by I only have to leave the baba for a few hours at a time. Have been getting up nice and early and doing some expressing first thing as that's when I'm most full, although because I'm not gone for long I've still been doing all his feeds.

 

Took part in the 'Baby Lab' at Birbeck University this month. We had a brilliant time. They paid for our taxi there and back and had so many toys to play with when we got there. The test was fun. He sat on my lap while they stroked his arm with a spoon or a hand to see if there was any difference in his brain activity. Afterwards they gave us a certificate and a little tee shirt.

 

What To Expect:

 

He has come such a long way this month! At the beginning of the month, when we had just got back from holiday, I was laying on the bed blowing raspberries at him, he was watching me with amazement, then, he started blowing them back at me! I could not stop laughing! It was the cutest thing ever!

 

Something which isn't so good is that he's learnt how to scream. I'm not talking about a crying scream. I'm talking about a high pitched scream, not because he's sad, just because he's learnt a new noise. Which is fine although the neighbours may think I'm murdering someone!

 

He has also sucked his thumb a few times and grabbed his feet.

 

The most amazing thing that has happened this month by far has to be the day he said 'dada'. Thursday 12th September, his first little word :-)

 

My Advice for the Fifth Month:

 

1: Don't feel guilty if you want to go back to work or study. Not only is it important for you to go out and do what you want to do, it's also good for the baby to not spend 24/7 with the same person all the time. Luckily I have family who look after the baby when I'm at college, and I think that little bit of time with someone else is good for him. It also makes you miss your baby so you give more attention to them when you are with them.

 

2: If you live close to a university do take part in any studies they may be doing. Not only will you be aiding in important research but it's also a great experience for your baby to get out and experience new things and meet new people.

 

3: Do get a bouncer. I have found it so helpful when I'm doing different things around the house. I hang his toys on there and he keeps himself entertained while I'm getting things done. It also tires him out being on his feet!

 

  

The Yummiest Rice

This recipe is so delicious & so quick & easy to prepare, especially if you've got some leftover plain rice.

All you need is:

Some cooked rice

Some butter

Some garlic butter mix

Some capers

A tomato

Lemon juice

Salt n pepper

Put a couple of tbsps of butter in a dish with a tbsp of garlic butter mix, melt on medium in the microwave for 1 minute and pour over the rice

Chop up the tomato into small chunks and sprinkle over the rice along with a tbsp of capers

Squirt over some lemon juice and finish with salt & pepper

Done!

My Baby & Me - Month 4

 

 

I have been so busy this month what with enjoying the summer & trying to get into college that I am a bit late with this post, but here it is!

 

Yes, I have decided to go to college, & I have got in! I have had the best 4 months chilling with my baby but now it is time to look to the future. The course is only 11 hours a week & if I want to achieve my goal I must start now as I am 25 already and time goes so fast. I would love to just stay with my baby but as I said, it's only 11 hours a week & he's going to be looked after by family. I am going to express milk every morning so he still gets my milk.

 

I have had the best summer filled with days in the park & plenty of family time. Baba has seen his first beach and met his great grand parents. He has also spent lots of quality time with his aunties & his granddad. Yep, really has been a great summer! :-)

 

What To Expect:

 

He has started sucking his fingers for comfort. He has rolled over onto his side a few times. His grip has got a lot stronger & now he is reaching out to try & get things without me encouraging him to do so. He loves grabbing things & the first thing he does is try to put it in his mouth! He is dribbling a lot when he is in an upright position which I have been told is due to teething.  

 

My Advice for the Fourth Month

 

1: Lifting your baby up and down in the air when you are laying down is not only a good workout for you but it also counts towards tummy time as it strengthens their whole body!

 

2: Take your baby to the seaside! The sights, the smells, the feel of sand on their skin will all be great experiences for your baby, & remember, every new sensation will help your baby learn.

 

3: Now's the time to really show off your gorgeous little baba! Now he's awake & alert more it's a great time to visit family & friends and it's brilliant for him to see new faces.



My Baby & Me - Month 3

 

 

This month I have been really motivated to get healthy & stay healthy. I'm so glad that I took part in the 'Cook & Taste' classes. They were so helpful & gave me some good food ideas. They also educated me on the amount of unhealthy shit I was putting in my body. I used to eat cereal every morning which used to make me feel so lethargic, even Alpen gave me no energy. I have now realised that all that stuff is no good. Not only is it expensive but it is full of sugar. I now eat chopped up fruit with raisins, seeds, yoghurt & porridge oats, or a smoothie with banana, frozen mixed berries, yoghurt & milk - perfect way to start your day. I have also been making sure I get to the gym and carry on with my regular classes like I did before I was pregnant. This time at the gym is like therapy for me & its nice to carry on going somewhere where you know people.

 

I have been getting out & about with my baby a lot more now & am no longer scared of breast feeding in public. Before, whenever I went out, I always made sure I was back within 4 hours so I could feed the baba, but now it is so much easier, when my baba needs feeding, I feed him there & then, wherever I am - in the park, in a café, in a restaurant, & even on a bus! Before I was worried about how I would get my boob out, & oh, I will have to buy expensive 'breast feeding clothes', but its so easy when your confidence is built up, you'll find a way! As long as your wearing a maternity bra you'll be fine, you can get it out over tee shirts, dresses, tops. If you can't get it out over, put the baby under!

 

What To Expect:

 

My baba is so talkative & so alert, he watches everything with big cute eyes and makes lots of aaaa aaaaa aaaaa ohhhh ohhhh ohhhh noises! When I lift him up he tries to stand up! His legs seemed to have gotten so long this month. I bought him one of those bouncy things that go over the door frame & he loves being in it, he looks like he's trying to dance when he's in it! He can now hold his rattle. He sleeps right through the night from 10 - 11pm until 9 - 10am. He has little naps throughout the day as well. As the weather has been so hot I have been giving him water.

 

My advice for the third month:

 

1: Breast feed anywhere & everywhere! Do not be embarrassed or shy to do it, just do it! That way baby's happy & it will make your life so much easier.

 

2: Get a bouncy door hanger. They are only around £20 and it's great to see your baby trying to walk. I think it's good for them to be upright as well instead of just lying down all the time.

 

3: Don't be scared of the sun! It has been amazing weather these past few weeks, but it can be worrying with a baby. As long as you put sun cream on baba, keep him cool in a vest, hydrate him with water, get an umbrella sunshade & sit in the shade your baby will be fine.

 

4: Read to baba. I read out loud to my baby anything & everything! He loves watching my mouth move & the silly voices I put on. It's such a fantastic feeling when your reading & you look up & he's really watching you & smiling as if anticipating what your going to say next!

 

5: Do go to the free classes that your borough offers. I have learnt so much from the Cook & Taste sessions, & have got in shape with Fit & Healthy Mums. It's great seeing other mums & baby's as well.



The Perfect Way To Start Your Day!

Once you try this for breakfast you'll be hooked for life! It's so quick and easy to make, and so cheap!

You will need:

2 bananas
Handful of frozen mixed berries
Couple of tbsps of plain yoghurt
Hanful of porridge oats
Some milk

Throw all ingredients into a food mixer, wizz, and that's it! Done! Well Del!

Last Night I Ate.... Mozzerella Pasta

You will need:

Packet of mozzerella
Pasta
2 tbsp cream cheese
Clove of garlic
Mushrooms
Red onion
Red pepper
Salt & pepper
Cayenne pepper

1- Put pasta on to boil and chop mushrooms, onion, garlic and pepper up into small cubes, fry

2- When pastas cooked, drain, tear up the mozzerella and throw in with the pasta. Mix in the cream cheese and veg, season with salt and pepper and shake a little cayenne pepper over- Delish!

Tip: Make sure you put the mozzerella into the pasta when it's still boiling hot, that way the mozzerella melts and goas all yummy and stringy! :-)

Happy Fathers Day!

After not being able to find a cute enough card for my 9 week old to give his daddy for Father's Day, I came up with this idea: baby oil on hands and feet on a black piece of paper folded in half, tipex for the writing and outlined with a biro, perfecto, original and a great keepsake :-)

My Baby & Me - Month 2

I always thought that after you have a baby your body will be ruined forever. How wrong was I! Having a baby has given me so much more confidence in my body. Everytime I look at my baby I can't believe that my body (with a little help from my partners body!) made him. The milk my body is producing is building him up and making him grow and get stronger everyday. It is the best boost I've ever had in my life - that my body, made this beautiful little baby. I thought I'd never wear a bikini again, but I'm down the gym every week flaunting my double D's, curvy hips and gorgeous stretch marks, the tatoos of a proud mother!

What to expect:
My baby is awake alot more during the day now. I entertain him by talking, singing, dancing and doing little exercises with him. I have also got him a bouncy chair which plays songs and vibrates. If I'm busy I put him in there and he watches me as I go from one end of the room to the other. I have been giving him tummy time on his colourful play mat with a towel rolled up under his arms. He can turn his head from one side to the other. He is making a few cute little noises and laughing. He is also smiling alot more, especially after feeds. I try to keep him awake during the day and in the evening so that he sleeps through the night, it's been going well so far. I feed him and put him to sleep around 1am, and he usually sleeps until around 7am.

My advice for the second month:

1: Get out and about! I was a bit worried to go to places with other children before he had all his jabs, and I was also enjoying being really lazy with my baby, but last week I braved it and went to a couple of classes. I am so glad I went as I had a really good time. I went to a mother and baby exercise class and a cook and taste class. It was lovely to meet others who had babies and see how quickly the kids can grow as there were children there of various ages.

2: Time for a date. Have a day each week when you go out with your other half. Me and my bf have been going out for a nice meal every Saturday and it has been lovely. It gives you something to look forward to as it is hard to spend quality time together when he's at work and when he gets home your both so tired. I make sure I've given the baby a good feed before hand so he stays asleep, and we go in the early evening so it's not too busy. Having a baby doesn't have to mean no social life!

3: Get to an outside gym. At the moment I don't want to leave my baby with anyone except my partner, so it is difficult to get to the gym and I am missing it alot! So, when I stumbled across an outside gym I was overjoyed! I can go there anytime of day with my baby, and it's free!

4: Sit in the park. Take your baby to the park and show him the trees! It's so nice to get outside and just chill in the park with your baby, especially if the suns shining. It's also nice for your baby to experience nature and get some fresh air.

5: Dance & sing with your baby. He's probably the only one who appreciates my singing so I'm making the most of it. I sing everything to him from love songs to silly made up songs and he loves it. I also put my music or MTV on and dance around with him. You can also do exercises with your baby by lifting him up and down and doing some pilates moves while using him as a weight.

My Primark Bargains

 

and for me....

 

Shirt - £10.00

 



 

Disney Tee - £6.00, reduced to £3.00