I wrote a while ago, when I was trying for a baby, but never got around to publishing it.
Being DTGP (desperate to get pregnant) can make you a little obsessive and a little crazy. Each month you go through the same rollercoaster. This is my take on it.
A month in the life of a DTGP goes something a bit like this.
Day 1 – Sees the arrival of Aunt Flo. Check you’re stocked up with at least 30 different supplements, chinese herbs, homeopathic remedies. Make sure your good luck charms and crystals are by your bed/under your pillow. Do anything else you’ve been told (superstitious or otherwise) that might help you get pregnant.
Day 2 - Reflexology session to ensure you are destressed, come out feeling very relaxed. This feeling lasts all of 10 minutes when you get home to your children screaming.
Day 3 - Get some acupuncture, hate needles, but somehow manage to conquer your deepest fears for something this important.
Day 4 – See a healer (reason as above), in fact see anyone who will take your money. The more you do, the better you feel.
Day 6 - Get out the ovulation sticks. Disappointment because no smiley face 
Day 7-9 – Test again for the elusive smiley face. Feel positivity flagging.
Day 10 - Still no smiley face, think you obviously have no eggs left and must be going through the menopause. Be grumpy and emotional all day. Rant at OH. Start doing a test both in the morning and at night.
Day 12 – Hurray, smiley face on stick. Feeling elated 
. Call OH to let him know about smiley face and that he has to cancel playing football/meeting his mates (delete as appropriate) as you need him for far more important things. Get cross when he doesn’t share your enthusiasm.
Have sex, because you have to. Try hard to pretend otherwise.
Day 13 - Have sex again, because you have to.
Day 15 – Examine your body for signs of pregnancy. Do you need the loo more? Are your boobs bigger? Any sensation in your tummy?
Hope, pray, do visualisation, think positive thoughts.
Day 15 - Convince yourself you are having pregnancy symptoms
Day 20 – 25 – Go to chemist and buy 25 pregnancy tests. Do one every morning, one at lunchtime and one in the evening – all negative.
Day 25-28 - Keep doing the tests, just in case.
Day 1 – Aunt Flo arrives again, last glimmer of hope fades. Cry, shout, scream, feel like a failure. Have a bottle of wine (or two) to drown your sorrows.
Wake up with a headache AND start the process all over again
I am a self-confessed beauty addict who spends more money on makeup and skincare than on clothes or anything else (except holidays). My favourite shops for buying beauty products are SpaceNK, Selfridges and Mac
Here are my top 8 products. They are all quick and easy to apply, essential for mums who have little time to get ready! They are also great if you have sensitive and problem skin – my skin is very sensitive and hormonal.
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser £33.00 from Space NK
This is an excellent all year round product and provides light coverage and a lovely sheen.
Bobbi Brown Foundation, £27.00 from John Lewis
If you need a bit more coverage, this Bobbi Brown Foundation is ideal. I use Warm Ivory. It’s easy to apply and comes in a wide range of colours. I like the fact that it has a pink base, which suits my skin colour much better than a yellow base, which many foundations seem to have.
Many tinted moisturisers and foundations cause my skin to break out, however both of the above products are fantastic and my skin doesn’t react to them at all.
Mac Select MoistureCover Concealer £13.50 from Mac
I love this concealer as it can be use under the eyes to hide dark circles or on blemishes. I use NC20 but it comes in a variety of shades.
Lip gloss from Jemma Kidd £14.00 from Space NK
I love Jemma Kidd lip gloss because it’s not too sticky or shiny, so is perfect to use during the day. They come in a variety of shades.
Nars Blusher - Orgasm – £20.50 from Nars
“Orgasm” is a fabulous peachy pink colour powder blush with a shimmer, great for Summer and/or Winter. It’s their best selling blusher.
Bobbi Brown Bronzer – Aruba £24.00 from John Lewis
I really hate having pale skin so I use this bronzer all year. It has a subtle shimmer.
Laura Mercier Eye Basics – Wheat £20.50 from SpaceNK
This fantastic eye base makes sure eye shadow stays put all day.
YSL Volume Effect Faux Cils Mascara £19.80 in Black, from John Lewis.
I’ve tried so many mascaras but always come back to this one. It’s good for volume and length. Also comes in a range of psychedelic colours. I love the purple one! I’ve also recently been recommended the Dior Iconic and Lancome Hypnose.
I would also recommend Mac eyeshadows and eyeliners which come in a huge variety of colours.
In the Summer, my 3 year old and I were kindly invited to a Teddy Bear’s Picnic, hosted by the 5-star family-friendly Athenaeum hotel. Following on from this, they have just launched their Winter Wonderland playroom and invited us to the launch. My 3 year old was very excited and it certainly kick-started our Christmas.
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I met Gintare, owner of Blossom and Jasmine , the Home Beauty and Massage company, at an event in Chelsea a few months ago. She suggested I might like to try out one of their home beauty or massage treatments. A couple of months later, I finally got the chance.
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I was recently asked by Photobox if I’d like to review their services in exchange for a credit. Having just been to my Grandparents’ 50th Wedding Anniversary party at Phyllis Court in Henley, I thought it would be a great opportunity to create a photobook of the day to give to them for Christmas.
The photobooks are customisable. You can choose everything from the size, to the cover and the layout. You can also pick premium quality paper and a sleeve to keep the photobook in. I picked an A4 hardback photobook (starts at £23.99 for 26 pages).
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I have just seen an article on Yahoo.co.uk, about the most likely type of person to fall for an ID fraud. You can read it here.
I pride myself in having never been caught out by email scams or “phishing” as it’s also called.
I always laugh when hoax emails go around with “you can win a case of Veuve Clicquot champagne if you refer 10 friends” or “get a free IPhone/Laptop or whatever”. I have kept well away from dodgy email from banks and Nigerians wanting money, or sick stories about little children supposedly orphaned in the Tsunami or that have been kidnapped. I usually go to Hoax-slayer.com to prove to whichever family/friend has forwarded them to me, that they are in fact a hoax.
That is until last week when I’m embarrassed to say I got caught out, hook, line and sinker.
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@AmphibianAvenger filmed this at the Aviaros del Caribe sloth sanctuary in Costa Rica – the world’s only sloth orphanage. Baby 2 and 3 toed sloths, whose mother’s have either been run over or zapped by power lines are brought to the sanctuary and looked after by legendary sloth whisperer Judy Arroyo.
THEY ARE TOO CUTE!!!
If you think your husband/boyfriend/partner needs a bit of inspiration next time they need to get you a gift (it’s Christmas coming hee hee hee), get them to get you a personalised necklace from Chambers and Beau. I’ve wanted one all year and finally got the Lola Mini necklace for my birthday from my lovely husband – my idea of course! It’s beautiful. The necklace has been personalised with the name of my daughter and my husband added a butterfly charm. He also chose Sim Sapphire semi-precious blue stone, my daughter’s birthstone.
Mini Necklaces start from £110.
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It’s 49 days until Christmas (at the time of writing). But, don’t panic. We all know it can be one of the most stressful times of the year. We take on too much, go to parties, shop, cook lunch and catch up with friends. You can also feel torn between between families. Big rows with partners are not uncommon as the pressure mounts. It’s easy to feel like you are about to explode. Here are some top tips to keep your blood pressure normal!
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