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Showing posts from 2016

Makers will make... but not very often

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I used to love making stuff. When I was in school back in Russia we all made "friendship bracelets" all the girls had them. Sometimes up to an elbow. Mainly from beads but also once I have learnt my basic macrame knots I taught all the girls around me. Oh and you wear them till they broke. Yeah not very hygienic ... eek. My hobby was indulged by parents and relatives who were giving me books, taking me to haberdashery to stock up on beads. Mind you it wasn't as well developed as now, coming across clasps, earring hooks was impossible, but we recycled old granny's stuff and reuse everything. Thinking of it my mother might still have most of my beads and books in the flat. I also made clothes, mainly skirts, since they were easy, I customized existing outfits. There was a talk in school to ban me from wearing certain things but that never came to be. All this cam from wanting to be unlike everyone else. I still would hate if I see some one wearing same thing as I

Cleansing

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The beautician I see every time I go to motherland said that my skin is awesome. Listen up people with oily skin (or whereabouts) due to its extra oils and such we have more natural occurring collagen and this means we age at slower rate. Unless you do not look after yourself. Awesome news really. I was never a huge fan of my skin but hey, slower ageing trumps all the little pimples. Damn them. So I figure got to love my awesome oily skin and get it proper care and attention. I have started to pay more attention to cleansing. I got me Hot Cloth Cleaning Balm from Boots very own Botanics range, which I love and use. Price was great for a tester session too. Actually the idea of hot cleansing was put into my head by Salli Hughes who was on one of the episodes of Scummy Mummies who I adore. Since I have been using this cleansing method, mind you only in the evenings when I put big man into a bath, I have notices couple of things: my skin feels cleaner my skin

Wedding Ring

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So my body changed and I put on weight. It's ok part of life I guess. (sleep deprived selfie)  But what I didn't realised, due to busy mumming life style, is that my wedding band and engagement rings were stuck...  and not just stuck, but my finger even got bigger and was all swollen. And funny and sad thing I do not know how long ago this happened. Just too busy to look after myself.  Like my entire family tried to remove it from me.. and nothing. Hubby tried but I was in so much pain that we had to stop. Did you know that where are tons of YouTube videos on how to remove the ring of the finger. The elastic method seems very good... don't wait to remove your rings how I did it.  I went to see a jeweler to have it cut off in mother Russia. It's cheaper... I had the ring off and resized for about £10  how about this for value for money.... And again nothing it straight forward with me. The rings are stacked and only wedding band needed to be cut off

Hello December

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December is here. Busy month usually stress to get everything done ready and organise. Try to do this with the toddler, I challenge you to toddler off... oh no I don't want our kids to fight I want us to achieve as much as possible...  and its also my birthday month. Yeah last bit sucks... (made this one. Pre-cut joyful kit form Prima magazine) So December arrived on Thursday. And we have been busy ever since. Thursday we went to see the family in Talbot Green. Fab time. Friday came like a blur with trip to nursery for the little man and me doing all the usual house things... then on Saturday our nursery hosted the Christmas event to raise some money for charity and for everyone to get into the spirit of it all. It was lovely. I didn't want to go at 1st, the start time was interfering with lunch time. But then it was a gathering rater then an activity. So after the trip to ikea for the necessities, like picture frames and candle snuffle, game changer by the way,

Cumberbacth in 4DX

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My dearest hubby came home one day last week and said... "go to the cinema or something" So I went to see Doctor Strange. I thought I was in for regular 3D but I was in for a surprise of a 4D showing... Totally forgot that the Cardiff Cineworld was getting it installed when we went on holiday.  Film was good, entertaining and introduced the characters and the special powers. I had few giggles and really felt for Dr Strange. If you like your Marvel films you will like this one. Oh and one of the Easter eggs are so funny with sexy Thor in it. It's like a major men-candy of Easter eggs. But I want to tell you about the 4DX thing... Would this be breaking code of conduct as set by Kermode and Mayo? Well I thought it was fun but I think I would avoid this experience, just object to pay for this, even with my unlimited card. Yes I am this tight with money.  The chairs were moving with the screen, the air pumping into the ears and the chair also mimics the fig

Loot Crate. Box Subscribtion

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I am married to a geek. And it is contagious. Also it is awesome! We watch Star Trek (not just the new shiny films with Chris Pine) Buffy  (coz she is the best) Flash and many other amazing things. So it was only natural that we got the Loot Crate. Actually we got two of them due to confusion with actual subscription thing. Mainly of course I got Loot Crate for hubby dearest... and he hated it. Well I guess hate is a strong word. He didn't like it. The theme was Speed. So now we have Cylone ship.... which no one in our household cares about, an Arrow car ornament  (I thought the idea was fun, but it is Arrow) the only things that got appreciated in out household was the bat-mobile key ring and the little replica of car Eleanor from gone in 60 seconds... by the little man. Personally I still think it is a great concept but there is so much of Geekery out where, if I would pay more attention and the website wasn't too confusing ... we would have

Buddy Box

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As you know I love a subscription box . It's like a present or a unexpected surprise every month, even if I know it is coming you never know what would be in it or when it will actually make an appearance. I was very sad to cancel the My Little Box , it is truly great, but I have bits of cosmetics and little other delights coming out of my ears, so we thought we try some stuff out...  First of my list, just for me, was a "hug in the box" Buddy box .  It is a very nice concept. Little things to make you happy and fuzzy inside and promote mindfulness.  (oh I totally love this "rooting for you" pin, it's on my winter coat) And you know in a way it made me very happy and fuzzy inside. I do not have a depression but I have the down days ... that I can't really express since I have a tiny human depending on me so I carry on no matter how much I just want to stay in bed.  After getting this box in September I started drinking more

Palmer's Firming Butter. What I thought

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I loved the smell and well actually everything about Palmer's anti stretchmarks cream.The texture was rich, smell was great, texture was pleasant. And I don;t really have any stretch marks, just a big c-section scar....  So I thought at the really competitive price I'll try this.  Same gorgeous smell and texture... But I didn't notice any change to my skin. Same soft and wobbly in certain areas... It took long to dry and absorb, this requires time I do not have I have an active toddler to chase after.  And one more thing, since this butter is super thick the pump didn't get all the product out and that my friends was a real downer. No matter how hard I tapped and shook the bottle, I wasted good amount of it. Maybe if it didn't have this pump.... 

Feminist

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I am a feminist. Always wanted better representation for women for as long as I can remember. Especially growing up in Russia.   Don't get the wrong it is a nice country to be in, but it is very traditional in its gender roles. Men who stay at home now are being laughed at and considered to be under the thumb. Men also can chose to stay at home.   At the moment I am a stay at home mum and this is no way makes me less of the feminist. We together made this choice. Besides my work stayed in Birmingham in the middle of UK and we ourselves moved back to South Wales.   (he is the best but I do need contact with grownups... This is an old photo) Growing up in the country where women are all thin with long hair and wear heels all the time when I love comfort of flats. No I love beautiful shoes with heels I just walk a lot and these things don't mix for me. Shoes should be good quality and nice and comfy. Last two are together. Hey I don't really fit in into Russian

Now only my hair doesn't hurt

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In 2013 I completed my 1st ever hard obstical race , Survival of the Fittest. I had a blast.  And then this Sunday I did it again. With my friend Nora who in 2013 fell down next to me at the race and broke her leg. It was super hard for her to do this, mentally mainly.  But we did it together. We supported each other when it was needed mostly. She couldn't quiet get over one climby thingy I talked her throw it and when I was about to lie down on the floor and have a cry since 10k run turned out to be 12k run, she cheered me on and made me run.  I had a cold all week long prior to run. This is never good actually, anyone who ever run or did something physical. Last time I run after the cold it was when I wingged my way throw Birmingham half. The height of the stacks of bale scared me too. But I did them purely on will power, I can't jump high.   I enjoyed the event. Mainly because I had Nora with me to cheer me on and such. When I hit the about

Job hunting. Stepping away from hospitality

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As you know I have been looking for a job... I had few phone interviews and few in person. One of them actually went really well but the shifts patterns isn't fitting in with child care. And is what the trouble is. Child care is also expensive and I pretty much will be working for nursery but that's ok. Edgar will have more of social life with other kids and it would be nice for me to get out of the house and actually speak to grown ups. Even if I am totally shitting myself about how Egg will cope, how I would cope. I am most definitely not doing it for money I am doing it for sanity. Also I have only worked in hospitality industry and not many people seem to get that hotel reception is like super extensive admin experience and managing... like of everything. Every employers but the employment agencies. Well they are either in for the money or actually know their stuff... I actually spoke to one of my mates who is a manager in a busy coffee shop saying how wo

Bad moms

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"Let's be bad moms" says Mila Kunis in this gem of the film in answer to the pressure of being this picture perfect mother, that bakes, cleans, helps with homework, works and also lost all her baby weight and always looks amazing... (and all this in one sentence!!) I would like to applaud, actually make like a one woman standing ovation, to all the people who made this film. This film feels real, about every day mumming struggles. I have to confess that good few times I wanted to clap or shout "You go girl!" during the film. Basically it is about mothers, PTA, schools, children and mama gang. With mainly female cast too. There are only few men in this film, and they do not have a center stage. One particular actor is there just to look very very good. And boy he is does this so well....  This film made me laugh so hard that I have cried and almost peed my self.  There is however some criticism about how Mila Kunis' heroine

Size vs hot mama bod!

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Thinking oh it overall I have enjoyed being pregnant. Also I had an easy pregnancy and once I let go of that feeling that I have lost control over my body I was awesome! My body is amazing. However at the moment I find shopping for clothes and shoes an absolute nightmare. I have no idea what size I am. With shoes it is easy no real undressing involved. Just pop the shoe off and try try try.  But clothes... A lot of my pre Egg clothes don't fit which is, I have accepted, OK, I went throw major thing with producing a massive 9.4lb baby... So I am actually in need of new clothes. I started to look for stuff I can go to interview in, checked the clothes I had, I still have few things but I needed trousers and maybe a dress... Oh dear god! I know I am short that always been a struggle but finding trousers that fit around the waist and don't bobble up in front is actually almost impossible. And the high street shops are no help. Either I don't like he material, l

Food circus

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Street food circus. Silly name for a fun foodie faire.  We have been last year when it was behind Radisson in Cardiff. This year they have moved to nicer surroundings of Sophia Gardens. And this time me and my girl Viera went in the evening. Me out on Friday night?! What?! I thought I'd never see the day!  It was nice to be out in the evening!  They had a fab selection of awesome makers and cooks!  We had reclette thing. Melted wheel of cheese scraped over potatoes with some serano ham, shallots, crunchy pickles.and I don't like pickles!  Then we head over to brûlée bar! These were little pots of creamy haven, you chose from set toppings or make your own. Too much choice really!  And we washed it down with prosecco cocktail from the tiny prosecco van. I tell you what we all need one of these in our gardens! It was good fun but mainly it was nice to do this with a friend and to catch up!

Face mask form H&M

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I love H&M despite their issues with sizing and such. Well stay tuned for that post, it's coming.  In case you don't know anything and lived somewhere isolate line under the rock they have launched the beauty and makeup range.  And it is lovely, good quality and affordable! I got couple of things form their range including this face mask  How cool is the minimal design! And it's a one pot kind of a deal. So if you are doing it every so often it's perfect size... I sometimes forget that I need to buyout is or clean, in this case, a deep clean...  Skin is our biggest organ and we do not take much care if it. At the moment I am all about cleansing and moisturising. Mama must stay pretty and young! Well and so she does!! It was a super nice texture and extra nice smell. They actually add perfume to it so I was distracted by it, like a natural sent of product. It felt smooth when I was putting it on but it felt incompatible drying out. Bu

Nadiya

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Do you love Great British Bake Off? Or Baking Show, I believe that is the alternative US version name for his amazing show. Well I am a sucker for any sort of amazing home crafter and makers show, like sewing bee or a pottery throw down. Yea that's a thing here in UK. I don't know how much of it is a real thing but it is super fun! So...  Nadiya was a winner of bake off last year. And she owned it!  After awesome winner speech like this she is back in BBC in a new show. To be perfectly honest I knew she was up to something since she has been on a lot of magazine covers. However it makes you wonder if press needed some awesome hijab wearing woman.... Oh nevermind all the marketing and all the representation issue aside, she is one super inspiring young lady.  Chronicles of Nadiya was right after new season of bake off last week. Clever BBC  scheduling here! And don't think it's just another cooking show. Nadiya talked about her family, Bangl

Me vs Chicken pox

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So I thought Egg had chicken pox about 6 months ago. It turned out to be just a teething rush.  I had chicken pox when I was 21 and it was horrible. And from what I can gather it is much better to have it when you are little... And so Edgar got this disease for his birthday. Damn! He can't tell what's up and how he feels coz he doesn't talk yet... Oh well.  I am very sleep deprived at the moment. He is walking up a lot itchy all over and super grouchy. I can't take him out since he is still contagious, there goes our nursery settling, he is going mad in the house.  And the spots are everywhere, poor guy.  He is still mainly happy little boy but restless... And annoyed and very irritable... So is his mama. At this very moment I'm listening to him fighting the nap time while being in need of one too. Go to nap!!! Go to nap now!  Basically being sick sucks! But watching your child being sick and there isn't much yo

So Egg man is two...

Yay we kept him alive for two whole years... I said this to hubby. But what I didn't say is that I remembered the birth. Also known as the very 1st time I have been in hospital, I was so scared, tired, in pain and the staff messed it up.  I'm sure that there are worst sorties out there ... But what we must know and remember there are some truly amazing ones! For example my uni frowns gave birth in 4hours to a very hansome little boy.  Why can't we tell heart birth stories? Why can't local media say one day that in so and so hospital lots of babie been born today and all happy and healthy went home... Looking into his little face as he begins to be more grown up...  And I don't care how he came to this world I am just super happy to have him

New things. Exciting life of the toddler

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We have been busy and doing a lot of fun stuff...  Like just going to the pool. Not usual swimming lesson but just swimming. And Egg loved it. Kicking the water all the time and jumping off the side. Not independently thanks goodness but almost there.... I think he jumps 3 times without holding my hands. We also had a really good time in Wagamama and little man eat most of his food, also Daddy's chilli squid and most of my noodles!  We also had a coffee date just few days ago... I really needed a latte and little man had a babycinno. Well he enjoyed sticking the spoon into it and swish it about. And we also had our very first cinema trip. Finding Dory was lovely. I had to go see it again because we had a wonder around and he had enough after about a half a film. Which is good I thought.  We came in early so he could see what the cinema was all about and the popcorn of course.  It is wonderful that there are these early showings, mainly f

Cinema gower me

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In few weeks I caught up with some of the biggest films this summer.  The BFG Ghostbusters  Star Track Beyond Suicide Squad (twice) I never read any Dahl. I am Russian we didn't read this growing up. I have no fuzzy feelings for the book and didn't know what it was about. But it was lovely. Funny moments funny, sad moments sad.  You know just what you want it to be. Special effects were truly something else, the giant land was awesome!  In the screen was a big groups of young ladies and relatives... So they needed the loo break and run right to the screen for the exit and then they climbed the sits to get to the exit. It was really funny and I truly didn't mind the code of conduct being broken with little cuties like little monkeys. Think a lot of people in audience thought the same, since we all giggles at them.  Then I saw the reboot of Ghostbasters. Coz I love in a happy bubble I haven't hear about any of misogynistic trolling th

Separation anxiety

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So me and Edgar were pretty much just me and Edgar... And daddy on his days off. But mainly for almost two years it was just me and little man.  It was wonderful, fun, learning experience , super tiring, and all sort of other craziness that mumming comes with. But from the last month we committed to nursery and started to go there from 1st of August.  Our nursery offers settling sessions. So two out of four were great. He came in happy and went off playing straight away. They just can't feed him. But that will come. The last two sessions he had to be pulled off me by staff. Tears and screams. And my heart was breaking. My brain understands that it is just an act and it's won't be like this all the time... But my heart still breaking.  For the 1st time he was staying longer than two hours yesterday. And the tears! His little face was all red and wet from being so upset about me leaving him. But then after I have stopped feeling like the worst person ev