Mummy Chic: Summer Dressing

So, apparently, it's summer now. We went to stay with my mum for a week and, as the weather here was miserable, we packed long sleeved tops and jumper dresses (for me- not the boys). While we were there it mysterious became summer and now we're back the dreaded Box of Summer Clothes is open.

I don't have many summer clothes and, as I'm rather a fan of a black opaque, I find summer dressing really tough. However, today I think I've nailed it. 

Later on, we're off to Hove Lagoon paddling pool ( Wait, what? It's warm enough for that? Er, yes it is!). So I am sporting a sheer lacy T-shirt from Next, my trusty pinkish White Stuff cut-offs and this swimswuit underneath. My necklace was a present from All Saints, which I've had for donkey's. 

In terms of make-up, hayfever has forced me to ditch the eye-liner so I'm compensating with bronzer. That is all. 

*Update*

B cuts a fine figure poolside as always.  

Batman swimmers, M&S Thomas jellies, Toys r us. 

Mum Stays in the Picture

Last year blogger Allison Tate wrote a piece in the Huffington Post about mothers avoiding the camera in their child's early years because they don't feel confident about their looks post pregnancy.

She was at a party where her young son urged her into a photo booth to have her picture taken with him. Allison didn't feel she was looking her best but jumped into the photo booth because she didn't want to be censored out of her sons photo albums- she wants to look like she was there during his childhood! She'd the one doing all the work- why should remain behind the scenes?

With this in mind I considered the photos I'd taken during B's life so far and the photos on this blog. In our general collection there were few of me and on this blog all the photos were engineered, styled  or instagrammed. Anything I wasn't happy with was deleted and several attempts had to be made for each photo. I'd blamed J's camera work (I maintain that he is not a great photographer of faces!) and played with different angles. I may have looked more like I see myself in the mirror but nothing of who I was shone through.

I have now resolved to keep all the photos even the dodgy ones and actually print some out so the B knows who we were how much we enjoyed his first few months. Even if we do look tired and dishevelled, like in this one:

This came at the same time that my sister-in-law brought out her scrap books. She has one for each year  she and my brother in law have been together and while I know I will never be as dedicated as her (I'm painfully aware of this- I've seen her kitchen) I can take something from her desire to capture precious moments and remember them forever. 

You can read Allion Tate's article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/allison-tate/mom-pictures-with-kids_b_1926073.html 

Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain

I've long made it my mission to find a wearable red lipstick. I love 1950s pin-up style and look like the sort of person who might to be able to carry off a bold lip colour. However my yellowy-olive skin seems to clash with most reds, when worn on my face. I know I can wear orangey/ red clothes, but orangey red lip colours are too brassy for me and browny reds look a bit 80s.

I have now made an amazing discovery. Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain is a light-weight, moisturising lipstain. It doesn't look clumpy or too done like a lipstick, but the moisturising element mean it doesn't give that horrible wrinkly dry feeling like other stains can.

The red (Romantic) is a lovely almost-natural red, which looks (as it says on the tin) like just bitten lips.

It's easy to apply; like a wax crayon but it will need reapplying after eating and drinking. However it goes on so smoothly it's more of a pleasure than a chore. 

5 Minute Make-Up

In this post I've included a close up of my face. This picture was taken at 7.15 this morning. I had been up for an hour with a grizzly baby after two night feeds and I have a bit of a cold. Why then am I happy  for the world to see such an image? Because I'm wearing make-up.

If you're a new mother who still manages the same amount of slap as before you gave birth, then I'm preaching to the choir. Nay! to Jesus you're doing for better than me and I am your humble disciple. If you, like friends of mine, are struggling to manage a moisturising routine and sometimes get bronzer to one cheek, but not the other, read on.

This look (it's not a 'look' really it's not 'looking' too knackered) takes 7 minutes, including washing my face. (I always have those dark circles- concealing them takes too long, I've decided they give me an air of wisdom)

I have a couple of tips which help keep the time down to one of B's miniscule daytime naps. They are as follows:

• Use a BB cream, not moisturiser and then foundation- much quicker. I'm currently using the No7  beatiful skin BB cream for normal/dry skin but I have used Olay with a touch of foundation- though that makes me a little orange and I don't go in for the TOWIE look. 
• Blusher. If you only have time to use one product, make it blusher it makes you look like you've slept. 
• Eye-brows: Filled in ones make you look polished even when you do it really quickly, like I do. There's no need to draw in little hairs like the mags tell you- just get the colour on your face, pronto. 

Before B was born I (vainly/sensibly delete according to opinion) invested in a value for money new make-up kit. I spent a little more on a decent-ish mascara, eyebrow kit and eyeliner. Everything else is cheapy cheap. 

My Products (in-case you're interested from top left, clockwise: No7 BB cream, Body Shop Carbon Eye Definer in Black, Body Shop Liquid Lip Colour (which, I confess is ancient) Body Shop Separate and Define Mascare in Black, Boots Natural Collection (cheap!) Blush in Rosey Glow, Kabuki Brush ( a present) Rimmel Eye Palette in Sun Safari and Body Shop Eyebrow Kit in Black/ Brunette)