Whats in my hospital bags?

Hi everyone
a little break from my regular beauty posts to share what I have been packing into my hospital bag for my upcoming labour! I actually cant believe that I am at 36 weeks already this stage has just flown around for me and with the packing of the bag is now getting very real.

Lots of hospital lists are already out there and have such diversity so this is just my version I will be bringing a bag for labour, one for my hospital stay and as a beauty blogger the important one my washbag! I am a FTM so there may be some bits that I wont use and others that I will send for so dont judge me too harshly! I am just going to dive straight in and if anyone has any questions re quantities ect you can leave a comment at end :)

Labour Bag

2 nightdresses with button down front if you can get them
Maternity Pads-green pack
Long sleeve sleep suit
vest
Nappy
Hat & Mitts
Socks (adult ones!)
Glucose sweets
Cereal Bars
Water

Wash Bag 
This will be in my labour bag to start.

travel size where possible to save space

Shampoo- think I packed head and shoulders!
Shower gel - body shop vanilla brulee
Water Spray I've got LA Roche posay and avene and am considering adding in voya ritzy spritzy for making me feel lovely after! ( am I going overboard with these?)
toothbrush & paste
dental floss
deoderant
razor
2 face cloths
Lip balm - I've a Mia and Dom peppermint & lavender pot and LA Roche posay stick balm.
Simple moisturizer
Bioderma micellar water travel size
Hair band,clips & bobbins
Holos happy momma oil
Vaseline & sudocreme

All of this is housed in the beautiful eve wash bag from the quintessential .

Of course there is also my make up to consider , I will be going minimalist with it but I still need a little bit. It took me a while to decide what would come with me but I have decided on rimmel 25 hour foundation and my real techniques buffing brush for application, physicians formula happy booster blush its so pretty plus has the bonus of having a mirror if I can't get one elsewhere. I also would of added my physicians formula mineral wear powder but it got smashed and so would be far too messy :(
Next in is fuschia eyebrow kit and an angle brush for application, my rimmel scandal eyes mascara will also be making the trip as will wet n wild lipstick in pinkerbell to give me a pop of colour. So that's pretty minimalistic at only 5 makeup items especially when I imagine I'm going to need every bit of make up I can lay my hands on!

Main Bag

My main bag is mostly made up of very practical things

2 dark towels
Nightdresses & PJs - I got a tip from friend to get the button down front PJs, to wear a vest top with bottoms and then use the shirt part instead of a dressing gown for when I need it as in July it should be too hot to use gown.
Bridget jonses , lol you all know what I mean :-)
4 packs maternity towels
1 pack size 1 nappies - I've gone for pampers
Cotton wool
Water wipes
Cellular blankets
Baby towels
Muslin cloths
Baby hats & scratch mitts
8 baby sleep suits
8 vests
Cardigans- my mam knitted these as I couldn't find any and just couldn't get into the mind frame of knitting them myself.
Bibs
Breast pads
2 nursing bras even though I'm not planning to BF
Flip flops
Phone charger-very important for all the showing off after I imagine :-).

All of the baby clothes I have bought in size 0-1 as at 35 weeks baby is already 6lb and I've been told is gonna be a big baby!

I'd really appreciate if you would let me know any tips or anything you think I have left out in the comments so I can add more to my stash :-)

Budget best picks

Hello everyone happy Friday ( wow that came around quick) so as some of you know I have spent the last 5 Fridays posting a budget face look that all came in for €20 if you haven't yet get reading now! So today's post is dedicated to my favourite products from these series ones that I will continue to use, repurchase and recommend to all of you guys!

First up foundation my absolute favourite of the series and I'm wearing It today too was the Rimmel Wake me up foundation. This retails at €10.99 and is well worth its budget price tag you can find out more in my post budget fip number 5.

 Anyone who reads my posts regularly will no I'm super fussy when mascara is concerned. My pick of the bunch has to be Essence Maximum Volume Mascara* I wasn't expecting to like this as I said in my review but I really have fallen for it and it has now happily become my everyday mascara!!!

This little gem retails at €3.49. This features in posts 2&3.

Next up Ive picked Make up revolutions brow kit. This has been by far the best budget brow kit I've ever tried and at a tiny €3.00 where could you go wrong this features in posts 1&2.

My favourite blush of the series is W7 cream blush* I have been using this more steadily as time has passed and the quality really is great for only €4.98. this features in post number .

Last but definitely not least is Make up revolution Lipstick. This features in post number 3 and I love it!
this lipstick comes in at the cheap as chips price of €1.20!!!

For those of you who may have missed them here are the links to the posts in the series I hope you have enjoyed reading as much as I have loved writing and testing. Leave a comment and let me know what your series favourites were.

Post 1.

Post 2.

Post 3.

Post 4.

Post 5.

Budget Face in Products 5 - the final one!!!

Hi Everyone not only is it Friday again whoop! Its also the last in my series Budget Face In Products-Boo!! But I will be doing a roundup later this week of my favourite products from the series so keep a watch for it.
I have really enjoyed doing this series and am already planning another Face in Products series with a little twist!
Usually everything comes in under €20 but today I have cheated and the final price is €20.76 but I hope you enjoy reading and Id love for you to leave a comment post at the end.

Starting with base today I have gone for a brand I havent used since I was a teenager Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation. I have used this in the shade soft beige, I would say its a light-medium coverage a little more on the medium side. It claims to be anti-fatigue with a radiant glow. when you pump it out (just over 2 pumps for my face) it has a really strong gold shimmer running through and looks more like a highlighter but once on my face I didnt notice the shimmer. I definitely knew I was wearing makeup but the look stayed really dewy which I love, the only slight issue I had was it settle into my forehead wrinkles a little but I think a primer under would stop that. All in all I like it and It will definitely remain in my makeup bag. This retails for €10.99.

For my cheeks I have used MakeUp Revolution Cream Blush in shade Peach Cream. I am a huge fan of this blush Im completely in love with the colour and think that it is what angels cheeks would look like. Im also a fan of a cream blush and this one has really nice colour that is very easy to blend too. This blush is an absolute steal at just €1.80!! A budget must have.

Next up is my eyes I have used Wet nWild Mega Protein Mascara partly because I wanted to give it a second try and partly because I needed to use my cheapest mascara to make sure I didnt blow my budget! Its OK for €2.99 It is what It is It blackens lashes and thats about It. On the plus side I had no nasty reaction like I have gotten from some mascaras even high end ones.

For my eyebrows I have used Eyes Lips Face Eyebrow Kit. This is also a favorite of mine that I have been using now for at least a year. It consists of a wax and a powder. For this look I have applied the wax first followed by the powder. This retails for €4.98.

Hope you have all enjoyed todays post and dont forget to watch out for my favorites from the series coming soon.
As always here are my selfies.

Summer Nails....

Summer for me is all about sunshine, tans and painted toenails!
I love summer nail polishes especially for toes as I always feel I can go a little brighter and more adventurous with my toenail polish.
So when It came to blogging about them I picked out some lovely bright colours for toes and some slightly more muted but equally gorgeous colours for my fingers :) I had lots of fun spending the day testing these polishes, Its a nice treat to take time out for a nail painting day, hope this gives you all some inspiration!

First this look Is O.P.I. nail polish in Sweet Heart combined with Barry M in Majesty.
These are the nails that I had for my wedding. I wanted something soft and romantic but didn't want a french mani for being a bride! There are 3 coats of the O.P.I polish to get to this coverage and colour but It does work with 2 coats. This is long enough lasting polish I tend to get around about a week from it and that's without a top coat.
The gold Barry M that I have used on my ring fingers is from the textured nail effect series. this is 2 coats shown here and it is very long lasting. I recommend using a base polish under this as is can be pretty hard to get off without one. Together these add up to perfect summer nails :)

Next up sticking with the fingers is another favourite, Essie Bikini So Teeny. This polish also featured in my wedding this time on my toes as my something blue :) Its a beautiful shade of blue and glides on so easily and lasts forever. I can get close to ten days from this polish with no chipping and only slight fading. Its beautiful on both fingers and toes and has a slight glitter / shimmer going through it. This polish has definitely made me an essie fan!

On to toes this is Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine polish. First off the picture here does not do this polish justice. The shade I'm using is Grapefruit and in real life it is way more vibrant and really is hi-shine. I used 2 coats but you really could get away with one as it covers a lot on first coat. I'm definitely interested to try more of these gelly range as I am very impressed by this budget polish.

Finally I couldn't do a summer nails post without including this Rimmel Lasting Finish polish in Sunshine.
What says summer better that a lovely bright yellow polish named Sunshine :) This polish goes on easy lasts for as long as it takes to grow off and is beautifully bright in only 2 coats. It looks especially pretty when teamed with brown (tan) sandals and wedges. Definitely the perfect summer toe nail polish.

Hope you enjoyed the post Im now on Instagram find me at sparkleblossombeauty
also on twitter @clareken86