Reviews… Business… and the North Pole Breakfast

Hi Folks,

Right… just wanna get some ‘businessy’ type stuff out of the way: Thanks for the response to yesterday’s blog post. My private email address that you can contact me on is: freeman.hayley@gmail.com I will review products from beauty to housey items to food items to… anything really. The free vouchers to restaurants etc… are always a nice little surprise. You’ll also find me via Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest & Instagram @IxxyPoco I’m also in the process of having a website developed… so keep those gorgeous peepers peeled!

Woo hoo… can you believe it’s Fri’Yay!? I literally can’t believe I’ve managed a full week at work too!!! I’ve written so many procedure manuals this week it’s unreal… my eyes are gonna be square from looking at a computer screen. The hubster had to pretty much walk me to the office door this morning as I was struggling with the infection pain… but I did it… I made it… & I did it with sparkles & a leopard print cardigan lol… Oh & a massive Choccocino from Campus Coffee! Yesterday I received my official letter confirming that my maternity leave request had been accepted. So… as of December 11th I shall be on leave until February 2017. I just can’t believe it… It’s happening… I’m finally gonna be a Mammy after years of waiting. 

 Obviously with being pregnant I can’t have my usual weekend sparkles… so I’ve become a bit creative with my non-alcoholic sparkles & drinkies. Relish in Doncaster will literally make you any scrummy cocktail you’d like – but minus the alcohol content. Their Strawb Sensation is to die for. I’ve also developed a new love for Belvoir Pink Lemonade. And Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without copious mugs of Mulled Wine… well… Fellow Prego mammies to Be  you need to buy some Ribena Winter Spice! Its beautiful! Just like Mulled Wine… but without the wine lol. The Tee Total thing really doesn’t phase me if I’m honest. While I was having my right leg rebuilt I didn’t drink alcohol for over 2 years. Abstaining from the stuff is an easy thing to do for me. Even when everyone else around you is enjoying a festive tipple. I’m happy with my pink lemo in a champagne flute. For me… it’s all about the presentation… if it looks good… then I’m sure I’ll like it. I’m very aesthetically minded. 

    
 It struck me last night after I posted yesterdays blog post – that I haven’t given you guys an update on my skanky nails for a while! Well… they’re so much better. For new readers – here’s a brief update: Back in May I went to a cheapo nail place to have some acrylics done for my birthday. I went cheap & where they use those little electric files & wear face masks – you know the places I’m talking about. Well within 4 weeks of having them on… my thumb nails lifted away from my nail bed & I contracted a water infection in each & every nail plate. The result was nails covered in brown & khaki green spots. They were paper thin & extremely sore. I couldn’t bare to have my hands in water even! Typing was a nightmare too!  Well… 6 month on & they’re almost healed. All my finger nails are back to normal. But both thumb nails aren’t quite there yet. I’ve been using a good cuticle oil daily & a Sally Hansen nail strengthener to try & repair the damage. So… the moral of the story: Always go to a good nail salon like Perfect Harmony in Sprotbrough Village, Doncaster. 

 **please note that the above polish is Holly Place by Nails Inc. 

With Christmas fast approaching – I’ve gotten myself super organised! I’ve already posted my Christmas cards & everyone’s Gifts are all wrapped. I’ve even got all my grocery shopping ordered & ready for delivery around Christmas week. Seriously… What would we do without Morrison’s & Ocado!? They’ve both got amazing deals on to be had & their customer service is top notch. Their Twitter support is incredible too… I can speak from first hand experience. Nothing is ever a bother.

With today being ‘Black Friday’… I just wanted to mention Gemma again. Gemma is a fab Younique make up rep & she has some good deals right now. https://www.youniqueproducts.com/gemmadover Not only does she have her online shopping link, but she has a Facebook Page too where she holds competitions & special bargains. Give her page a like: https://www.facebook.com/Younique-by-Gemma-415392888667186/?fref=ts Liking her page costs nothing… she won’t push sales on to you… but it’s a chance for you to keep an eye out for some amazing bargains. And I mean – who doesn’t love a competition!? You’ve gotta be in it to win it!

So… Who’s heard of The Noth Pole Breakfast? If I’m honest – I hadn’t heard of it until someone told me about it on Facebook then I did some research via Pinterest. It’s a cute little idea of having a Christmas themed Breakfast on December 1st. The idea is that Elves magically deliver it before you wake up – too cute! Well this year I wanted a practice run before our bambino arrives. So this year is a dress rehearsal if you like. I’m having our North Pole Breakfast Saturday December 5th when my Parents are down visiting. I have Christmas Crockery… Christmassy Glassware & some Christmas themed foods lol… I can’t wait! I just love to ‘faff’ lol. I bought the cutest Christmas Glass bottles & straws from Home bargains for 50p each. I don’t think some of you down south of England have a Home Bargains? If not – then you can shop online. I also bought some amazing Christmassy Crockery from B&M. Unfortunately though I couldn’t get any side plates… so I’m still on the look out for those! 

    
 I’ve really been into pregnancy ‘freebies’ at the moment. Honestly… if it’s free then get it I say! I’ve heard lots of people slagging off the Bounty Packs, Emma’s Diary Packs etc… but seriously guys… they’re free! What do you want!? I’ve literally signed up to everything. I’ve had free pregnancy nutrition items from Boots, free Pampers packs, Free Hipp Organic feeding spoons, Free Johnson’s products… honestly loads of things. Starting your nursery is pretty pricey – so surely all of the free things you can apply for are just a little bonus. I mean the travel sized toiletries are great for taking your little one on vacation. Here’s a few links to get you started if you’re interested:

http://www.emmasdiary.co.uk/baby-offers/free-baby-samples this is the Emma’s Diary one. It’s pretty good & you get lots of vouchers for money off things sent to you

http://m.boots.com/h5/cat_hub?unCountry=uk&path=/en/Mother-Baby/Parenting-Club/ This is the Boots parenting club to pair with your advantage card… you’ll get 10 points per every £1 that you spend

https://www.pampers.co.uk/registration Pampers Club

http://www.hipp.co.uk/join This one is really good. You get free baby spoons every now through letterbox & you get lots of money off coupons for food & things

https://www.cgbabyclub.co.uk/register

http://www.bounty.com/about-bounty/bounty-packs?gclid=CPiLqorlockCFYvnwgod3V8AkQ these are 3 packs from bounty you can get: Mum to Be, Newborn Baby & Family Pack. All of them are worth getting coz you get lots of sample sized things that are perfect for your changing bag.

I’m so looking forward to tomorrow… we’ve got a lovely lazy morning planned with breakfast in bed. Then we’ll probably do some boring ‘housey upkeep’ type of things… but at 4pm we’ll be heading to our Village Wine Bar to watch out Village Christmas Tree being lit up! Afterwards we’ll be heading to the Boat Inn on Sprotbrough Falls for some tea by the open fire. Oh I just can;t wait. I’m feeling more & more Christmassy each day… if that’s even at all possible! I can’t recommend the food enough at The Boat Inn, plus the overall setting of the place itself is beautiful. Sprotbrough is most definitely a gorgeous Village to live in.

Ooooooh and… we’ve had word from the carpet place & our new carpets will be fitted for Christmas!!! Yey! They shall be fitted December 8th! Our literally hate our current carpets with a passion. They’re the ones that were already down when we first moved in back in March… They’re tired, worn & a bit ugly if I’m honest lol. So, some fresh new ones will really lift the place.

Right well… I’m gonna leave this post there as we’re expecting a grocery deliver any minute… so I’d best get organised & try & make some room in the pantry for it all lol. Thanks again for reading!

Love & Huggles,

Hayley xxx

 

I’m Having a Christmas Giveaway… Enter and Win Win Win!

Hi Everyone,

I’ll start with saying sorry for my lack of posts lately, but I’ve had LOTS going on! So… As a sorry & a little Christmas treat from me to you – I’m having a beauty bundle giveaway. 

  Up for grabs there is:

• Clinique all about shadow due in Bleached Plum
• Clinique Chubby Stick in Baby Tint 
• 50ml Keratase Spray à Porter
• 5ml Clarins Mukti Active Day Cream 
• L’Occitane Verbena Leaf Soap 
• 11ml Loved by Sarah Lavoine Nail Varnish
• Bellá Pierre Eye Dust in Whesek
• Katy Perry lashes plus adhesive by Eylure
• 150ml Kueshi Anti Cellulite Booster
• Emite Powder Blush
• 100ml Sass Cleanser
• Manna Kadar Lash Primer
• DIY Cuff Bracelet
• Holiday Pocket Journal 
• Various sample sachets
• Light Up Flower Pen by Paperchase

All packaged in a Limited Edition Union Jack Glossy Box. I’ve calculated the cost of products & it’s over £80. I’ll post for free… This will be a lush little Christmas treat to yourself from moi ✨💕🎁 I’ll be drawing the winner the last week of November so you’ll have this in time for Christmas. Unfortunately his is only available if you’re located within the UK.
 To enter simply follow this blog & share with your friends on social media. You can enter via Twitter by retweeting, following me & using the hashtag #IxxyPocoGiveaway. You can enter via Instagram by following me, re-gramming & hashtag #IxxyPocoGiveaway. Both accounts can be found under @IxxyPoco

You can enter via my Facebook weightloss journey page: http://www.facebook.com/IxxyPoco 

So then… What have I been up too… Well as a lot of you know I’ve been suffering really bad with sickness. Really extreme morning sickness. A few weeks back I was admitted to hospital for the weekend with extreme pain in my lower stomach. I was terrified there was something wrong with the pregnancy. I really couldn’t cope if something happened to our little miracle. When I got to hospital I was triggering the sepsis alert with high pulse, temperate & blood pressure. They immediately thought it was my appendix & they began prepping me for surgery as I had extremely high levels of infection & inflammation in my blood. However after a scan they realised it wasn’t  that. So I was transferred to the early pregnancy unit were they discovered I have several fibroids & one or two of them are infected badly. Although fibroids in pregnancy can be common – two of mine are very large. One is the size of a large egg. It is however uncommon for them to be so large & infected. The pain is unreal. But… Our gorgeous baby is totally unaffected. I’ve now got to have regular scans to monitor the fibroids & baby, as I’m a haemorrhage risk. I also need weekly blood tests to monitor the infection levels. If they rise again I’ll need to be admitted once more for intravenous antibiotics. Whilst I was in hospital we found out we were having a LITTLE PRINCE 💙 we waited however until last week to announce this to family & friends. Last week we had another scan. So now I’m 18wks pregnant & utterly in love with my little man 💙 I can handle the pain while I know he’s okay. I’ve been told I’ll need an operation around 6months after our baby is born to remove the fibroids. I can’t have them done at the same time as my C-Section as they’re so large & I’d be at too much risk of haemorrhaging. Then hopefully… Baby number two will be a lot easier in the making & baking ☺️❤️ 

  
  
While I’ve been off work I’ve been on strict ‘rest & recuperation’ orders. So to keep myself occupied I’ve written out all of my Christmas cards & sorted them into postal piles & hand delivery piles  

   
I’ve also bought & wrapped all Christmas gifts too 🎁 I’m super organised this year… As always really lol.   

 While I’ve been really poorly my husband has been fantastic. He’s done all of the household chores & he’s been cooking every night after he gets in from work… Not once has he grumbled. I truly am very lucky indeed 💕👑

 Since all of my Christmassy things are done now, yesterday I tried my hand at Pumpkin Carving. I was desperately trying to carve a Jack Skellington pumpkin…  

 I was a little disappointed in how it turned out… So I’m gonna have another try before Saturday 🎃 

I’m gonna leave his post here. Thanks so much for the continued support, likes, follows & views. I really do appreciate it! And good luck in entering my competition giveaway 🎁 it’s too good to miss out on!!! 

 Love & Huggles,

Hayley xxx