There are some things I wish I knew and other things that took me so long to find out/understand when I was pregnant/became a mum. 

I've decided to write a few things down for people who are also on this journey. Things I wish I had known. What I know now is that every baby is different and we have no idea what to actually expect, I know we can manage. 

Overall, I would definitely recommend these. Try them out if you're thinking about it and they also make great gifts. The prints are so quirky and fun that there is something for everyone - check them out!

Have you tried these or anything similar?

For a long time now I've worn Birkenstocks because they are so comfy - seriously they are! They aren't always pretty but comfort wins all the way with me. They are easy to put on, match almost any outfit and fit to my feet. My current pair are waterproof so that's an added bonus!

Last month whilst shopping for new Birkenstocks - because who doesn't - and I came across another pair of footwear, Salt-Water Sandals! Or Salties as they have been called by their instagram page. Initially people were raving about them on a group I'm in on Facebook so then I decided to actually have a proper look to see what all the fuss was about.

I looked at a few reviews and wanted to find out if these last - are they worth it?! *cue Loriel 'you're worth it' ad*.  I don't mind spending money but I do like knowing that if I'm spending a fair bit, whatever I'm buying will actually last a long time!

Anyway, these sandals are flat so not much/any arch support but for me, that's ok. I say this because I know people who wouldn't be able to wear them for this reason.

excuse my Birkenstock tan line

Initial thoughts:

• I bought 'the retro mustard' ones because one -  I like the colour and two - they were the only ones left in my size. I wanted the tan ones to begin with but this was for practical reasons like the fact that they'd match with nearly everything! Unfortunately they weren't in my size ...typical... so I went with the colour I liked - mustard. They look GREAT! Do I regret getting this colour? Absolutely not. They actually go with so many of they clothes I have! And I'll probably wear them even if they don't match because I like them.
•  The box recommends that on your first wear, you dampen the sandals with water and then wear them to ensure they fit properly. I did this and they now fit perfectly to my feet - not tight and not too loose. I did then go out in them after and it absolutely chucked it down so they got soaked...but were completely fine! The sandals weren't slippery and dried perfectly - you can't tell I got them soaked. I was worried it might ruin them but it didn't.

Pros:
Comfy, easy to wear, waterproof, supposed to last a long time, versatile, very pretty and I love the colour. They make me feel like I'm on holiday.

Cons:
Some people may find them too flat. Otherwise none.

I bought the retro sandals in mustard - these are currently on sale online so go check them out!


Have you tried this company before? What did you think? What's your favourite sandal? Let me know in the comments below.

With things very slowly returning to normal, slowly, I feel that lockdown has taught us many things. We've all suffered in some way or another, physically or mentally, there's something there for everyone. But we survived. We've lost people along the way, too many people. Death is a part of life, a horrible part and maybe one of the hardest thing in life we will face.

Delicious and super pretty cake made by the amazing  Maaria

The weekend before the lockdown, my cousin got married. Lucky really as any later the wedding would have been cancelled for sure. We were worried already that there was a chance the wedding would be cancelled but alhamdulillah, it all went ahead as planned. Thinking back now, it feels like it was such a long time ago, when times were different and we took things such as the simple freedoms for granted.

This afternoon, while out in the garden my neighbour popped his head over above the fence and asked 'are you fasting today?!' I was a little bit startled because I was sure we weren't fasting - I doubted myself. Anyway, it kind of hit home then that tomorrow is the first day of Ramadan.

I love Ramadan, it makes me marvel at how easy fasting becomes. It shows us how doubting yourself can pull you back because in Ramadan, we find this strength, this amazing willpower and faith. It brings people together - ties with family as well as strangers. There is a sense of giving present in Ramadan, hospitality and openness, that feeling that we are all in this together.

Small child must be kept busy or this happens!

This is the first Ramadan in our own house and keeping small child busy whilst fasting will certainly be challenging! This is also our first Ramadan whilst social distancing. It'll be odd, very odd. Ramadan is normally a very sociable time. You drop off food to friends and neighbours, go to talks in the mosque on weekends where you'll meet a group of people - see, lot's of socialising. Of course at the end of Ramadan comes Eid. Eid involves meeting family and eating food - yet more socialising.

I don't expect that we'll be able to do that this year because of Covid-19 but at least we are all connected through technology! People are only a phone call or text away. Sometimes even a wave from the window will do!

Now tomorrow if I go out, I won't be needing my water bottle. I won't be able to snack or drink tea during the day and staying home may, or may not, make it harder. Who knows! Let's try it tomorrow.

Ramadan Kareem to all those people taking part! May this month be filled with blessings, enlightenment and mercy.

Stay well and stay safe. Remember, we are all in this together. 

I've had to update the way my blog looks because something went wrong and I had sad emoticons all over it instead of my header and what not. I enlisted the help of the amazing Stepan ... who listened to me, heard what I was saying and even more importantly, what I wasn't. He was patient and probably pretty annoyed at my really slow response time - but he never showed it!
Thanks to him, my blog has been saved and has a new look!!

If you need Stepan here are his contact details - highly recommended if you're in the market for a blog makeover!

Stepan Jakl, Bohemica Studio www.bohemicastudio.com Stepan@bohemicastudio.com

Get in touch with him, he’s great! What do you think of the new look? 

It's official. 2019 is actually over!

It's time to say goodbye. Not to my blog, although I do think that may be on the cards somewhere along the line, but to my first ever pair of Birkenstocks. That's right, shoes. You have not gone crazy, stay with me.

See, I like to use things till they are utterly and completely used, on their last leg and often beyond this. My Birkenstocks are getting there-  if it were up to me I'd probably keep them in my draw for a long time, but something tells me that I should say goodbye.

Brief History:
These were my first ever pair of Birkenstocks which I purchased in Canada in 2015. They have been with me since.

What we've been through together:

A day in Toronto

• Canada 2015 - was undoubtedly my best Canada trip to date. My other trips there have been pretty close but on this trip as a whole was amazing! I had so much fun!
• My first solo trip (as in without my parents) - We went to Turkey together and had a ball
• Malaysia 2017 - They came with me to Malaysia. Oh so Romantic.
• Work  - I have worn these to my many jobs and never ever once felt uncomfortable.
• Birth - This is one of the most important things I have done so far - I wore these to and from the hospital.

In April this year, I did something I've never done before - I solo travelled with a baby. That's right, I went on a plane with baba and we flew all the way to Canada for my best cousins wedding. It was simultaneously amazing, terrifyingly frightening and a tiny bit liberating - that small sense of achievement and independence.

We got to the airport with plenty of time to spare but spent so much time trying to get a different seat (one more suitable for myself and baby) that when I went through security they said if I didn't go now, I'd miss my flight. The woman checking my flight details demanded to know what time I had arrived and why I was there so late... I told her we've been here for ages. I explained that I was with the airline people, not just lounging about killing time!

I sailed across a sea of marshmallows!

If you're thinking of doing it, my advice - just do it. Deal with things as they come, for me that's the best way. And try and stay calm. It'll work out - that's what I keep telling myself!

I've always wanted to have a go at baby wearing - I love the idea of carrying your baby close to you, and it always looks super comfortable when I've seen people do it. I knew I wanted to baby wear before I had Baby B so had been looking around for woven wraps - that's what I had hoped to carry baby in.

Our Ergobaby in Canada

There is a plethora of woven wraps out there and they come in all sizes and many different prices. At first I didn't realise how expensive hand woven wraps can be but it wasn't until I talked to my lovely friend over at March Hare Handwovens that I came to understand why. So much work goes into making a wrap. So much love! The wrap is designed, materials are chosen, dyed and woven and I'm sure that isn't even everything. What I do know is that the process involves time and dedication and therefore I completely understand why some of them are expensive. I also understand how you could spend so much money on one - they are so beautiful and you can ask for them to be made in whatever colours/pattern you like. You can be picky and base the wrap on you.

Unfortunately for me, I, at the time, wasn't able to buy an actual hand woven wrap from March Hares Handwoven like I Diva Milano wrap - a pretty one!
had originally wanted to, even though she offered me a really good price. Instead I was fortunate enough to have been gifted a

I Googed how to wrap and when the time came, I did wrap Baby B a few times with help, but I wasn't confident enough in myself to do it. I even went to a sling library but it was so busy that they weren't able to help!! So in the end, I decided to see if there were other ways I could carry baby. I know now that had I persevered and built up my confidence, I would have been able to wrap Baby B without a problem!

There were plenty of other ways to carry Baby B and I ended up buying an Ergobaby 360. It was between Ergobaby 360 and Tula Explore - as with both these carriers you can carry babies front facing whilst they are ergonomically positioned (basically the baby is supported well). The Ergobaby was easier to find so for me, it was the best buy! And let me tell you, I haven't looked back since. Of course given the chance I would use the Tula Explore and wrap again for sure, but the Ergobaby comes everywhere with us! Everywhere!

I'm not even kidding - even if we've taken the pushchair, the carrier still comes.

Do you have a must have item you take everywhere with you? What is it?

Having a small person around means that they often want to be kept busy - especially when they are curious and learning new things. At first I didn't do much because leaving the house is not as easy as it sounds, trust me! We did do Baby Massage (as mentioned in previous posts) but baba wasn't very well at the time - colic ruled out lives *insert exhausted sigh here*.

Then Baby B started sitting up, becoming more curious and exploring so it felt like good idea to do more things. Also, it's really important for mums to get out too because not getting out and doing things can drive you crazy and and make you feel down. We all need a lift every now and then!

There are a lot of free things for babies around in my area which is great as we can pop to a few stay and plays - it's a great way to meet people with babies and get out and about. There are some good classes too like the one we've been going to - Yoga Buds.

YogaBuds is a group that is really friendly and welcoming. I actually look forward to going there! We do a bit of everything so there's some sensory play,  a bit of massage and even some singing! Who doesn't love that! It's held in our local Tesco which I think is super as they have a community space - a great idea! It means we can do shopping after the class too haha!

Like I said, I feel that it's really important try and get out - I find that it lifts my spirits and talking to others that also have babies is good - we can compare things, run ideas past each other and also ask for advice and suggestions. It helps that people are friendly too!

What have you been up to? Have you attended classes in your area or do you have any ideas/suggestions?

My blog, this month, is five years old. FIVE years. It doesn't seem that long ago to me but according to Google it really has been five years. I think five years is a long time! I'm not sure how I've managed to keep it up but I hope there will be many more!

This year, however, hasn't been a really productive one blogging wise. Fear not - I have plans to change this - let me know if you'd like to collaborate or get involved!

So it may not have been a very productive blogging year but it was productive otherwise. I feel like I've been on a ginormous learning curve that hasn't ended ... not sure when it will to be honest. It wasn't a year like last year where we had wedding after wedding, but we did have a baby! The journey to get to that stage was a long and steady one and our bundle of joy arrived in April - we have been trying to keep up with her ever since.

A few thoughts:

• Take a break: I took a break from blogging, not one that I planned but one that just happened. What I've learnt from this is that it is important to take breaks. Take a step back. I know that if I had carried on my posts would have been scattered, inconsistent and I would have been writing for the sake of it with no feeling or motivation. 

• Talk: It's important to talk to people, keeping things in your head can sometimes drive you crazy. Remember you aren't alone no matter how lonely you may feel!

• Listen: Listen to what people have to say as sometimes you come across genuine people who will give good advice. They'll tell good stories and make you think twice. Don't take everything to heart, just listen. Sometimes listening means letting it go in through one ear and out the other because lets face it, people talk a lot of rubbish. Sometimes it means really listening to what is being said, especially when it comes from the heart.  

• Make your own decisions: This is something I personally really really struggle with. I am one of the worst decision makers you'll ever meet. My manager used to send me the menu to wherever we were going a few weeks before everyone else just so I had that extra time to decide. It's not a bad thing, it just means I'm overwhelmed by choices. But sometimes we need to make decisions for ourselves because then, at the end of the day, they are your own. I'm trying to be less indecisive! 

• Stop looking back: Stop looking back at things that could have happened, and even things that have happened. When I say looking back, I mean living in the past and constantly thinking 'what if'. The truth is that it's too late. We can't turn the clocks back and we can't repeat history. I'm pretty sure that's not possible, no matter how much we may want it to be. We have to live in the now.

What has been the highlight of your year? Any advice that you'd give? Do you have any plans for next year?

It's been a long time since I blogged properly and regularly. Mostly it was because I was busy but also because I was lacking inspiration and motivation. I just haven't been able to find things that I thought were good enough to blog about. It became a chore. It never used to be a chore.

I used to blog because I wanted to, because I enjoyed it. Thankfully, now I have the urge to blog again! I have my mojo back!! Oh yes.

Things I've been doing/an explanation for my absence:
I've been busy trying to be a mum, a wife, a daughter, a daughter-in-law, a granddaughter, a friend, a cousin and an aunt. I've been busy trying, trying again and then some more, sometimes failing and sometimes succeeding. I guess you can only do what you can do - to come to this thinking however took some time.

I've not had much time to myself - I haven't sat down with my laptop or notebook in such a long time that the concept almost feels alien to me. I have spent many outings and moments trying to find something to blog about. I've racked my brains for inspiration without luck. It's crazy because there are actually so many things I could blog about staring at me in the face! SO MANY!

I could have written about life with a baby, the rewards, the challenges and the milestones. I could write about days out or places I've eaten in. I mean it's not like I had nothing to blog about... I just hadn't been able to find it in myself.

But I think I'm ready, I think I'm back and I sure do have a lot more to say this time. :)

What have you been up to? Have you caught up with my blog posts so far? Do! I had a baby!

So turns out trimester three is not the last hurdle ... there is actually something called trimester 4. Trimester 4 is the first three months after your baby is born. The same amount of time a baby is classed as a newborn! 

Baby B arrived exactly on the day the midwife told us she would. The due date. Her due date. Our little girl seemed to have no interest in coming out and waited patiently the whole time. Finally when she did arrive, it was surreal. I remember looking at her during the night and thinking 'she's mine, oh my!' She slept so quietly the first few days, waking up to feed and then slipping straight back into a deep sleep. That's how the first week has was, and for a very short while she stayed like that, eating and sleeping. 

In the third trimester, the thing I heard the most was how big I was getting - I was well aware of my bump but for some reason, people felt it necessary to mention this to me. This included random people, STRANGERS, asking me how far along I was. After hearing my answer they'd respond with "are you sure it's not twins?! You're HUGE". I was almost certain that I was not having twins but still kept having to remind others that I wasn't.