Addiction: For the love of Palmer's cocoa butter!

I am an addict - there I said it. And this is my poison... cocoa!

More than chocolate, I absolutely love cocoa butter, I won't even lie. I should tell you actually, I was waaaay ahead of Vaseline and could often found in the P.E. changing rooms at school, mixing lumps of cocoa butter into my little vaseline pot. Purleese! Y I've been slapping that stuff onto my lips for yonks - and Mr O can testify that the results speak for themselves. 

Now, I did try mixing up a cocoa butter moisturiser once. That was an interesting experience. I bought a couple of blocks of pure, raw cocoa butter straight from Kaneshie market in Accra, Ghana....but it just took so  long to melt that I gave up and just used it in its natural state. When I applied it straight to my skin, I found that it was greasy, a bit impractical to carry round and I wasn't really feeling that 'shiny' look. If you've had a better experience with cocoa butter, let me know how you used it please!

I had never set eyes on cocoa before, despite 10 years of using it on my skin and about 20 years of eating it!  

I was eager to bring one back home to the UK to show Little Miss O where her special ezcema cream came from. (That's right, only cocoa butter gave her relief from the itch!)...one of the many ironies of 'medicine'!

Since the big chop in 2009, I've generally tried to keep my use of store bought products to a minimum. I've just become more aware of my hair and skin and what I put on it. I still use some store bought products (it can be hard not to sometimes) but I try to choose paraben-free products or just to mix up my own. 

When I don't mix my own, I'm very very choosy. In fact, I'm the girl that takes an hour in the shop reading all the labels before deciding that none of the products is good enough to touch my skin...or Little Miss O's skin for that matter and you know what, there is only one brand of cocoa butter that I let touch my skin...it's paraben free and I just have to tell you all about it, just in case you've been living under a rock for a while and are still using what I affectionately term an 'imposter' (or 'bootleg') version?!!!?

But despite this experience, I still love and use cocoa butter - at least 4 times a day I should add! Like I said, I'm addicted. I always have been. Now I've discovered that my fave brand has lots of new products in their range... 

I feel a 'Cocoa butter bust cream' review post brewing... or perhaps Mr O can write a guest post reviewing their 'man friendly' products...

Oh the possibilities...

M

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Trainers or Running Shoes - that is the question?!

So, if I'm going to make the most of my gym membership, I need to be kitted out. Ok - fine, I don't need to be kitted out, BUT I will feel like I fit in with the rest of cute gym bunnies there and besides I need to reward myself for taking the big step towards membership!! : )p
I used to have some cute gym attire but for the life of me, I have no idea where it is now - and finding them, only to realise that they don't even fit anymore would just depress me into staying home!
So new gym gear it is!
I did look in my wardrobe for clothing that is suitable for the gym and my entire non-work wardrobe is (in every possible way) unsuitable for the gym or work out classes. I suppose I had it easy when I wore a vest top, leggings and heels to my burlesque class! 


I usually hate shopping (I must be the only woman to say that!), but when it comes to shopping for gym stuff, I'm really looking forward to it...plus I can even do it online on my lunch-break - gotta love a bit of multi-tasking...

How cute does Amber Rose look in this...?! 

I love the just-seen pink socks and nails!

So, here's my list so far...


- a couple of cute little flannels to mop sweat from my neck (ewww!), if I don't sweat, I feel like I am not really working out but just at the gym for the sake of saying that I go. Basically, I have to sweat it out whilst I work it out!
- gym top(s) that cover my U.G.L.Y sports bra - my shock absorber is great for reducing bounce BUT it really is about function and not fashion - thus I need something cute to cover it!
- gym bottoms - tight fitting so I don't get stuck in a machine and also sweat-wicking!!!
- a functional and more visually appealing sports bra...I'm going for bonus points girls... 
- running shoes/trainers (what's the difference even?!)
- new ear phones so I can get in the zone and work it!
- a reusable water bottle - its not about buying bottled water guys - unless its 'One' water and then I can forgive you!
- gym bag : )p - because I am not a bag lady and refuse to carry my clothes in plastic carrier bags! : )P


I feel like my list is quite comprehensive, but am I missing anything?! Do I really need all these things to go to the gym...?


Until next time...


M
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Body armour, CSI and gym shoes... : )

Ok - so a close buddy of mine told me off for not updating this here blog with the news that I have graduated...

So there it is - I have graduated!!! : ) Woo hoo!

I had a lovely few weeks off work to celebrate my success and unwind... much needed, I tell you..and during that time, I made a decision..

The time to step up my fitness regime is now. 

Currently, my exercise schedule revolves around pushing baby girl on the swing, swimming under water with my hand on my back, pretending to be a 'shark', running round parks, and trying to squeeze myself through all kinds of  soft play equipment at jungle gyms. It also includes running up and down the stairs, hoovering almost daily and bending over to pick up toys and one burlesque class per week (very good fun, but not enough to boost my fitness levels!)..

In short - I need to step up my game - literally. The 'excuse' - I just had a baby, simply wont cut it after 3 years - well not to me. Every-time I go out in the evening in a figure hugging number, I rely on magic knickers! If you have never worn these, let me tell you they can get really hot! I have even been known to wear two pairs of said knickers at the same time - one for bum lift and one for tummy flattening (thanks to a certain bff for that tip!) tehehe....

Must I rely on such 'body armour'?!

Pre-baby, I'd party - a lot - dancing the calories away and tone up by going to the gym every couple of days. Darn it, I had a fitness plan. But now things have changed. I drive EVERYWHERE, I have a lovely husband who carries anything heavy that might otherwise help tone my arms. It's not all about appearance though, I am ashamed to say that I am really really unfit! It's not good - at all!

Now, I know that I am lucky that I didn't actually gain any weight during pregnancy - just on the chest! I just gained stretch marks, the characteristic mummy 'pouch', an extra back size  and a couple of extra cup sizes!! But, all in all, whilst I am comfortable with my Mummy shape, I do feel like I could feel even better and it's all about being the best version of myself possible.

I'm not into hard work and no play anymore, so, I'm exploring gym options where I can work out, have fun at the same time, de-stress, and sweat it out in the sauna and steam room or just sit in the jacuzzi on the occasional day I feel lazy!

Gone are my old  excuses  reasons:

'I'm pregnant' - ummm  had I not heard of Pregnancy yoga?!

'I just had a baby' - ummm why was Baby Yoga on my mind but not Mum and Baby yoga?

'I should spend the time with baby girl' - I can go when she is sleeping!

'I should spend the time on my PhD' - I've now got it!

'I should spend the time with Mr O' - In all honesty, he'd much rather have the couple of hours at home alone watching CSI (which I don't really like), drinking cider (which I don't drink!) and eating nuts without me saying 'did you just drop one, you know baby girl is allergic', before proceeding to hoover during the ad-break of CSI!

Really, its a win win situation...

So, if I am uber-efficient with my time, then the only excuse I have left is

'I don't even own gym shoes anymore...'

Until next time...

M
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Mani-Pedis, Marriage and Motherhood...

This week I have done lots of mulling over of 'stuff' - stuff that I may or may not choose to blog about later. In thinking about 'stuff', I've been considering 'what will help me to be the best wife and Mummy that I can be?' It is part of my list of things to achieve after all.


That's where mani-pedis come in. Seriously, this may sound totally twisted, but day by day, I'm starting to realise that I am a pretty important person in our house. Not only am the mummy, the wife, but I'm also the first lady! 


Now don't judge me - BUT, I really think this. I am the first lady.. say it with me!


: )


These two crazy kids need me at my best...they need me in my prime...at my happiest, looking my finest...smelling my sweetest, feeling my very best!


And, this means more time for MOI! 


And that means that professional mani-pedis are going back on my 'non-negotiables' list - hooray! You know the list of 'no matter what happens, I'm gonna do this' list.. Well, regular mani-pedis are back on - as of a week ago! It may seem trivial in the grand scheme of things (but then again, most things do!), but when I treat myself in this small way, I feel good...and when I don't, I don't feel as good... 


Don't worry, mani-pedis don't complete me (far from it!), but they are just a small something that doesn't have to be done, yet I do it anyway - and that feels good, it makes me smile and I've noticed that when I'm smiling, Mr O smiles too and Little Miss O laughs!


So, hooray for mani-pedis!


A while back, I started a bi-weekly home pamper session with face mask etc but then it slipped to once a week...and then to whenever I remembered or worse, whenever I had a breakout! As of today - they're back on! Today, I got my hair and brows 'did', have done my own mani-pedi and have just had such fun with my cousin B doing an aspirin/honey face mask followed by tea tree toner and sweet almond oil moisturiser - all made by us! My skin feels so fresh, so vibrant and I feel ready for another week of madness! I'm feeling really good - and best of all none of this broke the bank!


I'm happy to have put a few things back on my 'non-negotiables' list...all in the hope of being the best Mummy and wife that I can be... I know there's a lot more to do, but at least my hair/nails will look cute whilst I attend to the other things! 


: )


What's on your list of non-negotiable 'treats' for yourself?


Mrs O
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