Craving a sunkissed look in an Autumnal June

I think I speak for most girls out there at the moment (please feel free to correct me if I am wrong), the weather has been more like October than June and so faced with very few options of excursions we would usually turn to the TV for some escapism and yet all we are faced with is sport, sport, more sport and the odd episode of a murder mystery drama!! As we all come down from the high of the Jubilee festivities it seems like June as we know it has gone mad!!

I am craving an escape, so I have bought '50 Shades of Grey'!! and at least to look sunkissed so I decided to do some research into some of the newer tanning products I have come across and wonder with they will tempt me away from my faithful St Tropez Mousse.

I am huge fan of Leighton Denny so could not resist trying his new 'Sun Believable'. I purchased my 3 piece starter kit from QVC for £27.00 it included the mousse, mitt, exfoliator and

moisturiser.  Like his other products 'Sun Believable' does not disappoint. When you apply the tan it is slightly green in colour much more than St Tropez but this does not effect the result. I am very fair and it gave me a natural looking tan. The only thing I would say for those fake tan smell haters the smell is very evident when you put it on but completely disappeared when I showered the following morning. Definitely a repeat purchase.

The next product I went for was the Elemis Total Glow Gradual Tanning cream. I am a huge fan of Elemis, despite my bank balance often not loving this admiration, however I bought this as a duo and the price was very competitive, £29.76 (QVC). 

I love this product!! I have been using it as my summer moisturiser and unlike other gradual tanners it does not have a distinctive biscuit smell which makes it perfect for daily use. I am not as dark as if I was using a fake tan however if the sun does ever shine I will be confident to ditch my opaques!!

The last product I could not resist purchasing is a hot off the press product launched this summer from James Read the 'Tantalist'. Tanning expert James Read has worked with everyone from Lady Gaga to Clive Owen, and has bronzed stars for events such as the Oscars, Grammys and Brits. Based at the Sanderson Hotel's Agua Spa, Read has also tanned models for a wide range of fashion week shows.

So instead of despairing at the TV tonight I shall be bronzing up in preparation for an Autumnal June day tomorrow. I will keep you posted on the results.

http://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/2011/10/17/james-read-(1)

http://www.thetantalist.com/

http://www.qvc.com

Pregancy Treats Part 1

Sadly due to time and work commitments my boyfriend and are going to find it difficult to go on a Baby Moon so little treats will definitely be needed over the coming months.

My first one was last weekend, I think my boyfriend booked it knowing full well I would need to recover after a night under the awning!! He booked us both in the following day to St Brides Spa in Saundersfoot, West Wales.

www.stbridesspahotel.com

I've dreamt of going to this spa for many years and it didn't disappoint. Due to availability my boyfriend just paid to use the spa facilities but I had a mum-to-be facial.

Once we got there we were directed to the robing room where we were handed gorgeous fluffy towels, robes and slippers. Once ready to Spa we were shown the facilities.

After a herbal tea (well we were in a spa) we headed straight to the outdoor infinity pool, sadly I watched from a deckchair due to my bump **. It is the perfect place to unwind and admire the spectacular coastal views. The wonderfully relaxing water treatment pool is heated to body temperature providing a cosy haven, even on frosty winter days or British summer days!! When the tide is in, you will experience the optical illusion of the pool edge blending to the sea below, the views were spectacular.

Once I was called for my treatment my boyfriend continued to use the rest of the facilities in the thermal suite and I was taken to this beautiful tranquil room where I think on several occasions I drifted off to sleep. My facial was called radiant glow and my skin did look and feel exactly that afterwards.

At St Brides they use VOYA, a specialist marine spa company, have used many generations of acquired wisdom harvesting the sea to create an exceptional range of beauty and skincare treatments in harmony with nature. VOYA products encapsulate something of the sea in as pure a form as possible. VOYA offers a range of 100% certified organic and seaweed based products, designed to detoxify, re-mineralize restore and protect. So are perfect to use throughout pregnancy.

The experience was over too soon and I cannot wait to return, (hint hint Mr Tyler).

** The Thermal Suite & Hydro Pool are not available during pregnancy This package is available after the first twelve weeks of pregnancy or from six weeks after delivery.

Sleeping in an Awning 6 Months Pregnant!!!

I know I thought my days under canvas were over for 9 months at least however my boyfriend had other plans!!

After being washed out of Creamfields last year in a tidal wave of mud my boyfriend and I were determined to be prepared for this years festival season and bought a top of the range tent from a high street outdoor retailer however with my gorgeous bump getting bigger day by day I had put my festival plans on hold until Glastonbury returns next year.

However with the excitement of the Jubilee weekend in the air a brief glimpse of the sun my boyfriend headed up the attic to retrieve our outdoor equipment and before you could shout camping the car was packed and we were heading west down the M4 our destination was Well Park Tenby.

Destination reached and as per usual with the British Summer the glimpse of sun had turned into rain and gail force winds!! My boyfriends parents had arrived ahead in their caravan and greeted us with a much needed cuppa. After finding our British outdoor spirit it was Wellies on and we headed into town to hopefully come back after the showers had cleared to erect out tent and cosy down for the night. Sadly even after going in and out of many gift shops and a huge cream tea the weather was no better.

On our return to the caravan we decided to save our tent and boyfriend's parents set up the awning for us complete with blow up bed!! After filling up on some well earned BBQ (I am pregnant) and a few sparkling waters it was time to add the layers and slip into our sleeping bags. It was at this point I was longing for a hot toddy not a hot water bottle!!

Thankfully I warmed up quite quickly and it was lovely waking up to warm sun rays beating down on the awning, the smell of bacon in the air and the kettle whistling in the caravan. My awning experience had not turned out to be the night from hell I imagined!! Roll on Glastonbury 2013!!!

Today I will mostly be wearing my maternity wardrobe....

Yes the day has finally come maternity wardrobe all the way. I have resisted so far with only the introduction of maternity jeans (my waist line went in the first few weeks) as my faithful skinnys would no longer meet in the middle.

However, I have almost over night had to totally relook at my wardrobe, this is not easy on the bank balance as you can well imagine. This issue too is not totally understood by my boyfriend, he just sees it as yet another excuse to shop!! But there is only a certain amount of time I can get away with work dresses that seem to get shorter by the day especially when our summer seems to have finally arrived and opaque tights need to be put away.
In an effort to ease my boyfriends stress level I have been looking at ways in how to stretch my maternity wardrobe budget. I thought I would never look to Ebay to buy fashion especially second hand but I am discovering a whole new way to shop.

You may have already read about my current brand addiction Isabella Oliver however the cost does not match my coca cola budget!! However on Ebay I have bought some perfect wardrobe staples to satisfy my craving which despite being classed as used look like they should have still have labels. Is pregnancy turning me into a 'Secondhand Sue' or a 2012 savvy shopper?!? I will leave it to you the SugarGitterDreams readers to decide.....

£75 (Second Hand Sue Ebay £25)

£99 (2012 Savvy Shopper Ebay £30)

Pinterest -where have I been?!!

I have always been told that when you get pregnant a fog descends and you get 'baby brain' but I only thought it would affect my ability to remember things not completely miss things aswell!!

Am I already losing touch with up to date trends before my baby is born!! Noooo I am sure it is a blip!!

Whilst researching all things babies I read an article on Pinterest. A social networking site that allows you to post pictures of your own ideas and research through other peoples pins and boards!! I am in love love love!! Unlike other sites you request to join and about 24 hours later they send you the link, but it is worth the wait.

Within a few minutes I have built up ideas for the nursery and my baby shower without trawling through endless magazines and websites. It is also great if you are looking for a new look for your home, planning the perfect holiday or even your dream wedding. Check out my boards so far:-

http://pinterest.com/sugarglitter/#

I think I will be mostly spending this week adding pins and re pinning!!!

Happy pinning!!!

My new brand crush!!!

Following on from my previous post although I was confident that I would find styles to satisfy my fashion fix I hadn't expected to form a new brand crush!!!

My boyfriend had gone to Las Vegas on a boys only trip so I felt it only right that I had a treat too!! After all I am pregnant!! I had received a email from Isabella Oliver advertising a flash sale so no sooner than he had got on the plane I was logging on.

The styles all flatter your pregnant curves without having to stick to looser styles they make you feel and look sexy!! I was spoilt for choice and I did have to be careful as he had only gone to Vegas not around the world!!

When my delivery arrived even the packaging didn't disappoint:-

I felt thoroughly spoilt and special!!

Do I really have to wear leggings or sweats for the next 9 months arhhhh!!!!!

I rebel I rebel!!! Please do not let me become one of those mums to be who lose their self and style during pregancy!!! Surely there is more choice than sweats or legging?

Before becoming pregnant I was a high street regular but as soon as I found out I was pregnant and my waist began to expand it was as if my style went out of the window!!! But I am determind to find my way back!!

I sat myself down at my PC and began my hunt for a stylish pregnancy. Google brought up 1000s of options however this isn't as easy as you think, I shall not mention any names but do some websites think that as soon as us stylish high street savvy British women become pregnant we do not want to follow trends but where smocks that would not have looked out of place on the page of a Laura Ashley 1970s catalogue!!

However after some perserverance there is some stylish light at the end of the end of the endless websites of smocks!!

http://www.asos.com/ASOS-Maternity/ASOS-Maternity-Skinny-Jean-In-Faded-Leopard/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2209734&cid=5813&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Multi

http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=5380243&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208537&parent_categoryId=203984&pageSize=20

http://www.newlook.com/shop/maternity/clothing/john-zack-maternity-printed-midi-dress_255121219