A Little Self-Love

I haven't always loved my body, in fact, I spent most of my teens and 20s trying to 'fix it'. Don't get me wrong, I've always loved my curves, I just wanted less of them in certain places. 

But today at 34 years old I can honestly say I love my body, every single curve. Not because I've finally achieved that silhouette I spent years chasing (I haven't… far from it in fact!), but because I finally understand how amazing and powerful it is.

My wonderful body grew, birthed and nurtured the love of my life, my perfect little boy, and it's in the process of doing it all again! It has endured so much and is capable of so much more, and really it's about time I showed it a little appreciation! Because every scar, every stretchy and every wobbly bit tells my story, the story of my children, the story of our lives together, and that's pretty beautiful.

This is why when our family photographer Victoria Prince suggested trying to get some slightly risqué shots as part of my second maternity shoot, I was all up for trying it out, after all if I wasn’t comfortable with them they never had to see the light of day, and I’d still have some lovely classic images from the experience. Needless to say I loved them (hence this post) and If you'd told me 10 years ago I'd one day be sharing such revealing pictures of myself, I would've called you crazy, but today I don't care about the haters, prudes and critics. 

I absolutely love being a mother, it has completely taken over my life, and I'm ok with that, but every once in a blue moon it's nice to do something for me. It's very rare, and the stars really need to align for it, but it happens, and that's what my maternity shoots have been like. 

Not so much with my first but with this last pregnancy I've definitely been feeling a little out of touch with my own needs. Being pregnant whilst looking after a toddler with no OFF button is HARD! Add to it that I was working full-time from home (so no motivation to dress nice or wear makeup) and you can imagine what I looked like.

This shoot certainly pulled me out of that funk! Vic requested curls (which I don't normally invest time in), and because of the nature of the pictures we'd be trying to get I went all out and pampered myself with all the necessary waxing, a manipedi and a few face and hair masks to get myself ready. All of this at home btw (I'm not made of money!), which reminded me I should do it more often since I'm obviously capable of it!

On the day I felt like a million bucks. My mom was looking after my little boy and I had a few hours in the studio of just me and Vic. I can honestly say there is nobody else I'd do something like this with. Vic isn't just our photographer, she has become a trusted friend and throughout the shoot she made me feel not only comfortable but beautiful, empowered and confident.

It didn't take long before I started to get some of the finished shots and I couldn't believe how much I loved them, every single one! They definitely embody all the self-love I'm feeling these days and I've already chosen a few to frame and display in our bedroom, not because I'm a narcissist (I'm not), but because they will constantly remind me that taking care of myself and ensuring I have some 'me time' every once in a while won't take anything away from giving my family my all, quite the opposite in fact. 

So thanks Vic, your talent is truly extraordinary, and it's matched only by the amazing heart and character you share with all those around you! Can't wait for our next shoot together (if little lady ever decides to make an appearance… 41 weeks and counting!).

And to anyone reading this, I hope this post inspires you to indulge in a little self-love, whatever that may look like for you, just give it a go, make the time, you deserve it!

May the 4th Be With You

When Star Wars: The Force Awakens debuted on December 18, 2015 it wasn’t just the force that awakened, the whole franchise was given a new lease of life. Fans, old and new, were inundated with a plethora of memorabilia spanning from figurines and soft toys to clothes, shoes and duvet covers. You name it, you can probably get it in a Star Wars related option.

Now for women like myself who have a hardcore Star Wars fan as a husband (the Force never left my home), this is just the best, and in honour of Star Wars day, here are some of my favourite products out there.

American Tourister suitcases

I cannot tell you how much I love these. For years I have been looking for suitable hand luggage for the hubby and although there were Star Wars styles out there, most were cheaply made, which was evident in the look and the quality.

The American Tourister and Disney Star Wars collection was a match made in galactic heaven and the cases feature unique designs, are lightweight and made with durable materials that reduce scratch visibility.

My pick is the Star Wars Glitch Palm Valley 4-Wheel Cabin Baggage Spinner, which features a graffiti-style Stormtrooper. Other cool styles available are Kylo Ren (which has a red lightsaber-style pull bar), Star Wars Saga (with Kylo Ren, Captain Phasma and a Stormtrooper) and the Star Wars Comics design.

R2-D2 Cookie Jar

Who doesn’t love cookies and who doesn’t love R2-D2? This droid cookie jar isn’t just a ceramic lump with a bit of paint on it, it’s embossed with specific R2-D2 features and has an air tight lid to preserve the freshness of your treats.

Character Mug

My husband is a tradesman, and everyone knows that tradesmen love a good mug. So, as part of my hubby’s 30 presents for his 30^th birthday last year I got him the Darth Vader, Stormtrooper, Yoda and R2-D2 mugs, and they were a real hit. Other styles from the Disney collection include Boba Fett and new kid on the block BB-8.

LEGO Keyring

Anyone growing up in the early 90s would’ve most likely played with LEGOs and the classic building blocks got on the galactic bandwagon early on. They have some pretty awesome products but one of my favourites is their keyrings, which you can get in pretty much any character you want, with some featuring an LED light option.

Alarm Clock

Fancy embracing the dark side with Darth Vader when the lights go out? Or Yoda by your bedside, ready to wake your force into action? Get a Star Wars alarm clock! You can choose from the LEGO variety or the more caricature style of BulbBotz.

Art Wars

Whilst all my other picks have been a bit playful and fun, Art Wars is less for your average aficionado and more for those with a taste for art and some generous disposable income.

This collection of Stormtrooper helmets is curated by Ben Moore and created by artists including Damien Hirst, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Mr Brainwash, D*Face and Joana Vasconcelos. It originally unveiled at the Saatchi Gallery in October 2013 and has since been presented in other London locations as well as Sweden, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Many of these works of art have been bought already but there are still some to be purchased as well as prints of those that have sold, so head over to Art Wars to find out more. A compilation of my favourites below:

Madame Tussauds London

Not exactly a product but the Star Wars exhibition at Madame Tussauds is not to be missed. Not only are the waxworks incredibly lifelike and well created, but each one is in their atmosphere, so if you happen to have a lightsaber in tow you can join Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn in the fight against Darth Maul, co-pilot the Millennium Falcon with Chewy, or maybe just hang with Han Solo at the Cantina (yes, the happy looking man pictured is my hubby).

Thanks for reading and May the Force Be With You