Something Good...

I borrowed these prompt ideas from my #bloggoals fave Meet Me At Mikes

Check out her blog! Its one of my blogging inspirations!

My Skincare Routine

Before I got pregnant I had a skincare routine. It was made up almost exclusively of Korean skincare products, some where hits, some were misses.

When I got pregnant, I happened across an article about the safety of skincare during pregnancy. I didn't even realise that some things I put on my face could potentially harm my baby (I'm talking to you Retinol!) and unfortunately for me, a lot of my Korean products were not considered safe, and just in case I stopped using them. Thanks to the increase in hormones etc, I found I didn't need to use skincare products during my pregnancy, so apart from washing my face with warm water, and wearing sunscreen, that's all I needed.

Until after the birth!

Oh man, my skin did not like me after the birth of Bubba. I had trouble drinking the 3 litres of water recommended while breastfeeding, which meant my skin dried out... a lot. There was a week or so there where my lips were so dry they cracked and bled whenever I ate (and add having to wear a dental splint at night for my teeth grinding) it was not a pretty sight.

So it's about time to re-start my skincare routine... or ritual! (I'm listening to House Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock, and trying to create myself some personal rituals... hopefully a post about this soon)

Some of these products I used pre-pregnancy and loved them. Others are new and I have been using for a couple of weeks, others are brand new, and only used a couple days (but come HIGHLY recommended and/or brands I've used before)

Oil-based Cleanser

Heimish All Clean Balm (PM)

This is one of my favourite products. Its the first step in my ritual. Its a oil creme that you use to remove all makeup and build up. It smells wonderful, feels amazing, and despite being an oil based product, doesn't leave your face feeling oily. I have just finished my second container of it, and need to order more! I usually use this in the PM to remove the product build up, especially sunscreen (and rarely, makeup)

Water-based Cleanser

Neogen Green Tea Cleansing Stick (AM, PM)

Another returning product. This is so easy to use. Its comes in stick form, like school glue sticks. You wind it up, wet it a little and wipe it on your face, then you rub it in with your fingers and rinse. Its that easy. I keep mine in the shower and use it AM & PM

Toner

Son & Park Beauty Water (AM, PM)

Another product return. If I don't have time to do my ritual, or too lazy, I will use this and moisturiser. Its technically a cleanser and a toner. I use it mainly as a toner. Put some on a makeup wipe and wipe your face. Easy as bro! Smells great, gentle on my skin, great price. I'm onto my 3rd bottle... with a 4th bottle waiting!

Serums

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5

New product I haven't used yet. I will let you know what I think. I bought it because it is highly recommended to help with hydration. There were a few Hyaluronic Acid products I looked at, but I went with The Ordinary because I have used their products and like them, and they're cheap. $12.40 for this product!

Eye "Cream"

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG

New product - haven't used it yet. It had mixed reviews, either really good, or bad. But Caffeine in an eye serum has got to be good, right? especially since I have to minimise my caffeine in take since I'm breastfeeding.

Heimish Bulgarian Rose Water Hydrogel Eye Patch

I keep these in the fridge for a refreshing cooling eye mask, especially on a hot day. They are a jelly like under eye patch with a beautiful rose smell, and super cool pink shining look! I love them. I don't use it very often, just when I feel like I need a boost.

Exfoliant

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA

New product. This is the whole reason I went into Priceline (and walked out with 3 The Ordinary products). I used to always use a physical exfoliant, ie a creme with particles in them, or a rough cloth etc. I read an article about chemical exfoliants. I used to avoid them, because "chemical" scared me, but chemical exfoliants are gentler on your skin, especially the delicate skin on your face. I'm excited to give this a try, and retire my exfoliant glove from my face skincare (and give it body duty)

Moisturiser

Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto Replenishing Hydrator

I received a mini version in the Clinique free gift when I purchased a bottle of Clinique Happy (all the nostalgic memories there) and loved it. I just opened the full size one that YumMan got me when he went to Perth recently. I will use this with Son & Park Beauty Water when I'm being lazy.

Face Oil

Go To Face Hero

This is a relatively new discovery. Face Oils. I was skeptical about putting an oil on my face (and not washing it off like oil cleansers) but oh my word! This stuff is a miracle worker. I had purchased it after seeing reviews on Instagram from some people I follow... and I'm obsessed with the companies Gro To baby products (review coming soon) so I bit the bullet and got some. I was mainly using it for hydration, but magically it has seem to reduced the redness I have on my cheeks and nose from rosacea. Which is amazing! BONUS! I use this product morning and night, and it goes on after all the moisturisers (but before SPF) because it can get through the water-based products.

Sunscreen

Nutrimetics Ultracare Smart Shield Protection Creme SPF 50

Natio Broad Spectrum SPF 50+

Honestly, if you are going to do anything skincare related. DO THIS! Everyday of the year, whether its hot or cold, or sunny or overcast, especially if you live in Australia. (I even have sunscreen ready for Bubba) 

These are the 2 I use depending on what I'm doing. If I don't plan of being in the sun too much I use the Nutrimetics one, if I'm going outside I will use the Natio one. I also use a general sunscreen on exposed skin when I'm going to be outside for long periods of time. Also a hat (I need a new one!) and sunglasses (waiting for new ones)

Others

These products get used occasionally, but deserve a mention!

CORSX ACNE Pimple Patches

Feel a pimple, stick one of these one and it draws out the goo and usually stops the pimple from appearing. Which saves me from the unwavering need to pop pimples (WHICH IS BAD!)

Heimish Bulgarian Rose Water Mist Serum

Feeling hot and bothered, I spray this on my face for a refreshing rosy mist of coolness!

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask (Berry)

When I remember (and not so much anymore, because YumMan won't kiss me when I wear it!) Leaves my lips feeling super soft in the morning.

What do you use in your skincare ritual? Let me know in the comments

Love Molly xoxo.

Life In Photos

🐙

do you love or hate coriander?

I'm a mumma now! Bubba was born early August (he's 2 months old now) and we are doing great!

Parental leave has been great, but there is only so much sitting on the couch and so many tv shows and movies to watch. I miss work, but I don't miss work. I miss adult socialisation. I go out, but there are only so many times I can go to the shops, and man, I spend money everytime, and my wallet is not very happy with me at the moment.

I have a new phone - Samsung Note 20 Ultra - it has a great camera. I want to take more photos. I must admit, I'm taking a lot of photos at the moment, but they're all of Bubba. Bubba is 2 Months old now! Where did the time go? Still catches me by surprise, the fact that I have a son, that I'm a mum! Wow!

My goal in the next couple of months, is to take and share more photos, blog more, and maybe try my hand at a few different crafts. Mainly sewing (I've already started a scrappy patchwork playmat for Bubba) and drawing (I've got myself a plain notebook and a pen and I've just been doodling). I have also planted a herb and flower garden. I already have a flower growing, and already seen a bee 🐝 doing it thing! Buzz Buzz!

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What's your favourite herb? I wonder if I have it planted in my herb garden! Let me know in the comments and I'll tell you if I have it growing!

Love Molly.

On Feeling Overwhelmed...

I’m feeling overwhelmed.

I think overwhelmed is an understatement.

I don’t really think there is a word for what I’m feeling.

I have 8 weeks left before I become a MUM! An actual, real life, mother of a child! It’s my dream, pretty much my ultimate goal in life, to become a mum, and it’s happening... very fast... but...

... what if I’m not very good? What if it all goes wrong? What if I break, or I break the baby, or I break my partner? What if we can’t afford to live? What if I bought the wrong bassinet, the wrong pram, the wrong car seat? (which was installed today)... WHAT IF?

OH MAN! It’s a pretty vicious cycle, which is not helped at all by my anxiety, my hormones, the way of the world right now, everything is just so crazy!

Don’t get me wrong. I’m excited... beyond excited to meet my baby, and I know I have so much support, and love, and kindness surrounding me. I just wish I convince my brain this.

My doctor is not concerned, she says it’s pretty usual for mum’s, especially first time mothers, to feel like this at this point in the pregnancy. ‘You’re whole world is about to change’ which is pretty much what everyone has been telling me, and YEAH, NO DAH! 

All I can say is eeeep!

Love Molly.

Taking Stock #1

Oh man, I haven’t blogged in ages. This blog had grand plans of documenting my journey to becoming pregnant and having a baby, and it fell to the wayside... but guess what? I’m pregnant! 26 weeks and 2 days, so over halfway there already! Let me tell you, the past 26 weeks have wizzed by, I was expecting this journey to take longer than it did. YumMan and I spoke about starting to try for a baby in August 2019, and on November 24th 2019, I took that pregnancy test, and I was pregnant. Everything went smoothly, no morning sickness, just fatigue, and it really has been a dream. I’m lucky, my mum always said that being pregnant was her happiest and healthiest time in her life, and it appears I have experienced that too.

I’ve decided the do a little blog prompt as a quick way for everyone to see what I’ve been up to. The world has been pretty freaking crazy!

Making: melting moments, Turkish chocolate cake, oat slice, custard tarts, home cooked meals... lots of cooking and baking... but surprisingly, despite the trends, I haven’t attempted Bread yet.

Cooking: as above. YumMan and I moved into a rental together on February 29th, and we have had take away once since then! Home cooked meals are great, and I have so much more enjoyment making them when I’m cooking for someone else (or having someone cooking for me)

Sipping: water, all the water... got to fight that pregnancy constipation! But also too much caffeine.

Reading: Phosphorescence by Julia Baird. I purchased it not knowing what it was about because of the beautiful cover, and it was the book I NEEDED to read at this crazy time in my life!

Looking: towards the future. This pandemic has kicked everyone in the gut. My finances are a wreck, my maternity plans are a wreck, but it’s been an amazing exercise in living in the now, and being mindful of the people around you. I spent all of April at home with YumMan on leave, only venturing out for groceries. It was a good practice of whether we could survive living together (haha) and good practice on whether I would go stir-crazy at home full time once I have bub (the answer is, only a little)

Listening: a mixture of eclectic mix of songs. I tried to link my Spotify playlist, but it’s not working.

Wishing: for everything to go back to normal soon.

Enjoying: being at home, cooking, cleaning, watching Netflix, doing the dishes, NESTING!

Eating: all the things I’ve been baking and cooking... and Bertie Beetles! I had a craving... I found a site that sells them in bulk... 250 Bertie Beetles is A LOT of chocolate! Haha!

Loving: my new home, and living with YumMan!

Buying: all the baby stuff. 

Watching: Afterlife S2, Unorthodox S1, Masterchef, all the cooking shows!

Needing: more money to buy baby things!

Wearing: PJs all day! Then showering in the evening and putting a new pair of PJs on!

Sorting: babies room. Washed some baby clothes yesterday! They’re so tiny!

Coveting: expensive, and beautiful baby and maternity products that I can’t afford. Maybe even coveting that Instagram Mumma life... but I will get over that!

Feeling: honestly, overwhelmed and anxious most of the time. But those times are dotted with lovely moments of bliss that make everything worth it. (Good practice for mumma life)

Thank you for having a read. 

LOVE BunnyFish (and Bubba)

Nursery Finds #3 - Walls & Wallpaper

WALLPAPER
I would love to have a feature wall with wallpaper. I'm in love with animal or floral prints, and completely in love with using dark blue as a feature colour.

A few inspiration photos above from Pinterest, but I'm yet to search from those particular wallpapers.

Celestial Blue by MuralsWallpapers

Black and White Bunny from Natty&Polly

Hibou Home Castles & Dragons from Natty&Polly 

 GOLDFISH - Black & Gold from Natty&Polly

Nursery Finds #2 - Prints

"The Animals" Art Poster by Oliver Jeffers - $50.00

I would love to have an original artwork by my favourite childrens author/illustrator Oliver Jeffers. This one is one of my favourite pages from his book You Are Here, which is a beautiful exploration of our place in the universe.

Custom Star Chart - The Night Sky - $75.00

I love SPACE, I love looking at the star! I'm definitely getting one of these made for my Little Bunny when they arrive!

Big Cats and Fancy Glasses print from Hardtofind - $35.00

More animals, are you sensing a theme? Target (AU) have a similar print for half the price.

A FEW INSPIRATION SHOTS

Have you seen any prints that you're loving at the moment? Leave a link in the comments so I can have a look! Thank you for reading

BunnyFish

Nursery Finds #1

Can you believe I’m already thinking about nesting... and I’m not even pregnant yet. I have grand plans for baby bunny’s room, but so many conflicting themes, colours and ideas! 😬 And because we are looking at buying a house, I don’t know the space I will have for Bunny’s Burrow! (That’s a cute name... that may stick!)

I have made a list (the first of many) of cute items for babies nursery that I would love to include. I should hopefully be able to acquire cots, and change table as a hand me down from my step brother, so this list won’t include those.

Animal Footstool - Freda the Cow by Mocka - $69.95

YumMan actually pointed this out, and chose this design as his favourite. (Mocka also do a Hippo and a Brown Cow, but other retailers offer an Elephant, a Bear, and a Deer)

Asta Recline (Rocking Chair) by Mocka - $119.95

Available in Black, Grey, and Cream. I’m not a huge fan of these colours, but would probably choose grey or cream, and either get my dad to help me recover it, or just add accessories to brighten it up.

What’s Up Neon Light - Electric Confetti - $300.00

Pricey, yes! But look at it! Bunny Ears neon light for my little bunny! What a perfect quirky edition to a nursery and child’s room!

Mini Man Cave print - Etsy - $5.09 (instant download)

YumMan has a man cave, and I love the idea of my son being able to have his own Man Cave like his daddy (OMG, imagining YumMan as a daddy makes my heart race)

What does everyone think? Do you have any decor ideas that you loved or use in your nursery? Stay Tuned for the next lot of Nursery Finds coming soon!

much love,
BunnyFish
🐰🐟

Pregnancy Journals

You have probably all heard of Baby Books, you probably seen the one your parents filled out for you, or you may have filled one out yourself, but did you ever think about a pregnancy journal?
I love journaling and recording, and I’m in search of a great pregnancy journal. Do I go for the funny, bright, colourful and goofy journal like 40ish Weeks? Or do I go more classic with a beautiful linen covered journal from Writetome? Or even a simple journal from Moleksine that covers pregnancy and baby?

40ish Weeks: A Pregnancy Journal [amazon] [booktopia] - what I love? Bright, fun, and goofy. Great prompts.

Moleskine Passion Journal - Baby [moleskine] [milligram AU] - what I love? The fact it covers pregnancy and birth and baby. Will match my huge moleksine collection.

9 Months - Pregnancy Journal by Writetome [writetome] - what I love? the mustard yellow linen cover. Australian company. Also comes in “Bump” version which is a cream linen.

I may, or may not purchase all three and decide once I see them in person. Until then I’m just taking notes on the app Day.One which I’ve been using for years and is my favourite note taking app. Once I decide on the journal, I will transfer my notes into it.

Did you use a pregnancy journal? Which one do you like? Or do you know another one that I may like. Let me know in the comments.

BunnyFish
🐰🐟

Let’s Talk About Caffeine

It’s recommended that a pregnant woman limit her caffeine intake to 200mg, which is just one cup of coffee... a day! That doesn’t include the caffeine in soft drinks, the caffeine sometimes found in chocolate and food, and the caffeine in tea.

As a 2 cups of coffee, 3 servings of Pepsi Max kinda gal, I think it’s time for me to try and cut down. My first step will be setting a goal. One cup of coffee a day, and one serving of Pepsi max, with a meal, either at lunch or dinner (not both). This naturally leaves me with even more space to drink water (which I’m very bad at... but who isn’t) which is also a very important pregnancy (and life) addition to your diet.

To help me with my coffee fix, I have decided to give decaf coffee a go. Yes, I’ve heard the horror stories, that it tastes bad, that it’s just as bad because they use chemicals... and yes, I know it’s still got caffeine in it, but compared to one cup of coffee... it’s tiny.

I have found this brand, which is apparently organic and chemical free. Guess what, it tasted great and it had appeared to soothe my coffee craving this morning (and I had a shitty morning, so that’s a great sign).

Plus, I know I can kick my Pepsi Max addiction, because I had to do it when I had my weight loss surgery. It’s just tricky, and turns me into a little bit of a grumpy bunny.

But it will all be worth it, once YumMan and I have a beautiful baby!

I can’t wait

BunnyFish

🐰🐟

All The Tablets

This is my life now.

After having a quick chat with my doctor, I am now taking a variety of vitamins and supplements.

Elevit - mostly for the Folate, Iodine, and Iron, these are the most important for pre-pregnancy and pregnancy.

Maltopher - for the added iron body because I’m anemic and want to fix that before I get pregnant.

Fish Oil - Omega 3s are another important supplement for pregnant (and life in general) but because I don’t eat fish, I don’t think I’ll get near enough, so more tablets for me

Immune Health & Vitamin C - I already took these pretty regularly because I work in childcare, and see all the germs... but going to try and take them more regularly. I have chronic sinus issues, and the anti-histamines I take, I can’t take them while I’m pregnant (looks like they’re YumMans now), so I’m hoping I can boost my immunity naturally.

I’m also 5 years post Weight Loss Surgery. I still can only manage a small serving of food, so I’m worried that it might affect what vitamins and minerals I can and can’t get naturally through food. Many of the people I became friends with in WLS groups and forums have had children and healthy pregnancy only a couple of years post-surgery, so I’m positive it’s very do-able. My anxious heart just makes me over think everything.

If you have any advice please leave a comment.

Thanks 

BunnyFish

🐰🐟