Colds, Conjunctivitis and Ear Infections

This time last month, I had a tickle throat, thought nothing of it as it was hay fever season for me. It's part of the allergy for me, so I carried on. The next day it's developed into a cold, no problem I feel a bit rough for a few days and battle through. I really wish I knew what I knew now.

Hubby fell ill within 12 hours of my symptoms starting, we were fighting over the tissues as well as the cold. A few days came and went, we both still sniffling and getting worse. I waited to let it ride it's course until I woke up one morning with a crusted up eye and ear ache, got an emergency doctors appointment which then they took one look and said that conjunctivitis and ear infection. I was given eye drops and an ear spray to use for a week.

A week I did, the eye was better within days, but the ear got worse. As I now battling an infection, the cold hanged around so I was still blowing my nose still. One night my ear went pop, which is not unusual with a ear infection. A few days later I woke deaf on my left side with a swollen face and still not feeling any better. 

Back to the doctors to be told that I had burst my ear drum and the medication I had been given had spread the infection around my head. A course of antibiotics for a week cleared the infection but my hearing took weeks to return, the final part of the ringing finally went over a week ago.

During this time we had Easter, our wedding anniversary, my birthday and my husband's birthday which was quiet affairs as we both very ill (my husband was later diagnosed with a chest infection and has just finished his course of antibiotics). We took it in turns to rest and look after Bethany, we were constantly drained for our infections and medication. Bethany had sniffles for a few days and was fine the rest of the time, none of this touched her as bad as both of us (thankfully).

It wasn't all doom and gloom, we tried to make the most of the times we felt better and enjoy the sun and celebrations.

Feeding the ducks for Daddy's birthday

Entry 300

Blog entry 300 is dedicated to my little family, the long suffering Hubby and Bethany aka Minilemming, the only things that are keeping me going at the moment.

Over the weekend we added another member to the Gray family as my Brother in Law married his long term girlfriend after the civil ceremony on Friday. As you can tell by the quietness it's been madness, but worth every minute.

I wrote in Entry 200 how I and the blog was going through changes, the time it was going from being just a beauty blog to more of a everything blog. I wanted to be able to talk about more things that matter to me, and I knew this more when Bethany came along. I always said that when she was born I knew there was more to life than lipstick.

I am currently going through a tough time, Hubby has finally gone back to work after a year of being out of it, leaving me without the support net I've grown used to.The passing of my aunt has hit me enormously, it's the first close relative I have lost as an adult and mixed with other anxieties I've made the decision to ask for help rather than work through things on my own. When I feel ready I will write about this more but for now I'm only at the start of another journey.

Why Marriage? By: Mari Nichols-Haining

WHY MARRIAGE?
~ By: Mari Nichols-Haining ~

Because to the depths of me, I long to love one person,
With all my heart, my soul, my mind, my body...

Because I need a forever friend to trust with the intimacies of me,
Who won't hold them against me,
Who loves me when I'm unlikable,
Who sees the small child in me, and
Who looks for the divine potential of me...

Because I need to cuddle in the warmth of the night
With someone who thanks God for me,
With someone I feel blessed to hold...

Because marriage means opportunity
To grow in love in friendship...

Because marriage is a discipline
To be added to a list of achievements...

Because marriages do not fail, people fail
When they enter into marriage
Expecting another to make them whole...

Because, knowing this,
I promise myself to take full responsibility
For my spiritual, mental and physical wholeness
I create me,
I take half of the responsibility for my marriage
Together we create our marriage...

Because with this understanding
The possibilities are limitless.

-------------------

Reading from our wedding, 4 years ago today at 2pm.

Happy Anniversary to my Husband.

Thank you for making my dream family come true.

I Promise Gift

My husband and I don't celebrate Valentine's Day for two reasons: 1. We tell each other we love the other everyday, we don't need over priced tact to show that and 2. It's also our anniversary of when we re-met on a night out exactly a week later on 21st. On the other hand I am an old romantic who does put a thought into gifts, so this appealed to me greatly.

IPromise puts your little promises and gestures into writing turning them into keep sakes. They come in two colour ways Blue or Red and are printed on thick, high quality card. You can add whatever you would like and can put on illastrations. If you get stuck for ideas, IPromise also has some suggestions.

I love the idea behind these, I did spend a large amount of time thinking of what I want to promise my Husband (dont't worry he won't be reading this before next week, he's been banned!). My promises were: To hug and love you everyday. To support you in your dreams. To love our family everlasting.

Considering we both been ships that pass in the night as one of us goes to bed while the other sits up with our newborn girl, I really wanted something to show that not only did I appreciate the support he gave me but not forgotten him as a person.

IPromise starts at £9.50 (for the set I have) up to £18.50 depending on how mnay promises you want to give. You can purchase them through their website http://www.ipromise.to/

*PR Sample

Entry 200

 

 

"What I love most about rivers is you can't step in the same river twice
The water's always changing, always flowing"
Pocahontas - Disney

What a huge difference a 100 blog posts can make?

Unevenlemming Beauty, I like to think, is entering another phase of evolution, as we never stand still and always change. I, myself are going through the biggest change since I got married, I am creating my own Minilemming to add to the family and as well as to the blog. I realise as my pregnancy progresses that it's going to play a huge influence to my life, people do not joke when they say 'life changing', but also the choices I make for myself and wellbeing.

I love blogging, even in the times that I am stuck in a rut, I still love writing, reading, and eventually planning (I'm still working on this!). I have also made lots of friends from this, who have been a huge support but also the kick up the bum I've needed in the ruts. Many thanks and hugs to them.

Hopefully over the next few weeks you will see some new improvements that will benefit me and give Unevenlemming Beauty a little more of a clear identity, so bear with me during this transition - It will be worth waiting for. Until then thank you for reading and sticking with me, for all the comments, tweets and messages - Some day's it's the best and only thing that keeps me going.

Unevenlemming Beauty is 1 year Old

Mmmmm Cake

 

Things have moved a huge amount from one year ago when I decided to take the plunge and join the expanding world of Beauty Bloggers.

 

At the time of writting this there is more followers than I ever hoped for reading my ramblings, when i started this it was merely something to keep me sane while I was recovering from knee injury. The inital idea was it was to compliment the business I had started, which has long gone while the blog has gone strength to strength.

 

I appreciate all you guys who read, comment, and tweet this - without you guys I don't this would of lasted longer than a few months.

 

To all the #bbloggers as well thank you for all your support, kind words and recommendations - I am now well and truly broke now.

 

To the bloggers who inspired me to start - You guys are not only a huge inspiration but I thank you for being a support to me and your kind words over the past few months. To get them from people I'd admire means more than what I can put into words.

 

I want to add a thank you for the suppliers who kindly let me try some of their products, its a huge privilage that I am grateful for.

 

To all my friends and family, thank you for being the first set of readers and champions of what I do and doing in the future.

 

And finally to my long suffering husband, who now has a front room that looks like Boots. I am grateful that you put up with my ramblings of why this red vanish is different from another red varnish and why I need both.

 

Just Thank You To Everyone

Ah 2013 - I've Been Expecting You

Happy New Year everyone, for an inspection of Twitter you seemed of got a little merry last night. I spent my evening on the sofa with the husband avoiding the bits that made me feel queasy in the film Prometheus, as well as watching the fireworks in London on TV.

I have no New Year resolutions because I never seem to keep them with all the best intentions. I know what I need to do this year - finish my BTEC coursework before February, carrying on blogging and stop worrying so much about life itself.

Over the past year this blog was born, I've turned 30, lost a job, and gained a job. I've been poor and then poorer and have been on a spending ban for as long as I can remember. However, through the support of husband, family and friends, I haven't gone barking mad just yet.

2013 will hopefully bring a little more stability and balance with life and blogging - As I've said my BTEC is due to finish in over a months time as well my home moving into something smaller (I'm still working out how to move my make up kit over!).

For now I shall leave you from one of the pictures I've been editing today from my assignment and once again with you all a very happy and beauty filled new year.

100th Entry and the NOTD for it

 I'm now into triples digits! I did want to do something a little different and celebratory for this one, so here you have my first attempted at some free hand nail art. I love this little cupcake that I found the tutorial on Cutepolish's youtube channel.

For the base I used Rimmel's Aqua cool, with the yellow of Orly's Lemonade and a stripping varnish that I got at Olympia Beauty on Sunday for 49p! I broke and bought 6, I really regret not buying more as they are so simple to use. My only grudge is I think they were getting on a bit and needed a huge mix before using, but fine after that.

Thank you to everyone who reads, follows, supports and generally for being such wonderfully people. There are some great things coming out so please keep tuned.

NOTD - OPI's I Don't Give a Rotterdam

Over the weekend my husbands grandad has his 80th birthday and his main wich was to have all the family together. Saturday afternoon we all gathered in one of parish's churchs (his does the accounts for them) halls to catch up, eat lots and general just have a really relaxing afternoon.

I had recently brought OPI's I Don't Give a Rotterdam from Laurzrah's blog sale after seeing it on one of my friends and fell in love with it's blue/grey tones with a silver/gold shimmer. For the party I had a dress that had been sitting in waldrobe for the right occasion, a navy blue V-neck knee length with white doves that I brought at the beginning of the year from Matalan in the sales for £10.

It was a really good day out and was great to see everyone including family down from Scotland. I ate lots of things I shouldn't really of eaten and lots of fizzy pop!

The Whole family - I'm second from the left :)

Happy 60 Years!

Happy 60 years!

Today is the start of 4 days of celebrations for the Queens 60 years of reign (and if you didn't know that then you must of been a hermit the past year!).

If you really need a woman to admire in the modern age then Elizabeth II is the best example of someone is strong, independent, and is making it in mans' world (and doesn't stand for anything!). She also is making changes that is reflecting the 21st century; if the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first child is a girl she will automatically been next in line.

A good fact for you as well: The longest running sovereigns have all been women (2nd behind Queens Victoria at 62 years). More facts are here www.royal.gov.uk

I hope you all enjoy the parties and celebrations (as well as extended days off, my thoughts are to those who are working). Congratulations on 60 years and may you reign for many more, pass the Pimms!

PS Can I borrow a Tiara :D

2 Years of Marriage :)

Two years ago today at 2pm I married my wonderful husband. It was a year to the day that he proposed on my birthday dressed as The Joker from Batman.

It was the best day, sun was shinng and it was clear blue skies. After some inital drama in the morning (the wine hadn't arrived at our reception until we were getting married across town, it was suppose to be there the day before!), and hubby running around town while I painted my nails :).

I only got nervous after everyone left for the church and was on own, I just had to remind myself that I didn't have time to redo my make up! The church was a beautiful 400 year old family church that had a secret library which perfectly reflected me as my other love is books.

Our reception was at little country pub which a huge barbie in the back (thank god for the weather!), everyone was welll fed, hopefully well watered and I know I was well danced and sang out. Last one on the dancefloor - Whoop!

Just Married :)

Leaving church after signing the register

My cake designed by husband all the way from Wales (Fruit cake with mazipan - yum)

Group photo

First dance - "Endlessy" by Muse

25th Annversary Collection Palette

I entered the Collection (formally Collection 2000) competition to go to the 25th Birthday party, didn't make it to the party. However I did get the 100 runners up prize which was this stunning palette with a selection of 25 colours from the range of their palettes.

Now I have had a play with it and the photos haven't come out fantastic (a mixture of bad camera work and me still full of cold). I really like the mixture of colours that are in there, that pink in the middle is just creaming look at me. When you use them they are not as scary as they look, they do need some building up (yes including that pink!), it's a great start if you want to get into some colour but. like me, are a little out of you comfort zone.

I do love Collection cosmetics, I've used a majority of the range and haven't really come across anything I really dislike. As a brand I think they hit their target market perfectly - their a great mixture of good quality product with something that is easily fashionable and fresh, that doesn't hit the purse so you can feel not too bad treating yourself.

Have a look at the newly funkified Collection website here

Next few days I have two special posts coming out - One for my wedding anniversary tomorrow and one on Wednesday for my 30th birthday, so keep an eye out for them :)