Maternity inspiration at Vertbaudet

I have spent many an evening browsing the Vertbaudet website. Usually for clothes for my little girl and often at their gorgeous ranges for children's bedrooms. More recently (due to my current state) my attentions turned to their maternity clothes. Dressing your bump can be a tricky time, not wanting to spend too much on clothes you may never wear again, but at the same time wanting to feel good and feel comfortable. I found the best idea was to invest in a few key pieces, always keeping my eye on the sales sections!

Vertbaudet maternity clothes offer really reasonable value, with the simple effortless style I have come to expect from their ranges. As with their kids clothes, they are practical but also look really good.

Here are a few of my personal top picks!

Jersey Maternity Dress:
http://www.vertbaudet.co.uk/maternity-dress-navy-stripe.htm?ProductId=009700021&FiltreCouleur=6398&t=1

Maternity Blouse:
http://www.vertbaudet.co.uk/maternity-blouse-white.htm?ProductId=010000003&FiltreCouleur=6349&t=1

Maternity Tunic:
http://www.vertbaudet.co.uk/maternity-tunic-brown.htm?ProductId=010000011&FiltreCouleur=6306&t=1

Maternity Jeans:
http://www.vertbaudet.co.uk/maternity-jeans-85cm-plain-dark-blue.htm?ProductId=018043177&FiltreCouleur=6399&t=1

Maternity Trousers:
http://www.vertbaudet.co.uk/maternity-trousers-78cm-caramel.htm?ProductId=018040022&FiltreCouleur=6529&t=1

Before & After Sleepwear:
http://www.vertbaudet.co.uk/maternity-before-after-tunic-leggings-outfit-white-grey-marl.htm?ProductId=020700001&FiltreCouleur=6349&t=1

Vertbaudet also do a swimwear range, being in the water feels great when you're feeling so heavy so a good maternity swimsuit is an essential item! Here's my favourite:

Maternity Swimsuit:
http://www.vertbaudet.co.uk/maternity-1-piece-swimsuit-print.htm?ProductId=013003013&FiltreCouleur=6346&t=1

Not too much longer on the maternity clothes for me... I'll be back browsing their baby clothes soon. Have fun dressing your bumps!

Please note this is a featured post but all the ideas and opinions are my own.

Al Fresco 'Young Story Writer of the Year Competition'

Oh I do love a good competition and here is a fantastic one for you, I only wish my daughter was old enough to enter it! Al Fresco holidays are hosting a national 'Young Story Writer of the year' competition. They have teamed up with children's book author, Jeremy Strong, to give children a chance to explore there story telling and writing skills. I love it when competitions are creative and it is a great thing that this one is encouraging children's imaginations in this way. To inspire and get your family started Jeremy Strong has written his very own story 'Joe's Unusual Journey'.

The theme is 'My Fantastic Journey'... going on my daughter's current role play games I'm pretty sure her story would involve a trip to Jupiter with a magical fairy... at three she certainly has the imagination but sadly not the writing skills!

But for anyone with children aged 6 to 12 it's time to get their thinking caps on and let their imaginations run wild! Each day a random entry is uploaded to the kidz blog on the Al Fresco Holidays website and then the top 5 entries will be judged and in with the chance of winning a family holiday to an Al Fresco Parc of their choice. 

With 55 parcs all across Europe this will be a hard choice to make and I'm sure will be a family fun trip of a lifetime. 

Some more details:

The competition is open from the 3rd of February until the 31st of March and is open to children aged six to twelve. Entries must have a word limit of up to 500 words. Further information of the competition can be found on the Al Fresco Kidz blog, along with Jeremy Strong's short story which he wrote exclusively for Al Fresco Holidays, Joe's Unusual Journey. More details are available on their blog: http://blog.thomsonalfresco.co.uk/2013/02/01/young-story-writer-of-the-year-is-back/

So if you are stuck for something to give the kids to do this half term this could be a great idea, you can find the entry form here:

http://blog.thomsonalfresco.co.uk/story-writer-competition/

Good luck!

36 weeks

The strangest thing about being 36 weeks pregnant is the idea that I could go into labour in 2 weeks or 6 weeks time. It seems such a huge difference! My daughter was born at 38 weeks and a few people have said the second normally follows suit... others however have said it makes no difference! I'm trying not to assume he will come early as I think that will make being overdue really hard! Especially as I didn't have to wait the first time and friends that have gone over have found it really difficult.

With my daughter we just seemed to know, the doctor and the receptionist both said they didn't expect to see me again. My husband was giddy the night before my waters broke, telling Squiggle he couldn't wait to meet her tomorrow. He was almost right but it took her till the morning after to actually be born!

This time I have no clue, but i have noticed some changes but they are different from before. My tummy feels like it's pressing down and forwards when I sit, I can't really cross my legs all of a sudden and the front of my pelvis aches quite a lot. I made the mistake of googling this the other night, never a good idea to consult forums with medical enquiries! The doctor said it was simply the baby moving downwards.

The swelling in my hands and ankles isn't tooooo bad but my left foot is suddenly bigger than my right, what on earth does that mean?!

I am looking forward to starting my maternity leave in a week and a half, am terrified by the thought of having a baby in tube travel rush hour!! Really not up for naming my child after a London tube station.

I was in a flap about the labour this time (now I know it really does hurt) but have calmed down after chatting to friends and my fellow twitter mums.

This will sound silly I always feel nervous about writing too much on my blog about my pregnancy in the fear it will jinx things but I have been finding other peoples updates really helpful to read so am sharing mine for the same reason!

I would love to hear if anybody's experiences have been similar to mine? X x

Not forgotten!

Sorry blog for the lack of attention you are getting, my days are spent working, my evenings catching up on time with my 3 year old and enjoying our story time together, and late evenings sorting, sorting, sorting. Have so much stuff to sort through to try and convert the spare room into a happy space for a little one! It seems a never ending task so am doing a little every night and have had no time for anything else!

Back soon with its of enthusiasm I promise x