I NEED This...

... purple limited edition cover for our beloved Bugaboo Cameleon - that is now baby Luca's official ride. Only problem? It was out last year, and is now IMPOSSIBLE to get a hold of! Ahhhh!

Just Ordered My Belly Bandit...

... and now I cannot wait to strap it around my waist as soon as bump - who is currently HUGE at 36 weeks - makes an appereance. This magic little device will help get your stomach back to the way it was pre-pregnancy - in record time, and will help support those very stretched-to-their-limits abdominal muscles as your body slowly but surely returns to normal again. And hey; if it worked for Kourt...(!)

On This Note...

... this mama and Nahla are off to Ikea. Just because I can't face it on a weekend. Sweet mid-week everyone!

Weekend Hightlights

A Mother's Day card from Nahla that made me cry. OK, so I'm pregnant and hormonal, so it doesn't take all that much to get me going, but still; how sweet is this poem?!

Being served breakfast in bed by my two loves. After being allowed to snuggle under the covers till well after 10 am. I am one lucky mama!

My little tiggeriffic Tiger was pretty pleased to have her face painted - again. 

The arrival of my latest order from My-Wardrobe.com. I LOVE how fast and amazing their service is! 

Weather spring-y enough for my little munchkin to wear her her new tops that we bought from Etsy. Seriously; LOVE Etsy!

So all in all; who can complain about it being Monday again when our weekend was as good as this?!

Scenes From Our House...

This mama is trying - as always - to find a balance between work and life, and is wowing to get better at blog updates! 

So delighted with the new Aden + Anais swaddle I found 50% off in Avoca the other day. And sure red stars are suitable whether baby turns out to be a prince or a princess!

N is currently into doing shows with her new microphone. And we have to sit down and listen. Sometimes for really long stretches at a time. Other times we have to stand up and dance. Is stage school in the cards?? Part of me is hoping that this is just a phase...

Aden + Anais

I know I have mentioned it before, that part of the fun of expecting no. 2, is that you get to buy all the stuff you never got around to buying with number 1! Crazy, I know, but I mean; how cute are baby things?? I can't get enough. My latest find? These AMAZING muslin swaddles from Aden + Anais. Not only just amazingly practical as you can use them for anything from a blanket to a pram cover, to wrapping one around yourself and baby while breastfeeding, but if I tell you they are also a total celebrity must-have?! I am hooked. And have hence ordered up half their website. Only problem: I have to order more colour specific ones when bump arrives and we discover if pink or blue is needed! In the meantime: Enjoy:

I ordered these star ones. Very uni-sex and utterly gorgeous. 

These would be perfect for a little princess. Why oh why did I not know about these with Nahla?!

Gorgeous mama Camilla Alves has little Livingston wrapped up in his Aden + Anais swaddle when snapped out and about in Austin, Texas.

I also ordered these same one Alessandra Ambrosia uses to keep little Noah shaded from the hot Californian sunshine. I LOVE the middle one with the peacock pattern!

And as for the ever fashionable Kourtney K; off course she uses an Aden + Anais swaddle to keep little Penelope from the prying eyes of the paparazzi. 

Told you; utter baby must-have!

This Weekend...

I found the most amazing little when-your-energy-drops life saver to keep in my bag at all times. Seriously, all pregnant mamas should gave one nearby for those my-bloodsugar-is-low-I-am-in-danger-of-killing-someone moments. Tastes so yum, is totally better for you than a packet of M'n'M's and will have you back to your normal self in a heartbeat. Must buy!

I treated myself to a KeepCup - this clever take-away cup that you can bring with you and get barristas to make you latte into - as it is a standard barrista size. Very clever and tres environmental friendly. Oh, and not to mention pretty. Triple points.

We stocked up on fruit and veg for the week at Dublin's best - in my opinion - food market, Fallon & Byrne. Seeing how Nahla does not like meat, and me not so much either - especially in this pregnancy it seems - we need to broaden our horizons when it comes to cooking vegetarian. So watch this space...

We drove to Cork - which to you not in the know is all the way down south in Ireland - and stayed in the lovely River Lee Hotel for a night. So while the rain poured down outside, this lil' family stayed snug in a 5-star hotel and sipped hot chocolate in the hotel bar, snuggled in our room and off course, visited the lovely hotel swimming pool (daddy and Nahla) and spa (mama).

So all in all, a weekend of utter bliss and family fun. Just as we like it!

Pant Perfection

Being the obsessive planner that I am, I have already (in my head, mostly - and also somewhat on Pinterest) started compiling lists of outfits I need to have ready in the near future. Most of the fit nicely into categories. Like; there is the "maternity for now - winter" category. The "It's getting warmer, and I am still pregnant" category. Then there is the hospital bag stuff, off course. And the: "I have just given birth, but it is summer, and I still wanna look good" clothes I need to assemble. And then I saw these pictures from the upcoming season of Kourtney and Kim Take Miami and decided I had almost forgotten about a whole category of outfits! Hello! Clearly I need to stock up on clothes for the "newborn baby, most of the time is spent at home, on the sofa, with your boob out" phase! Which - in fairness, having lived through it all before, does last a good few weeks. And while you need to mix it up (with outfits from the other categories like "I have just given birth, but it is summer, and I still wanna look good" clothes, the chill-out-around-the-house-breastfeeding-newborn clothes will be mucho important. 

And these pants that the ever-stylish Kourtney is rocking while tending to little Penelope, are PERFECT! Chic, with a nod to the tribal-ish trend and looks oh-so-comfortable! In other words; I HAVE TO HAVE THEM. And as for the comfortable cardigan; that too, off course. 

Shops; here I come!

Researching Diaper- Bags...

... is so much fun. Like; I never bothered getting one with Nahla, relying instead on my gorgeous Anya Hindmarch tote to fit the essential baby stuff for when we were out and about, But this time around, I totally intend on getting one. Because who knew diaper bags could be so utterly amazing?! Now; decisions, decisions...

Could an LV be the way to go...? I mean; I do LOVE my LV's, and this one is an absolute classic.

... Or maybe this Alexander Wang - which, in fairness, is not really a diaper bag at all, but would still do the job perfectly if you ask me....

... Then there is the AMAZING Celine tote - which has been on my wish list ever so long. Is a practical to use as a diaper bag? Maybe not. Is it DROP DEAD STUNNING? Yup.

This Marc by Marc Jacobs is cheap, cheerful and totally practical. But I don't know if I would love it. Like really, really love it...

... as much as I would this gorgeous Prada one. Which, by the way, is also a firm favorite with reality mama Kourtney Kardashian when out and about with lil' Penelope.

And then there is the classic Gucci one, as modelled here by the lovely Nicole. A total forever investment, if you ask me. And divided into cost per use, not that expensive at all!

So there you have it. A little glimpse into how my days of impending baby-wood is spent!

Winter Is Here...

... and the mornings are COLD. Seriously; this morning - which started extra early courtesy of Nahla being up with a stomach bug since 6.25 - there was frost on the ground. Brrr. Time to hit the shops for a new winter coat, I think. One that will be forgiving to my expanding-by-the-day tummy!

Bugaboo Donkey

Ok, so having a 2,5 year old who technically needs her stroller less and less these days - and no second baby on the way - as of yet anyway, I really need not be checking out strollers to buy. In fairness; I have no less than 3 Bugaboo's already. Crazy that I am. But this picture in Harper's Bazaar made me - momentarily - sigh and think: "I so could do with a Donkey too!" I mean; look at that handy shopping basket! And how much more stylish you would look breezing through your local Tesco with one of these instead of a shopping cart? Ok, so the two adorable tots and THAT amazing Victoria by Victoria Beckham dress helps, but seriously; I want to be this woman right now! With THAT stroller. A must? Off course not. A want? You bet.

(Photo Credit from Harper's Bazaar, american edition)

Currently Obsessed With...

... all things Isabel Marant-y. The knits. The laid-back vibe. The just-thrown-together look. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Fall Dreaming

Maybe it is the rather catastrophic summer weather we are having, or maybe it is being a journalist and always being a season ahead, but I cannot help but swooning over all the amazing fall/winter preview press releases that are flooding my inbox these days. The latest one? These amazing shots for H&M Home's upcoming interior season, where they are super-influenced by cowboys and indians, it seems, and rustic colours, navajo-patterns, leather and and horses feature heavily. How fab. How chic. How v. Isabel Marant-y of them! 

All For Children...

... is the name of the latest collection where H&M cooperates with Unicef. It hits stores in October, and I will be first in line to snap up this amazing skirt for my little fashionista!

Loving On A Sunday...

I need, need, need to get my nails done like this! And the too cute for words iPhone cover; on order from here. LOVE!

Warding Of Evil

I am slightly obsessed with the whole arm-candy look this summer of mixing lots of different bracelets. I love my Links of London bracelet, but am also equally in love with my two(!) greek eyes that I picked up in River Island. I love the way these eyes are like a universal sign of warding off all things evil and bad, and remember the same symbol from plenty of holidays in the Greek isles when I was younger. Taxi drivers used to have it hanging from their mirror, people used to have it painted above their door. So sweet. And now I have my very own protective eyes, on my wrist, so always looking out for me. Fashion with a purpose; LIKE!

Today's Yummy Mummy Style Crush

Nicole never gets it wrong. And is also making me crave a really big black scarf. Oh, and maybe a beanie hat. And some new shades.

Kitchen Confidential

I must admit - with pride - that I am having a bit of a Domestic Goddess moment lately. I mean; in the last week alone I made a batch of spelt breadrolls, cinnamon buns, cranberry and pistachio biscotti, rustic tomato soup, hot thai chicken soup and a chocolate cake. And so now I am having some serious "I want an amazing, fully-kitted-with-everything-I-might-ever-need kitchen" dreams. Like this GORGEOUS one that was featured in an issue of Living Etc. a while back. The chandelier alone is enough to make me swoon.

Also, I need some baking stuff. Starting with the Hummingbird Bakery cookbook. I HEART the Hummingbird Bakery in London! It is always on my stop-list when in town. Also I need a proper KitchenAid machine - and this pink one makes my heart flutter.  Some cute retro scales would be good too. And some wooden trays. I have a little obsession with cool trays - I mean, they are perfect for displaying stuff on, even pretty books and candles.

Now; HOUSE-HUNTING!

Head Over Heels With Orange Lips

My latest beauty obsession: Orange red lipstick. And not just any lipstick, oh no. It has got to be YSL Pur Couture in the colour Le Orange. Seriously, it is the most perfect shade of orange-y red, suits every skin-tone and makes your teeth look ultra white! Is it any wonder it is Kourtney's favorite too??

Retail Therapy

Rain, rain and more rain. Resulting in Mummy and Nahla heading for the nearest shopping centre for some hot chocolates, lipstick shopping and stocking-up-on-magazines-for-the-weekend purchases. Then a girl walked past me with a really cool pair of grey jeans. Which made me think: "I could do with a nice pair of grey jeans. Really; I could." And so: Zara. Where I not only found the most perfect pair of grey jeans, but also - as one does - fell crazy in love with a studded lil' clutch bag and the sexiest wegde-heels ever. And so now my bank account is a little more dented than it was this morning - but my wardrobe is a lot hotter! And as for Nahla: Mummy treated her to a little outfit too - it was just one of those days!