nuumummy

RetroFest

2014-08-13T12:55:00.001-07:00

Who would of thought a Retro festival on our door step in Maidenhead! Thanks to my cousins invitation, we went along and had a really nice family day out. With my love of all thing vintage there were a number of stalls selling vintage clothing, retro toys, yummy home baked treats and random brick and brack.

We walked into an amazing trio singing 50's songs on the main field followed by a bike show. There were lots of old cars on display along with plane shows in the sky. We grabbed a quick bite to eat and then Eva spotted the bouncy castle and inflatable slide - she is a daredevil child, scared of no height, so there she was of with the big kids aka Charlotte, aged 23. They also had a mini fun fair section and I always think ill be nice and let her go on a few rides because I love seeing her face light up and I know she loves them but wow, the tantrum after when its time to move on are such a head ache! so bribe number one of the day "lets go find the ice cream man" (im a mean Mumma I was never looking for him). So we carried on, walking around and we come across a stall selling a very nice collection of vintage suitcase, baskets, signs and "naughty steps" for sale which Eva strangely to a real liking too and didn't want to leave! So that was tantrum number two, even the ice cream man bribe didn't work, little people are funny! They had a tent doing 50s style up hair dos and make up, which my cousin really wanted to get done but it was very popular and the next appointment was a little to late in the day.

We ended the day with a quick go on the push around aeroplane's, thanks to my cousin Luke. I didn't fancy having a go, I saw one mum struggling and gave up after one lap, it didn't look the easiest, no wonder it was only 50p, however she loved it! Surprise, surprise it ended in another tantrum when it was time to get out and go home. I know she was tired she did so good, it was a long day full of fun. So off to the car we went and she was fast asleep in seconds, before we even left the car park.

If you didn't make it this year and love a bit of vintage do keep an eye out for it next year, it was a nice day out and something different to do.

They have a Ball on in December at Pinewood, which also might be a fun night out!

www.retrofestival.co.uk

Peppa Pig Party

2014-08-02T07:40:00.001-07:00

Eva has been obsessed with Peppa pig for the last 6 months so much so her first words in the morning would be "mummy I want Peppa", every morning without fail! Approaching her second birthday she hasn't been as bothered about peppa but with all those tears and tantrums she was going to have a peppa pig party! Her birthday treat was to go to Peppa Pig world with her big cousin Parie, which she absolutely loved! We then held a BBQ on the weekend and had a wonderful day with friends and family, eating good food! For the children's table we had fruits from grandpa pigs garden in Eva's pink kitchen pots and pans, little chocolate cake as muddy puddles and cups of popcorn with strawberry water. I love the yellow polka dots cups and plates, which I picked up in the 99p store. I got personalised stickers made by a lady on ebay. Like Peppa Eva has some yellow wells, which she has sadly out grown, so we turned them into a vase for the day. More pictures to follow, including a very cool Peppa pig picnic cake made by my little cousin.

Turning Two!

2014-08-02T07:13:00.001-07:00

Miss Eva Rae is turning 2! When people says cherish every moment time goes by so quickly, they were not wrong! It is defiantly more challenging and the "terrible twos" come way before they actually turn two. So, it is safe to say that "terrible twos" is a false statement making you believe you will have a blissful drama free baby for two years. Here are a few snaps taken for her birthday party invite.

Headband from Primark (adults section) Dress from a Market in China

Special Delivery! Ho Ho Ho....

2013-12-06T07:25:00.003-08:00

So the last few years before having Eva, waking up Christmas morning has been a little bit on the dull side! Now Eva is nearly getting to an age where all the stories and magic can really begin and I cant wait start reliving my childhood again with her! As a child we use to have a Santa sack delivered to the end of our beds and a stocking hanging on the fire place that was filled with sweets and one giant orange, always the biggest orange we had ever seen all year. I have no idea where my mum would hunt these bad boys down from. After taking our stockings and all jumping in mum and dads bed we would leg it down the stairs to see even more presents underneath the Christmas tree!

Iv been looking for a lovely Santa sack and stocking for Eva that will be pulled out year after year. I then come across this amazing company called Harrow and Green www.harrowandgreen.com that do personalised hessian Santa sacks.

They add that little bit of magic behind the story of Santa and his little helpers delivering lots of presents, that's if you have been good of course! Iv already started planning my bribe story for when Eva is being naughty but I'm not sure how early on in the year I can start using this? mummies?

Eva's arrived and i know iv probably said it before but i am such a sucker for good packaging! It arrived all wrapped up with a red bow and gift tag, it looked so good i didn't want to open it! Made me think this would be a lovely gift for someone who has just had a new baby around this time of year. A very lovely and very different keepsake that they would never except.

What I also love about these sacks are they don't just have to be for children and will make a lovely surprise for adults as well. I have been hinting for one of my own to be delivered full of lovely presents! If i don't get one I will 100% be buying myself one. Yes, I'm a geek but I love the small details that make up a big story!

The quality and fast service was brilliant! Thank you Harrow and Green I cant wait to start a number of traditions this year starting with this Santa sack. Whats are you Christmas traditions and how do you celebrate with your children?

Boo!

2013-10-28T12:19:00.000-07:00

So before I get on to some very exciting Christmas and tartan trend posts, there is that small excuse for a party, which goes by the name of Halloween! Here are some wicked and wonderful ideas for both adults and children's parties!

Shot shots shots for the Adults

Zulily - Online treasure chest

2013-10-24T11:27:00.002-07:00

zulily is fabulous! I cant recommend this website enough! Its a bit like notonthehighstreet.com, in the sense it is full of wonderful brands you have not seen or heard of before! It's a new online store offering daily sales events on top-quality apparel, gear and other goodies purely for mums, babies and kids. They carry the best brands at the lowest prices. Members enjoy savings of up to 90% off retail prices. zulily loves to find deals on favourite styles, and we love introducing our members to exciting new brands, too.

I love zulily! You never know exactly what you'll find—the brands they offer change every day. It's like finding a treasure chest full of cute stuff. Membership is free and I know you'll love it too. Click her to start browsing!

Tutus and Tantrums

2013-10-23T07:31:00.005-07:00

On a rainy, Wednesday afternoon when the house work was meant to commence, world war three took place! Ok, slight exaggeration but this little lady did throw a ridiculous tantrum over not being allowed to play with my concealer! To lighten the mood and to distracted her whilst I cleaned the upstairs, the tutu came out and the music turned up. Dancing with the hoover time! Oh and a lot of looking in the mirror...Eva of course not me!

All danced out.

About to pop

2013-10-23T06:51:00.002-07:00

7 days to go.... the lovely Emma and I found this hidden gem of a field two minutes from her house in Reading. I really enjoyed this shoot and the use of colours and textures.

My first steps

2013-06-03T05:33:00.000-07:00

Mrs M's baby shower

2013-04-12T06:20:00.001-07:00

6 weeks and counting until my best friend, the sister i never had is ready to pop! Timing couldnt be worst, technology and I don't seem to be getting along lately. My iphone screen has died and i have a baby shower to plan! Luckily Mrs M has her sister in law also helping so I don't have to much responsibility, just to turn up and make things look cute and pretty. So with my bunting and raffia in hand, here is what I did.....

Good old Lloyd Grossman Jars make great vases

Thanks to Miss B and her twins for collecting lots of Hipp baby food jars for me

Chocolate milk and oreos

More mini treats

Absolutely love ikeas new stationary section where i got a selection of paper decorations

My beautiful mummy to be

More paper decorations from Ikea. Note: sellotape will note hold! Use pins!

My Little Eva Rae was well behaved

Cake 1

Cake 2 with baby's nickname "bean"

Mini Burts Bees favours

Never knew baby shower games could get so competitive but with cute prizes involved these girls were not losing! such a fun day with great girls.

I spy with my little eye...

2013-02-06T04:50:00.000-08:00

My darling baby girl! And boy for the day.... Miss little Eva diva doing her thing for Next.

At the shoot they don't tell you when the images will be released so it is just a case of keeping an eye out for them. Luckily for me I now know a number of yummy mummy's who like to shop! I got a tweet from Miss Brown to say Eva was online and slowly as everyone started receiving there new catalogues a number of texts! So exciting and so proud!

I myself love the quality and style of Next clothing. I love the baby grows and the built in mits have been a saviour for Eva's scratching, head habit when tired. When she was newborn I would keep the next ones for during the day and used the mothercare baby grows to sleep her in at night as they were still lovely but were never really seen by anyone. However she now wiggles her little hands out of the mothercare mits as they are slightly looser and claws her head to bits with her forever growing nails, that I feel like I'm cutting every other day! Great for when she is older and doesn't need fake nails but a complete pain in the butt for me now!

So now she is in clothes during the day I now tend to only buy the next ones as the mits are so secure, no escaping hands, a bit like a straight jacket! Only one problem I found when she was a new born and growing quickly she seemed to grow into the legs quicker then other baby grows. I never got around to doing so but a great idea was to cut the feet of a stitch neatly to get the most wear from them. They are so lovely it was tempting to buy all the ages, however they keep on bringing out brilliant collections. When at the shoot they said the sizing was changing so maybe the legs are going to have a bit more room.

Overall Next clothing for children is good quality and have a nice balance of classic pieces and fun stylish items as they get older.

P.s Eva got called back to do another Next shoot so please keep an eye out for a sleeping giraffe and a little sailor girl! :D

Evas first set of the day

Homepage

My little ballerina

I loved this set of baby grows

Eva and the twins

Eva in a unisex outfit

Miss Eva Rae being a boy for the day

Eva and the twins doing a brilliant job being boys

and being a boy again

Maya and Monroe

2012-11-05T12:46:00.002-08:00

Cradle crap

2012-10-30T02:29:00.001-07:00

When people ask "what is that on her head?" i cant help but naturally say "cradle crap!" I even asked the pharmacist whats best for my daughter "cradle crap, i mean cap!". So for the last few week cradle cap has made it way into our lives. I got some "special shampoo" but I'm sure its just made it look like dread locks and doesn't smell to clever either. I started using johnsons baby lotion after using olive oil from birth and she came up in a rash. Such a shame as it smells so good but i also found the wipes made her little butt also slightly more red then usual after using simple wipes. One of my yummy mummy friends Mrs K recommended Burts Bees and cor blimey does she smell yummy! I was unsure weather to use the shampoo or just carry on with the medicated one but i gave it ago and its not even been a week and it has nearly gone! Highly recommend!

Day 2 on set for NEXT

2012-09-21T14:18:00.001-07:00

Day 2, we arrived at the same studio around 10.30am. There was a lady with twin girls called Summer and Sky, who had been shooting since 9.30am.

So today Eva and the twins first shoot of the day was to be in boys clothes! Yep that right my baby had to be a boy for the day. They said well you cant really tell at this age, which i guess is true but seems funny that on one page Eva will be in a bright pink tutu and then you turn over and there she is in a blue sleepsuit. I guess it saves them money but then the boys at the casting had no chance. 2 boys and 1 unisex outfit later and then back to being a girl. Whilst we were finishing up there was lots of cool, loud music coming from the studio next door so i popped my head in to have a nosey and there was a hot model, with wind in her hair doing a underwear shoot! Not depressing at all. Most defiantly of to see my mate Gym next week!

Overall, our first experience of modelling was a lot of fun and fingers crossed we get to do more!

Spotted Eva's casting picture on the side

I asked Eva how she felt about being a boy and this was her response!

Eva and the girls. "If i were a boy"

Work it baby work it!

Girls again! I loved these bright coloured sleepsuits

Day1 on set

2012-09-14T03:05:00.002-07:00

Up and out the house by 8.30am which is a first ever since having Eva, usually i wont arrange to meet anyone before 12 noon. We arrived at Premier Park Studios in Park Royal at 9.30am thanks to traffic caused by an accident that we never passed. Don't you hate that when its grid lock and then all of a sudden it starts moving normally! So we signed in and walked down the corridor and took the first door on the left into a huge commercial studio, with lots of people doing lots different jobs. We were sitting and waiting for about 15 minutes before the same lady, Gia (Love that name!) from the casting came over and gave me Eva's first outfit. It was a very cute white and floral, ruffled romper. I couldn't work out if its A/W2012 collection or for S/S2013. Nappy changed and outfit on she was ready to do her thang! They laid her down on a make shift bed and snapped away. The photographer joked and said "great, perfect, your all done" after 3 shots. Ha ha very funny Mr photographer. Outfit number two was a very cute tutu attached to a long sleeved floral top and this was shot with her lying in a moses basket. Whilst shooting the second outfit two other mums turned up with one baby younger and the other older then Eva. So, 2 outfits shot and that was us done for the day. Eva was very good and didn't cry once. She likes lights so no wonder she was in her element.

Breakfast? would be rude not too

Miss Eva Diva in her tutu waiting for the set to be changed

Lots of lovely Props

Ward 22

2012-09-06T13:54:00.003-07:00

So after waiting another 2 hours for a bed to be free a lady walks in and says "put a pad and your knickers on there is a bed free now. There will be a wheel chair outside the door" and then she walked off. Ok, thanks for that. Iv just had my first experience of giving birth, haven't walked in 5 hours after a traumatic stitching session and have never had a catheter in. How the hell do i do this? Luckily my best friend Miss B was visiting along with Mr C's family so with the help of Miss B and my sister in law i managed to get a pad and some knicker on and waddled to the door where there was of course no wheel chair waiting at the door and no one that knew what was going on. Nice one lady. So after reminding the lady i needed a wheel chair we all made our way up stairs.

3 visitors at a time was never going to work with Mr C's big family and mine wanting to get in and see Miss Eva Rae, so one by one they worked their way in. By the time i got to my bed visiting time was almost over. It was so nice to see everyone just to remind me i wast dreaming. Slightly scary as everyone was leaving, I felt a wave of emotions come over me that i was now to look after and care for this little human. I was thinking am I really capable?

On the aftercare front i was so surprised to have been in my bed for an hour or more before anyone had come to see me. I know it might be obvious how to change a nappy but not having changed one before it would be nice to be shown first. I was going to attempt breast feeding but it was proving difficult as there was no one to show and help me again. Feeling like a nuisance i rang the bell anyway. They were really nice in helping me just disappointed that I was left for so long before anyone came to see me. I think it was because of the change over in staff.

Once she was fed and changed, i placed her in the cot and couldn't stop starring at her, everything just felt SO surreal. I was really tired but i couldn't sleep as i was running of adrenaline, plus the lady opposite was snoring like a trooper!

I also couldn't sleep as i kept getting freaked out that she was choking every time she made a gagging noise which would bring up fluids and mucus. Gross but not gross when its from a tiny baby, especially your own. She stirred once or twice and i settled her with cuddles lying her on my chest, THE best feeling in the world. Its true the love you have for your baby is different then any other kind of love. Does this love really continue even when they are stroppy teenagers? I guess so.

5am 27th The detailed version....

2012-09-06T12:23:00.002-07:00

So that funny feeling in my belly, yeah that was my baby wanting out.

What I thought was a normal morning when i got up to pop to the loo to my surprise was a blob of grossness. Guessing what i had just seen is known as a "show". I wont go into to much detail but was literally a blob of urrrg about the size of a 50p piece. Still wondering if this was the early stages of labour i rang the hospital and they said it sounds like it is but since the pain is 30 minutes apart i need to stay at home, walk around lots and call back when they are 3 minutes apart.

Walk around lots? really... i am the laziest person ever, i dont do walking. They got to every 15 minutes so i chilled in the bath for an hour or two splashing around and then decided i was getting bored at home so me and Mr C went to Windsor to meet his sisters for a Nandos! Yep that's right i went to Nandos whilst having contractions. Anyway after spending the afternoon in town we came home and they weren't getting any closer. By 10pm they were still only 10mins apart. They were getting more painful but not so bad that i was making any noises, just deep breathing and pacing that i learnt from hypnobirthing (free through Wexham). So of to bed i went as i was starting to feel tired and thought it could be a long night and day so i should really get some rest.

3am I woke up and was really starting to feel the pain so i called Wexham and they said well you sound ok like your coping so call back in an hour.

An hour later...still no closer but feeling more intense. I called back, "well you sound really calm call back in a hour". Noooo the last lady said that! I know i sound calm and i am calm but i am in freaking pain now. So they said ok come on in.

An hour later after being examined she said my waters still hadn't broken but i was 3 cm dilated, so off home we go. Mum started making bacon sandwiches which smelt so damn good but i just couldnt bare the thought of eating anything. I crawled into bed but the pain felt even more intense lying down so whilst everyone else went to bed i wore holes in the living room carpet pacing up and down.

I think i may have got an hours sleep but come 8am they were reeeally hurting and i was feeling a lot of pressure around my butt. I have often heard you push like you are pushing for a number2, so i called the hospital. I kind of felt guilty calling again like i might be wasting there time and Guess what they said? Well you sound really calm and like your coping well! Yes bitch i am calm but not coping with the pain now. (i didnt actually use those exact words, i remained polite at all times). All i was thinking was i want to try this gas and air shit (excuse my french) that everyone talks about. So she said well do you think you would to come in? Er YES! So 9am i woke up mum and Mr C and of to the hospital we go again.

We arrived at the birthing center as i had planned a water birth. "just take a seat in the hallway Miss Evans, im just finishing an appointment and then i will be with you, you look like your coping well" said the midwife. I was thinking oh those words are so boring now. I wondered if i come in screaming would you see me quicker?

10 minutes of waiting in the hallway whilst the midwife finishes of a normal routine appointment she then asks me to come in. I asked mum and Mr C to wait outside. The midwife was a lovely Spanish lady who spoke very softly and calm. She said "ok ill have a look but you seem like your doing well, how do you feel?". I then burst into tears and she said "whats wrong Natalie?" (in her lovely Spanish accent) and i said "i don't know!" blubbering away. "The contractions are hurting can i have some gas and air please". She rubbed my lower back with my next contraction and said "lets me examine you and then ill take you into a room where you can have some". So she had a look and said "yes you've had a show but your waters haven't broken, oh but hang on you are 9 cm dilated, so i think you will be ready to push soon". Oh you think!

So she said pop a pad on and take a sit in the hallway and ill fill the pool up, however the second midwife might not be finished with her lady and you have to have two midwifes present. She then took us into a room where there was a gym ball and mat. At this point i said bye to my mum as she is fair to emotional and the last thing i want is my mum starring and fussing over me whilst crying. So the midwife was talking away and i had to interrupt and ask for the gas and air again. She explained how the gas and air works and how to use it to get the full affect, which is basically nothing like how you see the women using it on tv who go crazy puffing away the whole time. So i gave it a go and wow that shhht was good! I was so much in my own zone that i didn't want any fuss like head stroking ect being made (not that Mr C would of anyway) but she showed him how to rub my lower back with his fist with each contraction. Not sure if it helped or if it was the gas and air but each contraction from there on was a breeze. She then asked me to go do a urine sample but as i was waiting to peeing i just felt the urge to push, so came running out or should i say waddling back to the room "oh no no i cant do a sample i think i need to push" so she got me on all fours on the mat leaning on the ball. The birthing pool was full but the second midwife wasn't free from her delivery. So the pushing started whilst holding a cereal bar, which she had me eating to keep my sugar levels up. She said i didn't need the gas and air any more whilst pushing. I found myself listening to everything she said and just went with it. The head was out and literally a minute later i had my next contraction and baby was born. As she turned me over to lie on my back it had gone from just seeing her to seeing 4 or 5 other people in the room. She had noticed a bleed just before the baby's head was out but wasn't sure where from. I closed my eyes whilst they gave me the injection to deliver the placenta, it was actually a really nice belly massage. I cant actually remember if Eva cried straight away or not i just remember looking over at Mr C who was sitting in the corner of this smaller room holding a bundle of blankets and baby who was sucking away on her fist and the lovely Spanish midwife saying "she is a greedy baby she is hungry already".

After the placenta was out they then put a catheter in and said they needed to get me down stairs into a labour room. They wheeled me out to the lift, which turned out to be broken (good old Wexham) so i had to hobble down a flight of stairs. Turns out the bleed was from a internal tear. They started stitching which was worst then labour, i was actually crying my eyes out and started to miss use the gas and air. I then started to feel like i was passing out where i had used so much. Finally she had finished and a senoir lady was coming in to have a look. To my horror i heard her complaining and moaning that it needs to be done again. She was so rude the staff around her snapping at any student midwifes to get out as they are of no use to her. She hadn't even explained to me what was going on and just started un-doing them. At this point the pain killers had worn off and i shouted at her to stop she replied have more gas and air. Bitch. She was so rude and not considerate to my feelings at all. I asked them if they could put me to sleep at one point it was so bad but obviously they said no and that it wont be much longer. Well another hour later, a total of 5 hours of stitching and the cowbag was done. She finished up and walked out with out saying anything to me. I sat up and the first thing i said was "well shes a bitch" and everyone nodded.

So thumbs up to my midwife and a great birth. Thumbs down for the after care.

5am Wed 27th

2012-08-30T14:32:00.002-07:00

Oh hello funny pain in my belly, you feel a bit like a bad period pain at its worst, could you be what they call a contraction?

So here are two versions of my labour:

The short break down:

Wed 5am...

Contractions start 30 mins apart - sitting in bed

Wed 10am...

Contractions are 20 mins apart - Have a long bath

Wed 1pm...

Contractions 15 mins apart - Pop to Windsor for a Nandos, Yup thats right Nandos! A girls got to eat and keep her energy levels high

Wed 10pm...

Still only 15 mins apart - Go to bed and try to sleep

Thurs 3am...

Contractions are 10 mins apart - Becoming a bit of a bitch now and are really starting to hurt. Go to Wexham, get examined and sent home. Only 3cm dilated

Thurs 9am....

Contractions 5 mins apart, maybe 3, who cares I'm in pain and have stopped counting! Plus feeling lots of pressure around my butt like i could actually try to go to the toliet and she would pop right out. However my waters still havent broken yet.

Thurs 10am...

Contraction very close - standing in the hallway waiting to be examined

Thurs 11am...

Examined, midwife very surprised to see i am 9cm. Waters break as i stand up to pop panties back on

Thurs 12pm...

Finally get on the gas and air, sitting on a gym ball whilst waiting for the birthing pool to fill up

Thurs 12.30pm...

No time for water birth, on all fours on a gym mat, whilst leaning on a gym ball, pushing...

Thur 1pm...

Eva Rae Carrington was born weighing 7lb8

Thursday 1.05pm...

Heavy bleed, lots of people called into the room, all very dramatic of course as they couldn't see where the bleed was from. Placenta was delivered and then taken down to a labour room. Turns out there was a internal tear. Stitching starts, Stitching finishes. Senior lady comes in to have a look and moans its all wrong and stitching starts again. Was hell.

Thurs 5pm...

I get to hold my baby girl :)

Mum, best friend Miss B and Mr C's family start sneaking in to visit.

So to sum it all up, I had a great labour and an awful finish.

Would I do it again? Ill get back to you on that one!

I'm not going to lie I was a little bit proud of myself and how I dealt with labour. Im thinking the Hypnobirthing classes must have really worked in my favour to have stay at home until I was 9 cm dilated and only 1 hour of gas and air. Its true what they say when you forget the pain when you look at your baby and do it all over again, so maybe i would do it again but no time soon!

24th June

2012-06-25T03:54:00.001-07:00

So my prediction of baby coming on the 24th has gone out of the window!

I keep asking women who have had babies, Do you get a gutt feeling, like ok today is the day? but everyone has said no, it really does just happen. How can woman have a sixth sense about everything and lets face it when we have a gutt feeling about something we are usually right! Well I like to think I am. That feeling when your about to come on, you just know and your right. So how the hell can we not sense the feeling that a baby is about to fall out of us?

Frames, Frames, Frames

2012-06-22T10:24:00.002-07:00

Creating a statement at home with your family photos does not have to be expensive. I have done a post previously about frames but wanted to do another one as I come across a lovely collection of frame at Next when shopping for baby clothes. They have a nice selection from classic gallery mount frames to something a little more exciting with a lovely use of words. Prints start from as little as 5p these days which is why I sell the soft copies so there is no excuse other then laziness not to get them printed and framed.

Shabby chic

I heart shabby chic and for £14 you really cant go wrong with this frame. Why not try taking a set of photos in one location so the colours look the same through out eg. at park or on the beach. Below you will see I picked 3 very similar but also completely different pictures from yesterdays maternity shoot to show you how well it can work. The running theme is the background and colours. I don't encourage to many outfit changes with my shoots so that the colours can flow perfectly through out.

Maternity shoot

Gallery wall

I am a huge lover of a gallery walls. I cant wait to decorate and build up a new collection of images from bump to baby. Here you can see a set of 3 but why not create even more of a statement and have 3 sets of 3. However saying that this simple set of 3 can work great both vertical and horizontal. These 3x3 mounts are perfect for making small places more exciting like hallways and landings. I would also recommend using nice detailed shoots to break up the collection. You can see with these new born images I have selected some tiny toes, tiny hands and then I nice strong face shot as the centre of attention

Newborn shoot

Get creative using different shapes in different rooms

When taking family portraits I some times have parents come in, worrying and questioning why I am taking so many photos, obviously worrying about cost once they have seen the images. Its not about taking hundreds of photos to make it difficult for you to choose, its about getting a nice selection of story telling images. Not to mention naturally there will be blinking eyes and images that just don't work or aren't very flattering. Once I have got a nice selection of family images, I like to get a nice set of strong individual images of the children, the children together, the girls together and then the boys together and visa versa. You can see below how well it looks once putting them all together in a frame. You get to see individual characters and capture relationships between each other. Again you will notice a nice set of colours and tones working well through out the collection. Some images in fact dont make an impact on their own but will work great in a collection to build up a story. I cant believe this beauty of a frame is only £16! I think my nursery will defiantly be needing one!

Family shoot

The best shoots really are the families who come in relaxed and go with the flow, not worrying about the end result. If you have a budget, great! I have something for everyone and if you are worrying to much, I would recommend postponing a family shoot until you are comfortable investing capturing your family at that moment in time. You need to be able to come along and enjoy the moment and let me create something special for you to take home and frame in more ways then one. One of these frames would make a lovely gift. A great budget present which looks impressive for friends and family members such as the grandparent.

D Day!

2012-06-22T09:38:00.001-07:00

Hello baby, where are you?

So today is the big day "DUE DATE" Ok so I knew she wasn't going to come today. If she is anything like her mother she will be late for everything! For some reason I have a feeling she will make an appearance around the 24th June and weighing around 7lb... don't ask me why but that is my prediction. Saying that the 24th is only 2 days away and I don't feel like I have "dropped" yet.

I don't feel in a rush to try lots of hot curries, sex, pineapple and brisk walks just yet. I cant wait to meet her but can most defiantly wait for the labour pain!

So only this afternoon did I get the car seat out the box and assemble the pram. I thought I would have a trial run at putting the car seat in the isofix which I just got from my sister in law. I mean how hard can it be? Car seat goes in...car seat don't come out! Arrrrrg...really? come on it cant be that hard I'm not a complete dumb dumb, I am pulling down the obvious leaver but nothing is happening. Ah man I'm a hopelessly bad mum already! Ill have to leave the window open.

Research hounds....

2012-06-22T09:13:00.003-07:00

I love a market research group and I was recently sent a link of a new market research company....great for a little extra cash here and there for giving your opinion. Whats even better it literally takes 2 minutes to register for free. Join now and please mention my name (Natalie Evans) when asked how you did you hear about Podengo?

Enjoy making money a fun and easy way!

Twinnies...29 weeks maternity shoot

2012-06-20T11:35:00.001-07:00

2 Days...

2012-06-19T16:31:00.001-07:00

Due date...2 days!

I have gained 2st! I think I am all baby and not much water as my belly is so hard!

5 days until my due date!

2012-06-18T08:08:00.001-07:00

So my best friend and photographer Miss B and I never got round to doing a maternity shoot and before I knew she was off to Jamaica for Miss M's wedding and not back until the 24th! Due date 22nd! Arrrrrg....

So I thought I better get one or two take even if I attempt to take myself with my camera and tripod. Luckily I managed to rope my lovely cousin into letting me boss her around and pressing the button for me!

I really hate having my picture taken which is why I am probably at my best behind a camera. I really wanted photos taken in the yellow fields but they have all gone! :(

We went to go to Cliveden House as a location in search of some bright flowers but it was £10 each to walk around...are you kidding me! So we ended up back where we began at my Aunty's house!

My cousin done a fantastic job! See sneak peak below:

Due Date...5 days to go!

It's amazing how you can Love someone so much before you have even met them!