So I’m insulin resistant…and relieved

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So finally FINALLY!!!! after so many blood tests and doctors visits all my niggly little problems are explained. I’m insulin resistant and although it sucks, I finally have a diagnosis I can work with

It finally makes sense why I can’t lose weight, why my blood pressure is all over the place, why I am always tired, always starving (no not hungry STARVING) even why they have found fatty deposits in my liver, it all finally “has a reason” We never even checked, just assumed it was part of my anemia (the tiredness and what not), but with a new doctor came a new set of tests and a new diagnosis.

I’m starting a diet and exercise plan this week because I know that leaving it untreated is dangerous.
History of diabetes in my family. I will be getting my new eating plan from the dietician tomorrow…good luck to her and me (I have IBS that reacts badly to dairy and reflux- this cancels out like half the food pyramid) so not sure what would be left…

I know it won’t be easy…I have such a sweet tooth, could eat a pack of chewy sweets in one sitting (family size pack) , but I will try my best. My gran died from complications from diabetes and although I know I don’t have diabetes I’m serious about being good and staying healthy for myself and my boys.

In the words of a personal hero who lost a arm and learnt to surf again, Bethany Hamilton  (yes losing a limb is worse than a lifestyle change…but doesn’t mean I can’t be inspired) : 

Natural look tutorial by Ranique

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Happy Friday my peaches!

Welcome to Face-Friday…

Today I decided to work on some soft pretty peach make-up.

Now for many of us peach, orange and coral lipsticks,  blushes and eyeshadows are the colours on your palette that remains unused or simply gets tossed away in the bin…
Either because you think it’s not your colour or because you don’t have the guts to try it out!

But truth be told, those colours could easily give you a quick “pick me up” look.
You see peach is such a fresh and clean colour and works well in daytime, because it adds a natural sparkle to any girls face.

So here we go, let’s start!

4 Steps to create your soft peachy sexy eyes.

Step 1:
Prep the brow and lid

Step 2:
Use your liner as a guide to see how far you want to “pull-out” your liner to create a cat eye.

Step 3:
OutLine with black liner

Step 4:
Brush a matte/shimmer peach eyeshadow on your lid and blend upward, above the crease.

Now for the lips and blush…

Peach blush is a great way to accentuate your cheekbones and give your complexion a natural, glowing look.

Step 5:
Apply a light layer of peach blush to the apples of your cheeks. Not sure which peach is the perfect one for your skin tone? If you’re cooler skin toned, you should opt for a soft pinky peach shade while warmer tones should go for a slightly brighter peach with coral/orange tones.

Step 6:
Line your lips with a nude or invisible lip pencil, and swipe on a light peach hue.
And the look is complete …

This is a great look to rock on a beach day!

Product List:
mascara – AVON Super Extend in “black”

Eyeliner – AVON glimmerstick in “black”

Blush – CATRICE in “love&peach”

Eyeshadow – CATRICE “720 Papaya Don’t Preach”

Lipliner – CATRICE Kohl Kajal “120 We found Nemo”

Lipstick – AVON colortrend “Flirt”

Till next week!
Love
RAE

Gift ideas: Cuteness overload with PetitAmi

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Ready for a cuteness overload?
In continuing my locally sourced gift idea series, I stumbled across the CUTEST little crocheted plushies , Seriously looks like little North West would be clutching one of these on a play date with Blue Ivy….. (except the prices are affordable for us mere mortals, hehe)
 

 
 
I asked the designer/maker/mind behind the idea a few questions, here is what Justine had to say 🙂
 
 
Tell us a little about yourself?

I’m a stay-at-home mom to a busy, happy, little two year old and a wife to a wonderful husband. I love being a mom, but I also have a passion for all design and art.  I completed an architectural degree and worked for a couple years as an architectural technologist.  When I became a mom I decided to stay at home and discovered my passion for crocheting. 

 
Where does your business name come from?

Petit Ami, which is French for ‘little friend’, was inspired by my mother who is French. It is a sweet name for a little creation that often becomes a little ones cuddly little friend. 

 
How did it come about?

After teaching myself to crochet, I decided to tackle a pattern to make a little bunny for my daughter. I then made one for my niece which led to my sister-in-law ordering some for her friends! From there I began developing my own patterns and so my business began. 

 
Why these cute plushies?

 I enjoy creating something which brings so much joy to little ones. I also love the fact that I’m creating something with my own two hands, and love that each little creations ends up being unique. 

Do you design yourself?

 I started working from patterns which where created by some amazing designers. But most of my creations are now my own patterns or inspired by other patterns. 

 
Where do you draw inspiration from?

 A lot of my inspiration comes from other crochet toy designers. I also get inspiration from customers who ask me to create something unique. 

 

How long does it take to finish one?

On average it can take about a day to complete one little creation. 

          (Ella : HOW ON EARTH , it takes me a week to crochet a flower, I’m jealous)

What to you is a job well done?

It is when I see the joy and delight on a customers face, and when I hear that my creation is loved and appreciated. 

 
What are your dreams for your business?

My goal is to grow my brand, continue creating new toys and expand my range. 

Where can people get hold of you?

They can visit and message me on my facebook page, or email me at PetitAmiCreations@gmail.com

Justine Geminiani
Petit Ami❤️

Make your own gingerbread sugar scrub

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I make all natural body scrubs, I love it! I make it for BEAUTY WITH A DIFFERENCE SPA and for friends as a special treat and for myself when I need a treat 🙂
So I’m being super nice and sharing a Christmasy gingerbread sugar scrub recipe with all of you … because : Tis the season to smell like cookies, falalalalalala la la la la
 
 

INGREDIENTS

2 cups brown sugar
1/3 cup olive oil
2/3 cup coconut oil (melted)
1 1/2 tbsp. ginger
1 1/2 tbsp. mixed spice
1 tsp. cinnamon
Sealed Container

HOW TO

mix everything together, inhale the amazing smell and package.
I printed out a free tag from HERE it just makes it that much more awesomer, hehe
Use a spoon or spatula to take scrub out of container…water in the scrub can reduce shelf life, as it is has no preservatives, all natural and what not 🙂

When your child doesn’t call you mom…

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I have always wanted to be called, mom, mama, mummy…even when I wasn’t sure I wanted to have kids I thought it would be pretty cool to carry that moniker…but no such luck

Yes  I am a mother, I have the most beautiful little cherub who seems to be growing his vocabulary every day…just yesterday he told me to “shhh and dudu” so he could steal my lemonade undisturbed.

He calls me ma, and although I have NO problem being  called ma, I do have a problem with the fact that I share the name with, my mom, Rob’s mom, Aidan’s teacher and occasionally my sister, sister-in-law and cousin.

 Let’s not beat around the bush; at ANY given time ANYONE could be ma. Ma almost means woman I trust. If he is in your care you will most probably become ma within a few hours.

As silly as this sounds, it really hurts my feelings. No I  do not think my 19month old has ulterior motives to what he calls me, but for the love of all that’s motherly don’t I deserve some sort of separation from the masses?

At the risk of sounding like a sitcom grandmother…I only carried him for nine months, went through the pain that is an emergency caeser, stayed up late with him when he was colicky, nursed him back to health and so on and so forth.

How does his dad, my dad, my grandfather, his uncles, even the cat have a name!!!

Just venting, I know he is still learning but seriously throw your mom a bone here Aidan!

   

So apparently I did nothing this weekend

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I was just not up for anything this weekend. Think I was/am still in shock about last week’s happenings…
 
I hung out with Aidan though…playing with play dough (he made sosaties instead of cookies)
 
 
  we did some drawing (he drew I read)
 
  and I tricked him into eating cereal by giving it to him dry out of the packet like chipies 🙂
 
We also made some video’s (can’t get it to load, but check it out through instagram)
– Aidan counting
– Aidan actually asked me to record him and this is what happened
– me singing
 
 
Oh and we traded our car for a bigger one, yeah us 🙂 
I look a little more curvy than I’d care to admit in this bag and I accidentally match the car, hehehe