DIY Christmas Pressies - Homemade Fudge

This year, I decided some homemade gifts would be a nice idea, and ones Birdy could get involved in, too.

I love to use my slow cooker for dinners but I haven't tried any sweet treats in it before, so I had a look online for some inspiration and decided to make chocolate orange flavoured fudge.

Recipe:

One can (397g_ sweetened condensed milk
200g milk chocolate
One Terry's Chocolate Orange (170g)

Method:

Switch the slow cooker to "high" and break up all the chocolate. Put all of the chocolate into the slow cooker bowl and cover with about three quarters of the can of condensed milk. Leave the lid off. Stir no more than once every 10 minutes. After 50 minutes, the mixture should have combined, melted together and should have a thick consistency.

Line a lasagne dish, or similar, with clingfilm, leaving plenty around the outside. Pour in the mixture and leave it to cool to room temperature. A little tip I use with any sort of cake mix is to leave a fork in a mug of hot water for a few minutes, and then use the fork to press down the mixture until even. This flattens the mixture but doesn't pick any of it up onto the fork.

Once cooled to room temperature, gently fold the margins of clingfilm over the top of the mix. Pop it in the fridge for at least 6 hours, but ideally overnight.

Once set, remove from the dish and cut into pieces.

Admittedly, my little one didn't get too involved in this at 14 months old - it would be better suited for slightly older children, and of course, make sure they're very careful not to hurt themselves on the slow cooker!

I had some small cellophane bags that I'd ordered for our wedding with the intention of using them as sweetie bags on our DIY sweetie stall, but I never used them as I found some traditional striped paper bags, instead. So, I dug them out and thought they were the perfect size to hold 6 or 7 chunks of homemade fudge.

I used sticky labels to write a Christmas message (do this before adding the fudge pieces, otherwise it will probably be impossible to stick it on straight!) and then secured the top of the bag with a piece of wrapping ribbon.

I did try the recipe with Toblerone and with Aero Mint - both tasted lovely but due to their different textures, didn't have as good a consistency as the Chocolate Orange. I imagine this recipe would work with most solid chocolates though, so give it a go!

I'd love to see your attempts on Instagram so if you try this at home, please tag me (GinaShergold1)!

Love, Gina xx

A Letter To My One Year Old

My beautiful Bird,

I can't believe we've just hosted your first birthday party. Where has the time gone? It seems like yesterday you were a tiny weeny 6lbs 15oz newborn and now you're walking around on those little soft feet, waving and applauding anyone who looks at you and wiggling your little bum whenever you hear music.

Our first year together has been the best of my life - you truly are my best friend. We've had some obstacles thrown our way but I know we'll always help each other through difficult times.

I can't begin to describe the emotions I felt when I met you for the first time. I'd been sure all along that you'd be a girl and when Daddy said "we're gonna need a pink hat" and you were placed on my chest, I felt like I'd known you forever. You were just... You. I knew you. I'd grown you and stroked you and responded to your hiccups and kicks in my tummy, and now you were here, staring at me with those huge, alert brown eyes. I remember saying "hi baby, hi baby" through the happiest tears and feeling so relieved that you were with me and you were safe. In love, proud (of you, me and Daddy), a little bit sad not to be pregnant anymore and the thought of having to share you with the world, exhausted and so overwhelmed, but just so completely and totally in love.

You filled me with so much pride that I didn't bother trying to rest and recover, or "sleep when the baby sleeps" as everyone seems to advise in the early days. I just needed to show you off to the world. Instead of sleeping when you did, I watched you. You still look as peaceful and angelic now when you sleep as you did when you were minutes old. I took hundreds of photos and videos of you.

By day 2, you'd met Grandma, Grumpy and Grandy, and by day 4 we were taking you into Daddy's work to introduce you to his colleagues. Then we took you out for lunch. You still hadn't learnt to latch on by this point, so we sat in a restaurant at midday feeding you colostrum from a syringe and we didn't think anything of it. We may have had all sorts of funny looks but we didn't notice. We were too mesmerised by you.

On day 9, we took you to Bognor to meet your Nanny Toto, Great Nanny Von and Great Pop. Around the 2 week mark, we hosted an open house so all of our friends who hadn't met you yet could come and see you. By week 3, Nanny Jack had come up from Devon to meet you.

When you were 6 weeks old, Daddy was feeling poorly so his work let him take 4 months off. I treasured that time so much. We were all getting to know each other again - bonding with you, and me and Daddy getting to know each other as parents. I didn't realise how much I loved him until he became your Daddy.

You're a bit of a Mummy's girl at the moment. You love most people you meet but it's me you come to when you want something or you're sad or tired, and I love that. I hope you'll always come to me. I think you will.

I remember when you were tiny, crying when I watched your sleep because I just couldn't believe how beautiful you were, and that I'd made you. I still have moments where I blink back tears when I watch you sleeping because I am so indescribably proud of you and grateful for you. You will never understand the amazing impact you've had on this family.

Your gorgeous giggle brightens my day every time I hear it... If only you could see the lengths Daddy and I go to trying to make you laugh. It's the most magical sound I've ever heard and I will never stop trying to make you laugh.

Your personality is developing more every day and it's mesmerising to see. You have your Daddy's confidence and that makes me so happy. You're such a determined little girl and you never give up. If something doesn't go your way, you sit and think about how to try again differently. You do this until you figure it out and it's inspiring. I wish I had that quality and I hope you never lose it.

You're chatting away, saying "dada, "mama," "hiya," "yeah," "no" and "cuddle" (whilst reaching your arms up to us - cutest thing ever!).

Bedtime especially brings out your cheekiness! No matter how tired you are, all you want to do is sit up, stand up, wiggle your bum, poke us, pull my hair... But always with that irresistible grin that makes it impossible to not find funny.

You did a weird upside-down wiggle-crawl thing from 5 months old to get around, and you were SO mobile. I'd often find you following me out of the room laying on your back. Around 8 months was when you realised you could get around by crawling properly, and that you could see the world the right way up by doing it that way, too. You started walking at 11 months old and now, at one year, you walk most of the time.

The way you behaved on your birthday party reminded us what an amazing little girl you are. You were awake for about 8 hours, with over 100 people coming to see you (I may have gone slightly overboard with the invites - I was excited!), people you didn't recognise picking you up, playing with you, talking to you, and you didn't cry, whinge or get upset once. You were amazing, so sociable, happy to spend time with anyone and everyone, taking food from people's plates and just being an absolute joy.

You make us so proud and reassure us that we're doing a good job. You are the love of my life and I'm so proud and grateful that you are mine.

I love you so much beautiful, happy first birthday.

All my love forever, your Mummy xxxx

Baby Led Weaning

We hadn't heard of Baby Led Weaning (BLW) until a friend mentioned it before I was pregnant with Bird, and the more I researched it, the more I liked the idea of it.

Essentially, it means not bothering with purées and just allowing your baby to feed him or herself with their hands.

It may seem like another "trend" but there are actually lots of benefits to it:

• Baby learns how to chew properly, which is critical for their speech development

• Your whole family can eat the same thing - for example, if you make pasta sauce from scratch, just take a portion out for your baby before seasoning it (babies shouldn't have more than 1 gram of salt per day before 12 months)

• Baby learns to eat safely - I've seen friend's babies struggle with solids later on because they're used to just swallowing purées and not chewing, making it harder for them to learn later

• It helps babies to identify and recognise specific foods

• Baby decides when they are full - with spoon feeding, babies can be easily over-fed, consuming extra calories and causing production of too many fat cells

• Hand-eye coordination is improved as baby learns how to take food to their mouth

• It helps to increase self confidence and independence as baby is able to feed him or herself

We waited until exactly 6 months before we started weaning, as this is the recommended age. If you plan to wean before 6 months (not recommended), you mustn't use this method of weaning and it is not safe.

Some of Bird's favourite "first foods" were boiled or steamed broccoli, avocado cut into sticks, scrambled egg (not too scrambled, leaving pieces big enough to hold), halved cherry tomatoes and sticks of cheddar cheese. These are all foods which she still loves now.

Before we started weaning, I ordered The Baby-Led Weaning Cookbook" by Gill Rapley and Tracey Murkett. I absolutely love it - it has two sections. The first part of the book has lots of information about BLW and the second part has loads of really great recipes. Our current favourite is banana muffins, which I have adapted by adding in a handful of blueberries. Bird also loves the cheese and spinach muffins with red onion, and we sometimes add a few other chopped veggies in too, to pack them with extra nutrients.

Batch cooked banana and blueberry muffins, cheese and spinach muffins, bolognese, tomato and chunky vegetable pasta sauces and chicken in white sauce - a freezer full of quick and easy meals = happy Mummy!

Something I love about BLW and The Baby-Led Weaning Cookbook is that loads of the recipes are freezable, meaning I can batch cook. Being a mumma means rarely having lots of extra time, so if Bird takes a long nap, I take the opportunity to make big batches of things. A freezer full of pots is extremely satisfying! I buy 3 pots for 99p in our local 99p shop.

The muffins can be frozen, which is perfect if we have to pop out unex[ectedly or if we're in a rush - I just pop one in the microwave and into Bird's lunchbox and it requires no cutlery or equipment, she can just get stuck in wherever we are. Very handy!

BLW is a real confidence game. It can be terrifying at the beginning, but there is a difference between gagging and choking. The gagging reflex is a natural safety measure. Choking is much more rare, however it can happen, so always watch your child very carefully during mealtimes and never leave the room. It's advisable to do some research on this before starting.

It's also a very messy game, so I would recommend investing in a "splash mat" of some sort - we bought one of those plastic tablecloths from G&Ts for a few pounds and it works perfectly. It's easy to wipe clean and fold away neatly afterwards, leaving the room as good as new.

We bought the Ikea Antilop highchair and absolutely love it. It's easy to clean and comes with an inflatable wedge if, like me, you have a small baby who doesn't quite fill the highchair yet. It's also great if your baby isn't sitting unaided yet because it props them upright.

It was a bit nerve-racking in the beginning, but also really exciting and I'm now really glad we went down the Baby Led Weaning route when it came to introducing solids. I'd definitely recommend buying The Baby-Led Weaning Cookbook, available here, to learn a bit more about it and to give you some ideas for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, soups, sauces, breads and puddings!

Thanks for reading :)

Love, Gina Xx

Bird's Autumn Fashion Haul!

I was out walking with Bird in the carrier last week and despite the beautiful sunshine, I noticed lots of red and yellow leaves on the ground and that familiar, lovely smell of Autumn.

So now that Summer is out of the way (sob), I decided it was time for the dresses, shorts and playsuits to go and the leggings, trousers, jumpers and knits to come out instead. I've started to stock up on Bird's Autumn wardrobe and thought I'd show some of her new pieces here.

Two of my favourite trends for the colder months are jumper dresses and chunky knits, and this little number from Primark is both of those things, so I love it... I also love that it was actually Steve who chose this. It has a chunky knitted pattern down the front and is lovely and snuggly. It came with the tights shown in the picture - red with white polka dots - although I think I'll probably team it up with navy tights or leggings instead. It was £8 for the set which I think is really reasonable.

Primark - £8

Another of my favourite new sets is this green starry hooded cardigan and harem style trousers by Cath Kidston. I am obsessed! I usually dress her in either the cardigan or the trousers, not both together as it's quite a "loud" set. I love the little floral elbow pads and hood lining. I think the top was around £14-£16 and the trousers were £10. Because little ones tend to grow so quickly, it's quite rare that I'd spend around £25 on one outfit but I just couldn't resist this one.

Cath Kidston

The grey guitar leggings were actually in the boy's section of H&M - although I generally dress Bird in girl's clothes, I'm not a fan of gender stereotyping and usually have a look in the boy's sections of shops - there's almost always a handful of things I would consider "neutral" as opposed to just for boys, so I like to double check. I love these leggings - they're a bit big around the waist, but I can't wait until she can pull them off. They came as a set of two, the other pair being plain black (which I also love).

These khaki green chinos were also in the boys section of H&M. They don't fit her yet, but I think the colour is quite autumnal and will look lovely with a plain long sleeved top or jumper when she's big enough to fit into them. They're also available in pale blue and navy blue.

Leggings (2 pack) - £6.99 and  Khaki chinos - £5.99 both from H&M

This jumper is also a favourite, although it was actually a hand-me-down from Steve's cousin and his wife, who are also very close friends of ours. Their daughter was born 9 months before Bird, and she's a little fashionista! This was originally bought from the F&F range at Tesco. I love the little zip at the back and the lace. I also think the colour suits Bird well. It's a lovely fine-knit jumper.

F&F at Tesco

These little black and white leggings are another H&M purchase and I love them! They're quite thick, so perfect for chillier days. They look as though they have pockets and a zip, but these are not real/functional. Again, they're quite "loud" so I team them up with a plain coloured top. I can't remember the price but think they were around £5-£7.

H&M

I LOVE THIS gilet my Auntie bought for Bird when she was little - she's a dinky little thing so it still just about fits, despite being really small. It's perfect for days when it looks like it's going to be sunny but could change at any moment. I also love owl patterns so this is a definite favourite. It was from Sainsbury's TU range.

Sainsbury's TU

The leggings on the left here are black with white horses, and unfortunately my brother sent them over from New Zealand, so I don't believe they're available in the UK, but I just had to share them. I think they're so cute - they don't fit her yet but I can't wait to see them on her when they do. The harem trousers on the right are from George at Asda, and I don't usually like leopard print on children but I'm more accepting of these because they don't feature bright orange! They have a little bow at the top which is difficult to see in the photo, and are really baggy with gathers at the ankles. Again, too big at the moment but I'm excited to see Bird wearing them when they fit.

Horse leggings from Zeb (New Zealand) - Harem trousers - George at Asda

These soft, thick leggings are from Primark again and they're not something I would usually choose for Bird, but I have to say I really like these. Teamed up with a jumper dress I think they'll look lovely.

Primark

With a wide selection of bright and interesting trousers, plain long sleeved tops are a must have. I bought two sets of four from Mothercare - the girl's section contained one white, one grey, one pale pink and one light purple top, with ruching at the shoulders and two poppers. In the boy's section, I found a set of four including a bright mustard yellow, a dark green, a bright orange and a bright red, without any ruching but with the two poppers on one shoulder. These are all colours I am more than happy to dress my daughter in, so I bought both sets.

Mothercare

I have another two-pack of leggings from H&M which I adore - one pair is plain grey, and the other is navy with little white anchors. I absolutely love the nautical theme and have always thought Bird suits wearing navy. These are currently in the wash but here is the photo from the website - I'm sure they were in the girl's section in the shop but on the website, they're in the baby boy's trousers section (here). These are £5.99 for the pack of two.

H&M - £5.99

Not the best photo but here she is wearing the anchor leggings - LOVE!

I discovered JoJo Maman Bébé around the time I got pregnant and became addicted to it. All of their clothes are incredible quality and you can tell from the look and feel of them. I've always loved their leggings but Bird was born in October, and spent most of the first few months in sleepsuits, so this Autumn is her first opportunity to wear snuggly woollen leggings. I've wanted some of these for ages and now that the weather is getting colder, I had to indulge! These are £10 per pair, with £5 if you buy two pairs (so naturally I couldn't leave the shop with just one!) - they have some different styles and colours, suitable for boys as well as girls. They also do a range of "extra thick" leggings which I really wish they did in my size because they are SO snuggly! They're really lovely and thick. Those ones don't come with the animals on the bottom though, and I couldn't resist a little owl and an elephant. Despite these not being part of the extra thick range, they're still really cosy. I love the cuffs at the ankles which fit really nicely around Bird's little legs.

JoJo Maman Bébé - £10 per pair or two pairs for £15

Another favourite from JoJo Maman Bébé is this 2.5 tog sleeping bag. Bird has outgrown all of her 0-6 month ones always kicks off her blankets or wriggles away from them, so these sleeping bags are the perfect solution. They have a vast range of colours and patterns. I was torn between this one and a lovely blue floral one that looked very "Cath Kidston" - that one also had detachable arms. I chose this one in the end because it just seemed so fitting for my Birdy. These come in 0-6 months, 6-18 months and 18 months - 4 years. This one cost £28 but I know it will last for a long time due to the length and quality. I really love it.

JoJo Maman Bébé - £28

Another buy from my Auntie is this gorgeously cosy onesie from Gap's baby range and I am so upset that Bird will be growing out of it soon! It's absolutely perfect to throw on over the top of an outfit if we have to rush out or if it's a bit cold and it looks beautiful. Cuteness overload with the little ears on top and it's so lovely and snuggly, with fleece on the inside. The zip goes from the left foot all the way up, making it really easy to pop on in a hurry and it has built in scratch mitts for extra snuggliness! LOVE it.

Lastly, anyone who knows Bird and I will know I love to accessorise an outfit with a headband of some sort. During the warmer months, it was either no headband or maybe a narrow band with a little flower. Now that it's colder, I'm all about the headwrap type bands, with much wider bands to cover her little ears and keep them warm (she doesn't have much hair to do that yet!). I particularly love the ones which tie at the top, all of which I bouth on Ebay. They're surprisingly cheap, at around £3 each including postage. They don't actually tie at the top, they are a stretchy band with another small piece of material tied around them - I assume this is a safety measure, and it's actually a really good idea in my opinion. Most of the headwraps I have for Bird have some very soft wiring in the knot part, so it doesn't go floppy and holds its shape. LOVE THEM!

I hope you've enjoyed this post! Follow me on Instagram (here) to keep up with any new finds we come across for the coming chillier months.

Love, Gina Xx

Babywearing

"Babywearing is the practise of wearing or carrying a baby in a sling or in another form of carrier. Babywearing has been practised for centuries around the world." This is Wikipedia's definition of babywearing.

The idea of "wearing" a baby in a sling or carrier has always appealed to me, even for years before I became pregnant.I was one of those girls who stopped in my tracks and went "ahhhhhhh, look!" if I ever saw a baby or toddler strapped to its caregiver. It just looks so bloomin' cute and cosy!

So, when I found out I was pregnant, I began researching different types of slings and carriers.

My research revealed to me a whole wealth of information I'd been completely unaware of, which made me fall in love with the idea even more.

I quickly discovered that aside from just looking all sweet and snuggly, there are actually lots of benefits of babywearing, to both the caregiver and child.

Some of the benefits I've learnt through my research are as follows:

• Mums have reported fewer tears when babywearing

• Babies are able to develop trust and security

• The ideal learning state for a baby is when they are "quiet and alert" - instead of looking upwards from a crib or being low enough to just see people's legs in a pushchair, they can see the world as you do

• Breastfeeding can be made easier (and more frequent to help baby gain weight)

• It encourages bonding (and increases cuddle time, yay!)

• Babies are reported as falling into deep sleep when babywearing takes place

• Makes travelling easier

• Keeps both of your hands free, making it easier to multi-task

• Can reduce reflux, fussiness, colic and gastrointestinal issues

• Enhances sleep at nap times and at night

I could continue but I'd be here all day. These are only some of the benefits of babywearing.

I would advise looking for a local "sling library" where you can try on and hire different slings and carriers until you find one that suits you and your baby.

Always follow the "TICKS" rules to ensure safe babywearing:

Found on babyslingsafety.co.uk

Babywearing has been a lifesaver for me - it enables me to get things done, it pretty much guarantees to get Bird to sleep if she's fighting nap time, it allows me lots of extra cuddles and kisses, and it means that Steve gets to really bond with her too.

Contrary to popular belief, it's easier on my back than pushing the pram around. I only take the pushchair out these days if I know I'll be out all day or if I might have lots of shopping bags with me - even so, I usually keep carrying Birdy and use the pushchair to carry the shopping bags.

Stay tuned for Product Reviews on the different slings and carriers I have, along with pictures and top tips!

Love, Gina Xx

Great Little Baking Co - Product Review

July was pretty rubbish for our family. We had some bad news regarding Steve's health and we were quite down in the dumps for a few days whilst we tried to absorb it.

The following week, an unexpected parcel arrived on my doorstep. I had no idea what it was, or who it was from.

I opened it and inside was a metal box, protected by lots of little polystyrene peanuts. The box had ribbon tied around it and looked gorgeous, and a little card was secured on top.

There was a handwritten note attached:

Some of our closest friends, Briony and Will, had ordered us a box of brownies from Great Little Baking Co and they were so, so yummy! They hadn't ordered from Great Little Baking Co before but after visiting their website, I can see why they chose to.

They offer a large selection of brownies, biscuits, shortbread and cake pops, suitable for all sorts of occasions. They all look delicious and I'm confident the only problem I'll come across with them is choosing what to order.

The brownies were packaged beautifully and really did taste amazing.

Receiving such a beautiful gift really did make our day. What a lovely way of letting somebody know you're thinking of them!

Everything about the presentation, quality and taste was perfect. I love that they hand-wrote the little note instead of just printing it out. I find that little details like this really do make all the difference and add a lovely personal touch, which is unusual with companies who post further afield than just their local town.

The website is immaculate and really easy to navigate, so is very user-friendly.

I would highly recommend Great Little Baking Co and will definitely be using them in the future to send lovely gifts to friends and family.

Love, Gina Xx

PTSD After Birth

This is a sensitive one for me and one I know I'll find a bit difficult to write, but this is something I think is important to bring some attention to.

Bird's birth didn't go according to how I'd planned it and initially, I was fine with this. I remember feeling guilty when friends would ask about the birth and I had to admit it hadn't gone as I'd hoped, but other than that, I didn't even really think about it for two or three weeks.

But once Bird started to sleep for slightly longer periods at night, resulting in me doing the same, I started to have nightmares and would wake up sweating and panicky.

My nightmares were more like flashbacks. I kept reliving what had happened; the horrendously delirious feeling Pethidine gave me and how out of control I felt, which is one of my biggest fears. I felt so helpless and my nightmares were so vivid and realistic.

I didn't once feel depressed. From what I understand, post natal depression is quite a lot more common than post traumatic stress disorder following birth, but I never felt low and I certainly didn't struggle to bond with Bird.

The nightmares didn't happen every night, and when they did, I usually recovered relatively quickly from them.

I had some friends who were due to have babies after Bird was born, and I started to find that every time one of them gave birth, I couldn't help feeling extremely emotional and getting teary. I was remembering my own experiences and would feel disappointed in myself, like I'd let my daughter down because it had gotten so stressful. I would question whether it was my fault she had a hard time breastfeeding in the beginning, even though we cracked it eventually and we're still going strong now.

I felt upset at the way I was spoken to by some of the midwives - one refusing to believe that my waters had broken at all, let alone that they contained meconium, before the birth, another acting like I should just know how to breastfeed after the birth and making me feel like a time-waster when I asked for her help, the fact that I felt so powerless and unimportant during labour and that the side effects of Pethidine weren't explained to me (I never would have accepted it had I been aware that it could make me feel so out of control - some women may like it for this reason, but for me this was terrifying).

Don't get me wrong, I was always so happy for my friends and their new babies, but I just felt guilty and disappointed at my own experiences.

I never went to my doctor about this because I honestly didn't think anything of it until recently. It wasn't an everyday occurrence. The nightmares lasted 6 or 7 weeks and I rarely thought about it.

It's only now that these feelings have subsided that I've realised I was probably experiencing a bit of PTSD. I don't consider it to have been severe, and I'm definitely past it now. I know that I am absolutely not to blame for the things I thought I was.

I also know that there wasn't anything particularly uncommon or unusual about Bird's birth, and to most people it may sound pretty standard and uneventful, but if somebody feels that an event they experienced was traumatic, then it was, and nobody has the right to belittle those feelings, regardless of how it may look to them from the outside. Things that may not cause upset to one person, can cause extreme upset to another and this is no different.

I don't feel put off of having any more children, although it's unlikely we will be able to due to Steve's ill health. However, for some ladies, PTSD is enough to discourage them from having any more children, and can cause lifelong anxiety and other issues.

No matter how long or short labour is, whether it's done naturally, with assistance or by C-Section, drug-free or not, we are all mothers and the way our babies come into the world does NOT define our abilities as parents. Some things are beyond our control and we should be empowering each other, not belittling other women based on the sort of birth that they had.

If the feelings I experienced resonate with anyone reading this or if you feel you may be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder or post natal depression, I strongly advise you see your GP. There are options available to help with these feelings.

Apologies for the heavier post this evening but I want this blog to be open and honest, and I felt this was a necessary topic to discuss.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

Love, Gina Xx

50 Facts About Me

I've seen this a lot recently and thought it would be fun, so here goes! :)

1) I was born in Swindon, Wiltshire, but moved to Devon when I was 6 months old. I moved back to Swindon at around 1 year old with my mum when my parents separated, and was there until I was 2 and a half. I don't remember it at all.

2) My dad was born in Lusaka, Zambia, which is in the South of Africa, He moved to England when he was 7.

3) I have an older brother called James who is 27 and lives in New Zealand with his wife-to-be Kristine and their son, Marley (almost 3 years old).

4) I was called Georgina because my dad wanted me to have a traditional English name and my mum wanted to give me either a "quirky" name or a boy's name. I was either going to be Georgina/George, Charlotte/Charlie, Francesca/Frank etc. I've never been known by Georgina or George - everybody has always known me as Gina.

5) My middle name is Francesca, after the midwife who looked after my mum and brother when he was born.

6) I couldn't say the word "remember" until I was about 5. I thought it was "bremember" and was really sad when I learnt the proper way to say it.

7) I lack confidence in a big way and have even had hypnotherapy sessions to help me to overcome the issue.

8) I went to an all-girls secondary school.

9) From the age of 2 and a half, I lived with my dad and my brother.

10) I still love Disney films and secretly want to be a Disney princess.

11) I was born on 25th October 1990, making me a Scorpio.

12) I've only been away from Bird about 5 times in total since she was born, and only for an hour at a time apart from for a friend's wedding where I spent around three hours away from her. She's my best friend and I can't stand not being with her!

13) I have A-Levels in English Literature, Sociology, and Criminal and Educational Psychology. I didn't go to uni because I have no idea what I want to do for a career.

14) My first pet was a cat called Marble, although I don't really remember her.

15) My guilty pleasure is watching Keeping Up With The Kardashians - I can't help but love it!

16) I'm the most sentimental person I know. I keep cards, letters, and anything else that's given to me. I have a large white wicker basket full of Bird's first things - a size 1 nappy, her first outfits, both of our wrist bands from the hospital, all of the cards we received, my scan photos - I've even deflated the foil helium balloons people gave us and kept those. I just can't bring myself to get rid of things.

17) Despite having a huge lack of confidence, I have had "run-ins' with several doctors when it's come to Steve's health issues if I've felt things aren't moving in the direction or at the speed that I feel is necessary.

18) I did kickboxing classes for around 7 years and it's one of the only sports I enjoyed. I also love swimming.

19) I very rarely drink alcohol as I cannot stand the feeling of not being in complete control. Boring, I know, but I just don't enjoy it! (My 18 year old self did enjoy it though, a lot).

20) I am extremely snap happy and always have a camera close by.

21) I really didn't like myself as a person until I met Steve. I was pretty much exactly the same as I am now, I just didn't think much of myself, but he's gradually increased my confidence and helped me to feel better about myself. Thanks hubby! :)

22) I had chicken pox as a baby and again when I was 11! It's unusual to get it twice, but it's possible!

23) I have 5 tattoos and I regret 4 of them. I rushed into them when I was younger and am really not a fan of them anymore. I do have plans for another one though and have put a lot of thought into it.

24) I love making cakes but I don't love eating them.

25) My favourite motto is "this too shall pass" and I think it's relevant in pretty much every tough situation I've come across! :)

26) I'm a bit too obsessed with Pitch Perfect...

27)... and my party trick is playing the cups to "When I'm Gone" like Anna Kendrick does in the film!

28) Something that really bothers me is people who are rude or mean for no reason! What's the point?! Be nice!

29) My favourite colours are orange and dark blue.

30) We have two cats called Bobby and Boots.

31) My first job was in a hairdressers when I was 15. I loved it.

32) I have nine peircings - my tongue, my belly button, 3 in my left ear and 4 in my right ear.

33) I absolutely love green tea and drink about 7 cups a day.

34) My favourite flowers are oriental lilies.

35) Looking at my baby girl still makes me cry sometimes, 11 months on. She makes me so happy and proud all the time and pregnancy/becoming a mum have made me a very, very emotional person!

36) I used to love sad/emotional songs and films but since having Bird, I can't listen to or watch anything sad without bawling my eyes out.

37) Caterpillars and moths REALLY freak me out... I can't explain it, they just do. I'm not a fan of most creepy crawly things but these really give me the shivers.

38) Speaking of shivers, I'm constantly cold.

39) I used to wear fake eyelashes everyday and now I can't stand them.

40) I've never tried smoking and have never understood the appeal of it.

41) Italian food is my favourite. Yum.

42) I don't cope well with other people being upset.

43) I would love to buy an old run down house and make it beautiful and then live in it.

44) I'm fascinated by sharks and watch way too many documentaries on them (why are we shocked when we go into their environment and then get attacked?!)

45) I love matching outfits with Bird. I just think it's so cute!

46) I really wish I could speak another language but I don't have the patience or attention span to learn one.

47) My dad still owns the house I grew up in and I love going back there. It's in a lovely little village in Devon where there's a cute little village pub and a real wishing well. It's such a pretty place.

48) I get so over-excited at Christmas and go way overboard with decorations and presents.

49) I usually know the words to a song once or twice after hearing it and it will stay in my head for days, even if I don't like it.

50) I'm very excitable and struggle to hide it. I go high-pitched and squeaky and annoy myself with it.

I hope you've enjoyed reading my 50 Facts About Me, and if there's anything else you'd like to know, leave a comment or contact me on Instagram! (GinaShergold1) :)

Love, Gina Xx

What's In My Changing Bag?

It's taken me a very, very long time to come to terms with the fact that taking EVERYTHING minus the kitchen sink with me whenever I leave the house, isn't easy, and apparently, isn't necessary.

I used to pack my handbag with whatever would fit - alongside the usual stuff, I'd take a bottle of deodorant, a bottle of perfume or body spray, a full sized hairbrush, sometimes a second pair of shoes - it was ridiculous.

Bird's changing bag started off the same way when she was born. It was always completely full - I packed loads, including my full makeup bag, into the changing bag. Obviously, it didn't take long for me to realise this was not going to work.

So I've managed to wean myself off of some items, and have only what I believe are the essentials in the changing bag.

The changing bag I'm currently using is called the Koto changing bag and I am obsessed with it! I just love everything about it. This is the 4th changing bag I've had since Bird was born... Yes, I know... I'll be doing a separate review on all 4 changing bags at a later date.

So first, here is my beautiful bag in all its glory:

I'll get stuck in with the contents now.

Changing mat - most changing bags come with one. The Koto bag has one with a green floral print which matches the fabric on the inside of the bag and pockets. I always put this down if I'm changing Bird at someone else's house, and I use it on the plastic pull down things in toilets and changing rooms.

Nappies! One of the most important things, obviously. We use Tesco Ultra Dry, currently in size 3. We've tried loads of different brands but have always come back to these as we find they fit Bird the best. Plus, they have a super cute little owl on the front, and I love owls!

Wipes. We usually go for Pampers because they're thick enough not to stretch and fall apart, but don't have a horrible dry feel we've experienced with some other brands.

Nappy bags. We're not fussy on the brand, and usually go for the shop's own brands because, let's face it, does it really matter what sort of bag you're going to use to dispose of a dirty nappy?

Nappy cream. I'll either use Sudocrem or the store brand from Tesco. I think they're as good as each other. Sudocrem is thicker whereas the Tesco brand has more of a "mousse" consistency but that does help it to wipe on more easily. Both last a really long time so we've only ever had to buy about 4 tubs in the space of 11 months.

A "messy bag" - again, some changing bags come with one of these, and what a brilliant invention! This has come in extremely handy whenever there's been a "poo-splosion!" I use it to keep dirty clothes or bibs. It's a simple plastic bag, with either a zip or zip lock seal. Love it!

Spare clothes. I always make sure I have a spare vest, two spare babygrows (or one and a top and bottoms), a cardigan in case it gets cold whilst we're out, and a spare pair of socks because my little madam loves to pull her socks off. Having two extra outfits may seem over the top, but TRUST ME... There will be times when you need them!

Bird's Personal Health Record Book. Again, this may not seem necessary, but I know I'd forget to grab it on the way out the door for check-ups so it's easier to always keep it tucked in the bag.

Factor 50 sun cream. The weather here is so temperamental, I find it's best to be prepared for all eventualities.

A sun hat. Again, the likelihood of needing it throughout the year may be slim in the UK, but I'm obsessive and would much rather be prepared.

Hand sanitiser. I found an alcohol-free one called Mucky Mitts in Sainsbury's and it's great. It's in a spray tube and was made for kids, so I can use it for myself and Bird without worrying that it'll damage her sensitive skin or that she'll put alcohol-covered fingers in her mouth!

A muslin. Preferably brightly coloured so it can be easily found amongst everything else in case of a poo/wee/sick related incident!

Personal belongings. I keep my phone, purse, keys, miniature diary and pen in the changing bag, along with some hair ties, a mini hairbrush, a mini perfume, some handcream and some paracetamol. It sounds like a lot, but at least I don't keep a mini dry shampoo in there anymore! (Yes, I used to do that).

Some small toys. These are my saviour sometimes. I change them up regularly so she doesn't get bored, but I usually take one or two little books and a few handheld toys for Bird to play with.

My breastfeeding cover by Bebe Au Lait. . This was lent to me by a friend and I really love it. Now that she's older, Bird tends to wriggle about under it, although she breastfeeds much less frequently now that she's on solids so I rarely need to feed her when we're out and about, but at the beginning it was great. I felt securely covered up but was able to look down and see my baby as I fed her due to the boned part at the top.

So there you have it, the contents of my changing bag!

I hope this was helpful/enjoyable.

Love, Gina Xx

My Wedding Day

Our second wedding anniversary is this weekend and we are attending the wedding of some of our best friends in a couple of days, so I thought I'd relive my excitement leading up to our big day in the form of a wedding-themed post!

We got married at a venue called The Green House Hotel in Bournemouth, right by the beach. It has been voted in the past as the best wedding venue in Southern England. We fell in love with it as soon as we saw it.

These photos are not from my own wedding but are just to show you the venue :)

We hadn't even known it existed - we actually first noticed it on our way out of an appointment at another local hotel and thought we'd have a quick peek inside.

Most venues have a strict policy for booking an appointment to view and discuss wedding packages but when we popped in unannounced, the staff were so excited to show us around there and then. Their enthusiasm about the venue and the ethos was infectious and we loved everything they stood for.

Having met Steve working for a solar energy company, it was just perfect that the hotel was "green" (hence the name), and is recognised as one of the top "eco hotels" in the world.

From the minute we booked out wedding here, we were thrilled with the service we received. We had a dedicated wedding planner called Sarah and she was fabulous,

My dress was by Essense of Australia. It was the second dress I tried on out of 19, and my Mother-In-Law suggested it. I wasn't convinced when I saw it on the hanger - I was sure I wanted a fitted mermaid style dress and this didn't match up to the image I had in my head, but trying on wedding dresses was exciting and fun so I agreed to give it a go.

As soon as I saw it in the mirror, I felt like a Disney princess. I completely fell in love. I also loved most of the other dresses I tried on, though! But when I noticed that from then on, I kept coming back to "the second one" and comparing them all to it, I realised it was the one.

A few weeks later, I ordered the dress and a single tiered, cathedral length veil with scattered diamontes to wear with it. I chose the lace-up back over the button-up back, and chose to wear it with straps rather than strapless. I had planned to remove the straps for the evening reception but throughout the day I received so many compliments on the dress and the straps, that I decided to keep them on. My shoes were from Debenhams, and were quite plain as the rest of the outfit was not!

The bridesmaids and I had our hair done for the day by a local hair stylist called Tandee. She was fantastic. The bridesmaids had their hair curled and wore it loose, with a plait either side of their heads pulled around and pinned at the back. My hair was curled and pinned back into an updo with a French plait along one side.

Our makeup was done by a local makeup artist called Ruby. She was lovely and so talented. We all felt beautiful.

We hired suits for Steve, the Best Man and the ushers from Posh Togs and were really happy with the service. They did a brilliant job of matching up the colours perfectly so that the cravats and pocket squares matched the bridesmaids dresses. The men wore black suits with tails and ivory patterned waistcoats.

Our wedding flowers were breathtaking.We used Concept Flowers, based in Christchurch, and I couldn't believe how beautiful they were when Lauren delivered them to the venue on the morning of the wedding. I chose a waterfall bouquet of white oriental lilies, white roses and some other gorgeous white flowers with some greenery, and the bridesmaids had white rose posies. They were truly stunning and smelt amazing! We all received so many compliments and were really reasonable cost-wise, too.

Our centrepieces were quite different. I ordered glass goldfish bowls online and round mirrors to sit underneath them. I ordered "water pearls" in the same blue as the bridesmaid dresses. These are little beads that expand to little squidgy balls when soaked in water, and they look really effective. I placed a white pillar candle in the centre of each bowl, poured in the water pearls and scattered silver diamontes onto the mirrors. The centrepieces were unique and I loved them. They were also relatively cheap to make. I made flags using various patterned blue paper and wooden sticks, and bought wooden numbers from The Range and stuck them onto the flags to create table numbers. These were placed into the goldfish bowls.

Our place settings doubled up as favours. I ordered tiny blue buckets (available here) and some blue sugar coated heart shaped chocolates. I made smaller flags using lolly sticks, also from The Range, and the same patterned blue paper that I used for the table numbers. I wrote each name using a Calligraphy pen. I put the mini flags into the little buckets. The place settings matched the centrepieces.

The wedding breakfast was absolutely amazing! We had a mushroom amuse-bouche, followed by a pea and white truffle soup to start. The main course was roast beef, and the dessert was a sticky toffee pudding. A few of us (including myself) were vegetarian so we had a courgette, citrus and walnut pasta dish for a main course.

Between the wedding breakfast and the evening reception, we had (more) champagne and petit fours in the garden. I didn't eat any myself, I was full from my yummy meal and didn't have much of an appetite all day. They looked lovely though! There was a selection of mini shortbread, mini eton mess and mini chocolate brownies with strawberries, all served up on slates.

For the evening buffet, we went for something a bit unusual - bacon and egg baps with chips! There was the option for a normal buffet, fish and chip newspaper cones, or bacon baps. We thought about our friends and family and decided this would be the best and the most fun to suit our guests following the wedding breakfast.

Our wedding cake was also quite unique. We had four tiers, but instead of cake, we had wheels of different cheeses, topped with fruit. Alongside the cake, we placed baskets of various crackers, chutneys and pickles. There was no cake left at all by the end of the evening, so I assume it was popular!

Our "first dance" was to "I Luv U" by The Ordinary Boys - again, this is probably an unusual choice but we felt it was perfect for us. Although, we ended up having a "second first dance" when "Lean On Me" by Bill Withers played, as our guests all gathered around and watched us dance again. This was much more emotional as the song has a lot of meaning to us following what had been a really tough year.

Our photos were shot by Milton Boyne, who I knew before I met Steve. He's an amazing photographer and so lovely! He also videoed the day for us, and watching it back still makes me so incredibly happy and emotional. He captured the day so well and I will be forever grateful for that. (He also filmed all of the speeches, which were unbelievably funny and brilliant! There wasn't a dry eye in the house, the boys did so well).

I hope you enjoyed reading about our wedding day and having a look through some of my favourite photos!

Love, Gina Xx