Winners of What To Expect Books

The giveaway has now closed for the books from What To Expect and I am pleased to announce the winners as drawn randomly.


Goodness Graces: What To Expect The First Year


Mikki: What To Expect When You Are Expecting

Sammie: What To Expect the Second Year

I have sent the winners an email, but if I haven't heard back within 48 hours I will redraw another name.

What I Wore Wednesday: School Run Edition!

 

Today's What I Wore Wednesday is brought to you by The School Run!! As I mentioned the other day (and don't forget to enter my giveaway!) it really has taken about a month for us to find our groove as we settle into our new full time school routine. Having a well edited wardrobe has made at least one thing easier, so I thought I would show you what I have been wearing for the last couple of weeks, since I like to look put together when dropping off or picking up the kids.

Tuesday: I've decided I don't love this dress anymore. It's comfy, and easy to look after, but seeing it on me in photos makes me think it is not that flattering. So, I think it will soon be relegated to "at home" wear.

Black and white jersey dress: Perri Cutten

Onyx beaded bracelets: my mum

not in the pic, black leather flip flops: J Crew

Wednesday: Now this dress is still a fave! I don't usually wear bold earrings, so this was a bit of a change for me, and while I felt a bit self conscious for a while, I really liked wearing them.

Navy and white jersey dress: Basque by Myer

Gold earrings and bracelets: Nordstrom

Denim and tan ballet flats: Lands End

Thursday: Another dress! People always ask me why I am 'dressed' up, but honestly, I just find dresses so easy to just throw on. One piece, a few accessories, and you are ready to go. I am not a fan of summer, so easy, breezy dresses make life that little bit easier for me.

Teal, white, black and tan jersey dress: Jane Lamerton

Teal resin bangle: Myer

Black ballet flats: Lands End

Friday: My nod to "French Friday"! I love the look of these shoes, but every time I wear them, I forget how much they hurt my feet after a few hours! Still love them (and wear them!), though.

Black and white striped top: Ann Taylor

Skinny jeans: Ann Taylor

Red patent heeled loafers: Tod's

Gold bangles: Nordstrom

Saturday: OK, this is not a school run pic, but I did go to Irini's ballet class, so that kinda counts, right?

Cotton printed blouse: Old Navy

Skinny jeans: Ann Taylor

Navy suede and patent ballet flats: Lands End

Red wooden cuff: Myer

Monday: This top is the same printed fabric as the navy and white dress I was wearing earlier in the week. When I saw the top on sale, I bought it, and I am so glad because it has become one of my favourites.

Navy and white jersey faux wrap top: Basque by Myer

Dark rinse denim pencil skirt: Ann Taylor

Navy and white canvas espradilles: Lands End

Enamel bangles: Coach

Tuesday: This is another favourite outfit, just because it is so bright and cheerful! Plus, the ponte pants look as good as tailored pants, but are as comfy as putting on a pair of tracksuit pants.

Print silky blouse: Ann Taylor

Black ponte trousers: Ann Taylor

Black loafers: Louenhide

Black horn bangle: Mai Tai collection

Wednesday: I liked this outfit, but looking at the photo, I think it would have looked a lot better with either a pair of black sandals (on my shopping list, since me fave Nine West ones fell apart) or my black ballet flats. Plus, this top is actually fuchsia/hot pink, not the colour it appears in the photo.

Fuchsia knit sweater: Basque by Myer

Denim pencil skirt: Ann Taylor

Black horn cuff: Mai Tai cuff

Gold earrings: Nordstrom

Black leather flip flops: J Crew

Thursday: Photobombed by my daughter!!

Black and grey chiffon blouse: Basque by Myer

Cropped white jeans: Ann Taylor

Black horn cuff: Mai Tai Collection

Black pumps: Salvatore Ferragamo

Friday: Kids at school, lunch out with the girls from our old playgroup. I really, really, really need some black sandals :(  These pants are way too long for my flip flops.

Grey and black burnout tank: no label, from a little boutique

Black cupro (looks and feels like silk) trousers: Flower

Bronze long necklace: Ann Taylor

Onyx and grey stone bracelets: boutique

Charm bracelet: Pandora

Black leather flip flops: J Crew

Monday: Another dress that I think might be retired to 'at home' wear - what do you guys think?

Black and white jersey dress: Basque by Myer

Wooden bead necklaces: Witchery

Gold bangles: Nordstrom

Tuesday: How fitting that I finish off the week with my favourite dress! This time I wore it with the black ballet flats, and it looks much better.

Navy and white jersey dress: Basque by Myer

Gold earrings and bangles: Nordstrom

Black ballet flats: Lands End

Also linking to:

 
and

Book Review: Losing It In France - LesSecrets of the French Diet

Just like almost everyone else come January, thoughts of losing weight and getting healthy cross my mind. This year, though, instead of reaching for the nearest fad diet, or restarting Weight Watchers (again!) I decided to pick up a book I had heard a lot about, Losing It In France: Les Secrets of the French Diet, by fellow Australian, Sally Asher. As much as this book has "diet" in the title, it most definitely is not a "diet" book in the usual way, but more a "lifestyle" book combined with a memoir of Sally's time in France and how learning to eat and live while immersed in a French lifestyle helped her lose weight and keep it off even when she came home.

Of course, like any book talking about diet and lifestyle, a lot of it is common sense - eat less, move more, pick better options. However, what made this book different for me was that somehow, it truly, deeply, resonated with me. Since I read the book in January (and I continue to re-read sections of it at least weekly, it is that inspirational!) I have not only lost 5.5kg (12lbs) but, more importantly, feel a lot, lot better. If you are a long-term reader of my blog, then you know that I have battled with my weight for a long, long time. This time is different. Yes, the weight is coming off slower than it has with diets in the past, but this time it feels like it will be permanent. It really is a lifestyle change. Sally focuses on small changes that all add up to make a big difference. She looks at the reasons we overeat and eat badly, and she gives you ways to change these bad habits for good ones. She devotes pages to recipes that can be made by anyone, quickly and easily. This really is an amazing little book that has certainly changed my life for the better.

And as if this book is not enough on its own, Sally has an amazing blog where she shares even more amazing information! I am totally a visual learner, so her posts on portion size (breakfast, lunch and dinner) were a real eye-opener for me. I originally bought this book in hardcover (and it now has a permanent home in my nightstand drawer) but I love it so much, and refer to it so often, that I bought the kindle version for my iPad as well! So that is telling you how much I love it!!

 

Pregnancy Series: What To Expect The First Year plus Giveaway!!

UPDATED: This giveaway has now ended!

I can't believe it's been over a month since I've posted, but it has truly taken that long for us to find our groove with our new school routines, especially with two kids at two different schools half and hour apart! So this next issue in our Friday Pregnancy Series is long overdue, but, like the saying says, all good things come to those who wait. The wonderful folk at What To Expect saw my review on their original book, and not only sent me some more of their books to review, but have also offered my readers the chance to win a set of the original What To Expect When You Are Expecting, What To Expect The First Year, and What To Expect The Second Year.  All you need to do is leave a comment letting me know which book you would like to win! Entries close Friday 9 March 2012.

Today I am going to review What To Expect The First Year, which I already had (an older edition) and used constantly when Stephen was a baby.  I would love to say I used it constantly when Irini was a baby, but as any mother with two (or more) kids can tell you, all that kind of stuff (including the obsessive memory keeping and millions of photos) just kind of falls away with the second child! 

My favourite thing about this book is that while it's organised month by month (like a lot of baby books), making it easy to find what you want for a particular stage, it also has separate sections for more specific information that are not age specific (for example, issues that come up in different seasons, illnesses, special needs babies) and may be needed or not depending on your situation.  It means that when your baby born in the middle of summer develops a heat rash, you can go right to the season section, instead of having to wade through the whole book.

The other part I loved and found really useful was the section devoted to mum. It covers all sorts of things, from the commonly discussed, such as postnatal depression, through to things you may not see covered so often, such as sex, birth control, how to cope with a young baby in your life, as well as diet and fitness. It really was one of the most useful sections of the book for me.

So, if you are expecting a baby, or have a new born, make sure you run, don't walk, to get a copy of this book! Or, even better, enter my giveaway!!









Disclaimer: What To Expect provided the books for the giveaway, as well as this book for review consideration. I have received no other compensation. All opinions are my own, and have not been influenced in any way.