Dropping A Ball

I'm always busy. There's always something that needs to be done, people to be organised, lunches and dinners to be sorted, a 4 year old to look after, a full time job to go to, family gatherings, meet ups with friends, events to plan for, cumann business to attend to, a partner working 2 jobs so I've to make sure he doesn't over do it and run himself into the ground...it's a constant juggle and there's a lot of balls in the air all the time, there's been no let up in that for a while now.

However recently I have suffered a back injury that has forced me to slow down and step back and drop one of those many balls I juggle on a daily basis. 

I thought I was fine, I mean all I did was slip on water, not fall but whatever way I jerked myself back to keep myself upright has resulted in some pretty painful damage.

I went to the doctor who gave me a prescription, I said I'd be fine for work because I can sit and stand as I needed so wouldn't be stuck in the same position, also I don't take sick days lightly.

Two weeks later and I still wasn't feeling right, in fact it was getting worse so back to the doctor I went. I need to say here that up until this incident I felt like I was finally on top of things health wise - I'd finally got my shoulder seen to by the physio, the migraines had stopped, I was out walking again, taking my supplements and really felt good so to be in this kind of muscle pain again I felt like I was being thrown backwards.

A few tears to the doctor and her advice was to take time off work so that she could prescribe stronger medication and that I rest up properly, no unnecessary driving and that would in turn help ease the pain and heal the injury faster. 

I didn't take the time off work part lightly nor the resting up as I really don't have time for that but I had to admit defeat and one of those balls in the air had to drop for a while.

So here I am 2 days into sick leave with deep heat and Valium as my new best friends and I am resting, for the first time since I was pregnant I'd say, I'm resting up. 

It feels a bit weird and yesterday I felt like I should be doing something, I'll admit I logged into my work email and answered a few emails but I wasn't quite comfortable with this whole doing nothing. 

Do you know what though? I need this, not only for a hopefully speedy recovery but I needed it for my mind. To have that little bit of control taken out of my hands and being told to stop, even just for the week is what my body and mind needed. 

Movement is restricted obviously and I'm spending time trying to get comfortable either sitting, standing or walking but I'm not over exerting myself. I've managed a bit of cleaning, did a small food shop but everything else can wait.

It's funny how now it can wait but up until this point I couldn't leave anything go, everything had to be done and it had to be done there and then.

I hate the thought of letting my co workers down and it's not something I'd do lightly but right now it's a must and they are chugging along just fine without me. 

So sometimes, like a lot of us I'm sure, sometimes we have to let a ball or 2 drop, just for ourselves, to keep ourselves in check and remember to look after number 1 - me, because if I don't look after myself properly then I can't do any of the above to the best of my ability.

It's a tad annoying it's taken a back injury to slow me down but silver linings and all that eh?!

My Nametags ~ Review

Picture Credit: Mynametags.ie

I know, I know it's only July and here I am talking about back to school already but I like to be prepared!

I have been meaning for ages to get name tags for L's belongings, I mean for like the last year. There's a few Luke's in his preschool so it's good to be able separate their stuff should it get mixed up, by being able to look on the label for a name. However as usual I put it on my very long list of things to and promptly forgot about it...until there was a mix up with his Paw Patrol hat which resulted in him having to come home without it one day as someone else who had the same hat had picked it up by mistake...he was not impressed.

So when I got an email not long after the Paw Patrol hat incident asking would we like to review 

My Nametags it was perfect timing. 

We designed our stickers and added L's full name and a contact number. We picked from a selection of fonts for the writing. There are lots of lovely icons you can choose form to add to the labels, we had a very tough decision between a digger and a dinosaur! I wanted something bright that would catch the eye so we added in the blue cloud background.

I've rubbed out the phone number part here for privacy reasons obviously :)

They come on a sheet so you can peel them of with ease and then store the rest away. I would have a taken a picture of this but after I took a few to stick on to some items of Luke's he hid the stickers on me because he said they were his and I couldn't use them!! Would you believe me if I said I haven't seen them since? I have no idea where he put them so I really need to order more. 

They were with us within a couple of days and I was very impressed with them. I chose the stickers instead of the iron on labels, more because I wouldn't have the patience to iron them on.

They are small enough that they fit perfectly on to the labels that are already on the clothes so I've been busy putting them on all of his coats, hats, schoolbag, lunchbox etc.

I wasn't sure if they would stick to the different kinds of fabric but so far so good and they have held up very well in the wash after the last few months of preschool.

I feel like the picture doesn't do it justice because of the reflection of the flash but I would have taken more...again had Luke not hid them on me!!

I'd definitely recommend adding these to your "Back To School" shopping list.


*We were sent this item for the purpose of this review, as always all thoughts and opinions are my own*

HD Brows @ DKH

I love a good eyebrow. I tend not to leave the house without them done properly, it used to be my eyeliner but the eyebrows have taken over. They frame the face don't they, give it that final touch. 

I've only ever had them waxed and plucked by the same 2 people, I'm fussy and they know me so well so it's a no brainer. 

I found with mine though that sometimes they look a little sparse in places and shorter on one side due to a scar from a failed eyebrow piercing many moons ago. When the foundation goes well they almost disappear then, cue lots of colouring in. Most days I get them right, some days it's hard to follow the natural shape of my eyebrows and they end up looking wrong.

So when I was invited to come into DKH in Cobh to try out their new HD brows I jumped at the chance. 

DKH have recently expanded their range of services as well as moving to a bigger premises. 

The DKH team now offer make up artists services, HD brows, lash extensions, gelish nails, waxing as well as their usual high quality hair dressing services, when it comes to colour I can't recommend them enough. 

I was met by the very lovely Rosie Higgins who was going to be looking after me on the day. Rosie is also the in house make up artist. 

In Rosie's own words:

"A lot of people are under the impression HD brows need to be thick boxy dark brows - this is not the case. These brows are light and natural and I always take care to follow my clients wants and likes when doing their brows" 

We talked through the look I wanted and I expressed that I felt like they were a bit too short and patchy and wanted a longer, more fuller look. 

Rosie explained how she would achieve that and started off with the tint. I need to point out how super comfortable the chair was, I was able to sit back and relax while she was working. 

There was waxing and threading in order to achieve the shape I wanted as well as working with my own natural shape. 

She then finished them off by using an eyebrow pencil to give them a smooth finish and talking me through how to do it so I can achieve the same finish myself at home.

I really liked how they turned out, even when I have my foundation on now I could easily get away without having to fill them. Its just so convenient if I'm rushing in the mornings, which I usually am, that I can afford to leave my eyebrows without them looking ridiculous or non existent against the rest of my make up.

They are expected to last for around 4 weeks and I'm already 10 days in and they have shown no signs of fading yet. 

This treatment costs €40 and in my opinion it's worth every penny. I'll definitely be going back to get them again.

DKH is located in 4 Harbour Row, Cobh and can be contacted on 021 4855319.

*I was offered this treatment for the purpose of this review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own*