Kerraz Kandi Tree Review

A few weeks ago I won a mini Candy Tree from Kerraz Kandi Trees.
I received my tree last weekend and I was very impressed. I even got my camera out to take a few snaps.

They are such a great idea and the mini/small trees are perfect as gifts for birthday or Christmas. The medium and large trees are great as a centre for a party or wedding.

There is a huge range of choice when it comes to the sweets you can have and each type gives a different look. Ferrero Rocher is available and give a great sense of elegance or for weddings maltesers or marshmallow trees look stunning.

My son defiantly enjoyed the jelly sweet one though :)

It was such a huge success that I have ordered two for Christmas

One mint Areo one with after eights in the bucket and one made from Elezabeth Shaw mint crisps which i think will look amazing with their gold wrappers on our table as our after dinner mints. Such a unique touch that really adds that something extra to the festive season.

Here is a picture of the Aero Mint tree

To say that I'm looking forward to them is an understatement.

Kerraz Kandi are also approved by Made in Cornwall

You can find Kerraz Kandi Trees on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/#!/KerrazKandi?fref=ts

Or by visiting their website

http://kerrazkandi.moonfruit.com/

Rainy Cornwall

So after a complete wash out of a summer, we are in autumn.
The weather so far is wet and foggy surprise surprise.

But that doesnt mean that there are not things to see and do in cornwall or that the beauty is lessened.
The amazing auburn, gold and brown colours appear and the leaves vacate the trees and we have abundant opportunitys for lovely woodland walks and amazing chances to get the camera out and take some pictures.

Why not wrap the children up nice and warm and go for a walk at Kennal Vale? Its a beautiful wooded area in ponsanooth and was orginally the old gun powder works. The trees provided the shade and held in the moisture that was needed to help maintain the gun powder and reduce the chances of explosions.
There is an amazing quary and a raging river running through and is a good chance to collect leaves and twigs that you can then make a picture from when returning home.

Or if the weather really is too bad why not take a trip to one to eleven in Helston next to flambards. Its a fairly new in door play area (soft play) and caters from extremely young children through to 11/12 year olds. They can run around and play while you have a seat and watch them with a nice hot chocolate/tea or coffee in hand.

Make the most of every season as each holds its own special beauty.

1st Birthday cake/ Hungry Caterpiller

So my daughter will be 1 next march and yes I know it is miles away but I get excited about the thought of making her first cake.

 

Trying to think up some ideas has made me think about the effort I went too for my sons first birthday cake which was really one of the first proper cakes I have ever made and as the title of this blog suggests it was based on the hungry Caterpillar.

 

I even did a trial run before hand which was a really good idea as it changed a lot of my design for the finished product by showing me what did and did not work,

 

Firstly I used a bunt tin for the body

I Cut this in half and then I cut one of those half's into half giving me 3 pieces, I turned the two smaller pieces around and popped them on to either end to create the body.

I then used a standard sponge tin which I cut the head shape from.

 

I warmed a little strawberry jam and covered all the sponge to make a kind of glue to help hold the icing in place.

 

Now in my trial run I used white icing and tried to paint the colours on but this just didn't work, the colours looked weak and washed out and didn't give me the result I wanted.

 

So here I cheated a bit by using pre coloured ready to roll icing from the Craft Company

http://www.craftcompany.co.uk/ingredients/ready-to-roll-icing.html

The delivery was amazingly fast which was great as I was now cutting it close for time

I bought two different shades of green for the body, Red for the head and yellow and black for the eyes and detailing.

 

 

It was defiantly the best decision as the colours were so bold and the cake looked amazing.

I cut the greens in to triangles and alternated them down the body. Covered the head in the red icing and and rolled the black out to make antenna, eyes and feet.

Finishing it all off on a white board which i stuck different coloured smarties to the bottom of to make the base and to be in keeping with the theme.

 

Here is the finished result

 

 

 

I think i now have a lot to live up too for my daughters 1st birthday and will defiantly be using the craft company to help me to sneakily cut some corners and give me ideas.

Here is a picture of my little boy, with the help of his friend blowing out his candle.

 

 

 

 

 

Craft Company

http://www.craftcompany.co.uk/

Lipo wrap inch loss Product Review

So I know that this is a subject at the fore front of most women's minds so though I would make this next post on some products that I have found that can help shift some stubborn weight.

I know personally after having a child that your body changes so much and some times no matter how hard you try those last few Lbs/ Inches can be very stubborn to shift.

I have found some amazing products that not only help you to achieve this but also help tone skin and reduce the appearance of those pesky stretch marks.

So here is the science behind the Wraps

The Lipo wraps work within our bodies we all have interstitial spaces (also called extravascular compartment or tissue space) where toxins and fats gather, an interstitial space is an empty space or gap between cells. Groups of interstitial spaces are commonly referred to as fat cells. Over a period of time these fill with toxins and fats. We add to these depending on our lifestyle. People who smoke or drink alcohol, eat fatty foods will, on the whole, have more toxins and notice that certain areas are harder to lose, e.g. thighs or buttocks, and however much they diet, their body refuses to alter its shape or size. The Lipo fluid penetrates the outer membrane & stimulates circulation around these areas breaking down the toxins and fats which then drain through the lymphatic system, leaving the interstitial space empty or at least smaller, the sculpting wraps compress the layers back together so they do not refill, this is where the inch loss comes from.Initially your body will create new spaces or refill existing ones quite quickly because it is used to doing so. Depending on your lifestyle, it will take a longer & longer before these spaces reappear between wraps. Once you have reached your target dress size, it is a good idea to use the wrap from time to time to maintain your new shape and avoid those extra inches returning.The reason that we do not claim weight loss is because there is very little actual weight removed, the main success that is achieved is reducing mass.Some people will have more success than others because it depends on how deep the ‘space’ is located as to how effective the fluid will be at penetrating to the required level. It also depends if there is some muscle mass to compress against.Like all things.

Some Before and after Pictures

Some amazing products and results. To view more before and after pictures, to read reviews, find out some more information on these products and to buy visit https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/238695059576348/

Or Email

Jodiedawnhanson@aol.com

Coming up soon for review Cre8tive Beauty's weight loss drink Hyrda Slim x

FREE Hypnobirthing MP3

Are you interested in hypnobirthing.
Alice kirby is offering a free download for everyone.
Its a good 25 minutes long so why not give it ago

http://www.hypnotherapy-in-cornwall.com/freehypnobirthing.html

34 week Bump and the products im using on it

                                        My 34 Weeks Bump and the products I'm using on it

Well as you can see now my bump is getting to be quite some size, I'm sure every pregnant women out there has concerns over their ever expanding stomachs and boobs and the effect it will have on their skin.

now we all know about Palmer's tummy butter and Bio oil but what if you fancy trying something different, maybe going down the more natural organic root after all this is a beautiful time for any mother so why not use the very best/sourced products you can get and at the same time supporting a lovely Cornish company where the products are made.

Pure Organics is a Cornish company who hand make their products. They are not tested on animals and their ingredients are locally sourced where possible. They contain no harsh ingredients so are suitable for most skin types even the most sensitive.

Rose Hip Belly Butter
30 ml £3.25 60ml £6.50

This wonderful oil contains rosehip which is great for regeneration and can help prevent stretch marks.

With a lovely light scent this belly butter is creamy and a little defiantly goes a long way. It has an oily consistency that the skin soaks up quickly but it also leaves a slight feel of it on the skin (I personally prefer this as you know that through out the day your are protected rather than your body just evaporating it in with no signs of application) My skin feels softer to the touch like a new born baby's bottom and I'm left smelling lovely and girly for the rest of the day.

I have also been applying it to my breasts which are increasing in size almost as quickly as my stomach.

I personally think you are either prone to getting stretch marks or you are not but that doesn't mean you cant try and help the situation as obviously the more subtle the skin the more it is going to give and this product defiantly provides that subtleness and at such a fantastic price too.

I have also been using their face cream on my awful dry skin or should I say what was my dry skin

Face Cream30ml £3.00 60ml £6.00

a light fresh day cream enriched by the rejuvenating properties of avocado oil which is rich in vitamins A -B1-B2-D with essential oil of sweet orange.

The smell of this is amazing and again it has a lovely creamy consistency and a little goes a long way. I was suffering from a very dry T section before due to my pregnancy hormones but since using this lovely pot of goodness I no longer have a problem and I finally have that pregnancy glow that I hear people talking about. Of course it is brilliant for those who are not pregnant also and it doesn't leave your face feeling greasy like some creams do.

pure Organics have a massive range of products to cover you from head to toe and all at brilliant prices so gone are the days of paying through the nose for good quality organic products.

Their website is also a delight to navigate and they have some great gift sets for the loved ones in your life perfect for valentines day as they also have a men's section.

Visit their website today

www.pureorganicsproducts.co.uk

Baby brain and sleep tips

Is it a myth or is it true?
Who knows but what I do know is that I put hot chocolate powder in the fridge and the milk in the cupboard and didn't realise until an hour later when i went to get the milk out of the fridge :S

Now as I'm sure most people suffer from this problem when they are pregnant I thought i would share some tips including one that might save some money.

Getting to sleep is much harder due to being that much more uncomfortable to start with, having an over active mind and needing to pee a lot.

I'm afraid I cannot help much with the pee front other than to suggest cutting down on fluid before sleeping but then again one of my tips is about a drink so that's not much help.

• Go to bed at a decent time and take with you a horlicks or ovaltine and a good book. Give your self half an hour to an hour to read and have your drink. This will help the mind shut down after a busy day.
• If your problem is over thinking then try keeping a note book next to your bed, before you start reading you could write a few bits that are floating around your head and write down any fears or worries that you have. This will help clear you mind so that you can move on.
• Before you go to sleep have a wee, even if you don't feel like you need to go at least try. Also rocking backwards and forward slightly whilst sat on the toilet like you have lost your mind can help completely empty the bladder (My only toilet tip and sadly does not stop the middle of the night trips but is always worth ago)
• Don't watch TV, listen to music or sit on your laptop when in bed. Bed is a time to relax and get away from things that stimulate you to think so these should be avoided.
• Have a nice warm relaxing bath before bed to chill out that bit more and to relax muscles. Lighting candles can help and are better than a harsh light which can be quite stimulating.
• Rather than forking out for expensive pregnancy pillows which are about £40 plus go to your local Tesco's Extra and buy some of their cheap value pillows, they are very airy (not firm) and mould perfectly around bumps and back and between legs. I'm currently sleeping in my own little pillow cave to keep comfy and at least the pillows can be used as spares afterwards or to prop baby up for breastfeeding or for a baby who is learning to sit.

These are my basic tips try some or all and I hope you will notice a difference failing that I will see you in the looney house trying to rock out that last bit of pee ;D

Deep Tissue Massage

I could not survive with out you.
Some of the benefits of this type of massage are pain relief, reduction of anxiety, temporarily reduced blood pressure, heart rate, reduction is headaches (my Favourite) a great sense of well being, resolved sleepless nights, help with ME, MS and depression.
It is also very enjoyable to have done and feels amazing.

I go to see a lovely lady called Belinda Yates who is based in Devoran near Truro (Cornwall)
Belinda works from her converted Garage at the back of her house which she has turned into her own little treatment space. She is friendly and relaxed and will get you to jump up on the the massage table while she covers you in lovely warm towels to stop you from feeling cold.
She has a wide choice of different massage oils that she can use for all different aliments and will also pop on some relaxing music to help you get into the moment.

With a lovely range of different techniques she will gently manipulate away your aches and pains and gradually work out knots. I prefer this gradual release and have had some horrible experiences in the past of a heavy handed person where i have felt worse after than before :S

She also caters for your individual needs. I have been going to Belinda for over a year now and when i got pregnant she adapted the massage to suit my needs and altered positions to make sure that I am always comfortable.

Her rates are brilliant and I would as I have in the past always highly recommend her

Ring or email for more details 01872 870534
belinday@hotmail.co.uk

Quote Network Cornwall and Jodie Hanson and Receive £10 of your first treatment

Update and Book Review (Spiritual Midwifery)

Okay so to start with today I have mainly been bouncing on a birth ball. This is in my attempt to get this baby to turn from back to back to back to belly or to be more technical Posterior to anterior and also to get it out of the transverse position as it is currently horizontal


I am completely loving the ball although I'm starting to wish that instead of a birth ball that I had bought an adult sized space hopper as I have such an urge to go bouncing around the living room when I'm on it :D


On the plus side i do believe that it has worked as I now have a rather uncomfortable lump by my ribs :D


The problem is that during the night no matter how much I try to stay on my side I roll over onto my back whilst sleeping meaning the baby tend to change position again in the night.
                                                             Now on to the book review

The chosen book is Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin

Ina May is a midwife in America, She lives in a place called the Farm. She is a world renowned midwife and has tons of experience from her many years delivering babies in their homes and even on the road whilst travelling in a large group to set up home at the farm.

The book is full of amazing life accounts of births that she has attended written by the mothers and fathers of the children. Now the only down side of these is that a lot of them are rather hippyfied so you need to look past the flower power and the love in style and word choices but the basics are there for everyone to see. Birth is natural and should not be feared. They are inspiring to read and help you to have belief in your own birthing ability.

The second section of the book contains information on new born checks and care which is brilliant for all mothers as you can take what you like/want/need from this section.

The back of the book then consists of medical information. Some of this information will help you understand how a baby is born, the different positions it can be in, how it travels down the birth canal and eventually how it comes to be born.  Then it gets a bit more medical again this is only a good idea to read if you like to know the ins and outs of everything and what will be happening during certain procedures and is not for the faint hearted. For example it includes how an episiotomy is performed and how you are sutured up after and the different types of stitch that may be used.

I would recommend it to those who really want the full works on birth.

For those that would like the nicer parts with out the medical journal then give another of Ina may's books a go.

Ina Mays guild to Childbirth

The same great foundations as the first book but for the more squeamish.

Both books can be found on Amazon and EBay as well as birth balls.

'How To' - Curling with a babyliss wand

Babyliss pro Curling Wand

 

Do you love the thought of having nice natural looking curls? Then you should try the babyliss curling wand. Its is one of my staple tools for all my hair up work and can offer a variety of finishes. Personally I prefer the larger barrel wand and feel there is no gain from having a slim line one.

To get the perfect curl make sure your hair is fully dry before you start. Then taking two sectioning clips clip up all you hair leaving an inch and a half to 2 inch section at the back of your hair. Spritz with a good quality flexible hair spray. Then taking a section of about an inch- 2 inches wide start to wind the section around the largest end of the barrel working towards the narrowest end. Hold for 7-12 seconds. Then gently unwind (do not pull, it will pull the curl out) repeat this process with the next few sections. Once done spray the whole section again with a flexible spray.

Section off another bit of hair and repeat the same process. Keep doing this until you whole head is curled. An example of the finished look.

Depending on the amount of curl you would like you can run your fingers through the hair to break the curl up slightly. You can have a wide range of different looks from the one above, to the ones below all from using the same wand and method.

Loosened with fingers and a clip added

further loosened for a more relaxed look.

To finish spray with a firmer hold hair spray and then spritz with a good quality shine spray.

My products of choice are bed head hair sprays and Hair Cre8tive shine spray.

www.haircre8tive.co.uk

A youchy day

Oh my gosh today has been one long pain in the butt literally. Not only is my baby lying back to back so painfully Kicking me so that I flinch away from the stabbing pain, but I now have sciatica and if I get into certain positions I find my self stuck and whimpering link an injured puppy :S

I finally took a picture of my 30 week bump please excuse the state of the mirror :S did not notice how bad it was until the flash went off oops.






Yesterday I worked on a photo shoot and think that maybe all that standing around made me worse but it was good fun. We went to a beautiful hotel called The Cornwall in St. Austell. It has a stunning spa with it and apparently if you go for Sunday lunch then you get to use the spa facilities for free e.g. Pool, sauna, jacuzzi and so on and for a reasonable price of £15.95 for 2 courses or £19.95 for 3.





http://www.thecornwall.com/home.aspx
Its one of the perks of the job to visit some amazing places and stunning hotels and might I add that their hot chocolate was delightful.






Its also always amazing to see the difference in people from the beginning of a photo shoot to the end. they start by being nervous and shy and by the end feel like a real model and have such a boost in confidence. make over portrait packages really are a wonderful present.
For info on booking and prices email me on Jodiedawnhanson@aol.com

Stupid Hormones

Cant believe I actually cried today at HollyOaks  :O oh the shame.
I swear I did not get this emotional last time. I just seem to be a bit of a blubbering mess at the moment and yet I still have 10 weeks til my due date :S god forbid anyone say anything horrid to me I might turn into a venus fly trap and bite their head off ;D

Here is a picture of my 20 weeks Scan

Luckily everything is running smoothly so I have only had the two routine scans and now wont see the baby again until it arrives if everything stays the same that is.

We did not find out the sex, we never found out with our first child so all of our newborn items are neutral, no need to buy anything this time which is a blessing and a curse at the same time. I remember the excitement from having to get everything ready last time but have felt a bit more disconnected this time and probably will until I set a few things up nearer to the time although there really isn't much to do.

20 week Bump

I really should get up to date and take another bump photo as I am now 30 weeks and a fair bit bigger,

Have had a chance to try out my new maternity trousers and can not believe how much more comfortable I am not having to squeeze into my old clothes. Would recommend New look for some cheap maternity options. Seems silly to spend a lot for such a short period of time.

I even managed to pick up a few bits for my little boy in the sale so he now has some trousers that are not riding his ankles anymore.

Anyway that's enough from me for now. I'm off to watch some more trashy telly and see what home birth books I can find for my Kindle.

Welcome

Welcome to my First Blog Post.

Obviously I live in Cornwall and in the UK not the Cornwall of America.
I live with my other half John and our son Ross, we are also expecting our second child in March 2012. We live in a quite little village where nothing much ever happens beyond a funeral of one of the elderly residence.
I work as a Freelance hairstylist and have just started my own product range all of which I have another blog for. I thought i would use this blog to ramble on about my life in general as a way to vent and keep track of my ever wandering memory.

Currently we have just made it past Christmas and new year and i am at this moment in time very fat and uncomfortable. I'm sure there is suppose to be such a thing as a pregnancy glow but it seems to elude me while i suffer from tiredness, bags, rubbish skin, hair and nails. I'm sure its a myth they tell you as encouragement to have children.

Anywho i will leave it at that for now while i go off to yet again struggle to get my shoes on ;P