The Farm

 Last weekend we were fortunate to share a rare work-free/football free (hallelujah!) Saturday together  so we decided to get up early and out of the house for a few hours to escape the sounds of the Piplings and Cheebies of Waybuloo, and to get a bit of fresh air. 

 Every morning we have a personal wake up call courtesy of little Eva between the hours of 6am and 7 and the weekends are definitely no exception.
 I've always been a bit of a night owl and as much as it kills me having to get up so early, honestly- I still use every distraction I can think of in the hope of an extra 15 minutes, Nothing has proved effective (yet) and alas i'm shivering downstairs in the kitchen clutching on to my cup of coffee for dear life.

At times I like the fact we start our day so early and instantly feel more productive for it.

 There are days I have my hoovering, washing and breakfast finished by 8.30am feeling like Mother Of The Year, and others I can be found sprawled out on the sofa watching Mr Tumble with one eye open with Stuart's 'Rocky Italian Stallion' dressing gown wrapped around me. The only thing that can get me shifted is Eva pulling the logs out of the fire place or attempting to dismantle the television.

Anyhow, early mornings aside, after being inspired by a school friend Lauren, and her beautiful little boy who visited the farm the previous week, we decided to take a trip there ourselves .Since having a baby we have have done the rounds when it comes to day trips. Lakes, soft play centres, country trails to the local parks.. it can get a little repetitive and so the farm was a great opportunity to experience something new.

After a quick search on Google maps and loading up the car with all the gear (buggy, baby bag, snacks. nursery rhyme cd for the car- The joys, eh?) we were ready to set off.

To be honest we didn't really know what to except from the farm and wondered if  Eva would really even benefit from any of the activities they had to offer - but we couldn't help feeling excited anticipating her reactions to all the animals, considering the fact she hasn't been in contact with animals before, despite Stuart's best attempts at trying to get us a dog.

Well what can I say? we all loved the farm! Eva was so intrigued with all the animals and we didn't hear a peep out of her while she was stroking chicks and bunny rabbit and bottle feeding a baby goat. My baby feeding a baby animal? Someone pass the Kleenex! It was also  the first day Eva had ever wore 'proper' shoes, and I was most definitely that overzealous mum, bursting with pride and being ever so snap happy with the camera.
 'Ohh stand with her beside the tractor'
'Awwh! stand in front of the horse!'
Oh yeah. That mum.

The staff at the farm were fantastic and constantly brought animals over to Eva without us even having to ask and were so extremely patient with her. 
The rain came on and we ventured into a little playroom where we were able to take a little break and Eva was able to crawl about and stretch her legs. In this little room we met a little boy (Jonah) with his mummy,and days later after seeing a picture of this lovely little boy appear on my Instagram feed I was convinced these were the people we had met at the farm. As much as Stuart tried to refrain me sending her a message 'You'll sound like a baby stalker!' nosiness got the better of me and I tagged her in the photo. It turns out it was in fact Jonah and his mummy! We both have been following each other on Instagram for a few months and little did we know that our babies were playing together. How small is the world? Such a lovely coincidence.

Overall, a great day at the farm!

Recent Loves

Just whenever we thought Eva's sleeping could not get any worse, she throws a spanner in the works- Just to keep us on our toes. 
We're now back to seeing every single hour on the clock. 
It's as well she's ridiculously cute as she stands in her cot clapping her hands for our attention.
We're up before most bakers in the country, before the majority of people have even stumbled home from the bar. 
It's just a phase we keep telling ourselves.
A torturous, cruel phase sent to push us to our physical and mental limits.
So understandably the caffeine intake has been upped this week.
(Nero, Costa... you name it)
The stronger the better, and a slice of cake please
And thank the Lord for Grandparents.

We have been Youtubing 'Baby Lullabies' the last few weeks.
We've all been there at one stage or another, haven't we? particularly at stupid o'clock in the morning.
I was a fan of the white noise apps back when Eva was a newborn, back before she found the sounds of the rain forest so comical.
These days we're on the lookout for something a little more calming and sleep inducing. I randomly came across 'Rockabye Baby' on one particularly challenging night.  Rock music in lullaby form? Count me in.
There's everything from David Bowie, The Cure and The Beatles to Coldplay, Pharrell Williams and Bob Marley.
A genius idea if you ask me!

Ok, so it hasn't actually lulled her off to sleep but how ridiculously relaxing is this to listen to? I have a playlist I like to put on while feeding Eva her last bottle of the night- it sends all three of us into a nice sleepy state. Other songs i'd recommend are The Cure's 'Just like heaven' and Journey's 'Don't Stop Believing' which I can't believe i'm actually typing as if there's one song I hate with a passion, it's this one. It  just screams out drunken karaoke. But in lullaby form? I'm all over it.

The lovely people at Nuby sent Eva out a teething bundle last week. 
I was almost as delighted as her as those little gums have been giving her a considerable amount of trouble recently.
Everything in the parcel was extremely useful, from the thick, absorbent dribble bibs to the teething rings that double as toys (Great for car trips)
OK, being completely honest. a teething baby is going to enjoy anything they can get into their mouths aren't they?- only this morning I was wrestling with Eva to get the edge of the laptop out of her mouth, and the remote control did not stand a chance.
That being said, these are a great distraction for her, they're safe, bright and colourful and the different textures means it holds her attention for longer.
 She's particularly been drawn to the 'Wacky Teething Ring' which contains a piece of of crinkly fabric which is always a winner with an inquisitive baby and lots of soft silicone for her to chomp down on.

I picked up 'Gurgle' magazine a few weeks back in the WHsmith in the airport. To be honest it was a bit of a panic purchase, but i'm so glad I came across it, I didn't put it down the entire flight.
Gone are the days of Cosmopolitan and Glamour, eh?
It's aimed at modern mums (and mums to be!) and contains articles on everything under the sun,  from embarking on your weaning journey, helping  little ones with a sleep aversion (sounds familiar), to information on fertility, IVF and conceiving.
There's maternity fashion, baby fashion, product reviews and recipes. Everything that is relevant to mums and mums to be. Where has it been in my life the last eight months?
I personally love reading other women's experiences and learning about all different styles of parenting and the tips and tricks that come along with them. The best recommendations come from the mouths of mums who have tried and tested products themselves and will give honest opinions.
I only wish I'd discovered it when I was pregnant.

The  past week we have been enjoying looking back at pictures of Eva. I think returning to work made me take stock of the last nine months and it was so nice to sit down and look back..

 It is amazing how much she has changed in the last few months. As much as i'm a perpetual pest with the camera i'm so glad i've captured all these fleeting moments by the week. I just need to get  move on printing some and adding to the baby books!

....And i'm back! On Tuesday I started back to work after nine months off on Maternity leave. I've spent the last few months feeling incredibly emotional and anxious at the idea of returning to work but like lots of mums who reassured me, it really wasn't too bad after all.
I really missed having a little cuddle in the evening, the bedtime routine and even just spending a few hours in the evening with Stuart. (Although on the plus side i'll probably lose a bit of weight by ditching the obligatory night time tea and biscuits)
By the third shift it felt as though I had never been away and had almost forgot about the joys of working in retail:
lots of dirty fingernails, forgotten wallets and plain strange conversations!
But I am glad to be back, see familiar faces and get back to a bit of normality. (For now that is!)

and what better way to finish off the week?? (Courtesy of my Tesco Clubcard vouchers!)

The 'T' Word..

Pre baby I knew nothing on the subject of teething. Absolutely nothing.

 I'd often read status's on Facebook, people telling of their little loves cutting teeth

and to be honest I hadn't the faintest idea what they were talking about, cutting teeth was a phrase so incredibly foreign to me.

Seven months into parenthood and i've come to the conclusion that teething is yet another one of those unspoken things that we keep hush hush, only to be discussed with fellow members of the Mum Club. If discussed to childless women in too much detail, right down to the nitty gritty, people wouldn't willingly reproduce any more.

OK, that's maybe a little melodramatic, but you get my point.

Teething is horrendous.

It seems to strike when all is going swimmingly, when you're finally getting the hang of the weird and wonderful world of parenthood. You've established a good routine, your baby is no longer a complete stranger, you know them inside out and recognise all their little signals- hungry, overtired, overstimulated, restless, bored etc etc etc
When out of nowhere you're suddenly mothering the spawn of Satan. 

That handy wee routine you had going is out the window, you're back to seeing every hour on the clock and experiencing random bouts of manic wailing while poor Sophie La Giraffe is being ruthlessly decapitated.
It suddenly makes so much sense why they're so accurately named 'dribble bibs'- How can such a tiny human produce so much salivia?! Everything in your baby's eye line becomes chewable, the tv remote, their comforter, your knuckles! The teething nappies that the 'experts' claim are myth, are in fact real and those little scarlet cheeks are so hot you could probably cook your eggs off them. (But isn't there something outrageously cute about them?!)

Teething in my opinion, is horrific for all involved.There is nothing worse than witnessing your little one in pain, especially when they can't vocally communicate what the problem is,
which is why it's a good idea to stock the cupboards with remedies for when teething strikes.
 Little E has had her fair share of horrendous nights due to teething (the days tend to be more manageable as she can be easily distracted with toys/sights and sounds around her) We've tried and tested lots of different products over the last few months and to be honest, we haven't found a Holy Grail product, nothing has eliminated the pain completely - it's just been a matter of perseverance, a positive mind frame (keep reminding yourself that it won't last forever...tomorrow will be a better day) and shower them with lots of cuddles and TLC.
Although we haven't found a miracle product, yet,  there have been plenty that have definitely helped, which i've discussed below.

Dentinox teething gel: Dentinox was the very first teething remedy we came across in Boots and decided to give it a go, it's gel based, sugar free and suitable to use from birth. It has a minty unoffensive taste and works by numbing the pain of the gums as well as eliminating potential infection. t's easy to administer, just a dab on the gums with a clean, damp finger.

Pros: Temporarily numbs the pain, can be repeated after 20 minutes, a pleasant, sugar free taste. Inexpensive and widely available.( A friend told me she's spotted it in a pound shop!)

Cons: Not a long lasting pain relief, it tends to slide off the gums quite easily. Doesn't tend to be as effective at night when teething pain seems to intensify.

Similar products: Baby Bonjela, Calgel, Nelson's Teetha gel, Boots own brand.

Anbesol Liquid: When Eva first starting showing signs of teething Anbesol was recommended to me the most by other mums, I honestly don't know why we didn't pick it up sooner. After a hunt around my local Boots I discovered it was kept behind the counter and the lovely customer advisor told me that their head pharmacist swears by the stuff and uses it on her own babies. Anbesol contains a local anesthetic and numbs the affected area and can be used by all ages for many different problems for example: Ulcers, denture irritation, toothache.  It is a great deal stronger than your average teething gel and being a liquid I find it absorbs into the gums giving it more staying power.

Pros: A stronger alternative when baby is having a particularly bad teething day. I've tried it on my own gums and was taken back by how well it actually numbs the area.
Cons: Slightly more costly than gels/granules  (Anbesol is priced at £5.59) however, a little goes a long way. It has a  stronger, more unpleasant taste - not for everybody- Stuart despises the stuff and personally won't use it on Eva- saying it's too strong, where as I prefer to use it on bad days and find it effective! Each to their own, eh?

Teething Granules: Like many teething remedies, teething granules can be a bit of a Marmite product. Being homeopathic there is speculation on whether they do anything at all to aid the pain of teething. As there is absolutely no scientific proof that they do anything at all, it takes a bit of trial and error to see how your baby responds to them, but generally speaking we've always had a good experience  and tend to reach for the granules first when teething strikes, simply as they're a more natural alternative. Teething powders/granules come in boxes of individual sachets and can be poured straight into baby's mouth or rubbed around the gums with a clean, damp finger.
We prefer to use Nelson's Teetha but have also used Ashton and Parsons as well as Boots own in the past and to be completely honest I wouldn't say there's a great deal of difference between them, 'Teetha' just seems to be more available in our local supermarkets and chemists so that's why we pick it up!

Pros: A more natural alternative and side effective free. As they come in small sachets they are perfect for carrying in the side pocket of a changing bag.
Cons: Do they really work?, no one knows!
Similar products: Ashton & Parsons Infants Powders, Boots Teething Pain Relief.

Infant Nurofen/Calpol: Ol' trusty Calpol. We've all been subjected to the sickly, sweet taste of Calpol at some stage in our lives, haven't we? and even though generations have passed, Calpol still seems to be the go-to solution in the medicine cupboard - It's been modernised slightly - they've finally ditched the little white plastic spoon  (which always seemed to crack) and been replaced with a syringe device that left me highly confused the first time I went to use it, I shamefully had to read the instructions.. #mummyfail.
I reserve Calpol for more severe bouts of teething as it contains paracetamol but find it extremely effective, particularly at night time when the pain seems to flare up. We recently swapped Calpol for Infant Nurofen after a recommendation from another mummy and I have to say I prefer it. Nurofen is Ibruofen based (where as Calpol is Paracetamol based) What's the difference you ask? I had no idea until I read up on the Calpol website

'As a painkiller, paracetamol is thought to block the production of certain substances in your body when you are ill or hurt to make your body block the pain signals to your brain'

'Ibuprofen is a different sort of drug from paracetamol. When someone is unwell their body may produce certain chemicals which cause inflammation and pain. Ibuprofen can block the production of those chemicals to help reduce pain and is also an anti-inflammatory drug.'

I swear i'm not being sponsored by Calpol, I'm just an paranoid mummy who likes to do her research... promise!.

Pros: Not only aids with teething pain,but lowers temperature/earache/post immunisation fever - a must-have in the medicine cupboard. Has a pleasant Strawberry flavour. Can be used from two months old and is available in sachet form - fantastic for the baby bag- no more hauling about a sticky glass bottle!
Cons: After the first dose it is recommended to leave between 4-6 hours before the next, a long ol' day if those gums are particularly inflamed!
Similar Products: Boots Paracetamol 3 months plus/ Boots Ibuprofen 3 months plus.

Sometimes you just don't want to give your baby medicines, for whatever reason and there is plenty of other teething aids to rely on.

Sophie La Giraffe: A major cult product but really does help those little gums. She is made from natural rubber,  the perfect shape for baby to hold on to and has lots of different grooves for baby to get his/her mouth around. Also lets not glaze over the fact that Sophie is  ridiculously cute.

Teething Rings: Are great for popping in the fridge or freezer (check instructions first though!) to soothe and stimulate those sore little gums. There are so many different brands to use from but  I find Nuby to be a reliable brand- their products are brightly coloured and are BPA free.

Tommee Tippee Gummy Teether: It took Eva ages to get used to this little contraption but she's coming around to the idea of it! Stuart simply places it into her mouth (and holds it) while Eva chomps down on the hard ridged rubber - A couple of minutes with it and it takes the edge off the pain. It's like a little mouthguard!

Toothbrush: I read somewhere to lightly massage your baby's gums with the head of a (new, clean) baby toothbrush to stimulate and soothe gums. We purchased a Baby Oral kit from Mothercare during my pregnancy which came with 3 different bits: a gum massager, a 'finger' toothbrush and a larger toddler brush. It's came in quite handy but you can always use a clean, damp finger and massage the gums yourself.

Food: Recently i've been buying carrot battons and melon slices for Eva to chew on.. I keep them in the fridge so they're nice and chilled and she loves gnawing away on them, even if she doesn't eat them it really soothes the gums and acts as a great distraction from the pain. If your baby is too young to be dabbling with finger foods unaided I highly reccomend the Nuby Nibber net. Stuart came home with this handy contraption from Tescos when we first started introducing finger foods but were over paranoid of her choking.
You simply place a piece of food in the net and screw the little lid around. The food is locked in there and baby can work away sucking the food through the net.. You could place chilled fruit such as strawberries, mango, melon.. etc! However, have baby wipes at the ready and expect mess. Lots of mess.

These are just a few of my personal favourites and are all my own opinions, I haven't been approached or paid by any brands to feature any products, it's just been a great deal of trial and error over the last few months.
Is there anything in particular that you use for teething??
I can't get my head around Amber necklaces/anklets.. has anyone tried one?

What I miss about pregnancy

There seems to be such a baby boom at the minute, my social media time lines are filled daily with scan pictures and bump updates! It's making me reminisce about last year like a crazy woman and brings back floods of memories both good and bad!.

When the Mr asked what my latest blog post was on and I told him,he had a look of utter horror on his face. 

Do not fear, friend. After this particular bout of teething, all plans of a future pregnancy have been put on hold for now, until my sanity returns at least.

But below are just a few things I miss/love about the pregnancy process!

Those first few weeks: When only Stuart and I knew our little secret. It was too early to tell  anyone. In fact we were still trying to come to terms with it ourselves, and for several weeks we got to enjoy this special but absolutely terrifying time together. Stuart wrote on a Valentine's Card ' You and me, we'll soon be 3' I was an absolute emotional wreck reading it. 

The thick glossy hair and strong  white nails: I thought this was nothing but a pregnancy myth but wow, this pregnancy caper does wonders for your hair and nails. I didn't really take too much attention to it at the time but at a few months post partum I was mourning the loss of my shiny thick locks and unbreakable nails!
 Apparently this is all to do with the increased estrogen levels, blood circulation and sped up metabolism which carries more nutrients to your hair and nails. But I reckon Pregnacare supplements had a lot to do with this as well-My midwife told me to continue taking them even after giving birth to make sure my body was getting all the nutrients it needed while my body was recovering.

It's ok to put on weight!: For the first time in my life it was completely acceptable to put on weight, in fact it's natural and healthy. Although eating for two is unfortunately a myth, it's probably the one time in your life you can enjoy your food without feeling too guilty. (I didn't say no to seconds.. or thirds for that matter) Any time I was horrified at the number on the scales I reminded myself that it wasn't just the weight of the baby I was carrying, it was placenta, increased volume of blood/fluid  and amniotic fluid.
Pass the cupcakes, please!

Baby shopping: The other day we were in a baby section of a clothing shop and I spotted  a pregnant woman with her mum browsing the first size clothes. I could have cried reminiscing back to those days, browsing through shops with mum 'awwwwhing' and 'aaaahing' over all the teeny little doll-like clothes. 
 Of course we could never leave a shop without buying at least something, even if it was just a pack of muslin cloths or socks! Not to mention that a shopping trip could almost always guarantee a free lunch with a iced caramel latte. I was in my element.
The minute I got home I would go straight into Eva's room and get everything out and would constantly sift through all the clothes sorting them into sizes, several times a week. I was obsessive!

The naps: I'm talking the pre 20 week naps, before the aches, pains, heartburn, cramps and even lightning crotch(Is there a politer way to put it?) kicked in. The post work naps that stretched well into dinner time. I've never been a great sleeper so these naps were heavenly!

The cleavage: I've said it before but Mother Nature gives you an amazing, natural free boob job, and in a cruel twist of fate takes it away from you, despite all the hard graft you've put in over the last 40 weeks. Life, eh?

The pregnancy bubble: You spend the duration in your lovely little pregnancy bubble which i miss terribly! I start back to work in less than a month and my bubble is well and truly burst. My body is back to normal. I can lift heavy things, I don't need to use the lift as the stairs that once seemed kilimanjaro like
are now fine. I can eat all the soft cheese I want, a few glasses of Jack D here and there are perfectly fine. I miss my little bubble of safe!

People are nicer, strangers stop to talk: Everyone loves a pregnant woman!.. (except  for maybe all the men on my Facebook list who've had to endure my pregnancy updates.) Working in retail customers constantly stopped to chat to me, asking me how I was getting on and offering up pieces of advice (not all welcome advice!- I could have done without hearing about how your complicated your daughters/nieces/second cousin twice removed's neighbour's delivery was) 
People become a lot friendlier, doors are opened for you, seats are offered up.. People have never been so nice to me in all my life. Now i'm just one of those pests with a a pram. One that struggles to navigate it around narrow shop aisles and clips people's ankles in the process, the kind of person you hate to find yourself walking behind.

The midwife appointments: Talking to midwives, getting baby's measurements, hearing the heartbeat, seeing the growth chart progress.. I really enjoyed it. Just me?

The bump: I was constantly being told how much i'd miss my bump, and after 41 weeks I honestly couldn't remember what life was like pre-bump. By the end it made everything awkward, I underestimated how much room I had between myself and cupboards, doors, shelves- everything!. Trying to get into a comfortable position in bed was almost impossible, even talking left me gasping for air and shaving my legs left me as out of breath as doing a marathon. 
Nearly seven months on I admit I really do miss my bump, my little built in resting shelf. 
I used to sit for hours watching my bump rise and see a foot or a leg here and there, watching it grow by the week, and  the hiccups.. ahhh the hiccups.

The pampering: I was gifted lots of mum and me products for my birthday and towards the end of my pregnancy. Sleep mist, bump lotion,shampoo and bath oils. There are so many products on the market aimed at mums to be! (Mum and Me were my favourite but Asda do a great range, as does Sanctuary available in Boots!) I'd usually think products like this a little gimmicky and any excuse to get mums to be to part with their pennies but I really enjoyed them! The products are loaded with ingredients such as camomile and lavender to help relax and soothe those aches and pains as well as containing ingredients to hydrate your skin which can become stretched, itchy and tight in the later stages. It's a lovely time to really focus on your body and health and really take time to pamper yourself. Lets face it, once baby arrives this goes out the window!. 
I practically lived in the bath, did weekly hair and face masks, made smoothies with fresh fruit and treated my bump to a massage with bump butters morning and night!.

Lazy days: Days spent in the comfort of my bed. I'd make breakfast and would go crawling back into bed- which contained a massive stash of books, magazines, snacks!. At the time I felt ridiculously guilty.. Stuart used to joke that I spent all day in bed and get dressed just minutes before he walked through the door from home (...and there may be a little a bit of truth in this..) but on reflection, I had nothing to feel guilty about, had I known how little time I would spend in my bed when baby arrived i'd have spent the last two months in bed! instead we were smack bang in the middle of a house move, but nevertheless, I had some amazing pajama days, I think every mama to be should make the very most of these days!

Being a psycho and getting away with it: All hell broke loose the day Stuart returned from Boots with the wrong flavour of Gaviscon. Aniseed? ANISEED? what must he have been smoking to pick me up aniseed flavour? The poor man just took it on the chin, apologising profusely.
Any time we had as much as a disagreement, even just a minor difference of opinion such as what to have for dinner, my eyes would well up and everything seemed earth shattering. It's comical (and embarrassing) looking back. 
Stuart told me in the weeks after that it was getting increasingly hard to bite his tongue, but he knew it was the hormones.  
The man did good.

You're never alone: You've yet to meet your little one, yet there is an unbreakable bond. When I was having a tough time in work feeling my little one kick away really kept me going, it was such a comforting feeling, I was never alone. From the minute I found out I was pregnant I became so protective over this little person I had yet to meet. Remember that scene in Friends when Rachel has her baby?.
Upon giving birth she looks down at baby Emma in her arms and says "I know you" 
It is so spot on and gets me every.Single.Time.

(Obligatory labour selfie...)

The labour/delivery experience: Every time we drive past the hospital my hearts a little! Stuart laughs and I have to defend myself by explaining that the maternity ward holds so many memories for me as it was the first place we met our daughter! It was the same hospital I sat in crying my eyes out when I'd fallen down the stairs before 20 weeks and we had feared the worst. The one I'd spent a night in at 37 weeks for an infection that wouldn't shift. I'd sat in the day unit with a trace machine attached when I couldn't feel any movements, laboured and gave birth in the home from home unit and carried my little girl through the corridors to the car on her first day home. So many memories!

Is there anything you miss about pregnancy?!

30 Things I want my Daughter to know

1 Wash your face morning and night. Foundation is a real bitch to get off pillows.
2 Read, I don't care if you've got your head stuck in Jane Eyre or Cosmopolitan, just read!
3 The grass isn't always greener on the other side, even if it looks that way on instagram. People choose what they want others to see.
4 Tattoos are permanent-  just look at your dads.
5 Get your Maths. Please, please, please.You probably won't ever have to know how many angles a rhombus has or how many fractions of pizza Jimmy ate, but employers want you to have it.
6 Guys have meaningless fun with easy girls, they don't marry these kinds.
7 If you are going through tough times in your life, chances are I have been there too, talk to me.
8 You will kiss a good few frogs before you meet your prince.
9 And when you think you've met him,let me suss him out before your dad does. I'll help prepare him, mentally and physically.
10 Visit your grandparents, not just at Christmas. (although I don't think they'll give you much choice in the matter.)
11 Phone me up to collect you no matter how drunk you are, no matter what time it is, as long as you're home safe. (That doesn't mean I won't kick your ass 'round the living room in the morning though.)
12. Double denim is a no go. Ever, Even if Vogue is all over it, Steer clear.
13 Most bad days can be turned around with a long bath, candles and chocolate.
14 What you think of yourself is far more important than what people think of you.
15 Stay away from cheap wine, for £3.99 you may think you're getting a good deal, but you will have the mother of all hangovers the next day, not even Lucozade will be able to help you.
16 Enjoy every minute of your youth, don't be in a rush to grow up. One day you'll wake up with two kids, a mortgage and bills to pay. Enjoy every second of having no real responsibilities.
17 There are much worse things in life than carbs, stop pushing salad around your plate and eat the pizza.
18.An ugly truth is always better than a pretty lie.
19. Take an interest in whats happening in the world, not only will it widen your knowledge, but it helps if you're ever stuck for conversation.
20. Invest in good pair of tweezers.
21. If you ever feel you've hit rock bottom, think of it this way, you can only go up from here.
22. But know that you will have bad days and they will always pass, having a few bad days here and there doesn't mean you have a bad life.
23. Keep smiling. You have the most beautiful of smiles (..not that i'm ridiculously biased or anything..)
24. Material goods do not equal happiness but if you're having a bad day, treat yourself to something nice, it doesn't have to break the bank, even a slice of red velvet cake can do the trick.
25.If you help it, try not to buy now, pay later on anything.
26. Quality is better than quantity. Three close friends are far better than fifteen fake ones, christmas will be cheaper too.
27. Travel. And I mean further than Magaluf.
28. And if you do choose to go to Magaluf, know that the only person you'll be sharing an apartment with is your father.
29. Never let people make you feel inferior. We all wake up with morning breath and bedhead hair.
30. When you think i'm the worst/annoying/frustrating/unfair person to ever grace the planet, remember that I love you more than you'll ever know.