Being Creative With Jewellery

I've been posting my handmade jewellery on my facebook page, I have added a selection of drop earrings of all colours and sizes but have many more to add so keep checking my page.

I'm selling them for £2.95 each with a complementary gift bag. Postage is £1.95.

Take a look at my Earring album and let me know your thoughts. I will be adding necklaces and stud earrings which would make great stocking fillers with Christmas approaching with only 89 sleeps to go

Other products include greeting cards and hanging soft animals so check out my facebook page

Maternity Leave....How Long?

I was reading an article about how long you should take off for maternity apparently we are lucky in the UK as we can have up to 52 weeks off as places like Spain, the Netherlands and France only get 16 weeks off, while in the US it's just 12 weeks. I had no idea other countries had such little time with there babies but of course us Brit's can't always take a full 52 weeks due to finances mainly and I guess how you feel about motherhood a lot of women can't wait to go back to work especially if very career focused.  

About 20 % of UK women work just before delivery and return within one and two months. I can imagine if you are very career minded and are in a top position it would be extremely damaging to have a full year off. Some women CEO's go back only after a week, people take more going on holiday that's madness.

I couldn't have gone back after a week I wouldn't have been capable to do my job as I hardly slept the first week, I was in pain due to stitches after a forceps delivery and couldn't even sit down at times, emotionally I was all over the place being a mum for the first time well it hit me hard so how these women do it I don't know do they hand the baby over straight away for someone else to look after?

With my first baby I left 3 weeks before my due date but I was ready to leave before as I found it exhausting.  I was lucky enough to take a full year off but it definitely does take it's toll on your career. Before I was pregnant I had the opportunity to go down the path I finally wanted to in my company and they offered to pay for recognised courses to help my development but I then had to turn it down because I found I was pregnant and my exams would have been around my due date and I thought it would be impossible but thinking about it I bet many women would have still gone ahead. I then took a full year out and once back I found the company had moved on and made many role changes and my opportunity had disappeared completely and I was back to where I had started it felt like I had started a new job which was extremely hard to come to terms with as now I feel I missed an opportunity that I will never get back again and have to settle with being told what to do which isn't easy if you have some ambition.

Then again I don't regret having a year with my baby I didn't miss his firsts which made me incredibly proud and moments that you will never get back so it's extremely difficult to decide how long to take as it is pretty much a decision over your baby and your career.

I'm pregnant for a second time and this time as I would like to spend some time with my son before the second baby arrives so I will start my maternity 5 weeks before my due date and as I've already damaged my career I would still take another year if possible the only thing that will stop me is finances.

What A World

I think I'm naive when it comes to the working world now I feel I've had a year out and everything has changed it's a lot harsher, employers don't really care anymore, a lot more is expected of you. I think the attitude now is that your lucky to have a job so deal with it.

But then again people looking for jobs are just as bad, my work are employing for my maternity cover and 2 out of 3 of the interviewees didn't turn up the other day even after asking for a more convenient time for themselves to attend.
What is going on people they just don't seem to care about others anymore its awful. And I'm bringing a second child into the world it worries me as if it's like this now what will it be like when my children are adults. It's a scary thought.

In my grandparents or even parents era jobs were for life if you wanted and the world seemed a safer, nicer place but now I'm shocked by employers, employees and just everyday..........what is going on.

Ho Ho Ho!

Ho ho ho! You will all love me as I've started a Christmas countdown Only 3 months, 2 weeks and 2 days to go woohoo!

I've only started thinking about it as my second bubba is due 5th January so I better make sure I'm prepared as it could happen earlier than I expect especially at the rate I'm growing. Shops have already started filling the shelves with Christmas and I keep seeing signs and leaflets for Christmas parties and dinners. 

I do love Christmas but this year will be very different as I will be ready to pop so I can't imagine I will want to do too much especially shopping in town for presents, I think I will be glued to the laptop on my sofa. I'm hoping someone else will cook as well.

Any way enough about Christmas in this mini heatwave today - I just wanted to remind you.

My Pregnancy Progress

Week 21

On 29th August week 21 my little baby started giving me proper punches and kicks inside my belly. Even my husband could feel it which was nice to share.

Over the past few weeks I have been getting pains in my left leg when I walk or stand for too long but it took a turn for the worse this week my bum and thigh had shooting pains and the aching was horrible and now that keeps happening, I found it hard to walk the other night. I read that it could be sciatica, oh what joy's this pregnancy is bringing me, people keep telling me that it can get very painful. 

I'm also finding it hard to breathe and not just at night, I'm feeling so heavy and the pressure is just so uncomfortable. 


I'm worried that if I'm feeling so uncomfortable now how will I be in a couple of months. I am now just into week 22 so only 18 more weeks to go.

Has anyone else had sciatica? If so what did you do to make it easier to cope with?