Main Menu

About
Contact
Series: bride blog
Series: pregnancy & parenting

Category Archives: sustainability

My foray into natural skincare

March 27, 2018by gemmaruthbrown 3 Comments

My first crush on natural skincare came when adult acne hit me after a fairly unscathed stretch as a teenager (oh the irony!) I found the only thing that really […]

Read Article →

Beauty, Fairtrade, Health, sustainability

Instagram

Ok so it’s not QUITE as wonderful when it’s as wet and windy as today, but autumn is still my favourite season. This wee print is an ode to its beauty - an imaginary illustrated forage - and is available via @brownpaperpackagesni for just £10!

Top tips for pregnant people: go on loads of dates (must include cinema trips), take loads of photos and videos of your bump, and if your fingers swell TAKE YOUR RINGS OFF before they are cut off for you. Oh, how I’d missed these wee fellas 😍

I’ve been spending a lot of time on the floor recently. My little one is learning to crawl and climb, so I alternate between being his climbing frame and his safety net when his balance lets him down (which, at 9 months, is a lot - and it's the funniest thing. Sorry, son...) 🙈 This shift in perspective has got me thinking about the stories we tell ourselves. Baby B and I can be looking at the same thing, but our views are different - and sometimes, in life, I think we can choose between views, or stories, when it comes to what's in front of us. (Before I say anymore, there are situations that are just horrible whatever way we look at them, and this is not what I'm talking about here.) I think back to this time last year when I was pregnant - it was such a special, sacred time, but one that was also filled with uncertainty and complication. In it, I often found myself at a crossroads: what story would I tell myself about what was happening? My physical difficulties (tachycardia and hypertension throughout my second and third trimesters) led me to feel like my body was letting me down. I felt I couldn't trust it. And I felt that I was already letting my unborn baby down by not being able to carry on as 'normal'. These were natural ways to feel about a difficult situation, and it was important to acknowledge that. But then I realised that the way in which I was viewing what was happening wasn't the only way to see it. I learned that I could choose to tell myself a different story: that my physical complications were a result of my body working extra hard to keep my baby healthy, that it knew what it was doing. And that I wasn't letting my baby down, but in slowing down and stripping life back a little, I was doing what was best for him. This decision to choose a different story, which was a daily, sometimes hourly choice, led me to a more peaceful and hopeful stance - one which I benefit from still. I still have to trust my body as it nourishes my son and continues to heal from surgery. I still have to make decisions that prioritise presence and family and health. I'm glad this is my story now. Continued in comments 👇

Exploring the world with my wee sidekick on my hip is my favourite thing to do. 🌿

When friends love your baby well ❤️ Also: can confirm @brewandbakebelfast on the #LisburnRoad is delightful.

I’d been eyeing up the blackberries along our path every day for a week but ‘foraging’ (I use the term loosely) with a buggy is hard - thankfully, Dan came along today and was able to reach up high and get all the good ones for me! Can you spot him in this pic? I’ve asked on stories for your blackberries recipes - tart? Crumble? Something more daring? Let me know... (@peteyk4 I know you’re particularly into foraging so any inspo?) #seasonsinsquares

I’m usually a pen on paper girl but I really enjoyed this little piece of #chalkboardlettering during naptime today! In case you didn’t know, @brownpaperpackagesni is my lettering page - follow along for more there! Hoping hanging this on Baby B’s wall helps him connect those sleep cycles tonight... 🙏

Ok so I’m trying to work out if I’m team Bryony, Manon or Rahul - but one thing’s for sure, Bryony’s show-stopper last night reminded me of @mrsmeneels & @benconnolly’s #AliceInWonderland shoot! Who are you rooting for in #GBBO this year?!

Baby B’s legs never fail to kick excitedly as we approach this little wooden hatch at the #GiantsCauseway, home to his auntie @emma_b_80 & @jojmooreni’s magic pit stop of dreams which has served up epic grilled cheeses, hot drinks and other homemade goodies for a VERY busy year now! The girls are closing for the season (maybe this means you’ll, like, take a day off?!😅) and I’m reflecting on how cool it is for Baby B to have such a fun example of chasing a dream, putting in the VERY hard work and creating something original and brilliant that also supports local and fair trade. 👊 We’re a proud family. Good on ye, @minimaegden and thank you - we’ll be first in the queue come springtime. 😘

Twitter

RT @God_loves_women: The @Outtheboxcards project is so positive for girls! They have a kickstarter campaign that you can support here: http… 1 day ago
@LyraMcKee Can I come too? 1 day ago
@janinegmitchell @desiringGod Oh goodness. Disappointing but sadly not surprising. Such an unhealthy way of viewing… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 1 day ago
Yeeeesh. Let’s do this, folks. It’s a little more #MeatMonday and #meatfree Tues-Sun than #MeatFreeMonday, as good… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 4 days ago
It’s been two months since I blogged, but I’m back... gemmaruthbrown.com/2018/10/11/the… 4 days ago

Follow @gemmaruthbrown

Follow Blog

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.