What I Wore Wednesday: Jord Wood Watches Giveaway

I'm the first to admit I'm not really a watch person; I tend to look at my phone for the time but I love how chunky watches look as an accessory. Jord Wood Watches use natural materials to offer a unique fashion flare. Their wood watches are one of a kind, premium quality time pieces, hand-crafted with sustainable materials from all over the world. 

The watches are stylish but also sustainable and definitely stand out in the sea of metal and rubber watches out there. I personally fell in love with the black and maple Sully. I love the mix of dark and light wood and the large face. If I'm going to wear a watch I prefer it chunky rather than delicate. The Sully is technically in the men's range but I love the oversized look and feel.

Maybe it's just me but I love a large, masculine watch against more delicate, feminine bracelets.  The watch itself is so well crafted and doesn't feel mass produced. So many watches look identical regardless of brand but Jord watches really stand out as being unique and since the wood grain will vary from piece to piece each one truly is one of a kind.

The team at Jord are giving you a chance to win your very own Jord wood watch! Choose a Sully like mine or any watch up to the value of $139! Jord ship their amazing watches worldwide so the competition is open to all of my readers around the globe!

Leave a blog comment with what watch you'd choose and follow the Rafflecopter instructions to enter. Competition ends Friday, August 22nd at 5pm BST (see widget for hours remaining). See Rafflecopter widget for full Terms and Conditions--only valid entries will be counted.

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Bump Watch 2014: 31 Weeks

How do you like my fancy purple crutches? I just got back from the physiotherapist and just to mix things up the left side of my pelvis was posterior rotated today (last time it was right anterior). She manipulated it back in to place and I get to try a compression belt now, too. I'm doing everything thing I should be and I should just minimize moving around basically which is frustrating but is what I'm going to have to do.

This week the Commonwealth Games are in Glasgow so the boys went to the badminton on Sunday (train was cancelled and we couldn't park close enough for me to walk so I dropped them off) and we all went to the athletics on Monday. Blondie Boy is really enjoying them and we are going to watch the road race go past NBH's Dad's house Sunday morning and then the boys have the Squash on Sunday evening where BB will get to see a medal ceremony. I might join them (we have enough tickets) depending on how I'm feeling since you can feel worse before better after manipulation.

The weather has turned here and has cooled off quite a bit into the 60's again. It makes sleeping at night much more comfortable temperature wise! Last night NBH and I got to go for a 7 course tasting menu that I won through Yelp at the Finnieston which was lovely; it focused on the best of Scottish seafood with crab, mackerel, trout, salmon and the most gorgeous heirloom tomatoes with goats cheese. YUM!  We have a special surprise for Blondie Boy tonight and I can't wait to see his face when he figures it out :)

*How far along?: 31 weeks

*How big is baby?: A pineapple; no wonder I'm so freaking sore the baby has spikes.

*Maternity clothes?: Yes and I'm thrilled that tops were getting too short around this stage last time and I'm not just some behemoth of a beached whale this time around

*Sleep?: I tend to wake up with one side totally numb & have to switch to the other side OR wake up on my back and go "oh crap I'm not supposed to be on my back"

*Best moment this week?: Going to the Commonwealth Games! I saw an athlete with one leg, drop his crutches to throw a discus and win bronze--I feel stupid about complaining after seeing that (although I bet his pelvis is perfect).

*Movement?: Yup. This baby's movements are much stronger than Blondie Boy's and they make my stomach contort into strange shapes much more than I ever remember BB doing.

*Food cravings?: I really wanted McPhabb's Mac and Cheese (and I got it!) earlier this week but I think that was because it was a dull, grey and wet day

*Labor signs?: No

*Belly button in or out?: Innie; I think I've given up putting my belly bar back in.

*What I miss: Not being sore

*What I'm looking forward to: I've got a surprise planned for Blondie Boy tonight that I think will blow his mind

*Milestone: 2 months left until my section

If you like to compare/contrast here is Blondie Boy's 31 week update from 2009.

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Eurocamp camping holidays in France

We were so excited to be going back on another Eurocamp camping holiday in France this year but we knew Blondie Boy would only want to go to one parc: Le Brasilia. He's been talking about going back since our trip last September and he's now talking about when can we go back again!

This year we knew all the amazing amenities Le Brasilia had to offer but not how truly awesome Eurocamp's new Aspect holiday home is. The Aspect is brand new for 2014 and exclusive to Eurocamp. It represents the next generation of holiday home and has been designed to help you make the most of al fresco living, with no compromise on indoor comfort.

The first thing we noticed was its kerb appeal--call me shallow but the Aspect looks really good from the outside. Isn't she pretty?

Pretty and functional; the extra large double decking is covered so if you have a translucent child like I do you can eat breakfast first thing without having to slather him in sunscreen first.  There are two sun loungers and a large wicker effect table with four chairs and four foot stools. Can I just say how amazing it was as a pregnant woman to be able to sit at the table with my feet up? Divine!

Did I mention the BBQ? It's a super nice, fancy pants gas BBQ. I think NotBlondeHusband's eyes lit up with glee when he saw it. Not that there is anything wrong with a charcoal BBQ but this was so easy to use and clean it made grilling out a treat. We ate every literally meal outside, from breakfast to dinner. We spend the bulk of our time outside on holiday so having a great space to eat, read, relax and play cards is essential and the Aspect more than delivered.

I know I just said we spend the bulk of our holiday outside but we were totally spoiled with the inside of the Aspect as well. The kitchen is high spec with a coffee maker, microwave, oven/stove, full size fridge/freezer and (wait for it) A DISHWASHER! The last thing I want to do on holiday is wash dishes so this totally won me over! 

There are three bedrooms: a bunk room, a room with two twin beds and the master bedroom. The master bedroom has a king size bed, a ridiculous amount of closet space and was just spacious in general. There would have been plenty of room for a cot and still freedom to move. All of the bedrooms have black out blinds in addition to curtains as well which is always a plus! I can't stress enough how spacious this bedroom was: it really feels more like a hotel room or home bedroom than a holiday home.

The bathroom is also much bigger than we were used to in a holiday home. The shower is just as big as our shower at home and there wis plenty of shelf space as well for all your toiletries.  There are tons of other great features like an iPod dock, free mobile wifi, air conditioning and the couches also fold out into beds so it can sleep 8 adults.

During our week we saw so many people come to look at the Aspects, both on their own and with Eurocamp staff, and you really can't blame them. All Eurocamp accommodation is clean and functional but the Aspect just takes it to a whole other level.

Even with such luxurious accommodation, the amenities of the park are still key to a great holiday and Le Brasilia has everything you could need. Blondie Boy loved walking up to the one site boulangerie to get fresh baguettes in the morning (is there anything better?) and practicing his French!


  
In addition to the boulangerie there is a fruit and vegetable store (with farm fresh produce), a deli, mini-mart, cave (you can bring your own containers for wine), tabac, laundromat, gift shop and even a hairdresser! That's all in addition to the restaurant, bar and pool snack shop. If you wanted to you really don't have to leave the site but there are large supermarkets nearby, too.

By far the best amenities on site are the swimming pool complex and the direct beach access.  I grew up as a total pool rat and Blondie Boy has inherited his mother's love of the water. With four pools, four water slides, two children's slides, a spa and plenty of sun loungers there really isn't more you can ask for. Blondie Boy loves it so much he'd barely pause to tell me about it!



Right behind the pool complex there is direct access to the beach. The beach is all white sand right until you reach the water where it is a bit pebbly. The sea itself is really shallow so perfect for children and you can go really far out without it going over your shoulders.

You can borrow beach toys from Eurocamp and Blondie Boy loved digging and building sandcastles along the shore. Since it is so shallow it is also perfect for kids to body surf--basically you just float and wait for a wave and then surf in on your belly!



Having direct access to the beach is great because it means if Blondie Boy decides he's had enough after 15 minutes or is hungry or it is too hot we can just walk straight back to the holiday house no problem. No need to pack a massive bag for the day and spend ages looking for parking--just maximum beach fun!

The most fun though had to be watching Blondie Boy in the mini show. I wish I could share videos but there are so many other kids in it that I wouldn't feel right. Blondie Boy LOVES the mini show and we went every single night. Basically all the kids get on stage and put on a show by dancing to some Le Brasilia songs. He puts on little mini shows at home it was so cool to see how much better he was at picking up the choreography this year. I know that Le Brasilia had proper shows at night as well but the mini show was all I needed.



We were really lucky that this year Blondie Boy's Grandma got to come and spend the last few days of our holiday with us. My mother-in-law and her husband had been in Spain so they drove up and got to spend time at Le Brasilia with us.  Since they'd both visited French holiday parcs before I asked her what she though of Eurocamp from a grandparent's, and seasoned European traveller's, point of view:

When our son and daughter-in-law invited us to join them in France to share their Eurocamp holiday, we were delighted to be able to go although if I'm being honest, I have to say we also felt some trepidation. We had a fairly wide experience of holiday destinations in Europe from when our children were small and were confident about the level of service and the type of accommodation we could expect. However there was little resemblance between Le Brasilia and the barely adequate standards of our previous experiences.

Our accommodation was of a very high standard. Purpose built for the environment, with modern bathroom and shower, it also boasted a dishwasher and huge decked area with comfortable furniture. We loved sitting there in the evening, playing board games with our grandson. There was just so much space, inside and out, perfect for generations to holiday together.

We were in a three bedroom home but we noticed that the touring pitches were generously proportioned and well-screened, not often the case in the South of France where spaces are often cramped and small.

The night before we left we agreed that while Eurocamp destinations are great for a family holiday, they would also be perfect for us on our own. Spacious and clean accommodation, the  beach, the pool, excellent shops with fresh produce, evening shows if you want or a quiet drink on your own deck. Eurocamp exceeded our expectations and we will definitely be back.

It's not easy to please three generations at the same time but Eurocamp certainly delivered again.  I know this won't be our last Eurocamp holiday and our next one we will have a baby! I don't know what to expect on a holiday with a baby but I know Eurocamp will be able to cater to whatever we need (they do free hire of baby and toddler essentials!)

Right now Eurocamp is running an early booking offer for 2015! Get up to 25% off when you book by October 31st and pay just a £99 deposit!

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Transatlantic Blonde's accommodation was provided for the purpose of this review but all travel and other costs on holiday were met by ourselves. All opinions are our own--do you think I could 3 generations to lie?

Bump Watch 2014: 30 Weeks

Last week we were lucky enough to visit Babybond for a private pregnancy scan in Glasgow. Babybond 4D bonding scans are the original and most popular in the UK and include a growth report with estimated fetal weight and optional sexing at no extra charge.  All scans are performed by a qualified sonographer with diagnostic obstetric scanning experience and if your baby doesn't cooperate and they can't complete the primary purpose of the scan they may offer you the option of a free rescan appointment. Scans ranges from fast results like the £39 justgender scan to longer appointments which suit all budgets.

We headed to our local babybond clinic in Glasgow (there are 7 clinics in Scotland and over 60 UK wide!) on Saturday with Blondie Boy for a growth scan. For us the main purpose of the scan was for Blondie Boy to get to see the baby as he had not been to any of my hospital scans, since children are not allowed at NHS scans, and to also get a peek at the baby in 3D and see their facial features!

Our sonographer was lovely and really patient with Blondie Boy answering his questions and explaining everything as she went along. We had a 40 minute session where she checked the baby's measurements, sex and saved images for later. According to the measurements the baby has really long legs (like their Dad!) and was measuring two weeks ahead on their femur length! No wonder I feel like I've got feet jammed in my side constantly!

The baby totally has the same chubby cheeks that their brother had and we think from the images they will probably look a lot like Blondie Boy!

The baby almost always had their hand up over their face but one of the coolest things was that they kept yawning throughout the scan! I'd never heard of a baby yawning on an ultrasound before. We got a CD of all our images, some print-outs and a DVD as well; I've edited it down from it's full length of over 6 minutes to just show a quick example and you'll see a yawn--and the baby's tongue!--right around 15 seconds in.



We had an amazing experience and it was a lot more personal and involved that the typical NHS scan. It was especially lovely for Blondie Boy to see there really was a baby in there and he has told all his friends and teachers at school about it. I'd highly recommend babybond to anyone looking for private pregnancy scans.

*How far along?: 30 weeks

*How big is baby?: Cucumber (I assume some sort of genetically mutated, antibiotic fed cucumber because cucumbers aren't that big normally)

*Maternity clothes?: Yes; although I've been wearing some XL tank tops in this heat. No bump pic this week because I've be a hot, sweaty mess.

*Sleep?: Yes, but waking up around 5:30 for a bathroom break

*Best moment this week?: The amazing weather we have been having--it is actually like summer. Yes I'm melting in the heat but we've had 4 days in a row of gorgeous sunshine!

*Movement?: Yes and it is really sore. I think my kid might have super strength.

*Food cravings?: No.

*Labor signs?: No

*Belly button in or out?: Innie but I took out my belly bar because it was sore.

*What I miss: Air conditioning.

*What I'm looking forward to: Fancy pants dinner (that I won!) with NBH next Thursday.

*Milestone: 9 weeks left....

If you like to compare/contrast here is Blondie Boy's 30 week update from 2009.

Let's be friends! Find me here: Transatlantic Blonde was provided a growth scan for the purpose of this review. All opinions are our own.

What I Wore Wednesday: MuradSpace Debenhams Glasgow

Last Thursday Steph and I were invited to learn more about the launch of MuradSpace at Debenhams Glasgow.  MuradSpace is a unique retail environment designed by Murad, Inc., America’s most respected modern clinical doctor’s brand synonymous with high performance, science-based products and services. MuradSpace offers Glasgow the opportunity to experience a skin health assessment inspired by the consultations world-renowned dermatologist Dr. Howard Murad gives his patients.

Clients who visit MuradSpace will receive a complimentary Skin Health Assessment featuring YouthCam, a state-of-the-art skin analysis system. YouthCam’s proprietary software is based upon over 40 years of research by Dr. Murad and measures 5 key skin health markers: fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, redness, inflammation and pores. The end result is a personalised product recommendation that addresses both the customer’s concerns as well as those identified by YouthCam, providing a scientifically-backed path to restoring youthful beauty. 

MuradSpace counters will also carry all of Murad’s 12 solution-based skincare categories, specifically formulated with the Murad recipe of antioxidants, anti-inflammatories and hydrators, to deliver glowing, healthy and hydrated skin. 

I was treated to a pomegranate facial at the event and my skin felt amazing afterwards.

Murad takes a holistic approach to skincare looking at your skin from the inside out and taking diet and emotional health into your skin care, too. I love Dr. Murad's approach and especially love his inspirational quotes! If this one is true I'm going to live a long ass time!

MuradSpace counters carry all of Murad’s 12 solution-based skincare categories, specifically formulated with the Murad recipe of antioxidants, anti-inflammatories and hydrators, to deliver glowing, healthy and hydrated skin. The 12 categories are: Blemish Control; Anti-Aging Blemish Control, Resurgence®, Age Reform®, Environmental Shield®, Redness Therapy®, Bodycare, Murad Man, Age-Proof Suncare, White Brilliance®, Hybrids® and Pore Reform®.

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Bump Watch 2014: 29 Weeks

First how fab is that Dr. Murad quote? I'll be living a long ass time! I've just noticed that the dress in the above photo is the same length all the way around--it's a high-low sundress. So the back should be longer than the front but my massive bump just decided to even it all out for me.

I had a midwife and physio appointment this week. The MW appointment was fairly uneventful; she took blood to test my iron and Rh and all the other regular stuff. She said baby is measuring a little bit ahead but doesn't feel fat, rather just a bit long maybe. Since NotBlondeHusband is 6'3" this isn't surprising and I think I remember them saying Blondie Boy felt long, too.  I had to schedule my whopping cough vaccine and then they said they'd bring me back again in 8 weeks. I feel like the MW is seeing me A LOT less than my first pregnancy and I kind of find that strange especially since I thought they see you more in 3rd trimester. Oh well.

Today I went to the physio and discovered that the right side of my pelvis had not only slipped out of place again but now was completely rotated-FUN! So I had it manipulated back in to place again (not fun) and am now the proud owner of a pair of shiny crutches. I'm open to suggestions on how I can dress them up for the next 10 weeks so send in your answer on a postcard (or just comment). I'm also on the look-out for a cute, but comfy backpack if you've seen any.

*How far along?: 29 weeks 
*How big is baby?: Acorn squash
*Maternity clothes?: I had on a pink shirt my mom got when I was pregnant with BB and it was borderline short already. Oy vey.
*Sleep?: I'm not sleeping in, but I'm not up all the time
*Best moment this week?: My pregnancy pampering pedicure courtesy of my MIL
*Movement?: Yes. I've had a foot stuck in my side for the past few days and you can totally see the baby shape shifting underneath my skin/through my shirt. I think I traumatized my friend Steph for life last night.
*Food cravings?: I'm more struggling to find anything I really would like if I'm honest
*Labor signs?: No 
*Belly button in or out?: Innie; my belly button is fairly deep I don't think it will pop out. Popped out belly buttons skieve me out so it better not. 
*What I miss: Sitting, laying or standing comfortably 
*What I'm looking forward to: We're having a 3D/4D scan with Babybond tomorrow! Blondie Boy seemed really excited so hopefully he'll like seeing his sibling.
*Milestone: I have 10 weeks until my c-section.

Like to compare/contrast? Here's Blondie Boy's 29 week update from 2009.


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