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A UK Pregnancy, Parenting and Lifestyle Blog
July 8, 2015

A Very Exciting Opportunity…

firstbabybudget

Last month a very exciting email dropped into my inbox. It was asking me whether I fancied starring in a video with NatWest. It is part of a series they are doing to help us out with the big moments in life and this one is called ‘Life Moments: Having Your First Baby’.

I had my first baby last year and Laura, my co-star (it feels funny to type that!) is a first time mum-to-be who also happens to be an incredibly talented and beautiful soloist with the Royal Ballet.

 
After a few emails back and forth I was fully briefed and getting rather excited about it all. I was told the shoot would be at The Royal Opera House in London, in a real life ballet studio. I loved dancing when I was younger and did every type under the sun. Ballet, tap, modern, jazz, you name it. My real love was with ballet though, which I did up until I went to university. So the fact the shoot was going to be at The Royal Opera House, and with a real life ballerina, was amazing!
When I arrived at The Royal Opera House I met the lovely Louise, from the agency, who I’ve emailed many many times but have never met in real life. She was very reassuring and we managed to navigate our way through and find the production crew and client, who were all very friendly.

 
I met Laura and we clicked straight away. I think it made all the difference working with someone who I genuinely really got on with. It really helped with the old nerves.
 
The producer and directors had a chat with Laura and I to let us know what the plans were for the day. And after an hour or so of setting up, we were asked to go to hair and make up and wardrobe to get sorted for the video. Gemma, the fab stylist, had selected a super cute top from & Other Stories, a pair of cropped jeans and some plain White plimsols for my outfit, which I thought worked well. My hair and make up was kept pretty natural and fresh.
 
First, we did a few takes down in the lobby of The Royal Opera House, where there was some great decor. There were a few different takes of us meeting and greeting each other. The directors wanted to try out a few things such as shaking hands or hugging. We thought the hugging worked best! We didn’t have to talk at this point so that was a nice, gentle introduction to being behind the big camera. It was a lot different from just talking into my own camera, let me tell you!
 
The next scene was on a beautiful stair case in The Royal Opera House. It was another nice take to ease us into the whole being in front of so many people scenario. We just had to, each on our own, walk down the staircase. I was like ‘don’t trip, don’t trip’!
 
We had lunch in the dancer’s restaurant which was fun. I loved watching all the dancers come in from rehearsals and seeing what they bought for lunch. I’m super nosey like that. There was such a great view from their balcony too. London is still one of my favourite places ever.

 
The studio interview section was the hardest one of the day. We had a make up touch up and mics strapped to us before sitting down in the pre-arranged set. The directors were keen for it to be as natural as possible so they didn’t want to guide it too much. They did jump in with ideas and advice on where to take conversations if we were diverging a bit. It lasted a couple hours and there were a lot of different people in the room. Once you get into the flow of things, it’s amazing how quickly you forget how many people are actually in the room, watching and listening.

It was a very exciting day that I’m honoured to have been a part of. I always love being able to help out other parents. I can remember how overwhelmed I felt when trying to think about finances and all the essentials you need for your tiny bundle of joy when they come home from hospital.
 
I’m hopefully meeting up with Laura again soon so I can hopefully pass on some more useful information about finances and first babies!
 
Check out the video here:
 
And all sorts of helpful first time parent tips, from yours truly, over on the NatWest website now.
 

What are your top financial tips for preparing for you baby?

* I worked with Natwest on this project and have been compensated. As always though, all opinions are my own and all work is my own

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Kisses and cuddles with my faves 💖💫 Kisses and cuddles with my faves 💖💫
‘Each of us as citizens, has a role to play in c ‘Each of us as citizens, has a role to play in creating a better world for our children.’ - Nelson Mandela ❤️
It’s not enough though, is it? We’ve always h It’s not enough though, is it?

We’ve always had diverse toys in our house (not enough, but I’m working on it ❤️), but when questioned ‘why do you buy your kids Black dolls?’, I’ve faltered and answered incorrectly. I would respond saying ‘because that’s the doll Isla liked the best. What does it matter? We’re all human’, rather than questioning why that person is questioning it in the first place.

In a massive learning curve this week, where I am actively trying to become an anti-racist ally, not just anti-racist/non racist in general, I have found so many shortcomings in my effort to educate my kids and in my own attitudes towards race. But this isn’t about me. So here are some resources I’d like to share on top of the ones shared in my stories.

Some books to read:
Me and White Supremacy - Layla F. Saad.
Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race - Reni Eddo-Lodge.
How to argue with a racist - Adam Rutherford.
Brit(ish) - Afua Hirsch.
White Fragility - Robin Diangelo.
I Am Not Your Baby Mother - Candice Brathwaite.
So You Want to Talk About Race - Ijeoma Oluo.

Diverse kids books:
Anti Racist Baby - X. Kendi.
Riley Can Be Anything -Davina Hamilton.
Look Up - Nathan Bryon.
Mae Among The Stars - Roda Ahmed.
The Mega Magic Hair Swap - Rochelle Humes.
Let’s Talk About Race - Julius Lester.
Welcome To Our World - Moira Butterfield and Harriet Lynas.
This Book Is Antiracist - Tiffany Jewell.
The Extraordinary Gardener - Sam Boughton.
Let The Children March - Monica Clark-Robinson.
Ruby’s Worry - Tom Percival.
A Kids Book About Racism - Jelani Memory.

Some things to watch:
When They See Us.
13th.
Who Killed Malcom X.
Time: The Kalief Browder Story.
Explained: The Racial Wealth Gap.
Dear White People.
I am Not Your Negro.

My to do list:
- Sign more petitions.
- Donate to more causes.
- Listen to podcasts and share.
- Encourage changes in the school curriculum so that my children, and their classmates, get a better, much more rounded and diverse education.
- Call things out.
- Have honest/open conversations.
- Share content.
- To keep educating myself, whilst never expecting others to do it for me.

It’s just a starting point.

Thanks for listening x
Black Lives Matter. I can never pretend to unders Black Lives Matter.

I can never pretend to understand, but I will always stand.

I’ve been on a huge learning curve this week and have, shamefully, come to the realisation, which I should have a long time ago, that it’s not enough to just not be racist. We must also be actively anti-racist and do everything in our power to ensure our children are too.

Today is a day to stop, listen, support, educate ourselves, donate, sign petitions, take action in any way we can, big and small, to make sure that everyone knows we stand with our fellow humans, family and friends. But we can’t just do this today. We must do it each and every day going forward ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻
And breathe! First day without both my babies for And breathe! First day without both my babies for the first time in 10 weeks today and it couldn’t have gone better. Both had wonderful days and were full of stories when they got home. I said over on stories last night, which got an incredible response so thank you to everyone who reached out, that I am completely comfortable with my choice to send the kids back to school and nursery but would never, ever judge anyone who felt different. We are all in different boats in this storm we’ve found ourselves in and what works for my family, might not work for yours. I have deliberately stayed out of the ‘are you sending your kids back or not?’ debate as it started to feel like another toxic discussion, in the media and on social media, that was resulting in yet another parenting divide.
I could have had the kids in this whole time, under key worker provision, but tried my best to hang on till the phased reopenings that I hoped would happen when they did. They were what I was aiming towards. Don’t get me wrong, I have LOVED having the kids at home together for such a sustained period, we have made lots of memories and learnt so much more about each other, but mixed in with the nature of my job and the fact that @thisdadalife is deployed and so I’m on my own with minimal support, I couldn’t have gone on much longer.
When I got in from dropping them off today, and as I went upstairs to work at my desk, I literally collapsed on the stairs and almost cried in relief. Relief that we made it through, as dramatic as that sounds. I don’t think I realised the toll it was taking mentally as I was constantly running on adrenaline.
I am so happy to get a bit more balance back and to, most importantly, feel like a better mum again. Not a snappy trying to juggle it all 24/7 with no break mum.
If you sent your kids back today, whether you wanted to or not, I’m with you and support you.
If you have kept them home in your bubble for longer, I’m with you and support you.
If you’re still unsure what to do and are undecided, I am with you and support you.
Nobody knows the full extent of someone else’s circumstances and we have to stop and realise that before we judge anyone else ❤️
Ibiza vibes in Puerto Gardeno today 😂☀️😅 Ibiza vibes in Puerto Gardeno today 😂☀️😅
This is the first year in YEARS that I have felt ok wearing a bikini. And I feel like it’s more down to how strong I feel, rather than how I look. Whatever it is, I hope it continues ❤️
On another note, how tanned does the @filterbymollymae fake tan make you look! 🙌🏻
(Both bikini and cover up are from last year).
#losingmyboobstho #youwinsomeyoulosesomehaha
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