OKLOLA

GIRL ABOUT TOWN. oklola.wordpress.com I'm working with a lemonade budget and a short leg...

[iamlolacola]

FORMULA FED BABY

I have had a lonnnnng break from writing here, but I have had my hands full with a new baby and then more recently a flooded home and unplanned move…but today’s announcement from the Royal College of Midwives has been the thing to swing me back into action.

When I saw it on the news this morning I just thought “finally!” although I do wonder how long this change of approach will take to filter…

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Diet Coke - is it just me...

Diet Coke – is it just me…

I have been seeing their new campaign’s OOH ads which say simply “because you like what you like” and they kind of spoke to me on a level of “we know that you know that soft drinks aren’t very good for you but we both know you love it so who cares”. Now, I get that mine is a pretty cynical response to the billboards for this campaign but in fairness when I’m not on a health kick (which of course…

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[iamlolacola]

THE COUNTDOWN

The educated guess that is the “due date” has now been and gone, and now we wait…and bat off on average a text every two hours throughout the day from various loved ones just checking if I’m in labour or have I had the baby? Apologies if you’ve been one of these people (I love you, really I do) but it’s possibly my least favourite thing about being heavily pregnant, a constant reminder that I…

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LET'S TALK ABOUT BREAST FEEDING

LET’S TALK ABOUT BREAST FEEDING

I have so much to say on this topic that I should probably apologise before I begin for going off on a million tangents. I would also like to preface this post with a nod to the fact that it’s heavily coloured by my own experiences and it’s not a representation of every woman’s experience – I know a great many women who have taken to breast feeding like ducks to water or had good help from their…

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[iamlolacola]

POTTY TRAINING

Ah Potty Training, that hot topic of conversation in every parent-friends circle. I had been told things like; “boys take a lot longer to be ready than girls, leave him as long as you possibly can” “Some of them can take months to do their poos on the potty, just focus on wee wees” “there’s no point until they’re ready, it will be upsetting for you both if you do it too early” All of which had…

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LET'S CATCH UP

LET’S CATCH UP

So, after a couple of inconsistent attempts to come back to this blog I’ve decided to give it another go. In the past I’ve found myself a bit lost in terms of how to evolve it from what it was before I had Harry (i.e. when I had a lot more time to myself, time I spent obsessing about what my new winter coat would be or exploring the magic a new face cream or a brow re-shape might offer me).…

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SOFT PLAY: I'M NOT KEEN

SOFT PLAY: I’M NOT KEEN

I started writing this a while ago after a trip to a local soft play but it’s taken a while to craft as I’ve toyed with whether I wanted to admit how much I hate it, or whether I was going to sugarcoat my image and scrap the snarky preface to lead with the tips. Then two things happened; I realised I was high on snark and low on tips (but I defend the usefulness of the two I do offer up) and I…

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[iamlolacola]

DUMBING IT DOWN FOR THE MASSES

DUMBING IT DOWN FOR THE MASSES

I was so irritated by something I witnessed on ITV this morning that my initial angry tweet at them has evolved into this published rant. Gina Morris was being interviewed on the sofa regarding her legal challenge to Prime Minister Theresa May which has resulted in Brexit requiring a vote in parliament to be actioned. This has made her a figure of hate for some, who are enraged that the ‘cry of…

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TRAVELLING WITH A TODDLER IN TOW

TRAVELLING WITH A TODDLER IN TOW

In the week running up to our first sunshine holiday as a family I approached the prep like a military operation; daily laundry and bit -by -bit packing, squeezing in trips to boots for essentials at every possible opportunity and such like. I had gathered an impressive stockpile of healthy plane snacks (read:distractions and bribes) and packed these into a brightly coloured trunki with lovingly…

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[iamlolacola]

THE BURKINI DEBATE

I’ve been watching the Burkini debate unfold with open mouthed confusion. I understand that France is a secular society and I also understand and support their desire to uphold their national identity and related belief systems. Where my understanding ends however, is their intervention in women’s choice of swimwear. I was brought up in a Christian household so I’m not coming at this from a…

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[iamlolacola]

Toddlers

It’s become very apparent that for me, blogging from the perspective of a mother – I am not going to be one of those mums who gives you calm, helpful advice. I think I’m just going to be a mummy blogger who ‘feels your pain’ and whose shared experiences may make any other mother reading this feel normal and ‘one of many’ during those moments where you find yourself trying to reason with a pudgy…

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ONE FOR THE MOMS

ONE FOR THE MOMS

I’m 19 months deep and learning every day, and one of the most relentless lessons I learn is that no matter how many times you think you’ve cracked it/got your sh*t together/can do this standing on your head…there will pop up an occasion to remind you that there is no preparing for life with a toddler. A few predicaments that I have recently found myself in that hammer home the point that life is…

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[iamlolacola]

I'M BACK

I’M BACK

It’s been a while but I’m back, and there have been some changes. I no longer have Facebook, I’m a mother (a working one at that, and I’ve got a cool new job). I’m hurtling toward my hen weekend and wedding respectively, and I now tag my partner in interior décor posts on Instagram more often than things from TheFatJewish and FuckJerry. I think this means I’m a grown up, but we’ll see how that…

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[iamlolacola]

BENEFIT BROW EVENING

  Today I spent my early evening at a presentation hosted by Benefit at the Rotunda’s penthouse, the focus of which was all things brow; my dream.

Having being cursed blessed since childhood with a single inch-thick eyebrow that started on one side of my head, finishing on the other, I have only in recent years come to appreciate the fullness and potential of my own brows.

I’m always really…

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WAREHOUSE AW14

For those of you who have been pregnant, it’s likely that you’ll feel my pain when I have a little whinge about the fact that as we approach autumn, and the fun of picking out new winter clothes hits; one is landed with a rather large baby bump to clothe. However, rather than shut myself away in a smock dress like the style deprived Miss Haversham of the B5 area, I have decided to embrace all the…

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MADELEINE SHAW: HEALTHY FOOD GENIUS LADY

MADELEINE SHAW: HEALTHY FOOD GENIUS LADY

If you aren’t already familiar with Madeleine Shaw, I would really recommend acquainting yourself.

I discovered her a couple of years ago during a period of time when I’d become very interested in sugar free living and healthy lifestyle ideas. I’ve since fallen off that wagon but very much intend to clamber back on after my baby is born later this year.

Madeleine has an incredibly generous websi…

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[iamlolacola]

BEAUTY DISCOVERIES AT BULLRING BLOGGER EVENT

BEAUTY DISCOVERIES AT BULLRING BLOGGER EVENT

I went to Bullring’s latest Blogger Event last night, and a result I have whole new beauty shopping list. Well, a handful of key things that I-need-in-my life, to be more specific. It was of course lovely to see friends and familiar faces too.

Trotting around the room whilst stuffing my little face with treats from wagamama, Nando’s, Auntie Anne’s and Millie’s Cookies; I happened upon the RMK…

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