Maternity Outfits #2

The weirdness and confusion are over now; I’m used to this new body… I say that even though just the other day I bumped my tummy onto a cupboard corner cos I’d literally forgotten that my abdomen extends much farther than it used to, and I need more space to manoeuvre now. But I don’t get a lot of these moments anymore.

I actually enjoy putting outfits together these days. It’s like a fun challenge; every time I manage to put together something decent I feel a sense of achievement. Hey, even the small victories count 😉. Here are some of the outfits I've worn lately. 

Skirts

Red and black checkered skirt

Green and navy african print skirt

Owl skirt

Shweshwe skirt

Jeans/Leggings

Jeans with a sheer overlay

Leggings and black top

I tend to forget how fun change can be sometimes; it’s all in the attitude.

Yimina ozithobayo

Snothando


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Products I’m Currently Loving

There’s nothing more satisfying than discovering a great product that works for YOU; totally tailored to make your life easier and more pleasant. Here are some of the products I’m currently loving.

The Maybelline Brow Satin Pencil – R129.95

I bought this pencil when I couldn’t find my other fave from NYX. I asked the assistant to recommend something similar to that pencil and she showed me the Maybelline satin brow pencil.

Actually this was my second attempt at finding a brow pencil. The first time another assistant gave me a sealed Revlon brow pencil (no tester available) and insisted it was similar to the one I was looking for. It wasn’t. It’s a fat marker meant to give you shoe-polish eyebrows. That lady owes me R169.

Anyway I made sure to test the Maybelline brow pencil before buying it; I was even prepared to walk away if they didn’t have a tester. Luckily they did.

It’s a retractable pencil, who doesn’t love that kind of convenience. The texture of the pencil is just right; hard enough that you don’t apply too much, but soft enough that you don’t have to bruise your skin trying to get some colour going. Well maybe ‘bruising’ is a bit of a stretch, but you know what I mean.

Moreover, the pencil has a bonus feature! A powder, loaded at the back of the pencil with a sponge applicator, which allows you to fill in your eyebrows. You have total control throughout the application to decide on the intensity you want; be it a light-barely-noticeable or the beat-to-the-gods look, totally up to you.

The pencil is also relatively cheaper than other similar products on the market. Definitely a fave!

Essence Ultra Gloss Nail Shine Top Coat – R44.95

It undeniably prolongs the life of your nail polish and gives that gel look finish to your mani; and the shine, OMG! Amazing.

It’s great value for money, performs better than some of the pricier top coats I’ve tried and as a result I always head straight to the Essence stand every time I need to restock.

To be honest all the Essence top coats that I’ve tried work very well, but this is by far the glossiest.

Nivea Crème R75.99

I absolutely love this product; the scent is amazing and brings back so many childhood memories for me. A little goes a long way, so the product lasts you much longer. I use it as a moisturiser for everything, face, body, hands, cuticles, heels, you name it. It’s a heavy cream, perfect for those of us who have extra dry skin.

It does require a bit more rubbing when applying, but leaves your skin feeling soft and supple which makes it totally worth the effort.

Zam-Buk – The Real Makoya – R5.50

These matte lipsticks and other coloured lip products we love so much can be pretty brutal on the lips. Dry, chapped lips are not only unsightly but can also be a source of discomfort. This is where good ol’ Zam-Buk comes in.

I didn’t really buy my first Zambuck, my husband accidentally left his in my bag. One day I was outdoors and looking for a lip moisturiser and this Zam-Buk was the only thing I had, so I put it on… ding ding ding Jackpot!

Even though I don’t particularly care for the smell the moisturisation is undeniable, all for under R6!!! I use it as an overnight moisturiser and in the morning before I apply my lipstick.

Yimina ozithobayo,

Snothando

Scalp Cleansing

Scalp cleansing is the removal of dead skin cells to promote an optimum hair growth environment for your hair. This is one of the good practices I plan to resume this year. I’ve been in a bit of a slump for the past year or so as far as my hair is concerned. As a result my hair has suffered and has not been in the same state it was when I first went natural and was diligent about taking good care of it.

A good hair regimen should include scalp cleansing (just like you exfoliate your face), and the benefits include:

• Improved blood circulation – more nutrients being supplied to the hair follicles which stimulates healthy growth.
• Cleaner scalp – this process removes build up of sebum, dead skin cell, hair products, etc. which can block pores and result in thinner hair.
• Eliminates dandruff.

My favourite scalp cleansers (diluted with water) are:

·        Tea tree oil

·        Apple cider vinegar

·        Rosemary oil

There are plenty of other options such as the honey and cinnamon scrub, the coconut oil and brown sugar scrub, etc. I’m wary of trying these because I have a hard enough time getting to my scalp, putting grainy mixes in there just doesn’t seem like a good idea. But who knows, maybe one of these days…

Step 1

To cleanse my scalp I start with a shampoo. I part my hair in sections (2 or 4), wet it and apply shampoo concentrating on the scalp. I use one hand to hold the tip of my hair to avoid tangling and with the other hand I massage my scalp in circular motions. Then rinse off the shampoo.

Step 2

Next I apply the cleansing mix using an applicator bottle. The pointed tip of the bottle works well as it allows me to squirt the mix directly onto my scalp.

After massaging the mix into my scalp using the Denman Shampoo Brush or my fingers, I either

a)  Rinse it off immediately, or

b)  Leave it in and apply deep conditioner to the rest of my hair; cover with a plastic cap and rinse it off ±30 minutes later.

Alternatively you can combine step one and two. Namely add the cleansing mix to the shampoo, massage and rinse.

I try to do this every time I use shampoo. I shampoo once a month, cowash in between, and mostly use the alternative method because it’s quicker.

Here's to a healthier scalp in 2019!

Yimina ozithobayo,

Snothando

Maternity Outfits/My Creations

As amazing as pregnancy is, it's not without its challenges. Among these are the physical body changes. Suddenly you're shaped like a potato with legs and most of your clothes either don't fit or look ridiculous on you.

When I found out I was pregnant I was excited to go maternity clothes shopping; the perfect excuse for a shopping spree/fashion makeover. But my expectations or fantasies were very far from reality. I don't know, maybe I didn't search enough, or go to the right shops, or give it enough time. All I can say is I was disappointed at the limited choices available.

The clothes I found were either matronly or too big or just not cute. You're better off looking for bigger sizes in the normal clothes section. To this day I've only bought one maternity dress that I've never worn because I don't like it. Probably only bought it because I refused on walk away empty handed that day. Or maybe for a moment I'd resigned myself to not looking my best for a period. I don't really know.

For the first, and most of the second trimester I was able to get on with most of my regular clothes. But the third trimester is proving a bit more difficult. Kinda threw me for a loop, but with a bit of creativity I'm steadily finding my feet. These are some of the outfits I've managed to put together.

Dresses and skirts

Bodycon dress and Kimono (both items made by me).

 

Crop top and high waisted skirt - also made my me!

Bodycon dress and duster vest (dress from Mr Price and vest from Legit)

Skinny jeans and tops

Skinny jeans, white shirt and a thing I made, lol. I really don't know what to call it.

Skinny jeans and strapless flare top; the top is one of my creations and can also be worn as a skirt.

Skinny jeans and punjabi

Luckily I've been able to dig up outfits in my wardrobe still, so far we're making it work. A couple more months to go, we'll see where this journey takes us...

Yimina ozithobayo,

Snothando


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