Period Blog/WIWTM, August 2016

Period blog August 2016

Look away folks! Look away! That’s a warning for any family and friends that read my blog because they want to be nice and support me. I let you off from reading this type as I’m pretty much describing my menstrual cycle and flow type and routine. You’ve all been warned!

On to you oddballs that I love I present my August period blog. Some of you will have noticed that this is very late as my cycle this month was a complete mess. My last period was a bit odd as well so I’m wondering if my coming off my medication and frequent illnesses over the last month may have messed me up a bit more than I thought. I’m going to try and type this up by day so please excuse any tense mix ups.

I’ll start on the Monday which is 16 days after my period was due to start. I feel very bloated and a little crampy today but not bad enough to take any pain killers as of yet. I had a tiny bit of the browny discharge but no signs of red as of yet. I put a liner on though just in case. I’ll try and state which pad and where I got it as well if I remember throughout this post. The two liners I’ve worn over the last two days were a blue Essence of Eve and my Lazy Creek Boutique liner that I won in a giveaway and haven’t reviewed just yet but will do in a separate post.

I will be mentioning a few pads that I haven’t reviewed yet but will do all pad reviews separately. Anyways that’s my Monday. I’m hoping that it doesn’t start until lunch tomorrow as I have a shift in the morning and can’t afford to be crampy, also going out with visiting family on Wednesday so really hoping to avoid cramps for this one. Unlikely though due to it being so late.

And it hit, it’s Tuesday and I had a short shift today at work so it could have been worse. There was a little bit of pink on the toilet paper this morning so I knew to wear at least a liner so I put on another Essence of Eve to set off. I had to go to the bathroom around 9.30 as I felt very crampy and shaky and knew I had to poop and I swapped the pad for a moderate just in case. The cramps didn’t stop and I took 2 paracetamol around 10ish and felt awful for the next hour as It was a very busy clinic so I couldn’t stop to sit quiet. Thankfully the cramps eased off a bit by 11.30/12.00 and I could finish up my shift. I came home and had definitely started but not enough that I needed to change my pad so I left my sheep print Honeymoon Reusables pad on for the afternoon.

I took some Ibuprofen at 2.30 with a McDonalds Happy Meal as I couldn’t be bothered to make something. Thankfully not as crampy this afternoon as I was this morning, just typical that the pain hit when I was on shift instead of a day off. Still cuddling a hot water bottle though which sucks as the heat wave finally reached us on the Isle of Man and it is no day to be cuddling boiling water. A bit later in the day I swapped over to my Precious Stars pad that is my first ever pad purchase.

Still very light but felt the need to be clean. It’s been a very odd start to the period as usually I’m in pain all day and pretty useless to do anything that involves moving. My cramps vanished this afternoon and I’ve had a massive craving for all things sweet. I have eaten more doughnuts and cookies then I feel comfortable admitting. I’ve had a nice shower. I tried and failed to insert a menstrual cup (better luck next time) and put on my lovely Beauty and the Beast Crimson Moon pad to keep me going overnight.

I’m happy to be off work today but I did wake up at 5am with horrible stomach cramps and I swapped my pad over to a clean Precious Stars overnight pad as I’d become pretty heavy as expected. I took my paracetamol and tried to get a few more hours, my hot water bottle was a great help. I also used some Tiger Balm on my back as the cramps went all the way around and theres only so far my hot water bottle can reach. Tiger balm is a bit like Deep Heat and is really good for joint pain. It took the edge off a bit.

Once I was fully up I managed to eat some breakfast (just a bowl of cereal) and get ready for my day. I couldn’t relax as I was taking my family out to see the Laxey Wheel so I had a busy day ahead. I took more tablets before I left to keep things at bay and I swapped over to a TCS Eco moderate pad (the Daryl one!) which fit really nicely in my comfy Scrundies with the Unicorns. The comfiest knickers I’ve ever worn in my life! More need to be bought! I also love the fact that I paired up zombie killers with pretty unicorns, made me feel happy and bad ass at the same time!

I didn’t have a lot of pain but I did have a few twinges showing that if I’d not taken something I would have been worse off. I even made it through to lunchtime without needing to take anything else. I took some ibuprofen with my lunch though as I couldn’t take any more of the others just yet and my stomach was starting to feel a bit tender at this point.

Also swapped over to one of my Essence of Eve heavy pads which are amazing and hold a lot. I changed over to a fresh pad for the evening as I was pretty heavy today and wanted to be comfortable for the evening meal so I popped on my other TCS Eco pad, the Harry Potter print one. Today was a pretty heavy day for me and so I’m going to have a nice early night tonight and so I’ve put a Brigid’s Flame pad on for the night and have settled down with a nice hot chocolate and am watching an episode of QI.

Another bit of cramping this morning but I had to get up early for work anyway so at least it didn’t ruin another lie in. I was heavy again overnight and whilst I didn’t bleed through the pad, there was a little leaking down the wings onto my pyjamas, but the pad did really well. I had a quick shower before putting on my final TCS Eco pad for the morning.

I took some paracetamol with my breakfast to hold the cramps at bay for work. The tablets worked whilst I was at work and I had no issues what so ever, I swapped over to a Crimson Moon (Daryl) pad and had no leaks at all. I haven’t had much of an appetite today so whether that’s due to my cycle or not who knows but I really haven’t been hungry. After my shift I swapped over into my Pad Thai pad that is really comfy but my knickers were a bit loose so I felt a bit at risk of leaks. Thankfully I managed to get through walking the dogs and having some dinner and watching a bit of the Olympics without any issues. We won the triathlon though which was awesome! Time for an early night again I think as feel a bit drained today, so on with my Leak Freak pad and curled up with a nice cuppa and watching Huck Finn. What an exciting life I lead.

Friday, a day that was cramp and pain killer free. I’m really happy to report that I felt fine today, energy levels were a bit low but I think that’s because it’s been a heavy start and I’ve not had a very big appetite. Still not been very hungry today, craving sugary things which isn’t very healthy. I also had a bit of an upset stomach overnight so I think that has something to do with lack of energy today.

Things have slowed down a bit and I changed into my moderate Crimson Moon pad for work and it held all day, it’s probably a bit bad that I wore it straight from around 11am through to 8pm but i wasn’t very heavy at all today so didn’t really need to change. Besides my wolfy pads are very comfy so why swap? I have put on my second Brigid’s Flame pad for the night as they are very floppy and comfortable and I’m off tomorrow so don’t want a bulky pad keeping me up.

I was very light overnight and just had some spotting and again no cramps at all today! I have felt pretty queasy so I took some of my anti-nausea tablets which taste disgusting but seem to have helped a bit. In the morning I swapped over to my Star Trek Crimson Moon pad and had a few ‘bursts’ of heavier bleeding and had to change over to my amazon bought pad in the afternoon.

I’m not heavy today, in fact fairly light just with heavy spotting every now and then. Strange day as even though I haven’t done anything I still feel drained. Pretty normal for me at this point in my cycle though.

For the night I have popped on a regular Mummy Coull pad as I’m not expecting to be heavy at all tonight.

I was right, not heavy at all, in fact I’m fairly light today. Swapped over to my Me Chai Designs pad which is one of my favourites and also tried out my new Daryl scrundies and I’ve had a nice comfy day. Still not much of an appetite so I’ve forced myself to go for a drive and wake myself up which gave me a bit of an appetite and I managed some dinner. Massive chocolate cravings today though, but not bars of chocolate more choc chip cookies and I did really want a Snickers bar earlier! II felt a bit ill after the two big cookies that I had to eat and so I sat down with a cup of tea and a few episodes of the Gilmour Girls.

Popped on my Leaping Pads pad, which unfortunately I discovered that the size just doesn’t suit me which made me feel sad. I will have to destash it soon unfortunately. I wore it for around an hour and swapped over to a Pretty Period liner pad that I bought from amazon and felt comfy enough to go to sleep in that.

This morning I swapped over to another Pretty Period pad for my long shift at work as I was down to just spotting this morning. I do feel quite achy today but not in a crampy way, more of a pulled muscle type way. It’s weird because I haven’t done anything over the weekend so I think it must be the hormones settling maybe? I’ve had a lot of energy today which has made a difference, although I did feel quite dizzy and queasy when I was sat on a different ward during my shift, food seemed to help for a while though. Made it through the shift on a high and had a really good day considering it was a long day at work but now I’m home I feel really nauseous and a little spacey. Hate this feeling. On the plus side the spotting seems to have stopped and so I have had a shower and not put another liner on. It’s a risk but I feel like that area needs to be free for a little bit. Not in a gross way, I’m just running out of space in my wet bag for used pads, almost wash day I think. Early night tonight and hopefully I’ll feel better by the morning.

That’s officially another cycle over, now all that’s left is to do the washing. If you’re interested I soak all my used pads overnight in cold water and a half scoop of Flash, then put them in the machine on a 30 degree wash. If anything comes out stained after that, I have an Ecover stain remover to try out. I was feeling a lot better today so it must have just been my body settling down again. At least that’s my hope. A full picture of all the pads I wore this month is below, 24 total:

And a picture of all pads that arrived this month and are now washed and ready to go:

Thanks for reading through this, if you aren’t grossed out by it then feel free to ask me any questions and I’ll try and answer them in my next period blog. For those that are grossed out, I did try and warn you at the beginning of the post so you have nobody to blame but yourselves. If you do have any questions or comments, then I look forward to reading them!

Until next time!

Charlotte x

 

TCS Eco and Crimson Moon cloth pad review

This week we have quite a big review as I bought a lot of these pads through a joint Facebook page that the sellers TCS Eco and Crimson Moon use. Now a majority of my favourite pads come from these two companies and from the photos that I add I hope you can all see why I love them! They both have an amazing range of fabrics and lengths to choose from and are some of the most lovely people to talk to if you get a bit stuck.

Okay so I’m going to start with my TCS Eco pads as I only have three of these (so far) and a pair of scrundies.

The Supernatural and Walking Dead pad were ordered together and I then added the Harry Potter one on to the order through a market night purchase. The first two have a brilliant Windpro backer that has washed really well and has no pulling what so ever. The placement is perfect and so is the top stitching. Very impressed. The size is around 10” and are regulars. I have found that 8-10” is now my preferred length and so these are really comfy to wear. I haven’t been able to fully test out the absorbency as my cycle has been all over the place since April and so a lot of them haven’t been fully abused yet. Although I have worn them on regular days and so far, had no leaks at all. The Harry Potter pad has a different type of windpro back which has got a few bobbly bits on it and isn’t as smooth as the other pads but still very soft and doesn’t affect the overall quality of the pad or how absorbent it is. It’s just something I noticed, they grip really well in my undies and don’t move around like some of my other pads do so I use these pads when I’m at work and don’t want to be conscious of them all day. I can tell that I’m wearing them but I’m not worried about them showing through my trousers making other people aware them I’m wearing them.

All three of these have the absorbency embroidered down the centre and has the brand on the wing which is really pretty. It also helps me remember what I’m wearing and where I can order more from in the future. My only downside is that on the Supernatural pad the fabric does seem to have gone a bit loose in the wash. I think that’s the best way to describe it. It bunches slightly around the embroidery like the material has stretched out if that makes sense.

Again not a problem and doesn’t affect the use, just a slight cosmetic problem for me. It goes in my pants so it’s not really a problem.

As for my scrundies, they match my Team Daryl pad! I love them and they fit me perfectly. There was a small glitch when they were ordered which meant it took around 8-10weeks for them to reach me, but I love them so it’s worth it. Any issues were sorted very quickly by the seller and she contacted me straight away to tell me about the delay which is fantastic customer service! I honestly love them all and will be buying many more pads in the future.

On to my Crimson Moon pads. These two sellers have their own shops and pages which I will link down below, but I found them through the group page. I have had two orders from this store so far and now have six pads from her. The first three were ones that I ordered as a custom order and I bought them through Facebook as I had a few problems with her store site to begin with. These problems were my own computers fault and not a website issue as far as I’m aware and so you lot should have no problems, if you do then let her know!

I have my second Team Daryl pad which has a slightly different design and colour. I prefer the colour on the TCS one as it’s a very solid black whereas this one is in a lighter gray colour and doesn’t stand out as much, I like the bolder black background but both pads rock so not an issue.

The other two are my Harry Potter patronus pad and a Star Trek pad. Love the both of these and they have become my first reach for pads so far. The size of them is spot on at the 9-10” mark and they snap up at around 2.5”. I prefer the snapped width of the TCS pads as it fits my knickers a little better but they all fit nice and snug and don’t move around when I’m wearing them. The fourth pad from Crimson Moon is the Beauty and the Beast awesomeness! I added this on in the market night and am in love. I haven’t had the chance to wear it yet and it’s a 12” pad so it’ll be one of my overnight pads. I can’t fault it, the placement, the colours, the fabric and thickness…perfect!

 

My final two pads are from a later date and are a little newer and again unused so far. The wolf pack I found in a market night but it had already been sold so as I was sobbing into my pillow at having missed out the lovely owner of Crimson Moon said she was happy to make another set. This of course made my day and I had two more beauties to add to my collection.

For both of these sellers you get a fantastic quality pad, very thin and flexible but stiff enough that they don’t move around too much. The customer service of both ladies can’t be faulted and they are very quick to respond so please get in touch with them if there’s anything I’ve missed out. Or send me a message and I’ll answer as best I can.

I have been told that I should mention the fabrics that my pads are made from a little more in my reviews but I don’t really find much difference so far. It might become more of a factor for me as I get used to cloth but so far, Jersey, Cotton or a mix of the two doesn’t register and so I don’t note down what the pad topper is. I will try and make notes of this for future reviews though!

Here are the links for the different sites that I know of so that you can all get your hands on some of these lovelies!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/crimsonmoonpads/

http://crimsonmooncsps.com/ (There’s a discount on at the minute so it’s the best time to check them out!)

https://www.facebook.com/ecotcs/?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/groups/tcseco/

So go and spend all your money! Both of these stores ship Worldwide so it’s open to everyone! Go! Buy Stuff!

Charlotte x

The Treat Trove July 2016 box review

This month’s treat trove box has arrived! I received it Saturday and I think this is one of my favourite boxes so far. It is a little later than usual box we were notified on the Facebook page about the delay as there was chocolate in the box and we actually had a few days of hot weather, hence the later delivery.

The chocolate lolly thankfully arrived completely intact although the little squirrel had come a bit loose from the lolly and so I had two separate chocolate treats instead of one. I of course was devastated over this, or not. The chocolate was lovely really milky, maybe a little too sweet for me but I’m odd and don’t even like Cadbury’s chocolate because I find it too sweet. Prefer Swiss chocolate from M&S. I did really enjoy it though, was just what I needed after my shift today and there was just enough that I didn’t feel like I’d had too much sugar, but enough sugar to calm the sugar cravings. These are made by The Lollipop Stop but I can’t find the link to their store, if I do I’ll add it in.

There is something a little different in this box which I have fallen in love with! It’s a Cinnamon Designs phone charm. It’s so pretty and the perfect size and colour and shape and….yeah I really like it. It’s a bit unique and I’ve just ordered a custom made purse from Phoenix Rising Reusables (https://www.facebook.com/groups/PhoenixRisingReusables/) and I think I’m going to save it so I can attach it to the purse when it arrives. I’ll look after the purse more than my phone which gets a bit battered The colours, I’m in love with the colours, make me all calm just by looking at them, okay, sorry I’m done. I’d never heard of the store but I’ve done a bit of research since this box came and here is the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/cinnamondesigns2/?fref=ts. They’re also local to me when I’m back at University as they’re based in Cardiff so I feel like I’m supporting the locals. They have a massive range of products so please check them out even if it’s just on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CinnamonDesigns2 they do engraved plaques, notebooks, charms, ornaments, all sorts. I actually wish they had a little store that I could take a walk around as this is the kind of thing I love!

As usually we also got a few smellies this month, I mean the melts and pamper products, not me! The first product is a little wax melt tart by Lola Rose. It’s a Lovely Dove scent that smells like the Dove soup you can get, all clean and fresh. I know I usually am not much of a fan of wax melts and candles but its scents like this that I love. I would buy this to put one in every sock and pant draw that I could as well as for every room. Honestly can’t wait to use it. Might even save it for the colder months where you can’t have the garden door open as often, that way the room will smell fresh again.  I struggled a little to find the store for this one but in the end google came through. Would definitely recommend to the supplier that they include those details on the little label. The Facebook group is: https://www.facebook.com/scentsbylolarose and there are loads of different things to try and they’re pretty cheap as well so go check her out…now!

The second smelly is actually a little unique as it’s a Lemon Sherbet Mini Bubble crumble slice. Again, a scent I love! It’s by Marshmallow Blends: http://www.marshmallowblends.co.uk/ who also have a Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/Marshmallowblends/ all handmade by the looks of things and if the rest of the things smell half as amazing as this slice does then I really wish they had a store to shop in as it would be worth the almost instant headache I would get. I haven’t tried it out yet and don’t have a bath so will be using it as a foot soak or a hand soak as the lovely Suzanne Barbato (one of the lovely ladies of Treat Trove) recommended. A good pamper day tomorrow I think.

Another nice little touch in this box was a make a wish bracelet. I again love the colours and the thought that goes behind it, so pretty. It’s a bracelet by Alfie Isaac who has an Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AlfieIsaac?ref=search_shop_redirect. They’re currently closed until the 6^th when apparently they’re releasing some new designs so I’ll be taking a look later this week. From what I can see they do a variety of bracelets with different charms and inspirational quotes for different occasions. They come with an envelope so you could post it to someone instead of the boring birthday or celebration cards that you usually get. I’m not wearing mine at the minute as I can’t wear things on my wrist at work (Health care Assistant) so I’m saving it for when I’m back to University. My only negative is the string used is a little stiff and not the most comfortable, I understand that it’s supposed to wear through so that ‘your wish comes true’ but maybe a thin cotton thread would be a little better? Still a lovely addition to this box and I’ll be keeping the card in my work diary.

The pads in this box are really pretty and I’m really happy with the quality of them all. The first one is a Ngozi Sews pad which is a supplier I’ve been wanting to try out but keep missing out on when they have a stocking. The lady that makes these pads is called Nina Goodall and she’s super lovely. The pad is a 9” Regular pad and its padded enough that you can tell it’s there but not so much that you’re conscious that others know it’s there. I like to be able to feel my pads otherwise I feel like I’m going to soak through them so I’m looking forward to testing this one out. I’d recommend checking out the Facebook group as they have a waiting list for custom orders and often do Market nights along with Red Queen Cloth (who made the pad I received in my first box and love it!) the page is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/clothpadmad/

I’d join the group as soon as you can because the next Market night is 5^th August at 8pm (BST) and my lovely friend Karen Lucas is a guest seller. She makes the Moongazy Cloth pads (https://www.facebook.com/groups/moongazycloth/) and I have two pads so far that are fantastic quality so definitely check her out and be there for the Market! Can’t wait! She isn’t selling pads on this occasion, just the pad pods, but still great quality and if you want to purchase i’d recommend messaging her page as she has a great range of prints.

The next two pads are both from Muff Fluff which is a brilliant name! I have heard of this maker before but hadn’t had the chance to try out these pads before so it’s a great edition and should be just in time for this cycle. They’re both a unique diamond sort of shape and are actually the perfect size for liners/light pads. I think they’re 7 and 8” respectively but I’m not 100%, they’re lovely and thing though, which I do like in liners as I don’t have to feel secure, just need to know that if I get a surprise Aunty Flo visit then my trousers won’t be ruined. These should do the job perfectly. I’m in love with the little turtle print, might go to the top of my liner pile! There Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/Muff-Fluff-CSP-741416342625723/ and the prices look pretty good to me! I would recommend they put the Facebook page on the label though as it would make it easier to find them, but I’m happy to have the pads to myself for now!

My only downside to this box is the fact that for the second box in a row we’ve had a cloth pad design that is also available on the Treat Trove website. Whilst I am very happy with the pad, I wish I could have tried a different maker rather than something in stock. I buy the pads from this site when I can and I very nearly had double the pads, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing especially when the pads are great. It’s just a niggle and the hope of trying a wider range of suppliers. Not a disappointment at all! The only reason I point it out is that in my previous box I’d ordered a Chubby Joe pad and also received one in the box that month so it took away some of the excitement as I was already trying that supplier out though the same place. This entire little paragraph doesn’t make much sense but I know what I mean! That and I like to add an improvement tip to a review and this was the only thing I could think of for this box!

So, a brilliant box with loads of new stores for you lot to check out, I think this box is my favourite so far and I’m really wishing I could buy the August box but I’m afraid the limited funding at the minute means that for August’s box you’ll all just have to order your own to try them for yourselves! The site is: http://thetreattrove.co.uk/ and you could even order your September boxes whilst you’re at it! Any questions then come join us over on the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thetreattrove/ they’re all super lovely people and always happy to help.

Thanks for reading! Now go spend your money and treat yourselves!

Charlotte x

Citalopram withdrawals, my anxiety

Sorry this is going to be a bit of a ranty post as i’m feeling a bit rubbish and wanted to complain. A lot of people are aware that I’ve been taking anti-anxiety medication for the past year or so. I started taking Citalopram when my panic attacks started to happen every day instead of every other week and my anxiety was pretty much constant. I finally decided it was time for me to come off of the meds! I’m not going to lie, my panic attacks haven’t stopped but have become less frequent and I’m better at controlling my attacks and so I thought the summer before my second year would be perfect. It would have been ideal if I didn’t have to work but I’m struggling through alright. You just won’t see me outside of work and will very likely hear me say I’m feeling ill. Get used to hearing me say this as it’s supposed to last a while.

Before I get in to how I’m currently feeling I’ll let you all know that whilst taking these pills I felt a hell of a lot better than I did at this time last year. I could control my anxiety and I went 9 months without having a full panic attack. I don’t think I’ve ever gone that long without having one before and it felt amazing. The first week taking them I felt pretty rough. Every side effect listed I felt other than the suicidal thoughts thankfully. Because I was a mess and seriously questioned whether I’d made the right choice. To anyone currently going through that, don’t give up! Once your system is used to them they will hopefully help you as much as they did me. If not then go back to the GP and see what can be done! It’s worth sorting out.

On to the coming off of citalopram. I did as advised and before I decided to stop taking them I visited the doctor to see what he recommended. In his words ‘if they’re no longer working then just stop taking them’ this didn’t sound right to me as I’d been told not to stop and that I should come off them slowly but when I asked he told me it would be fine to just stop. Worst thing I’ve done, ever! It has been 10 days since I last took a tablet and I feel absolutely awful. I’m going to bed at 8.30 every night and have disrupted sleep, night sweats and vivid dreams. I could cope with the constantly being tired but I can’t handle the constant nausea. I have only vomited the once and honestly wish it was more because sometimes puking makes you feel better. I feel like the room is spinning and all unbalanced and horrible. These mainly hit in an afternoon and I try to eat as much when I first get up as I can because no matter how hungry I feel later in the day, I struggle to eat. If anyone comes in to contact with me in the next few weeks I apologise in advance as I can be a bit impatient and snappy even when I don’t mean to be.

I feel awful and wanted to share this as if you’re advised to just stop taking this medication, please question the doctor! I knew better, I should have followed my instincts and weaned myself off of them but I didn’t think it would be this bad. This withdrawal can apparently last around 6weeks and so I still have another month of feeling like this. If you have any tips on how to make things better then I’ll love you forever. I’m also due to start my period any day and so i’m very likely to feel even worse, so you all may want to avoid me in the next week or so.

Even feeling shitty as I do, I would still go on this medication if I reached that emotional point again, they are worth it! I’m proud of myself for coming off of them even though I currently would trade my body for anyone else’s. Anyone out there that is depressed or anxious or has attacks, please don’t wait until it reaches boiling point before you get help. There are milder medications then what I’ve taken! If you don’t want to try prescription medication then try herbal ones. Don’t let it linger. If anyone wants to know how I cope with my anxiety or anything about my attacks and what I’ve found sets me off, then don’t hesitate to ask. As I’m sure everyone is aware from having read my blogs, I’m pretty open to talk about anything, so just ask!

Now if you don’t mind I’m going to go curl up in a ball and feel sorry for myself before I have to get up for my 7am shift tomorrow.

Charlotte x

Leaping Pads review

Today is a review of a family run pads company called Leaping Pads. They are based in the USA and the pads are made by a mother and daughter, Biancia Richardson and Leah Farling. Two very friendly ladies with great customer services and very different styles of pad.

 I was lucky enough to win my pads from Biancia in an auction to raise money for a great cause and I received four amazing shaped pads. The first of my unique designs that I have in my collection. There were two very similar shaped pads that were made from different materials, one is a Bamboo Velour and the other a Corduroy material. The velour one had a bit of an issue in the wash where the inner core bunches up and needed flattening and unfortunately I find it a little bulky now for everyday use. It is very soft though and really absorbent and makes a great night time pad for me. I like having a thicker pad overnight because it makes me feel more secure. I haven’t worn the corduroy pad and plan to sell it on to another cloth lover as I won’t use both of them in this style and as I had the issue in the wash with the first pad I decided I would keep that one for myself.

I also received a massive 17” Platypus shaped pad which is again a very soft Bamboo Velour and could not be used for anything other than an overnight pad in my case. It’s very cute and I named him Frodo as I’m a weirdo that has to name things shaped like animals! Anyways he was a little too long for me and I had to pass him on to a good home, I’m sure he’ll be looked after there. If you’re thinking of getting one of these pads though they would be great as post-partum pads and for those of you that like full coverage it would be perfect. I’m on the smaller size and so it was just that bit too long for me but I would look at getting one a few inches shorter in the future.

My final pad off of Biancia is the adorable little frog pad which matches the company name, Leaping Pads. Now Henry (yes I called him Henry!) is a lovely size and is perfect for lounging around the house and being comfortable, I find the way the arms and legs tie a little too long for me and can’t wear this pad when I’m at work because they rub on the inside of my legs. My work trousers are quite loose so it’s more noticeable. When I have jeans on I’m fine as the pad is held a little better with the closer fit. So a good pad that I’ll keep for home wear.

On to the lovely pads from Leah. I’ll admit that I haven’t had the change to try them on a proper cycle as they arrived just as it was ending. I won the pad in a giveaway on her website and received the cute little liner for free which was a great surprise. The shape is great in the full pad and I can wear it comfortably but it does bunch a little in my knickers an so again it’s a pad more suited for when I have jeans on. It’s not an overly thick pad, it’s just a little wide when clipped together which makes it bunch that is my only downside to these pads so far.

The liner fits me more I just find the length of it a little short for me and so I again may pass this on to another user. I think an extra inch or so would make it perfect, as it is it’s just that little bit small.

I mean no offence by saying this but I think these pads would work better for a larger sized women as they would grip better in their clothes and the sizes would fit more comfortably in their underwear. I love the designs and can’t wait to see any new pads they come up with! I think they’ve just come out with a new turtle pad which I wish I could afford to try but low funds right now mean that I can’t. If you have any questions then go straight to these lovely ladies as they are very quick to respond and always seem to go out of their way to make the customer happy. The pads are a great quality and worth trying out, just be cautious with your sizing needs as a 17” pad really is as long as you think it will be! The Facebook group is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1010120722375104/ and they have a great range available so please check them out! They post Worldwide as far as I’m aware, if you’re unsure then just send them a message and they’ll let you know what they can do to accommodate you!

Huggally Wuggally review

On to a review of the store Huggally Wuggally. This store has quickly become one of my favourites. They are based in the UK and have some absolutely gorgeous stock. Every time I see that they’re having a Market Night on their Facebook group, I pretty much rearrange my life and make sure I’m sat ready and waiting to buy all the goodies that I can. Everything is handmade and really good quality. The customer service is brilliant and the owner is one of the nicest people. I’ll be buying more from them in future.

My first purchase was for two pads and two face cloths. Initially I missed out on the perfect Unicorn pad that I had to have but the owner kindly made one up for me. I love this pad! Both the unicorn and the Harry Potter pad are Minky topped and the softest pads I own. The Unicorn pad is a heavy pad but still nice and thin, the bit of bulk that it does have just makes me feel a bit more secure if I’m being completely honest. It’s 10.5” long and is fleece backed. The fleece grips my undies really nicely so the pad doesn’t move around at all, the same for the Harry Potter one. I paid £9.50 for the Unicorn pad as it is a longer pad and for a heavy cycle, so more material was used to make it.

The Harry Potter pad is 10” and a Moderate, it’s the one I keep in my bag for the ‘just in case’ moments. It’s also the one I show to anyone and everyone that will listen to me talk about cloth pads (if your one of these people, I hope you’ve now bought your own!) I’m in love with them both. My only negative is that the Harry Potter pad has a lot of white fabric exposed, and whilst I’m not squeamish, I always worry that it’ll stain (so far it hasn’t) it’s a small downside and I would buy a hundred of these pads if I could afford it. This pad was £7.25

I would love if I could get some more of her pads in a smaller size, as I’ve found 8-9” suits me a little better. These two pads are still the pride of my collection so far though.

Ok, on to the two little cloth wipes. I’ll be honest and tell you all that I only bought these initially because I didn’t want to pass up on the cute Harry Potter prints. The Espresso Patrunum one in particular made me chuckle. I have them both as flannels and have only used one so far as I’m really saving them to brighten up my bathroom when I get back to University. They work perfectly as little face cloths though when I clean my face in an evening. They could also be used as back up toilet roll apparently. So might be an idea to keep one in a handbag for those annoying public bathrooms that never have any toilet paper handy. I’m not a fan of this idea though so I’ll stick to face cloths. These were around £2 each if I remember right, may have cheaper, somewhere between £1-2 but I can’t find my original invoice.

Finally, my newest purchase is my first pair of Scrundies. Non elastic underwear that are now becoming my period pants. Something to take the pressure off of my stomach as even the slight elastic from my pants makes my stomach feel worse. I haven’t been able to wear these for a cycle day just yet but I have worn them to try on and they fit perfectly. I bought these in a Market Night and they were here about a week later which was impressive considering they had to be made in my size (Small). I love them, and I have the pad to match so I’m in Unicorn heaven. These were £12 and I think £1.50 postage.

These are just the items that I’ve purchased, she also makes cloth nappies and children’s clothes as well as a range of adult clothes as well. If you like your funky leggings then this is a shop for you to take a look at. I just wish I had more money in order to keep buying more from her.

I can’t recommend this store enough. Please check them out on Facebook! They are fantastic, and so comfy! Especially if you’re just starting out! The Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/huggallywuggally/

My Days pamper box, July Box

I didn’t think I’d get the chance to write this review today as I’m going to see the new Star Trek film but it turns out that I’m going this evening and not the mid-day viewing so I have time to spare. Still can’t wait to see the film though!

So today I received my lovely July Pamper box from My Days. This is my second box from them and I have to say I’m not disappointed. Before I’d even opened the lid I could smell the goodies inside which made it all the more exciting. It comes really neatly packed and I swear the card is different than the one last month, shinier, but I can’t find the other one to compare. Maybe I’m imagining things, but it’s a really cute design anyways.

The first thing I picked up were the crisps that were sitting on the top. My mum will be sad to hear she didn’t get another pack of the lentil crisps (but not to fear I found some at a health food shop on my travels) instead I received, Pipers Crisp Co. Anglesey Sea Salt crisps! The website for them is www.piperscrisps.com and they are delicious. Very lightly salted and crispy and oh so yummy. I definitely prefer then to yucky lentil crisps, no offence to you lentil crisp ladies and gents! I don’t really eat a lot of crisps and so I can’t stop munching on these as I’m typing. My keyboard is going to be covered in salty finger prints but it’s worth it! Great addition to the box.

Next we have another sachet of hot chocolate, I received one of these in the previous box but it had leaked so I didn’t get to experience it in all its chocolaty glory. This month will be different, it’s a really creamy instant chocolate which is hard to find. I’m really happy to get another sachet and will treasure it until my cravings for chocolate start again. It’s a Fairtrade product by Lichfields but once again I can’t find a direct website for them so I’ll just tell you to find them on amazon because I’ve seen them available there before. I’ll be stocking up when it comes to the colder months.

Now onto the teas of the box. As I’m sure you’ve all realized by this point, I’m not a fruit tea drinker. In fact, anything other than English breakfast tea isn’t great to me. I do love trying them out though. I’m on a mission to find a healthy alternative to my usual tea. So far I’m unsuccessful. I’ll admit that the Dragonfly tea which is Indian Spice Chai does sound tempting. It is however an Organic Black Tea and I have a feeling it will be a bit too strong for me. I’ll save it for when my mum is around and that way if I don’t like it she can drink it. No I haven’t outgrown giving food and drink to my parents when I don’t like it, maybe I will when I’m 25 but for now they can have it! Anyways the website is www.dragonflyteas.com for those of you who are on the search for new teas to try and like Organic products.

The second tea is a Clipper tea and I’ve had one of these before and it was one of the nicer teas I’ve received, I wouldn’t buy it, but I managed to finish the whole cup. This one is a called ‘A bag of our Happy Mondays Infusion’ so maybe it’s something I can try after my shift on Monday? It smells quite citrusy which is a good start and I have to say I can’t wait to try this one out, could be a winner. There isn’t a website on the packaging but I have seen Clipper teas in health stores so they shouldn’t be too difficult to get hold of on your next shopping trip.

There’s a small tea light candle as well which is always a bit of a guessing game on what the scent and brand is. It smells very much like a berry in the box so I’m thinking blackberry. It smells great and I really wish I knew the brand so I could buy a box. I don’t use candles very often but this one isn’t overpowering and is really fresh smelling, would love to get some more.

There are also two handmade bars in this box. One is an Ylang Ylang and Orange Shampoo bar which smells a bit like I’ve walked into a Chinese herbal shop. It smells a little strange but quite fresh as well. I’ve read that Ylang Ylang is a flower that can be good as an antidepressant and relaxant, also an aphrodisiac which I don’t think I’ll be using it as. The orange is a little overpowered but there are still hints of it. I’m really cautious with what I use on my hair so I would have loved to know a bit more about what’s in this bar before I could use it. I might just use it as a hand soap instead.

The second hand product is a Dragonfruit soap. Unfortunately this is the one scent that I’m not a fan of. I find it a little too tangy for my tastes. The look of the bar is very pretty and I will be putting it by the sink in the bathroom so everyone can use it. Just not my personal favourite when it comes to scents. Prefer citrus or coconut if I’m honest. So love the look just not the smell.

Next up is the Ancient Wisdom, Dragons Blood gel scent and it looks amazing!  Again, the smell is a bit too strong for me and so I’ll probably be giving it to a friend, but I love the product itself. It’s packaged really nicely and gives good clear instructions and I really want to go take a look at the website. Usually strong scents as they are too overpowering for me and set off my migraines. I’m sad because I really like it and want to use them I just can’t, I might try popping them in a bowl as potpourri which I’ve just been advised by the lady who runs these boxes, Tanzi; that it might spread the scent a bit.  I initially thought this was a wax melt so apologise for any mix up. I really recommend taking a look at the site though because this pack will last for ages and if you like scented products then this is perfect for you! The site is https://www.ancientwisdom.biz/ and they do a massive range of products and so I might order a few candles instead.

On to another little snack. This one is a Ginger Teatox bar. I’m a little wary of this because I love ginger bars but the words Teatox are making me think Detox and Detox makes me think, shits. If this sends me to the crapper whilst watching Star Trek I will be very, very unhappy. So I have just nibbled a little bit from the top in the hopes of sampling the product without clearing out my system. Sorry if that is too much information and I’m sure this doesn’t have a laxative effect but you can never be too sure when it comes to Star Trek! A girl can’t take risks! On to how it tastes. It’s not too bad to be honest, I’d like it to have more of an overpowering ginger taste as it’s a bit sweet. It’s all natural products so to achieve a sweet taste they’re done well and it’s counted as one of your five a day so I’m happy. I’ll eat the rest of the bar tomorrow just to be on the safe side. I’ll be buying a box of these if it agrees with my sometimes finicky system. The website is www.creativenaturesuperfoods.com and for those of you that are trying to eat a bit healthier or are vegans these would be perfect snacks for you! It looks like they do a peanut one as well so I might try those when I place an order.

This box comes with a reusable facecloth in every box and this month’s one is a pure red cloth. I use the other one as I would a cotton ball and its super soft and I love it, this one isn’t as soft as it’s a different material but I still love the quality of it and will use it when I need to wash the other one.

The final snack I received is a bar of dark chocolate. It’s a Montezuma’s bar and I’ve never heard of or tried this brand before so I’m pretty excited by it. It’s called Dark Chocolate Spice it Up with Dragon Ginger. Now I have not been a fan of dark chocolate in the past but have been meaning to give it another chance as I know it’s a healthier option when it comes to chocolate. Also, ginger! It’s not too bad, a little too dark so I might try something that’s a lower percentage in future (this one is 93%) but I can definitely see myself munching on this whilst I’m watching TV. Could use a little more ginger if I’m being completely honest, but things never have enough ginger, or lemon, or banana. Yeah I like my flavours. Overall a good bar though. The site for them is www.montezumas.co.uk and they have a great selection of bars and are actually pretty cheap. Bring on pay day so I can stock up! They have a Lemon Meringue bar! Oh God! Well there goes this month’s money.

The final item is an add on item which I actually forgot I ordered. It’s a Sea Sponge tampon and is supposed to be a healthier alternative to disposables. Been meaning to try them out but I think I’ll chicken out and sell this on to someone else because it’s bigger than I thought it would be and I’m a wuss. If you’re a tampon person though I recommend you check them out. Maybe treat yourself to a box and add it on like I did. The boxes are only around £16  anyways (not including postage) so you might as well treat yourself! This box was themed around Dragons and so I can’t wait to see what the next months holds.

Thanks for listening to my rambles and as you can tell, this was one very full box! So many goodies, some I’ll use and some I’ll pass on to others. I’m going to go finish that packet of crisps now and bide my time until Star Trek!

Charlotte x

 

 

A crafty update

Today has been a bit of a crafty day again as I’ve tried a few new little projects. Both with my cloth pad making and my crochet. I’ll start with the cloth pads. I’ve managed to make a few more from my own penned out design and I’m getting a lot better at my top stitching. Still need to work on my starting stich as my pads don’t turn over very symmetrically. I tried altering my design slightly and things ended up a little better but my wings didn’t look very nice. I’ll work on my original design again and try a few new things.

I did try to do an exposed core pad as well as I’ve seen a few videos and tutorials on how to do this and really wanted to try it out but my sewing machine didn’t want to cooperate with me. The thread keeps snagging or breaking. I’ve tried changing threads, rethreading an altering the thread tension but none of this seemed to help. I’ve given up for today and I think I’ll give it another go soon.

As for the crochet, I’ve tried little crochet flowers and haven’t done very well. I got a bit sick of doing straight rows and ending up with off shape squares and thought I’d try something else. It hasn’t worked so far but I’ll keep having a go when I get the chance. I haven’t included pictures because it went so wrong it pretty much unravelled and so I have nothing to show for my effort, but trust me, it looked great….ish.

A bit of a short update but I honestly haven’t been up to much this week. Will try and be a bit busier next week and maybe get a few more reviews done. It’s my own fault, I’ve been watching a new anime and got a bit caught up with it. It’s called ‘Free!’ and it’s about a swimming club which sounds boring but it has a lot of really likeable characters. I heard about it through a YouTube channel that I follow, ‘Dollastic’ who gets really excited about loads of stuff and is really fun to watch, she really cheers you up so here’s her link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI_DrjoooGWVxAPt7N3Ybag

If there’s anything you want me to write about or if you have any crochet patterns you think I should try out please let me know!

Spindelpads review

Okay my lovely readers, we have arrived at review time. The first supplier I’m reviewing is a UK store called Spindelpads. I bought my pad through etsy and it was fairly cheap at just £7.90. The owner of the store is Laura Taylor and she has great customer service with quick responses and was lovely when I contacted her in regards to the pad. Her Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/pages/SpindelPads/1612638059001046 and this is kept up to date of all the products and fabrics. If you want to purchase directly from etsy then the link is: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SpindelPads?ref=l2-about-shopname

The pad itself is a 12” moderate/regular pad that has a gorgeous green crushed velvet topper. Very sort and comfortable even after it’s been washed. It has a flannel core with 4 layers of flannel for extra absorbency, with a polar fleece backing. The shape is perfect for me and offers full coverage for overnight use and is around 3” when snapped up and so it’s a good secure fitting pad. This was my first venture into a crushed velvet top and I was pleasantly surprised with how absorbent it was. No leaks and no discomfort when wearing it. It didn’t bunch at all either which made it even more comfortable to wear. My only negative is that it’s a bit too big for me to wear as an everyday pad and so I will have to take a look at some of her other sizes and purchase more.

This store does ship Worldwide but for the people in the UK she’s a home-grown supplier and has great turnaround time for delivery. She’s also one of the cheaper suppliers of high quality pads. I really recommend checking out her store. One of my favourites so far! The pictures really don’t do it justice, it’s more of a forest green.

Thanks for reading! Any questions, feel free to ask!

Charlotte x

Period blog, cloth cycle 2

Okay, if you’re reading this and your only doing so because you’re a close friend or family member then I give you permission to turn away now. This is my oh so lovely detailed tale of this month’s menstrual cycle and I understand that not everyone will want to read about the ‘wonderful’ evacuation of the uterus. Again, turn back now! You shall not pass!

Anyone still here? Perfect! Okidokie, so this month was a complete and utter bastard. I’ve been off work for the last two weeks for a bit of relaxation and thought, ‘perfect! I’m due to start.’ I was due on the very first Saturday that I had off and thanks to good old Aunty Flo (who hates me) me period actually started on the Sunday that’s just gone. For those of you who know me, you’ll know I get extremely painful menstrual cramps and can’t be completely unable to walk and so starting on this Sunday just happened to coincide with the end of my two weeks off and I was due back at work on the Monday. Sod’s law right there! I thankfully started when I first woke up so there was no mess to worry about. I’d actually had a feeling I was going to start and so I’d worn one of my own homemade pads to bed that night, just in case. If you’ve seen my previous sewing blog, you’ll know how new I am to sewing anything but I am proud to announce that my first cloth pad worked! No leaks and it cleaned perfectly without any stains. Now I just need to buy snaps so it can be worn properly.

On to the rest of my Sunday. Fairly soon after I realised I had started my cramps began. I was relatively lucky this cycle as usually I have them the day leading up, the full night of (with no sleep), and for around two to three days in. This time they hit around lunch on Sunday. I was in enough pain that I didn’t want to leave my bed and clung to my hot water bottle as though it were ‘my only hope’. It wasn’t the worst it could be though as I could still get to and from the bathroom if I really needed to. I’d taken some ibuprofen around 11 knowing that my stomach would start and I just had a lay down in bed. I didn’t move in fear of making the pain worse and ended up having a bit of a nap. Got up again around 14.00 and felt achy but alive and so I had a bit of food so I could take my next dose of pills. I wasn’t too bad, fairly heavy but manageable. Wore maybe 3 or 4 pads in total, whereas if I was still on disposables it would have been around 6, so impressed so far.

The return to work was a bit daunting as I’m on my feet a lot and dealing with patients throughout the day and so feeling crampy isn’t great for a day of standing and trekking through corridors. I’m a Healthcare Assistant for those who don’t know. I took some ibuprofen when I woke up with my breakfast and took some heat pads, just in case. I have never had such an easy second day of my period before In my life! I was a little achy and crampy the closer I got to lunch but I could still walk! I was a very happy chappie. I was still pretty heavy and went through 5 pads, but that’s more for comfort then a real need to change them. I was amazed by my Essence of Eve pads as I was a bit dubious about the claims of being heavy pads but they were great. I’ll do individual reviews though in the coming few weeks.

The following two days there was no cramping at all but my stomach was a bit sensitive and wasn’t feeling very hungry. I used 3 pads a day including the overnight pads so I wasn’t too heavy. I had quite a few headaches though and felt a bit dizzy, probably because I wasn’t eating enough. No stomach cramps though thankfully.

The final day, no stomach cramps and only the one pad. I felt really queasy and dizzy and actually had to have a nap after I finished my shift. Still felt rubbish and my stomach was a bit off. Usually I do feel like I have a bug when I’m on my period but this cycle I have to wonder if I have in fact had a bit of a stomach bug. Or maybe an ear infection which is causing the dizziness because I still feel a bit off today and my cycle has ended.

Anyways back to the period. It was a short 5 day cycle for me that started heavy and stayed that way for the first 3 days. This is my second full cycle with all cloth pads and so far I have been a lot comfier and I love picking out which pads to use! All the patterns make things a bit more entertaining. Like I said, I will start uploading pad reviews so if there are any brands you’d like to hear about or if there is any particular information you’d like to know about pads, please let me know so I can include it.

Thanks for reading!

Charlotte x