2024... the year I turned 30 and everything changed

 Hi Friends :)

2024 just ended so we'll be up to date after this. 😪

So much happened this year that I don't even know where to start...

"Lily..at the beginning of course" I hear you say.

Ok so let's gooooo

We started the year by giving our house some colors

Then in February, to celebrate our 1 year civil union anniversary, Jerome and I went to Bretagne for a weekend (It was also the time Jérôme turned 30 so the trip was also for this birthday). The weather was a disaster but we still had a lot of fun and enjoyed our time there.

In May, we went to Lorraine and Jerome met some of my family members for the first time. We went to Strasbourg with them..

...but also to see the mine where my grandpa and my great grandpa used to work as miners (I come from a family of charcoal miners) 

Then we did something crazy and literally drove in one day from the complete east of France to the west part of it, to Normandie where we just relaxed at the spa of our hotel and visited some country side.

 In August, while we were just getting excited about our Summer vacation coming up, we discovered totally by surprise that our lives were about to change forever....

We were trying for a couple of month already and had even consulted a specialist in July for infertility as I experienced a lost early July. So you can imagine how shocked we were to discover that one cycle after that loss, I was Pregnant!

And this time, this baby seemed to be willing to stay!

So let's just say that we really enjoyed our summer vacation in September... even though I was sick most of it (I caught the flu and had to take antibiotics). We also were happy to announce it to Jerome's family during our annual visit to them (even if it was pretty early we wanted to tell them in person). This year's summer vacation was definitely like no other (we felt like grandparents because even though we were happy to be on holiday, we were exhausted and only wanted to rest most of the times 😅 )

In November (the most exciting month of this year for me - apart from end of August of course😇), a lot happened:

I turned 30 years old! On November 4th, I changed decade and let's just say that funnily enough, knowing that this year I am going to become a mother made it all more exciting and less...painful.

Because let's be honest, turning 30 is a huge milestone in the life of a woman and I don't know why but at first, I didn't even wanted to turn 30.

I told my friends that I was just going to be 29 forever... but sadly, it doesn't work that way.

Being pregnant is not all at all what I expected... but that's the topic of another post.

Anyway... as a birthday gift for this new decade, my wonderful husband organised a trip for me to.... London 🎉

It was so beautiful and wonderful as the Christmas light were already up.

Want to know what we did during that trip? then turn in for the post where I share how to enjoy 5 days in London in November (while being pregnant)

Once we were back from London, another exciting thing happened: We moved in our house!

That's right folks, after 2 years, we finally got the keys to our own house!

And after that of course came Christmas to end the year.

It was really special to be able to celebrate our first Christmas in our house while being pregnant.

Now let's get to 2025 and the very special journey ahead: becoming a mom 👶

2023... the year we made it official

Hi Friends :)

Welcome back to the blog! 

I know it is now 2025 but I thought I will update you on what happened since my last post 😅😅

So... last time we chatted we were at 2022.

Let's now talk about 2023.

Jerome and I started the year by taking our relationship to the next step.

We got into a civil union 👫

He proposed on Valentine's day and we officially became Mr et Mrs on February 27th. 

I know, why so quick right? Well... It is because on this date, we celebrated our anniversary. 4 years in the making of our relationship so we thought this will be an easy date to remember. It will also make it every year more special 💖

Then in May, we went to Bretagne for a couple of days to celebrate our "honeymoon". The weather was not really in our favor most of the days but we still enjoyed our time together there.

   

In June, we went to the Harry Potter exhibition in Paris as I'm a big fan of it. Jérôme is more into Star Wars but still enjoyed it there.

In July, we said goodbye to my first car (my Citroën C3 - which was my "Precious") and bought a new car, our car, which is more of a family car. It's a SEAT Arona whose nickname is Freya (nordic goddess of love and fertility) 

In September, it was finally time for our Yearly break. We went on summer holiday in Djerba, Tunisia. We were disappointed by our hotel but enjoyed the time we had together there exploring around.

We even went to Tataouine, which for any Star Wars fan, is a big deal (we saw some of the places where the shoot the movies) 

Last but not least.. We also saw during that year our house being built (but not fully... have to wait for 2024 for that).

And that's what I've been up to during 2023.

Can't wait for you to discover 2024.. so far my most exciting year (and not because it's the year I turned 30)

Favorite Makeup Product - Summer 2022 edition

 Hi Friends :)

Just like I did for my favorite skincare products of this summer 2022, I thought I will not left my makeup products out.... And because Autumn is coming very fast, I thought I will not waist any more time.

Going more and more back to the office, I had the occasion to try out quite a few items this summer. I can definitely said that some were a nice discovery

You ready? let's go (and yes they are more than 5 items this time)

Mascara and mascara primer:

 ZOEVA Infinite Potential Mascara 

This one is a new discovery. I received it in my Glossybox advent calendar from 2021. It took me a long time before testing it (I had other ones to use before) but the wait was worth it. It really gives me nice / long lashes like I wish them to be. Little "cons", there is a lot of material in the tube so each morning I struggle a bit to not get too much product on the brush, otherwise I end us with black eyes 😂

DIOR - diorshow maximiser 3d - base serum mascara. This one is also from last Christmas but not from an advent calendar. It was in a Dior gift box. I really like eyelash primer as I feel like your mascara will really work and give you long of voluminous lashes only if you applied a primer beforehand. I really noticed a difference by using this one

Makeup base / foundation :

Look at my Favorite Skincare Products - Summer 2022 edition as I explain with which products I've replaced foundation during the summer

concealer:

YSL all hours concealer (shade n°2 Ivory) 

Ok so this concealer is something I never thought I will be using. I'm usually not a user of  the brand YSL. But this concealer was recommend to me by a friend who happened to work at Sephora. Ans when she tried it on me, I thought it looked very good; Once dry, it's like you've applied a light powder under your eyes. It's not like the other one which always feel a bit wet or drying up your under eye

gloss / lipstick:

Dior Backstage - Dior addict lip glow 

(shade 001 pink and 012 rosewood). Ok so those lip gloss were not at all a planned purchase. The thing is I got some samples to try out all the color of those range and fell in love with those two shades. So much that I had to buy them. It just gives you a little "more" to your lips but without being heavy as a lipstick.

makeup setting spray:

TARTE Maracuja miracle mist setting spray
This setting spray is the one I've used for now almost 2 years and I just love the glowing finish this gives to my makeup and how long it makes it stay in place.

Cleanser:

Garancia Pschitt magic - micro peeling without grain.

 This is basically what I've been using every morning just to freshen up / wake up my face. I just love the "mousse" effect and it just needs 30 seconds to change the whole feeling to the touch of your face