A stylish new mom is born!

My husband has been giving me a hard time about my fascination with the birth of the Prince of Cambridge, but I like to think that I am interested in any and every birth - there is something so, so special about a new little life being welcomed into the world, and I find a good birth story pulls at my heartstrings even more since going through the birth of my own son.

That first moment I held my child and looked into his eyes, and the first few days spent getting to know this new little being that my husband and I made, were by far some of the most magical moments of my life (and dare I say it, far surpassed my wedding day as the best day of my life - am I the only bad wife who feels this way?!)

Many people have praised Kate's glowing good looks and bouncy blow dry just one day after giving birth, while others claim that her put-together look puts unnecessary pressure on expectant moms who might feel that they need to live up to Kate's example. Since I had a c-section, I was still in bed and on painkillers on day two of Bean's life, but the minute I was given the green light to stand up, I was in the shower, ready to feel clean and 'normal' again. I flat-ironed my hair, applied some makeup, and changed my pajamas (I've said it before, and I'll say it again: all those 'what to pack' lists suggest packing a pair of pjs for every day in hospital, as well as a going home outfit. I wished I'd thought of packing another outfit - a comfy one, of course - and this is one thing that I tell every expectant mom I come across these days. Pack a loose, comfortable outfit for day two and three in hospital - you may want to spend the entire time in pjs, but you may also have the urge to 'clean up' a bit and wear something other than jim-jams.)

I also got many snide comments when I packed my makeup bag before leaving for the hospital, but I'll have all you nay-sayers know that I did end up using every last product I packed. This wasn't thanks to any unnecessary pressure to look good; it was down to the fact that I love makeup (beauty is my job, after all!) and really wanted to feel good about myself. So, these are the products I popped in my hospital bag:

1. A BB Cream - provides just the right amount of coverage, while still being sheer and natural.
2. A cream blusher - a dab on cheeks is all it takes to make you look instantly more awake and 'fresh'. You can also dab this on your lips for some lip colour.
3. Mascara and a felt-tip eyeliner pen - I am addicted to felt-tip liners, so there was no way I was going anywhere without mine. A subtle wing has become my go-to look and I've been doing this for so many years that creating a near-perfect wing tip is second nature to me now. I feel naked without it. You don't have to go quite as far if you don't want to - two coats of mascara will do just fine.
4. Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream - which I used on everything. Feet, cuticles, lips... you get the picture.

One thing's for sure: Kate is a beautiful, glowing new mom and I am so, so, SO excited for the Duke and Duchess as they embark on this wonderful adventure. I found it hard to believe when my baby was only a couple of weeks old, but you really do love that little being more and more with each passing day. I stumbled upon this video earlier today and I couldn't resist sharing it. What a beautiful little family!



(In other news, a couple of months ago I was asked to write a letter to Noah describing the first moment I met him and how I felt - it's featured in this month's issue of Living & Loving, so if you're into that kind of thing, get your August 2013 issue today.)





Images: The Daily Mail