I know, I’ve been terrible!  I haven’t updated my website for ages and I apologise.

My new job is going really well and, to be honest, I’m enjoying it that much, I havent really focused on anything else recently.  Apart from maybe the garden.  Isn’t it great to have such lovely weather?  Any spare moment I have had this last couple of weeks I have spent in the garden trying to get my little vegetable plot started for the year.

I’ve put my carrot and parsnip seeds in, started my green beans, cucumber and tomato plants off in the greenhouse and generally had a bit of a tidy up.

Of course, we have also had the dreaded lawn mowing, once you start you cant stop right up until winter!

And, as I’m sat here writing this, im looking at my fish tank and thinking that maybe, if I cleaned it, I might actually be able to see the one solitary fish in there, which, to be honest doesnt look that healthy!  Do you think that if he is floating on his side he maybe isn’t that well!!!!

Why are there never enough hours in the day?

Got to go back out to work now but I hope everyone is ok, enjoying the weather and keeping safe.

Will write again soon x

I’ve done a bit of research into how we can keep our face’s youthful looking with exercise!!

It seems that we don’t have to spend a fortune on facial products just to stay looking young.  I’ve already given you some really good home made facial products so now lets look at our exercise routine and see if we can all look 18 again!

With a regular facial fitness routine – ie exercising the muscles of your face, we can build up the muscles of our face and keep them toned and firm. Regular exercise can keep the muscles lifted enough to remove the sags and the skin can become smooth enough to reduce wrinkles.  Also, the blood circulation to the face will enable the tissue to repair itself.

You only need to take a few minutes a day with a routine (you could even do it watching the T.V if you don’t have anyone else watching you, he he!).

Here goes …..

Forehead  -  This will help smooth the wrinkles of the forehead. Place your fingers just above your brow. Then, with your fingers, pull the skin down. At the same time, try to raise your eyebrows. Repeat this 10 times.

Eyelids –  To deal with crows’ feet at the corners of the eyes, put the thumbs at the corners of the eyes and then shut your eyes tightly. Then, with your thumbs, pull at the skin towards the forehead. Repeat 10 times.  If you suffer with sagging eyelids then hold your index fingers close to the brow bone. Afterwards, raise your eyebrows. At the same time, try to close your eyes and repeat 10 times.

Cheeks –  Form an O with your lips and try to push them forward as fast as you can. Then release and smile as widely as you can. Repeat 10 times and have a laugh at how daft we probably look!

Chin  -  None of us want a double chin so,  push your lower lip upward as high as you can. You can also press your thumb on the bone just under your chin and then push your tongue against your lower gums as if it is trying to meet your thumb. Also, massage the flesh under your chin with your thumb with strokes directed towards your neck.

Neck  –  Arch your neck backwards and place your hand on your neck just under the chin. Let your hand slide downward and push at your collarbone.

Ok, so this isn’t going to work straight away.  As with any exercise programme you need to stick at it for a bit!  But, if you preserve a few minutes twice a day, five times a week, you will definitely notice a difference in a month or two.  Definitely worth it but I think I will do mine in private.  I think my husband and my 19 year old son would definitely think I’ve lost the plot!

As you all know I’ve been trying very hard to stick to my diet and get some weight off!  Well, so far I’ve lost 13lb, nearly a stone and I have to say I’m quite proud of myself.

It hasn’t been easy the last couple of weeks with starting a new job as a care worker and having a totally different routine to work around but I’ve managed quite well considering.

I find myself totally addicted to yoghurts at the moment.  If I find myself in a hurry they are just really easy to grab out the fridge and, this got me wondering – why are they so good for us?

Did you know that if you have some plain, live yoghurt after a course of antibiotics it will help to restore normal flora back to your gut.  It is also great for yeast infections and you can treat infected areas with yoghurt.  Anyone that suffers with thrush may already know this one!

Yoghurt is basically made from milk or cream which is cultured with active live cultures.  Active live cultures are good bacteria that are necessary to help the body to function at its best.  The good bacteria prevents the growth of harmful bacteria that can cause infections and diseases.  It keeps the yeast levels in our bodies more balanced and has also been know to help prevent urinary tract infections.

And, since it is made from dairy products it is also rich in calcium which, as we all know is great for bone and teeth health.  Calcium is especially important for those of us seeking to prevent bone density loss and osteoporosis.  It is also a great source of protein which give the body energy.

It is so versatile and easy to get into your diet from smoothies made with fruit pulp to frozen deserts to adding to curry dishes.  And babies from 6 months old absolutely love yoghurts and they will definitely thrive from eating them. 

In many middle eastern homes it is made freshly at home from a culture handed down, perhaps even over generations, but western tastes may prefer to buy a new culture every few weeks or so. Just add a pint of finger warm pasteurized milk to a small pot of live, plain yoghurt. You can use full cream or semi skimmed milk. Stir in a large tablespoon of dried milk powder. You then cover it and leave for about 8 hours in a warm place.

So, if you really want to look after your insides on a daily basis and keep your system topped up with good bacteria, eat a yoghurt (or in my case 2) a day!  You will definitely feel the benefits.

We (mainly me!) have stitched together 750 squares and the quilt is now ready for polywadding and backing!  Im going to make a big effort to get it finished over the weekend so hopefully I can show you all some fabulous pictures at the beginning of next week.

I have to say, its looks fab – only problem is ……  my mother wants one too! x

So, the sun’s shining, we are starting to get a bit more daring with showing the flesh and we want to look tanned and healthy!  We’ve been covered up all winter but we want to look like we have just stepped of a plane from Barbados!

Time for the fake tan!  As we all know fake tanning became the preferred method of giving our skin a healthy glow when we all eventually began to understand the damage that the sun could potentially do to our skin.  When I worked in a salon/beauty therapy centre years ago we had people queuing up for their fake tan before they went away.  We always used to use St Tropez but now there are literally hundreds to different fake tans to choose from, from foam and spray applications to slow tanning lotions right up to spa, salon and air brush applications.

The primary ingredient in the majority of fake tanning products is dihydroxyacetone, or DHA, and they work by reacting to amino acids found in our skin cells.  This interaction is what provides the “tan”.  Please bear in mind though that these products will not protect your skin from the sun so sunscreen protection is still needed.

One of the most popular applications today is the airbrush tanning methods.  These are most successful when done in a tanning salon, but there are new methods available on the market, that allows users to apply them at home.  These can be costly, however and often, the results aren’t as dramatic as those you would get in a spa or salon setting.  With this tanning technique you will need to persevere with a bit of trial and error to find the right one for your complexion, as you definitely don’t want to end up with the dreaded orange look.  Always start of paler and build on it.  Its safer and wont give you that drastic overdone look!

It’s important to do your research on the application methods.  Airbrush tanning might be the new ‘in thing’ but it’s not the only method.  Every product has its own merits and obviously the prices will vary greatly as well.  Keep your budget in mind, especially if you’re new to fake tanning products. Don’t spend a fortune then find it’s not the right one for you.

I’ve tried applying fake tan myself and ended up in a right mess.  Dark patches around dry areas which just look hideous. With St Tropez you can buy their own exfoliating and moisturising lotion which works well with the product.  Always pay attention to those dry areas such as your knees and elbows especially if we haven’t looked after them like we should have in the winter!

I find the moisturisers with tanning in them the best, personally I use Johnson’s, its fab, it smells good and I can put it on at night and the results are great in the morning! (Doesn’t look good when it’s been put on after a couple of glasses of wine though!)

Don’t Forget the plastic gloves unless you want to look really daft with tanned palms!

And, lets face it, if the tans done right and looks good you will feel like a million dollars x

My daughter and I are both suffering slightly with dry hair at the moment.  My daughters particularly and as she is at college doing hairdressing, she is constantly messing, straightening, curling hers and everyone else’s!

What causes dry hair?

Well, there are two main reasons why our hair becomes dry and brittle …..

Firstly, we can have a lack of sebaceous gland production.  Sebum oil is produced by our skin glands which includes our scalp.  Normal secretion allows for the “coating” of the follicle shaft with oil that enhances growth, health and protection.  If we have an over-active gland it produces excess amounts of sebum and can result in oily hair. Lack of sebum, conversely, results in dry, brittle, or weak hair that is prone to breaking or snapping when combed or styled.

Secondly, and the main reason for most of us is over-styling.   Too much heat will deplete the hair of moisture.  Straighteners or Curling  tongs  set at high temperatures steam  our hair and destroy the medulla and its ability to provide nutrients and vitamins. Also, as my daughter has found out to her cost, perming can drastically damage your hair. The result is frizz and split-ends and brittle hair that is prone to breaking and loss of manageability.

How can we help it?

We’re back to that good old “Eating Right” scenario again and it really can do wonders for your hair. Vegetables, fruits and meats high in proteins convert to hydration that enables moisture-rich healthy follicles and improve circulation to the roots.

Also, spend a little bit of time looking for the right hair products.  Panthenol and Jojoba oil are great for raising moisture content and improves hair elastisicity.   Did you know that the Australians use Emu oil which has been used for thousands of years and is a natural moisturizer and anti-inflammatory.  It decreases flaking, itching and adds volume and smoothness to dry, dull, or lifeless hair.  I haven’t managed to come across any emu oil products over here in the UK but if anyone has, then I’d love to know where from!

Aromatherapies are also believed to help improve dry hair. If you add a combination of six drops of lavender, bay and sandalwood essential oils with six ounces of warm sesame or soy oils then apply the oil to the hair, wrap in towel for 15 minutes, then rinse; this will help in treating dry hair.   I think all that lavender and sandalwood would send me to sleep but worth a try!

Basically, hair needs plenty of MOISTURE so bare this in mind in your everyday routines and it should start to improve!

Anybody that really knows me well will know that the last few months haven’t exactly been the easiest.  Being made redundant, being owed a fair amount of money and not knowing where to go next has really taken its toll on my mental state.

I know we all have to face a tremendous amount of anxiety and stress in our everyday lives and I’ve struggled to stay away from the doctor and avoid the old medication!  I’ve been there before many years ago and it isn’t always the right thing.  Its great short term but eventually you have to come off it.

The hardest part of all is recognizing the root cause of our anxiety and then base how we deal with it around this cause. 

We need to relax and try to forget our symptoms for a while, try and chill out and with a bit of clarity we can reorganize ourselves (and our brains!) into a more logical process.

 
My biggest problem is re-acting the wrong way too quickly.  I never sit down and take time to react the way I should.  I steam in and suffer the consequences.  I’m learning to take the day a bit slower in my head.  Nothing needs dealing with within 30 seconds does it?  Not really, when we think about it logically.  I have to say I have great support in my husband who (rather annoyingly) has the most logical brain I’ve ever come across! 

Take up something new.  Yoga, meditation classes, have the radio on more and get stuck into a good book.  It does do wonders for taking yourself out of things.  I have taken to just sitting for 5/10 minutes with a cup of tea and listening to the silence (not that I get it very often with 5 in the house!)  Time out is most important.
A good walk and fresh air on a daily basis really makes you feel great and never more so than in the rain I’ve found.  Oxygen feeds the brain and consequently wakens you up and makes you feel alive. Healthy eating and a really good night sleep will also help tremendously.  I just need to get my 5 year old to stop waking just after 5.00am every morning.

What’s really given me a great boost this week is that I’ve LOST WEIGHT!!  Yippy!   I keep playing at my diet, good days, bad days, but last week decided to stick to it like glue and hey presto, ½ stone lost.  It’s great for my mental state and much better for me than medication!

The most important thing of all ‘POSITIVE THINKING’, not something I’m brilliant at but I’m trying so much more than before.  I’ve decided to throw myself into something new this week and I’m doing a three day training course for care work.  I’m going to put a bit back into the community and occupy my mind with other people instead of myself.

Obviously, it doesn’t always work this way and if you really need help then go see the doctor, that’s what they are there for.  For me, I’m going to stay away from him for a while and I’m sure things will improve tremendously.

The plant commonly known as the ‘Miracle Plant’ or ‘Natural Healer’ has been around for over 4000 years and has numerous beneficial vitamins and minerals, amino acids, enzymes and natural sugars which can help with anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidants and restoration.

The general benefits of Aloe Vera are varied. It can benefit a person both externally and internally. The studies and research into the healing powers of Aloe Vera are on going and more uses for this plant are sure to be found. This power packed plant provides so many essential minerals, vitamins and substances that the human body needs and its ability to heal has long been known to those who practice home remedies.

As we all know Aloe Vera moistens and softens the skin and I use Aloe Vera a lot for my dry skin especially after showering/bathing.  It is used worldwide in the manufacture of cosmetics and is considered a valuable ingredient.

It is also fantastic as an anti ageing product!  It is naturally healing and regenerating on a cellular level so any anti ageing product you buy with Aloe Vera helps your skin rejuvenate from the inside. Also, because of its great healing qualities it is ideal for using on insect bites, burns, rashes, sunburn etc.  This is because of the magnesium lactate which calms down itching, helping the skin to recover quickly.

Did you also know that Aloe Vera can be taken orally?  It can help your digestive tract function properly and so heal your insides as well!  It is known to be really good for constipation.

If you want to give a Aloe Vera a try then visit Holland & Barretts website and see what great products they have.  They have everything from Gels to Juice to Toothpaste!!

Well, we’ve talked about our skin and our hands but what about our feet!  We never really pay enough attention to our feet and yet they will be carrying us around until the end of our days!

I always seem to pay more attention to mine over the summer than I do in the winter.  If I’m honest, I have been known to have my nail polish on well into the winter.  We get up everyday and put our warm woolly socks on and don’t worry what they look like. 

With Spring on the way, now’s the time to put some effort into our feet!  (Think of those fabulous strappy sandals we all want to wear!)

Every night before you go to bed try massaging your feet with a good moisturiser or even coconut oil. This will help them to relax and keep them soft and supple.

If you are a bare foot person then the elements of wind, sun & water can cause your feet to crack and suffer from dryness and roughness.  I read a fabulous article in a magazine that suggests you mix 3 parts honey to 1 part sesame oil, warm and massage into the dry areas on your feet.  It acts as a natural moisturiser.

After that, then the only thing left is a foot soak, ooh heaven.  I have a fantastic foot spa which I love to sit in front of the T.V with and soak for ages!  Add a bit of Epsom salts and almond oil to the water and your feet with feel fab.  Moisturise them well after and they will be feeling fresh and energized!

Oh, and don’t forget file and polish!  A bright vibrant colour so when you look down at your feet they make you smile x

Did you know that the first mascara was invented by Eugene Rimmel in the 19th Century and that the word ‘Rimmel’ also means mascara in many languages.  It was also Max Factor who were the first to create mascara with a wand application that we see today.  (I bet you didnt know that!)

    Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara £14.50

     Max Factor Lash Extension Effect £7.99

     Clinique Lash Building Primer £10.00

    Estee Lauder Lash Primer Plus £16.00

      Rimmel Magnifi’eyes Mascara £6.99

These items can all be found online at Boots but this is just a small selection of what if available so check out their website and see what you can find!

Happy Shopping x